Good morning, Wycombe!
Mid-May and I’m back in my winter coat. Starting to wonder if I made a mistake buying all that new garden furniture 🥶
But who cares about the weather when there’s so much on (honestly, still me):
⚔️ A civil war reenactment at the Museum
🎭 My review of The Ballad of Johnny and June at the Swan
🌍 Have you heard of Gaia? It could be coming to Wycombe…
Plus a new Mayor, £15 tickets to Allegra next week, the Chiltern Arts Festival kicks off, a chance to show off your photos and more.
Sublime music, summer air, and a setting straight out of a period drama.
After last summer’s sell-out performance, Wild Arts returns to Hall Barn this June with a brand-new open-air opera experience inspired by Cinderella — packed with romance, comedy, and some of the most beautiful music ever written.
Expect soaring arias, dazzling voices, and a gorgeous summer atmosphere in one of the area’s most stunning settings.
🎭 Four outstanding singers + world-class string quintet
🎵 Arias by Handel, Puccini, Mozart & Rossini — plus favourites from My Fair Lady, West Side Story & more
🌿 Picnic on the lawns before the show
The grounds open early so you can settle in, uncork something cold, and soak up the surroundings before the performance begins in the covered Chiltern Shakespeare Company auditorium.
📍 Hall Barn, Nr Beaconsfield (10 mins from High Wycombe)
📅 Monday 8 June
⏰ Grounds open 5.45pm | Performance 7pm
"Royal Opera House standard" — The Times
Editor’s Highlights
📍 Oxmoor Farm | 📅 Weds 20th May, 7:30–9pm
Ever wondered why the Chilterns look the way they do? Botanist Karen van Oostrum reveals how the hills were formed and the remarkable variety of plants that thrive here as a result.
📍 Wycombe Museum | 📅 Sun 17th May, 10am–4pm
Step back to the 1600s for a brilliant family day out — watch musket drills and pike combat, try on real armour, and let the kids join in the Children's Drill.
📍 Patch | 📅 Tonight, doors 7.30pm
Headlined by UK Pun Champion Adele Cliff and opened by BBC New Comedy Award winner Yuriko Kotani — this is a proper night out. Wycombe Pulse readers get £3 off with code PULSE.
📍 Wycombe Air Park | 📅 Fri 15th & Sat 16th May, 10am–5pm
A general aviation show right on our doorstep, with everything from microlights to helicopters — plus an air display, talks by industry experts and flight simulator challenge.
📍 Wycombe Swan | 📅 Until Sat 16th May
A musical biopic of Johnny Cash and June Carter that's every bit as sublime as it sounds — brilliant performances, live music, and a story with real heart. I caught opening night and loved it. Don't miss it.
Wellness Moments
🪷 5 Ways to Wellbeing Workshop
📍 The Front Room | 📅 Sat 16th May, 2–4pm
This NHS-backed interactive workshop covers five evidence-based ways to boost your mood and build resilience — practical stuff you can actually weave into everyday life.
🌳 Spring Walk in Common Wood
📍 Meet at The Red Lion, Penn | 📅 Sat 16th May, 10.30am
Penn & Tylers Green Residents Society are hosting a gentle spring walk.
Allegra is a brand new show starring Dame Maureen Lipman as a woman who bursts into song — at home, in the shops, in the street — sometimes with a full orchestra, sometimes only in her imagination. It’s funny, tender, and packed with iconic numbers including Singin’ in the Rain, Dream A Little Dream Of Me and Ain’t No Sunshine.
🎟️ Exclusive offer: just £15 for Monday–Thursday performances
📅 18–23 May | Wycombe Swan
🎭 Starring Maureen Lipman, John Middleton (Emmerdale) & Elizabeth Bower (Midsomer Murders)
A proper West End-quality show, right here in Wycombe.
🎨 Get Creative
✏️The Art of Urban Sketching: Line and Form
📍 Patch | 📅 Weds 20th May, 6.30pm
Rory Neary's relaxed, welcoming workshop is open to all abilities — this session focuses on line and form to make your drawings look convincingly real.
🖼️ Portraits, Stories & Puppet-making – Fractured Land Collective
📍 We Make Wycombe Hub | 📅 Sat 16th May, 10am–4pm
Share a memory of Wycombe's furniture industry and get your portrait taken by award-winning photographer Ellie Laycock — or bring the kids for free drop-in puppet-making and a peek at the 'Truth or Folly' pop-up exhibition.
🍞 Introduction to Sourdough
📍 Oxmoor Farm | 📅 Sun 17th May, 10am–2pm
Kate Vale guides you through everything from starter to finished loaf — you'll leave with two loaves ready to bake, a sourdough starter, and the know-how to keep going.
🔍 Family Fun Finder
🎉 Raver Tots High Wycombe
📍 Trilogy | 📅 Sat 16th May, 4pm
The UK's award-winning family rave is coming to Wycombe — House, Garage, Drum & Bass and Old Skool classics.
🧑🧑🧒 Family Catch-up Café
📍 St Anne's Church, London Road | 📅 Sat 16th May, 10am–12pm
Toys, stories, crafts, tea and cake — and it's free!
🚀 Family Earth Rise Book Nook Workshop
📍 Hughenden | 📅 Sun 17th May, 10.30am
Build a glowing miniature lunar scene to take home — think moon craters, tiny astronauts, a lunar module, and LED stars — all guided by Easely Does It.
🚂 Clubroom Open Day – High Wycombe & District Model Railway Society
📍 11 Duke Street | 📅 Sat 16th May, 10am–3.30pm
A free drop-in at the HWDMRS clubroom, where you can see working layouts in multiple gauges, a scale model of West Wycombe Station, and a local history display.
