On Sunday 2nd July Sunninghill & Ascot Parish Council held its ‘Party in the Park’ at Victory Field Recreation Ground in Sunninghill.

The weather was good and over 1,000 people attended. There was live entertainment, demonstrations on the skate park, stalls and refreshments. The bands performing were:

Groove Republic,  Face the Crowd (Jagz House Band), Ascot Rock Choir, Spotlights Musical Theatre Group , Sixth Formers from Charters School, Sunningdale. 

Full details on the funding and how to apply can be found on the council’s website: Sports:

The Royal Borough’s sports and arts bursary schemes are once again accepting applications from young residents. 

The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Sports and Arts Bursaries are now open. The 2017 bursaries are available for those aged 25 or under, who are residents in the borough, who would benefit from a grant of up to £250. Deadline 14 July 2017. Arts funding can be used for anything from lessons to equipment, materials and even rehearsal space. Sports cash can be used for anything from kit to coaching fees to help sportsmen and women achieve their full potential from county or equivalent level up to Olympic/Paralympic level. There are also coach bursaries and lifetime achievement nominations. Apply here for Arts and sports bursaries.

The Royal Borough has agreed to take the next steps in an electoral review that could see the number of councillors reduced by a quarter.

Council approved the recommendations of a cross-party working group on Tuesday 27 June to look at reducing the number of councillors from 57 to 43 (plus or minus one). The group also recommended that the number of council panels could be streamlined from 44 to 32.

The report on the first stage of this two stage process will now be submitted to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) for their approval before the second stage can begin in the autumn.

It is expected that the final outcome will be in place in time for the next local elections in May 2019.

On Saturday 1st July, boys from Year 3 at Papplewick School in Ascot took part in a Second World War Day.

First up was a competition for the best costume, which was won by Winston Churchill, no less! There were lots of soldiers from Britain, Russia and America, a sailor, a few pilots and several evacuees. Then the boys had to learn how to talk like RAF pilots - 'chocks away' and 'tally ho'.

They played some classic games from the 1940s such as Beetle and tested their skills as code-breakers. Finally, there was an emotional singing competition with 'Run, Rabbit, Run' and 'We'll Meet Again', bringing a tear to the teachers' eyes. 

Next Open Morning:   Saturday 4th November 2017 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m   Visit:  www.papplewick.org.uk 

 About Papplewick.................

On Monday 26th June, Year 3 boys from Papplewick School in Ascot visited RAF Hendon where they had a talk from the ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Warden. ARP Wardens patrolled the streets during blackouts in the war, to ensure that no light was visible.

At the Museum the boys learned the story of the people who moulded the world of aviation - from the daredevil early aviators to wartime heroes - and the thousands of ordinary service men and women who served in the RAF.

The boys experienced first hand what it was like when an air raid sounded - they all had to rush to the Anderson shelter. Later they tried on some RAF uniforms that were worn in the Second World War. They heard the story of Douglas Bader, who performed in acrobatic air displays before the war.

Headmaster Tom Bunbury said: “The boys were fascinated by the aeroplanes and overwhelmed by the size of some of the bombers such as the Lancaster. It was a great experience for them.”

Next Open Morning:   Saturday 4th November 2017 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m   Visit:  www.papplewick.org.uk 

About Papplewick........

www.spotlightsmtg.co.uk    Tickets  can be booked at www.ticketsource.co.uk/spotlightsmusicaltheatregroup    Box Office: 0333 666 3366

Emma Pritchard from Sunningdale is to play Eliza Doolittle in a production of My Fair Lady to be performed by the Spotlights Musical Theatre Group at Papplewick School in Ascot on 13th-15th July. Emma has been singing in local operatic groups since she was 14, having been dragged along by her father to be one of the children in a production of Carousel in which he was performing. She hasn’t looked back!

She played Eliza Doolittle a few years ago in Kent opposite her father who played Professor Higgins, Eliza's teacher. "It's my favourite role," says Emma " and I'm absolutely thrilled to have the chance to play her again with Spotlights. I have been singing with Spotlights for a few years now and I can honestly say that we have the best time in rehearsal. There is never a dull moment.  In this show I am performing with a bunch of really talented people and our stage and music director, Serena Kay, is fantastic. I can’t wait for opening night!”

Originally a Chartered Surveyor, Emma has recently re-trained to become a teacher. She works at a Prep school in Windsor teaching a Year 1 class and conducts the school’s senior choir. She married James in 1999 and has three wonderful daughters all of whom love to sing. There are concerts a plenty in the Pritchard household!

My Fair Lady will be performed at Papplewick School in Ascot from Thursday July 13th to Saturday July 15th. Performances will be at 7.30pm and there will also be a matinee at 2.30pm on the Saturday. 

Tickets cost £16 for adults and £11 for children under 16 and can be bought from any SMTG member or from the group's box office on 0333 666 3366.  A transaction charge of £1.50 will be made for telephone box office bookings. They can also be purchased on line at no extra charge at www.ticketsource.co.uk/spotlightsmusicaltheatregroup