Sobell House Hospice postcards exhibition

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

Flex your artistic skills for a special exhibition in aid of hospice nurse training, inspired by Beth Foreman

My Lovely Postcards is a poignant art exhibition and auction raising money for Beth’s Bursary Fund, set up in memory of 32-year-old Beth Foreman. 

Beth from Watlington tragically lost her battle with bowel cancer in 2016 having been cared for at Sobell House Hospice. Her family set up the fund in her name which is used by nurses and healthcare professionals to access further training and develop skills to continually improve palliative care standards and services. 

Beth’s younger brother Jonas explained: “Beth’s Bursary Fund continues to fund palliative carers to receive the additional specialist training that enables them to deliver the extra support that makes such a difference at life end, as it did for Beth, when she was in Sobell House. Focusing on replenishing the fund continues to keep Beth’s memory very much alive, just as she was so vital and alive for the family and friends in her life.” 

Professional and budding artists and creatives are invited to submit postcard-sized artwork to the My Lovely Postcards exhibition that will fund the training for end-of-life nurses. Since it was launched in 2017, it has raised nearly £90,000 and funded training for 52 nurses and clinical staff. The exhibition name came from Beth’s dad, Neil, who used the term “my lovely” with Beth. 

Guy, Beth’s older brother, said: “Beth was extremely creative so an art exhibition was the perfect fit. It’s also really inclusive. Not everyone can run a marathon or enjoys physical challenges. Therefore we encourage people to get involved and help make this a great exhibition and a successful auction.” 

Beth Marsh, Director of Fundraising at Sobell House Hospice, said: “Whether art is your profession or simply a hobby, we welcome pieces from everyone. We’e previously secured artwork also from internationally renowned artists and celebrities including Dame Judi Dench and Mel Giedroyc which we hope to do again. Most importantly, the money raised from your art will provide vital funds to the hospice.”  

Neale Conner, Senior Specialist Occupational Therapist at Sobell House, said: “Beth’s Bursary enabled me to attend the Level 2 Psychological Skills course. This course reinforced and expanded my knowledge and skills in being able to holistically support patients in difficult and emotional situations. It also helped with personal and professional reflection helping me to maintain my resilience in my work.” 

For more details and to submit artwork – by 4th April – visit sobellhouse.org/fundraise/my-lovely-postcards-2025 .

The postcard-sized pieces of art will be displayed from 3rd to 5th May at The Cloister Gallery at SJE, Iffley Road, Oxford, OX4 1EH. Artwork will then be available to buy via an online auction between 1st & 25th May. 

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You’re invited to Abigail’s Party

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

Mike Leigh’s classic play Abigail’s Party finally hits the big time in the wonderful old Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon with Abingdon Drama Club, March 26th-29th. Kevin Thomson sends out the invites 

First aired in 1977, Abigail’s Party is a dark comedy set in 1970s suburban England which pokes fun at the manners, the aspirations and the tastes of the new middle classes.  

It takes place in Essex, “theoretical Romford” as Leigh called it. Beverley Moss (Laura King), an ex-department store cosmetics demonstrator, invites her new neighbours, Angela (Erin Sanders), a nurse and Tony (Fred Cox-Denning), a computer operator, over for drinks. She has also invited her neighbour Susan (Rachel Morris), divorced for three years, whose 15-year-old daughter Abigail is holding her own party at home (offstage). Beverley’s husband Laurence (Chris Bedford), an estate agent, comes home late from work, just before the guests arrive.   

The party starts rather slowly as the virtual strangers tentatively gather, until Beverley and Laurence start sniping at each other. As the evening continues, Beverley’s superficial charm and passive aggression create a tension-filled atmosphere. She serves more drinks and she and Laurence continue to try to score points off each other (and their neighbours). The guests endure awkward conversations, forced politeness, and escalating conflicts, fuelled by alcohol and Beverley’s relentless need to control the evening.  

Beverley and Laurence are both aspiring, both pretentious in their own different ways. Laurence longs for intellectual stimulation, whereas Beverley is consumer-orientated, being delighted with her rotisserie, which she hasn’t actually used yet. They’re not monsters, but they can be monstrous. Leigh’s skill is in making it all feel just a little too close to home, which can make you feel guilty in laughing so much.  

ADC’s director Terry Atkinson shares why he wanted to direct Abigail’s Party. “It’s one of the truly great black comedies”, he said, “It’s a snapshot of mid to late 70s middle class UK suburbia. I like pieces that have a nostalgic feel.”  

