Cheltenham Christmas Lights Switch-On 2008

22 November 2008, Imperial Gardens

Cheltenham Christmas Lights Switch On will take place on 22 November in Imperial Gardens. Helping with the switch on will this year be the RnB girl band The Honeyz who will perform live some of their hits.

From 3pm onwards there will be live entertainment throughout the town centre. Shoppers will be entertained by an array of street performers including jugglers, stiltwalkers The Dapper Chaps, musician Wynndebagge with his one-man street show and Victorian style characters Lady Margot and Artful Dodger.

Other activities on the day will include Christmas Lantern Making Workshops from 10.30am – 2.15pm at YMCA (free tickets are available from the Town Hall). From 12pm to 4pm there will be a Christmas Grotto and a real live reindeer in The Brewery shopping centre. From 5pm – 6.30pm the All-Star Christmas Party bursts onto the stage in the Imperial Gardens. Star 107.5FM DJs play all your favourite festive tunes alongside live entertainment.

SWITCH ON SCHEDULE
5.15pm - Christmas lights will be switched on in Regent Arcade
5.30pm - Christmas lights will be switched on in Beechwood Shopping Centre
5.35pm - 6pm Catch the Dhol Blasters as they join Santa in the Christmas parade from the Beechwood Shopping Centre along the High Street and up the Promenade to Imperial Gardens. Santa will be travelling aboard Trigger the Train, joined by SpongeBob SquarePants & Patrick, in the parade of colour and sound.
6.30pm Live on stage in the Imperial Gardens, assisted by the Mayor of Cheltenham and panto characters, Santa will switch on Cheltenham Christmas lights

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

Cheltenham Christmas Market 2008

14 -30 November 2008, the Promenade

The annual German-style Christmas Market is coming to the Promenade on 14 November. It will feature 60 decorated wooden challets, selling a wide range of festive crafts and gifts. 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.

TIMES:
10am – 6pm Monday – Wednesday
10am – 8pm Thursday – Saturday
11am – 5pm Sundays

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

Halloween Party in Naunton Park

31 October 2008, Naunton Park, 6pm - 8.30pm

Halloween Party, aimed at children from 5 to 13, is to be held in Naunton Park. There will be arts and crafts, face painting, and prizes for the best fancy dress costumes. Later on in the evening, one of the scariest story tellers in Gloucestershire will be telling ghost stories, under the large weeping beech in the rose garden. Other activities will include creating some scary Halloween food, treasure trail and much more.

SCHEDULE:

6pm - Meet at Naunton Park pavilion
6.30pm – 6.50pm – First spooky stories in the Rose Garden
7.15pm – 7.35pm and 8pm - 8.20pm – Further spooky stories
8.20pm – 8.30 pm – Fancy dress competition results
Throughout the evening: treasure hunt, arts and crafts, Halloween food creations and more

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

Half Term Activities for Children in Cheltenham

27 - 31 October 2008

PLAY RANGERS
The Play Rangers will be out and about in Community venues throughout Cheltenham, offering various activities, such as Wii games including Wii fit, arts and crafts, and relaxing in chill out areas watching DVDs, toys, games, play and sport equipment, and many more. These activities will take place at various youth centres or parks in Cheltenham from 10.30am to 3.30pm during half term week (27 to 31 October). Play Ranger activities are free and open access. All children aged 0-8 years should be accompanied by an adult.

VENUES:
Monday, 27 October 2008: St Barnabas Church Hall, Cheltenham Leisure Centre and Balcarras Sports Centre
Tuesday, 28 October 2008: Swindon Village Hall, Whaddon Youth Centre and Naunton Park
Wednesday, 29 October 2008: St Silas Church Hall, Cheltenham Leisure Centre and Leckhampton Village Hall
Thursday, 30 October 2008: St Nicholas Church Hall, Whaddon Youth Centre and Balcarras Sports Centre
Friday, 31 October 2008: Swindon Village Hall, Cheltenham Leisure Centre and St. Margaret’s Church Hall


OTHER HALF TERM ACTIVITIES
A range of fun family events have been arranged at community centres, church halls, and children’s centres in Cheltenham during half term week. The activities include art and craft, a children’s fancy dress competition and a guess the weight of the pumpkin competition, with great prizes to be won. The events run for two hours every day during half term week, at various venues throughout the town.

