Bishop's Castle Solomon Islands to Hong Kong, 101 beards, new tourism group boss, exhibition, summer art show and more (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Bishop's Castle Solomon Islands to Hong Kong, 101 beards, new tourism group boss, exhibition, summer art show and more

8:00am Thursday 12th July 2012 in Bishop's Castle

SOLOMON ISLANDS TO HONG KONG Matthew Jones, the son of Maureen and David Jones of Bishop's Castle has been appointed to a new post in Hong Kong. For the past 14 years Matthew, a former student of the Community College has been head of studies and deputy principal at Kohimarama Theological College in the Solomon Islands. Four years of this time has been spent in New Zealand where he gained his PhD. In December Matthew, his wife Anna and their two children David aged six and three year old Edward will be moving to Hong Kong and the Ming Hua Theological College, where he will be director of academic programmes. 40 year old Matthew has always retained his links with Bishop's Castle and has made a number of visits through the years. His parents have also made the 24 long journey to see him in the Solomon Islands. They are delighted that their son and his family will be living a little nearer the UK and plan to visit Hong Kong next year –a flight of 10 hours , rather than the 24 hour journey to the Solomon Islands.

ONE HUNDRED AND ONE BEARDS Three Bishop's Castle men who have held on to their beards for a total of 101 years have had them shaved off to raise money for a prostate cancer charity. Following the success of the Grand Moustachio Competition at Bishop’s Castle carnival on July 1, the Six Bells in Church Street hosted a grand shave-off, carried out by local hairdresser Emma West. The three beard veterans were Simon Cooter who had a beard for 25 years, Mick Leadbetter with 32 years- worth of beard and Pete Struthers who decided to brave the blade after having a beard for 44 years. The moustachio competition winner Bernard Edwards also succumbed, together with Andrew Clarke and Anthony Jones who originally organised the moustache competition, Jonathon Greig, John Geach, Bernard Edwards, Pete Greenwood and Nick Burton. In addition, Bernard Edwards was sponsored to have his hair shaved straight down the middle. Landlord of the Six Bells Neville Richards decided to keep his moustache and Dave Richards was also sponsored to keep his moustache firmly in place. The night raised £324, with more donations expected in the coming days.

NEW TOURISM GROUP BOSS Henry Hunter, who runs the Castle Hotel in Bishop's Castle is the new chairman of the Bishop's Castle and District Tourism Community Interest Company. Almost 100 local businesses and organisations are members of the group whose aim is to promote tourism and help those who work in the industry. Owners of hotels, pubs, bed and breakfast premises, caravan and chalet parks, campsites, shops and many other enterprises in the group, which takes in Bishop's Castle, Clun, Churchstoke and the surrounding areas. Jane Carroll is the group’s treasurer and the other directors are Steve and Mary Austin from Middle Woodbatch, Bishop's Castle, Geoff Grimes from Magnolias in Bishop's Castle, Jack Limond landlord of the White Horse in Clun, Peter Norton representing Bishop's Castle Walking Festival, Janet Preshous representing the Bishop's Castle Heritage Resource Centre, Helen Vaughan from Clun and Sue Willmer who runs two shops in Bishop's Castle. Henry has been at the Castle Hotel for two years and on Saturday July 15 he is getting married in Oswestry to Rebecca Arthan.

Running a hotel is in Henry’s blood – his family run hotels in north Shropshire- and he has already made some changes to the 300 year old building. All eight bedrooms have been renovated and the bars have been sympathetically redecorated, with more plans in the pipeline. As the focus of his new role, Henry is particularly interested in making sure the online marketing of Bishop's Castle hits the mark and is always up to date.

The Bishop's Castle Tourism Group website is being reviewed and Henry wants to set up dedicated Facebook and Twitter accounts. The group holds regular meetings and with the appointment of director Geoff Grimes to the Shropshire Tourism Board they hope to have more influence in that direction. Sue Willmer Henry himself are also representatives on the Bishop's Castle Town Hall Renovation Project.

“Bishop's Castle is a very special little place,” Henry adds. “It’s a delicate balance to keep it that way but also to encourage tourism and economic progress. People here are doing such a variety of things in difficult times and I have found it a very welcoming and enlightened community.”

