Ludlow Ledger (Issue #7) by Ludlow Ledger

ISSUE 7 – MAY/JUNE 2015 – FREE

From festivals to fairtrade with La Jewellery Ludlow’s lost prince: Arthur Trying/failing at table tennis 3000-mile trek in £500 runarounds Home-grown stoves Playing a part in a budget ghost story Bennett’s End of a bygone era

“The original idea was to all go in XJ6s but nothing else came up in that £500 price range. And considering our first experience turned out to be haunted, we changed our mind” BaCK in 1994 I took part in the oneoff Borbet Challenge, along with mate my Nudge and then-girlfriend Sue. I clearly remember, after many months of route planning, raising of fuel sponsorship, kitting out the car with new tyres, engine, exhaust and suspension, our team filled up with fuel at Corve Street’s long-sincegone petrol station and embarked on a numbing/deafening 500-mile drive to Tomintoul (the highest village in the Scottish Highlands), in a 1982 Golf GTI equipped with rock-solid race-spec suspension and a straight-through exhaust system. It was from Tomintoul, the following morning, that we tumbled back down through the country, this time against the clock, in a bid to beat the world record for visiting all of the (then) 62 counties of mainland Britain in either the fastest time or by the shortest route. The team (all three of us in our early twenties) naturally went with the former goal and, subsequently, barrelled around the entirety of Britain accruing 1742 miles in thirtyone and half hours. It was quite a prominent road rally so there were

many others chasing the same goal, including Team Audi, who, in the end, beat us by 15 minutes... leaving us without the £1,000 for our chosen charity (Midlands Air Ambulance), the set of Continental tyres and Borbet wheels for each of the team members, and the Pentax camera apiece, all courtesy of the events’ title sponsors. In fact we managed third, which was not at all bad going really: a testament to our rigorous planning, the set-up of our chosen vehicle, and the simple fact that our car wasn’t possessed... ...unlike one of the cars being campaigned, some 21 years on, by a three-car team from Ludlow – as they attempt to put some miles under their tyres this 18th May (3,000 miles, in fact, during the famous Scumrun five-day charity rally across Europe) – which this year is set to help raise over £100,000 for JDRF: the type 1 diabetes charity. The car in question is a Jaguar XJ6 and, as per the Scumrun rules, had to be purchased for £500 or less – which was achieved to the penny by one of the team members, Jason Stanley, who some of you will know

from Wicked Van Hire, down on Weeping Cross Lane. “It was bought from a dealer in Manchester who was selling it for a friend,” says Jason. “His sales pitch was: it’s had two owners both called Geoff/Jeff. The first Geoff died. His wife sold it to his mate, also called Jeff, who died not long after. When we got back to Craven Arms, where Chris (who drove the Jag down) lives, I said I’d take it home, give it a bit of blast and see what it’s like. And he said: “Just be careful on your way home, mate, because there’ll be a couple of Geoffs in the car with you.” And I kind of get spooked with things like that. So, I was going down the road and, all of a sudden, the side window just opened up – I’m not kidding you, the hairs on the back of my neck went up. I tried to close the window, but it wouldn’t go up; I slowed it right down and managed to get the window back up and drove home really slowly. When I just got over the Onny Bridge it happened again. Eventually I got it back up again and took it to show Graham in Ludlow. He stepped out of the building

– ANNIVERSARY ISSUE –

and all the lights went out in the car park – it might have been on a timer, of course, that’s fair enough (these things happen), but how it was timed got to me. Graham said “that’s alright, we’ll jump in it and go around to my old office because the lights are on there.” So we went around to his old office, got out of the car and were having a look around it; I started telling him the story about the two Geoffs and he said: “Maybe we should call the car Geoff”... and, just as he said “Geoff” the sidelight and back light glowed on really slowly and went off really slowly. I took it down to the office the next day to speak to my wife about it (because she’s into that kind of thing). I parked it up, locked it, went inside and said to my wife: “Come on, we’ll go out for a run in the Jag.” She went to get into the passenger door and it was open... not open unlocked but actually open – the car opened the door for her. So now I’m scared and I’m going in the PT Cruiser.”

Continued on page 14 >

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Contents 4 Tony Hodges fondly remembers the heady days of The Bennett’s End LUDLOW LEGEND 5 The town’s lost prince: Arthur PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE 6-7 Doghouse magazine turns three, Grand National win and Secret Gardens LETTERS 8 Yvonne gets to the point, a pleasant surprise and a cartoon on the fringe CROSSWORD 8 20 across: without a whiff of double negative, act sour-tempered OBSERVATIONS 9 Columnist Simon Pease: cities and towns CONTRIBUTORS 9 Learn a little more about the contributors who made this particular issue possible Q&A 10 Adam Tutt talks us through his plans for a ‘brand new’ Blue Boar finding ludlow 11 PUB CHAT

“I suspect that most who come here from the capital do so under altogether more prosperous circumstances”

PROFILE 12-13

Lisa Anne of La Jewellery

14 3,000-mile trek across Europe in three cars bought for £500 apiece TRAVEL 16 Come Friday and Sunday: Ashford Carbonell’s sensational village-hall pub MEET AND GREET 17 Corrabeth and Gregg Bishop’s living-room company: Ludlow Stoves OUR STORY 18 Ludlow Arts Society: closing in on their 70th ENTERTAINMENT 19 Ludlow actor Wayne Swann and The Singing Bird Will Come SPORT 20 COVER STORY... continued

“I manage to hit the ball on to the table at least twice, as well as hitting the wall, someone’s arm and almost potting it into someone’s shoe in the corner”

Editor’s notes, hello again Though quite monumental, I have decided not to dedicate too much in the way of column inches to the fact that this issue pretty much marks one year of publishing for Ludlow Ledger – keeping it short and sweet… largely owing to the fact that the last couple of issues have announced the pending anniversary and I’d hate to repeat myself. So, I shall conclude (seemingly no sooner than I started) by saying a big thank you, as always, to the advertisers, contributors, stockists and readers, who truly help make this paper a physical reality. Appreciated. But what I can talk about, in a little more depth, is the Ledger’s new digs. Located opposite Swifts in Corve Street, I can proudly announce that No 14 is where the paper now calls home. This mid-Georgian property is an inspiration in itself, with its original six-fielded-panel door (complete with decorated lintel, fanlight and lion door knocker) and inside: original dado down panelling and moulded ceiling cornices. There is no hanging sign as yet, as all of the spare time has been

spent taking as much of the property back to its origins – waving goodbye to magnolia (it was throughout top to bottom – three floors of it) and in its place: Cavern (reception), Churlish Green (office), Hay Bale (lobby) – with their ceilings of Antique Gold – and, for the kitchen parlour; the label reads ‘custom’ (a colour produced by scanning a 30-pence car-trial leaflet of the early Nineties, produced by the Ludlow Branch of the Housman Society) topped off with a picture-rail of Mahogany and a ceiling of a blue self-mixed on-site with paint picked up from Homecare. My dad, Phil, wielded the paintbrushes whilst my partner Gail put up the embossed wallpaper and fashioned the property front to back – with from-scratch voile nets and a sway of curtains. I also have my brother Ryan (a cabinet maker by trade, based in Hay-on-Wye) to thank, who spent time building a beautiful bespoke piece of furniture out of my father-in-law’s old garden shed roof, made of pine and a bit of cherry – with the addition of oak

and douglas fir – which hopefully some of you may well experience for yourself. As for the building itself: no different I suppose to any given property in this town: it has a remarkable story... or so it appears at this stage anyway – which, prior to moving in, was a complete unknown. If it all pans out true, which I’m quite sure it will then I promise a full feature on a pioneering gentlemen that once called No 14 his own. Under my tenure I propose to allow relatively unlimited access to past and present copies of Ludlow Ledger, associated advertising literature, and related material. I also aim to be as accessible as I can to sit and discuss features and advertising opportunities. I therefore hope you’ll join me in celebrating a new and exciting chapter for Ludlow and its printed Ledger.

Cheers, Jon Saxon editor@ludlowledger.co.uk Office – 01584 872381 Mobile – 07795 244060

Editor’s notes image} Alejandro Rodriguez | Print} Guardian Print Centre, Manchester | Letterpress printed masthead} Dulcie Fulton: mostlyflat.co.uk

Ledger stockists

55 Mill Street Ludlow Aragon’s Cafe Church St Assembly Rooms Mill St Baker’s Cafe Tower St Barber Jacks Lower Galdeford Bentley’s Castle Square Bindery Shop Bull Ring Castle Bookshop Market Square Charlton Arms Ludford Bridge China Garden New Rd Church Inn Church St Cicchetti Bar Broad St Codfather Sandpits Corve Garage Bromfield Rd Countrywide Weeping Cross Lane Crumbs Tower Street Ego’s Wine Bar Quality Square Fish House Bull Ring Guild Hall Mill St Harp Lane Deli Church St Homecare Temeside La Jewellery Parkway Mews Leisure Centre Bromfield Rd Ludlow Brewing Co Station Drive Ludlow Touring Park Ludford Mascall Centre Lower Galdeford Mod Lang The Woodyard (Corve St) Myriad Organics Corve St Olive Branch Bull Ring Poyners Broad St Queens Lower Galdeford Red Hair Studio New Rd Renaissance Centre Tower St Rockspring Centre Sandpits Rose & Crown Church St Sam’s Cafe Lingen Ind Est Silk Hat Gallery Quality Square Swifts Bakery Corve St Tiger Lilly Bull Ring Tourist Information Mill St Unicorn Corve St Vaughan’s Sandwich Bar King St V Cafe New Rd Wheatsheaf Lower Broad St Woodyard Gallery Woodyard ----------------------------------------------Aardvark Books Brampton Bryan Apple Tree Onibury Bennetts End Hope Bagot Brightwells Auction Leominster Cleobury Café Cleobury Mortimer Community Shop Aston-on-Clun Country Centre Cleobury Mortimer Courtyard Antiques Presteigne Crusty Cob Cleobury Mortimer Discovery Centre Craven Arms Fiddler’s Elbow Leintwardine Ludlow Food Centre Bromfield Market Hall Cleobury Mortimer Mortimer Stores Wigmore Nelson Inn Rocks Green Old Downton Lodge Downton Plough Inn Wistanstow Roebuck (pub & shop) Brimfield Sun Inn Leintwardine Tourist Information Tenbury Wells Village Hall Ashford Carbonell Walton Court (Cafe) Leominster

Trip down Hope Bagot Lane with Tony Hodges

The year was 1971: The Bennetts End interviewed by} Jon Saxon | image} Richard Stanton – PUB CHAT – IF you weren’t down here – at The Bennetts – by half-past eight, nine o’clock, on a Friday or Saturday, then you wouldn’t get in. You wouldn’t get through the door. Sid Massey owned it then; well it was Belinda Paston-Cooper that owned it. Ashley Paston-Cooper (he was a son of a surgeon in London) used to drive around in an open-top Rolls Royce when he was 21. He used to fly in Bahrain: an airline pilot, and then fly people around privately for the Sheiks. And Belinda was over there with him... and it was Belinda’s brother, Sid Massey, who ran The Bennetts for years. And his brother ran the place next door – which was The Penny Black. Then Belinda came back and she ran The Bennetts for years – she was fantastic, she used to work in the kitchen; she’d come out through, with her bloody apron and hair in rollers and everything, and just light

up the place. She was an absolutely incredible personality. There was Mrs Turner too – she was a character (dear oh dear), if you knew how to take her; she was great really, when you got to know her, fantastic. When I was living over the road, Ashley came back from Bahrain – he was walking up the lane backwards and I was cutting the grass over the road. And he was just shaking his head. He turned around to me and said: “That was supposed to be a bungalow.” It was the truth, as I sit here. He only gave him permission to build a bungalow – and he went and built another pub. It seemed to quieten down; it all seemed to work reasonably well for quite a few years, you know. Both pubs were heaving for years. I put the roof on The Penny Black in 1971. It was good and he was good up

front you know. But The Bennetts was the place on a Friday and Saturday, in that main bar, and on a Sunday afternoon ... you could drink all the way through on a Sunday afternoon back then. When I lived over the road like, when the licensing laws were 12 to 2 or 2.30, by quarter to 12 it would be a stream of traffic coming down the road for Sunday lunch. There was a bloke that used to come from Wolverhampton, called Mr Fisher, and he raced horses with Jack Peacock down the road in Caynham. He’d go down to Jacks and have a looks at the nags, then they’d come up here and they’d get whiskys and the brandys, and stay until 3 or 4 o’clock. Come rain or shine old man Fisher would come up here. Hell of a character – he was a manager of a building society in Wolverhampton. The police used to come here some nights – they’d sit on the car park and nobody used to take a blind bit of notice. Belinda used to tell everyone and we’d wait until they’d gone. Or I’d invite everyone in the pub over the road to a party at my place, and leave them sat on the car park. The local copper was a chap called Alan Morris at the time and he was fantastic. He used to come down Friday, Saturday, and leave around closing time. And before I came here, in 1971, the cast of Crossroads used to come down here on a weekend for the cheese and wine parties. The

cheese and wine bar here was one of the first in this area – as far as I can gather (I don’t know if that’s spot on, but there wasn’t another one around here when we moved in, in 1971). It was only what’s her name Merrydown? Merryvale? from Somerset. That’s what it was. It wasn’t your red wines and what have you, like these days; it wasn’t that kind of wine. They’ve blocked the bar off now. They had a supper licence back then. And they were allowed to serve food a little later than normal, but not as late as they did. Most of the pubs were like that around here, back in those days. It’s a different set up now – there are so many eating places now it’s untrue, but in them days there wasn’t. Before I moved to Hope Bagot I remember working for George Wimpey up in Blackheath. We’d finished and were waiting for our wages and there was this chap on a mixer talking to some bloke, and some labourers cleaning up; they threw some glass out (from a 12 or 14-storey height) and it picked up on the wind, and this piece of glass drifted on the wind, and went straight into the back of this bloke’s neck. Honest truth. They took him to hospital with the piece of glass in and they said if they’d pulled the glass out he’d have died like. A piece of glass floated down and of all the places it had to land, it was in the back of this bloke’s neck.

