What's on this week
Newburytoday.co.uk's news and events from West Berkshire and beyond
Thursday, July 14:
The Ukulele Project, Corn Exchange, 7.45pm. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.comn
You Look Like Ants, New Greenham Arts, 8pm. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Craft and Chat in the Carnegie Lounge at Newbury Library, 11am to 1pm. Bring your knitting, sewing or any craft along to this free new group. Please just drop in. (01635) 519900
Tea Dance, Woolhampton Village Hall, 2pm to 4.15pm. Ballroom, Latin American and sequence dancing. £2.50 to include raffle and refreshments. Very friendly crowd. This event is raising money for local charities. For more information call Ronnie Parkin on (01635) 821505
Stay Sharp! yoga gentle exercise class, Northcroft Leisure Centre, 11.30am to 12.30pm. Free weekly yoga-based seated gentle aerobic exercise class for people with memory problems and carers. Followed by an optional drink or lunch. Very sociable and welcoming group. For more information call Margaret Gould (01635) 500870
Charity Quiz Night, Hilton, Pinchington Lane, 7pm to 10.30pm. The quiz is being held to raised money for Swings & Smiles, the hotel's chosen charity. Tickets £10 to include a delicious supper. More information from Patsy Maggs (01635) 52900
Home Birth Group Meeting, The Wellbeing Centre, 6 Pound Street, 8pm to 9.30pm. Support for expectant parents considering homebirth and an opportunity to meet other parents who have done so, as well as health professionals. £1 donation is requested. More information Claire Bushell 07919128966
Friday, July 15:
Abba Forever, Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, 7.30pm. Tickets £18. Box office: (01793) 524 481 or www.wyverntheatre.org.uk
Watermill Theatre Book Club with a difference, James Forrester takes you on a sensory ride through Elizabethan England, 1.30pm Box office: (01635) 46044. www.watermill.org.uk
Dubai Summer Festival – Rose Bowl Stakes Day at Newbury Racecourse, first race 2pm. Details: (01635) 40015 or www.newbury-racecourse.co.uk
Newbury and District Transport Group return talk by Gordon Adams, Bayer House, Strawberry Hill, 7.30pm-10pm. Admission free. All welcome. The first half will cover the 2010 event celebrating 175 years of German Railways, the second celebrations in England Including GWR 175 and Bluebell 50.
HADCAF: The Adam Winslet Sextet, Croft Hall, Hungerford. Tickets £7.50 from Newbury Building Society
The UK Wolf Conservation Trust, Howl Night, 7pm – booking required. Contact (01189) 713330 for further details.
Gardening for the Brain in Burghfield Common, 10.30am to 12:30pm. Free gardening activity open to those with memory problems and carers. Sow and hoe, pick and prick in a peaceful, private garden. No gardening experience required. Margaret Gould (01635) 500870
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, Corn Exchange, Newbury, 7.45pm. New musical created from scratch at each performance of this award-winning production, which has played sell-out seasons in the West End and Edinburgh fringe. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Charity barn dance The Black Barn, Rushall Manor Farm, Bradfield. 7.30pm to 11pm, to raise money for Jumbulance. Includes live music, a bar, and raffle. Tickets £15 adult, £35 family ticket including children under 16, and £10 students. Tickets: Mike Ashbrook (01189) 744537
Saturday, July 16:
The Taming of the Shrew, Cliveden. 7.30pm. Tickets £16. Contact: 0844 249 1895
Dubai Summer Festival – Weatherbys Super Sprint Day at Newbury Racecourse, first race 1.45pm. Details: (01635) 40015 or www.newbury-racecourse.co.uk
The Pirates of Penzance, Greys Court, Oxfordshire, 7.30pm. Tickets, adults £14, children £9. Contact: 0844 249 1895
Music on the Market with singer Liisa Henrikkson, Newbury Market Place, 10am-1pm
Trinity School PTA Craft Fair and Car Boot Sale, Sports Field, Love Lane, Shaw, 11am to 2pm. Buyers strictly from 11am; sellers from 10am. Cars £10 on the day (£7 in advance); Craft stalls £7 (please book in advance). Entry 50p (U16s free). Plus hot and cold refreshments; books, dvds and plants for sale. Bookings: 07919 555 043. Cancelled if raining.
