Category: entertainment and leisure news

Re-united after 150 years apart!
VISITORS to Cogges Manor Farm will not be shocked to find the couple, not in the farm house bedrooms as one might initially suppose, but down in the walled kitchen garden, where Gardener Chris Munday has introduced a crown of ?Prince Albert? rhubarb to the extensive and regal bed of the variety known as ?Victoria?.
Rhubarb?s popularity may even be on the rise due to its discovery by GI dieters and trendy TV chefs, but in the kitchen garden, as on the allotment, rhubarb has always been firmly appreciated. Rumour has it that it was once more popular than strawberries! ?Sometimes I feel we have to look back in order to move forward? said Chris, who is predicting that the next BIG THING will be the popularity of the gooseberry. ?It?s about time that gooseberries become more valued again, and not just green ones used for cooking. There are also soft, juicy dessert gooseberries that can be red, white, yellow or green. At Cogges we?ve brought in five more varieties this year selected partly due to their eating qualities but also? (Chris admitted) due to the curious and charming names that the Victorians gave them: Early Sulphur, Whitesmith, Langley Rage and Broom Girl. Who could resist!?

Chris Munday strongly believes that we need to relearn the art of enjoying the humble, neglected foods that can be grown in our back gardens as well as foods such as avocado?s and mango?s that burn fossil fuels to get to our tables. ?Beetroot is something else we are growing a lot this year at Cogges, including white, and pink and white varieties as well as the red variety aptly named ?Bulls Blood? ? another great name!?

A new event for this season at Cogges is ?A taste of the Garden??, a free session (admission charges apply) to be held in the delightful setting of the Manor House lawn. On offer will be samples of the aforementioned beetroot, other seasonal produce and freshly prepared soups. Chris will be there to talk about heritage vegetables and offer his theories on how Prince Albert rhubarb and white beetroot could help save the planet! It is all starting to sound reminiscent of the eccentricity normally associated with Lewis Carrol, another popular export from Victorian Oxfordshire.

Garden Weekend: Saturday* 5th & Sunday 6th August 2006
Cogges Manor Farm Museum, tel: 01993 772602 for details.
* (tasting event on Saturday only)

Sun 30th July Songs of Praise. St Mary’s Church is holding a Songs of Praise service at 10.30am and those requesting hymns/songs are invited to say why they have chosen that particular item.

Sun 30th Heart and Sole Walk. There will be a country walk of up to 4 miles starting at 2pm from outside Haddenham library.

Wed 2nd Climbing Wall. In the first of 3 summer holiday sessions, which aim to allow young people to try new activities, Haddenham Youth Club will be providing a mobile climbing wall and organising a mobile team challenge for 13-19 year olds from the Haddenham area next Wednesday (12-4pm) at the Youth Centre. Adults and other young people are welcome to come and observe the activities. Safety equipment will be provided.

LOADS of ideas of things for the kids to do during the summer holiday.
See Link to South Oxfordshire District Council’s website

and more ideas from Camp Soll

01/07/2006 – Charlie Don’t Surf – The Wheatsheaf – Dunstable – 9:00pm

15/07/2006 – Dumb Angel – The Britannia – Aylesbury – 9:00pm

15/07/2006 – Lightbox – The Ship – Aylesbury – 9:00pm

22/07/2006 – Subrosa5 – The Britannia – Aylesbury – 9:00pm

31/07/2006 – Ellie Myles & Cayo Blanco – Friars Square Shopping Centre – Aylesbury – 12:00 – www.aylesburyshowcase.co.uk

01/08/2006 – James Manders & Rob Halligan – Friars Square Shopping Centre – Aylesbury – 12:00 – www.aylesburyshowcase.co.uk

02/08/2006 – Si Hayden & Holly Petrie – Friars Square Shopping Centre – Aylesbury – 12:00 – www.aylesburyshowcase.co.uk

02/08/2006 – Si Hayden – The King’s Head – Aylesbury – 2:00pm

03/08/2006 – Western Bell & October – Friars Square Shopping Centre – Aylesbury – 12:00 – www.aylesburyshowcase.co.uk

04/08/2006 – Zealey & Michael Berk – Friars Square Shopping Centre – Aylesbury – 12:00 – www.aylesburyshowcase.co.uk

05/08/2006 – Russell Leak & Lisa Theunissen & (BBC1’s Fame Academy Finalist) Peter Brame – Friars Square Shopping Centre – Aylesbury – 12:00 – www.aylesburyshowcase.co.uk

05/08/2006 – The Powders – The Britannia – Aylesbury – 9:00pm

06/08/2006 – Kingsbury’s Tribute to the Stars – Aylesbury – www.aylesburyshowcase.co.uk

06/08/2006 – Micawber – The King’s Head – Aylesbury – 8:30pm

12/08/2006 – Dream Capture + Ellie Myles – The Britannia – Aylesbury – 9:00pm

13/08/2006 – Kingsbury’s Tribute to the Stars – Aylesbury – www.aylesburyshowcase.co.uk

13/08/2006 – Close Contact & 8-Eye – The King’s Head – Aylesbury – 8:30pm

19/08/2006 – Lightbox + Messiah – The Britannia – Aylesbury – 9:00pm

20/08/2006 – Kingsbury’s Tribute to the Stars – Kingsbury – Aylesbury – www.aylesburyshowcase.co.uk

20/08/2006 – Charlie Don’t Surf – The King’s Head – Aylesbury – 8:30pm

23/08/2006 – James Manders – The King’s Head – Aylesbury – 1:00pm

26/08/2006 – Charlie Don’t Surf + Loz Jones – The Britannia – Aylesbury – 9:00pm

27/08/2006 – Aylesbury Showcase – HOBBLE ON THE COBBLES 2006 – Market Square – Aylesbury – 11:00am – www.AylesburyShowcase.co.uk

LOOKING for something exciting to do with the children? Why not come to Aston Rowant Nature Reserve on Sunday, July 2, and take part in some fun environmental activities?
The Chilterns Conservation Board is teaming up with English Nature for a Nature Family Fun Day. Drop in at any time between 12 noon and 4pm to find out more about wildlife and nature in the Chilterns.

