Thrills & Spills!

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Direct from London’s West End, where it’s in its record-breaking 10th year, Thriller Live returns to Woking’s New Victoria Theatre between Monday, 2nd and Saturday, 7th July.

There is no doubt about it, this show is going to be a real crowd pleaser. Thriller Live will be throwing hit after hit onto the stage at Woking’s New Victoria Theatre, paying homage to Michael Jackson’s incredible repertoire and making sure his slick choreography lives on in time to the syncopated beat.

But what about the man, stepping into the shoes, busting the moves, and moonwalking his way into the hearts of MJ fans?

Britt Quentin easily takes on the King of Pop, with his pitch-perfect vocal range and uncanny Jacko looks. 

In his biography, according to his parents, Britt was born into this world with perfect lungs, and as a youngster, growing up in Michigan USA, being in the church band felt more natural than being on the baseball pitch.

In his own right, this dynamic vocalist is a producer, director, and prolific songwriter, holding the position of Musical Director (1997-2009) for the internationally-acclaimed, Los Angeles-based, jazz-funk-pop vocal group, M-pact. 

After M-pact, Britt spent more than six years in London’s prestigious West End where he was resident director of Thriller Live, and now goes on tour nationally with the show.

Thriller Live, from Monday, 2nd until Saturday, 7th July, at New Victoria Theatre, Peacocks Centre, Woking, GU21 6GQ. Tickets from £26.15, fees apply. Book tickets by calling the Box Office on 0844 871 7645.

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Headway Highlight

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Headway Surrey is the Mayor of Guildford’s chosen charity for 2018. Its five paid staff, supported by wonderful volunteers, won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services last year.The charity helps adults across the county with an acquired or traumatic brain injury, offering cognitive rehabilitation and family support.

There are two types of brain injury:  

• Acquired via a stroke, heart attack, brain tumour, blood clot, encephalitis, haemorrhage, aneurism, meningitis, hydrocephalus, carbon monoxide poisoning and other medical issues.  

• Traumatic event such as a road accident, sports injury (skiing, football, rugby, boxing), work incident, assault, combat, falls, trips and slips. 

Brain injury affects cognitive ability, things we take for granted such as making a cup of tea, walking, talking, reading, writing, cooking and dressing. Headway staff support those who now have problems with social skills, conversation skills and behaviour, helping individuals to control their lost inhibitions. The brain needs executive skills to make sense of information and then to make decisions. Using selected exercises and strategies, individuals can find new brain pathways around the damaged area of the brain.  

The fastest recovery time is within the first two years (using cognitive rehabilitation therapy), however long-term slow stream rehabilitation can go on for decades. Headway Surrey provides a range of services: individual programmes, group workshops, home community visits, hospital  liaison visits, a befriending scheme, a helpline and supportive activities for family and carers.    

Another often forgotten area is the family. One minute your husband/wife, dad/mother or son/daughter is normal, the next minute they are not.  Brain injury is a hidden disability – your loved one may look the same, but they are “not the same”.  They may have issues not only with thinking, decision making, prioritising, memory, but also with clumsiness, balance, slurring words, hand/eye co-ordination, taste… the list is endless. 

Families have their own issues and may suffer loss of friends and depression. Partners often have to give up their jobs to become full-time carers and relationships can break down. 

Headway’s support activities for carers and families, therefore, are extremely valuable. Clients are matched with volunteers who enjoy similar social or recreational activities. They meet weekly, fortnightly or monthly, and might go for a coffee, a walk, visit the cinema or whatever.

• Sonja Freebody, CEO of the charity, is passionate about fundraising and she and her team will take part in the Guildford Raft Race on Saturday, 7th July. Please sponsor them by visiting www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com

• Please contact Headway about fundraising, volunteering and services on offer. Visit www.headwaysurrey.org or call 01483 455225  or email [email protected]

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Peace and equality!

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Everyone is invited to the free family celebration of peace and equality at this year’s Party in the Park on Saturday, 7th July, at Woking Park from 12noon to 9pm.

On Sunday, 11th November, 2018, it will be 100 years since the guns fell silent on the Western Front, and World War One came to an end. 

This year also sees the centenary of the monumental victory won by women as they achieved voting rights, with local suffragette Dame Ethel Smyth leaving her legacy in the shape of the iconic anthem March of the Women. After the WWI Armistice there was an enormous party across Woking with parades, sports, games, music and tea. Now, a century on, and we still know how to throw a party that would make our ancestors proud!

