Fun

Keep On Moving Shropshire Festival

People over the age of 55 are invited to get moving again as part of an inspiring Shropshire festival. 

The Keep on Moving Shropshire festival is a partnership between Shropshire Council, Energize, Taking Part, Age UK and the NHS, and will launch on Sunday 8 May 2022.  Keep on Moving Shropshire Festival graphic

It starts with a free one-day launch event, set to take place from 10am until 4pm at Shrewsbury Sports Village.  

The event is aimed at people over 55, and will include inspirational and internationally-renowned speakers who will give talks on different aspects of positive ageing. There will also be taster sessions of activities for participants to try, from singing to walking netball.  

The festival hopes to inspire people to take part in local activities again after the pandemic, to build people’s confidence and get them out and moving. It is also hoped that the day will increase recognition of the valuable role older people play in communities, as well as improved understanding about what keeps people well as they age. 

At the launch there will be activities to try, inspirational speakers, and a keynote speaker who will discuss the science of ageing. There will also be a number of information stands highlighting different activities and voluntary and community sector support in our communities.  

Throughout May there will be taster sessions run by partner organisations through the county: look out for fun opportunities to try new activities where you live.  

How to book 

To book, please complete the EventBrite booking form which can be found at www.shropshire.gov.uk/KeepOnMovingShropshire  

Annual Glow Worm Walk 25/6/21

In view of the disruption/uncertainty over group events this year, due to Covid 19, Hodnet Footpath Group are not planning our usual programme of public walks.

However, we do intend to run just one event, and that is the annual late evening glow worm walk on the Hodnet to Wollerton stretch of the old railway line. This is scheduled for Friday 25th June (if too cold/wet to go it will be on the following Friday – 2nd July.

This is always a popular event (around 60 people attended in 2019), not least as glow worms are nationally scarce and locally very rare.

This year numbers attending will be limited to 30 pre-booked spaces – reflecting the Government’s limit on numbers attending outdoor events – from 17th May.

Whilst it is possible all restrictions on numbers will be lifted by 21st June, it would be a hostage to fortune to currently assume that IS going to happen. So, to avoid disappointment we are following the current number limit on such events.

Booking for the glow worm walk is free, but is on a ‘first come first served’ basis – but with a reserve list maintained. We will use this reserve list to fill received cancellations or if restrictions are further eased by the date of the event.

For more details/to reserve your place please contact our Secretary, David Wilson, using : david.wilson65@icloud.com or 07970 304169. Please provide/note he will ask you for: your name and contact information, plus the names of those coming with you.  

INSTRUCTIONS: We will meet at 10.30pm by the old railway bridge on Station Road, Hodnet. Come in suitable footwear and clothing. Dogs on leads OK, children too (leads not needed!). Torches may be useful for the homeward walk, which is usually around 11.45pm/Midnight.

IMPORTANT: In consideration of those who may not wish to be part of a larger/unstructured party please do not try to attend this event if you are not able to officially book on. You can of course visit under your own steam on another evening if you wish. Warm dry evenings as it goes dark, from mid June to mid July, are the best times to spot our glow worms. They usually lurk at the base of tufts of grass/straggly vegetation on the edge of the short grassed areas of the old railway line embankment between Hodnet and Wollerton. Look for a pale green/white spot of light.

Help Out to Walk Out!

From Hodnet Footpath Group

Over the past year we have seen a big increase in the number of people using our local paths; partly because of the effect of Covid 19 exercise restrictions and partly, we like to think, because our 10 local walk leaflets coupled with the repairs/signage/clearance work we do have all made it easier for people to discover what is on their doorstep.

With uncertainty still ahead, we are not planning a programme of public walks this year, our priority instead being to carry out neglected items of maintenance, e.g. stile repairs and cutting back vegetation.

As with many such groups, we are surprisingly few in number (and not getting any younger!) so would be very grateful to anyone who would consider joining our group &/or assisting in our occasional work parties. We are a friendly, informal bunch and not only do we do ‘good works’ but we have some fun too!

So, if you’ve enjoyed our walks and appreciate the (often hidden) work that facilitates them, please help to make a difference for the future and get in touch. Contact details are on our webpage, see HERE, or find us on Facebook.


Hodnet Doctor Stops Pancake Day

That headline got your attention!

