Q&A: Judi Love

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Comedian & TV star Judi Love shares her thoughts ahead of her The One Like tour which visits The Anvil in Basingstoke, Wycombe Swan & Aylesbury Waterside Theatre as well as many more venues near you.

Judi Love is one of the UK’s most stand-out performers, and she’ll be taking her fresh, unapologetic and charismatic real talk to theatres across the country on her first ever stand-up tour in 2023.

Judi takes everyday relatable situations that resonate with audiences and brings them to life in hilarious routines. Marking herself a firm favourite on the comedy circuit, Judi is also known for producing a host of hilarious online comedy sketches that have gone viral on an international scale. Judi can be seen as a regular panellist on ITV’s Loose Women, including being on the first episode to feature an all-black panel, which received a prestigious RTS Programme Award for the Daytime category. She has also appeared on a number of TV shows, including Taskmaster, The Royal Variety Performance, This Morning, Good Morning Britain, Celebrity Juice, BBC’s This Is My House, The Graham Norton Show, The Ranganation and more. Bruce Dessau asks her whether she was nervous before starring on Strictly, twerking on Saturday night primetime TV: “I was definitely nervous because I wasn’t doing comedy, there was physical aspect. But it was such an amazing show and a great opportunity. When I twerked I felt my mission was complete.”

Q. How do you manage the work/life balance as a mother with two teenagers?

“I struggled with babysitting when they were younger. And now I worry for them when they have exams. But I try to put my foot down and not compromise. It’s a struggle and I definitely have mum guilt thinking I should be home with them. You don’t want them to grow up and say I was never there.”

Q. You can be frank about your sex life and what it’s like to be a woman on stage. Have they heard your material?

“When I was doing stand-up in clubs and couldn’t get babysitters they used to come with me so they know what I talk about. Now they are older they’ve probably heard worse with their friends. But they know ‘Judi Love’ and they know ‘mummy’. I might be extreme or cheeky on stage but I’d never talk like that in my private conversations with them.”

Q. What does self-care mean to you?

“It’s so important. We live in a society where we are so frightened to say ‘no’ we end up on a treadmill. Relaxation is important. I get a facial, take a walk, connect with friends not in entertainment. The other week I just got up, showered, put my houseclothes on, no make-up, no wig and watched all of The White Lotus. And it was beautiful.”

“We live in a society where we are so frightened to say ‘no’ we end up on a treadmill.”

Q. You previously worked in social care. Did your job help you as an entertainer?

“I’ve worked with some of the most deprived people. It’s easy to see someone and judge them and think you’d never end up like that but doing social care you get to see how people end up in certain scenarios. It gives you the empathy and understanding. When I’m tired from doing three jobs a day it’s not trauma. I’ve worked with people in crisis and trauma and it’s not that.”

Q. There were hard times in your early years of comedy, weren’t there?

“I moved to south London when my children were young and I left everything behind. We were in a house with nothing, just mattresses and a cooker. I had to get work quickly so I found a zero-hours job assessing parents. I remember going on a TV discussion programme early in the morning then going to work and they said ‘didn’t we just see you on TV?’. I was doing TV but in the evening my emergency electricity would run out. There’s always more to the story, it’s not all glamour.”

Q. You once said laughter is healing. Is that your philosophy?

“When you think about all the adversity people go through, laughter is what connects us. People say if you don’t laugh you’ll cry, so let’s keep laughing!”

Visit Judi Love: Events

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Wild swimming & watery wonders

Liz Nicholls

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Image: Roger Taylor

Tutor & author Ella Foote tells us about about her love for wild swimming & invites us all to take the plunge, plus here’s our list of local pools & other water wonders…

Squelching in mud, legs becoming tangled in weeds & reeds… Ella Foote is refreshingly honest about the discomforting underside of river swimming when she first took to it…

“When I first started, I found river swimming challenging in silly ways,” she admits. “I hated weeds and reeds and the squelchy mud and – at the beginning – I had to learn a lot about the current and how weather and conditions impacted swimming. I would close my eyes when my face was in the water and only open them when I took a breath! But now I love all the quirks of river swimming… Reeds tickling your legs, duck poo between the toes and the strength of swimming against the current.”

