Moseley B13 Magazine February 2022 Issue 526

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B13 MAGAZINE

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FEBRUARY 2022 ISSUE 526

C O V D N A L A CE C LO IN 3

M SELEY

IZZY KNOWLES NEW YEARS HONOURS JANICE LONG

TRIBUTE TO A TRAILBLAZER

ONES TO WATCH

MOSELEY MUSIC SCENE 2022

MOSELEY MEMORIES

COMING HOME TO SORRENTO

MOSELEY SOCIETY HISTORY GROUP

MOSELEY’S MATTHEW BOULTON

MOSELEY B13 MAGAZINE

FEB22

EDITOR Mark Baxter (editor@moseleymagazine.co.uk) THE TEAM Ian Cook, David Isgrove, Stephanie Silk, Maria Arroja Ferreira, Tipton, Debbie Aldous, Max Jalil, Martin Jeffers, Jobe Baker-Sullivan, Izzy Knowles, Yonatan Yon, Alex Jenkins, Jenny Gwynne, Mitch Schofield DESIGN Andy Wickett (andywickett@gmail.com) CONTRIBUTORS David Spilsbury, Moseley Local History Society, Revd Magdalen Smith, Judith FleetwoodWalker, Ceol Agency, Xenia Karayiannis, Jim Fletcher BUSINESS MANAGER Martin Jeffers PROOF READER Jane Barry SOCIAL MEDIA Maria Arroja Ferreira TREASURER Leanne Holloway (accounts@moseleyb13.com) ADVERTISING Yonatan Yon DISTRIBUTION Izzy Knowles,Martin Jeffers BOARD David Isgrove (Chair) Stephanie Silk (Editorial) PHOTOGRAPHER Position Vacant MAIL Moseley Publishing House Ltd. Moseley B13 Magazine, c/o: Moseley Exchange, 149-153 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8JP. ONLINE instagram.com/moseleyb13mag facebook.com/MoseleyB13Magazine twitter.com/MoseleyB13Mag COMPANY SECRETARY Position Vacant LEGAL STUFF Moseley Publishing House Ltd is a non-profit voluntary run company based in England and Wales. Company No. 07786560.

No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in whole or part, without express permission.

All material is believed to be correct at the time of going to print.

COVER IMAGE: Izzy Knowles

WORDS FROM THE

EDITOR

Welcome to 2022! If you had to endure a Christmas in selfisolation like myself (it was at least the one Christmas Eve where I had time to watch the best Christmas films which are of course Die Hard and Gremlins.

And yes...they are Christmas films!) we can but hope for a better and easier ride this year.

In this latest issue we celebrate the life of Janice Long, the pioneering DJ and former Moseleyite who sadly passed away at Christmas (pages 8-11).

Janice's love and support for Moseley and music helped to transform many different landscapes and she will be remembered with great warmth.

We also have David Spilsbury's Moseley Memories on how he is returning to live on the spot, more or less, where he was born (12-14). Ones to Watch on the Moseley Scene in 2022 (16-17) fills us in on bostin’ B13 beats for the year ahead.

2022 will also bring changes as our designer Andy Wickett moves on to other creative ventures so we will be looking for a talented volunteer to fill the role. If you feel you could design the magazine every month then please do get in touch.

Mark

O5

OUTLETS Farmers’ Market (Village Green) plus: A and R News (320 Yardley Wood Road) Aiden McDonnell Hair (56 St Mary's Row) Drinksville (23 Woodbridge Road) Greenhill Garage (89-91 Billesley Lane) Indigo Foods (50-52 St Mary’s Row) Maison Mayci (148 Alcester Road) Moseley Post Office (149 Alcester Road) Newslink (3 Alcester Road) Nima Deli (103 Alcester Road) One Stop (117 Billesley Lane) Oxfam Books and Music (101 Alcester Road) Palmyra (13 St Mary's Row), SS Grocery Store 215, Stoney Lane; O.A.K Superstore Ladypool Road; 5 a day fruit and veg stall, Moseley Village; The Mix Cafe , Old Print Works, Moseley Road and Moseley Exchange, 147-153, Alcester Road

2022 PUBLICATION DATES

ISSUE Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

COPY

14 Feb 14 Mar 18 Apr 16 May 13 Jun 18 Jul 18 Aug 15 Sep 17 Oct 14 Nov

SALE

26 Feb 26 Mar 30 Apr 28 May 25 Jun 30 Jul 27 Aug 24 Sep 29 Oct 26 Nov

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08 INTHIS ISSUE 04

NEWSHOUND

08

JANICE LONG

12

MOSELEY MEMORIES

16

ONES TO WATCH

18

POEM

19

MOSELEY MUNCH

22

A TASTE OF GREECE

23

BALLET’S DANCE TRACK

24

NEW BEGINNINGS

25

ST MARY’S CONCERTS

26

MOSELEY’S MATTHEW BOULTON

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LOCAL FINANCIAL ADVICE

30

WELLBEING DAY

26 Moseley B13 Magazine is looking for a Talented and Creative Designer!

Would you like the opportunity to become the digital designer for Moseley B13 Magazine? Then we need you!

The candidate would work with the editor each month to design the latest issue and the role can be completed working remotely at home.

The post is voluntary and is a great way to gain experience in design, journalism and involvement with the local community.

Full training can be given from the outgoing designer.

If you think this sounds like you then please contact the editor at: editor@moseleymagazine.co.uk THE BOHEMIANS OF B13 WILL RETURN NEXT MONTH

NEWSHOUND

Tipton, the B13 Newshound Twitter: @B13Newshound / Instagram: @tiptonb13

MOSELEY ROAD BATHS: HISTORIC POOL AND LIBRARY ALLOCATED £15.5M Moseley Road Baths and neighbouring Balsall Heath library have been allocated £15.5m towards improvements.

The government Levelling Up funding is to enable the first phase of a £32.7m plan to transform the Baths and neighbouring library, Birmingham City Council has said.

Repairs to the baths' building fabric are planned to prevent further decline. Work includes restoring historic interiors and installing lifts so that more of the building can be accessed. The site in Balsall Heath is the oldest surviving Grade II* listed swimming baths currently operating in Britain, Historic England has said.

It was forced to close in 2003 and there were fears it would never open again, but a partnership including community groups and the city council had other ideas. The site now hosts a programme of swimming and well-being activities.

The council said due to the funding allocation there would be "major improvements" to the nearby library including a physical connection between the sites. The library was one of the authority's "most well-used services in the city", but the 125-year-old building was in need of repair.

As well as the Levelling Up grant, funding will be made available from Historic England, the council and World Monuments Fund to initiate a two-and-a-half-year programme of capital restoration.

Chair of Moseley Road Baths Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Karen Leach said the news "changes everything for us".

She added: "It has been such a challenge operating swimming within this amazing but crumbling building with its leaky roofs and antiquated boilers and filters. Suddenly the restoration we've collectively been working towards is becoming a reality."

