New 2013 Courses now available!

 Our 2013 courses are now live on our website - you can use either of the discounts below. To take a look at what's on offer please visit www.farncombecourses.co.uk

Early Bird Discount

Our Early Bird offers now have a time limit: so set your clocks! You will receive £20 off any weekend course in 2013 if you book by 31 October 2012. You can book by calling us on 0333 456 8580. You can also book online, please enter £20 off in the discount code box on the booking form and your discount will be taken off your balance. (Please note the website does not deduct discount automatically).

Multiple Booking Discount

If you book three or more Farncombe weekend courses per person at the same time, you will receive £15 off the price of each course.  The discount is non-transferable.  To claim your discount, you must book by phone: please call 0333 456 8580.

This offer excludes all day courses, talks, dance courses and B&B bookings. Anyone making a Multiple Booking for 2013 will automatically qualify for the new Farncombe Loyalty Scheme to be launched later in the year.  Details of this will be released in due course.

Painting Courses: How to Paint Portraits (Oils & Acrylics)

23rd - 25th november

At Farncombe, we offer a wide range of Painting Weekends and Day Courses. Keith Morton, a popular artist and tutor is offering a course on How to Paint Portraits.

During this weekend painting course Keith will teach students the skills to be able to paint lifelike portraits. This course is suitable for painters with some experience who would like to imporve their portraits painting skills.

Keith Morton tutors Portraiture, Still Life and Life workshops, demonstrates Portraiture and Still Life to art societies, undertakes commissions, and paints people he admires. To date, his most famous sitters have been the jazz pianist and composer Stan Tracey OBE and the actress Siobhan Redmond.

Here is what you and Dame Kelly Holmes say about us....

“This may be the most beautiful view in the whole country.” Colin Dexter, author of Inspector Morse novels and crossword enthusiast, Sept 2011

“This business is a real success story. It is an organisation that has had to branch out and invent new lines of business, becoming so successful that it needs more space… It’s superb to see high-quality facilities springing up anywhere, but particularly in such a beautiful part of the country. What an amazing facility.” John Penrose MP, Tourism & Heritage Minister, February 2012

“I haven’t been here before but wow, it’s a great place.” Dame Kelly Holmes, double Gold Medal winning athlete, December 2011

YOU SAY:
“Very much appreciate the ‘green tourism’ approach.” Anne Mackintosh, March 2012

“The teaching room was v. pleasant – spacious and comfortable. The provision of tea and coffee nearby was a plus! The ability to leave bulky instruments in a locked room overnight was a blessing.” Helen Brown (Intro to String Ensemble Playing) March 2012

“Accommodation and food excellent, so was the tuition.” Pat Mullard, March 2012

“Food excellent… thoroughly enjoyed my stay – the location is wonderful and staff very helpful. Loved the water features around the grounds.” Heather Hickman, March 2012

“The rooms were clean, the staff always helpful. The shower was lovely and the food was great!” Sara McKeon, Feb 2012

“Thank you for bright smiles and cheerful helpfulness – this is most important!” Barry Sherratt, Feb 2012

“Lovely venue. Good value for money. Learnt a lot.” Maggie Rigg, Feb 2012

“Wonderful venue. Courteous and very helpful staff. Overall an excellent weekend. A HUGE thank you to everyone involved! PS. I’m very much looking forward to my next course!” (Anon) Feb 2012

“Well-planned course. Lovely environment. Staff helpful. Food excellent. Room very good. Teaching area excellent.” Wendy Curtis, January 2012

“The facilities at Farncombe are very good. The building we used was beautiful and lent to the overall experience. I had a great weekend and will come again.” Pauline McDonald, January 2012

“I have realised, with some embarrassment, that I never wrote to thank you for everything you and your colleagues did to make my Chinese friend’s first visit to Farncombe such a wonderful experience when he and I attended the recent Tannhäuser weekend. Shang, who is from Beijing, had not been in England very long, and was deeply touched by all the help he was given and how welcome he was made to feel. He was given a lift to and from his bed and breakfast accommodation, and was even told on the Saturday evening that it was up to him to decide when he wanted the car to take him back. He was thrilled by the whole thing and has already booked a place on the Rheingold course in March… We both remain very grateful that you looked after him so well.” Clare Canton, Dec 2011

“Farncombe is a beautiful place & the standard of care, accommodation and food was excellent.” Martin Gisby, Nov 2011

Support William

William Reddaway, former Head of Lifelong Learning at Farncombe Estate, has embarked on an exciting new venture since his retirement in 2011.

William is aiming to raise £250,000 for two charities which support families and young people. He will ride to the Four Corners of England, visiting 30 cathedrals on the way, a distance of around 2,500 miles.
The ride – on William’s horse “Strider” – will start from Farncombe Estate in Spring 2013 and take six months. Training is well underway and we will keep you updated as William sets out on his ride.
William will visit the “Four Corners” of England: Bowness-on-Solway (north west); Berwick-upon-Tweed (north east); North Foreland (south east) and Land’s End (south west.)  He is raising funds for the Family Holiday Association and Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre – Riding for the Disabled.

Family Holiday Association
The only national charity in the UK which specialises in providing holidays to disadvantaged families. William has supported the FHA since his daughter’s school were fundraising for them in 1994. For more information, go to www.fhaonline.org.uk

Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre – Riding for the Disabled
This charity works in London with disadvantaged and special needs children and young people, for whom riding and being with ponies can be physically and emotionally transforming. You can find out more about the work of the charity at www.wormwoodscrubsponycentre.org

SUPPORT WILLIAM
To read more about A Ride Round England and to make a donation, visit www.rideroundengland.org
Farncombe Estate is pleased to support William and wishes him every success.

Farncombe prepares to launch 2013 leisure course programme

The 2013 Farncombe course brochure is currently beign designed and will be landing on our customers' mats early September. The programme has been carefully planned to include a wide mix of weekend and day leisure courses.

Adult Edcuation has always been the focus of Farncombe and the team have planned a year full of courses in subjects such as; bee-keeping, history, crafts and texiltes, painting, writing, photography, singing and much more. We like to think that at Farncombe there is something for everyone.

We will be posting and e-mailing our brocuhre to every one of our customers. If you don't currently receive information from Farncombe and would like to, please fill in the brochure request form on our website. www.farncombecourses.co.uk

Farncombe Courses at the Festival of Quilts

For the first time the team at Farncombe Courses will be exhibiting at the Festival of Quilts 16th - 19th August.

The team will be promoting weekend leisure courses and their venue for group events and getaways.

Come and visit us on C9 for a yummy cake and a chat Farncombe Estate.

Where great things happen!

For full details of the exhibition please visit:

http://www.twistedthread.com/pages/exhibitions/viewExhibition.aspx?id=38