Wrekin News 245

Wrekin

News September 2019

Issue 245

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INSIDE YOUR FAVOURTE MAGAZINE . . .

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AGGERS! Meet the Lawley Gate Time Team

Trautmann’s story told on the silver screen

Counter Culture

WELLINGTON NEEDS YOUR

VOTE!

Ken Francis looks back on 50 years of serving Wellington

14 Discover our ready for you collection

1 Front Page.indd 1

08/09/2019 22:30

Wrekin

Wrekin

News

News September 2019

Issue 245

Free & Magazine TAKE PLEASECOPY YOUR

100’s of taxis at TELFORD AND WELLINGTON’S LEADINGAND TAXI COMPANY TELFORD WELLINGTON’S

LOW FARES 50 10 10 50 50 50 10 50 50 LEADINGAND TAXI COMPANY TELFORD WELLINGTON’S LEADING TAXI COMPANY We’ve 01952 got Telford covered!

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New dementia support group get ready to meet

booking!

INSIDE YOUR FAVOURTE MAGAZINE . . .

WIN TICKETS TO SEE

AGGERS! Meet the Lawley Gate Time Team

Published by: Plus Two Media Limited Plus2 · PO Box 515 · TELFORD · TF2 2JE Tel: (01952) 228973 Editor: James Baylis james@plus2media.co.uk Editorial Support: Tania Baylis tania@plus2media.co.uk Publisher & Design: James Baylis Contributing Photographer: Malcolm Couzens

Trautmann’s story told on the silver screen

Counter Culture

WELLINGTON NEEDS YOUR

VOTE!

Ken Francis looks back on 50 years of serving Wellington

14 Discover our ready for you collection

1 Front Page.indd 1

08/09/2019 22:30

HOW TO ADVERTISE

Contact our Advertising Sales Manager: Jodine Ashford - 07702 392528 01952 228973 · jodine@plus2media.co.uk Specialist writers: George Evans, Richard Worton, Martin Scholes, Chris Owen, Pete Jackson, Eve Nicholls, Robert Hudson, Anthony Nicholls, Syd Taylor, Lauren Morgan, Donna McGrath, Austin Powell Sports News: Jamie Morris & David Ross (Wellington CC) To subscribe to Wrekin News please call Tania Baylis on 07977 481186 Printed in Telford by PCP Every care is taken over the accuracy of material in Wrekin News but the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Views and opinions of contributors, advertisers and interviewees to Wrekin News are not necessarily those of the publishers who cannot accept responsibility for such contributions.

© Plus Two Media Limited 2019 - All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior consent of the publisher.

www.wrekinnews.co.uk · @wrekinnews1 facebook.com/Wrekin-News

A new dementia support group will be starting on Thursday 19 September at 2pm at Holy Trinity Church, Hadley.

The group is called ‘Let’s Meet Together’ and has been organised by volunteers from the one parish of Christ Church, Wellington and Holy Trinity, Hadley, with the support of Age UK, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

The group is for those with memory loss or dementia and their family members, carers or

friends. It is open to everyone not just those who attend church. There is no charge for attendance.

The sessions will be informal and will include refreshments, a time to chat, games and entertainment.

Pictured are volunteers Sue Hanscombe, Revd. Bob Witshire and Judy Copeland. ● For further information contact Sue Hanscombe on (01952) 245982 or Revd. Bob Wiltshire on (01948) 841416.

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02 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk Care Centre_Parish_ Wrekin News 136x97.5 May 2019.indd 1 2, 3 Welcome.indd 1

07/05/2019 10:59 08/09/2019 22:36

New Bulgarian bakery is first of its kind in region A new artisan bakery specialising in products made to ‘secret’ Bulgarian recipes has opened in Wellington.

Nanny’s Craft Bakery has been launched in Crown Street by the Dimitrov family, using their grandmother’s cookbook as inspiration.

“We are fulfilling a dream by opening the first Bulgarian bakery in the West Midlands region,” said Kristiyan Dimitrov who is working with his wife, mother, brother and sister in the business.

“My grandma loves to bake pastry and sweets for all and has written the recipes in her ageing cookbook so we decided as a family to take on the venture.

“We now offer unique Bulgarian specialities crafted to our ‘secret’

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● Cllr Lee Carter cuts the ribbon at the opening of Nanny’s Craft Bakery in Wellington with the Dimitrov family. recipes, such as baklava, banichka, kashkavalka, milinka and pumpkin pastry, as well as English products, all prepared and cooked on the premises.”

Kristiyan, who moved from Bulgaria to Telford in 2013 and has since worked as a taxi driver whilst attending English and maths courses, praised the help he had received from a range of

organisations over the last few years.

Following mentoring from the Princes Trust over three years and a two day start up workshop with business coaching consultancy Good2Great, Kristiyan’s new shop has also been supported by Telford & Wrekin Council’s Pride in Your High Street programme with a £10,000 grant.

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2, 3 Welcome.indd 2

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eatons Tearooms and Bookshop have confirmed that it will soon be opening its doors in its new home at 17 Market Square, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 1BU. Both Wellington’s franchise owner, Ghulam Khan and Beatons’ founder, Patrick Duffy have been taken by the spirit in Wellington and how many community based organisations there are; something that is embedded in the Beatons ethos.

Beatons Tearooms – their name and interiors are inspired by the elegance of royal photographer and costume designer Sir Cecil Beaton – deliver a stylish take on quintessential afternoon tea in its ‘tearooms for the 21st Century’.

Beatons will provide full table service, offering over thirty loose leaf teas, regional coffee blends, home-made cakes and light food served in bespoke Villeroy and Boch china.

Beatons also offers a carefully curated selection of books for sale, finding that even in the era of online shopping, books shine through as a product that people still want to browse at leisure; select and buy something they fall

in love with. Beatons is delighted to adding this to what Wellington has to offer.

Adding to the local scene, Beatons incorporate poetry into their brand and offer an invitation to local authors and poets to take part in signings and other events planned to support the local community.

Ghulam, Beatons Tearooms and Bookshop franchisee is delighted to have ended his search for the perfect location in Wellington.

From his initial visit at Beatons’ first location in Tisbury, Wiltshire, Ghulam was drawn to the business’s heart and passion, as well as it’s ethos on providing gracious hospitality and generous value. ‘For me, the moment I first entered Beatons Tearooms I was impressed with the level of service and quality that you don’t often see in hospitality anymore. But what impacted me more was seeing how much there was a sense of community in the tearoom, and this is a quality that I can’t wait to see when we open’.

Further details of launch activities will be announced in due course.

For further information on opening date and details visit www.beatonstearooms.co.uk

‘Say one for me’ So often, when life gets tough, people might say a prayer. Whether or not you would say you believe in God, it’s something that lots of people still do - but many find it difficult, or would prefer someone else to say one for them.

All Saints Church in Wellington have recently installed a new prayer postbox, called ‘Say one for me’. Simply take a card from the holder, write a prayer, and post itand the team from the church will pray it in confidence.

Rev’d David Sims, curate at All Saints, says ‘I am really excited about this opportunity to show something of God’s love to the people of Wellington, and Telford & Wrekin. I believe that whether or not people would call themselves a Christian, God loves them, longs to hear their heart, and listen to their prayers.

l Rev’d David Sims

04 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 04 News.indd 1

08/09/2019 22:34

Shropshire’s 1st organic milk vending machine Join the organic milk uprising at

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16/10/2018 13:55:08 04/09/2019 12:31

Love ton Wellington The judges are here!

As Wrekin News goes to print Wellington is hosting a visit from judges from the Government’s ‘Great British High Street’ Award.

F

ew will have failed to miss the huge banners up all around the town telling people that Wellington is a finalist in the ‘Rising Star’ category and the Love Wellington team are absolutely thrilled that Wellington has been shortlisted in recognition of its regeneration efforts.

And so, one Thursday early in September is the chance for Wellington to show just what it is all about. “So many people have been working incredibly hard to ‘make things happen’ throughout the town in readiness for the judges visit” explained Sally Themans of Love Wellington who wrote the entry, “The Mayor Anthony Lowe has been pounding the streets and between him and the Love Wellington volunteers, they have visited almost every business and shop to deliver the good news and make sure everyone has posters and badges. The town is looking fabulous having had a deep clean and all the shop keepers have helped to make their premises as spic and span as possible. The planting in town is superb this year and on the day we have biodegradable balloons and bunting up.”

“We know that there is still plenty of work to be done in Wellington – but there is so much progress and this is a great recognition of that.”

Telford and Wrekin Council have played a key role in the regeneration making grants available to fill empty premises and attract new sustainable businesses to the town such as Nanny’s Bakery, Nathan Rous PR and The Walnut restaurant; there has also been a programme of façade improvements concentrated on the historic market square and a mural trail; all of which are receiving funding through Telford & Wrekin Council’s Pride in Our High Streets Programme.

“Both Wellington Town Council and the Borough Council have got firmly behind the competition and been incredibly supportive” said Sally.

Wellington is one of 10 towns shortlisted throughout England and it’s hoped that the

momentum that being a finalist has created can carry on. “Win or not, it has been incredible to witness the support from so many people in the town – and that’s what the judges will be looking for – community pride in where you live and a genuine desire to see things improve. Wellington has this in abundance.”

The judges visit makes up 80% of the score, so they are being given a glimpse of many of the great things and so many volunteer groups operating in the town; with representatives from Wellington Walkers are Welcome, Friends of The Bowring Park, Dothill Nature Reserve, Friends of Wellington Station, Wellington LA21, Wellington H2A, The Civic Society, Churches and Young Volunteers meeting the judges.

They will also visit the newly opened Orbit – the cornerstone of Wellington’s regeneration – as well as the market under new ownership and enjoying new investment, plus a score of businesses, shops, pubs and restaurants. There has even been a special ‘Rising Star’ Beer brewed by Rowton Brewery.

The judges will also see the Peace Garden and

06 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 06, 07 Love Wellington.indd 1

04/09/2019 11:21

be given a Love Wellington goodie bag which will include ‘A Short History of Our Wellington’ by Allan Frost and ‘When Europe came to Shropshire’ by Phil Swainson, as well as the brand new Wellington Walking Map. The entry is a collaborative effort between the Telford & Wrekin Council, Wellington Town Council and the community – all headed up through the Love Wellington team. “The awards recognise the nation’s most ambitious high streets which are taking the lead and working together to revive, adapt and diversify and above all look forward. Wellington has a fabulous rich history and we need to make sure it continues to be a place of note in the future.

“Retailers and traders will have an important part to play in our entry - demonstrating that they are adopting new technologies such as their online visibility through social media and embracing more modern payment methods as well as adapting to customers’ changing habits and appetites. We are also showing the judges plans for a ‘Love Wellington App’ which is in the pipeline” Sally added.

But so much also comes from a public vote – and people can vote everyday until October 7th. “So it is important that people keep on voting” said Sally “it really only takes seconds.”

“We are up against strong competition to win the category, with towns such as Daventry, Rochdale and Ashby de la Zouche all shortlisted in this scheme, but we are aiming for the title.”

SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Contact & Follow Facebook @LoveWellington Twitter @LoveWellington1 Instagram lovewellington2019

Wrekin

News

Wrekin News and Love Wellington have joined forces to work together to promote #Wellington - look out for our regular monthly Love Wellington column and social media posts!

● On the Love Wellington admin team are: Sally Thelmans, Jocelyne Fildes, Claire Dowdall, Paola Armstrong, Tania and Peter Jones, Sarah Chard, Hanna Leeson, Stuart Tyrer, Paul Kalinauckas, Kirsty Shuttleworth, Kevin Tanner, Gareth Bellamy and Naomi Wrighton.

www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 07

06, 07 Love Wellington.indd 2

08/09/2019 22:33

George Evans The Wrekin’s favourite columnist!

THE OLD GOODS STATION

IN WELLINGTON

I

T MAY come as a surprise to younger readers that we used to have two railway stations in town. Please notice that I use the English words ‘railway station’, not the American ‘train station’. Who’s a fussy old pedant then?

The Goods Station was on the west side of Bridge Road and covered a large area of land. It began around 1850, when the first Shropshire to London railway was being built, as a place for the apparatus (rails, sleepers, stations, signal boxes etc.) and was called the Shropshire Works.

When the lines and stations were constructed the complex assembly of sidings grew into a large station for assembling trains of waggons and shunting them to ‘juggle’ the various trucks using shunting engines.

If you wish to know more about the l werearger picture in East Shropshire, my friend Neil Clarke has written an excellent, beautifully illustrated book, Railways of East Shropshire, which I highly recommend.

My interest in local railways was stimulated by my grandfather, who lived with us. There were two companies jointly sharing both of

08 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 8, 9 George Evans feature.indd 1

Wellington’s stations – the Great Western and London Midland and Scottish also known as ‘God’s Wonderful Railway’ and ‘Ell of a Mess’.

Thomas Hall Fail, or Gramp, as we called him was a dedicated GWR man and worked at No 1 box as a signalman. When I knew him he was retired but he often took me when he visited old friends at the stations which were very much better staffed than nowadays.

As a schoolboy it was interesting to hear the shouting, clattering and clanging of trucks banging into each other as they were marshalled by the men with the shunting engines as they took waggons arranged according to where they came from into order according to where they were going. We were sorry for the people who lived in the nearby houses, for this row, and the wheel tappers, continued most of the days.

There were two large brick sheds, one for each company, GWR and LMS. Some of the firms that colonised the area of the old Shropshire Works had their own sidings and several made fortunes.

