Visit to Packwood Haugh School
What is it about the sword? I addressed the school at the morning assembly in the school’s impressive theatre. A whistle-stop tour of the history followed by questions….about the sword of course.
The High Sheriff of Shropshire
What is it about the sword? I addressed the school at the morning assembly in the school’s impressive theatre. A whistle-stop tour of the history followed by questions….about the sword of course.
These are very tough times for small rural schools and with only 33 pupils at Hope and 45 at Worthen these are very small schools. Lively children in both schools wanted to know all about the court dress and, in particular, had I used the sword?
It seems no one in Shifnal knew that, before it was even called Idsall, the town of Shifnal was called Scuffanhalch. But whatever the town is, or was called, they have lots to celebrate, not least the incredibly successful Scout group which has grown and grown under the leadership of Michelle Gough.
Margaret Lewis is the best dancer in Shropshire.
12th, 13th, 15th October. Held at Shrewsbury Town FC, this was an inquest into the death of Stefan Boswell who died, following a police pursuit, when he crashed his Vauxhall Corsa at the Emstrey roundabout in the early hours of 6th June 2014. Contrary to police training, PC Gallagher in the pursuing police vehicle had …
In Ellesmere to support Mayor Ward and the council members at this service. We managed to make time to walk into town and around the mere on what was another lovely day.
The Shrewsbury Male Voice Choir and the RAF Shawbury Wives choir sang separately and together in this fund raiser put on by the Shropshire Rural Community Charity. The Shrewsbury Male Voice Choir would love younger members – they make a wonderful noise and clearly have great fun doing it.
An opportunity for Mayor Kenny and me to go up in a Squirrel helicopter trainer with Helicopter Instructor Rob Piper. With his RAF moustache, Mayor Kenny was Maverick to my Goose. Squirrel kills Kite might have been the headline if the Red Kite that we missed by a matter of feet had come any closer. …
This was my first visit to the Basil Spence designed Cathedral with the extraordinary Graham Sutherland tapestry of Christ. Built next to the remains of the old cathedral after the flattening of Coventry during WWII, it was completed in 1962. It was the then provost Dick Howard who called for forgiveness and not revenge. I …
Coventry Cathedral for the Warwickshire Legal Service Read More »
Prince Harry charmed the large crowd that turned out in Ludlow to greet the team from Walking with the Wounded who had walked from Church Stretton that day. Dan Marino, the Miami Dolphins legend, who joined the wounded on this 20 mile walk through the South Shropshire countryside, added a bit more stardust and support …
A university in Shrewsbury is long overdue and this civic reception was to welcome UCS’s first undergraduate students and second intake of postgraduate students. The team behind this exciting new scheme have done a great job transforming the Guildhall into a wonderful centre for learning. The first wave of students, who have had the courage …
Gary Wright, the go-ahead head of Adcote had a spell teaching in the Czech Republic and has now set up an exchange programme with his old school. Annabel and I were on hand to greet a group of Czech pupils. It was a beautiful September day and the school looked at its very best. The …
Sixty heritage and vintage tractors gathered at Meole Brace park and ride before heading off through Shrewsbury for what will, I hope, be the inaugural Age UK and Severn Hospice Fund Raiser. The Mid Shropshire Vintage Club and especially Richard Haynes, did all the organisational heavy lifting. We had a great time and raised a …
Harper Adams has become one of the leading agricultural universities in the world attracting students from across the globe with amongst the very highest rankings for student satisfaction. The university has a link to Beijing Agricultural College so there were lots of Chinese students graduating. We sat next to the Dominican Republic Ambassador who was …
Harper Adams University Award of Degrees and Diplomas Read More »
The Shropshire Society in London put on some fascinating events but this was the first one that our diary allowed us to attend. A rather wonderful group of Shropshire lovers from different parts of the country, led by the club secretary, Christabel Winny, gathered at the Royal College of Arms, the official heraldic authority for …
The Shropshire Society in London at the Royal College of Arms Read More »
The Shrewsbury Draper’s main role now is the provision of almshouses but through this competition it maintains its connection with the craft that brought it into existence. Nearly 40 competition entries were on display including lots of frocks and dresses displayed on mannequins. I was wearing my court dress so I kept moving in case …
Shrewsbury Drapers Textile Competition. St Mary’s Church, Shrewsbury. Read More »
Eleanor Mason, the Community Legacy Manager, gave a presentation on the work of the Red Cross in Shropshire and some of the work being carried out by the International Red Cross. The work the Red Cross is doing in Shropshire very much links in with the theme of my year which is the Opportunity and …
I had no idea a ploughing match could be such fun. Organised as a fund raiser by Ian Pritchard, this was a wonderfully local ploughing match with lots of friens. It’s been nearly 40 years since I last ploughed and it was no surprise that I ended up with a dirty furrow. Ian helped me …
It was an honour to be one of the party to welcome the Duke of Gloucester to Shrewsbury. The Duke made a delightful speech after lunch and was clearly impressed by the wonderful new Museum and Gallery – if you haven’t been there it really is worth a visit. I will be returning. Photo: The …
A beautiful autumn day that started with a very moving service at St Chads with a good turn out from RAF Shawbury and the town. The address from the Rev Alastair Bissell, Chaplain at Shawbury, was extremely moving. Outside, in the glorious sunshine, we gathered to reflect in silence and lay wreaths. Police and RAF …
The Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary Service of Commemoration. Shrewsbury. Read More »