What's on this week
Newburytoday.co.uk's news and events from West Berkshire and beyond
Thursday, March 31:
Spring tasting menu. The Royal Oak, Ecchinswell. Five courses, seven wines. Telephone (01635) 291337 for details.
Census information/assistance. Burdwood Centre, Thatcham, 10-noon. More information www.census.gov.uk
Census information/assistance. Thatcham Town Council Chamber, 2-4pm. More information www.census.gov.uk
West Berkshire Ramblers. Meet 10am in the Control Tower car park, off Burys Bank Road, on the north side of Greenham Common, grid ref SU 499652, for a walk via Aldern Bridge, Sydmonton Common, North Ecchinswell, Cheam School, Holdrops Hill, Mill Green, the Enborne Valley and Headley Ford. There are quite a few stiles and some gentle ups and downs. Bring a picnic; 9.6 miles. Leader: Richard M . Telephone: (01635) 867407.
Friday, April 1:
Spring tasting menu. The Royal Oak, Ecchinswell. Five courses, seven wines. Telephone (01635) 291337 for details.
Newbury Astronomical Society monthly meeting. The latest result from Swift at the United Reformed Church Hall, Cromwell Place, Newbury, 7.30pm. Details from Steve Harris, telephone (01635 860047.
Cheese and wine evening. West Berks Branch National Autistic Society, 7.30pm at Council Chambers, Town Hall, Newbury. James Hocking, wine buyer and director of The Vineyard at Stockcross will guide us through a selection of high-quality wines. Waitrose has donated a selection of excellent cheeses. Tickets cost £12. Telephone Delia (01488) 658682.
Social dance night with Anthony and Zoey Price. The former UK professional ballroom champions host at the Liberty Ballroom, New Greenham Park, 7.30pm to 11pm, which boasts one of the finest sprung maple dance floors in England. Cost £8. For details visit www.atozdancedynamics.com and www.libertyballroom.co.uk
nThatcham mayor's charity quiz and supper. Frank Hutchings Community Hall, Thatcham, 7pm. Thatcham mayor Lee Dillon will be hosting a charity quiz and supper to raise funds for his charity of the year, Friends of The Charles Clore Unit, West Berkshire Community Hospital. Ploughmans supper is included, priced at £6 per person. For further information telephone Thatcham Town Council on (01635) 863592.
Sunday, April 2:
Salsa dancing and classes. The Liberty Ballroom, New Greenham Park, with a chance also to learn bachata and tango: 8pm to 9pm; salsa classes: 9pm to 10pm. Club night and dancing with fresh funky Latin sounds by DJs Basil and Simon: 10pm to 2am. Cost £10, including classes and club. Air conditioning, bar and free/large car park. For more information telephone Basil on 07595 397184.
Table-top sale. By the Friends of Whitelands Park Primary School, 10am- noon. Sagecroft Road, Thatcham. Tables £5. Telephone Abi on 07876 415785. Entrance free and refreshments available.
Loose Moose Theatre Arts. The Haymarket, Basingstoke, 2pm & 7pm.
2nd Greenham community quiz night. St Mary's Church Centre, Greenham, at 6.30pm. Teams of four to six welcome. Cost £1 per person. A prize for the winning team and a raffle will also be held. Bring your own drinks and nibbles.
Kennet Valley Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers. Meeting at Greenham Church Hall, Greenham,Thatcham, Newbury: 10am, sociable crafts; 11am AGM; 12 noon, show and tell; 2pm, business meeting; 2.30pm, Ashley Smith talks about the conservation work of the Hawk Conservancy Trust. Shared lunch. For further details telephone (01635) 298561.
10cc live in concert. The Anvil, Basingstoke, 7.45pm.
McAlmont live in concert. The Forge at The Anvil, Basingstoke, 8pm.
Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage: A Circus Comes To Town.The Hexagon, Reading 11am and 2pm.
2nd Newbury District Ornithological Club. Visit to Liddington Castle on the Downs above Swindon looking for migrating birds. Meet outside West Berks Museum at 8.30am for car-sharing. For more details, telephone (01488) 668482.
Charity concert featuring Watership Brass in the music hall in the Bradfield College Sports Complex. Raising funds for The Fire Fighters Charity. Doors open at 7pm and the concert starts at 7.30pm. A minimum donation of £8 per ticket is required for entry to the concert and tickets can either be purchased in advance by telephoning the fire safety office in Newbury on (01635) 48112, or at the door on the night.
Laughs. A night of Comedy from two fantastic acts! Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, 8pm. Tickets £13, concessions £11. Ticket Office, telephone (01793) 524481. www.wyverntheatre.org.uk
Sunday, April 3:
Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage: A Circus Comes To Town. 11am & 2pm, The Hexagon, Reading.
