your
January 2010
Free issue
Local Times
Delivered to your local area
Visit online at www.yourlocaltimes.co.uk
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your
Local Times
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Advertise your local business by contacting us on the numbers below:
New Year everyone‌
Publisher: Your Local Publisher Ltd
01299 406 095
Editor: Robert Cooper
01299 402 094
Features and Editorial:
01299 402 094
editorial@yourlocaltimes. co.uk Advertising: Val Talbot
01562 744014
val@yourlocaltimes.co.uk
Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Your Local Publisher Ltd does not officially endorse any advertising material included in this publication. Your Local Times is a trademark of Your Local Publisher Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical, photocopied or recorded without prior permission of the publisher.
It seems, as you get older the years come round even faster. Just twelve months ago we were putting together the first edition of the magazine and we are entering 2010 with not only the Wyre Forest edition but also putting the final touches to the Bridgnorth edition. Only by expansion will Bewdley benefit from the exposure the magazine can bestow on it whilst complementing the efforts made by the Bewdley Development Trust and those associated with all the aspects of Bewdley. Let us all pull together in a common cause to bring visitors to Bewdley for the benefit of both businesses and residents.
Robert Cooper Editor
Front cover: Photographs by Val Cooper. 3
Community News
your
Local Times
Aladdin Pantomime Friday 22nd to Saturday 30th January Come and join in the family fun and support a local Pantomime. Aladdin is on show at the Stourport Civic Centre in January. This is Monday Night Group’s latest production, and follows on from the hugely entertaining and successful Pantomime last year, Goldilocks and the Three bears. The Pantomime is suitable for all ages, and follows the traditional story of Aladdin, his magic lamp, and the adventures with the Genie of the lamp, and spirit of the ring. Other fun characters you may recognise are the inept but loveable Wishee Washee, and the adorable washer-woman Widow Twankey.
Along with the experienced Monday Night Group cast are featured Crescents Ballet School, from Worcester. Jane Chance provides all the dancers and choreographs dances to theme with each scene of the production. Not only do the group have fun on stage, but the group serves a purpose too. The ticket sales, typically over 4000 each year, help contribute to the local community. The group is a registered charity, and every penny of profit is given back to groups in the Wyre Forest community in their May Presentation Evening. In May 2009, the group gave over ÂŁ19,000 away. Do your bit for charity in 2010 - To help groups in the local area, all you have to do is buy some tickets, bring some friends and watch the show! Laughs are guaranteed.
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Production dates, times and prices can be found on www.mondaynightgroup.org Tickets are available from 01299 825170
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Local Beauty & Fashion
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your
Local Times
Bridal Train Sale now on: Wedding Gowns Mother of the Bride Bridesmaid Dresses Prom Dresses Evening Dresses Shoes and Bags Hats and Fascinators
Telephone: 01299
405891
5 Load Street, Bewdley, DY12 2AF
www.bridaltrain.co.uk June Lacy (Director)
he n t at i w ng ari n Sho , e rk pp io e a ash ri Pa b F a ll wi ant’ s Saf ary n i u W d a Tr men dlan Jan l i o nd ida Br at W est May 22 h ‘W the W Frid
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Local Business
your
Local Times
Isn’t it time to
Stop Chasing Your Dreams and Start Living Them?
