Shropshire Magazine September 2023

www.shropshiremagazine.com

SEPTEMBER 2023

ESTABLISHED 1950

Grosvenor House, Central Park, Hollinswood Road, TelfordTF2 9TW

The ShropshireMagazine has acontrolled, selecteddistribution in Shropshiretowns, and is available for sale from many retail outlets and by subscription

EDITOR

Caroline Jones caroline.jones@mnamedia.co.uk

FEATURES EDITOR

Vicki Jones vicki.jones@mnamedia.co.uk

EDITORIAL PRODUCTION

Deborah Clay deborah.clay@mnamedia.co.uk

NEWS EDITOR

Andy Richardson

FEATURE WRITERS

Heather Large heather.large@mnamedia.co.uk

Daniel Morris daniel.morris@mnamedia.co.uk

Matthew Panter matthew.panter@mnamedia.co.uk

EDITORIAL AND SOCIAL DIARY heather.large@mnamedia.co.uk

ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER

ClareWeaver clare.weaver@mnamedia.co.uk

ADVERTISEMENT SALES

Sharon Griffiths sharon.griffiths@mnamedia.co.uk 01952 288844

DISTRIBUTION, SALES &SUBSCRIPTIONS 0800 174064

CONTRIBUTORS

Katy Rink Aiden Schwarzer

Ed Thomas Simon Grover

PUBLISHED BY MNA Media, Telford

PRINTED BY Precision Colour Printing, Halesfield, Telford

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FEATURES SELECTION

7Celebrity

Andy Richardson chats to singing sensation Beverley Knight about her upcoming tour –and at 50, she’s showing no signs of slowing down

11 Artisan craft

Ablacksmith is offering courses teaching traditional skills. Heather Large tells his story

26 Interiors

Create your ownMalibu Dream House with the colour that’s trending right now

28

Gardening

Mirrors, creating zones and carefully chosen furniturecan all help enlarge your space, as experts tell Hannah Stephenson

39 On Your doorstep

In the first of anew series focusing on local attractions, Andy Richardson looks at the history of the Iron Bridge

43 LordHill’sColumn

Daniel Morris looks at aproject to restorethe staircase at Shrewsbury’sLordHill’sColumn

70 Drink Tanners’ Aiden Schwarzer heads to Germany to champion the misunderstood Riesling

Abusinesswomen’s afternoon tea and abusy diary of events attended by Shropshire’sHigh Sheriff,Mandy Thorn

Ben Mitchell follows in the footsteps of Indiana Jones on the island of Sicily wherepart of the film Dial Of Destiny was shot

The Spectremarks anew electric age for Rolls-Royce. James Baggott takesatestdrive

KNIGHT MOVES

ANDY RICHARDSON CHATS TO SINGING SENSATION BEVERLEY KNIGHT ABOUT HER UPCOMING TOUR –AND AT 50,SHE’S SHOWING NO SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN

Itmight have been all of those Saturday afternoons with her mother,Delores, at Wolverhampton Market, that imbued Beverley Knight with her sense of humility

Perhaps it was that, or perhaps it’s just that people from round here are like that.

Whichever it is, Beverley’s background has served her in good stead. An ambitious pupil, her driving force was simple –family

Her beloved mother,Delores, and beloved late father,Edward,had migrated to Wolverhampton to seek anew life Theirstoicism and their hard work were an indelible inspiration.

“Family is everything. My mom and dad are beacons for me. My late father, and my mother,who is still very much with us, were my inspiration. Isaw their work ethic and how hard they had it and the graft they put it. Isaw what it took to come from acountry thousands of miles away and settle in acountry that was quite alien. They worked to make something. They gave me, my brother and my sister the opportunity.SoI wasvery determined to make asuccessofmylife and career because of them.”

And she has. And that inspiration continues to drive her on.

Beverley Knight is 50. And, rather than her career tapering off,she’s entering adecade that’s likely to be the defining one of her career

Her music career is in the best place it’s ever been, with astunning new record out in September.Her career in musical theatre and theatre knows no bounds. And now she’s looking to step into movies, as she starts to establish herself as aglobal artist.

Following her sold-out exclusive birthday show at London Lafayette, Beverley Knight has announced the details of her biggest ever UK tour to date. The Queen of British Soul will perform 20 very special headline dates across some of theUK’s major cities throughout October and November

Beverley has been one of the UK’s most consistent artists for almost three decades. Celebrating her incredible career over the years, the tour also marks her milestone 50th birthday

Back together with her live band, expect afun-filled night where she will perform all of her classic hits,fan favourites and brand new songs.

Photos: Julian Broad

Beverley says: “I am so looking forward to finally getting back on the road with my band again. There is nothing like the energy of alive audience showing love in return for you giving them everything you’ve got.”

The album andtour are part of a bigger picture and as Beverley begins a new decade, there’s awelcome sense of perspective.

“I feel very blessed. People care enough to want to work with me and want to help me make music or make shows. I’m really,really blessed that I’m in that position. I’ve worked hardbut I’m also very grateful that Istill have these opportunities. They often fall off long before your 50s and as awoman, people think you’re not so cute. People don’t care about any of that, in my case, and it’s about whether it’s good.”

Happily,itis.

“I’ve been really busy since Soulsville (her record released in 2016). Theatre was rolling so quickly and there was so much work being offered and I’d have been crazy not to do that. Some of the roles that Imanaged to get led to Olivier nominations and an award. I’m so thrilled where I’m in aposition to do them in tandem, music and theatre.

“My intention with this album was to do something at the end of 2019, which would have been three years after the last record. Then the pandemic hit. The minute that happened, it became difficult. So Iwanted to wait until that was over Then Ihad Drifters Girl to do, the musical, then Sylvia came back. Then the nominations and award came.”

So now is thetime to celebrate music, to mark her 50th year,and to look to a future that’s increasingly bright.

She’s worked with aremarkab songwriting team on her new record and the reason for that is simple; she’s been too busy to write the songs hers

“These are situations that Icouldn’t have dreamed of.Itonlycame about because Ididn’t have the time to do writing myself.Usually,I’d write my material but I’msobusythat Ihaven’t been able to. My management helped to assemble this group of people. The result is incredible songs.

“It’s ajoy to still be wanted by To stillhave the creativebones in me have people care about what I’m doing is arealjoy.Idon’t want to sit still. should I? It’s not because I’m 50.I still got things going on. There are messages Ihave to give.”

The older she gets, the less she like slowing down. And the idea of retirement is for thebirds.

“I can’t keep still, it’s not in my nature. Everybody says you retire when you’re in your 60s. Ican’t see that happening. We just lost Tony Bennett, was 96, and he’d only justretired. would Istop?Tony was still smashing with Lady Gaga. Ibooked tickets for Jones in August in Spain –and he’s I’ve got years ahead.”

TV has brought anew level of recognition to Beverley,following stint as atalent showhost. It’s also opened yet more doors for her musical career

“People offer you aproject when see what you’re about and Ilike things that stretch me and challenge me. the moment I’m looking at such av bunch of work that’s been put in front of me. Iabsolutely love it. Iremember when Iwas offered Emmeline Pankhurst in Sylvia. Iwas going to play awoman who Iphysically didn’t resemble in way shape or form. We were women middle-aged –end of.That was it. had to pop into the skin of someone died 100 years ago and had nothing my life –but the struggle was still same. Iloved working hard, digging deep and doing the work. The show was amassive success and luckily for me an Olivier came at the end of it. Challenge yourself and push yourself forward. That’s the lesson I’ve learned.” It’s the lesson she learned from her parents, and it’s the way she continues to live her life.

FORGING THEFUTURE OF ANCIENT IRON CRAFT

HEATHER LARGE MEETS AN ARTISAN BLACKSMITH WHO OFFERS COURSES TEACHING

TRADITIONAL SKILLS AND TAKESONSCULPTURAL, ARCHITECTURAL &DECORATIVE IRONWORKS

From the moment Jake Hedge forged his first piece of steel, he knew he wanted to become a blacksmith.

Captivated by the glowing hot metal and flying amber sparks, he enrolled at the National SchoolofBlacksmithing.

Now Jake operates his own forge in the Shropshire Hills,working on commissions for ironwork and sharing his skills by running workshops.

“I always had adesire to do something with my hands and learn apropercraft,” says the 30-year-old.

“I went to an open day at the National School of Blacksmithing andhad ago. Walking into aforge is prettyentrancing –there’s nothing quite like it.”

He spent three years honing his skills at the National SchoolofBlacksmithing,

which is part of the Herefordshire, Ludlow and North Shropshire College.

In 2015, before finishing his course, with distinctions in every aspect of the craft, he secured ajob at alocal forge, working on awide range of jobs from large architectural pieces to delicately forged items.

After gaining valuable experience, Jake, who is an Associate of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths, set up his own business, Hedge Ironworks, seven years ago.

Originally based in Ludlow,he now works from aforge on the site of a sawmill in Onibury,Craven Arms, where he divides his time between working on commissions and teaching students who want to try their hand at the ancient craft.

Blacksmithing has along history in

Britain and is said to date back to the start of the Iron Age when man first began making tools from metal.

The fundamentals of thecraft, which include heating the steel in theforge until it is soft and workable, haveremained greatly unchanged for hundreds of years.

Once hot, it canthen be manipulated into avariety of shapes before it cools again using traditional hand tools such as hammers, punches and tongs and anvils.

The metal can be bent, straightened and twisted in whatever way the smithy needs for their creation.

Jake works to commission on awide variety of sculptural, architectural and decorative ironwork projects,ranging from garden gates, railings and bird baths to ornate curtain pole finials and fireplace companion sets.

Artisan blacksmith JakeHedge of Hedge Ironworks in Craven Arms.

He uses ablend of traditional and contemporary techniques as he believes these create work that is both aesthetically pleasing and functionally sound.

Before heating any metal, he will always create afull-scale drawing of his designs, which he says often draw inspiration fromnature.

“Almost everything Imake hasa leaf in it,” he tells Weekend. “I enjoy creating flowing, organic looking ironwork with everything focused on the forged elements. I’m aone-man band, everything is made and fitted by myself,” he explains.

To help bring his creations to life, Jake will also use techniques including hammer texturing,traditional joinery and fire-welding.

Jake takes great pride in always striving for perfection in every individual piece and says he is constantly seeking to improve his skills

While he is passionate about forging, he also enjoys fitting the finished pieces in people’s homes and gardens and seeing their reactions.

“When the client says they are pleased with something I’ve made -there’sreal job satisfaction in that.”

Alongside his commissioned work, Jake also designs and forges items for the home that are madetoorder from his online shop.

His courses include ‘Have aBash’ at Blacksmithing in which participants can learn how to make a firepoker and coat hooks and ahalf-day blacksmithing workshop which offers the chance to make ahand forged bottle opener

And people enrolling on the Rose Making Workshop will be guided in creating two beautifully forged roses.

Jake is also planning to offer additional courses in the future which will

give participants the opportunity to have a go at making an axe and ahammer.

He says teaching his students is very rewarding and he enjoys sharing his passion for the craft with others.

“A lot of people come to the course to see the fire and sparks andtohave ago. Everyone realises how difficult it is but also how enjoyable it is. Ilove teaching. It’s great fun.Ninety-nine per cent of people have never had agoat blacksmithing before.

“I show them what Idoand give them an insight into the craft. With my help, they are able to make an item andgo home with it at theend of the day and I get to see how proud they are of making it,” explains Jake.

In the18thand 19th centuries, before mass production, almost every village had at least one blacksmith. Although the numbers have reduced, Jake says there is still athrivingcommunityoftradesmen and women keeping the traditional skills

alive and foster agreat appreciation for the craft.

“We’re forging in the same way as it’s been done for hundreds of years. There’s something really nice about that and people value it. There still seems to be a great need for ablacksmith,” he said.

n Formore information about Jake’s blacksmithingcourses, visit www hedgeironworks.com or www.facebook. com/HedgeIronworks

IDYLLICCOTTAGE

The opportunity of an idyllic country life extends from Upper House, Longnor,launched to the market by Balfours.

Ludlow sales manager,Scott Kemsley enthuses: “There are fabulous views to the Lawley and South Shropshire Hills. This four/five-bedroom edge of village home is convenient to Shrewsbury and Church Stretton, which are sevenand five miles away respectively.Significantly Longnor is proud not only of its OFSTED-rated “outstanding” primary school, but also its church and village hall, which create avibrant community,all within afew minutes’ walk of Upper House.

“The opportunity of country life extends to paddocks and gardens of just

under an acre, plus two stables and atack room. Riding, walking, cycling, golf and even gliding are all on the doorstep, the latter off the Long Mynd. Close by too are the link roads with the A5 and M54 putting the Midlands and Northwest within comfortable distance,” Scott adds.

Step inside Upper House and its 1780 origins are reflected in ruralperiodcharm, with exposed timbers and proportions. The whole is well presented achieving a flow with the entrance hall offering access to three of the four reception rooms plus, of course, the characterful kitchen filled with natural light benefiting from windows to two aspects. Off the kitchen is autility and boot room.

The living and dining roomseach

benefitfrom fireplaces, while across the hallway the conservatory leads to the terrace and garden via French doors. Off the large living room is thefourth reception room which couldbeused as a home office or a fifth bedroom.

Stairs from thehallway lead to four bedrooms, two of which have en-suite shower rooms, while the master room also benefits from adressing room.

Afurther twodouble bedrooms share the spacious family bathroom with slipper bath.

Upper House, with double garage and electric charging point,is marketed with aguide price of £915,000. Formore information call Balfours on 01584 707100.

COUNTRY HOUSE FIVE MILES FROM TOWN CENTRE

Afive-bedroom period home, just five miles from Shrewsbury town centre and set in nearly half an acre, has been launched to themarket by Balfours.

Middle House, Cruckmeole, Hanwood, is agrade II listed home which has been refurbished to offer a21st century home with traditional rooms and open-plan space.

The beautifully balanced frontage overlooking the garden comprises the central front door flanked by sash windows. Inside the traditional hall offers reception rooms to either side with the staircase ascending to the first floor

Each of the reception rooms benefits from awood-burner, high ceilings and exposed beams, with athird reception room linking to thedining room, this is currently used as astudy, which in turn opens via bifold doors to the terrace and garden.

At the end of the hallway is theopen-plan kitchen breakfast room with family room to one end. This too opens vialarge bifold doors to the west aspect and offers aspectacularopen-plan space, maximising natural light.

The kitchen area provides quartz worktops throughout, with island and wall-to-ceiling contemporary dresser and integrated grandfather clock. Afully controllable electric Aga completes the ingredients of abespoke easy-flow kitchen.

Adjacent is autility/boot room and side entrance.

There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the first floor; one with private en-suite and aJack and Jill bathroom. Tworooms have built-in wardrobes, while the third has alarge dressing room area,which could equally be an adjacent nursery room. There are two more double bedrooms on the second floor with exposed beams and shaped ceilings.

Charlie Giffard, Balfours Associate Partner,Country House Sales, says: “This is afabulouspackage. Its proximity to Shrewsbury and the ring roadnorth and to the Midlands make it ahighly desirable location, without compromising the surrounding countryside views and rural walks.”

Balfours are marketing Middle House with aguide priceof £825,000. Formore information call 01743 353511.

St John’s Hill

Shrewsbury

GuidePrice £875,000

Undeniably One of the Most Historically Interesting Town Centre Residences.

Desirable Location, Town Walls,Grade II Listed,Formal Dining Room, First Floor Drawing Room, Master with En Suiteand Dressing Room.

Shrewsbury

Shropshire

GuidePrice £835,000

An ExecutiveStyle Family Home Anchored in the Heartof the Popular Belle VueCommunity.

Good SchoolCatchment, Immaculate Condition, CulduSac, Playroom /Study,Fivebedrooms,DoubleGarage,EPC: B.

Cruckmeole

Hanwood

GuidePrice £825,000

AGrade II Listed House which has undergone Extensive Refurbishmentwhilst retaining Original Features

Open Countryside Views, Semi-Rural Location, Underfloor

Heating,Study,Family Room, Open Plan Kitchen /Breakfast Room, Workshop

Minsterley Shrewsbury

GuidePrice £740,000

AUnique Smallholding to Suit Multi-Generational Family Living or as aHome Generating aPotential Rental Yield Stunning Views/Location in AONB,Three Bedrooms, Garage,Two Studio Cottages,Three Stables and HayBarn, Approximately 13.4 Acres(5.42 ha), EPCF

An ImpressiveThree Bedroom House,Two Holiday Cottages,Outbuildings,set in 43 Acres(17.40 Ha).

AONB Location, HolidayLet Business,Permanent Pasture, Lakes and Woodland,Open-Plan Kitchen /Breakfast /Family Room, Large Barn, EPC D.

SOLD

GuidePrice £850,000

ADetached Period Family Home in one of Shrewsbury’s Finest Residential Locations with Enormous Potential Town Centre,Excellentlocation, Period Property,Traditional Layout,Two Bathrooms,Four Bedrooms,Open-Plan Kitchen / Breakfast Room, UtilityRoom,Formal Drawing Room, EPC E.

UNDER OFFER

GuidePrice £950,000

ARecentlyRenovated Farmhouse with Outbuildings set within 8Acres (3.23 Ha) of PermanentPasture.

Stunning Views, CharacterProperty,High Specification, Four Bedrooms,Garden Room, Open-Plan Kitchen /Dining,EPC: E.

UNDER OFFER

GuidePrice £675,000

Originally Built in 1897, Castle Farmhouse is aVictorian ResidenceLocatedinRural Shropshire.

Victorian Property,Period Features,Unique Views, Opportunityto Modernise,Six Bedrooms,3Reception Rooms,EPC: F.

Church Stretton Shropshire

Guide Price £1,300,000

SOLD

Clunton Shropshire

Shrewsbury Shropshire

MoretonCorbet Shawbury

RURAL RENOVATION

Lodge Cottage in Tybroughton, near Malpas, is surrounded by beautiful countryside and within easy access to local towns and villages. The property is on the market with Jackson Property for offers in the region of £850,000.

Lodge Cottage is an attractive, detached rural property which has been renovated and modernised. The property benefits from high quality equestrian facilities and land.

Malpas boasts both primary and secondary schools and Whitchurch also has anumber of schools. Despite the property’s rural location, it enjoys excellent road communications.

Off the entrance hall is the dining room which has exposed timbers and an open fireplace. Large limestone slab flooring continues throughout the ground floor,except for the sitting room. This has oak flooring, an ornate limestone fireplace and exposed ceiling timbers.

The large dining/living room benefits from alog-burning stove andtwo sets of double doors onto the patio.

The kitchen is fittedwith base and wall units which are complemented by oak work surfaces. There is arange of integrated appliances, including an oil-fired two-oven Aga. There is alsoa cloakroom.

