Bishops Castle

MORE MUSICIANS SIGN UP – With 14 different venues in the town and over 160 people taking part, the Amnesty Music Weekend, Bishops Castle, is the place to enjoy live music this weekend. The latest musicians signed up to take part are folk legend John Kirkpatrick, members of Fight the Bear and a modern folk duo called Flatlands and Garage Flowers from Shrewsbury. The whole weekend is free with donations to Amnesty International. Website is jollypages.co.uk/bcamnesty. Call John Phillips on 01588 680528 or 07790 007469.

LOCAL SPONSORS FOR WALK – Volunteers are making a final check on the footpaths to be followed by the Bishops Castle round and about walk on May 10. The Walcot Estate and Forestry Commission have given walkers access to their land, and the more remote paths are being cleared of undergrowth. Bishops Castle Co-op is sponsoring morning refreshments, and the Castle, Boar’s Head and Poppy House are offering discounts to people achieving the walk certificate. Number of Bishops Castle shops have agreed to stay open until late, to help the tardiest of walkers. Closing date for entries is Wednesday and nearly 200 people have signed up for the 22-mile walk over the South Shropshire Hills, with options of shorter 13 or nine-mile routes. Event will raise money for the blood cancer charity Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. Day starts at Sherbourne, Schoolhouse Lane in Bishops Castle between 8am and 10am and walkers can choose between the 22, 13 or 9.5-mile routes. Entry £16 includes a vegetarian lunch and transport. To register, follow the links on the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research website, or call Jean Shirley on 01588 638877.

FOUR DAY MOJOFEST – The four-day Mojo festival begins today at the Crown and Anchor Vaults in Bishops Castle with an open mic session led by Wayne Martin Band. The free event is in the pub yard and other bands include the Poohbahs, Tommy Allen Band, Will Barnes Trio and Eddy Gartry. Collection for Amnesty will be made at the Friday evening gig.

WAR MUSEUM TRIP – Still time to join coach trip to Imperial War Museum of the North in Manchester May 15. Also chance to go shopping or visit other places in the city. Day costs £15, to find out more call Maurice Phillips on 01588 630042.

HILARIOUS HATS – A talk by Mrs M Baldwin, April guest speaker, to members of Bishops Castle WI proved to be full of surprises. Her talk, hats make the character was met with great hilarity. Mrs Baldwin produced five hats in turn and adopted different character with each one she wore. Next Bishops Castle WI meeting is at Methodist Hall, Bishops Castle at 7pm, May 20, Judy Arliss will speak about being a nun.

TOWN MUSEUM OPENS – The House on Crutches Museum has opened again after winter break. Volunteers have been busy getting the rooms ready and training a number of new people to act as guides and curators for the ancient building on The Cobbles in the centre of the town. The museum will be open every weekend from 2-5pm and on bank holidays and festivals from 10.30am- 1pm. Entry free, donations welcome.

GARDEN PHOTO TIPS – Julia Stanley’s talk to SW Shropshire gardening club on garden photography was inspiring, practical and informaive. The SW Shropshire gardening club will be holding all its meetings in Lydbury North village hall, next one May 28, when Kim and Rob Hurst will talk about back door herbs. Beginning at 7.30pm, visitors welcome at £3.

BISHOPS CASTLE DIARY, May 1-7.

TODAY: Four-day Mojo Blues and Roots Festival. The Crown and Anchor Vaults, Bishops Castle.

  • NT Live. King Lear. SpArC Theatre, Bishops Castle. £10/£7. 7pm. Book on 01588 630321 or 638038.

TOMORROW: Amnesty Music Weekend in aid of Bishops Castle branch of Amnesty International. 4pm. Ends Saturday evening. Call 01588 630018.

  • Beetle drive. Grange Road Community Centre, Bishops Castle. 2pm. Call 07956 062454.
  • Live band. The Poohbahs. The Vaults, Bishops Castle.
  • Onny Valley Social Club. Skittles match with Hyssington. Norbury village hall. 7.30pm. Call 01588 638570.

SATURDAY: House on Crutches Museum, Bishops Castle. 2pm-5pm.

  • Ceilidh – Mostly John, John Kirkpatrick, Val Littlehales. Lydbury North village hall. Call 01588 680454.
  • Jumble and plant sale in aid of Edgton village hall. 2pm.

SUNDAY: Mojo Festival. The Vaults, Bishops Castle. Donations.

MONDAY: Wedding fair. Walcot Hall, Lydbury North. Noon to 4pm. Call 01588 680570.

