Under the Wrekin Magazine

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It’s great to be here again with another edition of the Under the Wrekin magazine. We are thrilled with the response to our relaunch edition and sure you’ll find plenty in this edition of local interest. We’re still developing some ideas so you may see a few changes as the editions progress. Thank you to those of you who have submitted contributions for inclusion. If you have a story of interest to people in our locality then please think about submitting an article for one of our future editions. The Editorial Team is pleased to launch a Spring into Summer photograph competition, and is asking you submit a photograph representing Springtime or Summertime in Shropshire. You can submit entries up to 11th May and the winner, who will receive a £50 prize, will be announced in the June/July edition of the magazine. The Editorial Team will also select runner-up photographs. You can submit your photograph via email or at our Facebook page (see below). Full rules are given on pages 70/71. We thank our advertisers for their support of Under the Wrekin. Editing team: Viv Amos, Nigel Bowen, John Wardle and Tricia Wilkin Proof reader: Alison Sloan Treasurer & Advertising: Ray Owen Distribution: Sheila Woodfield Email address for editorial: [email protected] Follow our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/UnderTheWrekin Please mention this magazine when responding to advertisements

Deadlines for the next edition (April / May 2020) Advertising: 1st March Editorial: 15th March All material submitted to Under the Wrekin is published in good faith. No liability is accepted, implied or otherwise, as to the accuracy of information contained in articles Under the Wrekin circulation — 600

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Under the Wrekin is a not-for-profit magazine. Our printing costs are met by income from advertising by commercial companies. We do not charge for publishing stories and adverts for not-for-profit organisations and events. If you’d like to make a donation towards our running costs, please let us know.

Advertising rates (1 year i.e. 6 editions)

£25 – quarter page £45 – half page £75 – full page

For more details, contact:

Ray Owen

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 01743 257357

Deadline for Deadline for Edition advertising editorial April - 1st March 15th March May June - 1st May 15th May July August - 1st July 15th July September October - 1st September 15th September November December - 1st November 15th November January February - 1st January 15th January March

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FREE FIRST AID & DEFIBRILLATOR WORKSHOPS

These Workshops are for anyone who's interested in learning more about First Aid and how to use our new defibrillator installed on Buildwas Village Hall.

The training will be delivered by Telford First Responders on Saturday 15th February 2020.

There will be 2 drop-in sessions on the day - just turn up - no booking required. 9.30am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 3.00pm

No previous experience of First Aid is necessary, and the training will be tailored to individuals or small groups and so, for example, if you have been previously trained and are only after a refresher we will do a shorter session with you. If you are coming with minimal or no previous knowledge of First Aid please allow ~30 mins to be trained and have a practice.

The Telford First Responders are one of the charities that The Buildwas Players panto is raising funds for this year. Telford First Responders recently purchased a new 4 x 4 rapid response vehicle which needs funding to kit it out with the required equipment.

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MyShropshire MyShropshire is a new online account that gives you quick and easy access to a range of online services offered by Shropshire Council. This account is tied into Shropshire Council’s CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system, which allows you to keep track of all the things you've reported to them, and makes it easier for you to interact with an ever- increasing range of services - whenever or wherever you wish to use them. Shropshire Council is adding new functions and content to this regularly to make MyShropshire even better, so check back and let me know what you think! What can I do on MyShropshire? Currently, you can access the following services: Make a comment, compliment or complaint • Report a pothole • Report a streetlight or illuminated sign issue • Report a spillage • Report an issue with a barrier or bollard • Report an issue with a manhole cover or drainage grid • Report an issue with road markings • Report an issue with a sign • Report an issue with kerbs or studs (cats eyes) • Report flooding • Report an issue with traffic lights • Report an issue with an electronic sign • Report an issue with a bridge, cattle grid or retaining wall • Salting and snow clearance. As time goes by more services will be added. Why have an online account? The MyShropshire account will give you access to a wide range of services at any time of the day. This gives you the freedom to report, request or pay for something when you have free time, rather than having to find the time to ring or visit the Council during normal working hours. It’s important to note that an online transaction also costs much less than a phone call or visit in person, with costs in the pence rather than pounds. The money saved can then be used for the services the Council offers, such as adult social care or Children’s Services. Every time you use MyShropshire you are helping the Council continue to provide quality services for the residents of Shropshire. Best wishes Claire Wild Councillor for the Severn Valley Division Tel: 01743 255 884 Mob: 07582 002 100 Email: [email protected]

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February & March 2020 Page 7

AN INTERVIEW WITH MRS NELLIE HEATH This article was originally published in the July 2019 edition of the Buildwas Church 300 Restoration Project newsletter. Nellie sadly passed away in November 2019. Our condolences to her family.

Your family have been involved with Buildwas Church for five generations: can you tell us in what ways they were involved? In 1937, at sixteen years of age, I was offered a job of looking after two small boys at Buildwas Vicarage. I received five shillings a week. You must have lots of memories of the church in general and its affiliation with the Women’s Institute (W.I.) - are there any services or events that stand out to you? My earliest memories of Buildwas Church are taking Communion at 8 o’clock in the morning with just the vicar and verger for company. It was the Reverend Arthur Davies; the verger was Mr Massey. There was then an eleven o’ clock service, where there was only one person in each pew. This could have been because each family had its own pew to sit in. The final service of the day was at 6.30, where the church had its own choir. That was where I met Ernie Heath, as he was in the choir. At that time, no one had a car, so all had to walk to church, even the vicar, although at one stage, a local farmer lent the vicar a horse to get around the village. Did the church and W.I. fundraise together? I joined the Mothers’ Union in 1948, when my son John was born. The Mothers’ Union did a lot to raise funds for the church, by holding cake stalls, rummage sales, etc. The Mothers’ Union flag is actually held in the church and was made by Mrs. Ralphs of Saplins Lane and Mrs. Newell of Abbey Grange. I joined the W.I. when it first started (date unknown), and the W.I. helped the Mothers’ Union to again raise funds for the church by doing pantomimes, dances, garden fetes and flower festivals in the church. These events all helped to bring the village together.

August 1987 Flower Festival. The theme was ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ Three of the pictures below are of the flowers in the porch of the church

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And did you have any administrative or leadership roles within the group? My role in the W.I. was just a member, but I was always at the fore to help out.

Priscilla Ellen Heath (Nellie), was born at Eaton Constantine on 7th September 1920 but she spent most of her life at Buildwas. She was an active member of the Church, Village Hall, Mothers Union, and Womens Institute. John & Doreen, Rob & Caroline and all the family send their thanks to all who sent cards and letters and for the donations to Buildwas Church which came to £839.

Buildwas W.I. put on shows to support the church. Left to Right: Ethel Bishop (Buildwas) • Nellie Heath (Lawless Cross) • Diane Passey (Church Farm) • Joan Yapp (Buildwas) • Phyllis Hunting (Buildwas) • Cherry Passey (Church Farm) • Rose Hawkins (Buildwas) • Jill Passey (Church Farm) • Mrs Passey (Church Farm) • Mrs Jones (bottom of Leighton Bank) GRAND FATHER CLOCK REPAIRS

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February & March 2020 Page 9

A LOOK BACK IN TIME….. Many of us remember Jane Wood and Pierre, former landlady and landlord of The Kynnersley Arms (‘The Kyn’) in Leighton under the Wrekin. They have now moved to France. Jane has nearly every edition of Under The Wrekin since she started collecting them. She’s sent us an extract from the November/December 1984 edition of Under the Wrekin. The Vicar at the time was the Reverend Timothy Fox. The front cover illustration was by Kate Ford showing the recently demolished Ironbridge Power Station cooling towers in the background.

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February & March 2020 Page 13

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CHURCH SERVICE TIMES

Buildwas 1st Sunday 3,00pm Evening Service 2nd Sunday 3,00pm Holy Communion 3rd Sunday 3,00pm Evening Service 4th Sunday 4.00pm 4th@4 Eaton Constantine 9.30am every Sunday Leighton 1st Sunday 11.00am Holy Communion 2nd Sunday 9.30am Family Service 3rd Sunday 11:00am Morning Service 4th Sunday 6.30pm Evening Service Uppington 9.45am every Sunday (not 22nd March) There is a service of Holy Communion at Eaton Constantine Church on Ash Wednesday (26th February) at 7pm Wrockwardine Church has an hour of Private Prayer and Reflection on Tuesday lunchtimes between 12noon and 1pm and a service of Holy Communion each Wednesday at 10.30am. On Mothering Sunday (22nd March) there are Family Services at Eaton Constantine at 9.30am and at Leighton at 11.00am. There is no evening service at Leighton on this Sunday. On Sunday 29th March there is a Deanery Family Communion Service at Upton Magna at 11am. There are no other services in the Deanery on this Sunday. HEARING LOOP SYSTEMS ARE OPERATING IN LEIGHTON & EATON CONSTANTINE CHURCHES. IF YOU WEAR A HEARING AID, PLEASE PROGRAMME IT TO “T”. For full details of service times and locations, visit wrockwardinedeanery.org.uk

A BIG THANK YOU…. I am writing to say ‘thank you’ and acknowledge someone’s community spirit. As we travel through Leighton regularly it has been so noticeable in recent years how the hedge between Kynnersley Lane and Home Farm Lane has encroached the footpath, making it very narrow and hazardous with fronds of vegetation growing along the ground. A community spirited resident last week cleared back the footpath to a decent width and gave the appearance of someone caring for their village. I would just like to acknowledge their effort, from a “grateful resident”. Kind regards, Victoria Todd

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THE BUILDWAS PLAYERS 2020 PANTO This was the first performance of this particular script of Ali Baba, written specially for us by Darren Edwards, who has provided various scripts for us in the past. This year we were raising funds for the Telford First Responders and The Leighton Church Organ Restoration Fund. Telford First Responders are a team of volunteers who attend 999 calls on behalf of West Midlands Ambulance Service, where they can arrive first or assist the ambulance crew. They have recently purchased a 4x4 response vehicle (which they’ve called ‘The Beast’) so required funding to kit out the vehicle with equipment. Because our panto will be performed just after the publishing date for this edition of Under the Wrekin (start of February), we’ll let you know how much we raised in the next edition. We’ll be presenting the cheque to Telford First Responders when they come to give our community free First Aid Training on Saturday 15th February in Buildwas Village Hall (see the separate article in this edition). We are grateful to the following individuals and companies for their support this year: • Gemma from Gem Academy of Madeley - www.gemacademy1.com – for choreographing our dances • Marches Care Ltd – sponsors of our stage insurance • Oak Furniture Land of Telford – cardboard for scenery • Rob Wilcox – storing scenery • John Heath – stage lighting equipment • Tim & Lorraine Pratt – loan of caravan • Richard Crossman - loan of sound equipment A big ‘thankyou’ to our cast, backstage crew and all our supporters for all their hard work and dedication over the past few months - we started rehearsing back in September and February has come around again so quickly! We have had a lot of fun and laughs along the way and we keep getting asked what we are going to do next year - watch this space!! If anyone is interested in taking part in next year’s production (2021), then please let us know by calling 01952 432497 or email buildwasplayers @outlook.com. It’s great fun and there are lot of roles available – as well as acting and singing, we need people to help with prop making, costumes, scenery etc. We will start rehearsing again on Tuesday nights from September and perform in February 2021. Please contact me if you’d like a DVD of this year’s performance – DVDs will be on sale soon at £2.00 each. Nigel Bowen, Producer, The Buildwas Players, Tel: 01952 432497 Email: [email protected] Web: facebook.com/thebuildwasplayers

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The quarterly Shrewsbury Rural East Newslettter which was produced by the West Mercia Police Safer Neighbourbood Team has now been replaced by a Community Messaging Service (CMS). This can be found at the West Mercia Police website which gives you lots of regular information regarding all areas: www.westmercia.police.uk/news/west-mercia/news

These are some recent reports for our area: Telephone scam targeting the elderly and vulnerable Be aware of telephone callers pretending to be police and from other official bodies. Please help raise awareness by sharing the below message with family, friends and any vulnerable neighbours...'to be forewarned is to be forearmed'. West Mercia Police have been made aware of attempts to defraud people over the telephone. One victim was called on the phone and grew suspicious after the caller claimed they were from Hammersmith Police claiming the victim's debit card had been cloned and they had two people in custody. Sergeant Ingrid Tozer said: "We have seen a number of attempts to defraud elderly and vulnerable people out of their banked savings and cash. Criminals pretending to be police officers are using a type of scam known as 'courier fraud' where they tell the victim to go to their bank, withdraw their money and hand it over to waiting courier. "In the last few cases in Shrewsbury the victims of the attempts have realised something wasn't right and hung the phone up. • Don't trust anyone who calls you about your bank details or asking you to go to a bank to withdraw money. Always hang up and wait 10 minutes to ensure the call has disconnected before calling 101. • If you want to check they are legitimate, find their number via directory enquiries and call them back. • If possible, also use a different telephone line to make sure the line is clear e.g. a mobile phone or the phone of a trusted friend or relative. If they are genuine, you should be able to get through to them. You can also check what they are saying is true with your bank. • Scams can be very elaborate, very convincing and cruel. If you think someone is trying to scam you, tell someone straight away. Don't be pressured and give yourself time to stop and think.

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• Please remember the police will never contact you asking for your bank card or cash. We will also never ask you to purchase expensive items or transfer money to a safe account If someone does, it's a scam - provide no details and hand nothing over, hang up and report it immediately to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040 or the police by calling 101." "We are working hard to identify these criminals trying to con our elderly and vulnerable family members and friends and a number of arrests have been made and charges have been brought. However we would ask the public to spread this message of caution and awareness throughout the wider community and would urge you to pass on, particularly to elderly relatives or neighbours, information about these scams and ask them not to trust anyone who asks them for their bank details or for money over the phone." Theft from sheds OIS 116S 311219, 03:52HRS 31 DECEMBER, EATON CONSTANTINE Unknown person or persons have entered the rear garden of a house and removed padlocks from 4 garden sheds. Property has then been stolen. Crime Prevention: Sadly padlocks alone will not prevent many of our thieves. With battery operated cutting tools readily available, it has made it easy for padlocks to be removed allowing access to your buildings. Where possible, please consider having an alarm in these outbuildings, whether the alarm is connected to a power source or powered by batteries, it will provide a further deterrent to the thief. With the theft described above, the owner of the sheds had CCTV installed that captured the offender in the early hours. Whilst thieves are CCTV aware and will cover their faces to avoid being recognised, we can sometimes gain useful information from what they are wearing. Consider having CCTV installed along with outside lighting. Further crime prevention information can be found online. Action Fraud Action Fraud is the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime where you should report fraud if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cybercrime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: www.actionfraud.police.uk You can report fraud or cybercrime using the online reporting service any time of the day or night; the service enables you to both report a fraud and find help and support. Action Fraud also provides help and advice over the phone through the Action Fraud contact centre. You can talk to our fraud and cybercrime specialists by calling 0300 123 2040.

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DEALING WITH DISAPPOINTMENT Happy New Year. I thought I would take this opportunity to cheer you up. Or perhaps not. I have just spent some time on Facebook and as much as I love it, there are some things that I find irritating. I am very relaxed, but I do find the perfection portrayed in some people’s lives just a tad difficult. That can be particularly true over the Christmas period. I understand why people post good stuff, and boy do we need good news. Sometimes I look at people’s perfect Christmas tree, perfect Christmas pics with their perfect family and I feel a tad intimidated. For many of us life isn’t that perfect, together or ordered. Our lives are frayed around the edge and our lives are messy. Several people have commented on how helpful they found my honesty in the article about my dad and his long battle with dementia. Unsurprisingly he lost that battle with dementia, and during the later days of Advent I had the privilege of doing the eulogy as we celebrated his life. Life is just a tad messy and in the middle of the run up to Christmas we were grieving. Three days after my dad’s funeral we had the sadness of our dog tragically dying too. I have never had a dog before, and I never understood dog owners and their sense of immense grief when part of their family died. Now I get it. We were devastated. Life is messy and grieving for Lola in the run up to Christmas and beyond reminded me yet again of the frayed edges of my far from perfect life. Nothing like the picture-perfect lives I sometimes see on Facebook or elsewhere. So why am I telling you all this? Simply because this is part of real life and because it is OK not to be OK. It is OK to struggle some days, and struggle in seasons of our lives. It is OK not to have picture perfect lives and have everything sorted. It is OK not to put on that mask and pretend everything is fine when it is not. As we approach lent, we look forward to Easter. When I look at the Nativity and the Cross, I see that God has come to live in the messiness of our world. In Jesus we know that God gets vulnerability and understands our humanity and our pain. I know for certain he is not distant or far removed from my brokenness. God loves us as we are, and longs to draw near to us and walk with us in the good times and the bad. I don’t have to pretend and I don’t have to be sorted to walk with him, and be comforted by him. I want to be OK, but ultimately it is OK not to be OK. Rev Andy Ackroyd 01952 252078 Team Rector and Rural Dean of the Wrockwardine Deanery. ‘Following, Loving, Serving Jesus, as one church in 21 places’ wrockwardinedeanery.org.uk

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8:00am - 8:00pm 8:00am - 8:00pm 9:00am - 4:00pm 9:00am - 4:00pm

