Community News: Nantwich Museum's Spring Quiz Night

Nantwich Museum's Spring Quiz Night in aid of museum funds will take place at 7.00 pm Sunday 15 April at Crewe Vagrants Sports Club, Willaston, CW5 7EP.

Always an enjoyable evening, the quiz will be overseen as usual by museum volunteer and popular quiz master, Wyn Jones and will include a raffle.

Entry is by ticket only which costs £5.00 per person (including refreshments) and are available from the museum.

Teams of four are ideal but not essential and could be made up on the night.

For tickets and further information contact Nantwich Museum:
01270 627104
enquiries@nantwichmuseum.org.uk 
www.nantwichmuseum.org.uk
www.facebook.com/nantwich.museumoffical
twitter.com/NantwichMuseum

Community News: Half Term Workshops Plus for Children at Nantwich Museum

Half Term Workshops for children themed on the forthcoming exhibition "The Face of Nantwich" will take place at Nantwich Museum on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 February. It's an opportunity for children to enjoy a variety of crafts, quizzes etc. 

All workshops are drop in any time between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm. The cost is £2.00 per child who must be accompanied. Large groups are requested to book in advance.

Also, for the holiday the museum will be launching "Exploring Nantwich - a town trail for all the family". There will be a charge of £2.00 per family to cover costs.

For further information Nantwich Museum on 01270 627104, enquiries@nantwichmuseum.org.uk, www.nantwichmuseum.org.uk, 
www.facebook.com/nantwich.museumoffical, Twitter: @NantwichMuseum

Out & About

Win a Google Mini Speaker!

#ClimbKili2017

It’s been a long time coming, but finally we have gathered in all the remaining donations for our #ClimbKili2017 campaign and I am delighted to announce that the total raised by the 13 walkers was £18,752. This total has been split equally between four organisations so CRY for Matthew, Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Charity (the Dementia Appeal), the Wingate Centre and our Youth Activities at RedShift Radio, have now received a donation of £4,688 each.

At RedShift, we are using the funds to continue the opportunities we provide for 8 - 18 year olds to help improve their confidence, communication and collaboration skills by training them to produce and present radio shows, learn how to use industry standard media software to prepare them for (or support in) further higher and education and employment. This will allow us to work with eight young people this year.

On behalf of all the organisations, once again I would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone one who donated, sponsored and supported us walkers in our challenge of a lifetime. Thank you also to each of the walkers who made the commitment to each raising at least £1,000 for our campaign. Kilimanjaro has left a lasting impact on all of us (especially my hip!) and really was a gruelling challenge.

#ListenOnline2018
At the beginning of January we began our #ListenOnline2018 campaign to deliver 365 days of engaging, uplifting and informative community broadcasting. Now we have completed the first month, I think it is time for a review.

We use the #hashtags so when on social media, all the conversations relating to each theme and show can be found easily. Try it for yourself and have a look on Facebook and Twitter to see who we met during our #WellbeingFortnight and our #HistoryCulture, #WildlifeNature and #StorytellingTheatre weeks.

Highlights for me include interviewing Doug Butterill on the #CharitiesToday show with his amazing bird box and hedgehog home. Doug was joined in the studio by Graham Dodd from Nantwich Museum and we had a good chat about the history of Nantwich Mill and the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch last weekend.

Ben Rafferty from Residence joined me on #BusinessDay and failed in his attempt to knock me off my Dry January challenge by bringing in a very tempting array of gins!

I enjoyed listening to Lucy Siebert from Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker chat to Chris Ridge from Air Products on the #BigBangQuery giving us numerous reasons to visit the hidden gem in our South Cheshire countryside.

We also welcomed some animals into the studio in January with Jess Wood from Zoo2U who

Ben Davies, presenter of
Musical Monday with
the Zoo2U kestrel

brought in a kestrel and tiny little hedgehog-like creature called a Tenrec and Lisa Webb, who runs canine behaviourists Canine Thinking and who brought her gorgeous dogs in for a grilling by our teens Orlanda and Harvey.

Going into February, the whole month is #LoveYourCommunity and we are aiming to have guests on the radio from all walks of local life. Pamela Adams who runs Kane Funeral Services in Crewe and Steve Lawson from Nantwich Bookshop will both be on #BusinessDay on Wednesday 7 Feb from 12pm and Betsy Clewlow, a very interesting local octogenarian who was an army PE instructor and subsequently a jazz singer, poet and actor will be appearing on #WellbeingWeekly at 5pm on Sunday.

