Windsor Photographic Society Exhibition will run from Tuesday 1st to Thursday 31st October
The Windsor Photographic Society (WPS) annual exhibition showcases the variety of photographs taken by its members and is also an opportunity for them to see their work exhibited. Some photographs may be available to purchase.
Members are holding a special opening night on Tuesday, 1st October, and hope you can join them in The Old Court licensed bar and upper areas.
You can view their photographs and meet members who would love to tell you more about their club!
WPS meet at The Old Court at 7.45pm on Monday evenings and fully welcome new members. They offer a full and varied programme that includes presentations, practical workshops, photo walks and competitions. There are members at every level of expertise (from beginners through to professionals), using all kinds of cameras and phones, willing to share a wealth of experience.
Liz Nicholls chats to Geoff Wickett, founder of Chiltern Venison, who helps protect local landscapes and is on a mission to encourage us to eat sustainable, ethical venison, year-round
Twilight is a magical time in the deep, dark woods. As the autumn mist rises and sunshine dapples the undergrowth at dawn and dusk, you’re most likely to catch a glimpse of the fallow deer, even if it’s only a twitch of its distinctive white tail.
But, as Geoff Wickett knows all too well, this majestic, mystical creature is likely to have spied you first… “Deer are truly astonishing creatures,” he says. “They’re beautiful, sentient, and their hearing is exceptional: their ears operate independently, alerting them to any danger. Their ability to register visual changes around them is astonishing, it’s as if their eyes take a series of pictures, with the brain then overlaying them for any changes.
“When you’re sneaking up on a herd of fallow deer, say, and there are 100 pairs of ears and eyes, it doesn’t take much for them to notice you. And the wind swirls swiftly around these hills; one can sniff you out, and they’re off!”
Roe deer are a native species; they’ve roamed this land since the Ice Age. Fallow deer were introduced by the Romans, extirpated and reintroduced by the Normans for the chase. You’ll also find smaller, barking muntjac who ancestors escapees from the Duke Of Bedford’s herd at Woburn, and Chinese water deer, whose forefathers scarpered from Whipsnade.
So, the question is, why kill these beautiful animals? The wild truth is that deer have become the single biggest threat to woodland in the UK, which is why Geoff is employed by land-owners and conservation charities, including the National Trust & Woodland Trust, to help manage their population. Deer, who have no natural predators, reproduce at a startling rate. In fact, numbers have doubled since Covid. Left unchecked, they will destroy the landscape, its distinctive flora and fauna.
“This deeply layered habitat is being trashed by deer,” says Geoff, who moved to Hughenden Valley ten years ago, leaving a career in tech accessories. “The shrub layer of most local woodland has been entirely eaten by the deer. Unlike other deer, muntjac eat the bluebells which won’t return the following year. This woodland provides nesting habitat, shelter, nectar, berries and nuts for a whole range of birds, mammals and insects. With the shrub layer gone, all life suffers and if a wood can’t produce young trees, it eventually dies. In larger numbers, deer need to go further for food and cause great damage to local farmers’ crops, as well as causing up to 74,000 vehicle collisions every year on UK roads, some fatal.”
Image: Piers Photography
Image: Piers Photography
Geoff’s mission is to encourage us all to eat venison, year-round. This natural, ethical, sustainable meat is showcased on menus at restaurants including The Oarsman in Marlow (pictured), The Nags Head in Great Missenden, White Oak is Cookham Dean, The Griffin in Amersham, Three Oaks in Gerrards Cross and Peterley Manor Farm (where it’s also stocked in the shop). In addition to firearms and wildlife laws, stringent food handling laws apply, as soon as a deer hits the ground. Geoff has just invested in a walk-in larder and processing unit to meet demand and is happy to sell direct. “We have this idea venison’s ‘posh’,” he says. “In the past you might have been executed for poaching a deer by the king, but venison’s not just for high days. It’s a great, healthy everyday alternative to beef or lamb, with high zinc and protein. My wife and I love a rump or chump steak. I love to sell to foodies, which means minimal food miles, unlike meat shipped from New Zealand which is crazy!
