FOFL Events 2023
Weds Jan 24th
Weds Jan 11th
Weds 20th December
Weds 22nd Nov
Weds 8th Nov
Talk – Weds 24th May
Storytelling event – Wednesday 26th April
Ticket to Paradise – Weds 12th April
Emily – Weds 8th March 2022
The Lost King – Weds 22nd February
Mrs Harris Goes to Paris – 8th Feb 2023
Where the Crawdad’s Sing – 25th Jan 2023
George Brannon Talk by Tim Wander – 18 Jan 2023
Fisherman’s Friends 2 – 4 Jan 2023
DOWNTON – Film
Thursday 1st Dec
ELVIS Film – repeat showing
Wednesday 16th November
COASTWATCH Talk & AGM
Weds 9th Nov 7pm
ELVIS Film
Weds 19th October
Paul Wilson – LOST TOWNS OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT (talk)
Thurs 6th October
Ruth Waller Archeology Talk
Tuesday September 27th
BENEDICTION – Weds 7th Sept
CYRANO – Weds 24th AUG
THE DUKE
Weds 20th July
BELFAST (film)
WEDS 15th June
7.30pm
2021. PG. 1 hour 38 mins
A young boy and his working-class Belfast family experience the tumultuous late 1960s in this MULTI OSCAR WINNING film, written and directed by Kenneth Brannagh. It is based on his own early childhood.
Fantastic performances by Judi Dench, Ciaran Hinds, Jamie Dornan, Jude Hill and Catriona Balfe.
A must-see film.
CAMERON, COFFEE & CALCUTTA
(A traveller’s tales)
WEDS 8th JUNE at 7.30pm
An illustrated filmed talk by
JANE RICHTER
Jane has travelled extensively in India and brings you this vibrant and colourful view of Calcutta, and how this ties in with Freshwater’s Victorian Circle and pioneer photographer
Julia Margaret Cameron, former owner of Dimbola Lodge, Freshwater Bay.
ALL proceeds to The Hope Foundation, a charity helping homeless street children in Calcutta
The Father (film)
12A, 2020, 1hr 37m
Weds 18th May
Doors open 7pm for a 7:30pm start
Based on the acclaimed, award-winning play, Anne (Olivia Colman) is losing patience with her 80-year-old father, Anthony (Anthony Hopkins), whose grip on reality is fading but who refuses to allow a carer to look after him. A brutal portrait of what it must feel like to lose your grip on reality boasts an Oscar-worthy performance.
Please note – we don’t send out tickets. You don’t need to print anything out. Once you reserve a seat your name will be allocated to a seat and your name checked on the door.
Seats are strictly limited to provide a Covid safe experience for everyone. We respectfully ask that you please wear a mask.
WEST SIDE STORY
April 6th
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER
PG, 1967
March 9th
Celebrating the life of Sidney Poitier, who recently died. Poitier was an actor, director, activist and ambassador. He was best known for his groundbreaking and trailblazing work in the 1950s and 1960s.
“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” is an outstanding Stanley Kramer production, superior in almost every imaginable way, which examines its subject matter (racism and bigotry) with perception, depth, insight, humor and feeling. Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier and Katharine Hepburn head a perfect cast.
Weds 16th OR Thursday 17th FEB
26th January
Friday 9th October
PARASITE (15)
Described as one of the best films of the year and a multi Oscar winner – best director, best film, best foreign language film and best screenplay.
Events spiral to an unexpected conclusion as the poverty stricken Kim family become entwined with the rich Park family. Korean with English subtitles.
Friday 25th September
MISBEHAVIOUR (12A)
MISBEHAVIOUR is a British drama set in 1970, in which the Women’s Liberation Movement decide to protest the Miss World pageant, the most watched TV show on the planet with over 100 million viewers.
An uplifting and inspiring feel good film based on real events.
