Oswestry Life February 2023

Local Groundworks company offers their support to Oswestry Boys and Girls Club

Will from The Muckshifter Groundworks. The boys were made up when we were able to hand out the jackets. It’s great that such a local company are willing to support local clubs like Oswestry Boys and Girls Club. With their support, our boys are able to turn up to matches and training looking smart and professional.  From everyone associated with Under 7’s Scorpions, we’d like to thank Will for his support and generosity.”

The Muckshifter Groundworks, were delighted to be able to offer their support to Oswestry Boys and Girls Club, by sponsoring their Under 7’s Scorpions with rain jackets and

warm coats for the coaches.

Under 7’s Scorpions coaches,aa Oscar, Gemma and Tom, commented: “We are so grateful for the generosity shown by

James Bond retires and swaps his 007 handle for the keys and licence to drive to a school minibus

A local school has recruited a new minibus driver with an exciting past and a name you will recogniseJames Bond.

Rumour has it, the latest recruit to the Oswestry School minibus driving team, James Bond, might once have gone by the code name 007 but in true former spy form, he is keeping tight lipped and denies working at any other job prior to his retirement than being a journalist.

James Bond, claims, prior to becoming a part-time minibus driver at Oswestry School, he worked for the BBC for 36 years beginning as a Junior Reporter and then going on to be the first Sports Journalist when BBC started reporting on Sport online - in London

But staff and pupils at the school think the journalism was just an elaborate cover story for his life as 007 as they point out the BBC job

took him all over the world from Canada to Barcelona and could have been the perfect cover story for a spy on a host of secret missions.

Oswestry School Headteacher, Peter Middleton said, “We take the safety and comfort of our pupils very seriously so when we were looking to recruit a new bus driver for the Nescliffe, Adcote, Kinton, Kinnerley, Knockin Heath, West Felton route and had an application from James Bond we knew he would be a perfect fit.

“Having seen all the films, I knew James Bond could drive everything from an Aston Martin to a Jet Ski so we knew everyone on his bus would be in safe hands and it turns out 007 settled down and has a charming wife called Cali, who enjoys baking for 11 pupils he drives – earning his vehicle the nickname the cake bus.”

James decided it was time to retire from his full-time work

Will Rowbotham, owner of The Muckshifter Groundworks said: “We’re proud to sponsor the Oswestry Boys and Girls Under 7’s Scorpions, bring back some trophies boys.”

and applied to drive a minibus for Oswestry School as he wanted a role where he didn’t have to work such long hours and could switch off after work and spend more time with his wife.

Oswestry School currently offers 12 different routes across Shropshire, Powys and Wrexham which are assessed every academic year to ensure the schools caters to the needs of all pupils and their families.

It has a fleet of 14 minibuses, with experienced and qualified minibus drivers which now includes James Bond who may or may not be a former spy but is an excellent asset to the school.

With over 20,000 visitors having attended The Holroyd Community Theatre near Oswestry, it is quickly realising its ambitions of establishing itself as a cultural flagship for North Shropshire and the Welsh Borders.

The Holroyd Community Theatre, established in 2019 was impacted by interruptions brought about from the Covid pandemic forcing it to delay its official opening. However, with the curtain well and truly lifted, the theatre’s first full yearly programme brought a diverse and eclectic offering from live interviews with BBC Any Questions and celebrity guests including much loved writer and star of Gavin and Stacey, Ruth

Jones, chef and restaurateur Rick Stein, and one of the most famous referees in World Rugby, Nigel Owens, to Mid Wales Opera, Johns Boys Choir, Fron Male Voice Choir and British Youth Music Theatre. In addition to stand-up comedy and stage productions with Chicago, 9 to 5 and Matilda.

Approaching its three year anniversary, Michael Jenkins, Creative Director of The Holroyd Community Theatre reflected, “It has been wonderful to welcome people into the theatre and witness first-hand the impact and power that theatre has had on the community by enriching the lives of those who take an active part in it, as well as audience members who benefit from live theatre productions, especially following the couple of years the theatre landscape has seen.”

This season continues to be jam-packed with Moreton Hall cast performing Sister Act, North Wales Opera providing operatic delights, Booka Bookshop holding

live interviews with World Rugby referee Nigel Owens and popular broadcaster and columnist Adrian Chiles and Guilsfield Amateur Dramatics Society performing A Vicar of Dibley. There really is something for the whole family to enjoy and be part of.

Please visit the website for details of all upcoming events www.theholroydtheatre.co.uk

Lord Ian Botham confirmed for Oswestry Cricket Club

Lord Botham, considered the country’s greatest all-rounder, will be at Oswestry Cricket Club entertaining fans for ‘An Evening With…’ on Friday, 21 April.

To purchase a ticket contact Mark Ball by calling 07702 895428 or emailing letsliveracing@aol.com

Businesses in plea to free up loading bays for deliveries

Drivers are being asked to support local businesses by leaving loading bays free for vital deliveries.

Oswestry BID (Business Improvement District), are especially concerned about loading bays on Church Street which are regularly taken up by parked cars meaning suppliers cannot make deliveries.

“We know that the vast majority of drivers and Blue Badge holders are extremely considerate of local businesses requiring the designated loading bays to allow their suppliers

access,” said BID Manager, Adele Nightingale, “but we’ve had serious cases recently where suppliers are refusing to deliver if these loading bay spaces are not available, which puts businesses in an impossible situation.”

The business group would

encourage use of the parking spaces and disabled parking bays on Festival Square, Smithfield Street and the Central Car Park, when required.

Love Oswestry is back! The main event this year will be Saturday 25 February 2023 and there will also be activities and shows in the days before, which is halfterm week.

The 2023 Love Oswestry programme is even stronger than the successful 2022 event. It gives the people of Oswestry the chance to show their love for the town by watching or taking part in a feast of exciting cultural events.

Local people will be able to sign up for drama, writing and music workshops, free guided tours of the town, and there will be music in the pubs and on the streets.

Highlights of the programme include an even more spectacular Lantern Parade than last year, designed by local cultural organisation Designs in Mind, and led by local young people. Shropshire based Twisted Techno has once again designed an exciting music programme, which includes DJ and singing workshops at Hermon Arts.

From 16 February onwards, Qube will host a major exhibition of photographs under the theme ‘Love Oswestry; Love Where You Live’. This event will bring back Qube’s much loved local photography competition and there will be a series of prizes including special prizes for under 16s.

There is a new drama on offer, developed by the Five Star Theatre group in conjunction with drama experts from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and other professional drama tutors. Young people will take part in 3 days of drama and stage combat workshops, building to a performance on Friday the 24th at Hermon Arts.

There will be a showing of the Cannes Festival nominated short film about Gilbert and George at Kinokulture on 22 February.

And then there will be the Ossie the Sheep trail! A bit of a surprise and a lot of fun!

The Outline Programme includes:

Wednesday 22nd: Kinokulture: Cannes nominated ‘Gilbert and Gordon’ short film followed by Q and A

Wednesday 22nd to Friday 24th (am & pm): Drama Workshops for young people led by RSC producers

Friday 24th at 1.30pm: Love Oswestry - The Performance (Hermon Arts). This production is a culmination of the Wednesday – Friday drama workshops

Friday 24th: Artisan Market Street Market and Late-Night Indoor Market

Saturday 25th: Main ‘Love Oswestry’ Day Ossie the Sheep trail!

Storytelling: Fiona Collins will lead story-telling workshops in the castle in the library. There will be bilingual stories from all around the world told for children of all ages, with lots of chances to join in. From ‘Once upon a time’ to ‘Happy ever after’, come to listen, take part, and have fun. Sessions will be at 10.30am, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.

Free guided heritage tours: at 11am and 1pm. People can book on the tours by calling 01691 662753 or email obt@visitoswestry.co.uk.

Music at Hermon Arts including DJ and Singing Workshops

Lantern Parade: 6pm from Festival Square, followed by a big musical finale outside The Guildhall. Local youngsters will be able to sign up for lantern making workshops in the build up to the event and on the day itself.

The idea for “Love Oswestry” and the coordination of the programme has come from Oswestry’s Cultural Consortium. The consortium is a group of people involved in the town’s culture and heritage and forms a key part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone, part of a national programme of High Street Heritage Actions Zones, which are funded by Historic England.

Mayor of Oswestry, Councillor Jay Moore said:

“I’m really glad that Love Oswestry is back, even bigger and better than in 2022. It gives us all a chance to see and do some great things and to celebrate what’s really special about our town. I’m sure everyone will have a brilliant day and big thanks to the people and organisations involved. I’m especially pleased that there are so many things for young people to do, not just on the main day but throughout half-term week.”

