Sue Townsend

Editorial Administrator

Latest articles from Sue Townsend

Broc the Gecko twelve months on

ON Christmas Eve 2014 a tiny Gecko was found in a saucepan which came out of a packet of broccoli by Knighton mum Joleen Martin. This resulted in her son Charlie having his Christmas wish granted. After speaking to the RSPCA the family were allowed to keep the Gecko who they named Broc and twelve months on the little creature has thrived in the Martin household. He lives in a special vivarium bought with a donation given to the family by Sainsbury's where the broccoli was bought and has doubled in size. He enjoys his diet of live crickets. In the last few weeks Broc has brought fame to the household when they appeared in Newsround and on ITV Wales. Broc is still as wild as when he first turned up so he cannot be handled but he can climb and jump and they all have to be very careful when cleaning his home he doesn't escape. Newsround presenter Martin Dougan and producer Will Pilkington spent three hours at the house making sure they had good pictures of Broc, Charlie and Joleen plus their other family pets, a dog, rabbit, fish, budgie and two turtles. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/35031301

Solar panels for Enterprise House at Bishops Castle

ENTERPRISE South West Shropshire, which is based in Bishops Castle has good news to take into the Christmas season. Photo voltaic panels have been fitted to the large roof of the building in Station Street and the generation of power should begin on December 18. 200 south facing panels have been fittest, making it the largest solar installation in the town, capable of producing 50kw of power. "It has been a long and sometimes vexing journey over the last year or so," said company manager Mike Ashwell. "However we have made it just in time as the income (FiTs) from the panels would have been much less if Go Green Systems of Shrewsbury hadn't fitted them by December 31. The company is always looking at ways to improve its finances, especially as Shropshire Council support may become more difficult."

Teme and Tenbury Group WI provide blankets for the Calais refugees

FOLLOWING an amazing donation of 1,500 large knitted squares from local resident Mrs Janet Groves to Tenbury Wells WI, the craft group which is enthusiastically led by member Mrs Primrose Simpson, decided to sew them together to form blankets for the Calais refugees.

Wistanstow nativity

A DRESS rehearsal of Wistanstow Class 1 nativity, for the performance taking place in church on December 18.

All welcome to a talk on hedgehog rescue and rehabilitation

A TALK by Maureen Williams of Hollycroft Hedgehog Rescue. Maureen has been over wintering and caring for young and under weight hedgehogs for the last ten years and she will be sharing her knowledge at this event on Monday at The Bunch of Carrots. This talk is hosted by Herefordshire Mammal Group. £4 on the door, £2 for HMG members.

Craft day for Knowbury WI

TWELVE members of Knowbury WI met at the home of Brian and Wendy Elliot on November 21, for a day of craft, chew and chatter. Members shared their skills in handcrafting quirky Christmas decorations, felting, sewing machine tips and the art of spinning was demonstrated by Sue Collett. The hostess, Wendy was on hand to share the tricks of her crafting experience and in true WI style, the day involved delicious food and plenty of verbal communication!

Christmas tree decorations ready for fayre

THE children at Presteigne Little People's Day Care and Playgroup have been busy making Christmas tree decorations from recycled materials. The children then walked to Presteigne High street and decorated a big tree ready for the Christmas fayre tomorrow. The theme of the fayre this year's 'Green' and promote the use of recycled materials. At the event that starts at 4pm the lights will be turned on by A M Kirsty Williams and the carnival queen. Santa will arrive by horse drawn carriage and then welcome children to his grotto, there will be late night shopping, street stalls, raffle, tombola, lucky dip, singing by the churches together choir, Presteigne Primary School Choir and the Little Peoples Playgroup, mulled wine, mince pies, hot dogs and lots of other food and drink. The Fool and the Dragon show, circus skills workshop and balloon figure making, Scrappies will be offering free craft sessions with recycled materials ad there will be free parking for more information contact Ann Wake on 01544 260695.