Events

The Guild of Aviation Artists was formed in 1971 and is recognised throughout the world for the promotion of aviation art.   The paintings on display in the Art Gallery have been specially selected to demonstrate the variety and scope of members’ work. They represent 100 years of the Royal Air Force in its centenary year.   The paintings on display are all for sale and the RAF Museum receives a commission from sales.

View an exhibition about the Coalbrookdale School of Art where many of the artisans who worked in the various factories in the Ironbridge Gorge were once trained. Free admission  

Shropshire’s First World War Film Festival showcases classic and new films from the 1930s to the present day. Films will be shown at community cinemas and village halls around the county as part of the events programme to remember poet and soldier Wilfred Owen and the centenary of Armistice Day at the end of World War I. The Film Festival runs from 10th October to 23rd November and includes classics like ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, ‘Hell’s Angels’ and ‘La Grande Illusion’ as well as new movies like ‘Journey’s End’, ‘The Burying Party’ (about Wilfred Owen) and ‘The Long Way Home’ about a fictional Shropshire pals’ regiment, filmed in the county. Peter Jackson's new film 'They Shall Not Grow Old' using digitally restored original film of World War I and soldiers' memories will be shown at the same time as its World premiere at the London Film Festival on 16th October.   Tickets for most films are now on sale online or from the venues. The full programme can be viewed at www.firstworldwarfilmfestival.com and most films are listed in the Wilfred Owen 100 events brochure available at www.shropshireremembers.org.uk  Enquiries should be made to the individual venues.

Families can step inside the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.1 XV249 and learn about its intelligence gathering role in the Royal Air Force. Tours will run throughout the day for groups of up to six people, lasting approximately 15 minutes. During the tour visitors will learn about the history of the aircraft, hear about the crews on board and view the sophisticated surveillance equipment up close. Booking is required.

Dress up in your most frightening Halloween costume and join the ghosts, ghouls and monsters at Blists Hill Victorian Town for the annual Ghostly Gaslight Night on Saturday, 27th October. New for this year -  beware of dinosaurs rampaging around the Town and lizard like mutant Victorians walking the streets. Be afraid, be very afraid.   For one night only the Victorian shops and cottages are occupied with gruesome characters and wild apparitions. Vampires, blood thirsty butchers, the Grim Reaper and werewolves are taking over the Town, so expect scary encounters around every corner of the phantom filled streets.   Find out if reports are true about the scientists who have secretly recreated dinosaurs in the Blists Hill Woods. Rumours abound that the dinosaurs have escaped and are looking for dinner. What’s worse some of the Victorian Townsfolk have been contaminated with Dinosaur DNA and are mutating into lizard like creatures.   Amazing light and sound effects will change the Town’s normally peaceful streets into shadowy walkways and the firework and pyrotechnic display along the canal will create an awesome spectacle.   Face your fear on the frightening fairground, with a ride on the ‘Scare-o-Planes’ and ‘Scream-Boats’. You will find lots of sinful food and drinks in the Fried Fish Dealers, New Inn Pub, Sweet Shop, Bakery and cafés around the Town. A family fright-fest not to be missed.  Ghostly Gaslight runs between 6pm and 9pm. Tickets are £13 for adults (16+), £9.50 for children (aged 3-15) and £40 for a family (2 + 2), and they must be purchased in advance online. All under 16s must be accompanied by an adult; Ironbridge Gorge Museum Passports are not valid for this evening, dogs will not be allowed and remember to bring a torch.   There is limited parking at Blists Hill Victorian Town with priority given to Blue Badge holders, visitors are advised to park at the Ironbridge Park and Ride, located at the top of Jiggers Bank (TF4 3QE,) from where a regular bus service operates to Blists Hill for a small charge.   For further information, contact the Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre on Tel: 01952 433 424 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk.  The Gorge is easily reached via the M6 and M54 motorways exiting at Telford (M54 junction 4 or 6).   

Wednesday 31st October.'Bleeding Hearts and Dry Bones' - An Evening with Dracula Join us this All Hallows' Eve as we immerse ourselves in the twilight world of the vampire. Costumed guests welcome! 7pm Talk by Philip Healy, emeritus Fellow, Kellogg College, Oxford - Bram Stoker's Dracula: A Host of Reservations. 8pm-8.30pm - A 'bite' to eat and a chance to quench your thirst at Stop Café's vampire themed buffet. 8.30pm-10.30pm - Film screening - Let the Right One In (2008) R 1hr 55 mins £17 per ticket (minimum age 15+) Doors open 6.30pm Ticket price incudes : Talk, Film, Welcome Drink and Buffet. Bar open until 10pm Film Description: Let the Right One In (2008) R 1 hr 55 mins In this multi-award winning film, Oskar, a bullied 12-year old, dreams of revenge. He falls in love with Eli, a peculiar girl. She can't stand the sun or food and to come into a room she needs to be invited. Eli gives Oskar the strength to hit back but when he realizes that Eli needs to drink other people's blood to live he's faced with a choice. How much can love forgive? Set in Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg 1982. Subtitles Director: Tomas Alfredson Stars: Kare Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar