MeridenMag Summer 2014 by MeridenMag

thisInsideissue ExhibitionArt at Village Hall MegarideMeriden CommemoratingWorldWarI SummerSportsParishCouncilUpdate Meriden Mag Summer 2014 Film Shows at HVillageall The Big Picture Show at Meriden Village Hall War Horse Saturday 7th June 7.00pm NewsScoutandPhotos Meriden Mid-summer Draw NSchoolewsandPhotos

Meriden School activities Key to pictures Top: Book Week Middle: The Big Bang Bottom: Faith Week

*Hot Dogs* Candy Floss* Lucky Dips *

Meriden School is producing its own Healthy Cookbook! We have been writing to famous people and asking our families to provide their favourite healthy recipes. It will be on sale later in the year so do look out for it!

With the Easter holidays behind us, we have incredibly arrived at ‘Summer Term’. Although we haven’t seen much sun yet, let’s cross our fingers that all of the outdoor activities that are associated with this term are able to go ahead and not rained off, like so many times before!

At the time of writing, one of our two residential trips is just about to take place. Year 5 will be visiting Kingswood in Doncaster for a bush craft experience. The aim of the course is to help them to develop self confidence in using the great outdoors, to work creatively to solve a series of challenging problems and to teach practical bush craft, survival and teamwork skills. In a couple of weeks’ time Year 6 are visiting ‘Red Ridge’ in Wales for an activity packed week which will involve pot holing, climbing and canoeing to name but a few of the things on offer. Year 6 will also be visiting ‘Safeside’ in order to learn about being safe in various environments, Year 2 will visit Conkers, Year 3 are having a camp out at school and Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) will be visiting the Butterfly Farm, Stratford. In addition to that, some of our talented scientists will be travelling to Greenwich with other pupils from our local schools to study the stars!

Lucy Winkler, Headteacher, Meriden CE Primary School

th July 5.00 7.30pm This year’s summer fayre has an American Independence Day theme, there will be:

*A Bucking Bronco * Bouncy Castles*

Key stage 2 children had an interesting and exciting day out at the Big Bang Fair at the NEC in March. There were lots of fascinating stalls to look at and things to see and do such as rocket launches, using bikes to power light bulbs, making solid rods out of paper and much more. Some of us even had the chance to meet a real astronaut, Jon McBride had the chance to meet a real astronaut Jon McBride. The children learnt lots of new skills and science knowledge as well as having great fun! All of the children were impeccably behaved and were an asset to our school. A great day was had by all.

We now have two active parent groups linked with school: the PTA and Parent Council. Our PTA continues to work incredibly hard for our children, organising discos and raising money for exciting equipment and their Summer Fayre will be taking place on Friday 4th July. Please come along! A recent initiative of the Parent Council has been the ‘Scoot to School and Get the Fit Factor’ campaign which had two main aims; to reduce the amount of parking near school and to help our pupils get fit! It has been a huge success and Parent Council is now working alongside the School Council to continue the scheme into the summer term. We will then finish the term with our End of Year Service at St Laurence’s Church on 14th July (TBC) and then will enjoy a final word from Year 6 as they leave us and move on to the next exciting stage in their education at secondary school. The children will all be looking forward to a well earned summer break and, whatever you are planning, everyone at Meriden Primary School wishes you all a fantastic sunny and happy time.

In the final weeks of term, Key Stage 2 children will put on their annual performance. This year will be a challenging, but very exciting production of the musical ‘School Will Rock You’ on 8th/9th/10th July; I know you will be amazed by the talented pupils we have and will soon be hearing the songs around the village! Our annual music evening will also take place on 2nd July to showcase the fantastic musical talent we have. We have expanded the range of sports clubs and activities that our children can experience at school, including sports such as archery, basketball, tennis, Zumba, gymnastics and Change for Life, a programme to help our pupils who are not so keen on sport to get fit and healthy. Also, once again our sports day will be taking place across a whole week in order for the Meriden Olympics to take place, culminating in our Olympic finals in front of parents and family.

*Raffles* and Lots More* Please come along and support us!

Hello from Meriden School!

SummerSchoolPrimaryPTAFayreFriday4

Meriden

Faith Week we have recently enjoyed a 'faith week' at Meriden Primary School. During this week we investigated the question 'What could you live without?' We particularly looked at the Buddhist faith and considered how the beliefs of Buddhists are similar or different to our own. We thoroughly enjoyed having visitors including Revered Kate Massey and Reverend Andrew Charlesworth as well as other members of the community who shared what is particularly of value to themselves. The children enjoyed lots of arts, crafts and cooking as well investigating a different faith through Literacy and RE. World Book Day 6th March what a fantastic day we had dressing up to celebrate World Book Day. The children and staff really enjoyed sharing their favourite books with each other.

Services am

Fun is probably not the first word you associate with the Christian faith, and certainly following Jesus is not something to be taken lightly. But it does not mean that developing our relationship with God must always be serious. In God’s design for humankind, there is actually time built in for fun. Seriously! In the Ten Commandments, God calls his people to keep a day a week free from work so they can remember that they are more than what they do or achieve; a day to enjoy God and God’s creation; a day for community and family and relationship a day to have fun! And when Jesus wanted an example for his rather over ambitious disciples, he put a child before them and told them that to enter his Kingdom they should become like that youngster. Some think this is because of a child’s ability to trust, but I think there is something too about children’s ability to play and enjoy the moment. I would argue that a little unselfish fun is fundamental (sorry couldn’t resist) to being the people God made us to be.

COME AND JOIN THE CHRISTIANS OF MERIDEN AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY CRAFT ACTIVITIES FOR 3 10 YEAR OLDS OF ALL AGES MUSIC, SINGING AND A STORY FOLLOWED BY THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH PARTY VENUE: MERIDEN METHODIST CHURCH SUNDAY 29TH JUNE 2014 @ 4PM *Meriden Christian Fellowship* Meriden Methodist Church* * St Laurence Anglican Church*

are held on the 1st, 3rd and 4th Sunday at 10.30

Kate Massey St Laurence Church Tower will be open on the afternoons of Sunday 1st June and Sunday 22nd June (to coincide with the Meriden Megaride) from 12 noon until 4.30pm There will be guided tours of the tower, to escort you through all its interesting features right up to the magnificent views from the top. We will also be rolling back the carpet in the chancel so that people can see the Georgian brass memorial to Elisabeth Rotton. Tea, coffee, cakes and biscuits will also be available for visitors.

The three Meriden churches are really excited to be starting a Messy Church this summer, where the aim will be to have a lot of fun, and learn about God together in the process. Through crafts, activities and games, we will explore a Bible story, before gathering for a short child friendly act of worship and then having a celebration meal. Messy Church will be particularly suitable for families with young children, but the young at heart will also be made welcome. It is our prayer that in the fun and mess and friendship of Messy Church, we will grow to know and be like Jesus why not come along and join in?

The other week, we bought our daughters a Swingball. They were delighted and spent a happy Saturday playing with this new toy. However, once they were finished, I couldn’t resist trying it out myself. A few practice shots, and before long my husband had decided to join in and we were in the middle of a ferociously competitive match. Our daughters watched in amazement as their generally sensible parents dived about, swiping wildly at the tennis ball, breathless from the exercise and from laughing. (It ended an honourable if somewhat contested draw.) But it was such FUN ! When was the last time you had fun? When did you do something a bit out of the ordinary and finding yourself laughing at the unexpected joy it brought you? When did you tear up the to do list and be completely spontaneous? When did you prioritize what you wanted to do over what you were supposed to do? Now I am not suggesting that we disregard all rules and responsibilities some are vitally important but just that there is something quite healthy about our lives not being entirely dominated by rules and responsibilities. Fun is one of these things, like friendship, about which the Christian writer, CS Lewis said: [it] is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival”.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++j ST LAURENCE CHURCH NEWS Rev'd Kate Massey Assistant Curate 01676 522825 Lay Reader: Peter Wright 01676 522414 Church Wardens: Jonathan Douglas01676 522455 John Baker 01676 522939. www.stlaurence-meriden.co.uk

The first Messy Church Service is Sunday 29th June, 4pm, at Meriden Methodist Church. See advert opposite.

The Christmas tree festival at St Laurence, see centre page for the winning tree

. Future

safely. Here are the names of those listed on a board displayed in our Village hall: Lieutenant W Adkins ~ Corporal H Amos ~ F Anderton ~ Anderton ~ S Anderton ~ A Barton ~ H Barney ~ Corporal A Banks ~ Lance Corporal C Banks ~ G Bates ~ W Bachelor ~ A Bolus ~ F Brett ~ Lance Corporal C Busson~ Corporal A Callow ~ A H Callow ~ H Callow ~ R Callow ~ W Callow ~ E Cooke ~ A Dale ~ P Devine ~ Captain M Drummond ~ E Evans ~ C Fox ~ Lance Corporal W Freeman ~ 2nd Lieutenant M Glover MC ~ G Grist ~ Sergeant A Hobday ~ P Hobday ~ E Hodgkins ~ W Hollis ~ N Homer ~ F Hunt ~ H Hunt ~ H Izon ~ A Jakeman ~ F Jones ~ W Ledbrooke ~ F Ledger ~ H Leek ~ D Luck ~ C Mansell ~ B McArdell ~ R Massey ~ G Massey ~ T Massey ~ FMathews ~ F Mills ~ J Mills ~ G Monkman ~ C Newcombe ~ A Nicholds ~ C Nicholds ~ W J Nicholds ~ I Penrice ~G Pointon ~ P Poole ~ V Poole ~ G Ravenhall ~ H Rogers ~ R Russell ~ L Serman ~ H Shuttleworth ~ A Sidwell ~Corporal A Smith ~ W Smith ~ Sergeant M Southern ~ I Taylor ~ J Thompson ~ W Thompson ~ F Walker ~ Lance Corporal E Warman ~ Lance Corporal A Warmingham ~ Lieutenant C West ~ R Whale ~ Corporal G Woodward MM If you know of anyone named, their families or situation please will you contact Joan Russell, Tel 01676 522666 Email: russells@pipersend.fslife.co.uk

World War I

(doors open

Fifty Years in the Frame’

“Philomena”

At this time of thinking about the life and times of Meriden during World War I interested in finding out about Meriden fought in World War I and then returned home

Veterans

This initiative is part of the “Live and Local” scheme subsidized by Warwickshire County Council, to bring live performances and film screenings to rural Meridenareas. Village Hall Management Committee has agreed to promote the screening of films in the Village Hall on a regular basis. Films available are current releases as well as family films and well loved classics. The projection system consists of a huge screen, a digital projector and Dolby Surround Sound, all set up by a professional technician. Entry to all films is subject to the National Film Board’s Classification screenings planned include: Film Show and 15th August 10.30am Starring Judi 18th October 7.00pm 6th and requests for future SUPPORT THIS NEW VILLAGE INITIATIVE

The 65 Fillongley Big Picture

Meriden Big Picture Show Coming shortly to a venue very near you Meriden Village Hall presents a screening of War Horse Especially chosen as part of the village’s WWI commemoration £5.00 Entry by advance ticket only Drinks and snacks will be on sale before the show Tickets may be purchased from: Chris Copper

December Suggestions

Dench Saturday

At7thSaturdayJune7.00p.m at 6.00 p.m) ‘

“The Holiday” Saturday

Children’s

Rd (next door to the school) 01676 522645 Or available from Meriden Library on Saturday 31 May 10a.m 12.00 & Monday 2 June 4.00 6.00p.m About “The

screenings welcomed. PLEASE

Picnic Friday

Show”

An exhibition by Michael Warr to celebrate 50 years in the Art World at Meriden Village Hall

Saturday and Sunday 21st and 22nd June 10.00am – 4.00pm both days

Michael Warr was born in Meriden in 1941 he studied at Coventry College of Art, and has become a World famous artist with exhibitions and One Man shows in England and on the Continent. He has written numerous books on Art and Painting Techniques, produced painting instruction videos and given several radio interviews. His works of art feature in many private collections; this is a great opportunity to see his work for yourself and possibly own one of his paintings.

people who

we are

In Meriden Minister: Rev Andrew Charlesworth BSc BA Tel: 01676 533737 - Phone to arrange marriages, baptisms and funerals Services: Sunday 10:30am Café Church 4pm 1st Sunday of the Month Applies to lowest priced dish only. Only valid when ordered with two starters. Available dining and takeaway Open 7 days a week 5.30pm till 11.30pm A45 Birmingham Road Millisons Wood CV5 9AY 01676 521 202 www.mumbaiblue.com 5 Course Sunday Banquet £9.95  Popadoms  Any starter  Any main dish, Pilau rice or plain nan  Ice Cream BRING YOUR OWN ALCHOLIC DRINKS SOFT DRINKS AVAILABLE Limited period only Buy 1 main dish and get 2nd main dish free  Coffee The Methodist Church Hall is available for hire; please contact Maureen & Alan Gabbitas 01676 522 148 Probably the key similarity between the main World religions is that all of them should have an impact on the way we live our lives. So for Buddhists, who do not routinely believe in a god, the focus is on enlightenment, on reaching a state of nirvana. In this Buddhists follow a Noble Eightfold Path which includes, right speech, right action and right livelihood.

Muslims believe that God sent a number of prophets to humanity to teach them how to live their lives. Did you know these prophets include Abraham, Moses and Jesus? The final prophet was Mohammed and the revelation from God he recorded is the Qur’an. Muslims hold to the Five Pillars of Islam, which includes Zakat, care for the poor and needy.

The concept of karma is fundamental for Hindus, with the belief that there is a cycle where good or virtuous actions, actions in harmony with dharma, will have good reactions or responses and bad actions, actions against dharma, will have the opposite effect. In Hinduism karma operates not only in this lifetime but across lifetimes.

For Christianity, the Old Testament includes the Ten Commandments (and indeed a total of 613 laws) and so much of the teaching of Jesus recorded in the gospels is focussed on how we should live our lives, especially how we should help those in need. In the parable of the Sheep and Goats Jesus makes it clear that if Christians do help those in need, they have no place with However,him. Christians also believe that we cannot live the way God wants through our own strength alone. We do not find it easy to put the needs of others before our own. We see this all around us in the world in deep injustice and inequality. We see this in our own lives, when all of us are capable of selfishness and of doing things which hurt those closest to us. This is why Pentecost (June 8th this year) is such an important festival in the life of the Church. Not only does it signal the birth of the Church, but it is at Pentecost that we remember God pouring out his Holy Spirit on the first disciples. Not long before Easter, I was invited by the village primary school to come and share with the children during Faith Week. In particular, since the focus for that week had been on the Buddhist Faith, the school asked me if I could compare and contrast the great world religions from the perspective of a Christian minister. I always enjoy spending time with the children in school and they are a great credit to themselves, the school and of course their families. I enjoyed sharing what I knew about the different religions, which ranged from limited (Christianity) to very limited (everything else)! Christians believe that God’s spirit can equip, enable and empower them to live differently. They can live better lives through the Spirit of Jesus. And it is at Pentecost that we remember that ordinary people, in any time and place, people like you and me, can do extraordinary things, making a real difference in people’s lives, because God’s Spirit will help us. Love, peace and joy.

Andrew Diary Dates: Kinwalsey Tree Celebration.

Pentecost Sunday, 8th June at 4pm.

