The River & Rowing Museum in Henley has just celebrated its 25th anniversary and will be curating a host of events over the next 12 months. For now, it’s time to focus on more festive pursuits and there’s plenty of fun to be had over the next few weeks.
For those of you who fancy learning a new skill on 14th December there’s a Beaded Decorative Wreath Workshop – there will also be mulled wine, mince pies available.
*All days include a visit to Father Christmas and a gift!
All children must be accompanied by an adult (18+), free of charge. Activity charge is in addition to museum admission, but you do not need to visit the museum to access the activities.
Email: [email protected]to book your place. Spaces limited so don’t miss out!
Forget your cares and de-stress in the calm inviting studio space of the new Vayu Yoga in Guildford
December is a non-stop whirl of activity, going here and there, school and work functions to attend and all amid the joy/chaos that Christmas brings so never is there a greater need for some ‘time out’ to take a breather for yourself.
Step into Vayu Yoga above Black Sheep Coffee in North Street, Guildford, and you’ll be stepping into a haven of all that is tranquil. Peace exudes and you’ll feel a lifetime away from the crazy world outside.
The clean, warm, inviting interior will have you letting out an instant sigh of relief as you absorb the unique experience that awaits, inviting you to feel the benefits of moving your body and calming your mind.
The only independent yoga studio in Guildford, Vayu Yoga is run by Lucy Butler, a yoga teacher and Reiki master. Lucy wants to share her passion and love for yoga through her calm and welcoming studio space ‘where you can breathe deeply and energise your morning or release into your evening’.
Vayu Yoga embodies three core principles – philosophy, community and your wellbeing. The philosophy is to curate sessions in which you can experience the rich variety yoga has to offer. Community is at the heart of Vayu Yoga with the emphasis on offering an accessible approach to yoga for everyone from beginners to those more experienced. Your wellbeing and self awareness will increase through the practice with a calm mind and healthy body helping to add to the feeling of overall contentment.
Lucy says: “We’ve created a beautiful environment with the best teachers in the area, where you will receive individual attention and guidance. We offer an experience, a step away from the stresses and strains of daily life, where you can focus on an hour of ‘you’ time from beginners to advanced practitioners.
“We also offer a range of intimate workshops for a longer immersive experience. A luxurious experience like no other studio, a clean beautifully scented space where you can relax and enjoy our tranquil atmosphere.”
A range of classes is available including hot vinyasa, Hatha, mindful flow, and the popular candlelight restorative as well as the relaxing Yin. One-to-one private sessions and small groups sessions, can also be enjoyed, alongside Reiki.
Stacey Black, founder of Wandering Wild Yoga, East Meon, has tips for staying relaxed over the festive period and tells us more about her new yoga walks and classes
As a busy mum of three, I understand how making space for self-care is hard especially over the festive season. But spending just 10 minutes a day practising these three simple techniques could make all the difference.
Gratitude Journal: Start your day by jotting down three things you are grateful for.
Mindful Breathing: Sit in a comfortable position with your spine long, close your eyes and bring your awareness to your breath. Start to observe your breath, watching the subtle movements as you inhale and exhale, notice the qualities of your breath, does your breath feel slow or quick, does it feel smooth or jagged, notice how the ribs expand on the inhale and contract back with the exhale.
After a few rounds, gently start to deepen and lengthen your breath, engaging your diaphragm and using your lungs more fully. Sit for a few minutes breathing this way, letting your exhale be slightly longer than your inhale, this helps calm the body and nervous system.
Yoga Pose: Legs up the wall pose (Viparita Karani): Lying with your legs up the wall makes a difference to your mental and physical health. It activates the parasympathetic nervous system by slowing the breath and letting the body know it is safe to relax. It also relieves aching muscles and joints whilst also supporting your lymphatic and glymphatic system.
Set a timer between 5 and 20 minutes. To go into the posture, sit sideways on to the wall, manoeuvre yourself around so that your back is on the floor and your legs are up the wall. Once in position focus on your breath, take slow deep breath (as detailed above). When you are ready to come out cuddle your knees to your chest and roll on to one side.
