February 2018 The Leaving Winter Behind and Looking Forward to Spring Edition Snailbeach & District News, Issue 345 Page 1 February 2018 News in Brief Snailbeach & Stiperstones The committee is planning to replace The first Story Time will be on 1st Village book the blue chairs in the hall. The new February at 2.30pm From the year 2000 events in our chairs will be easily moveable and villages of Stiperstones and Snailbeach stackable; making them a practical In other news, On Saturday 3rd have been recorded in a book. option especially as the hall is now so February we are looking forward to the Unfortunately, it was mislaid for a well used. arrival of the library sculpture. The while but has now reappeared and I am sculptor, Bill Sample will be unveiling currently custodian (unless anyone out Just a reminder to everyone there is no the piece and will talk about his work. there would like the job!!). overnight car parking allowed in the Keep an eye out for posters with full village hall car park. The exception to details. The book is a great way to remember this is bad weather, particularly snow, what happens in the villages - from when many would struggle to reach John & Ann Jones would like to thank births, deaths, and marriages; to the their homes. everyone that gave donations to their Beach Party; what happens at the Christmas lights. £2,029.10 will be village hall; our churches and the Bog; Stiperstones Carol Singers donated to Lingen Davies Cancer and even simple things like the I would like to extend a massive thank- Appeal. weather! you to the residents of the Stiperstones for their generous donations during our Friends of Snailbeach As the book was out of action for a carol singing evening. We raised Methodist Church while, I have attempted to update it but £273.05 on the evening and further The friends of Snailbeach Methodist it’s not going to be perfect. donations received raised the total to Church would like to say a big ‘Thank £283.05, for which I have sent a cheque you’ to the organisers of the Beach If there are any events you would like onto the Lingen Davies Cancer Appeal. Party for the generous donation of £600 included over the last two years and Special thanks to Malcolm & Lorna, which has been a great help to our ongoing, please let me have the details. Malcolm & Doreen and Elspeth & John finances. You can either pop a note in our post for their kind hospitality which was box, email me on very greatly received. We are also grateful to everyone who [email protected] or leave a supported our coffee morning in note at the pub. We all had a lovely night as the weather December which together with was kind to us for a change, see you all donations raised £606. This event was When we have our next open event at next year which will be here before we organised instead of our Memory Tree, the Village Hall, I’ll make sure it’s can blink! and the proceeds have been sent to The available so everyone can see it. Hospice, Lingen Davies and Hope Wendy Whitelaw and carol singers. House. Many Thanks. Snailbeach Village Hall We had a wonderful Christmas Fair on Pontesbury Library Mary Challinor writes: the last Thursday evening in November Once upon a time, in the village of I am sure that, as in previous years, you which attracted a wide variety of Pontesbury, there was a library. The would like to join me in saying a big Christmas and crafts stalls. It was well library was in a little wooden hut at the ‘Thank You’ to John and Ann for the attended; the mince pies and mulled foot of the very famous Elephant Hill. wonderful display of Christmas lights wine were enjoyed by all. Though it Once a month on a Monday morning which have lit up our village over the was not primarily intended to be a the children were entertained with Christmas period. Well done! fundraiser, a raffle for a huge blue stories and jolly rhymes. Unfortunately, unicorn, won by Neil Jones, together this wasn’t a very good day. So the A ‘thank you’ from Marg Price, with the stall holders fees and the sale library ladies Mrs Linkabelle and Mrs Lower Works. of refreshments raised £224. Bonnet asked the help of the Jennifer After my recent hip operation I would Fairies, sometimes called Jen and like to thank you all for your kindness Our annual general meeting, also in Jenny. (Not to be confused with Jenny in sending cards, ‘phone calls, lovely November, saw the election of a new who magics books back onto the flowers, cakes, chocs and visits by Chairman; Philip Sproson-Jones. We shelves) They are going to entertain the friends; Kim and Wendy for beautiful also welcomed new trustees, Ray and pre-school children with singing and meals. I think I’ve done really well and Caroline Harper and Rosa McCombe. stories of awe and wonder, this will be can’t wait to have a good walk. I’ve not the first Thursday of the month at the done Elsie’s walk yet, so that will be Unfortunately, our planned social new time of 2.30. We hope the new first on my list. Thank you all again and events for December, the bingo and time will be very good for filling a little a happy 2018. carol singing with the brass band, both gap between lunch and school pick up. had to be cancelled due to the snow. Snailbeach & District News, Issue 345 Page 2 February 2018 Notes from the Editor Regular Local Activities Stiperstones Brass Rehearsals Snailbeach Village Hall Mondays 6. 30pm We’re now well into 2018 and the revelries and overindulgences of Christmas Bingo Night and the New Year are but a distant memory, as is the Great December Snow, Stiperstones Inn so I’ve put together a forward looking, motivational front cover this month. 2nd Monday - 8.00pm I hope you can take some inspiration from it. Quiz Night Stiperstones Inn I love a good snow, and thoroughly enjoyed battling my way on foot from Last Monday - 8. 00pm Lower Works up to the Stiperstones Inn to be met with a mulled wine and a roaring fire. John the Shop, as canny as ever, managed somehow to provide a Knitter Natter good supply of toboggans for all the youngsters and not so young. Stiperstones Inn Tuesdays from 10. 00am It occurred to me as I watched various groups of lads and lassies in search of a good downhill run, that many of them would never have seen snow as deep Yo ga as this before in their young and not so young lives. Many local people I spoke Snailbeach Village Hall to said that this was the heaviest snowfall they had seen in some two Tuesday & Wednesday 10am decades. Fortunately (or unfortunately for the tobogganists) it was soon to disappear with the heavy rain that followed. Will we ever again see the ‘big Iyengar Yo ga freeze’ of ’63? The snow back then started on Boxing Day 1962 and the ‘big Snailbeach Village Hall freeze’ lasted until March 1963 with temperatures dropping to minus 22° Tuesday 7pm centigrade in parts of the UK. January that year was the coldest month since 1814. In February 1963 a huge snowstorm struck Northern Ireland, south- Olit/ Pilates Lessons west England and Wales. That led to a fall of nearly 5ft of snow in Tredegar in Snailbeach Village Hall Monmouthshire with drifts of over 20ft. Now that’s what I call snow! Olit: Wednesdays at 6pm-7pm The Snailbeach District News appears to be going from strength to strength at Pilates: Wednesdays 7.10pm-810 pm the moment, and we are most grateful for all the positive comments we get. As a consequence, however, we are receiving an increased volume of copy Ballroom Dancing for inclusion. This is proving taxing on our limited space! So, we are going to Snailbeach Village Hall introduce a “first come, first served” policy. If we can squeeze it all in, then we 1st & 3rd Thursdays will (no innuendo intended!). If we can’t squeeze it into the current month, we From 7.30pm will then, of course, hold it over for the following month. So, if you have an idea for something you think might take a full page or more, then try to get in Snailbeach WI touch with me earlier rather than later so I can allocate the right amount of Snailbeach Village Hall space. 2nd Thursday - 7. 30pm Do keep sending us your articles, comments and news though! It’s these that Fit Club continue to make the SDN the vibrant, free and local newsletter it has Stiperstones School Playground Sunday 9 am become! Kids Football Training The deadline for all items for inclusion is midday on the 20th of the preceding Snailbeach Football Club month – but if you can get it to us sooner… Thursday 6. 00pm - 7. 00pm (E aster - October - Thank you all for your continued support. excluding school holidays) Patrick Marks – Editor. Email: [email protected] Phone: 01743 790049 Snailbeach & District News, Issue 345 Page 3 February 2018 Harry Coyle PHIL GRIFFITHS Landscaping Local Plumber Lawns, Hedges, Hardscaping, Decking, Slabs & Fencing Tap Replacement and Plumbing [email protected] Repairs Undertaken Mob1. 07484 205 925 Mob2. 07866 007 428 New Taps Supplied and Fitted Home Choose Service HOPE VALLEY RADIO 01743 791379 07811449039 Established 35 years * Prompt and Professional TWO WAY RADIO SALES & HIRE TV AERIALS 01743 790 046 SATELLITE DISHES REPAIRES SUPPLIED 07970 010148 AND INSTALLED Gentle Flow Yoga Snailbeach Village Hall Be kind to your body & gentle on your mind Tuesdays 10 – 11.30am 'Work a little harder' Suitable for those with at least 2yrs yoga experience Wednesdays 10 – 11.30am 'Working Gently' Suitable for those who prefer a slower paced class or for those who have joint problems, stiffness etc.