The Upperthong Village Hall are over the moon to have secured a number of top rated films for this years film festival. The number of films have been doubled and chosen to provide comedy, family fun and the elusive feel good factor!

Showing 1 : Saturday 19 May @ 7.30 pm.  Including Disco and Bar. 

Benda Bilili!  

It is the Summer of 2009. Five paraplegics and a young able-bodied teenager light up the stage in front of an entranced audience of 8000 people. “Benda Bilili” – in English “See Beyond”, is the name of this Kinshasa band which has acquired a global following. Chances of success were slim at first for these homeless handicapped artists who struggled to survive on the streets of their dilapidated capital. “Benda Bilili” is not a music film, it’s the story of a dream that became reality. And a plunge into the streets of Kinshasa without a safety net.

This film scored a very respectable 7.3/10 on imdb.com and has recieved critical acclaim. An awesome feel good film. Definately not one to miss !

Admission : £5. Tickets available from Royal Oak pub in Upperthong and Holmfirth Tourist Office.

Showing 2 : Sunday 20th May @ 2.00 pm. 

The Muppets

One for the families. When 3 Muppet fans learn that Tex Richman wants to drill under the Muppet Theater for oil, Gary, Mary and Walter set out to find the Muppets who have been split up for years so that they can put on one last show and save the Muppet Theater. Kermit the Frog now lives in his own mansion depressed in Hollywood, The Great Gonzo is a high class plumber at Gonzo’s Royal Flush, Fozzie Bear performs with a tribute band called The Moopets, Miss Piggy is the plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, and Animal is at a celebrity anger management rehab center in Santa Barbara.

This film scored 7.4/10 on imdb.com and even won an Oscar !!!

Admission : £4 (adults) £3.50 (children). Tickets available from Royal Oak pub in Upperthong and Holmfirth Tourist Office.

Showing  3 : Sunday 20th May @ 7.00 pm. Double Bill

Red Dog

Based on the legendary true story of the Red Dog who united a disparate local community while roaming the Australian outback in search of his long lost master.

Directed by Kriv Stenders, the film has its fair share of quirky characters and comedic situations, being funny without really trying too hard, go over the top or feeling too contrived. Everything felt as natural as can be, with excellent pacing to allow Red Dog to slowly grow on you. With an awesome soundtrack and beautifully filmed landscapes that captures the conditions of the mining town in very picturesque language, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll be moved by the time the movie pulls into its final reel. Awesome film.

The Guard

The Guard (2011) is an Irish black comedy film written and directed by John Michael McDonagh, and starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle. It is the most successful independent Irish film of all time in terms of Irish box-office receipt.

An unorthodox Irish policeman, named Boyle (Brendan Gleeson), joins forces with a straight-laced FBI agent, named Everett (Don Cheadle), to take on an international drug smuggling gang in Ireland’s Connemara Gaeltacht.

A murder which appears to be the work of an occult serial killer is the first incident, the relevance of which is then revealed by Boyle in a briefing by an FBI agent, sent to liaise with the Gardai. A web of bribery, blackmail and killings ensues. Boyle and Everett form an unlikely alliance and bring about a bloody denouement.

Admission : £6. Tickets available from Royal Oak pub in Upperthong and Holmfirth Tourist Office.

Tickets

Tickets will be available from the Royal Oak pub and Holmfirth Tourist Office. Prices for each film are listed above. Go to www.holmfirthfilmfestival.com for more information.

We are pleased to announce a new event.

On Feb 11th we are hosting a race night. We want as many events as possible to be free so there is no entrance fee . You will be able to win prizes by buying horses, and by betting on each race. The bar will of course be open, so we are hoping this will be a great social evening, with the chance to win!

Doors open 7.30, and there are eight races to see. Please come and support us!

Ali and Steve Harris have kindly organised a 1970s disco at Upperthong Village Hall on Saturday 3^rd March.  1970s fancy dress (not compulsory but I’m sure most people will!)

