Bayton

CAROL SINGING - A big thank you to everyone who came carol singing and who made donations to the two charities for which we were collecting. A total of £1000 was collected for the Stroke Association and the Gaza Crisis Appeal, the money will be divided equally. We had between five and 25 people singing on different nights and altogether 53 people took part, including 22 children. We enjoyed fish and chips at The Colliers’ Farm Shop and Café on the Friday before Christmas and our thanks to them for making us so welcome. Our thanks, too, for the hospitality we received on different nights. If you have any comments to make or would like to suggest a charity for whom we may collect next year contact Sue Burrows 01299 832722.

 

Bishops Castle

LOCAL FUNDING OFFERED FOR ULTRASOUND - A new community ultrasound service based at Bishop’s Castle Community Hospital will be discussed by Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust. The Bishop’s Castle Community Hospital Equipment Fund has been told by Steve Gregory, director of nursing at the Shropshire Community Health Trust that the trust is prepared to talk to Shropshire Commissioning Group and Dr David Hinwood, consultant radiologist at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital about the establishment of a community ultrasound service in Bishop’s Castle. The equipment fund has offered financial help with leasing or buying the mobile scanning unit. Neil Hird from the Bishop’s Castle Community Hospital Equipment Fund committee said, “This important diagnostic service would help meet the needs of the local community and bring a valuable medical service nearer to home.”

NEW MORRIS DANCERS STEP THIS WAY - The Shropshire Bedlams and Martha Rhoden’s Tuppenny Dish morris dancers want to encourage more people to join them and discover the delights of Border Morris for themselves. Formed over 40 years ago, the dancers have organised a free taster session for anyone over the age of 12. It will be on Tuesday in the Three Tuns, Bishop’s Castle and girls and ladies are asked to bring some large handkerchiefs to wave as they dance. Stout sticks will be provided for the men and boys! The introductory evening runs from 8pm to 10pm and to find out more look on www.shropshirebedlams.co.uk. The dancers morris were out on Boxing Day at the Three Tuns in Bishop’s Castle and collected £262 for the Midlands Air Ambulance. Veteran morris man John Kirkpatrick thanked everyone who turned out to encourage them and give donations.

HULA HOOP NIGHT - Friday night is hula hoop night in Bishop’s Castle’s Church Barn every week 8pm-9pm. Anyone over the age of 13 can enjoy an hour of hula hoop exercise and dance with hoops provided. You can also buy your own when the hula bug bites. Each session costs £4, to find out more call Ruby 07866 513431. Ruby also runs classes in Craven Arms, Church Stretton and Ludlow.

TAHIRA’S FOLK MAGIC - Artist Tahira Paul has an exhibition at Bishop’s Castle Town Hall which runs until February 7. Flowers Fairies and Landscapes reflects her love for nature, gardening and the folk magic of the Shropshire hills. Tahira has lived and worked in South Shropshire for 30 years and has a remote cottage on Offa’s Dyke with panoramic views of the Clun Hills. She studied Fine Art in London and Stourbridge Art College in the early 1980s and is part of the Red Lake Artists Group at Chapel Lawn. Call 01588 630023 for more information.

TOWN HALL WINTER HOURS - Winter opening hours for Bishop’s Castle Town Hall: Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10.30am-3pm. Half term February 16-21, 10.30am-4pm for Bishop’s Castle Arts Festival.

BIGGER PRIZES - Prizes in the Lydham Church 100 Club were 50% larger for the December draw, with Janice Silvano winning £35.25. Rev Norman Morris won £21.25 and Dorothy Lavender won £14.10. If you would like to join the club and support Lydham Church funds, call Jimmy Garnier on 01588 638648.

BISHOPS CASTLE DIARY January 15-21.

THURSDAY: Film. Magic in the Moonlight (12A). SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle. £4.50/£3. 7pm. Call 01588 630321/638038.

FRIDAY: Nominations close 4pm for two Bishop’s Castle Town councillors.

  • Quiz in aid of Lydham defibrillator. Lydham village hall. 7.30pm. Call 01588 630664.

SATURDAY: Farmers’ market. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall. 10am. Call 01588 630023.

MONDAY: Bishop’s Castle and District Carers Group. Coffee and chat. Boars Head, Bishop’s Castle. 2-4pm. Call 01694 722024.

  • Painting with Watercolours – Sue Percy. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall. £5. Monthly. 6pm. Call 01588 630023.

TUESDAY: Taster session. Shropshire Bedlams and Martha Rhoden’s Tuppenny Dish morris dancers. Three Tuns, Bishop’s Castle. Free. 8pm.

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

  • Mothers Union. AGM and Eucharist. Church Barn, Bishop’s Castle. 2pm.
  • Needlefelt craft workshop-Ruth Packham. £50. The Gallery, Bishops Castle. 10am-4pm. 01588 630555.

News or event: hand to Julia Parker over the counter at Bishops Castle Post Office. Her phone number is 01588 680445, email address is jparker228@btinternet.com.

