Godalming Photographic Club exhibition

Round & About

Posted on

Godalming

Featured image by: Mark Rolfe

Godalming Photographic Club are holding their annual summer exhibition at Godalming Museum, July 9th to 27th, showcasing members’ printed and digital images. Mark Rolfe tells us more

Photography has changed dramatically since Godalming Photographic Club was founded in March 1980, but what hasn’t changed over the decades is the friendly, supportive atmosphere aimed at inspiring, informing and involving members.

A group of friends got together more than 40 years ago in the Borough Hall explaining their hopes and intentions. By the end of the evening 30 people had joined. Meetings were held once a month, but this was soon increased to three a month before becoming weekly.

Image by: Brian Houghton

Image by: David Hughes

The new club joined the Surrey Photographic Federation (later to become the Surrey Photographic Association or SPA) and entered its inter-club competitions.

Competitions were seen as a way to increase skills and several trophies were soon provided as awards for the best work. The founding group paid for the Founders’ Plate, awarded to the winner of the series of internal print competitions, and the Woolwich Building Society donated a trophy for the best print at the annual exhibition.

Since its foundation, the club has more than held its own among its peers in the SPA and has won both Open and Nature sections of the annual inter-club competition. The club has also represented the SPA at national inter-club championships organised by The Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB).

With a subscription income, the club continues to have outside judges for its competitions and expert speakers on a broad range of subjects. Practical workshops, technical sessions and discussion of different aspects of photography are featured. Other events include photographic trips, a Christmas dinner and a summer party.

Members primarily use digital cameras and smartphones and competitions are divided into Print and Projected images, covering themes from Open (any content) to Nature, Landscape, Monochrome, Street and fun topics, such as ‘Match the style of a famous photographer’. Competitions are split into three groups, so everyone can compete at their own level.

GPC meets each Wednesday evening from September to May at Shackleford Village Hall. Come along and experience a meeting with no obligation or contact us for more details via our website. New members are always welcome. For enquiries, see Godalming Photographic Club, Facebook, or Godalming Photographic Club (@gofocal). The exhibition runs Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm at Godalming Museum. Entry free. Some of the photographs will be on sale at modest prices. You can vote for your favourite image.

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter:

Having a blast in Godalming

Round & About

Posted on

Godalming

June 8th is set to be a super singing Saturday when vocalists of all ages come together for a mass charity event in Godlaming

Let the music you when ChoirBlast explodes into Godalming on June 8th for an exciting day-to-evening event for music lovers, featuring 50 nationwide choirs in a fusion of singing and community.

The family-friendly event features seven simultaneous stages at The Burys Field, the Bandstand and Cloisters and is a not-for-profit festival, with craft stalls, children’s activities, food and lots of fabulous singing from 11am.

ChoirBlast is a celebration of contemporary choirs from around the country and the festival presents a unique opportunity to experience the joy and power of harmony music. Among the local choirs taking part this year are Music by Motivation Contemporary Gospel Choirs comprising members from Guildford Rock Choir; Farncombe Jazz Choir know for their acapella arrangements; the Halow Project who are one of the charities to benefit from this year’s event as are The Meath Backstage Choir; Guildford Jazz Choir bring together the old and new with jazz classics and contemporary hits; Godalming Jazz Choir is a friendly place for people to sing together that has been running for 10 years; born out of friendship and love Little Town Choir from Petersfield provide a ‘musical sanctuary’; Godalming-based Music Kids for five to teens; Guildford Vox Community Choir have a repertoire consisting of contemporary and traditional songs from the British Isles; Godalming Community Gospel Choir; ladies a capella group In Accord from Guildford; Wholenotes Community Choirs for those with social anxiety and / or learning disabilities based in Guildford and Camberley and many more from around the country.

ChoirBlast supports the local halow project and Meath charities, for adults with epilepsy and complex needs. In the spirit of the festival, admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

Make a day of it enjoying the sweet sounds on offer alongside the food and drink from the Serious Rum Bar, street food from Cara Gorda Cantina, seasonal flavours from Dylan’s Ice Cream, South African flame grilled steaks and burgers from Bring & Braai, wood fired pizza from Belle Buono, Sri Lankan street food from Kothu Truck, Daisy’s Sandwiches, ice coffee and cake from The Journalist and serving up much-needed coffee will be Bean & Gone.

Visit choirblast.com for details of all the choirs taking part. 

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter:

Surrey Police Band concert for ABF

Round & About

Posted on

Godalming

Support a real force for good – the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) thanks a concert Surrey Police Band will give on Sunday, 18th June, in Godalming

Surrey Police Band is a self-supporting organisation funded by its members. As members of the group, established in 2007, serve on shift patterns, the band was designed to have a flexible rehearsal schedule.

As Major (Retd) Ian W Wadley VR, Honorary Secretary of the Surrey Committee explains: “This flexible ethos towards attendance has subsequently attracted people from many walks of life including the police, military, civil service & wider civilian community.”

You’re all invited to book your tickets to enjoy an evening of music to suit all tastes by the Surrey Police Band and support The ABF – The Soldiers’ Charity – at the same time. The ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is the Army’s national charity, supporting soldiers, past and present, and their families for life. You can find out more about the great work the charity does at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

Doors open at 6.30pm for the concert on 18th June at Waverly Borough Hall, GU7 1HR, and the band will play 7-9pm. Free parking is available and there will be a licensed bar and a raffle.

Tickets are £15. For more details about the concert & to book please visit Surrey Police Band Concert – The Soldiers’ Charity (soldierscharity.org).

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter:

Green dream

Liz Nicholls

Posted on

Godalming

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

Tell us your local news here

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter:

Running, for good elf

Round & About

Posted on

Godalming

Take part in the Santa & Elf fun runs in Hindhead, Godalming and Farnborough this month to raise money for a life-changing charity.

Phyllis Tuckwell’s Santa & Elf Fun Runs are the perfect way to get all the family in the festive spirit this Christmas.

The charity has three events to choose from: the first on Sunday, 1st December, at the picturesque Devil’s Punch Bowl in Hindhead, then The Pepperpot in Godalming for a 4k route on Saturday 14th December and lastly at The Wavell School in Farnborough on Sunday, 15th December.

“This year we’re celebrating 40 years of hospice care,” says fundraising manager Gemma Jones, “so asking everyone who registers to raise just £40 to mark our special ruby anniversary!

“We rely heavily on the support of our community to continue providing our services across west Surrey and north-east Hampshire. We have to raise over £20,000 every day to do this and events like this make a real difference; helping us to raise some of the funds we need. Come along and support Phyllis Tuckwell this Christmas.

More info

Registration is £16 for adults and £9 for children (under 14) and all who register will receive a Santa suit for adults and an elf hat for children. Register in advance as fees will be higher on the day. To register your place visit…

Website

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter: