Experience a Magical Christmas with Snow White: A Fun-Filled Pantomime Adventure!
Get ready for a spellbinding pantomime like no other! This Christmas, Snow White takes the stage in an exciting new production full of laughter, magic and surprises. Join Snow White and her lively band of friends in a charming adventure packed with unforgettable songs, hilarious moments, and stunning scenery.
Special Performances:
• Relaxed Performance: Sunday 15th December, 2pm • Integrated BSL Signed Performance: Sunday 22nd December, 2pm • Captioned Performance (live subtitles of the show): Friday 27th December, 1pm
Panel show star & foster parent Kiri Pritchard-McLean brings her dazzling Peacock show to the Yvonne Arnaud in Guildford on 7th November as part of a UK tour
Kiri Pritchard-McLean has had a busy few years. As well as hosting Live at the Apollo, fronting the Radio 4 panel show Best Medicine and starting a comedy school, she’s become a foster parent.
Didn’t know that about her? Well, until now she hasn’t been able to talk about it on stage, she hasn’t even told the kids in her care that she’s a comedian oh and she uses a different name – she’s the Bruce Wayne of comedy but without the mansions.
However, this year something changed and after a couple of the eggiest gigs of her career in boardrooms to social workers, a show about becoming a foster carer has been signed off! So, come and join “Louise” as she lifts the lid on social workers, first aid training and what not to do when a vicar searches for you on YouTube.
“It’s fantastic to see our foster carer, Kiri, positively promoting fostering during her UK tour,” says Alastair Cope, head of Foster Wales.“It will really help increase awareness of foster care, and challenge false perceptions around what it takes to be a foster carer. We hope that through Kiri candidly sharing her fostering journey, people will recognise skills and qualities in themselves and consider putting in an enquiry to foster”.
Welsh comedian Kiri is a multi-award winning comedian, satirist and writer. Her recent credits appearances on Have I Got News For You, 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, QI and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order. She has a weekly show on BBC Radio Wales, and has hosted Newsjack, Loose Ends and The News Quiz and her Radio 4 panel show, Best Medicine, has recently been commissioned for a second series.
Kiri is co-creator and co-host of cult hit podcast All Killa No Filla, about serial killers that has a huge following worldwide. For the podcast Who Are You Wearing, Kiri chats to her guests about their experiences with fashion. She also co-hosts a comedy travel podcast, The Pod of Wales, with Esyllt Sears.
She is one fifth of the sketch group Tarot and a former winner of the Caroline Aherne Bursary. She has written and directed for The Old Vic and her BBC Radio Wales sitcom, The Learners has just been re-commissioned for a third time. In 2023 she made her screen directing debut for the BBC with Pobl Bachyn. Kiri has also written extensively across radio and was a writer on four series of The Russell Howard Hour.
During lockdown Kiri hosted Live From The Covid Arms, which was declared a cultural highlight of 2020 by The Telegraph. It was recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest online pub and also raised over £150,000 for food banks and The Trussell Trust.
As we head towards Christmas there are events and activities aplenty to get you in the festive mood with illuminated trails starting this month to kindle your enthusiasm for the season ahead
Tis the season to set eyes all aglow and nothing does that like the wonder of an illuminated trail. Take an enchanting walk around RHS Wisley and see some of the iconic sights in a botanical winter wonderland as thousands of glittering lights and a rainbow of mesmerising colours fill the garden. Be wowed by magnificent trees, shimmering shrubs and breathtaking lakeside reflections as the garden comes alive on winter nights for Glow 2024 from November 22nd to January 5th. Visit RHS Wisley to book and for full details.
‘Glow’ at RHS Garden Wisley.
‘Glow’ at RHS Garden Wisley.
Immerse yourself in a magical light trail around the historic grounds of Guildford Castle this winter. Explore stunning light installations around the 20-30 minute trail of the castle and enjoy the winter spectacle with an array of light activations from November 16th to January 5th. See Illuminate – Guildford’s Winter Light Trail – Guildford Castle, England & to book.
