Brewing up fun for appeal

Guests at a royal-themed garden party on Sunday, May 20, for Shirley Tart's Golden Years appeal will take tea surrounded by a swimming pool, hedges and a stone garden house - which will be inside the marquee.

There will also be a chance to visit the private gardens before a celebration tea and to browse through royal memorabilia collected by Shirley from the many events she has covered in her work as a royal correspondent.

Shirley will talk briefly on some of her special highlights while Shropshire's High Sheriff Meriel Afia who is also lady-in-waiting to Princess Alexandra and has a fund of royal memories of her own, will be a special guest.

The appeal aims to raise £50,000 to mark Shirley's 50 years in newspapers, to be split between Hope House and the Severn Hospice.

She says: "This really will be a special occasion. We are very fortunate to have the chance of holding a tea party at Aldenham and look forward to welcoming many friends and readers. I hope people will see it as a way of helping the charity but also as a really nice early summer event."

The special year got off to a storming start last weekend with a big birthday event organised by Chris Grain of Shifnal as well as the successful Hope House Walk in the Park at Coalbrookdale.

Future dates include Shirley's own special party in August at the Blists Hill Victorian Town, marking the day she started work, a WI evening on September 7 at Concord College and a Proms and Gilbert and Sullivan concert at Telford Town Centre on October 7.

Shirley said: "I have also kindly been offered Wrekin College for a concert which will be lovely, Telford Hornets who are 50 years old this year are staging an event for us and there are other ideas in the pipeline. It's going to be a good year."

The garden party is from 2pm-4pm, tickets £9.95 from 01952 243109, or print out the form at the bottom of the story and post your cheques to us.

By Andy Rogers