Charity
BBC Children in Need & The One Show’s Rickshaw Challenge to come through Pant
Team Rickshaw returns for the ninth year and their challenging 400 mile route from Holyhead to London is due to pass through Pant and Llanymynech on Sunday 10 November.
The annual challenge, which is now in its ninth year, will see a team of six young people and The One Show’s Matt Baker take on the eight-day challenge.
It will begin on Friday 8th November in Holyhead and the team will travel across Wales for three days before crossing over into England in Llanymynech, and then eventually making their way down to the finish line at BBC Elstree Studios on Friday 15th November during the BBC Children in Need Appeal Show. The rickshaw will come through Llanymynech first and then Pant on day three of the challenge, which is the Machynlleth to Oswestry stage.
The team’s progress will be broadcast live on The One Show throughout the week, as Matt’s co-presenters back in the studio follow the team on their 400 mile journey. This year’s route will see the team tackle the highest village in the UK – Flash in the Peak District, and the steepest street in the world in Harlech, Wales.
Last year, a new custom rickshaw was built by a team of engineers at the McLaren Technology Centre to make the rickshaw accessible to a wider range of riders. An innovative seat-post system allowed team members with a range of mobilities to join the team. This year, McLaren has gone one step further and created an innovative solution that enables visually impaired and blind riders to take part in the challenge. A recumbent guide-trike, which fixes to the front of the Rickshaw allows steering and braking to be managed by a guide rider whilst a visually impaired rider pedals from the main driving seat of the Rickshaw.
The team taking on the challenge this year is made up of six young people, Adelle, 17, from Belfast, Emma, 18, from Nottingham, Josh, 17, from Carnforth, Lancashire, Kelsey, 17, from Watford, Thomas, 17, from Swindon and Uche, 20, from London.
Matt Baker, Presenter of The One Show who will be joining the team on the road, said of the challenge: “I can’t believe that in just a few weeks’ time we’ll be heading back on the road again for the ninth year of the Rickshaw Challenge!
“We have a truly inspirational team joining us on the road, and we’re looking forward to seeing all those friendly faces who will be cheering us on from the roadside, as we battle the elements and complete the 400 mile journey from Wales to Elstree.”
Since 2011, The One Show’s Rickshaw Challenge has raised over £25 million for BBC Children in Need, with donations going on to make a difference to the lives of children and young people across the UK who need it most.
In an exciting first for the fundraising challenge, The Hunter Foundation (THF) has pledged to give 40p for every £1 donated by the general public to the Rickshaw Challenge, helping to make the public’s generous donations go even further in making a difference to young lives.
The One Show viewers will be able to follow Team Rickshaw’s progress on the show each day, but the full route – including a real-time update of the rickshaw’s progress once it sets off – is also available here.
Pant Autumn Bazaar a success
This year’s Pant Autumn Bazaar, which took place on Saturday 5th October in Pant Memorial Hall, has been deemed a great success as it raised a record amount for the upkeep of the village hall and at the same time brought together a number of local traders.
Pant Autumn Bazaar has always had the dual aim of bringing the community together at an annual event as well as raising funds for the upkeep of the hall.
This year, the bazaar was held between 2pm and 4pm and during that time locals and visitors came together to browse around the stalls and also to enjoy a cuppa and piece of cake along with a chat with friends and neighbours.
Stalls this year featured wood items turned from local wood, local honey, fresh produce and preserves as well as fundraising stalls for the hall.
Thanks to everyone’s hard work and donations the hall was able to raise over £600 which will be used by the hall to invest in the upkeep of the hall. The support of local businesses in Pant, Oswestry and Welshpool which donated items for the tombola, helped the committee raise such a magnificent amount.
Stallholders at Pant Autumn Bazaar offered a wide range of products.
Over the past few years, the committee that runs the hall has been keen to invest in improvements at the hall to ensure it can stay a vibrant and well used community asset.
According to Shaun, Treasurer at the hall, this year saw the highest amount raised at the bazaar. “We were delighted to raise over £600, which is a magnificent effort on the part of everyone who came along, donated items or had a stall. I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone on behalf of the committee.”
Visit www.pantmemorialhall.org.uk to find out more about the hall and if you use Facebook you can find the hall at @PantMemorialHall.
