All About Worcester East & Villages FebMar 2017

Feb/March 2017 Issue 35

10,500 hand-delivered to households & businesses in Worcester East - Barbourne, Battenhall, Northwick, Warndon Villages, St Peter's and in the villages of Tibberton, Fernhill Heath, Crowle & Norton

free Celebrating 8 years of All About!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

enjoy local The Magic Flute Hardy Plant Society

competition Theatre Keep me for 2 months

locally

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advertorial

Cloudy2Clear Announce Trusted Trader Partnership Consumer champions Which? have now joined the thousands of customers who recognise that Cloudy2Clear Windows really are a business that you can TRUST. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has received the coveted ‘Which Trusted Trader’ status after going through a rigorous accreditation process entirely focussed on customer service.

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of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple.

If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 25 year guarantee.

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Locally Cloudy2Clear service Worcester East & surrounding Villages and

manager Paul Papandreou agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated as both my customers and, obviously a body as nationally important as Which? now recognise.’

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To advertise please call Teresa: 07722 226712 or email teresa@allabout-local.com

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Contents

welcome

Feb/March 2017

The aim of this magazine is simple: to connect local businesses and not-forprofit groups with people living on the east side of Worcester. This month’s magazine offers you the chance to learn more about Worcester Repair Café, a baking event for Help for Heroes, mentoring opportunities with a children’s charity, live jazz and a major art exhibition, to name but a few!

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We’re just entering our ninth year in business and we’re proud to serve our local community.

18 Enjoy Local

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Community News

8

Business News

10 & 11

Well Being: Food no Afterthought 12 Local Talent: Lost Trains

14

Roots Recipe: Orange Marmelade 16 Hardy Plant Society

18

Magoos Farewell Concert

20

The Magic Flute

22

Love Worcester Heritage Festival 24 Notice Board

26

What’s On

28

Classes & Courses

30

Theatre News

30

Competition

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All About Malvern Hills & Worcester Area @allaboutmalvern www.allaboutworcester.com

Sascha McDonald - The Editor Cover Photo Worcester Racecourse, photographed by All About Magazines.

DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Sascha McDonald (owner & publisher) Colwall, Malvern WR13 6QN sascha@allabout-local.com 01684 252242 | 07906 573352 ADVERTISING Teresa Rooney - 07722 226712 teresa@allabout-local.com EDITORIAL & DISTRIBUTION: James McDonald - 01684 252242 james@allabout-local.com All About Worcester East & Villages is distributed to 10,500 homes & businesses over 2 months CONTRIBUTORS Tracy Reck, Roots, Dave NEXT BOOKING/COPY DEADLINE Monday 14 March for the April/May edition

Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of the advert. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in the publication. Adverts are accepted under the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. All About Magazines does not endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise without prior consent of the publisher. All About Local Magazines Ltd is registered in England and Wales Company No. 7200758

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Enjoy Local 1. Hardy plant society The local group of the Hardy Plant Society has a busy February and March. There’s a talk on the Golden Age of Plant Hunting on Saturday 11th February, followed the next day by a trip to the garden at Brockamin in Callow End. A month later, on Saturday 11th March, Helena Glanau talks about her work to restore the gardens at High Glanau Manor.

The talks begin 2pm at Crowle Parish Hall and visitors are welcome. For more details, see www.worcs-hardy-plant.org.uk

2. jazz by Kel elliot

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Kel Elliot and her Three Man Orchestra brings uplifting and mischievous jazz to The Worcester Arts Workshop this March.

Described as a sassy double-bass playing singer, Kel brings upbeat tales of life and lost love delivered with her rich, powerful voice.

things to enjoy local

On 23rd March at Worcester Arts Workshop, for details and tickets see worcesterartsworkshop.org.uk

During Feb/March

3. love worcester heritage festival takes place during February half-term, with dozens of ways to keep children entertained!

One of the highlights is a living history weekend at The Commandery. More than 200 re-enactors will host encampments, military displays, crafts and vintage vehicles. The event is on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th February from 10am until 5pm – entry is £5.50 for adults and £2.50 for children, with free entry for Commandery cardholders and those who bring evidence they pay their council tax to Worcester City Council.

