Live music at Sandown Park Racecourse

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The Jockey Club Live are delighted to welcome PALOMA FAITH, NILE RODGERS & CHIC and SIMPLY RED to Sandown Park Racecourse this Summer, for a set of spectacular open-air concerts after racing.

Opening the season on Wednesday 20th July, double platinum and BRIT award-winning artist PALOMA FAITH will be performing an array of hits from her extensive and much-loved repertoire. Fans can expect classics such as ‘Only Love Can Hurt Like This’ and ‘Lullaby’ as well as new songs from her fifth studio album ‘Infinite Things’.

Paloma Faith said

“I’ve been touring my recent album Infinite Things and it’s been so invigorating seeing everyone out on the road around the UK. I love nothing more than singing for you all and hearing you sing back to me. There’s nothing like it.”

The following Wednesday will mark NILE RODGERS & CHIC’s return to Sandown Park, having graced the stage in 2018. Nile Rodgers’ talent and his honourable legacy is nothing short of extraordinary, having won multiple GRAMMY awards as a composer, producer, arranger, and guitarist, he consistently challenges the boundaries of modern music. Throughout his illustrious career he’s been behind hits such ‘Let’s Dance’, ‘Upside Down’, ‘I’m Coming Out’, ‘Material Girl’, ‘Like A Virgin’ plus many of CHIC’s own hits amongst a chart-topping music career spanning four decades.

Nile Rodgers said:

“Over the last few years, we’ve really enjoyed playing for The Jockey Club Live as it’s always an amazing and festive atmosphere that’s perfect for CHIC music. We can’t wait to see all of our friends for good times in 2022!”

The season will culminate on Thursday 4th August with one of the best-selling British bands of all time, SIMPLY RED. Led by songwriter and bandleader Mick Hucknall, they have over a billion hits on YouTube and have sold over 60 million albums worldwide – with five going to the number one spot in the UK. Their 1991 classic ‘Stars’ was the best-selling album for two years running in Britain and Europe, plus they continued this monumental success across the pond with two US Billboard chart toppers in classic singles ‘Holding Back The Years’ and ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now’. Their 2019 album ‘Blue Eyed Soul’ marked their 14th top 10 studio album in the UK.

Mick Hucknall, Simply Red said

“I’ve spent most of my life going out and singing for people, and it has felt strange not to have that for such a long time. It’s wonderfully inspiriting that people can go and see bands again now, and we can’t wait to get back on stage.”

Returning to a full-strength line-up in 2022, The Jockey Club Live concerts at Sandown Park Racecourse are a staple in the region’s social calendar. Over the past few years, the racecourse has hosted thousands of fans of live music for unforgetting evenings of racing ahead of performances from artists including George Ezra, Olly Murs and Tom Jones.

Tickets for Paloma Faith, Nile Rodgers & CHIC and Simply Red are available now via thejockeyclublive.co.uk. There will be hospitality packages available to suit all budgets.

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Comedy & music at Rother College

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Two big summer nights are on the programme in Midhurst in July

Midhurst Rother College’s fantastic theatre space is the setting for two high profile summer concerts just before the big August holiday getaway.

Promoted under the umbrella of the Petworth Festival which runs from Wednesday 13th to Saturday, 30th July the two headline events feature front rank comedian, star of Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week, Live from the Apollo and so much more Milton Jones (Wednesday, 27th July), and two of the most successful and entertaining singer/songwriters of the 80s and 90s, Beverley Craven and Judie Tzuke (Thursday, 28th July).

Talking about the two shows, festival director Stewart Collins enthuses “being able to put on shows in the Rother College theatre is such a bonus for the festival and gives us the opportunity to bring in performers of real stature and notoriety. Milton Jones, for example, is one of the straight-up-funniest comedians you will ever see with his brilliant string of trade mark one-liners, whilst the Beverley Craven/Judie Tzuke show is a very rare re-run of an amazing concert I saw a year or so back featuring two absolutely top artists who perform great repertoire and love working together – something that is so obvious to anyone in the audience”.