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Prince Arthur

The lost prince of Ludlow text} John Barratt | portrait} Anonymous, c1501 – LUDLOW LEGEND – ThE British Isles have many ‘lost princes’ – young members of royal dynasties whose early lives seemed rich with promise, but who died before they could demonstrate their full potential. But of all of them, the death in Ludlow in April 1502 of Prince Arthur, eldest son of King Henry VII, and great hope of the newly established House of Tudor, perhaps did most to change the course of English history. Henry had become king after defeating and killing Richard III at the battle of Bosworth on 23rd August 1485, but his hold on the throne was precarious, faced with constant conspiracies and rebellions. He hoped that his marriage with Elizabeth of York, niece of Richard III, would unite the factions who had fought each other in the bloody Wars of the Roses, and also give him male heirs. To the delight of both parents, their first child, a boy, was born on 19th September 1486 – he was christened Arthur, both as a compliment to Henry’s Welsh supporters, and also as a promise of a return to the glories of the legendary King Arthur. The proper education of a royal male child, particularly the heir to the throne, was of vital importance. There was a strict routine established for Arthur’s childhood, with little contact with his parents but a carefully formulated programme of lessons, exercise in arms, reading, and tutoring in the skills of music and courtly manners, under the tutelage of some of the most brilliant minds of the day. It was also important that the prince gained practical experience in government as early as possible – for this, the unruly Welsh Marches provided an ideal training ground. In 1489, in an attempt to pacify this lawless region, King Henry set up the Prince’s Council for Wales and the Marches, with headquarters in the royal castle of Ludlow. In 1493 six-year-old Prince Arthur was made titular head of the Council and, soon afterwards, took up residence in Ludlow Castle. For some years, of course, Arthur’s role was largely symbolic, whilst he grew up and completed his education. The actual work of the council was carried out by a team of experienced administrators who, in many cases, also had accommodation in the castle. The prince and his senior officials had quarters in the range of buildings on the north side of the inner bailey. Traditionally, a room on the upper floor of the western solar block of

the range is called Prince Arthur’s Chamber. Reasonably well-furnished, it had two adjoining rooms, one possibly a bedroom and the other ‘with necessary stool and pan.’ Although Arthur would have had little direct contact with Ludlow’s townspeople, as he grew to maturity he would have been a familiar sight as he rode out either for pleasure or about the business of the Council. By the age of 12 Arthur was playing an increasing role in affairs and, even allowing for customary flattery and exaggeration, he seems to have had many of the formidable talents of most of the Tudor dynasty. He was rigorous in exacting his princely rights and heavy taxation, or, in the view of his officials, ruling his principality with “righteous order and wisdom.” One of King Henry’s greatest concerns was to secure his dynasty’s place in Europe by a royal marriage for Arthur. After lengthy negotiations, agreement was reached in 1488 that he should marry Catherine, daughter of King Ferdinand and Isabella of the Spanish kingdom of Aragon and Castile. Catherine was of a similar age to Arthur. Partly because of the infancy of the betrothed and arguments about the dowry which Catherine would bring with her, the marriage was first performed by proxy in 1499. It is difficult to know what the young couple themselves felt about the match. Both will have been schooled in the realities of dynastic and royal marriages, but a letter from Arthur to Catherine, though possibly partly written by one of his tutors, may have reflected the prince’s own feelings when he said “I cherish your sweet remembrance night and day.” Catherine and her entourage arrived in England on 21st October 1501, where she was welcomed by enthusiastic crowds on her journey to meet the King and Prince Arthur. The couple were married in St Paul’s Cathedral on 14th November, with much festivity and rejoicing in what was a celebration of the Tudor dynasty as well of the wedding. Later events resulted in an ongoing discussion about whether the marriage was ever consummated. Both Arthur and Catherine, at various times, made statements which are mutually contradictory and it seems unlikely that the question can ever be answered with certainty, but these were problems for later. On 21st December Arthur and Catherine left London bound for Ludlow and, arriving probably in early January, took up residence in the Castle.

Their time together was tragically brief. We know little of the last few months of Arthur’s life – presumably he resumed his role on the Prince’s Council, and there is a report that Catherine was ill at one point, but recovered. On Maundy Thursday Arthur was apparently fit and healthy, and distributed Maundy Money to some of the poor of Ludlow. Two days later, on 2nd April 1502, Easter Saturday, between “6 and 7 of the clock,” he died. Speculation on the causes of Arthur’s death has continued ever since, but the most likely candidate is the mysterious illness known as “sweating sickness.” Probably caused by a virus, the incubation period was frighteningly short (a matter of hours) and the outcome normally fatal; symptoms included muscle pains, headache, vomiting and delirium, followed by cardiac palpitations, copious sweating, and rapid breathing of “foul, loathsome and putrid vapours” as a contemporary writer put it. There was no effective treatment and the relentless progress of the illness could be completed in one day. One observer described how a group of

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seven Londoners “did sup together and before cockcrow the following morning, five of them were dead.” The disease predominantly attacked males between the ages of 15 and 45, and there is clear evidence that sweating sickness was quite active in Ludlow at this time. Arthur may well have contracted the disease at the Maundy Money ceremony. The news of Arthur’s death was a devastating blow to the king and queen. Apart from personal grief, the future of the dynasty now depended on their remaining son, Henry. In Ludlow, as part of the process of embalming, Arthur’s entrails, described politely as his “heart,” were removed and buried somewhere in St Laurence’s church, probably on the north side of the chancel, though there is no contemporary record of their exact location. A plaque marks the approximate spot, as the leaden box, thought to contain the entrails, was removed in obscure circumstances in the 18th century, recovered from a local plumber and re-interred. The body itself was to be buried with great ceremony in Worcester Cathedral and, whilst the notables of

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the land gathered at Ludlow, it lay in state in St Laurence’s, accompanied by many religious ceremonies. On 25th April, “the foulest, cold windy and rainy day”, a procession, headed by 120 torchbearers and with Arthur’s body on a “rich chariot” pulled by six horses, passed through streets lined with townspeople on the first stage of the journey to Worcester. One far-reaching consequence of Arthur’s death was the re-marriage of Catherine to his brother Henry. Her subsequent failure to produce a male heir led to divorce and, in part, to the English Reformation. Prince Arthur was not the last royal to reside in Ludlow – his half-sister Princess (later Queen) Mary lived in the Castle for a time, as did (more briefly) Charles I, and Prince Rupert during the Civil War, but Arthur’s tragic story indeed made him Ludlow’s “lost prince”. -------------------------------------------------John is working on a longer study of Ludlow’s Lost Prince, which will be available from St Laurence’s Church later this year

Doghouse magazine, Co-wheels and Secret Gardens

Since issue 6 of Ludlow Ledger text} Jon Saxon – PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE – What first anniversary issue would be complete without an edited round up of what’s been and gone, as well as wondering what will bless the many pages of the many issues to come, seeing as such local diversity has already been printed and distributed in the previous six issues: We’ve had a WW1 plane build, a shoe-string pigeon loft, short fiction about loss and bees, upcycling with copper and brass, a nine-anda-half-year-old rat-catcher and a bygone holiday in Borth. We’ve been behind the scenes at Poyners ladies haberdashery, Rickards ironmongers and rummaged through the extensive historical collections at Ludlow’s Museum Resource Centre. We’ve climbed ladders to explore the organ of St Laurence’s, taken steps deep into the pub cellars of the Wheatsheaf and the Church, and been hot on the trail of the lost pub sign of Corve Street’s Nag’s Head. And we’ve researched a 1retired racing-greyhound from

Ireland (Snow Adam – now residing in Ludlow) and welcomed the full facts and figures of Ludlow Brewing Company, the Furniture Scheme, and Swifts Bakery. Over 70,000 copies in total have so far flown the nest – containing something along the lines of 140,000 words, (penned locally) over an incredible 1.7 million pages, covering Ludlow’s past, present and future – all finding new homes in town and county, as well as some making a longer journey to far-flung towns and cities in the UK and abroad. Another birthday, from the same publishing stable, will be celebrated this May, when Ludlow Ledger’s elder sibling 2Doghouse – the British Pub Magazine turns three on the 12th. It seems a lifetime ago that my brother Ryan built me a pop-up bar (shaped from a set of mahogany table inserts and some pine shelving found in a skip) for my launch pitch at the Ludlow Spring Festival. It seems even longer ago, when the whole project

was conceived (on a walk through the woodlands of Whitcliffe on Sunday, 7th November, 2010) and imagined as a food and drink magazine – the working title was Phil. By April 2012 the publication had morphed into a title about traditional pubs and cafés, but it still remained little more than an on-screen concept with photos taken on my aged phone. The production budget, preview copy, print and money for the touring I needed to do to sell the advertising space, came about by pure fluke after placing a bet to win on that year’s Grand National. Instead of picking a horse with winning form, I chose an animal that best reflected my situation: “...coming here late in life after an illustrious career. Steadily losing form and could sink without trace. ...but will be a joy to watch, as he’ll jump the course with style,” reported The Mirror. Placing a 40-1 bet to win, I headed into The Church Inn for a pint... only to watch my horse win. The photo-finish of Neptune Collonge winning has, thus, become a constant and grounding reminder of how close I came not to launch Doghouse – a title that (along with its pop-up pub bar) has since done the rounds at the food festivals of Abergavenny, Cosford, Shobdon and Ludlow. Doghouse is currently on its sixth edition – taking in 19 public houses in the fine drinking city of Liverpool. You can purchase your copy from Ludlow Brewery, Mod Lang and La Jewellery. So what about subsequent Grand Nationals? Well I haven’t had any

luck since (truth be told), mostly because I go for gold on horses picked three seconds prior to the off, rather than studying form and, better still, researching the betting process a bit better... So this year I made a concerted effort to know my Bismarcks and my Burlington Berties, by popping for a pint at The Wine Bar on the Friday before this year’s race, for a short and sweet, in-a-nutshell briefing with issue six’s interviewee, Terry of Ludlow Pest Control. Most of it went over my head, but his pick-tip sounded watertight, so – hanging on Terry’s every word – I waged my money on Balthazar King. “If he’s fully primed, he ought to run really well again, despite having gone up a few pounds,” read the report in The Guardian. It’s the best editor/horse comparison since: ‘Steadily losing form and could sink without trace’ comparison of 2012 – so I stuck £5 each way and went for a pint of Twisted Spire at The Queens. The outcome? The watertight gelding fell two minutes into the race, at Canal Turn. But I’d had a clever back-up plan – not wishing to put all of my eggs in one basket I’d opened up my odds (going for some nonTerry pickings) by placing a couple of further bets: Unioniste, at 33–1 (who fell at the fifth fence, some 30 seconds ahead of 11-year old Balthazar King) and Royale Knight (at 25–1) who thankfully ran the full course, finishing fifth, but sadly short of any returns. Bringing it back to Ludlow birthdays: Shropshire’s first community car cub, 3Co-wheels Shropshire, turned two

in March. With over 70 members using their cars (two Fords based in Ludlow and three in Shrewsbury), it is developing a partnership with Saxonby Homes and Floreat Homes – similar to a Shrewsbury venture where one of the car club vehicles is conveniently kept at the Prince of Wales pub on Bynner Street, near to its partnering residential development. The club (which costs £25 to join followed by a £5 monthly charge that’s set against car-use charges) is open to anyone who has held a driving licence for a year, and the cars are for business and personal use; it also allows access to cars around Britain, and its members assist in running and developing the club. “This beats car ownership,” said one Ludlow member, “we can book the car for as little as half an hour, or for a day, or a weekend. We can book online or by phone... it’s easy to use, flexible and affordable – and, best of all, we don’t have to think about tax, insurance and bald tyres.” The cars are equipped with advanced telematics, allowing electronic measurement of journey times and distances, and they cost £3.75 per hour plus 21 pence per mile: this includes fuel and all running costs – including insurance, servicing, tax and cleaning. For more information on discount bookings and how to join: co-wheels. org.uk/shropshire or call 01584 875017. Another two-year-old is The Marches Book and a Poem Group, which meets in the Feathers (at 7pm on the last Wednesday of each month)

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5 where they discuss a book suggested by members. So far these have included literary novels, murder mysteries, historical novels, love stories, autobiographies and ghostly doings – which are accompanied by a poem, usually suggested by the theme of that month’s book. John Barratt (author of this issue’s Ludlow Legend on p5) commented: “Discussions, accompanied by refreshments of each member’s preference, are far ranging, often into other subjects sparked off by that month’s choice. The small but enthusiastic membership (including a novelist, a poet and a writer on history, as well as people who quite simply love reading) takes a friendly informal approach, and is rather keen to welcome a few more members; there is no fee involved. If you are interested in giving us a try, call me on 01584 877620.” Another welcome event is the annual 4Secret Gardens of Ludlow: an eclectic selection of private gardens (not normally open to the public) with six new additions for 2015, throwing open their gates along Corve Street, Linney, Upper Linney and Broad Street... offering a diversity of style, from clipped topiary in a formal setting, to colourful herbaceous borders, ponds, statuary, and vegetable gardens. “Expect afternoon tea, ice cream, plants and greetings cards in various gardens,” say the organisers, “...plus a fascinating Mini Museum of old restored woodworking and boat-building tools and artefacts.” The event’s ticket/map is still only £6.50 for

entry to all gardens and is available from Ludlow Assembly Rooms from early May (01584 878141). One thing I didn’t realise is that the Secret Gardens of Ludlow event was first staged in 1990, with twelve garden enthusiasts opening up their gardens as a fund-raising event for the reviving and enhancing of Ludlow Assembly Rooms which, since opening in May 1993, has relied on volunteers (of which there are over 150 at this moment in time), subscriptions, donations, fundraising and grants – and is run by an independent charity. In addition to the entertainment, the space also lends itself to clubs, groups and societies to host regular meetings, workshops or classes: one of which is the Hour of Tech hosted by Perfect Arc (which, in May, focuses on ‘mobile websites’) from 6pm to 7pm, explaining why they matter to local businesses. The month of June tackles ‘webshops & ecommerce’ – raising the question: is it for you? And if so, do you opt for eBay and Amazon or design your own dedicated webstore? “Come along,” says Perfect Arc’s Andy Corbett, “...we had over twenty business people at our inaugural ‘cloud in an hour’ session. It’s a non-technical and friendly hour’s update on important business ‘Tech’ developments.” For further details: thetechacademy.co.uk/houroftech And last but not least: 5Ludlow Ledger has finally moved in to 14 Corve Street – details of which can be found on p3.