Please note: this posture is not suitable during pregnancy, if you suffer from glaucoma or have untreated high blood pressure.
Make yoga a New Year resolution
Yoga is a transformational practice and benefits the mind, body and spirit. My journey began with a local yoga class, it was then I decided that I wanted to share this ancient practice with others.
I have now been teaching for 12 years and offer a range of classes including hatha yoga, chair yoga, restorative yoga, Mindful Wanders (outdoor yoga combined with mindful walking) and sound baths. My plan for 2024 is to focus on Yoga for Cancer with holistic yoga programmes for individuals and groups.
For more information about my classes please click here.
Wandering Wild Yoga is offering a free taster session for two people in 2024. To win this experience click here.
Enjoy the magic of Christmas with friends and family this December in Bordon
Visit The Shed this December for a Shed load of festive fun! Bring your friends and family and enjoy the magic of Christmas and embrace the holiday spirit with our enchanting festivities. From seasonal arts and crafts to live music, a dazzling Christmas market, and cosy drive-in cinema screenings, The Shed has got it all!
Christmas markets
From Friday 15th to Sunday 17th December, The Shed’s seasonal Christmas Market is back for its third year, and this year it’s even bigger than ever. With traders opening for the Friday afternoon and across the weekend, there’ll be hot food and drinks as well as local crafts and gifts available for everyone.
Music will be from local choirs, entertainment from the Phoenix Players and Shed favourite Stephanie Belle, plus much more.
Friday 15th, 4 to 8pm – It’s a chilled evening with lots of grown up things to delight.
Saturday 16th, 12 to 8pm – A family-orientated day with loads of fun, a nativity farm with real animals including special donkey story-time sessions throughout the day.
Sunday 17th, 10 to 2pm – An ideal day out for all the family with lots of great stalls and festive music.
On Saturday 16th don’t miss the chance to ride the reindeer bucking bronco, don your Christmas hat, put down the mulled wine and see how long you can hold on for!
Festive films
‘Tis the Season for Magical Movie Nights at Ticket Cinema. Get ready to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with a heart-warming selection of Christmas classics including How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf, Polar Express and Home Alone 2 under the starry night sky. Join them throughout December for a cinematic celebration of the Christmas spirit, with screenings twice a day on the 20th, 21st and 22nd you’ll have lots of opportunities to catch your favourite holiday films. Don’t miss out on this chance to make enduring traditions and create unforgettable moments with the family.
Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Company is looking forward to welcoming you to these Christmas events this December, as well as providing a central community hub where people of all ages can meet up to enjoy activities across the festive period.
1st December 7-9pm: Christmas Wreath Workshop
15th December 4-8pm: Christmas Market
16th December 12-8pm: Christmas Market
17th December 10am-2pm: Christmas Market
20th December 3:30-5:30pm: How the Grinch Stole Christmas @ Ticket Cinema
20th December 7-9pm: Elf @ Ticket Cinema
21st December 3:30-5:30pm: Home Alone 2 @ Ticket Cinema
21st December 7-9pm: Last Christmas @ Ticket Cinema
22nd December 3:30-5:30pm: The Polar Express @ Ticket Cinema
Liz Nicholls chats to Clarkson’s Farm star & dad Kaleb Cooper, 25, whose book Britain According To Kaleb is out now and whose UK theatre tour starts in January
Q. Nice to see you, Kaleb, where are you now? “Well, as you can see I’m currently in a field. I’ve just jumped off the tractor to speak with you because we’re muckspreading just over there, then you don’t have to heart the tractor buzzing away! I do apologise if you can hear a load of beeping. It’s a busy time of year; we’re doing about 114 hours a week – it’s pretty busy, and doing the other jobs that get missed out during the harvest time.”
Q. How do you keep your energy up? “I think I run on adrenaline. I love doing what I do so it’s never hard to stay out all night or all day, not having a lunch break. I have a dream and I’m going to get to that dream eventually. It’s pushing me to that place. In the back of my head I always say to myself: dreams don’t work unless you do. My dream is to own my own farm. I’d love to get to the point where I can wake up in the morning with my little kids and walk out on to my own farm and say: in that field over there, I’m going to plant wheat in it because I want to, not because anyone else told me to… And that’s the dream!”
