Local News
Visit the Local News section of the PP website for this week’s news including Sandleford delay, council budgets, some good news for Hungerford’s Post Office and Library, good causes celebrated, traffic and fire-service news, police updates for February, council contacts, the return of the River Lambourn, C, D and U roads unmasked, the team that keeps on winning, village bulletins, a possible casino, a possible council merger, time, twinned toilets and falling asleep at the dentist’s.
Local Events – see below
Local Activities
• stress down Friday – you are welcome every Friday 12 – 1pm at the Weekly Mindfulness Drop-In at the Wellbeing Centre, Newbury with Sheila from Living Well Mindfulness. £10 per session.
• new weekly Spanish class for complete beginners starts 7pm Weds 22nd Feb for 10 weeks. £150 pp. Only five places. In Wickham, near Stockcross
• Discover Your Voice with Heather Parker of Isis Sounds Healing at Newbury’s Wellbeing Centre 2.30 – 5pm Sat 25 Feb. Become aware of and enjoy the healing power of your voice.
Recommendations
• for a good workout for people at a range of fitness levels, Rosalind Mitchell recommends the new indoor cycling classes at Hungerford Leisure Centre: “Lots of climbing, core-strength work and sit-down sprints. The instructor also made sure we stretched properly before and afterwards A great workout – will definitely come again.”
• Brenda Hopper recommends Stable Yoga “in a beautiful studio in Kintbury. As a beginner myself, I found the instruction helpful and appropriate for my ability.” Contact 01488 608287 to book a free trial session.
Special Offers
• £40 off classic teeth whitening when you book this month at Lambourn Valley Dental Practice Call Rachel or Lucy to book on 01488 757654
• Special offers from Gastro Nicks: 20% off Canella Prosecco until Sat 18 Feb; also, their Italian ‘Winter Warmer’ Special: Tuscan Olive Oil, Sicilian pasta, parmesan, spicy salami and an organic pasta sauce – reduced from £33 to £24 (while stocks last)
• Free drum sticks & Evans drum skin !f you buy a snare drum or cymbal from Hogan Music in Newbury this month.
Local Jobs
See the Penny Post website for local jobs including: Full- and Part-time Cooks, Newbury • Shop Assistants, Great Shefford • Car Mechanic, Newbury • Domestic Assistants, near Newbury • Occupational Therapist, West Berkshire • Massage Therapist, West Berkshire • Recreation Assistant, Hungerford • Cleaners, West Berkshire • Customer Services Assistants, Hungerford • Charity Shop Volunteers, Hungerford • Homecare Assistants, throughout West Berkshire
Local Businesses
Family Life • Food & Drink • Health, Beauty & Wellbeing • House, Garden & Pets • Legal & Professional • IT, Media & Web • Visual & Performing Arts • Retailers • Travel & Tourism • Tuition & Training
Please support the businesses which support Penny Post!
• Café business opportunity – Newbury Town Council is looking for an operator who will take on the lease of a new café currently being considered for construction in Victoria Park, Newbury.
• See our Property News section for a range of tips and general good advice from some local property experts.
• With the end of the financial year approaching, a couple of timely bits of financial advice here from two local financial experts: Butler Toll Asset Management’s thoughts about why you should be looking forward to 5 April; and some insights from chartered accountants Ross Brooke
about the likely impacts of HMRC’s Making Tax Digital project.
Charity Plugs
• volunteers are needed to help keep West Berkshire libraries open. To find out about volunteering at your local branch click here (don’t worry if you’ve missed the volunteer meeting at your local branch)
• see this week’s Local News for just some of the many people and organisations who have helped good causes recently (the beneficiaries ranging from John Radcliffe Hospital to an electrocuted swan).
Four (& two) Legged Friends
• bird flu latest – confirmed case at a poultry farm with over 20,000 birds near Redgrave in Suffolk
• our cat Nimbus fancies his chances at the National Cat Awards. He would be in with a shout for the Softest Cat category (softest fur that is…other cats in the area regard him as being well hard) but I’m not sure about his chances for the Hero Cat, Most Caring Cat or Outstanding Rescue Cat prizes. If you think you moggy could be a contender, the entry deadline is Fri 31 Mar.
• important advice from Zen Dog Whisperer Ken Stronach: do not leave your dog tied up outside a shop as they can be taken in seconds
Seasonal Snippets
• our condolences to Roger Croft, Leader of West Berkshire Council, after his wife was killed and he seriously injured in a car accident in France earlier this week.
