The Annual Town Meeting will take place on Thursday May 24 at 7pm in Fairford Community Centre.

This is not a Council meeting, but is a meeting of the residents of the town of Fairford.

The format of the meeting provides the opportunity for local organizations to report directly to the people of Fairford and residents will have the chance to ask questions in an open forum.

There will also be the presentations to the Citizen of the Year; the Geoff Chick Award and the Albert Alder Award.

There will be reports from County and District Councillors; the Police, the Ernest Cook Trust; RAF Fairford, the Fairford Community Centre, the Palmer Hall, the NDP group, Walkers are Welcome, the League of Friend and from Hilary Cottage Surgery, Patients Participation Group. Refreshments will be available.

An Evening of Clairvoyance with Kez Eggleton from Nailsworth at 7.30pm-9pm on Thursday May 24 at The Bull Hotel, Fairford. Entry £5.

No alcohol during demonstration please.

All proceeds will go to the Animal Health Trust.

To book your place, please contact Susan: 07813 855727.

Fairford Art Society Get Together painting session will be at 1.30pm on Thursday May 24 at Fairford Community Centre.

Subject: ‘Reflections’ any medium.

Visitors welcome at £3.50 per session.

For more information, contact Sallie Seymour on 01367 850385 or chairman, Jill Skarda on 01285 740496.

It is 10 years this June since Fairford Community Centre opened its doors to the public following extensive refurbishment.

The Community Centre has a long and complex history dating back as far as 1738 when it was a free school.

It has undergone many changes over the years and was extensively refurbished in 2008.

The refurbishment 10 years ago has meant that the Centre is now a thriving hub in the community and host to a wide range of groups and activities.

To celebrate the 10th birthday, there will be some celebrations on Friday June 1.

Fairford Festival will take place over the weekend of Thursday May 31 till Sunday June 3.

The Festival begins with an Open Air Cinema evening on Thursday May 31 at 8pm till 11pm. Tickets £3 on the gate.

To see all the events that will be happening in Fairford, go to the Fairford Festival website: www.fairfordfestival.org.uk.

This year, two Young Ambassadors have been chosen by members of Fairford Festival to represent Fairford.

The Primary School age Young Ambassador is Fairford’s 10 year old Heather Kent, who attends Fairford Primary School and has braved all weathers to litter pick every day in Fairford.

The Secondary School age Young Ambassador is Holly Foster from Marston Meysey and is a 6th form student at Farmor’s School.

She is currently doing her Gold Duke of Edinburgh award including volunteering as a Scouting leader in Swindon; has done her National Citizenship (NCS) at Cirencester; she is a lead on the Charity Committee at school; is interested in ‘Science in Society’ and likes getting involved in the community.

The Young Ambassador scheme is supported by The Ernest Cook Trust.

Sophia Walter and Aiyanna Bodsworth aged 15 years need to raise £4,000 each to go to Kenya with Camps International next summer 2019.

One of the fundraising events is ‘A Night At The Dogs’ at Swindon Greyhound Stadium.

Tickets cost £15 each to include entry, race card and return coach travel from Fairford.

There are 53 tickets available on a first-come-first-served basis and need to be booked by the end of May.

To book, email: charliewalter@btinternet.com. Or donate to help the girls at: www.gofundme.com/trip-to-kenya-for-4-weeks.

There are still a few tickets left for the Fairford Festival of Fiction happening on Saturday June 2.

Guests of honour are Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, League of Gentlemen, Doctor Who) and Matthew Graham from Fairford (Life on Mars).

Tickets are limited to 150, so early booking is advised: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fairford-festival-of-fiction-2018-tickets-42865940181 or search on Eventbrite for Fairford Festival of Fiction.

There are no more ‘Get Together’ sessions for Fairford Art Society until September.

To find out more about Fairford Art Society, call Jill Skarda on 01285 740496.

Fairford Badminton Club is looking for new players and are offering 3 free sessions

.

They play socially from 8pm-10pm on Mondays (except Bank Holidays) at Farmor’s Sports Centre GL7 4JQ and would love to see some new faces.

Players must be 14 years of age and above and of any ability from total beginners to the more experienced player. Membership available.

For more information, contact Jo Blair on 01285 851313, jo.blair@me.com, www.fairfordbadmintonclub.co.uk.

Chris Roberts

chris@cotswoldwireless.co.uk