Bayton

JUMBLE SALE – A jumble sale is being held on October 25, at 2.30pm, in Bayton Village Hall. There will be lots of bargains and the usual refreshments of homemade cakes. Details Sue Burrows 01299 832722.

 

Bishops Castle

TWO MUSICAL LIGHTS ARE DIMMED – Two of the brightest musical lights on the Bishop’s Castle music scene have died within just over a week of each other. Anne Loughran and Fred Averis both founded their own singing groups and ran them for many years, to the delight of audiences and singers alike. Anne Loughran, the leader of Castle Voices was aged 59 when she died on September 4, her funeral service in Llanfair Waterdine Church reflecting her love of music and song. She ran Castle Voices for 21 years and inspired people to join her in the enjoyment of singing. Fred Averis was 83 years old at his death on September 13, his funeral taking place in Lydbury North Church on September 23. For over 35 years the 16 men and women who made up The Corndon Singers met every week to sing under Fred’s watchful eye and perform at concerts and events. He also founded Musica in Ecclesia, a smaller group which specialised in the monthly singing of chant in churches. Fred’s funeral service also paid tribute to his life- long musical love and both he and Anne will be greatly missed by their loyal and enthusiastic singers.

HADRIAN’S WALL TREK – A group of friends from near Bishop’s Castle have raised £4500 a sponsored walk of 89 miles in the north of England. Jenny Wood, Andrew Edwards and Luke Gill set off from Wallsend, Newcastle-upon-Tyne following Hadrian’s Wall, to raise awareness of CLAPA, the only UK-wide voluntary organisation specifically helping those with and affected by cleft lip and palate. Accompanied by their team mascot Tam, the Jack Russell terrier they reached Bowness on Solway on the west coast six days later.

The motivation for the walk came in March this year when Jenny Wood’s nephew, Logan Wood from Kinnerton near Ratlinghope was born with a full bilateral cleft lip and no palate. Jenny saw the wonderful support CLAPA gave the family and decided to raise some money to support their work.

So far the walk has raised £4,800, smashing their original target of £1000. This will be added to an amount already raised last month at a fun day organised by Logan’s family and friends, making a grand total of over £7000.

Speaking on her return to Shropshire Jenny Wood said: “With all the donations and seeing Logan, his family and our support crew waiting for us at the end it made every step, sore and ache worth it. We can’t quite believe it’s over. Logan has recently had another operation in Birmingham Children’s Hospital and is recovering well.” To make a donation visit justgiving.com/ JenCWood.

FIRST AID COURSE FOR CLUB MEMBERS – At last month’s meeting the Longmynd Vintage Vehicle Club welcomed the First Responders Eddie Jones, Lin Brown and Dave Ramsey who held an Emergency Life Support course which 10 club members successfully completed. The course covered all aspects of emergency first aid and was enjoyed by all those who attended. The club is currently paying for the fuel for the Bishops Castle First Responders vehicle and also donated £40 towards the charity after the training session. Call 07967 100903 for more information.

BISHOPS CASTLE LINK TO FOUNDER OF ORGANIC FARMING – A request for information from a recent Brazilian visitor to Bishops Castle Heritage Resource Centre has brought to light Bishops Castle-born Sir Albert Howard, considered to be one of the founders of the modern organic farming movement. He was also a pioneer in developing methods of composting.

Born in 1873 Albert grew up on a farm near Colebatch, just outside Bishop’s Castle. In 1896 he graduated from Cambridge University in Natural Sciences and then continued his studies to gain a diploma in Agriculture a year later.

He then followed a career as a lecturer and agricultural adviser, initially in Barbados but mostly in India. From 1905 to 1924 he was the Imperial Economic Botanist to the government of India and from 1924 to 1931 he ran the the Institute of Plant Industry.

Keith Addison in his book Journey to Forever describes Howard as a brilliant development worker who abandoned the restrictions of conventional science which he considered to be ‘learning more and more about less and less’ in favour of learning from the best teachers – Nature, India’s peasants, and pests and weeds.

The latter he perceived as indicators of unsuitable crops growing in unsuitable conditions. He found that when unsuitable conditions were corrected the pests departed. Information can be found online. To find out more call Trevor Chalkley on 01588 630678.

SCHOOL BINGO NIGHT – The Friends of Bishop’s Castle Primary School are having a prize bingo at the school tomorrow. Doors open 6pm, eyes down at 7pm. In aid of school funds and everyone is welcome. If you have a prize to donate, call 07967600702. There’s also a jumble sale at the school on November 15, at 1.30pm.

TEME SPARC NEWS – The beginners swimming lessons at Teme SpArC in Bishop’s Castle are almost booked up and leisure centre staff report that the Summer Sizzler programme of children’s activities was also a success with over 30 children taking part. More Teme SpArC promotions and special events are planned for the autumn. Swimming lessons for children of all abilities are on Monday to Thursday afternoons from 4pm-6pm and on Tuesday from 4pm to 7pm. Call 01588 630243.

SEPTEMBER DRAW – Maggie Bleszynska won £18.25 in the September draw for the House on Crutches Museum collection Trust 100 Club. Teddy Burton won £10.95 and Anne-Marie Jackson won £7.30.

BOOK SIGN RAFFLE – A raffle held outside Jane’s Petals in Bishop’s Castle High Street on October 3 raised £121 for the Midlands Air Ambulance. Lydbury North dairy farmer Roger Evans was there to sign copies of his new book A View from the Tractor and Jane served tea and coffee.

BISHOPS CASTLE DIARY October 16-22.

THURSDAY: Friends of Bishop’s Castle Library. Wine tasting – Phil Johnson. Members only £8. Book on 01588 638215

  • Royal Ballet. Manon . SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle. £12/£8. 7.15pm. Book on 01588 630321/ 638038
  • Lydbury North WI open meeting. Cycle Trip Tales – Dave Luckhurst. Lydbury North village hall. 7.15pm.
  • Lydham, More and Snead WI. My Trip to Moscow – Oliver Goode. Lydham village hall. 7.30pm. Call 01588 650315

FRIDAY: Friends of Bishop’s Castle Primary School. Bingo 8pm.

  • Tales of the Maen-Stone. Mainstone village hall. 7.30pm. £8 inc wine and nibbles. Call 01588 638246

SATURDAY: Bishop’s Castle farmers market. Bishop’s Castle town hall. 3rd Saturday of month. 8am-1pm.

SUNDAY: Harvest festival, auction, bring and share lunch. Bishop’s Castle Church.

  • Harvest service and lunch. Mainstone Church. 11am.
  • Harvest festival. Edgton Church 11am. Harvest lunch. Village hall £5. Call 01588 680208
  • Harvest Festival. Lydbury North Church. 11am

MONDAY: Monthly craft workshop. Card making – Ibby Hunter. Bishop’s Castle town hall, £5 from 6pm. Call 01588 630023.

  • Bishop's Castle and District Carers Group. Weekly walks for all in Bishop's Castle – Helen d'Albert. Boars Head, Bishops Castle 2pm- 4pm. Call 01694 722024.

TUESDAY: Bishop’s Castle WI Tasty pastries-Nicky Simpson. Methodist hall, Bishop’s Castle 7.30pm.

  • Footpath Walking Group. Bishop's Castle Ring, Shelve – Bishop's Castle. 12 miles. Meet Boars Head, Bishop's Castle for 9.40am bus. Call 01588 630238.
  • Fitsteps class with Ruth Morriss. Lydbury North village hall £5 6pm- 6.45pm. Call 01588 680302
  • Lydbury Choir. Lydbury North village hall £6 2pm. katejones@naturalvoice.net

WEDNESDAY: Bishop’s Castle Film Society. Museum Hours (12A). Three Tuns. 8pm. Call 01588 680445

  • The Elves and the Shoemaker – Silly Boys Theatre. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle. £6/£4. 11am and 1.30pm. Call 01588 630321/638038
  • Talk on the Stiperstones and Corndon Hill Countryside Landscape Partnership. Bishop's Castle town hall £3.50 7pm.
  • Talk. Shakespeare Still Rules – Pat Townsend. Bishop's Castle library. Donations to Friends of Bishop's Castle Library. 2pm.
  • SW Shropshire Gardening Club. Old Plant, New Plant -Linda Eggins. Lydbury North village hall. £3. 7.30pm.