For dozens more activities during the festival, see page 24 or visit allaboutworcester.com

4. exhibition at the city art gallery & museum An exhibition of work by the artist David Cox and his contemporaries is being held from 11th February at the City Art Gallery and Museum on Foregate Street. Widely recognised as one of the West Midlands’ greatest artists, the exhibition brings together works rarely seen from local and national museums as well as Worcester’s own collection.

Bringing the exhibition up to date will be graduate work selected for New Art West Midlands 2017.

The exhibition continues until May and entry is free.

5. new show by worcester's vamos theatre Worcester’s Vamos Theatre, the UK’s leading full mask theatre company, debuts a new show at Malvern Theatres on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th February. The Best Thing is set in 1966. The record player’s on, and for seventeen year old Susan, life is an adventure waiting to begin. But what happens next turns everything upside down and its repercussions will last for decades. Step into the wordless world of Vamos Theatre for this bitter-sweet story of mistaken morals and broken hearts, 45s and beehives, where sexual revolution proves a hard and rocky path to tread.

Suitable for ages 12+, the show on Friday will be followed by a discussion.

For further info & booking, contact Malvern theatres on (01684) 892277, www.vamostheatre.co.uk

For more ideas and local events: www.allaboutworcester.com

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News

community NEWS NEW YOUTH THEATRE A new youth theatre group has been launched at Worcester Arts Workshop.

Running on Wednesdays during term-time, it’s a safe space for young people of any ability aged 13-18. Everything is shaped around the wishes of the group, so if you want to try rapping, a rapper will be found, of if there’s no wish to put on a play then something else will be planned. It’s about growing young artists and giving them experiences that are useful and exciting.

Sessions started in January and cost £5.

For more information contact Worcester Arts Workshop on (01905) 25053 or email info@worcesterartsworkshop.org.uk

BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS Volunteers are needed to work as mentors for a small children’s charity.

Mentorlink supports vulnerable and distressed children and young people facing difficulties that affect their education and motivation to learn.

The charity is keen to recruit mentors from the business world.

If you’d like to find out more, email enquiries@mentorlink.org.uk or call (01299) 822336.

HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR ST RICHARD'S HOSPICE St Richard’s Hospice has a number of fun activities that will help them to raise funds this year. Some of the highlights include a Superhero Challenge in June, a fun run/walk with giant inflatable obstacles along the way. Popular annual events make a return including The Scenic Six, The Worcester Marathon/Half-Marathon and The Malvern Hills Walk. There’s also a Snowdon Multi-Challenge with cycling, hiking and kayaking which takes place in May and on other dates as well.

For more details take a look at www.strichards.org.uk

GET BAKING FOR HELP FOR HEROES Help for Heroes is asking for volunteers to dust off their aprons and get baking! The charity is holding Bake for Heroes between 15th and 30th April and needs prospective bakers to hold cake sales and coffee mornings. Every slice of cake will help rebuild the lives of wounded, sick or injured personnel as well as veterans and their families.

If you’re interested, you can find our more and register by calling 01980 846459 or visit www.bakeforheroes.org.uk

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WORCESTER REPAIR CAFE The Worcester Repair Café is back this month and next. Expert volunteers are on hand to repair broken household items that would otherwise be thrown away.

Whatever needs fixing, bring it along to the sessions at the STARS Adult Day Care Centre on Stanley Road between 11am and 2pm on either Saturday 11th February or Saturday 11th March.

You can read more about the project at www.transitionworcester.org.uk

To advertise please call Teresa: 07722 226712 or email teresa@allabout-local.com

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Business News EM'S FOOD Em’s Food is a new catering business, delivering prepared meals straight to your door. It’s aimed at helping anybody who can’t easily cook for themselves and has been started by Emma Withers who previously worked in catering and also for the NHS. ‘I’ve cooked all my life’ she says, ‘and only use fresh ingredients, straight from the veg patch as much as possible.’

The company will cook whatever a client wants, catering for special diets. ‘One of our clients enjoys a varied menu, everything from thai to tortellini!’ says Emma. ‘Our food is always cooked the evening before or on the day of delivery itself.

It can be heated and eaten straight away or kept in the fridge or freezer to be consumed later on.’

