Tag: travel

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Govannen – they’re back ..

By popular demand Govannen are back in Thornton in June 2026.

They will be playing at Thornton Community Centre on Friday 26th June as part of a big fund-raising weekend for the Centre.

Space is limited at the Centre, so to avoid disappointment – email thorntonvillage@aol.com to reserve your tickets now.

Looking for the perfect Christmas present? Why not treat your loved ones to tickets and give them something to look forward to in the summer.

Thanks to local residents – McSmith Events – we are now able to offer a licensed bar for Centre events.

Who are Govannen?

Govannen – are one of the best Celtic music bands in the UK, blending jigs & reels with traditional & contemporary Irish songs. They celebrated 30 years together in 2024.

Concerts – a Govannen concert is a special mix of traditional & contemporary music & songs, delivered with good humour.

Ceilidhs & Barn Dances – Govannen are the perfect choice for ceilidhs and barn dances for weddings, functions and parties, where the emphasis is on fun.

Albums – Ranging from atmospheric Celtic chill-out music to live pub recordings, Govannen have sold over 10,000 albums worldwide. Two of their albums have won awards in the USA.
“Govannen play with passion, artistry and an easy going good humour, each in good measure for a night to remember” – Time Out

Govannen –
Dan Britton – vocals, guitar, bodhran
Adele McMahon – violin, vocals
Chris Conway – keyboards, Irish whistles, vocals
Roger Wilson – violin, vocals
Neil Rabjohn – percussion, vocals.
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Ray Jane – dance caller, flute, tin whistle

This will be their fourth visit to Thornton – the band loves playing here, and always receive a very warm welcome. They are delighted to be instrumental in helping to raise much needed funds for the centre.

The next major works is the replacement of the 52 year old central heating system in the Main Hall, the old pipework has begun to spring leaks under the main hall wooden floor – big money required!

Thornton Artisan Festival – Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June 2026

Preparations are being made to follow the Friday evening event with the first Thornton Artisan Festival, hopefully to become an annual event to replace the old Thornton Carnival.

The Thornton Artisan Festival 2026 will be a two-day community celebration (12 midday to 5pm) showcasing the best of local creativity across art, photography, sculpture, craft, and food; with a strong emphasis on local artists, crafters and food producers; interspersed with entertainment for all.

If you have any ideas or would like to be involved please contact us on … thorntonartisan@gmail.com

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Flower, Plant & Herb Cryptic Quiz – answers

Thank you to everyone who took part in another of my cryptic quizzes.

The theme of this one was to coincide with Thornton Open Gardens in July and added to the fundraising efforts in aid of the maintenance of St Peter’s Church.

This quiz proved to be a ‘bit of a challenge’ with some regular quizzers saying it was harder than my usual cryptic quizzes.

There were just two ‘quizzers’ who got all 50 questions correct .. congratulations to them – neither of them were local, but were visiting from Ilfracombe and Nottingham respectively.

But, there can only be one winner – the two names were put in a hat and Jan Ward from Nottingham was the winner of the £10 prize.

