Highclere Castle hosts a Christmas shopping day to raise money for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance

 

Are you searching for the perfect gift for someone special or simply fancy treating yourself in the run up to Christmas?

On Wednesday 9^th December the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon are inviting shoppers to a Christmas shopping day at Highclere Castle in aid of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance.

A wide range of stalls from the local area selling a fantastic range of unique gifts for all ages will fill the State Rooms of Highclere Castle. Choose from delicious food and wines, men’s gifts, ladies wear and fantastic stocking fillers.

There will a couple of special tours by Lady Carnarvon of the “Wonderful Egyptian Exhibition” during the day (proceeds to the TVAA).

Lady Carnarvon says “The Air Ambulance is an essential service which we all have to fund, I hope this day will raise some money and remind us all of their life-saving work. Please take some time out from work or home to visit us! We have tried to find gifts and produce which are different but not expensive. Nor do you have to search through huge stores and malls”  

The Castle tearoom’s will be open during the day offering coffees, teas, mulled wine and a mince pies, homemade soup and sandwiches. A beautiful location and fantastic array of stalls is the perfect way to put you in a festive mood.

Wednesday 9^th December

9:30am – 4:30pm

Entrance £4 to include a tea or coffee

Highclere Castle

For more information please visit www.highclerecastle.co.uk or call 01635 250750

Volunteer urgently needed for Thursday afternoons at Birch Hill

Can you help us to in finding a volunteer for a community group that meets once a week on a Thursday?

This group has been running in the area for a great many years and is at the brink of closure IF we can not find someone to carry on the great work that has been done by Michael Ayrton who is about to retire. The Bingo group there is looking for a volunteer to set out tables, call the bingo numbers and then clear away after.

The group runs every Thursday 1.30 – 3.30  athe Community Centre, Birch Hill, Bracknell.  

It is called the Welcome Club and has been there for a very long time, but Michael, who is running it at the moment, is retiring in December and therefore they are desperate to get someone in as soon as possible to start training. This person will also be responsible for the purchase of the books and the banking of the money and will therefore need to be reliable and honest. The only other qualification would be a good sense of humour and a great deal of patience and a friendly personality  

For further information, please contact Hilary Hyslop - PCSO Birch Hill & Hanworth, Bracknell

Telephone 08458 505 505

Thames Valley Police, Broadway, Bracknell, Berks RG12 AD

Your essential information from this week’s What’s On Show

This week’s contact details for the what’s on show with DJ Anita:

Whats on in Maidenhead
 
Saturday 28th November – chirstmas lights switch on
Friday 4th Dec – Late night shopping open until 8pm
Saturday 5th, 12th&19th Dec – Fairground Rides in the High Street
Sunday 6th, 13th & 20th Dec – Vist Santa at the Nicholas Shopping Centre
 
Maidenhead Dental Centre – 044 576 9051
 
Active Health for ‘Pamper Packages’ – 01628 626 565
 
Rapunzel for proffessional hair extensions – 01628 546 794
 
Better life Therapy to lose weight – 01628 878 666 Samantha Beck
 
The Savil Garden for artistic childrens workshops – 01784 435 544
 
The Flower Loft for quality flowers at affordable prices – 0118 940 3804
 
Panto Guide
 
November 27th – Jan 3rd – Peter Pan – South Hill Park Bracknell
Dec 2nd – 27th – Something Else by Tall Stories
Dec 3rd – 5th – Mother Goose by Riverside Players
Dec 5th – Jan 3rd – Cinderella- The Hexagon Windsor
Dec 9th – 13th – Cinderella by Maidenhead Drama Guild – Town Hall Maidenhead
Dec 9th, 11th & 13th – Snow White on Ice – Bracknell Ice Arena
Dec 9th – Jan 10th – Aladdin – Theatre Royal Windsor
Dec 10th – 12th – Cinderella an Opera Rock – Firstation Arts Centre Windsor
 
Womans Artists Collection – 28th &29th November 40 Mechanic Street Windsor
 
The Pied Piper of Hamelin – Parish Hall, Crowthorne – 26th November – 0118 9735 285

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service are world champions

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s (RBFRS) competition rescue team has proved they are the best of the best, after taking home first place at the recent World Rescue Challenge in Frankfurt, Germany. 

The RBFRS team, led by Group Manager Paul Maynard, was up against 33 of the most highly skilled teams in the world, including the USA, Australia, South Africa, Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Serbia and Ghana.  Taking place over a gruelling three days, the World Rescue Challenge tests the teams skills at dealing with three separate realistic road traffic collision scenarios: rapid (where the teams have 10 minutes to rescue a ‘casualty’), standard (20 minutes to rescue a ‘casualty’) and complex (30 minutes to rescue two ‘casualties’).

