MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR OF SOLIHULL Councillor Ian Courts
A few weeks ago, I was just a local resident, a Meriden Rotarian, proud of our local villages and community, and the beautiful surrounding countryside. Now I have had the honour of becoming your Mayor, following my re-election to the Council on 6th May. With the Lady Mayoress, Sheila, I am looking forward to an extremely busy year in the Borough in the public service.
During my year in office, I know I shall be meeting a great number of amazing people, particularly the wonderful band of volunteers: there are so few areas in the Borough where they do not contribute in some way to the health, welfare and spirit of our community. At Annual Council, I set out my themes for my year in office: to do whatever I can to promote the prosperity of the Borough and employment opportunities for our residents; our passion for the environment in which we live, our parks, our wildlife –2010 is the Year of Biodiversity.
Then, there is the issue of our health.
The Borough is placing much more emphasis now on disease prevention and this is so important. I do not intend to preach about healthy lifestyles (e.g. the need to lose weight and to give up smoking) – we all know (or should know) about that. However, there are many diseases that can often be detected early by testing and therefore be dealt with – bowl, breast and prostate cancers, for example. Are we getting the message across? Why are less than a half of those bowel cancer test kits that are sent out by the NHS ever used? Testing, not jesting should be the name of the game here. As I write, I am recovering from an operation of my own, to deal with prostate cancer, only detected by a routine PSA test.
I read recently that as many of 1,000 of our ladies are being lost to Breast Cancer because they are not tested soon enough. 36,000 of our men in the UK are diagnosed each year with Prostate Cancer. Nowadays, three quarters survive – it was a third in the 1970’s. Why? Largely because of testing. But it still means that up to 9,000 die unnecessarily. Just think about it, please.
On 30th September Ian is organising a little event locally at Nailcote Hall, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief and the Prostate Cancer Charity. There is a “Pre Ryder Cup” Par 3 Golf Game, on this beautiful, but challenging short game course. There will be a charity dinner afterwards, for golfers and non – golfers alike. Support us, if you can, in some way. Ask the Mayors Office for details, 0121 704 6023 or email: vphillips@solihull.gov.uk.
Remembrance Sunday Service
Will be at Meriden Methodist Church on Sunday 14th November at 10.00am followed by Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial from 10.45 am
New Art centre opens New Head teacher at Meriden School
Meriden School says goodbye to Mrs Smith
Meriden School says goodbye to Mrs Smith
At the end of the Summer Term Meriden school said goodbye to Mrs Smith who retired after 13 years as head. Present and past members of staff, governors, friends and family gathered to watch a presentation of “This is your life Jacky Smith” which brought back some amusing memories. Mrs Smith was given a painting by Silvia Bowman, an artist she much admires, and everyone enjoyed a wonderful buffet arranged by the staff. The school children said goodbye to Mrs Smith at the leaver’s service on the last day of school.
My memory is when you let us watch fun acts in assemblies. It was very funny when you spilt the juice by Alfie Doyle Year 2
Everyone in Meriden has been very busy and so far over £18,000 has been raised in different ways. The house to house collection has raised £4,998 and if you still wish to make a donation please leave it at Stars the newsagent.
Events have included a fish and chip supper and quiz, a disco and card making classes.
In July on a very hot and muggy Sunday morning about 50 people did a sponsored 10 km (61/2 mile) walk along the lanes of Meriden and Berkswell, so far £1,000 has been raised with more to come in.
The Meriden Mag would like to thank everyone who supported us at our cream tea, we raised the magnificent sum of £348.50 and are indebted to Elizabeth Spencer, Claire Rose and Mavis Edwards for their hard work.
Duck Race
Saturday 4th September at 3.00pm
Patrick Farm Meriden Road
Future Events
Bring your own Barbecue food, barbecues will be provided. Last chance to buy your duck from the Post Office Ist prize £100
Harvest Supper
Saturday 30th October 7.00 for 7.30pm
Meriden Village Hall
Limited numbers
Bar
Tickets £15
Call Kate on 01675 443623
Exciting News
The art classes currently run by Julie Hyde in Meriden, Coleshill and Old Arley are moving to a new home. Julie is setting up an Arts Centre at Unit 4, Patrick’s Farm Barns, which is just off Meriden Road, near Hampton in Arden.
The art groups will become part of Centre of England Arts where there will also be courses running, with other tutors providing various forms of art and photography classes and much more!
There will be one-off weekend workshops, which anyone can attend, plus regular weekly classes.
