Advance Press release

Dates  .  Events  .  Volunteers required  .  Forthcoming  local events

We are pleased to announce that plans for the Wantage ’not just’ Betjeman Festival 2013 are already underway.

After the success of last year’s festival, the proposed dates for 2013 are 19 – 27 October please pencil the dates in your diary now!

In addition to a wide-ranging programme of literary talks, concerts and morning lectures, this year’s festival will feature a poetry speaking competition for children and young people , an afternoon tea Jane Austen -style and William Walton’s ‘Facade’ with Richard Baker.

Please see also forthcoming local events that might be of interest to Literature and Music enthusiasts at the end of this newsletter.

In order to receive updates of this year’s Festival, special offers, friends scheme  and pre-Festival events, please contact us on jim@wantagebetjeman.com or Tel. 01235 767975.

Join the Team

If you have a passion for a literature and some spare time we’d like you to consider  joining our friendly festival team. We need volunteers to fill the following functions:

Festival Photographer

Someone who can tweet /manage Facebook pages

Local Schools Liaison

Stewards during the Festival

to help to raise the profile of our growing festival.

For further information, please contact Jim Mitchell on the above  email or telephone. We look forward to hearing from you!

Friday, 2^nd March at 7pm for 7.45

Loyd Lindsay Rooms, High Street Ardington

‘What the Dickens’

A Dickensian Comedy Thriller

Tickets £10 Under 16 £8 from 01235 832240

Sunday, 10^th March

At Thomas Hughes Memorial hall, Uffington

Oxford Fiddle Group 10 Fiddles plus backing

Doors open 7.30 for 8.15

Tickets £8 Concessions £6

From George 01367 820282 or Sharon 01367 820259

Or museum@uffington.net

The Vale & Downland Museum, 19 Church Street, Wantage will be hosting talks, poetry and music events during spring and early summer. Information will soon be available on the new museum website. In the meantime, here are two dates for your diary…

Sunday 17 March 1.30pm – 4.30pm  

As part of  Oxfordshire’s Big Day Out celebrations on Sunday 17 March, don’t miss a special Sunday afternoon in the museum. It’s free entry!

Explore  the main museum galleries to meet costumed interpreters who will  bring the Vale’s past to life.

Have a go at traditional crafts including bobbin lace-making, quilling and weaving.
Follow fun family gallery trails

Find out about the museum’s weekly term-time session for families with pre-school children and join in a short ‘Alfie and Friends’ activity.
See our brand new collectors’ box and test your knowledge of fossils and minerals.
Enjoy a cream tea in the coffee shop!

For further details, please contact the museum on 01235 771447 or email 

museum@wantage-museum.com or check out the museum’s website!

Friday, 8^th April at 7.00pm for 7.45

Loyd Lindsay Rooms, High Street Ardington

‘Heroes and Villains’ with Isla St Clair

Tickets £8 Under 16 £5 from 01235 832240

Friday 26 April 7.30pm

An evening of Jazz and Poetry

featuring the ‘Museo Jazz Ensemble’

with poetry by Giles Watson and Tony Isaacs

Licensed Coffee Shop Open

For ticket prices, bookings and further information, please contact the museum. Advance booking strongly recommended.

Shush! still decorated after their Halloween event: best location for a slam, ever!

Dair Farrar-Hockley describes the retaking of the Falklands and offers his assessment of the prospects for the future of the Islands.