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YOUR LOCAL MAGAZINE For Shrewsbury FREE Severn MAGAZINE ISSUE # 8

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Issue 8 of the Severn Magazine.

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Page 1: Severn Magazine Issue 8

YOUR LOCAL

MAGAZINEFor Shrewsbury

FREE

SevernMAGAZINE

ISSUE # 8

Page 2: Severn Magazine Issue 8

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SEVERNMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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Welcome

Business news 4Clothes Show Live 9Town Crier 10Vicki Archer 12Katie’s Kitchen 14Steve Morris Photography 16Theatre Severn 20Round Table 22Shrewsbury Boxing Club 23Brass Band 24Shrewsbury this Summer 28County Channel TV 30Shrewsbury College 32Frostfi re 34Make-up, hair & beauty 36White Rooms 38Sainsburys 40Miruji 42Health & fi tness 43 Pandas Foundation 46Political appointments 48Pinboard 50

It’s been a busy couple of months in and around Shrewsbury with all the superb events going on. It seems a long time ago now but it all started with Jessie J in the Quarry and has continued all summer with a wide variety of

acts, musicians and shows. Despite the weather’s attempts to sabotage it we all had such a fabulous summer here at Severn magazine that we decided to put together a montage of some of our favourite pictures. Take a look at our centre spread, I hope you enjoy the memories as much as I did.

I have been taken aback since I started Severn Magazine by just how many charities there are in Shrewsbury. I’m constantly amazed by the great work they do in the community and this issue highlights a couple of these great organisations. We’re always looking to feature more so if you would like your charity in a future issue and you are based right here in Shrewsbury please get in touch.

It’s great to see new businesses popping up around town, especially in these tough economic times, so we’ve featured some of them in the business news section, good luck to you all! This issue also sees our regular mix of features about Shrewsbury and recent news and developments in and around the local area. We’re always on the lookout for new stories and if you feel there’s an issue we should focus on then do please get in touch.

Severn Magazine seems to be getting more and more popular and this is wonderful news for us. Unfortunately we can only print 10,000 magazines so we can’t deliver a copy to everyone but remember (along with all the usual places where you can fi nd one) you can now also pick up a copy of Severn Magazine from Sainsburys Meole Brace near the self service checkouts.

See you soon!

Cover image: Steve Morris www.stevemorrisphotography.comPlease mention ‘Severn Magazine’ when responding to all advertisements.Tel: 07522 258776 | Fax:01952 403054 | Web: www.severnmagazine.co.uk

TO THE LATEST ISSUE OF SEVERN MAGAZINE.

Severn magazine is published by Darwin Publishing Limited, 12 Little Meadow Close, Admaston, TF5 0DN. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form without the written permission of the copyright owner. The editorial opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Darwin Publishing Limited, its employees, agents or advertisers. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, Severn magazine cannot accept responsibility for any errors in articles or advertisements.

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Michael TinklerPublisher & [email protected] PooleyFeatures EditorCurtis [email protected] [email protected]

HELLO!

THE TEAM

CONTENTS

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BUSINESS NEWS

I ’m Julie and I run Dresses at Julies based in Shawbury near Shrewsbury, just off the A53

(behind the Co-Op). I sell and hire long dresses for just about any special occasion such as balls, proms, parties and much, much more. I’ve been established since December 2009 and I am still going strong, looking to expand.

I love clothes, always have, it’s in my blood so to speak as my grandfather was a tailor and my sister has a wedding/

A fter a successful launch of Wem Family Chiropractic 1 year ago, Dr Glenn Fredericksen

– a doctor of Chiropractic, is excited to announce that Shrewsbury Family Chiropractic is open for business!

Glenn is a New Zealand born and trained Chiropractor and has been in the United Kingdom for over 3 years helping people not only regain their health, but maintain it for life. He is really enjoying living in the Shropshire County and exploring all it has to offer.

Glenn moved to Shrewsbury 1 year ago bringing with him a positive and proactive approach to health and wellness through natural chiropractic care and incorporating healthy nutritional and exercise habits.

“Since moving to Shrewsbury, I have been eager get business going so I can start to make an impact on the health of the community. Now I have found the right offi ce to get things started and it’s in the town centre and ready for giving you a healthy boost.”

For more information or to make an appointment with Glenn please contact the practice on 01743 455 245, email [email protected] or go to www.shrewsburyfamilychiropractic.co.uk

Shrewsbury Family Chiropractic is located at:

The Old Grammar School House, School Gardens, SY1 2AJ.

Shrewsbury Family Chiropractic gets your health back on track

occasionwear boutique in the South. I feel whatever size or age we are us ladies always want to fi nd something that is fl attering to our shape. I pride myself on not only fi nding beautiful dresses in sizes from 4 to 30, but the personal service that I offer, in a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. No pressure to buy, no obligation appointments. So if you are looking for that special dress for now or in the future please give me a ring I would love to hear from you. Julie x

for special occasions

the community. Now I have found the right offi ce to get things started and it’s in the town centre and ready for giving you a healthy boost.”

For more information or to make an appointment with Glenn please contact the practice on 01743 455 245, email [email protected] or go to www.shrewsburyfamilychiropractic.co.uk

Shrewsbury Family Chiropractic is located at:

The Old Grammar School House, School Gardens, SY1 2AJ. for special occasions

Flattering dresses

Contact Dresses at Julies on 07510 260648 or email [email protected] or visit the website www.dressesatjulies.co.uk

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BUSINESS NEWS

A fter years of looking for the right property for their business, local Shropshire

company The Carpet Bank have fi nally found a suitable location in Shrewsbury.

Rob Cave, owner of the business, has been trading in Wellington for 25 years and saw a former Congregational Church in Coton Hill as the perfect place to expand his business into.

The building is stunning from the outside and lends itself ideally to displaying the Carpets, Beds and Cushion fl oors. The Bed showroom upstairs is a magnifi cent room with the original stained glass windows and painted ceiling, somewhere that has to

be seen to be believed.The building also has a large free

car park, something of a premium for a store in Shrewsbury Town Centre.

The size of the building is ideal for roll stock and around 100 remnant end of rolls.

The new showroom is open 7 days a week and they offer a professional no obligation measuring service free of charge.

As a family owned business, they pride ourselves on customer service and promise a fast and effi cient service at all times.

For more information telephone 01743 366444

Stunning new location for local business

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BUSINESS NEWS

A new interiors fi rm which can breathe new life into your current kitchen without the

hassle of replacing everything in it, has just opened its Shrewsbury showroom.

Kitchen Revivals is the brainchild of partners Simon Wray and Darren Smith. Simon already owns an established fi rm, Flintstones, which has been trading for six years creating beautiful granite work surfaces at its Telford factory.

Darren, who has a background in sales said: “It seemed a natural progression to move into the kitchen business. However we wanted to do something a bit different, we wanted to offer quality kitchens at affordable prices thereby completely transforming a kitchen at the fraction of the cost.”