ALLAN SMITH SLATING Monday night is music night come along and join us, music starts 9.15pm approx Now serving Breakfast on Sunday mornings 10.00am 1.00pm Full English £5.25. Pub lunches Mon – Sat 12.00 2.30pm Sunday lunches now being served 12 4.00pm Take away available Pop in for good food and a warm welcome 01676 522256 Queens Head Old Road Meriden June 2nd Wayne Hogan 9th Licha 16th T.B.A 23rd T.B.A 30th Chrissy July 7th Julie Christie 14th Justine Claire 21st Backbeat 28th Paul Tracini August 4th Keith Brett 11th Stevie Bee 18th Micky Dean 25th Stevie Best  Servicing  Repairs  Tyres  Exhausts  Suspensions  Brakes 01676 521010 Meriden BirminghamGarage,Road Millison’s Wood CV5 9AZ Call in for quotationaforyourmotoringneeds David Deakin Plastering Services Interior plastering and coving work. Insurance work welcome. Free Estimates, reliable, friendly, clean service. Tel: 01676 521389 Mobile: 07767 237860

Greetings As always a huge thank you to our dedicated staff for all their help and support. Also a big thank you to our generous donators who have provided us with some great things to sell and have kept us well supplied with a great range of bric a brac and household items that are always popular. We have also had some beautiful donations of clothes including wedding outfits, hats, handbags and shoes which have made our shop a popular place for people to come to when they are looking for an outfit for a special occasion as well as for everyday attire. We have also received a lot of clothes which still have the labels on and unworn. I think our best bargain this last quarter was a trouser suit unworn with the price tag still on of £449 which sold for approx £30. We don't get many things of this calibre in but it's great when we do because we know it will fly out. We've had a sale rail up for the last few days where everything was £1. Lots of you rummaged through and had some really good buys. We hope to do this on a fairly regular basis, particularly through the summer, to turn over stock quickly and enable us to put new stuff out.

everyone.

As usual we are in need of small furniture items such as occasional tables, chests of drawers, etc. If you haven't visited the shop then pop in and see us we always enjoy seeing new faces as well as our regular customers. See you soon.

Blessings Kevin and Lyn Hunt. WE

Kevin and Lyn Hunt Meriden Christian Fellowship Here comes Summer.....yeh! After all the floods and rain over the winter months it's great to have some nice weather at last. I love the changing seasons that we get in this country, the only problem is the seasons seem to be changing. When I was young the seasons were what they said they were..Snow in the winter, sun and showers in the spring, sunshine in the summer, and rain and back to darker nights in the autumn, with of course the fabulous colours of the trees etc. These days it snows when it wants, rains most of the time, and then there's summer, which usually lasts about 2 weeks if we're Havinglucky.said that let's hope we get lots of nice sunny days this year. Talking of hope, there is one thing we can be sure of that never changes, and that's God's love. Easter has just gone and it was great to remember that He demonstrated His love to us by taking all our sins, that's everything we've ever done wrong, on Himself on the cross. Not only does His Love cover our sins when we ask Him to forgive us of them, but His love also never fails. That's something that's constant and something we can totally rely on, unlike the weather God's love really can be relied on. I've been a Christian for 33 years now and I've gone through good times, bad times and some very difficult times, but I can honestly say that no matter what life has thrown at me during those years, having God to talk to and direct me has been invaluable, a great comfort, and at times inspirational. The good news is that this is not just for me but for everyone who calls on His Name. He Loves You, and wants you to know Him and have a relationship with Him that will change your life forever. If you would like to know more why not join us on a Sunday at 12:30pm in the Methodist Church building, for great worship, great fellowship and the word of God uncompromised. When we get together God turns up so why not come and experience God for yourself? We look forward to welcoming you.

For where two or three gather in my Name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20 NIV).

The Centre Charity Shop and Heart of England Outreach 01676 523050 PHYSIOTHERAPY REFLEXOLOGY Treatment for pain, stress, acute and chronic conditions Local home visits to ladies available Alison Stain M.C.S.P.,M.S.R., HPC. Registered The Therapy Centre, Balsall Villa 287 Kenilworth Road Balsall Common. Tel : 01676 522284 We are a group of volunteers who enjoy providing a Riding for Disabled Group to 6 children each week from Exhall Grange School. However! We need more Volunteers! If you can give your time between 1pm and 2.30pm each Tuesday during school term time perhaps you would like to join us? No equine experience is necessary (but is useful!) We ride at Lowlands Farm, Shrewley so if you are interested please contact either Carole on 01676 523092 or Julia on 01789 7722289.

NEED YOU! TIME VOLUNTEER???TO

The Orme School of MeridenDancingBranch Methodist Church Hall Classes in Ballet, Tap, Modern Jazz, Freestyle and Contemporary Tel: 02476 467271 THEORMESCHOOL Jennifer Faulkner F.I.D.T.A BA Hons FellowshipDegreeTeaching dip PrincipalA.B.R.S.MSandraClarke Mrs C Booker Home visiting StateChiropodist/podiatristandHPCregistered Tel 01676 534265 Friendly and professional advice on all foot problems To contact Caroline or make an appointment for a surgery please contact Katy Steele 0121 711 7029 Email :carolinespelman.com The Firebird Singers SpiritPresentofthe Song Do you love to sing, why not join our choir? No audition and no experience needed just a love of singing! New members very welcome. We are a warm and friendly choir of mixed ages and sexes that has a great time and raises lots of money for charity. Rehearsals are held Friday evenings at Meriden Village Hall at 7.30pm Please visit our web sitewww.firebirdsingers.org.uk Saturday 21 June 2014 7.30pm The Theatre Blue Coat Church of England School & Music College, Terry Road, Coventry CV1 2BA In aid of the Coventry and Warwickshire Kidney Patients Association Reg. Charity No 508587 For tickets or further information contact John on 07716 721467 Tickets £8.50 concessions/children £5.50 *Refreshments * Raffle* Singing for Pleasure, Raising Money for Charity

CAROLINE SPELMAN

As you may know, in April, the HS2 Hybrid Bill had its second reading in the House of Commons. This was the first opportunity for MPs to debate the general principles and themes of the Bill. We do need to consider the need for more train capacity, especially as West Midlands manufacturers have had their freight displaced onto the roads just at a time we export more cars than ever in our history. I also have to consider the need to connect existing transport infrastructure such as the under utilised runway at Birmingham airport which would then become competitive on travel time with London's airports. However, along with the possible gain, we also get the pain. I took the opportunity in the Chamber, to press the Secretary of State specifically for a tunnel in the Balsall/Berkswell area and I have also supported the call by Solihull Council to introduce a Community Fund which would be locally administered, following the model at Birmingham airport, because I think it would give local empowerment to this project. In addition, the amendments seek to ameliorate the environmental impact, for example by offsetting the biodiversity loss locally by regenerating the Tame and Blythe river valleys. I also petitioned for compensation for those affected by construction works, and will continue to do whatever I can to mitigate any negative impacts for constituents. During this summer, we will look back and remember 100 years since the Great War broke out. So many lost their lives in the most brutal way and the horror of that War still has ramifications today. I invited the German Parliament choir to come over to join our British Parliament choir for a joint concert to mark the occasion, and I am delighted that after war in Europe covering almost half of century, we can celebrate peace together today. I wish you all the best for the Meriden events to commemorate World War I this summer.

A Message from Caroline Spelman MP

I do appreciate that HS2 has drawn strong reactions on both sides of the argument in this constituency ever since the route was announced by Lord Adonis in March 2010. The cost of £50 bn includes £21.2 bn contingency, as required by the Treasury. This does not in any way preclude the planned expenditure on other railway projects up to 2021, when the Government will invest £70bn in all forms of transport, of which £16.5bn would be for HS2.

Summer Music in a Deer Park Conducted by Andrew Fletcher Church of St James Great Packington Nr Meriden 7.30pm Saturday 14th June 2014 WorksMauriceby Durufle’, Andrew Fletcher, Serge Rachmaninov, Healey Willan and close harmony arrangements Tickets £15 Students and under 18’s £5 Family £32 Available from choir members or by telephoning 01543 452078 Advance booking essential because of limited space Programme, strawberries and fizz included

Professional small family business covering Meriden, villagesBerkswellFillongley,&surrounding Jamieson Christie Wealth Management Ltd Regent House 430 432 Kenilworth Road Balsall Common CV7 7ER Tel 01676 532 210 Email:www.jamiesonchristie.commail@jamiesonchristie.com Jamieson Christie Wealth Management Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Chartered Financial Planners and Employee Benefit Consultants  Pensions  Investments  Protection  Savings  Employee benefits  Inheritance Tax More News from Meriden School Notes from Meriden School Garden

Now the Summer Term is here, the garden is slowly beginning to fill up. The broad beans planted in the autumn are now in flower and we are looking forward to some early pods to harvest. The shallots and garlic, also planted in the autumn, struggled through the damp winter but are now starting to grow stronger. The Eco team has planted Rocket and Casablanca potatoes and these are starting to come through. Year 1 have planted pumpkin seeds and have been keeping a diary on their progress. The plants are looking very strong and are nearly ready to be planted outside. The school has entered BBC Gardeners’ World Live hanging basket competition. We have to create a colourful, cascading display using recycled materials. We are using an old wire shopping basket lined with an old wool jumper and sheep’s wool. It will be bursting with lots of bright flowers to create a rainbow effect and have pollinating insects, also made from recycled materials, “buzzing” around it. The Eco team planted the seeds and Foundation stage has been busy creating the insects. If you are visiting Gardeners’ World on 11th to 15th June please go along and take a look. A big thank you to the Spar shop for the donation of the shopping basket and to Carole Webb for all her help with our hanging baskets for the BBC Gardeners World competition!

Bike Ability Training I am pleased to report that every single member of Year 5 was successful in their bike ability training! It is apparently very unusual for everyone to be successful and do as well as we have in Year 5 this year. A really big well done to everyone, keep your eyes peeled for them on the roads.

Do you need a cleaner? Then call Jenny now on 07901 530861 Domestic cleaning, Office cleaning Professional cleaning service Do you want someone to do all those household jobs you haven’t got time for? Balsall Common Country Market A weekly market is held at Balsall Common Village Hall, Station Road CV7 7EX every Saturday from 10.00 11.30am and the first Sunday of the month at the Saracen’s Head from 1 - 4pm Home baking and preserves, meat, plants and seasonal vegetables, crafts and homemade cards For more details call June Smitten on 01676 523007 A free cup of tea or voucherwithcoffeethis Hampers can be ordered and delivered countrywide. Contact 01676 534148 Meriden Self Service Dog Wash Showell Lane Meriden Phone : 07730397419 Save money and have no mess at home! Fully equipped grooming room Bath dryers electric table CHARGES FOR 1 DOG: 1st half hour : £7.50 Extra half hour slots : £6.50 Additional dogs : £3 each Towels grooming tools Small extra fee Shampoo & conditioner for sale if required Assistance on hand Meat (frozen) for dogs 42 45p per pound Eden Multi- Meat and Fish Formula Dog Food Suitable All Ages Independently 5 star rated 80% MEAT & FISH 20% VEG, FRUIT & HERBS NO CEREAL FILLERS!!! Check out independent review on www.whichdogfood.co.uk “Outstanding food at an outstanding price” 15 KG : ON LINE PRICE : £54.99 15 KG : LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR PRICE : £50 Phone : 07730397419 for sales / delivery Luke Stanley DipFA Independent Financial Adviser Luke will work with you to achieve all of your lifestyle aspirations and long term financial plans, whatever form these may take. Protect your family; provide for your retirement; save tax efficiently. Call Luke to discuss your goals and priorities Tel – 07807 519 811 E-mail: Luke@reddotgroup.co.uk Red Dot (Cymru) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the financial conduct authority Independent Financial www.reddotgroup.co.ukAdvisers Red Dot (Cymru) Ltd Tidy that garden, clear out the shed empty the cubby hole or throw out that bed. Lewis Skip Hire (25 years in Solihull) Yes, summer special £130 for a full size builder skip for all your household & garden rubbish. Go on give us a call (other skips available) 07976-969319 £130 Adam Eales 0794 389 3354 midlandscleaners@mail.com MIDLANDS CLEANERS Domestic & Commercial Cleaning Services • Window Cleaning • Fascia & Soffit Cleaning • Gutter & Cladding Cleaning • Conservatory Roof and Patio Cleaning

Balsall Common U3A

Date topic Speaker 23rd June 2014 Life as an Author Shirley Thompson 21st July 2014 A Strange Time (Stoneleigh Abbey in the Great War) Sheila Wolf 18th August 2014 Restoration of Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens Ann Brockman

Are you retired or semi retired, have you considered joining the Balsall Common U3A? The local U3A is part of a national and international voluntary learning co operative whose aim is to encourage activities for people 55+. We have 25 active groups providing something different on each week day.

Core meetings are held in the Balsall Common Village Hall Station Road and start at 1 45 pm. Prospective members are welcome to attend. For more information see our web site www.balsallcommonu3a.org or telephone Mary Dawson 01676 532467

Now that the kids have scattered themselves about, with one pair in Birmingham and one in Northampton, they are no longer in shouting range. So I find it’s vital to have a strategy to get them home when I miss them all. Especially now we have a little grandchild on the way, I need a foolproof plan to summon them like magic. Here’s my unashamed secret. I call them up and softly suggest that this Sunday, at 8pm sharp; I will be cooking up a storm. The full Monty, Sunday roast dinner. It rarely fails. Earlier will not work later is even better. They can get all their business out of the way and arrive promptly, full of expectation, and an empty belly.

115g (4oz) plain flour (MUST be plain!)

½ teaspoon salt & black pepper Fat from the roast, or goose fat, or oil 12 hole baking tin (Makes 12 puddings)

Sieve the flour, salt and pepper in a bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the eggs, Whisk gently, just in the middle, and slowly add the cold milk as you go, until the flour is mixed from the sides and forms a nice even, non lumpy batter.

On July 3rd the ‘Out and About’ group have arranged a coach trip to Grimsthorpe Castle and Park, with a guided tour of the 3000 acre estate and Castle Rooms. Beside the group activities each month we have a core meeting. Included in the core meeting is a talk on subjects of interest to the group, the subjects and speakers for the next few months are as follows

Take a 12 hole baking tin and use about a desert spoon of the fat from the meat dish in each hole. (You can also use oil or goose fat if you prefer). Put this in the oven for about five minutes it should be smoking slightly but not charred. Keep the oven door firmly shut whilst you add a little batter into each hole of the tin fill it to about two thirds of the way up each one. Pop the tray back into the oven, and bake the Yorkshire puds for 25 minutes. The last thing to be done as you are serving up the dinner, is whip them from the oven, piping hot and perfect! So . say no to Aunt Bessie’s and bake Juci Luci’s!

Confessions from the Cupcake Factory

Pop the bowl into the fridge for at least an hour, and meanwhile carry on with the rest of your meal. I find the best way to do this is to have your mixture prepared and in the fridge before you start with the rest. When your meat is ready, take it out of the oven and turn the oven up to 200C/400F/Gas mark 6 moderately hot. Wrap your meat in foil and use this time to rest it. It makes for perfect meat as well as great Yorkshire puddings. If you time it well, the last 30 mins of roast potatoes can be in there too, for an extra crunch.

Best Wishes Luci x No matter what meat I am preparing, no Sunday roast in our house is complete without the humble Yorkshire Pudding. When I first started this tradition, my yorkies tended to be tasty yet limp, undercooked and looked like a pancake. No matter what I did they just would not rise. It became a standing joke to have a pikelet rather than a yorkie with our Christmas dinner like roast. Many a Sunday had a little sulk on my part as I opened the oven door expectantly, hoping for a bouffant miracle. It never happened. This cupcake queen just could not get a rise from a pud! Not until I was given this wonderful no fail recipe from my friend in Ireland. So now I shall share it with you.

3 large free range eggs ½ pint full fat milk

David McGrath

A little while ago the anniversary passed 12 months since the travellers left their unlawful site. They had created (and left) a site which resembled the trench warfare that had ensued doing the 1086 day (and night) battle a sea of mud ruts. A half hearted attempt at restoration by the travellers (as obliged by law) has made some difference but much is still needed to restore land levels that were scooped out by earthmovers, subsoil replaced healthy mature trees replanted that were sawn down in various destructive blitzes of the site. But the site is empty and quiet. There are no more 'near miss' encounters with vans, lorries and 4 x 4's driven at crazy speeds leaving the site. Nature will have her way too in helping out with the site restoration. Walkers and horses are once again using the lane for recreational purposes. But is this temporary or will there be more chapters of strife in the history of this site?

Residents led delegations to Solihull Council, Westminster and Europe. The local 'unsettled' community fought and won 23 legal, technical and planning decisions (no legal aid just £120k's worth of local fundraising).

In the last 4 years the 'Bank holiday' blitz approach to development seems to have waned nationally too following press, government and public scrutiny. It is now seen publicly as the unacceptable face of development. Councils need to do more for travellers too for those with legitimate accommodation needs (as opposed to development ambitions) just as they have duties to the settled community.

