WEEKLY of Tetbury news by Kevin Painter

1. Summer arrives at free museum 

Summer has arrived at the Totally free Tetbury Police museum.

They are open on Wednesdays and Fridays 11.00 to 3.00pm. There are activities for the whole family such as colouring, fingerprinting and more.

Their knowledgeable and friendly volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions and give you a tour around the museum.

They also have a couple of special open days, on Saturday the 24th of August they will be open between 11.00am and 3.00pm. and the museum will also be open on the August Bank holiday.

The museum is also one of 50 museums across the country taking part in a very special trail from 7 August until 26 August.

Join them this August for a brilliantly bonkers museum trail, part of the national Grimwood Museum Adventure with Kids in Museums and Simon & Schuster Children’s Books.

The trail celebrates the release of the latest book in the Grimwood series: Party Animals, written and illustrated by Nadia Shireen. Spot as many animals as you can find, complete puzzles and build a barmy bird’s nest from objects you can spot in the museum! Complete the trail and get a free Grimwood sticker. There is also a competition to enter!

2. Holiday activities continue  

2 Holiday Activities & Food HAF continue with a full timetable of events some specifically for families eligible for free school meals through the Holiday and Food Program (HAF).

These include watersports, cookery, workshops, forest schools, sports camps & much, much more. TAYCT are running drama workshops, cookery classes and open access passes to Westonbirt Arboretum including a lunch bag for children.

These events and bookings can be accessed through the CABs booking system. Please contact us if you are eligible but not yet registered, they can do it all for you! Email: Darby.law@tayct.org.uk

3. Special open air theatre at Goods Shed 

On Sat 17 Aug 2024 The Festival Players present The Tempest a special Open-air Theatre at The Goods Shed production, Shakespeare’s last, and great, play is a triumphant compilation of intrigue, magic, and humour.

Prospero, an exiled Duke with supernatural powers, creates a great storm which sees his enemies shipwrecked on his island. Magic abounds, plots are exposed, and a colourful array of characters gain their deserts. Trish Knight-Webb founded The Festival Players Theatre Company in 1986, directing its first production Romeo and Juliet for the Three Choirs Festival. She directed and performed in most of the productions and was Artistic Director of the Company until 2001 handing over to Michael Dyer in 2002.

The Festival Players Theatre Company is well established as a professional company delivering the best in open-air Shakespeare.

It continues to grow in reputation internationally. 2014 saw a change to the Festival Players set up; the company now tours as an all-male rep company staging two shows featuring the same team of performers.

Festival Players’ patron is Dame Judi Dench, and the company is committed to presenting the very best in touring theatre, providing an accessible and enjoyable evening for all types of audiences. For more information or to book your tickets, please visit the new website:www.tetburygoodsshed.co.uk

Tickets cost £17.00 under 25s £10.00 Please note: this is an outside performance so please do bring your own rugs and cushions to sit on. If the weather is bad, then we will move the performance into the Main Hall.

4. Popular car boot sale returns 

On Sunday August 18 will be the next ever popular Tetbury car boot sale at at Longfurlong lane, post code GL8 8TJ, Sellers can arrive at 9.00 pm and then open to buyers from 10.00 am-12.30pm.

The cost is Sellers £5, Vans £7. Admission is just 50p for Adults children are free. And please remember this is a cash only admission. For more information or to book please email tetburycarboot@ gmail.com or ring or text (07900) 865535.

Of course weather permitting! There will be updates on Tetbury car boot Facebook page. And of course our popular lovable local ice cream van purveyor will be there with delicious ice creams. Dogs are also welcome. The next one will be on Sunday 1st September.

5. Summer bank holiday garden party visitors 

On Saturday 24th August Upton Mill will be hosting a special Summer Bank Holiday Garden Party Visitors can look forward to a variety of garden games and activities finishing with high tea made by their award winning chefs! Sam and his fantastic friendly team hope to see you soon! Upton Mill is set the lovely setting Quercus Road, GL8 8FH Tetbury

6. Special concert at Church 

There will be a special concert at St Mary's Church Tetbury as they welcome the Stephen Connolly International A Cappella School - IAS on Saturday 24 of August commencing at 7:30 pm where you will be treated to the music by OctAves (Netherlands) Irrevocable( (Netherlands) PassiSparal (Italy) VOXacord (Italy) and Simplyfive (Sweden) . It is a free entry but there will be a retiring connection.

7. Animal service next weekend 

8 Something special and for all the family literally is the The Animal Service to be held in Shipton Moyne St. John the Baptist’s Church on Sunday 25th August at 11.15.

