StrettonCommunity Voice of the Strettons FocusAugust 2006 90p

Crown Green Bowling in Park

Cover Aug 06 1 13/7/06 10:47:11 STRETTON FOCUS Contents (founded 1967) News Allotments ...... 5 Average monthly sales: 1,450 copies. Church Stretton Area Partnership News ...... 5 (About 65% of households in Church Stretton) Leisure Centre Funding ...... 5 Food Fayre ...... 12, 13 Chairman Mike Edmunds ...... 723961 Talking Newspapers ...... 15 Vice Chairman David Jandrell . . . .724531 Focus production needs You! ...... 15 Co-Editors Norma Taylor ...... 723617 Farmers’ Market ...... 28 Pat Oxtoby . . . . . 723199 SSDC Biodigester Update ...... 28 Barbara Vickery . . . 724179 Marches Evening Rover ...... 30 Cover Editor Yvonne Beaumont . . 722533 Town Design Statement ...... 33 Computer Production Barrie Raynor ...... 723928 Volunteer Gardeners Needed ...... 33 Rowland Jackson . . .722390 Mayfair News ...... 35, 37 Paul Miller . . . . . 724596 Bank Holiday Rubbish Collections ...... 42 Distribution Jon Cooke ...... 723205 Operation Christmas Child ...... 42 Advertising Graham Young . . . .724647 Treasurer John Wainwright . . . . . 722823 Forthcoming Events C S & District Gardening Club Summer Show . . . .39 email address: [email protected] Church Stretton Swimming ...... 18 Flower Arranging Demonstration ...... 37 Advertisements Rates for block and occasional ‘Night of Magic & Mystery’ ...... 37 advertisements may be obtained (send s.a.e.) from the S Ramblers’ Walks ...... 3 Advertising Manager, Graham Young, 30 Alison Road, Steam Engine Society Rally ...... 43 Church Stretton, SY6 7AT, Tel: 01694 724647 to whom Town Council Amended Meeting Dates ...... 6 copy should be sent. Regular Features The Stretton Focus Management Board cannot accept Anglican Voice ...... 18 responsibility for any product or service advertised. Catholic Voice ...... 8 Acceptance of an advertisement does not imply any form Focus on Faith ...... 37 of approval or recommendation. Advertisers are required to Gardening In ……August ...... 42 comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice. Letters ...... 38, 39 Mayfair Lottery Result ...... 35 Submission of articles Material on 3½˝ discs or CDs, and Nature Matters ...... 17 typed or handwritten copy together with good quality glossy Quaker Voice ...... 30 colour or monochrome photographs should be handed Recipe ...... 30 directly to Stretton Focus c/o Wrights, Estate Agent, Strettons’ Churches ...... 6 Sandford Avenue, by noon on the date below. Material Town Council Minutes ...... 27, 28 may also be sent by e-mail to [email protected] as Thank You ...... 8 an attachment by the same copy date. Then and Now ...... 11 Trivia Corner 33 ...... 33 Disclaimer Stretton Focus prints a wide range of articles Trivia Answers ...... 40 and letters. The views expressed by signed articles are What’s On ...... 3 those of their authors and not necessarily those of the Management Board. Other Crown Green Bowling (cover article) ...... 8 Copy day is normally the first Monday of the month. For the Facts about Inheritance Tax ...... 40 September 2006 Monday 7th August (12.00 noon). issue it is Spa Town – Yes or No ...... 11 For the October issue it will be Monday 4th September.

The September Stretton Focus will be distributed on Friday 1st September.

Outlets Stretton Focus may be purchased by annual subscription (delivered) or directly from Newsworld (Sandford Avenue), All Stretton Stores, Co-op, Longmynd Filling Station (A49) and the Churches.

© 2006 Stretton Focus ISSN 1479-7356 The Official Church Stretton web site is at www.churchstretton.co.uk. Stretton Focus is printed by WPG, Welshpool Have you visited it yet? Cover Photo: Yvonne Beaumont

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August 06 mag .indd 1 14/7/06 11:41:02 What’s On in the Strettons ♦ Friday – 4th August Stretton Allotment Gardens Farmers’ Market Association 9.00am–1.00pm Market Square Open Morning at Allotment Site (northern end of field next to Greenhills ♦ Saturday – 5th August Cemetery off Rd) Bible Society Garden Party 11am – 1pm 2.00-4.00pm URC Garden See page 5

♦ Saturday 5th – Sunday 6th August ♦ Friday – 25th August Acton Scott Historic Working Farm Church Stretton Senior Citizens Club Have a go at fishing Talk and film on The Lifeboat 2.30pm URC Hall ♦ Tuesday – 8th August Church Stretton & District Flower Club & Severn ♦ Saturday 26th August – Monday 28th August Hospice Support Group ‘Teas to Please’ ‘Nature’s Bounty’ a Floral demonstration by M.Western Tel Mary Askew 724786 for details 2.30pm Hazler Hill Farm, Hazler Rd, Church Stretton 2.30 – 6.00pm All Saints Church, Little Stretton See Page 37 Church Stretton & District Gardening Club Spring Show ♦ Wednesday – 9th August 2.30pm Silvester Horne Institute National Trust ‘Blooming Marvellous?’ Heather walk with Pete Carty ♦ Monday – 28th August £3 adults (children free) Rushbury & District Flower and Produce Show 2pm Carding Mill Valley Pavilion Schedules available from 01694 771203 or 771484 Mother’s Union Quiet Day 3pm Rushbury Village Hall Led by Preb Rob North. (Inc light lunch) 11.00am (for 11.30am) – 3.30pm Leominster Priory ♦ Saturday – 2nd September ‘Night of Musicals’ ♦ Friday – 11th August 7.30pm Church Stretton School Church Stretton Senior Citizens Club Mayfair Quiz Evening Talk by Ken Willis 2.30pm URC Hall 7.30pm Mayfair

♦ Saturday – 12th August ‘Pond vs Rivers’ South Shropshire Group of the Ramblers’ 2.30pm Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre Association welcome readers to join us Mildred’s Coffee Morning at any, or all, of the following walks in . In aid of Schools for the Deaf in Pretoria & S.India August 10.00am – 12noon Methodist Church Hall Sunday 6th August 10.00am Pam Farquhar (01584 873887) will lead a 6 miles short ♦ Sunday – 13th August walk through woodland, farmland and quiet country lanes Acton Scott Historic Working Farm from the Horseshoe Inn at Bridges. ‘Big Pig Day’ – Rare breeds – children’s activities Grid reference 393964 on Explorer map 217. Friday – 18th August ♦ Sunday 13th August 1.00pm Farmers’ Market Susan Sharp (01299 271099) will lead a walk of 6 miles 9.00am–1.00pm Market Square from Burford House Garden, near Tenbury Wells. For more details please ring the leader. ♦ Saturday – 19th August Acton Scott Gardening Club – 1st Summer Show Wednesday 16th August 6.00pm Admission £1.00 including Tea and Biscuits Geoff Kynaston will lead a walk of 2.5 miles from Snead (Children free if accompanied by paying adult) Church, through Owlbury and along the . 2.30pm Acton Scott Village Hall Grid reference 316919, Explorer map 216. Saturday 19th – Sunday 20th August ♦ Sunday 20th August 11.00am Acton Scott Historic Working Farm Joy Nisbet (01694 722512) will lead a walk of 5 miles Working Horse Weekend from Wilderhope Manor. Bring a lunch. There will be tea at the Manor, priced £4, which has to be booked through ♦ Sunday – 20th August the leader 10 days before. ‘Historic Fields & Woods around Church Stretton’ Grid reference 545929 on Explorer map 217. with Dr Ian Dormor. Booking 01588 674080 Joy Nisbet, Chairman South Shropshire Group of the R A 2.00pm Methodist Church

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August 06 mag .indd 2 14/7/06 11:41:03 Ups and downs for Sports and Leisure scheme! Community Chest Approvals This Scheme is proving to Eileen Roberts gives details below of the ‘Cooking For be a bit of a roller coaster. In June we had good news ring in the S Pleasure’ initiative that may be of interest to readers - luntee tretton this is just one of nine recent Community Chest awards, and bad news. The Executive Vo s totalling almost £3500, that have been awarded by the Committee of South Shropshire Partnership recently. District Council allocated some Very briefly, other recipients are the Shropshire Wildlife money and gave the go-ahead Trust - £400 to produce a survey of moths and small to work up formal plans and mammals in Stretton; Severn Hospice - £250 towards work out costs. Then two days the costs of bringing the Reading Choir to the area; £150 later a representative from Sport met the project to the Churches Together Summer Holiday Club; £700 management group and told us that they are unlikely to the Chamber of Trade to help with watering costs of to make a grant towards the capital for the scheme. We the summer planters and hanging baskets; £510 to the had been led to believe that sport England would be a Tuesday Day Centre for a communal PA system; £448 to major provider of capital, but people are not buying so the CS Rainbows for storage facilities in the URC hall; and many lottery tickets, and Sport England have changed £448 for new curtains their funding priorities. Officers are systematically going in Ticklerton Village through possible sources of grants. There are about ten Hall. More details will be major UK bodies, and several hundred EU bodies that available and published at a may offer grants, so this will all take some time. There was later date. also considerable interest in having a local fund-raising effort, but at the moment we have a funding gap of over £1 An initiative previously million. The Project Management Group meets again this funded by the Church month to review progress. Stretton Area Partnership Charles West will have a positive effect on the townscape. There are 45 of the Allotment Gardens in Victorian-styled lamp posts sited throughout the town. Church Stretton They had not been painted A significant step has recently been made in the project to for over twenty five years provide allotment gardens for the community of Church and were looking sad, Stretton. neglected and shabby. The A lease for a site for the allotments has been agreed Tourism Group painted between the Town Council and the Strettons Allotment three and the remainder Gardens Association. The site is at the northern end of the are now being painted by Les Price and son - thanks to field adjacent to the Greenhills cemetery off Ludlow Road. generous funding. John Woolmer, Publicity The site is large enough for allotments to be offered to all the 42 people who are on the waiting list for a plot. Cooking for Pleasure The Association has received a grant from the Community Chest that will enable the fencing needed to ‘Cooking for Pleasure’, I think I am right in saying, will be separate the allotment area from the grazing area of the only cookery school in Church Stretton. It will be based the field to be erected in July. The next steps will be in the Home Economics Block of the Senior School. to establish the individual plots, rabbit-proof the So far, we have 12 people of all ages (which includes other fencing round the site, and put in water two men) who have indicated willingness to register for troughs. Further grant funding is being attendance in September. The interest shown has come sought for these works. mainly from the erection of posters. The Association is planning to A poster has been put up in the secondary school advising have an open morning at the site on that two places are being reserved for Year 11 students, male Sunday 20th August from 11am to or female. 1pm. This will provide the opportunity The tutor is Pauline Greenhough who has 30 years for prospective plotholders, and anybody else who is experience and was head of her department in a secondary interested in seeing the site or having a plot, to get further school. details of this exciting new community project. A full range of cookery is intended, from vegetarian It is also planned to hold a General Meeting of the to sandwich filling! The intention is to encourage healthy Association in early September, which will need to set the eating and where possible to encourage the use of local food plot rental and elect the officers and committee members and produce from farmers’ markets. for the next year. Eileen Roberts Alan Mileson

