Bishops Castle

WISE AND WELL – Come along to a free information day today at Bishops Castle Community College. The Wise and Well team from Shropshire Rural Community Charity is organising the event to bring together Shropshire based experts to give local people the chance to ask questions about home safety, health and personal support. The day starts at 10am and includes a series of short talks on useful topics such as fire safety, how to avoid being scammed and the prevention of fall. There will also be an exercise taster and an exhibition of local charities and support groups.

The morning ends at 1pm with a free light lunch. In the afternoon, the Wise and Well team will be conducting Functional Fitness MOT assessments, which must be booked in advance. The Functional Fitness MOTs test performance of a range of everyday tasks and compare it to established age-group averages. The MOT tests balance, strength, and endurance but the tests are appropriate for people aged 65 and older.

The MOT assessor will give advice about how to address any weak areas showing in the MOT. This is not a drop-in event, booking is essential and free of charge. Friends and carers are welcome, transport can be provided. To book 01743 342162.

BALKAN CEILIDH – Come and join in the dances at a Balkan ceilidh in the Church Barn, Bishop’s Castle on June 11, at 7.30pm. There’s live music from Bellamonda and the ceilidh will be outside if the weather is fine. Organiser Rosa James says you don’t need a partner and the dances will be taught on the day. She adds, “These simple community circle dances come from ancient and modern traditions, and are fun and relaxing. We have live music with haunting tunes mainly from Eastern Europe.” Booking is essential for the ceilidh at a cost of £6/£4.50 – 01588 630648.

WALCOT HALL OPERA AND SHAKESPEARE COMEDY – Following their successful Bank Holiday open garden weekend, Walcot Hall in Lydbury North is getting ready for two performances of the popular opera La Boheme by Puccini and an open air performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Opera a la Carte returns to the 18th century ballroom at Walcot on June 10 and June 11and their fully staged performance will be sung in Italian and in the round. Standard tickets cost £50, with premium tickets at £85. To find out more, call 01588 680570. On June 26 North Country Theatre’s Twelfth Night will be performed outside on the lawn at 7pm. Call 01588 680302 for tickets.

TOWN TO MARK QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY – On June12 Bishop’s Castle Town Council is joining forces with Bishop’s Castle Town Hall Trust to mark the Queen’s official birthday. They will be highlighting the civic history of the town and its celebration of local and national events through the years. A free event starts at 2.30pm in the town hall and it includes teas, tours, heritage displays and the launch of two Insight Guides. However, you will need to book a ticket for the afternoon by calling 01588 630023 or email info@bishop scastletownhall.co.uk.

Bishop’s Castle mayor, Karen Bavastock will open the event and introduce her civic awards programme for 2016, before handing over to the Town Hall Trust who will present the Insight Guides (local history booklets funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of the Town Hall renovation). One booklet describes the origins and history of the Town Hall and the other reveals what is known of the Tudor cottage at 8-10 Church Street, a survival of the arson attack in 1645, which destroyed most of St John the Baptist’s Church. The author of the Town Hall Bishop’s Castle booklet and co-author of A Tudor Home , Patricia Theobald, will be one of the guides waiting to lead tours of the Town Hall. The owners of 8-10 Church Street will welcome pre-booked visitors for a short tour of their house, before and after the Town Hall event, one tour at 2pm and the other at 4.30pm. Entry here will cost £2.50, to go to support the Bishop’s Castle House on Crutches Museum.

The Town Hall event is free and sponsored by the Town Council, Town Hall Trust and Bishop’s Castle Heritage Resource Centre, but to avoid disappointment please remember to secure your ticket in advance. Tickets for the Town Hall and access to 8-10 Church Street are available from the Town Hall: info@bishopscastletownhall.co.uk, 01588 630023. All tickets will be on a first come first served basis.

CREATIVE SPIRIT AT WI – Bishops Castle WI welcomed Karen Van Hoff to their recent meeting in the Methodist Hall. Karen’s subject was ‘the knitted necklace, a hat and a tiara’ and she proved a very entertaining and humorous speaker telling her audience more about her life than the actual process of making her beautiful jewellery which she had brought to show members. Karen explained that even as a child she was artistic and started off painting their dog.

Then married and made her dress and accessories from whatever she could lay her hands on, including flattening baked beans tins and cutting them up. She progressed to making hats and fancy dress costumes for her children before making tiaras for weddings and jewellery.