The company delivers around the Worcester area, for more details give Emma a call on (01905) 937696

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

If you are elderly or infirm let me cook for you!

A wide variety of dishes, or your own choice Fresh seasonal vegetables Puddings to tempt you Special diets catered for Mains £4 - Puddings £2

Ring Emma to find out more 01905 937696 Free delivery within 2 miles of WR3 7JH, 50 pence per mile thereafter

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Whether it’s a tree that needs sorting out or a garden that’s run out of control, Trees ‘R’ Us can help. The business was started in the year 2000 by Pete Prosser who had already worked as a tree surgeon for many years before that.

Pete will visit you and inspect the planned work before giving a quote. He only takes out trees that really do need to be felled and is always keen to discuss an alternative way to cut back or pollard a tree if that might be a better solution. He carries out a comprehensive tidy up after any work and takes all cuttings away with him.

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Business News WORCESTER SAND & GRAVEL Worcester Sand and Gravel sells all types of aggregates including building sand, concreting sand, pea gravel, Type 1, Cotswold Stone, Golden Flint, Granite Chippings and Forest of Dean Pink. Based at Rose Farm, Half Key, near Worcester, they can deliver loose and bulk bagged products or you can collect directly from their friendly yard where they can load any size vehicle from small trailers to 8 wheeled lorries.

Should you need advice in selecting the type of aggregate or stone you need then they have the expertise to point you in the right direction for the job in hand. They have been involved in many projects – large and small. If you prefer, you can take away a free sample before deciding on a purchase. Deliveries come on either a compact tipper for up to 10 tonne loads, a HIAB equipped 4 Wheeler to drop your bulk bags exactly where you need them or for larger loads they use 6 or 8 wheel tippers.

Logs for your open fire or log burner as well as kindling are also available in the size required for your individual needs. These can be delivered loose by the tonne, in bulk bags or nets – all dropped at your door.

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To advertise please call Teresa: 07722 226712 or email teresa@allabout-local.com

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Well Being

food should not be an afterthought

By Tracy J Reck, Exercise & Nutrition Coach in Worcester

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have just finished with prepping some salad for the next few days. It’s 2.32pm on a Thursday and not only did I take time from my work day to spiralise a carrot or two, it was mid work day that I went shopping for the food I prepped. That might sound like sacrilege, because work time is work time, right?

Nope. Actually every day is a day of your life, to be used for whatever is necessary for you to thrive.

The idea that between the hours of 9-5 you should be working is a social construct, and it’s one that gives rise to food being treated as an afterthought.

If it wasn’t, no-one would work through lunch.

No-one would trudge into work having skipped breakfast. No-one would crash home again at the end of the day and have no idea what they are going to eat for dinner.

Food should not be an afterthought.

Most of the people who speak to me about wanting to improve their health go straight for exercise. They get caught up thinking that the best thing they can do is spend time working out. Far more critical is the time they commit to figuring out what they are going to eat this week, buying that food and then prepping whatever needs sorting in advance to make it all flow easily.

We are keen to carve out a window of time to move our bodies, but not even aware that a chunk of time also needs to be dedicated to what we’re putting into them. That’s a problem. Planning, shopping and prepping – those are the very habits that will

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I’m not really given to using the dreaded ‘should’ in my blogs. I am one for choice, flexibility and giving yourself a chance to succeed.

Usually, ‘shoulds’ don’t gel with that approach. But on this topic, I feel a should is required. transform your eating, and therefore your health.

You cannot change your health in the longterm without making eating healthy food SUPER easy for yourself.

Feel free to immerse yourself in recipe books and ideas of how to make healthy food tasty, but be under no illusion that the task stops there. Grab a bundle of those recipes and put them into a plan for the week. Figure out your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for every day. Then make sure the right ingredients are in your house and you’ve prepped anything you can in advance.

Otherwise, on that day when you get a fit of the stuffits, you’re done for. Do you really think you’ll have the inclination to chop cabbage when you’ve had a rough day and all you want to do is drink Baileys and eat crisps? But if it’s already there, prepped and ready to go, your chances of eating it are FAR higher.

