One Step Away from The O2: Holmfirth’s Lily Green

Lily Green, a pupil at Holmfirth High School is now just one step away from playing within The O2 in London after impressing the TeenStar judges yet again! Lily aged 14 has now made it through to the Area Finals so is one good performance away from playing within one of the greatest live music venues in the world.

TeenStar is an exciting brand new national talent competition for teens and pre-teens which searches for the UK’s best singers, singer-songwriters, rappers and vocalists of all genres. TeenStar, is being brought to you by Future Music who already produce other national competitions including the hugely successful Open Mic UK competition. Such acts as Jahmene Douglas, Birdy, Hatty Keane and Lucy Spraggan, who have all come through Future Music competitions.

Chris Grayston, Events Coordinator for TeenStar comments “We are looking to find an act that has something unique to offer, another Birdy or Lucy Spraggan that can go all the way, with both the ability to deliver a strong live performance but also potential to become a professional recording artist. There is so much talent out there I’m sure we can find that star again!”

The competition is divided into age categories; ‘Late Teens’ (16-19), ‘Mid Teens’ (13-15) and a special category searching for the stars of tomorrow; the Pre-Teens! All types of singers, vocal performers, groups and acoustic singer/songwriters are invited to enter TeenStar.

The TeenStar singing competition has music industry judges attend every stage from auditions to the National Grand Final. You can expect to see judges from BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing, regional press and record labels, with judges getting more prestigious as the singing competition progresses. Past judges for Open Mic UK include Radio 1 DJs Ras Kwame and Annie Nightingale MBE, KISS FM’s Charlie Hedges  and Ivor Novello award winner Mark Hill who was one half of Artful Dodger.

If you know of anyone wanting to get involved in auditioning for next year and for more information on the competition go to the website www.teenstarcompetition.co.uk or better still come down and support your local talent performing in the Area Final and see who makes it to Grand Final! You can purchase tickets on the door subject to availability or from Lily Green.

Heckmondwike 16 Honley 8: Latest Petangue Score..?

By Local Writer David Walker
It looks like a rugby result, but it’s actually Petanque. A French game, originally from Marseilles, where people throw one and half pound balls of metal (the boules) at a small one inch wooden jack(the piglet) about 20 feet away. Presumably we acquired the game from all those French holidays and second homes.

Honley play outside the village hall every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning throughout the year, weather permitting. They were recently visited by Didier, a petanque champion, friend and neighbour of a Honley resident who partly lives in France. Despite the arctic conditions, he gave a masterclass. Our subsection comes from an outpost in Netherton, courtesy of Ann and David Tallboys, who own property in France. We meet alternate Friday afternoons when the hosts are in the UK. David is also  the U3A petanque tutor. Many of us haven’t played since Autumn 2012. Heckmondwike practice regularly and have a fixture list which includes venues such as Lightwater Valley.

The pitch can have a big say in match outcomes. Waste ground is all that’s required. Exposed rocks and tree roots can be quite sporty. Most boulodromes are level at least, covered by your choice of dirt and gravel. The smaller the particulate matter, the more predictable the game, except for the odd swampy bit in which your boule simply sinks and dies. Reminiscent of beach cricket and sandy games of plastic petanque. Bigger stones and your accurately thrown boule can do a leg-break.

A sunny windy day over at Heckmondwike’s boulodrome. A couple of pitches that comfortably fit ten or so matches. Our first throws were pretty good. But the nearer we got, the more skilled they seemed to get, not with dramatic aerial bombs, but gently knocking us aside. They never let you off. They’d been there and done it regularly and it makes a big difference. In addition, they didn’t seem to get as many bad ‘kicks’ as we did. The closeness meant neither of the teams scored more than one per end, which lead to a long encounter. Quite tiring after 4 matches in 3 hours, pushing us beyond the comfortable traffic zone and into the rush hour drive home.

When we played a daft shot, like knocking one of their boules nearer the piglet, a couple of them said ‘Thank you’. It may sound polite, but it is irritating and can be interpreted if your losing and that way out, as condescending and gamesmanship. They didn’t do it again. It’s all about where you learned your sportsmanship and how you react to losing. Games are great ways of sussing people out.

