In our 101 Reasons to Love the Cotswolds collection, Blog stands out as a reminder that the area is about much more than pretty views.
Read on for the details, from Ben Miller to open £4 million theatre in Chipping Campden, Read more and Church creates hub for Ukrainian refugees to the reasons this place or story continues to add to the charm and character of the Cotswolds.
Ben Miller to open £4 million theatre in Chipping Campden
22/09/2022
Cidermill Theatre is the new performing arts centre at Chipping Campden School (CCS), to be officially opened by much-loved local actor, comedian and best-selling author Ben Miller on Friday, 30 September.
Celebrated pop singer Jennifer Paige is to perform a live set at the launch event, including her international hit “Crush”, which will be filmed for an adventure TV series sponsored by Land Rover.
Church creates hub for Ukrainian refugees
16/06/2022
A Cotswold church has launched a weekly hub for Ukrainian refugees and their hosts.
In late April, Chipping Campden Baptist Church partnered with Chipping Campden Homes for Ukraine Refugees to create the hub on a Monday morning in the church’s High Street building.
In late April, Chipping Campden Baptist Church partnered with Chipping Campden Homes for Ukraine Refugees to create the hub on a Monday morning in the church’s High Street building.
Conquer the Cotswold Way challenge for Sue Ryder
12/04/2022
Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice is calling on people across Gloucestershire to sign up to the Cotswold Way Challenge and raise vital funds to support its specialist palliative care and bereavement support.
Taking place on 25th – 26th June, the 100-kilometre route will loop through the heart of the Cotswolds, providing stunning views of rolling hills and picturesque villages for 2,000 adventurers.
Restoring the stone that inspired Tolkien
05/04/2022
Work is underway to restore and renovate the ancient Four Shire Stone which is said to have inspired the Lords of the Rings author, J.R.R. Tolkien.
The 15 ft high pillar, about a mile-and-a-half from Moreton-in-Marsh, marked the ancient boundary between Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Worcestershire until a government reorganisation of the county boundaries in 1931. That’s when several parishes which were administered by Worcestershire were absorbed into Gloucestershire and four became three.
The 15 ft high pillar, about a mile-and-a-half from Moreton-in-Marsh, marked the ancient boundary between Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Worcestershire until a government reorganisation of the county boundaries in 1931. That’s when several parishes which were administered by Worcestershire were absorbed into Gloucestershire and four became three.
Sarah McQuaid to play two Gloucestershire gigs
25/03/2022
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sarah McQuaid is preparing to hit the road.
Her new live-in-lockdown album The St Buryan Sessions has drawn critical raves and appeared on best-of-2021 lists on three continents.
Sarah’s six-week tour of Ireland and the UK will include concerts in Tewkesbury and the Cotswold village of Longborough, near Moreton-in-Marsh, in late MayThe tour coincides with the release of a new video filmed earlier this month at the behest of The Bert Jansch Foundation, as part of their “Around The World In 80 Plays” project.
In what would have been the legendary guitarist and singer-songwriter’s 75th year, the Foundation set three Yamaha LL TransAcoustic guitars travelling around the globe from guitarist to guitarist, each playing a song or tune inspired by Bert.
Videos of all the performances feature on the Foundation’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/bertjanschfoundation), including contributions by such iconic guitarists as Richard Thompson, Johnny Marr, Bernard Butler, Tony McManus, Tommy Emmanuel, Alex de Grassi – and now also Sarah McQuaid.
“I was tremendously honoured to be invited to take part,” says Sarah. “It was incredible just to handle an instrument that’s been played by so many guitarists I’ve worshipped from afar for so long, and to see their signatures on it and sign my own name under theirs. It was almost surreal.”
To make the video, Sarah returned to the beautiful medieval church of St Buryan, not far from her home in rural West Cornwall, where The St Buryan Sessions was also recorded and filmed.
“It’s just such a gorgeous setting and a lovely acoustic space to sing and play in – so it made sense to do it there.”
See https://sarahmcquaid.com/news/blog/80-plays-for-bert to watch the video and view photographs of Sarah with the guitar.
Sarah’s own custom-made Andy Manson acoustic guitar will be accompanying her on tour, along with her Korg SV-2 stage piano, vintage Premier Olympic floor tom drum, and the Ibanez Artist electric guitar originally loaned to her by another guitar legend, the late Michael Chapman.
In what would have been the legendary guitarist and singer-songwriter’s 75th year, the Foundation set three Yamaha LL TransAcoustic guitars travelling around the globe from guitarist to guitarist, each playing a song or tune inspired by Bert.