“I can trace every detail about the animal which is being enjoyed in a delicious meal instead of going to waste. Surprisingly, I’ve had one comment in a decade along the line of being a ‘bambi killer’. But people have been very supportive when they understand the bigger picture. I’ve even sold boxes to vegetarians who know that this is a food source that’s unprocessed, and that the animal has had a good life, unexposed to steroids or antibiotics.”
Importantly, each deer has also had a ‘good’ death, unlike the majority of animals reared for their meat and slaughtered in much more dystopian settings. Geoff is sometimes accompanied on his stalking trips by his cocker spaniel Artemis (pictured above) and he also has a young blue roan Skadi (named after the Norse goddess of the hunt). Both enjoy the odd bone (“nature’s toothbrush”) and Geoff takes his role and animal welfare very seriously. He learned to shoot at school and with the army is trained in “gralloching” as well as all the other handling processes which cost about £150 per carcass.
“I must be mad to do this as there’s not much money in it,” adds Geoff. “But I love this glorious countryside – I won’t go back to a desk job!”
Marlborough LitFest celebrates its 15th year with a packed programme full of more than 40 events offering a myriad of topics for all ages across the festival weekend from 26th to 29th September
On offer this year is an exciting mix of debut authors and established writers in fiction and non-fiction, as well as poetry, children’s authors and free schools events, workshops and LitFest’s annual Big Town Read in the historic market town.
This year’s line-up includes LitFest Patron Sir Simon Russell Beale, 2024 Golding Speaker Linda Grant, Celia Imrie, Robert Hardman, Kate Mosse, William Dalrymple, Zeinab Badawi, Robert Peston, Sarah Perry, Martin Sixsmith, Jonathan Dimbleby, Felix Francis and children’s author and illustrator duo Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre.
With autobiography, memoir, poetry and fiction and non-fiction covering genres including Shakespeare, royalty, politics, history, nature (in particular trees and tulips), signing therapy, midlife crises, a history of childhood reading, crime, food and travel, AI, sport, storytelling for both adults and children and a Big Book Quiz at The Parade Cinema, this year’s 15th anniversary programme has something for everyone.
Bestselling Sunday Times author and award-winning actor Celia Imrie will discuss her latest novel, Meet Me at Rainbow Corner. Fans of the international bestseller, The Essex Serpent can hear Sarah Perry talking about her new novel, Enlightenment. Political and economics reporter Robert Peston will talk about his latest novel, The Crash, featuring his recurring main protagonist, Gil Peck.
Join local playwright and author Barney Norris on a walk in Savernake Forest, examining the link between place and memory when writing about fiction. Participants can write about their own experiences and discuss this over a drink in a local Marlborough pub.
LitFest Patron Sir Simon Russell Beale will be interviewed by Emma Smith, Professor of Shakespeare Studies at the University of Oxford, discussing Beale’s first book, A Piece of Work, recounting his acting career with a focus on his Shakespearean characters. Broadcaster and journalist Jonathan Dimbleby, acclaimed for his Second World War histories, will talk about Endgame 1944: How Stalin Won the War.
Among many other highlights, sports journalist Sam Peters will be in conversation with rugby player Steve Thompson about concussion in sport in his book Concussed: Sport’s Uncomfortable Truth. First time writer Chloe Dalton will share her astonishing story of Raising Hare. Tristan Gooley, bestselling author of How to Read a Tree, will share tips on tree identification and how to unlock the secret signs that trees give about their past and surrounding landscape.
This year’s Big Town Read, run in association with Wiltshire Libraries, is The Secret Life of John leCarré by Adam Sisman.
In its 15th year LitFest has expanded its free activities for younger children and their families, with many ways to join in and share everyone’s love of stories. The children’s festival programme features a bumper crop of events – many free – to keep all ages entertained both before and during the festival weekend. Little ones can enjoy poetry and storytelling slots at Pewsey and Marlborough Libraries, with Street Storytellers at The Parade Cinema, as well as free craft activities at St Peter’s Church with Aldbourne Children’s Book Group.
