Sinodun Players stage Broadway show

Karen Neville

Oxfordshire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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Illuminated Boat Parade on the Thames

Round & About

Oxfordshire

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

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

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

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

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

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


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M is for murder & mystery

Karen Neville

Oxfordshire

‘Queen of Crime’ Agatha Christie lived in Wallingford for 42 years and wrote most of her novels here while living quietly by The Thames. Each September, Wallingford celebrates her with a variety of events

From exhibitions and talks, to ‘who dunnits’ and art workshops, there’s something for everyone to enjoy from September 6th to 8th honouring the best-selling author.

Throughout the weekend the view the special exhibition: “At Home with the Queen of Crime’ which takes you behind the scenes of Agatha’s home life while Ordeal by Innocence features paintings by artist Laura Hope at Wallingford Museum. (Entry by Museum ticket £6). Details Wallingford Museum.

Explore Wallingford in Rhythm and Rhyme with the Queen of Crime – pick up a leaflet from the Town Information Centre, and find the clues on 10 information boards around the town to solve the crossword.

Join a guided walk with a touch of Midsomer Murders and visit Christie’s grave at St Mary’s Church, Cholsey.

Pit your wits at a ‘Murder Mystery’ themed quiz on Friday when you can also listen to an illustrated talk on The Mysteries of Miss Maple. Book in advance at » The Mysteries of Miss Marple.

Join local artist Emma Souter on Saturday for a morning of creativity sketching the statue of Agatha Christie ‘en plein air’ at Kinecroft and why not stay for the Big Picnic with Agath afterwards?

Students from Wallingford School will perform two short murder mystery plays ‘Afternoon at the Seaside’ and ‘The Patient’ on Saturday afternoon.

At A is for Arsenic – the poisons of Agatha Christie, learn about the chemicals Agatha Christie used to kill off her characters and help solve a murder on a day out or evening on the Bunkline working out “who dunnit” in a murder mystery. In the evening experience Murder on the Wallingford Express complete with meal on the train. Watch as the story unfolds, listen out for clues, get those grey cells working, question the cast if you wish to try and piece together the puzzle.

Maritime Murder: A Vintage Voyage Riverboat Experience will feature professional actors bringing to life the gripping tale inspired by the queen of mystery, Agatha Christie. Enjoy treats prepared by the renowned Soph’s Loafs and a pay as you go bar, will be available on board.

The Shellfish Cow will be offering a special murder themed cocktail, Mollies will be holding a Murder Mystery evening on Saturday 7th with a fabulous interactive acting troupe as entertainment and The Keep will be serving up Agatha Christie inspired cocktails.

There are talks and art to get involved in, a special event for children and even an Agatha-inspired run and the chance to enjoy Gosford Park at the Corn Exchange too.

For details on all the events and how to book visit Agatha Christie’s Mystery Weekend


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Chiltern Sky Flowers blooming lovely farm

Liz Nicholls

Oxfordshire

Fiona & Chris McLeod own & run Chiltern Sky Flowers in Bledlow Ridge, working with the seasons & Mother Nature to show younger generations the power of flowers

There is no age limit to growing flowers, as long as you keep fit and healthy. In fact, can there be any more wonderful way to connect with nature and spend your life outside?

That’s the message from Fiona & Chris who set up their own small-scale flower farm in their late fifties. “We’ve lived in Bledlow Ridge for 29 years,” says Fiona, “but we only set up the flower farm in 2018, with a view to having a retirement project for our future.

“We don’t have children, but we do support our local primary school in Bledlow Ridge, who visit us as part of their nature studies, learning about the four seasons… Shout-out to the best primary school in Bucks!”

The couple are passionate about conserving our ecological environment in The Chiltern Hills. The chalk grassland and meadows are rich habitats for wildflowers and wildlife. Owls, bats, red kites, grass snakes, bees, moths and butterflies are some of their companions.

Their flower beds are constructed using the “no dig” method. They also use peat-free compost and are committed to reducing single-use plastic and recycling. They harvest rainwater from their cottage roof, storing it in deep, brick-built Victorian wells.

Right now the summer flowers (including a dazzling display of achillea, ammi, cornflowers, cosmos, dahlias, phlox, snapdragons and fragrant sweet peas) are blooming, before autumn-flowering highlights such as dahlias take centre stage, along with anemones, asters, helianthus, verbena and zinnias.

Fiona and Chris have nothing but love for their village. “Bledlow Ridge is small but full of local talent,” says Fiona. “There’s a fabulous café run by Martina up at the cricket club. Martina bakes our cakes when we host workshops.

“Bledlow Ridge is a small, friendly community and there are plenty of groups you can join”

“It’s a small, friendly community here and there are plenty of groups you can join to meet and make friends. Bledlow Ridge sits high up in the Chiltern Hills with beautiful views. It’s a fabulous area for walking and hiking, and brilliant wildlife with unspoilt countryside.

“We have a wonderful pub, The Boot. Down the road is the great pub, The Sir Charles Napier, then you have The Lions of Bledlow, the wonderful West Wycombe Walled Garden café and – our favourite venue for buying presents for family and friends – The Apple Orchard at West Wycombe.”

