Montgomery news round-up

Our weekly round-up of the latest news from Montgomery.

Vintage, collectibles and plants

Montgomery Town Hall hosted its first Vintage and Collectables Fayre during Easter Sunday and Monday, organised by Katrina Collins and Sarah from the Old Midland Bank pop-up and Kay from Plants, Vintage and Antiques.

The Fayre proved quite an attraction and was voted a big success by locals, visitors and traders alike. 

There was a fine and eclectic display of items both useful and decorative from stallholders from the surrounding area, bringing vintage, retro, antique and upcycled wares. Buyers also found sturdy locally grown plants for their gardens, along with newly acquired pots, and discovered a selection of unique pieces from local artist Sandi Coppi in the Old Bell Gallery. They were sustained by coffee and delicious cakes and pastries from Karen's Baking Room in her amazingly converted horse box.

One local couple appeared to be of a similar vintage to some of the furniture, having dressed in traditional Victorian clothes for the occasion, and adding to the spectacle. 

Katrina said: “We are very happy how the two days went. Montgomery was full of life and the atmosphere was great, just as it was pre-pandemic; everyone was having a great time. We are looking forward to doing the event again next Easter.”

Indeed, having been acclaimed such a success, the organisers promptly booked the Town Hall for Easter Sunday and Monday, 2023. 

Montgomery Guiding Spring Activity Days Fun and Games

More than 50 girls aged 4-13 joined the amazing Spring Multi-Activity Days run by Montgomery Rainbows, Brownies and Guides at the Activity Centre in Montgomery.

The sessions were held for small (4 to 7 years), medium (7 to 10 years) and big (10 to 14 years) girls and were funded by the Powys County Council ‘Winter of Wellbeing’ programme.

Outdoor activities included bushcraft, fire-lighting and making ‘smores’ with Fran from Woodland Pack, and even a bit of traditional whittling for the older girls.

All the girls did some cooking – chocolate cookies and rocky road for younger girls, with the 10+ girls trying their hands at making flatbreads, hummus and veg sticks – while creative time including shaving foam marbling, masking tape canvas painting, and even cave painting with fingers.

There were also outdoor and indoor games, biscuit decorating for the youngest girls, flag making for the middle girls and a chance to make and decorate beeswax wraps for the oldest girls.

Guiding leader Ruth Anton-Stephens said: “It was wonderful to welcome girls of all ages from all around North Powys, as well as local to Montgomery, so they could enjoy some really good fun and see some of the things we do with our Guides, Brownies and Rainbows.”

The Rainbow, Brownie and Guide groups in Montgomery are re-opening this term after being closed for two years, and will be pleased to welcome girls aged 4-14 to their weekly meetings on Fridays in term time. More information is available by emailing montyguiding@yahoo.com.

Reverend retires 

The Reverend Alexis Smith, who has been Priest in Charge of Castle Caereinon, Forden, Llandyssil and Montgomery Churches, has retired. 

A native of the USA, ordained in the Mennonite Church and a hospital chaplain, she came to rural Wales with her husband, her father Roger and several cats and has been part of the ministry team in the Pool Mission Area.

Her parishioners have appreciated her ability to explain faith by action and word and the way she has encouraged and supported them in deepening their faith.

She has also been a school governor at Forden School, a trustee at Pennant Melangell and a member of the Open the Book team at Montgomery School. She will still live in Wales.

A leaving party was hosted in Montgomery Church when people from the churches in the Pool Mission Area gathered for a magnificent tea and to wish The Rev. Alexis well for the future.

Geocaches

Montgomery Ranger, Rosa Stephenson, has continued to manage Destination Montgomery’s geocaches, which she began as part of her final Gold Duke of Edinburgh volunteering.

Rosa checks and maintains 11 geocaches, some in Montgomery and some going as far out as Priest Weston and Powis Castle. She reports that the geocaches are running well. 

The caches were set up a few years ago by Destination Montgomery and Penri Jones. Rosa has been managing them for almost a year. She fixed any that were broken and replaced any that were missing, and now checks them regularly so they are ready to be found by geocachers. 

The caches are all quite small and mainly hidden from passers-by, but ready to be found by those hunting using the website or app.

Rosa commented that looking for the caches is a great way for residents and visitors alike to explore Montgomery and the area, and to find walks and places they may not have seen before. 

She said: “Our most popular Geocache, Castle Geocache, has over 150 finds and is located near Montgomery Castle. Recently, I have been looking at placing new geocaches, which I’m hoping will be up and running in early summer.”

For more information or to take part, see https://www.geocaching.com/play.

Gardening Club

In April, Jill Cawthray spoke to Montgomery Gardening Club at their monthly gathering with a timely talk about plant propagation.

She engaged the audience from beginning to end with her interesting and well-informed presentation with tips for growing from seed, including the wonders of horticultural gravel. They also learned about the different ways of taking herbaceous and softwood cuttings in order to create more plants for free.

The next talk (May 9) will be ‘Plants for the season’ by Paul Green (Activity Centre 7.30 pm). 

The Club will then be running their annual much-anticipated plant stall in Arthur Street this Saturday.

Jubilee windows

To help Montgomery celebrate the Jubilee, a Jubilee Window Competition is being organised.

Residents and businesses are invited to decorate a window (or several), or a fence, wall or garden. Registration for judging costs £1 with forms available at Bunners and all proceeds going to the new Montgomery Play Park.

A panel of local judges of a mixed age range will be judging on June 4 and winners will then be announced at the community street party on Broad Street the following day.