CORRESPONDENT - Any news or coming event to promote, send note to Julia Parker over the counter at Bishops Castle post office. Call 01588 680445, email jparker228@btinternet.com

 

Clun

NETTA RECEIVES BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL – Netta Nicholls would like to say a big thank you to all her family and friends who came to her presentation when she received the British Empire Medal at Newcastle Community Centre. A special thank you to the ladies who prepared the lovely tea, to all who donated delicious cakes and for the many beautiful cards and flowers.

It was a very memorable day. Netta was awarded the honour in the birthday honours list for services to the local community. She has, for many years served on various committees and helped out at many functions, always to be found working away in the background and not putting herself forward. She is still doing this now too. Netta was nominated by a few local people for this award.

PENTABUS THEATRE AT CLUN MEMORIAL HALL – As part of the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, Pentabus has commissioned Each Slow Dusk, a new work for village halls written by Rory Mullarkey which will be showing at Clun Memorial Hall tomorrow, 7.30pm. Focussing on people from rural communities, their experiences of the First World War and its legacy, Each Slow Dusk charts the experiences of three young men serving on the western front, linking their stories to today. Pentabus produce original plays about the rural world for local and national audiences. Based on a farm in Shropshire, they make a real commitment to the creative health of the countryside. They’re passionate about rural creativity: challenging artists to work in new ways and offering rural communities opportunities to engage with playful, political and compassionate theatre. pentabus.co.uk. Running time approx one hour 45 minutes including interval. Age guidance 14+ (contains strong language). Funded by Arts Council England and Shropshire Council.

Adult £10, under-16 £6 available from Davies Newsagents, High Street, Clun. The Old Surgery, High Street, Clun. Dilys Thorpe 01588 640254, email dilysthorpe@clun.org.uk. For further information about Clun memorial hall contact Dilys Thorpe 01588 640254, dilysthorpe@ clun.org.uk.

PRODUCE MARKET – Lots of delicious homemade and home-baked food, raffle prizes and refreshments at Clun produce market on Saturday in Hightown community room. 10-12 noon. Contact Trish Munn 01588 640125 if you would like a stall.

MALE VOICE CHOIR – GKN Telford Male Voice Choir will be performing some old favourites at St George’s Church, Clun, Saturday 7pm, conducted by their musical director Derek Westwood, £6 on the door.Interval drinks and raffle. More information Joan Kerry 01588 640401. In aid of St George’s Church funds.

FLICKS IN THE STICKS – The Love Punch (12A) will be shown at Aston on Clun village hall, 7.30pm Saturday. This British comedy, set in London, Paris and the French Riviera, stars Emma Thompson, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Spall and Celia Imrie. Admission £4 adults, £2 under 18s. Details 01588 660545.

CAFÉ CHURCH – Cafe church Sunday at the Chapel, High Street, Clun 3-4.30pm. All ages welcome. Refreshments, no charge. Contact Michael Newman 01588 407776. Try it, you may be surprised.

E-NEWSLETTER - We are looking for volunteers to help set up an e-newsletter for Craven Arms and the surrounding parishes. This idea is based on the extremely important work that the parish and community newsletters do locally, but also with an aim to increasing the coverage and co-operation across the area and also be able to get information out to people more quickly. A similar scheme operates successfully in the Church Stretton area.

CasCA (Craven Arms Community Centre) have kindly agreed to act as host for the newsletter and also act as a drop off point of information for circulation and email addresses for people wanting to sign up. We are now looking for people with basic IT skills with an hour to spare each week to co-ordinate and publish the e-newsletters. If you are interested or would like more information please contact Clive Leworthy, Volunteers Outreach officer on 07791 260888 or by email clive.leworthy@shropshire-rcc.org.uk.

