As you are probably aware Chris our Postman is retiring on Saturday. People have been extremely generous giving to the collection and signing his card. We will present this at 1pm on Saturday 3rd August please show your appreciation and come along to the post office. Thanks Jo and Gary
The traditional Ruyton XI Towns Flower and Vegetable Show has been "re-branded" as the "Home Grown Show" It takes place in the Village Hall on 8th September between 2:30pm and 4:30pm. Entry is only £1 - and FREE to children and Exhibitors.
So get your Runner Beans ready, or your Vegetable Monster, or enter one of the many other Sections - Fruit & Veg., Flowers, Floral Art, Cookery, Crafts, Junior Art or Photography.
A Programme is available in the Flower Shop or the Post Office and Stores for the princely sum of 25p (to cover printing costs) Or see the web version (and print it yourself) for free using this link:- http://www.flipsnack.com/A55C7F97C6F/f7ji4iij
If you just need to print an Entry Form, or you don't want to spoil your paper Programme, you can print one from this link:- http://www.rxit.org.uk/HGS_form.pdf
Many thanks to Tilly Hancock, our Show Co-ordinator, and to the many local businesses who are sponsoring the Show or providing prizes for the usual Draw or selling Programmes for us. Tickets for the Draw will be on sale shortly.
-- Colin Case www.ruytonxitowns.org.uk Tel: +44 1939 260628 Mobile: +44 7860 904006 Fax: +44 872 115 8730
----------------------------------- BROWNHILL HOUSE GARDEN is now closed for 2013.
26th July - "The Siege of Oswestry 1644" an illustrated talk with Justine Soper at 7pm. Ticket only cost £2.50 each.
27th-28th July - Multi Period Re-enactment & Living History Event. Each day 10-4pm - £2 entrance per person. Encampments of Romans, Medieval, Tudor, English Civil War plus more plus craft and gifts stalls and refreshments. Ideal family day out. Part of the CBA Festival of Archaeology. We may also have an illustrated talk on the Saturday night as part of the event "The Logistics of Agincourt" with Ian Hughes
Sunday 28th July - IftonBrass Band playing in Cae Glas Park, Oswestry 2-4pm
Oswestry Show, one of the leading one day agricultural shows, is held annually on the first Saturday in August on the 37 acre Park Hall Showground on the outskirts of the historical town of Oswestry. The event attracts crowds of approximately 15,000 from both sides of the English/Welsh border.
Spectacular main ring entertainment takes place throughout the day, with a fun filled programme of music and children’s entertainment on the Village Green.
Visitors can enjoy browsing around the many trade stands, food hall and craft marquee. Floral art, photography and local produce can be found in the Horticultural Marquee, along with amazing creations produced by junior members in the children’s classes. Other areas of interest are the Small Livestock, Vintage Machinery, Classic Cars, Women’s Institute Competitions alongside the Young Farmers with their competitions and ‘It’s a Knockout’.
Motostunts International The Motostunts International team performs 25-30 shows per year up and down the country. The shows feature amazing motocycle jumps, rides through blazing fire, and impressive jeep stunts including 2 wheel 'wheelies' The team are always busy with new ideas for the show. Brandon Bailey just 9 years old already drives a Suzuki Jeep in the show, along with tricks on a motor cycle and a quad. Daniel Buss the teams "jump" man has recently jumped 21 Suzuki Jeeps at a show at the Kent County Showground.
The Melton Mowbray Toy Soldiers
Dressed in there red tunics (Grenadier Guard Style), white trousers with a red stripe (male and female), bearskin type hats, White Sam Browne belts, white socks and black shoes the Melton Mowbray Toy Soldiers produce an impressive display of marching to popular tunes. All members, some as young as 9 years, play an instrument of choice. Come along and enjoy the fun in the main ring
Admission prices
Adults £10.00 - OAPs £7.00 - Children £5.00 - Family (2 adults, 2 children 5-16yrs, under 5s free) £30.00
Welcome to our 2nd Walking Festival as part of the Walkers Are Welcome initiative. We have NINE GREAT WALKS for you to choose from, some short, some long, by each a fascinating journey across the landscape, history and heritage of Oswestry and the Welsh Marches. Be sure to BOOK YOUR WALKS as places are limited.