On the first-floor landing, there is space for arecessed study area. There are three generous double bedrooms, all of which benefitfrom built-in wardrobes, and afamily bathroom. The master bedroom also has an en-suite shower room.

Lodge Cottage is entered through aset of wooden double gates onto agravelled driveway.Planning permission has been approved for adetached double garage and en-suite bedroom above.

The attractive gardens offer stunning views over the surrounding countryside. There is awalled patio area, lawned areas, asummerhouse and aprivate orchard.

Aset of further gates allows access

into the equestrian facilities. The main building is abrick L-shaped stable block which has two large loose boxes, afeed room/3rdstable, solarium and tack room.

Off aconcrete walkway is alarge, two-bay field shelter and winter turnout paddock. There is afurther 0.5-acre paddock with astorage building.

The final paddock extends to approximately 2.32 acres.

Ellesmere, Shropshire

Acharming,renovated farmhouse with excellent equestrianfacilities andfantastic views of the surrounding countryside.

4-bed farmhouse |2-bed annex |Double garage &workshop |Steel portal framedbuilding withlean-to |10Monarch boxes|Securetack &feed rooms |30m x60m outdoorarena |20.89 acres |EPC rating F £1,500,000

Tybroughton, Nr Malpas

An immaculatelypresented propertywith equestrianfacilities andfantastic views of the surrounding countryside,set within 3.24 acres.

3-bedrooms|PP. for4th bedroom &bathroomextension |3stables, solarium &securetackroom| PP.for double garagewith flat above Surrounded by beautiful countryside |EPC rating D OIRO £850,000

Bangor-On-Dee,Wrexham

An immaculatelypresented,former farmhouse with excellent equestrianfacilities andviews across the adjoining land, all set within 7.1 acres

Spacious 4-bed familyhome|Double garage with flat above American barnwith5Monarch stables |40m x60m manege with carpet-based surface |EPC rating C

£995,000

Chorlton-By-Backford,Cheshire

An excellent opportunity to purchase 5.44 acresof landwith arangeofstables,welfarefacility and associatedbuildings.

Timber stables, stores &tackroomonconcretebase |Privatesecured access with large stoned parking area |Mains waterconnected Excellent hacking |Land divided up into arange of paddocks

£195,000

EXECUTIVEHOME

Astunning new-build threestorey,six-bedroom detached occupying alovely plot with open countryside views is being marketed through Prestige by Mannleys.

Offers in the region of £950,000 are being sought for Wain House, which has been designed and built to offer an excellent flexible modern family living space throughout

The ground floor features an openplan kitchen/dining/family room with dual Frenchdoors to the gardens, a kitchen fitted with an extensive range of integrated appliances and the open-plan living room featuring alog-burning stove, aseparate snug/sittingroom, separate dining room/office, large utility,ground floor WC and the entrance hallway with its striking oak and glass staircase.

The first floor has agood-sized principal bedroom with Juliet balcony, Jack &Jill en-suite shower and alarge connecting room that could have avariety ofuses. There are three further double bedrooms, all with Jack and Jill en-suites, and afamily bathroom.

To the top floor features aguest bedroom with en-suite and afurther good sized sixth bedroom.

The property benefits from extensive driveway parking, air-source central heating with underfloor heating to the ground floor and radiators to the upper floors, integral detached double garage and landscaped gardens.

Formore details contactPrestige by Mannleys.

RABAK

SYTCHLANE,WATERS

UPTON,TELFORD, TF6 6NT

OIRO£700,000

Astunning,extended 4bedroom family home located in this highlysoughtafter village location.Open-plan kitchen/dining room/sitting room, lounge,playroom/ family room, utility room and wc. Stunning main bedroom with Juliet balconyand en-suiteshower, three further good-sized bedrooms (onewith dressing area, family bathroom with bath and separateshower. Good-sized landscaped rear garden, garden room/ gym, driveway parking, garage

THE CLOCKHOUSE

ADMASTONSPA,TF5 0DJ

OIRO£625,000

This stunning Grade II Listed home is situatedinthe highly soughtafter Admaston Spa developmentinthe village of Admaston and is full of historical charmand character, spaciously spread over 3floors.Planning approvaland listed building consenthas previously been passed forconversion of the coach house to provide an additional reception room as well as foran orangery extension to the rear of the kitchen

WHITE ROW

HORTON,TF6 6DU

OIRO£699,950

Stunning fivedouble-bedroom detached executive home situatedinasemi-rural location. 29ftopen-plan kitchen/breakfastroom withcentral island &bi-fold doors. Dining room &21ftlounge with bi-fold doors

Main bedroom with en-suite, guest bedroomwith ensuite, twofurther double bedrooms &stylish family bathroom. 2nd floor,31ftbedroom suitewith en-suite. Private &enclosed rear garden. Doublegarage with flexible room above & rear driveway EPC B

ROSE COTTAGE

3WAPPENSHALL, TF6 6DE

OIRO£570,000

Rare opportunitytoacquirethis beautiful, extended, Duke of Sutherland cottage with lovely openviewsto the rear,locatedinapopular rural location. Open-plan kitchen/dining room with log burner, sitting room with log burner,large utility/boot room, wc. Mainbedroom with en-suiteshower, three furthergood-sized bedrooms and familybathroom. Gatedplot,extensive driveway,garage,front side and rear gardens.Great potentialfor extension (subject to P/P) EPC E

HISTORIC MANSION

Woodhill Park stands hidden in the glorious rolling countryside of the Wales/Shropshire borders.

Approached via along tree-lined driveway,the house enjoys complete privacy with far-reaching views over established parkland.

The property is being marketed through Savills with aguide price of £4,500,000.

The market town of Oswestry is just two miles away with an excellent range of shops, schools and services, while thelarger centres of Shrewsbury,Chester,Liverpool and Telford are all within daily commuting distance

The house has to be one of the most significantand special houses in Shropshire, built during the18th century.The main estate remains intactprimarily within aring fence of mostly wooded parkland with arange of cottages and barns suitable for conversion to residential use.

Woodhill Park formerly belonged to Lord Harlech, the British Ambassador to USA in the 1960s and was agreat friendof both John FKennedy and his wife Jackie. Indeed, Jackie and her brother in law,Bobbie, both stayed at Woodhill Park.

Built at the height of theGeorgian era, the house has amellow redbrick façade under aslate roof.While it has

undergone some alterationsover the centuries, it remains true to its origins, having beautifully balanced, well lit rooms and fine detail that was typical of the era.

In good decorative order throughout,there arestunning fireplaces, polished wood, tiled and flagged floors, fine moulded ceilings and astunning main staircase. The house has a wonderful air of grandeur while offering thoroughly practical and well laid-out living space with an excellent flow of rooms for every day living and entertaining.

The house has amix of attractive formal and informal gardens with sweeping lawns to the front to aha-ha beyond which is the rolling parkland.

To the rear of the house, further gardens with herbaceous borders and shrubs are contained within mellow brick walls and bounded by anumberof beautiful mature trees and woodland. There is alisted Geo Sundial which remains with the property

To one side of the house, and accessed from the main drive through awrought iron gates, is the courtyard with an attractive range of two-storey mellow stone stables to one side, currently housing six internal Edwardian loose boxes and afurther rangeof buildings to the far end.

Abeautiful home

Berrington, Shrewsbury,SY5

Abeautiful Grade �� listedhomeinthe heartofthe Shropshire�sGolden Trian�le �fferin� over5,��� s�ft of accommodation, includin�� bedrooms, 3reception rooms, apaddock, outbuildin�sand aworkshop.Afantasticlocation for commutin�,sat within3 �3acres

Council TaxBand: G|EPC: C

An elegant family home

Beckbury,Shifnal,TF11

An ele�antfamil� home, that is beautifull� presented throu�hout and �nished to an exactin� standard, with 5bedrooms, � receptionrooms,sat in � �5acres.

Council TaxBand: G|EPC:E

Guide price£1.295 million

Abeautifulappointed country house

Farley, Pontesbury,Shrewsbury,SY5

Abeautifull� appointed countr� house �nished to aver� hi�hstandardin � �� acres. Presentin� breath takin� views,with 5bedrooms, 3reception rooms, and paddock. �ust � milefromPontesbur� and �� minutes to Shrewsbur�

Council TaxBand: G|EPC:E

Awell-proportionedbarn conversion

Ellerton, Newport, TF10

Asuperb barn conversion withfabulous accommodation.Awonderfuloutlook in a rural hamlet, with5bedrooms,3receptionsrooms.

Council TaxBand:E |EPC:E

Guide price: £850,000 PeterDaborn

Guideprice: £1.25 million

Guide price£1.6 million Beccy

Head

FANTASTIC INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

Anhistoric town centre development and investment opportunity in theheart of Ludlow has been brought to the market for the first time in nearly 160 years.

Nestled within Ludlow’s famous medieval market streets, No. 6&7The Bull Ring is Grade II listed and provides around 5,300 sq ft of space over three floors. It includes aseparate building, The Courtyard, which has the option of independent access onto Corve Street. The property has tremendous potential for conversion, including the opportunity to convert the two upper floors of the main building and The Courtyard into stunning two or three-bedroom apartments.

Ludlow is one of the finest historic towns in England, welcoming thousands of visitors eachyear.So, as well as appealing to the residential market, theproperty presents an ideal opportunity to take advantage of Ludlow’s booming tourist trade by utilising the apartments for tourist accommodation.

The shop floor is teeming with character and hosts a magnificent display of traditional drawers and counters. The layout lends itself to many opportunities, including acoffee shop where customers could take advantage of seating in the courtyard. Of course, there is also the potential to continue the retail arm of themuch-loved hardware store, Rickards &Son Ltd, which has occupied the site since 1864.

Carter Jonas is marketing theproperty as freehold and is

•Historicfreeholdproperty totalling 5,300sqft

•Groundfloorretail(c. 1,500sqft), twostoreys of accommodation(c. 2,500sqft),separatecourtyard building (c.1,300sq ft)and cellar

•Developmentopportunity fora rangeofuses(subject to planning) including coffee shop,winebar, holidaylets, residentialapartments and more!

Guideprice £595,000

Shrewsbury

01743295444

shrewsbury@carterjonas.co.uk

No 6&7The Bull Ring Ludlow SY81AE

confident that No. 6&7offers prospective investors achanceto reimagine the space for both retail and residential use and drive it towards anew future.

View from the property

Street frontage.

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Residential developmentsitewith planning consent fortwo dwellings withanadditional 4.4 acres of land.

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Guide price£400,000

Charming 17th century historic farmhouse set within 7.42 acres of picturesquecountryside and far reaching views

Guide price£825,000

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Guide price£850,000

So farinthe lastyear our rural agencyteamsacrossthe country have handled the sale of over £300m worth of rural property with instructions on over £150m in 2023 alone.

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To find out more, contact amember of the team or visit carterjonas.co.uk

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IN THE PINK

CREATE YOUR OWN MALIBU DREAM HOUSEWITH THIS GIRLYAESTHETIC THAT’S TRENDING BIG TIME, SAYS SAM WYLIE-HARRIS

Ofall the ‘core’ trends –and let’s faceitthey’ve been afew –Barbiecoreistaking the fashion and beauty world by storm… and interiors is hot on theheels

After all, Barbie loves dream decor which sets the stage for amagnetic fusion of bubblegum pink, girly glamour and dolly mixture of clashing colours –and with Barbie recently hitting the big screen, that Malibu Dream House is closer than you think.

To pull at your pink heart strings and inspire afuchsia makeover,we’ve bagged the best Barbie-inspired homewares to up your rosy outlook…

Vibia Campana flowerbridge, £16.19 each, Elho

Aquick win for patios or balconies the size of adolls’ house, these sweet planters made from recycled plastic will make a star out of your sweet peas and beautiful blooms.

Trofast storage combination with boxes, white/pink, £42, IKEA, in-store Blending function with form, this plastic fantastic storage series is perfect for keeping books, photographs and general stuff when you want to clear the clutter

Bobbi Beck gingham wallpaper, from £75 per roll, other designs from aselection, Bobbi Beck

Afeature wall is fast becoming aliving room essential –and thepossibilities are limitless with pink gingham, candy stripes andpolka dots. If you prefer something more subtle, you can always paper one corner of aroom and keep everything else fresh in abrightwhite paint finish.

Pink Asiatic pheasants teacup &saucer,£48, pheasants plates, from £22, pheasants small teapot, £94, Burleigh

With sugared almonds, vanilla sponge and chiffon cake on the cards, this beautiful tableware sets the scene for afternoon teas with friends and pink prosecco parties.

Pink ‘And Relax’ tufted cotton bath mat, £14.95, Rex London

This cute bath mat can double up as abed runner,boutique hotel style.

Chinoiserie pug and cherry blossom on pink cushion, from £62, FabFunky

This precious pug will feel right at home on apink sofa.

Lexington sateen fuchsia pink two-line bed linen collection, The Fine Cotton Company

Veeva classic indoor-outdoor bean bag, from £47, Bean Bag Bazaar

When it’s time to kick off those sparkly stilettos and switch them out for apair of fluffy sliders to sit back and relax, this hot pink bean bag is where it’s at.

The ideal thread count for cool autumn nights, this lightweight bed linen with satin stitch in fuchsia is atimeless staple to encourage the sweetest dreams. Spritz with rose water to set your mind at rest.

Roxy pink wall tile, £78 per squaremetre, Porcelain Superstore

Tactile and sculptured, astatement splashback is one of the easiest ways to weave pink accents into your kitchen scheme. Go for aglossy finish and glazed design for aluxelook.

Pink retroalarm clock, £12.95, Rex London

It’s easy to lose track of time in pink paradise and for some whimsy charm, you can’t beat this bakelite-style alarm clock.

WiZmobile colour portable smart LED table lamp, WiFi smart connected lighting for indoor living room, bedroom, dining, £63, Amazon

Neon pink smart lighting synced to Spotify… we’re in. Colour changing lights controlled throughyour phone creates the perfect ambiencefor the best light show in town with countless colours to choose from.

HOWTOMAKE A SMALL GARDEN FEEL BIGGER

MIRRORS, CREATING ZONES AND CAREFULLYCHOSEN

Those of us with urban gardens are used to small spaces –but how can we make our outdoor areas seem bigger?

If you want asense of space, you may have to clear out your clutter,use vertical planting and be more mindful of the furniture you choose, say experts. Here are some tips…

Keep it simple

“Tocreate the illusion of space in asmall garden, it’s important to see your garden through aminimalist lens,” advises Furniturebox product developer,Laura Rich (left).

“Often we want to pack lots of features into our gardens –bethatlarge shrubs and bushesorbulky pergola structures –but this will overcrowd asmall garden. Keep it simpleby incorporating afew purposeful elements and following azoning plan,” she adds.

“Divide your small garden into two sections: apaved or light gravelled patio and alush green lawn framed by elevated planters.”

Use vertical planting

“Further separatethese areas by placing adivider between them to gradually reveal the garden and conceal its true size. Verticalplanting is agreat technique for this,” Laura suggests. “Fast-growing climbers or potted plants can be added to sturdy wooden divider frames, to naturally obscure the lawn from the patio.”

Leigh Barnes, of Jacksons Fencing, adds: “When evaluating your outdoor space, whether it’s agarden or balcony, any vertical space is often disregarded. The façade of your home, garden walls, garages, balconies, and fence panels can

Agarden with clear definitions of grass and patio.

FURNITURE CAN ALL HELP, AS EXPERTS TELL HANNAH STEPHENSON

all be used to curate and extend exterior spaces.

“Living garden walls are agreat way to fill bare, unused areas. This contemporary and vertical look helps create agreater sense of space and adds an element of ‘wow’factor to agarden or balcony.”

Makeway for climbers

Barnes says: “Consider investing in climbing plants. Supporting these plants with trellis, awooden pallet or fence panels will do wonders for their growth and development.

“Choosing asemi-solidfence panel will encourage plants to grow up in between the panels. Trellis or Venetian fence panels work particularly well since the spaces allow vines to gradually intertwine and climb up between the slats to form agreen screen.”

Add mirrors

Use accessories such as mirrors on your vertical space on your balcony to make it seem bigger through reflection, suggests gardening author and podcaster Ellen Mary (left), founder of People Plants

Wellbeing and co-host of The Plant Based Podcast.

Choose garden furniturecarefully

“People often worry about garden furniture looking bulky or taking up too much space in asmall garden, but clever outdoor furniture arrangements can actually make your garden space feel larger and provide multipurpose outdoor hosting opportunities,” says Laura

“Compact rattan furniture is my go-to for alight and breezy sense of summer.Specifically,open-weaved tub chairs paired with asmall round bistro vibe table. These types of furniture are

stylish and functional, fitting neatly on a patio without overcrowding your outdoor space,” Laura adds.

“A rattan eggchair placed on thelawn –ideally under asuntrap–isaneffective individual alternative for abulkypergola. The cacoon structure surrounds the chair, making for acosyreading nook to be placed on the lawn throughout summer.”

Change levels

“Adding levels can help to givethe impression of morespace,” Barnes advises. He says installing araised decking area not only provides auseable surface for entertaining year-round but it also allows for useful garden storage to be built in.

“Dividing agarden into sections and creating hidden areas or cosyhideaways will also make alimited area feel bigger Decorate each segment with varied plants and garden furnitureto differentiate each area.”

Look at the lines

The lines within your garden can impact the illusion of space, Barnes observes.

Paying attention to the direction of the paving slabs or decking and the lines within the fence panel or the decking can impact the size.

“Installing these in acertain direction or shape can trickthe eye by drawing it along the length of thegarden no matter how short, giving the illusion of alarger garden.”

Makeitlighter

Opting for plants, shrubs, flowers and garden furniture that are brightly coloured will ensure the garden appears lighter and bigger.

“Natural light will ensure the garden feels more spacious and open. Paint the garden walls white or cream to reflect light in all directionsand immediately brighten up thespace,” says Barnes.

Trytolet in as much sunlight as you can, he adds. If the space is edged by trees, try pruning andthinningthem (safely, of course) to let more lightin. Or use fencing which allows sunlight in, such as Venetian fencing, whose horizontal pales let sunlight and air through, creating a modern aesthetic.

Agarden pod within aborder.

Mirrors can givethe illusion of space.

PRETTY GARDEN EDIBLES

HANNAH STEPHENSON

Garden designer,grower and social media star Lucy Hutchings, of She Grows Vegfame, has been showing followers the prettiest vegetables to add colour and form to ornamental borders.

“The best way to approach edibles within aplantingscheme is to stop thinking of them as edibles and approach them as you would any other plants in your border.Look at height, colour and texture and vary that throughthe border,” says the designer

“You might want some frilly things, spiky things, architecturalthings, broadleaved things –and you canachieve all of these textures and looks through edible plants as well.”

Here she suggests aselection of edible plants which will provide colour and texture to any ornamental border

Striped japonica corn

Ornamental varieties of vegetable which blend in with a flower border include striped japonica corn (which can be used for popcorn), with candy cane striped foliage.

