They are in need of people to help with fundraising, organising events, and preparing and distributing posters.

“Volunteers play an essential part in the running of the museum working in teams to bring a wide range of skills to support the permanent staff,” said a spokesman.

If you would like to explore the possibility of joining the museum’s team of volunteers, contact Kate Dobson, the community development manager.

Email enquiries@nantwichmuseum.org.uk, call 01270 627104, visit www.nantwichmuseum.org.uk

Meanwhile, the Pillory Street venue has just launched the first of a series of comics which tell the story of various aspects of the town’s history.

The illustrated four-page leaflet recounts The Great Fire of 1583 and is available in the museum shop, costing 50p.

The comics will also recount stories such as how inhabitants of the town would dress the brine spring and spend the day celebrating the gift of brine two years after The Great Fire.

It also highlights how in acknowledgement of the generosity of Queen Elizabeth I in helping to rebuild the town, May 1st became known as “Queen’s Day”.

Kate Dobson added: “They have been drawn by local artist Les Pickford and will help enormously taking the story of the town to young people.”

This wonderful and delightfully funny one-act play won Best Production at The Chelford Festival last week – and I can see why.

The cast gave everything they had to their performance, each playing a number of roles in the production.

It is almost impossible not to laugh while you’re watching this.

Lee Edwards plays the police officer investigating a series of strange murders which occur in the spooky mansion home of the Darlings.

Here, the cast develop into a range of characters, played by Eamon Goodfellow, Lucy Desmond, Simon Dean and Angela Pearce.

The characters are hilarious and as in all murder mysteries, I found myself wondering what would happen next.

“whodidit?” highlights the extraordinary talents of The Nantwich Players, and there is a chance to see the production in the upcoming Theatre Festival on Friday May 31.

A new and exciting festival for the town, which celebrates Nantwich Players’ 30th year at the Love Lane Theatre and offers a wide variety of plays over five days.

It starts on Tuesday May 28 when Vamos Theatre presents Finding Joy.

On Thursday May 30, Kepow Theatre Company presents Crazy Little Thing Called Love, a comic look at love in a family friendly show.

On Friday May 31, you have a chance to see whodidit? and Jordan a true story about a woman marginalised by society.

The Players present Dumb Show on Saturday June 1, a funny black comic satire about celebrity.

I know where I’ll be that weekend. Watching whodidit? again, trying to catch the jokes which were drowned out by laughter the first time round.

Tickets for the festival are available from the Nantwich Tourist Office.

(Picture courtesy of The Nantwich Players 2013)

Children from schools across the town entered the competition run by Nantwich Museum, on Pillory Street.

And Crewe & Nantwich MP Edward Timpson was on hand to present the prizes and certificates.

A lot of the work is now on display at the museum as Nantwich’s finest young artists show off their amazing talents.

And the winner of Year 3 and the overall winner was Molly Barnett, a pupil at Acton Church of England Primary School, with her Fire of Nantwich 1583 picture.

All the prize winners are as follows:
Harvey Holt, Reception Winner Sound and District; Kirsten Sayers, Year 1 Winner Acton; Akira Taylor-Vyse, Year 2 Winner Acton; Molly Barnett, Year 3 Winner Acton; Alice Ford, Year 4 Winner Acton; Jack Edwards, Year 5 Winner Acton; Olivia McGhie, Year 6 Winner Wyche.

School Winners were Lizzy Ruth Edwards, Audlem St James’s; Olivia McGhie, Wyche; Tallulah Batley, Acton; Libbi Sykes, Stapeley Broad Lane; William West, Millfields; Ellie Luke, Highfields; and Freya Graham, Sound and District.

The competition, organised by the Rotary Club of Nantwich, was judged by two local artists.

“Historic Nantwich” was the theme and the artwork provided an interpretation of the history of the town and an impressive and informative exhibition with something of interest for everyone.

About 100 of the more than 300 pictures entered are on display at the museum until Saturday May 25.

Contact Nantwich Museum at enquiries@nantwichmuseum.org.uk, call 01270 627104, visit www.nantwichmuseum.org.uk

There will be a host of entertainment for youngsters in the town square as part of a 25-week programme of events.

The fun, organised by Nantwich Town Council, includes colourful Balloon Wyzzard who was so successful at last year’s Nantwich Jubilee Event.

