Twin towns charity music concert

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The Amey Theatre, Abingdon, is holding a spectacular concert on October 7th to be live streamed supporting local charities

The Abingdon and District Twin Towns Society is holding a twin towns music concert in Abingdon’s Amey Theatre on Friday, 7th October.

This concert will also be live streamed over the internet to an audience in the twin towns of Lucca in Italy, Schongau in Germany, Colmar and Argentan in France, Sint-Niklaas in Belgium, Abingdon in Virginia, USA, and Thame in New Zealand.

The proceeds of the concert will support local charities, including the Ukraine, and for the mental health of young people in Abingdon.
The concert runs from 6.30pm to around 8.30pm and there will be an interval of around 20 minutes for you to get refreshments in the foyer bar.

Abingdon and District Twin Towns Society promotes sporting and cultural links between Abingdon and its twin towns.

The concert will include both classical and light music showcasing the rich musical talent that Abingdon and district has to offer, and includes performers, such as Abingdon Operatic Society, Abingdon Concert Band, Abingdon Town Band and performers from local schools, including Abingdon School, Larkmead School, Our Lady’s Abingdon, Radley College, and St. Helen and St. Katharine. In other words, this concert will have something for everybody.

Why not get a group together to come to the concert? We look forward to seeing you there!

Abingdon and District Twin Towns Society promotes sporting and cultural links between Abingdon and its twin towns.

Find out more

The very reasonably priced tickets are available online from the Amey Theatre – www.ameytheatre.co.uk and cost £10 each, with concession tickets at £5, and £20 for a family of four.

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Wines for autumn with Giles Luckett

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Round & About’s resident wine columnist gives his top picks for the new season – mellow wines for the mellow season!

Hello. As a wine lover, I’ve always liked autumn as a season. Unlike winter or summer, where the weather and food tend to prescribe reds or whites, autumn, with its early warmth and latter chill, offers a much broader palate to work with.

As Keats put it, doubtless, after a glass of wine (or something altogether stronger knowing what the Romantics were like), this is the ‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ and the following suggestions make for the perfect accompaniment to this golden transition.

First up is a white from Portugal, The Lisboa Valley Selection (The Wine Society £7.95). Portuguese reds have been a favourite of the wine trade for some time now, but the whites have never quite caught people’s attention. I tried this for the first time last year, and it’s become a regular in our house. Offering an intriguing combination of freshness – grapefruit, green apples, and watermelon – with a balancing richness – peaches and dried pears – it has a tang of Atlantic salt to the finish. Marvellous with seafood, it’s also lovely on its own.

As Keats put it, doubtless, after a glass of wine (or something altogether stronger knowing what the Romantics were like), this is the ‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’

Next is a wine from Sicily, a wine-producing island that has seen its fortunes soar in the last decade or so as winemakers have got to grips with the natural gifts they have been afforded. My recommendation is the Nostru Catarratto Lucido (Kwoff £12.49). This organic wine is made from the rare (I certainly had to look it up) Catarratto grape. Mid-gold in colour, it offers a complex nose of jasmine cut with almonds and peach stones. The palate is fresh and tangy with plenty of gooseberries and white currants, but this soon deepens as greengages, peaches, and apricots come in at the end.

And for my last white, we have one from another region whose fame lies with its reds. Abruzzo sits east of Rome, where its coast borders the Adriatic. Its Montepulciano is a great source of inexpensive, often highly drinkable reds, such as Tesco’s Finest Montepulciano (£7).

Whites are thinner on the ground, but wines such as the Contessa Abruzzo Pecorino (£9.95) are well worth seeking out. Pecorino gives fragrant wines with plenty of citrus freshness that also offer riper notes of apricots, Mirabelle plums, nuts, and dried herbs. The Contessa is an excellent example of this, and I found it went well with creamy cheese pasta – one that was loaded with pecorino cheese, funnily enough.

There will now be a short interval for a glass of Champagne.

I’m a huge fan of Champagne. Good as sparkling wines are, even the best cannot match the complexity, elegance, and depth of the greatest sparkling wine on Earth. While I am a fan of many houses, the one I keep coming back to is Taittinger. Across the range, their wines are the epitome of style, and their Prelude (John Lewis £55) is arguably the best sub-£100 Champagne on the market. But it’s to the Taittinger Brut Reserve (Tesco £39) I’d like to give a nod to. This is a show-stopping wine. Mid-gold, the tiny, even bubbles (‘bead’ if you want to get technical), lift notes of spring flowers, red apples, citrus, and yeast. In the mouth, it’s gentle yet persistent, and at its core is a glorious note of peaches in syrup that is offset by taut acidity and creamy yeastiness.

