DISTRICTS

Best working hounds: First season dog: Strongbow walked by Rosita Hamar, Colebatch. First season bitch: Megan walked by Mr and Mrs N Owen. Second season hound: Wideawa walked by Katy Aspinwall. Best overall hound: Careful and Cavity walked by Mr and Mrs E Glover.

PONY CLUB CUP - MISS BECKY CLARKE: Four days after the puppy show, several United Pack Hounds were taken to Builth Hound Show. The dog hounds were judged in the morning but the United Pack didn't finish in the ribbons. However, in the afternoon, in the Restricted Entered Bitch Class, United Pack Windlass won, with United Pack Starling finishing third. Windlass then went on to be Reserve Champion Bitch in Show, much to the delight of the United Pack followers.

HYSSINGTON DAY OUT: Hyssington Ladies Friendship Club has a day trip to Corris Craft Centre and Aberdovey on Monday, August 13. The organiser, Mitch Philpott, has a few seats to spare on the coach that leaves Hyssington car park at 9am. Call her on 01588 650356 if you would like to go.

NAME FOR NEW HOUSES: Bishop's Castle Town Council has chosen the name Custodian Close for a new development of eight houses on the site of the old police station in Kerry Lane, Bishop's Castle.

TREASURES REMEMBERED: The Bishop's Castle branch of the Mothers' Union held their July meeting in the Church Barn. A prayer was said for Rosemary Hobbs, a faithful member who had died earlier in the month.

The theme for the evening was Treasured Memories' and Jenny Plunkett, Barbara Crowther, Meg Hemmings, Mary Jackson, Mary Auty and Vera Jones brought along interesting objects from their collections. These included a farthing carved with the Lord's Prayer, a ring made from a penny, a collar from a grandmother's wedding dress and a Coronation Bible signed by Enid Blyton.

On Saturday the garden of the Old Vicarage will be open, with the additional treat of a cream tea. The owners of the house, Meg and Graham Hemming hope to raise money to refurbish the children's corner in the parish church. The MU will also be providing ploughmans lunches before the Castle Land Fete on Sunday, August 12.

HOLIDAY QUIZ: Gill Bass has devised a quiz on behalf of the Friends of Bishop's Castle Library. With over 70 questions, all the answers have a holiday theme and you can pick up your copy at the library. The quiz sheets cost £1 and the prize is a £10 book token.

TENNIS CLUB PRIORITIES: The chairman of Bishop's Castle Lawn Tennis Club says that resurfacing the two all-weather courts is the club's top priority and will be done in the next three or four years. In her recent letter to members Loveday Hickey adds that the other priorities are the construction of a third hard court and the installation of electricity to the clubhouse.

"These are the three items that are the most likely to attract grant funding," Mrs Hickey explains. "They were also the three wishes expressed in a questionnaire to members that we sent out some time ago. Building a new clubhouse is a low priority and is shelved for the forseeable future."

The tennis club has applied for a Lottery grant and if they are successful a third hard court could be ready by next summer. This follows a grant earlier in the year of £6570 from Awards For All which has allowed the club to carry on its junior tennis programme, which attracts children from a large area to coaching sessions run by Mark Willis and Joe Martin. The club also hosted a tennis evening in the sports hall at SpArC and a supper for the French exchange teenagers and their English hosts.

Bayton PARISH COUNCIL: The next parish council meeting will be tonight (Thursday) in the village hall at 7pm. All are welcome to attend. For information call the clerk, Sue Burrows on 01299 832722.

CHURCH FETE: Bayton Fete, held on Saturday, July 14, was a great success. People were glad to get out and enjoy the fine weather we were grateful for. The venue of Bayton School and village hall worked very well and the dancing by the school children was lovely to watch and much appreciated. Thank you for all the hard work put in by pupils and staff. The Tenbury Teme Valley Band played in the background and was enjoyed by all.

Thank you to all the usual team who helped to make the day go so well and thank you to all who supported this event.

The amount raised was approximately £1,700.00 and will be used to help keep Mamble, Bayton and Clows Top Churches open for another year.

The Strettons COFFEE MORNINGS: Mildred's coffee morning will take place at the Methodist Hall on Saturday, July 21, from 10am - noon, when there will be cards, bric-a-brac, cakes, books, and plants on sale, and a raffle is planned. The event is in aid of Church Stretton Methodist Network Group, part of the District Project for Schools for the Deaf in Southern India and South Africa. Admission is £1 including refreshment and all are welcome.

