Bayton

CHRISTMAS LUNCH – Bayton invita tions to the Bayton Christmas lunch have been sent out this week. If you are over 65 and have not received an invitation please call Sue Burrows and she will add you to the list. Places are limited so please book early. Transport to Bayton village hall is provided, if needed of you can opt for ‘meals on wheels’. Details: Sue Burrows 01299 832722.

 

Bishop’s Castle

STRONG TEAM FOR CARNIVAL 2015 – At their recent AGM Anthony Jones was elected chairman of Bishop’s Castle Carnival Committee, taking over from Will Oakley, who stepped down after four years in the role. Business commitments have forced Will to resign but he is staying on the committee and will be responsible for the carnival site on July 5. Newcomers Anthony and Clare Beaumont have joined the commit tee, together with Josh Dawkins and Adam Pugh. The first of the new committee’s fund raising events is on Saturday with the Carnival Christmas Fayre in Bishop’s Castle Public Hall starting at 10am. Father Christmas will be there between 11am and 1.30pm and stalls will be displaying all sorts of Christmas delights.Wendy Oakley is organising the fair; call her on 01588 638846 if you want to take part. The carnival committee has more fundraising events planned for next year, including a race night early in 2015.

SANTA’S GROTTO AT WALCOT HALL – Walcot Hall in Lydbury North opens the doors of the ballroom at 10am on Sunday for a Christmas fair. Stallholders will be selling gifts and Christmas goodies, with a café in the anteroom, Christmas music and a welcoming log fire. Most exciting of all, children can visit Santa in his winter wonderland grot to, spend time with him and receive a present. A visit to Santa costs £5 and must be booked in advance due to popular demand. There will also be pony rides for an additional £5. For more information call Julia on 01588 680570 or email Julia@walco thall.com.

KELVINDALE FOR BINGO AND COFFEE – There’s a bingo night at the Kelvindale Residential Home in Broome on December 6, at 6pm. All proceeds will go to the Royal British Legion. A week later, on December 13, Ken and Norriz Andal, their staff and resi dents at Kelvindale welcome every one to a coffee morning for Macmillan Cancer Support, starting at 10am. Call 01588 660323 to find out more.

BISHOPS CASTLE DIARY November 27 – December 3

TODAY: Curry and quiz in aid of Bishop’s Castle Christmas lights. Six Bells, Bishop’s Castle, £10, 7.30pm. Call 01588 630144.

  • Footpath Walking Group. Corndon, seven miles. Meet at Harley Jenkins Street car park, Bishop's Castle, 9.30am. Call 01588 630531.
  • Table tennis. Lydbury North Village Hall, 3rd and 4th Thursdays in month. Call 01588 680590.

TOMORROW: Bingo. Stone House day room, Bishop’s Castle, 7.30pm.

  • Footpath Walking Group planning meeting. 19 Brick Meadow, Bishop’s Castle, 10.30am. Call 01588 650451.
  • Philip Dunne MP constituents’ surgery. Enterprise House, Bishop's Castle, 4.30pm-6pm. Call 01584 872187.
  • Quiz in aid of Lydbury North School. Inn on the Green, Wentnor, 7.30pm. £6 inc supper. Call 01588680297.
  • English folk dance class. Lydham Village Hall, £2.50, 8pm.
  • Lydbury North Primary School open day with exotic zoo, 9.30am-11.30am. Call 01588 680277.

SATURDAY: Bishop’s Castle carnival Christmas fair. Bishop’s Castle Public Hall, 10am. Father Christmas 11am- 2pm. Call 01588 638846.

  • Concert. Gipsy Fire, Lydbury North Village Hall. £10/£12 door, 8pm. Call 07976 727959.

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, phone 01588 680445 or email jpark er228@btinternet.com.

 

Bockleton

BOCKLETON WI – Our November meeting was started with member Margaret De Feu giving us a wonderful talk and video tour of her investiture at Windsor Castle, Margaret received her OBE from the Queen for services to the deaf in Northern Ireland and after wards was able to show her invited guests around some of the state room and view the amazing artwork and treasures. Our meeting then discussed the recent group meeting that president Angela and Jan attended, the chutney making course that Thelma attended, which we sampled later, the January annual meal and proposed shopping trip to Cardiff. The evening’s competition of the most useless kitchen gadget was won by Rosemary, 2nd Thelma, 3rd Angela, 4th Caroline. Raffle winners were Ingrid, Jan, Angela, Liz.

