TV producer to speak at event happening in Lechlade

1. Discover more about life in 1960s Britain

The Arts Society Upper Thames’ next meeting is on Thursday, March 13 at 2pm in Lechlade Memorial Hall. The talk, which has four elements, is Sixty Years On: Life in Britain as seen in 1960s films with Colin Shindler. It firstly looks at the emergence of the North in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, Room at the Top, A Taste of Honey and This Sporting Life.

Secondly, the talk looks at Swinging Britain - Julie Christie in Darling, Michael Caine in Alfie, the Beatles in A Hard Day’s Night and the James Bond movies. The third element discusses the last days of the Empire as seen in Tony Richardson’s Charge of the Light Brigade, Zulu and Carry On Up the Khyber. Finally, the talk covers the drastic change in the depiction of sex from Dirk Bogarde in Victim (1961) to Alan Bates and Oliver Reed famously wrestling nude in Women in Love (1969).

Mr Shindler has written numerous books about the impact of sport and film on modern society and has pursued a wide-ranging career in television, radio and film. He wrote the screenplay for the film Buster and was the producer of various television dramas including Lovejoy, Heartbeat and Juliet Bravo. Winner of a BAFTA for his production of A Little Princess, he has also been nominated for a US Primetime Emmy for his production of Young Charlie Chaplin and written radio and screen plays, three novels and numerous television scripts and radio plays, but his greatest cultural contribution was arguably choosing the title music for the police series Juliet Bravo. Prebook by email at info@tasupperthames.org.uk and pay £7.50 cash on the door.

2. Trustees sought for Working 4 Wellbeing

Working 4 Wellbeing is a successful charity in the area that started in December 2021 covering Fairford and Lechlade. Its aim is to help those who are lonely or in financial or social difficulties. W4W partners with many support organisations such as Citizens Advice, the food bank, People For You and others.

Currently, there is an excellent group of trustees who have ensured the group’s management and governance is in line with best practice, but there is now a need to expand the number of trustees to include people with a range of experience in HR, marketing, law and fundraising. W4W would also be very interested to hear from anyone that has experience in running a charity. If working with a highly-effective team of trustees, coordinators and more than 50 volunteers is something you’d like to know more about, please contact John Read on 01285 713681 or robertjohnread@me.com, or visit the website, working4wellbeing.org.uk

Following Charity Commission guidelines, each trustee is responsible for a particular area of policy and also for one of W4W’s current projects. The trustees meet every month and give a few hours each week to the charity. The weekly commitment will vary depending on the issues at any one time.

3. Submit your favourite recipe to fundraising cookbook

The Palmer Hall - situated next to The Plough Inn public house - is a charity and run by trustees for the people of Fairford. In order to raise money for the historic hall, Ingrid Morris is compiling a cookbook full of recipes from people in the area. If you would like to have your favourite recipe included in the book, please send it with your name and the town or village where you live to ingridsusanka@hotmail.co.uk (if you have any questions, please get in touch with Ingrid)

4. Next Fairford Town Council meeting

The next Fairford Town Council meeting is on Tuesday, March 11 at 7pm in Fairford Community Centre. Members of the public are invited to attend. For more information, visit clerks@fairfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

5. Southrop Jumble Sale

The Southrop Jumble Sale is back! Come and bag a bargain today, Saturday, March 8, from 1pm to 2.30pm in Southrop Village Hall. Clothing, books, toys and bric-a-brac will be offered. Entrance £1. Cash only.

A donation time for the drop-off of goods is today from 10am to 11.30am. The event is raising funds for the village school and providing a low-cost shopping experience for some, as well as an opportunity for a clear-out for others. For more information, contact PTA@Southrop.gloucs.sch.uk

6. Talking group for men

Men Aloud Out is a talking group for men which allows widely-varying points of view on topical subjects. It meets on the first Thursday of the month at The Trout Inn for a beer and discussion. Normally, meetings start at 7.30pm for board games or simply for chat and a light meal. The latest meeting was on Thursday, March 6, when David Turtle was set to lead the topic Leadership of the Church of England.

7. Probus Club

The Probus Club is open to all males up to any age, and anyone who might wish to come along and have a look is very welcome. Meetings are held on the first and third Fridays of every month (except for public holidays) at 10am for 10.30am in Lechlade Memorial Hall. Talks last up to an hour, and the meeting is followed by a few drinks at the bar run by the club’s members. The last meeting was on Friday, March 7, and the talk was The Queens at War by Douglas Butler.

8. Talk on wildflowers at Lechlade Gardening Club

On Wednesday, March 12, the speaker at Lechlade Gardening Club’s meeting will be Rebecca Brain, talking about Growing and Caring for Wildflowers in the Garden. Ms Brain is a keen ecologist and runs a small plant nursery.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm in Lechlade Memorial Hall. Membership is £5 per person per annum, after which it’s £2 to attend each meeting. The cost for visitors is £3. More information from 01367 252286

9. Lechlade with Fairford Mothers’ Union

The next meeting of Lechlade with Fairford Mothers’ Union is on Wednesday, March 12 at 2pm in Lechlade Memorial Hall. The speaker is Peter Foot, talking about Jacob’s Ladder and the Repair Shop.

10. Paddington 3 at The Palmer Hall cinema

The Palmer Hall cinema is held on the second Wednesday of every month. The next film will be Paddington 3 on Wednesday, March 12. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Paddington returns to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears. With the Brown family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey.

Admission is £3.50, to include tea/coffee and biscuits. A glass of wine costs £3. For more information, visit thepalmerhall.org