Sheila
About Sheila
From the 28 September 2018 I will be retiring from my job after 29 years working for the council in Beverley, and I will be looking for longer pet sits for more than a weekend. I would like to extend my pet sitting for perhaps a few weeks to several weeks at a time and travel a bit further for the longer sits. It would be great to go abroad to...
From the 28 September 2018 I will be retiring from my job after 29 years working for the council in Beverley, and I will be looking for longer pet sits for more than a weekend. I would like to extend my pet sitting for perhaps a few weeks to several weeks at a time and travel a bit further for the longer sits. It would be great to go abroad too with THS. I have now got a pet sit confirmed for Christmas and New Year in Switzerland and really looking forward to my retirement with several other sits booked. I will be returning to the Dales next year many times and that is a very pleasant thought, but also a local sit in a village not far from home.
However till then I am working full time and so any new sits booked from now till the end of September will have to be long weekends. I no longer have my car so will only be able to consider pet sits that are accessible by public transport and do not intend to buy another car although I do have a full driving licence so may hire a car or could drive the owners car if there is insurance provided.
I used to have pets and a garden but now lead a single life working full time and travelling. It is so lovely enjoying the pleasure of a cat or dog again - the comfort and warmth from being with animals. I am unable to have a pet with my work and living in a first floor flat. So I enjoy many breaks visiting homes with pets and gardens as a change from my current life situation. I am a non smoker and enjoy gardening and the outdoors. I am happy to help out round the house and in the garden if any house work or gardening is required. I am a tidy person and considerate of other people and their belongings and privacy.
I love to travel and explore, I am a keen photographer and enjoy walking. I am also interested in architecture and town layouts, roads and paths which is connected to my work in the Planning Department with the local council. I enjoy staying in various homes and like to be tidy and try to avoid wasting fuel or electricity. I look forward to the opportunity to visit different places and already have enjoyed many pet sits around England, Wales and Scotland. Before starting pet sitting in February 2017 I travelled quite a lot staying in YHAs but now enjoy some peace and quiet staying in homes on my own and embracing the many opportunities to travel to many different places and in the future I will be looking at more pet sits around Europe and the World.
Indeed after I retire I will be pet sitting much more since after experiencing the pleasure of caring for pets and homes, I want to do this full time and I am fortunate to be able to afford to retire with a modest income. Pet sitting allows me to afford on a small pension to be able visit many more places than would be possible staying in paid accommodation.
I have been a dog owner in the past with a Rough Collie owned for 13 years from a pup till he passed away and an English Bull Terrier from 5 years old till he died aged 15 years. I have also been a cat owner to Meg who lived to 14 years. I love animals so happy to care for pets.
Why I want to house sit
I do miss having pets and I would enjoy a change of scenery and love to travel to different towns and locations also it would be good to be able to help people who want to travel but worry about their pets or homes. I recall how difficult it can be when I was a pet owner and needed to organise care of the animals in order to travel. I enjoy being useful and if I can be of help as well as enjoying exploring a new place then that would be a benefit to all.
I have done many house sits now and I am enjoying this new role as much as ever. It is nice to stay in different homes meeting new people and learning different ways of living. I enjoy a new view from the window and many homes are really interesting. I am becoming even more interested in animals and learning more about different ways to care for them. I am used to travelling on my own and enjoy the journey too. I like being alone but with a few pets is an ideal situation for me.
It is nice to look for different things to eat and I appreciate it when owners leave me a few left overs and have a variety of foods to try. I don't eat a lot but it is nice to nibble different things and try different herbal teas. There is no need to buy food in for me though as I do bring my own food and food is often wasted if bought specially for me as I don't eat much starchy food like bread and potatoes. I do prefer owners who are easy going and not too complicated, who are understanding and appreciative of the house sitter.
