Thatcham’s Festival of Arts and Leisure gets underway with arts and crafts displays and a bird walk

Posted on October 20, 2008
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Repost from the Newbury Today
Link to Article: http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=8215
THE Festival of Arts and Leisure kicked off in Thatcham on Saturday (October 11).
Town mayor Jenny Weaving officially launched the annual nine day festival with a packed celebration in The Broadway.
On the opening day there was a display of arts, crafts and leisure and services as well as a display by local historian Malcolm Langford.
In the evening, Stacy Tuttle, a garden designer based in Hungerford, spoke to keen Thatcham gardeners to give them practical hints and ways of how to plant and maintain their gardens in an eco-friendly manner.
Sunday saw a bird festival walk around Thatcham Lakes guided by Thatcham’s ornithologist, Graeme Stewart.
Also on Sunday was a tea dance in the Frank Hutchings Community Hall led by Richard Dumelow.
In the evening, St Mary’s Church hosted ‘Songbirds’, a concert performed by Watership Cantabile, Kennet Opera and local residents Valerie Macfarlane and David Stephenson, husband and wife professional international opera singers.
Organiser of the classic car show, which was held on the opening day, Martin Port said that there were about 120 cars on display, which was about 40 more than last year.
He said: “The event was really good – the weather was a big factor as well as the fact that we had children’s amusements.
“The classic car show is growing each year and we got really good feedback.
“We had a really good mix of cars, some rare and some not so rare.
“This is the third time we have done the festival and so it’s possible we will do it again next year.
“The enthusiasm of the people and their cars is a big factor and they want to have it again next year.”
Mrs Weaving said: “It went really well, it was very busy – the weather helped.
“I really enjoyed the rugby and the parish hall was great – there were loads of classic cars and the Broadway was busy all day.
“There were lots of people about and lots of new faces.
“Last night I went to a brilliant concert at St Mary’s – it was a really good start to the festival.
“Tonight I am going to the Barfield Handbell Ringers who are always good and the Lakes, Lights and Lanterns event is going to be something else.
“My 85-year-old granny went along to the tea dance as did my kids – so there were five-year-olds and 85-year-olds twirling around the Frank Hutchings Hall.”
She added: “There’s going to be lots of things going on, there will be a lot of outside people coming and a lot of different events.
“It is so good that more residents than ever are actively involved in the festival, encouraging a very strong community spirit in the town.”
Further events for the festival inlcude Lakes, Lights and Lanterns on Friday (October 17) from 6pm at the Nature Discovery Centre and Thatcham in concert on Sunday (October 19) at St Mary’s Church from 7.30pm.

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