Out & AboutOut & About
Coventry to celebrate car heritage with a free motoring extravaganza
- Wednesday, 04 April 2012 09:27
- Jeremy Wilton
Coventry will be going car crazy this summer with a celebration of the city’s motoring heritage set to take place on Saturday 9 June.
Coventry Car Day, which is being organised by Coventry University, will celebrate the great cars of the past and present – particularly those with a link to the city – and will look ahead to the vehicles of the future.
A host of prestigious cars – including Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Jaguars – will be lined up in University Square (opposite the cathedral steps) and around the University’s new £32m student building, The Hub – which will also play host to a motor industry careers fair and symposium on the future of the car.
Autocar magazine editor-in-chief Steve Cropley, who is a visiting professor at the University, will chair a free-to-attend questions and answers session in the afternoon with a panel of automotive industry experts. The event will also mark the return of the annual Bugatti Lecture.
Coventry Car Day will feature:
§ a free motor show with a host of cars from marques such as Ferrari, Jaguar Land Rover, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz and Ariel;
§ a Q&A session for members of the public to ask questions and share thoughts with automotive industry luminaries;
§ a symposium (for which tickets will be sold) to debate the future of the car, with a keynote speech from former Jaguar chief executive Sir John Egan;
§ a motor industry careers fair offering advice from employers and industry bodies on automotive careers.
Andrew Noakes, associate senior lecturer on the Automotive Journalism MA degree at Coventry University, said:
“This is going to be a fantastic free day out for car fans in Coventry. It will be exciting to see some new cars fresh from the Geneva motor show, and a host of other cars vintage and modern. The careers event will be a great opportunity for anyone who wants to work in the motor industry, with free advice from automotive employers and our team from the University.”
Brian Clough, senior lecturer in Automotive Design, added:
“Coventry graduates drive car design at all kinds of car companies, from Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Aston Martin to Jaguar, Land Rover, Nissan and Ford. We’re delighted to be bringing some of them back to the city for the symposium to debate the future of the car.”
Warriner School farm open weekend
- Monday, 19 March 2012 11:35
- Jeremy Wilton
Chris Holloway, manager at The Warriner School Farm, is pleased to announce that we will again be hosting our popular Warriner School Farm Trust Farm Open Weekend on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 April, from 10am to 4pm on both days.
· The farm is one of the largest school farms in the country
· The Warriner School Farm relies on the generosity of our benefactors
· The farm recently won the prestigious Bayer-FACE ‘Farm to Classroom Award’
The event will have a wide range of attractions:
o An opportunity to meet our farm animals including cows and calves, goats, ewes and lambs, horses, donkeys and poultry.
o Watch chicks hatching in an incubator.
o Try your hand at bottle feeding a lamb.
o Rural craft demonstrations – lace making, spinning, weaving.
o See our restored historic shepherd’s hut, set out as it would have been when in use at the end of the 19th century.
o Horse drawn wagon rides.
o Tractor and trailer tours around the farm.
o A range of hands-on activities for kids.
o Sheep shearing demonstrations.
o Plant sales.
o Sale of a range of items depicting the Farm and our animals.
o Warriner School Farm meat sales.
o Vintage and modern tractors and machinery.
o A chance to have a go at pond dipping in our purpose-built wildlife pond.
o BBQ of farm meat, teas and cakes.
We would like to invite you to come along and join in with the fun – they promise to be a couple of great family days out!
Learn to ride a motorcycle safely - for free!
- Friday, 16 March 2012 10:01
- Jeremy Wilton
The Heritage Motor Centre is delighted to host the National Bike Safe Show, a two day FREE family event dedicated to motorbike safety on Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 April from 10am – 4pm. The aim of the event is for riders to take part in interactive classes or go on assessed ride-outs with Police motorcyclists to improve rider safety and awareness on the road. Riders can try some of the latest motorcycles from a host of Manufacturers and Dealers who will be present at the show.
Other exciting highlights include stunt rider Mattie Griffin performing some exhilarating motorcycle stunts plus displays of bikes, motorcycle clothing & accessories, motorcycle clubs, a ‘Try before you buy’ scooter arena and refreshments. On Saturday visitors can see Nick Saunders, one of the most experienced solo motorcycle adventurers in the world plus Susanne Dando, the former British Olympic gymnast will be commentating.
Emma Rawlinson, Event Executive for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We’re delighted to be hosting the National Bike Safe Show which should be a fantastic family day out. If you ride a motorbike or scooter then this is the ideal show for you but even if you don't there is plenty for everyone to enjoy and it’s free to enter!”
‘BikeSafe’ is a nationwide police-led motorcyclist casualty reduction initiative that is run by the majority of forces throughout the UK.