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August 06 mag .indd 3 14/7/06 11:41:06 St Michael and All Angels, the Church in All Stretton This title, used whenever we can, describes what we aim to for the Burial of Ashes. It is managed as part of the ‘God’s be, under God, and what St Michael’s at its best has always Acre’ scheme, which encourages wildlife of all sorts. been. The inspiration for the building came from a Children’s activities have always been a feature of life at combination of local enthusiasm and the leadership of St Michael’s. Older residents remember attending both the Charles Noel-Hill, Rector of Church Stretton at the time, Anglican and Congregational Sunday Schools, as they were who was also the donor of the site and the largest single at different times. Nowadays there’s just the one, monthly contributor to the building fund. All Stretton is a settlement on the first Sunday. Our children always seem to manage an as ancient as Church Stretton but with fewer people. A entertaining Nativity Play, and also to outwit the teachers at centre for worship was needed, the logical successor to using Easter when the youngsters find all the hidden Easter Eggs local farmhouses in the 1890s. which the teachers never think they will. The stone used came from the local quarry, still to be seen at the bottom of the Batch Valley, with dressings of Jonathan Millard, when he was Rector, urged us to Grinshill stone, and the grand opening was in October settle on one consistent time for Sunday services. After 1902, with a procession from much discussion and hesitation Watling House. The cost had we settled on 10.30am, and that been £2206-14-8, met by is when all our services are, apart contributions from a wide variety from a few special and obvious of local people. occasions always advertised in Focus. Visitors often remark on the People from Church warm and friendly atmosphere of Stretton were discouraged from the building, and those who lead worshipping at St Michael’s, in worship value the opportunity the early days, to leave room to see the whites of the eyes of for the locals. There were 100 those present and (presumably) present in the morning, on the to check if we are awake. It’s a first Sunday, and 230 in the big help that St Michael’s has evening. Today we are fewer. for many years now been very You are very welcome to come faithfully looked after and improved. My earliest memories, along and do a count! from the ’40s, are of a rather dismal place, with mortar- But our Ecumenical Church Council, chaired by the coloured walls, and a dull green curtain between the church Rector and the URC Minister in turn, is keen to look for and the vestry. God’s ways to draw into his kingdom all the other villagers, Major changes came in the Jubilee year 1952, with whom He loves as much as those who currently attend. We the walls painted and panelling put round the apse and recently had an Away Day at Cardington, when we tried to between the church and the vestry. (The old curtain listen for his guidance. was cut up and used in later Nativity scenes and Easter If we should get the opportunity in heaven, we plan gardens.) Handsome choir stalls soon followed, and a bell, to tell our forebears that the village has not expanded and panelling round the font, and in 1971 a fine engraved northwards, as perhaps they thought it would, and also ask glass window in memory of Dr Anthony McClintock. (He them why on earth they chose such a steep site, so difficult was a local GP, much involved in local government, and for the infirm, when many flatter ones were available. the last of four generations of his family who had owned But we would also like to congratulate and thank those and managed The Grove in All Stretton, a private Lunatic later ones who in the 1980s and 1990s brought together Asylum for ladies.) Anglican and URC (formerly Congregationalist) Christians The next Jubilee in 1962 saw the beginning of our of All Stretton. We now value being a Local Ecumenical connection with another St Michael’s, the church at Partnership, and this is reflected in our personnel and in our Mokhotlong in Lesotho. Gifts in kind, and of people, have worship. gone in both directions, and it is the focus of our giving to We know we have a long way to go, but are glad of each mission. The hat above the pulpit came from there. other as fellow pilgrims, and of the love and leadership of The churchyard is not used for burials, but from its our great God. Dedication in 2000 we have had a Garden of Remembrance David Morris Amended Meeting Dates for Church Stretton Town Council Please note the change of dates for the following two meetings from those published in the July edition of Focus.

18th September: Market & Community Regeneration Committee 16th October: Council Meeting C M Harvey, Town Clerk

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August 06 mag .indd 4 14/7/06 11:41:07 Crown Green Bowling in the Catholic Voice Town Park Mysteriouser and Mysteriouser The popularity of crown green bowling in Church Stretton “You just don’t get it, do you?” I overheard is well known. The setting in the Town Park is idyllic, someone say the other day. Obviously it was an especially on a beautiful summer’s day or evening, as this argument. I don’t know what it was about nor month’s Focus cover illustrates. do I want to know. Clearly (in modern parlance) The Town is fortunate to have several clubs. Tom Farrar one person did not know where the other person was is this year’s captain of Church Sretton Probus Bowling coming from. No good running it past them or seeing if it Club and he is keen to pay compliments to the Council for floated their boat. “Don’t go there,” I thought. Some things the preparation and maintenance of the green. The Club may be mysterious, but are better left that way. has a roll-up on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Matches Funny things mysteries. They remind me of the against are always keenly contested and, this peasoupers of old, where the landscape, once familiar, is season, the position stands at one win each. The season- obscured, distances incalculable, small details, generally long competition against the Ladies Bowling Club extends overlooked but suddenly of great importance like to 6 matches. At the half-way stage, each side has won once milestones, pillar boxes and even grids in the road. If you - a water-logged green was responsible for an abandoned could get over the fear of getting lost, walking in the fog match. could even become an adventure, a journey of discovery. This year, the Club has opened up its membership to To many people, churches smack of mystery. Groups of include a limited number of non-members of Probus. Total ‘worshippers’ who are ‘something else’, buildings in which membership is just over 30 men with four new members one finds oneself whispering, services which seem to cloak enrolled this year. rites of passage with poetic incantations. In our information Meg Payne from the Ladies Bowling Club reports filled society mysteries are thought of as out of place, like an equally optimistic story about the season. The Club religions, they halt progress, distract from the main aim. In enjoys a playing membership of 38 ladies with a regular time, so the theory goes, all mysteries will be no more. turn-out of 24 members on every occasion. Apart from Yet between people, there is mystery. It is called matches against the men, the Tarn Brae ‘match partner’ a relationship. It is a kind of unwritten code, and competition runs throughout the season in addition to understanding. You know what I mean - or you would if other internal competitions. Margaret Evans may hold the you were on my wavelength. record for the oldest set of bowls still in use. Her current set The word mystery itself comes from two Greek words has an estimated length of service of 90 years. The bowls which mean something understood only by the initiated belonged to Margaret’s father who played at the Pound Inn, - those in the know. The person in the argument who ‘just Leebotwood. Incidentally, I learned from Margaret that the didn’t get it’, was clearly not in the know, and the argument Yew Tree at All Stretton also had a bowling green in days was probably an indication of a deteriorating relationship. gone by. This is why the mystery of God is sometimes misunderstood. Church Stretton Bowling Club is going great guns There will never be a time when we will be able to dissolve this season. At the half-way stage, they are the leaders the mystery of God because, like the relationships we have of the Tanners Shropshire League – 4th Division. Mike even with those we love, there is a process of change, not in Davies was confident about the prospects for the rest of the life of God, but in our life. Each happening reveals us to the season and he hopes the club will secure promotion. ourselves and others. How we will react on any occasion is Some of you may remember that the Club finished second often a mystery to ourselves and others. As in the fog, things last year and, as runners-up, should have been promoted. which perhaps we ignored suddenly become important. The However, due to some league changes, the hoped-for mystery can even become a journey of discovery, as long promotion did not materialise. We wish them the best of as we don’t get frightened that we will get lost. And if the luck for this season and hope to see them in the higher journey into the mystery is the mystery of God, then there is division next year. no need to be afraid of getting lost. God himself will be with Crown green bowling is alive and well in Church you to help you slowly unravel the mystery of his love, and Stretton. Long may it continue to be so! the journey of that relationship goes on for ever. Man on the Green Father Donlan

RNLI The Royal National Lifeboat Institute recently held a House to House collection in the Church Stretton & District area which realised £1,258.34. This is slightly more than last year’s event so thanks are due to both contributors and collectors. It is a very worthy cause which relies on voluntary contributions and legacies.

Scotsmansfield Open Garden Many thanks to all who visited and helped at the Open Garden Day at Scotsmansfield. Entrance and the plant sale raised £580 for the National Gardens Scheme and the teas raised £270 for the Children’s Society.

Christian Aid Collections during Christian Aid Week raised a record total of £3,562 for the charity. Thank you to all the collectors and contributors who gave so generously of their time and money.

Save The Children Thank you to all who supported the street collection. £196.16 was raised.