A coalition of organisations - including the funders, the CIO, and Friends of Moseley Road Baths group - has developed a long-term vision to restore the buildings.

TWO RESCUED FROM HOUSE FIRE IN SANDFORD ROAD Two people were rescued by firefighters following a house fire in Sandford road, Moseley.

Fire crews were called to a house in the road shortly before 8am on Sunday January 9.

Three fire engines from Billesley and Highgate Fire Stations attended the scene. Fifteen firefighters tackled the blaze and fire crews had to rescue two people from the home.

West Midlands Fire Service at the scene tweeted: "We are currently dealing with a house fire in Moseley where the rapid deployment of crews resulted in 2 people being rescued from the property. Crews from @WMFSBillesley and 2 crews from @WMFSHighgate are in attendance."

A West Midlands Fire Service spokeswoman said: "We were called to a house fire in Sandford Road. Three appliances were sent to the scene and a total of 15 firefighters tackled the fire.

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NEW YEAR HONOUR FOR PUBLICSPIRITED IZZY KNOWLES Local community activist Izzy Knowles has been awarded a BEM (British Empire Medal) in the New Year Honours “for services to the community in Moseley, Birmingham, particularly during Covid-19.”

Izzy, who is well known locally as “busy Izzy”, is a tireless volunteer for many causes, including being a key figure in establishing and running the local response to the pandemic, Moseley Together, in which she used her contacts and skills to organise a volunteer network to support people in the initial lockdown, sending a call out for donations of PPE to care homes, and working with TAWS (The active Wellbeing Service) to deliver food parcels to people isolating or vulnerable. In the last year she has also become a St John Ambulance volunteer to help with the vaccination programme.

The list of her other volunteering roles is a long one and includes Moseley Forum, Moseley Farmers’ Market, Moseley Litterbusters, Moseley Alternative Giving Campaign and Moseley in Lights co-ordinator as well as helping vulnerable and elderly EU citizens obtain settled status following Brexit. Izzy previously spent 30 years as a West Midlands Police Officer, finishing her career as a Neighbourhood Police Sergeant. Speaking on the news about her inclusion on the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list, Izzy said: “I’m very humbled to have been nominated for this award, and am honoured to receive it, especially as it’s for my work in the community.

“I am very privileged to volunteer with so many wonderful people, who are also dedicated to our communities. I’d like to thank all of them for the continued support they give me and our city. This award is for them, as much as for me.

“I have lived in or near Moseley for over 40 years – I am a very proud Moseleyite and Brummie. After spending my career in public service, it is my pleasure to continue serving the community as a volunteer.

“Change is made by people working together on the ground and I am happy to do my bit to help make Moseley and Birmingham a clean, safe and welcoming place to live, work and visit.”

Speaking in support of Izzy’s award, Jon Hunt, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Birmingham City Council said: “This is a very well–deserved award, which rightly highlights the amazing work Izzy has long done for our community. Izzy is incredibly popular because she is recognised as wanting to help the community, and actually getting stuff done.

“Izzy’s approach of being local, visible, and hands on has served Moseley and the surrounding areas incredibly well, especially during these constrained, worrying times.

People reach out to Izzy if they need help, as they know they’ll get the support they need. I’m proud to work with Izzy, and the people of Moseley and the rest of Birmingham are very lucky to have her.”

Community champion Fiona Adams MBE of the Moseley Society added: “Lorna Brewster of Moseley CDT (Community Development Trust) and I nominated Izzy when the call went out in the summer of 2020 for suggestions of people who deserved recognition for their response to the Covid-19 pandemic. I am sure you will all want to join Lorna and me in telling Izzy how richly she deserves this recognition.”

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MOSELEY LEGEND ‘PLANTY’ DIED IN STREET AFTER BLOOD CLOT – INQUEST TOLD A much-missed community legend was tragically found dead in a Moseley street after developing a blood clot, an inquest has been told.

Stephen Plante, affectionately known as "Planty ", would sit outside the Co-op supermarket and M&S in Moseley often reading literature and speaking to passers-by and shoppers, discussing ideas and philosophising.

The 46-year-old, described as "big-hearted", was sadly found slumped against a wall in Church Road on Wednesday, October 6 last year. Members of the public rushed to save him, performing CPR before paramedics and police arrived on scene. Despite the best efforts of medics, he was pronounced dead just before 11am.

Senior Coroner Louise Hunt said: "He died on October 6, 2021 having been found outside 84 Church Road, Moseley He was identified by his partner. Members of the public attempted to perform CPR. There were no visible injuries but ulcers found on his leg.” His death was recorded as pulmonary embolism, contributed to by 'intravenous drug abuse and obesity'.

A neighbourhood outreach worker, who had provided him food parcels and Universal Credit support, said he was "much missed already".

Anji Page, of the Moseley Exchange, last saw Mr Plante outside the Co-op a few days before his death. "He was not a rough sleeper. He would stay with his partner and had accommodation," her statement to court read. “He was a nice man, very polite and very rarely complained. He is very much missed already."

ZERO-WASTE SUPERMARKET ‘CLEAN KILO’ TO OPEN IN ST MARY’S ROW The Clean Kilo, a new and innovative zero-waste supermarket with existing shops in Digbeth and Bournville, is to open a new branch in Moseley at 11 St Mary’s Row, in the shop formerly occupied by Folk Like These (Creativity & Coffee).

The Clean Kilo’s ethos is to sell plastic-free products, with the source as local as possible and reduced food waste. The aim is to challenge the food system and its overpackaged supply chain by sourcing in bulk and selling without packaging.

The Clean Kilo sells most items you would expect at a conventional supermarket – including dry food, household products and toiletries. To further its impact, it has pioneered the growth of zero-waste shopping by expanding the product range to include a frozen section, delicatessen counter, fruit and vegetables, orange juice/coffee machines and chilled milk dispensers.

With convenience being key to the modern busy lifestyle, Clean Kilo continually pushes the boundaries of what it offers package-free. Bulk dispensers are used to eradicate the need for individual packaging. Customers bring their own containers to refill e.g. an ice cream tub. Customers are encouraged to stop treating packaging as single-use and to reuse where possible. Only 9% of the world’s plastic is currently recycled, so we need to slow down the production of plastic to prevent further irreversible damage to our environment.

Most of the products are either organic or artisan-made, so the quality is high. However, Clean Kilo believe sustainable options should be available to those on lower income, therefore we try to keep our prices competitive. Buying in bulk without individual packaging also allows savings to be passed on to customers.

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GRAFFITI 'ARTIST' WHO TAGGED MOSELEY RAILWAY TUNNEL IS FINED A graffiti “artist” has been fined for “tagging” the railway tunnel passing through Moseley.

Simon Crane claimed he thought the Camp Hill line which runs from Kings Norton to New Street Station was disused and he would not be harming anyone by daubing the walls of the stone structure.

