The Leominster News - June 2021

he Leominster News T

June

CONTENTS

JUNE 2021

REGULARS

5Photo Quiz. Do you know where this is?

Mayor's Blog

Grange Court News

7Events

9Mortimer Ramblers

Quiz. How many can you get right?

11News from Leominster Primary School

12Letters to the Editor: Ginhall Green

Leominster in Bloom

13Clive Thomas's Life: Prince Charles

Leominster News stockists & 'Contact Us'

14County Councillor's report: Trish Marsh

20 Thought from the Priory

21Thought for the Month

22Grannie's Snippets: Entertainment

Leominster Food Bank

Quiz Answers

23Leominster U3A

28/29Leominster Town Council Update

30Photo Quiz Answer

FEATURES

7Ex-Mayor's Blog

16/17/18 Leominster Project: photos by HCA

19'Bertie Bargates' defibrillator kiosk

20What is a repair cafe??

23 Deadline Day is the 15th!

25Books: The Welsh Marcher Lordships

Useful, Unselfish Lives

27Crested China

FULL PAGE PROMOTIONS

2 Herefordshire Council: Play your part

4ECHO & Learning Disability Awareness Week

6Leominster Festival

8SENAD: Now hiring support workers

10Profile: War & Son, 'History Hunters'

15Hereford College of Arts: Photography

24Profile: Discovering Ikebana

26Profile: Oak Tree Funeral Services

31Services for Independent Living

32ANLX: Full Fibre Broadband

FRONT PAGE: Our 'cover girl', snapped in the Buttercross Arcade, certainly echoes Leominster in Bloom's 'Summer Holidays' theme! See page 12 for more information.

The local monthly for the Leominster area including Bodenham, Brierley, Dilwyn, Eardisland, Eye, Ford Bridge, Ivington, Kimbolton, Kingsland, Luston, Monkland, Nordan, Orleton, Pembridge, Shobdon, Stoke Prior, Weobley & Yarpole

Enquiries: 07484 627841 (10am-6pm) or email leominsternews@gmail.com Online: www.leonews.co.uk twitter: @LeominsterNews

Learning

Disability Awareness Week 21-27 June 2021

This year Learning Disability Awareness Week is focusing on celebrating friendships and relationships, which are so important to all of us.

Echo is a Leominster-based charity and the largest service provider in Herefordshire for people living with learning disabilities.

A much loved and well-respected local organisation, last year we celebrated our 30th birthday. It was a challenging time and during the pandemic ECHO became a frontline service continuing to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

We are looking to work with businesses to deliver exciting and mutually beneficial partnerships. ECHO is lucky to be supported by some wonderful local businesses and companies who dedicate time. money and resources to help us deliver our services.

With the right support each person can achieve great things. ECHO concentrates on what people can do rather than what they cannot.

If you would like to know more about our services or would like to help raise funds or how to become a volunteer, go to echoherefordshire.org.uk info@echoherefordshire.co.uk or ring 01568 620307

Best friends Lindsay and Gemma met through ECHO. They both attend our project ‘Clever Betsy’, where they have fun and learn new skills such as how to make unicorns!

Gemma said, “I never realised I could do so much! My dad would be so proud of me.”

ECHO has 28 projects, as well as many leisure and social activities to help ensure that everyone has better choices and an opportunity to lead an improved life.

PHOTO QUIZ

byWillPridie

Herefordshire has some strange lengths of cycle lanes.

The worst is going north up Dinmore Hill where the road approaches the bend and the poor cyclist is thrown out into the traffic at the most dangerous spot. Where can the little piece of cycle lane seen here be found?

The answer is on page 30

The Leominster News

is on twitter. Why not follow us?

@LeominsterNews

HOWARD MOSELEY

A Master of Butchery

Mayor's Blog

Looking back on all that we have experienced and learned from living with the Covid19 virus for a year was a very sobering moment. In the last year the town has done the installation of the signage interpretation boards for places of interest. It was felt that these would be beneficial to tourists and residents as they are very informative.

I have been the lockdown Deputy Mayor and so my last year in office was unlike a normal year in the job. Sadly, I have missed many opportunities to perform the usual mayoral functions which I would have expected, however, I have become an expert in zooming!

It is strange how our language, or the phrases we use changes over the years. When I was a lad, we used the phrase 'I don't think I'm qualified for that' when asked about something we could not do. It then became 'that's above my paygrade' and recently I heard someone state 'sorry that's outside my bandwidth'. Does anyone else get frustrated at the poor use of our language by those who should know better?

In the last month I have had meetings by zoom for Planning & Highways, Annual Town Council meeting, Finance and General Purposes. Please take care and stay safe.

CllrJohnRumsey,NorthWard,

johnrumsey@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Grange Court News

A Little Shop In A Little Lane

With A Large Range Of Delicious Meats, Pies and Sausages!

We Pride Ourselves In Quality!

Local Pork and Lamb sourced from A.H. Griffiths of Leintwardine.

Local Sausage sourced from Tudges of Richards Castle and nearby Ludlow.

Our Chicken is sourced from Mid Wales. Matured English and Welsh Beef.

Pies from Russells of Dawley

Don’t Forget us……just down the Lane! For Folk Who Care About Quality and Taste at A Fair Price!

01568 613981

Grange Court is open Tuesday to Friday and visitors can look round the building. The cafe2 is open, or, if the weather is kind, you can relax in the walled garden, and children can enjoy the footballs and outdoor toys. On Sunday June 13th, from 10am to 4pm, we are participating in the National Garden Scheme, a charity event. There will be light refreshments and entry is £5 per adult, but it's free for children. Millennium Green cider and apple juice are for sale; they are made with apples collected from the Millennium Orchard.

When you visit, be sure to take a look at the display of embroidered panels created by Leominster in Stitches. Sit in the ante-room and listen to tales of Leominster childhoods, from participants in The Faces and Voices of Leominster, recorded by Christopher Preece – it's another world, entertaining and fascinating! We are looking forward to being a venue for h.Art this year.

Fay(volunteer)

June Events

courtesy of Leominster Tourist Information Centre

1st - 30th Art Exhibition - David Cope, The Old Stable Gallery, Corn Square, Leominster. 01568 616460. Mon - Sat 9.30am-4.30pm

1st - 30th Hay Festival at Old Chapel Gallery Exhibition, Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge. 01544 388842

1st - 5th Our Man in the Moone, Secret Garden, 11 Corn Square, Leominster. 07870 429528

4th - 5th St Michaels Hospice Plant Fair, St Michaels Hospice, Bartestree, Hereford HR1 4HA. 10.30am-4pm

12th - 13th Hellens Garden Festival, Hellens, Much Marcle, HR8 2LY. 01531 660504

12th Farmers Market, Corn Square, Leominster 9am-1pm

14th June - 12th July Knife Angel in Hereford, Hereford Cathedral

19th - 27th Herefordshire Walking Festival throughout Herefordshire www.herefordshirewalkingfestival.co.uk

Ex-Mayor's Blog

By the time you read this I will have handed over to my deputy on May 24th, but there will not be the usual Mayormaking as current restrictions will not allow this, but the council hope to hold the ceremony in September.