 

Clun

ROYAL BABY PORTRAIT AT OLD SURGERY GALLERY – The Christmas Exhibition has just opened at The Old Surgery Gallery in Clun. It features work by local artists such as Keith Noble, Noel Shepherdson, Jacqueline Fletcher, Gordon Yapp and photographer, Keith Pointon. Visiting artists from the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists include three who have exhibited at the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition: David Harban, Paul Hipkiss and Peter Shread. New to the gallery is artist Anita Bucknall who accepts commissions for the painting of portraits of babies and children; two examples of her work are being displayed including a delightful study of HRH Price George in his christening robes. The gallery is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm.

NO NEW LONDON RAIL CONNECTION FOR SHROPSHIRE – Janet Helen Phillips, Clun resident and parliamentary candidate for the Ludlow constituency for the Green Party, met senior executives from Arriva Trains Wales and Virgin Trains in Birmingham on November 13 to request a guaranteed connection between the first Arriva train of the day from Shropshire which arrives in Shrewsbury at 0643 and the planned departure of the new London service from Shrewsbury at 0639. In a very helpful and detailed discussion both train companies explained why this could not be done at this time. Commenting on this disappointing outcome, Janet Helen Phillips said: “We are very disappointed that a modern 21st century railway opera tion can’t produce a connection between two important trains. We were very impressed indeed with the professionalism and helpfulness of the senior executives we met and the message we took away from the meeting is that it may be possible to do something in the future but not in time for the start of the new Virgin service. We will continue to make the case for this connection.”

John Whitelegg, a member of the South Shropshire Green party living in Church Stretton and an interna tional transport expert, added: “We are very grateful to the senior execu tives we met in Birmingham. We now understand more than we did about the very severe constraints imposed on train operators by years of under- funding of our railway system and the lack of 21st century infrastructure in Shropshire such as modern signal ling and electrification. Our railway system has suffered from several decades of Labour and Conservative government neglect and the time has come to spend more on our railways and end the neglect of Shropshire.”

GRAND JUMBLE SALE – On Saturday there is a jumble sale at St Cuthbert’s Church, Clungunford. Doors open at 11am and last entry is at 3pm. No admission charge. Refreshments all day. Contact num bers 01588 660158/01547 540307.

BETTWS-Y-CRWYN VARIETY CONCERT – Bettws variety concert is in the parish hall on Saturday at 7.30pm. Entertainment by the Llanbadarn Girls, the Two Gareths, Bettws Ladies Choir and local stars. Tickets £5 on the door, proceeds to the Air Ambulance and the church. The hall is on the B4368 Newcastle to Anchor road. More details from Sheila Davies 01686 670627.

CAFECHURCH – Cafechurch is at the Chapel, High Street, Clun, on Sunday from 3pm to 4pm. All are welcome. Free refreshments, no charge. Suitable for all ages. Contact Michael Newman 01588 640776.

WALKING FOR HEALTH – A short walk around the town every Tuesday. Meet at the Maltings Café at 10.30am.

CLUN RAMBLERS – Clun Ramblers next walk is on Wednesday. Meet at Clun Memorial Hall car park. Sorry, no dogs.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE – NTL is bringing DV8’s John live by satellite from London to Aston on Clun village hall at 8pm (doors open 7.30pm) on December 9. DV8 Physical Theatre has won more than 50 awards for its dance-theatre works and TV films. Their new production of John depicts real-life stories, combining movement and the spoken word to create a moving theatrical experi ence. An extraordinary and touching story of crime, drug abuse and strug gling to survive that leads John on a search in which his life converges with others, in an unexpected place, unknown by most. Contains strong language and nudity; suitable only for over 18s. Regulars also please note the performance is on Tuesday not Thursday, start at 8pm not 7pm and there will be no interval. Easy parking, admission by ticket, adults £10, booking 01588 660493 or 660893.

ST GEORGE’S SCHOOL CHRISTMAS MARKET – Come along to St George’s School Christmas Market on December 12, from 2.30pm.

FLICKS IN THE STICKS – Belle (12A) is showing at Clungunford Parish Hall on December 12, at 8pm. Entrance £4 adults, £2 children. Licensed bar, ice creams, raffle, good car parking and excellent com pany. Telephone Ann 01588 660727 or Maureen 01588 660781, maureen rooney2012@gmail.com for enquiries and reservations.