Craven and Tzuke’s show Strings Attached has an additional layer of glamour in the shape of the Gabriella Swallow string quartet, a quality ensemble of musicians who in their own right have played alongside Nigel Kennedy and his Jimi Hendrix project, as well as Petworth Festival favourites, the Ronnie Scott’s All Stars.

Expect an evening that includes Brit Award winner Beverley Craven’s biggest hits including Promise Me, and Judie Tzuke’s Stay with Me Till Dawn.

Milton Jones is also in great company for the comedy night. He is supported by the only comedian currently living – or ever to have lived? – in the Tower of London, Tom Houghton. As he says of himself – “I’m from a very posh background. I’m trying to be humble about it, but it’s hard. Over Christmas I woke up and someone had put an ice-skating rink in our moat!”

The double bill is hosted by the literally larger-than-life Matt Barnard. Quite apart from cheering everyone at every possible moment, his beer drinking stunt is worth the price of the ticket alone!

Tickets and details www.petworthfestival.org.uk

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Making massage a regular, guilt-free treat

Liz Nicholls

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We’re all up to our eyeballs in depressing news about the rising cost of living… But we also know how vital self care is for good mental health… So what’s a stressed out, strapped-for-cash girl to do? 🤔

As far as luxurious treats go, a great massage is top of my treats list. You’re either a massage person or you’re not. For me there is no other wholesome indulgence that quite hits the spot when it comes to topping up that mojo. Being a single mum, prone to life-ruining migraines and living with a non-hugging teenager, the prospect of some no-strings touching always appeals. 💆

So the ethos of The Massage Company, born in Camberley in 2016 and growing ever since while winning a few industry awards, really appeals to me. It’s a subscription-based service on a mission transform massage therapy from a “once in a blue moon occurrence” to a regular part of our wellbeing routines. This brings the costs down, and helps you enjoy a regular top-up just for you, so you can enjoy the benefits (better sleep, reduced anxiety anyone?) without feeling guilty or waiting for another birthday to roll round.

I popped into the High Wycombe branch and shared my goals with the friendly team. Although petite and dainty, Gabi the therapist was happy to indulge my “go-hard or go home” approach. Her Swedish style massage was expert, and incredibly relaxing, along with the calming fragrance ooozing out of the mister. You can also opt for deep tissue if you’re the hench type, or hot stones. I treated myself to an additional scalp massage which involved Gabi focusing on my temples and neck, gently pulling small sections of my hair which unleashed all sorts of weird & wonderful sensations elsewhere.

I wafted out into the real world feeling light as a feather and full of beans. And I was plagued by none of my usual headaches for more than a fortnight (and counting). I hope many more of these franchises spring up and urge everyone to put themselves first and treat themselves. We’re all cancelling treats and direct debits but this one should pay for itself.

*The Massage Company branches include Camberley and High Wycombe. To find out more, visit massagecompany.co.uk

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Green dream

Liz Nicholls

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Surrey

The Green Hub in Milford, which has just had its first birthday, offers a vital support space for teenagers struggling with their mental health

Just one year ago you‘d find the Green Hub Project for Teens on Facebook looking for local folk to join a DIY SOS-style weekend, to transform their tranquil garden in Milford. This month the garden celebrates its first birthday.

Over its first year Green Hub Project for Teens has transformed from an idea in its embryonic stage into a confident adolescent.

The garden is the vision of local chiropractor Tone Tellefsen Hughes. “I’ve seen so much trauma through my clinic in recent years,” she says. “But since Covid, it’s become unimaginably bad, so many young people experiencing a tough time – it’s heart-breaking. This is why we are reaching out to families with teens struggling with low to moderate social anxiety, stress and overwhelm.”

Tone’s co-chair, local business coach Vanessa Lanham-Day, has been instrumental in creating the momentum behind the project. “The garden and teen volunteering is such a simple concept – it’s all about providing time out in nature and calm.