I was Mayor for two years. I took part in several functions in 2019, then we went into lockdown and everybody had to stay at home, and work from home if possible. This was Town council came into its own. Thanks to our exceptional Town Clerk and her staff lines were diverted to mobiles and as part of the Co along with Marina Morris of Leominster Covid-19 response, and community wheels, Leominster food bank and over 100 volunteers maintained a service delivering prescriptions, medications, shopping and food parcels to members of the public who were not able to go out.

For a small town the community spirit came into play. Our new young friends who moved in one month before the pandemic did our weekly shopping, THANK YOU to all the volunteers and our staff who answered the phones seven days a week, and in the evenings, and the Town Council did the administration and kept the records. We managed to perform one civic function: in the brief interlude between the two lockdowns we hosted a visit of Patricia Thomas, the High Sheriff, and she visited us for a day, visiting many businesses, shops, the food bank and several charities. Good luck to the New Mayor, John Rumsey, and to the new Deputy Mayor, Trish Marsh.

Charlies Auto Repair Service

PLANT SALE

Subject to easing of coronavirus restrictions as expected on 21st June

Tuesday June 29th

Orleton Village Hall 4:00pm – 6:00pm

Annuals and Perennials Tomato plants

Houseplants Bedding plants Shrubs

Herbs Vegetables Fruit

FREE ADMISSION - ALL WELCOME

Mortimer Ramblers

Why Should We Walk? We are all unique individuals and have our own mountains to climb but by accepting the challenge of change and with some support from others we can become healthier and stronger. I wonder whether anyone else feels as if we are at the start of a new beginning. Maybe we should be making some midyear resolutions and trying new things. Many have recently rediscovered the simple joy of walking in our glorious countryside and I celebrate that. Now for your next step, so to speak! This last year has challenged everyone in a range of ways. Individual circumstances, be it to do with health, work or relationships, have often been tough and many of us have been under great strain, which can take its toll on both our physical and mental well being. Walking with a group such as ours will not only gently and gradually improve your fitness but it can enable you to calm your mind and put problems and worries behind you for a short while. Nature itself is often the best medicine but a walking companion can also be a good listener should you ever need one. It’s a free service and is often reciprocated!

You will meet new people and make new friends as I did when I first joined. Some will be walking companions and nothing more, but others could become lifelong friends.

A group walk provides an opportunity to chat or glean information, as much or as little as you want, about absolutely anything. There is also a sense of safety and comradeship that comes within a group.

So walking isn’t just fun, it can help to mitigate some of the life-threatening consequences of inactivity. Being physically active reduces the risk of major health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. Regular activity helps maintain a healthy weight and improves cholesterol levels. It reduces blood pressure and builds healthy muscles and bones, improving balance and reducing the risk of falls.

Our April and May walks have taken

QUIZ The answers are on page 22

1. How many members are there on a standard curling team? 3 4 6 8

around Lingen. We have also completed two more stages of our Mortimer Trail series. There will be more relatively local walks during the beginning of June and we are planning a, much yearned for, return to the Black Mountains on June 26th, as soon as we will be able to car share again. I know our leader will be kind and wait for me as I try to re establish a semblance of mountain fitness!

We are also planning some Midweek Mortimer Meanders for those who cannot commit to a whole day’s walking. They will be shorter morning walks which could end at a cafe or pub for optional refreshments. Ring me on 01568 620138 or email jenatkins@btinternet.com for more information about our walks, or visit www.herefordshireramblers.org.uk or www.ramblers.org.uk or Mortimer Ramblers Facebook page.

JenAtkins Secretary

2. Zdravko Krivokapic was elected Prime Minster of which country in 2020? Albania Croatia Montenegro Slovenia

3. In which country is the city of Poznan? France Austria Poland Slovakia

4. Bhutan is a small kingdom on the slopes of which mountain system? Andes Rockies Himalayas Urals

5. Which group had a Number 1 hit single in 1972 with 'Son Of My Father'? Slade T-Rex Mud Chicory Tip

6. In which country is the inland taipan snake native? America Brazil Australia Congo

7. At which football ground did England win the 1966 World Cup? Wembley Villa Park Old Trafford Stamford Bridge

8. What is the standard currency of Switzerland? Euro Franc Lira Swiss Franc

9. Cleethorpes is a resort in which English county? Yorkshire Lincolnshire Derbyshire Devon

10. The Dakota, where John Lennon was shot in 1980, is an apartment building in which city? New York Washington Chicago Los Angeles

Yesterday Channel’s “History Hunters” Back Open For Business

War & Son, aka Yesterday TV’s “History Hunters”, are family dealers of war medals & military antiques. Their shop can be found on Draper’s Lane in the centre of Leominster.

Father and son, Dave and Steve Nuwar, have 50 years combined knowledge and experience of buying and selling war memorabilia and militaria.

They deal in British Victorian war medals, WWI and WWII medals, Gallantry medals and a vast array of military antiques to include antique swords, daggers, bayonets, obsolete calibre rifles & pistols, uniform and trench art. Pete Weston, local Historian, brought his expertise to the team in 2018.

Following the success of the TV show and increased interest in genealogy & ancestry, the team also compile research portfolios on client’s relatives that served during WWI. This is a new line to the business that has proved very popular and more information can be found on their website.

The War & Son Medals & Military Antiques shop has been open in Leominster for nearly 5 years, but it was during the spring of 2020 that it was the subject of a 6-part reality TV series on Yesterday called “History Hunters”.

Each one-hour episode follows Dave, Steve & Pete as they uncover the stories behind the military medals & militaria brought into the shop and discovered throughout the UK at antiques fairs & auction.

The show saw the team visit Oxford University with a nationally important book relating to Noel Chavasse VC. All six episodes are available to watch on catch up via UKTVPlay and feature beautiful footage of the town, promoting Leominster as a ‘home of antiques’. A few familiar faces also crop up in the show, including Howard the butcher

on Draper’s Lane, which makes it immensely fun to watch for those familiar with the area and local businesses.

War & Son very recently received a call from BBC’s Bargain Hunt, with Christina Trevanion personally requesting the team to research her Great Grandfather’s WWI service.

Their findings, along with an interview with Christina Trevanion, will feature in a Bargain Hunt segment soon to air on BBC One. War & Son will be confirming the date and time of the episode on their social media pages and website.

War & Son’s shop is open Monday – Friday 10:00-15:00

If there is a military antique item you wish to have appraised or there is an item in the shop you would like to have a closer look at, it’s best to give them a call in advance on 01568 616 414 or 07714 631 313 or e-mail them: info@warandson.co.uk Their website - www.warandson.co.uk - features news and updates and they regularly update their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

History Hunters can be viewed at: https://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/shows/history-hunters/

From left: Christina Trevanion, Steve Nuwar, David Nuwar, Pete Weston

From left: Steve Nuwar, Trooper the dog, David Nuwar

News from Leominster Primary

We have been very busy at Leominster Primary School and have welcomed back our pupils and families, as well as our lovely staff, after a relaxing and sunny Easter break. We have new Headteachers, who were previously our Deputy Heads; Mrs H Rees and Mrs H Lynch will be sharing the role. Our previous Head, Mr T Mamak, has retired and on behalf of the school, we thank him for all his work making our school as wonderful as it is, and wish him all the best with his retirement.

