Buccaneer Blades Fencing Holiday Club

20 - 24 July 2009, Up Hatherley Village Hall
10th - 14th August 2009
17th - 21st August 2009


Buccaneer Blades Fencing Holiday Club is an all day holiday club for children. BuccaneerBlades use a system designed in conjunction with the British Fencing Association to bring safe fencing to 6-11 year olds, combining it with fun art and craft activities around fencing themes, such as pirates, knights and Star Wars to keep the children happy and engaged.

Times: 8.30am- 4.30pm Monday - Friday. The cost for the week is £100 or £25 per day. Check out their website at http://www.buccaneerblades.co.uk/ for registration forms. (Numbers are limited to 12 per club).

For information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

The Latest on South West's Regional Spatial Strategy

A legal challenge in the East of England has scuppered the government’s chances of announcing the final version of the South West’s Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) this month, a development welcomed by Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood. The challenge was based on the failure of the Eastern RSS to make a proper assessment of the strategy’s impact on the environment. The announcement has not been made in Parliament by ministers but in a short emailed letter to local authorities by the regional director at the Government Office of the South West, Jon Bright.

The legal battle in the East of England has strong echoes of the Commons Environmental Audit Committee’s call for the RSSs to be suspended until their environmental impact had been properly assessed. Martin Horwood was a co-author of the EAC report.

“This delay buys valuable time for local campaign groups to co-ordinate action and increase support” says Martin. “It gives our local authorities more time to prepare their own legal challenges to the south west RSS. And it raises the outside chance of the RSS not being implemented at all before the next General Election. If that happens and if, as everyone expects, Labour goes down to a crushing defeat, a new House of Commons could vote to stop the whole mad strategy in its tracks. There are quite a few ‘ifs’ in all this, but this delay gives us a little more hope that we really can save the countryside around Cheltenham.”

Kings Chamber Orchestra at Cambray Baptist Church

4 July 2009, Cambray Baptist Church, 3pm and 7.30pm

Kings Chamber Orchestra, a London based professional chamber orchestra, will be performing at Cambray Baptist Church on Saturday, 4 June. The day will comprise of two events directed by Gerard Le Feuvre.

An afternoon Teddy Concert at 3pm is perfect for families. The children are invited to bring along one of their favourite furry friends! Kids classics will be presented with hilarious originality and interactive fun and will include a musical story about Tchaikovsky, a Russian bear and the "Great Chicken Kiev" balloon adventure. The concert is a relaxed musical event for all the family to enjoy. (Tickets £5 / £2.50).

A Russian Nights evening concert will take place at 7:30pm offering passion, romance and virtuosity! (Tickets £12 / £10 / £5 ). Come and join this relaxed musical event where the players of this outstanding professional orchestra move amidst the audience creating an atmosphere of fun and joyful involvement.

You can purchase your tickets at www.cambray.org/events/the-kings-chamber-orchestra

For information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Get Your Pet Microchipped This Month

Local MP Martin Horwood has called on all owners to ensure that their pet is microchipped as part of National Microchipping Month 2009, run by Petlog.

National Microchipping Month runs throughout June and aims to encourage and promote responsible pet ownership through microchipping as the preferred method of permanent pet identification. The scheme is run by Petlog, which is owned and managed by the Kennel Club, and has over 3.7m pets registered, with 40,000 new pets added to the database each month.

Last year Petlog handled nearly 100,000 calls relating to lost and found pets and reunited many animals with their owners. Petlog runs the only 24/7 pet reunification service in the UK from its dedicated call centre in Aylesbury, and is also a member of Europetnet, which ensures your pet can be identified if lost in over 20 European countries.

Caroline Kisko, Communications Director at the Kennel Club, said: “Throughout June, we aim to show more people than ever just how quick and easy the process of having your animal microchipped is. Deciding to have a pet is an important decision and one that results in a commitment to that pet for its entire life. An essential part of being a responsible pet owner is identifying them permanently.”

Martin Horwood MP said: “All pet owners should ensure their animals are microchipped as National Microchipping Month so rightly stresses. This is an issue I’ve already raised in Parliament and tried to promote locally. Petlog and similar schemes help reunite a large number of missing pets with their owners, and I urge vets as well as pet owners to spread the word of just how vital microchipping is.

“It’s very distressing for any owner to lose a much-loved pet, but through microchipping it gives peace of mind that should they become separated, they can generally be easily reunited.”

