The Strettons

Schedules, for those who wish to enter the various classes, are available from Salts the ironmonger's, John Thomas the florist's and the Tourist Information Centre. On Monday it is Rushbury and District Annual Flower and Produce Show, in Rushbury Village Hall, at 3pm. Schedules for this are available from committee members or by contacting Mrs Themans on 01694 771203.

FLOWER AND MUSIC FESTIVAL: Taking place In St Laurence's Church from tomorrow (Friday).

At 3pm there will be an opportunity for infirm and elderly visitors to enjoy a special preliminary public viewing of the flowers.

There will be an opening service of blessing, at 7pm, followed by a cheese and wine party, for which tickets cost £5 and are available from the festival box office in the parish centre.

On Saturday the church will be open from 10am until 6pm.

There will also be a school art exhibition, a craft exhibition, children's treasure hunt, organ recitals, stalls selling books, cakes and souvenirs, together with refreshments.

The gardens of Park House, in Churchway, will be open during the day and, in Church Stretton School, national demonstrator Mrs Janet James will be showing how to arrange flowers in her Just Imagine.

This event is due to take place at 2pm and admission is £5 at the door.

At 7.30pm, harpist Alecs Peate and choral singers Take Six will be in concert. Advance tickets cost £5 and are available from the festival box office in the parish centre.

The church will also be open from 1-5.30pm on Sunday, as will Park House, Churchway. The day will end with songs of praise in the church at 6pm.

Monday, from 10am-5pm, offers a last chance to view the flowers, art exhibition, craft exhibition, take part in the children's treasure hunt, enjoy the organ recitals, take refreshment, and visit the gardens of Park House before the closing festival service in the church at 5pm. The next day, at 10.30am, there will be a sale of flowers.

The festival box office is open for ticket sales on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 2-4pm during August.

Check the website: www.churchstretton.co.uk for more information, or call 01694 723779 or 01694 722017.

SENIOR CITIZENS' CLUB: Mrs Penny Hargrove is due to give a talk about her trip to Canada when the club meets tomorrow (Friday), at 2.30pm, in the United Reformed Church Hall.

BEE KEEPING: This bank holiday weekend sees the National Trust holding a bee-keeping event, when honey will be on sale. On Sunday there will be a walk to seek out the habitats of bees and wasps from noon-4.30pm. Meet at the Chalet Pavilion, in Cardingmill Valley.

TEAS TO PLEASE: Little Stretton Church is, again, the setting for Teas to Please over the bank holiday weekend, between 2.30pm and 6pm.

Proceeds will be divided between the Air Ambulance and All Saints Church funds.

MEDICAL CENTRE: Church Stretton Medical Centre will no longer be open on Saturday mornings.

All out-of-hours calls will be covered by Shropdoc. For help during these times ring: 08450 202131.

CRAFT CLUB: A Tuesday craft club is running at Mayfair Community Centre, from 11am-1pm, for youngsters aged 11 and above who can take part in producing a mosaic. This will then put on display outside the centre.

On Fridays, from 10am-noon, eight to 11 year-olds can try their hand at many different crafts.

Places should be reserved by ringing 01694 722077. Each session costs £3.

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES: The National Trust hosts outdoor holiday activities on Wednesdays and Fridays at 11am and 2pm. Meet at the Chalet Pavilion to take part and the cost per child is £1.50.

Making jewellery from scrap is the Wednesday activity at the South Shropshire Furniture Scheme in Burway Road.

Ring 01694 724464 to take part in the half-day or full-day sessions under the guidance of Jackie Russell.

Cost is £3 for half-day or £5 for full-day tuition, 10am-12.30pm and 1-3.30pm and all are welcome.

REUNION: A school reunion for the 1994 leavers from Church Stretton School is planned for Saturday, September 18, from 2-5pm, at the school. An invitation goes out to all of the leavers, their teachers and anyone else involved with the year group.

Take a bottle along if you wish as light refreshments will be included in the £3 ticket. Partners and children of former pupils are welcome to join in the celebrations. Contact Cssreunion94@hotmail.com.

BREAST CANCER CARE: An evening of South American wine tasting, raffle and promise auction, in aid of Breast Cancer Care, has been arranged for Saturday, September 4, in All Stretton Village Hall, at 7.30pm.

Tickets for the event are available from Pam Allsop, at the Health and Beauty Clinic, and also Little Houses, both in Churchway, or from Chamberlaine and Stephens estate agent's in High Street.

They cost £15 and include wine tasting and cheese. Information: 01694 723899.

Mrs Ann Hamlyn is due to host a coffee morning in Ashford House on Monday, September 6, from 11am-1pm, also for Breast Cancer Care. Admission is £1.

DISCO: As the new football season will soon be under way, tickets for a disco at the district club on Saturday, October 16, go on sale to raise funds for the Church Stretton Magpies under 9s team.Tickets cost £5.

Doors open at 8pm and there will be no admission after 10pm.

Open to over 18s only, inquiries for tickets can be made by ringing 01694 722543 or 724145.

WI MARKET: The WI Market sells cakes, pasties, savouries, produce and preserves and craft items from a stall in Mayfair Community Centre, on Fridays from 8.45am until 10am.

Now, more suppliers are needed to contribute to the goods on sale.

Membership of the WI is not a pre requisite and the name of the market will soon be changed to the Church Stretton Country Market to reflect this.

Call in at the market if you would like more details.

Seven members of the Church Stretton WI Market group have recently passed their hygiene certificates for catering.

AUTUMN COURSES: An enrolment and information session for autumn courses will be held in Church Stretton School on Friday, September 10, from 4-6pm. Subjects on offer include: text and word processing OCR Stages 1, 2 and 3, computing for beginners, basic DIY and exploring the internet. Inquiries: 01694 722209.

An enrolment and information evening is also due to be held in the parish centre, from 6.30-8.30pm, on Wednesday, September 15. Ten-week courses here, due to start next January, include: fitness for the young at heart, yoga, an introduction to belly dancing, drawing and painting, wine appreciation, history of art, and the geology of south Shropshire. Inquiries: 01694 723899.

TAI CHI: Taoist Tai Chi is on offer in the parish centre on Friday, September 10, 10am-noon in the form of a free introductory talk and demonstration.

The classes are open to all abilities and ages and there is no floor work. If attending please wear casual clothes and flat shoes or trainers.

More information on 01694 724325 or 01743 369787.

SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB: The meeting took place at the United Reformed Church Hall while alterations to the regular venue, the Silvester Horne Institute were under way.

Mrs Hayward advised that as the coach trips were not being supported, no more would be arranged.

The speaker was Mr Len York who had climbed in the Alps, conquering the Matterhorn and the Eiger. During his talk he showed slides so that members could appreciate the difficulties one could encounter. Raffle prizes were won by Mr Len York, Victoria Rogers, Ron Harper, Len Hunt and Mrs Adams.

The club is due to meet tomorrow (Friday), at 2.30pm, in the United Reformed Church Hall. Mrs Penny Hargrove is due to give a talk on her trip to Canada. Visitors welcome.