Stony Stratford goodies coming up

This Thursday: Desert Islet Discs2 – five new maroons will present their favourite recordings and say why. The WHite Horse, Stony Stratford. Starts 8.30pm. Free entry.

STONYWORDS!8 – the town’s literary stuff festival is back, and inviting YOU to put on an event of a somewhat literary nature – talk, exhibition, quiz, play, poetry-reading, etc. January 21 – 29, 2012. Email me if you are temptable.

STONY STRATFORD FEASTIVAL – Stony’s first festival of food & drink. February 24th – March 4th, 2012. Already lined up are a beer festival, Fairtrade fortnight, wine-tasting, photo exhibition, cupcake workshop, and more. Want to do something? Email me.

STONY STRATFORD CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH-ON & FUN-DAY: Saturday, November 26th. switch-on is at 5pm (by our local “celeb”); children’s lantern parade leaves York House at 4.15; MKAOS pantomime “The Little Mermaid & The Pirates” entertain at the switch-on countdown; musicians, dancers, Mummers, stalls, Emmets fairground, festive foods, Bernese dogs, RAFFLE ………. tons of stuff for the family at the best lights display for miles around.

AND VISIT www.stonystratford.gov.uk for lots of information about local live music, Scala Film Club showings, and other jolly events.

‘SPORTING SCARECROWS’ SCORE A GOAL FOR GRANT THORNTON

Nine creative and enthusiastic volunteers from Grant Thornton Milton Keynes office made an early start at Slated Row School on Friday, on a mission to build sporting scarecrows to protect the fruit and vegetable garden at the school from birds and other animals. The challenge was organised by Business in the Community for Grant Thornton as part of their Give and Gain activities for local member companies.
 
Liz Douglas was the team leader for the challenge from Grant Thornton and the task included choosing the theme, sourcing the materials, and completing four scarecrows; Footballer, Tennis Player, Roller Skater and Ballerina in a day working outside in the garden environment.
 
Liz said; “Thanks to friends, family and colleagues for contributing the materials required to make the scarecrows.  They had to look the part and be durable to last in the wet weather so we used plastic bags kindly donated from the recycling at Waitrose to stuff them. We were also lucky with the weather on the day and for the help and encouragement from Sarah Garrett and Gordon Fallow who were responsible for the project from Slated Row School.”
 
Malcolm Gomersall, Managing Partner, Grant Thornton UK LLP commented;” The Milton Keynes team really pulled the stops out for this latest challenge in a series of activities organised through our partnership with Business in the Community to benefit the local community.” 

Prestige Homes MK Lions – Oxley Park Academy Visit

Milton Keynes’ own professional basketball team, the Prestige Homes MK Lions welcomed pupils from Oxley Park Academy School to their open day last Friday 14^th October at the MK Lions Arena in Winterhill. 

Students enjoyed a free, fast paced hour of basketball training from Lions players, Carl Josey, Cameron Bernard and Nathan Schall, where they learnt ball handling and shooting skills.  The excited pupils were then treated to pizza after their endeavours, courtesy of Frankie and Bennies, and were also presented with a signed basketball from the players.

Year 6 teacher Bob Corneil said afterwards “Our pupils had an amazing time, they learnt valuable skills of basketball and thoroughly enjoyed the question and answer session with the players.   Students now can’t wait to book up a school visit to watch a home game!”.

Lions Schools Development Manager, Debbie Sidwell co-ordinated the day and said more open days are scheduled for after half term on Friday November 11^th and November 18^th.  

Schools that are interested in attending a free session should contact Prestige Homes MK Lions on 0843 309 3600.

Free Will Week in support of Willen Hospice

From 7th until 11th November 2011 Free Will Week comes to Milton Keynes. During this week seven local Solicitors and one Will Writer will be writing Wills free of charge for anyone who leaves a gift in their Will to Willen Hospice.

