Glorious Gloucestershire Mike Broome took this picture of a female Kingfisher at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge
Your guide to everything that’s going on in your area
» Our February meeting was a very interesting talk taking us through the world of perfume by Sue Careswell. Sue has been collecting perfumes for many years and brought along some for us to try out.
A brief history of perfume brought us to the first perfume produced from chemical and natural ingredients: Chanel No 5. Very interestingly there is an organisation, IFRA, that overseas the manufacture of perfumes to ensure they’re safe and ethical. We all had a lot of fun testing the perfumes, especially the one with added chocolate!
Our next meeting is on March 27 and is a talk about the RNLI by Anthony Gerrard. This should be an interesting talk especially as 2024 is the 200th anniversary year of the RNLI.
Do come along and join us, visitors and new members will always receive a warm welcome. For more information contact cmhyett@ virginmedia.com » Dot Ward Pittville Townswomen Guild
ALL SAINTS CHURCH, CHELTENHAM
» Sunday services at 8am said Mass. 10.30am Solemn Mass. Evening services on Sundays at 5.30pm, will be a Choral Evensong on the first and third Sundays and said service on the second and fourth.
Week day services Wednesday 6.30pm Holy Mass. Thursday 11.15am, Eucharistic Service. Friday noon, Holy Mass. First Saturday of the Month, 10am Walsingham Mass.
» Easter services at All Saints. Solemn Mass plus Address on March 25, 26 and 27, at 6.30pm.
Holy Thursday March 28, at 6.30pm, Solemn Mass, with the Gethsemane Watch.
Good Friday March 29, 3pm, Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord. Saturday March 30, Holy Saturday 7.30pm, Easter Vigil and first Mass of Easter.
Easter Sunday, March 31, 8am Mass. 10.30am Solemn Mass with Procession.
» The Choir is looking to recruit new singers. All Saints Choir has a long history of offering a significant contribution to the church services by providing a wide range of sacred music.
We are looking for sopranos and tenors particularly, but other voice parts are very welcome. Committed singers, please come along on Friday nights at 7.30pm to sing with us and see if you would like to join us.
» If you would like to donate an Easter Lily in memory of a loved one, please use one of the envelopes provided (found on the table by the coffee area) and give it to one of the Flower Guild, or Church official. Please write the names of the loved ones you wish to commemorate on the front of the envelope, along with your name and contact details.
The lilies will be arranged and displayed for Easter Day. Suggested donation for lily stems of £5 and all donations should be given by Sunday March 24.
» All Saints Church is open for private prayer and for visitors, depending on the availability of volunteers. The Church Open sign will be put out when the Church is open, everyone welcome. Services notwithstanding, the Church is usually open for private prayer and for visitors at the following times: Wednesdays: 3pm-6pm. Thursdays: 2pm-6pm. Fridays: 2pm-6pm. Saturdays: 10am-noon & 2pm-6pm. Sundays: 3pm-5pm.
» For information about all events in All Saints Church visit www.event brite.com/cc/ all-saints-churchcheltenham-events-445289
BISHOP’S CLEEVE
» Bishop’s Cleeve Methodist Church are hosting, on Saturday March 30 a Crafts Day from 10am to 3pm at which all ages will be invited to come and engage in various craft activities to do with Easter and New Life. All are very welcome.
» The latest report from the Street Fair Committee states, plans are progressing well for the Street fair 2024 in Bishop’s Cleeve. We hope to have a grand procession departing from Cleeve School in Two Hedges Road leading down to the Church Road for the grand opening ceremony at lunchtime. Anyone can be part of this procession, walking groups, classic cars, anyone in fancy dress, any one pushing a wheel barrow!
The theme this year is an Old Village traditional fayre. For further information contact 01242 516779.
» Easter Eggstravaganza. Can you donate a small 97g chocolate Easter egg? We are hoping to bless each child we have contact with through the church and schools with an egg this Easter. They cost around £1.50 from local supermarkets.
The Easter story will be added to the egg. Please bring your donations to the Church Office. Let’s make Easter eggstra eggciting!
» Save the date, Saturday May 4, 7.30pm, an Auction of Promises will take place in St. Michael and All Angels Church.
» Next event at the Tithe Barn, Friday April 5, 8pm. The Jaguars performing all the hits of the Sixties. Tickets £12 on the night, 8.00pm, fully licensed bar. Large free car park For more information contact kelvinfreer@outlook.com
» Methodist Church Wednesday fellowship events. 2pm, open to all. March 27, Easter Crafts. April 10, NSPCC. April 24, Lillian Faithful Homes. May 8, Mary’s meals. » Special Services in St Michael and All Angels for Easter Week. Maundy Thursday, March 28, Holy Communion 7.30pm. Good Friday, March 29, 11am, all age service. Easter Sunday, March 31, 11.15am, Easter celebration with Communion.
» Easter Escape Room. Do you fancy yourself as a super sleuth? Can you crack the code?
In this escape room you’ll need to work as a team to use the decoders to find the code to open the box. This is a fun event for families it is best suited for children aged 8+, maximum groups size 6.
Please book online or email Lucy Betts at lbetts@stmichaelsbishops cleeve.co.uk
Maybe you want to get competitive and book the same time slot as another family. It’s all free So come on your code crackers. We are aiming it at families, but other groups won’t be turned away.
» Foodbank donations at St Michaels Church. We are experiencing shortages of food items to go in our Food parcels.
If you are able to donate, the list of shortages is on our website : https:// northcotswold.foodbank.org.uk/givehelp/donate-food/
» Baking Making and Shaking WI are an evening group, meeting at St. Michael’s Centre, School Road, on the first Thursday each month, 7.45pm for 8pm. April 4, Spring Swishing. May 2, Trip to Garden Centre.
Visitors (£3), and new members are always welcome. Please contact by email: bakingmakingandshaking@ gmail.com
» The Bishop’s Cleeve WI host meetings in the Tithe Barn on the third Tuesday of each month, 7.15pm - 9pm.
April 16, Gloucestershire Events & Traditions.
May21, Resolutions/talk on fraud awareness.
For more information about meetings, contact www.bishops cleevewi.org.uk or 07871 993919.
» Gotherington, Woolstone and Oxenton WI, host monthly meetings on Wednesdays, in Gotherington Village Hall at 7.30pm. March 27, Just Gems. April 24, 71st Birthday party. April 27, Open Morning at Gotherington Village Hall, 10amnoon.
For more information contact 01242 317276 or www.gwowi.org.uk Visitors always welcome.
WOODMANCOTE
» The Woodmancote Society always welcomes new members. For more information contact 01242 672541.
» Save the Date, Monday May 6, the annual May Day in Woodmancote celebration. The theme this year is “Pirates”. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes in many categories including best decorated bicycle.
The main parade will start from Woodmancote School at 1pm to arrive at Woodmancote park at 1.30pm. There will be a number of events and stalls on the field including a quiet area for children to draw and make a pirate hat.
» Saturday May 11, 11am-4pm, a Spring Craft Fair will be held in Woodmancote Village Hall.
A selection of stalls will be selling all manner of crafts. Please note as many stall holders do not have card readers, cash will the preferred method of payment. Entrance free, refreshments and limited parking available.
» Woodmancote Probus Club host meetings on Tuesdays at Woodmancote New Village Hall.
Meetings start at 9.30am, followed by the talk at 10.30am.
March 26, Tewkesbury in the 1950’s.
April 2, no meeting. April 9, special meeting, not open to the public.
» Woodmancote WI, meet on the third Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in the village hall.
March 21, Through the lens of a Royal Photographer.
April 18, A Beauty evening with Clarins.