This Is Our Wellington 17

This is our 

LOVE 

Wellington 

WELLINGTON: TWINNED WITH CHÂTENAY-MALABRY 

Summer in 

Inside 


New mayor for 


D Day veteran guest 

at Midsummer Fayre 

Wrekin 24 hour 

challenge - strong 

body, strong mind 

Issue Number 17 | July 2024 

This Is Our Wellington 17 Euro*.indd 1 25/06/2024 14:41


Town Council 

www.wellington-shropshire.gov.uk 

How to contact Wellington Town Council 

Civic Offices, Larkin Way, Tan Bank, Wellington, 

Telford, Shropshire TF1 1LX 

Telephone: 01952 567697 

Email: wellingtontowncouncil@telford.gov.uk 

www.facebook.com/WellingtonTCShropshire 

Ward 

Councillors 

Do you know which Councillor represents your 

Ward? See list of Councillors below, contact 

details are via the Town Council. 

ARLESTON WARD 

Cllr Joan 

Gorse 

Cllr Emma 

Holding 

COLLEGE WARD 

Cllr Reg 

Snell 

x.com/WellingtonTCI 

Wellington Town Council Officers 

Cllr Usman Ahmed 

Mayor 

Adrienne Taylor 

Communications and 

Events Assistant 

VACANT Wellington Town Crier 

Mick & Joe Talbot WEST team 

Karen Roper 

Chief Executive Officer 

Sally Themans 

Love Wellington, Wellington 

Regeneration & This is our 

Wellington Magazine 

Rubbish and Recycling team – bins 

Email: recyclefortelford@telford.gov.uk 

Telephone: 01952 384384 

Planning and Development 

Telephone: 01952 380380 

Email: planning.control@telford.gov.uk 

Housing Solutions team 

Telephone: 01952 381925 

Birth, deaths and marriages 

Telephone: 01952 382444 

register.office@telford.gov.uk 

Abandoned rubbish - Neighbourhood 

and Leisure Services 

Telephone: 01952 384384 (office hours) 

or 03451 559955 (out of hours) 

Email: recyclefortelford@telford.gov.uk 

Child sexual exploitation 

Telephone: 01952 385385 

Citizens Advice Telford & The Wrekin 

Telephone: 0300 330 1165 


www.lovewellington.co.uk 

Caroline Mulvihill 

Events Manager and Deputy 

Chief Executive Officer 

Important Contacts and Numbers 

Neighbourhood and Enforcement 

Services 

Email: envmaintcs@telford.gov.uk 

Telephone: 01952 384384 (office hours) 

03451 559955 (out of hours) 

Roads and Highways 

Highways Maintenance team 

Telephone: 01952 384000 

Email: highways@telford.gov.uk 

Noise - Public Protection team 

Telephone: 01952 381818 

Email: 

environmental.health@telford.gov.uk 

Pest Control 

Telephone: 01952 384384 

Email: envmaintcs@telford.gov.uk 

Citizens Advice consumer helpline 

Telephone: 0808 223 1133 

Wellington Library 

Telephone: 01952 382990 

Email: wellington.library@telford.gov.uk 

BOROUGH 

COUNCILLOR 

Cllr Lee 

Carter 

DOTHILL WARD 

Cllr Lisa 

Jinks 

ERCALL WARD 

SEAT 

VACANT 

Cllr John 

Latter 

BOROUGH 

COUNCILLOR 

Cllr Karen 

Tomlinson 

Cllr Lionel 

Woolley 

HAYGATE WARD 

BOROUGH 

COUNCILLOR 

Cllr Graham 

Cook 

PARK WARD 

Cllr Julie 

Pierce 

Cllr Simon 

Day 

BOROUGH 

COUNCILLOR 

Cllr Paul 

Davis 

SHAWBIRCH WARD 

Cllr Usman 

Ahmed 

Cllr Jim 

McGinn 

BOROUGH 

COUNCILLOR 

Cllr Giles 

Luter 

Cllr Crispin 

Barker 

Cllr Stuart 

Williams 

MEADOWS WARD 

Cllr Stephen 

deLauney 

Telford and Wrekin Community Help 

Line 01952 382030 

Family connect 01952 385385 

Job Box 01952 382888 

Mind 0300 1240365 

Maninplace 01952 248248 

Steer Clear knife crime 01952 214747 

Street Link – homeless 0300 500 0914 

Dog Fouling Telephone 01952 384384 

(office hours) 03451 559955 (out of 

hours) Email: envmaintcs@telford.gov.uk 

Wellington Leisure Centre 

Telephone: 01952 382720 

Email: wellingtonleisure@telford.gov.uk 

Cllr Martin 

Jobe 

BOROUGH 

COUNCILLOR 

Cllr Bill 

Tomlinson 

Cllr Anthony 

Lowe 

BOROUGH 

COUNCILLOR 

Cllr Angela 

McClements 


Welcome 

A letter from the Mayor of Wellington, 

Cllr Usman Ahmed 

I look forward to 

serving and helping the 

people of Wellington 

This is our Wellington has 

been designed by Plus Two 

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© Wellington Town Council 

2024 / Love Wellington 

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www.plus2media.co.uk 

It is both an honour and the greatest privilege 

of my life to have been elected Mayor of 

Wellington. 

