WEEKLY COLUMN of Tetbury news by Kevin Painter

1. Hilarious show 

Today, Saturday, November 9 Catch Your Breath – The Secret Life of a Sleepless Anaesthetist NHS anaesthetist, comedian and author, Ed Patrick, injects audiences with a gut-punch hilarious show about becoming a junior doctor, the NHS, the pitfalls of modern medicine and the power of questioning it.

There’s plenty of laughing gas to go round.As seen on Channel 4, Have I Got News For You and heard on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Scotland. Ed also hosts the ‘Comedians Surgery’ podcast where he speaks to guests including Joe Lycett, Rose Matafeo and Reginald D Hunter about their health stories and experiences.

His book ‘Catch Your Breath’ was released in April. The show contains adult humour and is only suitable for those aged 16 years and above Tickets are Advance £16.00 and For more information or to book your tickets, please visit the new website:www.tetburygoodsshed.co.uk

Please note that tickets on the door on the night will cost £18

2. Spectacular bonfire display 

This SaturdayNovember 9 will be Tetbury’s spectacular bonfire and fireworks display will be held at Sir William Romney’s school, with gates opening at 6pm. Bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm and fireworks are scheduled to start at 7pm.

There will be a BBQ from the Jesse Smiths big pan as well as hot drinks, mulled wine, glows/light up wands and more. No dogs are allowed on the site. No sparklers or personal fireworks are permitted Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult tickets are Child: age 3-17 - £4 (£5 on the door)Adult - £6 (£7 on the door)Family: 2 adults, 2 children - £18 (£22 on the door)Under-3s - free. Tickets on the night will cost a bit more for more information or to book your tickets please visit www.buytickets.at/tetburytownfootballclub Please note parking is not available on site so please find alternative parking if driving to the event.

3. Traditional Remembrance service 

This Sunday 10th November 10th will be the traditional moving Remembrance service, starting at 2.30pm at St Marys Church, Remembrance Sunday, is the second Sunday in November traditionally put aside to remember all those who have given their lives for the blanket of peace and freedom we enjoy today. The service begins at 2:30 pm at St Mary's Church.

This service is a joint Tetbury area churches together (TACT) . So all are welcome. After the service there will be a procession passing the post office down then parading down long Street to St Saviours Church, home of the War Memorial Where people can gather (outside of the Church) where many organisations will lay Wreaths, culminating in a small short touching, poignant service which will include The Exhortation,The Last Post .

The Two Minute Silence is observed. Reveille is sounded. The Kohima Epitaph is recited 'When you go home, tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow, we gave our today.' G.K. Chesterton said “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” This is our true legacy of peace. Thank you, We will never forget.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them. Laurence Binyon ‘For The Fallen' also known as Ode To Remember – was first published in September 1914, just a couple of months into the First World War.

As always the Town will join with everyone and will be honouring the fallen on the 11th day on the 11th hour that will be the two minute silence of November marking the end and remembering. Armistice Day.

This marks the day World War I ended at 11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month. This is to remember the people who have died in wars so whenever you are at that time whether individually or in the group we will be in unity as we all remember the words"As we begin another day, let us pause for a moment of silence to reflect, meditate, let us all pray or engage in other silent activity”

You can support Poppy Appeal are as normal, with the House to House collection going ahead in most parts of the town and district, plus static collections in the various Town shops and the Street Collections and of course you have the chance to support at Tesco

3. Gardeners question time 

Tetbury Goods Shed are delighted to present Gardeners’ Question Time On Sun 10 Nov 2024at 2.00 This spring and summer were marked by an army of slugs and snails and a constant deluge of rain! If you haven’t already given up and paved the whole garden over, the expert panel return to help your garden recover.

They’ll be giving advice on everything from whether it’s too late to plant spring bulbs to when to prune your climbers and flowering shrubs (if like many they have taken over the garden). And is now is the time to compost your beds? Plus you can also ask them about your own specific queries. We are happy to taken written questions in advance, although that’s not obligatory, or bring your questions on the day!

The panel consists of Margie Hoffnung, Tim Cordall, Duncan Montgomery, and Sue Bradley Jones. Margie Hoffnung qualified with a degree in horticulture at Writtle College after working for Westonbirt Arboretum.

She worked for many years with Rosemary Verey at Barnsley House and at Highgrove as a gardener and guide as well as at the Arboretum. After gaining a masters degree at Bath, she is now conservation officer at The Gardens Trust and is a regular speaker on gardening and garden heritage matters. Tim Cordall was introduced to plant growing by his parents as a child, as they were keen gardeners.

