FAMILY GAMES DAY - Olympic medal winner Alison Williamson was the star guest at Bishops Castle community games on September 22. The free all day event was organised by Bishops Castle Tennis Club on their site at Love Lane and Alison was there to give a hands on introduction to her sport for children under ten. Boules, football, volleyball, tennis skills, throwing and aiming skills, hockey and table tennis were also on the menu and the day was designed to let adults and children try as many sports as they like.

Contestants won points for their score card just by having a go, with prizes presented by Alison Williamson at the end of the day.

Hot snacks were on sale, made by Táhira Paul.

JUNIOR HOCKEY ACADEMY - Children between the ages of five and 11 are welcome to join Bishops Castle Junior Hockey Academy, which meets on Tuesday at the SpArC sports hall in Bishops Castle. Leaders, Vanessa and Jim Campbell will be there every week at 4pm to organise the sessions which cost £1.

Vanessa says, “No special kit is needed, except for trainers and shin pads and we plan to have ten sessions between now and Christmas, with a further ten in the spring term. It’s great fun and even the little ones get a lot of enjoyment and pick up some useful skills.” To find out more, call 01588 638978.

THANKS FROM JOLLY JUMPERS - An appeal by members of the Jolly Jumpers knitting group for wool to knit jumpers for children in Africa has been very successful. Following coverage in local papers, Gaynor Cook, who helps run the group has been given a sack of knitting wool by a lady in Montgomery, with more wool promised from Welshpool, together with knitted squares and requests for the Jolly Jumpers knitting pattern.

If you can help keep the Jolly Jumpers knitting needles busy during the winter call Gaynor on 01588 638420. She thanks everyone for their interest and help.

RAINBOW GANG - Over 30 children enjoyed the Bishops Castle summer holiday club held at the Methodist hall in August. Now the regular weekly club Rainbow Gang has restarted for five to 11 year olds on Wednesdays in term-time in the hall from 5.30pm - 7pm. Children can enjoy a relaxing evening that includes crafts, games, music, Bible stories and a chance to sit and chat. Everyone is welcome to come along.

TWINNING ANNIVERSARY - A group of over 20 French people arrived in Bishops Castle on September 20 to share a double celebration with their English friends. The party was from St Marcel, Bishops Castle’s twin town in Normandy, and they stayed with local families to enjoy the Michaelmas Fair and the 10th anniversary of the twinning partnership. Bishops Castle Twinning Association arranged a number of activities for the weekend and on Saturday morning a Normandy apple tree was planted on land at Bishops Castle allotments. This had been brought directly from France as a gesture of friendship between the two communities. The Bishops Castle twinning committee, led by chairman Tony Martin and secretaries Linda Atkins and Maureen Wall also arranged a meal at the community college, a guided walk and a shared meal at the Three Tuns to entertain their French friends.

VINTAGE VEHICLE CLUB AGM - The Longmynd Vintage Vehicle Club holds its AGM at the Inn on the Green, Wentnor on October 9 at 7.30pm. The club has planned a varied programme of events for the next 12 months and bookings will be taken at the meeting for the Christmas party on December 13. Subscriptions will be due at the AGM and the club will be choosing its charity for fundraising in this coming year. A number of members of the committee will be stepping down and Jackie Llewellyn, the current chairman said, "The club is looking for people who are willing to take on roles such as minute secretary, press secretary, website manager and of course would also welcome new committee members.” Committee member and founder LVVC chairman Karen Bavastock added, “The club was formed in 2009 and it would be great to have some new club and committee members. We meet monthly at the Inn on the Green, or have some form of get together at least once a month.

This year we are having two more road runs, one at Christmas and one in June 2014. We also enjoy social events, guest speakers, bingo and quiz night.

In addition, we raise money for local charities including the Midlands Air Ambulance, First Responders, Bishops Castle Heritage Resource Centre and Dial a Ride.” For more information call Karen Bavastock on 07967 100903.