Don’t worry if you have missed one of our shows, we repeat everything once a week and most programmes are available to #ListenAgain via links from our website. Pop on to www.redshiftonline.org/listenagain.

Did you know that listening to RedShift online has become so much easier with the advent of Smart Speakers such as Amazon Echo (Alexa) and Google. You simply say “Play RedShift Radio” and hey presto, RedShift will begin playing! If you don't yet have a smart speaker, you can still tune in online at www.redshiftonline.org/player or on your mobile via the TuneIn app.

This brings me on nicely to the launch of our competition for February. Each week, we are giving away a Google Mini speaker worth £45 to one lucky listener. To enter, visit the competition page on our website and tell us the answer to this question: Who sponsors our "What's Happening" show and what is the presenter's name?

Submit your answer via the contact form on the website by midday on Thursday 15th February and we will announce the winner on Thursday's Big Bang Query at 6.45pm.

Community News: Nantwich Museum Seeks Information on Welsh Row and the Cottage Hospital

Nantwich Cottage Hospital

Nantwich Museum is researching an exhibition, “Welsh Row Through the Ages”,  to be mounted at the Pillory Street venue in the summer.

Information is sought about the history of the buildings on Welsh Row (current or
demolished), the people who lived there, past shops and trades.

The museum would also like to hear of any interesting items, such as maps and pictures, which could possibly be borrowed to feature in the exhibition.

Grant Ferris MP visiting
Nantwich Cottage Hospital c1960

However, constraints on space does mean that the museum wouldn’t be able to accept any items until shortly before the exhibition.

The Cottage Hospital opened near Welsh Row in 1911 and served the town until its closure in the 1970s. Many residents still remember the hospital and its fund raising events. The museum is keen to hear reminiscences relating to the hospital and perhaps put names to any photographs of the time.

Those with information are requested to contact the Museum by the end of February.

For further information contact Nantwich Museum on:
enquiries@nantwichmuseum.org.uk 
01270 627104
nantwichmuseum.org.uk
facebook.com/nantwich.museumoffical
twitter.com/NantwichMuseum

Community News: Pancake Day at Nantwich Museum

Nantwich Museum is celebrating Pancake Day on Shrove Tuesday 13th February. 

Pancakes and refreshments will be served in the Millennium Gallery from 10.30 am until 12.30 pm. The cost is £3.00 per person for two pancakes with sugar and lemon plus a cup of tea or coffee. Large groups are requested to book in advance.

The popular event is traditionally organised by museum volunteers to raise funds for the registered charity. 

For further information contact: Nantwich Museum on
enquiries@nantwichmuseum.org.uk or telephone 01270 627104
Website: nantwichmuseum.org.uk
facebook.com/nantwich.museumoffical
twitter.com/NantwichMuseum

Out & About: Bang Bang at the Battle of Nantwich ... and Onwards to a Scratch Panto!

The Battle of Nantwich

So, the Battle of Nantwich went off with it’s usual bang...bang...bang! I have been on the organising committee for five years and we are really pleased with how well the event went (despite the rain!) this year.

We have welcomed new volunteers, both to the committee and also on the day with marshalling duties. Students from Reaseheath supported us again by making holly sprigs to wear in celebration of the Siege of Nantwich being lifted in 1644, hence the name “Holly Holy Day”.

Thanks must go to our sponsors, many of whom have supported the event for several years and big thanks to our headline sponsor Applewood Independent, who supported the event for the third year.

The Battle takes place on Mill Island and is enhanced by the fringe activities and entertainment that goes on across Nantwich including Pike and Musket displays at Nantwich Museum, Domesday Morris Dancers and Ezra and his Plough Witches roaming around town, plus book signings in the Nantwich Bookshop.

This year we took the decision to move the RedShift Community Stage in to St Mary’s Church as heavy rain was forecast. Thank you to Rev Stephen Snelling and the St Mary’s team who were so accommodating at such short notice. We enjoyed performances from Shavington Panto, Nantwich Players, Nantwich Young Voices, Tim Lee and 17 year old Sinead D’Abreu-Hayling who came 5th in the UK Open Mic competition a couple of weeks ago.

We had two new additions to the event this year; we welcomed Sarah Callander-Beckett, the High Sheriff of Cheshire as our new Patron to the Holly Holy Day Society. We also welcomed Joseph Heler Cheese who kindly produced a special Battle of Nantwich cheese which was on sale on the town square.

Thank you to everyone who supported the event, whether it was as a volunteer, sponsor or attendee. Thank you also to BBC Radio Stoke who interviewed me both before and after the event and Granada Reports who did a terrific report on the event.  