All walks start from the Cambrian Railway Station, Oswald Road, Oswestry SY11 1RE, unless otherwise stated.
FRIDAY, SEPT 13th
WALK 1. A Ramble on Llynclys Common
Facts: From 1pm – 5pm. About 5.5 miles. Moderate, including stiles.
Led by David Hardwick, Shropshire Wildlife Trust
A ramble around Llynclys Common, exploring industrial heritage and wildlife along the way. Free transport provided from the Cambrian Railway Station, leaving at 1pm.
WALK 2. Old Oswestry Hillfort
Facts: 2pm – 4pm. 4 miles. Leisurely.
Led by Liz Evans from Walking for Health
A gentle walk to introduce you to an ancient part of Oswestry, which also gives great views of the surrounding countryside. There are stiles, and gentle steps up to the top.
SATURDAY, SEPT 14th
WALK 3. Around Llanrhaeadr
Facts: 7 miles. Moderate to strenuous.
Led by Peter Carr of the Ramblers
A circular walk up and around Moel Hen-fache. The first half of the walk is all up hill, the second half is all down hill. Wonderful views of the Tanat Valley, the Waterfall etc. Bring a packed lunch. Free transport provided from the Cambrian Railway Station, leaving at 9.30am.
WALK 4. Racecourse to Pant Glas
Facts: 10am – 2pm. 4 miles. Moderate.
Led by Malcolm Andrew of the Border Outdoor Dabblers
Meet at Oswestry Racecourse car park which is at the southern end of the course, at 9.30am.
WALK 5. By Oswald’s Well
Facts: 10am – 1pm. 3 miles. Moderate.
Led by Liz Evans from Walking for Health
Leaving town by a long, gradual uphill walk, this soon takes you out into the lovely countryside around Oswestry. There are a few stiles on this walk, but it is so worth the effort.
WALK 6. Across the Aqueduct by bus!
Facts: 9am – 3pm. 4.8 miles. Moderate.
Led by Richard Dibble of Oswestry U3A
Starting from Cefn Mawr the walk takes you down to the Llangollen Canal, across the Aqueduct at Pontcysyllte, along the Canal, to Pentre, and then bus back to Oswestry. Toilets and Pub Lunch stop at the Trevor Basin. Meet 9am at the Cambrian Railway Station for registration, then walk to the bus stop to catch public transport. Bus fare is not included in the price of the walk.
SUNDAY, SEPT 15th
WALK 7. Oswestry Ring
Facts: 9:30am – 4pm . 12.5 miles. Moderate.
Led by Chris Jenkins and Trevor Allison of the Ramblers
A complete countryside circuit of Oswestry, taking in many of the local points of interest including Candy Woods, Oswestry Old Racecourse, Brogyntyn Park, and Oswestry Old Hill Fort. Bring a packed lunch.
WALK 8. Llanforda Estate
Facts: 10am – 3pm. 7.5 miles. Moderate.
Led by Ron Bond
Straight through town and out along Penylan Lane passing an old mining area now long gone. From there it will go across to the ruins of Llanforda house and through the parkland past the old fishponds. The walk then crosses fields around the reservoir and back past the waterworks. The walk will include a number of stiles and some easy ascents. You will need drinks and sandwiches.
WALK 9. Nearly to Morda
Facts: 10am – 1pm. 3 miles. Moderate.
Led by Liz Evans from Walking for Health
This is a shorter version of walk No.8, but it still takes in some lovely views on the outskirts of Oswestry. There are stiles and one short but fairly steep bit.
NOTES
Leaflets for self-guided, longer walks, will be available throughout the festival period.
There is a charge of £2 per person for the short walks, and £3 per person for the longer walks and those including a bus journey.
All walks must be booked and paid for in advance with cheques made payable to Oswestry Walkers are Welcome.
On the day of the walk, registration is at the Cambrian Railway Station up to half an hour before the walk departure time. As the numbers for each walk are limited, bookings will be strictly first- come-first-served. Please note meeting details for walk No.4.
All children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Young people between the ages of 16 and under 18, if unaccompanied, must have the written consent of a parent or guardian.
We regret that we cannot accept dogs on any of these walks.
Apparently one on the church bank has also gone! Apparently the chains were sawn through.
PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH COLIN IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
THREE OF OUR HANGING BASKETS ARE MISSING
Two of our super Hanging Baskets have apparently been stolen from the Bus Shelter near the Victoria Room. They went missing overnight between about 8:00pm Sunday 14th July and 6:30am Monday 15th July. If anyone can shed any light on the incident or has any information that could help the Police, please dial 101 and quote Crime Reference 53S150713 If it was some sort of prank (?!?) and someone wants to return the baskets anonymously, they are welcome to give me a call.
Sorry everyone, I obviously should have given the rest of the information from Joanne:-
We have started a collection in the shop for Chris the postman. but we would like to present the money raised on the day he finishes Sat 3rd August. People have suggested we should have drinks and nibbles. Nothing set in concrete open to suggestions as to where and what. Maybe The Talbot could be involved ?
This is a copy of the notice in shop if you could send it round to everyone that would be great
thank you
Jo at Ruyton Post Office and Stores
THE LAST POST Chris The Postman Is retiring on Sat 3rd August 201 3. He has delivered mail to you through all weather for the past 24 years out of his 36 years service. If you would like to contribute to the collection and sign the card Please do.
THE LAST POST Chris The Postman Is retiring on Sat 3rd August 201 3. He has delivered mail to you through all weather for the past 24 years out of his 36 years service. If you would like to contribute to the collection and sign the card Please do,
The Novel Cure with Ella Berthoud & Susan Elderkin
Tuesday 3rd September 2013 – 7.00pm at Booka
In Need of a Novel Cure?
Join us for an evening of Bibliotherapy with School of Life Bibliotherapists Ella Berthoud & Susan Elderkin who’ll be providing literary prescriptions for any ailment – mind and body.
Their quirky new book, The Novel Cure: An A-Z of Literary Remedies, is written with authority, passion and wit and features a wide range of books from the classic to the contemporary, from the much loved and well known to the undiscovered gem. It is published by Canongate Books on September 5th.
To help you relax before the event, Time for You will be providing hand massages. Honeysuckle will also be providing a ‘health remedies’ goody bag for you to go home with – fully cured!
Tickets: £15 (includes a signed hardback copy of The Novel Cure and a ‘health remedies’ goody bag, plus refreshments)
Please book in advance - for tickets, call in at the shop, give us a call or send us an email.
If you are unable to attend the event but would like a signed and dedicated copy of The Novel Cure, please contact us.
(Photograph by Johnny Ring)
Paul Hollywood & Booka at the Shrewsbury Flower Show
We are delighted to be supporting the appearance of Paul Hollywood at this year's Shrewsbury Flower Show on 9th & 10th August.
If you're not going to the Show but would like to pre-order a signed and dedicated copy of Bread and/or How to Bake, please let us know. The books are available at a Show offer price of £18 each or £35 for both titles.
Danubia: A Personal History of Habsburg Europe - Simon Winder
Thursday 12th September 2013 - 7.00pm at Booka
Danubia is the brilliant and entertaining companion to the Sunday Times top ten bestseller Germania.
For centuries much of Europe was in the hands of the very peculiar Habsburg family. An unstable mixture of wizards, obsessives, melancholics, bores, musicians and warriors, they saw off – through luck, guile and sheer mulishness – any number of rivals, until finally packing up in 1918. From their principal lairs along the Danube they ruled most of Central Europe and Germany and interfered everywhere – indeed the history of Europe hardly makes sense without them.
Readers who discovered Simon Winder’s genius for telling wonderful stories of middle Europe with Germania will be delighted by the eccentric and fascinating stories of the Habsburgs and their world.
Tickets: £15 single / £20 couple (includes a signed hardback copy of Danubia, plus refreshments)
Please book in advance - for tickets, call in at the shop, give us a call or send us an email.
If you are unable to attend the event but would like a signed and dedicated copy of Danubia, please contact us.
Book of the Month - July
Our Book of the Month for July is Perfect by Rachel Joycethe eagerly awaited follow-up to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.
"Rachel Joyce's second novel is a beautifully rendered tale with keenly observed characters and precise prose captivating the reader from the first page to the last. The use of two parallel story lines gradually reveal the impact and repercussions of a seemingly innocuous event on the lives of lead character Byron, his family and friends. Be prepared for a twist at the end! Probably one of my favourite books of the year so far" - Carrie
Special Offer: We're offering a free coffee and cake with every copy purchased.
