Letters to the editor

Thanks once again to all the readers who have been keeping in touch with us here at Shire. It means so much that you write to us, and please do keep your messages coming. We love hearing your thoughts and opinions, as well as bits of news you want to share – we’ve printed a few of our favourites here. As always, please include a picture when you can and send your correspondence to us at editorial@shiremagazine.co.uk.

If you’ve missed an edition or not been able to get out to the shops, we have a supply of previous issues we’re happy to send out. Just send an SAE for £2.00 to Shire Magazine, PO Box 276, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 1FR, letting us know which issue you’d like, and we’ll pop it in the post to you. However, an even safer bet is to subscribe to the magazine so you never miss a copy of Shire again! See page 126 for details on how to do this. Keep in touch!

The stunning transformation of Llangollen Bridge by Luke Jerram

Bridge of beauty

I’m hoping some of your readers were lucky enough to see the textile installation on Llangollen Bridge this summer by artist Luke Jerram as part of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Called Bridges, Not Walls, the artwork celebrates the idea of peace on which the festival was founded. I was delighted to be involved and made four large squares. Details can be found at www.international-eisteddfod .co.uk. Nerys Jones, Mynydd Isa

Best of Friends

I wanted to share with your readers an initiative to acknowledge the hard work of volunteers at the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt (RJAH) Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry. We have created three badges to award long service: white (up to fi ve years’ service), silver (fi ve to 10 years) and gold (more than 10 years).

The hospital’s League of Friends has begun contacting all 350 members of the volunteer family. Susan Heer, who currently volunteers in the vaccination centre and on the Covid-19 screening desk, received a gold badge, Janice Roberts collected her silver badge, while Mike Webbern, who joined the team seven months before the pandemic, accepted his white badge. The voluntary service remains restricted at RJAH but anyone who would like to register interest and fi nd out further information on available roles can contact me by calling 01691 404401 or emailing heather.thomas-bache@nhs.net. Heather Thomas-Bache, head of voluntary services for RJAH League of Friends

RJAH volunteers

READER FEEDBACK

We discovered Shire through our local Sainsbury’s a few years ago and have looked forward to it ever since. It really brightens us up and even in these times is a wonderful read. Nigel Collier

When I fi rst saw Shire, I was impressed with its presentation and content. It’s packed full of very useful and interesting information and is a joy to read. Sheila Crozier

Shire has opened a feast of new doors for us. So many smaller snapshots of Welsh history, scenic journeys and walks where isolation is bliss. I can’t thank you enough. Judith Dickinson

Your poetry section is the fi rst thing I go to. I’m always amazed at the talent that is all around us. Les Lacey

Keeping connected

Connect For Life is a small charity based in Oswestry, which began in 2016 to support those with mild to moderate memory di culties and those experiencing isolation. By March 2020 we had two sessions a week of memory stimulating activities, lunch and lots of laughter. Then suddenly, we had to abruptly cease meeting face to face. We were forced to adapt our service to a virtual support model until this March, when vaccination and lockdown easing allowed the restarting of sessions. At Connect For Life we are acutely aware the past year has been a di cult time for those caring for people with dementia and for those who are socially isolated. As restrictions ease, we hope to return to running longer sessions, sharing lunch together and giving carers a longer period of respite. Anyone who is interested to know more about us or how you can get involved should visit www.connectforlife.co.uk. Alison Humphreys, project co-ordinator

Support services continue

More support for Bangor’s pier

In your last edition you mentioned a campaign to support Bangor’s Garth Pier, and we’d like to share a little more of the background of this beautiful structure with your readers.

The pier was o cially opened on 14th May 1896 by Lord Penrhyn, watched by a crowd of more than 5,000 people. Now a Grade II listed structure, Garh Pier is perfectly positioned on the Menai Strait and o ers magnifi cent views of Anglesey and the mountains of Snowdonia. Its restoration in the 1980s attracted national attention when Prince Charles visited the site and the pier received both a Prince of Wales Award and a Europa Nostra conservation award. As Cllr Owen Hurcum, Mayor of Bangor says: “The pier is in the lifeblood of Bangor, part of its hiraeth – loved by locals and visitors.” The Friends of Bangor Garth Pier The beautiful Garth Pier in Bangor