Barn storming fun!

Karen Neville

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Activities & Events

Karen Neville

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The Great Barn Festival offers a perfect combination of events to keep adults, families and children of all ages entertained.

The Great Barn Festival is a family friendly event celebrating the best of music, theatre, art, and nature in an ancient rural setting.

Set in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, the Great Barn in Coxwell was built over 700 years ago. It was a favourite of William Morris who would regularly bring his guests to wonder at its structure. Morris called it ‘unapproachable in its dignity’.

Music from the best home-grown talent and international musicians combines with some of the best local community groups and choirs. Take your seat for performances from Dan Sealey from Ocean Colour Scene and Merseyside hero Ian Prowse & Amsterdam.

Listen to storytellers and watch roaming performers throughout the day. Entertainment includes family performances of The Tempest and Robin Hood as well as the return of the Three Inch Fools with The Secret Diary of Henry VIII. Get involved in circus skills, a silent disco and craft in the Children’s Tent. There’s also pond dipping and barn tours to enjoy with The National Trust.

Tuck into some fabulous food with a cold drink and settle in to enjoy music or theatre set against one of the most impressive Festival backdrops around!

A Gate Pass which allows entry to the grounds for a whole day with non-stop action and if you want even more add separate ticketed performances to build your perfect event. A Friday Evening Gate Pass costs £6. Saturday Gate Pass costs £10 and a Sunday Evening Gate Pass costs £6 per person. Under 2s are free.

Full details can be found on Great Barn Festival

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Frimley & Camberley Society of Arts

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Be inspired by the talented members of Frimley & Camberley Society of Arts and vote for your favourite at the annual exhibition on September 13th & 14th at High Cross Church

Frimley & Camberley Society of Arts is getting ready for its annual exhibition, the main event of the society which was formed in 1961.

FCSA are a friendly group of amateur and professional artists of all abilities and interests who meet to paint together every second Friday of the year.

Members enjoy a varied programme of events including workshops and demonstrations from visiting professional artists as well as meeting regularly to paint together every second Friday of the year.

Members enjoy a varied programme of events including workshops and demonstrations from visiting professional artists as well as meeting regularly to paint and enjoy each other’s company. Members are given several opportunities to exhibit their paintings during the year culminating with the annual exhibition.

This year’s event will be opened at a reception by the Mayor of Surrey Heath on Thursday, 12th September who will present prizes to winning artists (entry by invitation only). Invitations are available from a member of the committee at Contacts (fcsaonline.org.uk) or from the office at High Cross Church. The reception will include a glass of Pimm’s and the chance to view the paintings displayed in several rooms at the exhibition.

There are several prizes to be won under different categories. The prize for the best watercolour/mixed media painting is called the Winsland Prize which has been generously donated by Leonie McGuigan for many years. The best oil/acrylic painting will be awarded the Graham Scandrett Memorial Prize in memory of the past President of the Society. The Valerie Brooks Pastel Trophy is awarded for the best pastel painting in the exhibition. There is also the ever-popular themed competition which this year is entitled Action. Last year the subject was Old & New and the winning painting was Lesley Kilner’s St Paul’s from New Change Street.

Everyone who visits the exhibition is invited to vote for their favourite painting. At the end of the exhibition all the votes are counted and the winning artist will receive The Seward Memorial Trophy which has also come to be known as The People’s Prize. This is presented at the AGM in February by the President and well-known local professional artist Liz Seward. Lesley Kilner’s painting won this trophy too.

For more information about future events and if you are interested in membership please see the website fcsaonline.org.uk

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Friday 13th is lucky for some!

Ellie Cox

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Ellie Cox

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Cadbury World counters cursed calendar date with free entry for all those celebrating their birthday on Friday 13th September

No such thing as bad luck at Cadbury World! The Bournville attraction is celebrating ‘unlucky’ birthdays by gifting a free-entry offer to all those with birthdays on Friday 13th September 2024.

For guests whose birthday falls on Friday 13th September – it’s their lucky day! In defiance of superstitions, those with a birthday on 13th September can celebrate with a day that’s choc-full of fun. To change their fortunes, all guests will need to do is bring a valid proof of ID to the reception team on the day, and they will be granted a free entry ticket for a brilliant Bournville birthday, filled with chocolatey fun.

