What's on this week
Newburytoday.co.uk's news and events from West Berkshire and beyond
Thursday, February 3:
Charter Market, Market Place, Newbury. Fruit and veg, herbs, spices and exotic fresh produce stall, olives, fresh bread and cakes, cheese, flowers, plants and books. Butchers' stalls, jams and chutneys, army surplus goods, pet supplies and more.
Andi Osho: ‘Afroblighty'. Political humour from award-winning stand-up comic. Corn Exchange Newbury, 8pm. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Silchester Players auditions for See How They Run. The play is a farce by Philip King, and the group would particularly like some younger men to audition, among others. Silchester Village Hall, 7.30pm. Tim, (0118) 981 9134.
'Private Peaceful' by Michael Morpurgo. Touching portrayal of young First World War soldier's reflections as he faces the firing squad. The Haymarket, Basingstoke, 7.30pm. (01256) 844244 or www.anvilarts.org.uk Also on Friday.
Highclere Film Club: ‘Julie and Julia' (12A). Doors open 7.30pm for 8pm showing. www.highclerefilmclub.co.uk
Film: ‘The King's Speech' (12A). Corn Exchange Newbury, 12.45pm, 6pm and 8.30pm. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Friday, February 4:
Ghost hunt. Aldermaston Manor, 9.30pm to 5am. This is a classic haunted house. Its hauntings include a sinister cloaked figure, seen by many outside the Manor itself. On occasions people who have slept there have experienced being visited in the night, with feelings of having their hair stroked and somebody sitting on their bed. Details, www.hauntedhappenings.co.uk/ ghost_hunts/Aldermaston_Mansion.php
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The Anvil, Basingstoke, 7.45pm. (01256) 844244 or www.anvilarts.org.uk
'Beyond The Barricade'. Musical theatre concert of West End and Broadway favourites. The Corn Exchange, Newbury, 7.45pm. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
High Powered Lasers. Theme of Newbury Astronomical Society monthly meeting, United Reformed Church Hall, Cromwell Place, Newbury, 7.30pm. Steve Harris, (01635) 860047.
'Barb Jungr's Blue Hours' with Simon Wallace, piano. New Greenham Arts, 8pm (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Silchester Players' pantomime ‘Robinson Crusoe and The Pirates'. Silchester Village Hall, 7.30pm. All profits to local charities. Tickets: £7 adults, £5 concessions. Box office Beryl Oliver, (0118) 981 5600. Also on Saturday.
'Private Peaceful' by Michael Morpurgo. The Haymarket, Basingstoke, 10.30am and 7.30pm. (01256) 844244 or www.anvilarts.org.uk
Hungerford Film Club: ‘Tom Jones' (PG). The Croft Hall, Hungerford, bar from 7pm, film starts 7.30pm. (01488) 684108.
Film: ‘Barney's Version' (15). Bittersweet comedy based on Mordecai Richler's prize-winning novel. Corn Exchange Newbury, 2.30pm and 8.20pm. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Film: ‘Another Year' (12A). Dry British social-realist humour, Oscar-nominated. Corn Exchange Newbury, 12.45pm, 6pm and 8.30pm. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Saturday, February 5:
Charter Market. Market Place, Newbury. As Thursday.
Chinese New Year celebrations. St Bartholomew's School, 1pm to 4pm. Activities, stalls, workshops and performances including ceremonial Lion Dance, Indonesian martial arts, Thai dance, games and food. Details from Waheeda Soomro, 07900 218618.
Cake sale in Newbury Building Society. Bridge Street, Newbury, 9am to noon. Cakes being sold by 3rd Newbury Scout Group, also tombola, to raise funds for their group.