Q. Would you like your kids to go into farming? “I’ve got a little boy and a little girl now and I would love them to take it ever but I would never push anyone to do anything they wouldn’t want to do. If they decide they don’t want to do farming but try their luck as a hot-shot lawyer in London, then great… I just hope they know that I’ll never, ever visit!”
Q. You love where you live don’t you? “I love it. Chipping Norton for me is the most amazing place in the world and I’ve always said that. I just hope everyone wakes up in the morning like I do & feels ‘I’m home’. This is my home, this is where I’m going to spend the rest of my life, I hope. If a farm comes up & it’s not too expensive and I can stay close to home, I’ll be happy.”
Q. You’re going to be on the road soon, though… are you nervous? “It’s been work hard, play hard all summer, and I’ve just sat down and thought **** me, I’m going on tour soon, I can’t wait for this. It starts on the 25th January and we’re going everywhere. I am a little bit nervous about it, though, yes, but I hope everyone will be really welcoming and if I get a nosebleed on stage just know it’s normal and it will go away. I don’t like crowds and I think everyone knows I don’t like being touched so I think everyone respects that. It’s a miracle I’ve got two kids!”
Q. What hairdo are you going to go for? “I think I’ve got to bring the perm back don’t you? I miss the curly. This year has been so stressful for me – look at my forehead [lifts fringe] – it’s just growing! I hope it will all be ok.”
Q. How’s Gerald? “Yeah Gerald’s really good – he’s got the mullet still! I would never ever get one, because I’ve got the king of mullets standing by my side. I can’t compete!”
Q. One of the things that endeared you to the nation was how blunt you have always been to Jeremy Clarkson and how you were unfussed by ‘celebrity’. Do you and Jeremy get on in real life? “Yeah. I’ve taught him a little bit of farming; it could me more but he doesn’t listen to me. He’s got a little knowledge and that’s dangerous! But I always say this for him: he’s taught me about the world of television and he’s the most amazing man for that because that man is a TV star, he knows what he’s doing in that world. We do quite a bit together – we go to the pub. If we’ve had an argument the day before we might not see each other for two days. We argue – I don’t think that’s ever going to change! But at the end of the day, I’m right and he’s wrong every time so…”
Q. Apart from the hair, have you changed? “People say I’m a celebrity now, well I’m not! I’m out here in the middle of a field, I don’t believe in celebrity format and I’m no different! People freeze up when they see someone famous but when I see a celebrity I just tell them the truth, which is how I was with Jeremy. I’m a chatty guy, I chat to everyone. I still drive my old beaten-up truck and people are lovely & chatty with me. Nothing’s changed!”
Q. You said you didn’t own any books, and that you hadn’t really read one, so how have you now written two?! “I don’t read books, own books… but I have got a book shelf now and it’s building up slowly – I’ve got The World According to Kaleb on it and now I’ve even got [new book] Britain According to Kaleb, and one of Jeremy’s too! I was a bit nervous about writing a book but I’ve got a recorder I keep in the tractor and as I’m going along doing my jobs, I record what I’ve got to say which is a win-win situation. Then, on a rainy day I can write it all up. There’s been a bit more googling for this book, Britain According To Kaleb, so I apologise if my tractor lines are a bit wonky next spring! I was finding out about different places across the country. Scotland, for example, is a phenomenal place. I thought, ooh, I can go on tour and see all these places and see what farming’s all about around Britain, not just here.”
“Dreams don’t work unless you do”
Kaleb Cooper
Q. Any local traditions you love? “Before I got too busy I used to go to the duck racing… Even though my duck lost I was still smiling at the end of the day and happy for the person who won. And that to me is how you sum up these events – it’s the community coming together and being really happy to all be there together. I’m a bit scared to try the wife-carrying – not because carrying my missus will be hard, but more because I know that if we lose, I’m going to get a b******ing when I get home! My other half is very competitive, you see. I can carry hay bales all day long but when you’re carrying someone precious to you it’s quite scary.”
Q. Can you tell us about your love of cider? “Yes, I don’t drink beer so I drink cider. I don’t yet own a farm but I know where loads and loads of apples are which go to waste every year so I thought why don’t I just pick them up and make my own cider? That’s what I do and I’m very grateful that Henry Weston takes the apples in and I can go with 50kg or 3kg in a bag and they still take it and we make some incredible cider. It’s a very dangerous drink!”
Q. You recently launched an agricultural bursary through the Royal Agricultural University which is great. What would you do to help young farmers? “Thank you, I’m trying to use my influence with young farmers’ groups, bursaries and help like that. But, I’m going to say it again: remember dreams don’t work unless you do. Young people who remember this will fly through the industry and do better than I am!”
Q. Do you still love to sing? “Haha! Stick me in a tractor and I just sing – I can’t help it. Jeremy took me to a concert the other day with The Who and I’ll always love The Wurzels!”
+ Britain According to Kaleb, The Wonderful World of Country Life, by Kaleb, is out now in hardback, ebook & audio. His theatre tour starts on 25th January and includes dates at Reading Hexagon on 25th February & G Live Guildford on 28th February. Book your tickets at Kaleblive.com
Have you been naughty or nice? Get your skates on to enjoy all the Christmas highlights coming up, including Father Christmas!
He’s making a list… He’s checking it twice… He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice. Yes the big man himself, Father Christmas, is taking time out from his busy schedule to visit lots of children in Buckinghamshire this month.
In fact, he and his elves will be at Amersham Field Centre, HP7 0QR, 11am-5pm on Sunday 10th, Saturday 16th, Sunday 17th & Wednesday 20th December, for an eco-friendly Santa’s Winter Wonderland. Explore the enchanted woodland with the elves, make a Christmas decoration in the workshop, help find Santa’s missing code and meet Santa in his grotto for your elf graduation certificate, elf hat and gift. Find out more at field-studies-council.org
“Father Christmas will also star at Marlow’s Christmas Fair”
Another planet-friendly highlight is the Eco Elves Tree-Cycle at Wycombe’s Eden Shopping Centre until Christmas Eve. With help from Mrs Claus, children can make decorations using recycled craft materials (Sunday morning SEND sessions). £3pp + booking fee at edenshopping.co.uk/events/the-eco-elves-tree-cycle
Father Christmas will also star at Marlow’s Christmas Fair at The Grand Hall and Versailles Suite on 2nd December. And we can’t mention the big man and Marlow without, of course, another mention for Santa’s Fun Run on 3rd December! santasfunrun.org
Missenden Abbey Christmas Market, 12-4pm on Sunday, 3rd December, will offer gift and craft stalls where you can support local businesses and perhaps find special gifts for friends and family. Watch out for favourite children’s book and film characters on the day. Little ones are also sure to love the merry-go-round and bungee jumping trampolines, plus a little bird tells me Father Christmas will star. Arrive hungry to tuck into pizza, pasta, hot doughnuts, cakes and more. £4pp, £2 children three-12 years; tickets on the door or book at ticketsource.co.uk/missenden-abbey-christmas-market-2023
Father Christmas will return on his giant red tractor at Hogshaw Farm & Wildlife Park (formerly Green Dragon Eco Farm), MK18 3LA. Up until Christmas Eve, you can wander through the festive forest, past the magical wishing tree and through the snow pits to Santa and his grotto, complete with adorable live reindeer. Share your wishlist, before stopping for a tasty treat and collecting a special present. Book your tickets at hogshawfarm.co.uk
A pop-up ice skating rink will give you a warm welcome at Chiltern View Garden Centre in Stoke Mandeville, HP22 5GX, all the way to New Year’s Eve (closed Christmas Day) with the last session 8pm (6pm on Sundays, 5pm Christmas Eve & NYE). If you’re the best-dressed Elf on a Saturday night you could win £150, and you can book in for Breakfast with Santa and the fabulous Drag Queen Bingo 6-9pm on 3rd 10th December with Cosmic. Visit chilternviewicerink.co.uk to book.
