72-year-old writer publishes first poetry collection

1. Kempsford writer publishes first poetry collection 

Iris Anne Lewis (72) is a Kempsford writer, who has just published her first poetry collection entitled ‘Amber’.

She has lived in Kempsford since 2006 having moved to the village from London with her husband of 44 years and their dog, Hector.

The launch of the book in Cirencester was well attended and the audience enjoyed readings from Iris and other well-known poets.

Anna Saunders, director of the Cheltenham Poetry Festival said of the collection: “Iris Anne Lewis is a poet who holds us in her thrall with poems that are wide-eyed with wonder, mesmerising and magical!

"A visionary poet with a richly lyrical and transportative voice, Lewis takes us travelling through time in her beautifully realised and vivid poems.

“Without losing a sense of the real, this gifted poet enables her readers to experience deepest history, myth and private emotional worlds.”

Iris explained that the book cover features a painting by her husband. She said: “Its amber colour plus the fact that the opening and closing poems of the book refer to ‘amber’ made it the perfect choice.

"Also, as amber is fossilised resin dating back millions of years, it seemed relevant to use the painting as the cover to reflect some of the themes of history and pre-history running through the book.”

Iris has no specific plans for another book just yet, but is amassing a number of poems with the theme of ‘Winter’. “So that might result in a new collection! Who knows?”

Amber is available from Amazon or Aspect Design: https://www.aspect-design.net/product-page/amber. For further information, you can contact Irish at iris.lewis@btinternet.com.

2. Volunteers needed for the Tuesday club 

The Tuesday Club is held every Tuesday in school term time from 10.30am-3pm in Lechlade Memorial Hall.

Its aim is to provide a happy and relaxing day for anyone in the community who is feeling in need of some company.

Transport is available within Lechlade if needed.

The day starts with a cup of tea or coffee, a chat, card games, jigsaw puzzles, dominoes and sometimes a craft activity or entertainment.

A two-course lunch is served at 12.30pm followed by tea or coffee and a piece of cake to take home at the end of the afternoon. The cost of the day is £8.

If you or someone you know might be interested in coming to the Tuesday Club for company and a social gathering or you would like more information, please contact Hazel on 01367 252265.

Volunteers are also needed particularly in the social room chatting and interacting with the members of the Tuesday Club. There are also opportunities to help in the kitchen with food preparation, making puddings and baking cakes.

If you are interested in volunteering and have some free time, please contact Jane on 07850 002521 for more information.

3. Football Fun Factory 

The Football Fun Factory is suitable for 4-12 year olds to experience a Football Fun Camp over October half term.

Children can expect a day full of football inflatable fun – diving around on the giant inflatable Goal, hitting bullseye on the inflatable Dartboard or taking part in fun games and activities inside an inflatable Pitch.

The Football Fun Factory is on Monday and Tuesday October 28 and 29 from 9am-3.30pm at Farmor’s School, Leafield Road, Fairford GL7 4JQ. You can book for the full camp or for specific days. Cost is £40 for the full camp or £25 for individual days. 50% off for each additional sibling. For details:  https://booking.thefootballfunfactory.co.uk/event/2683.

4. Friends of Fairford and Lechlade Communities looking for new trustees

The Friends of Fairford & Lechlade Communities (FFLC) are looking for new trustees to take a proactive role within the Charity.

All experiences and backgrounds welcome.

Ideally, they are looking for people interested in FFLC services and how they make an impact in the local community. Meetings are quarterly and there are a range of sub-committees to specialise in. Contact Kelly, General Manager for more information: gm@friendsoffairford.org.uk.

5. Lechlade Pumpkin Trail 

The Lechlade Pumpkin Trail (Light on a Dark Night) is taking place on Thursday October 31 from 4pm-7pm around Lechlade.

From 5.30pm-7pm, St Lawrence Church will be open to welcome visitors with free hot chocolate, popcorn and goody bags for primary and pre-school children. Join with friends and family to hunt for decorated pumpkins on this family-friendly trail around the streets of Lechlade. Find as many as you like in any order.

A Googlemap with pumpkin locations is available at www.stlawrencelechlade.org.uk and on St Lawrence Facebook page a few days before the event. If you would like to host a fun (not horror!) pumpkin suitable for young children, please contact Kate Cinnamond on info@stlawrencelechlde.org.uk.

6. Lechlade skater wins British Championships 

Eartha Peacock from Lechlade has won the British Championships in Artistic Roller Skating this summer for the second time.

Eartha, who is now 11 and a pupil at Farmor’s School, Fairford, has been skating since she was four years old. She has previously represented Great Britain and hopes, one day, to skate at the World Games. Eartha is a member of Elite Artistic Skating Club in Gloucester.

The Club holds fundraising ‘learn to skate’ and roller disco sessions at Highworth Leisure Centre. For more information, please email peacockj@hotmail.co.uk.

7. Annual Lechlde Art Society Exhibition 

At the annual Lechlade Art Society Exhibition held over four days at the end of August, proceeds from the sale of the Little Gems artwork, which are sold at £25 each, were donated to the Prospect Hospice. Jeremy Lune, Chief Executive of the Hospice came to the preview evening, thanked the Art Society for its contribution and spoke about the work of the Hospice, which is so valuable and necessary.

Also at the Exhibition was patron, Lord Faringdon, who chose John Sirrelle’s acrylic and coloured pencil piece of a lion’s face entitled ‘Pride’ as the winner of the Patron’s Award.

A landscape by Roger Jones was chosen as the winner of the ‘Best in Show 2024’ award and he was presented with the new silver mini Oscart Trophy by the Chair of Lechlade Art Society, Brian Britton at the Art Society’s AGM on Tuesday October 8.

If you missed the Exhibition, visit https://www.lechladeartsociety.co.uk/exhibition.html to view the artwork or email lechladeartsociety@gmail.com for more information about the Society, their monthly meetings held in the Pavilion in Lechlade and how to become a member.