VENUES:
Monday 27 October 2008 from 1.30-3.30pm: St Aidans, Hester’s Way
Tuesday 28 October 2008 from 1pm-3pm: Clyde Crescent litter pick followed by family fun at Oakley Community Resource Centre
Wednesday 29 October 2008 from 2pm-4pm: Family fun at Springbank Community Resource Centre
Thursday 30 October 2008 from 1.30pm-3.30pm: St Peters Church Hall
Friday 31 October 2008 from 1.30pm-3.30pm: Rowanfield Children’s Centre

COMMUNITY ACTION DAY
Wednesday 29 October 2008
Residents and community groups will be holding a Community Action Day in their neighbourhood. Events have been arranged for the Arle Farm, Cavendish Park, Springfields, Springbank and Hester's Way. Local residents and organisations are encouraged to get involved in the action which will start at 11am at the Springbank Community Resource Centre, Springbank Way, Cheltenham.

A free family fun afternoon will follow, from 2pm to 4pm, at the Springbank Community Resource Centre, with activities including a climbing wall, mask making and arts and crafts. A community artist will record the day and art work will be displayed in the Community Resource Centre. Everyone who takes part in the day will be entered into a free prize draw with some great prizes to be won. Refreshments, hot soup and rolls will be available.

Ice Skating Rink in Cheltenham

22 November 2008 - 4 January 2009, Montpellier Gardens

A skating rink will be installed in the grounds of Montpellier Gardens under cover of a huge marquee giving skaters complete protection from the weather. The rink will measure 50ft x 80ft and is suitable for all ages, novices and experienced skaters. There will be Skate Café alongside the rink serving warming drinks and festive snacks for those wishing to relax after their skate or whilst watching others take to the skate’s.

OPENING HOURS:
Tuesdays & Wednesdays 12pm -6pm
Thursdays 10am - 8pm
Fridays 10am -7pm
Saturday 10am - 8pm
Sunday 10am -7pm
2 hour sessions in operation on Sat & Sun

ADMISSION:
Children £5
Adults £6
Family ticket £15 = 2 adults + 2 children
School groups £4 (teachers and assistants Free)
Charges include skate hire. Tickets can be purchased on the door on the day.

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

Cheltenham Literature Festival 2008 Photos

Cheltenham Literature Festival 2008 ended on Sunday, and as every year brought to Cheltenham many stars. Writers, comedians, actors, directors, poets, journalists, musicians and politicians, have flocked to the Festival, which this year offered over 350 events with over 450 guest speakers.

What were your favourite events at this year's Festival? Were they stars of the silver screen such as Roger Moore, Tony Curtis or Julie Walters, or acclaimed writers, such as Graham Swift, Ian Rankin or Jilly Cooper, journalists, such as Andrew Marr or Kate Adie, or comedians, such as Frank Skinner, Dawn French, Alistair McGowan or Dave Gorman, or perhaps TV personalities, such as Michael Parkinson or Jonathan Dimbleby?

CHELTENHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2008 PHOTOS

Meet Your MP Martin Horwood

Martin Horwood is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Cheltenham. If you need to discuss any matters with your local MP, you can drop in at his advice surgeries on Friday lunchtimes or evenings. You can also meet Martin at various events taking place in and around Cheltenham.

Wednesday 15 October
12:00pm
There will be a memorial service for Lord Holme of Cheltenham, who died in May this year. The service will be held at St Margaret’s Church in Westminster. Martin will be attending the memorial service.
2:30pm
A Westminster Hall debate is taking place, about Treatment for people with learning difficulties in the NHS. This is linked to the ‘Death by Indifference’ report by Mencap (see http://www.mencap.org.uk/case.asp?id=52&menuId=53&pageno=). One of the case studies in the report, Tom, was from Cheltenham, so Martin will be attending this debate.

