Bishops Castle

FESTIVE FRIENDS - There’s no need to be on your own this Christmas. The Festive Friends in Bishop’s Castle will give you a warm welcome at the Church Barn for Christmas lunch on Christmas Day. A friends spokesman said, “This is the third year we have put on this Christmas Day event and as in previous years we are keen to reach people of any age who would otherwise be on their own, but would like some company and a festive lunch. “We do ask for a donation from those who can afford it, but those who cannot pay are equally welcome. “We are also looking for people to help us. “A number of our regular volunteers are unable to be with us on Christmas Day, so we still need some help with transport and hosting at tables. “One or two musicians, particularly keyboard players will be very much appreciated. “We already have quite a lot of offers to help in the kitchen, which is great. “ If you can give the Festive Friends a hand, or if would like to enjoy Christmas lunch, call Mary Hopkins on 01588 630719.”

DATE FOR MICHAELMAS FAIR - Bishop’s Castle Michaelmas Fair is definitely back for 2015. This year’s event did not happen but the fair committee is delighted a number of local people have stepped forward to help organise a fair on September 19. A Michaelmas Fair spokesman said, “Planning will start in earnest in January; however we will be interested in hearing from anyone else who would like to join the committee, or from local organisations who could link into the fair, or entertainers who would like to perform. “If you want to be involved, email info@michaelmasfair.co.uk”

CHRISTMAS PARTY - Bishop’s Castle Christmas Lights is sponsoring a party for children at the Community College on Saturday. Cheeky face painting, live music and balloon modelling are just some of the attractions on offer. The cost is £2.50 for each child, who must be accompanied by an adult. Call Sarah on 07535 667064 to find out more.

MARCHES CHOIR CONCERT - The Marches Community Choir invites you to a Christmas concert in Bishop’s Castle Church on Saturday at 7.30pm. Bishops Castle Primary School choir will be taking part once again and the conductors are Philippa Whitaker and Andrew Barker. The organist is Anthony Pinel, new director of music at St Chad’s, Shrewsbury, who will also play an organ solo. A highlight of the evening will be the singing in German of Silent Night and the traditional German folk-song O Tannenbaum, along with carols for audience participation. Wine and mince pies will be served at the end. Tickets are £10; call 01588 650448 or 680312. The Marches Community Choir has a new choir master/conductor, in Alistair Auld. He has been working with the singer in preparation for the Christmas concert and will lead the choir into the spring concert. Alistair has recently conducted the Shrewsbury Choral Society and Sinfonia, and directs Aber Opera and the Machynlleth Baroque Ensemble.

MAKE A CHRISTMAS GARLAND - Both floors of Bishop’s Castle town hall will be piled high with seasonal delights at a Christmas Fair in on Saturday. Starting at 10am, jewellery, ceramics, baked goods cards, hampers, candles, fabric, corn dollies and craft materials, soup and mulled wine will all be on sale. The following day, Sunday, Cath Murphy will help you make a Christmas garland. The day costs £12 and starts at 11am with a walk in the countryside to forage for green foliage. Then it’s back to the hall for hot soup before you get down to creating your unique Christmas garland to take home for the front door. Call 01588 630023 or pop into the town hall to book a place.

COLLEGE CAROL CONCERT - Everyone is invited to the Community College carol concert today starting at 6.30pm in Bishop’s Castle Church. This event is always popular with carols and music provided by the students and mince pies and a warm drink supplied by the College PTA.

BISHOPS CASTLE DIARY, December 11-17

SUNDAY: Castle Artists exhibition. Bishop’s Castle Public Hall. 11am-5pm. Until Sunday.

  • Make a Christmas garland. Foraging walk, soup. Bishop's Castle Town Hall. £12. 11am-3pm. Call 01588 630023.

MONDAY: Talk. Freedom - Eliza Glapinska. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall. Free. 7.30pm. Call 01588 630023.

  • Bishop's Castle and District Carers Group. Xmas lunch. Boars Head, Bishop's Castle. 12.30pm. Book on 01694 722024.

TUESDAY: Royal Ballet. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle. £12/£8. 7.15pm. Book on 01588 630321/ 638038.

  • Footpath Walking Group. Shrewsbury. Meet Harley Jenkins St car park, Bishop's Castle. 9.30am. Call 01588 620702.

WEDNESDAY: Bishop’s Castle Film Society. Rush (15). Three Tuns. 8pm. Call 01588 680445.

  • SW Shropshire Gardening Club Christmas party. Lydbury North village hall. Call 01588 680454.

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. The email address is jparker228@ btinternet.com.

 

Cleeton St Mary

CHRISTMAS PRIZE BINGO - At Cleeton St Mary village hall, tomorrow. Eyes down 8pm. In aid of Cleeton St Mary village hall funds.

 

Clun

SENIOR CITIZENS - Clun senior citizens annual Christmas dinner is today at Haslehurst Community Centre, starting at 12.30pm.

CADS PARTY - CADS Christmas party is tonight at 7.30pm in Haslehurst Community Centre. All members and friends, old and new are welcome. There will be short, light-hearted play reading followed by a miscellany of songs, poems and sketches by members. Bring something along for supper and drinks. Further details from chairman, John Freeman 01547 628983.

NEWCASTLE GARDEN SOCIETY - Bugs, beasts and birds, bringing a garden to life, is the subject of Jenny Steel’s talk at the meeting of Newcastle and District Garden Society tonight at 7.30pm in Newcastle Community Centre. Jenny is passionate about wildlife gardening and has written eleven books. She is a gardener, adult education tutor, former wildflower nursery owner and photographer. She has appeared on many TV programmes including BBC2’s How Does Your Garden Grow? It should be a fascinating talk. The society’s AGM is a t 6.30pm.

YOUNG FARMERS BINGO - Clun Valley Young Farmers Christmas bingo at Clun memorial hall tonight at 8pm. All welcome.

CHRISTMAS MARKET - St George’s School Christmas market is tomorrow from 3-6pm. There will be lots of gifts and a Christmas cafe serving mulled wine and roast chestnuts. All welcome.

FLICKS IN THE STICKS - Belle (12A) is showing at Clungunford parish hall tomorrow at 8pm. Entrance £4 adults, £2 children. Licensed bar, ice creams, raffle, good car parking and excellent company. Tel 01588 660727 Ann or 01588 660781 Maureen, maureenrooney2012@gmail.com for enquiries and reservations.

FLICKS IN THE STICKS NEEDS NEW SPONSOR - Flicks in the Sticks and sister organisation, Arts Alive, is a registered charity bringing music, drama, dance, film, puppetry and storytelling to some of most rural areas in the UK including Shropshire, Herefordshire, Powys, Cheshire, Malvern and surrounding areas. Working with local communities they organize 1000 events each year in over 130 venues. By working with rural communities Arts Alive aim to bring good quality local, regional, national and international artists to local venues so that people living locally can have access to exciting, moving and entertaining performances. Flicks in the Sticks brings big screen cinema to village halls and community centres, offering a more affordable, convenient and accessible alternative to an expensive and far away multiplex. As a not for profit organisation, Arts Alive and Flicks rely on funding and donations to exist. Until recently they were lucky enough to enjoy the sponsorship of the Wrekin Housing Group, a social housing provider based in the West Midlands. Following a review, the group have decided to discontinue their sponsorship in favour of trying new avenues. In light of this Arts Alive and Flicks are now actively seeking a new sponsorship partnership. Flicks in the Sticks director Ian Kerry commented; “We are very sad to be losing the Wrekin Housing Group as a sponsor. Their support has been invaluable to us over the past two years, and we have delivered their branding and message to thousands of hard to reach people who live in a rural area. We really hope there might be another company out there with whom we can start a new partnership.” The charity would love to develop a long term, mutually beneficial relationship with a company whose need to reach rural areas matches theirs. As it covers such a large and dispersed area of England and Wales, it offers a unique advertising opportunity through its events, brochures and website. Flicks in the Sticks 01588 620 883 (option 2) or ian@artsalive.co.uk.

FILLING STATION - Clun Valley filling station is holding a special Christmas celebration tomorrow at 6.30pm at Newcastle Community Centre. There will be a buffet supper followed by speaker, Rev Keith Powell talking about Expecting the Unexpected, as well as seasonal carols and songs.