Paws fOr Thought ws

ITCHY EARS

Certain types of bacteria and yeast occur naturally balanced throughout the body. When the balance is disrupted a yeast infection can occur which can lead to an ear infection, with itching, odour and head shaking symptoms.

Vets prescribe antibiotics and steroids, which work by suppressing the symptoms and the immune system. They tend to be only a temporary fix.

CAUSES OF ITCHY EARS

Anatomy: Breeds with floppy ears e.g. spaniels are predisposed to infections and yeast buildup because longer ear flaps provide a perfect environment for yeast and bacteria growth.

Diet: excess of grain and/or sugar in the diet is a common cause of ear infections. RAW diets are preferable. The sugar feeds the yeast within the body and causes a yeast overgrowth, which results in the dark, yeasty-smelling build-up inside the ears.

Lifestyle: Any dog who swims should have his ears gently dried afterwards to remove the excess moisture in which yeast and bacteria thrive.

Grass seeds can cause severe pain and discomfort if they get stuck in the ear and often requires surgical removal.

The homeopathic remedy Silicea is good for expelling foreign bodies out of the skin. Give 6x every hour until the seed is gone.

Parasites: Parasites e.g. ear mites can be treated topically with Neem oil.

TOPICAL TREATMENTS

A basic homemade ear cleaner works to correct the pH and kill any contaminants residing there.

Add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to one cup of lukewarm water. Use routinely, or as needed, to wipe out debris from visible areas.

Colloidal Silver has anti bacterial, anti fungal and antiviral properties when used topically.

Calendula and Comfrey have healing properties. Apply topically.

Mullein Oil for basic ear infections.

Remedies For Dog Ear Infections

Pulsatilla is helpful for acute flare-ups with sensitivity and redness, along with a yellowish discharge.

Tellurium for animals that have sensitive, severe fish-like smelling ears.

NEVER poke ear buds or anything else inside the ear canal, LEAVE HEALTHY EARS ALONE!

Rebecca Evans of Knowing NosesBotanical Self-healing for Animals info@knowingnoses.com

Amber’s Cleaning Services

Domestic and Commercial Professional Cleaning Services with competitive rates. One off deep cleans/End of Tenancy cleans. Daily/Weekly/ Fortnightly clean. Offices and building sites T: 07955 022129 E:amber123nicole@gmail.com

The Bee’s Knees

A shop buzzing with bee-utiful things. Women’s clothing, handbags, jewellery, seasonal gifts, quality preloved clothing, artwork from local artist. Pop in and treat yourself. 07870 280690

Clean & Gleam

Give your oven a little TLC with Clean & Gleam! Professional oven cleaning services covering Oswestry & surrounding areas. 07866 472083 / 07791 655559 www.facebook.com/cleanandgleamovens

Devilishly Delightful

Fresh, delicious, sweet and tasty homemade bakes and treats Made to order and delivered to your door Follow me on Facebook or contact me on 07496 454113 for more info

Dogz Dinnerz

Foods and supplies for all your pets at the best prices. Oswestry Indoor Market Hall, Oswestry Tel: 07368 104980 Email:dogzdinnerz@yahoo.com

Enchanted Gifts By Karen

A wide range of gifts, jewellery, crystals, holistic, spiritual, new age and fun items, based in Oswestry Indoor Market. Email enchantedgiftsbykaren@gmail.com

Heatwave Hair & Beauty

All aspects of hairdressing services and beauty and holistic treatments in a friendly salon environment. Hair and beauty appointment offers a few days a week with our trainee 01691 659968

Herd Milk

Taste the difference! Delicious, whole milk and yoghurt, fresh from the cows in our grassfed herd. Bring a bottle or buy one from us. Drenewydd Farm, Whittington Road, SY11 4NB www.herdmilk.co.uk

J&I Carpets

Over 30 rolls of carpet in stock! Many roll ends half price! Vinyls, LVT, Blinds and Curtains. A family business est. 1982. Victoria Road, Oswestry www.jandicarpets.co.uk 01691 656843

Meraki Colour

A locally run independent Art Supplies, Stationery and Print & Copy Shop. 3, Church Street, Oswestry, SY11 2SU. Email: merakicolour@hotmail.com 01691 650 713

Micky Finn Quality Fish

Highest Quality Fresh from Fleetwood EVERY morning! If you have not enjoyed your fish we will refund. Powis Market Hall Oswestry Wednesday and Saturday 7.30-12 Ian: 07966 201696 Erin 07742 248269

Nu U Beauty

Delay the signs of ageing. Specialist in CACI non-surgical face lift, Microdermabrasion & Collagen Lift. Over 20yrs beauty experience. Facials are my passion. www.nuubeauty.com 07506 078265

Obertelli Play Therapy

Delivering therapy to children. Supervision and therapeutic consultation available. For a free initial discussion please contact: Gina Obertelli 07974 506910 Ginaobertelli@aol.com

Old Too New

Helping the environment by turning old unloved pieces back into modern pieces for your home.

Open: Tuesday to Saturday - 10am-5pm 2 Upper Church Street, SY11 2AE 07803536441 My website is: oldtoonew.co.uk

Park Gate Florist

A busy florist in the centre of Oswestry. Available for weddings, funerals. Bouquets and arrangements for any occasion 01691 679898 Email: parkgate35a@hotmail.co.uk

Pippo’s Bakery

Specialising in designing bespoke celebration cakes and cupcakes for your special occasion. Always unique, always yum! Contact us at pipposbakery@gmail.com or via Facebook. com/pipposbakery

Radiance Aesthetics

Performed by a qualified, practicing nurse, fully insured. I specialise in a variety of treatments aimed at improving the appearance of the skin. Check out my facebook page, DM or ring/txt 07599477838 to book your consultation or treatment .

Rahanni Reflex Healing Therapies

Take time out from everyday pressures with a reflexology treatment - a wonderfully relaxing experience! Based in Park Hall, Whittington. 07376 038253 rahannireflex33@gmail.com www.rahannireflex.com

Siop Cwlwm

“Y Gorau o’r Gororau” Welsh Shop situated at 33 Bailey Street and online. Welsh books, cards, music, homeware & gifts Probably the only Welsh shop outside Wales! www.siopcwlwm.co.uk Tel: 01691 680401

Simla Tandoori Restaurant

Proudly serving the best Indian cuisine since 1976 to the local community 42, Beatrice St, Oswestry. 01691 659880 www.simla-oswestry.co.uk

Sun City

Stand-ups, Lie-downs and Infrared Sunbeds. Open 7 days a week A member of The Sunbed Association. Telephone 01691 661115 www.suncity-oswestry.co.uk

Time Invaders

Oswestry’s Comic Shop a treasure trove of comics, annuals, collectables and Warhammer stockists with American Coffee Cafe. All dog friendly & always a warm welcome. Tel 07946550916 www.timeinvaders.co.uk

New Lease of Life for Town Centre Gym

Following a period of uncertainty, a popular gym located at the Wynnstay Hotel in Oswestry now faces an exciting year ahead. The future of the gym was in doubt just two months ago when the existing owners decided to close its doors, alongside the spa and beauty suite, due to rising energy costs. Not content with accepting the club’s fate, Rad Danailov, a long-term member of staff, stepped up to the challenge and accepted the owner’s invitation to take on the gym and run it independently.

Situated in the stunning converted stables of the Grade II listed coaching inn hotel, the gym opened to the public in 1995 and since then has for many, become central to Oswestry life. Enjoyed by all ages, the gym has a reputation for being a friendly environment and a community of members rather than just a place to complete a daily workout. When the closure was first announced, a large number of letters were received by the hotel’s management from members of the gym, expressing their disappointment and requesting its continuation.

Rad, employed at the gym since 2015 was approached and offered the opportunity to run the gym independently by Coaching Inn Group. Both parties were thrilled to be able to come to an agreement

that resulted in the gym staying open.

“It’s a been a dream of mine for a long time,” said Rad. “Fitness and helping others achieve their personal goals has been my passion for many years, and now having the chance to take over such a fantastic facility, I’m ecstatic and fully ready to face the challenges ahead.”

Now trading as Coach House Fitness and under its new management since 1 January, the gym, with its superb Technogym equipment, has seen a great start to the year with many new members signing up alongside returning clients.

“The response to the takeover has been fantastic,” said Rad. “We’ve always been more of a club than just a gym, and the members have really come together to support the transition.”

Popular new additions have included a supplement bar offering members food and drinks to support their workout. The gym also offers a free training programme on sign-up for all new members as well as a renewed tailored programme every six weeks.