He has been a nurseryman for 35 years; firstly working for 10 years for a commercial grower and then at his own business where he specialises in herbaceous perennials, topiary and herbs. Duncan Montgomery trained initially at Cannington College in the early 1980s and then became interested in organics and studied at Lacock. After a number of different jobs in the ’90s, he has been the head gardener at Newnton House just outside Tetbury since 2002.

Sue Bradley Jones is an experienced garden designer and passionate about trees. She has been a guide at Westonbirt for over 20 years and is also an authority on woodland plants.For more information or to book your ticket, please visit the new website:www.tetburygoodsshed.co.uk Tickets cost £6.50.

4. Afternoon music with Lyn Briggs 

On Wed 13 Nov 2024 Tetbury Good Shed present, Afternoon Music with Lyn Briggs and Rod Howell on Wed 13 Nov, 2024 at 2.00pmAnother welcome return to the Goods Shed. The great rapport between Phil Hambling (vocals) and David John Lloyd (guitar, vocals), with their vast repertoire of songs across the many genres of pop, rock, blues, jazz, soul, and country, combined with excellent musicianship, delights their audiences wherever they go.

Their tribute to Van Morrison is outstanding. They are highly respected musicians with a successful track record of delivering the goods including a great vintage selection for the mature audience! You can enjoy their are amazing repertoire, meet your friends as well as maybe making new ones. Advance tickets are just £3.50 (plus booking fee) Tickets on the door cost £4.00.

The Whistle Stop Café will 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 you ticket, please visit the new website :www.tetburygoodsshed.co.uk There will be a selection of tables and chairs set out in the hall for you to choose from on arrival.

5. Screening by Tetbury Film Society 

On Wednesday 13th November, Tetbury Film Society will screening 'Rose' (Cert. 12A). It is the story of two sisters and how their relationship is challenged on a highly anticipated coach trip to Paris. It stars Sofie Gråbøl from the popular Danish television series ‘The Killing’. Everyone is welcome.

Doors at the Dolphins Hall open at 7;00pm for a 7:30pm start. Tickets for visiting guests cost £6 and can be purchased on the door. Membership for the entire season is still also available, just ask a committee member for details on the evening or visit www.tetburyfilm.org.uk Tetbury Goods Shed Cinema are pleased to be screening the film The Promised Land Certificate 15.

Running time: 2hr 7mins. Drama. History. Doors open at 7pm

This film, which could be described as a Danish Western, tells the story of Ludvig Kahlen, who pursued his lifelong dream of making the heath bring him wealth and honour.Poor soldier Ludvig Kahlen arrives in 1755 on the barren Jutland heath with a single goal: to follow the king’s call to cultivate the land and thereby achieve wealth and honour himself. But Kahlen quickly makes an enemy.

The merciless landowner, Frederik De Schinkel, who is sole ruler of the area, believes that the heath belongs to him and not the king.When De Schinkel’s serf runs away with his wife Ann Barbara and seeks refuge with Kahlen, the landowner does everything to drive Kahlen away and at the same time exact a cruel revenge. Kahlen does not bow, but stubbornly takes up the unequal battle and now risks both his life, but also the bond with the small, troubled family that has arisen around him on the heath. Doors open at 7:00pm the film starts at 7:30pm tickets are £7.50 For more information or to book your tickets, please visit the website: www.shed-arts.co.uk

6. Quartet at the Goods Shed 

Tetbury Goods Shed are delighted to present on Sat Nov16 The Tom Ball Quartet featuringZoe Francis (vocals), Jim Mullen (guitar), Tom Ball (organ, piano), Tristan Mailliot (drums) You are invited to join four outstanding performers for a fabulous night of jazz classics together with tunes from The Great American Songbook. Pianist Tom Ball has honed his skills over many years, backing and collaborating with a huge variety of musicians and recording two albums under his own name

His style is based on favourite pianists Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau and Jason Rebello but incorporates elements from many other great exponents of the instrument, as well as folk and classical influences from his musical upbringing. Zoe Francis is a true proponent of the Great American songbook as popularised by Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Anita O’Day and those other great singers.

Her flawless delivery really tells the story of the song and, at home in London, she mixes with the best musicians (Jim, Tristan, Ross Stanley, Gareth Williams) as attested by her three albums. Jim Mullen has been around as long as anyone into jazz can remember, and can be said to be a true legend of the genre.