Petlog will be running further events throughout June to promote National Microchipping Month – to find out more information, or to get involved, visit http://www.nationalmicrochippingmonth.org.uk/

Meet Your MP Martin Horwood This June

Martin Horwood is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Cheltenham. If you need to discuss any matters with your local MP, you can arrange an appointment at his advice surgeries on Friday lunchtimes or evenings. Appointments can be booked by phoning the office on 01242 224889 or e-mailing martin@martinhorwood.net.

You can also meet Martin at various events taking place in and around Cheltenham.

Friday, 12 June 2009
9:45am
Martin will be attending a ‘Mock Trial’ competition for local primary schools, which is being held at Cheltenham Courthouse.

Sunday, 14 June 2009
2:00pm
Martin is officially opening GlosREC’s Mela at Leisure@Cheltenham in Tommy Taylor’s Lane. Please see http://www.glosrec.org.uk/ for more information about the Mela.

Monday, 15 June 2009
1:30pm
Martin is officially opening ‘Shakes2Go’, a brand new milkshake shop in Grosvenor Street, Cheltenham.
6:30pm
Martin will be meeting bell-ringers at St Marks Church to discuss proposed noise bills and also possibly having a go himself!

Friday, 26 June 2009
8:30pm
Martin will be presenting trophies at the Cheltenham Skittles League Presentation Dance, which is being held at Cheltenham Town Hall. For more details about this event please contact the Secretary, Charmian Sheppard, on 511971.

Saturday, 27 June 2009
11:45am
A ceremony of the Presentation of the Freedom of the County to The Rifles is being held. This is taking place at Gloucester Docks and then goes on to Shire Hall in Gloucester.
2:15pm
Martin will be saying a few words at the launch of ‘Cheltenham Connect’, a new initiative to strengthen the community of couth Cheltenham. The launch is being held at The Exmouth, Bath Road, Cheltenham. For more details please see Cheltenham Connect’s website: http://www.cheltenhamconnect.co.uk/. The launch starts at 10:00am, with Martin and the mayor speaking at around 2:15pm.

Sunday, 28 June 2009
10:00am
Martin is going to take part in a sponsored dog walk and family fun day ‘Bark in Pittville Park’, in aid of GCAB (Gloucestershire County Association for the Blind). For more details about this event contact Lucy Gooding on 01242 221170 or lucy.gooding@glos-blind.co.uk.

Thursday, 2 July 2009
2:45pm
Staff and students from the National Star College will be handing a petition to Martin in support of Mencap’s ‘Changing Places’ campaign. This calls for Changing Places toilets (with hoist, changing bench and lots of space) to be installed in all big public places.
For more information about the campaign and the presentation of the petition please contact Lucy Poulton, Communications and PR Officer at the National Star College on 01242 524478 or lpoulton@natstar.ac.uk.

Friday, 3 July 2009
11:00am
Martin is officially opening the new ‘Space Business Centre’, an industrial development on Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham (behind ‘The Range’). For more details please see http://www.spacebc.com/Location-22-Cheltenham.aspx or contact Alex Gale on 01932 445 068.


To keep up-to-date with Martin's Horwood's appearances in parliament please visit our website.

100 Cheltenham Jobs at FormFlo Could Be Saved

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood has worked with company employees at threatened engineering business FormFlo to put together a rescue plan that could save 100 threatened jobs. He has contacted Lord Mandelson for support and introduced employees to Baxi Partnership, a company that has helped many employees successfully buy out their companies.

“The closure of FormFlo would mean 100 jobs disappearing in Britain, assets and technical knowledge being sold to Germany and another small nail in the coffin of British manufacturing industry” said Martin. “This would be a tragedy for many Cheltenham families and a sad day for our proud tradition of world-class engineering.”

“I’m delighted that the government is willing to help with advice and possible support and that Baxi Partnership have agreed a funding scheme in principle. We believe an employee buy-out is a perfectly viable option and I’ve written again today to FormFlo’s parent company Tomkins Plc strongly urging them to allow FormFlo management to share the information we need to put a real business plan together. I think it’s quite possible that this might be the best option for Tomkins and their German customer Hoerbiger as well. It’s much cheaper to keep a successful business going than to bear all the costs of redundancy, closure and transfer of assets.”

Martin has worked with FormFlo employee Andy Rhoden to put the rescue deal together and his letter strongly urges Tomkins not to take any pre-emptive decisions that would prevent this option being properly explored. He has also informed south west EuroMP Graham Watson, who is leader of the 104-strong Liberal group in the European Parliament which includes German MEPs alongside their British counterparts.

