Round & About Magazine

Author: Karen Neville

  • The Royal Windsor Dog Show

    The Royal Windsor Dog Show

    Karen Neville

    The crown jewel of canine exhibitions in aid of Battersea Old Windsor

    There’ll be more dogs than you can wag a fluffy tail at from June 26th to 29th at this year’s The Royal Windsor Dog Show. 

    With more than 200 breeds on show across the four days, it’s the perfect event for dog lovers, anyone thinking about getting a furry friend and to learn more about the many dog breeds, including some you may not have heard of. 

    With Windsor Castle as a backdrop and a ‘garden party’ atmosphere, this largest event of its kind in the south of England, is very popular with humans and their canine companions. 

    Try the ‘have a go’ agility and scent work, don’t miss cuddle corner where you can meet different breeds up close for a calming cuddle while the Groomers Spotlight will have demos and clinics to answer your dog grooming questions. 

    This year the show will also be celebrating Armed Forces Day on 28th with live music from the Silhouette Show vintage trio. Saturday and Sunday will also have a charity dog show which visitors can enter on the day. 

    Find out more about dog showing and the various activities you can get involved in with your own dog from expert members of the Kennel Club who will be on hand to help with your enquiries. 

    The dog show shopping village is full of doggy treats, grooming essentials as well as gifts and refreshments for humans including afternoon tea and how about Pimm’s on the lawn? 

    Full details & admission information at windsordogshow.com

  • High energy rhythms with symphony orchestra

    High energy rhythms with symphony orchestra

    Karen Neville

    Crowthorne Symphony Orchestra promise high-octane entertainment at All Saints Church, Wokingham next month

    It’s an all-American affair on Saturday, 5th July for Crowthorne Symphony Orchestra’s summer concert. 

    The evening features the return of soloist Daniel King Smith with the fabulous jazzy Gershwin Piano Concerto, Copland’s Rodeo, John Adams’ The Chairman Dances, Bernstein’s Overture to Candide and – as an antidote to the high energy – Barber’s beautiful Adagio for Strings.  

    The amateur orchestra based in Crowthorne attracts membership from Bracknell, Wokingham, Camberley, Ascot, Reading, and as far afield as Maidenhead, Aldershot, Newbury, Woking, Guildford and Andover. The enthusiastic, friendly group make music for enjoyment’s sake, but take rehearsals, practice and concerts seriously.  

    Director of Music Robert Roscoe joined the orchestra in 2007. Under Robert’s leadership, they have performed varied and challenging programmes including popular classics as well as less well-known pieces. They regularly invite soloists to join them. 

    If you are a competent player (even if you haven’t played for a while and would like to get back to it) and would like to join them, or would just like to know more about the orchestra then visit crowthorneorchestra.com 

    Tickets: £17, under 18 free for the concert at All Saints Church, Wiltshire Road, Wokingham RG40 1TN. Book at tickettailor.com/events/crowthornesymphonyorchestra/ 
    1455011/r/RAA

  • Bracknell Forest Community Climate Summits

    Bracknell Forest Community Climate Summits

    Karen Neville

    The Bracknell Forest Community Climate Summits, July 16th and 18th, invite you to share your thoughts about the local environment and how to live sustainably  

    The annual Bracknell Forest Community Climate Summits will be returning next month. Building on the vision of a sustainable Bracknell Forest that was developed at last year’s summit, this year’s sessions will help shape the community’s strategy for climate action and adaption. This will be lead by Bracknell Forest Community Climate Action (BFCCA), a new charity spearheading the borough-wide response. 

    After an introduction and scene setting from representatives from BFCCA, the summits will feature a talk from Professor Ian Candy from Royal Holloway University. He will discuss climate change and provide an overview of potential impacts. This will be followed by a choice of a workshop on one of five key climate impacting themes: Buildings & Energy, Transport, The Natural Environment, Greening the Economy, or Health & Wellbeing. Amongst others, these workshops will cover activities such as an electric vehicle myth busting quiz, a talk on building a net-zero energy system, our place amongst nature, or steps we can all take for a sustainable and healthy diet. Our host institutions will also discuss practical examples that they have made to save on their energy costs and improve their carbon footprints. 