Don’t leave your food to chance. Get organised, get prepared and you’re making it easy to succeed.

Tracy Reck is a fitness and nutrition writer, coach and speaker.

You can read more from her at www.naturallyexuberant.co.uk

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Music Feature

Local Talent: lost trains Imagine a room filled with 3,000 LPs: row upon row of vinyl from floor to ceiling, with every imaginable kind of music. As a young boy, Stephen ‘Nobby’ Wright would spend hours poring over his Great Uncle’s music collection. But it would be another 15 years before Stephen picked up a guitar.

By Dave Webber

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still remember listening to Jerry and Pacemakers, Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison’ he tells me, ‘and I was obsessed by the Beatles. By the age of 3 or 4 I could pick out my favourites by the grooves in the record, and my Great Uncle Ronald would fill in all the details – who had produced them, how many times they were recorded and where. I was so inspired.’

Listening to music was a big part of Nobby’s life as he grew up, but he only began to make it at the age of twenty after a Mancunian called called Matt Deas persuaded him to form a band.

They stayed together for the next three years as Keystone and grew a bit of a cult following, but drifted apart as they went in different directions in 2006.

Despair really sunk in for Nobby after he was diagnosed with an eye condition which at one point risked him losing his eyesight. One evening he found himself sitting in the corner of a pub feeling miserable, listening to a guitarist playing in the other corner of the room. A man came over to him and they got chatting about his son, who was the guitarist. By the end of the evening, Nobby had picked up a guitar and was inspired to start making music again.

The next day found Nobby in the home studio of his new friends, laying down a recording of Heartfelt Blues after a seven year break from music. ‘It wasn’t my best ever performance!’ he admits, but it inspired him so much he began practising every day for up to two hours.

The next step was performing on the local music circuit, which he admits didn’t start well, but he forced himself to play local mic nights up to four times a week. After six months it came together and he became a more accomplished performer.

‘Playing to an audience makes all the difference’

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he says, ‘you gauge what people like and you can’t stop if you make a mistake, you learn to play on and the mistakes get less and less.’

Last summer he began jamming with Emilie Eleonore, a singer and musician local to Worcester, and together they’ve now formed a new band called Lost Trains. Last summer they played a few festivals and right now they are busy building a new set list with more material including a number called ‘Magnetic Heart’ which they are really excited about.

They’re recording some tracks and can be found most weeks at the West Malvern Social Club. They’ll be performing around the area in the next few months and you can find out more on their Facebook page, Instagram and Soundcloud. www.facebook.com/losttrains

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Recipe

will's seville orange marmelade Marmalade is a tradition in the Edmonds household that has been established in the last couple of years since my husband Will found a natural talent for making his wonderful variation of this delicious preserve.

If we are lucky then he’ll make two or three batches that will just about see us through the year. Two jars are hidden away at the back of the cupboard, one jar for Easter (that travels with us on holiday during the Easter break) and one extra-large jar to be enjoyed at Christmas during a mammoth period of entertaining breakfast guests!

The secret ingredient ‌ Organic Seville Oranges from Ave Maria orchards in Mairena del Alcor, Seville, Spain. Only available in January and February, bitter oranges that really pack a punch in deep citrus flavour.

Ingredients To make approximately 10lb (4.5kg) of marmalade you will need: 1.4kg Seville oranges 3 lemons 3.4 litres (6 pints) water 2.7 kg (6lb) sugar

leave it until it is cool enough to handle. When cool cut the oranges in half and juice in a lemon squeezer removing the pips and pith from the orange halves as you go. Tip the juice into a clean preserving pan. Discard the pips and pith.

Juice the lemons and add the lemon juice to the preserving pan.

Cut the cooked orange rind as finely as you like (unsurprisingly we like it chunky!), add to the preserving pan.

Add the sugar to the preserving pan and warm gently until the sugar has completely dissolved, then bring the contents of the pan to the boil.

Boil the marmalade rapidly for 15 minutes, test for a set and when setting point is reached take the pan off the heat and remove any scum with a slotted spoon. Leave the marmalade to stand for about 15 minutes, stir gently to distribute the peel, pot and cover.

Marmalade can be stored in a dark, cool cupboard for as long as you can resist eating it!

