LETTERS TO THE EDITOR T
hank you so much to all those who have written to us over the past few weeks. It’s great to hear from so many of you and to read what you’ve been up to in and around the patch. Your stories and feedback really do brighten our day so please keep them coming, with pictures when you have them. Just send whatever you want to share to editorial@shiremagazine.co.uk. If you haven’t been able to get out and grab your copy of Shire, don’t panic. As
always, we have a supply of previous issues we’re happy to send out. Get in touch if you’ve missed an edition, let us know which one, and we can pop it in the post to you. Send an SAE for £1.60 to Shire Magazine, PO Box 276, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 1FR. Maybe receiving a copy as soon as it is out would be easier for you? If so, why not subscribe to Shire and we’ll send each issue straight to your door? See page 52 for details. Do keep in touch!
An author writes
Thank you so much for the lead story on my book in May’s issue and to your editor Kate, who, I presume, wrote it. It was not only beautifully written but had a big picture of the front cover as well. I didn’t expect so much coverage. It coincides with my first excursion into Shropshire, as I delivered 15 books to Stan’s Shop in St Martins yesterday, and the Oak Furniture Shop in Oswestry has sold 20 books now! With this new reprint, I have delivered and sold over 100 copies to retailers in North Wales to date, so it will be interesting to see how it progresses, as well as thinking about the sequel, which is galloping along. I hope to finish it in the summer. Nobody said self-publishing was easy, but a little bit of success boosts the confidence hugely! Many thanks once again. Julia Ozanne
Disappointed…
READER F E E D B AC K Keep up the great work, it is a wonderful free magazine! Regards, Mrs Tracey Lewis
The atmospheric cover
Hi, just a quick note to say how much I enjoy your magazine. It gives me inspiration on where to go for a trip out. I noted that the Anglesey Vintage Rally was mentioned last time, and it said free entry, so off we went. We did the Mona car boot sale down the road first, at a very reasonable £1 for the car. Then on to the rally. But then what a shame to discover it was £10 entry, and not even for all of us – that was each. No, we didn’t pay to go in – these days you have to watch every penny and I’m looking for cheap or free days out. I wonder how many other people got caught out that day? Bethan We’re so sorry to hear this, Bethan. We are looking into where this information came from, but we do apologise to you for the disappointment.
Academics in action
As your readers may be aware, Glyndwr University has an exciting new programme of free public lectures, titled ‘Glyndwr Talks/ Sgyrsiau Glyndwr’, which are open to everyone. The purpose of the series is to introduce our academics and the research they conduct to the local public, so that people know what we as a university are doing and how our research is impacting their lives. Dr Livingston will The latest lecture in the series, ‘The price of a pint? Can Welsh alcohol policy do good?’, by our own Dr Wulf Livingston, Reader in Social Sciences, aims to discuss the effectiveness of minimum unit alcohol pricing and how it can affect health, as well as how policy differs across the devolved nations. With alcohol minimum pricing being such a hot topic currently, we’re sure interest will be high. Those wishing to book a place, please email vco@glyndwr.ac.uk If any readers have further questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at Jack.Birch@glyndwr.ac.uk Jack Birch
Many thanks for giving our Open Gardens event in May a mention, that’s very much appreciated. Rachel Your magazine is a great read, with lots of local information. I’ve just subscribed because a few times I’ve not been able to pick one up. Maxine Burton Good idea, Maxine – they do get snapped up pretty quickly! Ed.
Do you recognise these men?
I am hoping your readers may be able to help us in a search for historical information. I volunteer at Nantwich Museum, and we are looking for information about Racecourse Camp 74, Taporley, which housed WWII prisoners of war. Our interest stems from a hand-crafted document The photograph… box, currently on display, which was made by Italian prisoners. In 1943, it was presented to Len Pearson, camp foreman. Paolo Testori, Cristoford Camisasca and Martino Michetti inscribed their names inside. The gift was accompanied by a photo dated 27th October 1942, with the message: “So that you remember the Italian prisoners of the 74 camp”. …and the hand-made box Racecourse Camp 74 was located on the site of Tarporley Racecourse. It was demolished in 1953 and all that remain are two ponds. We are keen to learn more about the camp and those who worked and lived there, especially the people pictured in the photo. If readers have any information, they can contact enquiries@ nantwichmuseum.org.uk or call 01270 627 104. Thank you. Richard Tate, Nantwich Museum volunteer July/August 2022 | SHIRE MAGAZINE 129