West Berks Ramblers. Leisurely six mile walk along good paths to Bagnor and Woodspeen. Meet at Donnington Castle car park (grid ref SU 462 692) at 10am. Bring a drink. Leader Gill K. Details (01635) 46843 or visit www.wberksramblers.org.uk/walks.html
Pang, Kennet and Lambourn Valleys Countryside Projects (FWAG). Coppicing and woodland management at Curr Copse, Kintbury (grid ref SU 387 648) at 10am. Details and book place on (0118) 930 5336 or visit www.pangandkennetvalleys.org.uk or email pang.kennet@fwag.org.uk
The Taste Factor karaoke competition. The Taste of England, Turnpike Road, Thatcham, 7.30pm. Entrants reserve three songs not being sung by others. Round 1, judges hear 30 to 60 seconds of first song. Round 2 contestants get to sing a whole song. In round 3 five finalists sing their final song, no judges, audience applause denotes winner. £2 entry, all proceeds to The Rainbow Rooms charity. www.rhythmnbooze.co.uk or www.thetasteofengland.co.uk
Silchester Village Market. Local and home-made produce, Silchester Village Hall, 10am to noon. Free admission.
Salsa dance class and party night. The Liberty Ballroom, New Greenham Park, 8pm beginners salsa, kizomba and cha-cha-cha classes, 9pm improvers intermediate salsa, 10am to 2am music with DJ Basil and guests. £10. www.dance2salsa.co.uk
Kennet Valley Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers. Greenham Church Hall, New Road, Greenham. Sociable crafts from 10am, business meeting at 2pm, brainstorm for your project, show and tell followed by short talk Campaign for Wool by Patricia Ackroyd. Details, (01635) 298561.
Silchester Players' pantomime Robinson Crusoe and The Pirates. Silchester Village Hall, 2.30pm and 7.30pm. All profits to local charities. Tickets: £7 adults, £5 concessions. Box office Beryl Oliver, (0118) 981 5600.
Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra Russian concert. The Anvil, Basingstoke, 7.45pm. (01256) 844244 or www.anvilarts.org.uk
'Edith Piaf: A Celebration of a Legend'. Vocalist Tina May brings to life the music of France's beloved entertainer and musical legend. The Haymarket, Basingstoke, 7.30pm. (01256) 844244 or www.anvilarts.org.uk
Film: ‘Another Year ‘(12A). Corn Exchange Newbury, 2.30pm (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Film: ‘Barney's Version' (15). Corn Exchange Newbury, 11.40am and 5.15pm. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Orchid display. Newington Nurseries, Newington, Oxfordshire. Until Saturday, March 27
Sunday, February 6:
Newbury District Ornithological Club visit to Poole. Group joins the RSPB Birdboat around the harbour, leaving Poole Quay at 11am for a trip of approximately two hours. Cost £10, or £9 for RSPB members. After lunch, a stop in the New Forest to look for hawfinches. Details (01488) 668482.
Newbury Farmers' Market. Run by the Thames Valley Farmers' Market Co-operative. The market offers the very best in seasonal produce and all the stallholders are directly involved in producing the goods they sell. Stalls sell meat, vegetables, sweets, wines and more. www.tvfm.org.uk
Thatcham Walkers. Downland 12 mile walk from East Garston, 12 miles (no food). Starting from Thatcham Memorial Car Park, sharing cars where possible, 9.30am. Details, pphillips@westberks.gov.uk
Hants & Berks Motor Club pairs point to point. Daylight navigational ‘treasure hunt' with two cars working together to find roadside clues, and marshals at lunch time and the finish. Martin Boyes, (0118) 934 3748.
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac. Decade-old tribute acclaimed by Mick Fleetwood. The Anvil, Basingstoke, 7.30pm.
Pete Allen solo jazz show. Three Swans Hotel, Hungerford, 3pm. In aid of Cancer Research UK, £7 at the door. Bar and light snacks, car parking.
Film: ‘Barney's Version' (15). Corn Exchange Newbury, 1pm and 6.30pm. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Film: ‘Of Gods and Men' (15). French Cistercian monks in poor village of Atlas Mountains, Algeria, threatened by Islamic terrorists in 1990s. Corn Exchange Newbury, 2.30pm. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Monday, February 7:
Thatcham & District Philatelic Society. ‘Artists and Scientists' theme. Council Chambers, Thatcham Town Council Building, Brownsfield Road, Thatcham, 2pm.
