HALF PAGE ADVERT
£25 for CAC members or £75 for non-members
FULL PAGE ADVERT
£50 for CAC members or £150 for non-members
Please contact editor@cheltenhamartscouncil.co.uk for more information.
Submissions must be with us by the following dates for consideration for the next issue:
Mid December deadline for Feb/May Issue
Mid April deadline for June/Sept Issue
Mid August deadline for Oct/Jan Issue
Our sincere thanks to the family of Peter Granville-Edmunds who gave permission to use one of his wonderful images on our cover and the 2023 cover of the cheltenham open studios guidebook and marketing materials. You can see a retrospective of Peter’s work at venue 62, on the open studios art trail this June
Peter Granville Edmunds (22nd September 1931 - 18th February 2022)
www.cheltenhamopenstudios.org,uk
Perspectives is produced three times a year. The next issue will span October 2023 – January 2024.
Submission (ads and events) must be with us by mid August for consideration for the next issue. Please email event details to perspectives.listings@gmail.com
Cheltenham Arts Council
PERSPECTIVES TEAM
EDITOR ELISE FORBES
Welcome to the Summer issue of Perspectives. This greeting feels a little over-optimistic, as I write this on a chilly April evening, but earlier in the day Cheltenham was buzzing with the Jazz Festival, the blossom was glorious and down jackets were giving way to sweaters. Surely grounds for an optimistic look forward!
Perspectives is a publication which looks both forwards, in its Listings pages and in advertisements anticipating all the good things to come, and backwards in its reviews of events which have recently taken place. In this issue we have reports of three wonderfully celebratory occasions into cheer readers.
One of the most significant of these was the annual Cheltenham Arts Council Awards Ceremony, held this year on 1st March at the Playhouse theatre. Details of the evening are provided by the new Honorary Secretary of CAC, Amber Smith, who will already be well-known to many of you as the inspirational moving force behind Cheltenham Children’s Choir. Readers will be particularly delighted to note that congratulations are due to Rachel Tedd, following the award of a citation for her work as Editor of Perspectives, as well as in other areas of Cheltenham’s cultural life. I follow her with some degree of trepidation!
The Playhouse has hosted two further events in recent weeks. If you were not fortunate enough to secure a ticket for the sell-out collaboration between members of CAC and dancers from
Nethra Academy of Performing Arts on 11th March, the article by Shashish Gowri Shankar will give you a flavour of the evening in all its variety, as well as revealing the astonishing sum raised to provide bursary funding for Cheltenham’s young students from Ukraine.
On 27th April, the cheers of supporters rang out once again at the Playhouse in enthusiastic celebration of the recipients of the Gloucestershire Young Photographer of the Year awards. Students from 50 primary and secondary schools had entered a total of 887 photographs. You can catch up with this lively event here, too.
In a quieter mood, there is a fascinating illustrated article about the newly reopened Holst Victorian House and its beautiful new lighting, which lends a more authentic period atmosphere to the rooms.
Several different organisations have ventured to introduce themselves in this issue of Perspectives and others have chosen to advertise events, so don’t miss the opportunity to find out what they have to offer, in case it is exactly the distraction you are seeking.
I hope you enjoy reading this issue and, of course, I very much look forward to receiving news of the many events lined up for this Summer in Cheltenham, to be included in the Autumn edition of Perspectives.
Elise Forbes PERSPECTIVES EDITORIt is odd that on the day of the Coronation of our new monarch, 6th May, I am sitting here writing this piece about our late Queen Elizabeth II. But it was on this very date 20 years ago, in 2003, that an auspicious event took place in Cheltenham’s Montpellier Gardens to inaugurate a new, high quality, piece of public art to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 50 years on the throne. This came about as an initiative on the part of the Cheltenham Arts Council at the time to create a community-led ‘Mosaic Trail’ of public art installations around the town (other locations included Swindon Village, Charlton Kings and at Cheltenham General Hospital). This particular installation, located at a focal point in Montpellier Gardens, is in the form of a five-sided bench (each side representing a decade of the Queen’s reign) and at its centre, supported by five nine feet long stainless steel columns, a light which shines on a metal orb to cast its light down on to the seat below. On top is a silver pigeon, alluding to the bird that features in the town’s coat of arms. The seat itself is made of Forest of Dean stone, but around it is mosaic decoration featuring pieces of dark green slate from Cumbria inlaid with marble of different colours. Encircling the seat are the musical notes of the first line of ‘God Save the Queen’ and a scattering of gilded feathers (from the pigeon!). The design was the creation of professional Gloucestershire mosaicist Oliver Budd working with the sculptor David John, and the project was overseen by the CAC’s Public Art Project Coordinator Jane Bywater.