The mesmerising winter light trail lights the gorgeous grounds of Waddesdon Manor until 17th December. Wander the Aviary gardens to enjoy glowing orbs, starbursts, 3D birds and giant shooting stars set to music plus animated projections on to the manor’s façade, inspired by British tales Alice in Wonderland, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Peter Pan. The fair and food village is also back with wooden chalets amid twinkling trees. Visit waddesdon.org.uk to find out more & book.
Santa’s Grotto at Frosts Garden Centre Woburn Sands, MK17 8UE, will open every day up to Christmas Eve with Snowball Sammy & friends offering fun and games before you head off to the reindeer stables to mix up some magical reindeer food with Reindeer Ronnie.Visit frostsgardencentres.co.uk/experiences/santas-grotto-experience
Buckinghamshire Railway Centre in Quainton, HP22 4BY, will welcome you for The Panto Express with Father Christmas. Vintage steam trains will help you create wonderful memories and a professional touring company will perform Beauty & The Beast. Visit bucksrailcentre.org
Plus he’s on board for Santa Steam Specials through December at Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway; chinnorrailway.co.uk
The 12 days of Christmas exhibition returns to Hughenden Manor in High Wycombe, HP14 4LA. Find scenes from the famous carol brought to life with giant gold rings and swans a-swimming on a sea of baubles. Musical Saturdays will bring choirs, silver bands and jazz singers and there are separate festive creative workshops for adults. Children can follow a festive trail to find the 12 presents of Hughenden in the garden and storytelling in the bookshop. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk
Spot giant willow-woven bird sculptures on the seasonal wildlife trail around Stowe in A Winter’s Tail until 1st January. Match tails to their owners, find clues, solve puzzles and keep an eye out for the elusive fox tail. Local choirs will perform at weekends beneath the decorated tree. And join the annual Boxing Day pilgrimage at Stowe Gardens – dogs welcome!
Whatever you do, wishing you lots of peace and goodwill!
Catch Santa around Twyford and the surrounding area from December 1st to 17th
Once again, Santa and his enchanting sleigh, brought to you by the Twyford and District Round Table, will be spreading joy throughout the Twyford, Hurst, Wargrave and Ruscombe communities this holiday season.
Our cherished annual tradition of Santa’s sleigh gracing your streets, accompanied by festive tunes, opportunities to wave at Santa himself, and special treats for well-behaved kids, is set to continue between December 1st and 17th. We’ll be kicking-off Santa’s tour at the annual Twyford Together Christmas Fayre on the 1st.
If you can spare some change to drop into our collection buckets when we visit, your generosity will be deeply appreciated. The Twyford and District Round Table relies on contributions from beloved community events like this one, which are then channelled to support local charities such as Daisy’s Dream, Age Concern, Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice, Understanding Dementia, Thames Valley Air Ambulance, and many others.
Stay tuned for updates closer to the event by visiting our Facebook page where we’ll be sharing routes and updates during the period.
We are always looking for volunteers to join us, if you are interested in getting involved just drop us a message on FB.
As the Christmas season gets underway, Fleet is preparing to wrap itself up in the magic of the season with three heartwarming events that capture the essence of Christmas
Get ready for the annual Fleet Christmas Festival on Wednesday, 22nd November, from 2pm to 9pm. Organised by a passionate team of volunteers, the festival transforms Fleet into a festive hub, boasting 120 market stalls lining Fleet Road.
From hot and cold culinary delights to unique gifts and decorations, the Christmas Market is a celebration of Christmas and the warmth of community connections. There will also be entertainers and rides as well as a giant snow globe where you can immerse yourself in a magical winter wonderland.
Gurkha Square becomes a stage for the town’s talents, featuring school choirs, community groups and the cast of the year’s pantomime, Dick Whittington. The switching on of the Christmas tree lights at 6.30pm marks a moment of shared joy and anticipation. The square also includes community stalls, celebrating the people who make a difference locally. Father Christmas will be in his grotto in The Harlington which will also host the Harlington Bazaar.
