THE STAGE IS SET IN SEVENOAKS

The Helen O'Grady Drama Academy runs a studio at St Thomas' Catholic Primary School in Sevenoaks. Young people between the ages of 5 - 18 can enrol for these affordable drama classes which develop confidence and communication skills.

The Academy's specialist drama teachers, who are all DBS checked, undergo extensive training in the Helen O'Grady teaching methods. They ensure each student is encouraged in a warm, positive learning environment, where mutual respect is a high priority.

The unique programme aims to develop confidence, self-esteem, verbal communication skills and creativity, through a highly developed and extensive drama curriculum. All students attend a one-hour lesson each week during the school year. In the summer term all the students begin rehearsing a scripted play, devised for their particular age-group, which is performed to an invited audience.

The curriculum, which has been developed over 30 years internationally, is constantly revised and updated. Classes include warm up activities, speech work, mimes to music, short scripted pieces and creative improvisations. Each age group has specially-written targeted material, so every child is challenged. The lessons are great fun!

Helen Walls, Principal of the Academy in Sevenoaks, says, "It is wonderful our drama classes are in easy reach of everyone! We have a fantastic curriculum and I know that each and every student will be nurtured in our child-centred, friendly school."

The Academy locally currently operates in the following locations: -

BIGGIN HILL - CHISLEHURST - GRAVESEND - HAYES - PETTS WOOD - ORPINGTON - SEVENOAKS - SHORTLANDS 

To find out more about this unique programme, telephone our office on: 01689 812336
Email:  bromley@helenogrady.co.uk
Website: www.helenogrady.co.uk

The British Family Fayre - A FREE Family Day Out

Press Release - for immediate distribution

The British Family Fayre - A FREE Family Day Out Celebrating British Manufacturing & Production

The British Family Fayre is the ambitious brain child of James and Emily Bradshaw, who have hit the headlines consistently throughout the year for their project to survive, as a family, on only British goods and services.

The fayre, organised in just 3 months, brings together over 40 stalls by well known British brands around the country to celebrate just how great British manufacturing and farming is. The businesses themselves are coming to engage with families to tell their story in a fun and child friendly way. For example; Lush Cosmetics are giving a unique, hands-on and messy insight into making some of their products, Kings of Shaves will be giving the dads shaving demonstrations and the Derwent Pencil Company will be running workshops with world renowned children’s author and illustrator Shoo Rayner. Other workshops are provided by businesses from across the UK and in every sector of UK production, including; Cahoonas UK Ltd, Comins Tea House, Deltec Precision Audio, Doulton Drinking Water Filters, Ebac Ltd, Farrington’s Mellow Yellow, Gopack Ltd, Great British Sauce Co., Helen Gordon, Jacksons Fencing, Nelsons Brewery, Roadii Firegrills, Superstitchers , The Shave Doctor , Mr Singh's Sauce, Tudor Oak , W Hamond & The Original Whitby Jet Shop.

As well as the interactive stalls there will also be a diverse range of entertainment from around the British Isles including; a welcome by Traditional Highland pipers, the 30+ strong members of the London Welsh Rugby Club Choir and an all British set by the phenomenal Rock Choir. The event is also supported by The National Farmers Union (NFU) who will be bringing their own fun, but educational, entertainment including animals and farm based activities aimed at entertaining the kids.

Additional to all of this, the event is all in a good cause and will be attended by The Prince's Trust to celebrate 30 years helping young people in enterprise in the UK. The centre piece of this will be a live auction of products donated by British industry. This will include a British made Union flag signed by celebrities and eminent business people, such as Mayor of London - Boris Johnson.

With just a few weeks until the big day, they are still adding more to this fantastic line up. See the website to keep up to date - www.britishfamilyfayre.co.uk

Details: 

British Family Fayre - 31st August 2013 from 11am until 6pm.
Entrance Price - FREE!
Squerryes Court, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1SJ. (25 miles from London, Junction 5 or 6 of the M25) Website - www.britishfamilyfayre.co.uk

About the Bradshaws and their one family campaign to help British manufacturing:
In January 2013 the Bradshaws, a normal British family from a small town in Kent, started their New Year's resolution, which sparked an unexpected chain of events. They set themselves the challenge that for one year they would see if it was possible for a family to live entirely on British goods and services. This simple act has generated national headlines, features on TV and international media attention. The family blog about their adventures buying only British on their website; www.britishfamily.co.uk.

The British Family would like to thank Lincoln West for their assistance in organising this great day. 

James (34), Emily(29) and Lucan(3) are available for interview and comment as are the businesses and organisations involved. They appeal to the members of the press to help them make this event go off with a bang.
Contact: James Bradshaw
jbradshaw@london.com
07725940351

Free press photos and resources are available for download here: https://picasaweb.google.com/111492095436758572014/TheBradshawsFreePressPhotos?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Award Winning Artist Gives Painting Lessons

Paintings by Peta Stockton - www.petastockton.com

Sevenoaks artist Peta Stockton is offering Watercolour and Acrylic painting lessons for both adults and children. She says:

Are you scared to splash oil paint on the living room carpet?
Is the kitchen table covered with kids homework and toys?
Do you want to buy paints, but have no clue what equipment you require?
And if you do have paints... have they been stuck in a drawer waiting to be used for the last 2 years???

and her solution is:

"Make the mess at mine!!!"

Adult tuition:

• Tuesday 
• 12:00 - 14:00
• 20:00 - 22:00 
• £15 per person for 2 hours  

Private tuition:  £30 an hour.

Groups of 2-5:  £15 per person per hour.

Children's Tuition:

MONDAY

15:45 - 17:15

TUESDAY

15:45 - 17:15

WEDNESDAY

15:45 - 17:15

£10 per child payable by term

with collection from Riverhead or Amherst including a light meal and a drink.

SATURDAY

10:00 - 11:30 Craft and Art (girls aged 4-10)

11:45 - 13:15 Art (girls aged 6-10)

13:30 - 15:00 Individual Art Projects (Children aged 9-16)

£9 per child on Saturday mornings if paid in advance, or £10 on the day.

Holiday art sessions and birthday parties also available. Please see the website for details.

Contact details:

Telephone: 07827 854241

Email: peta.stockton@me.com

Website: http://www.petastockton.com

PUP (Pop-Up-Play) Cafe will be opening its doors in December

The play café will 'pop up' most often between 9.30 and 3.30 Mon-Thurs in the Plaza Suite of the Stag Community Arts Centre in Sevenoaks, providing a welcoming environment for parents and carers of pre-school children.

Due to its flexible ethos, PUP will also pop up on some Saturdays and at other times, and visitors can keep up-to-date with opening arrangements via its website, mailing list, dedicated phone line or social media pages on Twitter and Facebook. 

The children will revel in the fabulous range of ROSPA-approved climbing and soft play equipment. There will be a dedicated sensory area for babies, and a driving area for would-be Lewis Hamiltons. For those children who fancy a little bit of piece and quiet, the home corner is the place to find books, toys and colouring-in.

For parents and carers, PUP will offer a welcome opportunity to sit back, relax and maybe even enjoy a conversation! The menu has been carefully crafted to offer a mix of coffees, teas, cakes and treats, as well as healthy, well-balanced meals for adults and children alike. Wherever possible we are sourcing from local producers, particularly mumpreneurs.

PUP parties will also be available - contact us via the website for details.

PUP's aim is to be a haven for parents and children alike. We actively welcome breastfeeding mums, and there are comfortable baby-changing facilities. The ideal central location in the Plaza suite means that we hope popping into PUP will soon be part of your weekly routine.

We hope to employ local mums to help us run the café, as finding flexible work that fits around family time was one of the main drivers behind PUP's creation.

For more information, please visit www.pupcafe.co.uk

Mini Video Recorder - perfect for busy Sevenoaks mums

Ever wonder how much attention the child minder gives your kids when you leave the house? Worried parents in Sevenoaks can now find out with the CATs-I mini video recorder which can be set up discreetly to provide peace of mind surveillance inside or outside the home. No installation is required and no on-going monitoring charges apply!

The size of a key fob, this miniature device is motion activated and records video and audio (day or night) using built-in infrared lights onto an integral mini SD card for viewing and storing on your PC. It comes fitted with a 4Gb SD card for 2-hours continuous recording and storage capacity. With a 32 GB SD card this can be extended to 40 hours.

