Museum staff help construct charity pedal car

Designed and built by a team of staff in Mechanical Training (Airframe and Propulsion Training) at RAF Cosford, the original concept and idea to enter the race came from Malcolm Hill, an instructor at RAF Cosford.  Malcolm is hopeful that the unique design and the history behind the Hurricane it replicates will be enough to secure the top spot.

The paint scheme used on the pedal car represents the aircraft flown by Pilot Officer Paul Richey who was stationed during the early days of World War Two at Chateaudun near to where the pedal car race will take place.  Once the framework was completed, the pedal car was handed to the Museum’s skilled Aircraft Technician – Surface Finish Engineer to recreate Pilot Officer Richey’s aircraft.  The body of the car and the demountable wings were then covered in authentic material ‘Irish Linen’ and doped to strengthen the fabric.  It was then painted in the authentic Hurricane colours of the period with the markings of the aircraft flown by Pilot Officer Paul Richey before being handed back to Mr Hill and Cpl Ree.

Surface Finish Engineers, Michael Rose and Tony Pass say:
 “We were more than happy to assist for such a good cause and hope the team are successful and raise a lot of money for the Help 4 Heroes Charity Appeal.”

The construction of the pedal car occurred at RAF Cosford during staff lunch breaks and was funded through donations from the Mechanical Training staff tea bar.  Members of staff used a discarded post bike from workshops at RAF Cosford.  Additional much needed parts were sourced through Halfords in Telford, who agreed to also provide additional spare parts for the competition.

The pedal car has been designed to comply with the French ‘Voitures Pedales’ regulations.  Before the race in August it will also be entered in a shorter race in England, in early 2012, as a ‘shake down exercise’ to ensure everything is in working order before the main race.  The intention is that the victorious pedal car will be used by the RAF Cadet force at the Birmingham International Tattoo in their ‘Red Barrows’ display.  The Tattoo will take place in December 2012.

For further information on this charity event and the team taking part in the race, please contact  Malcolm Hill at RAF Cosford on 01902 377386.  For more information on the Museum visit www.rafmuseum.org

Wheely Wonderful Cycling Wins Shropshire Hills Sustainable Business Scheme Award

The occasion also marked their first  Sustainable Business Scheme Achiever Awards.  Wheely Wonderful Cycling won the "Go Local" category.

Kay Dartnell of Wheely Wonderful Cycling said  "this was a great honour and a wonderful end to our 2011 season.  This year our customers cycled, hiked & canoed over 14,000 miles , saving 6000kg of C02 (if they'd done it by car).  All the members of the Shropshire Hills Sustainable Business Scheme work hard to show their customers, the best of this  outstanding landscape and the  great food & crafts  produced here whilst minimising visitors impact on the Shropshire Hills,  we of course think that the best way to do this is to explore the area is by bike."

Five businesses were given ‘Achiever’ awards by the Shropshire Hills Sustainable Business Scheme at a ceremony held at Cardingmill Valley. The Scheme is run by the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership, and businesses of all kinds can join by making a public pledge to improve their environmental performance and links to the local economy and community. The awards were made in the five categories of the scheme:

‘Buy’ Local – Clun Valley Organics (Trevor Wheeler)
‘Eat’ Local – The White Horse Clun (Jack Limond – who was not able to be present)
‘Stay’ Local - Mocktree Barns Holiday Cottages (Cynthia & Clive Prior)
‘Go’ Local - Wheely Wonderful (Kay Dartnell)
‘Local Services’ - Think Graphic (Matthew Lloyd)

George Chancellor, Chair of the AONB Partnership who awarded each winner a certificate and a prize hamper of local produce, said “It’s fantastic to see the commitment of all these businesses to sustainability. The Scheme recognises them for that, they get benefits from being part of the network, and the Shropshire Hills benefits by being more and more associated as a sustainable destination.”

The event was held jointly with the Friends of the Shropshire Hills AONB, whose membership subscriptions go to supporting local projects, through the AONB’s Sustainable Development Fund. Over 60 people attended the event

'We Are England' Photography Competition

Commonwealth Games England have launched the photography competition aimed at finding the ultimate photographs that best represent England in all of its glory.  The competition is to celebrate everything about England and ‘Englishness’ and the winners will be exhibited at a top London Art Gallery.

Photographs can be of anything at all that represents England – from a historic English landmark, to a traditional English game taking place in a park, or even photographs taken live at an English sporting event. All it needs to do is encompass the spirit of England to those entering.

Claire Jones, Senior Marketing Officer at Shropshire Tourism said, “This is a good opportunity for people in Shropshire to show what the county means to them, and to raise the profile of Shropshire in a nationwide competition. There are some amazing prizes on offer, including lunch hosted by double Olympic Gold Medallist Dame Kelly Holmes and Centre Court Wimbledon tickets.”

The ‘We Are England’ competition coincides with St. George’s day, and winners will also be invited to attend a champagne breakfast at the launch of the exhibition at the SW1 Gallery on Wednesday, April 21^st, and will be joined by some of the top Commonwealth Games England athletes and representatives. The exhibition of the winning photographs will run until Sunday, April 25^th. Entrance will be free of charge to the public.