On the day, around 100 people assembled in the Gardens to witness the then mayor of Cheltenham, Ken Buckland, formally
inaugurate the installation, flanked by Sir Peter Marychurch, the then President of the CAC, myself as vice-President and the artist Oliver Budd. Accompanying music was provided by harp and flute and at the key moment a whole flock of pigeons was released into the air together with a mass of coloured balloons. A most happy occasion indeed!
The whole project cost around £12,000 and was possible only thanks to a substantial grant from Cheltenham Borough Council under its Jubilee Landmark Project Scheme, and with sponsorship from the Chelsea Building Society. In the spirit of community involvement in the scheme, there was also active partnership with the National Star Centre college for people with physical disabilities, their students being involved in artist-led workshops. When so many public art initiatives in the town these days are developer-led, the success of this community-led initiative is worth remembering. The installation was built to robust standards both to be proof against vandalism and also to be longlasting. Twenty years on and the seat is still there to be used and admired. Next time you are in Montpellier Gardens take a look and even use the seat!
Terry Moore-Scott
On Wednesday 1st March, arts organisations from across Cheltenham came together once again for Cheltenham Arts Council’s Awards Ceremony. It was a wonderful evening, bringing members together to celebrate the excellence and achievement of this year’s winners.
We were again delighted to welcome Edward Gillespie, Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, in his role as President of Cheltenham Arts Council, as well as the current Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor Sandra Holliday. Before presenting the various awards and citations, our President opened the proceedings with a short speech in which he spoke warmly of the depth and breadth of arts activities made available to residents by member organisations of Cheltenham Arts Council, particularly mentioning his own enjoyment of lunchtime concerts given by young musicians and the story telling events
the all-important details relating to the achievements of each award winner.
The Joyner Cup is a prestigious award given each year to the most outstanding of the award winners. This year, the honour went to Robert Sutton, Secretary of the Gloucestershire Branch of the Historical Association, for his invaluable work for the association. He was praised for his administrative and organizational
CHELTENHAMOPENSTUDIOS.ORG.UK
at the now reopened and refurbished Holst Victorian House. In a short speech Councillor Holliday also spoke in praise of the work of the CAC. As chair of the CAC, Sue Silcock provided the audience with
skills and for his work in establishing the programme of talks, which provides interest for members throughout the year.
The Elizabeth Webster Cup, awarded to a young person excelling in the arts, was this
year shared by two outstanding recipients. Daisy Long, a member of Cheltenham Children’s Choir, was recognized for her huge contribution to the choir, not only through her attendance and commitment, but also for her knowledge, teamworking skills and compassion for others. Daisy was also praised for her inspirational enthusiasm for learning and musical development and her work as a Young Leader with the younger choral groups. Niamh McBride was recognised for her determination, focus and passion for the Drama Department at St Edward’s School. Her mature attitude and drive in directing productions at the school were described as inspirational. Niamh’s commendable ability to encourage powerful performances from her cast and to overcome any setbacks in the rehearsal process was also praised. Thanks to her contribution, great strides have been made in broadening the scope offered by the school’s Drama Department.
The Opera Group Cup was awarded to Anthony King, for his incredible dedication in supporting the Cheltenham Community Choir since its inception a little under 10 years ago, for his wonderful accompanying throughout rehearsals and for creating and leading a small orchestra of musicians during performances. His contribution was praised as integral to the life of the choir, playing a huge role in attracting new members to join and in ensuring their continuing loyalty to the choir.
The Charles Irving Sponsorship Award is awarded annually to a local business that has provided exceptional support through sponsorship of the arts in Cheltenham. This year, the award was given to Spirax Sarco and accepted by Alison Kerr from Cheltenham Choral Society on behalf of the company. Spirax Sarco has kindly offered its support to Cheltenham Choral Society as a Business Patron since 1989, making an outstanding commitment to the society through its contributions, which help to support regular performances in Cheltenham.
Five citations, in the form of framed certificates, were also awarded this year. The first of these was given to Rachel Tedd in recognition of her significant contribution to Cheltenham Arts Council over many years, including her work as a volunteer at The Holst Victorian House, as secretary to the Cheltenham Music Festival Society, and as honorary secretary to the Cheltenham Arts Council and editor of Perspectives.
The Visual Arts Cup was won by Kate Evelyn Smith, for her imaginative and inspiring graphic design work for the Cheltenham Bach Choir, producing posters, flyers, programme covers and other marketing tools. She was also commended for her wonderful illustrations in the Choral Cuisine Cookbook produced by the choir in 2020 raising funds for local charities.
A citation was also awarded to Jill Waller for her exceptional diligence in researching local history and responding to enquiries with outstanding attention to detail, leading to a wider understanding of Cheltenham’s history, coupled with the uncovering of previously unknown aspects of the town’s past. She was also commended for her work with Cheltenham Civic Society on planning matters relating to the proposed Lansdown
Industrial Estate development (2022), and for her research contribution to local history podcasts.
John Wright received a citation for his consummate professionalism and wide-ranging contribution to music in Cheltenham, both as Musical Director of Charlton Kings Choral Society for over 30 years, and for his work with the Holst Victorian House, bringing increased attention to the music of Gustav Holst.
Anthony White was awarded a citation for his dedication to Cheltenham Choral Society and his tireless work for the Society over a period of 59 years. This included his contribution in all areas of its administration from Concert Manager to Membership Secretary, his maintenance of the choir’s archive and his extensive knowledge of choral music.
Cheltenham Arts Council would like to thank the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Edward Gillespie, and the Mayor, Councillor Sandra Holliday, for joining the celebration; the Playhouse Theatre, its manager Kieron Milsom, technical lead Gerry Gibbons, and its staff for hosting the Arts Awards Ceremony. Thanks are also due to Martin Fry of Cheltenham Camera Club for taking the photographs. Many thanks also go to CAC chair Sue Silcock and supportive CAC committee members for their hard work in organising the ceremony. Finally, many congratulations to all the award winners and thanks to everyone who attended the ceremony. It was a joyful occasion celebrating the very best of the arts in Cheltenham.
Cheltenham Children’s Choir
(CCC) is is a thriving and dynamic organisation that offers young people a unique and rewarding musical experience. Our inclusive community children’s choir now runs six singing groups, welcoming over 130 members per week ranging in age from five to eighteen. We aim to create a nurturing and inclusive environment that encourages musical growth, creativity, and collaboration. Through our choirs and initiatives, we strive to provide young people with ample opportunity to develop their singing and performance skills while empowering them to become leaders in the music industry.
We are particularly excited to announce the development of our new Young Leaders’ Scheme. This will give young people aged 14 and over the chance to design, create and learn whilst participating in our community choirs, events, performances and band projects. Through these initiatives, they will be encouraged to grow together as Young Leaders whilst collaborating with fellow musicians, leading on the creative delivery of various events, and contributing to the growth and development of CCC.
Our pilot scheme began in September
2022 with seven young people taking part. A highlight of our journey so far was the organisation of a Children’s Choir Talent Show in March this year. Young Leaders designed the event, made important operational decisions and created a fantastic community atmosphere for our whole choir, not to mention some outstanding performances!
Moving forward into the second year of our Young Leaders’ Scheme, Cheltenham Children's Choir is hoping to sustain the scheme by acquiring further funding. This would allow current Young Leaders to build on their progress so far, as well as offering the hope of enabling more young people to benefit from the scheme in the future.
