Sticks April 2015

Issue 29 April 2015

In this edition of The Sticks Exclusive interview with Cheryl Baker Q & A with Milton Jones Our Hero Cheese of the Month Advice from Consensus HR Win VIP Tickets to Explosion We road test the Dacia Laureate Relationship Advice And much more Plus pages of events listings across Herts, Beds & Bucks

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Welcome to the April edition of The Sticks Magazine!

The most talked about magazine in Herts, Beds & Bucks With over 16,000 readers a month

In this issue: Exclusive interview with Cheryl Baker Q and A with Milton Jones HR Column from Consensus HR Curwens Column Relationship Advice Art Column Win VIP Tickets for Jay Marwick’s “Explosion “ Car Test – Dacia Laureate Hero Cheese of the Month Big Barn Food Column Listings – Herts, Beds & Bucks

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Contributors: Terry Sullivan, Andrew Merritt-Morling, Jo Coker, Sharon Struckman

See you in May !

Editor & Sales: Terry Sullivan Tel: 07756 274444 Email: thesticks9@gmail.com www.the-sticks.co.uk Follow us on twitter @thesticks9 www.facebook.com/sticksmag

Listen to The Sticks Radio Show at 10am on Mondays on Secklow Sounds www.secklowsounds.org

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Exclusive Interview with Cheryl Baker Bringing Back The Bucks More than thirty years after they stormed charts across the globe with a string of hits, Cheryl, Mike and Jay are once again set to tour the world with a 70-date World Tour to remind everyone that there is more to Cheryl, Mike & Jay formerly of Bucks Fizz than Making Your Mind Up!

The band's original line-up was classic Eurovision, two boys, two girls - a formula established by ABBA, to whom Bucks Fizz were inevitably compared. Having performed together since 2009 when "girl next door" Cheryl Baker and "cheeky pinup boy" Mike Nolan reunited with "The Raunchy One" Jay Aston, the trio are being joined for their "Paradise Regained Tour" by a fourth vocalist - coincidentally called Bobby. The fourth member of 1981's Eurovision winning line-up was Bobby G. Cheryl says "Having performed several gigs with our friend Stephen Fox; Mike, Jay and I realised that people expect to see four on stage when they see Fizz, so we are delighted to introduce Bobby McVay as our guest singer for the tour".

She explains that Bobby and Fizz go back a long way. “He was one third of 1983's UK entry to Eurovision, Sweet Dreams. In fact he was invited to join them a few years ago, but he was unable to commit to joining them at that time. "I feel he will be a real asset to the band" she adds.

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Why is the group now called “Formerly Bucks Fizz”? I left Buck Fizz when I was pregnant in December 1993 and Mike Nolan and Bobby G carried on and they replaced me with two other girls because at that time we had been working as a trio. Bobby G fell in love with one of them, married her and she registered the name “Bucks Fizz” so she holds the name, eventually Mike left Bobby for one reason or another which we will not go into and we formed our own band but Bobby’s wife refused to let us use the name, understandably because they were working as Bucks Fizz so we can’t use it.

You personally had entered Eurovision before Bucks Fizz with a band called Co-Co? Yes we entered A Song for Europe in 1976 with the song "Wake Up". We came second, being beaten by 2 points by Eurovision Winners Brotherhood of Man and their song “Save your Kisses For Me”. In 1978 Co-Co entered A Song for Europe again with "The Bad Old Days” and won, going on to represent the UK in Paris. The song became a hit single, reaching 13 in the UK chart.

How did Bucks Fizz get together? We were put together specifically for the Eurovision song contest by Nichola Martin and she knew me from the Song for Europe/Eurovision circuit and she knew I had left Co-Co and asked me if I was interested in joining. Mike was a friend of hers and that’s why the group was built around Mike. We all had to be fairly short and blonde, Jay Aston came through a dance agency and Bobby G answered an advert in the Stage I believe.

How did the name come about? The group were always going to be called Buck Fizz because Nichola and Mike did all the vocals on the demo of “Making Your Mind Up” and when she had to fill in the form to send it off as the entry in the Song For Europe she was drinking a Bucks Fizz at the time so hence the name.

You will always be remembered for the famous skirt removal? I believe without the Velcro we would not have won.

Why do you think Eurovision and Bucks Fizz have survived the test of time?

Eurovision develops every year; every year it is better than the year before so it is a growth thing, if you look back when we won, the little stage we were on and the minimal lighting now the show is so spectacular with amazing special effects. The show; even if you hate it because we never get anywhere, but if you just think of it as a show rather than a competition it is fantastic. It is the biggest and best music extravaganza of the entire year and as for bands like Brotherhood of Man, ABBA and Bucks Fizz, we come under the title pop music and that is still popular most people like easy, happy music.

In December 1984, you and the group were involved in a serious coach crash while on tour. That changed everything, Mike and I went through the window screen, I don’t remember anything about it neither does Mike, we were both knocked out as you would imagine we would be and speaking from my point of view when I was woken up in the road it was like being woken up to go to school or work, I wanted to say please mum 5 more minutes, that’s exactly how it was. It’s really bizarre when you open your eyes it’s like what’s happened, where am I kind of thing. I broke bones in my back so I was unable to walk but initially Mike was in a better state than I was but he was complaining of headaches, within hours he slipped into 5

a coma and they discovered he had a blood clot on the brain that had to be removed and it was months before he was well enough to do anything again; and even then it was too soon - we should not have worked when we did. But Jay then was really unhappy with the whole business, she was very young, I was nearly 30 and she was 20 or 21 so she left, although the coach crash was terrible Jay leaving was just as destructive to the band. It was such a black time in our career.

With an album of new studio material and single releases in the pipeline, the future is looking extremely bright for Cheryl, Mike & Jay formerly of Bucks Fizz.

The prospects are bubbling over as Cheryl excitedly declares "New representation, new tour, new singer, new merchandise, maybe a new album...... A new beginning! Whoop whoop!

Like a good champagne, their performances have matured, and they still manage to hold all the fun, vitality and passion for performance of the record breaking tours of the 1980's. Recent appearances at the nostalgia festivals, Here and Now, Rewind and forthcoming Let's Rock have reminded the Great British public of the power of the Fizz, as every person in the crowd finds themselves singing along and dancing to hits they thought they had forgotten, and with a rapidly growing following on social media they decided it was time to tour again.

Originally put together as the perfect winning act, Bucks Fizz went far beyond their original Eurovision remit and as one of the biggest selling bands of the 80's, became a global phenomenon. Making Your Mind Up became a number One hit across the world selling more than four million copies... The legendary skirt-ripping routine propelled them to overnight success, charting at No.1 in many countries beyond the UK with countries like Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia falling to Bucks Fizz's charms.

"Paradise Regained" will be their most comprehensive tour since the 80's, with more than 70 dates in the UK, Ireland, Europe and beyond... including Australia, where in spite of not being part of Eurovision territory, Bucks Fizz had a massive following. It will be the first time, the band have performed there since 1986.

See Cheryl, Mike & Jay formerly of Bucks Fizz on their "Paradise Regained" tour on Sunday 17th May - Swan Theatre, High Wycombe, Box Office No: 01494 512000 Friday 26 June – Watford Colosseum, Box Office No: 0845 0753993

www.formerlyofbucksfizz.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/groups/TeamCMJ/ https://twitter.com/CherylMikeJay

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Q and A with Milton Jones Milton Jones, the king of the one-liner and Mock the Week regular, is back. His new tour, The Temple of Daft, will take him to some of the country’s best-known venues but, in comedy terms, he’s embarking on uncharted territory. That’s because joke machine Milton, the man who can cram in up to 250 gags a night, is now a joke machine with a purpose.

His new tour strings the quips together in to a broader story, one that sees Jones take on the mantle of Indiana Jones, don the hat and set off on a madcap journey in to surrealist comedy. We caught up with Milton to talk about big hair, bad shirts, Mock the Week and his new direction.

Your new tour is called The Temple of Daft. Why? Basically, previous tours have been lots of jokes in different forms, but basically lots of jokes. This is more of a story, more like one of my radio shows. It loosely, and I say loosely, follows a kind of adventure-archaeology type story. It started off with me noticing that I had the same surname as Indiana Jones, and it has all transpired from there.

Do you wear a hat? Do you have a whip? I do wear a hat at one point, not for the whole thing, ‘cause then people would never see my hair.

You talk about using a narrative style, and you say this is a bit of a departure. What brought that on? Two things. When people see you on telly, they want to come and see the same sort of thing when they see a live show, but obviously not the same jokes. Moving to a narrative was a way of keeping the same style. It begins to mine other areas of jokes as well, in terms of, if you can do a scene where you’re talking between two people - even though I’m the only person there - that’s a different sort of writing than just one-liner after one-liner.

How do you prepare for a tour? Anything that I have written during this tour will go in to the next tour. I’m amassing jokes from the moment my last tour beings, and then once it finishes, I begin to go to little out of the way places to test them.

Generally speaking, the further you travel, the more pleased they are to see you. I will go with bits of paper and ideas, and it will be throwing mud against a wall and seeing what sticks. Eventually I’ll accrue enough material to do try-outs nearer home. So, it’s a trial and error process from the beginning of that. Years ago I started as an actor, and I’d quite like to incorporate more of it. For instance, previously the footprint of the tour has been I’ve gone on and done 15 minutes as a character, and then there’s a support act, and then I do the whole second half.

There’s a different character this tour. Previously, I’ve done my granddad, but this will be a different relative.

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Who? This is my uncle, my great-uncle, Sir Randolph Digby Jones. He’s an explorer; I quite like warming the audience up with an obscure character to begin with, then making it more of a show.

Your schedule is preposterous. How do you remain sane? Is there a Milton Jones signature workout regime? Well, it is difficult, and there are some weeks, or some months, where you’re away from home quite a lot, and maybe it’s the winter and maybe you’re up north and it’s quite grim all round… But it’s actually harder to write a tour, creatively, you know, that’s where the brain ache is. Once you’ve got a show that’s up and running, it’s more a physical battle. I try and see as many people around the country as I can, friends and relatives. Because there’s nothing worse than talking to hundreds of people, and then being the last person out of the car park, go to a hotel, and then the next time you talk to someone properly is when you talk to hundreds of people the next night. That’s a recipe for madness.

What do you do to reenergise? Me and some other comedians get together - I did it yesterday - and play football. We like it because we see each other, but also it’s one way of turning your head off, to become completely involved in something else.

Isn’t that football match full of people trying to outwit each other? Well, to be fair, there are about five different running commentaries.

A lot of your comedy is quite word based - can you just come up with it? No. It’s all about writing as much as you can, and then taking the top 10%. There’s lots of stuff I’ve discarded. The new show will have between 200 and 250 jokes, probably, but that doesn’t mean that’s all I’ve written; I’ve written another 100 that I’ve put in the bin, at least another 100, probably, maybe three times as much, and that’s the hard work. Even after all this time, I’m thinking I have just written the best joke ever, and I go and do it and it just doesn’t work - however, the thing I improvise off the back of it does work. But, I wouldn’t have got to that place had I not tried the first one.

Do you have books and books of jokes that you might return to? Do ‘the Jones files’ exist in a filing cabinet somewhere? Never throw anything away, is my motto, in that if you thought there was a seed of something that was funny, keep it on file.

Especially one-liners because one syllable, one word, changing the picture in people’s heads, can suddenly make something work that didn’t before.

