MeridenMag Winter 2014

Meriden Mag

MERIDEN COVER 2014.qxp_Layout 1 18/11/2014 09:14 Page 1

Winter 2014

See inside for Christmas services in Meriden • Rotary Santa Fun Run Meriden's Own Christmas Cards • Village events and photos School and Scout Group news and photos • Parish Council Update

AUTUMN EVENTS AT MERIDEN SCHOOL

On Friday 3rd October, Year 3 had an incredible day at Creswell Crags and experienced how life was as a cave man during the Stone Age!

Roald Dahl Day

The National Harvest Service at Birmingham Cathedral

Year 3 and their creative writing

The school ECO team The Parade

Years 1 and 2 journey down the chocolate river

Hello from Meriden School!

This term has gone by quickly and I am sure that the next half term will whizz by too with the excitement of Christmas and all the activities that this time of year brings.

Our pupils performed a Harvest service at St Laurence’s Church in which they sang and spoke beautifully, portraying the message of harvest and helping the needy. Once again we had a large collection of produce which was collected by ‘Helping Hands’ and then distributed in Solihull.

Thanks to all who gave so generously. Meriden was also one of 20 schools nationally invited to join the National Harvest Service at Birmingham Cathedral. Our School Council and Eco Team members joined Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall at the cathedral and we presented a beautiful harvest box which held produce from our school garden, local allotments, Berkswell cheese and some wonderful chutney and jam made by the children at school. It was a particularly special day for Bobbie, Ben and Connor who had the opportunity to speak to HRH about their favourite vegetables!

School supporters: Our PTA continues to work tirelessly to help our school and the children. The children have just had a fantastic school disco and the PTA have organised a Christmas Fayre which follows Carols on the Green on Friday 28th November – everyone is invited to attend. Our Parent Council continues to support the school to achieve its vision of being the best school we can possibly be so we thank them for giving their time to help us.

Next half term will see the whole school visiting the Belgrade theatre to see the pantomime ‘Aladdin’ (oh yes we are!). FS1 (Nursery) will be holding their nativity at St Lawrence’s Church, FS2 (Reception) and Key Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2) will give a Christmas performance on 16th & 17th December, plus there will be Carols and the Christingle service at St. Laurence’s on the 15th December.

It is a very busy time but we hope that you can join us. Please contact the office on 01676 522 488 or email office@meriden.solihull.sch.uk if you would like tickets for any of the performances.

I wish you all a Happy Christmas and New Year from everyone at Meriden Primary School.

Lucy Winkler Headteacher

On 23rd September the whole school were involved in an English open morning to celebrate 50 years of Roald Dahl.

Throughout the morning we undertook a range of fun activities across school that involved reading, writing, drama, speaking and listening. In the FOUNDATION STAGE children were busy dipping fruits in chocolate, making sweets from playdoh, writing about jellybeans and making beautiful glittery Golden tickets! In years 1 and 2 the children, staff and parents took a sticky voyage down the Chocolate River using role-play and their senses to imagine what they might see, feel, hear, taste and touch!

Year 3 also undertook this voyage but spent a little more time developing their descriptive language - inspired by the creativity of Miss Davis and her wonderful displays!

Year 4 &5 ventured into Willy Wonka's world famous 'Chocolate Room' examining the text and picking out descriptive devices such as simile and metaphor before writing their very own piece.

The question of 'What would the SIXTH golden ticket winner be like if there was one?' was explored by Year 6. They used dictionaries and thesauruses to best describe the other golden ticket winners before writing a new chapter with a new character in it. Next time you visit school, take a moment to look at some of the lovely work that was produced on the day, and is now displayed down our corridor.

Midday Supervisor Needed We are looking for a creative, enthusiastic Midday Supervisor to join our team. The role involves supervising and caring for children between the ages of 4 – 11 years during the lunchtime break. You will be expected to deal with simple first aid, manage behaviour in line with school policy, and provide a range of activities both indoors and in the playground to keep children positively occupied. This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to apply for an Enhanced DBS check.

Details: 5 lunchtimes a week, 1.5 hours, £2182.00 - £2374.00 p.a. Incremental progression is dependent on performance.

Contact the office for further details: 01676 522488 or office@meriden.solihull.sch.uk

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

Services are held on the 1st, 3rd and 4th Sunday at 10.30 am One of my favourite films as a child was Mary Poppins. I loved the songs, the magical adventures, the characters – the only part I didn’t like was the ending. Why did Mary have to leave? In vain, my mother would explain that her job was done and it was time to move on. I just didn’t get it at all.

Some years later, I am still no great fan of endings or goodbyes, and that is why it is very hard to contemplate that after almost two years living amongst you in Meriden, it is my time to move on. I finish my extended training placement at St Laurence on the 28th December and will move on to my first job as a fully trained vicar sometime in January.

Sadly, I am unlike Mary Poppins in most ways – I do not have a flying umbrella, I cannot tidy a room with a click of my fingers and I am definitely not “practically perfect in every way”. But in one sense, we are similar.

Mary’s task was to help the Banks family remember what was important – that they loved each other. Mr Bank’s work and ambition, Mrs Bank’s campaigning and the challenge of being a respectable Edwardian family had all overcomplicated or obscured that one simple truth. Likewise the task of any parish priest in our hectic, complicated world is to remind the people amongst whom they live and work of another even more important truth - that God loves them.

God loves them. God loves them so much that he was prepared to put aside all the glory of Heaven and live amongst them. God came to the world in an ordinary man – Jesus - to share their joys and their woes and to show them the full extent of God’s love. This is the wonder of the Christmas message. This is the wonder of the Christian message.

God loves you. If I have done anything to help you explore that one simple truth in your life, I will be very content. If I haven’t, it is never too late.

Coventry Diocese are currently looking to appoint another priest to Meriden in the coming months, whose The Christmas tree THE CHRISTIANS OF at MERIDEN job will be to continue to live out that truth amongst festival St Laurence, you for years to come. And while priests may come see centreFOR page for the JOIN TOGETHER and go, the wonderful people of St Laurence, with their winning tree sisters and brothers at Meriden Methodist Church and Meriden Christian Fellowship are always looking to live out God’s love in this community in any way they can. Why not join them to explore God’s amazing love this Christmas?

I want to finish by thanking you all for the love and welcome my family and I have received during our time FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY in Meriden.

CRAFT ACTIVITIES FOR 3-10 YEAR OLDS Blessings, Kate OF ALL AGES MUSIC, SINGING AND A STORY FOLLOWED BY FELLOWSHIP AND FOOD VENUE: MERIDEN METHODIST CHURCH 4TH SUNDAY IN MONTH @4.00PM

Thank you

Kate’s two years in Meriden have passed very quickly; we wish her every success in her new parish. Kate will be greatly missed in Meriden, she has worked so hard for St Laurence Church and the village.

December 28TH CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR SPECIAL 25th January 2015, 22nd February 2015 COME ALONG AND BRING A FRIEND

Joint association between *Meriden Christian Fellowship* Meriden Methodist Church* * St Laurence Anglican Church*

Following the recent successful screenings of “War Horse, “The Lego Movie” and “Philomena” we are pleased to confirm that The Big Picture Show will now be a regular feature in the Village Hall’s calendar.

So watch out for the posters and be sure to get your tickets early as space is limited.

Saturday 24th January 2015 at 7.30p.m “PRIVATE PEACEFUL” Sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Written by Michael Morpurgo (War Horse) the film is set in rural England between 1908 and the trenches of the Great War. It follows the fate of two brothers who leave life on the land and enlist for the Army and portrays their unbreakable bond.

Starring Jack O’Connell, Maxine Peake and Richard Griffiths in his final role before he died, the film is “…a beautifully realised tale that shines a light on the horrors of the First World War”.

Saturday 28th February at 7.30p.m “WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAYS” The recent commercial release of “What we Did on our Holidays!” will be available to us in February. This is sure to be a favourite, starring Billy Connolly, Annette Crosby, Rosamund Pike and David Tennant - not to mention 3 gloriously unfiltered children. The film, being produced and directed by the award winning team of the TV series “Outnumbered”, employs the same directing techniques of clever editing of children’s uninhibited dialogue. A hugely amusing production which has a more serious underlying theme is sure to resonate with every generation within the family.

Saturday 28th March at 7.30p.m TO BE CONFIRMED New films are regularly coming on stream. We have reserved this date and will select a crowd pleaser nearer the time.

Tickets will be printed and available for sale 3 weeks before each screening but can be reserved in advance of this date. Tickets and advance reservations available from Chris Copper (01676 522645) and also on sale in the Village Library from 10.00a.m until 12.00 on the three Saturdays immediately preceding each film.

Book a table for 4 in advance and receive a free bottle of wine Take away service

Come and visit the Meriden Spice, Meriden’s newest Indian restaurant.

With a name inspired by its location the restaurant introduces high quality Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine.

10% discount on collection Free home delivery service 4 miles radius Minimum order £15

Saj, the proprietor who has been in this business for over 20 years both locally and nationally, has brought his experience to Meriden and would like to welcome both his old and new customers to Meriden Spice

Meriden Spice, Old Road, Meriden, CV7 7JP Tel: 01676 523740 Entrance and parking at rear of Queen’s Head Pub

Voucher for £5 off Takeaway orders Over £30 Voucher cannot be used with any other offers

In Meriden Minister: Rev Andrew Charlesworth BSc BA Tel: 01676 533737 - Phone to arrange marriages, baptisms and funerals Services: Sunday 10:30am Messy Church 4.00pm 4th Sunday of the Month only I am writing this article the week after the clocks have gone back. I tend to spend the next couple of weeks feeling a little rough round the edges, because I go to sleep an hour later, but my body clock still wakes me up at the same time.

I also find that there are a couple of moments when I get caught out by the dark nights drawing in suddenly. My two girls have rabbits and they live in a shed at the bottom of our garden. They have an outdoor run, but we need to lock them up inside at night.

Quite often following the clocks going back, we remember to put them away long after darkness has descended. Unfortunately, unless there is a particularly bright moon, the bottom of our garden gets very dark. It is quite difficult to lock the rabbits away if you cannot see if they are in the shed or not!

It is into such darkness; into a world with street lights or electricity that Jesus was born.

Darkness is a metaphor that we often use to describe difficult and anxious times in our lives, when we cannot see the right way ahead. Perhaps that is where you find yourself this Christmas season. It is into such darkness that the author of John’s gospel speaks when he proclaims, “The light shines in the darkness” and he adds that “the darkness has not overcome it.” There are no easy answers to the problems people will be facing this Christmas, but Jesus has come and we need not face these challenges alone. Seasons greetings, Andrew.

Diary Dates: December 12th, 7pm, Supper Club Christmas Party (Seasonal Quiz) January 4th 2015, Methodist Covenant Service 10.30am at Balsall Common followed by lunch at Haig’s Hotel February 18th 2015, 7pm, Supper Club: Hats off to the Panama

The Methodist Church Hall is available for hire.

Please contact Alan and Maureen Gabbitas on 01676 522 148

Fredanita, The Green, Meriden. Tel: 01676 523050 Opening December Call in and see us for all your Christmas flowers and plants

Queens Head Old Old Road Meriden Monday night is music night come along and join us, music starts 9.15pm approx December 1st Chrissy 8th Julie Christie 15th Stevie Best 22nd Paris 29th Micky Dean

New Year’s Simon Ore Eve Party Stevie Bee from 8.00pm Sam Southall onwards Keith Brett Entrance by February 2nd Racheal Perry ticket only 9th Chrissy 16th Laura Mac SMITH SLATING ALLAN 23th Stevie Best

January

5th 12th 19th 26th

Now serving Breakfast on Sunday mornings 10.00am-1.00pm Full English £5.25.

Pub lunches Mon – Sat 12.00- 2.30pm Pop in for good food and a warm welcome Take away available 01676 522256

• • • • • •

Servicing Repairs Tyres Exhausts Suspensions Brakes

Call in for a quotation for your motoring needs

01676 521010 Meriden Garage, Birmingham Road Millison’s Wood CV5 9AZ

The Centre Charity Shop and Heart of England Outreach Well this is the final write up from the Centre Charity Shop, because when you read this we will have closed down and handed the keys over to Sarah who is opening a Florist. We would like to wish her and Michael all the very best and hope that the business is blessed and successful, and would encourage the village to support them. It has been a great seven and a half years for both of us and we have enjoyed it immensely, we have also worked with some great staff members over this time. They have all worked hard for us. We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to all of them. They include: Doreen, Gay, Irene, Margaret, Gina, Flick, Jackie, Sandra, Denise, Laticha, Brenda, Ellie, Adam and Naomi. Also those who helped out from time to time when needed: Cindy, Deana, Paul and Trevor.

I would also like to thank my fixer mate Ronnie, who was a great help every time I needed to do any alterations, repairs or just needed another brain to work things out. We consider all of these people to be our friends and are richer for having met and worked with them. We would also like to thank all our customers without whom we wouldn't have been able to continue as long as we did. We would especially like to thank our regular customers who would not only come in and buy things but who would also have a chat and a laugh with us giving us lots of fond memories.

But most of all we want to give our greatest appreciation and thanks to God, who called us to this work and gave all we needed to accomplish it. Without Him we would have nothing and be nothing, but with Him we have everything and are all we need to be. He is our Rock and our Salvation and we look to Him now to take us on our next adventure. We will still be around the village and hope to start a coffee morning where we will sell items we have left over from the Charity Shop. Each time we will nominate a local charity to receive the money that we get from selling the items, so please come along we would love to keep in touch with as many people as possible. We will advertise in the shop and hopefully the Library when and where we will be holding the coffee morning, so please look out. Of course we are still continuing with 'Meriden Christian Fellowship' which meets on a Sunday 12:30pm in the Methodist building, so why not come along and join us there too.

