Bishops Castle

PICTURE MAP – Bishops Castle Christmas lights organisers have come up with a bright idea to raise funds for this year’s event, and publicise the town at the same time. They have asked Wistanstow artist Katie Alston to design a large pictorial map of South Shropshire, with Bishops Castle in the centre. The map covers a ten-mile radius around Bishops Castle from Ratlinghope in the north to Montgomery in the west and Clun in the south. A wide margin around the edge leaves room for local business people to advertise their enterprise at a cost of £20 a time. So far over 50 people have paid for an advert and there is still time to be included. The map is in a very large format and there are plans to produce it in a laminated form for display outside, as well as giving away paper copies in tourist information offices, accommodation providers and other local outlets. On the reverse of the map is a town plan of Bishops Castle with local features and buildings beautifully drawn by Katie Alston. Bishops Castle Tourism Group has agreed to pay printing costs. If you want your business to be included on the map call Wendy and Chris Jones on 01588 638924.

CO-OP SUPPORTS FIRST RESPONDERS – The staff at Bishops Castle Co-op thank everyone for their support at their recent charity bingo night and Guess the Name of the Bunny competition. The toy was won by Eileen Ashley and the bingo raised £636 for Bishops Castle and Clun First Responders.

ABBEYFIELD AGM – The Friends of Abbeyfield Bishops Castle and District recently held their AGM, attended by many of the residents. Bob Berry was appointed as chair man, Peter Norton as vice-chairman and Clive Millard as treasurer of the society. Abbeyfield House is a sheltered home off Oak Meadow in Bishops Castle. It was purpose built 14 years ago with 11 flats, comprising ten for single people and one flat for a couple. There is a cooked lunch and high tea provided daily to residents who eat in a central dining room. Bob Berry said, “We have all our flats taken at the moment but there are vacancies from time to time. The home is run on a not for profit basis, so the fees can be kept at a reasonable level.” To find out more about Abbeyfield House email abbeyfield.bishops@btconnect.com or call 01588 650282.

COMFORTS FUND – Coverage Care staff at Stone House in Bishops Castle raised £275 for the Residents’ comforts fund at their recent Easter bingo night. Thanks to everyone for their support. More fundraising is planned for the middle of May; this time for Breast Cancer Care.

PUB QUIZ FOR MUSEUM – A pub quiz was held recently at the Inn on the Green, Wentnor in aid of The House on Crutches Museum in Bishops Castle. Winning team was the Drowned Rats, made up of Simon and Caroline Cooter, Liz Colebrook and Chris Lambert. A total of £180 was raised and organisers thank all the 60 people who took part.

LIGHT AND DARK – Parents of children in Class 1 joined pupils and teachers from Bishops Castle Community Primary School to watch their children present their class assembly. The assembly focused on the class’ current topic, light and dark and showcased the wide range of exciting activities children have been undertaking around this theme. The assembly gave pupils the opportunity to show their parents and the rest of the school stories they have created, action songs they have been learning and to explain about their topic. During the term class teacher, Ms Palmer, has introduced the children to Van Gogh’s painting Starry Night and this inspired the children to produce some beautiful artwork, including wall paintings, a table covering and batik banners which were also on display. Parents were then offered the opportunity to participate in an interactive lesson alongside their children. Everyone enjoyed working together to produce a giant art installation which took its inspiration from the children’s batik banners and encouraged creativity, cooperation and engagement. The session was enjoyed by all and the class one children are already looking forward to their summer assembly.

CONCERT EARLYBIRDS – Early-bird tickets are on sale for a spring concert by Kington Choral Society in Bishops Castle Church on May 21, at 7.30pm. The programme includes choruses from Handel’s Messiah , together with works by Brahms and Vaughan Williams. Earlybird tickets cost £10 or £12 on the door (children and students are free), and are available from the Poppy House and the Six Bells in Bishops Castle, by text to 07968 044853 or email ts_gardener@yahoo.co.uk NEW BOWLERS WELCOME – Bishops Castle bowling club offers a warm welcome to new learners at its crown green behind the Castle Hotel in the old castle grounds. Come along on Sunday evenings at 7pm, where equipment is provided. Call Tony Graham on 01588 638284.

