Sunday, 8 March 2026

Cleckheaton Writers Group minutes, meeting 23 February 2026

Cleckheaton Writers Group (CWG) met on Monday 23 February at Cleckheaton Library 5.30-7pm with Dave, Elliot, Karen and Reuben in attendance, Kathy, Molly and Paul having passed on their apologies.

The minutes from the last meeting were passed.

WIP updates: Karen has subbed to an agent. Reuben has been writing his PhD chapter and received feedback from his supervisor yesterday. Dave has done 2 rewrites, one of which he brought for feedback and he is happy with the editing of his French stories. Elliot has lots of cool scenes and has to join them up.

CW competitions/workshops/events: These were shared on the agenda. Karen discussed the Huddersfield KAFE details and those members who wish to have further information should drop her an email. The same for the Cober Hill Writers Retreat in Summer.

Writing plans: Reuben will do more work on his PhD, another chapter or two. Dave has another rewrite to finish. Karen hopes to polish and entry into a competition. Elliot to get this new story he discussed started. He wrote one in November and share that with someone. He agreed he would send it around Dave, Reuben and Karen.

Writing Challenge March theme: Band (as in marching)

Feedback sessions: Dave shared his story Beach Walk which the group enjoyed and felt that the weather was a character in itself. There was a repeated phrase but members liked the way it built up the hero then meandered away - good hook. It was suggested to look for repeated words like once, rock etc. unless this is for emphasis. Members like the vivid descriptions, the anthropomorphisation of the sea (tentacles), the humour, the abrupt ending, the happy chance encounter and the way it switches. 

Next meeting: Monday 9 March 2026 5.30pm, Cleckheaton Library.

More things to do in London this week/end

 With thanks to the Southbank Centre and Country and Town House:

rotating gif of press shots from The Boy at the Back of the Class

The Boy at the Back of the Class



After delighting audiences across the country, smash-hit, joyful play based on the best-selling novel is back with a celebration of friendship, kindness and compassion. Don't miss the Olivier Award 2026 nominee for 'Best Family Show'. 



Discover the power of friendship

A boy is standing his back to the viewer. He is wearing a red backpack and has dark, short hair.

The Boy at the Back of the Class

TUE 7 – SUN 12 APR

Come along on a heartfelt and often hilarious adventure as a group of friends set out on a quest to reunite their new classmate with his family.

British Sign Language interpreted: Thu 9 Apr, 6pm & Sun 12 Apr, 11.30am.

BSL icon

★★★★★

'A beautifully moving story – an incredibly striking piece of theatre'

Broadway World


Competition time!


An image of the book cover of Boy at the Back of the Class

Win a signed copy of the book

We’re giving four lucky winners the chance to get their hands on a signed copy of The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf.

To enter the competition, send an email to competitions@southbankcentre.co.uk with 'BOY CLASS' in the subject line by Sunday 15 March. T&Cs apply*


Watch the trailer

★★★★★

'Exactly the kind of story we need to be sharing with younger audiences'

Theatre Weekly


Southbank Centre logo

Thanks for reading. We hope you enjoyed your specially selected highlights. Share your comments and photos with us by mentioning @southbankcentre or @haywardgallery.



]

Southbank Centre is a charity registered in England and Wales No.298909. Registered office: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX

Arts Council England

* Competition details form part of these terms and conditions. Entry is open to residents of the UK except employees (and their families) of the Southbank Centre, the suppliers of the prizes and any other companies associated with the competitions. To enter the competition entrants must send an email containing their name and the words 'BOY CLASS' as the email subject line to competitions@southbankcentre.co.uk. The competition closes before midnight on Sunday 15 March and emails sent after that time will not be entered into the competition. The prize will be awarded to four (4) winners. The winners will be picked at random on or just after Monday 16 March and notified shortly afterwards with details of how the prize can be collected. All entries must be made directly by the person entering the competition. Entries made online using methods generated by a script, macro or the use of automated devices will be void. No responsibility can be accepted for entries lost, delayed or corrupted, or due to computer error in transit. No responsibility can be accepted for prizes lost, delayed or corrupted in transit to the winners. The prizes are as stated in the competition text, are not transferable to another individual and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. Prizes are subject to availability and the prize suppliers' terms and conditions. The promoters reserve the right to amend or alter the terms of competitions and reject entries from entrants not entering into the spirit of the competition. In the event of a prize being unavailable, the promoter reserves the right to offer an alternative prize of equal or greater value. The winner(s) agree(s) to the use of their name being used online in post-winning publicity. The Southbank Centre will not use email addresses submitted for marketing purposes. Reasonable efforts will be made to contact the winner(s). If the winner(s) cannot be contacted, or are unable to comply with these terms and conditions, the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to the next eligible entrant drawn at random, or in the event that the promotion is being judged the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to the runner(s)-up selected by the same judges. Where applicable, the decision of the judges is final based on the criteria set out in the promotion and no correspondence will be entered into over this decision. Competitions may be modified or withdrawn at any time. The Promoter is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX.