Friday 4th & 11th Sept
MESSAGE TO LOVE
Friday 21st August
LITTLE WOMEN
Friday 7th August 2020
SOCIALLY DISTANCED CINEMA
Film night at West Wight Sports & Community Centre
As we cannot safely fit people into the library with the current Covid restrictions, as a trial we are moving over the road to the West Wight Sports & Community Centre where we can comfortably and spaciously accommodate people for a movie. Wait outside to be seated on your own group table, seated 2m away from the next table. The windows will be open throughout the performance, and masks will be available to purchase if you prefer. Refreshments will be available from the West Wight Sports & Community Centre team.
Seats are strictly in advance only (no on the door sales at all!).
The film we are showing is:
MILITARY WIVES 12A
It’s a feel good film from the makers of The Full Monty, which centers on group of women whose partners are away serving in Afghanistan. Faced with their loved ones’ absences, they come together to form the first ever Military Wives choir, helping each other through some of life’s most difficult moments., and quickly find themselves on an international stage.
Starring Sharon Horgan and Kristin Scott Thomas. A feel good crowd pleaser – inspired by true events.
Friday 29th May – RACE
FILM NIGHT SPECIAL
Supporting the Isle of Wight Festival of Running and West Wight Sports and Community Centre.
RACE – the remarkable true story of Jessie Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Weds 29th April – Sorry We Missed You (now suspended until further notie)
Weds 15th April – Cats (now suspended until further notice)
Weds 18th March – Red Squirrel Talk (talk now suspended until further notice)
Weds 11th March – JUDY
Weds 5th February – Downton Abbey
Wednesday 22nd January – The Souvenir
Monday 6th January 2020
FOFL AGM
Weds 4th December / Thursday 5th December
Weds 20th November
Weds 9th October
7.30pm (doors open at 7pm)
Part two of Ruth’s fascinating talks about the ancient West Wight, the time focusing on the period between the Iron Age and the Medieval age.
You can reserve a seat online, please see our SHOP section.
Wednesday 23rd October
7pm for 7.30pm
Film – What we did on our holiday
In conjunction with “celebrating Age” week, a heartwarming film about family life starring Billy Connolly and David Tennant.
Weds 25th Sept
7pm for 7.30ppm
A broad presentation by Waste Services Co AMEY about what happens to our waste after it is collected, how the waste services work on the island and what can, and cannot, be recycled.
Admission free, no need to reserve seats, just turn up.
Friday 27th September
Come along for some cake & a cuppa at Freshwater Library
Friday 27 September
10am – 12pm
Donations of cake will also be gladly received, just please take note of all the ingredients.
Friday 6th September
Library Film Night – The Bookshop
Supporting the Freshwater Book Fair
Come along to a special screening of the film “The Bookshop” (about one woman’s struggle to open a bookshop in an English Village).
Freshwater Parish Councillor Daniel James will be introducing the new Freshwater Book Fair. Daniel will chat before the film about this new venture and what is on offer.
The Bookshop stars Bill Nighy and Emily Mortimer and is the story of Florence Green, a free-spirited widow, who puts grief behind her and risks everything to open up a bookshop – the first such shop in the sleepy seaside town of Hardborough, England. But this mini social revolution soon brings her fierce enemies: she invites the hostility of the town’s less prosperous shopkeepers and also crosses Mrs. Gamart, Harborough’s vengeful, embittered alpha female who is a wannabe doyenne of the local arts scene.
Friday 30th August
Bring your children along for an our-of-this-world talk about space from the island Planetarium!
Friday 30th August
2.30-3.30pm
Suitable for children aged 8 and up
This event is free!
Freshwater Library Summer Children’s Event
Wednesday 21 August – 2.30pm – 4-6 year olds.
Friday 23 August – 2.30pm – 7-9 year olds.
“Shake up your Summer”
Freshwater Library is joining together with Fran’s Fitness to help you shake up your summer!
Join us on the lawn for some Disney themed fun.