4-2-11 Activity Camp for Children This Summer

from 27 July 2009 onwards, St. Edwards Junior School

4-2-1's family run camp is back this Summer offering a creative alternative to sports-based camps. They run exciting themed weeks, workshops, and jam-pack the schedule with swimming, arts and craft, cookery, pottery, drama, music, games, quests, bouncy castles and more.

Camp 2's independence is encouraged via their newspaper and CommonRoom activities and younger children can rest with stories and puzzles.

The staff are well trained, professional and pride themselves on making sure every child has as much fun as possible and makes friends with other campers. Impromptu games of bench ball, rounders or water fights are common, as are quiet time activities after particularly lively swimming sessions.

All children are welcome and the staff are very happy to try and accommodate any special requirements or individual needs. The day starts at 8.45am and finishes at 4.30pm, with a time out facility available until 5.30. Prices start from £25 per day, daily and weekly bookings are welcome, from age 4 - 11.

For more information contact Louisa at activitycamp4211@hotmail.co.uk

For information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

See Premiership Trophy in Cheltenham

3 June 2009, 9am - 4pm, Barclays Bank, 128 High Street

The Barclays Premier League Trophy visits Cheltenham on Wednesday, 3 June. If you pop in to Cheltenham branch of Barclays Bank in High Street, you'll have the opportunity to have your picture taken next to the trophy. Donations are welcome, money collected will go to Piep Piper Appeal in conjuction with Star Radio.

For information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Cheltenham Racecourse Family Fun Weekend

23 - 25 May 2009, Cheltenham Racecourse

Cheltenham Racecourse will be the venue of a traditional family fun day this bank holiday weekend, full of exciting activities for the whole family. Steven Hill Funfairs will bring a large funfair with rides for children and adults, side stalls and bouncy castles. All three days will feature walkabout celebrity character guests at various invervals throughout the day. On Sunday and Monday children will be entertained by Uncle Brian's Funtime Clowning Spectacular. The entry is £1, free car park available.

Saturday, 23 May 2009

11am - 9.30pm

Radio Star Roadshow with Dr. Who and Daleks.

Sunday, 24 May 2009

1pm - 10.30pm

Fireworks display at 9.30pm, appearances by Noddy and Big-Ears, Starsky and Hutch

Monday, 25 May 2009

12pm - 6pm

Appearances by Peppa Pig and George

For information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Auditions for High School Musical

22 -23 May 2009, Cheltenham College Junior School Hall

Stage Experience, a registered charity providing a taste of professional theatre to young people by offering Performing Arts opportunities within a production directed and produced by industry specialists, is back and this time they are bringing High School Musical to the Bacon Theatre Cheltenham! This production will see the best of Gloucestershire's young talent come together to perform this high-energy musical with the backing of a professional creative and production team.

Have you got what it takes to perform on stage in one of the hottest musicals around? Then why don't you go for an audition. Auditions will take place 22 May, 7pm - 9pm and 23 May, 9am - 12 noon in Cheltenham. Call backs for main roles will be 23 May at 4pm — if you wish to audition for a main role you must also be available at this time.

SHOW DATES:

Show 1: Thursday 29th October 2009 at 7.30pm

Show 2: Friday 30th October 2009 at 7.30pm
Shows 3 & 4: Saturday 31st October 2009 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm

For more details and an application form visit http://www.hsm1.co.uk/ .

Cheltenham Science Festival 2009

3 - 7 June 2009, Cheltenham Town Hall and other venues

The guest director of Cheltenham Science Festival for 2009 is Carol Vorderman and she will be putting together a unique collection of events for you to savour. To stir up a good discussion, the festival theme for 2009 is heresy. 2009 is also 200th Anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin which is also reflected in this year’s festival events schedule. 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy, marking 400 years since Galileo first pointed his telescope at the sky.

As every year Cheltenham Science Festival will feature free Discover Zone, offering interactive science for all ages from 10am to 5pm every day of the festival at Cheltenham Town Hall, there will be also adults-only session on Saturday 6 June, 7pm – 8pm. Family Fun Days on Saturday 6 June and Sunday 7 June at Imperial Gardens are also free to join. There will be lots of interactive activities and live science experiments on both days from 11am.

