Rock and roll drummer Manny Elias (Tears For Fears, Peter Gabriel, Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell) and his wife actress Deborah Bouchard (Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Cold Feet) will join in the fun at Sandbach Christmas Market on Friday December 4.

Instead of making music Manny has created a range of Chilli Condiments – fittingly branded Bongo’s.

Bongo’s is just one of an extensive food offering available at the Christmas Market. Other new products include stuffed breads, flavoured nuts, craft ales, fudge and truffles, whilst many old favourites, such as Katie’s Proper Pate and Tinakiiana petit fours, are returning to delight their regular customers.

Children’s toys, adult and kids clothing, paintings and artwork, candles, soaps, knitted goods, tableware, jewellery, glassware and cushions are amongst the wide variety of handmade crafts that will extend from the Cobbles, down the High Street, through the Indoor Market and onto the Little Common.

Christmas shopping will be accompanied by the sound of brass bands, while school choirs will be singing carols around the Christmas tree and Santa will be settled in his Grotto.

Commencing at 3pm the Christmas Market will compliment the town centre’s independent and specialist shops, which will remain open until 7pm. There will be stalls selling hot food and drinks and all the town restaurants and cafés will be open until late.

A vintage craft fair will join the Christmas Market this year, with around 20 stalls on the first floor in the Town Hall.

A wide selection of products, including unique character stationery, personalised gifts, craft supplies and fashion accessories by local artisans and small businesses will be on offer.

There will be a vintage tea room as well as children’s craft activities, such as make and take Christmas cards, and a chance to win handmade and unique products in a raffle.

Sandbach United FC is seeking sponsors and funding from local businesses to expand its facilities.

The grass roots club provides sport for people from the age of four right through to veterans.

Commercial manager Paul Cliffe said: “We have over 600 players, a further 1,200 parents and over 100 volunteers, so quite a sizeable concern for a non-profit community club.

“Our aim is to provide a full football pathway for all children, male and female, from the start of their time at Sandbach right through to open age.

“The facility was developed in 2012 to strict planning & budget requirements and although we are extremely proud of what we have we want to progress and have established a fundraising target of £50,000 for the year.”

Mr Cliffe said the club has two major challenges to overcome – training space and stadium facilities.

He added: “We only have floodlights on an all-weather surface limiting training time for all teams who use the facility.

“We have pre-existing planning permission to erect floodlights on our main pitch area – increasing training at night, permitting fixtures to be played midweek on an evening and providing us with the required lighting for promotions within the national league system over time.

“We are also looking to erect a small stand of approximately 100 seats to improve spectator experience and upgrade the surrounding area for match days including parking provisions.”

Anyone who can help should call 07921 947870 or email [email protected]

Fans of the Harry Potter books and films celebrated in Sandbach last week to mark 20 year’s since the character’s screen debut.

It is two decades since the first film in the Harry Potter series reached the screens of the nation and Sandbach fans celebrated with a party at the Town Hall hosted by Laura Surgenor, conference and events officer at the town council.

With the hall divided into the various houses of Hogwarts School there was a Harry Potter quiz, food and all the children dressed up as characters from the film, with most appearing as Harry Potter himself and at least one as Voldemort.

A teenager who made the lives of people in Sandbach and Crewe a misery has been handed a criminal behaviour order banning her from parts of the towns for two years.

Konnie Looms, 18, of no fixed abode, had been causing extensive anti-social behaviour for more than a year, including assaults and criminal damage.

At Crewe Magistrates Court this month Looms was issued with the Criminal Behaviour Order, which prevents her from entering areas including The Commons, Sandbach Park, and High Street including the cobbles, unless given express permission by police to do so.

By Jonathan White

The 27th Sandbach Transport Festival proved a hit once again, attracting hundreds of visitors to the town last month.

This free event included a large vehicle display with trucks, classic and vintage cars, motorbikes, bicycles, a stage performance area and children’s funfair on Scotch Common car park.

There was also a performance by Foden’s Band, an open day at Sandbach Fire Station, a road train in Sandbach Park, a hog roast by the Sandbach Round Table and the Sandbach Music Festival on the Cobbles.

Sandbach School student Matthew Brett is making outstanding progress in the Young Musician of Year competition.

And after getting through two auditions on Saturday Matthew has been successful in reaching the Percussion Final, which will be televised in March.

If he gets through the percussion final then he will go on to compete in the semi-final of the prestigious contest.

It is even more of an achievement given that Matthew is only 14 and the upper age limit for the national competition is 18.

Matthew is the timpanist/percussionist at the Halle Youth Orchestra.

A rainy Sunday afternoon on July 26 welcomed various mayors to Sandbach for the annual Civic Service and Procession.

In honour of Gill Merry, Mayor of Sandbach, the parade started on Scotch Common and followed the road through the town past the town hall and on to the war memorial where Gill laid a wreath before heading to St Mary’s and a service conducted by Rev Thomas Shepherd, which included readings from the town mayor and Councillor Natasha Simpson.

An invitation was then given for light refreshments at the Town Hall.

Those in attendance included the Mayor of Cheshire East, Cllr Hilda Gaddum, Congleton Mayor, Cllr Elizabeth Wardlaw and her Mayor’s Cadet Charlotte Frost, Knutsford Mayor, Cllr Tony Dean and Winsford’s Deputy Mayor, David Edwards along with representatives of the British Legion and leading the procession the Cheshire Police Band.

The Rotary Club of Sandbach Crosses presented two cheques recently, each of £750, to local representatives of Marie Curie and the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Presenting the cheques Rotary club president Tony Wilford said: ‘These are the first two presentations from our collecting in Sandbach town centre, outside Waitrose and at the M6 services at Junction 17 before Christmas.

“We’re very happy to be supporting these two very worthy causes again this year, and are hopeful that these donations will be matched by Barclays Bank; again we’re very grateful for their staff’s involvement as well.”

The Rotary Club of Sandbach Crosses meets every Tuesday evening at Gee’s Kitchen at 7.30pm. Anyone who would like to support future events or join the Rotary Club would be warmly welcomed – please contact the membership secretary on 01270 764254.

Pictured are club president Tony Wilford (right) presenting a cheque to Marie Curie’s Holly Fraser (third from left) outside Gee’s Kitchen in Sandbach. Rtns Arnie Laing (left) and Allan Jones (2nd from left) make sure he gets it right!