Cheltenham January and February Events

Christmas is just round the corner and New Year will soon take over - time to think about what to do in the New Year.

Cheltenham4u is bringing you a round-up of Cheltenham January and February events. There is plenty of things to choose from – you can spend the time at the races at Cheltenham racecourse or cheer on Cheltenham Ladies Rugby Club at their last home match at the Prince of Wales Stadium. If sport is not your thing but you still like to race, you can join in a frog race, which takes place at St. Luke’s church hall. Music lovers can listen to selection of great musicians at Tubby Blues Festival or Playhouse Jazz, however this time of year is devoted to folk as Cheltenham Folk Festival hits the stage of Cheltenham Town Hall. You can also learn about Gloucestershire folk traditions at the Park Campus of Gloucestershire University. Leckhampton Players are staging their this-year’s pantomime Alibaba and the Forty Thieves and theatre workshops for children are held at the Playhouse Theatre.

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

Cheltenham Folk Festival

15 – 17 February 2008

Following a record-breaking year in 2007, the 12th Cheltenham Folk Festival features headliners Show Of Hands, one of the finest acoustic roots duo in England, Brass Monkey and Three Magpies. Three Magpies consist of Nancy Kerr, James Fagan and multiinstrumentalist and composer Robert Harbron, playing both traditional and contemporary folk music.

The stage of Cheltenham Town Hall will host many more performers, including Belshazzar`s Feast, Benji Kirkpatrick, Emily & Hazel Askew, Issy & David Emeney with Kate Riaz, John Kirkpatrick, John Tams & Barry Coope, Jon Loomes & Paul Scourfield, Last Orders, Malthouse Passage, Martin & Shan Graebe, Megson, Mike & Ali Vass, Phill Beer, Random, Spiers & Boden and Steve Turner.

2008 also features special performances by Jo Freya who accompanied by Jim Boyes, Fi Fraser, Jude Abbott, Neil Ferguson, Harry Hammer and Mary McMaster play the beautiful songs of the late Lal Waterson on the tenth anniversary of her death, and Down The Lawson Track featuring songs and music of the great Australian outback.

As last year, the Festival has many instrument, voice and dance workshops which take place at the YMCA. ‘An Hour or So With…’ offers a great chance to meet some of the Festival performers close up in a warm and informal atmosphere. The Kids Place gives the youngest visitors to the festival the opportunity to enjoy some creative fun on Saturday and Sunday.

Dance teams from around the country will be performing on the streets of Cheltenham Saturday and Sunday afternoon and free unplugged sessions will take place at the Music Library on Saturday giving you the opportunity to enjoy some great acoustic performances.

Tickets are available at Cheltenham Town Hall. If you purchase your weekend tickets by 31 December, they are £60 adult, £50 students and unwaged and £30 11-16 year olds, under 11 go free. You can also buy tickets for certain individual events.

For more information on Cheltenham Folk Festival and other Cheltenham festivals please visit our Events & Festivals section.

Cheltenham Gym Centre

Cheltenham has a wide range of sporting and physical activity opportunities, whether you are looking for a local sports team to play for at weekends, try a new exercise class. If gymnastics is your favourite sport, then why not join Cheltenham Gym Centre.

Cheltenham Gym Centre provides a balanced and comprehensive programme for everyone, from Pre-School Children upwards, from complete beginners to National level Gymnasts. Whether you wish to just increase your fitness and stamina or would like to take up gymnastics at a competitive level, Cheltenham Gym Centre has classes for you. With their ABC Gymtots programme structured programme is available even for the youngest.

For more information about Cheltenham Gym Centre visit our Sport Clubs section, you can find information about ABC Gymtots in our Clubs and Societies section.


If you are a member of Cheltenham sport club and would like to get your club's profile featured to promote its activities please get in touch. To find out how please visit our website www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/community/sportclubs.asp.

Cheltenham Town FC Family Fun Day

22 December 2007 - Whaddon Road Stadium

Come and cheer on the Robins against Huddersfield and enjoy an action packed, fun filled afternoon of entertainment including official sky sports dancers & performers, Christmas choir, face painters, balloon modeler, juggler & stilt walker, magician, side shows and much more. And if that’s not enough you can watch what promises to be a great game of football.

