The Chalke Valley History Festival was established to promote the understanding of history to people of all ages. Offering a unique blend of talks, discussions & debates alongside a vast living history through-the-ages encampment and stunning warbird air show, the Chalke Valley History Festival is a celebration of history like no other.

Set in fields in south-west Wiltshire, the festival’s home lies in an idyllic part of the world. Here, chalk downs, etched by ancient droves, overlook lush farmland and, during the week-long festival, a large encampment. It is a stunning spot – where an ancient English landscape meets Hardy’s Wessex. And for one week at the end of every June, this normally sleepy corner of England comes alive to the sound of Merlin engines, cannon-fire, muskets and music.

Whether young or old, there is much on offer at this truly unique festival of history.

Enjoy fascinating, insightful and excellent talks and presentations for a wide range of speakers – all experts in their fields, and also often household names such as Dan Snow, Neil Oliver, Tom & James Holland, Ranulph Fiennes, Charles Spencer, Peter Snow, Ian Hislop, John Sessions, Charlie Higson, Sebastian Faulks, Nicholas Soames and Julian Fellowes.

Enjoy weekend air displays with the UK’s only flying Lancaster, Spitfires, a Hurricane, a P-51 Mustang and a Catalina.

There are also Living History displays with small encampments from Roman times to the Second World War. Each encampment is manned by hugely knowledgeable living historians and re-enactors who will be demonstrating their particular period – living, cooking, eating, making tools and everyday utensils, or preparing for battle. They will give informal talks  and provide all manner of practical activities with anyone of any age can get involved. There will be an Anglo-Saxon settlement with two reconstructed dwellings, and a medieval combat tournament. There is also the Trench experience to better understand life on the Western Front during World War One. Or enjoy Sword School to taste what it was like to clash blades and shields.

Tickets are now available to book at www.cvhf.org.uk

The Mucky Duck Race

The Black Swan is delighted to announce the return of The Mucky Duck Race on Sunday 24^th May at 11.30.

At the starting line on Monxton village green there will be a bar serving a selection of real ale and cider, and Broughton Water Buffalo will be barbequing. There will be face painting and craft stands for children courtesy of Amport PTA, florist With Wild Abandon will be making and selling beautiful garlands and posies, and Amport & Monxton Community Charity will also be on the green with information about their upcoming projects.

Ducks will race to the finish line at the end of The Black Swan garden.

The Mucky Duck race card

• 12.00– With Wild Abandon Stakes
• 12.40 – Picnic & Hamper Co Chase
• 1.20 – Abbotts Ann Village shop Stakes
• 2.00 – The Andover & Villages Quacky Races
• 2.40– The Black Swan Song

1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd prizes for each race are kindly provided be the race sponsor. You can buy ducks in advance at the bar at The Black Swan, or there will be ducks available on the day on the green. Each duck costs £1.50, and all proceeds from the ducks will be split equally between The Hawk Conservancy and Amport & Monxton Community Charity.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Michael & Rosy

Paddington will be shown at Monxton & Amport Village Hall on Thursday 9th April. Doors open at 2.30pm. Light refreshments (probably popcorn, ice-cream and soft drinks) will be available.

Tickets are £6 each, adult or child (we need one adult to every three children as a minimum). Please contact Karin Staines on 712061 or by email karinrups@yahoo.co.uk

To see the challenge issued by Monxton click here.

To those who already have seen this poster in the pub there have been hearty bellows of support & childlike anticipation.

Now it is time to put proverbial wonga in the vicinity of ones mush, as it were and stand up to be counted, men and women all.

The Monxton v Amport soccer game is to take place on Saturday 28th March. The process of enticement, coercion and general press-ganging of players and supporters alike has started!

We will need to put up a mixed team, so barest minimum requirements are 6 men and 1 dedicated lady.  For those who like to run around for no longer than 5 minutes at a time – best help find a substitute or two, as we will be permitted to go on and off the pitch for as little or as much as desired.

And as is so often the case around the blood-curdling rivalries of amateur local derbies the length and breadth of this fine country, there is the ever-present pernicious threat of ringers, players, semi-pros; with this in mind, only those living in Monxton can play in the team – harsh but fair.

Please let either Marcus Tebbutt-Ford or the Mucky Duck know your availability and eagerness to stick one to the Amportonians; let us not be under any illusion that meanderings are not already afoot within that foreign land – and we certainly wouldn’t want to bring derision and humiliation upon our fair village, turning up on the day with two fine fellows, a dog and a half eaten turnip now would we? The shame.

Monxton will be playing in black, or as close to black as we can all find in our wardrobes.

MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT

Wednesday 18 February at 7.30pm

Monxton & Amport Village Hall

Doors open 7pm

Magician Stanley (Colin Firth) has dedicated his life to debunking spiritualism, so unmasking celebrity clairvoyant Sophie (Emma Stone) should be an easy task. But as he spends time with her he starts to suspect that there might be some truth in her claims. Worse, he might be falling in love with her. Directed by Woody Allen

Tickets £6 and available from Caroline Unwin (772375), Veronica Bacon (771285), Karin Staines (712061) or Jennifer Richards (710308).

Refreshments in the interval