Hostas

“These are very popular in East Asia, where people eat new shoots as they emerge. Take them from an established crown and give the plant achance to bounce back. They tastesimilar to asparagus and you don’t get the woodiness.”

Japanese flowering kale

“This is sometimes referred to as ornamental kale, but you can eat it. It looks like abig purple flower,with white/ green around the outside, fading to pink and bright vivid neon purple. All kales are hardy and you can harvest it year round, sowing it twice ayear,once in late summer to grow through winter and again in early spring.” Serve it as you would other green veg.

Red orach

“This is commonly seen in borders and is sometimes referred to as French(or mountain) spinach. Youeat it in exactly the same way as spinachdespite the fact that it has reallyvivid purple leaves.

“Red and purple vegetables tend to be better for you because thecolour is from an antioxidant called anthocyanin which is what makes blueberries asuperfood.”

Colocasia (elephant’sears)

“A lot of people grow Colocasia as houseplants,but very few realise that it is actually taro, astarchyroot you often get in Chinese restaurants –inAsia, it is very commonly eaten.”

Oxalis triangularis (purple shamrock)

“Again, this is apopularhouseplant, but the leaves are really delicious, with asour apple flavour.It’s abeautiful plantwhich is easy to grow and the leaves can be added to salads for afruitytaste. I’ve also seen it as agarnish on desserts.”

Dahlias

“These are aroot crop, originally imported from Europe. If you lift them at the end of the season, use some of the tubers for eating.Cook them as you would anew potato.Flower petals of dahlias are also edible.”

Sunflowers

“Not many people realise how many ways you can eat asunflower.You can eat the seeds, plus the unopened flowerbuds as you would an artichoke head. If you harvest asunflower head when the seeds have swelled, you can roast andeat the heads like you would corn on the cob.”

Ornamental kale.

Oxalis triangularis.

GARDEN DESIGNER LUCY HUTCHINGS DESCRIBES THE ORNAMENTAL EDIBLES YOUCAN INTRODUCE INTO FLOWER BORDERS. BY

Tel: 01686 626465

Craven Arms: 01588 673133

Knighton: 01547 520821

Crowds flocked to Quarry park last month as the annual Shrewsbury Flower Show took place.

Ahoax bomb threat on the Friday night broughtthe firstday of celebrations to asudden end, but the drama failed to deter the crowds on Saturday

The hoax call saw thousands of visitors and exhibitors evacuated from the park, with the evening’s planned entertainment cancelled. So it was fingers crossed for Saturday evening when visitors were at last treated to the spectacular firework display the show is so famous for.A heatwave had seen the fireworks cancelled last year when concerns were raised about fire safety amid the dry conditions.

Many events continued as normal on Saturday –despite the occasional shower of rain. From cacti to chrysanthemums, tents were filled with colour displaying the work of dedicated growers. As well as plants, live music filled the busy park with revellers donning waterproofs and umbrellas to cope with the occasional rain.

DELIGHTFUL DISPLAYS

The spectacular fireworks display was captured by show-goer Robert Gwilliam

DISCOVERING NATURE

BY ANDY RICHARDSON

It’s curious to think that notsolong ago, there were no walks along Onny Meadows. The development of the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, however,changed all of that, creating a lush, 30-acre meadow beside the River Onny,near Craven Arms

The riverside water meadows lie behind the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, overlooked by Norton Camp, the neighbouring hill fort. The Onny Meadows’ surfaced paths provide access to the fields and pools via awheelchairaccessible viewing platform. In spring and summer,the pools arealive with wildlife. Other unsurfaced pathsrangefurther and explore the banks of the RiverOnny Once an important grazing habitatfor cattle, today the meadows are awonderful resource for people to walk, relax, play and learn about the nature andheritage of the Shropshire Hills.

The hard-packed, generally level, surfaced paths provide ahalf-mile (700m) circuit. In very wet weather thepaths can be boggy in places but are generally good. The circuit includes access to apond viewing platform. At one popular visitor spot, Kingfisher Corner,visitors will find awheelchair-friendly picnic bench to enjoy their lunch while making the most of apeaceful meander by the River Onny Mown paths along the river bankare best tackled in summer when dry

While the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre makes every effort to ensure

the paths provide suitable access for wheelchair users, they can’t guarantee that the surface will always be smooth enough to allow access for everyone. If visitors are unsure about access, they should call the Centre prior to their visit and staff will be happy to advise you.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the meadows, though guide dogs are allowed in the centre.

There is arange of wild play equipment spaced around the paths for all the family to enjoy and explore.

With thanks to alocal Botanical Society,the Discovery Centre now has a list that comprises over 150 plant species in the meadows.

The full Onny Meadows Trail round the orchard, along the riverside and back

to the centre is about 1½ miles or 2km. Shorter loops are possible:

n to Kingfisher Corner,the Forest School and Wild Play areas, over the bridge into the wild flower meadow and back to the centre (about ¾mile);

n to the Oxbow Pools and back round the wildflower meadow (about ½mile).

The Onny Meadows are home to the Craven Arms Community Gardens. They are located on the north-eastern edge of the the meadows and there are more than 60 plots for localresidents to garden at a nominal fee.

There are picnic benches in the Community Garden, at Kingfisher Corner and on the far side of the Oxbow Pools. There are also benches in several other locations around the meadows.

Onny Meadows.

The ShropshireHills Discovery Centre.

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THEIRONBRIDGE

IN THE FIRST OF ANEW SERIES FOCUSING ON LOCAL ATTRACTIONS &LANDMARKS, ANDY RICHARDSON LOOKSATTHE HISTORY SURROUNDING IRONBRIDGE’S

ICONIC STRUCTURE

There are many remarkable sights in Shropshire. The LongMynd is abeacon for nature lovers and outdoors enthusiasts. The county has some of the finest geology in the world. Numerous periods are represented, making the county ideally placed to tell the story of how theearth came to be the way we see it today

There are literary connections in such towns as Ludlow and Much Wenlock,the latter town also having the distinction of being the birthplace of the Modern Day Olympics.

And then there are great examples of our industrial heritage, not least at the Severn Valley Railway,where tens of thousands of volunteer hours have helped to create one of the UK’s most remarkable tourist attractions.

Yetthere is onetourist attraction that has global significance. Theworld’s first iron bridge was erected over theRiver Severn here in Shropshire in 1779.The pioneering structure marked aturning point in English design and engineering. After it was built, castironcame to be widely used in the construction of bridges, aqueducts, andbuildings. To be succinct, Shropshire became the cradle of the Industrial Revolution.

And so, in anew monthly series, we’re going to be exploring some of thegreat attractions and landmarks of the county

The Iron Bridge’s story began in the early 18th century,inthe nearbyvillage of Coalbrookdale. Abraham Darby pioneered the smelting of iron using coke, aprocessthat was acatalyst for the Industrial Revolution.

It was Abraham Darby III who cast the ironwork for the bridge that still stands today,using the same techniques developed by his grandfather.The bridge was so successful that it gave its name to the spectacular wooded valley which surrounds it, now recognised as the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site.

In 2017-18, English Heritage undertook a£3.6mconservation project on the Iron Bridge, to help safeguard the future of its historic ironwork.

English Heritage pick up the story: “The world’s first iron bridge emerged during atime of immense changein Britain –itwas the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. New technologies were being developed and the country’s rural landscape was changing as an industrial nation began to take shape.

“One such development took place in 1709, in the Shropshire villageof Coalbrookdale. Abraham Darby (1678–1717) –the first in what would become adistinguished dynasty of iron masters –had pioneered an innovative method of iron smelting.

“Using coke made from local coal to fuel furnaces rather than charcoal, Darby’s discovery made the mass production of cast iron economically viable.

“With this breakthrough in production, theiron trade in Britain accelerated and local industry began to flourish ”

As industry around the gorge grew, so did the need for a strong and durable bridge to transport goods across the river In 1773, Thomas Farnolls Pritchard – an architect from Shrewsbury – had a bold

Looking upstream along the River Severn from the Iron Bridge, with The Wharfage on the right.

The Tontine Hotel from the Iron Bridge

idea. Combining engineering expertise and new iron-casting techniques, he proposed the world’s first iron bridge, which would link the parishes of Madley and Benthall over what was one of the busiest rivers in the country.

Pritchard’s designs were approved by Act of Parliament and in 1777 construction began. Overseen by Darby’s grandson Abraham Darby III (pictured left) after Pritchard’s death, it was to be acast iron single-span bridge of 30 metres, with five main semicircular ribs.

The radical new structure,which formally opened on New Year’s Day 1781, used atotal of 378 tons of iron at a cost of around £6,000 –significantly more than the £3,200 firstestimated.

English Heritage continue: “The fusion of natural beauty and industrial activity around theSevern Gorge attracted many artists and writers.

Richard Warner,a writer and priest, described Coalbrookdale in 1801 as ‘a scene in which the beauties of nature and processes of art are blended together in curious combination’.

“But the unveiling of the Iron Bridge brought new visitors, who marvelled at its scale and ingenuity.The bridge became a centre of commerce and atown known as Ironbridge grew up around it.

“The structure also inspired the future of bridge design and engineering. Its massive strength sawitsurvive the great flood of 1795, motivating builders and engineers like Thomas Telford to construct their own iron structures.”

The bridge remained in full use for over 150 years, by ever-increasing traffic. But in 1934 it was finally closed to vehicles and was designated an Ancient Monument.

Since then, massive works to strengthen the bridge have been

undertaken. In 1973, for example, a reinforced concrete strut was built across the bed of the river to brace the two abutments

In 1999–2000, English Heritage, together with the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust, carried out afull archaeological survey,record and analysis of the bridge. The three-dimensional digital record now enables detailed understanding and management of the structure.

In 2018, English Heritagecompleted amajor conservation project to repair the Iron Bridge. It had been suffering due to stresses in the ironwork dating from the original construction, ground movement over the centuries and an earthquake at the end of the 19th century.The bridge now stands as testament to this large-scale work, for future generations to enjoy

Anumber of tourist attractions provide abetter understanding of Ironbridge and theindustries that grew up in the area.

In the Ironbridge Valley of Invention, visitors can learn more at Blists Hill Victorian Town, Enginuity,Tar Tunnel, Jackfield Tile Museum, Coalport China Museum, and, nearby,Broseley Pipeworks.

There are more attractions, including Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron, Darby Houses, The Old Furnace,The Iron Bridge and Tollhouse, and Museum Of The Gorge, which is closed in 2023 for restoration and conservation work.

The Old Furnace is truly remarkable and provides visitors with theopportunity to walk around the original furnace where Abraham Darby Iperfected the worldchanging iron smelting technique.

Grouped together,the attractions –and,of course, the picturesque River Severn, make Ironbridge one of the county’s truly great attractions.

The old furnace in Coalbrookdale.

Ironbridge toll house in 1921 showing tollgate keeper Alfred EdwardNewton. The toll house was enlarged in 1835 which is howitstands today.

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ASCENT TO GLORY

LORD HILL’S COLUMN IS ONE OF SHREWSBURY’S MOST NOTABLE LANDMARKS, STANDING TALLER THAN NELSON’S COLUMN. DANIEL MORRIS CHATS TO REV RICHARD HAYES, CHAIRMAN OF THE FRIENDS OF LORD HILL’S COLUMN, ABOUT THE RESTORATION OF ITS STAIRCASE

Rev RichardHayes inside the restored LordHill’sColumn.

Itstands as aproud sentinel overlooking our county town, and has recently benefited from a wonderful spot of restoration work.

Lord Hill’s Column is one of Shrewsbury’s most notable landmarks and, at 40.7m, it in fact stands taller than Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square.

Commemorating Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill of Almaraz and Hawkstone, the column pays tribute to one of Britain’s most trusted 19th century generals, who fought beside the Duke of Wellington in Spain, Portugal and France. From 1828,when Wellington had to relinquish the post of Commander-in-Chief of the British Army on becoming Prime Minister,Lord Hill succeeded him and held the post until 1842.

Built between 1814 and 1816, Lord Hill’s Column hashonoured this eminent son of Shropshire for over 200 years, and thanks to the work of itssupporters and the public atlarge, its inner staircase has recently been returned to its former glory

“The renovation that hasbeendone is to thecast iron balustrade up thespiral stairs inside the column,” said Reverend Richard Hayes, chairman of the Friends of LordHill’s Column.

“Each step of the 172 stairs has a banister onit, and on each banister,which is very plain, is aroundel in the middle with aletter on it. In avery old guide book of about 1835, it states that the letters were originally gilded.”

Richard and the Friends were keen to explore the truth of this, and, if this were the case, look at arestoration.

“Weasked Dr Patrick Baty to come up from London,” said Richard. “He is aleading paint analyst. He came and took lots of micrographs of thelayers of paint on the banisters.

“There were seven layers of paint, and he discovered that at thebottomthe original colour was adark blue-green, and that the letters hadindeed originally been gilded.”

With this, the Friends set to work on the project.

“Wethen had to get an estimate to see if we could afford to pay for arestoration of that paint scheme,” Richard added. “We were able to proceed and alocal painter, Clive Parry,from Shrewsbury,brought his team and we painted the whole of the balustrade in dark blue-green and gilded all of the letters.

“The result is wonderful –the letters stand out much more clearly against the dark blue-green than they did before,

‘The message on the balustrade makes the staircase truly unique, and Ihope that we’ve raised the flag for people becoming moreconscious of the treasures that we’ve got’

and it makes the message much easier to read.”

As for the message, what is the nature of the previously obscured script that has now been revealed to visitors?

“It tells us who gave the staircase –or who built it, who provided it –and also a little bit about the beginningand ending of the building of the column,” said Richard. “It reads, ‘This staircase was the gift of John Straphen the builder as his donation towards erecting this column. The first stone of the foundation was laid December 27th 1814 and completed 18 June 1816the anniversaryofthe glorious battle of Waterloo’.”

So far,public reaction to the restoration has been very positive.

“Weopened to the public for the first time since the restoration work was completed on July 15,” Richard said. “Wehad about 160 people climbing the column. Icould tell thattheywereclearly, genuinely interested because the letters were clear to see, and so they were going to have fun as they walked up, identifying what the next word was going to be.

“I think that theimportant thing here, from Shropshire’s point of view,is that we’ve got anotable attraction in the column.

“It’s

aremarkablebuilding in itself

There aren’t that many around the country,and ours is one of the fine ones.

“But the message on the balustrade makes it truly unique, and Ihope that we’ve actually raised the flag for people

becoming more conscious of the treasures that we’ve got.”

The Friends of Lord Hill’s Column work in close collaboration with Shropshire Council to open the column to the public in thesummermonths and contribute to itsrestoration.

“By becoming a‘friend’ of Lord Hill’s Column, you are joining hundreds of others who wish to help preserve this precious Shropshire landmark,” added Richard.

Richard and the rest of the Friends hope that the recent restoration work will continue to pull in enthusiastic visitors keen to celebrate this impressive piece of our county’s rich heritage.

“It would be wonderful if more people were to visit and become more aware of an architectural treasure which belongs to the people of Shropshire. They built it, it’stheir money that has restored the paintwork up the stairs, and they should enjoy it.

“And as much as anything,there are superb views from the top over the whole county and into Wales. On agood, clear day they are truly fantastic.”

n Lord Hill’s Column will next be open to the public on Saturday, September 16 and Sunday,September 17. Formore information, visit friendsoflordhillscolumn.co.uk

High Sheriff of ShropshireMandy Thorn re-opened the column on July 15, after the repainting and gilding of the staircase balustrade.

DISCOVER THE WORLD OF CLAY

HEATHER LARGE MEETS ACERAMIC ARTIST WHO IS SHARING HER PASSION BY OFFERING CLAY-MODELLING CLASSES AND TASTER SESSIONS

Ceramic artist Rachel Swift who has opened The Claypit in Oswestry offering courses and taster sessions for people to work with clay on the potter’swheel or by hand.

From encouraging mindfulness to inspiring creativity,working with clay has many known benefits. As aceramic artist, this ancient and versatile material has been ahugepart of Rachel Swift’s life for more than 30 years.

And now she is sharing herpassion with others and bringing like-minded enthusiaststogether at her new studio, The Claypit, in Oswestry

Designed just for clay,itoffers adult taster sessions, classes and courses to suit all abilities from the complete beginners to those with experience.

There is also amembership scheme that gives fellow artists, including those just starting out in their careers, the chance to work in ashared space where they can gather support from others who have anew-found or long-time love of clay

Rachel, who is the lead tutor at The Claypit, began honing her skills from an early age. “I’ve been involved with ceramics since Iwas tiny.Mydad was a potter.I’ve done nothing else but work with clay,” she explains.

She went on to study for aBAdegree in ceramics at theUniversity of Wales Institute in Cardiff

After graduating in 2001, she completed apostgraduate degree course in the conservation and restoration of ceramics, glass and related materials at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation followed by amaster’s

degree in conservation studies.

During her career, she has worked at the British Museum specialising in conserving and restoring ancient and modern ceramics from all over theworld.

“Clay is something that’s been constant in theevolution of humans over the last 20,000 years. Youcan look back at any period of time and see some sort of clay.There are not many cultures in

the world that don’t use clay,” explains Rachel.

She has also exhibited her own ceramic work across the UK, worked behind the scenes on exhibitions and spent many summers on archaeological excavations.

Tenyears ago, Rachel, who has also worked at National Trustand English Heritage sites, moved to Shropshire and

Above andbelow, Rachel with Paul Newman on the potter’swheel

set up her own studio where she worked alongside another artist.

“Working on your own is really rubbish but when you work alongside other people, your creative cup gets refilled,” says Rachel.

This experience and adesire to support recent graduates helped to inspire the membership scheme at The Claypit.

“When you graduate, you are you cast out on your own. There was aperiod after Igraduated where Ihad interest in my work but Ihad no support,” explains Rachel.

“Aswell as creating aspace where everybody could come to learn about clay, Iwanted it to be acreative hub for people to work only with clay where they could make and share skills and creative ideas in asupportive environment.

“Hopefully we can bring in people who have recently graduatedand it can actasastepping stone for them. I’vehad quite alot of interest already,” explains Rachel.

Since opening the doors of The Claypit for the first time just last month, Rachel has been “overwhelmed” by the response from the local community.

“I didn’t really know what to expect but it’s been very positive,” she says. “This is only the start. Ihave not set in stone what we will do as Iknow things will change and evolve.”

Workshops at The Claypit aim to give everyone who takes part the foundation skills they need to make everything from useful mugs and bowls to amusing or thought provoking sculpture and beautiful fine works of art.

The creationscan be made on a potter’s wheel –orbyhand as people

have been doing for thousands of years

at the studio

Classes have a maximum of eight people so everyone can feel the benefit of individual guidance from Rachel.