In summary, Cheltenham Children's Choir is a welcoming, safe and dynamic place to be, with the vision of offering all young people a unique and rewarding musical experience. We invite you to explore our website (www.cheltenhamchildrenschoir. co.uk), learn more about our choirs and initiatives and consider joining us on this exciting journey of music, learning, and friendship.
The Cheltenham German Club holds monthly talks at The New Club, 2 Montpellier Parade, Cheltenham, GL50 1UD, to which both members and guests are most cordially invited. The talks cover such topics as history, politics, literature, regional studies, art and music. Most lectures are in German with a focus on Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The aim is to create a relaxed atmosphere affording members the opportunity to make new contacts in German or English over a glass of wine, or even an evening meal. We are a hospitable group of people, always welcoming to new guests who are interested in our topics and would enjoy meeting like-minded members irrespective of their own skill in the language. We do aim to speak largely in German at our meetings; some members speak German as their first language, some are very fluent, and some of us struggle. No one should feel intimidated, and newcomers will find a very friendly, supportive atmosphere. As well as these slightly more formal gatherings, we organise social conversation evenings for interested members once or twice a month in a local pub.
In addition to promoting the German language, the Club further aims to promote interest in the culture of German-speaking countries. With the enormous appeal of Germany, Austria and Switzerland as study, work or travel destinations many of our members have joined to learn more about the countries they have already visited and love.
The Club as we now know it was founded in 1949 and its purpose then was to promote interest in German language and culture. Today, more than 70 years on, our Club is still about promoting interest in the language and culture of German-speaking countries. Although we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Cheltenham German Club in 2019, it seems there was a German Club in the town much earlier. The first reference appears in 1935, with a further reference in 1939. A much fuller history may be found on our website.
Richard WoolleyA full list of the Club’s talks and activities for the current season can be found on our website at www.cheltgesell.uk
During the 19th century, Cheltenham developed as a very fashionable spa town, and much of its imposing architecture and infrastructure dates from this period. Over the past few years, Covid has reminded us of the importance of beautiful green spaces within our cities, and Pittville Park, as well as other public gardens within the town, have come into their own.
Have you ever stopped to consider how they came about and how different our lives would be if they no longer existed or were spoiled by development? They are precious places enjoyed by generations of visitors, all forming part of our collective memories.
In Gloucestershire, and indeed in every county in England, there are small charitable organisations called County Gardens Trusts (CGTs), who work incredibly hard to protect historic gardens and to learn as much as possible about these special designed landscapes, both large and small. They are affiliated to the Gardens Trust (GT) (formerly the Garden History Society) and CGT members can participate in GT events such as lectures and training related to garden history, on a countrywide basis. The work CGTs do is entirely voluntary, but incredibly varied and fascinating. Whether you enjoy encouraging youngsters to get into garden history, or like delving around in old papers and books to winkle
out nuggets of information hidden for decades, or just enjoy visiting wonderful gardens, often not generally accessible to the public, then the Gloucestershire Gardens & Landscape Trust (GGLT) is an organisation you should consider joining.
No matter what your interest in gardens, GGLT has something for everyone: garden visits in summer, fascinating talks held at St Luke’s Church Hall in Cheltenham, and via zoom during the winter months, regular e-newsletters and an annual journal, plus an array of other activities you can get involved in all year round. If all this has piqued your interest, further details about membership and activities are available on our website at www.gglt. org. Whilst complementing your own gardening skills with greater historical insights, you might even be the very person to discover unknown details about a special garden somewhere in Gloucestershire, which will add to our knowledge of the garden’s history, promote wider interest in it, and therefore protect one of the sites we hold dear against the possible threat of development. It should be added that, as a total bonus, most of the garden visits we organise come with truly memorable teas!
Margie HoffnungGotherington Singers is a small female voice choir who meet on Monday evenings at Gotherington Village Hall. We enjoy singing a varied repertoire which we perform at informal events for family and friends. At Christmas 2022, we served mulled wine and mince pies and sang Christmas songs and carols old and new – a similar event is planned for 2023. At present, we are preparing for a summer event with songs by Simon and Garfunkel, Franck and Chilcott amongst others.
We enjoy socialising and each rehearsal has a coffee break, but we are also keen to improve our vocal technique, recently holding a workshop with Aidan Smith from Cheltenham Vocal Academy, with another planned for June.
New members are always welcome.
Catherine Newbury Chairman, Gotherington Singers
More information is available from www. gotheringtonsingers.co.uk or from Sally Newbury, Secretary, telephone 01242 317276, or email sall.newbury@gmail.com.
"for an evening of popular hits from across the decades"
Saturday 17th June, 7.30pm
Bishops Cleeve Tithe Barn
Tickets £10
Advance sales from George Lewis Footware or call Julie on 07401 225 689
Cheltenham Open Studios: COS23, Sat 10 - Sun 18 June. See the work of over 200 artists on an open-door-todoor trail of 82 venues, around town and the surrounding area. Meet the artists, view their work, learn about their practice. To download a guide: cheltenhamopenstudios.org.uk
Culture Fest, Sat 10 Jun, all day, Pittville Park, see livesofcolour.co.uk
Art in the Park, Sat 17 JuneSun 16 Jul, daily exhibitions 10am-7.30pm, Imperial Gardens, different artists every week, cheltenham-art.com
Cheltenham Paint Festival, Sat 29- Sun 30 Jul, bringing high-quality artwork from leading national and international street artists to the town centre, cheltenhampaintfestival.co.uk
Anthony Davie, Wed 21 – Tue 27 Jun
Caroline Hill and Abi
Waddel, Wed 28 Jun – Tue 4 Jul
Junction 12, Wed 5 – Tue 11 Jul
Martin Fry, Wed 12 – Tue 18 Jul
Andrew Dawes: Spaces and Faces, Wed 19 – Tue 25 Jul
Katie Engelke, Wed 26 Jul – Tue 1 Aug
Cheltenham Choral Society Rehearsals, Wednesdays, 7.30-9.30pm, St Andrew’s Church, Montpellier, a friendly, amateur choir with a long-standing reputation for providing a top-quality experience for both audiences and singers. Further details on the choir and its activities: cheltchoral.org.uk
Cleeve Harmony
A Cappella Chorus Rehearsals, Wednesdays, 7.30-10pm, Bishop’s Cleeve Tithe Barn, new members welcome! See cleeveharmony.org.uk or enquiries to md@cleeve-harmony. org.uk
AT THE
GALLERY, MONTPELLIER GARDENS:, core hours 10am – 5pm,
Cheltenham Open Studios: COS23, Wed 7 – Tue 20 Jun
Angela Scrivin, Wed 2 – Tue 8 Aug
Tom Meredith, Wed 9 – Tue 15 Aug
Gerald Crittle, Wed 16 – Tue 22 Aug
Anthony Davie, Wed 23 – Tue 29 Aug
Ruth End, Wed 30 Aug – Tue 5 Sep
Jane Few, Wed 6 – Tue 12 Sep
Wendy Golding, Wed 13 – Tue 19 Sep
Jonathan Oakes, Wed 20 – Tue 26 Sep
Musica Vera rehearsals, Wednesdays, 7.30-9.30pm, St Mary’s Prestbury, we have vacancies in all voice parts. Please contact the secretary, Lesley Nicholls, 01242 222853 or email nicholls186@yahoo.com. See musicavera.org
Cheltenham Choral Society, Sat 3 Jun, 1.15pm, free, with retiring collection, Gloucester Cathedral, Vivaldi Gloria and well-known anthems by Sumsion, Vaughan Williams, Mozart, Wood, Ireland, Haydn and Harris, cheltchoral.org.uk
An evening of Brazilian music, Tue 13 Jun, 7.30pm, £20, Playhouse, João Menezes (Guitar), Marcinho Pereira (Drums) and Matheus Nova (Bass) bring you an evening of Bossa Nova, Samba, Partido Alto, Baião and Choro
Cleeve Harmony: A Cappella at The Barn, Sat 17 Jun, 7.30pm, Bishop’s Cleeve Tithe Barn, an evening of popular hits from across the decades with two award-winning choirs, Cleeve Harmony and Great Western Chorus, plus guests. Call 07401225689 for ticket details
Cheltenham Philharmonic Orchestra: Verdi Requiem, Sun 25 Jun, 3pm, £20/18/14, students £10, U-18s free, Town Hall, Cond: Stephen Belinfante, Leader: Sue Belinfante, with the CPO Chorus, Churchdown Choral Society, Philomusica, Cantate Domino and soloists: Ellie Neate, Lauren Young, Andrew Morris, Alaric Green, cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 01242 528764
Teatime with Hank Wangford and Brad Breath, Sun 25 Jun, 4pm, £16, Playhouse, Country music at its glorious best. Box office 01242 522852
Cheltenham Bach Choir, with the Dom Franks Jazz Quintet, Sun 25 Jun, 6pm, St Philip and St James Church, Misa Criolla: Ariel Ramirez, Mass in Blue: Will Todd, dir. David Crown Cleeve Chorale Summer Concert, Sat 1 Jul, 3pm, £10, inc. cream tea and cake, Bishop’s Cleeve Tithe Barn, a variety of classical and non-classical music, followed by an Auction of Promises to raise funds for the choir, see cleevechorale. co.uk
Musica Vera: A Musical Voyage around Ireland, Sat 1 Jul, 7.30pm, St Mary’s Prestbury, beginning a new series of geographically themed concerts, music will be Irish composers such as Stanford, Charles Wood and E.J. Moeran, folksongs and even some choral limericks! Info: musicavera. org, Twitter: @musicavera, Facebook: musicaveracc
Robin A Smith and Friends
Summer Concert, Wed 12 Jul, 7.30pm, Playhouse, musician friends from the Chapel Arts days gather for a summer concert, details TBC
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
Cheltenham: Come and Try Open Evening, Mon 11 Sep, 7.30-9.30pm, St Luke’s Church Hall, rscdscheltenham.org
Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra, Sat 23 Sep, 7.30pm, Pittville Pump Room, music by Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven, cond. James Ross
Cleeve Harmony: Autumn Show, Sat 23 Sep, 7.30pm, Pate’s Grammar School, Cleeve Harmony joins with Go Vocal, from Bristol and Cheltenham, and guests, for an evening of entertainment performing popular songs. Call
07401225689 for ticket details
STAGE & STAGE STAGE & STAGE & DANCE
Promenade Productions: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wed 19- Sun 23 Jul, 7pm, matinees on Sat and Sun at 2pm, £20/£18, Playhouse, lyrics Tim Rice, music Andrew Lloyd Webber, box office 01242 522852 or cheltplayhouse.org.uk
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
Cheltenham: Come and Try Open Evening, Mon 11 Sep, 7.30-9.30pm, St Luke’s Church Hall, rscdscheltenham.org
LECTURES & MEETINGS
Cercle Français: Dîner annuel, Junedate à préciser, cheltenhamfrenchcircle.
co.uk
The Arts Society, Cheltenham: Stone on Stone: the men who built cathedrals, Tue 13 Jun, 7.15pm, members free, visitors £7, The Pavilion, Hatherley Lane, with Imogen Corrigan, see theartssocietycheltenham. org.uk or email info.chelt enham@theartssociety.org
Leckhampton Local History Society: South Town walk through history, Tue 27 Jun, with Stuart Manton. See leckhamptonlhs.weebly.com for details
The Arts Society
Cheltenham: The Culture of Ukraine, Tue 12 Sep, 7.15pm, members free, visitors £8, The Pavilion, Hatherley Lane, Ukraine’s story told through the shared culture which binds its proud people together, with lecturer Rosamund Bartlett. See theartssocietycheltenham. org.uk or email info.chelt enham@theartssociety.org
Cercle Français, Mon 18 Sep, 7.15 for 7.30pm, St Luke’s Church Hall, first meeting of the new season, details tbc, see chelt enhamfrenchcircle.co.uk
Cheltenham Local History Society: The Gloucestershire Traveller, Wed 20 Sep, 7.30pm, St Luke’s Hall, roads and their uses through history, with Dr John Chandler, see cheltlocalhistory.org.uk
SAT 10 – SUN 18 JUNE, SEE CHELTENHAMOPENSTUDIOS.ORG.UK
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JEREMY DUNCAN, COS VENUE 13
On 27th April, the third Spring event with a CAC connection took place at Cheltenham’s Playhouse when talented photographers from 50 schools across the county were invited to the Presentation of Awards Evening for the Gloucestershire Young Photographer competition. The competition is organised by Cheltenham Camera Club, which is the oldest in the UK, having been founded in 1865 by Edward Wilson’s grandfather and his friend Dr Abercrombie. The competition entries were judged by James de Courcy, Karin Wilson, and Martin Fry. Karin Wilson welcomed the award winners and drew attention to the very high standard of the entries this year. She emphasised that the judges were looking for excellence in terms of the choice of subject, story-telling and composition. The Chair of Cheltenham Camera Club, Richard McCleery then introduced the Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor Sandra Holliday, and Sue Silcock, Chair of CAC, who presented the awards in the Primary School category, which were sponsored by CAC. The awards in the Secondary School category were sponsored by the University of Gloucestershire and were presented by Dr Julia Peck, Head of Photography at the University.