Before the holidays, Year 4 children were learning about the Easter story in their RE lessons. Alongside this, class 4NL took part in a competition organised by Hereford Cathedral to design a wall hanging around the theme of Easter, Hereford and nature. Four children from the class were shortlisted and had their artwork displayed in the online service on Good Friday! We are very proud of them. The service and artwork can be viewed on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uldeE3YUq0

Pupils have been reflecting on their time during lockdown and looking forward to a future of fewer restrictions. In response to these discussions, they have decorated a window and 'opened' it to express the things they are most looking forward to, as we head into the Spring and Summer months.

Teachers have selected finalists who will have their artwork entered into the grand ‘Open the Window to a Brighter Future’ competition. These pieces have been sent to our friends - the lovely residents of local Leominster care homes - who will judge our winners. Winning entries can be viewed on our school website and Facebook page, as can more news of what we have been up to recently. We would like to welcome visits to Leominster Primary School and currently have spaces in Reception available for September 2021. Should you wish to look around and find out more, please contact our office to arrange a suitable time. We look forward to meeting you and showing you what our wonderful school has to offer.

NataliePreece

Ginhall Green: Watch this space

I was interested to read Maja Storey’s account of Spring coming to Ginhall Green in the April edition of Leominster News. She does not mention that one of the features of the Green is a small wildflower meadow.

Although located in a rather damp and shady part of the Green, last June it was a riot of purple Knapweed and field grasses as the photograph shows.

Maja and other volunteers have also

No hay meadow should be without yellow rattle as it draws nutrient from the coarser grasses and encourages wildflowers to flourish. The Town Council has a vital role in the upkeep of the meadow as they cut it once a year and, most importantly, make sure the cut grass is removed. If left behind, the cut grass makes the soil too rich for a successful meadow. 97% of all wild flower meadows have been eradicated since the 1930s according to Plantlife, Europe’s largest charity dedicated to wildflowers, with the result that bees and other important pollinators are being deprived of the habitat they need to breed and feed. Here in Leominster we have just heard the welcome news that the Ginhall Green meadow is to be doubled in size meaning that much more of the meadow will be in full sun and the wildflower plugs will hopefully flourish.

AngelaDyer

Letter(s) to the Editor

Letters are welcome but should generally be no more than 350 words. Publication is not guaranteed and letters may be edited before publication. Please include your name, address and phone number. Your address and phone number will not be published unless you ask us to. Letters should reach us by the 15th of the previous month and should be emailed to LeominsterNews@gmail.com Relevant images are welcome. Any views expressed in letters are those of the author(s).

The Priory will have a stall at The Farmers Market on Saturday 12 June 9.30 to 12.30 Cakes, Preserves, and Plants

All contributions welcome Tel: Helen 01568 614463 or Stella: 01568 611134

Leominster in Bloom

It has been a busy time recently for us. We had a very happy afternoon with the handover of the raised beds at the Priory.

Leominster in Bloom is working in conjunction with Echo at the Priory and The Meeting Centre, and we have worked hard to prepare the beds ready for planting.

Our (then) Deputy Mayor very kindly officiated, handing over the signs to both groups. He then presented both groups with a selection of herbs, fruit and vegetables ready for planting.

Have you seen the transformation in the Buttercross? Our theme this year is Wish You Were Here, Summer Holidays. The ladies of Inner Wheel made countless yards of beautiful bunting, Clever Betsy is adding to the display and Wendy has made the amusing couple in the deck chairs. Can you suggest a name for them?

The residents of the Bupa Care Home have made an amazing collage and many individuals have contributed other items. A true community effort.

A major task was to fill all the planters with fresh compost. With a hard working group of volunteers, we got the job done in just two hours. Soon to be planted up by the wonderful girls at Philpotts.

Here we are at the end - very wet, dirty and happy. I know you will all be looking forward to the colourful displays over the summer months.

RomeyWorthington forLeominsterinBloom

The Leominster News

#35 ISSN 2752-5961

Deadline for the next issue is June 15th.

But sooner is always better and advertising space should be booked as early as possible.

Stockists

(subject to change)

IN LEOMINSTER

Aladdin's Castlefield Stores

Etnam News

Fletcher’s Newsagent

Grange Court

Parry’s Fruit & Veg

Roundabout Stationery

Savery's South Street Stores

Stitches

Tourist Information Centre

OUTSIDE LEOMINSTER

Eardisland: Village Shop

Kingsland: Post Office & Shop

Luston: Quarry Farm Shop

Orleton: Post Office & Stores

Shobdon: Post Office & Stores

Weobley: Costcutters

The Leominster News is distributed by Chris, Lucy, Val & Rachael

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Copies, back issues and subscriptions can all be ordered from our online shop: www.LeoNews.co.uk

Clive Thomas's Life Story, part 29

Another memorable occasion while I was Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon was when we went to the local Methodist care home for a tea party, for a resident on her 100th birthday. As it happened, Prince Charles was coming to the Town Hall the following day, to celebrate 800 years of the Town Council.

I found out that the lady would like to see Prince Charles, so I asked them to bring her to be outside the hotel next to the Town Hall, which they said they would do. Prince Charles greeted all the councillors and staff outside the Town Hall and signed the visitor book. We walked around the corner, to visit the original council chamber, which was part of the

King Edward Grammar School.

I quickly spoke to Prince Charles about the lady; she had received a card from his mother only the previous day. Guided to her, he shook hands with her, and wished her happy birthday for yesterday. I had a telephone call from the home manager a few days later to say 'thank you', and to tell me the lady had passed away. I met Prince Charles on several other occasions as he was President of the Royal Shakespeare Company and, as Mayor of Stratford, I was invited to their meetings. The photos show Clive and Judy Thomas with Prince Charles.

To be continued... "Foxtrot 02"

Leominster has many strengths and options for those living with learning disabilities, from birth right through adulthood. Special congratulations to Westfield Special School who celebrate their 50th birthday this year. Westfield school is now due for a major rebuild, as their current buildings are not up to modern standards. They take students from 2 right up to 19, working closely with groups and businesses in the town as their pupils prepare for transition to adult life.

Herefordshire Council will be consulting shortly on whether to continue SEND [Special Educational Needs and Disabilities]

Sixth Form provision in Leominster and where to rebuild. When this comes out I will put the links on my facebook page, Cllr Trish Marsh.

Clever Betsy in West Street is a wonderful focal point for ECHO, another organisation hugely enriching the lives of those living with learning disabilities. ECHO, whose strapline is 'Better choices, Better Lives', celebrated their 30th birthday last year. They offer all sorts of projects, placements and activities for adults, including gardening and crafting. Clever Betsy is also an amazing resource selling all sorts for local crafters, and a hub for getting involved. The town is a great deal more colourful as a result of its presence!

Leominster must be one of the few towns in the country with two learning disabled theatre groups, 'About Face' and 'Fetch Theatre'. We look forward to seeing them again soon.

Continuing the education theme, Leominster Primary School is going strong in managing the many challenges Covid has thrown at them. Tim Mamak has just retired as Head, having valiantly completed numberless risk assessments and plans

Do you enjoy singing?

If so, have you thought about joining Leominster Priory Choir?