Following the closure of the pool, spa and beauty side of the business, the decision was taken to simplify the previous gym offering by charging a lower monthly membership fee, with a discount for

those who take joint membership or choose to pay upfront for 12 months. Day passes are also available. Thanks to the excellent town centre location and ample parking, there are many plans for future offerings at the club.

“There is so much potential here,” asserted Rad. “Gym-going isn’t just about lifting weights or pounding treadmills anymore. We want to offer our members the sociability and motivation of a supportive environment, programmes tailored to their individual health and fitness needs, and skilled trainers on hand to assist newcomers and gym veterans alike. Coach House Fitness really is for everyone.”

The Covid-19 pandemic and rising living costs have seen a marked increase in numbers of people training at home or turning to online apps, but at Coach House Fitness they are confident they have the balance right. They believe an efficiently run club with affordable membership that offers the support and encouragement needed to maintain training long term can tackle the trend.

With a strong start established, Coach House Fitness is also looking to continue to grow its team by working with local independent personal trainers and offering apprenticeship opportunities in the coming months. Rad and staff member Luke Evans both entered the profession as apprentices at the gym under previous management and are now keen to share their experience and knowledge as they lead the gym into a new era.

Understated

The twenty somethings have the look nailed these days with their use of twin sets in the same colour and simple style. But in the upper age brackets, what can we wear that is equally understated but cool and casual? What do you think?

The Eastern Oswestry Community Centre, Cabin Lane, Oswestry

Monday: Morning and Evening 9am, 10.30am, 5.30pm and 7pm Saturday: Morning 8.30am and 10am

For more information call CLAIRE on 07882 174539

New Beauty Venture Opens

After having to leave her employment due to business closure, local beautician Sophie Evans took the brave decision to set up on her own. Now based at Rose & Co in Willow Street, Oswestry, Sophie is now providing her beauty services under her business name Extended, alongside the team at Rose & Co. Opening her own business, has been Sophie’s dream and when she opened the doors to Extended on 5 January, she was very excited to see her clients returning.

Sophie said, “It has always been my vision to one day have my own business. This has happened sooner than I anticipated but I can’t wait to showcase what I have available to both new clients and my existing clients from my 3 years at the Coach House Beauty Suite, who are already booking in.

“This is so exciting and I look forward to welcoming everyone to Extended.”

Sophie is qualified in nails, eyebrows, waxing and massage and will be adding eyelash extensions to her portfolio very soon. With a great eye for detail and very high standards, Sophie is offering first class treatments in a relaxing and welcoming environment.

To book treatments with Sophie visit Booksy @ rose and co. Sophie’s treatments are listed under Rose and Co’s available services.

Contact Sophie on Facebook: Extended, email extended.sj@gmail.com

Corned beef hash

Beat the winter blues – and make the most of the money in your pocket and the everyday ingredients in your cupboard – with this cost-effective yet tasty and satisfying midweek winner.

Serves 4 Preparation time: 10minutes Cooking time: 35minutes

Ingred I ents

• 300g potatoes, diced

• Olive oil

• 1 onion, peeled and chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 x 340g tin of corned beef, chopped

• 80g bag of watercress, spinach and rocket, chopped

• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Method

• Parboil the potatoes in a pan of lightly salted water for around 7 minutes before draining the water – they should be slightly softened but still hold their shape.

• In a large, heavy-based pan, fry off the onions in a glug of oil until beginning to soften. Add the garlic and allow to cook for about 30 seconds.

• Now add the potatoes, corned beef and chopped salad leaves, and apply a little pressure with a spatula or fish slice. Occasionally turn the mixture but try not to disturb it too much.

• Add the Worcestershire sauce and push down on the mixture again. By this point, it should all be nicely browned.

• Serve with baked beans or some cooked-from-frozen vegetables, if liked.

Coffee and Amaretto Stack

Whether for an indulgent breakfast or brunch, teatime treat or after-dinner dessert, serve up pancakes with panache this Shrove Tuesday (21st February)

Serves 4

Preparation time: 15minutes Cooking time: 12minutes

Ingred I ents

For the pancakes

• 140g plain flour

• 1 tbsp cocoa powder

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 2 tbsp icing sugar

• 2 medium British Lion eggs

• 125ml milk

• 1 tbsp sunflower oil, for cooking the pancakes

For the filling

• 3 tbsp amaretto

• 2 tsp instant coffee, plus extra to serve

• 3 tbsp icing sugar

• 250g mascarpone

• 300g raspberries

Method

• In a large jug, gently whisk together all the pancake ingredients (except the oil) until smooth. Leave to stand for 10 minutes.

• Heat a large frying pan over a medium heat and brush with oil. Pour in heaped tablespoons of pancake batter, spaced a few centimetres apart, fitting 3-4 in the pan. Cook for about a minute until bubbles appear on the surface, then flip or turn and cook for a further 30 seconds. Repeat with the remaining mixture to make about 20 pancakes in total.

• In a large bowl mix together the coffee, amaretto and icing sugar. Add the mascarpone and whisk until thick.

• Spread a heaped teaspoonful of the coffee mixture onto each pancake, and layer to create a small stack, adding a handful of raspberries to 2 layers in each stack. Top with a dollop of the coffee mixture and an extra raspberry, then dust with a little coffee. Serve straightaway.

Always use eggs bearing the British Lion mark, which guarantees that they have been produced to the highest food standards. For more inspiration, visit www.egginfo.co.uk/recipes.

Parklife

Are

As the winter comes to an end many people are desperate to get outside and enjoy the improving weather.

Yes, you could go for a walk, but wouldn’t it be nice if, as well as that, you could have some fun and make new friends.

Have you considered playing Lawn Bowls?

NO, it’s not a boring game

NO, it’s not just for ‘old fogies’

This is a game that can be played by all ages. It gets its ‘senior’ reputation mainly from the fact that most games are played during the day when younger folks might be working.

Anyone who is available to play a couple of afternoons per week is welcome. You may be retired or semi-retired or you may be working and doing shift work. Men and women are both welcome and we have a good mix of players of both sexes with a wide range of ages.

It’s kept informal and players wear casual clothes such as jeans and shorts. The only requirement is to wear FLAT shoes, so that you do not damage the green.

The Oswestry Bowling Club meets for friendly games at the bowling green in Cae Glas Park near the centre of Oswestry on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from

2.00pm to 4.00pm and welcomes new members.

In essence, the game is simple. A small yellow ball is rolled across the green. That is called the ’Jack’. All you have to do is aim to get your own bowls closest to that Jack.

“That’s all,” you say!

“That sounds SIMPLE.”

It takes just minutes to learn but much longer to get really good. Several of the members of Oswestry Bowling Club say they are still waiting for that time to come!

Not a game for ‘Old fogies’!

If you have never played the game before, you may find it useful that the club offers free lessons to help new members.

You don’t have to own your own bowls (or woods, as they are also called), you can borrow some until you decide if this is a sport you would like to continue.

The Oswestry Bowling Club is a non-league club. The advantage of this is that they just play ‘social bowling’ for pleasure. As they are not in a league, you don’t have to make a commitment to play every session. You will not be letting team mates down by not being available.

To ensure that the best players cannot form a team to beat the weakest or less experienced players

each time, numbers are chosen from a bag which determines who you are playing with and against.

Normally, four games are played each afternoon, with the players changing for each game.

In order to add a small amount of competitiveness, players pay £1 per session to try to win the prize for the highest score of the day. As new players may be paired with experienced players, even they can win a prize.

One of the more experienced members, Judy Bristoll, jokes that this is her ‘supplementary pension’. However, as the prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place are only £3, £2 and £1, it’s more a bit of fun. The club’s annual subscription is less than £1 a session for the season.

If you are in the park on a Tuesday or Thursday between 2:00pm and 4:00pm from April to the end of September, why not have a look and see if you might enjoy playing this game.

Club officials will always be on hand to chat to you. Why not come and have a try?

Please speak with us on the green or CONTACT our club secretary, Brian Savage, on 0780 391 5618

Local business support for Derwen Charity Spinathon

Staff and students at Gobowen-based Derwen College are asking the community to get behind a demanding and strenuous bike challenge to raise funds to support students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Two Derwen College sports instructors will be completing a formidable 24-hour spinning session from 10am 24 to 10am 25 March. They will be joined in their challenge by students, staff, supporters and local businesses who will be pedalling alongside them, embarking on their own personal challenges; with some joining for an hour, while others will rise to the challenge of the full 24 hours.

Sports coordinators Sian Thomas and Steve Evans first took on a non-stop spinathon last year raising £8,000 for Derwen Charity. The challenge, they say, was only made possible due the continuous support of students, staff and supporters. Local businesses joined the event offering sponsorship and entering teams.