So in closing we would just like to acknowledge John and Pam Yates who first had the vision for Heart of England Outreach and who opened the Charity shop seventeen and a half years ago.

Pam worked there for the first ten years before passing it on to us. So not only do we want to say a Big, Big thank you to everyone, but we also want to wish you all every blessing for the future, and may the peace and love of God be with you all.

Meriden Christian Fellowship The cold weather is finally upon us, but what a great summer we've had this year, something to be really thankful for. Well with the summer gone, autumn almost over and the dark nights setting in, this can only mean one thing...Christmas is almost upon us. What comes to mind when you hear the word 'Christmas'? A lot of people I say "Christmas is almost here" to, suddenly get long faces and think of all the money they're going to have to spend on presents, food and drink. The fact is, Christmas is something else we should really be thankful for. Think about it this way; what if it's not about spending tons of money or eating too much food and drinking too much alcohol, or buying overly expensive presents that don't really satisfy for very long? What if it's actually about remembering and giving thanks to God, who so loved you that He gave His one and only Son so that if you believe in Him you will not perish but have everlasting life? What a great gift that is!! and it costs you nothing. It's been paid for, and all you have to do is receive it, and I can guarantee if you do Christmas will never be the same again. I love Christmas, I love singing the Carols, I love getting together with friends and family, and when I receive a gift it's great to say thank you to the person who's given it to me. But nothing gives me more joy than to take time out to say thank you to God, because the gift He's given me never wears out, never breaks, never gets old and will never end. Knowing without any doubt that when I finally leave this earth I shall be with Him is amazing and can never be equalled by anything, because for me nothing this world has to offer can even come close to comparing to the surpassing greatness of just knowing Him, let alone having eternal life.

You too could know this. Let everyone who has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. (Psalm 150:6).

God bless you all. Kevin and Lyn Hunt.

PHYSIOTHERAPY REFLEXOLOGY

David Deakin

Treatment for pain, stress, acute and chronic conditions Local home visits to ladies available

Plastering Services

Alison Stain M.C.S.P.,M.S.R., HCPC. Registered The Therapy Centre, Balsall Villa 287 Kenilworth Road Balsall Common.

Tel : 01676 522284

Interior plastering and coving work.

Insurance work welcome.

Free Estimates, reliable, friendly, clean service.

Tel: 01676 521389 Mobile: 07767 237860

A Message from Caroline Spelman MP Flu jabs and winter fuel The clocks have been turned back, the leaves continue to fall, and so we move towards winter.

After a warm summer, it is time again to think about how every community must ensure the elderly and vulnerable remain safe, warm and well this winter.

The Government is committed to ensuring that pensioners have security and dignity in their retirement. Part of this commitment is to ensure the cold weather does not bring financial worry. The Winter Fuel Payment ranges from £100 to £300 to support the cost of heating during the winter months for people born on or before 5 July 1952. If you receive the State pension or another social security benefit you should receive your payment automatically, normally before Christmas. Other people that qualify, but do not get paid automatically, can make a claim over the phone.

Particularly harsh weather conditions affect us all adversely, but being worried about paying for additional heating should not be a concern. The Government’s Cold Weather Payments have been increased and will begin from 1 November, and the Warm Home Discount has been introduced to provide vulnerable pensioners with a £135 rebate on their energy bills.

In Solihull, there is a below average uptake of free flu jabs for the over-65s. Flu is more than just a bad cold; it can be a very serious illness, especially for the elderly, pregnant or people with chronic heart, respiratory or liver disease. Simply contact your GP to arrange a convenient appointment and get your jab. It's quick, safe and free for those most at risk from the virus.

If you are not sure if you qualify for a free flu jab, check online by visiting www.nhs.uk/flu.

Despite financial support from the Government, this time of year can prove to be very tough and isolating for people throughout our community. There is never a time when a neighbour is in greater need then when it is cold, icy or dark at early hours. I am always touched by the number of people in my constituency who go out of their way to help friends, neighbours or family members who are cut off during the winter season.

This sense of community, care and solidarity during this festive time of year is something the Meriden Constituency should be very proud of. I wish you all:

Meriden Floral Society

ME SC HO OR OL

Meetings are held at Meriden village Hall 7.30pm – 9.30pm approx.

On the 3rd Monday of every month

To contact Caroline or make an appointment for a surgery please contact Katy Steele on 0121 711 7029 or email caroline@carolinespelman.com.

TH E

A Very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year

Forthcoming Events 8 December 2014 Deck the Halls Lorena Dyer 19 January 2015 Practice Class Lorena Dyer 16 February 2015 AGM Followed by speaker Richard Coad on Charlie Chaplin N B The Flower Club have a table at the Christmas Fete, at the local school in Fillongley on Saturday 29 November where we will be selling Christmas Wreaths and Christmas Boxes [Presents] for a £1.

All are welcome

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

Retirement is the period

when you exchange the notes in your wallet for snapshots of your grandchildren

Jennifer Faulkner F.I.D.T.A BA Hons Fellowship Teaching Degree

The Orme School of Dancing Meriden Branch Methodist Church Hall Classes in Ballet, Tap, Modern Jazz, Freestyle and Contemporary

Tel: 02476 467271

dip A.B.R.S.M Principal- Sandra Clarke

New Beginners Adult Tap Class!

No experience necessary. We are a friendly, social group and are building up the new sessions on a Monday evening at the Methodist Church in Meriden – get in touch to find out more.

Also – Now is the perfect time to get your child involved in our Ballet, Tap and Modern Jazz sessions.

We have classes suitable for 2 year olds up to seniors at our Meriden Branch.

Visit our web site for more information

www.ormecoventrydance.co.uk

Delicious Christmas Fayre!

Local poultry, game, beef & lamb plus our own pork, gammon, hams & pork pies.

Plus: a full deli & cheese counter & a large selection of fruit & vegetables.

Plus: tasty festive treats, chocolates, cakes & sweets as well as great gift ideas, decorations & hampers.

Relax and unwind in our Coffee Shop ‘The Hayloft’.

Look out for our Seasonal Specials in our coffee shop ‘The Hayloft’.

Berryfields Farm Shop, Berkswell Road, Meriden.

Email: info@berryfieldsfarmshop.co.uk CV7 7LB Web: www.berryfieldsfarmshop.co.uk 01676 522 155 Find us on facebook Open 7 days a week. For further details & seasonal opening times please see our website.

Pensions Investments Protection Savings Employee benefits • Inheritance Tax • • • • •

Chartered Financial Planners and Employee Benefit consultants

Professional small family business covering Meriden, Fillongley, Berkswell & surrounding villages

Jamieson Christie Wealth Management Ltd Regent House 430 – 432 Kenilworth Road Balsall Common CV7 7ER Tel 01676 532 210 www.jamiesonchristie.com Email: mail@jamiesonchristie.com Jamieson Christie Wealth Management Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

You would think he’d know better!

A man staggered into a hospital with a concussion, multiple bruises, two black eyes, and a five iron wrapped tightly around his throat.

Naturally, the Doctor asked him, 'What on earth happened to YOU?' “Well, I was having a quiet round of golf with my wife, when at a difficult hole; we both sliced our golf balls into a field of cattle. We went to look for them and while I was looking around I noticed one of the cows had something white in its rear end.' I walked over, lifted its tail, and sure enough, there was a golf ball with my wife's monogram on it - stuck right in the middle of the cow's bottom.

Still holding the cow's tail up, I yelled to my wife, 'Hey, this looks like yours!''

“I don't remember much after that”

MIDLANDS CLEANERS Domestic & Commercial Cleaning Services • Window Cleaning • Fascia & Soffit Cleaning • Gutter & Cladding Cleaning • Conservatory Roof and Patio Cleaning

Adam Eales 0794 389 3354 midlandscleaners@mail.com

DO YOU NEED A CLEANER? Do you want someone to do all those household jobs you haven’t got time for?

Then call Jenny now on 07901 530861 Domestic cleaning, Office cleaning Professional cleaning service

Mrs C Booker Home visiting Chiropodist/podiatrist State and HPC registered

Tel 01676 534265 Friendly and professional advice on all foot problems

EDEN HOLISTIC DOG FOOD 5 STAR RATED DOG FOOD (Check out the review of the food you feed your dog with the review for Eden on www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk)

Made from only the best ingredients:All meat and fish of human grade and sourced within the UK. No animal derivatives, by products or flavours.

Herbs, vitamins and minerals with joint support and prebiotics.

TOTALLY GRAIN FREE – NO FILLERS HIGH DENSITY FOOD USE LESS FOR EACH FEED 2 VARIETIES AVAILABLE: EDEN ORIGINAL 80% Chicken, Salmon, Herring, Duck and Egg EDEN CATCH OF THE DAY 80% Salmon and Herring, including seasonally available Cod, Haddock, Hake, Plaice and Pollock Local prices for 15kg (smaller quantities can be provided):

Original : £50 Catch of the Day: £53 Tel: 01676 522466 to order and collect Nutritional and general dog advice given Dog pet sitting service provided – days, weekends or longer in a non-kennel environment

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

November 22nd Christmas Market December 6th Mince Pie tasting December 13th Come and meet Father Christmas Hampers can be ordered and delivered countrywide.

Contact 01676 534148

A free cup of tea or coffee with this voucher

For more details call June Smitten on 01676 523007

We made the local paper this month! I have been doing some work with the year 9 girls and the sixth form girls up at Tile Hill School, helping them with their course work preparing a tea party based on The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland. The Coventry Telegraph were kind enough to come down and take photos of the girls and myself. The girls had good fun producing some fine sugar craft decorations and I was both pleasantly surprised and proud of what they’d achieved for their pieces. I’m giving them an A star for sure for focus, creativity and just for making my day so much fun!

As we leave the warmest autumn on record and the nights draw in, we can turn our thoughts to Christmas and The New Year celebrations. My partner is of Scottish origin, and as a nod to his late Scottish father, we decided last year to start a tradition in his honourmaking and sharing a tipple with the neighbours, Atholl Brose. It seems a particularly nice recipe to share with you all, my Meriden neighbours, and hope that you also make it and visit your neighbours with a little glass of it on New Year’s Day. Atholl Brose is a Scottish drink made from oatmeal, honey, cream and whisky.

To make the brose, one needs to steep oatmeal for at least 48 hours, in three times it’s weight of whisky. Once well soaked, you may collect the mixture in a muslin or linen sheet- I use a pillowcase- and squeeze the juice through until the pulp is quite dry. My other half made porridge with the leftover pulp but it wasn’t great, maybe cook it up for a treat for the dogs!

Pour the liquid brose into a bowl. Add a tablespoon of whisky to the cream- this will prevent it from curdling. Slowly (very slowly) add the cream to the brose, stirring all the while. Purists will insist the Brose be stirred using only a silver spoon, but a wooden one works just as well.

Add the honey even more slowly, stirring evenly and continually.

Pour the Brose into a bottle and seal until Hootenanny!

In the unlikely event of having any left over, save for Burns night and serve with Haggis, Neeps and Tatties.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a cuptastic Christmas and a baking New Year!

RECIPE FOR ATHOLL BROSE: 560ml Scotch Whisky 100g Oatmeal or medium course oats 150ml double cream 100g honey (Heather honey preferred)

North Warwickshire Golf Club

Juci Luci x

Just starting or looking to improve?

Quality golf lessons for all ages

01676 522259 Andrew Bownes PGA Golf Professional 1 to 1 lessons from £20 ½ hour Course of lessons available Juniors class 2.00 3.00 Tri.golf and golf junior passport centre No equipment necessary/none members welcome

Gift vouchers and lesson vouchers available from the Club shop

Balsall Common U3A Are you retired or semi-retired; have you considered joining the Balsall Common U3A? The local U3A is part of a national voluntary learning co-operative whose aim is to encourage activities for people no longer is full time employment. Members join not only to learn new subjects but also to meet and socialise with likeminded people.

We have 25 active groups providing something different on each week day.

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: Date 15th December 2014 26th January 2015 23rd February 2015

Topic The History of Folk Music Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary People The Leprosy Mission

Speaker Alan Tumber Helen Lloyd Heather Alford

Core meetings are held in the Balsall Common Village Hall Station Road and start at 1-45 pm. Prospective members are welcome to attend. At the January meeting the Balsall Common U3A Photography Group will be staging an Exhibition of their work. This exhibition will then move to the Balsall Common Library, 283 Kenilworth Road, Balsall Common CV7 7EL were it will be on show to the public..

Entrance is free during normal Library opening times from Tuesday 27th January to Monday 2nd February 2105.

OK so I’m going to have a bit of a ‘rant’. If you are ‘rant averse’ please stop reading now.

Hopefully though you'll find that it’s a positive rant with a good message.

It’s great living in Meriden. Yes? Absolutely, there are fab people, a wonderful environment, beautiful green belt, tolerant attitudes, loads of history, amazing charity workers, volunteers and a great sense of community. Unfortunately the area can attract 'ne'er do wells' who want to abuse our countryside, lanes, verges, amenities etc. for all sorts of nefarious reasons. Yes we have the copper cable stealers, fly tippers, heating oil pilferers and the few who like to sit smoking and sharing all sorts of exotic fragrances whist shoving a litter pile out of the car window. Oh and not to forget the general litterers and loiterers who can’t bring themselves to take their nub ends and cans home with them. Oops nearly forgot the dubious door knockers!

The thing that we learned during our RAID campaign is that if we stick together and take co-ordinated action we can overcome negative influences but we must – each one of us – be prepared to take some action (however small). We must also work closely with various agencies (Council, Police etc.) and give them the evidence and information they need to do their job and we must stick at it. It's not a 'one off' thing There are plenty of us who will stand up for Meriden but let’s make sure that everyone is invited to the Party.

So the people who sit smoking drugs in cars at night WILL and ARE having their vehicle registration numbers taken by residents and ARE being visited at home by the Police.