St Margaret's Scratch Panto

Saturday afternoon gave no rest for the wicked … Michael-John and I escaped Nantwich at 3pm and raced over to Wrenbury Village Hall to take part in a “Scratch Panto” in aid of St Margaret’s Church in Wrenbury.

A Scratch Panto is a rather crazy concept, one that I am not even sure is real, or just a made up thing by the organiser Alison Long, who has an uncanny knack of hooking you in to taking part in something without you even realising you had signed up!

Actually, it was my fiance Michael-John who “forgot” about our Battle of Nantwich commitments when he agreed to be an Ugly Sister after Alison fluttered her eyes at him! Of course I couldn’t refuse to join the chaos by being the stage manager.

So, there we are, a “body” cast of 12 and “voice” cast of 10 people from 3.00 - 4.30 pm for a run through. Having dashed from the Battle with no lunch and not a lot of liquid, I found myself getting quite confused about which prop I was supposed to be sneaking on to the stage or cast member I was meant to be “directing” next!

In true panto style “it was alright on the night” and we really did bring the house down with laughter. Thank you to the Cotton Arms in Wrenbury for sponsoring the sausage butties in the interval and well done to everyone who had a hand in making the props and stage. We even had a motorised “Fairycopter” for the Fairy Godmother (Janet Palmer from Wrenbury Village Stores) to “fly” in on. A very entertaining and memorable evening which raised over £1,200 for the church.

Community News: Can You Help? Nantwich Museum Weeks Information About Whitesmith's Tools

Nantwich Museum has a collection of whitesmith's tools, used for forging objects out of tin, pewter and other light metals. 

Tin ware was being produced from early in the seventeenth century and in Cheshire there were whitesmiths/tinsmiths in Crewe, Weaverham and doubtless elsewhere.

Between 1835 and 1883 there were up to six braziers, tinplate workers and whitesmiths working in Nantwich. They would have made a variety of everyday objects including cutlery, candle holders and water pitchers.

Unfortunately, the museum has no record of who donated the tools or where they were used and is seeking any information about them, local families or businesses who were involved in the trade.

Anyone with information is requested to contact Nantwich Museum:

01270 627104
enquiries@nantwichmuseum.org.uk 
www.nantwichmuseum.org.uk
facebook.com/nantwich.museumoffical
twitter.com/NantwichMuseum

The Siege and Battle of Nantwich Commemorated at Nantwich Museum

Events leading to the Battle of Nantwich in January 1644 are the subject of a new exhibition in the Your Space Gallery at Nantwich Museum entitled: "The Siege & Battle of Nantwich".  

Running from Tuesday 9 January until Saturday 24 February, the exhibition explores how the siege of the town by Royalist soldiers developed in 1643 leading to the battle which took place on 25 January 1644. 

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to follow the course of the battle, view various armaments, elements of uniforms and other items of the time.

Included in the events is a talk at 3.00 pm on Wednesday 24 January by Brian Cole, a researcher at the museum entitled "Nantwich Surrounded: A Walled Garrisoned Town". Tickets are available from the museum £3.50 per person (£2.50 Museum members).

The battle will be commemorated in the town on Saturday 27 January. Events at the museum on the day begin at 10.00 am with a Civil War Walk with another following at 12.00 pm (£3.00 per person, £2.50 Museum members). 

A Musketry and, for the first time this year a Pike Demonstration, led by members of the Sealed Knot takes place from 10.30 am to 11.30 am followed by seventeenth century music from local group "Forlorne Hope" from 11.30 am to 12.30 pm.

Visitors can find out more about the Civil War by viewing the museum's permanent display where they can see an original copy of the letter describing the battle from the victors Sir Thomas Fairfax and William Brereton to General Monroe.

A model illustrating the battle will be on display in the Joseph Heler Room upstairs whilst a visit to the museum shop will provide an opportunity to purchase items relevant to the battle including eight new Research Booklets.

"The English Civil War Re-enacted" booklet by Keith Lawrence is particularly relevant to Holly Holy Day explaining the uniforms and equipment of the Civil War soldiers which will be seen in the town.

Entry to the museum and exhibition is free. For further information contact: Nantwich Museum on enquiries@nantwichmuseum.org.uk or telephone 01270 627104

www.nantwichmuseum.org.uk
www.facebook.com/nantwich.museumoffical
twitter.com/NantwichMuseum

Nantwich Museum Announces 2018 Exhibition Programme

Nantwich Museum has announced its exhibition programme for 2018 featuring a wide range of art and historical subjects.

Exhibitions in the Millennium Gallery

Until 20 Jan 24 January – 14 April 18 April – 14 July 18 July – 13 October 17 October – 5 January

Nantwich Civic Society at 50 Aspects of Cheshire by the Cheshire Artists Network (CAN) A Life in Colour by David Jewkes Welsh Row by the Nantwich Museum Research Group 2018 Nantwich Camera Club Photographic Exhibition

Exhibitions in the Your Space Gallery

Until 6 Jan 9 January – 24 February 27 February – 14 April 17 April – 2 June 5 June – 21 July 24 July – 1 September 4 September – 27 October 30 October – 8 December

Kaleidoscope 3 by Gordon Lancaster The Siege & Battle of Nantwich by Keith Lawrence The Face of Nantwich by Cath Kelly Rotary Club’s Childrens’ Art and Handwriting Competition Nantwich Buildings by Simon Bowler Pathways by Trisha James British Wildlife around Nantwich by Cath Kelly Representation of the People by David Morgan

Entrance to the museum and exhibitions is free but small charges are made for some special events.

As arrangements can change, visitors are advised to check details before travelling to the museum in order to avoid disappointment.

For further information contact: Nantwich Museum on enquiries@nantwichmuseum.org.uk or telephone 01270 627104
www.nantwichmuseum.org.uk
facebook.com/nantwich.museumoffical
twitter.com/NantwichMuseum

RedShift to Host Community Stage as Roundheads Take on Cavaliers in Battle

Community Radio and Events organisation RedShift will once again be hosting the main stage in Nantwich Town Square on Saturday 27th January, as the troops prepare to re-enact the Battle of Nantwich.

The Battle was a key event during the first English Civil War in 1644, when a Parliamentarian army under Thomas “Black Tom” Fairfax defeated the besieging Royalist force of Lord Byron.

With a packed programme beginning at 10.00 am, the town square will be at the heart of the action during the morning, with various musicians joining compère Paul Boniface on stage. Also on and around the town square there will be the Domesday Morris Dancers, street entertainers and Plough Witches weaving their way through the crowd. A hog roast will be available and for the first time this year, Joseph Heler’s will be selling special Holly Holy Day cheeses.

Nantwich Museum will be hosting a Civil War tour at 10.00 am followed by a musketry demonstration by the Sealed Knot at 10.30 am and 17th century music from Forlorne Hope at 11.30 am.

Organised by the King’s Guard of the Sealed Knot, the Battle re-enactment has been an annual event in Nantwich for more than 40 years.  The armies will march from Malbank School and down Welsh Row, arriving in the town centre at 1.00 pm.  After a wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial, they will head down Mill Street at 1.30 pm and onto Mill Island for a spectacular battle display featuring muskets, pike and cannon at approximately 1.45 pm.

Anyone interested in volunteering as a steward for the event should visit www.battleofnantwich.org/volunteer.

For more information about Holly Holy Day, please visit www.battleofnantwich.org.

For further information about RedShift, visit www.redshiftonline.org, follow our Facebook page, see us on Twitter @RedShiftRadioUK or join our online Facebook Community Hub

Out & About: The First of Liz's Two-Part Look Back Over Her Hectic 2017

Battle of Nantwich

It's that time again of the year... my two-part special looking back at my highlights of 2017.

January always starts with the Battle of Nantwich, an event for which I have been on the committee for five years. This year I have taken on the role as Chairperson following in the footsteps of the fabulous Keith Cafferty. Last year, as every year, the Battle was fought on Mill Island between the Parliamentarians and Royalists. If you don't know who won then be sure to come and support the event between 10am and 3pm on Saturday 27th January. 

We are doing a recruitment drive for volunteers so if you would like to help, please sign up to our Volunteers Briefing on Wednesday 10 January at Nantwich Museum.

February was the month I braved the slopes and experienced skiing for the first time. I can think of other ways I would prefer to spend my hard-earned holiday time, but with my other-half being a very serious (if not slightly kamikaze) skier, I felt I owed it to him to have a go!

March saw the first of my Kilimanjaro training walks up a very dank and dismal Snowdon but it gave me a good opportunity to meet some of my fellow walkers and determine my baseline level of fitness!

April is when my calendar entries begin to multiply like rabbits, beginning with the Nantwich Show Luncheon and the annual RedShift Quiz which this year raised £600 for our #ClimbKili2017 fund. 

Donkeys at St Mary's, Nantwich

We took donkeys Betty and Anne to St Mary's Church for the Palm Sunday service and we always enjoy the Bluebell Walk at Combermere Abbey. 

Beans, Berries & Beer Festival

New this year was the Beans Berries and Beer festival at the Crewe Heritage Centre hosted by the super team at Offbeat Brewery.

Our Spring Community Expo, sponsored and hosted by Rookery Hall, was the best one yet and featured an interactive demo by our resident Science Ambassador Chris Ridge from Air Products who hosts The Big Bang Query - a unique show on RedShift Radio all about STEM (Science Technology, Engineering & Maths). We are delighted to be heading back to Rookery Hall in April 2018 and are taking bookings for exhibitors and sponsors now.

Highlights for May would have to be the hilarious Spamalot at Crewe Lyceum featuring past and present RedShifters Chris Ridge, Adam Goode and Ben Stubbs. We also hosted our first Hustings event which was attended by over 100 people, all keen to hear what the local political candidates had to say about why we should vote for them.

Also in May, the #ClimbKili2017 training continued with a Zumbathon organised by walker Lydia Sharkey and led by ex-RedShifter Sharon Burrows. I can safely say I tried my best, but in the words of my sister “our Southall bottoms are not made for this wiggling malarkey!”

Cry for Ceri Abigail

With the RedShift RoadShow out at Middlewich Makers Market, the Young Farmers Rally at Reaseheath, a tea dance for the over 70s in Alsager, we certainly covered a few miles! I also attended a super fashion show in aid of CRY for Ceri Abigail and my nephew's first Communion which was just lovely.

We began June with a great event that I am hopeful to make an annual affair – Whose Wine is it Anyway?, hosted by Rodney Densem Wines at Residence in Nantwich. We has a great time and raised over £600 for our #ClimbKili2017 target. Speaking of which, a second walk up Snowdon saw a distinct improvement in my fitness (and the weather) from just a few weeks before.

Fig Pie Rolling

Fig Pie Rolling, the Middlewich FAB Festival Dance Display and Nantwich Town Sports saw the PA kit in and out of the RedShift van and frequent checks of the weather forecast. The Cheshire Show, Gin Tasting at Dorfold Hall, Lightning Seeds at the FAB Festival and celebrating presenter Paul Boniface's 65th birthday meant there was plenty of social activities going on too!

June was however a sad month at RedShift as we said goodbye to a very dear friend and volunteer, Vic Harris who sadly passed away. Vic had presented our Rotary RoundUp show and really was one of life's good eggs and we all miss him greatly.

July was equally busy so I will pause there and save that for next week.

All that's left for me to say in my final Out and About of 2017 is a BIG THANK YOU to all the RedShift followers, listeners and friends who have been part of our journey this year and special thanks to everyone who has taken the time to tell me they enjoy my weekly ramblings here, hopefully there will be plenty more next year!

This article appeared in Crewe Chronicle on 27th December 2017.  Please look out for my "Out and About" page each week in the Crewe Chronicle. For more information about any of the items in this article, please email us here at RedShift or call us on 01270 440 750. 

Christmas Fun at Nantwich Museum

Nantwich Museum looks forward to welcoming visitors in the run up to Christmas. 

As well as the current exhibitions and "Nantwich Civic Society at 50" and "Kaleidoscope 3",  at 11.00 am Saturday 16 December the Wistaston Singers will lead a drop-in Sing-a- long Concert of Christmas music.

Wistaston Singers at the Museum

The museum shop will be open supplying a wide range of goods including cards, books, games, toys, souvenirs, craftwork and jewellery for all ages.

New this year is a range of "Nantwich Museum" branded preserves and confectionery. Christmas cards include an exclusive range featuring the artwork of museum artist Les Pickford with "Coach & Horses" - the latest addition to the range.

A special offer, which would also make an ideal Christmas present, is a subscription to become a "Friend of Nantwich Museum" with no renewal due until April 2019.

A subscription helps to support the work of the museum. Membership includes email newsletters, discounts on talks and events, an annual dinner, invitations to exclusive Member events and an opportunity to vote at the AGM (including the election of trustees who manage the Museum). 

Individual membership costs £20 and families £30. Application forms and further details are available from the Museum. 

The museum will close at 4.30 pm Friday 22 December and re-open 10.30 am Tuesday 2 January 2018.

For further information contact: Nantwich Museum:
Email: enquiries@nantwichmuseum.org.uk 
Phone: 01270 627104
Website: www.nantwichmuseum.org.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/nantwich.museumoffical
Twitter: @NantwichMuseum