Fundraising coordinator Anna Evans thanked everyone who supported Derwen Charity last year, and said she was looking forward to even more people joining in for the 2023 challenge.

“We’re pleased to see returning local businesses and excited to welcome new organisations too. Support can be through sponsorship packages, donations of raffle prizes, or by entering as an individual or as a team. All the money raised helps support students with SEND,

providing opportunities for our students to truly progress and thrive,” she said.

Sports instructor Sian Thomas admitted that last year’s challenge was hard.

She said: “The struggle was real, especially in the small hours of the morning, but we all got through it, and the event was hugely successful. We had an amazing support team, and were joined through the day and night by friends, family, colleagues and students. Our supporters were the motivation and the inspiration to keep going.

“All the money raised helps support our students with SEND, providing extra experiences and opportunities for our students to reach and exceed what they and others thought possible.”

For more information on supporting the Spinathon contact 01691 661234, email Sian at sian.thomas@derwen.ac.uk or Anna at anna.evans@derwen.ac.uk. www.derwen.ac.uk/charity/

Thursday 16 March

Tuesday 24 January

Your college programme can open up a world of exciting opportunities. Come and have a look!

Get a taste of some of the amazing work that our students do and the facilities they enjoy. Meet staff and students, and chat about your next steps. Book your place now –these events fill up fast!

Monday

Wednesday 24 May

A place of possibility

Minutes with the MP

This time last year I was just getting going as an MP. I’d been elected in December, sworn in in January and had my local office up and running by February.

Life was already very busy but since then it has become busier and busier.

The reason I stood in the by-election was to have the chance to champion North Shropshire and do everything I can to help the wonderful people who live here.

In the last 12 months there have been a lot of people in need of support across the Oswestry area and beyond. I’ve already helped constituents with more than 6,000 cases and this will have risen by hundreds more by the time you read this.

The Government chaos, sky-high energy bills and neglected health service have meant many people who were comfortable a year or so ago are now facing challenges.

This casework ranges from people struggling with the cost of living, to issues accessing healthcare to Government departments failing to complete basic work like renewing passports on time. It involves lots of phone calls, meetings and emails. I can’t always make an immediate difference, but I always try my best.

One thing I’d like to see from the Government which would make a real difference is the hiring of a dedicated Minister for Rural Affairs. This minister should work across departments to tackle issues hitting rural areas hardest like the care crisis and energy costs.

We’ve had three prime ministers in just one year but none of them have demonstrated any understanding of, or care for, countryside issues. It’s really frustrating to see the Prime Minister bang on about towns and cities and north v south while ignoring rural places and most of the Midlands.

A rural champion in the Cabinet could make a real difference. I’ll always be doing everything I can to stand up for North Shropshire, but it would be nice to see the Government act for rural areas too.

c u r i t y a n d A n t i - V i r u s S o l u t i o n s B a c k u p S o l u t i o n s M i c r o s o f t 3 6 5 / G o o g l e W o r k s p a c e W e b s i t e a n d E m a i l H o s t i n g W e b s i t e M a n a g e m e n t H e l p a n d S u p p o r t E n d p o i n t M a n a g e m e n t S e c u r e D a t a E r a s u r e S e r v i c e s B e s p o k e I T S u p p o r t a n d S e r v i c e s B u s i n e s s I T C o n s u l t a n c y N e t w o r k I n s t a l l a t i o n a n d C a b l i n g W i - F i I n s t a l l a t i o n

Talking Tax for Tax Year End

We’ve all been feeling the pinch this last year, but if you are lucky enough to still have savings or pension funds, it is important to make sure you are in the strongest financial position to protect and grow your future wealth. This brief guide provides the key allowances and reliefs that may be relevant and available to you and tips to consider before the end of the tax year on 5th April 2023 and beyond.

1. ISAs: £20,000 allowance for 2022/23. Whether they’re cash or investment based, they are a very tax-efficient way to save money. If you don’t use your allowance for the year, you lose it.

2. Junior ISAs (JISAs) for under 18s: £9,000 allowance for 2022/23. You can set this up on your child’s behalf and anyone can contribute to it after that. If their grandparents wish to contribute, they could potentially improve their own inheritance tax position at the same time.

3. Pension contributions: up to £40,000 (subject to earnings) allowance in 2022/23. This is the contribution limit which qualifies for tax relief from the government.

4. Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exemption for spouses/civil partners: £12,300 for 2022/2023. Transferring any assets into joint names before you sell them means that you can use both of your CGT exemption allowances – that’s £24,600 this tax year.

5. Inheritance tax (IHT) gifting exemption: £3,000 for 2022/23 and 2021/22. You can gift up to £6,000 using this

and last tax year’s IHT exemption if you haven’t already used it. This could give a family member a leg-up on to the property ladder or kick-start their pension, for example.

6. Lifetime allowance: £1,073,100 for 2022/23. Getting a pension check to see if your combined pension fund values are likely to exceed this allowance could help avoid or limit a future tax charge.

7. Charity gifting: If you would like to gift to charity, by doing this near the end of the tax year, you will get tax relief from the government at your highest rate.

It is always worth seeking advice to see how you can make the best use of the tax allowances available to you. If you would like to know more and to see if any tax allowances are relevant to you ahead of the 5th April deadline, please get in touch!

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.

An investment in a Stocks and Shares ISA will not provide the same security of capital associated with a Cash ISA.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief is dependent on individual circumstances.

Please note that St. James’s Place do not offer Cash ISAs.

The way people are finding their way into a legal career is changing, with more opportunities than ever to join the profession.

A popular route is to apply for a training contract at a law firm, and Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors, which has offices in Oswestry and across Shropshire, has a longestablished trainee programme.

Alexander Spanner, who qualified as a solicitor with Lanyon Bowdler in 2021, says the profession is making an effort to make a career in law more accessible to more people.

“The traditional process of going to university, doing the LPC (Legal Practice Course) and applying for a training contract is now being expanded somewhat,” he says.

“Over the last few years, the SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) has been trying to make the process more open to give more people the opportunity to follow a career in law.

“Whichever route you take, the most important thing is getting that day-to-day experience, learning on the job and enhancing your skills as you work towards becoming

a very good solicitor at the end of it.”

There are currently 10 trainees working their way through training contracts with the firm. Sophie Burgoyne, who is midway through her two-year contract, discusses the process in Lanyon Bowdler’s Legal Lounge podcast and explains what a typical day entails.

Sophie says: “The great thing about a training contract is that you get experience with a variety of departments over the two years.

“It’s really interesting to see first-hand how different people work, so you get to experience a range of styles when it comes to things like research. As a trainee, it’s important to be vocal and not afraid to ask questions, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of this year will bring.”

To listen to the podcast and learn more about how to get into law, visit www.lblaw.co.uk/podcast or search for The Legal Lounge on your usual podcast provider.

PROTECT AND GROW YOUR WEALTH

All the current uncertainty caused by hyper-inflation, tax increases, Covid, Putin, and Brexit,can have an impact on your investments, pension planning and estate planning.

At Hartey Wealth Management, we have a wealth of experience, consistently guiding clients through the uncertainty caused by political events

Visit us at harteywm.co.uk or call us on 0808 188 5866

Registered in England and Wales No 8288660.

Registered Office: Hilliards Court, Chester Business Park, Chester, CH4 9QP. Hartey Wealth Management Ltd is authohrised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

FILM OF THE MONTH

MUSIC

NORTH WALES OPERA STUDIO PRESENTS MOZART’S COMIC OPERA

Così Fan Tutte

at Black Park Chapel on Thursday 16 February 2023 at 7pm.

Anne Williams-King, founder and director of NWOS said, “It’s an intimate opera that benefits from an intimate setting, Black Park Chapel is just that, enabling the performers to get up close and personal with the audience, giving them the experience of being totally involved with the story and enveloped by the wonderous music.”

Catfight (15)

STREAMING NOW ON NETFLIX AND ELSEWHERE

With the post-Christmas excess of sweetness and love still faintly present, and Valentine’s Day hovering into view, some may feel in need of a little bite and punchiness right now. This month’s choice has Killing Eve’s Sandra Oh and the late Anne Heche providing plenty of bite, and several punches too, in a wonderful and overlooked US satire from 2016.

