If you have difficulty getting more information about any of the clubs listed below (or any others), e-mail me on clubs@coldash.org.uk and I will do my best to provide the information you require or at least a contact name/number.
I have details for:

(I would be very happy to hear from the organisers of these clubs and include their full details on this page)

For a listing of regular Acland Hall activities and booking information, see the Parish News/Council Matters page.

To rent, hire or otherwise book the Acland Hall, please contact Mrs M Faithfull on 865693

THIRTOVER PLACE WARDEN

For the first time, Thirtover Place on Ashmore Green Road, has a resident warden to look after the property. My name is John Carruthers, now a British Citizen, but from New Zealand, I took up residence in the Norwegian Log Cabin on the 1st March 2007. If you have any concerns, questions or queries, then please feel free to give me a call. My office number is 01635 866646, or I can generally be found on the property during the day.


John Carruthers – Warden
Girlguiding Thirtover Place – Thirtover Place, Ashmore Green Road, Cold Ash, THATCHAM RG18 9JD
Tel: 01635 866646 Fax: 01635 860515
E-mail: john.carruthers@thirtoverplace.org Web: http://www.thirtoverplace.org/

AEROBICS

Do you want to get fit in a fun and relaxed environment?
If the answer is yes then join me at the Acland Hall for an aerobics class designed for all levels of fitness and ability.
It will all start on Wednesday 10th April from 7:30pm to 8:30pm and cost £3 per class. Please bring an exercise mat or a thick towel.
For more information contact Sally Rossiter on 01635 200530.

ASHMORE GREEN WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Ashmore Green Womens Institute are certainly not all 'jam and Jerusalem'!! We never sing Jerusalem and not many of us make jam!!  However, we are a group of like minded ladies, of a mixed age, who meet in either some of our members homes, Thirtover or the committee room at the Acland Hall on the third Tuesday of every month at 7.30pm.
We have interesting speakers, theatre outings, visits, barbeques and Christmas parties and do quite a lot of fund raising for local charities.  This year, 2004, we will be celebrating the 40th year of Ashmore Green W.I. We consider ourselves a friendly bunch and would warmly welcome any new members - come and try us for a few meetings before you make a commitment and have to pay a subscription!

Call, at any time, either Fizz Sellers (01635 860054) or Marilyn Piper (01635 862316)

COLD ASH BROWNIES

Brownies runs every Monday evening at Thirtover. For details contact Abigail Layton on 01635 48993.

1st Cold Ash Brownies (Mondays 6-7:30pm) - Abigail Layton tel: 866637
2nd Cold Ash Brownies (Tuesdays 6-7:30pm) - Debra Clayton tel: 01793 762348

COLD ASH CINEMA CLUB

Download the programme of events here

Call Amanda on 07920 081260 for further information and/or see the membership form

PHOENIX FLOWER ARRANGING CLUB

Would you like to know a little more about flower arranging? The Phoenix Flower Arrangers meet at the Acland Hall on the third Wednesday of each month at 2.00p.m. to exchange ideas and to practice all aspects of floral art. For further information, please call Mrs. Cherry Harris on 01635 863538

1st COLD ASH GUIDES

[see also Rainbows, Brownies & Rangers]

Cold Ash has been very lucky to have an active Guide unit, as well as Rainbows and Brownies. For the past 12 years or so, the Guides have been ably run by Lucy Booth.
Lucy has now decided to take a break from Guiding, and our thanks go to her for all her hard work. With my daughter just joining Guides, it seemed natural to help out, and now take the reins from Lucy. The Guides meet at Thirtover Place on a Wednesday evening (term time) from 6.30pm to 8.15pm.

At the first meeting of the term (last September) the girls used the grass sledges and spent the evening sledging down the slopes at Thirtover. Other meetings have seen the girls install a hedgehog house at Thirtover, ready for hibernation time.

Due to a surplus of apples, we’ve cooked and eaten apple crumble (very tasty too).

