There has been Serge Simon, an original member of the infamous Begles-Bordeaux front row known as ‘The Gangsters’ who was not only a drug enforcement officer for the French government but a renowned painter and a student of Dostoevsky, who, in his spare time, became an instant Gloucester legend by dishing out a piece of summary justice in front of Kingsholm’s famous Shed barely 30 seconds into his debut against Newcastle. The man who dragged Simon to Gloucester was Philippe Saint-Andre who, when he wasn’t reshaping the very recent history of the club that was every bit as remarkable as his playing career, redefined the phrase ‘crackers’.

When a discovery such as Carrie Horwood comes to light, she gives reason to celebrate the wealth of artistic talent on display right here on our Cotswold doorsteps. A local Sculptor using local stone, Carrie is set to unveil a unique piece of her work at Lower Slaughter Manor hotel as part of a very exciting evening.  We meet on a sunny morning at the serene surroundings of the hotel. I arrive to a real buzz of excitement in the front hall as Carrie reveals her latest piece of work to hotel manager, Calum Milne. A perfectly formed and lovingly crafted Portland stone figure now sits beautifully at the entrance to the restaurant at the hotel, proving Carrie is a master of her art.

Say the words ‘car boot sale’ to most people and they’ll be expecting hordes of people clearing out their unwanted clutter. Think again. The NSPCC Country House Car Boot Sale, sponsored by Citroen, is a car boot with a difference. It has built up a reputation for being one of the Cotswolds most prestigious sales, attracting donations from the likes of high profile celebrities such as Orlando Bloom, Elle Macpherson and Lewis Hamilton. The event’s organisers Gail Tuke-Hastings and Joanna Campbell-Black have devoted a huge amount of their personal time and lives to coordinating this year’s event, which will take place at the National Trust’s Sherbourne Park Estate grounds at Lodge Park.

Whether you’ve always wanted an open-plan dining space, or you long for a separate room in which to hold your dinner parties, there are many ways of creating a captivating dining area. If bling is your style, then add a touch of glamour to your dining room with a stunning chandelier. Their presence adds drama to any room and fits in well with this year’s trend for flamboyance. When thinking about your dining room furniture remember that it will be the centrepiece of the room so go for luxurious woods like deep cherry or be adventurous with a decorative metal table. An elegant mirror and a glass table will help to reflect light and add a twinkle to your room when you dine by candlelight. When dressing your windows go for drama with floor to ceiling curtains.