Has being known as the king of the one-liner ever been an encumbrance at all?

Yeah I mean, in a way, I’ve got to be grateful... people want to put you in a box, so that originally it’s people who are booking gigs; they want to know what type of comedian you are to fit on a bill. And I think that’s true of television as well, to some extent. On Mock the Week, I sit in the one-liner chair, and if it’s not me, it’s Stewart Francis or Gary Delaney - you know, it’s the ‘odd’ bloke, so that has gone in my favour. I’m sort of grateful for where it’s got me, but if I go for an audition for another show, albeit a sitcom or something, it’s quite often as the crazy neighbour. You think well, I’m glad I’ve got this audition, but it’d be nice not to have to do that role forever. So, I suppose this show is me trying to move things on.

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Tell me a little about Mock the Week. Do you have to mug up, read all the papers beforehand? It’s a bit like doing an exam in that we actually get some stuff beforehand, but the list is so long that basically it’s every story that happened in the news that didn’t involve someone dying over the last week. So, there is no way I can cover all of it. You just hope, like an exam, that the bit you’ve revised comes up, because it records for nearly three hours for a half hour show. You hope that the 10 minutes you zoned out for isn’t the 10 minutes that appears on television.

When I know I’ve got Mock the Week in the diary, I think, oh, it’ll be nice to see those people again, but it is hard work, there’s no escaping that, especially after you’ve done quite a few.

When you get a group of funny people together in a programme is it I’ve competitive? known lots of those guys for years and we all get on and it’s fine.

But the way it’s set up, it’s always seven people trying to get through a door for two.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a joke that would have fitted, and I just couldn’t get a word in.

But I suppose from an outsider’s point of view, that is where the dramatic tension is, because you’ve got all these people trying to get a word in. It kind of makes for absorbing television.

A lot of your stuff is family friendly, and you’re sometimes called a Christian comedian - do you think that by going against the flow it’s served you rather well? Yes, although it’s not a conscious effort: I’m not thinking how can I be different to this. I’m just doing what I would find funny myself, hopefully. And I think it is true that I get a very wide demographic, as a result, coming to my tours, because … it’s partly having done Mock The Week and Radio 4, those two ends of the human life scale. And it’s kind of accessible in a way that 10

people feel happy to come as entire families, which is great to look at. It gives a slightly pantomime feel to a tour show because I know that there are grandparents who come with their grandchildren. I like that idea, it feels less niche and I quite often have to explain things, or a child will put their hand up and ask a question during a show, or it’s clear that some grandparents have brought some other grandparents with them.

What does 2015 hold for you, other than a mammoth, mammoth tour? Yes, well it’s not often I can see a whole year ahead, but the tour goes to the end of November, I do two weeks in Edinburgh, then I do another three months in the autumn, by the looks of it, so that will be nine months. I’ve got another radio show, it’ll be the 11th series we’ve done for Radio 4, to fit in, we haven’t worked out when we’re going to do that yet. I’ve got other writing projects, so let’s put it that way, that I need to get on and do in my spare time, and there are odd things, you know. What am I doing? Celebrity Squares, in March, and there’ll be more Mock the Week. Then there’s always the next tour to think about.

What’s your hair care secret? How do I get the Milton Jones look? Well, I did use to use wax, but actually under TV lights that’s not so good – it wilts, because it’s hot, and that’s not good. So now I use something called Backcomb Dust, which is actually far drier and keeps your hair higher for longer.

Sounds like an advert. It does a bit, doesn’t it? I’m not sure I’m the image the company would want, necessarily, but it’d be nice to get some kind of sponsorship where I get free stuff. I usually say, the higher the hair, the thicker the crowd.

Hopefully, on my tour, I won’t have to have it too high.

And finally, we have to ask - where do you get your shirts from? Usually retro shops around about. It’s tricky with shirts because people think, ‘Oh zany shirt!’ but actually the zaniest of shirts is too much. What I like are shirts that people go, ‘Oh that looks… hang on, is that good or bad?’ It needs to be quite subtle, in a way, and I’ve got 100s of them. But yes, they are usually from Oxfam or retro shops where the old lady says, ‘Oh, that looks just you, that does,’ and they’ve no idea who I am.

See Milton Jones in his brand new show Temple of Daft 27 & 28 May - Alban Arena, St Albans 30 May - Waterside, Aylesbury 31 May - Swan, High Wycombe 19 June - Watford Colosseum 26 June - MK Theatre, Milton Keynes 10 October - Gordon Craig, Stevenage 5 November - Bedford Corn Exchange 15 November – Grove Theatre, Dunstable www.miltonjones.com

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Disability Discrimination: Reasonable Adjustments Research by a top HR magazine suggests that some privatesector employers could be at risk of discriminating against disabled job applicants by failing to ask about reasonable adjustments.

But what does this actually mean to employers?

When recruiting, it is vital that at all stages of the recruitment process, an employer must ensure that their practices and policies do not discriminate against disabled applicants.

Also, they must consider any reasonable adjustments that may be required, such as: • • • • • • • • • •

Do they need a parking space near the door?

Do they need to be near toilets?

Do they need a different desk or chair?

Altering an employee’s hours of work Doing things another way - e.g. allowing someone with social anxiety disorder to have their own desk instead of hot-desking Making physical changes - e.g. installing a ramp for a wheelchair user or an audiovisual fire alarm for a deaf person Letting a disabled person work somewhere else - e.g. on the ground floor for a wheelchair user Changing their equipment – e.g. providing a special keyboard if they have arthritis Allowing employees who become disabled to make a phased return to work - e.g. working flexible hours or part-time Offering employees training opportunities, recreation and refreshment facilities

These are just a few of the reasonable adjustments that can be made.

Asking the question…

Under the Equality Act 2010, employers must not ask applicants questions about health or disability before making a job offer, except for certain permitted reasons, (details available upon request).

The Act does allow questions to be asked for the purpose of establishing whether or not any reasonable adjustments should be made during the recruitment process. When inviting an applicant for an interview they should be asked, (either by telephone or in writing), if any reasonable adjustments are needed for them to attend.

Matthew from Consensus HR explains: “Able bodied people can sometimes forget that what they do on a day-to-day basis may vary differently or simply not possible for somebody with a disability. Examples include walking up and down stairs, standing for long times or how frequently they need to visit the toilet.”

Employers must not make assumptions that there is no need for any reasonable adjustments to be made. It is up to the employer to find out from the applicant during the recruitment process so that they can offer reasonable adjustments if needed. Some applicants prefer not to disclose a disability. In these cases, the employer cannot be expected to make adjustments until it becomes apparent in the workplace or the applicant decides to inform the company.

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Research from Personnel Today shows that one employer in five does not ask about required adjustments. This figure rises to nearly one in three among small and mediumsized organisations within the sector. A further one in three private-sector employers seek information on adjustments after an offer of employment is made.

In contrast, public-sector employers are significantly more likely than their private-sector counterparts to ask applicants about required adjustments at the start of the job application process. This is achieved via job advertisements, application forms, or application information supplied to candidates.

Employers should always aim to build a trusting relationship with their teams and demonstrate that regardless of a person’s sex, age, colour, disability (to name a few) all individuals are valued. By building this trust and confidence, the employee will feel able to discuss these core areas should the need occur.

Disability Discrimination: Policy vs. Practice Disability policies are commonplace in 2015. Nearly nine in 10 employers have a formal disability policy in place.

But - some employers are not doing all they can to accommodate disabled job applicants.

The most common arrangement is for disability issues to be covered as a diversity strand within the main organisational disability policy. More than half of organisations with a disability policy in place cite this approach.

A further one organisation in five said that disability issues are covered by their main employment policy document. Only one in eight operates a standalone disability policy.

Across the whole economy, one organisation in seven has no formal disability policy in operation. This situation is more common in the private sector, where around one employer in six does not have a disability policy, compared with around one in 10 in the public sector.

Consensus HR encourages clients to have a policy in place that covers all areas including: • Recruitment & selection, • Career development • Training & development • Redundancy This will ensure that disability discrimination does not occur in their workplace. But – the behaviours and culture of an organisation must demonstrate what the policy states. If the policy is not used correctly, it will end up being just a typed document with no benefit. In fact, it could lead to discrimination taking place and an uncapped award being made against the company in an Employment Tribunal.

It is essential to get both the policy and practice right to optimise the performance of employees and to minimise the risk of discriminatory behaviour – and possible Employment Tribunal action.

How robust is your policy? Talk to Matthew at Consensus HR and find out!

matthew@consensushr.com or call 01462 621423.

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YOUR LOCAL SOLICITORS CAN YOUR EX CLAIM YOUR LOTTERY WINNINGS? Many of you may have read in the newspapers last week about Ms Wyatt and Mr Vince. They were married for just 3 years before separating, having had a son together. They finally got divorced in 1992 (8 years after separating), and as both had modest means at the time, made no order about matrimonial finances.

Many couples dealing with their own divorce to save costs do not bother having any formal order drawn up about their financial position. Most seem to assume, wrongly, that once you are divorced you cannot pursue a financial claim against your ex-spouse.

Ms Wyatt went on to have two more children with a new partner, but they never married – and her means remained modest. Mr Vince’s green energy business took off and he became a multi-millionaire.

In 2011 Ms Wyatt made an application for financial provision – seeking a lump sum from her ex-husband - plus interim payments from him to fund her legal costs.

These arguments have continued due to appeals until this month when the Supreme Court confirmed Ms Wyatt’s application can proceed, and Mr Vince has to pay interim costs direct to his ex-wife’s solicitors.

The Supreme Court pointed out that when an ex-spouse applies for a financial order, the court has a duty under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 to determine that application having regard to all the circumstances – therefore Ms Wyatt was doing nothing wrong in making her claim. However, it also pointed out she faces formidable difficulties in seeking to establish that a financial order should be made in her favour due to the short duration of the marriage and the long delay since. Ms Wyatt will no doubt rely on her much greater contribution to the upbringing of the couple’s son over many years - a factor which may justify a financial order, albeit for a comparatively modest sum.

At Curwens LLP, we appreciate you need to keep costs under control in family matters. We offer fixed fee divorce packages from just £49 + vat.

We also know you need to protect your position for the future and can help with preparing a financial order to ensure your ex-spouse cannot claim against you ever again.

So if you have any questions just give us a ring on 01992 463727 or have a look at our website www.curwens.co.uk.

Curwens LLP are your local solicitors based in Royston, Hoddesdon, and Enfield.

