Harvey Andrews concert at Hatherley Cricket Club

22 May 2013
Hatherley Cricket Club


Harvey Andrews is a well known singer/songwriter who performs his own material reflecting humanity, sense of justice, wit and life stories. His latest one man show called "Glad to be Grey" includes humour, nostalgia and an occasional rant and is sure to entertain. He has been on the road for more than 50 years and always attracts very appreciative audiences. 

To find out more visit his website www.harveyandrews.com
Tickets £10.00
email sue4rda@yahoo.co.uk 
text/call mobile 07930 471425

Cheltenham Connect Quiz

20 March 2013 
Cheltenham Bowling Club, Suffolk Square 

Cheltenham Connect is holding a Hollywood themed quiz night! Come and join in the fun at Cheltenham Bowling Club, Suffolk Square, Cheltenham GL50 2DX on Wednesday 20th March starting at 7.30pm. The cost is £5 per person to include sandwiches and there will be a cash bar. Please book in advance via sherylw@btinternet.com.

Every dog to have free microchip

The government announced that all dogs in England will be microchipped for free. Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood, who has campaigned for this measure for years, welcomed the move. From 6 April 2016, microchipping will be compulsory for all dogs. This will help to reunite owners with lost or stolen pets, relieve the burden on animal charities and local authorities, and protect the welfare of dogs by promoting responsible dog ownership. Support from Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, means a free microchip will be available for all unchipped dogs in England.

Currently there are around eight million pet dogs in the UK, and nearly 60 per cent are already chipped. Microchipping has been carried out in Cheltenham by the Cheltenham & East Gloucestershire branch of the RSPCA [see attached photo from 2008]. Each year, more than 100,000 dogs are dumped or lost in the UK at a cost of £57 million to the taxpayer and welfare charities. Over half (52%) of the stray dogs picked up by police, local authorities and animal welfare charities could not be rehomed because their owner could not be identified, a problem which causes 6,000 dogs to be put down every year.

In 2011, Martin raised in parliament the issue of a series of vicious dog attacks in Cheltenham, and highlighted the importance of microchipping in identifying dangerous owners as well as dangerous dogs.

Martin said: “This move has been a long time coming, but I’m delighted the coalition government is now going to do the right thing – and that they have agreed with Dogs Trust a way of doing it for free for at least three years. Microchipping will help to bring down the number of unidentified strays. It will help animal charities like Cheltenham’s own Animal Shelter to track down owners and return lost pets. It will also help the authorities to identify dangerous dog owners who allow their animals to hurt other animals, and pose a threat to human beings.”

Kim Hamilton, chief executive of Blue Cross, based near Burford, said: ‘Compulsory microchipping will make a huge difference to the work of charities like Blue Cross, as we struggle to find homes for an increasing number of stray and unwanted pets. We will be offering both cats and dogs microchipping at Blue Cross rehoming centres and animal hospitals across England. We also welcome plans to allow more flexibility on kennelling suspected banned breeds, as this will have a lasting impression on pet welfare and the wellbeing of dogs.’

 The laws on dog attacks will also be extended to cover private property. This will close a loophole which has meant that dog owners whose animals have attacked people on private property are immune from prosecution. Eight children and six adults have been killed in dog attacks since 2005, with many of these attacks taking place in the home. In the last year alone, over 3,000 postal workers were attacked by dangerously out of control dogs, and 70 per cent of these attacks happened on private property. Government measures will also allow the police, when dealing with any dogs which are subject to court proceedings under the Dangerous Dogs Act, to decide whether a suspected prohibited dog needs to be kept apart from their owners until the outcome of court proceedings. Previously all such dogs had to be kennelled until after proceedings had concluded, even if they posed no risk to the public.

After 6 April 2016, owners of dogs found by the police or local authorities not to have a microchip will have the benefits explained to them, and be given a short period to comply with the microchipping law. If they do not, they will face a fine of up to £500.

Bach & Vivaldi Concert at St. Gregory's Church

23 March 2013
St Gregory's Church, St James Square, Cheltenham

Musica Vera will be singing music by J S Bach and Vivaldi at their concert in aid of the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts, which starts at 7.30 pm. The Choir will be conducted by David Dewar and accompanied by Musica Vera Camerata.

Tickets are £12.00 at the door, (to include refreshments), or from Cheltenham Tourist Information Centre, 77 Promendade, Cheltenham. Free admission to children under 16.

