A fair that brings together people of different ages to share their skills and knowledge - to help each other out and have fun doing it.
It is an event where we 'fix' small things for each other, seek and provide advice, come up with solutions. At the moment we are looking to recruit volunteer 'fixers'. Can you:
- mend a hole?
- translate something?
- fix a bike?
- resolve a computer issue?
- get someone on Twitter?
- show how to make the most of a mobile phone?
- polish shoes?
- advice on cooking?
- or do you have some other skill that you would like to share?
We haven't started the planning yet so any suggestions/offers are welcome.
Raising funds for the refurbishment and helping everyone clear out and give old things a new life.
Tables are £5, doors open at 10 for stall holders. To book a table email us or call Chris on 01227 712355.
At 7pm: General Members Special meeting and a vote to transfer the community group assets to the new charity. The meeting is open to everyone but the vote is restricted to current members. Membership forms for the new charity will be available at the meeting. We will also discuss progress in our take over preparations and fundraising.
At 8pm: Presentation of the refurbishment plans, open to everyone. The Trust's architect and surveyor will present the plans and answer questions, giving everyone a chance to comment or raise any concerns before we submit the planning application.
Paint a tile for the 100 years of the Westgate Hall wall. The tiles will fill a wall in the café and remind everyone of what can be achieved when the community pulls together. A contribution of £5 per tile will cover the costs and help raise funds for the refurbishment of the Hall. If you cannot make that evening you can go and paint Westgate Hall tiles at Espression café any other time, just mention that they are for the Hall.
11:00 5 Star Swing (jazz)
12:00 UKC Musical Theatre (show songs)
12:45 Cal Hewitt (rock classics)
13:30 Richard Navarro and Nicholas Thurston (originals and popular covers)
14:30 Peter Pan (panto by Stage Spiders)
15:15 Carol Singing (lead by Ray Fielder, please join in!)
A very grand community Christmas fair featuring:
- Live music, including a jazz band, Richard Navarro, Cal Hewitt and more!
- Panto! Stage Spiders present Peter Pan
- Christmas Market featuring lovely locally produced crafts
- Curry, cakes, hot spiced apple juice
- Scrabble tournament
- Children's activities
- and Father Christmas!
Let us know if you would like to take part, we need plenty of volunteers. This year we want to make a great grotto for Father Christmas, can you help?
We will also start the 100 years of Westgate Hall Wall: as the building has been given another 99 years of life, we will mark this with a wall featuring tiles painted by the community of people who, in 2010 and 2011, saved the Hall from demolition. Everyone aged 0 to 140 can paint a tile, in exchange for a small donation to cover the costs and help raise funds. More details available soon!
Master of Wine Clive Barlow will lead you through tasting 6 wines from around the world and test your team's tasting skills with six wines from around the world. The prize for the winning team will be a selection of wines.
A light supper will be provided by Patrick's Kitchen from The Goods Shed.
You can book single tickets or in teams of six by calling 0845 689 0213 or by emailing us.
Saturday 22nd October 7pm
£10 (includes food and quiz entry fee)
There will also be a Grand Raffle
For more information or to book tickets you can email us or call us on 01227 712355
We will be taking part in the citywide Big Clean, the aim being to prepare Canterbury for the influx of visitors coming to enjoy the Festival. In our case, as opening night is on Friday 14th October at the Westgate Hall, we'd like to have the flowerbeds showing the best of Autumn colours. So do join us for weeding and planting from 10.00 - 12.00 on the 8th. Please bring spare plants if you have any.
Curzon has chosen films that reveal the diversity it can offer: foreign; children's; animated and independent; to all age groups and tastes. The children;s activities following the first film will demonstrate the kind of hands-on approach Curzon adopts in adapting to the interests and needs of its different audiences. Curzon will also be providing information about support for those requiring care and those who look after them.
Curzon's offerings will be interspersed with those from Canterbury.
Natanaël, seven, still doesn't know how to read. His beloved aunt has bequeathed her book collection to him and unable to read the books he is very disappointed, however, unbeknownst to Natanaël, his aunt's library is a magical collection of originals containing all the heroes, such as Captain Hook and Alice, found in children's literature. One evening the characters emerge from the bookshelves asking him for protection for if they leave the library, they will disappear along with their stories forever! When his parents start selling off the books Nathanaël, who is shrunk by the evil witch, sets on a quest to save his tiny friends and his reading skills are put to the test.
"Just when you thought you were safe...", Peter Cook, in collaboration with the Marlowe Youth Theatre, will present 'Becoming', a selection of witty, scary funny and poignant films around theme of Becoming;
From the acclaimed French animation director Michel Ocelot this magical film tells the tale of two very different boys, raised like brothers, and reunited as rivals on their quest to free the mythical Djinn fairy.
