Out & About:

I have realised this week that I rather like January! Most people don’t really get going until this week so events and meetings have been minimal and on the whole, my time has been my own.

RedShift Update

This has given me plenty of opportunity to batten down the hatches and beaver away behind the scenes making the RedShift website much cleaner and easier to navigate, please do take a look at www.redshiftonline.org.

Our presenters are refreshed and enthusiastic about the new year and have embraced the #ListenOnline2018 campaign well. Our #WellbeingFornight theme came to an end on Sunday and we are now into our #HistoryCulture week, followed next week by #WildlifeNature week and crossing into February, we have #StorytellingTheatre week.

If you would like to be a guest on any of our 40+ community broadcasts then please call Helen on 01270 440 750 and she will arrange this for you. Incidentally, if you are ever listening, we would love to see you use the #ListenOnline2018 tag on your social media so we can give you a shout-out.

Nantwich Young Farmers' Panto

One event I did go to last week was of course the annual Nantwich Young Farmers Panto at Acton Village Hall and once again, it did not disappoint. This year we took along RedShift Radio presenter Paul Boniface who had interviewed Lady Chair, Becky Holman last week about the panto. He certainly enjoyed it (as you can see from this photo of Paul and some of the cast).

It has reminded me that I must find an old VHS machine so I can have a good old giggle at my fiance Michael-John from his Young Farmers panto days, some 30 years ago!

I have said this before, and will say it again, the Young Farmers is such a brilliant organisation, which although based around the farming communities, does welcome young people from non-farming backgrounds to get involved.

Events throughout the year are varied and include dinner-dances, debate competitions, quizzes, rallies, homecraft, sporting and farming competitions, and lots of socialising. It’s an organisation that builds confidence, skills and friendship in young people and absolutely puts them in good stead for their futures, whether it be in farming or not. To find out about Nantwich Young Farmers, take a look at their Facebook page or contact me on 01270 440 750 and I will pass you on to Becky and the team.  

Battle of Nantwich

Looking ahead to this weekend and you will find me in the Town Square in Nantwich between 10.00 am and 2.00 pm on Saturday selling tickets for the Battle of Nantwich. For the second year now, and thanks to our main sponsors Applewood Independent, we have produced pre-paid tickets which helps alleviate some of the congestion getting onto Mill Island for the Battle the following week (Saturday 27th January).

As a member of the Battle committee, we are all looking forward to another successful event. We met last week with some new volunteer recruits and are always keen to hear from more volunteers. We could do with some extra help between 1.00 pm and 4.00 pm on Mill Island to help with marshalling and clearing up. Please call me on 01270 440 750 if you'd like to volunteer.

We would also love help promoting the event by sharing both the Battle of Nantwich website www.battleofnantwich.co.uk and the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/battleofnantwich,or by popping into Nantwich Museum and taking a few posters or programmes to share about.

The day is once again packed with activities and entertainment. We kick-off on the RedShift Community Stage at 10.00 am with local performers, whilst over at the Museum there are exhibitions depicting the fashions during the English Civil War and a lovely display of local Cheshire art.

At 10 am the Civil War Tour leaves the Museum (£3 per person) and between 10.30 am and 11.30 am the Sealed Knot troops lead a Pike and Musketry demonstration. The popular Forlorne Hope will play 17th century music between 11.30 am and 12.30 pm.

Just a 10 minute walk away at St Mary’s Church Acton you can enjoy refreshments and tours of the actual battlefield which is situated in Acton. Nantwich St Mary’s will host their usual tours of the church and the bell ringers will be ringing a special ensemble as the troops arrive in town.

If you are a fan of historical novels then be sure to visit my Battle committee colleague David Wilson who will be signing copies of his new book (he writes under the name of DW Bradbridge) before taking part in the battle himself as a member of the Sealed Knot.

The Sealed Knot troops leave Malbank School and head into Town for around 1.00 pm where there is a short wreath-laying service and departure to Mill Island ready to do battle around 1.50 pm.

It promises to be another spectacular event in Nantwich's thriving calendar. Fingers crossed that the weather is good!