Karen said she had never been encouraged by other people to create her art and sees herself as a shining example of what can be achieved by following ones dreams. Next Bishop’s Castle WI meeting is a members’ night, June 21, 7.30pm.

GREAT LIBRARY WEEKEND – The Friends of Bishop’s Castle Library raised £1,109 at their great library weekend May 20-21. Librarians Tara Lewis, Ali Jones and Alison Price say they are delighted to raise such a magnificent amount and thank everyone for their help and support. Bishop’s Castle Library has recently been taken over by Enterprise South West Shropshire and this is the first event since that happened.

TOP PIANIST AT CHURCH – A young pianist with a growing reputation visits Bishop’s Castle on June 10 to give a concert in Bishop’s Castle Church at 7.30pm. Alexander Chapman Campbell’s playing has been described as ‘hauntingly beautiful’ and among the hundreds of releases in 2013, his album turned up at Classic FM. Intrigued, the managing editor immediately placed it as ‘album of the week’ and the response was unprecedented. There was a flood of emails and phone-calls after every airing, the album soared into the charts and within a week Decca Records wanted to secure the rights to Alexander’s beautiful and mysterious music. The 27-year-old composer released his much-awaited second collection for solo piano, Portraits of Earth , which soared into the UK Classical Charts as the highest new entry. Since then, Alexander’s debut album for solo piano, Sketches of Light has appeared across radio and TV. It has featured on several chart-topping compilation albums and continues to enchant listeners around the world.

For his concert in Bishop’s Castle he will be performing Portraits of Earth which was inspired by the Scottish Highlands where he lives. Tickets cost £10/£8. Call 07849 946150.

BISHOPS CASTLE DIARY, June 2-9

TODAY

  • Well and Wise information day. Community College Bishop's Castle,free lunch 10am. 01743 342162.
  • Film. Spotlight (15) SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle. £4.50/£3. 7pm. 01588 630321/638038.
  • John Jones, Reluctant Ramblers, Benji Kirkpatrick, Boff Whalley. Three Tuns, Bishop's Castle. £12. 7.30pm. £12/£15 door. 01588 638797.
  • Paintings by Tahira Paul. Bishop's Castle Town Hall. Until June 25. 10am4pm. 01588 630023.
  • Pony day. Age five plus. Walcot Stables, Lydbury North. £30. 10am2pm. 01588 680514.

TOMORROW

  • Teen Book club. Bishop's Castle Library. Free. 5.30pm. 01588 638215.
  • Market. Bishop's Castle Town Hall. Weekly. 9am. Call 01588 630023.
  • Footpath Walking Group planning meeting. Barleyhouse, Woodbatch Rd, Bishop's Castle. 10.30am. 01588 630531.
  • Pony Club day. Walcot Stables, Lydbury North. Members only. £35. 10am-3pm. 01588 680514.

SATURDAY

  • Flea market. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall 9am 01588 630023.

SUNDAY

  • Children’s table top sale and fun. Lydbury North Village Hall. £5 stall. 10am. 01588 680284.
  • Italian motorbike meet. Powis Arms, Lydbury North. 01588 680666.

MONDAY

  • Meditation. Led by Joan Baker. Mainstone Church. 7.30pm. 01588 638819.

TUESDAY

  • Footpath Walking Group. Welshpool. Meet Harley Jenkins St car park, Bishop’s Castle. 9.30am. 01588 630531.
  • E-bike ride. New Street Cycles. Free. Weekly. 6pm, (weather permitting). 01588 638060.

WEDNESDAY

  • RSC. Hamlet. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle. 7pm. £11/£4. 01588 630321/638038.
  • Live, Vagabundos. The Underground. Bishop’s Castle. 8pm.
  • Bingo in aid of Sea Shepherd. Kings Head, over 16 only. 8pm.

CORRESPONDENT – Julia Parker 01588 680445 jparker228@btinternet.com

Clun

TABLE TOP SALE – Saturday at 10am-12.30, Hightown Community Room, Clun, SY7 8JG. Coffee morning and table top sale in aid of Arthritis Research. The tables are fully booked but that means that the hall is going to be crowded with bargains. Admission £1 includes a cup of coffee or tea; homemade refreshments will be available.

JAZZ AND POETRY – Saturday in Clun Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. The literary focus for this musical evening is on Shropshire writer and poet Mary Webb. Celebrated Shropshire poet Roger Garfitt will also present his ground-breaking jazz and poetry project with the John Williams Octet.

