Number 12 Number 2011 Feb The The Parish Post Serving Beambridge, , , Coston, Cwm, Kempton, , , , The Llan and Twitchen Clunbury Village Hall Committee News he new committee in Clunbury has T served almost a year now. We are very happy that the hall is used almost every day of the week, by either Clunbury Under Fives or Clunbury Primary School. The committee have been meeting regularly, and have discussed plans to start an occasional Youth Club. The hall is very lucky to have been donated a projection screen, and the committee has formulated ideas of hosting the occasional film night. The current favourite idea is a viewing of The Italian Job, with pizza! We are applying for an ‘Awards for All‘ Grant that would pay for the projector that is needed for the film nights. There is no shortage of good ideas on using the hall, but what the committee Clunbury Carol Singers lacks is the time to organise them. All the large group of singers, old & young, members have young families and work A braved the icy weather on commitments. They would welcome any Wednesday evening before Christmas to additional volunteers who would like to sing carols around Clunbury. They organise events. enjoyed a warm welcome everywhere The hall is available for hire at the (thanks especially for the sweets & mince reasonable rate of £3.00 an hour, pies) & raised £55 for the Air Ambulance. bookable by calling 660446. Thanks to Barbara Freeman for Pippa Halliday organising this enjoyable annual event. Our First Anniversary! he Parish Post has now been in production for a year. The editorial and T distribution teams have worked hard to make this project a success. We hope you agree it is, but unless we get feedback from you the readers, we have no way of telling. We would welcome your views, positive or negative, and also any suggestions about topics for future issues. Contact Gisèle Wall 660561, Barbara Vesty 640596 or email [email protected] Please send your contributions by the 15th of each month Caring for Friends and the stage of wanting to know more, before thinking about any commitment. If Neighbours you cannot attend the meeting but would t the Valley Good Neighbours welcome further discussion, please A AGM last October Paul Cronin, CEO contact either Jane Kent on 640642 or of the Severn Hospice, talked about Ann Ogram on 640830. Joan Kerry Compassionate Communities. In Clun Valley Good Neighbours Scheme response to interest in this a subsequent meeting was held when he explained Egrets, I have just one – so far. that a major role of the Severn Hospice How about you? is outreach work involving volunteers, Christmas focusing on friendship and activities, but A Day stroll not personal care. Dr Jill Gray endorsed round Kempton the benefit of engagement that helps was rewarded overcome loneliness and said the by the surprise practice has patients in these sighting of a circumstances for whom regular contact Little Egret would be very valuable. It was further taking off from a recognised that should a visiting scheme pool by the get under way, there may be requests footbridge over from other sources such as hospitals, the River churches and other caring organisations. Kemp. The tasks that might arise, such as Between 1826 chatting, walking, going shopping with, and 1950 there form filling, being alert for problems and had been only a possible link between patient and nine records in of this medium- professionals, were discussed. sized white heron, but thereafter, All agreed that befriending is more following a rapid expansion of the French appropriately done by local groups, and population, the number of sightings that all these situations fall within the quickly increased and the first UK current terms of reference of The Clun breeding record came in 1996. Valley Good Neighbours Scheme, hence Amazingly, by 2008, the most recent year Paul’s approach. Any ‘new’ scheme for which information is available, the UK could be organised as part of Good breeding population had exceeded 750 Neighbours, although run in a separate pairs (though none in ) and way and there should be no expectation post-breeding numbers were in the order or pressure on existing Good Neighbours of 4,500. volunteers to participate if they felt it was Why this rapid expansion? Delicate not right for them. Paul gave the plumes trail from the napes of Egrets and assurance that the Hospice would these were used in hat making; the birds undertake appropriate training over the were hunted for this purpose and they equivalent of 2 days and would also offer were served in prodigious numbers at ongoing monthly support. banquets too. Given protection the Many present felt very positive about population has jumped back; climate the prospect of setting up such a scheme change may be a factor as well. and so a further meeting was proposed. These beautiful and elegant birds are This will be held on Wednesday 16 well worth looking out for. Although they February at 7.30pm at Haslehurst have a black bill and legs and yellow Community Centre and