Hart Shopping Centre are hosting the Hart of Craft Christmas market where you can pick a unique or handmade gift, and also enjoy a free glass of wine and mince pie. The Shopping Centre is also host to Autism Friendly Fleet’s Chill Zone offering a quiet space to rest and chill.
Santa’s Post Office: Where wishes take flight
Santa’s Post Office returns to the Hart Shopping Centre, delivered by the Fleet Business Improvement District (BID) and funded by local businesses. This is a charming experience for adults and children alike and children can meet Santa’s elves and write their letters to Santa. It is a true community event with volunteers from Fleet Guides manning the Post Office, raising awareness of the great work they do.
Opening hours:
Wednesday 22nd November, 4pm to 7pm
Saturdays 25th November, 2nd, 9th and 16th December, 10am to 4pm
Sundays 26th November, 3rd, 10th, 17th December, 10am to 4pm
School holidays, Monday 18th – Friday 22nd Dec, 10am to 4pm
Snow Windows: Artistry in every corner
Building on last year’s success, the Fleet Business Improvement District has again commissioned Snow Windows to create unique Christmas artwork in Fleet. Shop windows throughout the town have been transformed into unique pieces of art, each personally designed by renowned artist Tom.
This unique street exhibition showcases the individuality of these local businesses, making a perfect Christmas trail for families to spot the details that make each artwork so special.
For anyone wanting to see the artist at work, Tom from Snow Windows will be decorating the window of 217 Menswear at 217 Fleet Road during the Fleet Christmas Festival on 22nd November.
Tracey Shrimpton, Fleet BID Manager said “Fleet puts on some amazing events throughout the year, and Christmas is a really special time in the town.
“The Fleet Christmas Festival is organised by a dedicated group of volunteers who work so hard every year to organise this event which attracts people from far and wide. Through the contributions of local businesses, the Fleet Business Improvement District is able to provide additional free entertainment including the magical experience of Santa’s Post Office and the awe-inspiring artwork of world-famous Snow Windows.
“We recognise that families may find the pressure to spend money stressful this Christmas and we are delighted that we can offer something very special for families to enjoy that they can do completely free of charge.
“We are so lucky to have such a fabulous range of committed small business owners who open their doors every day to offer customers unique services and products, with local staff to provide help and advice. The High Street is facing many challenges right now and our mission is to support businesses in Fleet with a number of activities to improve the trading environment and this is a great opportunity for people to show their support for local businesses which are the lifeblood of our community.”
The sell-out professional adult panto Sleeping Beauty Felt A Little Prick is at The Back Room of the Star Inn, Guildford, from November 23rd to January 6th
Guildford Fringe Adult Panto returns for its 12th year, with Sleeping Beauty Felt A Little Prick the Adult Panto running from 23rd November – 6th January 2024 at the Back Room of the Star Inn.
The show is delivered by the creative team behind the company’s recent hit adult pantos Sinders, D!CK, Pinocchio, Aladdin One Rub Too Many and Throbbin’ Hood & his Little John. The production has a brand new script, written by Director James Chalmers with Assistant Director and Choreographer Charlotte Wyschna.
Charlotte Wyschna and Nick Wyschna of Guildford Fringe said: “Prepare for an uproarious spectacle as our yearly adult panto returns, promising laughter, mischief, and a stellar cast that will leave you in stitches. With a history of sold-out success, this year’s production is set to be a comedic masterpiece that’ll have audiences talking long after the final curtain falls.”
The professional cast (with character names kept clean here…) is:
Ciara-Alexandra Booker (Fairy): Ciara-Alexandra trained in Musical Theatre at Bird College of Performing Arts. Theatre includes: Aladdin (DK Productions), Shakespeare In Love (Altrincham Garrick Playhouse) and Aladdin (The Empty Space).
Rosy Carr (Baddy): Rosy recently graduated from Performance Preparation Academy in Guildford.Theatre includes: Throbbin Hood and His Little John (Guildford Fringe Theatre Company) and RENT (Performance Preparation Academy).