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Authenticity in Relationships Krystal Woodbridge, Psychosexual Therapist & Relationship Counsellor at LCC continues our series on relationships

The presence or absence of authenticity in a relationship can mean the difference between a happy, fulfilling and loving relationship or a relationship fraught with insecurities, conflict and disappointment. Authenticity means not being afraid to show your partner who you really are, warts and all. It is true that early on in a relationship, when everything is new and exciting we are often on our best behaviour, hoping not only to attract our new or potential partner, but also to keep them from being scared off by the reality of our "less than perfect" selves. This honeymoon period can be wonderful, exciting and all-consuming. But what happens once the relationship is more established? Can our partner live up to the same high standards that they set for themselves to woo us with, and which we have come to expect of them? And can we live up to our own? If we try to maintain a facade, it is inevitable that at some point we will begin to crack under the pressure of expectation that we place on ourselves, or the pressure that we perceive our partners place on us. In fact, the word perception is key to understanding what stops us from being truly authentic in our relationships. For example, if we perceive that our partner expects us to be an idealised version of ourselves; we make the assumption that they will not accept our imperfections, which can range from bad habits to our deepest needs and desires. However our perception is just that - a perception, an assumption that we know exactly what our partner will think if we let them in. These assumptions often come from the belief that others, particularly our partners, view the world, others, even themselves, in exactly the way we do. After all, we are "as one", as two halves of a whole - aren't we? Well, no, I don't believe we are. We each have our own, unique way of viewing ourselves, the world, other people, which is influenced by our own individual values and experiences. We cannot possibly know what our partner is thinking or feeling, and they cannot possibly know the same for us. Once we truly realise this, we can accept that our assumptions of how our partner will receive our deepest needs, desires, imperfections and foibles are more a reflection of our own view of ourselves. This highlights the importance of developing a healthy relationship with ourselves well as with our partner. It means that just because we might view the fact that we have issues with trust, or a need for reassurance as "needy", it doesn't mean that our partner will view it as a negative thing. It also means that as we cannot assume that our partner knows how we feel or what we want, we have to tell them! When we were infants, if we wanted something we would cry and our parents would either instinctively know what we wanted, or they would work it out.

Whilst this works in a parent/child relationship, it cannot work in an adult/adult, romantic relationship. So why would we expect our romantic partners to know what we want or need?

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Sometimes we even worry that if our partner doesn't guess correctly, that they must not love us! Just by asking yourself the following questions, you can start to think about how fulfilled you are in your relationship:• • • •

What are the things I like about my partner/relationship?

What are the things that I don't like?

Am I being honest with myself?

What are the things that I want from my partner but do not get?

If there are things that you feel need improvement, ask yourself what you think you need to do to to make this happen. What stops you? Are you making assumptions about your partner? Try to write a list of all the potential positive and negative consequences of saying how you feel and the likelihood of each consequence.

Being brave and telling your partner how you feel might be risky, but the payoff can be the growth of a happy and fulfilling relationship, where both parties are genuine and have permission to make mistakes, freedom to be themselves, and a secure base from which to explore the wide world and return to for comfort.

If you are having relationship difficulties, why not speak to one of our specialist therapists. Sessions are available from just £15.00. Contact Kathy Freeman on 01462-674671 option 2. _______________________________________________________________________

www.the-sticks.co.uk To advertise your event, show, restaurant or business on our website or in our digital magazine Call 07756 274444 Or email thesticks9@gmail.com Prices from £10 per month

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Artist Profile - Judy Bywater

Judy is a modern contemporary artist with a passion for colour. She lives and works in Tewin, Hertfordshire.

Her work is light and spontaneous and has been described by many as 'straight from the heart'.

Working in acrylics and watercolours her technique has been refined with exciting new influences in collage and inks.

She sees her paintings as decorative floral patterns with glowing colour - mainly blues, greens and pinks - representing shape and design.

Judy has had group exhibitions in the UK and in galleries in Hertfordshire and Australia and has recently won several awards. Her beautiful paintings and cards are available at Mardleybury Gallery in Datchworth. She will also be exhibiting at the Gallery for Herts. Visual Arts Open Studios in September 2015.

www.mardleyburygallery.co.uk

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Explosion Competition The Sticks are offering you two chances to win a pair of VIP tickets to see Essex’s Jay Marwick’s new dance and musical extravaganza Explosion at The Watford Colosseum on 23rd April at 8pm - prize includes entry to the show with back stage passes to meet Jay and cast. Autographs and Photographs will be permitted.

Explosion is the fantastic, new production offered by Compañia de Flamenco JM. This spectacular and unique fusion of dance, music and colour presents a mixture of sensuality, fun and excitement, a combination of passion, strength and speed.

The show starts by presenting traditional flamenco at its very best, as the Company dance everything from Bulerias to Farrucas to Tangos. It is strongly influenced by ballet and is entwined with a strong story of love and passion. During the second part of the show, the pace speeds up and is brought into the 21st century. The principle dancer, Jay Markwick's love for the technique and speed of this style of dance is fused with his own individual style including an exciting display of contemporary, street and Latin moves, thereby demonstrating the inspiration for this unique production.

The exciting and powerful production will delight audiences with the intensity of its vibrancy, colour and sheer, unbelievable talent.

Just answer the following question: "From which county in the UK does the Principle Dancer, Jay Markwick, originate?"

Send your answer by email with your name, address, email address and daytime phone number to: thesticks9@gmail.com Closing date: Noon on Friday 10th April.

The first two correct entries drawn will win the VIP tickets.

There is no cash alternative, usual your publication rules apply and the Editor's decision is final. www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk for more information and to book online 24 hours a day. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 0845 075 3993, or visiting the Watford Colosseum Ticket Office.

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Dacia prices new range-topping versions Dacia has released UK pricing and specification details for its new range-topping Lauréate Prime special edition versions of its Sandero, Duster and Logan MCV models.

Originally unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March, the new models feature exclusive Cosmos Blue metallic paintwork which pays homage to Dacia’s traditional livery.

The models have been introduced to mark the Romanian company’s first decade in business since the reinvigorated brand was re-launched into Europe in 2005.

The Lauréate Prime models are based on the regular Lauréate trim but for their £500 premium come with more distinctive style whilst being careful to remain true to the company’s value-for-money ethos.

In addition to the distinctive paintwork, each special edition model also comes with alloy wheels finished in a dark metal finish, along with matching door mirror shells.

On the inside, there are blue fabric inserts on the front and rear seats, blue detailing on the floor mats and blue seat belts. They also inherit a front central armrest, electric rear windows, leather steering wheel and the latest MediaNav Evolution multimedia system which has been redesigned to feature a seven-inch full-colour menu screen and Apple’s SIRI voice recognition function. The sat-nav 19

system features a seven-digit postcode recognition system and TMC live traffic information. The system also allows access to the AHA cloud platform via a free smartphone app.

In addition to operating the satellite navigation functions, the screen provides the entrance way to access infotainment options and hands-free telephone service.

This allows owners to stream music via Bluetooth or a USB or AUX connection.

Social networks can also be accessed via a smartphone.

The £500 premium seems like good value, especially when you consider that the paint and MediaNav system cost up to £895 on the Sandero and Logan MCV Lauréate models, which themselves bring climate control, cruise control with a speed limiter, heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors, central locking and, on the Duster model, satin chrome roof bars, side sills and front and rear scuff plates.

From a safety perspective, like every other model in the Dacia range, the Lauréate Prime feature ESC and ASR traction control.

Sandero and Logan MCV Lauréate Prime models feature a choice of 0.9-litre TCe 90 petrol or 1.5-litre dCi 90 diesel engines, whilst the Duster Lauréate Prime comes only with a higher-powered 110 version of the diesel engine, but with a choice of either two- or four-wheel drive configurations.

Web: www.first4auto.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/first4auto Twitter: @first4auto

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Cornish Yarg Available at The Cheese Plate In Hertfordshire This amazing cheese won a Gold Star at The Great Taste Awards 2014 and Gold at the International Cheese Awards 2014. This divine nettle wrapped cheese is now made by Lynher Dairies Cheese Company near Truro. It was first made thirty years ago on a farm on Bodmin Moor. Spelt the name of its creator, Alan Gray, backwards and now you know the answer as to how Yarg got its name!

Catherine Mead joined the small team in the ’90s, as demand for the nettle covered cheese grew. A second dairy was built on the Mead family farm at Pengreep, near Truro, with all production finally moving there in 2006. It’s not just the cheese that wins accolades – the dairy building has one too, a coveted RIBA award.

The milk used to make Yarg comes from cows that are grass fed, which then produces rich and creamy milk with high protein content. The nettles are foraged from the Cornish countryside between May and September.

Nettles play a valuable role in eco-systems, providing a food source for no less than 107 insect species in the UK, including ladybirds and butterfly caterpillars, which in turn are eagerly snaffled up by hedgehogs and other creatures. Being a rich source of nitrogen, they act as an excellent accelerator for compost.

They’re also are rich in minerals and in vitamins A and C. Nettle products include soup, tea, nettle pudding, porridge and beer – and of course Yarg cheese, to which they give a subtle, mushroomy flavour. The cheese is then wrapped in wax, grease proof or cheese paper and stored at 8 degrees or below.

Their Wild Garlic Yarg is wrapped in the pungent Ramson leaves that arrive in the woods on the farm at Pengreep each spring. They impart a gentle garlicky flavour and their moisture gives the cheese a slightly firm texture. Creamy and slightly crumbly, Wild Garlic Yarg is made in exactly the same way as our nettle covered Cornish Yarg.

Yarg is a fantastic table cheese and can also be added to Pasta, fondues, salads, bread dough, cheese boards; the list is endless for this versatile cheese.

Note: Take your Cornish Yarg out of the fridge an hour before you want to eat it.

Cornish Yarg stays fresh for up to 10 days from cutting. It is suitable for vegetarians.

26 High Street, Buntingford, Herts, SG9 9AQ www.thecheeseplate.co.uk Tele: 01763 271533 Email: Toby@thecheeseplate.co.uk

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Grow your own Asparagus Stephen Read from Reads Nurseries on Growing Asparagus.

Asparagus is a high-yielding, early-season vegetable for home gardeners. It is grown as a perennial vegetable in the UK and can yield for 12 or more years. The asparagus plant is composed of ferns, crown and a root system. The crown is a collection of rhizomes and lateral roots that initiate new ferns. Spears, which are the harvested portion of the asparagus plant, are immature ferns. Thus, if the spear is not harvested, it develops into a large fern, which manufactures and stores energy in the crown for next year’s crop.

Asparagus is a dioecious plant, which means that there are separate male and female plants. Male asparagus plants produce more spears than female plants do.

Female asparagus plants produce numerous bright, red, berrylike fruits with seeds that can become volunteer weeds in the garden or field.

Preparing the asparagus bed is important as Asparagus is a perennial vegetable, attention should be given to choosing the best planting site possible. Like most vegetables, asparagus will not tolerate wet, soggy soil. Choose a well-drained field, or use raised beds to promote drainage. Asparagus will perform best on sandy, light-textured soils.

Asparagus crowns should be planted in the spring as early as the soil in the garden can be worked. Late March or early April is a good time in most areas.

Separate crowns by size and plant similar-sized crowns together; this encourages uniform growth. If crowns cannot be planted immediately, store them in a refrigerator.

Make a 6-inch-deep furrow using a garden hoe. Well rotted manure can be spread in the furrow. This is covered with an inch of soil, and the crowns are spaced 12 to 18 inches apart in the furrow. If a variety produces large-diameter spears, you should reduce spacing within the row to decrease spear Each row should be no less than 3 feet apart so the ferns can close the canopy and shade weeds out during the summer.

If rows are spaced too close together, spear size may be reduced.

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Cover the crowns with about 2 inches of soil, and as the ferns emerge and grow, gradually fill in the furrow through the summer.

Plants that are stressed by drought can become weak and susceptible to insect, disease and weed pressure.

Growers should be prepared to irrigate new asparagus plantings for the first two or three seasons after establishment. Drought stress after harvest can reduce yields for the following season.

Weed control is the most challenging aspect for successful asparagus production. Organic mulches such as grass clippings, straw or compost can be applied 4 to 6 inches thick to suppress weeds.