March 2026   |   

 

 

STAYING IN

  1. Watch The Capture season 3

  2. Read The Infamous Gilberts

  3. Make Katherine Jenkins’ cocktail

GOING OUT

  1. Go to a champagne festival

  2. Dine at CeCe’s

  3. Celebrate International Women’s Day

 

Dear Reader,

Do we take enough risk? Do you let your children take risks? Have we become all too health and safety with tracker apps and endless alarms, with sitting in our rooms on phones instead of tripping out into the big wide world and falling over sometimes? As kids, my dad used to let us sit on the bonnet of his car in the country, flicking on the window washers to drench us, and taking the bumpy lane maybe a couple of miles an hour too fast. We of course loved it. I now have kids but fear the curtain twitching of neighbours would have me reported to Social Services should I repeat such behaviour. But last weekend I handed the keys of a Land Rover Discovery to my 15-year-old daughter and watched her take her first driving lesson at Eastnor Castle, Land Rover’s legendary 5,000-acre testing ground. As terrifying as it was exhilarating, sometimes the best way for children to grow in confidence is to give them a little freedom, a little trust – and, occasionally, a very large vehicle.

Lucy Cleland
Editorial Director

 

 

Staying In

 

Watch The Capture season 3

Almost four years after it was last on screens, hit conspiracy thriller drama The Capture finally returns for series 3 this Sunday at 9pm on BBC One (though early birds can catch it on BBC iPlayer from 6am). Strike star Holliday Grainger is back as DCI Rachel Carey, and after uncovering government-backed deepfake technology in series 1 and exposing it to the nation in series 2, she faces her toughest case yet. Opening one year on from MP Isaac Turner’s (Paapa Essiedu) deepfake television interview being used to expose Correction to the British public, Rachel has a new role as acting head of SO15, tasked with regaining the public’s trust in surveillance technology through the new Operation Veritas camera system. But then a well-coordinated act of terror blows the British establishment wide open: it’s brutal, and it leaves behind just one witness. As Rachel digs into the aftermath, she’s drawn deeper into an unfolding geopolitical crisis that reaches deep into the state, infecting not just the British political establishment and its security services but the media, too. But who is pulling the strings? The case unfolds weekly from Sunday on BBC One and iPlayer.

Read The Infamous Gilberts

Looking for your next book club gem? 'Welcome to Thornwalk, home of the last of the Wynford Gilberts – Lydia, Hugo, Annabel, Jeremy and Rosalind. The downfall of this great family was once the subject of much tawdry gossip...' You'll know from these opening lines whether Angela Tomaski's debut novel is for you, since it beams the reader straight into a once-grand, Downton-style house, listening for the ghosts of the family and their servants. The story of the siblings, their lost father, vague mother and domineering Aunt Beatrice is narrated by Maximus, a pedantic family acquaintance. Arch, funny, troubling, sad and occasionally feeling as though Maximus has been at the sherry decanter, it's a thoughtful elegy to the lost human stories contained in everyday objects, from a half- used bar of soap to a cracked china shepherdess. Interestingly, it was inspired by Tomaski's own 2002 visit to the neo-gothic mansion of Tyntesfield, near Bristol, before its National Trust transformation. Out now.

 

Recipe of the Week…

Katherine Jenkins’ Welsh Daisy Cocktail

Beloved Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins wants St David’s Day (1 March) to be as big as St Patrick’s Day – so this weekend she’s throwing a belated bash at NYC’s Pebble Bar, and she has used her gin brand Cygnet 22 to create a new cocktail, below, to celebrate.

