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Hilary Kelly writes:

There was quite a lot of flooding last month but thankfully the River Stour retreats reasonably quickly so no real damage was done.

Over the winter we have planted some trees which were donated by local residents including field maple, oak, silver birch, walnut and horse chestnut.

In January two new hedges were planted, one in each meadow. We hope when these are established they will link with older hedgerows to create better wildlife corridors for the small inhabitants of the meadows.

Many thanks to the volunteers who turned out to dig and plant on a Saturday morning.

Watch out for further opportunities to help our local wildlife site in the future.

Richard Emms, who has led the Stour Singers for half a century, has announced he will be retiring in May.

Starting with a small band of madrigal singers, he has grown the choir until it now performs with professional soloists and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire orchestra.

Here, Richard reflects on his decades leading this ‘unusually disciplined and expressive’ choir:

 

Where’s the choir? That was one of my first thoughts about Shipston when I settled here with my family 50 years ago. Shipston had – still has! – an excellent band, but there was no equivalent choir.

As Head of Music at Shipston Community School, as the High School was known then, I thought it right that I should address this lack, and so ran an evening class on madrigal singing. Great fortune: we had a perfectly - balanced mixed choir of 15 singers. The year after, I decided to work without fee; the choir snowballed and acquired its name, Stour Singers. During the first five years the choir was already attracting some very able singers and we reached the point where I thought: ‘We can tackle the big stuff.’ So after testing the ground with Vivaldi’s Gloria, we embarked on a performance of Haydn’s Creation, with orchestra and our own soloists....and the choir has never looked back. It had become, in effect, Shipston’s Choral Society.

Now, of course, we have professional soloists, most of whom appear on concert platforms and in opera houses across Europe, and we have a lively collaboration with the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire which provides our orchestra. The 40-odd years between have been something of an adventure with huge highs and the inevitable lows. Barry Draycott and Richard Jenkinson at different times rescued the choir when I was ill. And then there was the dreaded Covid: we had 83 members before, and 30 after! But I notice the choir recovers all the stronger after setbacks, and it now has about 50 very committed members and a really business-like committee who run it. The choir’s performance last Christmas was unusually disciplined and expressive for an amateur choir – you wouldn’t guess they had not been auditioned.

And: there have been for me unexpected discoveries. Yes, I have set in motion a group who come together to make music. But it’s not just the music, it’s the people. Of course, it’s the individual skills and personalities they bring to the choir, but singing in choirs lifts the spirits, fires the imagination, promotes health (for some it has been a life-saver), and brings people together to make new friends. When I look at the choir from the rostrum, I see a complicated knot of groups of friends. That, and their enthusiasm, is what makes them such a joy to work with.

My dream was that the choir should become an established part of Shipston’s music culture. It clearly can stand on its own feet. We have found my very promising successor, Alex Silverman: a man, young, and of considerable musical gifts and charisma. This year in May is a good time to retire and hand over the choir in good heart. Perhaps my dream may have come true?

A true friend to Shipston was lost when David ‘Dick’ Burge died on 27th November, aged 87.

His long time commitment to having a Shipston museum, together with co-founder Mike Ashley, was the foundation of the Shipston museum we have today. He sometimes said with a smile: “As long as I live long enough to see the Museum re-open!”

So it was a very special day when he cut the ribbon to open the doors of our museum two years ago to see that hope realised.

Trustee chair Bekky Hillman paid tribute to fellow trustee Dick: “His passion for history and archaeology and his local knowledge was second to none. I hope that the museum and the Historical Society will remain a tribute to him and Mike, and we will try to maintain his values in everything we do going forward.”

At the funeral his children John and Helen who were over from Australia paid tribute to ‘Pops’. Then a poem, written by former colleague Frank Storr when Dick left consulting firm IDC to join Warwickshire Highways was read, including the lines:

No more the smile of cynicism, often wry

Behind those narrow eyes the wit -ah, how dry!

So practical his thinking, yet so deep

That many a time thought he had fallen asleep!