Several herbicides are labelled for weed control in asparagus. Glyphosate (Roundup) can be used as a broadcast application to control winter annual and biennial weeds early in the spring before the spears emerge and after the last harvest.

Cover crops such as rye or wheat may be spring sown inter-row to suppress weeds.

Selecting a site with good drainage and optimal pH will prevent many asparagus diseases. Crown rot, a potentially devastating disease, is caused by over harvesting, growing in acidic and waterlogged soils, and excessive pest pressure.

The yield of asparagus spears in the spring is directly related to the previous year’s fern growth. Asparagus can be harvested for a limited time (two weeks) the second year after planting crowns (three years from seed transplants). Over harvesting one year can weaken the plant and decrease yields the following year. Three years after planting the crowns, asparagus can be harvested for five to eight weeks. Each year, during the first several years of production, yields will increase if the planting is managed properly. Average yields 2.5kg per 100 square feet.

Asparagus spears are best harvested by cutting them off with a knife near ground level. Most people prefer to snap the asparagus spears when they reach 7 to 9 inches in length in cool weather (less than 70 degrees F), and the spear tip is tight or 5 to 7 inches in warmer weather (more than 70 degrees). Cutting will break the spear cleanly at a tender.

To preserve freshness, harvest during the morning or evening. Expect to harvest every one to three days as temperatures increase. Spring freezes will not harm the crowns or subsequent harvests but can damage emerging spears. Thus, emerged spears may be harvested before a predicted freeze.

Asparagus has a short shelf life and may be immersed in cold water after harvest and immediately refrigerated (36 degrees F) to maintain quality.

After harvest, the asparagus planting should be fertilized with composted manure to stimulate summer and autumn fern growth. Herbicides can be applied after harvest to control any weed growth. Frost will desiccate the ferns, and they can then be cut in late autumn or early winter. Do not mow ferns in early autumn while 23

they are still green because this will reduce the following spring harvest. We mulch the crowns to protect them from low-temperature injury. The mulch can be raked to the row middles the following spring (early April), and spears will emerge for another harvest season.

Asparagus contains high levels of vitamin A, folic acid and dietary fibre, all believed to play an important role in the fight against cancer. Vitamin A (an antioxidant vitamin) may help prevent cancer by protecting body cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Asparagus is rich in soluble fibre, known to have a protective effect against degenerative heart diseases. Asparagus also contains high levels of potassium, which may help to control blood pressure and the high folic acid content helps to reduce blood homocysteine levels, thought to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Asparagus is also low in fat and sodium, making it the perfect choice for those concerned about a healthy heart.

Asparagus is one of the richest sources of ‘rutin’ (a natural substance found in plants) which together with vitamin C, can help to energize and protect the body from infections. Asparagus is also a source of iron, which boosts the immune system.

Asparagus is low in calories with less than 4 kcal per average spear, which as part of a balanced diet can help weight loss. Asparagus is also very low in cholesterol, has no fat and very little sodium so can help to maintain heart function and blood pressure levels.

Asparagus is a mild diuretic and is believed to help detoxify the body, helping it to get rid of excess water and combat cystitis.

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Herts Listings Bobby Socks And Blue Jeans - Thur 2 Apr 8pm Bobby Socks and Blue Jeans is a sensational and exciting live music production featuring over 40 Smash Hits of the fabulous 50’s & 60’s.This dynamic show stars the amazing impressions of Kytsun Wolfe featuring, Cliff Richard, Billy Fury, Adam Faith, Elvis, Roy Orbison, The Beatles, The Hollies, The Searchers, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Bee Gees and many, many more. Plus the fabulous all girl group The Pony Tails and the hottest band in town, The 5 Pennies, some of the most celebrated and talented musicians and performers in the world of professional entertainment, who, with incredible accuracy, recreate the most popular time in music. This electrifying show lights up the stage for over two magical hours with hit after hit after hit, bringing back all those unforgettable and wonderful memories that every Bobby Socks Girl & Blue Jeans Boy cherish and never want to forget.

Tickets £19.50, £17.50.Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Easter Eggstravaganza - til Sun 19 Apr A choc-o-bloc programme of egg-citing Easer fun! Easter Egg Hunt with chocolate treat and Bunny Hunt with prize plus Easter themed shows including the Bunny Hop! With farmyard animals, adventure play, fun fair rides, JCB Young Drivers Zone. Willows Activity Farm. Coursers Road, London Colney, St. Albans AL4 0PF Edna Eckett - Painting with Passion - til Thur 30 Apr Edna’s vivid, semi-abstract style reflects her passion for art and life. Seascapes from her travels, churches from her rambles and people from her everyday comings and goings contribute to Edna’s remarkable mixed-media paintings. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE National Embroiderers’ Guild - til Wed 29 Apr A superb display from the collection and postcards of the Embroiderers’ Guild, one of the UK’s leading crafts associations and educational charities, filling all three galleries. Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Hertford House Comedy Night - Thur 2 Apr Comedy Night hosted by James Redmond.

Headline act Gary Delaney, Tom Price supporting. 1 Fore Street, Hertford SG14 1DA

The Snail and the Whale - Wed 1 and Thur 2 Apr Tall Stories (creators of the Gruffalo and Room on the Broom stage shows) are proud to present their latest exciting collaboration with Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Kids Do the Funniest Things: comedy workshop for children aged 7 - 14 -Thur 2 & Tue 7 Apr Write and perform your own jokes - just like a professional Stand-Up Comedian!

Hilarious, inspiring, inclusive and memorable, these workshops let everyone have a go and see how much fun it is being a comedian.

Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Imitation Game (12A) - Wed 1 Apr Based on the real life story of legendary code breaker Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team at Britain’s topsecret Government Code and Cypher School .Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE

Inspired by Bickerton -Thur 2 to Sat 18 Apr A display of your photographs of a Hertfordshire animal, bird or insect inspired by our exhibition ‘Mr Bickerton and his Birds’.

Free Entry, Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10.00 am – 5.00 pm Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain, Hertford SG14 1DT

Colosseum Comedy Club - Wed 1 Apr Doors open 7.30pm Have a great night out with entertainment from three of the finest upand-coming comedians, a British beef or vegetarian burger and chips, and a bottle of ‘Mad Squirrel’ Czech Pilsner.

In April, The line-up includes Joe Bor and Suzi Ruffell. £18.00 includes entertainment, burger and chips and one bottle of ‘Mad Squirrel’ Czech Pilsner**can be substituted for 125ml glass of house wine or a draught soft drink. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Film: Hop (U) - Thur 2 Apr Easter Holiday fun at The Old Town Hall, The Old Town Hall will be holding an Easter bonnet competition for all the family! Be inspired by bunnies, chicks, eggs or anything else that takes your fancy and then come and show. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE The Dreamboys - Fri 3 Apr 8pm After the biggest Male Strip Show Tour in UK history in

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2014, The Dreamboys are back with a brand new Show and UK Tour for 2015.The Dreamboys are without a shadow of a doubt the UK’s top Male Glamour Show, perfect for a girls night out with all your friends. Their showcase is unquestionably the most famous Male Stripper act the UK has ever produced.

With special guest appearances on some of the UK’s biggest TV shows such as The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Celebrity Big Brother, Pineapple Dance Studios, Loose Women, This Morning and The Only Way Is Essex and massive sold out Worldwide Tours, it’s no wonder The Dreamboys have earned themselves the title of the only Male Strip Group in history to have celebrity status. If you’re looking for the very best girl’s night out in the UK, then look no further then these incredible stripping hunks. An action packed 2 hour show from start to finish, these boys will literally have you begging for more!!! This is one action packed night of music, muscle, magic and mayhem that will leave you breathless which you simply cannot afford to miss!! ! Age restriction: 18+ Tickets £23.50 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Church Hall, bottom of Leys Avenue, on Norton Way South, Letchworth SG6 3HS Barkway Antiques & Vintage Fair - Sun 5 Apr Antiques fair featuring a range of fabulous stalls with a wide variety of stock from, jewellery to ceramics, curios to clothing.

Barkway Village Hall, Cambridge Road, Barkway SG8 8BS AC Milan Junior Football Camp - Mon 6 to Friday 10 Apr The training camp will take place on the artificial pitch here at The Arena, and includes the following: • Training (2 sessions per day) led by an AC Milan coach • High quality Adidas AC Milan sportswear with the sponsor "Fly Emirates" The Arena SG7 5AU Cream Teas - Mon 6 Apr 2.30pm – 5pm.

Cream teas, homemade cakes and other refreshments on sale.

Organised by Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust Place House Hall Bluecoat Yard, East Street, Ware, SG12 9HL Easter arts and crafts! - Mon 6 Apr Easter themed crafts going on today with all the team! Come down and make spring animals, Easter eggs and even Easter treats! Rye Meads Nature Reserve, Rye Road, Stanstead Abbotts SG12 8JS

Easter Egg Hunt - Fri 3 to Mon 6 Apr Easter Egg Hunt throughout the grounds. Normal admission rates apply. Shepreth Wildlife Park, Station Rd, Shepreth SG8 6PZ

The Pirates Of Treasure Island - Tues 7 & Wed 8 Apr 2.30pm and 6pm.The Pirates Of Treasure Island is a swash buckling adventure, based on the British Literature classic, Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. First published in 1883, and originally serialised in a children’s magazine, it is considered to be the original pirates tale, and is packed with treasure maps, bearded one legged pirates, tropical islands, parrots, mutiny, and the dreaded black spot! Our version of the tale blends the best of story telling, pantomime and musical theatre, to create a spectacular adventure for the whole family, and stars Edele Lynch from B*Witched and Sid Sloane from CBBC. Also joining the cast are popular panto performers Ant Payne (as Silly Billy Bones), Robert Pearce (as Mrs Smollett), and Jasette Amos (as the Witch of the Water).Tickets £19.50 Family Group (4- 6 people) £16.50 per ticket Concessions £2.00 off. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Ashridge Cadbury Easter Egg Trail- Fri 3 to Mon 6 Apr Join us on our annual Easter Egg Trail. Put on your wellies and Eggsplore the secrets of the woodland at Ashridge and learn more about the creatures who live there.

Answer questions along the way and collect your reward at the end. Ashridge Estate, Moneybury Hill, Ringshall HP4 1LX Comedy Club - Comedian of the Year competition - Sat 4 Apr Yes, it’s that time again, with up to 10 great acts from the London circuit battling it out to be Letchworth’s comedy king. Who will you choose? Licensed bar. Another great evening of great comedy hosted by Paul B Edwards.

Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW Easter Fair- Sat 4 Apr Welcome to this lovely seasonal event which will be enjoyable for everyone. There will be a children’s activity table and lots of stalls. These will feature homemade cakes and marmalade, bric-a-brac and cards, toys and books. Letchworth Free

Easter Musical Theatre Workshop - Tues 7 to Fri 10 Apr These popular workshops offer a

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Wedding Evening at Hertford Castle - Thurs 9 Apr 18.00 – 20.30 Free Entry Couples are invited to the Castle to view rooms set for civil ceremony and reception. Hertford Castle Hertford SG14 1HR

unique experience that is very similar to a professional rehearsal and performance of a musical. It is not a games based summer camp, but an opportunity to work with a creative team of professional directors. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Ugly Duckling - Thurs 9 Apr For ages 5 and up. Life isn’t much fun in the farmyard for the misfit ‘duckling’. Teased and tormented, he dreams of kindlier places beyond the farm gates. But will he survive out there?

Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

YMCA Easter Sports Camp - Tues 7 to Fri 10 Apr Four day Easter multi-sports camp for children aged 4-11 run by highly experienced level 2 sports coaches. Leading fun and enjoyable sessions in a variety of different sports including Tennis, Badminton, Tag Rugby, Handball and Football .YMCA Health Club, 59 Russet Drive, St. Albans AL4 0DB

The Country Superstars Experience Europe’s Leading Country Multi-Tribute Show- Thur 9 Apr 8pm This show is hosted

by Sarah Jayne who has been performing as Dolly Parton for over 22 years and is Europe’s Leading Tribute to the Queen of Country Dolly Parton.Sarah Jayne and Award Winning Vocal Impersonator Andy Crust take us on a journey back through time meeting some of the most influential icons who shaped Country history and the music. The show features Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Billie Jo Spears, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, John Denver and new for 2015 Garth Brooks - Characters may vary. Each artist not only looks and sounds like the Country Star they portray, these professional performers transform themselves through hours of practice at their craft. Every detail is taken into consideration from script, choice of songs, hair, make-up and mannerisms, as well as professional costumes and props. Kenny Rogers himself named and stated on his website that Sarah Jayne and Andy Crust’s Tribute To Kenny and Dolly IS Europe’s Leading Tribute Act. Country music will live on forever, a must see for any fans of Country Music!

Tickets £19.50.Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Extraordinary Egyptians at Hertford Museum - Tues 7 to Thur 9, Tue 14 to Thu 16 Apr Family craft activities for the Easter 10.30 am – 3.30 pm, last entry 3.00 pm Drop in over the Easter holidays to take part in crafty activities. Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain, Hertford SG14 1DT Easter Academy - Tues 7 to Fri 10 Apr The Easter Academy is full of singing, dancing and acting to put together a short demonstration for parents on the last day. We warm up with games and drama exercises so children feel confident and begin to make new friends. The Chauncy School, The Drama studio, Park Road, Ware SG12 0DP Wild About Ashridge - Wed 8, Fri 10, Wed 15, Fri 17 Apr Get closer to nature at Wild About Ashridge to be held every Wednesday and Friday during the holidays. Pop in anytime between 10.30 am and 3.00 pm.

Outdoor fun adventures, whatever the weather, with the National Trust Team.

Ashridge Estate, Moneybury Hill, Ringshall HP4 1LX Children’s Holiday activity: Bake a spiced bun - Thurs 9 Apr Come along between 10.00 and 12.00 or 1.00 and 3.00 to shape and bake a spiced bun. £1 per piece of dough. Suitable for age 4+ Mill Green Mill and Museum AL9 5PD

The Searchers-Sat 11 Apr 7.30pm The Searchers - John McNally, Frank Allen, Spencer James, Scott Ottaway.The Searchers remarkable career continues. With such classic hits as, Sweets For My Sweet; Needles and Pins; Don’t Throw Your Love Away; Sugar and Spice and When You Walk In The Room, they have contributed enormously in establishing the UK as the world’s leading nation in the music industry. There is no doubt that the decade that gave us The Beatles as well as The Searchers and many others was very special and will go down in history as being the most imaginative period

Pet activity morning or afternoon- Thurs 9 Apr Join us for a fun filled session at Wood Green’s Heydon Centre and leave the grown ups at home! Children will work in a small group with our experienced Education Team getting hands on preparing feeds, helping clean out the animals. Wood Green, Heydon centre, Highway cottage, Chishill road, Heydon SG8 8PN

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of music creativity and expression. With total record sales well in excess of 50 million, The Searchers still have great appeal to audiences of all ages. They tour the globe as much today as they have done throughout a fantastic career spanning 5 decades. Their special ‘solo’ concert is a highly entertaining show and has been enthusiastically and warmly received throughout the world.

Combined with anecdotes and reminiscences, this fully self-contained concert includes all their famous hits, plus many album recordings, B-sides and a selection of other collector and well known favourites. Don’t miss The Searchers live in concert!

Tickets: £19.50, £17.50 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

St Albans Country Market - Sun 12 Apr Local food cooperative. Selling cakes, biscuits, scones, pies and preserves etc as well as handmade items such as hats, cards and aprons. All produce is home made fresh, and all cooks hold level 2 hygiene and food safety certificates. St Albans AL1 3DP

Albury Antiques & Interiors Fair - Sat 11 Apr A contemporary approach to a traditional antiques & interior Fair with something for everybody, whether you are passionate about true antiques or you prefer the lighter, French inspired interiors. Albury Village Hall, The Bourne, Albury SG11 2JL

The Chuckle Brothers- The Chuckles Of OzSun 12 Apr 2pm. Dorothy, The Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow are among the familiar characters who join the Wizards (The Chuckle Brothers Paul and Barry) for this sensational new version of the familiar Wizard of Oz story. Audiences will get a unique glimpse into the Emerald City in a show packed with all the ingredients that make for a family fun packed show including audience participation, laugh out loud comedy and spectacular sets and costumes and special effects. There’s no place like “The Chuckles of Oz” for all ages from 3 to 103, so be sure to book today! Tickets £15.00, Family Ticket £56.00 (2 adults and 2 children) Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Octagon Music Society: Timothy Orpen (clarinet) - Sun 12 Apr Finzi: Five Bagatelles, Stravinsky: 3 pieces for solo clarinet, Schumann: Fantasiestücke Op.73, Brahms: Sonata in E flat major Op. 120, No. 2, Schumann: 3 pieces from Waldscenen, Op 82, Giampieri: Il Carnivale di Venezia. The Clarendon Muse, Watford Grammar School for Boys, 70 Rickmansworth Road, Watford WD18 7JA

Tewin Horticultural Arts & Crafts Society Spring Show- Sat 11 Apr Entries for the show fall into the following categories, Flower Arranging, Flowers, Vegetables & Fruit, Arts & Crafts, Photography and Culinary. Tewin Memorial Hall Lower Green Tewin AL6 0JX Paddington (PG) - Sat 11 Apr A young Peruvian bear with a passion for all things British travels to London in search of a home.

Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he begins to realize that city life is not all he had imagined. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE

The Cat In The Hat - Mon 13 & Tues 14 Apr From the moment his tall, red and white striped hat appears around the door, Sally and her brother know that The Cat in the Hat is the funniest, most mischievous cat they have ever met. With the trickiest of tricks and craziest of ideas, he turns a rainy afternoon into an amazing adventure. But what will mum find when she gets home?

Based on the much loved book by Dr Seuss, The Cat in the Hat is a lively and engaging first theatre experience for young children aged 3+. Expect towering hats, mischief and an imagination recharge! Play originally produced by the National Theatre of Great Britain. Adapted and originally directed by Katie Mitchell. Presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York.

Tickets £15.00 Family Offer (4 Tickets) £56.00

East of England Food Festival - Sat 11 and Sun 12 Apr A celebration of all that is good to eat and drink from across the Eastern Region and far beyond From condiments, artisan cheeses, home cured and fresh meat, dairy products, confectionary, bakery, wine, beer and other drinks, together with cookware.

Knebworth House, Knebworth SG1 2AX Easter Egg Hunt- Sun 12 Apr Come and join in the Easter festivities at our annual Easter Egg Hunt....! Scrumptious chocolate eggs to take home, Easter crafts, cakes and refreshments, Meet other families and make new friends, and have fun in the fresh air! Bluebell Children’s Centre, Standhill Road, Hitchin SG4 9AF

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Highfield Park Easter Bunny Hunt - Wed 15 Apr A fun event for young children. Explore some of Highfield Park to hunt for the hidden bunnies. When you’ve found them all come and claim your Easter egg and we’ll enter you for a prize draw. West Lodge, Hill End Lane, St Albans AL4 0RA

Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk RSPCA Fun Quiz - Mon 13 Apr A fun quiz with the emphasis on FUN rather than quiz, aiming to raise money for the charity and giving team members an enjoyable experience.

Three Horseshoes, Norton Road, Letchworth SG5 1AG

The Picture of Dorian Gray- Wed 15 Apr By Oscar Wilde. Fresh from a West End run of The Trials of Oscar Wilde, European Arts Company returns with a thrilling adaptation of Wilde’s only novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE

Screaming Blue Murder- Mon 13 Apr A regular comedy tonic infused with some of the best and brightest comedians on the circuit. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE

The Solid Silver 60s Show 30th anniversary tour - Wed 15 Apr 8pm Celebrating 30 tremendous years of the UK’s original and premier sixties show, Solid Silver 60s brings you its most sensational line-up yet.

Headlining, and back in the UK for the first time in 17 years, is the original cool cat Billy J Kramer, performing alongside the original voice of the Searchers, Mike Pender - still going strong since his first number one hit in 1963. Chris Farlowe of ‘Handbags & Gladrags’ fame and a Solid Silver firm favourite will sock it to you. And finally on this anniversary bill is UK soul pioneer PP Arnold - one of the original members of The Ikettes, the must-see staples of every Ike and Tina Turner performance. All of these legends are backed

by The New Amen Corner plus, the bill’s not complete without very special guests, the wildly successful Merseybeats - back to round off this 30th birthday bash. Relive the 1960s with original artists singing their greatest hits. Jet on down to Watford Colosseum to hear the classic hits performed by the original hitmakers! Tickets £28.50, £26.50.Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Easter Activities for Kids – Tues 14 to Thur 16 Apr Fun 3-Day Football Course on Fantastic 3G Pitch. Skills sessions, penalty shoot-outs, mini-tournaments & matches, prizes, certificates & HTFC match tickets.

The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock SG7 5AU The Journey Home - Tues 14 Apr Join Polar Bear as he sets off in search of a new home when the ice starts melting. Travelling through storms, busy shipping lanes and across oceans, he picks up some exciting friends along the way. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL Gentle Stroll - Tues 14 Apr Covering Sallow Copse and surrounding areas. Part of a series of strolls which provide a chance to discover the wildlife in different parts of the Estate and to look for animal tracks, deer sightings, birds and other items of interest. Ashridge Estate, Moneybury Hill, Ringshall HP4 1LX Red Wine Serenaders- Tues 14 Apr Veronica Sbergia and Max De Bernardi passionately play country blues and ragtime, hokum, jug band and rural music from the 20s and 30s. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE

Sex In Suburbia - Thur 16 Apr 7.30pm Claire Sweeney stars in and co-writes this brand new comedy, Sex in Suburbia about dating, men and finding Mr Right. Penny Crowe is the host of a late-night radio phone-in and as Britain’s leading Agony Aunt, she takes calls about every date from hell and the occasional one from heaven. She is more than happy to dish out relationship advice, but is she as happy to take it…? Packed full of sensational songs including I’m Every Woman, I Want To Break Free and Somebody Else’s Guy, this show will make you laugh, cry and dance in the aisles.

Based on real stories from real women, this is

Maddy Prior - Wed 15 Apr In concert with Giles Lewin and Hannah James A true legend of British music, Maddy Prior has built her career on exploring various musical avenues.

The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL Under 18s Foam Party- Wed 15 Apr Easter is here! Which means, why not have a big foam party! 19:00 to 23:00 4 Waterhouse Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1ET

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Roller Disco - Fri 17 Apr Silver Wheels Roller Disco is rolling into Watford Colosseum! With different sessions for all ages and abilities, let us take you on a journey from the 80s into the 21st century. Hire skates or wear your own and dance and skate to our fabulous DJ sets.