He will be out and about creating amazing balloon features for the children and put a smile on everyone’s face.

Alongside him will be the very creative and talented Anni who will brighten up the day with face-painting.

Cllr David Marren, chair of town plan and partnership committee, said: “A great deal of thought has gone into this year’s entertainment programme to ensure there is something for everyone.

“The full programme of events is now to be included in the latest edition of Talk Of The Town.

“Retailers and shoppers alike are requesting copies of the programme as we know many look forward to the added bonus of some fun and entertainment to enjoy.”

Look out for further details in Nantwich Town Council’s Talk Of The Town, Nantwich town centre notice boards, the local press and on the Nantwich Town Council web site

Gaffney is the author of critically acclaimed works such as Sawn-off Tales, Aromabingo, The Half-life of Songs and Never Never.

He will be reading from his new collection of short stories, More Sawn-off Tales, and hosting a Q&A session about his writing over refreshments.

Gaffney will at the Beam Street venue  on Thursday May 16 at 5pm.

Tickets are available from Nantwich Library priced £2.

For more information contact Nantwich Library on 01270 375361 or log on to www.davidgaffney.org

The first concert will feature a programme from the ever-popular Nantwich Singers and begins at 12.30pm.

All concerts are free admission, with a retiring collection, and the series continues every Thursday until the end of August.

Details of each week can be found on the church webpage www.stmarysnantwich.org.uk, and on posters around the town.

There will also be flyers in the Tourist Information Centre and at the back of the church.

A church spokeswoman said: “Do come along on market day, sit and relax for a while and enjoy the musical talent on offer!”

Brine Leas School’s AJ Pritchard and dance partner Chloe Hewitt have wowed the show’s judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon.

And today Brine Leas headteacher Andrew Cliffe was full of praise for 18-year-old AJ.

“He comes from a dancing family, and we have always had Inter house Dancing Competitions in School,” said Mr Cliffe.

“Both AJ and his younger brother Curtis regularly did dance routines and helped to choreograph other students as well.

“We are delighted to see him on TV and hope that he goes a long way in the competition!

“He and Chloe are currently holders of a major international dance award.

“AJ is a great role model of what practice, combined with talent, can achieve.”

The duo were given a resounding “yes” vote by all four judges after last weekend’s performance in episode two.

Britain’s Got Talent has a history of propelling dance acts into the big time.

And AJ said they wanted to appear on the show partly for that reason.

“Stavros Flatley is probably one of my favourite acts. And of course Diversity. Ashley is an amazing choreographer. They have done so much since winning the show.”

AJ’s family run a dance and fitness school in the village of Burleydam, between Nantwich and Whitchurch.

And he and Chloe, 17, have won awards in the past, including National League Youth Champions Ballroom & Latin in 2011 to 2012, and National League Youth Champions  for 2012 t0 2013.

AJ said: “I was never into dancing. I was into extreme sports like mountain boarding.

“My dad has a dance school and he never wanted me to do it.

“But a TV show came to our house and I wanted to be on telly. My mum said I was awful and now she is really pleased!”

The pair, who have been dancing together since they were 12, are so dedicated to their training they didn’t even take time out to watch the show.

Chloe, a student at Bishop Heber School in Malpas, said: “We couldn’t watch the show because we were training. We had to wait until we were in the car and watch it on the way home.”

The May 3 gig at Nantwich Civic Hall marks half a decade of performances in Crewe and Nantwich.

It also marks three years since the event was moved to the Civic Hall from Crewe.

And May 3′s line-up promises another top night of comedy, including Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow star Rob Beckett (pictured).

Promoter Mike Ramm said: “In five years we’ve brought you some fantastic comics including many who have gone on to become household names in the world of comedy, TV and Radio.

“Back in 2008 when we had our last show at Crewe Limelight having already seen the likes of Jason Manford, John Bishop, Sarah Millican and Rhod Gilbert, The Very Best In Stand up was born.

“The premise was simple – to bring the very best acts from the national and international comedy circuits and bring them to South Cheshire for a price that offered a great value night out and to introduce more people to stand up comedy.

“Comedy then started a huge boom in popularity in which it was described as “The new Rock and Roll”.”

“But comedy loses a lot of its impact on TV and you simply cannot replicate the feel of live comedy by being there.”

