Shropshire Woman

New nursery set to rise from the ashes

The shock closure of the Dower House School came as a devastating blow to all those connected with the educational establishment.

Now, three childcare professionals with strong links to the school but who failed in their bid to save the kindergarten on the National Trust site at Quatt, have decided to go ahead with an exciting new venture.

Carolyn Ralph, 45, who worked as deputy kindergarten manager at the school for 15 years, Louise Whitehouse, 27, who was a nursery nurse at the charity-funded institution for five years and 28 year-old Kay Longmore who was employed as a Key Stage 1 teacher, are in the process of setting up the Little Unicorns Nursery.

Louise Whitehouse, Carolyn Ralph and Kay Longmore look forward to an exciting new chapter in their lives.

And like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the women have ensured the memory of the Dower House lives on by naming their new nursery after the school’s emblem, the unicorn.

‘We were all absolutely heartbroken when we learnt that the school was closing,” said Carolyn.

“There were 12 children enrolled in kindergarten and some of them had been with us for three years.

“We had watched them grow and had developed strong bonds with them. Even when the children progressed to school we still continued to have contact with them.”

Determined to continue the good work, Carolyn and her team had initially tried to secure two rooms on the Dower House campus so that a nursery could continue to operate. However, the National Trust, which has owned the site since 1958, scuppered these plans when it announced it preferred to rent out the premises in its entirety.

The search for a suitable base then got under way in earnest and, with the help of Amanda Maxfield, whose son James had attended the kindergarten at the Dower House, a meeting was set up with the Apley Estate.

And the end result is a lease on a modern barn conversion on two levels; Cottesbrook Farm Buildings at Higford, near Shifnal.

The new nursery, which is currently awaiting the final rubber stamp from Ofsted, is able to cater for up to 30 children in the two to five year age bracket and will operate from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am to 6pm.

It will also run a holiday club for youngsters up to 11 years of age.
The businesswomen will also be adding a new dimension to fun activities at the facility by setting up a forest school which will make use of the nearby woodlandsallowing the little ones to enjoy some ‘messy play’ in the great outdoors from a base camp.

The new nursery is planning a launch party on Saturday, 11 September from 10am to 2pm.

Any parent enrolling their child on that day will get the first week free of charge. “We can’t wait for the opening and being able to welcome the children to our new setting,” said an enthusiastic Louise, “We also want to thank all the parents at the Dower House for their support over the years.”

“This new nursery will offer a nurturing, family atmosphere where children can develop through learning and play,” added Kay.

They say they would also like to thank Bridgnorth businessman Martyn Donnelly and his wife Bianca, whose son Ethan was one of their charges at Quatt, for all their support in getting the project under way.

The nursery is to offer taster days, where parents and children can spend time free before signing up.

For more information contact 07583306922, email littleunicornsnursery@yahoo.com or visit the website at www.littleunicorns.co.uk

Mourning the loss of SVR man

THE funeral service for Severn Valley Railway sales and marketing manager John Leach, who sadly lost his brave battle against pancreatic cancer, recently took place at St Bartholomew’s Parish Church, Bayton, near Clows Top, Kidderminster.

The service was led by one of his friends, SVR volunteer signalman and Kidderminster station staffman, the Rev Robert Bellamy.

John, the public face of the railway, and a popular and highlyrespected figure, lived at Clows Top and had been fighting the illness for the past year.

Aged 55, he leaves a wife, Sue, and a young family of three children to whom he was devoted.

John joined the SVR in 1995 as the company’s first marketing manager and immediately set about arresting the early 1990’s pattern of decline in the railway's passenger figures.

His ‘Midas’ touch contributed to a succession of tourism awards for the line, including the accolade of ‘Railway of the Year’ from the ‘The Good Britain Guide’ in 2002. Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) plc chairman Mick York paid to tribute to John’s extraordinary strength of character in dealing with his illness.

“John was always so positive that one could not but admire the courage that he demonstrated in the face of such adversity,” he said.

Call goes out to publicans

A Pubwatch scheme in Bridgnorth is calling on more licensees to sign up after it banned 10 troublemakers from drinking in the town.