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August 06 mag .indd 5 14/7/06 11:41:08 Church Stretton - A Spa Town - Yes or No? In July 2003 I wrote to Focus pointing out, in response to Unfortunately, the myth appeared also in a recent a query from a reader, that Church Stretton was never a ‘Places to Visit’ supplement to the Shropshire Star when Spa Town. I hoped that this article would bury this myth. Church Stretton was described as a ‘former Spa town’. The Unfortunately, it has not. adage that. “It must be true - it was in the paper” is, sadly, I recently picked up a copy of the 2006 edition of the not applicable here either. ‘South Shropshire Guide’ from the Information Centre and Tony Crowe naturally turned to what it said about Church Stretton. I was not happy about what I found. Unfortunately this includes the statement on page 13 that Church Stretton was Then and Now “famous as a Victorian Spa Town”. This is totally wrong. It has no foundation in fact The original whatever. The Stretton Hills Mineral Water The town has never been a Spa, simply because it did Company’s works in (and does) not have a supply of suitable chemical loaded Road water in situ. On the contrary the town prided itself on the purity of its water supply, as can be seen by the tablet in front of the ‘pop’ works in Shrewsbury Road. There were, for a number of years, two firms near the town selling local water (off the Long Mynd) bottled in various forms (lemonade etc.). One firm (fairly short lived) was in the Carding Mill Valley and the other (which is still functioning) is on the Shrewsbury Road. But neither of these offered any facilities to allow individuals to ‘take the waters’ which is what people did in Spas, because the water was not ‘medicinal’ in character, nor did the Hotel (the first part of which was built in 1860) or any other establishment in the town. There was Below: no ‘Pump Room’ or equivalent. I have never seen an entry The works as extended or advertisement for any such facility in any of the early directories or guidebooks, of which I have a considerable collection. If whoever made this statement feels it to be correct, perhaps some evidence could be produced as to where, when and by whom such Spa facilities were provided. Spa towns flourished on the idea of ‘taking the waters’ as a cure for many ills. The water was full of chemicals which made it taste nasty. The nastier the taste (the customer was told) the more good would it do!

As late as 1908 the Church Stretton Land Company, which owned a great number of potential development sites in the town which it had failed to sell, renamed itself ‘Church Stretton Ltd’ and tried to raise £29,000 by a new share issue. In its prospectus the company outlined plans to make Church Stretton a Spa by buying and enlarging the ‘Hydropathic Hotel’ (now the Longmynd Hotel), which had been opened in August 1901 and by piping water from a saline spring near Wentnor to a Pump Room to be built in the grounds of ‘Woodcote’ (a house adjacent to the hotel) which the Company intended to buy. The works These plans came to nought, possibly in part because as rebuilt by the early 20th century the scheme was old fashioned in view of current social attitudes and advances in medical knowledge. But it does show that Church Stretton did not have a supply of water considered suitable and appropriate for a Spa, so much so that, had the scheme gone ahead, the water would have had to be imported from elsewhere. Pictures So, contrary to what is said in the Guide, Church by kind Stretton never was a ‘Spa town’. It is a myth that should permission of be put to rest, certainly not reproduced in an official Tony Crowe publication.

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August 06 mag .indd 6 14/7/06 11:41:21 ‘Taste of the Strettons’ Festival The expanded Festival this year proved more popular than ever, despite the unpredictable weather, other festivities close by and even the World Cup and Wimbledon Finals. The Church Stretton Walking Festival proved a great success, with well over 100 walkers throughout the week, many of them vowing to return. Alan Garner and Barbara Vickery are owed particular thanks for this organisational feat. pinned down. The Fayre was formally opened by Harvey The Andrews, the veteran local singer/songwriter, who treated Strettons’ Ale us to one of his songs and a very appropriate poem by his Trail led by late, but irreverent, friend, Jake Thackeray. Not only did Geoff Lucas from other local celebrities Stretton Hall attend but ‘film star Hotel, flourished of the moment’ Keira with increased Knightley also took ticket sales. Graham Gough and his drivers again excelled time off from local themselves with their good-humoured ferrying of the filming to add lustre ‘Trailers’ around the twelve pubs on the circuit. to the event. To the relief of Committee Members, the experimental She chose well Activity Day attracted over 1,000 people through the day, because it was the mostly of local residents, trying their hands at a whole host most ambitious Fayre of activities. The yet with over Army Climbing 110 food, Wall was used drink and to the point of craft stalls. overheating! The This alone varied workshops was a major were increasingly undertaking well-attended to register and organise all of these contributors, through the day, so special thanks go to our highly capable and the interactive administrator, Barbara Vickery, who was also storytelling of responsible for the increasingly efficient organisation mythical tales from of our volunteers, recruited, with her customary around the world good humour, by Ruth Grafton. proved particularly People were entertained by a very varied entrancing, as did programme of demonstrations and entertainments, the magnificent thanks to the hard work of our Entertainments music provided Manager, John Woolmer. And let’s not forget the by the Shropshire local young musicians, organised by Chris Bolton, Youth Wind who continued to play to a packed audience through Orchestra and the out the day. Shropshire Girls’ It was particularly good to have the local Choir. countryside organisations in our Shropshire Overnight wind Hills marquee, with a range of countryside crafts and rain brought and bird/animal displays in the arena. Not to be the destruction outdone, some of our community organisations were of three gazebos and launched our Logistics Manager, represented as well for the first time this year, so, hopefully, Clive Mabbutt, with the aid of some Army muscle, into their membership will feel the benefit in the coming a Herculean fight by to keep even the large marquees months.

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August 06 mag .indd 7 14/7/06 11:41:53 I would like to dispel the mistaken but persistently-held local belief that these events receive significant public funding. We are grateful for the support of the Stretton Area Partnership and the Town Council but it covers less than 5% of the £40,000 total cost of putting on these events. The events are mostly funded by a combination of commercial sponsorship, principal among which is the Midcounties Co-op, supplemented with smaller contributions from other local businesses, the fees charged to stall- holders and, above all, gate receipts. So, we are very heavily dependent on continuing to grow our public support. I want to thank every member of our hard-working Committee. In addition to those already mentioned, The Chamber of Trade, ably supported by Tom I want to give special thanks to Beaumont, took on responsibility for organising the Town Sue Mabbutt, our Treasurer, and to Joan Cowan, our this year, including the indefatigable funding of all of the fund-raiser and entertainments there factotum, for their – a partnership very much commitment, drive welcomed by the Food and efficiency. We Fayre Committee. Peter are also indebted to Relph, on top of his our 60+ volunteer Health & Safety duties, stewards and put together an even bigger walking guides, Vintage Vehicle display without whom than last year. no event would It was a major be possible. Our achievement for these week- Cheese & Wine De- long festivities to break Brief for volunteers even financially, especially on 18th July was in view of the indifferent but a small thank- weather, since many of the you for all their events were free for adults, help. as well as all being free for Above all those under 16 years of age. We estimate that upwards of else, the Festival demonstrated what we can achieve if we 8,000 people were given a good time across all of the events. pull together as a community. However, if the Fayre is to continue, it will need more volunteers willing to take the place of those Committee Members retiring this year. If you feel you can make a contribution, however large or small, and want to join in the fun of working with a great team, please get in touch.

Bob Welch, Chairman, Church Stretton Country Food Fayre 01694 722998 [email protected]

Photos: Yvonne Beaumont

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August 06 mag .indd 8 14/7/06 11:42:17 The Focus Production Team Needs You! Talking Newspapers Since its beginning nearly 40 years ago, Stretton Focus has been produced Correspondents entirely by dedicated volunteers until the stage where it reaches the printers. The contents are created by those in our community willing to share their Needed views, news and stories by putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard! For the last 30 years, the West Shropshire Talking Newspaper has Once these contributions have helped those who are registered been received the Team swings blind or partially sighted to keep in into action. Our Editors touch with local affairs. In order to review the material, perform that service, the Newspaper calculate what can be needs local correspondents from each included, and lay out the area, to record just a five-minute CD each month, summarising local pages you read. Meanwhile issues, stories and events. There are the Cover Editor has been no such correspondents for this area working on the design at present. Are you willing to give for the front page and the a little time to provide that input? assembled draft is passed over to Perhaps this is your chance to display our Production Team. your hidden broadcasting talents? Sighted residents of the They use our own Church Stretton area can rely on computer system to prepare Focus for their local news; for the the magazine which is then increasing numbers living locally proof read before being sent with failing sight, a little extra help to the printers. is needed. Every week, the Talking Newspaper provides a 60-minute cassette completely free of charge. About 1450 copies are The Town Council recognises printed each month and the value of this service by giving these are sorted into delivery financial support to this entirely rounds by our Distributors voluntary organisation. The Talking and the some 1200 copies are Newspaper was also greatly helped put into letterboxes all over last year by a generous legacy from the Strettons. Copies are also a late resident of Church Stretton, placed in various retail outlets in the Town. Harold Griffin. The Talking Newspaper is a vital The Team also includes life-line to those who receive it: our Treasurer, our “It makes life much more interesting and there’s no need to feel cut off, Advertising Manager because the Talking Newspaper keeps and our Secretary. you in touch.” “It’s like a group of friends dropping in Many people have been for a chat each week.” involved in one way or Such comments make us realise another with Focus over that if we were to lose our sight, the years. Their energy would we not want a similar service and enterprise have for ourselves? developed it into the Ideally, the recording of inserts excellent publication it is from local correspondents is a today. BUT the Team needs to keep on bringing in new ‘blood’ to keep its task to be shared between several vitality volunteers to add variety to the contributors and to distribute the workload. Would you like to be part of it? Currently we are looking for people to join our editorial team and to act as If you are interested in helping secretary and treasurer. with this most worthwhile venture, please contact Bob Welch 722998 Please give this important community work serious consideration and if [email protected] who will you feel able to give the time to help Focus continue to grow and prosper, set up a meeting with Committee then contact me, Mike Edmunds (the chairman), on (01694) 723961 Members of the Talking Newspaper.