Through all of this 'history' Meriden people thankfully kept a sense of proportion, fairness and justice. This 'episode' does not, of course, tarnish the reputation of travellers there is good and bad in all sectors of society.

Let’s hope that everyone comes out a winner (including the travellers). Let us hope that in the end the right long term aim is achieved too. Then we can all move on.

Bubbles

Hand Car Wash Quality Hand Car Cleaning Find us off the A45 in Shepherd’s Lane Meriden Phone 07538 238 005 Open 9.00am -7.00pm 7 days a week Prices from £6 wash only £12 £15 for inside and out including full vacuum and interior windows 20% off when you bring the Meriden Mag with you! 20% off all prices when you bring the Meriden Mag with you!

Meriden RAID. 'Four Years On.' What is the legacy?

Four years ago Meriden was a 'by word for strife and community unrest' said a local newspaper recently.

We still take people as we find them. Solihull Council is opening its new £1m site for travellers (supported by RAID) and even though we doubted the veracity of our traveller developers claims of 'homeless' it is true that brand new provision is there if they need it. The Council has provided every assistance for them to apply for places too.

Certainly the arrival of travellers with bulldozers and barristers determined to develop green belt land during the bank holiday of 2010 (with or without permission) caused a disturbance which took on seismic significance (locally and nationally) as unlawful developers took on residents 'dug in' at their 'all year round' protest camp.

Certainly the development potential of the land is 'nil' and given the proven planning history of the site and current legal protections any future planning application would be more out of mischief than expectation. The travellers say they will sell the site based on a fair market valuation. This is to be welcomed. Locals had previously stood firm in their view that 'paying someone off' or offering a 'king’s ransom' for the site would be inappropriate. The site needs a responsible owner who values the connected role it plays in our local green belt, understands and cares about its wildlife and wants to preserve and protect it.

Elizabeth Spencer June Glen Miller and his music Mr R Witham told Vanessa Morgan

Future Mondayprogramme:2 nd

Monday 4th August Games evening Visitors always welcome

Meetings are held in the Village Hall on the first Monday in the atmonth7.30pm Contact Flick Blewitt 01676 523229 T’ai Chi and Meditation and Relaxation Come and discover how the beautiful flowing movements of this ancient art can improve your well being. Relax and enjoy simple calming relaxation and meditation techniques. MondaysMeriden9.30-10.30amVillageHallCallJacquion07703345210 …the perfect start to your day! WARWICK OFFICE 61 Coten End Warwick CV34 4NU Tel:01926 499889 Fax: 01926 499552www.macnamaraking.comBALSALL COMMON OFFICE 2 Meeting House Lane Balsall Common CV7 7FX Tel 01676 533755 Fax 01676 533699 In March Mr Adrian King came to talk to us about the history of Guy’s Cliffe. Most of our members were aware of the existence of this ruined house and it was a welcome opportunity to learn about its background. Two people from the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust were the speakers at our April meeting. They told us about ‘The Support the Hedgehog Campaign.’ Apparently hedgehog numbers are in rapid decline and they outlined steps we could take to help encourage them. They even brought along a rescued baby hedgehog, cosily ensconced in a pet carrier! At our May meeting we debated our response to this year’s resolution that is to be voted on at the annual meeting in June. This year’s resolution is aimed at increasing organ donation. Also in May several of us will be attending the group meeting to be held in Allesley to hear a talk from the television personality Kay Alexander.

Monday 7th July Stories Grandad

Forthcoming Meetings:-. 27th June Our Holiday at Home in Berkswell. 25th July Strawberry Tea 22nd August Glynis Gayton speaking on life in a family bakery. This meeting will be held at Meriden Village Hall

reunification,

with slides.

In March

Professor David Crout joined us in February to talk about ‘Destruction and Reconciliation’ which he illustrated On 13th February 1945, British bombers dropped 2,500 tons of bombs on Dresden. In the resulting firestorm at least 24,000 people died and many of the finest buildings in Dresden were destroyed including the Lutheran Frauenkirche (church of Our Lady). 8,500 stones from the church were collected, numbered and stored. After German the Frauenkirche was reconstructed with help from a British group ‘The Friends of Dresden’. They were asked to reconstruct the dome on top of the church. The dedication of the rebuilt church took place in 2005 and looks stunning. Professor Crout used this to talk about forgiveness and that if you are to forgive another for the hurt they have done to you, you must: forgive them from the heart, ask God to forgive them and ask Him to bless them. This was illustrated by verses from the bible, from the words of Corrie Ten Boom who was sent to a concentration camp for sheltering Jews and also the speech on the quality of mercy from the Merchant of Venice.

CAMEO Come and Meet Each Other at the Community Centre on the 4th Friday of the month at 2.00 p.m. . LARCH TREE OSTEOPATHIC PRACTICE TREATMENT OF MUSCULAR AND SKELETAL PAIN, SPORTS AND PERSONAL INJURIES Liam Halton B.Sc (Hons) Ost. 49 Larch Tree Avenue, (Off Broad Lane), Tile COVENTRY,Hill, CV4 9FT www.larchtreeost.co.uk TEL: 024 7647 0019 CAMEO Come and Meet Each Other at the Sports Pavilion on the 4th Friday of the month at 2.00 p.m. AGUAFLAME UK MERIDEN Terry Griffiths Plumbing – Heating – Gas Services Gas & L.P.G. Boilers replaced, repaired & serviced Luxury bathroom design & fitting 0797 011 9142 01676 523 192 Emeritus

Major Gethin Thomas from the Salvation Army spoke to us about his work in the Salvation Army and that of the Salvation Army in general. The Salvation Army is a worldwide evangelical Christian church in 126 countries founded by William Booth. Major Thomas told us that the Salvation Army had played a very large part in his life from the age of eight. Although he first went into teaching, after two years he decided to go to a Salvation Army training college. He married a fellow Salvation Army Officer, as they were required to and they spent four years in Cardiff and then some years in the North East as part of a small fishing community. They then moved to Dunstable and later to Southport where they built a new Salvation Army Hall. Late last year they arrived in Coventry to find a thriving Salvation Army. The Salvation Army Hall was built eight years ago and is very busy; they host English language classes, keep fit, maths and other none profit groups. There is also a community café serving tea and coffee where people can go to find someone to talk to. The hostel sleeps 125 people a night and they also provide for cold weather sleepers from November when seven churches each provide accommodation in their church hall for one night. An Elderly Persons Residence in Binley has fifty residents. The Salvation Army does not just look after the homeless but provides food parcels when the Food Bank is closed, Christmas parcels, soup kitchens and day centres for the elderly. They provide escorts to safe houses for victims of human trafficking and help with drink and drug addiction. They are, of course, well known for their Missing Persons Bureau. Inspired by their Christian faith they work tirelessly in communities, spreading the message of the gospel and encouraging people to take that message into their own lives. We had a meal out in April and twenty nine of us went to The Manor for an enjoyable two course lunch. look forward to welcoming more friends to our meetings so if you need information or a lift please telephone: Ellen 522534 or Pam 523372

Free Cricket Coaching for Kids 5-15 yrs old Any ability or gender Every Friday evening at 6pm till 7.30pm provided by Meriden Spartans CC www.mscc.info at Meriden Sports Park Starting on Friday 4 April 2014 Come along to a warm welcome with Candy at MeridenHallVillage Pilates focuses on building your body's core strength and improving your posture through a series of low repetition low impact stretching and conditioning Itexercises.notonly provides a complete body workout (you will be working muscles you didn't even know you had!), but also helps you develop an awareness of how your body works, helping your mind and body to work in harmony. Any queries please contact: Tel. 07828709650 ThursdayZumbaevenings6.00pm£4persession ThursdayPilatesevenings7.00pm£4persession LAWN BOWLS AT THE HIGHWAY CLUB No obligation. Come and try it for a few weeks. All you need to start is a flat pair of shoes and a smile! All bowls etc and training will be provided. Not sure? Bring a friend! Where? Off Fletchamstead Highway/ Standard Avenue behind the Hyundai Car Showrooms. (CV4 9BY) Free Parking. When? Tuesday evening from 6.00 pm is ‘Club Night’ come and give it a try you will be made very welcome. For more information give Chris or Margaret a call on 02476 464399 / peopleSectionwithbothMembershiphttp://highwaybowls.clubbz.comgitshamchris@aol.com07960744468visitourwebsiteopennowtoLadiesandGentlemenoneyearfreeBowlsmembershipfornewtoBowls. YOGA CLASSES Meriden Village Hall Wednesday evenings: 6.30pm Pregnancy Yoga 7.30pm Adult Yoga Contact Amelia: 07783 277521 2positivewellbeing@gmx.comwww.2positivewellbeing.com Interactive storytelling using yoga and drama for children aged 2 – 5 years Fun – Active – Creative Meriden Village Hall Mondays 11.30am – 12.30pm Starting 2nd June Contact Amelia on 07783 277521 email : www.yogictheatrix.weebly.comyogic_theatrix@yahoo.co.uk

Meriden Sports Park is now affiliated with Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) which gives opportunities to enter league teams from mini red to adults level. I now encourage adults within Meriden to come and join our coaching programme in light of having a competing team in 2015. I will be working very hard with the help of parents in Meriden to have the mini red players competing by the end of 2014. I am very excited with the invitation to Aegon Classic Women`s International Tournament at Edgbaston in June. All players on the coaching programme have this fantastic opportunity to see the world’s best women compete. free trial of tennis coaching…

Come and have a

Meriden Cricket Club

Tennis Coaching Note: Coaching only takes place during term time

Alan MacEvoy

Meriden Cricket Club was founded in 1885 and had an exciting period of Village cricket until the 1970’swhen it fell into a state of decline. In the fifties it excelled by bowling out our village neighbours for 7 runs. In 1996 after a meeting in the village hall it was rejuvenated with a vengeance and we played many league, cup and friendly games until two years ago. Sadly an administrative error prevented the club playing in the Coventry 20 Overs league last year but we are now back on board and keen to make our mark. We have had some famous cricketers play for the Village team most notably the Warwickshire and England player Bob Wyatt. Serving as Jardine's vice captain on the 1932 33 England tour of Australia, Wyatt was in charge of an early tour match that Jardine sat out of, and he became the first captain to employ the controversial Bodyline tactic against the Australian team. We are keen to live up to such a fine club history and will be playing all our home matches at the Meriden Sports Park in the centre of the village. Please come along and support or join your village cricket. Matches start at 6pm and the fixture list is opposite. We may also play some extra Cup matches in June. We practice in our nets behind the Queens Head on specific days. We have two club coaches and always a number of experienced cricketers to help and give advice so come and join your village team.

07710 112219 Monday Cardio Tennis 7 7:45pm Cost £4 Tuesday Cardio tennis 7 7:45pm Cost £4 Sunday Juniors 10 11am (age 3 12years old) Cost Adult£3Coaching 11 11:45am Cost £4

See you on court! Collen Mhlanga Email: Mobile:mhlangac@gmail.com07717057547 Barkers’ Butts RFC Pickford Grange Lane Coventry CV5 9AR Cricket Fixtures at Meriden Sports Park June - August 2014 Date Team League Start time Sun 1 Jun Meriden Spartans CC Arden League 13:30 Tue 3 Jun Meriden Spartans CC Coventry 20 Overs 18:00 Sat 7 Jun Solihull Municipal 3rds Warwickshire League 13:30 Sun 8 Jun Meriden Spartans CC Arden League 13:30 Tue 10 Jun Meriden Spartans CC Coventry 20 Overs 18:00 Sat 14 Jun Meriden Spartans CC Warwickshire League 13:30 Sat 21 Jun Solihull Municipal 3rds Warwickshire League 13:30 Tue 24 Jun Meriden CC Coventry 20 Overs 18:00 Sat 28 Jun Meriden Spartans CC Warwickshire League 13:30 Tue 1 Jul Meriden Spartans CC Coventry 20 Overs 18:00 Sat 5 Jul Meriden Spartans CC Warwickshire League 13:30 Tue 8 Jul Meriden CC Coventry 20 Overs 18:00 Sat 12 Jul Solihull Municipal 3rds Warwickshire League 13:30 Tue 15 Jul Meriden CC Coventry 20 Overs 18:00 Sat 19 Jul Solihull Municipal 3rds Warwickshire League 13:30 Tue 22 Jul Meriden CC Coventry 20 Overs 18:00 Sat 26 Jul Meriden Spartans CC Warwickshire League 13:30 Sun 27 Jul Meriden Spartans CC Arden League 13:30 Tue 29 Jul Meriden Spartans CC Coventry 20 Overs 18:00 Sat 2 Aug Solihull Municipal 3rds Warwickshire League 13:30 Tue 5 Aug Meriden CC Coventry 20 Overs 18:00 Sat 9 Aug Meriden Spartans CC Warwickshire League 13:30 Tue 12 Aug Meriden Spartans CC Coventry 20 Overs 18:00 Sat 16 Aug Solihull Municipal 3rds Warwickshire League 13:30 Sat 23 Aug Meriden Spartans CC Warwickshire League 13:30 Sat 30 Aug Solihull Municipal 3rds Warwickshire League 13:30  11 Mini & Junior age groups from 6-16 years  Non Contact Rugby for girls 11 18 years  Under 18 Colts Side Our facilities are 1st class and all our coaches are RFU Qualified and CRB checked Contact Scott English 07963 134923  We also have 4 adult sides 1st XV to Vets  There will be a special welcome to players returning to the game in time for the 2015 Rugby World Cup Contact Glen Southwell 07598 980546

FranklinServicesConstruction Established 1979 For all aspects of building work  Domestic + Commercial + Industrial  New Build + Extensions + Renovations  Full property maintenance all trades carried out  Sewage treatment plants installed and repaired Workmanship may be inspected locally Tel:02476 422 999 Mob: 07801 579910 BALSALL COMMON VETS 384a Kenilworth Road Balsall Common CV7 7ER Open by appointment Monday – Friday 11am 6pm Sat 9am 10am Local friendly practice, established over 40 years Highly qualified and experienced staff Car parking at rear of surgery Selling food, toys and other pet care items 24 hour emergency care & advice Tel: 01676 www.broadlanevets.co.uk530792 Our surgery at 255 Broad Lane CV5 7AQ is open until 7.30pm weeknights, Saturday 8.30am-5pm & Sunday 11am-3pm Bill and Sheila Hunt would like to welcome you to Grove House A spacious and friendly quality B&B offering luxury rooms and delicious food Located off a quiet lane in Meriden, we are newly opened and AA graded. 8, Whichcote Avenue, Meriden Coventry CV7 7LR Email: enquiries@grovehousebandb.co.uk 01676 www.grovehousebandb.co.uk523295 Grove House Bed & Breakfast  Airport Transfers  Secure parking  Business people catered for  Warm friendly environment Fully Qualified in Natural Gas & LPG Our services include:  Full Central Heating installations  Landlord Gas Safe Certificates & Servicing  Boiler Replacements  Cooker & Fire Installations  Power Flushing  Shower installations  External & Internal Taps  Blocked Drains  Underfloor Heating Systems  Bathroom installations from start to finish (inc electrics, plastering, tiling & carpentry work) All Plumbing Work Undertaken 07972 868 512 email:meridenplumber@hotmail.co.uk www.themeridenplumber.co.uk The Meriden Plumber NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL No. 544788 ASK US ABOUT IDENTICHIPSFREEFORYOURDOG

the year, we run fortnightly sessions on Fridays, which begin at 7.30pm. During the evening ten games are played with two prizes for each game plus there is a Snowball game, if the snowball is not won the game carries on until we have a winner. We also hold a raffle. The next three months dates are : June 6th and 20th 7.30pm July 4th and 18th 7.30pm August 1st, 15th and 29th Contact 0845 833 2848 for further details Meriden Fish and Chips TheMeridenGreen, Awarded 5 ***** by Birmingham Mail2011 Solihull Environmental Department 2012 And in “Top Ten Chippies” March 2012 Opening hours Monday – Saturday 11.30-2.00pm & 4.15 Closed-9.30pmSundays The Firs Maxstoke Lane Meriden Open day Saturday 14th June 11am 3pm *Tombola* Raffle *Bric a brac* Lucky Dip* *Play your Cards* Name the Teddy* *Cakes and Jams* *Teas and refreshments and much more* Please come and join us

Bingo at The Village Hall

S First– classcarefor yourcariscloserthan youthink!… For MOT, service, tyres & exhausts call: ACE KENSINGTON024RADFORDGARAGE76597879GARAGEEARLSDON02476670054 Courtesy car, collection & delivery options call Brendan McManus direct on: 07958 518924 Berkswell and District History Group The aim of the History Group is to give its members and the general public the opportunity to acquire information and understanding on items of historical interest through meetings, visits and research projects. We normally hold a meeting or a visit in each calendar month. Wednesday June 11th 2.00pm Guided tour of Kenilworth Castle including the new viewing platform with Jan Cooper Wednesday July 9th “Compton Verney” Sylvia Pinches Wednesday August 13th War and Worship “Castle and Church” Jan Cooper Meetings are held at Berkswell Reading Room at 7.45pm unless otherwise stated. All these Meetings are open to Members & Non Members. We service, repair and care for your vehicle Membership £5.00 per calendar year. Meeting fees are £2.00 for members; £3.00 for non members (incl. refreshments). For our full programme and details of our publications, please visit our website orwww.berkswell-history.orgtelephone01676535782.

