Community Groups
Allotments:
There is an active Allotment Association operating with plots south of the village just a five minute walk from the centre.
Contact Maria Carver, maria.carver@btinternet.com
Camera Club:
Lambourn Camera Club meets regularly, sets photo challenges for members and often has guest speakers. New members from the Valley are always welcome, Full details here
Film Society:
The Valley Film Society meets in the Village Hall on the first Tuesday of the month. For details of membership and the current programme of films see www.valleyfilmsociety.org or contact a committee member on 01488 72305/648534/648663 or email info@valleyfilmsociety.org
East Garston Church Bellringers
All Saints' Church has a small but enthusiastic band of bellringers. More details may be found here or by contacting
eastgarston@bellsnearnewbury.org.uk
East Garston Eco Group (EGEG)
EGEG was set up to research and share practical information about ecologically-aware choices in our local area.
If you would like to get involved in environmental projects in the village, EGEG would love to hear from you. More details here.
East Garston Flood and Pollution Forum:
East Garston Flood and Pollution Forum is a group of residents with an active interest in the risk associated with high river levels, high groundwater levels and the effects of these on our sewage system. Full details are here.
Sewage Action Group Lambourn Upper Valley
SAGLUV is a pressure group comprising a small number of representatives from Eastbury, East Garston and Great Shefford, set up to persuade Thames Water and Environment Agency to maintain and repair the shared sewer network, to ensure we have clear sewers and a clean river. The PC is represented on this group. Read their latest update here.
Contact Martyn Wright, martynwright345@btinternet.com
Local History Society:
The Local History Society meets several times a year usually based upon a presentation about local events or matters of interest from the past. Look out on this website for future events.
Over 60s Coffee Club:
A social meeting for the over 60s in the community takes place in the Friends Meeting House on Back Street on the last Friday of each month, 10:30 am to 12 noon. It is an opportunity for a cup of tea or coffee and a chat with regular activities such as quizzes and a raffle. New members are always welcome. Contact Jackie Breadmore, 01488 648851, jackie@breadmore.me.uk
Sport and Recreation:
The village has two recreation areas, owned and maintained by the Parish Council. The Jubilee Meadow on Back Street is a popular meeting place for families and has a climbing frame for older children and an under 5 area with swings and slide. Therer is also a full set of outdoor gym equipment.
The Millennium Field behind the Village Hall has goal posts for junior and senior football.
Billiards:
The Village Hall has a full size snooker table and a team participates in a local biliiards league on Monday evenings. New players always welcome. Contact Nigel Gay, 01488 649572, ldbilliards@gmail.com
Cribbage:
A team participates in the local Cribbage league on Monday evenings in the winter. New players always welcome. Contact Val and Monty Montgomery, 01488 648506, 07552 237406
Morris Dancing:
Garston Gallopers are your local Morris dancing side, meeting in the Village Hall on Mondays from 8 – 9:30pm. For those of you in the know about different styles of Morris, most of our dances are Cotswold, with a few Border-style dances. We always welcome new dancers and musicians so drop into one of our practices if you would like to have a go. To enquire about joining us or booking us to perform you can find details at www.garstongallopers.co.uk
Pilates Classes:
Pilates classes aim to aid and improve stability and mobility., whilst having some fun and learning about our bodies along the way.
- Belinda Spanswick runs Body Control Pilates classes in the Village Hall on Thursday mornings 10:30-11:30am. Contact Belinda on 07833 643696, belspanswick@gmail.com
Pool Team
Wednesday evenings in the Social Club, contact Darren Varley, 07880 816507
Table Tennis Club:
The Table Tennis club meets on Thursday evenings in the Village Hall from 6:30 to 8:00pm. New players are always welcome. Contact Peter Baldock, 01488 649090, peter@douglas.co.uk
Music Groups
West Berkshire Strings was founded by Patricia Glover in 2014 from ever-growing church and school music groups in and around East Garston. Violin and cello players of all ages, from Grade 1 standard to the more advanced, work together to play to the very best of our ability. We meet several times a year and specialise in “pop-up” performances, with just one rehearsal immediately before each performance. For more information, please contact Patricia on patriciaglover@btinternet.com or 01488 648420.
West Berkshire Cello Academy was founded by Philip Daish-Handy in 2015. Set in our picturesque village of East Garston, students travel from around the UK to study with Philip. The academy inspires cellists of all ages and abilities to be the best that they can be, by nurturing confidence in music performance. Students may be prepared for exams, festivals, auditions and concerts either as soloists or in small ensembles and this is resulting in some great music making in the community and further afield. For more information, please contact Philip on bmie@outlook.com or 07896 198709.
Religion: (click the link to see service information)
Church of England:
All Saints’ Church in the village. Click the link to see the full details of All Saints' Church
The Society of Friends:
Meeting House, opposite the Village Hall. Contact: - Clerk, Phoebe Fennell, 01488 208407
Roman Catholic:
Sacred Heart Church in Lambourn. Contact: - Canon Peter Turbitt, 01235 762374
Methodist :
Lambourn Methodist Chapel. Contact: - Rev. Peter Bennett, 016355 40014