Local friend Pete Cox also paid tribute to this truly remarkable man: “Dick Burge—a man whose love for Shipston-on-Stour has left an enduring mark on this town and its people. Dick was more than a resident; he was a steward of Shipston’s history, a storyteller of its past, and a guardian of its heritage. Through his tireless efforts, he ensured that the stories, artefacts, and memories that define our town were not lost to time, but preserved to be celebrated for generations to come. “Dick was not content to merely collect history; he sought to bring it to life. Whether uncovering forgotten documents, cataloguing cherished artefacts, or sharing fascinating stories, his work was always a labour of love. He understood that history isn’t just about dates and events—it’s about people, community, and identity. Through his dedication, he made sure that Shipston’s rich tapestry of life, work, and culture would never be forgotten. Dick having just cut the ribbon

But beyond his remarkable contributions to history, Dick was a kind-hearted and generous soul. He had a knack for connecting with people, for listening and learning, and for sharing his enthusiasm in a way that inspired others. opening Shipston Museum - the realisation of his hope to see it brought alive again.

Thank you, Dick, for everything you have given us. You will always hold a special place in the heart of Shipston-on-Stour. Rest in peace.”

By Councillor Richard Walters

On 3rd December Town Councillors met Shail Chohan, Head of Warwickshire County Council (WCC) Highways and Jeff Morris from the Network Team at New Clerk House to relay the concerns of residents at the scale of disruption caused by roadworks in recent months.

The meeting was frank and open, but also constructive and collaborative. Councillors questioned why so many works appear to overlap and highlighted the impact to local businesses.

The permit authorisation process was outlined as well as the emergency works process. Often it is instances of pre-planned works clashing with a spate of emergency works that create the density and therefore the disruption. Although the County is the authority, often the works are conducted by third parties such as telecoms and utility companies. Sometimes, these companies exceed the terms of their permit and are therefore subject to financial penalty.

Councillors cited specific examples of works that had been in place for extended periods with limited work taking place. Although Highways have enforcement teams, they welcome residents highlighting where works are not being carried out correctly.

Councillors were shown how to find details of permits on the One Network website and how to log issues directly with WCC (details below). Roadworks in the town are a hugely emotive subject and rightly a cause of great concern. The Town Council are committed to working with County to minimise disruption and keeping residents informed, but there are things that we can all do.

Here some things you can do to stay informed and report any issues:

1. Raise issues or concerns directly with Highways Customer Services:

• 01926 412515

• Open Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-4.30pm

2. Reporting issues directly online:

• https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/reporthighwayproblem

• You can report issues either anonymously, or by creating an account

• Creating an account will allow you to get updates for some defect types, eg potholes

3. Stay informed for when roadworks are planned and how long they will go on for:

• All roadworks which have a permit agreed can be found here: https://one.network/

• Creating an account on One Network brings benefits, including the ability to receive automated emails on any new works in any area chosen by you.

The Rotary Club estimated that as many as 2,000 people attended its Victorian Evening on 6th December.

The annual event to mark the start of the festive season was another success – even with Storm Darragh brewing.

The church bells rang out and seasonal musical accompaniment was provided by the Primary School choir, Shipston Town Band and the Cotswold Choir. After MC Robin Payne invited Shipston Rotary President Fay lvens to welcome everyone, Mayor John Dinnie, accompanied by the Town Crier, Marian Ladd, turned on the Christmas lights and Amit Patel switched on the Rotary Tree of Life.

There was plenty for the children. Father Christmas took time out of his schedule to be in his grotto, Charlotte the stilt walker and the balloon man made shapes out of balloons and the carousel was kept very busy. Huge bubbles floated overhead, catching the light.

Over 35 stalls stretched along the High Street and into Market Place, offering local craft items, tombolas, raffles and games, and there was candy floss, hog roast, hot dogs, and plenty of mulled wine and mince pies.

The shops stayed open late and Shipston Community First Responders displayed their new car.

Shipston Rotary has been organising the evening, one of their main fundraising events, for 24 years. “It involves a lot of work,” says Rotarian Nigel Willis. “But we enjoy doing it and hope it can continue.” “There was a very special atmosphere in our special town,” adds Fay Ivens.