Method Measure out all the ingredients, and prepare the jars by washing thoroughly and sterilising in the oven.

Place the whole fruit into a saucepan with the water. Cover and simmer gently for about 2 hours until tender. Remove the fruit from the pan and

Kindly provided by Meg of Roots at Rushwick, a Worcestershire Farm Shop on the Bransford Road - 01905 421104

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Bransford Road, Rushwick, Worcester WR2 5TD

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Feature

hardy plant society One of the centrepieces at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show will be a rotating garden created by a local gardening group.

The Worcestershire Group of the Hardy Plant Society is busy growing hundreds of plants and developing the technology needed to create this unique display. Their vice-chairman Mick Dunstan tells us more.

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very other year The Hardy Plant Society is given space for a stand at Chelsea.

Last year our national organisation invited the 42 county groups to put forward bids to represent us and we were chosen.

At that stage we had a fairly basic idea, but knew we wanted to create something that really stood out. We never imagined we might be chosen, especially in this, the Society’s sixtieth anniversary year!

Our revolving display will be three metres in diameter and the garden’s designer is Linda Marsh who is one of our members. After a successful career as a pilot, Linda re-trained in garden design and has previously exhibited at Hampton Court. Her knowledge is legendary and she is developing a theme which uses strong colours and 60 different kinds of plants to mark the society’s 60th anniversary year.

there’s been a complete exhibit at Chelsea that revolves continuously.

It will be a big job to transport and set up the garden. The rotating structure is taken to Chelsea on the Tuesday and assembled in the Great Pavilion. Planting begins on the Thursday. Our team then has just four days to make it look as fantastic as possible in time for judging on Monday 22nd May. Fingers crossed it all goes to plan!

Our local group has been around for a little more than twenty years and we hold meetings once a month at Crowle Parish Hall. We have regular speakers and organise other events including a trip to Devon later this year. In September we hold a full day of talks at Pershore College. Our speakers this year include Roy Lancaster, who is President of the Society as well as Derry Watkins who writes in The Telegraph and Julian Sutton from Desirable Plants, a specialist nursery in Devon.

Timing is of the essence when growing plants for Chelsea – they have to be at their prime just as the show starts. Hundreds of plants are already being grown under cover at Cotswold Garden Growers near Offenham. Our members are tending the plants regularly and will make a final decision in April about what makes it into the display.

The rotating structure is being built by Caleb Whitcombe, an engineering consultant. In his workshop, he’s building and then testing the structure by loading it with sandbags before running it continuously for seven days. Rotating trees were used last year in a garden designed

by Diarmuid Gavin, but this will be the first time

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HPS Chelsea 2017 Floral Marque Artists Impression

details We currently have 101 members and always welcome more. If you’d like further details, please contact the group’s secretary Lyn Maile at sec@worcs-hardy-plant.org.uk or on 01905 820267

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To advertise please call Teresa: 07722 226712 or email teresa@allabout-local.com

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Event

Magoos farewell concert Saturday 4 February

o

ver the past seventeen years, the band has played to audiences both locally and nationally. ‘We have always had a decent reaction’ says the band’s frontman Richard Webb, ‘we seem to attract a crowd wherever we go.' They’ve played at places like The Sunshine Festival in Upton and Mello Festival at Throckmorton.

One of the biggest gigs the band played was at the Speedway Grand Prix in Cardiff where they played on the main stage in the Fanzone. ‘The first time we played it there were 10,000 people’ says Richard. ‘It was absolutely outstanding.

We didn’t think we’d get to those heights - we’ve played some big gigs for a pub band!’

Local band The Magoos will be playing for one last time to an audience of over 800 at The Sixways Stadium this February.

They’ve chosen to make the final gig a fundraiser for Leukaemia CARE, a national charity which is based here in Worcester. well as rarer types such as the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and the myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). The vagueness and nonspecific nature of symptoms means that blood cancers can be hard to diagnose.

‘Leukemia has been in the news recently after the mother of Louis Tomlinson from One Direction died from the disease’ says Nicole. ‘People sometimes assume it only affects children but that’s not the case.’

‘Leukemia is a terrible disease’ continues Richard from the Magoos. ‘We wanted to make sure we gave something back with this last gig, so why not?'