As darkness falls at Wakehurst in West Sussex, the garden becomes an illuminated wonderland. Discover the iconic Christmas tree, giant flying owl, fiery hidden dragon and a thousand lanterns on the award-winning trail at Glow Wild 2024, selected dates from November 28th to January 1st. More at Glow Wild | Wakehurst
Discover a brand-new magical experience this winter, with White’s Eco Light Festival. Starting on 21st November and running every Thursday to Saturday till the 21st December. This is a Light Festival with a difference at Gilbert White’s House which will be using renewable energy sources, solar power and low-level lighting with environmental consciousness at its core, remembering Gilbert White and his internationally important legacy to ecology. Fun for all the family, this is a chance to make new memories and discover how you can make changes to help wildlife and the environment around you. Pre-booking is essential. Visit Gilbert Whites House – Journeys of Discovery in the Natural World
The UK’s original festive lights trail returns to Kew Gardens, November 13th to January 5th selected dates, with two world première installations alongside seasonal favourites such as the Palm House light show. Marvel at the giant plants in bloom in a rainbow of vibrant colours, enjoy a wintry wonderland with Camelia Walk transformed into a snowy lane and wander beneath larger than life illuminations. Booking essential at Christmas at Kew | Kew
Just a stone’s throw over the border, Windsor Great Park Illuminated is returning for its fourth year from November 15th to January 4th. Bringing the woodland and water to life with a festive celebration of light and a sparkle of magic. Discover a forest trail full of music and light where woodland creatures come to life, elves have a party and a whole host of festive moments will get you in the spirit. Take a moment to enjoy a delicious dish, milled wine and hot chocolate or toast a marshmallow around the fire pit at a cosy rest stop. Booking essential Windsor Great Park Illuminated: light up your year!
From a train ride to a boat trip with Santa at Basingstoke Canal Centre, Mytchett, Camberley. Take a gentle cruise to the tinsel trail in the woods to find Santa in his grotto before heading to the workshop for activities, drinks and mince pies. December 3rd-23rd. Go to Santa cruises on the Basingstoke Canal – Surrey County Council to book.
Take a Santa cruise on the River Wey aboard the Swingbridge Tranquillity broadbeam boat from Millmead Island in search of Santa looking for clues along the towpath to find him along the way. Once you’ve tracked him down, he’ll hop on board with his sack of gifts. December 2nd-21st. Visit Santa Cruises along the River Wey in Guildford – Swingbridge Community Boats
Hand in hand with Santa goes the Christmas tree so how about heading to Hans Christmas Andersen in Guildford and Godalming to buy your tree and enjoy a magical day out. Meet the main man at Van Arnhem Nursery GU7 2RQ where not only will all good girls and boys take home a gift but Santa will raise funds for local charities too. Meet the reindeer at the Santa Fir Christmas Tree Farm GU5 0SQ.
Soak up the magic of Christmas this winter with a visit to a National Trust place near you. Immerse yourself in the glamour of an extravagant masquerade ball at Polesden Lacey, step into the beautifully decorated rooms of a traditional country house Christmas at Hatchlands park, discover the wonderfully mischievous Shaun the Sheep™ trail at Winkworth Arboretum or just enjoy frosty walks and winter warmers and glorious views at Box Hill.
Take your seat aboard the Santa Special at Mizens Railway, Woking on December 1st 8th and 15th. Pre-booking a must, Mizens Railway – Home
Experience the magic of Christmas at Chobham Adventure Farm GU24 8DB. Say hello to real reindeer, join a sleigh driving lesson, help the Chief Elf Inventor, dodge flying snowballs from naughty elves and meet Santa in his toyshop. November 30th-December 24th selected dates. Chobham Adventure Farm / Children’s Indoor & Outdoor Play in Surrey / Christmas Experience
Enjoy a touch of nostalgia at Painshill. Inspired by the festive song, The 12 Days of Christmas Trail at Painshill for 2024 will see visitors searching out each of the gifts mentioned; from two turtle doves through to 12 drummers drumming and of course, a partridge in a pear tree! With a touch of nostalgia, figures will be made from traditional wooden materials and each one will be individually hand-painted. Find out more at Painshill is a masterpiece of garden design created in the 18th century
The stately splendour of West Horsley Place invites you to meet Santa, enjoy Christmas crafts, decorate a festive biscuit and more on December 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd & 23rd. The manor house has a Christmas open day on December 1st where you can explore and discover a Tudor Christmas and as it’s time to get some shopping done, the arts and artisan fair November 22nd-24th features all manner of food and drink, skincare, jewellery, art, crafts and fashion gifts. Details about all these and more seasonal events at West Horsley Place Trust
Discover the true meaning of Christmas with the nativity like no other at Wintershall GU5 0LR in the traditional immersive theatre experience. Stand with the shepherds, walk with Mary, Joseph and the donkey, journey with Roman Soldiers and enter the stable to watch the miracle unfold. Booking essential. December 11th-16th. Wintershall.org.uk/nativity-journey-2024
Christmas starts in Guildford on November 24th with a festive family day packed full of activities, performances and magical moments in Friary Street, Phoenix Court, High Street and Tunsgate, all for free or low cost.