Incidentally, I thought boulodrome was a made-up word. It isn’t. It’s in the French version of Wikipedia.

Holmfirth Networking Event This Thursday

 Thanks for the email from Holme Valley Initiatives inviting Holmfirth business people to their networking group, held every 2 weeks at The Full Life Church, Thongsbridge.
The aim of the group is to bring Holmfirth businesses together to work in harmony with each other by creating opportunities and promoting each other. The networking group is part of the Holme Valley Business Association and members and non members are welcome to attend.
The meeting is this Thursday at 9.30am until 11 and is currently £5 to attend. The cost includes refreshments and bacon sandwiches and croissants sourced locally.
If you are interested in attending or finding out more please do not hesitate to get in touch, we have a facebook page where you can register to attend and also a page on eventbrite:-

Free Marketing Workshop at Holmfirth’s Old Bridge

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Make a note in your diary for a free marketing workshop run by Pennine Prospects for Holme and Colne Valley businesses on Tuesday 4 June 10am – 12noon at the Old Bridge, Holmfirth.

The event is all about improving your marketing really quickly – no matter how small your marketing budget. Find out:
• What you need to say to make an impact.
• What you need to say or write to convince customers.
• How you can stand out from the crowd.
• Which marketing methods will get the best results and how you can prioritise.
• What ideas you could use to get publicity

Local business people can sign up at the South Pennine website.

Honley Library Stars are the Tops

Hats off to Honley Reading Stars!  Honley Library has just finished hosting an exciting seven-week reading project with 28 Year 5 children from Honley CE (VC) Junior School.

Between February and April this year, the children have walked to the library to take part in a National Literacy Trust initiative called ‘Premier League Reading Stars’.

 Each week the children have participated in a variety of different football related tasks and challenges aimed at developing their reading skills and interests. In addition to choosing books to take home each week, sessions have included word games, reading exercises, story writing, book reviews, a visit from local poet Craig Bradley and a penalty shoot out!

 The children who were not already library members have been joined up and there has already been a noticeable increase the children’s reading interest levels. It is hoped that the children will now become regular visitors to the library as a result.

Holmfirth’s A6024 Improvement Go-Ahead

The major A6024 Huddersfield Road through Holmfirth is earmarked for major improvement work, announced Kirklees Council as part of a £23m project which will see facelifts for a number of Kirklees routes.

The overall plan includes road resurfacing, street lighting, structures, road safety, encouraging walking and cycling, drainage, traffic signals, car parks and public transport provision, however no specific details have yet been released in respect of the A6024.

Other local routes due for improvements include the A616 Huddersfield Road, Honley, and the A6024 Woodhead Road, Honley. The work is due to be carried out over the next two years.

 

Nearly Here – Holmfirth’s Big, Big Festival of Folk

It’s here again and only days away – Holmfirth’s big, big Festival of Folk this coming Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10, 11 and 12th of May.

With its rousing music and busy, bustling venues, the Holmfirth event has been described as a small, friendly festival which aims to involve the local community as much as possible.

A spokeswoman told the Holmfirth website: “We realise our limitations and try to work within them, offering a mixture of dance, concerts and sessions in a variety of settings to cater for all tastes.

“There are folk club type events, formal concerts, workshops and less formal performances in virtually every pub, bar and restaurant in Holmfirth and the majority are free! We have always taken pride in the quality and variety of dance performers and street entertainers at Holmfirth and every year it seems to get better.”

Big events at the Picturdrome are Lau on the Friday 10th May 7.30pm tickets £15.00, Show of Hands – Saturday 11th May 7.30pm £18, and The Churchfitters – Sunday 12th May 1.30pm £7.50

This year, the popular and atmospheric Cellar 88 has been welcomed as an important festival host for the first time, with Roger Davis performing on the Friday, and an open-mic afternoon in the afternoon.

Full details, check out the packed Festival website.

Lights! Camera! Action! All Go for Big Holmfirth Film Festival

Grab the popcorn ready for the huge Holmfirth Film Festival appearing on a big screen at a pub, club,  barn and other quirky venues near you.

Regulars will know its an exciting community festival which brings to the Holme Valley a feast of cinema in all its forms, from the past and present, in quirky and new venues, though innovative events and specialist talks. It seeks to tap into and encourage the creative potential of the area with film-making, workshops and competitions for young people.