Weds 14th August
Freshwater Library Event
Monday 12th August
10.30 – Midday
FOFL Event for children
Weds 24th July
Weds 17th July
Weds 26th June
Weds 19th June
Weds 22nd May
LIBRARY FILM NIGHT
Coming soon – The Favourite
with Olivia Coleman in her Oscar winning role.
J C Grimshaws TZIGANE BAND
Friday 1oth May , 7pm.
JC Grimshaw will be playing at Freshwater Library with Tzigane – featuring Paul Armfield.
Book tickets online – see HOME page for icon. Or get tickets on the door, on the night.
Wednesday April 24th
LIBRARY FILM NIGHT
Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman
Weds 24th April
Cert 15. Strong language and themes of race and violence.
Comedy. A black policeman infiltrates the KKK in order to expose them, with hilarious results.
Wednesday 10th April
Children’s author Debbie Webb
will be reading from her book
STEVIE STEGOSAURUS
as well as making Stevie puppets, 10am -12 midday on Weds 10th April.
At Freshwater Library with squash and biscuits for the children.
FILM NIGHT – THE WIFE
Wednesday April 3rd
7.30 pm doors open at 7pm
Wednesday 20th March 2019
FILM NIGHT
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
Wednesday 6th March
A STREET CAT NAMED BOB
Wednesday 6th February 2019
FILM NIGHT
“THE CHILDREN ACT”
HALF TERM EVENTS FOR CHILDREN FEBRUARY 2019
We have two family events for children this February half term, see below.
2019 Special Event
Our first event for 2019 (January 11th) is not to be missed.
Isle of Wight High Sherif, Gioia Minghella-Giddens, will be introducing the film TRULY MADLY DEEPLY directed by her brother, the late Anthony Minghella.
This special screening is set to coincide with Anthony Minghella’s birthday and Gioia Minghella-Giddens will be paying tribute to her brother’s career in her introduction. There will be refreshments.
More details to follow.
2018 Forthcoming Films:
All films start at 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm. Admissiosn £3
Tuesday July 24th : I TONYA
Weds Sept 5th: THE MERCY
Weds Oct 10th: THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
Weds Nov 21st: THE DARKEST HOUR
2018 Forthcoming TALKS:
All talks start at 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm. Admissiosn £3
Weds Oct 17th Ruth Waller – The Archaeology of Freshwater and Totland. £4 donation. Bookings can be made online.
Tues Nov 6th Mark Earp – Movements in Architecture (and how British architecture was influenced by the Freshwater Circle) £4 donation. Bookings can be made online.
Dec 5th 2018 – Xmas Party for FOFL members with music – Brighstone Barnacles and JC Grimshaw
Please scroll down
Wednesday 2nd May 7.30pm Admission FREE
Wednesday 18th April 2018 at 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm.
Wednesday 28th March 2018 at 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm.
The Death of Stalin
Friday 9th March 2018 at 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm.
Friday 23rd February 2018 at 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm.
REPEAT SHOWING BY POPULAR DEMAND
Wednesday 28th February 2018 at 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm.
Weds 31st January 2018
Weds 17th January 2018
A Plastic Ocean
7pm for 7:30
Introduced by Paul Elvins of IOW Beach Cleaning Volunteers and plastic reduction advice from Sarah Marshall of Plastic Aware.
This is a feature length documentary about the threat to marine and human life from the unprecedented rise of plastic pollution in our seas. This is particularly relevant to our island community.
IMPORTANT NOTICE. Demand for this film is likely to be high, so please book online to reserve your seat on this website. There’s a link on the home page.
Tuesday 24th October
Friday 20th October
Wednesday 4th October
Monday 18th September
Wednesday 13th September
Wednesday 23rd August 6pm.
FAMILY film night. £2 admission for all. Starts 6pm, doors open 5.30. Seats will be limited so come early to avoid disappointment.
