About 2011

Welcome to the eleventh Thatcham Festival of Arts and Leisure! Each year we try to bring something new to the Festival and for 2011 there will be a roller skating disco on the first Saturday and a fashion show on Tuesday. Many firm favourites have been included including the Festival art exhibition, historical talks, concerts, dance classes and taster sessions. This year a number of activities that have been absent from the programme for a few years will make a return including the Kids Craft event which will be held on the final Sunday. Dawn Saunders from Delicious Dial a Cake will be hosting a number of cake decorating classes on Tuesday and the final Saturday.

Thatcham’s Festival of Arts and Leisure has a set of aims and objectives which are at the heart of the Festival:

• to promote local organisations/clubs which are involved in Arts and Leisure
• to stimulate community involvement
• to raise the profile of the town
• to promote the town’s community venues

To ensure that the Festival remains inclusive, entry continues to be free to the majority of events. A couple of events will charge an entry fee to cover costs and these are marked in the programme with a £ symbol. An additional charge may be made for some optional items such as refreshments and ‘make and take’ activities at some events.

For many events we ask that you collect a free ticket from the Festival Box Office which is hosted by The Family Bookshop or you might need to book a space by telephone direct with the event organiser. This is clearly shown in the listings within this programme.

You will see from the quality of the participants taking part in the Festival that we are promised a very enjoyable nine days. I look forward to seeing you at many of the events.

THE MAYOR’S CHARITIES

There will be an opportunity to make a donation to the Thatcham Town Mayor’s Charities:

• Newbury & Thatcham Branch of Parkinson’s UK;
• Time to Talk 14-21; and
• Thatcham Relief in Need.

at most venues during the Festival.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Lee Dillon
Town Mayor of Thatcham 2011 - 2012