Speaking about Friday 13th September at Cadbury World, Gerrard Baldwin, General Manager at Cadbury World said ‘What could be unlucky about free chocolatey fun?! We can’t wait to welcome guests to celebrate their Friday 13th birthdays with us here at Cadbury World, Bournville. There’s so much on offer here for all the family and we look forward to welcoming everyone to celebrate a choc-tastic birthday with us.”

Guests can enjoy a variety of chocolatey activities while at Cadbury World. Jump aboard the new Cadbury Chocolate Quest ride and zap up the ingredients needed to make a Cadbury Dairy Milk, get creative and doodle with chocolate in the newly refurbished Have A Go zone. Guests can even meet their favourite iconic Cadbury characters including Freddo, Caramel Bunny, Mr Cadbury’s Parrot and Bertie Basset.

For more information about the conditions of entry, please visit https://www.cadburyworld.co.uk/policies/terms-conditions/

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Join Bargain Hunt’s Thomas Forrester

Karen Neville

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Activities & Events

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.”

For tickets to this or any of the other fundraising events visit Events at the Corn Exchange Newbury

For campaign updates and to donate, please visit Old Library Fundraising Campaign

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Discover Bucks Museum’s Star Wars adventure

Liz Nicholls

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Liz Nicholls

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Head to Discover Bucks Museum near Aylesbury to see one of the finest collection of vintage Star Wars toys & original movie posters

One of the UK’s finest collections of vintage Star Wars toys and original movie posters is on display in a stunning exhibition at Discover Bucks Museum in Bucks.

Back when the movie Star Wars broke box office records in 1977 no one could have predicted that the merchandising would go on to earn even more than the film itself. The toys of Star Wars took the world by storm and became the must-have playthings for an entire generation. From 1977 to 1985 an estimated 300 million action figures were sold, allowing children to re-enact the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo.

May The Toys Be With You is both a celebration of the now highly collectable vintage toy line and also of the iconic design work and art of the Star Wars movies. From X-Wing Fighters to lightsabers, these fantastical designs have fired our imaginations and stamped their place on our cultural landscape.

For little kids and “big kids” alike this is an unmissable opportunity to view many rarely seen Star Wars treasures. This exhibition has broken visitor attendance records at a host of museums around the country, and the museum team are excited for its first visit to Aylesbury. The exhibition runs until 3rd November.

Continuing the sci-fi theme and a treat for those visitors who have fond memories of the 1980 BBC Television adaptation of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, we have on display until 3rd November the original, screen-used costume prop of Marvin the Paranoid Android.

For more information, opening times, ticket prices and to book visit Welcome to Discover Bucks – Discover Bucks. Discover Bucks Museum, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP.

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Roald Dahl Story Day helping children

Liz Nicholls

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Liz Nicholls

13th September is Roald Dahl Story Day and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity is inviting schools to celebrate by hosting their very own Roald Dahl Story Day event to fundraise for the charity.

Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity establishes specialist nurses to care for children with complex lifelong conditions.

There are more than 150 Roald Dahl Nurses caring for more than 36,000 children across the UK, including lots in the Round & About counties, such as Roald Dahl Nurses Stephanie Lawrence in Surrey, Hannah Gerrard in Berkshire, and Katrina Williams in Hampshire.

Hosting a dress-up day for Roald Dahl Story Day is one fantabulous way to support the charity while having lots of fun and celebrating the joy of reading and the power of spellbinding stories. There are so many inspiring characters for children to choose, from Willy Wonka to Matilda to Fantastic Mr Fox! You may even get a Giant Peach or two turning up!

Teachers can visit the schools fundraising page at http://www.roalddahlcharity.org to register and the charity’s schools team will be in touch with buckets of fundraising support and resources to make your Roald Dahl Story Day a truly splendiferous one. There are even some dressing up tups on the website – it couldn’t be easier!

All funds raised will go towards establishing Roald Dahl Nurses and the incredible work the charity does caring for seriously ill children living with complex medical conditions and supporting their families who find life very tough. Every seriously ill child deserves a Roald Dahl Nurse.

Watch this space for our interview with Dame Felicity in our October editions.

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Fun & fundraising

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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You’re all set for a great night out at Caversham Rock ‘n’ Ale Festival

Rock and ale – the perfect combination and the perfect way to enjoy a Saturday!