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Images on p6 and 7} Michael Martin (1); Richard Stanton (2, 3, and 5) June Knight (4)

A small selection of your emails, letters, postcards and social posts from Facebook and Twitter

Letters to the Ledger We’d love to hear from you – editor@ludlowledger.co.uk

– VIEWS & COMMENTS – LaTEST copy of the Ludlow Ledger under my arm at the ever excellent Chang Thai. Michael Hanley, Via Twitter -------------------------------------------------NICE interview in Ludlow Ledger about me, the industry and the Michelin dream. To make it clear I do not have a (Michelin) star. Karl Martin, Via Twitter When Karl mentioned that diners from both the AA and Michelin had dined on the same night at Old Downton Lodge and awarded the establishment accordingly, I jumped to the conclusion that a Michelin star had been awarded... clearly not. But just a question of time though, as far as I’m concerned anyway. -------------------------------------------------BIg time at last, as in latest Ludlow Ledger with my mug shot on page 3 (No 6) & excerpt from my book: I was Yesterday’s Hero. Gary Seymour, Via Twitter -------------------------------------------------WhILST not wanting to belittle the amazing work of Mr Jack Andow in raising £37,000 for charity, I would like to point out that what Mr Andow does is not tapestry. Tapestry is worked on a horizontal or vertical loom, which has been set up with warp threads. The weft – which is usually discontinuous – is then woven in various colours according to the design, thus creating the complete fabric. Mr Andow’s work is ‘canvas work’ or ‘needlepoint’ which is stitched on to an open weave canvas, usually with the design printed on it. As a tapestry weaver myself I really wanted to point this out to you as many people make the same mistake. Yvonne Bakery, Knighton -------------------------------------------------ThE Rocks Green supermarket development proposal... The Ten-Point Plan to disaster: 1) Developers are interested in the edge-of-town site because of the high footfall into the town 2) The town has a high footfall because of visitors who come to the town for its individuality and small shops 3) The developers’ interest in Ludlow’s future is limited to what is necessary to sell the project, once they have built the supermarket, they will take their cut and disappear, plumper in pocket 4) Shoppers who would previously have come into town may be tempted

Could events like the Food Festival keep going in a dying town? The original four who came up with the Food Festival plan are no longer around to bail out the town with another successful idea. We cannot afford to be complacent – help is not coming – we have to take responsibility for the survival of our town. Sally Newman-Kidd, Ludlow --------------------------------------------------

by the out-of-town shop 5) The town’s visitor numbers will fall 6) Independent shops will close 7) There will be less to draw visitors so numbers will fall further and more shops will close 8) There will be less money in the local economy and, therefore, less work in the local area 9) The supermarket giant will observe the lower footfall and reduced profits and will close the store (they’re doing this already in other towns) 10) The local area will be left with no shops, no work, no money – no local economy The developer cited Tesco as proof that an out-of-town supermarket wouldn’t have a negative effect on the local economy. Tesco’s negative impact was minimised because: 1) It was not on the outskirts: the developers say that Tesco is – anyone who knows Ludlow will know that comment is splitting hairs 2) The decision about Tesco was taken to the Lords – and they had to make compromises: such as the small meat section 3) Chamber of Trade members put their heads together and came up with the birth of the Food Festivals as a means of fighting the negative impact

TO make things simpler, you can now find out the answers to the previous issue’s crossword on the back page of the Ledger, starting from this issue. ACROSS 1 LF sounder used to find fish (9) 5 Foolishness to hurry, catching initially on line (5) 9 Go down with sailor, consumed (5) 10 Spy to track good singer (5,4) 12 Horrible rogues changed note (8) 13 Holy man displays apples in East End (6) 14 A sign pointing the wrong way to R. Teme? It turns in the wind (10)

think “We always e Ludlow is th sh perfect Engli we now town... and ed the r have discove ger” Ludlow Led

17 Hard question follows award for Big Brother? (4) 19 God rides creationist horse (4) 20 Without a whiff of double negative, act sour-tempered (3-7) 21 Crescendo, top to bottom octave (6) 23 Patron put evil curse on cat (8) 25 Crazy planter eradicates some extremely special trees (9) 26 Service includes prayer for bird (5) 27 Part of ear given to good theatre (5) 28 Vegetable lorry man picked up Roger (9) DOWN 2 Complex passages in Libyan Torah WE had a very pleasant surprise today on our visit to Ludlow, when we discovered the Ludlow Ledger in The Cicchetti Bar. We have been making day visits to Ludlow for nearly 40 years and always enjoy our days out. We usually combine our trip with a local walk, some shopping in the market, bakers and The Broad Bean together with lunch at The Cicchetti Bar, The Cafe on the Green or the Charlton Arms. We also always bring our visitors to show them the delights of Ludlow. We always think Ludlow is the perfect English town with its wonderful mix of castle, buildings, market, museum and general distant views and now we have discovered the Ludlow Ledger. In our opinion it is an excellent local paper with a very interesting mix of articles and pictures, with just enough advertising (the excess of which generally spoil local papers). Keep up the good work and we look forward to reading many more issues. Bill & Marilyn Berry, Moreton on Lugg -------------------------------------------------I DoN’T want to to carp over such a good local paper, but could I request that you mention Derek Beattie’s book South Shropshire’s First World War in the next issue, mentioning it in

regularly misinterpreted (9) 3 States to fasten loose (5) 4 Compass for mountains (5) 6 Heap of out-of-date sausage (3,6) 7 Elgar Enigma – it’s intoxicating (5) 8 Artist getting into equine good-looker with relish (11) 11 NHS mortgage scam is novel (11) 15 Mesopotamian damage rests on hapless Bashar (5,4) 16 Weight in fashion (3) 18 Find home for vegetable plant (5,4) 22 Scene of happy innocence – where one will embrace dastardly ends (5) 23 Passover easy to understand (5) 24 Hogmanay mostly wild in town relation to the photos and letters in the November/December issue (No 4), as it’s not clear where they come from (the skewed picture of the cover on p9 doesn’t make the link). Perhaps a fullon picture of the cover and details of the book, which can be obtained from the Castle Bookshop in the Square? Andy Johnson, Logaston Press As Andy says: Beattie’s book is available from Castle Bookshop, 5 Castle Street, Ludlow, SY8 1AS: 01584 872562

Who helped make this issue possible?

“the ‘villagey’ feel”

Cities and towns of England

– CONTRIBUTORS –

text} Simon Pease

HE may well work with the likes of The Times, Observer and The Guardian, but (aside from snapping politicians, sports personalities, actors and comedians) does Ludlow-based photographer RICHARD STANTON really have as much fun as he does, working on Ludlow Ledger? This issue saw Richard dodge balls at the Assembly Rooms (p20), listen to Ludlow’s jazz album (this page) and ride shotgun in this town’s trio of entries into this year’s Scumrun rally (cover and p14). To ﬁnd what else Richard has been up to, check: stantonphotographic.com

– OBSERVATIONS – a FEW weeks ago I had to travel to Singapore. Not a place which was particularly high up my list of places to visit and it would not have tempted me to leave Ludlow at all were it not for some work which I had to do there, but I enjoyed the visit, and found the place fascinating. Coming away from Singapore my impressions were all about, frankly, gobsmacking modern architecture, crowds, heat, driverless metro trains, and, to be fair, parks, gardens and greenery. Within the space of a few weeks, a new perspective begins to emerge from those impressions; a perspective that has made me at least re-evaluate what a city is and the relationship between cities and towns. If we name a city we know, or have visited, the name alone conjures up a jumble of impressions. London might evoke any number of buildings, institutions, places in the centre of the city, museums, galleries and a lot else besides. Superficially we tend to think of the place as a single entity – after all, we put a name on the whole place, it is natural that we should think of it as a whole. But this London is something we construct in our minds – the reality is a patchwork of places stitched together by virtue of the need to provide services, places for people to live, to work and so on. Londoners will comment on the “village” feel of bits of the city, the alien feeling of the parts on the other side of the Thames, and large areas which are simply an unknown quantity they never visit. For those who live there, the city is made up of a small set of areas they know well, a larger set they are aware of and visit, and a much larger area they don’t know at all, and never see the need to visit. In fact, though they may live in a City, most of them behave as though they are living in a town which just happens to be very close to other towns. I can think of one capital city which I visited once which I can imagine knowing and seeing as a whole; it is small and was purpose-built on virgin ground. There may be others, but personally I don’t know them. As places to visit, cities offer the charm of surprise; you walk around a corner and there, in front of you, is a sight you simply didn’t expect in that place. Singapore offered a few such surprises and London offers plenty. As a visitor, you probably see a lot more of them than the busy people who live there, hurrying between work and a good night’s rest. Cities may be constructed on a scale too big for humans to really appreciate – in order to do so, they have to break the city down into something more comprehensible. One of the attractions of a place like Ludlow must surely be that, even though it too is made up of areas which vary considerably and which offer a lot of contrast, it is on a scale which make it possible for one human being to know it as a whole, if they wish to. Once you have done that, you can begin to concentrate a little more on the people who inhabit the place. It may be that you are never going to walk around a corner and see a building you didn’t expect, but you can guarantee that, at some point, some of its citizens are going to surprise you. ------------------------------------------------Observations: editor@ludlowledger.co.uk

She may be taking a slight backseat but MIA DAVIS still found the time to chat with Lisa-Anne of La Jewellery this issue (p12). The third on the trot, LIZ HYDER has picked up the sports-page mantle of page 20 – this time trying her hand at table tennis. Away from the Assembly Rooms’ tables Liz warmed herself with a cup of tea and some cake while admiring Culmington’s Ludlow Stoves (p17). If you ever need a PR professional – with over 10 years’ experience in arts, broadcast and events – why not try: liz@lizhyder.co.uk

LUDLOW ALBUM – Amidst the auction lots of McCartneys’ 16th April sale was LOT 40 “Two boxes of 331/3 rpm records to include Elvis, Buddy Holly, Motown etc” of which one of the “etc” was The Ludlow Performance: Brass & Jazz at Ludlow School. Released on the London-based independent label, Ellie Jay records (which offered recording and pressing facilities to any band wishing to make a record), its catalogue number EJSP 9750 suggests it was produced between 1981 and 1982. The sleeve notes state: “In July 1981 the full English Festival Brass and the Ludlow School Band, together with Stan (Barker) and Digby (Fairweather) undertook a ten-day tour of West Germany, taking part in two major festivals. It was on the return journey that Stan and I decided that we had enough material for a most unusual LP and this is the result.” Track 6 is listed as: WORDS by Jo & Co. Reading more of the sleeve uncovers that Jo & Co were Joanne Banks, Andrea Cade, Debbie Ellis and Wendy James. The question is: did they go on to record anything further? We’d love to learn more about this quartet and indeed the rest of the Ludlow School Band and Ludlow School Choir.

SALLY (SUB) NEWMAN-KIDD always seems surprised at how quickly each issue of the Ledger comes around for a nip and tuck... thankfully everything gets dropped (bar some bell ringing and dog walking) in favour of ironing out this paper’s hiccups. Sally is happy to chat if you too require some word editing of your own: sally@nka.co.uk This issue we welcome back JOHN BARRATT who reflects on Ludlow’s lost prince, Arthur, found on page 5. John is a member of the Historical Writers’ Association and has written a number of books – including Cavalier Generals (2005), The Civil War in the SouthWest (2007) and Cavalier Stronghold: Ludlow in the Civil War (2013). Thanks – once again – must be extended to Ludlow Ledger’s cartoonist ROGER PENWILL from Brimﬁeld (whose work features to your left on p8). For Roger’s other work check: penwill.com Yet again we welcome our very-own crossword creator JOHN JARVIS. If you’d like the answers to the previous issue’s puzzle; turn to the back page now. Appreciation is also extended to SIMON PEASE who, on this page (following an overseas trip) contemplates towns.

Hand printed letterpress cards & posters Hand bound diaries, notebooks & albums Wrapping paper & bookbinding kits

This issue we say hello to NICKI LEWISSMITH who (as well as being a longterm advertiser) has kindly put the work in to create a piece on ‘when a garden is not a garden’ (p11).

( personalisation available ) 5 Bull Ring • Ludlow • SY8 1AD

This ﬁrst anniversary issue also features TONY GREEN, who was kind enough to tell his personal ‘London to Ludlow’ story (p11). PAT INNES can also be found in this issue – giving us an insight into the Ludlow Art Society (p18).

Designer Clothes, Shoes and Handbags at

And on the following page we have marketing professional-turnedmovie maker AMANDA MURRAY who interviewed local actor Wayne Swann – who appears in Amanda’s The Singing Bird Will Come – a screening of which takes place at Ludlow Brewery on Thursday 14th May at 7.30pm.

And last, but not least, a big thank you to the paper’s loyal ADVERTISERS and STOCKISTS who make this whole paper a reality: please support where you can.