However, this is nothing to do with the esteemed doctors of today’s Hodnet Medical Centre, but relates to an Feb 1886 Newspaper article, topical at the time, that was this week posted on Facebook’s ‘Shropshire Tales, History & Memories page’.

The article comes from Eddowes’s Shrewsbury Journal, and around 20 years after his death it seems Dr Walmsley was clearly still well remembered – perhaps as he seems to have been Hodnet’s first recognisable resident GP as well as a bit of a character.

At least two of his early medicine bottles survive, see picture of one of them below.

Note. The writer is always interested in acquiring more local old bottles and containers, so if you’ve got some to re-home, maybe after a ‘lockdown clear out’, please do get in touch via email at Contact Me

Gritters need names too!

People across Shropshire are being asked to help name the county’s gritters – again – before they hit the roads this winter.

Two years ago people were invited to suggest names for the 25 gritters in the Shropshire Highways fleet – and hundreds of suggestions were made, before 24 names were chosen in a public vote – with over 2000 votes cast. The 25th gritter was named after Broseley schoolboy Zac Oliver.

Earlier this month, 17 of the gritters were replaced with brand new vehicles – vehicles that don’t have names. So, once again, people are being asked to put on their thinking caps and put forward their suggestions.

And, so that the other eight vehicles in the fleet don’t feel left out, they are going to be renamed too.

Three of the gritters will continue to be named after local youngsters Zac Oliver, Charlie Desmond and Jack Edwards – leaving 22 names to be found.

Suggestions can be made via the Shropshire Council twitter (@shropcouncil)), on Shropshire Council’s Facebook (/shropshirecouncil), or by sending an email to gritters@shropshire.gov.uk.

People of all ages can enter, and schools are being encouraged to invite their pupils to put forward their ideas and then submit entries on behalf of the school.

The closing date for entries is 5pm on Wednesday 4 November.

All suggestions will be shortlisted by a team of ‘experts’ and the best/most popular names will go through to a public vote on the Shropshire Council website in mid to late November, when people will be able to choose their favourites.

The 22 gritters will then be given their new names in time for winter.

The five most popular names in the 2018 vote were:

  • Gritty Gritty Bang Bang – 1246 votes
  • Frosty the Snow Van -1101 votes
  • Spready Mercury – 1080 votes
  • Gritty McGritface – 1018 votes
  • Usain Salt – 1004 votes

Market Drayton Leisure Centre re-opening Monday 19 October 2020!

Shropshire Community Leisure Trust Ltd has announced plans for Market Drayton Swimming & Fitness Centre to reopen on Monday 19 October 2020.

The centre has been closed since March, when the Government instructed all leisure facilities in the UK to shut due to coronavirus. When restrictions were eased in July, safety assessments highlighted issues around air ventilation, which would need to be addressed for the site to reopen and be COVID-19-safe. This work is due to be completed very soon, ensuring the facilities will be COVID-19-safe.

Shropshire Community Leisure Trust Ltd has introduced a series of social distancing and safety measures at all its sites, including one-way systems, a reduction in workout class sizes, more space between gym equipment and a greatly increased cleaning schedule.

For the full list of safety procedures to follow at each centre and how to book into sessions when they do open, please visit the Trust’s website: https://www.shropshireleisurecentres.com/

Whitchurch Swimming Centre site remains closed, as it is currently not possible to enforce Government social distancing guidelines within the ageing facility.

Summer holiday activity programme offers fun for all the family

Shropshire Council has developed a timetable of activities to help make the summer holidays fun for all the family.

The programme offers a mixture of face-to-face participation and self-led sessions for children and families to enjoy together  – all in line with social distancing guidance.

There is involvement from Severn Valley Country Park, Shropshire Libraries, Junior Wild Teams and other council service areas. For more information click here to visit  the Shropshire Council website – a full list of activities is due to be added on Monday, 20 July.

Meanwhile Shropshire Family Information Service also has information on other summer holiday activities from some of the wonderful family attractions opening back up throughout Shropshire. This can be accessed via their free online directory of summer holiday fun.

For some families, who may need full-time care at a registered childcare provider, a holiday play scheme or an out of school club, Shropshire Family Information Service also has a full list of registered childcare providers. For information parents can call telephone 01743 254400 or email ShropshireFIS@shropshire.gov.uk