will be chaired by feet, they are otherwise entirely white. Ann Ogram. You are all welcome to Few birds are so easily spotted and attend this meeting, even if you are at readily recognised. Tom Wall Wet Walks to School this week, impassable roads having shut hris Train, in his book ‘A Country them in in the great part of the storm." C Education’, used Clunbury School 15th February. In December 1904 the log books to describe the life of past Heber-Percy family sent 51 pairs of generations of pupils. Even getting to shoes to the school to be used when school had its problem. children arrived with feet and shoes ‘… and then there were factors outside soaking and while their own shoes were the control of master, managers or dried. "The gift is a most seasonable attendance officers. The weather played one," wrote the Parochial Magazine in its part as it always had done. In May January 1905, "and has already been 1886 heavy rain and great floods closed much appreciated; so much so indeed, the school, as they did again in April that some young rascals have been 1889, following heavy snow. It was not found deliberately wetting their feet in just the risk of getting a thorough order to have the change! Needless to soaking. "The river flooded considerably say, they profited but little by the on Wednesday. George Brick in trying to attempt." ‘ reach home at dinner hour was in great Thanks to Sheila Train for this extract danger till rescued by a man on horseback." 16th November 1894. In the Clunbury School Corner first two weeks of January 1895 t seems a long time since our last persistent snow and cold weather I article for the Parish Post. We had a completely disrupted attendance and very busy time before we broke up for when the thaw came the river again our Christmas holiday. In November we caused problems. "This morning fifteen had an exciting visit to Birmingham to children reached school in a more or less take part in Young Voices, what a great wet condition. A bridge in Mr Anthony's evening that was. field recently broke down and as the Before Christmas we had a busy time. fields are just now being irrigated it is First we went to , to Theatre impossible to cross this field without Severn to see Cinderella. We were very getting into water. Two girls were wet to lucky because we had a chance to their waists and had to be supplied with interview one of the actors who played clothes from the school house while their Cinderella’s dad. own were drying. Three more girls were We put on a performance of our own, wet to above their knees. All were Class 1 performed a Christmas story carefully dried and made comfortable. A about a reindeer called Ralph, and Class letter was sent to Mr Anthony (tenant) 2 performed the Night Before Christmas. giving the above particulars and by the On Thursday 16 December we held a post another, enclosing a copy of Mr carol service at St Swithin’s church. We Anthony's letter was dispatched to Mr had some traditional songs and some Ward, the agent." 23rd January 1895. new ones with Mr Bennett. The village Shortly after that the cold weather said “What a lovely service it was.” returned lasting until well into February. Lots of things are happening this term. "Weather intensely cold both last week Class 2 and 3 are having swimming and this. Several children arrived at the lessons at Lucton school. We are school crying with the cold and their working towards Safer Schools dinners frozen in their satchels. The accreditation and in March we are roads now are fairly well beaten, still holding a farmers market. parents hesitate to start their little ones. Georgina Morris The Cwm and Stepple children appeared Threat to Bus Services Bedstone Women's Institute ocal bus services are under threat as eetings are held every third L part of budget cuts within Shropshire M Tuesday in the month. New Council. From April 1 concessions will members are always needed and made be removed from Shrewsbury Park and very welcome. Visitors are also welcome Ride and from pre-9.30am travel, fares at a small charge of £3. The next will be increased on subsidised local bus meeting will be held on February 15, 7.30 services including Shropshire Link and pm at Bedstone Village Hall and the speaker will be Mr Bob Bates – Local there will be an increase in passenger Artist. For more information contact contribution to the Community Car Margaret Grubb 01547 530277 or Scheme. Barbara Osbourne 660711. Service reductions proposed within the bus strategy include reducing the frequency of the 435 to Shropshire Handyperson Shrewsbury bus to every 2 hours Service between peak times (9am to 3pm). eed help with small repairs in your Roadshows are taking place at the N home? It is often expensive and Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre at difficult to find someone you trust to help on February 15 and in the with small jobs. Anchor Staying Put Small Bishop’s Castle auction yard car park on Repair Service provides help and February 18, 10am - 2pm. assistance to older and