I have found a photocopy of a large scale map of most of the town centre of Wellington – Wellington Urban as it says. This shows the large

number of factories and depots as they were in the 1950s, when I was a member of Wellington UDC. One of the largest firms belonged to Richard Groom, who began as a basket maker in High Street and took over some of the sidings and land from the Shropshire Works and started a business buying trees from the woods and countryside around and turned the timber into sellable articles – planks, poles, fencing stakes, anything that could be made of wood, from cigarette boxes to, yes, if you like, fork handles.

Groom’s Yard used to be well known locally as a place you could get anything wooden made, even if you had just invented it. It was at one time the largest timber business in the country. All that remains is a footpath called Groom’s Alley and memories of some of the

Please note - The views expressed in Wrekin News by individual contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the editor of Wrekin News nor the publishers, Plus Two Media Limited.

08/09/2019 22:31

Arleston Remembers!

Saturday

21 September st

Arleston Show is on the 21st of September at Arleston Community Centre. This year’s theme is Arleston Remembers.

It’s on from 11am until 4pm with free refreshments including Ryan’s pork pies.

Lots of memorabilia will be on display. Any old cars or motorcycles would also be welcome the field can accommodate about 20 vehicles.

Come along and meet old friends chat about times gone by.

We can guarantee you will enjoy your day and go away looking forward to the next one.

All welcome whether from Arleston or not!

We look forward to seeing you there, regards Dave Barnett.

oldest inhabitants.

North of the Main line railway, where Morrison supermarket and its car park are now, was the Smithfield Cattle Market, which must have made John Barber a tidy fortune too. That became a very large business except when there was a sickness like foot and mouth disease, which necessitated the business temporarily closing and the whole area being cleansed. The UDC added an abattoir to increase business but soon afterwards Telford Development bought the fields where the beasts were fattened (erroneous calling them slag heaps and mine tips) which totally spoiled the trade.

Also there was the coal wharf, where Gough’s and others brought coal from the pits of east Shropshire and the Black Country to be delivered to houses in town.

This was in the supermarket car park on the Bridge Road side.

The opposite side of Morrison’s is Teltyres depot, Spring Hill garage, and the bus depot of ElcockReisen.

South of the main line, where Aldi supermarket and its car park is now, was a marshalling yard, a water tower and a crane. Part of this area is now an optician’s business. To the southwest were the gas holders of what was Edwards’ gas works. Here coal was processed in a procedure rather like roasting into coke, releasing coal gas which was transmitted to houses through pipes, added to by gas from local mines. The coke went to households and many businesses.

Further southwest were Arnold’s school and church furniture factory and the Chad Valley rubber toy factory which made rubber ducks to play with in the bath by the great gross (1728). Also there was Corbett’s tank works, making many kinds of galvanised tanks and consequently turning local washing bright yellow. East a little from here was a fairly large malt house, where wheat was processed for the local brewing industry.

It’s clear that at one stage Wellington, like other towns, had a considerable number of factories providing work for its population; this is no longer the case and the town has no manufacture at all.

The advantage, I suppose, is that the Telford planners have directed all Wellington’s industry, together with Dawley, Oakengates and other towns and villages to the specified industrial and similar areas – mostly unfortunately on the Weald Moors, destroying large areas of agricultural land. It is now necessary for nearly all of Wellington’s workers to travel out of town to work.

This large area to the west of Bridge Road, during the height of railway building was Shropshire Works. It then developed into a large collection of factories and depots needing railway sidings which have all ended their activities and gone. The present use of the land is for housing except for the two supermarkets.

This has changed the character of the town over the years between 1850s and now.

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8, 9 George Evans feature.indd 2

08/09/2019 22:32

YOUR WELLINGTON

The latest news and events from Wellington Town Council

Everyday TELFORD APP

O

ut and about and need to report an issue in your local area - there's an App for that!

The free App - Everyday Telford - makes it easier and quicker for you to report issues when you are out and about in your

local area.

And it's available on iPhone, Android and Windows platforms!

Everyday Telford aims to make it quick and easy to report the things that are important to you, whenever and wherever you are.

Simply follow the instructions and send it through and let us do the rest. You can even take a photo of the issue and use your phone's GPS to store the location so we can find it easily.

And you don't need a connection at the site you are reporting on as the App will store your report until you are connected.

As well as reporting local issues, you can also report; Housing Benefit fraud, Council Tax Support fraud, Single Person Discount fraud, Blue Badge fraud, taxi complaints, counterfeit goods, underage sales and complaints about food Premises and food purchases.

Simply download Everyday Telford to your phone, report things as you see them in just a few clicks and then use the App to monitor progress and make sure the issue is resolved.

Make the App part of your day, every day and help us to make improvements in your local area.

Remember to submit your grant application Wellington Town Council every year awards Minor Grants to local organisations and charities to assist them to achieve their aims and objectives and this year is no exception. The Town Council is keen to assist and support the valuable work these types of organisations undertake in the Parish as they play a vital role in the local community Grant applications must be from a properly constituted group, club, committee or charity which must show

that the group has charitable/community aims and benefits the residents of Wellington. Groups are encouraged to apply, and should not take the view that if they have applied before that they can’t submit a further application.

Forms are available now and should be submitted by the end of September prior to the applications being considered by the Town Councils’ Grants Panel in early October. Forms can be obtained directly from the Town Council website www. wellington-shropshire.gov.uk

WELLINGTON FESTIVAL PORGRAMME OF EVENTS OUT SOON!

WELLINGTON TOWN COUNCIL Follow us on Twitter - twitter.com/WellingtonTCl Facebook www.facebook.com/WellingtonTCShropshire Civic Offices, Larkin Way, Tan Bank, Wellington TF1 1LX Telephone - 01952 567696 Office Hours: Monday to Friday 10.30am – 3.30pm

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04/09/2019 12:29

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YOUR HIGH STREET NEEDS YOU! VOTE FOR WELLINGTON TODAY

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04/09/2019 12:29

ADVERTORIAL

News from your hospitals Bringing you updates from The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), which runs the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH):

Areas of good practice highlighted nationally

A

reas of good practice at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) have been highlighted by a national NHS clinical improvement programme.

The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme looks to improve NHS care by reducing unwarranted variation in the way services are delivered.

As part of SaTH’s improvement journey, GIRFT is working with the Trust to identify and share good practice, and agree opportunities for further development.

A number of areas of practice have been praised by the programme; for example the care of children admitted through A&E being led by paediatricians, with input from other specialties where required. In Orthopaedics, SaTH has reduced its surgical equipment costs, while in renal medicine, the Trust is delivering a high-quality

home therapy service.

GIRFT is led by expert clinicians, who visit NHS trusts across England to review a range of surgical, and medical specialties, as well as support services, such as radiology and pathology. During each visit, good practice is identified and a series of recommendations are made to improve services further.

SaTH has already welcomed the GIRFT team to 13 of its departments, with three more visits booked for the coming months. The good practice identified at the Trust will enable GIRFT to support other providers to make similar improvements.

Teams across the trust are now working hard to improve services further, in line with the recommendations agreed by GIRFT and the Trust.

The trust has already ring-fenced 14 beds for orthopaedic surgery, with a view to reducing cancellation rates and minimising infection risks, while in obstetrics and

gynaecology, SaTH is now offering more laparoscopic procedures, which carry a lower surgical risk and shorter recovery times than open approaches.

Professor Tim Briggs, NHS Director of Clinical Improvement and GIRFT Chair, said: “It’s great to see the teams at SaTH so engaged with the GIRFT programme.

“GIRFT aims to improve patient outcomes and ensure value for taxpayers, by reducing unwarranted variation in NHS services. We look forward to continuing to work with the trust to build on the success realised so far.”

GIRFT works with NHS trusts in England across 40 clinical specialties. The programme has already published eight national reports, making a wide range of recommendations into how services can be improved. For more information and to read the reports, visit: www.gettingitrightfirsttime. co.uk.

Amanda makes marathon pledge A new member of staff at SaTH will be taking her place at the start line of the 2020 London Marathon after successfully landing a place to raise money for the Trust’s charity.

Amanda Cheeseman gained her place through a ballot for staff.

Amanda, 42, has only been at SaTH since March, having landed a new role of Clinical Support Worker with the Bariatric Team.

She has pledged to raise at least £2,000 for SaTH Charity from her Marathon place.

Amanda said: “As part of my role, I give advice on healthy living, including physical activity and exercise. Initially, many of our patients feel they are unable to undertake exercise because of their excess weight or health

conditions. Despite this, however, many start to make small changes and are soon taking part in their local charity running events.

“I think this is brilliant, and such an inspiration to others on their journey, including me.

I wanted to follow their lead by challenging myself to achieve my goal of running in the London Marathon—including all the ups and downs along the way—and show them that I have been inspired by them and hopefully to inspire them in return to make goals and achieve them.”

To sponsor Amanda, please visit www.justgiving.com/ campaign/2020

Prestigious Award for Church Organ!

T

he Bevington Pipe Organ, at All Saints Parish Church, Wellington has been awarded a certificate Grade II* by The British Institute of Organ Studies. Listings are awarded in three categories; Grade II* is the middle grade and means that All Saints Organ is one of particular importance ‘of more than special interest’.

The organ is described as – ‘A comparatively large 3-manual Bevington organ of 1879, moved and altered by the same builder in 1898, though tonally unaltered since. It is therefore listed in the Institute’s Register of Historic Pipe Organs as being an instrument of importance to the national heritage and one deserving careful preservation for the benefit of future generations.’

Restore Over 120 years on and with major work undertaken only once in that time, the Organ Restoration Project Team’s intention is to restore all of the fine sounds the organ used to have and to return it to a state of reliability it currently lacks. It will then be fit for leading regular worship, for providing the grand music on civic occasions and for use with local choirs and music ensembles etc., for the next 100 years!

The Project Team are delighted to receive the certificate as it provides confirmation that the organ at All Saints is truly of historical significance. The award, which will be framed and prominently displayed in the church, will help to raise the profile of the instrument in the eyes of all whose lives are intertwined with All Saints and ‘flags’ it as one deserving respect by future generations.

Support Whatever the reason for valuing Wellington’s Parish Church and its organ, the Project Team encourage everyone in Wellington to support the organ’s restoration.

The overall cost of restoration will be in the region of £156,000 + VAT. The Parish Church Council has already agreed to fund £50,000 towards that sum thanks to a recent generous legacy. A further £15,000 has been raised in pledges, sponsorship and donations from the congregation, parishioners and those with historic links to All Saints.

Community The Project Team have published leaflets which are available in the Parish Church and in the Parish Centre. They explain fundraising plans and specifically the pledge programme which the Team hope the community might want to be involved with.

12 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 12 News NHS.indd 1

08/09/2019 11:09

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f you are buying a property jointly with someone else, you will not necessarily be dividing the costs equally or one of you might be contributing more towards the deposit or paying more towards the mortgage repayments. A Declaration of Trust enables you to set out how much money each person is contributing to the purchase of the property and how the proceeds of the sale of the property are to be dealt with in the future. A Declaration of Trust is useful for avoiding disputes relating to the ownership of the property if a couple later separate.

If, for example, you are buying a property with your partner, you might want a Declaration of Trust that states that if the property is sold you both get your respective deposits back and that any equity would then be divided equally between you.

It is not unusual these days for people to receive financial assistance from family members or friends when buying a property. In most cases, the people providing financial assistance will one day want their money back. A Declaration of Trust can be used to protect the investment of a third party (such as a parent) who is not on the title but has contributed to the purchase of the property.

If, for example, you are buying a property with your partner and your parents are giving you £20,000.00 for the deposit, you might want a Declaration of Trust that states that if the property is sold your parents will get their £20,000.00 back and any equity is then to be divided equally between you and your partner.

What is included in a Declaration of Trust will depend on the individual circumstances of the parties involved.

It can include, for example: ● How much each person has contributed to the deposit.

● What percentage of the property each person will own. ● How the equity will be split should the property be sold. ● How much each person will pay towards the mortgage and other outgoings. ● If a third party, such as a relative, has contributed towards the purchase price and is not listed on the title deeds but still wants to protect their contribution.

It is important that a Declaration of Trust is prepared before any disagreements arise as its purpose is to safeguard all parties and make it clear to everybody how the property purchase was funded and how the division of sale proceeds will be dealt with in the future. The Declaration of Trust should therefore be prepared and signed at the same time as the purchase of the property.

Should certain circumstances then arise in the future (for example, the property is sold) or should a dispute arise, the Declaration of Trust can be produced to demonstrate the original agreement that was in place when the property was purchased and exactly who is entitled to receive what when the property is sold.

If, however, you have already bought a property a Declaration of Trust can still be drawn up provided the co-owner(s) agree.

If you require a Declaration of Trust you should discuss with your conveyancing solicitor what you want it to cover. Your solicitor will then draft the Declaration of Trust in accordance with your instructions.

If you want the Declaration of Trust to be recorded on the title deeds for the property, then your solicitor can arrange for this to be done with the Land Registry on registration of your purchase. This will ensure the property cannot be sold without the consent of the parties to the Declaration of Trust.

If you would like further information on Declarations of Trust or other property matters, please contact Sarah Clinton at the Shifnal office of Parry Carver Solicitors on 01952 460777 or Corina Olivieri at the Wellington off ice on 01952 641291 or email: sarah.clinton@parrycarver.co.uk

14 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 14 Parry Carver.indd 1

04/09/2019 20:02

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Parry Carver full page advert.indd 1

04/09/2019 12:30

● Ken shakes hands with Mayor Cllr Anthony Lowe outside the shop in Market Street with the rest of the team; Tony, Laura, Lizzie and Lee.

Counter Culture Ken Francis looks back on 50 years of serving Wellington

This summer marks the 40th anniversary of Ken Francis Butchers in Wellington, and 50 years since the man himself first donned an apron as a teenager at the very same shop. It’s also the year when Ken officially hangs up his apron for good. After being such a familiar presence on Market Street for so long, Ken looks back to that summer of ’69 and where it all began.

