The Strettons Podcast

Hi everyone, it's Sian here. I have a new business in Church Stretton called Sandford Studio. The business runs heritage craft workshops including stained glass, printmaking, basketry, paper crafts, textiles, Christmas wreaths, terrariums, drawing and painting, eco-printing silk scarves, lino-printing, etching and more. In fact we have 25 workshops scheduled so far and already the stained glass workshop is full. It's in the old hotel in the old hotel in the centre of town. Everyone's envious of the big windows, high ceiling and the view of Sandford Avenue and High Street. If you'd like to join a workshop, visit https://www.sandfordstudio.com/. If you've never been to Church Stretton why not combine a short hiking holiday with a heritage craft workshop - exercising your body and mind. Thanks for your support in this new venture and I hope to see you at Sandford Studio soon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

it's been a long 18 months of producing an episode every Tuesday and we're feeling worn out from the effort. Sian and Pete look back over their time producing The Strettons Podcast, their favourite episodes and the people who will stick it their minds. Thanks for your support and encouragement and thanks for talking to us when we approach you in the street, in the hills and on the farms. You have helped make this podcast an important archive for rural South Shropshire. We've had fun but now we need a rest! It will remain here so you can re-listen to any of the episodes. You can still buy us a beer or a coffee if you see us around town! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Madeley reflects on three generations of farming history, from his grandfather’s struggles in the 1930s to the gradual building of a livelihood at Eaton Manor. What emerges is not just a story of agriculture, but of resilience, risk, and the long view, where decisions made with caution and care slowly take root over time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jim Davies reflects on a lifetime in farming, from rebuilding Blackhurst Farm from dereliction to adapting through decades of change. With humour and honesty, he shares stories of family, hardship, and resilience, alongside memories of horses and travel, offering a grounded perspective on rural life and what matters most after nearly ninety years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark shares a life shaped by farming roots, family, and hard work, from milking cows by hand as a child to running a rural taxi business. He reflects on loss, including a fire that destroyed treasured vintage tractors, and the realities of modern rural life. With humour and honesty, he talks about family, local life, and looking ahead to a slower pace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’ve been back up the hill to Picklescott where we’ve caught up with Nigel Morris, a third generation farmer at Wilrack Farm. Nigel tells us what it was like to grow up in a small village on top of a hill and what passed for entertainment for him and his friends. We talk about the challenge of early starts and the importance of resilience in order to overcome the challenges of low milk prices and what the future of dairy farming might look like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have a bit of a laugh with the kids who will eventually become the custodians of this land we love. We’re back at the food bank in the Parish Centre to learn how the situation has changed over the last year. Then it’s the Gardening Club Show in the Silvester Horne Institute where we speak to exhibitors and visitors and we finish off this week, where we will all end up - in a cemetery but it’s a popular green burial remembrance park near Rushbury.Timings Next gen farmers  02:03Food bank 09:37Gardening Club show 15:14Green burials 22:14 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stuart Wright is known to everyone in town as the owner of Wrights Estate Agency. He talks to Sian about how the family ended up in Church Stretton, the shops and people who were around then and about the time he went on a school trip to the Welsh coast which ended in disaster. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have been back to see Matt Johnson at Hazler Farm to hear how lambing has gone this year and what’s next in the farming calendar. And there’s some Victorian farming going on at Acton Scott Heritage Farm where visitors dance around a May pole like something you’d see in a jigsaw of times gone by! Church Stretton accordion band provide the music and the shire horses provide the raw material, and and then carry it, for the other big event on the Victorian Farm - muck spreading.Timings Acton Scott Heritage Farm  00:48The cake walk at Eaton church 07:10Th end of lambing 14:48 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keith Morris is well-known in the area as the undertaker. He tells us about growing up in Church Stretton, memorable moments with a burning hearse and the brotherhood of undertakers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we go up onto the Long Mynd to speak to Sioned Morris who's practicing for the stock judging competition at the local Young Farmers Club and then we join the Much Wenlock Fire Service as they carry out a practice drill in the centre of Church Stretton. Finally we are at Bowman Hill Farm in Plaish where the Butty Van is offering not just sausage and bacon baps and cups of tea but important social interaction with other farmers, health checks and chats. Timings YFC Stock Judging  01:00Fire Service drill 07:32The Butty Van 14:48Total Dur 26:20 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ron Cox looks back on his life in Bucknell and then Ticklerton and Soudley where he still lives today. He tells us about his sporting life, his dancing days, his courting days and what he got up to with his brothers.