Thursday 16 October
1:15pm
Martin will be a judge at a debate being held in connection with Cheltenham Literature Festival. There are several debates happening at this event, and the one Martin is judging will be entitled ‘The London Congestion Charge model should be adopted by all major cities’. This event is taking place in a marquee at the Town Hall.
6:00pm
Cheltenham’s MAD Youth Council will be hosting a launch event at Cheltenham Town Football Club, at which Martin will be speaking.

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

Cirque Surreal at Cheltenham Racecourse

22 October - 26 October 2008, Cheltenham Racecourse

Cirque Surreal, Europe's largest new circus, is coming to Cheltenham Racecourse this October with their show Voyagers. On the cutting edge of innovation, Voyagers is a dynamic fusion of traditional circus skills, modern dance, drama and humour. Leading performance artistes from 10 countries have come together for the first time to combine their unique talents and extraordinary skills for this internationally acclaimed production.

PERFORMANCES:

Wednesday 4.45pm, 7.30pm

Thursday 4.45pm, 7.30pm

Friday 4.45pm, 7.30pm

Saturday 2.30pm, 7.30pm

Sunday 12pm, 2.30pm

Ticket office open on site Tuesday 21st October.

ADMISSION:

Ringside: Adults £32, Concessions £24, Family tickets (2 adults + 2 children or 1 adult + 3 children) £64

Grandstand: Adults £24, Concessions £18, Family tickets (2 adults + 2 children or 1 adult + 3 children) £48

Side circle: Adults £18, Concessions £14, Family tickets (2 adults + 2 children or 1 adult + 3 children) £36

Rear circle: Adults £12, Concessions £8

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

Cheltenham MP Supports University Tuition Fees Fightback

Over 9000 stickered £1 coins are to go into circulation across the UK this week, highlighting the cost of tuition fees being paid by students in England and Northern Ireland over the course of a degree. Martin Horwood MP is lending support to the campaign by circulating the coins in the House of Commons and in Cheltenham.

The initiative, part of a UK Youth Parliament campaign to abolish university tuition fees, is being launched as thousands of students prepare to start university. According to a UK Youth Parliament survey of 6000 young people, one in three young people wanting to go to university say they can’t afford to go.

James Greenhalgh, 18, Member of Youth Parliament, said:

“There seems to be no end in sight as the cost of university spirals out of control. Young people are being asked to play Russian roulette with their financial future as they incur mounting debts.

“Education should be free for all young people and we will not stop until the injustices this flawed tuition fees system have created are brought to an end.”

Tuition fees have now been set at up to £3145 per year in England and Northern Ireland. Fees in Wales are capped at £1255 and there are no tuition fees in Scotland.

2008 - 2009 Horse Racing Fixtures at Cheltenham Racecourse

17 October - 18 October 2008 – The Showcase
The Showcase offers a stunning start to the new season at Cheltenham Racecourse with a two day meeting. Seven races each day, with almost every category of horse catered for, will allow you to get some early season pointers for the forthcoming fixtures at Cheltenham and elsewhere. Plenty of stars of the 2007/08 season were on display at this meeting last year, including Knowhere, Joe Lively, Maljimar and Marodima. Tickets from £9. Gates open 11.30am, first race 2.20pm.

14 November - 16 November 2008 – The Open
The Open represents three days of the best that racing has to offer and is the biggest and most important meeting of the first half of the Jumps season, with £750,000 in prize money up for grabs. It provides thrilling competition between many of the best Jump horses in Europe, large and enthusiastic crowds creating a special atmosphere and even the opportunity to spend your winnings in the tented village. The highlight of the meeting is Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup, a race that has been a high point of the Autumn racing calendar since 1960. The gates open at 10am, first race is on at 12.50pm and last race runs at 4pm. Tickets start from £9.