Oh plays Veronica, an unhappily married alcoholic with a fraught relationship with her son and largely ignored by her wealthy husband. He throws a party during which Veronica meets an old college mate, Ashley, who is there waitressing. The two women start a conversation in which Veronica tries to lord her husband’s wealth over Ashley. Moving into a stairwell to continue their talk, it descends into a fistfight that leaves Veronica in a coma. Waking 2 years later she finds their fortunes reversed, her husband has shot himself, his riches spent on her medical care, and her son a casualty of a war between America and the Middle East. Meanwhile Ashley, previously a struggling artist, is now hugely successful making paintings depicting the war. Thus begins a story of fluctuating fortunes as further events cause the two women to swap positions of power and money whilst trading cartoon level body blows. ‘Catfight’ is a fast-moving comedy taking scathing potshots at everything in sight, art, wealth, healthcare, competitive friendships, war and more. It’s a brutally unsentimental black comedy that gets angry at all the right things. Both Heche and Oh are brilliant and though the satirical gags may not always hit their target, they usually hit the next target along anyway. Cathartic, short, and bittersweet at just over 90 minutes, you won’t have seen anything like this before, just have a calming cup of tea ready for afterwards and all will be fine!

“In Mozart’s comic masterpiece, sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella are enjoying a holiday in Coney Island with their fiancés, Ferrando and Guglielmo. However, the fairground is a place where anything can happen – and its manipulative master, Don Alfonso, has a game to play with the lovers…”

North Wales Opera Studio was founded by Anne Williams-King, a professional opera soprano and teacher, and David Bartleet, opera singer, teacher and opera agent. Black Park Chapel Trust is a not-for-profit organisation that hosts music events.

For more information email: blackparkchapel@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page Black Park Chapel.

POETRY

Divided

When August sunshine seems too hot to bear

I long for winter scenes with ice and rime, But when December comes and I must wear My scarf and gloves I dream of summertime. And when I flee my quiet home to seek The rumpus of the city on a train, I head for London but within the week I’ll wish myself in Shropshire once again. Thus every joy is marred by discontent, I’m never wholly happy with my lot, My mind is split, there’s always one per cent That hankers after things I haven’t got. No matter where I am in time or space Some part of me is in another place.

WESTON

POOLS WESTON LANE, OSWESTRY

Could you be one of our special Angels? Do you want to work with a company where you are the heart of the business? You can make a difference by becoming a Visiting Angel carer today. These are just some of the incentives we offer: Pay at £11ph weekdays and £12ph at weekends, double time for bank holidays and public holidays * Annual 5% pay increase * Paid mileage and travel time * Part-time and Full-time contracts * 6 monthly valet for your car * Annual service check for your car

Sister Kate celebrates

Sister Kate Limited has become the first ear wax removal clinic in Shropshire to become regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Who are the CQC and what does this mean?

CQC is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. They make sure health and social care services are safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality and they also encourage care services to improve.

CQC also monitor, inspect and regulate services and publish what they find. It is now a legal requirement to be regulated by CQC if you are a Registered Nurse offering ear wax removal services.

Kate Haining, owner of Sister Kate Ltd said, “This is an unbelievable achievement for our team and to be the first to achieve this in the county feels great.

“Undertaking CQC regulation is no easy task and it means that the fundamental standards are the standards below which our care must never fall.

“Our staff, governance and premises are all now regulated in order to deliver a world class ear wax removal service.”

CQC regulation does not currently apply in Wales, but it is expected that this may change in the future. You should always attend CQC registered clinics when looking to receive the best levels of service from any care provider.

EAR WAX TROUBLE?

Sister Kate can help

The 1st Ear Wax Removal Clinic in Shropshire to become regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)

“This is an unbelievable achievement for our team and to be the first to achieve this in the County feels great”

Sister Kate specialises in micro suction treatments to help patients remove excessive ear wax that is causing a blockage that has resulted in hearing loss or is causing unpleasant feelings in the ear.

health

life of the flesh is in the blood”

an: Greek for without. haima: Greek for blood. Being without blood would be a deathly curse but lacking blood – or anaemia – affects 30% of the world’s population of all ages. the commonest cause of anaemia is iron deficiency which occurs, generally, if you are iron deficient in your diet, unable to absorb iron or losing blood from somewhere. how would you know you were anaemic? Tiredness, shortness of breath and eventually looking pale are all symptoms but many people tolerate mild anaemia without noticing any of these and up to a fifth of menstruating women are anaemic when tested.

Oxygen is carried by haemoglobin in our blood – and haemoglobin has a molecule of iron at its heart so iron is essential particularly as each red blood cell that carries this amazing compound only lasts about 3 months before it is recycled. Simple blood tests can measure haemoglobin and iron levels to confirm anaemia but then the question that needs to be asked is

“Why am I anaemic?” It may be quite a simple answer –dietary, pregnancy or heavy periods are all common causes but, unfortunately, blood loss in the gut is also common and investigations of the gut are often necessary to make sure there are no ulcers or cancers causing blood loss. Many patients were surprised that they could be losing blood and not know. However, in small, regular amounts it usually goes un-noticed.

Where do we get iron from in our diet? Liver (but not if you are pregnant) and red meat are obvious sources but many types of beans, nuts, dried fruits, soybean flour, broccoli, kale and eggs are all sources, but this list is not exhaustive. Many breakfast cereals have added iron in them too. www.bda.uk.com has a fuller list.

Anaemia is quite common at all ages and about 40% of the population will say they feel tired. If you are unusually tired, should you consider having a blood test?

“The

Where do we get iron from in our diet? Liver and red meat are obvious sources but many types of beans, nuts, dried fruits, soybean flour, broccoli, kale and eggs are all sources

Do you need help finding your match?

Do you need help finding your match?

need help finding your match?

Do

In partnership with

In partnership with

In partnership with

Every ear is unique, both functionally (what it can hear) and physically (how it’s shaped). That’s why all our hearing aid solutions are tailored to you.

Every ear is unique, both functionally (what it can hear) and physically (how it’s shaped). That’s why all our hearing aid solutions are tailored to you.

Let us help you find “the one.” Contact us today and learn more about the latest hearing aids available that are discreet, smart, wireless and come with great Bluetooth capabilities.

Let us help you find “the one.” Contact us today and learn more about the latest hearing aids available that are discreet, smart, wireless and come with great Bluetooth capabilities.

Let us help you find “the one.” Contact us today and learn more about the latest hearing aids available that are discreet, smart, wireless and come with great Bluetooth capabilities.

Stay connected to those you love and book your FREE 15-minute hearing health check.

Stay connected to those you love and book your FREE 15-minute hearing health check.

Free Hearing Tests

2 Month Money Back Trial

Free After Care Service

Every ear is unique, both functionally (what it can hear) and physically (how it’s shaped). That’s why all our hearing aid solutions are tailored to you. Stay connected to those you love and book your FREE 15-minute hearing health check. Free Hearing Tests

Price Match Guarantee 5 Year Warranty

Hummingbird Hearingcare recommends Sister Kate for Ear Wax Removal

2 Month Money Back Trial

T: 01691 888 192 | W: www.sister-kate.co.uk

Hummingbird Hearingcare recommends Sister Kate for Ear Wax Removal

T: 01691 888 192 | W: www.sister-kate.co.uk

Hummingbird Hearingcare recommends Sister Kate for Ear Wax Removal

Call us on 01691 654 327 enquiry@hbhearingcare.co.uk www.hummingbirdhearingcare.co.uk

T: 01691 888 192 | W: www.sister-kate.co.uk

Call us on 01691 654 327 enquiry@hbhearingcare.co.uk www.hummingbirdhearingcare.co.uk

23 Leg St, Oswestry SY11 2NN

23 Leg St, Oswestry SY11 2NN

Call us on 01691 654 327 enquiry@hbhearingcare.co.uk www.hummingbirdhearingcare.co.uk

23 Leg St, Oswestry SY11 2NN

HealtH & Wellbeing Herbal Winter Care

Although the days are getting slightly longer and the hope of spring arriving edges nearer, we still need to care for our bodies and minds this time of year. Our reserves may be becoming depleted, without us even noticing and we might be affected by something all of a sudden, with no warning. If you are well and want to stay well, you still need to be proactive about your health. Keep up with your winter wellness staples such as vitamin D3, vitamin C and Zinc; all of them look after our immune systems when we are vulnerable.

Remember to consume some fresh stuff on a daily basis, such as fresh fruit, vegetables or fresh herbs. Fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, coriander etc. There is no need to have salad all the time, but we can all add something raw. This not only boosts your vitamin intake, that is largely removed by heating/boiling but also contains other beneficial nutrients, enzymes, prebiotic, minerals and sometimes probiotic. These support many of our bodily systems including digestion/detoxification and oxygenation, helping us to feel livelier.