 

Clun

FAMILY CYCLING DAY IN CLUN - This summer sees a new cycling sportive and day of bike themed fun on June 28, in Clun. This inaugural ‘Tour de Arts Alive’ event, a partnership between the charities Arts Alive and Flicks in the Sticks, and professional bike tour company Rideventures will raise funds for Arts Alive and Flicks in the Sticks to continue to bring professional live performances, big screen films and live satellite screenings to communities all over Shropshire and Herefordshire.

The Tour de Arts Alive will combine a cycling sportive with a day of bike themed family fun, so whether you are a Wannabe Wiggo, more of a part time pedaller, or don’t even own a bike, there will be something for you to enjoy at this family-friendly event for all ages. Arts Alive director Sian Kerry says: “We wanted to respond creatively and energetically to the need to generate more income, so we thought about tapping into the fantastic resource of our wonderful local landscape, as well as the growth in national interest in cycling, and building a day of creative family fun around that...and the Tour de Arts Alive is the result!”

Everything will start at Clun Memorial Hall, which will be the HQ for family activities from midday. There will be free hands-on making workshops for kids, street theatre, live music, and general bike-related arty fun. More activities and performers will be added to the programme over the next few months. There are also lovely circular walks marked from the hall, ducks to feed on the river, and a castle to explore.

For participating cyclists, The Clun Sportive will be clearly signed through the beautiful South Shropshire landscape. There is a choice of two routes, both measured in kilometres; ‘The Clun 100’ for the dedicated cyclist who likes a challenge, and ‘The Clun 50’, a shorter route with less climbing. En route there will be cake stops at village halls for refuelling, and when you return to Clun there will be hot food on sale from local vendors. There will also be handmade unique medals for all participants, a team prize and other spot prizes for those that complete the course, making this the ideal cycling event to enter with work colleagues or as a family group.

Entry fee £20 per cyclist (includes homemade cakes), all family events are free. Entry via https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/ details/123915/The-Clun-Sportive. For more information visit www.artsalive.co.uk Tweet updates on @ TourdeArtsAlive and @RideVentures.

FUNDS RAISED - Charity bookstalls in Clun raised £1,664 for various charities, including Hope House Children’s Hospice, Clun churches and Action for Children, during 2014. David and Pam Pittwood will be organizing all the usual outings of the bookstall – Green Man and Open Gardens weekends, the Methodist Church Autumn Fair and some smaller events, and they will be organizing a big, big book sale – with plants too – on August Bank Holiday Monday.

PROMISE AUCTION SUCCESS - Rachael Lewis is very grateful to everyone for generously supporting her promise auction to raise funds for her trip to Thailand. The auction raised £3,320. The Action for Children mince pie and coffee morning in December raised £506. Rosie Ramsay thanks everyone who helped and supported the event.

CLUN RAMBLERS - Next walk is Wednesday, led by Christine and Anthony. Meet at Clun Memorial Hall car park 9.30am. Sorry no dogs.

WILDLIFE TRUST - Local expert ornithologist and contributor to Birds in Shropshire , John Tucker will be talking about The History of Ornithology in Shropshire, Wednesday at the Shropshire Wildlife Trust meeting in Hightown Community Room, Clun. His talk will cover 500 years of birds with fascinating extracts from writers over the years, showing how or if birds have changed. 7.30pm, open to all. Members £2, non members £3.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE - The National Theatre version of Treasure Island is showing by live satellite link at Aston on Clun Village Hall next Thursday, January 22. This winter, Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of murder, money and mutiny is brought to life on the Olivier stage in a thrilling new adaptation by Bryony Lavery. Doors open 6.30pm. Performance starts at 7pm. Tickets £10, £6 for under 18s. More information from David Jones 01588 660493 or Jeff Else 01588 660893.

CLUN CARNIVAL AND SHOW - This year’s carnival and show is August 1. Schedules and entry forms available from Davies Newsagents and Bright Flowers in Clun. Full details of all photographic classes are in the official schedule.

COURSES WITH BOBBY BRITNELL - Local artist, Bobby Britnell is running a series of taster sessions which offer opportunities for learning about design and mixed media techniques on paper and fabric, starting with as session on January 30, with Papermaking Techniques. “Making your own hand- made paper can be lots of fun and is certainly a very satisfying craft. The papers can be used for all kinds of projects such as book making and collage work. Hand-made papers can be drawn on to, cut up, stitched into and made into greetings cards. The possibilities are endless and by experimenting you will make many new discoveries.” Other sessions include February 27: Collage and Mixed Media; March 27: Relief Printing; April 24: Mixed Media Books; May 29: Mixed Media Drawings. £50 for one or £200 for five payable in advance. For full details of these and other courses by visiting artists go to www.bobbybritnell.co.uk. To book, or for more information contact Bobby Britnell, Moor Hall Farmhouse, Bettws-y-crwyn, Newcastle on Clun, Shropshire, SY7 8PH bobby@bobbybritnell.co.uk 01547 510664.