After being accepted for a house sit, I will require the address of the sit and a Welcome Pack, this should be provided as soon as convenient but soon after the confirmation and not at the last minute. I would like to know where I will be staying and details of the pets habits and special considerations or any issues. I need to prepare for the sit and part of my pleasure in agreeing to pet sits is looking forward to staying in another home and knowing where that will be, planning walks and imagining my stay there, looking forward to the sit.
Long lists of instructions and very controlling owners overwhelm me but at the same time no instructions or phone number is not good either. I am happy to follow instructions but at the same time it is nice to have some flexibility too. Ideally it is much nicer to be shown the routine than to have to read through it in minute detail. There are of course essential things that need to be recorded and I value a clear list of details. It is lovely to meet positive and friendly owners and step into their shoes for a short while. I feel privileged and honoured to be trusted in the homes of owners and respect this trust.
I take my role seriously and value constructive feedback but best of all it is wonderful to have a good review. Thanks to all those who have kindly left a review, it is so nice to know that the effort I make at the house sit is appreciated. I know owners often have very busy lives and they sometimes forget to provide a review but it is important to me that everything is acceptable and that the pets are happy on their return.
My experience
I have now completed over 30 house sits - including 6 separate whole weeks. During my first whole week, I had a lovely time near London with a little dog all to myself. Then the second and third whole weeks were sits in Wales with a number of animals including chickens, sheep, 2 cows, 2 goats, fish, 2 cats and 1 dog with a return visit to Wales the same place with no cows but a snake in the house (this required no care from me as it was fed before the owners left). It was a great place and interesting to learn how to care for some different animals. The 4th whole week was looking after 2 Persian cats in Manchester over Christmas. Loved these indoor cats - so sweet, I spent 2 weeks with a lovely little dog Lulu in the Yorkshire Dales and will be returning a number of times to this beautiful location to care for this sweet dog in the coming months and have agreed to return several times after I retire next year, and finally I had a week looking after an adorable Dachshund near Edinburgh.
The rest of my pet sits have all been weekend sits (mainly long weekends) and each has been a great experience. I have enjoyed meeting the owners and learning about their pets and enjoyed their homes and gardens. I feel I have made new friends. I would be happy to go back to most of the places I have been and in my 2nd year of pet sitting I have returned to a number of pet sits that I did last year, some not booked through this site, but the owners contacting me direct. It is a pleasure to return knowing what to expect and feel familiar with the situation, the owners don't need to explain the routine and I can just fit in straight way.
It is interesting meeting different people and the owners are varied from people who have never used a house sitter to those who have used many. Some people are nervous and need reassurance, trying a pet sitter for the first time, whilst others are very used to leaving their animals and home to a trusted pet sitter. Some owners need to interview me via Skype whilst others just a phone chat will do, if I live near or happen to be in the area I have gone to visit the owner soon after booking which is reassuring for all involved. It is nice to meet the owners and have some time together with them and their pets before they leave but I can manage to let myself in and read some instructions when this is preferred. I have become more confident with caring for pets in other peoples homes and developed more knowledge and understanding of this role since I started.
Some owners are kind and contribute to my travelling costs but this is a bonus and not required but gratefully accepted. I do like owners who are happy to leave a bit of food but have accepted those who tend not to have much food available and I bring my own food anyway.
Some owners require the sheets changing and I am happy to do this or strip the bed down, I have washed the sheets and left them dry and folded when the pet sit allows this if staying till later in the day. Owners often provide wonderful bed displays with many pillows, I only need one pillow and will put the others to one side avoiding the need for lots of washing. A single bed is fine if one is free, avoiding the washing of lots of bedding for one small person and I prefer modest and simple beds especially if the washing is required before I leave.
I have 6 more house sits booked for the year ahead, with 1 more visit to a cottage near Skipton this year to look forward to. Also I have two more longer sits booked for after I retire. I looked after the my first indoor cats in October 2017 and they were very easy and nice company watching TV with me and since then I have cared for a number of indoor cats. I am not a fan of TV and don't have one at home but at house sits it is nice to sit with the pets who seem to enjoy the company of me and the TV.