    Along with refreshments, we will have ‘market place’ stalls for information on local sustainability and nature activities, and show-and-tell demonstrations. There will be networking opportunities to engage with residents and local organisations, using these to improve understanding of key issues/topics, and promote the schemes, initiatives and resources that they can offer. 

    Underlying all these activities, we will be asking for your thoughts on where you feel we should be heading with our Community Climate Emergency Strategy. These are the steps that you feel are important in helping us reach our shared vision: 

    “All communities in Bracknell Forest will work together to live sustainably, making green choices, and we will achieve net zero as close to 2030 as possible.” 

    The summit is being repeated over two days, one during an afternoon and the other over an evening, to ensure that as many people as possible can attend. It is a free event, and open to all who live in, work, or visit Bracknell Forest, including local residents, representatives from local businesses, community groups, charities, schools, and public sector institutions. 

    The dates and venues are: Wednesday, 16th July, 5-9pm at The Kerith Centre, Bracknell and Friday, 18th July, 12.30-4.30pm at Wellington College, Crowthorne. 

    Booking is essential. Please register your interest at https://tinyurl.com/43ynzz7s 

    Cllr Adrain Haffegee 

  • Saddle up for Newbury Cycle Festival

    Saddle up for Newbury Cycle Festival

    Karen Neville

    Get on your bike and join in the fun at the inaugural Newbury Cycle Festival on Saturday, 14th June

    Newbury Town Centre will host its first Newbury Cycle Festival celebrating 100 years of cycling for Newbury Road Club and you’re all invited to this wheel-y fabulous event. 

    The free event will feature a mass parade of cycles through Northbrook Street, led by vintage bikes from the last 100 years, to which anyone, riding any bike, is invited to participate. The Parade will be followed by an afternoon of free and fun, family-friendly, cycling-related activities in Victoria Park. 

    The festival marks a centenary in the saddle for Newbury Road Club, and is jointly organised with fellow local cycling clubs, Newbury Velo and West Berkshire Spokes. It promises visitors the opportunity to try exciting activities, meet other cyclists, and celebrate all things bikes. 

    The festival starts at 1pm with a vibrant Cycle Parade through Northbrook Street and the Market Place. It is open to cyclists of all ages and abilities, and participants are encouraged to dress up and decorate their bikes; prizes will be awarded to the best in show. 

    Pre-register to take part in the family-friendly ride led by a display of vintage bicycles. All are invited, whether you ride a classic, an e-bike or even a kids balance bike, it’s open to all ages and abilities. The parade is free to enter, pre-register at newburycyclefestival.co.uk/event-details/newbury-cycle-festival-grand-cycle-parade-3 

    Activities then move to Victoria Park with plenty of opportunity for some hands-on, cycle-related fun. With tandem rides, a mini-mountain bike obstacle course, free coaching, pedal-powered smoothie bikes, use bikes to control and power Scalextric cars, get on track with a Pedal-Powered jukebox and much more… there will be something for everyone. 

    The festival will be attended by local cycle retailers, national cycle organisations, as well as many health and well-being organisations. It’s a chance to chat with experts and cycle clubs, get top tips from cycle mechanics and discover the physical, mental, and environmental benefits of getting on a bike. Explore the best of Newbury cycling and soak up the festival buzz. 

    Come for the bikes, bring your wheels and stay for the all-day fun. More at newburycyclefestival.co.uk 

    For more about Newbury Road Club visit newburyroadclub.co.uk 

  • Get Ascot ready with QueenMee Accessories

    Get Ascot ready with QueenMee Accessories

    Karen Neville

    Chic boutique at John Lewis Oxford Street showcases stunning head pieces to top off your race outfit

    QueenMee Accessories, the Marlow-based boutique accessories company, is popping up in John Lewis Oxford Street to mark Royal Ascot.

    Until 22nd June QueenMee will be showcasing sparkling headband designs in the iconic store’s first floor Accessories department.