To book your tickets and find out more please visit Marlborough Literature Festival. You can also call 0333 666 3366 or buy from The White Horse Bookshop in Marlborough, and from the box office in the Town Hall over the festival weekend. Please note that the bookshop cannot take orders by phone.
Art-lovers! Check out Wokingham Arts Trail, 10.30am-5pm over the weekend of 21st & 22nd September, with free entry & work by 29 artists to enjoy
Nine local venues will take part in this highlight. This, the 13th annual trail, will feature ceramicists, jewellers, textile artists and more.
Watercolour, acryllic and oil paintings, jewellery, handmade books, ceramics, glassware and textiles will be on display in studios and including groups at WADE Centre in Reading Road, and the Bradbury Centre in Rose Street. Regular participants and 10 new faces will be involved, offering the opportunity for visitors to meet the artists, view and buy unique outstanding and varied works.
Peter Izod says: “I’ve been a participant in Wokingham Arts Trail since 2010 under the inspiring chairmanship of Christine Morgan, until I took over from her in 2020. I have been fortunate to have my own venue in the town centre and the Arts Trail has attracted over 200 people each year, many regular visitors.
“It’s a great opportunity to show your art, ceramics and jewellery, meet visitors and discuss the displays. We all learn something from it every year and the broad involvement of the public – many of whom get round to every venue – show Wokingham’s thriving interest in art. This year, with 29 participants, I think we have one of the most varied and high quality trails to enjoy.”
Artist Christine Morgan (Brandywine Art) adds: “I have made a few changes in my studio since the last Arts Trail so I can use the space for mixed media work and clay. I’m really looking forward to welcoming visitors as I work. I love to encourage all ages to experiment and enjoy making art in whatever form. Opening my studios gives me the opportunity to share simple ways to allow them to ‘have a go’.”
Katherine Kingdon invites us to marvel at the creativity and talent on show at September Ceramics 2024 in Newbury, September 13th to 22nd
A handmade object has something special about it. The maker’s experience is made visible, in the design, in the construction, in the quality of the surface. There’s something else too, something less concrete, more personal.
It’s something about where it was made and who it was made by. It wasn’t mass-produced in a factory far, far away. It was made somewhere closer to home, perhaps in a garden shed, perhaps with the sound of pigeons cooing in the background and certainly by someone who was thoroughly engaged in the act of making, using their skill to navigate its joys and frustrations.
Clay is a material with many joys and frustrations. It’s amazingly adaptable. You can squidge it, you can pour it, you can carve it and until you apply heat to it, you can recycle it ad infinitum. With few tools and little experience, it’s easy to create a simple form, with practice, practice, practice and as many or as few tools as you wish, you can make magic happen. But as even the most experienced ceramicists know, it also has a mind of its own. It loves to wrap and crack, even melt. Those who stick with it get used to this. They learn from it and develop a resilience which pushes them to explore furhter.
Join us at September Ceramics 2024 at City Arts Newbury, Hampton Road RG14 6DB, to see work by a group of local makers who’ve spent many years honing their craft. During the first weekend you can meet these makers and enjoy a rolling programme of demonstrations.
This year’s makers are Lizzy McCracken, thrown and tin glazed earthenware; Anne Dalton, thrown-ware with sea creatures and glazed and unglazed surfaces; Pots of Hope Susie who is also offering have-a-go sessions on the potter’s wheel (sign up for these on CITY ARTS NEWBURY); Ali Keeling, hand-built vessels explore the relationship between surface and form; Helen Long, working with coloured porcelain to celebrate the power of the sea; Rebecca Maynard’s distinctive animals and busts; Leah Blake’s wonderfully constructed animal sculptures and Katherine Kingdon’s playful piece, guaranteed to make you look twice.
