Charity
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.
It’s summer, but not too early to think about Pant Autumn Bazaar!
It might be hot at the moment, but it’s time to start thinking about Pant Autumn Bazaar.
Yes, we know it is only just summer, but volunteers are already being sought to build on the success of last year’s Pant Autumn Bazaar.
Organised by Pant Memorial Hall, the Bazaar is now in it’s fourth year and aims to bring local people together in the village hall while raising vital funds for the upkeep of the hall.
Everyone in the village is welcome to become part of the organising group for the Bazaar – you don’t need to be a regular hall user – so that all views and ideas are represented.
The first meeting will be held in Pant Memorial Hall at 7pm on Tuesday 24th July and new ideas for activities during the Bazaar will be most welcome.
In previous years, the Bazaar – which takes place on the first Saturday afternoon in October – has featured a range of local stalls selling items from local honey to soap and plants, a tombola to raise funds for the hall and tea and cake. This year, the hall committee is keen that villagers let them know of any suggestions that will improve the event further.
Said Shaun Fisher, treasurer at the hall: “Over the past couple of years we have been investing in the hall to improve it for villagers and the Autumn Bazaar is a major fundraising activity that helps us keep it going. We are looking forward to putting on another successful event and to welcoming as many villagers as possible.”
If you want to attend the planning meeting, there’s no need to book, just turn up to find out more and see how you can contribute.
Once plans for the Bazaar have been finalised, you will be able to find details on the Pant Today website as well as at www.pantmemorialhall.org.uk.
Pant Memorial Hall celebrates £9,500 in National Lottery funding
Pant Memorial Hall has received a £9,500 grant from the National Lottery for essential maintenance work and to improve disabled access.
The latest round of National Lottery funding, which has just been announced, sees over 2,300 community projects across the UK receiving a share of over £45 million. The money, raised by players for good causes, is being distributed by the Big Lottery Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.
Pant Memorial Hall is our popular village hall which also serves as the village war memorial, built as it was to commemorate the service and sacrifice of those who did not return in World War One. It is a registered charity run by volunteers for the community.
The funding will be used by the hall to help pay for the refurbishment of the entrance hallway. The floor of the entrance hall, which has been in place for over 30 years, is affected by woodworm and needs to be completely replaced. Part of the money will also be used to improve disabled access to the hall by building a ramp from one of the fire exits.
Shaun Fisher, Treasurer of Pant Memorial Hall, said: “This is great news for the village! Pant Memorial Hall has served the community of Pant for almost 100 years and we’re now at the stage where some major repair work needs to be done to the hallway. The National Lottery funding will help us to pay for this major undertaking and will also enable us to improve disabled access.
“The hall is a vital asset for the community offering a wide range of classes to local people as well as providing a popular venue for parties and get-togethers. The National Lottery funding will, we hope, help us to carry on for many more years.”
James Harcourt, England Grant Making Director at the Big Lottery Fund, said: “Whether in a village, town or city, National Lottery funding is helping to make a difference, bringing communities together to help people lead happier and healthier lives.”
To find out about the Big Lottery Fund and the latest round of National Lottery funding, click here. For more about Pant Memorial Hall visit www.pantmemorialhall.org.uk.
Welshpool event focuses on Montgomery Canal
The Canal & River Trust charity is organising a weekend of fun waterway activities at Welshpool Wharf, as part of the Welshpool Transport Festival on 23-24 June.
Although taking place in Welshpool, the event is open to all and is taking place alongside a music festival – Music for the Monty – which is seeking to raise funds for and publicity about the restoration of the section of canal through Pant to Llanymynech.
Free canoeing and coracle taster sessions will be on offer on the Saturday (10am-5pm) and paddle boarding taster sessions on the Sunday (10am-2pm). Narrowboat trips, also free courtesy of the Heulwen Trust, will be available throughout the weekend.
These activities and other community events are being promoted by the Canal & River Trust, which manages 2,000 miles of the nation’s waterways, as part of the Heritage Lottery-funded project to restore the Montgomery Canal.
Music will keep everything swinging along throughout the weekend and a special charity concert, in aid of the Montgomery Canal restoration, will be held on Saturday night in the Assembly Room at Welshpool Town Hall. Advance tickets at the special price of £8.00 each are available through the website http://restorethemontgomerycanal.uk/tickets.html or £10 on the door.
Also, on both days will be a rare opportunity to enjoy a horse-drawn boat trip along this section of the Montgomery Canal. For the first time in years, this unique mode of transport will take visitors along the Welsh stretch of the waterway. Trips are heavily subsidised and cost only £2 per person. Tickets are available on the day from the bottom of Church Street Car Park near the canalside – postcode SY21 7DD.
Sylvia Edwards, Montgomery Canal community development officer with the Trust, explained: “This special weekend offers visitors a marvellous chance to try out a range of exciting activities on water. Research proves people feel happier and healthier by water so it’s a great event for introducing visitors and local residents to opportunities for enjoying leisure time on the beautiful waterway.
“For people with a more competitive streak, we are hosting a coracle relay race at 2pm on the Saturday. This is free to enter. No previous experience is necessary as participants will have chance to practise in the morning up to midday. We hope lots of supporters will come down for the race to cheer on the competitors.”
Teams of four need to have registered their coracle race entry by 21 June by emailing Sylvia.Edwards@canalrivertrust.org.uk or calling 07787 508 635.
This weekend of community activities are part of a much larger HLF-funded £4 million project which involves the creation of a new three-hectare wildlife habitat within Aston Locks Nature Reserve and navigation restored to 1¼ miles of the canal, from Maesbury to Crickheath.
A dedicated turning point for narrowboats, known as a ‘winding hole’, is also being created, enabling boats to return to the area for the first time since 1936 when the canal was closed. The project includes access improvements to the canal and nearly five miles of towpath upgraded. The Canal & River Trust works with 15 partner organisations which make up the Montgomery Canal Partnership. The Partnership aims to restore the canal fully within the next decade as a haven for people and nature.
For more information about the Montgomery Canal restoration why not visit www.restorethemontgomerycanal.uk.
Photo credit: Cracker photo by Dave Barker at Bywater Cruises.
Pant Armistice artwork plans to be revealed
Pant residents are being urged to have their say on plans for a new sculpture on Pant Memorial Hall which is being commissioned to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice and the end of the First World War.
Pant Memorial Hall is working with artist Neil Dalrymple to design the memorial artwork.
In March, Neil was in Pant to find out about the local area and spoke to residents to find out what they would like to see in a sculpture.
Following this consultation, Neil has now drawn up a design for the sculpture and will be visiting Pant Memorial Hall again to present his proposals to local residents.
The new artwork will create a permanent visual memorial on the outside of the hall to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice. This will allow passers-by to find out about the hall’s role as a war memorial, even without going inside.
Speaking about the artwork Neil said: “The mural will be made as a Ceramic Stoneware Sculptural Relief which will give it texture and definition and features images from Pant and the local area.
“Local residents were keen that the sculpture was a celebration of the area, rather than one that depicted war. I am looking forward to meeting residents to hear their feedback about these initial designs.”
Pant Memorial Hall will be looking to raise funds for the new artwork through grants, local business support and individual donations, so if you can help, please get in touch on 07940 108624.
Pant Memorial Hall was set up after the First World War to be a memorial to the suffering endured by soldiers and civilians and now plays a central part in the life of the village.
Residents who would like to see the designs for the artwork or who would like to have their say about the designs, can come along to Pant Pop-Up Café on Sunday 20th May in Pant Memorial Hall between 2.30 and 4pm.
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