And so to the reds.

You can’t talk about wines that boast mellow fruitfulness and not mention Rioja. Rioja’s reputation is at an all-time high. A succession of good vintages coupled with innovation and investment from leading producers has made the wines of this fantastic region world-beaters.

One that’s been turning my head lately is the Cune Reserva 2017 (Majestic £12.99), and it’s autumn bottled. The nose is a smoky, rich mix of red and blackberries with highlights of citrus fruits and spices. The medium-bodied palate is loaded with crushed black fruits, vanilla, cranberries, and liquorice, and finishes with a fresh, fruits of the forest in cream flourish. Magnificent now with hearty tomato dishes or red meats, it will improve over the next three to five years.

South African wine has undergone a reinvention to match Australia’s over the past couple of decades. Their traditional ‘big is better’ approach has been replaced by the pursuit of perfection done their way. Like Australia, South Africa has a hugely diverse mix of soils and microclimates that lend themselves to the creation of truly fine wines. One of these is the Neil Ellis Cabernet Sauvignon (Cellar Door Wines £19.95). Cabernet Sauvignon is often said to be the king of red grapes, one that is capable of producing aristocratic wines that combine elegance, power, and longevity. The Neil Ellis shows these characteristics to the hilt. Inky black, the nose is an inviting mix of blackcurrants, prunes, and mint, while the palate offers a powerful mix of cassis, raspberries, chocolate, and a whiff of cigar smoke. I had this with a cheeseboard – and it was excellent – but with a fine steak or mushroom risotto, I think it would be even better.

And finally, a claret. I don’t recommend red Bordeaux that much these days because the good wines tend to be horribly expensive, and the cheap ones are just horrible. Stalwarts like Château Talbot – a wine I used to buy for under £30 – will now set you back over £60 a bottle. Great vintages, hysterical scores from critics, and wine investors have sent prices skyward and left drinkers out in the cold.

It was with deep joy then that I recently tasted the 2016 Caronne St. Gemme (Majestic Wines £16.99). The Nony family has worked wonders with this excellent estate, and the winemaker claims that the 2016 is the best wine he’s ever made. Classical nose of blackcurrants, smoke, cigars, and grilled meats, the medium-bodied palate is choc-full of plums, currants, blackberries, and chocolate, that lead to a long, well-integrated, satisfying finish. Just starting to open up, it will be fascinating to see how this develops.

Until next time...

Well, I hope that’s whetted your appetite. Next time out, I’ll look at some affordable fizz.

Cheers!

Giles

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Vegan-friendly trail maps In Newbury

Karen Neville

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Visit Newbury has launched an updated version of Its Vegan -friendly trail map ahead of World Vegan Month In November

An updated Newbury Vegan-Friendly Trail Map with a new design has been launched to support the many local independents and national brands across the town centre.

The handy pocket map has launched online in advance of World Vegan Month, which starts on November 1st aims to help raise the profile of Newbury as a vegan-friendly destination, while promoting the national and independently owned shops, salons, cafés, and eateries to a vast and growing audience of vegans, v-curious, or simply eco-conscious shoppers.

This is the final map in the Newbury Town Trail map series to launch in 2022. Physical copies of the map are due to be distributed in matching display boxes to all 39 independent businesses and some of the national brands featured, as well as the 20 independent businesses included on the recent Dog-Friendly Trail Map, and 48 brands featured on the Independent Retail Map. The maps will also be available to pick-up from Newbury Library, West Berkshire Museum, and Old Town Hall, as well as from market stall holders at the next seasonal Vegan Market, taking place on Sunday, 20th November in the Market Place.

Additionally, maps will be available to collect outside of the town centre from the gift shop at Shaw House.

"We anticipate that the trail maps will encourage visitors to shop in-store on the vegan market day and beyond"

The Vegan-Friendly Trail Map includes a brief description of each venue and is set to become a useful resource for visitors and local residents who attend Newbury’s popular quarterly Vegan Market, signposting them to other animal-friendly and plant-based venues in the town centre. You can view the Vegan-Friendly Trail Map online here.