Ludlow Performance LP image on p9} Richard Stanton

The Globe’s Adam Tutt and his Blue Boar vision

Blue Boar: creeping out of hibernation interviewed by} Jon Saxon | photography} Richard Stanton – QUESTIONS & ANSWERS – What actually made you go for the Blue Boar? It’s a great location. The pub has a lovely feel to it – even empty, at the moment – you can feel that there is a history there. Did you have any issues throughout negotiations with Punch Taverns? They have, actually, been quite good – I’ve got to say; they’ve taken on my ideas from the beginning and I’ve been quite impressed with them. Because it’s Punch there are limitations, of course, (with getting more local beers) but, as a starting point here, it’s been great. Touch wood it’s working okay. Do you think you’ll find it restrictive, with the rules imposed on the running of the Blue Boar, especially in the early stages, or do you welcome the licensing terms? I think, in terms of my idea of running pubs, it’s not too much of an issue. I understand perfectly why those licensing laws have come in, and I am not looking at doing late nights. There are a couple of logistical things – like we have to have 30+ hours of recorded CCTV, which is quite a large amount of memory storage, but it’s do-able. There isn’t anything that really irritates me. Are there some changes that some people may find controversial? We’re taking the TVs out – we’re trying to get a blend of traditional and contemporary traditional, if that makes sense. I’m very aware of the local neighbourhood and how upset they have been recently, so I’m not going for controversy. How will the Blue Boar differ to, say, other pubs in town? I’ve been very careful not to clash directly – I think there is plenty of room for more diversity in pubs in Ludlow. Of course we’re going to overlap with lots of different pubs, but we’re trying to create something a little bit fresher, as well as being respectful to the past. Have there been any unforeseen delays? Well ... the opening, which was meant to be early May, has moved

to the first week of June – so that’s slipped a bit. It’s not the best thing going straight into The Fringe but, at the same time, it will effectively promote the Blue Boar as a supporter of the arts in Ludlow. What is the proudest moment so far, in your journey to give the Blue Boar a second chance? I think, my influence – and the fact that my concept has been taken on. Will the interior change much? Structurally we’re not doing a lot to it but we’ll try and bring in the idea of separate spaces – the bar is going to be brought round a bit (where there used to be a gap), so we’re going to put a small hatch in there. On the left, through the entrance, there will be a three-quarter height high wall so you can look over and see who’s there before you go in. And we’re going for traditional (traditional is such a rubbish word isn’t it?), rustic, working-man’s style (bleached tables, old seating) where you can have a pint and a pie. There will be a fireplace in both of the two front rooms and I imagine it being a cosy social space, especially in the winter. Then, on the right, we’re going for a more public lounge which has smarter furniture (leather armchairs, a bit of the bench seating) – again with the fireplace; a little bit more of a comfortable space. Out the back there will be snacks, local to Ludlow – not formal dining; we’re going to try and do that all-day and into the early evening. The Sitting Room will also be moving from above the Thai Box to the Blue Boar’s function room upstairs. We’ve already got three weeks of Fringe Festival events booked for up there – starting from the 11th of June. I like the concept of the Sitting Room – it’s great, but the present location hasn’t been beneficial, where here it will be a lot more accessible for people. Will the opening hours be the same? I imagine I will be shutting at 11pm, as

we do in The Globe – we’re looking for a friendly local bar, rather than a big night out place. What can we expect to see on the bar, in terms of drink? We are using Bentley’s Wine Merchants for the wines, as I feel they have the knowledge of the sort of client-base we’re trying for, and they have a good name in town. We are tied on beer and cider, but I am looking at getting some craft beers (whether they will be bottled or on draught is open to question at the moment) as Punch do a changing range of craft beers. So there will be a couple of Bitter pumps and then we’ll have the one pump which we will use for a small local brewery (again, I’m limited) – Hobsons is the closest one they do, on a general term. Will there be any changes to the pub sign? It is still going to be called the Blue Boar, but we do have a new logo (see illustration on the right) which was done with Visual Works. We wanted something that was slightly fun, slightly Dickensian – a bit Wind in the Willows-ish, a bit traditional. Unfortunately, the sign up at the moment looks like a medieval Germanic fighting pig with a hard-on. How long do you imagine it will take for people to trust and engage with the Blue Boar again? I think fairly quickly. I think it’s good that the place has been shut for a while as it’s broken the routine of people going there. I believe the image that we will present will be clear and people will know, quite quickly, whether it is for them or not. Is there anything that you’d like to explain in greater detail? I would really like to highlight the local produce bit, which is quite key to it all. It is about that sharing idea – this idea of pulling in connections from Ludlow itself and working with different groups. The Ludlow market is phenomenal, and I hope that what we plan to do will embellish that, not interfere – I want us to have an outlet for that all the time. We’re not going to be a market stall, it will be a very limited food offering and simple, but it’s going back to that parlour, kitchen, pub sort of idea, which hopefully fits. Obviously we’re not restoring, we’re recreating – but that sharing ethos bit is quite important to what I plan for this pub. -------------------------------------------------Images: clockwise from top} interior ahead of Adam’s vision; current Blue Boar sign to go; new signage to take its place.

Festival Ludlow Comes Alive 13 June - 5 July

Over 100 Events for all

Comedy

Music

Literature

Cabaret

Theatre

Visual Arts

The biggest Fringe Festival Ludlow has ever seen! This year we have some real treats in store for you throughout the town; take a look at the next three pages and we’re sure you’ll agree, this year’s events will ensure that Ludlow Comes Alive! Highlights include some of the biggest TV names on the comedy circuit - Mark Thomas, Tom Stade, Gary Delaney and Joe Lycett; great theatre with touring play Eglantyne, Rooftop Theatre’s production of The Tempest at the Brewery, Here to There Theatre’s Old Times by Harold Pinter as well as some fantastic award-winning comedy theatre at the new Sitting Room at the Blue Boar; a bigger and better Art Trail with pop-up galleries around town and a weekend spectacular at the Castle to round off the festival - Folk and Ceilidh on Saturday and the thrilling Electric Swing Circus on Sunday…phew!

Keep up-to-date with all that’s going on by signing up for our newsletter at www.ludlowfringe.co.uk

www.ludlowfringe.co.uk

ts. dlow Ar u L f o s nd the Frie y b d e r nso ent spo m e l p p Su

Many thanks to Ashle igh Cadet for photogr aphy.

13 June - 5 July Ludlow Fringe Art Trail:

Events Diary: 13 June - 5 July

Artists exhibiting in venues all through Ludlow.

Full details can be found online at www.ludlowfringe.co.uk

Saturday 13 June

Sunday 14 June

Paint Jam

Secret Gardens of Ludlow

Live Painting Event Castle Square

Various Locations

10am - 4pm Free

The very popular, annual opening of Ludlow’s loveliest gardens.

Back by popular demand! A chance to watch 12 professional artists developing large-scale paintings in a variety of styles, with demonstrations and activities all day. Have a go on the public boards.

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Showing Off

Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Crafts Ludlow Brewery 10am - 4pm Free

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Fun with Nature

With Shropshire Wildlife Trust Millenium Green 10.30am - 4pm Free A fun event making Bows, Arrows, Green Tools and Leaf Crowns. ..................................

Old Ludlow in Postcards Millenium Green

10.30am - 4pm £0.50

Exhibition of Old Ludlow in Postcards, daily from 13th - 19th June. Some rare and beautiful postcards of days long gone. ..................................

Drum Tribe

Ludlow Brewery

7.30pm £10

South Africa’s top drummers join forces in transporting you to the place where the glow of firelight meets the primal rumble of the African heartbeat. An interactive hour like no other! ..................................

Fringe Theatre on the Square

Dance, puppetry and African drumming Castle Square 11am - 4pm Free

Red Sky at Night The Sitting Room

7.30pm £9/£7(C)

A fire burns in a barn. Someone stands with a lighter. A village watches the smoke rise into the sky, and six people start to breathe again. An exciting play written by Pentabus Young Writers. ..................................

(U) = Unreserved

Children’s Workshop Millenium Green

10am - 4pm Free

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Pentabus Young Writers Red Sky at Night The Sitting Room

7.30pm £9/£7(C)

See listing on Saturday 13 June for full details. ..................................

Drum Tribe

Ludlow Brewery

7.30pm £10

See listing on Saturday 13 June for full details. ..................................

Spanish Guitarist Virtuoso Methodist Church 7.30pm £10 This internationally acclaimed Valencian guitar virtuoso skilfully combines the knowledge and wisdom of old guitar Maestros with modern-day techniques to bring an exciting, hypnotic and passionate program of Classical and Spanish delights. ..................................

The Girl Who Walked into the Fire St Laurence’s Church 1pm £5 Jeanne d’Arc, Joan of Arc, heroine of France, Shakespeare’s La Pucelle the sorceress condemned to burn and Saint of the Catholic Church. Manda Scott talks about the character of her new novel. ..................................

Tuesday 16 June Music for a While Patrick Dunachie, Tenor and Shaun Ward, Harpsichord St Laurence’s Church 1pm £8

Charles Owen: Piano Goldberg Variations St Laurence’s Church 7.30pm £20/£10(U) Internationally renowned pianist makes a welcome return to the festival giving a rare opportunity to hear J S Bach’s complete Goldberg Variations BWV 988. ..................................

Flash Mob

Rafael Serallet

Manda Scott, Historical Novelist

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Hallelujah Chorus Castle Square

Monday 15 June

A programme of songs and works for harpsichord by Henry Purcell.

An exciting interactive Arts Workshop to create large sculptures which will remain on site and form part of the Art Trail throughout the festival.

See listing on Saturday 13 June for full details.

4pm £10

Pentabus Young Writers

Sculpture on the Green

The stories of three remarkable South Shropshire women living in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries are told in poetry and song.

Dance, puppetry and African drumming Castle Square 11am - 4pm Free

Great Danes with Henry Fairs

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Stories of Three Shropshire Women The Women’s Centre 7pm £6

Fringe Theatre on the Square

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Henry Fairs, Head of Organ Studies, Birmingham Conservatoire and Organist to the University of Birmingham performs works to celebrate the 350th and 150th anniversaries of Great Danes, Nicholas Bruhns and Carl Nielsen.

Designer makers from the Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Craft and the Worcestershire Guild of Designer Craftsmen will be exhibiting and selling their beautiful, handcrafted work.

Out of the Land Our Stories are Born

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A day of fun, celebration, displays and community entertainment.

Organ Recital St Laurence’s Church

10am - 4pm £6.50

Get maps and details from participating venues. Find out more on our website.

Old Times by Harold Pinter 12.45pm Free

Come along and raise your voice to the Heavens with St. Laurence’s Choir as they lead a public rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus. ..................................

Eglantyne

Performed and Written by Anne Chamberlain Ludlow Assembly Rooms 8pm £12/£10(C)

Appletree Studio

7.30pm £10

Pinter’s love triangle story with a twist, performed by the versatile Here to There Productions. ..................................

Wednesday 17 June

A lovely opportunity to while away a Summer’s afternoon in the Castle Square listening to Ludlow’s very own Town Band.

A new, touring one woman show by the fabulous writer and actress, Anne Chamberlain, about the life of the extraordinary Shropshire born Eglantyne Jebb, a courageous, charming, passionate, human rights activist, social reformer and cofounder of Save the Children. Not to be missed.

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Ludlow Town Band

Traditional Sounds of Summer Castle Square 1pm Free

Klee Quartet From Tokyo and Berlin St Laurence’s Church

1pm £8(U)

The Klee Quartet performs two perfectly matched string quartets.

Box Office: 01584 878141 www.ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk Rockspring Community Choir The Buttercross

BFI Young Filmmakers The Sitting Room

7pm Free

The highly talented Rockspring Community Choir stage a free performance in the atmospheric surroundings of the Buttercross. ..................................

Music in Arcadia Trio for Horn, Violin and Piano St Laurence’s Church 7.30pm £20/£10(U) Eleanor Iberga, piano; Thomas Bowes, violin; Anna Douglass, French horn. ..................................

Old Times by Harold Pinter Here to There Productions Appletree Studio

7.30pm £10

See listing on Tuesday 16 June for full details. ..................................

Women Who Are Censored A Fool’s Attempt to Unravel Herstory The Sitting Room 8pm £8

An Evening of Jazz

With Paul Ryan and Kenny Clayton Oscars 7.30pm £12/£10(C) Enjoy popular hits, overlooked gems and witty anecdotes from Frank Sinatra’s film career at this special night of jazz. Dedicated to the late Aubrey Weller, a friend to jazz musicians everywhere. ..................................

The Fabulous Bordellos Plus BBQ Ludlow Brewery

7.30pm £7

Powerful 4 piece Midlands based band bringing the sounds of the 60s and 70s from the Who, the Kinks, The Jam and more + BBQ.

See listing on Tuesday 16 June for full details. ..................................

GPS Art Competition Is it ART? Ludlow Assembly Rooms

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Fringe Quiz The Sitting Room

7.30pm £2

Be a brainiac and come and show off your mental prowess and knowledge of piffling trivia at the fun-filled Fringe Quiz. ..................................

Friday 19 June

With Soul Supply Ludlow Brewery

Slut (R)evolution

No one gets there overnight The Sitting Room

9pm £10

Award winning, Cameryn Moore of Little Black Book Productions, delivers her incendiary exploration of sex, relationships and salad crispers. 18+

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Old Times by Harold Pinter 7.30pm £10

See listing on Tuesday 16 June for full details. ..................................

Metropolitan Brass Band St Laurence’s Church 7.30pm £20/£10(U) An opportunity to hear some of England’s best orchestral instrumentalists playing together in the Metropolitan Brass quintet. ..................................

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Saturday 20 June Artists’ Market Castle Square

Join Ludlow’s geology expert, Michael Rosenbaum, and learn about the rocks which hold up the Castle. Meet at the cannon at the Castle entrance at 2.00pm. ..................................

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What’s Under the Castle? Festival Walk 1 Castle Square

2pm £6/£5(C)

BFI Young Filmmakers Screenings The Sitting Room

4pm Free

See listing on Saturday 20 June for full details.

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Uncle Richard

Amnesty International’s Freedom of Speech Award winner Mark Thomas is well versed in the art of creative mayhem. Hear how his troublemaking has changed laws, cost companies millions and annoyed those who most deserved to be. Hilarious, subversive and inspiring.

With Beth Melling and the Ludlow Community Choir Appletree Studio 7.30pm £10 A unique opportunity to see and hear two amazing vocal performers in the same show, together with a full choir.

Men read maps better, but women read emotions - so say brain scientists. Is the secret of human behaviour inside our skulls? Can neuroscience explain why Timandra throws like a girl but thinks like a bloke? Harkness’s deadly wit shines out through this fun and thoughtprovoking show.

Tell Tale Theatre Methodist Church

7.30pm £10

Action-packed storytelling theatre for all the family. When Richard III’s niece, Elizabeth of York and her sons decide to unravel the truth about her brothers, the princes in the tower, they discover that when it comes to Uncle Richard, no two tellings of the tale ever seem to be quite the same... ..................................

