COUNTRY MARKET - The country market is open from 9.15am to 11.45am tomorrow (Friday) at Mayfair community centre selling cakes, produce and craft items.

LIBRARY - Saturday is a chance to meet Jess Mikhail, illustrator of Florentine and Pig at the library from 1.30pm-2.30pm.

FESTIVAL - The 47th Church Stretton Arts Festival opens on Saturday at 7.30pm with a concert at Concord College featuring The Cardinall’s Musick, world leaders in performing English renaissance music with the theme ‘gunpowder, treason and plot’.

TRIBUTE NIGHT - Rob Cairns presents a 70’s Rock and T Rex tribute show at the district club from 9am to late on Saturday. Sorry no entrance after 10.30pm.

CHURCH NEWS - Following St Laurence’s week of the holiday club a service and barbecue will take place on Sunday for children, carers, parents, and grandparents.

PUB QUIZ - A quiz night at the Yew Tree Inn, All Stretton, on Monday will raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. The event opens at 7.30pm and entry fee is £2.50.

PRAYERS - Prayers for a summer evening continue on Tuesdays at 7pm in the Methodist Church throughout July and August. The half hour sessions differ each week. All are welcome.

THANKS - A big thank you from Shayne and Hazel at Kaboodle for the £574.82 sponsorship they received when climbing Ben Nevis on July 1 which will go to the Classroom in the Clouds. Shayne will be running in the Cardiff half marathon in Cardiff in October for the same cause which provides funds to provide a teacher in Nepal. The shop also accepts donations of good novels which are sold to raise additional funds for the charity.

There is also a thank you from Elaine at the Post Office for supporting her run in the Shrewsbury half marathon which raised £1005 for teenage cancer.

SCHOOL NEWS - During the final week of the summer term year nine gifted and talented students from Church Stretton School took part in an Oxbridge summer school held at Shrewsbury Sixth form College.

This year’s examination results will be available from 10am on August 22 and the new term starts on September 3.

The tag rugby team at St Lawrence’s Primary School travelled to Rugby to take played with purpose and determination but narrowly missed out winning the competition by drawing a game, when a win would have been enough for the team to have gone on to play at Twickenham.

SUMMER YOGA - Weekly yoga sessions are on offer at Leebotwood village hall during August, starting on Thursday, August 1.

FESTIVAL - The festival continues with the opening of the arts and crafts exhibition held at Church Stretton School on Monday and remaining open daily 11am to 6pm and possibly later prior to the start of evening performances until 7.30pm during the festival. Tony Davey as Buddy Holly will entertain on Tuesday and The Shakespeare Ladies Club written and performed by Alison Neil on Wednesday. Thursday, August 1 has a musical theme when the Marylebon Wind Trio play classical woodwind, clarinet, oboe and bassoon.

The festival then moves to August 2 when Anthony Brown plays saxophone accompanied by Leo Nicholson on piano. On August 3 there is an audience with Tim Brooke-Taylor in conversation with Chris Serle. The festival continues through to the final concert on August 11. Concerts start at 7.30pm and are at Church Stretton School with the exception of a tea time concert and the grand finale.

FESTIVAL FRINGE - Fringe events during the festival take place daily from Monday to August 3 in St Laurence’s parish church from 10.15am until 11am when Berry’s Coffee House will provide coffee and home-made biscuits. Admission to the concerts is free with a retiring collection. During the second week there will be organ recitals in All Saints Church, Little Stretton and St James’s Church, Cardington played by local organists.

LEISURE CENTRE - The local leisure centre has many activities on offer during the summer school holidays, and at the swimming pool there are sessions for lane swimming and family fun sessions. Some of the events need to be booked in advance by ringing 01694 720051.

DISCO - A summer disco with bar is planned for August 2, at the Silvester Horne Institute from 8pm to late.

Ticket sales are through Newsworld and the King’s Arms and cost £5.

Proceeds of the event will benefit MacMillan Cancer Support.

VISITS - The local gardening club is planning a trip to Waterperry Gardens in Oxford on August 8. Enquire for seats by ringing 01694 720131, and Mayfair Evergreen Club has a trip to Llandudno on August 17, with enquiries on 01694 722454. Both are full day trips leaving at 9am.