FLORA – The Marches community choir is looking for plants and seedlings to sell at their plant sale outside Bishops Castle pharmacy on May 31. Patty Wrench and Jean Shirley are already accepting donations of greenery to sell and they are happy to call at your house to collect any plants you have outgrown. Jean Shirley says, “Last year, we had an enormous collection of really good quality and value plants to sell, and it will be quite a challenge to match it this time. Any living flora would be welcome, and it doesn’t matter how soon.” If you can help make the plant sale a success, call now on 01588 638877.

MUSEUM 100 CLUB – Nick Hoare won £18.25 in the April draw in the 100 club for the Bishops Castle House on Crutches Museum collection trust. Anne-Marie Jackson won £10.95 and Kate Price won £7.30.

WOODHEAT PROJECT – Bishops Castle community energy group held a plant sale recently and raised £106 for their funds. BCCE directors Mike Watkins and Kate Evans were able to explain the aims of their group to local residents and welcomed several new members to their community college woodheat project. Call 01588 638762 for more information.

TOP SINGER AT MAINSTONE – International singer-songwriter Harvey Andrews brings his new one- man show to Mainstone village hall on May 17 in aid of hall funds. Harvey Andrews lives in Shropshire and first made his name in the 60s and 70s. he has been writing and performing continuously since then, recently cutting his 16th CD, Encore. His new show, which he is taking to places within reach of his Shropshire home, is called Glad to be Grey. Already highly successful, it’s described as ‘a celebration of maturity with songs, stories, humour and the occasional rant.’ Look on harveyandrews.com to hear his music and a video. Tickets cost £10, to include a hot supper and the evening begins at 7.30pm. Call Alix Nathan before May 15 on 01588 630068.

BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL – The Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire will present Janet Brandon with her British Empire Medal for services to Ratlinghope at 11am on May 17 in Norbury Village Hall. The award was announced in this year’s New Year Honours List. Following the ceremony the Lord Lieutenant will be joined by representatives of the hall committees and local school children to cut the first sod for the new village hall. Funding for a new village hall has recently been granted by the big lottery. For more information call Peter Phillips on 01588 650625.

BISHOPS CASTLE DIARY, May 8-14.

THURSDAY – Poets’ Corner. Tennyson. Castle Hotel, Bishops Castle, 8pm. To book meal for 7pm call 01588 620541

  • Film. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (12A). SpArC Theatre, Bishops Castle. £4.50/£3. 7pm. Book on 01588 630321 or 638038.
  • Talk by Elisabeth and Michael Knight. Bulabakulu Children’s Village, Uganda. Brockton Chapel. Children 6pm, adults 7.30pm.
  • Norbury WI. A Passage to India, Fifties Style – Barbara Maitra, village hall, 7.30pm.

FRIDAY – Bishops Castle May Fair weekend. Funfair in town. Call 07860 858062.

  • Quiz. Grange Road Community Centre, Bishops Castle, 2pm n Tumbling Bones. American roots trio. SpArC Theatre, Bishops Castle. £10/£6, 7.30pm. Book on 01588 630321 or 638038.

SATURDAY – Round and About Walk in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. Sherbourne, Schoolhouse Lane, Bishops Castle. 8.30am. Call 01588 638877.

  • Bishops Castle May Fair continues.
  • Auction sale. Public Hall, Bishops Castle. Call 01743 462763 SUNDAY: Start of Christian Aid Week house collections. Service, Methodist Church, Bishops Castle. 10.30am.
  • Live music Belshazzar’s Feast, Edgton village hall, £10, call 01588 680366.

MONDAY – Bishops Castle cricket club junior coaching. SpArC, Bishops Castle, £3. Primary 4pm; secondary 5pm. Call 07779 844613.

  • Bishops Castle walking group. Bridges. Ten miles. Meet Harley Jenkins St car park, Bishops Castle, 9.30am. Call 01743 791835.

TUESDAY – Mainstone WI. Visit to The Vineyard, Churchstoke. Call 01588 638739 n Edgton parish meeting. Edgton village hall. 7.30pm.

WEDNESDAY – RSC live. Henry 1V Part 1. SpArC Theatre, Bishops Castle, £10/£7, 7pm. Book on 01588 630321 or 638038.