Godalming welcomes Christmas on November 30th with its Christmas Festival market, start your shopping with top quality gifts on display, decorations, food and drink and fun.
Shop at more than 150 stalls in Castle Street, The Borough, The Ivy Lane Club and Bush Hotel Courtyard selling gifts that are a little different, crafts, accessories, Christmas items, food, drinks and more in Farnham on December 8th.
Father Christmas is due to make a guest appearance – if he’s not too busy – at Ripley Christmas Fair on Dec 1st. In addition to an array of food, gifts, arts and crafts and other festivities, the fair will feature a fantastic raffle with prizes donated by the community.
Stop by The Square in Camberley every day from Saturday 16th November to Christmas Eve, and enjoy free letter writing. Tell Santa special wishes for the Christmas season and receive a letter back from Santa himself if you post in the special post box before 17th December! Meet Santa on select dates at his grotto for £2.50 per child, for a magical photo opportunity and enjoy a delicious treat for every child too! Visit Home – The SQ Camberley
Head to The Shed, Whitehill & Bordon on December 8th from midday for a festive Christmas Market! Enjoy over 30 unique stalls, delicious food, treats, music and a special visit from Santa and his mischievous elf. Don’t miss out on national brand, O’Donnell’s Moonshine for extra holiday cheer! Fun for all ages – bring your holiday spirit!
Make it a Christmas to remember, with a special screening of family-favourite The Snowman accompanied by a live orchestra on Saturday, 14th December. The award-winning show also includes a fun introduction to the orchestra, a bonus film, and even a visit from the Snowman himself! Performed within the splendour of Guildford Cathedral, it’s perfect for the whole family to enjoy together, and sure to create cherished memories. More details & booking at Guildford Cathedral – The Snowman | Saturday 14 December
Visit the Culinary Concepts Christmas Launch Event on Saturday 9th and Sunday, 10th November, 10am-4pm. Explore new Christmas Collections, enjoy 20% off full-priced items, and take advantage of exclusive event offers with up to 80% off. Complimentary mulled wine and festive treats will be served to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. Visit Designer Homeware, Unique Gifts & Home Decor | Culinary Concepts for more details.
It’s that time of year, oh yes it is… Join Robin and Marion as they right wrongs, sing songs and sort out the wicked Sheriff in the swashbuckling panto for 2024 at Yvonne Arnaud. Robin Hood stars Lucy Benjamin, Peter Gordon and Matt Pinches in this year’s festive family favourite, November 30th-January 5th. Book at Robin Hood | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
The much-loved actress is starring in Filumena at Theatre Royal Windsor, October 4th to 19th and Yvonne Arnaud Guildford, October 22nd to 26th
Bill Kenwright Ltd presents Eduardo De Filippo’s classic comedy Filumena, as the second play to be directed by Sean Mathias this season at the Theatre Royal Windsor.
Amidst the heat of a Neapolitan summer, Filumena (Felicity Kendal) lies on her deathbed, waiting to marry Domenico (Matthew Kelly), the man who has kept her as his mistress for 25 years.
But no sooner than they are married, she makes a miraculous recovery, much to the surprise of her new, unwilling husband and his younger lover.
However, Filumena holds on to a secret from her past life, revealing that one of her three grown-up sons is Domenico’s. But which one? Will he accept all three?
Q: How did this play actually come about? It was from Bill Kenwright, wasn’t it? A: He wanted to find a play for me and he felt we must work together again. He was being the usual Bill Kenwright: absolutely, amazingly funny and relaxed and jokey. And, you know, the fact that he and Michael [Rudman, Felicity’s late partner] were not well at the same time was something to talk about. I had worked with him many, many times and we absolutely loved each other. I used to call him boss. Then Michael died and I was away and Bill rang and he was just so lovely and funny and reminiscing about things and he said, look you’ve got to do Filumena.