“In a lot of cases people are removing their entire, old kitchens and replacing them with the exact same layout,” said Darren. “We say take a closer look at your kitchen, the doors, drawers, worktops and appliances. They may be well worn but in most cases the kitchen units are in perfectly good order. So why rip them out?” This is where Kitchen Revivals comes in. We will replace your doors, drawers, worktop and appliances and

Shrewsbury woman Fran Robinson and best friend Sarah Knowles launched their “one stop wedding

shop” Big Little Things in 2010 and are now celebrating a busy season of contracts including an exclusive deal.

Award-winning cake decorator, Mrs Robinson, from Bayston Hill, makes a bride and groom their dream, bespoke wedding cake while Mrs Knowles makes the exclusive jewellery and accessories. They also co-ordinate a host of other large celebratory events.

Mrs Robinson, mother of two said: “We knew there were many different people you could contact and commission to provide a service or product for your wedding day but we wanted to take the hassle out of it and offer the full package of everything you would need on the big day.

“By combining our two artistic talents we have been able to do that and we have been left overwhelmed with the success. This season is particularly busy and we are looking forward to making many brides’ day a very special one.”

The pair’s services include cakes, fl owers, bridal accessories, fi nishing touches and also a new children’s range.

For more details on what the two women offer visit www.biglittlethings.co.uk, e-mail [email protected] or call 07769748950 for a no-obligation quote. Follow them on Twitter at @shropshiremade.

KITCHEN REVIVALS

BIG LITTLE THINGS

also add any new units which may be required, and this can all be done at a fraction of the cost of replacing the entire kitchen. We can also install and fi t the replacement kitchen with far less disturbance; usually the process to revive your kitchen can be done in one or two days so your new kitchen can be fully functioning in a very short time.”

All the doors and drawer fronts are made to measure so there’s no need to worry whether existing units are imperial or metric, and the fi rm’s catalogue of accessories offer a wide range of choice so all tastes are catered for.

Darren added: “We are local people, employing local tradesmen and offer a full guarantee on all our work. So why change the whole kitchen with all the inconvenience to you and the upheaval to your home? All that is necessary, in order to create a wonderful new kitchen, is to ‘Revive it’.”

The new showroom is located opposite the Household Recycling Centre at 30c Vanguard Way, Battlefi eld EnterprisePark, Shrewsbury SY1 3TG.● For further information contact Kitchen Revivals on 01743 441234www.kitchen-revivals.co.uk

also add any new units which may be also add any new units which may be

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Clothes Show LIVE!Clothes Show LIVE!Clothes Show LIVE!Clothes Show LIVE!Clothes Show LIVE!Severn Magazine has teamed up

with Clothes Show Live 2012 to bring you a chance of winning a

pair of tickets to this great event. Clothes Show Live, the UK’s largest

and most talked about fashion and beauty event, is this year preparing to stage the most fashionable, inspirational and interactive show in its 24 year history.

At the heart of British fashion, Clothes Show Live 2012 in association with Suzuki will take place from 7-11 December at Birmingham’s NEC celebrating fashion at its fi nest.

The fi ve day event will feature catwalk shows, designer guests, celebrities, makeovers, champagne bars, hundreds

of fashion and beauty brands to shop from as well as the spectacular 5,500 seat Fashion Theatre showcasing the best of British design.

Fronting this year’s show is British model Daisy Lowe, star of campaigns for the likes of Chanel, Vivienne Westwood and Topshop. Daisy will model in the Suzuki Fashion Theatre on Friday 7th December which this year is being presented by stylist to the stars Grace Woodward and Brit fashion designer of the moment, Henry Holland.

To enter simply email your answer to the question (above) to [email protected] marked with subject Clothes Show Live/Area Comp

By entering this competition entrants are agreeing to Clothes Show Live being allowed to get in touch with them

Closing Date 1st November 2012.

WIN tickets!

TICKET PRICES & PACKAGES 2012To book tickets please call the box offi ce today on 0800 358 0058 or to book online visit www.clothesshowlive.com

Standard - £27.00 including entrance to the show, plus a seat in the Suzuki Fashion Theatre

Platinum - £40.00 including fast track entry to the show, a platinum seat in the Suzuki Fashion Theatre, Show Guide and Show bag including goodies. This year the offi cial show bag is sponsored by Fuse Fashion Network.

Student discount – 20% off all tickets with a valid NUS card.

For more information or to make a booking over the phone call the box offi ce on 0844 581 1256.

Clothes Show Live 2012 is taking

place this year at which venue ?

a) Excel b) MEN Arena c) NEC

Question

COMPETITION

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Dogpole“When I am leading any

of my tours around Shrewsbury, one of

the most asked questions is, “What is the meaning of the word Dogpole?”

There are a few answers that might be given. One, is that there was a second ducking stool here in the 14th Century, another that it is derived from the medieval name for top or summit – “Pol” I.E top of the Wyle Cop, or alternatively it could be that in medieval times dogs were not allowed in the town so they had to tie them to a post hence a dog-pole!

However, the real reason is that part of the old inner town wall ran across this street and there was a small gate that people had to duck to get through so “Duck-hole” or, Dogpole, came into being.

At the top of Dogpole stands the

MARTIN WOOD ~ SHREWSBURY TOWN CRIER

T: 07718 951902

E: [email protected]

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impressive Newport House, built by Lord Newport between 1696 and the early 1700`s. It is said that this “New House” replaced an older timber framed house that was removed from here and re-erected at the entrance to the Castle, so in the medieval days when you moved house you did just that, you moved your house!

A few doors down is the Old House and this was used in the 1500`s by Mary Tudor, (Later Queen Mary) when she stayed in Shrewsbury for a short time before moving down to Ludlow Castle. On the opposite side of the road (in what is now a shop) stood the first Ear Nose and Throat hospital and the shop is still said to be haunted by a young girl who will talk to the customers until the owner appears.

Not to be outdone by any of the other streets in Shrewsbury, Dogpole had it̀ s fair share of public houses; The Plume, or Plume of Feathers was here in the 1890`s before it was closed and turned into a training school for servant girls. The Hen and Chickens stood on the site of what is now No. 8 Dogpole and this was a very large and impressive half timbered house that was the headquarters of a select group of prominent business men

OYEZ! OYEZ! OYEZ!

who met once a month for a sumptous meal. The Hen and Chickens dissapeared around 1890, and so did the club!!

In 1657 the Lord Newport is recorded as paying 1d, (1 penny) as rent for the Talbutts inn but no record is available to show when this closed.

This is a yet another road through town which has thousands of people travelling along it but not many people realise the wealth of history in each building, if only walls could talk!

See you next month....”

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VICKI ARCHER

TWITTER: VICKIARCHER1

WEB: WWW.VICKIARCHER.CO.UK

OUR VICKI

The

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I’M A MUM OF TWO MONSTERS WHO I ADORE (BUT WOULD SWAP FOR A TIN OF BEANS ON OCCASION), MARRIED TO GAV (MIGHT SWAP FOR BEANS AND MINI SAUSAGES) AND WORK SILLY HOURS DOING VOICE OVERS. YOU CAN FIND ME EACH AFTERNOON WITH ADAM GREEN ON BBC RADIO SHROPSHIRE 96FM.

LIFE IS BUSY, CHAOTIC AND WHEN I’M NOT TRYING TO GET TOOTHPASTE OFF MY TOP… I SCRIBBLE A COLUMN. ENJOY X

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Late September/early October, the same cry can be heard echoing around the boughs of the horse

chestnut trees in Attingham Park. “Are they ready yet?”