🎭 SEND Explore Your Way Relaxed Day
📍 Roald Dahl Museum | 📅 Sat 16th May, 10am–4.30pm
A relaxed day specially designed for visitors with SEND — sounds turned down, reduced visitor numbers, and free SEND Explorer Kits and Quiet Space Kits to borrow.
Entertainment
🎼 Chiltern Arts Festival
📍 Venues across the Chilterns | 📅 15th–23rd May
Eight days of concerts, walks and events all inspired by nature — from Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony to candlelit evenings with Einaudi and Arvo Pärt.
😂 Rural Roars Comedy Night
📍 The Crown, Penn | 📅 Tonight, doors 7pm
Rural Roars are bringing a lineup of brilliant comedians to The Crown for a cracking night out.
🚶🏻♀️ History on our High Street
📍 Starting at Pann Mill | 📅 Today 10–11:30am
Denise Lindsay leads a free guided walk uncovering the hidden history of High Wycombe's High Street, finishing up at the Museum.
🎵 Rewind Festival 80s Reunion – Complete Madness
📍 Wycombe Arts Centre | 📅 Sat 16th May, 6pm–midnight
Now in its fourth year, this 80s party night features Complete Madness (the UK's No.1 Madness tribute), top 80s DJs, two rooms, a cocktail bar, and food trucks.
🧠 Quiz Nights
Black Lion Pub, Naphill | Mon 18th May | 7.30pm
Belle Vue | Tonight | 8pm
📸 Show Us Your Wycombe
A friend's daughter sent me the most beautiful photo recently — blossom in front of the Swan mural. It made me want to see more of what you're all capturing.
I'm launching a Wycombe Pulse photo feature and I want your shots.
Anything goes as long as it's Wycombe — landscapes, hidden corners, golden hour over the town centre, whatever catches your eye.
A selection of the best will be published on our Facebook and Instagram pages with full credit. Just include your name and social handles if you'd like to be tagged.
📧 Send your photos to hello@wycombepulse.co.uk (or just reply to this email!)
Markets etc
🛍️ Flackwell Heath Market
📍 The Three Horseshoes | 📅 Sat 16th May, 9am–12pm
A community market run by the Flackwell Heath Residents' Association.
🌻 Plant & Craft Sale
📍 St Peter's Church, Micklefield | 📅 Sat 16th May, 10am–12pm
Stock up on indoor and outdoor plants, veg seedlings, and handmade gifts — plus there's a craft table for the kids and refreshments.
🌿 HGA Charity Plant Sale
📍 Cedar Barn | | 📅 Sun 17th May, 10am–12pm
Hazlemere Gardening Association's annual plant sale is back, with borders, pots, and veg patch plants all grown by local gardeners. Proceeds go to Wycombe Mind.
Sports & Activities
🎾 TENNIS
HW Lawn Tennis Club has home and away fixtures this weekend.
🏏 CRICKET
🏃🏻♂️ RUNNING
Ridge Off Roader 2026
📍 Bledlow Ridge | 📅 Sun 17th May
A trail run through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty — choose from a 10k or half marathon, plus a 1k fun run for the kids. All proceeds go to Bledlow Ridge School.
Regular runs: Parkrun (Saturday, Rye Lido, 9am) | Junior Parkrun (Sunday, Pann Mill, 9am) | Risborough Run In The Park (Sunday, Wades Park, 9am).
BOWLS
High Wycombe Bowls Club Open Day
📍 High Wycombe Bowls Club | 📅 Sat 16th May, from 2pm
Fancy giving bowls a go? The club are opening their doors for a free taster session — all equipment provided, no experience needed, and membership discounts on offer. Just turn up!
💪🏻 STRENGTH
Free Come & Try Event – AITC
📍 High Wycombe Library | 📅 Weds 20th May
Fancy trying something new? Adults 50+ can drop in for free 30-minute taster sessions in T'ai Chi, Move it or Lose it, and Strength & Conditioning — plus a free lunch.
🍑 Free Glute Sculpt Class
📍 Snap Fitness | 📅 Mon 18th May, 4–5pm
A free glute-focused class open to members and non-members alike — only 12 spaces, so move fast! Everyone gets a goodie bag, and non-members can join with zero joining fee.
Community Notes
Councillor Imran Hussain will be elected Town Mayor on Saturday 23rd May, with Councillor Arman Alam as Deputy. Born and raised here, Imran's mayoral theme is Youth and Mental Health — he'll be supporting local organisations working with young people, with fundraising events to be announced soon.
🕊️ Marlow Death Café
📍 Cote Brasserie, Marlow | 📅 Mon 18th May, 5–6.30pm
A warm, welcoming space to talk openly about death, dying and bereavement — for people of all ages and all beliefs. Just come along.
🏳️🌈 Pride Banner Making with Wycombe Pride
📍 Brunel Engine Shed | 📅 Fri 15th May, 11am–4pm
Get creative and help make banners ahead of Wycombe Pride. A free drop-in event for everyone who wants to show their colours and get involved in the community.
🩷 Afternoon Tea at JB's Cafe
📍 JB's Cafe | | 📅 Fri 15th May, 1–3pm
Kindness in Bucks are hosting a lovely afternoon tea to bring local residents together — think good conversation, music, and a proper cuppa.
The Wycombe Wordle
Six guesses. Five letters. One Wycombe connection. Let me know if you get it! Pretty niche this week.
🟩 Right letter, right spot
🟨 Right letter, wrong spot
⬜ Not in the word
That’s a wrap for this week’s Pulse!
Have a bodacious weekend — but before you dash…
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See you next Thursday,
Steph
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