Low mood can affect many of us during the winter months, known as SAD (seasonally affected disorder),

until the days really get longer. Herbs such as St, John’s Wort can be very effective for lifting the mood, but not compatible with other medication. Rhodiola rosea is a good alternative to this, without the worry of interfering in the same way. Ashwagandha is one of my personal favourites; an Indian herb that may help regulate mood, energy levels and sleep pattern. This one is very well tolerated by most people and has much research to back it up. It can be taken as a spiced drink in milk (or alternative) with turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon and honey, infusion, capsule or tincture. Most people use capsules for convenience. Added to your daily care routine, Ashwagandha might make a real difference. Finally; drink plenty of fluid and move more. It’s all good for you!

Autumn Berries for Winter Wellness

Healthy Focus

Love Your Heart

Heart and circulatory diseases cause a quarter of all deaths in the UK, that’s an average of 460 deaths each day or one every three minutes. So how do you reduce your risk? Firstly check out the nHS ‘Heart age Tool’ to give you an estimate of how your lifestyle is impacting your heart health and advice on how to improve it. www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check.

other advice includes:

Improving your sleep - Researchers found that 6-8 hours of sleep per night positively influences glucose metabolism, blood pressure and inflammation – all of which have an otherwise negative impact on cardiovascular disease, so snuggle down early to improve your heart health! if you struggle to sleep, try some relaxation meditations. available to buy from Katie The Happiness Club Trainer – on Facebook / 07912 435221.

Meet up with friends – The Qube run social groups and have a shropshire wide directory of organisations that can help you get out, meet old and make new friends. Bella Doolan on 01691 656882 qube-oca.org.uk

Cut down on alcohol – The One Year No Beer program can help you transform your relationship with alcohol www.oneyearnobeer.com and locally shropshire Recovery partnership can support you. Tel 01743 294 700

Learn to meditate – mindfulness and meditation classes are held weekly at Open Space Community Centre openspacestudioscic.com

Maintain a healthy weight – from Salsa (salsa. casa.oswestry@gmail.com) to swimming, adult gymnastics (bordercountiesgymnastics.com) to walking football (tnsfc.co.uk). Oswestry has it all! Support the British Heart Foundation to carry on pioneering research and patient support by attending a Children’s Space Adventure Day (bouncy castles, a space bingo and find the stars hunt) at Oswestry Leisure Centre (all proceeds to charity). Sunday the 19 February, 2pm-5pm. Tickets at www.eventbrite.co.uk.

Finally, a tenuous circulation connection, bats are often vilified for drinking blood - which they don’t (not humans anyway) so why not show them some love by making Bat Boxes Sat 18 February with DolyddGobaith Tanat Valley Community Forest Farm CIC. email for more volunteers@dolydd-gobaith.cymru have a happy healthy month.

Chiropractic & Massage Clinic Gobowen

NeckstiffnessJawproblems Migraineprevention Cervicogenicheadaches

SciaticaAcuteand chronicbackpain

WE CAN HELP

Shoulder problemsMusclespasms

Jointpain Footproblems Hipandkneepain

Focus on… Winter

through the lens of Graham Mitchell

As we look forward to the coming spring, I thought I’d focus on the winter we have had so far. What a mix of weather! Here are some of my favourite snaps.

The little buys that can make a really big difference

With the price of gas and electricity currently in orbit, the cost of living seems to be soaring ever upwards – but with a few well-chosen buys you can make a big difference to your energy bills. And you don’t need to spend a fortune either, so these gadgets will pay for themselves very quickly.

The best place to start is your central heating system. If you don’t have a smart thermostat, or worse, if you don’t have a thermostat at all, you’re probably paying to heat empty rooms or to keep the heat on longer than necessary. There are lots of smart thermostats to choose from, but one of the friendliest is the Hive from British Gas. It connects to your heating and you can use its remote control, smart speaker or phone/tablet app to set schedules, and if you use the app it can tell your heating when you’re leaving or coming home and set the heating accordingly. We installed one a couple of years ago and it made a big difference to our gas bill.

Lighting accounts for a lot of our energy use too, so if you haven’t already moved to LED bulbs you really should. For example, if you have a downlighter with halogen GU10 bulbs, swapping them for LEDs would reduce their energy consumption by as much as 90%: a 5W LED emits the same light as a 50W halogen bulb. And if you’ve been thinking about getting smart bulbs, they’re all LED too.

Don’t forget about the kitchen either. Your hob and oven use a lot of energy, and there are often much more efficient options: a 900W microwave uses a fraction of the energy for a fraction of the time. But of course you can’t microwave everything, which is why many of us are buying Instant Pots or air fryers. Air fryers are effectively small ovens with a big fan inside, and they cook faster and at lower temperatures than an oven; Instant Pots and similar devices can slow-cook, stew, pressure-cook and more, while using a fraction of the energy of a hob or oven.

Philips Hue Starter Kit

If you fancy smart, colour-changing, programmable bulbs then Hue is hard to beat: it has tons of indoor and outdoor lights and bulbs, and the starter kit contains everything you need to get up and running. From £90, meethue.com

Philips Essential Air Fryer XL

You can pick up a small air fryer for under £50, but this Philips is a much better family appliance thanks to its fiveportion capacity and Rapid Air technology. £125, Philips.co.uk

Instant Pot Pro

Don’t pay full price for any Instant Pot: they’re discounted in every big sales event. They’re all good but our pick is the Instant Pot Pro, a 10-in-1 pressure cooker, slow cooker, soup cooker, rice cooker. £169, Amazon.co.uk

Hive Smart Thermostat Mini

Smart thermostats from the likes of Hive, Tado, Google Nest and Honeywell give you much more control over your heating and can make a real difference to your bills. £119, hivehome.com

Hive Smart Radiator Valve

A smart thermostat is just the start. Smart radiator valves can ensure you’re not heating empty rooms, saving even more money. £54, hivehome.com

Bring me sunshine

Fend off the gloom of winter by introducing some happy vibes to your home. Our selection of joyful accessories is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Playful prints, vibrant colours and silly shapes

• Choose bright shades that make you feel good. Yellow is a great choice as it’s so reminiscent of hot, sunny days (they’re on their way!). Team with other warm colours such as red, pink and orange, or add in a melange of everything for a cheerful mix.

• Impactful patterns can be used even in small doses to make a difference to your space. Or you could go the whole hog and cover an entire wall…

• Look for pieces with dramatic or unusual silhouettes – be bold and express your individuality, and you’ll add happy energy to your room.

é Bring the groove into your interior with a colourful disco ball for an instant party feeling. Gold & Pink stripy disco ball, £53, rockettstgeorge. co.uk.

êThe perfect gift for any occasion, this decorative bottle is filled with 125 colourful, 10cm-long, luxury matches. Multicoloured Joy matches, £15, heavenlyhomesandgardens.co.uk.

éAdd layers of texture to your bed with a quilted pillowcase, such as this abstract assortment of multicoloured letters on an orange base. Alphabet Soup quilted pillowcase, £42, antipodream.co.uk.

ê These one-of-a-kind baskets are made by the weavers of the Bolgatanga area, Northern Ghana, and finished with sustainable leather. African shopping basket in Joy, £65, lolaandmawu.com.

This retro-styled neon lamp emits a bird-shaped luminous glow that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Eleanne Toucan neon light, £13.99, wayfair.co.uk.

• More is more! Layer colours and patterns without worrying too much about so-called ‘taste’. If you love it, go for it. ê shower

ç The designers liken the style of this bold, digitally printed wallpaper to a samba or a mambo, dancing across the paper with an expressive joy. Squiggle wallpaper in Lapis & Honey, £69, ohpopsi.comi.

Make a statement with this fun home accessory, featuring a bubble-gum-pink finish and organic shape. Large amphora vase, £18, sassandbelle.co.uk.

ê Make getting out of the shower a fancy affair with this vibrant cotton bath mat. Islands in the Stream bath mat, £49, antipodream.co.uk.

Spacious period property

Ivanhoe Morda Road, Oswestry

A spacious detached five-bedroom town residence which is situated in a sought-after location and benefits from a multi car garage, detached wooden chalet/annexe and a generous rear garden. Offering spacious and versatile accommodation, some of which is in need of redecoration, Ivanhoe will undoubtedly appeal to a wide variety of purchasers. Viewing is highly recommended. Asking Price £750,000. For viewings call Halls on 01691 670320 or email oswestry@hallsgb.com

Investment opportunity with tenants

Freshfields Station Road, Gobowen

An opportunity to purchase a deceptively spacious end terraced property with long term tenants in situ. Ideally located in the village of Gobowen close to local amenities. The property has double glazing and gas fired central heating. The accommodation briefly comprises: Entrance Hallway, Lounge, Dining Room and large Kitchen/Utility to the ground floor with four Bedrooms, Bathroom & Shower Room to the first floor. Outside is a courtyard garden to the front and substantial enclosed entertaining garden to the rear.