A Choral Celebration from Cheltenham Choral Society

23rd June 2012 at 7.30pm
Cheltenham Town Hall

Cheltenham Choral Society is proud to support the charity HELP for HEROES with a concert performance: “A Choral Celebration” to be held on 23rd June 2012 at 7.30pm in Cheltenham Town Hall.

The main work will be “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace” by the contemporary Welsh composer Karl Jenkins. Based on parts of the Catholic Mass, this powerful work explores the themes of war and peace, incorporating texts from diverse sources, religious and secular, ancient and modern. Set to music which is varied in style and pace, from military marches to lyrical chorales, it presents an emotional and reflective exploration of the horror of war and the hopefulness of peace.

Cheltenham Choral Society at rehearsal

The programme also includes a selection of well-known celebratory music to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Also taking part are popular Cheltenham-born, international opera singer Soprano Rebecca Rudge, choirs from Leckhampton Primary School and Charlton Kings Junior School, and the English Concertante Orchestra under the direction of Ian Higginson. The concert will be presented by Susie Godwin, Gloucestershire Co-ordinator for HELP for HEROES.

This will be a great way to celebrate a momentous time with a nostalgic journey through 60 glorious years of music and song.

Tickets cost £15 for adults and £5 for those under 16 years, and are now on sale from the Town Hall Box Office. You are advised to book early to obtain good seats.

Tel No: 0844 576 2210
Email: boxoffice@cheltenham.gov.uk
Website: http://www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk/

Dine with Cheltenham Connect Meet and Eat

17 April 2012
Suffolk Kitchen, Suffolk Parade

Cheltenham Connect "Meet and Eat" is a new regular event in South Cheltenham, where you can meet fellow traders and enterpreneurs and dine at some of South Cheltenham's fabulous restaurants. The first event is 7.30pm on Tuesday 17th April at the Suffolk Kitchen, the new restaurant in Suffolk Parade. The dinner will consist of two courses and a glass of wine for £15.

To book please go to https://bookwhen.com/cheltenhamconnect
For more information contact belinda@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk

Schubert & Mozart Concert at St Gregory's Church

24 March 2012
St Gregory's Church, St James Square, Cheltenham

Concert by MUSICA VERA takes place on Saturday, 24 March 2012 at 7.30 pm.
Conductor: Oliver Mason. Mass in G (Schubert) and music by Mozart, accompanied by strings.

Tickets £9.00 at the door or from Cheltenham Tourist Information Centre, 77 Promenade, Cheltenham. Free Admission to children under 16. Proceeds to The Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts.

The Jimmy Cricket Great Value for a Tenner Show

Saturday, 17 March 2012
The Playhouse Theatre

‘Come Closer’ ..... Jimmy Cricket, everyone’s favourite Irish comedian is back on tour with his wonderful, family friendly, ‘Great Value for a Tenner’ show! A show where tickets are priced at a mere, recession-proof £10!

Jimmy is without doubt a 1980s comedy icon. With his trademark wellington boots (on the wrong feet), his famous letters from his Mammy and his catchphrases of ‘come closer’ and ‘there’s more’ he holds the hearts of all those that were original fans of his television and radio shows.

He has lost none of his talent or energy and his theatre shows are as hilarious as ever, winning him new fans wherever he performs to add to the legions he has amassed in his formidable career.

Jimmy remains one of the few completely family friendly comedians currently on tour and has great pride in being regaled as having a truly clean act.

Be a Scorer for Woodmancote Cricket Club

Woodmancote Cricket Club have a vacancy for a scorer for our Saturday 1st XI that would suit someone that is a cricket enthusiast and who perhaps is an accountant / book-keeper or even just good with numbers and details. They would be delighted to talk to anyone who may be interested. The position is for every Saturday afternoon although if the volunteer could only do alternate Saturdays that would be fine. Travel expenses would be paid, a hearty cricket tea comes as part of the deal and even a pint at the Apple Tree after home games!

Sideways Glances Exhibition - The Gardens Gallery

30 March 2012 - 3 April 2012

“Come and complete the story!”

That invitation comes from Cheltenham based artist Michael Paul, who will be showing his new paintings at an exhibition in The Gardens Gallery, Montpellier Gardens, from Friday 30th March to Tuesday 3rd April 2012.