But the 30-year-old soon realised things were not as they seemed when a train went past before British Transport Police (BTP) officers caught him in the act and explained how much danger he was putting himself in. They also found canisters and cannabis on him.

Crane, from Chaucer Grove, Acocks Green, admitted criminal damage, trespass and possession of a Class B drug at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, January 5.

Representing himself he said: "At the time, it's no excuse for breaking the law, but I was going through a bit of trouble with my girlfriend. I had been informed the rail line was disused and was basically barren.

"When I arrived the gate was open, I walked down and had a look. There were rope swings underneath the bridge which had been put up by kids.

"I'm not a person who's going to put my life in danger for the sake of spraying something on a wall. I didn't know where I was. I saw a train go past and started to think this was not what I thought. Then the gentlemen from British Transport Police (BTP) were already walking down the hill."

The court hear BTP was alerted to someone trespassing on the railway near St Mary's Row in Moseley just before 7pm on June 10 last year.

Prosecutor Baldev Atwar said it cost Network Rail £2,720 to clean up the tunnel, including other graffiti on the walls which was not attributed to Crane. He said officers searched his home and found further canisters and drawings.

Crane told magistrates he had "always been into art" and had worked on the boards in Digbeth. He said: "I wasn't really thinking clearly. I didn't think I was causing anybody any harm. I'm not a bad person who takes joy in destroying people's property.

"Nothing was planned that day. I finished work, got home. I've got a job. The directors are certainly not happy with what I have done. I come from a family where this is not acceptable."

Crane added that the officers from BTP were "brilliant" and made him realise how "bad it could have been". He was fined £213 and ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation, £185 in costs as well as a £34 victim surcharge.

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Janice Tribute to a

brother was the late TV presenter Keith Chegwin. She became a station assistant at BBC Radio Merseyside in Liverpool in 1979 and soon had her own show Streetlife on Sunday evenings, helping to promote the local music scene. Her presenting manner was very natural - musicians and colleagues have spoken about how there wasn’t any difference in her personality off-air -

The DJ Janice Long, who has passed away aged 66 following a short illness, was a trailblazing DJ, television presenter and former resident of Moseley. Janice became the first woman to have her own weekday show on BBC Radio 1 and the first to become a regular presenter on Top of the Pops.

Janice was born in Liverpool and her 8

ea Trailblazer Long

bolstered by humour, enthusiasm and lack of pretension. From the very start, Janice championed up and coming bands. She conducted Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s first radio interview and played an early demo of ‘Relax’.

Janice joined BBC Radio 1 in 1982 with a Saturday evening show and within two years had moved to the Monday to

Thursday evening slot. She presented Top of the Pops between 1983-1988 and her occasional double-act appearances with John Peel are memorable for their (sometimes risque) humorous links. In 2006, she returned to co-present the final episode of the programme. Janice was chosen as one of the main presenters for the BBC coverage of the Live Aid concert 9

at Wembley.

Janice was a role model during a time when female DJs were in short supply and she helped to pave the way for women. The misogyny of the industry saw her Radio 1 contract cancelled during maternity leave in the late 80s, with Janice believing it was because she had become pregnant while not married.

The pioneering DJ went on to have shows on BBC Radio London (then known as Greater London Radio), BBC Radio 5 (now renamed Radio 5 Live), BBC Radio 6, BBC WM and her own radio station Crash FM. Janice was with BBC Radio 2 for around 18 years, before moving to BBC Radio Wales in 2017 where she presented a show four nights a week, and also had a Saturday afternoon slot on Greatest Hits

Radio from 2019. She made many TV appearances during her career and was a winning contestant (post-fame) on the first episode of 3-2-1 in 1978.

The Liverpudlian was a genuine music fan and supporter of musicians, something that couldn’t always be said of other DJs at Radio 1 and on Top of the Pops in the 1980s. The youthful dedication shown to new music on her Streetlife shows continued during her years as a Moseleyite and into her final years on BBC Radio Wales. She leaves behind a long list of influential studio sessions, some of which were recorded at Birmingham’s Pebble Mill. She referenced ‘Ocean Rain’ by Echo and the Bunnymen as her “best album”.

Janice got involved with Moseley Folk & Arts Festival early on in its history as detailed in a tribute on their website. “...imagine our surprise in 2006, the year we started Moseley Folk Festival, when the phone rang and we heard that ohso-distinctive voice of Janice Long at the end of the phone. She told us that she’d seen a flyer for an exciting new festival in Moseley Park and wanted to meet for a coffee and see if she could be of any help. Even now, we remember how surreal it was to have a British music icon call us up wanting to get involved with our little endeavour.”

The DJ's early support gave the venture confidence and she remained as the festival compere even when she moved from the area in 2015. I have fond memories of her at the festival, such as her enthusiastic energy when Saint Etienne headlined on a beautiful evening by the lake in 2009, 10

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or seeing her joyfully dance at the side of the stage before introducing Edwyn Collins in 2013. When the event was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, Janice interviewed artists such as Candi Staton for online events. The Moseley Folk tribute mentions how “she never asked for anything back.

She did it for the love of music and for her friends”.

When Janice was moving from Moseley, she tweeted that it was “the best place we have ever lived”. She remained involved in the area, often returning to visit friends and to continue her involvement with the festival. She supported the ‘Keep Moseley Village in Moseley’ campaign when the area was threatened with boundary changes, and also the ‘Help Save the Prince of Wales’ campaign when there were concerns about the consequences of the development next to the pub. During the first lockdown of 2020 Janice tweeted, “I miss Brum so much…When this is over I am on the train to get a curry at Imlees”.

Janice returned for last year’s Moseley Folk & Arts Festival, with Birmingham’s Katherine Priddy playing on the Sunday.

Katherine posted a tribute on Boxing Day (Janice passed away on Christmas Day) to say, “So very, very sad to hear that Janice Long has passed. Eternally grateful for her support and cheerful interviews and pleased we got to hang out some more at this year’s Moseley Folk. The music scene has lost a wonderful woman and a passionate voice for up and coming musicians.”

On one of her final shows on BBC Radio Wales in December, Janice chatted with Kings Heath resident Del Carter, aka The Motor Trade. She reminisced about having lived on Swanshurst Lane for around 20 years and mentioned how she had recently brought a painting from Brian Travers (UB40 member and visual artist who passed away in August last year), a good friend of hers, down into the lounge, to have a memory of him “close at hand”. Janice also mentioned having

fond memories of Adam Regan, owner of the Hare and Hounds. She went on to say “I love everybody” in this part of the world, and judging by the endless tributes on social media, the feeling was indeed mutual.