The Whitstable-based independent animation studio that won the "One to Watch" award at the Canterbury Culture Awards 2011, will surprise us with one of its creations;
Justinian Dispenza, a US film student who has spent a year studying film at the University of Kent, has volunteered his passion and skill and produced a documentary of the Trust and, drawing on the resources of Christ Church University and the Historic Society of Canterbury, there will be historic films of Canterbury.
Pina Bausch is a legendary dancer and choreographer. Her unique creations transformed the language of dance, offering a visual experience like no other. Acclaimed German auteur Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas and The Buena Vista Social Club) presents a revolutionary new film that captures the aesthetic of Bausch's greatest works in an utterly thrilling way. A feast for the senses, this promises to be one of the film experiences of the year.
Fascinating, moving and often humorous, The King's Speech charts the personal relationship that developed between England's reluctant King George VI, plagued by a nervous stammer, and his irreverent Australian speech therapist. With an award-winning cast including Colin Firth as Prince Albert, and Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth.
We very much hope you can join us on both the 21st and the 23rd. Volunteers are still needed for the 23rd, please let us know if you can help and have told us yet, it our last event before decision day and it will be great celebration of what we have achieved so far.
Saturday 25th June 2011
11am till 1pm
Join us at the hall to tidy up the garden.
Sunday 5th June 12pm - 4pm
We can now confirm we will have curry by the Canterbury Curry Club, Moorish food by Cafe Mauresque, and Polish cakes.
12.15 Mitch Emery
12.45 Salsa Demo and workshop - Salsa Asi
13.00 Mykl - Classical guitar
13.30 Loose Change Theory
14.15 UKC Musical Theatre Company: Songs from Musical Theatre
14.50 Richard Navarro
15.20 Gentlemen of Few
Stage Spiders (a children's drama company) will be offering children's activities and facepainting throughout the day.
Do you love scrabble? Then why not come along and join our scrabble tournament at the Westgate Hall Big Lunch?
12.30 - 16.00 Wantsum Morris and Shillelagh
Entry is free. We plan to begin at 1pm and finish around 4pm. The event is open to all levels of ability, from 16 years of age and up. To sign up, please email or text Mark Wurdemann on 0755 4118085.
Please mention whether or not you'd be able to bring your own scrabble set along for use during the event.
Thursday 19th May 7pm till 10
PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF VENUE: The Westgate Hall Wine Challenge will now be held at Espression Cafe, Palace Street.
Learn to tell the difference between Sauvignon Banc and Pinot Grigio, between tannins and acids the Westgate Hall Wine Challenge.
Master of Wine Clive Barlow will lead you through the tasting process and host a wine quize to test your team's tasting skills with six wines from around the world. The prize for the winning team will be a selection of wines!
A light supper will be provided by Patrick's Kitchen from The Goods Shed.
You can book single tickets or in teams of six by calling 0845 689 0213 or emailing us.
15th May 10am till 4pm
Entry: 50p per family
Westgate Community Trust and National Childbirth Trust bring you a day of fun for children and their parents and the opportunity to find out about activities and resources for families in Canterbury: singing, football, martial arts, baby groups, drama and plenty of fun.
Activities and crafts for 0-12s
Childrens' entertainment
Facepaint, ballon modelling and a bouncy castle
Nearly new sale
Food
Call Hannah on 07732 090102 for details.
14th-15th May
We are running a stall at this fair.
23rd-25th April
The fae have offered us a stall to promote our campaign that we are hoping to run subject to volunteer availability.
Saturday 2nd April 7:30pm till late
The Westgate Community Trust in association with West Track Studios present an evening of music, dancing and merriment.
Hot Moorish Buffet
Wine by Press Wine Services
Musical performances by:
~ Ivan Thompson (Hullabaloo)
~ Ben Mills
~ Brendan Power
~ Simon Foster (Flying Pickets)
Charity Auction with mystery compere
Dance performances by Ian Sharpe and Victoria Lawrence
Tickets: £40 per person, £35 for Trust members. Buy single tickets or tables for 6 or 10 persons.
To book please contact:
Terry on 07968 810638
or email us.
Dress code: Evening dress, black tie and mask.
Limited numbers, get your ticket now.
Saturday 19th March 7:30pm till 11:30
- Salsa Classes, at 4 different levels, starting at 8.15, including ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS (don't be shy, come along and have fun!).
- Mario/Maria Dance competition, with prize;
- Freestyle Dancing; Bar available; Parking nearby;
- DJ's (Leon, Matt, Bob on rotation)
- Raffle Prizes to win
Entry: £10
Payable on the door or in advance from Steve on 07825 300580;
or by email.