The people who fly tip and vandalise ARE being pursued by Solihull Council’s environmental crime section – residents contributing CCTV images to help track perpetrators. Signs ARE being put up warning of the consequences of anti-social behaviour. Residents HAVE been out picking up litter thoughtlessly left by others. We do care and we must care. It is our actions not our thoughts that bear witness to caring. We don't need a public Latest fly tipped offering in Walsh Lane - the local meeting to get things going either we just need to do community is working with Solihull Environment Crime to our own small thing. help track down offenders and keep a close watch Let’s face it this is OUR community. We own it, we manage it, and we love it. It is our heritage and our legacy and it is up to us to RECLAIM it from those who would spoil it. I’m not advocating vigilante challenges – far from it – just patient and tenacious intolerance of those who Quality Hand Car Cleaning would do us down. This attitude linked to polite but effective action (keeping a log of events, recording details, Find us off the A45 in Shepherd’s Lane Meriden forwarding information to the Police or Councillors, joining a residents group) is the stuff of ‘community’. ANYTHING Phone 07538 238 005 like this is good - anything except looking the other way and Open 9.00am -7.00pm 7 days a week hoping that someone else will protect that which belongs to us all And so if you want to tell the Police about something that isn't urgent or life threatening but will help them to gather intelligence and ultimately solve Crime you can call the Meriden Neighbourhood team (0121 356 8898) or dial 101 and ask for extension 7601 6273 OR email them at meriden@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk. Ask for Sergeant Craig Hurst if you'd prefer to explain things. They will (hopefully) be out and about, please be patient. Tell them that a bloke having a rant urged you to call!

BUBBLES HAND CAR WASH

David McGrath is Chairman of Meriden RAID, a former Birmingham City Councillor and ex member of West Midlands Police Authority

Two wrongs don’t make a right but they make a good excuse!

Prices from £6 wash only £12 -£15 for inside and out including full vacuum and interior windows

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Meetings are held in the Village Hall on the first Monday in the month at 7.30pm

Contact Flick Blewitt 01676 523229 After our September meeting I think everyone went home feeling in an upbeat mood due to listening to David Howe’s very amusing talk aptly named ‘Laughter is the Best Medicine. He kept us highly entertained with some very good jokes and also anecdotes about various well known comedians.

By contrast our October meeting was a disappointment, as the speaker failed to turn up, so we had a pleasant social time and enjoyed various discussions.

November always means the Annual General Meeting and this year’s proved to be a welcome contrast to last year’s. Then we came very close to closure as we had difficulty in forming a committee and electing officers. This time the members who came to our rescue all proved willing to serve for another year and Flick Blewitt agreed to continue as President. We are very grateful to them all and really appreciate the good year we have just enjoyed under their leadership.

Our next meeting in December will be our Christmas party.

Programme for the New Year Monday 5th January Paul Taberner – Forensics Monday 2nd February Diane Slocombe – ‘Make do and Mend’

2015 Marks the 100th anniversary of the W.I. in the UK. We are looking forward to some celebrations!

T’ai Chi and Meditation and Relaxation Come and discover how the beautiful flowing movements of this ancient art can improve your wellbeing. Relax and enjoy simple calming relaxation and meditation techniques.

Mondays 9.30-10.30am Meriden Village Hall Call Jacqui on WARWICK OFFICE BALSALL COMMON OFFICE 61 Coten End 2 Meeting House Lane Warwick CV34 4NU Balsall Common CV7 7FX Tel:01926 499889 Tel 01676 533755 Fax: 01926 499552 Fax 01676 533699 www.macnamaraking.com

07703 345210

…the perfect start to your day!

CAMEO CAMEO Come and Meet Each Other at the Sports Pavilion on the 4th Friday of the month at 2.00 p.m.

CAMEO

at Grendon, near In August Glynnis Gayton came, she told us of her family endeavours to keep their bakery Comeasand Meetenterprise, Each Other thethe Community Centre onofthe 4th Friday of ‘Health the Atherstone running a family not at only trials and tribulations keeping up with and month at 2.00 p.m.

Safety’, but also the joy of providing an excellent product, still available today.

Bread and cakes from the bakery were raffled to raise money for a bakery in Malawi. Glynnis is building the means of baking bread for the poor of a village where only maize has been available.

In September we welcomed Kath Shortley from Tearfund, a U.K. Christian relief and development agency founded . in over 50 countries on community development projects. Kath informed us that she would in 1968 working concentrate her illustrated talk on fairly traded gifts. When Tearfund was a new charity supplying tents, buckets and blankets they brought back handicrafts in the empty planes. The first such products from Bangladesh were hanging baskets made of jute; now they also make angels, jute rugs and baskets etc. There was a demand for these products and this was found to be an excellent way to help people by giving artisans work and a market for their exports.

Many work in their own homes and we saw women dyeing silk scarves and providing employment for other women.

We were shown men making leather goods and in Sri Lanka others producing wooden jigsaws in purpose built sheds provided by the charity. Exports are now many and varied and in addition to those already mentioned, there are wooden items (including pencil cases), tea towels, table runners and aprons. Many of these products are on sale in The Kings Table, a café and shop in Kenilworth. Members were able to purchase and order a number of these lovely items.

It is difficult to do justice, in this short report, to Doreen Agutter’s riveting talk in October on “Meriden in the Great War”. She described how Meriden would have learned that war had been declared; the immediate consequences of being at war; and the lasting effects of that war on Meriden – the most obvious being the National Cyclists’ Memorial which was unveiled in 1921 – and the gaps left by the trees that were felled for war use along the Straight Mile and in Meriden Shafts.

News came in newspapers brought by carters from Coventry – or from London via Hampton-in-Arden station – and could be read in a reading room set up in “Sunnyside” (by the Bull’s Head). Recruiting teams bought up horses from local farms; there was collecting for funds – for example for the Red Cross, the Prince of Wales fund and for prisoners of war. Men between 18 and 25 were encouraged to enlist in the army and compulsory conscription for all men up to the age of 41 came in March 1916. There was panic buying of food so prices went up. News of residents losing their boys spread quickly round the village and several Meriden lads died in the last weeks of the war.

Doreen stressed that Meriden was a very poor village – pretty self-contained and self-sufficient – so people continued with their usual hobbies such as fishing and a rifle club – and the village pub was, as now, the Queen’s Head.

We look forward to welcoming more friends to our meetings so if you need information or a lift Please telephone: Ellen 522534 or Pam 523372 Forthcoming meetings

19th December – Doug Field with carols and stories, this meeting is in the Village Hall.

23rd January – Pets as therapy.

27th February – To be confirmed.

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 Hill, COVENTRY, CV4 9FT

www.larchtreeost.co.uk TEL: 024 7647 0019

Meriden’s Floral Award We are very pleased to announce that Meriden’s entry won the Solihull Neighbourhoods in Bloom 2014 Best Village and WWI Commemoration category. The judges said "A wonderful commemoration of World War One in the centre of England, featuring poppy designs and displays involving local businesses and community and creating a beautiful street scene right through the centre of the village. A well-deserved winner".

Meriden Parish Council are absolutely delighted to receive this award and wish to thank our wonderful Sponsors NRS Wastecare Limited, Taylor Wimpey Homes, Pertemps, Meriden Tea Rooms, Spar, Meriden Fish & Chips, Fordes on The Green, The Bull's Head; our Contractors Dovetail, who designed the WW1 Commemorative Poppy, Brian Ball, and Advanced Maintenance Services (West Midlands); and Supporters Meriden School and Alan Lole, who donated thousands of poppy seeds that have been sown throughout the village for the enjoyment of us all in years to come.

A huge thank you for achieving this wonderful accolade and we applaud you all!

In the picture opposite Melanie Lee, Chairman of Meriden Parish Council, and Barbara Bland, Parish Clerk with two representatives from Dovetail receiving the award.

Terry and Mike’s Charity Bike Ride

A New picture for Meriden Village Hall

Terry Dyer (of Tom’s Butcher’s fame) and his friend Mike Baker from Balsall Common are taking part in the Malin to Mizen Bike Ride at the end of May 2015 to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care The ride over 7 days covers 427 miles from Malin in the north of Ireland to Mizen Head in the south.

Terry and Mike have already held several fund raising events in 2014 including a Foot Golf tournament at the North Warwickshire Golf course a Music Festival at the Queens Head and a duck race at Patricks Farm, raising in total £4,500 They would like to thank everyone concerned who have already given so generously and invite entrants to another Foot Golf day on 3rd May 2015.

If you would like to sponsor Terry and Mike please go to : www.justgiving.com/Mike-Trigg-In-Ireland

Readers may remember that Michael Warr held a very successful art exhibition at the village hall in June.

Michael was born in Meriden and has very fond memories of the village. He has decided to present a painting of ‘The Village Green’ to the village Hall Management Committee so that it can be permanently displayed in the hall.

The picture opposite was taken at the Foot Golf tournament earlier this year

Here are Michael’s words: The Title of the painting is: ‘ MY PATCH c1962’. Painted in watercolour recently from a sketch made ‘way back’.

When I made an original sketch of this subject in the late fifties, I was seated on the ground, opposite, but on the other side of the main road, wearing an art student’s must have, a duffle coat. During my time there my mother visited the Centre of England stores and a ‘local’ said to her. ‘’ Have you seen the old tramp sitting over there’’. To which my mother replied. ‘’ That’s no tramp, that is my son I will have you know!’’

Amazing what little details we remember as life moves on. Oh, by the way I did have a beard at the time!

The picture opposite shows Michael presenting the picture to the Chairman of the village Hall Committee Richard Tisdale

Meriden Spartans Successful Season The Meriden Spartans rounded off a successful season by attending the Warwickshire cricket league dinner and presentation evening held at Edgbaston cricket ground at the end of October.

First team captain and club chairman David Moynihan collected the winning Warwickshire 3rd XI Premier trophy after a season that saw the team unbeaten in their matches.

Second team captain Ryan Cowley collected the winners shield in the 3rd XI Division 2 East league.

Both trophies were presented by England batting legend Graham Gooch and a fantastic evening was had by all.

The Sunday XI ended the season a creditable mid-table in the Arden League. The midweek team finished 7th in the Coventry T20 league and were semi-finalists in the league cup.

The club's presentation evening will take place in late November.

Net sessions will start in the New Year ready for next season and the free children's coaching will restart in the spring.

We look forward to the start of the new season and the continued spectators support at the matches.

New players and Sponsors are always welcome and should contact the club at: admin@mscc.info

Members of the 1st and 2nd XI with their trophies at Edgbaston Cricket Club

Michael Warr presenting his painting to Richard Tisdale at the village hall

Meriden Parish Council Village in Bloom award

Messy Church at the Methodist Hall Above and below: Meriden Brownies send a message and celebrate Halloween

Above: Spartans Cricket Club at Edgbaston Cricket Club Below :Terry and Mike’s Foot Golf Day

The Meriden Plumber NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL

Franklin Construction Services Established 1979

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 No. 544788 • Blocked Drains • Underfloor Heating Systems • Bathroom installations from start to finish

For all aspects of building work • Domestic + Commercial + Industrial.

• New Build + Extensions + Renovations • Full property maintenanceall trades carried out • Sewage treatment plants installed and repaired

(inc electrics, plastering, tiling & carpentry work)

All Plumbing Work Undertaken

Workmanship may be inspected locally

07972 868 512

Tel:02476 422 999

email:meridenplumber@hotmail.co.uk www.themeridenplumber.co.uk

Mob: 07801 579910

BALSALL COMMON VETS

Grove House Bed & Breakfast Bill and Sheila Hunt would like to welcome you to

Grove House

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 ASK US Selling food, toys and other ABOUT FREE pet care items IDENTICHIPS 24 hour emergency care & advice FOR YOUR DOG

Tel: 01676 530792 www.broadlanevets.co.uk

Our surgery at 255 Broad Lane CV5 7AQ is open until 7.30pm weeknights, Saturday 8.30am-5pm & Sunday 11am-3pm

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.

• Airport Transfers • Secure parking • Business people catered for • Warm friendly environment

8, Whichcote Avenue, Meriden Coventry CV7 7LR Email: enquiries@grovehousebandb.co.uk

01676 523295 www.grovehousebandb.co.uk

First – class care for your car is closer than you think!…

For MOT, service, tyres & exhausts call:

ACE GARAGE RADFORD 024 7659 7879 S KENSINGTON GARAGE EARLSDON 024 7667 0054

Meriden Fish and Chips The Green, Meriden Awarded 5 ***** by Birmingham Mail 2011 Solihull Environmental Department 2012 And in “Top Ten Chippies” March 2012

Courtesy car, collection & delivery options call Brendan McManus direct on: 07958 518924

We service, repair and care for your vehicle

Opening hours Monday – Saturday 11.30-2.00pm & 4.15 -9.30pm Closed Sundays

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.

Meetings are held at Berkswell Reading Room at 7.45pm for 8.00pm start Wednesday 10th December Members Only Social Evening Wed. 14th January Members Only. AGM followed by presentation Balsall Common Village Hall, 2.15 pm Wed. 11th February “Guinea Gardens” by Dr. Sylvia Pinches Membership £5.00 per calendar year. Meeting fees

Balsall Village 2.15 pm. are £2.00Common for members; £3.00 forHall, non-members (incl. refreshments). For our full programme and details of our publications, please visit our website

All these Meetings are open to Members & Non-Members. www.berkswell-history.org

or telephone 01676 535782.

Old age is always fifteen years older than you are!

A family run business, for the ultimate ladies hair, barbering and beauty experience Winter Warmers

fORDES

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Luxury heated hand and foot massage and masque with shellac finish 2 hours. rrp £70 Christmas special £50

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Head Massage and warming deep conditioning treatment masque and finish with a blowdry rrp £44.50 Christmas special £35

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Enjoy the ultimate winter warmer; hot stone therapy massage and therma facial with hand and foot heated masque 2 ½ hours rrp £110.00 Christmas Special £80

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Back massage or facial £15

onthegreen

01676 521653 the green Meriden CV7 7LN Opening hours:

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

9.00-7.00pm 9.00-5.00pm 9.00-8.00pm 9.00-5.00pm 8.30-4.30pm

Winter warmers not available Christmas week

Gift vouchers and couple packages available

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust The Parkridge Centre, Brueton Park, Solihull Support our Help for Hedgehogs Campaign Donate by text – WKWT04 and your donation amount e.g. WKWT04 £10 to 70070

To book any of these events please call

FESTIVE FUN 3rd/5th/10th & 17th December are our Christmas themed Wildlife and sensory walks with some glittery art & crafts Free drink and a cookie for each child – all this for only £2.50!

FEBRUARY WORKSHOPS 16th Wildlife Watch (age 4+) either 11-12 or 1-2pm Cost £3.50 per child, work towards a hedgehog award 17th Crafty Drop in (all ages) 10:30-12 & 1-2:30 18th Den Building 60 Minute Marvel 11-12, Prickly Friends 60 Minute Marvel 1-2pm 19th Winter Adventure (4+) 10:30-12 20th Teddy Bear Adventure 2-4yrs 10:30-12, bring along Your teddy for a great adventure and build them a home

0121 704 0768.

Workshops: £3:50 members and £4.50 for non WWT members Crafty Drop-ins: £2.00 60 minute Marvels: £3:00 members and £4.00 for non WWT members Similar events take place at Brandon Marsh Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry Telephone: 02476 302 912 You will always be assured of a big welcome

Highly Successful Business Woman 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

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 7AP 01676 541 961 07817 961 222 www.graceinteriors.co.uk

grace Interiors

Heart of England Social Club 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

Non Members Welcome

New Year’s Eve Disco and Buffet Tickets £10 available from the Club Heart of England Social Club, Berkswell Road, Meriden 01676 522430

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

Contact: 07549 603 601 01676 521 243

The Job Squad

Director:

www.

TheJobSquad. co.uk

The Job Squad is not just for plumbing, carpentry, electrical repairs and general maintenance! We are available whenever 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.

All work guaranteed Fully insured State pensioners discount Minimum one hour

Free estimates Charged in half hour units No call out charge Established 1996

John Sleath, 01676 532833 07876 415 350 JOHN@THEJOBSQUAD.CO.UK.

Mr. Neil Massey Address: Leys Lane, Meriden

Services we offer: Garden Design Maintenance Landscaping Paving and patios Fencing Decking Water Features Natural Stone specialists ...And many more!

Call for your free quotation

www.greenroomlandsacpes.org.uk sales@greenroomlandscapes.org.uk

Bennetts Road North Corley Coventry CV7 8BG

nday 11th D

01676 540178 Opening hours Mon-Sat 9.00- 5.00pm Sun 10.00 – 4.00pm

We hand make Christmas wreaths and sell real Christmas trees ORDERS NOW BEING TAKEN

WE ARE BIGGER THAN YOU THINK

THE COUNTRYSIDE FORGE

Email: hayleystanley1@hotmail.co.uk

Tel: 01675 443752 07828939513 • •

• • •

Hand forged sporting game priests £40 Interior and exterior wrought iron work undertaken.

Hanging basket brackets £45 Sporting weathervanes made to order Commissions undertaken.

www.tibeagundogs.co.uk

Tel: 07904 239365

Heart of England High Speed Railway Action Group (www.hhag.org.uk) HS2 enjoys the full confidence of the Prime Minister. Nonetheless, cancellation can't be taken for granted.

That's why many local people and organisations like HHAG are being heard by the Select Committee examining the HS2 Bill in Parliament. The aim is to get the best possible mitigation of the project's harmful effects. For some of the direct impacts, there's a good chance we can win measures to lessen them, and for others, we could get some sort of off-set. We also need to reduce the long-term Council Tax burden, such as the cost of maintaining roads, and running the People-Mover at the Bickenhill Station.

Sadly, there's nothing the Committee can do about putting ourselves in hock to the Chinese to the tune of £100 Billion.

Nor can we ever make up for the opportunities lost through wasting so much time, money, and energy on a bucket and spade project that will further polarise the economics across the country. While we're building a massive concrete scar through the countryside (and an extra nuclear power station to run it), other countries are developing the technologies of the future. Five years ago, business leaders said they wanted the HS2 scheme to start at St Pancras and have direct links to the continent. So they started it at Euston, promised a direct link to St Pancras, and then scrapped the link. Meanwhile, all us plebs want are trains and buses that run at regular times, and shelters that actually shelter.

Having disconnected HS2 from the Continent, one would have thought the special HS2 trains and platforms could have been designed for ease of access. But no, Europe rules, and low-height Continental platforms will be used. That's not the only problem for the less mobile; the stations will be super-sized to accommodate quarter-mile long trains and a thousand people getting on at the same time. The overall experience will be more like an airport - including security - so wear comfy shoes!

People will be familiar with the diagonal line of HS2 across the Borough from Balsall Common to Chelmsley Wood, but have less knowledge of how the impact spreads out either side, with major road changes, fundamental alterations to the landscape, huge construction sites and spoil heaps, and heavy traffic on main roads and side roads alike for 7 years. More than 5 million tonnes of construction waste has to be moved. The Select Committee will be left in no doubt about the consequences of putting a straight line across the map. Even if we get a promise of that, we still need to get strong local control over the building phase.

Meriden is now faced - quite literally - with the so-called Garden City planned by Solihull Council for Bickenhill. A consultation is starting, and we'll be able to say whether we want a London Overspill complex on our doorstep. Solihull might be happy with the Council Tax income, but others will regret the loss of another large block of the Meriden Gap, and the inevitable traffic growth and pressure on services.

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

Winter time is with us again but sometime the cold and wet brings some extremely beautiful scenes. As soon as it snows I can’t get my boots on quickly enough to see the snow on the trees.

This little painting is one of my favourites.

Using watercolours and watercolour paper…

1. Draw the People and a suggestion on the main trees keeping the people quite low and small on the picture 2. If you have masking fluid then mask out the spots of snow on the branches on the sides and where the foreground shrubs meet the background. If you don’t have masking fluid then you can dot on correction fluid at the end when it’s all dry 3. Mix background colours of:• Blue • Blue and Crimson (purple) • Reddish Brown • Darker Brown • Blue and Yellow (Dark blue/green) • Blue and dark Brown (very strong dark grey) Wet sky/background area down to where the snow sits on the ground. Add Blue to the top middle area; the purple to the sides and lower distance, making sure that you leave white patches (patches with no paint on). Add the two brown colours to the lower trees and bushes. Add the dark greens to left hand holly bush. Add the last very dark tone to the lower middle of the holly tree and the lower right hand shrubs. Let it dry.

4. Foreground. While the top area is drying, use the same colours as before on to dry paper add patches for where the grass and shrubs show through the snow. Leave lots of white areas. For shadows on the snow use a few streaks of • •

Blue Blue and Crimson (purple)

5. Sponge on some texture. When the top part is dry, with a damp but not wet natural sponge, lightly sponge over the purple in the higher tree area and a little on to the foreground snow using some of the original colours. Let it dry.

6. Trees. Starting with the distant tree, using a small thin brush add a few trees with the purple colour (very weak) As the tree get close make the colour slightly stronger and darker. For the closest trees use:• Blue and dark Brown (very strong) Always start with the brush on the trunk or branch, lifting the brush off to give smaller branches and twigs.

7. People. Add two people shapes with strong reds and blues 8. Rub off masking fluid or add touches of white correction fluid or acrylic paint to add a little more snow.

For classes and workshops at Centre of England Arts see web site www.CoEA.co.uk or contact 01676 523357 Created by Julie Hyde

Email:jph300@hotmail.com

Copyright © 2014

g

Christmas Services in the Village Sunday 30thNovember 5.00pm St Laurence Advent Darkness to Light Service, an hour long service which begins in darkness - with only the twinkling of the Christmas Tree lights – but builds to light, as we prepare for the arrival of Jesus, Light of the world.

Sunday 14th December 1.00pm Cyclists Carol Service at St Laurence Church Monday 15th December 5.30pm School Christingle Service at St Laurence Church all welcome Saturday 20th December 5.00pm Carols on the Village Green with mulled wine and hot chocolate. Music provided by Bulkington Silver Band [If the weather is poor the celebration will move to the Methodist Church] Sunday 21st December 4.00pm Meriden Methodist Church - Three Fellowships Joint Carol Service. Followed by mince pies and tea and coffee Wednesday 24th December, Christmas Eve 4.00pm St Laurence Church Crib Service - a short service suitable for all ages to celebrate Christmas Christmas Eve - 11:30pm Midnight Holy Communion Service at St Laurence Church Thursday 25th December, Christmas Day 10.00am Joint Christmas Celebration Meriden Methodist Church, a joyful celebration service suitable for all the family

Annual Cyclists Carol Service Sunday 14th December 1.00pm Everyone is welcome at Meriden Village Hall from 11.00am where mince pies, tea and coffee will be on sale and afterwards please join us for the service at

St Laurence Church

Friday 28th November 5.00 – 7.00pm Straight after dedication of Tree of Thought.

Santa's Grotto, Hotdogs, Jolly Jars.

Mulled wine, Tombola, Raffles, Crafts, Games, Lucky dip, All welcome – please come along and support your local school. It’s a great opportunity for family and friends to get together

Carols on the Green Saturday 20th December 5.00pm Dedication of the Tree of Thought Meriden Green 4.00pm Friday 28th November As ever, by the time you read this, The Tree should be on The Green complete with the new set of 1920 LED lights.

I never cease to be amazed by, and hugely thankful for, the level of support and kindness I receive for The Tree. I am writing this on the 30th October and have, already, received generous donations from Lord and Lady Aylesford, DeMulder Enterprises, Pertemps and Cassidy Group, with the promise of more to come. In addition, John Williamson, who many of you will know as the Kleeneze Man, has donated his sponsorship money from his completion of The Great North Run, to The Tree. I remarked on The Meriden Tree of Thought website in the last Mag. What I didn’t say was that Stuart Bonnar (KLN-DESIGN) donated his considerable time setting up the site and what a lovely job he made of it too! He so kindly did this in order that the charities would not be deprived of beneficial funds! Once again I have published Village Christmas Cards which I sincerely hope you like and will be kind enough to support. It is not possible for me to thank everyone, individually but, believe me, I am enormously grateful for the part each of you plays in support of The Cancer Care Charities!!

In the meantime, I hope to see many of you at The Dedication of The Tree at 4.00pm on Friday 28th November on The Village Green.

ALAN LOLE. I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY AND HEALTHY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR.

The Rotary Club of Meriden wishes you all a very Happy Christmas.

We are pleased to be bringing Santa to visit, collecting for The Princes Trust and Marie Curie on the following evenings:

Meriden

Meriden

Meriden

Millisons Wood Wednesday 10th December Thursday 11th December Monday 8 December Friday 12th December Starting at 6.30pm Starting at 6.30pm Starting at 6.30pm Starting at 6.30pm Old Rd /Main Road Maxstoke Lane/Close Leys Lane Albert Road Glovers Close Letitia Avenue Mulberry Gardens Bonneville Close Strawberry Fields Wyatt Way Alspath Road James Dawson Drive Fillongley Rd (lower half) Jubilee Close Fairfield Rise Birmingham Road Highfield The Croft We will also be collecting in Hampton in Arden starting at 6.30pm on Monday 15th and Wednesday 17th December, and Fillongley Village on Thursday 18th December th

Sunday 21st December 6.30pm

The Dean’s Carols by Candlelight Celebrate Christmas at its best.

Traditional and modern carols, readings and candles, with the Dean and the Cathedral Choir.

A special occasion for all

St Laurence Church Christmas Tree Festival Sunday 30th November To Friday 5th December 5.00 – 7.00pm evenings only also Thursday December 4th 2.00pm – 4.0pm Come along and see the Church beautifully decorated by local Meriden organisations Admission is free £1 per voting slip to vote for your favourite tree

Drinks and cakes provided

1st Meriden Scout Group – News from the Green Hut Beavers The colony is continuing to grow and at Christmas some of our older Beaver Scouts will move on to Cubs.

The last few months have seen us completing a number of challenge and activity badges. Once again we have made our own poppies and wreath for Remembrance Sunday.

With only a few more activities to complete Joel, Hannah, Archie and Charlie will have completed their Chief Scout Award, the highest award a Beaver Scout can obtain. A huge well done to them all!!

After 8 years as a Cub Scout Leader and then a Beaver Scout Leader I shall be hanging up my necker and woggle at the end of this year. I have had some fantastic adventures with the children and would like to thank those that have supported me over the past 8 years and more importantly to thank the children for the fun times we've shared.

Beaver Scouts will continue with a new leader after Christmas and I'd like to wish the Group all the very best for the future.

Editor’s note we would like to put on record our thanks to Lis for all the news and photos of Meriden Scout Group she has gathered from the leaders for us over the last few years; always so interesting and always on time !

Cubs Our recent activities have taken the majority of our new and younger Cubs on their first proper weekend Cub camp, which was held on the grounds of our very own Scout Hut. This highly enjoyable weekend taught the Cubs some much needed camping skills, as well as taking them out and about in the surrounding countryside with a 5 mile hike on the Saturday and a tracking exercise on the Sunday using tracking signs made from sticks and stones. The Saturday night saw the Cubs put on a puppet show they created themselves which was followed by a good old fashioned sing song around the camp fire.

Other activities this term have seen the Cubs learn valuable cooking skills in order to earn their Chefs Badge at Christmas when they create a Christmas meal between them. They finished the term by creating Halloween pumpkin lanterns which they took home to use on the 31st.