I’d like to start by paying tribute to my 

predecessor Councillor Paul Davis who 

brought great passion, dedication, and 

fortitude to the role. His love for our town 

shone through. Thank you to my colleagues 

and fellow councillors for considering me 

worthy of this role and to the people of College 

Ward, whom I represent, for their support. It is 

incredibly humbling to be elected in a democracy. 

Since a young age, I have always loved 

Wellington. I attended Alton Park School and 

New College and worship at the mosque on 

Regent Street; but I never imagined I would one 

day be mayor of our beautiful and historic town. 

It is incredibly humbling to be the first Asian of 

Pakistani origin, the first minority ethnic mayor 

and the first Muslim Mayor of Wellington. Our 

strength as a community is in our diversity. 

Though elected as a Labour councillor, I will 

be Wellington’s mayor. I promise to be an active 

mayor, bringing our communities together and 

championing causes I believe in. No one should 

l Marc Fourgere Deputy Mayor of Châtenay- 

Malabry with Wellington Mayor Usman Ahmed. 

sleep rough in one of the richest countries in the 

world, and everyone in Wellington should have 

a decent home. My mayoral charity for the year 

will be Maninplace, a fantastic organisation that 

supports our most vulnerable residents. 

Compassion, respect, tolerance, and the 

service of others are my values. And, as we look 

forward to a summer in Wellington, we take 

time to remember those who made a difference 

80 years ago as we commemorate D-Day, and 

we meet some of those that are helping those 

in need now – the Primal Instincts team who 

climbed the Wrekin 24 times in 24 hours to 

highlight and help men’s mental health (page 

8&9). 

Summers in Wellington are always busy and 

as we go to print plans are in place for a host of 

events starting in July with the Italian Scooter 

Day, the Green Festival, Saturdays in the Square 

and the Bowring Fun Days – as well as the Walking 

Festival in September - details of all which you 

will find in these pages. 

I hope to meet some of you at some of these 

various events, and I look forward to serving and 

helping the people of Wellington – and so, I begin 

my mayoral term. 

03 

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The views expressed in This is Our 

Wellington are those of the individual 

contributors and not necessarily the views 

of the Wellington Town Council, Love 

Wellington or Plus Two Media Limited. 

l Above; Mayor Usman 

Ahmed with D Day veteran, 

Mr Bill Humphries. 

@LoveWellington 

@LoveWellington1 

lovewellingtonshropshire 


LOVE 

Community News 

04 

WELLINGTON 

HISTORY 

GROUP 

TALKS 

l July 18 

The Walker Legacy, part 2, 

Wendy Palin 

l Sept 19 

William Withering, eminent 

son of Wellington 

Diana Clarke 

l Nov 21 

James Oliver (Wellington 

benefactor) 

Andrew Beach and Judy 

Meeson. 

All talks are held at Wellington 

Library at 7:30pm 

New play 

area 

coming to 

Dothill 

A new play area at Dothill 

and Severn Drive is under 

development, funded by 

Section 106 money from the 

former Charlton school site. 

The project, which started 

in June, has been in the 

pipeline since the school land 

was in the planning stages. 

The funds were released after 

a certain number of houses 

were built. After meetings 

with council officers and a 

tender process, the chosen 

equipment was selected for 

its play value and will include 

an interpretation board to 

support children with special 

needs. 

Cllr Karen Tomlinson has 

also contributed Pride money 

to this scheme. 

D-DAY VET HONOURED AT 

MIDSUMMER FAYRE EVENT 

On Saturday 8 June thousands packed 

into the centre of Wellington to enjoy 

the annual Midsummer Fayre, organised 

by Wellington H2A and All Saints Church. 

Amid all the usual music and merriment, visitors 

paused for a public show of thanks to guest of 

honour Mr Bill Humphries who, at 99, is one of 

Wellington’s last D-Day veterans. In the week 

that the nation marked the 80th anniversary of 

the Normandy Landings, representatives of our 

French twin town, Châtenay-Malabry, led an 

emotional tribute to Bill and all those Wellington 

men who risked their lives in the liberation of 

France eight decades ago. 

Market late nights return 

The ever-popular Wellington Late Night Markets have 

made a welcome return this summer with the first one 

held on the last Saturday of June. There will be three 

more evenings throughout the summer with entertainment, 

delicious street food, and an all-round good 

vibe - the perfect night out with family and friends. 

Inside the Wellington Market Food Court vendors 

include Park Street Kitchen, Bubbly’s Kitchen, Red 

Dragon Noodles, Gorgeous Pizza Company, Odd Pals, 

and The Welldeck. 

Outside the Market Yard has a livelier vibe, with live 

entertainment and tasty food from Red Brick Craft 

Beer Bar & Food, Hungry Dogs, Jamaica No Problem 

Mon Caribbean, AJ’s Kitchen Bar & Food and pop up 

stalls. 