OFFA’S DYKE TALK - The new season of South West Shropshire Historical and Archaeological Society meetings began on September 10 in the Church Barn, Bishops Castle with a large gathering of over 60 members and guests. Maurice Young, vice-chairman, welcomed Ian Bapty whose subject was New Perspectives on Offa’s Dyke.

After giving a clear picture of the scale of the monument, using maps and aerial photographs, the speaker explained that there is scant written reference to the dyke and no detailed account of its building or its purpose.

In spite of much archaeological research, there are aspects which remain enigmatic. The line of the dyke is not continuous between Chepstow and Prestatyn, and there are substantial gaps at its southern and northern ends, challenging the statement that it was built from sea to sea. The earthworks are frequently located below the summits of ridges, suggesting that they were designed not so much for actual defence as to create an aggressive statement when viewed from the west (Welsh) side. There are sharp bends in the dyke which might appear as bastions, again suggesting strength and purpose. Ian Bapty paid tribute to the pioneer work of Sir Cyril Fox, Frank Noble’s part in creating the Offa’s Dyke path, and the later studies carried out by David Hill and Margaret Worthington.

The dyke still raises many questions, and research continues. Janet Preshous proposed a vote of thanks, pointing out how fortunate locals were to live so close to the most impressive and beautiful sections of the dyke.

The next meeting of SWSHAS will be at 7.30 pm on October 8 in the Church Barn, Bishops Castle. Idris Evans will give a lecture on The Drovers. Guests £5.

BISHOPS CASTLE DIARY, September 26 - October 2 THURSDAY: National Theatre Live presents Othello at SpArC Theatre, Bishops Castle. £10/£7, 7pm. Call 01588 630321/638038 to book.

• Yoga at Abbeyfield House, Bishops Castle, weekly, 3.15 - 4.15pm.

• Live band, The Endings, Crown and Anchor Vaults, Bishops Castle.

FRIDAY: Macmillan coffee morning at Stone House, Bishops Castle, 11am.

• Lunches 4 All at Grange Road Community Centre, Bishops Castle.

Open to all, 1pm, call 0795 6062454.

• Macmillan coffee morning. Powis Arms, Lydbury North, 10.30am. Call 01588 680257.

• Macmillan coffee morning. Lydham village hall,10am. Call 01588 638737.

SATURDAY: Reunion for pupils from 1950s. Bishops Castle community college, £10, 12 noon. Call 01588 638257.

• Workshop. Why Prison? with Jamie Wrench from Ludlow Quakers meeting at Methodist hall, Bishops Castle, 3pm.

Call 01588 630773.

• Auction at Bishops Castle public hall.

Call 01743 462763.

• Gift day at Lydbury North Church, 10am - 4pm.

• Beer Festival and family fun day in aid of Rainbow Ward, RSH. Powis Arms, Lydbury North, 12 noon.

• Jumble sale in aid of Norbury Church at Norbury village hall, 2pm. Call 01588 650427.

SUNDAY: Harvest festival at Lydbury North Church, 11am.

• Wild flower bulb planting and shared picnic, Edgton Church, 1.30pm.

• Harvest festival at Lydham Church.

Harvest lunch £13. Book on 01588 638016.

TUESDAY: Bishops Castle Junior Hockey Academy. SpArC, Bishops Castle. Weekly, £1, 4pm, call 01588 638978.

• Open mic with Fight the Bear. Crown and Anchor Vaults, Bishops Castle.

• Street dance classes with Sarah Davies. Weekly, £4, age six to ten at 5pm; age ten to 14 at 6pm. Call 01588 630321.

WEDNESDAY: Bishops Castle Film Society presents I Wish (PG) at Three Tuns, Bishops Castle. £40/ £5/£2.50 guests, 8pm. Call 01588 680445.

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, call 01588 680445 or email jparker228@btinternet.com.