Your guide to everything that’s going on in your area

LECKHAMPTON & CHARLTON KINGS

» Charlton Kings Friendship Group meet from 10am tomorrow, Friday November 18, in the Baptist Church. The entertainment will be provided after refreshments, at 10.30am by a Choir called “Hearts of Harmony”, singing a variety of songs to cheer everyone during the cold wintery weather. A raffle is organised afterwards leaving members time to sign up and pay for any outings and buy some jewellery/books, if available and also look through the Cobalt cards which are proving very popular. Visitors are always welcome.

» Charlton Kings Film Society meet from 7pm tomorrow, Friday November 18, at Sacred Hearts Church hall. The film “Limbo” starring Ben Sharrock will be shown at 7.45pm. The film tells the story of a young Syrian musician and other refugees who await to know if their requests for asylum on a remote Scottish island will be granted. Tickets cost £6 at the door and membership is not necessary. There is a bar and other light refreshments will be on sale.

» Musica Vera Chamber Choir will be presenting their concert “On the Wings of a Dove” on Saturday November 19 at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, Prestbury. The programme includes choral music by Mendelssohn, Bach, Handel and Brahms. Tickets can be obtained from The Playhouse Theatre or at the door on the night.

» Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Curtis is giving a concert at 7.30pm on Saturday November 19 in the Pump Room. They will play Cesar Frank’s rarely heard lovely Symphony in D and soloist Imogen Whitehead will play The Trumpet Concerto “Imagined Corners” by Michael Omer. I understand that tickets can now be bought at the Leisure Centre and also from the Wilson in Cheltenham.

» Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year Kimmy Kwok will be playing Bruch’s violin concerto together with Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra at a concert in the Pump Room at 3pm on Sunday November 20.

Other favourite music by composers Mozart and Dvorak will be played by the orchestra conducted by Glyn Oxley. Tickets are on sale at the Leisure Centre or The Wilson.

» Charlton Kings WI meet at 2pm on Monday November 21 in St Mary’s Parish rooms for their AGM followed by in house activities.

» Charlton Kings Parish council Planning Committee meet on Monday November 21 at 7pm in Stanton Hall. All members of the public are welcome to attend. » Charlton Kings Local and Family History Society meet at 7.30pm on Tuesday November 22 in Stanton Hall. Geoff Bridgeman will be reporting on his personal research and reminiscences. Talks are free for members and £2 for non-members. Visitors and new members are always welcome.

» Regency Probus Club Cheltenham for retired men meet from 10am on Wednesday November 23 at the Bowling Club in Suffolk Square for coffee and a get together. Philip Brown will give a talk entitled “Charles Dickens - what is he worth”

Contact secretary Paul Havard on 07970836907 or 01242 231002 for more information. Visitors and new members are very welcome.

» A Victorian Christmas at Sixways is returning on Friday November 25 from 5.30pm. Why not dress up in your best top hat or bonnet and join the Dickensian characters taking over the shops on Sixways.

Local shop owners were brilliant fun joining in with the dressing up last year and are looking forward to welcoming you back again. The evening begins in the Secret Garden opposite Sixways Wine Bar with the “Cheltenham Children’s Choir” performing at 5.30pm followed by the St Edwards School Choir performing at 6.00pm. Father Christmas and his Elf will be greeting families and welcoming donations of long-life food for the Cheltenham food pantries outside Olive Chiropractic.

The children’s choirs will be looking forward to meeting Father Christmas for a sweet treat when they finish their turns singing! “The Wednesdays” singing group will be keeping the musical entertainment going singing outside Cotswold Bespoke Flooring on London Road from 6.00pm. There will be night opening until 7.30pm at: Cotswold Bespoke Flooring, The Hat Shop, Front- Community Hub Gift Shop, Latchford Gifts, Mercy in Action Boutique Charity Shop, Olive Chiropractic, Roasted Cafe Ltd, Scarlet Monkey, Waffle.

In addition, you can enjoy the usual evening venues with Cheltenham Wine Company, London Inn Charlton Kings, Kings Tandoori & Balti and the new Italian Milano pizzeria all operating their usual evening opening times.

» Betheseda Church and Scouts are having a Christmas Fair from 10.30am to 2pm on Saturday November 26 in Betheseda Church Hall. Lunches will be served from noon and there will be many stalls selling gifts, toys, jewellery, books, cakes and bric a brac.

» Charlton Kings Choral Society and the Regency Sinfonia conducted by John Wright are performing a concert of music by Vaughan Williams and Holst on Saturday November 26 at 7.45pm in St Philip and St James Church, 60 Grafton Road, Leckhampton GL50 2DL.

Tickets cost £18 (under 25’s in full time education £10) and can be bought from 01242 526636. Visit www.ckcsonline.org.uk for more information.

» “Warm Cheltenham” is offering Warm Places for people to sit during the cold weather and a full list can be found on the Borough council website. In Charlton Kings available places are at The Library on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5.30pm. Thursday 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 7pm. Saturday 9.30am to 3pm. Holy Apostles Hall - Open Tuesday 9am to 4pm.

There is currently a shortage of warm spaces in Charlton Kings on a Sunday and Monday. Facilities at these places are, tea, coffee and toast, charging points, Wifi, newspapers, crosswords/colouring books and advice. If your organisation is able to offer a warm space, please get in touch with the Parish Council office and your name will be added to the list of warm spaces on their website and on any future posters in Charlton Kings. This information will be passed to Cheltenham Borough Council.