There is a range of clay making experiences including Saturday Throwdown, where participants can have a go on a potter’s wheel and make their own pot, and Sunday Workshops, which have a different focus each month.

Also on offer are longer clay making courses, which have new start dates six times a year, and groups, including family and friends, can arrange a unique Claypit experience with gift vouchers available

Work made in the studio, which is located on the ground floor of The Cambrian Buildings in Coney Green, is fired to over 1,000°C in the on-site kiln

Once fired, the clay turns into ceramic which is hard and strong

As part of The Claypit’s commitment to working in environmentally conscious

Rachel hand building with Jasmine Randall

ways, people will be encouraged to keep and fire only

what they truly love

Before it is fired, clay can be recycled

All creations made at The Claypit that don’t end up in the kiln will be made soft again and the clay reused by someone else.

Rachel has been enjoying sharing her passion for ceramics with others and providing people of all abilities with the opportunity to have a go with clay for the first time or practice existing clay skills

“At The Claypit people share the joy, successes and mishaps of making with clay in a welcoming, supportive environment,” she says “Working with clay has so many benefits It can encourage mindfulness, quiet and calm It can be thrilling and joyful There are no boundaries in terms of who can work with clay Clay is for everyone ”

n For more information visit the website www claypit co uk or contact Rachel rachel@claypit co uk

LEADING THECHARGE FORNATURE

MATTHEW PANTER TAKESATOUR OF STALLION A.I. IN WHITCHURCH, AGLOBAL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN THE PRESERVATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES

The Queen’s Award flag waved gently in the summer breeze at the gates of Stallion AI Services Ltd. Having driven down acouple of country lanes –hoping Iwas heading in the right direction –itwas awelcoming sight.

Such aprestigious honour clearly highlights the important work being done in Whitchurch as it makes its mark, not just on anational scale but aregional one as well.

This is amulti-layeredbusiness but Iwas visiting to discover more about saving endangered species, amission whichhas seen the companyland anomination for an historic prize.

Stallion AI was founded in 2000 and uses technologyfor genetic preservation and cloning animals such as horses,dogs and cats, via sister company Gemini Genetics.

It’s aglobal centre of excellence for equine semen collection, processing,storage and distribution and, in the pasttwo decades, its specialist team hascarried out in excess of 20,000 collections from over 1,200 stallions.

As Imet withthe towering Tullis Matson, founder and Managing Director,tolook around the facilities at Stallion AI, it was fascinating to listen to all of the work carried out from its base.

There are so many facets to the business but it was Nature’s SAFE, acharity set up to preservethe cells of endangered species around theworld, which we spoke about at length.

The scale of the incredible work being done in Shropshire is evident by the fact Nature’s SAFE haslanded it anomination for the Earthshot prize in 2023.

“I have always been interested in new technologies and breeding and how we can put thetwo together,” explains Tullis.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOPLEFT: Stallion AI Services MD Tullis Matson with LordLieutenant Anna Turner and staff; Lucy Morgan, manager of Gemini Genetics; Kat Montgomery, lab technician at Stallion AI Services in Whitchurch; lab manager Pam Humphreys; Stallion AI Services in Whitchurch; Komodo dragons; Stallion AI Services MD Tullis Matson in the lab.

PAGE 51: Stallion AI Services and Nature’sSAFEbeing given the Queen’s Award–MDTullis Matson with LordLieutenant Anna Turner and Head of Science at Chester Zoo and co-founder of Nature’sSAFE, Dr Sue Walker.Back: Kate Ashmore(Director andStud Manager) and Dr Rhiannon Bolton (co-founder), pictured in the Living Bio Bank Facility, Whitchurch. Photos:JamieRicketts

“I started off with how to tryand save the Suffolk Punch and seeing if we could use technology to save heavy horses. We did that many years ago.

“About five years ago we said ‘why can’t we try this with wild animals?’

“I started looking into it and there was amazingly very little out there, other than the Millennium Seed Bank.

“There was nowhere to store endangered species so that’s when I contacted Sue Walker from Chester Zoo. The synergy has come from the equine side of our business, throwing it across to the endangered species.”

Nature’s SAFE was co-founded alongside Dr Walker,DrRhiannon Bolton and Kate Ashmore.

Tullis, passionate throughout our look around the facilities, becomes particularly animated when he shows me one tank in particular

ALiving Biobank, it cryopreserves live tissues and cells, including sperm and eggs indefinitely in liquid nitrogen at -196°C.

Once thawed, the cells can be used for cell culture and within breeding programmes to increase genetic diversity in populations.

“Wehave samples of 175 different species in this tank alone,” he says. “Which is quiteincredible. There’s everything from Southern white rhinos, Asian elephants and aKomodo dragon.”

The list goes on. Mammals include

the African pygmy mouse, Capybaras, Giant anteaters, Malayan tapirs, Red pandas, Sumatran tigers, the Turkishspiny mouse and West African Sitatunga.

There are samples from birds including the Bruce’s green pigeon and Caribbean flamingo, reptiles like the Cameroon two horned chameleon and the Carter’s Semaphore gecko, plus amphibians, fish andmolluscs

“This is one of the first and largest charitable living biobanks,” explains Tullis. “It’s the future of conservation. There are species on the brink of extinction andwe can bring them backtolife.

“Time is not on our side,” he warns. “Weare on acliff edge and if we don’t do something now,wenight not have much for the future.

“There are about sixorseven million species on the planet and there are currently one million at risk. There are also 40,000 critically endangered and, to put things into perspective, there are roughly 50 to 100species aday going extinct, which is quite frightening.

“You can see how thedecline in species is happening quickly and it’s imperative that something is done.

“So this is another way of conserving species for future generations.

“Weare banking them down and in theory they can be brought back to life in 20, 30 or even 1,000 years when these species are on the brink of extinction.

Being able to do something like this in good old Shropshire is fantastic really.”

Nature’s SAFE (Save Animals From Extinction) works closely with Chester Zoo and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, among others, to help conserve rare and endangered species.

“Weare really proud of what we are doing here,” Tullis adds. “It’s aprivilege to be able to do your bit and to tryand make adifference in conservation.

“It takes us all over theworld. Ihad acall this week from someone asking me to go to South Africa to take semen from two big tusker elephants.

“There’s abig need for it all the time, not just in the UK but worldwide, and I am honoured to be able to do it. It’s the biggest honour to be able to do it and to leave alegacybehind like this, Ifeel very lucky.”

IsaPre-nuptialAgreement RightforYou?

Couplesplanningtomarryareincreasingly engagingindiscussionsaboutthe importanceofpre-nuptialagreementsas manyarerealisingthebenefitthataprenuptialagreementmayhaveforthem.

Likemanylegaldocuments,apre-nuptial agreementcanprovidepeaceofmind, allowingcouplestoagreewhatthey wanttohappenwiththeirassetsiftheir relationshipends.Itiswellknownthat divorcecanbehighlyacrimonious,create financialuncertainty,andbeverycostly. Thereistheopportunitytolimitthe impactofdivorcewithapre-nuptial agreement,actinglikeamarriage insurancepolicy.Itiseasierforcouples tohaverationaldiscussionsaboutthefair divisionofassetswhilsttheyaregetting alongbeforetheirmarriage,ratherthan duringtheoftenhighlyemotionalstate causedbyadivorce.

Apre-nuptialagreementcanaddress thespecificneedsoftheparties;andcan protectawidevarietyoffinancialinterests andassetsintheeventofadivorce(aswell asdeathofaspouse).

Thiscaninclude:

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Typically,theagreementwillfactorina regularreviewclause,toensurethatthe agreementcontinuestomeettheparties’ needsandtoaddressthestatusofthe agreementafterasignificantlifeevent, suchasthebirthofachild.

Itisessentialthatboththepartiesenter intotheagreementingoodtimebefore theirmarriageandcertainlynolaterthan 28daysbeforetheirwedding.Itisalso preferablethattheybothtakeindependent legaladvicebeforesigninguptothe agreement

ThecurrentlawofEnglandandWalesdoes notallowforallpre-nuptialagreementsto beautomaticallylegallybinding.However, theviewoftheCourtisthataslongasa prenuptialagreementincludesvariouskey elements,itcanbehighlypersuasivefor aJudgeinfinancialremedyproceedings associatedwithanydivorce.

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JUMPINGFOR JOY AT TRAMPOLINE DREAM

HEATHER LARGE MEETS ATRAMPOLINE COACH WHO HAS MADE THE SPORT ACCESSIBLE TO ALL

Jumping on atrampoline makes you smile and releases endorphins that make you feel better,” says Tricia Sharpe. After falling in love with trampolining when she was 10, Tricia has been acoach affiliated to British Gymnastics for more than 40 years.

Since 1998, she has dedicated her life to helping people with disabilities to reap the benefits of therapeutic trampolining

“When Iwas 10, Iwanted to learn to play badminton but at the other end of the sports hall was atrampoline andIthought,Iwant to do that as well,” explains Tricia. “I did both for years and years but once you start trampolining, you get hooked so Idecided to become acoach.”

Tricia, who is aUKCCLevel 4Trampoline Coach, spent many years teaching students at all levels and, keen to ensure thesport was as accessible as possible, she also qualified as adisability coach. “It was important to me that if someone with adisability wanted to learn they could because Iwas qualified to teach them,” explains Tricia.

In 1998, she retired from mainstream coaching to specialise in teaching adults and children with disabilities. She founded Recoil Trampoline Club in Brentwood, in Essex, where she was based at the time, and led a12-year fundraising regime to raise the £360,000 funds needed to develop afully accessiblecentre for all ages and abilities.

Tricia Sharpe, head of TSTCDisabilityTrampolining in Shrewsbury, with her invite to the coronation after receivingaBEM back in 2021 from the Queen; below, Tricia outside Westminster Abbey.

“It was the first of its kind and has nine full-sized trampolines which are sunken to floor level. This makes it more accessible and enables people to get on and off the trampolines as independently as possible without having to rely on a hoist. It’s nice that people can get on and off under their own steam and in their own time,” explains Tricia.

In 2016, Tricia and her husband moved to Shropshire to retirebut she continued to fundraise for the centre. This included travelling from Land’s End to John O’Groats in atuk-tuk in 2019 to raise awareness.

When Tricia discovered there were no facilities for disability trampoliningin Shropshire, she came out of retirement to set up anew specialist service.

It was launched in March this year and Tricia now holds sessionsat Shrewsbury Sports Village for young and older disabled adults, from seven different day centres and care homes, and for children with profoundand multiple learning disabilities at Severndale Academy

Trampolining can offer many benefits to people with disabilities as well as giving them the chance to enjoy the bounce and the freedom of movement.

“It may be lying on the trampoline and being able to roll, it may be something more active,” says Tricia.

Tricia during her tuk-tuk challenge.

The sunken trampolines at the Recoil Trampoline &Activity Centre.

“Trampolining makes you smile, it makes you happy and it’s fun. It’s good for strengthening muscles, developing balance and endurance, improving posture, coordination and flexibility.It also helps to improve mentalhealth by improving self-confidence and selfesteem. These are just some of the benefits, there are so many more.”

Tricia’s dream is to open apurposebuilt trampoline centre in Shrewsbury, specialising in disability and therapeutic trampolining.

“A dedicated facility will enable many more disabled people who attend day centres, or are residents of care homes as well as those who live with parents or in Supported Living, more opportunities to access trampolining in asafe and welcoming environment. It would also enable access for disabled children to participate in afterschool sessions in the community,outside of their school environment and alongside non-disabled children.

Last month, Shropshire’s LordLieutenant Anna Turner visited Shrewsbury Sports Village to find out more about the sessions and meet some of the people who had helped to set up and support the service.

“She has been very supportive and could see the benefits of what we are doing. She even had agoonone of the trampolines,” explains Tricia.

Her next goal is to train more specialist coaches so she can increase the number of sessions.

“The response I’vehad since Istarted theservice has been amazing. All of my sessions are full and there is now awaiting list. Icannot meet the demand without more coaches so Iwould love to see peoplecome forward and once qualified they can work with me to provide this service for people in Shropshire,” shetells Weekend.

In 2021,Tricia received the British Empire Medal for services to British Gymnastics and last year shewas chosen to be abatonbearer in Shrewsbury for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. “It means alot because Idon’t do it for recognition, Idoitbecause Iget so much joyout of it and Isee what adifference it makes,” she says.

Earlier this year,she was shocked to receive an invitation to the coronation of King Charles III andQueen Camilla. “There were 450 BEM recipients invited and Iwas one of them. Ihad aperfect view.Ienjoyed every minute of it and it’s

something that Iwill never forget,”Tricia explains.

“I love being acoach because Ispend the whole time with ahugegrinonmy face. Working with children, young adults and older adults with disabilities is very rewarding and I’m constantly amazed at what they can achieve. Every single carer says how much they love it and how it’s the best thing they do all week. Ijust hope Igive back to them as much as they give to me,” she said.

n Anyone who is interested in becoming acoach or supporting theplans for adedicated trampolining centre in Shrewsbury can email Tricia on tricia@ disabilitytrampolining.co.uk

ShropshireLord-Lieutenant Anna Turner and Tricia with Abigail Croft at the Shrewsbury Sports Village

GIANTSFROMJUNK

KATY RINK FINDS OUT MORE

Life sometimes pick us up and put us back down somewhere completely different. Jacob Chandler had set his sights on a‘pragmatic’ career as an architect until illness interrupted his studies at Birmingham City University

He intended to take ashort break but got interested in sculptureinstead and emerged from his parents’ garden shed afew months later with alifesize horse welded together from scrap and avery seriousdetermination to turn his new interest into acareer

That was 10 years ago (his parents still have the horse on show in their garden –now entitled ‘Jacob Prancing Horse I’). Nowadays, Jacob, 29, makes giant public works of art, including atwo-anda-half metre tall bladed athlete for the Birmingham 2022 Festival celebrating the Commonwealth Games –and a new piece for the flagship Midlands

Metropolitan Hospital, in Smethwick, due to be unveiled next year.His three metre tall, multi-faceted sculpture ‘The Dancer’stands outside the main entrance of Telford’s fashion quarter

Jacob, aformer pupil at Thomas Telford School, discovered that the crippling fatigue, whichhad put astop to his studies, was caused by Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, aconnective tissue disorder

“It’s asystemic disease that causes hypermobility,” he explains. “My joints are extra flexy but also my organs and insides don’t work as they should and I’ve also got colitis. Everything Idorequires more energy.Ihave to manage myself quite carefully.”

He’s now an ambassador for the charity EDS which supports people with the condition: “It’stough to diagnose –I had abunch of labels stuck on me before they found out what it was.”

Growing up with awoodworker

WORK BY TELFORD SCULPTOR JACOB CHANDLER FEATURES IN THE SHREWSBURY ARTS TRAIL.

mum and adad who worked in product design, meant that Jacob always had a project on the go: “In school holidays, mum would bring home bags of clay and we’d play with them,” Jacob recalls. “I’d make off-road vehicles out of bits of bikes that broke and play with them in the woods. They were sometimes tested to destruction! Ialso made aforgeinthe back garden –until my parents realised how dangerous it was.”

It wasn’t until years later,when illness forced Jacob to take abreak from university,that he discovered his talent for sculpture, ‘messing about’ with offcuts of angle iron from aShrewsbury metal dealer: “During that year,sculpture almost worked as my therapy,both physical and mental –Iwould go down the garden to the workshop and weld little bits of metal together.Eventually Icame out of that shed with alifesize horse! It’s stillone of my favourite pieces.”

If you know Jacob’s work, his style is recognisable even in this early piece –the crisp-edges, smooth faces, and abstracted form that have come to define his motif

Jacob went on to exhibit with afew local galleries –atIronbridge Fine Arts, The Big Art Show in Shrewsbury in 2014 and The British Ironwork Centre, among others. His first major piece ‘Poise and Tension III’ was created in weathered (corten) steel working with alocal metal fabrication company and was selected for exhibition by the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.

The 6ft tall figure solidified Jacob’s now signature style and can be seen on display in The Dingle in Shrewsbury this summer as part of The Shrewsbury Arts Trail.

“It’s the sculpture that really launched my career,” Jacob says. “I made a maquette and took it to ametal company wondering what it would cost to get it made. They said come and work for a month, we’ll help you make it.”

Then followed acommission for athree metre tall public sculpturefor Telford’s new fashion quarter (2019) –and he’s had at least one large commission every year since –all but one of which have been in public spaces.

These days, he works full time from a ‘tiny square box’ of astudio in the garage at the bottom of his garden, making his maquettes: “I like to confine myself to a small space. Icreate ahell of amess and dust!”

He makes the maquettes in a manageable size (approximately 50cm tall) and gets them 3D scanned anddigitally scaled up to any size he needs, working

FROM TOP: Telfordsculptor Jacob Chandler; Jacob has also been known to makehis own homemade bicycles; Jacob with Jonathan Soden at the opening of ‘Exploration of Flatland’, The Soden Collection, Shrewsbury.

PAGE 59 FROM TOP: Jacob with adesignfor afigureready to be upscaled; Poise and TensionIII surrounded by ducks at The Dingle in Shrewsbury.

Photos:JosephDouglas

with different partners in bronze or steel.

Jacob’s work is aperfect fitfor the Shrewsbury Arts Trail –the trailtheme of movement is also Chandler’s own persistent source of inspiration (he’s abig fan of Swiss sculptor Giacometti whose work reduces figures to coreshapes).

“I love the sense of movement, the pushing and distorting of proportions yet keeping areally identifiable figure,” he explains. He approves of the siting of ‘Poise and TensionIII’ rising up from The Dingle pond in Shrewsbury’s formal town centre garden, where it attracts attention from curious ducks.

“When Igot the location Iwas thrilled. Ihad the piece on water once before and it really comes alive. Ilove the reflections.”

In the past year,with aone-year-old at home, Jacob hashad to readjust to parenthood.

He said: “I spent six months not producing much work. It gave me time to think and regenerate and has led to anew body of work. Until then it was back to back commissions. Ialmost didn’t get a chance to breathe or reanalyse what Iwas doing. It’s helped my practice develop. I never stop thinking.”

His new body of work ‘Exploration of Flatland’, which he launched at The Soden Collection on Wyle Cop earlier in the summer,reveals an ambition to distil figures to the simplest of planes.

He said: “I’ve always said Iwant to constrain the number of facets Iuse. In the same way that Mondrian would take abeautiful tree and distil it to lines and colours, Iwant to see how much of the form Ican remove and yet it still be distinctly the human form.

“It is still possible to capture emotion –perhaps even more so. As you move around them, if you get quite close to the wall, some facets will completely disappear and become line segments, or a figure will emerge. Ilove the way the different, contrasting metals interact and give different reflections. Iampassionate about materials, pairing really beautiful copper with adifferent medium. Ifeel there’s almost endless potential for it.”