For any Rachel Joyce fan, we have signed first edition copies in stock.
Booka News
Autumn Season of Events We are busy planning our Autumn season of events and are really excited with how things are beginning to come together. Details of our first two events are provided above. We'll let you know more in our next newsletter, once details have been confirmed - watch this space.
Children's Bookclub We launched our new Children's Bookclub for 7-9 year olds during Independent Booksellers Week. Their first read will be The Great Ice Cream Heist by Elen Caldecott. We'll be posting their reviews in the shop and on our website.
Oswestry Books, Films & Plays Our new range of postcards have been a big hit. We are working with The Oswestry Framing Company to offer them as a framed set in either an oak or black frame. They look great and make a great gift or present to yourself!
Bookclubs Booka Bookclub - Currently reading: A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. Next meeting Wednesday 11th September, 7.30pm at Booka Book & a Beer Bookclub - Currently reading: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. Next meeting Thursday 8th August, 7.30pm at Booka
I have checked a few phone numbers in the village of Baschurch and it seems that Infinity is now available to order, at least for some. And the speed is MASSIVE - up to 160mbps depending on the package you buy - and 20mbps upload as well. This download speed is TWICE that which is available to us in Ruyton XI Towns (we get up to 76mbps) and makes Baschurch the Fastest Village in the West! (Midlands) - in fact, it must be one of the Fastest Villages in the UK - there is no faster technology in use at the moment. This is the advantage of Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) compared with Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) But don't worry about the technology - just order it if you want. If Infinity is available via BT, then it ought to be available via some other Internet Service Providers (such as Orange, for example, although there are several others) Once Openreach have installed the infrastructure they have to make it available to other ISPs - not just BT. I see that BT have an offer of free sports if you sign up with them, or extend your contract if you are already with them. I am sure other ISPs may have advantages as well - it's a very competitive market place.
I'd be interested to know where it is available - and where it isn't - just drop me an email with your result (if you like) - and how long it takes to get installed after ordering (normally about 2 weeks) and if you REALLY get 160mbps.
-- Colin Case www.ruytonxitowns.org.uk Tel: +44 1939 260628 Mobile: +44 7860 904006 Fax: +44 872 115 873
Two of our super Hanging Baskets have apparently been stolen from the Bus Shelter near the Victoria Room. They went missing overnight between about 8:00pm Sunday 14th July and 6:30am Monday 15th July. If anyone can shed any light on the incident or has any information that could help the Police, please dial 101 and quote Crime Reference 53S150713 If it was some sort of prank (?!?) and someone wants to return the baskets anonymously, they are welcome to give me a call.
ADVICE ON SCAM EMAILS
On a separate note, there seems to be DOZENS of scam emails doing the rounds at the moment - everything from Job Offers to Register your PDF download etc. No-one is just going to email you with a Job Offer, so if you receive emails from someone you don't know with any sort of offer that is too good to be true, then just delete it. In particular, do not attempt to read or open any attachment, and don't reply (even if only to "unsubscribe") - this only tells the sender that they have found a valid email address, making their "list" more valuable.
-- Colin Case www.ruytonxitowns.org.uk Tel: +44 1939 260628 Mobile: +44 7860 904006 Fax: +44 872 115 8730
We have had these baskets brightening our village for getting on for 10 years and no-one has tampered with them before - WHO DONE IT??? Yoland
Yesterday I received an obviously dodgy email: "
"The BMW Automobile Company wishes you Happy Ramadan and also to congratulate you on your success as one of our Ten(10) Star Prize Winner in this years International" Do they think we are that stupid?! Yoland BE AWARE!
Colin Case www.ruytonxitowns.org.uk Tel: +44 1939 260628 Mobile: +44 7860 904006 Fax: +44 872 115 8730
TONIGHT 16th July at 7pm in the theatre at Packwood Haugh School, tickets are priced at £3.50 and all proceeds from the raffle sales will go to this years chosen charity, British Heart Foundation.
Tickets are available from Carla, 07812989245, Julie Gregory 07956042683 or Gary/Jo in the shop. Please come and support us as I can guarantee an evening of entertainment from young and oldish!!