CORRESPONDENT – If you have any news or events in the Clun Valley, contact Elisabeth Taylor, email elisa beth777@btinternet.com, 01981 540893. The deadline is the Wednesday of the week before publi cation.

 

Far Forest

CHRISTMAS FAIR – Far Forest Village Hall, Saturday, 2pm. Stalls with cakes, gifts for all, tombola. Raffle prizes, Christmas hamper and other great prizes.

BINGO – Far Forest Village Hall, December 5, 8pm. Come and have a friendly night out. Support the village hall with these events.

BOOKING – For village hall, Theresa Lyes 01299 266988, Helen Cockram 01299 266864.

 

Tenbury

SKITTLES NIGHT – Presented by St Michael’s Church, Bockleton, near Tenbury Wells, Bockleton parish hall, December 5, 7pm for 7.30pm. Tickets £6, children 12 and under £4. Children under five, free. Refreshments, bring your own drink and glasses CONCERT – The A49ers concert at Christmas. Songs and mince pies. December 11, 7.30pm, Brimfield vil lage hall. Tickets £3 available from the Roebuck Shop or Roger Penwill 01584 711854. Bring your own drinks.

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL – Vote for your favourite Christmas tree. St Mary’s Church, Burford, December 6 and 7. Refreshments available in church.

WE WANT YOUR VIEWS – Proposal to change opening hours at Minor Inju ries Unit (MIU), Tenbury Wells, Worces tershire Health and Care NHS Trust is proposing to make changes to the opening hours at the MIU at Tenbury Community Hospital. The unit is currently open for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is used mostly during these proposed hours. Before we make any changes, we want to hear from you. Find out more and air your views by at tending a second meeting in Tenbury Community Hospital on Wednesday at 5pm, or complete a questionnaire at hacw.nhs.uk/tenburymiu. Fill out a hard copy of the question naire available from Tenbury Commu nity Hospital or the GP surgery. Call 01905 681502.

TENBURY RAMBLING CLUB – On Wednesday meet at 10am at Tenbury swimming pool car park. The distance is four and one quarter miles, with a pub lunch at Teamside. Walk from The Teamside, Little Hereford. SO547682. For details contact Derek and Jan De laney on 01584 811122. December 18, meet 10am at Tenbury swimming pool car park. Distance is four miles. It is local walk followed by seasonal refreshments. For details contact Sue Bones 01584 811123.

 

The Strettons

CURRY EVENING – The local Rotar ians are hosting a fundraising curry evening tonight. To find out more, call 01694 722159.

FRIDAY MARKET – The Friday market held at Mayfair community centre is open from 8.30am-noon for the sale of home-made cakes, produce and craft items.

EVERGREEN CLUB – The meeting of the Evergreen Club tomorrow at May fair community centre will have Canon Noel Beattie as the speaker on the topic of ‘An Ongoing Miracle’. Meetings start at 2.30pm.

QUIZ NIGHT – Cancer Research UK local committee hosts a quiz night at the Silvester Horne Institute tomorrow night, with Ken Willis as question mas ter. Book your place by calling 01694 722713 or apply on the night. Entry fee is £5.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR – Stretton and Shropshire Cancer Care Group holds its annual Christmas bazaar at the parish centre on Saturday from 10am- noon. There will be lots of bargains available.

RACE NIGHT – The District Social Club has planned a race night on Saturday starting at 7.30pm.

CHRISTMAS FAIR – Eaton Manor, Eaton-u-Heywood, is the venue for a Christmas fair on Sunday from 11am- 4pm.

MAYFAIR – Mayfair community centre will be hosting a masked ball from 2pm- 4pm on Monday and on December 11, there will be a Christmas coffee morn ing in Day Care from 10am-noon.

COMMUNITY CINEMA – The film Arthur’s Dyke (15), will be shown at Church Stretton School on Monday and Acton Scott will screen The Grand Budapest Hotel (15) film on December 16. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start and re freshments are also available. Admis sion for adults is £4 and £2 for students. Plenty of car parking is available at both sites.

POTS AND PIES LUNCH – A Christ mas pots and pies lunch at the parish centre on Tuesday has been arranged by the Mothers’ Union at 12.30pm and preceded by prayers at noon. Ticket en quiries should be made by calling 01694 722064.