The businesses featured on the map will be open to customers on market day, and we anticipate that the trail maps will encourage visitors to shop in-store on the vegan market day and beyond. The trail, spanning from London Road through to Newbury’s Southern Quarter (consisting of Inches Yard, Bartholomew Street and The Arcade), should also help visitors to discover other businesses along the route, as the trail takes shoppers down some of Newbury’s quieter streets, many of which are hidden gems.

Find out more

The themed maps produced at Newbury BID are the third in a series of town centre maps for Newbury under the umbrella term ‘Newbury Town Trail Maps’. Downloadable copies of the physical maps and interactive versions of the Town Trails can be found online here.

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Art, design, your garden & you!

Karen Neville

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Broadlands in Romsey is the setting for The Garden Show from September 30th to October 2nd

The Garden Show is set to bloom again this autumn at Broadlands and although there will be fewer plants than in the spring and summer shows, it is the perfect time for planting trees, shrubs, bulbs, winter flowering plants as well as finding indoor plants to enhance the winter home.

It’s a great opportunity to source new talent, designers and artisans and browse more than 160 stands showcasing the latest specialist plants, garden and home accessories, art, design, sculpture, fashion, toys and a multitude of lovely goodies with tempting foods and wines in the Country Food marquee. There is something at the show that will appeal to everyone. It’s a good chance to do some early Christmas shopping and support the smaller businesses.

Apart from the extensive selection of retail companies there are many other attractions. Expert advice daily from ‘The Environmentalists, Jules & Lance, who apart from helping gardens thrive will be specifically providing the solution to any pruning confusion plus holding a daily Walk & Talk on The Hidden Life of Trees.

There is something at the show that will appeal to everyone. It’s a good chance to do some early Christmas shopping and support the smaller businesses.

On Friday Dr Ian Bedford, entomologist, will be running the Pest Clinic and can identify any bug samples brought along and how to rid your garden of them in as friendly a way as possible and he will discuss Britain’s Nature Recovery Plan. The show welcomes, Ben Cross from Crosslands Nursery who on Sunday will be extolling the British Cut Flower Industry … British Flowers Rock!

It’s not all about gardening: there are plenty of activities on site to keep all the family occupied including The Giant Tombola, a chance to win amazing prizes donated by The Garden Show exhibitors in support of the show’s chosen charity Jane Scarth House https://www.janescarthhouse.co.uk

There are fun times to be had with the children’s entertainer Crazee Hazee, learning circus skills and watching his hilarious Punch and Judy shows.

There will be ongoing artisan demonstrations along with musical entertainment from The Jazz Trio who will be wandering around delighting all with their evocative music of times past … all this and so much more to enjoy … including Huxley Birds of Prey who will thrill spectators as they soar to the skies.

Buy your tickets

Ticket prices on the gate –  adults £10, concessions £8, child £4 (4yrs and under FOC), family £26 (2A & 4C) Pre-book your tickets online 15% discounted!

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Go car free In Guildford

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Get on your bike or walk this Sunday, 25th September and help make the town centre a better place for all

Guildford is going car free this Sunday, 25th September to make the town centre experience more enjoyable for all.

Guildford Borough Council is putting pedestrians first offering them the opportunity to have fun on traffic-free streets; find out how to help tackle climate change and air pollution; ask questions to experts and listen to talks from local councils, University of Surrey and Zero Carbon Guildford

The town centre will transform with many roads and streets closed to traffic. Leave your car at home and use alternative forms of transport, such as walking, cycling and public transport.

A more enjoyable town centre experience is just a walk away this Car Free Day which features free events across town from 10am to 4.30pm.

Come by foot - walk, run or dance - it's up to you.

Activities include circus skills, nine metre climbing tower, Punch and Judy and street play for children, live music from local groups, ethical vegan market, rural crafts market, antiques and brocante market, farmers’ market, street food and drink stalls, e-bike and e-skateboard demos and information about how residents can step up their actions to tackle climate change.

So how can you enjoy Care Free Day and be part of it?

Come by foot – walk, run or dance – it’s up to you.

Cycle, scoot or skate – there are plenty of bike racks in and around the town. If you don’t have your own bike, hire a Brompton Bike from Guildford Station. There will be 50 extra bicycle parking spaces until 5pm with 10 each in Upper High Street (outside Pizza Express), Eastgate Gardens (at junction with Upper High Street), North Street (at junction with Market Street), High Street (outside Nationwide) and Tunsgate (outside Bang & Olufsen).

