Bishops Castle

OPEN ART SHOW – The work of 11 local artists is on display at the first autumn open exhibition in Bishop’s Castle town hall. The artists are Drusilla Cole, Janice Holohan, Ray Jacobs, Nigel Kerry, Yavuz Mutlu, Judy Osborne, Tim Phillips, A Stewart Rankine, Svetlana Elantseva, Terry Walsh and Gordon Yapp. The exhibition runs until October 19 and all the work is for sale. The town hall is open daily from 10am to 4pm. Call 01588 630200 for more information.

MIDWIFE IN AFRICA – Bishop’s Castle Mothers’ Union welcomed Julia Rogers, daughter of the group’s deputy leader as the speaker for their September meeting. Julia is a midwife in Powys and gave an insight into her recent experience of working with a midwifery team at a hospital in Uganda. Conditions are difficult there, with drugs and equipment in short supply but Julia was able to give help and encouragement and share her own expertise. The next MU meeting is on Wednesday at 2.30pm when members will be sharing childhood memories, whilst knitting sheep for the Christmas crib. Everyone is welcome.

PERFUME SECRETS - Bishop’s Castle WI heard a talk on the history of perfume at their meeting on September 16 in the Methodist Hall. Carol Dowding explained the reasons why perfume is so expensive and advised members to use their own perfume regularly as it only lasts for about three years before going off. Local cook Nicky Simpson will be the speaker on October 21 when she shared the secrets of making Tasty Pastries. The evening begins at 7.30pm and guests are welcome.

TEME SPARC NEWS – Beginners swimming lessons at Teme SpArC in Bishop’s Castle are almost booked up. Leisure centre staff report that the Summer Sizzler programme of children’s activities was also a success with over 30 children taking part. More Teme SpArC promotions and special events are planned for the autumn. Swimming lessons for children of all abilities are Monday to Thursday afternoons from 4pm-6pm and Tuesday from 4pm to 7pm. Call 01588 630243.

COFFEE CUPS – Lydbury North village hall proved a delightful venue for a Macmillan coffee morning on October 25. The event raised £940 and organisers thank everyone for their support. Cranial osteopath Lyn Atkins was the speaker at the September meeting of Lydbury North WI. Members were also reminded that nominations for the 2015 committee and president were due next month. The next meeting is next Thursday, October 16, when Jane Freeman will demonstrate how to make Christmas cards.

QUICHE AND CHEESECAKE – Mainstone WI president Sandra Davies welcomed members back to the September meeting after the summer break. During the summer some ladies had made garden troughs from cardboard boxes and a mixture of binding material under the guidance of Ros Gillard. Nicky Simpson from Bishop’s Castle was the guest speaker and gave advice on making the perfect quiche and sweet cheesecakes. Ceinwen Richards won competition for best garden bloom; Ingrid Hartung was second and Miriam Ellison third.

BISHOPS CASTLE DIARY DATES October 9 –15

THURSDAY: Flu vaccination. Bishop’s Castle Surgery. No appointment needed. Weekly until end of November, 4pm-5pm.

FRIDAY: Jolly’s Circus. Bishop’s Castle showground. £7– £16. 6.30pm. 07850 687503

  • Auction sale. Public Hall, Bishop's Castle. 6.30pm. Continues Saturday 10am. 01743 462763
  • English folk dance class with The Alphabet Band. Lydham village hall. £2.50. 8pm.

SATURDAY: Jolly’s Circus. Bishop’s Castle showground. £7– £16. 2pm. 07850 687503.

  • Messy Church for families. Church Barn, Bishop's Castle. 10am SUNDAY: Jolly’s Circus. Bishop’s Castle showground. £7– £16. 2pm. 07850 687503.
  • Wedding Fair. Bishop's Castle town hall. Free. 11am– 4pm. 01588 630023.
  • Singer Megan Henwood. Bishop's Castle town hall. £6. 8pm.

MONDAY: NHS Blood and Transplant blood donor sessions. Bishop’s Castle public hall. 1.30-3.30pm and 4.30- 7.15pm. Call free 0300 123 23 23.

  • Flu vaccination. Bishop's Castle surgery. No appointment needed, weekly until end November, 4-5pm.
  • Footpath Walking Group. Montgomery. Meet Harley Jenkins St car park, Bishop's Castle. 9.30am. Book on 01588 620422.
  • Jive. Lydbury North village hall. £6. Weekly. 8.15pm. 01588 673090.