Q: What are your key memories and thoughts of Bill? A: I particularly loved working with him. I loved his sense of humour. I loved his passion. He was incredibly passionate about the work he did and very, very good at it, extremely good at it. He was incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable of the theatre and music and the world… and, of course, his passion for football.
Q: What is Filumena about and what drew you to this character? A: I read the play and I imagined saying the lines and I wanted to be in that play. That’s what draws me to something. I love the play. I love the way it evolves. And the character is strong. She has had everything thrown at her in her life. And she could be the ultimate victim; she is in fact a victim of circumstance and fate. But she is anything but victimised. And she just pushes ahead with determination. She has a wonderful sense of humour, and she is full of passion, passion for the man she loves, passion for her children, passion for her family, passion to live against all odds from a very difficult start in life and quite a difficult life. Overcoming difficulties and making them into something successful is something I admire in people and that is this character. For me, with acting, you’re creating something that is actually not real. It’s not you, but you have to understand the facet of that complicated character that you’re asked to draw.
The play is hugely religious, in that my character’s strength comes from her religion – she’s Catholic – and her strength comes from a belief in what is right. It’s also a play about deception, why it’s necessary, if it’s necessary. It’s a play about jealousy, about children, about class and caste and a woman’s place and it’s also a play about surviving love and how incredibly intolerable poverty can be, and how that can impact on a woman’s choices in those days. So it’s touching an awful lot of things that people talk about. The character I play is an older woman, but her life, the life of the man she loves when they were younger, was quite extraordinary and that’s what you learn about.
The play is not very well known, so nobody has seen it played hundreds of times. So you hear it in your head as your own rhythm and tune. I’ve found working on this progressively more difficult, because I think it’s the first time for years that I haven’t had Michael giving me a kind of, well, how many more hours are you going to do that? And I have a way of working that has always been very much part of our life together and that really has brought home that he’s not here. He would always give me his opinion about a play and whether I should do it or not; I haven’t had it on this. So I had no idea whether he would say, don’t touch it, you will be absolutely boring, in which case I wouldn’t have. So that opinion isn’t there to draw on. So there’s no strength from that. I mean, in the past he has sometimes said, you must do this because you’d be wonderful. And he was, you know, usually pretty good and sometimes he would say that’s not for you and if I went ahead he was proved right. I tend to spend a long time at the kitchen table writing it out and rewriting and rewriting and that’s how I learn. And you know every now and again, well there would be words of encouragement or, have you got to act three? So I don’t have anybody to comment, but, you know, that’s not to say I’m not loving it. I do enjoy the process and I do think the more I read the script, the more I am just so happy to be doing this job. I just love this play.
Q: I was going to ask are you looking forward to getting back on tour? A: Going on tour is very much part of my history as an actor. I mean, I started my career going on tour. And I think as things have gone on in the last three, four, five, ten years, it’s more and more important that actors go on tour, because the West End is appallingly expensive. People don’t actually come up from the regions in the way they used to, so we have to go to them and going out on tour is important.
Q: What is it about Windsor that you always associate with or look forward to? A: One of the successful plays I did there was Noel Coward’s Fallen Angels, directed by Michael [Rudman] and produced by Bill Kenwright, so you can imagine it’s a very special place for me. It holds memories forever.
Q: Is there anything you always like to do when you’re in Windsor? A: I usually walk along the river with the dog. I think I may not have the dog with me, though, in the first few weeks of this play, because I have realised this is a huge part. I usually look at a play and think, oh I’m dead by the middle of the second act, and I think, that’s lovely! I didn’t quite realise how long a role it was until I started studying it. So I think I won’t be seeing much of Windsor this time, I’m afraid.
Q: Do you know much about the original playwright, Eduardo de Filippo? A: I don’t know much about him. The play is set in Naples. I saw the original production of this translation [by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall]. Years and years ago, Zeffirelli directed it, in 1977. That was in London with Joan Plowright. Judi Dench did the second production [here in 1998]. They were memorable. Absolutely memorable. But I don’t see that their performances are in any way going to be the one I do. There’s more than one way to play the character. It’s that beautifully written.