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LOCAL PARISHES MEETING WITH HARWORTH Presentation on the recently submitted outline planning application for the redevelopment of the site. Thursday 9th January 2020 Harworth submitted their planning application in late December 2019, the application was then checked (validated) by Shropshire Council and will be made public and loaded onto the Shropshire Council planning portal on Friday 10th January 2020. The public consultation period has been extended to 56 days to ensure as much time as possible for residents, Parish and Town Councils to comment. The application is very large and will take some time to read and digest. Harworth are providing a non- technical summary available at libraries and also links to the proposed master plan which can be viewed on the Buildwas PC website. I will also send the link to the surrounding Parishes to put on their websites. The event was introduced by Stuart Ashton, Harworth’s Head of Planning who many of you will remember from the previous consultation events. Stuart explained that there are two applications, one for the mineral extraction (sand and gravel) and one for the outline application for the redevelopment of the site. Mineral applications are always dealt with separately. This is the most expensive planning application ever made by the group, the application fee for the redevelopment of the site was £225k, the mineral application fee was £78k and the rest was made up of their consultant fees. Just before our meeting Harworth and Council officers had met with Network rail who confirmed today that they will fund the works needed to repair the Albert, Edward bridge which is grade 2 listed to enable it to be used to transport the 2 million tonnes of sand and gravel from the site and also 700,000 tonnes of ash. This news is very welcome. When the train is operational it will make one journey a day. There were two presentations the first was on the master plan. This was presented by David Leonard of Leonard Design Architects. My take on it.... The master plan has changed since May 2019, the Quarry has been removed and changes have been made around the flood plain to take into account comments from the Environment Agency over the 100-year flood risk. You will be able to see the master plan in more detail on the website. The existing site entrance will only be used for buses, cyclists and pedestrians. The two entrances to the site will be off the Much Wenlock road. There does seem to be good cycling and pedestrian routes around the site to The Severn Way. There will be 6 hectares of business office space around the transformer which could be up to 4 stories high.

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The two million tonnes of sand and gravel coming out of the ground by the Much Wenlock road would reduce ground levels and the development would be below existing ground levels to protect the historic abbey. The construction of homes will start in 2022 near Ironbridge and 2025/27 on the Much Wenlock road site. The second presentation was from Mark Higgins from ADC Infrastructure. Mark talked about the traffic modelling and figures done to date. My take on it ....In broad terms the proposed housing will double the traffic onto Buildwas bank. The business units will create the same level of traffic as when the site was active so were not included in the figures. The traffic modelling work hasn’t been completed yet so the B4380 and A4169 figures will not be available for a while. This will mean that there will be an additional consultation period to consider these figures. By 2036 there will be 3 problem areas, these will all be on the A4169. These are: • Buildwas bank/Much Wenlock/Buildwas road junction • A4169/Castlefieldsway/Majestic drive • A4169/Victoria road/High street/ Bridgnorth road with B378 Junction. The proposals did include details of junction improvements and mitigation with traffic lights proposed for Buildwas bank. There were quite a few questions; electric car provision, parking provision, the volume of traffic on the Much Wenlock road to name a few. Increased traffic is going to be a major concern for many residents in the surrounding area. Please take a look at the documents on the website and feedback your comments/ concerns . The determination will take up to a year and substantial changes or additional information for example the B4380 and A4169 traffic modelling will go out for further consultation. This is a major application and will have implications for us all. I am hoping that we will have another opportunity to talk with Harworth and their consultants before the application is determined, please let your representatives know what you think. Best wishes Claire Wild Chair of Performance Management Security Committee Councillor for the Severn Valley Division Tel: 01743 255 884 Mob: 07582 002 100 Email: [email protected]

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New Planning Applications published on 10/01/2020 relating to electoral division: Severn Valley Reference: 19/05509/MAW (validated: 19/12/2020) Address: Proposed Quarry to the East of Much Wenlock Road, Buildwas, Telford, Shropshire Proposal: Phased extraction and processing of sand and gravel including the erection of processing plant and ancillary infrastructure, temporary storage of minerals, utilisation of existing rail siding and creation of new access road on to Much Wenlock Road; restoration of the site. Applicant: Harworth Group Plc (Fao: Mr C Warren, Advantage House, Poplar Way, Catcliffe, Rotherham, S60 5TR) View online at: pa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do? activeTab=summary&keyVal=Q2REMBTD07V00

Reference: 19/05560/OUT (validated: 20/12/2019) Address: Ironbridge Power Station, Buildwas Road, Ironbridge, Telford, Shropshire, TF8 7BL Proposal: Outline application (access for consideration comprising formation of two vehicular accesses off A4169 road) for the development of (up to) 1,000 dwellings; retirement village; employment land comprising classes B1(A), B1(C), B2 and B8; retail and other uses comprising classes A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, D1 and D2; allotments, sports pitches, a railway link, leisure uses, primary/nursery school, a park and ride facility, walking and cycling routes, and associated landscaping, drainage and infrastructure works Applicant: Harworth Group Plc (Advantage House, Poplar Way, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S60 STR) View online at: pa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do? activeTab=summary&keyVal=Q2YLFWTD06Z00

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EATON CONSTANTINE VILLAGE HALL We held our first committee meeting of 2020 on Monday 6th January after our monthly coffee morning. The attendance for our coffee mornings is increasing slowly. We all enjoy meeting everyone and having a nice general chat. Tea, coffee, biscuits and sometimes cake are provided. We do have a collection pot for donations for the hall. Everyone is welcome so forget the Monday morning blues and pop in on the first Monday of the month 10.00am – 12.00 am. The hall has had to have replacement guttering at the end of the year. Unfortunately on the one side it contained asbestos, so as you can imagine this was an expensive repair. Hopefully it will keep the hall dry for the foreseeable future. We are hosting January’s inter village quiz. Good luck to our quiz team. The A.G.M. is on Monday 2nd March 2020. 12.00noon (after the coffee morning). If you would have liked to come but cannot make the day please let me know if there is anything you wish to say. Don’t forget the A.G.M. is the time for your voice to be heard. Also, if you would like to join the committee, please come along or contact a committee member Please check the forthcoming events in the Under the Wrekin diary of events 2020. Please support the village hall. As the saying goes “use us or lose us” Sheila Woodfield 01952 510566 [email protected]

LEIGHTON AND EATON CONSTANTINE W.I. We’ve started the New Year with a talk by Michael Theobald. He had spent a year on St Helena, the island that Napoleon was exiled to. A long way from anywhere but an interesting society. We’re making plans for the year ahead, with meals and outings. We will be taking part in Leighton village halls 60th Anniversary celebrations. Our programme is as follows (Eaton Constantine Village Hall) 4th February Our birthday party (Swan Hotel) 3rd March Shrewsbury and Newport canal (Brian Nelson) We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm, except August. October to March at Eaton Constantine village hall. April to September at Leighton village hall. For further information please ring Sandra on 01952 510535.

February & March 2020 Page 27

EATON CONSTANTINE LIVE MUSIC

Heidi Browne in Concert Saturday 29th February 7:30 pm start Following our December show (reviewed below) I'm really excited that next up we have Heidi Browne. Heidi is an exceptional singer and a Shropshire star with an appeal way beyond the folk and acoustic world. Her songs have been described as 'a string of pearls for the ears, nothing less'. She has a wide repertoire of pop/soul/jazz/folk/rock classics and five solo albums of her own melodic and hook-laden songs. She'll explain where these come from and use a range of well-crafted song styles to ensure a great night. Solo she plays guitar and piano and her voice delivers the rest of the band. I'm a big fan. Come along prepared to join in. Look at the events calendar for our two further shows this year. All guaranteed excellent. Dan Walsh - what a great show! An appreciative audience of 41 cheered and joined in as Dan treated us to a banjo and guitar rollercoaster of sensitivity and speed. It was hard to keep up with the accelerating foot tapping as the fingers flew faster and faster. From Irish jigs and reels, English folk, American bluegrass, an Indian inflected reel and even a bluegrass jig, Dan showed a mastery and mixture of different musical traditions. Remarkably most of the tunes and songs were his own compositions and he movingly described his inspiration behind these. It was great to see so many regulars at a memorable and lovely evening - all supporting intimate live music by a local musician who tours around the world. Inside, the hall was warm and welcoming; outside, it was wild and windy. Many thanks and spread the word! Geoff Check out www.danwalshbanjo.co.uk for more about Dan and also his teaching and outreach projects.