TUESDAY: Amnesty International letter writing. 11 Copall Paddock, Bishop’s Castle. 10.15am. 01588 630018.

  • SWSHAS. 'The Kings of Siluria – How the Marches Became Known to Geologists' - Prof Martin Rudwick. Church Barn, Bishop's Castle. Guests £5. 7.30pm.
  • Pilates. Lydbury North village hall. £6. 9am Call 01743 891561
  • North Country Theatre. A Month in the Country – JL Carr. Edgton village hall. £10/ £7. Call 01588 680302.
  • Mainstone WI. Shropshire Hills Geology -Frank Hills, village hall 7.30pm.

WEDNESDAY: Mothers Union. Knit for Christmas crib and share childhood memories. Church Barn, Bishop’s Castle. 2.30pm.

  • Talk: Images of Social Reform – Brian Maidment. Bishop's Castle town hall. £3.50. 7.30pm.
  • Onny Valley Social Club. Trip to Shugborough Hall and Lichfield. Pick up Norbury and Bishop's Castle. Open to all. Call 01588 650607.
  • Macmillan coffee morning and school open day. Norbury Primary School. Coffee 10am-11.30am. Open day 10am-3pm.

Any news or event, send addressed to Julia Parker, to Bishops Castle Post Office. Email jparker228@btinternet.com. Call 01588 680445.

 

Clun

NEWCASTLE GARDEN SOCIETY – Newcastle Garden Society meeting is tonight at Newcastle Community Centre starting 7.30pm. Tom Froggatt will tell the story of how he went to The Big Apple Event at Putley in Herefordshire in 1994 to try and identify the apples his father planted many years ago. He was persuaded to join the newly formed Marches Apple Network and became treasurer. The Network’s main object is to find and identify all the old varieties of apple grown in the Borders in the past, which so far numbers over 500. They propagate new trees from old existing ones and these are planted in ‘museum’ orchards in the area. As well as talking about the work of the Network, Tom will tell the story of the apple from Asia to Europe.

CLUN VALLEY FILLING STATION – Sarah Stockinger will be the speaker at the meeting of Clun Valley Filling Station tomorrow at Newcastle Community Centre. Sarah is operations director of the Filling Station Network and is an ordained minister and gifted teacher who loves sharing the relevance of the Bible to 21st century lives. She will talk about Faith for Every Day. Everyone welcome. Refreshments at 7.15pm. Talk begins at 7.30pm. For more information call Brian Angell 01588 640029 or email clunvalleyfs@gmail.com.

SLEEPOVER WEEKEND – During recent years Clun Methodist Chapel sleepovers for young people have focused on care for the homeless, Wateraid, Air Ambulance and leprosy. This weekend, the sleepover is focusing on assistance animals – dogs for the blind, hard of hearing, emergency rescue and even cancer detection. On Saturday morning there will be a street collection in the Square and High Street for Dogs for the Blind. At 6pm on Saturday when Meredith Vivian and his guide dog, Victor, will share their experiences. Young people will create cardboard kennels in which to sleep over. The Sunday morning service at 10am will continue the assistance animal theme and will be led by Rev Pauline Long and Meredith Vivian. Please contact Ruth Forshaw 01588 640152 or Elisabeth Newman 01588 640776 if you are interested.

FLICKS IN THE STICKS – The Baker (12A) is showing at Clun Memorial Hall on Saturday, at 7.30pm. Tickets on the door: adult £4.50, under 16 £2.50. Disabled facilities, refreshments. Enquiries 01588 640254 email dilysthorpe@clun.org.uk.

GOOD NEIGHBOURS – Nicola Hawes from Wace Morgan Solicitors will talk about care funding and how we can help ensure our wishes are met in later life at the Clun Good Neighbours AGM on Monday, in Clun Methodist church rooms. Nicola is a really thought provoking and entertaining speaker with lots of helpful advice, well worth hearing. There will be coffee and biscuits and good company from 7.15pm.

CLUN YOUNG FARMERS – New members evening at Newcastle Community Centre Tuesday 8pm. Call Natalie 07815 597674 or Tom 07786 487248. All welcome.

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

CLUN RAMBLERS – Clun Ramblers’ next walk is on Wednesday, meeting at Clun Memorial Hall car park at 9.30am. Sorry no dogs.

SHROPSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST – The Geology of the Shropshire Hills is the subject of a talk by Frank Hay at the Shropshire Wildlife Trust meeting on Wednesday at Hightown Community Room, Clun, starting at 7.30pm. £2 members, £3 non members. All welcome. Clun news contact Elisabeth Taylor email: elisabeth777@btinternet.com 01981 540893. Deadline is the Wednesday of the week before publication. 

 

Cleeton St Mary and Silvington

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

 

Stoke Bliss and Kyre

QUIZ NIGHT AND SUPPER: At Stoke Bliss and Kyre village hall, Saturday, 7pm for 7.30pm. Veggie option, raffle and bring your own drink, £8. Come as a team, or be sorted on arrival. Contact Jan Kelly on 01885 410588, or Jan Powell on 01885 410598.

 

The Strettons

GUIDE DOG WEEK: As part of guide dog week there will be displays and information set up in the Market Square from 10am-3pm today, and tomorrow, at Cyril Bason’s Store in Craven Arms also from 10am-3pm.

LIBRARY EVENTS: Head to the library, if you wish to research your family or local history, today with facilities available 1pm-4pm and every Thursday. Volunteers will be on hand to guide if needed.

SMALLHOLDERS: Shropshire Smallholders meeting takes place at Leebotwood village hall tonight, at 7.30pm when guests and visitors will be welcome as usual. The talk, by Ally Anderson and Emily Denton, will be about good husbandry to keep animals in tip top condition. The usual members’ exchange and sales tables will be set up. At the last meeting two new members were welcomed. The smallholders recently had a chance to see a demonstration of the Siromer Compact tractor and small scale mowing and baling kit arranged by the Stiperstones and Corndon Hill Landscape Partnership.

LIBRARY EVENTS: Tomorrow there will be a Volunteer Outreach Session offering advice for organisations with volunteers and for people wishing to volunteer locally. The session runs from 10am-12 noon. On Tuesday, Rhymetimes continue from 10.30am-11am for children under three when they can enjoy songs, rhymes and puppets. These sessions are available every Tuesday. On Wednesday there is a chance to meet the author Mike Uden at 7pm. Tickets £3 and include refreshments.

FRIDAY MARKET: At Mayfair Community Centre will be open each week up until Christmas, 8.30am-12 noon. Home-made cakes, produce and craft items.

CONCERT: Tomorrow, at the URC, 7.30pm, will raise funds for Self Help Africa with a retiring collection taken.

MUSIC NIGHTS: Friday Night at the Horne tomorrow welcomes back The Roving Crows to the Silvester Horne Institute at 7.30pm. Tickets £10 in advance are being sold through Burway Books, John Thomas Florists and town council offices. Admission at the door £11 if space permits. Saturday night offers dancing to the Little Big Band playing swing and golden oldies. Tickets through John Thomas Florists and Burway Books, also at the door and cost £8 adults, £4 youngsters, under 12s free, and include light refreshment. Proceeds of the event will go to Pazapa.

DRUMMING WORKSHOPS: A day of Taiko drumming for all ages is taking place on Saturday. There will be four sessions during the day starting with one for parents and toddlers at 10am, followed by one for parents and children over six years. The afternoon sessions start at 1pm for beginners, mixed teens aged 13 and over and adults, and the final class of the day starts at 3pm and will be a more challenging session for adults aged 16 and over, ambitious beginners and the more experienced. There will be Japanese refreshments and raffles with a Japanese theme. Book in by ringing 07849 523130.

JUMBLE SALE: A jumble sale in aid of Rose Cottage Cat Rescue takes place at the parish centre on Saturday from 2pm-3.30pm selling nearly new, bric-a- brac, toys and books. Donations of goods for the sale may be left at the centre from 9.30am-12 noon on the day of the sale. Admission is 50p including refreshment.

SSIF: A meeting of Interfaith Women will take place at Craven Arms on Saturday from 2pm-4pm at the Pilgrim Centre and will be a Jewish Festival Celebration. Non-members welcome. Donations invited.

WORKSHOP: A Chi Running workshop is on offer on Saturday which can reduce the risk of pain and injury providing more enjoyment and less effort for runners. Book in on www.freedomtorun.co.uk.

QUIZ NIGHTS: A quiz night at the District Social Club on Saturday has Ken Willis as question master. The quiz starts at 7.45pm and costs £3 to enter. Proceeds will benefit Church Stretton Care Support. On October 18, there will be a quiz night for Sandford Residents Comfort Fund at the same venue, at 7.15pm for 7.30pm with entry fee £4.