Ticket Prices:
2 Adults & 2 Children (U'16) - £28,
1 Adult & 1 Child (U'16) - £15,
Additional Child - £5.

All tickets must be purchased from the ticket office in advance of the game. Tickets available from the Ticket Office or call 01242 573558 or visit http://www.ctfc.com/. Game kicks off at 3pm.

For more Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Cheltenham Sport Clubs

Cheltenham has a wide range of sporting and physical activity opportunities, whether you are looking for a local sports team to play for at weekends, try a new exercise class, or use the sports facilities of one of Cheltenham’s parks, playing fields, or sports centres.

Cheltenham4u is bringing to you a comprehensive guide to Sport clubs in Cheltenham where you can find information, contacts and results for your favourite sport.

If you enjoy playing football, you can join one of Cheltenham's numerous football teams and play in Saturday or Sunday League. Other sports you can take up include rugby, cricket, netball and hockey. If you are a racket ball enthusiast, Cheltenham's badminton, squash, tennis and table tennis clubs will offer you a warm welcome. You can either play competitively or socially.

At Cheltenham4u, you can find information about many other sports you can take up in Cheltenham, such as fencing, diving or martial arts.


If you are a member of Cheltenham sport club and would like to get your club's profile featured to promote its activities please get in touch. To find out how please visit our website www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/community/sportclubs.asp.

Cheltenham Ghosts

Gloucestershire belongs among one of the most haunted counties and Cheltenham has its fair share of ghosts.

Cheltenham boasts to be the location of the best authenticated ghost story on the files of the Society for Psychical Research. The so-called “Cheltenham ghost” was first investigated by Frederic Myers. In April, 1882, Captain Despard with his invalid wife and six children moved into a house known as Garden Reach (also known as St. Anne’s in Pittville Circus Road). The house had been empty for years, and there were reports of its being haunted. The house was built by Henry Swinhoe in 1860. Rose, the captain's daughter, saw the ghost first -a figure of a tall lady, dressed in black. Altogether 17 people saw the ghost - members of the family, friends, or staff within the house. It tended to follow the same route, going down the stairs, into the drawing room, standing behind the couch for a while, then moving along the corridor to the garden door, and disappearing.

The haunting was at its height between 1884 and 1886. After that, the figure was seen less often and it gradually became less distinct in outline. The figure was believed to be Mrs Imogen Swinhoe, Henry Swinhoe’s second wife, who was reputedly driven to alcoholism by her alcoholic husband. The apparition of a woman resembling St. Anne’s ghost was seen in 1958 and 1961 in now demolished Cotswold Lodge, situated opposite St. Anne’s in Pittville Circus Road and also in 1970 outside St. Anne’s by a passing motorist. In 1985 the figure was seen at the back of the building.

Another haunted building in Cheltenham is the Everyman Theatre. Music can be heard from on the stage. This has been reported by several people including one of the theatres longest inhabitants; a technician who’s been there for over 20 years. The music is most often heard by people near the main auditorium doors in the Foyer. A figure has been seen standing in the circle/upper circle of the auditorium.

The house of Captain Thomas Hardy in Victoria Walk is reputedly haunted, though by who it is unclear. Tapping can be heard at the cellar of Suffolks Arms public house and in Hotel de la Bere in Southam which used to be a girls’ school a nanny who worked for the school hanged herself in her bedroom, and now walks along the corridors checking rooms to ensure her charges are asleep.

Leckhampton Inn had a haunting manifestation in 1997 when an old man and his terrier dog who frequented this old coaching inn appeared to landlord Andy Hobbs so clearly that he asked the man what he wanted to drink. The landlord was later shown a picture of a man long dead, who he identified as the disappearing customer.

Prestbury in the north west Cheltenham has a number of resident ghosts and it actually is the most haunted village in Gloucestershire, haunted by ghosts such as the Headless Horseman, The White Lady and the Black Abbot, who roams the local churchyard. You can find more information on Prestbury ghosts in the article on our website.