It has been another enjoyable programme to date and the Cubs are having great fun in being a part of it. If you would like your son or daughter to be a part of this, there are still spaces available, so please do not hesitate to get in touch and bring your children down on a Thursday night from 6:30-8:00pm.

Scouts Another action packed half term with more new scouts coming up from cubs and the need to create another patrol. Foxes are the new addition to the troop. The half term has seen us making castles and catapults, planning camps, starting the Photograph, Chef and Entertainer badges, plus a camp up on Cannock Chase.

The camp up at Beaudesert Scout site saw the scouts building on the skills practiced at the camp in April and saw them pushing themselves to build Bivouac shelters, plus gutting and cooking fish (some of the noises they made while watching the demonstration and then getting involved themselves were quite amusing). They also had a chance to go off orienteering on their own with only a small amount of getting lost he! he! (They were all issued with radios and Pete and I soon tracked them down once they’d strayed). On the cooking front, they seemed to forget from the April camp that to cook on open fires requires plenty of wood and a couple of patrols looked like breakfast wasn’t going to be cooked, but they soon rallied round. The penny had dropped by the time it came to cooking Sunday’s dinner, potato, carrot and mince cooked in cabbage leaves and wrapped in foil and cooked on the hot coals, when everything was cooked on time and consumed with glee.

The photographer badge saw the Scouts paying close attention to demonstrations of techniques such as ‘forced perspective’, the principle of thirds, and the use of various shutter speeds before they all jumped in to have a go. The results were really quite good. The Scouts have now gone away to produce some more photos for a competition and to complete the badge.

For the entertainer badge the scouts spent one night making masks on each other’s faces, using Modrock (The same stuff used for plastering broken limbs) which was highly amusing but left the scout covered in plaster dust. The following week plays were created and performed using the masks. Some patrols managed to carry it off while the others need to finesse their plays and performances.

Hope to keep next half term action packed with plenty of fun and variety, planning to complete the badges mentioned, going for a hike round Meriden and making life size dummies out of plastic. For more detail 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. If Bear Dares why don’t you.

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) Cubs: Girls and Boys aged 8-10½ meet on a Thursday at 6.30pm. Contact Malcolm (07967 325520) Scouts: Girls and Boys aged 10½-14 meet on a Tuesday at 7pm. Mark (07801 773352) or 1stMeridenScouts@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.

Meriden Volunteers for

Black Country Night

The Volunteers have been very busy with three events in September and October raising £3,700 in total.

The proceeds of the Race Night went to Prostate cancer research and “In the Pink” money went to Breast Cancer research. All of the events were very enjoyable and financially successful.

Our next event is a Christmas social. The evening will start at 7.30 and the fish and chips will be delivered at 7.45 approx followed by the entertainment. Entrance is by ticket only so we can pre order the fish and chips Thank you for your support over the last twelve months, we do hope you will join us for this Christmas event.

Mary Warr

Tickets from local committee members: 01676 522160 * 01676 522855 * 01676 52270 * 01676 523165

Seniors Christmas lunch at the Manor Hotel Still a few tickets left for a 3 course Christmas Lunch Wednesday 10th December 12 noon for 12.30pm £6.00 a head available to all residents of Meriden Aged over 65

Friday 12th December Heart of England Social Club 7.30pm Comedy duo Dandy and Live And music by Stevie Best Tickets £12 To include Fish and Chip Supper

Tom’s Butchers on the Green

Meat Raffle Raffle

Award Winning Baby Development Classes

£1 per ticket to raise funds for Marie Curie Hospice Solihull There will be a weekly dr draw every Friday morning until Christmas to win a weekend joint joint !

All profits to the charity

Designed for babies from birth to

CHARITY CHRISTMAS CARD SHOP 2014

Please apply to the Manor Hotel for tickets 01676 522735

13 months Babies have an extraordinary capacity to absorb information in their first year and at Baby Sensory we don’t waste a single moment!

With 40 themed lesson plans, you and your baby will discover a magical underwater world, explore a tropical jungle, journey into Space and have fun at our Baby Olympics!

Classes held in:- Shirley, Solihull and Meriden

Contact - Nina 07971 945 242 solihull@babysensory.co.uk

The Midland Charities Association Christmas Card shop is in Balsall Common library until Saturday, December 13th.

The shop operates at all library opening times during that period, i.e. Monday & Thursday 10-6; Tuesday 10-5; Friday 2-5; Saturday 10-4 (closed Wednesday).

There will be cards from 16 different charities.

For more information, please contact Judith Woodcock 01676 533428 or Pam Brown 01676 532580 In addition, the card shop in Allesley Park Community Library, Whitaker Road CV5 9JE will be open until Saturday, December 13th.

The opening times here will be Monday & Thursday 1-7; Tuesday 9-1; Friday 9-12; Saturday 9-4 (closed Wednesday).

Meriden library 01676 522717 Monday Thursday Saturday

10am - 6pm 10am - 6pm 10am - 1pm

Winter has arrived…

It’s time to curl up with a good read on those cold, dark evenings and take some time out in front of the fire. Here at Meriden Library we have thousands of books for all ages – from the latest best sellers to classic novels. Look out for our new book displays over the festive period and into the New Year.

Reading Café We continue our popular Reading Café with a festive theme on Monday 15 December, 10.30-11.30am. Pop in for a mince pie and hot drink, and discuss what’s on your Christmas list this year. The New Year will find the café taking place on Monday 19 January. Both events are free to attend, with free books!

Story times Story times for the under fives continue to run every Monday from 2.45-3.15pm, during term time. Please come along and join in our enthusiastic group of parents and carers: make friends and enjoy some stories and crafts with your young children in the library. We are holding a Christmas story time on Monday 15 December, 2.303.15pm. There will be all the usual fun with lots of Christmas cheer!

Keeping in touch!

Don’t forget the library has internet access to help you keep in touch with loved ones over the Christmas period.

We offer two free hours computer use for library members alongside printing facilities (charges apply).

Sessions can be extended for £1.50 per hour or part of an hour, and computers are available until 15 minutes before the library closes.

For more information please contact Meriden Library on 01676 522717.

The staff at Meriden Library would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Meriden Playgroup Come and join us for a little playtime crafts, indoor and outdoor play, a healthy snack, a cup of tea and a warm welcome

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

Meriden Library Readers Circle Meetings are usually held on the second Wednesday of each month from 7.30 to 9.00 p.m.

If you would like to join us do please call me for details of the venue. We usually read round a different subject each month and the Library staff provide us with a selection of books to choose from so we can contribute what we have discovered.

10th December 2014 Christmas Party with nibbles and a glass of Christmas cheer to begin and a quiz or game.

It's also a time to bring a reading or poem that makes Christmas special for you.

14th January 2015 Did you get a book in your stocking? Share it with us and we can decide if it's a must read.

11th February 2015 A novel or short story by Susan Hill. A great story teller, to keep you enthralled on a cold winters night.

Margaret Houldsworth 01676 523603

Balsall Writers In August we learned we had been short-listed in the National Association of Writers Groups Anthology competition. At an award ceremony at a The University of Warwick we received a certificate of merit.

The anthology 'Snapshots' is now in paperback and available from Amazon.

We are now looking to expand our groups with the introduction in January of an Associate Members Group.

This will be for long distance members and those who cannot make our monthly meetings.

Associate members will pay a reduced membership subscription which will include submissions to the group by email for criticism and feedback. For more details –

info@balsallwriters.org.uk www.balsallwriters.org.uk

Lions International Peace Poster Competition Each year, Lions clubs around the world sponsor the Lions International Peace Poster Contest in local schools and youth groups. The contest encourages young people worldwide to express their visions of peace. Children from nearly 100 countries have participated in the contest.

The theme of the 2014-15 Peace Poster Contest is “Peace, Love and Understanding” and this year students from the Heart of England took part by creating posters.

The contributions of Angeli Fernando, Year 8, Emily Lindsay, Year 7 and Rachel Mayhew, Year 8 were singled out from the many entries with Angeli’s being chosen to be put forward nationally. “I feel happy and proud that I have won. It was unexpected” said Angeli.

“The standard is excellent and much higher than we expected. The number of entrants is superb and we hope to run the competition again next year,” said Ann Pembleton, Youth Officer of Balsall Common Lions.

Each of the three finalists was awarded a WH Smiths gift card and a certificate which were presented by the president of the Lions, Mark Whitfield.

When asked about her inspiration Emily said, “I wanted to bring people together around the world.”

The students certainly worked hard and produced great work. “The hardest thing was doing it in the time available,” commented Rachel.

Mr McLarnon, Head of Art said, “Well done to everyone who took part. A lot of hard work and talent went into all the posters entered.”

The Shrinking Childhood In today’s rapidly changing world of technology, materialism and competition, the characteristics of the “teenager” and “teenage culture” take a very different form to what is was during its conception in the mid-20th-century. The way childhood morphs into teenage life and then into adulthood is becoming increasingly difficult to pinpoint and has many people thinking about whether these transitions are becoming quicker and quicker. Are children growing up too quickly? Is the concept of childhood now foreign, to be enjoyed only for an increasingly slim margin of a lifetime?

The birth of youth culture could be traced back to the emergence of the effervescent “flapper girls” after World War I, or the evolution of the “Mods” in the 1960s, and in both cases there can be seen groups of young people – although not necessarily of teen age – rejoicing in their youth, energy and enthusiasm. Although teenagers these days cannot necessarily be pigeonholed in such a way, it’s certainly true that some people view them in a negative way, due to the often distinctive way they dress and behave in public.

That the teenage culture of 2014 has begun to kidnap children at too early a stage, however, suggests that being a youth is something dangerous, undesirable: even destructive. The days may be over of children playing out with each other until the age of true responsibility, and never looking in a mirror until their adult lives had both legally and biologically begun.

The advent of the mass media may in part explain this phenomenon of “shrinking childhoods” as millions of messages are broadcast daily, directly targeted at the new-found purchasing power of young people, about their appearances, new material goods on offer and celebrity culture. Indeed, a Guardian survey found that by the age of five, one in ten schoolchildren have a mobile phone. Is this a deliberate shoe-horning of children into the adult world? Are they now viewed as the consumers of the next generation rather than the precious hold of their parents or guardians and, ultimately, their society?

It seems that the rate of the transition from childhood to adulthood is accelerating almost beyond our control. No sooner are young children out of the garden and onto the computer than they are going shopping with friends and obsessing about gadgets.

But this may not necessarily always be a damaging prospect. If adulthood is inevitable and always on the horizon, then the development of a youth culture may symbolise a key stepping stone from childhood onwards. Although being a child should rightly be cherished and held on to for as long as possible, perhaps the teenage years are a necessary “evil” for preparing young people for the real world that exists out there.

Claire Hargreaves year 13 student at Heart of England Sixth Form

Barkers’ Butts RFC Pickford Grange Lane Coventry CV5 9AR •

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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

Macmillan Coffee Morning Thanks to everyone who came to our coffee morning on Friday 26th September.

You raised £153!

Many thanks to the Scouts for the use of their hut and especially to Joan for helping us set up.

Also thank you to Pat, Joan and Janet for their lovely baking and all their help on the day And especially everyone who came along or contributed in anyway Shirley Goodsir

Lying about my age is easier now I can’t remember what it is!

NHS Blood and Transplants The next sessions for blood donors will be Tuesday 10th February 2015 at The Heart of England Social Club 1.30 – 3.30 & 4.30 – 7.30pm

Appointments available by calling 03001232323

Do you want to clean up?

No? Then let me do it for you. I have twenty years’ experience in cleaning and am trustworthy and hard working References can be provided.

Contact Rachel on 07518538829

We have had a lovely start back after the summer holidays. And we have welcomed a couple of new brownies and some very helpful young leaders which is great.

Our first meeting of the term was run very kindly

by Paul Ebrey from The Hampton Health & Fitness Club.

He completed a brilliant fitness evening with the brownies; we would like to say a big thank you to him for his time. They really enjoyed the evening.

We have also been doing our artist badge and had a fun Halloween party.

If you would like any more information about Meriden brownies please contact me

Sarah Markham Tel :07572 508727 sarahmarkhamuk@yahoo.co.uk

A Message from Tony Dicicco Solihull District Councillor for Meriden Since I was first elected as a councillor for Meriden ward in May 2012, I have dealt with many enquiries from local residents. These have included car parking issues, problems with refuse collection and also planning considerations. I have worked with my fellow Solihull (SMBC) councillors and council employees to try to ensure a positive resolution to these issues.

Before I became a councillor, my interaction with SMBC was sporadic: I only really interacted with the council when I had a problem. It’s sometimes easy to forget the range of services that SMBC provides; it’s not just about neighbourhood issues, important as these are. SMBC has responsibility for the safeguarding of adults and children, ensuring their welfare. As our local population ages, taking care of the elderly will be an increasingly difficult task. Of course, SMBC will play a significant role but the role of volunteers from the community will also be important. Our parish councils also have a significant role to play and we are lucky to have such a proactive and effective parish council in Meriden.

An example of this co-operation is a project that was recently undertaken in Meriden where SMBC’s Adult Safeguarding team identified a vulnerable, elderly resident who was having difficulty maintaining his garden. Adult Safeguarding contacted SMBC Neighbourhood Services and members of this team worked with volunteers to clear the overgrown garden. This has made a considerable difference to the quality of life of this gentleman as he can now use his garden again and overgrown vegetation has been cleared allowing more light into the property.

It is easy to be cynical at the concept of the “Big Society” but I believe that we as individuals can make a difference, working together and with Solihull council and our parish councils to ensure that Solihull Borough remains one of the best places to live in the UK.

If you wish to contact me then my email address is: tony.dicicco@solihull.gov.uk.