And what are the highlights of this year’s festival? On Wednesday, 3 June at 6.15pm Olympic winner Sebastian Coe will reveal what it takes to have winning mind. Robert Winston will examine whether science can make you happy on Thursday, 4 June, at 4.30pm and retrace the steps of Charles Darwin on Sunday, 7 June at 10am. Richard Hammond is back in Cheltenham, this time with his Blast Lab to perform some crazy experiments on Friday, 5 June, from 12.30pm. Also on Friday you’ll be able to taste local beer from Battledown Brewery at 9pm. On Saturday, 6 June, at 2pm, you can join Dr. Alice Roberts, the presenter of the BBC series, when she’s retracing the The Incredible Human Journey, and at 4pm meet Evan Davis, BBC’s Dragon’s Den presenter, who will present his Beginner’s Guide to Economy. At 6.45 Cheltenham’s own science panel show begins with the comedian Dara O’Briain, Robert Ince and others competing for points.

PROGRAMME

Wednesday, 3 June
12.15pm Testing Times
2pm Susan Greenfield: An Individual
2.30pm Can we Solve the Climate Change Conundrum?
4pm The Impact! Debate
4.15pm Ten Zen Questions
4.30pm Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery
5pm Science Café
5pm Powering the UK
6.15pm Sebastian Coe: The Winning Mind
6.30pm Alzheimer’s
6.30pm Robot Surgeons
7.30pm Hero or Heretic?
8.30pm Walk the Talk
8.30pm Playing God – Risk in Surgery
8.30pm The Science of Curry
9.30pm Festival Star Party

Thursday, 4 June
10.15am The Big Bang and Beyond
12.15pm Rutherford
2pm Copernicus: Revolutionary or Plagiarist?
2.15pm The Future for Stem Cells
4pm Making the Planet Better
4.30pm Darwin’s Sacred Cause
4.30pm Can Science Make you Happy?
5pm Science Café: Interior Traces
5pm Supersense
6pm Alien Evolution
6.30pm Beyond Animal Research
7pm When to Listen to Heretics
8pm Shaping Nature
8.45pm Faith in Evolution
9pm Penisology
9pm Slam the Atom
9.30pm Festival Star Party

Friday, 5 June
10.15am Flood Defence
12.30pm Climate Change: Whose Responsibility?
2pm The Green Resurgent
2.30pm Good Bugs, Bad Bugs
2.30pm The Value of Land
4.30pm Greener Homes
4.30pm Synthetic Biology
4.30pm NESTA FameLab Grand Final
5pm Best of the Fest
5pm Quicksilver
6.30pm Water, Water Everywhere?
6.45pm Pandemics: The Threat
7.30pm Blazing Science
8.30pm Pandemics: Outbreak
9pm Beer

Saturday, 6 June
10am A Lifetime of Intelligence
12pm Computers of the Future
12pm Obsessive Compulsive
2pm The Incredible Human Journey
2pm Facing Disfigurement
4pm Cape Farewell
4pm Evan Davis: A Beginner’s Guide to Economics
5pm Best of the Fest
6pm Heresy – The Heart of Science
6.30pm FameLab International
6.45pm Not Rocket Science
6.45pm The Times Debate: Your Genetic Future
8pm Pain
9pm The Pleasure of Cars
9pm Apollo Mysteries
9pm The School for Gifted Children

Sunday, 7 June
10.15am Engineering Apollo
12pm Shop Tactics
12.15pm Bloodhound
1.15, 2.30, 3.45pm Anatomy Workshop
2.15pm Call My Scientific Bluff
3.30pm How was it for you?
4pm Animal Autopsy
4pm Heresy and Bad Science
4.15pm Digital Footprints: The Science
6pm Digital Footprints: The Ethics
6pm Weather Watch
6.15pm Hairy
7pm Andrea & Steve’s Over-ambitious Demo Challenge
8pm James Cracknell & Ben Fogle: Race to the Pole
8.15pm Clem Burke Drumming Project

Tickets are available at Cheltenham Town Hall box office, tel. 01242 227979 or online at http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/.

For more information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Cheltenham Connect - New Community Initiative in South Cheltenham

From its small beginnings around a pub table in February a new community initiative is being developed that has already attracted a great deal of local interest and support. Focused on the residential and trading areas of The Bath Road (South End), Tivoli, The Park and The Suffolks, Cheltenham Connect aims to strengthen and empower the local community and to help protect it from the current economic downturn. It also aims to raise awareness of climate change and the need for the community to develop a low carbon and sustainable future.

Four working groups have already been established and each is now developing its own online network. They are: CC Buy Local, CC Go Green, CC Skillspace and CC Community. Ideas being discussed include a ‘Buy Local Pledge Week’, a ‘Buy Local Festival’, Swap, Share and Save schemes, skill-shares, resource shares, business networks and energy saving resource and advice schemes.