The competition will be split into three categories - a professional photographer category, an amateur photographer category for the 16 and under age group, and an amateur photographer category for the 17 and over age group. Entries are to be emailed to weareengland@threepipe.co.uk, and although there should only be one photograph per email, there is no limit to the number of entries that can be submitted. The deadline is 9^th April. For full terms and conditions visit www.weareengland.org

New look for the Shropshire Tourism Brochure

Commenting on the new brochure, Claire Owen from Shropshire Tourism said, “We felt it was important to ensure the brochure for 2011 had a fresh, modern re-design. As the official tourist guide promoting the whole of Shropshire, the magazine style brochure continues to include places to stay, things to see and do, as well as showing the very best of what Shropshire has to offer potential visitors.”

“We have received over 350 requests for the brochure within the first day of it being released, and with our targeted distribution and advertising campaign going live in January, we are very hopeful that 2011 will be another bumper year for tourism as the ‘staycation’ trend continues.”

To request a local guide of things to see and do in the county call Shropshire Tourism on 01743 261919 or visit www.shropshiretourism.co.uk

A Wheely Wonderful way to explore the delights of Ludlow

Kay and Chris Dartnell recognised the potential of this sort of holiday nearly twenty years ago and set up Wheely Wonderful Cycling, based at Petchfield Farm in the lovely Teme Valley just outside Ludlow - and over two decades they have helped thousands of tourists to ‘get on their bikes’ and out and about around the area.

Both Kay and Chris are passionate about the county and cycling. "We think this area of Shropshire offers some of the best cycling in Europe; idyllic country lanes, with hardly any cars and great places to eat & drink...better even than France! Our unique cycling guides show cyclists all the best cycling routes and all those places you'd never come across in a car."

Ludlow itself is one of the prettiest English towns, with over 500 listed buildings in a medieval setting, with a famous castle and an enviable  reputation for fine foods and drink (including two Michelin starred restaurants). And all around the town the Shropshire countryside spreads out, dotted with elegant country estates, quaint villages and a vast array of historic attractions.

One of Wheely Wonderful’s most popular short breaks provides the opportunity to cycle through some of these grand estates – including a visit to the imposing Stokesay Castle, the finest and best preserved fortified medieval manor house in England. It’s a chance to delve into hidden Corvedale, too, where the River Corve flows through rich pastures between Wenlock Edge and Brown Clee, passing Norman churches and enchanting deserted villages along the way. This break includes 2 nights in Ludlow and stops at the acclaimed Ludlow Food Centre where you can sample many other local flavours too.

Wheely Wonderful make this sort of relaxed and healthy holiday accessible to everyone, from children to empty nesters, and from novices to the most experienced cyclist. All you have to do is drive to the farm, park up and pick up the quality bikes provided – along with any other equipment required – and you’re on your way. All accommodation is arranged for you  - to suit a variety of budgets – and your luggage is taken by Wheely Wonderful to your carefully selected hotel, inn, farmhouse or B&B each day. So you’re free and unburdened to saddle up and see the sights. Wheely Wonderful will provide you with a comprehensive range of route guides and maps, as well as their own handy guide of places to eat and drink along the way.

So when you’re planning your next break, think two wheels not four and prepare for a ‘wheely’ different holiday to remember.

Cycle to the h.Art - Herefordshire’s Art week 11-19 September 2010

Many of the artists have chosen to live, work & be inspired by local landscapes, which means that their studios are tucked away down tiny lanes, well off the beaten track.   What better way to visit these studios – then by bike?  Wheely Wonderful Cycling has a three-day short break cycling holiday, which enables you to visit 18 of these studios over the 3 days.

Each day you cycle 15-22 miles along idyllic lanes, pausing to stop at studios, teashops & country inns.  Whilst you are cycling your luggage (and any art purchases) is moved on to your accommodation.  This three day, two night cycle tour is  £195p staying in guesthouse farmhouses, £220pp staying in hotels/inns.  The cycle tour package includes quality cycle hire; accommodation, luggage transfers, maps & full back up.  Holidays can be started on any day during H.art week.

Artists living along the route range from contemporary artists using computers & music, to stone carvers, with not a computer in sight and a keen interest in looking after Knucklas Castle (reputedly home of Queen Guinevere), or the artists of the Sidney Nolan foundation at the organic farmstead of The Rodd.

Shropshire Cycle Forum

Have your say!

If you want to get involved in the development of cycling schemes in Shropshire, why not come along to the Shropshire Cycle Forum? This group is open to local cyclists and has an evening meeting every 3 months.

For more information please visist the Shropshire Council website: http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/cycling.nsf/open/AC0016DE034C86B18025753F0052C7BB

Online Mapping of All Shropshire's Cycle Routes

You can now look at Shropshire's entire cycle route network online using the new interactive map generated by Shropshire Council. Shropmap allows you to zoom into your area of interest to a very high level of detail or you can simply use it to see how the cycle routes connect across the whole of Shropshire. - To see all of Shropshire's cycle routes, including the National Cycle Network, click here

To see Shropshire's National Cycle Network only click here