PATIENT SURVEY - Thanks to a £500 donation from the Friends of Bishop’s Castle Community, Care Home and Hospital, Bishop’s Castle Patients Group (BCPG) has been able to put together a patient survey. It is the first of a series designed to help BCPG understand patients’ perceptions of its medical practice. Forms are available at Bishop's Castle surgery, the pharmacy and Enterprise House.

Limited numbers are also available at Bishop's Castle Community Hospital for in-patients. Completed surveys can be returned to the same locations before Monday. Copies will also be available for students at the Community College. Completed surveys will be analysed and the responses, which will be made public, will shape the group’s future activities.

To contact the BCPG, use the ‘drop box’ at Bishop’s Castle Medical Practice, School House Lane, Bishop’s Castle, SY9 5ER, call 07967 306615 or email bcpatientsgroup@gmail.com ART TRIP TO BIRMINGHAM - Bishop's Castle Arts Society is planning a return trip to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery on January 24. After visits last year to Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool the society returns to Birmingham to visit two major exhibitions. The first is Revealed - A Government Art Collection which brings together a diverse selection of nearly 200 works of art, ranging from the historical to the contemporary, which form part of the Government Art Collection. The works range from a painting of Elizabeth I by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger to Andy Warhol's original screen print of Queen Elizabeth II. The other exhibition is The Staffordshire Hoard, a selection of many of the 1,500 pieces of gold and silver from the 7th century AngloSaxon kingdom of Mercia. Entry to both the exhibitions is free and there are many other permanent exhibitions in the gallery, as well as excellent cafes. The Birmingham shops are close by if you opt for some retail therapy instead. The coach will leave at 9.30am from opposite the Community College in Bishop's Castle and pick-ups are available at Lydbury North, Craven Arms and Clee Hill. The return trip will leave Birmingham at 4.30pm. Return tickets cost £10 and you can book by calling Sue Percy on 01588 630015.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE - An uproarious Victorian farce comes to the SpArC Theatre in Bishop's Castle on January 17 as a live broadcast from the National Theatre. Starting at 7pm, The Magistrate by Arthur Pinero stars American actor John Lithgow, known for his role in TV comedy Third Rock from the Sun. Tickets for The Magistrate cost £10/£7 for students under 18. Call 01588 630243 to book.

CURRY AND QUIZ NIGHT - The Longmynd Vintage Vehicle Club has a quiz night at the Inn on the Green, Wentnor on January 25. The £7 fee includes a curry or lasagne supper and the evening begins at 7pm, with the quiz at 7.30pm. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Midlands Air Ambulance. Team names and entries must be sent to Jackie Llewellyn on 01588 680297 or Sandra Reynolds on 01588 638722 before January 23.

BARBARA IS THE WINNER - December winners of the Lydham 100 Club were Barbara Hird - £26.50; Anthea Jones - £15.90; Sandra Jones - £10.60. The 100 Club raises money to support Lydham Church.

NEW YEAR’S DAY WALK - Walkers set out in fine weather from Lydham Church on January 1 to climb to the top of Linley Beeches. The traditional New Year’s Day walk was led by David Preshous and thoroughly enjoyed by 19 people and four dogs.

SEASONAL VISIT TO PRESTEIGNE - For their December meeting Mainstone WI travelled to the Judge’s Lodgings in Presteigne. The building had been decorated for Christmas and the drawing room had a log fire, a beautiful Christmas tree and was lit by oil lamps. After a tour of the bedrooms and judge’s bathroom with its very small bath, members were shown down into the kitchen, police cells and then into the fine courtroom. The visit ended in the dining room where WI members enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies, again lit by oil lamps. The curator and her assistants were thanked by the Mainstone WI president Miriam Ellison.

BISHOP’S CASTLE DIARY January 11-19 TOMORROW (FRIDAY): County Councillor Charlotte Barnes’s surgery.

Just Jan’s Café, Bishop's Castle, 10-11am.

e Mothers’ Union Christmas lunch. Inn on the Green, Wentnor.

e Edgton Christmas party, village hall, £14/£12, 8pm. Call 01588 660280 SUNDAY: Parti Gungrog live. Vaults, Bishop's Castle, 5pm.

TUESDAY: Community College PTA meeting, school, 6.30pm.

e Revel Dance, street dance classes begin. Ages 6-14, SpArC Theatre, Bishop's Castle. Weekly £4, 5pm.

Call 01588 630243.

e Bishop's Castle WI. Methodist Hall, Bishop's Castle, 7.30pm.

e SWSHAS ‘The Origins of the Salop Infirmary’- Richard Moore. Church Barn, Bishop's Castle, 7.30pm.

e Footpath Walking Group, Church Stretton to Craven Arms, 10 miles.

Meet Harley Jenkins St car park.

8.45am. Call 01588 650451.

WEDNESDAY: Shropshire Wildlife Trust talk. An Indian Winter – Keith Offord. Church Barn, Bishop's Castle, £3/£2, 7.30pm.

JANUARY 17: Under the Fridge live.

Vaults, Bishop's Castle, 5pm.

e Free T’ai Chi taster session – Alan Jeffries. Methodist Hall, Bishop's Castle, 10.30am. Call 07976 321345.

e Lydham, More and Snead WI beetle drive, Lydham village hall, 7.30pm.

Call 01588 650315.

JANUARY 18: County Councillor Charlotte Barnes’s surgery. Just Jan’s Café, Bishop's Castle, 10-11am.

JANUARY 19: Bishop's Castle farmers’ market. Town Hall, Bishop's Castle, 9am.

e Auction. Bishop’s Castle Public Hall.

Call 01743 462763 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, call 01588 680445 or email jparker228@btinternet.com