Page 28 Under the Wrekin magazine

Eaton Constantine Village Hall

Heidi Browne

Delicately crafted rootsy, Jazz/Folk

Saturday 29th February 7:30pm

Tickets £10 (child £6) from: Geoff 07484 304766 [email protected] Sheila 01952 510309 [email protected]

February & March 2020 Page 29

Lawley and the Magical Legends of Shropshire Magical dragons, windswept hillsides, time travel and Shropshire Folklore come together in this first book by local author Christine d’Albert. Inspired by the hillscape of ‘The Lawley’ near Church Stretton, Christine wrote a collection of folklore-based stories principally for her grandchildren. Now complete and in published form, Christine hopes ‘Lawley and the Magical Legends of Shropshire’ will inspire children and families to seek their own adventures, by following in the footsteps of the central characters and visiting the Shropshire locations referenced in the book. A map in the rear pages of the book shows the places where Lawley’s adventures took place. Christine said of her inspiration for the book, ‘’Every time I travel through Church Stretton I glance up at the sharply defined hills, my sleeping monsters of long ago. One day I was wondering what would happen if one of them woke up. That was the moment Lawley came to life and demanded that his story be told”. The central character is a magical dragon, ‘’Lawley’’ who befriends a young boy Sam, and his dog Dotty, and takes them back in time to where folktales began, to see robbers and giants and share his mischief and fun. ‘Deep down in the darkness of the earth, the rumbling began. A little lizard dragon woke up. He felt a tickling then a wriggling in the rocks around him. It seemed as if giant hands were squeezing his body. Waves of sound battered him and he was smothered in smoke. People were celebrating the New Year. The noise from their fireworks echoed in the earth below. This was the magic that woke the little lizard dragon. This is what he had been waiting for…….’ © Helen Foxall 2018

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This 84 page, A5 children’s paperback book costs £6.00 and has been illustrated by ‘Under the Wrekin’ based artist, Helen Foxall, Christine’s daughter. The book references several local landmarks and is printed by Bishop’s Castle based publisher YouCaxton Publications. If you would like to obtain a copy of the book please email [email protected] If purchasers quote ‘Buildwas church 300’, £1 from the sale will be donated to the Buildwas300 church funds for each book sold. Copies can be signed by the illustrator on request.

Illustrations © Helen Foxall 2018

Crystal Evans MCFHP MAFHP Caring foot treatment, either in the clinic or in the comfort of your own home, office, residential, nursing home or sheltered accommodation.

Chiropody care offered: Routine nail care Ingrown nails Nail deformities Foot massage Verruca / Chilblains Corns/Callus reduction/ prevention Athletes foot / Fungal infection Foot health assessment Insole and pressure relief padding

Weekend and out of normal hours appointments available

To book an appointment call 01952 771 113 or 07787

February & March 2020 Page 31

UNDER THE WREKIN COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Use this calendar to help prevent clashes when planning your events. For more details about each event, see the articles and adverts in this edition and / or previous editions. Let us know about your upcoming events and meetings by emailing [email protected] and we’ll add them to the calendar!

FEBRUARY Monday 3rd: Coffee Morning at Eaton Constantine Village Hall from 10am until noon. Tuesday 4th: Leighton & Eaton Constantine WI’s Birthday Party - Eaton Constantine Village Hall Thursday 6th, Friday 7th & Saturday 8th: The Buildwas Players panto ‘Ali Baba & the 40 Thieves’ - 7.30pm (including matinee 2.30pm on Saturday) in Buildwas Village Hall Saturday 15th: Free First Aid & Defibrillator Workshops - 9.30am - 3.00pm - Buildwas Village Hall. Come along for a half hour workshop Saturday 15th: Much Wenlock Male Voice Choir Casino Night, Priory Hall,7.30pm - ticket required see page 53 Saturday 29th: Music Evening - Heidi Browne - 7.30pm at Eaton Constantine Village Hall MARCH Monday 2nd: Coffee Morning at Eaton Constantine Village Hall from 10am until noon. Monday 2nd: Eaton Constantine Village Hall AGM at 12noon. Tuesday 3rd: Shrewsbury and Newport Canal - Brian Nelson - Leighton & Eaton Constantine WI - at Eaton Constantine Village Hall Saturday 14th: Leighton Village Hall 60th Anniversary Celebration Free entry. 4-7pm

APRIL Thursday 30th (new date): Amphibian and Reptile session led by Dr John Wilkinson from The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust. 10.30am in Buildwas churchyard

MAY Monday 11th: Closing date for our “Spring into Summer” Photograph Competition

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JUNE Saturday 6th: Music Evening - John Clachen - 7.30pm at Eaton Constantine Village Hall Saturday 27th: Wrekin Beer & Cider Festival Midday - 11.30pm in Leighton Village Hall JULY Saturday 4th: Buildwas Village Fete - 2.00 - 4.00pm on Buildwas village playing field AUGUST Saturday 22nd: Vintage Tea Party - 4.00pm at Eaton Constantine Village Hall NOVEMBER Saturday 21st: Music Evening - Whalebone - 7.30pm at Eaton Constantine Village Hall

PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS

Buildwas

www.buildwasparishcouncil.org.uk

Meet at 7:30pm in Buildwas Village Hall on the 3rd Monday of every other month: 16th March; 18th May; 20th July; 21st September; 16th November

Leighton & Eaton Constantine

www.leightonandeatonconstantineparishcouncil.org.uk

Wroxeter & Uppington

www.hugofox.com/community/ wroxeter-uppington-parish-council-12859/home

Meet at 7:30pm on the 2nd Monday of every other month: 9th March, 11th May, 13th July, 14th September, 9th November.

February & March 2020 Page 33

Page 34 Under the Wrekin magazine

Terry Corfield – Interior Decorator Cross Houses, Shrewsbury

Services Offered:  Wallpapering / Painting  Wall Tiling  Interior Design  Laminate Flooring  Sign Writing  Glazing Repairs

Advanced City and Guilds Qualified with over 23 years experience Contact: 01743 761818 Mobile: 07900 588 537

The 4th @ 4 J B

A new venture for Holy Trinity, Buildwas - PLUMBING a service of informal & HEATING worship & praise on the 4th Sunday General Plumbing of every month Oil Boiler Specialist at 4.00pm in Buildwas Church Bathroom Design & Installation Heating Breakdowns & Installation Come join us and Underfloor Heating find out more! Friendly & Reliable

Everyone welcome Call John 07793 098926 01952 616208

February & March 2020 Page 35

COUNTRYSIDE OBSERVATIONS by David Strefford As we come to another new year, we wonder what life has in store for us all. I met a person who had only come to live here a short while ago. They said I expect it will be as boring as usual. Boring, whatever do you mean I asked, this is not a boring place to live. Nothing ever happens here came her reply. Oh, dear me, I see something new every day, every day is different in my eyes. I often think most folks walk around with their eyes closed Today the sun is shining, its warm and the birds are singing, mainly robins, it makes me feel as though Spring is just around the corner. The snowdrops are about coming out, their little white heads dancing in a gentle breeze. Near me is a garden and under the tree’s multitudes of blue and yellow crocus stand to attention and clumps of daffodils showing their sword like buds. I think we do get lulled into thinking maybe they are better than the previous year after the long, wet winter weather. God certainly does move in mysterious ways his wonders to perform, it makes one feel so small and insignificant. Quite a few birds are pairing up. We were at Ellesmere the other weekend, the herons have built a nest, they have a camera on it, herons are one of the earliest birds to nest, usually in the tallest trees near water. Magpies and most members of the crow family are early too. Mistle Thrush locally known as ‘Jack Straw’ the largest of the thrush family nest in February, one nests every year in my yew tree, I often see the cock bird strutting across the lawn, with his cream coloured breast spotted with black, they do sing but not as melodious as its cousin the song thrush. I stopped by two fields on a wide part of the road and looked out across the fields and to my horror viewed acres upon acres of solar panels, how awful, I think it spoils the countryside immensely. I don’t think they enhance roof tops either. Someone once said, ‘Britain would never be a countryside of people and houses’ I wonder what they would say now? Solar panels yuck! After that day I came across many more acres of the ugly things, it makes me sad when I see the desecration where it all is going to end, I do not know. I am afraid technology is becoming the norm in our lives, in some areas it is a good thing, such as medicine, to take a diseased organ out of a body and put a healthy one in, it’s phenomenal but with some things it has gone a little too far.

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Daffodils will soon be blooming along the road side, they brighten the soul. Have you ever looked closely, their intricate trumpet, you can let your imagination run riot and imagine a trumpet fanfare heralding the return of springtime, the season of new birth. We all wait expectantly for the leaves to adorn our trees and hedges each with a different shade and thus the cycle begins all over again. Isn’t nature wonderful, we worry about the weather, but why, it all comes right in the end, it may be early, it may be late, but it will happen, and everything catches up, how fickle we are? Man does some detrimental things, with his solar panels and mobile phone masts, pylons, windmills and the like but he will never stop the strong hand of nature! ‘He brings the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain, the breezes and the sunshine and soft refreshing rain!’ I may be sentimental but it does make sense, get out there, use your eyes and ears and your noses, look at and around this amazing place and nature at it’s best, listen to the sounds and smell the amazing aromas, new ploughed fields, freshly mourn hay, the flowers and blossom. It’s alive! It’s different every day! Boring never!