Ella, who is director of DipAdvisor and editor of Outdoor Swimmer, grew up swimming along UK coastlines on summer family holidays. She says: “In my twenties I got interested in open water events but lived in Maidenhead, nowhere near the sea! I started to look at the Thames as a solution for training and found a couple of like-minded swimmers on social media. They lived in Marlow and also wanted to start river swimming.

Image: Roger Taylor

Image: Roger Taylor

Image: Fran McColl

“We met up as complete strangers in Medmenham and plunged in. Back then (early 2000s) not many people were into ‘wild’ swimming. We were seen as odd, eccentric or mad! Our small group went from four, to six, to ten and today there’s a formal group with 400+ members. I now get to swim all over in rivers, lakes and ponds across the home counties. I love swimming in Thames through Oxfordshire, Bucks and into Berkshire.”

As Ella points out, swimming is a great form of exercise for mental and physical health… “And, if you take it outside, all the benefits are boosted. Being immersed in outdoor water is sensory. There are sweet smells of flower and fauna, silk-like silty water on your skin and the sound of wildlife all around. Being eye-level with the earth means you witness nature in a different way. I also love how I feel doing. I feel strong and graceful in the water and, once into a rhythm, can swing long and far.”

Fancy giving it a go? Henley Open Water Swimming club meet on a Saturday at four different locations; visit howsc.co.uk. Also get in touch with South Bucks Bluetits; visit The Bluetits Chill Swimmers.

Dip Advisor offers swim experiences with support and expertise, coaching and teaching: for more info visit The Dip Advisor. And, for stylish, supportive & sustainable swimwear, visit deakinandblue.com.

Local pools & water wonders

Chesham open air pool began life in the 1890s for those lucky Victorians who would have used a deep puddle for bathing. Over the years many locals will remember school days spent in a freezing pool learning to swim. Thankfully now it is heated year-round to a much more enjoyable 28C. For added fun enjoy an inflatable course on Saturday afternoons over the summer too. Book in advance for this at Inflatable – Moor Fitness Chesham.

Wycombe Rye Lido boasts a 33m heated pool, with grass and terraced sunbathing areas, a summer’s day at Wycombe Rye Lido is a daydream come true. It has all year-round heating, and also sports underwater lights for those who want to swim when the sun goes down.

Providing a first-class outdoor swimming facility that makes a positive contribution both to the community and to the health and wellbeing of the residents of Woburn and the surrounding areas is the mission of Woburn Lido and they are achieving this with their 23m long and nine-metre wide pool. The variable depth of the pool also makes it perfect for both families and lane swimmers.

Try every kind of water sport going or just drift around on a pedalo at Willen Lake in Milton Keynes where there’s enough to keep you entertained all-day long. Willen Lake is also home to one of the largest splash parks in the country, the state-of-the-art Splash ‘n’ Play with a whopping 60 unique water features including a super splash bucket, water tunnel, sail boat, water cannon, sea serpent and bespoke toddler area. There’s inflatable fun to be had too at Willen Lake at Aqua Parcs which has more than 30 obstacles to navigate and has this year been extended with a further 400m of bouncy thrills and spills to enjoy. And if you can’t get enough water activity then how about trying a kayak, canoe or paddleboarding. Hire a boat and get out on the lake and if you’ve ever fancied windsurfing, wakeboarding or powerboating you can give all that a go here too. Willen Lake is also home to land-based activities too with treetop adventures, archery, an observation wheel and picturesque walking, cycling and running routes to explore.

Longridge Activity Centre in Marlow is another option for a fun day out on the water with kayaking, canoeing, dragon boating, rafting and bell boating all available in addition to a wide range of land-based activities to throw yourself into too. Book on to an activity day or check out the weekend courses. Stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking can also be tried at Engage Watersports in Taplow whose team are there to help you “learn by having fun”.

Here’s a different idea for a kids’ party, inflatable Ringos at Denham Waterski Club; visit Denham Waterski Club – where you can also try waterskiing and wakeboarding. Sit on top of a kayak and enjoy a relaxing paddle around the lake at Westhorpe Watersports in Marlow, hire a paddle board and new this season, jump around on the water trampoline.