A 10-day battery, USB cable and power adapter are included in the kit which retails at £82.50 plus vat available online www.cat-psl.com or Tel: +44 (0) 844 3267326

The CATs-I Mini Video Recorder is also ideal for monitoring staff, empty or vacant property and deliveries. It provides evidence of occurrences which in normal circumstances are hard to prove. Rogue traders, watch out!

Other products in the CATs-i range include a security system with SIM CARD camera & GPRS technology, a GSM wireless power switch which enables you to monitor and control your power socket by switching the socket on/off from anywhere in the world, and a 3G wireless modem / router for instant diverse and resilient network connection.

Advice and guidance on all security issues for home and office are available from:

CPS Ltd on Tel: +44 (0) 844 3267326.
www.cat-psl.com

Children's Summer Tennis Camps at Hollybush

Looking for something to keep your children active this Summer? 

Why not try one of our tennis camps, all sessions take place at Hollybush Tennis Centre, Hollybush Lane, Sevenoaks. Places are booking up fast so call us on 01959 523377 or visit our website:

http://www.tennisacademy.org.uk

Indiana Jones experience at Combe Bank School

The girls of Combe Bank School, Sundridge will be enjoying a 'Time Team/Indiana Jones Experience' on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd June. The whole school will be reverting back to the war years in a groundbreaking, quite literally, two-day project, aptly named "Dig it".

The event is the brainchild of inspirational History teacher Peter Hutchins, who is always looking for new ways to bring his subject to life. He felt that, as the school was situated on such an historic site, the girls should be involved in unearthing some of the history and, quite literally, digging it out.

Peter said: "I am really passionate about making history come alive, to help create a long-lasting interest in the subject. What better way to bring it alive than in the form of an archaeological dig? The whole school has been hugely enthusiastic and active in the planning of the event and there is a real sense of excitement building around the school. We are very fortunate to have the school located on such a historically interesting site, and I believe the knowledge gained across the curriculum will remain with the girls far longer than if they were just reading about it."

Based in and around the historic Combe Bank House and grounds, the two-day extravaganza has taken on a life of its own and is now involving all the pupils and staff from both the Senior and Prep Schools and is now a very cross curriculum event. The field opposite the main house, which was used as a landing strip and, later, a dumping ground for decommissioned World War II aircraft, is the main site for the dig. An area has been identified in which a trench is to be dug, an initial reconnoitre of the area has already unearthed pieces of a Spitfire and very large German aircraft bullets. Metal detectors will be employed and it is hoped for lots of interesting finds, which will be cleaned and carefully catalogued.

The girls are also excavating around the old swimming pool and the changing rooms. The summer growth will mean the pool's structure is less well defined and will add to the 'Indiana Jones' like experience. In addition the girls will be trying to identify and excavate the site of a four roomed thatched cottage which was built in the grounds as a playhouse for the daughters of one of the previous owners of the house and grounds.

Weather permitting; things really start to come alive with three World War 11 Piper Cubs from Biggin Hill due to land on the old airstrip, active for the first time since 1978, on the Thursday and a fly-past from a Heritage Spitfire on the Friday. Other planned activities include Land Girls pulling vegetables and delivering on tractors to help with the ration cooking workshop; building an Anderson shelter and radio transmitter which, it is hoped, will transmit to the incoming planes; producing a newspaper as it would have been produced at the time; and the PE department organising an 'old-style' sports day where some of the activities recorded around 1930 will be restaged.

The girls will also investigate the story of a German airman who parachuted into Combe Bank and hid in the caves in the grounds. A touch of realism will be added to the investigation by a member of the teaching staff, who will recreate the event by hiding out in the caves overnight.

All the activities will recreate a real feeling of the 1920's and 1930's as well as the Blitz years for the 21st-century pupils.

Added to these events, much, much more is going on, with each department adding something to what looks set to be an unforgettable experience for all taking part. Headmistress Jane Abbotts, said: "This is a truly memorable and exciting event for Combe Bank School, and it will extend our understanding of the history of the site. The girls are creating their own record of the experience using film and music. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them choose to develop their interest in archaeology further following these two days."