For weeks we’ve been charting the progress of conkers from tiny white, soft marbles to strong, whopping great spiky missiles that fall from a great height and then split open to reveal their glossy brown treasure. Nothing gives me greater satisfaction than kicking through the leaves to fi nd the best of the best, upgrading the one in your pocket each time for the ultimate champion conker.

Once home; skewered, knotted, ready. I’m facing my opponent. Eyes are

locked. Even at six years old I can see that he’ll have no issue with demolishing his own mother for the taste of victory. There was a time when I would let my children win at games to build confi dence. I would fake a trip in the last few metres of a running race, scribble out of the lines on purpose in a drawing competition or miscount the die to take the ‘slide of doom’ down that long snake on square seventy four. That time has passed. I don’t remember the crossover from pretending to lose to just losing, but I do remember working very hard in a game of chess to be told “You’re not even trying are you mum? Check mate!”

So here we stand, string wrapped around our hands, our prized conkers holding on, splintered and cracked but still going. I have the fi rst aid kit within reach and we’re both wearing sunglasses. Yes, it’s almost blind conkers but never let it be said that we are not safety

conscious in our house.My turn.Miss... The conker fl icks up and

smacks me on the knuckles. Ouch!Miss… This time it cracks my forearm

right on the bone. I may have whimpered but the small smile from my son has me all the more determined not to show weakness.

“One more and you’re out Mum. You forfeit your conker, the winner stays on and gets a biscuit.”

This is my moment. The Killer Smash! When I win he’ll learn a valuable lesson that will shape and mould his personality and help him grow into a wonderful human being. By winning this point I will show him that even when the chips are down, keep striving for your goals and anything is possible. I will show him that skills are something honed over time with patience, that age holds no barriers and women are equal to men, that you can’t always have it your own way… that...

Miss.Oh well. Life lessons another day

perhaps. Who wants a biscuit?

When I win he’ll learn a valuable lesson that will shape and mould his personality and help him grow into a wonderful human being.

Killer Smash

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Apple & raspberry

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WITH AUTUMN NEARLY HERE ITS TIME TO EMBRACE THE APPLE SEASON...

INGREDIENTS2 cups Plain Flour1/2 cup Brown Sugar1 Cooking apple2tsp Raspberry Jam2 Eggs 1/2 Cup of Milk50g Butter50g Butter

Shhhh secret ingredient:

2tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Bicarbonate soda

Dont tell the grown ups !

In a Bowl add all of the dry ingredients (including secret ingredient) Peel and core the apple and chop or grate Melt Butter add milk and eggs and whisk Put Apple and jam into dry ingredients bowl Add Eggs Milk and melted Butter Give a jolly good stir and put into a muffi n tin lined wit h 12 paper cases Cook for 10 minutes on 200 Degrees Allow to cool then dust with icing sugar A lovely end to the day treat with a cold glass of milk for little ones who have had a very busy day at school . Katie x

INGREDIENTS

KATIES KITCHEN FOR KIDS

T: 07971 499 359

E:[email protected]

Did you know some Apple trees live for over 100 years... Wow! Just think of all the pies you could make with 100 years worth of Apples!

KIDS RECIPE

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PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS

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Painting Charles Darwin

BY SHREWSBURY PHOTOGRAPHER STEVE MORRIS

The statue of Charles Darwin as an older man sitting down outside the library is very

well known in the town. Perhaps slightly less well known is the statue at Shrewsbury School, unveiled by Sir David Attenborough in 2000. Here, Darwin is portrayed as a much younger man walking with his staff, satchel and scientific tools over rocks and lizards. On his face you can see the wonder and determination of a man about to change the world with scientific ideas that even today some people refuse to accept.

Having gained permission to photograph Darwin I set about trying to do justice to this fabulous statue and literally show him in a good light. Photographing a statue is much like photographing people - the basic rules of portrait photography apply just as well.

Try to get a simple background rather one which is distracting. There are number of buildings around the statue so I opted for a backdrop of trees instead.

Avoid strong light overhead as it makes shadows under the eye sockets.

If you use a light/flash don’t shine it directly onto the face from the front. This is unflattering and allows for little light and shade on the features. Sadly, with most point and shoot cameras you can’t avoid this! A light at 45 degrees to your shooting position is much better for modelling the face.

Make the subject bright and get separation from the background. This statue is made of bronze which is inherently dark. A light was clearly necessary to bring him to life!

My first daytime shot shows many of the pitfalls. The bronze is so dark that it’s difficult to get detail in the shade. The overhead sun caused darkness under the

STEVE MORRIS

WWW.SHREWSBURYINSOFTLIGHT.COM

WWW.STEVEMORRISPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

SEVERNMAGAZINE.CO.UK

eyes and there was just no magic.

LIGHT PAINTINGA different approach was needed and so I turned to ‘light painting’. Every photograph we take can be considered as painting or drawing with light. Indeed, the word photography is derived from the two Greek words ‘phos’ meaning light and ‘graphis’, meaning draw.

The idea is simple: wait for dusk or darkness, put the camera on a tripod, use a long shutter speed and light up the statue with a powerful flashlight to paint your subject with light. The amount of light is largely trial and error. A friend helped me to operate a large halogen torch while I controlled the camera. We had several attempts at lighting the statue from different distances and for different lengths of time. Look at the difference between the first photo taken in the day and the drama of the light-painted night shot.

Photography is all about the use of light and imagination. Any subject that stays still will lend itself to this technique, even buildings, if you have a big enough light. Why not get out there and give it a try.

with light

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THEATRE SEVERN

A busy

ahead for Theatre SevernOctober

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If you have been to Theatre Severn recently you will be aware that the new season’s brochure is out and the

programme up to the big pantomime is going to be a very busy one.

Each month as reviewer for Love Shrewsbury.com I am also a previewer and hope to steer you towards the little gems and nuggets of entertainment that are coming our way here in the county town’s ever popular venue. In this column I will pick out shows deemed worthy of an extra special mention by the theatre so alleviating any possibility of you missing something. Heaven forbid. So what is on its way in October?

Firstly I will draw your attention to the two man stage show of Tressall’s classic, “The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist.” Following a team of decorators in Edwardian times the show bounces along with humorous Edwardian songs and raises questions that only many years were answered. Does the working man have any rights? In a maelstrom of ideology and change, Owen the eponymous philanthropist joins the gang and starts to espouse his socialist beliefs. As part of its sell out tour The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist will be in the Walker Theatre on Wednesday the 10th of October at eight pm.

Still focusing on the Walker Theatre we move to the Twelfth of the month to join the London Philharmonic Skiffle Orchestra. With their zany percussionist, Captain Cabbage, the band will take you on an eclectic journey of pure escapism. Known for their bright and colourful in your face type of entertainment it promises to be a good fun evening. Friday the 12th of October at eight pm.

Award winning comedy actor Tim Key will be in the Walker Theatre on Thursday the Eighteenth bringing his own brand of humour to the town. Tim has been seen as Alan Partridge’s sidekick in the hilariously funny, “Mid Morning Matters.” Tim who can also be heard with his own poetry show on Radio 4, was Bafta nominated and this year has taken the Chortles Award Best Show. Tim Key will be in the Walker Theatre at eight pm on the 18th of October.