Pang, Kennet and Lambourn Valleys Countryside Projects. Mills, Hills and History – RIGS Walk, Padworth and Ufton Court, 11am. For details, telephone (0119) 930 5336 or www.pangandkennet valleys.org.uk; pang.kennet@fwag.org.uk
Robin Ince. The Forge at The Anvil, Basingstoke, 7.45pm. Box office, telephone (01256) 844244, visit www.anvilarts.org.uk
The Chippendales. The Anvil, Basingstoke, 7.30pm. Box office, telephone (01256) 844244, visit www.anvilarts.org.uk
Durmast House, Burley. A restored- Gertrude Jekyll garden with new planting of old Ghent azaleas. In spring the orchard is full of a variety of daffodils, crocus, erythroniums and fritillaria, 2pm – 5pm. Admission, £3.50. Plants for sale, teas. Visit www.ngs.org.uk
Flintstones, Durley. Garden of great tranquillity. All-year pleasing tapestry effect of contrasting and blending foliage and flowers. Plantswoman's garden developed from a field on fertile acid clay, 2pm – 5pm. Admission, £3. Light refreshments and teas. Visit www.ngs.org.uk
Health & Wellbeing Show. 10am-4pm. Hungerford Town Hall. Demonstrations, readings, massage, stalls and gifts for sale. £2 adults and under-16s free. To raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Telephone Linda, Angie, Lisa or Wendy on (01488) 681616.
Oxford Philomusica. Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, 7.30pm. Tickets £10 -£20, concessions £2 off. Ticket Office (01793) 524481. Visit www.wyverntheatre.org.uk
Monday, April 4:
Thatcham & District Philatelic Society meeting. Military, at the Council Chambers, Thatcham Town Council Building, Brownsfield Road, Thatcham, 2pm
Spring Equinox. The Corn Exchange, Newbury, 7.45pm. Telephone (01635) 522733 or visit www.cornexchangenew. com
Tuesday, April 5:
West Berkshire and North Hampshire Primary Schools cross-country championships, Newbury Racecourse. More than 1,300 children from 45 schools taking part. Race 1: Year 3/4 girls, 1.45pm; Race 2: Year 3/4 boys, 2.15pm; Race 3: Year 5/6 girls, 2.45pm; Race 4: Year 5/6 boys, 3.15pm.
Spring Equinox. The Corn Exchange, Newbury, 7.45pm. Telephone (01635) 522733 or visit www.cornexchangenew. com
GleeMania. The Anvil, Basingstoke, 7.30pm. Box office, (01256) 844244. Visit www.anvilarts.org.uk
(until 9) Bloodshot. The Watermill, Bagnor, 7.30pm. Box office, telephone (01635) 46044. Visit www.watermill. org.uk
(until 9) Who Killed ‘Agatha' Christie? The Haymarket, Basingstoke, 7.30pm. Box office, (01256) 844244. Visit www.anvil arts.org.uk
Curridge Women's Institute. Curridge Village Hall, 7.30pm. Simple Suppers by Sheila Wilson. Details from Ann Holloway (01635) 201688.
(until 9) Horrible Histories: The Awful Egyptians & The Ruthless Romans. Wyvern Theatre. Tickets £16.50. Ticket Office (01793) 524481 www.wyverntheatre.org.uk
Burnham Copes Trefoil Guild. Heath End Village Hall, Baughurst, 2pm until 4pm. Everyone welcome. Telephone Monica Curry on ( 0118) 981 2539 or Jean Wetenhall on ( 0118) 970 0760.
Kintbury Wildlife Group ‘Beyond Digiscoping'. Illustrated talk by Nick Dalton, 7.30pm, in the Coronation Hall, Kintbury. All welcome. Non-members, £2 entry. For more details, telephone (01488) 668482.
West Berkshire Ramblers. 10.30am, Meet in the car park of the shop/village hall at East Garston, grid ref SU 364768, to follow the Lambourn Valley Way to Great Shefford and back over the top. Four miles. Leader: Sheila T. Telephone (01635) 45085.
Wednesday, April 6:
Annual parish assembly. The village Hall, Love Lane, Shaw-cum-Donnington, 7.30pm.The chairman's report and details of the parish plan will be presented and all parishioners are welcome. Refreshments will be served.
Open gardens at Sharcott Manor. Pewsey SN9 5PA. Six-acre plantsman's garden on greensand, planted for year-round interest. Wide range of trees and shrubs, densely-planted mixed borders, with many unusual plants and climbers. Magnificent tree ramblers. Woodland walk carpeted with spring bulbs around half-acre lake. Good autumn colour. Small vegetable garden, ornamental water fowl. Some gravel paths, grass slope, narrow grass paths. Telephone (01672) 563485. Home-made teas. Admission, £3.50, children free.
GleeMania. The Anvil, Basingstoke, 7.30pm. Box office, (01256) 844244. Visit www.anvilarts.org.uk
Commanding Wealth Circle. ‘Learn to stop negative thinking and command for your good.' Using an easy six-step process at Bacon Arms, Oxford Street, Newbury, 7.15pm-9.15pm. Telephone Tanya Whannell on (01635) 866409 or Tanya@whannell.co.uk'
Dogan Mehmet & The Deerhunters. The Forge at The Anvil, Basingstoke, 7.45pm. Box office, (01256) 844244. Visit www.anvilarts.org.uk
The Glenn Miller Mystery. The Corn Exchange, Newbury, 7.45pm. Telephone (01635) 522733 or www.cornexchangenew.com