The band’s final gig takes place with a lineup of Rich on vocals, Ian Saunders on guitar, Mike Butt on Bass Guitar, Les Ames on rhythm guitar plus keyboards and Miles Dandey on drums. The band offered to help raise money for Leukemia Care as Richard had helped to provide sportswear for the charity’s many fundraising events.

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‘The charity started as a support group for parents whose children had leukemia’ says Nicole Caroll from Leukemia Care. ‘Since then, we’ve expanded to help people of all ages with various types of blood cancer. There is both online and phone support, access to a specialist nurse as well as help for the wider family.’

details

There are many different types of blood cancers which include leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma as

Tickets cost £20 and are available via leukaemiacare.org.uk/events

You can read more about Leukemia CARE, at LeukaemiaCare.org.uk as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

The Magoos performance takes place on Saturday 4th February at Sixways Stadium.

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Local News

the magic flute Great Witley Operatic Society will be performing Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute this March.

Described as one of the most popular operas ever written, it brings to the stage much loved music and characters.

The story follows Prince Tamino’s quest for the beautiful Pamina, daughter of the powerful Queen of the Night, aided by the comic bird catcher Papageno. They travel from Darkness to Light, helped by a Magic Flute and Magic Bells, to meet Sarastro, Priest of the Sun, who requires them to undertake several difficult challenges before overcoming the powers of Evil.

The music includes the Queen of the Night’s spectacular coloratura arias, the Birdcatcher's Song, the powerful sonorous music of the Temple of Light, and many other wonderful solos and ensembles. A fine cast of soloists, some making their first appearance with the society, are supported by Great Witley’s excellent chorus.

This latest production follows the group’s successful staging of Carmen last year. Sue Black and Andrew Rawle are to continue as Music Director and as Stage Director. The Opera will be a semi-staged production, performed in English with a full orchestra and beautifully costumed.

The Society is celebrating 65 years of musical theatre and light opera and continues to go from strength to strength. You can read more at www. gwos.net This year all tickets are priced at £15.You can order tickets until 16th February by calling (01905) 425299. After 17th February tickets can only be obtained from the Worcester Live! Box Office on (01905) 611427, where a booking fee may be charged.

The Magic Flute

by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart From Thurs 16th to Sat 18th March at The Swan Theatre, Worcester at 7.30pm

01684 770086 • 07867 910377 22

To advertise please call Teresa: 07722 226712 or email teresa@allabout-local.com

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Feature

All About...

love worcester heritage festival Looking for things to do during February halfterm? The Love Worcester Heritage Festival offers dozens of free events and activities at venues around Worcester between Saturday 18th and Saturday 25th February.

Living History at the Commandery Sat 18 and Sun 19 February, 10am–5pm See 2,000 years of history come to life with a weekend full of ancient Greeks, Viking warriors, the two world wars and more.

George Marshall Medical Museum Help create a super-sized arty reproduction of Castle Street Infirmary and listen as the building reveals its secrets - Tues 21 February, 10.30am– 3pm

Greyfriars’ House and Garden Re-enactors bring Greyfriars back to life on Saturday 18th February, with Make a Discovery at Greyfriars on Friday 24th February.

The Hive (Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service) There’s a Hands-on History session on Thursday 23rd February from 10am to 3pm while on Saturday 25th February from 2pm there’s a chance to go behind the scenes to find out the mystery of Shakespeare’s marriage, handle Tudor pottery and see documents about Queen Elizabeth I.

St Swithun’s Church The church hosts a Georgian Gin Evening on Saturday 25th February – there’s also a playful interpretation of Shakespeare’s King Lear on 23rd February and ‘We Love the Georgians’ during the day on Tuesday 21st.

The Museum of Royal Worcester The museum hosts ‘Weird and Wonderful at the Porcelain Museum’ from Monday 20th to Friday 24th February between 11am and 2pm.

St Martins in the Cornmarket The Cornmarket is open daily between Monday 20th and Friday 24th February between 9am and 1pm – a chance to see inside this remarkable Grade II-listed Georgian church.