Stretton Focus - 15 - August 2006

August 06 mag .indd 9 14/7/06 11:42:28 A Green History Book – Church Stretton’s Woods The woodlands that clothe the sides Most of our native broadleaved tree species have the of the Church Stretton valley are a capacity to grow new stems from cut stumps. Coppicing particular distinction of this beautiful exploits this natural property as trees are periodically cut place – the town just wouldn’t be down to a stump (called a ‘stool’) and then left for a period the same without them. With the of years to regrow. From the 15th century until the late 19th onset of spring, they come alive with century coppicing was employed to provide a continuous flowering plants on the woodland supply of wood – an early example of what we would call floor. Beginning with the snowdrops, today ‘sustainable management’. Small trees, or ‘underwood’ wood anemone, wood sorrel, lesser cut on a short rotation of between five and 25 years provided celandine, bluebells, primroses and wood for fuel and raw materials. A number of trees, known wild garlic gradually appear. By summer the trees are in full as ‘standards’ which were left uncut during the coppice leaf and the woods are alive with birdsong. cycle, were allowed to grow on to maturity to become When wandering through these marvellous green spaces, constructional timber or, in those parts of the country nearer one may be excused for thinking that they are entirely to the coast, the raw materials for naval shipwrights. natural. However, most have been managed for many hundreds of years. Natural, unplanted woodland, more If you look at a local map you will find that many of the properly described as ‘ancient woods around Church Stretton semi-natural woodland’ now are named something-or-other only represents about 3% of ‘Coppice’. For example, to Shropshire’s woodland area. the east of the town, you will ‘Ancient semi-natural woodland’ find Gough’s Coppice and is a term used to describe land Phila’s Coppice (now in the that has been continuously care of the Woodland Trust). wooded since AD1600, as Elsewhere you will find Caradoc prior to that time most of our Coppice, Plocks Coppice, Park woodland was unplanted. Coppice and others. Coppicing Another reason is that the in the woods around Church beginning of the 17th century Stretton not only fulfilled a saw the introduction of accurate local need for firewood, but maps and plans. Hence, a wood also provided the raw materials shown on a 17th century map for charcoal-making – the vital is likely to have been there for fuel for smelting iron until many years before the map was Abraham Darby hit upon coke drawn and is more likely to as an alternative and started Old coppice stools like these in Ragleth Wood are a feature be an unplanted, rather than a the Industrial Revolution at of many of Church Stretton’s woods planted wood. Coalbrookdale. Other products from coppiced woodland included Today we regard woodland as an amenity – somewhere oak bark for the tanneries and fuelwood for the glassmakers. to walk and relax, to recharge our batteries; woods are If you look carefully in our woods today you can still recognised as a place inhabited by plants and wildlife. see the hand of woodcutters from centuries back. In coppice However, if we were to turn the clock back just one hundred woods that have not been years, we would see woodland in a quite different light – as cut for fifty years or more If you are interested a hive of industry, with all manner of craftsmen making the old coppice stools have in seeing some of our things out of wood in the midst of the woods. If we turned grown into multi-stemmed woodland heritage at first the clock back still further in time, to the Middle Ages, we trees. Coppicing rejuvenated hand, Ian will be leading a might find ourselves in a wood populated by woodcutters our woods and contributed walk looking at ‘Historic and domestic livestock. To our medieval forebears, wood was to the local economy. It Fields and Woods around a vital necessity of life, second only to food. Wood was the also periodically let light Church Stretton’ on Sunday raw material from which houses, carts, tool handles, domestic into the woodland and 20th August. Meet at 2pm utensils, furniture, fencing and numerous other artefacts were created the conditions which at the Methodist Church, made. Woodlands also provided a source of fuel for cooking favoured the wild plants and Watling Street South. Please and heating and they were so important, most were legally the insects and birds that telephone 01588 674080 to protected. Much of what we know about the history of our depend upon them. book your place woodlands comes from written records of the manor courts. These documents catalogue the harsh punishments handed Our woodlands are as down to the hapless individuals who cut trees without historic as our ancient buildings and still need the careful permission, stole wood and timber or allowed unauthorised management they have received down the centuries. They animals to graze in woodlands. It is no exaggeration to say are a book to be read and enjoyed along with the attendant that the medieval economy ran on wood and therefore a wildlife they support. Go and enjoy them. continuous supply of wood was essential to sustain it. This Dr Ian Dormor, Landscape Conservation Officer was achieved by coppicing the trees, an ancient practice that Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty can be traced back to the Neolithic period, some 5,000 years ago.

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August 06 mag .indd 10 14/7/06 11:42:30 Church Stretton Swimming Pool Anglican at St Lawrence CE Primary School Voice ‘20 – 20 Vision’ Summer Holiday Swimming sessions For some years now our PCC has been Saturday 22nd July to Sunday 27th August incl. considering what needs to be done to Come and have fun and keep fit this summer! make St. Laurence’s church more attractive for both worshippers and visitors. Saturday 9.00am – 10.00am Lane swim Architects were appointed to undertake 10.00am-11.00am Fun Splash a Feasibility Study to consider how we might retain the character of our beautiful Sunday 9.00am – 10.00am Lane swim old church whilst bringing it up to date 10.00am-11.00am Fun Splash and suitable for 21st century worship. The Feasibility Study, which was Monday 10.00am-11.00am Fun Splash 11.00am-12.00am Fun Splash Lane completed in July 2004, provided two swim: broad but entirely different options. The Tuesday 10.00am-11.00am Fun Splash Swim first was to re-order the existing church to 11.00am-12.00am Fun Splash lengths at provide improved accommodation with 12.00am-1.00pm Lane Swim your own pace, better visibility. The second was to build a fast or new Worship Centre in the churchyard. relaxed. Late in 2004 the PCC decided to Wednesday 10.00am-11.00am Fun Splash explore the possibilities raised in the 11.00am-12.00am Fun Splash first option to re-order the church. At our APCM in April 2006, Jeremy Bell, Thursday 10.00am-11.00am Fun Splash a senior partner at JBKS Architects, 11.00am-12.00am Fun Splash presented his firm’s experience in helping churches re-order for worship and Friday 10.00am-11.00am Fun Splash mission. Many were thrilled with his 11.00am-12.00am Fun Splash presentation as the possibilities of how our 7.00pm-8.00pm Lane swim church may be re-ordered were explained. In May 2006 the PCC appointed JBKS Entrance fees £2.30 Adults £1.55 Children Under 5 free Architects to produce detailed sketch designs. The next stage is likely to take 6 Autumn Swimming Sessions months and there will be many challenges Fun ahead as we seek to fine-tune our Starts Friday 1st September 2006 splash: perceived needs. It is an exciting time for Lots of us at St. Laurence’s and we realize the need Family Fun Splash large and to walk closely with God and with one Saturdays and Sundays 10.00am-11.00am small floats another every step of the way. This is why Adults £2.30 Children £1.55 and toys we want the project to be a focus of prayer Under 5s Free Fun for for our church family over the coming all the months. Over 8s Lane Swimming followed by Water Polo family. Thursdays in term time 7.00pm-8.30pm ‘Seaside Rock’ Contact: Sandra Lawrence 01694 722990 Don’t forget our Holiday Club this year Lane swimming called ‘Seaside Rock’. It is being held at Friday Evening 7.00pm-8.00pm Adults £2.30 Children £1.55 St. Laurence Parish Centre on Thursday Saturday and Sunday morning 9.00am-10.00am Adults £2.30 Children £1.55 31st August, Friday 1st September and Saturday morning 2nd September. Then Children’s beginners and improvers lessons on Sunday morning at 10.30am there Term time 3.50pm onwards will be a special ‘Seaside Rock’ family Contact the Primary School: 01694 722682 service to round things off, followed by a barbeque. Children’s learn to swim lessons The children at Primary School have Fridays in term time 6.00pm-7.00pm all had their invitations and we look Contact Mrs Lawrence 01694 722990 forward to 70 eager children signing up for their place at ‘Seaside Rock’. Party Hire Please contact: Mrs Parsons 01694 722824 There will be drama, stories, craft activities, games, songs, refreshments and many other exciting things to do Please note Children aged 3 and under must have an adult with them on a one to as the children learn what it means to one ratio follow Jesus. Children aged 4 to 7 inclusive must have one adult to two children. Revd John Hughes

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August 06 mag .indd 11 14/7/06 11:42:31 Church Stretton Town Council

Abstract of Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held • Yeld House, 3 Yeld Bank: Felling of 4 trees and other tree on 26th June 2006 works. Supported. • Church Stretton School: Renewal of temporary planning PLANNING MATTERS: District Decisions permission for demountable classroom. • 61 Shrewsbury Road: Erection of a dwelling (plot 4). Supported. Approved with 3 conditions. • Adjacent to Greenacres, Hazler Road: Erection of a • Holmwood, Clive Avenue: Change of use to offices. dwelling. Object, the size of the house for the available land Approved with 2 conditions. space is excessive and contrary to Policy GP2 of the SSLP, • 3 Brockhurst: Erection of a conservatory. Approved with 1 and concerns over drainage. condition. • 1 Yeld Bank, Shrewsbury Road. Erection of a conservatory • The Tan House, Ludlow Road, Little Stretton: Internal and 2 porches to dwelling. Supported. works – approved with 3 conditions. • 52 High Street: Change of use of former shop (ground • 1 Spring Bank, Shrewsbury Road: Prune 3 trees. Approved floor) to holiday letting accommodation, & demolition of with 1 condition. flat roof. Supported. • Penwardine, Shrewsbury Road, All Stretton: Tree works. • Woodhill, 87 Ludlow Road: Erection of extension. No Approved with 1 condition. objection but some screening recommended for benefit of • Whinberries Cottage, All Stretton: Construction of neighbours. external staircase. Approved with 1 condition. • Highfield, 101 Sandford Avenue: Felling of a Lawson • 11 Church Street: Erection of an extension and Cypress and lopping of another cypress. Supported. construction of access and parking area. Approved with 3 • Sandford Court, Watling Street South: Use of 8 conditions. care accommodation units as unfettered residential • 4 Sandford Drive: Erection of a conservatory. Approved accommodation. Object, the original planning permission with 1 condition. in 2001 was granted to provide care for vulnerable people. • 54 High Street: Conversion and extension to former store The units should not be sold on the open market, especially to provide a residential annex. Approved with 2 conditions. as there has been a loss of such facilities within the town • Minton Lane Cottage, Little Stretton: Erection of a over recent years. dwelling and garage. Withdrawn. • The Tan House, Ludlow Road, Little Stretton: Internal • Old Rectory House, Burway Road: Tree works – approved works.Supported. with 1 condition • 51A The Knowle, Shrewsbury Road: Erection of an • Arden Cottage, Cardingmill Valley: Felling of 2 trees. extension to dwelling; a conservatory & a detached Approved with 1 condition. domestic garage. No objection but commented that the • 11 Cross Bank, Little Stretton: Erection of an extension. proposed garage is sited where there is currently a group of Approved with 2 conditions. trees which are subject to a previous planning application. • The Shieling, Heighways Lane, All Stretton: Erection of a The recommendation then was to retain these trees because conservatory and porch. Approved with 2 conditions. they are of amenity value. • Ragleth House, 73 High Street: Internal alterations. • The Mount, Sandford Avenue: Erection of a dwelling and Approved with 2 conditions. garage. Report awaited.

