Fairford and Lechlade community news in the Standard

1. Fairford Town Council welcomes two new councillors

Fairford Town Council has welcomed two new town councillors. Phil Braiden was elected uncontested to Fairford Town Council in December 2024. “I am delighted to be one of your newest Town Councillors,” he said. “As Fairford continues to grow, I look forward to supporting both existing and new initiatives while exploring new opportunities within our community to continue helping make Fairford a great place to live.” Mr Braiden can be contacted at phil@fairfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

Niall Tyrer was coopted to the town council on Tuesday, January 14. “We moved to this lovely town four years ago, and I have always been keen to get involved in the community,” he said. “I have a vested interest in Fairford as my son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren also live here. I want to use my experience while representing the views of the people of Fairford and to assist the council to achieve its goals.” Mr Tyrer can be contacted at niall@fairfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

There are currently two more vacancies on Fairford Town Council, so if there are aspects of Fairford that you’d like to see improved or changed, why not become a councillor? The council needs active and committed people to get involved and make a difference. You will be given training and guidance to help you become part of a supportive and dedicated team of town councillors, and as a minimum, you’ll need to be able to attend full council meetings at 7pm on the second Tuesday of each month and one or more committee meetings on another Tuesday each month. To find out more, contact the town clerks on 01285 713326 or 01285 712344, or email clerks@fairfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

2. Fairford Youth Football Club looking for girls to join

Fairford Youth Football Club coach Matthew Amor is looking to expand the girls’ football game with extra sessions for girls from Year 4 through to Year 8. He would like more players to join a new second midweek session playing indoors until the better weather in the spring returns and everyone can move outside to play. The club already has a group of girls that have been meeting every Wednesday for the last six months.

This new midweek session is a great opportunity for girls because football allows girls to play with other girls their own age, practise and learn football skills in an unpressured environment, learn from playing, enjoy relaxed sessions, have fun and meet new amazing friends, boost confidence and get active. Experienced players and those with no experience welcome. Small-sided games mean lots of touches and running. Free trial sessions are also available.

Years 4 and 5 meet on Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 7pm, and Years 6, 7 and 8 meet on Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 8pm. Sessions take place at Farmor’s School Sports Hall, The Park, Fairford, GL7 4JQ. To find out more, email fairfordyfc@outlook.com or contact the club via WhatsApp or leave a message on 07749 915284.

3. Golf enthusiast undertakes fundraising car wash

Fairford’s young golf enthusiast Ollie Pugh will be doing a fundraising car wash today, Saturday, February 8, from 10am to 12pm at Fairford Fire Station, Hatherop Road, GL7 4JZ. External washes are £10 each. All proceeds will go to the Hatherop Big Build as part of the Grow a Fiver initiative.

4. The Critic showing at Palmer Hall Cinema

The next Palmer Hall Cinema is on Wednesday, February 12. The film is The Critic starring Sir Ian McKellen, who delivers a masterful performance as the critic.

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Entry is £3.50, to include a free tea or coffee and biscuit. £3 extra for a glass of wine. No booking required. Details from thepalmerhall.org

5. Upcoming Fairford Town Council meeting

The next meeting of Fairford Town Council is on Tuesday, February 11 at 7pm in Fairford Community Centre. For information, contact the town clerks on 01285 712344 or 01285 713326, or via clerks@fairfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

6. Fairford Gardening Club meeting

Fairford Gardening Club will be meeting on Thursday, February 13 at 3pm in Fairford Community Centre. Refreshments will be served.

7. Quenington Village Hall Committee

The Friends of Fairford & Lechlade Communities wish to thank the Quenington Village Hall Committee, who hold a coffee morning in the hall each month and have chosen Friends of Fairford & Lechlade Communities to receive all donations taken from the sale of refreshments and a raffle in February. Please join today, Saturday, February 8, at 10.30am.

8. Help children with lifechanging conditions in area

Help Our People Enterprise at St Mary’s Church is a special fund set up to help families in the Fairford area. Funds raised from The Hope Project Concert will help some of the children in the area suffering with lifechanging extreme physical and mental health conditions requiring specialist hospital and professional treatment to overcome.

The concert is being held on Monday, February 10 at 7pm in St Mary’s Church, Fairford, and features a variety of music genres from Lechlade Occasional Choir, VoKaL (Voices of Kencot and Lechlade), Ray Shaw and Kencot Ukulele Group. Retiring donations please.

9. Discover Stanley Spencer with The Arts Society Upper Thames

The Arts Society Upper Thames invites you to its February lecture: A Village in Heaven: Stanley Spencer’s Cookham with Amy Lim. This takes place on Thursday, February 13 at 2pm in Lechlade Memorial Hall. Non-members welcome.

Few artists are as rooted in a place as Stanley Spencer and his birthplace, Cookham. It was his home for most of his life and was the inspiration for many of his greatest paintings. The cost for this lecture is £7.50 cash on the door, but please register first at info@tasupperthames.org.uk

10. Teenager achieves highest Guiding award in Meysey Hampton

Violet Masterman is the first Guide to achieve the Gold Award (post-Covid) at Meysey Hampton Guides. This is the highest award that can be achieved as a Guide. The Gold Award is designed to cover a wide range of knowledge, skills and personal development badges and activities, which include completing indoor and outdoor challenges, staying healthy, building confidence and personal understanding, taking action to make a difference and building skills for the future.

Violet, 13, who lives with her parents and two sisters in Fairford, is a pupil at Farmor’s School. She has been a Guide since the age of 10 and was a Brownie before that.

Meysey Hampton Guides meet on Monday evenings from 7pm to 8.30pm in Meysey Hampton Village Hall. If you are aged 10 to 15 years of age and would like to be a Guide, please visit girlguiding.org.uk where you can register your interest and find out about units in the area. The leaders of your chosen unit will be notified and will get in touch directly.