ENGAGING ISSUES – The last Engaging Issues of 2014 will take place at the URC on Tuesday when David Howard will be the speaker on the topic of Patriotism is Not Enough. Time is allowed for asking questions following the talk and all are welcome. Entrance fee is £3.

GREEN PARTY – The next Green Party meeting will be on Tuesday at 7pm in the Stokesay Inn, Craven Arms. All are welcome.

CAMERA CLUB – The Longmynd Cam era Club meeting on November 19 was a competition evening with an open subject judged by Judy Mainwairing. In the print panel category, the first three places went to Ken Robinson with Puffins, David Kennedy with In Remembrance and Dot Robinson with Pew Ends and in the DPI’s section they went to Dick Ward for Sum mer on the Longmynd , Peter Howsam for A Hard Life , with Mike Gibson’s Rip pled Reflections and David Kennedy’s Rusty Chain sharing third place.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday at the United Reformed Church Hall, starting at 7.30pm. There will be a re cording of the Shropshire County Clubs competition with images and the judge’s comments. Visitors are welcome at all of the club’s meetings.

EXTENDED MARKET – There will be an extended Charter Market in the Square next Thursday, December 4, which means that the High Street will be closed from 7am-6pm.

SSIF – The South Shropshire Interfaith Forum round table discussion next Thursday, December 4, will be led by Pam Thompson who asks ‘Can we save the Planet?’ Meetings are held at the Pilgrim Centre in Craven Arms (SY7 9PB) from 12.15pm for about an hour. All are welcome to take along their sandwiches if they wish.

DORRINGTON PLAYERS – Dorrington Players chose as their autumn presen tation Time of My Life , by Alan Ayck bourn, directed by Peter Thorpe. The play opened with a family birthday party at a restaurant, which was the setting throughout. As the play contin ued, clever lighting allowed characters to appear at different tables, where their conversations revealed problems in their personal relationships as skel etons came out of the cupboard. In the final scene the story had ran full circle and we were taken back to the original family birthday party in the knowledge that nothing was quite what it seemed. Before curtain-up the audience heard that Dorrington Players had sadly lost two of its long-term associates this year, with the passing of Mrs Rossell and Ted Lewis. The next production by our local drama group will be in March of next year and we look forward to another great night at the theatre.

WIVES AND FRIENDS – The Wives and Friends group met at the Methodist Hall for an evening of poetry and prose by Adrian Williams and as the meeting fell on November 11, he chose a number of readings with a wartime theme as befit ted the day. The Wives and Friends will round off the year with the Christmas lunch.

PARISH PATHS – The Church Stret ton Parish Paths Partnerships is seek ing sponsors in a joint scheme with Shropshire Council to replace old path stiles and gates with oak gates within a six-mile radius of Church Stretton, and anyone wishing to offer to sponsor one of these may have a name routed into the wood as a memorial. To find out more about the sponsorship scheme contact David Hardwick on 01743 791983.

SCHOOL NEWS – At St Lawrence’s Primary School the Friends of the School are planning a barrow of bot tles raffle to take place during the last week of term. The wheelbarrow will be filled with donated bottles from whiskey to shampoo, wine to tomato ketchup and the lucky winner will take away all of the bottles in the wheelbarrow.

Church Stretton School will present its Christmas concert in the school hall on December 5, and the presentation evening for last year’s leavers is on December 10, when all will return to collect their certificates. The speaker for the evening will be former student, Justin Pearson, who works as a TV and film stuntman.

CHRISTMAS PARTY – A Christmas party night will be held at the District Social Club on December 6, with en tertainment by Paul Ray and music by Robbie T Disco. Tickets cost £12 and include a Christmas buffet. Full infor mation is available by calling 01694 723193.

LADIES MEETING – The ladies of the South Shropshire Interfaith Forum will be meeting at the Pilgrim Centre on De cember 6, from 2pm-4pm to celebrate the Christian tradition of advent and the meaning of Christmas.

FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE HORNE – De cember 12 is Friday Night at the Horne and will feature the Budapest Café Orchestra at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12 and are being sold through Bur way Books, John Thomas Florists and the town council offices. Ring 01694 720132 for more information.

SING AND SIGN – On December 15, there is a chance for parents and carers to communicate with babies through Christmas songs and signs and also to meet Jessie Cat and Santa. The session is for babies from five to 20 months although older siblings are welcome. Cost of the session which runs from 10.45am-11.30am is £5 with refreshment included. To book call 07411 474430. Reservations to be made by ringing 07411 474430.