Mother F sounds like an intriguing play, aimed at any one who has ever had a mother, which I think is most of us,

COMING UPWED 10 OCT The Ragged Trousered PhilanthropistFRI 12 OCT London Philharmonic Skiffle OrchestraTHU 18 OCT Tim KeySAT 27 OCT Mother F

following their Mother’s death two sisters peer through her old letters and find out a secret that will change their life forever. This highly amusing concept is directed by “Father Ted,” director Ben Keaton. Mother F is showing for one night only on the 27th of October in the Walker Theatre at eight pm.

Also coming up in October there will be the Shropshire County festival of remembrance, The Drifters will be in town, with Ghost stories from M.R. James and Dance from Viv Kelly variety is the key word for the coming month. Orbison fans will be delighted to know that Barry Steele will return with his amazingly accurate and entertaining tribute to the Big O. and Colin Fry will be back in town talking to the departed and sharing their thoughts with his usually packed audience. For music Seth Lakeman and The Christians will appear and with a weekend of classical ballet billed also it is indeed a crammed month.

Owen Lewis

THEATRE SEVERN

FRANKWELL QUAY

SHREWSBURY

SHROPSHIRE

SY3 8FT

T: 01743 281281

E: [email protected]

W: WWW.THEATRESEVERN.CO.UK

ahead for Theatre SevernOctober

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SHREWSBURY ROUND TABLE

W: WWW.SHREWSBURYROUNDTABLE.ORG.UK

Shrewsbury Round Table has been raising funds and donating to local good causes since 1950, and is still

going, but they need your support more than ever.

One of our most visible events is the Santa Sleigh, where every year we take it in turns to take Santa round the local houses and supermarkets to meet children and hear their Christmas wishes. When you see us this year, remember to give generously!

We receive requests every year for donations to distribute the money to, and after a lull in requests over the last few years, we were inundated this year

due to some front page publicity in The Chronicle. We held a Donations Evening where all the successful groups came along to receive their cheques and get their photos taken with Santa, making a special trip back from the North Pole for the occasion. We also take 200 senior citizens to the theatre every year for an evening out, all from our charity funds.

All this is run by a dedicated group of blokes aged between 18 and 45 who decide to meet twice per month to get up to something unusual, from rock climbing, canoeing and brewery visits to wheelchair netball or bowls. The principle of a fairly young leaving age

Knightsof the Round TableLOCAL FUND-RAISERS NEED YOUR HELP!

was established when the fi rst Round Table was created in 1927, and it keeps the organisation young. The challenge in these days when everyone is so busy is to get enough new blokes to join to balance out the leavers.

So if you see us on the sleigh, run a local group for the benefi t of others or are a bloke between 18 and 45 looking for something extra to do on a Monday evening, then you know what to do. Our website is at www.shrewsburyroundtable.org.uk. Go and have a look.

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URGENT

This was going to be an editorial about the great work Shrewsbury Amateur Boxing club does in

the community encouraging children to take part in sport activities, learning respect and keeping them off the streets but unfortunately this great club was hit by arsonists in the early hours of the 17th of September leaving thousands of pounds of damage and the club closed to all, including the many children who use it regularly.

Our article has turned into more of an appeal to the good natured local people of Shrewsbury to help get this club back on its feet. Donations are incredibly welcome but if you’re a local tradesman who can help the club, and you can spare a few hours, anything is gratefully received.

The Club Was Formed in 1960 and over the years has produced many champions from Midlands champions to national and international. Richie Woodhall being an example who won an

Olympic bronze medal in 1988 and then went on to win a world title as a Pro.

In recent years the club has worked with Severnside housing and also West Mercia police offering free sessions to kids.

The club does not only offer boxing but also a range of fi tness classes open to all including the ever popular mixed boxercise lessons which is a great alternative to going to a standard gym.

Shrewsbury Amateur Boxing Club is running a fund raising event on the 9th November at The Lord Hill Hotel and a Sportman Evening on the 1st of Dec to raise much needed funds. If you need more details please get in touch.

If you can offer any help/donation or would like to attend one of the

events please get in touch with Graham Rob on 07940585341 or go to http://www.facebook.com/shrewsabc

Plea

Can you help Graham Rob (inset) rebuild the Shrewsbury Amateur

Boxing Club?

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S hrewsbury Brass Band formed in 2012 and is a

traditional brass band based in Shrewsbury and is a registered charity. As well as the main band, there is also a training band to help us bring through players for the future.

The band is pleased to support many local charities and organisations by performing concerts. Recently the band has raised funds for Mayors Charity, Muscular Dystrophy UK, and Hope House Children’s Hospice.

The band is made up of 35 members and conducted by Shrewsbury musician Steve Pritchard-Jones. Steve is well known in the brass band world as an adjudicator and conductor and very proud to be the fi rst conductor of Shrewsbury Brass Band.

Shrewsbury Brass Band is a community, self-funded, non-contesting and unsponsored band and at present fund raising to buy new instruments, uniform and to develop the training band.

If you would like further information about the band or wish to book the band please see the website www.shrewsburybrassband.co.uk for contact details.

S hrewsbury Brass Band formed in 2012 and is a

Top BrassMEET THE DEDICATED MEMBERS OF SHREWSBURY BRASS BAND

adjudicator and conductor and very

contesting and unsponsored band and at present fund raising to buy new instruments, uniform and to develop

information about the band or wish

www.shrewsburybrassband.

Shrewsbury Brass Band is a community, self-funded, non-contesting and

unsponsored band and at present fund raising to buy new instruments, uniform

and to develop the training band.

SHREWSBURY BRASS BAND

W: SHREWSBURYBRASSBAND.CO.UK

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SHREWSBURY SUMMER 2012

Shrewsburyin picturesthis summerShrewsburyShrewsbury

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SHREWSBURY HAS SEEN MANY GREAT EVENTS THIS SUMMER WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ATTENDING. ENJOY SOME OF OUR PICTURES.

SHREWSBURY HAS SEEN

this summer

SHREWSBURY STREET FESTIVAL , SHREWSBURY FLOWER FESTIVAL , MINSTERLEY SHOW , JESSIE J CONCERT IN THE

QUARRY SHREWSBURY IMAGES © RICHARD HAMMERTON SHREWSBURY FOLK FESTIVAL IMAGES © CLIVE PADDEN

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Countychannel.tvOVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO LOCAL ONLINE TELEVISION CHANNEL

SEVERNMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Artist and Wildlife expert Ben Waddams being fi lmed for a new series, Wild About Shropshire. With Oli Ward & Tony Lewis

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After 18 months of hard work and determination, the team behind County Channel TV, lead by

producer Robert Harper and director Geoff Ward, launched Shropshire’s very own online television channel on Saturday 19th September.

“The response so far has been overwhelming”, said Robert, “from all corners of the county, and beyond, people are watching our programmes, and they love them. We’re thrilled to bits.”

“The public are really grabbing hold of what we’ve created and taking ownership of it for themselves. They’re getting the idea straight from the start, that what we’re doing is for everyone. It’s for the people of Shropshire.”