Videos of all the performances feature on the Foundation’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/bertjanschfoundation), including contributions by such iconic guitarists as Richard Thompson, Johnny Marr, Bernard Butler, Tony McManus, Tommy Emmanuel, Alex de Grassi – and now also Sarah McQuaid.
“I was tremendously honoured to be invited to take part,” says Sarah. “It was incredible just to handle an instrument that’s been played by so many guitarists I’ve worshipped from afar for so long, and to see their signatures on it and sign my own name under theirs. It was almost surreal.”
To make the video, Sarah returned to the beautiful medieval church of St Buryan, not far from her home in rural West Cornwall, where The St Buryan Sessions was also recorded and filmed.
“It’s just such a gorgeous setting and a lovely acoustic space to sing and play in – so it made sense to do it there.”
See https://sarahmcquaid.com/news/blog/80-plays-for-bert to watch the video and view photographs of Sarah with the guitar.
Sarah’s own custom-made Andy Manson acoustic guitar will be accompanying her on tour, along with her Korg SV-2 stage piano, vintage Premier Olympic floor tom drum, and the Ibanez Artist electric guitar originally loaned to her by another guitar legend, the late Michael Chapman.
“It’s always funny when people see all the instruments onstage and say, ‘Oh, we didn’t realise you were bringing a band with you!’” Sarah laughs. “But precisely because I’m a solo performer, it’s important for me to be able to add variety by playing material in a bunch of different styles on a bunch of different instruments.”
Sarah is making her third visit to the Old Baptist Chapel in Church Street, Tewkesbury, on Friday, May 27, at 8pm. Tickets £10 advance / £12 on door. Tickets: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/541407
Sarah is making her third visit to the Old Baptist Chapel in Church Street, Tewkesbury, on Friday, May 27, at 8pm. Tickets £10 advance / £12 on door. Tickets: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/541407
The following evening, Saturday, May 28, Sarah will be playing at Longborough Village Hall at 7.30pm. This very special concert will be part of Longborough’s Queen’s Jubilee village celebrations, with drinks and canapes available during the interval! Tickets, at £10, will be available to purchase at the Longborough Village Shop four weeks before the concert.
Paintings commissioned at time of Gunpowder Plot return home to Chastleton
03/03/2022
A set of three fragile paintings, thought to have been commissioned around the time of the Gunpowder Plot, have been conserved by the National Trust and returned to their home after five years of painstaking work.
However, a mystery still remains about the location of the fourth painting in the set.
Cornbury Music Festival’s ‘last hurrah’
01/03/2022
This summer’s Cornbury Music Festival will definitely be the last, festival director Hugh Phillimoire has announced..
But the much-loved festival will certainly be going out with a bang with a line-up including Bryan Adams, James Blunt, Ronan Keating, Jools Holland and Mica Paris.
Hugh said today: “I’m thrilled to announce the second phase of the line-up for Cornbury’s ‘Last Hurrah’ this coming July; we’re delighted that we’ve managed to snag lots of old friends along with some fabulous newcomers!
Big Feastival announces ‘strongest line-up yet’
11/02/2022
Stereophonics. The Human League, the Sugababes and Anne-Marie are among the big names set to play at this summer’s Big Feastival.
Big Feastival, proudly presented by M&S; Food, returns to Alex James’ Farm in the Cotswolds from 26 – 28 August 2022.
Brave Edward has major goal after cancer diagnosis
08/02/2022
A football-mad Gloucestershire schoolboy is battling back against a devastating cancer diagnosis by trying to raise £100,000 for Brain Tumour Research..
Edward Simpson, aged 12, a pupil at Deer Park School in Cirencester, was handed a very different year to the one he had planned as he started his new school with a tragic cancer diagnosis.
Edward Simpson, aged 12, a pupil at Deer Park School in Cirencester, was handed a very different year to the one he had planned as he started his new school with a tragic cancer diagnosis.
260 oak trees planted in Gloucestershire to mark Queen’s Jubilee
04/02/2022
Children from Swell C of E Primary School donned their wellies to plant two English oak trees to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, as she’s set to pass 70 years of service this weekend.
The two oaks are part of a wider initiative which has seen 130 villages across the county successfully bid for a pair of commemorative oaks, generously gifted by The Honourable Company of Gloucestershire.
The two oaks are part of a wider initiative which has seen 130 villages across the county successfully bid for a pair of commemorative oaks, generously gifted by The Honourable Company of Gloucestershire.
Landmark hotel set to reopen after £40m investment
28/01/2022
A Chipping Norton venue is set to undergo a £40 million investment after being acquired by a national leisure and hospitality group.