PLANNING: Town Council Responses to District OTHER PLANNING MATTERS • 15 Oaks Road: Change of use of agricultural land to Provision of affordable housing for local people: There provide an enlarged garden. No objection. was concern that young local people, who were born, • Old Rectory House, Burway Road: Tree works. No raised and still work in Church Stretton, are unable to find objection. accommodation here and so have been housed elsewhere, • 11 Crossbanks: Erection of an extension. No objection. whilst people from outside Church Stretton were being • Park House, Churchway: Felling of a spruce. No objection. housed here. • The Knowle, 51A Shrewsbury Road: Felling of several Land at rear of school. A statement has been received trees and works on others. Object, recommend retention from Paul Sutton (SS Housing Association) that SSHA is of several trees. The felling of the trees would result in a attempting to secure a legal option over part of this land. significant loss of tree cover and public amenity in the There are 3 landowners involved and they are hopeful that Conservation Area. If some trees have to be felled, we negotiations will be complete in time for them to hold recommend more trees are re-planted for the continuity of a public consultation meeting with all interested bodies tree cover. and residents of Church Stretton where all options will be • Thistledown, Hazler Rd.: Erection of an extension. No reviewed prior to a planning application being submitted. objection. • 15 Watling Street South: Erection of an extension. No CHURCH STRETTON PARTNERSHIP objection. Town Design Statement: In view of possible important • Yearlet, Cunnery Road: Topping of a poplar tree. No imminent planning applications it is essential that this objection. matter needs to be progressed speedily. • 69 Shrewsbury Road: Felling of a leylandii, Supported but removal to ground level preferred. continued on next page

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August 06 mag .indd 12 14/7/06 11:42:32 Town Council Minutes Biodigester’s Waste Line continued from previous page Improves! Funding Applications: 54 Community Chest grants have been approved and groups are Despite significant early problems with the quality of the Biowaste being encouraged to apply. It is uncertain if being collected from residents’ green wheelie bins and delivered to the SCC will agree to continue the Opportunity South Shropshire Biodigester in Ludlow, things are now improving, Fund (from 2nd Homes Council Tax) from and the first solid bio-fertiliser has now been produced. next April. If it is not, Partnership is looking With help from a publicity campaign and hard work by the collection at other avenues such as establishing a crews, the quality of the waste is improving all the time. However Development Trust. the major factor has been the positive response received from South The Leisure Centre Project Management Shropshire residents, which the Council has found particularly Group has recorded disappointment that pleasing. Sport England is unable to come up with any Councillor Susan McCormack, the District Council’s Lead substantial funding – the PMG had been led Member for the Environment & Economy said, “I know that it can to believe they would come up with capital be very frustrating if your green wheelie bin has not been emptied funding. The Group is now looking at other because it contains unsuitable materials, but we have asked the crews sources. to be vigilant, and not to empty these bins. There is a lot at stake, the Biodigester cost £2.6 million to build and breakdowns are both OTHER ISSUES expensive and inconvenient. On top of this we need the bio-fertiliser produced to be of high quality with a minimum of impurities”. Allotments: The Town Clerk reported that the The first solid bio-fertiliser has been produced at the plant and is matter has been completed. The Stamp Duty currently maturing, before being offered to local farmers to improve the Land Tax form now needs to be completed. soil in their fields. Flower Beds Sponsorship: Polymer In addition to solid and liquid bio-fertiliser, the Biodigester also Laboratories has generously sponsored one produces renewable energy in the form of green electricity and hot flower bed, and sponsorship has been received water. Enough Biogas is already being produced to run the plant’s from the Medical Practice and Longmynd Hotel boilers and electricity generator to provide heat and electricity to towards the other bed. The Community Chest sustain the process. Soon sufficient Biogas will be generated to export has also made a grant of £700 towards these renewable electricity from the plant. beds and the watering of the hanging baskets. Shropshire Waste Services Team Play Areas: SSDC want the public to inform them of what needs improving. Burway Road Triangle: SCC agree it is a good idea to round off the corner, but it could be Church Stretton Farmers’ Market several months before this is done. Cunnery Road Cemetery: Successful in being Our Farmers’ Market has been running since 2000 and the Council awarded a Local Heritage Grant for £19,298. appreciates the loyalty of the stallholders, many of whom have been A large proportion of grant is to make safe the with us since the beginning and throughout the Foot and Mouth crisis. area and improve access, create a quiet tranquil The Council has been discussing with the South Shropshire Foods area, with community involvement in different Events Group (which includes representatives from other Farmers’ aspects (historical, ecological & architectural) Market organisers and stallholders) about the possibility of promoting Archives: Tony Crowe wished to ensure his the existing South Shropshire Farmers’ Markets more, ‘sharing’ considerable collection of historical material on stallholders in order to give as much variety as possible to all venues the Strettons does not get dissipated at some and co-ordinating the markets in order to achieve a more vibrant and future date and would like the Town Council exciting experience for both customers and stallholders. to take over responsibility for this. There are a To this end, we are looking to re-launch the South Shropshire number of practical difficulties which would Farmers’ Markets (i.e. Church Stretton, , , need to be resolved to ensure the collection Bishops Castle, Knighton and Ludlow) in October as Local Produce is kept together and accessible to researchers. Markets. Ideally these could be housed in a museum Church Stretton Local Produce Market (‘Special to Stretton’) will in the town if one is created. A trust would be re-launched in October with new incentives for existing and new probably need to be set up to ensure long-term stallholders and special events taking place during that month. Please continuity of the collection. keep an eye on local notice boards and the press for more details. Bus shelter: a bus shelter should be installed by the Co-op before the end of July. If anyone is interested in volunteering to form a small group to become Rail Users Newsletter. The Rail Users involved in an exciting opportunity to help promote and re-launch Association is to be congratulated on producing the Local Produce Market, nurture it and look at other ‘foodie’ such a first class and very useful newsletter. opportunities we would like to hear from you.

Don Clow Please contact Christine Harvey, Town Clerk on 01694 722113

Stretton Focus - 28 - August 2006

August 06 mag .indd 13 14/7/06 11:42:33 Quaker Voice Sex Offenders offender. They are trained not only in we find sex offenders I get angry at times, like most people. issues directly relating to sex offending, driven underground by And like most people, if I get angry but in Housing and Employment the attention of vigilante my judgement is impaired. You issues, and in matters relating to drug groups, and there have wouldn’t ask a man who was shaking or alcohol misuse. They meet regularly been attacks on people and property with rage to touch up a fine painting, with the core member and set limits and even murders. I am sure that most or to operate as a brain surgeon. So and objectives for behaviour. The readers of Focus will have heard about although it is natural to feel anger at core member is supported, but most the paediatrician in this country whose some crimes committed, there is no important is also held accountable house was vandalised because someone place for anger in the enforcement of for his or her actions. In the first didn’t know the difference between law, or in the way we handle prisoners three years the Thames Valley Circles a doctor who cares for children and or offenders. When those trying to worked with twenty offenders who had a sex-offender who harms them. The enforce the law lose their tempers we been classified as being at high risk of campaign by the News of the World get the awful atrocities and massacres re-offending. In that time none did and others may appeal to the ‘anger’ in like those recently reported from Iraq. actually re-offend sexually, though some all of us, but it does nothing to solve were sent back to prison because the the problem, or to preserve the safety “Imagine a disease that affects one in five Circle team alerted the authorities that of children or anyone else. girls, and one in seven boys: - a disease they had breached the terms of their that can increase the risk of substance agreement licence. Some core members Sometimes it seems that we may abuse, sexually transmitted diseases have even come to the group saying have to choose between doing the and suicidal behaviour, a disease that that they felt that they were at risk of ‘right thing’, the thing that our better replicates itself by causing some of its slipping back into old ways; but none natures, or our ‘Christian Principles’ victims to expose future generations to its has actually re-offended; the Circle has tell us is right, and doing the practical debilitating effects. been able to address the issues. or pragmatic thing. In this important Imagine what we as a society would The Circles project has won awards and serious issue it is good to know do. We would spare no expense. We and recognition – they have just been that good sense, good practical would invest in research. We would nominated for a Howard League for results and doing the morally right devise systems to identify those affected Penal Reform Community Programme thing all point in the same direction. and provide services to treat them. Awardb. Police forces in other parts of We need to suppress our anger. We Such a disease does exist - it is called the country have asked if ‘Circles of should support ‘Circles of Support child sex abuse.”a Support and Accountability’ could be and Accountability’ and oppose set up in their area, and offenders have any temptation to vilify or expose Quakers in Britain imported the idea of waited a year or more to be accepted offenders. ‘Circles of Support and Accountability’ onto the programme. It is almost Charles West from Canada, and with the support of certain that re-offending behaviour has the Home Office have been running been prevented, the destructive cycle of (Endnotes) ‘Circles’ in the Thames Valley area for abuse can be broken. a James A Mercy, Centre for Disease Control over four years. A team of about four Compare this positive and and Prevention, Atlanta USA. or five volunteers are carefully selected constructive approach with the effects b www.quaker.org.uk/circles and trained to work with each sex of ‘Megan’s law’ in the USA. There

Apple Sponge Marches Evening I think this is an old Swedish recipe, a very tasty and Rover Ticket easy to make pudding. A new Marches Evening Rover ticket is now available and on sale. Pre-heat your oven to 180C/350F or gas mark 4 It is valid between Hereford and Ingredients: Shrewsbury and all intermediate 4oz Butter 4oz sugar stations, any direction, on any train 4oz plain flour 2 eggs after 18.30 (6.30pm). 1 teasp baking powder 3 cooking apples. Price £6:50 adult, £3:25 child. Ideal for an evening walk, a night Cream the butter and sugar together, add the eggs, flour and baking powder out or a few beers here and there! and put mixture in a10 inch sandwich tin. Peel and cut the apples into slices (Although perhaps not the child fares and place them on top of the sponge mixture. for the few beers!!!) Sprinkle with sugar and bake in the oven for 45 minutes or until the sponge Leave the car at home !! shrinks slightly from the sides of the tin. More information from Arriva Trains Serve it as it is (the way I like it) or with home made custard. Wales or from staffed stations. ‘Her Ladyship’

