Rehearsal schedule:
Winter 2019

• We rehearse at ST MARY AND ST JOHN CE PRIMARY SCHOOL (SSMJ), now in the newer hall at the near end of the school as you drive in the gate. Park in the car park and there are doors to the hall.
• We usually rehearse from the first Thursday in September until the June/July concert, except for Thursdays which overlap with the Christmas and new year break, and Maundy Thursday. We do rehearse at half terms.
• Document containing 2018/19 concert scoring, and links to parts and recordings
• Glossary of musical terminology in various languages

• Fanfare for The Common Man
• Egmont Overture
• Dvorak The Golden Spinning Wheel
• Borodin 2

By car

From the A34, turn off at the Milton interchange and at the slip road roundabout take the A4130 exit to Didcot.

OPTION 1: THE ORCHARD CENTRE (SAINSBURYS). After about 2 miles, go straight ahead at two roundabouts and you will shortly pass Didcot train station. Go past it and straight ahead at the first set of traffic lights into Hitchcock Way. At the second set of traffic lights, near Sainsbury's petrol station, get in the right lane and turn right. Bend round to the right past the entrance to the petrol station, and then left into the Orchard Centre car park. Walk up the circular steps near Sainsburys towards Argos, and then right along the shopping street. At the end, you will see a Cineworld Cinema, and to its left is Cornerstone.

Orchard Centre parking is (2018) 0-2 hours free, 2-3 hours £1.70, 3-4 hours £2, maximum 4 hours, no return within 3 hours. Free after 1900. Because of number plate recognition system, this means you can't park from 1300 and stay until after the concert.

A new section of the car park has opened to the south-west of the original. This is the nearest parking place to Cornerstone. In the far corner, there are 9 steps to Station Road and then a short walk to Cornerstone.

OPTION 2: EDINBURGH DRIVE OX11 7HT. Two miles after Milton interchange, turn right into B4493 Foxhall Road. After 0.5 miles turn left at the Shell garage roundabout into Broadway. Once in the shopping street, turn down the unnamed road between British Heart Foundation and Toys-UK. (Note that you can't access this part of Edinbugh Drive from the lower part.) From the car park, cross the road and walk between Wilkos and Prezzo, go down the steps and Cornerstone is on the right.

First hour free (ticket required) and no charge after 1400 on Saturdays. For a 1400 rehearsal and evening concert at Cornerstone it is therefore possible to park in the Edinburgh Drive car park from 1300 onwards without charge and without having to move between rehearsal and concert. But this is a main shoppers' car park so it may be full.

Heavy instrument unloading/parking

There is get-in access for timpani, harp and possibly double basses and tuba via Cornerstone's small get-in: two miles after Milton interchange, turn right into B4493 Foxhall Road. After 0.5 miles turn left at the Shell garage roundabout into Broadway. Once in the shopping street, look out for the Broadways pub, and turn 20 yards down the pedestrianised section of Station Road. Park near the aluminium-panelled gates and walk down to the front of Cornerstone and ask Reception to open the gates. Once inside, there are ramps and step-free access to the stage area. It is possible you will be able to leave your vehicle there after unloading, though there is only room for about 4 cars and it depends on whether Cornerstone has other events on which also need to use the get-in area.

The Orchard Centre car park (not accessible from Broadway - see Option 1 above) has recently been extended further south-west towards Station Road and Cornerstone. Owners of heavy instruments may like to park in this part of the car park (which is much nearer to Cornerstone, but involves walking up 9 steps).

By train + 10 minutes walk

Turn left out of Didcot station. At the first set of traffic lights, turn right up Station Road. As the shopping centre begins you will see Cornerstone straight ahead.