Silver Wheels prides itself on a fun environment for all to enjoy.

Tickets: £10.00Add a burger, chips and soft drink for just £8.00 per person! Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

the story of all of our lives! Age advisory 16+ with some strong language and adult themes.

Tickets £22.00, £19.50. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk Radlett Music Club Presents: The Beyounes String Quartet - Thur 16 Apr The Benyounes String Quartet was formed in 2007 at the Royal Northern College of Music. They have won several prestigious awards and our now regarded as a most engaging and dynamic quartet. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Hertford Arts Festival Launch at Hertford Castle - Fri 17 Apr 18.00 – 21.00 Free Entry This evening will showcase one creation from each artist taking part in the Hertford Art Trail. Hertford Castle SG14 1HR

Behind the scenes tour - Thur 16 Apr Join us for a behind the scenes tour, meet some of our guinea pigs, rabbits and cats get hands on making fun pet toys and feed some of our animals tasty treats. Suitable for 5 year olds and over and booking essential. Wood Green, Heydon centre, Highway cottage, Chishill road, Heydon SG8 8PN

Katie and Juan - Fri 17 Apr Great music from a mix of musical genres from this great acoustic duo. Buy your tickets in advance and enjoy a free drink on us. Katie Masson and Juan Fos are the singers from the band CoJones. Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Extreme Stunt Show in Luton - Thur 16 Apr Awesome Monster Trucks, High Flying Motorbikes & BMX team’s battle it out as Big Air is the name of the game this summer as our boys hit the air flying! Stockwood Park, Farley Hill LU1 5NR

The Gauntlet Games - Sat 18 Apr Take part in the interactive Gladiator Games and raise money via sponsorship for St Elizabeth’s. The entry fee is £33.00 but dependant on time of booking and whether a 5k or 10k race. This is an amazing fun day out! Woodhall Park near Watton-at-Stone SG14 3NE

Children’s Holiday activity: Bake a bread roll- Thur 16 Apr Come along between 10.00 and 12.00 or 1.00 and 3.00 to shape and bake a bread roll. Suitable for ages 4+ Mill Green Mill and Museum AL9 5PD

Male Voice Festival of Song- Sat 18 Apr This will be a feast of music for lovers of Male Voice Music! Combined choirs from Kent and Hertfordshire will be performing a wide variety of songs, including some Welsh numbers from the Snowdown Colliery Welfare Male Voice Choir. All Saints Church, Hockerill, Bishops Stortford CM23 2DY

Acoustic Café monthly open mic night- Thur 16 Apr An exciting and eclectic line-up of poets, spoken word artists, singer-songwriters and instrumentalists. Daria Kulesh acts as your MC .Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE Magic in the Moonlight (12A) - Thur 16 Apr This romantic comedy directed by Woody Allen stars Colin Firth as Stanley, a magician who has dedicated his life to revealing fraudulent spiritualists. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE

Hertford Choral - Raise your Voice- Sat 18 Apr This is an all day event open to all who have thought they would like to ’have a go’ at singing with a local choir. The event which is being organised by Hertford Choral Society will be led by Ken Burton. Sele School Hertford SG14 2DG

Jo Caulfield – Uninformed Opinions - Fri 17 Apr Award-winning comedian Jo Caulfield presents a brand new show for 2015.

Everyone has an opinion…. unfortunately!

Audiences can expect razor-sharp observations and scandalous one-liners as Jo Caulfield shares her opinions on everything.

Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE

Colin Fry - Sun 19 Apr Being one of the world’s most recognised Spiritualist Mediums and Healers, Colin’s TV series “ 6ixth Sense” has now been broadcast worldwide for 14 years making his public performances an International demand. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

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Rye Meads Funday! - Sun 19 Apr Join us for our big annual spring fun day! Have a go at our trails and wildlife hunts, grab a net for pond dipping, try your hand at our games, make a craft, hold a creature, paint a picture, plant some flowers, eat some cake.

Rye Meads Nature Reserve, Rye Road, Stanstead Abbotts SG12 8JS

Bulerias to Farrucas to Tangos. It is strongly influenced by ballet and is entwined with a strong story of love and passion. During the second part of the show, the pace speeds up and is brought into the 21st century. The principle dancer, Jay Markwick's love for the technique and speed of this style of dance is fused with his own individual style including an exciting display of contemporary, street and Latin moves, thereby demonstrating the inspiration for this unique production. The exciting and powerful production will delight audiences with the intensity of its vibrancy, colour and sheer, unbelievable talent.

Tickets £24.50, £21.50, £19.50 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Plastic Figurines - Tues 21 Apr A new play

by Ella Carmen Greenhill. “Mum told me that there was something in his brain that was different, she said that he liked to put his toys in lines and that was a symptom or whatever. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE Tea Dance - Tue 21 Apr 1pm Mr Wonderful return to the Colosseum with a series of glittering dance events suited to beginners and seasoned dancers alike. Come with a partner or on your own, come for a dance or just a chat - we'd love to see you.

Get your dancing shoes on and take to the floor for a graceful, elegant and nostalgic afternoon of dancing. The Colosseum’s Tea Dance will evoke memories of a forgotten era and create memories of a new one. Tea, coffee and a selection of cakes will be available. Tickets: £5.00 Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

St John Ambulance Fun Quiz - Thur 23 Apr A fun quiz with the emphasis on fun rather than quiz, aiming to raise money for the charity and giving team members an enjoyable experience. Warm-up round, mixture of verbal, sound and picture rounds, marathon round. The Barn at The Victoria, Ickleford Road, Hitchin SG5 1TJ Art Society Lecture: Antoni Gaudi - Thur 23 Apr Digital Lecture by Anthea Streeter MEd Harvard.

Gaudi’s works reflect an individualised and distinctive style. Most are located in Barcelona, including his magnum opus, the Sagrada Familia. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

EBLOS Presents: Happy as a Sandbag - Wed 22 to Sat 25 Apr A selection of songs and sketches from World War II, showing how life was on the home front. Including items from shows such as It’s That Man Again and Radio Doctor, as well as popular songs of the period. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Mindspiders - Fri 24 Apr Andrew O’Neill answers all the questions you were afraid to ask the big hairy men in that pub you’ve always avoided. Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

Two days, One Night (Deux jours, une nuit) (15) - Wed 22 Apr Sandra, a young Belgian mother, returns to work after suffering from depression to find out that her colleagues have chosen to take a bonus at the expense of her job. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE

Watford NCT Nearly New Sale - Sat 25 Apr Nearly News Sale with over 40 tables selling good quality 2nd hand babies and children’s clothes and equipment, maternity wear, toys and games. 11am - 1pm £1 entry Rudolf Steiner School, Langley Hill, Kings Langley WD4 9HG

Explosion Compañia De Flamenco Presents Jay Markwick - Thur 23 Apr 8pm Explosion is the fantastic, new production offered by Compañia de Flamenco JM. This spectacular and unique fusion of dance, music and colour presents a mixture of sensuality, fun and excitement, a combination of passion, strength and speed. The show starts by presenting traditional flamenco at its very best, as the Company dance everything from

Chilterns Dog Rescue Society Quiz Night- Sat 25 Apr Teams of 6; £12 per person. A hot supper is included. Just bring your own drinks, glasses and snacks! Nora Grace Hall, Faversham Close, Tring HP23 5BA Dawn Chorus Walk - Sat 25 Apr Join our Ashridge Ranger on this early morning walk to look and listen for birds on the Ashridge

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party in Westminster, Septimus Smith is diagnosed with shellshock. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE

Estate. It’s well worth the early start! We’ll even throw in a breakfast butty and a warm drink afterwards. Ashridge Estate, Moneybury Hill, Ringshall HP4 1LX

Rennie Grove Fashion Show - Thur 30 Apr Do you need a few new separates to liven up your wardrobe? Would you like them at bargain prices? Look no further... the Rennie Grove Fashion Show is here! High street clothes! All prices slashed! Bargains galore!

Hemel Hempstead School, Heath Lane, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1TX

Bec and Tom’s Awesome Laundry- Sat 25 Apr Oh pants! It’s laundry day! But Bec and Tom have other ideas. Join the pair in a world of silliness, make-believe and bad celebrity impersonations. Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE English Celebration Festival part of the Hertford Arts Festival - Sat 25 Apr 10.30 – 16.00 Free Entry Visit Hertford Town Centre where live music, theatrical performances and entertainment will fill the streets. From Morris dancing to folk bands, the celebration is sure to put a spring in your step. Hertford Town Centre

Asaf Sirkis Quartet - Thur 30 Apr Asaf Sirkis drums, Sylwia Bialas - vocals, Frank Harrison piano, Pat Bettison - bass and harmonica “Since arriving in London from Israel at the end of the 90s, Asaf Sirkis has earned a reputation as one of the world’s premier drummers” Old Town Hall, High Street, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE

CURA Spring Ball- Sat 25 Apr Black Tie Ball in aid of Cura, a registered charity supporting people with Breast Cancer by offering grants to patients of limited financial means, in Hillingdon and the Home Counties. Moor Park Mansion, Rickmansworth WD3 1QN

Gods are Fallen and all Safety Gone- Thur 30 Apr Sean Campion and Scott Turnbull.

What happens when we discover that our parents are flawed human beings and that at some point, sooner than we think, they are suddenly going to disappear from our lives?

Letchworth Arts Centre, 2 The Arcade, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3EW

De Havilland MRS - annual model railway exhibition - Sat 25 AprTwo floors of exhibits all accessible to those with limited mobility.

A dozen layouts in a variety of gauges including our famous club layout Havil Junction. The exhibition is supported by local traders and societies, free parking and refreshments. Ludwick Way Methodist Church, Ludwick Way, Welwyn Garden City AL7 3PN

Beds Listings Lambing is Back at Mead Open Farm! - til Mon 13 Apr Meet all the newborns in the Lamb Nursery and help the farmers bottle feed the older lambs. Plus, back for 2015, watch all the lambing action back at home on Mead Open Farm’s 24/7. Mead Open Farm, Stanbridge Road, Billington, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9JH

Oliver! - Tue 28 Apr to Sat 2 May The award winning St Albans Operatic Society presents Lionel Bart’s Oliver! The Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans AL1 3LD

Easter Fun at Woodside - til Sun 19 Apr Easter fun including tractor rides, meet and feed the animals, animal handling and demonstrations with reptiles, owls and much more, chick and bunny cuddling, indoor play barn, outdoor play areas, crazy golf, funfair rides, trampolines, sandpit. Woodside Rd, Alley Green, Luton LU1 4DG

Haileybury College Charity Gala Concert Tue 28 Apr Join Isabel Hospice for a chilled and informal evening of jazz standards and solos performed by the fantastic and talented students of Haileybury College. Haileybury College, Hertford Heath SG13 7NU Radlett Players Presents: Tons of Money Wed 29 Apr to Sat 2 May Unsuccessful inventor Aubrey Allington inherits a small fortune, and then fakes his own death in order to avoid paying his creditors. The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett WD7 8HL

Binocular & Telescope open day - Thur 2 Apr Impartial & friendly advice on choosing the best binoculars, telescopes & accessories to suit your needs. Take your time comparing the different models & have the chance to try them outdoors. RSPB, The Lodge Shop, Sandy SG10 2DL

Dalloway - Wed 29 Apr 1923: The War is over. While Clarissa Dalloway prepares a

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Cafe in the Tower - Mon 6 Apr Drop in between 2.30-5.30 pm to sample a delicious range of cakes and cookies to go with your favourite cuppa. All Saints Church, Odell MK43 7AA

Mind Body & Soul Fair - Sat 18 and Sun 19 Apr This 2 day event offers free parking, a wide variety of exhibitors including purple sapphire aura photography, indian head, reflexology, aloe vera, crystal geode, crystals brazil, sticks & stones beautiful jewellery, salt lamps & air purifiers. The Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick MK45 1AH

Rabbits and Hares - Kids Indoor Activity Tues 7 Apr Can you tell the difference between rabbit and hare? Come and find out and make a rabbit or hare mask to wear when you hop home. Sessions cost £3.50 per child and run for approx. 45 minutes at 10am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm. Marston Vale Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine MK43 0PS

Antiques & Collectables Fair - Sat 18 Apr A selection of Coins, Jewellery, Ephemera, Postcards, China, Pottery, Glass, Pictures, kurios, Copper, Brass, Linens and Small furniture items. St Pauls Church, St Pauls Square, Bedford MK40 1SQ

Italian Connection Art Exhibition - Sat 11, Mon 13 to Sat 18, Mon 20 to Sat 25, Mon 27 Apr to Sat 2 May New Art Exhibition by members on an Italian theme. Paintings, prints, ceramics, textiles sculpture and more.

101 Castle Road, Bedford MK40 3QP

Quiz- Sat 18 Apr Quiz Evening prizes for winning table, raffle Teams of 6 or come along and make up a team. Bring your own drinks and nibbles. St Anne Church, Crawley Green Road Luton LU2 0RB Farmers’ Market - Sun 19 Apr10.30 - 3pm Bringing fresh, local produce to the Forest Centre. Free entry, selection of stalls each month. Marston Vale Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine MK43 0PS

Biggleswade Art Exhibition - Sat 11 and Sun 12 Apr Biggleswade art exhibition. Original paintings for view and sale. Refreshments are available. Northill Village Hall SG18 9AH Binocular & Telescope open day- Sat 11 and Sun 12 Apr Impartial & friendly advice on choosing the best binoculars, telescopes & accessories to suit your needs. RSPB, The Lodge Shop, Sandy SG19 2DL

Biggleswade Antiques Fair- Sun 19 Apr Over 45 stalls offering a range of antiques from jewellery, glass, china, pictures, postcards, kitchenalia and militaria. Popular cafe serving lunches, hot and cold drinks as well as a range of cakes, jams and chutneys to buy.

The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade SG18 8JH

Hitchin Brass Band- Sat 11 Apr Returning after a stonking performance last year, to raise funds for Bedford Daycare Hospice they are back with a new set of classics, and some tracks you’d never expect to hear coming from a brass band! Marston Vale Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine MK43 0PS

Philharmonia Orchestra: Beethoven & Shostakovich - Wed 22 Apr Beethoven was just putting the finishing touches to his Eroica Symphony when his hero, Napoleon, declared himself ‘Emperor’ and so, in Beethoven’s eyes, became ‘just another tyrant’ – Napoleon’s front page dedication was duly scored out and ‘Eroica’. Bedford Corn Exchange, St Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 1SL

The Extreme Stunt Show Air Battle - Thur 16 Apr Big Air is the name of the game this summer as our boys hit the air flying! You’ll be keeping your feet firmly on level ground as the Extreme Team take to the air to battle it out! Join us on the runway as our monster beasts compete once again. Stockwood Park, Farley Hill, Luton LU1 5NR

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde - Thur 23 to Sat 25 Apr The Wootton Country Players are an amateur dramatics group based in Wootton, Bedford. Wootton Village Hall, Church Road, Wootton, Bedford MK43 9EU

Quiz Night for GRWE - Sat 18 Apr Time to get those brain cells busy at our first quiz night for 2015 Please come and join us for a fun evening. Drinks are available from the pay bar and you are welcome to bring your own nibbles. We will have some lovely cakes for sale too! Co-op Sports and Social Club, Stockingstone Road, Luton LU2 7NF

Forest Folk and Roots Launch Night - Fri 24 Apr The launch of Forest Folk and Roots regular monthly acoustic music nights in the enchanting setting of the Lakeside Bar at Marston Vale Forest Centre Featuring Urban Folk Quartet and Blessem. Marston Vale

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Forest Centre, Marston Moretaine, Bedford MK43 0PS

Museum and Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP

Willington Farmers’ Market - Sun 26 Apr Small local producers of high quality, specialist foods at affordable prices, selling their own produce direct to the public.

Willington Home and Garden, 109 Bedford Road, Willington MK44 3PR

Family Easter Activities at Snozone Milton Keynes - til Sun 12 Apr Snozone MK will be celebrating the Easter break with a host of free entertainment in the restaurant area throughout the school holidays. Children can compete to see how long they can stay on the snowboard simulator. Snozone Xscape, 602 Marlborough Gate, Central Milton Keynes MK9 3XS

Affinity Wedding Showcase- Sun 26 Apr Affinity Wedding Showcase is run in conjunction with Affinity Weddings Magazine With approximately 35 exhibitors including Venues, Cakes, Photographers, DJ’s, Ice Sculptures, Bridal Fashion Show, Cars, Flowers, Videographer, Jewellers and much more. Wyboston Lakes Hotel Executive Centre, Great North Road, Wyboston MK44 3AL

Mini beast Madness - Wed 1 Apr Create and personalise a fantastic bug hotel to take home and discover our ’secret woodland’. Go in search of creepy crawlies hiding in the park!

View more details - Mini beast Madness. Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre, Denham Country Park, Denham, UB9 5PG

Spring Challenge Event- Sun 26 Apr Activities for all the family, which will include guided and self-guided walks around Bedford River Valley Park, in conjunction with the Marston Vale Trust. If weather suitable, bring a kite to fly! National Trust Dovecote & Stables, Church End, Willington MK44 3PX

The Great War Through The Magic LanternWed 1 Apr An opportunity to view a Magic Lantern presentation which shows how, as a result of the Defence of the Realm Act, illustrations of the Great War were heavily censored for the Home Front. The images, taken from popular newspapers and glass slides. Methodist Church Hall, Queensway, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 2HB

Spring Shopping and pamper night - Thur 30 Apr Clinique Sonic Cleansing • Estée Lauder Mini Facials Nail Bar • Eyelash Bar • Massage • Mini Treatments Look Amazing for Less Treatments from Just £5 Dress for Less with Red Dress Clothing New & nearly new high end clothing at bargain. Roxton Parish Hall High Street Roxton MK44 3EA

Steaming Day at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre - Wed 1, Wed 8, Sun 12 , Sun 19, Sun 26, Wed 29 Apr Buckinghamshire Railway Centre occupies an extensive site in rolling Buckinghamshire countryside. Exhibits range from large express passenger locomotives to the humble shunting engine together with a host of smaller items recreating the golden age.

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY

Bucks Listings One Hundred Years On - til Sat 18 Apr Aylesbury College design students have been inspired by WW1 exhibits such as propaganda posters, photographs and keepsakes in the Duty and Service exhibition to create their own original work. Free entry. For further details visit... View more details - One Hundred Years On. Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald Dahl Childrens Gallery, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP

The Extreme Stunt Show Air Battle - Milton Keynes - Wed 1 and Thur 2 Apr Big Air is the name of the game this summer as our boys hit the air flying! You’ll be keeping your feet firmly on level ground as the Extreme Team take to the air to battle it out! Campbell Park, Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 4AT

Creative Connections - til Sat 9 May See exciting work created by artists from Bucks Art Society and other art groups and inspired by objects from the Museum’s collections.

Work is for sale. Free entry. For further details visit www.buckscountymuseum.org or call 01296 331441. Buckinghamshire County

Comedy Gong Show with Ellie Taylor! - Wed 1 Apr 8 acts will battle it out to be named the winner of The Comedy Cow Gong Show!

The Casino MK, Xscape, 602 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 3XS Buzzwangling bird houses - Wed 1 Apr For 6+ years: paint the perfect home for birds to

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seek an escape from Mr Twit. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

paint your own egg cup. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Easter Egg Decorations - Wed 1 Apr Paint your own ceramic hanging egg decoration.

Drop in any time between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm. £3 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book. Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP

Generation play at The Prince of Wales- Sat 4 Apr With music ranging from the 60’s to the present day, there is something for everyone from this 5 piece band - a night for singing and dancing for all! The Prince of Wales Public House, 1 Mill Road, Marlow SL7 1PX Pop Factor, The Concert! - Sat 4 Apr Pop Factor tributes the very best of now! A show that’s a celebration of the top artists and biggest chart hits! Calling all Directioners!

Mixers & Katy Cats! Are you a Belieber? A Swiftie, or one of our favourite Little Monsters! Swan Theatre, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP11 2XE

Children’s Activities - Wed 1 Apr A visit this time from Dogs for the Disabled. Meet the dogs, listen to a short talk and do ’doggy’ craft activities. Buckingham Old Gaol, Market Hill, Buckingham MK18 1JX Easter Goody Bags - Thur 2 Apr Get ready for the Easter egg hunt and decorate your own canvas bag to keep goodies in. Drop in any time between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm. £3 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book.

Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP

Wing Book Fair - Sun 5 Apr The Wing Book Fair will be held once again at the stunning Village Hall in the delightful village of Wing.

Wing Village Hall, Wing LU7 0NW Easter Hunt - Sun 5 Apr A fun day out for the whole family! Hunt across Denham Country Park following the clues and answer the questions to receive a prize! Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre, Denham Country Park, Denham UB9 5PG

Roly-Poly pots - Thur 2 Apr For 5+ years: make a clay pot in the shape of a Roly Poly Bird, ready to store lots of chocolate eggs inside. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Glumptious treat bags- Sun 5 Apr For 5+ years: decorate a cloth bag with your favourite Roald Dahl characters, ready to fill with all your seasonal treats. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Day Out With Thomas at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre - Fri 3 to Mon 6 Apr On these special days take a ride behind Thomas the Tank Engine™ under the watchful eye of Sir Topham Hatt, The Fat Controller.

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury HP22 4BY

Easter Eggstravanza & Spring Food Fair- Sun 5 Apr ‘Grow your own’ Workshop with Blessed Foods (non-profit battling poverty) Children’s Easter Egg Hunt Children’s Rides Face painting Nature trail Guided farm walks Meet & Feed the Animals Local Food Producers & Craft Stalls .Hazeldene Farm, Ashridge Road, Chesham. HP5 2XD

Traditional Easter - Fri 3 to Mon 6 Apr Come and make some Easter treats and get involved in family crafts, games and activities. Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Giles HP8 4AB

Meet Steve Lenton - Mon 6 Apr For 6+ years: from pups that pinch things to a princess who is full of pluck, Steven Lenton can draw them all beautifully! Come along and hear Steve as he tells the story of those robber dogs Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam, and the dragonhunting. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Easter Egg Cosies - Fri 3 Apr Sew simple little cosies to keep your Easter breakfast warm. Drop in any time between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm. £3 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

No need to book. Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP

Egyptian Jewellery Activity - Mon 6 Apr Explore Egyptian jewellery from the Museum’s collection and make your own to take home. Drop in any time between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm. £3 per child. All

Crackling egg cups - Sat 4 Apr For 5+ years: listen to some storytelling from The Twits and

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children must be accompanied by an adult.