He rarely ventures this far west and we are excited to present him in tonight along with premier drummer, long time collaborator and friend, Tristan Mailliot. Tristan Mailliot is one of London’s top drummers and has played with everyone and anyone on the scene. Tristan leads his own bands including the Loire All Stars, a jazz funk band and a Chick Corea project. Doors open at 7.00pm. The Concert starts at 7.30pm Tickets are Adult Advance £15.00 and Under-25 Advance £10 Tables (2/4people) £35.00/£70.00 For more information or to book your tickets, please visit the new website:www.tetburygoodsshed.co.uk

7. Late night shopping extravanganza 

The Special Tetbury Chamber Christmas late night shopping extravaganza on December 5, the week after the town Christmas light switch on ensuring that the Town is full of Christmas cheer.

Something new is the fact that the magnificent St Mary's Church has donated the use for one day to help local businesses with a completely free event in this beautiful truly appropriate setting.

On behalf of the organisers Tetbury Chamber, Coreen Chamber secretary said, We are inviting local businesses that may work remotely or offer bespoke services the opportunity to be able to be part of the late night December 5 shopping event to showcase their offerings in a totally free event for businesses and visitors.

For example we are thrilled that Larkhill Vineyard will be offering an array of traditional bottle fermented sparkling Tetbury wines and award-winning still wines. With many other local businesses, including therapists, photographers, clothing and jewellery and fresh from last month Cotswold life the Pyromaniac chef.

As you can see it is a diverse event and we are asking if you have a business to contact us and be part of this new event .

We would also like to thank St Mary's Church for use of the church, and CDC for the added bonus of Free after Three car parking in the two main CDC car parks, opposite the church giving visitors and shoppers the relaxing ability to meander around Tetbury’s unique shops and soak up the true festive spirit. If you would like more information please contact Chamber secretary Coreen by email tetburychambercom@gmail.com or ring/WhatsApp 07780143160 Coreen concluded ‘We at the Tetbury Chamber champion all our local craftsmanship and businesses.

The Sprit of Christmas event is a guaranteed place where visitors know they can leave brimming with totally unique thoughtful gifts presents and festive inspiration. Galvanising and complimenting and galvanising Tetbury’s reputation as a destination for fantastic distinctive individual shops, and exceptional dining’

8. Woollen event in Tetbury  

A throng of enthusiasts gathered in the Goods Shed to celebrate all things woollen in the very first Tetbury Woolfair on October 20th.

So popular was the event that 703 people had arrived by two o’clock and Trustees were asked to advise motorists from as far off as Southampton and Cardiff to try the other car parks.

Woolfair, the brainchild of local resident Anne Hooper who in 1999 also founded the Tetbury Film Society with the current Queen as patron, is a passionate knitter and soon discovered like-minded local women keen to promote their craft. “Tetbury is first and foremost a wool town”, says Anne, “owing its existence to the best grazing to grow the best wool to make the finest cloth”. Triggered by her love for woolwork, she believed it was high time to celebrate this local heritage. Things didn’t seem too promising on the eve of the event with a dire forecast of torrential rainstorms. The stalwart Goods Shed volunteers were mightily relieved to be flooded by a stream of enthusiastic visitors instead.

In the hall were demonstrations of spinning, weaving, feltwork and the art of producing flax. Tetbury stallholders included Skeins, the Long Street yarn shop owned by the indomitable Pat Hodges; Speckle and Stripe selling gorgeous multi-coloured yarns and Fibre Valley Arts who spin beautiful natural coloured wools and also make postcards and pictures with knitting themes. These were represented along with 12 other individual wool-crafters.

Children of all ages were entertained by screenings of Shaun the Sheep while in an outside pen, representing the living origins of the industry, were a pair of recently shorn animals called Ev and Mini surrounded by crowds of fascinated admirers. Undoubtedly the star turn was Ev - the miraculous sheep who believes he’s human. The story told by local landowner James Golob is that Ev was discovered as a frozen orphan lamb on a cold winter night. She was brought indoors to his kitchen more in hope than confidence and left to warm up in a blanket on the Everhot stove. Amazingly Ev made a full recovery and actually got named after the stove! Bottle-fed and raised by James she eventually refused to return to the flock having fully identified as a member of his family which along with his companion Mini he remains. Part of Anne's inspiration for the Fair was to highlight Tetbury town’s connection with the wool trade. It boasts streets full of houses built by the wealthy merchants of previous times. To this end a celebratory walk around the historic centre was held shortly before the Fair itself and such was the demand that a second opportunity to take part has now been scheduled for April 2025. To book tickets for this walk go to https://tetburygoodsshed.co.uk