WEEKLY column of Tetbury news by Kevin Painter
1. Celebrated pianist and cellist at Tetbury Goods Shed
Tetbury Goods Shed invites you to the sixth and final concert in its 2024/25 Classical Series on Saturday, February 15 at 7.30pm. It is delighted to welcome back celebrated pianist Mishka Rushdie Momen, together with acclaimed cellist Tim Posner. For more information or to book tickets, visit tetburygoodsshed.co.uk
Adult advance tickets cost £24. Advance under-25 tickets cost £15. On-the-door, on-the-night tickets will cost £28 and £18 respectively.
2. iSingPOP Celebrate at St Mary’s Primary School
You are all invited to iSingPOP Celebrate on Sunday, February 16 in St Mary’s Primary School hall from 4pm until 5.30pm. This is for all the family, where you will be exploring the best of Bible stories, asking questions big and little and enjoying time together with crafts, chatting and sharing iSingPOP songs and prayers. And if that's not enough, there will be a special Easter chick hunt in the churchyard.
Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring your own cup. All are welcome as this is run by Tetbury Area Churches Together: St Mary's, Christ Church, Five Valleys Christian Fellowship and Saint Michael’s Catholic Church.
3. Vacancy on Tetbury Town Council
Could you be a town councillor for Tetbury? If so, then apply now! Due to the non-attendance of a councillor and a byelection not being triggered, a vacancy has arisen for Tetbury Town Council. The vacancy will be filled by co-option - this means anyone who meets the criteria can apply to be a councillor. The existing councillors will consider the applications and vote to elect the new councillor. The successful candidate will serve for the remaining term of office until May 2027.
In order to apply, please read the documents which are available on the Tetbury Town Council website or from the town council offices to ensure you are eligible to apply, understand the application process and are aware of the key dates. Please return your completed application form by 5pm on Tuesday, February 18. All applicants must attend the full council meeting on Monday, February 24 at 7pm at Tetbury Library in Close Gardens, at which applications will be considered and co-opted.
4. Afternoon music with Anne Cunningham and friends
Tetbury Goods Shed presents afternoon music with Anne Cunningham and friends on Wednesday, February 19 at 2pm. Anne has been singing ever since she can remember and began playing guitar at the age of 10 when she was gifted her sister’s guitar and began teaching herself. She joined local contemporary folk band Badgers Sett in 1987, gaining valuable performance experience with a wide variety of music including folk, blues, country and western and self-penned songs.
Since moving to the Stroud area in 2020, Anne has collaborated with a number of fine musicians in the area and was part of the all-female band Charlie’s Angels with its creator Janice Anderson, together with Christina Snell and Jane Whaley. While the band is no more, Anne continues to collaborate with Christina and Jane, and they will be joining her at this performance, bringing their talents on fiddle, whistle and clarinet. Come along and you can enjoy some super music and meet your friends, as well as maybe making new ones.
Advance tickets are just £3.50 (plus booking fee). Tickets on the door cost £4. There will be a selection of tables and chairs set out in the hall for you to choose from on arrival. The Whistle Stop Café will also be open if you fancy a nice cup of tea or coffee and perhaps one of Sasha’s delicious cakes. For more information or to book your ticket, visit tetburygoodsshed.co.uk
5. Enjoy exciting science show at Tetbury Goods Shed
On Friday, February 21, the Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show 10-Year Anniversary Tour will be at Tetbury Goods Shed. If you think science is boring, think again: this is science like you have never seen it before! Designed for children and adults alike, Mark’s Spectacular Science Show explores the strange and magical properties of matter with exploding elephants’ toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins and even howling jelly babies. Awarded Best Kids’ Show at Edinburgh Fringe by the Derek Awards, this interactive show promises to entertain and educate in the most spectacular way!
