THE old-fashioned seaside will be the theme for a community group in Ellesmere next month.

Time to Listen will be heading to the coast, figuratively speaking, on Monday, August 1 – the height of the summer holiday season – with an entertaining sideways look at the seaside and other holiday venues.

The Time to Listen session, provided by volunteers from the local library within Our Space will feature songs, stories and poems but in a change of venue, moving from Our Space in Ellesmere Library to the Methodist Church in Trimpley Street.

Sue Ardill, lead volunteer for Time to Listen, said: "Pre-Covid, these free sessions were held monthly and usually lasted an hour. Now they are bi-monthly and are 90 minutes long.

"This way there is plenty of time for refreshments and a chat as well as some excellent material.

"The other change is the venue. The sessions are now held in the Methodist Church hall, just a stone’s throw away along Trimpley.

"The hall is airy and light and has a greater capacity than the community space at the library.

"The sessions begin at 2pm although keen attendees often arrive early."

The sessions are branded as ‘stories, songs and so much more', with the Ellesmere session unique across all in Shropshire as the only one with live music, with Mirjana and Roger Garland receiving great praise for their work.

Volunteer Jenny Wilbraham added: "We’re so lucky to have such local talent, and that the musicians give up their time for free.’

Kate Westgate, a volunteer, said audeince reaction is always positive, and added: "We’re trying to maintain an already very high standard."

The next session, on Monday, August 1, is called ‘I do like to be beside the seaside – come away with us!’ as singer and ukulele player Peter Cartlidge, a great favourite, will bring his special quirkiness to the event.

The autumn session on October 10 will, unusually, be on the second Monday of the month and will be loosely based on the topic of Harvest.

Kate added: "A free event, usually the first Monday of the month, refreshments provided, stories, songs and the occasional poem, often original material.

"What’s not to like? Join us on Mondays on August 1, October 10 and December 5 from 2-3.30pm at the Methodist Church Hall."