Have a go at willow weaving, plant some seeds, learn how to make a witches broom and make mobiles out of natural materials. All activities take place on the part of the reserve opposite Cowleaze Wood car park on the Christmas Common Road, not far from Stokenchurch.

The event is free, though some activities have a small charge. There?s no need to book. For more information call Anne at the Aston Rowant Nature Reserve on 01844 351 833.

THE Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway will be holding a Commercial Vehicle Weekend this coming Saturday and Sunday, July 1 and 2.
Trains depart Chinnor station at 10.00, 11.00, 12.15, 1.15, 2.15, 3.15 and 4.30pm.

No need to book, just come along and enjoy.

CHINNOR Musical Theatre are proud to bring you a night of elegance and side-splitting hilarity.
‘Cowardy Custard? had a triumphant first night at the Mermaid Theatre, London on July 10, 1972 and ran for a year. Of all the tributes paid to ‘The Master’ after his seventieth birthday celebrations in 1970, this was the most successful. For those young enough to have missed Coward the first time around, the show is a revelation ~ the freshness of the famous pieces, the delight of less familiar material, and the continued relevance of Coward’s powerful satire.
“The Master” of 20th Century entertainment ~ Sir Noel Coward.
Coward’s roots ~ for all his international success and cosmopolitan image ~ were firmly in London. Born in Teddington, just before the beginning of the twentieth Century, his work recalls, with great affection and wit, his upbringing in London’s suburbs and his early days struggling in the fiercely competitive London theatre of the 1920’s. London has always been a strong inspiration to Coward ~ songs such as London Pride, London at Night and the London song sequence from his 1960’s Broadway musical -The Girl Who Came To Supper” (all included in “Cowardy Custard”) show him at his lyrical and musical best.
The main problem for the writers was obviously one of selection! In the history of 20th Century popular music, only Cole Porter among other composer-lyricists has rivalled Coward’s extraordinary range.
The songs in “Cowardy Custard” extend from the archetypal ’20’s Coward of Poor Little Rich Girl and Dance, Little Lady, the romantic, lyrical mood “Bitter-Sweet”, to the strong blues and jazz vein of Mad about the Boy and Twentieth Century Blues, and of course the perennially inventive comic songs (Marvellous Party, Nina, Mrs Worthington etc.). Coward once wrote that the impulse to write songs was born in him, and the show covers half-a-century of composing, from his earliest revue songs to the 1960’s Broadway musicals. With such a variety, it is hardly surprising that it includes songs which Coward himself confessed he had almost forgotten having written.
Only one thing was missing – a suitable title. A telegram from Coward himself, in Jamaica, suggesting “Cowardy Custard”, added the final ingredient, and a production initially intended for a limited eight-week season turned out to be one of the most successful shows in the Mermaid’s history.
You are bound to enjoy this ?marvellous? piece of modern history. You?ll be surprised at how many of these wonderful songs you already know and you?ll also be amazed at how relevant most of the sentiments still are!
Don?t be a ?Cowardy Custard?
July 15th 7:30pm
Lord Williams Lower School, Thame
Box Office: 01844 353422

THAME artists continue to show their work this weekend, at the Arts Cafe, at ‘Pickles’ in the Upper High Street, which on Sunday, will include readings linked to the display.
Metroland poet, Margaret Norman will be in the cafe between 2-4pm and moving image pieces will be shown throughout the day, begining at 11am.
The work on display is mixed media and includes print making, textiles, Paperworks, Book works, Ceramics and Assemblage.
Many of the artist will be on-hand to chat about their work.
The exhibition, which runs until July 2, is part of a Bucks Open Studios event. It is open between 11am and 5pm with special events on Sundays throughout.

LAST Friday, June 16, Thame Cinema 4 All raised more than

THE Mayor of Thame, Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods, called into Thame’s Arts Cafe on Sunday, to wish ‘good luck’ to the local artists participating in Bucks Open Studios Event.
Accompanied by his wife, the Mayoress, Alison Champken-Woods, the mayor was shown examples of local artists’ work including prints, paintings, etchings, sculptures and calligraphy on display at Pickles cafe in the Upper High Street. He was then given a small perspex box containing tiny chocolate eggs, and asked to go away and refill it with something else and then bring it back, a bit like an artist’s ‘moveable feast’.
The exhibition is open daily, until July 2, between 11am and 5pm (11am to 4pm on Sundays).
This coming Sunday’s theme (June 24), from 11am to 2pm, is Word and Image, which takes a closer look at Artists’ books and other visual presentations, and then between 2pm and 4pm, moving image pieces made by students graduating in Visual and Performance art, will be on shown.
This is one of the most innovative and exciting Art exhibitions ever seen in Thame, and not to be missed -the wine and nibbles provided by Cafe proprietor, Heather Brown, aren’t bad either.