The answers are: –

  • 1. First sign of a white Christmas (8) – SNOWDROP
  • 2. A wise man (4) – SAGE
  • 3. You may see this in the blink of an eye (4) – IRIS
  • 4. Is she shrinking? (6) – VIOLET
  • 5. Clinging female (3) – IVY
  • 6. What did ‘Ben rave’ about? (7) – VERBENA
  • 7..She likes ‘keeping up appearances’ – HYACINTH
  • 8. You might have this on your hands when you’ve finished gardening (5) – THYME
  • 9. You ‘split’ these bulbs to propagate (6) TULIPS
  • 10. Prudence (6) – THRIFT
  • 11. Jeer at this fruit (4, 6) – MOCK ORANGE
  • 12.Nearly top of this football league (7) – CAMPION
  • 13. What is our ‘main goal’ about? Answering this clue of course (8) MAGNOLIA
  • 14. Chris Hoy & Chris Frome often slightly muddled can be described as this (8) – CYCLAMEN
  • 15. Sizzling card game (3, 3, 5) RED HOT POKER
  • 16. Did this summon Thomas Beckett to his death? (10, 4) – CANTERBURY BELL
  • 17.Picture this legendary Welsh creature (10) – SNAPDRAGON
  • 18. A clean sweep with this plant (5) – BROOM
  • 19. Female singer/songwriter born in 1979 (4) – PINK
  • 20. ‘Stare’ hard to see this flower (5) ASTER
  • 21. The Universe (6) – COSMOS
  • 22. Is my ding-a-ling depressed? (8) – BLUEBELL
  • 23. Watering can attachment (4) – ROSE
  • 24. Did she get hitched on a tandem? (5) – DAISY
  • 25. Females cloak (5, 6) – LADYS MANTLE
  • 26. Rubber gloves? (9) – MARIGOLDS
  • 28. Symbol of remembrance (5) – POPPY
  • 29. Go faster, better (9) – SPEEDWELL
  • 30. Remember (6,2,3) – FORGET ME NOT
  • 31.’Vain to the core’ (8) – VERONICA
  • 32. All alone in the onion patch (7) – PETUNIA
  • 33. US state climber (7) – MONTANA
  • 34. Up early to ‘egg on’ this song bird (8) – LARKSPUR
  • 35. This ‘proper’ English lady is out late in the day (7, 8) – EVENING PRIMROSE
  • 36. At its best between dawn & noon (7, 5) – MORNING GLORY
  • 37. Has she been involved in a punch up? (5,4, 5) – BLACK EYED SUSAN
  • 38. National flower of Mexico (6) – DAHLIA
  • 39. Assume this position to meditate (5) – LOTUS
  • 40. Colloquial – great, fantastic, brilliant (4) – MINT
  • 41. Head gear of a man of the cloth (9) – MONKSHOOD
  • 42. Canine coppice (7) – DOGWOOD
  • 43. Sweet food nurtured by bees (11) – HONEYSUCKLE
  • 44. There are definitely strings attached to this plant (5) – VIOLA
  • 45. Whether they are green or blue, when I am Queen, you will be my King (8) LAVENDER
  • 46. Shy and introverted especially at parties (10) – WALLFLOWER
  • 47. ‘All is ready for Mary’ (9) – AMARYLLIS
  • 48. Our late Queen always had much to do (4, 6) – BUSY LIZZIE
  • 49. Beside the lake beneath the trees fluttering and dancing in the breeze (9)   DAFFODILS
  • 50. 24 hours and she’s gone! (7) – DAYLILY

This quiz is copyright of Gill Tapping, Thornton village – and may not be reproduced for any purpose without the author’s permission.

If you are a fundraiser for your local charity I have some similar cryptic quizzes to this one, on various topics and am happy for their use in fundraising in exchange for a small donation of £10 which will be given to the Friends of St Peter’s towards the maintenance of the church and grounds.

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Heritage Open Days – Leicestershire ~ St Peter’s Church, Thornton

England’s largest festival of history and culture!

Heritage Open Days 6th-15th September 2024

Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture.

It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.

As part of Heritage Open Days, St Peter’s Church, Thornton, will be open over the weekend of 14th and 15th September for all to visit.

It’s your chance to explore this lovely Grade 1, historical church for yourselves, and discover its wealth of history.

An Exhibition in the church will provide a fascinating insight into Thornton’s history.

The church will be open between 10 am and 6 pm on Saturday 14th and from 1 pm till 5 pm on Sunday afternoon.

Entry is free. Donations always welcome. Refreshments will be available to purchase.

Any contributions towards the exhibition are welcome. Do you have stories to tell or old photographs of Thornton that we could borrow to display?

Please contact churchwarden.thornton@gmail.com

For details of other Heritage Open Days venues go to http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk