Bayton

JUMBLE SALE - A jumble sale is being held on Saturday at 2.30pm. Homemade cakes will again be on offer. The usual quality items for sale include clothes, bedding, curtains and bric-a-brac. The money raised will be given to Bayton Church Restoration Funds. The church needs extensive work to the roof and interior so please come and support this good cause. Details Sue Burrows 01299 832722.

 

Bishops Castle

MOTHERS’ UNION - At their March meeting, Bishop’s Castle Mothers’ Union members enjoyed hearing the life story of Deborah Wills. Her parents hailed from Antigua in the West Indies but she was born and grew up in London. She told us of her search for the meaning of life and spirituality and her experiences in photography, documentary filming and newspapers which, on her move to Wales, enabled her to take up a job with the local Methodist Circuit as media officer and lay pastoral worker. At a recent soup lunch in Bishops Castle Methodist Hall, members were pleased to raise £217 towards Christian Aid funds. The group also joined Bucknell Mothers’ Union for the annual Lady Day service and tea.

BISHOPS CASTLE RAILWAY SOCIETY - Following the AGM of The Bishops Castle Railway Society, officers were re-elected to their existing posts, with the exception of the treasurer, Mrs Judy Freemen who wished to stand down on the appointment of a new treasurer. The other change, following the death of the president, Col R Savill, Mr Keith Lucas, archivist and records officer was elected society president.

The society meetings normally take place on the first Friday of the month, but because of Good Friday and Easter weekend, the first meeting in April is tomorrow at the Methodist Church Hall in Bishops Castle, commencing at 7.30pm. The speaker is the society chairman, John Rimmer with More of my Photos. The last meeting of this winter/spring term will be on May 1, again at the Methodist Church Hall starting at 7.30pm when the speaker will be Andrew Charman. His talk is entitled – Welshpool and Llanfair update. Throughout the summer months, the museum will be open at the weekend and bank holidays Mondays from 2pm-5pm.

CAR TREASURE HUNT - Saturday at Lydbury North PCC - charity fundraiser Car treasure hunt within Ridgeway Benefice. Staggered start from Lydbury North Village Hall, commencing 4pm onwards (until approx 5pm); finish Powis Arms (latest 6.30-7pm) with participation activities, also bar plus fast food and usual menu available (for purchase). Adults £4, children under 16 £2. Proceeds to St Michael and All Angels towards provision of amplification and hearing loop system, also to Oxfam for ‘Strength to Survive’ campaign (Oxfam share will be match funded by DFID). Early pre-booking with Mike Nutt, email: thenutts25@ yahoo.co.uk, or text/phone 07757 537979 would be much appreciated (but not essential). Offers of “treasure” and volunteers to assist with activities would be welcomed.

BISHOPS CASTLE DIARY DATES April 9-15 THURSDAY: Election hustings. Three Tuns, Bishop’s Castle. 7.30pm.

  • Poets' Corner. Castle Hotel, Bishop's Castle. 8pm. 01588 620541 to book meal 7pm.
  • Nuclear Weasels live. Vaults, Bishop's Castle.
  • Footpath Walking Group. Berriew. Eight miles. Meet Harley Jenkins St car park, Bishop's Castle. 9.30am. 01938 555950.
  • Norbury and Dist. WI. Hula Hooping -Ruby Jarrett. Norbury Village Hall. 7.30pm. 01588 650671.

FRIDAY: Multi sports day for ages six- 10. Teme SpArC, Bishop’s Castle. £10. 10am-3pm. 01588 630243.

  • Travatori. Musical duo. Bishop's Castle Town Hall. £8/£10 door. 8pm. 01588 630023/online.

SATURDAY: Auction. Bishop’s Castle Public Hall. 8.30am. Bids 10am. 01743 233629/07974 118467.

  • Flying Toads concert and ceilidh. Three Tuns. Concert £7, ceilidh £8; both £12. 01588 638159.
  • Spuds n' Puds. Goodbye event Norbury Village Hall 5pm-9pm. 01588 650589.
  • Charity car treasure hunt. From Lydbury North. £4/£2. 07757 537979.
  • M & J Travel day trip to Llandudno. 01588 640273.

SUNDAY: Giardino Quartet. Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ . Lydham Church 3pm. 01588 650443.