A number of traders will be open for shopping during these events. 5-10pm, £2 entry and 

children go free. Future dates: 

Saturday 27 July Saturday 31 August Saturday 28 September 


This is our Wellington | www.lovewellington.co.uk 

LOVE 

Orbit reaches milestone 

The Wellington Orbit 

marked its 5th Birthday 

in May with a special 

open weekend which 

saw over 200 members 

of the community visit for a building 

tour. This enabled visitors to explore 

the untouched behind the scenes 

areas and hear about the plans for 

the upcoming ‘Phase 2’ renovations 

which will see the upper floors 

transformed into multi-purpose 

spaces for the community ranging 

from dance studios, meeting rooms, 

art exhibitions and more. Following 

extensive consultation the works on 

Phase 2 are due to start in 2025. 

The Orbit is hosting a number of 

events over the summer, as part 

of the Saturdays in the Square 

including Orbit Rocks, ‘Music From 

the Movies’ concert on 10 August, 

with local bands, dance groups and 

acts performing; a Family Fun Day 

(Part of High Street Celebrations) on 

17 August - with live music, local dance groups, Victorian 

show and outdoor games from Boardroom Gaming 

Café; and a return of the popular ‘Reels & Wheels’ 

car display on 24 August, with a collection of sports 

& classic cars, classic and modern motorbikes in the 

Square and all Saints Church, coinciding with a cinema 

screening (film to be announced). 

For a full programme and to see what’s going on at 

The orbit, please visit wellingtonorbit.co.uk 

Legacy inspires 

Charity 

Challenges 

In a heartfelt tribute to her late 

partner, Wrekin Rower Gary 

Richards, Wellington’s Alyson 

Westbrook is embarking on a series 

of fundraising challenges throughout 

2024 to support Severn Hospice. 

The highlight of her endeavours 

will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro 

in September which will be a 

fundraiser for both Severn Hospice 

and Kelly’s Heroes. 

TELFORD WREKIN RAIDERS 

05 

The Telford Wrekin Raiders Ladies Ice Hockey 

Club, founded in 1988 is, after 35 years, 

still going strong and boasts three women 

from the original line up who are still playing. 

The club’s name was chosen by the players in 

appreciation for local landmark, The Wrekin, 

and has been proudly worn on the kit jerseys 

for all those years. 

Since its inception the club has seen a 

range of players, aging from 8 to 60, several 

of whom have gone on to play at Olympic 

level. In 2022 the coaching team set up the 

Midlands Wrekin Raiders, an under 16 girls 

team, which attracts girls from all over the 

Midlands to play in Telford. 

The backbone of the club are the 

committee, the coaches and sponsors from 

local businesses, who play a vital role in 

ensuring the team’s continued success. 

This season sponsors include Nexus 

Components, Egerton’s barbers, Peppers 

restaurant and Wellington-based Rowton 

Brewery and The Wrekin Inn. This season 

has also seen two more local businesses 

in Wellington getting involved - with The 

Boardroom Café providing players with space 

for downtime and Sweets Galore in the 

market providing raffle prizes. 

Spokesperson Donna Sumnall told 

TIOW, “A good portion of the players live in 

Wellington - many have called Wellington 

home for years and some have made the 

move more recently. Every single one says 

the same thing - Wellington is a great place to 

live!”. 

The club are always on the lookout 

for local ladies (or u16 girls) wanting 

to try something new - find them on 

Instagram @telfordwrekinraiders or email 

telfordwrekinraiders@gmail.com 

Gary Richards, who passed away 

last year, was a beloved member of 

the Wrekin Rowers who completed 

a remarkable 3,000-mile row across 

the Atlantic, raising over £120,000 

for the RNIB and Severn Hospice. To 

honour Gary’s memory and continue 

his legacy of charity fundraising, 

Alyson will also participate in the 

Red Lion to Aberystwyth bike ride. 

Alyson’s own journey symbolises 

resilience and dedication, and she 

hopes her efforts will raise both 

awareness and funds for Severn 

Hospice. 

Her commitment reflects the 

deep impact Gary had on her 

life and the wider Wellington 

community. 


LOVE 

Community News 

Wellington Twinning Weekend Success 

06 

Over the weekend of 7-10 

June, Wellington Twinning 

Association welcomed 

visitors from our twin town 

of Châtenay-Malabry, just 

outside Paris. The group attended a 

civic welcome event on the Friday with 

afternoon tea. The Mayor of Wellington 

Usman Ahmed welcomed the visitors 

with a response from the Deputy 

Mayor of Châtenay, Marc Fougere. 

On Saturday, the Twinning 

Association had a stall as part of the 

Midsummer Fayre with many of the 

guests taking part in the procession 

in period costume. The French party 

were delighted to meet Wellington 

resident and D-Day veteran 99-yearold 

Bill Humphries and extended a vote 

of thanks to him, from the people of 

France. 

On Saturday evening the group 

attended a ceilidh in Belmont Hall 

and a farewell dinner on Sunday at 

The Cock Hotel. “It was a wonderful 

weekend of friendship, remembering 

the past and looking to the future” 

said Mrs Laurence Moses, Chair of 

Wellington Twinning. 