Heythrop Park Resort was purchased by Bourne Leisure in 2018, building on its already impressive portfolio. It will now become the latest hotel for the Warner Leisure Hotels family, renowned for its adult-only breaks.
Heythrop Park Resort was purchased by Bourne Leisure in 2018, building on its already impressive portfolio. It will now become the latest hotel for the Warner Leisure Hotels family, renowned for its adult-only breaks.
COMPETITION: Win a copy of a Katie Fforde bestseller!
20/01/2022
Loving the Cotswolds readers have a chance to get their hands on a copy of a Katie Fforde paperback.
Katie Fforde is one of the UK’s best-loved authors. She has now sold over 4.5 million books (across all formats) here.
Katie Fforde is one of the UK’s best-loved authors. She has now sold over 4.5 million books (across all formats) here.
Choir joins ‘The Rat Pack of Opera’ in Stroud show
19/01/2022
Stroud choir The Thames Head Singers will be joining the number one selling classical vocal trio Tenors Unlimited for a memorable show in Stroud later this month.
The choir will join the trio – dubbed ‘The Rat Pack of Opera’ – in “That’s Amore” at The Subscription Rooms on Sunday 30th January 8pm.
The choir will join the trio – dubbed ‘The Rat Pack of Opera’ – in “That’s Amore” at The Subscription Rooms on Sunday 30th January 8pm.
Nurse shaves off her hair for charity
05/01/2022
A 49-year-old district nurse from Gloucestershire brought in the New Year with a ‘big chop’ – shaving off all her hair to raise vital funds for a charity which provides end-of-life care to local families in their homes.
Elaine Pratten, a mum of two from Cheltenham and a district nurse team lead for Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, says the pandemic has highlighted more than ever the vital care given by Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice helping to keep patients safe at home.
Elaine Pratten, a mum of two from Cheltenham and a district nurse team lead for Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, says the pandemic has highlighted more than ever the vital care given by Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice helping to keep patients safe at home.
REVIEW: Jack and the Beanstalk, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
04/12/2021
They’ve only gone and done it again! The team at the Everyman Theatre have come up with an absolute knockout of a pantomime that is one of the best (if not THE best) I’ve ever seen.
After last year’s run was curtailed by Covid, this year’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk is just pure pantomime class.
After last year’s run was curtailed by Covid, this year’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk is just pure pantomime class.
Cornbury brings out the big hitters
23/11/2021
Cornbury Music Festival has today (Tuesday) revealed its classic line-up of headliners for 2022.
Loved by locals, Cornbury is a long established festival in the heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, with the friendly community atmosphere of a village fete, that just happens to have some of the biggest International names in music performing on the main stage.
Loved by locals, Cornbury is a long established festival in the heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, with the friendly community atmosphere of a village fete, that just happens to have some of the biggest International names in music performing on the main stage.
New theatre in Chipping Campden is named
17/11/2021
A brand new £4 million, state-of-the-art theatre being built in the Cotswolds has been given its name.
The venue on site at Chipping Campden School is nearing completion and plans to launch in Spring 2022.
The venue on site at Chipping Campden School is nearing completion and plans to launch in Spring 2022.
40th Anniversary Gala brings end-of-season success to GWSR
12/11/2021
The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) has ended its pre-Christmas operating season in spectacular style, with a two-day mixed traction gala that attracted almost 2,000 passengers.
The event, over the weekend of 6-7 November, was staged as a finale to the railway’s 40th anniversary with eight locomotives operating – four steam, four diesel plus a diesel multiple-unit – working an intensive timetable that included a freight train. There were in addition, double-headed and non-stop services each day.
The event, over the weekend of 6-7 November, was staged as a finale to the railway’s 40th anniversary with eight locomotives operating – four steam, four diesel plus a diesel multiple-unit – working an intensive timetable that included a freight train. There were in addition, double-headed and non-stop services each day.
Youth charity to celebrate 30th anniversary
12/11/2021
Thirty years ago two youthworkers from a church in Minchinhampton had a vision to set up a youth café in Stroud.
After recruiting a small team of volunteers they opened The Door Youth Project at the bottom of Gloucester Street on Friday evenings and Saturdays.
After recruiting a small team of volunteers they opened The Door Youth Project at the bottom of Gloucester Street on Friday evenings and Saturdays.
Fee Fi Fo Fum…Book now for panto fun!
04/11/2021
Christmas is just around the corner and so is the annual treat that is the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre pantomime!
Last year ‘Tweedy’s REDUCED Pantomime’ was a huge hit but was forced to close on Christmas Eve due to Covid restrictions.
Last year ‘Tweedy’s REDUCED Pantomime’ was a huge hit but was forced to close on Christmas Eve due to Covid restrictions.
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