Tickets are £10 and available from Ali by contacting her on 07828099124.  Tickets also available at the Royal Oak Pub in Upperthong and proceeds from the ticket sales will go to the Huw Thatcher Trust.

8pm till late with Gary Duncan DJ.  The bar officially closes at Midnight!

There have been similar nights at the Village Hall before, that have been excellent nights, so if you want to don your gold chains and flares, now’s your chance.

As we’ve said before, Upperthong was a happy place for Huw – he even had a birthday fancy dress party there himself when he was a little boy.

With many thanks to Ali, Steve, the Village Hall and everyone who makes it on the night for continuing to support Huw and The Huw Thatcher Trust.

You are invited to the annual village Christmas Concert at the Upperthong Village Hall. The entertainment starts at 5pm at The Royal Oak where The Wood Family will play Christmas carols. We will then walk the short distance upto the Village Hall for 6pm. Di Ellerton will
tell a Christmas story followed by the singing of carols.

Please free free to join the Village Hall Committee members by dressing in dinner jackets or similar attire. But this is certainly not compulsory and welly boots with patterned Xmas jumpers or anything inbetween will be permitted dress code !!!

Santa will be making an appearance and there will be an abundance of mince pies and mulled wine. Everyone is welcome to stay after the concert for a drink and enjoy soem festive music.

This is always a very popular event so get there early as it will be absolutely packed !

Come and celebrate Christmas Victorian style at The Royal Oak pub in Upperthong on Saturday 17th December. Festivities start from 3pm with Hepworth Brass Band playing seasons tunes. There are lots of market style stalls including jewellery, toys, crafts, christmas chutneys and the ever popular pig roast. There is even going to be a visit from Santa.

The event will continue throughout the day and into the evening. Last year was a cracking success and really well attended.  People even entered into the festive spirit by dressing up Victorian style!!!

Hope to see you there for a proper Upperthong warm welcome.

Sunday 17th November sees the first Father and Toddle event at the Upperthong Village Hall. Dads and children under 7 are invited from 13:00 – 15:00 to socialise and play games. Refreshments will be available – beer and coffee for the dads and a party buffet for the kids. Admission is £2 per child and 50p for each additional child. If it is popular it just might become a regular event !!

Contact Kevin or Paul Girdlestone for more details (07879 620992 – onpgirdlestone@gmail.com).

We were delighted to raise over £600 for the BELJO fund on Saturday night. Lemon Pie played two excellent sets, supported by Gary on the disco. There were so many raffle prizes most people must have won something! Thank you to everyone who supported the night, either in person or by donating prizes.

Upperthong’s toddler group are going on a train ride to see Santa and would like to invite other families to come and join them on Tuesday 13th December at Kirklees Light Railway. The train leaves at 10am and returns at 12pm. Booking in advance is recommended. Prices are £9.00 per child (inc gift from Santa) and £7.00 per adult (inc mince pie and warm drink – unfortunately no gift from Santa).

Holmfirth continues to promote shopping in the town centre by coming up with practical and pocket saving ideas. Shoppers will be able to park for free on certain days over Xmas. Take a look at the Holmfirth web site for more details.

Personally, I don’t know what the fuss is. I’ve been able to park on my driveway in Upperthong free of charge and pop down to Holmfirth for years. One of the many benefits of living in Upperthong. Of course, I might just get the good old H3 bus back up the hill rather than walk it !!

We are planning to create a section on the history of Upperthong Village and the Upperthong Village Hall. With that in mind, does anyone have any material or stories or photographs or anything even vaguely related to Upperthong’s past history.

We do have a copy of the Upperthong Then and Now book published by the Upperthong Womens Institute so that’s a good start.

We know there was a History of Upperthong Village Hall booklet produced in 1982 – to celebrate 150 years of the Village Hall. If someone has that, that would be very helpful.

Please get in touch if you can contribute and we’ll organise a meet up etc.