Have you ever seen any ghosts in Cheltenham? Have you heard any unusual noises which you were sure were out of ordinary? Let us know on community@cheltenham4u.co.uk or leave a comment on our blog. If you are interested in the paranormal, ghosts, hauntings, UFOs and related phenomena, why don’t you come along to the meetings of The Myers Paranormal Society, which meets every second Tuesday of the month in the Cotswold Inn, Portland Street.

Bishop's Cleeve Seniors Club

There are a number of over 60s in Cheltenham area but Bishop's Cleeve Seniors Club is one of those which stand out.
The Club, which has over 300 members, has its own club house for the sole use of senior citizens. Membership is open for the over 60s resident in Bishop's Cleeve, Woodmancote, and surrounding areas. The Club is open 6 and sometimes 7 days a week for various Social Events and Activities.

Bishop's Cleeve Seniors Club is a friendly and caring club so if you are over 60 and need to make new friends and enjoy new interests come along to a Coffee Morning on Wednesdays or Saturdays between 10.00am and 11.00am, and you'll be made feel very welcome. For more information on Bishop's Cleeve Seniors Club visit our Community section at www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/community.


If you are a member of Cheltenham club or society and would like to get your club's profile featured to promote its activities please get in touch. To find out how please visit our website www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/community.

Cheltenham Family History

Family history research has become an increasingly popular pastime in recent years. Millions of people are searching for their roots and devote hours of their free time to this fascinating hobby.

Cheltenham4u created a Cheltenham Family History guide to help you with your research. It contains general advice on how to start, reviews of popular family history software, as well as Gloucestershire and Cheltenham specific information, such as historical information about Cheltenham, information about family history research in Cheltenham Reference Library and Gloucestershire archives, details of Cheltenham local and family history societies and links to many useful websites covering Gloucestershire genealogy.

In addition, you can connect with other Cheltenham researchers by leaving a message on our Cheltenham family history message board and share the results of your research with others by submitting your family history stories.

Cheltenham Christmas Lights Photos

Cheltenham’s landmarks getting a facelift

Many of Cheltenham’s public buildings are going to get a major revamp during the next few months.

Pittville Pump Room is going to get a green makeover with a solar panel fitted on the roof, angled to the south facing orientation on the car park side.

Cheltenham Library in Clarence Street is going to undergo a major revamp at a cost of £100,000.

Cheltenham General Hospital will get a £16 million extension with state-of-the-art critical care, rehabilitation and stroke facilities. A dozen intensive care and high dependency beds will be provided as well as 24 beds for stroke patients and 40 rehabilitation beds. The project is expected to be completed by March 2009. In addition to that Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal hospitals are set to benefit from £715,000 of improvement works, which should include new flooring and curtains for the wards, and redecorating bathrooms and toilets.

In addition, a new £5 million breast cancer clinic is going to be built from April next year at the site at Thirlestaine Court to be opened in June, 2009. It will replace existing breast cancer services at Cobalt's Linton House and the general hospital.

Cavendish House at the Promenade is another building to undergo a major transformation - third of the space is to be leased out to two new shops: Zara and H&M. Plans are to pedestrianise Regent Street to create another shopping area in Cheltenham town centre.

Cheltenham Art Gallery is one of the buildings which is going to change its face completely. 78 architects have entered a competition to develop the shopfronts to the east of the gallery. A shortlist of four designs have been announced. The four designs that reached this stage promise a completely new look to Clarence Street.
You can view paper versions of the final four – until Friday 21 December at the Art Gallery & Museum, Clarence Street (during regular opening times) and at the Municipal Offices, Cheltenham Borough Council, Promenade, (on Monday / Tuesday / Thursday and Friday from 9am until 5pm and on Wednesdays from 9.30am until 5pm).

There will also be a series of mini-roadshows throughout the town in December, and a travelling exhibition will call at:
3 December to 6 December: Hesters Way Community Resource Centre and Springbank Resource Centre
6 December (6pm to 8pm): Late night opening at the Art Gallery & Museum
7 December (10am to 12.30pm): Regents Arcade
14 December (1pm to 4.30pm): At the Brewery Centre
19 December (4pm to 7.30pm): At the Bacon Theatre, Dean Close School

Ice Skating at the Brewery

A 29sq ft open-air ice rink which can take up to 20 skaters for a 20-minute skate opened at the Brewery yesterday as Cheltenham Christmas lights were switched on.