In addition to the formality of the presentation of the awards, the audience very much appreciated the brilliant audio-visual presentation designed by Martin Fry, who is one of the country’s top AV designers. This perfect combination of music with a selection of the 887 images from the competition successfully raised the level of excitement before the presentation of the awards in
each category and the announcement of the best school. As another evening of celebration at the Playhouse came to an end, the winner in the Primary School category this year was announced as Gastrells Community Primary School in
Stroud and in the Secondary School category the winner was Churchdown School Academy. Martin Fry’s splendid presentation will shortly be made available to all the participating schools.
This was the 19th Gloucestershire Young Photographer competition, so we shall look forward to even more excitement surrounding the 20th in 2024!
cheltenhamcameraclub.co.uk
Exciting news from the Holst Victorian House! We recently re-opened following extensive refurbishment and improvements designed to create an authentic Victorian experience and showcase exquisite period lighting.
Our aim is to transport you back in time to the 1870s, when Gustav Holst was born, and for you to learn how people lived in Victorian times, which will be an experience that you won’t forget.
The birthplace in 1874 of one of England’s greatest composers, Gustav Holst, the Holst Victorian House (HVH) includes his piano and autograph manuscripts, and the opportunity to hear some of his music and interviews of the time. The HVH is also a treasure trove of Victorianera artefacts and unique artwork. Founded in 1974 by Gustav’s daughter, Imogen, it is now managed as an independent, accredited museum and is a unique visitor attraction in the town –indeed in all of Gloucestershire – being the only period house of its type open to the public.
As well as the link with Holst’s life and music, and the Victorian artefacts and the artwork, there is now another reason to visit this museum, which is to witness the beautifully restored Victorian era lighting that now illuminates its many rooms.
During lockdown the Trust developed plans to enhance the HVH by relocating items, carrying out much needed repairs, refurbishment and redecoration and replacing the modern spotlighting with period lights. As Martin Renshaw, Trustee and Project Manager, explains, “Replacing the ugly modern lighting with authentic Victorian lights was a
key component of our project. We aim to attract a larger audience by emphasising the period nature of the house as well as the connection with Cheltenham’s favourite son.”
Laura Kinnear, our Curator, identified Fritz Fryer as the specialists for the lighting, and we were impressed by their depth of knowledge and the extensive facilities at their workshop in Ross-onWye. Furnishing our period rooms with lighting appropriate to the different rooms, from a formal drawing room to a humble maid’s sitting room, in an 1870s middle class house in Cheltenham was a challenge, especially as we are an independent museum with limited budget.
Fritz Fryer identified and sourced appropriate period lights, and then cleaned, assembled and restored them to working condition. The team also had to retrofit the fixtures to work with modern electrical wiring and safety standards while still maintaining their antique charm.
