Farncombe Estate brings UK’s 400-year ‘Olimpick’ history to life

A Cotswold leisure-learning centre is celebrating the UK’s true Olympic heritage with history courses to mark 400 years since the ‘Olimpicks’ first came to Britain.  

                         

In 1612, Robert Dover launched the first Olimpick Games in the Cotswold village of Chipping Campden, aiming to revive the spirit of Ancient Greece. This year’s London Games coincides with the 400^th anniversary of Dover’s original Olimpicks.   

Farncombe Estate leisure and learning centre, near Broadway, is bringing every aspect of Olympics history to life with two Games-inspired courses: Competition and Conflict in the Cotswolds and The Olympic Games through the Ages.

The first, hosted by Cotswold historian David Snowden and experts from the Cromwell Association, will put the Olimpicks into a 17^th Century context and include a visit to both Dover’s Games and Scuttlebrook Wake – two extraordinary examples of English eccentricity. The course runs from 30 May to 3 June.

In Olympic Games Through the Ages, a team of historians will lead a virtual journey from Olympia 388 BC to the most notorious Olympic Games ever staged, in Berlin 1936. This course runs from 31 May to 3 June.

Mandy Morrison, Farncombe Estate Programme Manager, said: “We want to spread the word that the UK’s rich Olympic heritage actually goes back 400 years and these courses will help bring this intriguing past to life.

“From Greece to the Cotswolds and on to London 2012, the Olympic story is a fascinating one. Thanks to the 400^th Cotswold Olimpicks on our doorstep, Farncombe Estate is the ideal place to get into the spirit of the Games.”

Farncombe is a 370-acre estate with breathtaking views over the Vale of Evesham. Since it opened its doors in 2003, the residential venue has attracted thousands of visitors from around the world. 

With 11 dedicated training rooms, hundreds of weekend leisure courses take place every year.

As well as history courses, there are opportunities to learn about everything from painting with watercolours, singing Gospel or decorating cupcakes to creative writing, enhancing your digital camera skills or attempting Bollywood dancing.

To book your place on a course call 0333 456 8580, email enquiries@farncombeestate.co.uk or visit www.farncombeestate.co.uk.

Everyone Can Sing - a weekend voice workshop with Dan Evans

Everyone Can Sing - a weekend voice workshop with Dan Evans

Have a lot of fun learning to sing or improving your voice in a highly supportive ambience.  Sing in tune, project your voice and move others with your song. All levels and styles are welcome and you don’t need to read music.  Dan has been running this course with enormous success for 18 years, students have come from all over Europe and many have been moved by the process.  Feedback from past students is superb:  “The course has been wonderful experience. Dan has a rare talent for getting the very best out of people.”

where and when

Farncombe Estate Adult Learning Centre, Near Broadway, Worcester  

Fri eve 27th April to Sun lunch 29th April 2012

price varies with residency & any prevailing special offers

phone 0333 456 8580

website http://www.farncombeestate.co.uk/tutordetails.asp?tutor=34

e-mail: enquiries@FarncombeEstate.co.uk

about the tutor

Dan Evans was told as a child that he couldn’t sing and was made to mime in the school choir.  Later, in adult life he attended a number of voice workshops which transformed his musical career.  He now performs professionally, singing with dulcimer and guitar.  As the UK's leading dulcimer player, Dan performs and teaches in the UK and USA, he has released four CD albums to critical acclaim and has won the hearts of audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

images

You can easily and quickly download high quality and high-res photographs from the Press Area of my website http://www.english-dulcimer.com/press_area.asp

further information - about Dan's voice workshop

voice workshop overview http://www.english-dulcimer.com/voice_workshops.asp

student feedback http://www.english-dulcimer.com/student-feedback-to-voice-workshops.asp

my coaching style http://www.english-dulcimer.com/my-coaching-style.asp

can the tone deaf sing? http://www.english-dulcimer.com/can-the-tone-deaf-sing-updated.asp

further information - about Dan's dulcimer playing

website home page http://www.english-dulcimer.com/

Dan's international tours http://www.english-dulcimer.com/international-tours.asp

TV, radio & film appearances radio, TV & film http://www.english-dulcimer.com/radio,-TV-and-film-appearances.asp

CD reviews http://www.english-dulcimer.com/CD-reviews.asp

Most excellent customer service

A talented Cotswold employee has scooped Silver at the prestigious South West Tourism Awards for Outstanding Customer Service.

Twenty-two-year-old Francesca Brennan, Assistant Catering Manager from Farncombe Estate in Broadway wowed the judges with her outstanding contribution to excellence.

Having only worked at the Estate – which offers a wide range of leisure courses and study breaks - for just over a year, Francesca was recognised for going the extra mile for staff and customers.  This included cross-country adventures to find Halal suppliers at the last minute, boosting morale with Christmas-themed snow days and one-to-one training for each of her 19 staff.

Richard Howdle, Operations Manager at Farncombe Estate, said: “We are especially proud of Frankie, who plays a leading role in our catering team.

“She works closely with customers, dealing with their individual needs – and she does it with an infectious smile.