Kindly organised by Salsa Asi and Salsa South, with all proceeds donated to the campaign to save the Westgate Hall.
5th March 10a.m. - 1p.m.
Help us keep the Hall's garden tidy and prepare for the Spring revival! Everyone is welcome to come to the Hall and help maintain the gardens around it. Bring your own tools and any spare plants!
Subject to confirmation: stall at the Antique's Fair... and some cake to celebrate the Trust's first birthday! We will email details soon.
Sunday 5th December is fast approaching and the Westgate Community Trust is working together with local artists, musicians, community organisations and food producers to create a festive start to the Christmas season for Canterbury's community.
The Westgate Hall will be transformed into a market square. Stalls will sell Christmas decorations, children's clothing, painted silks, books, quilts, tea cup candles with matching saucers and cake plates, silver and handmade beaded jewellery, original artwork, handmade sock rabbits - the variety and originality is endless.
Father Christmas is visiting from 1.00 to 3.00 PM, ready for a heart-to-heart with our children. Canterbury City Council Children's Play activities team will stimulate imaginations even further, then there will be henna painting for those who would like a new look.
Tarot and Rune readings will give us insight into the New Year's main trends. Winter Solstice cards and pagan gifts and books will also be available.
As for the Trust, we will have a presentation board to update the community on recent developments in our efforts to Save the Westgate Hall. To this end, we will be selling Liz Findlay's sparkling Westgate Hall Christmas card (right) as well as our Save Westgate Hall jute shopping bags (left), made possible thanks to the generous donation of Scott Curtis and David Godwin of Godwin Curtis estate agents. Tickets will be on sale for our raffle, and Trust surveys can also be completed.
Tables and chairs will be set up café style to enjoy tea, coffee or Pawley Farm's spiced apple juice. Should hunger set in, Paul of Canterbury Curry Club will be providing curries, the Russian Food stall, sweet and savoury dishes, and Nina's Cakery, a Christmas staple, mince pies.
As for our community groups, we are delighted to be collaborating with the Pensioners' Forum, the Canterbury Hospital League of Friends, L'Arche, and Hales Place Friends Community.
The raffle draw of items donated by Canterbury businesses and Trust supporters will take place at 4.00 PM. A particular highlight will be Earthwalkers (right), a still life of flowers, exuding Nature's energy, by local artist and Trust supporter, Laura Mars.
12.00 Mykl - Classical Guitar
12.30 5 Star Swing
13.15 Spyplane
14.00 Brendan Power and Frances Knight
14.30 The Simon Langton Girls School Soul and Funk Band
Raffle Draw followed by
15.15 Salsa Demo and workshop - Salsa Asi
15.30 Carol Singing with Brass Ensemble
16.00 Way Down Yonder - Barber Shop Quartet
16.15 Canterbury Christ Church University Gospel Choir
16.55 'With Passion and with Heart' [the WCT anthem]
Father Christmas will be here between 13:00 and 15:00
Other activities for babies and children will run throughout the day.
Music and dance will lift our spirits throughout the afternoon. Mykl, the Trust webmaster, will share his professional skills as a classical guitarist of international repute, while members of the Beverley Big Band, playing as 5 Star Swing, will set our toes tapping. International jazz musicians, harmonica player Brendan Power and jazz pianist Frances Knight, will join forces and regale us with their upbeat tempos and interpretations while dancers from Salsa-Asi will enthral us with their footwork wizardry. Canterbury's Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School's Soul and Funk Band and the Christ Church University Gospel Choir will raise the rafters. The harmonies of the Way Down Yonder Barber Shop Quartet will set the tone for those of us who want to join in the Christmas carol sing-along with the Betteshanger Brass Quintet.
The afternoon will draw to a rousing close with voices raised in With Passion and with Heart, the anthem written and composed for the Trust by Trust supporter Ray Fielder.
The Goods Shed Restaurant, Clive Barlow (Master of Wine) and Tom's Cheese are preparing us an Autumn feast, featuring the very best of local foods and wines to raise funds to support the Westgate Community Trust as it works to save the Westgate Hall and transform it into a vibrant community centre.
Clive will present five local wines, paired with delicious Autumn fare from the Restaurant, five courses cooked using local ingredients, and
cheeses from Canterbury Cheesemakers, presented by Tom.
Thursday 21st October 7:30 pm
Cheese & Wine Tasting
The Goods Shed, Station Road West, Canterbury CT2 8AN
To book tickets please email phone 07912626433 or email us
Ticket price: £30
A frightfully good evening of Ballroom, Latin, Jive and Old Time dancing with the Beverley Big Band! Come as a witch or a warlock, a mummy or the undead. Prizes for the best costumes.