Stretton Focus - 30 - August 2006

August 06 mag .indd 14 14/7/06 11:42:34 Town Design Statement Public Consultation Following the consultation events, displays and hills from the town and the views of the town across the meetings around Church Stretton asking people what valley are a particular sensitive issue which is not always they particularly valued, what made the town distinctive given appropriate consideration, people felt. and what could be improved, 135 questionnaires were The main entrance to the town at the A49 traffic lights completed as well as the comments logged at the Parish was picked out by many as a poor introduction to the town Centre. Where comments relate to a specific area, which could be improved. There was also criticism for the these have been incorporated into the descriptions and number and variety of street furniture in the town centre, recommendations, where appropriate, of that area in the with sometimes unnecessary duplication of signs and too Design Statement. Many of the comments received apply much clutter, which detracts from the overall harmony of more generally to Church Stretton and its setting and the this area. There were also a number of pleas for The Square quality of life enjoyed in the town. The following is a brief to be made car free. summary of the main points made. The Town Design Statement will set out some design The setting of the town in the landscape is what makes guidelines and will identify a number of proposals for Church Stretton so special and the particular quality enhancing the town. If people want to take forward any most people felt strongly about - and the fact that it is the projects to enhance the town, whether tree planting only town in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding or improving the street furniture, a group will need to Natural Beauty, which should mean that it deserves special galvanise this interest and develop the proposals further so protection. The importance and closeness of Rectory Wood that grants can be applied for. It’s up to you. Town Design and other green spaces around the town were particularly Statement Editorial Group (Contact – Hilary Hymas) valued, as is the abundance of tree cover. A lot of concern was expressed about the loss of trees in recent years and that more should be planted to replace the ones that had been felled. Volunteer Gardeners Wanted… People also added that there should be stricter controls. Arriva Trains have kindly donated almost one hundred pounds worth of shrubs to help brighten our unattended railway station area – but gardeners are urgently needed to help plant and maintain them.

The CSATG – Tourism Group – has been accepted as the ‘Adopters of the Station’: our volunteers have already painted railings, benches and steps; regularly tidied and swept the platform areas; installed, planted and maintained the two raised beds; and completed monthly maintenance reports. The small group of volunteers from Shrewsbury who did much of the gardening last year now have their own local allotment, so we need a few generous and interested volunteers to help establish The importance of tree cover is one of the most valued features of and maintain the Church Stretton and also makes an attractive entrance to the town. station ‘gardens’. Photo: Hilary Hymas Tools and materials are all The rural feel of many of our residential roads was also provided in the mentioned as a distinctive and valued characteristic, with Pride of Place stone walls, mixed hedges, banks and trees, which should be hut in Station Approach, and Arriva will continue preserved. to support the garden initiative if we can interest a In the town centre the mix of buildings, interesting small group of volunteers to take on the challenge of roof shapes, and in particular, the period shop fronts were improving the appearance of our station. Anyone at all appreciated. There was a general feeling that, for a town of interested in helping, please contact either Eileen on its size, the shops had a good mix of goods for sale. Tourism 720086, or John on 751245. was considered a major factor in the economy, and there were many fears that the ‘suburbanisation’ of the town would threaten this aspect of the economy. Fears and dislikes cropped up on a regular basis, Trivia Corner – No 33 by Ken Willis particularly ‘over-development’ which might lead to the destruction of Church Stretton as a small and intimate 1. Who wrote ‘A Clockwork Orange’? market town in a unique setting. Many people were 2. Albert Tatlock was a character in which TV soap? concerned about the trend for building houses in large 3. Which language was spoken in Ancient Rome? gardens which destroyed the setting of houses in the 4. How much in betting terms is a ‘pony’? landscape, and the impact this had on the town when 5. Who was known as the Jersey Lily? viewed from the hills. The importance of the views of the solutions on Page 40

Stretton Focus - 33 - August 2006

August 06 mag .indd 15 14/7/06 11:42:53 Mayfair Community Centre Merrymakers’ News Mayfair Promotes its Lottery A branch of Merrymakers meets every Mr Tony Monday morning to create greetings cards Wainwright which are sold to aid Mayfair’s funds. We accepting his £150 are a small, friendly lot who enjoy ‘playing’ with glue cheque, Mayfair and bits of paper. Most of our cards, which are on sale in Community the entrance hall, are recycled from donated cards. We Centre’s special always welcome more but not Christmas cards please. (We June Lottery have plenty in stock.) We are always keen to have general promotion prize, greetings cards. More elaborate cards are produced by some from Julie Guest of our team and we even have outworkers! Although we Mayfair’s Centre have a very loyal group of helpers we would welcome more Manager. help. If you have two hours spare on a Monday morning Julie said, “We between 10.00am and 12.00noon and would like to join us are trying to please do speak to Angela. Mayfair 722077 encourage more people to become Decorated Christmas Boxes Workshop Photo: Paul Miller members of our To be held on Monday 25th September in the Art room at Mayfair Lottery. Mayfair. Merrymakers are holding a one-off workshop during The normal 1st prize is a £100 every month plus further which we will be decorating various shaped boxes which will prizes of £50, £20 & £10. then be sold for the funds. There will be no charge for the If we can increase our support of the Lottery we will be day and all materials will be provided. Come and have some able to increase the prize money. This is a really nice way of creative fun with us and help Mayfair at the same time. supporting your local Community Centre with a chance of There will be two sessions; winning every month. Morning 10.00am - 12-30pm Afternoon 1.30 - 4.00 You can join our lottery at any time of year, please pop Choose one session or all day. Lunches available as usual. in for a leaflet or ring 01694 722 077 for a Lottery leaflet.” We will provide a tea and coffee break. Please book early as places will be limited. 01694 722077 Mayfair Lottery Results for June 2006 No: 130 £150 (Special Promotion Prize) 123 £50 Making ‘Fantastic Fossils’ 499 £20 374 £10 Daycare goes Sporty Photo: Nicola McPherson Nicola Photo:

Photo: Nic Sansom Nic Photo: Community Groups at Mayfair have been working hard producing contributions for the Fantastic Fossil Forest Community Art Project. These will be exhibited during the summer holidays at the Secret Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms. Lap IT up On the day before ‘that penalty shoot out’ led to Need help with computing? England’s exit from the world cup, Daycare held a football Why not try our bookable sessions at Mayfair? party and showed with cake, kits and football songs that We offer one to one support with a volunteer using a laptop everyone was behind the team. The following week, they computer. swallowed their disappointment along with strawberries and It may particularly appeal to those who have never touched cream as the talk was of tennis! a computer in their lives but would love to know more or continued on Page 37 Stretton Focus - 35 - August 2006

August 06 mag .indd 16 14/7/06 11:43:25 Mayfair continued from Page 35 to users of our current drop-in sessions may find the extra ‘A Night of Magic and Mystery’ scope useful. in aid of Cancer Research UK The minimum bookable time is 30 minutes, the On Friday 6th October at maximum 2 hours. We would appreciate a minimum Church Stretton School, people donation of £2.50 per 30 minutes session time. are going to have a treat. Sessions will be running on a trial basis and booked Paul and Joe Rushworth, who on a first come first served basis and will be subject to the are extremely well known in the availability of volunteers. Shrewsbury area and beyond for For further information please contact Jackie Mantle being exponents of magic, will on 01694 722077. To book a session please contact Dave be entertaining us in A Night of Draper on 07789 382735. Magic and Mystery. also Grandfather Rushworth is a member of the Inner Ludlow College will be running a new series of computer Magic Circle and has passed his skills down to his son, classes in your area from Monday 11th September. Paul, and his grandson, Joe. In school Joe was Junior British Courses at Mayfair include: Close-up Magician of the Year and in 2005 was a finalist in • Beginners Computing – no previous knowledge required Young Magician of the Year. • Internet & Email – basic computer skills required Put the date, 6th October, in your diary. It will be an • Two separate Computer Workshops – exciting evening. The tickets will go on sale in September Please contact Ludlow College on 01584 872846 or visit and will be in demand. Barbara Macintyre (01694 723246) www.villagelinkshropshire.ac.uk on behalf of Cancer Research UK

Focus on Faith Dog Days will hear some people say, “Well, I is and the people in it. Perhaps here My brother and his wife have just am a very private person myself,” as if is the catalyst we need. Nor do we bought a dog. Last month they came this is a justification for not sharing need to brag about how good it is up to Church Stretton, and took the with others, and this applies especially here. After all it is God’s doing that pup for a walk in the town. When to prayer. It is true that you can it is here… and we are. Gratitude they came back they were full of experience the emotion of religion and appreciation are always happy amazement at the number of people in a crowd, but that is only because emotions. I suppose you could say that who had spoken to them. They said you bring to the crowd your private it was because my brother and his wife it was because of the dog. I agree with convictions. Common worship only are the people they are which made them. This is not to say they are not makes sense when everyone present is a so many people want to talk to them. charming people. It is just one of the private worshipping person. But that could be us too. And, while characteristics of the British people So what other thing, apart from we are talking about appreciation - is that it takes things which we have our dog or our car or our computer, this not what religion is supposed to in common to be the catalyst which can we use to bridge the gap between be all about? Appreciation for what the overcomes our reticence Not just us, so that we can start to talk to other Lord has given us? That is where it is that. We know all the things we have people and to the God who made us supposed to start, isn’t it? in common. So why is it that we are out of love? I think that it helps if I haven’t decided to get a dog yet. so stand-offish? Is it perhaps because what we talk about arises from what But I really do need to cultivate a we feel more at ease channelling our we do or what we are, or where we private gratitude, which is essential if I friendship through something else, so live our lives. It would be hard to start am to share my religion with others. In that we don’t have to speak to people a conversation by announcing that one of the bible songs it says, “What directly? It may be that we fear that you had spoken last week to some can I give to the Lord for all he has others will not take us seriously. little green men from Mars. It might given to me?” Perhaps now is the time This may be why lots of people actually put people off. They might to change that. say that they are not religious, when cross the road when they saw you What can WE give to the Lord really they are. It is just the word: coming - unless, of course, they had - and each other? religion. It puts people off. They find seen them too... it hard to pray with people because Another thing which I can (This is not meant to be a bone of they feel they have little in common remember from my brother’s visit was contention - just something to chew with them. They love God. It is the the number of times they went on over.) neighbour bit which is difficult. You about how beautiful Church Stretton Father Donlan