The Magic of the Beatles, Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, 7.30pm. Ticket office (01793) 524481 or www.wyverntheatre.org.uk
Coffee Morning, Town Hall, Market Place, 10am to 12noon. Delicious homemade cakes and a tombola in aid of Swings & Smiles, to build an indoor/outdoor recreational facility in the Newbury area for special needs children. For further information please contact Katy on (01635) 34045 or kfh7@hotmail.com
Songs from the Shows - The Barfield Handbell Ringers and St Mary's Church Choir in concert, St Mary's Church, Thatcham, 7.30 pm. Tickets £6 adults (£4 concessions/children) from The Family Bookshop, Thatcham, by e-mail to dianne@barfield.org.uk or (01635) 867421.
Cookery Classes, The Lambourn Centre, Close End, 10am to noon. Make healthy seasonal food to take home and cook. Five sessions £12. Supported by West Berks family learning. Telephone Tessa on 07894 099385
Free turn up and play volleyball in Newbury, Victoria Park or Northcroft Park, 1pm to 4pm. Newbury Volleyball Club is having various turn up and play sessions throughout July. No experience required to have fun. www.newburyvolleyballclub.co.uk or Troy Tilley 07585 394928
Hungerford Carnival, 6pm to 7.30pm. Theme: cartoon characters. All entries welcome, walking or vehicles. Roger Ballard (01488) 682989
Bird Walk in Greenham, Greenham Common Control Tower Car Park, Bury's Bank Road, 10am to noon. Join the local Wildlife Trust to learn about this fabulous heathland, the ground-nesting birds and other amazing wildlife. Dogs on lead welcome. No booking needed. Raising money for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. Tel: Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre (01635) 874381
Sarruga present Insectes, Night Carnival, 9.45pm. Huge creepy crawlies will wind their way from outside the Methodist Church, Northbrook Street, through to the Market Place. Want to help build and cycle Sarruga's amazing machines? Please contact simon@simonchatterton.co.uk or guyd@cornexchangenew.co.uk
And Sunday, Cholsey and Wallingford Railway, Ale on the Rail Weekend, featuring local ales, Steam hauled by Birkenhead. Trains depart from Wallingford starting at 11.05am and hourly until 4.05pm; trains depart Cholsey starting at 11.35am and then hourly until 4.35pm. Wine and locally produced ale available in the Brake Coach Bar. Run round loop in use at Cholsey and shunt and release at Wallingford. No booking needed. www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com, email cwrail@yahoo.co.uk, tel (01491) 835 067.
Chalk Hills and Landscape in the Lambourn Area, Berkshire Geoconservation Group leading a walk around East Garston on the Berkshire Downs, at 11am. Meet at the Village Hall car park, GR SU363768. 4½ mile (approx 3½hours). Bring packed lunch. Further details Lesley Dunlop 07790896118, or email lesley@berksgeoconservation.org.uk
Thatcham's Big Tidy Up – meet at 10am in The Broadway for a litter pick around Thatcham. Equipment will be provided. Finishes at The Broadway were refreshments will be served. Contact Thatcham Town Council 01635 863592.
Sunday, July 17:
Dubai Summer Festival – International Arabian Day at Newbury Racecourse, first race 2.05pm. Details: (01635) 40015 or www.newbury-racecourse.co.uk
Basingstoke Silver Band, Victoria Park Bandstand, Newbury from 3-5pm n Travels in West Africa, Westridge (Open Centre), Star Lane, Highclere, 3pm. Geoff Hales tells the story of Mary Kingsley. Tickets (plus refreshments) £7 members and students, £9 associates. Booking essential, tel: (01635) 253322
Electronic organ and keyboard concert with Chris Powell, 3pm, The William Penney Theatre, entrance through AWE West Gate. Free parking, bar and restaurant open from noon interval tea and biscuits plus raffle, £6.50 at the door (no membership required). Telephone Sylvia Bowsher (0118) 971 2220 or Gerry Prince on (0118) 983 5010
Boys Beating Cancer, Newbury Rugby Club, Monks Lane, 11am to 3pm. Boys and men are welcome to walk, jog or run 5k around Newbury Rugby Club to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. More information Rob Dore 07919 383738
Great Shefford Village Fete, Blakeney Fields, noon to 3pm. Fun dog show, village horticultural show, homemade cakes, arena displays. Raising money for village organisations. More information Linda Bowden (01488) 649864
Cycling 4 Sight, The Look Out, Bracknell, 11am. Join The Berkshire County Blind Society in a cycling challenge to raise money for the charity. Simply turn up and complete the 10k route or double up for the 20k. Adults £10 and children under 16 £3 (must be accompanied by an adult), family entry, two adults and two children, £20. Register at www.bcbs.org.uk or tel (01189) 872803. Sponsor forms available, or set up your online fundraising page at www.justgiving.com
United Service of Remembrance at Thatcham's London Road Cemetery 3pm – friends and families of all those who have been laid to rest at the cemetery are invited to this service. Refreshments are served afterwards. Contact Thatcham Town Council (01635) 863592.