Did you know that 70% of people in the UK die without making a Will and as we don’t know what the future holds, writing a Will gives peace of mind to all the family. A gift to Willen Hospice costs you nothing now – but for future generations of local people it could be priceless.

Paul Hinson, Chief Executive of Willen Hospice said “Leaving a gift to Willen Hospice in a Will ensures that the Hospice can continue to provide expert care, tackling the practical, physical and emotional issues raised by an advanced illness. The care provided is unique and not confined to the Hospice building but is spread throughout our local community in Milton Keynes”.

For more information on Willen Hospice Free Will Week please contact Nicci Ganderton on 01908 308700, email wills@willen-hospice.org.uk or visit the Willen Hospice website www.willen-hospice.org.uk

Willen Hospice would like to thank the local companies taking part in Free Will Week; Beesons, Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors, Hanover Wills, Heald Solicitors, MK Legal Solicitors, Neves Solicitors, Turner Coulston Solicitors and Woodfines Solicitors.

Swashbuckling fun at Abbey Hill Golf Centre

Captain Jack Sparrow was on hand to cut the ribbon and officially open Abbey Hill Golf Centre’s new Pirate Island Adventure Golf Facility last Sunday (October 16).

More than 600 buccaneers, both young and old, from Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas attended the launch with many wearing pirate outfits to join in the fun with face painting, stilt walkers and a Jack Sparrow lookalike.

The new £775,000 floodlit Adventure Golf facility is designed to appeal to all age groups and is based around mini golf with players requiring only a putter to navigate their ball around an 18-hole course littered with cunning pirate-themed obstructions.

Obstacles and features around the wheelchair-friendly theme park include waterfalls, shallow lakes and streams with islands, rafts, treasure chests, cannons, decorative crocodiles, parrots and swords, and various species of plants adding to the swashbuckling landscape.

Families and groups of friends of all ages enjoyed thefestivities of the opening day, including Terry Smith and his young family including four-year-old twin boys Alex and Luke and 18-month old daughter Lauren.

Terry, from Milton Keynes, said: “It was extremely enjoyableand great fun for all of our family. The pirates kept the children entertained and there’s a great mixture of holes from the straightforward and simple to the intricate and fun.”

Holes range from long distance putts over undulating ground littered with rocks to the amazing second hole where you are required to putt along the deck of the pirate ship into a hole in the hull where the ball disappears down a twisting pipe to the bottom of the ship where it comes out and heads towards to the hole.

Chris Nixon, also from Milton Keynes enjoyed a day out with three of her friends, saying: “We’re not regular golfers at all but it was great fun – we were the only group out there without any children, but we laughed like kids most of the way around – we’ll definitely be coming back with friends and family.”

Gordon Forster, Abbey Hill Golf Centre General Manager, added: “We have had such a tremendous response from people since opening Pirate Island Adventure Golf and welcomed 670 people for the official opening – it was a great occasion.

“We had a steady stream of pirates coming through all day with many entering the spirit of things with face paints, tricorns and toy cutlass. The Jack Sparrow impersonator and stilt walker were both excellent and kept everyone entertained, along with our mascot Chip the Bear who donned his own pirate outfit for the day.”

* Pirate Island Adventure Golf will be staging a special Spooky Pirate Golf event to celebrate Halloween on Monday, October 31. The event will be followed by a Halloween buffet in the clubhouse and a treasure filled party bag for the children.

For further information on Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Abbey Hill Golf Centre or to book a place at the Spooky Pirate Golf visit http://www.pirateislandgolf.co.uk or http://www.abbeyhillgc.co.uk or call 01908 562566.

"Desert Islet Discs"

The Cock & Bull Society could not afford a full island, so we just have another five vacuous local “celebs” coming to play some of their favourite recorded music for you, and to offer a few insights into the reasons for their choice. They will also be invited to nominate a favourite book (in addition to the compulsory “Noddy Goes To Toytown”.

