Stretton Focus Community Voice of the Strettons April 2004 70p New Life in Christ Photo: Paul Miller April 2004 cover 1 11/3/04, 11:57 am STRETTON FOCUS The Chick (founded 1967) e know that the chick moves from the embryonic mysterious existence inside the shell. It bursts out Average monthly sales: 1,428 copies. Wto discover the totally new world, where life is so (About 65% of households in Church Stretton) different from anything previously experienced. Chairman David Jandrell . .724531 I guess that only a small percentage of the population Co-Editors Norma Taylor . .723617 still enjoy the delights of the real egg – boiled, poached, Pat Oxtoby . .723199 scrambled, or fried! On the other hand chocolate eggs will Rachael Sankey . .720024 be consumed in their millions in the coming days. Bill Forsythe . .724100 However, it is unlikely that many people, as they eat their Computer Production Barrie Raynor . .723928 egg, will ponder the significance of the Easter event. Rowland Jackson . .722390 Cover Design Paul Miller . .724596 Christians believe that Easter is all about rejoicing that Jesus Distribution Jon Cooke . .723205 burst forth from the tomb. Not through a flimsy shell, but Advertising Len Bolton . .724579 by removing the heavy stone which had confined His once Treasurer John Wainwright . .722823 dead body to the darkness of the grave. Within three days, Secretary Janet Peak . .722994 the crucified one rose from the dead, and declared to all who seek, that death has been defeated. email address: [email protected] Secondly, what happens to the chick, illustrates the totally Advertisements. Rates for block and occasional new life that any human being can discover when he or advertisements may be obtained (send s.a.e.) from the she actually responds to the Good News that Jesus is alive; Advertising Manager, Len Bolton, ‘Oakhurst’, Hazler one to be trusted to love, guide and strengthen us on the Road, Church Stretton, SY6 7AQ, Tel: 01694 724579 to journey of life. whom copy should be sent. Taking the illustration another step further the chick has The Stretton Focus Management Board cannot accept no concept of what is about to occur, nor does it imagine responsibility for any product or service advertised. beforehand the excitement and trials of its short life. In the Acceptance of an advertisement does not imply any form same way the non Christian discovers an incredibly new of approval or recommendation. Advertisers are required to world, when he or she becomes a Christian, one who puts comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice. off the old way of life and puts on the new. It promises to be a life of joy as well as one of testing, but from then on Submission of articles. Material on 31⁄2” disks or CDs, and the Christian has the assurance that life is not short, like the typed or handwritten copy together with good quality glossy chick’s, but eternal. colour or monochrome photographs should be handed directly to Stretton Focus c/o Wrights, Estate Agent, HAPPY EASTER Norman Smith Sandford Avenue by noon on the date below. Material may also be sent by e-mail to [email protected] as an attachment by the same copy date. Shropshire Challenge Cup Final Disclaimer. Stretton Focus prints a wide range of articles s reported in the March edition of Focus, Church and letters. The views expressed by signed articles are Stretton Town Football Team have reached the final those of their authors and not necessarily those of the Aof the Shropshire Challenge Cup, and are to meet Management Board. Market Drayton Town at Gay Meadow, Shrewsbury, on Thursday 6 May 2004 kick-off 7.00pm. Copy day is normally the first Monday of the month. Forthe May issue it is Monday 5th April 2004 (12.00 noon). Transport will be provided by Church Stretton District Club, so to be sure of your seat contact Mike on 01694 The May Stretton Focus will be distributed on Friday 723193 as soon as possible. 30th April. Good luck to all the Church Stretton team! Outlets. Stretton Focus may be purchased by annual subscription (delivered) or directly from Newsworld (Sandford Avenue), All Stretton Stores, Co-op, the Esso Filling Station and the Churches. © 2004 Stretton Focus ISSN 1479-7356 Stretton Focus is printed by WPG, Welshpool The Official Church Stretton web site is at www.churchstretton.co.uk. Stretton Focus - 2 - April 2004 APRIL 2004 mag 1 12/3/04, 11:43 am • WEDNESDAY APRIL 14th What’s On in the Strettons Flicks in the Sticks f you wish to know the times of ‘About Schmidt’ regular meetings of societies and 7.30pm, Hope Bowdler Village Hall Igroups, please consult the list Adults £3, Under 16, £ £1.50 of societies and their contacts in the A recently widowed man is forced into retirement and central ‘yellow pages’ travels to his daughter’s wedding. • SATURDAY APRIL 3rd • SATURDAY APRIL 17th Save the Children Folk Dance ‘Nearly New’ Sale 8pm, Ticklerton Village Hall 10am to 12 noon, Parish Centre, Church Stretton • TUESDAY APRIL 20th • TUESDAY APRIL 6th Countrywomen’s Guild Church Stretton & District Flower Club 2.15pm, Parish Centre, Church Stretton 7.30pm, Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton ‘It’s books of course!’ Mrs Elizabeth Anne, ‘Rainbow of flowers’ by Adrian Williams For further details see page 42 • WEDNESDAY APRIL 7th South Shropshire Furniture Scheme Mayfair Courses Upholstery Course Mayfair Centre, Church Stretton 10am to 3.30pm, 11 Burway Road, Church Stretton 'Positive living' 10am to 12 noon with Annie Drury • THURSDAY APRIL 8th and National Trust 'Banish the winter blues and spring into summer' 2.00pm to 4.00pm, Chalet Pavilion, Carding Mill Valley 1.30 to 3.00pm with Gill Griffiths Year in the life of the Shropshire hills A course aimed at improving health and vitality. • FRIDAY 9th to SUNDAY APRIL 11th • THURSDAY APRIL 22nd National Trust Mayfair Men’s Group Easter ‘Choco Trail’ 10am to 12 noon, Mayfair Centre, Church Stretton 11am to 3pm, Chalet Pavilion, Carding Mill Valley Tom Wall will be describing the work of 'English Nature' Solve clues that lead to chocolate. Price: £1.50 per child. • SATURDAY APRIL 24th • FRIDAY APRIL 9th Spring Garland Churches Together in the Strettons 7.30pm, Concord College Theatre Good Friday United Service of Witness Featuring Rustom Battiwalla (pianist) and 11.45am to 12.15pm, Market Square, Church Stretton Catherine Benson (soprano) In aid of Hope House Children’s Hospice Flicks in the Sticks For further details see page 7 ‘The Quiet American’ (15) 7.30pm, All Stretton Village Hall • SUNDAY APRIL 25th Enquiries 01694 723378 National Trust Bluebell Walk • SATURDAY APRIL 10th 11am to 1.30pm, Chalet Pavilion, Carding Mill Valley Church Stretton Liberal Democrats A two mile walk to look at the wild flowers found at Spring Coffee Morning Rectory Woods. £2.00 10am to 12.30pm, Parish Centre, Church Stretton Admission is 50p • MONDAY APRIL 26th Church Stretton Town Council Annual Assembly Flicks in the Sticks 7.30pm, Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton ‘Blackball’ An open meeting at which members of the public can 7.30pm, Picklescott Village Hall question councillors. A speaker is invited to talk on the subject of social housing. • TUESDAY APRIL 13th Civil Service Retirement Fellowship Church Stretton Group • TUESDAY APRIL 27th 1st Annual General Meeting Church Stretton and District Gardening Club 2.30pm, Parish Centre, Church Stretton Spring Show & Plant Sale For further details see page 42 7pm, Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton Entry into the following competition classes is free: Church Stretton Women’s Institute Vase of 5 Stems Cut Flowers - no foliage 7.15pm, Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton 3 Stems of Flowering Shrub ‘Cruising the Inland Waterways’ Bowl or Pot of Bulbs A talk by Mr Frank A. Rowley Judging will commence about 8pm Stretton Focus -3 - April 2004 APRIL 2004 mag 2 12/3/04, 11:43 am Church Stretton ‘Loos’ out again midst all of the preparatory work that is involved in the Town contributing more to the District programme in producing a Fayre, the Committee has been of re-furbishing conveniences than any other Town. Alending vigorous support to the Town Council in its opposition to the proposal of the District Council to sell It remains the contention of the Food Fayre Committee that off the Lutwyche Road public conveniences on the open this constitutes a seriously wasted development opportunity. market, retaining all of the proceeds for itself. District Councillors voted in apparent ignorance of the size of the District Council land holding around the Lutwyche These were the only toilets in the whole of South Road conveniences and only one of our elected representatives Shropshire to be threatened in this way by a review of sought to gain any compensation for the Town. Cllr. Kronbergs public conveniences, since all of the others were to be re- contests the ‘myth’ of Church Stretton being the ‘milch-cow’ furbished or offered to their respective local Town Councils. of the District, so it will be helpful to see the audited figures In unison with the Strategic Partnership, Chamber of Trade for the last decade of the ratio of revenue to spend per head in and Area Tourism Group, we have been demanding fair and comparison with the other towns in South Shropshire, bearing equal treatment for Church Stretton. in mind not only Council Tax but also that Church Stretton, alone with Ludlow, contributes the entirety of its car parking The selling of the Lutwyche Road site matters because it revenue to the District Council coffers. threatens the Food Fayre and most other community/tourism initiatives, if that site is re-developed inappropriately.