There’s also a ceramics raffle, the ‘Up and Coming Makers’ competition delicious tea and cake at The Art Hub Café and voting for your favourite work.
This year’s sponsors are Scarva Pottery Supplies, Bluematchbox Potters Supplies, Ugly Duckling Pottery Painting and City Arts Newbury. For more details, visit CITY ARTS NEWBURY.
Newbury Show is widely regarded as one of the best county shows in the country hosted over two years, September 21st and 22nd, at Newbury Showground
Newbury Show remains true to its roots – a celebration of all aspects of farming and rural life in the area, showcasing agricultural technology, animals, artisan products, local produce and more!
The Newbury Show offers a great day out combining displays, competition, shopping, an unrivalled food hall experience, craft marquee, rural crafts, have-a-go activities plus all the traditional attractions of a county show.
The Grand Parade of Livestock will enter the Main Arena on Saturday and Sunday. Winning cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, llamas and alpacas will all be parading for your enjoyment. Come see them all, you may see some breeds you’ve never heard of before!
In the Sports Zone you will be able to see what it is like to do circuit training, have an introduction to stress management exercises and even find out about kettle ball.
It won’t be long until Christmas and there are many original ideas for presents, as well as a few treats for yourself you won’t see on the high street.
There will be a wealth of food stalls crafts in craft tent, spectacular displays of plants in the horticulture tent and trade stands galore.
Over at the Bandstand you can relax with your cup of coffee or lunch and listen to a wide variety of the counties musical talent.
Sponsored by Ramsbury Brewery, it’s going to be another fabulous countryside celebration for the entire family.
Flight Club – the lively fairground inspired bar and Social Darts experience is coming to Oxford and is set to open doors on 22nd November, just in time for the festive season!
Promising to deliver a one-of-a-kind social experience to Oxford, Flight Club is designed to bring groups of friends together for an unforgettable time. Situated on the roof terrace level of the Westgate Shopping Centre, Oxford locals can look forward to a stunning bar with a lively atmosphere, craft cocktails, and delicious sharing dishes. Expect unexpected, ridiculous joy every time.
Flight Club Oxford will offer semi-private oches (Social Darts playing areas) around a spectacular bar, along with plenty of seating options and two beautiful terraces. Its blend of delicious food and drink, stylish interiors, vibrant DJ sets, and energetic vibe makes this new addition to Oxford’s bar scene the perfect destination for creating memorable moments with friends.
Darts revolutionised
Flight Club’s highly popular Social Darts experience has completely transformed the traditional game, bringing darts into the 21st century with fun, fast-paced multiplayer games that anyone can enjoy.
First-time visitors to Flight Club should leave any preconceived notions about darts behind. This modernised version of the game has undergone a high-tech upgrade. Cameras track and automatically score each dart, eliminating the need for manual arithmetic. Live action replays are displayed on-screen during the session, and afterward, shareable stories of the best memories are sent directly to players’ phones.
Perfect for groups of friends, Flight Club redefines the traditional two-player game. Social darts, Flight Club’s enhanced version, allows up to 12 people to gather around an oche. For larger groups, corporate events, or Christmas parties, multiple oches can be linked to host up to 250 players in epic tournaments led by an expert Gamesmaster.
There are six immersive and fast-paced games to choose from. One game, ‘Demolition’, start players with 180 points, with the goal of reaching zero by taking turns throwing darts. Unlike traditional darts, no double is required to win, making it easier for newcomers. In the game ‘Killer’, players must hit their assigned number three times to become a “killer”. Once they achieve killer status, they aim to hit other players’ numbers to knock them out, with the last person standing declared the winner.
Small plates, sharing pizzas and spectacular cocktails
The food menu at Flight Club Oxford will include crowd-pleasing dishes ideal for sharing and eating mid-throw. Sourdough pizza paddles, juicy burgers and loaded fries are just some of the treats on offer.
If you’re a cocktail aficionado, you’ll be in good hands, with plenty of options to choose from, including signature cocktails, classics with a twist, cocktail slushies – perfect for balmy summer evenings – and sharing trophy cocktails served in a show-stopping trophy cup – the best way to toast the Social Darts champions.