Were there any unusual challenges with this production? “Period 1979 decor, furniture, clothing, drinks labels and the elephant in the room, everyone smoked! The audience will have to use their imaginations when it comes to smoke! I nearly had to get my flares out!”  

Voted by industry professionals as the 11th greatest British TV programme, it has seen many revivals with the latest being this production from Abingdon Drama Club. A fabulous evening’s entertainment awaits!  

Get your tickets

Tickets: £15, £12 concessions (60+, Under 12s, students, ADC members)  

Tickets available from: The Bookstore, The Abingdon Precinct (15 Bury Street), Abingdon or online at abingdon-drama-club.com

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Ben Dobson’s charity run for Macmillan

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

Wormley runner shares his highly personal reason for running 2,853 miles

In December 2019 I was diagnosed with a rare cancerous tumour in the right side of my face. In 2020, my sibling was diagnosed with breast cancer.  

Thankfully, 18 months later, after radiotherapy and two, lengthy surgical procedures, I was given the all clear. Unfortunately, the treatment left me with life-changing injuries including severe trismus (lockjaw), making simple tasks like eating, challenging. Throughout both our illnesses, and subsequent recoveries, Macmillan was an unforgettable, constant source of strength and support whenever called upon. 

To say thank you I had planned to take on a roughly 3,000 mile solo run on March 1st from Los Angeles to New York pushing my equipment and supplies in a modified stroller.  

Sadly, after eight months of dedicated planning and training on January 8th I suffered a medical emergency which has left me unable to travel abroad. Needless to say, I’m devastated. Despite this set-back, I still fully intend to cover the same mileage for Macmillan, but here in the UK. So on March 1st, I will start the 2,853 mile challenge in Minehead, running the 630 mile south west coastal path, which will take around 30 days. After that, probably the South Downs Way and then other routes until the mileage has been achieved. I’m hoping to complete the challenge in around five to six months, all going well. 

Please help me to raise £10,000 for Macmillan, a truly life-saving charity. Donate to Ben at justgiving.com/page/benrunsamerica 

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Spotlight on Petersfield Musical Festival

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

Book your tickets for this year’s Petersfield Musical Festival, eight days of spectacular performances from talented musicians, March 14th – 22nd

The 2025 Petersfield Musical Festival promises a rich array of musical entertainment including two full-scale choral works, an opera, a family concert, Chamber choir, a brass band and the Hampshire Police Male Voice choir. 

The eight-day Festival starts on Friday, 14th March and continues until Saturday 22nd; it showcases nine concerts involving hundreds of singers and performers, 10 soloists and eight different conductors or musical directors. PMF is a registered charity with a mission to promote high quality music in the community and provide a platform for promising new talent by funding student musicians in various stages of their careers.  

Most concerts will take place in the Festival Hall, a purpose-built concert hall which is the envy of many larger towns and cities in the area. However more intimate chamber concerts will be held in St Peter’s Church, including Vox Cantab directed by Louisa Denby, a former Churcher’s student (19th March). There will also be a lunch-time recital in the Church by recipients of a grant from the MHFYM (Michael Hurd Fund for Young Musicians) – up and coming young students who have been helped in their musical journey by a bursary towards buying an instrument or attending a course.  

Book-ending the Festival will be two flagship choral concerts which bring together local choirs from Rogate, Fernhurst, Petersfield together with independent singers. The first (14th March) features Vivaldi’s ever popular Gloria, Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, combined with Haydn’s ‘Creation’ Mass. Paul Spicer will conduct Southern Pro Musica. Highlight of the final concert (22nd March) is Vaughan Williams’ powerful plea for peace, Dona Nobis Pacem, also conducted by Paul Spicer.  

Petersfield Orchestra takes the stage on Thursday, 20th March under the baton of Robin Browning with a concert of classical war-horses, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.5, (Emperor), and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10.  

There is bound to be fun for all at this year’s Family Concert with the theme Dancing through the Movies – children can come dressed as their favourite film character and there will be music from Harry Potter and Sleeping Beauty. In addition, the Youth concerts give centre stage to up-and-coming school children who will be showing off their skills through song and instrumental pieces to include Matilda, Simon & Garfunkel and Flanders and Swann.  