I have had pets before starting pet sitting and love walking dogs and enjoy playing with and watching cats too. I have owned tropical fish too so know about caring for those. I am a responsible person who has the common sense to care for a home and have owned a number of houses with my husband when I was married for over 25 years bringing up 4 children who are all grown up now. I enjoy my own company and am a peaceful, calm and caring person. I get a lot of pleasure from staying in different homes, meeting pets and their owners and be able to provide a useful service to those requiring a person to look after their homes while they are away. I enjoy simple hobbies like knitting, reading and listening to podcasts and audio books.
Before I started Pet Sitting I joined the Borrow my Doggie web site and walked 2 Jack Russell dogs for a while with the owner giving me a key to her home and allowing me access when ever I wished. There is a photo of the dogs with me in this profile and the owner Julia has given me a great reference.
I no longer have my car so will travel to the pet sits by train and bus.
Reviews (30)
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Paul - Morley, United Kingdom
03 July - 10 July 2018
What a lovely lady. We were a bit apprehensive at first never having used this service before, but a pre-meet with Sheila put our minds at rest and our dog seemed to like her straight away. As we were leaving on holiday early doors Sheila joined us the previous evening which allowed us to go th...
What a lovely lady. We were a bit apprehensive at first never having used this service before, but a pre-meet with Sheila put our minds at rest and our dog seemed to like her straight away. As we were leaving on holiday early doors Sheila joined us the previous evening which allowed us to go though all the necessary details about house and dog arrangements. On the morning of our travel we had an issue with some travel documents and we were just thankful that Sheila was there and could help out!
Whilst we were away we got regular updates and photos which was really nice and reassuring, and this helped us to continue enjoying our holiday. After the first day when our dog Pippa was a bit "stand-offish" apparently (what goes on in their little brains?) it became obvious that Pippa and Sheila bonded and became great friends.
When we returned the house was spotless and tidy and she had obviously taken good care of our dog and home, giving us the confidence to continue to use Trusted Housesitters generally, and hopefully Sheila specifically for future sits.
But over everything else we have to say that Sheila is a lovely lady who obviously cares for animals, who is kind and gentle, and who is a great person to have as a trusted house guest and sitter....thank you so much Sheila.- Organised
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- Reliable
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- Self-sufficient
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- Tidy
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- Pet care
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Response from Sheila
Thanks so much for your great review. This was my longest pet sit so far and really enjoyed my time with Pippa and miss her now. You are a lovely couple and it was a pleasure meeting you. I do hope we meet again.
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Michèle And Pete - Derby, United Kingdom
29 June - 02 July 2018
It cannot be understated how much we appreciated Sheila coming to house-sit for us. Her affinity with animals is something rarely witnessed and Trudy took to her straight away. Sheila is conscientious and caring, listens carefully and reads things over and over again until she has it right in her...
It cannot be understated how much we appreciated Sheila coming to house-sit for us. Her affinity with animals is something rarely witnessed and Trudy took to her straight away. Sheila is conscientious and caring, listens carefully and reads things over and over again until she has it right in her mind. She is clean and tidy and in fact, you wouldn't really know she'd been if it wasn't for the fact she had stripped the guest bed! She had even swept the patio for our return! We came home to a very happy little dog and we are extremely relaxed about going away again in August. Sheila sent pictures throughout the weekend and kept in touch with updates too. She had to make last minute bookings for transport due to car troubles, and made a huge effort so as not to let us down, which we were very grateful for. Thank you Sheila for making our first experience of a house-sitter so easy and worry-free, we look forward to you coming again in August!
- Organised
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- Reliable
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- Self-sufficient
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- Tidy
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- Pet care
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Response from Sheila
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful and positive review. I really appreciate your kind comments.
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Jane - Harrogate, United Kingdom
14 June - 17 June 2018
Sheila stayed with our pets whilst we went away for a long weekend. The pets all seemed very happy and well looked after on our return and the house nice and tidy. Communication from Sheila was excellent, I would certainly recommend her to anyone looking for pet care whilst the holiday.