Thursday, October 27th, 8.30 – 11.00pm, The White Horse, High Street, Stony Stratford, MK11 1AA. Telephone 01908 567082. 

Website: www.cockandbull.org.uk.

MK Lightening have a HEART

FROSTS AUTUMN FESTIVAL

This October half term, Frosts at Woburn Sands will be putting on a ‘Spook-tacular’ display of their home-grown autumn harvest with something for the children and adults.

From Monday 24^th October, staff will be holding pumpkin scooping from 10-4pm each day where children will be able to choose their pumpkin and then design its own ‘spooky’ face. Staff will be on hand to cut out the designs and all pumpkins will be brought to life with a battery powered tea light. Each child will be able to take away their pumpkins ready for the Halloween celebrations. Each child will also get to try Frosts special witches brew, all for £4.99.

The week will end with a ‘Flavours of Autumn Festival’ on Saturday 29^th and Sunday 30^th October, a celebration of apples, pears and pumpkins. Over the weekend there will be a festival of tasters, activities and produce, including cider tasting, a cider press, pumpkin hunt, professional pumpkin carving and much more. Apple, pear and pumpkin recipes have been created by the Frosts’ chefs, including soups, chutneys, pies and more which will be available in the restaurant and for customers to take home and try themselves.

James Frost said, “This year we have chosen to celebrate the Autumn season, there will be an array of produce from apples to pumpkins to pear cider, along with activities and tasters-there truly is something for the whole family to enjoy”. 

Information cards about each species of pumpkin have been made available for customers, which include details about the variety, health benefits and cooking suggestions.

Christmas steps up this year at thecentre:mk

thecentre:mk announce exciting plans for Christmas and the opening of their online bookings, in October 2011. The centre will open, ‘An Olde English Christmas’ show with a traditionally themed Dickensian scene. In addition to the show and Santa’s grotto, the centre opens an elegant outdoor ice rink to create a fantastic Christmassy atmosphere in Queen’s Court this year.

On Friday 18 November at 4:30pm, Santa will deliver Christmas to thecentre:mk with his festive parade, accompanied by local schools, the Milton Keynes City Orchestra and a sing along in Middleton Hall, to open his grotto. After Santa’s parade, thecentre:mk open a spectacular outdoor ice rink, around the Christmas tree in Queens Court at 7.30 pm.

The ice rink at thecentre:mk is an exciting new venture for the shopping centre, which will add another dimension to Christmas and offer something more for families, teens and adults to enjoy. “For 2011, we have decided to introduce a sophisticated ice rink to create a centre piece to Queens Court. Timely with the introduction of the centre open until 8pm weekdays, with free parking after 6pm, we look to offer the perfect Christmas family day out. 

Alongside a visit to Santa, a ride on the train and skating, guests can enjoy something a little different at thecentre:mk this year” comments Melanie Beck head of marketing and communication.

thecentre:mk is working with the local community groups to encourage schools, to bring children and children with disabilities, to enjoy the ice rink, at a generous group booking discount, the centre also offers personalised corporate booking packages, for a Christmas party with a difference.

Bookings for train rides and to visit Santa in his grotto (until 24 December 2011), open on Monday 3 October. The ice rink, individual, group, school, disabled or corporate bookings open on Monday 10 October. Visit thecentremk.com or call 08445 449660. The Ice Rink and ‘An Olde English Christmas’ close on 2 January 2012.

MK LION CLUBS HOT STUFF

The MK Lion Clubs were treated to a special post-training treat to help promote kids eat free throughout September at local restaurant, Red Hot World Buffet & Bar.

The under 10s were guests of honour and invited to sample some of the 120 dishes on offer.

Sunil Ganpati, Restaurant Manager at Milton Keynes said “At Red Hot we like to support the local community and it was an honour to have the MK Lion Club’s to the restaurant to dine as a team. We were amazed to see so many young people opt for the Sushi and not the usual chips”.

To find out more visit www.redhot-worldbuffet.com .