    Acclaimed British designer Daniel Fletcher returns as Creative Director of Royal Ascot 2025. Having captivated audiences last year with a fresh approach to the revered dress codes; this year he is inviting racegoers to view dressing up not just as tradition, but as an act of personal expression.

    This year’s Ascot lookbook elevates the very essence of what it means to dress for a moment. “I wanted to push the creative boundaries even further,” Fletcher says. “To celebrate individuality, honour tradition, and encourage people to feel seen in what they wear.”

    QueenMee Founder, Amanda Waterstone Carthy says: “QueenMee’s brand ethos is about personal expression, aligning beautifully with Daniel Fletcher’s vision for Royal Ascot 2025. The collection includes an eclectic range of colours and motifs. I design with my customers’ self-expression in mind, enabling her to choose an accessory that celebrates her signature style, and step into the most radiant and authentic version of herself.

    “I’m delighted to be showcasing my collection at John Lewis Oxford Street for Royal Ascot, and I look forward to helping John Lewis customers choose a headpiece that celebrates their individuality and vibrancy.

    “I grew up a stone’s throw from this iconic department store and loved browsing the womenswear collections in the store and dreaming of becoming a designer when I was a child. Showcasing my collection here is certainly a childhood dream come true.”

  • Petersfield Physic Garden: Petersfield’s best-kept secret

    Petersfield Physic Garden: Petersfield’s best-kept secret

    Karen Neville

    Volunteer gardener Melanie Oxley invites us to explore Petersfield Physic Garden on its 35th anniversary weekend

    Petersfield Physic Garden will celebrate its 35th anniversary with a whole weekend of events marking the official opening in 1990. 

    Events will start at 10.30am on Saturday, 21st June with an official opening by Pippa Greenwood, Gardener’s Question Time’s expert. There will be an exhibition about the creation of the garden, an exhibition of children’s art, and a fun butterfly quiz for all the family. Families can relax on rugs in the orchard and music from the period will be played. 

    Our volunteer gardeners will be on hand to show you the plants, most of which have medicinal properties. On Sunday 22nd, from 10.30am, there will be an opportunity for residents to fill their own borders from a Grand Plant Sale. Both days finish at 4.30pm. 

    The private garden is open to the public, re-created in the style of a medieval medicinal garden, that was bequeathed to Petersfield by Major John Bowen in 1988. It opened as Petersfield Physic Garden in 1990. Inspired by Chelsea Physic Garden, the newly formed Friends group decided to re-create a 17th Century style garden in three distinct sections and fulfil Major Bowen’s purpose, to provide a garden for education, enjoyment and conservation. 

    Known locally, and variously, as The Psychic Garden, The Physics Garden, even a ‘cut-through to the car-park’, the garden is mainly known as Petersfield’s best-kept secret.  

    Physic gardens owe their name to the plants grown in them which were considered to contain medicinal properties. The plants were laid out in a formal pattern of herb beds. There is also a topiary walk, a knot garden, and an informal orchard with wild flowers and rose arches. Plants were introduced from the New World in the C17th and included in the borders are shrubs, roses and herbaceous plants from that period. 

    Although it has charitable status, Petersfield Physic Garden is funded entirely by donation and is run by volunteers. In order to keep the garden open and in good repair there is a need for more help. We have half-day vacancies for stewards who greet visitors, look after sales and provide information. We could also do with a few more gardeners! On site there is a small office, a meeting room, a kitchen and washroom facilities. You would be very comfortable in this role! 

    Find out more about the celebrations & to volunteer visit petersfieldphysicgarden.org.uk 

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  • Petersfield Golf Club raises funds for Dementia Friendly Petersfield

    Petersfield Golf Club raises funds for Dementia Friendly Petersfield

    Karen Neville

    This year Petersfield Golf Club is doing more than just playing great golf – it’s rallying behind a deeply meaningful cause. 

     With newly appointed Club Captain Iain Thomson and Ladies’ Captain Jackie Carter, the club has chosen to dedicate most of its fundraising efforts to Dementia Friendly Petersfield, a local volunteer-run charity offering vital support to individuals and families living with dementia. The club in Tankerdale Lane will also be supporting Air Ambulance, another very worthy cause. 

