Newbury & Thatcham - June 2012

Two big dates this month – Father’s Day on the 17th and The Diamond Jubilee on the 5th. We all love an extended weekend; let’s hope for sunshine so whether you’re hosting your own street party, joining someone else’s, having a long weekend break, gardening or making it up as you go along, we’ll all be in good spirits. There’s plenty going on throughout the county to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, from fun days to fetes and let’s not forget Father’s Day in all the excitement. Yes it’s time to buy a strange card with a golf caddy and ball on the front, or a picture of a pint with some funny quip about him being allowed down the pub. I love an excuse to go out for Sunday lunch…

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The Greenham Common Trust is once again hosting its popular outdoor Opera for All event at Newbury Racecourse this summer with the enduring and ever popular The Barber of Seville. On 30th June, Internationally renowned opera singers from Opera Brava company will perform Rossini's masterpiece in English in front of the Grandstand at the picturesque venue. Bring a picnic and a bottle of champagne and come and enjoy an enigmatic and charming evening out for the whole family. Tickets cost £10. Under 18s go free. Tickets are available from Newbury Corn Exchange, Market Place, Newbury RG14 5BD or on 01635 522733. See the website for more details at www.greenham-common-trust.co.uk

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Enjoy British wildlife on a Ramblers group walk at Snelsmore Common on 1st July. Park in Snelsmore Common car park on the left of B4494. The walk takes route across the common to Bagnor, then Boxford to circle back towards Donnington and its castle alongside the River Lambourn. This quite easy walk can be enjoyed by all with fine views all round the Lambourn Valley. Make sure you bring a packed lunch.

Meet at 10.30am. Call Cyril Proctor on 0118 9413002 for more details. Most walks are intended primarily for Ramblers’ Association members. Non-members are welcome to join as guests on two or three walks, though if you walk with a group regularly you will be expected to join the Ramblers.

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It’s the Newbury Radio Rally on 17th June at Newbury Showground. This popular annual event is for people who like radio communications, electronics or computing. Themed around a ’boot sale’ but with much more, including a live ’Ham Radio’ station on-air plus many demonstrations, displays and interesting national clubs and societies providing you with the ideal opportunity to find out about the hobby of Amateur Radio. 

Gates open at 9am to visitors and 8am to traders. Entrance price is £2 per person. Parking is free. Visit www.nadars.org.uk for more information.

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Orchid growers everywhere will be making a beeline to at Roots Garden Centre in Hermitage on 16th June as the British Orchid Growers Association presents a new summer Orchid Fair 2012 from 10am to 4.30pm. A huge variety will be in flower and for sale from top British nurseries. There will be beautiful displays by local Orchid Societies, plus a free beginner’s demonstration. 

Roots Garden Centre, Priors Court Road, Hermitage, Thatcham RG18 9TG.

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Explore the abandoned chalk quarry at Old Burghclere with site manager Graham Dennis on 5th June. Small blue butterflies and green hairstreaks should be on the wing. Chalk downland flowers will be growing in profusion including the fly orchids. Meet at 10am at Old Burgclere Lime Pit, north of Whitchurch (Map ref. SU 469 577). Park at the north end of the farmyard by the parking sign. For more details contact Graham on 01189 700155 (evening) or mobile 07770 891126 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Pre-booking essential and there’s a suggested donation £3, children free. Sorry, no dogs.

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Newbury Antiques, Vintage and Collectors Market is held on the second Saturday of every month at Congregational Hall, Cromwell Place, off Northbrook Street from 9.45am to 3.45pm. Entry is just 50p. For more information call 07890 368185.

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The Dolphin Motor Club meets every first and third Thursday of the month at the Bowlers Arms, Enborne Street in Wash Common. Find out more on 01635 255787 or 01635 35823 or visit www.dolphinmotorclub.co.uk

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Every Friday there is a Tea Dance in the Dancing Suite at Northcroft Leisure Centre in Newbury. The dance takes place between 2pm and 4pm. For more information call 01635 31199.

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Put one of these two dates in your diary: Sunday 17th June – 7.30pm, Hungerford or Wednesday 4th July – 8pm, St Stephen’s Church Bristol, for a recital not to be missed! It’s an evening of American Music with Soprano Maita Robinson and pianist Colin Hunt. Some of the music is seldom performed; it includes American Art song and well known opera pieces as well as lighter music and cabaret, so there’s something for everyone. The concert lasts about 1 hour 40 minutes including a break for the interval. All profits are for charity and the venues which are charities giving affordable venues for artists to perform and also Breathtakers, who are the only UK charity supporting obliterative bronchiolitis. Tickets are £10 (£8 concessions) and includes a complimentary glass of wine in the interval. Tel. 07768 401515 for advance tickets.

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Culture Fest is coming to Newbury Racecourse on 30th June, from midday to 4pm. This flagship event showcases culture, heritage and diversity through dance performances, music, art, crafts, food and so much more. Come along to this free event and absorb the atmosphere and vibrancy; try something new like Scottish dancing or Egyptian belly dancing. See the variety of cultural performances including percussion drumming, street dance, South Indian dance, Gael Music and Jamaican folk songs. There various food and gift stalls to browse; lots of hands on activities including fruit smoothie bikes and Chinese crafts, you can event record your own music and sound. Find out more at www.all2gether.org.uk 

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There’s plenty going on this month at the Old Chapel Textile Centre on Greenham Business Park. On Saturday 2nd June you can go along and put your signature on their Diamond Jubilee picture; from 12th June to 31st August they are holding a Guild of Miniature Needlework Exhibition and from Thursday 14th June to Friday 27th July its ‘X Opus’ Textile artists. There are plenty of workshop opportunities too.  On Saturday 2nd June, 2pm – 4pm, it’s Block of the Month group (meet once a month ongoing) costing £30 for three months, where you can make a sampler quilt at a leisurely pace learning new techniques every month. From Tuesday 12th June for four weeks, 10am – midday, for £40, learn Pulled Thread work. This series of classes is with expert hand embroiderer Barbara Wright. Learn all about this traditional, European-wide technique. On Thursday 28th June and Thursday 12th July, 10.30am – 3.30pm, there’s a two day course costing £50, where you can take a landscape photo and create a textile piece from it. This workshop is with Hilary Jenkins. 