Make a note of the Festival Dates – Friday 17 TO Friday 24 MAY 2013

The 4th Holmfirth Film Festival builds on the success of the last three years with an exciting programme of over fifty screenings, quirky venues throughout the area, innovative events and more opportunities to see award-winning films and documentaries, cult films, the very best movies from around the world and the premier of features and shorts.

This year’s festival has expanded its reach to new venues in Brockholes, Slaithwaite, Marsden and Penistone, and an exciting new development – Cinema in a Yurt at the Cricketers in Deanhouse.

Will Self (pictured) one of Britain’s most dazzling contemporary authors, talks about Walking to Hollywood and his favourite films. Funny, disturbing and fearless, Self is a modern-day Swift with an entertaining take on the state of film today.

Among the 50 films screened are Amour, Rust and Bone, Untouchable, The Royal Affair and revivals of Billy Liar and This Sporting Life. There will be lots of opportunities for families to watch award-winning children’s films and animation classics. Get out your costumes for a special screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, introduced by the co-writer of the music, locally born Richard Hartley.

The festival taps into the creative potential of the Holme Valley with film-making workshops and short-film competitions for would-be directors of all ages. There is still time to enter the Film Competition for Young PeopleThe Spirit of Where You Live – with £500 of prizes for the best short films.

Festival favourites – Local Film Night, Ladies Who Lunch, Film in a Barn, Curry Night – always sell out quickly so make sure you buy your tickets early.

Full details see the flyers in town or visit the feature-packed website.

 

New Advertiser Boost for Holmfirth’s Online News

Holmfirthweb.com is proud to welcome aboard another two advertisers – see the buttons (top right) for Wishes fabulous gift shop Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, along with the region’s premier Land Rover dealer  Rocar Moores, of Huddersfield.

Advertising support is vital for the Holmfirth website as it helps support our free online news and information service which benefits and promotes the Holmfirth community.

If you are interested in advertising, please contact the Editor at holmfirthweb@yahoo.co.uk,

Holmfirthweb popped in to see the team at Wishes to find out about their very popular gift shop.

They said: “We are a family run business located in the heart of Holmfirth who have been established for just over 2 years. We specialise in a wide range of Candles including Yankee, Wax Lyrical and Kringle, we also have a large selection of greeting cards for every occasion to suit everybody’s tastes.

“We also stock Bomb Cosmetics, Arran Aromatics, Di Paloma and Dora Designs.

“We pride ourselves in selling good quality products at a fair price whilst also giving our customers service second to none, so please come and visit us at Wishes on Huddersfield Road at the bottom of Cooper Lane.”  The Wishes button links to their Facebook page.

A spokesman for Rocar Moores told the Holmfirth website:  “We are committed to supporting all your Land Rover needs. From purchasing to servicing, we have a dedicated team of specially trained staff to assist you.

“Whether you’re looking for a new Evoque, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Discovery 4, Freelander 2 or Defender or a quality assured Approved Used Land Rover, our highly trained, dedicated Land Rover sales team are on hand to help with every step of the way.”

Their impressive button is promoting the innovate Evoque and right now you can click the button to arrange a test drive.

Holmfirth’s Fairandfunky Helping Teach Keighley Kids

Congratulations to Holmfirth-based “Fairandfunky” which has teamed up with Fairtrade Keighley to deliver innovative new teaching projects across Keighley schools.

Keighley is the latest town in Yorkshire working to achieve Fairtrade Town status and  comes after Yorkshire was declared the very first Fairtrade Region earlier this year.

Fairandfunky creates Fairtrade jewellery, soaps and toys from recycled material, and was established in May 2012 by Helen Robinson and Sophie Bebb.

Helen is co-founded the Holme Valley Fairtrade Support Group and together with others from the group set up a Fairtrade co-operative in Holmfirth and worked as the buying and shop manager. Helen also loves Holmfirth, is committed to Fairtrade.

Sophie and Helen met whilst working together, and are very proud of collaborating with Holmfirth Arts Festival in 2011 to put 5 pianos in the streets; all decorated on global themes! Sophie is an active member of the Holme Valley Oxfam Support Group and is also co-chair of The Oxfam National Youth Board.

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