Do Take your pets along for a blessing as it is always a lovely joyfull occasion. All are welcome. Come along and celebrate God’s creatures.

8. Next gathering of the Shed Piano Club 

The Shed Piano Club at The Goods Shed, Tetbury are pleased to announce their next gathering will take place on Wednesday 28 Aug .

Offering a wonderful opportunity for amateur musicians who have worked hard at their music to finally be able to play for other people.

Since acquiring the Steinway grand piano the Goods Shed has hosted hugely successful and popular Tea Concerts on Wednesday afternoons with local amateur musicians playing for an appreciative and interested audience.

It is hoped that Piano Club 21 will build on this and incorporate the warm social atmosphere of these gatherings with the opportunity to play for a group of peers.

The Whistle Stop Café will also be open from lunchtime and during the afternoon offering a range of refreshments. And they request that, for the time being at least, all participants book in advance.Anyone wanting to perform should contact Maggie Dyson. maggie.dyson@btinternet.com. or telephone 01666 837 358 and she will be able to confirm availability and performance time slot.

They do hope you can come along and maybe bring a guest. There is just a small charge (Tickets: £2.50) for all who attend, whether playing or listening and tickets can be booked by visiting the good shed website and clicking the ticketSource link on the description of the event.

Please note on the day on the door tickets will cost £4.

9. First ever Tetbury Wool Fair 

Amazing but true. This year will be is the first year EVER of the Tetbury Wool Fair. Considering Tetbury is a town famous for its foundations on the wool industry, its pretty surprising that the town haven't seen a Wool Fair here before.

This will be held at the Tetbury Goods Shed on Sunday October 20th.

Featuring independent yarn manufacturers, spinners, dyers, eco friendly dyers using only naturally sourced colours, lectures, workshops, a knitting table where you can seek advice on your latest project, yarn accessories, a children’s corner with screenings of Shaun the sheep, courtesy of Aardman, a display by Flaxlands, the Stroud Flax Farm, a spinning wheel just like the Sleeping Beauty's, two local yarn retailers (Tetbury and Stroud) and a knitting pattern exclusive to the Fair. If you would like to find out more or get involved in please visit visit the new website:www.tetburygoodsshed.co.uk

10. Totally new free business network 

A new Totally free business network, aiming to champion the growth, development and to promote Tetbury, was launched last Thursday (Aug 8). Despite the dismal weather, the event was well attended with representatives across the spectrum of all businesses.

Every one was treated to amazing drinks and nibbles donated by local businesses and huge thanks must go to these businesses for their support for this initiative which included an amazing display of sandwiches from the Snooty Fox, wines from Tetbury Wines, and wines from Tetbury Vineyard, sumptuous savouries from Jesse Smith, Muffins from Upton Mill, Pizzas from Casa and James of Flooring South West and other assorted nibbles and drinks from Tesco and the Co-op, beautiful flowers from Sentiments, and last but not least exquisite St Mary’s Church Tetbury for the wonderful venue.

Giving everyone a taste of Tetbury literally and of course the real spirit and friendliness of the Town. It was great to have our newly elected MP, Dr Roz Savage MBE, who talked but more importantly listened to some of the issues raised. Roz said ‘' Wonderful to meet so many members of the Tetbury business community at last night’s inaugural meeting of the relaunched Chamber of Business, organised by Kevin Painter, and his wife Coreen.

Thanks to all for a lively discussion, and I look forward to working with you to ensure that Tetbury has a vibrant and prosperous town centre!’'

She was presented with thank you gifts of a stunning Bouquet of flowers from Sentiments and a superb bottle of wine from Tetbury Vineyard. Leading the collective/initiative will be acting chair Kevin Painter who said: "I'm genuinely delighted to be joining my esteemed colleagues in bringing this vision to life and a return for our local businesses to have a voice and an opportunity to work together, with this groundbreaking free community platform.

Apart from the always emotive subject of car parking, some suggestions made which are being implemented immediately. The first being to market the town to attract a wider audience and show and share the the beauty and positiveness of Tetbury.

We will be using this newspaper and social media to start to implement this, so if you have a story please let me know. The second is the return of the ring round system which will consist of a WhatsApp phone number and Email that our businesses can use to communicate with each other not only for safety but to discuss future suggestions, we are thankful to Pat, from Skeins and Coreen who will be visiting businesses to explain and get them involved free.

Finishing touches are being put to the website which will be a definitive directory and information for all business related matters. It was suggested that we meet every two months time and location of next meeting to be confirmed. For further information email admin@tetburychamber.org or phone/WhatsApp 07780143160