Cheltenham4u.co.uk

22 April 2010, The Frog and Fiddle

Alexander John Live at The Frog and Fiddle with support from The Tom Hollister

This free event is part of the Fringe Festival Blues to kick start the Cheltenham Jazz Festival Fringe. Alexander John brings Delta Blues, slide guitar and vocals that are as hot as VOLCANIC ASH! leaving you 'happily stranded south of the deep Mississippi swamp lands'. A Blues night sliding out across this fab music venue and with rave reviews 7 / 10 from his Muddy Waters Album. With support from the Tom Hollister Trio - a vibrant powerhouse of blistering original material, fusing rock and blues for the soul. - Got to get me some mo' Blues at this not to be missed Cheltenham Jazz Festival Fringe Blues Night.

More information at:
http://www.alexanderjohn.com
http://www.tomhollistertrio.com
http://cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazzfringe/
http://cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazzfringebrochure

Martin Horwood, Cheltenham’s MP since 2005 and Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for the town, has welcomed the specific Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment which will spell the end of the South West Regional Spatial Strategy that currently threatens green land around Cheltenham.

After co-writing the party’s policy on this issue which was confirmed by the Lib Dem conference last September this position has been re-affirmed in the party’s manifesto published today. The manifesto states ‘Liberal Democrats will abolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission and return decision making, including housing targets, to local people.’

Martin said ‘I am delighted that this explicit commitment to return housing targets to local control is in the manifesto in black and white. This means the end of the South West Regional Spatial Strategy and its unsustainable housing targets for Cheltenham and means that we can start to tackle homelessness without destroying the countryside.’

Martin has also challenged other candidates in Cheltenham to openly state their views on reforms that will help to restore public trust following the scandal over politicians’ expenses.

Martin has taken part in DEMREF 2010, the non-party election web initiative that allows voters to compare the reform policies of their candidates. He believes that all candidates should put themselves forward for voter scrutiny in this way, in the interests of openness and accountability. The campaign focuses on issues such as reform of the electoral system, fixed
term parliaments and reform of the House of Lords.

"Voters want to know where we stand on reforming politics following the expenses scandal that has seriously damaged public trust," Martin said. "I challenge my fellow candidates to take part in DEMREF 2010 so that the voting public can scrutinise our views and make an informed choice about which of us has the best policies for cleaning up politics."

DEMREF 2010 asks candidates for their views on fixed-term parliaments, free voting, the electoral system, open primaries, voting age, recalling MPs and House of Lords reform. There is also space for candidates to put forward their own favoured reforms.

The Boogie Bus has been launched by Boogie Lounge night club. If you are planning a night out on Wednesdays and you're studying at University of Gloucestershire, Boogie bus is an ideal mode of travel. Starting on Wednesday 21 April the bus will depart at 10pm from Park Place/The Park (near Park Campus) and arrive at Boogie Lounge at 10.10pm, it will then move on to Albert Rd (near Pittville Campus) where it will depart at 10.30pm. Next point of pick up is St. Paul's Rd (near Francis Close Hall Campus) where it will depart at 10.45pm. The bus will then arrive at Boogie Lounge at 11pm. The bus will then return to Albert Rd again and pick up at 11.20 to arrive at Boogie Lounge at 11.30pm.

15 May 2010, St. Andrew's Church, Montpellier

Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra will perform on 15 May 2010 at St. Andrew's URC in Montpellier. This is the last concert to be given by the Chamber Orchestra before their appearance at the Cheltenham Music Festival in July. The programme includes music by Rossini, Dvorak, Ligeti and Beethoven. The conductor on this occasion is Toby Purser and the orchestra is led by George Ewart. Tickets are available from Cheltenham TIC. The performance starts at 7.30pm

Current Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood was first off the starting blocks with a campaign launch just hours after the announcement of a General Election on 6 May. Former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown launched Martin's campaign at St.Andrew's United Reformed Church in Montpellier.
Gordon Brown visited the Queen on 6 April to request a dissolution of Parliament, firing the official starting gun for the 2010 General Election campaign. Parliament was officially dissolved and all current legislation either completed in less than a week or lost. Martin launched his campaign at 7.30pm on 6 April at a public meeting to be addressed by his old friend Lord Ashdown. Martin worked as a young member of Paddy's leadership campaign team back in the 1980s. Paddy's visit follows other high-profile visits to the key marginal in the last year by Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, shadow chancellor Vince Cable and shadow home secretary Chris Huhne.

