News and views from Bishop's Castle

11:44am Friday 31st October 2008

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SILVER ECO-AWARD FOR GUEST HOUSE Norman and Rosie Reid, who run the Old Brick Guesthouse in Bishop’s Castle have been received a Silver Award by the Green Tourism Business Scheme recognising their commitment to ecological and environmental practices. Now the couple are ‘Going for Gold’ to win the highest award of all. The Reids signed up with the scheme last year and after an initial inspection they were given a bronze grading - upgraded to silver this summer. “We had to meet a number of different criteria to get the award,” explains Mrs Reid. “Many of them we were already doing, but with a bit of thought we were able to make our business a lot more environmentally sound. We recycle as much as possible and send our bio-degradeable waste to the bio-digester. The Reids have owned the guesthouse for five years, returning to England after 30 years living in Canada. Looking to the future Mrs Reid adds: “We still have ambitions to market ourselves more as a green business and to encourage people to think about the environment when booking a holiday. There is still a lot to do but we have been very encouraged by our Silver award.”

The Green Tourism Scheme began in Scotland in 1997 and has worked with Shropshire Tourism and in Telford.

Call Mr & Mrs Reid on 01588 638471.

DAVE’S THE NAME The Household Energy Service (HES) has appointed Dave Luckhurst as energy officer for the Bishop's Castle area.

Adam Kennerley, chief executive for Light-Foot’s Household Energy Service said: “I am delighted to welcome Dave Luckhurst on board at HES. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field. All in all we have a fantastic team working at HES and that is our greatest strength.”

Dave Luckhurst, who lives in Brockton, near Bishop’s Castle is no newcomer to the world of energy advice. He set up and ran his own renewable energy business, Solar Dawn, for seven years before becoming an energy surveyor for the new UK energy certification scheme for homes. This scheme provides all houses on the market with a home information pack. Anybody in the area can apply for free household energy surveys, though donations are always welcome. To contact HES call 01588 638738 or email info@h-e-s.org and ask for Dave.

GET OUT THE LEG WARMERS The Friends of Bishop’s Castle Primary school are organising a fundraising 80s fancy dress disco on November 15 at the Three Tuns in Bishop’s Castle. 80s tunes will reign supreme from 8.30pm till late, so dig out those bat wing tops, leggings & luminous leg warmers... it's all for school funds after all.

PTA AUCTION RAISES £4,100 The promise auction at Lydham Village Hall on October 17 raised approximately £4,100, to be divided equally between County Air Ambul-ance and the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital. The evening was organised by Norbury School PTA. Organising committee member Sally-Anne Jones thanks everyone for the wonderful support.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY Remembrance Sunday in Bishop's Castle will be observed on November 9 with the usual parade to the War Memorial for the Act of Remembrance. The parade will leave the Town Hall at 10.45 am and the Act of Remembrance will take place at 11am, followed by the United Service of Remembrance led by the Rev Diana Hoare in St John’s Church.

TWO MINUTES SILENCE On November 11, members of the Bishop's Castle Branch of the Royal British Legion will observe the Two Minutes Silence at 11am at the War Memorial. Any members of the general public who wish to attend are very welcome.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE A new four-week personal development programme will start on November 14 at the Church Barn in Bishop’s Castle. It is aimed at parents, people with relationship difficulties, people struggling with their emotions, people with low confidence, self-esteem or depression and people looking for more self-awareness. Run by Angela Dunning a local specialist in equine facilitated learning, the programme is non-horse based but uses the lessons learned from these wise animals who are experts in relationships, emotional geniuses and who insist we are conscious in each moment thereby increasing our self-awareness. The course runs on Friday evenings from 6.30pm - 8.30pm, at a cost of £25 per week. For information call Angela on 01588 630365, or mobile 07855 240068. Email: angela@equinereflections.co. uk or visit equinereflect ions.co.uk STONE HOUSE NEWS Staff at Coverage Care, Stone House, held a Macmillan coffee morning and raised £180 for the cancer support charity. On November 5 they have a bingo session at 7.30pm and everyone is welcome to come along.

CHRISTMAS POSTER COMPETITION November 9 is the closing date for a competition to design a poster for Bishops Castle Christmas Lights Festival. An A4 size Christmas picture is needed to go on the publicity material for the festival and the competition is open to everyone under the age of 14. Please take your entry to Sue Willmer at 18 Market Square, Bishops Castle, and don’t forget to put your name, age and address on the back. There are some super prizes.