What's On

Spelthorne Civic Pride volunteers will clean rubbish from the River Thames tow-path on Sunday March 28,

Volunteers will meet in Ferry Lane, Laleham at 10am to pick up the litter.

For more information, contact Jill Stephens on 01932 564543.

Elmsleigh Shopping Centre has started a gift wrapping service for charity.

The scheme will start on Saturday December 12 and will run until Christmas Eve, where shoppers can take presents and get them wrapped for a small fee.

It is being organised by Barclays, who will double all money raised and give it to the Shooting Star Children's Hospice, the RSPCA, the mayor of Spelthorne's charities, and Staines Shopmobility.

The cost of wrapping is between £1 and £3.

Staines Town Chairman Alan Boon said he will pay for coaches to the second round of the FA Cup against Millwall if fans turn up to a league game against Basingstoke Town on Saturday December 5.

The gesture comes after Staines drew with the League One side Millwall on Saturday November 28 in Wheatsheaf Park, which saw around 3000 people turn up to see the teams draw 1-1.

Pupils from schools in the borough will mark the start of the Spelthorne Christmas in a carol concert with the Salvation Army brass band.

Around 150 kids will sing to late night shoppers on Thursday December 3 in Two Rivers Shopping Centre.

The event starts at 6.30pm and carol sheets will be given out.

Spelthorne Choral Society will be singing a well-known classical piece on Saturday December 5.

The choir will sing The Gloria by Francis Poulanc, which they describe as exciting and challenging.

Peter Beaven will conduct, with Lindsey Bridgewater on the organ and West Forest Symphonia Brass playing other instruments.

The concert will take place in St Peter's Church, in Laleham Road.

Tickets are £10 which can be booked on the door.

Staines got into the Christmas cheer early over the weekend when real reindeer visited the High Street.

The annual Christmas parade took place in the High Street on Saturday (22) at the same time that St Peter's Nursery hosted a party in St Peter's Church, in Laleham Road.

A charity dinner to raise money for guide dogs is being held in a Laleham garden centre in December.

The Spelthorne Branch Guide Dogs for the Blind Association are hosting it in association with Notcutts Garden Centre in Staines Road on December 4.

The price is £15 each for two courses, but revellers are asked to bring their own alcohol.
The event starts at 7.30pm.

Ring 01784 255164 for tickets.

Homeowners will be hiding cars and barricading houses when Millwall come to play Staines Town in the second round of the FA Cup.

In a meeting with the club, the FA, and Surrey Police on Friday November 13, it was decided the game is set to take place in Wheatsheaf Park, on Saturday November 28, instead of in Brentford.

The nights are drawing in, Christmas is lurking round the corner, it must be Pantomime time (Oh, no, it isn't! Oh, yes, it is!) This year Thorpe Players have a brand new, credit-crunch busting panto, "Jack and the Queenstalk", which has been specially written for them with two Dames (Buy One Get One Free)! With a large cast, it is full of action, jokes, colour and singing, and has lots of opportunities for the audience to boo, cheer and join in. The story follows the well-known tale, but with plenty added: extra characters, the two Dames for the price of one, a beanstalk, and a giant - well, a gigantic Queen anyway! - and is suitable for children of all ages, from 4 to 104.

"Jack and the Queenstalk" takes place in Thorpe Village Hall, which is just the right size for such a show, as it is not too big to frighten the little ones. Performances are on Friday 27th, Saturday 28th November, Friday 4th and Saturday 5th December at 8pm, with matinees at 2.30pm on the Saturdays. Tickets are just £4 for children and £8 for adults, with family tickets (2 of each) at £20, and further discounts for larger groups. For bookings and enquiries phone 07923 583295. The show is suitable for all the family, so if you can't borrow a child, come along and be one yourself!

An Indian Jazz buffet is being held at the Anne Boleyn Hotel on Sunday November 29.

The hotel, in the Hythe, will see three jazz musicians perform between 1.30 to 4.30pm, and a three-course Indian buffet will be served.

The evening costs £17.95 and tickets can be booked by ringing 01784 435396.