Celebrate non-fiction November in Bucks

Liz Nicholls

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Liz Nicholls

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The Non-Fiction November hobby show highlight is all set for 2-4pm on Saturday, 9th November, at St Mary’s Church, Wooburn Green, HP10 0LU

The South Bucks Children’s Book Group is very excited to invite you to a fun-filled afternoon of exploration and creativity. Enjoy an engaging experience that combines a whole host of books and hobbies.

Activities you can expect include:

• Camping: Pick up great skills, from setting up a tent to cooking over a campfire. Perfect for future adventure in the great outdoors!
• Makaton Sign Language: An interactive session where you can learn Makaton signs to communicate in a fun and inclusive way.
• Jewellery Making: Create unique pieces of jewellery using various materials. A perfect keepsake or gift!
• Diving Discovery: Explore the basics of diving with equipment, information and safety tips.
• Origami Workshop: Learn the art of paper folding and create beautiful origami designs.
• Quiz: Various books will be available for you to take part in our quiz.

If you have a hobby that you’re passionate about and are able to bring something to show, the team would love for you to share it.

Part way through the workshop, refreshments will be provided and donations for these are welcome.

This event is perfect for families with children aged between 7 and 13. Head along, bond over shared interests and learn new skills. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a curious beginner, there’s something for everyone.

Buy your tickets at The Hobby Show : Non-Fiction November at St Mary’s Church Hall, Wooburn Green event tickets from TicketSource. Please RSVP asap so the team can ensure they have enough materials and space for everyone.

Non-fiction isn’t just for November! Although information books are being published, read and enjoyed throughout the year, NNFN provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of the best books around, while celebrating the positive impact that reading information books can have and exploring some of the trends and challenges in current publishing.

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Poem for every day of Christmas

Liz Nicholls

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Liz Nicholls

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A collection of 31 poems takes includes poems from Tennyson, T.S. Eliot, Benjamin Zephaniah, Thomas Hardy, Lemn Sissay, Dylan Thomas, Wendy Cope, Robert Burns, E.E Cummings, Christina Rosetti, is perfect for reading aloud and sharing with all the family.

Beautifully illustrated by Allie Esiri, the UK’s No.1 bestseller in children’s poetry books.

Published by Macmillan Children’s Books on 7th November, A Poem For Every Day of Christmas includes firm Christmas favourites and much more.

A Poem For Every Day of Christmas is Allie Esiri’s 13th poetry anthology, while Esiri remains the UK’s no.1 bestseller in Children’s Poetry Books, having sold over a quarter of a million books. Described by the Sunday Times as a ‘Poetry Powerhouse’, Allie consistently sits at number 7 in the children’s non-fiction chart where she is the only representative of poetry. Her books are regularly chosen for National Poetry Day and have been picked as best books of the year by The Observer, New Statesman and The Thames.

Her bestselling poetry anthologies include Shakespeare For Every Day Of The Year, A Poem For Every Day Of The Year and 365 Poems For Life. They have lit an explosion of interest in poetry in the UK, are regularly chosen for National Poetry Day and have been picked as best books of the year by The Observer, The Times and New Statesman. Yearly sell out performances at the National Theatre and major book festivals with some of our best-loved actors reading poetry – from Helen Bonham Carter to Dominic West – are capturing and enthralling a new generation of poetry lovers.

Esiri read Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge then worked as an actress for ten years in the English Shakespeare Company and on TV in shows such as Sharpe, Howard’s End, Men Behaving Badly and Poirot, before moving on to create the first poetry apps, daily poetry anthologies (for all ages) and live shows.

For more info visit Allie Esiri’s Works

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Accessible Boating Thames’ fab new ‘wheelyboat’

Liz Nicholls

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Liz Nicholls

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Thanks to a dedicated team, the Bisham charity Accessible Boating Thames has launched a new ‘wheelyboat’ to help more people enjoy the river, regardless of ability or mobility

Old Father Thames has carved out much history in this part of the world, as well as the landscape.

