Inthecommunity

News from your clubs and societies

Berkshire Freemasons

A MAGICAL start to the Christmas season was given to 500 needy children by the Freemasons of Berkshire with a visit to the Theatre Royal Windsor on Tuesday, December 6 to watch Sleeping Beauty.

Coach-loads of excited children arrived with parents and carers, to be greeted by Father Christmas in the lobby and handed a ‘goody bag’ filled with fun items; the glow sticks being a particular success.

The cast of Stephen Blakely and Kevin Cruise were joined by Mike Read, Basil Brush, Denise Pearson and the voice of Tom Baker among others.

The children were a great audience, putting as much into the performance as the cast and the noise they made was wondrous to hear! Ice cream added to the festive fun and, as usual, the end of show singing and malarkey was a big hit!

Martin Peters, the head of the Berkshire Freemasons, met the guests of honour from Autism at Kingwood, Windsor Family Friends, Sebastian

Trust. Organisations invited were children from Pathway Special Needs, Addington School, Bourne End Academy, Windsor Family Friends,

Autism at Kingwood, Sebastian Trust, DASH, The Variety Club Children’s Charity and Stony Dean School Amersham. They all had a great time assisted by the less than elfin ‘Elves’ and willing helpers made up from Freemasons across Berkshire who were directing the children to their seats and dishing out goodies.

Michael Brown, the organiser of the Panto Project said: “The Berkshire Freemasons Panto Project was enjoying its 12th consecutive year. The aim is to give a magical day out for children who are terminally ill, disabled, under privileged, or with educational difficulties.

“We buy all 560 seats in the theatre and distribute the tickets to the various organisations. The project is funded through the Berkshire Masonic Charity, and individual Masonic Lodges and Freemasons from across Berkshire.

“We do all the preparation so that all the organisations have to do is get the children here and we all ensure that they have a great time”.

Wargrave Local History Society

WARGRAVE Local History Society’s December meeting was the Christmas Party.

A seasonal atmosphere was created in the room with a Christmas tree and other decorations. Committee member Wendy Smith had made the traditional mulled wine, apple and blackberry pies and mince pies, which inwardly warmed the members on what, outside, was a very cold evening.

The members also took part in a quiz, (in the style of a school ‘end of term test’), for which all the questions were based on the Society’s activities during 2017. The Best Memory Award, for the highest score, was presented to John Coulson and Richard Lloyd.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 9, when Mick Pope will tell us about Activities around the Recreation Ground. On Tuesday, February 13, Catherine Sampson will give us a glimpse of some of the many historical, unusual and hidden Berkshire churches and churchyards. Meetings take place at the Old Pavilion on the Recreation Ground, Wargrave, starting at 8pm.

Contact me via www. wargravehistory.org.uk, or on 0118 940 3121 for more information about the Society.

Woodley Women’s Club

WHAT a wonderful build up to Christmas the Woodley Women’s Club have enjoyed.

It began with our last club meeting of the year held at the Oakwood Centre when we enjoyed an evening of being entertained by the Reading Accordion Group. There were four members of the group and they began by playing Alexander’s Rag-Time Band – something to get us in the mood.

This was followed by the theme tune from Van Der Valk and during the evening we enjoyed music made famous by The Beatles, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Glen Miller and Abba, plus Scottish Reels. They finished their performance with Land of Hope and Glory.

After this our evening continued with mulled wine and mince pies which was followed by the raffle being drawn.

Then it was time for us to visit the NAWC Carol Concert held in Oxford Street which was followed by a tour of the London Lights.

On Monday, we had our Christmas Party held at the Sonning Golf Club. Once again we enjoyed an excellent two course meal followed by coffee and mince pies.

Then it was time to get our dancing shoes on as we danced along to music supplied by D.J. Kevin Meager.

Our first meeting for 2018 will be held on Monday, January 8 when our speaker will be Jim Smith. He will talk about his life as a Police Officer and Private Investigator.