WALKING FOR HEALTH - Short walk around the town every Tuesday. Meet at the Maltings Café, 10.30am.

CLUN RAMBLERS - Clun Ramblers’ next walk is on Wednesday, led by Sue and Ralph, meeting at Clun memorial hall car park at 9.30am. Sorry no dogs.

CORRESPONDENT - News or events in the Clun Valley contact Elisabeth Taylor, email: elisabeth777@btinternet.com 01981 540893. Deadline is the Wednesday of the week before publication.

 

Tenbury

TENBURY TRANSPORT TRUST - Has moved from the Tourist Information Office in Teme Street to 34 Teme Street (previously the CAB office). It will be open from 10am- 12.30pm and deal with enquiries about local bus services, home to hospital appointments and the hire of the community bus. If you need to contact them, the new telephone numbers are: Bookings 01584 810491, admin 01584 819452.

CHILDREN’S CRAFT ACTIVITIES, SONGS AND PRAISE - Come and join in at Lindridge parish hall, Saturday, 1pm-3.30pm.

TEME VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY - Next meeting will be at Abberley village hall, October 28, 7.30pm, when Keith Cattell will be speaking on An Englishman’s Castle is His Home. All are welcome.

WORCESTERSHIRE HUB TENBURY - Customer Service Centre, Tenbury Library. Fridays 10am-5pm by appointment only. Please call 01684 862151 for an appointment or ask a member of the library staff.

BINGO - Brimfield and Little Hereford Sports Club, tonight, 7.30pm start. Everyone welcome.

CHARITY BONFIRE AND FIREWORKS - Tenbury and District Round Table, November 1 at the Burgage, open 6.30pm, fire lit 7pm, professional fireworks, fully insured.

AN EVENING OF LIGHT MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT - With Debbie Liddell, Tom Durston-Smith and Jason Fisher (accompanist), next Thursday, October 23, 7.30pm at Stoke Court, Greete SY8 3BX, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs John Nesbitt. Admission £10, children £5, includes a glass of wine or soft drink. Reserve your seats with Fran Nesbitt: fran@stokecourt.co.uk or Tom Durston-Smith, Lower House Farm, Sutton, Tenbury Wells, WR15 8RL, 01885 410233. Proceeds in aid of Kyre Riding For The Disabled Group.

TENBURY MUSIC FESTIVAL - Open meeting at the Fountain Inn, Monday 7.30pm, www.tenburymusicfestival.co.uk, contact@tenburymusicfestival.co.uk. Facebook and twitter.

 

The Strettons

FRIDAY MARKET - The Friday Market will be open as usual at Mayfair Community Centre each week from 8.30am-noon selling home-made cakes, produce and craft items. New providers welcome.

FOLK DANCE - The monthly folk dance at Ticklerton village hall will take place on Saturday. No experience is necessary to dance the night away from 8pm-late. To find out more ring 01694 722418.

APPLE FAIR - This year the apple fair will be held at the Discovery Centre in Craven Arms on Sunday.

MAYFAIR - Find out how to buy and sell on Ebay at Mayfair on Monday from 1pm-3pm at a cost of £10.

HISTORY GROUP - The local area history group will hear a talk by Derek Beattie on Monday, 2pm at the URC hall, under the heading Arrival of the Postman-Hope mingled with Fear 1914-18, the group is also planning a visit to the new Shrewsbury Museum.

FLU CLINIC - Final drop-in seasonal flu clinic will be on Tuesday, 2pm-6pm. Ring 01694 722127 to find out more.

ENGAGING ISSUES - On Tuesday humanist philosopher and founding editor of the Philosophers’ Magazine, will speak about religion, food and the good life in a talk titled Feast or Fast? at the URC starting at 7.30pm-9pm, allowing plenty of opportunity to ask questions and join in the discussion. Admission is £3 and all are welcome.

