Shropshire Magazine

Cover: 1960

50 years ago

Dorothy Worthington had come into possession of a pair of volumes that offered a glimpse back to a gentler Victorian past: The Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Manual of Politeness, and Hints on Etiquette and the Usage of Society.

“A well-bred woman is always known by the perfect ease and tranquillity of her manner,” the former reported, although judging by some of the social rules of the time, her tranquillity must have been ruffled on occasion.

For example, these august pages prescribe, “In no circumstances should a Gentleman offer to a Lady a seat warm from his person.”

Things were no less fraught in the dining room. It was not apparently necessary to extend to Her the warning offered to Him that “it is considered vulgar . . . to pick one’s teeth much at table,” (it’s the ‘much’ that makes one read that twice) or indeed that, when finger bowls are provided, He should not “practise the filthy custom of gargling the mouth at table.”

In some respects, these Victorians were ahead of their time: “The tobacco smoker in public is the most selfish animal imaginable; he perseveres in contaminating the pure and fragrant air, careless whom he annoys and is but the fitting inmate of a tavern.”

A reputation gone up in smoke!

Aside from the articles you can browse on this website, the print magazine contains a wealth of fascinating feature pieces and regular items to keep you entertained and informed. This month, you can also read about:

Cover: 2010.

Property predictions . . . Four of the county’s leading property experts gaze into the crystal ball and predict what the coming year will bring to what has been a troubled sector

Village voices: Sheriffhales . . . Ben Bentley stops off at the east Shropshire village and meets the locals of a close-knit community

Out and about . . . Shirley Tart rounds up the county’s social scene, and our photographers record your events

Education . . . In the first of this month’s supplements, we introduce some of the county’s premier seats of learning

Food and drink . . . Charles Milverton profiles a county man hoping for grape things; Neil Thomas dines out at The Herbert Arms; Inn-former tries a pint in Ludlow

Puzzles . . . Pit your wits against Aphid’s cryptic crossword, and try out what must be the easiest quiz ever – or is it ? . . .

Competition . . . Win a six-week membership to Welti Health and Fitness, and 12 sessions with a personal trainer, in our great new-year competition

Weddings . . . Our second supplement offers advice and features to help you plan for your big day, from the venue right down to the dress

Sir Michael Leighton pictured planning the Loton Park course in 1959.

Loton . . . and on . . . and on . . . Tony Adams meets Sir Michael Leighton, who has been hosting Loton Park Speed Hill Climb on land surrounding his family home for five decades – and hears of plans for the golden jubilee celebrations Wild West hero . . . Frank Corless dons his stetson, going in search of the Hole-in-the-Wall gang and other quick-on-the-draw hotshots on a Wyoming brea Start them off young . . . In his regular gardening column, Ken Tudor meets some budding young gardeners and hears some tips on prolonging festive blooms

The last word . . .