Events

Events listed below:

1.  Chamber of Trade – SummerFest – Plans for 11th June 2011

2  Chamber of Trade – Fundraiser DISCO 29th Jan 2011 in aid of SummerFest

3.  Christmas Lights Cttee – Xmas Tree & Lights

Many FREE events throughout the town for adults and children,
including stalls, music, food, roving minstrells, etc.

Evening live music - Rectory Field – 3 bands -  from approx 6.30pm – 10.30pm only £5.

full information on SummerFest listed below but first :

THE ODDFELLOWS FRIENDLY SOCIETY
Spotlight on just one of the organisations attending the
Chamber of Trade’s Third SummerFest – 11^th June 2011

Sow and Flow – Unique combination of garden and plumbing advice at Church Stretton SummerFest.
A new twist to the gardening theme sow and grow is on offer on 11^th June at the Church Stretton Chamber of Trade SummerFest.    This unique offering ‘Sow and Flow’, is the centre piece to the Oddfellows stand at the SummerFest, where both gardening and plumbing advice will be freely available from Oddfellows members Alan and George.

With a presence in Church Stretton since 1840, Oddfellows is a not for profit society, started to help protect and care for people before the introduction of the welfare state.  Today the society is still providing care, support and financial benefits for over 120,000 members worldwide, with the added focus of providing a wide range of social activities for members to increase their circle of friends.

Representative of the local Caradoc Branch (part of the Severn and Trent District) for the Oddfellows Alan Hyatt said: “I wanted to use both my trade expertise as a plumber, and that of George Hills, a retired County Head Gardener, to benefit people coming to the stand.

“Since Oddfellows was established in this region life has changed considerably, but our strapline of ‘making friends and helping people’ is still as relevant today as ever”.People are invited to consult with Alan and George, who was Head Gardener at Viscount Boyne’s Shropshire estate, over a free cuppa at the SummerFest.

Now running a four star bed and breakfast in Church Stretton, Alan was until recently undertaking plumbing work for third generation customers who refuse to use anyone else.  Alan is also offering a free prize draw for a weekend stay for two at his Highlands Bed and Breakfast.

Supporting people since 1810, the Oddfellows is proud to have celebrated its 200^th birthday last year. The Oddfellows are one of the largest Branch based friendly societies who continue to innovate – developing new and improved services to support members.  It currently has 120,000 members and 151 Branches nationwide. Most of the Branches have both active social programmes and provide help and support to members in the local areas.   Cost of membership is £25 a year (or £23 by direct debit) and what the Oddfellows do is summarised below.

Social Activities

Most people join today to expand their social networks and take part in a range of social activities: including musical nights; day trips; dances; and meals out.  There is also an opportunity to join the Active Travel Club which hosts UK holidays and overseas trips for members and take part in the Holiday Home Exchange.

• Since 2006 we have held nearly 6000 events across the country with 151,145 attendees
• Over 3,100 members have enjoyed an annual group holiday with the Oddfellows since we teamed up with Warner’s 15 years ago

Care and Support

This is provided in part through the centrally based Care Department and a network of Branch based Welfare Officers. Additional support is provided through the free Advice Line which is provided by the Citizens Advice Bureau.

CARRY ON READING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON SUMMERFEST

CHAMBER OF TRADE – SUMMERFEST
Saturday 11th June 2011

Many FREE events throughout the town for adults and children,
including stalls, music, food, roving minstrells, etc.
Evening live music - Rectory Field – 3 bands -  only £5.

MAIN ATTRACTION
CHURCH STRETTON VINTAGE STEAM RALLY

Celebrating 50th Anniversary of the first Steam Rally held in Russells Meadow,
Church Stretton in 1961.

On show: Steam Lorries, Engines, Steam Rollers
Army Vehicles, Vintage Cars, Vintage Bikes

This year the Rally will be held in the Town itself and among the exhibits will be two exhibits which were part of the very first rally, a 1903 Clements veteran car owned by Chris & Mike Painter of Shrewsbury, entered in 1961 by their father Frank Painter and a National stationary engine owned by Dave Evans of Church Stretton. 

