Roger McGough at Number 8

Roger McGough – That Awkward Age
Friday 17 September - 7.30pm Number 8, Pershore

Miracle birth of a new collection and an evening of poems to amaze and delight! McGough wrestles with mortality, seeks love in the launderette and jives in Macca’s trousers. Addresses, elegies, prayers and ever perceptive playfulness make this a must-go.

“Rueful, unpredictable observation to please the sharpest wits.” The Independent


McGough is known for topping the charts with Lily the Pink as a member of The Scaffold in 1978, and for bestselling poetry anthology The Mersey Sound, which also featured work from Adrian Henri and Brian Patten. McGough's autobiography Said and Done was published in 2005 and he currently presents Radio 4 programme Poetry Please. The beat goes on. There’s poetry in the house and McGough fitted it. Running Time: 95mins (inc interval), Age guidance: 14+ http://www.rogermcgough.org.uk/


“The patron saint of poetry.” Carol Ann Duffy


Full Price £15 (Students £10). Discounts available for pre-booked groups of 10 or more

Tickets on sale now from Number 8 Box Office. Tel. 01386 555488

New Local Writing hot off the press

WHAT IF?...
Local writers go to press with their new booklet of stories and poetry.

Stimulated by the writing challenges they faced while attending Sue Johnson's writing workshops at Number 8 Community Arts Centre in Pershore, eight writers set about putting a collection of their work together.

There was a lot of head scratching about deciding a theme for the booklet, how to ensure a variety of contributions and meeting deadlines for publication.

Now the booklet is hot off the press and contains thirteen stories and fifteen poems. Lots of big questions are there: What if I'm made whole again? What if I tell your fortune? What if we find love again?...and more.

Kathleen Fitzmaurice, a local writer from Harvington, was the driving force behind the project, editing the collection and getting it in to print.

The booklet is available to purchase now for £3.75, from Kathleen's web site www.rhymebydesign.com. Her site also offers a personalised poetry writing service and the opportunity for all rhyming poets out there to enter a three monthly rhyming poetry competition.

Copies are also available from another one of the eight out of 8 writers, Lisa Kimberley if you email lkimberley@hotmail.com

Sue Johnson's inspirational Writer's Toolkit classes start again at Number 8 on 10th September.

The group is donating 25% of the profit from this booklet to St Richard's Hospice, Worcestershire.

Oxfordshire's 46th Towersey Village Festival

26 - 30 August 2010

Only 9 sleeps to go till.............

“Absolutely very nearly, but not quite the very best festival in the world” Jeremy Symondson

And what a Festival line-up!

Close up Concerts, Crazy Ceilidh, Dynamic Dance House. Dance, sing, party or just relax! You can do it all at Towersey.

To see the full line up .....

Book your tickets now...........

Sudeley Castle Gardens Open

NGS Open Day

15th October 2010

The castle gardens will be open in support of the National Garden Scheme.

Government’s New Commitment to Tourism

VisitBritain Special Bulletin
This morning, the Prime Minister gave a speech declaring the Government’s new commitment to tourism, in the light of the opportunities and challenges facing us as we progress towards 2012.
He outlined how tourism is now a first class priority at the front and centre of our economic strategy, as an export earner with international visitors and with a strong domestic market. He also stressed how fundamental the industry will be to the rebuilding and rebalancing of our economy.
He recognised that the 2012 Games and the coming decade of great international sporting events across Britain, with all that Britain has to offer, is an unprecedented opportunity. But, to ensure that this opportunity is not missed, as an industry there is still much that needs to be done to improve perceptions of Britain at home and overseas.

Over the coming months the Government will be working on ‘the strongest possible tourism strategy’ looking at:
What the Government does nationally

The role of local government and the support of the local area

How we stimulate the private sector in tourism

How we make policy in other areas that will impact the tourism industry

At a national level, the dedicated Minister for Tourism and Heritage, John Penrose will lead a new relationship with the tourism industry, showing the Government gets tourism and understands the huge potential of the industry. In spite of the current tough times meaning tough decisions, he is keen to ensure that these decisions will serve us in the long-term.

However, the Government views tourism is a local industry and their aspiration is for new Local Enterprise Partnerships to allow local people and entrepreneurs more responsibility and control over how tourism is developed in each local area. A new set of incentives will be proposed for local authorities – including options for business rate incentives allowing local authorities to reinvest the benefits of growth back into their local communities.

The right local incentives should also help to stimulate the private sector. In addition to the reduction in red tape and excessive business taxes planned, the Prime Minister sees tourism bids as potentially key beneficiaries of the new £1 billion regional growth fund.
He will also look across Government at the policies that impact tourism in a big way – visas, airport security, infrastructure – not as isolated issues, but from the perspective of both the domestic and international tourism industry.
Finally, he committed John Penrose to work with the industry, bringing together all your best ideas, to develop a tourism strategy by the end of the year, with the goal of setting Britain on a path to break into the world’s top five tourist destinations.

We are delighted that the Prime Minister has declared so clearly that tourism is fundamental to the rebuilding and rebalancing of our economy. And we share his determination to use the coming decade to boost Britain’s international competitiveness in tourism and to take our industry to a whole new level.

Discover Creative Campden Weekend

17 - 19 September 2010

The second Discover Creative Campden Weekend will be an opportunity to see the range of creative activities which take place in Chipping Campden, from traditional silversmithing, to abstract art, to hand painted silks, to author's talks, to beautiful jewellery and much more.
We expect visitors from far and wide who will be able to enjoy creative activities in the beautiful surroundings of Chipping Campden.

Please visit our website, http://www.creativecampden.co.uk/ for more details.

Why not take advantage of a special B&B rate for Sunday night at Farncombe Estate.

£25 single occupancy

£35 shared twin/double

Call 0333 456 8580 for availability.

Patchwork for Christmas - Textile workshop £5

Sunday 12 September - In this hour long taster workshop with Georgina Oldham you will make a card from one square of fabric and a decoration from cereal packet card and fabric. All the necessary materials will be provided.

Open Day Workshop: 12.45pm Patchwork for Christmas - Crafts & Textiles

Everyone Can Sing - Give It A Try! Tickets £5 for a limited period only !

Dan's weekend workshops are consistently popular at Farncombe. Join him at our Open Day on Sunday 12 September to discover posture & breathing, experiment with different vocal sounds, chanting & listening, and end by singing a song together. He'll prove that Everyone Can Sing !

Open Day Workshop: 11.00pm Everyone Can Sing - Give It A Try! - Singing Courses

We've got a new number! 0333 456 8580

The Farncombe Estate team can now be reached on 0333 456 8580. Calls to this number will only be charged at your normal rate. It costs the same to ring an 03 number as a standard landline .... EVEN from a mobile phone !

So go on, give us a call ?!

Book it now ! Making proper posh soap - free demonstration at our Open Day Sunday 12 September

Due to popular demand we have a second Soap Making demo starting at 3.30pm - sign up online here or request a booking form by calling 0333 456 8580 !

Open Day Demonstration: 3.30pm Making proper posh soap! - Crafts & Textiles