Police News from Sergeant Craig Hurst Our Neighbourhood Policeman Some people love it and some people loathe it…but I can’t avoid discussing Christmas for my article this issue. Despite the fact I’m writing this message in mid-October I’ve already seen Christmas decorations in shops and I’m sure there are some rather eager youngsters already planning their list, if they haven’t already written down of all the presents they’re hoping to unwrap on Christmas morning.

And as your children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews innocently list the presents they want from Santa without a concept of the cost involved, the same items also probably appear on a more cynical list − that of an opportunist criminal. While I don’t want to appear like some kind of Scrooge I do want to remind you of some simple home and vehicle security tips that will help prevent crime this Christmas.

As ever I’ll include an apology as I know many of you reading this will already follow this advice − in fact I’ll also thank you for this − but we’re still seeing examples of avoidable crime where doors have been left unlocked or open.

Across the West Midlands 5,000 motorists won’t follow this advice − this figure is the amount of drivers who will find their vehicle has been stolen or broken into because they’ve left it unsecure this year − approximately a figure that equates to a quarter of all vehicle crime.

Lap-tops, sat navs, handbags, coats, sunglasses, phone chargers − even chewing gum and loose change − have all been swiped by thieves who’ve been offered the chance to help themselves. Most of these offences have occurred on driveways or roadsides overnight. So before you go to bed tonight please check you have removed all valuables from display and locked your car.

And after doing this make sure you lock the front door − as the same simple advice also applies to homeowners.

Throughout the darker nights we’ll be working to tackle a predicted seasonal rise in burglary.

While the darker nights aren’t relished by most they can provide cover for sneak-in burglars who spot an open window in an unoccupied room, see your valuables through open curtains or blinds or simply try their luck with an unlocked door Therefore even the simplest of security measures like making sure doors are locked can make a difference. That’s why we’re asking you to remember ‘Lock up, lights on, keys safe’ this winter.

And of course if you spot anyone acting suspiciously in your neighbourhood please call the police on 101, or by dialling 999 in an emergency.

I’ll end on a more positive note as I don’t want to dampened anyone’s early festive cheer, but I hope you’ll appreciate the influence you can have making our communities safer.

On behalf of myself, the team and everyone at Solihull Police I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New year.

Lavender Hall Lane Berkswell 01676 530 299 / 07949 119 436

b 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 •

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 glorious countryside.

Bait and tackle shop now open 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

Valentines Candlelit Dinner in the Award Winning Regency Restaurant

MANOR HOTEL Main Road, Meriden, Solihull, West Midlands, CV7 7NH Tel: 01676 522735

Houston’s Winter Warmer Menu January 2015 Banish those winter blues and join us in Houston’s Bar & Grill throughout January and enjoy a Main Course & Drink* for only £9.95 per person!

Offer valid 2nd-31st January 2015, 12 noon – 6.00pm. *Selected Main courses from the Winter Warmer Menu.

Drinks; 125ml glass house red/white wine, pint of draught beer or draught soft drink.

Saturday 14th February 2015 Enjoy a truly romantic evening over candle light with the one you love in our 2 AA Rosette Regency Restaurant and indulge in a glass of bubbly on arrival followed by a delicious 3-course meal. £29.95 per person (£60.00 per person to include accommodation & full English breakfast) Upgrade to a superior bedroom for only £20.00 per room which includes, bathrobes, slippers, rose petals and chocolates.

To make your booking, please contact the hotel on 01676 522 735

Christmas houseplants are a great way of making the house colourful and festive, and they make wonderful Christmas gifts. Unfortunately, many of them prematurely end up in the bin!

Remember – houseplants aren’t just for Christmas! With a little care and attention, most will go on giving years of pleasure Care starts at the point of purchase. Make sure plants, but particularly sensitive poinsettias, are protected from cold weather when taking them from the store to the car and car to house; always ask for a protective houseplant sleeve.

Most flowering Christmas houseplants will last longer if kept cool, around 10-15C (50-60F), although poinsettias, gerbera and Christmas cacti like it a little warmer – up to 18-21C (65-70F). Always try to avoid chills, especially at night – most common when plants are kept on windowsills – and excessive warmth, especially from radiators and open fires.

When watering, always use tepid water, as cold water straight from the tap can be very damaging.

Most, but especially azaleas and cyclamen, are best watered from below by standing the pot in a few centimetres of water, remove and allow to drain before returning to its flowering position. The compost should be kept moist, allowing the top to slightly dry out before watering and fed weekly to fortnightly with a liquid houseplant feed while in flower.

Pork Steaks with Mushroom and Leek Serves 4 Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a deep frying pan and brown 4 pork steaks for 2 minutes on each side until golden.

Remove from the pan and keep to one side.

Add a sliced onion and fry for five minutes before adding 140g mushrooms and a sliced leek both finely sliced, cook gently, covered for 10 minutes until soft.

Add ¼ pint white wine, cider, or stock simmer until syrupy and then stir in 150ml crème fraiche, one heaped teaspoon of Dijon mustard, a little chopped tarragon and some salt and pepper.

Simmer for two minutes and then return the pork chops to the pan covering them with the sauce. Return the lid to the pan and cook for 5 – 10 minutes until they are cooked through.

Serve with a pile of fluffy mash and a green vegetable.

Brailes Farm 522318 Fresh cut turf Potatoes Rockery stone and Other garden needs Village delivery

Congratulations to John Douglas for receiving an award for the most colourful planters or hanging baskets in the Solihull Neighbourhoods in Bloom Competition.

Fresh Christmas Trees Different varieties available.

Holly Wreaths, Crosses, Chaplets, Garlands GIBSON’S NURSERY MILLISONS WOOD HILL MERIDEN

01676 522233 M.J. Mowing martin@mjmowing.co.uk

Grass Cutting Hedge Cutting Pruning Strimming Weed Control –Pesticide Licensed Leaves Cleared No Job Too Small Competitive Prices - Free Quotes Call Martin 01675 465 204 07922 241 181

Greetings from Meriden Rotary Club!

Meriden Rotary 2014 Santa Fun Run

Since I took over in July, I am thoroughly enjoying being the President of this Club. In the past six months, we had many speakers from various sections of the society including Charities and local businesses who presented us with valuable information about their work.

In commemoration of World War I, we also had a fantastic musical evening remembering music and songs from the War era.

The Christmas spirit is in the air and we now look forward to our two annual events – Santa Fun Run and Santa Sleigh. You will find all the information about these events in this magazine. I am sure as always, people of Meriden will wholeheartedly support us through these events for more Fundraising for the Rotary charities.

We will host our annual Senior Citizens’ Party on 31st January. We are once again looking forward to welcoming the Senior Citizens for the fun filled evening.

Finally, we all at the Meriden Rotary Club wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

The Rotary Club of Meriden is organising the 3rd annual “Santa Fun Run” in the village of Meriden, on Sunday 7th December 2014 and starting at 11.00am Last year, our Santa Fun Run attracted more participants who together with sponsors raised the magnificent sum of £5,000.

Many thanks to all.

We are hoping to do even better this year, so come on all you “Fun Run” people and help make this one even better!

Tell your friends and family and get them to take part. If you want to sponsor your own favourite Charity let us know.

If you have never done a “Fun Run” before, this is a 4 kilometre course around Meriden and is open for everybody to run or walk - it is not a race. This being a “Santa Fun Run” santa suits are included in the registration fee and are yours to keep. Everybody can do this and it is really great fun to do the run in a Santa suit.

We are raising funds in aid of “Marie Curie Cancer Care”, The Prince's Trust and other Rotary Charities. Online registration is available and as last year, it can be done through “Virgin Money Giving”. For full details see our website www.meriden-santa-fun-run.org.uk which has a link to our page on “Virgin Money Giving”. Alternatively, a registration form will be available for download, as well as a sponsor form and a medical form. We also have a Facebook Page so that you can tell your friends about the run The FAQ page provides more information and if you cannot find what you are looking for, use the form on the “Enquiry”

Dev Kulkarni, President, Meriden Rotary Club

Temple Balsall A Sure Start Children’s Centre

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

Christmas Turkeys Locally Grown If you want the best, this is the place to come!

Susan Pointon 01676 522216 01676 523010 07855 417738 Collect or deliver

Fed on cereal and vegetable diet No hormones or animal by-product proteins All sizes available from 10lb up

12 Days of Fitness at the Marriott Forest of Arden.

01676 526107 During December 2014 only, enjoy 12 days of our luxurious leisure facilities for just £12.

18m Leisure pool.

Splash pool.

Spa Bath.

Sauna & Steam room.

Exercise studio with over 30 classes per week.

Cardio gym.

Free weights gym.

Resistance suite.

Flood lit tennis courts.

Receive £5 off a personal training session when you sign up.

Coventry Breathe Easy

Come along to a warm welcome with Candy at Meriden Village Hall

Zumba Thursday evenings 6.00pm £4 per session

For more information please ring Cynthia on 02476 440316 Pilates Thursday evenings 7.00pm £4 per session

Pilates focuses on building your body's core strength and improving your posture through a series of low repetition low impact stretching and conditioning exercises.

It not only 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

A support group for all those affected by a lung condition, including friends, family and carers.

Meets on the 2nd Friday of every month.

2 – 4 pm Eadon Hall, Central Hall, Methodist Church Warwick Lane, Coventry, CV1 2HA Friday 12th December and Friday 9th January Social mornings at Conroy’s Coffee House, Corporation Street, Coventry, 10.30am–12 noon Friday February l3th - Chris Loveridge Exacerbations etc and how you can help yourself (Back to 2.00 pm start)

ONE OF THE UK’S LARGEST DISTRIBUTORS OF PLASTIC BUILDING MATERIALS • 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

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Rockwell Sheet Sales Ltd Tel: 01676 522224 Rockwell House Birmingham Road Millisons Wood, Coventry CV5 9AZ

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Fuse box upgrades Test and inspection Extra lights and sockets Security lights Full or partial rewires Digital TV aerials Free quotations

Phone Paul Telephone: 0121 764 5872 Mobile 07979 064835 Email: paulheath11@yahoo.com

The public and press are 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.

Should 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.

The next meeting dates are:

Barbara Bland The Pavilion Meriden Sports Park Main Road Meriden CV7 7SP

15 December 2014 – Parish Council Meeting, Pavilion, Sports Park 26 January 2015 - Parish Council Meeting, Pavilion, Sports Park 23 February 2015 – Parish Council Meeting, Pavilion, Sports Park

Tel: 01676 522474 (Mondays and Thursdays) Mobile: 07767 162423 Email: barbarablandmpc@btconnect.com Web: www.meridenparishcouncil.org.uk

Please note the change of venue to the Parish Council office for some meetings is to afford access to wi-fi and Parish Council files for effective and efficient use of meeting times.

Your Parish Councillors are:

Melanie Lee (Chair)

Rosie Weaver (Vice Chair)

Bob Kipling

Paul Lee

Mandy Haque

Frances Lynch-Smith

Jon Barber

Matthew Nunn

Community surgeries at Meriden Library Community surgeries are held by Barbara Bland, our Clerk, and Bruce Brant, our Neighbourhood Coordinator, from Solihull Council to discuss any issues at Meriden Library on Monday mornings from 10.00am – 12.00 noon on the following dates: 1 December 2014, 5 January 2015 and 2 February 2015.

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.

Police beat surgeries Sgt Craig Hurst and his team will conduct their beat surgery on Thursday 18 December 2014 at Meriden Library 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.

Sports Camps this Winter at Meriden Sports Park 16-20 February 2015 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.

The Parish Council would like to thank Reverend Kate Massey for her service to the community over the past two years that she has spent in Meriden with St Laurence Church. Kate leaves us at the end of the year and she will be dearly missed.

Ralph Ledbrooke for cleaning Meriden’s war memorial for Remembrance Sunday.

Debbie Barber who put hundreds of hours into her cross stitch commemorating the men and officers who fell during the First World War who are named on Meriden’s war memorial. Debbie has kindly donated it to the parish and you’ll find it on display in the library in the coming months.

The Royal Corps of Signallers for taking part in our commemorative football match to mark the centenary of the First World War. They beat Meriden Spartans 12-0 and will return next year to play another Meriden team.

Thanks also go to Lis Willis and Debbie Barber for bringing along their homemade cakes to help raise money for ABF the Soldiers’ Charity and to the spectators for coming along to watch the match. ABF received £209 on the day.

Library update We are pleased to announce that Meriden Library is due for refurbishment in the New Year. Part of the plan is to incorporate a new computer suite comprising of ten stations made up of PCs and laptops with particular attention to accessibility for the disabled. This money was originally destined to fund a small children’s play area at Meriden Gate but due to the austere cuts forced by central government, Solihull Council will not be able to maintain the playground.

Given this, the Parish Council decided to redirect the funds to the library.

Neighbourhood Plan – volunteers wanted Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area. They are able to choose where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built, have their say on what those new buildings should look like and what infrastructure should be provided, and grant planning permission for the new buildings they want to see go ahead.

Neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of tools for local people to ensure that they get the right types of development for their community where the ambition of the neighbourhood is aligned with the strategic needs and priorities of the wider local area.

Following on from our Parish Plan 2009 and Parish Design Statement 2011, the Parish Council has now started working on Meriden’s Neighbourhood Plan. It is vital that the plan is developed with local people, not just parish councillors. We need to go out and consult with residents on a wide range of issues. So we will be having a series of public meetings to incorporate your views in order to have a long term vision for Meriden.

An information leaflet was distributed at the school’s Christmas Fayre in November and you will soon have one delivered to your door. If you would like to be part of this by helping with the delivery of questionnaires, joining the working group or offering any other skills you have or any views on the issues that face us send them to info@meridenparishcouncil.org.uk. You can read our Parish Plan and Design Statement at www.meridenparishcouncil.org.uk/newsletter.html.