A full launch is being planned for Saturday 27th June at The Exmouth Arms in Bath Road and all are welcome. Each of the action groups will be there to share their activities along with local trading and residents associations, energy and sustainability organisations, local churches and schools, and local musicians and craftspeople. The aim is for the event to be full of good old fashioned fun with lots of information, but also games and entertainment, provided throughout the day. Everyone in the local area is invited to become involved with Cheltenham Connect and to share their own ideas. It’s very much a local project run by local people and could put South Cheltenham on the map as a place of thriving community focus and innovation.

Founder Wendy Ellyatt says ‘I am delighted how quickly things are moving. It just goes to show that a small number of people coming together within any local community can really make a difference.’

For further information visit their website at http://www.cheltenhamconnect.co.uk/, call Wendy Ellyatt 01242 572 803 or email wendy@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk.

Spring Bank Holiday Weekend 2009 in Cheltenham

23 - 25 May 2009, various venues

Cheltenham4u brings you a round up of activities for this Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

FAMILY FUN DAY AT CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE
23 - 25 May 2009
Cheltenham Racecourse will be the venue of a traditional family fun day, full of exciting activities for the whole family. Steven Hill Funfairs will bring a large funfair with rides for children and adults, side stalls and bouncy castles. All three days will feature walkabout celebrity character guests at various invervals throughout the day. On Sunday and Monday children will be entertained by Uncle Brian's Funtime Clowning Spectacular. The entry is £1, free car park available.

LA VIE EN BLEU AT PRESCOTT HILL CLIMB
23 - 24 May 2009
Bugatti Owner’s Club is hosting yet another exciting weekend of both vintage and classic cars races. This time they will be celebrating fine French automobiles, with appearances of the Bugatti Veyron and its predecessor the EB110 of Top Gear fame. Battle of Britain Flight is scheduled to take place, including a Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane, at around 2pm. Tickets cost £12 per day in advance or £15 on the gate.

ROMAN FOOD WEEKEND AT CHEDWORTH ROMAN VILLA
23 - 24 May 2009
Learn about Roman meals and customs, and have a go at grinding some flour to make bread. Roman recipe cards to take away so you can have a go at home (but dormice won’t be on the menu!) and other children’s drop-in activities. Includes Roman Food Quiz with clues around the villa to help you, and a prize for everyone who has a go! 10am - 5pm. Tel:Sarah Hobbs, 01672 539167.

CIRCUS STARR AT CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE
24 - 25 May 2009
Circus Starr will visit Cheltenham with its latest show. The circus will host the show to raise money for charity group Acorn Children's Hospice Trust. The event - which will include two shows - will be held at Cheltenham Racecourse on Sunday, May 25. The two shows start at 4:45pm & 7:00pm.

SUFFOLKS STREET FAIR
25 May 2009
As every year Suffolk is holding its Street Fair on May Bank Holiday Monday. The event starts at 10am and will include stalls and activities for children, including Mr Jinks’ Punch and Judy show, face painting, a bouncy castle and a carousel. Live music is provided by a walking jazz band, an acapella group, plus local rock and folk bands. The Street Fair Grand Raffle offers everyone the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes and the proceeds are donated to the Mayor’s Charities

CHEESE ROLLING AT COOPER'S HILL
25 May 2009
This year's Cheese Rolling at the Cooper's Hill near Brockworth offers as much mad fun as always. There is no need to apply beforehand, just turn up on the day and you can enroll in the race. As the event can be oversubscribed please arrive early to ensure your place in the race. The entry is free, but there is £5 parking charge to cover the cost of the event. First race starts at 12 noon.

For more information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Wychwood Music Festival 2009

29 - 31 May 2009, Cheltenham Racecourse

Since 2005 Cheltenham Racecourse plays host to Wychwood Music Festival, family friendly festival, featuring a mixture of music from world to folk, psychedelic pop to dance.

In 2009 Wychwood Music Festival will celebrate its 5th anniversary. This year's line up will include Super Furry Animals, Supergrass, Dub Colossus, The Wonder Stuff, Oysterband, The Beat, The Men They Couldn't Hang, Bellowhead, Little Boots, Cara Dillon, Red Light Company, Dohl Foundation, Kissmet and many more.

New for 2009 is a Children's Literature minifestival in association with The University of Worcester and Borders with interactive workshops and readings. A line-up of best-selling children's writers, illustrators, storytellers and poets will lead readings, workshops and sign copies of their latest titles across the weekend.

