John Challis - Being Boycee in Tenbury

Local actor John Challis was signing copies of his autobiography "Being Boycie" at Books Books Books today.  If you missed it, there are a few additional signed copies for sale.

John is best known for his portrayal of Boycie the the dodgy car dealer from Only Fools And Horses and the spin off series, The Green Green Grass.

The book charts his early years as the son of a cautious and pedantic man from the Admiralty and a rather more flamboyant mother.

His early career included a spell working at an Estate Agent and as a Deliver Van Driver, before moving into acting with a touring "rep" company. In the 60's he played in many of the hit TV series such as Z Cars & Coronation Street, but it wasn't until after nearly 25 years in the business that he became an "overnight success" in Only Fools & Horses.

Tenbury Mistletoe Auction Attracts Brisk Trade

A full auction site of Mistletoe, Holly, Wreaths & Trees attracted a large crowd of buyers from across England, Scotland, Wales and beyond for the first of the seasons sales.

Tenbury High School Pupils from the
Mistletoe Messenger Group discuss their
publication with Green Santa.

In addition to the ranks of press and photographers from the local & national press, pupils from Tenbury High School were selling copies of the Mistletoe Messenger and Destination Worcester's Green Santa was also in attendance.


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For one night only!

"World renowned for his dynamic and challenging performances, allow Ben Haggarty to lure you into the richly metaphorical world of a full-blooded fairytale for grown-ups. 

Dark, beautiful and startling by turn, this is a story of dreams, initiations and the repayment of debts - a journey from innocence to experience which delves into a disconcertingly familiar narrative world. Ben Haggarty performs with infectious charm and ease - fierce, fast paced, and unashamedly magical."

Ben Haggarty is performing in Tenbury for one night only on Saturday 26th November only part of the Mistletoe Season.  Tickets available from the TIC, Books, Books, Books, Special Occasions and online.

This performance is suitable for children over 12 and adults.

There is also a Sunday afternoon performance for children over 8 and their families.

Sticky but Fun

Todays lantern workshop was a fun filled success with children of all ages (about 60 throughout the day) trying their hands at creating new lanterns for this years Tenbury Wells Santa & Lantern Parade, or helping to re-skin old lanterns.

The Pump Rooms, which had been specially adapted with plastic sheeting on the floor, was awash with willow withys, cling film, tissue paper and pva glue.

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Mistletoe Messenger is Launched

Mistletoe Messenger, the event programme for the 2011 Mistletoe Season containing, Mistletoe Mischief, Miscellany and lots of information about Mistletoe is now on sale at shops throughout Tenbury.

This comprehensive and well produced booklet (40 odd pages) was produced by a team of children from Tenbury High School (with a little outside help).  Proceeds from the sale (50p each) goes to The Starlight Children's Foundation and Help for Heroes.

Available from: The Tourist Information Centre, Books, Books, Books, The Little Sweet Shop, Special Occasions, The Barn Shop, Country Flowers, Clockhouse, Bowketts, Soap Opera, Nice Things & Tenbury News.

Worcester Evening News

Large Crowds Watch Lights Switch On

Hundreds of people lined Teme Street in Tenbury Wells late yesterday afternoon for the annual switching on of the Christmas Lights. Part of the street had been turned into an outside disco complete with Lasers and other lighting effects. (which made photography almost impossible - Thanks Sunshine!)

Sunshine Radio hosted the event from the top of their open top double decker bus.  There was a surprise visit from Father Christmas, and a walk about by Ray the Sunshine Cat.  

The lights were switched on by Tenbury Mayor, Liz Weston.

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The Bridge will be closed for 10 weeks or less!

Worcester County Council announced tonight that they have appointed Birmingham based Volker Fitzpatrick and their Worcester based sister company Laser as main contractors for the repair of Tenbury's Teme Bridge.

The bridge is still scheduled to close on 9th January but the plan is for the work that involves the road closure to be completed by 16th March.  This period also includes some contingency time so that there is a possibility that it could open even sooner.

A temporary car park will be established for 50 cars on the North side of the bridge and the old cattle market will be repaired and marked out for parking on the south side.  The charge in the MHDC Teme Street car park will be reduced to 10p for up to 2 hours.

Landrover are sponsoring an additional 4x4 vehicle so that Police will have additional cover and all the Police Officers radios now contain trackers so that the control room can task the nearest officer to any incident.  Police numbers will also be maintained at normal operation levels for the duration and any absences will be back-filled by officers from other areas.

Hereford & Worcester Fire & Rescue Services will maintain two appliances at the Burford Station and an additional appliance will be based at the Bromyard Road Business Park.  Additional appliances will be tasked from Bromyard & Leominster automatically for all calls rather than the current system of calling them in if required.

Ambulance cover will remain the same with vehicles being tasked from Leominster, Bromyard, Ludlow & Kidderminster.  The destination hospital may vary depending on where the patient lives.

A temporary shuttle bus will run from Bromyard Road Business Park to Lloyds Bank and back.  There is an ongoing discussion about providing a bus from the North end of the bridge to the hospital, but this hasn't been finalised.

