Bishops Castle

BLUES AND ROOTS - The Crown and Anchor Vaults landlady Mandy Green is making plans for the 4th Mojo Blues and Roots Festival at the pub on the first May Bank Holiday, May 1-4 and a large scale gumbo blues and roots festival on the agricultural show ground in Bishops Castle from July 24-27. Camping will be available on the site.

NEW DATE FOR LJC MEETING - The meeting of Bishops Castle, Chirbury and Worthen and Clun Local Joint Committee postponed from February 13 has now been rearranged and will now be at 7pm next Thursday, March 6 in Bishops Castle public hall. The agenda will focus on emergency services in the LJC area and will include speakers from the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group; West Midlands Ambulance Service and the Air Ambulance. The speakers will talk about how their respective services deal with emergencies in the area; how they work together on a coordinated response to emergencies, and what future changes to service there might be in the future. In addition to the main agenda items there will be an update on Shropshire Council’s budget and local working arrangements from Chris Edwards, area commissioner for Shropshire Council. The meeting also provides members of the public with a chance to question their local Shropshire councillors and town and parish representatives. The LJC will review funding applications at the meeting, which includes a bid for a new projector screen by the SpArC Arts project in Bishops Castle; support for the annual Bucknell Show and new song books for the Llanfair Waterdine singers. Everyone is welcome to attend.

TALK TO CHARLOTTE - Bishops Castle’s representative on Shropshire Council is Charlotte Barnes and she will be available to talk to residents every Friday morning from 9.30am -10.30am in Enterprise House, Bishops Castle. Charlotte is at Wentnor stores on the first Monday of the month; at Lydbury North Community Shop on the second Monday and at Harvest Wholefoods in Lydham on the third Monday. The surgeries all run from 9.30am-10.30am and you don’t need an appointment. Call 01588 650561 for more information.

CARERS GROUP SURVIVAL GUIDE - Bishops Castle and District Carers Group is hosting an event for people who care for someone with dementia.

All About Dementia – a carers survival guide is organised by Shropshire RCC Carers Support Service at the Community Room in Grange Road, Bishops Castle on Tuesday. It runs from 10.15am to3.30pm, with refreshments and lunch provided. To book a place and to arrange transport and respite care, call 01694 722024 or 01743 341995. Bishops Castle and District Carers Group meets on the third Monday of each month at Coverage Care, Union Street, Bishops Castle, 2-4pm. All carers are welcome and to find out more call Jenny Englefield on 01694 722024 or email maysi@hotmail.co.uk.

TARGET 250 NEWS - The Target 250 promise auction held at the end of 2013 in aid of Bishops Castle town hall renovation fund raised £1,800, leaving £1,400 still to be raised by end of 2015. Fundraising activities planned for 2014 include challenge walk, fashion show and book sale, together with a number of events to celebrate the reopening of the town hall in June.

WINTLES GOING WILD - The developers of The Wintles eco housing development in Bishops Castle have recently remodelled the lane around the estate creating large banks. With spring on the way, residents want to fill the banks with wild flowers and other flowering plants. They have already collected nearly £400 which has been used to plant 6,000 daffodil bulbs which should be flowering in March. They have also received a large packet of poppy seeds from Bishops Castle Town Council who wish to commemorate the losses of the First World War.

A number of people have also contributed seed packets of ‘peace poppies’ which are white. Julian Symondson, one of The Wintles residents involved in the scheme, said “We are also taking the opportunity to get rid of old packets of seeds which may have been forgotten about. We are hoping to have a big sowing day in March when we will spread thousands of seeds over the banks. If you have any spare packets knocking around we would welcome your contribution; please drop them off at the Old Time tourist information centre in Bishops Castle High Street.” Mr Symondson continues, “We aim to create a lovely display of wild flowers, daffodils, poppies and an assortment of flowering plants to cheer the spring and summer. The lane though The Wintles will be adopted by the council when the development work is complete so these flowering banks will be available for everyone to enjoy.”

SPEEDING TICKETS - In the first two weeks of January 2014 a total of 17speeding tickets and nine verbal warnings were issued by the Bishops Castle policing team. Tackling speeding drivers in the town and the surrounding area is one of the team’s priorities for early 2014.