Jacob’s health problems inspire themes of strength and vulnerability, self-assurance and imbalance, fragility and impermanence; figures suchas‘Poise and Valour’reflectthe precariousness of existence and the unpredictability of the path ahead. His work elicits astrong response (I suggest acovetousness); the viewer is compelled to touch these figurative, geometric works of perfection and to own them. The minimalist

Flatland pieces teeter on abstraction but retain aclear link to his existing collection. Stand with them for awhile and there’s atangible sense of time passing -ofthe artist leaving his mark.

Jacob loves watching his work take effect. He said: “I was at asmall exhibition at the Wellington ArtsFestival. Aguy came in looking like he’d had atough day.Hestood andlooked at ‘Poise and Tension’ and said ‘Wow’three or four times. That’swhen Irealised my work could have an emotional impact on people. It was quite aprofound moment for me.”

Although completely self-taught, Jacob describes himself as ‘process driven’ and he embraces technology.Hesaid: “Whereas with the more3Dpieces, Iwas sat in arespirator for eight to nine hours aday,bathed in horrificsolvents, now I can work on asketch pad, do some little designs, translate them into computer models, laser cut them in card and assemble them. It’s aprocess I’m really enjoying.”

This was an opportune moment to bring up ChatGPT.“Idon’t want to be replaced by aprogramme,” Jacob responds. “It’s scary –Itry not to think about it too much. It cancreate some

incredible work and lead to fascinating conversations aboutart and process.

“With apiece of art,the important thing for me is that emotion has gone into it. Whilst ChatGPT can probably simulate incredibly well –inthe same way that I like to touch my sculptures and like to feel the cold of the bronze, being able to interact with aperson as away to access the work can’tbereplaced.

“Copying art is in some ways theleast scary thing about ChatGPT when you consider the other implications. Ienjoy using technology in my work. I3Dscan and print my work, Ilaser cut it. If all of these processes weren’t in existence, I couldn’t create the work.”

EXHIBITION

STATELY VENUE FOR WORKS OF ART

Anestablished groupof professional and amateur artists who specialise in awide range of styles and media will be showcasing their work in anew exhibition at Weston Park.

Wolverhampton Society of Artists is presenting Art ForAll Reasons at the Rose Paterson Art Gallery from September 30 to October 30

The exhibition will be officially opened by Brendan Flynn, aProfessor of Art History and afreelancecurator associated with the RBSA.

He will also present the awards, including the Elsie Holland Prize which is aprize of £100 awardedanonymously

every year to commemoratethe work of a remarkable woman who devoted herself to adult educationinWolverhampton in the early 20th century. Theprize will be awarded for outstanding workinany medium. In 2022, theaward was won by Chris Manley for her piece of digital art, Solstice.

The Felix Award was created by Peter Burt in March 2020toacknowledge the joy art can bring to all our lives. The name ‘Felix’ means ‘happy’or‘lucky’. Two prizes are awarded in the sums of £100 and £50. The 2022 first prize winner was Amanda Keetonwith Farmyard Gangsters and second prize went to Marion Cockin for The Wednesbury Mangle Theory

On week days and Saturdays, throughout theexhibition’s run, visitors to the estate will be able to meet artists in the gallery and see them at work in the park. Painting and drawing will be featured along with wood engraving and Chinese brush work.

Committee member Carol Widenbar says the title Art ForAll Reasons was inspired by the increasingly diverse range of artwork featured in the society’s 2022 exhibition.

“Having been in existence for well over 100 years, the Wolverhampton Society of Artists is awell-established society and could easily be content within the comfortable boundaries of experience.

“But as the years passby, and new young members arrive, the society renews itself and is continually embracing new ideas and technology

“In recent years it has featured installation, digital and conceptual artin its exhibitions alongside the traditional pursuits of painting, sculpture, ceramics and printmaking.”

n Find out more about the society and how you can become amember by visiting the website www.wsa-artists.com or follow www.facebook.com/WtonSA

for updates. The Rose Paterson Art Gallery can be found in the same building that houses the Granary Brasserie. It showcases monthly selling exhibitions by acclaimed artists from the UK and beyond, along with items on loan to the gallery from private collections. The exhibitions in the GranaryArt Gallery are organised by Weston Park’s Curatorial & Learning Department. Forgallery opening times, see www.weston-park.com

The mayor and Amanda Keeton with her painting Farmyard Gangsters

Marion Cockin with her painting and poetry book.

FarmyardGangsters, by Amanda Keeton.

Solstice, by Chris Manley.

Wednesbury Mangle Theory, by Marion Cockin.

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SCOOPS OF JERSEYJOY

THIS MONTH, ED THOMAS CONTINUES HIS SERIESTHAT SHINES ASPOTLIGHT ON SOME OF THE WONDERFULFOOD AND DRINK PRODUCERS OF SHROPSHIRE BY GOING IN SEARCH OF ASUMMERTIME TREAT

After meeting Jan MorganBirtles in the beautiful Shropshire Hills, Iquickly found out that ice creams are not just for warmer weather,they are great all year round.

Jan created Nanny Janny’s Jersey Ice Cream in 2018, afarm diversification project inspired by her Jersey cows and also wanting to provide atreat for everyone to enjoy.She wanted premium ingredients to sing while giving parents peace of mind by steering clear of additives, artificial flavouringsand colourings.

After 40 years as dairy farmers and a lifelong love of cows, it seemed that ice cream was the sensible option.

Jan and David have been dairy famers throughout their working lives and having moved to a farm in the ShropshireHills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,they sought to put their small herd of pedigree Jersey cows to work.

Famously,Jersey cows produce high quality milk and their environment only helps this further.The cows are grazed outside all year round, only

coming inside in the depths of winter and, even then, they go out for fresh air and to stretch their legs every day Happy cows, reared in ahigh welfare conditions, produce great milk and it’s this milk that is the base ingredient for Nanny Janny’s Jersey Ice Cream.

Jan and David use traditional regenerative farming methods on their land and with their livestock. They have azero ploughpolicy which takes care of the soil and they allow the farm to set thetone for what is focused on.

Jan explained that you have to farm the farm you have, not the farm you want. The proof is in thepudding with happy farmers and happy livestock enjoying their surroundings adorned with abundant wildlife such as thecurlew and weasels that are often seen around the fields.

Authenticity is important, Jan only makes flavours that shewould like to eat herself.The range includes traditional favourites such as vanilla, strawberry and chocolate as well as seasonal offerings including wimberry and summer berries.

All the natural ingredients are locally

David and Jan Morgan-Birtles.

Nanny Janny’satthe HaymeadowFestival.

sourced from sustainable suppliers with whom relationships havebuilt up over time.

The wimberries are very local –they are foraged from nearby hedgerows. In fact, there is arealfocus on flavour This not only adds to the authenticity of the product, but really allows the flavours to come through

After all, there is no mistaking that Nanny Janny’s stem ginger ice cream is ginger flavoured, there is no half-heartedness here. Jan puts thefull flavours down to alack of additives and making sure that everything is made from scratch in her own ice cream room, from stewed fruit to butterscotch andhoneycomb

Theice cream-making process starts with Jersey whole milk which is filtered before being heated for pasteurisation in batches. At this stage sugarand arrowroot are added which finishes off the base mix.

Plenty of preparation goes into each flavour.Fruit is cooked and blitzed up before being sieved to remove pips. High cocoa chocolate is melted. Butterscotch and honeycomb are home made. The processes are honed over time to secret recipes. When the flavours have been prepared, some extra sugar might occasionally be added for taste, depending on the seasonality of different fruit. If they’re early in the season they might need some sugar,if

they are later and riper that may well not need the extra pick-me-up. The aim is always to let the fruit, or the other flavourings, be the star of the show The base plain ice cream mix is then combined with the flavouring in an ice cream maker which then churns the mix, blending it together before chilling and ultimately freezing. The final stage is to fill up the 1.2-litre tubs ready for sale to the public.

Jan explained that the secret is to keep it simple –the simpler the better,infact. So the ingredients are high quality and only there if they really need to be. The flavoursare simple too –classic, tried and tested. That’s why Nanny Janny’s Mint Choc Chip ice isn’t green, its white. We might expect green owing to the colourings added to the batches thatmake up what we may have bought in thesupermarket, but Jan’s simple approach leaves the flavour to do thetalking.

Ever mindful of wanting as many people as possible to be able to enjoy her ice cream, Jan has developed the range where the only allergen in any of the flavours is milk.

There are no nuts or gluten used anywhere. Jan has even supplementedthe range with afruit sorbet so those needing or wanting to steer clear of thelactose can do so while still enjoying an ice-cold treat.

When the ice cream is ready,it’s

time for getting out and abouttomeet the ice cream eating public. Youwill find Jan atfarmersmarkets across the county,from Shrewsbury to Ludlow, as well as anumber of showsand other events throughout thesummersuch as the Bishop’s Castle Royal Charter celebration, Slow Food Ludlow and the Marches Food Fiesta. Icecream is available to purchase in tubs, and on the go in wafflecones or compostable pots. Jan explained that getting out and meeting the customers is the best feedback you can possibly get and that there is just something so British about aday out and an ice cream –not even the rain can dampen the spirits if there is ice cream on offer Jan says that if it starts to rain, sometimes the queues get longer!

Nanny Janny’s Jersey Ice cream is often sold alongside Muckleton Meats, produced from animals reared on the same farm andtoequallyhigh welfare standards. The range includes awardwinning bacon and sausages. Check out their socialmedia channels to see where you can find them the next time you fancy an ice cream.

DOTRY THIS AT HOME

Ben Queen-Fryer is one of the UK’sfastest-rising chefs. The Michelin star holder is helping to redefinethe sort of food that people enjoyin pubs. His restaurant is no stranger when it comes to accolades having recently received its third AA Rosette awardand also made theshortlist of GQ Magazine’s Food and Drinks Awards 2023. While Salopians will havetotravel adistance to dine at hisrestaurant –Ben is based on the edge of the LakeDistrict –he’scollaborated with ShropshireMagazine to present astunningand exclusiveset of recipes. They aretaken from his new book, which will be available from his restaurant later this year

For the pork shoulder

1kgporkshoulder, boneless

50g sea salt flakes

2litres vegetable oil

Place the pork into abowland season with sea salt.Leave in the fridge for 24 hours. Remove the pork from thefridge, wash off the salt and pat dry.Place into a deep roasting tray and cover with the oil. Tightly cover the whole tray with tin foil and cook at 110C for 8-10 hours. Allow the pork to cool in theoil for about an hour.Lift the pork into abowl and shred the meat.

Using alarge roll of cling film, roll the pork intoatight ballotine. Tieboth ends as tightly as possible and leave in the fridge until the next day

For the celery pickle

½ celeriac, peeled and finely diced 8celery sticks, finely diced

1Bramley apple, peeled and finely diced

1large onion, peeled and finely diced

300ml white wine vinegar

1tsp coriander seeds

1tsp mustardseeds

1tsp dill seeds

200g sugar

½ tsp salt

Place all the ingredients into asaucepan. Cook at asimmer until the liquid has reduced enough to form amild syrup. Check the seasoning and reserve.

To

Serve

Celeriac purée

100g flour

2egg yolks

150g pankobreadcrumbs

Apple cider balsamic

Heat afryer to 190C. Slice the pork into 2cm wide coins. Remove the cling film and pané by first dusting with flour,then dredging in egg and finally rolling in breadcrumbs. Deep fry for 3-4 minutes, until golden brown.

Remove and drain on akitchen towel. Warm the celeriac purée and place 1tbsp of purée in the centre of each plate.

Topwith the crispy pork shoulder. Add aquenelle of celery pickle and finish with adrizzle of apple cider balsamic.

For the scallops

4extralarge scallops, in the shell

50g butter

50g hazelnuts, toasted and chopped

20g chives, chopped

Salt

Oliveoil

Firstly,remove the scallops from their shells by sliding aknife down the inside of the flat shell. This will release the shell from the scallop.

Gently prize the scallop meat away from the curved shell.

Remove the skirt, roe and frill from the scallop meat by inserting a finger between the frill and the scallop meat and gently lifting away the white meat.

Give the scallops arinse in cold water and place on akitchen towel to dry

Heat afrying pan with 2tbsp of olive oil. Season the scallops lightly and place in the hot pan.

Fryfor 2-3 minutes until golden, just on the one side.

Add the butter to the pan

Once the butter is foaming,remove from the heat.

Turn the scallops onto their other side and allow to rest in the pan for one minute.

Lift the scallops out of the pan and place on kitchen towel.

Add the hazelnuts and chives to the remaining butter in the pan.

To serve

Celery pickle

Celery cress

Celeriac purée

Apple cider balsamic

Put 1tbsp of celeriac purée into the centre of each plate.

Add 1tsp of celery pickle into the centre of the purée.

Topwith ascallop, dress the plate with the apple cider balsamic and finish with the hazelnut butter from the pan.

For the caramel tart filling

280g sugar

50ml Madeira

500ml double cream

85g soft dark brownsugar

270g egg yolk

Pinch of salt

Put the caster sugar into alarge pan and over alow heat, turn to adark caramel, stirring often. Add the Madeira and stir until all the alcohol has evaporated.

Slowly add the cream and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Whisk together the egg yolks and the sugar.Pour the cooled cream mixture over the egg yolks. Add apinch of salt.

Whisk brieflythen allow the mixture to rest for 10 minutes.

Scoop off any froth from the top of the mixture and discard.

For the lime ice cream

170ml lime juice

350g icing sugar

350g crème fraîche

Mix all the ingredients together and churn in an ice cream machine according to the machine instructions. Freeze for at least 12 hours.

To serve 1tartcase

Seasalt flakes

Heat the oven to 120C.

Put the tart case on aheavy baking tray and place into the oven. Whilst the tart case is in the oven, pour in the caramel tart mixture. Bake for 35 minutes.

Test by giving thetrayasmall wobble; if the mixture is still loose, bake for afew more minutes until it begins to firm up and has the texture of aset jelly

Remove and cool for at least 2hours before slicing. Portion into the desired shape and size.

Serve with ascoop of ice cream and a sprinkling of sea salt on the tart.

VINS DU FRANCE

Asany wine lover will agree, France has it all. But where do you begin if you’re not sure which arethe go-to appellations if you find Frenchlabels baffling when it’s by region?

“Savvy shoppers know one way is to look to lesser-known wine regions to find wines you’re guaranteed to love,” says Helena Nicklin, Ocado wine ambassador

So, whether atrip to France is on the horizon or not, here are some alternatives to your classics to seek out…

Provence rosé

“If you’re afan of alight, quaffable Provence rosé, you don’t have to go far off the beaten path to find wines similar to those you love, but which offer great valuefor money,” says Dan Farrell-Wright, director at Wickhams Wines.

“Look for wines labelled IGP Méditérranée –the appellation covers most of southern France and these wines will often be equally pale, full of red fruit and citrus flavours, and made using the same blend of grape varieties.”

Nicklin says: “Love Whispering Angel? Provence put pink wine firmly on the map but it often comes with a price tag to match, especially trendy ones like Whispering Angel.”

“Cote des Roses celebrates the Mediterranean lifestyle, and looking to Languedoc next door is agreat way to find brilliantly priced pinks that are pale and elegant,” says Nicklin. “Yet often with abit more fruitiness.”

Burgundy

Forthose who prefer afull-bodied chardonnay from Burgundy, Farrell-Wright suggests looking for Beaujolais Blanc which he cites as an insiders’ secret.

“These wines are 100% Chardonnayand Beaujolais is just south of Burgundy.The style is similar to those found in Mâcon, but they rarely make their way out of France.”

If you can’t track down aBeaujolais Blanc, think about stocking up on chardonnay from MâconVillages in southern Burgundy, where you’ll get more bang for your buck than apremier cru

Sancerre

“Sancerre is the famous Loire Valley home of elegant, nettley sauvignon blanc, but there areother appellations around it that alsoproducea lighter,minerally style of the grape,” says Nicklin. “Try an IGP

version from the Loire and you’re usually looking at around half the price.”

And don’t forget seafoodloving muscadet from the western end of the Loire Valley Certainly worth keeping an eye out for if you’re touring around, especially those labelled Sur Lie –aged on lees for more depth and complexity,with ayeasty creaminess –and anatural with oysters and shellfish.

Rhône Reds

As Nicklin puts it: “Good old Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of those wine names that sticks in your head for being ‘one of the good ones’.

However,many grenache or syrah-based blends will offer asimilar hit of boozy figs, bramble fruit and spice. ACôtes-du-Rhône or Lirac red will hit the spot; or even just ajuicy,southern French syrah.

Farrell-Wright agrees: “Red lovers should look to villages close to their favourite appellations –ifyou love Châteauneuf-du-Pape, try other villages from the Rhône Valley such as Gigondas or Rasteau.”

IF YOU’RE LOOKINGFOR SMART BUYS FROM LA BELLE FRANCE, THESE ARE THE LABELS TO TRY

RIESLING EPIPHANY

BY TANNERS PRIVATECLIENT ACCOUNT MANAGER AIDEN SCHWARZER

Most of us in the wine trade reach an epiphany.Riesling is amazing, especially the original German flavour It becomes afascination; Borussia Dortmund fans would say Echte Liebe (real love). But despite amodest following, it isn’t, and hasn’t been for some time, avery commercial proposition –it’s simply not all that easy to sell.

More than any other wine or grape variety Ican think of,Rieslinghas some sort of stigma attached to it.

The main problem Riesling faces, still, is aconfusion about style. One can’t help being influenced by parents and, for my generation, that means parents who were drinking and enjoying alot of ordinary yet fashionable wine during the 1970sand 1980s –wines and brands that emerged off the back of prestigious, historic towns and vineyards, and Hock (from

Hochheim) would be agood example of that. Hock, Liebfraumilch, Piesporter,the brands of Blue Nun and Black Tower –all easy-going, fruity and sweet, had great appeal which turned into massive sales… and in turn, became too much of agood thing.

Youcould say ‘we’ are still suffering something of ahangover from those experiences, but the breakfast baps,sweet tea and coca cola are kicking in!

When IstartedatTanners in 2002, Iwas weirdly proud of our excellent collection of German wines. Istill am, but the range has evolved. Most of the wines, if not all of them, were of the classic ‘fruity’styles, ranging from delicate off-dry Kabinett to fuller,richer lateharvested Spätlese, and gorgeously sweet Auslese. Wines from famous old single vineyards in the Saar,Ruwer,Mosel and Rheingau, from theverybestgrowers –serious quality and amazing value for money

The dry wines we sampled around that time were still atouch awkward. They lacked the charm so readily available in the sweeter wines, andthe Riesling grape’s naturally highacidity (and propensity to display mineral characteristics) often felt severe and challenging. Today,our German range is

much closer to a50/50 split dry versus sweet, and at times Ireckon the dry examples are in the majority,accounting for great improvements and abroader variety of flavours –not just from the warmest sub-regions like the Pflaz. It is adynamic and exciting time for the drier styles, but did Imention fashions earlier?