We are a choir of children and adults, led by our professional Director of Music, Hilary Norris (who is also an experienced teacher). The choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings, sings at the Sunday morning 10am Parish Eucharist, and at Choral Evensong on the first Sunday of the month. We also sing at other major events throughout the year including carol services, and for special services during Holy Week and Easter. We sing as a visiting choir in various cathedrals or churches, and enjoy various social events together. We are now recruiting boys, girls and young people aged 7–19 to join our choir. All that is needed is a love of singing as other skills are taught while in the choir. Benefits for choristers include a free musical education, pocket money for attendance at rehearsals and services, and singing fantastic music in a 4part choir. We also welcome enquiries from adult singers. If you are interested please contact Hilary by email: music@leominsterpriory.org.uk

Alternatively, come and have a word with Hilary or a member of the choir at the Priory after the service on a Sunday (about 11am), or leave your details at the Forbury Chapel, Church Street for the attention of Hilary Norris.

over the last year to allow the school to successfully operate online and now again in person. The incoming joint Heads are both experienced members of the school management team: Mrs Helen Rees and Mrs Helen Lynch. We wish them all the best. I’m delighted the school once again has a lollipop lady morning and afternoon, helping pupils and parents cross the road safely and encouraging pupils to walk to school. There’s more news on their website and Facebook page: Leominster Primary School and Nursery.

Of course, it is not just children’s learning that is important. We all need to keep learning new skills as the world of work changes around us: this will be an area we aim to strengthen as a town and county over the next few years.

CllrTrishMarsh,LeominsterSouth

A Portrait of Leominster Project

On the 12th March 2020, just days before the first proper lockdown, Hereford College of Arts students and staff from our BA (Hons) Photography and Foundation Diploma in Art and Design course spent the day at Leominster, to create a photographic document about people and life in Leominster.

This project is an ongoing annual event to record life in Herefordshire Towns and this was the second time the project took place in Leominster. Photography is a way to record, to celebrate and ultimately to remember. The skill of the photographer is to capture significant details and moments in a way that tells the story. Creating portraits that capture a person in a meaningful context and manner is arguably one of the hardest things for many aspiring photographers.

The people of Leominster could not have been more welcoming towards our students. The sense of community and openness to be photographed made this a wonderful day for all involved. We do hope that we have captured just a little bit of this lovely town. To see more images visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hcaphoto/ albums/with/72157718289600692

AlexThimm,CourseLeader, BA(Hons)Photography

Photographers.....

previous page: clockwise from top left: Amy Azais, Ellie Widdows, Cicely Cooley, Alex Thimm, Daisy Morgan.

this page: clockwise from top right: James Hutchinson, Imogen Davis, Louise Wyatt, Matt Davies, Matt Davies, Marika Zieba.

next page: clockwise from top right: Matt Davies, Tom Finn, Rick Greswell, Will Pettit, Alex ThomasBates, Natasha Myatt

How’s Bertie coming along?

The following update on the 'Bertie Bargates' project - to create a Defibrillator Kiosk from the old phone box - was contributed on May 16th.

"Things are progressing. Projected costs have changed a bit, both up and down, as we gain a clearer picture of the work involved and the equipment needed. With luck we should be able to contain the total of Phase I and Phase II to around £3,300.

The first phase to make the kiosk presentable with a complete re-paint and new glass is projected to cost £508, and we are within sight of raising enough money to achieve that.

One of our volunteers is a blacksmith who enjoys restoring iconic metal structures. He carried out a chemical test of the decaying paintwork and, as expected, this proved the presence of historical lead paint. It will be necessary to remove the old paint in a way that does not present a health or environmental hazard, using

FORBURY CHAPEL, CHURCH STREET

We are pleased to announce that the Forbury Chapel is once again able to offer flexible spaces to hire at reasonable rates. The main hall allows plenty of space for all uses, and an office and meeting room are also available. The Forbury has a protocol in place for Covid 19, is frequently cleaned and well ventilated. For further details and bookings contact Anthony Hurdidge at forburychapel@gmail.com We look forward to welcoming friends old and new to the Forbury in the near future.

particular materials that now have been donated.

We are happy to acknowledge any contribution of £200 or more with the donor’s name on a panel inside the kiosk, or possibly etched in a glass panel. The Rotary Club of Leominster is sponsoring most of the cost of replacing the 72 window panels with new toughened glass.

Leominster in Bloom are managing the project in partnership with The Heartbeat Trust which actually owns Bertie. Their work with the community across the country involves some 6500 locations providing lifesaving, publicly accessed equipment. Access to the locked case inside the kiosk is by code given out by 999 callhandlers, or as used by other emergency services. Once up and running, residents in Presbytery Close have volunteered to take turns to check on the defibrillator using a smart phone app that connects to the Trust and instigates any maintenance or similar requirements. The major challenge is to raise the Phase II funding to buy the equipment, have it professionally installed, tested and registered with 999 services, at a cost of around £2700."

ChrisHodson

West Eaton Nursing Home: Welcoming back outdoor entertainers!

There is so much positivity with the successful vaccination roll out, welcoming back visitors, getting out and about and the easing of lockdown restrictions. All of our residents have had their second COVID-19 vaccinations and our staffing team have had theirs as well. Contrary to reports in the national press, the vaccine uptake by our staff has been exceptionally high. We continue to be COVID free and are welcoming new admissions to our West Eaton family. With the weather improving, we are also welcoming back entertainers to our garden.

Trevor Santini sang all the hits on our patio on St George’s Day, resplendent in his knight’s costume. We did have a dragon invade the garden, which was swiftly defeated by another knight, but made a miraculous recovery to do a spot of dancing! Residents found this hilariousthank you to our team for always being such good sports, dressing up to entertain our residents and going the extra mile. We commemorated VE Day with a performance from our favourite vintage singer Melissa Hollick, who serenaded residents with songs from the 1940s and ‘50s. So wonderful to hear all the songs and remember that wartime spirit. Fortunately, it was sunny enough to sit outside wrapped up warm. Our huge conservatory opens up onto our patio so residents could also enjoy the music sheltered inside. Our lovely residents are very community spirited and love to support both local and national fundraising events. We are taking part in the Morrison’s Seeds of Hope Project growing sunflower seeds and have recently planted

our raised beds with flowers and vegetables. We are fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Society with forget-me-not art and knitting and are supporting their National Cup Cake Day on 17th June. Everyone’s thoughts have been very much with the Queen following the sad passing away of Prince Philip. Residents sent a letter of condolences to Her Majesty and we created a Union Jack collage in tribute to Prince Philip. Residents were incredibly touched to receive a reply from the Queen thanking them for their well-wishes.

We are ready for the warmth of

summer, to swop knee blankets for sunhats and parasols on our patio!

We have a jam packed schedule of musical entertainment planned, plus picnics, BBQ’s and cheese and wine tastings! Also, some quieter more reflective time with our regular mindfulness sessions, gardening and craft. There is something for everyone at West Eaton, where we help resident’s live the lives they want to live, pursuing their interest and whatever makes them happy. For more information about our home, please give us a call or see our website https://www.heritagemanor.co. uk/locations/west-eaton/ where there is a virtual tour of our home.

BestwishesfromClare Lockley,Lifestyleand WellbeingCo-ordinatorandthe WestEatonteam

Thought from The Priory

In mediaeval times, the church was an important building in a town or village. It was built in stone when most of the houses around it used wood and plaster. Certainly it would dwarf any homes near it.

Stonemasons would have been invited to work on the building and the community would want it to stand out.