No need to book. Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP

Scott Eastwood, Rachel Hendrix & Cheryl Ladd Ian McCormack will be here in person to answer your questions. St Mary’s Church, St Mary’s Square, Aylesbury HP20 2JJ

Chirpy chick puppets- Mon 6 Apr For 5+ years: make your own chick puppet from a wooden spoon and some swashboggling yellow craft materials. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Owl Detectives- Thur 9 Apr learn all about owls native to England with activities and crafts, enjoy a small quiz, and get the chance to dissect an owl pellet to see what owls eat.

Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre, Denham Country Park, Denham UB9 5PG

Egyptian Canopic Jar Heads Activity - Tues 7 Apr Learn how the Egyptians got themselves ready for the afterlife and make your own replica canopic jar. Drop in any time between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm. £3 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book. Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP

Make an Egyptian Shabti Statue - Thur 9 Apr Create your own helpers to work in the fields of the afterlife based on real ones from the Museum’s collections. Drop in any time between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm. £3 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald Dahl Childrens Gallery, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP

Treasure Hunt and Duck Race - Tues 7 Apr Decorate and race a duck down the River Misbourne and see if you can win a prize, then hunt for treasure in the park. Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre, Denham Country Park, Denham UB9 5PG

Swashboggling stop frame animation - Thur 9 Apr For 7+ years: join our awesome animator Will Howes for this lively session.

He’ll help you create your own plasticine Roly Poly Bird and show you how to make a short animation sequence to make it fly! 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Buzzwangling bird feeder - Tues 7 Apr For 5+ years: put a smile on the beaks of your garden birds with one of these. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Egyptian Hieroglyphics Activity - Fri 10 Apr Discover how to write your name in hieroglyphics and create your own cartouche like the Pharaohs. Drop in any time between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm. £3 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book. Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP

Make an Egyptian Mummy - Wed 8 Apr Learn the craft of the embalmer and make your own mini mummy! Drop in any time between 10am and 12 noon or 1pm and 3pm. £3 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

No need to book. Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP

Scavenger Boat Racing- Fri 10 Apr Scavenge the woods to find natural materials to help you make a boat to race and take home. Will yours sink, float or win? Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre, Denham Country Park, Denham UB9 5PG

Roly-Poly string puppets- Wed 8 Apr For 7+ years: make this supreme Roly Poly Bird from recycled materials then make him strut about in our courtyard. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

George’s amazing adventures- Fri 10 Apr For 3 years: come and meet Charlotte and Adam Guillain performing their latest hilarious picture book, Pizza for Pirates, illustrated by the award-winning Lee Wildish.

There’ll be some very strange monsters, songs and fair dollop of silliness! 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Free ’Let It Go’ Frozen-themed party at Eden - Thur 9 Apr You and your little ones are invited to a Frozen-themed party at Eden, High Wycombe! Meet and greet the magical Snow Queen, Ice Princess and everyone’s favourite snowman and have a photo taken to remember the day. Eden Shopping Centre HP11 2DQ

Roly-Poly cress heads - Fri 10 Apr For 6+ years: it’s spring! Make your own Roly Poly Bird from soil and seeds. Then take him home to watch his green plumes grow. 81 - 83 High

The Perfect Wave - Thur 9 Apr The incredible story of Ian McCormack - the man who died and came back to life. Film starring

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The Extreme Stunt Show Air Battle - West Wycombe - Tue 14 Apr Big Air is the name of the game this summer as our boys hit the air flying! You’ll be keeping your feet firmly on level ground as the Extreme Team take to the air to battle it out! Car Boot Field, West Wycombe Estate HP14 3AJ

Street, Great Missenden, Bucks, HP13 0AL, Buckinghamshire HP16 0AL Hearing Dogs Spring Open Day - Sat 11 Apr Come along to our Hearing Dogs headquarters for your chance to see behind the scenes and to learn how we create our life changing partnerships. Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, The Grange, Wycombe Road, Saunderton HP27 9NS

Family History Talk: Wills and InventoriesTue 14 Apr Julian Hunt will look at Buckinghamshire wills from about 1500 to 1858. Julian’s talk makes special reference to Winslow, where a very large proportion of probate inventories have survived.

Community Centre, Wakeman Road, Bourne End SL8 5SX

Gerrards Cross Book Fair - Sat 11 Apr Memorial Centre, East Common, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire will be held once again at the stunning Memorial Centre in the delightful town of Gerrards Cross. Memorial Hall, East Common, Gerrards Cross SL9 7AD

Extreme Stunt Show - Wed 15 Apr Awesome Monster Trucks, High Flying Motorbikes & BMX teams battle it out as BIG AIR is the name of the game this summer as our boys hit the air flying! Airfield, Chesham Road HP5 3RR

Buckingham Fire Station Exhibition - Sat 11 Apr Fire fighters will be at Buckingham Old Gaol with their exhibition of interesting artefacts. There will be family quiz around the museum plus children’s ’fire’ crafts.

Refreshments will be available. Buckingham Old Gaol, Market Hill, Buckingham MK18 1JX

Comedy Night at Stadium:MK - Fri 17 Apr An evening of stand-up comedy in the stylish setting of the red dot bar. Headlining the evening is musical comedian Adam Kay who is responsible for that London Underground Song! red dot bar, DoubleTree by Hilton, Stadium:MK, Milton Keynes MK1 1ST

Discover Dahl’s archives - Sat 11 Apr For 10+: a behind-the-scenes look at our archive store, which houses Roald Dahl’s unique collection of original letters and manuscripts. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Alan Titchmarsh is coming to Frosts! - Sat 18 Apr Gardening Expert, TV Presenter and Novelist Alan Titchmarsh MBE will be at Frosts Garden Centre in Woburn Sands on Saturday 18 April, to help celebrate National Gardening Week. Newport Rd, Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes MK17 8UE

Little Chalfont Farmers’ Market - Sat 11 Apr Great selection of quality, locally produced food at this monthly market. Buy rare-breed pork, bacon and sausages, buffalo meat, lamb, game and poultry. Plus seasonal fruit and vegetables, free range eggs, artisan breads, pies and baked goods. Village Hall car park, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont HP8 4UD

Meet the Lambs - Sat 18 & Sun 19 Apr Come and meet the rare-breed lambs on our working historic farm at Chiltern Open Air Musuem. Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Giles HP8 4AB

Wondercrump wildlife - Sat 11 and Sun 12 Apr For all ages: come and get crafty with The Wildlife Trust, and find out about the living landscapes around Buckinghamshire, the inspiration for many of Roald Dahl’s books. 81 - 83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Aylesbury Festival Choir present The Creation by Franz Joseph Haydn- Sat 18 Apr St Mary’s Church, St Mary’s Square, Aylesbury HP20 2JJ

Community Musical open auditions - Sun 12, Sun 19 Apr Do you love the magic of a musical? Then come and take part in one! The Emperor’s New Clothes is a brand new, original musical ready for its first performance. But this show needs local talent to bring it to life! High Wycombe Music Centre HP12 4BA

Wartime Memories Tea Time Concert- Sat 18 Apr The Misbourne Symphony Orchestra, conductor Richard Jacklin with vocalist Kathryn Oxley. A concert to commemorate the centenary of World War 1 and 70th anniversary of VE Day featuring favourite songs and orchestral pieces from the period.

The King’s Church, Raans Road, Amersham HP6 6LX

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Our Ancestors Through Literature - Sat 18 Apr In his enthusiastically entertaining way, Michael Gandy will show us what we can learn about our ancestors from social history books.

Prebendal Farm Community Centre, Somerville Way, Fowler Road, Aylesbury HP19 7QT

Alexander’s Feast - Sat 25 Apr Choral work

by Handel ,a setting of a poem by John Dryden. Performed by Great Missenden Choral Society, with soloists Josephine Goddard (soprano) Gwilym Bowen (Tenor). Great Missenden Parish Church, Church Lane, Great Missenden HP16 0BA

Mentmore Village Green Plant Sale - Sat 18 Apr 12-4pm. Mentmore Village Green, Mentmore Village LU7 0QF

Lutes, Lyres and Ukeleles- Sat 25 Apr to Sat 20 Jun Spectacular display of historical musical instruments; ukuleles, guitars, lutes, harps and hurdy-gurdys, created by musician and instrument maker, Zachary Taylor. Free entry. Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery, Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP

Spring Fair - Sun 19 Apr It is made up of local people who want to share idea on gardening and crafts such as spinning, knitting, patchwork. The Old Cattle Pens, High Street, Buckingham MK18 1NU

The Woburn Sands Band In Concert - Sat 25 Apr This is the 55th Concert in The Drakeloe Series by The Woburn Sands Band. The Woburn Sands Band is a brass band and the programme will include traditional brass band music and arrangements of classical, jazz, pop, easy listening, TV and film music. The Venue MK, Walton High, Fyfield Barrow, Walnut Tree, Milton Keynes MK7 7WH

The Wedding Singer Musical - Wed 22 to Sat 25 Apr The Elgiva theatre is going back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up and shoulders padded, with award winning Chesham Musical Theatre Company’s production of The Wedding Singer.

The Elgiva Theatre, St Mary’s Way, Chesham HP5 1HR All Shipshape and Blackwall Fashion - Wed 22 Apr It’s Jeremy Batch so it will be a great evening! This fascinating area of London has so much history - the hydraulic crane, the birthplace of the lighthouse, Brunel’s 1st steamer engine fit out, the Cutty Sark. Dr Challoner’s High St, Cokes Lane, Little Chalfont HP7 9QB

Spring Craft Fair- Sat 25 Apr Beautiful local crafts in the historic and magnificent setting of St Mary’s Church, in the heart of Aylesbury’s old town. Refreshments available.

St Mary’s Church, St Mary’s Square, Aylesbury HP20 2JJ Modelkraft - Sun 26th April Where in Milton Keynes can you see hundreds, if not thousands, of aircraft of all periods from the birth of aviation to science fiction?

Stantonbury Leisure Centre MK14 6BN

The Mayor of Beaconsfields Charity Film Night - Thur 23 Apr The Mayor of Beaconsfields supports Alexander Jansons Foundation which has pledged a minimum of £80,000 per year to fund research into Myocarditis after the death of Alexander Jansons from Myocarditis he was 18 years old.

National Film & Television School Beaconsfield Studio, Station Road, Beaconsfield HP9 1LG

St George’s Celebration, Fun Day and Scout Parade- Sun 26th April A free family fun day in celebration of England’s patron saint St George. All of the entertainment, games, craft and activities are free and themed around the 3C’s associated with St George Courage, Chivalry and Charity. Market Square, Aylesbury HP20 1TW

Lysistrata- Thur 23 Apr The one female brave enough to take men on at their own game: outright war. The battle of the sexes commences as Lysistrata persuades all Greek women to withhold all sexual practices from their men folk. Stantonbury Theatre MK14 6BN

Oxfordshire CCC v Herefordshire CCC - Sun 26th April Gates Open 10.00am • Play begins 11.00am • Scheduled Close of Play 6.30pm Join us for the opening fixture in the 2015 Wormsley season, the Unicorns Knockout Trophy group match between last year’s finalists Oxfordshire, and Herefordshire. The Wormsley Estate Stokenchurch HP14 3YG

Joe McElderry - Evolution Tour - Fri 24 Apr X-Factor winner Joe McElderry is hitting the road with a brand new show after the sell-out success of last year’s nationwide tour. The Stables, Wavendon MK17 8LU

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