Find out more

More on Car Free Day at www.guildford.gov.uk/carfreeday2022

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Happy birthday to The Parade Cinema!

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We join The Parade Cinema team in celebrating their first anniversary and can’t imagine Marlborough Town without them, one year after opening.

Since opening last September, they have served 1.8 tonnes of popcorn, poured 19,600 glasses of wine and 38,000 cups of coffee and shown a total of 583 different films, spread across the regular Kids’ Club, subtitled films, Parent & Baby sessions, as well as live performances from The Royal Opera House, Met Opera and National Theatre.

Cinema manager David Williams says: “It’s been an amazing first year and so exciting to be able to bring cinema back to Marlborough. The reception has been incredible, and it’s truly wonderful to see how the people of Marlborough have flocked to The Parade. I am so proud of what the team have made here and all the events we have been able to put on. We have some exciting things happening between now and the end of the year, and 2023 is looking like an incredible year for film.

“There has been lots going on, and it’s great to contribute to such a brilliant community with our pop-up events, including our very successful Family Music Festival and Easter Bunny Hunt – we genuinely feel we have something for everyone.

“As a cinema, the films take centre stage, and our most popular in this opening year has been Top Gun Maverick, which has been viewed by nearly 6,500 people, closely followed by No Time To Die. Belfast, Downton Abbey, Dune, Elvis, Liquorice Pizza and Boiling Point.”

“It’s great to contribute to such a brilliant community with our pop-up events.”

The Parade Cafe is a great place to meet friends and enjoy delicious food made in-house by the fantastic team.  And with their heated outdoor courtyard and fabulous bar, you can be sipping a cocktail, a pint of beer, gin & tonic or cup of coffee and enjoying the beautiful surroundings of this historic building.

There is so much to look forward to in the coming months with the Halloween Hunt for Kids’ Club on Saturday, 29th October, and a Film Festival & Christmas Market (with live music and a visit from Father Christmas) from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th December.

The Parade Cinema’s weekly newsletter gives you film and ticket information and advance notice on special events. You might like to become a Friend of The Parade with an annual membership which gives you free tickets, early booking, discounts on tickets, food & drink, and local businesses.

Find out more

See their website www.theparadecinema.com

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Core values

Liz Nicholls

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Alison Bloomfield offers a slice of apple knowledge ahead of Brightwell cum Sotwell’s Apple Day on Saturday, 15th October.

When someone mentions apples you might think of apple crumble or the healthy bit of your lunch or cider from Somerset. You might have seen glorious pink blossom in spring or trees along roadsides full of fruit in autumn.

All of these represent just a fraction of the world of apples.

Oxfordshire might not be a famous fruit growing county like Kent or Herefordshire, but traditional apples are being rediscovered in the south of the county. The combination of geology, spring lines and soil type in this part of Oxfordshire are perfect for growing apples. From the late 1800s until the mid-1970s, orchards extended in a line from Harwell in the west to Ewelme in the east, growing all kinds of “top fruit” – apples, pears, plums, and cherries. Many of these original old trees ended up in gardens or abandoned in orchards no longer being farmed. These trees can be over 100 years old and keep on producing blossom and fruit even if they are no longer needed or loved.

But there is now a resurgence of interest in local food and heritage farming.

Community orchards

Many communities are planting orchards in their schools, allotments, village greens or new housing developments. To be classed as an orchard all you need is a minimum of five fruit trees. In London there is an orchard on a canal barge and an orchard was planted at the Olympic Park! Brightwell cum Sotwell villagers planted their community orchard in 2014 and since then more villages have planted their own, such as Blewbury, Appleford, and Long Wittenham and two have been planted this year right in the heart of Wallingford.

It can be great fun researching and choosing which varieties to plant in a community orchard and this provides an opportunity to ensure that heritage varieties continue to be grown throughout the country. The message of healthy eating, local food miles, and preserving heritage farming is a strong driver for locals and enthusiasts to plant valuable fruit for the future.

Apple Day

Apple Day is now an established countrywide autumn harvest event celebrated in villages, towns and even in large cities. It could be in both newly planted, or abandoned orchards (sometimes rediscovered by accident). It is a fun way to celebrate everything and anything to do with the apple harvest. Often there is traditional pressing to make juice, cider tasting, apple cake competitions, and a formal display of the different varieties grown nearby. The best bits are usually all the apple harvest games – pin the maggot on the apple, toffee apples, apple printing, apple bobbing, decorating chocolate coated apples, and, of course, the longest peel. A particular challenge can be the apple and spoon races!

