The Stoke Bliss Agricultural Improvement Society Ploughing Match

Just the title of this organisation and event conjures up a bygone age. A visit to this event does so much more. In these days of 'fast' living it is somehow comforting to stand and watch men (I think it was exclusively men) of a certain age taking time and trouble to carefully plough a marked area of soil.

Their tools of choice ranged from heavy horses to two wheel tractors and small tracked vehicles to vintage tractors of all types and sizes from the last century.

It is good to know that an event such as this is so well supported by the public but also by a very large number of participants who between them have hundreds if not thousands of years of knowledge and experience.

In addition to the Ploughing match, there was also (what was referred to verbally although not in signage) as the Women's section, where various arts, crafts, and culinary exhibits were on display, including a very well supported selection of children's exhibits.

There was also a full catering service, but not just the hot dogs and burgers (although these were available) but a full sit down carvery dinner.

This annual event (weather permitting) is one to look out for.

More photo's

£45K is not enough

Tenbury Town Council are in the process of upgrading the children's play area on the Burgage. Initially they had hoped that the £45,000 that they had been awarded would be sufficient to create a really good play area.

After asking a number of equipment suppliers to put forward their ideas it became clear that to create the type of play area required they would need additional professional help.

The Town Council have now appointed a firm of architects from Worcester to create a visionary plan.

It is hoped that the initial budget of £45,000 will enable phase one of the redevelopment to be completed which may initially reuse some of the existing equipment. They are already in the process of applying for additional grants to complete the redevelopment.

Rather than accept second best, the Town Council have progressed this project in a professional way, and involved outside professional help. Hopefully the outcome will be a play area that will serve the community for many years to come and be the envy of many other towns.

New Landlord at the Kings Head

Martin Checketts is new Landlord at the Kings Head in Cross Street, Tenbury Wells.

In recent times the Kings Head has gained somewhat of a bad image, with a number of complaints, and has been the subject of a licencing review. Although the new landlord has only been there for 2 weeks, he has already been able to deal with some of the problems.

He has issued an open invitation to local residents to come and view the upstairs function room at the back of the pub, and would welcome discussions with local charitable organisations who would like to use the function room (free of charge).

Silver Gilt for Tenbury

Tenbury Wells, Tenbury in Bloom 2009 have been awarded a Silver Gilt medal for the floral and general presentation of the Town. Judging which took place earlier this year, concluded that Tenbury was only a few points short of the necessary points required to win Gold.

The judges were disappointed that so few retailers (6) in the Town had made an effort to dress their windows for the occasion. It was also noted that very few retailers had taken up the offer of having their shops decorated with the specially designed blue and white bunting produced by the high school even though this was offered to them free of charge.

We need to break the logjam on funding for Tenbury

Tenbury’s Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt has called on Severn Trent bosses to ‘kick-start’ funding for Tenbury’s flood defences by re-directing up to £0.5m currently earmarked for another scheme.

Read the full release here.