News Archives 2022-4th quarter

News, Media & Press in 2022 4th Quarter

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MARTIN Lesley Eleanor Of Oswestry, formerly of Wellington.

Passed away peacefully on December 7, 2022 at The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. Aged 83 years.

Beloved Wife of Peter. Loving Mother of Jane. Mother-in-Law of Matt and much loved Granny of Niamh and Beth.

Funeral Service at Emstrey Crematorium Shrewsbury on Wednesday, December 28 at 11.30am.

Family flowers only please but donations, if desired, to Dementia UK.

Borderland Rotary busy at Christmas

It’s been a busy run up to Christmas at Borderland Rotary as Justin and Sherie Soper headed out to run the Tree of Wishes. Firstly, Morrisons Supermarket in Oswestry raising money for local school Breakfast Clubs, and was this year, supported by AICO. Then the next week, another at the Orthopaedic Hospital raising money for presents for patients on the Alice Children’s Ward. This was supported by the League of Friends and Borderland Rotary.

Borderland present long serving Rotarian with prestigious award.

The Mayor, Cllr Jay Moore, joined Borderland members and guests at their Christmas Party as they celebrated another successful Rotary year and the fact that one of their own, Jonathan Jones was receiving an extremely prestigious award, made it that bit more special.

Borderland president, Chris Bryan-Smith said, “Jonathan has been with Borderland since the early 1990s and has arranged just about every major event that the club has ever been involved with. The Borderland Mountain Bike Challenge started in 1994, the Christmas Parade for most of this century and the Oswestry Fireworks, which this year was held at The Venue due to unforeseen circumstances. He not only runs these events but still finds time to arrange the Pantomime at Rhydycroesau (January 2023) as well as being a husband, father and grandfather, working full time and tending to sheep and horses in his ‘spare time’. As Jonathan already received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award way back in 2005, the only thing we can do is award him the very rare, Paul Harris Fellowship Sapphire Award. The first ever to be awarded by Borderland”.

The mayor, when presenting the award said, “You have brightened the lives of so many people in the wider community around Oswestry and I was thrilled to be asked to present this award, it is richly deserved”.

Jonathan replied, “This award is not for me but for everyone at Borderland and in the community that help make these events possible – don’t forget the old saying, there’s no I in team”.

To which the mayor retorted, “I don’t think there’d be much of a team without you, Jonathan!”.

The Paul Harris Fellowship Award is named after the founder of Rotary. It was awarded for service that is way above and beyond what is normally expected of a Rotarian and to receive it once is very special, but to get it twice is both unusual and quite remarkable – as is the work that Jonathan has done for this community over the years.

Oswestry Christmas Parade

The weather was kind, the thronging crowds were generous and the parade became a carnival of joy with a smile on every face.

Oswestry Christmas parade was bigger and better than ever on Saturday, with more than 40 wonderfully decorated floats, many vintage vehicles – and all led by a magnificent traction engine.

The streets were packed long before the Porth-y-Waen Brass Band marched by with their stirring Christmas music and a general warm party atmosphere welcomed the parade as music blared and the children on the floats danced and waved and threw sweets to the wide eyed audience.

Jonathan Jones, who organises the parade for Borderland Rotary said, “I’m thrilled that the parade has brought so much joy to the town. Yes, we were raising money to support the parade and local good causes but the real aim is to bring the Oswestry community together with something positive, Christmassy and fun. I hope this will stick in the minds of some of the children for ever.”

BBC Radio Shropshire’s Paul Shuttleworth broadcast his show from Red Square and did a live video feed on Facebook as the parade went past and brought the parade to life for all those on social media.

https://www.facebook.com/701496997/videos/5997893476897423/

Borderland Rotary to help the Bees at Derwen College

Anna Evans, from Derwen College in Gobowen visited Borderland Rotary the other day to update them about activities and projects underway at the college. Having made a donation from the bookstall they ran at a college open day, Borderland’s Harry Richardson and Sherie Soper received a certificate of thanks from Anna. She went onto outline various plans for the New Year, one being the expansion of their Bee Keeping programme. Anna said, “We already have a few hives and we’ve sold the resulting honey in the Garden Centre Shop, and it proved extremely popular and sold out in no time. The team are formulating a ‘progress plan’ which will involve rearing Queen bees to sell. This use of different techniques in beekeeping will further boost the skills of the students. It’s fascinating stuff and I hope to learn more about it myself as it develops.” Borderland are committed to help with the future of these bees as it fits in with the Rotary’s Operation Pollination, which promotes the development of new bee-friendly areas and the protection of existing habitats.