Tuesday 8th August, 10am – midday
Childrens Summer Holiday Craft sesion
MIST
Thursday 3rd August
7.30pm – 8.45pm, admission £3
An evening of alternative short films from around the world
“Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em”
a talk by
RAYMOND ALLEN
Weds 28th June 2018 at 7pm
When the Frank Spencer phenomenon hit our TV screens (and at the time it was a really big deal) it launched local writer and creator Ray Allen into the national spotlight.
Raymond Allen was at the time a young local chap from Ryde, Isle of Wight, who sent in his script in to the BBC about the hapless Frank Spencer and it became the biggest TV success imaginable, launching the series as an iconic slice of 70s life and also launching the TV career of Michael Crawford. The phrase “oooh Betty” achieved almost national recognition along with Frank’s lopsided French beret and his endearing mannerisms. It was comedy gold at the time and is still cherished today.
FOFL were thrilled when we heard that one of our library volunteers was a personal friend of Raymond Allen, and we snapped him up to come and talk to us. We are over the moon to be presenting Raymond Allen at Freshwater library and hope that you will join us in welcoming him.
UKULELE WORKSHOP NO 2
with J C Grimshaw
Monday 26th June
6.30pm until 8.30pm.
Beginners welcome; some ukulele’s available to borrow.
June film night
JACKIE
Wednesday 14th June
May Film Night
LION
Wednesday 31st May at 7:30
Seats are limited so please come early to book yours.
Five year old Saroo gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of miles across India, away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive alone in Kolkata, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, he sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home.
QUIZ NIGHT
Wednesday 26th April, 7pm, £2 per person.
Ukulele workshop
Saturday 29th April, 2-4 pm
Film Night
HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE
Friday 7th April, 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm
Tuesday 7th March
Friday 24th February
Film Night Special
Friday 17th February
AN ISLAND FOR ALL SEASONS
We are delighted that The John Clare Wind Quintet have asked to play to raise funds for Freshwater Library and Freshwater Lifeboat once again. The members of the quintet are all former teaching colleagues of Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust who get together to play when they can. This is despite Ruth Allen (trombone) now living in Totland and Lyndon Hilling (bassoon) working in the Far East as an international examiner for The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music!
This time there will be one event called An Island for all Seasons – A celebration of the West Wight in music, poetry and images. The event will take place on Friday 17th February at The Methodist Church, Brookside, Freshwater at 7.30pm. Doors will open at 7pm as seating will be limited although not as restricting as the library!
There will be a retiring collection, the proceeds of which will be split between the two hugely cherished and important organisations in West Wight.
Library Film Night
Bridget Jones’s Baby – Fri 10th February
Four films, one lecture, all shown over one year
– selected by film historians Tim Nicholson and Tony Dalton.
All will be shown at Freshwater Library, all starting at 7.30 pm with doors opening at 7pm
Library Film Night
The Man Who Knew Infinity – Friday January 13th
Starts 7:30 – doors open at 7pm
Written and directed by Matthew Brown, The Man Who Knew Infinity is the true story of friendship that forever changed mathematics. In 1913, Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel), a self-taught Indian mathematics genius, traveled to Trinity College, Cambridge, where over the course of five years, forged a bond with his mentor, the brilliant and eccentric professor, G.H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons), and fought against prejudice to reveal his mathematic genius to the world. The film also stars Devika Bhise, Stephen Fry and Toby Jones. This is Ramanujan’s story as seen through Hardy’s eyes
Library Film Night
The Lunchbox – Weds January 18th 2017
Italian with subtitles.
Starts 7:30 – doors open at 7pm
Dir: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Irrfan Khan (Slumdog Millionaire & Life of Pi) & Nimrat Kaur
Sajaan (Khan) is a widower about to retire from his job as an accountant in a busy Mumbai office. Ila (Kaur) is a young wife hoping to get her husband’s attention by cooking delicious food for him. The mistaken delivery in the city’s famously efficient lunchbox delivery system unexpectedly connects Sajaan and Ila through notes in the lunchbox.
This is a romantic comedy with a difference that will probably get your taste-buds going too.
FOFL Christmas Party!