But people who have some form of disability haven’t always found it easy to enjoy messing about on the river, which is why Accessible Boating Thames began its mission.

The charity based at Bisham Abbey has for many years provided water-based experiences for those who are not usually able to do so. By using specially adapted boats, trained and qualified volunteers and a hoist, the severity of disability has never been a barrier to participation.

After identifying a real need, the charity began working with national charity The Wheelyboat Trust and together embarked on a major fundraising initiative to secure the £68,000 required to fund a new ‘Wheelyboat’. As a result of these tremendous efforts, a Coulam V20 Wheelyboat was launched at the Bisham Abbey Sailing & Navigation School earlier this autumn.

Charity chairman Gavin Tisshaw said: “This is a momentous occasion for ABT – securing our own Wheelyboat will make such a difference and ensure we can continue to help those who need our services. We’re immensely grateful to all those who’ve helped us raise the funds. Our volunteers do a fantastic job and we offer opportunities from family picnics to full sailing opportunities, Bellboat sessions & Duke of Edinburgh trips.”

Visit Accessible Boating Thames

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Messiah highlight for Wallingford Food Bank

Liz Nicholls

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Liz Nicholls

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An intimate candlelit highlight from Waterperry Opera on 8th December in St Mary-le-More in Wallingford will raise much-needed funds

Demand is outstripping support for the first time in 13 years at Wallingford Food Bank.

Book your tickets to enjoy Handel’s Messiah, performed by Waterperry Opera Festival, 7-9pm on Sunday, 8th December, at St Mary-le-More Church, OX10 0EG.

Waterperry Opera Festival will bring their ensemble of renowned singers and period instrumentalists to perform a candlelit Messiah concert. With a reduced orchestra and five soloists this intimate performance closely resembles how the piece would have been originally performed, using period instruments.

Doors open at 6.30 pm and mulled wine and soft drinks will be available. Tickets: £22

Limited seating. Book now at Wallingford Emergency Foodbank

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Windsor Theatre Guild’s ghostly Christmas Carol!

Liz Nicholls

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Liz Nicholls

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The Windsor Theatre Guild proudly present A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story at The Old Court, Windsor from 27th to 30th November

Let’s set the scene. It’s a cold, cold Christmas Eve and miserly money-lender Ebenezer Scrooge has an unexpected visitor: the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley. Having been bound in chains for years as punishment for his lifetime of greed, Marley explains to Scrooge that he too will suffer the same fate unless he changes his behaviour.

It’s not too late, but first he must face three more ghostly encounters – the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future – who show him the error of his ways and that redemption is still possible. In turn, they show him the mistakes of his past and present, and the future implications for both himself and those around him, including his long-suffering employee Bob Cratchit, if he doesn’t change his ways. Can Ebenezer make amends? This much loved festive classic by Charles Dickens has been adapted by Mark Gatiss and promises an evening of spine-tingling suspense and joyful, musical delight.

Enjoy A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story at The Old Court, Windsor between 27th & 30th November, thanks to Windsor Theatre Guild, Windsor’s longest-established non-professional theatre company with an illustrious history with a commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and fun! Visit Windsor Theatre Guild | Community Theatre Company in Berkshire

To book your tickets please visit The Old Court | or call 01753 911333.

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Get caught in The Housetrap

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Join Guildford Shakespeare Company at West Horsley Place and immerse yourself in a festive murder mystery, quiz the suspects and solve the crime, December 2nd to 21st

This Christmas, Guildford Shakespeare Company (GSC) invite you to a 1920s murder mystery staged in a real country manor house, West Horsley Place.

Following the company’s sell out show last Christmas on a grounded Boeing 747, this time they are relocating to the Grade I listed medieval manor house.