Sheila stayed with our pets whilst we went away for a long weekend. The pets all seemed very happy and well looked after on our return and the house nice and tidy. Communication from Sheila was excellent, I would certainly recommend her to anyone looking for pet care whilst the holiday.
- Organised
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- Reliable
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- Self-sufficient
-
- Tidy
-
- Pet care
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Response from Sheila
Jane, many thanks - it was a pleasure.
About Sheila
From the 28 September 2018 I will be retiring from my job after 29 years working for the council in Beverley, and I will be looking for longer pet sits for more than a weekend. I would like to extend my pet sitting for perhaps a few weeks to several weeks at a time and travel a bit further for the longer sits. It would be great to go abroad too with THS. I have now got a pet sit confirmed for Christmas and New Year in Switzerland and really looking forward to my retirement with several other sits booked. I will be returning to the Dales next year many times and that is a very pleasant thought, but also a local sit in a village not far from home.
However till then I am working full time and so any new sits booked from now till the end of September will have to be long weekends. I no longer have my car so will only be able to consider pet sits that are accessible by public tran......
From the 28 September 2018 I will be retiring from my job after 29 years working for the council in Beverley, and I will be looking for longer pet sits for more than a weekend. I would like to extend my pet sitting for perhaps a few weeks to several weeks at a time and travel a bit further for the longer sits. It would be great to go abroad too with THS. I have now got a pet sit confirmed for Christmas and New Year in Switzerland and really looking forward to my retirement with several other sits booked. I will be returning to the Dales next year many times and that is a very pleasant thought, but also a local sit in a village not far from home.
However till then I am working full time and so any new sits booked from now till the end of September will have to be long weekends. I no longer have my car so will only be able to consider pet sits that are accessible by public transport and do not intend to buy another car although I do have a full driving licence so may hire a car or could drive the owners car if there is insurance provided.
I used to have pets and a garden but now lead a single life working full time and travelling. It is so lovely enjoying the pleasure of a cat or dog again - the comfort and warmth from being with animals. I am unable to have a pet with my work and living in a first floor flat. So I enjoy many breaks visiting homes with pets and gardens as a change from my current life situation. I am a non smoker and enjoy gardening and the outdoors. I am happy to help out round the house and in the garden if any house work or gardening is required. I am a tidy person and considerate of other people and their belongings and privacy.
I love to travel and explore, I am a keen photographer and enjoy walking. I am also interested in architecture and town layouts, roads and paths which is connected to my work in the Planning Department with the local council. I enjoy staying in various homes and like to be tidy and try to avoid wasting fuel or electricity. I look forward to the opportunity to visit different places and already have enjoyed many pet sits around England, Wales and Scotland. Before starting pet sitting in February 2017 I travelled quite a lot staying in YHAs but now enjoy some peace and quiet staying in homes on my own and embracing the many opportunities to travel to many different places and in the future I will be looking at more pet sits around Europe and the World.
Indeed after I retire I will be pet sitting much more since after experiencing the pleasure of caring for pets and homes, I want to do this full time and I am fortunate to be able to afford to retire with a modest income. Pet sitting allows me to afford on a small pension to be able visit many more places than would be possible staying in paid accommodation.
I have been a dog owner in the past with a Rough Collie owned for 13 years from a pup till he passed away and an English Bull Terrier from 5 years old till he died aged 15 years. I have also been a cat owner to Meg who lived to 14 years. I love animals so happy to care for pets.
Why I want to house sit
I do miss having pets and I would enjoy a change of scenery and love to travel to different towns and locations also it would be good to be able to help people who want to travel but worry about their pets or homes. I recall how difficult it can be when I was a pet owner and needed to organise care of the animals in order to travel. I enjoy being useful and if I can be of help as well as enjoying exploring a new place then that would be a benefit to all.