Once again Wychwood Festival is so much more than great music. Visitors can also look forward to the performances of top comedians, such as Arthur Smith, Mundo Jazz, Sol Bernstein and Robin Ince. Up on 'The Green' you will find 5 tents bursting with activities, workshops, shows, acoustic music and more, including the cinema. There are well over 100 different sessions including adult, children's and family activities and workshops for all ages.

Workshops will include circus skills, milonga sound therapy, laughter therapy and Inta Africa drum circle. Music will be provided by the best local acoustic artists, an intimate Acoustica performance and some busking. There will also be a games room and plenty of opportunities to play! There will be a site parade on Sunday. The parade will involve jugglers, dhol drummers, stiltwalkers and most importantly - you!

Wychwood has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. There are lots of places to chill out and enjoy excellent food and drink with friends and family. Traders selling clothing, jewellery, records, books, toys and much more.

The Healing Gardens is again offering a wonderful selection of relaxing and beneficial treatments for your body, mind and soul. Whether you need to escape from it all and relax, or be energised and revitalised, there is something for everyone. Weare pleased to welcome back the familiar faces from previous years,together with new healers and therapists for 2009.

Tickets are £110 per adult for full weekend (includes camping), children under 12 free.

For more information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

1635 Homes Made Warmer in Cheltenham

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood is celebrating the work of the Warm Front scheme in tackling fuel poverty in Cheltenham and is urging more local residents to come forward and get help with measures that could cut their energy bills by anything up to £600 a year.

Martin said: “Solutions which tackle climate change are vital, but they can also address social issues such as fuel poverty at the same time. The Warm Front scheme aims to help people with energy efficiency and has made a real difference to increasing numbers of people who are finding energy bills a heavy burden. Much more needs to be done but this scheme has shown the way forward.”

Warm Front works by providing contributions of up to £2,700 towards insulation and gas heating measures and £4,000 for oil for the elderly, disabled and low income families.

Green support services company eaga reported that since the beginning of the scheme’s operations in the constituency, there have been record take up figures with 1635 households in Cheltenham having benefited from the scheme.

These households benefited from a range of energy efficiency measures including loft and cavity wall insulation, new heating systems and draught proofing.

To date £1,504,894.64 has been invested by Warm Front in Cheltenham. Many of those who have benefited from the scheme are reporting average household savings of anything between £300 and £600 a year.

Rising fuel prices and the need to protect the environment from dangerous CO2 levels are making the work of the Warm Front scheme increasingly important.

As well as benefiting from energy efficiency measures, households contacting eaga are also receiving a free benefit entitlement and to date 72 homes in the Cheltenham constituency have increased their average weekly income by £22.20.

To qualify for Warm Front residents must either own their own home or live in privately rented accommodation and should be in receipt of a qualifying benefit. To find out more about the scheme and see if they qualify, Martin is urging households to contact Warm Front on 0800 316 6014.

Let the Good Times Roll at Bacon Theatre

16 May 2009, 7.30pm, Bacon Theatre

‘Let The Good Times Roll’ returns to The Bacon Theatre as part of the fantastic, rapidly selling-out national tour. Telling the story of the birth of rock ‘n’roll it features classic songs from the period 1955 – 1960, this is a stage show that will have audiences stomping, clapping and dancing in the aisles.
Featuring acclaimed boogie woogie pianist and singer Peter Gill with his band, the sensational STATE 51, the show is yet again taking theatres by storm with its breath-taking and unrelenting energy.

Peter Gill has appeared all over the world and has been heralded as the UK’s hottest new boogie woogie talent. In 1999 he was hand-picked from a national search to co-open Jool’s Holland’s Jam House in Birmingham as one of the two famed ‘Duelling Pianists’. Since then he has been in constant demand on the cabaret and corporate circuit but it is on the theatre stage that he is most at home and pounding the keys to such classics as ‘Great Balls of Fire’, ‘Johnny B Goode’, ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, ‘Rock Around The Clock’ and ‘Chantilly Lace’ is what he undoubtedly does best. Joined by his band STATE 51 this is a show not to be missed by anyone with a rhythmic bone in their body.

Tickets cost £13 (£11 concesesions) and can be purchased at the box office on 01242 258002.

For information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Meet Your MP Martin Horwood This May

Martin Horwood is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Cheltenham. If you need to discuss any matters with your local MP, you can arrange an appointment at his advice surgeries on Friday lunchtimes or evenings. Appointments can be booked by phoning the office on 01242 224889 or e-mailing martin@martinhorwood.net.

You can also meet Martin at various events taking place in and around Cheltenham.