TUESDAY: Talk. Nepal Revisited- Chris Penny and Vee Collumb. Lydbury North village hall. Call 01588 680590 to book.

WEDNESDAY: Closing date for entry to Round and About Walk in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. 01588 638877.

  • Bishops Castle Walking Group. Clun. 11 miles. Meet Harley Jenkins St car park, Bishops Castle. 9.30am. Call 01588 620470.

CORRESPONDENT - Any news for the paper, or coming event to promote, please address note to Julia Parker and give in at Bishops Castle post office, call 01588 680445 or email jparker228@btinternet.com.

 

Clun

QUIZ - Have you tried the quiz? Monthly quiz of 25 questions on one topic is available from Davies Newsagents for only 50p, there is a £5 prize each month. It is raising funds for Clun memorial hall. It is good fun and for good cause, so have a go.

NEW WEBSITE FOR CLUN – A new Clun website aims to inform and encourage visitors, especially walkers. Clun is already a ‘walkers are welcome’ approved town and recently received a grant from the area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) and the local joint committee (LJC) to set up clun.info as a website for Clun, Chapel Lawn and the Clun Valley. The already existing clun.org.uk, and the new website will bring additional information on walking, where to stay, eating and drinking and also linked to the Bishops Castle website. Hospitality businesses that sign up to the website will automatically appear on both the Clun and Bishops Castle sites.

OLD SURGERY EXHIBITION – New exhibition of paintings and artists’ prints has just opened at The Old Surgery Gallery in Clun. Gallery is open every day bank holiday week from 10am-5pm. Received at the Old Surgery Gallery in Clun, collection of sheet music given to be sold in aid of St George’s Church. It comprises a lot of piano music and songs with vocal arrangements. Prices begin at £1.

GREEN MAN FESTIVAL – Clun green man festival is this weekend full of live music, drama, colour and medieval malarkey. It is fun for all the family, starting on Saturday with a children’s workshop at Hightown community rooms from 10.30am to make something to wear to join in with the procession on Monday.

FREE EVENTS – Sunday, free events in the square include the Frost Queen’s Battle when climate change prompts an early attempt for a takeover by the green man, aided by swords of chivalry at 4.15pm and at 2.45pm the Clun Mummers play, performed by CADS, Clun amateur dramatic society. Events start at noon with morris dancing (also at 3.15pm), followed at 12.30pm by A T James - street performer, acrobat, balancer, juggler, escapologist; animal man (also at 3.45pm); exotic pets 1pm and from 2pm live music with Naomi Payne Hotsy Totsy Band - vintage jazz and blues (also at 4.30pm). Jack the Jester rounds off the afternoon at 5pm, party continues from 6pm into the evening until late with music in the square from The Rhythm Thieves.

PRE BATTLE ENTERTAINMENT – Monday pre battle entertainment on the Bridge from 11.30am. At noon the green man approaches the bridge accompanied by the may queen and battles the spirit of winter. The famous Battle on the Bridge follows, traditional may fair opens in the grounds of Clun castle (courtesy of English Heritage). Morris dancing, strolling entertainers, James the tree, jugglers, Sylvesta the jester, magician, battle re-enactments and equestrian display with Les Amis D’onno, live music, maypole dancing, circus workshop, Hula workshop, garlands, face painting, duck racing, beer tent and refreshments and craft fair on the castle grounds from 12.45-5pm. £5 adults, accompanied children £1, under five free. Singing and dancing in the square from 1pm.

TRAVEL TO CLUN – Due to road repairs by the Hurst Mill corner on the road into Clun from Craven Arms (B4368) there are traffic lights. Please allow extra time for your journey and where possible, please use routes into Clun from Knighton, Bishops Castle and Newcastle to enter the village use the designated car parks as normal.

CLUN WI – Clun WI meet at Haslehurst community centre on Tuesday at 7.30pm.

CLUN RAMBLERS - Clun ramblers’ next walk is Wednesday 7. Meet at Clun memorial hall car park at 9.30am. Sorry no dogs.

THE UK GOLD – There will be a screening of the award winning documentary, The UK Gold, at Clun methodist church on Wednesday. Free admission. Details from Jenny Barker 01588 640760.

NEWCASTLE GARDEN SOCIETY – Newcastle garden society meet next Thursday, May 8, at Newcastle community centre at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome.

CORRESPONDENT – Any news or events in the Clun Valley contact Elisabeth Taylor, email: elisabeth777@btinternet.com 01981 540893. Deadline is the Thursday of the week before publication.