But, for the teens to benefit from time spent in the garden, there has been a whole machine that needed to be created. We have been busy spreading the word as well as building relationships with GPs, schools and youth organisations – but the most passionate requests come from parents themselves.

Teens spend up to 12 weeks becoming garden volunteers, under the guidance of adult leaders – there are morning and afternoon sessions (all free) each Saturday for up to eight teens. The process isn’t “therapy” problems aren’t discussed, and no advice is given – but the process is undoubtedly therapeutic.

Tone adds: “Science shows that being in nature allows the brain to calm down and settle a little, like a busy snow globe when the snow falls. When you immerse yourself in an activity – especially in nature – your brain is unable to do anything else and this gives the busy teenage brain a chance to rest and make sense of what’s been going on in their world. There are long term benefits after a garden session, as well as finding a connection which has been so sorely missed since the pandemic for so many.”

Tone and Vanessa would also like to find other garden spaces to extend the programme.

Parents who want to refer a teen to the project should visit greenhub.org.uk/parent-refer

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Beacon Hill Beer Festival is back!

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After two years the popular beer festival returns to Hindhead Royal British Legion Club with an amazing array of beers for you to enjoy

Get a head start on the Platinum Jubilee celebrations by sampling a selection of beers themed around the occasion, as well as a selection of British ciders, and a handful of international lagers as part of the Beacon Hill Beer Festival.

On Friday 13th May from 5pm we will be open to everyone to kick off the celebrations with live music from The Bierkeller Boys, a Bavarian Oompah band who are ready to get everyone on their feet with plenty of clapping, swaying and thigh slapping.

Saturday 14th won’t be any less exciting! Organizers say: “We open at 1pm for an afternoon of beer, lager and cider tasting. Shortly followed by what is sure to be a fiery FA Cup Final with Liverpool vs Chelsea on our big screen, with Liverpool aiming to become the first English team to win the quadruple, so we are sure to be in for an exciting game before we get right into the evening. There will be live music from The Noize to get us up on that dance floor for the night.”

An incredible weekend awaits at Hindhead Royal British Legion, Beacon Hill Road, Hindhead, GU26 6QB with a variety of breweries already lined up to take part:

Breweries:

Brolly Brewery

Crafty Brewery

Greene King

Longdog Brewery

Siren Craft Brewery

Surrey Hills Brewery

TripleFFF

Windsor & Eton Brewery

Elusive Brewery

Flack Brewery

Ciders supplied by:

Hogs Back Brewery

Mr Whiteheads Cider Co

Lagers from around the world:

Kirin (Japan); Pacifico Clara (Mexico); Moosehead (Canada); Sagres Export (Portugal), and Tusker (Kenya).

Join Beacon Hill Beer Festival on Facebook and Twitter

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Pizzeria Campana: A taste of Italy

Karen Neville

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A truly authentic pizza restaurant and take away opens on March 19th at The Shed, Bordon

Pizzeria Campana is not another pizza chain outlet but a real family business bringing the taste of Campania (the Italian region where Naples is located) into the heart of Bordon with traditional Italian pizzas.  

Gareth Turner, one of the Pizzeria Campana team is thrilled to be opening: “It started as a simple dream – to create a truly Italian style pizza oven stocked with wood, fired up and ready to bake a pizza, which has been lovingly handmade from a carefully crafted authentic recipe and topped with the finest, freshest ingredients.” 

“Open 7 days a week, for lunch and evening service, Pizzeria Campana will take you on a culinary trip to Italy. Our friendly family team members will be ready and waiting to bring the authentic Italian style pizza restaurant (collection and delivery) into the heart of Hampshire.” 

Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Company is delighted to announce this new opening on Saturday, 19th March. In recent months The Shed has also welcomed new food restaurants/takeaways The Shack and Stuff’d as well confectioner Sweet Treats to its unique, authentic shared experience. 