I have done many house sits now and I am enjoying this new role as much as ever. It is nice to stay in different homes meeting new people and learning different ways of living. I enjoy a new view from the window and many homes are really interesting. I am becoming even more interested in animals and learning more about different ways to care for them. I am used to travelling on my own and enjoy the journey too. I like being alone but with a few pets is an ideal situation for me.
It is nice to look for different things to eat and I appreciate it when owners leave me a few left overs and have a variety of foods to try. I don't eat a lot but it is nice to nibble different things and try different herbal teas. There is no need to buy food in for me though as I do bring my own food and food is often wasted if bought specially for me as I don't eat much starchy food like bread and potatoes. I do prefer owners who are easy going and not too complicated, who are understanding and appreciative of the house sitter.
After being accepted for a house sit, I will require the address of the sit and a Welcome Pack, this should be provided as soon as convenient but soon after the confirmation and not at the last minute. I would like to know where I will be staying and details of the pets habits and special considerations or any issues. I need to prepare for the sit and part of my pleasure in agreeing to pet sits is looking forward to staying in another home and knowing where that will be, planning walks and imagining my stay there, looking forward to the sit.
Long lists of instructions and very controlling owners overwhelm me but at the same time no instructions or phone number is not good either. I am happy to follow instructions but at the same time it is nice to have some flexibility too. Ideally it is much nicer to be shown the routine than to have to read through it in minute detail. There are of course essential things that need to be recorded and I value a clear list of details. It is lovely to meet positive and friendly owners and step into their shoes for a short while. I feel privileged and honoured to be trusted in the homes of owners and respect this trust.
I take my role seriously and value constructive feedback but best of all it is wonderful to have a good review. Thanks to all those who have kindly left a review, it is so nice to know that the effort I make at the house sit is appreciated. I know owners often have very busy lives and they sometimes forget to provide a review but it is important to me that everything is acceptable and that the pets are happy on their return.
My experience
I have now completed over 30 house sits - including 6 separate whole weeks. During my first whole week, I had a lovely time near London with a little dog all to myself. Then the second and third whole weeks were sits in Wales with a number of animals including chickens, sheep, 2 cows, 2 goats, fish, 2 cats and 1 dog with a return visit to Wales the same place with no cows but a snake in the house (this required no care from me as it was fed before the owners left). It was a great place and interesting to learn how to care for some different animals. The 4th whole week was looking after 2 Persian cats in Manchester over Christmas. Loved these indoor cats - so sweet, I spent 2 weeks with a lovely little dog Lulu in the Yorkshire Dales and will be returning a number of times to this beautiful location to care for this sweet dog in the coming months and have agreed to return several times after I retire next year, and finally I had a week looking after an adorable Dachshund near Edinburgh.
The rest of my pet sits have all been weekend sits (mainly long weekends) and each has been a great experience. I have enjoyed meeting the owners and learning about their pets and enjoyed their homes and gardens. I feel I have made new friends. I would be happy to go back to most of the places I have been and in my 2nd year of pet sitting I have returned to a number of pet sits that I did last year, some not booked through this site, but the owners contacting me direct. It is a pleasure to return knowing what to expect and feel familiar with the situation, the owners don't need to explain the routine and I can just fit in straight way.
It is interesting meeting different people and the owners are varied from people who have never used a house sitter to those who have used many. Some people are nervous and need reassurance, trying a pet sitter for the first time, whilst others are very used to leaving their animals and home to a trusted pet sitter. Some owners need to interview me via Skype whilst others just a phone chat will do, if I live near or happen to be in the area I have gone to visit the owner soon after booking which is reassuring for all involved. It is nice to meet the owners and have some time together with them and their pets before they leave but I can manage to let myself in and read some instructions when this is preferred. I have become more confident with caring for pets in other peoples homes and developed more knowledge and understanding of this role since I started.
Some owners are kind and contribute to my travelling costs but this is a bonus and not required but gratefully accepted. I do like owners who are happy to leave a bit of food but have accepted those who tend not to have much food available and I bring my own food anyway.