Offers in excess of £150,000. For viewings call 01691 674567 or email sales.oswestry@monks.co.uk

See you at the auction

Property auctions are becoming more and more popular throughout the UK with buyers and sellers alike. It is a solution that avoids the time-consuming stresses that are often associated with selling property in the conventional manner. The old adage of properties only being sold at auction because they have problems or need total renovation is not always the case, many different types of property in all conditions are now being successfully sold at auction. Whether it be a probate property, a unique property, a commercial property, property with land, derelict property, properties in need of improvement, plots of land or any property where the vendors need to sell quickly but at a strong price. Selling at auction could be the best option!

Since the pandemic, we took our auctions online and we’ve found that this has opened up a much broader audience, once you’re registered, you can log in from anywhere to bid at auction, it is so easy!

If you are looking to sell at auction, it is FREE to the

vendor, there is no entry fee, no admin fee, no hidden costs and the buyer pays our commission. One of our friendly property experts will carry out a free auction appraisal, researching your property, it’s location and achievable prices in your area. We prepare the particulars including all photography required, we promote your property on online portals such as Rightmove, OnTheMarket and Zoopla. We make sure you are displayed on our website and registered buyers receive regular alerts ensuring we put your property in front of a wide range of buyers. We conduct all viewings at your property and handle all offers and bids, it really is easy and hassle free! We run auctions on a monthly basis and once an auction has closed, the winning bidder must complete on the sale within 28 days, your money is in the bank fast!

If you are looking to buy at auction, it really is simple! All you have to do is visit our website www. townandcountrypropertyauctions.co.uk and register. You can search our website and find the property you are interested in. Via this website you will be able to view the legal pack with all the documents you require, you can book a viewing to see the property prior to the auction date should you wish and then on auction day, once fully registered as a bidder, you will be able to bid on the property. If successful, a deposit is payable to secure the sale and your winning bid forms exchange of contracts and 28 days later, upon payment of the balance, you complete on the sale, FAST & EASY!!

If you’d like any further information regarding buying or selling at auction, we can talk you through the entire process. Contact Emma in our sales office on 01691 679631 or email: emma@townandcountryoswestry.com

Monks are committed to helping people find their perfect home.

But home isn’t just where we live, it’s more than that. Home is at the very core of our lives, where we raise children, or grow up ourselves – it’s where we feel we belong.

By helping people find their ideal home, Monks are custodians of one the most important things in peoples lives. That’s why it’s at the core of the Monks values.

Fantastic detached house

Maesbury Marsh

Woodheads are delighted to bring to the sales market this fantastic four bedroom detached house, located in Maesbury Marsh. In brief the accommodation affords: living room, dining room, kitchen/ diner, downstairs cloakroom, four bedrooms and bathroom internally. Externally the property benefits a stunning rear enclosed garden, large driveway and garage. Viewings on this property are highly recommended.

OIRO £440,000.For viewings call Woodheads on 01691 680044 or email sales@woodheadsalesandlettings.com

Property in popular village

Cartfref,

Four Crosses

Situated in the popular village of Four Crosses, with excellent road links to Welshpool, Oswestry and Shrewsbury, this property is offered to the market with no forward chain and would benefit from some modernising and upgrading.

The accommodation includes a side entrance hall, living room with open fireplace, kitchen/diner with space for appliances and an under stairs pantry. Off the kitchen is a small lean-to store. On the first floor there is a split-level

landing with loft access and airing cupboard with hot water cylinder. The master bedroom has two built in wardrobes, bedroom two has a small ensuite shower room and bedroom three has built in storage.

Asking Price £225,000. For viewings call Morris Marshall & Poole on 01691 679595 or email oswestry@morrismarshall.co.uk

Cottage and barn conversion

Meifod

Town and Country Oswestry, offer a fantastic opportunity to purchase two properties located in a truly stunning location with far reaching rural views in all directions. The properties on offer are a three-bedroom contemporary barn conversion (completed in 2020) along with a spacious two bedroom cottage style property with generous grounds and off road parking. A great set up for those looking to run a business or to have extended family close by.

Asking price £700,000. For viewings call Town & Country on 01691 679631 or email sales@ townandcountryoswestry.com

Finance available through Kanda from 11.9% APR

Kanda is a trading name of Kanda Products & Services Ltd, company registered in England and Wales (No.11220984) with registered office at Kanda Products & Services Ltd, 17 High Street, Forward House, Henley-In-Arden, Warwickshire, England, B95 5AA. Kanda Products & Services is authorised by the FCA. Registration number 920795

▼ Elvang

Viva Magenta

Powerful and unrestrained, Viva Magenta is Pantone’s colour for 2023. An energising tone that bridges red, pink and purple. Perhaps not to everyone’s liking, it does speak to those who love maximalist and assertive interior schemes. It’s balanced perfectly between a warm and cold tone making it fit into any current colour scheme you already have. So, whether it’s with paint or cushions, rugs, bedding or smaller accessories there are many ways to bring this jolt of joyous colour into your home.

▲ Pink Kiss No.49 £41.95 from Victory Colours www.victorycolours.co.uk

TLC Noah Chair in Summer Punch £699 from The Lounge Co www.theloungeco.com

February in the garden

At last, we can start thinking about the spring. What a roller coaster of a winter we’ve had. I think most of the garden has got rather confused, but now we can start to plan and even get some seeds in.

An early sowing of sweet peas inside will get them off to a great start, along with echinacea, dianthus and verbena. Vegetables like aubergines, peppers, and chillies require a long growing season, so can also be sown on a warm windowsill or in a heated propagator. At the end of the month sow your tomatoes, again in the warm. If you plant too soon, they will start getting leggy. Think carefully about varieties, perhaps a mix, paying careful attention to their final growing locations. Not all will want to be in the greenhouse, and some may need extensive support.

If you have room for spuds, then time to chit some early potatoes. Egg boxes make great containers for lining up the seed potatoes with “eyes up”. Try some of the more unusual varieties for a change.

On a nice dry day get into the garden for a tidy up, prune any winter flowering shrubs that have finished and tidy up the grasses and ferns. Deciduous grasses need to be cut down to the ground. Winter pansies and

violas will need dead heading to extend their flowering season. Don’t let them start to produce seeds as they will think their job is done and give up. Snowdrop clumps can be split once they finish flowering, preferably whilst they still have leaves. Last year’s great crop of fruit highlighted badly pruned fruit trees. I saw several apple trees completely split with the weight of the fruit. I expect they will recover eventually but will take a few years to get them back into shape.

A good clean of the greenhouse and equipment will help prevent disease. Make sure gutters are cleared and look for any damage. It is an ideal time for running repairs before the spring “crazy season” starts and you are too busy with other jobs.

February brings the romantic festival of Valentine and, of course, roses. Living roses also make a wonderful gift.

New roses are being bred every year, but here are some of the old favourites:

• Wild roses such as Rosa rugosa and Rosa canina, which can make wonderful informal hedges.

• Old Garden rose varieties, which are often over 100 years old, such as the pink, perfumed Rosa chinensis – the China rose.

• Hybrid tea roses such as: ‘Compassion’, an apricot pink, scented beauty and ‘Claret’, a red/crimson variety with lovely fragrance.

• Floribunda roses have a profusion of smaller flowers, which appear in delightful clusters.

• Patio roses are smaller than the shrub varieties. The Gold Standard, award winning ‘George Best’ is a wonderful red, fading to pink. ‘Special Friend’ is the palest of pinks with a delicate fragrance.

• Ground-cover roses can look wonderful at the front of a border. Rosa ‘Kent’ is a white variety that has large clusters of rain-tolerant blooms.

FOR

A PROFESSIONAL, QUALITY SERVICE

• Shrub roses have been bred to be generally fairly disease resistant. An unusual one is the striped ‘Ferdinand Pichard’.

• Rambling roses grow beautifully through trees. They generally flower just once a year, but it’s a show worth waiting for, particularly the white ‘Rambling Rector’.

• Climbing roses love to grow over pergolas and can usually be trained. Try ‘Gardener’s Glory’, a yellow rose that is a Gold Standard award winner, or ‘Gloriana’, a striking purple rose which flowers almost all summer long.

. Based in Oswestry and covering the Shropshire area... after before before after

Transforming gardens for over 20 years

New free app protects your phone from scam call

Call Protect is a free spam and robo call blocker with automatic Caller ID tool that safeguards you against known telemarketers, robo-callers, scammers, surveys, spammers, and other unwanted callers. With Call Protect, you can have peace of mind while it silently works for you to reduce the number of unsolicited phone calls you receive.