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Rainbow Shorts LGBTQ Films The Sitting Room

7.30pm £5/£4(C)

A selection of Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Queer (LGBTQ) short films popular with past audiences of the Shropshire Rainbow Film Festival. An emotional rollercoaster of fiction, poems, music and documentaries from around the world. ..................................

Tuesday 23 June

Slut (R)evolution

10am - 4pm

2pm £5

Karen Long is a Midlander by birth and a Shropshire Lass by residence, dedicating her time to writing crime fiction and observing nature. Her first novel in the Eleanor Raven series, The Safe Word was on the Amazon top bestseller’s list and has recently been followed up by the second in the series, The Vault.

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Arts, entertainment and interactive workshops + an opportunity to buy some exquisite pieces of Art from our local, professional artists and makers.

Creative Writing Workshop Ludlow Library

7.30pm £8

Randolph Matthews ‘Voce Solo’

The fascinating tale of how two boys from Queens became the most successful musical duo of all time.

Karen Long

Dance the night away with the fabulous sounds of Soul Supply.

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A powerful and moving tribute Ludlow Assembly Rooms 8pm £17/£16(C)

Castle Square 1pm £8(U)

A day of Street Entertainment, Music, Market Stalls and Family Fun.

Wednesday 24 June

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100 Acts of Minor Dissent - The Book Ludlow Assembly Rooms 7.30pm £12/£10(C)

Morris Dancing

BBC Young Musician finalist performs two highlights of his piano repertoire.

Here to There Productions Appletree Studio

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Gary Delaney + support Comedy Ludlow Brewery

8pm £12/£10(C)

Gary Delaney is a razor sharp oneliner comedian, widely regarded as being the most quotable comic on the circuit. The sheer number of outstanding gags leaves the audience struggling to remember them all. Unmissable. ..................................

No one gets there overnight The Sitting Room

Thursday 25 June

9pm £10

See listing on Friday 19 June for full details. ..................................

Funny Women

Poetry with appealing humour The Feathers Hotel 2pm £10

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Victor Lim Piano St Laurence’s Church

A celebration of one of England’s finest composers, Henry Purcell.

Mark Thomas

Simon and Garfunkel

This session explains the terms of our exciting, new competition and gives details of the free, downloadable, Viewranger app that we will use.

Ode for St Cecilia’s Day and Dido and Aeneas St Laurence’s Church 7.30pm £20/£10(U)

10am - 4pm

Timandra Harkness Oscars - Ludlow Assembly Rooms 7.30pm £12/£10(C)

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7.30pm Free

Henry Purcell

Lower Corve Street

Brainsex

Thursday 18 June 7.30pm £10

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Fringe Party

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Here to There Productions Appletree Studio

Screenings of this year’s BFI Young Filmmakers project which has given selected 16-19 yr olds from across the Midlands the opportunity of working with Oscar and BAFTA award winners to learn about film making, script development, cinematography, editing and film production.

Midsummer Soul

A highly energised, improvisational, audience-responsive performance which embodies the cultural, psychological, social, his/herstorical and political entities which influence and inhibit a balanced sexuality.

Old Times by Harold Pinter

4pm Free

An afternoon with three talented poets: Emma Purshouse, Win Saha and Jane Seabourne. Different in style and age, these three entertain with humorous poetry appealing to a wide range of people and tastes.

11am

The very talented Shropshire Bedlams and Martha Roden’s Tuppenny Dish return for their Annual Midsummer dance celebrations.

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Hula Hoop Workshop Pink Elephants Ludlow Assembly Rooms

1pm £6

Regardless of fitness level, dance ability, age or gender with guidance from ‘Pink Elephants’ everybody can learn to hula hoop! ..................................

Burlesque Workshop Pink Elephants Ludlow Assembly Rooms

2.45pm £6

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Lunchtime Theatre The Sitting Room

Music, Magic and Mayhem Oscars, Ludlow Assembly Rooms 8pm £12/£10(C)

Circus, Cabaret and Burlesque. An evening of Glitz, Glamour, Laughs, Gasps and Adult Cabaret from Sin Palace. 16+ ..................................

A fun and enjoyable, hourlong workshop giving you the opportunity to lose your inhibitions, let go of negativity, explore your creativity and rejoice in the sheer joy of being female!

Music for Dogs

Midsummer Night’s Cabaret

Sunday 21 June Artists’ Market Castle Square

10am - 4pm

See listing on Saturday 20 June for full details. ..................................

Joe Lycett + support Comedy Ludlow Brewery

8pm £12/£10(C)

A TV regular on Live At The Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Celebrity Juice, Sweat the Small Stuff, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Michael McIntyre’s Roadshow. Awardwinning Joe Lycett is an appealing, engaging and natural performer. ..................................

1pm £5

Written by award-winning Irish poet and playwright Paula Meehan and performed by Irish actress Carol Caffrey. Set during the Celtic Tiger years, a woman records a message for her estranged brother and sister, telling them how she made the fortune she is leaving them. This poignant and funny performance is a perfect balance between sorrow, humour and acceptance. ..................................

Box Office: 01584 878141 www.ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk The Honesty Pot

George Gershwin

The Honesty Pot poses the question: can we live as full human beings in the modern world? Author Nick Thomas with June Burrough (Founder Director of The Pierian Centre) discuss using the arts to build communities and increase awareness.

Piano selections from Gershwin’s shows, featuring the popular classics I Got Rhythm and Somebody Loves Me, as well as sharing amusing anecdotes and pictures from his recent Gershwin trail around New York.

Nick Thomas and June Burrough Ludlow Library 2pm £5

An American in New York Methodist Church 7.30pm £10

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Uncle Richard Tell Tale Theatre Methodist Church

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Strange Face

Adventures with a Lost Nick Drake Recording - by Michael Burdett The Sitting Room 8pm £10

8pm £12/£10(C)

Since arriving in the UK, Canadian, Tom Stade has steadily earned a reputation as one of the most original and exciting standup talents around. Supported by Have I Got News for You? writer Kate Smurthwaite, this is promising to be a night to remember. ..................................

Friday 26 June Lunchtime Theatre The Sitting Room

The extraordinary story of how one man shared a recording no one knew existed. A lost Nick Drake recording is rescued from the bottom of a skip. This oneman show charts how Michael Burdett randomly stopped 200 strangers and asked if they wanted to hear the track in return for being photographed. ..................................

Saturday 27 June The Ludlow Big Sing Street Choirs Castle Square

1pm £5

11am - 4pm Free

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See listing on Thursday 25 June for full details.

Young Musicians

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A great opportunity to hear and support some of Ludlow’s rising talent whilst discovering some award-winning ales from the Ludlow Brewing Company.

The Moulding of a Life Wendy Clark Ludlow Library

2pm £5

Wendy Clark, a spiritualist medium and healer talks about her compelling work The Moulding of a Life, sharing her own life story along with words from Spirit Guides providing an insight into the world of life after death. Signed books available. ..................................

An Audience with Phil Rickman, Crime Writer Ludlow Library

7pm £8

Author, Phil Rickman returns to Ludlow to talk about his latest novel Night After Night, a book that accomplishes the fiendishly difficult combination of mingling other-worldly themes with grounded reality.

Death amongst the books. Murder in the museum. An evening of crime and sleuthing at its very worst. We invite you to play detective and find the killer in this mystery tour? ..................................

Ludlow Brewery

12pm - 4pm Free

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Music for Dogs Lunchtime Theatre The Sitting Room

1pm £5

See listing on Thursday 25 June for full details. ..................................

Paul Beeton

Forensic Science through Literature Ludlow Library 2pm £8 Meet Paul Beeton, a Senior Scenes of Crime Officer to discuss the experience of working with forensic science and how it has impacted on modern literature. ..................................

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Full Circle Ludlow Brewery

Story Tellers on the Green

The Tempest

12pm - 3pm Free

7.30pm £8

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Remi Harris Trio Down by the River The Charlton Arms

7.30pm £7

Enjoy the sounds of Gypsy Jazz from the fabulous Remi Harris Trio down by the River Teme. ..................................

Don Pasquale Methodist Church

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Maxine Jones Full Circle Ludlow Brewery

7.30pm £8

See listing on Friday 26 June for full details. ..................................

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Macbeth

Old Dic Theatre Company The Sitting Room 8.15pm Free The 31st Year of Bardic demolition from Ludlow’s very own Old Dics.

Round the Walls

Friday 3 July

Festival Walk 2 Castle Square

2pm £5

Take a walk around the town walls that still mark Old Ludlow with local geology expert, Michael Rosenbaum. ..................................

An Audience with Crime Writer M R Hall Ludlow Library

2pm £8

Bafta nominated screenwriter, producer and former criminal barrister hits Ludlow with his latest thriller The Burning. Titles available for sale and signing. ..................................

Castle Square 11am - 4pm Donations The World’s only poetic first aid service. A mix of the serious, the therapeutic and the theatrical, the Emergency Poet offers consultations inside her vintage ambulance and prescribes poems as cures. ..................................

My Family and Other Strangers Gareth Owen Ludlow Library

Hats off to Laurel and Hardy

Lucky Dog Theatre Productions The Sitting Room 7pm £10 This show is a completely accurate and affectionate piece about the true story of Laurel & Hardy. It has played to packed houses, standing ovations, and reduced audiences to tears. ..................................

Folk at the Castle

Ludlow Castle 6pm £10/£5 children Music and Dancing + display from World Class Irish Dance Champion. With HiJinx Ceilidh Band, The Blarney Stone Band with Andy McLauchlin of Crastant, and Grey Wolf and friends, with very special guests. Beer tent & food stalls. ..................................

The Cajun Roosters Ludlow Assembly Rooms 7.30pm £11/£9(C) Following last year’s barnstorming Ludlow hoe-down, the Cajun Roosters return for another night of foot-stomping, DeepSouth Cajun and Zydeco music. ..................................

The Tempest

Rooftop Theatre Company Ludlow Brewery 7.30pm £14/£12(C) See listing on Tuesday 30 June for full details. ..................................

Welcome to the Clitterati

Erotic Poetry with Jay Walker The Sitting Room 8pm £7 The literary love child of Jeanette Winterson and Allen Ginsberg. This production is inflected with alliteration and exudes a dizzying eroticism that envelopes the audience and renders them agasp.

Mr Merrick, the Elephant Man Lucky Dog Theatre Productions The Sitting Room 8.30pm £10 The story of The Elephant Man has been told many times, but all these accounts are partly fictional. This moving and accurate play depicts the truth behind Joseph Merrick and his doctor, Frederick Treves. ..................................

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7pm Free

Gareth relates a series of comic and tender observations in prose and verse, concerning those strange creatures with whom we are compelled to share a home and sometime a life, through a mere accident of blood. ..................................

Tuesday 30 June The Tempest

Rooftop Theatre Company Ludlow Brewery 7.30pm £14/£12(C) This acclaimed local theatre company returns to the fantastic setting of Ludlow Brewery to bring a fresh and original interpretation of Shakespeare’s magical play.

Macbeth

Old Dic Theatre Company Chang Thai Bar 8.15pm Free See listing on Thursday 2 July for full details. ..................................

Saturday 4 July Ludlow Independents’ Day

Celebrating ‘Only in Ludlow’ Castle Square 11am - 4pm Free Ludlow Independents’ Day is all about putting our high street first and all its independently owned businesses in the spot light. To celebrate there will be entertainment and activities in Castle Square and lots more besides.

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Wednesday 1 July

The Tempest

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7.30pm £10

See listing on Tuesday 30 June for full details.

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See listing on Tuesday 30 June for full details.

Apollo Opera presents one of the finest comic operas of all time - Donizetti’s Don Pasquale; an opera full of endearingly eccentric characters and wonderful music.

Rooftop Theatre Company Ludlow Brewery 7.30pm £14/£12(C)

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Rooftop Theatre Company Ludlow Brewery 7.30pm £14/£12(C)

Maxine plans to move back to the UK after 25 years in Ireland. What’s changed? Does everything always come full circle? Can she still cartwheel? Find out in this outstandingly funny show.

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Thursday 2 July

The Tempest Maxine Jones

7.30pm £5

A musician and a storyteller, Jake and Suzanne Thomas sing songs and tell stories, drawing inspiration from the back of the sock drawer and other places no one else would think to look!

Sunday 28 June

Emergency Poet

Ludlow’s choirs will be performing around the town throughout the day with a Big Sing at 2.30pm.

Music for Dogs

Music and Story Telling The Sitting Room

Stories are all around us. They are what move us, make us feel alive, and inspire us. Join Meg Hawkins, writer and illustrator and Louise Welsby, drama specialist, for an afternoon of Storytelling on the Green where you can listen, dress up and become part of their imaginative world. Ages 3-11

See listing on Wednesday 24 June for full details.

Kate Smurthwaite Ludlow Brewery

Cranesfield

Murder Mystery in the Library Ludlow Library 7pm £20 (Includes food)

Millenium Green

7.30pm £10

Tom Stade

Whodunnit?

Carmen

The English National Opera Ludlow Assembly Rooms 7.30pm £16/£15(C) A passionate tale of lust, seduction & betrayal, no other opera boasts as big a following as Bizet’s Carmen. Set during the dying days of Franco’s Spain, Calixto Bieito’s acclaimed production has been enjoyed by audiences across Europe. Live screening. ..................................

Rooftop Theatre Company Ludlow Brewery 7.30pm £14/£12(C) See listing on Tuesday 30 June for full details. ..................................

Songs from the New World Ludlow Choral Society St Laurence’s Church

7.30pm £12

Join Ludlow Choral Society in the fine setting of St Laurence’s Church. Relax and revel in music marking American Independence Day. ..................................

Macbeth

Old Dic Theatre Company Chang Thai Bar 8.15pm Free See listing on Thursday 2 July for full details. ..................................

Jack the Ripper: Facts, No Fiction

Lucky Dog Theatre Productions The Sitting Room 9.45pm £10 London, 1888: Jack the Ripper is killing Whitechapel prostitutes. Philip Hutchinson, a regarded world authority on the case will tell you just the facts, with some unexpected laughs. ..................................

Sunday 5 July

Fringe Finale Explosive Sounds from The Electric Swing Circus, Slippery Slope + support Ludlow Castle

7pm £12/£14 on door

Stomping sounds of saucy swing and electro beats for all to enjoy. Beer tent, cocktails & food stalls. ..................................