----------------------------
BUGSY MALONE Llanymynech Village Hall Saturday and Sunday, 20th & 21st July at 7pm -------------------------
THE TALBOT, Ruyton XI Towns Sunday 21st July
BBQ from 5.30 - Live Music from 8pm
Josh Sibley will be vocal and will sing a mixture of delightful tunes.
I will be having freshly cut hay, from a flower rich hay meadow called Ropewalk Meadows, delivered to Bridge Inn Fields in the first or second week of August. This will need to be spread across the site by hand and I’m hoping a lot of you will come to help me.
As the hay dries it will drop its seeds and these will hopefully germinate in our meadow. Ropewalk meadows has a lot of rare and interesting hay meadow plants, including orchids, but we will have to wait and see what gets established.
I will send an email out as soon as I know when we will get the hay. It could be quite short notice as they have to have just the right conditions to do the cutting.
OUTING of the RUYTON & BASCHURCH PENSIONER`S LUNCH CLUB TO LLANDUDNO - next TUESDAY 23rd July
As usual, guests are welcome - maybe friends of members, or relations or carers or just pensioners who fancy a trip.
There are about 25 of us so far - but if there are more guests I will book a bigger coach - Lakeside Coaches are always flexible and helpful.
The trip is funded by the raffle that we run at every lunch club meeting, so the trip is free to regular diners. But guests are only £6 - so come along.
Just let me know - phone numbers and email address below. And bring a hat - it is forecast to be HOT!
Pick-up details:-
9:00 Admiral Duncan - Baschurch 9:05 Prescott - opposite Dr's Surgery 9:10 Victoria Room - Ruyton XI Towns 9:15 Flower Shop - Ruyton XI Towns
You might also like to join us for our next lunch - Leanne and the team at the Talbot did us proud today - Beef Stroganoff followed by Belgian White Chocolate Ice Cream - yummmm! Lunches are only £7.50 for the two courses. The next lunch is 19th August - always the third Monday (except at Christmas sometimes) - 12:00 noon for 12:30pm
You may have read in the Shropshire Star about the devastating fire on Grinshill earlier this week. "200 metres of trees and gorse" were destroyed, needing 50 firefighters to put out the fire.
It is thought that disgarded glass had been the cause of the fire.
We have a similar hill of natural beauty here in Ruyton and in this warm weather many people will be enjoying walking on The Cliffe, as well as Hopton and Nesscliffe Hills.
PLEASE look out for any rubbish, especially bottles, and take it home to your own dustbin.
If you have children, I am sure you have tought them to take their rubbish home but especially at this time please explain the danger of starting fires or leaving bottles around after a party.
Dr. Dave Lowdon is spending his retirement getting very fit to enter various punishing physical tests and so raise money for very worthwhile charities. Please give him your support.
Dr Lowdon’s Mad Retirement Plans!
Since I have retired from General Practice in Baschurch last year I have been a keen supporter of both PHASE Worldwide andMedic Malawi. I visited them both last year, acting as teacher and mentor to the staff in both Nepal and Malawi. The dedication and enthusiasm of the local staff is amazing despite the harsh conditions in which they work.
Medic Malawihas built and runs a hospital, maternity ward, dental unit, an orphanage, and an under-5 Nutrition programme in a rural community called Mtunthama. It also supports a primary and secondary school, operates mobile clinics in the bush, provides health education programmes, and HIV/AIDS testing and counselling services. Moreover, after 10 years the original church has become too small for this thriving community so they are in the process of building a new one themselves! A second building has also been funded by Medic Malawifor the orphanage that has now doubled its numbers to 80 children!
PHASE Worldwideis a UK registered charity improving health, education and livelihood opportunities for disadvantaged populations in extremely isolated Nepalese Himalayan villages. PHASE delivers quality Primary Care in areas that have no existing services.
To support these two worthy organisations I have pledged to take part in some challenging activities this year in an attempt to raise some funds in the way of sponsoship. The events I am taking part in are;
·Cycling London-Paris-London (440 miles in 6 days) 11/5/13
·Shrewsbury Half Marathon23/6/13 (2hrs 10mins!)
·Three Peaks Challenge (Ben Nevis, Scafell, Snowdon) 20/7/13
·Welsh Three Peaks(Pen y Fan, Cadair Idris and Snowdon) 28/9/13
I would much appreciate your support; your money will go a long way at these charities. Donations can be sent to me or on line: