Oswestry’s new Mayor, Councillor Olly Rose has been busy in her first week in the role.

On Sunday, Cllr Rose visited Cambrian Heritage Railway with the Deputy Lieutenant of Shropshire, Veronica Lillis and commented “The volunteers have done such a great job over the last year working hard to get ready for the 2023 season. The station at Weston Wharf is looking really nice. They are special events planned including a beer festival, fish and chip trains and evening trips so people can take the train from Oswestry to Weston Wharf, where they can enjoy a meal and/or a few drinks at Stonehouse Brewery or Weston Pools Clubhouse and then catch the 8.30pm train back into town.”

The Mayor and Consort, Cllr Duncan Kerr, have also been busy with the Oswestry in Bloom team cleaning and painting benches, adding scented plants to the sensory garden in Cae Glas Park and potting 25 tubs at St Oswald’s Church in readiness for the judges.  The team also visited businesses in Church Street and across town to encourage entries into the Oswestry in Bloom window competitions and handed out posters.

Cllr Rose commented, “We are hoping that businesses in the town will look after their own little patch of frontage to boost the town’s appearance. All the businesses were friendly and supportive and we are really grateful to the Wynnstay Hotel for offering to help us by using staff volunteer days to help with a project. It was great to visit the Kings Barbers on Bailey Street, who have a lovely backdrop which must be very relaxing to see whilst you’re having your hair cut.”

“We have a great team of volunteers of all ages, and we’ve developed several community areas this year, however the Oswestry in Bloom team is always looking for volunteers. If you have some free time however occasional, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Louise Humphries at Oswestry Town Council. There are also some non-gardening tasks if planting and weeding are not your thing, such as painting and litter picking.”

Councillor Rose also visited the Attfield Theatre who’s show “The Time of My Life” by Alan Ayckbourn is on from the 15th to the 20th of May. “I’ve attended a few shows at the Attfield, and all have been of excellent quality. The show is almost sold out, so if you want to see a great show in a lovely little theatre in the centre of Oswestry, visit their website and book ahead – it’s well worth it.”

This week also sees the start of the ‘Love Your Local Market’ fortnight and Councillor Rose visited the special Youth Market along with NABMA (National Association British Markets Authority) Chief Executive, David Preston to offer some words of encouragement. Stalls were run by pupils from North Shropshire College and Oswestry School, and they enjoyed some brisk trade in the sunshine. “It’s great to see young people learning retailing and customer skills and maybe we have some future market traders in the making. The next special event will be the ‘Grow Your Own’ gardening market on Friday 26th May, alongside the monthly Artisan Market. There will be free advice on seed sowing, growing vegetables, making compost, planting hanging baskets, flower arranging, plants for sale and free seed planting for the children.”