You can occasionally see the stonemason's marks on the stones he carved, to assess his payment. Each mason had an individual mark; St Laurence's church in Ludlow has a whole variety, to be seen on the pillars.

It is worthwhile looking at the building because it encompasses some of the mediaeval beliefs held at the time. The devil was seen as a very real person, out to catch hold of as many people as he could. So as soon as you had an addition to the family, you needed to get the baby baptised.

All sorts of help to keep the devil at bay were worked into the building. If the north side of the church had a window to open, it was opened. The devil was thought to love following lines, so daisy wheels have been found near fonts to trap the devil: he would be following the circle and become too dizzy to worry about the baby. Apotropaic [a type of magic intended to turn away harm or evil influences] scratch marks were marked on the stone for protection. These marks were a double 'M' or double 'VV' which stood for Virgo Virginum. Mary was a popular saint to be called on for help.

What is a Repair Café?

In essence, it is a group of volunteers, with a range of skills, who repair items for people. The range of items accepted for repair, the regularity and venue are all individual to each repair cafe.

The repair cafe ('RC') movement started in Holland. Groups of cafe customers/friends would meet and discuss and demonstrate problems with, mainly, electrical items. This naturally developed into how repairs could be done, and into a regular format, with the range of items extended, but still of course with a cafe attached. This basic format has been transferred to the UK, the only slight variation being that some RCs are held in the back room or gardens of pubs. First and foremost we want people to get full benefit from the items they own. This is by no means just the economic value, of making things last longer than manufacturers intend, but also the sentimental value attached to items.

Grotesques were carved on the north side to scare away the devil and evil spirits. One of these can be found on the outside of the Priory church.

Inside the church would be wall paintings of saints. If a St Christopher was pictured, a quick prayer to the saint would serve as a surety for safe travel. The interior of a mediaeval church was not the grey that we see today but a riot of colour. As most people could not read, they needed pictures and stained glass to look at while the service was conducted in Latin. Some of the colour remains today. The side of the Audley chapel in Hereford Cathedral, although faded through time, can give you the sense of colour which would have been there to greet the congregation.

The church building was well used. Legal documents were signed in the porch so God had a watching brief to all that was going on. The marriage service service started at the door of the church. Even today the vicar comes to welcome the bride and to lead the party to the chancel steps.

So next time you look around a church, find out when it was built. If it is mediaeval, see if you can find the marks mentioned. If you are lucky you might find the marks from when the building was consecrated, where the bishop would anoint twelve points inside the building and the same number outside. A cross would be painted to mark the spot. One of these can be found at the back of Leominster Priory Church. Enjoy your detective work!

The pleasure of a restored treasured item is fantastic for the owner and repairer alike.

Secondly, we do not want items being binned when they can be made serviceable. Sometimes items fail by design or poor materials; these problems can be overcome by repairers. But sometimes the problem is a lack of owner understanding.

Which is why, thirdly, we strongly encourage owners to observe the repair process, watching/talking to the repairer. We want to demystify repairs and encourage self-reliance. Traditionally repair cafes are held indoors in a large hall, though outdoor events do run. Most RCs operate on a Saturday morning. The customer books in the item/s and waits for a repairer to work on the item, watching the repair progress. The cafe facilities are very useful as there can be a fair bit of waiting involved.

Although there are some RCs still employing the mass event approach, most have changed in response to Covid 19. For example, RC Ludlow has a contact person who links owners to repairers, who undertake the repairs at their homes. Other RCs run a Saturday event which employs a booking system, limiting the number of customers to match the repairers, so no waiting.

In Leominster we employ a booking system, one customer with one item at a time. Items are assessed for repair, to be worked on and returned to the customer later. But easy fixes will be done on the day.

If you would like to get involved with RC Leominster, we would love to hear from you: please email rc.leominster@gmail.com

PaulBeedenforRepaircaféLeominster

WillPridie

Thought for the Month

The Court of Appeal has cleared 39 former sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses in what is the most widespread, known, miscarriage of justice in the UK. Between 2000 and 2014 the Post Office prosecuted 736 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses based on information from a new computer system called Horizon. Some went to prison following convictions for false accounting and theft, many were financially ruined and were shunned by their communities. Lord Justice Holroyde said the Post Office’s prosecution of innocent people was so outstandingly bad and shocking as to be “an affront to the conscience of the court.” One of the most tragic cases was Martin Griffiths, who was a subpostmaster in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, for 18 years. The accusations against him made by the Post Office, based on the faulty Horizon software, drove him to financial and emotional ruin. Martin was a man of complete integrity and a fastidious bookkeeper. In less

LEOMINSTER MORAVIAN CHURCH

South Street

Leominster

HR6 8JH

Minister:

Rev. Lorraine Shorten

Tel: 0121 572 7078

For today's Daily Watchword, bookmark the following: www.moravian.org.uk/provincial-life/information/daily-watchwords

than 2 years he was told there was a deficit of more than £57,000 on his account with the Post Office. Over 4 years, with the help of his parents, he paid more than £100,000 to the Post Office. In September 2013, three weeks before his 59th birthday, Martin took his own life. Martin and the other more than 2000 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses accused by the Post Office were not told about the many other cases being pursued. They thought they were the only ones having these problems. In 2019 the High Court ordered that £58 million compensation be paid to 557 postmasters. After their legal costs were deducted, the group shared an £11 million pay-out, or £20,000 each. The Post Office paid more than £32 million in prosecuting their loyal and faithful staff. “Justice delayed is justice denied” is a legal maxim. Sadly, injustices in this life are all too common, and the assurances that lessons will be learned so that this doesn’t happen again can have a very hollow ring.

The Bible affirms that God is just and will deal with us all in perfect justice. None will escape his judgement. The Old Testament prophets denounced injustices by the rich and powerful against the poor and vulnerable. In his love, God has also provided a way for us to be forgiven. When Jesus died on the cross, he paid the penalty our sins deserve and so satisfied divine justice.

William Rees’s hymn says, “On the Mount of Crucifixion fountains opened deep and wide; through the floodgates of God's mercy flowed a vast and gracious tide. Grace and love, like mighty rivers, poured incessant from above, and heaven's peace and perfect justice kissed a guilty world in love.”

PeterMilson

Grannie'sSnippets

Entertainment in Bygone Times

It is often said that old people are always looking back to times past. Why shouldn't they or indeed why wouldn't they? It is not much good for us to look forward for 30 or forty years when we don't expect to be around. My maxim is to live in the present but remember the good times I have had during my life. It was my blessing to have good loving parents who brought me up well. The fact that we had a low income didn't alter the fact that I had a very happy childhood during the 40s and 50s. I belonged to a large extended family which meant we often visited one another, mostly riding bikes, public transport or Shank's Pony. Entertainment was often home or at least village made. I had several older cousins who played in local Dance Bands. To my mind much nicer than the raucous Discos and Pop music of the present day.

At one time in our village we had a Square Dance Club. We met weekly in the village school, which doubled as the Village Hall and nowadays, since the school closed, is the Village Hall. We were older teens and early twenties at this time and organised it ourselves. We were accompanied by music played on a gramophone. There were a number of girls in the club and several boys from the farms around came to join us. It was there I first met Richard, now my husband.

One of my Aunts, Auntie Charlotte, lived in the next village where I had a number of relations. She organised what were known as Socials or Social Evenings.

