Join Launchpad’s Carols by Candlelight

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Enjoy a fantastically festive evening and help raise funds for Reading’s most vulnerable

This year’s Carols by Candlelight takes place on Tuesday 3rd December at Reading town Hall with Launchpad patron and BBC presenter, Matt Allwright and long-term supporter Andy Briggs as the hosts for the evening.

Join Launchpad for a magical night of music and carols with the Take Note Community choir and the Reading Phoenix Choir. As well as seasonal songs there will be readings and inspiring stories about how, with your help, Launchpad is changing lives in Reading.

Every ticket sale will help Launchpad continue to provide homes for Reading’s most vulnerable this winter. Launchpad’s supported housing offers warm, clean, and safe accommodation for over 100 people in need – which are a lifeline to the many individuals, couples, and families at risk of homelessness, or who have already lost their homes.

Fiona Keyte, Fundraising Manager at Launchpad, said: “Every year, people tell us that Carols by Candlelight marks the start of their Christmas celebrations. Our event is a beautiful reminder of the spirit of community and the joy of giving during the festive season. We’d love to see you there!”

Carols by Candlelight starts at 6pm. Tickets start at £12 per person and under 3’s can attend for free. For more information and to buy your ticket, visit Carols by Candlelight 2024 – Launchpad

For anyone unable to attend, you can still support Launchpad’s work with a donation so they can help ensure local people have a roof over their head and a place to call home, for their Christmas and beyond. Simply visit Donate – Preventing Homelessness In Reading

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Happy 80th Lydalls Nursery School

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Didcot nursery celebrates “providing the very best start for young children”

Lydalls Nursery School has been celebrating 80 years of looking after and nurturing children in their care.

The birthday was marked on Wednesday, 13th November by raising a new flag designed by the children, enjoying cake and party games, and taking home a commemorative teddy bear.

Headteacher Sarah Phillips said: “For 80 years we’ve been building early years expertise and providing the very best start for young children. Lydalls Nursery School is often described as feeling like a family and we all really enjoyed celebrating this milestone together.”

Maintained Nursery Schools are special places – like other local authority schools they have a headteacher and governing board with teaching and learning delivered by a team of teachers, nursery nurses and teaching assistants. In a Maintained Nursery School the headteacher and the teaching team are all early years specialists.

Sarah added: “For 80 years our school has been delivering this special provision to children in Didcot… here’s to many more happy years!”

Find out more at Lydalls Nursery School

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Meet Elizabeth Bennet

Karen Neville

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From page to face-to-face conversation, meet Jane Austen’s most loved character through the magic of technology at the author’s house at Chawton

Fans of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice can enjoy a conversation with their literary hero when speaking with the world-first Elizabeth Bennet avatar – Lizzy. 

Created by StarPal in collaboration with University for the Creative Arts (UCA), the avatar has been developed to mirror the human qualities of Austen’s character as detailed in the novel, such as empathy and humour. Her conversations, which fans will have with her face-to-avatar at the Learning Centre at Jane’s house in Chawton, will evolve, giving each person who talks to Lizzy a unique experience.  

How does Lizzy feel about being a world-first? She said: “It is quite an interesting notion indeed – I must say being Elizabeth Bennet in a world far removed from my own time is an unexpected but intriguing experience. It allows me to share the intricacies of our society and my life with new audiences.” 

Following consultation and guidance from Jane Austen’s House, Lizzy’s knowledge bank has been curated from a selection of novels, manuscripts and period-accurate information. 

Lizzy is set within a Regency-style background. Her dress and hair have been designed and created by students from the Games Arts and Digital Fashion courses at UCA, drawing on fashion templates from the period. 

Sophy Smith, Director of Games and Creative Technology at UCA and the originator of the project, said: “It is so exciting to finally be able to lift Elizabeth Bennet off the page and to be able to have real-time conversations with her. To be able to cross time in this way is joyful – you get a real sense of speaking directly to someone from the 18th century. Imagine – you can now have Elizabeth Bennet as your friend.  