At the moment it will be for adult education only but Centre of England Arts hopes to introduce workshops for children in the future.
The first time Centre of England Arts will be open is the 4th and 5th of September where anyone can come along, have a look around, talk to Julie and book courses.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Solihull will be officially opening the centre on 23rd of October (invitation only)
For more information about Centre of England Arts, see web site www.COEA.co.uk email COEA@live.com or telephone 01676 523357
Closure of Showell Lane
By now everyone will be aware that Showell Lane is closed from the junction with the B4104 and the junction with the A45 (eastbound) slip road. It will be reopened on April 1st 2011. Possibly the easiest way for Meriden residents to access the A45 towards Coventry is to join the road at the Maxstoke Lane slip road, although an alternative route is signed via the B4104, the B4102 and Lodge Green Lane.
This however has created problems with the bus routes and Centro have confirmed that the arrangements are as follows:-
900 bus route
The buses to Coventry will enter Meriden as usual from the A45 but will turn round the island with the Fillongley Road and go back on the A45 at the Maxstoke Lane slip road. They will not be going through the village.
82 Bus Route
This will go up to Millison’s Wood and access the A45 at the Oak Lane roundabout to Birmingham and turning onto the east-bound carriage way at Maxstoke Lane.
Centro has also confirmed that the 900 bus will continue to run, despite rumours, but it will no longer call at Millison’s Wood, to the disappointment of residents as they now do not have a service from Birmingham city centre, the airport, railway station and NEC.
The new bus route (82) is running hourly from Coventry to Solihull via Millison’s Wood, Meriden and Hampton in Arden to Solihull. People with travel concessions who wish to travel before 9.30am can do so by paying a top-up fee of 80p.
At the moment there is no bus linking Meriden, Berkswell and Balsall Common. Centro are looking to add an extra resource to the existing Taxi Bus with a possibility to schedule a limited timetable.
“Fings ain’t wot they used to be” ran the old 60’s musical, complaining in song that some changes were not for the better. It’s a cliché to say that change is the only certainty but the fact is we now live in times where the pace and variety of change around us is faster and more unpredictable than ever before in our history, touching every aspect of our lives. Nothing seems to work like it used to. I’m typing this on a PC that makes the first big, clunky computer I acquired in the 1990’s look like a museum piece! My grandparents would be bewildered in a modern kitchen, with kettles that turn themselves off when the water is boiled, for example.
A recent national study revealed that the effects of such rapid and discontinuous change on literally every aspect of our lives – on patterns of family life and relationships, on jobs and working patterns, the economy, in national and global uncertainties created by terrorism and pollution and so on, is that people are feeling higher than ever levels of anxiety, fear and hopelessness about the future. We may not personally feel this day-to-day but it is what is going on and we’re not immune. And in spite of all our human and worldly expertise we don’t seem to have any of the answers.
Into these uncertain times God is speaking as He always has, with His great promise of love, of real hope, of security, of peace, of confidence and meaning for our lives and our society, none of which we can give ourselves. Christians are ordinary folk who don’t have all answers or have the whole story packaged, but who can share what they have grasped and experienced and been obedient to in their own lives; and who can listen and share in the search for answers to the deep questions that concern us all. Neither is the church a club of people who have all the answers but an inclusive community of faith, openness and a warm welcome for all. I invite you to come to church, or come back to church, or just visit or talk with those who do, and recall for yourself what it’s really all about. You are assured of a warm welcome.
Please do also come along, if you can, to the special service at St. Laurence Church on Friday 10th September at 9 am where we will all formally welcome and commission Lucy Winkler as the new Head Teacher of Meriden Church of England Primary School. This isn’t just for the school but an opportunity for the whole community to give a warm ‘Meriden’ welcome to Lucy so we look forward to seeing you then.
Harvest Festival Service with Holy Communion at St. Laurence at 10.30 am on Sunday 10th October, followed by a lunch in church; all are welcome. With prayers and blessings. Peter Wright, Lay Reader St. Laurence Church Meriden with Meriden Methodist Church Bereavement Service at St. Laurence Church Sunday 31st October at 4 p.m.
Mabel Jones (nee Tansley)
Mabel died at the end of June after a long battle with cancer. She was the only child of Nora & Ernest and grew up in Meriden. She left school at 15 with no qualifications but attended night school and eventually became the secretary to the Managing Director at the Triumph Motor Cycle Works. Many people remember her as the Triumph Beauty Queen. She later worked at Cash’s Coventry and became P.A. to the Managing Director.
