What' on in the region this month
l Researching Stamford
Stamford Arts Centre, throughout February and early March, all talks begin at 7.30pm
Admission £4.80 from the Box Office on 01780 763203
l As part of the Winter Talks Series -
A Walk along St Paul’s Street
Thursday 7 February 2008
Written by Christine Stanier, delivered by Philippa Massey. The eastern extension of High Street and a street of modest prosperity. A look at its history and the many surviving medieval buildings.
l The Stamford Mercury Archive: A Unique Research Tool
Thursday 21 February 2008
John Smith will talk about the scope of the archive, its usefulness to researchers
and the work of the Stamford Mercury Archive Trust in conserving it.
l The Eighteenth Century in Stamford
Thursday 6 March
Philippa Massey explores Stamford’s expansion of transport, communications, trade, entertainment and building in the eighteenth century, and how the museum’s permanent display will change, with your help.
l Nene Valley Railway Half Term
Thomas Special
Special timetable begins on Saturday 9 February throughout half term
Nene Valley Railway, Wansford Station, Stibbington, PE8 6LR
Ticket prices and enquiries Tel: 01780 784444. Thomas, the children’s favourite engine, will be celebrating the school half-term holidays by pulling trains between Wansford and Yarwell.
l Snowdrop Lunch
Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 February, 10 - 2pm
Lunch places are £30. To book or for more information, ring Jackie Murray on 01780 410078. Find out all about snowdrops with an illustrated talk and lunch by snowdrop expert, Jackie Murray at Rasells Nurseries in Little Bytham. A convivial lunch is provided plus Jackie’s illustrated talk on snowdrop varieties, growing, where to see them and the view of a specialist collection. There will also be a chance to purchase collectors’ varieties. A rare horticultural treat.
l Lambing at Sacrewell
Sacrewell Farm & Country Centre, Thornhaugh, Peterborough PE8 6HJ
Open from 9.30am to 5pm. Admission from £4, further information on 01780 782254
Celebrate spring and come and help bottle feed the new born lambs on the farm.
l Oundle Festival of Literature
Saturday 1 to Saturday 15 March
For full details of all events, dates, times, venues and ticket prices, see the Festival brochure or visit www.oundlelitfest.org.uk. Tickets are on sale at Oundle Tourist Information Office (01832 274333)
l Highlights for 2008 include former Liberal Democrat Leader Paddy Ashdown, broadcaster and political journalist James Naughtie, the James Herriot of schools Gervase Phinn and Francesca Simon, author of the immensely popular children’s series Horrid Henry. Fun events for all ages include workshops with Princess Poppy author Janey Louise Jones, author and illustrator of the Blue Kangaroo series Emma Chichester Clark and illustrator of the Horrible Histories series Martin Brown
l The ever growing Community Events programme will open the Festival with the return of the energetic author Dugald Steer, plus a spooky evening of ghost stories, a dinner and story night, a literary quiz evening, the premiere of a play plus the usual free story-telling events for young children in Oundle Library. As usual, there will be many opportunities for members of the public to share their work throughout the festival and children are encouraged to continue to submit entries to the new Horrible Illustrating Competition and children’s writing competition.
l The Lover and his Lass
Saturday 9 February, 8pm
Tickets £14/£12 on 01780
Stamford Arts Centre, St Mary’s Street, Stamford. Hakan Vramsmo (baritone), Louise Poole (mezzo-soprano) and Andrew West (piano) perform a programme of songs by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Britten, Finzi, Purcell, Mozart, Rossini, Porter, Kern, Rodgers & Hammerstein and Bernstein. Born in Sweden, Hakan Vramsmo won a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1999 after studying in Europe. Graduating in 2001 having won prizes at major international competitions, he sang at the opening night of the BBC Proms. Louise Poole won a scholarship to study on the Opera Course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has sung at Buckingham Palace and at the British Embassy in Paris. Andrew West received the inaugural Gerald Moore Award for Accompanists and is one of the artistic directors of the Nuremberg International Chamber Music Festival.
Concert
l Saturday 23 February, 7.30pm
All Saints’ Church, Stamford
Tickets are £8 from Peter Webb on 01780 722086. Radcliffe on Trent Male Voice Choir along with a guest soloist, give a concert with a varied and lively programme in aid of the prostate cancer charity Prostaid. Ticket price includes a glass of wine.
Stamford Book Festival 2008
Friday 1 to Sunday 10 February
Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s Street, Stamford PE9 2DL
For full details, pricing and booking information, call Stamford Arts Centre Box Office on 01780763203 or book on line at www.stamfordartscentre.com
This year’s festival is a celebration of the written word in all its forms. The programme is the most exciting yet with some literary stars making appearances.
Some of the festival highlights include:
l Book Festival Launch Night
Friday 1 February, 7.30pm
Tickets £5 including refreshments
Come along to this wonderful launch event and meet local authors Taff Lovesey and John Nowell. There will also be an opportunity to hear prize-winning Lincolnshire poet Pat Borthwick. Other authors who will be present on the night include Janet Murch, Maureen Rylance, Kay Green, Margaret Gill, David Bruce and Mark Radford.
l Saturday Writer Selection
A rich selection of writer workshops will be taking place throughout the day on Saturday 2 February along with stalls and displays in the Ballroom. All workshops are open to 16 years and over. Prices vary with day tickets available and subject matter includes ‘Stirring the Poetry Pot’, ‘Beat the Blank Page’, ‘Print on Demand & Self Publishing’ and ‘Writing as Therapy’. Pat Borthwick is also offering a very special opportunity to discuss your own poetry in a one to one session lasting twenty minutes for which early booking is essential.
l Potted Potter - The Unauthorised Harry Experience (A Parody by Dan & Jeff)
Sunday 3 February 2.30pm & 7pm
Tickets £9 (£7) £28 family of four. All the books in sixty minutes? Watch comic storytelling duo Dan and Jeff attempt the ultimate challenge. This brilliantly funny show features all your favourite characters and even a game of Quidditch involving the audience, making it ideal entertainment for all ages. Following sell-out seasons at the Edinburgh Festival and in London, this first national tour is a must-see for Potter addicts. Suggested age guidance 6 years plus and their families.
l An Audience with Will Self
Monday 4 February, 8pm. Tickets: £17 (£16)
Will Self is the author of five novels, four collections of short stories, three novellas and four non-fiction works as well as a regular column in the Evening Standard. Will is a frequent broadcaster on television and radio and about him J G Ballard has written, ‘He is one of those rare writers whose imaginations change for ever the way we see the world’.
This year’s festival also boasts Ian McMillan performing with a folk orchestra, screenings of the films ‘Brick Lane’, ‘Silk’ ‘The Jane Austen Book Club’ and ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’, two thrilling ghost stories by M R James performed by Robert Lloyd Parry, and several print workshops.