BUILDWAS VILLAGE HALL

If you are having a party/wedding and are short of tables and chairs call Jill 01952 433179

We can supply chairs and trestle tables for your event at a low cost

Collection only

February & March 2020 Page 37

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Welcome to Wendy’s shop which isn’t a shop!

I have a stall in my little extension at home. Everything on the stall is free. Items vary, including: • new collapsible hose pipes • handmade birthday cards • hand spun alpaca and silk • outdoor/indoor lights • outdoor/indoor plants There is a box for donations but that is entirely up to you, you can put a very small amount or nothing at all. I really want to keep this going and there are different items all the time. At the moment it is open from 2pm on Friday afternoon but if you contact me beforehand you could come anytime. My 7-year-old great grandchild came and I told her to pick anything she wanted, and as she left, she asked if I was really good friends with Father Christmas! It really made my day. My address is The Ridings, on the B4380 in Leighton under the Wrekin, postcode SY5 6RN, just west of The Kynnersley Arms pub (‘The Kyn’), opposite Leighton village hall. Please call 07788 995665 to make an appointment. Wendy

February & March 2020 Page 39

EATON HOUSE STABLES AND BILL BROOKES Ray Owen’s article in the last edition of Under the Wrekin has prompted Elizabeth Dreeling to submit her own contribution. I think the stables started in the late forties, but I’m not sure as I was only very young at that time. Mr Brookes was generally known as Billy Brookes, but his real name was Wilfred Andrew. The first stables he used were in the farmyard of Eaton House, and at the time he also used the stables at Leighton Hall. Sometime in the early 50’s there was a bad fire at Leighton stables, whilst being used by Mr Brookes. Thankfully all the horses were led to safety and no one was injured. In the early 50’s Mr Brookes had new stables built in the orchard at Eaton House, which was opposite Eaton shop. I remember Sean Thompson going to work there, he was head lad, and that would be in the late 40’s. He and his family lived in the row then, and later moved up to Rural Cottages when these houses where built in the early 50’s. Mr Thompson’s brother, AP, was a jockey elsewhere, and he won the Grand National twice, once on Teal and once on Sheila’s Cottage. Sean later brought some friends over form Ireland, in the early 50’s, to work at the stables: Patsy Comerford, followed by his brother Joe, then in October 1957 Jack Dreeling (who was later my husband). Mr Brooke’s son-in-law, Peter Major, was stable jockey in the early days. He was married to Kathleen Brookes, and lived in Ivydean at the lower end of the village. About 1956 he rode a horse called Eternal in the Grand National, he suffered an awful fall, and had head injuries, which resulted in him being in hospital for a long time. Other professional jockeys such as Terry and Tony Biddlecombe, Josh Gifford, Brough Scott and David Nicholson, also used to ride horses for Mr Brookes. A mare called Diliska was at the stables (I think she was owned by Mrs Brookes), she was known for being stubborn and caused many riders to fall off during schooling as she would stop dead and the rider would go over her head. This horse had a foal which was called Pendil, a combination of the mare and the shire Pendragon, who was owned by Mrs Bebb who farmed at Haygate, Wellington. In later years when her farm land was sold for building a nearby road was named Pendil Close, after this foal. A lady from Wolverhampton owned several horses

Page 40 Under the Wrekin magazine which Mr Brookes trained, and most Sunday mornings she would drive over to see the horses. If a horse of hers had won a race that week, she would leave a ‘bonus’ for the groom who looked after it. Every year she organised a trip to the pantomime at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, for all the stable workers and their families which ended in refreshments for everyone, she was very generous. Mrs Brookes also owned horses, one I remember was dark brown and called ‘Wrekin’, which was looked after by Jack Dreeling. I remember seeing this horse win a race at Uttoxeter ridden by Tony Biddlecombe in the early 60’s. The horses were taken to the races in a horse box owned by Warwick Woodhall and his brother Paul, who were from Wellington. Many grooms worked there over the years. Some local, like George Welson, whose family lived at 17 Eaton Constantine, next door to the stables, others from Uppington and Cross Houses and some from farther away who lodged with families in the village. In latter years two or three lived in a caravan in the corner of the orchard where the stables were built. There was a story of one groom who set the bed clothes on fire in his lodgings, due to smoking in bed! Mr Brookes died in 1979.

Thomas Plumbing WREKIN WOOD & Heating TRADITIONAL WOODWORKING

Bespoke Furniture

Doors, Kitchens

Oak Framing

Porches, Garages etc

Renovations and Repairs

Joinery and Construction

Call Geoff Godwin on:

01952 510 270

07763 466 751

[email protected]

February & March 2020 Page 41

On 15th November we held our annual quiz evening at the village hall, one again ably facilitated by Sue and Pete Jones. We had a wonderful evening and were delighted to have raised about £450. You may recall that we have put together a village history working group. If you’re interested in being involved please contact Evee (01952510231 or [email protected]). Events On 14th March 2020, 4-7pm, we will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the village hall. To commemorate this, we are planning a special event, which will be free, fully funded by the village hall. This will include a village history display; live music, as well as tea & cake. Suitable for all ages. Please put this in your diary; it will hopefully be a wonderful occasion. Wrekin Beer and Cider Festival, will be on June 27th so please update your diaries! We will be refreshing the website soon, so please look out for the early bird discounts. And, a key element that keeps the prices down is sponsorship, so if you’re interested in opportunities for your business or personally we’d be delighted to hear from you either via the contact area at the bottom of the Shop page on the website or email to the details below. Activities Our weekly Zumba dancing class is going from strength to strength, meeting on Thursdays at 6pm. Facilitated by an instructor, it’s for all ages and abilities, so please come along and give it a go. Our weekly Crafts Group continues to be very popular, meeting on Wednesdays at 2pm. Come along to spin, knit, crochet or just chat, all welcome. Wrekin Spinners, 11am on 15th February, 21st March. Bookings Why not book the Hall for your special event or meeting? Booking is simple and costs a flat rate of £8 per hour. Furbished to a high standard, it has a kitchen, bar and ample parking. Email: [email protected]

Page 42 Under the Wrekin magazine

Contact and more information Website: leightonunderwrekin.org.uk Facebook: facebook.com/leightonevents Email: [email protected]

save the date 14th march 2020, 4-7PM

Leighton Village Hall 60th Anniversary Event Free! Live music Tea, cake and bubbles History display Suitable for all ages Good humour and fun! Supported by the WI, St Mary’s Church and with assistance from the Kynnersley Arms

facebook.com/leightonevents/

save the date 27th June 2020

Come join us at this annual family-friendly event that celebrates good beer and cider, with a large selection of real beers and ciders, as well as other drinks (prosecco, wine, lager and soft-drinks), good food and live entertainment provided throughout. Personal and business sponsorship packages available, providing valuable benefits and profile

wrekinbeerfestival.org facebook.com/thewrekinbeerandciderfestival/

February & March 2020 Page 43

FARMERS AND SMALL HOLDERS – PRODUCERS OF MILK. To my knowledge and in my experience in 1940 and until milk came in bottles from a commercial dairy, milk supplied to village homes came ‘raw’ from a local dairy farm of which there were several. In years gone by Mrs Evans from Poplars Farm was a small farmer in Garmston in the Parish of Leighton Under the Wrekin. It was near the narrow bend in the lane leading to Eaton Constantine. A stream which runs from The Wrekin to the River Severn is the parish boundary and was a culvert and many years ago could cause flooding after very heavy rain. The sale of the farm by Jack Clayton of Barbers was a very impressive sight. On the Eaton side of the bend was the tiny home of the Perry and Dyke family who probably had milk from The Poplars which was nearer than Mr Bill Brookes’ dairy or Bert Davies’ small holding in Eaton. When we moved to Eaton in 1947 Mr Richardson from Chilton Lane, Atcham had been delivering milk in bottles which extended to Garmston until he retired.

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At the top of the Rudge opposite Garmston House was Yew Tree House with farm buildings indicating a former farm holding. In the 1940’s a widow Mrs Fletcher lived there. Garmston Farm was a mixed farm in the last century and with Yew Tree House might have supplied milk to the six cottages that existed in Garmston at that time. • 1 and 2 Stone Cottages • Chance Cottage • Peartree Cottage • Walnut Cottage, and • Holly Cottage. Jancis Mander

Photographs opposite: Left: Wedding picture of Sara Alice Evans of Garmston and Ernest Broxton. Right: Ernie Broxton in his working clothes with his horse.

February & March 2020 Page 45

Page 46 Under the Wrekin magazine

ROAD CLOSURE Severn Trent Water are planning to undertake work on Garmston Lane from the village towards Rushton on Friday 21st February. To carry out the work, the road will be closed and traffic diverted.

SHROVE TUESDAY: WHO’S FOR PANCAKES? Why do we have pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day, as it is also known today? And what is Shrove Tuesday? And why do thousands of people feel it rewarding to race along a street somewhere tossing pancakes from their frying pans as they go? Well, the answer to the first question is that it is the day before Lent begins and for well over a thousand years that has meant it was the last chance to enjoy meat, fat and other tasty dishes until Easter Day. The ‘Lent Fast’ was widely and strictly observed. The food in the larder wouldn’t keep for six weeks so it had to be eaten. With all these rich foods no wonder the French call it ‘Fatty Tuesday’ – Mardi Gras. So, what have pancake races got to do with all this solemnity? ‘Shrove’ is an old word for ‘forgiven’ and in those days to prepare for the rigours of Lent people would want to confess and seek forgiveness – not quite what you want at a party. The answer is quite simply enjoying yourself while you can! So, on Shrove Tuesday this year (25th February) let’s have some fun and make it last as long as possible. The most convincing (and amusing) of the explanations of pancake races is of outwitting the Sexton who rang the curfew bell that marked the start of Lent. He was reluctant to do it while the race was unfinished. So, the revelry caused by dropped pancakes, postponed the inevitable. Since the Reformation it has not been so rigorously observed in Britain, but still people will resolve to ‘give up something for Lent’. Six weeks is about right as a duration and Sunday has always been exempt but make the most of those pancakes. They may well not reappear until April 12th!

February & March 2020 Page 47

THE ROSE TOWERS By Roy Bradshaw © 2019

The cooling towers at Ironbridge Power Station were demolished on Friday 6th December 2019. Roy Bradshaw wrote a poem about the towers which was broadcast on BBC Radio Shropshire on the day:

Alive, oh alive, hear some people say Torrid creations. electrifying a soul Milieu in nature, hidden deep in the knoll Quench silver snake, and absorb splashing spray Steam wheels into motion, a swirling ballet

Be strong, oh be strong, hear some people say Iconic mothers, quartet towering cool A hot situation, nurtured into a joule Expence, expence, the ladies defray This week, next month, tomorrow, today

Away, oh away, hear some people say A blight on the land, quick cometh the hour Be gone rose hue of malefic power The whispering gorge with a voice of dismay A parley in tongues of loose disarray

Stay, oh stay, hear some people say Great beasts of beauty, subliminally cast A pleasant reminder, of an historical past Asleep in the country, lonely figures array Watchful red eyes keeping danger at bay

Whichever way, oh hey, hear some people say New places to live, more town folk around Have to move on, make use of the ground Museum would do, seeds learn as they pay Pink giants aglow, enlightening the way

Hush, oh hush, hear some people say Stay silent alone, take care in the gloom Dried out over time, no longer a flume Left standing proud, but sure lo decay In their home for decades, Ironbridge valley

Breathe, oh breathe no more, hear some people say Rest a wispy head and await a dark fate Shocks of ironic power will reduce and abate Provider to many, the four feet of clay From a bridge with no mates, goodbye anyway

Page 48 Under the Wrekin magazine

EST. 1970 F.A. COLEY -PAINTING- -DECORATING- -BUILDING MAINTENANCE-

PRIVATE & COMMERCIAL Telephone: 01952 588238 Mobile: 07971 545622

NATIONAL TRUST REGISTERED CONTRACTOR

Chiropody & Podiatry New clinic based in Cressage - services include: • nail cutting/nail deformities • corns/callus and verrucae • ingrowing toenails • diabetic foot clinic • biomechanical assessments for painful feet/limbs • customised insoles • neurovascular assessments & diabetic foot care

Fully qualified (3 years training) & fully insured HCPC Registration NO: CH33162 (claimable on health insurance)

Mr Pius Karena Tel: 01952 510865 Mobile: 07790 038367 email: [email protected] website: www.crownpodiatry.co.uk

February & March 2020 Page 49

WALKING TO DONNINGTON SCHOOL FROM UPPINGTON I am Jancis Mander, who as Jancis Dodd, made that lonesome journey which will be imprinted on my mind as long as I am alive. On 3rd September 1939 my mother, my sister Carolyn and I got off the X96 Midland Red Bus at Bluebell Crossroads as evacuees from Coventry because my father feared for our safety in Coventry, now we were at war. We went to Uppington Vicarage where my aunt lived with her husband Rev Allan Dyck who was Belgian. I was 6 and half years old and had not been to school because it was not compulsory and my mother taught me at home. She was a teacher and now had to get a job to make ends meet so I had to go to school. The local primary was at Donnington which was not even a village but catered for all from Wroxeter and surrounding areas. My walk from the vicarage to Donnington was awesome and my father had to come from Coventry to walk the route with me and introduce me to the Headmaster, Will Collins. He said “This is Jim” which my father insisted on calling me to his dying day except on 14th April 1933 at my Baptism and when he married me to Mike Mander. I walked home from school alone dreading the next day, not on account of the walk, but of the school. Every day when Mum came to get me up, I pretended to be asleep, but I was listening to wood pigeons cooing in horse-chestnut trees along the lane outside. From the vicarage I walked past Uppington House, two cottages, the church, the Duke’s room, seeing nobody, turned left onto a rough track which led to a pasture field where I turned right and walked in the direction of Donnington. My eyes were fixed on everything I could see along the hedgerows at different times of the year – birds, insects, butterflies, dragonflies and all the wild flowers of the hedge. I came to a spinney – a collection of trees and in the branch of one was the round ball-like nest of the long-tailed tits with pale pink breasts. Coming away from the trees I would be faced with a huge field to walk across with no path. Once I was scared when I saw huge lorries racing along Mr Crows many acres, spreading lime. Sometimes, acewits (lapwings) would wheel round screaming as they followed the plough while higher up in the sky were music- making larks. My homeward journey at 3.30 was the same in reverse. I might have lingered longer and spotted George Mather with Jack Savage’s shire horse, Charlie. On one summer day in 1940 when the sun was so hot and flies were so bothersome, George lifted me onto Charlie’s sweaty back for the ride home. The only time I ever rode a live horse! When I was seven my grandmother Naka bought me a bicycle, so, many months later I was allowed to ride to Rushton and Charlton Hill and later still to The Horseshoe Pub and Wroxeter to get to Donnington, seeing only gypsies in Shoe Lane. All too much for a timid little girl – me. Jancis Mander

Page 50 Under the Wrekin magazine

FOR CLASS DETAILS CONTACT YOUR LICENSED ZUMBA INSTRUCTOR:

WENDY SOUTHORN

07891 358015

[email protected]

LEIGHTON VILLAGE HALL SY5 6RN £5 PAY AS YOU GO THURSDAYS 6pm

February & March 2020 Page 51

Great space BUILDWAS to book! VILLAGE HALL

Available to hire NOW!

The hall is a great place for kids parties, events and activities

Facilities include a full kitchen, fenced grassed area and a huge hall!

Call Jen on 07831 398763

www.buildwasvillage.com

Page 52 Under the Wrekin magazine

MUCH WENLOCK MALE VOICE CHOIR

Our recent Christmas concert for friends, family, patrons and the community was a super way to conclude our festive programme, and we now look forward to another exciting series of concerts and events in 2020. At this concert we thanked our accompanist Viv Redfern who stepped down from the role after serving the choir so well, and also Jean Spence and Eileen Pinder, who for many years have coordinated refreshments and hospitality at so many of our events both just for the choir, and more especially, when we host groups from further afield. Their contribution was hugely appreciated by all associated with the choir and they will be greatly missed. Our recruitment evening at the beginning of January saw a number of new faces come and give singing a try, and we hope that they will be encouraged to join us on a permanent basis. Remember, you can join the choir at any time, simply turn up on a Tuesday at 7.20pm at The William Brookes School, or contact us in any way as listed below for further information. Our next event is not a singing engagement but a social evening at The Priory Hall in Wenlock to which all are invited. Please do not be put off by the title as other than the cost of the ticket, no other ‘real’ money will change hands, it’s all a bit of fun!