The Guides have been working towards their “Chocolate” badge. This was probably the most strenuous badge you could do, but it was decided to be worth it.  On a serious note the girls had to not only taste chocolate, but to find out about fair trade products and carry out surveys of their family’s chocolate eating habits.

One week the girls decorated some lovely clay pots, and planted hyacinth bulbs ready for Christmas flowering, and in further preparation for Christmas the girls made and painted salt dough decorations.  They also made table decorations, decorated gift boxes and made mince pies.

We have had an active term, and are now looking forward to the next one.

If you know of any girls of Guide age (10-14) who would be interested in joining, do contact me on 01635 861625. Or if you would like to join me in the rewarding position of guider, or have a skill or craft that you would like to pass on to the girls - I'd love to hear from you.

Heather Codling

COLD ASH & ASHMORE GREEN CRICKET CLUB

Cold Ash and Ashmore Green Cricket Club was formed in 2001 to offer local residents the opportunity to play regular, friendly standard cricket. We currently play friendly matches every Sunday during the season, and in addition take part in some of the local mid-week knockout competitions.

We welcome new members of any standard. To find out more about club nets, meetings and how to join, please contact any one of the following people:

Club Chairman: Richard Price (richard@tritec.net)
Team Captain: Kelvin Prescott (kelvin.prescott@paconsulting.com)
Fixtures Secretary: Bill Ashcroft-Leigh (bill@a-le.co.uk)

or alternatively, ask Pat in the Cold Ash post office at any time.

We've recently set up a specific website for the club, courtesy of the ECB.  The website includes details of the teams, fixtures, results and news and it can be found at http://coldash.play-cricket.com/home/home.asp

COLD ASH BRASS

In March 2003 a number of like-minded brass musicians in Cold Ash decided to reform the local Brass Band under the name of "Cold Ash Brass".

Since then the Band has gone from strength to strength. Under musical director Mr Mike Clark, the Band now numbers 23 players and you will see us performing locally throughout the year, in particular at the Cold Ash Show, at St Marks School Fete, at Thatcham Carnival and Remembrance Service and the Festival of Arts and Music, and in the church at Christmas for our “traditional” Christmas Concert.

The Band is open to musicians from Thatcham, Newbury and surrounding areas. We would be very happy to recruit another 6 to 10 members to complete the mix.

We rehearse Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 in St Marks School Hall.

Contact Paul Sanders on 01635-869906, view our website at www.coldashbrass.org.uk, or come along to the school hall on Thursday evening where you will be warmly welcomed.

COLD ASH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Cold Ash Horticultural Society is a group of villagers who enjoy plants and gardening, with experience at all sorts of different levels from beginners to experts. We hold regular meetings and Flower Shows in the Acland Hall, have visits to gardens and a number of other social events, as well as helping members enjoy cheaper gardening. Just £5 a year entitles you to receive our regular newsletter and a schedule of the year's events.

Why don't you come and join us?

Contact:
Fred Davison 01635 202605
or email ColdAshHort@aol.com

All meetings and shows are held in the Acland Hall.
Meetings start at 7.30 pm unless stated otherwise.

Spring Show Saturday 29 March 2008

On a rainy afternoon in Cold Ash was greatly brightened for almost seventy people by the colours and atmosphere in the Acland Hall, at the Cold Ash Horticultural Society Spring Show. In spite of another very early spring which meant that for many gardens the narcissi were already past their best, the flower judge said that it was probably the best display he had seen in all his years judging at this show.

In addition to spring flowers, the classes for floral art and handcraft were extremely well supported, and there was a large junior entry that included decorated biscuits, sock puppets and an Easter garden made in a seed tray.

The Parmenter Cup for most points in the junior section age up to 7 years was won by Ellis Dixon, and the Acland cup for most points in the junior section age 8 to 11 years was won by Emma Goodwin. All the junior entrants received a show certificate and a small prize.