The Brewery rink will then be opened today, November 25, Saturday and Sunday, December 8 and 9, and later from December 15 to 23 between midday and 8pm. Tickets cost £4 for adults and £3 for children. A family ticket, which allows entrance for two adults and two children is £11. Tickets include the hire of skates.

You can find out more about this and other Cheltenham Christmas events in our Cheltenham Christmas Events Guide.

Tubby Blues Festival

7 December 2007 - Newlands Park Club
future dates: 4 January 2008, 1 February 2008, 7 March 2008, 4 April 2008, 2 May 2008

Tubby Blues Festival comes back to Cheltenham, well this year to Bishop's Cleeve. Tubby Blues Club takes place on the first Friday at Newlands Park Club, Southam Lane, just two minutes from Cheltenham Racecourse. For any enquiries please contact 01242 691998 or 07796 034206 or email tubbyblues@blueyonder.co.uk

In aid of Gloucestershire's hospitals, next Tubby Blues Show, will take place at Newlands Park Club in Bishop's Cleeve on Friday, 7 December. Bands booked to play include the Dr Teeth Big Band and Slowburner. Gloucestershire blues performer Otis Mack will compere the show. Tickets cost £10 each. Tables can be reserved by calling 01242 691998 or 07796 034206. Doors open at 7pm and the show will run from 8.25pm to midnight.

On January 4th blues fans will be able to see The Mustangs and The Paul Poulton Project and the next event on 1st February will feature Keith Thompson Touring Band and Texas Medicine. Both events will be compered by Otis Mack.

7 March 2008 - The Ian Parker Band, Pete Mitchell's Drive
4 April 2008 - Lee Wilson & The Mighty House Rockers, The Blind Lemmons
2 May 2008 - Split Whiskers, Blue Touch

For more information on this and other Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham Events Guide.

iTuesday in Cheltenham Cineworld

In Cheltenham, the last Tuesday of each month is an "iTuesday" which brings art and independent film to the heart of Cheltenham, more specifically to Cheltenham Cineworld. iTuesday is hosted and organised by the University of Gloucestershire in partnership with Cheltenham Cineworld. Tickets cost £4.00 and are open to all film lovers in Gloucestershire. Tickets are available on the night at Cheltenham Cineworld.

November Event takes place on Tuesday 27 November and includes the screening of the film Confetti, followed by a "meet the director" session afterwards with Debbie Issitt. 7pm arrival for 7.30 screening.


December Event on Tuesday 11 December includes a special sneak preview of the much awaited film Lust, Caution!!!, a new film from Ang Lee, the Academy Award-winning director of “Brokeback Mountain” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”. As this is a special preview screening there is no charge for this event, however free tickets must be collected from the box office before the screening to get entry. Please allow time to get tickets before 7.30pm kick off.

For more Cheltenham events please visit our Cheltenham Events Guide.

Cheltenham Swedish Group

Do you enjoy learning languages and exploring new countries? In Cheltenham you can do it without leaving the town. The Spanish, German, French and Italian Societies offer you the chance to learn more about the culture of these European countries. The most recent addition to the countries to be appreciated in Cheltenham is Sweden.
Cheltenham Swedish Group was set up in October 2007 year to celebrate the culture and the language of Sweden. It is a fun informal group which meets every 2-4 weeks, usually in a cafe or pub for an informal social gathering and some Swedish conversation in a relaxed atmosphere.

The next meeting is on Tuesday, 20 November at 7.30pm at The Swan so why not come along and find out more. For more information on Cheltenham Swedish group visit our Community section at www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/community.


If you are a member of Cheltenham club or society and would like to get your club's profile featured to promote its activities please get in touch. To find out how please visit our website www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/community.

Cheltenham Christmas Market

The annual German-style Christmas Market is coming to the Promenade this Friday. It will feature 50 retailers. Since 2003 when it first appeared in the Promenade, Cheltenham Christmas Market has become a popular Christmas attraction in the region.
Stalls will include hand blown, hand painted glass Christmas decorations and baubles, wooden carved animals and ornaments, and Hungarian and German puppets. You'll be able to buy traditional wooden toys as well as Russian crafts and dolls. There will be musical instruments from around the world, jewellery made from cones and flowers. Refreshments will include mulled wine and bratwurst which should keep shoppers warm.

