SHARE CHRISTMAS DAY WITH OTHERS – Will you be on your own on Christmas Day this year? There will be a warm welcome in Bishop’s Castle for people of any age or circumstances who would like to share their Christmas with others. Get in touch with Pat and Paul Simon on 01588 650490 if you are interested.

CARNIVAL CHRISTMAS FAIR – Bishop’s Castle carnival queen Charmaine Kerswell will open the carnival committee Christmas Fair at noon on Saturday, November 24, in the public hall. The event runs until 5pm. Call Wendy Oakley on 01588 638846 for more details.

2012 CUP FOR MARION AND GERALD – Gerald and Marion Jones Carol were presented with a cup for the best wayside garden in Bishop’s Castle at the Civic Society Awards on November 7 in the Town Hall. Mary Maclachlan, Sarah Woof and Peter Keeley, Dorothy Gwilliam, and Dennis and Wendy Howells were highly commended. The Dr and Mrs St John Penney Rose Bowl for the best hanging baskets was won by Raymond and Gladys Jones. Highly commended were Susan Howells, Pamela Sherwood and Margaret Tantrum. Graham and Meg Hemmings won the Kenneth Lewis Cup for the best kept private premises, while Norman and Rosie Reid won the Robert Gwyther Cup for the best-kept business premises.

Winners of the Mawdsley Cup for the best new work or renovation in the town were David and Nicky Simpson.

WONDERMENTALIST – Poet and performer Matt Harvey comes to the SpArC Theatre on Friday November 23.

Tickets cost £8/£5 teenagers. It begins at 7.30pm. Call 01588 630243 to make a booking, or visit sparctheatre.co.uk.

PERSEPHONE BOOKS AFTERNOON – Bishop’s Castle Town Hall was transformed last Monday afternoon by Rachel Hawes of Art and Artisan Books and her husband Bamber, into a genteel tea parlour from the 1930s. Nicola Beauman the founder and publisher of Persephone Books, which has just added the 100th book to its catalogue of mainly women writers of the early 20th century, gave a short history of the venture since it was founded in 1999, and answered questions from her audience of over 30 people.

CARDS FOR LIFEBOAT AID – The Royal National Lifeboats Institute will be selling Christmas cards, diaries, calendars and small gifts at Bishop’s Castle farmers’ market on Saturday November 17.

LOCAL LIB DEM MEMBERSHIP GROWS – Members of Bishop’s Castle and Clun Liberal Democrats held their AGM recently and heard that local membership had grown from 20 to over 80. Peter Phillips was re-elected chairman and treasurer, with Heather Kidd secretary. On March 1 next year the Bishop’s Castle Lib Dems will hold a pre-election social evening to thank all their supporters and to gear up for the local elections on May 2.

CHARITY CATALOGUES – Elisabeth and Michael Knight, who have raised hundreds of pounds for Third World charities, are making an offer that will help your group as well as other people.

As sellers of handcrafted goods from many countries, they get a discount.

They are offering to give some of their discount to any group that would like to take Tearcraft catalogues and collect some orders. Participating groups will receive 10 per cent of the value of orders they generate. Call 01588 680285 or e-mail tcraft.knight@uwclub.net.

BUILDING A FUTURE – Councillor Charlotte Barnes will be one of the speakers at a meeting in the Three Tuns on Wednesday November 21. Starting at 7pm, the Bishop’s Castle and District Community Land Trust will hold their AGM followed by a discussion, ‘Building a Future for Bishop’s Castle’.

ROOM AT ABBEYFIELD – There are three vacancies at Abbeyfield House in Bishop’s Castle and anyone who would like to visit to see what it has to offer is very welcome. The house, which is run by a trust, offers a home to elderly people who want to stay independent but feel lonely and wish to downsize their accommodation. Call house manager Tina Palmer on 01588 630000.

CONCERT FOR KINNERTON CHAPEL – A talented bunch of local entertainers come together on Friday, November 23, to support Kinnerton Methodist Chapel.

The evening starts at 7.30pm and performers include the Llansilin Quartet, David Preshous, Pete Lockerman, Mary Hartung, Trevor Morris and comedian Ken Pugh. Tickets cost £7.50 including refreshments and you can book a seat on 01588 650639.

