Montgomery teenager Catrin McDougal is organising an online advent calendar on behalf of St Nicholas’ Church to help bring the community together to celebrate Christmas this year, when many people must be apart.

Following a ‘trailer’ on Facebook last Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, the daily ‘doors’ began on December 1, and are available on the Montgomery Wales website at https://www.montgomery-wales.co.uk/christ/advent/advent.php.

Catrin said: “It should be entertaining to watch, as each night a new video is released, created by different people and groups around the town. I hope that this will boost morale after such a difficult year.”

The calendar will feature readings of poetry, crafts, dances and message from Santa Claus.

The project is part of Catrin’s Duke of Edinburgh award and inspired by the live advent calendar in Montgomery two years ago, when people gathered at a different door each night to celebrate.

Boost for brewery

Monty’s Brewery has secured its largest single order to supply 285 Co-op stores in Central England, from Holmfirth in Yorkshire down to Huntingdon in Cambridge, with its Christmas beer Figgy Pud.

Russ Honeyman, commercial director: said, “This order came at a crucial time for us in what are challenging times for the brewing industry.

“We have supplied the Co-ops in Wales for a few years now, but to be given the opportunity to supply the Central England region was a huge boost.

“It meant we were able to keep our great staff employed.”

The 19,500 bottles of beer went onto the shelves during November, so look out for them in Wales and all around the Midlands and beyond.

Pizza profits for African charity

Kate and Stu Richards of Nomadic Appetite will be donating all of their pizza profits this week to Self Help Africa’s Big Give appeal.

The pair have been serving delicious wood-fired pizza for takeaway one evening a week in Montgomery and Berriew throughout the pandemic and plan to continue until Christmas.

In October 2019 they took on the challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro to raise money for this Shropshire-based charity.

In Tanzania they experienced first hand the lack of sanitation facilities available to many of the local people.

Kate said: “The past eight months have been a struggle for us all but my heart goes out to those poor people all over Africa who don’t have the basic facilities to wash their hands, never mind the chance to keep two metres apart to stop the spread of COVID.

“That’s why we have decided to do what we can to try and make their lives a little easier by donating all of our profits from this week’s pizzas to Self Help Africa’s Big Give appeal.

“We are encouraging our existing customers and new faces to get involved and order pizza this week to support this great cause. Every penny that we are able to donate will be match-funded by the Big Give.”

Nomadic appetite will be serving their pizzas on Thursday from the Talbot in Berriew and on Friday from the Cottage in Montgomery.

Collection slots are allocated on a first come first served basis, booked in advance by calling Kate on 07973796068.

Christmas Lights Switch on

Montgomery’s Christmas Festival Committee had to respond to the pandemic by re-thinking the usual Christmas event.

Judith Barnes from the Christmas Festival Committee said: “We were determined to illuminate the town, even though we couldn’t put on our usual events.

“We decided to stream the switch-on live so that residents, and especially the children, could enjoy it from the comfort and warmth of their own homes.”

Mayor Haydn Andrew led a countdown to the switch-on in Broad Street, where many windows have already been decorated for the festive season, before the button was pressed and the town illuminated in lights.

He said: “It is always an honour to support the Christmas Festival Committee, who work hard throughout the year so that residents and visitors can enjoy a festive scene at Christmas.

“Although things have had to be different this year, people will be able to view and enjoy the lights throughout the festive season.

“I’m sure the Christmas lights will bring joy in these dark times.”

Sue Blower, chair of the Christmas Festival Committee, thanked all the volunteers who had helped put up the lights and wished everyone watching and their families a wonderful Christmas.