disabled people View the strategy and have your say to carry out small routine jobs. No callout online at charge, no job too small, highly skilled www.shropshire.gov.uk/transportconsultation and dedicated handyperson technicians or call 01743 253013 or providing a quality service, free advice. email [email protected] Anchor Trust is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping older Our Local Joint Committee will be people live safely, securely and meeting in the Public Hall, Bishop's independently – with a choice of services Castle, from 7pm on Thursday 10 to suit all needs. February. As you know, there are For more information call proposals for major cuts to funding 01743 363708 or look online at for local services. You are www.stayingput.org.uk encouraged to attend this meeting to discuss our options. Bookworms he Bookworms meetings in Craven Arms NHS Dentist T December & January were nyone still having postponed owing to the bad weather & ill A difficulty in finding health. an NHS dentist should David & Janet Preshous will now be ring the dental clinic in guests on February 9. The Malcolm Craven Arms as they Saville evening presented by Paul are taking on new Woods is rearranged for March 9. Places patients. Tel 676328. will be kept for those who had reserved Emergency Dental Service them. Meetings are held in The Green If you have a serious dental problem ‘out Room of Lydbury North Village Hall, of hours’ that cannot safely wait until your 7.30pm. More information from Richard dentist’s surgery is open, call 0845 Beaumond, 680302. 1309642. Notes on Clunbury Parish volunteers to contact him on 660192 or Council Meeting email [email protected] Litter picking Held on 20 January in Clunton Village would probably take place in the Spring. Hall Present : Seven Councillors, the Clerk and two members of the public. Apologies : Penny Marsh and Stuart Seabury. Shropshire Councillor Nigel Hartin was absent. Clerk’s report : A site meeting between Parish Councillors and representatives of Shropshire Council about flooding from Litter degrades our environment Clunton Brook would be held on 26 January. Planning : A partially retrospective South Shropshire Housing Association planning application had been received had received tenders for connecting the for a fence at The Bungalow, Clunbury. houses in Orchard Close to the Clunbury Three Parish Councillors had visited the mains drainage system. site and given their approval to the work Shropshire Council is considering already carried out and made erecting signs to deter long vehicles from recommendations for the remainder. ( A using Beambridge bridge. number of local residents have submitted The Advanced External Defibrillator objections, the Shropshire Hills AONB Scheme is going ahead in other parts of has objected and the Highways the district without involving Clunbury Department recommend that the Parish as no local volunteers had come application be refused ). forward for training. Precept for 2011/12 : Councillors Local Joint Committee : Vice decided the precept should be £3,000, Chairman John Croxton reported that the the same as last year. LJC had received more applications for The next meeting will be on Thursday grants than there was money remaining 31 March at 8.00pm in Clunbury Village in this financial year. Next year the LJC Hall. Formal minutes of Council meetings will only have £24,500 to award as are posted on www. theparishpost.org website grants compared to £49,000 in each of as they become available. David Hill the last two years. Shropshire Council (The comments in italics are my own) has decided to cut the number of LJC meetings from four a year to two to CONTACTS reduce costs. ( So much for the local Email: [email protected] consultation promised when SSDC was Phone: Gisèle Wall 660561 or abolished ). There is information about Barbara Vesty 640596 budget cuts on the Shropshire Council

Web site: www. theparishpost.org website. Litter picking : The Clerk reported that The editorial team does not accept the Parish Council’s insurance policy responsibility for any opinions appeared to cover volunteer litter expressed by contributors and pickers. Councillor Hoskins requested reserves the right to edit contributions The Parish Post to advertise for potential if deemed appropriate. Clunbury Parish Plan - Update regarding availability and speed of t is now a little Broadband services to highlight the issue I over a year since in discussions between the LJC and the Clunbury representatives from BT. Parish Plan was Unfortunately, attempts to progress completed and some suggested actions have proved published. difficult. Examples include organising The Steering litter picking events, where it would seem Group which that the intervention of the Parish Council produced the Plan brings about all sorts of "health and disbanded shortly safety issues" that would simply not exist after its completion if such events were undertaken by ad- and it has been the hoc volunteers. Similarly, Parish Plan responsibility