THERE are plenty of opportunities to pick up new skills or to learn more about local history in South Shropshire in the coming week. Film fans can wallow in the past and watch Gone to Earth in Hope Bowdler or enjoy a very present-day Uma Thurman trying to Kill Bill in Ludlow.

£ Talks and Lectures

Monday: The Natural History of Wyre Forest. Illustrated talk by John Robinson at the Bishop's Mascall Centre, Ludlow from 7.30pm.

Every Tuesday: Cathedrals of England and Wales. Course of 20 lectures from 10am-12noon at Ludlow Assembly Rooms. More details from David Lloyd on 874293.

Wednesday: Ludlow Civic Society present The Way We Were, Underdeveloped Eastern Europe led by Peter Whyte-Venables at Ludlow Assembly Rooms from 7.30pm. Call 876094 for details.

£ Clubs

Tuesdays: Twice-monthly meetings of Ludlow Photographic Club at Ludlow AR. Call Rick Alexander on 872501 for information.

£ Courses

Friday: Drawing & Painting for Beginners and Intermediate at Mayfair, Church Stretton. Call Pam Allsop on 01694 723899.

Monday: New Clait 1, Clait Plus and Word Processing OCR Stages 1, 2 & 3 at Church Stretton School.

Tuesday: Computing for Beginners, Clait 1, Clait Plus and British Horse Society's Horse Owners Certificate Level 2 at Church Stretton School.

Wednesday: Making a Doll's House at 7pm at Church Stretton School. Enrolment session for all courses at the school tonight (January 8) between 5-6.30pm, or call 01694 722209.

Wednesday: Local Social History - Documents & Boundaries. Ten-week course with Bob Milner from 10am-12noon at Ludlow Museum Resource Centre. Call 813666.

£ Flicks in the Sticks

Tomorrow: Waking Ned Devine (PG) at All Stretton Village Hall from 7.30pm.

Tomorrow: Very Annie Mary (15) at Lingen Village Hall from 7.30pm.

Saturday: Pirates of the Caribbean (12A) at Picklescott Village Hall from 7.30pm.

Wednesday: Gone to Earth (PG) at Hope Bowdler Village Hall from 7.30pm.

£ Films at Ludlow Assembly Rooms

Tonight: Spellbound (U) from 7.30pm.

Sunday & Monday: Seabiscuit (PG) from 7.30pm.

Tuesday & Wednesday: Kill Bill (18), from 7.30pm.

£ Pantomime

Tomorrow and Saturday: Village Pantomime at Brimfield Village Hall from 7.30pm.

£ Music at The Bull Hotel, Ludlow

Friday: The Boswells, DJ Mellow and The Void. From 8pm.

Saturday: Joanne Shaw Taylor. From 8pm.