Portrait of Pembridge Blog 30
September 2026
h.Art Week 5th-13th September
h.Art Week offers 134 venues throughout Herefordshire giving the public free access to exhibitions and studios. There is a bewildering array of talent on show, including paintings, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, glass, jewellery, wood carving and drawing.
In our News section we have focussed on the local venues in and around Pembridge. The Old Chapel Gallery’s ‘Soft Was the Sun’ exhibition is well worth a visit as are artists in Broxwood, Staunton on Arrow, Shobdon and Westonbury.
Nick Holmes, based at Westonbury is a h.Art Week veteran now in his 11th year of opening his studio. The portrait below is one of his works.
If you wish to venture further afield Ed Elliott, sculptor of the Verdun Oak is also taking part at his studio in Trumpet.
Full details of the programme:- www.h.art.org.uk
Talks at Pembridge Parish Hall
To get in the mood for h.Art Week Exhibition on Screen ‘Turner and Constable’ will be screened at Pembridge Parish Hall on 3rd September 6.30pm for 7pm.
A bonus is that Pembridge just happens to be home to a world-renowned expert on these two iconic painters. Art historian Gillian Forrester will be taking questions at the end of the filmed exhibition.
Ukraine Update will take place on 10th September when Rotary’s Will Jackson, based in Lviv, will report on his experience of providing aid to the Ukrainian people now in their 4th year of the conflict.
‘Tales of Medieval Women’ is the title of a talk to be given by medievalist and best-selling author Anne O’Brien.
It will take place on 18th September 6.30pm for 7pm.
Anne who lives locally in the Marches has published over 20 best sellers based on real people and events. Those who know Anne’s novels, or attended her last talk in Pembridge, will appreciate how she brings historic figures alive, creating characters with whom we can identify. Yet her detailed research offers a window into those who lived here when the New Inn was new and the motte and bailey manor the centre of the village.
Licensed bar at all the above events.
Full details and tickets: www.pembridgeparishhall.co.uk/events
Opera, Ballet and Theatret
The Footlights Society has assembled a wonderful programme of enertainment.
Opera fans can enjoy ‘La Traviata’, The Metropolitan Opera’s Greatest Hits in ‘Twenty Years of the Met in Cinema’ , ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’ and The Royal Opera House’s ‘Macbeth’, ballet ‘Manon’ performed by the Royal Ballet while theatre lovers can look forward to ‘Girl from the North Country’, a musical based on the songs of Bob Dylan, and the National Theatre’s adaptation of Moliere’s ‘Misanthrope’ starring Sandra Oh (Killing Eve).
Tickets and full details at www.pembrdigeparishhall.co.uk/footlights-society
Love to Sing Choir at The Courtyard
This choir under the direction of powerhouse Hayley Osborne goes from strength to strength. Not only have they won multiple awards, appeared at the Hay Festival twice but they have now supported professional musician Paul Carrack at his recent Courtyard concert.
Not heard them perform yet? Their next appearance will be on 27th September 3.30pm at St Leonard’s Church, Yarpole. See Dates for your Diary for details.
Want to join the choir?
A new term will be starting week beginning 6th September at Pembridge School, Bearwood Lane.
See full details in www.portraitofpembridge.co.uk/community-groups
Defibrillator Donation
A new bleed kit has been donated by Herefordshire Freemasons and charity Arrive Alive to the defibrillator in East Street Car Park.
Other Defibrillators in the Parish are at:
Parish Hall, Bearwood Lane
Phone Box Broxwood
The Leen
Mortimer Medical Practice
The Patients’ Participation Group has provided an update on practice matters.
You can see this in www.portraitofpembridge.co.uk/community-groups
Pembridge Collage
The collage has been a long-term project of Portrait of Pembridge. Thanks to those who provided digital copies of their photos we have now assembled 98 photos of Pembridge places and people. It’s on permanent display in the foyer of the Parish Hall and can be viewed at any time that the Parish Hall is open alongside the Pembridge Micro Museum.
If you have photos of Pembridge in earlier times and the people who lived here, we would be pleased to see them and to include them in future exhibitions so please keep them coming.
We just need a digital photo which can be taken with a smart phone, or we can photograph them for you.
portraitofpembridge@yahoo.com or call Barry 07711 406306
September 1939 these children from Tiber Street school, Liverpool, arrived late at night by coach to be billeted with local families. Hear the memories of one Liverpool lad who spent wartime in Pembridge, a place he fell in love with.
https://www.portraitofpembridge.co.uk/history/p0igzlsj6fu9nj0ijsyw0dtw96xntm