Q: One of the key people in the production is obviously the director, Sean Mathias. A: I’ve seen a lot of his work, which I think is just lovely. I’ve met him many times. He’s a gorgeously relaxing person to be with, but with a very firm and incredibly highly skilled and intelligent way of looking at plays. And so he absolutely was somebody that I’ve always wanted to work with. He creates this band of merry men, which is very important when you’re putting on a play. I think he will be, well, I hope, a friend for life, because he clearly is a very special person. He has something, which to me is a very important part of being a director, he has a very firm idea of how he will steer the ship right and it is not that it is his vision, but it is his collecting of all the various things that are going on. I like directors like that and I know I will love working with him.
Q: What is it all these years on that keeps you wanting to get back on stage? A: I think one of the things I realised is that I actually like to work. That’s what I am. I’m a working Cocker Spaniel. I’m not, you know, a show dog and I’m not a lap dog. I’m working and that’s what I love and I feel it’s just what I’m supposed to be doing. And I just feel better about it when I’m doing it. I love being in the company of clever people doing a job that I understand.
Jan Messenger invites us to visit Surrey’s hidden gem and uncover a comprehensive collection of fantasies, landscapes, portraits, character art and illustrations by Sidney Sime
Step inside the Sime Gallery, Worplesdon and you’ll find a collection of fascinating and highly characteristic works of the talented artist illustrator and caricaturist Sidney Sime, 1865-1941.
His black and white illustrations were in magazines of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s including The Pick Me Up, Pall Mall, The Idler, Eurek, The Butterfly and Illustrated London News.
The Gallery has some of the original pieces along with theatrical caricatures drawn between the years 1896-1898 including Sir Henry Irving and Dame Marie Tempest.
From the 102 articles for Through the Opera Glass in The Pick Me Up we know he also did caricatures of Dame Ellen Terry for the first wife of G F Watts, another local art gallery. Between 1909 and 1913 he designed theatre sets for Maeterlinck’s The Bluebird and Ibsen’s Pretenders for his wealthy Patron Lord Howard De Walden. His grandson Thomas Seymour is the Patron of the Sime Gallery today.
Sime also illustrated books for Lord Dunsany another aristocrat and friend whose fascination for fantasy drawing. Sime has painted in oils including many large fantasy art works as well as watercolours. He created a series entitled Bogey Beasts, mythical zoological creatures with the pictures and verses by Sime and music by Josef Holbrooke. His membership of London’s Langham sketching club and Yorik club provided Sime with congenial artistic companionship and there he met two of his greatest admirers, Arthur Lawrence and James Thorpe. He gained membership of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1896.
Sime took a six month visit to America in 1905 on the invitation of William Randolph Hurst, the American newspaper magnate, doing illustrations for him. After a short call up in 1918 in the Army Service corps, Sime’s passion for painting in oils saw him obsessed with the Visions of St John in the book of Revelation and he painted his own visions of the Apocalypse.
In 1924 he staged his well-received first exhibition in London. Now 100 years later there are two exhibitions, one at Christ Beetles art gallery, St James, London and later this year at Heath Robinson Museum, Pinner.
The Sime Gallery is open Wednesday and Sunday, 2-4pm with its Ta Ta café for tea and homemade cake, toilet facilities, free parking situated alongside recreational grounds in a beautiful village setting in Worplesdon.
The Sim Gallery is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Ewbank’s. With no regular funding donations are invited for your visit. Group visits are very welcome and guided talks and tours can be arranged by emailing [email protected]. For further information visit Sime Gallery (sidneysimegallery.org.uk)
Phyllis Tuckwell needs your help at its shops to bolster its vital services for those in need
Phyllis Tuckwell’s vibrant retail team is in need of more volunteers, so if you’re looking for an interesting, fun and meaningful way to spend a few hours a week, this could be just the thing for you!
You can volunteer in any of Phyllis Tuckwell’s shops, but its College Town shop near Camberley is particularly in need of more volunteers at the moment, so if you were able to help out there, your support would be very much appreciated.
The hospice care charity has 17 shops across West Surrey and North-East Hampshire, which sell the quality second-hand items which its supporters so generously donate. The money that these shops raise helps to fund the vitally important supportive and end of life care that it provides for local patients and families who are living with an advanced or terminal illness, such as cancer or motor neurone disease.
As a retail volunteer, you will serve and chat with customers, use the till, take and sort through new donations, and price stock ready to be sold. You’ll meet new people every day and be part of a friendly and welcoming team, where your skills will be valued and utilised, and you’ll really feel that you’re making a difference to the local community.
