What's on this week
Newburytoday.co.uk's news and events from West Berkshire and beyond
Thursday, August 11:
Bonhams Auctioneers, Balcony Bar, Corn Exchange, 10am to noon. Jewellery valuation day. To book an appointment call (01865) 853654 www.cornexchangenew.com
Mini Beast Walk, The Vyne, Basingstoke. Marvel at the Mini Beasts as the warden walks you through the miniature world at your feet. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. More Information: Jules Fuller, (01256) 883858, jules.fuller@nationaltrust.org.uk
Tea Dance, Woolhampton Village Hall 2pm to 4.15pm. Ballroom, Latin American and Sequence dancing. £2.50 to include raffle and refreshments. Very friendly crowd. Come and enjoy a lovely afternoon. This event is raising money for local charities. More information Ronnie Parkin (01635) 821505.
West Berkshire Ramblers, park in Church Road, Overton, or in nearby Bridge Street, and meet opposite St Mary's Church, grid ref SU 515500, 10:00 am. Nine mile walk to Little Meadow (a site developed by Overton Biodiversity Society), Flashetts and Quidhampton, past the source of the River Test to Ashe and Deane, then along a section of the Wayfarers Walk to Steventon Church (where Jane Austen used to worship), and back via Upper Ashe and Berrydown Farm. Bring a picnic. Leader: Richard M Tel: (01635) 867407.
Mortimer Library, 10.30 to noon. Make a wildlife badge or a dragonfly with the RSPB (0118) 933 2882.
Craft and Chat, Carnegie Lounge, Newbury Library, 11am to 1pm. Adults or children, please bring your knitting, sewing or any craft along to this fortnightly free group. (01635) 519900 newburylibrary@westberks.gov.uk
Friday, August 12:
Racing at Newbury Racecourse, first race 1.30pm. Details: (01635) 40015 or www.newbury-racecourse.co.uk
Rangers Seasonal Walk- Pond and Reptile Exploration at Paices Wood, 2pm. Paices Wood is a hidden gem surprisingly accessed through Youngs Industrial estate off the A340 south of Aldermaston. Gravel was extracted where the industrial estate now stands and the avenue of lakes was created to supply water to the processing plant at the top of the valley. Come and explore the wetland habitats and learn all about the reptiles that can be found in this area. £3.50 booking essential. (01635) 874381.
Moon Magic, The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury, 11am. The Mill becomes a space shuttle; the audience are the passengers, on a thrill packed trip to the moon with the Magic Carpet Theatre Company. Suitable for 5-11year olds and their families. www.themillartscentre.co.uk (01295) 279002.
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road,10.30am to11.15am or 2pm to 2.45pm. Bring along your own pedal tractor and enter the pedal tractor races. See who can pedal the fastest and be the winner. NB The Museum cannot provide any pedal tractors. Suitable for families with children aged 2-5 years. Free event. www.reading.ac.uk/merl
Saturday, August 13:
Burghclere and Newtown Horticultural Society's Summer Flower Show, The Clere School, Burghclere, 2pm. Entry is 50p.
Ladies Day, Newbury Racecourse, first race 1.25pm. Followed by Party in the Paddock with Tom Jones. Details: (01635) 40015 or www.newbury-racecourse.co.uk
Kintbury Wildlife Group, meet in the Control Tower car park, Bury's Bank Road, 2.15pm. An afternoon stroll on Greenham Common looking for butterflies and dragonflies, as well as heathland birds. All welcome. Tel (01488) 668482.
West Berkshire Ramblers, meet at Great Bedwyn grid ref SU 280644, 10:30 am. Park either by the Railway Station or by the canal wharf. Everybody to gather by the canal. The walk will be a gentle five mile meander by the canal and across fields. Bring a drink. Leader: Ann G Tel: (01249) 765881.
Antiques, Vintage & Collectors' Market, The Congregational Hall, Cromwell Place, Northbrook St, 9.30am to 3.45pm.Stalls include jewellery, furniture, ceramics, militaria, stamps, postcards, silver, art, objet d'art, vinyl records and loads more. This event is raising money for Save The Children / The up-keep of the listed building. More information Leo Ryan 07890 368185.
And August 14: Cholsey and Wallingford Railway 30th Anniversary Weekend. Join them for a special weekend to celebrate 30 years since the formation of the society. Steam engine 7386 Birkenhead built in 1948 will be hauling 1950s coaches. Wine and locally produced Ale will be available in the Brake Coach Bar. No booking needed just come along. Note, they now offer Footplate Experience days with steam or diesel engines, see our website for more details. Wallingford Station has a gift shop and café. Trains depart from Wallingford starting at 11.05am and hourly until 4.05pm, trains depart Cholsey starting at 11.35am and then hourly until 4.35pm. Find out more at www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com or contact us on cwrail@yahoo.co.uk or (01491) 835 067.
Here Comes The Sun Festival, Rising Sun Arts Centre, 30 Silver Street, Reading,11am to 11pm. ONE DAY FESTIVAL FOR ALL THE FAMILY. Live music on three stages, children's activities, dressing up, face painting, circus acts and activities, African drumming, didgeridoo, art and craft stalls, fire sculpture, dinosaur, scalelectrix, robot, table football and more. Cost: £10. www.risingsun-artscentre.co.uk
Sunday, August 14:
Crux Easton Wind Engine – Open Sunday, 4pm. Entrance Adult £4, Senior Student £3. Family £10. Contact Mrs O'Shaughnessy (01635) 254314.