PUB CHARITY BOOST - Regular patrons of the Powis Arms in Lydbury North have come to the end of a successful year of charity fund raising in 2013. They thank everyone for helping them collect £5,245.83, which is over £1,000 more than the year before. Spokesman for the fundraisers is local farmer Roger Evans and he says, “This last 12 months we have raised money for the Rainbow Ward for children at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. I would like to thank everyone who has supported our efforts throughout the year. In 2014 we will be supporting a charity that does research into pancreatic cancer and we held a quiz at the Powis Arms on the February 26.”

JANUARY WINNER - Andrew Semple won £27 in January draw of Lydham Church 100 Club. Barrie Geddes won £16 and Rachel Coles won £11. If you want to join the club call Jimmy Garnier on 01588 638486.

HOTSY TOTSY BALL - Naomi Payne’s Hotsy Totsy Band is back soon at one of their favourite haunts, the 18th century ballroom at Walcot Hall in Lydbury North. They will be playing for a grand vintage ball on March 8 in aid of Lydbury North Primary School. Starting at 7.30pm, there’s a bubbly drink on arrival, cocktails and canapés during the evening with live music and dance instruction for anyone who wants to polish up their steps. The theme is the twenties to the forties and tickets cost £15 including the welcome drink. Tickets from Tiger Lily in Ludlow or Rosie’s Shop, Bishops Castle. Details call 01588 674823.

100 CLUB WINNER - Congratulations to Andrew Smith of Lydham Farm, the January winner of the Lydham Church 100 Club draw. Andrew won £27.25, with runners-up Barrie Geddes who won £16.35 and Rachel Coles who won £10.90. Call Jimmy Garnier on 01588 638486 if you want to join the club.

PULVERBATCH PARTY - David Gill of Pulverbatch would like to thank friends and family for attending his 86th birthday party. Donations of £620 were given to the Midlands Air Ambulance and the Severn Hospice.

BISHOPS CASTLE DIARY Thursday February 27 – March 1

TODAY (THURSDAY): NT Live. War Horse . SpArC Theatre, Bishops Castle. £10/£7. 7pm. Call 01588 630321 or 638038.

  • Thin Vision. The Vaults, Bishops Castle.

TOMORROW (FRIDAY): Live music. Astrum Guitar Duo. SpArC Theatre, BishopsCastle. £11/£5.50. 7.30pm. Call 01588 630321 or 638038.

  • Footpath Walking Group planning meeting, 41 Bishops Castle. 10.30am. Call 01588 650451.

SATURDAY: Auction sale. Public Hall, Bishops Castle. Call 01743 462763.

 

Bockleton

ANNUAL JUMBLE SALE - Bockleton WI annual jumble sale on Saturday at 2pm, it will be held at Bockleton parish hall, Romers Common, Tenbury Wells. There will be all the usual stalls and refreshments, so go along early and join the queue and get a bargain.

 

Clun Valley

FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT - February 24 to March 9. Celebrating the newly-designated Clun Fairtrade Valley. Fairtrade coffee today (Thursday) at Clunbury Café - Fairtrade coffee or tea with homemade cake for only £1 in the village hall. There will also be a Fairtrade stall.

FAIRTRADE PANCAKES - Carys is holding another Pancake Day at the Maltings Café in Clun on Tuesday - always a popular event. Come along any time. Pancakes served for breakfast, lunch and tea with various imaginative Fairtrade fillings.

CHEESE, WINE AND FASHION – A family friendly Fairtrade evening on March 7, combining fun, Fairtrade and local produce. Find out about local cheese-makers and sample their wares, try Fairtrade wine and see Fairtrade clothes for all the fami - ly on the catwalk.

FLICKS IN THE STICKS - Undertaking Betty (15) will be shown at Aston on Clun village hall on Saturday at 7.30pm at Aston on Clun village hall. Easy parking, admission £4 for adults £2 for under 18s, interval refreshments, details 01588 660545.

CLUN WI - The next WI meeting is at Haslehurst community centre on Tuesday at 7.30pm.

CLAC@CLUN - Clun’s Community Larder and Advice Centre, CLAC@ CLUN, has its first AGM on Thursday, March 6 at 7pm in St George’s Church vestry. All welcome. Contact Douglas Ogram 01588 640830.

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER - A warm invitation to all to come along and join in Women’s World Day of Prayer on March 7 at St Cuthbert’s Church, Clungunford. The service, prepared by the women of Egypt, begins 2.30pm, followed by refreshments. Please note: men, women and children, everyone wel - come. Enquiries 01588 660158. Or join in Women’s World Day of Prayer at Clunbury village hall on March 7 at 6pm. All welcome.