“We are delighted to win such a prestigious award for customer service, especially as these awards cover the whole of the South West, the UK’s prime region for tourism.”

There were 67 different awards distributed to the region’s top achievers last night (6 February) at the event held at the Rivera Conference Centre, Torquay.

The winners were greeted by a star-studded line up, hosted by TV presenter Teresa Driscoll, and presented with their awards by journalist and broadcaster Simon Calder, Senior Travel Editor of the Independent.

“I am overjoyed to have received such an award, it really makes the hard work we do worthwhile,” said award-winning Francesca Brennan.

“It was a wonderful evening and such a great opportunity to be recognised by my industry peers, we’ll be working hard to achieve bigger and better things this year!”

Farncombe Estate has won a number of awards in the past 12 months, including Cotswold Leisure Break of the Year 2011 judged by an independent panel from London and Home Counties Today and a silver Green Tourism Award.

Ukulele Maestro Bows Out Of Teaching

Steven Sproat, probably the best-known ukulele exponent in the UK has decided it is time to close the doors of his workshops to take time out to concentrate on his songwriting and other projects.

Following his recent live appearance on Aled Jones’ Good Morning Sunday show on BBC Radio 2, singer/songwriter Steven Sproat acknowledges he has played a major part in the renaissance of the ukulele by passing on his techniques and tips to thousands of fellow uke players.

"I've been in such great demand for my workshops that it has left me with very little time to write songs and be creative with my music and I feel the time is right to take a break from teaching.  Today's ukulele scene is now fully established really.  I must have taught thousands of people over the years to play.  It's their time to flourish and develop their skills and individual style of playing to keep the flags flying for the ukulele.  I'm so very grateful for the opportunities I've had to teach those who have kindly come along to my uke workshops or on a one to one basis. I've had a lot of fun and learned a lot about myself on that journey and I can channel those experiences into my songwriting."

            2012 is the time for all uke fans to catch one of Steven’s final workshops.  Steven will be hosting around 12 workshops this year, with the last one in October, before he takes time out to focus on songwriting and other projects.   Please check his website www.stevensproat.com or his agent’s website: www.itwl.biz for details of when and where his concluding workshops will be.

Visit www.farncombeestate.co.uk to book your place on Steven's Workshop or call us on 0333 456 8580.

Dan Evans runs through his coaching styles and techniques...

Dan Evans experienced singing coach and tutor talks us through his styles and techniques for the Voice Workshops: Everyone Can Sing run at Farncombe Estate.

In his own words:

"These gentle metaphors help to explain, in an informal way, my coaching style and the coaching techniques I use on my music workshops, especially my Everyone Can Sing voice workshop.
 
They may seem simple and fun but they are profound and work extremely well.

Tightrope walking singing and making music can be difficult, like walking a tightrope
by creating a safe, non-critical environment however, the tightrope is now only a few inches from the floor
singing and making music is still difficult but there is now little risk with failure and students feel more free to try and then improve

Cliff flying it's not my role as tutor to drag students to the top of the cliff, show them how steep it is, push them off and then shout at them for flying badly
I invite students to the top of the cliff to enjoy the view and if they want to have a little fly, then I'll be there to take them under my wing, if they need it

The door
'tutors open the door but you must enter by yourself' (Chinese proverb) "

To book on one of Dan's courses please visit www.farncombeestate.co.uk - Singing Breaks in the Cotswolds

January Sale at Farncombe Estate

You won’t often find me saying this, but we’ve decided to run a January Sale!

We are running four superb courses this weekend and we have a few places left on each one.  If you book a residential place on any one of these courses by 4pm on Thursday 19^th January, we will give you a generous £50 off your booking.

Here are the details.  All the courses are full-board, including Saturday afternoon tea, and run from the evening of Friday 20^th to Sunday 22^nd January.  You will leave after a delicious Sunday lunch.

• Introduction to Digital Photography – for students new to the subject.  Bring your own digital camera or borrow one from us!  With Derek Forss.
• Everyone can Sing – a Voice Workshop.  An ever-popular course run by Dan Evans.  Find your voice and project it with confidence – no formal musical knowledge required.
• The Magic of Vienna (Part One)  A glimpse into the musical history of one of the most astonishing cities in the world, with Julian Williamson.
• Fires of Faith: The European Reformation. Sean Lang takes us back to the 16th century to consider how the history of Europe was changed forever in a bloody battle for power.

We rarely run offers like this, as we prefer to give discounts – and encourage early booking – through our Early Bird programme.   This way we ensure that more of our courses run with a reliable number of people.

So do make the most of our lesser-spotted Sale to learn a new skill, or explore a new topic, in 2012.   Call me on 0333 456 8580 and quote JAN12.

We're going craft crazy at Farncombe Estate in 2012

We have a great range of Craft Courses at Farncombe Estate for 2012, some Day Schools and Some Weekend Courses. Here is a sneek peek at what we have on offer:

Chinese Brush Painting - 13 April 2012
Willow Structures for the Garden - 10 April 2012
Scrappy Zappy Do! - 20 Apil 2012
Blocks Galore for Quilts and More - 22 July 2012
Picture it in Collage and Stitch - 26 Oct 2012