If open water swimming is your thing then Denham Waterski Club also offers the chance to indulge your passion there. Operating from a secluded and privately owned woodland site, on a sheltered 20-acre lake, there is a 1,000m loop to swim. The Scandinavian log clubhouse enjoys a splendid setting overlooking the lake, with large sun-deck providing close action waterside viewing. Showers, sauna, and large bar area, serving hot drinks and bacon rolls are also available on swim days. Willen Lake, highlighted above, also invites open water swimmers to take on their 400m triangular loop and there’s also the opportunity to enjoy an open water swim at Taplow Lakeside. All venues are NOWCA (National Open Water Coaching Association) affiliated to guarantee a safer way to manage open water swimming at venues.

Water safety tips

It is never a good idea to swim alone in open water, even if you are highly experienced. Beginners should always swim with another more experienced swimmer or at a venue with safety crew or lifeguards.

Choose your venue carefully. NOWCA affiliated venues require all swimmers to wear a NOWCA wristband. The sophisticated safety system allows the crew to keep track of who is in the water.

Open water spaces can harbour harmful microbes. Make sure the venue meets requirements (Directive 2006/7/EC and Bathing Water Regulations 2013)

Go at your own pace. Swim in the stroke you are most comfortable with – except backstroke, you need to see where you are going! Start with a short swim course. If you do find yourself in trouble, stay calm and raise your hand so the safety crew can assist you.

Remember to have fun! There is a strong supportive community and it’s a great social activity. Learn from other swimmers and their experiences. Visit (nowca.org) & (rnli.org) for more advice.

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Olly Murs Q&A

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Win a VIP hospitality day out for two at BetVictor Hungerford Day, Party In The Paddock at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday, 19th August, starring Olly Murs. Here’s our Q&A with the man himself…

Q. Not to give any spoilers away, but on your April arena tour you opened with a mash-up of your track Marry Me and Elton John’s I’m Still Standing. Was this a tribute to Elton, or a tongue in cheek reference to the knee injury you sustained last time you played at a racecourse?

“Yeah, exactly that! You’re right, and also a sort of for homage; I love that song. Plus I am still standing after all these years, 14 years in the game. After that amount of time people might doubt you, saying things like ‘is he going to be back? Is he going to be the same?’. I love Elton John anyway, but I agree with what you said, last time I did a racecourse gig in 2021 I felt like I’d given them a disservice really. I wasn’t my best and they had to physically take me off stage with four bouncers to move me! I couldn’t walk to the car! I feel like I’ve got to come back and give them one hell of a show, I can’t wait.”

Q. For your previous Newbury show you performed heroically with a knee brace, do you feel it’s a full-circle moment coming back to do this racecourse again this summer?

“It does 100%. Again, to me that whole tour two years ago felt like it wasn’t right. It felt weird, my knee wasn’t great. I was really battling through the emotions of it, and I did enjoy the show, but I was in so much pain. So now that I’m pain-free, I just feel ready to go out there and just give it my best, I can’t wait!”

Q. After Covid & injury does this feel like the first year in a while you’ve been out full tilt?

“Yeah, I just feel like the whole world is lit up now! Everyone is back, everyone’s living life, everyone’s enjoying themselves and it feels like a proper year. Everything feels back to normal, which is brilliant, and I’ve worked really hard. I’ve been super busy with work from filming The Voice to the tour. It’s been quite full-on preparing for, and in the midst of all that, getting married and organising a wedding!

Q. Some artists who have played racecourse shows have sometimes said the atmosphere is like a wonderful big wedding reception. There’s always some stag and hen parties there as well. Do you have any tips for those celebrating in the crowd now you’ve had your own stag?

“What advice would I give? The advice went out the window when I had a stag! Pace yourself, eat something, make sure you eat lots of food.”

Q. There’s always a massive diverse crowd at the racecourse shows. Do you find you change your setlist for the summer audiences?

“I always feel very conscious of that, you know. I’m not someone that thinks it’s all about me, I think that you have to play to an audience. Coming to a racecourse I know that so many people are there to enjoy themselves and to have fun. If they’re hearing say, track two off my fifth album that has no relevance to their night, they’re likely to think ‘what is this song? I want to hear Heart Skips A Beat, I want to hear Dance With Me Tonight, I want to hear all the hits!’ I always cater for every audience that I sing in front of and always make sure the setlist is right because I want people to walk away going… you know what? I like Olly Murs because not only does he do his own songs, but he also likes to mix it up by singing other songs.”