The scheme is on the lookout for more bar owners to join in a bid to strengthen its powers to ban people who cause trouble on nights out.

Pubwatch chairman Tracey Dobell, landlady of The Harp, has already teamed up with local policing teams in a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour.

Kelly Harris, who has been appointed a coordinator for the Bridgnorth project said: “Over the last year or so the scheme has become fragmented with only a few members coming to our meetings. 

Our main aim is to curb alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in the town, essentially making Bridgnorth a safe and more enjoyable place for residents and visitors.”

Care home saved

A Much Wenlock nursing home, which was under threat of closure, has been saved. Shropshire-based English Care has bought The Lady Forester Nursing Home in a deal which secures the future of all 10 flats and GP beds on the site.

The future of the facility was thrown into doubt when previous owners ExtraCare Charitable Trust revealed they were selling it due to financial restraints.
A massive campaign to save the home was launched around two months ago. Supporters staged a public meeting, set up a petition and extended the fight to social networking site, Facebook.

English Care was chosen as the winning bid from several organisations interested in taking over the reins at the home.

The ExtraCare Charitable Trust said it had accepted the bid on the basis that the nursing home would continue to operate as a going concern where current residents’ homes are safe and the existing staff were able to keep delivering high standards of care and support.

Nick Abbey, chief executive of the company said: “I would like to thank residents, relatives and staff for their patience and support during a difficult and anxious time for all concerned.

David English, a director of English Care which also owns and operates Bowbrook House care home in Shrewsbury said: “We are very pleased that Lady Forster Community Nursing Home and Forester’s Court can be saved.

“We are a local family business with 12 years experience of running a care home so know exactly what is required to provide the best facilities and highest standards of care for the residents.

We look forward to being a part of the excellent community spirit which supports the home.”

Curtain up on classic

Bridgnorth Stage Academy presented ‘Wind in the Willows’™ – the Musical’ recently to an audience at the town’s sports and leisure centre.

The young cast of Bridgnorth Stage Academy’s production of Wind in the Willows

This new musical is based on the classic story by Kenneth Grahame and follows the adventures of Ratty, Mole, Badger and the infamous Mr Toad.

The academy, set up as Bridgnorth Musical Theatre Company’s junior section, aims to give children between the ages of six and 16 the opportunity to get involved in musical theatre by developing their skills and confidence in acting, singing and dance.

The group, now affiliated to The National Operatic and Dramatic Association, plans to stage two productions each year. There is a membership of around 60 children with a waiting list for new members.

Rehearsals are held at St Leonard’s School, Innage Lane, Bridgnorth, every Wednesday between 5.45pm and 7.30pm.

For further details email: bridgnorthstageacademy@yahoo.com or check out the website: www.bridgnorthmusicaltheatre.co.uk

Parking scheme for town

Parking restrictions are to be brought into an area of Bridgnorth after backing from councillors.

A number of revisions and additions to the existing residents’ parking schemes on Riverside/Southwell riverside were made in March this year.

Consultation was also carried out on waiting restrictions on Cartway and Southwell Riverside. It led to a number of objections from the public and several requests for minor changes. Shropshire Council’s South planning committee (Bridgnorth) agreed the proposed scheme should be implemented at a recent meeting.

The scheme will be reviewed in 12 months. It means that visitors to Riverside can now park up for an hour instead of 40 minutes.

The council say this would aid better enforcement. A residents’ parking scheme is to be brought in to cover the length of Southwell Riverside north of the junction with Friars street.

It had no restrictions and led to complaints about the road being clogged with cars left by commuters, shoppers, anglers and tourists.

There will be a two-hour limited waiting on the eastern side and no waiting at any time on the western side.

A Society event

The Moffats Society recently held its annual weekend at Kinlet Hall. Set up as a charitable trust in 1999, it aims to raise funds to benefit present and future pupils, the school, and to preserve links with old boys and girls. The celebration began with The Rain or Shine Theatre Company’s adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest on the lawns. Mr Tony Hardie and Mr and Mrs Mark Daborn, head of Moffats School, enjoy a pre-dinner drink.