PITSTOP: St Laurence’s Church hosts another Pitstop event at the parish centre on Sunday from 3pm-5pm, which includes games, crafts, songs and a meal, and will be a harvest special. Full information is available by ringing 01694 722588.

CANCER CARE: The meeting on Monday for Stretton and Shropshire Cancer Care members takes place at Mayfair Community Centre. A speaker from Shropshire and Mid Wales Cancer Forum will be speaking about prostate cancer and the importance of early diagnosis.

The summer garden party should have been held in Jane Potts’ garden, but due to the uncertainty of the weather everyone retired indoors to All Stretton village hall. Around 30 people attended and Lesley McIntyre kindly arranged some last-minute entertainment. Talking of gardens, the November talk will be by the county organiser for the National Garden Scheme on November 10.

AGMs : Annual general meeting of the Festival Committee takes place at the Silvester Horne Institute, 7.30pm, on Monday and on Wednesday, the Royal British Legion holds its annual general meeting and annual lunch at All Stretton village hall.

CRAFTS: The Wives and Friends group’s meeting at the Methodist Hall on Tuesday at 7.30pm, will be a practical evening of crafts at which visitors would be most welcome. Admission for non-members is £3. Mondays at Rushbury village hall will be coffee and craft days from 10am- 4pm. To take part in coffee and crafts costs £2.50 or just to have coffee is 50p. All are welcome. There is a free crèche for pre-school children.

CANCER RESEARCH: Congratulations to Elaine at the Post Office for completing the Lake Vyrnwy half marathon and thanks to all who supported her efforts raising £800 for Cancer Research UK.

SSIF: South Shropshire Interfaith Forum (SSIF) held its annual general meeting recently introduced by the chairman, Imam Sohayb Peerbhai who welcomed everyone. The treasurer stated that an increase in membership had helped to keep pace with expenditure through the year and a grant from Wesley’s Café at the Ludlow Methodist Church supported the set-up of the meetings specifically for the women. Membership stood at 43 and it was hoped that this could be increased.

The secretary’s report made mention of the monthly Round Table discussions, the pilgrimage to the monastery, the RE in Schools event and the Eid Celebration for women and children. All were thanked for their work during the year.

It was hoped that more members would come forward to assist in the work of the Forum. The business of the meeting was then followed by a talk led by Wahida Saffi. She and her colleague had travelled from Bradford to speak at the meeting on the subject of ‘How can we make our Interfaith Community work together well?’ Both ladies have vast experience of working in Interfaith communities and put forward many ideas.

They felt that although older people had the wisdom, it was important to encourage young people to take up some of the ideas in order for them to reach a better understanding of the Interfaith community.

Questions from the floor were taken and a vote of thanks given. The next get-together will be a ladies interfaith meeting on Saturday, from 2pm-4pm at the Pilgrim Centre, and will be a Jewish festival. All welcome.

SCHOOL NEWS: The under 11 boys’ football team at St Lawrence won through the first round of the six-a- side league cup and now go on to the final stages of the competition. The new play area is proving a great success with the children with more playground improvements planned, and the Friends of the School will be providing the barbecue at the town’s bonfire on November 1, in an effort to raise funds. KS1 pupils will be at the church on Wednesday at 9.45am for harvest celebrations.

Classes five and six will set off for an autumn walk in Rectory Wood and classes eight and nine will visit the Longmynd Adventure Camp.

Church Stretton School PTA will again be running the 200 club and making further preparations for the craft fair on November 15. Students enjoyed the sponsored walk particularly as the weather was so good. The year seven review has been held and the open evening and open mornings went well. School reported excellent attendance for September.

YOGA: Lots of choice for yoga classes – on Tuesdays at 1.30pm at the Silvester Horne Institute, ring 01588 630223, Tuesdays at 7pm and Thursdays at 6pm with Jane Hider in All Stretton, ring 01694 723468, and Thursdays at Leebotwood village hall from 10.30am-12 noon, ring 724317.

SINGING FOR FUN: The first and third Thursdays of the month are Singing for Fun at Church Stretton School from 7pm-9pm. Just turn up. Entrance is £5. Thursday, October 16, is the next date. All welcome. Ring 07538 019817 to find out more.

CHOIR: Craven Arms Men’s Chorus will be in concert at Church Stretton School on November 8, at 7.30pm.