They were held in the Village Hall periodically and consisted of some dancing or party games like Pass the Parcel or Musical Chairs where, when the music stopped, the person with the parcel had to take an item of clothing from a pile in the centre of the room and put it on. This caused a lot of hilarity with boys in girls clothes etc. And then there was Spin the Breadboard which involved some hasty scrambling with kissing as a penalty or reward depending on your point of view plus other games and quizzes which I can't recall.

Of course it was all rounded off with a substantial Yorkshire Supper including such traditional food as sausage rolls, pork pies, sandwiches (egg always popular as everyone kept a few hens) and lots of cakes. There was no alcohol so orange squash and tea were the norm.

Whist Drives were popular with many. I went to one but didn't like it, probably as one had to play in silence. They were a popular fundraiser for the Cricket Club, the Church, WI etc and a raffle was always included. The public, parents, grandparents, aunties etc used to love the concerts put on by the village school. I remember acting and singing in them, which I really enjoyed. People didn't understand this at all as I was notorious for being very shy. My grandchildren just don't believe this. As I explained to someone, when I was acting I was not me but another person therefore I was not shy in the play. School funds were boosted

by the Concerts. We made a platform out of long lengths of wood about a yard wide. They were rested on trestles. At other times they were used for tables for everything from WI parties to the annual village Garden Fete as well as Whist Drives.

We ascended to the platform by a pair of slightly rickety stepladders. I wonder what current Health and Safety folks would make of that. I don't recall anyone falling off them. We also somehow had curtains rigged up across the front of the platform.

I remember peeping out through a crack in the curtain and seeing the audience waiting expectantly for the concert to begin. Nowadays, no doubt, the young would regard our pastimes as unsophisticated but we enjoyed them. Of course all the above took place before the advent of TV and all that malarky. As Maurice Chevalier once sang 'I'm glad I'm not young any more.' For those who don't know, Maurice Chevalier was a popular French singer with a very attractive accent. I am reminded of a pop song of the eighties. A couple of lines went 'Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end, we'd sing and dance for ever and a day'.

StellaScott

Leominster Food Bank

Leominster Food Bank is underway with plans to set up a Community Money advice Connect Centre. We need to recruit some non-judgemental and empathetic volunteers who can offer one day per week or equivalent. Good communication and computer skills are required for this role as well as a DBS check. Full training will be given. We are interviewing all volunteers so that we can make sure we recruit the right people for this role. Please email leominsterfoodbank@gmail.com for more information about volunteering.

We had our Annual Meeting on April 20th at which we were able to announce that we are now a Registered Charity (CIO). The trustees are Kathy Bland, Margaret Wilkerson, Wendy Pridie, Charlie Jones and Anne Clark. We are awaiting registration with HMRC to be able to claim Gift Aid. Kathy Bland expressed her thanks to the past committee for their work and also to Churches Together in Leominster with whom the Food Bank will no longer be formally affiliated. The support of local churches continues to be very much appreciated. She also thanked all the attendees at the meeting for their part in ensuring that the Food Bank was able to function so well over the last year and thanked Paul Scott for his many years in the Chair. We wouldn’t be here without his hard work and dedication.

The questions are on page 9

Leominster U3A

Leominster has an active and vibrant U3A, but what exactly do we ‘DO’ as a U3A? A good question! Under normal non-Covid-19 circumstances, we meet for a monthly general meeting, where we have a speaker - the talks cover a wide variety of interesting topics - travel, local history, the arts etc. Each lasts for about an hour. We then have a cuppa and an opportunity to chat to other members and hear what the groups have planned for the next month.

U3A is based on its groups, led by members with an interest or expertise in an area. Members are free to join as many or as few groups as they wish - maybe taking up a new hobby or interest such as Family History research, Creative Writing, languages, bridge, Mahjong - or joining one of our walking groups to enjoy a walk led by an experienced member to a local venue. Different degrees of difficulty are catered for and these groups offer a great opportunity to catch up with other members and to make friends!

The Pub Lunches group is very popular and meets monthly at a prearranged pub for more chat and a good lunch! We pride ourselves that we have over 20 different interest groups. The groups come and go according to current interests but are led by our members. What ‘floats your boat’? Which group might you like to join? Or would you like to start another group? Membership is open to everyone over 55 who would like to join us. Details of Leominster and District U3A can be found on our website – just try putting Leominster U3A into Google. Here you can send in an enquiry to find out a bit more about us. We look forward enormously to meeting you. Our first post-lockdown events are likely to include some coffee mornings, maybe including book and/or plant sales and jigsaw swaps!

LesleyEBrook

ChairofLeominster&DistrictU3A

BROMYARD GLASS LTD

LEOMINSTER 01568 614611

Deadline Day is the 15th!

The deadline for editorial and advertising 'copy' (words and images) to reach us is the 15th of the month. In other words, for something to be able to appear in the July issue it needs to reach us, by email, no later than June 15th. Of course, it is always helpful if 'copy' reaches us earlier than this, as pages can then be laid out progressively, rather than having to do everything at the last minute.

The email to use, for editorial and advertising, is LeominsterNews@gmail.com

Words can be supplied as plain text (for example, by typing directly into the email window) or they can be attached as a Word-type document (*.odt or *.docx).

Photos can be attached in jpeg format. They need to be large enough to print at 300 dpi ('dots per inch'). For example, if a photo is to be four inches wide in print (about 100mm), the jpeg needs to be at least 1200 pixels wide.

Please try to avoid sending a photograph of a poster, unless there really is no alternative.

If in any doubt about format etc, please email us with any questions before submitting your 'copy'.

ChrisDell

LEOMINSTER PRIORY TOWER ABSEIL

Once again Leominster Priory is offering you an opportunity to challenge yourself by volunteering for a sponsored abseil on the 23rd October 2021, Covid rules allowing. The 100 foot tower has recently been reroofed and all proceeds will go towards the Priory Church Fabric Fund. For further enquiries and to register and receive your sponsorship form please contact Geoff Bricknell on 07836 731293 or gandhbricknell@gmail.com. (Registration fee £25). Our generous sponsors again this time are Co-op Funeralcare of Leominster!

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The Japanese Art of Flower Arranging

Why Ikebana?

By Noëlla Plasman-Jones

The love of flowers is in my blood, being of Dutch descent. Then in 1992, I attended an Ikebana demonstration at Art in Action in Waterperry (Oxfordshire). I was totally blown away. A Japanese lady in a sky blue kimono held the attention of the packed tent, as she delicately and purposefully arranged flowers in a boat design. You could hear a pin drop, such was the serenity in the room.

When my husband Malcolm and I retired to Herefordshire, I was only too happy to get involved with church flowers. However, there were only very few volunteers and I struck on the idea to run (free) flower arranging classes in church in order to attract new talent. By popular request, I continued with the classes and realised my quiet ambition to ‘teach’ a subject very important to me.

Many years after my first experience with Ikebana, I found details of a lady who runs residential Ikebana courses, enrolled and after just one Beginner’s Course, was totally hooked. That lady is Diane Norman, Sub Grand Master of the Ohara School of Ikebana. She guided me through the many levels of competency and I achieved my Teacher’s Degree and continued on to become 4th Master.