A

s even my least observant customers will have noticed, I haven’t been behind my counter much in the last 18 months. I was taken out of action by arthritis in my hands which made work impossible. Happily, a change in my medication has improved things immensely in recent months – so much so that I could probably go back to work. But would my staff have me?

They’re all doing such a wonderful job that I can’t help thinking I’d just get in the way. In any case, at 64 and with half a century at 9 Market Street behind me, this feels like a good time to slip quietly into retirement. I’ll still be involved behind the scenes, but back at the shop Tony will continue to run the show aided by the brilliant Lee, Lizzy and Laura.

When I was invited to jot down some

recollections of the last 50 years, I imagined I might turn out a few lines of anecdotes. Well I’m currently starring at 4000 words and I’m not out of the 1970s yet, so I’m afraid my amble down memory lane has turned into a bit of an odyssey.

For now I’ll start at the beginning, in the summer of 1969. Men were walking on the moon, hippies were swaying at Woodstock and – less widely-

● A young Ken pictured when 18 years-old

reported at the time – I was a very average student at Wellington Grammar School.

Back then my mother was buying her meat from the very popular John Harper. He had a butchers’ shop close to where we lived, in Hadley, whilst his older brother Jim managed his other shop in Wellington. My dear mother told me that I should call them Mr Jim and Mr John, which I thought was a bit precocious coming from a 13-year old.

My older brother Martin worked in the Wellington shop after school and on Saturdays. When he prepared to leave school and take a job at the Lilleshall Company,

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l John Harper

Mr Jim was a fine man to have as a boss, educating me in a great deal, and not just butchery. He had served in the army during the war and had more than a few tales to tell of his time in Africa, where he rode around the countryside looking for zebu cattle to buy from the local tribesmen

Mr Jim asked him who he had lined up to take his place. ‘No one,’ said Martin. ‘Well you’d better find someone!’ was the reply. And so I was invited to step into his shoes.

Martin loved meat, whereas it didn’t much impress me – in fact at meal times, if I could get away with it, I would quietly pass my meat to him.

Butchery, therefore, was not my ideal job, but as a part-time position those few shillings it brought in were very welcome. And that is the sole extent of my butchery lineage – a Saturday job inherited from my brother.

Mr Jim was a fine man to have as a boss, educating me in a great deal, and not just butchery. He had served in the army during the war and had more than a few tales to tell of his time in Africa, where he rode around the countryside looking for zebu cattle to buy from the local tribesmen. His brother John, who had been in the RAF doing exciting things like erecting radio aerials in the desert, would sometimes come to the shop and chat with Jim, usually after we had closed. Whilst they chatted, I quietly carried on with my jobs.

My school day ended at 3.55pm and I would then run to the shop, carrying a very heavy satchel full of books and trying to get to work for 4 o’clock. I never made it as it was just over a mile away and I was never as fast as Roger Bannister. The team in those days comprised Mr Jim, Mary Lacy and Rose Boughy. Jim and the two ladies were very patient and kind to the new boy. I was given simple tasks: cleaning, washing up, block-scrubbing, sweeping and mopping. If I was looking under-utilised a forthright customer might say “Can that boy get me some meat/liver/ bacon?” and Jim would simply tell them “No, I’ve not taught him that yet.” It was rather embarrassing to be shown up as not much use, but it must be borne in mind that the shop contained many things which, in the wrong hands, could be very dangerous. With the patience of a saint, Jim

l Jim Harper taught me this that and the next thing, and the next thing, ad infinitum.

After about three or four weeks I was allowed to cut or slice something. I can’t remember what, but I’d started. As time passed Jim’s confidence in me grew, as did my own. Eventually, without many mishaps, I became what was then known as an improver.

The young improver starts his training on the less expensive cuts (never use the word cheaper, it puts people in mind of “cheap”). Shin of beef is the perfect start for knifework – it’s not expensive and it is most often sold diced so the occasional bad slash here or there isn’t the end of the world. Next came the “clod or sticking” which had similar attributes.

The “neck” was much fiddlier, containing the cervical vertebrae. An improver would begin by removing each vertebra individually to learn the shape and thus know where to place the knife next time. Incidentally, one of my former staff members is now a doctor – I like to think her time with us gave her a head start when it came to anatomy.

Anyway, it was at least two years before I was allowed to slice from the rump steak – two years!

Back at the grammar school, my O Levels were approaching – and I have to say that I did not study hard. Sometime around my 16th birthday Jim offered me a full-time job. I told my father, who said that it was my choice to make but that I should bear a few things in mind. Firstly, that it was not a very well-paid job, and secondly, that I would smell of meat! He did suggest that I sit my O Levels, which I did, and the day I finished my last exam I went straight into work. I shouldn’t remind my surviving teachers of quite how underwhelming my exam results where once they arrived. By then, the summer of 1971, I already considered myself a working man – and although I didn’t know it, that first job would turn into a half-century career. www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 17

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Wellington History Group

Ode to Autumn

September is upon us – that ‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,’ as John Keats began his poem ‘Ode to Autumn’. It is also the continuation of Wellington History Group’s autumn series of talks in the Library – third Thursday of the month at 7.30 – all are welcome, the October talk is entitled ‘Sutherland Snippets’ and is in response to a request to ‘tell us about the Duke of Sutherland’.

B

By efore this meeting perhaps, we may remind you of our September’s Geoff talk by Giles Carey from HER. Harrison We are fortunate that Giles Carey of Wellington will be talking about ‘Historical History Group records relevant to Wellington Area’. Giles is responsible for the documents kept by the Historic Environment Record unit in Shrewsbury.

Shropshire’s Historic Environment Record (HER) is the primary source of trusted information about the historic environment of the county – maintaining three complementary types of record dealing with monuments (these can define any type of heritage feature, including buildings), events (fieldwork such as excavation or buildings survey) and sources and archives. The historical environment of Shropshire is varied – and the diversity of the records held by HER reflect this. It’s not all about castles and hillforts, or manor houses – but such simple features as early milestones, and World War 2 features, each of particular historical significance and important in their time.

Personally, I have used such material, for example in preparing the talk about Dothill’s history.

HER is the key collection of all reports on archaeological work and historic building recording carried out in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin areas. haerfest meaning ‘Autumn’. Harvest was a vital September is also the time of harvest – and time of the year; its success was a genuine matter although most of us probably think of its of life or death. A prosperous harvest ensured Christian manifestations, its origins were before that a community would be fed throughout the the Christian era. The harvest season is fixed barren winter months. It is therefore no surprise in folklore, such as harvest festivals celebrated that harvest was also a time steeped in superstition around the time when the cereal crops are cut and, if the harvest was successful, there was and collected. Harvest Festival coincides with the much celebration. Traditionally, sadly no longer Harvest Moon, the full moon that occurs closest to practiced, in the Christian calendar St Michael’s the autumn equinox, in the UK harvest festival is Mass on September 29 celebrated the end of the usually celebrated on the Sunday nearest to this harvest season and was celebrated with a huge date. The name derives from the Old English word feast, no doubt now replaced in some places with

the harvest supper.

With technological advances lessening our dependence on the seasons and the number of people working on the land, greatly reduced over the last two centuries, surviving harvest celebrations are now mainly symbolic in nature.

The closest most of us get to harvest today is a Harvest Festival in school or a church; and even that is not what it was! Today the harvest produce is too often tins and packets of foodstuffs – convenient to pass on to the needy, but there are places where the real produce of the field

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September is also the time of harvest and gardens are more than readily accepted.

Another tradition we have almost lost is the making of Corn Dollies.

Corn dollies or corn mothers were a pagan device made usually from the last sheaf of corn or grain, woven into intricate designs, and hung up in the home until the next

spring. It was believed that the spirit of the corn lived in the crop and once it was cut the spirit would have no home. Through the corn dolly, the spirit lived on, within the dolly, which would live in the home until the spring when it would be ploughed into the first furrows of the new crop.

● Readers of Welingtonia will be pleased that at our September meeting – remember Thursday, 19th September – Wellington Library at 7.30pm – the latest issue will be available – come along , all are welcome!

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The Great War - Histories

by Chris Owen Chris Owen continues his fascinating series about the war stories of local people of the Wrekin area and how they came to make the ultimate sacrifice in a futile war

Local Heroes

Tom Nickless His part in the Great War

● HMS Acasta

Local people also served in forces other than the army infantry.

Here is the story of Thomas Nickless, Stoker 1. of Ironbridge.

This sparsely worded entry in the Wrekin Honour Roll reads;

‘Thomas Nickless – stoker 1, son of Samuel Nickless of 30, Lincoln Hill, Ironbridge, served in the cruiser class ship Acasta and was killed at the battle of Jutland – 31st May 1916’

T

om Nickless served four years in the Royal Navy and during the Great War his ship HMS Acasta served as part of an escort flotilla that protected HMS Chester. His ship, which was under the command of Lieutenant Commander J.O. Baron, sailed from their Pentland Firth base on 30 May as part of The Grand Fleet, commanded by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe. Under Vice admiral Sir David Beatty’s Flotilla of 59 ships. Their brief was to engage the German High Seas Fleet without delay so Beatty sailed ahead of the main force based at Scapa Flow, two hours steaming time behind him and engaged the enemy in the North Sea at approx 5.40pm on 31 May seventy-five miles off Jutland, which is now part of Denmark.

HMS Acasta was hit by two shells fired from SMS Derflinger one of which struck the engine room and killed Tom. The total Acasta casualties numbered six crewmen. Although crippled, Acasta played her part in the battle and claimed a hit on, SMS Lutzow although this could not be officially verified. The Germans listed Acasta as sunk in the battle. She was indeed badly damaged and could neither stop nor steer. Suffering further debilitating damage she was forced to retire from the fight and was towed back to Aberdeen by HMS Nonsuch arriving two days later. Acasta was so badly damaged she had to be practically rebuilt.

Tom is commemorated on the main war memorial in Ironbridge.

● Admiral Sir John Jellicoe

More about Tom Read the full story of Tom and other local war heroes in ‘Ironbridge in the Great War’ by Chris Owen. ● Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty, RN

To purchase your signed copy you can email: chris.w.a.owen@gmail.com direct or contact the Wrekin News

www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 21

21 Chris Owen.indd 1

08/09/2019 23:02

inbox The Editor’s

Please keep our editor’s inbox full and send your letters and pictures to: Plus2, PO Box 515, Telford TF2 2JE or email your contributions direct to: james@plus2media.co.uk

JOHN’S LIFE IN THE FURNITURE TRADE Wrekin News reader John Gaymer has written to us with tales from his career in the local furniture industry. John’s letter was prompted by some Aston’s receipts he spotted in a recent issue...

A

S A young 10-year-old I was placed in the care of Barnardo’s at Corris House in Much Wedlock due to my mothers ill health. I stayed in the care at Barnardo’s until I left school in the Easter of 1964 ages 15. Bernard’s put me on the right track to look after myself in the big wide world. They found me a job in London at one of Lyons corner houses in fact it was the one in Coventry Street, just of Piccadilly Circus. I had to give this up due to ill health.

I returned to Shropshire to look for a job. After a few weeks I was looking through the Wellington Journal’s job advertisements and came across an advert for a junior sales advisor, I remember the advert well, “A junior sales required to learn all aspects of the furniture trade, to be of smart appearance and a good time keeper. If you think you are that person then phone Aston’s of Wellington.”

I had my interview and later that week I was informed by letter that I had got the job.

I found out later that I got the job because I was the only applicant that remembered the

wording of the advert!

I started my life in the furniture trace the following Monday prompt at 9am. Mr Richards the shop manager introduced me to Mr Hall the senior salesman and he was to teach me all that I needed to know about selling furniture to the public.

No way did you ever address the senior salesman by his Christian name it was always by his surname and in this case Mr Hall, it was the done thing in those days.

A few months ago Wrekin News included an article titled ‘In receipt of history’ by Martin

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A warm and friendly welcome awaits you at . . .

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BELL Watling Street, Stretton

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Scholes. It was all about receipts that people had found from many years back. One was from Aston’s from the 11th August 1962 for a Myers Coffee table priced at £5.19.6 and the other receipt was for a 3ft divan set complete with screw in legs and a head board for the sum of £13.19.6 with a pound sales discounts bringing it down to £12.19.6 the receipt was dated 12th March 1966.

This receipt was made out in the final weeks of the Winter sale. Both sales invoices were made out by Mr Hall, the senior salesman.

I was born in Wrexham in north Wales where Aston’s head office and flagship store was based. They had twenty six stores based in the Welsh borders and throughout Wales, never thinking that many years later I would be working for them, they also had a furniture removal company based in Wrexham and they moved my family from Wrexham to Hadley and that was on the sixth birthday in 1954. In later years Aston’s was taken over by Times Furnishing and later Times was taken over by Queensway unfortunately during 1983 Queensway went bust.

The Aston’s name has been resurrected again in Wrexham and I know its a later generation of that family or a branch of the family that has started up in the furniture trade. The picture of the Aston store in Wellington that was shown in the same Wrekin News article, was dated before 1960 as the warehouse that was built next to the Wards paper shop was built during 1960. The old white faced

shop that you see in the picture, this was not the Aston’s warehouse that stood in High Street, these two shops were pulled down in 1966 to open up the corner for the buses to turn down and go to the bus stands. The Aston’s warehouse was still standing in 1970 when I left.

At the bottom of the article was a receipt given out to Mr and Mrs Pagett for the sum of £211.44p dated on 3rd June 1980 and the company name on the receipt was Archers Carpets Ltd and the person that signed the receipt and give it to the Pagett’s was myself.