MONDAY: Bishop’s Castle Credit Union. Church Barn. 10am-noon.

TUESDAY: Mainstone WI. 40 Years On –David and Janet Preshous. Mainstone Village Hall. 7.30pm.

  • Footpath Walking Group. Bury Ditches. Four-six miles. Meet Harley Jenkins St car park, Bishop's Castle. 9.30am. 01588 638119.

WEDNESDAY: Bishop’s Castle Film Society. The Double (15). Three Tuns. £5. 8pm. 01588 680445.

  • Cash bingo for charity. Bishop's Castle Public Hall. 8pm.
  • Onny Valley Social Club. Outing to Liverpool. 07530 687497.

 

Clun

NEWCASTLE GARDEN SOCIETY - The next meeting is tonight at 7.30pm at Newcastle Community Centre.

FLICKS IN THE STICKS - Mr Turner (12A) is showing on Saturday at Clun Memorial Hall. Tickets, adult: £4.50 child: £2.50, 7.30pm. Running time 150minutes. Enquiries 01588 640254.

CLUN RAMBLERS - Clun Ramblers next walk is on Wednesday. Meet at Clun Memorial Hall car park at 9.30am. Sorry no dogs.

ARTS ALIVE - Monument to The Great Dictator is an unusual event from Arts Alive, part live show, part documentary and part screening of Charlie Chaplin’s 1940 anti-war film, The Great Dictator (PG), with live music. A winning combination! Monument is at Clun Memorial Hall on April 18.

On March 18,1941, the National Picture Theatre cinema in Hull was bombed. Every one of the 150 people in attendance, gathered for a screening of The Great Dictator , survived – no fatalities. To commemorate this event, performance company The Kings of England worked with young people in Hull to create Monument , a short black and white movie, filmed on 16mm reel and accompanied by live commentary and music. To complete a great night out for Chaplin fans of all ages, this short film is followed by a screening of The Great Dictator. Controversial at a time when America had not yet entered the Second World War, the film lampooned the Nazis and their anti-Semitic policies. Later, when the full horror of the holocaust became clear, Chaplin said had he known, he would not have made the same film, although it still remains a powerful statement against war. Monument has showed at prestigious venues including Hull Truck Theatre and now comes to Clun, where the Memorial hall is well-equipped for high-quality film and live events: the perfect local venue! 7.30pm. Enquiries and tickets 01588 640254; online bookings artsalive.co.uk.

CHALLENGE IN CLUN VALLEY - Bookings are now being taken for the 13th Clun Valley Challenge Walk on May 16. This annual event often known affectionately by regulars as the ‘gourmet walk’ attracts up to three hundred walkers every year from across the Midlands and beyond and passes through spectacular Shropshire landscapes. During the past twelve years it has grown into a great challenge event raising thousands of pounds for local children and attracting hundreds of walkers and runners of all ages. The walk starts and finishes at St George’s C of E Primary School, Clun. Entrants who must be over 14 can choose either the 26 or 16 mile route, both with some challenging Shropshire Hills (approximately 4300 feet of ascent). Three manned checkpoints on the long route serving home cooked refreshments and cakes and the walk culminates with a well-deserved hearty and nutritious lunch. The scenery is spectacular and the route consists of tracks, bridleways, footpaths and a minimal amount of quiet road walking/running. Expect delicious treats and spectacular views throughout.

“We often have a mix of work groups, charity groups, couples and individual walkers and runners participating and people come from as far as Somerset, London and Yorkshire” said Liz Marpole Treasurer. Ross Weston a walk regular from Wrekin Road Runners describes this as a “Superb event. One of my top five trail marathons. Cake, soup, hot dogs, cake, sandwiches, crisps, and more cake ... and that’s just en-route.

There is a gourmet salad spread at the finish to boot. It’s a tough route that takes you along sections of Offa’s Dyke, the Shropshire Way, and through the Bury Ditches Hillfort.”

Clun Valley Walk raises funds for children at St Georges School in Clun. Last year it raised £4,000.

Money raised has been spent on equipment like IT equipment, outdoor classroom, cameras as well as funding a variety of specialist visitors, school visits parties and other activities within the school. Food and refreshments on the walk all home cooked and provided by donations from parents and co-ordinated by Lucy Clark and include tea, coffee, squash, fruit at the start, coffee, tea, cold drinks and cake at checkpoint one, soup, hot dogs and sandwiches for lunch at check point two, drinks and cakes at checkpoint three (for the long distance walkers) and full buffet at the end of the walk with cold meats, salads and baked potatoes from mid-day onwards up to 6pm.