Sponsored by the Friends of Ludlow Arts. We help make arts happen in Ludlow - for the Fringe, St Laurence’s Music Festival, Rooftop Theatre’s Shakespeare productions and others - during the summer and throughout the year. Join us and be a part of this exciting scene! £20 for a year’s subscription: admin@friendsofludlowarts.info 01584 876854 www.friendsofludlowarts.info

Are they real gardens?

Renaissance Flea Market

The Chelsea Smile! text} Nicki Lewis-Smith

– GARDENING – WE’RE fast approaching the time of year when throughout the horticultural world the buzzword is ‘Chelsea’. Even if you have no leanings towards anything remotely to do with gardens and gardening the chances are you will have heard of the Chelsea Flower Show... when every year, for a week during May, there’s almost more television coverage than Wimbledon. There is even a gardening term named after the great show – the ‘Chelsea Chop’ is cutting back perennials by half to extend flowering and lessen the need for staking, which just happens to occur at the same time. However, there the similarity must end, as doing the Chelsea Chop is about real gardening and, somehow, I don’t really see those impeccably perfect Chelsea show gardens as real. They’re not, they are showcases – living pictures in a central London gallery that cost anything upwards from £200,000 to build, (and here’s me moaning about the price of a tray of violas)... As a garden designer I shouldn’t be scathing, and I’m not – not really. After all, I’ve done a couple of show gardens myself, on a slightly more modest scale than Chelsea you understand, but show pieces nonetheless. I love the innovation of it all, the subtle or not so subtle colour palettes, the clean lines, the textures, twists and creativity that goes into producing these stunning works of art. Inwardly I may wish I’d thought of some of those ideas myself, and I snatch little pockets of inspiration to draw on at a later date. But it’s just not real, and I find myself looking at them differently. I’m looking at them, not just as a garden designer, but as a humble gardener, and thinking that they may be stunning now, but what will they be like in a couple of months when all the foxgloves and iris are over? Or during the winter? And don’t you think that they are all a variation on a theme? You can look at a garden anywhere and say: “that’s a bit Chelsea” – from immaculately clipped topiary, corten steel, lines of pleached hornbeams and expanses of clear, clean water. Well, that’s definitely not real. Imagine one year in an ordinary garden setting – the water would be green, sludgy at the bottom, and probably ribboned with blanket weed. There are the whacky ones too – Diarmuid Gavin’s pink flying garden from a few years ago. I wonder if any of my clients would like to commission me to do something similar in their back yard? Or how about letting me cover your house wall with lettuces – how long will that look good? Besides, there really is a limit as to how much lettuce you can eat. Then there was the giant head of Nelson Mandela made from dried protea flower heads – mmm, wouldn’t that look great amongst the Lower Broad Street pots? I personally don’t think that Chelsea is about proper gardening any more... it’s just somewhere to go and be seen. You can see the celebrities in their floral frocks and big hats, maybe even glimpse the Queen. And, if you can bear the claustrophobia, come home bearing an over grown delphinium (that will probably snap en route) to plant in your own modest plot. Then you can say to your garden visitors: “That came from Chelsea y’know” – if it survives, of course.

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China

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Vintage Toys

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Bric-a-brac

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Jewellery

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Glassware

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Clothing

And much more, downstairs and upstairs!

Find us at 7-8 Tower Street, Ludlow Open Monday-Saturday 9:30am-5pm & Now Open on Sundays 10am-4pm! Charity No. 1082068 Company No. 4041051

Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner that I love this town

The Green, once of Greenwich

antiquesintents Burton Court, Eardisland, Herefordshire, HR6 9DN

text} Tony Green | image} Richard Stanton – FINDING LUDLOW – TEN days before Christmas I moved from London to Ludlow. It’s become a bit of a joke among my friends; that I’m now a Shropshire Lad – except I’m not exactly a lad... very much middle aged in fact. I loathe the term but it’s what I am. I’m not quite ready to organise Ludlow’s first Grey Pride march but what little hair I have is gradually going that way. I suppose I’m far from being the first Londoner to move here (actually I’m an Essex boy by birth, though the rest of my family hail from the East End) but I suspect that most who come here from the capital do so under altogether more prosperous circumstances. Perhaps I’m wrong, but my own stereotype of such immigrants to Shropshire is something like this: worked hard, paid off the mortgage, sold up and made a killing – then bought something lovely in Ludlow ready to enjoy a quieter pace and a better quality of life in their very own Escape to the Country. Having stashed away tens of thousands from the London house sale, such folk have money to spend on their homes – beautiful furnishings and period pieces picked up in local antique shops, and the wherewithal to dine in Ludlow’s renowned restaurants. Sounds wonderful, and good luck to those for whom this is true. Me? I live on the edge of the Sandpits estate – a stone’s throw from the Cod Father, my local fish and chip shop, though thus far I haven’t sampled its delights. I’m not complaining (far from it), but I haven’t been blessed with wealth. I had my own home on the south coast, where I was a teacher until about ten years ago when I packed in teaching before it killed me; by the time I quit I had only one career goal: don’t have a heart attack and collapse in front of the kids – such an undignified way to go. In place of the years of stress caused by adolescent exuberance and successive governments’ ingratitude towards a profession on which the future growth of the Country depends, I became self-employed as a freelance journalist and writer. This was something I

wanted to do when I was younger but never had the confidence to pursue and, without doubt, freelance life has been my salvation (I scraped together a living and I’ve enjoyed most of it), but I couldn’t keep up the mortgage payments, lost my flat and returned to London where there were more opportunities and most of my friends – I’ve spent over half my life in inner and outer London boroughs. I spent the past five years in London. I love London and don’t understand those who feel differently – it’s one of the great cities of the world; you can do far more for free in London than just about anywhere and, contrary to what people say, I have always found it a friendly place to be. But, to put things in context, I was renting one room in the borough of Greenwich for the price of my small, two-bedroom house here. This house is housing association stock – my mother lives here (and has done for thirteen years) and my family connections enabled me to get on the housing list. Ironically, because I merely rented a room in London, Shropshire decided I had a housing need; as far as Greenwich were concerned I had no such need – I had a roof over my head didn’t I? So here I am. I have arrived as an ex-teacher and a freelance writer (and a personal tutor: it’s good to keep your hand in). In some ways, then, I am typically middle-class, if not financially secure. I am a social housing tenant and I am deeply grateful; I spent too much time worrying about what would become of me in London. Now I have security (provided I don’t destroy my house or beat up the neighbours, neither of which is my style) and the chance to do what I want, within reason, in my own space. And I feel confident that my creativity will flourish here in a town populated by so many creative types – highly talented and often successful people. But I hope I will prove that creativity can flourish too in the social housing estates and not just among the listed buildings and medieval streets – from my house I have the most stunning views and a sense of unbounded possibilities.

ONE DAY QUALITY

ANTIQUES FAIR

Sunday 17th May 10am – 4pm 40 dealers offering a quality selection of traditional & decorative antiques

Delicious Homemade Cakes, Light Lunches & Bar ADMISSION £4 ALL ENQUIRIES: 01544 267033 / 07974 356128

www.antiquesintents.co.uk

La Jewellery

Turquoise jewel in Ludlow’s crown text} Mia Davis | image} Richard Stanton – PROFILE – THINK of almost any everyday product you normally buy, and you’ll also find a Fairtrade version. From bananas to T shirts, buying Fairtrade has become synonymous with being a ‘compassionate consumer.’ So Fairtrade silver? What’s all that about? Everyone knows diamond mining is a dirty business but, unless you happen to be the wife of a Russian oligarch, then it’s unlikely you lie awake at night worrying about your diamondpurchasing decisions. If, on the other hand, you’re partial to the odd bit of more affordable bling, step inside a small Ludlow Parkway shop dedicated to the design and creation of ethical jewellery, and you’ll soon understand that ethical silver doesn’t mean revisiting Woodstock. Even if you shop on the premise that exploitation is just one of the many sorry tales our world has to tell (up there with climate change) it’s still worth consideration. Overflowing with necklaces, rings, bracelets, cufflinks and spoons, La Jewellery specialise in contemporary jewellery crafted from recycled brass, Fairtrade and reclaimed silver, with some 18ct Fairtrade gold thrown in for good measure. All created and designed by owner and designer maker Lisa Anne, the jewellery is fresh, unique and eclectic, ranging from quirky, golden-brass, hare necklaces, to earrings dripping with delicate fronds of silver and accented with freshwater pearls, semi-precious stones and glittering Swarovski crystals. Even Gordon Brown’s cat, Sybil, is a fan – she’s the proud owner of a La Jewellery bespoke cat collar. As lovely as the jewellery is, however, Lisa Anne aims to pour her ethics, not only into the products, but also into the company as a whole, and she is very firm about the provenance of the metals she uses in her work. Recycled, Fairtrade or fairmined silver is the only silver she will use, in an effort to ensure that those who mine these precious resources have been paid a premium price. And she makes no apologies for her insistence that the world could be a better place. “What is Fairtrade? It’s making sure that people can live on what they earn. And everything can be Fairtrade; there’s no reason for it not to be. It has never crossed my mind that, as a business owner, I should be making a profit out of someone else’s misery.” Clearly unafraid to speak out, Lisa Anne seems as passionate about this as she is about her jewellery, which explains the winning concept of creating ethical jewellery as much as the fact that she isn’t afraid to push boundaries. Admittedly, it may not all be to everyone’s taste, but many of her handmade pieces reflect the human condition in some way. And, like many creative people, she is happy to admit that some of her creative inspiration comes from a ‘dark place.’ Having experienced a childhood overshadowed by a depressed mother, Lisa Anne explains the reasoning behind her creative process: “As a child it was a form of escapism. Physical creativity was such a good way of zoning out from what was going on. I would make things with anything I could get my hands on lying about the house; there was nothing else going on in my world apart from that.” The family moved from Wales to Birmingham when Lisa Anne was three, and it was in Birmingham that her creative career was later developed – studying graphic design, photography and 3D design at Birmingham’s Custard Factory. True to her motto of ‘Don’t buy it – make it’, she set up a company called Loud and Disastrous,

dedicated to making hats. “My daughter, who was only one at the time, needed a hat, but they cost £8. So I got myself a sewing machine and made an abundance of hats. Friends started putting in orders and we began to get wholesale orders. It was the nineties, at the start of the rave scene – it was all a bit ‘weeooh’ so we did festivals too, selling 1990’s rave clothing.” Another company, Life at Dawn followed, again run from home, except this time Lisa Anne dropped the hats and psychedelic rave clothing and turned, instead, to fashioning Victorian linen and vintage fabrics into floaty, feminine clothing. La Jewellery started nine years ago, again from her kitchen table and, in what appears to be typical can-do, Lisa Anne style, was preceded by only a day’s training with a goldsmith friend. The range started with 20 pairs of earrings, sold over the internet, and now offers hundreds of different styles and ranges of jewellery. In the past Lisa Anne would carry out all the casting by hand, in the art studio, but this proved to be very time consuming and too expensive for clients, so, having found a small, family, casting business, Lisa Anne now sends off the raw carcass of the jewellery to be cast. It is then sent back to the studio for hammering, texturing and filing to help keep costs down. I suggest she probably has an entrepreneurial streak, but she says selling was never her forte. “When you create something, you are baring your soul. Many of my collections are cathartic, and to give it monetary value and explain what it’s about doesn’t come easy.” As a result, the Ludlow shop was never meant to be. “I was never good at selling. In fact I hated it, it was my worst nightmare, so we always focused on internet selling. The shop in Ludlow was only ever meant to be a wholesale base, as a type of showroom for our customers. But, from Day One, we were inundated with people coming in. We opened during the Medieval Fair weekend in 2013 and took about £2,500 in the first week – and I hated it, because it was sales; I didn’t care if anyone ever bought it because it was only ever about the creative process.” Fortunately, this didn’t last – today, she couldn’t be more delighted to have people in the shop. “I got much less nervous about meeting the public, and now I love meeting the people who come in here – my inspiration comes walking through the door now from the things that people tell me. I thought my inspiration was from nature – it probably still is partly, but now it’s also people and their stories that move and inspire me.” She is also more than happy to design bespoke pieces. “I used to be very resistant to that,” she explains, “but now even that inspires me; when creating I like to put on music special to those I’m designing for. I’ve learned so much since doing this; I’ll never say ‘never’ again.” And she’s eager to point out that none of this would be possible without her team. From her husband (who custom built her workbench and restored the shop) to her marketing and shop assistants, she is overwhelmingly grateful for their support and investment in the business. “It’s completely a team effort,” she explains, “and how my husband is still with me I don’t know. I mean, I started out as a clothes designer, then I was a weaver, then I decided to become an artist and paint, naked for days on end, living on fags and coffee. Until of course I found jewellery. But he backed every single project, all the way.”