I started working for Archers Carpets back in 1970 and worked for them until 1983 when the company closed. Their head office was in Oakengates and they had a branch in Wellington. I ended my furniture career at Alan Ward’s in Shrewsbury and was made redundant after 16 years. Being out of work for a year, I eventually found a job at the new TESCO store in Madeley and the four years I was with them was the best four years of my working life.

I retired on the 15th November 2013 just four days short of my 65th birthday, as I went to leave the store at 5pm the staff linedup on either side of the door and applauded me out into retirement.

At the end of the day it was all down to Barnardo’s, and one very special person in my life, my wife Hazel. Barnardo’s set me on the right road all those years ago when I left school and my wide Hazel has been at my side since we married in 1973. A great deal of thanks goes to them both.

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22, 23 John Gaymer.indd 2

04/09/2019 16:36

Martin Scholes It’s a very welcome return to the pages of Wrekin News for former news editor Martin Scholes with a regular column - Martin will also be updating the website and Twitter account..

No museum for the town. Or is there?

There is no public museum in the Borough of Telford and Wrekin. Although there was a spirited campaign to have a museum opened within the former Sun Inn premises in Walker Street, Wellington, latterly famed as the Wellington offices of Gwynne and Sons, Solicitors, or in the adjacent and equally imposing library buildings.

S

adly, these properties were not offered to the Wrekin Museum Committee which collapsed due to a lack of suitable premises. Which was a great shame.

Before anyone writes in to point out that we already have the Severn Gorge Museums, I’d like to remind readers that this is not a public museum, it is a private, charitable series of living history museums. And well worth several visits, it has to be pointed out.

However, within Wellington there is already a building that contains artifacts that would not be out of place within a local history museum. This building is The Wetherspoon William Withering public house.

Please pay a visit to the pub, buy at least one of their modestly priced drinks. Hot drinks are also available.

Or why not enjoy a delicious meal from their extensive menu? Then take the time to look round the walls and at the displays that are within the pub.

You’ll see references to The Chad Valley factory, Kenneth Horne and Dr William Withering himself (he discovered digitalis and was born and lived not far from the premises of the pub, where his father

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24 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 24 Martin Scholes.indd 1

PART P REGISTERED

was an apothecary) plus the Charlton Family, who were very important and influential figures within the political life of the United Kingdom for several centuries.

See what the original Medieval parish church looked like before the Civil War brought about its eventual demolition, find out about authors with links to the town like Wellington-born Hesba Stretton and librarian and poet Phillip Larkin, The Brontes, artists like Cecil Lawson and hymn composer and church musician Henry Gauntlett.

There are also a number of other people with links to the town. See if you can spot them, too.

And do see if you can find the portrait of Sir Thomas Leigh Lord Mayor of London during 1558 to 1559. We’ll include a copy of a picture of Sir Thomas to help you track him down, once you are in the pub.

And there are many other interesting exhibits and portraits in the pub that will capture your attention.

Incidentally the William Withering premises were previously a Pound Shop, a Bewise store, Gateway and Fine Fare supermarket. Before that it

was the site of the Duke of Wellington.

Does anyone know who are what occupied these premises before it was the Duke of Wellington? If you do, please write in to the usual address, contact details are elsewhere in this issue.

Also, when you are in the William Withering, do see if you can spot the young lady with dark hair, who is dressed in a crisp, white Victorian serving girl’s apron, walking along, carrying a large silver platter, as several people have reported sighting her, hard at work in the pub after all these years.

Does anyone know who she is?

Which reminds me, it’s been a very, very long time since we did a ghostly Wellington feature. Many years, in fact, so I think I feel another Ghostly Wrekin News feature coming on.

Please, Wrekin News readers, do send in your genuine ghostly sightings to Ghostly Wrekin News Sightings, The Editor, Wrekin News, at the usual address.

I wonder if someone might want to start organising historical tours of the town, perhaps historical tours and even a Wellington Ghost Tour?

There’s the pubs of Wellington, the area where the tenter fields once existed, the town pump location, the tanners, the site of the ancient Druidic Sacred Grove, the site of the Medieval Plague Pits and so on.

Also, does anyone know the location of St Margaret’s Well? It was reportedly destroyed during the 19th century and built on, subsequently.

Shropshire History reports: that the map reference is SJ656123: “A reference said ‘This is renowned for its eye-healing virtues and was yearly visited by Black Country folk and others who “douked” or dipped their heads in it on Good Friday’. It was visited annually on Good Friday but destroyed in the mid-19th Century and the site is now built upon.” http://shropshirehistory.com/religion/wells. htm But where, exactly, was it? Should a plaque be installed to commemorate its location?

And historical tours of the other towns and villages of the Wrekin area would also be a good idea. Perhaps as a joint effort between them? What do you think?

Please note - The views expressed in Wrekin News by individual contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the editor of Wrekin News nor the publishers, Plus Two Media Limited.

08/09/2019 23:01

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04/09/2019 13:37

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ince the home Ashes series in 2013, the Evenings with Aggers shows have been delighting audiences and selling out theatres all over England.

Jonathan Agnew learnt his craft under the tutelage of Brian Johnston, emerging from the notoriety of the gloriously funny ‘leg over’ incident (yes, you will hear that tonight!) to become BBC Radio’s voice of cricket.

In his unparalleled View From The Boundary sessions, he has interviewed folk from all walks of life, including rock stars, film legends, writers, comedians, two prime ministers and a boy wizard!

His consummate skills on air have proved electric on stage as he has taken on his prickly commentating partner Geoffrey

Boycott, spin legend Graeme Swann, Indian’s ‘Little Master’ Sunil Gavaskar, bad boy of English cricket Phil Tufnell and the gloriously eccentric David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd.

Join Aggers in his solo show as he takes us on a trip down memory lane, recounting tales from a wonderful and entertaining career on the field and in the box, with film footage, audio clips and photographs on our big screen.

Evenings With Aggers are always fun, fiery and full of surprises! They are fascinating, hilarious, no-holdsbarred evenings for cricket fans and non-lovers of the game alike.

The event is being run in aid of the Professional Cricketers’ Association and we are raising money which will go to the organisation’s Professional Cricketers’ Trust.

WIN THEATRE TICKETS! HOW TO ENTER Wrekin News has teamed up with The Place, Oakengates to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a pair of tickets to see our feature show. All you have to do to enter is send your name, address and daytime telephone number via email to: Tania Baylis - tania@plus2media.co.uk or send a postal entry to - Plus2, PO Box 515, Telford TF2 2JE.

Closing date for entries is FRIDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2019.

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26 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 26 Entertainment.indd 1

08/09/2019 23:00

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04/09/2019 13:36

TRAUTMANN’S STORY TOLD ON THE SILVER SCREEN RICHARD WORTON, who reports on the fortunes of AFC Telford United home and away previews a film about legendary former Wellington Town goalkeeper Bert Trautmann that is to be shown at Wellington Orbit this month.

I

F YOU were to ask football fans about Bert Trautmann and the FA Cup, it’s likely the response would mention the 1956 Wembley final; however, there’s an FA Cup tale involving Trautmann that features Wellington Town, and the anniversary of which will be marked by special September screenings at the recently opened Wellington Orbit cinema of a film dramatizing the life of the legendary goalkeeper.

What then is the connection between Bert Trautmann and Wellington Town? Any football fans of a certain vintage will know some of his story; Trautmann was a German prisoner of war who remained in England after the end of World War Two and who overcame prejudice and some perhaps understandable hostility to become the goalkeeper for Manchester City.

If that wasn’t enough for one film script, his place in the annals of football history was sealed when he suffered a serious injury, diagnosed three days later as a broken neck, in the 1956 FA Cup final but played on though the final 15 minutes to help City defeat Birmingham City 3-1. Even to this day, it’s not uncommon to see black and white footage of Trautmann sandwiched into one of those montages used by broadcasters to help evoke the magic of the competition.

A lesser known fact about Trautmann’s football career is

that it drew to a close some eight years later, playing in the shirt of Wellington Town. Ray Hughes, one of the directors at Wellington Orbit, remembers the occasion well, and was able to recall some of his memories of Trautmann’s time as a Lillywhite, but especially his debut, when he contacted the club a few weeks ago.

“The first-choice keeper for Wellington, Mick Richards, who still lives in the town, was out injured with a broken arm, and to take his place the club called upon Bert to play in an FA Cup first qualifying round tie against Dudley Town. The game ended in an ignominious 3-1 home defeat, Dudley being a team from the old West Midlands League, and it’s a game which I attended and indeed I can still recall a shot going past Bert at the old Watling Street end of the Buck’s Head.”

Alas, Trautmann’s handful of appearances in the shirt of Wellington’s Lillywhites were a far from worthy end to a notable career. In his biography of the goalkeeper, author Alan Rowlands noted that Trautmann was offered £50 per game by manager Grenville Hair, but in a subsequent game he was sent off for violent conduct, ending his Wellington Town stay and his career on an inglorious note.

The 55th anniversary of Trautmann’s Lillywhites debut arrives on Thursday 5th September, and a few days later, Ray and his fellow directors at the Wellington Orbit will be

inviting the club’s followers, as well as anyone with an interest in Trautmann’s life, to attend the special special screenings of ‘The Keeper’ to be shown on 11th and 12th September; directed and written by Marcus H. Rosenmuller, the film is both a sports drama, a history lesson and a love story rolled into one. Released in 2018, tells the story of how Bert (David

Kross), then a POW, met his wifeto-be Margaret (Freya Mavor) and was given special dispensation, on account of his sporting prowess, to play for a local team outside of the confines of the prisoner of war camp in which he was held. The inspiring tale of how Bert, with Margaret at his side, overcame fierce opposition to become a legend of the sport, is the central

28 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 28, 29 The Keeper.indd 1

08/09/2019 23:10

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In his biography of the goalkeeper, author Alan Rowlands noted that Trautmann was offered £50 per game by manager Grenville Hair pillar of Rosenmuller’s film, set against a backdrop of a post-war England in which a German playing for a domestic team faced stiff opposition both off the field and on.

Trautmann passed away aged 89 in July 2013, at his home near Valencia in Spain, having lived an extraordinary life.

His time in Shropshire may have been memorable for the wrong reasons, but they barely diminish Trautmann’s revered status in the game, providing instead a fascinating footnote to the story told by “The Keeper”.

One Bucks fan who won’t be able to make the screening is Chris Ball, one of Ray’s fellow directors at the Orbit who has established himself as a film producer and distributor based in Los Angeles, making a further link between the Orbit and AFC

Telford United.

The Wellington Orbit has seating for 63 people per screening and is situated in the old Midland/HSBC Bank building at the junction of Station Road and Market Square in Wellington, making it a fine location for the planned screenings of the movie.

It is also licensed, making it possible to enjoy a drink as you enjoy the movie too.

Tickets for the three screenings of “The Keeper” are available by either booking on line following the instructions at www.wellingtonorbit.co.uk , telephoning booking at 01952 743377 or by paying by cash or cheque either in advance of the screening or on the day at the Wellington Orbit although you are strongly advised to book as early as possible to ensure you are guaranteed a seat.

Win a pair of tickets for Wellington Orbit!

To celebrate the 80th Birthday of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Wellington Orbit will be showing the film over the last weekend of September with a few additional surprises thrown in!

All tickets for all shows will be just £4. With three planned shows across the weekend, this screening is part of the Telford Film Festival (see the website and the Facebook Page for further information).

We are also currently working with other cinemas in the region to schedule a ‘Pride’ Festival over October as well as other special events.

Like us on Facebook for more information or check out our website, to view our films schedule and to book your seats.

HOW TO ENTER All you have to do to enter the prize draw is answer the following question

The Wizard of Oz won two Oscars - what were they for?

Send your answer along with your name, address and daytime telephone number to tania@plus2media.co.uk or post your entry to: Plus2, PO Box 515, Telford TF2 2JE. Closing date for entries is Friday 27 September, good luck!

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PLAYMOBIL: THE MOVIE Saturday 21 September 10.30 / 14.30 Sunday 22 September 14.30

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To book please call in and see us or visit www.wellingtonorbit.co.uk or call on 01952 743377 www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 29

28, 29 The Keeper.indd 2

07/09/2019 00:44

The Lawley Gate Time Team Pete Jackson

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esidents in Lawley Gate have set up their own Time Team to investigate a well set in the side of the old Dawley to Wellington road. The well is opposite the Lawley Gate toll house.

The toll house dates from the opening of the stretch of road, which now forms the entrance to a modern housing development, but which was originally a junction with the 1817 Cock Hotel to Coalbrookdale turnpike road to Heath hill according to local historian Neil Clarke.

Following clearing the vegetation covering the well and digging out soil and general rubbish that has been collecting in the base the Time Team invited local brick specialist Tony Mugridge to give his view on the date of the well. Tony was excited to identify the lintel that sits astride the two supporting brick columns as being a recycled foundation stone from an old timber mansion in the area which he believes to have been added to an original structure. The back wall of the well he dated to the first 20 years of the eighteenth century,during the reign of Queen Ann which places the well in a whole different historical period than originally thought.

Having started the project the Lawley Gate Time Team and looking to repoint the walls that are fairly uneven and to investigate how deep the well which is though to have collected water that would have run off Horse hay common prior to the area being open cast mined and subsequently landscaped to create the golf course.

remembers the well and who may have drank from it.

For more information contact: pete62jackson@gmail. com

Local resident Chris Hamps said “It is exciting to find such interesting history literally on our door step. It highlights the many changes that have taken place on this stretch of road over the last 300 years. It would be great to find out more about its origins and we hope to be able to restore it and make it safe for future generations to be reminded of our local heritage” The group would be interested to hear of any one who

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30 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 32 Lawley Gate.indd 1

05/09/2019 09:15

Pete

Jackson

Cinderloo - Telford’s best untold story...