Several PMF concerts regularly sell out, get your tickets at petersfieldmusialfestival.org.uk 

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West End Village Society History Project

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

West End History Project is spreading its wings to build a collection of digital images to add to the 4,000 prints collected and as Guy Consterdine tells us they want your input  

The village of West End has benefited from the History Project for 20 years: the gathering of photographs and documents of the village spanning the last hundred years or so.   

Initiated and run by John Smith, pictured, it has amassed an immensely valuable collection, including over 4,000 print photographs, which have been used for mounting fascinating displays of historic photographs at fetes, agricultural shows, in Surrey Heath’s Heritage Centre and West End Social Club. The collection has also been the source for numerous articles written by John for local media. John is now retiring from the Project.   

West End Village Society (WEVS) is taking it into a new phase. We will build our own digital collection of photographs. Unlike John’s archive of printed images which are not accessible for residents to examine, the WEVS collection will be freely available online on a new section of WEVS’ website.   

WEVS will set up the resources for digitising the photos and publishing them online, for open access. The project will be led by Johan Schoeman, Savitri Kegge and myself.   

We would be pleased if residents would send us any photographs they have of events or views in West End, from the early years of photography through to the present, and of course into the future as the months go by. They can be in any form: prints, slides or negatives, or digital images. Prints, negatives and slides will be digitised and the originals returned. The information we would like about each image (as far as possible) is title, photographer, date, and description including identifying any people. Please send the photos to Johan at historyproject@wevs.org.uk or contact Johan to discuss them.  

In addition to being an historic collection available for anyone to browse online at any time, the project will be a resource for articles, displays and presentations, complementing John Smith’s original archives.  

An online demonstration of some images already in our collection was given at the WEVS AGM on 18th February in the Sports Pavilion, Benner Lane, West End. The photographs may be accessed through the WEVS website, wevs.org.uk 

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The best of the Surrey Hills

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

Enjoy four major events celebrating local food & drink, arts & craft and countryside living 

Embrace everything the Surrey Hills has to offer with a calendar of events for 2025 showcasing the best of what’s on our doorstep. 

From hands-on experiences to inspiring demonstrations, each event will put the spotlight on Surrey’s talented artisans, rich heritage, and spectacular surroundings – all while encouraging the protection of our precious landscapes. With something for everyone, these events promise fun-filled days out for families, friends, and anyone who wants to explore the heart of Surrey Hills.  

Step back in time at the Surrey Hills Spring Fair, where rural traditions and steam-powered magic come to life in the first event of the year, April 5th & 6th. The vibrant celebration includes hands-on activities, demonstrations from blacksmiths to steam-powered machinery, artisan markets, live music, and fun activities for the whole family. Immerse yourself in Surrey’s rich countryside heritage offering a true journey into the past and even a ride behind a steam locomotive. 

Surrey Hills Country Fair is a new event dedicated to modern countryside skills and living at Merrist Wood College, Guildford. Experience the innovative side of rural life, meet local producers, and enjoy activities like animal care, arboriculture, and sustainable land management. A fantastic family event with tractor rides, pony rides, tree climbing, and more. Young people can explore what’s on offer at Merrist Wood College through interactive demonstrations in horticulture, arboriculture, and animal management on June 21st & 22nd. 

The much-loved celebration of woodcraft returns for the 15th year at Surrey Hills Wood Fair, September 13th & 14th. From timber demonstrations to woodland-inspired creations, this event at Cranleigh Showground brings together the best of local rural craftspeople with a focus on sustainability and conservation. Expect to see Viking and medieval encampments, axe throwing, bushcraft sessions, and tree climbing, adding an adventurous and historical element to the festivities.  

A second new event of the year takes place at Hogsback Brewery, Tongham, when the Surrey Hills Food & Fire Fair will ignite your senses with live-fire, food and outdoor living, local brews, and cosy fire pits on October 18th & 19th. This two-day event in collaboration with The BBQ Magazine is a feast for the senses, featuring barbecue masterclasses, live music, artisan stalls, food & drink demos from Surrey Hills producers, s’mores, and hot cider around the fire pits, and even a unique Hogsback beer brewed just for this event.  

Maggie Howell, CEO of Surrey Hills Enterprises, said: “These events are all about discovering the best of what’s on our doorstep, from food and crafts to countryside experiences. They’re also a fantastic opportunity to support local businesses and learn more about our precious landscapes.”  