With new programmes being released each Saturday on the channel’s website at www.countychannel.tv, Geoff and Robert know they can’t stand still.

“Launching with a few programme formats is one thing, but we’ve got to keep the momentum going and make new programmes all the time,” said Geoff. “And we have some great new shows in production that we’re really looking

forward to sharing.”One of those shows is a brand new

book review programme called Your Book Show, presented by Robert Harper & Vicki Archer. More than a simple book review programme, they want you to take part too by sending in your reviews of titles from a specially selected book list. Check out the Your Book Show pages on the website for more details.

We’ll be watching County Channel TV each weekend and we suspect you will be too!

SEVERNMAGAZINE.CO.UK

FACEBOOK: HTTP://FACEBOOK.COM/COUNTYCHANNELTVTWITTER: HTTP://TWITTER.COM/COUNTYCHANNELTV

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FURTHER EDUCATION

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Collegedisappointed disappointeddisappointeduniversity hopefuls

CollegeCollegedisappointedCollegedisappointedCollegedisappointed

reassures

If your A Level results aren’t quite what you were hoping for there are still avenues to success to consider other than university.

FURTHER EDUCATION

If your A Level results aren’t quite what you were hoping for there are still avenues to success to consider other than university.

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SHREWSBURY COLLEGE IS ENCOURAGING THOSE WHO DIDN’T GET THE GRADES THEY NEEDED FOR UNIVERSITY NOT TO PANIC.

T he College is historically a vocational college and this is still an important part of its work

but it has become much more as well, teaching qualifi cations across a wide range of subjects and at all levels.

“Increasingly people are completing their entire Higher Education with us if they don’t achieve the A Level grades they require for university or decide that university isn’t for them.” said Chairman Turner, the College’s Marketing Manager.

Each year over 200 students graduate from university level courses at Shrewsbury College, ranging from a BA Honours Business Degree to a Foundation Degree in Complementary Therapies.

Mrs Turner also pointed out that local colleges have some big advantages over universities. “For one thing you build up far less student debt because college fees are lower than university fees, although the course you are doing is the same and colleges are regulated by the same agency as universities. Most people studying at college don’t have to live away from home, and that saves a lot in accommodation costs and avoids

Each year over 200 students graduate from university level courses at Shrewsbury College, ranging from a BA Honours Business Degree to a Foundation Degree in Complementary Therapies

SHREWSBURY COLLEGE

OF ARTS & TECHNOLOGY

LONDON ROAD

SHREWSBURY,

SHROPSHIRE

SY2 6PR

T: 01743 342342

W: WWW.SHREWSBURY.AC.UK

university hopefuls

build up far less student debt because college fees are lower than university fees, although the course you are doing is the same and colleges are regulated by the same agency as universities. Most people studying at college don’t have to live away from home, and that saves a lot in accommodation costs and avoids

Each year over 200 students

reassures disrupting your life.”The College also offers an Access to

Higher Education course, designed to help people improve their educational qualifi cations. The course is suitable for those who fell short of the grades they needed for university, but is also popular

with those who have been out of formal education for some time.

“The Access course leads to a nationally recognised qualifi cation that is accepted by universities,” continued Mrs Turner. “Moderator reports published earlier this year praised the course for outstanding internal assessment.

If you don’t achieve the A Level results you were expecting, don’t give up, look locally and see just how much is on offer. Call us on 01743 342342 to fi nd out more about the Access to Higher Education course or studying locally at university level.”

Caption: Pictured at this year’s Higher Awards Ceremony are graduating students (from left)

Kate Mead, Sarah Cattell and Kay Lewis

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Creatives at workLOCAL MARKETING COMPANY BRING MORE STYLE TO SHREWSBURY

James Wallace Warran Brindle

Before I moved to Shrewsbury I worked in the ad industry and had the pleasure of working with

some creative legends. I still have a keen eye for good design and creative thinking which is why Wearefrostfire just keep popping up on my radar.

A creative digital marketing company based in Belmont, it’s the brainchild

WEAREFROSTFIRE

4A BELMONT, SHREWSBURY

SHROPSHIRE, SY1 1TE

T: 01743 354444

E: [email protected]

W: WWW.WEAREFROSTFIRE.COM

Written by Sam pooley

of Warran Brindle and James Wallace. These two energetic, vibrant-coloured-trouser wearing creatives seem to have brought all the elements of a London agency to Shrewsbury with creative work that could rival any.

“We both have experience of working in London and have tried to bring the best aspects of that experience back to Shrewsbury. And we see that as a huge advantage and influence upon us and our clients.” says Warran Brindle, Co-founder

They certainly are having a positive influence on our town; local clients range from architects Arroll & Snell to The Silverton Hotel, restaurant Eat Up! and charity Hope House. National and international work includes YO! Sushi at Heathrow Terminal 3, Calypso soft drink and they have just launched a new High Street food and drink brand which

included retail design, branding, digital and packaging.

With all this they still find time to encourage young talent and have forged strong links with Shrewsbury Sixth Form College (for whom they did all the rebranding) with a placement system where students can get invaluable first-hand experience of a busy agency.

These busy boys always like to think outside the box and thrive on coming up with fresh innovative strategies for whomever they are working with; their cool personas instantly let you know that your design will be in safe hands. Their lead illustrator Sally Cotterill is another unique string to their bow and with their ability to produce excellent promotional films there isn’t an element of digital marketing that won’t be thought about. I think they’re fabulous.

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Creatives at work

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HAIR & BEAUTY

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RULE NUMBER 1:

W ash your hands before reaching out for makeup: You must have heard this

advice from your grandmother too, but it holds utmost relevance when it comes to applying your makeup. Keep an extra bottle of hand sanitizer in your hand bag for on-the-go makeup and touch ups.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE You wouldn’t cut hair with hedge trimmers so why do a masterpiece with dirty brushes?

MAKEUP BRUSHES AND SPONGESIt is extremely important to wash your sponges and makeup brushes on a weekly basis. The right way to wash your tools is by using a mild baby shampoo. Make sure you are squeezing out all the leftover water and dry it with a towel using soft hands. Professionally, makeup artists use Sterillium. You can also buy it from your nearby medical store. Just spray a little of the liquid onto a sheet of kitchen roll

Become your own

makeup artistand stroke the brush through the solution, you can see the product releasing itself from the brush hair. Ideally, you must clean your makeup brushes twice a week, depending upon your usage.

SAY NO TO IN-STORE TESTERSWould you be comfortable sharing your lip gloss with the girl standing next to you in a hotel restroom? Surely not! Same goes with the in-store testers. Testers can be a great way to see which colour, shade or brand will suit you the most but the fact is that they would have been tried and tested by several others before you. These can be packed with unknown bacteria and viruses and can be a store house of skin diseases. If you really need to use testers, scrape off the top layer of the lipsticks, use disposable applicators and sharpen any pencils you wish to try out.