 

Tenbury

TENBURY HISTORY SOCIETY – Worcestershire Carriers before the Railway, Richard Churchley, Today at 7.30pm, Pump Rooms, Tenbury Wells. Details M Watkins 01584 711425. Members £10 pa, guests £2 per meeting.

WALK AND TALK – Bring yourselves and your dogs for gentle walk and talk. Meet every Sunday promptly at 11am, top end of swimming pool car park, Tenbury Wells. Weather permitting, always ring and check: Lynn 07581 328500 or 01584 819843, Rosie 01584 811934. Other venues can be discussed and used for future weeks walks. Have some gentle exercise and conversation whilst the dogs can run off excess energy and have a play. Problem dogs catered for and help/training given. Part of U3A initiative for Tenbury Wells.

CHARITY CONCERT – Little Hereford Voices in aid of MacMillan Nurses, May 10, 7.30pm, Lynch Farm, Little Hereford, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs C Ham. Bar and post concert dancing to Turnstone. Tickets £6 from Peter Sandall 01584 711114 .

VOLUNTEER’S WEEK – Thinking about volunteering in Tenbury? Come and find out more at volunteers’ fair. Meet local organisations offering diverse, challenging and rewarding volunteer opportunities. June 7, 9am- noon at the Regal Community Centre, Church Walk, Tenbury. Free entrance and refreshments. Volunteering is for anyone any age and is great way to meet people, develop skills, support your community. Information: Jacqueline Smith - Malvern Hills Volunteering 07935 407190, email: js.malvernhillsvolunteering@gmail.com.

RAMBLING CLUB WALKS FOR MAY – May 14, meet 10am at Tenbury swimming pool. Five-six miles. Bring packed lunch. Stoke Bliss, slight incline along concrete track, then fields, climbing up into woods with some steep tracks. Panoramic views, then downhill passing Kyre Park. Details Carolyn Belfield 01584 810032. May 31, meet 9am at Tenbury swimming pool. Seven miles. Bring packed lunch. Kington. Another unmissable Offa. Hergest Ridge and Castle Tump. Hills and tracks. Fine views. For details contact Andy Wadsley 01568 750455.

 

The Strettons

COUNTRY MARKET – Country market open on Fridays from 8.30am-12noon selling cakes, produce and craft items at Mayfair community centre.

JUMBLE SALE – A jumble sale at the parish centre from 2pm-4pm on Saturday, will help Amy, Eleanor, Katie and Sophie reach their target funds for taking part in community projects in Borneo in conjunction with Church Stretton School. Donations of items for the sale may be left at the parish centre during the morning of the sale. A sale of books, bric-a-brac, cakes, crafts and plants planned for Saturday, raising funds for Mayfair community centre.

BAND NIGHT – The Little Big Band will be playing at Rushbury village hall on Bank Holiday Monday, 7pm- 7.30pm. Tickets cost £8, £4 for primary school children, and includes a buffet. To enquire for tickets ring 01694 722300.

OUTINGS – The gardening club will be visiting Malvern Show on May 9, and plans an outing to Bryan’s ground at Presteigne on May 30. To enquire for seats on the coach please ring 01694 720131. There are also trips planned for June 12, to the Dorothy Clive garden, Market Drayton, Wilkins Pleck garden at Newcastle under Lyme on July 10, and Wollerton Old Hall garden, Nr Market Drayton on July 22. On August 13, there will be a visit to Abbeywood Gardens, Delamore, Cheshire. The summer show will take place on August 30.

SMALLHOLDERS – The Shropshire smallholders next meeting is next Thursday, May 8, when the talk will be about pigs. The smallholders hold a share in Fordhall Farm and have been asked to vote for Fordhall Farm to win £10,000 which can be put towards tools and creating a volunteer space. So far the volunteers have helped finish the revamping of the yurts, completed the compost toilet and solar shower, landscaped behind the yurts and finish the green roof off which covers the new outdoor kitchen space in the community garden. There will be another volunteer week- end on June 7-8. Over 90 of the volunteers, together with staff and shareholders met HRH the Duke of Gloucester when he officially opened the newly renovated yurts which are now available for ‘glamping’.

CHARITY EVENT – Tom Peel’s charity event at Ashfield House, Walkmills, SY6 6NJ takes place on July 19, when the programme will include Abba Sensation, local band the Custard Collection and disco by Robbie T Entertainment. There will be food, a bar, and draw. Fancy dress is optional. Admission to the event is £15, £5 for the u15s, proceeds will go to the Haematology Unit at the RSH, Cerebral Palsy and Condover College Hydro Pool. Enquire for tickets or find out more ring 01694 751261.

RECTORY WOOD AND FIELD – Following well-attended meeting about the future management of Rectory Wood and Field, series of guided walks have been arranged, each with different theme. May 13, the theme will be wildlife on a walk from 6.30pm-8.30pm, on June 17 an afternoon walk from 2pm-4pm will feature history, and July 8 from 6.30pm-8.30pm it will be about access and activities. To join the walks meet at the rectory field entrance in Church Street. There will be another public meeting to review consultation process in September.

TOURISM – Number of special events are planned for May and June, starting with a blues and roots festival in Rectory field 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 Lawrence’s Primary School will host a spring fun day on May 10, with chocolate treasure hunt, activities, stalls and fun. Also be tombola, offers of prizes for this would be most welcome. Enquire for car boot pitch on the day call Sara 07782 259231.

CEILIDH – Mostly John Ceilidh Band will be providing the music for ceilidh May 9, at the Silvester Horne Institute starting 7.30pm-11pm. Will be a bar. Tickets £8 adults, £5 for U16s, and include snacks and first drink free. Tickets from John Thomas Florists, and Burway Books. Proceeds will go to Pazapa school and medical facility for disabled children in Haiti. To find out more ring 01694 725530.

COFFEE MORNING – Coffee morning at the district social club on May 10, from 10am-12noon raising funds for breast cancer and haematology at the RSH. On sale jams, cakes and bric-a-brac, and also be a tombola and raffle. Admission £1 including tea, coffee and biscuits.

RNLI – Local RNLI committee is hosting quiz night at district social club May 10, and on May 21 there will be a special afternoon event at the URC hall, 3pm, with free tea and cake.

WALK – Following his virtual walk through the Shropshire Hills, John Tuer, local tree expert, will lead a walk on May 11, offering useful information on planting and caring for trees. To reserve a place or find out more call 01588 674080.

LONGMYND HIKE – Longmynd Hike committee will be meeting at the District Social Club at 8pm, May 11.

MEDIEVAL FAIR – Medieval fair due to take place June 20-22, advance tickets are available from early May from Burway Books, Newsworld, Stuart Wright Estate Agent, and town council offices and local schools, and are valid for one day only or full week-end admissions. Programme includes medieval banquet in the Silvester Horne Institute June 20, June 21 celebrations include a procession up Sandford Avenue and High Street to the square, judging of medieval costumes, mummers and morris dancers. The weekend will also include circus workshop for children, have-a-go archery, maypole dancing, falconry, puppet theatre, battles, jousting, ferret racing, bouncy castle, minstrels and all-day catering. June 21 evening ceilidh with music by the Compost Band on the Rectory Field at 7.15pm, gates open 6.45pm. To get involved call 01694 723189 or 722998.

 

Westhope

CLOVER CLUB - A warm welcome awaited members at Ludlow library. Mr Iran Morris told members of the changing face of the librarian. Where once you just changed books, but now the public have use of computers and many technical devices, do banking or look up family history just to name a few. The library was opened by the queen about twelve years ago and takes up about half of the building. The other half is run by Ludlow museum. Mr Daniel Lockett, museum curator, took members on tour. Downstairs basement, all air conditioned, where they keep half the real bones of the Shropshire mammoth found at Condover, huge. Other half is in new Shrewsbury museum. Members also saw the Ludlow Treasures. Mr Lockett assisted by his colleague Jackie then answered lots of questions. Barbra Hall organised tea and cake and a raffle took place, Tom and Henry Hall sorted a grand national sweep. Many thanks to Iran for a grand evening.

VILLAGE HALL LOTTERY – April winners 1st £32.10 Daphne Walford, Leintwardine, four prizes of £5.35 Mrs Luscott, Diddlebury, Raymond Hall, Birtley, Sue Lewis, Westhope and Iris Mold, Burwood.

GRAND NATIONAL – Clover club grand national winners first prize Bob Edwards, second Moira Morris, third Jean Edwards, fourth Tom Hall.

MEETING – Next meeting at Weshope today. Evening of music and song with Corvedale Folk Club. Come along and enjoy. Admission 50p. Raffle and refreshments.

WHIST DRIVES – In May there are two whist drives, Monday and May 19. Admission £1.50, starting at 8pm. Raffle and refreshments.