This is not a Pyramid selling scheme or a Ponzi scheme, it’s a real opportunity for you to make some changes in your life, with local training, support, first class products and services and you could make a big difference for yourself in 2010 and beyond. What you have to do is focus, have the determination, enthusiasm and roll up your sleeves and work along side myself, and a great team of people. You can achieve what you want if you take action to make it happen! 2009 has been a real challenging year, and I’m now glad I did something in 2008 to improve my personal situation, and since then everything has changed for the better. I’m looking for people, especially in my local community, who want to develop and succeed with their own home based business. If you are interested in this opportunity and want to have an initial discussion, please contact me on 07940 899915 or email me on gbenton252@googlemail.com. 8
For further information about me, please click on the following links: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/grenbenton http://twitter.comgrensenjoylife I look forward to hearing from you. Grenville Benton
Stop Chasing Your Dreams and Start Living Them A real opportunity for you to make some changes in your life, with local training, support, first class products and services Phone Grenville Benton on 07940 899915 or email gbenton252@googlemail.com
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Community News
your
Local Times
Nigel Knowles Comments I am a Volunteer Visitor at Kidderminster Hospital. Once a week I go in to talk to usually elderly patients on the GP Community Ward. I have met many fantastic people, including a woman aged 105 and a man aged 102. I am extremely impressed by the dedication and hard work of the staff. The care provided is exactly what the NHS is all about, a universal health service, free at the point of use. That is exactly why I am in the Labour Party and why I am proud that a Labour Government created the NHS in 1948. For several years I have campaigned for more services to be provided at Kidderminster Hospital. With the Labour Party’s help, I initiated a Petition and we have regularly collected signatures in the town centres of Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley. The Petition now has over 10,000 signatures. I regularly present them to the Worcestershire Primary Care Trust (Purchaser) and the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust. We are asking for a Radiotherapy Unit for the treatment of cancer patients, a Birth Unit, (each year 1,000 women from Wyre Forest have to travel to the Worcester Royal Hospital or another maternity unit to have their baby) and a Palliative Care Unit for terminally ill patients. I was delighted to hear that in the summer 2010, a MRI Scanner will be based permanently at Kidderminster Hospital instead of a mobile one. It is very likely also that GP Practices will be transferred from two current locations in Kidderminster and established on the hospital site. As a democrat, I am very interested in the decision making process within the NHS. I campaign also for directly elected NHS Trusts, rather than accept the current situation in which Directors are appointed. I consider that Trusts should be far more responsive to the needs of local communities in their requirements for NHS services, and hospital services in particular. I also say that the demands of 10,000 local people who ask for new services at Kidderminster Hospital 10
for Radiotherapy, a Birth Unit and Palliative Care should not be denied or ignored. Our Labour Government has doubled investment into the NHS and we have a new Treatment Centre at Kidderminster Hospital. An excellent Kidney Dialysis Unit provides a wonderful NHS Service, and the Millbrook Suite gives marvellous treatment for cancer patients. Many hip and knee replacement operations are also carried out each week. We could and should do more! We need to return to a much more accountable NHS in which staff, trade unions, and volunteers can have a greater say in the administration and service provision of our local hospital and services in the community. Foundation Trust status being awarded to Kidderminster Hospital could help expand the democratic process. Members could then vote for local representatives to go onto a Governing Board as non-paid members. The members would have the opportunity to argue for more hospital services throughout Worcestershire. It is possible that this status could be awarded in 2010. So why not be an advocate for the NHS and celebrate its work on our behalf? 18 Welch Gate, Bewdley, Worcs DY12 2AT Telephone: 01299 402343 Mobile: 07855 122321 Website: www.wyreforest.labour.co.uk Email: nigelknowlesbewdley@hotmail.com
Come & Feel the Difference • Local family run business •
• Carpet & Rug Retailer •
• Established 1989 •
• Professional PLANNERS & FITTERS • FREE no obligation measuring and quotes • Contract and Domestic work undertaken • Rugs and Runners with the WOW factor • FREE local delivery on Rugs & Remnants • WOOD FLOORS supplied and fitted • Vinyl and Flotex Retailer
Dog Lane, Bewdley TEL: Alison or Justin 404014 • 07767 206433
www.justin2carpetsrugs.co.uk
Pet Portraits
Professional paintings of your Puss or Pooch!
Oil paintings on canvas of your dog, cat, horse or bunny
Supply high quality photos or email digital pictures. 14” x 18” portraits in full colour from as little as £50.
