WORDSPIRALS IMPOSSIPUZZLES

STARTING FROM 1, FILL IN THE GRID IN ACLOCKWISE DIRECTION WITH FOUR-LETTER WORDS. THE LAST LETTER OF EACH WORD BECOMES THE FIRST LETTER OF THE NEXT WORD. IF YOUHAVECORRECTLYFILLED IN THE GRID THERE SHOULD BE ASEVEN-LETTER KEYWORD READING ACROSS FROM 8.

1. Counterfoil 2. Cook in hot water 3. Minus 4. Hourglass substance 5. Stupid 6. Tryout 7. Snare 8. Suffering

9. Fingertip cover 10. Act of lending 11. Bird’shome

12 Musical instrument 13. Breed of horse 14. Dove, say

15. Unemployment benefit 16. Makes mistakes

Key word clue: Surname

1. Be on fire 2. Deprived of feeling 3. Colour 4. Simple

5. Three feet 6. Dingy 7. Male pig 8. Rapid surprise attack

9. Panto character 10. Gaelic 11. Deserve 12. Close to

13. Ridge of coral 14. Cloth flown as an emblem

15. Increase in size 16. Female spouse

Key word clue: Football term

“You know the one about the twoladders and the walls on opposite sides of alane?” asked Joe. “Each ladder went from the foot of one wall to somewhere up the other wall.”

Don smiled. “Yes. We were told the lengths of the ladders, and the height of where they crossed. Why?”

“I just worked out asimilar puzzle, with kalotan measurements,” replied Joe. “One ladder 119 kells long. The top of the other ladder is 42 kells up thewall, and they cross at aheight of 30 kells. Youhave to get the lengthofthe other ladder.”

Youtry!

Betty looked out onto the busy street. “It’s too good an afternoon to be working,” she declared. “But what’s the time anyway?”

“Work it out yourself,” Greg told her.“It’s just three times as many minutes before five as it was minutes after two eight minutes ago.”

Youtry

“I’ll have it,” said Jack, grabbing the book. “I’m twice as old as you were when Iwas as old as you are.”

Jill wasn’t going to fight. “It’s kid stuff anyway,” she told him. “But I’m twice as old as you were when you were six years younger than Iamnow.”

1 2 3 4

How old was Jack?

“You’re only akid,” said Linda. “Don’t forget I’m two years older than you.”

Greg grinned. “So what?” he replied. “In seven years I’ll be three times what you were seven years ago.”

How old was he?

1. School furniture item 2. Male monarch 3. Swimming competition 4. Dull pain 5. Every one 6. German wine

7. Door handle 8. Shrub 9. Notlow 10 Groupofcattle

11. Daybreak 12. Undiluted 13. Elm, say 14. Finishes

15. Ride on waves 16. Commercial group

Key word clue: UK Overseas Territory

ANSWERS ON PAGE 128

4Strictly judge, stage with singer and evening of Anton will favourite s inspired hi Expect beh his time on laughing o Don’t get up clos at Theatre Tickets theatreseve 4Com bran Com Telford, nonsen songs humo the st switche in Che tickets a Tick Visit yCome Dancing legend and Anton Du Beke, takes to the his show.With live band, guest dancers, expect afab-u-lous fsong, dance and laughter lbeperforming some of his ongs and dances that have is career throughout his life. hind-the-scenes stories from nStrictly that will have you out loud. miss this special opportunity to se to theKing of the Ballroom Severn, Shrewsbury scost £32-£49.50. Visit www. ern.co.uk median TimVine is back with a dnew stand-up show me to Oakengates Theatre, ,and enjoy amountain of nse, daft one-liners, joyful ,wobbly props and ridiculous our (plus utter drivel). Witness tupidity.Then leave. He ed on the Christmas lights am two years on the run. All arenon-repundable. kets cost £27. www.telfordtheatre.com

7To cele King C will be hos be achurch Shrewsbur then go to coronation barbecue f The ev ebrate the Coronation of Charles III, Woore village sting abarbecue. There will hservice with theBishop of ry as guest of honour who will the village hall to judge the nartwork and bench designs. A for the village will follow vent is open to the public with no booking required. The party takes place at Woore St Leonard’s and Woore Village Hall, London Road, Woore, CW3 9SP.To find out more visit the Woore and Pipegate parish community Facebook page.

7

After his October 2022 date sold out, Gary Delaney returns to Shrewsbury Get ready to dive into arabbit hole of the best jokes in the world –asthe star of Live at the Apollo and sell-out sensation is back.

One of the most sought-after joke writers in the country and longstanding Mock the Week specialguest, Gary has been through the laughing glass and he’s ready to bring you abrand new show with hit after hit of the kind of one-liners only amaster could craft.

If you’re hunting for snark, Gary’s got it covered.

Tickets for Gary’s gig at Walker Theatre, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, cost £21.50.

Visit www.theatresevern.co.uk

THERE are more than 60 free walks in the beautiful surroundings of unique UNESCO World Heritage site Ironbridge. Visitors can see the iron bridge itself in all its splendour and join in one walk or all nine walks.

Ironbridge Walking Festival runs until May 7. Visit www ironbridgewalking.co.uk

9

TimKey (Alan Partridge, The Witchfinder,Tim Key’sLate Night Poetry Programme) is back with an allnew show –ruminations about the great indoors with abit of stamping around with velour tracksuit, continental lagers and some ‘poetry’.

Key’snew book, Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush, is available to buy at utterandpress.co.uk

Tickets for Theatre Severn cost £19.50. Visit www.theatresevern.co.uk

12

Aconcert by students from Chetham’s School of Music will take place as part of free lunch-hour concert series at St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury

Performances begin at 12.30pm, last just 40 minutes and there is alight lunch served after each concert in thechurch hall. Concert-goers can parkfrom noon to 2pm free of charge at thechurch, space permitting.

Full listings, including programmes of forthcoming events, can be found on the church website at www. stchadschurchshrewsbury.com

18-20Bayston Hill Amateur Dramatics Society presents Off The Hook, by Derek Benfield.

Set in the lounge bar of the Hook House Hotel, the plot centres around crooks Fred Baxter and Charlie Mullins who have sprung Harold Spook from prison, so that he can lead them to a suitcase full of money,which he hid at the hotel. Unfortunately,they have the wrong man. Add to this hotel owner Major Catchpole, who is more interested in his animals than the hotel, Norah, his amorous wife, who chases all themale guests, but has aparticular fancyfor Harold, whom she pursues relentlessly, and her sister Edna, who is employed as a cleaner,but steps into any role thrown at her.Then there are guests Mrs FletcherBrewer JP andher daughter Carol, who are enjoying aquiet countryholiday Finally,more chaos is added when Polly, and her elderly,hard of hearing father,Mr Parkinson arrive at the hotel.

Performances take place at Bayston Hill Memorial Hall, Lyth Hill Road, Bayston Hill, SY3 0DR Doors and licenced bar open at 7pm with curtain up at 7.30pm. Tickets priced £9 online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/bhads or £10 by email to bhadsdrama@ gmail.com or on 07814 177540.

23-24

Large in size and keen in nature, Zog is eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school, where dragonslearnall the things that dragonsneed to know.Zog tries so very hard, perhaps too hard, and he bumps, burns and roars his way through years one, two and three. Luckily,the plucky Princess Pearl patches him up ready to face his biggest challenge yet…a duel with knight, Sir Gadabout the Great. The smash-hit stageadaptation from Freckle Productions (the team behind Zog and the Flying Doctors and Stick Man) is coming to Oakengates Theatre,

Telford, and promises to be bigger, brighter and more roar-some than ever before. With lively songs from Joe Stilgoe and directed by Emma Kilbey,Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s muchloved Zog is amagical production for all ages.

Tickets £14 and £16 fromwww telfordtheatre.com

27John Cooper Clarke (below) shot to prominence in the 1970s as the original ‘people’s poet’.

His unique poetry was put to music by producer Martin Hannett and a band of Mancunians, The Invisible Girls. Seminal tracks such as BeasleyStand Evidently Chickentown featured on the album Snap Crackle and Bop, one of four hit 70/80s album releases.

JCC became one of the most prolificartists of the punk years.

His 1980s poetry collection –10Years in An Open Necked Shirt featuring the lyrics to classic tracks from his albums and more, is one of the UKs biggest selling poetry collections of all time.

Since then his career has spanned cultures, audiences, art forms and continents. Today he performs purely as a stand-up solo poet.