FESTIVAL OF ANGELS - A free exhibition of Angels, St George’s Church, Clun. Parts of St George’s Church date back to medieval times and it has many little-known treasures. One of the finest is easily missed, unless you look up as you enter the church door. Gazing benignly from the rafters of the north aisle is a wonderful set of 22 carved angels. And what a history they have! They were created some 700 years ago, during a period when arts and crafts flourished in the churches of our land. Originally they may well have been painted. Much of the church art of that period was lost in two waves of destruction in subsequent centuries, but at some point our ancestors in Clun were canny enough to put in a false ceiling. When the Victorians, during their 1880s church restoration, removed that ceiling, they were in for a great surprise. There were the angels still intact. Inspired by these angels, a group of Clun artists together with members of the Clun community have come together to fill the church with modern day angels. Something seems to have caught the imagination and this Christmas and New Year, there will be over 100 more angels decorating St George’s Church. Our school, young farmers, WI, Spanish group and a great many individuals have produced some amazing sights. This is a free exhibition open every day from Sunday to January 3. Together with the planned services in St George’s, it forms the Festival of Angels. Further information from Joan Kerry 01588 640401.

CHILDREN’S CENTRE CHRISTMAS FAIR – Come and meet Father Christmas at Newcastle Children’s Centre Christmas fair on Sunday in Newcastle Community Centre from 2-4pm. Stalls, face painting, tea, coffee and cakes and a chance to win a wheelbarrow full of booze in the raffle.

CAROL SERVICES – St Mary’s Clunton tomorrow at 7pm. St John’s Newcastle on Sunday at 6.30pm. St George’s School Carol Service in St George’s Church on Tuesday at 6pm. St Georges Clun with the Ad Hoc Choir on December 19 at 7pm.

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

NEWCASTLE SCHOOL PLAY – The children of Newcastle School will be performing The Apprentice Astronomer on Tuesday and Wednesday at 6.30pm. The play was written by Annie Moon and adapted with musical arrangements by Anne Loughran. Sadly both have passed away and these performances will be dedicated to them.

GOLD STAR AWARD FOR UGANDA CHARITY Hands Up for Uganda, set up by Newcastle couple Bobby and Martin Britnell, has been awarded a Gold Star Award from Wales Africa Community Links. The Britnells are in Uganda at the moment visiting Kisaaba, the village that the charity supports. Kisaabwa is achieving recognition as the up and coming place to be with more people moving into the village and was recently the venue for a seminar on modern agricultural practices. This was held in the old primary school and attended by local officials and politicians including the deputy prime minister. Kisaaba project manager, Fred was asked to speak about the improvements to the village, which include new buildings, schooling, livestock and a well, which has greatly reduced dysentery. The village also has solar lighting.

CLUN RAMBLERS – Clun Ramblers next walk is on Wednesday, led by Val. Meet at Clun memorial hall car park. Sorry, no dogs.

CORRESPONDENT – If you have any news or events in the Clun Valley, please contact Elisabeth Taylor. Her email address is: elisabeth777@ btinternet.com and her telephone number is 01981 540893. The deadline is the Wednesday of the week before publication.

 

Ludlow

LIVING NATIVITY – Come and join Living Nativity, The Street Theatre. Characters in costume, real donkey, Ludlow Town Band, Ludlow School Choir, hot chocolate and mince pies for all, Tuesday 6pm. Starts War Memorial, Castle Square, ends circa 7pm’ish at the castle. Telephone Tim on 07734 106275 for more information.

 

Tenbury

DIGITALLY PRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS – Are now being shown in Tenbury Library by inkjett Digital Imaging Group until the end of January 2015. Open during usual library hours.

ST MICHAELS SINGERS – Present Christmas Crackers, carols, songs and humorous readings. St Michaels village hall, next Thursday, December 18 and December 19 at 7.30pm. Adults £8, under 12s £5, includes bar and mince pies. Tickets from Jim Franklin 01584 810488 and Harlequin Gift Shop 01584 810770.

 

The Strettons

FRIDAY MARKET – The market remains open on Fridays from 8.30am-noon at Mayfair Community Centre until Christmas selling home- made cakes and produce, and also craft items.

AT THE HORNE – Friday night at the Horne will feature The Budapest Café Orchestra tomorrow at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12 from John Thomas Florists, Burway Books and the town council offices. Admission for students is £6. Some tickets may be available at the door.

COFFEE MORNING – All Stretton will be hosting its annual coffee morning in the village hall on Saturday with stalls, games and a raffle. Santa will also be there. Entrance is £2 for adults and includes coffee and mince pie. The event opens at 10.30am.

WREATH MAKING – Make your own Christmas wreath at Hope Bowdler village hall on Saturday from 10am- noon. All the materials and refreshments are included in the £7 fee. Ring 01694 722043 to reserve a place.

