Castle stages top weekend

Berkhamsted Castle will be the focus of a great weekend this July. On Saturday 9 July, the Illyria theatre company presents an open-air Ruddigore in the castle grounds. On the following day, Sunday 10 July, there’s a day of cycle racing as Berkhamsted Cycling Club (BCC) brings the Tour of Herts and the Berkhamsted Castle Revolutions Festival alongside a day of family activities.

The Tour could involve as many as 300 cyclists racing around the Castle along Brownlow Road, White Hill and New Road. The roads will remain closed for sessions open to the public, including a scooter event, a Brompton race and full-blown adult racing.

The chairman of BCC, Nick Kurth, said: ‘The town’s community cycling club is staging the event for local cyclists, local businesses and local people. Come and join us – it should be a great day out for all the family. It is free to the public and a donation will be made to the local charity, the Hospice of St Francis. Please do support the town’s racers – they will be wearing the distinctive blue and yellow BCC kit (the town’s colours) and would value your support.’

The first man to cycle around the world was Thomas Stevens, who was born on Castle Street in 1854. His feat was commemorated by a group of veteran cyclists in 2008.

For tickets to Ruddigore, call 01442 876622 or go via the website of the organiser, the Rotary Club of Berkhamsted Bulbourne – www.berkorotary.org.