The Strettons Podcast

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

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.

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: caradoc131@gmail.comTimings 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

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! 

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

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.