CLUN WALKS – Clun Ramblers’ next walk is on Wednesday. Meet at Clun memorial hall car park at 9.30am. Sorry no dogs.

 

 

 

Tenbury

TENBURY MAYOR’S VARIETY SHOW – A unique one-off charity show with the best of local communi - ty and professional talent with music, comedy and dance. The Regal, Tenbury Wells, March 8, 7.30pm, doors open 6.30pm. All tickets £10 from Regal Box Office 01584 811442 or online www.regaltenbury.co.uk. All proceeds to the mayor’s charities Shoot for the Stars and Tenbury swimming pool.

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER – Streams in the desert, praying for Egypt, March 7 at 3pm. Sacred Heart Church, Berrington Road, Tenbury Wells. All are welcome.

TEME READERS’ GROUP – Read a biography of someone or something that interests you, tomorrow (Friday) 2pm-3pm, Tenbury Library.

TEA AT THE RITZ – St Michael’s village hall, Tenbury Wells, tomorrow (Friday), 3pm-5pm. In aid of the Brain Tumour Charity. You will be entertained by the one and only St Michael’s skiffle group,  with Linda Broome on keyboard. Posh dress is optional, hats and caps are encouraged. Donations of any type of unwanted hats, caps, headbands, etc, would be most welcome for a bring and buy sale. Cost £5, phone 01584 811927, 811366 or 811853 for tickets.

Brain Tumours are the largest killer of children and adults up to 40, yet the charity receives less than 2% of the funding on cancer research. Survival times have improved very little over the last 40 years.

The Brian Tumour Charity needs to raise £5million each year to fund vital brain tumour research, provide support and information, raise awareness to shorten diagnosis times and influence policy to improve the prospects of everyone affected by a brain tumour. Stuart Skidmore is running the London Marathon on April 13 in memory of his dad. If you would like to sponsor him, the charity link is mydonate.bt.com. Click on “sponsor a fundraiser” and then “Stuart Skidmore”.

A PANCAKE LUNCH – Will be held on Tuesday at Tenbury Methodist Church Hall, from 12noon until 2pm, in aid of The Samaritans. There will be a small charge of £3, and you can eat as many as you like. A fruit punch will also be available. Please come along and support this good cause.

 

The Strettons

SUPPER EVENT – The local committee for the RNLI will be hosting a fish and chip supper at the Silvester Horne Institute on Saturday at 7.15pm. Tickets cost £8.50.

BEETLE DRIVE – There will be a fam ily evening beetle drive at Hope Bowdler village hall on Saturday at 7.30pm providing fun for all ages and there will be prizes to be won. Admission is £4 for adults and £2 for children, to be paid at the door.

QUIZ NIGHTS – A quiz and curry night will be held at the District Social Club on Saturday in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Entry fee is £5 per player and teams of four to six people are invited. There will be National Lottery ticket prizes. A pub quiz at the Green Dragon on Sunday will raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Research. Teams of four are invited to book by ringing 01694 722925. Cost per team is £12 including curry and chips. The event starts at 7.30pm.

LONGMYND HIKE – The Longmynd Hike Committee and friends will be meeting at the District Social Club on Sunday at 8pm and will be discussing the matters raised at the annual general meeting.

GREEN PARTY – The Green Party Conference is taking place in Liverpool from tomorrow (Friday) until Sunday, and the next meeting of the local group is on Monday. A fundraising ceilidh at Ludlow Brewery is planned for March 21.

COMMUNITY CINEMA – Monday will see Alan Partridge Alpha Papa (15) screened at Church Stretton School, and on Wednesday at Acton Scott village hall the film will be Captain Phillips (12A) starring Tom Hanks. This exciting thriller is being screened as part of the Borderlines Film Festival. All films start at 7.30pm and provide interval refreshments.

LITERARY SOCIETY – On Monday the Literary Society will be meeting at the library for a book discussion on Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel, led by David Howard. The society has been in existence for 20 years but at a special meeting due to take place on March 24 the members will be considering the closure of the society. This meeting will be followed by ‘censorship’, a talk and discussion also led by David Howard. Both meetings will start at 7.30pm.

CAMERA CLUB – Longmynd Camera Club has invited Michael Leach to its next meeting on Wednesday in the URC Hall starting at 7.30pm. He has called his lecture Confessions of a Wildlife Photographer, looking at the realities of capturing animals on film for books and television. Visitors wel - come.