Mrs Rhona Tucker retained the Mann cup for most points in the floral art section, and Mrs Kaye Coventry won the MacDonnell cup for the best handcraft exhibit. The club president, Mr Ron Siddons, had a good afternoon, winning the Denis Hardwicke cup for most points in the daffodil classes, the Hillman cup for most points in the flower section, and the Michael Pearce cup for the person over 75 years of age gaining most points in the show.

Rose Show Friday 20 June 2008

Many people, including a number of first-timers, made it to this year's Rose Show with their precious blooms intact, even though the weather in the run up to the show had not been ideal.

The show was judged this year by Mr Bob Aggis from Reading, and he was very complimentary that the Society still organised three shows each year, when many other societies could only manage to run just one. He particularly liked the Rose Show set up because it allowed him to comment on each exhibit as he inspected it, and to point out to the audience what qualities he looked for in an exhibit.

His running commentary kept everyone amused even when he was being critical of some entries, and he cleverly built up the tension in the audience before announcing his decision in each class. The specimen roses and the perennial and shrub classes came in for particular praise. The show finished with a question and answer session which allowed everyone to benefit from Bob's many years experience as both exhibitor and judge, to improve their chances of winning in next year's show.

Once again, several of the prizes were won by the first-time exhibitors, but the Club President, Ron Siddons, showed everyone how it should be done by winning both the Laurence Date Cup for the most points scored in the Rose Show and the Sinclair Bowl for the best rose exhibit.

The next show is the Summer Show, to be held in the Acland Hall at 2.00 pm on Saturday 30th August. For further details, contact the show secretary on 01635 866779.

COLD ASH PATHUSERS

Cold Ash & Ashmore Green Pathusers are an informal group of walkers, meeting each month to use paths in our area. Our walks are fairly gentle family walks of about 4 miles.

Sunday afternoon walks start at the Fisher Room, St. Mark's Church at 2:30pm and finish with refreshments.
During the summer months, evening walks are held outside the parish starting and finishing at a pub. These start a 7:00pm and we have an optional meal after the walk.

As in previous years, in 2007 we will be running a monthly walk from public houses on Wednesday evenings from May through to August. The walks are scheduled to start at 7pm prompt, so please arrive well in time to park your car and order your food which the pub will serve when we get back at around 8.30pm.

The autumn walk programme will then return to the Sunday afternoon walks starting from the Fisher Room at 2.30pm on the 2nd Sunday of September, October, and November.

The annual subscription is £2.00 per family. For any further information contact the secretary; Don Gibbs on 864439 or Pat Shaw on 862508

PILATES

I teach Pilates at the Fisher Room within Cold Ash Church and the classes mostly work around term time and run on Monday's;

The next course starts Monday 12th January

To book or find out more; email harrispilates@physiohealthcare.co.uk or call The Newbury Clinic on 01635 44882

Sarah Harris

COLD ASH PRE-SCHOOL

This is aimed at children from about 2½ to school age, and takes place in the Acland Hall every day as follows:

Parents interested in Pre-school should come along to one of the sessions and speak to Cathy and get a registration form.
Parents may also be interested in the St. Mark's Toddlers Group and the Tiny-Tots group.

COLD ASH RAINBOWS

Rainbows runs weekly at Thirtover.

1st Cold Ash Rainbows (Mondays 5 - 6pm) - Becky Boswell tel: 07979 497346
2nd Cold Ash Rainbows (Tuesdays 4:45 - 5:45pm) - Jessica Clarke tel: 201803

COLD ASH RANGERS

1st Cold Ash Rangers (every other Wednesday 6:30-8:15pm) - contact Abigail Layton tel: 866637

COLD ASH SCOUT GROUP

1st Cold Ash Scout Troop is a thriving and rapidly growing co-educational troop, offering scouting to boys and girls from Cold Ash and all surrounding areas. We currently have around 25 Scouts (aged 10½-14 years) and a leadership team of four adult leaders - we meet at Acland Hall, Cold Ash on a Thursday evening from 7.00pm-8.30pm. 1st Cold Ash Scout Troop offers a varied and exciting programme for troop nights as well as a number of adventurous activities and camping weekends throughout the year, we also run a week-long Summer Camp, usually in August.