At the Triumph she met and married Stan, but after a few years they divorced and Mabel later married Brian Jones and they lived in The Croft for many years.
After enjoying holidays in Bournemouth Mabel and Stan decided to move to Christchurch but Mabel never settled there and after two years they moved back to Meriden, buying a house in Strawberry Fields and began to enjoy their retirement. However sadly in March 2001 Brian died of a heart attack.. Mabel involved herself in village life and belonged to the W.I. the Golden Years Club, and Firs at Balsall Common. She helped to do teas and raffles at the Community Centre’s weekly get togethers and delivered a round of the Meriden Mag. She was a very good friend to Dolly, an ex-work colleague living in Bablake House and enjoyed holidays with her friends in this country and abroad. Four years ago she was very ill with pancreatic cancer, however she recovered and enjoyed life again until late 2009 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Mabel was always a very willing worker in her quiet gentle way and she will be remembered as a good lady and a caring friend.
A special service of thanksgiving for our loved ones who have died will be held at St. Laurence Church on Sunday 31st October at 4 p.m. If you would like to share in a simple and dignified service to give thanks for their lives and all they have meant to you and still mean to you, then you are warmly invited. This special service is for you, your family and your friends, indeed any one of us who travel the long road of bereavement. We do look forward to seeing you. There will be tea and refreshments afterwards. You are warmly invited.
Operation Christmas child shoe boxes
Leaflets explaining this worthy cause are available at the Library or contact Lucy 523502
1st Meriden Scout Group
News from the Green Hut
Beavers: Girls and boys aged 6-8 years meet on a Monday at 6.30pm. Contact Jo (522625) or Gaynor (523191)
Cubs: Girls and Boys aged 8-10½ meet on a Tuesday at 6.30pm. Contact Lis (521080)
Scouts: Girls and Boys aged 10½-14 meet on a Thursday at 7pm Contact Jim (523309)
We also need help from any adults out there who 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
We would like to welcome Benjamin Thornton to the world – congratulations and best wishes to Russell (former Scout Leader) and Natalie (Cub Scout Helper) on the birth of your first child.
Our year of centenary celebrations will draw to a close at 20:10 on 20.10 2010! The Brownies have been invited to a special 'Centenary Finale' at Tudor Grange Park Athletics Track to join in a torch lit procession, a laser show, with a nationwide satellite link-up (fingers crossed) being the climax of the event - uniting all the Brownies in Britain to renew their promises at 8.10pm. At the end of last term we organised a big rounders tournament at Meriden School. Packs from all over the district joined inMeriden Brownies did not win this time but we all had a lot of fun on a lovely summers evening. In May we attended a drumming workshop which was great fun and very noisy! For our badge work the Brownies earned their Communicator Badge, all doing very well at signing their names.
If you would like your daughter's name to be added to our waiting list please contact Jane on 01676 542501
100 Year Celebration of Meriden CT. USA (Saturday 15th May)
This year the Scout group in Meriden USA held their 100 year celebration. Meriden UK Scout group were able to join the celebrations via a video link over the internet where our Scouts were able to talk to the Scouts and leaders in the USA for four hours. In the UK the Scouts enjoyed a BBQ and Quad-biking party. The scout group would like to give a big thank you to Wendy and Paul for their hospitality during this event, and a big thank you to John Gopoian (Meriden USA) for inviting us to their 100 Year Celebrations.
Sponsored Walk
In June the Scout Group held a sponsored walk around the fields of Meriden to raise much needed funds for the Scout troop. The Scouts completed the three miles route and thanks to their hard work, the Scouts managed to raise over £600 between them.
Trip to ‘Ackers activity centre’.
On Saturday 17th July the Scouts visited the Ackers adventure centre to take part in ‘Bell boating’ and the ‘Jungle challenge’ assault course. The Scouts had a fantastic time and will be returning to Ackers in the autumn to take part in wall climbing and abseiling.
Autumn term Activities
In September we plan to start a number of exciting projects for the Scouts, which include building radio controlled robots, constructing pedal powered go-carts, and moving on to motorised go-carts at the beginning of next year. We plan to have a camp in autumn, a trip to Ackers to take part in wall climbing and abseiling in October, and tobogganing at the Snow Dome in December. Paul and I would like to thank all the parents and friends that have given their time to support the scout group in the last 12 months. Should you have any enquiries, we can be contacted on the following telephone numbers; Jim Higginson (07962 274 759) or Paul Morgan (07917 692 948 )
Scouts summer term main activities:
Minister: Rev Andrew Charlesworth BSc BA
In Meriden
Tel: 01676 533737 - Phone to arrange marriages, baptisms and funerals
Services: Sunday 10:30am (Junior Church and crèche for children) Sunday evening 5:30pm (4th Sunday in month only)
This is Portsmouth Cathedral. As cathedrals go it is a pleasant building and quite distinctive, but I guess there are other cathedrals much closer to Meriden that might more readily grab our attention. However, on 27th June this year, Portsmouth Cathedral became very special for me. For it was here that I was ordained as a minister in The Methodist Church of Great Britain and Ireland.