The Old Chapel Textile Centre, Main Street, Greenham Business Park, Newbury RG19 6HW. Tel. 01635 38740

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Yattendon and Frilsham Jubilee Fete takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, 4th June, from 1pm to 4.30pm. The fete, with its roots in medieval times, takes over the whole of Yattendon village; the square is closed to traffic for the day, and the tithe barn and village hall are also full. There is always a mix of traditional events such as Coconut Shy, Tombola, crafts, bric-a-brac, Morris Dancers, tug of war, vintage tractors and cars, delicious home made cakes and preserves, Pimms stall, local ales, hog roast and barbeque with their own speciality, the Christmas Tree Throwing (Yattendon is famous for its Christmas Trees) and many special attractions for the children – Punch and Judy Shows, bouncy castle, welly throwing, china smashing, penalty shoot out, climbing wall, inflatable mega slide, mini golf etc. There’s a super raffle with many tempting prizes. This year the music will again be provided by the Fiesta Steel Band from Prospect School in Reading. There is also the usual Cake Competition, where this year the theme will be linked to the Queen’s Jubilee. Get to those cookbooks, or let your memory or imagination run riot. Call Sue Sansom on 01635 200185 any time before the fete, or just bring the cake along on the day. Entrance is only £2 for adults, £1 for concessions and children under 16 free, plus there is free car parking. For further details contact Roger Sansom, chairman, on 01635 200 185, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Anne Kellitt on 07966930192, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Visit the website at www.yattendonparish.com/fete

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The Cromwell Singers are performing Beauty and the Beast on Saturday 16th June, at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church in Shaw. All proceeds go to Christian Aid and tickets cost £6 for adults, £3 children, available at the door or in advance from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Light refreshments will be available in the interval.

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Backhead Theatre Presents Greek Myths for Kids at the Corn Exchange Auditorium on 6th June. Using a mix of storytelling and visually spectacular puppetry, Backhand Theatre will transport you on some of the greatest quests in ancient history. 

Soar above the clouds with Pegasus and help battle the fearsome Minotaur in the depths of the Labyrinth. This innovative and exciting new company use their own unique style to take you on a breath-taking journey from the Gorgon’s Lair to the heights of Mount Olympus. 

Meet the performers and puppets in the foyer after each performance, there are two during the day. Tickets cost £8 and £6 for concessions and are available from the box office on 01635 522733.

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Eight different gardens will be opening their gates in Hampstead Norreys on 10th June, from 2pm to 6pm. Expect homemade teas at the church, plant sales, quiz and treasure hunt for the children. It costs £5 per ticket on the day, which will be available from any of the gardens or the church. Under 16s free. No dogs please. Proceeds to the Save Our Tower Appeal at St Mary’s Church.

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Ride for Ryder is a 20 and 60 mile cycle ride around Berks, Bucks and Oxon on the 24th June. It’s a really nice family day out as cyclists can purchase tasty bacon rolls before they set off and then can purchase food from a fabulous barbecue menu when they return, provided by Kitchen Angels. Cyclists must be at least 14 years old. Registration for the 20 mile route costs £10 and for the 60 mile route costs £15. If people register on the day this fee goes up by £5 per route. There is also an incentive for corporate companies as well. The corporate team who raises the most money win the coveted Sue Ryder Corporate Cup and £250-worth of AW Cycles vouchers. More information can be found online at www.sueryder.org/rideforryderreading

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Spirals Craft Market at Hungerford Town Hall is a treasure trove of handmade local crafts. Buyers can take their pick from jewellery, wood turned items, ceramics, knit wear, cakes, baby

clothes and much more. Don’t miss it, it’s on the 23rd of June from 10am to 4pm.

Call Hazel on 07979498876 for further details, other Spirals Market dates can

be seen on the website www.spiralsmarket.co.uk

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From distinguished poets to enchanting puppets, from jazz, jive and boogie to a Jubilee concert, from top touring theatre and talented young musicians to martial arts, from contemporary clarinet to cream teas - the 21st HADCAF programme has something for everyone, and it takes place from 29th June to 22nd July.

You can bop to the fantastic Red Stripe Band (‘unmissable’ according to Stephen Fry) or sway to the sensuous Latin American rhythms of Luis Lema; watch a play unfold on top of a shed; hear how the guitar transformed British music and culture; eavesdrop on the diaries of Adam and Eve; peek behind the scenes at Downton Abbey; ride around a country estate on a tractor or trailer; try your hand at craft workshops; take a masterclass with one of the UK’s finest guitarists or join in a fun run. 

And why not celebrate the end of term with the hilariously anarchic Muppets, or the fabulous Boogalu Stu, or the charming and beautifully crafted show, The Elves and the Shoemaker? 

Full details of the Festival are published on the website, www.hadcaf.co.uk