To discuss your needs, phone us on 0798 999 5180 or email pet-portraits@live.co.uk 11
Local Business
Des Taylor
your
Local Times
The Big Fish Angler Extraordinaire
Recognised as one of the best all-round anglers in the country Des Taylor talks about how good the fishing is in our local area. We really are the luckiest anglers in the country to live in this area for it has some of the most diverse fishing in the whole of Europe close at hand. Being an all-rounder I really do enjoy these different species and venues available to me and I suggest you do the same. For the river anglers we have the mighty River Severn that is teeming with fish and from Bridgnorth to Stourport is possible the best barbel fishing in the world. Big barbel to 13lbs are caught every year but it is the sheer numbers of this species that most anglers travel to the likes of Bewdley for. Many is the time anglers will catch 50-100lbs in a pleasure session and there may well only be 8 to 15 fish in that massive weight which is great sport by anyone’s standards. But the river also has an excellent tributary called the River Teme which has incredible fishing for barbel and chub and nearer to Ludlow is famous for its trout and grayling fishing, I really do we enjoy a session or two after Xmas for the grayling in this area but please remember to return these grayling don’t take them all for the frying pan! Next up it’s the amount of ponds and pools in the area indeed this area was the “birth place” of the modern day “commercial” fisheries with waters like Moorlands, Woodland View, Poole Hall and Furnace Mill still leading the way in national standards for this branch of the sport. All these fisheries and dozens more produce 100lb bags of carp throughout the summer months in fact more than one of those fisheries have made 200lb+ bags which is unbelievable sport. These fisheries also hold hidden treasures of other species and I know of at least 6 local waters with the potential to produce 4lb Perch! We also have a couple of very interesting reservoirs at Trimpley and Chelmarsh these are for the more pioneering angler and could throw up a few big fish surprises but don’t think these waters will give up these prizes easily for one minute! We are also spoilt for good trout waters for the likes of Bransford Fishery near Worcester, Patsull near
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Wolverhampton and newly opened big fish water at Shatterford all giving excellent sport all year round. Recently I popped up to Shatterford and caught the trout in the photo which was a beautiful silver fish that fought like a tiger and weighed just short of double figures. The water has been stocked with rainbow trout to 12lbs+ and the venue will fish well in the colder months and worth a visit. And as if that is not enough remember the coast is only a couple of hours away from our Midland homes where bass, tope, rays and sharks can be caught. We really are so lucky to live here!
SBS
Fishing Baits Factory Shop Public & Trade SBS Fishing Baits are now available direct to you, the Angler, from our factory shop in Kidderminster Hemp 70p per pint Flavoured Meat £1.50 per 340 grm. Worms £12 per Kilo Full range of Pike Baits Available
www.sbsbaits.com
email: sbsbaits@btconnect.com Mon - Thur 7.30 am - 4.30 pm Friday 7.30 am - 1.30 pm Saturday 8.00 am - 2.00 pm Come and see the fishing bait experts and catch more Units 27 & 28, Meadow Mills, Dixon Street, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY10 1HH.
Tel: +44(0)1562 754172 • Fax: +44(0)1562 754173
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PETE WALL
Rubbish removal and recycling Garage, garden, household and commercial Plastic, cardboard, glass, wood, metal recycled and compost heaps removed
Tree pruning, hedge trimming and garden clearance Value for money
01299 405477 • 07956 172825 Fully insured Waste carriers licence EAN/949615
Misted Double Trade UPVC Frames Glazing Replaced Open to Public Sealed Units Manufacturers Glass cut to size Fixings and sealants Decorative leaded lights and bevels all available
Windows, doors and conservatories in white, rosewood or light oak Supply only or fitting service available
Visit our factory or call Ace Glass and Windows
01562 827563
Unit 37, Meadowlands Industrial Estate, Dixon Street, Kidderminster, DY10 1HH Local Company established 20 years
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your
Local Times THE
THE
THE
SERVICE
SERVICE
SERVICE
Local C E NBusiness TRE (KIDDERMINSTER) LTD
CENTRE
CENTRE
(KIDDERMINSTER) LTD
(KIDDERMINSTER) LTD
We are a small family-run business, celebrating our 30th anniversary in the New Year. The Company was originally formed in Mill Lane but due to expansion we had to move to larger premises. Many of our original customers and now their children, and grandchildren, are still using us today because of the service that we provide.
We are the only independent garage in the area that provides: Servicing at one location: M.O.T.’s Welding Tyres Clutches Exhausts Mechanical Repairs Body and Paintwork Restoration Work Insurance Accident Repairs Diagnosis (Coverage for 90% of vehicles) Number Plates Made Suppliers of Propane and Butane Gas
Large enough to cope Small enough to care
Please Call 01562 742815
The Service Centre (Kidderminster) Ltd 10 Lisle Avenue, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY11 7DL
Tel: 01562 742815 • Fax: 01562 745319
If a full service is carried out at the same time. Both offers available until 1st June 2010 (cash sales only) on production of this voucher. No charge for retests if repairs are carried out by us or if vehicle fails on minor items and is repaired within 24 hours. Free courtesy car to use, subject to availability.
!
M.O.T.’s £40 or 1/2 price (£20)
VOUCHER
VOUCHER
Email: office@theservicecentreltd.co.uk
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Bewdley Development Trust
your
Local Times
Bewdley Development Trust – in the community’s interest Bewdley Development Trust (BDT) was established in 2006 as the successor to Opportunity Bewdley, and is a partnership between local people, businesses, and organisations with a commitment to ensuring that Bewdley remains a thriving market town and a good place to live, work and visit. Following the floods around the millennium, and the Foot and Mouth outbreak, local businesses were suffering, and fewer people were visiting the town. A range of projects were undertaken to respond to this situation ranging from Flood defences to footpaths, play areas to bus services, community ICT suite to the town website.