CASINO NIGHT 7.30PM SATURDAY 15TH FEBRUARY PRIORY HALL MUCH WENLOCK ENTRY BY TICKET ONLY £10 TO INCLUDE A FISH AND CHIP SUPPER TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM CHOIR MEMBERS OR RING 01952 728758

Dick Langford Website mwmvchoir.org.uk Facebook facebook.com/mwmvchoir Instagram mwmalevoicechoir Email [email protected] Phone 01952 728758

February & March 2020 Page 53

News from Christ Church C.E. Primary School, Cressage Preparing, Sowing, Growing

What was your favourite book as a child? Last month we started off the New Year with some staff training on how to develop ‘reading for pleasure’. The greatest indicator that a child will succeed and fulfil their potential in GCSEs, A’ levels etc is if they choose to read. It is a more important factor than parental income, background, teachers etc. How do we encourage children to read more? It is easy to be pessimistic and say that with gaming – playstations etc. and children watching Youtube, that reading is less likely. However whilst screen time and how to manage this as a parent can be a challenge, there has also been a real increase in the quality and breadth of children’s literature. Walk around a local bookshop and you will see how many new books for children and young adults are being published. We are really lucky in Shropshire that the Council still fund a School Library Service and each term we have hundreds of great quality books, both fiction and related to our class topics. The children love delving into the boxes and choosing new books for themselves. Our Year 6s went on a visit last term and were amazed – there are tens of thousands of quality books at the Shire Hall base and they really enjoyed choosing for themselves. At our training day we read some research which said that ‘The most important thing a teacher can do is to read aloud.’ We could not agree more – and we have all made a 2020 resolution to read more to our classes. Acorns (year R and Year 1) work closely with Childrensworld, the on-site nursery (“Outstanding” – Ofsted). They work together on a Wednesday morning, during ‘Stay and Play’ and Childrensworld come and use our school hall for dance and join us for some assemblies and special events. Childrensworld also offer wrap around care for school children 8am-6pm and in the holidays. If you would like to know more about the school, or visit for a look around, please phone the School Office on 01952 510383. Don’t wait for an Open Day – we are always happy to show people around if you have a younger child, are moving into the area or considering a school change. We are the catchment area school for Cressage, Cross Houses, Cound, Coundmoor, Harley and Eaton Constantine but also welcome children attending from other villages. School Transport is available if you live outside of Cressage and within our catchment area, we have a school bus and taxi bringing in nearly 30 children. Tracey Cansdale, Headteacher Follow us on FaceBook or Twitter for regular news/updates: @ChristChurchSY5

Page 54 Under the Wrekin magazine

February & March 2020 Page 55

John Peters ELECTRICAL SERVICES

0195201952 511967 07773740246 704151 ALL TYPES OF DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL WORK UNDERTAKEN

FOR SALE - IDEAL PRESENT!

A collection of 22 recipes ‘A Taste of Buildwas’ contributed by Buildwas residents and compiled by Jill Grainger.

The book is being sold in aid of the Buildwas Church 300 Restoration Project.

£5 each

To order your copy, call 01952 432497

Page 56 Under the Wrekin magazine

This is a recipe from the collection called 'A Taste of Buildwas', contributed by local residents and compiled by Jill Grainger. The book is available to purchase for £5.00 by calling 01952 432497. All proceeds to the Buildwas Church 300 Restoration Fund

February & March 2020 Page 57

UPPINGTON IS GETTING A HAIRCUT! Vistas are being opened up in Uppington as overgrown hedges are being laid – giving new views towards the Wrekin. Nick Edwards has been laying hedges for the Raby Estate for many years, and has been working on a long length between the village and Wood Green, for local farmer Kel Jones. Hedge laying is an ancient craft that enables hedges to be rebuilt so that they are stockproof and give much needed habitats to birds and wild animals. There are many different regional styles but the principle is the same – cutting down overgrown old hedges and laying/pleaching the cut branches horizontally so that they form a framework which will then produce new shoots. It is hard work and skilled hedge layers take many months to perfect their art. The advantage of hedge laying is that trees that are planted in the hedgerow can be retained, which is not always so easy with mechanical trimming. The work is done between November and March so there is minimal disturbance to wildlife and birds. Jenny Chesshire

Page 58 Under the Wrekin magazine

REX TITLEY PERFECT PLUMBING LTD Painter, Decorator ALL ASPECTS OF PLUMBING and Tiler AND TILING

4 Abbey Terrace JAMES ELWELL Smithfield Road Much Wenlock Shropshire MOBILE TF13 6BE 07779 621434 01952 728442 Email: 07870 495131 [email protected]

COAL, LOGS & GAS BOTTLES

• Respected Family Business based in Shrewsbury • Supplying a wide variety of coals for open fires • Smokeless fuels for multi fuels burners • Hardwood logs • Selection of Gas Bottles • Free delivery in Shropshire • Collection / Cash and Carry Service available • Free Advice LMS New Yard, Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY1 2EN 01743 241122 www.ridgefuels.co.uk

February & March 2020 Page 59

FORMER IRONBRIDGE POWER STATION PLANNING APPLICATION OPEN FOR COMMENTS ON SHROPSHIRE AND TELFORD & WREKIN PLANNING PORTALS Dear All Our two planning applications that we submitted to Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council for the redevelopment of the former Ironbridge power station site are now available for review and comment on their planning portals: Outline application: which includes plans for 1,000 homes, a new local centre to contain a mix of leisure, commercial, retail and health uses, a primary school, nature corridors, public open space and the re-use of the site’s pump house to support either retail, community or river-based uses, can be viewed here, under application reference 19/05560/OUT: pa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do? activeTab=summary&keyVal=Q2YLFWTD06Z00 or on the Telford & Wrekin planning portal under the application reference TWC/2019/1046: secure.telford.gov.uk/planning/pa-applicationsummary.aspx? applicationnumber=TWC/2019/1046 Sand and gravel extraction: to extract up to 1.9million tonnes of sand and gravel can be viewed here, under application reference 19/05509/MAW: pa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do? activeTab=documents&keyVal=Q2REMBTD07V00 A number of key supporting documents are available on the portal and explain how the applications have been arrived at, including: • Detailed Design & Access Statement • Full Transport Assessment • Environmental plans (including flood risk and ecological assessments). We urge people to look over the applications in detail and to provide any comments back via the planning portals. In order to provide comment online you will need to register and login to the planning portal (although you don’t need to register to view the application). The planning applications will be open to comments for 56 days and the application is expected to take six months to consider and determine. Kind regards The Harworth Ironbridge Regeneration Team W: ironbridgeregeneration.co.uk/contact-us E: [email protected]

Page 60 Under the Wrekin magazine

The former power station at Ironbridge

The proposed redevelopment

FURNITURE REPAIRS Reupholstery, Repolishing, French polishing, Scratch repairs, Leather repairs Antiques, Modern and Cherished items Call John on 01952 511942 / 07986 589232 [email protected]

February & March 2020 Page 61

Page 62 Under the Wrekin magazine

GOOD NEWS!

Leighton and Eaton Constantine Parish Council are pleased to inform residents that after taking part in the crime prevention initiative ‘We Don’t Buy Crime’, we have reached our target figure for registration of SMARTWATER in our parish. Watch out for the signs that will be popping up around the Parish soon. Many thanks to Tim Williams from West Mercia Police and all the councillors who put in so much effort to make this happen. If you haven’t yet collected your Smartwater and are still interested in having some please contact our clerk Mrs Lorna Pardoe on 01743718695 or email [email protected] or come along to a Council meeting where you will be made very welcome. Next meeting is Tuesday March 3rd at Leighton Village Hall. leightonandeatonconstantineparishcouncil.org.uk

Pruning, Felling, Removal Orchard & Hedge Management Tree safety works Wood chipping

Sam Rickards - Arborist Leighton 07749 197962

February & March 2020 Page 63

LEIGHTON & EATON CONSTANTINE PARISH COUNCIL Tuesday 7th January 2020 MINUTES Chair’s Welcome The chairman welcomed all to the meeting Present Councillor S Jones-Chairman, Councillor S Dawes, Councillor E Parton, Councillor M Thorn, Councillor M Budgen. Shropshire Councillor C Wild, L Pardoe clerk to the council and PC Mark Milton from West Mercia Police. Apologies were received from Councillor M Corrie who was away The Council agreed to his absence. Declaration of Pecuniary Interests. There were none declared at this point Police Report. PC M Milton spoke to members on various issues. Members have grave concerns on the speeding through Leighton on the B4380.PC Milton would request fresh data gathering on speeds through the villages. He also spoke on speed limits and the possible infrastructure generated by the Power station site. He would also look at where in Shropshire there are average speed cameras in place with a view to the possibility of having these through Leighton. It was agreed that the Road safety Partnership needed to identify sites on the B4380 where pull-ins could be generated to allow for speed checks to be done. He would try to get Rod Lake from the Police Liaison team to drive through with him to see the speeding issues on the road. It was agreed for the clerk to write to John Campion about the speeds on the B4380. Council to agree the minutes from Meeting held in November 2019.It was agreed that these were a true and accurate record of the meeting. Proposed by Councillor S Dawes, seconded by Councillor M Thorn and agreed by all members present. Clerk to report on matters arising not covered on the agenda. All items were covered on the agenda. Report from Shropshire Councillor. Councillor Wild reported that there would be a meeting held on Thursday with Harworths to go over the planning applications with the parishes and Shropshire Councillors. Councillors S Jones & E Parton to attend. Update on Buildwas Power Station Site. See above Public Session. There were no members of the public present. Councillor S Jones to update on registration of Smartwater in parish. The required 70% registration of kits had been achieved and she would be meeting with Tim Williams to look at the positioning of the signs through the villages. Councillor E Parton asked that Councillor S Jones be commended for her hard work in achieving this by going door to door and arranging days at the village halls for registration. PLANNING MATTERS Previous applications 19/02836/LBC Home Farm House, Leighton, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY5 6RN.Permission Granted 19/04150/FUL Leighton Lodge, Leighton, Shrewsbury. SY5 6RN. Awaiting decision

