Lots to do in High Halstow!

The High Halstow Times will return in February, so in the meantime I thought I'd mention some of the events and activities taking place in the village.

Making a return to the Village Hall on Saturday 4 February will be the Farmers’ Market, from 9.30am to 11.30am. There’ll be lots of stalls and a chance of winning a £30 voucher (from Denis Hills the Butchers) in the raffle.

Click the image below to find out more about the Farmers’ Market.

Thought Christmas was over? Well it isn't in High Halstow!

If you haven’t yet booked to see the Dramarama panto, you might still be in time to get a ticket!

Performances of Aladdin will be taking place on Thursday 26th at 7.30pm, Friday 27th at 7.30pm and on Saturday 28th at 2pm (matinee) and at 7.30pm.

Tickets are only £4, so just click the image below to find out more!

To read more about what is happening in the village, visit the website for High Halstow Parish Council. You’ll find details about the special February promotions offered by the new Spice Fusion restaurant at the Red Dog, the latest news and views about the Lodge Hill development, updates on the ongoing refurbishments at the Village Hall and much more!
 

It was showtime on the Isle of Grain . . . Oh yes it was!

I joined a packed audience last Saturday evening, to watch the second of two performances of this year’s Isle of Grain pantomime, Hamelin.

The show was put on by the Showin’ Grain Theatre Group, with the panto written and directed by Moira Pearn.

I can’t tell you what a hilarious evening it was. I don’t think anyone in the audience can have had so much fun or laughed as much in ages!

The cast kept everyone gripped - right through to the ‘triple’ finale, which included great performances of Take That’s ‘Never Forget’, Merry Christmas (lots of audience participation required of course!) and a hilarious song about ‘Butter and Margarine’. It was so funny, it has stayed with me for the last three days and I haven’t been able to stop smiling!

Some of the panto cast, including director Moira Pearn (wearing a wild black wig, on the left!), who also appeared as the lovable ‘Lou Natic’.

Moira (pictured again below) told me that she couldn’t put into words how proud she was of everyone involved in the production. “They all work so hard and I am so strict with them - ‘Speak up!’, ‘Don’t mumble your words!’, ‘I can’t hear you!’ - they will all recognise these uttered words.”

Moira would especially like to thank Edward Cordier, who is the group’s ‘technician magician’ - without whom many of her spectacular ideas wouldn’t have come to fruition.

I for one had a great night. The whole production was put together brilliantly. Excellent music and a great cast (all named below), who were all clearly enjoying themselves. And plenty of audience participation - no matter how hard I tried to hide!

Who needs the West End?!

The Showin' Grain Theatre Group will also be appearing at The Village Sports & Social Club in Hoo this Friday (16 December) - best of luck! Don’t miss it!
 

My first weekend of Christmas events . . .

Like many others in Hoo, I headed down to Hoo Parish Church yesterday morning for their Christmas Fair - the first of many Christmas events taking place locally. And despite getting there just after opening time, the place was already buzzing!

Hoo resident Alan Page.

It was good seeing Stuart Coombes and Mick Hollands (pictured below) handing out flyers for the Church’s special morning of carols, taking place on Saturday 17 December at 10.30am. Carol singing for an hour in the Village Sqaure followed by mince pies and coffee in the Church.

With festive tunes echoing around the Church, Ron and Muriel Bewsey (pictured below) were being kept busy cooking a hog roast which was clearly a very popular choice for many, especially with it being so cold outside.

There were lots of stalls and raffles (I won a bottle of Sherry) and plenty of handmade crafts and local produce. I picked up some very nice looking Christmas cards of Hoo Parish Church.

Despite my enthusiasm for ‘cake tasting’ I managed to resist the temptation this time - even though there were more cakes than I had seen in one place in a long long time!

With that, and having caught up with local news and gossip, I headed over to the Isle of Grain to catch the Christmas Fair organised by GOFFS (the Grain Over Forty Fives group) at Grain Village Hall. There were lots of stalls, so I thought it best to catch my breath first and have a quick cuppa and bacon roll!

I had a good look round, but my nose seemed to be taking me in the direction of a cake stall at the far end of the hall. My earlier resilience was waning.

And they were fantastic looking cakes too! I had a good chat with the stallholders (pictured below) before finally giving in and buying four cakes which were neatly boxed up and kept aside for my collection later.

I had a chat with Veronica Cordier and Moira Pearn, who were on the stall for the Showin’ Grain Theatre Group. Moira (pictured below) is directing the panto, which will be performed on Friday 9 December and Saturday 10 December. I’m looking forward to hearing Veronica singing - I’ve been told she’s very good!

There were some really fantastic looking raffle prizes dotted around the hall, including amazing Christmas hampers - like the one pictured below on a stall belonging to Jenny and Pat (pictured below with Nigel).

The two Christmas events in Hoo and Grain yesterday were really enjoyable and I’m looking forward to attending some more soon.