Entitled Sideways Glances, the exhibition will showcase around 35 oil paintings, many depicting small groups of people in urban settings. The streets of Cheltenham and London, as well as Edinburgh, Paris and Sicily, provide backdrops to the mysterious subjects that have all been caught in a 'freeze frame' moment.

The collection is largely a study of human interaction. Each painting has an unfinished narrative and the artist's intention is that viewers will make their own judgements about what is occurring. Furtive glances between strangers? Sullen silences between friends? Who's doing the watching, and who is being watched?

Michael Paul says: “The idea is that the viewer will make their own contribution, and complete each story. Not everything is spelled out – one person’s idea of what is going on will be quite different from another’s.”

The exhibition will be open between 10am and 5pm each day and is free of charge.

Chetlenham MP backs call to speed up tax break

Commenting on the speech by Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who called for the coalition to go ‘further and faster’ in raising the level at which people start paying income tax to £10,000 a year, Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood gave his enthusiastic support to the campaign.

The Liberal Democrat commitment to take everyone earning less than £10,000 a year out of income tax altogether was a manifesto pledge and has been taken on by the coalition. The tax allowance was increased by £1,000 in the 2010 Budget, from £6,475 to £7,475.

A planned rise of an additional £630 has already been announced this year, to take the allowance up to £8,105. This will mean that 1.1 million have been taken out of paying income tax altogether and will reduce the tax burden of millions more low earners.

Martin said: “I am very proud that this Liberal Democrat pledge will cut taxes for the lowest earners. Nick Clegg’s call today for this to go faster than originally planned is very welcome and would make a real difference to low and middle income workers who are struggling to make ends meet. The coalition needs to make sure the richest pay their fair share and take every opportunity to lift the tax burden on the least well-off.”

Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival

15th – 17th June 2012

The Cheltenham Food & Drink Festival 15th – 17th June is a gastronomic delight, with over 200 exhibitors; the scope of local & regional products on show ensures there is something for everyone. You’ll find an astonishing variety of victuals from oatcakes to aphrodisiac Quince, the widest range of baked goods, meats, fish, cheeses, jams, chutneys and watch out for 11 year old Fraser of Frasers Fudge leading the wealth of food exhibitors over the three days; this is the regional food event not to be missed. The Champagne Garden, an exclusive corner of Montpellier Gardens invites you to enjoy the finest perfectly chilled glass of champagne or why not sample the full decadent experience and share a bottle of Champagne on ice, with friends.

Celebrity Masterchef 2011 winner Phil Vickery comes off the field to cook up a storm for the rugby fans; this is an experience not to be missed. Join the experts in the Wine Theatre with informal tutored tasting’s, a chance to develop a greater appreciation about wine from the old world to the new world. Don’t forget the inspiring breweries showcasing a wide range of Real Ale from the region with fine ale from Nailsworth Brewery, Stroud Brewery and Prescott Ales to name just a few. Join friends and family and relax in the Cider Garden and enjoy the best of the region, raising a glass to summer while listening to the music and watching the street theatre.

Daily admission is Friday £3; Saturday & Sunday £6 on the gate, Accompanied Children under 16 free. (Pre-booked tickets: Friday £3, Saturday & Sunday £4.60)
Open Times: Friday 12noon to 7pm, Saturday 10.00am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm
Ticket Box office: Cheltenham Town Hall T: 0844 576 2210

Your Memories of Cheltenham in the 1960s Wanted

Peter Gill, the author of Cheltenham in the 50s is working on a follow up book - Cheltenham in the 60s to be published by Stroud based publisher The History Press.

Having done a considerable amount of research he is now looking for more anecdotes, local knowledge and photographs from the general public and was wondering if any of our readers have any pictures of the town and its people during the decade that show events, buildings and areas that have changed or personalities of the period (sportsmen and women, musicians, dignitaries, employers etc).

Cheltenham in the 60s will be Peter's 8th book - the others being Cheltenham at War, North Gloucestershire at War, South Gloucestershire at War, Cheltenham in the 50s, Cheltenham Races, Cheltenham's Racing Heroes and Cheltenham's Music. He has also written and performed in two plays (one of which is still currently touring).

You can email your photos and stories to Peter at petergill@live.co.uk

Visit our Cheltenham Nostalgia pages to refresh your memories of Cheltenham of that period and share your own experiences.

Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo at All Saints Church

10 December 2011 All Saints Church, All Saints Road, Cheltenham

Musica Vera is joining forces with the Choir of Charlton Kings Junior School in a performance of "Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo", as well as Christmas Carols for both choirs and audience. The concert starts at 7.00 pm and tickets cost £9.00 (free admission to children under 16). Tickets available from Cheltenham Tourist Information Centre, 77 Promenade, Cheltenham. Proceeds will go to The Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts. For further info. Tel 01242 517258.

Day of Reflection on Dean Francis Close

28 November 2011 Glenfall House, Mill Lane, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL54 4EP

Glenfall House is the retreat and conference centre for the Diocese of Gloucester. On the 28th November, Bishop John Went, the bishop of Tewkesbury, will lead a day focussing on Dean Francis Close, who contributed so much to the life of Cheltenham and the wider church as well as to education. The day costs £18.75 and includes a three course lunch. Advance bookings only 01242 583654 or email enquiries@glenfallhouse.org www.glenfallhouse.org

Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra Concert

19 November 2011
St. Andrew's Church Montpellier

The well-known local chamber orchestra presents an evening of music by Mendelssohn. George Ewart leads the orchestra andwill also play the violin concerto. The concert opens with the Overture "Fingal's Cave" and concludes with the Symphony No.3 "The Scottish". The conductor is John Longstaff. Tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre priced at £15 with concessions and discounts if bought in advance.

OFF THE CUFF at The Parabola Arts Centre

Wednesday 16th November 2011 7:15pm
The OFFSTAGE Theatre Group and Cheltenham Comedy Festival Present... 'OFF THE CUFF' It's Childish Humour For Adults The Parabola Arts Centre, Cheltenham Wednesday 16th November 2011 7:15pm (Doors open at 7:00pm) Tickets: £8.50

'OFF THE CUFF' is a Cheltenham-based comedy improvisation troupe, with a heavy musical element, that has been successfully running in Cheltenham since 2007 (it's much like a live version of the TV show 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?'), where it regularly attracts sell-out audiences. They were the first act booked for the inaugural Stratford-Upon-Avon Fringe Festival in 2010 (and booked again for 2011), sold out at the Birmingham Comedy Festival 2010, and headlined the Cabaret Stage at the Bristol Festival for three years running; as well as touring festivals and theatres up and down the country. OFF THE CUFF have been granted a prime venue amongst a plethora of famous comedians (see www.cheltenhamcomedy.com for the full line-up), so let's show those Edinburgh nominees and highly-paid stars that Cheltenham performers can tickle the funny bones too. Support your local act!

Audiences will have their funny bones shaken and their chuckle muscles sprained by the comic performance of a troupe of actor-comedians who make it all up as they go along. There is no script, there are no rehearsals and there is nowhere to hide. The members of the audience provide the suggestions and the scenarios, which means the show is never the same twice. The lively cast are all actors/improvisers and the show is a spin-off from the award-winning travelling theatre group, OFFSTAGE, who have been commissioned for and performed on BBC Radio, as well as creating shows for BBC Worldwide and in Los Angeles, USA.

Speaking on behalf of the Cheltenham Comedy Festival, co-director Mark Makin said: 'We believe that it's important to showcase the best of local talent along with the best of UK comedy at the festival. Off The Cuff have been building up a strong following in the area for their quick fire improvised wit, so come along to the Parabola Arts Centre on the 16th November to catch these rising stars' Speaking for The OFFSTAGE Theatre Group, Barnaby Eaton-Jones said: "We're delighted to be bringing our popular brand of comedy improv to the stage of the Parabola Arts Centre, as part of the very first Cheltenham Comedy Festival.

If you like stand-up comedy, you'll LOVE comedy improv. You get more comedians for the price of your ticket, more gags, and no structured set that won't budge for laughs if the audience don't like it. In fact, the audience are the ones who mould the show, with their imput, so we've never had anyone go home unhappy!"

For tickets to see this action-packed comedy show, full of music, mayhem and mirth, please call the Cheltenham Town Hall box office on 0844 576 2210, email them on boxoffice@cheltenham.gov.uk or visit the specific page: www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk.