Page 64 Under the Wrekin magazine

19/04050/DIS 6 Upper Longwood. Eaton Constantine Shrewsbury SY5 6SB.Awaiting decision 19/04934/FUL Conversion of outbuilding to form 1No dwelling, installation of septic tank drainage system and landscaping scheme Proposed Dwelling Opposite the Smithy Garmston Shrewsbury Shropshire awaiting decision. Council to consider any new applications; Reference: 19/05588/FUL Address: 2 Spout Lane, Leighton Proposal. Erection of a workshop, store and gym for personal use following demolition of existing building. After discussion it was agreed that the Parish Council had no objections to this application, however they would like assurances that as the property lies within the Shropshire Hills AONB that the size and the materials used for this building would not be detrimental to the character of the wider countryside. The Parish Council is also concerned that the workshop will not cause too great a noise impact on the neighbours. Proposed Councillor S Jones seconded Councillor E Parton and agreed by all members present. Highways Matters – Members to raise any highways issues Financial Matters To approve invoices for payment. It was agreed to pay the accounts as presented by the clerk. Proposed by Councillor M Thorn, seconded by Councillor E Parton To approve payment of invoices received after agenda was sent out. There were no late invoices To accept Bank Reconciliation for month ended 31st December 2019.It was agreed to accept the bank reconciliation as presented by the clerk. Proposed by Councillor M Thorn, seconded by Councillor E Parton Council to set the precept for the forthcoming financial year 2020/2021. Following a long discussion it was agreed to set the precept at a figure of £6,320. Which would be an increase of 15% Proposed by Councillor M Thorn, seconded by Councillor E Parton CORRESPONDENCE; list to be circulated prior to the meeting. This was noted. It was agreed to nominate Councillor S Jones for the Buckingham Palace Garden Party. PARISH MATTERS Councillor to report any parish matters. There were no matters raised by members. Date & Time of the next meeting It was agreed that this would be on Tuesday 3rd March 2020 starting at 7.30pm at Leighton Village Hall. The Chairman thanked all for attending and closed the meeting at 10.00pm Leighton & Eaton Constantine Parish Council [email protected]

February & March 2020 Page 65

2019 POPPY APPEAL

A sincere thank you to all residents who made a donation to this year’s Poppy Appeal, which exceeded last year’s total by approximately £600. Thank you for giving so generously to your “poppy seller”, we are very grateful to you, as are the ex-service personnel and their families. A total of £3836.24p has been sent to the Poppy Appeal. This magnificent total couldn’t be achieved without the residents of Cressage, Leighton, Buildwas, Garmston, Upper Longwood, Cound & Cound Moor who regularly volunteer each Remembrancetide and give so freely of their time – your willingness and commitment is so much appreciated. Thank you. Through the retirement of the Poppy Area Organiser in Wellington I was ‘allocated’ a new collector to my area, as it abutted Upper Longwood - that person was Mrs. Jill Eade of Uppington. I think the word ‘new’ was a misnomer as she has been a steadfast ‘poppy collector’ for almost 40 years! When I asked Mrs Eade how many years she had been collecting in Charlton, Wood Green, Aston, Uppington, Rushton and many outlying farms in between she was characteristically reticent. Mrs. Eade herself wishes to thank Sheila Turner of Rushton who drove her around her ‘patch’ this year, which enabled the collection of £414.67 to be sent to the Poppy Appeal. Unfortunately, Mrs. Eade now feels that she will be unable to continue collecting. Research by the Royal British Legion indicates she has collected for 39 years. This is an outstanding achievement, by any measure, and a remarkable demonstration of her commitment and dedication to The Poppy Appeal I would like to acknowledge her years of service, since 1980, and offer my sincere thanks - THANK YOU. Victoria Todd Poppy Area Organiser Meadow Cottage Harley Tel: 01952 510712

Page 66 Under the Wrekin magazine

February & March 2020 Page 67

HE SHROPSHIRE FUNERAL PLAN is arranged by experienced, qualified funeral professionals in the

Do not leave the important details to be taken by a sales Shropshire person who is purely motivated by commission, operating via the telephone or in your local shopping centre. Funeral

* A local Funeral Plan * A local independent Funeral Director Plans * A local price * A national Funeral Planning Trust

The C J Williams Funeral Service Harry Edwards & Sons John Williams Funeral Services

“It gives me complete peace of mind”

Hornbeam Landscapes Landscape and garden maintenance • Fencing • Hedge / grass cutting • Weed control • Tree planting, pruning, maintenance Call or email Nick on 07815187556 or [email protected]

Page 68 Under the Wrekin magazine

Catering for events across Shropshire using locally sourced produce. · private dining · Christenings · outdoor event catering · funerals · · canape receptions · bars · floral design · corporate lunch buffets · · and more · Call or email Charlie to arrange a consultation. [email protected] / 07976 475402 www.getgourmetcatering.com

February & March 2020 Page 69

SJS Property Services – Leighton Handyman Services

We can help with a wide range of home and gardening improvements.

From complete renovations to fitting a plug. No job is too big or too small.

For affordable, competitive prices

Steve Scurr 07472 477360 or email [email protected]

PHOTO COMPETITION Spring into Summer The Editorial Team are asking entrants to submit a photograph that represents Springtime or Summertime in Shropshire. So get taking a few photos but remember you can only submit one entry. The promoter of the competition is the Under The Wrekin community magazine and by entering the competition, participants agree: (1) to be bound by these terms and conditions; (2) that their surname and village of residence will be published if their image is chosen or wins a prize; and (3) that should they win the competition, their name may be used for promotional purposes. (4) All entries must be submitted by posting on the Under the Wrekin Facebook page or emailing the editorial team (see page 3 for details); (5) Only one entry allowed per person; (6) There will be one winner (prize: £50 cash or cheque); and two runners up (no prizes). The winning and runner up images will be published in the magazine. The judges will be the Under The Wrekin Editorial Team. continued on next page….

Page 70 Under the Wrekin magazine

PHOTO COMPETITION (continued from opposite page) (7) The image must be your own original work and you must be the sole author and owner of the copyright of the image entered. The Promoter does not accept any liability for the publication of unlawfully reproduced images. (8) Computer- generated images will not be accepted. (9) Artwork and illustrations will not be accepted. (10) Works that have been submitted into other competitions will not be accepted. (11) All photos must be submitted as good quality jpegs (preferably at least 300dpi) (12) Closing date for entries: 11th May 2020 (13) The judges’ decision as to the winner is final and no correspondence relating to a competition will be entered. (14) The winners will be notified via Facebook Messenger or email as soon as possible after the closing date (15) We reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions or to cancel, alter or amend the competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in our opinion, or if circumstances arise outside our control.

February & March 2020 Page 71 Local Directory Emergency services Emergency: 999 (Police / Fire / Non–emergency: 101 Ambulance) NHS out of hours: 111 Police: www.westmercia.police.uk

Deanery website www.wrockwardinedeanery.org.uk Team Rector and Rev Andy Ackroyd Rural Dean [email protected] 01952 252078 Associate Minister Rev Christine Tough [email protected] 01952 510530 Leighton and Eaton Lorna Pardoe Constantine Parish 01743 718695 Council Clerk [email protected] www.leightonandeatonconstantineparishcouncil.org.uk

Wroxeter and Sarah Morris Uppington Parish Council 07762 320664 Clerk [email protected] www.hugofox.com/community/wroxeter-uppington- parish-council-12859 Buildwas Parish Sarah Morris Council Clerk 07762 320664 [email protected] www.buildwasparishcouncil.org.uk Buildwas Primary Headteacher: Steven Tilley Academy 01952 432135 [email protected] www.buildwasacademy.com County Councillor Claire Wild Severn Valley 07582 002100 [email protected] Christ Church Headteacher: Tracey Cansdale School, Cressage 01952 510383 [email protected] www.christchurchcressage.co.uk Much Wenlock & Clifton Lodge, Sheinton Road, Cressage, Cressage Shrewsbury, SY5 6DH Medical Practice 01952 726011 www.muchwenlockandcressagemp.co.uk