Flowers for Christmas

Borderland Rotary entertained Margaret Evans, from the Oswestry and Borders Flower Club as she discussed the history of British flower arranging and suggested how to make the best of blooms at Christmas.

Remember and give thanks

Members of Borderland Rotary would like to thank all those that served in so many ways over so many years. They may have gone from our sight but they still command out respect and gratitude for the sacrifices they made defending their comrades and country.

WOW - What a night

We can’t thank you all enough for putting your faith into Manic Events and Borderland Rotary this year to bring you Oswestry’s Bonfire & Firework night.

We need to mention Festival Fireworks who blew us away with your incredible display.

We’re incredibly proud to say that we had over 3,000 people attend our inaugural Fireworks.

We will be announcing in the coming days how we will be distributing the profits to local organisations so keep an eye on our socials to see how you can apply.

Thank you to The New Saints of Oswestry Town FC and The Venue at Park Hall for allowing the display to take place on their land.

Last but not least I must thank the Manic and Rotary Teams who worked incredibly hard to feed, water, entertain and keep you all safe.

Bonfire Night - Sat. 5th November - Venue change

Oswestry Town Bonfire & Fireworks Display will now take place at Parkhall TNS Football ground.

Lighting the Bonfire at 7.30 pm followed by spectacular Fireworks

Borderland Rotary to help with Garden for Alice.

Borderland Rotary have pledged to help the RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital with their appeal to raise money for a new Garden for Alice that will be established in the grounds adjacent to the Alice Paediatric Ward so that young people will have direct access from the ward and be able to enjoy fresh air in a pleasant and safe environment.

RJAH charity director, Victoria Sugden, visited Borderland and explained that she wants to make the garden a 'real sanctuary' for children, when hospital becomes their life. She went on to say, “Although the target figure is quite large, it’s support from groups like the Rotary that make all the difference as the donation will go straight into the fund for the exciting garden design, which is being done by Olivia Copley, who is currently studying for her Royal Horticultural Society diploma”.

The garden will be specifically designed to offer therapeutic features, such as a covered canopy, a woodland walk, vegetable patch, a garden room, moon arches and much more.

If you would like to make a donation towards the garden, please visit the dedicated fundraising page at

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/gardenforalice

Victoria Sugden

Borderland Rotary visit Osnosh

Members of Borderland Rotary visited Osnosh Community Kitchen for lunch and learned about the way it is run and enjoyed delicious food and hospitality. Planned as a charity lunch to raise some funds for the project and find out what could be done in future to further support the activities. Chris Bryan-Smith, Borderland president said, “I’ve often visited Osnosh and admired the great service they provide for so many diverse people in the town and felt that Borderland should try and help them in some small way, and I hope our lunch there will be just the beginning.”

Osnosh was set up in 2018 as a Community Interest Company as it was identified that waste food from supermarkets and hunger were rising in parallel and using the waste to feed the hungry would make total sense – and it does.

Chris continued “We were also shown the roof kitchen garden and told about all the other great activities that go on throughout the week at the Centre by Ruth from Martin & Jones Marketing, who give their services free of charge. I’d really like to thank Donna, Gareth, Ben, and all the volunteers that made us so welcome and our visit such a success – thank you all.”

Have a look at www.osnosh.co.uk and think about how you may be able to help in some way.

World Polio Day

In celebration of World Polio Day 2022, on the 24th of October, Borderland Rotary with the help of young people from local schools and other volunteers have planted an additional 4,000 purple crocus this autumn.

Oswestry School students planted 1,000 on their school grounds.

Whittington Castle Preservation Trust planted 600 around Whittington Castle.

STAR Housing planted 1,200 on land they manage off Unicorn Road in Oswestry.

600 more purple crocus corms were given to two of our Rotakids clubs in local Primary Schools, The Meadows Primary School and Holy Trinity Primary School for their pupils to plant on their school grounds.