Balsall Common Balsall Common Lions run these in the Village Hall as a service to the Community. Throughout

Highly BusinessSuccessfulWoman Working with an expanding international company with UK turnover of £50 million, seeks working partners, (flexible part time/full time hours) who must be ambitious and self motivated. If you have leadership skills, are a team player, like helping others, are keen to succeed, have excellent communication skills and are sociable, I would like to hear from you. Incentives include annual bonus, car and free international travel. Call Gill Pritchard 01676 534020 / 07817 154596 Ongoing training and support for the right people Heart of SocialEnglandClub Come along and visit us! Families welcome The club offers a warm welcome, with excellent facilities for all, including a large concert room, bar, games room, snooker room, darts and a beer garden with play area Free entertainment in the Bar every other Friday evening grace your living space bespoke curtains * blinds* frippery *furniture Expertly tailored hand crafted curtains, blinds, festoons, valances, pelmets, tie backs, cushions and throws Curtains and blinds are custom made in our workroom and hung and dressed as part of the service. Free home measuring and consultancy service A range of fine accoutrements and adornments together with exquisite pieces of antique and vintage furniture 68 Balsall Street Balsall Common CV7 016767AP541 961 07817 961 www.graceinteriors.co.uk222 grace I n t e r i o r s Heart of England Social Club, Berkswell Road, Meriden 01676 522430 3pmfootballPremiershipLivegamesSaturdays Room availableHireforprivatefunctions ARE YOU IN NEED OF SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE IN FINDING THE RIGHT CARE SOLUTION FOR YOU OR A LOVED ONE? Well look no further. Senior Care Support Services are here to help, guide and support you with what can be an extremely difficult, stressful and emotional time As a local senior care specialist, with many years experience working with the elderly and frail, support, advice and guidance is offered in finding the right care home, albeit residential, nursing or dementia care, or domiciliary care in the home for you or a loved one. Why not speak, in confidence, with a ‘real’ person with years of experience of ‘the care system’ to help you through this minefield. Telephone Geraldine Davies on 01564 743067 or email: info@seniorcaresupport.co.uk

 The Job Squad The Job Squad is not just for availablemaintenance!repairscarpentry,plumbing,electricalandgeneralWearewhenever you need a “spare pair of hands”. Small odd jobs such as assembling flat pack furniture, hanging pictures and televisions, changing light bulbs in awkward places, finishing that job you started! Our local handymen are always on hand to help. At a time that suits you, even evenings and Saturdays. John Sleath, 01676532833 07876 415 350 JOHN@THEJOBSQUAD.CO.UK. All work guaranteed Free estimates Fully insured Charged in half hour units State pensioners discount No call out charge Minimum one hour Established 1996 TheJobSquad.www.co.uk 07549Contact:603 601 01676 521 243 www.greenroomlandsacpes.org.uk sales@greenroomlandscapes.org.uk LeysAddress:Mr.Director:NeilMasseyLane,Meriden Services we offer: Garden ...AndsWaterFencingLandscapingMaintenanceDesignPavingandpatiosDeckingFeaturesNaturalStonepecialistsmanymore! Call for your free quotation

D FloralMeridenSociety Meetings are held at Meriden village Hall 7.30pm 9.30pm approx On the 3rd Monday of every month Bennetts Road North CorleyCV7Coventry8BG 01676 540178 Opening hours Mon Sat 9.00 5.00pm Sun 10.00 4.00pm Summer bedding now available. Many of our bedding, herbaceous and perennial plants are home grown WE ARE BIGGER THAN YOU THINK Tel: 07904 239365 Email: hayleystanley1@hotmail.co.uk Forthcoming Meetings: 25th June Golden Anniversary Lunch 12.30 for 1.00pm Stonebridge Golf Club. Subsidised cost £15 Demonstrator (fantastic) Jayne Edmonds ‘Our Golden Years’ AN EVENT NOT TO BE MISSED! 21st July Open Evening £6 including superb buffet Andrew Lloyd ‘Golden Times’ ANOTHER EVENING YOU SHOULD NOT MISS! August No meeting New members are always welcome. To join for the year it will cost you only £24. Non- members and visitors £5 per evening. For more information please contact Mo Reynolds 01676 521457 The Countryside Forge  Hand forged sporting game priests £40  Interior and exterior wrought iron work undertaken.  Hanging basket brackets £45  Sporting weathervanes made to order  Commissions undertaken. 01675Tel:44375207828939513 www.tibeagundogs.co.uk

Following the success of the 2013 Santa Fun Run which raised £5000 we will be repeating the event on 7th December 2014 please see the autumn issue of the Meriden Mag for more details

News from the Rotary Club of Meriden Have you thought of Joining your local Rotary Club? We meet every Tuesday, 7:30 pm at The Manor Hotel for dinner usually followed by a speaker, covering a wide range of interesting topics. If you are interested please contact: Steve Allcock on 07764 377231 or Roger Swindells 01675 481754 Or see our web site meridenrotary.org.uk

Meriden Wasps from The Heart of England ‘SPECIALISTS’ FOR THE CONTROL OF: Wasps GUARANTEED WORK DISCOUNTS FOR STATE PENSIONERS FAST, EFFICIENT, PROFESSIONAL SERVICE DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL Tel: 01676 521610 Mobile: 07843 086364 FULLY WARWICKSHIRE/COVENTRY/SOLIHULLINSURED/QUALIFIED Doug www.meridenwasps.co.ukBacon

The Rotary year, for me as President, is coming to an end and with effect from July I hand over to our President Elect Dev Kulkarni, I am sure he will gain as much satisfaction from his year as I have from mine in serving this great Club and the community. Our focus now moves to our next major event, the annual Megaride to be held on Sunday 22nd June, we will of course be based again around the Queens Head supporting what is likely to be our largest event to date. Our usual Tuesday evening meetings continue at the Manor Hotel in Meriden with a range of varied and interesting speakers, why not come along and join us, see how you can become involved, can contribute and have some fun whilst helping others.

This annual 40 mile lchallenge starting from Meriden is to circumnavigate Coventry along footpaths and bridleways in the countryside always about 5 miles from the City centre, returning back to Meriden 40 miles later. As usual the officials and participants were made very welcome by Caroline and Lawrence at the Queens Head which is the location for the start and finish point safely indoors on what was forecast to be a wet day. However the rain held off throughout the day whilst 195 completed the Challenge in times from 5 hours 51 minutes through to 15 hours 14. Stuart Bonner from Meriden finished in a good time of 13:09. And, as in 2013, the quickest round the route was Jerry Wilkes of Oadby. Jerry was followed in time by Paul Harwood of Shilton (6:04); then Damien Taylor from Atherstone (6.16). Quickest lady being Mary Heald (7.25) from Solihull. Throughout the year, members of the A Coventry Way Association have made up working parties to work on the footpaths, helping out the Solihull and Warwickshire local authorities. Many taking part commented on the improvement to where the route crosses the common at Corley Moor, traditionally a very wet part of the course. Feedback later in the day from one taking part “Where can you get to see the best of British? This event offers everything you want in an ‘ultra’ distance, with different surfaces, towns and villages, rivers, bridges, and the best organised event bar none. I don’t know how many people are involved in this but it’s a clockwork organisation”. The answer is that there are ‘lots’ of people involved before and on the day manning the Queens Head Start & Finish and at the refreshment points along the Way. Next year’s event is to be held on 12th April 2015. Entries open in September www.acoventryway.org.uk2014.

Cyril Bean’s 17th A Coventry Way 40 Mile Challenge 6th April 2014

Steve Allcock President, Meriden Rotary Club

 Blue and yellow to make some different greens  Brown for the earth Then wet the paper with clean water and add the colours Without a background, just go straight in and paint the scarecrow.

6. Details and decorations. Add the details and finally, flick on a few spots of colours over the lower half of the picture if you wish.

For weekly classes and one-off workshops at Centre of England Arts contact Julie at COEA@live.com Telephone 01676 523357 or see website www.COEA.co.uk for more information.

1. Draw a scarecrow, a few flowers and leaves.

These two pictures were inspired by the scarecrow on the allotment on Leys Lane. They are great fun and yours will develop his own personality.

5. Both of these ways of working will need a little depth adding by working back into the lower part of the background with:  Blue + Dark Brown (dark grey) Wet around the area where you want the shadow to fade out with clean water. Add the dark area behind the leaves and push it into the water so that it fades away.

4. Both of these ways of working will need flowers and leaves adding, so on to dry paper use a Yellow and a Brown for the sunflowers. Use a Pinky Red for the foxgloves and use different mixtures of Blue + Yellow (green) for the leaves You can use a Brown for the earth

2. Background. There are always different ways of painting a picture and it’s up to you how you want to do it! It you want to put a background in then mix up some colours:

3. Scarecrow. There are different ways of painting any object such as this scarecrow. You can put all the shading in first with:  A weak Blue Or you can go straight in with whatever colours you want to use, adding the shading as you go. Choose whichever way you want to work and your own colours.

Lord and Lady Aylesford are opening their Gardens for The National Garden Scheme on June 8th from 2.o0pm 5.30pm Admission £5, children under 6 free Packington Hall Meriden CV7 7HF (CV7 7HE for sat nav) Come and enjoy a wander round the beautiful gardens, followed by a delicious tea with freshly baked cakes made by the WI Tea not included in entrance price Maxstoke Castle B46 2RD Open Day Sunday 15th June By kind permission of Mr and Mrs Fetherston-Dilke Approximately 5 acres of garden and grounds with herbaceous shrubs and trees surrounding the 14th century moated castle. The interior and gardens will be open between 11am and 5pm Nowheelchairaccesstohouse Admission £7.00 children £4.50 Free Parking refreshments and homemade teas Plant and gift stall ProceedsinaidoftheNationalGardensscheme 90th Fillongley Show Sunday 10th August The Show Ground, Corley, CV7 8AG Schedules and entry forms www.fillongleyshow.org.ukat St Swithin’S weekend St Swithin’s Church: Flower Festival Spirit of 1914 St Swithin’s House and Garden: Gardens open, Light refreshments all day Barston Memorial Institute: Arts and Crafts exhibition Free Admission Warwickshire’s oldest Country Show A wonderful day out for all, which includes livestock classes, horse showing, show jumping, dog show, poultry show, a large horticultural tent full of produce and crafts, exciting main ring attractions, large craft tent, side shows, trade stands, children’s entertainments, vintage tractors, the Atherstone Hunt, police dogs, gun dogs, Young Farmers and so much more. This year’s main ring attraction “The Devil’s Horsemen Stunt Team” Cossacks and Wild West Show Ticket Prices: Adults £7 Children £3 – under 4 FREE Dogs are Welcome Gates open at 9am Barston 11th 13th July Friday Short service in Church 2pm Events open 2.30 5.30pm Saturday Events open 10.30am 5.30pm Sunday Open Air Service 10.30am Events open 12.30 5.30pm

picturesMorelocal

There was an amazing sight at the Forest of Arden Hotel in early April, a gathering of over one hundred pre war cars, including Rolls Royces and Bentleys, had assembled there for the start of the 6th Flying Scotsman Rally, a three day event ending at Gleneagles in Scotland and travelling along lanes in Northern England. The cars left the hotel one at a time and went on towards Arbury Hall for a trial around the estate. Photo courtesy Roy Hands.

The Heart of England School’s production of ‘Grease’ was a great success

6th Flying Scotsman Rally

Fritillaries in bloom at the Manor Hotel & Meriden Pool when the dead Willow tree was felled. Photos courtesy Roy Hands

It seems the Millison’s Wood bluebells were even more spectacular than ever this year. Photos courtesy Chris Yarwood

Beavers making Easter eggs nests and Charlie proudly showing off his level 1 SBelow************badge.swimmerMeridencoutshavingfunatcamp

We are looking forward to our County day out at Coombe Abbey in May with 450 fellow Beaver Scouts from across Warwickshire for a day filled with adventures and fun! We are also looking forward to our first night camping outdoors as a colony.

Camping Down the Scout Hut by Eloise: “It was my first ever camp, I didn't quite know what to expect. When we all had arrived we put our bags inside and started to put tents up; practising for Snowdon. After putting up the tents, we had to take them tents back down, pack them away and gather up to find out who was in each tent. Once in our groups we put the tents back up again... Practise makes perfect, well that's what the leaders told us. Then we made our lunch, sandwiches, crisps, fruit and a chocolate bar. Collecting wood was next to make a pile for cooking our dinner. Then the challenging part of starting the fire, a few false starts but we got there!! Tea was a success and we ate our food around the campfire. Then inside to watch Pirates of the Caribbean, by this point it was already late and we were exhausted. Time for bed, we chatted for a while, eventually getting to sleep quite late... Mole hills under the tent didn't make for a comfy sleep but I suppose all part of the camping experience!!!

So here are the thoughts from a couple of scouts about a couple of these activities:

Please contact the Leaders below if you would like to join Go on, come and meet some new friends, learn something new and have FUN!!

Beavers: Girls and boys aged 6 8 years meet on a Monday at 6.30pm. Contact Lis (521080)

Scouts Another action packed half term and more new scouts, we now have 20, that has seen us ice skating, cooking, camping down the headquarters in readiness for a weekend away to Snowdonia and visiting the Police station in Balsall Common.

” Scout Visit to the Police in Balsall Common by Olivia age 10: “When we got there it was pouring down with rain. We were split into two groups, one got to see all the police equipment like walkie talkies, breathalysers, handcuffs, helmets, stab proof vests, high viz jackets and batons. Unfortunately there were no cells to look at! After that one of the police men talked about the importance of what the police do and how they go out and support people.

Cubs: Girls and Boys aged 8 10½ meet on a Thursday at 6.30pm. Contact Malcolm (07967 325520)

1st Meriden Scout Group – News from the Green Hut Beavers

An early morning welcome got us up and ready for starting our fires, we had a lovely breakfast, full English... While we were collecting wood for lunch we were allowed to chop wood with an axe, which was an experience, closely supervised by the leaders! A few of us did have a few problems with keeping the fires lit but with the leaders at hand ready to help we all had success, PHEW! After eating lunch we had the much loved jobs of washing up our plates and cutlery, scrubbing the blackened pots and pans back to their "Sparkly Silver" finish! I have to say scrubbing the pans was the worst part of the camp and smelling like "Smoked Kippers" from the camp fires. It wasn't long before it was time to go home after a full packed weekend with glorious weather which helped us have a fabulous time!

Final part of the half term saw us rushing up to North wales with a view of climbing Snowdon. After arriving late, pitching tents and snuggling into our sleeping bags the rain started and persisted all weekend. Needless to say the weather was too bad to get to the top. Undaunted we made our way back down for ice cream (weird). A nice walk down a river in spate on Sunday saw us all returning home very wet but smiling. We will return soon and get to the top. Hope to keep next term action packed with plenty of fun and variety. For more details of what we’ve been doing and what we have planned please visit our blog site at http://1stmeridenscouts.blogspot.co.uk and if you think Scouting’s for you get in touch.

Beavers: Girls and boys aged 6 8 years meet on a Monday at 6.30pm. Contact Lis (521080)

Spring has arrived and we are able to get out and about! We have been looking at the area around us and during our nature walks how the arrival of spring has changed our landscape.

Please contact the Leaders below if you would like to join Go on, come and meet some new friends, learn something new and have FUN!!

Our recent activities have taken the Cubs out and about around the village and we have had some great fun in learning some new skills by using local maps to create and carry out a treasure hunt, played tracking games in a dark Millisons Wood, and even Geocaching. We have also carried out First Aid training with the Cubs, made pancakes on Shrove Tuesday (probably too many!!!), and even experienced what it was like to try and make a living as a village in a Third World country by playing a trade game. It has been a very varied and enjoyable programme so far in 2014, and the Cubs are having great fun in being a part of it. There are still spaces available, so please do not hesitate to get in touch and bring your children down on a Thursday night.

Cubs: Girls and Boys aged 8 10½ meet on a Thursday at 6.30pm. Contact Malcolm (07967 325520)

We have now completed our stage 1 Emergency Aid badge by learning what to do at the scene of an accident and how to treat minor cuts and burns. We have been busy making Easter nests using shredded wheat, chocolate and mini eggs and also planting sunflower seeds.

The second group went out to the car to have a look at what it could do. We chatted about how fast it went, the make, the siren and the radios we even got to play the siren! At the end of the discussion we talked about how to keep our houses safe and we got to use the breathalyser. None of us proved positive for alcohol... We all really enjoyed ourselves and found it really interesting.”

Change of days: Cubs now meet on a Thursday evening and Scouts on a Tuesday evening

Are you aged between 6 8 years of age, like the idea of playing games, learning new things and having fun? Yes... then come and join the Beaver Scouts! Cubs

Scouts: Girls and Boys aged 10½-14 meet on a Tuesday at 7pm Contact Mark (07801 773352) or 1st WeMeridenScouts@gmail.comalsoneedhelpfromany adults out there that would be willing to spare some time with any of the sections even if it is just for the odd hour or two each month.

If Bear Dares why don’t you?

Scouts: Girls and Boys aged 10½ 14 meet on a Tuesday at 7pm Contact Mark (07801 773352) or 1st MeridenScouts@gmail.com We also need help from any adults out there that would be willing to spare some time with any of the sections even if it is just for the odd hour or two each month.

Congratulations to Charlie who has achieved his level 1 swimmer badge!

VolunteersMeriden for Meriden brownies have had a busy term with a pantomime being acted out for the parents and a big Brownies birthday sports day where the Brownies joined in sports activities including, golf, cricket, hockey and squash. The brownies have been praised for their excellent behaviour so that was lovely to hear. ve said goodbye to a couple of Brownies who are unfortunately too old to stay on any longer and would like to wish Emily and Ellieanna all the luck for the Wefuture.have a short term ahead so will be finishing our big Brownie challenge badge and may squeeze in a walk up to the park with some chips as a treat. For further information please contact myself Sarah Markham. 07572 508727 (sarahmarkhamuk@yahoo.co.uk) Award winning, action-packed, multi-sensory adventure programme for toddlers 13 months to 4 years A different theme every week! To reserve your child’s place Call Avril: 0784 2815644 email;Solihull@toddlersense.co.uk www.babysensory.com VillageatThursdayEveryMeridenHall10.15am We had a very successful evening celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in March. “Vivo” were once again superb and we all enjoyed ourselves and raised some very much needed money for research. We collected outside Sainsburys for two days and raised £1,160. Many thanks to Sainsburys and our collectors. On April 30th we had sale of ladies clothing at the Heart of England Club. We received 20% of the takings and with refreshment and birthday card sales etc, we made £301. Thank you to the Heart of England Club for their continued Wesupport.arehaving a break over the summer. Although people have been asking for Open Gardens again, we have had no new gardens to offer and our regulars need a rest!

Our next big event is Race Night on Friday 19th September when the takings will go to prostate and testicular cancer research. We’ve got to look after our men. “In the Pink” evening for breast cancer research is on 24th October at Strawberry Bank Hotel. The new management have kindly offered to continue their support for this event. So that’s the ladies sorted we hope!

Jeanie Steele Cassidy 1930 2014 Jeanie Cassidy, née Milloy, was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland in 1930. She was the eldest daughter of Andy and Ina Milloy who worked for Lord and Lady Rowallan at the time. Jean loved painting and drawing and her art teacher recommended that she study at the Glasgow School of Art but after the war, money was tight. She then followed in the footsteps of her brother Jim and sister Greta and emigrated to Canada in 1956. It was there that she met her husband Vincent who was also born in Scotland. They married in 1959 and have one daughter Melanie who was born in 1961. Jean worked all her life from the age of 14 and most notably was a bookkeeper for the Montreal ship chandler Townsend Company. She retired in 1990. Jean is fondly remembered for her love of life and entertaining people. Jean’s house parties were well attended by family and friends; she loved to sing and dance and was an excellent cook.

All our volunteers work very hard but also enjoy themselves, whilst supporting this great cause, do get in touch if you would like to be involved. And thank you, as always, for supporting us Mary Warr 01676 522160 We’ve been busy!

Jean and Vincent moved to Meriden in 2003 to be with their daughter who had been living in the Midlands since 1983. As a family they loved to travel and in the 60s and 70s holidayed in Barbados, Hawaii, Miami and many other parts of the USA. Travels continued in the 80s and 90s with their daughter to European destinations. In Meriden, she enjoyed playing darts at the Heart of England Club and dining out at the Bull’s Head where she met many a colourful character from the village. She attended her daughter’s wedding to Paul Lee in 2004 with pipers in attendance and Vincent dressed in a kilt. After her second hip replacement in 2005, Jean became less mobile but still enjoyed dancing and holidays to France, Canada, Scotland and Belgium. She was the first member of her family to visit her Uncle John’s grave in Boulogne sur Mer where he died of wounds during the First World War. She was healthy in mind and spirit but eventually was hampered by a frail frame. Sadly, she passed away in Solihull Hospital from pneumonia on 28 April 2014 with her husband, daughter and son in law at her bedside. She is survived by her youngest sister Maureen. Her funeral service was held in May at St Laurence Church with a lone piper in attendance.

01676 523603

11th June Airships

Through My Eyes by Annette De Burgh aka Anne Santos brings to the forefront the sadness and injustice of animal cruelty. It is also the story of hope. Available from Amazon paperback/Kindle. In April we had our first tutored Script writing group. This proved to be a very enjoyable and productive session and our second meeting is scheduled for October when we hope to produce the outline of a radio Ourscript.Anthology containing work from members of all our groups is now edited and arrangements are in hand to produce this as an ebook and paperback. Currently we have started our blog easily accessible as balsallwritersblog. If you would like to join or wish further information please contact Anne Santos info@BalsallWriters.org.uk01676534003

BALSALL WRITERS

Meriden

Meriden library 01676 522717 Monday 10am 6pm Thursday 10am 6pm Saturday 10am 1pm Open Monday 10.00am 6.00pm Thursday 10.00am 6.00pm Saturday 10.00am 1.00pm

ers 

Meriden Library Readers Circle

A man's choice I feel as I know little about airships except they can be small or really big If we have any keen airship followers out there please call me and I will tell you about the meeting so you could join us for the evening.

Exciting news… Library has free to use computers and now offers: two hour’s free internet access for library memb Microsoft Office packages printing facilities (charges apply) scanner facilities will need your library card to use a computer. If you’re not yet a member, joining the library is easy and quick, so ask staff for more details. Library members can book a computer for up to two hours free of charge each day. Sessions can be extended for £1.50 per hour or part of an hour. are available until 15 minutes before the library closes. for a story… popular story time takes place every Monday from 2.45pm to 3.15pm during term time. Please come along and join in our lovely story group of parents and carers: make friends and enjoy some stories and crafts with your young children in the library.

You



Time

Sit back & relax…

Our Reading Café is open every month and continues to offer a warm welcome to everyone who attends. Bring along books to swap with like minded readers over coffee (or tea) and a cake! Have a chat about authors, books, reading or anything else. It’s free to attend, with free books!

13th August - Your Favourite Holiday Read to encourage us all to get it out for ourselves. are brilliant aren't they? If it's a lovely warm summer we can enjoy outdoors with them and, if it's raining, be equally happy inside.

Meetings are usually held on the second Wednesday of each month from 7.30 to 9.00p.m. There will be no meeting in July though, as we will hopefully be sunbathing with a select of books to pick the best for the August meeting.

Books

Every Tuesday (term time only) 9.30 11.30am Meriden Methodist Church Hall, Main Road £1.50 for one child + 50p each additional children (first session free) Please call Vanessa Walker 07779 235 248 for more details Come and join us for a little playtime crafts, indoor and outdoor play, a healthy snack, a cup of tea and a warm welcome

Our

Meriden Playgroup



Margaret Houldsworth

Computers

The dates for the next Reading Cafés are: Monday 16th June Monday 21st July All take place from 10.30am 12 noon. The Summer Reading Challenge is on its way!! It’s that time again and the library is looking forward to hosting this year’s exciting theme, Mythical Maze. Mythical Maze challenges children aged four to eleven to find their way around a labyrinth that introduces them to fantastical creatures from the world of legend and mythology, collecting stickers of each character along the way. The Summer Reading Challenge gets three quarters of a million children into libraries to keep up their reading skills and confidence during the long holidays. Here at Meriden Library, we look forward to the children taking part this summer, and completing the challenge with us. Dates for this year are July 12th September 13th .

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Coventry Community Responders rely solely on voluntary donations to keep operational. have over 20 responders across the City and surrounding areas. I have personally attended many incidents that have been literally life & death and have the wonderful feeling of having made a difference. We also provide free CPR training for interested groups and can provide AEDs for use in the community Please use the email address below if you are interested in this service. For every minute that passes without good CPR and defibrillation during a cardiac arrest, the chances of survival reduce by approximately 10%. That is why it is vital to provide as many publicly accessible AEDs in communities as possible. We have provided several primary schools and council buildings with AEDs in Coventry

Forrecently.thepast 18 months, Meriden Young Farmers have been organising events to raise money for us and we are pleased to say that they raised enough to completely equip a new responder, for which we are extremely grateful. Whenever I am attending an incident, I will have a Community First Responder visor on display in my car, please give me a wave but remember that an ambulance will be on its way shortly and will need parking space. I hope to be able to serve this community as much as possible, but I do this voluntarily in my own time if anybody is interested in becoming a Community First Responder (no prior experience required), then please contact us. If you would like to support Coventry Community Responders with a donation, you can do this via our site: www.coventrycommunityresponders.com/donate or contact us via email at info@coventrycommunityresponders.com

The Award Winning Farm Shop Berkswell Traditional Meats Larges Farm, Back Lane, Meriden CV77LD Tel 01676 522409 www.berkswelltraditionalmeats.co For meats of outstanding quality and flavour  Wide range of BBQ meats  Free range chickens  All cuts of beef including beef on the bone  Superb homemade sausages and home cured bacon  Traditional breed pork with real CRACKLING  Famous Berkswell ewes milk cheese Warwickshire’s only accredited Traditional Breeds Butcher Listed as one of Rick Stein’s “Food Her “ButcherWarwickshireoes”Life’softheYear” Opening Hours Monday closed Tuesday to Saturday 9.00am 5.00pm Sun 9.00am 1.00pm Community First Responders My name is Gary Edwards and I have recently moved into Millison’s Wood. I am a Community First Responder for Coventry Community Responders. A Community First Responder is a volunteer trained by the Ambulance Service to a Nationally Recognised level and responds to 999 medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest, heart attacks, diabetic emergencies, breathing difficulties, strokes and epilepsy amongst others. The area I cover includes Millison’s Wood, Meriden, Allesley and Eastern Green. Responders have a kit that includes oxygen, dressings, diagnostic equipment and Automated External Defibrillators (AED). The AEDs are particularly vital pieces of equipment as a patient in cardiac arrest has a much greater chance of survival when the following happen:  Early recognition and call for help  Early CPR  Early Defibrillation  Post resuscitation care

Please telephone: Mrs Whitlock 0121 474 6925.

Okin electrically controlled single bed with Relaxor massage mattress. Bed can be raised electrically at head or foot end, mattress provides therapeutic massage. Ideal for anyone who may need massage to help with circulation problems or wants / needs to spend time in a bed with head or foot end raised. Little used, excellent condition, clean and unmarked. Cost over £1500, for sale at £350. Buyer to arrange collection.

Sadly I lost my sister Lynne in January 2014 to Pancreatic SoCancer.very little is known about Pancreatic Cancer, and it is hard to detect in the early stages, but more worryingly very little funding is being given to the teams who are researching this awful disease. We at Berryfields organised a pig roast and raffle before Easter and raised £1700! We are splitting this between Pancreatic Cancer research and Pancreatic Cancer.org. Both the charities I have contacted have been fantastic, with help and encouragement for this event. I will be fund raising for Pancreatic Cancer all year in the shop. Your support would be very welcome.

Fundraising at Berryfields Farm Shop

The TICKETS are on sale at The Meriden Tearooms, The Spar Shop, Lloyds Chemist and The Charity Shop. I truly appreciate them taking the time to do this!! Tickets are only £5 for a book of 10 or 50p ea. All proceeds will be shared, equally, between The Marie Curie Hospice, Solihull and Macmillan Cancer Support.

We want to make sure no one has to face cancer alone but we can't do it without the amazing people, like Alan, who fundraise for us. Alan is the first to fully acknowledge the wonderful support he receives from local residents and organisations alike.

Camilla FundraisingWoodManager CSWEWFSC@macmillan.org.ukWarwickshire

The tree has become a symbol of beauty and of thought on Meriden Village Green, over the Christmas period, and Alan warmly welcomes anyone who wishes to visit during this time.

I'm aware that I say THANKYOU a lot but I really do mean it every time!! Because of the kindness and support being shown by Village residents, Organisations and visitors, THE TREE has raised £37,327.50 for Cancer Care so far!! I can do all the organising but without the generosity and caring of those who participate, this remarkable figure would not happen so here's another one THANKYOU. If you haven't already, do look at the website by googling Meriden Tree of Thought. There is also a Facebook page.

Meriden Pool A Beautiful Place

The thousands of people living in, visiting or passing through Meriden

GOOD LUCK with your entries.

Camilla Wood Meriden Tree of Thought

Alan Lole

This year's Draw will take place during the Meriden Rotary Megaride at The Queen's Head on Sunday 22nd June. As a result of the outstanding generosity of many people, there are over 25 prizes to be won.

Meriden Midsummer Draw

We are extremely fortunate to have a beautiful duck pond in the village admired, loved and respected by residents and visitors, including cyclists and walkers. It is also important for the wonderful wildlife that is present all year round. The week of April 21st saw the arrival of ten new ducklings, and three moorhen chicks. There have been on occasion over 50 ducks, a marvellous sight to see, a proud heron, who flagrantly disregards the “No fishing sign”, the presence of an unidentified large aquatic creature, (the heron has its eye on it) and the resident “owner of the pond”, our proud non flying goose with his partner by his side, and the recent temporary arrival of five further geese is nature at its best. The village is lucky; there is a beautiful scene to watch over, benches to sit on and an area from which to admire the Thiswildlife.isanidyllic venue for all generations. We must respect all of this, understand that feeding guidelines are there to be adhered to, rubbish should be placed in the several litter bins and realise that we are part of the survival plans of several species of duck, geese, heron, fish, moorhen and goodness knows what else that lies within our midst. Let us not abuse, or damage nature at its finest, we must not let it fade away, but enjoy the splendour of a natural feature that will always make us stop, smile, laugh and enjoy the serenity of ‘Meriden Pool’.

over the Christmas period, will have seen a tree on The Village Green, but not just any tree. This tree is lit by over 1000 lights and has been for many years. In 2005, Alan Lole founded the Meriden Tree of Thought and has so far raised £34,940.00 for Macmillan Cancer Support through his continued work and dedication to the tree. Alan explains “My motivation became even greater when I lost my Mother, Olwyn, to bowel cancer, which was diagnosed just weeks after the first Tree in 2005. I witnessed, at that time, the wonderful work done by Macmillan Cancer Support” leading Alan to become “aware of the huge number of people who need their help. They truly make a dreadful time as bearable as is possible”.

“Enjoy” Trevor Payne Electric Bed for Sale

Fiona Barber ,

Macmillan’s fundraising manager for Warwickshire, Camilla Wood, said “Our work is almost entirely funded by public donations so we are extremely grateful for every pound given to us. The money raised from Alan’s hard work is used to fund Macmillan’s support services for people with cancer and their families including financial, practical and emotional support.

As usual there has been plenty going on at Heart of England School in the last few months! Our recent production of Grease was a great success with sell out performances every night, full of energy, fun and great music. The bar gets set higher each year so bring on the next one! (Please see photograph on centre colour pages)

Our Principal Mr Mackereth is moving on to other things too after seven years of great leadership at our school. He leaves us on the up with our recent ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ from Ofsted reflecting our striving for higher and higher standards. We wish him the best of luck in his new post as Principal at a Northamptonshire school from September the natural rhythm of the year rolls on and we say farewell and good luck to Year 11 GCSE students who will be studying hard for their exams which are starting soon. We also say farewell and good luck to our Year 13 students who are coming to the end of their time at Heart of England School. We hope they do well after all the hard work and that they will move on with success to new horizons be it further study, training or employment.

News from the Heart of England School

Such a predicament of identity manifests itself so much in younger people since it is in school that peer pressure and the importance to conform festers. The community of a school is undoubtedly threatened by a culture of becoming a “sheep”; that is, following a crowd. It may not be fair to pin the blame on young people themselves for generating this absorbance of such values. The media, it seems, have some responsibility in this: in a globalising world, technology becomes a peer. From materialism to brand power, from celebrity culture to the omnipresence of technology, young people are influenced heavily by what they see and hear. Thus a society grows based on constantly acquiring “the next best thing”. Such peer pressure is not limited to aesthetic values. The crisis of substance abuse in young people can equally be related to the desire to be part of a community. This accentuates the extent of the harm that can be affected by the influence of others.

Claire Hargreaves year 12 student at Heart of England Sixth Form

Good Luck Candidates!

The Perils and Puzzles of Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is an ever growing phenomenon in our 21st century, consumer society. Young people are often forced to appear a certain way, in order to find this “acceptance” and “recognition” which seems so sought after. The cultural climate of Britain in 2014 seems to have rather firmer dictations than it might like to admit to; neither gender, appearance nor personality are really as flexible as one might believe.

Although it’s not necessarily negative to want to conform to a group or “blend in”, one must take caution of what one is trying to conform to. The problem of peer pressure derives from the superficial values that cause it, based on the influence of the biggest and best brands and the faltering of genuine individuality.

Farewell

2014.Ofcourse

It is, instead, worthwhile and valuable to want to prevent the all consuming influence of peer pressure. Whilst it may be difficult to stop it from becoming a tradition, it’s easier to promote the flourishing of individualism, which, thanks to the efforts of not only some schools and organisations but also some aspects of popular culture, is already happening. It’s vital to retain personal choice, limits and a sense of self esteem in order to avoid being sucked in by the peer pressure vacuum.

Lavender Hall BerkswellLane 01676 530 299 / 07949 119 436 Cafe open to the public from 8.00am – 2.00pm daily 7 days a week Serving hot and cold food Specialising in an all day Breakfast for £4.20! 5 fishing lakes in shopBaitcountryside.gloriousandtacklenowopen Gates open at 7.00am close at dusk The Meriden Mag has its own web site www.meridenmag.co.uk where you can view back issues and friends and family, not in the area, can catch up on local news MANOR HOTEL Main Road, Meriden, Solihull, West Midlands, CV7 7NH Tel: 01676 522735 Sunday 15th June Father’s Day Lunch in the Regency Restaurant Tell your Dad to leave his wallet at home and treat him to a traditional 3 course Sunday lunch served in our 2 AA Rosette Regency Restaurant. We’ll even give Dad a gift just in case you forget! Adults £19.95 per person Children (12 years and under) £10.95 per person Children 2 years and under eat FREE Call the Hotel on 01676 522 735 or email events@manorhotelmeriden.co.uk to book your table! Vacancies for new members available from April to October 2014 Must have own transport 1st class venues Fishing on Sunday mornings only 8.30am 1.30pm Eleven contests during this period Contact Ron Warr 01676 522160 Martyn Tuckey 01676 522 437 Meriden Fishing Club Heart of England Party Treasures of Meriden Speciality treats for all occasions We offer  Party bags ,sweet cones and hampers for children and adults  Wedding favours, Baby shower gifts, teachers’ thank you gifts  Wrapped pass the parcel gifts and games prizes You tell us the occasion and we will tailor gifts to meet your needs and budget Contact Liz Roche 07875 405592 Nina Angus 07745 442366 Houston’s Bar and Grill Our All New.. American Afternoon Tea To include Bagels selection of fillings Oreo Cheesecake, Mini Muffins, Mini Sugar Doughnuts, Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Choice of Hot Beverage Enjoy… 3 Courses for the price of 2 From the set lunch menu available Wednesdays and Fridays 12.00 5.00pm Treat yourself… Sunday Lunch 1 Course £7.95 2 Courses £11.95 3 Courses £14.95 Call Houston’s on 01676 522 735 to make your reservation person£8.95Per £10.95Only

[[[[[[[Kinwaldsey, William son of Gerard (possibly Geoffrey’s brother elsewhere called ‘ Gilmyn’), Richard Hill the Mason, Nicolas Godyng and many others. I imagine them all crowding round listening, all of 700 years ago. Doreen Agutter. PC Technical Services Tile Hill Lane Coventry Home Computer Repairs Upgrading & Problem Solving Telephone 024 7667 4952 Independent personal attention Internet & e mail Troubleshooting & tuition Lost Buildings of Meriden. Part 1 Tory Row.

I am often reminded that the village of my childhood all but vanished between 1959 and 1972. Many premises condemned before the 1939 45 War survived immediate demolition as evacuees from Coventry in particular sought refuge from the Blitz. Post War austerity and shortage extended many properties’ use but the developers eventually arrived. Not all residents were happy about this. As a school girl, I remember attending a very gentile protest meeting at the Rural District Council’s offices in Coleshill with Dr Platten and Lady Harley. We achieved nothing. I was reminded after a talk in 1990s that many in the audience did not know where the places I mentioned once stood. Some had been Listed Grade 2 buildings; others dating from the 1400s should have survived. In the 1990s the then owner of Meriden Hall seeing a photograph of Darlaston Hall said, ‘That could be my next renovation project. Where is it?’ but he was 35 years too late. Doreen Agutter

What was it? A group of picture postcard dwellings at least from a distance, one half timbered known as ‘ Spring Cottage’ dating at the latest from 16th century and an attached barn. This had been converted into tiny dwellings when village accommodation became scarce and four newly built as a unit before 1738 the end one a blacksmith’s shop.

Documents survive showing they had been joined together at different times. Apart from Spring Cottage itself, each had 4 small rooms. I remember their interiors dark with low ceilings, a narrow path leading to the back doors made I think of blue bricks which were slippery if it rained.

Where was it? It stretched along the road from the Pool to opposite the ‘Manor House’ grounds. Behind it was part of the dammed up Horn Brook forming an extension of the Pool but not in my era. The blacksmith’s shop and house and a fine Spanish chestnut were next to the Pool. There is a detached bungalow there today. A 1919 sale description read, ‘ entrance kitchen, back kitchen ,pantry, two bedrooms, hovel and pigsty ’.Other modern bungalows and houses set back from the road complete the site. You could see the tower of St Laurence’s on the hill between Spring Cottage and the next old house ‘The Cabin’ also demolished which had one medieval and one 17th century wing. What of its name? I was told what the villagers believed: it was short for ‘Victoria Row’ in honour of Princess Victoria (later Queen)after her visit to Meriden but this is not so. I spotted this mistake recently in print! In fact it had the name before she was born, the real Row being the four identical houses. The only meaning I know of Tory is the political jibe: Irish horse thief. The cottages were home to ostlers at the Bull Head Inn opposite so did it have a bad name? Was it once Thieves Row? It was demolished in 1959. Series to be continued

The Children’s Centre at the rear of Meriden C of E Primary School next to Beechwood Nursery Play and Stay Mondays 12 noon to 2.00 pm (in term time) For families with children age 0 5 Adult Craft Exchange Fridays at 9.00 am 12.00 noon At Meriden Children’s Centre Please call Vanessa to book 07779235248 Alternate Fridays 1.30 pm-2.30 pm Caterpillar Club messy session in the school nursery contact school for further details For more details of the Children’s Centre activities call 0121 248 7654 Anything you need relating to children and families, we can help Temple Balsall A Sure Start Children’s Centre If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you! Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.

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Don’t leave keys in the ignition when the car is left unattended Lock your car when you leave it Don’t leave anything on display Take your sat nav with you when you leave and remove any marks left If you have a garage use it! leave valuables in the glovebox appreciate that some of you reading this will already be following this advice so thank you for your support. But if you know a friend or member of the family who doesn’t, or if you’re in a car where the driver isn’t so safety conscious please help us by passing on our message.

Getting into a car on a warm summer day can be stifling. The windows go down, and the sunroof is opened to try and cool the car for those who don’t use air con. And when the journey ends there is a temptation to leave windows partly open to keep it cool.

I’m going to start my latest message by asking you to think of the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the summer. For many it may be an upcoming holiday, memories of previous sun fuelled fun, spending times outdoors with the family, the sound of the sea or the taste of an ice cream.

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• Never

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So please follow these simple tips:

Four years into HS2, it's nice to think we get a summer break. The ball is firmly back in the Government's court after the frenetic activity depositing the Petitions to Parliament seeking better mitigation of the environmental impact. Because of the failure of HS2 Ltd to respond, improve or agree anything along the way, there are now hundreds of detailed issues dropped into the lap of a Select Committee of six MPs. They have the unenviable task of trying to limit the damage that would be caused by the construction and operation of HS2. At last, there might be someone who'll listen to the real concerns of ordinary people and their representatives. So far, the HS2 project has been a model of how not to run a major project. Designed in secret with half the facts, and the reasons for wanting it cooked up afterwards and changed regularly. Endless consultations have been filed in the bin, and the "community engagement" got nowhere because HS2 Ltd were set to transmit rather than receive. They changed the design like a kaleidoscope, sent powerless minions along to negotiate, and never focused on an issue. Now it's political. David Higgins has a £10 billion warchest to use on "mitigation", but will that be enough to convert a pig's ear into a manicured pig's ear? Maybe the Midlands will be lucky, as the Select Committee is going to start our end, and we'll get our nose in the trough early on. Don't expect too much too soon, and all the political parties will be playing for maximum political advantage in next year's general election. Unfortunately, saving the Meriden Gap needs political change, not just a tweaking of the details. If the HS2 station is built at Middle Bickenhill, a new "garden city" will follow, just as with Ebbsfleet. Only it won't be a city, it will just be an outer suburb of London.

Police News from Sergeant Craig Hurst Our Neighbourhood Policeman

As you read this message are you confident that your car is locked and all the windows are shut? If an opportunist thief walked by your vehicle would it look secure?

HS2 Update

But there are years and years to go before decisions are made, and just because a billion has gone down the drain already, there's no reason to suppose that future governments will chose to continue wasting money on HS2.

Few of you will have thought of crime, or dealing with the consequences of becoming a victim of crime. On one hand this really pleases me it is an indication of how safe local communities are, and the last thing we want is for your fun to be tainted by the fear of crime. But similarly I’d ask you to take the simplest of safety measures that won’t hamper your enjoyment and in particular focus on how you can help us to reduce opportunist vehicle crime.

At the same time I’d also ask you to think about what you may have left on display in your vehicle. Is the cradle for the sat nav still attached to the windscreen, are a set of sunglasses in the central console, loose change for parking by the gear stick, a coat on the backseat just in case it rains? Any item left on display, no matter how insignificant or low value it may seem to you, could attract the attention of a thief.

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You’ll be seeing myself and officers on patrol and speaking to motorists while on patrol and passing on the following safety advice. So if you see anyone acting suspiciously around parked cars, or any other behaviour that causes you concern please get in touch by dialing 101. Thank you Craig Hurst

Richard Lloyd Chairman Heart of England High Speed Railway Action Group (www.hhag.org.uk)

PA ELECTRICS (17th edition qualified) All aspects of domestic installation and repairs Phone Paul Telephone: 0121 764 5872 Mobile 07979 064835 Email: paulheath11@yahoo.com • MULTIWALL POLYCARBONATE SHEETS • GLAZING BARS & ACCESSORIES • DECORATIVE WALL CLADDING & SHOWER PANELS • UPVC FASCIA, SOFFITS, SKIRTING & ARCHITRAVE • CORRUGATED PVC, GRP & POLYCARBONATE ROOFING SHEETS • GUTTERING & DOWNPIPES - SQUARE & ROUND • CUT TO SIZE ACRYLIC & POLYCARBONATE SHEETS • DECORATIVE COVING & CORNICE • HYGIENIC WALL & CEILING LININGS • DYNOTILE CLIP TOGETHER GARAGE FLOORING IS RIGHT OYUR DOORSTEP!! Tel: 01676 522224 Opening Hours - Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat Morning 9am-12pm WWW.ROCKWELL- MERIDEN.CO.UK ONE OF THE UK’S LARGEST DISTRIBUTORS OF PLASTIC BUILDING MATERIALS IS STILL RIGHT ON YOUR DOORSTEP!! We have moved to Millisons Wood !! ONE OF THE UK’S LARGEST DISTRIBUTORS OF PLASTIC BUILDING MATERIALS Rockwell Sheet Sales Ltd Rockwell MillisonsBirminghamHouseRoadWood,Coventry CV5 9AZ  Fuse box upgrades  Test and inspection  Extra lights and sockets  Security lights  Full or rewirespartial  Digital TV aerials  Free quotations Part RegisteredP Fully equipped with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, private roof terrace, swimming pool, garage, TV and air conditioning. 10 mins from the sea 40km from Alicante airport From £250 per week for more information see www.stillinspain.com Contact Malcolm Hickin 01676 248673 mhickin@tiscali.co.uk Holiday accommodation rental in Spain

Barbara Bland

Police beat surgeries Sgt Craig Hurst and his team will conduct their beat surgery on 11 June 2014 and 9 July 2014 at the Sports Pavilion between 11am and 12noon. If you have any policing concerns do come along and discuss them with one of the local officers that is responsible for patrolling your area.

Pavilion,

Should

The next meeting dates are: June 2014 Parish Council Meeting, Pavilion, Sports Park 28 July 2014 Parish Council Meeting, Sports Park 18 August 2014 Parish Council Meeting, Village Hall note the change of venue to the Parish Council office for some meetings is to afford access to wi and Parish Council files for effective and efficient use of meeting times. you wish to contact the Parish Council, please contact the Clerk or drop into the Parish Council office on Monday or Thursday mornings where you may access information or have a private chat with the Clerk to address local community issues.

162423

Melanie Lee Bob Kipling Rosie Weaver Paul Lee Mandy Haque Frances Jon Barber Matthew Nunn (Chair) (Vice Chair) Lynch Smith

The public and press cordially invited to all parish council meetings at 7.30pm. An opportunity will be given for the public to speak. Look out for the agenda and venue which is posted on the parish notice boards and our website www.meridenparishcouncil.org.uk prior to the meeting.

Your Parish Councillors are:

The Pavilion Sports Park Main 522474 Mobile:07767 Email: barbarablandmpc@btconnect.com Web: www.meridenparishcouncil.org.uk

Community surgeries at Meriden Library

Community surgeries are held by Barbara Bland, our Clerk, and Bruce Brant, our Neighbourhood Co ordinator, from Solihull Council to discuss any issues at Meriden Library on Monday mornings from 10.00am 12.00 noon on the following dates: Wednesday 11 June 2014 will be combined with the Police Beat Surgery at the Pavilion between 11am and 12noon then back to the library on 7 July 2014 and 4 August 2014 If there is a preference for confidentiality you may arrange to meet Barbara and Bruce at The Pavilion. Please call Barbara so she may organise this for you during the Community Surgery time slot.

The Parish Council would like to thank All the shop keepers who are donating hanging baskets and local businesses for sponsoring planting for Solihull Neighbourhoods in Bloom and Dovetail Facilities Management for their assistance to the parish council in getting Solihull Neighbourhoods in Bloom in place for Meriden Alan Lole for his donation of 400,000 poppy seeds for the commemoration of the First World War Centenary and to Brian Ball and Terry Dean for sowing the seeds

Please

The flower schemes planned alongside the hanging baskets and poppies should make a beautiful display throughout the parish. Thanks to the community involvement, localism has come to Meriden!

are

Bruce Brant and Kath Hemmings, Neighbourhood Services Team, for their gift of an inclusive picnic bench to Meriden Pool.

Meriden

MeridenRoadCV7 7SP Tel: 01676

(Mondays and Thursdays)

Having been promoted from Division 4 to Division 2 this last season, they are strongly placed for promotion to the AFA Premier League next season and at the time of going to press are hoping to gain the treble as they are currently top of the league. Well done indeed.

Meriden’s football achievements

Family Picnic in the Park is back with a difference

Sports Camps this summer at Meriden Sports Park 28 July - 1 August, 4 - 8 August, 11 - 15 August, 18 - 22 August, 26 - 29 August 9am 3pm each day. £10 per day or £40 per week. For boys and girls aged 5 12. For each day please ensure you bring a packed lunch, healthy snacks, warm waterproof clothing as well as boots/trainers. Please book through the Parish Council’s sports co ordinator Paul Jayes on 07508 611922 or email Paul at visionfootballacademy@ymail.com to guarantee your child’s place on our Sports Camps. Book your place early as places are limited.

This year we have had to increase the Parish Council Precept from £32.98 to £33.97, an increase per household of 99p. The reason is due to the increase in Band D households within the parish and the decrease in the support grant from Solihull Council. This is the first increase for three years.

Taking place between 1pm and 3pm the usual sporting fun and games will be on offer including those that would have been played in 1914. A brass band will play music from the era and if you fancy dressing up in period costume it will make it even more fun. The village stocks will be there too, donated by Alan Lole to raise funds for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

Flooding update

A good season for Meriden Rovers again this season. The U14s playing in the CWYFL Division 3 East finished the season a respectable 3rd. The U11s playing in the CWYFL Division 6 came runners up and gained promotion after spending most of the season on top of the table until the final couple of weeks. They finally finished in 2nd place A big well done to all involved with the teams and also the parents for their continued support of the players and coaches.

The water travelling down Berkswell Road from Heart of England Club due to a broken gully has been reported to Solihull Council who in turn has reported it to Severn Trent Water as it appears to be a broken water main.

As part of the First World War Centenary, this year’s picnic in the park will have a 1914 theme to it and everyone is welcome to take part on Sunday 20 July 2014.

If you’d like some inspiration on picnic ideas from 1914, go to Meriden’s First World War website where you will find country recipes in the useful documents section. You can also keep up to date with future First World War events through the website www.firstworldwarmeriden.co.uk and our Facebook page Meriden First World War.

Solihull Council has set the dates for the delivery of their drainage programme of works for 2014/15 and they have provisionally set a date of 11 August 2014 for the commencement of the first phase of works in Meriden. Affected residents will be contacted once they have finalised their programme. It was perhaps hoped that the works would commence sooner, but due to the high rainfall we have experienced over the past 4 months, Solihull Council’s ongoing drainage programme has suffered numerous delays.

Triumph Meriden FC won the Fazeley Charity Cup 2014 and the AFA Intermediate Trophy 2014.

Parish Council Precept

For the very best for your dog, contact… Lesley Thompson, at Meriroyles 118 Fillongley Road, Meriden. Telephone 01676 522405 email: meriroyles@aol.com  Fresh Barbecue Meats  Fresh local farm chickens  Hand raised pork pies all sizes  Ribs of beef on the bone  Free range English pork  Top quality lamb  Wide selection of prize winning sausages  Wide selection of cheeses  Wide selection of bacon including dry cured English bacon Tom’s Butchery Established 25 years 3 The Green TelephoneMeriden 01676 522822  Brick built heated/fully tiled kennels with individual runs  Highly recommended, small family run business  Vaccinated dogs only please  Working Springer Spaniel and Cocker Spaniel puppies sometimes for sale  Newspapers and Magazines  Beer and Wine  Groceries and fresh produce  Cash Machine and cash back available  Dry Cleaning  Lottery  Award winning Lashford sausages  Send and receive parcels from here Open Weekdays 6.30am-10pm Weekends 7.30am-10pmSpar, 1 The Green, Meriden 01676 522287 Opening hours Weekdays 6am 10pm Weekends 7am 10pm

Short Walk

Points of interest

There are three different walks in Shustoke, two are relatively easy 2.5 miles and 3.75 miles, and the third longer walk is more Leavchallenging.etheReservoir car park, take the path to the left around the top of the large reservoir (1), and continue around the far side.

Turn right following the way marked path, with the wooded area to your right, eventually joining Bixhill Lane.

Middle & Long Walks

On reaching the eastern end, go down the steps and take the footbridge across the brook, passing the small reservoir on your right, over the River Bourne, and turn right onto the path alongside the railway. Follow this way marked path, going back over the river, around the rear of a house, to the gate at the end of the wooded area.

Shustoke Parish Walk

* At this point follow the instructions below for the Long Walk. For the Middle Walk bear right before the gate, taking the way marked path across fields towards a conifer wood, eventually entering the wood, and then leaving it again by the path to the left. Continue straight on, past a pond on the left, along the field path, which becomes a track, and then joins a road, Hollyland. Carry straight on past houses to the junction with Moat House Lane, joining the main North Arden Heritage Trail. At this point the Long Walk re joins the Middle Walk. Take the way marked path through a gate opposite Moat House Lane, and to the right of the Cottage, and head towards the farm buildings and houses across the field. Go through two gates to the Lower Green, a grassy area with carved stepping stones The Shustoke Heritage Feature (3). Turn left along Back Lane into Shustoke village, crossing the B4114 Coleshill Road [!], and then following the footpath back to the left to the Reservoir car park. Long Walk Go through the gate, and continue straight on across the fields until you reach Moat House Lane. Bear right along the lane to the marked opening into the field at the next bend. Follow this way marked path across fields and past a cottage, ‘The Metlins’. Follow the path across two more fields to a footbridge crossing a stream, and then climb up through Dumble Wood. At a gate you join with the main North Arden Heritage Trail turning right. Continue along the perimeter of the wood, with Dumble Farm on your left, crossing the stream again, and following the waymark signs across four fields, finally passing Hall Farm on the right. Exit through a gate onto Moat House Lane, and follow the lane, passing Cottage Farm, to its junction with Hollyland. Re join the Middle Walk above.

2. Shustoke Church of St Cuthbert’s was erected in 1307 on the site of an earlier church or chapel. On the 1st June 1886 this church was struck by lightning and destroyed, being subsequently re built. The grave of the famous historian Sir William Dugdale can be found in the Church.

Go straight to the gate in the hedge ahead, and bearing left follow the way marked path around the edge of the field, ignoring a path to the left under the railway, and leaving it through another gate onto the B4114 Coleshill Road. Bear left, and walk along the grass verge, crossing the road [!] to a gate opposite. Follow the way marked path past Shustoke Church (2), continuing along a driveway to Shawbury Lane. Cross the lane to a gate leading to a way marked path through a spinney, and across two fields to a meeting of paths.

Each village has a heritage interpretation feature Shustoke’s is a series of stepping stones across the green created by artist Michael Scheuermann. Each stone represents an aspect of Shustoke’s natural or industrial heritage…from the railway, Blythe Hall and the Church, to the pheasant hunter and his dog, and images of the reservoir.

Continue straight on along the lane passing a house on the right and finally bearing right at the main road opposite the ‘Plough’ pub, and then following the footpath back to the Reservoir car park.

The North Arden Heritage Trail project worked with local communities to establish a 25 mile circular heritage trail in North Warwickshire passing through the parishes of Atherstone, Mancetter, Hartshill, Ansley, Arley, Astley, Fillongley, Maxstoke, Shustoke, Nether Whitacre, Kingsbury, Baddesley Ensor and Merevele. There are 12 different walks all of which can be found at www.northardenheritagetrail.co.uk

1. Shustoke Reservoir was built in Victorian times for water storage and distribution by Birmingham City Council, but is now run and maintained by Severn Trent Water. There are pleasant walks around the reservoir, and it is also a Mecca for bird watchers, with unusual birds stopping off on occasions.

Large sums of money and enormous amounts of time are lost each week when patients do not attend their appointment. We operate a ‘Did not attend’ policy and we will inform you in writing if we have any concerns about the amount of times you have failed to attend your appointments, whether these be pre bookable appointments or urgent appointments. With this in mind it is very important that you cancel any unwanted appointments with us in plenty of time. You can cancel appointments via on line services (if you have access), face to face or by telephone. Please be considerate if you no longer need it…..Please cancel it!

Previous the for

Keeping in Touch

you to gain access to the on line services.

1. Meriden Surgery 01676 522252 School House, 200 Main Road, Meriden, CV7 7NG Dr M Bhandal Dr S Barratt Dr A Carlile Dr T Nadim Dr R Horsley (Partners) Associate GP Dr L Palmer www.balsallcommongrouppractice.co.uk Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8.30am to 6pm Wednesday 8.30am to 12.00 For details on how to obtain medical help when the surgery is closed please phone 01676 935000 For 02476informationmorepleaseringCynthiaon440316

1.30

 In

PPG group? If

The PPG are a group of volunteers working with the Practice to improve the services, and to provide the patients’ perspective. Along with other members, as well as two GPs and the Practice Manager the group is now firmly established at the Balsall Common & Meriden Group Practice. The aim is for the Practice to respond to patients’ ideas and needs by establishing a two way communication between staff and patients. We shall discuss any NHS and Practice Policies and delivery of service.

‘Did Not Attend’ Appointments

 On

A Friday pm next sessions for 17 July at The Heart of Club 3.30 & 4.30 7.30pm Appointments available by calling 03001232323 like to join the practice so please write to the Practice Manager Joanne Hope at joanne.hope@nhs.net or by letter detailing why you would like to join the group and what you could bring to the group. We look forward to hearing from you.



Would you

England Social

practice will then issue a username and password

Eadon Hall, Central Hall, Methodist Church Warwick Lane, Coventry, CV1 2HA Friday 13th June Sandy Walmsley, Respiratory Nurse Consultant Breathlessness and Oxygen Friday 11th July Diane Phiminster, Coventry University Depression Friday 8th August Dr Colin Gelder, Chest Consultant NHS Blood and Transplants The

blood donors will be Thursday

support group for all those affected by a lung condition, including friends, family andMeetscarers.on the 2nd

The PPG will endeavour to keep in touch with the surgery’s patients in various ways. For example PPG information will be displayed on the practice notice board in the waiting area at both Meriden Surgery and Balsall Common Surgery Information will be circulated to members, preferably by email, to those who have given their email addresses, or by post to others the surgery website Publishing Newsletters during the year local newsletters

What is the Patient Participation Group (PPG)?

www.balsallcommongrouppractice.co.uk 



Patient Participation (PPG) meeting minutes are available to view on our website www.balsallcommongrouppractice.co.uk Coventry Breathe Easy On Line Appointments and Repeat Prescriptions Balsall Common and Meriden patients can now book certain appointments and request repeat medication on line. If you would like to use this facility please inform reception or email Joanne Hope at joanne.hope@nhs.net, you will then be supplied with a consent form to sign, once this is received

of every month. 2 4

Edna McDougall January 1920 April 2014 Mum took ill in November of last year and was taken into hospital where she spent 9 weeks. She came home at the beginning of February and we nursed her until she died on 12 SheApril.wasborn in Packington in January 1920 and was the eldest of 7 children. Edna moved to the village at the age of For16.most of her working life she was employed by Percy and Mabel Tuckey who had the farm along with a butchers and grocery shop in the centre of the village. She met my dad Ron, who was in the army. When he returned from the war they married in 1946. They were very happily married for 54 years when Ron passed away in May 2000. I don't think she ever got over his death; they were very close and went everywhere together. Mom loved pottering about in the garden where she spent many hours; it was her pride and joy. She also loved to go out with me in the car, shopping or to the garden centres and also visiting friends and family. She had many friends and I am sure she will be sadly missed by them and by her family.

The family would like to thank everyone who attended Margaret’s funeral and for all the messages of sympathy they have received.

Stella Russell

Alison and family would like to thank the people of the Meriden area for their wonderful support after the unexpected death of John. It was true community spirit and such a comfort. I was blessed with 45 very happy years of marriage, mostly living in Meriden , and having daughter Helen and son Michael. John grew up in the mining community of Nuneaton. He worked as Training Officer in various industries in Birmingham and then as personnel Manager in the NHS. He loved outdoor activities including sport, fishing and walking. He read a lot, always taking interest in history and politics. He will be missed

John Stain September 30th 1940 8th March 2014

Margaret was born in Nuneaton, the only child of Florence and William Fox. During her early life, she spent much time at her mother’s family home at Park Farm in Fillongley. Later she joined her father at his Timber Merchants as secretary and on the outbreak of war joined the Army Ambulance Service. During the 2nd world war she met and married her husband Jack. At the end of the war Margaret and Jack started their family life in Birmingham. They had four children, Gillian, Mary, Roger and John. Margaret was a busy mother, housewife and an active member of her local church and organised many PTA events for the children’s school. As her children went on to pursue their careers, Margaret became an assistant cook and worked at several local restaurants including the White Cat in Solihull. In later years her husband Jack suffered ill health and died aged 63 years of a stroke. By this time Margaret’s mother, now aged 100 years moved from Fillongley to live with her. She cared for her mother until her death aged 108. Now that Margaret was on her own, she felt lonely and decided to come and live near her daughter Gill who had two young sons and was teaching at Meriden CE School. Margaret moved to The Firs and was back in her home territory again, taking an active part in supporting Gill’s family and school activities. She joined the Methodist Church, WI and still managed regular trips to meet up with friends from Shirley her previous home. She was a committed Christian and a dedicated member of the Methodist Church in Meriden. She loved the friendships made at The Firs and joined actively in all Cameo, W.I. and village events. She even formed a knitting group at the Firs when in her 90’s!

Margaret was interested in what was going on around her and asking of friends and family. She lived life to the full and will be greatly missed by good friends and her loving family!

During the past five years her health has been failing. She had a swallowing problem, which made social life difficult and she became less mobile. Nevertheless, Margaret bravely carried on, supported by friends and family, living an active life through the Rightdifficulties.totheend

Margaret Gardner October 4th 1919 March 28th 2014

April 20th 1926-January 5th 2014 Since moving to Meriden where I spent my childhood and teens, my husband Brian got to love Meriden and its people. Brian was born and grew up in Birmingham. He made many friends and loved to stop for a chat. He worked at Triumph motor cycles for 40 years until its closure. Sadly he died in January this year having struggled with Alzheimer’s for a few years. Gail and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to be kind and friendly to him when we went on our walks around the village. It is much appreciated.

