Tour-Smart Limited

On 23rd February Bletchley Park will release four first day covers celebrating Alan Turing’s centenary year. Each will carry a 1st class Royal Mail “Turing Bombe” stamp cancelled with a unique first day of issue postmark. The intention is to restrict the issue to just 500 of each. Produced in association with the Alan Turing Centenary Year Committee and Bletchley Park Post Office, proceeds will go towards supporting the preservation of Bletchley Park. Similar stamp and envelope combinations from Bletchley Park Post Office have fetched several times their original issue price. So at £9.99 each these little pieces of art and history could be a good investment. 

The first design is by Rebecca Peacock of Firecatcher Design and the theme is Turing’s work on the mathematics of patterns. It was Turing’s genius for mathematics that made his work so vital to Bletchley Park and the development of modern computing.

Turing's Hut
 

The other three are original paintings by artist Steve Williams who has donated his work to Bletchley Park. They depict three buildings at Bletchley Park associated with Alan Turing. These are the cottage and hut where he worked and the room that housed the Bombe machines.

The Bombe Room
 

The stamp features a rebuilt Turing Bombe. The first day of issue postmark is a facsimile of one of the Bombe’s 108 drums that replicated the workings of 36 Enigma machines.

Turing's Cottage
 

A dedicated team spent 15 years rebuilding the working Turing Bombe that is now on display at Bletchley Park. A marvel of electro-mechanical engineering used to crack the enigma code that is now essential viewing for visitors. Bletchley Park Post Office was once the code breakers’ undercover mail room then a sub post office when Bletchley Park became a GPO training centre. Its re-creation of a 1940’s post office is a popular attraction. The first day covers and special stamps it began issuing in 1994 are sought after by collectors from around the world. More information can be obtained on the issue through www.bletchleycovers.com or calling 0044 (0)1908 363489

Click on this link  'THE SECRETS OF BLETCHLEY' for the full story

 

Shearings Holidays has reintroduced its popular seven-day spring breaks across its portfolio of Bay and Coast & Country Hotels.

 Departing in April and May, the breaks include return coach travel, half-board accommodation, evening entertainment and two sightseeing excursions. Selected breaks also include drinks at the hotel’s bar from 7.30pm-10.30pm every evening.

Caroline Brown, commercial director for Shearings, said: “We’re always listening to feedback from customers to help us improve their holiday experience, which is why we’ve reintroduced our popular seven-day spring breaks.

“While customers prefer shorter durations throughout the winter season, the milder climate of spring means they’re looking to spend longer away.

“These breaks complement our five-day programme, offering a more relaxed, flexible alternative with more time for customers to explore and enjoy their chosen resort. And as they’re just outside peak summer season they’re ideal for agents to sell to customers who are concerned about cost.”

Destinations on offer include the Scottish Highlands, Whitby, Windermere, Llandudno, Bournemouth and Torquay.

Caroline added: “Customers can travel further afield on these longer duration holidays, giving them more destinations to choose from.”

Shearings’ seven-day spring breaks start from just £189 per person.

For more details or to book your Spring Break visit www.shearings.com


Update - January 2012

Several museums across Hampshire are hosting fun family events over the February half-term. 

Beaulieu National Motor Museum

'Bond in Motion Exhibition and Trail'

During half-term week from 11th – 19th February, test your knowledge of the world’s most famous special agent, James Bond, in the Beaulieu National Motor Museum’s brand new exhibition, Bond in Motion, which showcases 50 original vehicles from the James Bond films. The exhibition is the largest of its kind staged anywhere in the world and features some of the best-loved and most iconic vehicles from the films, including the Lotus Esprit S1, affectionately nicknamed ‘Wet Nellie’ from The Spy Who Loved Me and the Rolls-Royce Phantom III used in Goldfinger. Follow the trail around the exhibition and exercise your code-cracking skills for an opportunity to win a Bond goody bag and have your picture taken in a genuine Bond vehicle. Beaulieu is open from 10am – 5pm every day; entrance is £19 adults, £17.50 seniors, £11.25 (13-17 years), £9.50 (5-12 years); family £49.75, under 5s free; for more information telephone 01590 612345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk.

Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

'Have a Go with ‘Tudor’ Feather Quills and Ink '

Try your hand at writing and drawing using feather quills and ink which were used in Tudor times when the Mary Rose sailed the high seas. The hands-on activity will take place at the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard from Saturday, 11th to Sunday 19 February, 11am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm. Free with a valid ticket to the Dockyard; for more information visit www.historicdockyard.co.uk or call 023 9283 9766. All under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets, which include all attractions at the Historic Dockyard (terms & conditions apply) are £21.50 adults, £18.35 seniors and students, £15.80 children 5-15 years, £62.15 families; under 5s free.