Countdown to Pant Autumn Bazaar starts
The countdown to this year’s Pant Autumn Bazaar, which takes place on Saturday 5th October in Pant Memorial Hall, aims to bring the community together and raise funds for the upkeep of the hall, which is a registered charity.
The bazaar is being held between 2pm and 4pm for locals and visitors alike and will feature stalls from a number of local organisations and charities, as well as refreshments and an opportunity to see the facilities offered in the Hall.
Once again, there will be a wide selection of local craft-makers and businesses offering unique and bespoke products, gifts and cards. The hall itself will be running a tombola, treasure hunt and bookstall, as well as selling bric-a-brac, to help raise funds.
Proceeds from the sale of teas, coffees and cake will also go towards the upkeep of Pant Memorial Hall, which is a registered charity and a valuable asset for the community.
Last year, thanks to the generosity of visitors and stallholders, Pant Autumn Bazaar raised over £600 and, just as importantly, villagers had the opportunity to meet up and enjoy a ‘cuppa’ and a chat.
Donation drop off for books, bric-a-brac and tombola prizes takes place on Friday 4th October from 7pm to 8pm and all contributions are appreciated.
Visit www.pantmemorialhall.org.uk to find out more about the Hall and if you use Facebook you can find the Hall at @PantMemorialHall.
Heritage Open Days Celebrates 25th Anniversary
With a dynamic programme of over 5,000 events, Heritage Open Days is England’s largest annual festival of history and culture.
Every September, doors are flung open at some of the country’s best-known attractions, as well as private and community spaces, thanks to support from the National Trust and players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Locally, there are dozens of events to choose from including boat trips at Llanymynech Wharf Visitor Centre and steam trains at the Cambrian Heritage Railway, with a bus from Llynclys to Oswestry station. There will also be plenty going on at The Tanat Valley Light Railway at the Nant Mawr visitor centre
Speaking about the activities at Llanymynech, Joan Zorn said: “We have a number of events for visitors including guided walks of the Limeworks Heritage Area with Tony and Martyn (meet at Stables Building) on 14, 15, 21 and 22 September, 1.00 – 4.30pm.
“On the 22 September, 1.00 – 4.30 we have our demo kiln firing and lime slaking demonstrations showing the process used to process the limestone quarried on Llanymynech Hill.
“And we even have FREE 30 minute Boat Trips on the beautiful Montgomery Canal on 15 and 22 September at 1.00 – 4.30. So why not come down and enjoy our local heritage?”
Nationally, to celebrate the festival’s 25th anniversary, 25 new places are opening their doors, from country houses, museum archives and gardens, to theatres, wildlife reserves, distilleries and even a solar farm.
“It’s always exciting when new places join Heritage Open Days,” says National Manager, Annabelle Thorpe. And this year we have a bumper crop of first-timers. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our 25th anniversary than by sharing it with these iconic places.”
The 25 new places cover a wide range of topics; natural heritage will be celebrated at the home of World Wildlife Fund founder, Sir Peter Scott, while the country’s manufacturing and industrial heritage will be on show at working sites, such as the Bombay Sapphire Distillery.
Visitors can also explore the restored Wentworth Castle Gardens, newly reopened and launched this year as part of the National Trust. And, at places like these which normally charge, festival visitors get free entry, making it a great opportunity to experience local destinations on a
budget.
Find Heritage Open Day events using this interactive map – https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/map
Llanymynech Wharf Visitor Centre needs you!
Llanymynech Wharf Visitor Centre will be opening for the 2019 season on Easter Sunday, 21 April and is looking to recruit new volunteers to help out at this popular local tourist attraction.
Llanymynech Wharf Visitors Centre 
The George Watson Buck 
Llanymynech Wharf pre-1914
Visitors to the centre can look forward to half-hour boat trips along a beautiful stretch of the Montgomery Canal on a 12-seater trip boat, the ‘George Watson Buck’. (The boat is named after the engineer who rescued and repaired the Vyrnwy aqueduct after it was threatened with collapse in the early 1800s). The boat is accessible to people who use wheelchairs. In the Visitor Centre light refreshments are served and there are canal-related gifts and books for sale as well as a selection of plants.
