MARLOW & BOURNE END - SL7/8 - MARCH 2010MARLOW & BOURNE END - SL7/8 - MARCH 2010
Spring at last – the days are getting longer and less cold. There's more daylight than darkness - always a bonus and the clocks go forward at the end of the month (28th), what joy. Time to get outside and enjoy the birds singing and the flowers growing. The only downside being that the garden is going to need quite a lot of attention after such a long and damp (to put it mildly) winter. If you can't face that yet, move on to getting round and about with some of our 'happenings' this month.
Music – it's still winter, and there's still lots of it to chose from. Readifolk meet every Sunday evening 8pm – 10.30pm to enjoy some folk music, as the name would suggest, at the Reading International Solidarity Centre, (RISC) London Street, RG1 4PS. The delights on offer this month are Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner performing a wind range of music from historical to rude and silly and self-penned. The theme for this month is 'A Likely Story' – should be good for a giggle. There's also some Celtic traditional music from the group Moonrakers and some true folk music from The Askew Sisters. Further details visit www.readifolk.org.uk
In date order, the rest of the musical selection this month - 6 March, 7.45pm sees Reading Bach Choir perform the final concert for the current conductor, JanJoost van Elburg, who has worked with the choir for the last eight years. The concert will take place in the church of Douai Abbey, Woolhampton, RG7 5TQ, described as 'wonderfully resonant' and an ideal setting for the performance of Monteverdi Vespers of 1610 to celebrate 2010 as the 400th anniversary of this music.
A concert combined with an exhibition and sale of sculpture will take place on 12 March at Christ Church Oxford Road, Marlow, starting at 7.30pm. The exhibitor and singer is Henry Olonga who is originally from Zimbabwe. He has a very interesting story. He was the first black cricketer to play at Test level for Zimbabwe. He made his debut in 1995. Eight years later he wore a black armband on the cricket pitch as a protest against the policies of Zimbabwe's Government. After receiving threats, he fled to England where he now resides. The exhibition will consist of around 200 pieces imported form artists in Harare, many of whom are struggling financially. All proceeds from sales will be sent by the church directly to the artists in Zimbabwe.
Eton College Hall, postcode SL4 6DW, is holding a concert by the Windsor and Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leon Gee, on 13 March, 7.30pm start. The concert includes works by Strauss, Glazunov and Sibelius. Tickets available from WMSO hotline tel 0118 966 5149 or visit www.wmso.org.uk or on the night at the door.
Henley Town Hall is the venue for the international theatre organist Robert Wolfe, back by popular demand and performing on behalf of the Henley and District Organ Trust to raise money for the Sue Ryder Home at Nettlebed. The concert takes place on 14 March at 3pm.
Music at Oxford has been offering a series of events from October 2009 which will run until June 2010 entitled The Chapel Series. This allows audiences to hear the new generation of top musicians whilst discovering breathtaking chapels. March's offering is at Exeter College Chapel by Pei-Jee Ng and Pei-Sian Ng on the cello. Pieces will include music by JS Back, Daniel Kidane and Elena Kats-Chernin. Tickets are available from the box office, tel 0870 7500659, online, visit www.musicatoxford.com or from The Oxford Playhouse.
More Bach, plus orchestra and soloists, is on offer from the Wooburn Singers on 20 March, 7.30pm, All Saints Parish Church, High Wycombe. Greg Beardsell will be conducting. Further details visit www.wooburnsingers.org.uk
The final concert of the 67th series presented by Beaconsfield Concerts will also take place on Saturday 20 March, 7.45pm at Beaconsfield High School, Wattleton Road. The Barbirolli Quartet and pianist Simon Crawford-Phillips will take the stage with precise and energetic performances of pieces by Mozart, Janacek and Kreutzer. Tickets available from the Beacon Bookshop, Gregories Road or tel 01494 678595. Further details visit www.beaconsfieldmusic.org.uk
Marlow Choral Society and Princes Risborough Music Society will join forces on 28 March, 7.30pm at Wycombe Swan Theatre to perform 'The Armed Man'. Also performing is Anna Markland who will play Grieg's Piano Concerto. Tickets tel 07976 848002 or contact theatre ticket office tel 01494 512000.
For more general getting out and about, there's plenty of social activities on offer this month. The Marlow and District Round Table meet every first, third and fifth Tuesday of the month at the Two Brewers Pub, St Peter Street, Marlow, 7.30pm for 8pm. As well as important fund raising activities, there's lots on offer socially including trips out, lectures and discussions.
The Marlow Players are performing their latest production, Spygame, by Bettine Manktelow on 25, 26 and 27 March, 8pm, Shelley Theatre, Court Gardens, Marlow. Tickets available from Tourist Information Centre or tel 01494 880486 or at the door on the night.
A lunch is being held on 27 March, 12.30pm at the Marlow Methodist Church, Spittal Street, by the charity, Action for Children, to raise funds for the most vulnerable children in the country. Please bring along a donation for the bring and buy stall.
The Ridgway U3A will be meeting on 16 March, 2.30pm at the Sports Pavilion on Watlington Recreation Ground. The talk they have sounds really interesting and something most of us can only relate to through television or film. A retired county coroner will be talking about his experiences in the job. Once again they are inviting retired or semi-retired people along – maybe they think the rest of us won't be interested? Further details Jacky Wagstaff tel 01491 613175 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Marlow Society Local History Group will be holding two talks during March. The first, on the 15th, will be on Hurley at 7.30pm, Liston Hall. The second will be on 23 March at 8pm on The History of Road Transport, also at Liston Hall. Other events such as walks and visits are also arranged throughout the year.
AIM (Archaeology in Marlow) has a talk by Dr Tubb on 25 March at 8pm in the Garden Room at Liston Hall. He'll be discussing recent discoveries at Danesfield Hillfort, Medmenham Hillford and Taplow Court. Dr Tubb is a landscape archaeologist as well as a tutor at Bristol University. For more details on this event and others held by AIM visit www.archaeologyinmarlow.org.uk/
More history is on offer by one of our regulars, the Bucks Family History Society. A talk is being given by Ian Waller on Manorial Records; showing the value of using records from the medieval period. 9 March at the Community Centre, Wakeman Road, Bourne End – 7.30pm for 7.45pm.
The Four Seasons Club are as active as ever with activities in March including a trip to the Museum of London and to see 'My Wonderful Day' at Windsor Theatre. Further details can be found at their monthly meeting, 10.30am, Liston Hall, 3 March.
Did you know that a certain duffel coat wearing, marmalade sandwich eating bear reputed to be from darkest Peru was actually created in Reading? We all know Paddington Bear as he's been around fifty years. His creator, Michael Bond, was brought up in the town of Reading and it was possibly Reading Station that inspired the creation of Paddington Bear. At the start of the Second World War, thousands of people were evacuated to Reading from London. They arrived with all they owned in a suitcase and a label around their necks; reminiscent of Paddington. Reading Museum has created some fun activities as part of their 'Life and Times of Paddington Bear' exhibition which will run from 27 March to 4 July 2010. Further details visit www.readingmuseum.org.uk
Marlow and District Horticultural Society will be holding their monthly meeting at Liston Hall, Marlow on 9 March, 8pm – 10pm. Doug Donaldosn will be giving a talk on 'The World of Cacti'.
Which leads me nicely on to the subject of what we should all be doing in the garden during the month of March (on a very basic level, of course – not being much of a gardener, this will be advice for the uninitiated!)
Apparently we should be mulching the vegetable patch during the first week of March. Mulch traps in moisture from the winter wet weather and can be made up from substances such as leaf mould and farmyard manure, or for a more decorative look (and keeping recycling in mind) crushed up CDs can be used. We should also be dividing and conquering the herb garden whilst they're still dormant. Split them up if they've become congested over the winter months (that's if they weren't suffocated by several inches of snow). Finally, prune your existing shrubs and make new plants from the prunings and don't forget to plan your garden and start ordering seeds. All sounds quite manageable and not too time consuming – good luck!
The Environment Centre on Holywell Mead, High Wycombe, seems to have had a new lease of life. During March they are offering a six week beginners course on bee keeping, every Tuesday starting 2 March, 7.30pm – 9.30pm. (Bees are vital to the survival of our planet, as I've rambled on about in previous issues.) The Centre is also providing a venue for Wycombe Friends of the Earth monthly meetings. Visit www.ecobuzz.co.uk for more details on dates and times.
Mother's Day falls on 14 March this year and that's the time to spoil your mum. You could take her out for lunch; for a pampering session at a local spa, or just buy her a bunch of flowers. However, there are more extreme activities on offer to spoil your mum with (this is just for the girls, though so men look away). This event is organised by the Fire Fighters Charity and Grove House Hospice. Entitled 'The Ladies Driving Challenge', it will take place on Mother's Day at Bovingdon Airfield near Hemel Hempstead and offers ladies the opportunity to drive vehicles that they perhaps wouldn't normally drive, such as fire engines, HGV's and JCB's. All entrants must be over age 17, have a full driving license and raise a minimum of £90 sponsorship money. All proceeds will go to the above mentioned charities. The perfect opportunity to give your mother a Mother's Day treat to remember.
Yummy Mummy week is happening this year from 6 to 14 March to incorporate Mother's Day. The actress Patsy Palmer is the face of Yummy Mummy week and she's encouraging all mums out there to raise money for CLIC Sargent, the charity for children's cancer. There's lots of ideas to raise money including 'Eat Yummy' – fund raising dinner parties; 'Dress Yummy' - dress in pink for work, pyjama parties; 'Feel Yummy' - pamper nights; 'Party Yummy' - balls and garden parties; 'Go Yummy' - bike rides, swims or anything active. Further details and to register visit www.yummymummy.org.uk or tel 08451 206 658.
Our last 'girlie' event isn't strictly for girls, but has, traditionally, been a female pastime. Abingdon Quilting Groups is holding a Quilting Exhibition on 27 and 28 March at the Sewell Centre Gallery, Radley College, Abingdon, OX14 2HR, 10am – 4pm. There will be talks and demonstrations as well as a showcase exhibition and sales tables.
March is the month for Marie Curie's annual flagship campaign – The Great Daffodil Appeal. This year they're looking for 20,000 volunteers to donate one hour of their time to become daffodil collectors. Further details visit http://daffodil.mariecurie.org.uk/ or tel 0845 601 3107. The Marie Curie Charity has been set up to provide a free nursing service to terminally ill patients in their own homes and support for their families.
Reading Borough Council's Family Link Team is hosting an information evening for prospective carers on 10 March – 7.30pm at the RISC, 35-39 London Street, Reading, RG1 4PS. Carers make a big difference to disabled children and their families, just be giving a little time.
Burglars in the local area are indulging in a new scam. They are leaving blank post it notes on the windows of houses. If the note is still there a few days later, they break into the house, so be ware if you see any post it notes stuck to your window, remove them quickly.
Remember the phrase 'When March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb'. Let's hope that there's some lion like weather whilst your reading this so we can look forward to warmer, sunnier days as we approach April. Have fun going round and about.