Now in its 13th year the annual Caversham Rock ‘n’ Ale Festival features three outstanding local bands, two bars, both provided by Caversham’s top hostelry, The Last Crumb, food including a hog roast and vegetarian food options as well as children’s entertainment at Our Lady & St Anne’s School Playing Fields, Washington Road/ Southview Avenue, Caversham RG4 5AA.

The event raises money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and since its inception has raised well into five figures for the association.

It is a family and community event and people of all ages are welcome along to join in the fun and fundraising on Saturday, 7th September from 6.30pm.

This year’s line-up features Code Red who will be opening the evening with a set of indie, pop and rock songs to get everyone going. The Skavengers are back by popular demand with boss sounds and ruder than rude ska classics and originals skanks and Dino’s bring you all the banging 80’s classic rock covers you know and love to rock along to.

Tickets adult – £15 + £1.50 booking fee = £16.50, child (under 16) – £5 + £0.50 booking fee = £5.50. Under-5s go free (but still need a ticket),

Book at Caversham Rock ‘n’ Ale Festival 2024 (wegottickets.com)

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Newbury churches unite for prayer week

Liz Nicholls

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Liz Nicholls

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Churches across Newbury are holding a prayer week from 8th to 14th September, with many events happening each day.

The formats and venues are varied, with different topics and focuses for each meeting, but the churches are united in wanting to seek God together and bless the local area. Head along for a prayer walk, soak in meditative prayer, or join the prayers for global crises and the environment.

For the full schedule of events go to the website.

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Sinodun Players stage Broadway show

Karen Neville

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Activities & Events

The Sinodun Players are staging the off-Broadway contemporary show The Last Five Years in the intimacy of The Corn Exchange’s Studio Theatre

The Last Five Years is an emotionally powerful and intimate musical, which has captivated audiences and critics alike earning cult status.

Cathy, a struggling actress, and Jamie, a budding novelist on the brink of wild success, are 20-something in New York who meet, fall in love, marry, and divorce over the span of five years. Cathy tells the story from the end of their marriage; Jamie begins from when they first meet.

As the musical unfolds, Jamie shares his story from the spark of their relationship’s giddy beginning, whilst Cathy’s side is told in reverse, from the end of their turbulent partnership. The two characters cross paths just once, as their stories collide in the middle of the show.

It has been performed in many productions around the world and a film adaptation was released in 2015.

This production stars Freya Jacklin-Edward (BBC Singers, session singer for major films plus principal opera roles) and Poppy Jackson (actor and musical theatre singer) as Cathy with Andy Rainsford (Oxford Operatic singer & actor) and Jake Willett (trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and actor/singer for over 20 years) as Jamie supported by a four-piece orchestra.

Performances Tuesday 10th to Saturday, 14th September. Tickets £15, book at cornexchange.org.uk

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Illuminated Boat Parade on the Thames

Round & About

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The annual Illuminated Boat Parade is set to light up the Thames on Saturday, 14th September, bringing the community together, Claire Knott invites us all along

The Illuminated Boat Parade is an annual event for any boat, any size, any age providing a fun evening for the community.

Last year around 50 boats, powered and unpowered, participated watched by over 3,000 spectators. There were all kinds of themes including the Mamma Mia Abba all singing all dancing crew, a 15ft illuminated octopus for the Under the Sea theme, butterflies, pirates, and even a 7ft penguin accompanied by many other penguins, some singing and dancing overlooked by an enormous polar bear (ok, that was the crew). Many boat owners were so impressed they said they were going to ‘up their game’ this year.

A panel of judges will decide on the trophy winners. This year we have introduced an award for the Funniest Theme and there’s even a prize for the Best Lit Spectator! So, start planning now – get your thinking caps on and come up with a great idea for your boat. Everyone who takes part says it’s a magical evening, participants and spectators, so come on down and enjoy the magic.

The exclusive, historic Leander Club will open its doors to the public for one night, so everyone can come in and see the prize-giving. There will also be bars and food trucks with refreshments, truly a full evening of entertainment for the whole family.

For more on the event and how to enter, please visit Illuminatedparade, Facebook: Henley Parade, Instagram: @thehenleyparade and email: [email protected]

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