CAMERA CLUB - The next meeting of the Longmynd Camera Club is on Wednesday and is competition night. The subject is open and the judge will be Dave Deeming LRPS. At the previous meeting Russell and Audrey Price presented a lecture with images of animals in the wild from Africa and the UK which they called A Passion for Wildlife. Visitors are welcome at all of the Club’s meetings.

COMMUNITY CINEMA - At Acton Scott village hall the film 12 Years a Slave (15), will be screened Tuesday, 7.30pm. Doors open 7pm. Interval refreshments will be available.

WILDLIFE - Shropshire Wildlife Trust members will meet Wednesday when Professor Tony Martin will give a talk about he and the Team Rat eradicated the invasive predators on the UK’s greatest wildlife island of South Georgia. The talk will follow a short annual general meeting at 7.30pm in the Silvester Horne Institute.

LONGMYND HIKE - A de-brief meeting for the Longmynd Hike will take place at the District Social Club on Sunday at 8pm when input and comments will be welcomed.

The Longmynd Hike took place on the first weekend of October when around 450 people set out on the 50 mile 24 hour challenge with 372 finishing the hike within the time. In his address chairman Brian Faulkner remarked that in the 47th year of the Longmynd Hike there were people who had taken part in 38 and 40 of the events and there were others who raised money for good causes through being sponsored to take part. He then expressed his thanks to everyone who competed and those who helped to make the Hike run smoothly and also the landowners who allowed the Hike route to pass over their land. He then introduced Phil Harris who had been a helper for 19 years, including a time as entry secretary, and who would be presenting the awards on this occasion. First back were Andy Davies of Church Stretton who was awarded the Longmynd Staff for a time of 8h.24m and Mel Price also of Church Stretton in a time of 9h.06m , a new record time, and received the Gill Harris Ladies Trophy. The Longmynd Scout staff went to Adrian Donnelly of Rea Valley Scout Group for a time of 11h10m. There was no entrant for the junior Scout staff this year, but the junior Longmynd staff was presented to Sam McCumiskey of Solihull for a time of 19h35m. Ian Symington of Hebden Bridge set a new record of 8h49m to receive the Novice Trophy and Kirsty Hewitson of Oxford was presented with the West Mercia Police Trophy for her time of 10h33m. The Swain Shield for the over 50’s went to Paul Collier of Nottingham who completed in a time of 9h48m. The Raven Trophy was won jointly by Sarah Butcher, a scouter, and Tina Tosh, both of Leicester, in a time of 18h40m. The Over the Hill trophy for the over 60s was presented to Terry Butterworth for his time of 11h10m. Peggy’s Plate went to Libby Collinson of Much Wenlock for the third year, completing in a time of 11h.31m. The Mynd trophy team prize went to Mercia runners namely Andy Davies, Simon Adney, Mel Price, Virgil Barton and Adrian Donnelly for the aggregate time of 26h19m.

MACMILLAN - Barclays bank staff in Church Stretton raised £60.20 with its MacMillan coffee morning.

SCHOOL NEWS - On the sporting front Church Stretton School’s under 16 netball team won the county plate and the year 10 boys’ rugby posted a 57-7 win in the county cup. The Silver D of E students expedition is due to take place. A post 16 evening has been arranged. There has been excellent feedback from those visiting the school for the open evening and open mornings. At St Lawrence’s primary school the under 11 boys football team has qualified as county champions, to represent Shropshire and Telford in the national finals of the schools’ league cup at Morecombe, Lancashire. 35 children entered a KS2 cross country event at Bedstone College competing against 15 other South Shropshire schools, some competing for the first time in such an event. Three children won individual awards for finishing in the top three in their races and the year five girls won the cup for their particular age group, four of them finished in the top ten. St Lawrence’s is in need of lunchtime supervisors working from 12 noon-1.15pm Monday to Friday. If anyone could only offer two or three days job shares can be organised. Please contact the school if you can help.