Q. Speaking about the newer songs, what has been the best crowd reactions you’ve had to any of your songs from your latest album Marry Me?

“I would say it’s I Hate When You’re Drunk. That’s a really great song to sing live and the reason is it’s a fun song, especially with the racecourses it’s going to go down a storm because everyone always drinks too much and there’s always going to be one person in your group of friends that you’re like, you know what… they’re doing my head in. So, I think this song will definitely get the best reaction!”

Q. You’ve performed a few times now at racecourses but you’ve also been as a guest, have you ever won anything or is it just a flash in the pan losing whenever you’re there?

“One year Kaiser Chiefs were playing so we went down for my mate’s 30th and it was brilliant. I think on one of the races we won a fair amount, and we were flying as that was only the second race or first race, but by the time we go to the last race our winnings were gone. We were super excited, and it was so fun, but you’ve got to be careful betting. I think that’s what’s so good about these shows in particular, the fact that you have a six-card afternoon of racing, where everyone can have a fantastic day out, then they get to see their favourite artists live. Honestly, I tell so many people who haven’t been to a music night at a racecourse before that they have to go and do it. It’s top entertainment, everyone comes, it’s a lovely day out with friends, families, or partners. You get to watch racing, where everyone can have a fantastic day out, then they get to see their favourite artists live. Honestly, I tell so many people who haven’t been to a music night at a racecourse before that they have to go and do it. It’s top entertainment, everyone comes, it’s a lovely day out with friends, families or partners. You get to watch racing, eat some good food, drink some wine, beer or cocktails and then you get to watch an act at the end of it. It’s just brilliant fun!”

Q. For those people who haven’t seen you before, can they expect from an Olly Murs headline gig?

“For me, it’s energy, fun and a bit of banter. It’s entertainment and it’s just a really good laugh. I think if you want to come and dance all night and listen to some classics while also listening to my own songs, you’ll get a bit of everything in my show. It’s really good fun and an energetic show. It’s not too serious, it’s just a really good night out.”

Tickets are on sale now at Newbury Racecourse

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G Live: Acorn Wood family theatre

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Families! Catch Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Beloved Tales from Acorn Wood, live on stage at G Live on Thursday, 31st August.

The family favourite stage adaptation from Norwell Lapley Productions (NLP) is coming to G Live this summer. Based on Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler’s best-selling lift-the-flap books, Tales of Acorn Wood is brought to life on stage for the first time in an enchanting lift-the-flap experience.

The show is packed full of toe-tapping songs and an array of beautifully crafted puppets, as well as striking state-of-the-art staging, projection and technology.

Poor old Fox has lost his socks! Are they in the kitchen or inside the clock? And Rat-a-tat-tat! Who’s that keeping tired Rabbit awake? You can also join in with Pig and Hen’s game of hide-and-seek and discover the special surprise Postman Bear is planning for his friends.

The creative team working on the show include celebrated Birmingham based choreographer Johnny Autin as puppet director, alongside director Brad Fitt, acclaimed production designer Ian Westbrook, motion graphic designer Louise Rhoades-Brown and lighting designer Alex Musgrave. Props and puppets have been designed and created by Deborah Mingham. The creative team is completed with musical director composer Miles Russell.

Julia Donaldson said: “I am really happy that the Tales from Acorn Wood has moved to the stage. Fans of the books are bound to enjoy seeing the four main characters: Fox, Bear, Pig and Rabbit brought to life through NLP’s clever staging. Live performance and songs are both very close to my heart and I am sure this production will delight children and families.”

Axel Scheffler added: “I have always enjoyed illustrating the Tales from Acorn Wood stories; the wide cast of animal friends is fun to draw, and I enjoy developing their world through my pictures. The NLP team has used state of the art staging and technology to create a brilliant experience for children and I was thrilled to see my illustrations come to life, I especially loved how they created the lift-the-flap effects on stage!

Book your tickets to enjoy Tales of Acorn Wood, based on the favourite stories by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, on Thursday, 31st August, at 1pm & 4pm. Adults: £18, under-14s £16, family of four £64. Box office: G Live & 0343 310 0055.