Each scenario is designed to be as realistic as possible, to reflect the type of incidents firefighters have to deal with in their day-to-day roles.  The teams are judged on a variety of criteria, including their technical skills, how well the officer in charge deals with the incident, trauma rescue and medical skills.  The RBFRS team were awarded first places in the rapid scenario, best incident commander, best medic and best overall team categories.

Group Manager, Paul Maynard, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won the World Rescue Challenge, as it shows that all of our hard work and training during the year has paid off.  Just organising training sessions can be a logistical nightmare, as the team members are based on different Watches and at various locations throughout the county.  We train as often as we can and focus on teamwork, practical rescue skills and, most importantly, casualty handling techniques. 

“Although we really enjoyed taking part in the Challenge and competing against the top teams in the world, a very important part of these competitions is the opportunity to learn new skills and techniques.  We can then take these back to Berkshire and put them to the very best possible use – rescuing people from real life incidents on our roads.

Olaf Baars, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, said: “This is an outstanding achievement and I would like to congratulate the team, not only for this most recent win but also for the many years of consistent achievement in these competitions.”

Bracknell kicks off a programme of local visits as LibDems meet the electorate

Bracknell Liberal Democrats will use their half-yearly bric-a-brac sale at the Bandstand in Charles Square this weekend to kick-off a series of weekly visits to local shopping centres to meet residents and distribute leaflets explaining LibDem policies.

The walkabouts will be led by Ray Earwicker (pictured), Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bracknell, and will focus on both national and local issues, as well as the impending General Election.

The walkabout in Bracknell town centre will begin at 11am on Saturday, 21 November and may extend to the Skimped Hill retail park, if time permits. Other walkabouts are planned for Finchampstead on 28 November and Crowthorne High Street and Yorktown Road, Sandhurst on 5 and 12 December, respectively.

Commenting on the plans to meet more local residents face to face, Ray Earwicker,  said ‘it was very important for politicians to get out and meet local people. Many of the problems over MPs’ expenses had derived from the breakdown in communications and the lack of trust between the electors and the elected.

Walkabouts were a very effective way for the Liberal Democrats of re-establishing contact with the public and building support for the future. The Party needed to show that it had the right policies to make the changes necessary happen and he was confident the  programme of walkabouts, which would be on-going, would help to achieve this.’

It’s official. Bracknell’s Lee Chamberlain is a world record holder!

GB Olympic athlete Roger Black gives words of encouragement to Bracknell's Lee Chamberlain

Bracknell resident, Policeman Lee Chamberlain (31) completed an epic fundraising challenge in July, has received official confirmation of his Guinness World Record.

He beat the previous record of 461 miles by battling through the pain barrier and setbacks to speed his way through an average of just under 65 miles, or two-and-a-half marathons, a day.

He completed the challenge at The Mall shopping centre, in Camberley, Surrey, and was cheered on from the sidelines by Olympic athlete Roger Black (pictured above).

His feat raised £7,000 for a social club helping people with learning disabilities at the Friday Project in Bracknell, Berkshire, where he lives with wife Trudy and step-children Alex, Lewis and Renee.

Lee was “over the moon and ecstatic” when his record was confirmed, especially as he thought he’d broken it after an attempt in 2007, only for it to go to someone else who went for the record in the same month.

An Australian runner also attempted the record a couple of weeks ago, but failed after reaching 406 miles Policeman Lee Chamberlain (31) completed the epic challenge in July, but has only just received official confirmation he is a Guinness World Record holder.

He beat the previous record of 461 miles by battling through the pain barrier and setbacks to speed his way through an average of just under 65 miles, or two-and-a-half marathons, a day.

He completed the challenge at The Mall shopping centre, in Camberley and was cheered on from the sidelines by friends, family, work colleagues and special guest,  Olympic athlete, Roger Black.

His feat raised £7,000 for a social club helping people with learning disabilities in Bracknell, Berkshire, where he lives with wife Trudy and step-children Alex, Lewis and Renee.

Lee, a former pupil at Gleed Boys School, said he was “over the moon and ecstatic” when his record was confirmed, especially as he thought he’d broken it after an attempt in 2007, only for it to go to someone else who went for the record in the same month.

An Australian runner also attempted the record a couple of weeks ago, but failed after reaching 406 miles

Pictured above: the moment Lee set his new world record

Photographs copyright of Radio Bracknell Forest

UK Jazz Now showcases bring new talent to public attention

The Black Mountain Jazz Club at the The Kings Arms, Abergavenny recently hosted the first of regular “UK Jazz Radio Showcase Evenings” to be held right across the UK, organised by jazz  promotions company and record label, UK Jazz Now (http://www.ukjazznow.com), in conjunction with the UK’s new jazz internet radio station UK Jazz Radio (http://www.ukjazzradio.com).

The impressive line-up of artists signed up to UK Jazz Now, which claims to be one of the foremost UK booking agencies for jazz musicians and promotions, supports event and festival organisers by providing ready access to great entertainers and upcoming artists. Musicians already signed up include Ray Butcher, BBQ, Blues Is Truth, Julie Dunn, Greyish Quintet, Nora McCarthy and teenager, Bennett Soundy, who wowed the Abergavenny audience.