Monday, July 18:
And July 20, Recruitment for 211 Sqn Newbury Air Cadets, St Michaels Road, 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Aged 13-17. Join this exciting organisation. Go flying or gliding, take part in Duke of Edinburgh Award, adventure training, target shooting, seven sports, overseas trips, camps. More information Jan Pye (01635) 552635
HADCAF Eco-chic Fashion Show, John O'Gaunt School, Hungerford, 7.30pm. Textile students, Hungerford WI and local charity shops show you how, by recycling, refashioning, reinventing, customising and accessorising clothes. Free – tickets from Newbury Building Society. Retiring collection. www.hadcaf.co.uk
Singing for the Brain, St Joseph's Church Hall, London Road, Newbury, 10.30am to noon. Free. For people with memory problems and families. West Berkshire Alzheimer's Society. Tel: (01635) 500870
The Rotaract Club of West Berkshire, The Hogs Head (Function Room), Wharf Street, Newbury, 8.30pm. First and third Monday of every month. Open to people aged 18 to 30. clubwestberks@hotmail.com or Charlotte 07811115515
Dance Yourself Fit, St. John's School 6.30pm to 7.30pm. A combination of dance and aerobic moves, followed by Pilates-based toning exercises for a flatter tummy and stronger back. £4 a class. Tel: Val Todd 07917414850
Tuesday, July 19:
Rag Rugs with Gill Bruty, Cobbs Farm Shop, Bath Road, Hungerford, 10am-noon. Two-hour course on how to make your own rag rug. £10 per head. Refreshments available in the cafe. To book, call Gill (01672) 871140 or email cobbs@cobbsfarmshop.co.uk
RENEWAL Community Project - History Talk about the landscaping of Shaw House Grounds, Shaw House, Church Road, 7.30pm to 9pm. Amanda Loaring from WBC heritage and tourism service speaks about its landscaping over the centuries. Free, but booking essential: Lesley Atkinson (01189) 305335
West Berkshire Ramblers, meet in the car park at Leckhampstead Village Hall, grid ref SU 439763, for a gently undulating walk to Chaddleworth via Grove Pit Common, Cotswold Farm and Oak Ash Farm, returning via Nodmore, 10am, 6 miles. Bring a drink and a snack. Leader: Richard M, tel: (01635) 867407
HADCAF: An Evening of Song, Croft Hall, Hungerford, 7.30pm. Natalie Hyde (soprano), Susan Holmes (piano) with Craig Jackson (tenor) – songs, solos and duets from all corners of classical music. Opera favourites and lesser-known classical gems, along with a touch of musical theatre. Free – tickets from Newbury Building Society www.hadcaf.co.uk
Round the Town Quiz and Chicken and Chips Supper, The Tutti Pole, High Street, Hungerford, 7pm. Tickets £8 adult, £4 child (drinks extra) from the Tutti Pole www.hadcaf.co.uk
Wednesday, July 20:
Rock Choir Live!, The Anvil, Basingstoke, 8pm. Tickets £15. Box office (01256) 819797 www.anvilarts.org.uk
West Berkshire Ramblers, meet at the Swan, Compton, grid ref SU 521799, for a walk up to and along the Ridgeway and Lowbury Hill with good views, 6pm. Park in the Swan car park if using the pub after the walk. 6 miles. Leader Oliver O, tel: (01488) 638330
Creative Textiles Workshop with Sue Benn and Sue Walters, Methodist Church Hall, Hungerford, 9.45am-1pm. Limited tickets £5 from Newbury Building Society www.hadcaf.co.uk
Green Gardening illustrated talk, Croft Hall, Hungerford, 7.30pm. Pam Goddard is project coordinator of the Five A Day Market Garden, Englefield, a not-for-profit community-supported organisation which aims to produce naturally-grown fruit and veg. She describes how the garden grows crops successfully without the use of chemicals, and how wildlife is encouraged in to the garden. Free tickets from Newbury Building Society www.fiveaday.org.uk
Freedom of the Town parade and ceremony – Thatcham Town Council to honour the Royal School of Military Survey, Denison Barracks, Hermitage. Parade starts at 1.15pm, Brownsfield Rd, A4, High St, The Broadway. The ceremony will take place in The Broadway then the parade leaves at 2.30pm. Contact Thatcham Town Council (01635) 863592
Afternoon Teas 2.30pm to 4.30pm at St Mary's Church Aldworth. See The Aldworth Giants. Relax and enjoy a cuppa and cake for just £2. Details: (01635) 578177