  • Bookworms. Talk by Guy N Smith. Lydbury North village hall, 7.30pm, £3.50. Book on 01588 680302.

CORRESPONDENT – If you have any news for the paper, or a coming event to promote, please hand a note addressed to Julia Parker over the counter at Bishops Castle Post Office. She sends news to the paper every week. Her phone number is 01588 680445. Email address jparker228@btinternet.com.

 

Clun

WRITING WORKSHOP WITH POLLY WRIGHT – Creative director of the Hearth Centre in Birmingham, Polly Wright will be holding workshops on urban writing in a rural setting on Saturday, at Hightown community room. Her inspiration comes form a new anthology of short stories called The Sea in Birmingham, a rich mixture of established and new writers that shed light on some unusual aspects of life in our nearest big city. The workshops will be followed by an evening of anthology readings, to include writers such as Gaynor Arnold and Julia Bell. You are invited to attend either the afternoon or evening, or both events. For more information contact Petra Bindloss 01588 640763.

 

Richards Castle

MAY-BEE EVENT - A rummage and table-top sale in All Saints’ church Saturday. Doors open at 2 pm, free entrance, teas available. To donate items or book a table (£5) please ring 01584 831679 or 01584 831746. All proceeds in aid of the church.

 

Tenbury

CAR BOOT – Saturday 2-5pm, Bockleton parish hall, Romers Common, WR15 8PX. Teas/cakes, raffle.

KNIGHTON FRIENDS – Parish room, May 21 at 7.30pm. An evening with graphologist Anne Cummings entitled Know Yourself Through Your Handwriting. Graphology is the evaluation of hand- writing to determine your character, disposition and aptitudes. People attending can have their handwriting evaluated by Anne. Everyone welcome. More information: Sheila 01584 781190.

BINGO – Eyes down, look in, bingo, May 17, 7pm start, at Knighton-on- Teme parish room. To raise money for the parish defibrillator. Call Kay 01584 781910 for details.

PLANT and SEED SWAP – Tenbury Gardeners’ Group, Wednesday, 7pm- 7.30pm, Forge Cottage, Boraston. You’re very welcome if you’ve nothing to bring, if you give a donation to club funds you can take plants and seeds home. Admission free, visitors welcome. Ring 01584 811474 for directions.

TENBURY TOWN BAND ANNUAL CONCERT – The Regal, Tenbury Wells, Saturday, 7pm. Conductor Melanie Parker with friends from the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment Band. Tickets £7.50 adults/£6 concessions from Regal box office 01584 811442 or www.regaltenbury.co.uk.

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION – Worcestershire through the seasons. £25 prizes to be won and a place in the 2015 Philip Laney and Jolly calendar. Hand in date for summer and autumn photographs is October 21. Entry form and details from the news section of www.plandj.co.uk or 01684 575100 Philip Laney and Jolly with Worcestershire Camera Club.

 

The Strettons

COUNTRY MARKET – Don’t forget that the country market is open on Fridays from 8.30am to noon selling cakes, produce and craft items at Mayfair community centre.

CEILIDH – Mostly John Ceilidh Band will be providing the music for a ceilidh tomorrow, at Silvester Horne Institute, 7.30pm-11pm. There will be a bar and tickets cost £8 for adults and £5 for U16s and include snacks and the first drink free. Ticket sales are through John Thomas Florists, and Burway Books. Proceeds of the event will go to Pazapa school and medical facility for disabled children in Haiti. To find out more ring 01694 725530.

COFFEE MORNING – A coffee morning at the district social club will take place on Saturday, from 10am to noon raising funds for Breast Cancer and Haematology at the RSH. On sale will be jams, cakes and bric-a- brac, and there will also be a tombola and raffle. Admission is £1 including tea, coffee and biscuits.

FUN DAY – The Friends of St Lawrence’s Primary School are hosting a spring fun day on Saturday, from 10am, with chocolate treasure hunt, activities, stalls and car boots.

RNLI – The local RNLI committee is hosting a quiz night at the district social club on Saturday, and on May 21, there will be a special afternoon event at the URC Hall, at 3pm, with free tea and cake.

CHORAL SOCIETY – The choral society presents Magnificent Harmony at Church Stretton School on Saturday, at 7.30pm, conducted by Paul Kelly. Tickets cost £10 and are being sold through Burway Books and John Thomas Florists.