Vegetarians, wheat and Gluten free catered for. People coming from further afield can make a weekend of it with all the great local places to stay and visit including a range of real ale pubs, independent and specialist local shops in Clun and nearby Bishops Castle. People entering must have a map and a basic ability to map read to be able to do the walk and pre booking is essential. Full details and online entry now open on clunvalleychallenge.com. Further information contact Carole Booker Walk Co-ordinator, carole.booker@ gmail.com, 01588 68023.

GOOD FRIENDS TEA PARTY – Book a stall at Clun Valley Good Friends garden tea party this May at Purslow Hall, by kind permission of Annabel Morris. The tea party will be on May 17, from 2.30pm-5pm and will be a fundraiser for Good Friends. To book a stall phone 01588 640477.

CORRESPONDENT – Elisabeth Taylor, et@myphone.coop 01981 540893. Deadline is the Wednesday of the week before publication.

 

Stoke Bliss and Kyre

QUIZ NIGHT AND SUPPER – At Stoke Bliss and Kyre Village Hall, a quiz night and supper. April 17, 7pm for 7.30pm. £8 per person. Veggie option. Bar and raffle. Come in team of four or be sorted on the night. Contact Jan Kelly on 01885 410588 or Jan Powell on 01885 410598. All proceeds to village hall funds.

 

Tenbury

KNIGHTON FRIENDS – Is a ladies afternoon club. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month. We go for meals, garden visits, train rides, boat trips, etc. Further details contact Sheila on 01584 781190.

KNIGHTON ON TEME PARISH ROOM AGM – April 22, 8pm in the Parish Room. All are welcome to come along. For further information please contact Jane Hogan chairman on 01584 781230 or Tracy Barnes secretary on 01584 781220.

PLAY TENNIS – Tenbury Tennis Club on the Burgage. Club sessions: Wednesdays 5.30pm-8.30pm, Sundays 10am-1pm. Coaching for juniors: Saturdays 9am-11am, registered LTA coach. Members are allowed to play on the courts free-of- charge weekdays. All are welcome – all playing standards. Details from Sue Salmon 01584 811407 or tentenclub.org.uk.

TEME VALLEY WILDLIFE GROUP – The next meeting of the group is today, when members welcome Roger Maskew talking on The Flora of Worcestershire. The meeting is at Rochford Village Hall, 7.30pm, £2 on the door, everybody is welcome.

TEME VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY – The April meeting of the society will be on April 28 at Abberley Village Hall, when David Berry will be speaking on military mistakes. All are welcome.

 

The Strettons

FRIDAY MARKET – At Mayfair Community Centre, open each week 8.30am-noon selling home-made cakes, produce and craft items.

CRAFTY KIDS – Crafty Kids workshops held at Scrappies every Saturday 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm. £3.50 per session or £2 for members. Booking essential so call in to enquire. Scrappies collects sweet biscuit wrappers, used pens including highlighters and felt tips, baby wipes packets, used ink cartridges, wearable jumble, mobile phones, laptops and tools for Self Reliance. Craft sessions also available at the library for all ages Saturday 2.30pm-3.30pm, £2 per child.

COFFEE AND CHAT – A chance to chat over a cup of coffee is available at the Methodist Hall Saturday 10am- noon. The Methodist Church is open for quiet reflection and prayers for those who wish.

EXHIBITION – A model railway exhibition will be held at Church Stretton School on Saturday from 10am-4pm. Entry costs £3 for adults, £2.50 for concessions and £1 for children. Refreshments will be available.

RAMBLERS – The South Shropshire Ramblers plan a 13 mile walk from Ludlow Railway Station to Leominster on Sunday starting at 9.30am and led by John and Jayne Grant, 01584 873094 for more.

CANCER CARE – Stretton and Shropshire Cancer Care Group will meet at 2.30pm in Mayfair Community Centre Monday for a talk by Professor Frank Hay on Cancer Immunology, a subject which is now entering clinical trials on how the immune system protects against cancer and recent exciting developments in immunotherapy, and will look at how these therapies act against tumours.