12 December - 13 December 2008 – Boylesports International
Boylesports International features two days of the highest class action, with many emerging and established equine stars on display. Saturday's card includes the £200,000 boylesports.com International, one of the most valuable hurdle races of the entire season in Britain or Ireland and the ultra competitive boylesports.com Gold Cup, a superb race in its own right and one of the series of 2 mile 5 furlong handicap chases that never fail to illuminate the season at Cheltenham. On Friday, take your second chance of the season to experience Cross Country Steeplechasing, along with the £100,000 boylepoker.com Handicap Chase, as a secong highlight on another outstanding card. In the evening on Friday, The Centaur hosts the Brightwells Bloodstock Sale, to which everyone is welcome.

1 January 2009 – New Year’s Day Racing
2009 horse racing at Cheltenham Racecourse starts with New Year's Day Racing. The New Year is kick started with some of the best horses, jockeys and trainers in the land. Gates open at 10.00am, first race is on at 12.25pm, last race at 3.55pm.

24 January 2009 – Festival Trials Day
This is arguably the best one day Jumps meeting of the entire season anywhere. Seven races give some final clues as to the destination of the big prizes at The Festival (Five Festival winners ran on this day last season), but this is a day of sporting drama that is far more than a prelude to four days in March. Highlights include the Letheby & Christopher Chase, Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle and the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase. Gates open at 10.30am, first race is on at 12.55pm, last race at 4.20pm.

10 March – 13 March 2009 – The Festival
The National Hunt Festival is the highlight of Cheltenham's horse racing calendar, with its importance in British racing, comparable to the World Cup in football. It features the famous Cheltenham Gold Cup, the tradition of which goes back to 1819 and which had its present form since 1924. The four-days of the best steeplechase and hurdle racing attracts thousands of visitors from Ireland, with a strong line-up of Irish horses challenging for the prizes on offer. The 20 races offer in excess of £2 million in prize money.

15 April – 17 April 2009 – The April Meeting
Since 2008 April Meeting, a Friday evening fixture has been added to the traditional two days. There is also another top class National Hunt sale organised by Brightwells in the Centaur on the evening following the first day of the meeting, which in 2008 produced a staggering £2.3 million in aggregate turnover.

6 May 2009 – Hunter Chase Evening
Hunter Chase Evening is a fixture where amateur jockeys take centre stage on the racecourse. Off the track, this ever-popular meeting provides an outstanding atmosphere in which to enjoy the last meeting of our season.

Cheltenham Fireworks 2008

Autumn is well on its way and November Guy Fawkes fireworks extravaganza is fast approaching. There is a number of great fireworks displays and bonfire nights taking place in and around Cheltenham.

1 November 2008 - Cheltenham Racecourse Fireworks Display
Cheltenham Racecourse will traditionally host a dazzling evening of musical entertainment, fun packed fairground and one of the largest firework displays coordinated to themed music in the South West of England. The gates are open at 5.00pm and the display is scheduled to start at 7.00pm. Tickets: £3 Children (Under 14 Years) and £5 Adults

1 November 2008 - The Big Family Bonfire Night
Leckhampton Scouts HQ, Leckhampton Road
A Bonfire Night is being held at Leckhampton Scouts HQ, Leckhampton Road with fireworks, hot food, licensed bar and lots more. Admission: One large firework or £10 per family. Start at 6pm.

7 November 2008 - Bishop's Cleeve Primary School Fireworks
Bishops Cleeve Primary School is holding a fireworks display and bonfire on its playing fields. Gates open at 6.30pm, bonfire to be officially lit at 7.15pm. Admission: £3 adults, £1 children.