• • • •
business development, support and advice, marketing partnership, start up units developing local energy supplies including locally sourced woodfuel establishing low carbon communities to make the area more resilient to the effects of Peak Oil and Climate Change improving communication and involvement through the Town Website and LocalEyes
If you are interested in finding out more about BDT or becoming a member, please get in touch with Peter Miller on 01299 405516, email petermiller@bewdley.org.uk or via the website www.bewdley.org.uk BDT has continued with such projects as the Bewdley Heritage Trail and improved signage and equipment for community events, but has also renewed its focus on the longer term needs of the area. This centres on its vision of a thriving, high quality market town and a focus on Bewdley’s future economic, environmental and social sustainability. To that end BDT is involved in • developing and managing of community assets such as the Load Street development project and affordable housing • promoting the town through event management and coordination including the Discover Bewdley weekend 16
Complete Plastics
Installer of Roofline products full replacement or overclad Fascia, Soffits and Guttering Cladding, Roofline Repairs Dry verge tile closers, grey or brown Front and rear UPVC doors Misted up or broken down Double Glazed Units supplied and replaced - Standard or K Glass
Call Geoff Orchard for a FREE quote on
Bewdley 01299 401449
or 07749 663028 Free 10 year IWA Insurance backed guarantee Bewdley
Auto Services Are you ready for the Winter? Winter Check while you wait £15 Repairs and Service to all types of vehicles MOTs arranged Please contact Roger or Gary on 07931 475097 • 07889 222578 or email bewdleyautoservices@hotmail.co.uk
Hate cleaning your oven? Then call…
BRITE
Professional Oven Cleaning Service
COOKERS, OVENS, HOBS, EXTRACTORS and MICROWAVES
T. 01562 66532 M. 07966 270348 17
Established 30 years
www.njkheating.co.uk WYRE FOREST VISITOR CENTRE Experience the peace and tranquillity of the Wyre Forest. The centre is open 10am to 4pm daily May close earlier in winter.
Callow Hill, Bewdley, Worcs DY14 9XQ
01299 266944
email: carole@thewhittypear.co.uk Set on the edge of the forest the Visitor Centre has a welcoming restaurant serving locally produced, home-made food. Visit the gift shop to purchase maps, books, local crafts and unusual gifts. Enjoy the warming log fire in winter, watch the birds feeding, or explore the forest walks and cycle routes. Ample car park and an outdoor play area for young children. Evening events can be arranged on request.
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Specialists in New Kitchens and Kitchen Makeovers
m
d o n a ro m ow n o o Sh oo r d m gS e B oo in hr pen t a O
B
For a Truly Professional Service throughout, whether it’s a New Kitchen, Kitchen Makeover, Bathroom or Fitted Bedroom Call now for a free no obligation quote
01562 820991 or 07807 216886 or visit us at our new showroom 20 Comberton Hill, Kidderminster DY10 1ON 19
your
Local Sports & Fitness
your
Local Times
The Harriers THERE will be plenty of action for football fans to sink their teeth into across the month of January as Kidderminster Harriers prepare for a hectic spell. This month, Harriers will be in action at their home Aggborough Stadium ground on five separate occasions, meaning there’s every opportunity to see some real football this New Year! In last month’s Your Local Times we ran a feature detailing just how easy it is for fans to get involved with Worcestershire’s premier football club. Again, those under the age of eight are admitted into the ground for FREE whilst those aged 16 and under are admitted from just £5. There’s plenty of Blue Square Premier action this month – below is a full list of the who and the when for January, but the month will see the likes of Cambridge United visit Aggborough. In addition to four League fixtures, there’s the added attraction of the first home FA Trophy tie of the season on 9 January. Back in 2007, the team got to Wembley Stadium and played in front of 53,000 in the Trophy Final. Over the two years’ since, they have suffered the heartbreak of penalty shoot-out defeats. Can they end that hurt this time around? Head up to Aggborough on the 9th to find out.
KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS HOME FIXTURES – JANUARY 2010 Saturday 9 Saturday 16 v Tuesday 19 v Tuesday 26 v Saturday 30
FA TROPHY 3pm Grays Athletic 3pm Ebbsfleet United 7:45pm Barrow AFC 7:45pm Cambridge United 3pm
YOUR LOCAL TIMES
HARRIERS TICKET GIVEAWAY Win a pair of tickets to one of the League fixtures above, or any other remaining this season with this special giveaway from Your Local Times. Simply answer the question below and send your answer to winner@yourlocaltimes.co.uk. A winner will be named in a later issue – full terms and conditions available at rear of magazine.
Q: Who is the current Kidderminster Harriers team captain? A) Chris McPhee B) Dean Bennett C) John Finnigan 20
Natural Balance Sports Therapy Find your Natural Balance with Adrienne Wilson MHFST
Put your hand up if during the festive season you over ate, over drank and are now headed in the direction of your nearest gym or exercise class.
the gym. Regular massage therapy helps with the repair of those little niggles, relieves the aches and gets you ready and raring for that next training session or exercise class.
With Christmas now behind us most of us are feeling the pinch of over indulgence and headed for the gym to get our body’s ready for the summer sun.
With 6 years experience in the field Adrienne specialises in sports, remedial & deep tissue massage, sports injury & injury rehabilitation and can regularly be found looking after the rowers of Bewdley Rowing Club and Stourport Boat Club. ‘With a friendly and highly professional approach Adrienne has successfully treated many of our rowers who have shown a variety of musculoskeletal aliments, both slight and severe. Her expert remediation and rehabilitation methods are apparent in our rowers as they continue to enjoy the sport throughout each season’. Bewdley Rowing Club
Good health, nutrition and well-being are vital at this time of the year to stave off colds and flu; holistic therapies really do help for a total body MOT. There is no better way of recovering from the holiday period and preparing your body for
Bewdley Sports Massage is offering all new customers £5 off the first treatment during January with this advert.
For more information or to book an appointment call 07875 161880 or log on to www.bewdleysportsmassage.co.uk 21
Local Business
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Local Times
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Local Sports & Fitness
your
Local Times
High Quality Fruit, Vegetables, Fish and Eggs
All local produce when in season
Flowers for all occasions FREE delivery to your home
Tel: 01299 400 346
bewdleyfarmshop@btconnect.com
Dog Lane, Bewdley DY12 2EF
Suppliers of Bread, Cakes and Freshly Made Sandwiches to Take Away Buffet Service to Your Office or Home Bewdley Bake Away Limited 50 Load Street Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 2AP
TEL: 01299 404 147 E: bewdleyfarmshop@btconnect.com 25
0
99 2 1
4 0 38 53
The Hardware & Cookshop
0
79
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Established 1865
61 352 0
Mr R.A.HUGHES DO Registered Osteopath
R G Timmis (Bewdley) Ltd 66 Load Street, Bewdley
OSTEOPATH CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY REIKI
01299 403268
BEWDLEY DELIVERS
GRANDEE WATERPROOF PET CUSHION
the deli @ be
dley
Shop local Roadworks start 11th January We still hope to see you, but we will deliver to your door
71 Load Street, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 2AW
Telephone 01299 401901 www.thedeliatbewdley.co.uk 26
Removable cover on a luxurious hollow fibre filled inner for warmth.
LARGE - £25
01299 402094
An offer from Your Local Times
The Editor of Your Local Times saves money with the Utility Warehouse
0800 781 9762
www.telecomplus.org.uk/yourlocaltimes
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Community News
your
Local Times
New Year Opportunities at Kidz First in Bewdley Readers will be pleased to hear that Kidz First, a children’s / young persons’ charity based at Longbank Horticultural Nurseries in Bewdley, has this year extended its services, offering fantastic opportunities to young people with disabilities / special needs, as well as the wider community. Kidz First opened Longbank Nurseries in 2007 as a ‘not for profit’ business offering work experience to young people with a range of disabilities / special needs. The Nursery stocks a wide range of plants at very competitive prices and is open to the general public most days of the year. As well as horticulture, students learn cooking, housekeeping and retail shop work. Earlier this year, Kidz First extended its services by opening FREE-dom (Free Domain) Lodge on site at Longbank. Combining a variety of exciting indoor and outdoor play / social environments, FREE-dom offers fun and socialization for all ages and abilities. After School Clubs and Holiday Activity Programmes are now up and running offering Parents / Carers
FREE-dom Lodge opportunity to take a break from their 24-hour care commitment, whilst their children enjoy a range of indoor and outdoor activities on site in Bewdley as well as fantastic days out. FREE-dom is open to Children / Young People of all abilities, being inclusive of those with disabilities / special needs and those without. This is why many siblings join in the Programmes too. The local community will be pleased to hear that FREE-dom Lodge and facilities are also available to hire either in sections or as a whole, providing a fantastic environment for birthdays, meetings, training and other events with donations being made to Kidz First. If you are interested in hiring FREE-dom and would like an informal visit please call the number below.
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Stowaways Beach Room
It is free to become a member of Kidz First and Family Packs are available. For all information on Kidz First, please call Tracy or Judy on 01299 400 655.
In Bewdley Worcestershire Full and exciting workshop program, weekly classes for beginners and improvers and day workshops most days of the week. Come along and learn a new craft, give your home that fashionable Homemade look. We stock a great selection of patchwork fabrics, books, threads etc. We also stock some gift items and are your local stockist of Yankee Candles and East of India gifts. Opening Hours: 10:00am - 4:30pm Opening Days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Closed Wednesday and Sunday. 24 Load Street, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 2AE
01299 409390
Email: totallypatched@btconnect.com Website: www.totallypatched.com
Lucky 7’s Snack Wagon **** 4-star rated **** Whatever time, day or night • Hot snacks – Cold snacks Chips – Tea – Coffee • Favourites like bacon butties and lots more
Use us for your outdoor event, function or party
Where to find us in Kiddy: Howdens car park, Worcester Road Monday to Friday 8:00am till 2:30pm Open Saturday Morning
Catering made easy by having a kitchen brought straight to your event. Function, fete, car boot, jumble sale or bonfire night. Variety of foods available - not just the traditional burgers, hot dogs but menu style food, pre-prepared for your event.
Orders: 07528 798 210 29
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The Sun & Slipper Inn Mamble, Worcestershire DY14 9JL
Find us off the A456 between Clows Top and Newnham Bridge
Traditional hand pulled local beers and lagers Meals cooked fresh to order using local produce Try Rogers “famous” hand cut chips using local potatoes
A La Carte Menu and traditional Sunday lunch Best in the area Fixed price Menus 2 course lunch £9.95 Tuesday to Saturday 2 Course Dinner £12.95 Tuesday to Friday Due to popular demand now Saturday night 2 course £15.00 3 course £18.00 Closed all day Monday We cater for small weddings, Christenings, Funerals and luncheon Clubs
TEL 01299 832018 for reservations www.sunandslipper.co.uk
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Nigel and Sally welcome you to
The Hare and Hounds • Home cooked food
• Senior citizen menu
• Huge wine and beverage selection
• Kids menu • Brilliant professional team
• Guest ales • Family pub
Welcoming a new Sous-Chef to The Hare and Hounds – Paula Burchill Worcester Road, Shenstone, Nr Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY10 4BU
01562 777380
www.hareandhoundsshenstone.com
SPECIAL
Three-course candle-lit dinner for
VALENTINE’S NIGHT Riverside Hotel and Restaurant Leading Venue for Conferences, Weddings & Functions
YOUR BIRTHDAY
If you’re free on your Birthday, so are we! Celebrate between 12 noon and 3 pm or Between 6 pm and 9 pm and have your main course on us FREE Birthday Specials must be pre-booked and only honoured on the day of your birthday (proof required). The meal eaten by the adult Birthday Guest will be the meal given free
Stourport Road, Shrawley, Worcs WR6 6TB
01905 620 229
www.thelenchfordinn.co.uk 32
Any child birthday guest of 10 years and under can enjoy a main course from the children’s menu entirely free of charge Saturday birthdays will be honoured before 6 pm only
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your
Local Cars
Local Times
Why own your car? With government legislation determining the emissions, which are becoming ever tighter, and how we dispose of our vehicles when they have reached the sell by date is there an alternative to owning a vehicle?
Severn Valley Leasing has the answer, which for many years businesses and large organisations have successfully used to great effect.
You can have: A brand new car every two to three years with no more costly repairs, reduced road tax as the emissions are lower, minimal running costs and you get to keep your hard earned savings in the bank.
That is why we should look to leasing our next car and with prices from as little as £4 per day this seems extraordinarily good value for such an item we depend on for our every day transport. For expert advice on how leasing works, how you can use your existing vehicle as a deposit, and have your new car delivered FREE to your home or office call Severn Valley Leasing ‌
Telephone
01299 401572 or 07813 876823
Leasing is a great budget alternative, which is preferred by drivers in many other countries so why should we be any different? We now live in a society which has the disposable culture, be it a car, television, washing machine or the now common computer. As technology moves forward at a pace and resale values fall, disposal of these every-day items become ever more costly and difficult.
Take the first steps in having a brand new car 34
Severn Valley Leasing Leasing is the future Lease a car from ÂŁ99 per month
Check out our fantastic leasing deals and you could be the proud owner of a brand new car 2-4 Year Deals, Flexible Deposit
01299 401572 or 07813 876823
S L Tramontana Plastering, Rendering, Floor Screeding, Coving All plastering work undertaken Free, no obligation quotes Your Local Plasterer T: 01299 403 669 M: 07977 137795 E: tramontana27@yahoo.co.uk
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your Gardening Calendar January
February
March
Local Times
Whitlenge Garden Calendar
JANUARY
If you are looking for a focal point at this time of the year and have room plant a single birch surround it with cornus, heathers and hellebores. Now everything has completely died down and you have easy access to your flower beds, sprinkle garden compost over the whole area to improve the soil, worms will work this in for you over the coming months.
your
July
August
September
Cut down stems of ornamental grasses before new growth develops. Snit away suckers from the base of the trees and shrubs.
April
If snow falls, clear it from the tops of shrubs and trees so the weight doesn’t damage the branches. Sterilise your greenhouse to avoid carrying pest and diseases over from year to year.
October
Plant new fruit trees and force rhubarb for succulent stems in March.
May
Birds loose forty percent of their body weight throughout the winter months and will need feeding through the winter. It’s also a good way to get rid of all that leftover Christmas cake and pudding.
November
To all our customers wishing you all a Happy New Year December
June February If the ground is covered in snow or frost why not clean out the shed and green house ready for the Spring?
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OUR NEW RESTAURANT IS NOW OPEN AT ROWBERRYS NURSERIES HOME MADE FOOD using our own produce QUALITY AND SERVICE
from a family business SUNDAY LUNCHES served between 12.30-2.30pm Opening Times: Summer – Sun-Thurs 9.00 - 4.30pm
Fri- Sat 9.00 - 5.30pm Winter – Mon-Sat 9.00 - 4.30pm Sunday 9.00 - 4.00pm
Afternoon tea after 2.30pm £1.99 Regular tea or coffee plus a cake
Rowberry’s Nurseries
Lodgeford Hill, Lower Chaddesley Corbett, Worcs DY10 4QN on the main road between Kidderminster and Bromsgrove Tel: 07812 503560
ROWBERRYS NURSERY
Buy direct from the grower for the best quality and service
BEDDING
Bedding Pansies and Polyanthus ready now Young Shrubs £1.99 each
FARM SHOP
Home grown fruit and vegetables Free range eggs • Home produced pork and beef Jams, bread and dairy products
Opening Times:
Summer: Mon-Sat 9.00 - 6.00pm • Sunday 9.00 - 5.00pm
VISIT OUR NEW TEA ROOM AND RESTAURANT
Lodgeford Hill, Lower Chaddesley Corbett, Kidderminster, DY10 4QN
01562 777017
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Dizzy Dollys Laundrette Self Service • Service Washes Ironing Service Football Kits • Curtains etc Free Collection Delivery Whole Wyre Forest
01299 828 386 Opening Times 7:30am - 8:30pm 7 DAYS A WEEK Last Wash 8:30pm 9 Lombard Street, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 8DP
Don’t move But improve!
Your number one asset is
Your Home and Garden!
So let the professionals look after your investment.
Gold Medal winner Keith Southall’s
We enjoy projects of all sizes, from window box to family estate. Full Design, Construction and Planting all within the one company. If you are looking for that Visual Inspiration then visit us at: Whitlenge Gardens, Whitlenge Lane, Hartlebury, DY10 4HD Take the opportunity to watch our ‘before & after’ presentation in our cosy Tea Room and Craft Shop
Open Mon - Sat 9am - 5pm, Sun 10am - 5pm.
Telephone:
01299 250720
www.creativelandscapes.co.uk 38
Bewdley Gallery Trevor Price established Bewdley Gallery in 1980 and has a range of original paintings, limited and open edition prints all at competitive prices. The Gallery also has a picture framing service with hundreds of designs to choose from and with 25 years of experience. All work carries a lifetime guarantee. Fine arts has experienced a renaissance over the last few years and Bewdley Gallery exhibits many of the paintings that appeal to collectors and enthusiast alike. You are welcome to come and browse, admire or begin collecting fine artwork.