The duo can provide flowers for weddings & other special events. The farm will host a floristry workshop on Saturday, 7th September.


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Sisters’ heartfelt cancer story & fundraiser

Liz Nicholls

Oxfordshire

Two sisters, Charlotte and Sophie Rooney, from Oxfordshire, are fundraising to throw a festival to raise money for Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK following Charlotte’s diagnosis of a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

Charlotte, aged 34, lives with her partner and four-year-old daughter. In April this year, her family were presented with the devasting news that Charlotte had been diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC), a type of head and neck cancer. ACC is a rare form of cancer affecting only five in every million people in the UK. Charlotte is currently undergoing intense radiotherapy treatment and has been told she faces a very uncertain future.

Charlotte says: “In January 2024 I noticed a blocked nose without any other cold-like symptoms. After waiting for it to subside on its own for two to three weeks, I went to the doctor but was sent away twice. By the middle of February, I started developing a tingling sensation in the right side of my face. As the nose didn’t clear and the tingling became burning, I went back to the GP and was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia. They referred me to ENT, but the wait to be seen was about 20 weeks. The pain in the face worsened so with help from my parents, I had a private consultation. The ENT doctor found a polyp in my nose and, to rule anything serious, requested scans and a surgical biopsy. On the 18th of April my consultant said I had Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, a terminal cancer and the chances of being cured are in the single percentages.”

Charlotte and her sister Sophie, who grew up in Hook Norton but now lives in the Lake District, are planning a festival for their friends and family to enjoy once the unwanted side effects of Charlotte’s radiotherapy wear off. The event will take place on 12th October at Hadsham Farm in Horley, Oxfordshire. The local venue has very generously provided the event space at a discounted rate to host the festival.

The sisters are hoping local people and businesses will support the fundraiser and have set up a JustGiving page for donations. They aim to raise £10,000 to put on the festival, with proceeds on the evening going to Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK. Charlotte and Sophie are also calling on Oxon-based companies who may wish to donate raffle prizes, auction items or become a drink or food sponsor.

Sophie says, “Seeing Charlotte approach her treatment with such grit and determination has encouraged us to do something big that we can look forward to once the unwanted side effects of radiotherapy wear off. She is incredibly sociable and one of her dreams is to host a festival for friends and family. We are hoping to raise enough money to throw one heck of an event! We will be using the money raised from the Just Giving page and are asking for donations from local businesses where appropriate.

“Seeing Charlotte approach her treatment with such grit and determination has encouraged us to do something big”

The festival will be a private event for friends and family – but on the night we hope to raise money for the Oracle Head & Cancer UK through entrance donations, games and competitions, and an auction of promises. Any money raised that exceeds the amount needed to fund the event will also be donated to the charity.”

Michelle Vickers, Chief Awareness Officer at Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK says: “We are incredibly grateful to Charlotte and Sophie for sharing their story to raise awareness of these types of cancers. Head and neck cancer is the seventh most common cancer and yet many people have never heard of it. We hope the Oxfordshire community gets behind them to put on a fantastic event for Charlotte and her friends and family whilst also raising funds for Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK to help combat the head and neck cancer crisis.”


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Fashion & beauty night in Marlow

Liz Nicholls

Oxfordshire

Enjoy a fashion & beauty night out in Marlow on 26th September with a talk from Lucia Santa-Maria, a screening of The Devil Wears Prada, hair & make-up tips & more

September is the perfect month for new starts, so don’t miss this opportunity for some shopping style!

Krista Madden has organised an evening kicking off with a talk, 5-6pm at Court Garden House, from Lucia Santa-Maria who has been working on Marlow Murder Club this summer. She’ll talk about Building Confidence with Fashion, picking key high street pieces.

Find out about health and fitness tech at Sweaty Betty, including the next-generation Power Plate and a lymphatic drainage compression, with experts on hand, and health & make-up showcased in Jigsaw.

Nutritionist Brigette Hancock will launch her first book, Live Like a Lobster, at The Marlow Bookshop. The shops will stay open until 8pm with free drinks, special offers and lots of activities along the high street for you to enjoy. The evening will showcase local fashion, beauty and creative talent in Marlow.

Tickets to Lucia’s talk are £10pp including a drink & free for Marlow Living Loyalty App subscribers. For more details visit In Your Element Festival. Book your tickets for The Devil Wears Prada at Everyman Cinema. Follow In Your Element on Instagram for more updates!


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Over The Hill music in Witney

Liz Nicholls

Oxfordshire

Love Blues & Roots music? There’s lots to enjoy at Studio 7 in Station Lane, OX28 4BQ, from 3pm on bank holiday Monday 26th August

Over the Hill will feature four of the UK’s leading blues, roots & Americana acts including:

Matt Owens & The Delusional Vanity Project
Matt first came to prominence as a founder member of indie-folk band Noah and the Whale. His latest album Way Out West has met with critical acclaim and he’s currently working on his fifth. Expect a punchy performance with a Springsteen vibe.

Hannah White
Winner of Best Song at the 2023 Americana Music Association Awards, Hannah has been described by Uncut Magazine as ‘an expressive voice and song craft’.

Mississippi MacDonald
Having picked up two awards at this year’s British Blues Awards, Mississippi and his band have spent the year playing the major blues festivals in the UK and selling out venues all over the country.

Sean Taylor
Sean is an international touring troubadour. He was nominated for the 2023 UK blues acoustic artist of the year award. His songs are best described as roots; influenced by blues, Americana, jazz, spoken word and folk music.

£20pp, no extra booking fees; tickets from WeGotTickets and Truck Witney


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Help make Watlington skate park happen!

Liz Nicholls

Oxfordshire

Could you help the local crowdfunding campaign to give the long-abandoned halfpipe a makeover for a new generation?

The Watlington Wheels Project is a registered charity that supports the facilities within Watlington Park for skateboarding, BMX, rollerblading and scooters. The project has been set up by locals to revamp the area, writes Karen Parry.

The halfpipe in Watlington has stood for as long as people can remember and was, for many, a rite of passage. The bright blue skating bowl, which boasts a giant graffiti style octopus, is a unique addition to the skate park. It definitely has the wow factor and is a focal point in the community.

While the halfpipe served the town well over the years, it is now in dire need of refurbishment. It has become an unappealing sight and more difficult to ride.

The Watlington Wheels Project is hoping to replace the halfpipe with a new improved four feet high and 16 feet wide wooden version. They want it to be something useable by all ages and all abilities. This is more than a construction project to the locals, it’s about revitalising the community spirit, fostering inclusion, promoting physical activity and most importantly giving the youth of Watlington a safe place to express themselves.

They are looking to raise £8,500 to cover the install and maintenance for the first three years. If they can do this, they will not need to use any money earmarked by the council for the bowl renovation and resurface. If you live around Watlington and would like to see a new halfpipe replacing the old one, then please donate through their Crowdfunder link. We would very much appreciate any donation you can make.

Many thanks for your support!

Crowdfunder link: Watlington Flow Park & Halfpipe
Also see Facebook


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August bank holiday White Horse Show

Round & About

Oxfordshire

Enjoy two days of fabulous family entertainment on August 25th and 26th.

The two-day White Horse Show is a great family country show which runs over the August Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday, with something for everyone.

Professional arena displays include local sheepdog trainer Bob Hogg and Rebellion Re-enactment as well as falconry, beekeepers and craft displays. Childrens’ rides, historic cars and vehicles, stationary engines, and model boats on display. More entertainment comes from Professor Crump, Team M.A.D’s display of Pedal versus Parkour, the Icknield Way Morris Men, the Ukey Dukes and the Wantage Silver Band.

Plus there’s food, a bar, a fun dog show, petting animals, lots of retail, and you can have a go at shotting a shooting a shotgun, or even a real historic musket.

Tickets in advance online at https://whitehorseshow.seetickets.com/tour/white-horse-show

All profits from the show are used to benefit local good causes.

Gates open 10am daily at Fawler Road, Uffington, visit https://whitehorseshow.co.uk/ to find out more.


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Vote in BBOWT photo competition

Karen Neville

Oxfordshire

Choose your favourite in the People’s Choice Award, voting open until August 26th

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has opened public voting to select the first-ever ‘People’s Choice Award’ winner of its annual photography competition.

Nature lovers of all ages have sent in their best shots of animals, plants, people and scenery at BBOWT nature reserves and in the community.

For the first time ever, the vote has also been thrown open to the public with a new ‘People’s Choice Award’. The winner will not only enjoy pride of place as the public favourite, but also receive a Nexcam solar-powered trail camera, perfect for capturing remote shots of camera-shy creatures.

Votes for the shortlisted photographs can be cast by visit https://www.bbowt.org.uk/peoples-choice-award which will remain open until Monday 26th August.

Rachel Levis, BBOWT’s Head of Events, said: “It’s always such a treat to see so many amazing photos of wonderful wildlife taken on our patch, and this year has been no exception! We’ve been sent stunning summer scenes on our reserves, macro shots of insects with incredible detail, and precious wildlife moments captured for all to enjoy.

“We’re excited to have introduced the People’s Choice Award this year which will get our supporters involved with the very tricky judging decisions. With a superb selection, we know it’s going to be a hard choice, but we can’t wait to see which photo is crowned the winner!”

It’s also not too late to submit photos for this year’s wider competition, with entries for all nine categories remaining open until Monday 26th August.

Each year the competition attracts entries from across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, with nearly 150 people submitting almost 500 photographs for judging in 2023.

Selected by a panel of expert judges, all category winners will enjoy a workshop with wildlife photographer Steve Gozdz from GG Wildlife Experiences and receive a copy of the 2025 BBOWT wildlife calendar featuring their winning entry.

In addition, this year’s overall winner will be awarded a Technaxx bird feeder camera station, while the winners of the Children and Teen categories can claim a bundle of nature books for their school libraries (or to the schools which they nominate).

The Trust is extremely grateful to GG Wildlife Experiences for once again sponsoring this year’s competition. For full details on how to enter, visit https://www.bbowt.org.uk/photocomp24


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