What’s in a name?

Apples do not grow true from pips. If you plant a Bramley seed (pip) it will not produce a Bramley apple. The fruit produced from that seed will be a completely new variety.

Some of the wonderful names might be the name of the grower, some local dignitary or the town, or some characteristic of the apple. Pitmaston Pineapple, King of the Pippins, Chivers Delight, Peasgood Nunsuch, and Beauty of Bath conjure up pure whimsy. Would James Grieve, Revd. W Wilks, Charles Ross, Lord Derby, Lord Lambourne, William Crump, and Arthur Turner be on the local cricket team? Might Ingrid Marie or Annie Elizabeth be the name of a wife or sweetheart?
So, if you are thinking of planting an apple or a pear tree in your garden find a supplier of heritage varieties and have fun choosing one that suits your garden space or taste. The apple trees seen growing along roadsides might be a happy coincidence of motorists throwing their cores out of the window. Why not try growing your own tree with your next apple?

All welcome!

You will all be welcome at Brightwell cum Sotwell Recreation Ground, OX10 0RT (turn down the side of the Red Lion pub) for free Apple Day fun, 11am-4pm. There is going to be a great apple harvest this year as there are masses of apples around in gardens, old orchards and the community orchard too.

The most spectacular feature will be Paul Chilton’s stunning display of up to 100 varieties of apple that are grown in the village. Laid out the length of the pavilion you will see apple varieties dating back to the 1700s all the way through to those we know in the shops today. Egremont Russet, Spartan, Blenheim Orange, Annie Elizabeth, Edward VII, Peasgood Nunsuch, and Norfolk Beefing, to name just a few as well as the more well known Katy, Cox and Bramley.

There will be the fabulous apple and juice tasting as well as chutneys and cakes competitions; a bit like a food court focussed on apples! We will be picking masses of apples to press but why not bring some of your own and add them into the mix. Bring along some bottles or cartons and take away some really lovely juice – for free. A great way for kids to get their five a day!

We will have tours of the community orchard and there will be plenty of children’s activities! All apple-themed of course – pin the maggot on the apple, bobbing apples, apple face painting, apple printing, decorating chocolate apples are always great favourites.

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National Trust top 10 in Sussex

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Enjoy colour, walks and craft this autumn at National Trust properties in Sussex

Top 10...

1. Autumn colour

Enjoy Sheffield Park as the autumn colours ignite the trees and cast picture perfect reflections in the lakes. Famous for its autumn colour, this is the season that Sheffield Park and Garden was planted for. Take in the natural beauty as the trees glow with brilliant displays of reds, oranges, purples and greens. Children’s spotter sheets and colour wheel installations encourage young families to spend time noticing the variety in nature’s palette.

The South African flower borders at Nymans carry on flowering into late October, sometimes even longer. Salvias are beautiful in autumn, particularly those surrounding the rose garden. Walking in the woodland and garden at Nymans, you can see magnificent colour especially from hickory, liquidambar and acer trees.

Spot deer and wildlife in the woodland, watch mist settle over the boating lake from the shelter of the bird hide. Enjoy views across the Weald, which are particularly striking in autumn with a blend of earthy colours transforming the landscape.

2. Nature walks

Fall under autumn’s spell with immersive walks in the South Downs. Nature is busy in September, from migrating birds and fruiting fungi, to butterflies on the wing. On autumn walks at Black Cap and Slindon in South Downs, you can find open views, fungi, blackberries and hazelnuts for foraging and swallows congregating for their migration to sub-saharan Africa. In September there are clouded yellow and dark green fritillary butterflies. In October and November the trees turn brilliant shades of amber and gold.

Devil’s Dyke & Cradle Valley is home to wildflowers such as devil’s bit scabious and weird and wonderful fungi: including cobalt crust, parasols, waxcaps, shaggy inkcaps and King Alfred’s cakes.

See swathes of heather in flower at Black Down and the blue sky reflected in heathland ponds. At Harting Down and Slindon, listen out for the deer rut in the distance.

3. Crafts & creativity

Take inspiration from Virginia Woolf’s writing lodge in the garden at Monk’s House. Nestled in the heart of rural Sussex, Monk’s House is a tranquil 16th-century weatherboarded cottage inhabited by Leonard and the novelist Virginia Woolf from 1919 until Leonard’s death in 1969. Get to know Leonard and Virginia Woolf and the wider Bloomsbury Group by visiting Monk’s House. Full of their favourite things, the house appears as if they just stepped out for a walk. Open Fridays and Saturdays for pre-booked visits only until 29 October.