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Festival of the moon in Newbury

Round & About

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Image: Museum of the Moon by Luke Jerram. University of Bristol, UK, 2017. Photo (c) Carolyn Eaton

Newbury BID welcomes you to enjoy the festival of the moon for three weeks of moon-related events!

Newbury Business Improvement District (BID) are holding a three-week festival between 15th August and 2nd September with over 100 unique events! With such a large number of events there is something perfect for everyone.

The centre of the festival is the globally renowned museum of the moon, where a seven metre, lifelike installation of the moon’s surface is displayed, created by artist, Luke Jerram and captured through NASA images. Accompanied by a beautiful soundscape composed by BAFTA-winner Dan Jones, you will feel as if you are transported straight to the lunar realm.

However, the excitement does not end there, as there are plenty more events taking place. Feel soothed by the moon-themed wellness sessions, engaged by films and interactive storytelling or compelled by talks that will leave you thinking. With a grand number of events, it is easy to spend multiple days at the festival. Especially exciting events, to name a few, include an outdoor cinema, paddleboarding and live music! For the younger ones, and adults too, there are some free arts and crafts to try your hand at.

Operations manager, Alison Drummond, at Newbury BID expresses how the ‘lively community and commitment to arts and culture shine through in these events’, and encourages you to come and join in.

“lively community and commitment to arts and culture shine through in these events.”

When attending, entry to the museum of the moon is complementary, with a range of time slots available, including evening sessions for a beautiful night-time lunar experience.

For more information, please visit Visit Newbury.

To book, please visit Corn Exchange Newbury.

Author: Daisy Harwood

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Jacobs the Jewellers emerging designers competition

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Nine up and coming designers are competing to win Jacobs the Jewellers annual competition as they search to boost their future careers

Coming into their 75 year anniversary, Jacobs the Jewellers are hosting their annual Emerging Designers competition.

This exciting event features nine fledging designers from Bishophead Educational Trust, all hoping to kick start their careers.

This competition combines both a virtual show with an instore experience to showcase the talents and help boost the designers’ fledging careers.

Each designer has been challenged with the task of making a piece for each of the two categories: a piece of jewellery and an object, which are to be judged between now and Wednesday 2nd August. Everyone is welcomed to vote for the pieces both online and instore. To participate in this, either visit the store at 25 King Street in Reading or vote online at: Jewellery: Bishopsland Designers.

Adam Jacobs, Partner, Jacobs the Jewellers said: “To think nine years ago we started working with Bishopsland; the time has flown by and my compliments to both the gang and their tutors! Seeing this year’s high standard work is both inspiring and gratifying – we look forward to seeing how the public vote and sharing with everyone. As ever, thanks to our co-presenting partners – they’ve amazing supporters.”

Angela Cork, Principal of Bishopsland Educational Trust added: “We are thrilled to be showcasing the next generation of Bishopsland’s silversmiths and jewellers work at Jacobs the Jewellers. This is the ninth year in which we have collaborated on this initiative, and it is an important part of our annual programme, and we remain thankful to Adam Jacobs, HS Walsh, and The Goldsmith’s Centre for their ongoing support for our makers and for our craft.”

The winners will be revealed on Thursday, 3rd August. The winners of each category are to win £250, and the runners up £100; with this great prize, winners can further boost their careers as designers. This money is granted for them to use at HS Walsh, a leading UK jewellery tool supplier, so they can buy a variety of different items to help them with their creations.

Author: Daisy Harwood

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Create and Grow with Squire’s

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Have fun taking part in Create and Grow activities with your young ones at Squire’s Garden Centres this summer!

Looking for something fun to do with your children this summer? Squire’s Garden Centres has just the thing for you!

Running from Monday, 24th July to Friday, 25th August, Squire’s Garden Centres welcome you to participate in their fun Create and Grow activities. Whether you choose to ‘decorate a pair of pebble animals’ every Monday between 9.30am and 12.30pm, or simply have fun doing their worksheets, Squire’s Garden Centres have a variety of exciting things to do.

Chairman Sarah Squire says they are ‘delighted to welcome young visitors back’ and that their activities will take ‘just the right amount of time to keep little ones busy’. All centres, excluding Chertsey and Reigate, are participating in this wonderful event, so there is plenty of opportunity for you to take part.

If decorating a pebble takes your fancy, get along and book your place either in store or online. Your child can create a cool create for only £3, and with this comes a range of fun after, as they will now have a brand-new toy to play with.

With the painting itself taking around 20 minutes, Squire’s also offer a free, wildlife themed activity sheet every day. Once your child finishes crafting their pebble pet, they will be able to take part in a range of games and challenges. From the ‘Pond Word Search’ to the ‘Butterfly Maze’, your child will never find themselves short of fun things to do. Once completing the challenge, they will be rewarded with a sticker, and what child wants to miss out on that prizw?

If you begin to grow hungry after your hard work as an artist, feel free to grab a light bite to eat at the Centre’s Café Bar. The ‘Little Gardeners menu’ contains a range of delicious meals for your child to munch on.

Overall, it sounds like a great morning out with your kids and prevents the cries of boredom at home.

Want to find out more? Visit Squire’s Garden Centres.

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Our Q&A with author Alison Weir

Liz Nicholls

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Bestselling author & historian Alison Weir, one of the stars of Guildford Book Festival in October, shares a few thoughts with us…

Q. Hello Alison. Henry VIII occupies a large place in the nation’s heart? What is the most surprising aspect of him that is maybe lesser-known?

“That he was a thinking man, who cared deeply about the laws passed by his Parliaments, an intellectual who read the classics for pleasure, and a talented musician and composer.”

Q. Do the experiences of this Harry perhaps shine a light on the newsworthy experiences of our modern-day Prince Harry, do you think?

“I’m not sure how they would do so, as I believe that the experiences of both were shaped by their vastly different upbringings and those who were in a position to influence them. What they have in common is the loss of their mothers when they were just boys – but then they had very different mothers, so that loss would have impacted in different ways.”

Q. Would you like to live in Tudor times (even for a day), and if so why?

“Probably not! Unless I could be a noble lady in a beautiful country house, but even then I shudder to think of living without access to painkillers if I needed them, and of the poor hygiene of the age. I’d like to go back to discover the truth behind some of the most dramatic events of the age, such as the fall of Anne Boleyn, but to do that I’d have to be close to events, which would be way too dangerous!

Q. You are an oracle on our history… Having done so much research, which queen do you have most admiration for?

“My favourite queen of all would have to be Elizabeth I. What a survivor! She inherited a bankrupt kingdom at the age of 25 and was regarded by Catholic Europe as a bastard, a heretic and a usurper – and she was a woman in man’s world. But she was still there, revered as Gloriana, 44 years later!”

Q. Did you enjoy school? And where did your love of history begin?

“I did, but they didn’t teach the history about which I wanted to learn. When I was 14, and had graduated from books to pop magazines, my mother marched me into an adult library and told me to get a book! I wandered around, bored, until I saw the lurid jacket of a novel called Henry’s Golden Queen by Lozania Prole. I devoured it in two days and raced off the school library to find out the truth behind the fiction – and I’m still searching for it today!”

Q. Which royal palace in the UK is worth a visit, or perhaps underappreciated?

“To get some idea of the magnificence of the Tudor Court, the best palace to visit is Hampton Court – it’s stunning, even if most of the Tudor private royal apartments don’t survive. To see a complete set of them, in the wing built for the visit of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in 1535, I recommend visiting beautiful Acton Court in Gloucestershire, a remarkable survival.”

Q. Who was your favourite author growing up? And now?

“My favourite was Norah Lofts, the novelist – and she still is. I have all 63 of her books. She was one of the great unsung writers of the 20th century.”

“My favourite was Norah Lofts, the novelist – and she still is.”

Q. Do you think our monarchy will continue, and continue to win public support, in King Charles’ reign and beyond?

“I’m a great monarchist, so I very much hope so. I think the King sets a fine example and it’s clear that there is a lot of good will and public support for him.”

Q. What’s your favourite piece of music?

“There are so many that it’s hard to choose! It’s a toss between the Pavanne la Bataille (1551) performed by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London of You Don’t See Me by the Sisters of Mercy.”

Q. What do you do to unwind, when you’re not writing and researching?

“I exercise, get together with my husband and/or friends over a meal, or watch TV. When I get time, I update i-Tunes or my extensive collection/catalogue of royal portraits. I’ve been collecting images since the 1960s, and have well over 100,000 on my computer, not counting those in hard copy.”