With a range of artisan treats, home cooked food, arts & crafts, creative workspaces and great local entertainment The Shed features an array of the best local makers and creators. 

There are Markets every Wednesday and on two Saturdays a month, plus entertainment at The Cube and host of major events throughout the year, so there’s so much more on offer than in your average shed. 

Pizzeria Campana opening times:

Mon – Wed: 11am-9pm
Thu – Sat: 11am-10:30pm
Sun: 11am-7:30pm 

For more information about The Shed, businesses and events, visit: www.theshedwb.com  

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Music brings people together

Round & About

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Haslemere Methodist Church is the venue for a series of stunning lunchtime and evening concerts 

Haslemere Methodist Church is bringing a varied programme of instrumental classical music to the community through it’s ‘music brings people together’ series of concerts. 

The project, spearheaded by flautist Susan Milan, embraces not only a concert series, but also an educational programme to inspire young musicians in local schools through workshops and a woodwind competition planned for May this year. Susan is a professor of the Royal College of Music and Trinitylaban Conservatory of Music and Founder and Director of the British Isles Music Festival

The new year brings three evening concerts given by members of the London Chamber Music Group, the resident ensemble of Haslemere Methodist Church, and three lunchtime charity concerts given by young musicians from UK conservatories of music.  

The concerts are held in the beautiful Sanctuary of the church with its friendly atmosphere and lovely acoustics.  

The next lunchtime charity concert of the year is on Thursday, 10th March at noon and this will be given by The Bauhaus Trio, young musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. Featuring Samy Okuma-Chin on violin, Josh Mountford on cello and pianist Nye Hughes-Watts, the trio will perform works by Mozart and Mendelssohn. 

Samy Okuma-Chin (violin), Nye Hughes-Watts (piano) and Josh Mountford (cello)

Admission is free with donations welcomed for charities chosen by Haslemere Methodist Church.  Enjoy cappuccino and cake in the coffee room before the concert. 

Thursday, 17th March is the date for the next evening concert with an instrumental quintet of Susan Milan (flute), Nicholas Ward (violin), Matthew Jones (viola), Sebastian Comberti (cello) and Gabriella Dall’Olio (harp). They will perform an evening of classical and romantic chamber music by Beethoven, Ravel, Ropartz and Jongen. 

Nicholas Ward (violin), Matthew Jones (viola), Susan Milan (flute), Sebastian Comberti (cello) and Gabriella Dall’Olio (harp)

Director of the London Chamber Music Group, Susan Milan said they are enjoying being the resident ensemble of the church, adding: “It is a joy to perform in the lovely Sanctuary, with its spacious seating and lovely acoustic.” 

The group is also keen to support young musicians from schools in the area, particularly wind players and a woodwind competition is being planned for ages 12-18 after Easter along with workshops for primary and secondary schools. 

Susan said: “These will be given by young professionals who performed in the British Isles Music Festival and from UK Conservatoires. State and Independent schools have no financial support from the local council for music. I would welcome donations from music lovers in the area, who, like me, wish to encourage and support the next generation of musicians and music lovers.” 

If you can help email: [email protected] 

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets: £18, age 12-17: £9, under 12: free.

Enquiries telephone: 01428 652202 / 07876 198498

Email: [email protected] Online: www.wegottickets.com

From: Chamberlain Music, Wey Hill, Haslemere and at the door.

Refreshments available in the interval. Doors open at 7.30pm

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Music brings people together

Round & About

Posted on

Surrey

Haslemere Methodist Church is the venue for a series of stunning lunchtime and evening concerts

Haslemere Methodist Church is bringing a varied programme of instrumental classical music to the community through its ‘music brings people together’ series of concerts.

The project, spearheaded by flautist Susan Milan, embraces not only a concert series, but also an educational programme to inspire young musicians in local schools through workshops and a woodwind competition planned for May this year. Susan is a professor of the Royal College of Music and Trinitylaban Conservatory of Music and Founder and Director of the British Isles Music Festival.