Explore five different fields packed full of family-friendly activities. Enjoy live music and dance on the Eagle Radio Main Stage, watch and participate in the Dance Woking Encounters Tent or get active in the Freedom Leisure Sports Zone with traditional outdoor games. Discover tonnes of terrific children’s activities in the Children’s Zone and take a fun fair ride! Meet some furry farm friends and learn about what people grew 100 years ago in the Eco Zone. When you’ve had enough excitement, relax, browse and learn from local history exhibitors in the Bandstand Field against a soundtrack of live bands or take in a performance in the Culture Zone. At the end of a long day, relax whilst the sun goes down and ‘laugh loud, and long, and clear’ to Mary Poppins on the New Victoria Theatre Big Screens.

The event is sponsored by Woking Shopping, Freedom Leisure, New Victoria Theatre, Dance Woking and Eagle Radio and supported by #WeAreWoking. Visit www.celebratewoking.info/partyin the park for more information. 

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Pax a punch!

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You’re welcome to come along and explore Lord Baden Powell’s former home in Bentley on Sunday, 8th July, where there will be fun for all ages and tastes.

Each year Pax Hill Care Home in Bentley holds a summer fete in aid of a chosen charity with the help of residents who make items for sale and help with stalls on the day. 

This year, the chosen charity is Cancer Research. Everyone is welcome, from 2pm-4pm in the central courtyard, GU10 5NG.

Visitors can also have a look around the home and grounds occupied for more than 20 years by Robert Baden Powell and his wife Olave.

In addition to residents’ contributions, many stalls will offer a variety of items, from vintage gifts and craft ideas to garden goodies. There will be plenty of on offer, including Nepalese street food, barbecue, ice creams, tea and cakes and live entertainment from Hampshire Scouts.

Organisers are hoping for fine weather for this family-friendly event in the beautiful Hampshire countryside. Pax Hill is surrounded by footpaths giving lovely views of the old village of Bentley. Free parking is available in Pax Hill’s grounds and a footpath trail can be accessed from halfway up the drive.

If you are interested in looking at care homes for now or future reference, this is a good day to talk to the people who live at Pax Hill and see what life is like in modern day care.

Call Pax Hill Care Home on 01420 525 882 or visit www.paxhill.co.uk

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Imagination station

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Kate Schutte, head of English at Cranleigh Prep School, tells us about the second annual Awesome Book Awards, won this year by Peter Bunzl.

The Awesome Book Awards is not only a great titled competition, it’s an annual event organised by Cranleigh Schools to celebrate the best new fiction for young readers aged between seven and 10 years.

Peter Bunzl won the top prize this year for his first children’s novel Cogheart, a whodunnit thriller about three best friends and a mechanical fox.

Kate Schutte, head of English at Cranleigh Prep School, acknowledges that the life of a first time novelist is a struggle, and these awards serve to recognise the sacrifices the writer has made. However, she adds: “The Awesome Book Awards is also about celebrating young readers. The wonder of watching a child absorbed in a book is a very special thing. 

“Children who develop an early love of reading will have the opportunity to travel to imaginary lands, share imaginary adventures and a whole host of imaginary friends.

“As educators, while it is wonderful to see pupils curled up in a corner with a book, we also know the importance reading plays in children’s development. Research suggests that those who read for pleasure demonstrate an intrinsic desire to engage with stories, texts and learning. We therefore need to provide children with access to the sort of books that not only chime with their interests, but also hook our children because they interest them. Our short-listed Awesome books are selected to resonate with today’s generation of young readers.”

Entries are being taken for 2019, visit www.awesomebookawards.com

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Trust worthy

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Christina Pearce explains about Cranleigh Village Hospital Trust, the charity which has fought to return local in-patient care.

The volunteers and trustees of Cranleigh Village Hospital Trust have never deviated from their mission to ensure the provision of 20 community beds locally, writes Christina Pearce. 

We all owe them a huge debt of gratitude; though their tireless efforts have often passed unnoticed, the trustees have worked hard and overcome many obstacles to arrive at the position this trust is in today.

The more obvious sign of the trust’s work was at the hospital shop in the centre of Cranleigh High Street, where I had the enormous privilege of working for the past 16 years. The shop was started as a means of raising funds for the project and to act as an information centre for anyone seeking an update on progress, but it became so much more. It was the go-to place for anyone seeking advice on sources of care locally, a drop-off centre for hand knitted clothes and blankets for a premature baby charity – the list was endless. After the hospital shop closed its doors in June, there was a little sadness tinged with the great joy in having contributed to the trust’s community beds achievement. 

Sadness, because for those of us who were involved in the shop, it brought us friendship and a bond which can only develop through working for a cause we all feel deeply committed.

Now that part of the project has become a reality, we move to the next phase, of local in-patient care. I am delighted to have been invited to join the Board of Trustees and will continue to ensure we reach our goal.

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Fairy Fun

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Calling all pixies, gnomes and fairies! Head along to Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village in Compton on Saturday 7th and Sunday, 8th July for a magical highlight.

The Woodland Fairy Fair, between 10am and 4pm on both days, encourages families to join the fun. 

Enjoy a weekend of magical adventures in the enchanted woodlands and historic galleries as part of this annual family festival. Create fairy worlds, make wands, hear stories and build dens.

In collaboration with The House of Fairy Tales, the Artists’ Village will come alive with an original story about a slumbering giant. This immersive experience will include storytelling, creative play and sculptural installations. Create a lullaby beat maker, follow a trail to crack a magic code, take part in the mystical rituals of the Brothers of Compton, add to the Commonwealth of Enchanted Folk’s ring of spells, and plant a flower in the garden of the Sisters of Night.

In the Wattses’ home and studios, see beautiful illustrations of fairies and toadstools by Mary Watts, as well as James Henry Pullen’s giant automated puppet on display in the gallery. In the woodlands, transform into an elf, pixie, fairy or goblin with face painting by Fascinating Faces, and explore a magical kingdom from the treetops with the Great Big Tree Climbing Company. After a long day of craft and creativity, enjoy delicious seasonal food at The Tea Shop and Loseley’s Ice Cream Van.

Watts Gallery, Down Lane, Compton, GU3 1DQ. Call 01483 810235 or visit www.wattsgallery.org.uk

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By Royal Approval

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Anne Denholm, Official Harpist to HRH Prince of Wales will perform one of Mozart’s most popular works for Grayshott Concerts on Friday, 15th June.

The harp is an important national instrument in Wales, and although the role of Official Harpist to the Royal Household, was discontinued during the reign of Queen Victoria. HRH Prince of Wales restored the position in 2000 in order to foster and encourage young musical talent.

The Prince of Wales has a £150,000 gold leaf harp, made by Italian harp makers Salvi Harps. It is this harp that is used by the official harpist, who is currently Anne Denholm, the sixth Royal Harpist. Her recent role was to keep the guests entertained during the Royal Wedding last month.

But you can have your very, own special performance with Anne, at St Luke’s Church, Grayshott, this month, on Friday, 15th June. She will perform Mozart’s Flute and Harp Concerto with award-winning flautist Emma Halnan, winner of the Arts Club-Sir Karl Jenkins-Classic FM Competition in 2016.

Patron, Sir Karl Jenkins, says: “This concert brings a number of strands together. The harp is particularly dear to my heart, so it’s a pleasure to see Mozart’s Concerto performed in Grayshott by Anne and Emma.

The programme will also include Debussy’s Dances Sacred and Profane for Harp and Strings, composed in 1904, accompanied by Grayshott Concerts’ orchestra-in-residence, the illustrious London Mozart Players. Also featured in the programme will be Britten’s Prelude and Fugue and Mozart’s Divertimento in D.

Tickets and more information at www.grayshottconcerts.co.uk.

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A good innings

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Home with Gareth Malone

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We chat to Gareth Malone, whose favourite hobbies are singing – and would happily sing ‘Yesterday’ everyday – and unwinds by ice skating!

Q. How long have you been singing for and how did you get into it?
“I’ve been singing since I was a toddler and my mother sang to me. I joined a school choir at the age of seven and have sung ever since.”

Q. What led to you present The Choir?
“I ran a local community choir at St Luke’s near the Barbican, which was one of the outreach projects run by the LSO (London Symphony Orchestra). Ana de Moraes, then at Twenty Twenty TV, was looking for a choirmaster for a new BBC series. She called Amy Armstrong at the LSO who fortunately recommended me. Luckily due to the success of the first series, it was immediately commissioned for another series and has continued.”

Q. Do you think people’s view on choir singing has changed? “Having something on BBC2 gives people the chance to see what’s going on which might otherwise be considered as quite niche, such as singing or baking.”

Q. How was it being a judge on Pitch Battle?
“Really fun. I’m not afraid of telling people what I think and I loved working with Kelis.”

Q. How do you do to relax?
“I play jazz piano and ice skate.”

Q. Any plans for the rest of the year?
“Very excited about more tour dates and filming for BBC.”

Q. If you were only ever allowing to sing just one song for the rest of your days, what would it be?
“Yesterday by The Beatles.”

Visit www.garethmalone.com

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