The Scout Troop is the next section up from 1st Cold Ash Cub Pack, who meet on a Thursday evening, also at the Acland Hall, Cold Ash from 6.30pm-8.00pm. The Cub section is available to boys and girls aged 8-10½. The Troop is currently working on a number of challenge badges to enable the older Scouts to attain their Chief Scout’s Challenge badge (an equivalent of the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award) whilst the younger Scouts are also partaking in these activities which are incorporated into the termly programme.

We are always happy to see new faces, for more information on joining 1st Cold Ash please visit www.tacehamhundred.org.uk, if you are aged over 18 and would like to spare a few hours a week to become involved as a helper or leader we are always keen to speak to people – please also visit the Taceham Hundred Scout District website for further details on doing so. Becoming involved in Scouting as a helper or leader is extremely rewarding and a Scouting background isn’t essential (!) – if you enjoy working with young people and are willing to complete a CRB (Criminal records Bureau) Application then please get in touch!

We welcome application for new members for both Cub Scouts (8-10½) and Scouts 10½-14 – send an email to sl@coldash.tacehamhundred.org.uk for Scouts and csl@coldash.tacehamhundred.org.uk for Cub Scouts.

COLD ASH SOCIETY of THEATRE-GOERS ( CAST )

Theatre trips. Telephone Karen Neville on 202320

Upcoming Trips

The committee has had a meeting to discuss forthcoming trips and hope sthat the following will be of interest to members. It has been decided to gauge the interest for these trips before we send out the Booking Forms.

• CHICAGO at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on Saturday 17th March at 5.00pm.
  The cost (based on 50+ people) is £33.00 which includes good stall seats, coach and gratuity. We need a quick response for this trip to obtain these excellent tickets. Please reply by e-mail/telephone by Monday 15th January. If the response is good a booking form will be sent next week.
  
  
• The RSC production of THE SEAGULL by Chekhov at Stratford-upon-Avon on Friday 22nd June starring Ian McKellen.
  We would like to leave Cold Ash mid morning in order for you to have lunch and to look around Stratford culminating in the evening performance at 7.00pm.
  The cost at £34 is based on a 49 seater coach.
  
  
• PORGY and BESS at the Savoy Theatre , London.
  The Gershwins' musical masterpiece has been extensively reworked and re-orchestrated as a 2 hour 20 minute musical. Directed by Trevor Nunn, there is a cast of 40 and a 20-piece orchestra. Reviews have been excellent.
  There are matinee tickets available at £20 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2.30pm. We have not decided on a date, but if we have enough interest we will go ahead and make reservations for August or September. The cost of this trip will be £31 based on a 49 seater coach.

The final cost of the above trips will be based on the number of people booking.
Please let me know if you are interested in the above, particularly Chicago by 15th January. Telephone 01635 202320 Karen Neville-sec.
Do not reply to Keith Watson (Treasurer) he is in Australia.

COLD ASH WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Cold Ash WI. meets on the first Wednesday of every month in the Acland Hall at 2.30pm.
We are a long established WI having been formed at the very beginning of the Womens' Institute movement.   Things have changed dramatically since those days and our meetings, for example, are much less formal than in times gone by.
We have speakers on a wide range of subjects (something for everyone) and also enjoy annual social events such as the President's teaparty and Summer party.   Outings are organised to theatres, restaurants and pubs and places of interest.
We are always ready to welcome visitors and are delighted if, after two or three meetings they wish to join us.   They can be sure of a friendly atmosphere and most enjoyable afternoons.
Call Helen Mowat on 01635 569357 if you would like any further information.

COLD ASH TENNIS CLUB

Contact Andy Creed (Chairman) or visit the website at www.coldashtennis.com

COLD ASH TINY TOTS

Tiny Tots get together every Thursday morning at 9am for an hour in the Fisher Room.
Drop in with your child (any age up to school age) and have a tea/coffee between 09:00 and 09:45
followed by a short (15min) service in the church.
Parents may also be interested in Cold Ash Pre-School and St. Mark's Toddlers Group.