Q. If you could make one wish for the world, what would it be?

“Universal peace and harmony.”

Visit Guildford Book Festival: History Day.

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Make a splash

Karen Neville

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Water, water everywhere or at any rate over 71 per cent of the world’s surface and there’s plenty to enjoy where we are too in pools, lidos, lakes, water and splash parks

At this time of year with temperatures on the up and the need to cool off, nothing can beat the urge to enjoy a dip in a pool or a splash in the sea.

Find pools / lidos / splash parks near you:
Berkshire
Buckinghamshire
Oxfordshire
Surrey
West Berkshire & Wiltshire

Berkshire

The obvious first port of call is your local pool or lido. The historic Thames Lido is anything but just a pool for a swim and to cool off, tuck into Mediterranean tapas and mains in a glass-walled space at the historic renovated pool in the heart of Reading. The outdoor pool is heated year round and if you like it hot why not try the saunas or hot tub? Spoil yourself with a massage, or make a day of it with a delicious lunch or try the twilight package with a swim, use of hot tub / sauna, a massage and glass of Prosecco – heaven!

If it’s rowdy, crazy water fun you’re after then Coral Reef Waterworld in Bracknell is a must. One of the largest interactive water worlds in England, it has a huge range of different ways to enjoy the water with thrilling waterslides, an erupting volcano, a pirate ship and a variety of other features, there’s something for everyone in the pool area. If you’re after something a little more chilled, the adults-only Coral Spa area is the ideal place to relax and get away from it all.

Caversham Lakes is a natural open space showcasing the great outdoors and nature in what is a real social sanctuary with a safe playground set on a freshwater lake in the heart of the Thames Valley. There’s something for everyone – open water swimming, stand up paddle boarding, make a splash with aqua park fun, the family beach is a great place to relax in the sun or follow a nature trail.

Bucks

Wycombe Rye Lido boasts a 33m heated pool, with grass and terraced sunbathing areas, a summer’s day at Wycombe Rye Lido is a day dream come true. It has all year round heating, and also sports underwater lights for those who want to swim when the sun goes down.

Longridge Activity Centre in Marlow is another option for a fun day out on the water with kayaking, canoeing, dragon boating, rafting and bell boating all available in addition to a wide range of land-based activities to throw yourself into too. Book on to an activity day or check out the weekend courses. Stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking can also be tried at Engage Watersports in Taplow who “learn by having fun”.

Providing a first-class outdoor swimming facility that makes a positive contribution both to the community and to the health and wellbeing of the residents of Woburn and the surrounding areas is the mission of Woburn Lido and they are achieving this with their 23 metres long and nine metres wide pool. The variable depth of the pool also makes it perfect for both families and lane swimmers.

Water safety tips

It is never a good idea to swim alone in open water, even if you are highly experienced. Beginners should always swim with another more experienced swimmer or at a venue with safety crew or lifeguards.

Choose your venue carefully. NOWCA affiliated venues require all swimmers to wear a NOWCA wristband. The sophisticated safety system allows the crew to keep track of who is in the water.

Open water spaces can harbour harmful microbes. Make sure the venue meets requirements (Directive 2006/7/EC and Bathing Water Regulations 2013).

Go at your own pace. Swim in the stroke you are most comfortable with – except backstroke, you need to see where you are going! Start with a short swim course. If you do find yourself in trouble, stay calm and raise your hand so the safety crew can assist you.

Remember to have fun! There is a strong supportive community and it’s a great social activity. Learn from other swimmers and their experiences. Visit (nowca.org) for more.

Oxfordshire

Growing up I spent many an hour in the summer at the Abbey Meadows Outdoor Pool in Abingdon. Newly renovated and heated (which it definitely wasn’t in my time), it offers lane swimming and ‘swim for all’ sessions. Parents can sit back and watch kids playing under the spray fountain in the splash pad in the park. Abbey Meadows Outdoor Pool is a fully accessibly facility, with ramp access and toilet facilities.