Other comedians to grace South Cheshire include Reginald D Hunter, Jack Whitehall, Jon Richardson, Rufus Hound and Greg Davies.

Promoters also introduced one-off shows starring a big name comedians, which has seen success with sell-out shows by Jim Jeffries and earlier this week Richard Herring.

The Friday May 3 show tickets are £10, available from Nantwich Civic Hall and www.civiccomedy.co.uk

Doors 7.15pm Show 8.15pm.

The pictures will be on show from 9.30am on Thursday April 25 and Friday April 26.

They include framed and unframed paintings and sketch books of places the artist visited including local scenes.

Visitors will be able to acquire paintings in return for a donation in aid of Leukaemia Research.

Albert Jolly, a former master at Nantwich and Acton Grammar School, was a well-known musician and a member of the N.A.G.S orchestra.

He was also an accomplished artist working in oils and watercolours.

Entry to the exhibition is free.

For further information contact Jane Whalley on 01270 627754.

The company will host the suspense-filled evenings, called “Bada Bing Bada Boom”, on May 3, 4 and 24.

As detectives, participants can interrogate suspects but must choose questions wisely and beware whether suspects are what they seem.

Clare Molyneux, artistic director at Molyneux and Mother Murder Mysteries, said: “Our murder mystery evenings are a glamorous affair that provide an evening of excitement, entertainment and intrigue.

“I’ve been to murder mysteries before. They seem to be a lot of running about, making a show of yourself with a silly hat on while eating terrible food.

“Ours are different. Using professional actors and award-winning playwrights we perform a sophisticated bespoke script that is fast-paced, funny and fierce.”

Fan Bill Addy said: “My wife had dragged me to a Murder Mystery before – it was terrible: they were amateurs – couldn’t act, the story made no sense, it dragged on for hours and there was no food left when we got to the front of the buffet queue – it was like a bun fight!

“I was dreading going to the Molyneux and Mother Murder Mystery but it was brilliant. Professional actors, a clever but very funny story.

“You are waited on hand and foot by the waitresses and the food was some of the best I have ever eaten. They have been going for years and I can see why – because they are brilliant.”

Matthew Naylor, sales and marketing director at Peckforton Castle, said: “We are delighted to be working with Molyneux and Mother Murder Mysteries, and to be venue of choice for hosting their murder mystery nights.

“The castle lends itself well to any special event and these nights will be an event not to be missed. We look forward to welcoming you to Peckforton Castle!”

The evenings are £45 which includes silver service three-course meal in the castle.

Those interested can email Rose Jones on info@molyneuxandmothermurdermysteries.co.uk, or call 0151 228 6445.

The summer exhibition will look at the ways in which Nantwich residents have obtained their food over the last century.

It will encompass the rigours of war, food rationing, changes in takeaway habits, the emergence of the cafe culture and today’s trend back to artisan food.

It will be designed to be illustrated, interactive and include a range of events painting the picture of food shopping in the town during the last 100 years.

Memorabilia, especially those associated with the town, are sought such as documents, old food packaging, clothing and more.

Museum staff are also interested to hear the recollections of those with experience of food shopping in Nantwich perhaps having worked in one of the shops, as a customer or recalling a special food event of the time.

Call in to Nantwich Museum on Pillory Street, email enquiries@nantwichmuseum.org.uk or call 01270 627104.

And international Tai Chi Warrior Jason Chan dropped in to open Celestial Radio at its new base on Beam Heath Way.

The not-for-profit station is run by staff at the neighbouring Celestial health and wellbeing centre, as well as volunteer helpers.

And Parveen Smith, director of Celestial Radio, says it is going from strength to strength.

“We have a wonderful team of presenters and those who work behind the scenes,” said Parveen.

“The youngest presenter is only seven years old  - and the oldest is 83!”

Celestial Radio presents shows on food, health matters, psychic chat shows, spiritual messages, power of crystals, story times, poems, pet shows, history shows, and book reviews.

“We are an internet-based radio station but people do listen to us on phones and itunes and via DAB radio,” added Parveen.

“We started as an all ladies radio station broadcasting out to as many people that wanted to hear us as a spiritual and well being radio station.

“We have been constantly evolving. Now I have men, women and children presenting shows. I generally work minimum of 40 hours a week to run my station. It is a delight and a pleasure.”