Moseley Folk’s tribute spoke about how Janice will continue to be part of the festival and how it was searching for the best ways to celebrate her life. “Filling the void that she leaves at Moseley Folk feels like an impossible task and instead we are focusing on what we as a festival can do to continue her legacy and support new artists in her name. The Florence Institute in Liverpool was very close to Janice’s heart, having even chosen to get married there, and is somewhere she has always tried to support. So if you loved Janice and want to do something to commemorate her, spare a few quid for this great cause.

She would have loved that. We’ll miss you Janice.”

Janice is survived by her second husband Paul Berry, their children, Blue and Fred, her father Colin and brother Jeff.

Mark Baxter If you’d like to donate to The Florence Institute in Janice’s memory, then please visit: https://gofund.me/c7f9e4a4

Tribute outside the Hare & Hounds 11

MOSELEY MEMORIES

Exterior of Sorrento. Courtesy of Roy Cockel

COMING HOME, COMING HOME, I’LL BE COMING HOME Some time ago, I described how I came to be born and largely brought up in Moseley, but it needs repeating, in view of changing circumstances.

railways were going to be a vital part of the war effort, so his was a ‘reserved occupation.’

Ethel was six months pregnant when war preparations meant that her and a bus-load of other women at various stages of gestation were evacuated to Evesham. She was among a group picked out by a pub owner who also had a house opposite the pub. There, Ethel was assigned to sharing a single bed with a woman in her eighth month. They crossed the road to eat at the pub and no-one was satisfied with their lot. On the Sunday, they heard Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain

Frank and Ethel Spilsbury lived in a two-up, two-down terrace house near Stoney Lane in the depths of smoky, dusty Balsall Heath.

When they married, he had the job security, but low pay, of being a porter in the goods yards at Curzon Street Station. His aptitude and drive soon raised him to mainline goods guard by the outbreak of war. When he tried to join up, army recruitment officers said the 12

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solemnly announce “We are now at war with Germany.”

Sorrento, but that’s probably another story for another time…)

Discussing their future months or years as things then seemed to be, they all agreed with Ethel when she said she would rather face the German bombing than stay there. However, only two joined her at the ‘Midland Red’ bus stop next morning. Back in Balsall Heath, her midwife was so concerned at the conditions in which such an undernourished woman lived that she recommended she be moved into the Sorrento Nursing Home in Wake Green Road.

There, I came into a world of fresh air and good care on 8 December. But, why Sorrento?

When he died in 1911, he willed the house to the City Council, to be used for the welfare of the poor. In 1916, the then Lord Mayor Neville Chamberlain took it over as a convalescent home for men injured in the War, mainly suffering from disfiguring shrapnel wounds, shell-shock (PTSD), amputations, and crippling muscular paralysis.

In 1929, the City Council made it a nursing home (maternity hospital) for “women on low incomes.” Hence my appearance there.

Mom returned with me to Balsall Heath and all its unhealthy conditions. Every night she would take me into the Anderson Shelter in our tiny garden, carrying a hot water bottle, flask of tea (I was still breast-fed) and as much warm clothing as possible. 25th October 1940 was different, though. A couple of large bombs dropped on the screen end of the Carlton Cinema, where it backed onto the end of our grove. 20 died and many were injured in Birmingham’s worst civilian disaster of the war. Mom heard the explosion and felt the blast as it threw back the heavy blackout curtain across the shelter doorway. When she climbed out, she saw half a house, with

William Adams fitted into C19 Birmingham well, a town run by rich businessmen with social consciences, especially Quakers who had settled here after the mayhem of the Civil War to form a community which fulfilled their ideals. Although a strict Non-Conformist, Adams showed his romantic side when he named his new house after the Italian resort where he and his wife had honeymooned, Sorrento.

(New evidence has came to light that it was a Thomas Ellis who was responsible for building

Interior of Carlton Cinema after bombing 13

furniture and fittings exposed.

Meanwhile, the ever-enterprising City Council had set up a centre to bring together blitz victims and landlords whose tenants had fled the City. Mom could not believe it when Dad brought in the keys to a threebed house in prestigious Moseley. Her only regret was its lack of a ‘hall entrance’, which she thought posher. So, I grew up in Warren Avenue, where my brother and sister were born in the front bedroom. The community of Tudor, Leighton and Farquhar Roads and their offshoot treeless Avenues was a warm and self-contained place for us to grow up.

Dad was often away for three to four nights, taking trains all over the country. Before Alan was born – and afterwards – I was Mom’s comfort during dark, threatening days and nights, listening to the drone of unsynchronised Luftwaffe engines and the double Merlins of Mosquito night-fighters.

Mom was delighted to find my shared interest in drawing and even Dad drew a perfect side elevation of a streamlined Coronation-class locomotive, in their distinctive royal blue-and-white livery. He had engineering certificates from his time in the British Army in India in the 1920s after all.

could see why she admired Leader’s work, but it was the painting next to it that grabbed my attention, Ford Maddox Brown’s The Last of England.

Each has contemporary relevance: a view of February which may never return with global heating, and the fate of the unwanted being expelled from the land. The mother clings to the tiny hand of the baby she has swaddled in her cloak. The father, his back to the white cliffs of Dover, looks hauntingly into the unknown ahead. They were fleeing poverty, but how many now are facing forcible deportation? The two framed prints I bought many years ago will now be moving with me a mile or so, Mom’s choice and mine.

When Jan and I were looking for two retirement flats, close but independent, we were astonished to find them at Sorrento Court. For her, it was spacious enough for all her needs and convenient for the Village and friends. For me, though, it was coming home.

There is no remnant of the old nursing home, of course, but it is the spot on the map where I started out and where now I expect to finish.

David Spilsbury The Last of England

Shyly, but proudly, she told me about her painting of yellow-flowered gorse, picked from the embankment up to Small Heath station, which had been shown in Birmingham Art Gallery. Her teacher at Montgomery Street School had submitted three works for an exhibition of children’s art from all over the City. Only nine-year-old Ethel Jones’s work was accepted by the judges. When the exhibition opened, in what we now know as the long gallery leading to the Edwardian Tea Rooms, her teacher took her to see all the entries on display.

Sitting in the Round Gallery to see the whole scene, Mom was struck by a picture just to the right of the entrance. Benjamin Williams Leader’s February Fill Dyke, reminded her of the countryside out beyond Yardley. 25 years later, she took me to the Art Gallery, where I 14

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The Tenbags - a raw punk-folk band where he plays banjo.

Every second Wednesday of the month Johnny Kowalski’s Acoustic club is a phenomenally weird night of heartfelt musical expression. Hosted at the Dark Horse Pub, the open mic night is a welcoming environment for people to discover sensational artists. ‘’During the acoustic night I like to start off by singing a song or two, just to set the standard. I like to do it even if there are just two people or a band there. We try to have a lively headliner. We have open mic slots which can be anything - covers, traditional, original, we always have a variety”.

Johnny has often been identified as a wellloved outsider in the music scene, and is passionate about original music. He hopes to encourage people this year to support grassroots gigs.