TREE GROUP – The Tree Group meeting on Wednesday will take place at the Methodist Hall at 7.30pm when John Blessington of Shropshire Council will recount his memories and anecdotes of 25 years as a tree officer in an illustrated talk. Non-members welcome.

SCHOOL NEWS – St Lawrence’s Primary School will be taking part in a tag rugby tournament in Ludlow this week and after school cricket clubs will begin. There is a music workshop planned for Class 7.

FOOD BANK – Many thanks to those who are able to support the food bank collection point at the Co-op. You may like to know that the items which are currently needed include UHT or dried milk, dried potatoes, pasta, rice, spaghetti and puddings. Soups and baked beans are not required for the moment.

TALKS – A journey from Beijing to Moscow on the Trans Mongolian and Trans Siberian Railways was the subject of an illustrated talk by David Thomas which recently took place at Mayfair community centre and was attended by many people interested in hearing about his travels and to ask questions afterwards. The next talk will be on March 28, when Bill Ross will give an illustrated talk, which he has called Fascinations in Malawi.

DAY OF PRAYER – March 7 is Women’s World Day of Prayer which will take place at the Methodist Church at 10.30am. The theme of the day is Praying for Egypt, Stress in the Desert, and will be led by Rev Sarah Wood. Gentlemen are also welcome at this day of prayer event.

CLIMATE CARE – International environmentalist, campaigner, author and broadcaster Mark Lynas will be the speaker on March 7 at 7.30pm at a meeting taking place at Church Stretton School. To find out more see www.stretton climatecare.org.uk.

BARGAIN BOOKS – Rose Cottage Cat Rescue is holding a bargain book sale on March 8, at the parish centre from 11am-3pm. Admission to the event is free and refreshments will be available. Books will be on sale at 50p each or three for £1, but the planned March jumble sale for Rose Cottage Cat Rescue has been postponed until April 5.

FORUM – The teaching of RE in schools is the subject of the South Shropshire Interfaith Forum discussion at a meeting taking place at Church Stretton School on March 10 at 7.30pm led by Mr Phil Wright. All welcome.

TALK – Classrooms in the Clouds is a talk by trustee, David Woods, at a meeting to be held at Mayfair community centre on March 11 at 7.30pm. The event will raise funds for Classrooms in the Clouds, providing a brighter future for the children of Nepal. Tickets are available from Mayfair and Kaboodle and cost £3.50.

 

Westhope

SLIDE SHOW – All are invited to a slide show at Westhope village hall on March 11 at 7pm. Slides of old Craven Arms by Mr David Evans. Admission £1.50, light refreshments and raffle. Proceeds for Westhope WI.

CLOVER CLUB – Westhope Clover Club opens again next Thursday, March 6. Doors open at 7pm. The speaker will be Mr Graham Massey, Legal Solutions, and will talk on Tax Care and Toy Boys. We know about tax and care and some are eager to know more. Visitors always welcome.

LOTTERY – Village hall February lottery winners are 1st £32.10 Joy Malandri, Broadstone. Four winners of £5.35 are Shelia Austin, Aston Munslow; Sheila Goode, Culmington; Peter Caine, Culmington and Anne Dyer, Westhope.

 

Bockleton WI

THE February meeting was well attended by members, with two visitors joining for the evening.

There was quite a lot of WI business to discuss, the jumble sale on Saturday at 2pm, the group meeting at St Michaels on March 27, and further into the year the display at Tenbury Show and the WI Centenary Baton Handover to look forward to.

The speaker for the evening was a member, Dr Margaret De Feu OBE who gave a very interesting talk on her work experiences as a psychiatrist for the deaf working in the UK and also Eire. Margaret gave an insight into the often difficult but rewarding job she has been doing for the last 30 years.

Raffle winners were Angela, Margaret and Pam.

Thanks were given to Ingrid for allowing the visit to her wonderfully warm home for the evening.

 

Tenbury Rambling Club

WALKS for March. March 12, meet 10am at Tenbury swimming pool.

Distance six miles. Bring a packed lunch.

Burrington, slight incline along concrete track, then fields. Some stiles (SO442721).
For details contact Molly Froggatt 01584 831272.
March 29, meet 10am at Tenbury swimming pool.
Distance six miles. Bring a packed lunch.
Malvern Hills. “As much or as little as we like”. Return the same way for different views.
For details contact Joan Peyton 01568 750375.