Community news from Minchinhampton and Box with Hilary Kemmett

THE next Movie Night at the Market House will be on Friday, August 30 at 7.30pm, when the film shown will be the Oscar nominated Hitchcock starring Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren and Scarlett Johansson. This is the story behind the production of Psycho, probably Alfred Hitchcock's most successful film. Tickets are available from M & B Stores in advance and on the door, priced at £5.

The Healthy Living Keep Fit class for the over-50s at The Hub, Tobacconist Road, Minchinhampton resumes at 10am on Tuesday, September 3. Cost £3 per session from 10am to 11am. Call Claire on 01453 886953.

News from Minchinhampton Community Library - August 31 is the last day for handing in the summer quiz sheets, which raise funds for the library. Two prizes will be awarded (£15 and £10). An autumn quiz will be available at the end of September. There will be a police drop-in session at the library on Tuesday, September 3 from 3pm to 4pm and on Thursday, September 12 at 3pm the library will host an afternoon tea for Steve Eather, the author of the book Blue Lightning – 6 Squadron AGDC and RATAFIA 1917-2005. The library will also run a book sale on Minchinhampton Fayre Day.

On September 4 at 7.30pm, the Royal British Legion is hosting a talk by the Cotswold Warden Richard Glanville, to be held at the Cotswold Club, Minchinhampton High Street.

Box Art Group begins its autumn session on Thursday, September 8 at 2pm at Box Village Hall. Unusually there are a few vacancies and prospective members are invited to telephone the membership secretary on 01453 832552 or 01453 884163 for details. Paintings by the group will be on display in Holy Trinity Church between September 14 and 17, when the Fayre Flower Festival will also be held.

The next Alzheimer’s Café is meeting at 7.30pm on September 12 at Horsfall House and everyone with concerns about memory problems and any form of dementia, together with their spouses, children, grandchildren, family, friends and care givers are most welcome to attend. It is also for professionals involved in this specialist area of care. These evenings are arranged to enable people to enjoy being out together and to meet others who are all in the same boat. Here families and professionals can share and discuss problems in a relaxed and safe environment. The subject for discussion that day covers emotional reactions, fear and anger.

Minchinhampton Country Fayre will be held on Saturday, September 14. As usual, this will be a fabulous free day out for all the family. It starts at noon, and there is plenty to keep you busy until it closes at 5pm. Entertainment, food and drink, craft and produce stalls, an art exhibition, vintage cars, fairground rides, pony rides and lots more... plus the annual gardening show and the flower festival . Come along early to see the opening parade, which arrives in the High Street at noon. Car parking is on the common by special arrangement - look out for signs.

Box Gardening Club will hold a produce show in Box Village Hall on Sunday, September 8 from 3pm onwards, and on Tuesday, September 17, John Crowther will give a talk about hedgehogs at 7.30pm, also at Box Village Hall.

Also on Tuesday, September 17 at 7.30pm at the Hub, Tobacconist Road, Minchinhampton Local History Group will present a talk entitled It's Still Where the Cow is King - But Only Just! given by J V Smith, who wrote the definitive book on Minchinhampton and Rodborough Commons a few years back. With the recent celebrations to mark the centenary of the transfer of Minchinhampton Common from Henry Ricardo to the National Trust this should be a talk of great interest. Guests pay just £2 for the evening.

The final judging of Minchinhampton in Bloom, run by the Minchinhampton Gardening Club, will take place at the end of August. Winners will be announced at the Gardening Club's Annual Show, which is being held in the Primary School Hall in conjunction with the Minchinhampton Country Fayre on Saturday, September 14. Judging will take place early in the morning and the show will be open to the public from 11am until 4.30pm, when prizes will be presented by journalist and author Katie Jarvis. Delicious cakes and teas will be on sale at the Show and there will also be a plant stall in aid of fayre funds. Members and resident non-members are welcome to enter for the show, which will include classes for flowers, fruit, domestic science, photography and children. We would be delighted to see more entries from children this year and hope that as many people as possible will also enter to ensure the show's continued success. Schedules for the show are available from shops and businesses around Minchinhampton. We hope to see you there!

The Zumba Gold sessions continue on Wednesdays from 9.30am to 10.30am. Strictly Dance Fitness is from 9am to 10am on Mondays, and on Tuesdays there will be a Pilates Class for Beginners from 10.30am to 11.30am. The classes are held at the Market House. A new Fit and Fabulous boot camp has now started on Fridays at 10.35am on the Common near the primary school. For details, please contact Helen on 0779 962 0117, befit@live.co.uk.

Meet at the Market House at 2pm for the regular Wednesday Walking4Health walk. Ring Pam Browne for details on 01453 832907. Many of the walkers call into the Porch Room after the walk to enjoy the ‘Wednesday cuppa’ with the locals.

On Sunday, September 29 in Holy Trinity Church at 7pm, local musician Paul Tomlinson will be giving a recital on the French horn, accompanied by composer and pianist Geoffrey Poole. Paul will talk about the history and development of the French horn, illustrated with pieces by Saint-Saens, Gordon Carr, York Bowen and more. Some surprises are in store for an evening of enlightening musical entertainment! Paul has been associated with Minchinhampton and the church for many years. He played the piano for Box church and belonged to Minchinhampton Church Choir. His parents are also well known musically as a viola player and flautist. Paul follows in their steps as a very fine French horn player with Bristol Brass and the Classic Wind Quintet. Tickets are £10 in advance from the Market Stores and music@minchchurch.org.uk and are £12 on the door.