FOOD BANK - The local food bank is now running low on UHT Milk, fruit juice, sugar, small packs of breakfast cereal, biscuits and sweets. They have plenty of soup and baked beans at present.

HALLOWEEN WORKSHOPS - Scrappies will be offering Halloween workshops on October 29, with spooky goings-on for Halloween party preparations making spiders, bats and rats and creepy lights. Sessions will run 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm for youngsters aged five and over. Cost is £3.50 per child and booking is essential by calling in or ringing 01694 722511.

CHARITY SALE - Charity Christmas card sale at URC hall 10am-12 noon, October 25. Cards on sale will be for Cancer Research UK, Children’s Society, RNLI, Severn Hospice, Save the Children, Traid Craft and Amnesty International.

BONFIRE - The Church Stretton bonfire night will be on November 1. Friends of St Lawrence’s School will be providing a barbecue at the event.

BOOK SALE - The Mayfair book sale will be held on November 7 and 8, from 10am-3pm each day and welcomes books, CDs and DVDs which can be taken along to Mayfair beforehand. This event is supported by Church Stretton Rotarians.

 

Clee Hill WI

THE weather was cool and indifferent on October 6, but for 13 members of Clee Hill WI the afternoon was glittering. One talented member invited the rest to join her in some craftwork.

There is nothing like cutting and glueing and following instructions to keep a roomful of chattering ladies quiet. Hazel said it was time to think ahead – after all Christmas was just round the corner – and we were going to make a card. Whoever said making things was easy? Despite members’ absorption and attention to the task, getting it wrong seemed a lot easier than getting it right. In no time the straight lines were bent and the wiggles were too wiggly. The folds were wonky and tabs were cut off. The holly berries stuck to fingers instead of the card and the sky took the place of the snow on the ground.

And as for the aforementioned glitter, well that was everywhere. All a bit of a mess really. Fortunately the mentor had endless patience as well as an amazing ability for putting right members’ mistakes. (Phew, thank goodness for that!) In no time 12 beautiful cards were standing on the table.

President Marina Clent thanked Hazel Wood for a delightful “hands on” afternoon, which was completed in true WI style with tea and cake served by Ruby Walker and Maggie Beddoe. The latter also won the competition, while Alison Osborne won the raffle. But, actually, everyone had a winning time. Members had a fun and funny afternoon, and their own prize card to take home with happy memories. And for those Clee Hill WI members with craft fingers, they can look forward in anticipation of another “hands on” meeting in December, when another talented member of the group will be helping everyone to make festive table decorations.

Come along on November 3, when Linda Ward will demonstrate fondant Christmas shapes.

 

Clows Top and District Gardening

OCTOBER brings a richness of colour to the garden with displays of autumn foliage. The autumn colours are at their best this month. Make the most of them as they pass very quickly. The night frosts and clear sunny days bring out the intensity of the colours. Fruits and berries are an added attraction, not only to us but to the birds as well. There is still time to plant winter-flowering plants, such as pansies, violas and wall flowers. Plant your spring flowering bulbs now until the end of November.

At the September meeting John Robinson, gave an interesting talk and slide show on 60 years of wildlife photography. John started his hobby while he was in the army in Germany.

It was a light heated talk on the adventures he had to get these impressive photos. The evening was a great success with everyone enjoying the talk. It was also the club’s autumn show. The show winners were first Austin Fletcher, second Bob Marriott and third Suzanne France. Best exhibit Austin Fletcher, thanks to Marion for judging.

If you are not a keen gardener but a keen garden lover, then don’t be afraid to come along, we are a garden club not a horticulture society. Non-members welcome to any of the monthly meetings. The next meeting is on Wednesday, David Morgan will give a talk entitled I’m Not Much Good At Gardening. Diary date: November 26, Hartlebury Common, Dr Joy Rooney.

Clows Top and District Gardening Club meet the 4th Wednesday in the calendar month at Clows Top Victory Hall; doors open 7.30pm, for the speaker at 8pm. For details call Marion Wilson 01299 270475 or emai: clowstopdistrictgardeningclub@hotmail.co.uk.