Santa Dash for Cash
Pictured getting ready for Bridgnorth's Santa Dash are, from left, Rhiannon Jones, Rachel Stoten, four year old Courtney Bakers and Lincoln the greyhound.
Tis the season to be jolly and have a great day out raising funds for Cancer Research UK’s lifesaving research.
The first ever Bridgnorth Santa Dash will take place on Sunday, 11 December at 11am on Severn Park when participants will walk, jog or run around the scenic 5k route.
All those taking part are invited to create their own unique Father Christmas outfit to wear on the day to be in with a chance of winning a fantastic prize.
Anyone interested in joining in can register online by visiting http://supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/events/family-events/Bridgnorth-Santa-Dash-2011/
Registration costs £3 per person which will be used to pay for the cost of staging the event.
All sponsorship will go directly to fund research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Rhiannon Jones from the Shropshire Swashbucklers fundraising group who are organising the dash said:
“Like so many other people I’m sure, my family has been affected by cancer. Although more people are surviving cancer than ever before, there is still a lot more to be done.
The Santa Dash is a chance to get back to what the Christmas spirit is really all about.”
For more information, or if you are a local business who would like to be involved, contact Rhiannon on 07946 530673 or at bridgnorthsantadash2011@yahoo.co.uk
Scouting for eager Beavers!
Nina Davies
New scout leaders are wanted to secure the future of a popular Shropshire troop looking to expand to cater for growing demand.
Organisers say the waiting list for youngsters keen to join the 8th Bridgnorth Scouts, set up 60 years ago, is so long many may never get to join unless extra help is found.
Head scout leader Trevor Padgett is now appealing for volunteers to lend a helping hand to enable them to form more Beaver, Cub and Scout groups within the movement.
“The situation is that we have got a waiting list for Beavers and that list is so long many will miss out and never get the chance unless we find more leaders,” he said.
Mr Padgett believes current members would also benefit if the two current Cub packs were split into three to give the youngsters the best possible scouting experience.
The group aims to give boys and girls, aged between six and 14, the opportunity to learn more about the great outdoors including the joys of campfires and cooking.
It also offers them the chance to try their hand at new crafts, sports, leisure activities and team games.
Mr Padgett, who has been in charge for 15 years, says it is enormous fun and a very rewarding role to play.
“We recently set about making some home-made apple juice, which we store and keep for our summer camps, and we went out collecting all the fruit
before pressing it, and one of the boys said ‘this was the best evening ever’, and that’s lovely to hear.”
Ideally the group would like to create a new Beaver colony, Cub pack and Scout troop, with two or three male or female leaders for each section.
Mr Padgett says: “The only qualifications required are for a love of children, a willingness to be hands-on in activities and, obviously, a criminal records bureau check.”
The groups meet four nights a week at the scout hut in Love Lane behind Bridgnorth Leisure Centre.
Anyone interested or wanting more information is urged to contact Mr Padgett on (01746) 767037.
Screening available in town
Following the publication of Dr Simon Carvell’s column about AAS last month, retired Bridgnorth GP Dr William Hammerton has written in to tell us about the scheme that has been available for the last 18 years in Bridgnorth.
Dr Hammerton writes:
“Dr Simon Carvell is correct about the national scheme and about the position of Shropshire County, but being from Stourbridge will not be aware that we have had Aortic Aneurysm Screening in the Bridgnorth District for more than 18 years.
“We set it up in Bridgnorth when we were a Total Fundholding Practice during the previous Conservative government and we had access to funds.
Later the county tried to stop us screening as they said it was not available for the rest of the county, but we managed by one means and another to keep it going and the scheme was offered to all the practices in the former Bridgnorth District.
“More recently the government decided it was good and so started to set up a national scheme.
“The scheme is still going in Bridgnorth and having recently reached the age of 65 myself, I went for screening earlier this year.
“It is a very simple quick process just involving an ultrasound scan (similar to that in pregnancy).