Wine popularity is acyclical thing, like fashion. Remember ABCs (Anything But Chardonnay)? The 1990s and early 2000s saw great commercial success for the

Urziger Wurzgarten.

golden, generously oaked, ripe and low acid styles of chardonnay from California and Australia. Salesboomed, brands spawned and grew powerfully strong, and eventually saturated the markets –and our taste buds. We became tired of it, we felt our palates had graduatedtoleaner, drier,brighter wines… oaked chardonnay was out but it hurtthe varietymore generally because the winemaking side of these things isn’t immediately obvious to everyone, and so it was safer to leave chardonnay altogether

Unoaked chardonnay became more widely available, or better marketed, and these went up against Sauvignon Blanc which had filled the vacuum. In time, chardonnay did recover,and Iexpect Chablis and other Burgundian examples

had apart to play in that; oak is far better handled these days and supports rather than dominates, but in the very recent few years we’ve seen some designer brands emerge, such as19Crimes –more than just anod to those heady wines of the 1990s! Surely Riesling’s time will come.

Let me get back on track and round off with what makes Riesling great –versatility.This is adoubleedged sword, of course, because agrape varietythat can produce anything from bone dry to lusciously sweet dense, still or sparkling, white or orange, and literally everything in between, needs to get that clear message across on the label. At Tanners, we can talk you through that but out in the wild… man, it’s tough.

Having covered style, let’s look at character.Ilike to thinkofthe character of Riesling like this –and colourshelp: we’realways talking about properly ripe fruit but the cooler sites, the cooler vintages, theless ripe examples tend to have a‘whiteand green’ quality of fruit –apples, pears, citrus. There is often a floral element, be it herby or blossom-like, and maybe atouch of peach. Quintessential Mosel. When you move through the riper

styles, warmer sites, hotter vintages, you might moveinto yellows and oranges, like you find in the Rheingau and Pflaz –more exotic fruits come into play.But regardless of style and fruit character, Riesling will always show high levels of acidity and pronounced mineral flavours. These are what balance the sweetness, or rather the sweetness balances those elements. And all wines must balanced, which classy Riesling does perfectly Finally a note on what agreatpartner these wines are with food.

Riesling goes with everything. The acidity cuts through fat, the fruity wines have atouch of sweetness to handle spice, and the wines are simultaneously delicate yet intense. They pack apunchyet remain playful and they age so very well too. When the sun shines, you cannot beat afeinherb or offdry Kabinett –refreshing,invigorating, typically lower in alcohol and utterly delicious.

In summary,these brilliant Riesling wines arestill overlooked and misunderstood, but Idothink thepath is clearer and the drier wines may prove to be agateway.So even if you’re not in the wine trade, there is still time for your German wine epiphany.Now is the time to give them atry.

Jason Buglass

ANTIQUES

WRITTEN RARITIES

Ina truly digital age, it’s easy to forget that for centuries humans were reliant on the written word for all forms of communication. Whether it be the ancient language of Latin, Egyptian hieroglyphics, character marks or equations, all were tangible assets that were either bound in volumes or inscribed into stone.

Of course, physical communications, be it throughbooks, letters or even maps, still play an important partinmodern life but, with the ever-advancing digital age, their prominenceineveryday life reduces at an equally swift pace.

Perhaps this, in some part,explains theincreasingly strong market for printed and written materials, as showcased in Halls Fine Art’s most recent books, manuscripts and autographs auction held in July.The sale, comprised of almost 200 lots, included awhole host of unique and fascinating pieces.

Amongst them was a17th century manuscript which contained adrawing of around table used by the Exchequer in about 1650. Almostasunusual as the piece itself,the history of the lot could

be traced back more than 200years. It was once in the notable collection of Sir Thomas Phillips Bt, known as greatest collector of manuscripts of all time. Owning at least 50,000 books and 60,000 manuscripts, it reputedly took his heirs nearly acentury to dispose of his collection. Provence always enhances value and this particular piece realised £1,900 +bp.

Local interest also fares well and certainly proved the case with acollection of eight Worcester Civil Wartracts from the1640s that sold for £4,000 +bp.

Halls were also favoured with the consignment of alarge collection of books from aShrewsbury estate.The librarywas assembled by aclergyman just before and after the Second World Warand had been untouched since his death in 1980. As Chris Morre, Halls’ book specialist, began to go through the collection he found a vacant marbled paper slipcase dated 1787 which should have contained amap of London. It wasn’t until several days later,

when he had almost completed sorting the consignment that he discovered the missing piece. The map was by the famous English cartographer John Cary and had been coloured by hand. This particular map of the ‘New and Accurate Plan of London and Westminster,the Borough of Southwark and the Parts Adjacent’ had been regularly updated and reissued by Cary over the years. However, the first edition from 1787 is rare.Itwent on to reach £3,600 +bp on the day

The same estate also included a large collection of Golden Cockerel Press books, one of the best known and most collectable of the private presses. Their publications are finely printed on handmade paper and were usually only issued in small limited editions. The highlight of this group was avolume titled ‘The Vigil of Venus’ translated by FL Lucas with engravings by John BucklandWright. Limited to 100 copies it achieved £1,500 +bp.

Forthe finallot of the auction, we were treated with another private press book, but this time produced by the well-known and highly sought-after Gregynog Presslocated near Newtown. The large format book, published in 2002 was related to an even more collatable name, that of the renowned Welsh artist KyffinWilliams. Titled ‘CuttingImages: A selection of Linocuts’ only 295 signed and numbered copies were produced of which only 20 were specially bound in black Morocco with apictorial cover designed by Williams. As Wales’s most important 20th century artist, combined with the strong market for Gregynog Pressbooks, this superb book was sold for £2,400 +bp. Halls’ nextdedicatedauction of books, manuscripts and autographs is being held in November and entries are now being invited. If you would like to get your collection appraised, please contact Halls on 01743 450700oremail fineart@hallsgb.com

The Vigil of Venusachieved £1,500.

The hand-drawn map of the ‘New and Accurate Plan of London and Westminster,the Borough of Southwark and the Parts Adjacent’.

STREET ART MAVERICK AND WELSH ICON APPEAR AT AUCTION HOUSE

Ifyou asked the next person you meet to name some contemporary artists, thechances are that somewhere near the top of their list would be Banksy.Probably the most famous street artist in the world, Banksy started his spectacular career as part of the 1990s Bristol underground scene, spraying graffiti on local landmarks before morphing intothe much-loved maverick of contemporary art, who has even been known to shred his own work as it’s being sold for millions.

Although best known as astreet artist,it’slesswidely known that Banksy has always sold his work to private buyers, creating limitededition silk screen prints which were sold at pop-up galleries and online by the artist-owned collective ‘Pictures On Walls’. One of these silk screen prints will be offered for sale by Trevanion Auctioneers at our next auction on September 13

The black and yellow print shows John Travolta and Samuel

LJackson each pointing abanana as if it was agun, and is unsurprisingly titled ‘Pulp Fiction’ after the Quentin Tarantino film from which the iconic scene was lifted and given aBanksy twist. In 2004,the prints were published in alimited edition of just 600, andthe exampleoffered at the September auction is numbered 468. It was given to the lucky vendor as abirthday present by his wife in 2005 and cost just £75 when shebought it for him directly from the gallery –such is the current demand for works by the artist we’re now expecting it to make in excess of £20,000 at the auction

Stepping back anartistic generation, and within the same auction, Trevanion Auctioneers will be offering amajor work by iconic Welsh artist KyffinWilliams (1918-2006). In many ways, Sir John KyffinWilliams, OBE, RA,was amaverick too, redefining 20th century Welsh art and what it meant to be a Welsh artist. His work perfectly captures abrooding world of austere peaks and the people that live and lived amongst them, created in thick oils applied with aknife.

The painting offered for sale is titled ‘The Wave’, and initially the composition appears almost abstract, but after amoment it resolves itself to form awhite-capped wave caught in the dim light of arisingmoon.Painted in 1964 when Williams was working as an art teacher at Highgate School in London, the painting was exhibited at the National Museum of Wales in 1987. In addition to theexhibition label, it also bears alabel for theHoward Roberts Gallery,which first sold his work. Original Kyffinoils, particularly from this period, are much sought after, we hope that this particular piece will make in excess of £15,000.

n Trevanion Auctioneers’ September auction will take place on September 13, and in addition to theBanksy and the Kyffin Williams, the auction will featurea wealth of 20th centuryart and design, as well as afantastic selection of antiques and country house pieces. Forfurther information please visit trevanion.com

Christina Trevanionwiththe Banksy print.

Simon Groverand Christina Trevanionwiththe KyffinWilliams.

TREVANION AUCTIONEERS PICTURE VALUER SIMON GROVER DISCUSSES TWO EXCITINGENTRIES IN THEIR FORTHCOMING SEPTEMBER AUCTION

Experienced Auctioneers of Private Estates &Country HouseCollections

Auction Valuations provided on single items, private collections &full house contents

Specialising in Fine Art &Antiques

Our next Fine Art &Antique Auction will be held on:

Wednesday 13th September

Public Viewing: Monday 11th September &Tuesday 12th Septemberfrom9.30am -5pm

FOSTERINGA LOVE OF LEARNING R

ecently rated ‘Excellent in all areas” by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, Prestfelde School offers ahighly progressive and inclusive education, awealth of pastoralcare initiatives, co-curricular programs and top-class facilities.

Opened in 1929 and set in 30 acres of superb grounds, Prestfelde is athriving and forward-thinking coeducational day school for boys and girls aged three to 13 located close to Shrewsbury.AtPrestfelde, over 350 children and their parents benefitfrom first class facilities in ahappy, safe, and secure environment.

Aspirit of enquiry and alove of learning permeate the classrooms and playground; lessons are engaging, challenging and inspiring and pupils are encouraged to develop abroad range of intellectual, creative, practical, physical and social skills.

Parents’ busy lifestyles are supported with outstanding wraparound childcare

that is responsive and unique to modern family needs. Prestfelde’s flexible boarding offers pupils the opportunity to develop their characters, havefun, and build lasting friendships for life.

Academic highlights are bolstered by the level of success and quality of scholarships gained by pupils in the final year group. Consistently,Year 8 pupils achieve high passrates at common entrance andare successful in gaining places at their first-choice senior schools.

Prestfelde has an outstanding sporting reputation and whilst many pupils maintain high levels of competitive sport in their disciplines, Prestfelde recognises the importance of children enjoying the challenges of team sport at school. The co-curricular offering at Prestfelde is extensive and designed to build on pupils’ experiences with the aim of improving outcomes in all areas of their learning

Purposefully building on pupils’ interests, Prestfelde aims to light that spark for learning anddeveloping talents.

We understandatPrestfelde that choosing aschool for your child is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a parent, so we invite you to take acloser look and be part of something special!

If you would like your child to join Prestfelde you can find out more by visiting www.prestfelde.co.uk or by following the school on Facebook, Instagramand Twitter.Ifyou would like to arrange aprivate visit, please email: admissions@prestfelde.co.uk or call 01743 245400.

MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTSFOR A CHANGINGWORLD

Here at Birchfield School, we know that life can bring unexpected turns of events. Due to this, we have avery flexible approach to entry points into Birchfield School. Whilst the classic entry points for our pupils are still Reception and Year 7, we appreciate that often life is more complicated than this.

Anumber of pupils join us in Year 9, to take advantage of our three-year GCSE package. Many schools do GCSEs over twoyears, which limits the available learning time and can put more pressure on the pupils. We find that studying GCSEs over alonger period gives our pupils achance to explore the subjects fully,gaining avital background understanding of their topic, and gives them afar more relaxed and balanced approach towards their exams. With our

relationship with our sister school St Dominic’s Grammar School, we can offer automatic SixthForm places to our pupils, providing they gain thenecessary grades.

Whilst many pupils traditionally joined in Year 7, we are finding that more and more pupils areeager to join in the years leading up to senior school, so that they are ready to embrace all that the senior school has to offer.Wehave many enquiries for places in Years 6and even 5, to help with the transition into senior school. Someparents feel that their children are ready to move on before the end of Year 6and enjoy the many benefits that Birchfield has to offer

Planning ahead is always wise, where circumstances allow,and we have parents who are looking ahead two or even three years for entry into Reception. If you are in the position to do so, we would recommend beginning to thinkabout your toddler’s schooling, even if it feels very far into thefuture. Time passes quicker than onemany expect, and we are always saddened when we can’t offer pupils aplace if we are over-subscribed.

Though these are the standard entry points, we also accept pupils into any year where we have space, and at any point throughout the school year.Weappreciate that you may need to move your child mid-term, due to your circumstances,

and we will always do our very best to accommodate your child into our Birchfield School family

Whatever age your child is and whatever stage of their educational journey,wecan help. Here at Birchfield, we believe in providing an all-round education that will build resilience, flexibility and determination, skills that will provide an excellent foundation for abrightfuture. We do this through our combination of academics, sport, music, art and drama, both inside our wellappointed facilities and outside in the glorious rural location.

If you are looking for apremium education at an affordable price for your child, then why not come to our Whole School Open Morning on Saturday,October14. To book your place please contact us at admissions@ birchfieldschool.co.uk or call 01902 372534.

•ApplynowforentrytoYear7inSeptember2024. AcademicandMusicScholarshipsaswellasfees assistanceavailable.

•Deadlineforapplications:Friday1stDecember2023

•EntranceTest–Thursday18thandFriday19th January2024

FindoutmoreatourOpenDay–Saturday7thOctober (Toursat9.30amand11.30am). Registerandbookyourtourviawgs.org.uk.

Bridgnorth

Telford

Penkridge Oldbury

Walsall

AFAMILIAR FACE TO BUILDON SCHOOL’S SUCCESS

Anew term at Shrewsbury High School sees Darren Payne assume his role as the school’s thirteenth Head, having played akey role at theschool for over adecade, most recently as Senior Deputy Head.

Before joining the teaching staff of SHS as Head of Chemistry in September 2007, he taught Chemistry at Millfield, became Head of Science at Saltus Grammar School in Bermuda and then returned to the UK to teach at Abbotsholme School in Derbyshire.

Alongside his senior leadership colleagues, he has played akey role in development and innovation plansatthe school, including the successful move of junior girls to their new home on Town Walls, and has ambitious plans for the future of Shrewsbury High as aleaderin girls’ education.

Most recently,alongside outgoing head Jo Sharrock he led the school through an ISI inspection which saw Shrewsbury High recognised as ‘excellent’ in all areas –the highest rating obtainable.

During his time at Shrewsbury High School, he has introduced the highly successful and awardnominated Period X lifeskills programme into the curriculum and overseen improvements to all aspects of teaching, learning and examination results. As akeen footballer he also runs the school football clubs and is alsoa parent at theschool, with his daughter having joined Year 7last year

Outgoing Head Jo Sharrock, who

Shrewsbury High School Head, DarrenPayne.

will be moving to sister GDST school Putney High School, is thrilled thatshe will be handing over the baton to her SHS colleague, saying:“Having worked closely alongside Mr Payne for the past five years, Icannot thinkofabetter person to entrustwith our SHS family.Ihave every confidence that Mr Payne will be a superb Head and the school will continue to flourish under his leadership. Mr Payne is atrue champion of girls’ education and alongside the marvellous Junior Head Mrs Millichamp and the wonderful staff of Shrewsbury High, the school will continue to deliver excellence for pupils and their parents.”

Junior Head Kate Millichamp couldn’t agree more, saying: “Mr Payne and Ihaveworked closely over several years developing asharedvision for the future of our all-throughall-girls school.

It has been exciting seeing that vision coming to life with all our pupils on our Town Walls site learning and playing alongside each other.Itisa huge benefit to Shrewsbury High that our new Head is someone who already knows the school, our staff,pupils and parents so well and who will be able to hit the ground running this term.”

As he takes up thereins at one of Shropshire’s leading independent schools, Mr Payne is excited to build on the success of theschool as recently recognised in the Inspection Report.

“I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead Shrewsbury High School in the next stage of its history,”he says. “The school is in excellent health, with an outstanding recent inspection report, successes in all areas of school life and astrong and supportive community It will be aprivilege to build on the strong foundations that Jo Sharrock has set down and Ilook forward to continuing to embrace the significantopportunities the Girls’ Day School Trustprovides. We are fortunate to havea dynamic and ambitious staff body,talented students of great characterand abeautiful school site that sits atthe heartofthe town of Shrewsbury.These are exciting times for the Shrewsbury High community.”

n Shrewsbury High School’sOpen Day takes place on Saturday,September 30, and will include apresentation from new Head Darren Payne. To register, visit www.shrewsburyhigh.gdst.net

Shrewsbury Partnership in Educationand Training

to Secondary School Open Days and

10 Oct2023/ 6pm- 8pm

EnglishBridge& Welsh Bridgecampuses (A Levels)

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AFTERNOON TEA HawkstoneHall

Women from Shropshire’sbusiness community gathered to celebrate a “great year forbusiness”, as the highly anticipated Ladies Afternoon Tea event returned to Shrewsbury.

Hosted by law firm Aaron &Partners, the afternoon tea took place at Hawkstone Hall and Gardens and was attended by some of the region’s leading figures. With aglass of fizz on arrival followedbythe hotel’s luxurious afternoon tea, the sparkling receptionwelcomed around 48 of Shropshire’smost influential businesswomen, from local organisations such as WR Partners and Morris Property.

The event was organised by Trish Randles, aReal Estate Partner at the Shrewsbury office of Aaron &Partners. Trish said: “It was an absolute pleasuretowelcome this group of influential women to our annual afternoon tea and reflect on our achievements together.Despite a tough economic backdrop, it was great to hear that many businesses in this region havestill managed to havea successful year.It’sclear that Shropshirebusinesses havemany talented and inspirational women, and it’simportant to recogniseand celebrate their achievements. We would liketothank everyone who supported the event by attending.” Alongside the refreshments, all guests received atable gift supplied by UK-based luxury cosmetics brand, Templespa.

Photos: Supplied

Front row:Helen Johnson, Bryony Chambers-Towers, Michelle Parton. 2nd row:Lynda Rychards, Amy Moriss, Jennifer Gibson, Jemma Land. 3rdrow:Hannah Fynn, Trish Randles, Tori McHale, Rebecca Beaman. 4th row:Joanne Parsons, Zoe Lloyd.

Michelle Parton, Bryony Chambers-Towers, Lauren Sanders.

HIGH SHERIFF’SDIARY MandyThorn MBEDL

One of my priorities as High Sheriff this year is to celebrate the people who go the extramile to givesomething back to our wonderful communities –and overthe last month Ihavebeen lucky to meet so many of them. It’shardtocome away from avisit to the Severn Hospice without marvelling at the work of the staff and volunteers and admiring the fortitude of the people they carefor.Iwas fortunate to meet staff,patients, friends and families during avisit this month which will stay with me forever Iwas similarly inspired at the Lingen Davies awards event in Shrewsbury –acharity with which Ihavehad along association, and which does so much to improve cancer services for our whole region.