HIGHLY REGARDED One of Shropshire’s most prolific and well-regarded painters has an exhibition at The Gallery in Bishop's Castle until the end of July. Judith Moy lives near Bayston Hill and paints almost every day in a variety of media, including pastel, acrylics and print. Her Bishop's Castle show features all new work depicting landscape with figures and domestic scenes. The Gallery is open from Thursday to Saturday, 11am -5pm. Call 01588 630555 for more information.

SUMMER ART SHOW Castle Artists have their summer exhibition at the Castle Hotel in Bishop's Castle from July 20 -30.

Paintings, watercolours, linocuts, artists books and cards will be on show from 11am - 5 pm each day. Entry and parking are free and to find out more, call Dru Cole on 01588 63840.

CAMELEON Jazz funk band Cameleon play a gig at the Three Tuns in Bishop's Castle on Friday July 20. They promise a relaxed night of quality music and at only £5 to get in what more do you want ?

Support comes from local band Garibaldi and the All-Skas. The All-Skas have a new CD out with 12 original tracks written by ex- Bishop's Castle mayor Jim Gaffney and his son Sean.

It’s on sale at Textile Techniques, next to the Town Hall.

CHRISTIAN AID The total collected in Bishop's Castle during Christian Aid Week was £2504.

Thanks to all collectors and those who gave donations.

BISHOP’S CASTLE DIARY From Julia Parker. Tel. 01588 680445 Friday July 13 – Saturday July 21 2012 SATURDAY JULY 14: Auction. Public Hall, Bishop's Castle.

Call 01743 462763.

David Wright (harpsichord) and Piers Adams (recorder). Leasowes Bank Festival, Ratlinghope. £11. 8pm. Call 01743 790769 SUNDAY JULY 15: RAOB trip to Peak district. Dep Boars Head, Bishop’s Castle. £10. 8.30am.

Call 01588 638364 or 07917 826030 Stone skimming competition. Walcot Lake, Lydbury North. 12 noon.

TUESDAY JULY 17: Bishop’s Castle WI. ‘Readings from Books’ – Adrian Williams. Methodist Hall, Bishop’s Castle. 8pm.

Footpath Walking Group.

Pentreheyling. 9 miles. Meet Harley Jenkins St car park, Bishop's Castle.

9.30am. Call 01938 555950.

WEDNESDAY JULY 18: Concert by Bishop's Castle Primary School choir. Bishop's Castle Church.

Free. 7pm.

‘Brewing’. Talk and tasting. Nev Richards. Bishop's Castle Town Hall.

Talk in aid of Target 250 Town Hall Renovation Fund. £3. 7pm. Call 07974 772840 Mark Bebbington (piano). Leasowes Bank Festival, Ratlinghope. £8. 8pm.

Call 01743 790769 Onny Valley Social Club. Day trip to Barmouth. Call 01588 650607.

THURSDAY JULY 19: Coffee morning. Abbeyfield House, Oak Meadow, Bishop's Castle.

10.30am. Call 01588 630000 Footpath Walking Group. Aran Mountains (Llanuwchllyn). 10 miles.

Meet Harley Jenkins St car park, Bishop's Castle. 9.30am. Call 01588 630165.

Lydham, More and Snead WI. ‘Antiques through the Ages’ –Richard Self.

Lydham Village Hall. 7.30pm. Call 01588 650315.

Lydbury North WI. ‘My Life at the Blue Bell’ – Helen Jones. Village Hall.

7.15pm.

FRIDAY JULY 20: Castle Artists summer exhibition .

Castle Hotel, Bishop’s Castle. 11am- 5pm. Until 30 July. Call 01588 638403.

Cameleon and Garibaldi live. Three Tuns, Bishop's Castle. 9pm SATURDAY JULY 21: AMP Party in the Park. Bishop's Castle playing fields. From 12 noon.

Farmers’ market. Town Hall and Market Square, Bishop's Castle. 8am –1pm. Call 01588 638141.

If you have any news for the paper, or a coming event to promote, please hand a note addressed to Julia Parker over the counter at Bishop’s Castle Post Office. She sends news to the paper every week. Her phone number is 01588 680445.The email address is jparker228@btinternet.com