If you would like to find out more 

about Wellington Twinning Association, 

please call 07795 031681 or email 

wellingtonshropshiretwinning@gmail. 

com 

Comedy of Errors 

in Bowring Park 

l Above; Handlebards 2024 © Rah Petherbridge-CAST (BL 

Sam Perry BR Craig Hamilton FL Lucinda Davidson FR 

Caroline O’Mahoney) 

On Friday, September 6 at 7pm, Bowring Park will host a unique 

outdoor production of Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors,” 

performed by the HandleBards. This four-strong troupe of 

actors travel across the UK on bicycles, carrying all their set, 

props, and costumes with them, promoting environmentally 

sustainable theatre. 

This classic Shakespearean comedy, which sees two sets of 

estranged twins brought together on the same island leading to 

a whirlwind of mistaken identities, music, and manic costume 

changes will be a fun evening out for Wellington residents. 

Audience members are encouraged to bring a chair or 

blanket to sit on, a picnic to enjoy, and to dress appropriately 

for the weather. Don’t miss this inventive and eco-friendly 

performance. 

For tickets, visit Telford Theatre.com 

A hub of activity and 

community spirit 

Since 2016, a dedicated 

group of volunteers 

has managed Arleston 

Community Centre, 

ensuring it remains a 

welcoming and thriving 

venue for local residents. 

The centre, run by a 

Board of Trustees that 

includes local councillors 

and community 

members, operates 

without paid staff. Their 

tireless efforts have turned it into 

a vital community asset. 

Despite its small size, the centre is bustling with activity. It hosts 

numerous events, including the successful Senior Citizen’s Afternoon 

Tea held in May. Regular events such as Christmas Craft Fairs, Arleston 

Memories Group meetings, and Table Top Sales keep the community 

engaged. 

The centre is an ideal venue for children’s parties, short courses, 

and training events, with competitive hourly hire rates. To learn more, 

contact Emma at bookings@arlestoncc.co.uk. 

Regular groups at the centre include mixed martial arts for children, 

Coffee and Craft Club, a monthly Film Club, and more. The installation 

of acoustic panels and solar panels, thanks to successful grant 

applications, has enhanced the facility. 

Despite its success, many people are still unaware of the centre. 

To ensure its continued vibrancy, Arleston Community Centre seeks 

volunteers. If you have some spare time and wish to contribute, 

contact Claire at 07941 515220 or clairedempsey68@gmail.com. 



LOVE 

Wellington Walking Festival 

The 13th Wellington Walking Festival will 

take place this year from Monday 9 

September to Sunday 15 September. 

There will be 30 events during the festival 

with some firm favourites and ten new walks. 

The theme of ‘Heritage’ will ensure a range 

of interesting historical walks along many of the 

wonderful routes that Wellington enjoys. The 

opening day of the festival celebrates our iconic 

landmark, the Wrekin, with a new Heritage Walk 

which explores much of the history in a mile long 

walk - contrasted with the ‘Rough Way on the 

Wrekin Hills’ which will challenge walkers up the 

steepest ascents and descents of the four hills. 

Wellington’s Makers Mural Trail will be 

celebrated with walkers enjoying discovering the 

stories in the town’s ancient streets. 

The festival also journeys afield to neighbouring 

towns and villages and a walk to the Telford Steam 

Railway where a ride on the steam train can be 

enjoyed. 

To find out more and discover the week’s 

programme visit wellingtonwalkersarewelcome. 

org.uk 

Italian Scooters in the Square 

Back for the third year the hugely successful Italian Scooter Day will return on Saturday 20 July. 

As with previous years, expect the town market square to be packed with scooters of all types 

and vintages with riders coming from as far as Cheshire and Staffordshire. 

Organised by David Morris, Director of the ‘Italian Auto Moto Club’ together with Love 

Wellington, this is a great way of drawing visitors to Wellington. David commented, “This event 

is fast becoming very well-known as the only UK event purely for scooters on its central streets. 

It’s great to get enthusiasts to come to meet up in a town setting and help to regenerate the 

local economy.” 

07 

ITALIAN 

SCOOTER 

DAY 


will host a 

unique ‘Italian 

Scooter Day’ 

SATURDAY 

20TH JULY 

2024 

WELLINGTON TOWN 

CENTRE, TF1 1DB 

9.30AM - 3.30PM 

The towns streets will be packed with scooters of 

all types and vintage, with riders and enthusiasts 

coming in from as far as Cheshire & Staffordshire. 

Any enquiries regarding the event should 

contact David Morris on 07773 537564 - 

or email: djmfastforward@hotmail.co.uk 


Wellington Wellness 

08 

Wrekin 24 Challenge: 

Strong Body, Strong 

Mind 

Did you know that of the 112 people 

who take their own lives in the UK every 

week, three quarters of them are men? 

Now there’s an inspiring group of men 

in Telford dedicated to reducing that 

number, and they have been getting 

very well acquainted with our local 

landmark in the process. 

Primal Instinct is a group created 

by men for men to support men 

who may be struggling with 

mental health, addiction or 

isolation. And it’s already making 

a big impact. 