» Rose Ashton 01242 262042 ashton.r@btinternet.com

ALL SAINTS CHURCH, CHELTENHAM

» As part of Community outreach, All Saints Church is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays 2pm-7pm and Saturdays from 10am-7pm. All welcome to come into one of Cheltenham’s most beautiful Churches for private prayer or just to sit for a moment of quiet.

» All Saints Bookshop Swap. Books donated to swap, read, borrow or buy. Drop off at All Saints (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 2pm-7pm. This is a new venture, as part of an outreach to the general public.

If you feel so inclined, leave a small message in the book you are donating, saying what you thought of the book. Everyone welcome to the Church come in and see one of Cheltenham’s hidden gems.

BISHOP’S CLEEVE

» Free Flu vaccination is being offered to everyone aged 50 and over at Badham’s Chemist, 23 Church Road, Bishop’s Cleeve, GL52 8LR. No need to make an appointment just walk in. For more information telephone 01242 672653 or email: pharmacy.frn12@ nhs.net

» The next event for Rendezvous at the Tithe Barn is, Friday December 9, Peter Gill & The Good Time Charlies present A Swingin’ & Rockin’ Christmas Evening.

A perfect start to the festive period. Pay on the door £15. For more information contact Kelvin Freer on 01242 604546 or email: kelvinfreer@hotmail.com

» The Methodist Church in Bishop’s Cleeve has launched a Friendship Club. The club will meet in the Methodist Church, off Tobyfield Road, every Monday 2-4pm.

» The Methodist Wednesday Fellowship has resumed its regular fortnightly meetings at 2pm. November 23, Rev Jayne Webb. December 7, Chris Bird. December 21, Christmas Outing. All welcome.

» The Dramatic Villagers are preparing to launch their new Pantomime, Batman and Robin Hood. There are many opportunities to assist with this great production, both front and back stage. For more information contact 07823 883203, or online: admin@thedramatic villagers.co.uk

» Bishop’s Cleeve Library are offering the following services. Monday open 1pm-5pm. Tuesday open 1pm-5pm. Wednesday open 10am-5pm. Thursday open 9am-5pm. Friday open 9am-5pm. Saturday open 9am-3pm. OPEN+ not available at present.

Activities for the very young have resumed. First Steps for babies from 6months old, 1pm-2.30pm every Friday.

Toddler time for those up to 3 years old who are confident walkers. Toddler time takes place every Tuesday 9am-10.30am.

For more information about library services contact: bishopscleeve library@gloucestershire.gov.uk. Or phone: 01242 672217.

» Cheltenham Street Pastors, (CSP), is an inter-denominational group offering support, and a visible ministry to those who are out in the town late at night. Teams are out in Cheltenham on as many Fridays and Saturdays as possible. Shifts run from 10pm to 4am covering the middle of Cheltenham town centre and the main night-time venues.

Each team works one evening once every four weeks. As well as Street Pastors each project has Prayer Pastors who commit to pray for the teams out on the street.

Interested in getting involved? For more information contact the administrator: Sarah Chad – cheltenham@streetpastors.org 07443 468797.

Check out the website www. Streetpastors.org - follow links for Locations, South West, Cheltenham.

Chat to John at church or email: john.nixson@btinternet.com if you’d like to ask more.

» Bishop’s Cleeve Foodbank. Please can you take any donations to Bishop’s Cleeve Parish Office (next to Tesco’s car park) any Friday morning between 9am and noon.

Please refer to the latest shopping list for further details of shortages on the donating food link at https:// northcotswold.foodbank.org.uk and also details for making direct monetary donations.

» The Alpha Course will begin from January 12 for 10 weeks, in Woodmancote School.

Sign-up leaflets are available on the Alpha Stand in St. Michael and All Angels Church, and Invitation Cards will soon be available.

Parishioners will be asked to provide prayer support for the sessions (not necessarily on-site), and for people to help with Welcome and Hospitality, and with transport.

Please consider whether you could offer some help and let the Church Office Team know if you can. Email: admin@stmichaelsbishops cleeve.co.uk or telephone: 01242 673612.

» Gotherington, Woolstone and Oxenton WI, host monthly meetings on Wednesdays, in Gotherington Village Hall at 7.30pm.

November 23, Craft Demonstration and Annual Meeting.

New members welcome. For more details contact 01242 317276.

» The Bishop’s Cleeve WI host meetings in the Tithe Barn on the third Tuesday of each month, 7.15pm - 9pm.

December 20, 93rd Birthday and Christmas party.

For more information about meetings, contact www.bishops cleevewi.org.uk or 01242 676647.

WOODMANCOTE

» Sing Christmas Carols with your pets! Come along to Woodmancote New Village Hall on Saturday December 3 at 2.00pm for early Christmas fun. Come and sing Christmas Carols with your pets indoors, please bring photographs of cats etc. if they do not like to travel. Live music to sing to. Why not let your pets enjoy Christmas as well? Please bring a dog blanket for your dog’s comfort. Free admission.

» Woodmancote WI, host meetings at Woodmancote Village Hall on Thursdays at 7.30pm.

December 15, The Spirit of Christmas.

» Woodmancote Probus Club host meetings on Tuesdays at Woodmancote New Village Hall. Meetings start at 9.30am, followed by the talk at 10.30am. November 22, All at Sea. November 29, Mercy Ships. December 6, Creating Eden, December 13, Christmas Lunch, December 22, Glubb Pasha. For more information contact 01242 702573.

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01242 702573 maggieann1949@hotmail.com