Any news or events, contact Elisabeth Taylor, email: elisabeth777@btinternet.com 01981 540893. Deadline is the Wednesday of the week before publication.

 

Ludlow

MEETING - Ludlow Garden Club will hold the first meeting of 2015 on Wednesday, when Alun and Jill Whitehead will talk about ‘Irises, Some History, Some People, Some Plants’. Meetings are held in St Peter’s Parish Centre, Henley Road, Ludlow SY8 1QZ starting at 7.30pm. Visitors are always welcome - £3.

 

Tenbury

EASTHAM GARDEN CLUB - Mr R Umpelby B Sc will talk on ‘Friends and Foes in the Garden’ at Eastham Memorial Hall on Tuesday at 7pm. All are welcome, come and join us.

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY - Tenbury Library. If you are interested in helping us deliver computer training in Tenbury Library in a one-to-one capacity, please leave your name and contact number at Tenbury Library and we will be in touch.

TENBURY WELLS CARERS’ GROUP - Meet 2nd Tuesday of each month, 1.30pm-3.30pm, Tenbury Wells Library, 24 Teme St, WR15 8AA.

TENBURY MUSIC FESTIVAL - Present Valentines Night with Obscure at Brimfield Sports and Social Club. February 14, 7.30pm- midnight. Tickets £6, from The Little Fish Shop, 07951 449658. Visit: www.tenburymusicfestival.co.uk, Facebook and Twitter. Proceeds to local charities.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION - The next meeting of the Tenbury Wells Branch will be held at the first floor of the Royal Oak on Wednesday at 8pm.

CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST - Lodge of St Michael, February 1, 9am for 9.30am. Book in with: Charles Morris femorris@sky.com or 01905 48032. Barry Gutheridge lizandbarry.eastham@btopenworld.com or 01584 781365. Phil Gibbs 01584 811011. Raffle prizes please.

 

The Strettons

SATURDAY BREAKFASTS - Mayfair fundraisers are again offering to serve breakfasts on Saturday mornings from 9.30am-11.30am for the next couple of months.

CRAFT CLUB - Scrappies will be running Saturday Craft Clubs from 10am-12 noon for youngsters of five years and over. These are drop-in sessions and cost £3 to become members and 50p per session. Ring 01694 722511 to find out more.

GETTING ON - Dorrington Players are hosting an evening at All Stretton village hall on Saturday being a reading of Alan Bennett’s play Getting On. Home-made pie and peas supper is included in the £8 tickets which are being sold through Burway Books and John Thomas Florists. Wine and juice available from the bar. Evening starts 7.30pm and proceeds go to the Midlands Air Ambulance.

SUNDAY LUNCH - Sunday is the day when Sunday lunch may be a little different from normal, if this appeals to you buy your £15 ticket from Jaipur where the meal will be served, or the Hope House Shop, or 01694 722020. Event arranged through Round Table and Hope House.

CHURCH EVENT - St Laurence’s Church has arranged for Bishop Alistair Magowan to be ‘grilled’ at the Buck’s Head on Monday from 7.30pm as he will be on hand to answer all of your questions.

ENGAGING ISSUES - The next talk will take place on Tuesday at the URC when the talk will be led by Dr Stuart Wilks-Heeg, senior lecturer in social policy at the University of Liverpool. He has headed the talk “It’s democracy, Clem, but not as we knew it” and in his talk he will ask if the UK has become more, or less, democratic since the 1940s. Meetings start 7.30pm, entry £3.

CAMERA CLUB - The next meeting of Longmynd Camera Club is Wednesday, 7.30pm in the URC Hall and will be a competition evening. The subject of this third competition of the series is ‘On the Farm’ and the judge will be Dave Johnston, EFIAP/p. Visitors are welcome at all of the club’s meetings. At the previous meeting, Jon and Sue Baker entertained members and visitors with a presentation of landscape photography. Not only did they display some pictures which had been digitally enhanced but there were also prints which showed how stunning images of mountains, water and clouds could be captured in early morning light which served to colourfully highlight these features within a largely monochrome setting. A vote of thanks was given.

QUIZ NIGHT - Scrappies will be hosting a quiz night at the District Social Club on January 24, starting at 7.30pm. Entry fee is £4 per person.

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY - This event will be commemorated at Church Stretton School during the day for the students and will include the lighting of a special candle. In the evening, the public is welcome to attend a further commemoration event at the Methodist Church starting at 7pm on January 27. The event has been arranged by the South Shropshire Interfaith Forum.

A NIGHT IN THE SNOW - A series of events based around the adventures of the Rev Carr in 1865 has been arranged and the first will be a minibus ride and walk, January 27, at 10am returning at about 1.30pm for a tea-room lunch if required. Next day, January 28, meet at 2pm, and on January 29, meet at 10am returning at 2.30pm. Final meeting will be a storytelling, 11am on January 30. Booking for any of the events is essential, call 01694 725006.