Ikebana isn’t just a way of flower arranging. It has many rules but that doesn’t mean that every arrangement looks alike. There is also creativity involved and the finished arrangement has to be ‘beautiful’. But Ikebana is so much more. As a true art form, it transports you into a world of self-discovery and creativity. It teaches you to observe and appreciate nature. Ikebana opens up a whole new chapter in your life. Now, I endeavour to share the art of Ikebana with people who cannot live without flowers in their lives. As an introduction to Ikebana, I am running ‘Taster Days’ which can be followed by Beginner’s and Advanced courses. Every level is a building block, adding knowledge and skill in order to learn and understand fully the many forms of the Ohara School. The courses, if wished, can lead to achieving Certificates in the various stages of study, strictly following the Curriculum of the Ohara School of Ikebana.

Ikebana Taster Days are being run locally on the following dates:

18th and 19th June, 17th and 23rd July.

For further information on group sessions and day courses, please email me: discovering.ikebana@gmail.com or visit the website: www.discovering-ikebana.com

The Welsh Marcher Lordships

Volume 1: Central & North 1

(Including Radnorshire, north Herefordshire, Shropshire, Montgomeryshire, Denbighshire & Flintshire)

by Philip Hume. Published by Logaston Press at £15.99

"Philip Hume has set a high standard in developing a new popular history of the lordships of the Welsh March." – Dr Paul Dryburgh

Today, if people envisage the Welsh Marches, it may be the picturesque and peaceful area straddling the English/Welsh border adjoining Shropshire and north Herefordshire that comes to mind.

However, in the mediaeval period, the Welsh Marches were defined by the nearly fifty Marcher lordships that extended from north Wales and the Dee estuary down to the Severn estuary and across south Wales to the coast of Pembrokeshire.

For nearly 500 years the Marcher lordships and their lords were at the centre of events that affected the history of England and Wales, and there were scenes of conflict, devastation, and conquest.

The Welsh Marches became a unique border region between Wales and England, with its own laws and with exceptional powers exercised by its lords. It was referred to as ‘Marchia Wallie’ and was politically separate from both Wales and England.

The Marcher lords were barons of England and held their lordships from the king, yet they were not subject to many of the institutional and legal structures of the English Crown. Within their lordships, they claimed and exercised many of the powers which the king exercised elsewhere in his kingdom.

Some of the Marcher lordships were lands that had been conquered from the Welsh (in some cases, only after a 200 year long struggle for control, in areas such as modern-day Radnorshire); others were lands

granted by Edward I after his conquests of native Wales in 1277 and 1282-83; whilst others, such as Wigmore and Richards Castle, had originally been in England, but their powerful lords succeeded in withdrawing the lordships out of the shires of England, and into the March, where they could exercise the independent power of a Marcher lord. The primary aim of the book is to provide a broadranging synthesis of the history of the Marcher lordships for the general reader.

The book describes the distinctive features and amazing powers of the Marcher lordships, and how they evolved in the context of the significant events in Wales and the Marches that shaped their development between 1066 and 1282.

Richly illustrated with maps, family trees, colour photographs of castles, abbeys and artefacts, this 300 page large-format (242x171mm) book provides an extensive account of the history of the Welsh borderlands during this period.

The book also includes histories of each of the 20 Marcher lordships in the region, including Wigmore and Richards Castle, with a list of the lords and ladies who held them.

Copies are available from local bookshops, or postfree from the publishers, Logaston Press: www.logastonpress.co.uk

Useful, Unselfish Lives

The Buckle Family at Eye 1890-1955 £5

by Maggie Waldman

This small-format (A5) 64 page paperback focusses on the life and times of the Rev Wilfrid Buckle and his wife Catherine who ran a boarding school for girls in Eye for 20 years, before WW1.

Described as having been "inspired by the discovery of a trunk full of old bills and receipts and an album of photographs" this book offers an insight into aspects of life in bygone times.

The book includes period photographs and it records many local matters. For example: "Richard Bright, butchers in the High Street, sent a weekly order of steak, fat and suet costing between 10 shillings and 14 shillings during 1910"; it also records that, as a boy, Wilfred Buckle "won a music scholarship to St Michael's College" near Tenbury Wells.

Useful, Unselfish Lives is edited by Anita Syers-Gibson, Maggie Waldman and Michelle Ward. Available from local shops and tourist attractions, the book can also be obtained (£5 plus £1.50 postage & packing) from anitasyersg2@gmail.com or Country Lives, Bunns Croft, Moreton Eye, Leominster HR6 0DP.

Little remains of Richards Castle today, but at one time it was one of the powerful Marcher lordships

OAK TREE FUNERAL SERVICES

Independent Family Owned Funeral Directors

Conveniently situated in the centre of the town's cemetery, Leominster Cemetery Chapel has been one of the Chapels of Rest of Oak Tree Funeral Services since the building was restored to use by the firm’s founder Mr Bill Rowlatt at the beginning of this millennium. Bill is still involved in the business, although he stepped down as proprietor just last year.

We are delighted that we remain a traditional independent family owned funeral directors serving the local community, as the new owners are another wellknown family firm, A.W. Hughes & Son. The wellestablished team at Oak Tree Funeral Services has been able to take up the new challenges presented by the 2020 pandemic smoothly and efficiently.

Despite the recent restrictions, it is comforting that we are still able to offer a wide range of choices to families making arrangements for their loved one’s final resting place.

These include Crematorium services, grave-side ceremonies and local churches of all denominations, as well as other faiths and non-religious arrangements.

We work closely with green burial sites such as Humber Woodland of Remembrance and with many different Celebrants, offering numerous options whether or not religious beliefs are important to an individual. We can help to access information on the most eco-friendly products and arrangements.

Each funeral is arranged to individual requirements, and guidance given every step of the way. Increasingly we have found that more people are giving consideration to their own arrangements for the future.

Our experienced and dedicated team members are available to assist and advise both individuals and families through the arrangement process, offering support during a difficult time, and are contactable 24 hours. A noobligation initial chat can help remove some of the fears and 'unknowns' about funerals; we are very willing to speak with anyone wanting to make enquiries, and for convenience can visit you in your own home, if you so wish.

Currently our three funeral directors are Dick Allford, Terry Holden and Gill Layton. Between us we hold decades of experience of working with people both within the funeral service field and in other spheres, including local policing (with service as a Family Liaison Officer and Deputy Coroner's Officer),

agricultural sales, and church administration. Each of us is involved in voluntary roles within our local communities - all enjoying shared participation with neighbours and friends. We tend not to consider our Funeral Director role as a job, but as a privilege to meet with fellow members of the community to help them through a particularly difficult time. Similarly members of our wider team are caring people. Team members can be contacted on 01568 250030 and are willing to address any questions or to help guide you.

Our motto is ‘We promise to care for you and those you love from the moment you contact us.'

KODIAQ

18

SKODA

Crested China

OVERTON SERVICE STATION

Crested china was a popular souvenir, particularly from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, partly because the railway age had opened up travel to the masses, so it was no longer the preserve of the wealthy.

Various factories produced crested china but Goss is perhaps the best-known and most collectable. Other names include Arcadian and Carlton.

William Henry Goss (1833-1906) was chief artist at the Stokeupon-Trent firm of William Taylor Copeland; W T Copeland had many interests, including - at various times - being Lord Mayor of London, MP for Stoke, MP for Coleraine, and a railway director.

In due course W H Goss set up his own business, which became famous for its crested china. It was taken over by Cauldon Potteries in 1929, keeping the Goss name. Later it became a subsidiary of the Royal Doulton group, but by 1940 the Goss factory had ceased production.

The photo of this Leominster-crested cup is courtesy of Pam Gorham, who was born in Leominster. These days Pam lives in the Warrington area and the cup was bought for her, in Derbyshire, as a Mother's Day present.

ChrisDell

Herefordshire Stoma Support Group

Your Local Ostomies Support Group

Worried? Lost? Need Support?

Come and join us for an hour of friendship and sharing, get advice, find answers & make new friends. We are a non-medical group whose objective is to provide a social atmosphere where colostomates, ileostomates and urostomates and their partner/ friend/family can meet and share experiences and problems.

For further information please contact:

Carol Steele 01432 880656 or Mr. Val Hickin 01568 614040 or email herefordshirestomasg@gmail.com

We also have a facebook group, please ask Carol about joining.

Leominster Town Council Update

June 2021

David Cope Art Exhibition at the Old Stable Gallery

David Cope Art exhibition of originals, framed prints and cards available to see and purchase throughout the month of June 2021. His main subjects are currently cattle and farm stock.

He is available to take on commissions, having completed several locally for private collectors and also such businesses as Quarry Farm Shop, Vine and Juniper both in Leominster and Legges of Bromyard.

David is local to Leominster area and is self-taught and has been painting for 10 years. He has taken part in three Herefordshire HArt weeks and is again part of HArt in 2021, taking place at the iconic Grange Court in Leominster 4-12th September 2021.

David has an active Instagram and Facebook presence using DavidCopeArt as a search.

The Old Stable Gallery is open Monday to Saturday 9.30am and 4.30pm (occasionally closed due to meetings)

have not been able to meet face to face, the Council would like to let you know how they have been getting together during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Air Training Corps In March 2020, 151(Leominster) Sqn ATC, alongside most of the country, closed its doors. Initially thought to be for a few weeks it turned out to be 14 long months before it would re-open. The Covid pandemic forced the staff and cadets to work in a completely different way and run virtually using MS Teams. The squadron staff, under the leadership of the Officer Commanding, Flt Lt Martin Fulloway, developed a training plan to encourage the cadets to login and join in each week. Alongside their usual activities such as classification training, aircraft recognition, basic radio communications and radio and cyber training, lots of other activities were arranged including a weekend ‘camp out’ in the cadets’ own gardens during which they slept, cooked and carried out lots of tasks outdoors.

VE Day 75 was marked by the cadets standing on their doorsteps in full parade uniform and saluting in remembrance and celebration. Regular uniform inspections were held with the OC inspecting the cadets virtually and checking they maintained their standards even though they were not parading. During the latter part of lockdown, the Teams lessons had a focus on Field craft theory in readiness for when the squadron, finally, was able to meet face to face in May 2021 and the cadets could put all the theory into practice.

If you are aged at least 12 (in year 8 at school) up to 17 years of age and are interested in joining 151(Leominster) Sqn ATC please email adj.151@rafac.mod.gov.uk more information.

Armed Forces Cadets

As part of the Armed Forces Covenant and Leominster Town Council’s on-going commitment of encouraging and supporting Armed Forces communities within its community. The Council would like to recognise the work of the Cadet Force Adult Volunteers who give their time to the youth of Leominster.

As many youth organisations including the cadets

Army Cadets The Army Cadets at Leominster haven’t paraded since March 2020, although we have been doing lessons virtually, which culminated in a DofE expedition virtually which was organised and run very efficiently. Whilst we have been away from the detachment we have

had a spruce up with the place being decorated all through and new hand sanitizers put in place inside and out of the building, with new procedures being in place for when the Cadets start coming back to Detachment. Which we don’t know when that will be as a lot of the Cadets that were parading before the pandemic have left the Cadets due to approaching the age limit and going to 6 form college, which leaves us with only one Cadet parading at the moment so they are being transported to and parading in Hereford every other Tuesday.

For further information on the Army Cadets, please contact Karl Drinkall via email 1414drinka@armymail.mod.uk

Council and Committee Meetings

Meetings take place at 7pm at the Town Council Offices at 11 Corn Square, Leominster, unless otherwise indicated. Covid-19 restrictions are in place, please contact 01568 611734 for further information.

June 2021 Meetings:

Monday 7th– Planning & Highways Committee

Environmental Services Supervisor grounds@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Tourist Information Centre, Tel: 01568 616460 tourism@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Events, Tel: 01568 616460 events@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR DETAILS

Leominster Town Council has 16 Councillors who represent 4 Parish Wards. Their contact details can be found below:

LEOMINSTER EAST

Cllr Jenny Bartlett Tel: 01568 368509 jennybartlett@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Cllr Wayne Rosser Tel: 01568 613798 waynerosser@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Cllr Adrian Marshall c/o Tel: 01568 611734 adrianmarshall@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Cllr Gillian Murdoch Tel: 01568 589287 gillmurdoch@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Full Council Monday 28th 7.30pm – Finance & General Purposes Committee

Monday 28th 7pm

CONTACT THE COUNCIL

Council Offices, 11 Corn Square, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 8YP Tel: 01568 611734

Office open Monday to Friday 9.30am until 1pm

Town Clerk, Julie Debbage: j.debbage@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Projects & Grants Officer, Liz Womack: office@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Office Manager, Jackie Whittall: jackiewhittall@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Office Administrator, Lena Dahnsjo (primary contact for allotments and civic events): admin@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Financial Assistant, Jo Lee finance@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

LEOMINSTER NORTH

Cllr Paul Davies c/o Tel: 01568 611734 pauldavies@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Cllr Patricia Marsh Tel: 01568 611909 trishmarsh@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Cllr Jon Preece c/o Tel: 01568 611734 jonpreece@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Cllr John Rumsey Tel: 01568 620382 johnrumsey@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

LEOMINSTER SOUTH

Cllr Tessa Smith-Winnard Tel: 07739 152315 tessasmithwinnard@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Cllr Russell Sutcliffe c/o Tel: 01568 611734 russellsutcliffe@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Cllr Beth Williamson c/o Tel: 01568 611734 bethwilliamson@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Cllr Elspeth Parris Tel: 07815 518652

LEOMINSTER WEST

Cllr Jacqueline Herschy Tel: 07974 393692 jackyherschy@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Cllr Felicity Norman Tel: 01568 610955 felicitynorman@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Cllr Clive Thomas Tel: 01568 589398 clivethomas@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

Cllr Allan Williams Tel: 01568 615365 allanwilliams@leominstertowncouncil.gov.uk

LOWER HOPE GARDEN VISIT DATES

NGS and Charity Days 2021

www.lowerhopegardens.co.uk

 Sunday 4 July NGS

 Sunday 8 August – to be confirmed

 Sunday 12 September NGS

5 acres of beautiful gardens and wildlife lake. Open 2pm – 5pm. Toilets available, but bring your own refreshments.

Entrance £7.50 adults and £2 children. Assistance dogs only.

CASH ONLY PLEASE

WillPridie

near the A49 road to join a cycle and walkway to the light controlled crossing across the A49. The question is on page 5

Lower Hope, Ullingswick HR1 3JF. Signposted Lower Hope and Pencombe from A417.