It’s December 1922 and nestled at the foot of the tranquil Surrey Hills is the home of the recently married Sir Robert Montague, Duke of Surrey. Tragically, his new wife’s body is found at the foot of the stairs and a snowstorm cuts everyone off from the outside world, tensions come to the fore, secrets are revealed and suddenly everyone is caught in… The Housetrap.

Styled in the vein of the golden age of detective writing, audiences will begin their adventure in the elegant Drawing Room. In between scenes, they will be divided into groups and invited to explore different rooms of the manor to interrogate the suspects first-hand. Throughout the evening they will return to the Drawing Room to watch the next episode in the mystery.

Matt Pinches, GSC co-founder, pictured, said: “We are thrilled to be working with the wonderful team at West Horsley Place. It is an extraordinary venue; immensely rich in history and so many of the rooms retain the ‘lived-in’ atmosphere of its previous aristocratic owners, making it the perfect setting for a country house murder mystery.”

Perhaps most recognisable as Button House in the four series of the BBC sitcom Ghosts, and the location for numerous films and TV shows including Enola Holmes, My Cousin Rachel, Vanity Fair, and The Crown, this is the first time West Horsley Place has been used as a venue for an entire indoor theatre production,

By re-igniting people’s passion for theatre-going GSC seek to break down the boundaries that preclude participation, encouraging inclusivity and accessibility for everyone. Their site-responsive approach places audiences right at the heart of the action, immersing them in the world of the play.

Matt adds: “At GSC our mandate is to create exceptional theatre in extraordinary places, and The Housetrap seeks to continue that mission. This is not only an immersive theatre experience, but also a unique chance to explore an incredible part of our shared local heritage.”

With a strictly limited capacity of just 60 people per performance advance booking is essential. The murder mystery is approximately 80-minutes long and all tickets include a glass of prosecco (or non-alcoholic alternative).

Book at Guildford Shakespeare Company THE HOUSETRAP –

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Take a surreal journey through Eulogy

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Have your senses deceived in the exhilarating Eulogy at The Shed Bordon

Step into a surreal, otherworldly journey through a dreamlike, labyrinthine hotel that exists entirely in your mind and discover Eulogy. How you arrived is a mystery and why you’re there remains unclear. Just make sure you read the pamphlet.

Darkfield, producers of innovative, immersive experiences at the forefront of technology and theatre, are bringing their critically-acclaimed shipping container show Eulogy to The Shed from Wednesday, 30th October to Sunday, 10th November.

Performed in complete darkness over 35 minutes, this intense and exhilarating ride uses binaural 360 degree sound and speech recognition technology to deceive the senses and transport audience members through rooms, down corridors and into the bowels of this strange and not altogether comfortable hotel. How your dream unfolds is, in part, up to you. However, make sure you follow the right path and don’t volunteer to become the subject of the eulogy every guest is preparing to deliver.

Eulogy is both an intense and exhilarating ride and deeper exploration of the relative merits of an embodied human conscious experience versus one that only exists in the imagination.

Eulogy premiered as part of the London BFI Film Festival 2021 and has since toured to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Latitude Festival, Nottingham Lakeside, Norwich Theatre and across Australia. Darkfield shows have launched to critical acclaim, featuring in major film festivals worldwide.

Book tickets at Whitehill & Bordon

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Shooting Star shop glitters

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Shooting Star Children’s Hospices shop in Godalming is the most-loved charity shop in the South East underlining its warm and welcoming atmosphere and fundraising achievements

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices Godalming shop has taken the title of South East winner in The UK’s Favourite Charity Shop Awards.

The title was awarded in the inaugural search for the UK’s favourite charity shop. The shop was one of 6,500 nominated across the UK and claimed the winning spot in a public vote involving almost 13,000 people.

Joe Tooze, Retail Manager at Shooting Star said: “We are thrilled to be named the South East winner in the UK’s Favourite Charity Shop Award! Our amazing shop manager, Julie, and her dedicated team of staff and volunteers have worked hard to create a store that the local community enjoys visiting. The shop is beautifully arranged with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Located near our hospice, Christopher’s in Guildford, our Godalming shop enjoys tremendous support from customers, volunteers and donors – all of whom we are deeply grateful for, as the funds raised in our shops makes a significant difference to the families we support.”

