Author: tom

In Rickmansworth and the surrounding areas throughout June there will be many book discussions, which will feature special guest talks by a variety of renowned authors.

 

Monday 9^th June 2014 – The Chorleywood Bookshop is hosting the launch of Nick Coffer’s new book: ‘The After School Cookbook’. The launch will take place at 3.45pm and is free to attend. The bookshop staff will also be handing out tasty treats from the book during the event!

About Nick Coffer

Nick Coffer has become an Internet sensation after his blog ‘My Daddy Cooks’ took the cooking world by storm. The blog is full of easy to make recipes that are enjoyable for all the family to both make and eat. Nick’s success has continued as he now presents a daily show on BBC Three Counties Radio from 12-3pm and also a weekly food show ‘Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen, on Saturday lunchtimes.

Nick is also part of the current Sainsbury’s TV advertising campaign called ‘Make Your Roast Go Further’.

About The After School Cookbook

The cookbook provides busy mums/dads with 120 quick, easy and affordable recipes that will satisfy your kid’s hunger. Nick has crafted the recipes to help refuel kid’s energy levels during the difficult after school period. The recipes are targeted towards all child age groups, whether they’re a toddler or teenager, there is a recipe for everyone. Recipe sections are themed and they include: ‘Here Today Still Here Tomorrow’, ‘Ready When You Get Home’ and ‘Inspired Lunch Boxes’.

 

Tuesday 10^th June 2014 – The Chorleywood Library will host a guest talk by author Max Arthur OBE, who will be discussing his latest book: ‘The Silent Day’. The talk will take place at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 before the night and only £6 on the door.

About Max Arthur OBE

Max Arthur OBE is an author who has worked with the Imperial War Museum to produce first-hand recollections of historical events. He has also presented two television documentaries: The Brits who Fought For Spain, which aired on The History Channel UK and also Dambusters, which aired on Optimum Releasing.

Max was appointed as an OBE in 2013 for his services to military history.

About The Silent Day

The Silent Day is the story of the events that took place leading up to D-Day, which include the arrival of thousands of American and Canadian Troops in the UK. The book then continues to unravel the events that took place on that June morning.

The book provides a powerful insight as it uses a wealth of first person testimonies, which include testimonies from families of who lost loved ones on the beaches of Normandy.

 

Wednesday 25^th June 2014 – The Chorleywood Memorial Hall will be hosting an evening with Kate Fox as she discusses her revised edition of her bestselling book: ‘Watching the English’. The event takes place at 7.45pm and tickets are just £10.

About Kate Fox

Kate Fox is a social anthropologist whose research and publications specialise in many aspects of human behaviour and social relations including: social aspects of drinking, beauty and body-image. Kate is also the co-director of the Social Issues Research Centre and also a Fellow of the Institute of Cultural Research.

About Watching the English

Watching the English was originally published in 2004 by Hodder & Stoughton and has sold over half a million copies. A revised edition was then released in April 2014, which included new survey data to help reiterate Kate’s field-research and experiments. The revised edition has over 100 updates and is said to ‘make you stand back and re-examine everything you take for granted’.

 

Monday 30^th June 2014 – Dr Challoners High School in Buckinghamshire will be hosting a guest talk from Mark Kermode. Mark will be discussing his recently released book: ‘Hatchet Job’. The talk will begin at 7.30pm and tickets (which include a copy of the book) are just £15 each.

About Mark Kermode

Mark Kermode has been quoted to be “The finest film critic in Britain” by Stephen Fry. Mark is the chief film critic for The Observer, a contributor to ‘Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review’ and also a co-presenter of the BBC Two arts programme ‘The Culture Show’.

About Hatchet Job

The Hatchet Job is a term used in the film industry that describes the entertaining trashing of a film by a professional critic. However with the introduction of the Internet and social media, a film can be publicly criticised by anyone with an opinion. Mark Kermode takes his readers on a journey, which blends historical analysis with opinion to form a conclusion about the current state of film criticism.

Stay tuned for upcoming events in July!

With the summer months approaching, you might find that you have a bit more extra time on your hands. If that is the case then why not consider participating in a volunteering scheme?

Benefits of volunteering:

• Not only can volunteering be a fun experience but it can also be a social one too. Volunteering is a great way to make new friends, make new contacts and also increase your social and relationship skills.
• The ‘good feeling’ aspect of volunteering definitely can be felt, as volunteering can help raise self-esteem and self-confidence.
• Not only is volunteering good for mental health but it is also good for physical health too. It provides a great opportunity to keep fit and do a good deed at the same time.
• Volunteering can help increase your career prospects. As a volunteer, you will gain valuable job skills and experience. All which looks great on your CV!

Volunteering in Rickmansworth

Over the next few months there will be volunteering opportunities available to all ages. Rickmansworth Web will provide you with all the opportunities that are currently available.

Oxfam in Rickmansworth: The Oxfam shop is recruiting volunteers to work in the shop Monday to Saturday. The shift can be either morning or afternoon. For full information and to apply, pop in store for a chat.

Watersmeet: Watersmeet in Rickmansworth is a community venue that relies on volunteers to support them with managing events. As a volunteer, you will be provided with full training and a fun, fast paced working environment. For more information call: 01923 711063

Rickmansworth Waterways Trust: The environmental charity has a number of volunteering roles, which can last anywhere from a few weeks to indefinitely. Roles can vary from boat crews to educational roles. Each role will provide the volunteer with real opportunities to gain experience and develop new social and professional skills. To apply, pop into the Canal Centre.

W3RT Volunteers Fair, Wednesday 4^th June 2014: To celebrate Volunteers Week (1-7 June 2014), a volunteers fair is being organised. The fair invites local community and voluntary groups to set up stalls and raise awareness of their volunteering services. The fair is also a great opportunity for potential volunteers to find the perfect group that they would like to offer their services to. For more information call 01923 216950.

Thanks to the Rickmansworth Society, you do not need to fear about your children or even yourselves getting bored this Easter break. Over the next coming week (11th – 17th April 2014), there are a range of great films being screened at Watersmeet that are suitable for both children and adults.

Today (11th April 2014) at 2pm, Friends of Watersmeet Film Society present the highly rated film ‘Frozen’ at Watersmeet. It is a certificate PG and runs for 102 minutes and non-members of the film society are also welcome! Adult tickets are just £3.50 and children’s tickets are only £2.50. To book, please call the box office on: 01923 711063.

Also if any adults are thinking about what to do tonight, the Film Society are screening ‘American Hustle’ at 7.45pm, again at Watersmeet. Member’s tickets will cost £3 and their concessions will cost £2. Non-members still grab a bargain, with their tickets only costing £5 and concessions £4.

If you like to plan your week in advance, then why not make a note of ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’, which is being shown next Thursday (17th April 2014). The film has a certificate of 12A and runs for 141 minutes, making it suitable for any bored teenagers this Easter! There are two screenings, the first is at 2pm and the other is at 7.45pm. Tickets for members only cost £2 and non-members only £5.

Stay tuned for more upcoming events in Rickmansworth!

Last weekend (21st – 23rd March 2014), over 200 determined runners arrived at the Aquadrome to complete one, three or six mile courses. The event helped add to a record breaking Sport Relief donation total of £51.2 million.

The participants had to brave cold and wet weather conditions but that did not put a dampner on spirits as each runner knew that the money raised from the event would be used to help the deprived and less fortunate.

Three Rivers District Council chairman, Les Mead officially started each event and was also at the finish line to hand out well deserved medals for the runners.

Currently the amount Rickmansworth rose for Sport Relief is still being counted, nonetheless big congratulations to each runner that participated!