“This technology has the potential to transform experiences within both the museum and heritage, as well as the education sector. Visitors to Jane Austen’s House, will have the opportunity to not only experience the renowned author’s home but also engage directly with one of her most famous characters. It could transform learning – instead of only having text-based revision guides, students can now learn about literature by speaking directly to the characters.” 

Director of Jane Austen’s House, Lizzie Dunford, said: “It has been fascinating to watch this project develop, and to witness the innovative staff and students at UCA developing these new technologies, and new ways of accessing literary and cultural heritage.” 

Anya Haber, an MA Digital Fashion student who created the dress in 3D, added: “It showed how useful technology can be in a historical setting, letting fans engage with fictional characters…and that’s just the beginning.” 

Fans will have the chance to interact with Lizzy at the Learning Centre at Jane Austen’s House until mid-December, included with House entry. 

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Find treasures at The Juniper Barn

Karen Neville

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Find fabulous extraordinary antique French, Italian and Swedish furniture, décor & lighting at The Juniper Barn

Friends for over 20 years, Narelle Lester Paine from Henley and Jenny Leslau from Wallingford have always loved to collect beautiful and unusual items from antique markets and their travels all over the world.   

In 2021 after reflecting on their careers, they decided to pool their experience and join forces at The Juniper Barn.  

As their lovely pieces flew off the shelves and needing storage for the expanding collection, a kind friend offered them the use of a stable at her yard near Watlington. As the business grew so did the need for space to display and photograph their beautiful finds and they decided to look for more permanent premises.   

The Juniper Barn has found a home and established a showroom in Cane End on a beautiful country estate. 

Narelle and Jenny’s mission is to provide an exceptional experience for their clients. The Juniper Barn specialises in curating collections for the home and garden and has built a strong network of specialist contacts within industrial, antique and artisan communities, allowing access to rare and unusual pieces. 

Dedicated to sustainability, they strongly encourage the continuing movement away from excessive consumption of easily accessible factory produced furniture and unnecessary waste, towards sourcing high quality, sustainable pieces with timeless elegance, warmth, character and individuality.  

The Juniper Barn supplies private clients and interior designers with beautiful decorative pieces and antique furniture for the home and garden from the UK, France, Italy and Sweden, immaculately restored industrial mid-century British lighting, all alongside some superb one-off artisan pieces of antique English furniture.  

Their collection includes vibrant glazed 19th century pottery from the South of France, beautiful French cast iron urns and other decorative treasures sourced from French chateaux, alongside candlesticks and sconces from Italy, faded white Swedish furniture and skilfully made pieces of Victorian and Georgian furniture that have been restored and beautifully decorated by a talented artist. Each piece is unique, a stunning blend of traditional and modern craftsmanship combined to create a fully functional and striking work of art. 

They love the challenge of sourcing in the UK and throughout Europe. One of their favourite finds was an exquisite large antique French stone statue of the Madonna for a client who was looking for a very special piece for her garden. 

The Juniper Barn delivers throughout the UK and ships worldwide, working with excellent, reasonably priced and trusted couriers. 

Narelle and Jenny can be found at the showroom most days. They are also planning open days in the near future. Please contact them to register your interest. Visit thejuniperbarn.co.uk and follow on Instagram @thejuniperbarn 

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Vote for Alton’s Community Grow Clubbers!

Karen Neville

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Alton in Bloom Community Grow Club has won the Hampshire Grassroots Action Award and is now one of four projects nominated for the CPRE Hampshire Choice Award

Now they need your vote to win that accolade. Voting closes at 5pm on Friday, 6th December with the winner being unveiled at a ceremony on December 10th.

The Community Grow Club is a new initiative from Alton Town Council which launched last year and is about more than just gardening; it’s about growing together as a community. Over the past year they have held a series of multigenerational community sessions and carried out projects that have enriched the town, environment and wildlife while teaching families to grow their own food and flowers.

Projects have included planting new community orchards with the help from residents and local school children. The first was planted at the Hawthorns allotment and the second added to the fruit trees at Barely Fields. The trees for these orchards were supplied from the Hampshire Forest Partnership who said: “The Hampshire Forest Partnership were delighted to support Alton Community Grow Club to create two new community orchards in Alton. We are helping make Hampshire a greener place to live and deliver ‘a legacy in leaves’ for future generations.“

Find out more and how you can get involved: Hampshire County Council | Hampshire County Council

Grow Club workshops were held in the Public Gardens in the spring where families were taught how to grow plants from seeds. Sowing a variety of pollinator friendly flowers that were then planted out into the town centre planters and flower beds. Along with vegetables and fruit that were planted into the Community Kitchen Garden beds in the Public Gardens. The children have really enjoyed watching them all grow and then being able to eat them when they visit the park!

Alton Town Mayor, Annette Eyre said: “We are delighted that the achievements of our volunteers and Town Council officers have been recognised with the Hampshire Grassroots Action Award for our ‘Alton in Bloom Community Grow Club‘.

“We hope that their hard work and dedication to make our town a better place for the community, environment and wildlife is also recognised by the people and ask you all to vote for the Community Grow Club project to win the overall CPRE Hampshire Choice Award!” 

The Community Grow Club was part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with a grant from EHDC’s ‘Grow Up’ programme. It supports projects growing, planting, education and helps residents reconnect with residents while promoting mental and physical wellbeing.  

You can learn more about the Alton in Bloom – Community Grow Club project online, the our video, and vote for the project to win the CPRE Hampshire Choice Award by visiting: Hampshire Choice Award – CPRE Hampshire

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Sparkle at Stourhead This Christmas

Karen Neville

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Dazzling new artworks are set to light up the trail in Wiltshire this festive season

Excitement is building as Christmas at Stourhead returns from 29th November to 1st January – promising to be bigger, brighter, and more magical than ever before.

This year’s illuminated after-dark trail, created by Culture Creative and produced in partnership with Sony Music and the National Trust, will feature an array of dazzling new light installations guaranteed to enchant visitors of all ages.

This year’s trail is set to sparkle with new artistic innovations from internationally renowned creators, ensuring a festive experience like no other.

Among the new must-see features are:

Sea of Light by ITHACA Studio: An awe-inspiring large-scale display, where thousands of individually controlled LED light balls animate in harmony with a bespoke soundtrack, creating a mesmerizing and immersive experience.

Light a Wish by OGE Design Group: Capturing the whimsy of dandelion seeds floating through the air, this piece symbolises wishes taking flight, adding a touch of wonder to the trail. This playful and emotion-evoking installation by artists Merav Eitan and Gaston Zahr has captivated audiences worldwide.

Snowflake Show by Scot Gianelli: Huge snowflakes, up to five metres tall, will light up in time with festive music, casting a magical glow across the grounds. Designed by Scot Gianelli, a Los-Angeles-based lighting designer known for his work across theatre, fine art, and architecture, this display is sure to wow visitors.

These dazzling new artworks will join Stourhead’s already beloved illuminated trail, featuring a spectacular array of twinkling lights, sparkling tunnels, and vibrant woodland and lakeside displays.

The historic landscape will be filled with the scents and sounds of Christmas, offering visitors the chance to step into a winter wonderland like no other.

Whether you’re exploring with family, friends, or loved ones, this festive trail promises to create new memories against the breathtaking backdrop of one of the UK’s most iconic gardens.

There’s even a chance to catch a magical glimpse of Father Christmas as you stroll through the sparkling grounds.

With over a million twinkling lights transforming Stourhead’s stunning grounds, this is an unmissable event for your festive calendar.

For more information and to book tickets online please visit Christmas at Stourhead 2024 | My Christmas Trails

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Bella Hardy’s gift for storytelling

Karen Neville

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“Folk music for the modern age” is how Bella Hardy’s work has been described as you can discover for yourself at Grayshott Folk Club on Friday, 29th November

Bella Hardy is a singer-songwriter with a gift for storytelling, who has earned a reputation as a boundary-pushing artist whose work continues to evolve while staying deeply rooted in the traditions that shaped her.

Fans can expect a show that spans her remarkable career, with new songs (two to be released this autumn) sitting comfortably alongside classics from her extensive back catalogue. This is folk music for the modern age- rooted in tradition but unafraid to venture into new, uncharted, and very personal territory.

Bella says: “There’s something magical about performing live, where the songs can grow and change each night depending on the energy in the room. I’ll be performing a collection of songs very close to my heart, and there’s nothing like the energy of a live show to bring them to life.”

For anyone who’s seen Bella live, it’s clear that she’s an artist who knows how to captivate an audience. Her voice – at once powerful and delicate – has a way of drawing listeners in, making each performance feel like a conversation between old friends. And with award-winning guitarist Jenn Butterworth by her side for the first time, this tour promises to be something truly special.

Hardy’s debut album Night Visiting (2007) established her reputation as a talented songwriter when her first original composition Three Black Feathers earned a BBC Folk Award nomination. Since then, Bella has sung unaccompanied ballads at a sold out Royal Albert Hall, and learnt the songs of Chinese farmers during her time as British Council Musician in Residence in Yunnan Province. She’s sat on the moors of her beloved Peak District with only her fiddle for company. She spent a year in Tennessee as a ranch hand, looking after horses, fiddle-singing in the diners, and immersing herself in the music culture of Nashville. And she’s released ten solo albums along the way.  

With the ability to conjure and twist stories that call straight to the heart, her themes of displacement and home, lost and found love, heartache and joy, are delivered with her unique, disarming honesty, and, of course, the acclaimed crystalline voice that won her BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Singer of the Year. 

Don’t miss Bella at Grayshott Folk Club on Friday, 29th November, 7.30pm. Tickets £18 in person form Grayshott Post Office, from Des O’Byrne on 01428 607096 and online at Bella Hardy Hindhead Tickets at Grayshott Village Hall on 29th November 2024 | Ents24

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Festive fashion tips from Sustainably Styled

Karen Neville

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With the festive season fast approaching, those invitations to lunches, office parties and Christmas drinks start rolling in. So – what are you going to wear?! Lucy Briggs has the answer

Festive wear is all about the sparkle and glitter but do we really need to buy a new outfit for each occasion? Or can we get creative with our festive-wears especially when we think of the environmental impact of our clothing.

The fashion trends this year are very similar to previous years which means that most of us will have something to wear already. This season’s biggest colours are burgundy, red, green and grey. Party staples, layering and luxurious textures – velvet, lace and faux fur – can be updated with tailoring and leopard print! So, you can still feel current in your old Christmas jumper simply by pairing it with tailored wide-leg trousers and heels or leopard print jeans and metallic trainers!

However, if your body has changed (it happens to us all) and you no longer fit your partywear – what should you do? Sustainably move it on – sell online, donate to charity shops or take it along to a Clothes Swap – then you can replace items with an equally sustainable, secondhand option where the resources to make it have already been used! Charity shops, preloved sellers (online and boutiques) and clothes swaps have an abundance of partywear just waiting to be re-loved.

Regardless of trends, to look and feel your best, my advice is always a 3-step approach:

1. Know your best colours
2. Understand your body-shape
3. Nail your personal style

Knowing these three things can help you shop anywhere – high street, vintage, charity shops & clothes swaps – and help you save money, feel confident and love your wardrobe!

If you would like to see preloved styling in action, Tory (Transform with Colour) and I, Lucy (Sustainably Styled) will be hosting our Festive Sustainable Style & Swap evening. You’ll learn about colour and style whilst enjoying a glass of bubbles and then take part in the Festive Clothes Swap! Bring along those items you no longer wear and swap them for something ‘new to you’! Sequin clothing are definitely ones to bring along to keep in circulation! Plus, some ticket holders will be able to book mini sessions with us for personalised advice – spaces are limited!

So, bring your friends and come along to Festive Sustainable Style & Swap on Friday 22nd November, 7pm at The Northcourt Centre. There’ll also be gift stalls to kick start your present shopping. We look forward to seeing you there! Book at Festive Sustainable Style & Swap! Tickets, Fri 22 Nov 2024 at 19:00 | Eventbrite

More from Lucy at Sustainably Styled | Planet-Conscious Personal Styling

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Abingdon Drama Club’s seasonal ghost story

Karen Neville

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A spell binding evening awaits at The Unicorn, November 27th-30th as ADC stage A Christmas Carol. Kevin Thomson tells us more

Abingdon Drama Club’s last production – in their 80th anniversary year – is the seasonal tale A Christmas Carol.