The centre will be open every Sunday and Bank Holiday until the end of September from 1.30 to 4.30. During August the centre will also be open at the same times each Friday. Children go free on the boat on Bank Holidays and on August Fridays. The Centre and the boat are all run by a team of volunteers.
“We always welcome new volunteers,” says Joan Zorn from the centre. “We would like to see more local people getting involved with the centre and if you would like to help, come and talk to us one Sunday afternoon or contact Liz on 01691 828165. You’d only have to commit to one or two Sunday afternoons as a minimum. We do have a lot of fun!”
During the year, there are a number of special events which take place on Bank Holidays such as Strawberry Cream Teas in August. Keep an eye on Pant.Today for information about other events.
The Visitor Centre is housed in the former stables of the Sun Inn which once stood just to the North of the canal bridge carrying the A483. The stables were restored by British Waterways (now Canal & River Trust) around 2003/4. This was at the same time as the 600m stretch of canal in Llanymynech was cleared, restored and reopened.
For further information, why not visit www.llanylime.co.uk
Enter your Montgomery Canal photo
2019 MONTGOMERY CANAL PHOTOGRAPHY CALL
Following the successful growth of this exhibition, local people are being invited to submit two photographs (in electronic JPEG format) showing the range of built heritage, wildlife, scenery and recreation on the Montgomery canal.
Amateur, professional, in fact people of all ages and abilities can submit a photograph.
Be as creative as you can, swans are lovely, but an exhibition of standard swan and duck photographs is a bit limiting! Photos will be then be chosen from the entries submitted for a travelling exhibition. The Canal and River Trust cannot guarantee to exhibit all photographs due to the number of entries, but will aim to choose an interesting variety which represents the huge range of the canal’s heritage, wildlife, and fun/sporting activities.
All photographs must be submitted by the end of July 2019 to steve@nearlywild.org.
Please note, only good quality photographs e.g. 1 MB, in .jpeg format, with the name of the photographer, and ideally the location, can be accepted.
This exhibition is being organised by the Canal and River Trust for members of the public to enjoy. The last two years, the exhibition has been immensely popular, and the press coverage has helped raise the awareness of the wider restoration effort of this beautiful canal, especially the section which includes the section in Pant that needs reopening.
The exhibition is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of the restoration of the Montgomery canal in Shropshire.
Please note: by entering, you are aware that there are no prizes or payment, and you are agreeing to the photographs you submit being used by Canal and River Trust for both the exhibition, merchandise to support the wider restoration effort, and publicity as appropriate.
Full credit will be given to the photographer where possible.
Shropshire Wildlife Trust at Pant Memorial Hall AGM
Pant Memorial Institute AGM and Open Meeting with guest speaker
David Hardwick, Chair of Oswestry Branch of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, will be the guest speaker at this year’s AGM of Pant Memorial Institute.
The 2019 Annual General Meeting of Pant Memorial Institute is open to everyone who lives in Pant and offers the opportunity to find out how the hall has been used over the past year and plans for its future.
The AGM is being held at Pant Memorial Hall on Thursday 14th March 2019 at 7pm. As well as being an opportunity for local people to find out about the progress of their village hall, the meeting will welcome David Hardwick, who will talk about the work of the Wildlife Trust in Shropshire.
Pant Memorial Hall has been a feature of the village for almost 100 years, after being built to commemorate the end of the First World War. Today, it is a valuable community asset which hosts a wide range of courses and entertainment as well as private parties and being the Polling Station for the village.
During the past year, the Hall has seen investment thanks to a Big Lottery Grant and there are plans to install a new artwork to mark the anniversary of the ending of the First World War. The artwork is currently being made by an artist out of ceramic.
The committee that oversees the running of the hall is keen to keep the hall as a focal point of the village and is always looking for volunteers who would like to get involved.
New committee members area are elected at the AGM, so if you would like to find out more about how you can help run Pant Memorial Hall for the benefit of your local community, please email for more details secretary@pantmemorialhall.org.uk or call 07940 108624.
Refreshments will be available.
New film showcases Montgomery Canal restoration
After months of filming on the Montgomery Canal, Canal and River Trust are delighted to release “Life on the Monty”, a short film that celebrates the heritage, wildlife and people who make this beautiful canal so special.