WALKS – Following his virtual walk through the Shropshire Hills, John Tuer , local tree expert, will lead a walk on Sunday, offering useful information on planting and caring for trees. To reserve a place or find out more ring 01588 674080. South Shropshire ramblers have also arranged a walk for Sunday led by Claire Cox. The four- and-a-half mile walk around All Stretton starts from the A49 side of the railway station at 10.30am. To find out more ring 01694 722754.

PITSTOP – St Lawrence’s Church hosts a Pitstop afternoon on Sunday, from 3pm-5pm, with crafts, games, fun and food. The contact number is 01694 722588.

LONGMYND HIKE – The Longmynd hike committee will be meeting at the district social club, at 8pm, on Sunday.

CANCER CARE – Next meeting of Stretton and Shropshire Cancer Care group will be Monday at Mayfair community centre, 2.30pm, and Marie Weeks will be speaking about dealing with reality. She has much information to impart which should help the cancer patient and partner to feel in charge, supported and thus able to deal with the reality they are facing.

COMMUNITY CINEMA – Next film at Church Stretton school will be Captain Phillips (PG), Monday, at 7.30pm. Interval refreshments always available. Wednesday, a special ticketed evening has been arranged for the showing of Philomena (12A) at Hope Bowdler village hall, 7pm. To find out more ring 01694 723648.

PUB QUIZ – A pub quiz at the Yew Tree Inn, All Stretton, will take place on Monday, at 7.30pm. Entry fee is £2.50 and proceeds will go to Macmillan Cancer Care.

GUIDED WALK – The series of guided walks in Rectory Wood and field start on Tuesday, when the theme will be wildlife on a walk, from 6.30pm- 8.30pm. To join the walk please meet at the Rectory Field entrance in Church Street.

WIVES AND FRIENDS – Methodist wives and friends invite visitors to their meeting, Tuesday, 7.30pm, in the Methodist hall, there will be a talk about the Health and Wellbeing Centre. Admission for visitors £3.

CROQUET – The croquet season is underway at the town park and new members are welcome. Coaching is available as a trial before committing if you wish. The club hosts competitive and friendly matches for all ages and abilities on the two lawns and if you would like to find out more ring 01694 722610.

MAYFAIR LOTTERY – April lottery winning numbers for Mayfair were 204, 421, 494 and 529 winning £100, £50, £20, and £10 respectively.

SCHOOL NEWS – Church Stretton School students are off on a trip to France and a humanities outing will visit Stokesay Castle. Principal has hosted another afternoon tea to celebrate the achievements of another set of students. Many students are taking part in a Maths Challenge. At St Lawrence’s primary school tag rugby will take the team to Droitwich, the football team will play in finals at Shrewsbury, the quiz team returned from Nottingham finishing in 4th place. There have been music workshops and visits to Ludlow Museum. The Friends of the School hosting fun day Saturday with proceeds going to improve the infant playground.

GARAGE PRAISE – The next garage praise event will be on May 17, from 7pm, when there will be a visit by Gerald and Maureen Haberstro from the Harbor Lights Fellowship in America. Garage Praise takes place at Burway Garage, Crossways, where a warm welcome is assured.

OUTINGS – St Laurence’s Church is planning a trip to Slimbridge on May 17. To find out more ring 01694 724225. And the local gardening club is arranging a trip to Bryan’s ground at Presteigne on May 30. A number of special events are planned for May and June, starting with a Blues and Roots festival in Rectory field on May 31. Early bird tickets for this event are £16 and may be reserved by ringing 07971 164768. This will be followed by the walking festival on June 5-8, and the Cycling Festival from June 7-14. June 20-22 takes us through the medieval fair and at the end of June there is to be a mountain bike event. The regular archery tournament takes place at Church Stretton School, from July 19-22, and attracts top archers from all over the country. Admission for spectators is free.

SCHOOL NEWS – The Friends of St Lawrence’s Primary School will host a spring fun day on Saturday, with a chocolate treasure hunt, activities, stalls and fun. There will also be a tombola and offers of prizes for this would be most welcome. To enquire for a car boot pitch on the day, ring Sara on 07782 259231.