The main signed diversion routes will be via main roads.  The smaller "local" diversion routes will have a weight restriction of 7.5 tonnes (except for access).  All these routes will be treated (gritted) should the need arise.

Tenbury's Fallen Servicemen Remembered.

As far a military towns go, Tenbury Wells is probably not one that springs readily to mind, but ever since the Napoleonic wars local families have had to count the cost in human terms of the loved ones who didn't return from military conflicts all over the world.

In his 500 page book, Roy Winton, the Treasurer of the Tenbury British Legion explores the story of courage, sorrow and loss behind each of the 200 men who gave their lives to Sovereign and Country.

The earliest story in the book is that of Edgar Knott who lost his life in the Boer War and the most recent is that of Stephen Hicks, an airman who lost his life in the first Gulf War in 1991.

The book, For Sovereign and Country is available at Books Books Books and the Tenbury Tourist Information office and would perhaps make an ideal Christmas present.

"Coming to a screen near you"

One of the top Christmas themed films is being screened by Flicks in the Sticks at Tenbury High School on Friday evening as part of the Tenbury Mistletoe Season.

Tickets can be bought online from http://www.tenbury-mistletoe-festival.co.uk/ at the Tenbury TIC or on the door.

Tenbury Memorial Parade 2011

I don't know if it's my imagination but the Tenbury Wells & District Memorial parade seems to be getting bigger each year.  Once again bright sunshine and this year warm temperatures welcomed the representatives from the many local forces & uniformed organisations as well as representatives from the three levels of local councils.  There was even a representative from Royal Mail & (if I heard correctly) The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes.

Additional Photographs.

Being Boycie at Books Books Books.

Local actor John Challis will be signing copies of his autobiography "Being Boycie" at Books Books Books from 12 noon on Tuesday 29th November.

John is best known for his portrayal of Boycie the the dodgy car dealer from Only Fools And Horses and the spin off series, The Green Green Grass.

The book charts his early years as the son of a cautious and pedantic man from the Admiralty and a rather more flamboyant mother.

His early career included a spell working at an Estate Agent and as a Deliver Van Driver, before moving into acting with a touring "rep" company. In the 60's he played in many of the hit TV series such as Z Cars & Coronation Street, but it wasn't until after nearly 25 years in the business that he became an "overnight success" in Only Fools & Horses.

Tenbury Remembers

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn. 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning 

We will remember them.

(Extract of Poem by Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

Members of the numerous town organisations and a sizeable crowd joined the Royal British Legion and other Tenbury Services organisations in a short ceremonial event to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

Euton Peters the young trumpeter from the Teme Valley Band is congratulated and thanked for his excellent playing of the Last Post, and Reveille during the event.

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Come along and Have your Say!

Burford and Tenbury Wells Communities

Joint Toolkit Evening Event

Tuesday 22nd November 2011

6.30.pm – 9.45 pm

at

Tenbury Wells Primary School

There will shortly be an opportunity to tell the Tenbury Area Partnership your thoughts on what it is like to live or work in the communities that together make up the Burford and Tenbury Wells area and to give your views about what would help your community to develop now and in the future.

30 to 40 people are invited to sign up for a ‘community toolkit’ group discussion event. This will be organised by Shropshire Council with Worcestershire and Malvern Hills Councils. 

The event will help the Tenbury Area Partnership (which includes the Councils as well as voluntary groups, schools and the Chamber of Trade) to gather up-to-date information about the area, which will help in guiding ongoing and future work in the local communities. 

The event is the first joint one of its kind and is building on consultation carried out by the Tenbury Area Partnership conducted throughout 2011. 

Representatives of all age groups are welcome and ideally from across the whole area, ranging from 11 years old through to parents with children and retired people are being sought and the organisers are especially keen to hear from people who may not have been involved in anything before, as well as from those already active in their community. Teas and coffees will be available from 6.30pm and there will be a midpoint break for light refreshments including cakes.

If you would like to take part, please get in touch by noon on Thursday 17th November 2011 with Mrs Lois Dale at Shropshire Council (01743 255667)lois.dale@shropshire.gov.uk

  

Tenbury Teme Bridge - Update

Residents and traders are being offered the opportunity to find out more about the plans for essential works on Tenbury's Teme Bridge due to start in the new year. 

A second "Public Briefing is taking place on 17 November at Tenbury High School, in Oldwood Road. The event starts at 7.30pm.

Click here for full article.

Tenbury Regal to get new management

Tenbury Town Council have backed the proposal for the newly renovated Regal Cinema to be run and managed by a Management Trust.

One Cllr described the Regal as an "important Multi Media centre of activity" and thought the proposal was an excellent idea.  Another Cllr said that this "needs to be run as a commercial enterprise and councils (all councils) are not good at running commercial enterprises."

Tesco decision delayed again

Cllr Phillip Grove the Leader of MHDC has confirmed that no decision on the Tesco application to develop the Tenbury Cattle Market site will be made this year. He also couldn't confirm that the planning permission would be ready for the January 2012 planning meeting either.

Tenbury's New Deputy Mayor

Following the resignation of Cllr Mound, Cllr Sue Corfield has been appointed as Deputy Mayor.