The UK Jazz Radio Showcase evenings give a platform for young jazz musicians to bring their talents to the notice of audiences, and bookers, across the country. This inaugural show at Black Mountain Jazz Club, The Kings Arms, starred fifteen year old saxophonist Bennett Soundy who lives in Berkshire.

Young Bennett has an enormous tone on tenor sax and is clearly destined for great things. Indeed, he has recently been invited to join the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) whilst playing at another venue, which he is poised to take up. Benn is already a member of the Berkshire Youth Jazz Orchestra.

 Benn is already signed up to the UK Jazz Now record label launched earlier this year so we can look forward to a further album from him soon.

 The next UK Jazz Radio Showcase event due to take place at the Black Mountain Jazz Club is on Sunday 28th February 2010 when tenor man and UK Jazz Radio presenter Mornington Lockett will be visiting, backed by a Cardiff based rhythm section with Bennett Soundy’s Blue Sax in support.

 UK Jazz Now are currently negotiating for showcases at venues and festivals right across the UK and Europe for 2010.

In the meantime, Bracknell’s South Hill Park is the next venue for another UK Jazz Radio Showcase, in association with UK Jazz Now, when The Ray Butcher Quintet, supported by Bennett Soundy’s Blue Sax, will perform live on stage on Friday 27th November. More details are available at www.ukjazznow.com

Photo: Saxopnonist Bennett Soundy

Get the latest News updates on Twitter

Radio Bracknell Forest listeners can now receive daily news updates on Twitter from News On The Hour reporter Mark Lynch… just add username @newsbracknell

If you’re not already on Twitter, sign up now at www.twitter.com

Stand-Up Comedy Event in Bracknell

Stand-Up Comedy

Four top professional comedians from Mirth Control Comedy will be performing at Bracknell Drama Club. Details of who will be performing can be found on the website www.bracknelldramaclub.co.uk.

Venue:            Bracknell Drama Club, Charles Square Car Park, Church Road Bracknell, RG12 1AX

Date:               Saturday 28^th November

Doors Open:   7:30pm

 

Show Starts:   8:30pm (show duration 2½ hours approx)

 

Bar:                 Open til’ Midnight

 

Tickets:           £10

Tickets can be reserved by phone 07743 552594 or via the website www.bracknelldramaclub.co.uk. Group booking are welcome.

 

Directions:      Signs to Charles Square Car Park (aka Car Park 2) and Service Yard D can be seen on The Ring, the ring road around Bracknell town centre. Park in Charles Square Car Park, this is free in the evenings even though you have may have to take a ticket to get in. The Drama Club, at ground level, can be found if you leave the car park via the payment exit, turn left and left again (see website for detailed maps).

 

Further Details: Andy Meller, TEL: 07743  552594

Celebration of the music of John Martyn

 

Keith James and Rick Foot celebrate the music of John Martyn, together with songs by Davy Graham, Sandy Denny and Nick Drake

Jagz, Station Hill, Ascot, Berks, SL5 9EG

Thursday 3rd December 8pm

Tel 01344 878100

 

It was with extreme sorrow that all of us heard of the loss of John Martyn.

His powerful yet often lamenting songs, his seductive guitar style and enigmatic voice have drawn together and embodied a devoted audience spanning two generations. John was greatly loved and will be missed more than any of us now realise.

Keith and Rick, having performed hundreds of successful concerts of both the music of Nick Drake and the poetry of Lorca within the intimate format of voice, acoustic guitar and double bass were, unsurprisingly, approached by countless of both their and John’s audience along with many venues across the country to play some concerts of his music.

It is with a humble heart and a profound sense of responsibility that these concerts are presented.

All performances by Keith and Rick are a much cared for, fragile and personal affair.

 

‘a performance that is hypnotic and compelling’   Muse Magazine

‘some of the most atmospheric and emotive music you will ever hear’  The Independent

 

Keith James and Rick Foot

Keith James and Rick Foot are the most active and positive musicians on today’s arts theatre scene, having achieved and sustained deserved notoriety as interpretative performers of both Nick Drake and Lorca.

Keith James is a songwriter and musician with an extremely devoted and considered approach, who, after years on the fringe is gaining an ever growing and much deserved following. Keith has spent many years of his career in music working as a record producer in the acoustic, folk and jazz world and has the uncanny knack of reaching deep into one’s soul.

Rick Foot is without doubt one of the most wonderful double bass players this country has ever heard. His artistry and sensitivity on the instrument surpasses any comparison. A few years ago Rick toured the music of Charles Mingus. He also records and plays with Australian Singer/songwriter Derrin Nauendorf. A truly awesome and inspirational player.

Performing together they produce some of the most seductive music.

 

 

www.keith-james.com    www.keithjamesandrickfoot.com   www.songsofnickdrake.com