Experts predict that boundary changes that come into effect at this General Election will make Cheltenham a close two-horse race between Martin and the Conservative candidate. Amongst the minor parties UKIP, Labour and the Official Monster Raving Loony Party are expected to field candidates but Cheltenham Green Party have voted to back Martin. Martin's campaign has also received a boost from the recent high-profile defection of leading Tory councillor Klara Sudbury.

Martin said: "We're getting a fantastic response on the doorstep and it's great to be getting support from across traditional party divides. This will be a close race between me and the Conservatives and they are obviously spending huge amounts of money here on top of their local election expenses. But you don't win this kind of campaign in the last few weeks. You win it with five year's hard work campaigning for local NHS services, for local public transport, local jobs and the local countryside."

"Nationally-funded Tory leaflets are trying to confuse people into voting Tory as the only way to vote against Labour. The truth is that in many parts of the UK it is the Lib Dems who are defeating Labour - from Edinburgh to Cardiff, from Newcastle to Bristol. To vote against a Labour government, you have to vote against Labour MPs in places like those cities and Lib Dems will doing that in their millions. But here in Cheltenham, Labour were defeated years ago. The reason the Tories want everyone to vote Conservative here is because they're scared that we will spoil their plan for another one-party majority and their rich backers are terrified of Lib Dem plans to clean up politics and crack down on tax breaks for the very rich. Every extra Lib Dem MP is another voice for deeper reform and a fairer Britain."

23 - 27 August 2010, Dean Close School

Once again, Cheltenham music promoters, Beyond Eternity are presenting a week-long Rock School for 11-19 year olds in the town.

The course which runs between 23rd & 27th August takes place at the Prince Michael Hall, Dean Close School, Cheltenham and is open to all serious musicians between 11 and 19 years old whether they’re into rock, pop, funk, punk, jazz or hip hop.

The programme of workshops, seminars and practical sessions covers all aspects of musicianship. Performance skills, forming and running a band, effective self promotion, recording and production will all be covered over the course of the week.
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Tutors include many of the town’s well known musicians and local music industry insiders, all hoping to give budding musicians the head-start they are looking for.

At the end of the week all their efforts come together in a performance where each participant has the chance to showcase their new skills. It’s a week where young people’s confidence and competence is nurtured and new friendships forged.

There is a charge to attend the course to cover tuition and materials but Peter Gill and Beyond Eternity Promotions are offering some sponsored places to make the course accessible to young people who face financial barriers, but move fast - the deadline for applying for these is May 1st (this date is earlier this year as the week was sold out by June last year and is looking to sell out similarly this year).

For further information on the course, sponsored places or to make bookings, contact Peter Gill at Beyond Eternity Promotions on 01242 587776.

The children at Amberley Ridge School received special treatment this Easter, when the Holiday Inn Express Cheltenham and local charity Well Child donated over 50 Easter eggs and chocolate goodies to the school. The hotel also provided a real life ‘Fluffy Chicken’ to deliver the chocolate treats. Well Child, a regional charity supporting sick children and their families, were pleased to be part of the initiative.

“The children thoroughly enjoyed the day. It was great to see them so excited, especially when Charlie the Chicken delivered all the chocolates,” says Jason Hiley, General Manager. “We believe it is important to work closely with the community, not just supporting local businesses but our neighbours too.”

Amberley Ridge School hosted the day, and ensured classes of all ages received a visit from Charlie the Chicken. The donation was for the children who might have otherwise been excluded from the Easter celebrations and as a thank you for the dedicated work of the teachers at the school.

15 May 2010, Montpellier Gardens

24 April 2010, St. Mary's Church, Charlton Kings