Thursday, 07 May 2009
1:30pm
Martin will be going to a coffee afternoon at Gloucestershire County Association for the Blind (GCAB) in Albion Street, Cheltenham, where he is a trustee, to meet with volunteers and staff and find out about GCAB’s plans for the year. Please see http://www.geecab.org/ for more information about GCAB.

Friday, 08 May 2009
7:00pm
Martin will be dropping in on an event being held to celebrate 20 years of practice and a recent rebuild at Keith Holland Opticians at 27 St George’s Road, Cheltenham.
8:00pm
Martin will be joining St Philip and St James Area Residents’ Association (SPJARA) at their Annual General Meeting to be held at Church House, St Philip and St James’ Church, Cheltenham.

Monday, 11 May 2009
7:00pm
Martin will be attending the Whaddon Youth Centre Awards Evening at the centre in Dart Road. Please contact Sandie Bolger on 01242 262887 or Sandra.bolger@gloucestershire.gov.uk for more information.

Thursday, 14 May 2009
7:00pm
Martin is hoping to go to the formal opening of Cheltenham Sea Cadets’ new headquarters in Alstone Lane. Please see www.cheltscc.co.uk for more information about Cheltenham Sea Cadets.

Friday, 15 May 2009
2:30pm
Sue Ryder Care’s Leckhampton Court Hospice are hosting a celebration event to mark the completion of work funded by the Department of Health to improve their facilities for patients and their families. Martin will be going along to find out more about the work that has been carried out.
7:30pm
A public meeting, organised by Cheltenham and Gloucester PSC Group, is being held at St Matthew’s Church, Clarence Street, Cheltenham, entitled ‘Israel and Palestine: What Chance a Lasting Peace?’. The speakers at the meeting will be Graham Watson MEP, Dr Liz Burroughs, Ed Hill and Rev Dr Jon Morgan. For more information contact John Webster on 01242 511424. Martin will be attending this meeting.

Sunday, 17 May 2009
2:00pm
Save the Countryside are holding a circular walk through the fields of the proposed NW extension between Swindon Village and Uckington. For more information please contact 01242 680 602 or info@savethecountryside.org.uk. Martin will be joining the walk.
4:00pm
Martin and his family will be going to the Cheltenham Hebrew Congregation’s 170th anniversary concert featuring the London Cantorial Singers at the Synagogue in Cheltenham.

To keep up-to-date with Martin's Horwood's appearances in parliament please visit our website.

Music Gigs for Cheltenham in May

In May Beyond Eternity Promotions have prepared some exciting gigs for Cheltenham and surrounding areas.

Tuesday, 5 May 2009

Mainstreamers, The Swan, Combe Hill.
The Pete Martin Quartet - The VENUE's special 2nd Birthday Celebrations, The VENUE Jazz Club, Wheatsheaf Inn, Old Bath Road, GL53 9AJ. Doors open 8 p.m. music starts 9 pm, Jazz

JB Trio, The Old Manor House, Keynsham. 8.00pm, Jazz and Blues

Wednesday, 6 May 2009
New Moon, The Conservatory, Nr. Pitville Gates

Thursday, 7 May 2009
Dave Miles, The Apple Tree, Woodmancote

Friday, 8 May 2009
Blue Anoraks, The George, Brailles, Shipston On Stour. 8.45pm
True Colours, The Anchor, Tewkesbury 9.30pm - 12.00pm
JB3, The Royal George, Birdlip, Jazz and Blues

Saturday, 9 May 2009
New Moon (Feat. Micky Clark - Drums), The Cotswold, 9.00pm

Sunday, 10 May 2009
Michael I Brown, The Rising Sun, Cleeve Hill
Alex Chapman, White Bear, Tewkesbury 4.00pm - 7.00
JB2, The Kilkenney

Wednesday, 13 May 2009
Kim Cypher, Norwood Arms, Bath Road, Cheltanham, Jazz
Jam Session, St Stephens Club Tivoli, Eclectic

Thursday, 14 May 2009
Steve Rezillo, The Apple Tree, Woodmancote
Krush, Seventeen Black in Cirencester

Friday, 15 May 2009
Kim Cypher Band, The Strand, Cheltenham, Jazz
Paul Newman's Blues Jam Night, Subtone, 117 Promenade, Cheltenham. Band 9-11pm, FREE Entry, Drinks promotions, Blues
One Way Street, Merryfellow, Charlton Kings 9.00pm