Events throughout the Town – so far include Sonny Pennington (Magical Sunshine),  Raise the Dust,  the Caradoc Ceilidh Band, Severnside Jazz Band, Shropshire Strummers, Stretton School of Dance & Drama and the Riverboat Days Duo strolling minstrels.   Confirmation of other events awaited.

Rectory Field – Day, Masses of games and interest for children together with food, icecream, music. dancers – more to come.

Rectory Field Live Music – Evening – Kev Thursfield and Dave Falshaw bring their exciting brand of Soul/Motown/ Northern Soul/’70 Discoement to this year’s SummerFest.

Keeping the super sound of soul alive and kicking in Shropshire - the lads provide a super sound  of  soul spectacular with classics from Marvin Gaye, The Doobie Brothers, The Drifters, The Temptations and Ben E King to name but a few.

Other acts include:

The Custard Connection which will get audiences moving with dance-oriented selection of pop classics.  Kate Lewis vocals, with band playing songs by Elie Goulding, Katie Perry, Lady Gaga, Pink, Lily Allen and Kylie.

MKZero.  First EP ‘Make Fire with Thought’ sold out.  New material now-with
howling guitar riffs, infectious choruses and solid harmonies, think Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro and Linkin Park.

Possible Opportunity for Local talent -   If any local vocalist, artiste or band would like to be considered as performers during SummerFest day – do get in touch.

Enquiries:
Eileen Roberts
01694 720086

2.    DISCO – 29th January 2011 Silvester Horne Institute,  Church Stretton.   Tickets only £5.  from John Thomas, Wrights or vanDoesburgs.  7 pm / 7.30pm to late.  Licensed bar.

Disco raised £492.00   Your support is appreciated.

3.    CHURCH STRETTON – CHRISTMAS TREES & LIGHTS

Still going strong after 24 years -
Gary Hughes, David Pepper, Don Rogers & Stuart Wright
Photo: John Corfield

HOW MANY MEN DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?

Well,  quite a lot of volunteers when it comes to erecting the Christmas Lights in Church Stretton. A small band of seven Church Stretton  traders under the leadership of David Pepper with Gary Hughes, Don Rogers, Stuart Wright, John Thomas, David Mitchell and Bernard Richardson set up the Christmas Lights group in 1987.  It speaks volumes that the first five of the original group are still very much involved in a project that brings a lot of joy and pleasure to the people of Church Stretton over the festive season.

The Christmas lights, some half a mile of cable and 100s of small trees on shop fronts and a large 30 foot tree in the square are erected over a three Sunday period in the main streets of Church Stretton.    This annual mammoth task, which took eight hours on the first day,  entailed stringing the half a mile of cables and hundreds of coloured light bulbs across the main streets.  The bacon butties, home-made cakes, sandwiches, coffee etc. etc.  provided by Berrys, Victoria House, Flinders, Bucks Head and the Acorn kept the teams going.

Over the years the system has been expanded to include additional streets and although the work is done by volunteers, the cost of the cables and lights comes with a heavy price.

Because we have to change to low energy usage as light bulbs become redundant, this year we have spent £3,000 on new equipment which will reduce our energy consumption by more than 50%.  Just one new string by the railway bridge has cost £760, new lights for the tree have cost £600 and the new Christmas tree lights have cost £1,500 alone!

As always, the cost will be met by contributions from Church Stretton traders, local organisations, residents and the Town Council.

This year, the 30 foot tree in the Square is again being donated by Stephens Landscapes, Matthew turns up every year to drive the cherry picker,  and Ian Beaver of Shropshire Building Supplies arranges its removal at the end of the festivities.

Volunteers include the local Rotarians who will use the tree as a “Tree of Light” supported by the South Shropshire Journal to display many lights in memory of loved ones or good causes at this time of the year. The donations, (which last year amounted to £2,500)  will be divided equally between their local charities Hope House. Severn Hospice and the County Air Ambulance . The Tree also forms the centre piece in The Square for the Rotary organized Carol singing on Christmas Eve.

The whole lighting system, which is powered by the local traders, is being switched on at 5.00pm on Saturday 20^th November.

Contact David Pepper 01694 722724