One ghostly Christmas night, cold-hearted businessman Ebenezer Scrooge (Adam Blake) gets the fright of his life, discovers the truth about himself, and learns to love his neighbour.

This adaptation by David Edgar of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol rediscovers the social conscience of this timeless tale and through time jumps, a realisation of how Scrooge’s life was in the past, how it is going on around him in the present and the shock of what it will be in the future.

All the well-known characters are here and the extra element added to the original gives us an insight into the various parliamentary reports of the 1840s on abolishing rotten boroughs, establishing workhouses etc and how Dickens brings that to our attention.

Edgar’s clever (and amazing) adaptation is brought to the Unicorn stage by Abingdon Drama Club directed by one of the club’s finest directors, Susi Dalton.

Edgar has reinvented this most Victorian of stories and his masterstroke is having the author, Dickens (Terry Atkinson), tell the story with his editor and friend John Forster (Kieran Madden). The show begins with Dickens trying to write another book on poverty and child labour. Forster suggests this may be too bleak and sad for a Christmas time readership. The two of them construct the story in front of us, with themselves watching as the tale unfolds. This play’s wonderful device shows us how Dickens decided on the various scene.

Explaining why she wanted to direct this adaptation, director Susi Dalton says: “I love different versions of well-known classics and I directed another different version of A Christmas Carol at the school where I work, a few years ago. I decided to go with David Edgar’s version, not only to give myself new challenges, but also because I felt this version added something extra to the original we all know and love.”

She continues: “I am really looking forward to directing and seeing this version of A Christmas Carol with our wonderful actors, as I know they will help me make my vision a great success for Abingdon Drama Club.”

Tickets are £12pp, £10 concessions (60+, under-12s, students, ADC members). They are available from The Bookstore at 15 Bury Street in Abingdon or at abingdon-drama-club – Abingdon Drama Club – Passionate about performance

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Woodland wonders at Windsor Illuminated

Karen Neville

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Image: Mike Will

Follow the all-new trail design at this year’s Windsor Illuminated for the perfect evening out with family and friends, making festive memories

Discover a forest trail full of music and light where woodland creatures come to life and a whole host of festive moments will get you in the seasonal spirit at this year’s Windsor Illuminated.

Windsor Great Park illuminated returns for the fourth year with another magical trail, bringing the woodland to life with dazzling lights, breath-taking projections and flood-lit fountain shows.

Image: Eric Aydin Barberini

Image: Giles Smith

With a generous sparkle of new installations and a sprinkling of favourites returning, this year’s illuminations promise to be more magical than ever.

Follow a path through woodland awash with colour as sparkles of fireflies, luminous beacons and dancing fairies blaze the way, the lake alive with flood-lit fountains and glimmering reflections.

At a cosy rest spot, enjoy mouth-watering good food, mulled wine and hot chocolate or toast marshmallows at one of the fire pits. Top your evening off with a traditional fairground ride, fun for kids of all ages in the Festive Village. Slide down the epic Helter Skelter, take a turn on the Super Carousel or younger guests will enjoy a spin on the Mini Carousel and how about going up and around on the Big Wheel. Enjoy each ride for one token per person, per ride. Book in advance to save.

Everyone is welcome, the trail is dog friendly and every effort has been made to make the trail as inclusive as possible. As the trail is presented in the natural landscape some of the terrain through natural woodland is not suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters or buggies. This terrain will be particularly challenging in wet weather. The Trail is 2.2km long and will take approximately 1½ – 2 hours to walk, accounting for stops and refreshments along the way. If you would like to shorten your walk, please speak to event staff in a Hi Vis jacket an they will advise the alternative route/s. Please note that if you take a shorter path, you will miss some of the light displays.

Windsor Great Park Illuminated runs from Friday, 15th November until Saturday, 4th January.

Book at windsorilluminated.com/tickets 

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