Founded by Ricky Biffa, Lee Stevens and 

Christopher Booth in June 2023, the group 

aims to reverse the trend of male suicide 

and to help and support men with their 

mental health issues with brotherhood and 

friendship spun around physical challenges. 

What began as a few friends getting 

together to support each other, has grown 

into a movement involving almost 200 local 

men of various ages and backgrounds. 

But all have the same mission – to spread 

the word that asking for help is a sign of 

strength and courage, not weakness. 

The group started out with its now 

famous ‘River Dip’, complete with ‘Viking 

Clap’; men getting together to take a short 

plunge in the River Severn at Coalport on 

Saturday mornings. They found they liked 

the challenge of getting up early (they 

meet at 6 am) and particularly the ‘primal’ 

camaraderie of the cold-water experience. 

News of the challenge spread throughout 

the Telford area – and beyond. As one 

‘Primal’ (as they are known) explained, they 


To provide the wraparound support that 

many men facing challenges need, the 

Primal Instinct group offer a comprehensive 

programme of activities: 

l River Dip every Saturday at 6am - Coalport 

l Walk and talk at 8am Sundays in Telford Town 

Park, meeting at The Wrekin Giant 

l The Wrekin Challenge & Share at 5am on 

Tuesday and Friday mornings 

now have men travelling from as far 

as Milton Keynes to join in, and the 

challenge is as much about not hitting 

that snooze button but getting up and 

out and doing something with others. 

As well as the river dip, the Primals 

now have activities throughout 

the week, such as walk and talk 

sessions, a ‘Talking Circle’, and the 

‘Wrekin Challenge & Share’ to provide 

comprehensive ‘wraparound’ support 

for each other throughout the week. 

The Wrekin Challenge was set up 

by Mark Lloyd and Dean Pettinger and 

consists of a climb to the top of the 

Wrekin, with some kind of physical 

challenge at the top and then time, 

whilst walking down, to share stories 

and experiences. Mark explained, “We 

meet at 5am on a Tuesday and Friday 

mornings – it is physical – you need a 

strong body to carry a strong mind and 

the exertion helps bond participants to 

be able to open up and share. Whilst 

we are not trained counsellors, we 

can listen and signpost people to the 

professional help they need.” 

The group were determined to 

undertake the ultimate challenge last 

month which saw them embark on 

24 ascents of The Wrekin in 24 hours, 

raising funds to pay for emergency 

counselling for those men in the 

group that need it. Mark was joined 

by plenty of supporters and wellwishers 

throughout the 24 hour 

challenge, some of whom did 

one or many more ascents, with 

both Mark and Paul Richards 

completing the full 24 and raising 

over £7,000 in the process – far 

exceeding their expectations. 

The Primals firmly believe that 

physical health supports mental 

health—strong body, strong 

mind - and the activities are 

physical and very much designed to 

support men’s mental health. As Mark 

said, “We create a safe space for men, 

to be themselves and to be the best 

men they can be.” 

Tragically, one of the founders of the 

Primals, Ricky Briffa, took his own life 

in December last year, aged just 34. 

It is his legacy that drives the group 

forward. These men are on a mission 

to make sure others do not have to go 

through what his family and friends 

went through. 

“The news of Ricky’s death 

was a huge shock. He was 

a man who had turned 

his life around and was 

on a path to help 

others do the same. 

It’s a stark reminder 

that mental health 

issues are real, and 

we, as men, have a 

duty to look out for 

one another.” 

l Talking Circle at Dawley Town Hall from 6pm 

to 8:30 pm Wednesday 

l Primals Online 8pm Sunday 

Details of all their activities are available on the 

website primal-insincts.co.uk or find Primal 

Instincts on social media. 

In every issue of This Is Our Wellington over the 

next year, we will be focusing on ‘Wellington 

Wellness’ – for all members of our community. 

l Below: Mark Lloyd and Dean Pettinger who 

set up the ‘Wrekin Challenge & Share’ and 

completed 24 and 21 ascents of The Wrekin 

09 


LOVE 

Wellington Regeneration News 

Prestigious Green Award 

for Little Green Pantry 

10 

Keli King has been 

awarded ‘Green Start-Up 

of the Year’ at the annual 

Midlands Startup Awards 

for her zero-waste shop, 

The Little Green Pantry, 

on Crown Street. 

Keli launched 

The Little 

Green 

Pantry to 

help reduce 

plastic waste and 

promote environmental 

sustainability and the shop 

offers a range of food and 

toiletries aimed at cutting 

down on single-use 

plastics. 

“This means so much 

to me,” said Keli. “I 

would not have got here 

without my fantastic team 

and, of course, our loyal 

customers who choose 

The Little Green Pantry 

and care about our planet 

as much as we do.” 

Keli’s venture began 

in 2019 as a pop-up 

stall in local markets, 

including Wellington and 

Newport, and diversified 

into deliveries during 

the lockdown. After 

completing a start-up 

course with Good2Great 

funded by Telford & 

Wrekin Council and 

receiving a Pride in Our 

High Street grant, she 

opened her permanent 

shop in Wellington. 

