In this week’s PP: recommendations for Natura Spa at Audley Inglewood and Bluebird Carers, congratulations to winner of our March Quiz, cooking with nettles, plus the usual local news, jobs, events and more
Local News
Visit the Local News section of PP website for this week’s Local News including the return of Sandleford, Marlborough’s railway debates, primary school admissions, local elections and Grove’s housing plans.
Local Events – see below
Local Activities
Penny Post Spring Guide to Local Courses has a wide range of local activities.
• Wantage Bike Ride Sat 21 Apr, Complete Beginners Spanish Course starts Mon 7 May, Learn to Dance in a Day & First Aid for Parents Sat 19 May, First Aid for Older Folk Tues 22 May
Competitions
• April Art Competition Create a picture inspired by spring to win a £20 voucher from Dolphin Art in Wantage (under 16 and over 16 categories). Entry deadline: 30 April
• Yeah – March competition winner is finally decided – congratulations to teen Sophie Pannett-Smith who is very kindly going to give the Orchid Thai Therapy massage to her mother!
Recommendations
• If you want to treat yourself to a pamper, Sophie Jordens recommends Natura Spa at Audley Inglewood nr Kintbury:“My manicure by Alice was lovely and the hot stone massage I had from Jade was great with perfect pressure. The atmosphere is so nice and calming, I will definitely be coming back for more treatments.” Try their easy online booking system.
• Mrs VA, Newbury recommends Bluebird Carers “My Mum is enjoying the care provided by your carers. They make her laugh more than she has done for years. She relies on carers to keep her company. They cannot do enough to help and are very caring.”
Local Jobs
See the Penny Post website for local jobs including: Marketing Assistant, Marlborough • Heritage Project and Volunteer Coordinator, Greenham • Housekeeper, near Kintbury • Front of House Assistant, Newbury • Food and Beverage Assistant, near Kintbury • English EFL Teacher Newbury • Level 3 Hair Stylist and Apprentice Hairdresser Hungerford • Bench Joiner, Hungerford • Counter Hands, Hungerford • Barber/Manager, Lambourn • Chef de Partie, Chilton Foliat • A range of caring, housekeeping and catering positions, Froxfield • Homecare Staff, throughout the area • A range of catering and hospitality career opportunities, Chilton Foliat.
Volunteering is good for the soul (and the CV). Click here for local opportunities.
Property
For Rent
• Marlborough: spacious bed-sit with own entrance for rent from Marlborough & District Housing Association
• Hungerford: Two-bedroom ground-floor flat in Eddington. Available now. Contact Nye & Co
• Hungerford: Large two-bed maisonette on the High Street. Available now. £850pcm. Contact Nye & Co
• Hungerford: Three-bed semi-detached house with garage. Available early May. £1,050pcm. Contact Nye & Co
For Sale
• Pewsey: charming double-fronted three-bedroom thatched cottage. Guide Price £395,000. Contact Brearley & Rich
• Burbage: newly-built five-bedroom detached house. Guide price £524,995. Contact Brearley & Rich
Extending your Home
First Steps: A Guide to Home Extensions – planning application, permitted development, listed buildings explained by Orange Key Architectural Design
Local Businesses
Animals & Agriculture • Automotive • Business Consultants • Family Life • Food & Drink • Health, Beauty & Wellbeing • House & Garden • Legal & Finance • IT, Media & Web • Visual & Performing Arts • Retailers •
Charity Plugs
• Please support the Hungerford Quiz Night on Fri 4 May in aid of Maddy & Libby volunteering in Ghana in October and Make a Difference Day at Hungerford Primary School this Sat 21 Apr.
• PP reader (and garden blogger) Belinda Robinson is celebrating 10 year anniversary of her kidney transplant by collecting 10 pence pieces to donate to the Six Counties Kidney Patients Association. If you would like to do likewise or contribute to Belinda’s collection, please reply to this.
• Please click here to support St John’s student Lexi Fellows who is raising £3,450 to travel to Costa Rica and help on clean water and sanitisation projects with Raleigh International
• Bike Appeal for West Berkshire’s Rough Sleepers – please support our appeal to give local homeless people independence and the means to get to interviews, work and visit their family. Thanks to TR Cycle Repairs support for Newbury Soup Kitchen clients.