With the anniversary of Peterloo being marked by events in Manchester over the summer Cinderloo 1821 have been gathering support and raising awareness about Shropshire’s contribution to the struggles for democracy and workers’ rights back in the 19th Century.

T

he project has been working with local schools to explain the story of the conflict between colliers and the local yeomanry and the conditions that local working people faced in the period following the Battle of Waterloo and the impact that recession of the time had on the coal and iron industry in what is now Telford.

Additionally they have embarked on an exciting project, supported by Wrekin Housing Trust to explore ‘lost communities’ of Telford working with local artists Amanda Hillier and Andrew Howe (pictured) to create pieces of art work to recreate the communities and the issues people faced in the 1820’s The art work is being used to create a map following the route that the colliers took as they marched to their final destination at Old Park , near to what is now the Forge Retail Park.

The group has also undertaken a number of walks exploring parts of the route the colliers took and joined up recently with the St Georges Community group, as part of the History on foot series of walks co-ordinated by Wrekin Local Studies Forum, to investigate Oakengates and surrounds. 60 people marched over the new railway footbridge led by the Shropshire and Telford Trades Council banner that depicts the battle of Cinderloo in vivid colour.

The group are now planning the events that will take place in 2021 and have partnered with Townsend Theatre Productions who have a national reputation for depicting social history through theatre, music and community involvement. They have recently toured the country with their one - man show of the famous socialist story of the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists and more recently “Rouse ye women’ that tells the story of Mary McArthur and the women chain makers of Cradley Heath.

The groups proposals and work have been warmly welcomed by Telford & Wrekin councillor Carolyn

Healy who is the Cabinet Champion for Heritage who said ” I do recognise and value the heritage of the whole borough and want make sure we don’t just focus our efforts on the Gorge and on the foundry and factory owners, but also tell the stories of ordinary people’s lives. ” Pete Jackson spokesman for the group said “Cinderloo is perhaps Telford’s best untold story as it touches on issues that do not paint all of our former citizens in glory. It is creating lots of interest from young and old alike in reminding us of the conditions and struggles that our ancestors went through to create the town we have today. We are excited to be working with Townsend Theatre company on what we believe will a suitable commemoration of the 200th anniversary.”

About Cinderloo 1821 You can find out more about the project at www.cinderloo.com on Facebook at Cinderloo on Twitter @cinderloo and on Instagram @cinderloo1821 where you will find details of our work If you would like to get involved in the project please email us at cinderloo1821@gmail.com www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 31

31 Cinderloo PJ.indd 1

04/09/2019 19:16

Dothill Nature Reserve receives Sainsbury’s Community award

A

s part of Sainsbury’s 150th anniversary celebration, the local store nominated Friends of Dothill Local Nature Reserve to receive their ‘Day in the Community’ award. The award included 250 hours of volunteer work on the reserve, four in-store awareness events (giving the Friends the opportunity to promote the reserve in the store foyer) and to receive the contents of the in-store collection tins over a fixed period.

Sainsbury’s hosts 30,000 customers a week. As well as a variety of tasks including path clearance, hedging and whip pruning the volunteers focused project has been the Spa Meadow improvement.

The project includes the following steps: 1. Survey the meadow to identify the current

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variety of grasses & flowers 2. Test the soil for PH, Nitrogen, Phosphorus & Potassium levels.

3. Collect the seeds from the Yellow Rattle flowers.

4. Create “Bug Hotels” for hibernating invertebrates in the meadow corners.

5. Cut and remove all plant matter from the meadow.

6. Push back vegetation and overhanging branches on the meadow perimeter.

7. Scarifying areas of least productive meadow varieties.

8. Re-seeding with Yellow Rattle and Bird’s Foot Trefoil.

9. Create and install small notice board to celebrate the group’s contribution.

The project is currently ongoing having completed the first four steps only.

● Dawley Art Group are holding their annual exhibition on Thursday & Friday, the 12th & 13th September at the British Legion Club, Dawley.

Doors open at 9.30am until 3.30 pm. Paintings and hand-crafted greetings cards are for sale.

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32 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 32 The Swan.indd 1

08/09/2019 11:59

Local Studies in Telford and Wrekin

The Community History Centre at Wellington Library (01952 382990) for the main collection for Telford & Wrekin including the Wellington Journal on microfilm; Ordnance Survey and tithe maps.

Wrekin Local Studies Forum

Wrekin Local Studies Forum

November 2019

Digital History 'Telford Our New Town, creating a digital

October 2019

archive, photographs and films showing Telford's development Calendar of Meetings and Events Late 2019 from the 1960s-1980s on the digital table at Southwater

The Forum promotes community history by publishing our bi-annual leaflet, our website (www.wlsf.org.uk.) and our active Facebook page. Through our mailing list which includes community and family history groups, reminiscence groups, museums, National Trust, archives, libraries and local authorities, the Forum can advertise other relevant opportunitiesSeptember and events. 2019

www.wlsf.org.uk

Library. Digitised editions of Dawley/Telford Observer are searchable on computers at Southwater and Wellington;1963 up to 1984. www.telfordournewtown.co.uk

ADHS - Albrighton & District Historic BAHS - Britannia Aqueduct Historical BLHS - Broseley Local History Society C1821 - Cinderloo 1821 FIGMT - Friends of Ironbridge Gorge FSA - Friends of Shropshire Archives

The Wrekin Local Studies Forum brings together organisations and individuals interested in community history around the Telford and Wrekin area. The Forum meets quarterly to exchange ideas and information and to plan joint ventures. These meetings are advertised in our calendar; any group or individuals are most welcome to attend. If you are a new Group, this is the place to receive lots of advice and enthusiastic support.

4th Max Keen “Alfred the Gre 6th Annual Joint Meeting: Nei Classroom, Coalbrookdale 7.30pm FIG 7th Kate Croft “James Watt a Parish Centre 7.30pm WrHG 9th John Hunt (University of Bi St Milburga of Wenlock and her monk Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND 2.30p 9th Lawley and Overdale Paris 10th Aqueduct Remembrance S and Chapel Lane, Aqueduct. 2.30pm 12th Paul Ridgeley “Shropshire The Chestnuts, Cross Houses, Nr Shrew 15th Get Together and reminisc 16th Friends Annual Lecture D Lunar Society” Shropshire Archives En 16th Music and Mummers: New Newport Mummers Play. Admission £10 Waters Lane NHS

2nd AGM, followed by John Wil 7.30pm BLHS 3rd John Shearman “Family Hi Priorslee Parish Centre 7.30pm WrHG 7th Michael Marriott “The Hist 7.30pm ADHS 12th Ian Purchase (Friends of At approach to John Nash's Picture Gall Shirehall, Abbey Foregate Shrewsbury 15th Graham Bradbury “Tracing adoption” The Old Chapel Community Shrewsbury 7.30pm SFHS 16th Sarah Roberts (New IGMT A Glass Classroom, Museum Offices, Coal 17th Geoff Harrison “Sutherlan 21st Sarah Thursfield “I was Na Century Clothes” Newport Baptist Chu 23rd Forum meeting Wellington 26th Victoria County History An aftermath and memorialisation of the Central Baptist Church.(Donations wel 29th Social Meeting Britannia In

17th Heritage Open Day Tour, e 2.00pm-4.00pm with refreshments SA 17th Richard Bifield “Shropshir Centre, The Chestnuts, Cross Houses, 18th John Yates (retired Inspect Inspector Called” Third 50th Annivers Coalbrookdale. 7.30pm FIGMT 19th Giles Carey “Historical Re Wellington Library 7.30pm WHG 20th Get Together and reminisc 21st AGM followed by Annual Le “Iron Bridge repairs and restoration” 6ND 2.30pm SAHS 21st Heritage Open Days, St Ja BAHS 21st “History on your doorstep Madeley Rest Room, Church Street, Ma 21st Guildhall Heritage Day/ Gu High Street at 10.00am, 12.00am and 2 22nd Heritage Open Days, St Ja followed by Harvest Festival service 4 28th Celebrating 40 years; Mem

Wrekin Local Studies Forum

https://www.facebook.com/wrekinlocalstudies/groups Events See the library website for details of current events

www.telford.gov.uk/libraries 17th Geoff “Sutherland Snippets” Wellington Library 7.30pm Volunteer Drop-In To help you start yourHarrison family or local history searches. Wellington Library - Fridays 11.00am – WHG The Forum also organises events such as our Community Southwater Library 11.00“I– was 12.30pm 21st - Thursdays Sarah Thursfield Naked and you Clothed me: 18th & 19th Dr Kate Croft extraordinary Sabrina Sidney” Red History Days.2nd In 2018, the Forum held“The Telford Past and story of12.30pm.

Library members haveatfree access to Ancestry Library Century Clothes” Newport Baptistand Church, Water Lane 7.30pm NHS s together Present as part of the Telford 50 year long celebration House, Albrighton 7.30pm ADHS The Community History Centre Find My Past,Free the Shropshire Collection onmeeting Library computers.

23rd Forum - Wellington Library 7.30pm WLSF which provided opportunity public to see 2nda great “From Sheepfor to the Sugar” Welsh woolthe and slavery project. in community Wellington Library (01952 382990) for the Virtual Library Contains 26th a Community History section wideForum range ofworkshop community history interests to meet our Victoria County History Annual Lecture -Dr Nick Mansfield “The 2.00pm-4.00pm SA andmain rea. The collection for Telford &about Wrekin providing details what is held in memorialisation our libraries including members around TelfordPat and Wrekin under one roof.

We book on aftermath and of the Great War in Shropshire” Shrewsbury 4th Bracegirdle “Dawley Girl writes Telford” Broseley information and to Journal onCentral a range of online reference resources from home. also hold our History on Foot walks from Juneincluding to August, the Wellington Baptistaccessible Church.(Donations welcome) 2.00pm SA Social Club 7.30pm BLHS e advertised in our arranged by Forum members and supporters bringing historyOrdnance www.telford.gov.uk/libraries/ communityhistory microfilm; Survey and tithe 29thmaps.Social Meeting Britannia Inn, Aqueduct. 8.00pm BAHS 14th History Day St John’s Church Hall, Dawley Road, Lawley 12.00 most welcome accessible to to everyone. noon-3.00pm LO History 'Telford Our New Town, creating a digital Digital the place toFor receive more the Forum visitNHS 14th/Information 21st archive, Heritageabout Day Events, Newport SHROPSHIRE November 2019 photographs and films showing Telford's development 14th -www.wlsf.org.uk 29th Coracles at the Green Wood Centre Green Wood Centre, 6 ARCHIVES from the 1960s-1980s on the digital table at Southwater Station Rd, Carbondale 10.00am-4.00pm daily during Festival of Imagination.

4th Max Keen “Alfred the Great” Red House, Albrighton 7.30pm y by publishing our Or contact Darren Blackburn Library.

Digitised editions Dawley/Telford ObserverADHS are Demonstrating Coracle Skills, puppet making,of children’s activities, (Chair) darrenblackburn101@gmail.com sf.org.uk.) and our The servicesocial covers the historic county of Shropshire and is searchable on computers at Southwater and Wellington;1963 email info@wlsf.org.uk / secretarywlsf@gmail.com history of Ironbridge and conservation activities.

Free Entry.

6th CouncilAnnual Joint Meeting: jointlyICT funded by Shropshire and Telford & WrekinNeil Clarke “Both sides of the river” ling list which up 1984. www.telfordournewtown.co.uk 16th Rayto Farlow “Newport and District in Old Postcards” Baptist nearly 9km GlassofClassroom, Coalbrookdale 7.30pm FIGMT/ BLHS Council. Holding material relating to groups, reminiscence Church, Water Lane, Newport 7.30pm NHS Shropshire’s past and present, Archives works 7th Shropshire Kate Croft “James Watt and the Lunar Society” St Georges and ves, libraries and Events See the library website for details of current events closely with library services and voluntary societies to WrHG 17th Heritage Open Day Tour, exhibition of archives.

Free, booking Priorslee Parish Centre 7.30pm ise other relevant www.telford.gov.uk/libraries co-ordinate access to local The aim of essential the Friends is to ensure preservation of 2.00pm-4.00pm with refreshments SA 9thhistory resources.

John Hunt (University of Birmingham) “Tradition, influence and Shropshire's documentary andByfield published heritage and the you Volunteer Drop-In ToChurches” help your family or local 17th Richard “Shoeshine Thestart Old Chapel impact. St Milburga of Wenlock and her monks in a regional setting” Shirehall, needs and means of caring for it.

Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, SY2 6ND 2.30pm SAHS The Forum is supported Community Centre, The Chestnuts, Cross Houses, Near Shrewsbury history searches.

Wellington Library - Fridays 11.00am – Foregate, Abbey Shrewsbury, s our Community The activities of the Friends include a programme of Shrewsbury.

SY1 2AQ Tel.: 0345 678 9096 byWalk Telford 7.30pm SFHS 9th Lawley and Overdale Parish Remembrance LO & Wrekin Council 12.30pm.

Southwater Library Thursdays 11.00 – 12.30pm history days based on a subject or a locality, Telford themed Past and Email: archives@shropshire.gov.uk 18th John Yates (retired Inspector of Historic Buildings, English and is a member of the 10th Aqueduct Remembrance Service, at the Aqueduct, junction of haveevents. free access to Ancestry Library and summer guided walks,Library an annualmembers lecture and other ong celebration Heritage) “Anarticles Inspector Called” Third 50th Anniversary talk. Glass www.shropshirearchives.org.uk ClassSilkin Way and Chapel Lane, Aqueduct. 2.30pmBritish BAHS Association of Local History A newsletter containing by members and updates Find My Past, the Shropshire Collection on Library computers. the public to see the Museum room, Offices, Carbondale.