Now in its third year the 

business employs a team 

of five who run the shop 

and participate in external 

events like the Shrewsbury 

Food Festival. Keli is set to 

compete in the UK final of 

the competition at Ideas 

Fest in September, an 

event for entrepreneurs 

and business leaders. 

l Katie, Lee, Keli 

King from the Little 

Green Pantry 

New businesses and moves 

l By Danielle – Beauty salon on Duke Street 

l CLA Barbers on King Street 

l Quackers R Us – Market Annex (second hand and new clothes and 

homewares) 

l The Hungry Dogs – Wellington Market Yard 

l The Old Orleton – re-opened with new owners 

l Repair Xperts Pro have opened a second shop in New Street 

‘Paint the Town’ this Summer 

Love Wellington is running a Summer Window Painting Competition – 

‘Paint the Town’ - inviting all local shops and businesses to join in to get 

some summer vibes and colour around the streets. Sally Themans from 

Love Wellington said, “We’re calling on all the wonderful businesses 

across Wellington to unleash their creativity and grab brushes and let 

imagination run wild as shopfront and windows are transformed to 

capture the essence of summer, brightening the town for passersby 

at the same 

time.” Seen here 

are some of the 

wonderful summer 

windows. 

And some moves…. 

l Welford CBD moved to Bell Street 

l Chill Out Skate Shop is moving to Market 



Above and Beyond: Fulfilling 

a vital need in Wellington 

In Wellington, a new business, 

Above and Beyond, is making a 

significant impact by providing 

compassionate transport services 

for the community. Founded by 

Kayleigh Parsons and her friend Ben 

Tonks, the business emerged from 

Kayleigh’s personal experiences and 

challenges with her son’s learning 

disabilities and the difficulties of school 

transport. 

Kayleigh, inspired by her husband’s 

work with a company focused on school 

runs, recognised a broader need, so 

she and Ben decided to establish their 

own business. After attending a Love 

Wellington social media course and 

securing their operator’s license, Above 

and Beyond hit the road in November 

2023. “The course really helped guide 

me into knowing exactly what was 

needed on social media to market the 

business” said Kayleigh. 

“We slowly built it up from one car 

on the road, taking shifts covering the 

phone and driving. We now have four 

vehicles on the road with a fifth in the 

licencing process we also have our eye 

on a minibus for larger groups.” 

Above and Beyond specialises in 

transporting individuals who need extra 

support to maintain their independence 

and wellbeing. Their services cater to 

a wide range of customers, including 

school children, shoppers, and even 

those requiring airport transfers or 

weekend transport and is committed 

to easing the stress of those needing 

additional support. 

In just six months, Kayleigh and Ben’s 

venture has not only grown but also 

filled a crucial gap in the community, 

making a difference in the lives of many 

Wellington residents. 

New Guide to enhance 

Wellington shop fronts 

Wellington’s Regeneration 

Partnership has published 

a new guide to help the 

town’s businesses maximise 

the potential of their 

shop fronts. The guide is a 

collaboration between Rob 

Francis of arts and heritage 

group Wellington H2A and 

Telford & Wrekin Council 

conservation and planning 

officers. 

Rob, who wrote a town 

centre vision for Wellington 

Town Council a decade 

ago, emphasised the 

importance of preserving 

Wellington’s history 

and making the town 

appealing to both residents 

and visitors. “Much of 

Wellington town centre 

is a conservation area, so 

we want to help preserve 

its history,” he explained. 

“The guide offers practical 

advice about colour 

schemes and signage 

that enhance individual 

properties and the town 

overall. The collective 

choices of businesses 

significantly impact the 

look and feel of the place.” 

Jon Drew of Wellington’s 

Boardroom Café supports 

the initiative, noting that 

early advice on shop 

front design can make a 

significant difference. “We 

benefited from a start-up 

grant from Telford & Wrekin 

Council and had to work 

closely with the council’s 

planning team,” he said. 

“Many businesses don’t get 

that input and often aren’t 

aware of the rules until it’s 

too late. This guide will help 

others design their shop 

fronts well, benefiting us 

all.” 

The guide aims to set 

out design rules for the 

conservation area and 

offers ideas to make 

businesses’ efforts as 

effective as possible. A 

copy of the guide can be 

found on Wellington Town 

Council’s website. 

LOVE 

Saturday 

Cycles to the 

recue 

Dave Taylor at Saturday Cycles 

came to the rescue when 

Robbie Seaward popped in 

to have new brake pads fitted 

at very short notice. Robbie 

was in the middle of a 1000 

mile cycle ride around the 

outskirts of England in aid of 

Brain Tumour Research UK 

and was in desperate need of 

help with his bike. 

“Robbie’s ride was raising 

awareness that chemotherapy is not to be feared 

and that you can still live well and extend your life 

– and in the process hopes to enter the Guinness 

Book of Records for the longest cycle journey 

conducted by a patient currently undergoing 

chemotherapy,” said Dave. “I was pleased to be 

able to help.” 

Robbie is receiving treatment for a brain tumour. 