Seasonal Snippets
• It’s time to plug cooking with nettles again as they are growing nicely all over our garden now. You’ve heard me say it before: they’re free, self-propagating, more nutritious and less slimy than spinach and they taste pretty good too (see link for recipe ideas from beer to birds nests). Just don’t attempt to eat them raw…
• See this week’s Local News for our usual Thursday scramble through the stories, newspapers and websites in the area (and sometimes a bit beyond it) including bees, badgers, Billy Bragg, missing toilet signs, a visit to RAF Welford and railway closures.
• Sad news that despite current sunshine, The Lambourn Spring Working show on Sun 6 May has been cancelled due to wet ground conditions (one event that is rarely affected by weather is the Crafty Craft on Mon 7 May).
• My husband Brian went up to London yesterday. Nothing demanding or unusual about that, you might think, but he managed to get himself into a right old pickle. You Can’t Park Here explains all.
• Thatcham Litter Pick this Sat 21 Apr – please meet at the Council Offices (just behind Thatcham library) at 10am to collect recycling and bin bags. Or feel free to start where you live and meet up at the Council Offices at 12 to leave the rubbish to be recycled or binned.
• Thanks for everyone’s positive feedback our first radio show last Friday. Thanks to Alison from Cheek2Cheek Dance for coming into the studio to bust some myths about dancing. This Friday at 11am, besides our usual eclectic round-up of the week and some great music, our guest will be Jon from Brearley & Rich sharing top tips on how to sell your house. Click 4LEGS Radio to Listen Live or Listen Again online any time.
For news you can use every day, please join our new Penny Post Subscribers Facebook group
Please see below for a selection of upcoming local events.
Local Events
Fri 20 Apr
Ethos Comedy Night 8pm ACE Space, Newbury. A cracking evening of stand up comedy. Laughter and fun with an ethos ie no one gets picked on, and the material aims to stay within a ’15’ certificate.
Sat 21 Apr
Free Dyslexia Advice 10am – 12noon Hungerford Library
Brendoncare Froxfield Open Day 2 – 5pm A fun afternoon of entertainment, Royal cake competition and raffle. All welcome. Free entry.
Create Your Own Perfume Workshops 4pm & 6pm Natura Spa, Audley Inglewood near Kintbury.`
Thurs 26 Apr
Booksigning with Henry Blofeld 1pm Hungerford Bookshop. Don’t miss this cricketing legend!
Sat 28 Apr
Hungerford World Village Market 9am – 6pm Hungerford High Street. A two-day family-friendly street market featuring colour, character and originality!
Spring Fair 10am Ramsbury Memorial Hall. Coffee, cakes, plants, books, vinyl music, raffle, clothes and silent auction. Entry £1 (kids free). In aid of Treloar’s school for disabled children. Hilary 01672 520899.
Adam Winslet and his All Star Band 8pm John O’Gaunt School, Hungerford
Sun 29 Apr
Hungerford World Village Market 10am – 5pm Hungerford High Street. A two-day family-friendly street market featuring colour, character and originality!
Aldbourne Community Market 11am – 2pm Sun 29 Apr Crafts, recycled goodies and food. Just £5 per table. Charities are exempt. Contact Lesley on 01672 540180 to book.
Mon 7 May
Crafty Craft Race from Kintbury to Newbury. Lots of madness – very English! Still time to enter a race.
Coming Soon
• JOG Colour Mile Sat 12 May, John O’Gaunt School, Hungerford
• Maymessy Family Festival Sun 20 May nr Wantage
• Lockdales Valuation Event Mon 21 May nr Newbury. Bring your collectables along for expert valuation by auctioneers.
• The Box Film Festival Sat 2 June Corn Exchange, Newbury.
• Chaddleworth & Shefford Primary School Fete Sun 3 June. Outdoor event with 3m x 3m pitches for handmade crafts – £10 (plus an item for tombola or raffle). Book with Caroline cazfarrant@
• Garstonbury Sat 14 July family friendly festival for all ages and tastes in music.
…plus more on the PP website Calendar.