7.30pm on recent developments within Shropshire Archives is FIGMT 12th Paul Ridgeley “Shropshire Soldiers” The Old Chapel Community Library Contains a Community History section sts and published to meetthree our timesVirtual a year.Carey 19th Giles “Historical Records relevant to the Wellington Area” Centre, The Chestnuts, Cross Houses, Near Shrewsbury 7.30pm SFHS Download a PDF version A major historic research resource is held at the Library providing details about what is held in our libraries including alsoWellington help the service, asWHG volunteers der oneFriends roof. We Library working 7.30pm 15th Get Together and reminiscence Lawley Community Centre and Archive of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust. providing support to cataloguing, conservation and of this leaflet by visiting aGet range of online reference resources accessible from6.30pm home.LO m June to August, 20th Together and reminiscence Lawley Community Centre, Access may be obtained by prior appointment with the digitisationArleston activity. Lane, Any enquiries should be addressed to: Lawley 6.30pm LO rters bringing history 16th Friends Annual Lecture Dr Kate Croft “The Wives and Daughters www.telford.gov.uk/libraries/ communityhistory Archivist.

Mrs P Kiernan, 11 Lime 21st AGM followed

by Way, Annual Lecture, Heather Seibre of the Lunar Society” Shropshire Archives Entry £5 10.30am FSA Tel.:16th 01952 432141 Wellington, TELFORD 3PJ“Iron Tel: 01952 252814 (English HeritageTF1 Trust) Bridge repairs and restoration” Shirehall, Abbey Music and Mummers: Newport Male Voice Choir concert and the www.facebook.com/WrekinLocalStudies/groups he Forum visit www.friendsofshropshirearchives.org.uk Email: library@ironbridge.org.uk Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND 2.30pm SAHS original Newport Mummers Play. Admission £10 including refreshments and 21st Heritage Open Days, St James Church, Stirchley 12.00 noon to cake. Cosy Hall, Waters Lane NHS uk 4.00pm BAHS 18th Neil Clarke “Industry in East Shropshire Through Time” Baptist kburn 21st “History on your doorstep Returns!” Prince Street & Station Church, Water Lane 7.30pm NHS @gmail.com Road. Madeley Rest Room, Church Madeley. county 2.00 -4.00pm MHG 19th Paul Ridgeley “Shropshire Soldiers of Waterloo” The Old Chapel The service coversStreet, the historic of Shropshire and is ywlsf@gmail.com21st Guildhall Guided Guildhall tours. Heritage walks & Wrekin Community Centre, The Chestnuts, Cross Houses, Near Shrewsbury jointlyHeritage fundedDay/

by Shropshire Council and Telford down the High Street atHolding 10.00am,nearly 12.00am9km and 2.00pm NHS relating to 7.30pm SFHS Council. of material 22nd Heritage Open Days, St James Church, Stirchley 12.00 noon 20th Rebecca Mascull “The Ironbridge Saga” Glass Classroom, Shropshire’s past and present, Shropshire Archives works -4.00pm followed by Harvest Festival service 4.00pm-5.00pm BAHS closely with library services and voluntary societies toMuseum Offices, Coalbrookdale. 2.30pm FIGMT 28th Celebrating 40 years; Members Day SFHS 21st Allan Frost “Hiatt Ladies’ College” Wellington Library 7.30pm co-ordinate access to local history resources. servation of WHG

udies Forum

Local Studies in Telford and Wrekin

Autumn/ Winter Wrekin2019/ Local EARLY 2020 StudiesSources Forum Societies Diary of Events

It’s your History!

Friends of Shropshire Archives

Autumn/ Winter

2019/ EARLY 2020

Sources Societies Diary ofwww.wlsf.org.uk Events

It’s your History!

SHROPSHIRE ARCHIVES

e Archives

ed heritage and the

October 2019

Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, December 2019

programme of 2nd Shrewsbury.

SY1“John 2AQ Tel.: 0345 678 9096 AGM, followed

by John Willock Randall” Broseley Social t or a locality, Club 7.30pm BLHS Email: archives@shropshire.gov.uk 2nd re and other events.

3rd John Shearman “Family History –A personal view” St Georges 4th mbers and updates and Priorslee Parish Centrewww.shropshirearchives.org.uk 7.30pm WrHG 5th hire Archives is 7th Michael Marriott “The History of the Rose” Red House, 6th

The Forum is supported

by Telford & Wrekin Council AGM Red House,and Albrighton ADHS is a 7.30pm member of the Annual Dinner The Lion, Broseley 7.30 pm BLHS British Association of Local History Social Evening WrHG

Social Meeting Shrewsbury Castle SAHS Albrighton 7.30pm ADHS 12th Harriet Devlin “Shedding Light on Lightmoor” Glass Classroom, A Purchase major historic research resource is John held at the Museum LibraryOffices, Coalbrookdale 2.30pm FIGMT 12th Ian “Amazing Space: a cultural approach to Nash’s as volunteers and of the Ironbridge GorgeForegate Museums17th Trust. Ray Farlow “Events and Celebrations in Shropshire” The Old Picture Gallery andArchive Staircase at Attingham Park” Shirehall, Abbey ervation and SY2 6ND may 2.30pmbeSAHS Chapelthe Community Centre, The Chestnuts, Cross Houses, Near Shrewsbury Access obtained by prior appointment with uld be addressed Shrewsbury to: 15th Graham Bradbury “Tracing my birth parents 60 years after my 7.30pm SFHS Archivist. e Way, adoption” The Old Chapel Community Centre, The Chestnuts, Tel.:SFHS 01952 432141 Tel: 01952 252814 Cross Houses, Near Shrewsbury 7.30pm www.facebook.com/WrekinLocalStudies/groups chives.org.uk 16th Email: library@ironbridge.org.uk Sarah Roberts (New IGMT Archivist/ Librarian)“The work of an Archivist” Glass Classroom, Museum Offices, Coalbrookdale. 7.30pm FIGMT

Download a PDF version of this leaflet by visiting

www.wlsf.org.uk

List of Forum Members

ADHS - Albrighton & District Historical Society – www.albrighton.wix.com/adhs BAHS - Britannia Aqueduct Historical Society – aqueductlocalhistory.wordpress.com/ BLHS - Broseley Local History Society – www.broseley.org.uk C1821 - Cinderloo 1821 – https://cinderloo.com FIGMT - Friends of Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust –friends@ironbridge.org.uk FSA - Friends of Shropshire Archives – www.friendsofshropshirearchives.org.uk ICT - Ironbridge Coracle Trust – www.coracleshed.org KHG - Ketley History Group – www.facebook.com/groups/232901083430144/ LO - Lawley & Overdale Local History Group – lawleyoverdalelhg@gmail.com MHG - Madeley History Group – andy@madeleytowncouncil.gov.uk

NHS - Newport History Society – info@newporthistorysociety.org SA - Shropshire Archives – www.shropshirearchives.gov.uk SAHS - Shropshire Archaeological & Historical Society – www.shropshirearchaeologyhistory.org SCMC – Shropshire Caving and Mining Club – www.shropshirecmc.org.uk* SFHS - Shropshire Family History Society – secretary@sfhs.org.uk SLHG - Shifnal Local History Group – www.shifnalhistory.org WHG - Wellington History Group – www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com WLSF - Wrekin Local Studies Forum – www.wlsf.org.uk WrHG - Wrekin Historical Group – www.thas.co.uk

Dates and details of the above listed events and meetings are correct at time of print.

Copies of the WLSF leaflet available at local libraries. Download a copy via - www.wlsf.org.uk

It’s your History! www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 33

33 Local Studies Forum.indd 1

08/09/2019 20:05

The

Butchers ter’s Daugh Cook book H

s The Butcher r, te gh Dau ountry Morgan’s C Butchers pton of Waters U

Rotary Club take part in annual classic vehicle day

Feeds Two

Hello all,

ave you noticed the air has changed? Even with that said, I think September is a glorious month and for us it means one thing.... Foodie month!

We are at a food festival each weekend throughout September, so its a busy one indeed!

Pop these dates into your diary if you fancy a day out: ● 14th September sees the legendary Ludlow Food Festival, you’ll find us on the Sausage Trail and dad will be working with good friend and Chef, Shropshire Lad Adam on stage! ● 21st September is the Newport Food Frenzy, the high street is closed and full of passionate artisan producers like ourselves, also catch dad on stage doing a butchery demo! ● 28th September sees the Ginger & Spice Festival in Market Drayton, which celebrates all of Clive of India’s spicy discoveries and you will catch dad on stage showcasing the skill of butchery there too!

So, with that said, I’m still clinging on to the fact im not quite ready for casseroles and hearty meals... heres my beef fillet and beetroot salad.

Ingredients: • Butchers salt - (course ground sea salt with peppercorn and shallot) • Maris Piper potatoes 300g • Fry light • Fillet steak 6oz (2) • Olive oil • Garlic cloves (2) • Baby spinach leaf • Kale • Whole baby beetroot (2) • Small pickled onions radish (2) • 1/4 cucumber • Crispy onions • Balsamic dressing

Method: 1. Peel and cut the potatoes into chunky chips.

2. Place into salted boiling water for 6-7 minutes.

3. Drain and allow to dry, then spread the chips evenly over a hot baking tray.

4. Spray with fry light and place in the middle of a hot oven 200°c fan for approx 35 minutes. Turn and respray halfway through.

5. When ready sprinkle with flaked sea salt and place onto plate.

6. Wash and place some baby spinach leaves and kale onto a plate.

7. Cut Cucumber & Radishes into slices.

8. Half and slice the baby beetroot then place the radish, beetroot and cucumber slices onto the salad leaves.

9. Drizzle with balsamic dressing and sprinkle with crispy onions.

10. When cooking your magnificen Fillet steaks allow to rest at room temp for 30 minutes before cooking.

11. Rub the steak in oil, butchers salt and crushed garlic just before cooking.

12. Place onto a hot pan, cook for 3 and a half minutes each side for medium. Remove from heat and allow meat to rest. Its so important to rest!

13. Once ready, slice and place onto plate - and enjoy!

Hope you enjoy

Lauren x

T

elford Centre Rotary Club took part in the annual Classic vehicle day at Attingham Park on Sunday 11th August. This major fundraising event is now in its 10th year. The event was organised by Club member Rtn. David Sear and supported by event sponsor BMW. David was delighted that the day had gone so well.

A sunny day brought out the crowds to view the vintage and classic cars on display and to take part in the many fundraising events run

by Club members along with volunteers from Severn Hospice and Telford Samaritans.

In addition trade exhibitors were pleased to play their part in contributing to making the day a success.

Music and song provided by the Telfordaires choir added to the atmosphere along with music duo ‘On the Rebound’, Shifnal Ukulele Group and George, a university student, playing the saxophone.

Fund raising events run by Rotary members were very successful. These included a ‘cakes, jams and pickles stall’, tombola, craft and brica-brac stalls.

Sue and Geoff’s ever-popular ‘wheelbarrow of booze’ generated over £800 alone.

It seems likely that the overall funds raised will exceed those generated last year. £7000 District Governor Brian Reilly commented that this event was a splendid example of what Rotary does so well and supporting a local charity increases the visibility of Rotary in the local community. He added that all the Telford Centre Rotary Club members who took part in the planning, organisation and running of events on the day were to be congratulated.

The photos shows. our Sponsors BMW Mini Cooper S, the other Rtn David Sear bending down to the Messerschmidt owner, and the overall winner in 2019 the winning Lady, Lucy Gilchrist who owns the Riley.

All monies raised from the event will be passed to Severn Hospice to contribute towards the vital services they provide.

34 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 36, 37 The Record Man.indd 1

04/09/2019 18:15

Shropshire Oktoberfest returns to Shrewsbury The huge beer tent for Shropshire Oktoberfest is due to return to Shrewsbury’s Quarry Park on October 4 and 5. Brewers from the region and beyond will serve up around 150 real ales. There will also be numerous bars serving up lager, cider and perry, plus a prosecco parlour, gin den, and wine bar, which can all be mopped up with a vast array of delicious street food.

Shropshire Festival’s founder, Beth Heath, comments, “We have been thrilled with the support for the event over the last two years, with people flocking to the Quarry for fun with friends, networking with a difference and group outings.

“This year’s festival will be better than ever, and for the first time we will be holding a silent disco on the Saturday of the event which we hope will create a memorable, unique experience with plenty of laughs.”

The music line-up has just been revealed. Friday’s acts include The Paprika Blues Band, Custard Connection and The Follicles. Saturday’s music line-up includes Asparagus and the Kilburn, Izzy and the hotheads, Vorsprung Durch Oompah, Dirty Rockin’ Scoundrels, Five O’clock Hero and Bouncing Betty.

The festival’s comedy club will be compered by Chris Brooker. He will be joined by Stephen Carlin’s deadpan wit, Keith Carter’s character comedy, Vince Atta and his multi-track looper, and Gordon Southern who headlines following huge success on the international comedy circuit.

It is expected that there will be a big demand for tickets to one of the best parties of the year. Purchase yours now from -

www.shropshireoktoberfest.co.uk

SAVE MONEY WHEN YOU BOOK TICKETS ONLINE 150+ REAL ALES // LIVE MUSIC // COMEDY CLUB // GIN DEN // RUM SHACK // COCKTAILS // SILENT DISCO // STREET FOOD // WINE BAR

4 - 5 OCT ‘19

SHREWSBURY QUARRY PARK

SHROPSHIREOKTOBERFEST.CO.UK

with

The Record Man

Austin Powell

Joe Brown

Darktown Strutters, Crazy World and Pictures of You Jasmine JASMCD 2658

H

e’s the ‘chirpy cockney’ who was born far away from the sound of Bow Bells, Swarby in Lincolnshire to be exact, but Joe Brown has been a Londoner for most of his life having moved to Plaistow when he was just two years old.