At the time of going to press he was on day 15, up in 

Newcastle, and had been featured on Radio 5 Live 

the day before. 

Spinning 

Around’s 

‘record’ 

day 

One Saturday in April 

Emma Perks of Spinning 

Around Records single 

handedly brought in the 

crowds to Wellington. It 

was all part of a nationwide 

‘Record Store UK’ day which 

saw people quite literally queuing 

down New Street from the early hours to get their 

hands on rare and limited-edition vinyl. Spinning 

Around Records opened in September last year, 

helped by a grant from Telford & Wrekin’s Pride in 

Our High Street, and is having a great impact on 

Wellington. As Love Wellington remarked in their 

post – which reached over 36,000 people on 

social media - “Whoever said vinyl / retail / high 

streets or for that matter Wellington has had its 

day?” 

11 


LOVE 

Love Wellington Climate News 

Sustainable Sundays go 

from strength to strength 

12 

Climate Action Hub 

Telford (CAHT) is a 

local charity focused 

on reducing carbon 

emissions and landfill 

through promoting reduce, 

reuse, repair, share and recycling 

initiatives. Since the beginning 

of 2024 CAHT has been holding 

monthly ‘Sustainable Sunday’ 

events at Belmont Hall in 

Wellington. The aim of these 

events is to provide local people 

with the opportunity to engage 

in climate and nature action 

whilst saving money. The events 

are free to help everyone feel 

welcome. This has been made 

possible thanks to Telford & 

Wrekin Council’s Climate Change 

Fund Grant. 

The monthly events are growing 

in popularity with between 100- 

170 people of all ages regularly 

attending events. Each event 

covers a different theme to 

provide something of interest 

to everyone and showcase the 

many ways we can make our lives 

more sustainable. The themes so 

far this year have included: how 

to make your home more energy 

efficient; how to grow your own 

food; wildlife friendly gardening; 

sustainable cooking and eco 

arts and crafts sessions. At the 

sustainable fashion event in 

May, Telford College students 

designed, made and modelled 

amazing sustainable outfits made 

from second hand clothing and 

inspired by themes relating to 

climate and nature action. 

Still to come are events on how 

to go plastic free, a repair, make 

and mend session and how to 

have a sustainable Christmas. The 

events also showcase the work 

of other local groups to provide 

further inspiration, including: 

Telford Repair Café; Transition 

Telford; Shropshire Cycle 

Hub; Shropshire and Telford 

Community Energy; Connected 

Mobiles and Shropshire Wildlife 

Trust. 

All the events feature 

Terracycle Recycling, mobile 

phone, electronic gadget, 

jewellery, stamps and coins 

collection points, an Eco Library 

to borrow books on nature, 

climate and living life in a more 

sustainable way and a swap 

element. People can bring 

household items, books, DVD’s, 

toys, clothes etc. to swap for 

free or take for a ‘pay as you can’ 

donation, with an average of 100 

kilos of items being donated and 

100’s of items being rehomed at 

each event. 

Delicious plant-based 

refreshments are provided on a 

‘pay as you can’ basis. 

To find out how you can get 

involved please see CAHT’s 

website climateactionhub.org. 

uk/events or follow them on 

social media or join in one of 

their events including Wellington’s 

first Green Festival at The Square 

and All Saints Church grounds on 

Saturday 27 July 10-3pm. 

l Telford College Students modelling their 

sustainable fashion. 

Stop press! 

Congratulations to Jane Bundy from Climate Action Hub Telford who was 

nominated by Paola Armstrong from Wellington Town Council for the BBC ‘Make a 

Difference’ Award. It has just been announced that Jane is a finalist! 


This Is Our Wellington 17 Euro*.indd 13 25/06/2024 14:41 

13

14 

Annual 

Town 

Report 

now 

available 


Town Council 


Annual Report 

2023 / 24 

The latest Annual Town Report 

from Wellington Town Council 

can now be viewed online 

on the town council website 

wellington-shropshire.gov. 

uk or for a hard copy please 

pop into the Wellington Town 

Council offices on Tan Bank. 

In the report there is plenty 

of information about the 

various activities of the town 

council 2023-2024; from 

planning to finance, the groups 

that the town council supports 

to regeneration and Love 

Wellington. 

Wellington Town Council News 

Farewell and thank you Paola! 

In June Wellington Town Council bid farewell 

to Paola Armstrong, who had been with the 

council since 2020 and had responsibility 

for organising the Wellington Festival, the 

Saturdays in the Square, Wellington’s Green 

Festival as well as playing a significant role in 

regeneration and Love Wellington. 

Paola brought with her a genuine and contagious 

passion for absolutely doing the very best for her 

hometown of Wellington and her impact will be 

lasting. She will be sorely missed by colleagues, 

councillors, the many businesses she supported 

and championed, as well as the wider community 

she served. 

We wish Paola and her family all the very best as 

they embark on a new adventure in New Zealand. 

Paola would like to send this message: “I 

have loved every single second of working for 

Wellington and look forward to watching the 

continual improvements from the other side of 

the world. My heartfelt thanks goes to everyone 

who has helped make my time at Wellington Town 

Council and Love Wellington so utterly enjoyable!” 