Imet morewonderful, caring and community-minded people at the ShropshireHospitals League of Friends lunch, during avisit to TelfordCrisis Support and at engagements with the Shrewsbury Arts Trail, Shropshire Army Cadet Force, WenlockOlympics and Bishop’sCastle Charter Day. It is areal privilege to spend time with all these groups and so many others and to thank them for the work they do to makethis county such aspecial place in which to liveand work.

Photos supplied

Opening the new gazebo at Draper’s Place in Shrewsbury.

Meeting volunteers Gill Hughes and ValBlank at Severn Hospice.

Greeting volunteers and organisers at the Wenlock Olympian Society Games.

Celebrating Bishop’sCastle Charter Day with Lord-Lieutenant Anna Turner

Mandy with the ShropshireArmyCadet Force.

Meeting Ellie Cliftlands at the Shrewsbury Arts Trail Preview.

Celebrating Bishop’sCastle Charter Day with Lord-Lieutenant Anna Turner

An evening celebrating the county at the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

At the Lingen Davies Awards with vice-chair TimCooper.

Meeting Jeanette Whitfordand Heather Tudor at Severn Hospice.

With Brian Stallard, Charlotte Arnold and Professor Derek Willis at Severn Hospice.

Meeting volunteers at TelfordCrisisSupport.

SUMMER BALL

Shrewsbury

The annual Friends of Shrewsbury High School Ball took place in glorious sunshine at the school’sriverside grounds on Town Walls in Shrewsbury.

Junior and Senior parents joined together to celebrate another busy year at the girls’ school and raise aglass to outgoing Head Jo Sharrock and incoming Head, and current Senior Deputy Head, DarrenPayne. Photos supplied

Suki Latuske, VickySahota and Jan Kaur.

Outgoing SHS Head Jo Sharrock, new SHS Head DarrenPayne.

Jayesh Makan, Chris Lewis.

James Forster,Anna Forster,William Cawood, Francesca Cawood, Mel Rowley.

Paul Shuttlewood, Henry Farmer,Cath Shuttlewood, Malcolm Waugh, Bryony Gutman, Nick Taylor,Angela Waugh, Beth Taylor,TaraBrindle.

Charlotte Tennant, James Tennant, Tony Wilkes, Jane Wilkes, VivDrury, Stuart Drury, Hannah Parry, Matthew Lavin.

Back row:Emma Cotton, LauraHannah, Emily Brick; Front row:Sam Leese, Kate Weston, Lindsay Pearson.

SteveBlenkinsop, Ryan King.

Witcombe-Tant, Mark Klekot, Adrian Tant, Anne-Marie Reese-Klekot.

Ray Pigg, Louise Smith, ClareLloyd, RichardKent.

Emma Green, Emma Knott, Karen Bennett, Melody Chapman, Annabel Makan, LauraLewis.

Ross Marshall, Adriana Marshall, Ros Bodsworth, Neil Bodsworth.

DINNERDANCE

Leighton

Fundraisers enjoyedadinner dance in aid of Church Preen Primary School.

The event took place at Morrells Wood Farm in Leighton and got under way with achampagne reception. During theevening therewas apromise auction with morethan 40 lots donated by local businesses and people within the community.

The dance was organised by Church Preen School PTA and raised just over£6,000 towards the renovationof the school playground.

Emma Jones, Carli Broom, Emma Williams, Hannah Jellicoe.

Photos: Phil Blagg Photography

Mary Phillips, RoyPhillips, Sue Phillips, Adam Phillips.

Caroline McIntyre, James McIntyre.

Simon James, Abi Clutterbuck-James, Pauline Richey, AlexandraSidoli.

Committee members ClareWalshaw, Melanie Holt, Abi Clutterbuck-James, LauraHayward, Kate Damson, Nikki Outram, Sarah Downes.

Charity dinner dance at Morrells Wood Farm,Leighton

Emily Esp, Angela Harrison, Andrea Llewellyn, Chris Allen, SteveAllen.

Stuart Instan, Marie Instan.

Melanie Holt, Hannah Goodwill-Allworth, Emma Jackson.

Flori Outram, Izzy Outram, Lucy Pervis, Louis Marandola, Miles Marandola, Demi Thomas.

Pauline Richey, Ruth Farrell.

AlexandraSidoli, Leonie Pryor,Ben Rand, Ruth Farrell, Pauline Richey.

CYCLETHROUGH SICILIAN WONDERS

BEN MITCHELL FOLLOWS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF INDIANA JONES ON THE ITALIAN ISLAND

WHERE PART OF THELATEST FILM, DIAL OF DESTINY,WAS SHOT

AsIwalk deeper into the darkness of the giant cave, my eyes slowly adjusting to the light, Icannot resist testing out the famed acoustics with aquick “dum di dum dum” of the Indiana Jones theme tune.

ForIamfollowing in the footsteps of the swashbuckling archaeologist as Ienter theOrecchiodiDionisio (Ear of Dionysus) in Syracuse, Sicily –the filming location of akey scene in the latest movie, Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny

The 23-metre-high limestone cave, which is shapedlike an enormous ear,was originally carved out in Greek/Roman times to store water,although it was named in 1608 by thepainter Caravaggio, after the legend of the ancient ruler

Dionysus, who kept political prisoners captive in the cave.

The story goes that because of the cave’s great acoustics, he was able to eavesdrop on their plans and use the echoes to amplify the screams from their torture.

Emerging back into the light, Ifeela sense of relief to be back in the open, out of the ominous surroundings –which do not need any great leap of theimagination to see how the magnificent cave could be turned into amovie set.

To reach this elegant city,whose waterfront castle also features in the new movie, Ihave been on my own little adventure –cycling through the south-east corner of Italy’s southernmost island to discover the region’s UNESCO protected towns.

It feels like stepping –orpedalling –back in time, just like Harrison Ford –onlywith less snakes and wearing a cycling helmet instead of aleather hat.

At dawn on the first morning,the sound of cows moo-ing enters my dreams and pulls me to my senses as the warm Mediterranean sun starts to filter through the shutters into my rustic hotel room in rural Sicily

Having arrived after dark the previous night, Ihad no impression of my surroundings. But asI walk down the stairs, Irealisemyroom is located above a large entrance gate overlooking old stables adjoined to an aristocrat’s home, now turned into the FeudoBauly Hotel.

Iamgreeted by Giuseppe who kits me out with my bike for the next five days and apile of maps, although these

Postcardperfect city of Ragusa, Sicily.

are just aback-up, as tour operator Macs Adventure has created an app with downloadable maps to guide me on the rides each day

After abreakfast of ham and cheese, Iset off,with my firststop the nearby pretty Palazzolo Acreide, the first of the UNESCO World Heritage protected baroque towns of the ValdiNoto (Noto Valley) on my unescorted tour,which turns out to be an appetiser for Ragusa –the birthplace of Sicilian baroque design where the buildings seemingly grow out of the very rocks they are built on.

Ihave just pedalled my way along the quiet country road to thetop of avalley, passing an occasionalhouse, so peaceful it feels like no-one lives there, when Iget a first glimpse of Ragusa, which is built on awide limestone hill between two deep valleys.

The earth-coloured houses merge into one another as they spread organically across the hillside and, as Iget closer,the Santa Maria dell’Itria church suddenly stands out, imitating the cloudless sky above with its bright blue dome.

After cycling up thewinding road tothe main square, Iamhappy to find a cafe with acold drink to coolmedown, before Istart to explore the narrow and, thankfully,shady streets –which lead from the 14th century gate of thecity’s first church of St George, up to the replacement churchbuilt in the 16th century,after the original was destroyed in an earthquake.

Ragusa was split over two levels after agreatearthquake in 1693 flattened many towns in the area, leading to a flurry of building in the Sicilian baroque style of the time, with the higher half,Ragusa Superiore, gaining amodern grid layout while the lower part, Ragusa Ibla, retained is original medieval streets.

After dousing myself with cool water from adrinking fountain,Iheadonto Modica, another town spreading over ahilltop, which will be my bed for the night. I’m staying in Le Magnolie hotel, a modern conversion in the middle of the town’s endlessly climbing streets.

The next morning, after stopping to buy some of the local chocolate famously made from an ancient Aztec recipe, Iset off,fuelled by acroissant breakfast, over the surrounding hill, before heading down to the coastal town of Pozzallo.

After just half an hour of mostly downhill rolling, Iarrive in Scicli, another of the eight UNESCO listed towns, where Irefresh with adrink in the main piazza, once again surrounded by the Sicilian baroque grandeur,before the call of the sea draws me back on to my saddle.

Soon, Iget my first tantalising glimpse of the Mediterranean shimmering in the distance, tauntingmeasIroll down to the seaside town of Sampieri.

Although it’s only another hour to Pozzallo, Icannot resist lockingup the bike and running intothe shallow, lapping waters. (Luckily Ihad packed my swimming shorts in my pannier bag.)

Pleasantly cooled-off,Iwipe the sand off and ride the final stretch to Pozzallo and the centrally-located Sikania Suite hotel, where Idrop my bags and quickly head for the promenade for another dip.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOPLEFT: Ear of Dionysus caveinSyracuse; the streets of Modica rising up the hillside; Castello Maniace, afilming location for the new Indiana Jones movie; flamingoes in the Vendicarinaturereserve; Ben Mitchell setting off on his Sicily cycling trip with Macs Adventure; Grand baroque streets of Noto.

The long sandy beach feels very much apart of the town, filled with local families relaxing after aday of work; teenagers participating in the eternal battle of beach football.

The next day,the landscape changes, as does the temperature. Ilazily cycle in the dry heat past row after row of greenhouses brimming with tomatoes and melons, and on to the wetlands at Granelli, where Istop pedalling in disbelief,as Ispot agroup of flamingos slowly plodding throughthe lowwaters, which are afeature of this south-eastern corner of the island.

As Ikeepriding, Ieventually run out of road and end up on abeach overlooking the uninhabited Isola delle Correnti (Island Of The Tides) which is Sicily’s (and Italy’s) southernmost point. Ican see people wading across, but Isettle fora dip in the calm turquoise sea.

Icontinue my journey through the pretty fishing port of Marzamemi and on to my accommodation in thetranquil Agriturismo La Vignazza, where aplate of fresh fruit and aswimming pool awaits,to help me cool off once again.

The next morning, the heat is already waiting for me as Iget onthe bike, but fortunately,it’sashorter journey today with only one stop –the beach in the tranquil surroundings of the Vendicari nature reserve.

As Iwallow in the refreshing shallows of the wild beach, Ispy a flash of pastel pink in the sky and realise it’s a flamingo coming into land in the wetlands just metres from the beach, which are home to various migratory species and have hides to allow you to discreetly watch.

From this oasis of calm –where even beach games are banned, so as not to disturb the birds –myride takes me

across the sauna-hot farmlands, before one last climb up to Noto, another of the beautiful baroque hilltop towns andmy last stop before my descent to Syracuse and the home comforts of the Hotel Gran Bretagna.

But, on my last ride, Ispot on the road ahead of me Indiana’s biggest enemy –asnake –although luckily for me, it stopped breathing some time ago.

“Dum di dum dum.”

Inside my head, that famous theme tune plays once again asthe curtainfalls on my own Sicilian adventure.

FACTFILE

Macs Adventure (macsadventure.com; 0141 5305452) offersthe seven-dayCycle Sicily’s Southitineraryfrom£935 per person,including B&Baccommodation, transfer from Catania, baggagetransfers, routenotes,mapsand localinformation, access to the Macs Adventure smartphone appand emergency support if needed. Flightsand travel to Catania/ from Syracuse andbikehireare not included

ROLLS-ROYCEJOINS ELECTRIC AGE

THE NEW SPECTRE MARKS ABRAND NEW ELECTRIC AGE FOR ROLLS-ROYCE. JAMES BAGGOTT HAS BEEN FINDING OUTWHATTHIS LUXURY EVISLIKE

Back in 1900, Rolls-Royce co-founder Charles Rolls predicted in amagazine article that electric cars would be ‘very useful’ when ‘charging stations can be arranged’. Fast forward 123 years and the brand is finally launching Spectre, its first fully electric car,despite the fact no one could quite yet describe the UK’s charging infrastructure as being ‘arranged’.

Rolls-Royce says thecentury-long wait for its first EV wasn’t through want of trying. The car maker dabbled in electric propulsion with the 102EX

Phantom back in 2011, but surmised after that project that charging would take too long and batteries weren’t good enough. But in thelast decade technology has advanced quickly –and now the 329-mile range Spectre is ready for the road.

Pretty much everything on the Spectre is new –even the Spirit ofEcstasy bonnet emblem has been redesigned with amore aerodynamic profile to reduce drag.

The famous Rolls-Royce star-light headlining, which uses tiny LEDs to twinkle at night,has now been extended to the doors and it’sthe first Roller to go fully electric. The Goodwood-based

business hassaid it will never produce another car with acombustion engine again.

Ditching the firm’s famous silky smooth V12 was never going to be easy, but Rolls-Royce believes it has found the ideal solution with this electric set-up. The 102kWhbattery can be charged from zero to 100 per cent in 5hours and 30 minutes on a22kW charger.While most home chargers are 7kW,Rolls-Royce says it expects owners to have access to faster chargers at home and work.

Owners have told thecar maker they actually prefer the benefits of charging as it means they won’t have to visitpetrol stationsany moreand, presumably,be forced to mix with thehoi polloi. Buyers have, on average, access to another seven cars in their garage so when atrip could potentially cause range anxiety issues they’re expected to use something else.

Performance-wise the Spectre hits 60mph in 4.4 seconds, is limited to 155mph and produces 576bhp and 900Nmoftorque.

This is acar that’sasgood to drive as it is to be driven in –and before you ask, yes, most buyers drive themselves around. There were three important character traitsthat Rolls-Royce wanted its new Spectre to demonstrate: Silence, ‘waftability’and amagic carpet ride. The designers are convincedthisis what

owners want –thatand the ability to accelerate and brake ‘without spilling adrop of champagne in theback’. Yes, really.

While the champagne test wasn’t performed, we did get agood opportunity to drive it on the road and it’snearly impossible to tell the difference between this and aV12. Both are silent and power delivery is remarkably similar.Engineers were told to design a‘Rolls-Royce first, an electric car second’ and on the road, it’s clear they’ve nailed it. Power is delivered smoothly with no sudden explosive bursts as you’d expect in an EV It’s linear and relaxing.

As for the wafting, magic carpet ride –these terms describe Spectre perfectly.It’s sumptuous and cosseting on all roadsurfaces.Our only slight complaint would be the steering –at times it lacked atiny little bit of feel, but it hardly blots the copybook.

Spectre is the spiritual successor to the Phantom Coupe and was drawn to resemble luxury sailing yachts. It certainly has similar elegant lines and looks incredibly imposing on the road. The designers told us they were looking to recreate the slab-sided, single hull of aboat. Up front, there’s the huge

trademark grille and it’s available in a whole multitude of colours, including stunning two-tone paint jobs.

Spectre is packed with clever,luxury touches. These include powered doors that open andclose at the touch of a button, or when the driver puts their foot on the brake.

Rolls-Royce has redesigned the digital dashboard to match thecolours of the car and even the sounds have been curated –the indicator noise is said to be acombination of ‘whisky tumblers and the ping of metal from the car’s air vents’.

Rolls-Royce buyers are ultra-wealthy and used to having whatever they want –and the firm will give it to them. The car maker is cagey about the price, explaining that it’s quite uncouth to even speak about it, but when pushed the firm says Spectre starts at around £330,000.

Fewwill leave the factory costing less than £450,000, though. That’s down to the huge range of colours, finishes and options users can pick. Youname it, and you can get it on aSpectre.

The Rolls-Royce Spectre is simply joyful to drive. The marque set out to make the world’s most luxurious electric carand has excelled. The ride is

wonderful, the power delivery sublime and its looks are awork of art. There are few cars on the road that are quite as perfect as the Spectre –but you’ll certainly have to pay for that privilege.

That said, if you need to ask theprice, even Rolls-Royce admits you’re probably not thesort of person it’s looking to sell to. Forthe rest of us,it’ssimply a desirable electric carwecan only dream of owning.

FACTFILE

RollsRoyceSpectre

Baseprice:£330,000

Price:£450,000+

Engine:Electric

Power:576bhp

Torque:900Nm

Maxspeed:155mph

0-60mph:44seconds

Range:329miles

BACK TO SCHOOL

BY HEATHER LARGE

It’s that time of year when children across the countyare getting ready to go back to school. The long summer holiday is nearing an endand thoughts are turning to the start of the new academic year

Forsome youngsters it will be acompletely new experience as they find themselves in the classroom for thevery first time. Others may be startingsecondary school or beginning their final year in education.

Many people will say their school days were some of the happiest days of their life. It was acare-free time with few worries and responsibilities, when all they had to do was turn up at the school gate.

And from sports days to educational trips, there was much to enjoy outside of the classroom throughout the year too.

We’ve dipped into the archives to look back at what was happening in schools across Shropshire in past decades.

Children at Broseley Primary School at the time of its opening in 1967. Queuing for the new-style lunch at Wrockwardine Wood School in 1980.

Sampling the cooking of the 2nd Dawley Scout Group, at Dawley Modern School sports and gala day in September 1963, is Mrs RPenrhyn-Owen, while her husband, general manager of Dawley New Town Development Corporation, looks on. Cooks areScoutmasters DWLloyd and WAEdwards.

As England manager Bobby Robson (far left) looks on, the DukeofKent meets Gary Osbourne as he opens the Football Association-GM Soccer School at the National Recreation Centre, Lilleshall, on September 4, 1984.

Six pupils from LudlowSchool were due to be clambering overthe Long Mynd while being filmed for aTVprogramme called We’reGoing Places in 1979. From left,Adrian Smith, expedition leader TedFathers, RichardHandy, Beverley Treacy,Alison Bywater and Sarah Linton.

RichardNeal, head of Phoenix School, Dawley, built awooden sailingboat in his garden in Madeley in 1973.

Evacuees from parts of the West Midlands were at Donington parochial school, near Albrighton, in September 1939. Hereare some of them playingcricket while headmistress Mrs Williams lookson.

Trying out afew bars beneath the girdered framework of the octagonal music room beingbuilt at LudlowSchool in 1978 are14-year-olds Angela Morley and Sarah Cheadle.

The new teaching staff at LudlowSchool in 1980, from left,Valerie Cropper,Pam Harrison, Christina Jones, Kim Keyse, Lilias Davies, SteveByatt and Susan Harris.