    For Jackie, this mission is personal. Her father, Charles Maddison, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s after a series of concerning incidents, including one when he arrived at the wrong house. “There’s a lot of denial at first,” Jackie shares. “But once my mum encouraged him to seek help, we were eventually given a diagnosis. From there, we had to learn how to navigate life as dementia slowly took its toll, particularly my lovely mum Shirley who was his main carer.” 

    Jackie’s story is sadly familiar to many – her father gradually lost the ability to speak and communicate, yet amid the struggle, there were moments of enjoyment. A Royal Navy veteran, Charles, pictured, found comfort in routine, watching the sea from their flat in Southsea, walking the same route every day and, amusing to all the family, watching the same episode of Neighbours twice a day which gave Jackie’s mum a moment of respite. With support from a daycare centre and dedicated carers, Jackie’s family found the strength to manage, with the family pulling together to care for their dad. 

    That experience, shared by others at the club – including three former ladies’ captains who have had or are living with dementia, and Captain Iain Thomson, whose father had vascular dementia – has inspired a year-long fundraising campaign that’s already off to an incredible start. Since April, Petersfield Golf Club have raised over £2,300, with hopes of reaching at least £10,000 by the end of the year. 

    But for Iain and Jackie, fundraising is only part of the mission. Equally important is raising awareness. One of the club’s flagship events will be a free Dementia Awareness Day at Petersfield Golf Club in the clubhouse on Friday, 20th June, from 10.30am to noon, open to all and hosted by MP Damian Hinds. 

    As Jackie says: “This is for my special dad and for everyone who has faced the difficult road of dementia with courage and love.” 

    Book your place

    To book a place on the Dementia Awareness Day please ring Alex at Petersfield Golf Club on 01730 895165 Ext 1 or email: admin@petersfieldgolfclub.co.uk 

    For further information about Dementia Friendly Petersfield, please contact secretary Audrey Morton on 07966 759929.

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  • Shere garden glory at open day

    Shere garden glory at open day

    Karen Neville

    Enjoy a quintessentially English afternoon in a picturesque village admiring the  beauty of the gardens open to the public

    Shere’s gardeners have been busy preparing for Sunday, 29th June, when they will be inviting you to view a selection of magical private gardens to help raise money for local causes and Cherry Trees respite care.   

    If you haven’t already been, Shere is one of the most picturesque villages in Surrey, nestling at the foot of the North Downs between Guildford and Dorking, and well worth a visit. 

    Whether you are a keen gardener or simply curious to see behind the lichen covered walls and manicured hedges, Shere Open Gardens has something for everyone. This event provides a glimpse of quintessential England and allows you to enjoy an afternoon wandering around gorgeous gardens in full bloom. There is enormous variety, from small, sheltered courtyards with enchanting flowering pots and containers, classic cottage gardens festooned with roses, hydrangeas and lupins, to lush waterside gardens with verdant shade loving planting. 

    Refreshments are offered by the cricket club’s flamboyant Pimm’s stall beside the river Tillingbourne, and in the village hall Shere School parents will be serving delicious home-made cakes and tea with the opportunity to take the weight off your feet! Outside, the plant stall, run by Cherry Trees respite care, delivers the chance to take home a souvenir plant or two or possibly more.  

    Strolling between each garden through the pretty streets of Shere will allow you to view the charming historic village buildings many of which are listed. St James’s Church with its Lutyens lychgate dates to the 12th century.  Shere Museum has a fine collection of artefacts highlighting Shere’s connection with the film industry, the bouncing bomb, as well as, it goes without saying, gardening implements from times gone by. 

    Shere Open Gardens first started raising funds for local causes and charities in 1978, since when it has always proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a glorious summer’s afternoon. 

    Location: Shere, off A25 halfway between Guildford and Dorking 

    Date: Sunday, 29th June 

    Time: 2pm-6pm 

    Free Parking: Well signposted 

    Entry: Adults £10 on the day, over 65s £8, children under 16 free. Discounted tickets can be purchased online in advance – Adults £9. 