Shooting Star supports more than 700 children and their families throughout Surrey and across 14 boroughs of London year round who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition or who have been bereaved. Their bespoke support for families includes a comprehensive range of therapies and support groups, specialist nursing care and respite, symptom management, end-of-life care and bereavement support.

Charity shops are an institution in the UK and have seen a rise in popularity in recent years as the public look for more ways to shop sustainably, support good causes and give back to their communities. The awards are the first of their kind and were launched in June to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Charity Retail Association, the membership organisation for charity shops in the UK.

Robin Osterley, Chief Executive of the Charity Retail Association, said: “Huge congratulations to Shotting Star Children’s Hospices. This award is a testament to the dedication of the shop’s staff and volunteers, and highlights what this wonderful store means to the local community. We have been overwhelmed by the public’s response to our search for the UK’s Favourite Charity Shop, which celebrates the contribution the sector makes to communities and good causes across the UK”

The overall winner of the UK’s Favourite Charity Shop 2024 will be announced at a special event this month.

The shops are always in need of quality pre-loved items, visit Retail wish list – Shooting Star Children’s Hospices to find out what they’re after

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Launchpad’s all-star candlelit carol highlight

Liz Nicholls

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Liz Nicholls

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Reading’s leading homelessness prevention charity invite you to enjoy Carols by Candlelight on Tuesday, 3rd December

This fantastically festive evening will return to Reading Town Hall from 6pm, with Launchpad patron and BBC presenter Matt Allwright and long-term supporter Andy Briggs as the hosts for the evening.

Enjoy a magical night of music and carols with the Take Note Community choir and the Reading Phoenix Choir. As well as seasonal songs there will be readings and inspiring stories about how, with your help, Launchpad is changing lives in Reading.

Every ticket sale will help Launchpad continue to provide homes for Reading’s most vulnerable this winter. Launchpad’s supported housing offers warm, clean, and safe accommodation for over 100 people in need – which are a lifeline to the many individuals, couples, and families at risk of homelessness, or who have already lost their homes.

Fiona Keyte, fundraising manager at Launchpad, says: “Every year, people tell us that Carols by Candlelight marks the start of their Christmas celebrations. Our event is a beautiful reminder of the spirit of community and the joy of giving during the festive season. We’d love to see you there!”

Tickets start at £12 per person and under-threes can attend for free. For more information and to buy your ticket, visit Carols by Candlelight 2024 – Launchpad

For anyone who is unable to attend, you can still support Launchpad’s work with a donation so the charity can help ensure local people have a roof over their head and a place to call home, for Christmas and beyond. Simply visit Donate – Preventing Homelessness In Reading

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Peterley Christmas Market starts 14th November

Liz Nicholls

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Liz Nicholls

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The magical Peterley Christmas Market promises to give you a warm welcome from 14th to 17th November

The market at the beautiful Peterley Manor Farm in Great Missenden, HP16 0HH, will feature over 70 boutique shopping stalls nestled in our atmospheric greenhouses.

You can look forward to a diverse range of offerings, including artisan goods, from interiors and jewellery to candles and crafts.

Tuck into delicious food and drink: Enjoy gourmet street food, luxury handmade chocolates, cocktails from Rythmik Cocktails, and unique wholesome, vegan and gluten-free food from Wild Rose Kitchen.

Experience live music and DJ sets that will enhance the festive atmosphere. With act including Jazz trio Blue in the Green, vocal harmony trio The Santa Babies or local artist Soraya Ray.

Adults-only shopping evenings offer you the chance for a magical evening filled with twinkling lights, a glass of prosecco, and a goodie bag from VIP event partner Mulberry’s. There will be live music, DJ sets, cocktails, wine tasting and the food trucks will be serving all evening too.

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