This years planting joins the previous 20,000 purple crocus planted in various locations around Oswestry over the last 5 years as part of Rotary's 'Purple for Polio' international programme.

Borderland Rotary celebrate RYLA - for the last time

Students, Luca Ruby and Toby Cawkwell, their families, and facilitators joined Rotarians to celebrate the final RYLA hosted by Borderland in August with key Rotarian, Paul Crosby who introduced the scheme to Borderland Rotary and has been actively involved for the past 22 years. RYLA has since spread throughout the UK.

RYLA stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Award and is an annual leadership course held at Arthog Outdoor Education Centre, near Barmouth, Mid-Wales and has been run by Borderland Rotary for the last twenty years, but this year was the last as the project is being handed over to the Passport Rotary Club. As well as developing leadership skill, entrants are given the overall task of setting up a business and are faced with many physical and mental challenges which may include, building a raft to cross a river, traversing a cliff face, map reading and much more. As each task is successfully achieved; they earn RYLA Dollars which help them to understand and appreciate the difficulty and rewards of teamwork, business and life in general as they work towards their goals.

The students had the opportunity to talk about their experiences at RYLA and it was most interesting and entertaining and supported by audio visual presentations. Luca said, “I learnt all sorts of new skills but mostly, I found out more about myself.” With pictures and text Toby commented, “My confidence grew throughout the week and I feel it will help with my future in so many ways”.

Paul Crosby said, “Firstly, I’d like to thank all the people who have helped with RYLA over the years, I’ve had so much support in so many ways. When I first came across the project on a visit to Australia in 2000, I never imagined it would run for more than twenty years or that it would be such a great success. It’s been a big part of my life but it’s time to pass it on, and although I’m pleased to see it continue, under new, very able management, I shall miss being part of it.”

Book your place in the Christmas Parade now

Planning for the Oswestry Christmas Parade on Saturday 3rd December is a year-round enterprise but when the leaves turn from green to brown, it’s time for everyone to start getting involved and preparing for their part in the festivities.

Jonathan Jones, who organises the parade for Borderland Rotary said, “There have been lots of meeting behind the scenes to get the route sorted, the roads closed so that the parade, which brings joy to so many, can go ahead and if you wish to be a part of this great endeavour, step forward and book your space. We’ve seen the parade grow and grow over the years and even Covid didn’t stop it, in fact, I think it came back stronger and let’s hope it can, once again, cheer Oswestry and get everyone in the mood for Christmas.”

Research suggests that the first parade was held way back in 1954 and although organised by the Round Table Club, the Army was an integral part providing not one, but two military bands which were based at nearby Park Hall military camp. The parade continued when the army left town but by the late 90’s it seemed to be going downhill but luckily Borderland Rotary stepped in and it has seen a steady growth over the last twenty years. Long may it continue.

Jonathan continued, “So put the 3rd December in your diary and If you want information about entering the parade, please contact me on jonathanmjones5@gmail.com and we can get together to put loads of smiles on loads of faces!”.

Jonathan Jones

Borderland Rotary host Macmillan Coffee Morning at Oswestry Market

Borderland Rotary hosted Macmillan Cancer Coffee Mornings at Oswestry Street market on Friday and were not blown away by the weather but by the fantastic response of the people of Oswestry. As usual the delicious coffee was provided by Lynda Jones from Llynclys Farm in her little van and the magnificent range of cakes by Sean Evans from Sweeney Hall Hotel while Harry Richardson set up the stand and coordinated the event for Borderland. Harry said, “It all started very well and it was quite sunny but funnily enough, as the weather got worse, the takings went up and I was really impressed by the generosity of all the people that stopped for a chat as the rain poured down. We’ve been doing the coffee morning for some years now, apart from Covid of course, but we’ve never taken so much money and I’m so grateful to everyone that gave so freely in these difficult times and I’d like to thank Lynda and Sean for making it possible.”

Sean, from the Sweeney Hotel said, “I always look forward to doing this event as it’s a chance for me to give something back and get out and meet everyone and I’m obviously thrilled to see that people seem to enjoy the cakes we make at the hotel, long may it continue.”

Harry continued, “Having added the money up, we took just over £650 and I think that total was well worth getting wet for.”