The Church Stretton local committee for Cancer Research UK will also be hosting a coffee morning at the Macintyres, 20, Hazler Orchard on Wednesday, July 25 from 10.30am - noon. Admission is free.

FLOWER CLUB: Janet Hughes of Wrexham will be the demonstrator at the next meeting of Church Stretton and District Flower Club which will take place in All Stretton Village Hall on Tuesday, July 24 at 7.30pm. She has called her demonstration Dawn of Discovery, encouraging everyone to discover the art of flower arranging, while the club invites visitors to go along and enjoy the floral demonstrations it organises, and to take part in the practical sessions which can expand the knowledge of plants and may encourage people to compete in shows. At each meeting there is a sales table where floral accessories and containers can be purchased. Admission for non-members is £5.

The club will be organising a Ploughman's Lunch on Thursday, August 16 in the village hall when medieval food will be served, and Mrs Roma Spottiswoode will be the speaker. Enquiries can be made by ringing the vice-chair on 01694 723937.

SENIOR CITIZENS: At last week's meeting of the Senior Citizens Club, David Jandrell was welcomed in English by Janet Poundford who added an amusing anecdote to her introduction, knowing that Mr Jandrell would be speaking about his Welsh background, introducing a few words of Welsh into his talk and explaining their origins. Everyone enjoyed the talk and a vote of thanks was given . Lucky winners in the draw on this occasion were Eileen Cadwallader, Cyril Cheese, Pat Price, Janet Poundford, Gladys Drakeford and Claire Cottrell. Members were reminded that the next meeting would be at the URC Hall on Friday, July 27, at 2.30pm when the speaker will be Lynda Duffy and visitors are welcome to attend.

SUMMER CLUB: A Parent and Toddler Summer Club will be held weekly at Mayfair from tomorrow (Friday) to Friday, August 31. The club will start at 10.30am and will include tea, play and a sing-song. Admission is £1.50 per family and parents and carers are respectfully asked to supervise their children during the event.

LIBRARY EVENT: Scrappies will be at the Library on Monday, July 23 to provide a craft session for the 5 - 11s. Tickets are free from the library and those attending are invited to take along such items as leaves, twigs, shells, and feathers which can be used in the craft session.

FESTIVAL: This week the programme of events for the Church Stretton and South Shropshire Arts Festival begins on Saturday, July 21, opening at Concord College with the Chilingirian String Quartet , and on Monday, July 23, the Arts and Crafts Exhibition opens at 7.30pm with a reception at Church Stretton School, and will remain open until Friday, August 3. On Tuesday, July 24 The Warlock Brass Ensemble, recent graduates of the Royal Academy of Music, will be at Church Stretton School. Unfortunately The Winter's Tale programme arranged for Wednesday, July 25, will not now take place. On Thursday, July 26 the Festival moves to the Parish Centre where Robin Jukes-Hughes will be giving a slide show on Shropshire's Secret Hills at 2.30pm then back to Church Stretton School for a return visit of The London Mozart Trio. During this first week of the Festival there will also be Coffee Concerts in St Laurence's Church daily from July 23 to July 28 at 10.15 - 11am. Free admission with a retiring collection. An exhibition of sculptures by Jean Parker can be seen at the United Reformed Church starting on Saturday, July 23 through to August 4.10am - 4pm also with free admission.

SWIMMING POOL: Everyone is invited to support the local swimming pool which will be open for summer holiday sessions on Tuesdays from 10 - 11am for a Fun Splash and from 11am - noon for lane swimming, Wednesdays and Thursdays offer Fun Splashes from 10 - 11am and 11am - noon, and Friday evenings, from 7 - 8pm is open for Lane swimming. Saturday mornings from 9 - 10am are for lane swimming followed by a Fun Splash from 10 - 11am, and from 9 - 10am on Sunday mornings for lane swimming. No sessions are available on Mondays and there will be no sessions on July 31, and August 1 and 2.

OUT AND ABOUT: On Saturday, July 21 there is to be a traditional fete at Cardington Church and Village Hall from 2.30pm with sheep racing and a shearing demonstration, pony rides, old tyme stalls selling cakes and produce, bric-a-brac, plants, books and nearly new. A raffle and live music, teas and refreshments. Gates open at 2.15pm for a 2.30pm start. Admission is 50p, with U12s free.