Parking on the service road With the growing number of residents in Meriden and passing trade, parking is an issue on the service road and parking bays around the Village Green. We would like to remind shoppers that they can park in the Sports Park for free if parking space is limited especially when the Christmas shopping hours approach. We ask of everyone, including staff who work in the shops that considerate parking should be observed to ensure a sustainable local economy.

Dog fouling Did you know that you can report dog fouling to Solihull Council? The majority of our residents are responsible with their dogs when they take them for a walk. A small few, however, do not pick up their dog foul and this is a concern to residents. If you witness unsightly dog foul, you can report this to Solihull by emailing Wendy Henry at whenry@solihull.gov.uk.

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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 Normal opening hours throughout Christmas Christmas day 9.00am to 4.00pm Weekdays 6 am-10pm Weekends 7am-10pm

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It is with great sadness that we let everyone know that Sandra Thomas (15 The Croft) age 72 passed away on the 9th Oct following a short illness. The beautiful wife of Peter, lovely Mum of Julie, Neil and Sarah, and adorable Nan to her 6 Grandchildren. She will be greatly missed but loved forever. The family wish to thank everyone who attended the funeral and to all those who made donations to the Marie Curie and Macmillan charities.

It was with great sadness that I read of Betty Campbell’s death in the previous Mag. For some years she and her family were our neighbours in Meriden and you could not have wished for better ones. We also loved to see her mother who often visited from Allesley. One evening in the late ‘80s we invited Betty to visit. She drove over ….and you might say the rest is history….; looking up details of her family tree, guess what…. we discovered she had a Meriden background going back to the late C18th, something she had never considered though she recalled coming to Lodge Green as a child. We found Betty’s ancestors had been highly valued by their employers at Meriden Hall and John Boddington’s farm and we also unravelled the ‘mystery of Thomas Ted’s clock’. There are no lost buildings in the area where her family previously lived but as she was enthusiastic about all village history, I am dedicating my article this time to her memory as I know she would have enjoyed it.

HERO - Heart of England Retirement Organisation Reg Charity 518680 Chairman: Canon Claire Laland MBE. HERO is a locally based small charity that may provide small gifts of financial assistance to the older members of the community in Balsall Common, Berkswell, Meriden and nearby villages.

It began life as the Heart of England Home Committee where, over 20 years ago, local people got together to form a pressure group for a residential care home in the area.

Their efforts culminated in the Michael Blanning Place housing for the elderly. The new group has Trustees which consist of some members of the original group and representatives from local churches and organisations.

Silver Sunday Silver Sunday is a national celebration of older people and their contribution to communities. It is held on the first Sunday in October when a number of free activities may be arranged or people encouraged to meet their elderly neighbours.

HERO decided to celebrate the day by delivering house plants to local people. We felt it important that the visitor should be known to the recipient and so all the Trustees of HERO took part in the event. 24 plants were delivered in Balsall Common and area with nearly half going to Meriden Residents. On each occasion we were very much welcomed and everyone enjoyed the opportunity to chat.

The plants were gift wrapped in silver and all looked very attractive.

One letter received after the event said, ‘Thank you so much for the cyclamen all done up with silver material and ribbon. Your visit gave me so much pleasure’’ For more information go to www.balsallcom.com/hero

Betty Campbell, late of 24 The Firs Meriden, died 11th August 2014 at Alveston Leys Nursing Home, Stratford-upon-Avon after a short illness.

She was born on 11th March 1920 in Coventry to Alfred and Emily Walter but later moved to Washbrook Lane, Allesley where she attended Allesley School. She won a scholarship to Barr’s Hill Grammar School but to her great disappointment was unable to take her place as her parents could not afford her uniform. After leaving school she worked as a telephonist at the Coventry telephone exchange, a job which she loved and such was her determination to get to work on the morning after the blitz, she had to cycle under a burning bridge despite warnings from the fire warden. Whilst there she met her future husband Charles Campbell and they were married at Allesley on 28th February 1942. In 1944 their daughter Susan was born. In 1947 to their delight, they were allocated a house in Alspath Close, Meriden where in 1950 their second daughter Maggie was born. Little did Betty know that her ancestors on her father’s side, the Armitt and Woodward families had resided in Meriden for many generations before her, a fact she discovered with the help of Doreen Webb at the local history group.

In the 1950s and 60s she could often be seen behind the counter at the old Post Office on the green helping Mr. and Mrs. Ted Mills and later became Company Secretary to David Barton at Walsh Hall.

Her interests were many and varied including amateur dramatics, lace making, embroidery, gardening, history, flower arranging, baking and even car maintenance! She had a wonderful sense of humour and was very popular.

After losing her beloved Charles in 1982 she remained at Alspath Road for a further 8 years until the garden proved too much and she moved to the Firs. She was very happy there and continued to enjoy close contact with her daughters and their families, visiting them every weekend until a few weeks before her death.

She leaves behind Sue and Maggie, four grandchildren, two great grandchildren and a lifetime of happy memories.

Her ashes will be interred with those of her husband Charles at St. Laurence’s Church on Saturday 20th December at 11am for anyone wishing to attend.

Meriden Surgery

01676 522252

School House, 200 Main Road, Meriden, CV7 7NG Dr M Bhandal Dr S Barratt Dr A Carlile Dr T Nadeem Dr R Horsley (Partners) Associate GPs Dr L Palmer & Dr C Bayliss

1. www.balsallcommongrouppractice.co.uk

Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday Wednesday

8.30am to 6pm 8.30am to 12.00

For details on how to obtain medical help when the surgery is closed please phone

01676 935000

BALSALL COMMON AND MERIDEN PRACTICE PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP (PPG) As have a large number of Medical Practices, throughout the Country, our local practice has set up a Patient Participation Group (PPG).

What is the purpose of the PPG? Its purpose is to ensure patients are involved in decisions about the range and quality of services provided and commissioned by our Practice. It aims to encourage views from patients and to involve them in decisions that lead to changes to improve the services being provided or commissioned either directly or in the Practice’s capacity as gatekeeper to other services.

What are the Aims of the PPG? Firstly, it is important to state that it is NOT a channel for patient’s individual complaints. The Practice has a system in place for dealing with these – though the system itself could be a topic for consideration by the PPG. On a more positive note they are: • To encourage a positive relationship between the patients and the Practice staff, both medical and administrative.

• To have a voice for patients in the Practice.

• To work constructively in partnership with the Practice and other service providers to help identify solutions to problem areas; being realistic about what can be achieved and to look for small changes that can make a real difference.

What is the makeup of the PPG? The PPG is made up of representatives from the Practice and from patients who make use of the services. The aim is for patient members to have knowledge and experience covering the wide range of services provided. Anyone on the Practice’s patient list is eligible to put themselves forward to be co-opted. The current membership is: Patient Representatives:

Gary Bishop Naomi Cuthbert David Felthouse Judi Smith Norman Stephens David Taylor Paul Williams

How do you contact the Patient Representatives?

Use one of the following methods to give your name and contact details and one of the Patient Representatives will contact you to discuss and take action on your particular concern.

E-mail: naomicuthbert.ppg@outlook.com ℡ 0783 350 7018 Mail: Patient Participation Group Balsall Common Health Centre 1 Ashley Drive Balsall Common Coventry CV7 7RW

Practice Representatives: Dr Mandeep Bhandal Dr Aileen Carlile Joanne Hope – PracticeManager Aimee Ibbetson– PA & Admin assistant Are you aware that there are a number of ways in which you can cancel your unwanted appointment?

♦ By telephoning - 01676 522252 ♦ By secure email to SOLCCG.BCCancelAppointments@nhs.net Please note that no other requests will be actioned via this email address. Please remember to include your name, date of birth, date and time of the appointment you wish to cancel and which staff member the appointment is with

♦ Via our website www.balsallcommongrouppractice.co.uk You can either cancel an appointment you have booked using Online access or send the practice a message via the website

If you have not already done so then sign up today for Online Access ♦ By Fax - 01676 523865 ♦ In Writing ♦ at Reception

Sustainable development & the Garden City Whatever the arguments for and against the HS2 Project, there can be no doubt that it will bring enormous change, as well as development pressure to the Meriden Gap and its Green Belt. In this context 18 months ago, Solihull Council launched UK Central. This is a long term project intended to face growth pressures affecting the Borough as a whole and whilst not predicated on HS2, would embrace both its opportunities and pressures.

UKC has four principal economic zones; the Hub, i.e. the NEC, Airport, Birmingham Business Park and the site of the HS2 Interchange Station; Regeneration Area in the north; Solihull Town Centre; Blythe Valley Park. UKC has several important themes; improving transport connectivity between the zones, helping link people to jobs; better use of the key land assets for appropriate development; design excellence; parallel approach of protecting and enhancing our environmental assets and the Meriden Gap. The 'Garden City' proposal of Solihull Council for the HS2 Interchange Site follows the UKC principles of making best use of our scarce land resource and stands in complete contrast to HS2's plan for a box station and an ocean of parking, the latter very similar to what we see on the other side of the M42 at the NEC. The Solihull Council plan is ambitious. The Council has consistently made the case that the HS2 proposal for the Interchange station is not the most sustainable use of this Green Belt land, which would have remained Green Belt land under the Council’s Local Plan without HS2, and that it does not optimise the potential economic, environmental and social benefits for the area. The UK Central master plan and the subsequent Prospectus for a ‘Garden City’ approach to the interchange area sets out the Council’s vision for this area.

An essential ingredient is investment in the green and blue infrastructure of the whole area, integrating high quality amenity and landscape assets, creating sustainable urban systems and ecological corridors. UK Central and the Garden City proposal provides the vision and opportunity for how nature, urban environments and transport systems can function successfully together if they are planned, co-ordinated and managed as part of one overall approach.

The Garden City proposal envisages a mixed used development with commercial, leisure and residential uses, linked to a Central boulevard and the Interchange Station, with the potential of creating up to 20,000 jobs, 2000+ new homes.

Solihull has petitioned the Select Committee to promote its plan for the area and wishes to be in the driving seat for planning the area, as well as other essential investment locally that would be needed. The Council will shortly be going out to consultation over its proposals, as part of the Local Plan process, and hopes the Garden City proposal will be seen as a positive move towards shaping plans that are appropriate to this Borough.

Councillor Ian Courts Cabinet Portfolio Holder, Economic Development and Land, Deputy Leader of Solihull Council

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LOST BUILDINGS OF MERIDEN PART 3: GLOVERS CLOSE [[[[[[[Kinwaldsey, William son of Gerard (possibly Geoffrey’s brother elsewhere called ‘ Gilmyn’), Richard Hill

If James Glover’s contemporaries had thought that a road would be named in his memory, they would have the Mason, Nicolas Godyng and many others. I imagine them all crowding round listening, all of 700 years ago. been surprised for he was frequently in trouble with the authorities for trespass and other misdemeanours, and was atDoreen one point a bankrupt. Born at Tippers Hill, Fillongley in 1854 he began working as an apprentice to a local Agutter. baker William Ward. After his death he continued to help widow Ellen Ward who was a relative so that on her death James was able to acquire her Meriden shop cheaply. It was vacant on the March 1881census as he was about to move in. He married Elizabeth Cox in April 1881, trading as a baker, grocer and butcher until apparently putting the business in his wife’s name just before the Great War when he began working in a Coventry factory. He died in 1936 aged 82.

The nine houses that made up the ‘Yard’ were not his. His shop and house still stand next to the Bull’s Head but to reach the rear of his business premises, you needed to pass through the entry or passageway created by the wall of his house and the adjoining one, then into the yard onto which fronted a row of cottages. There was an ancient right of way but perhaps the fact that he established his name beyond what he owned sums up his personality! In Edwardian days and until at least 1914 this neighbouring house, ‘Sunnyside’ was the village Reading Room. This was a popular idea in an era of selfimprovement and villages like Berkswell with help from a rich resident lord of the manor had a purpose- one built in 1901.

A newspaper advertisement indicates that on the eve of the Great War, Captain and Mrs Bankes of Meriden Hall organised a play in the Forest Hall to raise funds for the maintenance of Meriden’s Reading Room. The Room had returned to domestic use on its sale by the Aylesford Estate, owners from 1838 to 1919.It was demolished in 1966 to make room for Glover’s Close. It was in ‘Sunnyside’s’ dark back kitchen that I used to sit with a cup of tea, talking to Mrs Elsie Wheeler about her Meriden childhood before the Great War. ‘Sunnyside’, its duplicate ‘Cleve Cottage ‘and its neighbours looked externally like early C19th buildings but they had been remodelled and were far older. Documents exist to show there was a prosperous inn on the site before 1525. By the mid- C17th half the front portion housed a bakery, the other a tannery. One of the bakers Richard Phillips was bankrupt too but in the reign of George 1st you were confined to Warwick gaol. When the population increased in the later C18th the stables and barn up the yard were converted into five tiny dwellings for some of the village poor, many of whom carried out cottage industries like shoe and dressmaking. By a strange coincidence I was given a 1937 photograph of this part of the village street including Glover’s Yard only yesterday before my talk to ‘Cameo’.

Doreen Agutter

Glover’s Yard and the Bulls Head 1937

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Letter from Meriden, Connecticut, USA Retirement: No rest for the weary This is about how, when you retire in the U.S., you suddenly find yourself inundated with reams of paperwork, far more than you’ve had to deal with in decades — maybe since school days, when you were younger and better able to cope with things — and how this tangle of red tape seems way out of proportion to what you figure you should have to deal with, after a lifetime of paying your taxes, never crossing against the light and always returning your shopping cart.

First, the minute you approach the allegedly golden years, you get all kinds of offers to sell you supplemental medical insurance, with unsubtle hints at how grossly inadequate Medicare (the government medical insurance plan for old-timers like Your Faithful Correspondent) will be in covering your needs. All of these mailings are from private companies, but most of them are cleverly designed to look so official that they give you that “you’d-better-do-this-or-else” feeling you always get when something comes in the mail from the government.