Cygnet 22 founders Katherine Jenkins & Andrew Levitas

‘As a fiercely proud Welsh woman, I have so often celebrated St Patrick’s Day alongside my Irish friends and raised a glass on Burns Night with my Scottish friends – traditions that are honoured so beautifully around the world,’ Katherine says. ‘To now see St David’s Day, our own treasured national day, being embraced further in the United States fills me with enormous pride.

‘For me, St David’s Day is a deep sense of pride in where I come from, in the language, the landscape, the music, the warmth of the people. Wales shaped me long before the world stage ever did. The work ethic, the humility, the love of song all began there. But it’s also about the man himself. Saint David lived simply, preached kindness and said “Gwnewch y pethau bychain”, “do the little things”. I love that. Greatness doesn’t always arrive with noise; often it’s found in humility and small daily acts of goodness. That ethos feels very Welsh to me: hardworking, grounded, quietly strong.

‘So, whether I’m wearing a daffodil on stage somewhere far from home or gathered with friends, it’s about pride, gratitude, and remembering that wherever I go in the world, Wales, and those “little things”, travel with me.

‘The cocktail I will be serving this Sunday at Pebble Bar NYC is the Welsh Daisy cocktail. Here’s the recipe in case you want to make it at home.’

Ingredients

  • 40ml Cygnet 22 Gin

  • 15ml Verjus

  • 7ml Pamplemousse (grapefruit) liqueur

  • 30ml Lemon juice

  • 22ml Pink peppercorn syrup

Method

  1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice, and shake until cold.

  2. Strain the mixture over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.

  3. Garnish with half a pink grapefruit wheel.

  4. Sip, and enjoy!

 

Going Out

 

Go to a champagne festival

Partial to a glass (or three) of champagne? Or perhaps you’re an English sparkling wine convert? Whatever your fizz of choice, we’ve got some exciting news: Searcys’ The Bubbly Show is returning today for its fourth edition. Set within a Grade I-listed Georgian townhouse just off Pall Mall, the festival brings together an array of champagne houses and English sparkling wine producers including Nyetimber, Veuve Clicquot, Gusbourne and Taittinger. Guests are invited to enjoy generous tastings throughout the event, paired with a selection of antipasti, as well as listen to talks and watch demonstrations on all things bubbles. Plus, don’t miss the special Piper-Heidsieck experience which marks the 100th birthday of Marilyn Monroe. Perfect if you’re looking for last-minute plans for today or tomorrow. 6 – 7 March, searcys.co.uk

Dine at CeCe’s

From The Fat Badger to Canteen, Public House Group is known for launching restaurants without fanfare – which only adds to that if-you-know-you-know vibe. The latest is CeCe’s, just opened in the heart of Notting Hill and described as an Italian with a hint of Hollywood. Set across two floors on Clarendon Road, the eatery serves dishes like aubergine parmigiana, fonduta agnolotti and chicken vignole alongside wine from Europe and the US. 'Initially we looked at the space as it was once a pub, but we fell in love with the glamour and unique design,’ says one of the founders Olivier Van Themsche. ‘The surreal interiors and character hidden behind the copper door inspired us to create a restaurant that felt current and exciting, whilst retaining the allure of traditional hospitality.' Book at ceceslondon.com

Celebrate International Women’s Day

It’s International Women’s Day on Sunday, and there are so many ways to celebrate. For one, Shoreditch’s Hart Hotel is hosting a themed Paint, Sip & Brunch workshop on Saturday; expect guided abstract painting, delicious brunch dishes and flowing refreshments, all set to the sounds of a live DJ (from £49.46pp). Over by Regent’s Park, Meliá White House is hosting an intimate afternoon of conversation led by Alice Codford (Luminary Mothers) joined by Michelle Griffith Robinson OLY, Alice Holland Lu and Bernadine Tay, all accompanied by a Spanish-inspired afternoon tea, Pommery Brut, and speciality blends from Quinteassential Tea (£55pp). And on Sunday, Marylebone’s Cavita will host a collaborative one-off lunch spanning Mexico, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean and South Asia. The chefs – Adriana Cavita, Ayesha Kalaji, Keshia Sakarah, Maria Bradford and Sabrina Gidda – will also join a live Q&A hosted by Justine Murphy, with the whole afternoon raising vital funds for Refuge (£80pp).

 

 

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Staying in Forever…

Property Of The Week

Located in Texas’s wealthiest town, Hunter Creek Village, this 22,000 sqft estate is nestled within nice acres of private, wooded peninsula. Drawing inspiration from English manor houses, this eight-bedroom, 12-bathroom home boasts solid bronze chandeliers, a spiral staircase from Paris, two resort-style pools and a private spa.

On the market for $59,999,999, johndwood-international.com

 

 

Competition Time

  1. Win a two-night stay at Donnington & Co., including spa treatments

  2. Win a £2.5m Dorset dream home

  3. Win a necklace and earrings set from Austen & Blake worth over £800

 

Psssst…

The spicy marg’s flame might finally be flickering out… Agave Martinis are set to be the drink of the summer 2026, according to drinks consultant Zoe Burgess. You heard it here first.

 

The Full Story

The C&TH Guide To London Design Week

By Charlie Colville

Lacking in interiors inspiration, or have a project you want to get off the ground but don’t know where to start? London Design Week (LDW) is your answer, celebrating everything the capital has to offer in terms of design innovation, all housed in the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. For one week, join 600 brands as they showcase their newest collections, and listen in as industry experts share their top picks, tricks and predictions for the year ahead.

What Happens?

London Design Week is a week in which 600 brands come together under one roof to showcase their latest and greatest collections. From plush bespoke rugs to hand-painted wallpapers, it’s essentially the design world’s answer to fashion week. Taking over the entirety of the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, there are shops, showrooms, stalls and art installations to gawk at. Expect to also catch ‘House Guests’, pop-up booths from independent and smaller brands. In addition to this, a series of talks run across the week.

When & Where Is It?

Taking place every spring, this year London Design Week falls between the 9 and 13 March at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour (Lots Road, London SW10 0XE). The space will be open from 9.30am until 5.30pm each day.

Do You Need To Book?

Yes, you’ll need to book in advance if you plan to swing by London Design Week (or sit in on any of its events). You can register for entry here; tickets are free.

The Highlights

See What’s New In Design

The core of London Design Week is its portfolio of over 135 interior design showrooms – aka, the unrivalled collective of international interior design brands. It’s here that you’ll be able to do some serious shopping, and find plenty of inspiration to take home with you. See the list of showrooms here.

Book A Free Showroom Event

There’s something for design enthusiasts and designers alike. London Design Week encourages the crowds to ‘stay competitive and connected’ with its curated programme of Conversations in Design talks series, Grow Your Business panels and Designer Toolkit sessions. There’ll also be over 100 free events in the showrooms, as well as tours and masterclasses throughout the week. See the full programme here.

Visit LDW’s House Guests

Throughout the week, the Design Centre will also play host to over 30 pop-up House Guests, a careful curation of brands that will only be in-situ in the Design Avenue during London Design Week. You can find the full list of brands here.

See The Installations

Central to London Design Week are its intriguing installations, designed to capture the imagination – from huge hanging pendants to carefully curated showrooms (which you can see, feel and touch), there’s a lot of visual inspiration. If you’re intimidated by the sheer volume, don’t worry: there are twice daily ‘Design Discovery Tours’. Allow your guide to provide an insider’s view into the most talked-about designs from the week. 

Explore The Design Emporium Collective

London Design Week also marks the grand opening of the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour’s brand new shopping space. Located on the fifth floor of the freshly redeveloped Design Centre East, the Design Emporium Collective houses 19 interior design brands that should be on everyone’s radar in 2026.

Don’t just take it from us, though. Join Carole Annett, C&TH’s Interiors Editor, for an exclusive tour of the Design Emporium Collective. This is your chance to spot design treasures, discover pieces you won’t find anywhere else and learn some fascinating stories behind their creation – all before the London Design Week crowds swoop in. (Monday 9 March, from 2pm. You can book your free ticket here.)

For more information, visit dcch.co.uk

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115 Harwood Road, London SW6 4QL, United Kingdom

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