‘Nature’s Bounty’ - a floral demonstration by Mary Western 2.30pm Hazler Hill Farm, Hazler Road, on Tuesday 8th August (entrance from 1.30pm onwards) Entrance £5 includes floral demonstration, tea and cake and a walk around the garden. Tickets from V Hotchkiss (723130), Wrights Estate Agent and John Thomas Florist Presented jointly by the Church Stretton and District Flower Club and the Severn Hospice Support Group

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August 06 mag .indd 17 14/7/06 11:43:26 Dear Editor ... christened and confirmed in Stretton. I give ‘positive’ ring in the S support to the Church’s activities. I am a member of luntee tretton Proposed withdrawal of amenity Vo s the Royal British Legion, the RAF Roundel, donator skip service to Mayfair, a member of many organisations such as I write to draw attention to the recent decision of the the Senior Citizens, Gardening Club, Chamber of District Council to withdraw the amenity skip service Trade and a positive supporter of the many sporting from 1st October 2006 on the grounds that the green activities of golf, cricket, football, badminton juniors, bin service means that it is no longer required. swimming, etc. I’m a founder member and fundraiser for This decision was reported on the front page of the Stretton Cancer Research and have carried out personal Shropshire Star on 23rd June. sponsored swims for that and the Severn House Hospice. The facility is to be withdrawn from Church Stretton, My plot of land on the old Dairy site was developed for the Craven Arms, Bishop’s Castle and . benefit of elderly residents and named St Dunstans Close. However, the present facility at Coder Road, Ludlow is to The remaining plot I allowed to go for the new Medical continue - naturally. Centre. I have written to the Chief Executive of the District I hope all of that shows that I am a caring and Council, to the Town Council and to our four District committed member of our local community. The question Councillors pointing out the value of this facility, protesting I pose now is the statement of the aforementioned lady, that against its withdrawal and asking for their support in any more new families wishing to reside here would ‘spoil’ getting it reversed. May I urge, through your columns, Church Stretton. If this statement is shared by the majority that everyone affected by this decision should write urgently of our local community, then in spite of my commitment, to the District Council opposing this change? my daughter and granddaughter would not be welcome back A J Crowe in Stretton. Don’t panic. They will never return whilst we still remain Cunnery Road Cemetery short of even the basic amenities such as toilets and showers As you may know Cunnery Road Cemetery is the property - neither being available out of hours on the school playing of Church Stretton Town Council. When I took over as fields. My rallying cry is ‘Justice for Stretton Children’. Chairman of the Council in 2003 I was determined to Percy Edward Tarbuck see an improvement to this Victorian walled cemetery, and to make it a safe tranquil environment, enriching the I would like to focus on just one sentence from Lesley landscape within the town centre. McIntyre’s July reply to my letter in the June Focus: “…she A volunteer group met on a number of occasions has not been able to accept the financial proposition presented in 2003 and improved accessibility to the graves. Tree by Mr Hinves …” and butterfly surveys have been carried out and a draft The sole basis for my numerical analysis of the costs management plan drawn up. Following the persistent she accepts unquestioningly was the financial proposition efforts of Councillor Sandie Johnson, Chair of Outdoor presented by Mr Hinves. I just applied standard Amenities, we are delighted to have been awarded a grant in accountancy principles for assessing cost of ownership to excess of £19,000 from the Local Heritage Initiative Fund. those figures. Cost of ownership? It costs a family to own a The approved purpose of the grant will enable, through car. It costs a family to own a house. It will cost each family community involvement, the undertaking of wildlife in just the same way to have shared responsibility for the surveys, archaeological and historical research of public local proposed leisure facilities. Mrs McIntyre may like to know interest, and repair, conservation and building work. that Dr West, after taking advice, wrote me stating “… your The progress of the project will be monitored and has comments are well made and valid …”. to be completed by the end of 2008. We are now looking to Now, my arithmetic can be right or it can be wrong. If set up a support or ‘Friends of Cunnery Road Cemetery’ it is wrong, there is no more to be said except “sorry”. If it is group to involve the local community as part of the grant right, my conclusions are not ‘alarmist’ as Lesley McIntyre requirement. The Town Council (01694 722 113) would be suggests, but alarming. The base figures have so many delighted to hear from anyone of any age who would like to trailing zeroes that it can be difficult to grasp in day-to-day be involved in any way. terms what they actually mean, but when one does grasp Cllr Lesley McIntyre that, they are indeed alarming. Let me repeat the result of my analysis of David Hinves’ Leisure Centre figures: if one in two of us is a taxpayer, then spread across Some two months ago I was chatting with a Stretton lady the population of Stretton, the capital cost of the proposed in the magnificent new Ludlow Football Stadium. We had Leisure facilities (option 2) equates to some £1,500 per both watched with joy the under 10s ‘Stretton Royals’ win taxpayer, i.e. a modest holiday or half a reasonable car per their Cup Final. The conversation was amicable throughout, family. Of course, the capital cost may be spread more widely however, when I enquired if she was in favour of having our than just Stretton. However, I believe the cost of ownership of own leisure facilities in Church Stretton her answer came as those facilities equates to some £94 per family per year that a surprise. She stated quite briefly that although she had a will be directly added to our council tax. Am I right or am I family of her own and would continue to lend her support wrong? I think we all need the Council to do their own sums to our local youngsters, she feared that any more families in and publish them before asking us again to vote blind – or the area would ‘spoil Church Stretton’. Now forbid it Lord indeed before going ahead without further consultation. that I should boast, but to demonstrate how deeply I feel, Sandra Baker then if needs be, I must. To make my point, I was born, Letters continue on next page

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August 06 mag .indd 18 14/7/06 11:43:27 Dear Editor ... continued Your correspondents Caroline Blount and Liz Hammersley words, 76.5% of respondents either do not want any leisure in your June issue refer to affordable housing in connection centre options set out in the questionnaire or are indifferent with a possible leisure centre in Church Stretton. May I to the issue. This seems a very flimsy basis on which to suggest that it is a contradiction in terms to suggest that launch huge expenditure (however raised) not only on the affordable housing can contribute to leisure centre funding. creation of a centre, but on its future maintenance after Affordable housing is a totally separate issue, which must be District Council grants cease. decided on its own merits. Might it not be better for the District and Town We have noted, too, the views expressed by Sandra Councils to apply pressure to ensure that the County Baker in the same edition of Focus, on the recent Council enhances the existing facilities at the school as it questionnaire regarding the possibility of a leisure centre has promised to do in 2008? As the school, quite properly, in the town. We had hoped to obtain an indication of wishes to have closer links with the wider public, these the proportion of householders who replied, in Church improved facilities could then be opened to the public Stretton itself and each of the other 13 Parishes (7 of which outside school hours, at a charge. If the demand is large, incidentally pay council tax to Shrewsbury and Atcham as has been suggested, this should result in financial Borough Council). Unfortunately, the South Shropshire advantages to the school. If the demand proves smaller than District Council has advised us that it is not possible to expected, the position can always be reviewed. equate postcodes with parish boundaries. However, an This would prevent the District and Town Councils analysis can be made from published figures. These show reversing their long-held policies that development on open that over the whole 14 parishes, 3,200 households received land between the three Strettons will not be permitted; a questionnaires of which 950 replied, just under 30%. We view that was reiterated in Policy S12 of the recent Local are told by the Project Management Group that 79% of Plan, though both Councils seem studiously to have adult (i.e. elector) responses support a leisure centre (albeit avoided mentioning it. this is based on individuals rather than households) which Dennis J. Nisbet reduces overall support for a centre to 23.5%. In other (Chairman, Save our Strettons Group)

Gardeners’ Show Time

2006 Annual Summer Show Silvester Horne Institute Saturday 26th August at 2.30pm Adult admission £1, accompanied children free

The Church Stretton and District Gardening Club will Show schedules are available from Salts in Church be holding its Summer Show on Saturday 26th August at Stretton High Street, the Visitor Information Centre in the Silvester Horne Institute. The Show is proving to be Church Street and from John Thomas, the Florist, in a popular event and it is hoped that this year’s show will Sandford Avenue. The Show is open for exhibits from all, again be equally attractive to whether members exhibitors and public alike. of the club or not. Please help to ensure the All are welcome, show is another outstanding but entry forms success by supporting the need to be returned show with entries into the by Thursday 24th competitions. August. For further This year, we had a information ring the long, cold, damp spring, Show Secretary on followed by windy cold 01694 722515. weather, so plant growth On Show Day, the was delayed. Soft fruit, in hall will be open particular has struggled to to exhibitors from get going. Whilst a lot of 8.00am to ease plants may not be at their traffic around the best, there will always be an Hall. Class judging item or two worth showing. will commence at We are therefore expecting 11.45am. everyone’s co-operation to have an even better show than last year. Photo: Paul Miller John Bricknell