“It is accurate at detecting Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms early when they can be followed up and treated if necessary and the risks of surgery are low.
Sadly if Aneurysms are not detected and leak the risks of death are high.
“The X-ray department in Bridgnorth will be happy to give you more details and Pam Purslow is the radiographer carrying out the test.
“I have spoken to the X-ray department and they say the national scheme will be being introduced throughout Shropshire in about a year’s time and as usual will be organised centrally.
“Although I retired three years ago as senior partner in Bridgnorth Practice I am not generally a good patient!
However, I had no hesitation in accepting this screening offer.”
In tune for charity
Nina Davies
A Shropshire choir is celebrating after hitting the high notes for 30 years and raising tens of thousands of pounds for charity.
The Severn Singers, who have performed across Britain and abroad, will soon take centre stage for their annual Christmas concert in aid of Save the Children once again.
It is a lasting partnership which began when the Bridgnorth-based singers first formed, originally as a male Barbershop group before becoming a mixed choir.
Although the group has raised money for many organizations including Help for Heroes, Macmillan Cancer Support, Hope House and church charities, its main focus has always been Save the Children.
The town’s branch of the charity, which was set up 37 years ago, began its association with the Severn Singers in 1982.
Campaigner Marilyn Hammerton of Save the Children, said: “The total raised for all the concerts given by the Severn Singers for Save the Children has raised in the region of £30,000 over the years.
“This money has benefited thousands of under-privileged children both in the UK and abroad, and at the same time has brought much pleasure to all who have attended and eagerly await these concerts.
“The Christmas concert in particular has been especially well-loved and supported and this year will be no exception.”
From small beginnings the Severn Singers are now wellestablished on the Shropshire music scene giving regular concerts in churches, village halls and country houses.
They have sung in many different parts of the UK, in Thiers and Schrobenhausen while performing the majority of the time within a 40 mile radius of Bridgnorth.
Their repertoire has grown with a variety of songs, so that now the group performs several different styles from madrigals, through to sacred music, pop, musical numbers, folk songs and original pieces.
Bass singer and founder member David Carr said: “The emphasis has always been on entertainment as well as performing while the aim is always to maintain a high standard of singing.”
This year the concert will be held in the Endowed School Old Hall on 17 December at 7.30pm. For ticket details contact 01746 765505.
A run for their money!
A group of young farmers took themselves to the edge in a bid to raise cash for good causes.
Sixteen Alberbury YFC members, a.k.a. The Edge Runners, completed a 260-mile relay run around the perimeter of Shropshire to boost funds for the Alzheimers Society, The British Heart Foundation and Ward 22 at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital Stroke Rehabilitation Unit.
All runners completed a half marathon on each leg of the three-day event, drumming up £8,000. Anyone wishing to donate should go to: http://www.justgiving.com/teams/runningontheedge
New light on Libya
One of the UK’s leading Arabic-speaking journalists, an acknowledged expert on the complex and secretive country of Libya, is to give a talk which will reveal fascinating insights and new revelations about the Gadaffi regime and its aftermath.
John Hamilton works for Cross Border Information, an organisation covering Middle Eastern affairs, and is one of Britain’s foremost authorities on the region. He has appeared on Newsnight, Channel 4 News, Al-Jazeera TV and the Today Programme, sharing his specialist’s insight and briefing the UK Government during the recent crisis.
The talk, to be held at Worfield village hall on Friday 9 December at 7pm, promises to be stimulating and highly informative. Topics will include the ‘inside track’ on why Lockerbie bomber al Megrahi was released; the truth behind the secret ‘Libya Oil Cell’ and revelations about Tony Blair’s visits to the country.
Local MP Philip Dunne will be present, and there is a cash bar. Tickets cost £12.50, to include a North African supper, and are available from Karen Hartnell- Beavis, 01952 730856 karenhb@hotmail.co.uk