He came to prominence in the good old days of music shows on TV, primarily those produced by Jack Good and was a member of impresario Larry Parnes’ stable of talent that included Billy Fury, Marty Wilde and Vince Eager.

A guitarist of the highest calibre, who Good had employed to back American stars like Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent on his TV shows, soon got a record deal with Decca and his first, albeit minor, hit came with The Darktown Strutters’ Ball which made number 34 in 1960. A year later and having moved to Pye Records he had his second hit, Shine, which made number

33. It not until 1962 that Joe Brown got the chart success he deserved. A Picture Of You (number 2), It Only Took A Minute (number 6) and That’s What Love Will Do (number 3) changed all that.

This thirty-four track package collects everything he recorded between 1959 and 1962 including lesser known releases like The Savage which he released as by The Sneaky Pete’s in 1960, little more than a studio jam session with American songwriter Mort Shuman as well as some ‘live’ recordings with Cochran, Vincent, Billy Fury and Tommy Steele, but it’s the hits that that make this package really worth adding to the collection.

Now in his late seventies, Joe Brown continues to tour. He has one starting this month and whilst there are dates in Dudley, Stafford and Shrewsbury, sadly Telford isn’t included. My suggestion ? Buy the CD and have a Joe Brown evening of your own.

● Austin Powell spent almost all his working life in the music business beginning in his home area of Mid Wales in the mid-sixties. For some years he managed popular Telford pop group Fluff, before moving to London where he worked in record promotion, music publishing and the management of record labels. Over the years he’s also managed several successful radio stations. Now retired, his love of music is undimmed and, although now retired, he continues to write regular features for ‘Record Collector’ magazine about the music of the sixties and seventies. www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 35

36, 37 The Record Man.indd 2

04/09/2019 17:42

Asset Protection

Introducing Rachel Davenport

I am Rachel Davenport a partner here at Clarkes LLP and I am delighted to introduce myself to the readers of the Wrekin News! I specialise in the drafting I’m Sarah Sharpe, a local of Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and friendly Solicitor who has Estate and Inheritance Tax planning and has to go into residential care or a nursing home? Assets, many years’ experienceEstates. in a the Administration of deceased which may include the family home, could be used to pay for range client matters I would likeof to private think I am known for careyou fees.considered what can happen if a surviving including approach Property, Have Have you considered what can happen if my professional to the Wills, legal Powers of but Attorney, Courtsight of partner has to go into residential care or a nursing home? partner has to go into residential care or a nu services I provide I never lose You can legitimately share Protection, Assets, which may includepreserve the familyyour home, couldof bethe usedfamily home Assets, which may include the family home, co of the fact that peopleInheritance come to see tax me death by making a new Property Trust Will: estate the at stressful timesplanning of their livesand or to discuss diffito cult topics.

Anyone toon payyour for care fees. pay for care fees. that Sarah Sharpeknows Administration me, clients andoffriends alike, will tell you people often dread their Estates.

You can legitimately preserve your share of the family can legitimately preserve your share o appointments, but leave having raised a smileYou (even a full blown giggle or ● Leave your share to your children. home on your death by making a new Property Trust Will: home on matter your death by making a new Property two sometimes) and relieved to have progressed their so quickly. a warm and approachable service ● Your share will be held in Trust after your death. I pride myself in offering always I am happytotosuit seeatclients careshare hometo your children. yourown shareyour to your children.  hospital, Leave your to all of my clients andAs offer appointments eitherin their home, ● YouLeave will still share of the home. or hospice, anywhere that suits them best, but wherever the venue, the our Wellington or Telford Centre Offices.  Your share will be held in Trust after your death.  Your share will be held in Trust after y outcome is the same……quality legal solutions at reasonable prices ● Your partner will have the right to live in the home.  You will still own your share of the home.  You will still own your share of the hom delivered with care.

I am also more than happy to meet clients at home,  Your partner will have the right to live in the home.  Your partner will have the right to live in I am a member of Shropshire Solicitors for the Elderly and a dementia or at our local hospice.

This can be achieved while both of you are alive andhospital in good friend and would love the opportunity to continue providing an excellent This can be achieved while of you are and in your home This can be achieved while both of you are mental health.

If you areboth interested in alive protecting I am committee member Shropshire Solicitors for theNews at our Wellington or Newport servicefor to all the readers of the Wrekin good health. Ifit’s youtoo arelate. interested in protecting your good mental health. If you are interested in pro act mental NOW before elderly, holder of theoffi Solicitors for the Elderly Older Client ces. home act NOW before it’s too late. home act NOW before it’s too late.

Care in Practice AwardMy andtelephone a Dementia Friend. number, during normal office hours is detailed below.

If you are interested about preserving your share of the family And as for my super skill……I make a mean cup of tea my clients!about preserving your s If you are interested about preserving your share of the I very much look forward If you areforinterested to meeting with many of you in home, thenthen consider advice. family home, considertaking taking professional professional advice. family home, then consider taking professional the weeks and months to come.

Planned for the future?

Asset Protection Have you considered what can happen if a surviving partner

Asset Protection

Planned for the future?

Planned for the futur

Rachel Davenport Speak to Sarah now …

7 Landau Court, Tan Bank, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire TF1 1HE Sarah Sharpe 7 Landau Court,Wellington Tan Bank, Wellington, 01952 223548 Telford Shropshire TF1 1HE Newport 01952 281060 01952 278111 rachel.davenport@clarkeslaw.co.uk Sarah.Sharpe@Clarkeslaw.co.uk

36 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 36 Community.indd 1

04/09/2019 13:14

Care & Community Older people enter the digital world Eleven older people from Telford recently celebrated completing a 12week computer course for beginners with Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin with a certificate presentation at Brookside Community Centre.

The course which was specifically designed for older people, provided a relaxed and informal opportunity to become more familiar with technology, developing new skills and learning how to use IT and the internet safely. Basic IT skills such as how to use a computer, mouse and keyboard, send and receive emails, online shopping and face to face video technology were all included.

Tutor, Microsoft Certified IT Professional, Andy Craddock, was assisted by volunteers from a local company ReAssure who were able to give one to one support during the class. Members were also encouraged to bring along their own devices such as mobile phones, Tablets and iPads and learn on how to set up and use.

Heather Osborne, Chief Executive of Age UK Shropshire Telford &

Free home energy checks for older people over 60

A

ge UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin is a local charity supporting older people and has once again been successful in securing additional funding to offer free and impartial home energy checks for the over 60s.

Keeping warm in the colder months is a huge issue for many homeowners who live in Shropshire. Many people live in poorly insulated houses which are not on the main gas grid and are therefore expensive to heat.

Shockingly around 300 older people die every winter in Shropshire from cold-related causes.

The free advisory service is delivered in partnership with Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin and Marches Energy Agency. The charity wants to stress it is not trying to sell anything, the one hour visit will offer impartial advice to make homes warmer and could save money on heating bills.

Heather Osborne, Chief Executive of Age UK STW, said: “With temperatures plummeting to minus 11 in some parts of Shropshire last winter we are urging older people to think ahead and prepare their homes for the coming winter months. This scheme is always very popular, I am delighted we have been able to secure the funding for a fourth year running to support older people keep their homes warm.”

Wrekin, said: “Use of IT and the internet has become an essential part of our everyday lives, with many services going online. The feedback from members who took part in this course has been really positive with many commenting that they came along with very little knowledge or confidence in using IT and left having gained many new useful skills which will make a real difference to them”.

A second course will begin on Wednesday 4 September from 1pm to 3pm at Brookside Community Centre. Cost is £72 for a course of 12 weeks, with an additional introductory week free of charge. Tea and coffee is also included. Places are limited so early booking is advised. For further information or to book onto the course, please contact Diane or Pam on 01952 201803 ext. 001 or email diane.douglas@ageukstw.org.uk

Doyou you know know a relative Do relativeor or friend that friend thatmay mayneed needaa Meals-on-Wheels service?

Meals-on-Wheels service?

Community Meals

Call ICare Meals ICareCommunity Community Meals a complimentarymeal mealand andsweet! sweet! to to trytry a complimentary

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l If you would like a free Home Energy Check call Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin on 01743 233123.

www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 37

37 Community.indd 1

04/09/2019 13:09

Care & Community Double success for housing women

T

he Wrekin Housing Group is celebrating a double success after being shortlisted in two categories at this year’s Women in Housing awards.

The Group’s Gas Operations team, led by Gas Operations Manager Fleur Whittingham, are finalists in the Development and Maintenance category, and Morag Bailey, Head of Continuous Improvement, is in the running to become Housing Professional of the Year.

The Women in Housing Awards, now in their seventh year, recognise and celebrate the achievements of outstanding women who work in housing.

The Gas Operations team were nominated because they represent women in a traditionally male-dominated sector. After

● Fleur Whittingham, Gas Operations Manager and Morag Bailey, Head of Continuous Improvement at The Wrekin Housing Group with team members.

joining forces with the AGSM (Association of Gas Safety Managers), the team travelled to the Houses of Parliament and successfully campaigned for a major change in gas regulations which created more flexibility around the timing of landlord’s annual gas safety checks.

The changes to the way that tenants’ annual services are planned has increased the flexibility of the team who are now about to match the Group’s award-winning general repairs same-day service. The change followed a recommendation made by the organisation’s involved tenants and has led to the Group retaining its 100% gas safety record for the ninth year running.

Housing Professional of the Year nominee Morag Bailey joined The Wrekin Housing Group in 2005 as Head of Continuous

Improvement. Her journey and commitment to housing began over thirty years ago, after becoming homeless with two children aged under four.

Since then, Morag has lived and breathed housing; dedicating herself as an involved tenant, tenant board member and a tireless campaigner to ensure that tenants are given a voice that is heard by board members and executive management teams. Throughout her career Morag’s forward-thinking approach, professionalism and commitment to the housing sector has been admired by her peers.

Morag and Fleur said: “We’re delighted to be shortlisted for these awards and to be helping to celebrate the success of women working in housing across the country.”

The winners of this year’s Women in Housing awards will be revealed in October.

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38 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 38 Community.indd 1

04/09/2019 12:55

Praise for ‘excellent’ staff as home retains quality rating

R

esidents at a care home in Newport feel safe and secure thanks to the caring and excellent staff, an official report by health watchdogs has revealed.

The Cottage Christian Nursing and Residential Home retained its ‘good’ status after undergoing an unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission on June 4.

The home in Granville Drive, which is run by Coverage Care Services, provides nursing and residential care for up to 40 older people.

During the visit, the inspection team spoke to seven residents and six members of staff including carers, nurses and the registered manager to assess how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led the service was, awarding it a ‘good’ rating across all categories.

One resident told them: “I am extremely fortunate to be in such a safe and caring place.

Everything is so good here. The environment and the staff all create a safe and secure place to live. The staff are excellent and nothing is ever too much trouble for any of them.”

A relative commended staff as “nice and kind and very approachable and really caring in their attitude” with another resident adding: “They

l Chris Wall, Chief Executive of Coverage Care Services

treat us all well and as individuals, they know what we like and what we don’t. They are there to help you as soon as you need it with a kind word and a smile and they are happy to chat with you and be with you. They also create a lovely social atmosphere, so you are never lonely or sad.”

Chief Executive Chris Wall said: “We are delighted that, once again, the way our team continues to put people, their needs and wishes at the centre of the service was recognised during the inspection.

“Delivering high quality person-centred care in a safe and stimulating environment whilst helping them to maintain their independence is a careful balancing act but one that the staff at The Cottage are clearly getting right.”

Manager Julie Stevenson added: “It has been very gratifying to hear honest opinions of our residents about how happy and well looked after they are.

“The inspectors only see a snapshot of life at the home but the impromptu nature of their visit means we get no forewarning so it is a genuine ‘warts and all’ experience for them. The fact that we had such a positive report is testament to the hard work of the entire team. We will build on this and continue to deliver the highest possible standard of care for our residents.”

The Cottage Christian Nursing and Residential Home is one of 14 homes in Shropshire run by the not-for-profit organisation Coverage Care, which is the county’s largest independent care provider.

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Cottage Christian Newport Tel: 01952 825 557 www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 39

Coverage Care page.indd 1

04/09/2019 12:33

Garden Home

A Wrekin News feature

Written by

Robert Hudson of Lilyhurst Plant Centre

Time for the big garden tidy up!

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utumn is fast approaching and with it the big tidy up time in the garden.

As leaves start to fall try and rake them up regularly as, if left on your lawns, they will kill off the grass and around the boarders they will encourage slugs and snails. While removing the leaves from your boarders also clear any weeds that come to light and do a general tidy up.

Tall shrubs like buddleia which are really pruned hard in the spring can have about half of this year’s growth removed to prevent damage from any high winds. Climbing roses also need to be secured before the high winds of autumn so check all ties. Then collect any fallen rose leaves as these can harbour the spores of the disease black spot, put them in the bin not on the compost heap.

If you have shrubs which you want to move wait until the deciduous ones are dormant, but

evergreens can be moved once it goes cooler and wetter. The important thing is to have your planting position prepared in advance. Dig a hole which you are sure will be large enough to take the transplanted shrub. Fork over the bottom of the hole and add a good layer of garden compost mix it in with your fork. Then place your shrub in position so the soil level will be the same as it was in the original position and fill in the remaining hole with soil, working it in between the roots and firming it in as you go along. Rake the soil level and water the plant in. If there is another prolonged dry spell and you have moved evergreens, they will need watering so keep an eye on them.