“If you have never heard about any stuff like this going on in Birmingham - and I feel like a lot of people do not know an underground scene exists - I’d like to just say to those people: do not be scared to go to a weird gig at the back of the pub.

Johnny Kowalski

The year feels fresh. As the nights brighten, hopefully we’ve all stuck to our New Year’s Resolutions. Have you ever wondered what a musician’s New Year’s Resolution looks like?

Albums, more gigs, festivals abroad, play at more weddings…play at fewer weddings, play at divorce parties - whatever it is, we asked musicians in Moseley what their plans were for this year…

Johnny Kowalski is one of our local legends whose monthly events are a heartbeat of the community. He is the frontman for the band Johnny Kowalski and the Sexy Weirdos, and is involved with multiple other projects such as

Rachel Mayfield 16

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Lost Notes are even taking the risk of what very few South Brum artists do - venturing forth into the there-be-dragons land of North Birmingham. The band will be playing on the 17th June at the Evening of Creativity, hosted at Oikos Café in Erdington, but for those who cannot fathom the A38, the gig will also be livestreamed on the YouTube channel ‘Active Arts Castle Vale’.

The Lost Notes

One of the exciting things one finds when speaking to artists is how they’re connecting with others. Johnny is working this year with singer, composer and multimedia artist Rachel Mayfield. This year, Rachel is working on her album Truth to Material. The concept is to sing praises of the often underrated, underdog city of Birmingham; “It’s like a love letter to my town” tells Rachel, with one song citing a journey on the number 50 bus.

Rachel wants to “take risks and remain experimental, avoiding commercial cliches, bravely including true experiences in her work, and staying highly personable and supportive of other artists”.

A staple band of the Moseley scene, The Lost Notes, who graced our front page last year, are looking forward to a busy festival season. “We’re mostly trying to stay cheerful and upbeat!” says Ben from the band. “This year we have a great number of festival and gig bookings throughout the UK as we continue to promote our second album.

Two-thirds of the songs for our third one are already written.”

At the very heart of Moseley village lies the parish church, St Mary’s. As well as their usual Sunday services, replete with choral delights, Director of Music Mick Perrier has planned no fewer than 11 concerts hosted at the Church and spoke about his happiness at being able to deliver live music again.

“After the disruptions of the past two years we’re fizzing with anticipation to get back to being a musical hub for our community. Our programme of events already planned are a testament to this enthusiasm and optimism.”

The forthcoming special events at St Mary’s include everything from chamber opera to a “celebrity gardeners evening” on the 11th June - featuring horticulturist and plantswoman Christine Walkden, known for her appearances on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time and BBC One’s flagship The One Show.

It’s been really great catching up with some of these Moseleyites, and we look forward to checking up on them later in the year.

On behalf of Moseley B13 Magazine, we encourage all creatives to keep sending in their projects, and perhaps to send in video content for our YouTube page.

Ceol Agency

The Lost Notes are taking a slice of Moseley-Music to places such as Stourbridge, Abingdon, Sheffield. Covid rules notwithstanding, the band hope to be playing internationally, at the Llanwddyn Folk Festival - for Wales is indeed a different country! The

St Mary’s interior 17

Judith Fleetwood-Walker's poem inspired by seeing David Suchet at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre…

As he walks on, he is of medium height, aquiline-nosed, of medium build, and with brown, pointed shoes, He comes over on questioning, as inspiring, impressive, complex, entertaining, Coherent, particulate, unctuous , arduous, ingenious, Far-reaching, exhaustive, self-disciplined, and creative.

His acting flows over into his presentation, His stories are gripping and usually funny.

He uses detailed actions to convey his points.

He can morph into almost any character he can recall, His rhetoric is thorough, His utterances of lines directly convey the correct meaning, He is warm, cordial and uplifting.

He is dynamic.

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MOSELEY MUNCH

FEEL THE BURN Spicy food has been a key part of my culinary upbringing. My mother always made sure we had Sambal Oelek (an Indonesian condiment) in our refrigerator for many family dinners. My dad, like many-a dad, had a lifetime supply of boutique hot sauces with names like 'Wicked Hawt Scorcha' gifted to him on every occasion by his creative children.

On lazy afternoons, I would most likely be at my (Italian) best friend Katie's house. Her family stocked the house with all kinds of foods as if Armageddon would suddenly descend only upon the Italian products of the world. We would sit around her dark wood kitchen table and eat entire jars of pickled spicy peppers until we were all abuzz and sweating.

As an adult I have had many significant spice encounters. I was one of the first women to get on the ‘Phaal of Fame’ in a popular New York east village establishment.

I ate an entire bowl of

the tasty scorching curry, the grand prize being a (whopping) free beer that I could barely muster after such a delirious journey.

Such a feat was not to repeated when I took up the challenge of eating the terribly misjudged 'Britain’s Spiciest Curry' in a random corner of Cannock (my insides still resent me when my brain even begins to think about that one).

But in my opinion some foods would be lacklustre without a little fiery oomph.

The reason spicy food creates such a buzz is because chilli peppers contain capsaicin, a hot oil that attaches to a pain receptor in our brain which causes us to sweat and to release endorphins.

Whether you are a mild or hot person — if you love spicy food — surely you have vibrant sultry memories of curries, sweat inducing salsas or soups enjoyed not only as a dish but as an experience. Part of that is due to the heated reaction.

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But spice really needs to be paired with flavour and one of my favourite components of this is the 'chilli crisp'. It is a fragrant oil that can contain anything from fermented beans to shrimp, nuts or shallots and it imparts glorious umami spicy flavour onto pretty much any type of dish. If you have 35 minutes to spare, you can have an addictive chilli crisp at your fingertips. Here I have created a 'Garlic Sichuan Umami Chilli Crisp'. It offers up warming spices, garlic, chilli flakes and Sichuan peppercorns for a dash of numbing flavour. I have also included a couple of recipes that go wonderfully with it, so please enjoy and feel the burn.

Homemade Chilli Crisp Oil (vegan) Equipment: Fine sieve, jar with a lid Ingredients: 15 grams chilli flakes 3 star anise

mesh

heat so it does not burn.

Put the sieve over the bowl and pour the oil on top. Let the garlic cool completely.

Add the chilli oil and all the contents of the sieve into the jar.

1 cinnamon stick

The chilli crisp can be kept 1 large jarred in a refrigerator for chopped up to one month.

shallot

finely

1 tbsp. Sichuan peppercorns 1 large garlic clove minced *Sichuan peppercorns are * not spicy, but they are more flavourful and numbing. Garnish: 8-10 garlic cloves sliced You can omit them and the oil will still be delicious.