Don’t forget - click the ‘Christmas Event 2011’ label below to see all the Christmas events taking place locally (those that I have been told about anyway).

Sorry, but before I forget . . . no I didn’t leave my boxed up cakes behind!
 

Gearing up for a great Christmas on the Isle of Grain!

There’s quite a bit going on around the Hoo Peninsula this Christmas. I’ve already mentioned events happening in Hoo, so now it’s the turn of the Isle of Grain.

The fun begins this Saturday (26 November), when GOFFs (the Grain Over Forty Fives group) hold an Autumn/Christmas Fayre at the Village Hall (Chapel Road). This will take place from 11am until 2pm, when there’ll be plenty of stalls offering cards, gifts, a tombola, a raffle, refreshments and lots, lots, more.

Then on Saturday 3 December the Grain Fete Committee will be having their Christmas Quiz at the Village Hall, from 7.30pm.

Make sure you’re feeling suitably creative though, as you could win a prize for having the best decorated table! Live music will be provided by councillors Chris Buckwell (Parish Council Chairman) and Chris Irvine. The Fete Committee quiz nights are usually held every second Saturday, except in July, August and December. They help raise much needed cash for Fete expenses. Tickets are £5.50 per person and a hot meal is provided at half time. Sounds good to me! Click on the image below for more information.

As mentioned on this site last month, the Showin’ Grain Theatre Group are putting on this year’s pantomime on Friday 9 December and Saturday 10 December at the Village Hall.

Sunday 11 December, sees St. James Church (High Street - towards the beach) present ‘Christingle’ from 6pm, where there will be plenty of carols to be sung! If you’re able to pop along and enjoy the festive spirit - please take a donation of new toiletries for the Salvation Army to distribute to the homeless.

And finally, on Saturday 17 December the band of the Salvation Army will be performing at St. James Church for lots of Carols and festive tunes. The start time will be confirmed shortly (I’ll provide an update accordingly). Everyone is very welcome to attend.

My apologies if I haven’t mentioned your Christmas event - just let me know all the details by getting in touch using the contact page. But it looks like there is going to be so much festive cheer in Grain this year.  Any Scrooges should be packing their bags already!

I’ll be including Christmas events taking place in other parts of the peninsula shortly, so please get in touch if you’d like your event to appear on this site.

Click on the ‘label’ below marked ‘Christmas Event 2011’ to see all the Christmas events mentioned on this site so far.
 

Panto Season on the Isle of Grain

With all the talk of an airport on the Isle of Grain this week, and the possible ramifications for those of us living on the Peninsula, it is nice to be able to think about something more mundane. Like Christmas!

And as it happens, a group of local residents have this week sent me some information about their upcoming pantomime.

The Showin’ Grain Theatre Group are very busy at the moment rehearsing their panto ‘Hamelin’, which will be showing at Grain Village Hall on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 December.

Click the image below to find out more.

If you’d like any further information about the production, contact its writer, director and producer Moira Pearn on 01634 270127. For tickets phone Veronica Cordier on 01634 271807, or pop along to The Old Chapel / Library (Chapel Road).

Too early to be thinking about Christmas? Oh NO it isn’t!!!
 

Beauty and the Beast - Dramarama (High Halstow), 13/14/15 January 2011

Dramarama, the High Halstow dramatics group, present ‘Beauty and the Beast’ on January 13 (Thursday), 14 (Friday) and 15 (Saturday). Performances begin at 7.30pm and tickets are £4. A matinee performance will be on the Saturday at 2pm. The show will be held at the Recreation Hall in High Halstow.

More details can be obtained from Fred and Hazel (01634) 251135, Noleen (01634) 271026, Joanne (01634) 250911 or Wenda (01634) 253169.
 

Pantomime (Isle of Grain), Friday 10 and Saturday 11 December 2010

Showin’ Grain Theatre Group will perform their ‘PalaceAid’ panto this Friday and Saturday (10 and 11 December), at the Village Hall, Chapel Road, Isle of Grain.

Written, directed and produced locally by Moira Pearn, the production picks up the story from last year’s successful ‘Happy Ever After’ panto, in which Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, along with their hubbies (Prince Charles, Prince Chas and Prince Charming), went back to Faireepantoland to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversaries with the Grand Duchess. However, three baddies (Frightious, Evilla and Scarity) went out of their way to ruin the event, although in true panto tradition all ended well, with the help of Titania and her young fairies.

This year the characters return to raise funds to restore the palace and the well-being of the Grand Duchess with a spectacular charity event, namely ‘PalaceAid’. There will be songs, gags, sketches and a happiometer – helping to lift the cloud of doom and gloom that hovers over the land.

Doors open at 7pm for ticket holders and 7.15pm for non-ticket holders. Tickets are £5 for adults, £2 for under 12s and free for the under 7s. Tickets can be purchased in advance from Veronica Cordier on 01634 271674 or on the door. Performances begin at 7.30pm with refreshments during the interval.

Pop along and enjoy some Christmas cheer!!!