Wednesday 7th December at 7pm
Please do come along to the library for Christmas fun, refreshments and raffle – PLUS two amazing bands to entertain you. With the Ryde Ukulele Band and The Elderberries.
FILM – NAOMI KLEIN’S “THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING”
£3 per ticket
Friday 18th November at 7pm
BUY TICKETS ONLINE – CLICK HERE
A documentary film based on Naomi Kleinm’s bestselling book about climate change, “This Changes Everything” was filmed in nine countries and five continents over four years and is an epic attempt to re imagine the challenge of climate change. This is a MUST SEE film if you are interested in the envirornment or climate change. Booking is stongly recommended.
PAUL ARMFIELD at FRESHWATER LIBRARY
£5 per ticket
Friday 7th October at 7:30pm
BUY TICKETS ONLINE – CLICK HERE
Singer / songwriter Paul Armfield has strong local and European following, and has released several albums to wide critical acclaim. Described as ‘folk noir’ his voice has been compared to Cat Stevens and Nick Drake. A big fan of Scott Walker, Paul was applauded for his renditions of Jacques Brel chansons as well as his own lovelorn, poetic songs.
Paul has generously agreed to donate all the ticket proceeds to aid FOFL’s drive to replace the existing outdated WC and kitchen facilities at the library. This will help us raise even more to help our fabulous library.
Seats will be limited to around 60 – this event is likely to sell out.
Advance ticket purchases advised.
Friday 28th October
FILM – HAIL CAESAR!
Tickets £3 each
7.30pm – doors open 7pm
Weds 21st September
FILM – ‘FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS’
Tickets £3 each
7.30 pm – doors open at 7.00pm
Wednesday 14th September
DICKENS ON FILM
Pleasse do join us for Tim Nicholson’s evening lecture entitled ‘Dickens on Film’. Tim, a film historian (of Tony and Tim’s film club at Freshwater Memorial Hall) will take us on an illustrated journey of Charles Dickens films’ with clips from the silent era through to more recent productions. This promises to be a fascinating literary and cinematic evening, all viewed on our new equipment and even newer big new screen.
7.00pm at Freshwater Library
£3 voluntary donations toward supporting the library.
LIBRARY ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR
with Ryde Ukulele Band and Millicent’s Favourites
Come along from 10.30 am for FOFL tea and cake, Music and Arts and Crafts
FILM – TRUMBO
7:30pm – doors open at 7pm
Wednesday 17th August
The true story of Dalton Trumbo, Hollywood screen writer, blacklisted in the MacCarthy communist witch hunts. A snapshot of Hollywood’s darkest hour, when cold war paronoia swapmed the US media.
Wednesday 27th July at 2:30pm
Ability Dogs 4 Young People
Bring your children along to meet the dogs who are trained as assistance dogs to young people. This short event is designed for children and includes a short overview of the scheme. Nola and Richard will then give a short demo so you can then see the dogs at work. Interaction is encouraged.
AbilityDogs4YoungPeople
Thursday 21st July 2016 at 7:30pm
A tour of Hooke’s London today
Presented by Nick Minns MRSC.
Robert Hooke
Tuesday 19th July 2016 at 7:30pm
Hooke’s Island – the Isle of Wight in the 17th Century
Presented by Richard Smout – Island County Archivist.
Robert Hooke
Saturday 16th July 2016
FRESHWATER LIVE
Steve Parkes “The Gentleman Songster” 10:30am & 11:30am
Steve will entertain with his guitar and comic sings as part of Freshwater Live on his last day of working at the library. Please do come along to say goodbye and thank you to him for his eight years at Freshwater Library.
Weds 13th July 2016
7pm doors open for a 7:30pm start
FILM NIGHT – ‘YOUTH’
Youth is a 2015 Italian comedy drama, written and directed by Paolo Sorrentino. Tickets £3 on the door. All proceeds to support FOFL.