This is the time to order bare root plants and trees, these will have been grown in the fields and are usually bigger and cheaper, as there is no pot or compost involved in their production.

They also tend to grow away better after planting

40 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 40, 41 Home & Garden.indd 1

04/09/2019 14:50

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as their roots are in a more natural condition and have not become used to regular feeding and watering in a nice soft growing medium. At Lilyhurst we offer a range of trees, fruit and ornamentals, along with soft fruit such as raspberries as bare root plants. We are taking orders for these, having had our first in April.

On the nursery we will be lifting trees etc. for potting, and orders, once they have lost all their leaves and we have had a good amount of

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rain. This is very important this year as the plants have been very stressed by the lack of rain last year and, until recently, this year as well. Last year we started lifting in the middle of November, but the timing varies each year. This is why when bare root plants are ordered from us we always have your telephone number and phone immediately before lifting.

This ensures the plants are out of the ground for the least amount of time possible.

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www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 41

40, 41 Home & Garden.indd 2

04/09/2019 14:50

road test

With the Wrekin News motoring editor Syd Taylor

Mitsubishi L200

n Barbarcia ab Double auto

Unleash the

Barbarian T

HE days when bankers needed pick-ups to carry their wallets are hopefully over. But the pick-up itself rolls on: immune, it seems, to the vagaries of the market, broadcasting to the highways and byways of motoring, an uncompromising determination to impose a little beef into the whimpering world of conformity.

Even further back when life was nasty, brutish and short the Barbarians would charge across the Steppes and the tundra would tremble beneath the horses hooves.

Fast forward to todays world when gherkins, cheese graters and shards poke the sky above our capital city and media types broadcast to our nation from the Salford Quays. When politicians slug it out in the democratic bear pit of The Commons - we can say with certainty that civilisations untold benefits present few hazards for striving citizens.

And then there’s the other story. When was the last time you took to our roads? Surely

Genghis Khan himself would blanche at the horrors of the North Circular, pluck out his moustache hairs in fright at the terrors of the M6, run rings of sheer panic round roundabouts and cry to the heavens in despair ‘Why this?’

But behold! What is this mighty beast that rumbles forward to his rescue? Surely some armoured chariot. A hefty beast of a highway bruiser that will brook no nonsense.

As more and more discerning buyers are finding out - there is only one answer when a libertarian lifestyle founded upon solid principles of practicality is what the doctor ordered. What better pick-me-up than a proud pick-up of multi purpose versatility.

For sporty types, farmers, tradesmen from Gary the go-faster plummer to Tommy Telford the Builder and individualists of all kinds, the pickup promises to deliver personalised yet practical motoring at attractive costs. This high spec. 5 speed auto variant of the L200 is £29,040 (You can get the VAT back if you’re VAT registered)

I was proud to be associated with the Mitsubishi Barbarian from the very first moment I set eyes on it ‘til the end of the ‘all too brief’ test.

My answer to those who express wonder at the desirability of such vehicles is simply to say ‘try one yourself and you’ll understand’. The pick-up experience is one of the few remaining individualistic motoring treats available to the ordinary man or woman today.

Consider this. You get a cabin with space and plenty of scope for expansive thoughts big enough for a family and what’s more, it’s not a hymn to

42 · www.wrekinnews.co.uk 42, 43 Syd Taylor.indd 1

04/09/2019 11:42

Anthony to the rescue!

Cllr Anthony of Lowe the Mayor Wellington doeswn his bit for the to an in more ways th s one as he pitche! in and cleans up

utilitarianism but a celebration of luxurious comfort, with mood lighting, leather seats, air con. and power windows. Where else will you find such versatility?

There’s a load carrying capacity that not even Archimedes could conceive of. If this gear won’t float your boat nothing will. You could be delivering a bathtub one day and delivering the family to the seaside the next and bringing back half a beach of sand. And in a vehicle with this presence, no-one will kick sand in your face (Figuratively speaking. of course) as drivers of lesser vehicles keep a respectful distance - the brute in me loved its bigness.

The prime mover for all this is a 178bhp 2.4 litre lightweight aluminium diesel that conveys you with a smooth refinement all the way to over 110mph.

Most of the time you’ll be in 2wd high but there’s 4wd high and low,

plus a diff.lock - and in this auto version with sports mode to shift manually, you’ll never believe how good it is on the metalled highway as you cruise quietly and effortlessly at speed.

I was delighted at the way it stormed citadels of traffic chaos, muscled its way through mayhem thanks to a tight turning circle and all the while pleasing me like punch at the pumps. The claimed 32mpg is conservative. Without a load, near 39mpg was easy to achieve with careful driving.

Highways, byways, uplands, lowlands, the Barbarian fears no potholes: look out mole! Here we come.

How lucky we are, I reflected, to be able to choose such an individualistic engine of progress.

I thought long and hard for something negative to say and came up with just one drawback.

It is not the easiest vehicle to park at the supermarket - but that’s a small price to pay for a bighearted Barbarian unleashed.

And Hey! What’s a squashed hatchback or two between friends? This is a gentle giant that won’t let you down whether your name is Genghis or Geraldine.

M

ark Moulson of Mark the Barbers in Bell Street, Wellington made a complaint to Councillor Miles Hoskin regarding the fly tipping and human entrancement that had been taking place in the area behind his shop and asked if the council could get it

removed.

Miles went straight round to the council office and reported it to the Mayor Councillor Anthony Lowe.

Later Mark heard somebody working at the rear of his shop and went to investigate. He was surprised to find the Mayor equipped with spade and broom, bagging the rubbish up. Mark said the smell was disgusting and went and purchased two bottles of disinfectant which the Mayor spread round the area to make it smell better.

Anthony was not going to wait for contractors to come as he thought it would take too long, so set about the task himself. Well done and thank you Anthony, from Mark and all the people of Wellington!

BEFORE

AFTER

www.wrekinnews.co.uk · 43

42, 43 Syd Taylor.indd 2

08/09/2019 22:59

Ironbridge Gorge Museums join Festival of 14 - 29 Imagination Sep2te01m9ber

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he Ironbridge Gorge Museums will be taking part in this year’s Festival of Imagination, which runs from 14 to 29 September, with an array of special events and activities, many free. ● Family Heritage Day at

Wrekin News takes no responsibility for the items that are advertised for sale. ● Send you free advert lisitng items to: tania@plus2media.co.uk

live nearby. Tiles are at a special discount price for the festival starting at £5 each (p&p extra to have your tile sent home after firing). The hands-on sessions will take place between 10am and 12noon, allow 1½ hours to decorate your tile. No experience is needed and all ages are welcome.

Coalbrookdale 15 September – Free activities

● Broseley Pipeworks Open Days –

Saturday, 15 September is Family Heritage Day at the Museum’s Coalbrookdale site when you can explore Enginuity, the Museum of Iron for free at varying times between 10am and 4pm.

Go along to Enginuity, play with the huge exhibits and get up close to the Museum’s attempt to break the Guinness World Book of Records for building a bridge with the longest span from interlocking plastic bricks. The gigantic bridge, built in partnership with the Institute of Civil Engineers, has a record span of some 16.8m, is 34m long and contains just under 205,000 bricks.

Broseley Pipeworks offers a fascinating insight into the world of clay tobacco pipe making that once flourished in the historic town. Abandoned in the 1950s, the factory is now a wonderfully preserved time capsule that has changed little since the workers left. The Museum will be opening its doors out of normal hours on 18 and 22 September for guided tours at 10:30am, 12noon, 13:30pm and 15:00pm with places on a first come, first served basis.

● Jackfield Tile Workshops – 16

and 20 September

Treat yourself to a hands-on tile decorating workshop at Jackfield Tile Museum and create your own ceramic masterpiece to take home.

Your designs can be as colourful and original as your imagination allows. The Victorian tube lining technique will be used to decorate the tiles, which is just like icing a cake! Once you’ve piped on the design you can add colourful glazes, then leave your tile at the museum where it will be fired in a kiln to reveal the dazzling colours and posted to your home, or you can collect it from Jackfield if you

18 and 22 September

● Coalport Experience Day – 17

and 19 September

Make your choice from two different immersive experiences at Coalport China Museum on 17 and 19 September. Try your hand at either slip casting or bone china flower making in the actual workshops where Coalport china was made; your masterpiece will be glazed and fired ready for collection two weeks later, or it can be posted to your home for a small charge.

Other events include a free to view exhibition at the Coalbrookdale Gallery; a film night in the Engine Shop at Enginuity on 26 September and two STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) based education events for students.

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Doors open at 18.30pm for a 19.00pm start. £8 for non-members per ticket. £ 7 for Senior Citizens Tickets can be purchased at Wellington Spiritualist Church, located at the top of Regent Street, across the road form the Telford Whitehouse Hotel car park entrance.

We hold a mediumship evening every Wednesday at 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm, just £3 per person.

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45 Adverts.indd 1

30/05/2019 19:45

Sport Wrekin News

LEARN Authentic Japanese Shotokan KARATE

Kihon - Basics Kata - Forms Kumite - Sparring Bunkai & Oyo - For self defence Taiso - Stretching & conditioning At Wrekin College Sports Hall Wed 6.30pm & Sat 10.30am At Sport TCAT Mon 7.30pm

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email your sports story to: james@plus2media.co.uk

Mixed start for Bucks It was then a Tuesday night trip to managerless Hereford as the Bucks FOOTBALL came unstuck as Rowan Liburd's goal ROUND-UP was enough to take the three points WITH JAMIE for the Bulls, with Telford once more MORRIS struggling to find the back of the net.

It was then back to back losses for the Bucks after losing at home to King's Lynn Town as James McQuilkin got a consolation elford started the season off with an for Bucks, on that day in what was an all around away trip to Kettering Town as the disappointing performance and result. It did get pitch wasn't in the best state for this better however as they had to grind out a victory clash which played to the strengths of away at Southport a week after on the 24 August the newly promoted side as they took after an Andre Brown penalty as the striker was a 2-1 victory, Stephen Morley got the Bucks off fouled and stepped up to convert the spot kick, to a perfect start scoring just before the interval that was all that was needed for the Bucks to before it was 1-1 after the break. However the record their first away victory of the campaign. second half took an interesting turn with Kettering The positive result was then taken away after down to ten men and Aaron Williams missing a a clash with Leamington FC on the bank holiday penalty for the Bucks before they were ultimately Monday with the score going to the visitors 3-1 as caught out and ended up losing it late on.

Aaron Williams scored after two minutes, but a They then managed to get their first victory Ravi Shamsi superb second half display to where of the campaign after an impressive showing he scored twice made the telling difference. against local rivals Kidderminster Harriers with Telford then ended the month with back to Williams scoring his first goal for the Bucks and back away victories after overturning Bradford Darryl Knights the other scorer, as they proved too Park Avenue 3-2, with the winning goal coming strong for the Harriers. Then came what turned from Brendon Daniels as it was his brace and out to be a frustrating game for Telford against a Adam Walker who was also on target who made plucky Gateshead side as despite creating enough the difference, the Bucks ending the month on a openings to take the game they were unable to do so and were held to a 0-0 home stalemate. positive note.

With four defeats in the opening month of August, AFC Telford United's start to the Vanarama National League North has got off to a stuttering start. But Gavin Cowan's charges have started September on a more positive note and held promotion favourites Brackley Town to a draw at the weekend.

T

l Adam Walker scored his first goal in Telford colours - picture Malcolm Couzens

Wellington finish the season on a high Wellington won five out of six matches in August to ensure they will finish the Henshalls SCCL Premier Division season on a high, writes David Ross.

Whilst skipper Wendell Wagner will rue his side's poor start to the season, which ultimately left them well adrift of the promotion race, he will be cheered by their form of late.

Wellington got the month off to a great start with a thumping 152-run win against Allscott Heath at Orleton Park on 3 August. Wagner's 72 proved crucial as his side posted a massive score of 264-9, before the visitors were dismissed for just 112 after tea.

One week later, the team travelled to local rivals Madeley and, in a game reduced to 37 overs per side by rain, defended their first innings score of 190-5.

The captain once again top-scored with an unbeaten 48, before fellow South African Josh Pistorius (3-10) ripped the heart out of the Madeley batting card. The

l Josh Pistorius in action against Whitchurch on Bank Holiday Monday (Credit: John Cutts)

hosts were ultimately bowled out for 126 in the 31st over.

Opener Daniel Vaughan hit the the club's first century of the season on 17 August at home to highflying Quatt. His imperious knock of 116 off 143 balls set up a surprising comfortable victory for his side at Orleton Park. Pistorius (4-28) once again produced

with the ball as the visitors succumbed to 82 all out as they responded to Wellington's 196-7.

League leaders Wem were next up, but this proved a hurdle too hard for Wagner's side. The skipper's score of 57 helped his side to 158-6, a competitive total, especially after Stewart Black helped reduced the table-toppers to 24-3. However, Wem rallied and advanced to a four-wicket win thanks to Raj Biswa (49) and Matthew Cohen (47).

Back-to-back wins at Orleton Park, against Whitchurch and Bomere Heath, helped Wellington bounce back from that defeat. The first of these, a 33-run success on Bank Holiday Monday, was powered by a virtuoso display from Pistorius, who claimed 7-35 with the ball and hit a crucial 36 with the bat. Only five days later, on 31 August, he helped himself to six more wickets as Bomere Heath struggled to get a handle on the spinner. Wagner (63) completed an impressive month by sharing a large stand with James Flynn (66) in a 98-run win.

46 ¡ www.wrekinnews.co.uk 46 Sport.indd 1

08/09/2019 09:34

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BobBlind Advert.indd 1

04/09/2019 12:32

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