7 November 2008 - Winchcombe Abbey Primary School Fireworks
Winchcombe School plays host to a spectacular firework display which is orgainised by the Winchcombe School Association and the Friends of Winchcombe Abbey Primary School. There will be BBQ and Bar. Gates open 6pm , display starts at 7pm Tickets: Adults £3.50, children £2.50, pre-school age free, family £10. Location: Winchcombe School Field, Greet Road, Winchcombe, GL54 5LB

7 November 2008 - Birdlip Fireworks
Firework display and bonfire will be held at Birdlip Primary School, Birdlip. Refreshments available. Gates open 6pm, Bonfire lit at 7pm. Tickets: Adults £4, children £2 (under 5's free), family ticket £10

8 November 2008 - Burley Fields Fireworks Display
A large firework extravaganza in Leckhampton, Cheltenham with lots of entertainment for the whole family, including disco & live music, small fun fair, fast food serving mouth watering pork baps, burgers, hotdogs and chips with a licensed bar. The fireworks are professionally lit by Sandling Fireworks. Bonfire lit at 7pm, Kids Firework display at 8.15pm with main display at 9.45pm. Tickets: £4 in advance or £6 on the night (limited tickets available) available from Burley Fields Farm shop (Friday 10 am - 1 pm & Sat 10am - 4pm), Leckhampton convenience store and Shurdington Post Office or by Phoning Pam on 07769700067 or Steve on 07831734683.

8 November 2008 - St. Edward's School Fireworks Display
As every year, St. Edward's School in Charlton Kings is organising a grand fireworks display. The evening will include bonfire, refreshments and hotdogs, stalls and rides for small children. Gates open 6pm display at 7pm, tickets are available from the school or on the gates.






More dates to follow soon.





Is your local community or group organizing a bonfire/fireworks night? Do you know of fireworks display near where you are? Please let us know and we’ll include it in our list.

October Gigs in Cheltenham

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

Tuesday, 7 October 2008
The APO Band, The VENUE Jazz Club, Wheatsheaf Inn, Old Bath Road, GL53 9AJ. Doors open 8 p.m. music starts 9 p.m. Jazz

Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Paul Newmans Jam Band, Subtone, 117 Promenade, Cheltenham. Band 9-11pm, FREE Entry, Drinks promotions. Jazz

Sunday, 12 October 2008
JB 2 The Kilkeney, Andoversford, Lunchtime Jazz

Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Paul Newmans Jam Band Subtone, 117 Promenade, Cheltenham. Band 9-11pm, FREE Entry, Drinks promotions. Jazz

Friday, 17 October 2008
Talbot House - A Home from Home, The Kings Theatre, Gloucester. 7.30pm, £10. BOX OFFICE : 01452 396572 / 01242 587776 Theatre
JB Jazz and Blues Band, The White Horse, Sandhurst, 8pm Jazz

Sunday, 19 October 2008
Antonio Forcione, An intimate evening with the jazz guitar virtuoso. Cheltenham Chase Hotel, Shurdington Road. Food from 7pm, music 8.30pm. £18. LIMITED TICKETS 01242 587776 Jazz
JB Jazz and Blues Band / Abbey Jazz / Bridget and the Big Girls Blues, Whitminster Jazz and Ale Festival, Whitminster Inn, All Day Jazz

Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Ipso Facto, The VENUE Jazz Club, Wheatsheaf Inn, Old Bath Road, GL53 9AJ. Doors open 8 p.m. music starts 9 p.m. Jazz

Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Paul Newmans Jam Band, Subtone, 117 Promenade, Cheltenham. Band 9-11pm, FREE Entry, Drinks promotions. Jazz

Thursday, 23 October 2008
JB Jazz and Blues Band Three Choirs Vinyard, Newent, 8pm Jazz

Sunday, 26 October 2008
Jazz Jam, The VENUE Jazz Club, Wheatsheaf Inn, Old Bath Road, GL53 9AJ. 8.30pm, £3 Jazz
JB Jazz and Blues Band, The Harp Jazz Club, Albrighton, 12.30pm Jazz

Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Jam Night/Open Mic, PA, Amps, Drums, Keyboards, supplied The VENUE @ The Wheatsheaf Inn, Old Bath Road, GL53 9AJ.

Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Paul Newmans Jam Band, Subtone, 117 Promenade, Cheltenham. Band 9-11pm, FREE Entry, Drinks promotions. Jazz

For a full calendar of 2008 Cheltenham gigs please visit our MySpace page. For other Cheltenham events visit our Cheltenham events guide.

Pittville Park Fun Day to Celebrate Citizen's Day

19 October 2008, 11am - 4pm

A Citizens' Day provides an opportunity to celebrate local achievements, to build and renew community cohesion, and to develop greater local engagement.

A free fun day to celebrate Citizen's Day in Cheltenham is being held at Pittville Pump Room and park on Sunday 19 October 2008. MP Martin Horwood, Deputy mayor, Cllr Lloyd Surgenor and Cheltenham Borough Council’s Chief Executive, Andrew North, will formally open the event at 12.30pm. From 11am to 4pm, a series of interesting and spectacular events will entertain visitors, from dance to story telling, music from local bands and a Wii room for good measure. Entrance is free and everyone is invited to come along.

The line up includes live music from Vince Freeman, Peter Gill and Friends and Explosive Nzakomba, as well as the Coady Crew, Chinese Lion dancing, capoeira, belly dancing, bangra dancing and a gamelan demonstration. Story tellers, insect man, a birds of prey demonstration, bouncy castles and circus skills provide just part of the entertainment for youngsters. Food and refreshments will be available throughout the day or bring a picnic.

Cheltenham October & November Events

October and November events in Cheltenham include not only Halloween ghost walks and train rides, Guy Fawkes fireworks displays, but of course the world famous Cheltenham Literature Festival, Steam and Vintage Rally, Circus performance and Hommage to Gustav Holst. November run-up to Christmas starts with Cheltenham Christmas Market and culminates with the official Cheltenham Christmas Lights Switch-On on 22 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.

HIGHLIGHTS
10 - 19 October 2008 - Cheltenham Literature Festival
11 - 12 October 2008 - Steam and Vintage Rally
1 November 2008 - Cheltenham Racecourse Fireworks Display
8 November 2008 - Burley Fields Fireworks Display
14 - 30 November 2008 - Cheltenham Christmas Market
22 November 2008 - Christmas Lights Switch-On

For more please visit our Cheltenham Events Guide.

If you 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.

Dowty Slot Car Racing Club Update

Dowty Slot Car Racing Club is a friendly bunch of people who enjoy racing followed by a chat over a pint. If you would like to join them give a ring to Dave Coward on 01452 421311.

The 2008 calendar of races is available on Dowty Slot Car Racing Club pages on Cheltenham4u. You can also read up about the different classes of slot cars they race every week, see the results and read the reports from their recent races.

For more information about Dowty Slot Car Racing Club and other Cheltenham clubs and societies please 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.

GE Aviation to Close Arle Court Site

Staff at the Arle Court site of Gloucestershire’s biggest aerospace firm GE Aviation (formerly Smiths Aerospace) were told today the factory would close at the end of March 2010. The closure will affect 200 employees, out of which at least 95 will lose their jobs or will be offered the chance to apply for positions at other GE plants .

It was announced late in June that GE was considering closing the site.

Aircraft manufacturing have been in operation at Arle Court since 1935, when George Dowty purchased the estate at Arle Court as a site for the factory and the headquarters for The Dowty Group, his aircraft company.

Martin Horwood, MP for Cheltenham said: “This is a very sad day for Cheltenham as well as for the employees who are losing their jobs. The aviation tradition at Arle Court goes back to George Dowty in the 1930s. But the aviation sector in Gloucestershire is bigger than this one site and I hope many people will be able to find jobs elsewhere. I expect Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucestershire First and GE themselves to do everything they can to support people through this process.”

Cheltenham French Circle

Do you enjoy learning languages and exploring new countries? In Cheltenham you can do it without leaving the town.

