2021: The year the story changed
Looking back on 2021, in spite of the pandemic, Wellington turned a corner. After 20 years of doom and gloom about the decline of its high street, it has been pretty clear to… Continue reading
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Charter Day 2021: have you got a recipe for the Wellington Ale Taster’s cook book?
Every year on Charter Day (the first Saturday in March) we get together in the Market Square and appoint the ceremonial roles of Town Crier, Clerk of the Market and Ale Taster. Jerry… Continue reading
Wellington 2030: a letter from the future
Reviving an idea from a few years ago – and prompted by local social media guru Pete Jackson – I thought I’d try writing a ‘postcard from the future’. But brevity not being… Continue reading
A few thoughts on statues – or – what do we do about Clive of India?
Yesterday in Bristol, the long-controversial statue of city merchant and slave trader Edward Colston was torn from its plinth and thrown into the Avon. I had mixed feelings watching that scene unfold on… Continue reading
Staying indoors? Make creativity part of your daily routine…
It barely feels as though winter is over, and already we’re having to contemplate the idea that many of us will be spending Spring and early Summer indoors because of this virus. Argh!… Continue reading
Charter Day 2020 – in pictures
Just a short post to mark Charter Day, our first event of the year, and to thank everyone who took part. We always say that Charter Day is a pretty modest affair, simply… Continue reading
Get ready for a very Wellington Christmas!
Last year I filmed a one-minute Wellington Christmas advert, just for fun on my phone. It got quite a few views, so I was asked if I’d do another this year. So here it… Continue reading
More firms sign up to support the Midsummer Fayre
With just three weeks to go until Wellington goes Midsummer Fayre mad, we’re saying a big ‘thank you’ to two more local firms who’ve come forward to sponsor the event – Coleman Estates… Continue reading
Music, murals and Made in Wellington: what we did in 2018
You’ll notice that we haven’t been adding blog posts on here for a long while – but we wouldn’t want you thinking that Wellington H2A hasn’t been busy. In fact, it’s because we… Continue reading
Making History: the Makers’ Dozen Trail launches this week!
After two years of hunting down property owners, researching and writing, sketching and painting, the Makers Dozen Trail launches this weekend. The last few murals will be appearing in the days ahead,… Continue reading
Midsummer Fayre 2017: in pictures
Back in June we had our annual Midsummer Fayre – the tenth anniversary of the ‘modern’ event, although it’s inspired by events recorded in the 1244 charter and in the local press during… Continue reading
What’s on in Wellington this summer? Get the Guide!
Now available – print copies of this year’s Wellington Summer Events Guide, which lists around 40 arts, heritage and community events taking place in and around the town from May to September. They’ll… Continue reading
Who are you looking at? The mural trail gets under way…
You might remember that last year we were awarded a grant as part of Telford & Wrekin Council’s Pride in Your High Street fund. The idea is to brighten up the centre of… Continue reading
Wellington Christmas Market 2016
Saturday 26th November saw Wellington’s Christmas Lights Switch-On, this year accompanied for the first time by a day-long street market along Market Street, plus a handful of stalls in Market Approach and a… Continue reading
Coming soon: The Cinema on The Square?
Perhaps you know the story of the Clifton Project. They came together four years ago to revive the former Clifton Cinema, with imaginative plans to make it an amazing arts and entertainment space.… Continue reading
A new museum could be coming to Wellington… with your help
Two years ago I wrote a blog post on this website about Wellington’s great missed opportunity to bring Mythstories Museum to town when our former library was sold off for housing. Well it… Continue reading
Summer’s gone, but Wellington’s still sizzling
Wellington H2A is largely about events – organising them and promoting them. We’re small in number so we don’t do a huge amount – instead we focus on doing just a few things… Continue reading
Are you a Wellington Maker? Get into our Makers’ Guide!
If you have a making business in Wellington, we’d like to hear about it. Earlier this year Wellington H2A successfully applied to Telford & Wrekin Council’s Pride in Your High Street Fund. The… Continue reading
Midsummer Fayre 2016: feedback survey
If you’ve been to this year’s Wellington Midsummer Fayre (11th June), let us know what you thought by filling in this short survey. It’ll only take a few minutes, but will really help… Continue reading
Organising a summer event in 2017? Let us know!
Every year for the last ten years, Wellington H2A has compiled, designed and printed a Summer Events Guide for Wellington. It might only be February, but it’s time for that job to start… Continue reading
Scenes from Sounds: 2015
A few weeks ago saw the last of this year’s eight Sounds in The Square performances in Wellington’s Market Square. This is – I think – the ninth year we’ve organised this mini-festival… Continue reading
Wellington Summer Events 2015
It’s out! The Wellington Summer Events Guide for 2015. Thousands of copies are making their way around the town and surrounding areas as we speak, spreading the word about forty of the fantastic… Continue reading
Coming Soon: Wellington Midsummer Fayre 2015
*NOTE THAT IN THE EVENT OF WET WEATHER, THE FAYRE WILL GO AHEAD! So do come along and see us. If the churchyard looks very empty, it’ll be because the stalls and entertainment… Continue reading
Wellington’s 2020 Vision – and why this can’t just be another ‘Regeneration Project’
In late 2013 I was asked by the town council to draft a ‘vision’ for Wellington Centre – what could it reasonably expect to be like in the years ahead? And what practical… Continue reading
Your carriage-builder awaits…
Imagine you’re the proud owner of a Victorian horse-drawn carriage, and it needs a bit of work doing. It’s a highly specialist job that only a handful of skilled craftspeople can do, so… Continue reading
Containers to contain us? More from Mythstories
My last post talked about the ambitions of Mythstories Museum to relocate to Wellington, and the opportunity that has recently been missed by Telford & Wrekin’s sale of the old Wellington Library buildings… Continue reading
The counter-revolution continues
Quality independents are tentatively creeping back into Wellington. Here are three recent additions to look out for… Following retail in Wellington can feel like following one of those football teams which has wildly fluctuating… Continue reading
Coming Soon: Future Farm 2020
A few months ago, Wellington Town Council commissioned me, through my day job at OPM, to help them come up with a vision for the centre of the town. I think it’s the first time… Continue reading
Eight empty shops – and eight reasons to be cheerful
Here are the particulars for eight commercial properties currently available in Wellington. Each is a great opportunity for someone. But why? Because, in spite of all the continuing negativity about the future of… Continue reading
Shaping Places: A chance for Telford the teenager to do some growing up
The infant town of Telford is growing up. As for all teenagers, it might take time to find its niche, and we’ll no doubt continue to see painful moments self-doubt (should my economy be growing faster than… Continue reading