Small handful coriander 300 ml vegetable oil *The MSG/mushroom Fried eggs powder is optional. ½ tsp. sea salt Chilli crisp Fragrant Rice with Mixed ½ tsp. MSG or mushroom Greens, Chilli Crisp & A powder* Fried Egg Method: Method:

This is a great way to use up Heat the oil in a frying leftover steamed rice and pan on medium high. Add Mix the chilli flakes, salt greens. It tastes incredible. the shallot and garlic and and MSG into a small bowl stir cooking for about one and set aside. minute. Add the rice, Ingredients: breaking it down with a spoon and cooking for In a small saucepan add Serves 2-3 the star anise, cinnamon stick, Sichuan peppercorns, garlic slices and vegetable 190 grams rice prepared oil and heat over medium heat. Once the oil and 1 ½ tbsp. vegetable oil garlic starts to sizzle turn the heat down a notch.

Stir occasionally and cook 1 bag of mixed greens, for 20-25 minutes until the rocket or spinach garlic turns golden brown.

Immediately remove from 20

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and turning two minutes per side until done.

1-2 minutes. Season with a bit of salt. Add half of the mixed greens and mix wilting down. Take off the heat.

Plate the chicken, garnish with coriander and spring onion and drizzle with chilli crisp. Serve in skewers as a starter or with steamed rice and sauteed vegetables for a main.

Plate the remaining greens and top with the hot rice, a fried egg, drizzle with chilli crisp and garnish with coriander.

*This marinade also works well with pork shoulder or beef.

Five Spice Chicken Skewers with Chilli Crisp Equipment: wooden metal skewers, grill griddle pan Ingredients:

or 4 garlic or chopped

cloves

roughly Jenny Gwynne

1 tbsp. sesame oil

Garnish: 500 grams boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 3 Chilli crisp, sliced spring cm chunks * onion and coriander 50 ml light soy sauce

Method:

30 ml Shaoxing wine

Whisk the ingredients in a bowl, add the chicken 30 ml black vinegar or rice to a freezer bag and pour the ingredients over it. wine vinegar Refrigerate for three hours or overnight. ½ tbsp. five spice powder Soak the skewers in water 30 minutes prior to skewering.

Take the chicken out of the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to cooking. Pierce about six pieces of chicken per skewer. Heat grill on high and cook, browning 21

Jenny can be found on Instagram @thesaltychilli and her website www. thesaltchilli.com

A taste of Greece comes to The Village Pub, Moseley for a Greek Kitchen Takeover this month.

Foodies, friends and families can indulge in authentic Greek cuisine courtesy of Street Kitchen Brothers who first collaborated with the independent pub and hotel group Suburban Inns last summer.

locations including the likes of the prestigious department store brand Selfridges, Birmingham, as well as in Walsall and Coventry, will be serving favourite Greek dishes, including Chicken Souvlaki, Pork Souvlaki, Halloumi, Falafel. January offered a Veganuary special, the ‘No Chicken Gyros’ for plant based food lovers.

winning Greek food to the good people of Moseley.

We hope to further cement our relationship with the brothers by extending the offering across the group this year.”

Street Kitchen Brothers who are passionate about Street Kitchen Brothers Greek food won the Guild return to The Village Pub, Of Fine Food 'Great Taste Moseley on Wednesday Awards' in November 16 February from 12:00

A TASTE OF GREECE COMES TO MOSELEY Following the success of the first pop-up event at The Village Pub in November 2021, Street Kitchen Brothers are set to return to Moseley with their award winning Greek cuisine on the third Wednesday of every month.

2021 for their Moussaka, Spanakopita and Tzatziki.

Their famous Moussaka has also been featured on The Hairy Bikers Comfort Food 'Crowd Pleasers' episode in 2017. The restaurant owned by Paul Polyviou and Chris Butcher, are regulars at The NEC, Digbeth Dining The well renowned Club, BBC Good Food Show, Greek takeout, restaurant and Lichfield Food Festival. and bar, now in multiple Leonie Martin, Corporate Business Development for Suburban Inns, said: “We are really excited to be working alongside the Street Kitchen Brothers on a monthly residency at the Village, bringing award22

– 20:00 pm for dine in and takeaway. Due to high demand, booking for dine-in is advised. For bookings please visit www. thevillage.co.uk or call 0121 449 7664.

For more information visit the Street Kitchen Brothers website at www. kouzinagreekmeze.co.uk.

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The Origins of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Dance Track

How did Dance Track begin?

As part of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s commitment to reaching the wider community of Birmingham, Dance Track was launched in 1997. The idea being to identify young people in Birmingham Primary Schools who demonstrated a genuine talent for dance but, for a variety of reasons, might not have easy access to dance training (or even to the arts in general!) and provide these talented youngsters with world-class dance training, totally free of charge. Workshops are all led by the professional teachers of Birmingham Royal Ballet under the auspices of the Company’s LEAP Department (Learning, Engagement, Access and Participation).

As well as providing participants with dance training, and helping to keep them physically fit and mentally agile, a key aim of Dance Track has always been to encourage team work, discipline, dedication and to empower young people to pursue their dreams. Parents and guardians often note positive changes at home and school teachers comment on improved academic work and discipline as a result of Dance Track.

Initially, the programme reached 11 Birmingham Primary Schools and some of them including Colmore Junior and Infant School , Park Hill Primary School, Nelson Mandela Primary School and Highters Heath Primary Schools are still participating 25 years later. From its humble beginnings reaching just 15 talented children, the programme has grown with some 204 young people participating in weekly classes today.

What have been the highlights over the years?

Over the past 25 years, Dance Track has made a positive, often life-changing, impact on the lives of an astonishing 36,000 youngsters in primary schools across Birmingham with some 3,244 children actively taking part in the programme in that time.

Many of them have gone on to further their dance training at vocational dance schools such as The Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst Ballet School, but the experience has supported many participants to succeed in other careers too.

We would love to hear more from anyone who feels their Dance Track experience has impacted on their life choices and career.

So you are seeking to get in touch with as many people who have taken part in BRBDT over the years? This was through schools in the area of Moseley, Kings Heath, Dance Track is celebrating 25 Sparkbrook, Sparkhill and years next year? What do you Balsall Heath? What do you have planned? have planned in regards to this?

In May 2022, we hope to stage a celebration We want to hear from performance at a venue in anybody who has been Central Birmingham and we involved in the Dance Track want to welcome as many programme and we need former Dance Trackers as your help in reaching out to possible - on stage and in the as many other former Dance audience with their families.

Trackers as possible. If you There will be performances were involved or know of a including pieces especially relative, neighbour or friend choreographed for alumni, please pass on this message and current Dance Track and ask them to contact us at students. Details will be dancetrack@brb.org.uk released in early February.

Watch this space!

Jim Fletcher 23

New Beginnings The beginning of 2022 feels particularly poignant for most of us as we yearn for a return to the expected freedoms of our previous life. Like many people around the world, I usually start each year with good intentions – a new diet plan, more exercise, not saying anything unfair or unkind about other people. Most of the time these resolutions fall by the wayside very quickly, leaving me with a sense of resignation and guilt in the knowledge that my self-discipline is not very strong. This year it feels as though we all need to stop guilt-tripping ourselves in order to move towards a new kind of graciousness for ourselves and others. Wellbeing is so important for us all.