Bayley Mile’s record participation 

In May Wellington came alive for the 

annual Bayley Mile road race organised 

by Wellington Town Council. Steeped in 

tradition, this event, which originated in 

the 1930s, saw a turnout of 160 runners, 

including pupils from 11 local schools and, for 

the first time ever, participants from the town’s 

businesses. 

The Bayley Mile was started 27 years ago 

to promote community spirit and healthy 

competition among local schools. This year’s 

event showcased the town’s vibrant spirit, with 

enthusiastic runners navigating the course 

around Wellington. 

Among the highlights were the impressive 

performances by Chloe Stuart of Wrekin College, 

who set a new record in the Under 15 Girls 

category with a time of 5 minutes and 26.9 

seconds, and Oliver Dolan of Dothill Primary, who 

broke records in the Under 11 Boys category with 

a time of 5 minutes and 32.6 seconds. 

Adding to the excitement, the town’s 

businesses joined the fray, demonstrating their 

support for the event and fostering camaraderie 

in the community. Dave Bradshaw of DB 

Computers crossed the finish line as the first 

business participant. 

The Bayley Mile is testament to the vision 

of its founder, John Bayley, who championed 

education and community engagement. 

School Team Winners 

St Lawrence Primary Under 11 Girls 

St Lawrence Primary Under 11 Boys 

Thomas Telford Under 13 Girls 

Wrekin College Under 15 Boys 

Thomas Telford Under 13 Boys 

Thomas Telford Under 15 Boys 

Individual Winners 

Under 15 Boys Kody Gilbody Thomas Telford 

Under 15 Girls Chloe Stuart Wrekin College 

Under 13 Boys Charlie Stuart Wrekin College 

Under 13 Girls Harriet Anslow Thomas Telford 

Under 11 Boys Ollie Dolan Dothill Primary 

Under 11 Girls Penny Newman Shortwood 

Primary 

Open race 

Douglas Stewart Adams Grammar School 

Camilla Stewart Wenlock Olympians 

Business Race 

Dave Bradshaw – pictured with Mayor Cllr Paul 

Davis 



What’s going on in 

WELLINGTON 

Welcome to Wellington’s packed schedule of events over the summer and autumn.... 

All details are correct at time of going to print. Please keep an eye on the Love Wellington and Wellington Town 

Council FaceBook Accounts for updates about events as arrangements are confirmed. 

Friday 19 & Saturday 20 July 

Art Exhibition at Methodist Church (TBC) 

Saturday 20 July 

9.30am - 3.30pm 

Italian Scooter Day - Market Square & Central 


Wednesday 24 July 

11am - 1pm 

Wellington Family Fun Days at Bowring Park 

with Tori Arts 


10am-3pm 

Green Festival, All Saints, Wellington 


5pm - 10pm 

Late Night Opening Wellington Market with 

street food, pop up bars, live music - entry £2 

Friday 2 August 

11am - 1pm 

Wellington Family Fun Days - Blast Off Rockets 

at Bowring Park 

Saturday 3 August 

10am – 3pm 

Saturdays in the Square, Wellington (Telford) 

Brass Band 

Wednesday 7 August 

11am - 1pm 

Wellington Family Fun Days with Flip and Dippy 



10am – 3pm 

Saturdays in the Square, Wellington – Orbit 

Rocks 

Thursday 15 – Monday 19 August 

Jollies Inflatables at Bowring Park 

Saturday 17 August 

11am – 1pm 

Saturdays in the Square, High Street 

Celebration Day Wellington 


11am - 1pm 

Wellington Family Fun Days with Kev’s 

Community Circus at Bowring Park 


11am – 1pm 

Saturdays in the Square, Wellington ‘Wheels 

& Reels’ 


11am - 1pm 

Wellington Family Fun Days with Flip and Dippy 



11am – 1pm 

Sounds in the Square, Wellington 


5pm – 10pm 



Friday 6 September 

7pm 

Comedy of Errors - Open Air production in 

Bowring Park 

Monday 9 - Sunday 15 September 

Wellington Walking Festival 

A festival programme can be downloaded from 

wellingtonwalkersarewelcome.org.uk 

Saturday 28 September 

5pm - 10pm 



Saturday 26 October - Saturday 2 November 

Wellington businesses Halloween Promotion 

Friday 2 November 

Firework Night at Wellington Cricket Club 

Saturday 9 - Saturday 16 November 

Wellington Drama Festival at The Belfrey 

Theatre belfreytheatre.com 

Sunday 10 November 

10.30am onwards 

Remembrance Parade through Wellington and 

Service at All Saints Church 

Monday 11 November 

11am 

Armistice Day - Wellington Market Square 

Saturday 30 November 

From 2pm 

Christmas Lights Switch On - Wellington 

Market Square and All Saints Church 

Monday 2 December 

From 5pm 

Christmas Lights Switch On - Wellington 

Neighbourhoods: Shawbirch, Brooklands and 

Arleston 

Sunday 8 December 

Mayor’s Civic Carol Service

This Is Our Wellington 17

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