Entry to the Show is free. Entry to the Museum is charged separately at a discounted rate of £8 per person. National Bike Safe is just one of many exciting and unique motoring events held at the Heritage Motor Centre in 2012. To find out more information please visit the website at www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk
Enjoy spring at Coughton Court, Baddesley Clinton and Packwood House
- Thursday, 15 March 2012 09:18
- Jeremy Wilton
Spring is definitely in the air as the daffodils start to come out and the birds are singing. What better way to enjoy Mother’s Day than a walk around one of our beautiful gardens and then lunch or afternoon tea in the Tudor Kitchen Restaurant at Coughton Court, near Alcester or the Barn Restaurant at Baddesley Clinton, near Lapworth.Visitor Experience Manager, Joanne Davenport says: ‘The gardens at Baddesley Clinton, Coughton Court and Packwood House are all beautiful, and this is such a lovely time of year with the flowers coming up. Walking around the lakes with the sun on your face really makes you feel that winter is over.’
At Coughton Court, from March to early summer the Throckmorton Family gardens play host to a stunning range of daffodils, including the rare, late flowering Throckmorton daffodil, created by a relation of the family.
Not only can visitors enjoy the gardens, now in their 20th year, they can also join a fascinating tour with Ian Tyler, Vice-president of the Daffodil Society, on Sunday 18 and Sunday 25 March at 11am and 1.30pm.
The daffodils are also out at Baddesley Clinton, with a stunning display to welcome visitors along the drive, and at nearby Packwood House the first flowers are poking through in the wildflower meadows. Of course the shops at all three have a range of local and handmade gifts for those last minute purchases.
Science and magic combine to create the most peculiar images
- Tuesday, 13 March 2012 11:41
- Jeremy Wilton
A series of unusual stone lithographs by artist Sarah Uldall are to be showcased at an enthralling exhibition opening at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery in April.‘Editions 1920. Sarah Uldall’ features prints made using the ancient technique of stone lithography which involves applying different layerings of drawing and colour that are then grained down by hand using limestone. The centuries-old technique that is science and magic combined creates a richly colourful effect that almost defies description.
As well as the lithographic artworks visitors will get a rare insight into how the process of stone lithography works through a series of information panels that feature photographs and text.
Speaking about the exhibition Sarah said: "It was a photograph of a beach hut that led me to make the first image in this present series. The stripes glowed at me. They were the stripes of childhoods’ flannelette bed sheets; deeply evocative and comforting. This beginning, therefore, arrived from a vivid sense of nostalgia. It also refers back to the domestic realm. My intention is for my work to appeal to the viewer in a subliminal way. I wish to relay messages or codes in an abstract way and from a different place in time.”
Editions 1920. Sarah Udall is showing at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery from 21 April until 27 May. Opening times are Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 2pm to 5pm. Admission is free.
About Sarah Uldall:
Trained initially at Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada, Sarah went on to do post-graduate work at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. After a three-year stint employed by The Edinburgh Printmakers Workshop, she returned to London to teach in the printmaking department at the Slade, where she taught stone lithography alongside Stanley Jones for five years.
In 2002 Sarah moved to Northampton with her husband and two children and in 2005 she established her own studio, Editions 1920. Here she helps other artists to make their work, but mainly spends her time making her own.
Watch time machines in Oxford!
- Tuesday, 13 March 2012 11:20
- Jeremy Wilton
The Museum of the History of Science celebrates National Science and Engineering Week with About Time! - a tick-tocking day of time-related activities for all the family this Saturday (17 March) from 10am-5pm. This event is linked to the Museum’s current special exhibition, Time Machines.
All aspects of clocks and time-telling will be explored in this special day, with tours, trails, workshops to make your own sundials, clocks and even Victorian movie toys. An afternoon workshop of drawing and paper mechanics will see visitors making their own fantastical models, and throughout the day the Museum will buzz with the sound of the Clockwork Symphony – composed with the help of visitors at the touch of a button!
The exhibition Time Machines tells an alternative history of time-telling from the eyes of a Medieval scholar, Nicholas of Oxford. For him a Roman Sundial is yesterday’s news, but he is surprised and excited by the more ‘recent’ marine chronometer, a Renaissance sundial, a decimal clock and a stopwatch! The exhibition’s curator will be on hand on Saturday giving tours at 10.30am, 12 noon, 2pm and 3pm.
“About Time! beautifully complements the Time Machines exhibition.” Said Stephen Johnston, Curator of the exhibition, “This special day will bring the subject to life, and giving it a twist in directions that will intrigue everyone.”
There will be About Time! events from 10-5pm on Saturday 17 March. Admission is free.
Fastest Diesel at Gaydon!
- Wednesday, 07 March 2012 09:58
- Jeremy Wilton
The fastest Diesel vehicle in the world, JCB Diesel Max, can now be seen as part of the “Motoring Record Breakers” exhibition at the Heritage Motor Centre. The exciting new exhibition, which runs until the 2 September, presents the best of motoring record breakers including some of the fastest British cars, together with more wacky record breakers such as the cheapest and the smallest.
JCB Diesel Max is a 'streamliner' car designed for the purpose of breaking the land speed record for a diesel-engined vehicle. It holds the world record, having been driven to over 350 miles per hour (560 km/h) by Wing Commander Andy Green in 2006.
Other exciting cars on display include the Sunbeam 1000hp (the first car ever to set a land speed record of over 200mph), the steam car 'Inspiration' (which holds the land speed record for a steam car), the 2009 Jaguar XF-R Bonneville (the fastest Jaguar at 225mph), a 1964 Peel P50 (the world’s smallest production car), a 2011 Tata Nano (the world’s cheapest car), a 1922 Ford Model T (for many years the world’s best-selling car) and MG record cars EX135, EX179 and EX181 (EX181 is the fastest MG ever).
Tim Bryan, Head of Collections at the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We’re delighted that the JCB Diesel Max has joined our exciting collection of amazing vehicles which we are thrilled to be exhibiting. This exhibition really is a must for everyone and not just car fans!”
The HMC is continuing with its record breaking theme at Easter from 31 March – 15 April, with a family quiz and some record breaking egg-citing fun activities. There are special Craft days on Thursday 5 & 12 April where children can make and race their own egg car. Normal museum admission prices apply and children can take home what they make.
There is no extra charge to see the Motoring Record Breakers Exhibition as it is included in the standard Museum entry fees. Museum prices are: Adults £11, Child £8 (5-16 years) under 5 free, Concessions £9 & Family £34 (2 adults & up to 3 children). Motoring Record Breakers is just one of many exciting and unique events to take place at the Heritage Motor Centre in 2012. To find out more information please visit the website at www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk
Banbury Cross Players team up with RSC
- Friday, 02 March 2012 16:03
- Jeremy Wilton
Wyrd Sisters
Banbury C
ross Players have been selected as one of only ten Drama groups from our region to perform at The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford, at the RSC's Regional Showcase - the culmination of the RSC's Open Stages project to engage with the Amateur Theatre world. Banbury Cross Players will be performing a 10 minute excerpt from Terry Pratchett’s® Wyrd Sisters (adapted by Stephen Briggs) originally performed at The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury in April 2011.Members of the cast and crew subsequently took part in a series of workshops at Stratford in May 2011 with professionals from the RSC featuring voice training, movement, acting, stage combat and other techniques. Director, Linda Shaw says “This was a fantastic opportunity and opened our eyes to the world of professional theatre. Everyone who took part in the workshops went home invigorated, enthused and absolutely exhausted. To have a second opportunity to learn from the masters of our craft is incredible”.
To summarise the play's extract ..
"The Players are in town at the behest of the current Duke, with a play commissioned by him, in an attempt to quash the rumours that the previous Duke was murdered. The Wyrd Sisters cast a spell on the players forcing them to re-enact the actual murder instead. The
Duke, who has been gradually losing it all through the play, is finally tipped over the edge into madness and his Evil Duchess wife gets her comeuppance too. The true heir to the throne is at last in a position to take his rightful place - except that his preference is to further his
acting career with The Players. If only there were a "Fool-ish" brother close by to take his place …"
Tickets are available for the Showcase from the RSC website
www.rsc.org.uk/buy-tickets/p/rsc-open-stages-showcase
For more press information contact Linda Shaw on 07802 301726 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.banburycrossplayers.co.uk
Free swimming lessons for adults in West Oxfordshire
- Tuesday, 14 February 2012 14:42
- Oliver Kemp
West Oxfordshire District Council is offering adult non-swimmers the opportunity to dip their toe in the water and sign up for free swimming classes at The Windrush Leisure Centre in Witney.
The council-owned leisure centre, which is run by leisure contractor GLL-Nexus, is giving adult non swimmers aged over 30 the chance to get free swimming lessons from trained instructors for six weeks followed by six weeks at a reduced cost.
The initiative, funded by ASA Kellogg’s Swim Active Fund, not only aims to encourage adults to learn how to swim but also promote other benefits of hitting the pool.
Cllr Richard Langridge, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “We are committed to supporting adults in the community to learn new skills. This initiative will not only benefit them by learning how to swim but can also encourage them to bring their families and make use of the great leisure facilities on offer.”
Swimming is considered to be a great low impact exercise that strengthens the heart and lungs as well as improving flexibility and balance.
As well as contributing towards good health, being able to swim can also help save lives with drowning being classed as the third most common cause of accidental death in children in the UK.
The free lessons start on Wednesday 22 February from 8pm. For details on how to register call The Windrush Leisure Centre on 01993 861805 or 202020 or email courses@nexuscommunity.org