BEST BEFORE DATESThey don’t just apply to your fridge contents… Check your products. This is something many women go wrong with!

makeupmakeup

T: 0044 (0)1743 343474 T: 0044 (0)1743 343388 T: 0044 (0)1743 343388

#187 Duo Fibre Stippling Brush RRP £32.50

tips and techniques

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L ike your skin, your hair ages. As our skin cells lose elasticity and our

complexion looks less radiant with age, so does our hair. Keratin fi bres, which make up the overall structure of the hair’s cuticle, tend to wear away with time. The result is structurally weaker, more fragile, dull and damaged hair. Aside from inevitable maturity, stress, city living, excessive heat styling and chemical colouring can all make your hair look older than you really are.

Therapy Age-defying is the fi rst luxury hair care from labelM designed to scientifi cally treat the adverse effects of hair ageing. The sulphate and paraben free solution incorporates Rejuven-8tmA complex, exclusive to labelM, and is infused with white caviar to actively replenish, revive and rejuvenate ageing hair.Therapy Age-Defying counters the fi ve key signs of hair ageing;■ It boosts collagen to smooth and reduce coarseness.■ It strengthens thin hair with volume-building proteins.■ It has moisture retention properties to combat dryness.■ It reinforces fragile hair and minimises breakage.■ It gives dull or greying hair increased luminosity.

IS IT THERAPY YOU NEED...? CALL ESSENSUALS (SHREWSBURY’S OFFICIAL STOCKISTS) ON 01743 343 388.

makeup artistWedge Sponges RRP £4.00

We wondered why and assumed that it may be because makeup products have the same odour, look and feel even after the expiry date. Preservatives, which are added to the makeup products to make them last longer, tend to be less effective letting microbes to grow within your bottles and tubes. As a result, unknowingly you will be applying bacterial makeup on your face which might lead to skin problems such as blemishes and rashes.

THE BATHROOM BANWell, let us admit it. We all tend to store our products in our bathroom cupboards for easy use. But do you know bathroom is one place which can be full of airborne bacteria? If you must store your makeup products in bathroom, keep them in air-tight containers.

CLEAN YOUR EYELINER AND LIPLINER WITH TISSUESSharpening your eyeliner and lipliner is a must before usage. Similarly it is a must to clean with a tissue. This will help you get rid of any kind of bacterial leftovers.

The trick lies in keeping your makeup products clean for safe and easy usage. And yes, share makeup ideas but not makeup products!

artist

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S kin heath maintenance is as important to your daily care regime as brushing your teeth!

Start with dermalogica skin heath essentials designed to deliver your best skin daily

Your skin is as unique as you are and is constantly changing due to lifestyle and seasonal changes! When specialized care is needed, dermalogica targeted treatments become the essential addition to your daily regimen.

Targeted treatments are powerful and able to help control a wide range of skin issues including signs of aging lips, oiliness and congestion in the t-zone, hyperpigmentation (age spots) and identifi ed areas of sensitivity.

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Enjoy a full range of salon services and

therapeutic treatments.

The White Rooms Beauty Salon is situated right in the heart of Shrewsbury town centre

at 12 High Street, within Essensuals Hair Salon. With a calm and tranquil atmosphere, this is an idyllic way to escape the hustle and bustle of the town centre without the expense of a plane ticket.

As the leading beauty salon in Shrewsbury, setting trends for services such as CACI (non-surgical face lift technology), HD Brows, Jessica Geleration, Dermalogica and LVL lashes, we have a fantastic reputation for executing each service with the upmost professionalism and to a fi ve star standard.

Denise Lesser is a highly trained and talented professional endeavouring to create a unique environment where both men and women can enjoy a full range of salon services and therapeutic treatments with the care, attention, and total relaxation of a spa resort without the expense.

Denise specialises in advanced intimate waxing and has an unbelievable reputation in other services such as Lava Shell Massage along with all the above beauty experiences.

CACICaci is at the forefront of new scientifi c and technological breakthroughs. CACI treatment systems truly deliver visible and corrective results without the need for surgery or invasive procedures. The dramatic results achieved using our exclusive technologies have attracted an impressive celebrity following including Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Lisa Snowdon T: 0044 (0)1743 343474

SEVERNMAGAZINE.CO.UK

and Martine McCutcheon. With the backing of A-list celebrities, CACI treatments are in very high demand.

With the most advanced non-surgical face-lifting system available within The white Rooms, the results (over the past 20 years) have been award winning and been voted the most effective anti-ageing treatment available on the market.

Famous for face lifting, the multi-functional ultimate machine also offers Skin Rejuvenation that targets fi ne lines, wrinkles, acne, skin blemishes and sun damage. CACI body treatments are also available.

settersTrend

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SAINSBURY’S SUPERSTORE

MEOLE BRACE RETAIL PARK

HEREFORD ROAD

SHREWSBURY

SY3 9NB

T: (01743) 244744

Children of Chernobyl

E very year 10 children from Belarus come over for a holiday. For 4 weeks in July/August

they stay with local host families here in the Shrewsbury area to give them a welcome break from their everyday struggles. The children take part in various activities and adventures whilst they’re here with the event being organised by Jane Elliot for the

Pictured are the children with Shelia Richards from Sainsburys at the Meole Brace store Shrewsbury.

visit Shrewsbury

LOCAL CHARITY

Chernoble Childrens Lifelines, Shrewsbury.

Sainsburys happily help every year and kindly donate food items and treats for the children’s camping weekend while they’re here to stay.

Belarus, is where most of Chernobyl Childrens Lifelines are mainly focused. Belarus received over 70% of the radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear explosion in April 1986 and as a result, every year thousands are born with (or go on to develop) thyroid cancer, bone cancer and leukaemia.

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Zen on the High-StreetRELAX ON THE BEACH IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN

MIRUJI BEACH SPA

T: 01743 600581

A: 9 ROUSHILL, SHREWSBURY,

SHROPSHIRE, SY1 1PQ

Miruji Beach Spa is situated in the middle of Shrewsbury town centre on the corner of

Roushill. Yes I did say beach; the spa actually houses its very own virtual beach. Picture the sound of waves lapping at the softest sand beneath your feet. Lying on the raffia loungers one is transported back to Thailand while a therapist massages hands, feet and head. It’s a surreal feeling knowing the town is rushing around outside. The beach is at a

constant 28 degrees using the same sun lamps that they use in Nordic countries to produce that sunny happy feeling on your face. There is no suntan produced from lounging under the lamps but the health benefits are evident the same lamps are used by the NHS in Norway.

The Spa has an oriental feel. It’s mostly candle lit, soft music playing and light scented oils in the air; as you enter you immediately feel a sense of calm. Hidden behind screens are the clever wellbeing chairs. The chairs help the user relax as they offer a full body massage while listening to an audio programme. The range of specialised audios use neuro linguistic programming (NLP) and are recorded by professional mind coach, Tianne Crowshaw. They provide a narrative which not only helps the user relax, but also gives them tools and encouragement to begin to work on a number of issues, whether it is depression, anxiety, weight issues or smoking. The chair scans your body for tension and then gets to work needing and prodding. It is a strange feeling at first but once you accept the fact that a machine is doing the work the combination of chair and audio is very effective. Other gadgets on offer include head, feet and lower back massagers, trying all these out I was in a perfect state of Zen like calm ready for my full body massage. Strong and firm, it

was a wonderful way to spend an hour and a great balance after the beach.

