DONATE BOOKS - Donations of good condition books, CDs and DVDs are needed for the third great book sale in Bishops Castle public hall on June 8 and 9. Previous sales have raised money for the town hall renovation fund, for which the majority of the funding has already been secured from the Heritage Lottery Fund. “The two sales we have held so far have been a great success and enjoyed by both local people and visitors,” said Evelyn Bowles, one of the organisers. “We may well make this an annual charity event and so far we have received some very welcome and good quality donations. Many people have told us they have items for us, which they have yet to deliver. We would like to thank them in advance but need to stress that the volume expected is such that the sooner we can have their donations the better, as we sort and categorise every single item. This makes viewing and buying at the sale very much easier.” Donations can be delivered Monday to Friday between 10am and 5pm at the shop 18 Market Square, Bishops Castle, or Thursday to Saturday, 9.30pm – 5.30pm at Decorative Antiques, Church St Bishops Castle. Collection may be arranged by calling Sue Wilmer on 01588 630200.

BROADBAND COLLECTIVE DISBANDS - The Bishops Castle Broadband Collective, which was created just after the millennium and brought broadband to the town two years before BT, has finally disconnected its last customer. At its height, BCBC had around 50 customers. The director of the BCBC is Kate Evans and she says, “Many local businesses in Bishops Castle began their first internet connection through the group. It was also important to the younger members of our community and to the migrant working population with no landlines, to keep in contact with family and friends back home.”

Bishops Castle Broadband Collective was a not-for-profit group which gave all surplus revenue back to the community over the decade of its existence. The group’s charitable activities included sending children on holiday; supporting youth music projects and commissioning the public resting bench on Bishops Castle High Street in front of the Textile Traders shop. The group ended its career with a surplus of just over £2,000, which has now been divided between Bishops Castle Community Energy group, which hopes to install a renewable energy production system for the town, and to the AMP group which supports local young musicians and the Party in the Park youth music festival which will be held in June.

CIVIC SOCIETY AGM - The Bishops Castle Civic Society AGM will be held in the Methodist hall, Station Street, Bishops Castle on Tuesday at 7.30pm.

The speaker will be Dr Nick Howell on 40 Years of Change in Bishops Castle.

Annual membership of the society costs £5 and new members are welcome to attend the AGM. A visit to Flounders Folly will be arranged for members at this meeting. To find out more call Gaynor Pinches the secretary on 01588638806.

DAY TRIP TO STRATFORD - The Friends of Bishops Castle Library have organised a day trip to Stratford on Avon on June 20. Leaving the Boars Head bus stop at 8.30am and leaving Stratford at 4pm, the fare is £10 for members and £12 for others. “Our annual trip is always popular," said Juliet Slavin the Bishops Castle librarian “and there is plenty to see and do in Stratford, with the Shakespeare Museum, theatre, riverside walks and shops.” To book a place, call 01588 638215.

SPARC THEATRE - Tickets for the sellout play The Audience are on sale at the SpArC Theatre and at Enterprise House in Bishops Castle. Starring Helen Mirren in her acclaimed performance as the Queen, the play is at SpArC on June 13 at 7pm, with tickets costing £10 and £7 for a child. It is a National Theatre Live broadcast direct from the West End. To book call 01588 630321, or 01588 638038 or visit SpArC or Enterprise House.

ROAD RUN AT TWITCHEN FARM - The Longmynd Vintage Vehicle Club is holding its annual road run in aid of the Midlands Air Ambulance on June 9, starting at The Twitchen Farm at 10am. Entries are £20 to include a Sunday roast dinner. Call club chairman Jackie Llewellyn on 01588 680297 to book.

ELEVEN TOWN GARDENS - Eleven gardens in Bishops Castle will be open to the public on June 16 from 1.30pm to 6pm. The afternoon is in aid of the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust and a wide variety of gardens will be on show, from a two acre wildflower meadow garden with 900 native trees to small cottage gardens, allotments and gardens with wonderful water features. Tickets are on sale at Bishops Castle Church gate and cost £4. More information soon.

BISHOPS CASTLE DIARY, May 31 - June 6 FRIDAY: Lunches 4 All at Grange Rd community centre, Bishops Castle, open to all, 1pm. Book on 0795 6062454.

• Opera a la Carte present Carmen at Walcot Hall, Lydbury North at 7.30pm.

£55/£90, call 01588 680570.

SATURDAY: Flea and collectors market at the Methodist hall, Bishops Castle from 9am.

• Auction at Bishops Castle public hall, call 01743 462763.

• Opera a la Carte present Carmen at Walcot Hall, Lydbury North at 7.30pm.

£55/£90, call 01588 680570.

SUNDAY: Mayor’s Sunday procession and service, call 01588 638141.

• Three mile nature walk in aid of Target 250 Town Hall Renovation Fund.

Meet Harley Jenkins St car park at 10am, £5, call Ros Gillard on 01588 630238.

• Mainstone fun day.

MONDAY: Meditation – Gong Bath with Mike Barron at Mainstone church at 7.30pm. Music at 7pm. Call 01588 638819.

TUESDAY: Glyndebourne Festival live present Ariadne auf Naxos at the SpArC Theatre, Bishops Castle at 7pm, £10/£7. Book on 01588 630321.

• Footpath Walking Group. Aberdovey to Machynlleth, 11 miles. Meet Harley Jenkins St car park, Bishops Castle at 9am for 10.04 train, call 01743 792443.

WEDNESDAY: Onny Valley Social Club.

Garden meeting and tea at Marehay, Ratlinghope, 2.30pm. Call 01588 638570.

THURSDAY: Mariinsky Ballet live broadcast present Swan Lake at the SpArC Theatre, Bishops Castle at 6.15pm, £12.50/£8, call 01588 630321.

• Explore Cwm Ffryd Wildlife Site with Fiona Gomersall. Meet Mainstone village hall at 10am, call 01588 680693.

FRIDAY: Beetle drive at the Grange Rd community centre, Bishops Castle.

Open to all, call 0795 6062454.

• Lydbury North parish council local housing meeting. Powis Arms, Lydbury North, 3pm-7pm, call 01588 630187.

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 Bishops Castle Post Office, call 01588 680445 or email jparker228@btinternet.com.