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Treasure trove in Send and Ripley

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

Clare McCann tells us about Send & Ripley History Society’s 50th anniversary and one of the smallest museums in the country

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the formation of Send & Ripley History Society. Founded originally as the Send History Society we were soon having regular monthly meetings and immediately began the production of a bi-monthly journal – and are about to publish edition 300. Membership soon built up to over 200 and after 10 years the members decided to expand the reach to include Ripley. We now have some 350 members. 

The first journal announced that one of the objectives was ‘to add to the intellectual and social life of the village’ and reported that at its first meeting the Society had established specialist groups focusing on local buildings, genealogy, archeology as well as natural and social history. Ken Bourne, the first chairman, summarised the key goal as ‘increasing our knowledge of local history and helping to preserve our heritage’. 

After a half century – on a very modest budget and with a relatively small group of volunteers – we have a fully accredited museum – one of the smallest in the country – and have certainly fulfilled that initial promise to help preserve our heritage by building up an impressive resource of research material. This includes our collection of over 7,000 photographs; buildings reports on most of the local buildings of architectural or historic interest; 300 indexed journals packed with articles of interest to buildings researchers, genealogists and social historians.  

We also have a treasure trove of local documents covering church registers of births, marriages, deaths and burials; census reports; trade directories and court and manorial documents transcribed and even translated from the medieval Latin, then painstakingly indexed – some of these only available from our collection. In the past couple of years we have begun digitising these records to preserve them for future researchers. 

We have continued to provide services to local schools and have published an impressive list of books and short films whilst staying true to the original objective of ‘adding to the social life’ of the villages. We have achieved this through our regular, well-attended meetings and outings and our popular journal, which won the British Association of Local Historians’ award for best local history magazine in 2021. 

As part of the anniversary celebrations, Send & Ripley History Society are staging an exhibition focussing on the 1970s – polyester, platforms, power cuts & punk which runs until the end of March. The museum, to the right of Ripley Village Hall is open every Saturday, 10am-12pm or by appointment. Call Clare on 01483 728546. More at sendandripleyhistorysociety.co.uk 

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Yvonne Arnaud Play Your Part campaign

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

Renovation work at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre is now in full swing developing the much-loved theatre as a cultural hub

This year the Yvonne Arnaud turns 60. Help the theatre be there for future generations by supporting the Play Your Part campaign to ensure it meets the needs of the community for the next 60 years. 

The theatre is building new multi-purpose spaces for wider community and artistic benefit providing an artistic resource and a safe space for many communities to participate in the thrill and delight of live theatre and arts activities, enabling people of all ages to come together, whether they choose to see a play, take part in a workshop or event, or meet a friend for coffee.  

The project will: 

• Improve accessibility throughout the front of house areas including the provision of a lift to all floors. New accessible toilets have already been added. 

• Create a multipurpose accessible community room for engagement activities, events, rehearsals and workshops.  

• Remodel the theatre’s public spaces to make them fit-for-purpose to meet the growing demand for these areas.   

• Improve its environmental sustainability by replacing outdated electrical and mechanical services with energy efficient alternative.  

In June 2023 the theatre received £3m from Surrey County Council’s Your Fund Surrey which added to the £2.28m raised to date. The theatre still needs to generate a further £715,000 in order to complete the planned works and asks you to please consider donating to help the theatre reach its target.  

Work is due for completion in the summer, the theatre’s 60th anniversary year. To celebrate, the Yvonne Arnaud and Guildford Shakespeare Company have partnered for two ambitious and exciting productions running from 10th to 26th July: The Comedy of Errors and A Company of Rascals. Performed simultaneously on both the Main Stage and in promenade around the theatre, inside and out, this will be an unmissable theatrical event for the town. 

The theatre will remain open this spring and summer whilst most of the work is done and has devised a building programme that still brings you the best in drama, comedy, family shows and entertainment. The new Riverbank Kitchen at the rear of the ground floor has now come to life and is open Tuesdays to Saturdays for delicious homemade cakes, light bites and lunches.

You can find out more and donate at yvonne-arnaud.co.uk, or by speaking to a member of the Box Office team on 01483 440000.   

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Get into gear with Fleet Lions

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

The Lions Club of Fleet are revving up for the 38th Classic Motorcycle Run and Concours on bank holiday Monday, 5th May

Get the bike out of the garage! Change the oil! Check the plugs! And give it a polish!, unless it is in wonderful “as original” condition, then please don’t show it the polishing rag it will have a heart attack! 

Impassioned words from Fleet Lions who are looking forward to this year’s motorcycle run. The event normally attracts well over 200 entrants with bikes ranging from the early 1900’s to the later classics, with condition varying from untouched original to gleaming concours restoration. Riders come from far and wide around the South East to take part, as it has become a well-established event in the enthusiasts calendar. 

If you have been before but not for the last few years or are a virgin in the classic bike world, join the Lions for their 38th run from the car park around the Hampshire and Berkshire countryside and returning for the Concours in the afternoon. 

The route will be the tried, tested and much loved route that has been ridden for many years, which if you have not been before uses good country roads, not one-track lanes with loose gravel in the middle. 

The event returned last year after a four-year hiatus and despite the slightly damp weather around 100 passionate bike enthusiasts with an impressive array of machines ranging from 50cc to 1,000cc joined in.  

One of those taking part Sarah recalled: “I’ve been coming to the Classic Bike Rally for over a decade, and this year was extra special. After the long break, seeing familiar faces and the incredible variety of bikes brought back so many wonderful memories. My favourite moment was when my son, who is now old enough to ride, joined me on his own bike. It was a proud and emotional experience for both of us.” 

Fleet Lions expect to have several hundred amazing bikes for this year’s event enjoying a fabulous ride out at 11am before returning for judging by 2.15pm. Riders arrive between 9.30am and 10.30am. Hot rolls and drinks will be available.  

The Run will start at The Key car park, Elvetham Heath, Fleet GU51 1HA and after approximately one mile will follow the tried and tested marked route out to the Hampshire / Berkshire borders using good but not too busy roads before returning to Fleet on the second part of the run for judging the Concours, a good chat, the raffle and prize-giving of the Concours classes.  

Bring your bike along and join them or just go along and watch. To book your place visit fleetlions.org.uk/booking29 

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Book for Farnham Literary Festival

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

Enjoy more than 50 different events taking place across over a dozen venues from March 6th-16th at this year’s Farnham Literary Festival as co-rdinator Theresa Gooda tells us

More than 100 authors, performers and presenters will descend upon Farnham for the 2025 Farnham Literary Festival this spring.  

Straight out of the jungle and headlining this year’s festival is the cleric, broadcaster, and writer, the Reverend Richard Coles. We will also be welcoming literary novelist Louis De Bernières, (best known for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin) in the opening weekend and bestselling children’s author David Walliams joins the festival line-up for the final weekend. 

For crime devotees, Kate Summerscale (The Suspicions of Mr Whicher), BBC’s Death in Paradise writer Robert Thorogood, and psychological thriller author Nicci French will all make an appearance, plus B.A. Paris and Guy Morpuss. 

Country Living columnist Sally Coulthard is set to discuss all things nature, while John Long will get his teeth into the secret history of sharks. We’re also delighted to welcome Lennie Goodings to talk about the history of groundbreaking feminist publisher Virago Press, while renowned pop music video director Tim Pope will share stories about working with the biggest names in the music industry. 

Historians will enjoy Lissa Evans, Clare Chambers and their visions of post-war England, plus Eagles of the Empire author Simon Scarrow; not to mention the full History Day at Waverley Abbey House with Damien Lewis, Alison Weir, Nicola Tallis and Louise Morrish.  

For those keen on current affairs, authors Michael Sheridan and Julian Evans will debate recent events in China and Ukraine.  

Local authors will feature at a special event at Farnham Library and there are plenty of other poetry, theatre and comedy performances across the 11 days of the festival, including Luke Wright, the Booming Lovelies, Lights & Bushels, Daniel Bye, and Andy Zaltzman. For writers, there are poetry, memoir, flash fiction and how to get published workshops to choose from. 

Together with Blue Bear Bookshop, Farnham Town Council has organised a great schools’ programme. Authors and illustrators including Thiago de Moraes, Andy Seed, Alex Strick and Steve Antony will go into Farnham schools to share the enjoyment of books and reading with children and young people. 

Farnham Literary Festival is organised by Farnham Town Council alongside a number of key partners and organisations. Principal sponsors are Frensham Heights and Leightons Opticians and Hearing Care, with Moonflower Books sponsoring the panel events. This support enables some of the events to be free of charge and helps make the festival a truly local community event. 

For details about the events, competitions and how to book, visit farnhamliteraryfestival.co.uk, follow @farnhamlitfest across social media, or pick up a full festival brochure from the Town Hall on South Street. 

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