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna Turner, the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire talks about how she tries to get members of the royal family to come to the county. There’s also an offer of help to give your award nominations the best chance of success. There’s also a round up of what’s in the area in the next few weeks to get you out of the house.Timings Anna Turner 00:53Arts Trail 21:46What’s On 24:54 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Malcolm shares memories of growing up in rural Shropshire, attending school in Smethcott and joining the army at sixteen. He and his brother both served in Northern Ireland, where his brother was shot. After returning to Church Stretton, Malcolm turned from farming to growing flowers. He speaks movingly about the lasting grief of losing his son and explains how he became famous for his spectacular hanging baskets at The Pound in Leebotwood. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We catch up with lambing at Hazler Farm and watch as two lambs arrive in the world. The hills are alive with the sound of walking poles and we chat to a couple of visitors enjoying the area in different ways. A local scout is raising money for the jamboree in Poland and we’ve been to the tourism information exchange and networking event in Church Stretton.Timings lambing  01:14Vox pop  09:56Tourism exchange 13:53Scouts 19:02 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve all sat on one of Mick Boulton’s coaches at some time, many of us in our school days. In this chat, he tells us how he loves driving the school bus, the joy he gets from meeting the guests staying at his hostel at Bridges and early life growing up in the fields and brooks around Cardington. Is it true he lived in a hut on the Long Mynd? Listen to find out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve been to our local livestock market at Bishops Castle to speak to some Church Stretton farmers and the auctioneer to see what trade’s like for store cattle. Then we catch up with some very excited cubs at the Scout Hut where they are preparing for their night hike on the Long Mynd. Ticklerton Village Hall has a full events calendar for the spring and summer. The Rotary Club has money to give away to good causes,Apply for a Rotary grant here https://tinyurl.com/csrcommunityfund1Moths - Sunday 22nd Edgton Village HallBooking essential, more info from [email protected] Tourism Leaflet Swapemail the library strettonnlibraryfriends.org.uk/ Timings Bishops Caste Market  Report 01:40Rotary grants 07:10Ticklerton village report 10:06Cubs night walk 16:07What’s On 23:23 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robin Lloyd is a familiar face to those who use the Ring and Ride service but how much does anyone know of his life? In this interview we learn what it was like to go away to boarding school at seven and a half, what he spent his money on when his horse won the Grand National and what brings him the most pleasure these days. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back at the repair cafe with volunteers from Stretton Climate Care so save households appliances from going into the skip. Then it's Acton Scott with Alex from Caring for God's Acre during their Love Your Yew Week. We finish with an interview with a trustee of Friends of Conakry Refugee School in Guinea to learn what they're doing over in West Africa.TimingRepair Cafe 00:49Love you Yew week 09:22Conakry School 16:45 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Cooke talks to us about his life growing up in Ratlinghope and the fun that was had there in his youth. He shared his childhood with an inspiring German prisoner of war who worked on the farm and could turn his hand to anything, even making him a snooker table as a Christmas present. As a young boy, he walked to London with his rucksack to have a look at some football stadiums. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're off to Prolley Moor to see the best honesty shed in the county run by Lexi Morris. Then we've got the first in our lambing special - looking at scanning the ewes. And finally we're at All Stretton Village Hall where they cast of the annual panto - The Princess and Pea - are having a final dress rehearsal. And there are. a handful of events to finish up.Timings Honesty Box 00:49Lambing special 11.30All Stretton Panto 18:47What’s On 24:06What three words for the honesty shed///washroom.excuse.unravel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Francis Acton lives at Acton Scott Hall in Acton Scott and manages the 1000 acre estate which includes the Acton Scott Heritage Farm. He speaks to Sian about the responsibility of looking after the estate, and the expectations which come with being the eldest son and the importance of retaining the knowledge and skills of Victorian farmers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve been chatting to some young girls starting on their guiding journey and seeing what happens at their meetings. We've also been to the Parish Centre to see the mess left behind by the holme oak which crashed through the roof during the most recent snow storm. And to satisfy our obsession in this country with home ownership and house prices, we talk to two estate agents who operate in the town and learn about the state of the market at the moment.TimingRainbows and Brownies 02:17Hot Property feature 11:10Parish Centre holme oak 21:49What’s On 23:21To donate an old or new generator please contact Robin [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sian wound her way around the lanes of Frog’s Gutter to go and see Peter Philips who lives off-grid in a cottage which was marked as unfit for human habitation when he moved in. Peter talks about the joys of living off-grid in peaceful surroundings near The Bog, and the changes he’s seen in the area since arriving over 50 years ago. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sian talks to Evelyn Vaughan from Edgton who still farms age 88. Evelyn talks about her childhood, the loss of her mother and husband and a lost opportunity to become a professional singer. Her animals have inflicted numerous injuries on her but she still love them unconditionally and if you want more stories about the winter of 1947, you won’t be disappointed! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Acton Scott is more than a working Victorian museum, it's a living breathing tight-knit village. Merle Wilson describes growing up without basic amenities, the death of her mother and farming with her father. She paints a picture of a supportive vibrant community in which people look after for each other and work to continue the spirit of the community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy new year from Sian and Pete. This week we’ve been stroking hedgehogs at a rescue centre in Edgton and been to see the monument to the last sin eater in the churchyard at Ratlinghope. We look back and forward to 2026 and see what events are coming up in the next two weeks.Hedgehog RescueMartin And Tanis Jordan, email [email protected] Gliding Club cafe franchisee enquiriesTim Murphy email [email protected] Sin Eater 02:17Hedgehog Rescue 11:10What’s On 23:21 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Hill from Batchott talks about the family he worked for all his life, his love of tractors and lost opportunities. Poignant memories of family members he has lost coupled with stories of teenage trouble-making paint a vivid picture of what life was like growing up in Batchcott on the Long Mynd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 2 of Pete's selection of his favourite bits from 2025.TimingsTom Norris 2:28Bug hotel. 8:07Brian Pope 13:56Lucinda the potter 21:15John Sankey 27:35Terry Davies. 35:58 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jim grew up in an old mill in Walkmills near Leebotwood, and worked hard helping his father on the farm. Today his success in business can be put down to his parents instilling in him a strong work ethic, and his general happiness is partly attributed to keeping donkeys. He talks about the mills which operated along the valley, and about his ‘water-powered’ childhood. And if anyone ever wondered what the courtroom in the old Shire Hall in Shrewsbury used to look like, they can see a lot of it in the drawing room of Jim’s house.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pete's selection of his favourite bits from 2025.TimingsSteve Paige 2:10Losing my religion 6:53Anne Morris 10:10Snailbeach Mine. 15:08Nick Churton. 21:34Ragleth Fidget menu 26:24 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ruth Lawrence was brought up on Womerton Farm, educated in Cardington and then sent to a boarding school near Shrewsbury. Her love of farming brought her and her husband Tony back from New Zealand to take on the family farm on the Long Mynd, where she still lives today. She tells us about the characters who lived in the area when she was young, the fun she had with her friends, exploring the hills on their ponies and why BBC television wanted to follow her and Tony as they built their new house. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve been around all the shops asking what shoppers can buy there for Christmas. We’ve taken the chutney we made from our foraged blackberries and paired it with different cheeses at Saxtons. We also found a couple of people waiting for the bus on Beaumont Road, both heading to Ludlow but for different reasons and we learn all about cookies - the computer type - what are they, are they harmful and do we really need them.Contact Graham Giugh if you have time to help out with Santa's Sleigh in Craven Arms or Church Strettonemail him: [email protected] Chutney and cheese 0:45Where to shop in town this Christmas (1) 1:06The jug collector 13:20The geologist 15:06Tech corner, cookies 16:50Where to shop in town this Christmas (2) 22:39Soundscape, children crafting 29:14 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Brain grew up in and around Minton where he still lives today. He tells us about riding ponies on the Long Mynd as a young boy, about hurtling down the hill on a piece of tin sheeting,and what it was like living next door to Hollywood actor, Pete Posthlethwaite. He tells us how Pete gave him his first experience of air travel when he took him away on a film shoot to Ireland, and lets us into the secret of what he wore in bed!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The kids are getting excited about Halloween and the veterans are contemplating past action and those who are no longer here. In Picklescott village there’s a special nature reserve which demonstrates a sustainable way of living and the Bucks Head in Church Stretton is under new management. We finish with fireworks night at Acton Scott village where they burn an effigy of a traitorous catholic on a bonfire.Timings Karuna 00:51Halloween kids 07:15Remembrance Day 14:43The Bucks Head 21:52Acton Scott bonfire night 27:58 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dorothy used to play on the A49 as a child and keep an eye out for any cars. She talks about what life was like growing up in Church Stretton and the fields where she would play with her friends. Listen to the sort of small pleasures she enjoyed and the changes she has seen in the town since the 1930’s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s time to order your Christmas turkey and my word they’re looking beautiful and plump on Harton Farm. We speak to some people organising a secret adventure run and we learn about the wildlife that’s been in our gardens this summer from the local wildlife group. The women on the Ring and Ride bus keep us amused on their weekly shopping trip and then the Church Stretton Ukulele band play us out. Timings Christmas turkeys 1:23Wildlife Group 7:17Ring Ride bus 11:50Expendable pensioners 19:00Secret adventure 20:28Ukulele band 24:00 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We had a chat with Brian Pope who lives with his brother David, at Whittingslow Farm. Apart from a Young Farmers trip to Smithfield in London and a day trip to the Welsh coast when he was at school, Brian has stayed on his farm his entire life. He talks about the characters of his youth, Wistanstow Village Hall and contentment with his relatively simple life in Marshbrook. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s a new art gallery in The Square where you can buy and sell investment art, the mobile library comes to service the good people of All Stretton and we talk to the Police Community Support Officer about his role. We chat to some visitors from South Wales and Pete’s put a long list of things to do in the area in the next few months. We finish with turkeys singing to us.Timings Roger Bebb 1:45PCSO 10:40Flicks in the Sticks 15:50435 bus stop chats 24:10All Stretton library bus 20:05What’s On 27:18Turkey soundscape 31:00   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maureen Pountney grew up in Gogbatch near All Stretton and tells us about life on a small farm with her family. At the age of 6 Maureen would walk to school in Smethcott with her cousin and friends, a journey which took about an hour through fields and along lanes. Simple pleasures were playing hide and seek in the tall bracken and caring for caid lambs in the kitchen. She left Gogbatch and married a professional footballer and they later opened a sports shop on Wyle Cop in Shrewsbury. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A packed events calendar in the run up to Christmas. There’s flicks in the sticks, pop-up pubs, carols in the square, the remembrance parade, coffee stops, fairs, pantos and fun for all. A lot of voluntary effort goes into putting on interesting events for our rural communities so why not go along to support them. If you’re new to the area, this is a great opportunity for you to meet your neighbours.TimingsRushbury 1:00Cardington 6:23All Stretton 11:52Church Stretton Town Council 16:00 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Priestley is well-known in the town for being the son of the town’s solicitor and then the town’s solicitor. He tells us about the characters who helped on the family farm and their unusual courting practices. Post-war life for young boys in Cardington and Marshbrook was full of motorbike racing and fishing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We drive over to Gatten at the foot of Stiperstones Nature Reserve to get a tour of The Hollies farm from Rhian and then a cooking session where we discover and create edgy recipes using the hedgerow bounty we picked last week. Connr Furnival talks about his new role as Church Stretton town clerk and then we drive over to Munslow village where we join conservation volunteers from Caring for God’s Acre preserving wildlife in the churchyard.Timings The Hollies farm visit 1:09Pick it, cook it, eat it7:10Caring for God’s Acre15:00Connor the town clerk 21:10Soundscape28:11Caring for God’s Acre https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re off to the other side of the Long Mynd, to a mystical area of the Shropshire Hills - Stiperstones. Here we find John Sproson, who owns the Stiperstones Inn and the shop attached to it. John tells us about village life, how the pub trade has changed and the lack of rich single women in Shropshire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Goodbye to the summer with Teas to Please at Little Stretton, All Stretton village show and we go foraging in the hedgerows and fields of the Shropshire Hills in search of free food. We visit a small specialist company doing well in Leebotwood and we head to The Bog to join a group of people studying moths and bats in one of the last warm evenings of 2025. Timings Bats and moths 1:00Foraging 7:57McMillan Holder 15:32All Stretton village show 22:42Soundscape - Teas to Please, Little Stretton 26:54Moth Group and Bat Group https://www.facebook.com/goingwildinbc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat to Anne Morris who brought up her young family in a derelict farm in Cardington and tells us about the struggles she and John had to grow the business. Working a job for the Milk Marketing Board, Anne also helped on the farm and brought up four children. We learn about all the people who sought shelter in her house when they had nobody to turn to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We visit Blakemoregate Cottages high up on the Stiperstones - an important part of the mining history of Snailbeach. Then we talk to Mary Carter, the new curate at St Laurence’s Church in Church Stretton, we visit New House Farm to see the cattle and then watch The Magpies beat Shrewsbury Junior 8-0.TimingsChurch Stretton Town FC 1:00Blakemoregate Cottages 4:48Mary Carter, curate 12:30New House Farm 18:00All Stretton TK Micro Museum 24:02 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we have Steve Paige, known to everyone in All Stretton as their former postie and known to many more as the head honcho of our fire station. He’s a Stretton boy through and through and in this interview he tells us about getting his first ‘after school' job as a greengrocer’s boy. What was it like to grow up in Church Stretton in the 70’s and 80’s and what did he and his friends do for fun? Let’s listen and find out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're off to see the kids making bug hotels and also speaking to people at the antiques centre and in the arts festival. The ladies at the knit and natter do more nattering than knitting and Tom Norris from Cardington tells us a few stories of growing up in the area. Lastly, we catch up with the Church Stretton accordion band at Burwarton Show.Timings Bug hotel 00:01:08Tom Norris 00:06:12Knit & Natter 00:12:12Vox pop 00:16:00Soundscape CS Accordion band 00:25:28 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Foulkes tells us what it’s like living in a farm which features heavily in the famous Malcolm Saville children’s books. He talks about the fans who come from across the world to stay in his cow sheds. He reminisces about growing up in a simpler time, when food was delivered by the local grocer, and the best fun was to be found with his friends playing in the fields and hills around his farm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.