– COVER STORY – < continued from the front page The Cruiser, as it turns out, was actually the first car purchased and was originally intended for three further members – (making the team six-strong) who are old buddies of Jason’s and are heading down from Shetland to take part. “It was something that I felt you could do 3,000 miles in, in relative comfort, but still look ridiculous – especially decked out in pink. That was the plan.” Since spending about £1,000 on it and claiming it as their own, Jason and Aaron have blessed their entry with new black alloys, a fresh set of tyres and a lick of vinyl flame up each side – red and green, not pink as previously planned. The XJ6, on the other hand, has taken the brunt of the hue which, Jason explains, is about long-overdue revenge. “I went out to a bikers rally once and, stupidly, asked them to get me a tent, so they did – a big butch bikers rally and they bought me a pink Barbie tent and wrote all sorts of abusive stuff on there about me – even saying “Please phone me.” It had my correct number on it and everything. So they, stupidly, asked me to get them a car... so I did.” A splash of pink is one thing, as are a large pair of stuck-on eyebrows of the same shade (and from what I hear the Jag’s steel wheels are to be signwritten, denoting that it’s powered by pixie dust), but the suggestion of two spirits of the same name somehow woven into the very fabric of the car would concern me way more. Jason and Aaron agree. “That’s why we haven’t told them anything about it – really to see if they notice anything, without us feeding it to them.” That leaves us with car number three (the Mazda RX8) which, on first sight, appears as much of a £500 purchase as the borrowed BIC pen and repurposed scrap of paper I’m using to take notes. But, just like the other two, it fell within the rules of £500 or less. It was, as it happens, a company car owned by one of the team players (Graham Head) who runs Implemental, based out on Ludlow’s Eco Business Park. With a faulty engine, Graham had already tried to sell it and, with no takers at £800, had agreed it was worth £500 at best and subsequently sold it to the cause. You’d be forgiven for thinking that this was the better buy of the trio – seeing as a ballpark figure of (probably now exceeding) £2,000 has since been ploughed into the Mazda, overhauling the dud engine, switching tyres, adding an induction kit and fitting race brakes – but the jury is out on its reliability. One of the comments attached to one of the online donations (at Justgiving.com/scumrun-2015) knowingly reads: “Good Luck with the RX8 – ’cos you’ll need it. The RAC’s number is 0800 616300 – ask for Gary, he’ll know the car.” Another reads: “The team at HIQ Eurofit Ludlow, Ludford bridge, would like to wish Jason and the team all the best” along with a £350 donation, which bonnet sponsors all three cars. Other sponsors, who in total have, so far, helped the local team raise near £900 for the JDRF charity, include Hobsons, Travis Perkins, Brick Plant Hire, Angel Bank Garage, Roy Harris Haulage, Sunshine Radio, Wot’s Cooking, Poppy’s Garden Benches, Coder Tyres, Shukers and Eurofit Ludlow. There is still time to get involved and help Jason, Aaron and Graham reach their deserved target of £5,000 – indeed, space remains on all three cars for your own branding, which is being handled by Aaron himself who, as well as presiding over the Golden Cross pub on the hill, also operates Cross Signs. “We are charging £50 for, roughly, A4 in size – but you can pay more for as large as is available,” adds Aaron, “and we can sort out stickers up until 11th May by emailing me at: thegoldencross@ymail.com or by phoning Jason on 07768 149639.” “Of course, we’ve still got a load of people to see (even though there’s not much time left) but I’d be disappointed if we didn’t raise at least a couple of grand for the charity,” adds Jason. And every penny is going to the charity,

with the entrants having to cover their own fuel expenses and £250 per person – which covers event entry and campsite costs. In association with Fast Car magazine (and also broadcast on Sky TV), the event is celebrating its tenth birthday this year. Known as the original and biggest banger rally (it was first known as Scumball 3000) it exceeds one hundred vehicles per year – all hoping to get it all done in the quickest time. The online picture gallery for last year’s Scumrun shows that everyone appears to embrace the banger concept, with no glaring, over-budget acquisitions, and nothing that could warrant a speed camera – though how many actually made the drive to Dover and the subsequent 3,000 miles is unknown. There are even reports that someone completed last year’s challenge on a moped. So why, I ask Jason, this particular year for the team from Ludlow? “Well we’ve been toying with the idea for a few years, to be honest, and this time we finally got our finger out to do it. From what I gather, the idea of it is that we meet at Dover on the 14th of May (get all the paperwork done and a bit of a launch party) but even then we don’t know where we are going, until we get to the start line in the morning. I’m not sure if we get an envelope or what have you, to tell us where we’ve got to go that day. There are then various checkpoints that we have to go through each day – things like... you go into a specific shop and buy something, the receipt of which has to be handed in at the end of the day, when we reach our campsite.” With Jason owning Wicked Van Hire it begs the question: why not all in vans? “It crossed my mind for a few seconds. To be honest, the more I think about it, the more I wished we’d gone that route. It would have been great really.” “The original idea,” he continues, “was to go in Jags, preferably all XJSs, but nothing came up in the £500 budget....” “Then we were all going in XJ6s,” adds Aaron, “but, again, nothing came up in that £500 price range and, considering our first experience turned out to be haunted, we changed our mind.” Asking around the table, it’s clear that none of those who’ve freely stumped up £250 for a seat in one of these cheap chariots have any obvious experience in this sort of thing, which makes it even more amusing – from the outset at least. Oddly, I forget to enquire after their map skills, ability to follow instructions, and what they consider their overall chances – but I’m verbally curious, all the same, when it comes to nerves. “I’m excited not nervous, though I might get nervous nearer the time,” admits Jason. “It should be a good laugh... and raise a few quid as well.” Once they’ve completed their 3,000-mile challenge, they plan to tour the three cars around various summer festivals to promote the event and JDRF, the chosen charity for 2015 – which demonstrates some belief that their vehicles will make it back to Ludlow in one piece and, of course, would mean plenty more on-car marketing mileage for those local businesses who have supported this amusing challenge in aid of a very serious cause. --------------------------------------------------

WHY NOT GET INVOLVED?

There is still time (if you’ve picked up your copy of the Ledger in good time) to get involved. If you’d like to become a sponsor (from as little as £50) either phone Jason Stanley: 07768 149639 or email Aaron Jeffs: thegoldencross@ymail.com. You can also text srun74£5 to 7075 to donate £5. Donations on Justgiving.com/ scumrun-2015 will be accepted long after the event is over, to help raise as much as possible for JDRF, which provides information for those living with type 1 diabetes, from diagnosis and beyond, as well as campaigning for increased focus on, and funding for, research to find the cure.

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Cover-story text} Jon Saxon | images} Richard Stanton

Fund-raising village hall pub

Ashford Carbonell wisely turns to drink text} Jon Saxon | image} Richard Stanton – TRAVEL – aShFoRDCaRBoNELL.Co.uK reads like any other village-hall website: News; What’s On; Village History; Parish Council; Contact; alongside tabs for Garden Clubs; Knit & Stitch and Ancient Yews. But delve a bit deeper into the tab marked Village Hall though and, within the drop-down menu of afternoon teas, bowls club and yoga, you’ll find a rather surprising menu heading of Pub Nights. I first approached this village hall’s doors one crisp evening, having spotted a sign advertising ‘Friday Pub Night’ stapled to a nearby telegraph post. Interested in discovering more (and not really knowing what to expect), I bowled in to find an overwhelming welcome from an assembly of ten or so, all stood on a small patch of carpet that edged a right-angled wooden bar that fenced in a kitchen sink and a broom cupboard. I wrote of this discovery in the inaugural edition of Doghouse – the British pub magazine: “Once a week the corner pantry is stocked full with bottles of full-bodied beer and quality cider, lagers, wine and a variety of other top-shelf tipples – nuts too. A pool table is wheeled out from the opposing corner, with endless dogs under foot, laced around the basic corner bar – small and boxy – with a flip hatch to the side: It’s behind here that a rota of those attending take turns to serve. Tonight we find Tim Phipers, the licensee, working the elementary bar; popping in and out of the three-tiered pantry – opening bottles and filling the till.” That was pretty much three years ago, and I remain amazed and inspired to this day. Whereas so many villages and hamlets, even larger towns, mourn the loss of their community pub with little more than whimsical recollection, the resourceful lot at Ashford Carbonell got mucked in, rallied for an alcohol licence and started selling bottles of beer every fortnight over the village hall’s kitchen counter. Then, local resident Tim applied for his own alcohol licence, and the whole thing evolved – Tim took on the role of landlord, chalking off a quiet corner in the top right of the hall, with windows overlooking the village green, for it to

become the village’s weekly local. During Tim’s tenure in went some cider and lager kegs and, once a month, a polypin of locally-sourced beer for the pub’s monthly ‘Real Ale Night’. That was roughly eight years ago – Tim hung up his licensee/landlord hat in June of 2014, passing the licensee baton on to another local, Matthew, with Dave Froggat acting as the landlord. The changing of the guard also swore in a permanent handpull of Ludlow Brewing Company’s Gold. The rota of local residents continues much as I remember, with a few nips and tucks here and there to shape this corner public tavern from something (quite literally) stuck in the corner, to a core from which everything else seems to emanate. Since my first visit they have, in essence, outgrown the cupboard, with the bar counter gaining in depth and height, and it’s now even got a name – ‘Trev’s Bar.’ The name is in tribute to Tim – look beyond the heavy display of decorative steins high above the bar, and, among the many framed pictures that litter the walls, you’ll find a local newspaper cutting in which a reporter (who paid these pub folk a visit) proceeded to get Tim’s name wrong, referring to him as Trevor. What I really find most appealing about ‘Trev’s Bar’ (beyond its commitment to quench locals at the end of a working week) is that it was ultimately born as an initiative to fund on-going improvements to Ashford Carbonell’s community hub; with an annual turnover of around £18,000 to help keep the hall afloat and up to speed. The last year’s profits alone are evidence of this success, with 50 percent raised towards the recent refurbishment costs; this refurbishment includes improved insulation for the walls and ceiling accoustics, as well as a new floor. So, if you’re looking for something a bit different on a Friday or indeed Sunday, to accommodate your beer budget (and which you know will be invested back into this community) I suggest you give it a go. Maybe I’ll see you there for a pint. Open from 7.30pm to 11pm on Fridays, and 12noon to 2pm on a Sunday.

DIRECTIONS: Take the road out of Ludlow (past the Charlton Arms Hotel on your right) up to the A49. Turn right (towards Leominster), then first left opposite Wheatcommon Lane. Over two bridges, then take first right into the village of Ashford Carbonell: the Village Hall will show itself on the right in 350 yards

ISSUE #6 Behind the scenes at Poyners Ludlow Pest Control’s Arnie Gary Seymour: yesterday’s hero Ludlow Smokehouse Running with Liz Henry V reviewed Edward’s handmade hideaways Chef chat with Old Downton’s Karl Martin Anita Bigsby Ludlow Spring Festival preview ludlowledger.com/archive

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Say hello to Ledger advertiser: Ludlow Stoves

Burning desire to work from home text} Liz Hyder | image} Richard Stanton – MEET & GREET – gREgg and Corrabeth Bishop are on a mission – to convert lots of us to carbon-neutral heating. From wood burners to eco-friendly stoves, the couple, who run Ludlow Stoves from their home in Culmington, are hugely passionate about central heating systems that don’t cost the Earth financially or environmentally. Somewhat unusually, the showroom for Ludlow Stoves is in their home. At first, I think I’ve come to the wrong place. Surely they don’t really have a stock of wood burners and stoves in the middle of their house? “It’s a bit quirky,” Corra says with a grin, as she shows me through to the kitchen where visitors are likely to be offered tea and homemade cake before they browse through the neatly laid out stoves in the sitting room. Ludlow born and bred, Corra and Gregg met at Ludlow College and have been together ever since. Two decades on and now the parents of two children (four-year-old Zinnia and six-year-old Zane) they set up Ludlow Stoves after an inspiring trip to Italy took their careers in a new direction. “Most of our stoves are made in Italy,” Corra explains. “In the UK, in the 1970s, everyone went over to gas and oil, but in Italy that never happened. We lost the technology of wood burning here really (except for Aga and Rayburn) but Italy kept it, developed it and made sure that it was affordable.” Gregg is absent on the day I visit because he’s installing a big pellet boiler up in Whitchurch, but Corra is an absolute delight, extremely knowledgeable and bubbling over with enthusiasm. They clearly work hard at everything they do and tried their hand at various jobs before setting up Ludlow Stoves. After they both graduated from Portsmouth University, Corra worked as an international buyer for a cosmetics company while Gregg worked first for blue chip companies and then at Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce. They renovated a house in Kingsland and then “we sold everything and went travelling around the world for a year,” says Corra, as she pours the tea. “We had round the world tickets, went surfing in Hawaii and we had it in the back of our heads that we might emigrate to New Zealand, but then I discovered I was allergic to the sun.” Sorry, what? “Apparently it’s quite common in your twenties,” Corra continues, nonchalantly. “I’ve grown out of it now but it was really bad, I nearly had to postpone our wedding because I went all red and blistered. I looked like a toad,” she says and bursts into laughter.

They returned to Shropshire (minus sun allergies) and bought a tiny, derelict, half-timber house in Culmington which they “bought from a really lovely lady who had a ton of cats.” Corra pauses for a moment. “The fleas were dreadful and we had wet rot. We had a lot of work to do so Gregg started up a building firm.” On a well-earned break to Italy’s Montepulciano, well known for its lovely wines, Corra and Gregg noticed that wood-burning stoves and cookers were so common that even supermarkets sold them. “They sell a lot of white goods in their supermarkets, more so than we get here, and we realised there were some really good quality items that we simply couldn’t get back here.” Keen to find a sustainable heating system for their own house, the pair started researching wood-burning stoves in earnest and so Ludlow Stoves was born. Before launching the new venture, Gregg retrained as a Hetas-approved engineer with MCS accreditation and Corra trained with WIRE (Women in Rural Enterprise) at Harper Adams Agricultural College on a business start-up course. She remembers their first exhibition in Burwarton, with just three stoves and their (then) six-monthold baby Zinnia. “We had people queuing to see us and, the very next day, someone came to visit us here in Culmington. I was covered in baby sick, the room hadn’t been plastered, but we made our very first sale,” she grins. I can almost see her punching the air as she says it. It’s clearly hard work but Corra loves it. “It means we’re fully independent and because of that we can choose the best in the market. Wood-burning stoves are a lifestyle choice and we always try and get to know people before they buy so we can recommend what would work best. Sometimes that means not making a sale, but we’d rather that than someone pick a stove that’s not going to be right for them in ten years or so. We really get to know our customers. Sometimes they stay in touch with us for years, sending us photos of how they’re getting on.” When I ask where their customers come from, I’m genuinely surprised by the answer. “From everywhere,” Corra laughs. “From Shropshire and the West Midlands of course, but also from Devon, Scotland – even France.” I’m eyeing up a little white enamel woodburner which Corra says (music to my ears) “is easy to clean.” Prices start at around £500 but it’s the installation which can be costly (mostly due to the steel flue) from around £800-£1,000. “All the stoves we sell are easy to use,” Corra reassures me. “They’re all slightly different and use different technologies, from more simple models

to top of the range pellet boilers that can heat your home, act as an oven and hob and can be controlled with your iPhone. If you look at the Government’s RHI (Renewable Heat Initiative) scheme and come off the national grid with a sustainable system like a wood pellet stove, you could be getting something like £23k back over 7 years in payments from the Government. A lot of people are going for this at the moment and these systems are built to last.” Would Ludlow Stoves ever move out of the area? Corra doesn’t even hesitate. “We love Ludlow, we love the greenery, the hills, the people, the buildings and the churches – it’s unique. We’re close to both sets of parents here too, which is great for the children.” The company are expanding

though. Ludford Bridge’s Homecare have a display of Ludlow Stoves’s wares and Corra can see that there might be a time when they can reclaim their sitting room “and install just a single woodburner in there, just for us.” “It is hard work,” Corra admits, “our hours are very different and we’ve got the kids too. From 8.30am when they go on the bus to the local school, I’ve got time to try and get everything done before they’re back at 3.30pm (from marketing and PR to tax, organisation, showing people the showroom), and then it starts again after they go to bed. September to March is our busiest time and Gregg is out during the days on site visits and installations. But the great bit is that we’re flexible, we can welcome people to the showroom at evenings and weekends and, in the summer, we

get a good amount of time off to head to the beach as a family.” As of Christmas, Ludlow Stoves are also the sole European importers of Nectre ovens, a rather lovely solid looking firebox and oven that was originally designed for Aboriginal communities in Australia, as an affordable and easy to use system for both heating and cooking. “There’s a sort of animal instinct about having a fire and cutting your own logs,” says Corra. “I think lots of people are going back to basics with it – if you have wood and a burner, you can heat your home and feed your family. They are a lifestyle choice but they’re sustainable, cheap to run and, ultimately, it’s a no-brainer.”