Milestones Museum, Basingstoke Leisure Park

'Victorian Week'

Celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens' birth at Milestones living history museum’s Victorian themed week between 11th and 19th February. Youngsters can dress up in period costume, take part in a Victorian school lesson and enter a colouring competition, while under 5s can enjoy the play Post Office. Activities are subject to availability on the day. Milestones is open from 11am - 4.45pm weekends and 10am - 4.45pm Monday - Friday during half term week. Admission is £7.90 adults, £6.90 concessions, £4.75 children (5-15 yrs), £22.75 family (2 adults + 2 children). For more information Tel: 01256 477766 or visit www.milestones-museum.com.

Red House Museum, Christchurch

'Insight into Roman Britain and the Forgotten Emperor'

Catch up on history with an insight into Roman Britain during the third century AD. The free entry Forgotten Roman Emperor exhibition at Red House Museum, Christchurch running until 14th April, tells the story of power, corruption and murder when Britain was raided by pirates. How Carausius became Emperor of Britain, his assassination and an epic battle in Hampshire are revealed through animated illustrations.

'Choccy Love Box'

To mark St Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, 14th February between 10.30am and 12.30pm you can join a workshop to make a box of chocolates as a gift for the one you love …. Or eat them all yourself! This session is for 7 years and upwards and is £5 per person. Please be aware of chocolate / nut food allergies.

'Roman Pots and Lamps'

The Red House Museum

On Saturday, 18th February between 10.30am – 12.30pm you can join a hands-on workshop with a master potter to create your own Roman pot or lamp to take home. £5 per person.

The Red House Museum and Gardens is open 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on Saturday. For more information call 01202 482 860 or visit http://www3.hants.gov.uk/museum/redhouse.htm.

Winchester City Museum

'Meet a Roman Soldier'

Come and meet a Roman soldier from the Legio Secunda Augusta Roman legion and his lady at the Winchester City Museum between 17th and 18th February. You will also be able to handle roman objects and discover more about life in Winchester during this fascinating era of our history. Admission is free into the city centre Museum, which is open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm; for more information call 01962 863 064 or visit www.winchester.gov.uk.

The Gallery at Winchester Discovery Centre

'Matisse Drawing with Scissors Family Workshops'

A free entry exhibition featuring 35 lithographic reproductions of the famous cut-outs by the French painter, sculptor and designer Henri Matisse (1869-1954) will be on display at The Gallery in the Winchester Discovery Centre 18th March.

During half-term there will be several family events linked to the Matisse exhibition. On 14th February from 10am to 1pm experienced artists from Think:Make:Do will guide youngsters through a world of shape and colour during a fun three hour session introducing paper collage and textile printing processes. Create Matisse inspired pictures and then watch them magically transfer onto fabric for a unique masterpiece to take home. Suitable for 4 - 7 year olds; £6 per child, adults free, all children must be accompanied by an adult.

On 17th February families can join in decoupage activities to create a Matisse inspired table and drinks mat from cork and recycled materials. Workshops for children aged 4 – 7 years (with a free helper ticket) will be held from 9.30am until 12noon, while between 2pm – 4.30pm there will be a session for children aged 8 – 11 years (consent forms must be completed and given to the staff on arrival) £10 per child.

For further information about The Gallery visit
www.hants.gov.uk/wdc-gallery.

Matisse Drawing with Scissors, Late Works 1950-1954 is a Hayward Touring exhibition from Southbank Centre, London on behalf of Arts Council England.

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 Southampton City Art Gallery
'The Road is Wider than Long'
Roland Penrose and British Surrealism
9 February – 13 May 2012

Southampton City Art Gallery is exploring the weird and wonderful world of Roland Penrose and British surrealism in a major free entry exhibition running from 9 February until 13 May, which will examine British surrealism from its origins to the present day and will bring together over one hundred significant artworks.

Southampton City Art Gallery
 

The exhibition will focus on the huge influence of the artist, historian and poet Sir Roland Penrose (1900-1984). Penrose was largely responsible for establishing the English surrealist movement, through his coordinating role in the International Surrealist Exhibition of 1936. The exhibition proved a popular attraction; a new awareness of the subconscious and its irresistible disruptive force had been unleashed. Roland Penrose went on to co-found the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in London and remained it’s guiding force for 30 years.

The gallery is open daily from 10.00hrs until 17.00hrs. For further information call 023 8083 2277 or visit website www.southampton.gov.uk/art.

The Anchor at Lower Froyle, Hampshire

The Cricketers Inn at Meopham

The Boat House, Seaview, Isle of Wight