This week on Love Shrewsbury

The Henry Angell James Memorial Trust (HAJMT) was launched to create a legacy in honour of Henry Angell-James, who tragically passed away aged 54 in October 2017 after suffering a cardiac arrest on his regular train journey home from Birmingham to Shrewsbury.  The aim of the charity is to purchase as many Automatic External Defribrillators  (AED’s) as possible and donate them to worthy applicants, within the West Midlands.

Many Shropshire homes are putting up their Christmas trees and decorations much earlier this year to lift spirts during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.

That’s the view of Tim Robinson, manager of Love Plants, a specialist plants centre based at caravan and motorhome dealership Salop Leisure’s Shrewsbury headquarters.

He has reported a record start to fresh Christmas trees sales, which began two weeks earlier than other years.

Some welcome festive cheer has been added to a key route into Shrewsbury town centre with the switching on of Christmas lights at a famous business landmark.

Morris Lubricants, one of Shrewsbury’s oldest companies, commissioned a special display on the company’s clock tower and works frontage in Castle Foregate last Christmas to mark its 150th birthday.

The lights were so popular that the company has arranged another display this year to lift public spirits and celebrate the festive season.

A series of management changes at one of Shropshire’s leading architects' practices has seen a new Managing Director take the reins as the firm implements its blueprint for the future.

Harry Reece steps into the MD post at Base Architecture & Design as its founder Carl Huntley takes on a new role as Chief Executive to focus on mentoring and developing its team. Bryn Jones has been appointed as Associate Director with Ben Embrey and Joe Salt becoming Senior Associates.

Shrewsbury Folk Festival has made its first major line-up announcement for 2021 after managing to secure the majority of its performers from this year's festival that was postponed due to coronavirus.

Playing at an online casino has never been easier. There are hundreds of operators to choose from, not to mention how accessible and convenient it is to quickly whip out your smartphone or tablet and start playing the latest games – or classics, if that’s what you’re into.

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Local food businesses have sold more products through the Shropshire Festivals’ hamper company than they normally do at their festivals.

Amid the 2020 pandemic, Shropshire Festivals diversified in to hampers. The Shropshire Hamper Company sources products from local food and drink companies that have been unable to exhibit at their festivals this year.

Work is progressing well at a former army barracks in Shrewsbury where a new community is now forming.

Bellway West Midlands is transforming the historic Copthorne Barracks site off Copthorne Road into a new residential neighbourhood, with the first selection of homes now built and the first 18 households now moved in. A further 12 homes have been reserved.

Of the 215 homes being constructed at Copthorne Keep, 170 are to be sold privately while 45 will be provided as affordable housing for local people.

Shrewsbury Market Hall is giving shoppers and diners extra time to do their Christmas shopping and enjoy the market with extended opening hours until 8pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the lead up to Christmas.

The Market Hall, in Claremont Street, will open until 8pm for ‘Winter Warmer Wednesdays’ on December 2, 9 and 16 and ‘Stay Open Saturdays’ on December 5,12 and 19. 

The majority of the market’s non-food retail stalls and cafes will stay open late.

One of Shrewsbury’s leading independent shops is celebrating with one of the world’s oldest electronics companies.

Acoustic Boutique, which supplies and installs a range of televisions and hi-fi equipment, is marking the 95th anniversary of a main supplier.

“Our founding business partner Bang & Olufsen is proud to be 95 years old and has developed a number of new products to mark the occasion,” said Roger Boyle, a director of the High Street showroom.