The brainchild of this unique business is Alan Sharrock, a charismatic and softly spoken man he is passionate about the Miruji philosophy and the results he believes they can bring. He appeared on BBC TV’s Dragon’s Den in August 2011 and despite being rejected by the Dragons for financial backing, he went on to establish his own centres, which are growing from strength to strength. There are now five Miruji centres nationwide, in Brentford, Warnam, New Malden, and Putney as well as Shrewsbury, where Alan lives. He opened the doors in Shrewsbury in January and with memberships selling like hot-cakes has already added another treatment room on the floor above housing yet more magic chairs.

Times are hard and we all need to de-stress. Miruji’s special offer is a 2 hour pamper, including hands on massage for £20. A real bargain and an experience not to be missed.

SEVERNMAGAZINE.CO.UK

This month sees the launch of a brand new treatment – a one hour luxury manicure with 15 minutes relaxing on the beach for just £10!

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R ecent studies have concluded that there are benefi ts to mental and physical well-being from

exercising outdoors in the natural environment.

These benefi ts include greater feelings of revitalisation and increased energy, together with decreases in tension, anger and depression. Participants also reported greater enjoyment and satisfaction with outdoor activity.

(Findings published in the research journal Environmental Science and Technology)

Some of the most simple exercises can often be the most enjoyable and effective for achieving health and fi tness goals. From cycling and hill walking to more structured clubs and sports teams, the opportunities are varied and plentiful.

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BORED OF THE GYM?NEED SOME INSPIRATION TO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE

CALL TOM ON 07761 989433

W: WWW.FITNESSEXPERIENCE.CO.UK

get fi t?Do It Outdoors?WHY NOT

However, the hardest step is often knowing where and how to get started. Qualifi ed trainers Simon Macdonald and Tom Meehan of Ultimate Fitness Experience have developed a new ‘Intro to Bootcamp’ outdoor fi tness class here in Shrewsbury.

Encouraging people back into an active lifestyle using a variety of exercises to give a total body workout, Intro to Bootcamp is designed to cater for ladies of all ages and fi tness levels providing a sociable and friendly atmosphere for 1st timers who may be nervous or those looking to get back into exercise. Over 150 local people have already taken part in Ultimate Fitness Experience’s Bootcamps including new mums and over 55’s wanting to improve their fi tness and

build confi dence.Every Tuesday and Thursday

09:30am at our private outdoor facility based at Salop Leisure. Pay as you go for just £6 or book a number of sessions to get a discount.

Evening and weekend Bootcamps, Caveman Training and Personal Training sessions also available providing something for everyone.

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PANDAS FOUNDATION

You are not aloneRACHAEL’S BRAVE STORY OF HER BATTLE WITH POST-NATAL DEPRESSION, HOW SHE’S MANAGING TO TURN IT AROUND AND HOW SHE HOPES TO DO THE SAME FOR OTHERS.

I found out I was pregnant two days after my first wedding anniversary, and I was not met with the

overwhelming joy which I thought was meant to happen. I was met with panic, shock and I was scared. My husband was overjoyed, he supported me all through pregnancy and through my decision of whether to have a termination or not. I just held on to the fact people would tell me it will be lovely to hold the ‘bundle of joy’ and I will be met with love I have never felt before.

My birth wasn’t exactly easy. I had an emergency caesarean which felt as if I was being attacked and I have never seen so many people in one room. I woke up to find myself having a baby followed by a blood transfusion.

Sat in a side room on my own, looking over into a cot, I was not met with love, or joy, just nothing... Empty. More and more people came to see me and my sister said I must be so proud. I wasn’t and the only person I could tell was my husband. I felt such a shame as a women, a wife and a mother. Everyone telling me how I should be feeling and all I wanted was to just go back to my husband. I knew this was selfish, but I spent what felt like my childhood caring for my mum and my husband was my escape. On our first anniversary having friends round just felt like finally I’m me, I can do what I want, what people my age do. I blamed this little vulnerable child for taking this away from me.

The first few weeks I did what I considered a mum should do but I would cry when my husband walked through the door. This wasn’t what motherhood was meant to be, the tears, the tantrums, and the anger.

One morning I finally admitted to someone else there was an issue. My husband had gone to work as usual, my son wouldn’t stop crying, and I was overwhelmed with tremendous anger, I wanted him gone, I was immediately met

with sadness and utter horror. How could I feel like this towards a baby? I rang my health visitor, she said her name was Sarah. I managed to tell her my name and promptly burst into floods of tears. Sarah came round along with a student nurse.

I literally spent three and half hours crying my heart out, the pain, emotion, and heartache. It was such a relief to finally tell someone else. Sarah was shocked, she said she thought I was such a laid back first-time mum. It had been easy for me to just smile and put a mask on. I remember glancing at the student nurse, who wiped tears from her eyes, I knew they were listening.

After telling them how I felt though,

I went into a shell. I didn’t want to do anything with my son. My husband would come home from work and take full care of my son overnight and then go back to work again the next morning. During the day my nan would take care of him.

My GP signed my husband off work so he could care for my son and I (I didn’t even know if things had become too difficult for him with work and caring for my son in the evening, he generally would say the bare minimum). When family visited us they would start to have a go at him saying he’d better be pulling his weight as I looked tired. They thought I was the one caring for our son. He never

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PANDAS FOUNDATIOIN

T: 0843 28 98 401

W: PANDASFOUNDATION.ORG.UK

corrected them. The truth was he was doing it all, if our son cried I would bury my head under the pillow and hide.

I had a CPN (Community Psychiatric Nurse – Mental Health) come and visit me. I tried to explain that when I get really angry I will pull my hair, pinch my arms and legs, and will throw a tantrum like a child but I feel detached from it like I am looking at myself. Her response was do I hear voices… Please no, was I going to have people thinking I’m Schizophrenic now? As if things weren’t hard enough. I wanted her to give me advice on how to work through it all, but the advice was to try and work through it. I gave it yet another shot.

I decided to go back to work as a temp after 3 months, and people would say to me, “Don’t you want to be at home with your son?” I also tried to do a college course and the lecturers would tell me that I should be spending time with him. I just wanted to scream at them, “No, I don’t want to be at home, I want to be out the house! I am

Rachael I am not just a mum!” In August 2010 our son was 6 months

old. I still felt the same, still blamed him, and we had the task of finding a new home. We were lucky enough to buy a house with the help of my grandparents. I met with my new health visitor and I explained the same as I had previously and requested to go to a group for Post Natal Depression. I was advised there was a group but I was two pegs above it and would bring other people down. I genuinely felt like I had been slapped round the face.

By now I was now able to look after our son for the odd day on my own but it was tough. I would use TV programs as markers; he would nap just before Jeremy Kyle, have lunch at Loose Women and then go to sleep at 60 Minute Makeover. From then I would clock watch until 4pm when I knew my husband was heading home.

Then, one day I lost it. I snapped. Our son would not let me put his trousers on (I know it sounds silly but to me was a big deal at the time). The anger came back, the annoyance, the hatred, and I held him down, hard. He cried, there wasn’t a mark on him but I’d still done it and I was devastated. I held him tight and bawled my eyes out, “I’m so sorry, Mummy let you down.”

