09 Aug Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire Summer 25
I was talking to the Lord-Lieutenant in Cornwall last week and he told me their average rainfall is 1200mm, then I spoke to a friend in Cumbria and she said theirs is 1482mm and so I then began to feel blessed that in Shropshire we are under the rain shadow of the Cambrian Mountains and only get 1000mm.
This is such a positive thing for the summer events that take place around the County. So much planning, time and hard work goes into arranging them and the weather is one thing that you cannot control but is so important to the events. Summer fayres and festivals bring income to Shropshire towns and businesses but also to charities and organisations who use them as a method of raising much needed funds. I know we are stoic and just carry on with macs and umbrellas pretending we haven’t noticed but I did choke when new shoes, dress and “big effort” hair do were ruined at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party last year in torrential rain.
This summer has seen a real variety of events we have been delighted to be part of.
It was fantastic to hear of Severn Valley Railway being fully open again following a landslide earlier this year – Deputy Lieutenant Robert Bland attended the reopening with the most famous steam locomotive as its VIP guest, The A3 Pacific No 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’.
Garrison Sergeant Major Andrew John (Vern) Stokes OBE MVO DL was delighted to represent the lieutenancy at the opening of the Monarch’s Mini Kingdom. It was a wonderful day full of creativity, hands-on fun, and community spirit.
Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Mrs Jenny Wynn OBE DL, joined with Scouts, Cubs and Beavers and their leaders/helpers from 2ND Wombridge Scout Group at Wombridge Primary School recently. The organisation had arranged a whole school fun day for nearly three hundred children!
I would also like to mention other events –the Shropshire County Show, Clun Open Gardens, Oakengates festival, Albrighton Melville Club Afternoon Tea, Wem Repair Café, and opening The Garden for Alice – Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry (with comedian Harry Hill).
It has been a summer of celebrations for Shropshire too. We were thrilled to learn that six of the county’s residents had been recognised in the King’s birthday honours.
A reception was held to celebrate success of Shropshire businesses as two organisations were awarded the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise. Many congratulations Grainger & Worrall and Fabweld Steel Products Ltd. Winners talk of the many benefits such as worldwide recognition, increased commercial value, greater press coverage and such a boost to staff morale. Applications are currently open until 9th September 2025.
Throughout the summer I have been travelling around the County presenting some amazing voluntary organisations with their King’s Award for Voluntary Service (we had 8 winners last year). We are currently holding a series of workshops about how to nominate for this award. If you know of an organisation you feel might be worthy – take a look at our website for details.
In June we hosted my second Lord-Lieutenant’s Garden party in the beautiful grounds of Orleton Hall. This year more than five hundred people attended with the aim of thanking residents of Shropshire for the voluntary work they do supporting Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin communities.
Local Town and parish councils were invited to use their local knowledge to submit nominations to the Lieutenancy and local and national businesses were most generous sponsors.
People attending the Garden Party came from all walks of life but with one thing in common – their dedication and tireless support of the ceremonial County of Shropshire and its residents.
Recently we arranged and hosted a neurodiversity awareness day for Shropshire and West Midlands Lieutenancies. It was good to meet up with our counterparts from the West Mids and what an astonishingly informative day it was! We received a real insight, not only to the meaning of the conditions, but also of how they affect the everyday life of people affected by them and the struggles they face.
In July we were veery excited to welcome Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal back to Shropshire. The Princess visited the Field Studies Council, which provides outdoor education to thousands of schoolchildren, and was officially welcomed as its new patron.
The visit concluded at HMP Stoke Heath where the Princess Royal was given a tour of the facilities that have been created and heard about programmes designed to support prisoner employment and resettlement.
As we head through August, we would like to send our best wishes to all students receiving their GCSE, A Levels, BTec, T-Level, Degree results. Be proud of what you achieve and be proud to be a Salopian as you venture out into the world.
In the coming months, the Lieutenancy looks forward linking with you in Schools and Colleges, churches, organisations, businesses, and the community.
Enjoy the rest of the summer.