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August 06 mag .indd 19 14/7/06 11:43:28 Facts about Inheritance Tax Inheritance Tax (IHT) was introduced in 1894 by Sir • By another person, up to £1,000. William Harcourt as ‘estate duty’ and has gone through • Gifts to charity, major political parties or for many transformations before arriving at our current regime. national purposes (eg to various public institutions). Previously affecting the very wealthy, the tax is now more often a middle class tax especially when considering the Are there any other types of relief on Inheritance Tax? increase in the price of property. With the average price Agricultural Property relief can apply for transfers of for a family home in England and Wales now in excess owner-occupied farms and tenanted farms, 100% relief of £200,000 many people find themselves affected by is potentially available where the transferor has vacant Inheritance Tax primarily because of this single asset. possession of the land, or could have within 12 months. Below are some frequently asked questions relating to Business Property relief is given on transfers of business Inheritance Tax. assets provided the transferor has owned them for at least two years. Relief is not available where the business consists Who is liable for Inheritance Tax? of dealing in securities or land and buildings, or making Individuals domiciled in the UK may investments. be subject to IHT on their worldwide 100% relief applies to: assets. • A business or an interest in a business (eg a partnership share). How much is Inheritance Tax? • Shares in unlisted and Alternative Investment IHT is charged at 40% on death. The Market (AIM) companies. first £285,000 is charged at a nil rate 50% relief applies to: (0%) and is known as the ‘Nil Rate • Assets (eg land or plant and machinery) owned Band’. The nil-rate limit will be £300,000 for 2007/08. by the transferor and used in a partnership in which the transferor is a partner, or a company controlled by the What is the seven year rule for Inheritance Tax? transferor. Where a donor of a lifetime gift dies within seven years of • Controlling interests in listed companies. making the gift, IHT may be due on the gift. The full rate of tax is reduced depending on the interval between the Are there any basic tips for avoiding Inheritance Tax? gift and the date of death (see table below). If the gift, plus • Make sure you write your will and use it wisely. chargeable transfers in the previous seven years, is not more Wills are a very useful tool for including inheritance tax than £275,000, it is within the nil rate band and so there is avoidance trusts and for ensuring that your assets are no reduction. distributed as you intend. In particular wills can ensure that Gifts made which fall under this ‘taper relief’ are known both nil rate bands available to a married couple are fully used. • Utilize your gifting allowances where possible Period of years before death % of full tax rate and where you have assets you are able to pass on your beneficiaries directly or via a trust. Not more than 3 100% • Consider placing assets in trust especially life More than 3 but not more than 4 80% assurance and investments in order that they are placed More than 4 but not more than 5 60% outside your estate. More than 5 but not more than 6 40% • Get advice. Everyone’s circumstances are different, More than 6 but not more than 7 20% getting expert independent advice can effectively tailor More than 7 0% solutions that meet your needs and desires.

as Potentially Exempt transfers. Where can I find other information about Inheritance Tax? Are there any exemptions to Inheritance Tax? HM Revenue and Customs has a detailed The following exemptions apply: guide to IHT and will-making, including • Transfers between UK domiciled spouses. information on tax-exempt gifts, on its website • Annual exemption for lifetime gifts of up to £3,000 www.hmrc.gov.uk/home.htm. They also offer per donor. a probate and inheritance tax helpline which • Small gifts of up to £250 per donee. is open between 9am and 5pm, Monday to • Gifts that are regular, made out of income (ie Friday. Telephone: 08453 020900 normal expenditure) that do not reduce the donor's normal Your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau standard of living. (CAB) should be able to help with will and • Gifts in consideration of marriage: inheritance tax issues. The CAB website • By a parent, up to £5,000. www.adviceguide.org.uk/ also has a variety • By a grandparent or a party to the marriage, up to of information and tips as does the website £2,500. www.unbiases.co.uk. Paul Ray

Answers to Trivia Corner No 33

1. Anthony Burgess 2. Coronation Street 3. Latin 4. £25 5. Lily Langtree

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August 06 mag .indd 20 14/7/06 11:43:29 What’s On in the Strettons continued from page 3

Gardening in: August General Tasks: not too hectic a month, but harvesting in by removing dead leaves and litter. Some pots can be put the vegetable plot should be in full swing - and very tasty outside, enabling a little spring-cleaning to be carried out, too! Harvest potatoes as needed but don’t leave them too also helping air to circulate. If you are going on holiday, long in the ground for the slugs to get there first. Sow move containers to a shaded area where possible – and enlist winter lettuce – ‘All Year Round’ is still a recommended the help of your good neighbour to water and care. variety. Continue to deadhead annuals, shrubs and roses, . cut back perennials where necessary, weed, water and feed Veg and Herbs: A good month for friends to help share regularly. your harvest of tasty vegetables. As rows are emptied why not refill with fast-growing varieties of quickly maturing Fruit: a good month for pruning lettuce, peas, carrots and turnips? currants, summer-fruiting raspberries Continue to cut and dry (or freeze) herbs. and gooseberries: don’t prune figs, grapevines, standard apples and pears, Flowers: deadheading and feeding are still necessary. cherries and plums. Tomato fertilizer is good for all round use – not just for tomatoes. Try saving seeds from favourite annuals, Pruning: hedges can be perennials and rock plants, putting the seeds into labelled clipped safely now. Yew is best packets or envelopes. Pot up any self-sown seedlings that clipped this month and should then you care for, such as hellebores. stay tidy for much of the coming year. Pyracantha will Bulbs are available now: autumn crocus and colchicum need trimming, especially close to paths, lavender too. can be planted in pots or in beds and both flower quickly. Wisteria will need training to its supports and long side Narcissi need to be planted but delay tulips until November shoots will need pruning back. to avoid ‘tulip fire’. Buy Apples can still be ‘summer pruned’ to encourage and pot up prepared bulbs ripening of healthy fruit: trim new growth back to two or for winter flowering in the three leaves around the apples – and tidy the tree generally house. if size allows. Take semi-ripe or heel cuttings of treasured Lawns: resist the temptation to water or feed – even alpines. Take cuttings if your grass looks faded. A few decent autumn rains will of half-hardy shrubs for quickly put things right. Continue to mow regularly, as over-wintering in the long as the grass continues to grow. August is a good month greenhouse – pelargonium, for preparing new lawns…Seed or turf can be sown or laid argyranthemum, fuschia etc – for use in next year’s from the end of the month while the soil is still warm. containers: lavender and other hardy shrubs (also shrubby herbs) can still be propagated this way – and will come in Greenhouse: continue to water and ventilate. Feed handy at next Spring’s plant stalls! plants regularly and keep working areas clean. Tidy plants Advice from Church Stretton & District Gardening Club

We hope you won’t mind us reminding you that Christmas isn’t far away!

Last year Christmas was special for 1.15 million needy children thanks to Operation Christmas Child and HOUSEHOLD RUBBISH people like you. COLLECTION ARRANGEMENTS Since then, those people have continued knitting, AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY 2006 sewing, saving unwanted gifts, sorting out their toy cupboards and buying little gifts every now and then in There will be no collection of Domestic Refuse on preparation for the Shoebox appeal. MONDAY 28th AUGUST If you haven’t made a start yet, leaflets are now available from Flinders in Church Stretton, at During the week commencing 28th August, all rubbish www.samaritanspurse.uk.com or by telephoning collections will be made one day later than usual. 08700 112002. The leaflet will tell you how to prepare a Friday collections will be made on Saturday box and what items can and cannot be included. Shoebox drop off points will be advertised on the Please put out your refuse by 7.00am on collection day Samaritans Purse website and locally in October. Please and no earlier than the previous evening. ask for information and a registration form if your Green Box Collections and clinical collections where premises can be used as a drop off point. applicable, will be made on the revised day as described above. Enjoy the rest of the summer and let’s make If in doubt, please telephone 01584 813396 / 7/ 8 Christmas 2006 special too. or visit www.southshropshire.gov.uk Linda and Caroline Salisbury

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August 06 mag .indd 21 14/7/06 11:43:31 To place an Occasional Advertisement, please contact the Advertising Manager, Graham Young on 01694 724647 Prices are £7 for 1 column inch and £14 for 2 column inches (maximum) per insertion

Near Paris: Apartment to rent this summer Comfortable, one-bedroom fully equipped flat with large outside teak deck in pleasant area west of Paris. Easy 20 min. access to heart of city. Occasional Advertisements Available 15th June - 15th August. Permanent Ad Weekly rent £250. NEWSAGENTS, LOTTO, Call Elaine Evans (Church Stretton home owner) on 0033 1347 58741 STATIONERS, BOOKSELLERS or email [email protected] OPEN MORNING Mon - Sat & EVENING 6.30 - 5.30pm PAPERS Hedge and Grass cutting; Pressure washing; Sunday DELIVERED Shed, fence or greenhouse painting or repairs; 7.30 - 1.00pm Rotovating; General garden maintenance; leaf collection. Selection of Greeting Cards, Confectionery, Please call to discuss your requirements Paperbacks, Books, Ordnance Survey Maps, Derek Griffiths Local Guides, Post Cards, Parker Pens, Gifts & Toys 01694 751326 07989 629510 (mobile) 28 SANDFORD AVENUE. Tel: 722120 Quality Tiling, LONG MYND Wall, Floor, CAMPING Kitchens, Bathrooms, Cloakrooms, etc... AND NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL LEISURE Call for a free consultation, estimate and We sell everything but the tent! measuring service (but we even have a few of those too) Call Lee Home: 01588 673869 Mob: 07896 796006 18 Beaumont Road. www.lmcamping.co.uk

Mike Corfield KEVIN FRYER Landscape & Garden GENERAL BUILDER Firewood for Sale Kenford, Clive Ave, Ch Stretton, SY6 7BS UPPER NORTON BARN Tel: 722234 NORTON, NEAR ONIBURY SHROPSHIRE SY7 9LT Nicky Collins MCFHP, MAFHP TELEPHONE 07810 042742 Foot Health Practicioner Visiting Practice ANDY MAN Chiropody treatments in the comfort of Lawns mowed, Hedges trimmed your own home or office. Trees cut back, Rubbish removal, Fencing Floor and Wall tiling Telephone 01694 731588 and much more ..... Mobile 07880 972002 Tel: Andrew Longville on 07813 278108

The County of Salop Steam Engine Society Ltd Annual Rally Sunday 27th / Monday 28th August 2006 Onslow Park, Shrewsbury “One of Shropshire’s biggest family-fun weekend events” In the Arena: Convoy of steam engines, vintage tractors, historic commercial vehicles, 8-wheeler British lorries, vintage cycles and perambulators, pre and post WW2 cars, veteran cars, classic motorcycles, steam cars and working horses on parade. In the working field: Re-enactment of the Shrewsbury 1921 Tractor Trials with 140 tractors on view. Other events include harvesting with a range of early machines and teams of Shire horses ploughing part of the site.

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August 06 mag .indd 22 14/7/06 11:43:36