Lax Lane, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 2DZ. 01299 400 918
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Puzzle Corner
your
Local Times
The Harriers competition Last month we gave you the chance to watch some of the action at Aggborough for FREE. Your Local Times teamed up with the club and had two free tickets to give away for a League match of your choice this season. Our lucky winner correctly answered this question - What are the home kit colours of Kidderminster Harriers? The answer was Red and White. The winner, chosen at random, was Tony Goodwin. Congratulations and the tickets are on their way to you !! 40
The Harriers Competition Rules and Conditions No cash alternative to prize. Winner will be notified y e-mail or telephone. Two competition match vouchers will be issued to the winner, which must be exchanged in person (free of charge) for match tickets the Kidderminster Harriers’ Ticket Office, located at Aggborough Stadium, Hoo Road, Kidderminster, DY10 1NB. Any personal data will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. It will only be used for the purposes of notifying outcomes of the competition. Your information will not be shared with any organisations external to Your Local Times except for when a third prize is issuing a prize directly. If you do not wish to be informed of future events or offers please state so.
Answers to puzzles on page 42‌
Gavin Smith
Plumbing and Heating Combi Boiler and Gas Specialist 07967 837141 • 01299 401045 All Gas Engineers have to be Gas Safe Registered
15 year’s experience • Free Estimates Combi-Boiler Specialist Bathrooms Fully Fitted
All plumbing and heating work undertaken gavinsmith9@tiscali.co.uk
Gas Safe Number: 215565
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• FREE QUOTES • TEl: 07830 352 187 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE 41
your
Local Computers
Local Times
Picture This !! If you’re like us, you’ve probably got a loft full of old photos and 35mm slides that have been accumulating dust and fond memories. Nowadays, folders full of digital photos on your desktop, waiting for the day you get round to “sorting them out”.... In these digital days, how many of us actually print out the pictures we take on the latest Fuji 35 mega-pixel camera that we had for Christmas ?? Most end up on Facebook, stored on our mobile phone memory, stored on the external hard drive or usb stick the kids bought us. Taking, showing and storing of our precious pictorial memories has changed dramatically since the advent of digital cameras at the start of the new millennium. Let’s face it, even the camera on the average mobile phone is somewhat more sophisticated than the very early stand-alone cameras ( our first was a Fuji MX1200: 1.3 mega-pixel with 2x digital zoom,it cost me £280 – and that was from one of the electronic shops in Lanzarote in 1999 !!! ) All of a sudden, we’ve all become budding David Baileys, with even the most mundane of shots taking up but a mere fraction of the new 4Gb media card we fitted last week – what’s the point of deleting it ? Consequently, although photographs have almost become instantly accessible, easily disposable and quickly forgotten, it is very important to remember how vulnerable they are if left unsaved on your computer’s hard drive... I cannot emphasise how important it is that you backup your precious data on a regular basis. The best ( and cheapest ) way to achieve this is using blank discs, DVD-R or DVD+R are preferable. At approximately 30p per disc, a standard blank DVD disc can store 4700Mb of data ( around 2000 digital pictures from the average camera ), so there really is no excuse. If you could see the amount of crashed or failed hard drives we get in you might be more willing to invest in a pot of blank discs, please understand – a computer’s hard drive WILL fail at some point, but do you know when, I think not. You could go one stage further – not only backup your pictures to disc, go the whole hog and invest in a superb program from ULEAD called CD & DVD Picture Show 4. It is possible to download a 15 day trial version from http://www.ulead.com. With this you can create wonderful and professional slide shows using your favourite tunes as background music and a host of special features including fades, wipes, photo fixes ( red eye etc ) and many more
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easy to implement options, give it a try, the full version will set you back around £40, bargain !! As for your old photos and slides, you need to get them scanned in first before you can effectively organise them on your computer. A slide scanner that hooks up to your nearest usb socket will cost you approx £60 and most all-in-one printers ( or multi-function devices as they’re sometimes called ) these days have the ability to scan pictures for way less than £100. All in all, the days of setting up your own dark room have long gone, but in saying that I’ll leave you with this parting thought – during the Monica Lewinsky case, several photographers submitted evidence, but only one set of prints were used as admissible, the ones shot on a standard 35mm camera because the guy had negatives, digital images can be manipulated !! The photographer pocketed $6 million, I rest my case. Have a pictorial 2010.
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