- Community Clock -
Even though we haven't attempted a Telford trip for almost exactly four years, some things never change hence the Chairman leaves himself a lung-bursting sprint to ensure he makes the train on time. The 12:07 departure from Wolverhampton is duly breathlessly caught and we arrive in Wellington just on half past twelve. Some familiar features greet us, including All Saints Parish Church and the bunting-laden Market Square (complete with community clock) although we hadn't visited the Dun Cow before. This traditional market town inn lies just off the main street and supplies some restorative Ein Stein ale (Lymestone Brewery) to go with the latest episode of 'Bargain Hunt'.
- Dothill Primary School -
Rumour has it that Mr D9 nobbled the Dun Cow's jukebox and it surely was suspicious to hear Foster & Allen and Chas & Dave in close succession. Either way, there's only so much Anita Manning we can cope with in one day so we're soon setting off on the outward leg of our walk. Dothill awaits as an area the Secretary has never photographed before - it's predominantly residential having been built up since the 1960s and local features include a Co-op store (off Tern Way), a primary school and a nature reserve (comprising two bodies of water - Dothill Pool and Tee Lake).
- Doomed on the dartboard? -
Navigating our way through the cul-de-sacs towards Whitchurch Road, there are a couple of modern pubs to account for. We can't get too excited about the Toby Carvery (a.k.a. the Apley Arms) so the Woolpack on Glade Way is more our thing. Here we can update ourselves on the Ashes action and stage a sporting contest of almost equal importance to the nation; yes it's D9 Destroyer vs WME Whirlwind on the oche again. Things are looking good for the Chairman when he takes the opening leg but the Whirlwind soon storms back to a 4-1 victory, no doubt inspired by Rory Burns's stoic efforts repelling the Aussie attack at Edgbaston.
- Spotted in Shawbirch -
The Woolpack is one of the defining features on the Shawbirch estate, whereby Glade Way wiggles its way around as the main route through the locality. Just across from the pub is a neighbourhood centre containing a Spar store and a doctor's surgery, plus a cashpoint that meant the bald spot was momentarily left unguarded. Two pools provide useful wildlife habitats as the Chairman refrains from his usual bout of goose-bothering, and the community hall plays host to the Little Chicks Pre-School group. As with Dothill, Secretary WME hadn't previously committed Shawbirch to camera so this is all proving very useful exploration.
- Admaston Green -
The discoveries continue as we proceed into Admaston, presumably an older settlement judging by the age of some of the cottages. The Pheasant Inn certainly looks like it's been around quite a while although the Secretary might be wishing we hadn't found it - £4 for two halves of Salopian Shropshire Gold seems a tad steep, at least we didn't opt for pints! Compensation arrives in photographic form thanks to Admaston Methodist Church (nestled away on Bratton Road) and Admaston Green, where we put the outdoor gym equipment to the test but our technique on the rowing machine requires urgent improvement!
- The Captain Webb -
As with all Hub Marketing exploits there are silly songs to consider. Dothill had earlier resounded to the tune of Goodbye-ee (Peter Cook & Dudley Moore) and Banana Rock (the Wombles) so Admaston is subjected to 'Fallout Shelter', an example of early 1960s nuclear nervousness from Mike and Bernie Winters. Our next watering hole soon appears on the horizon, the Captain Webb being named after Matthew Webb from Dawley who in 1875 became the first person to swim the English Channel without artificial aids. The pub is a fair tribute to these heroic deeds, a very presentable estate boozer where the £2.90 Wye Valley HPA is much more to the liking of the WME wallet.
- Wine list in the Walnut -
We've come full circle back to Wellington town centre ready for a couple of closing calls. The Smithfield by the Morrisons supermarket can't be one though - it got turned into a fish and chip shop a few years ago. Also potentially gone is the former Clifton Cinema, currently closed having most recently been utilised as a Dunelm outlet. The Wrekin is thankfully still trading, albeit in a relatively plain rock-oriented fashion, while the Walnut on Tan Bank is really a restaurant that happens to have a couple of ales. Saying that, the Lemon Dream is nice enough as we ponder the wine list, WME swotting up on the best bottles in case of victory at a cricket club quiz night.
- Wellington Station -
All of which means we land back up at Wellington railway station with twenty five minutes to spare before our train. The natural place to go is therefore the immediately adjacent Station Hotel, not perhaps the most salubrious of establishments but we can't knock the quality of the cobs. Wellington Station itself has always been one of the Secretary's favourites with a traditional appearance augmented by hints of sawtooth canopy, much more interesting than the bland box that is Telford Central. The 18:25 departure is our link home to Wolverhampton and it's job done for another Telford trek - cheers!
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