WILDLIFE RANGER TALK – Alan Read, a wildlife ranger working in the Marches forests of Shropshire and Herefordshire, was the speaker at the October meeting of the South West Shropshire Gardening Club, Lydbury North Village Hall. The next meeting of the SWSGC is at Lydbury North Village Hall on November 28 when the speaker will be Michael Marriot from David Austin Roses. New members and visitors are always welcome. For more information call Pauline Edie 01588 660120.

THREE WINNERS – Mrs MD Wright won £26.50 in the October draw of Lydham Church 100 Club. Sheila Leeke won £15.90 and Paula Brayford won £10.60.

BISHOP’S CASTLE DIARY FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16: Friday market. Town Hall, Bishop’s Castle. Weekly. 8am Bishop’s Castle’s County Councillor Charlotte Barnes surgery. Acanthus Café, Bishop’s Castle. 10am-11am.

SWSHAS. AGM and talk, ‘The Woodmancote Album and Diaries of Lady Victoria Alexandrina Cotes’ – Nicholas Harding. Church Barn, Bishop’s Castle. 7.30pm.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 17: Farmers’ market. Town Hall and Market Square, Bishop’s Castle. 9am-1pm. Call 01588 638141.

Royal National Lifeboats Institute Christmas stall. Farmers’ market.

Bishop’s Castle. 9am Auction. Public Hall, Bishop’s Castle.

Call 01743 462763.

Soup lunch, bring and buy in aid of Norbury Church redecoration. Norbury Village Hall. 12 noon.

MONDAY NOVEMBER 19: Afternoon tea and entertainment for carers and those they care for. Coverage Care, Bishop’s Castle. 2pm. Call 01694 722024.

Quest Group. Nature Spirits –Susan Raven. Grange Rd Community Centre, Bishop’s Castle. £4. 7.30pm. Call 01588 630648.

Bingo for Children in Need. Powis Arms, Lydbury North. 8pm. Call 01588 680396.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 20: Bishop’s Castle WI. Norman Jones entertains. Methodist Hall, Bishop’s Castle. 7.15pm.

Bishop’s Castle Tennis Club AGM. Castle Hotel, Bishop’s Castle. 7.30pm.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21: Bishop’s Castle Friends of the Earth. HES office, above pharmacy. New St entrance. 7.30pm.

Coffee and company. Lydbury North Village Hall. 11am.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22: Footpath Walking Group. Wistanstow.

Four-six miles. Meet Harley Jenkins St car park, Bishop’s Castle. 9.30am. For more details, call 01588 620261.

Friends of Bishop’s Castle Library AGM.

Tales from the Fireside – Malcolm Castle. Bishop’s Castle Library. Free.

7.30pm.

Live music with Geoff Grimes and The Beez Neez. Castle Hotel bar, Bishop’s Castle. 8.30pm.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 23: Comedian Matt Harvey live. SpArC theatre, Bishop’s Castle. £8/£5. 7.30pm.

Call 01588 630243.

County Councillor Charlotte Barnes surgery. Acanthus Café, Bishop’s Castle.

10am-11am.

Castle Artists Christmas exhibition.

Three Tuns, Bishop’s Castle. Free. 6- 8pm. Call 01588 638797.

Junior disco. Church Barn, Bishop’s Castle. 5.30pm.

Footpath Walking Group planning meeting. 19 Brick Meadow, Bishop’s Castle. 10.30am. Call 01588 650451.

Philip Dunne MP surgery. Enterprise House, Bishop’s Castle. 4.30pm-6pm.

Call 01584 872187.

Quiz in aid of new hall funds. Lydbury North Village Hall. Teams of up to 4 £2 each. 7.30pm. Call 01588 680302.

Concert in aid of Kinnerton Chapel.

Norbury Village Hall. £7.50 including refreshments. 7.30pm. Call 01588 638570.

If you have any news for the paper, or a coming event to promote, hand a note addressed to Julia Parker over the counter at Bishop’s Castle Post Office.

Call 01588 680445.The email address is jparker228@btinternet.com.