Suitable for ages 5+. Adult tickets cost £15, under-14 tickets cost £12 and tickets for families of four (to include one responsible adult) cost £50. Doors open at 2pm, and the show starts at 2.30pm. For more information or to book your ticket, visit tetburygoodsshed.co.uk
6. Folk band The Churchfitters at Tetbury Goods Shed
Tetbury Goods Shed arts centre presents The Churchfitters on Sunday, February 23. It is a folk band like no other. Bass guitars made out of frying pans and hubcaps. Heart-wrenching vocals accompanied by a musical saw. Foot-stomping-ly fast fiddle mixed with infectious funk-rock banjo and traditional melodies reinvigorated with mesmerising rock rhythms.
The three virtuoso musicians from England and France strut their stuff on a stage that bristles with instruments, adding flute, mandolin, strum box, tin whistle, guitar, ukulele, saxophone, stand-up dustbin bass and a sackful of percussion to their ensemble. And let’s not forget the unique ‘bing-bong’ machine made out of hacksaw blades. Throw in some exquisite harmonies, a slew of startlingly-original songs and a few jokes that create instant rapport and you’ve got a high-energy show that always leaves audiences cheering.
How do you adequately describe such a musically-diverse, uplifting band? You leave it to Mike Harding, a self-confessed ‘huge, huge fan’. He calls them ‘totally brilliant and beautiful’.
Advance tickets cost £13. There will be a selection of tables starting from £31 for two people. Booking fees apply, and on the door, tickets will be £15. Doors open at 5.30pm, and the show starts at 6pm with a licensed bar. For more information or to book your ticket, visit tetburygoodsshed.co.uk
7. Watch Thelma at Dolphins Hall this month
Tetbury’s supporters group of Longfield Community Hospice and Tetbury Film Society are presenting the film Thelma at the Dolphins Hall on Wednesday, February 26 at 7pm for 7.30pm. Tickets, which include a glass of wine, are £10 and can be bought at the Longfield shop in Tetbury. A great night for an even-greater cause. There will also be a raffle. All are welcome.
8. Primary school quiz night a roaring success
The St Mary’s Primary School quiz night was a fantastic success that raised £625 through a quiz and raffle at the Dolphins Hall. Thank you to all who attended the quiz, which was in aid of St Mary’s Primary School.
Ticket sales were £375, and the raffle made £140. Well done to the winning team, called A Team With No Name. A huge thank-you also to event planners Tim Cox and Abbi Sharp and Martin Leighfield who set the room up and ran the raffle. Scotty was also a great host.
The next fundraiser is on Friday, February 28 in aid of Young Lives vs Cancer. To book a table, call or text Les on 07894178182. Thank you also to Tesco Tetbury for its continuous support to fundraisers, as well as Sirena Neil, Maureen Vater and all parents who have donated prizes. Thanks to Shaun Rudman at Protyre Tetbury too for his star prize.
9. Will Cook discusses unique role in Tetbury
A huge thank-you must go to Will Cook, not only for a lovely evening enjoyed by all but for all the good work he has done for Tetbury, proving one man can make a difference! Will instantly captivated everyone at The History of Tetbury Society meeting as he reminisced, taking us to a simpler time by sharing stories of a time when our King, the then Prince, arrived with his iconic Aston Martin convertible at the Royal Oak to give his shrewd support to Will’s projects. In fact, he suggested the bridge by the Millennium Green should be called Will’s Bridge as he used to observe Will as he was building it whenever he drove past.
Will spoke about the Feoffee opportunity he has had as a Thirteen and later a Feoffee to play his part in shaping the future of Tetbury. He described the night he was invited to join with the ringing of the bells and an invitation delivered by Brian Smith after their election. It felt like a great honour to have been chosen. He talked about the creation of Berkeley Wood and Preston Park. He also described how the Cattle Market was developed into the Millenium Green and the building of Will's Bridge, and how the rail land and Goods Shed were saved for the town.
He also talked about building the circular tile pavement on the site of the old railway station’s platform and how the community came together to plant the Community Orchard. He described how the Feoffees had to go to court to prove their ownership of the land by the hardware shop and how they won the case. Finally, he described the pedestrianisation of the road at the side of the Market House and the recent improvements to the building. Will rounded off the evening by explaining what the Feoffees contribute to the town today.
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