Molly King (Princess): Molly is training with Identity School of Acting, and is a 2022 Bird College graduate.Theatre includes: One Week in Magaluf (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), The Business of Love (The Hope Theatre, London), Pippin (Doreen Bird Foundation Theatre) and Aladdin (Theatre Royal, Bath).Molly is the Founder and Director of Reclaim Productions (.).
Finan McKinney(Prince): Finan trained at Arts Educational Schools London followed by the Performance Preparation Academy. Theatre includes: Viking Cruise Vocalist, Aladdin (Redhill), and In Pieces Workshop. Finan is delighted to be spending this Christmas making rude jokes in Guildford, a town in which he trained at drama school!
David Scotland (Dame): David trained at Bird College. David is delighted to be working with Guildford Fringe again after appearing in Dick! – The Adult Panto previously. In 2022, David was selected for the Traverse Theatre’s Breakthrough Writers: Launchpad programme. His first play, I’ve Never Met Anyone Quite Like You Before debuted at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023, receiving fantastic reviews and a nomination for an OffFest Award.
To book for Sleeping Beauty Felt A Little Prick the Adult Panto, strictly for over 18s only, visit www.GuildfordFringe.com or telephone the Box Office on 01483 361101. The show runs at approx. 1 hour (no interval). Strictly for 18+ audiences.
Robbie James shares his love of his ‘homeland’ in his new TV show and invites you to join the journey up north
I’ve lived all but two years of my life in the south of England. I grew up near Winchester. Winchester! It doesn’t get much more English than middle class, oat milk flat white, Schoffel wearing Winchester. I’ve since moved to Farnham. Farnham! Middle class, oat milk flat white, Schoffel wearing Farnham.
Ok so maybe I’ve had a fairly English life so far, but at heart, I feel very, very Scottish. I know, you’re rolling your eyes as you await me to tell you about my great aunt’s, cousin’s, labrador’s, dressing table’s Scottish heritage, but let me explain.
My grandparents on my mum’s side came down to Aldershot from Glasgow when my grandad (Papi as we call him) was in the parachute regiment. Ever since, my family has been settled down south, but they’ve never lost their love and impassionment for Scotland, and that’s rubbed off on me.
Watching Scotland play in the Six Nations from their south coast home has formed the nucleus of all major family events. Hearing stories of Jack & Betty’s less than glamorous upbringings in the Glaswegian tenements has humbled us through the years, and near enough everything I have in my life is thanks to their relentless hard graft. But anyway, we’ve always been brought up to be aware of our Scottish roots, and to feel them.
So when Travelxp asked me if I’d like to host a TV show taking you around Scotland for 10 days, I immediately said yes. We filmed it at the back end of the summer and it was the most fun. It felt like a form of homecoming, which even I struggle to comprehend given I’ve only ever lived in Scotland to study at Heriot Watt University for two years, but I feel at my most content in Scotland.
Every country has a mixed bag of people; but the self-deprecating, warm, charming and often downright mischievous sense of humour from Scottish people is something I can really get on board with. The landscape is also just beautiful to the point where I feel drained from the emotion it somehow brings out in me. So romantic, curiously personable, and yes really cold, but that’s fine.
I think the show covers all bases when it comes to exploring the country. We of course take you through some of the most emotive landscape the UK (and in my opinion, the world) has to offer, but we also head into cities, touch on Scotland’s often traumatic history, and you bet we learn the bagpipes (which by the way is one of the hardest things to do, lots of blowing, to the extent I nearly passed out).
I think it’s important not to force any kind of #content down anyone’s throat. No one trusts a sales rep, so we wanted to give you some ideas of things to do if you’re visiting Scotland, but they’re only ideas. You’re grown up and can plan your own trip, you don’t need me to tell you how brilliant every single cafe or walk in Scotland is, because it’s not. That’s not the case anywhere, except maybe Farnham…or Winchester. Uh oh.
Watch Robbie James in 10 Days Scotland, which airs from 25th November exclusively on Travelxp.