The Montgomery Canal still needs restoration, this water is only from the rain.
The film also includes archive footage of the original restoration from 1969, to celebrate the role of volunteers in its resurrection, and a chance to see The Prince of Wales re-opening the canal at Welshpool.
Sylvia Edwards, Montgomery Canal Community Development Officer, says: “The making of the film brought together various generations who wanted to tell the wider world how special this canal is: its unique environment, the amazing work done by past and current volunteers, the fun that it provides to young people and their families, and how everyone can enjoy its beautiful and peaceful surroundings.
“You can watch the Life on the Monty trailer at https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/montgomery, where you will also find a link to the film itself. Feel free to click on the heart-shape button, top right hand side, to “ like it”, and don’t forget to share it with your networks.”
Life on the Monty was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of the restoration of the Montgomery canal in Shropshire.
If you would like to support the wider restoration effort of the Montgomery canal, go to http://restorethemontgomerycanal.uk.
Pant Autumn Bazaar Success
This year’s Pant Autumn Bazaar took place on Saturday 6th October in Pant Memorial Hall and was a great success, bringing the community together and raising over £570 for the upkeep of the hall, which is a registered charity.
The bazaar, now in its fourth year, was held between 2pm and 4pm and saw more visitors than ever. It featured stalls from a number of local organisations and charities, as well as refreshments and an opportunity to see the facilities offered in the Hall.
For the first time at this year’s bazaar, the hall was selling hot snacks fresh from its newly installed electric oven – a selling point for anyone looking to hire the hall for a party or event.
There was also a bring-a-photo exhibition and those attending were invited to bring along a photo or two on the theme of ‘local history and people’. The aim was to showcase the village and those who live there to create a fascinating display for everyone to enjoy.
Once again, there was a wide selection of local craft-makers and businesses offering unique and bespoke products, gifts and cards. As well as a plant stall and local produce, such as cakes, pumpkins, honey and preserves, there were complementary therapies on offer.
The hall itself was running a tombola and bargain bookstall, as well as selling bric-a-brac, to help raise funds. Proceeds from the sale of hot snacks, teas, coffees and cake go towards the upkeep of Pant Memorial Hall, which is a registered charity and a valuable asset for the community.
Shaun Fisher, Hall Treasurer, said: “We would like to thank everyone who came along on the day for making this year’s bazaar the biggest and best yet. We would also like to thank the local businesses that donated prizes, the stallholders who filled the hall and of course the hard-working volunteers who made it all happen. We were delighted with the amount of money raised and we look forward to building on this success in 2019.”
To find out more about Pant Memorial Hall and to hire it, please visit www.pantmemorialhall.org.uk or have a look at their Facebook page @PantMemorialHall.
New hallway coming to Pant Memorial Hall
Work is taking place at Pant Memorial Hall to remove the wooden flooring in the entrance hall and replace it with a solid floor.
Thanks to the award of a Big Lottery Fund grant of £9,500, work on the hallway, as well as a new wheelchair-accessible ramp from the fire exit, can now start, with the balance of the costs being met from hall funds.
The floor in the entrance hall and two store rooms will be removed and the void filled in with hardcore and concrete with a layer of insulation, which should help keep the entrance to the hall warmer in the winter.
During the works – from Monday 20th August to Friday 7th September – the hall is completely closed, with no public access.
After that date, it is possible that there will a period when the hallway is untiled, as the concrete needs time to dry out completely before tiling can start.
Over the past couple of years or so, the committee at the hall have been focusing on investing in the hall to ensure it remains a well-maintained space for villagers to hold and attend events. As well as the hallway improvements and fire escape access for disabled people, recent work has included updating the emergency lighting and installing a fire alarm.
According to Shaun Fisher, Treasurer at the hall, there are plans to further update the hall, subject to finance, including repainting and improving the bar area.
“As a community asset, it is important that we regularly invest in the hall to ensure it meets the needs of the community,” he said.
Villagers will have a chance to see the progress of the hallway refurbishment at this year’s Pant Autumn Bazaar which takes place in the hall on Saturday 6th October from 2 – 4pm.
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