Weds 1st June at 7:30 pm
A SPECIAL performance from the wonderful CHAIN FERRY GANG to aid FOFL’s fundraising. This will be quirky, fun and great entertainment. Please do join us for this folk music event. Tickets are by £3 donation on the door.
Saturday 21st May
11am – 1pm
There will be a community event in the Library Garden for families. ARC consulting will be hosting this FREE event to encourage children to discover wildlife. There will be bug hoovering, bug hunting and identification. From 11-1, and refreshments will be served by FOFL.
Friday 29th April 2016
7:45 pm – doors open 7:15
FILM – Suffragette
£3 entrance.
A drama that tracks the story of the foot soldiers of the early feminist movement, women who were forced underground to pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an increasingly brutal State.
Starring Carey Mulligan, Meryl Streep, Helena Bonham Carter, Ben Wishaw.
Friday 8th April 2016
7:45 pm – doors open 7:15 pm
FILM – Brooklyn.
Freshwater Library film night in April is showing the recently released film BROOKLYN. Written by Nick Hornby and directed by John Crowley it is based on Colm Toibin’s bestselling novel. Brooklyn tells the story of a 1951 young woman’s immigration to New York. It received critical acclaim at the 2015 Sundance Film festival and was nominated for three Academy Awards.
£3 entrance.
Seats limited so come early to grab a seat. Doors open 7:15 for a 7:45 start.
Wednesday 20th April 2016
QUIZ – LET’S GET QUIZZICAL
Come in teams of up to six or come alone and join up with other teams on the night. This is always a well supported and fun night.
£1:50 per person, and all the proceeds to FOFL.
7pm
Friday March 18th 2016
7pm – doors open 6:45pm
FILM – The Lady in the Van.
Based on Alan Bennett’s story and starring Dame Maggie Smith.
Tickets, available on the door, are £3 each. Come early to get your seat, we cannot reserve.
Friday February 26th 2016
BRAND NEW. FILM NIGHTS!
Using our fabulous new equipment procured through funding from Spectrum housing, Freshwater Parish, Yarmouth Parish and HWICF, we are thrilled to be offering the first of many FILM NIGHTS.
Seats are limited, so come early to reserve yours.
Friday 26th February at 7pm at the library.
THE MARTIAN – critically acclaimed and starring Matt Damon.
Wednesday 23rd March
MARK EARP – THE ISLE OF WIGHT AT WAR 1914 – 1918; The Home Front.
This should be both an extertaining and fascinating talk. Mark is an excellent speaker and you won’t be disappointed. Hope to see you there.
7pm – cost FOFL members £2, other £3 at the door.
Monday 15th February (half term)
JOHN CLARE WIND QUINTET
3pm – donations at the door to support the library.
A half term family concert for all, at which children are most welcome. Enjoy the music (including some film and TV favourites) and maybe even have a go at a wind instrument. This is a special performance of the Northamptonshire based wind quintet. Not to be missed.
Monday 19th October
THE FRESHWATER CIRCLE
7.00pm – 9.00pm at Freshwater Library
A talk by local bookseller and published author on the subject of The Freshwater Circle.
By Gail Downey Middleton of ‘Mrs Middleton’s Shop’, Freshwater.
Julia Magaret Cameron
Wednesday 28th October
MONSTER STORIES
10:30 – 11:45 am at Freshwater Library
Stories and activities for 4-8 year olds during half term.
Monster Stories
Monday 16th November
FRIENDS OF FRESHWATER LIBRARY AGM
with SOUNDS OF WILD WEST WIGHT
7.00pm – 9.00pm at Freshwater Library
With British Library sound recordist Richard Beard. Richard will take you on a fascinating voyage as he shares the sounds of a variety of wild birds and animals in their natural West Wight habitat.
This meeting will be followed by the FOFL AGM.
Wild West Wight
Monday 14th December
FOFL Christmas Party with the Brighstone Barnacles
7.00 – 9.00pm at Freshwater Library
Come and join the Christmas party. Refreshments by FOFL
