Letters To The Editor

Thanks once again to the readers who have been in touch with us here at Shire. It means so much to hear from you all and we’ve printed a few of our favourites here. Please do keep them coming – we love hearing your thoughts and opinions as well as any news you want to share. Please include a picture when you can and email us at editorial@shiremagazine.co.uk.

In case anyone has missed an edition or not been able to get out to the shops before every issue has been snapped up, we have a supply of previous issues we’re happy to send out. Just let us know which issue of Shire you want and we can pop it in the post to you as long as you send us a SAE for £2.00 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 51 for details.

Keep enjoy your local area, keep writing and emailing, and keep reading Shire!

Out on a limb

I am writing to share some great news about an innovative local company that is transforming the lives of amputees. LIMB-Art, which designs and makes “the world’s coolest prosthetic leg covers”, won the Manufacturing Start-up of the Year at the 2021 Wales Start-up Awards.

Mark Williams, the founder of LIMB-Art, is a former Paralympic swimmer who was inspired to design and manufacture prosthetic leg covers after he lost his own leg in a cycling accident. The company recently won a contract to supply the NHS Wales with its products, so every adult amputee in Wales now has access to a free LIMB-art cover. They are designed for all users of above knee and below knee prostheses and, unlike traditional foam prosthetic leg covers, can be easily sanitised! On behalf of Wales Start-up Awards

Mark Williams, founder of LIMB-Art

Art in action

Your creative readers may like to know about the forthcoming lectures being organised by the Arts Society Mid Wales & Borders. Following a talk entitled “Charles Darwin’s ‘La Belle Fanny’ – the Life and Loves of Fanny Myddleton Biddulph of Chirk Castle” at the end of October, the next lecture – scheduled for 25th November – is “Bauhaus: Idea & Reality”. Find out about this 1920s German art movement The speaker, Gavin Plumley, will discuss the German art school that operated from 1919 to 1933, combining crafts and fi ne arts. It will take place at 2.30pm at the Powis Suite, Royal Oak Hotel, Welshpool. Visitors are welcome, with a requested donation of £6 per person towards costs. For more details, email djduggan@supanet.com or carojoby@keme.co.uk. Dennis J Duggan, Welshpool

READER FEEDBACK

I always look forward to reading Shire. I particularly like the challenge you give us to come up with a photograph you like and publish. Thank you for running this competition in your lovely magazine. Tony Walker

Thanks for your mention of my book in Shire, which I was able to get hold of at Tesco in Prestatyn. I was lucky to get one, because they’re usually grabbed o the stand by shoppers! Bernard Fredericks

I just wanted to say how much I enjoy Shire. I’ve signed up for a subscription and as my memory is not what it once was, it always arrives through the door when I am least expecting it – and it is a lovely surprise every time! Thank you and keep it up! Gladys Wrightson, Rhyl

Hope for hogs

As your readers may know, this is the season when we can all do our bit for wildlife – especially hedgehogs – that we might fi nd in the garden. If you want to fi nd out more about these creatures and how we can support them, we would be delighted to welcome you to a talk from Hugh Warwick Learn how to help this wee fella of HedgeOx hosted by the Hardy Plant Society Clwyd at 7.30pm on Tuesday 16th [November] at the Stamford Gate Hotel, Holywell.

Hugh will explain how to help and encourage hedgehogs in your garden during his informative presentation. Doors will open at 7pm and tickets are £3 for non-members. Anyone who wishes to fi nd out more about this or other events the society hold can visit www.hardy-plant.org.uk/clwyd. Christine Price-Morris, chair, Hardy Plant Society Clwyd Group

On the run

I wanted to let your readers know about the amazing team who took part in the recent Virtual London Marathon on behalf of the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity. We had a team running 26.2 miles in their home towns and beyond to raise vital funds for the charity. Their donations and support will make a huge di erence to those living with cancer throughout the North West.

Two of our runners were Dr Rosie Lord and Dr Danielle Shaw, gynaeoncologists at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Birkenhead. Their work is supported by funds by the charity, and they took on the virtual marathon not only to raise funds, but Rosie and Danielle also to raise awareness of the charity. We are so proud of them and all the runners who will make such a di erence to the lives of those living with cancer across the region. Rachel Kennedy, Challenge Events Fundraiser