COMMUNITY CINEMA – Mr Turner (12A) will be screened at Church Stretton School Monday and again at All Stretton Village Hall on April 17.

The Imitation Game (12A) will be shown at Acton Scott Village Hall Tuesday. Films start 7.30pm, refreshment available.

LIBRARY EVENTS – Tuesday there is a session of fun, songs and rhymes for children under three years 10am- 11am, and 11am-noon. It is Booktime for Adults with a theme of The Elements this month. On Thursday afternoons there is a chance to research local and family history from 1pm-4pm with free internet access to ancestry.

WIVES AND FRIENDS - This month’s talk is about the work of the Air Ambulance and will take place at the Methodist hall on Tuesday at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome, admission is £3 and includes refreshment.

GREEN PARTY – The Green Party candidates will be live on air at BBC Radio Shropshire on Tuesday from 6.15pm-6.55pm and will attend the Hustings in Church Stretton at the Methodist Church at 7.30pm-9.30pm next Thursday. Doors open at 7pm and all welcome.

MAYFAIR EVENTS – The poetry café meeting at 2.15pm in Mayfair Community Centre on Wednesday is a drop in poetry reading event and the theme on this occasion is 1930s poets. At 7.30pm on the same day, Ann Muir will speak about a journey from Ancient Persia to Modern Iran. Tickets for this event £4 and include tea and coffee. Doors open 7pm.

NETWORK – The Network Group has invited Zulfi Bandali to give a talk on Eyes to See 2.30pm in the Methodist Hall, Wednesday. All welcome.

CAMERA CLUB – The Longmynd Camera Club holds its AGM Wednesday, 7.30pm in the URC Hall. The final meeting for the spring sessions will be on April 29, and will be a competition evening with an Open subject. Visitors always welcome.

TREE GROUP – Gary Cowell will be the speaker at the Tree Group meeting on Wednesday in the Methodist Hall starting at 7.30pm. Gary will speak about the Knighton Tree Allotment Trust and explain how it was set up and managed as a community woodland for the benefit of wildlife and local people who can share and learn skills and provide access to affordable wood projects. Admission for non-members is £3. The Tree Group is planning a visit to the woodland project in May. For more information call 01694 723208.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE – The second in a series of three National Theatre events held at Church Stretton School will be next Thursday. On this occasion there is the opportunity of a pre-theatre dining experience with two course meal and wine served at 5pm before the play at 7pm. Ticket reservations for dining need to be pre-booked through the school as do tickets for the play. Telephone 01694 722209 for bookings. Subject to availability some tickets may be available at the door.

HALF MARATHON – Shayne from Kaboodle is planning to take part in the Hereford half-marathon on May 10, having already run in half marathons in Warwick and Wrexham to keep in practice. For the May event he is seeking sponsorship and donations to raise money to support the Nepalese teacher who educates the children in the Classrooms in the Clouds project in Nepal. This teacher whose name is Mani is at present on a teacher exchange programme in Scotland and will be visiting Shropshire in August. Anyone who would like to help Shayne with his fundraising should visit the shop and put a few coins in the box. Books are also welcomed which can be sold in the shop to add to the fundraising.

CRICKET – The cricket club is recruiting new members of all ages to play this season. Call 01743 872499 to find out more.

DANCE OVERTURE 2015 – Stretton School of Dance and Drama presented its Dance Overture 2015 over two nights at the end of March when the pupils showed off their talents with a variety of dance styles with music set around films and music of the Wonderful World of Disney. Big thanks those who bought tickets for the raffle and left donations in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and dedicated to Mark Wyatt who passed away in February. His son, Josh, is a graduate of SSDD and is now appearing in Matilda – The Musical in the West End.

AT THE HORNE – The next Friday Night at the Horne event will be April 17, when Bill Craddock will be entertaining. Tickets cost £8 from John Thomas Florists, Burway Books and the Town Council Offices. There will be a bar. Event starts 7.30pm in the Silvester Horne Institute.

FOLK DANCE – Next Folk dance April 18 at Ticklerton Village Hall.

SEVERN HOSPICE – Fundraising event for the Severn Hospice will take place at All Stretton Village Hall April 18, with live music by Whalebone and a promise auction. Refreshments available. Doors open 7pm. Tickets £10 and may be reserved by calling 01694 723378.