Saturday, July 21 offers a night of folk dancing at Ticklerton Village Hall from 8pm.

Moving to Sunday, July 22 the programme for Gonsal Farm Fun Day includes a Dog Show and a catless Cat Show! Alice and the magical Mad Hatters Magic Show, dancing, jiving, and a martial arts display. On hand will also be animal charities, a mobile dog wash, Shropshire Fire and Rescue, horse and cart rides, a dog obedience display. The Fun Day at Gonsal Farm, near Dorrington opens at 11am and admission is £2 per car. To find out more ring 0870 010 4253.

Music at Leasowes Bank, near Ratlinghope continues with Sirinu, creating powerful and dramatic music from rural Andes to renaissance Spain on Saturday, July 21 at 8pm, and Fire and Grace, a programme of violin and piano music on Wednesday, July 25. The summer season ends on Saturday, July 28 with the Festival Commission Concert Okeanos. Ring 01743 790769 for information.

SCHOOL NEWS: More of the pupils at St Lawrence's Primary School have ended the school year earning swimming badges for 5m, 10m, 20m, 25m, 50m, and National Plan Level 2,5,7 and 8. Well done to them all. The school is also pleased with the recent SAT results. Congratulations to those 13 pupils who have achieved 100% attendance over this academic year, including one pupil having achieved this for a second year and another pupil for a third year.

The school has achieved a Healthy Schools Award by meeting specific criteria for standards in Healthy Eating, Emotional Health and Well Being, Personal, Social and Health Education and PE and School Sport, thanks to all who contributed to the work involved in meeting these standards. At a recent presentation ceremony at the Shirehall the school was presented with a plaque which will be displayed in the school foyer next term.

At Church Stretton School Year 9 pupils gathered in the hall for the presentation afternoon which was attended by parents. After a welcome by deputy headteacher, Mr Andrew Smith, there followed an introduction by headteacher, Mr John Allin. Head of Year 9, Mrs Alison Moore, called each pupil forward to receive a KS3 Certificate. There was then a brief musical interlude provided by one of the pupils and a presentation of the Mock Trial Certificates by Miss Alder to the group of pupils who had taken part and reached the regional finals.

The KS3 subject awards were then made.Six pupils were nominated in each subject from which a prize winner was chosen. Hannah Chumbley received the prize for Art, and Charlotte Lowther for Citizenship. For Design Technology the prize went to Clarissa Lord, and to Sophie Farley for Drama. Kate Zubkowska was presented with the prize for English, Michelle Evans for Geography and Toby Bull for History. For ICT it was Charly Trow who had the prize and Seumas McHugh for mathematics. For Modern Foreign Languages the prize went to Ruth Trow. For Music Corinne Pugh was chosen, and the William Gatter Cup for the best Year 9 Performer went to Briony Jones. Zeeshan Ahmed had the prize for PE with the Progress Award going to Rebecca Davies. Lucy Felton was awarded the prize for Religious Education and Joanna Bebbington for Science.

Next the tutor group prizes were awarded, and these went to: Daniel Gore and Jessica Butler (Group S),Stuart Aston and Francesca Riley (Group V), Robert Massey and Victoria Biggs (Group W) Andrew Ruscoe and Kate Fraser (Group X), Samuel Yearsley and Sian Hughes (Group Y) and to Scott McKenzie and Kadie Pinches (Group Z).

The Head of Year Prize went to Liam Walker and the Headteacher's Prize to Mellissa Passmore.

There was a special thank you to the School's PTA for their support of the presentation afternoon, and a bouquet of flowers was presented to Mrs Bishop who represented the chair of governors at this celebratory occasion.

Several Year 9 pupils have been taking part in the school production of His Dark Materials which has been staged this week.

Ludlow LIGHT THE TOWER: The church tower at St Laurence's Parish Church, Ludlow will be lit this week on: Wednesday, July 25: For Mr H H F Grant, from the family.

You can have the church tower lit for any purpose, a celebration, or a remembrance, for your family or friends, a national holiday, your favourite saints day, or just because you want to.

To have the church tower lit, fill out the form from the bookshop, and leave payment of £20 (cheques made payable to Ludlow PCC) with the form in the box provided in St Laurence's Church bookshop.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION - WOMEN'S SECTION: The ladies of Ludlow branch of the RBLWS had a very enjoyable evening at the group meeting at Bishop's Castle, of which 16 members from Ludlow attended.

After the business of the evening we all enjoyed the entertainment which was a quartet called Invoice. Consisting of two ladies and two gentlemen who played variety of instruments and sang a variety of music - from skiffle, folk and opera - just a "smiggin" from their repertoire. Even our chairman and one of our members got up and joined in on one song - well done girls. The completion of a pretty tablecloth was by Ludlow member, Sylvia Morse.

Our branch meeting on July 6 was a very busy night with a lot of business discussed which left us no time for our quiz, but hopefully we will have that on another evening.

The competition of a Funny Photograph was won by Maggie Spittle, second, Thurza Sibbons and third, Sylvia Morse.

Ladies please remember that our August 3 meeting is an open evening, where you can bring along a friend or two. We are having a cream tea with scones, jam and cream, tea or coffee at a cost of £1.50 per person. Please ladies, lets make it a worthwhile and fun evening.

Clun Valley CLUN RAMBLERS: Clun Ramblers' all day walk starts at 9.30am today (Thursday) and Clun Peramblers all day walk starts at 10am. All walks start from the Memorial Hall car park.

TEDDY BEARS' PICNIC: Clun Parent and Toddler Group are holding a Teddy Bears' Picnic today (Thursday).

CADS: Ratty, Toad and Mole would heartily approve of Clun Amateur Dramatic Society's play reading today (Thursday). Members will be enjoying a bring and share' picnic supper by the banks of the River Clun and reading Alan Bennett's adaptation of Wind in the Willows in this very appropriate place. They are happy to welcome newcomers so, if you are interested, phone Jim or Kris on 01588 660397.

BOWLING CLUB SOCIAL: Newcastle Bowling Club are holding a Social Evening on today (Thursday).

SONGS OF PRAISE FOR ALL: Aston on Clun Village Hall is hosting Songs of Praise, organised by the Craven Arms Evangelical Church on Sunday, July 22, at 3pm. Everyone is welcome to come along to join in and sing some favourite hymns and songs of praise. There will be live music to make the event go with a real swing. You don't have to be a member of a church, just come and help us make a joyful noise. Admission and parking are free.

Afterwards delicious homemade cream teas will be available. If the weather is kind you will be able to enjoy these on the Green in one of the most beautiful settings in the Clun Valley. For further information call Wendy Heighway on 01588 660218.

LIVE MUSIC: Adrian Byron Burns is playing at the White Horse Inn, Clun tomorrow (Friday).

QUIZ NIGHT: It is Quiz Night at the White Horse Inn, Clun on Sunday, July 22, from 9pm.

GARDEN CLUB VISIT: South West Shropshire Gardening Club is arranging a visit to Merehay Garden, Ratlinghope on Wednesday, July 25, for a Charity Tea. Details from Brenda Jones on 01588 660294.

CLUN CARNIVAL: Friday, July 27, sees the beginning of Clun Carnival Week with lots of events going on until Sunday, August 5. Frank Wells will be giving an illustrated talk on Clun in Years Gone By at the Methodist Church Rooms on Friday, July 27. Before the talk there will be coffee and a bring and buy stall.

On Saturday, July 28 the Art and Craft Show opens and on Sunday, July 29 it is Dougie's Children's Fun Day at the Memorial Hall playing field. Well-dressed teddies will be appearing in windows around the town from Tuesday, July 31 and many more events are planned leading up to and over carnival weekend with the carnival procession taking place on Saturday, August 4.

ART AND CRAFT SHOW: The annual Art and Craft Show runs from Saturday, July 28, to Sunday, August 5 , at Hightown Community Room.

In addition to the exhibition of work by local artists and crafts people, throughout the week there will be demonstrations of crafts, including stump work, silk painting, ceramics and book making, and also portrait painting. And it is not all watching - you can get hands on. Materials will be available so adults and children can make models and create their own works of art. For more information contact Joan and Nigel Kerry on 01588 640401.

CLOSING DATE FOR SHOW ENTRIES: Sunday, July 29, is the closing date for entries to the Clun Show.

Westhope LOTTERY: Winners in the July draw of the village hall lottery: First prize of £44.10: Russ Hall of Ludlow. Four prizewinners of £6.85: Sue Wall, Craven Arms; Derek Barber, Church Stretton; Lois Watts, Culmington; Barbara Jones, Westhope.