'Iceland and the Norwegian Fjords' talk by Paul Sievers. Newbury District Gardeners' Association, St Nicolas School, Link Road, Newbury, 7.15pm.
Silver screen film: ‘Barney's Version' (15). Corn Exchange Newbury, 2.30pm. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Tuesday, February 8:
'Skullduggery in the Shrubbery' talk by Stefan White. Berkshire group of the Hardy Plant Society, St Peter's Church Hall, Church Road, Earley, Reading RG6 1EY. Doors open at 7.15pm, meeting starts 7.45pm, visitors welcome. £3. Raffle, refreshments, sale of plants, labels and gloves and also seed exchange. Details, (0118) 970 0522 or visit www.berkshirehps.org.uk or www.hardy-plant.org.uk
West Berks Ramblers. Roden Downs and the Ridgeway, six mile walk. Park considerately in side roads and meet outside The Swan pub at Compton (grid ref SU 521 799) at 10am. Leader Joan C, (01235) 835618 or visit www.wberksramblers.org.uk/walks.html
Hungerford Police invitation to Have Your Say. Pc Claire Drewitt in attendance to hear issues or concerns from Hungerford residents. Meeting held in conjunction with Hungerford Town Council, Town Hall, 7pm to 7.30pm.
Burghfield Women's Institute meeting. ‘The Code Breakers at Bletchley Park' talk, Burghfield Village Hall, 7.30pm. Details, secretary@burghfieldwi.org.uk
Newbury Floral Society annual meeting. The Royal British Legion Hall, Newbury, 2pm.
Film: ‘Barney's Version' (15). Corn Exchange Newbury, 2.30pm and 8.20pm. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Film: ‘Of Gods and Men' (15). Corn Exchange Newbury, 5.45pm. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Wednesday, February 9:
Thatcham Photographic Club. Invitation to non-members to join the club for a presentation on flash photography by professional photographer Martin Cleveland. Thatcham Football Club, 7.30pm. Non-members £3. www.thatchamphotoclub.com or email info@thatchamphotoclub.com
Berkshire Family History Society Newbury branch. ‘Looking at Friendly Societies' talk explains what they did, who they helped and their use to family historians. St Mary's Church Hall, Church Lane, Shaw-cum-Donnington, 7.30pm. Eileen, (01635) 46555.
Open morning for Early Years Foundation Stage unit. Spurcroft Primary School, Spurcroft Road, Thatcham,10am to 11am. For those looking for nursery provision for their child, an opportunity to meet staff, have a tour of the school and ask questions. Details (01635) 871541 or email admissions@spurcroft.westberks.org or visit www.spurcroft.westberks.org
Free valuation day for jewellery, antiques and all kinds of collectables. Special Auction Services (SAS) at New Greenham Park hold free valuation days every Wednesday. Details: www.specialauctionservices.com
Thatcham Country Market. Home baking, produce and crafts. Thatcham United Reformed Church Hall, Church Lane, off High Street, 10am to 11.30am. Details (01635) 866653.
Gyles Brandreth: ‘The One-to-One Show'. Former government whip becomes indiscreet as stand-up comic. The Anvil, Basingstoke, 7.45pm. (01256) 844244 or www.anvilarts.org.uk
'Homegrown' – dance presented by Newbury's home-grown talent. The Corn Exchange, Newbury, 7.45pm. Primary, secondary and professional dance all originating, nurtured or cultivated in Berkshire. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
Who is the Master? An evening of two plays from two local amateur companies at The Watermill theatre, Bagnor, 7.30pm. The Box Theatre Company presents ‘The Island of Slaves ‘by Pierre Marivaux and Newbury Dramatic Society presents ‘The Dog It Was That Died' by Tom Stoppard. Also on Thursday and Friday at 7.30pm and Saturday at 6.30pm. (01635) 46044 or visit www.watermill.org.uk
Film: ‘Of Gods and Men' (15) Corn Exchange, Newbury. Bawl screening at 11am, regular screenings at 5.30pm and 8.20pm. (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