Nonsuch Dulcimer Club, Victoria Park Bandstand, Newbury from 12.30-6pm. A mixture of early folk, Irish, and American Appalachian tunes as well as English traditional.
Bat Walk, The Vyne, Basingstoke, 8pm to 10pm. Join our warden as the sky darkens and delve into the delightful world of Britain's bats. Ticket price includes a cup of soup. More Information: Jules Fuller, (01256) 883858, jules.fuller@nationaltrust.org.uk
Kids GPS Treasure Hunt, Cobbs Farm, Bath Road, Hungerford, between 10.30am and 3.30pm, takes about 45 minutes to complete. Clues to follow and puzzles to solve. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets £5. No need to book. (01488) 686 770, info@cobbsfarmshop.co.uk
West Berkshire Ramblers, Park opposite the church in Catmore, grid ref SU 452802, 10am. An undulating 11 miles walk to East Ilsley, West Ilsley and Farnborough. Lunch will be at the Harrow PH, West Ilsley, or bring a picnic. Leader: Roy Ba Tel: (01635) 40720.
Monday, August 15:
A Neighbourhood Watch Meeting, West Berkshire Council Offices, Market Street, Newbury 7.30 pm. There will be a talk by a representative from the Thames Valley Police Dog Section based at Sulhamstead. Representatives of the Neighbourhood Policing Team and the fire service will be attending and both will be available to answer any questions. Anyone is welcome to attend this meeting. For more information Angela Money (01635) 40866.
Young People's Battle of the Bands Competition, Uprising Studios, Boundary Road, 10am to 4pm. If you want to be in a Rock Band then this is for you! Five-ay Rock Workshop followed by Battle of the Bands Competition. Ages 6-18, all abilities. £150-6 full days, £80-6 half days. 20% of ticket sales go to a local charity. More information Tracy Warner (01793) 823574.
Circus Stars, Newbury Library, 11am to 12.30pm. Have fun and try out your circus skills. Free drop in event on the library forecourt (inside if wet) with diabolos, scarf juggling, and plate spinning. (01635) 519900.
Until August 20, Alarms and Excursions, Oxford Playhouse, 7.30pm. 8 plays, 24 characters and one riotous dinner party, Michael Frayn's uproarious comedy examines, with hilarious consequences, what happens when the modern world goes wrong. (01865) 305305 www.oxfordplayhouse.com
To August 17, Blood donation session, Town Hall, Hungerford, 1.15pm to 3.30pm and 4.15pm to 7pm. Please encourage your friends to come along. New donors are welcome. To book an appointment for the blood donation session please visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.
Tuesday, August 16:
West Berkshire Ramblers, park along the road to Stanmore that runs parallel with the A34 on the edge of East Ilsley, grid ref SU 489811, 10am. A six mile walk encompassing a gradual climb to Windmill Down, Gore Hill and the Ridgeway Leader: Joan C Tel: (01235) 835618
Winchester's Guildhalls, meet outside Tourist Information Centre, 6.30pm. Join a registered city guide and find out where the city's authorities met from the 13th century to the present day. Adults £5 Children (7 & over) £1. For more information on Special Guided Tours go to www.winchestertouristguides.com (01962) 840500
Seaside Storytime, Theale Library, 10.30am. Make a windmill. (0118) 930 3207.
Mad Hatters Tea Party, Winchester Discovery Centre, 10am. To tie in with the Tea exhibition, two cooking sessions at 10am or noon, followed by the Tea Party at 2pm. Aimed at 4-7 yr olds. Cost: £20 per child for cooking session and party. (01962) 873603.
Farmyard fun!, Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading, 12noon to 4pm. Miller's Ark petting farm comes to MERL! Meet sheep and goats, pigs, geese, ducks (with their own paddling pool) and colourful rare-breed chickens. Suitable for families with children of all ages. Cost: £1 per person (under 1s free). Just drop-in. For more information contact merlevents@reading.ac.uk or phone (0118) 378 8660. www.reading.ac.uk/merl
Wednesday, August 17:
Afternoon Teas, St Mary's Church, Aldworth 2.30pm to 4.30pm. See The Aldworth Giants and soak up the history of this church and village on the edge of the Ridgeway. Details: (01635) 578177.
Wicked Weaving, Shaw House, 11am to 3.30pm. Have a go at making your own woven book mark. Learn how Newbury became famous for its woollen cloth. No need to book, just drop in. Activities are suitable for four years plus with some adult assistance. Adult carers need to accompany children under 15 years. Free activity but admission charges apply. (01635) 279279 www.shawhouse.org.uk
Bird of Prey Day with Ray Prior, Nature Discovery Centre, Thatcham, times vary. Ray has been a top Falconer for many years He performs leading displays across the country that have everyone spellbound. Watch the fast, exhilarating flight a Falcon, the majestic flight of an eagle, and the stunning flight of a barn owl. An adventure not to be missed. £4.50 per person. Booking Essential. (01635) 874381.
The UK Wolf Conservation Trust, children's wolf keeper day, 10am to 3pm. Come dressed to get mucky and see what the wolves and their keepers get up to during the day. Take over the job of wolf keeper looking after the wolves. Don't be fooled – it's hard work but lots of fun! £30 per child, ages 10 and up. (0118) 9713 330. www.ukwct.org.uk
Pop-up card make and take, Winchester Discovery Centre, 10am. Drop in and make a fun pop-up bird card to take away with you. Activity suitable for children 6+. All children to be accompanied by an adult. Free event. (01962) 873610