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Other venues hosting events include St Martin’s in the Cornmarket, The Tudor House Museum, Worcestershire Museum of Freemasonry, the former Worcester Royal Infirmary, Worcester Cathedral and The City Art Gallery and Museum. For more details visit www.allaboutworcester.com

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Notice Board Splendid Cinema

Theatre: Communicating Doors

Mixing World Cinema with Cult Classics at Worcester Arts Workshop 9th Feb – Mustang (cert 15) 16th Feb – The Greasy Stranger (cert 18) 16th March – Train to Busan (cert 15) 23rd March – Hunt for the Wilderpeople (cert 12) 30th March – Embrace of the Serpent (cert 12)

by Alan Ayckbourn

www.worcesterartsworkshop.org.uk

Theatre: as you like it

Presented by the Swan Theatre Amateur Company 21st to 25th February, 7.30pm at The Swan Theatre Information and tickets from (01905) 611427

www.worcesterlive.co.uk

creative writing course at the Hive 10am - Noon Saturday 4th March continues until 1st April cost £79

William Shakespeare Presented by Swan Youth Theatre 2 – 4 March, 7.45pm. At The Vesta Tilley Studio, Swan Theatre - Tickets: £9.50

www.thehiveworcester.org

There will also be a performance poetry piece devised with the theatre’s Poet in Residence, Ben Parker

IDENTIFICATION DAY

Tickets: (01905) 611427 www.worcesterlive.co.uk

Identification Day with Henry Sandon Saturday 18th February

a wildlife journey Duncan MacDonald gives an illustrated talk about the birds and wildlife encountered across Europe At Malvern RSPB Local Group 8th February at 7.30pm at Powick Village Hall. Entrance £2, children free - refreshments

rspb.org.uk/groups/worcester

At The Museum of Royal Worcester - 10am until 2pm

Small Message? !

It’s free for groups

al.com james@allabout-loc 01684 252 242

World famous ceramics expert Henry Sandon MBE, Museum Patron, will identify and value ceramic pieces brought in by the general public. Because of his immense popularity, there is a limit of two items per family.

www.museumofroyalworcester.org

THE SIXTEEN PRESENTS Bring your broken personal and household items to be fixed for free (donations welcome) 11 February & 11 March 11am - 2pm STARS Adult Day Centre, Stanley Road For details call 07876 373048 or email repaircafeworcester@gmail.com

Bach: Magnificat At Worcester Cathedral 24th February at 7.30pm Performed alongside The Magnificat will be a selection of Bach's Cantatas and his ever-popular Brandenburg Concerto No 3

Tickets from (01905) 611427 thesixteen.com

April/May deadline: Tuesday 14 March

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Telephone: 01684 564700 www.floralcraftsupplies.co.uk

Take part in #WorcestershireHour on Twitter Mondays at 8pm & Wednesdays at 12pm The business, charity, events & community hour for Worcestershire Learn more at www.worcestershirehour.co.uk

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What’s on in Worcester?

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What’s On

february Saturday 4 February Uncle Bert’s Cow A fun show for children aged 2-9 years, with songs and audience participation. 10.30am and 11.45am at The Swan Theatre Tickets £2.50, under 2s free, call (01905) 611427 Monday 6 February An Introduction to Business Accounts for Sole Traders 10am-12.30pm, continues on Tuesday 7th February, Cost £22.50 www.thehiveworcester.org Sunday 12 February A four mile walk around Eckington with Worcester and Malvern RSPB Local Group, visiting the John Bennett Nature Reserve, Nafford Island and the Gwen Finch Reserve. Meet 9.30am at Eckington Picnic Site (WR10 3DD) www.rspb.org.uk/groups/worcester Wednesday 15 February Swan Sanctuary Volunteer Working Party 10am-12.30pm, to litter pick, sow, plant and clear scrub in areas used by swans around the River Severn. Meets on the third Wednesday of each month For details call 07742 295149 Friday 17 February Poetry Open Mic Night at The Swan Theatre 7.30pm, come and read some of your own work or just listen and enjoy a varied evening of poetry.