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Ludlow Art Society

Their forever changing landscape text} Pat Innes

– OUR STORY – aLL things must change to something new, to something strange” so said Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and it is often only by changing and adapting that organisations survive. Ludlow Art Society could be said to have an advantage – its current chairman is probably the youngest person ever to fill the post in its nearly 70 years of existence. Twenty-eight-year-old Sam Manley was elected last year and, under his chairmanship, changes have already been made by him and the committee, which bring the society into the 21st century. Sam is a freelance science fiction and fantasy illustrator – he’s worked on such projects as the BBC’s Doctor Who card game, and covers and interior art for sci-fi and fantasy books. He is also the editor of the Art Society’s blog: ludlowartsociety.blogspot.com. Two of those changes instigated in the past year are Facebook pages – the committee now has a Facebook page for posting news of progress in tasks discussed at meetings, and there will shortly be launched a new page for the almost a hundred members who have online access; members not online will continue to receive postal updates. An online gallery, where members’ work will be displayed and possibly sold, is in the pipeline and the society has also become more involved in the local art scene by becoming an organiser in the annual Art Fringe Festival, which it has expanded to include graffiti work and GPS-based art. Another of Sam’s suggestions has led to further innovations – greetings cards produced by its members were available for the first time at this year’s Spring exhibition in April, and the inclusion of digital artwork in exhibitions mounted by the Society. Digital art is a new, growing and, some might say, controversial medium, but of its time; one committee member who produces digital art is the Treasurer, Tom Crowe – a one-time IT lecturer who is now in his eighties. Despite these changes, traditionalists will be pleased to know that there is still an emphasis on craftsmanship and the old techniques on much of the artwork produced: Jonathan Adams, a long-time member, is a professional copier and restorer of old paintings, having learned the original techniques to produce copies of old masters as well as restore faded and damaged ancient artwork. In recent years, Jonathan has received commissions for copying the original work of some of the finest nineteenth century equestrian and portrait painters for numerous important collections. George Loades is a popular watercolourist who sometimes demonstrates his techniques at members meetings, as well as sitting on the committee. He won two of the several prizes awarded to artists at the society’s last exhibition. George is also a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, as is Lesley Connolly – a longstanding member who uses acrylic and pastels to produce her much sought after paintings of animals. Lesley was awarded a Highly Commended Grade at The Wildlife Art Society International (TWASI) Annual Exhibition last year and organises the Society’s excellent programme of demonstrations. Another member of the RBSA is Val Alexander – a local artist known for her flower paintings, as well as her watercolour landscapes. Ludlow Art Society itself was founded in 1946 and has been actively involved in promoting and

encouraging the production of art since that time. Members come from all over the area and are a mix of both professional and amateur, experienced and new to art, art college educated and self-taught. Monthly meetings are held in the Ludlow Assembly Rooms on the first Thursday of each month for demonstrations on such subjects as painting, framing, digital art, paper making and fabric design. Members meet at 7pm in the Studio for tea and coffee and a chat before the demonstration begins at 7.30pm; non-members are also made welcome at these meetings. The society also encourages future generations of artists by sponsoring the children’s Saturday morning art workshop, SmArt, at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms, by displaying some of the work produced by the children at its exhibitions and by offering free membership to students. The Art Society’s two annual exhibitions are always popular and attract visitors from far and wide (many returning year after year) to its diversity of artwork. Paintings displayed covering a variety of genres, such as: still life, landscape, flowers, animals and portraits painted in oil, watercolour, acrylic, pastels and gouache, along with sculptures, blasted glassware and original prints. The styles vary from representational to atmospheric, to abstract and semiabstract forms. In addition to framed paintings hung on screens there are racks of unframed drawings and paintings which offer the keen artlover a cheaper alternative. Visitors are given the chance to vote for their favourite piece of artwork and local sponsors choose other prize-winners. Of course change may not be sought but imposed – this year, after six years as Ludlow Art Society’s president, Keith Noble, is retiring and the committee is actively seeking a replacement. A member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists, Keith has proved a popular draw to the exhibitions with his wonderful paintings, the subject matter of which is diverse but they are all full of light, shade and atmosphere. Next year, when the society celebrates 70 years of existence, another change is due to take place. For many years the society’s exhibitions have been held in Ludlow College’s Harley Centre, but this will no longer be available and Ludlow Arts Society will be moving its exhibitions to a new home. The society hasn’t always thrived – it is only thanks to the stalwart work of some of its past members, like Robert Kirk (a current Vice-President), the late Jean Williams and Ruth Tune (retiring Membership Secretary) that it’s in the strong shape you see today. As the organisation nears its seventieth year it shows itself ready to face the challenge of change without losing the best of the old. --------------------------------------------------

WHAT’S YOUR STORY? What was it like growing up in Ludlow? How did you end up here? What do you do in Ludlow? What do you feel needs addressing in this town? Or perhaps an amusing story, whether old or new? Please send your words to} Ludlow Ledger, 14 Corve Street, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1DA editor@ludlowledger.co.uk

SIX OF THE BEST – issues 1 to 6 of Ludlow Ledger being digested and discussed on a bench over-looking

Cheques payable to Son of Saxon Postal orders 14 Corve Street, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1DA Order online ludlowledger.com/shop

An interview with Wayne Swann

The Singing Bird Will Come interviewed by} Amanda Murray

– ENTERTAINMENT – LOCAL actor Wayne Swann, who lives in Ashford Carbonell, appears in an independent feature ﬁlm called The Singing Bird Will Come some of which was shot in Shropshire in 2014.

Castle Square. Here’s to another six issues, and (of course) a larger bench for a second celebratory photo

It’s a classic English ghost story. After her mother’s death and the break-up of her relationship, Lauren (played by Gillian Harker) is forced to return to her hometown from London. She takes a job as a night cleaner in a restaurant and is troubled by the appearance of the ghost of a girl who disappeared years ago. A mystery unfolds around her, putting her in danger of meeting the same fate. I play the character of Gerald – a rather grumpy and deranged old man; it wasn’t a major role in the film, but it’s fairly essential to the plot. I have acted all my life (my first role was the Angel Gabriel at primary school), getting involved in many plays throughout my school and university life and, even while I was working, I played several leads in amateur dramatic productions. At 16 I was interviewed by Michael Croft (the founder of the National Youth Theatre) and, as a result, I spent an amazing six weeks in London training and performing in several National Youth Theatre productions. The life of an actor, as you can imagine, is fairly precarious and you never know when you’re next going to get work – so I chose the sensible option and become a solicitor. When I retired in 2012 it seemed the perfect opportunity to pursue my love of acting and fulfil an ambition – when you stop working there is a gap in your life and taking up acting again has proved very rewarding. I have a fantastic agent who is constantly putting me forward for roles. Just recently I’ve auditioned for

a commercial with Ernst and Young (which would mean filming in Spain) and a comedy about retired pirates for the Met Film School in London. My role in The Singing Bird Will Come came out of the blue. I got a call from producer Amanda Owen-Roberts saying that they had a problem filling the part of Gerald, as the actor who was originally cast was ill. I didn’t have a lot of time to learn my lines but it was exciting to get the role and I really enjoyed being involved. I spent a long day filming my scenes at the 16thcentury restaurant that was the main location in the film, and met with the rest of the cast who were all so lovely. I’d never been in a ghost film before so that was a first for me. Being in a film is very different to performing in the theatre. On stage you know that the audience is sharing much more in the moment and your performance needs to be exaggerated and heard at the back of the theatre. Being in front of a camera requires a more natural and understated performance, and having a large camera right in front of your face can take a bit of getting used to. But it’s thrilling to see the end result once the scenes have all been cut together – it is incredibly satisfying to know that you’ve been able to connect emotionally with your audience, through your character, and draw them into the story. -------------------------------------------------A pop-up screening of The Singing Bird Will Come is being held at Ludlow Brewery on Thursday 14th May at 7.30pm. “It’s a perfect setting for a ﬁlm: a bar and performance space rolled into one, with a wonderful atmosphere and great beer,” says Wayne. Tickets for the ﬁlm screening are £5 and can be purchased from Ludlow Brewery: 01584 873291.

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Six issues of Ludlow Ledger image over p18 and p19} Richard Stanton

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Table Tennis

The ping and pong of town text} Liz Hyder | image} Richard Stanton

– SPORT – ThERE’S a lovely rattle of balls when I arrive at the regular Friday evening table tennis session at Ludlow Assembly Rooms. That’s not a euphemism, the sound of table tennis balls pinging around the table (and occasionally off the walls) is strangely relaxing, as are the peals of laughter in the room. Having wondered for a while who gives up their Friday evenings to play table tennis, I’m here to find out. And the first thing I realise is that Peter Corston, who organises the sessions with his wife Di, was disingenuous when he told me on the phone that it wasn’t fast paced. It is – very much so. For those of you who remember table tennis from school, this is a much faster paced and more skilful version. “We’ve got some great players – juniors and adults,” says Di in a quiet moment between games. “We get so much out of it,” chips in Peter. “I provide the bats and balls but people do bring their own and all the money we raise goes to the Friends of the LAR.” The sessions run throughout the year and at just £2.50 for adults and £1.50 for youngsters, it’s exceptionally good value for two hours; there are five tables in total and the sessions attract a mix of kids, teens and grown-ups.

“I haven’t played a great deal really,” says Peter, modestly. “When I worked at Woofferton, I learnt a lot using the club table. After a couple of years begging for finance from the Foundation for Sport I received a cheque for £1,500 and, with the help of the late Bill Moody, obtained five brand new tables. Bill got me on a coaching course and it went from there really. I’m more than happy to give basic training for newcomers if they wish it.” He then reveals, impressively, that he and Di have been running the sessions for well over 20 years and, having watched him play, he is, in fact, a bit of a dab hand. “We want as many people to come as possible,” he says with genuine warmth. “As long as we raise £25-30 a week for the Friends, I’m quite happy with that. Anybody of any age can come along and join us.” He points out Ben, now in his early twenties but who started at the sessions when he was just ten. “He’s got a fantastic eye for a ball, I beat him for one game just now and that was the first in a very long time,” he chuckles. It’s not long before an even more energetic man than Peter bounces in. This is Trevor, who plays county tennis and has a demon serve. He also plays guitar for “whoever books me,” he says with a grin. Trevor started

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young but gave table tennis up for about 20 years before coming back to it. He’s only been coming to the sessions for a few months but he’s pleased to have found somewhere to practice on a Friday. “It’s like a game of chess,” Trevor muses, “you can play at quite an old age and make up for a lack of athleticism with cunning and strategy.” Peter agrees with this. “It’s a fantastic game and relatively easy to start – unlike tennis or badminton where you’ve got a heavy racket, you can take this up much quicker.” There’s a real buzz in the room now – there are teens and younger kids down one end who catch up on gossip between the odd game, and the hardcore players who never really seem to rest. It’s strangely mesmerising as a spectator sport too with the click of the balls and the pop of the bat but I can’t get away without having a go at it myself. Trevor suggests a game of doubles and thankfully I’m on his team. He’s an absolute demon with the bat – if ever a plague of winged insects hits Ludlow, he’d wipe them out singlehandedly in a jiffy. He’s also pretty competitive, but the young Isaac and Joe, our opposition, are pretty darn good and more than hold their own. I manage to hit the ball on to the table at least twice, as well as hitting the wall, someone’s arm and almost potting it into someone’s shoe in the corner. It’s lovely to see a real mix of ages brought together by their mutual love of table tennis and it’s testament to Peter and Di that so many regulars keep coming back. It’s a warm and relaxing environment in which to pick up where you left off at school or learn to play from scratch. Everyone’s very supportive and there’s a real sense that players want to improve. At one point, the young Joe challenges Trevor to a game saying, “try your hardest, I need to practice.” It’s a bit like watching a kitten play against a lion but Joe makes a valiant effort and hits some cracking shots, much to the audience’s delight. “We’ve been here 50 years now,” muses Peter. “Ludlow’s been very good to us – I hope we’ve given something back.” As I survey the range of ages waiting for a free table, laughing, chatting amongst themselves and commentating on the matches, I think how Peter and Di have been running this for decades and how they are genuine local heroes. Long may they continue to run these fun informal sessions. I had a truly brilliant evening and I would urge you, just once, to forsake the delights of the pub one Friday, put on something comfy and head to the Assembly Rooms – just try it. Just once. I guarantee you’ll leave with a smile on your face.

Laurie Whitbread adrian Jones Stanton Stephens – July / August – www.ludlowledger.co.uk

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CROSSWORD CLUES #06 If you’re still making your way through issue six’s crossword then you had better look away now See page 8 for this issue’s crossword