Brian Laurence Russell

blitz Beauty Salon Telephone 01676 521100 Men and Women welcome Open late nights Monthly offers available Dual treatment room Gift vouchers available Friendly, welcoming environment All aspects of Beauty Therapy to include; Manicures, Pedicures, Waxing, Eye treatment, Facials, Caci facials and body treatments, microdermabrasion , massages, Hopi Ear Candles, Reflexology, Gel Nails and Extensions, Body Wraps, Hot Stone Massage, Spray Tanning and Vertical Sun bed, Dermal fillers and fine line injections Monday closed, Tuesday 10 5, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 10 8, Saturday & Sunday 10 4 For more details or to go on our mailing list - Telephone 01676 521100 wwwblitzbeautycoventry.co.uk Join us on Facebook & Twitter PictureAcanthusFramer Calvin Home Workshop 279 Kenilworth Road Balsall Common Tuesday -Friday 10.00am thru to 5.00pm Saturday 9.00am 4.00pm Anyothertimebyappointment Needleworks – Prints - Photos Medals - Artworks Mirrors available and framed 0845 388 8178 Over 60's special Also2510amTuesday-3pm%offanytreatmentcomplimentarytea&biscuitsNew to Blitz Vibration plate andLiposuctionUltrasonic

Best kept and cultivated garden kept by a bone fide amateur gardener on one site and situated within 10 miles of Fillongley Church

To enter please contact David on 01676 522884 Entry fee £3.00 Prize money 1st £10, 2nd £5, 3rd £3 Make this while the gooseberriesareripe

Best allotment kept by a bone fide amateur gardener on one site and situated within 10 miles of Fillongley Church. Judging to take place on 21/22 June

M.J. Mowing Grass Cutting Hedge Cutting Pruning Strimming Weed Control Pesticide Licensed Leaves Cleared No Job Too CallFreeCompetitiveSmallPricesQuotesMartin01675465 204 07922 241 181 Brailes522318Farm Fresh cut turf Rockery stone and Other gardenVillageneedsdelivery Gooseberry Shortcake 6 ozs butter 3 ozs caster sugar 6 ozs S R flour 3ozs cornflour 8 ozs gooseberries 1 oz chopped walnuts 1oz Demerara sugar Method: Grease a 7"sq.tin. Cream the butter and the sugar and add in the flours. Spread 2/3 mixture into the tin. Cover with gooseberries. To the remaining 1/3rd of mixture add the demerara sugar and the chopped walnuts. Spread over the gooseberries and press down gently. Bake Gas mark 5/190 degrees/180 degrees Fan oven, for 45 minutes. Balsall & District Horticultural Society's Annual Show Saturday 19th July Exhibits of Flowers, Vegetables and Crafts St Peter's Church Hall, Holly Lane Doors open at 2pm. Admission by donation Free parking, Refreshments, Plant Sales, Raffle 10 things to do in the garden this June Hoe borders regularly to keep down weeds. Be water wise, especially in drought affected areas. Pinch out side shoots on tomatoes Harvest lettuce, radish, other salads and early potatoes Position summer hanging baskets and containers Mowoutsidelawns at least once a week. Plant out summer bedding Stake tall or floppy plants.

Judging to take place on 18th June 2014

Whitacres and Shustoke Horticultural Society 66th Annual Show Saturday July 26th Blyth Hall Shustoke Schedules can be obtained from the website. www.show.shustoke warwickshire.co.uk

Fillongley Show Sunday 10th August

To enter please contact Roger on 01676 523705 Entry fee £3.00 or email rj.bache@btinternet.com

Prune many spring flowering shrubs. Shade greenhouses to keep them cool and prevent scorch.

And how come all these outfits are always demanding that I do updates if their product, whatever it does, was so great in the first place? Hmmm? Anyway, these are just some of my issues with branding and computers.

It occurs to me probably far too late that I’ve been horribly negligent when it comes to branding. Not corporate branding, mind you, as in Hoover or Electrolux (which is a desperate struggle for survival in which heads will roll if the stock price should dip by a point or two, even for 15 minutes), but personal branding, which I hear is all the rage. Once upon a time, every U.S. city of any size had its own dominant department store Macy’s in New York, Jordan Marsh in Boston, and so on. This was branding at a relatively primitive level; quaint, even. Over time, though, the science of marketing heated up especially as it concerns the youth demographic, over whose business giant companies now wage full scale war.

Or is it one of those allegedly helpful messages from Hewlett Packard, my hardware supplier, which could also mean doom for my data? And is it any coincidence that one of HP’s logos Hubbard Park Meriden CT looks like two hands that are about to grab you by the throat and squeeze some more money out of you?

Is it a Windows thing, which I sometimes forget is just Microsoft by another name? And anyway, there are dozens of Windows subcategories to be confused about. Worse, I can’t even seem to tell a crisis from routine housekeeping. Is it a scary security alert, and does that mean I should do something? Is that almost microscopic logo really McAfee (a brand I’ve at least heard of) or just something designed to fool me into giving up personal information that will be used by some sweaty malware monger in Minsk who chain smokes all night in front of a computer, trying to either destroy all my settings or steal all my money, or both?

Fast forward to now, and teens are swept back and forth on the retail battlefield by manufacturers that will fight for their business by any means necessary, from TV to Twitter to endorsements by whatever celebs can be bought (which, come to think about it, is around 100 percent). No wonder young people are so intensely brand conscious these days. How do they even sleep?

Hello? Adobe This? Adobe That? Java Something? Who’s out there?

Letter from Meriden, Connecticut, USA This is about branding

Now, where’s the Extra Strength Advil?

Glenn Richter at grichter@record-journal.com.

online: I never seem to know with whom, or what, I’m dealing. All too often a dialogue box will open, demanding that I update something, but I have no idea who’s calling or how important it may be. Is it Microsoft, my main software dealer?

Yrs Trly, on the other hand, seems to be pretty brand ignorant, which I’m convinced speaks to a particular problem I have

F’rinstance, there was a time when there were three big name brands of jeans, and it was not at all clear that Levis would eventually crush the other two. We had not yet reached the point where flocks of teenagers would be prepared to lie down on the train tracks if they couldn’t get their hands on the right kind of shoes or the right cell phone.

 Berkswell Road, Meriden, Coventry CV7 7LB Tel: 01676 522403 Mob: 07917518724 Fax: 01676 523181 Email: martin.pettiforandson@gmail.com SELF STORAGE CONTAINERS A A. . P PEETTTTIIFFOOR R & & S SOON N L LTTD D Now available For home and business 10ft &20ft (600&1200 cubic ft) Lockable containerised units Easy access with your own personal key Drive direct to your clean and dry unit 10ft Containers from £18 per week 20ft Containers from £30 per week Discounts available for longer periods Warehousing & Distribution New extended opening hours A family run business, for the ultimate ladies hair, barbering and beauty experience June Offer unbeatable  Colour, cut and blow dry  Microdermabrasion facial  Shellac file and polish  Free eyebrow shape for all clients having Chemical process (subject to availability) July Offer  Hair 20% off any chemical process  Nails Chose Calgel, Shellac or Minx hands and feet only £35 (expires 31/7/14) August Offer  Book a pedicure and receive a file and polish on your hands free!!  Thai facial only £20 (expires 31/8/14) Tuesday 9.00-7.00pm Wednesday 9.00 5.00pm Thursday 9.00-8.00pm Friday 9.00-5.00pm Saturday 8.30 4.30pm Gift vouchers, packages and courses Kidsavailablewelcome OnlyExpires£5030/6/14fORDES onthegreen 01676 521653 the green Meriden CV7 7LN

DATE EVENT VENUE TIME CONTACT 1st June Church Tower Open St Laurence Church 12noon 4.30pm John Baker 01676 522 939 2nd June WI Village Hall 7.30pm Flick Blewitt 01676 523229 7th June Big Picture Show Village Hall 7.00pm Chris Copper 01676 522645 8th June Kinwalsey Tree Service 4.00pm Andrew 01676 533 737 8th June Open Gardens Packington Hall 2.00pm 5.30pm 11th June Community/Police Surgery Sports Pavilion 11.00am 12noon Barbara Bland 01676 522 474 11th June Reader’s Circle 7.30pm Margaret 01676 523 603 14th June Summer Music Evening St James Packington 7.30pm Pauline 01543 452078 14th June Firs Open Day Maxstoke Lane 11.00 3.00pm 14/15 June Lunt Fort Open Day Bagington, Coventry 10.30 4.00pm 15th June Maxstoke Castle Open Day Maxstoke Lane 11am 5pm 16th June Reading Cafe Library 10.30 12 noon 01676 522717 21/22 June Art Exhibition Village Hall 10.00 4.00pm Michael Warr 21st June Firebird Singers Concert The Blue Coat School 7.30pm John 07716 721 467 22rd June Rotary Megaride Queens Head 12.30 5.00pm Neville 01676 532 709 22nd June Church Tower Open St Laurence Church 12noon 4.30pm John Baker 01676 522 939 23rd June Parish Council Meeting Sports Pavilion 7.30pm Barbara Bland 01676 522 474 25th June Flower Club Lunch Stonebridge Golf Club 12.30pm Mo Reynolds 01676 521 457 27th June CAMEO Holiday at Home Ellen 01676 522534 27th June School Sports Day Meriden School 01676 522 488 29th June Messy Church Methodist Church 4.00pm Andrew 01676 533 737 2nd July Annual Musical Evening Meriden School 01676 522 488 4th July P T A Summer Fayre Meriden School 5.00 7.30pm 01676 522 488 7th July W I Village Hall 7.30pm Flick Blewitt 01676 523229 7th July Community Surgery Library 11am 12noon 01676 522717 9th July Police Beat Surgery Sports Pavilion 11am 12 noon Barbara Bland 01676 522 474 8/9/10 July School Will Rock You Meriden School 01676 522 488 11/13 July St Swithin’s Weekend Barston 12th July Summer Reading Challenge Library 01676 522717 14th July School End of Term Service St Laurence Church 01676 522 488 17th July Blood Donors H of E Club 1.30 3.30 & 4.30 7.30pm 0300 123 2323 19th July Horticultural Show St Peter’s Hall B C. 2.00 4.00pm 20th July Heart of England Bike Ride Packwood House 20th July Family Picnic in the Park Meriden Sports Park 1.00 3.00pm Barbara Bland 01676 522 474 21st July Flower Club Village Hall 7.30pm Mo Reynolds 01676 521 457 21st July Reading Cafe Library 10.30 12noon 01676 522717 25th July CAMEO Sports Pavillion 2.00pm Ellen 01676 522534 26th July Whitacres & Shustoke Show Blyth Hall Shustoke 28th July Parish Council Meeting Sports Pavilion 7.30pm Barbara Bland 01676 522 474 28th July 29th August Sports Camps Meriden Sports Park Paul Jayes 07508 611922 4th August Meriden Mag Deadline 01676 522963 / 522453 4th August W.I. Village Hall 7.30pm Flick Blewitt 01676 523229 4th August Community Surgery Library 11.00am 12noon 01676 522717 10th August Fillongley Show Stonehouse Farm 9.30am 13th August Readers Circle 7.30pm Margaret 01676 523 603 15th August Children’s Film Show & Picnic Village Hall 10.30am Chris Copper 01676 522645 18th August Parish Council Meeting Village Hall 7.30pm Barbara Bland 01676 522474 22nd August CAMEO Village Hall 2.00pm Ellen 01676 522534 23/24thAug Coventry Festival of Motoring Stoneleigh Park 10am 5pm Village Diary

Heart of England Bike Ride

Tuesday – Friday 11.00am 4.00pm Saturday 14 June to Sunday 15 June 10.30am 4.00pm Visit the fort for a spectacular weekend with the Romans!

Plenty to see and do all weekend.

Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th

The quirky moving machines, or automata as they are known, includes items from the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, fantastical flying machines, and a bicycle for cycling across the moon. Many larger than life surprises will astound and spark the imagination. This exhibition will be the biggest ever display of Emett’s work, which is loved by many across the world and will tell the story of his life living and working in Birmingham.

Out and About this summer

The Gas Hall Birmingham Museum 10th May 21st September This summer curious minds of all ages are invited to step inside the whimsical and wonderful world of machines and cartoons created by eccentric English inventor Rowland Emett.

The Lunt Fort is only open to the public during the Coventry school holidays. It is not open during weekends.

Ticket Prices: Adult: £5 Child (3 15 years): £3 Concessions: £3 Family Ticket (4): £10

Marvellous Machines: The Wonderful World of Rowland Emett

On Sunday at 10.30am wave off the drivers of 600 cars and motorbikes as they set off on the historic vehicle run around the Warwickshire countryside

1. The Lunt Roman Fort is the archaeological site of a Roman fort, of unknown name, in the Roman province of Britannia. It is open to the public and located in the village of Baginton outside Coventry.

The Lunt Roman Fort

Witness astounding gladiator contests, enthralling drill demonstrations and fascinating living history scenes as Roman re enactment groups bring the colours, sounds and smells of Roman Britain alive. Admission charge applies. Book early to avoid disappointment Herbert Art Gallery 02476 237521 or book on line

StoneleighAugustParkCV82LG10am5pmeachday.Admissionfree Car park £5

Enjoy a great day out on Sunday 20th July, join hundreds of cyclists for this year’s Heart of England Bike Ride organised by Knowle and Dorridge Lions, this year from Packwood National Trust House. Choose between 13, 19 or 31 miles (20, 30 or 50km) circular sign posted routes along quiet country lanes through pretty Warwickshire villages, and help raise funds for British Heart Foundation. Please visit www.knowleanddorridgelions.com/bikeride where you can find out how to register online for what is bound to be an excellent day out in the countryside with the option of visiting the beautiful historic Packwood House and gardens free and having a picnic from the Lions hog roast after your ride Travel by the free historic shuttle bus from the Transport Museum

Supporting two major cancer charities – Marie Curie and Macmillan, plus local charities. Motor bikes arriving 12.45pm approx. But the Megaride is much more than just bikes this yearmany village organisations will be participating with interesting stalls, games and entertainment for all the family. Admission on foot is free but donations to the charities would be most welcome. *Live Music *Bar * Tea Coffee and Cakes * BBQ * Tombola * Meriden Midsummer Draw* *Children’s roundabout * Motor Cycle Club Displays * Meriden School, Church and Scouts* Join us for a great day out for all the family Contact Neville Riley 01676 532709 email:neville-riley@uwclub.netCharitynumber103304 Reminder! Deadline date for the autumn 2014 issue: Monday 4th August Val Martin 01676 522963 val.simon@btinternet.com Margaret Argyle 01676 margarete.argyle@gmail.com522453 Proof Reader: Claire Rose Deliveries: Doug Bacon and Paul Lee Please visit our web wherewww.meridenmag.co.uksite:youcanviewbackissues & friend & family, not in the area can catch up on local news. Mag advertising rates Eighth page £10 Quarter page £20 Half page £40Small ads (sale or wanted) £5 Charity and Community events FREE Views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those of the co editors. We are unable to print anonymous letters or articles although we will withhold name and address on request BICKENHILL PUBLIC WASTE DISPOSAL SITE OPENING HOURS Winter 1st November 31st March Monday Friday (except Tuesday) 9.30am 4.00pm Tuesday 9.30am 5.30pm Saturday and Sunday 8.30am 4.00pm Summer 1st April 31st October Monday Friday (except Tuesday) 9.30am 5.00pm Tuesday 9.30am 6.30pm Saturday and Sunday 8.30am 4.00pm Last admission 15 minutes before closing. Meriden Primary School Mrs L. Winkler 01676 522488 Meriden Library 01676 522717 Meriden Surgery 01676 522252 Lloyds Chemist 01676 522722 St. Laurence Church Rev Kate Massey 01676 522825 Meriden Methodist Church Rev. Andrew Charlesworth 01676 533737 Meriden Christian Fellowship Pstr. Kevin & Lyn Hunt 01676 523050 Parish Council Barbara Bland 01676 522474 Sports co ordinator Paul Jayes 07962 375038. Solihull M B C 0121 704 6000 Solihull District Councillors Ken Allsopp 0121 782 2408 David BellM 01676 535211 Tony Dicicco 07780438290 Member of Parliament Caroline Spelman 020 7219 4189 Meriden Scout Group Gerry Russell 01676 522666 Post Office Sue Harper 01676 522230 Rural Police Sector Sgt Craig Hurst 0845 113 5000 Dates for hoisting the flag on Meriden Green 2 June Coronation Day 10 June Birthday of the Duke of Edinburgh 14 June Official Celebration of her Majesty’s Birthday Trooping the colour 21 June Birthday of the Duke of Cambridge 28 June Armed Forces Day 17 July Birthday of Duchess of Cornwall 15 August Birthday of the Princess Royal This issue’s front cover was designed by Val’s 11 year old granddaughter Hannah