One of the first festivals we celebrate in church every year is the Feast of the Epiphany – the time when after Jesus is born, three ‘Wise Men’ or Magi journeyed from distant lands to the stable to visit Christ. They interpreted the signs in the heavens and stepped out in trust, setting aside their own importance and status to visit an unknown child. They bought gifts with them too – which have retained their symbolism associated with the life of Christ over the centuries. Gold, frankincense and myrrh – royalty, holiness and service.

So this year rather than making unattainable resolutions I reflected on what three gifts I could cultivate and offer to my own family as well as those I try to care for in the communities of Moseley and beyond. I came up with the following: joy, kindness and an offering to help others explore their own lives in a little more depth, wherever that takes

them.

Due to Covid it feels as though the three things are particularly important for us all.

We have thought in more depth about the nature and meaning of our lives and what is important within them. We have needed kindness, especially when times have got tough and dark with illness, isolation, employment struggles and mental health. Joy cuts through negativity and darkness and is an encouraging and positive quality. I love Marie Kondo’s idea of the material things we interact with ‘sparking joy’. Each day there are things that can spark joy – but people, experiences and memories too.

In early January, my family enjoyed a party to celebrate our daughter’s 21st birthday. She was born on the Feast of the Epiphany – 6 January 2001 - and is one of the most precious gifts granted to me. This chance to gather with family from around the country felt especially precious and emotional this year too. All those who came have been present within my life for quite some time, as has she. Most of us similarly hold untapped or unrecognised ‘gifts’ which are already present within your own character and life. We also aren’t always great at affirming or ‘naming’ these for each other but when we do people are often appreciative . I love the idea that rather than being a pain or a problem, human beings become gifts to one another, even if it's not that obvious! I hope this can be a good year for us all and a new beginning too.

Magdalen Smith Associate Vicar of Moseley Parish 24

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St. Mary’s Moseley forthcoming special events:

Saturday 29 January 7.00pm

“Bluebeard’s Castle”: Chamber Opera by Bela Bartok.

Saturday 12th February 7.30pm

A Silent Movie Evening: “Safety First” (Harold Lloyd) and “Double Whoopee” (Laurel and Hardy with Jean Harlow).

Improvised musical soundtrack by Vincent Byrne (Organ & Piano) Tickets: £10 (£8 Students) in advance via: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/t-dyapky In aid of St. Mary’s Organ Restoration

Saturday 26th February 11.00am

Saturday Morning Coffee Concert: Frank Stubbs (Trumpet) & Darren Hogg (Organ) Admission free: retiring collection.

Cakes, tea and coffee available!

th

Featuring Edwin Kaye (Bass), Deborah Holborn (Soprano), Thomas Ang (Piano) Tickets: £17 / £13

Saturday 25th March Saturday Morning Coffee Concert: Tbc 11.00am Admission free: retiring collection.

Cakes, tea and coffee available!

Sunday 3rd April 1.30pm

Concert by Midland Chamber Orchestra

Sunday 10th April 2.30pm-5.00pm (with service at 6.30pm)

Choral Workshop for Singers: Music by Bach and Handel for Palm Sunday Leading to a performance as part of the special Evening Service for the day.

Participation: £5 including all refreshments and loan scores.

Contact music@moseleychurch.org.uk to book a place. Or come on the day.

Saturday 14th May 7.30pm

Celebrity Organ Recital: David Briggs (St. John the Divine, New York) Tickets: £12 (£10 Students) In aid of St. Mary’s Organ Restoration

Saturday 28th May 11.00am

Saturday Morning Coffee Concert: Jill Crossland (Piano) Admission free: retiring collection.

Cakes, tea and coffee available!

Saturday 11th June 7.30pm

A Celebrity Gardener’s Evening With: Christine Walkden (BBC Gardener’s Question Time / BBC The One Show / Christine’s Garden) and Bryan Hewitt (Author of “The Crocus King”) Tickets: £10 (£8 Students) In aid of St. Mary’s Organ Restoration

Sunday 26th June 1.30pm

Concert by Midland Chamber Orchestra

Saturday 9th July 7.00pm

Summer Concert by St. Mary’s Choir & Singers Admission Free: Retiring Collection Tea, coffee, and cakes available.

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MOSELEY SOCIETY HISTORY GROUP

MOSELEY’S MATTHEW BOULTON

Memorial to Joseph Dyott, St Mary’s Moseley prayed for, for the first time" at Moseley Chapel; on 28 June 1838 "Her Majesty the Queen was crowned" and on 10 February 1840 "The Queen was married this day to Prince Albert of SaxeCoburg and Gotha". Boulton spent a great deal of time socialising. He "dined at Mr Richard Reeves’ on the occasion of the christening of his first born child" on 1 June, 1837; had "a bottle or two of wine beside the side of the pool'' at Cold Bath in the afternoon of 15 August 1837 and ate with Mr Underhill at the Fighting Cocks on 18 August, 1837. He went to bazaars, such as the one on 28 September 1840, "in the Shakespearean Rooms, and the Ball at the County Hall on 5 October 1838, which was "certainly the most splendid Boulton was a regular attender at St Mary’s, Ball I was ever at. No expense spared, about 600 Moseley, a Chapel of Ease at the time and involved present". himself in Church activities. He records the death of the king on 20 June "at 12 minutes past 2".

Boulton was a member of the Moseley Book On Sunday 25 June "the new Queen Victoria was Club, attending their dinners which, on 7 Moseley had its own Matthew Boulton, the namesake of the famous Birmingham industrialist.

Moseley’s Boulton was born 3 January 1807, at Turvey, Bedfordshire, but went to live early on with a distant relative, his cousin, Joseph Dyott (1755-1837), a farmer of Wake Green, Moseley.

Joseph Dyott died on 23 October 1837 and was buried at Moseley Chapel. Matthew Boulton was his heir, but he died on 25 March 1841, aged thirty-four. He was interred in the Dyott vault and died intestate, the estate going to his brother, Henry, and sister, Kate. Extracts from the diary of Matthew Boulton, 1836-1841, reveal much about the life of a gentleman in Moseley.

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offered him a cornetry in his troop of yeomanry, "so I am now to play at soldiering’. On 28 June 1838, the day the Queen was crowned, he put on his "military uniform for the first time. Our Squadron met upon the common in Review Order and went through the exercise, then drank to the Queen in a glass of wine, afterwards sitting down to a substantial lunch". On 5 July 1839, the yeomanry assembled at Moor Green, because of disturbances at Birmingham (The Bull Ring Chartist Riots), where they remained until 9 July.

They were called out again on 16 July until being "relieved from active service" on 30 July.