Cheltenham Connect 2011 Christmas Craft Fair

Fri 2nd and Sat 3rd December, 10am - 6pm,
Sun 4th December 11am - 4pm Exmouth Arms, Bath Road, Cheltenham

South Cheltenham initiative Cheltenham Connect is holding its third Christmas Craft Fair on the first weekend in December at the Exmouth Arms in Bath Road, Cheltenham. With a magical Santa's Grotto for the children, entertainment from local choirs and musicians, mulled wine, mince pies and a wide range of craft stalls, the event aims to promote the wealth of local talent in the area and to encourage everyone to think and buy local for Christmas.

The craft fair has become a much anticipated annual event and the theme for 2011 is 'Crimblefest', with all the participants encouraged to wear fun, festive outfits. More than 40 local craftspeople will be represented, offering a range of beautiful hand-made goods ranging from pottery, jewellery, textiles and woodcrafts to Christmas decorations and homemade cakes. The fair will be held under a tented village erected by local company and sponsor Mobenn Marquees, and there will be more craft stands in the top room of the Exmouth Arms.

Any local craftspeople who are interested in exhibiting should contact scarlett@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk

Jazz Nights in Cheltenham 2011- 2012

The Venue Jazz Club Glos - First Tuesday of the month (please note venues vary)
Tickets: 01242 587776
Tickets: £6
Doors open: 8 p.m.
Music starts: 8.30 p.m.

Tuesday November 1 2011
The Kim Cypher Band
Modern jazz and funk quintet
The Little Owl
237 Cirencester Road
Charlton Kings
Cheltenham
GL53 8EB

Tuesday December 5 2011
The J B Jazz & Blues Band
Louis Prima inspired quintet
The Wheatsheaf
Old Bath Road
Cheltenham
GL53 9AJ

Tuesday January 3 2012
The Joe Martin Trio
Classic swing vocals by teenage phenomenon Joe
D’Fly
1a Crescent Place
Cheltenham
GL50 3NX


Tuesday February 7 2012
Dom Franks’ Strayhorn
Hard hitting, groove laden quartet
The Little Owl
237 Cirencester Road
Charlton Kings
Cheltenham
GL53 8EB


Tuesday March 6 2012
The APO Band
Modern jazz and funk quartet
The Wheatsheaf
Old Bath Road
Cheltenham
GL53 9AJ

Tuesday April 3 2012
Bex & Franks Latin Jazz Quartet
Sumptuous vocals and rhythms with virtuosic guitar
D’Fly
1a Crescent Place
Cheltenham
GL50 3NX


Tuesday May 1 2012
Tommy Charles Tetraphonic
Energetic, off-kilter quartet
The Little Owl
237 Cirencester Road
Charlton Kings
Cheltenham
GL53 8EB

Tuesday June 5 2012
The Cotswold Big Band
High calibre & enrgetically led ensemble
The Wheatsheaf
Old Bath Road
Cheltenham
GL53 9AJ


Tuesday July 3 2012
The Hot Fingers Trio
1930s style combo led by Spats Langham
D’Fly
1a Crescent Place
Cheltenham
GL50 3NX


Tuesday August 7 2012
The Patsy Gamble Band
Star saxophonist with a mixture of jazz,funk & blues standards & original tunes
The Little Owl
237 Cirencester Road
Charlton Kings
Cheltenham
GL53 8EB


Tuesday September 4 2012
The Rod Kelly Trio
Intelligent renditions of jazz standards by this piano maestro
The Wheatsheaf
Old Bath Road
Cheltenham
GL53 9AJ


Tuesday October 2 2012
The Jeanne Marlow Trio
Vocalist Jeanne with her picks from the Great American Songbook
D’Fly
1a Crescent Place
Cheltenham
GL50 3NX

Tuesday November 6 2012
TBC
TBC
The Little Owl
237 Cirencester Road
Charlton Kings
Cheltenham
GL53 8EB


Tuesday December 4 2012
Catherine Sykes sings The Peggy Lee Songbook
Return of this star vocalist & her trio
The Wheatsheaf
Old Bath Road
Cheltenham
GL53 9AJ

Nick Clegg to visit Cheltenham

On Friday, 7 October 2011, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, will visit a primary school in Cheltenham, ahead of his visit to the Cheltenham Literature Festival. He will join a class to talk about their favourite books and join a reading group.

WHO: Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, and Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham, Martin Horwood
WHAT: Visit to a primary school
WHEN: 13.30, Friday, 7 October 2011
WHERE: Springbank Primary Academy, Springbank Road, Cheltenham, GL51 0PH