The new year brings three evening concerts given by members of the London Chamber Music Group, the resident ensemble of Haslemere Methodist Church, and three lunchtime charity concerts given by young musicians from UK conservatories of music.

The concerts are held in the beautiful Sanctuary of the church with its friendly atmosphere and lovely acoustics.

The first charity concert of the year is on Thursday, 20th January at noon and this will be given by a young piano trio from the Royal College of Music consisting of flute (Ziqin Chen), oboe (Junhao Fu) and piano (Yihan Jin).

Ziqin Chen, flute
Junhao Fu, oboe
Yihan Jin, piano

Admission is free with donations welcomed for charities chosen by Haslemere Methodist Church. Enjoy cappuccino and cake in the coffee room before the concert.

The next lunchtime charity concert will be on Thursday, 10th February at noon featuring The Chiltern Winds, a wind quintet from the Royal Academy of Music.

The first Thursday evening concert on February 24th is a cello and piano recital featuring Christopher Jepson, co-principal cello of the Basel Symphony Orchestra in Switzerland and UK pianist Daniel King-Smith.

Christopher Jepson, cello
Daniel King-Smith, piano

The woodwind competition and workshops are planned for March in collaboration with local state schools, with the competition winners’ concert in May.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets: £18, age 12-17: £9, under 12: free.

Enquiries telephone: 01428 652202 / 07876 198498

Email: [email protected] Online: www.wegottickets.com

From: Chamberlain Music, Wey Hill, Haslemere and at the door.

Refreshments available in the interval. Doors open at 7.30pm

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Renting in retirement with Birchgrove

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The start of a new year is usually a time when some sort of thinking and planning gets underway. Maybe it is a cue for change, and time to look at a retirement option that could be practically perfect in every way.

Renting is no longer the preserve of the young, and like millennials, many in later life are turning towards the flexibility and benefits it offers. The appeal may not be immediately obvious to those accustomed to home ownership, but for a variety of people and reasons it can uplift your whole quality of life and be liberating.

Renting in retirement opens up all sorts of possibilities for people who may otherwise have been excluded from retirement living. They may want to pass wealth on to their children or move to a more expensive area to be near them. At Birchgrove, we’re 100% committed to renting in retirement.

Why rent?

Flexibility is one of the reasons residents find renting so attractive. Such is the case with Diane, who told us why she chose to rent rather than buy. “Flexibility. I’ve moved into a two-bedroom apartment at Birchgrove but I can move into a one bedroom if I want to. I’ve also got the flexibility to move out and into a different retirement facility if I don’t like it here. I really don’t know what my needs will be in the future but renting here gives me the flexibility to move quickly into a care home environment or in with my family without the burden of the house to sell.”

Another reason rental is popular with older adults, is many have already built their wealth. They see a lot of money going into the maintenance and repair of their family home and think that money could be put to better purpose. Perhaps into retirement funds that benefit the family or using it to enjoy a better quality of life. So, whilst some argue that paying rent is throwing money down the drain, the truth is this more applies when you are building your wealth. Late renters have a different perspective, they are working out the best way to disperse their accumulated funds and planning and preparing how best to enjoy their future years.

There are of course many advantages to buying off plan. Peter, a retired director, thinks renting his two-bedroom apartment at Woodbank Apartments, Hook Heath is the best decision he’s made. As he explains: “We decided to sell the house and rent somewhere so we could release capital to our children. What persuaded us to rent was we found people had bought flats and then died leaving their families struggling to sell their parents’ flat because people could buy brand new at the site next door. My wife and I fell in love with Woodbank Apartments. We bought early off plan, so we could take our time designing the apartment exactly as we wanted it.”

Birchgrove apartments are not for sale, so you won’t find our retirement advisors pressurising you to buy; they are simply here to help you think about things differently and work out what options are open to you. To find out more visit www.birchgrove.life or call 020 3929 5599.

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