    More information and advance tickets:  shereopengardens.co.uk 

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  • Guildford High Street’s summer cycle races

    Guildford High Street’s summer cycle races

    Karen Neville

    The streets of Guildford will be alive with the sounds of cyclists in the Town Centre Races next month. Will Readhead from Charlotteville Cycling Club tells us more

    Guildford’s historic cobbled High Street will once again host an action-packed evening of cycle racing on Wednesday, 9th July.   

    These Town Centre Races have been a long-standing feature of summers in the Surrey town, and this year’s event is predicted to be bigger and better than ever. 

    The races were conceived as a way of celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Charlotteville Cycling Club in 1983, but permission wasn’t granted in time, and so the first race was held a year later on 11th July 1984. The Guildford cycle races have run almost annually ever since, becoming part of British Cycling’s National Circuit Series in 2023, and from this year, part of the new Rapha Super League. Now sponsored by Canyon, the Guildford races attract some of the best riders and teams from across the UK. 

    But the racing isn’t reserved for the elite and, since its inception, Guildford’s Town Centre Races has strived to be a fun, family-friendly event with the focus on atmosphere, entertainment and a great evening out – in fact in its first year, the programme included a display of vintage cycles, and a race for newspaper boys and girls from the Surrey Advertiser! This inclusive approach has developed over time so that today the event includes races for everyone from Under 8s to local amateur cyclists (although they must hold a 3rd Category racing license). 

    This year, racing starts at around 5.45pm with the boys and girls under 8s races, who will compete over two laps of the course, and culminates with the Women’s Grand Prix race at 7.30pm and the Open Grand Prix at around 8.30pm, both of which will last for just under an hour. 

    All races start and finish outside Holy Trinity Church at the top of the High Street, with each lap comprising an initial sprint along the Upper High Street, before navigating a hairpin turn, returning back towards the start, and then turning right to descend on North Street, before a difficult left turn onto Market Street and a stiff climb up the cobbles of the High Street to get back to the start. 

    The circuit is fast and technical and offers one of the few opportunities in the UK for riders to race a town centre criterium with some cobblestones thrown in to add to the excitement.  

    It’s free for spectators, and roads are closed to traffic from early afternoon, so head down early, bring friends and family and perhaps have dinner or drinks in one of the many cafes, bars and restaurants whilst enjoying an exciting summer evening of racing in the historic town centre. 

    For more information, visit guildfordcrit.co.uk. Local businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Austin Bell at austin@bellandspoke.com 

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  • Future dance stars with Ballet Central

    Future dance stars with Ballet Central

    Karen Neville

    Young dancers’ programme features classic and cutting edge performances

    Ballet Central is back on tour bringing an exciting programme showcasing the talent of future stars at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre on Thursday, 12th June. 

    This year’s company consists of 38 young dancers, many of whom will make their debut on a professional stage in a repertoire which crafts heritage with cutting edge. This touring company gives Central Shool of Ballet’s students the opportunity or professional performance experience. 

    The mixed programme combines classical ballet with more contemporary pieces. Frederick Ashton’s restaged Foyer de Danse is being staged for the first time in more than 90 years, bringing to life Degas paintings and pastels of Paris Opera House. 

    In contrast Ballet Central is also performing two works from Dickson Mbi and creative duo Thick & Tight. The ultra-contemporary innovative creation from Dickson Mbi explores the practises of ritual and shared human experience, striving to shine a light on what is next to come. Thick & Tight’s Keeping Up with the Apocalypse combines dance, theatre and mime. Set on Planet Earth of the future, only one species remains, The Kardashians, famous for being famous and living on money alone, they dominate a decimated planet. 

    Kristen McNally’s Feast is the fourth piece. Boasting a new musical composition, it allows the audience a glimpse of a colourful community. 

    The Ballet Central Tour is the perfect introduction to dance for audiences of all ages. Book tickets at yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/whats-on/ballet-central 

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