Saturday, 16 May 2009
Let The Good Times Roll, The Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham. £13 / £11 Box Office : 01242 258002, 7.30pm, Rock'n'Roll
One Way Street, The Suffolk Arms, Cheltenham 9.00pm

Sunday, 17 May 2009
Krush - Jazz Evening, The Spice Lodge, Cheltenham
Dave Beale, Rising Sun, Cleeve Hill

Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Tommy Charles Tetraphonic, The VENUE Jazz Club, Wheatsheaf Inn, Old Bath Road, GL53 9AJ. Doors open 8 p.m. music starts 9 p.m. Jazz
Paul Newman's Blues Jam Night, The Bayshill Inn, Cheltenham, Blues

Thursday, 21 May 2009
Leon Daye, The Apple Tree, Woodmancote

Friday, 22 May 2009
Dave Harper Band, (k/a Big Black Car), Brown Jug, Bath Road, Cheltenham
JB2, The Kilkenney, Jazz and Blues

Saturday, 23 May 2009
Otis Mack & Tubby Bluesters, Cotswold, 9.00pm, Jazz and Blues

Sunday, 24 May 2009
Memory Lane, Suffolk Arms, Cheltenham
JB Jazz and Blues Band, Colwall Park Hotel, Malvern, Jazz and Blues
One Way Street, Five Alls, Bath Road 9.00pm
Rick Chase, Rising Sun, Cleeve Hill

Monday, 25 May 2009
One Way Street, BBQ, Kilkenney Inn, Andoversford. (Tickets, food & BBQ 01242 232684) 7.00 - 10.00pm
JJ Swing Band, South Cerney Street Fair, 2.00pm - 4.45pm, Swing

Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Paul Newman's Blues Jam Night, The VENUE @ The Wheatsheaf Inn, Old Bath Road, GL53 9AJ, Blues
Gilad Atzmon Quartet, Town Hall, Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

Thursday, 28 May 2009
Roger Lendon, The Apple Tree, Woodmancote

Friday, 29 May 2009
Old Richeans Jam Session, Old Richeans Club, Gloucester
Touch of Blue, St Stephens Club Tivoli

Saturday, 30 May 2009
Touch of Blue, Suffolk Arms, Cheltenham

Sunday, 31 May 2009
Lawrence, Rising Sun, Cleeve Hill
Jazz Jam, The VENUE @ The Wheatsheaf Inn, Old Bath Road, GL53 9AJ, Jazz
Otis Mack & Tubby Bluesters, Riverside Tewkesbury (May Bank Holiday Bonanza, Many other bands), Jazz and Blues
Crescendo Big Band, Gupshill, Tewkesbury, Big Band
Tom Jurgens, Crown and Trumpet, Broadway

For a full calendar of 2009 Cheltenham gigs please visit our MySpace page. For other Cheltenham events visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Cheltenham MP Backs Local Pubs

In a Westminster debate yesterday, Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood backed a series of measures to stop the loss of local pubs. Martin told the listening minister about the threatened Greyhound Inn in Hewlett Road and quoted Simon Daws, landlord of The Royal Oak in Prestbury, who has criticised the 'tie' between pubs and the so-called PubCos.

Martin called for reform of planning law to prevent the situation facing the Greyhound, where Cheltenham Borough Council's planning committee unanimously refused permission for the pub to be turned into flats, only for a government inspector to overturn the decision after a fleeting visit. He also supported Simon Daws' call for reform of the 'tie' so that landlords would be free to offer a limited range of drinks free of the PubCos' control.

Martin said 'If this situation carries on, we could easily wake up one day and find half our best community pubs gone. That would tear the heart out of many local neighbourhoods. We need to reform planning law to stop pubs like the Greyhound closing and reform the 'tie' so that many other pubs don't join it. I think Simon Daws has made a sensible and intelligent proposal that would offer more choice to customers, a better deal for landlords and a safer future for many local pubs.'

Southside Football Festival

9 -10 May 2009, Bournside School Playing Fields

Southside Football Club will be hosting a two day festival and tournament for youth teams from age 7 to 16 at Bournside School fields on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May. This year in excess of 130 teams from Cheltenham, Gloucester, Evesham, Stroud, Cirencester, Worcester and beyond will be competing in a series of 6/7-a-side matches. Games begin around 9.15am on both days.

Delicious hot and cold food and drinks will be available, ice-creams, bouncy castle and target goals are just some of the attractions. There will be special guests on both days. Admission and parking is £2. Come and see the stars of tomorrow!! More details available at www.southsidefc.co.uk/docs/tournamentinvite2009.pdf .

For information about this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.