It’s impossible to ‘leaf swish’ without a smile on your face.

4 .The deer rut

At Petworth Park, hear the guttural calls of the fallow deer, echoing across the landscape and spot powerful antlers among the hillocks and long grass. Deer rut guided walks are one of nature’s greatest spectacles as bucks compete to attract the females by battling it out with their antlers. Visitors can join a deer rut guided walk led by a knowledgeable guide and learn more about the fallow deer in this historic parkland setting. If you’ve got binoculars bring them along so that you can observe the deer’s behaviour. There’ll be an element of hiding and waiting too. Walks will run on October 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 17th, 19th & 21st. Pre-book.

5. Harvest

The blackberries started early this year but there’s plenty more harvest in the National Trust’s walled gardens, orchards and hedgerows in Sussex. See the fruits of the Kitchen Garden’s harvest at Standen this autumn. Plus there are guided walks on the history of the garden demonstrations of how to spin wool, by the East Grinstead Spinners.

Visit Woolbeding Gardens and see mature apple tree cordons, grown in an intricate lattice pattern on the garden wall. This horticultural haven is bursting with colourful planting and innovation. Open Thursdays and Fridays until September 30th. Book a ticket in advance and travel via minibus from Midhurst town centre.

Take inspiration in the cottage garden at Alfriston Clergy House, with its raised kitchen garden beds on a domestic scale. With traditional apple tree varieties in the orchard laden with fruit and pumpkins peeking through their cover of leaves, this is a gentle place to rest and reflect as the days draw in. Open Wednesdays and Thursdays.

6. Golden light

The golden light of autumn afternoons gives everything a warm glow that’s tinged with nostalgia for the summer just gone and a tingle of excitement for the crisp days to come. The slanting sun bathes houses, gardens, landscapes and faces in a honeyed light, nowhere more so than Petworth Park amongst the wavy gold grassland, with views of the grand house bathed in soft afternoon light or how about a cappuccino on the mezzanine floor of Nymans’ new Riding House tearoom, with views of the Weald from the top windows. At the top of the acer steps in Standen’s Arts and Crafts garden as they turn red and golden in early autumn. In Nymans’ new Garden in the Ruins – among the gothic stone window spaces and warm rust coloured planters .

7. Leaf swishing

Whether it’s a high-kick to watch the leaves tumble, or the flat-footed swish-swish to enjoy the rhythmic crackle and whoosh of the dry leaves, there are no half measures. It’s impossible to ‘leaf swish’ without a smile on your face. Try these spots:

Tunnels of beech leaves, down the deep lanes on the Slindon estate.

The woods at Nymans, in late autumn, as the golden leaves form native trees fall to the ground, including beech, field maple, hornbeam and veteran oaks.

Discover Walk Wood at Sheffield Park and Garden: this peaceful area of woodland is steeped in history, with an abundance of wildlife and natural art sculptures.

8. Try something new

Sheffield Park autumn photography workshop – The natural beauty of the gardens offers spectacular autumn colour and walks and a popular autumn photography workshop (Friday, 30th September, Monday, 10th & Thursday, 20th October, 8.30am-12.30pm). An outdoor photography workshop is the perfect opportunity to learn how to capture the beautiful colours of autumn. Adult £35, includes hot drink and cake.

9. Rainy days

A rainy day in autumn is a great excuse to leave the dog at home and prioritise an exploration of the huge variety of grand, stately and quirky houses and collections that we look after in Sussex.

Before they’re put to bed for the year, visit:

Flower Power at Standen – Step back to 1972 with Flower Power, a new programme at Standen. To mark the 50-year anniversary of being in the care of the National Trust, Standen is paying homage to this era. From fondues to fuzzy felts, enjoy a snapshot of life in the 70s, against the backdrop of Standen’s trendy Morris & Co designed walls and textiles. Inside the house is a recreated 1970s room set by Morris & Co, with their ground breaking Triad collection, plus a contemporary design space until October 30th.

Rising from the ashes: the story of Nymans’ fire. A new exhibition which tells the story of how the Messel family overcame the fire at Nymans, until October 30th.