Installation was carried out in March, and, despite the challenges, the lighting fixtures are a resounding success as our Curator, Laura Kinnear, explains, “I am delighted with the new lights from Fritz Fryer, from the elegant gasolier in the Drawing Room to the maid’s oil lamp in the Scullery, they are going to make a real impact on the visitor experience, enabling visitors to step back to the 19th century. They illuminate our museum in more ways than one and provide an evocative atmosphere for all who step through our door.”
Our Operations Manager, Zak Infanti, was also bowled over. “They really are something special, the atmosphere is totally different," he said, "I really can't wait to show them off to our visitors.”
Today, visitors to the museum can marvel at the beauty and elegance of these fixtures, and the lighting now provides a warm and inviting atmosphere. Whether you're a fan of Gustav Holst, unique period artwork, Victorian history or simply appreciate the beauty of antique lighting fixtures, the Holst Victorian House is a must-visit destination that is sure to leave a lasting impression of Victorian living on all who see it.
The Holst Victorian House has also been shortlisted for the SoGlos Gloucestershire Lifestyle Awards 2023 Cultural Venue of the year award, so please support us and vote for us!
We look forward to welcoming you: phone or email to book, or just turn up!
www.holstvictorianhouse.org.uk
Email: enquiries@holstvictorianhouse.org.uk
For more details on the lighting and Fritz Fryer see: fritzfryer.co.uk
Email: ask@fritzfryer.co.uk Telephone: 01989 567416
Sometime ago, NAPA approached Cheltenham Arts Council (CAC) to explore possible ways of supporting local students from Ukraine, particularly in terms of arts education. This paved the way for an event held at Cheltenham’s Playhouse on the 11th March, jointly hosted by NAPA and CAC, and presented by Shashish Gowri Shankar, a NAPA Gold Arts Award student. The event showcased a variety of Indian dance forms, beginning with Bharatanatyam, which originates from southern India, during which the intricate footwork and graceful movements of the dancer mesmerised the audience.
This was followed by a taste of Bollywood and folk dance, as well as Indian classical music. The huge audience was treated to fascinating performances offering a fusion of traditional and contemporary elements, with an emphasis on the idea of East meets West. This was the first event of its kind to take place in Cheltenham and involved over 50 performers from different age groups, both amateur and professional artists.
As the evening progressed, the western element of the event was introduced through poetry readings by CAC members. This injected an element of comedy into the evening, which at some points hugely amused the delighted audience. Not only was there comedy involved, but the use of
language and structure was also amazing and kept the audience engaged throughout.
The final item of the evening was a Shakespearean drama which captivated the audience, allowing them to travel back in time to the Shakespearean era through the experience of a live performance. The use of movement on stage, sudden sounds, music, and props meant that members of the audience were unable to take their eyes off the stage even for a second!
The event was a resounding success, with the sell-out audience giving the performers a standing ovation at the end of the evening. Once the profits were calculated, over £1,500 had been raised for the Ukrainian student community. Cheltenham Arts Council will be setting up a Ukraine Arts Education bursary in the coming months and information concerning applications will be available in due course.
NAPA would like to thank Sue Silcock (Chair of CAC), Dr Steve Steinhardt (Treasurer of CAC) and the Playhouse staff for supporting us in bringing our plan to fruition. We would also like to thank our Cheltenham Member of Parliament, Alex Chalk, for taking time from his busy schedule to attend the event, along with the Deputy Mayor of Cheltenham, Matt Babbage.
Shashish Gowri Shankar
Baritone Matthew Clark and pianist
Richard Lennox perform Gerald Finzi’s song cycle Before and After Summer, alongside songs by Schumann and Brahms
St Mary’s Church, Painswick
GL6 6XH Sunday 21 May, 2pm
Christ Church, Cheltenham
GL50 2JH Sunday 4 June, 2pm
Bristol Music Club BS8 1LP
Sunday 18 June, 2pm
The Firs, The Elgar Birthplace Museum, Worcester WR2 6RH
Sunday 25 June, 1pm & 3pm
Adults £15, under 18s £5
Tickets are available through the Three Choirs Festival Box Office*: 3choirs.org | 01452 768928
Tickets available on the door
For further information, please see www.matthewclarkmusic.org
*Booking fees apply