ST. MARK'S TODDLERS GROUP

This takes place in the Acland Hall on Tuesday mornings between 9:30am and 11:30am.
Drop-in with your pre-scool child (any age from 0 to 5) and meet other Mums/Dads.
Parents may also be interested in Cold Ash Pre-school and Tiny-Tots.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

The Cold Ash and Hermitage Branch was founded in 1928 and now also covers Yattendon, Ashampstead, Frilsham and Curridge. Membership is open to, not only ex-servicemen and women, but associate members too. For further information please contact the Secretary Mr. Michael Spencer on 01635 758990

SUNDAY SCHOOL

e-mail clubs@coldash.org.uk to include your organisation’s details on Cold Ash Village Net

COLD ASH & ASHMORE GREEN VILLAGE CARE.

e-mail clubs@coldash.org.uk to include your organisation’s details on Cold Ash Village Net

COLD ASH YOUTH CLUB

e-mail clubs@coldash.org.uk to include your organisation’s details on Cold Ash Village Net

SPLINTERS

Eighteen years ago I moved to Cold Ash as you may just have done. My new neighbours were kind and welcoming but I missed the social contact with a circle of friends. A year later, I put a card in the Post Office window inviting likeminded women to join me for coffee with a view to forming a social group. Thirty -five women turned up and Splinters was born!

Over the years many new members have joined us as they have moved into the village and others have moved on. We have currently about thirty members who have one thing in common, we are all young minded, whether we are thirty or fifty.

We get together once a month, varying the date, so those with other commitments can still join us as often as possible. Sometimes it is just a girlie evening with a glass of wine at a members' home, which may include a demonstration or informal talk on a subject that we are interested in. It could be a trip to the theatre or an evening at Newbury Races. At times we invite husbands/partners, to join us for a BBQ, Safari - Supper, or a game of skittles. Sometimes we include the whole family. It could be a treasure hunt, a walk around the Oxford Colleges, watching owls by torchlight at the Hawk Conservancy or whatever activities members enjoy. We organize the activities between ourselves so there is always variety and interest.

Most activities are self-financing but we do charge a membership fee of £12 per annum to cover expenses. We are non profit making so excess funds are donated to charity.

If you think you might be interested in joining us, then email me at lizoliver51@hotmail.com or give me a ring on 869728 for details of when we next meet.

Outside Cold Ash: READING PLUS

Reading Plus is for anyone who wants to enjoy a good social life and would like to participate in a wide range of activities. We are not a dating/singles group, though we do have couples who have naturally formed within the group. Reading Plus is non-profit and run by its members for its members, with no affiliation to any political or religious organisation.

We arrange activities on a weekly basis mainly at weekends such as bowling, cinema, meals, comedy nights, clubbing, theatre etc. that hopefully caters or all tastes. Events are usually in the Reading area though we do venture out further a field on occasion. To see our events programme, http://www.plusgroups.org.uk/plus/sa/reading/programme_2008_feb-mar.pdf

We have a mixture of people attending the group and currently have over 14 members from different backgrounds, who have joined the group for a variety of reasons; including having just moved into the area, friends having moved away or they just wanted to widen their social circle.

As well as our weekend events, we also meet most weeks Toby Carvery, Richfield Avenue, Caversham, Reading RG1 8EQ (map), where we get together for a relaxed chat.

Reading Plus is a member of a national federation linking over 40 groups just like ours nationwide. There are also events staged at national and regional levels where we all get the chance to meet up with members of other groups. More information of these events and of the other groups can be found on our national website www.plusgroups.org.uk

Membership of our group is currently £14 per year, then £25 per year a tiny amount of money for lots of fun, and we won’t even ask you for it until you’ve come along at least four times!

So if you fancy coming along to an event or just want some more info, then please feel free to get in touch http://www.plusgroups.org.uk/plus/sa/reading/ or stevengeary2006@btinternet.com OR call steve on 07878 26 29 29
See you soon,