Established in 1947, Cheltenham French Circle promotes interest in the French language and culture through a programme of events consisting mainly of illustrated talks/lectures, discussions and social meetings. It offers French conversation facilities with lecturers from France. Meetings are held on alternate Mondays from September to May in Church house, 60 Painswick Road. They start at 7.30pm with a talk, followed by refreshments and the opportunity to chat in French.

Next meeting is on 29 September 2008 when Michel Amieux will be talking about May '68, so why not come along and find out more about the group. For more information on Cheltenham French Circle 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 Leisure Centre Fun Day

27 September 2008, 10am – 4pm

Cheltenham Leisure Centre will be hosting a fun day packed with free live entertainment and events on Saturday, 27 September, to mark the start of the four year Cultural Olympiad. There will be music, dance displays, jugglers, swimming and face painting and many more free activities happening on the day.

Indoor and outdoor displays will include tango dancing and Capoeira, a Brazilian dance. Stilt walkers, ‘Notional Trust’ guides, the Music Man and Mr Dennis Teeth with his ‘musical saw’ will provide outdoor entertainment throughout the day. With a number of workshops, families can have a go at kite making, wall climbing and learn to DJ. Sporting activities will include badminton, football, basketball, gymnastics, athletics and free swimming. An outdoor stage to the rear of the leisure centre will host live music, including The Gecks and Peter Gill & Friends. The Star Radio team will be broadcasting live from the event.

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

Cheltenham MP Meeting Local Amnesty Group

17 September, 8:00pm, the Guildhall Arts Centre, Gloucester

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood will be giving tips on how to effectively lobby politicians when he attends a meeting of the local Amnesty group tomorrow evening.

Lobbying is one way in which people can make decision makers aware of their concerns. Martin is lobbied by his constituents about a wide range of local, national and international issues, including the availability of cancer drugs, flooding problems in the town and the threat to our green belt. Amnesty members often lobby politicians about human rights issues.

Liam Scott, a member of the Gloucester and Cheltenham Amnesty Group, said, "Lobbying your MP is a way of drawing their attention to important issues, both in this country and overseas. With the UK government seemingly willing to sacrifice our human rights under the banner of ’counter terrorism’, and with the focus on Beijing this summer despite China’s poor record on human rights, it's more important than ever to make our voices heard to our Members of Parliament”.

The Amnesty meeting that Martin will be attending is scheduled to commence at 8:00pm on Wednesday 17 September, at the Guildhall Arts Centre in Eastgate Street, Gloucester.

Autumn Gigs at the Xposed Club

19 September 2008, 8pm - Trash Money + Men Daimler
24th October 2008, 8pm - Roshi feat Pars Radio + Gagarin

The Xposed Club at Pittville Studios at the University of Gloucestershire, Albert Road, with its monthly gigs brings to Cheltenham all types of alternative and experimental music.

The Xposed Club will kick off the new term with a gig in September, featuring Trash Money, who started the Xposed Club's last year season. Trash Money was formed by Joe Wilson, course leader of the popular music degree and former member of the band Sneaker Pimps. Their first album, Trash Money was released in 2006 and is an eclectic range of rock, electro, punk and disco tracks with a nostalgic twist. Fans of the band include Lauren Laverne, The Mighty Boosh and Alan McGee. The concert is free for Freshers and Foundation students, for other students tickets cost £3, staff and public £5.

October will bring Roshi feat Pars Radio with support from Gagarin. Roshi feat Pars Radio is a collaboration between the Iranian vocalist Roshi and sound artist Graham Dowdall but also features Classical/experimental cello from Rachel Threlfal, while Gagarin is Graham Dowdall's latest solo project. He has worked extensively with legendary artists like Nico and John Cale and recently Pere Ubu. Xposed Club is privileged to be able to present Dowdall performing work from his latest solo album of experimental electronica. It's definitely not to be missed event in Cheltenham's music calendar.

For a full calendar of 2008 Cheltenham gigs please visit our MySpace page. For other Cheltenham events visit our Cheltenham events guide.