The latest Gossip

As regular readers know, each month the AudlemOnline webteam write an article for the two excellent Gossip magazines for Whitchurch and Market Drayton. In case you do not receive a free copy, here's what was published this month.

Audlem hits the airwaves

The terrace of The Lord Combermere in Audlem was turned into an outside broadcast studio a week ago with BBC Radio Stoke's James Watt and Lamont Howie speaking to local Audlem residents.

AudlemOnline's editor Bob Cartwright was quizzed about why Audlem was the First Village of the North, geographically – it really is the most southerly village in the official north of England as you enter from the Midlands. He talked about its success a few years ago when it was declared to be the best community in England in a government (Defra) competition that looked at villages in all fifty English counties before declaring Audlem the outright national winner.

Another member of the AudlemOnline team, John Tilling, spoke about the APHAx project, that is the Audlem Public Hall Annexe and how a Big Lottery Grant should see construction work starting in a few weeks time. It will provide new facilities for the Youth Club, the older residents' luncheon club and coffee mornings and a community gym.

Allan Brown, landlord at the The Lord Combermere pub, explained what life was like in a community like Audlem. He described all the village groups who regularly use the pub and the amazing programme of events that are the highlights of the Audlem year.

There's little doubt who made the most impact on the show as James Watt gave twenty minute and ten minute warnings of the arrival of local resident Billy Gibbons. Billy arrived with his saw and spoon plus his guitar and was at his wise-cracking best. He finished his contribution with a hilarious song about a radio presenter called James Watt which sounded just a bit like Hound Dog, the song that famously first stuck Billy in the 1950s. Billy's house, which once had a rocket sticking out of the roof, is still a tribute to the 50s.

BBC Radio Stoke had earlier been to the Overwater Marina, officially the best Inland Marina in the country – see photo – to meet Janet Maughan and marina manager David. They talked about the building and opening of the marina between 2009 and 2010 as well as taking a trip on a narrowboat and talking about life afloat. A chat with fashion designer and firefighter Monique Hollinshead out in nearby Coxbank in her workshop followed, talking about costumes and her Triple Ironman experiences and ultra-distance running, swimming and cycling. Monique is also heavily involved in Audlem's Youth Club.

Next on the show was the youngest and most recent parish councillor Ceri Parsons. She talked about parish council responsibilities and her past experience as a psychologist on TV show Big Brother. Two of the Audlem Festival team, Alisdair MacKenzie and Pete Marshall, talked about the Audlem Festival and their musical experience with Alisdair treating listeners to a Name that Tune feature.

The three hour broadcast gave a taste of what makes Audlem so special. You can always catch up with AudlemOnline for all the news.The terrace of The Lord Combermere in Audlem was turned into an outside broadcast studio a week ago with BBC Radio Stoke's James Watt and Lamont Howie speaking to local Audlem residents.

AudlemOnline's editor Bob Cartwright was quizzed about why Audlem was the First Village of the North, geographically – it really is the most southerly village in the official north of England as you enter from the Midlands. He talked about its success a few years ago when it was declared to be the best community in England in a government (Defra) competition that looked at villages in all fifty English counties before declaring Audlem the outright national winner.

Another member of the AudlemOnline team, John Tilling, spoke about the APHAx project, that is the Audlem Public Hall Annexe and how a Big Lottery Grant should see construction work starting in a few weeks time. It will provide new facilities for the Youth Club, the older residents' luncheon club and coffee mornings and a community gym.

Allan Brown, landlord at the The Lord Combermere pub, explained what life was like in a community like Audlem. He described all the village groups who regularly use the pub and the amazing programme of events that are the highlights of the Audlem year.

There's little doubt who made the most impact on the show as James Watt gave twenty minute and ten minute warnings of the arrival of local resident Billy Gibbons. Billy arrived with his saw and spoon plus his guitar and was at his wise-cracking best. He finished his contribution with a hilarious song about a radio presenter called James Watt which sounded just a bit like Hound Dog, the song that famously first stuck Billy in the 1950s. Billy's house, which once had a rocket sticking out of the roof, is still a tribute to the 50s.

BBC Radio Stoke had earlier been to the Overwater Marina, officially the best Inland Marina in the country – see photo – to meet Janet Maughan and marina manager David. They talked about the building and opening of the marina between 2009 and 2010 as well as taking a trip on a narrowboat and talking about life afloat. A chat with fashion designer and firefighter Monique Hollinshead out in nearby Coxbank in her workshop followed, talking about costumes and her Triple Ironman experiences and ultra-distance running, swimming and cycling. Monique is also heavily involved in Audlem's Youth Club.

Next on the show was the youngest and most recent parish councillor Ceri Parsons. She talked about parish council responsibilities and her past experience as a psychologist on TV show Big Brother. Two of the Audlem Festival team, Alisdair MacKenzie and Pete Marshall, talked about the Audlem Festival and their musical experience with Alisdair treating listeners to a Name that Tune feature.

The three hour broadcast gave a taste of what makes Audlem so special. You can always catch up with AudlemOnline for all the news.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.