Autumn at COMPTON VERNEY

Quentin Blake –
As large as life

Saturday 15 October - Sunday 11 December 2011

Quentin Blake is one of Britain's best-loved and most successful illustrators, having won countless awards and been appointed Britain's first Children's Laureate. He is known by young and old alike, his name having been synonymous with his illustrations for Roald Dahl's books. Recently Quentin has been commissioned by hospitals in the UK and abroad to produce works which have a therapeutic effect on their residents.

Quentin Blake – As large as life brings together over 60 works for the first time at Compton Verney, for visitors to experience their effects for themselves.


Quentin Blake illustrations from Vincent Square Eating Disorder unit


Remember,

remember:

A history of fireworks in Britain
Saturday 15 October – Sunday 11 December 2011

This exhibition, the first of its kind, explores Britain's November the fifth celebration through the history of Fire Festivals, the Gunpowder plot of 1605 and the astonishingly vivid advertising and packing of domestic fireworks from the 20th century. The history of fireworks in Britain will be vividly brought to life in this multi-media display. This part of the exhibition promises to be a nostalgic sweetshop of delight for visitors with fireworks from all the main UK companies.

Maurice Evans, who has been an avid firework collector since childhood and is now in his eighties, has collected this eye-popping display of vintage boxes and fireworks over many years. “It all started with my father who was in munitions in the First World War,” explains Maurice, “He had a big trunk with little drawers, and in those drawers I found diagrams explaining how to work with explosives and it intrigued me. Then came World War II... there were loads of shells lying around, so we used to let them off.” After the war, Maurice teamed up with a pyro-technician from London and they travelled the country giving displays which Maurice devised.

Charlecote Park

As the year progresses the deer at Charlecote become less timid, and in September they were often to be seen quite close to the house. On the first 4 weekends of October there will be regular Deer Park Safaris, so book a seat and get close to the action, while hearing more from the experts about the behaviour of these fascinating animals. There is a charge of £5 for adults and £3 for children. Ring the number below to book a place.

On the 8th of October there will be another of the special “100 verses” days, with poems from many sources.

Halloween weekend at the end of October brings more events topical for children in particular on this theme.

A first for Charlecote is a “Boundary walk” planned for the Halloween weekend, when you are invited to join members of staff and volunteers in a walk around (most of) the boundary of the park. Ring the office to find out more information.

For further details, please contact Charlecote Park on 01789 470277 or visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-charlecotepark .


SHN Golf Day

Thursday 6th October 2011

The day will consist of an 18 hole competition with a shotgun start at 2pm on Thursday 6th October 2011. The format will be a betterball stableford in teams of four. This will be followed by a buffet, presentations, raffle and auction. You are invited to come along and join up in a team. The cost for all of this is a mere £50.00 each. You will be required to register on the day before 1.15pm if possible.

Please contact Rebecca to register your interest.
Rebecca Mawle, Fundraising Co-ordinator, Lower Farm Barn, Great Wolford, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire CV36 5NQ
T: 01608 674929 M: 07940 716345
E: rebecca@shn-fundraising.co.uk

Tailpiece

A man and his wife went to visit friends in another part of the country and were taken to a racecourse. Having never been to one before they were fascinated by the sight of horses chasing one another round and they both kept betting all day till they had no more than a couple of quid left.

The following day the man persuaded his wife to let him go to the course on his own. There was a horse at fifty-to-one in the first race. So he put his two pounds on and it won. He was over the moon.

While his luck was in he put all his winnings on another long shot and won again. He kept doing this all afternoon and every time he won. He thought all his Christmases had come at once. After the last race he counted up his winnings and they came to over fifty thousand pounds.

On the way home he passed a casino and thought he might as well ride his luck. He went in and found himself in front of a roulette wheel. He put all his winnings on number thirteen – the entire fifty thousand.

The wheel spun. The croupier announced, "Number fourteen.”

He walked home without a penny in his pocket. When he got inside his wife, busy making supper asked “Well, how did it go then?”

He shrugged his shoulders, “I lost the two quid,” he said.


When you’re having a really bad day, just remember that in just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.

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