10. comfort food

The National Trust’s cafés in Sussex know a thing or two about serving up a soothing pumpkin soup or delicious slice of spiced apple cake. Pop along to Nymans, Standen, Petworth House, Birling Gap or Sheffield Park for an autumnal walk and a teatime treat.

Find out more

See the National Trust’s website www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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Discover National Trust gems

Round & About

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Make the most of the good weather and enjoy some of the splendid sights on our doorstep this season

What's on...

The popular River Wey Festival returns to Dapdune Wharf in Guildford from 11am on Saturday, 17th September, culminating in an illuminated pageant at dusk. Everyone is invited to soak up the atmosphere of this colourful festival by the river. Daytime activities include local food, craft demonstrations, music and folk dancing. Plus children’s activities such as willow weaving, den building and an augmented reality sand box. National Trust boat trips are running 11am – 6pm. Free to enter, no need to book: nationaltrust.org.uk/riverwey

Harvest at Box Hill is a community celebration of the landscape by Surrey Hills Arts also on Saturday 17th, 6pm. This annual arts event celebrates the outstanding landscape and view at Box Hill. You’re invited to a mass picnic at the Donkey Green while choirs sing out across the hills and poets recite their specially created works – all around a stunning art installation. ‘Seeds of Hope’ by Diana Burch is a sustainable artwork made from sticks and recycled yarns. Hundreds of local people have contributed to this piece over the past few months and you can have a go yourself.

There are a wealth of stunning sights to enjoy this season in Surrey

Celebrating 80 years since Polesden Lacey was gifted to the National Trust, the doors are open for free for Heritage Open Days from Thursday 15th to Saturday 17th. The estate will be brought to life by actors in fun pop-up scenes around the property, book talks, classic car displays and the chance to meet our ranger team and sit on board their tractor.

Clandon Park is unlike any other historic house you’ll ever visit. The fire at Clandon Park was the worst in the National Trust’s history. On Saturday 17th, for Heritage Open Days, discover the Trust’s new plans for the house, which offer a unique X-ray view of how great houses were made. There are free guided tours, the chance to meet the project team and see objects salvaged after the fire.

The memorials and public art works at Runnymede are fascinating to explore. Roam in the open access meadows alongside the River Thames and discover the landscape where Magna Carta was sealed.

Find out more

See the National Trust’s website www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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Indie film highlights the forgotten trailblazers

Round & About

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Happy Retirement Mr Pickering reveals ‘the ongoing taboo of LGBTQ+ baby boomers’

Reading Biscuit Factory is premiering a new independent film on Thursday, 22nd September, Happy Retirement Mr Pickering, taking on an often taboo subject.

Happy Retirement Mr. Pickering revisits the important conversations of the largely forgotten baby boomer LGBTQ+ community and how many individuals are left behind or isolated by the modern gay rights movement.

Ascot-based independent filmmaker Keshav Shree’s film follows Freddie Pickering as he begins his retirement having played by the ‘rules’ for much of his life. He has worked hard, has a three-bedroom house and a long marriage to a strong conservative wife who has made sure they conform to society’s expectations.

Is Freddie now prepared to put all that at risk to be who he really is? Will he risk losing his social network to start afresh or will he keep his sexual orientation hidden?

Writer and director Keshav says: “These are a few of the battling decisions which baby boomers LGBTQ or the ‘Gayest Generation’ have to consider as they age in retirement. In fact, over 32% of older LGBTQ people fear ‘being lonely and growing old alone’ compared to 19% of heterosexuals in a recent study by MetLife (in conjunction with American Society on Aging and Lesbian and Gay Issues Network).”

The Happy Retirement Mr Pickering production team have worked with the LGBTQ community through interviews and focus groups and have cast Kevin West in the lead role – a gay actor who identifies with Freddie’s journey, having been in a heterosexual relationship before coming out as gay. The events, dialogue and setting are based around research of individuals in this demographic and the troubles they have had to face.

Keshav explains: “I wanted to portray this delicate story as authentically as possible. Having spent two years researching the project, I think we are finally at a place that does it justice and in the most palatable form – a dark comedy.

“Let’s ignite conversations about the generation that struggled most for this movement, yet seem to reap the least benefits from its achievements and progress.”

Find out more

After the screening there will be a Q&A with Keshav https://readingbiscuitfactory.co.uk/whats-on/happy-retirement-mr-pickering-cast-and-crew-qa

The film will also be showing at The Boileroom Guildford on 24th November 24th and at The Old Court Windsor on December 8th.

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