of the consultations outlined a desire to see Parish Council to ensure that its Action more use of the local village halls, Plan is carried forward as intended. perhaps with joint events between all So just what has been happening since three, but this can only happen with the the Plan was launched? Well it would be involvement and agreement of the three unrealistic to expect all of the Plan's village hall committees. Both of these recommendations to be achieved highlight the need for all members of the immediately, but there has been progress community to be involved in carrying out on a number of issues, both by the the Parish Plan and not just the Parish Parish Council and others. Council. Perhaps the most successful of these is There is still much to do to bring about the launch and continued publication of all the desired "actions" outlined in the "The Parish Post". During the Plan's Parish Plan and the Parish Council will consultation period it became very clear hopefully be focusing on some of these that the people of Clunbury Parish would in the coming months. A number of value a local newsletter/magazine, and it issues rely on the support and decisions is thanks to the hard work of all the of other parties, and possibly on future volunteers concerned that we now have funding decisions by Shropshire Council, this excellent monthly publication. In line but that should not discourage us all from with the desire for more local information, pursuing a successful outcome to the there is also a very informative and well things that matter to our community. organised Parish website, and the Parish Progress on the Plan's aims will continue Council now publish more openly the to be reported through the Parish Council details of their meetings. Some work has Meeting Notes in 'The Parish Post'. also been done to improve the location The Parish Plan is of course more than and quality of Parish notice boards, and just a "wish list" of items for change. It is further work on this is in hand. On other also an interesting reference document issues, the Parish Council has increased about the Parish and provides data on its dialogue with the Highways Dept how and where to get more information regarding alleviation of flooding in parts on specific topics. If you are new to the of the Parish, alerting them to specific Parish, do not have a copy of the Parish areas of concern, and work has been Plan and would like one, please contact undertaken by the Highways Dept in me on 660192 or at [email protected] these areas. The PC's representative on Copies are also available from the Clerk the Local Joint Committee (LJC) has to the Parish Council. Fiona Hoskins, used information from the Parish Plan Ex Chairman, Parish Plan Steering Group. Keep Shropshire Warm BBC Discovers Clunbury’s his is part of a countrywide initiative, Castle! T funded by DEFRA. Aims: to reduce ocals were amazed recently to find the number of households who find it a L out that Clunbury had a medieval financial struggle to heat their homes to a castle. This came to light during a BBC2 healthy level and may be living in fuel ‘Escape to the Country’ programme poverty; to significantly reduce fuel which featured a house in Clunbury. Part poverty in Shropshire for vulnerable of the transcript of the programme reads households by 2010 and for all ‘Clunbury is households by 2016. We are currently one of the offering FREE insulation (Loft and Cavity prettiest Wall) to anyone over the age of 70, if you villages in pay your Council Tax to Shropshire the area with Council (excluding & Wrekin) and its Norman own or privately rent your property. If you Church and, are in receipt of benefits please contact nearby the Keep Shropshire Warm for information ruins of its regarding grants and discounts available medieval for affordable warmth measures and castle’. Some general energy efficiency advice. For castle ruins Clunbury’s castle courtesy of the BBC those not in receipt of benefits you are were shown still entitled to discounts for affordable on the film. Despite diligent searching we warmth measures. For details of these can find no trace of a castle near and general energy efficiency advice Clunbury. Several theories have been put please contact 01743 277 123 forward to explain this mystery. One is www.keepshropshirewarm.org that the film of the castle came from the The Archers Catch up with Us BBC archives and is the only remaining documentary evidence of a castle that mbridge now has its own website. In once existed at Clunbury but has now November last year, when the BBC A disappeared without trace. Another were looking to set this up they cited theory is that after a long liquid lunch in three real community websites as the White Horse the film crew stumbled examples, including ours – out, spotted Clun Castle and said “that’ll www. theparishpost.org – mind you that was do”. The part of the programme before our article about their misleading concerned is on YouTube. To find it go to ‘Escape to the Country’ episode!

the Videos tab at www. theparishpost.org Ambridge is at www.ambridgevillage.co.uk Clunbury Under Fives Playgroup Help keep our parish tidy Goods & Promise Auction in aid of Volunteer litter pickers needed. the Air Ambulance & the Playgroup Contact Councillor John Hoskins on Saturday 12 March 8.00pm 660192 or email [email protected] at the Crown Inn, Clunton Regular Local Walks Day Group Location / time

Every Wed Clun Ramblers Clun Mem. Hall Every Wed Clun Peramblers Car Park To donate items or promises contact 1st & 3rd Wed Clun Amblers 10.00am in month Suzanne Hadwen on 640119 Events Diary for February / early March 2011 - go to www. theparishpost.org for more details Date Time Event Location Tue 1st 7.30pm Flicks - Tamara Drewe Lydbury North Village Hall Wed 2nd 8.00pm Bishop's Castle Film Society- Mid-August Lunch Three Tuns, Bishop's Castle Sat 5th 7.30pm Flicks - It's Complicated Village Hall Sun 6th 6.30pm Evensong St Swithin's, Clunbury Mobile Library 9.20 to 9.50am at Clunton Crown Inn, Clunton Wed 9th 9.20am 10.00 to 10.45am at Clunbury The bridge, Clunbury Bookworms with David & Janet Preshous. Booking Wed 9th 7.30pm Lydbury North Village Hall essential phone Richard 680302 Thur 10th 7.00pm Local Joint Committee meeting - budget cuts Public Hall, Bishop’s Castle Thur 10th 7.30pm SWSHAS - talk on Chirk Castle College Hall, Bishop's Castle Fri 11th 9.00pm Live music - String Thing White Horse, Clun Sun 13th 11.00am Mattins St Swithin's, Clunbury Sun 13th 6.30pm Evensong St Mary's, Clunton Mon 14th 12.15pm Mobile Library 12.15pm to 12.25pm Obley 7.00pm - Free help with using computers at Mon 14th Kangaroo Inn, Aston on Clun 9.00pm Broadplace 10.00am Shropshire Council - Bus Strategy Consultation Tue 15th Discovery Centre, Craven Arms - 2.00pm Roadshow Tue 15th 7.30pm Silence and Meditation (phone Barney Bell 660342) Forest View, Clunton Tue 15th 7.30pm Bedstone WI meeting - Bob Bates, local artist Bedstone Village Hall Wed 16th 8.00pm Bishop's Castle Film Society - Ajami Three Tuns, Bishop's Castle Wed 16th 9.15pm Live folk music Crown Inn, Clunton Thur 17th Folk Down the Track - The Castle Folk Group Castle Inn, Knucklas 10.00am Shropshire Council - Bus Strategy Consultation Fri 18th Bishop’s Castle auction yard car park - 2.00pm Roadshow Fri 18th 7.30pm Flicks - Brassed Off Lydbury North Village Hall Fri 18th 8.00pm Flicks - Tamara Drewe Parish Hall Sat 19th 7.30pm Flicks - The Disappearance of Alice Creed Memorial Hall, Clun Sun 20th 11.00am Holy Communion St Mary's, Clunton Sun 20th 6.30pm Evensong St Swithin's, Clunbury Mobile Library 9.20 to 9.50am at Clunton Crown Inn, Clunton Wed 23rd 9.20am 10.00 to 10.45am at Clunbury The bridge, Clunbury South West Shropshire Gardening Club - talk - Wed 23rd 7.30pm Lydbury North Village Hall Powys Castle Gardens Wed 23rd 8.30pm Live folk music Kangaroo Inn, Aston on Clun Thur 24th 9.00pm Live folk music Sun Inn, Clun Fri 25th 9.00pm Live music - Tommy Allen Band White Horse, Clun Sat 26th 7.30pm Kempton Ceilidh Kempton Village Hall Sat 26th 7.30pm Flicks - Tamara Drewe Aston on Clun Village Hall Sun 27th 11.00am Holy Communion St Swithin's, Clunbury Mon 28th 12.15pm Mobile Library 12.15pm to 12.25pm Obley March Tue 1st 7.30pm Flicks - Sex & Drugs & Rock and Roll Lydbury North Village Hall Wed 2nd 8.00pm Bishop's Castle Film Society - The Long Goodbye Three Tuns, Bishop's Castle Sat 5th 7.30pm Flicks - Tamara Drewe Memorial Hall, Clun Sun 6th 6.30pm Evensong St Swithin's, Clunbury These diary pages are compiled by volunteers as a service to the community. The compilers do not accept liability for any errors or omissions or any consequences of any errors or omissions.