Then, if you have anything at all to do with AARP (and it’s hard not to), you get plenty of mail from them.

Nothing against AARP (which used to mean, and for all I know may still mean, the American Association of Retired Persons, although they’ve switched to the initials, probably to avoid that icky word, “retired”) but this `m. outfit is nothing if not persistent, bombarding you with newsletters and magazines and notices about services you may or may not want, even about services you already have and are paying for. And if you’re not a member, may God have mercy. But if you have an AARP-endorsed insurance policy, you get plenty of mail about that.

Any mail about whatever supplemental medical or prescription insurance you may have (and you pretty much have to have some, because there’s a lot that Medicare doesn’t cover) will include, but will not be limited to, payment coupons. Then there’s the mail from the drugs-by-mail service, if you have one — and by now it probably pays to have one; that is, you don’t have to be old to use this service, but when you were younger you probably didn’t have many prescriptions, and co-pays, to worry about; now, however, you do. (Although I just had lunch with a friend, age 89, who doesn’t take any medications at all. Bless her, she seems to have won the genetic lottery.)

Anyway, some of the mailings from these entities look like bills but carry the prominent message: “THIS IS NOT A BILL,” which comes as a relief. The same message appears on some of the mail you get from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which is sort of like the Pentagon of Medicare, but is tucked away in Indianapolis.

Then, if it turns out that you’re not entirely retired but rather are working part time as a so-called “outside contractor,” like moi, you learn that you now have to communicate with, and send checks to, your friends at the Internal Revenue Service — quarterly now, instead of just annually — thus quadrupling your contact with the last agency in the world that you wanted to have any contact with.

Of course, Uncle Sam, along with most of the doctors, laboratories, hospitals and imaging centers you’ve collected along the way, tries to make things a bit easier for you, through accounts you can set up online. But that just means you’ll have more logons and passwords to keep track of.

In other words, getting old is annoying, even if it still beats the alternative.

Reach Glenn Richter at grichter@record-journal.com.

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Dates for hoisting the flag on Meriden Green

Refuse Collection Information The green bins will be emptied for the last time in the first week of December and will be emptied . again the week beginning 6th April 2015 Real Christmas Trees (under 6ft in length, undecorated and out of their pots) can be collected with your normal collection in the first few weeks of January 2015 please ring 0121 704 6000 for exact dates

Bickenhill Public Waste Disposal Site Opening Hours Winter 1st Nov –31st March Monday-Friday (except Tues) 9.30am – 4.00pm Tuesday 9.30am – 5.30pm Saturday and Sunday 8.30am - 4.00pm Summer 1st April- 31st October Monday-Friday (except Tues) 9.30am -5.00pm Tuesday 9.30am – 6.30pm Saturday and Sunday 8.30am- 4.00pm Last admission 15 minutes before closing time Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day Early Closing Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve at 2.30pm

Reminder! Deadline date for the spring 2015 issue: nd Monday 2 February Out by 1stMarch.

Val Martin 01676 522963 val.simon@btinternet.com Margaret Argyle 01676 522453 margarete.argyle@gmail.com Deliveries: Doug Bacon and Paul Lee Proof Reader: Claire Rose

January 9th Birthday of the Duchess of Cambridge January 20th Birthday of the Countess of Wessex February 6th Her Majesty's Accession February 19th Birthday of the Duke of York

Solihull MBC Winter Warmth Helpline 0121 704 8080 Our helpline is available Monday to Friday between 9.00am – 5.00pm for urgent help with: finding a tradesperson for emergency repairs • an emergency heater if the central heating system breaks down • an electric blanket if you cannot afford to heat your bedroom • warm clothing if you are struggling to afford it • emergency food supplies We can also advise about: • heating bills and making your home energy efficient • grants and loans to insulate your home or install/replace central heating • debt advice and assistance to pay bills

Useful village contact numbers Meriden Primary School Meriden Library Meriden Surgery Lloyds Chemist St. Laurence Church Meriden Methodist Church

Mrs L. Winkler

Meriden Christian Fellowship

Pstr. Kevin & Lyn Hunt Barbara Bland (Mondays & Thursdays only) Paul Jayes

Parish Council Sports co-ordinator Solihull M B C Solihull District Councillors

Member of Parliament Meriden Scout Group Post Office Rural Police Sector

Rev’d Kate Massey Rev. Andrew Charlesworth

Ken Allsopp David Bell Tony Dicicco Caroline Spelman Gerry Russell Sue Harper Sgt Craig Hurst

01676 522488 01676 522717 01676 522252 01676 522722 01676 522825 01676 533737 01676 523050 01676 522474 07962 375038.

0121 704 6000 01676 522301 01676 535211 07780438290 0121 711 7029 01676 522666 01676 522230 101 New nonemergency no.

Mag advertising rates Eighth page £10 Quarter page £20 Half page £40 Small ads (sale or wanted) £5.00 Charity & 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

VILLAGE DIARY DATE

EVENT

TIME

CONTACT

28th Nov 28th Nov 30th Nov 30Nov/5Dec 1st Dec 1st Dec 7th Dec 8th Dec 8th 10th 11th 12th Dec 10th Dec 10th Dec 12th Dec 12th Dec 13th Dec 14th Dec 15th Dec 15th Dec 15th Dec 15th Dec 16th 17thDec

Tree of Thought Dedication PTA Xmas Fayre Advent Service Christmas Tree Festival W I Christmas Party Community Surgery Rotary Club Santa Fun Run Flower Club Rotary Sleigh Collections

The Green School St Laurence St Laurence Church Village Hall Library Meriden Hall Village Hall Meriden Village

VENUE

4.00pm 5.00pm – 7.00pm 5.00pm 5.00 – 7.00pm 7.30pm 10.00am–12noon 11.00am 7.30pm From 6.30pm

Manor Hotel

12 noon 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.00pm 7.30pm 1.00pm 10.30am 7.30pm 2.30pm 5.30pm

18th Dec 19th Dec 20th Dec 21st Dec 24th Dec 24th Dec 25th Dec 28th Dec 28th Dec 31st Dec

Seniors Christmas lunch Readers Circle Black Country Night Methodists Supper Club Firebird Singers Concert Cyclist Carol Service Reading Cafe Parish Council Meeting Christmas Story Time School Christingle Service School Christmas performance Police Surgery CAMEO Carols on the Green Joint Carol Service Crib Service Midnight Communion Joint Celebration Service Lion’s Festive Walk Messy Church New Year’s Eve Parties

Alan Lole 01676 522138 01676 522 488 Rev Kate Massey 522825 Rev Kate Massey 522825 Flick Blewitt 01676 523 229 01676 522717 Tony Hill 01676 540502 Mo Reynolds 01676 521 457 Roger Swindells 01675 481754 Manor Hotel 01676 522 735 Margaret 01676 523 603 Mary Warr 01676 522 160 Maureen Gabbitas 522148 Val Martin 01676 522963 Rev Kate Massey 522825 01676 522717 Barbara Bland 01676 522 474 01676 522717 01676 522 488 01676 522 488

4th Jan 5th Jan 5th Jan 14th Jan 19th Jan 19th Jan 23rd Jan 23/24/25 Jan 24th Jan 25th Jan 26th Jan 31st Jan 2nd Feb 2nd Feb 10th Feb 11th Feb 16th Feb 16 /20 Feb 18th Feb 22nd Feb 23rd Feb 27th Feb 28th Feb

Methodist Covenant Service W.I. Community Surgery Readers Circle Flower Club Reading Cafe CAMEO Centre Stage Pantomime Big Picture Show Messy Church Parish Council Meeting Rotary Senior Citizens party W.I. Community Surgery Blood donations Readers Circle Flower Club Half term sports camp Methodists Supper Club Messy Church Parish Council CAMEO Big Picture Show

H of E Club Methodist Church LimeTree Social club St Laurence Church Library Sports Pavilion Library St Laurence Church Meriden C of E School Library Village Hall The Green Methodist Church St Laurence St Laurence Methodist Church Baddesley Clinton Methodist Church H of E Club and Queen’s Head Balsall Common Village Hall Library Village Hall Library Sports Pavilion H of E School Village Hall Methodist Church Sports Pavilion Fentham Hall Village Hall Library H of E Club Village Hall Sports Park Methodist Church Methodist Church Sports Pavilion Sports Pavilion Village Hall

11.00am-12 noon 2.00pm 5.00pm 4.00pm 4.00pm 11.30pm 10.00am www.knowleand

01676 522717 Ellen 01676 522534 Rev Kate Massey 522825 Rev Charlesworth 533737 Rev Kate Massey 522825 Peter Wright 01676 522414 Rev Charlesworth 533737 0845 833 5894 Rev Charlesworth 533737

From 8.00pm 10.30am 7.30pm 10.00am–12noon 7.30pm 7.30pm 10.30am 2.00pm 2.30& 7.30pm 7.30pm

7.00pm 7.30pm 10.00am–12noon 1.30 & 4.30 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.00pm 7.30pm 2.00pm 7.30pm

Rev Charlesworth 533737 Flick Blewitt 01676 523 229 01676 522717 Margaret 01676 523 603 Mo Reynolds 01676 521 457 01676 522717 Ellen 01676 522534 01676 534220 Chris Copper 01676 522645 Rev Charlesworth 533737 Barbara Bland 01676 522 474 David 01827 705950 Flick Blewitt 01676 523 229 01676 522717 03001 23 23 23 Margaret 01676 523 603 Mo Reynolds 01676 521 457 Paul 07508 611922 Maureen Gabbitas 522148 Rev Charlesworth 533737 Barbara Bland 01676 522 474 Ellen 01676 522534 Chris Copper 01676 522645

Out and About this winter Soldier Stories: Birmingham and the Royal Warwickshire Regiment 1914 – 1918 Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery JulyWarwickshire 2015 Birmingham was the main recruiting until area for26th the Royal Regiment at the beginning of the 20th century. This exhibition focuses on the stories of some of the Birmingham men who served in the Regiment in the First World War. During the course of the war the Royal Warwickshire Regiment raised 31 battalions of soldiers. They served in France, Belgium and Italy as well as Gallipoli (Turkey) and Mesopotamia (Iraq). Many gallantry medals were awarded to men serving in the Regiment, including six Victoria Crosses, two of which were awarded to Birmingham men.

The regimental depot was at Budbrooke and the houses at Hampton Magna have been built on the site. At the nearby Churchyard of St Michael’s Church there are 17 war graves, thirteen from the Regiment. It is a pleasant walk from Hatton Locks to visit the churchyard.

Charities hope for Festive Fundraising Bonanza th

On Sunday 28 December Knowle and Dorridge Lions will be inviting everyone to join in their 22nd annual Lions Festive Walk at Baddesley Clinton NT House. This year’s walk will raise funds for Arthritis Research UK, Knowle Football Club, Solihull Young Carers as well as a variety of other local causes.

“Last year we had a record 1400 walkers step out in ideal walking conditions to burn off the Christmas calories,” said Lions organizer Ute Smith. “This year we are hoping to attract even more and set a new record by raising £10,000 for these very worthy causes. “As usual there will be no charge to take part, so add it on your Festive calendar, tell your friends and relatives and bring a car full,” says Ute. There will be the usual choice of 3 new sign-posted circular routes - 3, 7 and 9 miles, all passing through wonderful Warwickshire countryside using country lanes, public footpaths and canal towpaths with a pub along the way. All ages are welcome especially if you get your efforts sponsored, but if arranging and collecting sponsorship will be a hassle you might prefer to walk and just make a donation.

Once again this year the National Trust will open Baddesley Clinton and are offering our Festive Walkers free entry to both House and Gardens when they finish their Festive Walks. Afterwards all walkers are invited to join the Lions for hot mince pies and mulled wine. For more details and to download a free registration form visit: Christmas Pantomimes

and Shows www.knowleanddorridgelions.com/walk or telephone 08458 33 58 94.

Christmas Pantomimes and shows Cinderella Solihull Arts Complex 12th December – 4th January 0121 704 6962 Aladdin Belgrade Theatre Coventry 26th November – 10th January 024 7655 3055 Jack and the Beanstalk Birmingham Hippodrome 19th December –1st February 0844 338 5000 The Gruffalo Warwick Arts Centre 29th November –4th January 024 7652 4524

CENTRE STAGE Presents

FRANKENSTEIN THE PANTOMIME Venue: Heart of England School, Gipsy Lane, Balsall Common FRIDAY EVENING: 23RD JANUARY 2015 7.30pm SATURDAY MATINEE: 24TH JANUARY 2015 2.30pm SATURDAY EVENING: 24TH JANUARY 2015 7.30pm SUNDAY MATINEE: 25TH JANUARY 2015 2.30pm TICKETS: Adults £8 Children and concessions £6 TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM: Susan Zahran 01676 534220 or via our website www.centrestagebc.com

PLEASE NOTE PANTOMIME IS ONLY BEING PERFORMED OVER ONE WEEKEND

Meriden’s Own Chris Christmas cards on sale at The Spar Shop, Meriden Tearooms and Lloyds Chemist.

All profits will be shared equally between MacMillan Cancer Support and Marie Curie Hospice Solihull Pack of 5

£ 2.50

Pack of 20

£ 8.50

Pack of 10

£ 4.50

Pack of 30

£12.00

Last Posting dates for Christmas (as supplied by the Royal Mail)

Thursday 18 December Saturday 20 December Tuesday 23 December

2nd Class and Royal Mail Signed For® 1st Class and Royal Mail Signed For® Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed®

Front cover: Meriden Church painted by Julie Hyde tutor at Centre of England Arts Last issue’s much admired front cover: Meriden in Bloom and the Cyclists Memorial was courtesy of Chris Yarwood