For more information about Cheltenham Christmas Market and other Cheltenham Christmas Events visit our Cheltenham Christmas Guide.

Dowty Slot Car Racing Club

Deep inside every man is a little boy’s soul and racing cars must be one of those things that a man of any age can’t resist. How many Scaletrix Christmas presents end up being the favourite past time activity of Dads.

So if you fancy a ‘hell of a ride’ why don’t you come along to Dowty Sport & Social Club, Staverton, on any Friday to check out Dowty Slot Car Racing Club’s brand new track, which is over 152’ long! Their cars are capable of 60mph on the straights.

Dowty Slot Car Racing Club is a friendly bunch of people who enjoy racing followed by a chat over a pint. To join them give a ring to Dave Coward 01452 421311. For more information about Dowty Slot Car Racing Club visit our Community section at www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/community.


If you are a member of Cheltenham club or society and would like to get your club's profile featured to promote its activities please get in touch. To find out how please visit our website www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/community.

Cheltenham Christmas Events

For many Christmas Season has started already. Shops are stocking Christmas goodies and soon enough they will be playing Christmas songs. To get you into the festive spirit Cheltenham4u.co.uk created the ultimate guide to Cheltenham Christmas events.

The Christmas Season in Cheltenham starts on 10 November with Christmas Fair in Emmanuel Church and opening of very special Prestbury Chocolate Grotto. November run-up to Christmas culminates with the official Cheltenham Christmas Lights Switch-On on 24 November, when Father Christmas walks through the town centre and lights the Christmas lights in both the shopping arcades. Christmas party then follows in Imperial Gardens. Cheltenham's Panto starts on 30 November in The Everyman and throughout December Christmas Fairs and Fetes are held in all areas of Cheltenham, not to forget Christmas party at the Centaur. Traditionally New Year's Eve Celebrations lead everybody to the Town Hall, in addition this year Pittville Pump Room offers the opportunity to celebrate New Year in style.



For more please visit our Cheltenham Events Guide.

If your group / club / community would like to advertise your Christmas events in our events guide, or if you know of any Christmas events happening near you which are missing in our Christmas guide please go to www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/admin_forthcomingevents.asp.

Cheltenham November Events

As the sound of fireworks is quietening down, there are still plenty of events to go to in Cheltenham - from table top sales to music concerts, balls, film nights and family fun days.

Cheltenham4u.co.uk brings you a round-up of November events in Cheltenham.


HIGHLIGHTS

15 - 25 November 2007 - Americanos Famous Circus, A435 Bishop's Cleeve

18 November 2007 - Family Fun Day at Hatherley and Reddings Cricket Club, Shurdington Road


For more please visit our Cheltenham Events Guide.


If your group / club / community would like to advertise your events in our events guide, or if you know of any events happening near you which are missing in our guide please go to www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/admin_forthcomingevents.asp.

Cheltenham Canine Society Dog Show

10 November 2007, Malvern Showground
Love dogs? Why don't you come to Malvern Showground on 10 November to watch Cheltenham Canine Society Dog Show. The Show is held at The Avon Hall, Three Counties Showground. Entry is through the Blue Gate. Show opens 8.30am to 5pm and judging starts at 9am. Car Parking and entry is free - however unentered dogs are not admitted inside the show.

If you are a member of Cheltenham club or society and would like to get your club's profile featured to promote its activities please get in touch. To find out how please visit our website www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/community.

Charlton Kings Remembrance Sunday Service

11 November 2007 - St. Mary’s Church, Charlton Kings

Service at Charlton Kings War Memorial to remember the fallen of the world wars is held on Remembrance Sunday, 11 November, at 9:45am. War veterans have been invited to come along and free bus after the service will take them to the Municipal Offices in the Promenade. Poppies and crosses will be available from 9.30am at the war memorial. Borough and county councillors accompanied by Air Cadets will also attend.