“Our volunteers are so important to us, and bring so much to our team,” said Julia Morpeth, voluntary services manager at Phyllis Tuckwell. “They offer such a wealth of knowledge and experience to our organisation, and we are pleased to provide them with ongoing support and training to enable them to learn and develop within their role.”
Every day, Phyllis Tuckwell supports over 250 patients, relatives and carers, through medical and nursing care, therapies, counselling, social work advice and practical support, but as the Government/NHS only cover 25% of its costs, it has to raise over £25,000 every single day to offer all of its services, which are given free of charge to its patients and their families. Its shops are really important in helping it raise this money, and you could be part of that fundraising!
If you’re interested in finding out more, please contact its Voluntary Services team on 012252 729400 or email [email protected].
A new state-of-the-art hospice is being built on the existing site in Farnham, which will enable care for more people who need support. During the project, specialist services will be offered from alternative locations including The In-Patient Unit which will be temporarily relocated to a care home in Camberley.
The Cuban Brothers, Artful Dodger, Definitely Mightbe & Abba Revival will dazzle at the palace on Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd November, with an ice disco, German bier, bonfire & more at this iconic location
Lighting up Ally Pally’s iconic view of the capital’s skyline, and taking over the 196 acres of parkland, London’s biggest and best fireworks display will be soundtracked by a specially curated playlist. This year’s display will be preceded by a spectacular drone show, marking an exciting first for a London bonfire event.
Alongside the legendary display, the festival also presents big top Cafe De Pally, which includes a plethora of live music and singalongs aided by a brass band, and choir. Some of London’s best street food, cocktail and craft beer vendors make up the StrEATlife Festival Village, soundtracked by funk-fuellled, comedy duo The Cuban Brothers (1st November), and by UK garage legends Artful Dodger (2nd November).
As part of the festivities, the UK’s largest German bier festival returns to the Palace’s Great Hall, with oompah bands, live music and lederhosen aplenty. Oasis tribute act, Definitely Mightbe (1st November) and Abba Revival (2nd November) take to the stage, with more DJs to be announced.
The Park will also play host to a huge bonfire, funfair and entertainment for all the family, and visitors can also step inside the Palace, with the ice rink featuring a variety of skating sessions and an ice disco.
Anyone who celebrates their birthday during October can enjoy a free round of golf at LEGOLAND Windsor Resort’s themed mini golf attraction, Adventure Golf
The team at Adventure Golf are offering visitors who share an October birthday a round of mini-golf for free. Whether you’re blowing out five candles or 98, all birthday boys and girls are invited to share in the LEGO® fun and enjoy the ultimate birthday treat!
Perfect for a tee-rific start to the October half-term holidays, the LEGO® themed indoor golf experience is ‘fore’ the whole family – with four different LEGO themed course to master. From putting with Pirates and swinging into Space, to driving into LEGO® City or taking your best shot in a Medieval village, each course guaran-tee-s family fun no matter the age.
What’s more, families will be surrounded by Lego models, including a 1.5m tall ice cream sundae made up of 65,000 LEGO bricks, and a giant octopus with tentacles that are over 2.5m wide and made of 150,000 bricks.
Make the most of your visit by joining the biggest, the best and the ultimate party for monsters big and small at LEGOLAND’s Brick or Treat Extravaganza. Join the case of ‘The Great Monster Chase!’ and the ‘fang-tastic’ live Monster Jam Harbour Show or boogie down at Lord Vampyre’s disco show on the Miniland stage. The frightfully good fun continues with a walk down Monster Street, where ghoulish residents host games of trick-or-treat, and the Haunted House Monster Party ride, where Lord Vampyre turns the house upside down.
Don’t miss out on this un-fore-gettable celebration and make this October half-term, the most spook-tacular yet.
To claim their free round of mini golf, guests must pre-purchase tickets via the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort website. Guests will need to select the ‘free ticket’ option, alongside purchasing at least one additional ticket. Guests must bring proof of date of birth to show at the front desk at LEGOLAND Adventure Golf. For additional details, please see the terms & conditions below.
Tickets to LEGOLAND Windsor start from £29 per person, kids under 90cm go free. Additional Adventure Golf tickets can be purchased online in advance from £10 per person. To book for your tickets, please visit LEGOLAND® Adventure Golf | LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort
The crowning glory of a soggy summer, this year’s Mucky Weekender wonderland was a Mad Hatter’s brimful of treats, and we can’t wait for next year!