Really make a splash at Oxford Wet ‘n’ Wild at Queenford Lake, the park offers activities for all ages – run wild on the inflatable obstacle course and slides or hire paddleboards and kayaks. Whether you are a competitive swimmer, a triathlete or just enjoy wild swimming, the lake at Berinsfield is a very popular spot with four well-marked loops to navigate of distances from 350m to 1,000m – it’s the ideal spot for triathletes who like a cycle after their swim. Rinse off after in the outdoor lakeside shower and spend some time at the Wandering Kitchen café, the ‘burger & swim’ is a top choice!

Leisurely swim or fun splash time with the kids? Whichever you’re after Riverside Park and Pools in Wallingford next to the Thames and is the ideal spot. The heated outdoor pool offers a variety of sessions, including Swim for Fitness, Swim for All, Outdoor Aqua Aerobics and Swim Doctor. The Jubilee Splash Pad has been refurbished to create a more modern and fun splash pad for youngsters to enjoy.

Surrey

Guildford Lido is one of the country’s few remaining original 1930s pools and one of the most popular, attracting more than 60,000 visitors on average each season and it’s not hard to see why. Set in four and a half acres of landscaped gardens, the heated Olympic size pool is the ideal spot to chill out, have fun (there’s a mini golf course too), take a picnic and swim, of course. If you like to make a splash there are three exciting slides to whizz down including a mini slide for water babies.

The large paddling pool in Stoke Park, Guildford is shallow enough for tots of all ages to enjoy a refreshing dip. A beach design on the yellow part and the flow of the pool comes up gently to make youngsters feel at ease. A play park, mini golf and 52 acres of glorious gardens make it a great spot to spend a few hours all round.

Aldershot Lido is the largest open air pool in Hampshire and is the perfect spot to spend a hot summer’s day. Three fun waterslides (suitable for 8 years+), a toddler paddling pool and large sandpit, 1m mixed diving board, picnic area in a scenic landscaped garden, basketball area and refreshments all make this a very popular place to cool off.

West Berkshire & Wiltshire

The 150-year-old Newbury Lido has undergone a renovation and while the pool itself has been reduced in length to 50m, it now boasts a new splash toddler pad and racer slides. The revamp means the pool is shallower to allow easier maintenance. New changing facilities have also been added to improve the overall experience to make summer more enjoyable for all. Pre-booking has been introduced this year too.

How about this to add some real glamour and style to your wild swimming experience? Wasing Estate at Aldermaston invites you to enjoy the beautiful tranquillity of the woodland lake as you enjoy a dip before warming up again in the wood-fired sauna and enjoying the stunning views across the lake. You need to be a member here to enjoy this level of luxury, you’ll be more than rewarded for splashing out!

A 25 metre, deck level, pool catering for a wide range of local swimmers and clubs can be found at The Link Centre, Swindon; Marlborough Leisure Centre; Kennet Leisure Centre in Thatcham and Hungerford leisure Centre; all have 25m pools – perfect for swimming some lengths.

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Monty Panesar at Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Round & About

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Activities & Events

Former English Cricketer Monty Panesar, who’s remembered as one of our greatest modern spinners, will give a live interview at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford at 7.30pm on Thursday, 10th August.

Monty is a folk hero with England cricket fans. Known as much for his terrible fielding in his early days as for his world-beating left-arm spin, Monty became a household name and helped England to become the number one Test team on the planet.

Born in Luton, he played 50 test matches for his country, took 167 Test wickets, saved an Ashes Test with the bat alongside Jimmy Anderson, claimed Sachin Tendulkar as his first Test wicket, won a Test series in India, was friends with Shane Warne and captured the public’s imagination with his joyous celebrations.

In conversation with national broadcaster Matt Stadlen (BBC Two This week, BBC Two The Daily Politics, LBC presenter) the first England spinner to take a five-wicker haul at the WACA will take us behind the scenes of his record-breaking career. What was it like bowling at Tendulkar, Dravid and Gilchrist? How did he hit Muralitharan for six? How did he deal with the pressure of Ashes cricket? What was Sir Andrew Strauss like as a captain? How did the Barmy Army help him succeed? What was his greatest England victory? What’s his verdict on the summer’s Ashes?

Don’t miss this chance to come face to face with one of English sport’s best loved characters. Presented in association with Clive Conway Productions.

For more information and to book tickets, visit: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre or call 01483 44 00 00 (Monday-Saturday, 10am to 5pm).

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