Each child set themselves a challenge and looked for sponsors with five raising five times as much money as they were aiming for.

Evan decided to do a sponsored walk and doubled his target distance - while completing this on crutches. Jenny crafted and sold origami cards for Fathers’ Day and Lucy did housework for her family, and added to the total by donating the money that she had received from the tooth fairy.

Keri set herself a target of 5000 hula hoops in one session. She enjoyed herself so much that having reached her target she went on to complete a magnificent 6,700.

Meanwhile Elsie decided to complete a non-stop scale-a-thon to raise funds for her contribution to the target.

Elsie, an accomplished musician, who also plays the flute, sat at the piano for nearly 45 minutes, playing four octaves of all of the 36 scales four times.

The children are pleased and proud to have greatly exceeded their original target of fundraising for one tap, as they know how important it is for people to be able to wash their hands, and have thoroughly enjoyed this lockdown challenge.

Sports clubs reopen

Montgomery Tennis and Bowls clubs are now open once more after a long wait during which all activity was suspended.

With the tennis courts freshly repainted, and the bowling green looking immaculate, both clubs are pleased to be able to commence play, although under some restrictions.

For tennis, guidelines have been posted both on their website, and on posters locally, and these include guidance around who can play at present.

For example, doubles games can only be played by members of the same household.

In addition, there is further advice on staying safe, including limits on the number of people viewing games and the use of hand sanitizer.

Chairman Richard MacDonald said: “Montgomery Tennis Club is now open again. The courts are looking spick and span after re-painting, but there are strict rules regarding play during the virus.

"Please see our notices, and our Montgomery Tennis Club website for membership details.”

https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/MontgomeryTennisClub

The bowling club is also open but operating safely under Welsh Government/ Bowling Associations strict regulations.

Only six players will be allowed on the green at any one time and singles matches only are allowed at present.

Chairman John Thompson said: “We are open but we are not able to allow visitors and casual bowlers.

“If people would like to join the club they will be able to bowl.”

John can be contacted on 07706950725.

Lockdown hobbies

DURING lockdown lots of children have mastered different ways of keeping themselves happy.

Some children have siblings that they can play with, and some just like to sit in and read a book or watch television.

Ten year old Megan Davies said her family have been to places such as the stone circle, redwood forest and Corndon Hill.

Megan has also been using Skype to keep in touch with music lessons over lockdown but misses spending time with her family and going for walks.

Many children have been writing poems for fun, like this one by 10 year old Daisy Evans.

'In six months’ time,

Most certainly we will,

Celebrate when it is over,

It will be a massive thrill.

Lockdown would be over,

No sorrows and no sins,

Happy times back again,

These wonderful new things.

Family and friends will meet again,

That’s one thing I’m sure,

Having fun and playing around,

Once they’ve found the cure.

But not all things were all that bad,

It doesn’t have to be,

In six months’ time,

All will be fine,

We will all finally be free.'

New cask ale brew

Monty’s Brewery had planned to launch their new, gluten-free ale, called Malarkey, in March, but the Covid 19 lockdown scuppered their plans to develop this new brew as a cask ale.

In line with all craft breweries, orders for cask beers have been hit by the closure of licensed premises, but the brewery has now been able to produce this new brew as a bottled beer.

Russ Honeyman from the brewery said: “This 3.8 per cent dry hopped golden ale is packed full of Cascade and Simcoe hops.”

He added: “The definition of malarkey is nonsense, bunkum, foolish talk, what’s that all about? Well people won’t believe this is gluten free.”

Malarkey is now available in 500ml bottles from the brewery and their webshop. https://www.montysbrewery.co.uk

Lockdown Reads

Monty Lit Fest didn't let a little thing like a pandemic get in the way of celebrating what would have been their festival weekend in June this year and went virtual instead.

For the online launch party of Burning Issue, author Myfanwy Alexander was joined by panel host and chair of Monty Lit Fest, Sarah Morris, and the award winning comedian Tudur Owen.

In addition to entertaining discussions, centred loosely around Myfanwy's new book with questions from the online audience, there was also a quiz with the prize of a bottle of Montgomery Vineyard sparkling wine for the winner with the runners up receiving signed copies of Burning Issue.

The following evening, Monty Lit Fest hosted the online discussion “Monty Lockdown Reads”. The panel – comedy producer Steve Doherty and local authors Julia Forster, Alix Nathan, and Mike Parker, chaired by Sarah Morris – created the ultimate lockdown reading and listening list, based on their own recommendations combined with suggestions from an engaged and active audience.

The full list is posted on the Monty Lit Fest website to help readers find their next great read or audio entertainment.

Monty Lit Fest’s social media will be offering a chance to vote for the favourites from this list, resulting in a Top Ten Lockdown Reads, which will be revisited at Monty Lit Fest 2021 in Montgomery. https://montylitfest.com/monty-lockdown-reads/

Diary dates

Thursday, July 2 - Montgomery Market (outdoor food stalls)

Friday, July 3 - Friday morning prayer online

Saturday, July 4 - outdoor food stalls

Sunday, July 5 - Church services online

For details and joining information for online Church meetings, contact Rev Alexis at smith.sparrowssong@gmail.com

Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday - Yoga and somatic movement classes online see www.creativeyogamotion.uk/www for details

Tuesday - Clwb Eiddew, Welsh language book and chat group online (contact: julie.pearce5@btinternet.com)