I never told anyone… not even my husband until a week later when I told my Sure Start support worker. I then had social services at my door, telling me I was a serious risk to our son and I wasn’t allowed to spend any time alone with him. I felt like I’d let everyone down. My husband didn’t have a clue what was going on when social services were sat on the sofa when he got in from work, telling him they think his wife is a great risk to his son’s safety.

It took four and half months to get Social Services to believe I was not going to harm our son. When I received the letter saying the case was closed I cried, I felt such relief. I received a report of what

they thought and I have to admit I really wanted to burn it.

Around the time Social Services were coming to the end of the investigations, I started a job at the same company as my husband. The interview in December 2010 was hard. I was faced by the two managers in my husband’s office and all I could think was, “What if if they know?” Since starting the job though I have been open to telling people that I have post natal depression, and each time I tell someone new it feels like I can breathe that little bit more.

I was desperate to meet other people who were going through the same as me, so I searched on the Internet and when people on social networking sites replied saying they felt the same and would describe what it was like for them, I cried. It was strange but it felt so good to hear other people say that they felt the same and that things would get better.

And eventually they did.Now I want to be able to do that for

others. I couldn’t find any groups or support networks in Shrewsbury and very few in Shropshire where I live. So I set up Pandas Foundation.

I just want people to know they are not alone. I understand everyone is different and has a different story to tell. I want to teach people that depression of any kind is an illness and there are remedies.

Thank you for reading my story and I hope it can be a help others. If it helps just one person or family I will be happy. A lot of tears I have been shed over the past year or so that’s why along with my husband Stuart, I’ve set up Pandas Foundation to help others.

Please don’t sit alone, stand together and be supported.

Hugs, Rachael x

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PANDAS FOUNDATIOIN

T: 0843 28 98 401

W: PANDASFOUNDATION.ORG.UK

corrected them. The truth was he was doing it all, if our son cried I would bury my head under the pillow and hide.

I had a CPN (Community Psychiatric Nurse – Mental Health) come and visit me. I tried to explain that when I get really angry I will pull my hair, pinch my arms and legs, and will throw a tantrum like a child but I feel detached from it like I am looking at myself. Her response was do I hear voices… Please no, was I going to have people thinking I’m Schizophrenic now? As if things weren’t hard enough. I wanted her to give me advice on how to work through it all, but the advice was to try and work through it. I gave it yet another shot.

I decided to go back to work as a temp after 3 months, and people would say to me, “Don’t you want to be at home with your son?” I also tried to do a college course and the lecturers would tell me that I should be spending time with him. I just wanted to scream at them, “No, I don’t want to be at home, I want to be out the house! I am

Rachael I am not just a mum!” In August 2010 our son was 6 months

old. I still felt the same, still blamed him, and we had the task of finding a new home. We were lucky enough to buy a house with the help of my grandparents. I met with my new health visitor and I explained the same as I had previously and requested to go to a group for Post Natal Depression. I was advised there was a group but I was two pegs above it and would bring other people down. I genuinely felt like I had been slapped round the face.

By now I was now able to look after our son for the odd day on my own but it was tough. I would use TV programs as markers; he would nap just before Jeremy Kyle, have lunch at Loose Women and then go to sleep at 60 Minute Makeover. From then I would clock watch until 4pm when I knew my husband was heading home.

Then, one day I lost it. I snapped. Our son would not let me put his trousers on (I know it sounds silly but to me was a big deal at the time). The anger came back, the annoyance, the hatred, and I held him down, hard. He cried, there wasn’t a mark on him but I’d still done it and I was devastated. I held him tight and bawled my eyes out, “I’m so sorry, Mummy let you down.”

I never told anyone… not even my husband until a week later when I told my Sure Start support worker. I then had social services at my door, telling me I was a serious risk to our son and I wasn’t allowed to spend any time alone with him. I felt like I’d let everyone down. My husband didn’t have a clue what was going on when social services were sat on the sofa when he got in from work, telling him they think his wife is a great risk to his son’s safety.

It took four and half months to get Social Services to believe I was not going to harm our son. When I received the letter saying the case was closed I cried, I felt such relief. I received a report of what

they thought and I have to admit I really wanted to burn it.

Around the time Social Services were coming to the end of the investigations, I started a job at the same company as my husband. The interview in December 2010 was hard. I was faced by the two managers in my husband’s office and all I could think was, “What if if they know?” Since starting the job though I have been open to telling people that I have post natal depression, and each time I tell someone new it feels like I can breathe that little bit more.

I was desperate to meet other people who were going through the same as me, so I searched on the Internet and when people on social networking sites replied saying they felt the same and would describe what it was like for them, I cried. It was strange but it felt so good to hear other people say that they felt the same and that things would get better.

And eventually they did.Now I want to be able to do that for

others. I couldn’t find any groups or support networks in Shrewsbury and very few in Shropshire where I live. So I set up Pandas Foundation.

I just want people to know they are not alone. I understand everyone is different and has a different story to tell. I want to teach people that depression of any kind is an illness and there are remedies.

Thank you for reading my story and I hope it can be a help others. If it helps just one person or family I will be happy. A lot of tears I have been shed over the past year or so that’s why along with my husband Stuart, I’ve set up Pandas Foundation to help others.

Please don’t sit alone, stand together and be supported.

Hugs, Rachael x

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POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

New appointment

Daniel Kawczynski MP has been awarded the role of Parliamentary Private Secretary

(PPS) to the new Welsh Secretary, MP for Clwyd West David Jones. The new job will see Mr Kawczynski carry out the important task of helping the Secretary of State to implement and formulate policy, progress legislation through Parliament, and fully interact with the Welsh Assembly.

Although an unpaid post, Parliamentary Private Secretaries carry out the crucial role of acting as Ministers’ ‘eyes and ears’ in the House of Commons, helping to track the opinion of backbench MPs.

Daniel Kawczynski commented: “I am delighted to confirm that the Prime Minister has asked me to become the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Wales. While my duties will be predominantly focused on the Welsh Office and supporting David Jones MP and Stephen Crabb MP,

DANIEL KAWCZYNSKI MP

UNIT 1 BENBOW BUSINESS PARK

HARLESCOTT LANE

SHREWSBURY

SHROPSHIRE

SY1 3FA

E: [email protected]

T: 01743 466477

the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Wales Office, there are a huge variety of cross-border issues that have a direct impact on Shrewsbury. I look forward to leveraging my new position to further highlight my constituents’ concerns, especially in areas such as health and transport, as well as doing everything in my power to help promote economic growth.”

Mr Kawczynski had previously held the position of Parliamentary Private Secretary to Agriculture Minister Jim Paice, MP for South East Cambridgeshire.

“As a long-standing advocate of the agricultural industry, I will continue to strongly lobby for farmers throughout my constituency, and look forward to working closely with my fellow Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in the weeks and months to come.”

SHREWSBURY AND ATCHAM’S MP HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO A PROMINENT NEW POSITION AS PART OF THE PRIME MINISTER’S RECENT CABINET RESHUFFLE.

for local MP

I am delighted to confirm that the Prime Minister has asked me to become the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Wales

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SEVERNBUSINESS

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