Call Protect maintains the latest list of active spam and robo-callers which is monitored and updated in real-time. Each time you activate Call Protect this list is updated onto your device. High risk numbers identified as harmful are automatically blocked; whilst other, potentially harmful numbers, are added onto your phone with their caller ID information containing a warning message. This alerts you when you receive a phone call from suspicious callers. Call Protect is free but also offers additional features for a small monthly fee. apps.apple.com/us/app/call-protect-robo-blocker/ id1357820531

Which? warn of loan fee fraud

Which? report that cases of loan fee fraud are up by a fifth compared to last year. It’s a scam where a fraudster asks you for an upfront fee, usually between £25 and £450, in order to take out a non-existent loan. They usually target people who have been searching for loans online.

If you are looking for a loan - always check the legitimacy of the lender by using the FCA’s website to ensure they are registered www.fca.org.uk

If you have been affected by a scam – help is out there - Victim Support has a free confidential helpline 0808 168 9111 and so does Mind 0300 123 3393.

Sign up for Which? Scam alerts: campaigns.which. co.uk/scam-alert-service/

Find details of recent scams here: www.actionfraud. police.uk and on our Facebook page: Rainford-it-stay safe online and on our blog on our website. www.rainford-it. co.uk 07552 863996

All your IT in one place, we are Mac specialists

Women who want to network

Two Oswestry businesswomen have launched a monthly business networking event for women running their own businesses

Louise Idoux, Herbalist and owner of The Herbarium in Oswestry and Katie Millard, Happiness Club Trainer/Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist, founded the group Oswestry Business Queens to help connect self-employed women locally.

“After the Pandemic, lots of local networking groups either ceased or moved completely online,” said Louise, “but there’s nothing quite like face-toface networking and it seemed such a shame it had all stopped.”

Katie added, “We put our heads together and decided to set up our own monthly event to help businesswomen not only form new connections, but also feel supported and access some brilliant guest speakers.”

The group has been running since May 2022 and launched full steam in to 2023 with their first meeting of the year on 9 January. Local marketing specialist Ruth Martin of Martin & Jones Marketing was guest speaker, imparting her knowledge and expertise to the group.

Having a good network is well known to be extremely useful for businesses. Not only does it provide an essential support network and safe place to bounce ideas around, but you never know who someone might know. It could be that link to an organisation you have been trying to make for a long time.

The monthly meetings are held in Oswestry Memorial Hall, on the first Monday evening of the month at 7.30pm.  All meetings include free time for attendees to talk about their business and make new contacts, along with a guest speaker who will talk on a specific topic - from marketing to mindset, accountancy to social media.

Spaces are free to book via Eventbrite. A £5 donation is requested from each attendee on arrival to cover refreshments and room hire.

Income Tax and dividend income

The Income Tax additional rate threshold will be reduced from £150,000 to £125,140 with effect from 6 April 2023. This move will see an estimated 250,000 further taxpayers pay the additional rate of Income Tax of 45% from next April.

The current £2,000 dividend tax-free allowance is to be reduced to £1,000 from April 2023 and to £500 from April 2024.

The 1.25% increase in the tax rates payable on dividend income, which took effect in April 2022 remains in place.

The rates that apply in all regions of the UK from 6 April 2023 that dividends form part of are as follows:

•

The basic rate band – 8.75%

•

•

The higher rate band – 33.75%

The additional rate band – 39.35%

Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

There is a significant reduction in the annual exempt amount applicable to CGT. This rate had previously been fixed at £12,300 from April 2021 to April 2026 for individuals, personal representatives, and some types of trusts for disabled people.

The exempt amount will now be reduced to £6,000 from April 2023 before being further reduced to £3,000 from April 2024.

Corporation Tax (CT)

The Chancellor had previously announced on 17 October 2022 that the planned increases in CT rates from April 2023 would be going ahead.

From 1 April 2023, there will be two rates of CT.

• Taxable profits up £50,000 will continue to be taxed at 19%.

• Taxable profits more than £250,000 will be taxed at the main rate of 25%.

Profits between £50,000 and £250,000 will be subject to a marginal tapering relief.

National Living Wage (NLW) increases

The NLW will increase to £10.42 per hour (previously £9.50) from 1 April 2023.

The full changes to the National Minimum Wage rates per hour from 1 April 2023 are as follows:

• 21 to 22 year-olds - £10.18

• 18 to 20 year-olds - £7.49

• 16 to 17 year-olds - £5.28

• Apprentice rate - £5.28

Q&A

Can someone update their Will if they have dementia?

Q: My parents separated a few years ago but have never bothered divorcing. Now my mother has been diagnosed with dementia and I have discovered that she didn’t update her Will after my father left her. Is it too late for her to do it now she has received her diagnosis?

A: Whether or not your mother can make a new Will depends on whether she still has ‘testamentary capacity’. To have testamentary capacity she must first be capable of understanding what a Will is and the nature and effect that its contents will have. She must also understand the extent of what she will be leaving in her Will and the obligations she would normally have towards her family and other individuals who are beneficiaries.

Even though your mother has been diagnosed with dementia and perhaps struggles to retain information, it may still be the case that she is capable of making a decision and may therefore still have capacity to make a Will as incapacity usually takes time to develop. This is particularly so with dementia.

If your mother’s dementia has progressed to the point of her losing capacity, then under The Mental Capacity Act 2005 you could apply to the Court of Protection to have a ‘Statutory Will’ prepared. In making a Statutory Will on your mother’s behalf the Court must consider her past and present wishes as well as her feelings, beliefs and values and act in her best interests. The Court is most likely to execute a statutory will if the testator has never executed a will, or if there has been a significant change in the testator’s circumstances.

Making an application for a Statutory Will can be both complex and time-consuming and will require obtaining medical evidence of the person’s mental capacity. It is therefore advisable to seek advice from an experienced Court of Protection solicitor

This question has been answered by Victoria Wilson, a Partner with GHP Legal.  If you would like to speak to someone about this or any other legal matter it is still possible, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that we continue to offer our high levels of service to our clients. Where possible, we ask that

with us by phone or email. If you have a new enquiry or for an appointment visit www.ghplegal.com or contact one of our offices: Wrexham 01978 291456, Llangollen 01978 860313, Oswestry 01691 659194

WOULD YOU BE PROTECTED IF THE WORST HAPPENED?

If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected.

And while it’s not possible to prepare for every eventuality, there are practical steps you can take to make sure that you - and your family - are protected should the worst happen.

Whether that’s falling ill, being made redundant or someone close to you passing away, there are ways to ensure you have financial certainty when you and those dependent on you need it most.

One of the best options for long-term support is income protection. It’s designed to provide you with a regular, tax-free monthly payment (typically around 60% of your gross pay) if you find that you can’t work due to illness or injury. This will continue until you are able to return to work, or the policy comes to an end, giving you a safety net to help cover bills and outgoings until you are back on your feet.

Critical illness cover, on the other hand, provides you with a one off tax-free, lump sum of money if you suffer a critical illness listed by the policy provider. Not everyone will need both this and income protection, but if you have any debts, are paying a sizable mortgage that your income protection insurance wouldn’t cover or need to make any adaptations to your home it could be invaluable.

Lastly, life insurance gives you the comfort of knowing your loved ones will be looked after if you suddenly pass away. Current research estimates that around 70% of people don’t, however, have this in place which means there are thousands of families who could struggle to cope financially if they, or their partner, died. Life insurance takes these worries away and provides stability even if you can’t be there.

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to finding the right policy for you, give our friendly team at Belgrave Wincham a call on 01691 886554 for expert and impartial advice.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

Fungus an amphibian’s instrument will reveal (9)

Menthol-flavoured and coined (6)

Taken unawares, is spurred somehow (9)

Dense Eric demolished a person’s home (9)

Man in best evening suit (5)

Spar about coarse file (4)

Add the finishing touches to an expression of praise, we hear (10)

Makes free from bacteria when sister lies about (10)

Have great affection for nothing in tennis (4)

Fruity computer company? (5)

Joint inflammation when Irish tart is distributed (9)

Bizarre rite meant to end (9)

Engineer’s prompt save (6)

Crept near twisted woodworker (9)

Down

Animal product made from Marge’s rib (9)

Listens up, enrols for duty (7)

Ten years sounds rotten! (6)

Rage around before a point to correspond (5)

Worried about desserts (8)

Repulsive old boy initially before vista (7)

Beaver’s den to become firmly embedded in a place (5)

I complain when the girl returns (5)

Leapt about a fold (5)

Valued step holding firm (9)

Fond of being well-informed? Me too (8)

Large penguin ruling many countries? (7)

Torch is carried badly for bird (7)

Carter about to reveal meteor impact site (6)

Can it change to a caper? (5)

One role away from each other (5)