His unique poetry show has been touring worldwide for over 15 years.

Tickets for John’s show at Oakengates Theatre, Telford, cost £28.50.

Visit www.telfordtheatre.com

28

Acharity football match is being held in aid of Climbing Out, which helps people rebuild their mindset following aphysical or mental trauma.

The event is being organised by two previous participantswho attended aClimbing Out five-day residential programme last year.The match is taking place at New Saints FC Park Hall Stadium in Oswestry

One of the organisers, Hannah McEwen, first attended aClimbing Out programme in April 2022, following trauma in her personal life and extra stress during the pandemic working as a respiratoryphysio for the NHS.

Her partner,Gary Shaw,inspired by Hannah’s experience, went on to attend a programme last summer,having suffered with PTSD from his time spent in the Army.Gary now works for Total Rail Solutions, who are generously sponsoring the event.

Both Hannah and Gary were made Climbing Out Ambassadors to help more people find out about the charity’s work.

The match will see the Welsh Veterans over-40s team take on the Climbing Out Club. After the match there will be an award ceremony and celebration.

The event will run from 1pm-9pm, with the match kicking off at 2pm.

Tickets can be purchased from www eventbrite.com/e/climbing-out-vswelsh-veterans-charity-football-matchtickets-539606416317

28&29

Shropshire’s Walcot Hall will once again be opening up the magnificent gardens from 1.30pm-5pm on both days as part of the National Garden Scheme. The estate always raises lots of money for charityoverthis event.

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ON PAGES 123-125

REMEMBER WHEN: 1 1948 2 1977 3 1965 4 1956

5 1961 6 1983

FOUR Ws: 1.Justin Gatlin; Rockall; North PacificOcean bordering El Salvador,Honduras and Nicaragua; Christmas Day, 2004 2.Erle Stanley Gardner; American; Montserrat; 1975

3.GrahamGreene; David Blunkett; Bangladesh; 1956 4.Boris Johnson; Red, blue and orange; On the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe; February 11th. 5.Ian McMillan; Johannesburg; Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts; 1926

6.Gelindo Bordin; Big Mac; Peru; 1977

WORDWISE: 1.A 2.A 3.B 4.C 5.C 6.A

CROSSWORD: QUICK SOLUTIONS:

Across: 3 Slackness; 8 Cone; 9 Satirical; 10 Unused; 11 Defer; 14 Angle; 15 Serf; 16 Realm; 18 Cant; 20 Abuse; 21 Thick; 24 Depart; 25 Separator; 26 Zero; 27 Red-handed.

Down: 1 Occupancy; 2 Insurgent; 4 Load; 5 Crime; 6 Noises; 7 Slay; 9 Sever; 11 Drank; 12 Regulated; 13 Affection; 17 Maker; 19 Thrash; 22 Chain; 23 Cede; 24 Doze.

CRYPTIC SOLUTIONS: Across: 3 The dotted; 8 Ruff;

Entrance is £5. Refreshments will be available in theballroom.

Fortickets and more information visit ngs.org.uk

31-June3

Abbey Foregate Drama Group in Shrewsbury are presenting Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, in St NicholasHall, near English Bridge.

The play is directed by group member,Jo Bullockwho said:“Who doesn’t love agood whodunnit? Suspicion, revenge, murder,this play has got it all, but be warned there are loud noises and gun shotsduringthe production.”

Performances start at 7.30pm each evening and tickets are £12 for adults and £6 for under-16s. Call 07951 862881 or 01743 247450, or email info@ abbeydrama.com

9 Cartridge; 10 Crewel; 11 Gores; 14 Lamps; 15 Duct; 16 Exact; 18 Tots; 20 Roast; 21 Hoist; 24 Gibbet; 25 Signingon; 26 Rear; 27 Censuring. Down: 1 Bracelets; 2 Aftermath; 4 Heal;

5 Ditto; 6 Tailed; 7 Edge; 9 Cease; 11 Graft; 12 Sugar beet;

13 Statutory; 17 Train; 19 Sounds; 22 Senor; 23 Line; 24 Goon.

WHAT’S MY NAME?: 1.Matthew Williamson. 2.Lauren Harries. 3.Cary Elwes. 4.Joss Stone. 5.Robert Altman. WORDSPIRAL 1: 1.Stub

IMPOSSIPUZZLES: 1.Other