Andrew Gibson, WendyMilner,Colin Whitfield, Adrian Butters, Jackie Heaton and Mark Clews during amusic lesson at AlexandraRoad Junior School, Market Drayton, in 1968.

Trench School boys’ new wine-making class, conducted by Mr KBrennandin September 1972.

Pupils from Mount Lane Junior School at Market Drayton Swimming Baths in the 1950s.

FOUR WS SUDOKU

REMEMBER WHEN

1. Diana Rigg and Natalie Wood were born

2. The first issue of The Beano comic was published

3. Orson Welles’ broadcast of HG Wells’ WarOfThe Worlds allegedly caused panic

4. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain promised ‘peace for our time’

1. Rita Hayworth died

2. T’Pau had aUKNo.1 single with China In Your Hand

3. Michael Douglas and Glenn Close starred in Fatal Attraction

4. Jockey Lester Piggott was jailed for three years for tax evasion

1. Sean Penn and Antonio Banderas were born

2. Eddie Cochran had aposthumousUKNo.1 single Three Steps To Heaven

3. YulBrynner and Steve McQueen starred in The Magnificent Seven

4. Britain’s National Service enlisted its last conscripts

1. Michael Caine starred in The Ipcress File

2. Richard Dimbleby died

3. TomJones had aUKNo.1 single It’s Not Unusual

4. The Post Office Tower became operational

1. Anne Robinson and TimRice were born

2. The first prefabricated homes went on show in London

3. Paris was liberated after four years of Nazi occupation

4. PresidentFranklin Roosevelt won afourth term of office

WHO… wrote the novels Living, Loving and Back?

WHAT… in Scotlandisatocher?

WHERE… did Haile Selassie live in exile during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia?

WHEN… was the G77 group of developing countries founded?

WHO… released the album HToHe, WhoAmThe Only One?

WHAT… is the melting point, in degrees celsius, of nickel? WHERE… in Europe was the litas thestandard unit of currency until January 2015?

WHEN… was the Iron Cross, aPrussian and German decoration for bravery, first awarded?

WHO… coached The Netherlands in the 2006 FIFAWorld Cup Finals?

WHAT… nationality was the poet Georg Trakl?

WHERE… in South America is Lake Poopo?

WHEN… was the Nobel Prize in Economics first awarded?

WHO… werethe three Erinyes in Greek mythology,known by the Romans as the Furies?

WHAT… type of creature is atigon?

WHERE… in Europe is the city of Dornbirn?

WHEN… did the German film director Rainer Werner Fassbinder die?

THE FOLLOWING EVENTS ALL OCCURRED IN AYEAR IN LIVING MEMORY.CAN YOUGUESS WHICH ONE? 1 2 3 4 5 6

1. Shakespears Sister were at No.1 for eight weeks with Stay

2. Comedy Wayne’s World was asurprise hit

3. Movie legend Marlene Dietrich died

1 2 3 4 5 6

WHO… was the mother of Eteocles in Greek mythology?

WHAT… in New Zealand is the puriri, Vitex lucens? WHERE… in Wales is the tourist centre of Dolgellau? WHEN… did the composer Frederick Delius die?

WHO… wrote the novels AGlassOfBlessings and The Sweet DoveDied?

WHAT nationality is the football referee Mark Shield? WHERE… in Africa did the military junta the Derg, or Dergue,take over in 1974?

WHEN… in English historywas the Grand Remonstrance presented to the king?

WORDWISE

THE WORD MAYSOUND FAMILIAR, WHATDOES IT MEAN?

1. EQUIPONDERATE

A Equal in weight. B An equivalent force. C Balanced argument.

2. ABAYA

A Long-sleeved outer garment. B Uncultured or wild. C Rust-coloured.

3. HODIERNAL

A Pertaining to the present day B Living for ever C Duped husband.

4. KLOOF

A Petty contrivance. B Mountain ravine. C Mania for stealing.

5. MADAROSIS

A Variant of rabies. B Moisten continually C Loss of eyebrows or eyelashes.

6. NEKTON

A Creatures of the night B Genus of water-lily C Assemblage of organisms swimming in thewater.

4. John Smith became leader of the Labour Party

CROSSWORD

QUICK CLUES

Across

1. Inspirational (11)

9. Astern (3)

10. Nature (9)

11. Gateway (5)

13. Repentance (7)

14. Force (6)

16. Cake (6)

18. Sooner (7)

19. Supplementary (5)

20. Compress (9)

21. Lubricate (3)

22. Hat (11)

Down

2. Strike (3)

3. Unsteady (5)

4. Astral (6)

5. Bloodlessness (7)

6. Cut off (9)

7. Ill-will (11)

8. Undeniable (11)

12. Endurance (9)

15. Sparkle (7)

17. Painter (6)

19. Laud (5)

21. Poem (3)

CRYPTIC CLUES

Across

1. Work attentively to condense the matter (11)

9. Indication of annoyance in curt utterances (3)

10. Once tried to become abstruse (9)

11. Match score (5)

13. Sail required for one who delivers the smack (7)

14. Peagot mislaid in thesoup! (6)

16. More than one flock of geese peels off round the end of the lake (6)

18. There’s atmosphere in unusually ripe wheatland (7)

19. Publication used by the manual operator (5)

20. It’s so rambling it will make agirl more confused (9)

21. Some of those entertaining receive visitors(3)

22. Reels on disc adapted by film-stars (6,5)

2. Frequently used by poets (3)

3. What porters do is put the vehicle on the railway (5)

4. Most pleasantpart of Riviera street (6)

5. Hurried with aswag-bag to do some pilfering (7)

6. Coming in alittle stream –to catch fish?(9)

7. Publication in Americarevealing government documents (5-6)

8. Stood for what an agent did (11)

12. The garlic could make you drowsy (9)

15. Rubbish container in French station (7)

17. Make anew connection for retort (6)

19. Adore changing to amountain nymph (5)

21. Almost the only source of heat (3)

1 2 3

Amodel, Iwas born in London in 1971. Iused to be married to the son of aformer Britishprime minister.Mytelevision appearances have included Crossroads and The Farm and Iwas ahostess on Bruce Forsyth’s game show The Price Is Right.

Asinger,Iwas born in Canada in 1978. Iwas named after aSoviet gymnast. My album releases have included Folklore and Loose, and in June 2006 my single Maneater got to No.1 in the UK singles chart

WHAT’SMY NAME?

An actor,Iwas born in Tenafly, NewJersey in 1963. Iwent to university with George Clooney, and have been engaged to the actresses Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullock. My television appearances in recent years have included Joshua Bergin in Friends and Jimmy Cooper in The O.C.

4 5

Aformer beauty queen, Iwas born in Kansas in 1960. In 1993 Ifought acourt case against thePacificGas and Electric Company of California –this later became the topic of aHollywood film, starring Julia Roberts as myself

An actor,Iwas born in Canada in 1980. In 1993Ijoined the cast of the Mickey Mouse Club, alongside fellow mouseketeers Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. Iwent on to star in The Notebook, La La Land and Blade Runner 2049.

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. Smallest of alitter 2. Burial vault 3. Bird’s beak

4. Country road 5. Therefore 6. Egg-shaped 7. Ring of achain

8. Japanese instrument 9. Pig sound 10. Leg joint

11. Heinous 12. Not short 13. Scottish valley

14. Deprived of feeling 15. Hat edge 16. Thin fog

Key word clue: Bird type

1. Mass of bread 2. Vendetta 3. Prima donna 4. Female relative

5. Inform 6. Indecent 7. Perishes 8. Chair

9. Dense layer of grass 10 Cut or knock down 11. Jump 12

Ceremonial splendour 13. Chrysalis 14. Curved structure

15. Quieten 16. Hotness

Key word clue: Kitchen utensil

“So you bought that bit of land in Kalota,” said Joe. “How big is it?”

“Pretty big actually.Around 388 kutas. It’s asquare, and one side forms the side of an artificial lake,” Mike replied. “The other sides of the lake form the sides of two other perfectly square estates with areas of 164and 784 kutas.”

Mike handed back the sheet of paper.“Those two serial numbers?” he said. “I see no connection between them except that both have eight digits.”

Joe replied, “If you take the last three digits of the smaller one and put them in front of theothers, youget the other number.And that’s just one less than three times the smaller number.”

What was that smaller number?

“Were there many at the meeting?” Harryasked. “Sorry Icouldn’t make it.”

“You didn’t miss much. There were between sixty and seventy,” replied Ben. “If there had been four times as many couples, there’d have been as many people as there would have been if there’d been twice as many singles.”

1 2 3 4

How many were at the meeting?

“I’ve spent all day tracing one silly mistake Imade,” declared Joe.

“What did you do?” asked his wife.

“Shifted the last two digits of a5-figure number and wrote them before the other three,” Joe replied. “And that was just one more or less than two-thirds of the correct number.I forget which.”

What was thenumber?

What would be the area of that lake?

1. School test 2. Repast 3. Having no fat 4. Pleasant 5. Flat

6. Require 7. Fardown 8. Small area of water

9. Molten volcanic rock 10. Bushyhairstyle 11. Rowing blades

12. Vend 13 Turkishcurrency 14 Male voice 15. Of the ears

16. Snooker rods

Key word clue: Place in England

ANSWERS ON PAGE 112

1Legendary Welsh entertainer Max Boyce is bringing his 50th anniversary concert to Shrewsbury.For the first time, he will be performing amusical version of his lockdown poem ‘When Just the Tide Went Out’ whichbecame an internet sensation andalsofeaturesinhis number one best-selling book, ‘Max Boyce: Hymns and Arias’.

He will also be performing some of his classic songs which have endeared him to both young and old alike.

Venue is Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, and tickets cost £37

More details from www.theatresevern. co.uk

7

Celebrating 40 years on the roadin

2023, Dillie, Liza and Adèle, Britain’s raciest and sassiest musical cabaret trio Fascinating Aida, are bringing their brand-new show to TheatreSevern.

Fascinating Aïda have racked-up millions of internet followers, performed in the world’s most prestigious venues and been showered with awards and plaudits since they sashayed onto the scene back in 1983.

Uniquely charming, with diamondsharp satire, filthy,hilarious, belligerent, political, poignant and outrageous, this indomitable trio are still the mistresses of their craft.

Marking this astonishing milestone, the show will feature much-loved favourites and some wickedly hilarious new songs.

Venue is Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, and tickets cost£29.

More details at www.theatresevern. co.uk

9

It’s time to return to the80s when Calling Planet Earth arrives at Oakengates Theatre, Telford.

Calling Planet Earth is the show that defines adecade and is aNew Romantic symphony that goes on ajourney through one of the greatest musical eras of all time –the electrifying 80s.

Featuring songs from legendary artists suchasDuran Duran, Spandau Ballet, The Humean League, Ultravox, Tears ForFears, Depeche Mode, OMD, Japan, ABC, Soft Cell

and many,many more, it pays homage to the music of the era.

Performed by an incredible live band with awesome symphonic arrangements combined with stunning vocals and cast, this is the must-see show for fans of that decade.

Tickets cost £25.50

Formore details visit www telfordtheatre.com

13Legendary cricket commentator

Henry Blowfeld brings his show My Dear Old Things to Shrewsbury’s Walker Theatre.

Being confined to thepavilion for the past couple of seasons has given Henry time to reconnect with his Norfolk roots and reflect on atruly extraordinarylife. This reflection inspired the online film, At Home With Henry,and this new theatre show.InMyDear Old Things, Blowers recalls his days as ayoung England hopeful, how an Eton bus knocked him off his stride (and his bike!), recoiling from acareer in the City to work as a cricket journalist before finding his way into the TMS box. There are hilarious tales of Johnners, Arlott and other larger-than-life characters, andontour with England. Henry also has plenty of hilarious stories from his post-retirement appearances on Would ILie to You? and The Real Marigold Hotel. Backed by film and rare personal pictures, My Dear Old Things is an absolute treat for the cricket connoisseur and awonderfully engaging evening for all.

Fortickets priced £22 visit www theatresevern.co.uk

Fascinating Aida’s40th anniversary showcomes to TheatreSevern; legendary cricket commentator Henry Blowfeld has some stories to tell.

Max Boyce.

15

Chris Quinn is live in concert at Hermon Arts, Oswestry,this month.

Growing up in British army quarters in Germany,surrounded by Celtic music, bluegrass, roots music and jazz, Chris was heavily influenced by British folk and American roots music from avery early age; often straight from the many touring musicians passing through to visit and play music with his father,anactive member andclub organiser on the forces folk scene.

Fast forward acouple of decades and Chris’s solo performances have been described by fellow musicians as “a masterclass in theacoustic guitar”.

His songs have received critical acclaim in publications such as Acoustic

Magazine and SONGLiNES. His recordings have received airplay on countless radio stations acrossthe world including Mark Radcliffe’s benchmark show,the BBCRadio 2Folk Show

Chris’s live shows cover awide range of acoustic music alongside his own material, from authentic interpretations of traditional and contemporaryBritish folk songs to bluegrass flat picking, and from intricate finger style delta blues and swing jazz numbers to instrumental solo guitar pieces. When not playing solo Chris is often seen performing with many of the world’s most revered acoustic guitarists including Stochelo Rosenberg, Robin Nolan, Clive Carroll, John Doyle, Martin Taylor and Paulus Schäfer

Tickets cost £12. Fore more information visit www.facebook.com/ events/ 1715933562210707/?ref=newsfeed

15-23

The Corvedale Festival will return this month with concerts taking place at churches and village halls throughout Corvedale.

The Jarualda String Quartet will be returning as artists-in-residence, along with performers from last year’s event and also new artists.

There will be afestival service at 11.15am on September 17 at St Peter’s Church, Diddlebury

Other activities include acreative writingworkshopled by poet and writer Simon Fletcher,a sculpture trail and an evening of baroque dance. There is also an art andcraft exhibitionatWesthope College.

The festival was held for the first time

last year.Artistic director Paul Henley said: “When planning the festival, Ihad three main principles in mind. Firstly,to give work to artists who were struggling after the decimation of the arts industries due to ‘lockdowns’. Secondly,tobring quality art and artists to the local area and encourage asense of community through the involvement of local people.

“Thirdly,tonurture abelief in the value and importance of the arts for society

“The arts are food for the soul and, as such, we felt it was appropriate to hold afestival service. The Vicar of the Corvedale Churches, the Rev John Beesley,very kindly allowed us to use his churches for concerts and he is very supportive of the project.

“Corvedale is avery rural area –mainly afarming community –insouth Shropshire, just to the south of Wenlock Edge.

“During the last few years, we have been through, and are still going through, tough and unprecendented times and more recently,this year there have been serious cuts in funding for theclassical music industry

“Worthy though the efforts havebeen to keep the arts going in some form, there is no substitute for the visceral experience of live events and the connection they can make with an audience.

“It is vital that we try and move on in faith as there is aprofound need for the arts. Live events are not an option –they are absolutely essential.”

To view thefullprogramme, visit www.corvedalefestival.org

The Jarualda String Quartet will perform at Corvedale Festival. St Peter’sChurch, Diddlebury, will be the venuefor afestival service on September 17.

Chris Quinn.

23

Alocal canals exhibition arrives at Abbey Station, Shrewsbury,this month.

Hosted by the Shrewsbury District and North Wales Branch of theInland Waterways Association, theexhibition features displays from theShrewsbury& Newport Canals Trust, Shropshire Union Canal Society and theFriends of the Montgomery Canal.

Exhibits include the local restorations on the Montgomery Canal at Crickheath, and the re-watering of Wappenshall’s canal basin.

Popinand learn more about the inland waterways.

Entry is free and the exhibition runs from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

27Jonathan Agnew –AnEvening with Aggers arrives at Telford’s Oakengates Theatre this month.

Jonathan moved seamlessly from the commentary box to the stage in

2013 when he appeared in anumber of shows with Sir Geoffrey Boycott. These were so successful that further Evenings with Aggers followed in the company of Graeme Swann, Sunny Gavaskar,David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd, Phil Tufnell and Alastair Cook. Forthe past six years, Jonathan has also enjoyed flying solo and people have laughed, listened with rapt attention and been moved by this master broadcaster, in theatres all over the country and across the land, whether or not they are lovers of the game. So join Aggers as he recounts wonderful tales from ahighly entertaining career on the field and in the box. With film footage, audio clips and photographs on the big screen, audiences aretreatedto great sporting action, hilarious anecdotes andbrilliant Boycott-baiting wind-ups. Money raised on the evening will be donated to the Professional Cricketers’ Trust.

Tickets costing £25 can be bought by visiting www.telfordtheatre.com

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ON PAGES 107-109

REMEMBER WHEN: 1.1938. 2.1987. 3.1960. 4.1965.

5.1944. 6.1992.

FOUR Ws: 1.Henry Green; Adowry brought by abride to her husband; England; 1964. 2.Van Der Graaf Generator; 1455; Lithuania; 1813. 3.Marco van Basten; Austrian; Bolivia; 1969.

4.Alecto, Megaera and Tisiphone; The hybrid offspring of a male tiger and afemale lion; Austria; 1982. 5.Jocasta; Atree; Gwynedd; 1934. 6.Barbara Pym; Australian; Ethiopia; 1641.

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

CROSSWORD: QUICK SOLUTIONS:

Across: 1 Charismatic; 9 Aft; 10 Character; 11 Entry;

13 Remorse; 14 Oblige; 16 Gateau; 18 Earlier; 19 Extra;

20 Constrict; 21 Oil; 22 Deerstalker Down: 2 Hit; 3 Rocky;

4 Starry; 5 Anaemia; 6 Intercept; 7 Malevolence; 8 Irrefutable; 12 Tolerance; 15 Glitter; 17 Artist; 19 Extol; 21 Ode.

CRYPTIC SOLUTIONS: Across: 1 Concentrate; 9 Tut; 10 Recondite; 11 Tally; 13 Spanker; 14 Potage; 16 Skeins; 18 Prairie; 19 Organ; 20 Rigmarole; 21 See; 22 Screen idols.

Concerts in the Round –one of the biggest series of concerts in the country –continues at St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury

Students from Shrewsbury School will perform on September 15, and there will be an organ recital by Peter King, organist emeritus at Bath Abbey, on September 22.

Alunch-hour cello recitalbythe great soloist Ulrich Heinen will be held on September 29 at Shrewsbury’s Civic Church.

Concerts begin at 12.30pm, are free of charge, and there is lunch afterwards in the church hall.

Full listings, including programmes of forthcoming concerts, canbe found on the church website www stchadschurchshrewsbury.com where details of all the other musical activities at St Chad’s, including regular choral services and other concerts, areposted.

number is 24174725. 3.64atmeeting (48 singles, 8couples). 4.Joe’s number was 48732.

The Shroppie Fly on the ShropshireUnion Canal –anexhibition at Abbey Station, Shrewsbury, celebrates the region’s inland waterways; join an evening with Jonathan Agnew at Telford’sOakengates Theatre.