Community Upstart, hosted by Cirencester Radio, runs from the 19th to the 25th of October as a lead-in to the History Festival, showcasing local groups and individuals eager to share their passion for history. Events kick off on the 19th with an illustrated talk by Robert Heaven on the social life of our town over the years as depicted in the many photographs saved from the vaults of the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Standard.
We are delighted to bring you various activities throughout the week, all organised on a not-for-profit basis. Organisers of each event have tried to keep costs to a minimum so as many people as possible can come along and find out more about aspects of history you may not have been aware of – from military history to music and a 1940s tea party; paintings to photographs – which means most events are FREE, but some ask for a small donation on the door if you are able, to cover the cost of refreshments or room hire.
For enquiries, please call: 01285 505110 or email: caroleboydell@CirencesterRadio.co.uk
Read on for the Community Upstart programme of events:
Saturday 19 October 2024
Join Robert Heaven on Saturday 19th October at the launch of Community Upstart when he will be giving an illustrated talk about aspects of popular social history from the last 150 years or so as reflected by the local newspapers of the day. Enjoy tea and cake whilst viewing some of the images from the OldCiren archive including "lost" buildings, places and events.
Date: Saturday 19th October, 2-4 pm (Doors open 1:30 pm)
Venue: Cirencester Baptist Church, Love Lane.
This is a FREE event although donations will be gratefully received to cover costs.
For enquiries, please call: 01285 505110 or email: caroleboydell@CirencesterRadio.co.uk
Sunday 20 October 2024
Lady She, Presenter of Cirencester Radio’s Lady She and Friends, invites you to join the Upstart vintage tea party. Enjoy tea and cakes accompanied by the wonderful David Ible singing all the old favourites.
Date: 20 October, 12.30 – 2.30 pm
Invitation only, please apply to: Sheunique@talktalk.net
You are encouraged to dress in the style of 1940’s
Tickets cost £5 to cover the costs of refreshments.
Monday 21 October 2024
Hear all about Cirencester’s Music Icons with Malcolm and Alex at St Peter’s Court. Join these enthusiasts with a wealth of knowledge about famous people, well-known songs and how they fit into Cirencester life!
Date: Monday 21st October, 11 am – 12 pm
Venue: St Peter’s Court, St Peter’s Road
This is a FREE event, generously sponsored by the Probus Club of Cirencester ( a group for retired men with a passion for learning). Any donations will be gratefully received and passed on to their chosen charity.
For enquiries, please call: 01285 505110 or email: caroleboydell@CirencesterRadio.co.uk
Monday 21 October 2024
Want to find out what it's like to unearth an Ice Age mammoth? Hear more about the incredible Ice Age discoveries behind the BBC documentary 'Attenborough and the Mammoth Graveyard" and meet the couple who made the discovery Sally and Neville Hollingworth who made the amazing discovery in a former quarry near Swindon.
Join Cirencester Civic Society at their regular Monthly Talk
Date: Monday 21 October, 7.30 pm – 8.30 pm (Doors open 7 pm)
Venue: Ashcroft Hall, Ashcroft Road
Civic Society Members FREE, donation requested for visitors.
Organised by Cirencester Civic Society, https://www.ccsoc.org.uk/lectures/futurelectures
Booking is not required; please just come along.
For enquiries, please call: 01285 505110 or email: caroleboydell@CirencesterRadio.co.uk
Wednesday 23 October 2024
Join the u3a MILITARY HISTORY GROUP as members give an illustrated report of their recent tour to the WW1 battlefields. Twenty members travelled to Ypres and Arras in September. Now hear their account of their fascinating journey.
Visited from Ypres: Hill 62 battlefield, museum and trenches, Tyne Cot Cemetery;
Langemark German Cemetery - Hill 60 and Caterpillar crater
Visited from Arras: Beaumont Hamel, Ulster Tower, Thiepval, Lochnagar Crater,
Memorial Cemetery - Mametz: Welsh and Devonshire Memorials
Date: Wednesday 23rd October, 10.30 am – 12 noon (Doors open for coffee 10 am)
Followed by lunch (bookable) at The Plough Inn, Stratton
Venue: Daglingworth Village Hall, GL7 7AE (with some parking)
Booking is not required; please just come along.
Entry: £3 on the door to cover refreshments.
For enquiries, please contact: Douglas Butler, Coordinator, Cirencester u3a Military History Group via: debutler17@gmail.com
Wednesday 23 October 2024
A FREE recital is taking place in the Parish Church led by Thomas Hawkes, the newly appointed organist to the Church.
Date: Wednesday 23rd October, 1.00 pm
Venue: Cirencester Parish Church, Market Place
Booking is not required; please just come along.
For enquiries, please call: 01285 505110 or email: caroleboydell@CirencesterRadio.co.uk
Thursday 24th October 2024
Meet local artist, Laurie Plant, as he explains how he looks to the past to draw the present. Hear how Laurie interprets the many sites around our town to paint a picture that is truly unique to Cirencester – you will be amazed at the historical details we often miss and how they help shape our understanding of where we live.
Date: Thursday 24th October, Drinks reception, 5.30 pm; Presentation, 6 pm - 7 pm
Venue: Bingham House, Dyer Street
This is a FREE event, sponsored by the Daniel Bingham Foundation; a donation of £5 will be appreciated to help support any community projects of the Foundation.
Friday 25 October 2024
From Gloucester and Cheltenham to New York. Explore how Dorothy Wilding (1915 – 1958) became the first woman photographer to be granted ‘by appointment’ status to the royal family, photographing the coronation of both King George and Queen Elizabeth.
Join Del Barrett (founder of Hundred Heroines) and Sarah Grant In Conversation at Cirencester Baptist Church. An expert and avid collector, Sarah will talk about her journey of discovery and uncovering Dorothy's past from Dorothy's roots in Gloucester to New York, where she photographed a veritable roll-call of the era's Hollywood idols, to Buckingham Palace and her iconic portraits of Queen Elizabeth II that appeared on our stamps until 1971.
Date: Friday 25 October, Drinks reception, 5.30 pm; In Conversation, 6 pm – 7 pm
Venue: Cirencester Baptist Church, Love Lane
This is a FREE event although donations will be gratefully received to cover costs.
Organised by Hundred Heroines, www.hundredheroines.org
For enquiries, please call: 01285 5065110 or email: caroleboydell@CirencesterRadio.co.uk
Friday 25 October
On 24th October, the U3A cycling group will be having a ride through Bagendon which was a major community in the area with evidence of several earthworks and a metalwork industry around 10 - 60AD. The ride will be progressing to Elkstone and then returning via Jackbarrow Road and visiting the long barrow and Hoar Stone at Daglingworth. When excavated in the mid-1800s, 8 or 9 skeletons were found in the barrow. This ride is only open to U3A members but the U3A cycling group has rides every Friday (weather permitting). More information about joining U3A can be found at www.cirencesteru3a.org.uk
And on Sunday 3rd November 2024……Community Upstart joins Cirencester History Festival
A private viewing of ‘Threads of History: picking at Cirencester's Past’ takes place on Sunday 3rd November. Created by students of Cirencester College under the leadership of author and producer, George, this video short takes the audience through Cirencester’s history. As the culmination of several months of hard work by many students, it is a fitting tribute to George who first came up with the idea during his work experience at Cirencester Radio. Whilst attending an early planning meeting for the inaugural Cirencester History Festival, George embarked on this ambitious project, supported by College tutors. As George says insightfully “Cirencester wouldn’t be the town it is today without its past”.
With thanks to Cirencester Museum and Arts Society Corinium
Contact caroleboydell@CirencesterRadio.co.uk for details.