CHRISTMAS CRAFTS – Scrappies is holding a children’s Christmas craft workshop for youngsters of five and over from 1.30pm-3.30pm on Saturday. All welcome. Reserve a place by booking in. A further workshop is planned for December 20.

QUIZ NIGHT – Ken Willis will be the question master at a quiz night at Mayfair on Saturday starting at 7.30pm. Entry fee is £4.

CONCERTS – The Story by The More Singers will take place at the Methodist Church on Saturday at 7.30pm with a retiring collection for Mayfair. Then on Sunday it is Christmas with Canto at the United Reformed Church at 2.30pm with vocals by local musicians Canto and readings for the festive season. After O Magnum, Mysterium there is an invitation to join afterwards for mulled wine and mince pies at the Ragleth Inn in Little Stretton. Admission to the concert is £5 paid at the door.

80s NIGHT – An 80s night will be held at the parish centre on Saturday from 7pm-11pm as a fundraiser for Tanzania in conjunction with Church Stretton School. Tickets cost £7.50 to include one free drink and a raffle ticket. Please feel free to take your own alcohol if you wish. To book in please ring 01694 722588.

RAMBLERS – There are two routes planned for walks by the South Shropshire Ramblers on Sunday. Meet at 45 Shrewsbury Road for the seven mile walk led by Gill Mortimer, telephone 01584 877017, leaving at 9.30am and at 11am for the two and a half mile walk led by Joy Nesbit, telephone 01694 722512.

CHURCH EVENTS – All Saints Church in Little Stretton holds a carol service at 3pm on Sunday and St Laurence’s has another Pitstop event on Sunday afternoon from 3pm-5pm with games, craft activities, songs and a meal at the parish centre. Ring 01694 722588 to find out more.

SING AND SIGN – Sing and Sign is for parents and carers with babies aged five-20 months to communicate with baby with Christmas songs and signs, and a chance to meet Jessie Cat Santa. Older siblings are welcome at the event which will take place at the parish centre from 10.45-11.30am on Monday. Cost of the session is £5 and includes refreshment. Reserve a place by ringing 07411 474430.

MAYFAIR – In the Daycare Centre on Monday Christmas songs will be sung with pupils from St Lawrence’s Primary School at 2pm, and on Wednesday the Poetry Café will host a drop in poetry meeting at 2.25pm featuring poems under the heading of Thoughts of Summertime. Admission to this session is £2. There will be a Christmas party on December 19, at 2pm in the Jubilee room.

METHODIST NEWS – The Network Group will be meeting on Wednesday for an afternoon of carols and readings at 2.30pm in the Methodist church hall. All welcome.

CAMERA CLUB – The next meeting of the Longmynd Camera Club will be on Wednesday at the URC hall at 7.30pm and will be an evening of presentations by club members together with Christmas refreshments.

SCHOOL NEWS – St Lawrence’s Primary School pupils are still on a high after their visit to Twickenham which was so wonderful for them and video footage will soon appear on the website. There is also news that the under 11 girls’ football team has progressed to the next round of the SSFA County Cup, and there are yet more teams due to play matches. While on the sporting front there are opportunities for KS1 and KS2 to join school football clubs and after Christmas the reception class will also get this chance. Cross Country at Moor Park is also on the agenda. Pupils have also been able to enjoy their forest school visits which will resume next term. A visit has been arranged to the Birmingham Repertory Theatre for KS2, and KS1 will visit Theatre Severn and also present their own Christmas performances. The term will be rounded off with the KS2 Christmas service in the church on December 19. Students have taken their mock exams at Church Stretton School, the Christmas concert and the presentation evening have taken place. The principal has held another afternoon tea to celebrate successes of students both in and out of school and three student journalists together with three assistant journalists have been chosen to write for Focus Magazine.

MINCEPIES AND MERRIEMENT – Little Stretton village hall is the venue for a night of mince pies and merriment on December 19, at 7.30pm with seasonal food and festive entertainment. Tickets cost £7.50 and should be reserved by ringing 01694 724 796. You are welcome to take you own wine.

QUIZ NIGHT – A quiz night at the District Social Club on December 20, starts at 7.45pm. Teams of four-six are invited at £4 per person – mince pies included.

FOLK DANCE – A night of folk dancing is to take place at Ticklerton village hall on December 20, from 8pm. No need to know the dances as Ron and Dot are on hand to show the way. Ring 01694 722418 if you would like to know more.