You know good times are afoot when the ground is pulsating with bass as you arrive. And, after squelching on to a very soggy Vicarage Farm and ditching my car to dive into the fun, that’s exactly the omen Mucky Weekender 2024 delivered…
Image: Ant Penny Photography
Image: Ant Penny Photography
“WOMP! WOMP! WOMP!” said the mud. And no wonder, with a line-up like this year’s Mucky. Even the wompy swamp was ready to go, after biblical storms all week threatened everyone’s hopes.
For those who aren’t familiar with this small but perfectly formed ravers’ paradise near Micheldever, it’s the brainchild of the Dub Pistols’ Barry Ashworth. Thanks to the friends, fans & fellow musicians he’s gathered over a decades-long musical career rolling into dub, reggae, ska, drum & bass and jungle and much more besides, this end-of-summer shindig has become the highlight of many a summer. As well as spirits, the festival raises funds for mental health charities, something Barry is very passionate about. And, by that logic… the bonkers Alice in Wonderland theme was the perfect way to let loose and go mad.
Another humdinger of a line-up beckoned us all to tumble down the rabbithole into 2024’s Mucky last month, among them Congo Natty (AKA Michael Alec Anthony West/ Rebel MC) who arrived on Friday night to greet the parting of the clouds in godlike style. Other legends who delighted the crowds, from front to back, day & night, include LTJ Bukem, Micky Finn, London Elektricity, Woody Cook, The Prodigy star Leeroy Thornhill, Beans on Toast, Bez & Rowetta, Utah Saints, Krafty Kuts, Freestylers, Aries, Don Letts and Nicky Blackmarket.
All the big tents throbbed with amazing vibes and music (top marks to the sound system which never gave up) but my favourite stomping ground, once again, was the spaceship on higher ground, overlooking the whole wonderland, where Plump DJs & many more kept everyone moving. But, (cliche trigger warning) what makes this festival so great is that it’s really not just about the music but the people. This year’s Alice theme inspired a party of incredible outfits, from a stiff skirt that offered a whole tea party to Tweedledee & Tweedledums galore (special mention, also, to the bizarre pram of trippy treats, The Unlucky Dip). No wonder everyone was grinning like Cheshire Cats, and that the first tier of tickets has already sold out to next year’s Mucky, 11th to 13th September. See you there!
Step into the magical world of Cicely Mary Barker’s world-famous Flower Fairies in the first exhibition for children and families at the Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village
A display of original Flower Fairies illustrations is at the heart of an enchanting exhibition starting on October 22nd.
The exhibition, presented in association with Penguin Random House Children’s UK, Flower Fairies™, shows Cicely Mary Baker’s original sketches and family photographs which reveal her process in creating the fairy figures that are known and loved around the world. To experience how it might feel to be a character in one of Cicley’s famous books, in this section of the exhibition there’s a chance for children to become part of the story by dressing up and entering giant-sized pages of a Flower Fairies book.
The exhibition opens with an exploration of Barker’s early years. Born in 1895, Cicely and her older sister, Dorothy, grew up in Croydon. Cicely was a poorly and delicate child and spent most of her time at home, quite often in bed where to pass the time, she read books and drew. Many of her pictures featured fairies, capturing her imagination as a young child.
Also included is photography of family life – messing about at the beach, cuddling their dogs and relaxing together in the garden. Children visiting the exhibition can have fun peering through the windows of a doll-sized replica of Cicely’s childhood house and discovering her childhood activities, which included dressing up her pets and drawing self-portraits.
Cicely’s father, Walter Barker, was an accomplished artist and recognised his daughter’s talent. When she was 13, he enrolled her at the Croydon School of Art and also paid for a correspondence course in art, which she continued until the age of 24. He sadly died when Cicely was just 17 and her success as a commercial artist became more urgent to assist with the family finances, she created sets of postcards to do this.
After the First World War there was renewed interest in fairies and using her love of writing poetry, drawing children and nature, the Flower Fairies came to life. In 1923 she sold the first of these works to Blackie and Son and the book was published in the same year. It was an instant international success.
The exhibition will give visitors a chance to discover some of the other works she wrote and illustrated and inspired by Cicely’s botanical illustrations and traditional folklore, families can follow a Tree Fairy Trail through the woodland at Watts Gallery to find some of the trees and plants that feature in the Flower Fairies with opportunities to play and learn along the way.