He will tell, through his poetry, some of the stories behind the sound of jazz and invoke some of its most haunting voices. Premiered at the Ledbury poetry festival, this concert was a sell-out.

The words and music then move to the present with a performance of In All My Holy Mountain , poetry and music inspired by the life and work of Mary Webb. Roger collaborated with composers Nikki Iles (piano) and John Williams to celebrate the writer’s life and work. Nikki’s atmospheric score takes elements from the English folk tradition, giving them a powerful new jazz identity. A jazz suite in six movements, this is a compelling work played by some of the UK’s finest jazz musicians.

Tickets (£13 and £6.50 under 18s) are available now from The Old Surgery Art Gallery in Clun: 01588 640506, Christina Anderson, Prospect House, Clun: 01588 640213 and from Frances Williams: 01694 722656.

BRYNMAWR ORGANIC FARM OPEN DAY – Sunday, 10am-4pm. Brynmawr Farm, Newcastle on Clun, Shropshire SY7 8QU (satnav and google direct you there).

Farm tours, wildflower hay meadow walk, shearing, native sheep and lambs, native breed cattle and calves. Children’s activities: (pond dipping, farm colouring), eco buildings, care farm area and polytunnel, willow working. Delicious refreshments will be served. Contact: Trevor Wheeler 07799 681134; Jackyharrison51@hotmail.com

CLUN WI MEETING – Hightown Community Room, Clun, Tuesday 7.30pm. New members are welcome.

BETTWS Y CRWYN WI MEETING – Bettws Hall, Wednesday at 7.30pm. New members and guests welcome to our friendly meetings.

Tenbury

TALK – Tenbury Wells History Society welcomes members and none members (£2) to their June talk entitled: ‘Timber frame buildings – recent finds in Herefordshire’ given by Duncan James who is one of the country’s leading authorities on timber frame buildings. He will tell about not only about his work with old buildings, but also his most recent and exciting finds.

Tonight, 7.30pm in the Pump Rooms Tenbury. More information, call Mike 01584 711425.

COFFEE AND CHAT – A warm welcome awaits you tomorrow and on the first Friday of each month, 10am until noon at The Pump Rooms. The AGM is at 11am and also, as your annual membership was due for renewal on May 31, attending the coffee and chat is a convenient way to pay and collect your new membership card.

Organised by the Tenbury Branch of the U3A it is a great way to discover activities that may be of interest to you – these range from genealogy to ballroom dancing and lots of other interesting subjects. Members can also reserve and pay for their place on The Garden Group visit to The Barton at Berrow Green, Martley, on June 8. We look forward to seeing lots of members and anyone else who would like to discover more about the Tenbury branch.

SUMMER BALL – St Michaels Village Hall, June 25, 7pm to midnight. Live music and dancing. Four course meal. Great food and company and some surprises! Tickets £22.50 from Tina Cole 01568 750675 or Ros Plested 01584 811853.

GUINNESS WORLD RECORD – Mark Colman’s Guinness world record dive challenge. Pembroke House Pub, Tenbury Wells, Saturday ,4pm till late. Raffle, barbecue. Hobsons outside bar, live music from 7pm.

Nails by Shortys Studio. Cake and candy floss, football shootout, bouncy castle, charity organisations and loads more. Fun for everybody.

Mark is under water for five whole days to help raise £1m for four military charities. Come on down.

DAVID MCKEE – Join us for an Elmer Parade at Tenbury Library, tomorrow 11am. Story telling, craft session.

The Strettons

BRIDGE CLUB – Thursday afternoons are bridge club days at All Stretton Village Hall 1.30pm-5pm. Lifts from Church Stretton and partner to pair with are all on offer. Tuition at various levels is also available, call Dom on 01694 723128 for more information.

MARKET – The Friday market at Mayfair Community Centre is open 8.30am-noon selling home-baked cakes and savouries, produce, craft items and garden items. The market now offers a town delivery service.

BIRTHDAY PARTY – An afternoon tea party celebration of the Queen’s birthday will take place at Leebotwood Village Hall on Sunday 2pm-5pm. Tickets cost £3 and there will be traditional WI home baking, with cakes and also plants on sale.

EXHIBITION – Diana Nutall’s exhibition continues at Barbara’s Picture Framing Establishment in Beaumont Road until June 10, 10am-5pm daily, when Diana will be on hand with her selection of paintings, cushions, table mats and coasters.

SHUTTLE BUSES – The Longmynd and Stiperstones shuttle buses are again running at weekends and on bank holidays to take people onto the Longmynd to enjoy walking and out into the countryside to visit some of the villages. The service will continue until October 2.

BOOK FAIR – A book fair in aid of Mayfair Community Centre will be held at the URC Hall tomorrow, and Saturday, open from 10am-3.30pm. Admission is 50p for adults, no charge for children, and refreshments will be available.

COMPETITION –Just a reminder that the competition entries for Scrappies ‘collage of the Queen’s face’ competition which can be any size up to A2, but must be handed in by Monday, in time for the judging on June 11. The competition is open to three age groups, namely five to seven years, eight to 11years and 12-18 years, and entry is 50p. Three different types of material must be used and this can all be sourced at the store.

COMMUNITY CINEMA – The film to be screened at Church Stretton School on Monday will be The Program (15), starring Ben Foster, Chris O’Dowd, Dustin Hoffman, Elaine Cassidy and Guillaume Canet. The film features the war of attrition between an Irish sports journalist and seven times Tour de France Winner, Lance Armstrong. Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm. Adults £4, and interval refreshment is available.

OUTINGS – The Church Stretton and District Gardening Club has planned two outings during June. The first is to Fraithwen on Tuesday and the other one is to Abbey Dore Court Garden on June 21. To enquire for seats on the coaches or to find out more ring 01694 720131.

CELEBRATIONS – Day Care at Mayfair Community Centre has a week of activities planned to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday, starting with a guest speaker on Monday and an afternoon tea and tiaras on Tuesday. Wednesday features a Royal family quiz and next Thursday, June 9, is a sing along afternoon. On June 10 there is to be a coffee morning. An outing on June 13, will be a drive into the countryside and a pub lunch which must be booked through Day Care.

SCHOOL NEWS – Well done to the Church Stretton School Students in Year 7 and Year 8 who took part in the UK Junior Maths Challenge and have now received their awards from the University of Leeds, with several having received gold, silver or bronze awards. On the sporting front, the Year 9 cricketers came joint second in the under 15 SCB South Shropshire Championships. At St Lawrence’s Primary School KS2 pupils have taken part in a Wild Side Workshop which was organised by the Friends of the School.

HOLIDAY CLUB – Busy Bees again offers Summer Holiday Clubs for the twos-eights during August. The clubs are offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and can be full days, mornings, afternoons or lunch clubs subject to numbers. To book in or find out more ring 01694 724812.

LONGMYND HIKE – Members and Friends of the Longmynd Hike met recently to discuss the forthcoming event. It was suggested that there should be more pictures and maps on the website and there was a need for the reflective material on backpacks to be first class. New maps and the use of an electronic tagging system were two ideas put forward and a questionnaire would help with feedback. Also that some small souvenirs could be available to mark the 50th Longmynd Hike. The next meeting will be held at the District Social Club on July 10, at 7.30pm.

ARTS FESTIVAL – Is inviting artists, craftspeople, photographers to enter some of their work in this year’s art exhibition at Church Stretton School. Entry is open to anyone, whether professional or amateur, living within 30 miles of Church Stretton. Deadline for submission of entries is June 30. Entry forms available in Church Stretton at Barbara’s Picture Framing, Scrappies in Beaumont Road or the festival website.

LADIES GROUP – South Shropshire Interfaith Ladies Group met at the Pilgrim Centre in Craven Arms to discuss music in religion. To illustrate a brief history of Christian religious music, excerpts were played and this was followed by music of the Jewish faith. This was a special date in the Muslim calendar and the relevance of this was explained as well as the words in ‘the call to prayer’ which was heard via a telephone recording. The afternoon was rounded off with some clever drumming.

SMALLHOLDERS – The South Shropshire Smallholders will be meeting at Leebotwood Village Hall next Thursday, June 9, at 7.30pm. The speaker will be Stephen Derrick on the subject of goats. Guests and visitors are always welcome.

LJC MEETING – An LJC Strettondale with Craven Arms Rural meeting at 7pm will be held at Acton Scott Village Hall next Thursday, June 9. Clive Wright, chief executive at Shropshire Council will be there.

TEA DANCE – An afternoon tea dance at the District Social Club, June 12, 2.30-5pm, will have live music from Chloe and celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. Tickets £3 from the club. Refreshments available.