Some owners require the sheets changing and I am happy to do this or strip the bed down, I have washed the sheets and left them dry and folded when the pet sit allows this if staying till later in the day. Owners often provide wonderful bed displays with many pillows, I only need one pillow and will put the others to one side avoiding the need for lots of washing. A single bed is fine if one is free, avoiding the washing of lots of bedding for one small person and I prefer modest and simple beds especially if the washing is required before I leave.
I have 6 more house sits booked for the year ahead, with 1 more visit to a cottage near Skipton this year to look forward to. Also I have two more longer sits booked for after I retire. I looked after the my first indoor cats in October 2017 and they were very easy and nice company watching TV with me and since then I have cared for a number of indoor cats. I am not a fan of TV and don't have one at home but at house sits it is nice to sit with the pets who seem to enjoy the company of me and the TV.
I have had pets before starting pet sitting and love walking dogs and enjoy playing with and watching cats too. I have owned tropical fish too so know about caring for those. I am a responsible person who has the common sense to care for a home and have owned a number of houses with my husband when I was married for over 25 years bringing up 4 children who are all grown up now. I enjoy my own company and am a peaceful, calm and caring person. I get a lot of pleasure from staying in different homes, meeting pets and their owners and be able to provide a useful service to those requiring a person to look after their homes while they are away. I enjoy simple hobbies like knitting, reading and listening to podcasts and audio books.
Before I started Pet Sitting I joined the Borrow my Doggie web site and walked 2 Jack Russell dogs for a while with the owner giving me a key to her home and allowing me access when ever I wished. There is a photo of the dogs with me in this profile and the owner Julia has given me a great reference.
I no longer have my car so will travel to the pet sits by train and bus.
Verifications
Verification level
Enhanced level
Email Address, Phone Number, External references (3), Identity & Document Check, Criminal Background Check (issue date: 2 Mar 2017)
All Standard and Enhanced Verification checks are carried out by a specialist 3rd Party
Animal Care Experience
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Dogs
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Cats
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Fish
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Poultry
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Farm animals
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Small pet
Availability
Preferred Countries
Profile Details
Age
Occupation
Travelling as a
Previous house sitting experience
Member benefits
Member since
House & pet sitting timeline
Sheila has done 31 house sits since 2017
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MorleyUnited KingdomJul 2018 -
DerbyUnited KingdomJun - Jul 2018 -
HarrogateUnited KingdomJun 2018 -
CambridgeUnited KingdomMay 2018 -
SheffieldUnited KingdomMay 2018 -
MusselburghUnited KingdomMay 2018 -
PottonUnited KingdomApr 2018 -
SkiptonUnited KingdomApr 2018 -
SkiptonUnited KingdomMar - Apr 2018
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SettleUnited KingdomMar 2018 -
PottonUnited KingdomMar 2018
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SkiptonUnited KingdomFeb 2018
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BathUnited KingdomFeb 2018 -
HuddersfieldUnited KingdomJan 2018 -
HornseaUnited KingdomDec 2017 - Jan 2018 -
Manchester City CentreUnited KingdomDec 2017 -
IsleworthUnited KingdomDec 2017 -
DerbyUnited KingdomNov 2017 -
CambridgeUnited KingdomNov 2017
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SelbyUnited KingdomNov 2017 -
OxfordUnited KingdomSep 2017 -
CarmarthenUnited KingdomAug - Sep 2017 -
HelmsleyUnited KingdomAug 2017 -
CarmarthenUnited KingdomJul 2017
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RomfordUnited KingdomJun 2017 -
Stratford-upon-AvonUnited KingdomMay 2017 -
LincolnUnited KingdomMay 2017 -
Stansted MountfitchetUnited KingdomApr - May 2017 -
Great MalvernUnited KingdomApr 2017 -
NorwichUnited KingdomMar 2017 -
LudgershallUnited KingdomFeb 2017