• this month’s quiz question: Which Hungerford toilet has the Brownies twinned with Latrine No 60091 in Sarkhel District in Nepal? Entry deadline 25 February for a chance to win a homemade cake by the Brownies! Well done to Hungerford Brownies for raising £150 for Tearfund Toilet Twinning that provides sanitation in developing countries.
• a third Brownie unit has recently started in Hungerford 4.45 – 6pm on Wednesday evenings. From March 1st Lambourn Brownies will meet Monday evenings. To register for a place in either pack click here or contact Lambourn Brown Owl on 01488 670360 or Danielle Stone on 07584 414997 for Hungerford.
• I rarely attempt to make a curry from scratch but this Healthy Chicken Balti recipe from Lambourn Valley Dental has inspired me to have a go
• the latest In Newbury magazine is now available to pick up free from shops (or click here to turn the pages online) – with features on Hungerford’s historic Tutti Day and Thatcham’s Cook & Butcher on the importance of knowing where your meat comes from
• see this week’s Local News for the usual mix including good news regarding Hungerford’s Post Office and Library, parish magazines, council budgets and falling asleep at the dentist’s
• we live on the upper reaches of the River Lambourn which dries out most winters, and it’s exciting to see the water finally return this week
• it was good to catch up recently with Hungerford actor Nick Lumley who has had some exciting film roles since his long stint at the RSC last year.
• on a related theme, another chance to read my husband’s account of his shockingly inept compering of a cabaret event. These things are much better left to the pros, like Nick…
Penny
Local Events
Highlights from the Penny Post Calendar
Thurs 16 – Sat 18 Feb
Mack & Mabel 7.15pm John O’Gaunt School. This year’s Hungerford Town Show is the classic Broadway musical about the slient movie pioneers and the stormy love affair between Hollywood director Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand, the waitress who became one of his biggest stars.Click here to buy tickets (Saturday matinee at 2.15pm)
Fri 17 Feb
Italia in Piazza real Italian Market from 9am Wantage Market Square
On PP Calendar: Nature Tots at Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre, Sabrina at Croft Films in Hungerford
Sat 18 Feb
Philip Henry & Hannah Martin ACE Space, Newbury. Come and enjoy this talented pair who have gone to great things since they were nominated Best Duo in the 2014 BBC Folk Awards
More on PP Calendar: Egyptology Lecture, 100 Canvases Sale at City Arts Newbury, Stand-up History in Hungerford
Sun 19 Feb
Fun Day, Fun Run & Car Boot Sale 9am – 4pm Hungerford Town Football Club. Please help the club raise the funds they need for the stadium improvements required to stay in their league
Perspectives on Syria 3.30pm Fairclose Day Centre, Newbury. Speaker Andrew Ashdown led a delegation which met with President Assad. What he encountered gives a considerably different perspective to what we have been getting in the press here. Hosted by West Berks Peace & Integration Forum.
More on PP Calendar: Trindledown Barn Sale, 100 Canvases Sale at City Arts Newbury
Tues 21 Feb
Local author Nicola Cornick on her new book The Phantom Tree 7.30pm Hungerford Bookshop. The Phantom Tree is inspired by the history of Savernake Forest and Littlecote House. Drawing on her research, Nicola will talk about the “real” history behind the book and how fact and historical imagination interact. Tickets £5 (inc glass of wine and £1 off the book)
On PP Calendar: Macular Society Support group in Newbury, Carers Support Group in Hungerford, Affordable Housing workshop in Calcot
Sun 26 Feb
The Party & Wedding Showcase 11.30am – 3pm, The Queens Arms, East Garston. Great chance to meet local marquee suppliers, caterers, bars, dance floor to disco, wedding dresses to carriages, florist & furniture, photographers. Free entry.
Mon 27 Feb
Neighbourhood Watch Meeting, W Berks Council Office, Newbury
Sat 4 Mar
Wantage Repair Cafe 10am – 1pm The Mix, Wantage
Sun 5 Mar
Italia in Piazza real Italian Market from 9.30am Hungerford High Street
Half-term events
• Throughout half term
Holiday Club for 5 – 13 yrs at Riverside Community Centre in Newbury – Mon, Weds & Fri
Camp Adventure at Hungerford Leisure Centre for 5 – 12 yrs. Great activities all week. Book on 01488 683303
DriveStart for 15 to19 yr olds 9.30am – 4.30pm, Madjeski Stadium, Reading. For more info contact 01635 519984 or [email protected] To book visit: www.drivestart.co.uk/book• Sat 18 Feb
Denim Day 10am – 1pm The Mix, Wantage
