Thornbury Rotary urgently needs tools

FOR many years, the Rotary Club of Thornbury has been involved in the shipment of tools to areas of the world that desperately need them to be self-sufficient.

The Christian charity organisation ‘Tools With A Mission’ (TWAM) continues to work tirelessly, gathering donated tools, refurbishing and sorting them, then packing them into trade tool kits that can be used by workers in poorer countries.

They work in many countries, but by far the greatest number of tools goes to Africa, principally Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Thornbury Rotary acts as a hub for the collection of tools from around the community, and is currently working with TWAM to direct some of the tools to Butterfly Space in Malawi.

The trade kits are targeted at agricultural workers, builders, carpenters, electricians, motor mechanics, plumbers, and garage workshops.

At the present time, TWAM has a particular need for sewing machines, knitting machines and fully working computers and IT equipment.

PC’s and laptops need to be running on a minimum of Microsoft Windows 7.

If anyone would like to help Rotary support TWAM, by donating tools that they no longer require, they can contact Rotarian Robin Cole-Morgan on 01454 414281.

He will arrange to pick up the tools and take them away at a time that suits everyone.

President Stuart Hill has again expressed his sincere thanks for the support of this valuable project and for all the tools donated to date.

For more information about Thornbury Rotary, please visit www. ThornburyRotary.org and about TWAM, please visit www.twam.uk.

Adrian Dennis

Octopus nomination

THORNBURY'S Octopus Drama Group has been nominated for a national award.

The group's play, Give Us A Sign, has been nominated for the Best Comedy Production gong at the annual National Operatic and Dramatic Association awards.

The play was originally due to have been staged in June 2021 but a series of covid-related cancellations, including five members of the cast and crew going down with the disease on the twice-rearranged opening night last September, meant it finally hit the stage at Christ the King Church Hall in November.

Director Jenny Dennis said: “We would like to say a big thank you to all the people who helped to make it happen.

"Give Us a Sign was written by local playwright Tony Domaille and was well received by all who came to see it - including, it seems, our local NODA rep.”

The next Octopus production is another comedy, A Bunch of Amateurs, written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman.

It is set to be performed at Christ the King Church Hall in Castle St, from June 14-17, at 7.30 pm. The cast is busy rehearsing with new director Abi McManus.

Tickets for the show are due to go on sale at Rosie and Rex Gift Shop on the High Street from May 9.

Open-air opera

MOZART'S spectacular opera Don Giovanni will be performed in a field near Thornbury this summer.

In what is being billed as the town's first open air opera, Rockhampton Village Hall Field will be the venue for the production by touring company Opera in a Box on June 18 at 2.30pm.

It will happen the day after the Rockhampton Festival, with its facilities of marquee, bar and refreshments.

The event is being organised by Armstrong Arts Group, who said: "Take all of your preconceptions about opera and throw them out of the window, as opera is taken in fresh and exciting directions. "The performance brings together a hugely talented ensemble of musicians, artists and a first rate production team."

Tickets are available from AAGThornbury@gmail.com.

AAG is looking for first aiders to attend events. Contact janeparfittrail@ gmail.com for more details.

Accordion festival

THORNBURY will host the South/South West area festival of the National Accordion Organisation on June 11.

The event will take place at Europa House in Midland Way and players and spectators are being invited to come along.

For more information, contact Andy Coles at AccordionSW@gmail.com.