July 1840, took place at the Fighting Cocks with twenty members present. On 11 May 1838, he went to "a Committee Meeting of the Natural History Society'' and on 28 October 1839, attended a lecture on a new method of photographing landscapes by Daguerreotype.

He visited the Birmingham Musical Festival at the Town Hall on 19 September 1837, and the next day "a new oratorio by Mr Mendelsohn called St Paul, to the delight and gratification of all present", and the following day to hear the Messiah".

Boulton travelled widely by horse and railway, and on 17 July 1837, he "went to see the trains come in on the railway to Liverpool … It is an animating sight to see the trains moving so easily and swiftly along". However, he did not comment on the key transport development for Moseley – the railway through the village which opened in 1840.

Boulton attended the celebrations organised by the town of Dover in honour of the Duke of Wellington’s ten years as Lord Warden on Friday 30 August 1839. "Dover all alive this morning …

The dinner … was one of the most magnificent sights I ever beheld … About 1,600 people at dinner". The banquet cost over £3,000 and served 2,250 people at a charge of 1 ½ guineas each, and the garrison celebrated Wellington’s arrival with a salute of guns.

On 24 June 1837, Boulton went to assist in forwarding the return of Mr H. St Paul for East Worcestershire. He went canvassing on 1 August "early in the morning to Kings Norton and was occupied giving refreshment tickets to persons coming to vote for St Paul and Barneby" who took 54% of the votes, a gain from the Whigs. He was very involved in the Yeomanry, volunteer regiments raised from small farmers. On 6 June 1838, a note from Mr Taylor [Moseley Hall]

Janet Berry For more information on Moseley’s Matthew Boulton visit our website moseley-society/localhistory.org.uk

Memorial to Moseley’s Matthew Boulton, St Mary’s Moseley 27

LOCAL FINANCIAL ADVICE IN MOSELEY

We at Moseley B13 magazine believe passionately in supporting Moseley’s local business people. It’s always prudent to seek financial advice from a qualified professional. Is 2022 the year that you get on top of your finances?

We would like to introduce you to long-time Moseleyite, Martin Jeffers, owner of Martin Jeffers Wealth Management, based on Salisbury Road, Moseley.

Moseley B13 Magazine caught up with Martin to learn more about his business and how his services could potentially help you or plan to be here for a long someone you care about... time.

So, Martin, how long have you been in Moseley?

My wife and I moved to the midlands about 10 years ago.

We had a good look around at lots of different areas and fell in love with Moseley.

Moseley offers so much, with great local amenities and fantastic people. We absolutely love it here and

Martin Jeffers

•

So, you’re a financial adviser • based in Moseley, tell us more about that.

Well, it’s my job to help people to make the most of the money they have and help • them to develop a plan for the future. I find that money matters tend to be one of the biggest drivers of stress, but this can be dramatically reduced by sitting down and • coming up with a plan.

What areas of financial planning do you focus on?

I give holistic financial planning advice and focus on key areas such as Retirement planning, Investments, and protection for your family.

I encourage people to ask themselves the following questions.

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When do you want to stop working (or at least be in a position to stop working).

How much money will you need each month to give you the retirement you want?

Do you have any financial goals you want to achieve in the medium term? Such as university fees for children or moving to a bigger house.

If something were to happen to you, would your family be OK financially?

Any key tips?

I would say to engage with a qualified financial adviser; the rules around pensions, investments, and tax change all the time, so it's important to work with a qualified person. www.moseleyb13.com

And finally, what do you do in your Spare time?

I like running and whenever possible partake in the Cannon Hill Park run on a Saturday morning. I’m a sports fan in general and really looking forward to the six nations starting soon.

I would encourage people to think long-term in regards to investments and to get an understanding of the power of compound interest. Albert Einstein said that compound interest was the 8th wonder of the world and that those that understand it make it, those that don't pay it.

Finally, for whatever reason, getting a financial plan together seems to be something that people keep putting off. They know they should do something about it but often don’t. I’d encourage people to reach out and have a chat. It’s a new year so that makes it a great time to make a positive change.

Martin with a client

A final word for Moseley B13 Magazine readers?

I am really passionate about what I do and helping people.

My clients tell me that I’m a good listener and easy to talk to. A lot of people don’t know where to start with financial planning, so I’d encourage anyone who would like to know more to reach out for a no obligation chat about how they can start doing the right things now that will give them the financial future they want.

have a pension, you have investments. Responsible investing has 27 times more impact than eating less meat, taking shorter showers, using public transport, and flying less – combined!

I am partnered with St James Place who are wholly committed to responsible investing with 100% of their How do you help people with fund managers signed up to retirement planning? the United Nations charter on responsible investing.

In lots of ways, but one example would be that a lot of people have many pension Who is a typical Customer? pots scattered around the I work with individuals, place from different jobs they have had in the past. It’s quite the self-employed and small business owners. easy to lose track of what you have and where it is. If Cannon Hill Park it’s the right thing to do, I can For more details on all of the above – contact Martin at: help people consolidate all the different pots into one Tel: 07507 634432 and then work out a plan Email: martin.jeffers@sjpp.co.uk on how much they need/ Website: www.jefferswealthmanagement.co.uk can afford to contribute each month to provide the lifestyle in retirement they would like Or checkout Martin on LinkedIn or Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-jeffers-financialadviser/ to have. https://www.facebook.com/MartinjeffersWealthManagement There has been a lot in the news recently about responsible investing. What can you tell us about this?

In terms of combating climate change, the greatest difference people can make is to ensure their money is responsibly invested. If you

The Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The 'St. James's Place Partnership' and the titles 'Partner' and 'Partner Practice' are marketing terms used to describe St. James's Place representatives.

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Have a Treat & Make a Difference Make a positive start to 2022 by giving yourself a well-being boost and helping local charity NICE raise vital funds. Every ticket sold will enable us to continue making a difference for disabled children and adults.

Join us on Sunday 27th February, 10 am to 4pm in Cannon Hill House - 14 Russell Rd, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8RD – you’ll find us on the edge of Cannon Hill park!

Morning (10am-1pm) or afternoon packages (1pm to 4pm) are available to book directly using our QR code.

Or get in touch by email – fundraising@conductive-education.org.uk – or phone - 0121 4425559 – to book.

For just £25 your package means you will experience three introductory sessions from qualified local practitioners, including: • • • • • •

stress management yoga sound bath meditation reiki qigong present moment meditation

•

aromatherapy

Places are limited and selling fast...so don't miss out!

NICE – centre for movement disorders NICE is a Moseley-based charity working with disabled children and adults since 1986. We follow the positive approach of Conductive Education to work with people with neurological movement conditions like Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s and more. In 2022, we’re celebrating 35 years as a charity – making a huge impact for disabled people in your local community!

If you’d like to find out more please contact us at: • fundraising@conductive-education.org.uk • 0121 442 5559 30

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