Letters to the Editor

Thanks for keeping in touch with us here at Shire. These certainly are strange times, and it’s great to know you’re still reading, still supporting and most of all still writing to us. We’re including a few of our favourites below, but please do keep them coming – we love hearing your thoughts and opinions as well as any news you want to share. As always, please include a picture when you can and send your correspondence to us at editorial@shiremagazine.co.uk

In case you’ve missed an issue or not been able to get out to the shops, we have spare copies we’re happy to post out. Just let us know which issue you’re looking for and send an sae for £1.60 to Shire Magazine, PO Box 276, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 1FR. An even safer bet is to subscribe to the magazine so you never miss a copy of Shire again! See page 40 for details.

Keep writing, keep emailing, keep reading and most of all, keep safe and well.

Ready to run?

Although the o cial ballot for London Marathon places has closed, you can still join this iconic run in 2022 by applying for a charity place with The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund. The marathon is the biggest fundraiser on our calendar and all runners play a massive part in enabling us to provide the best possible support to patients and sta at RJAH. If you’re an experienced runner, do get in touch and we will support you all the way to the fi nish line.

The 2022 Virgin London Marathon is planned to take place on Sunday 2 October. Runners o ered a place on Team RJAH must commit to raising a minimum of £1,500 for the Trust. For details, visit the dedicated web page at www.rjah.nhs.uk/marathon Victoria Sugden, charity director

Adam Haythorn was one of the 16-strong team that completed the 2021 marathon for RJAH

Business booming

Mold town centre is thriving. Twelve new shops have just celebrated their fi rst Christmas, while others are expanding and employing extra workers. The success of events like NovemberFest, the Frost Fair and festive light switch-on, and the Totally Mold voucher scheme have also boosted sales.

The spirit among retailers and the public has never been better. There is a real sense of togetherness, with shoppers buying local and the businesses themselves giving back to the community in so many di erent ways. Joanna Douglass, Mold Town Council My mother loves reading Shire. She’ll be delighted to get it on subscription. Shan Morris

Getting together in Mold

Winning stay

Plas Weunydd Hotel, in Blaenau Ffestiniog

Thank you, Shire, for our competition prize: an overnight stay at Plas Weunydd Hotel. The hotel was really good, everywhere was spotlessly clean, our room was so comfortable and the public areas were warm and cosy. Sta were very pleasant. Pizza in the evening and breakfast were delicious. Highly recommended! Denise Buckley

READER FEEDBACK

Best magazine in the world. Marguerite MacKenzie

On holiday in Llandudno, I picked up a copy of Shire and was blown away. Needless to say, I want to be involved with such an outstanding glossy – however, living in Lancashire, I need something closer to home. Is there a Shire magazine for Lancs?

Thanks for the stunning, informative magazine. It’s such a pleasure to read something real! Linda Denham-Bothas

I’m afraid this is the one and only Shire in circulation, Linda, but we’re happy to post out copies to anyone with a subscription – wherever they are in the country. My wife and I love reading your magazine to plan our days out. Excellent quality for a free magazine. Keep up the great work. Cheers! Tony Walker

New start for old hall

I’m delighted to share the news that Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) has taken on the management of Ruthin’s grade II listed Market Hall. This ancient site has been been redeveloped as a multi-purpose venue for traders, artists and sustainable food and wellbeing organisations from across North Wales. It will provide a new and innovative community hub and boutique market space that DVSC will be managing with support from the Welsh Government’s Foundational Economy Challenge Fund via Denbighshire CC.

With a ‘social supermarket’ and wellbeing cafe, it will be an exemplar in rejuvenating a historic local building, encouraging volunteering, promoting enterprise and inspiring young people to be social entrepreneurs. We also plan to support climate action, ethical trading and the circular and green economies, so it’s a very important initiative. Tom Barham, chief o cer, DVSC