To sign up in advance email ben.r.parker@gmail.com Thursday 23 February Granny’s Game a performance about travel, adventure and a really surprising Grandma! 1pm and 3pm at The Hive www.thehiveworcester.org Saturday 25 February Stanley Baldwin: Three times Prime Minister and the Man for the Crisis a talk at Worcester Cathedral, 10am, by historian Chris Gait. Tickets £5 to book call (01905) 732900 www.worcestercathedral.co.uk

march Friday 3 March Computers for Absolute Beginners a course at The Hive, continues until Friday 7th April, 12.30pm-2.30pm, Cost £54 www.thehiveworcester.org Sunday 19 March The Musical and Amicable Society Fiddlers Three at Worcester Concert Club, 3pm at Huntingdon Hall.

For details www.worcserenade.co.uk Monday 20 March The Spring Solstice 4pm – 6pm, free to all. We'll gather to mark the shift of balance from the dark to the light. From this date the days are longer than the nights. Some say the Earth breathes out; the days warm and crops grow more strongly.

For more info and where to meet see www.thefold.org.uk Contact: carefarm@thefold.org.uk / 07719 915653 Thursday 23 March Jazz by Kel Elliot and her Three Man Orchestra at The Worcester Arts Workshop For details and tickets see www.worcestersartsworkshop.org.uk Friday 24 March Greek Cooking Competition with the Kefi Club, a group formed by lovers of all things Greek, with regular meetings www.kefi-club.org.uk Saturday 25 March Worcester Festival Choral Society performs A German Requiem (Brahms) and Slavonic Dances (Dvorak) 7.30pm at Worcester Cathedral www.worcestercathedral.co.uk Sunday 26 March The Monthly Market at The Fold in Bransford, 11am until 2pm, a chance to see meet and buy from local food makers and producers www.thefold.org.uk

Promote your April & May events: email james@allabout-local.com or call 01684 252 242 by Tuesday 14 March 2017 at the latest.

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Theatre News English Touring Theatre in association with Nica Burns, Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Paula Marie Black presents the Shakespeare Globe’s Production of

Nell Gwynn

By Jessica Swale

Winner of the 2016 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. Jessica Swale’s blissfully funny Nell Gwynn embarks on its first ever UK tour, direct from critically acclaimed, sell out runs in the West End and at the Globe Theatre.

1660 Drury Lane. Charles II has cast off London’s drab, puritanical past with a love of all things loud, French and sexy. A young Nell Gwynn is selling oranges for sixpence in London’s burgeoning West End theatre scene unaware of who is in the audience one fateful night.

Jessica Swale’s warm-hearted, bawdy comedy tells the story of an unlikely heroine, who went from lowly orange seller to win the adoration of the public and the heart of the King. Starring Olivier Award nominated actress Laura PittPulford, Nell Gwynn is brought to the stage by English Touring Theatre.

Nell Gwynn will be appearing at Malvern Theatres from Tuesday 14th to Saturday 18th March. Tickets are on sale at the Box Office 01684 892277 and online at malvern-theatres.co.uk.

Competition

Win a pair of tickets to nell gwynn Win a pair of tickets to this show at Malvern Theatres.

Please answer the following question: Nell Gwynn is played by which Olivier Award nominated actress?

Email the answer plus your name, postcode and phone number to competition@allabout-local.com

by Wednesday 22 February 2017.

The winners will be drawn from the entries and notified by 23 February.

Good luck! *For terms & conditions see our website www.allaboutworcester.com

Classes & Courses

TAI CHI & QIGONG Improve your health & boost your energy Thursday evenings 7:30 - 9:00pm St Nicholas Church Barn, Worcester, WR4 0SL Contact Marc - 01905 811123 or marc@obelison.co.uk www.obelison.co.uk

hatha yoga If you run local classes or courses and would like your details printed here please contact Teresa on 07722 226712 or email teresa@allabout-local.com

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Wednesday evenings 7:15 - 8:30pm St. Martin's Parish Centre, Victoria Avenue, Worcester WR5 1EE For details contact Val Booler, BWY Dip tel. 01905 26810 or email valbooler@btinternet.com

TUESDAY 14th - SATURDAY 18th MARCH Box Office: 01684 892277 | malvern-theatres.co.uk To advertise please call Teresa: 07722 226712 or email teresa@allabout-local.com

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