Bottomless brunch with a twist
Not forgetting everyone’s favourite weekend pastime, Flight Club Oxford will also offer a bottomless brunch you won’t want to miss. Plenty of booze, great food, and an all-round epic time. Tickets for the two-hour brunch session cost from £30pp and include 60 minutes of gameplay at the oche, a bottle of prosecco per person and all the pizza you can eat. Party vibes are guaranteed as the resident DJ blasts the tunes throughout the day.
The setting: all the fun of the fairground
Flight Club Oxford will be decked out in Flight Club’s signature style, combining the fun of the fairground with Victorian nods and all the best bits of a traditional British pub. Think fairground-style signage and lighting that blinks in time to the music, panelling, bold prints, and subtle nods to Oxford’s history throughout.
There are treasures and trinkets in every corner to surprise and delight, including clocks and barometers of varying sizes on the walls, fun adaptations to Victorian portraits, reclaimed antique furniture pieces and a fairground carousel horse.
Dick Morbey tells us about the enchanting West Wycombe Music Festival, 19th to 21st September, founded by international star (& Wycombe born & raised) musician Lawrence Power
West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival was established 13 years ago by Lawrence Power who is now recognised as a performer of the very highest calibre on the world stage.
Each September Lawrence returns to the area to direct and perform in this three-day music festival which offers audiences five attractively programmed concerts. He brings with him an array of top-flight musicians who join him to perform in this exclusive series of concerts.
The festival has firmly established its place as one of the key musical events in our locality. It was hailed by the Guardian newspaper as “One of the top ten classical music events of 2021”.
After last year’s success in Hambleden, where we received a very warm welcome from the community and our audiences, we are delighted to be returning to the village this year. The festival will take place from Thursday 19th to Saturday, 21st September.
Five concerts will be given, with an Enchanted theme, all in the beautiful 12th century Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Hambledon, RG9 6RX, in the heart of one the most attractive villages in the Chiltern hills in Buckinghamshire. In addition to three evening concerts, there will also be a lunchtime concert on the Friday and a late morning concert on the Saturday. You can find full details of the five concerts and performances & book at westwycombemusic.org.uk and also follow the Facebook page. For further details, ticket sales and enquiries please email the festival organisers on [email protected] or you can call 01494 528659 or 07948 897148.
The West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival is an entirely non-profit concert series which aims to bring the very best of live music performance to the area, given by top calibre musicians. In current times this is increasingly costly, but thanks to the support of audiences and Friends of the Festival we are able to cover most, but not all of our costs.
We invite music-lovers to consider becoming a Friend. The Friends of the Festival are a thriving, friendly group who have offered great support for the festival for over a decade. Friends’ subscriptions and subsequent generous donations have been instrumental in supplementing the income we receive from our generously-priced concert tickets and enabling the continuance of the concert series.
For further info, ticket sales and enquiries please email the organisers by emailing [email protected] or call 01494 528659 or 07948 897148.
From 23rd September to 13th October diners can enjoy the latest menu at Six by Nico Oxford, that will transport them to the hustle and bustle of Istanbul
Six by Nico, renowned for its innovative dining experience and ever-changing tasting menus, has announced its next destination menu, promising a true feast for food enthusiasts across the country. This time, Six by Nico invites diners seeking adventure to journey through the spice-laden streets of Istanbul and savour the rich, aromatic dishes inspired by the Turkish city’s iconic bazaars.
The Istanbul experience will be available from 23rd September to 13th October, offering diners a culinary journey where ancient traditions meet bold, modern flavours. This menu is designed to amaze, celebrating the richness of Turkish cuisine and embracing the culture at every turn. Diners will be transported to bustling bazaars and the vibrant streets of this captivating Turkish destination.
The menu includes the following:
Course One – Memories of Mikla Cucumber & Barbecue Lettuce Gaspacho, Lemon Verbena & Lor Cheese
Course Two – Chef Ahmet’s Pida Grilled Chicken Shish Pida, Sesame Flat Bread, Rose Harissa & Sumac
Course Three – Kibe Toasted Bulgar & Aged Beef, Smoked Black Garlic Ketchup & Cep Mushroom
Course Four – Fishing on Galata Köprüsü Seabass, White Bean, Fennel Jam, Preserved Lemon, Smoked Almond Foam
Course Five – Adana Lamb Kebap Cumin Belly Pressé, Ancient Grains Pilaf & Sweet Roasted Tomato
For an additional £7, food enthusiasts can add on Golden Peyniri, Crispy Filo, Lor Cheese, Acili Same Chutney to their fifth course.
Course Six – Spiced Date Cake Candy Walnut, Caramelised Pear & Sour Yogurt Sorbet
For £50, guests will be able to enjoy a taste of Istanbul, with a matching wine pairing from £38.
This tasting menu is a culinary journey through the heart of Istanbul, drawing deep inspiration from Turkey’s rich and diverse food traditions. It masterfully combines authentic Turkish flavours with modern techniques, paying homage to classic dishes while introducing contemporary twists. From the refreshing notes of gazpacho to the hearty essence of lamb kebap, each course reflects the vibrant and varied culinary heritage of Istanbul. This menu captures the essence of Turkish cuisine – bold, aromatic, and deeply rooted in regional traditions – while presenting it in a way that is both innovative and sophisticated.
Andrew Temple, Chief Creative Officer, commented on the new menu: “We’re excited to transport diners to the vibrant streets of Istanbul and bring authentic yet bold flavours from Southeastern Europe to cities around the UK and Ireland.”
Six by Nico caters to all dietary requirements, offering a full vegetarian menu for each new menu concept. Plus, customers can swap courses from the meat menu to the veggie alternative, if they wish.
Bargain Hunt’s Thomas Forrester is sharing tales from the auction room and more in a fundraiser for Corn Exchange Newbury’s Old Library Campaign
Who doesn’t love a bargain and who doesn’t love TV show Bargain Hunt?
Well-known auctioneer and BBC Bargain Hunter Thomas Forrester is hosting a terrific fundraising auction for Corn Exchange Newbury’s Old Library campaign on Wednesday, 11th September.
The antique expert will talk about his work as an auctioneer and his time on TV with Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, highlighting heart-warming tales of his foray into antiques and how he landed a sport on the beloved British show.
As well as his time on Bargain Hunt, Forrester’s long list of accolades also includes also includes being Director of Special Auction Services in Newbury. Guests can expect Forrester to lend his valuable insight into the antiques market, sharing a look into what is currently selling and what is struggling. He will also delve into personal stories from his time working in antiques, including fascinating and one-of-a-kind items he has sold, as well as things he couldn’t shift!
Guests can also get actively involved in the evening, with the chance to bring along a small antique or collectable. Audience members who have brought items will be drawn at random to go on stage and tell the audience what their item is and why they bought it, before Forrester provides a live valuation.
All proceeds will be going towards the reopening of the historic Old Library in Newbury which will be a permanent home for the Corn Exchange’s creative participation work. This much-loved building will provide opportunities for all to take part in creative activities, benefitting more and more local people with the positive impact that engagement in the arts has.
£2.6 million is needed to fulfil the Corn Exchange’s plans to open the Old Library in early 2025; £1 million of which has been funded by Greenham Trust, for the acquisition of the building, repairs, and conservation. The public phase of the fundraising campaign will repurpose the interior space, and complete plans.
Jessica Jhundoo-Evans, Director of Corn Exchange Newbury & 101 Outdoor Arts, said: “We’re really excited about the Old Library becoming the permanent home for our creative participation work. This area of our work provides a lifeline to many local people, with over 27,000 engagements in 2022/23. The Old Library will help us to benefit many more local people with the positive impact that participation with the arts has, increasing engagements to over 40,000 a year.”