Saturday 23rd October
7:30 until 11:00pm
Book your tickets (£9) from Christine on 01227 712355
Bring your own food. Licensed Bar.
Raffle for the Westgate Hall Community Trust.
Saturday 9th October 2010
9a.m. until about 2:30p.m.
Outside Westgate Hall
Time for some "guerrilla gardening"! As Canterbury spruces up as part of the Big Clean initiative, come and help us turn the unkempt areas of weeds around the Westgate Hall into lovely flower beds. You may have read that the land where the Hall stands used to be the beautiful Master's Exotic Nursery... let's bring some of that beauty back and show everyone that the Hall is a well loved building that we as a community care for.
Everyone is welcome to come and take part, bring garden tools and gloves if you have them, any spare plants... and offers of tea and cake will be welcome too.
Westgate Hall
12 till 6 pm
Please join The Westgate Community Trust at the Westgate Hall to meet, greet, laugh, and celebrate our community.
Bring food - home grown if you can - and picnic with us in Westgate Hall road.
Discover what the Westgate Hall could become as our community centre, and share your ideas.
Savour live music, children's entertainment, dancing, arts and crafts, food stalls and much, much more. If you'd like to help in any way, please email us.
15:00 Drumming Workshop
Face painting
Baby massage workshops will run at various times throughout the day. Ask a member of staff for details.
12:00 5 Star Swing
12:30 Katerina Georgiou Band
13:00 Mykl
13:30 Salsa-Asi
14:00 Cal Hewitt
14:30 Loose Change
15:00 Unfinished Business Theatre Company
15:30 Katerina Georgiou Band
16:00 5 Star Swing
16:30 Salsa-Asi
17:00 Loose Change
17:30 RAFFLE DRAW
17:50 Ensemble Sing: "With Passion and with Heart"
The Westgate Community Trust is taking part in The Big Lunch, the second national celebration of community. And given our aim as a non political group is to help build community in Canterbury, the Westgate Hall, a landmark in our city's centre for 100 years, is the perfect venue. Initiated by The Eden Project, The Big Lunch aims to bring together people of all ages and backgrounds to share a meal and make friends. Taking the time to eat together is an opportunity to break down the barriers that appear to be isolating us more and more one from the other, preventing us from hearing and understanding each other's stories. As the Eden Project states, "It's the start of a journey into rebuilding our communities. We call this phenomenon 'human warming.'"
The Trust has grown quickly out of the 1300 members of the Save the Westgate Hall (Canterbury) Facebook site established in January this year in response to Canterbury City Council's proposed demolition of the Hall. We now have more than 40 volunteers. Too often in the excitement generated by our city's tourist sites and the university, the people who live here and make sure the city continues to thrive after visitors and students return to their homes feel forgotten and/or ignored. We would like to take the opportunity of The Big Lunch to shine the spotlight on our fellow residents to remind ourselves what a dynamic multi-faceted community Canterbury is and create strong bonds amongst us.
12:45 Walk Around Britain
13:15 Loose Change
14:15 Mykl
15:00 Drumming Workshop (in Hall)
15:45 Mykl
16:15 Walk Around Britain
On 18th July, tables will be set up in Westgate Hall road (a wet weather alternative has been organized). All are invited to bring food. We are also arranging for stands selling strawberries, raspberries, apple juice, curry, maybe a hog roast, all from local producers. Inside the Hall we will have displays introducing the Trust and the various projects we hope to develop, live music, dance, children's entertainment, arts and crafts, as well as stalls to promote local groups, businesses and activities. There will also be a stall in support of the Stella Rogers Appeal.
Trust surveys will be available - the community's feedback is key to how we define what the centre will have to offer, and is evidence of need, essential for us to demonstrate to the Council that the Westgate Hall has a vital role to play as Canterbury's community centre. Of over 500 responses so far, only three have not supported saving the Westgate Hall. Surveys can also be filled in online. Some of the comments we have received are recorded on the Your Say pages.
Volunteers are welcome and should email us using the link above.
Do get in touch if you would like more detail or clarification of any point.
Westgate Hall, Canterbury
Sat 5th May 2010 8:30 - 12pm
Doors open 8pm
members - £10
Join Jack and the team for a fun and important night of 60's themed dancing at Westgate Hall this week. The night kicks off with an Ice Breaker Class at 8:30 and there will be freestyle until midnight.
As most are aware our Canterbury venue is due to be pulled down next year. The Westgate Hall Fund has been set up to save this brilliant venue and proceeds from this night of dancing will be going towards this. Please come and help raise as much money as possible.
Sat 29 May 2010 8 - 11 pm
Westgate Hall, Canterbury
Doors open 7.30 pm
Book a table - dress the part and have fun.
Tickets £10 must be reserved.