In Methodism, ordination comes at a different stage in ministerial development compared to the Church of England. For Anglicans, new priests are ordained as they start their curacy, their first appointment. However, in Methodism new ministers have a two year period of probation. We are only ordained after the church has monitored and assessed our ministry in a particular place.
Throughout the worldwide church, ministers have been ordained from the earliest days of Christianity. It is a recognition that the church sets aside certain individuals to fulfil particular roles on behalf of the whole people of God. Ordination is through prayer and the laying on of hands. For me, the President of the Methodist Church and a representative of the worldwide church placed their hands on my head and prayed for my work in the office of a minister in God’s Church. It was a very special day that I was able to share with my family, friends and several folk from my churches. It is a day that I am sure will remain special to me for the rest of my life.
During the service, each ordained minister is instructed to “Remember your call”. This is a clear reminder of the role a minister is asked to undertake alongside those who live and worship in our communities. In the service this call is expressed as follows:
Declare the Good News; celebrate the sacraments; serve the needy; minister to the sick; welcome the stranger and seek the Lost.
One of the reasons ministers are instructed to remember this call is to hold up what is important in our day to day work. It can be all too easy within church to spend so much of our time maintaining the institution that we spend very little time fulfilling the work that we have been ordained to.
It is helpful to also remember what is important when aspects of our Christian lives bring us into areas of life, which are difficult. I have been slow over these last few months to welcome the stranger, but I hope, alongside others, I have now started to address that.
Love, joy and peace. Andrew
Diary Dates:
The Methodist church Hall is available for hire, please contact Maureen Gabbitas on 01676 522148 for details
4th September 3.00pm Church BBQ at Springfield House in Temple Balsall
25th September 6.00pm Family Harvest Celebration
26th September 10.30am Harvest Festival Service
2nd October 7.30pm Supper Club
Please support Workaid
Are you having a clearout? Tools and equipment to get rid of?
Those knitting needles you will never use again, wool, material, needles, buttons, zips, garden tools, and all types of hand and machine tools? Here's your chance to be rid of them and know that they will be a help to others!
All these tools, and more, can be used by the charity Workaid, to help people to work their way out of poverty. For collection, contact Tony on 024 7639 3162 or locally 01676 522160
USED STAMPS AND FOREIGN COINS
We are collecting used stamps (especially foreign ones), books of stamps and foreign coins - if they are worth over 10 pence each - for a charity based in Essex.
Medical Mission send out more than fifty containers each year filled with medical supplies, equipment and building materials for the many mission hospitals in Africa.
If you are able to help please take your stamps and coins to Lloyds Chemists on the Green who have kindly agreed to act as a collecting point. The stamps should be undamaged and have a half inch border around them.
Many thanks to all who are able to help Bill and Ann Eastbury
Queens Head Old Road
Road Meriden
Monday night is music night come along and join us, music starts 9.15pm approx
September 6th Backbeat
13th Julie Christie
20th TBA
27th Sami G
October 4th V J
11th Keith Brett
18th Jakki
25th The Shuffles
November 1st Mick the Knife
8th John Santee
ALLAN SMITH SLATING
15th Terry Fox
22nd Justine Claire
29th Dave T W
We are a good traditional English Pub serving real ales & beers.
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 01676 522256
ALLAN SMITH SLATING AND TILING
QUALITY ROOFING SERVICE FOR 30 YEARS
Q. Why does a golfer wear two Q. Why does a golfer wear two Q. does a golfer wear two Q. does a golfer wear two pairs of trousers? pairs of trousers? pairs trousers? pairs trousers? A. In case he gets a hole in one !! A. In case he gets a hole in one !! A. In case he hole in one !! A. In case he hole in one !!
Lord and Lady Aylesford invite you to a coffee morning On November 4th 10.30-12noon Cake stall raffle Bring and Buy
Packington Hall Meriden CV7 7HF (off A45)
Entrance £3 to include cup of coffee and a home made biscuit InaidofthechapelofStJames GreatPackington
The Centre Charity Shop 01676 523050
Dear Friends,
As always a huge thank you to our hardworking staff for their help and support. Thanks also to our customers who keep us well stocked with a vast array of quality new and used items to sell.
.
The amount of clothes that we receive already washed has increased dramatically and some kind people even iron them as well –this makes our job much easier.
If you are having a big clear out could you try not to bring it all in one go, as we only have a small sorting room and we don't like to turn people away unless we really have no choice. On a practical note, if possible could you bring your donations in a container you don't require back as its not always possible to empty the contents immediately due to lack of space.
Lots of people have taken advantage of our ladies £1 rail and the quality girls and boys baby clothes priced at four items for £1.
At the moment we are short of men’s work boots, so if you have any sitting at the back of a cupboard somewhere which you won't need again, please consider donating them to us.
It never fails to amaze me just how many new faces we see in The Centre on a daily basis – this week alone over half of our customers are made up of people living outside Meriden.
Meriden Christian Fellowship still meet at the scout hut each Sunday morning at 10.30 a.m. anyone wishing to attend would be very welcome. We are a small fellowship with lively worship and bible-based preaching.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5 v 8).
Kevin and Lyn Hunt.
The Midlands Charities Association Christmas card shop will be back in Balsall Common library for seven weeks from Monday October 25th until Saturday December 11th . The shop will be operating at all library opening times during that period i.e. Monday & Thursday 10 am –7 pm Tuesday & Saturday 10 am –5 pm Friday 1 pm-5 pm (closed Wednesday) There will be cards from 16 different charities. We are looking for volunteers to help in 2-hour slots on our rota so if you can help, we would be very pleased to hear from you, especially all those kind people who have helped previously.
Judith Woodcock 533428 Pam Brown 532580
to help you Ways to help you Ways to help you Ways to help you enjoy your enjoy your recreation and recreation and recreation and recreation and improve your times improve your times improve times improve times
Solihull
Fit as a Fiddle at Meriden Village Hall!
We have come to the end of our second year in the lovely and welcoming village hall where we have been taking part in ‘Extend’ activities every fortnight. Extend is gentle exercise to music designed for the over 50s. We are a lively and friendly group with people coming along as much for the tea and chat at the end as the keeping fit and healthy. Pat, our instructor, is fabulous and encourages us to do what we can and is an inspiration to us all. Participants have commented ‘I enjoy it all’, another that she felt she was able to ‘do the best of her ability without feeling any pressure’ and another ‘I think it is excellent – a whole body workout.’
We are back again on Wednesday 8th September at 1.30pm and fortnightly up until 15th December. Why not come and join us? If you are interested please contact:
"You're off your trolley!" "No rest days - act your age man!” "On your own, no back up and carrying your stuff - you're mad!"
Such reality-checking comments added another layer of nervousness to the personal doubts faced in the final intense month of preparation by a moderately unfit, hitherto unsporty, 50+ year old, who had only rediscovered the health benefits and freedom offered by cycling 6 months earlier. Planning and then executing a 14 day, physically demanding ride, covering 1003 miles across some of the most breathtaking, hilly and contrasting scenery in the UK, at an average of 70-75 miles per day, were to provide a rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows that will mark me for life, for all the right reasons.
Once underway, however, my nerves settled quickly. Having left the tackiness of the Lands End amusement complex, Cornwall confirmed its reputation as the torture chamber for cyclists, with a never-ending succession of hills. Dartmoor brooded and sulked. The Somerset Levels teased with a few undulations. Glastonbury was offbeat - no wonder the locals call their High St "Diagon Alley". Beautiful Wells was caught in a time capsule. The Cotswolds cowered under the noise of training jets and yet more heavy clouds. Flaming June was "flipping wet June". By the time I reached Meriden less than a third of the journey had been completed and more hours had been spent cycling in the rain than in the dry. Onwards via Lichfield through the magnificent solitude of the Derbyshire Peaks, then down into the pothole nightmares of West Yorkshire, ultimately to escape into calming, rural North Yorkshire. Drowned again throughout Durham, then drained by climbing the hills into Northumberland, the legs nevertheless began to strengthen under the routine of daily punishment. Skies began to clear in time to appreciate the beautiful English and Scottish borders, before skirting Edinburgh and taking the most challenging cycle route possible through the Cairngorms via Glenshee and the Lecht, down to Inverness.
The final 2 days alternated between extremes of misery and joy as the elements (particularly a vicious cold northerly headwind) transformed descents into the equivalent of punishing ascents. But after hours of grinding along at a painful 4 - 8 mph came pure ecstasy on arrival in John O'Groats. Tears welled and legs wobbled.
It is impossible to compress a 65 page journal into 600 words. Those 14 consecutive days of cycling contained enough experiences to last 3 months of ordinary living. Muscle pain, saddle soreness, selfish drivers, monsoon weather, suicidal sheep running on to roads, a bus nudging me into a ditch etc were balanced by the joys of seeing old friends and neighbours en route, observing nature closely (red squirrels and deer), tasting new ales (for the carbs of course!) and completing the ride on time, without once getting off to push the bike up a hill.
In hindsight, there were funny moments too, such as arriving drenched in Glastonbury after 8 hours cycling in the rain and being invited by the landlady to strip off completely in the porch before entering the b&b. Or in the gloom of an early morning start, smearing Colgate toothpaste around the nether regions instead of soothing Chamois cream. At least some parts of me sparkled that day.
Above all, it was the kindness of strangers that will live long in the memory, such as the dozens of people who volunteered directions or waved in encouragement, together with the completely unexpected, such as a German campervan driver who thrust a can of lager at me for sustenance as I crawled up a bad hill in the Highlands and a stranger in Braemar who ran up with £5 for charity because he said he had seen me struggling up mountainous Glenshee the evening before.
Friends in Retirement
'Friends in Retirement' (FIRS) at Balsall Common is nearing the end of another successful year of activities designed for members over fifty years of age.
Our monthly coffee mornings will be held on the 3rd Friday of the month and will be 17th Sept, 15th October, 19th November and at the newly extended Jubilee Centre, Station Road, Balsall Common, 10am to noon. To showcase the range of activities we have, there will be an Open Day at the above centre on Saturday 9th October 2010 from 10am onwards. Do come and see what is on offer and maybe join one of our groups. We currently have a few vacancies in Art, Craft and Bridge (where beginners are welcome). The Social Group will be running a coach trip to Bath on Tuesday 7th September 2010, picking up The Bulls Head at Meriden and at the Methodist Church, Station Road, Balsall Common.
Why not join us and do some of these activities. Annual Subscription is £2.00. Mr Malcolm Gratton on 01676 523505
Pleasure has come too in the form of raising over £4000 so far for four charities, namely SOS Children’s Villages UK, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Cycling fighting Cancer (based in Solihull) and FRAME (avoiding or limiting suffering to animals used in medical experiments). Support has included a generous donation from The Centre Charity Shop in Meriden. If you would like to offer financial support, details are at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/flyingbanana, http://www.justgiving.com/flyingbananabumblebee and http://www.justgiving.com/flyingbananaframe. Thank you, Adrian Wood
We serve a wide variety of hot & cold food and snacks including our 'Berryfields All Day Breakfast', light lunches, salads, cakes and sandwiches.
COME AND VISIT US!
At Berryfields we offer a fantastic variety of locally sourced and fresh produce including meat, fruit & vegetables, jams, cakes & quiches.
Try our award winning ‘Auntie Winnies’ pork pies and our deliciously famous sausages and bacon, all made on site from our very own Berryfields pork. Christmas orders are now being taken.
We are located ½ mile up Berkswell Road from Meriden duck pond
Conducted by Paul Leddington Wright and Simon Over
Ticket prices and outlets
£30 (£27), £25 (£22), £20 (£17), £15 (£12) students and children half price
Available from jill.pacey@lineone.net 01676 532436 or
Coventry Cathedral Gift Shop 024 7626 7070
Benjamin Britten War Requiem
Britten’s War Requiem was specially commissioned for the festival to celebrate the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral in May 1962.
This performance will mark the 70th anniversary of the destruction by bombing of the City of Coventry and its Cathedral and will be recorded for broadcast by ClassicFM on the following day.
Local Farmers Markets
Solihull - High Street
1st Friday in month 9am – 3pm
Kenilworth - Abbey End
2nd Saturday in month 9am-2pm
Warwick - Market Square
contact 01676 534148 COVENTRY CATHEDRAL
3rd Friday in month 10am-3pm
Leamington Spa - bttm of Parade
4th Saturday in month 9am-2pm
Coventry - Market Way
2nd Thursday in month 9am-4.30pm
Coleshill - Church Hill
4th Friday in month 10am – 2pm
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
West Midlands Country Markets Ltd
A weekly market is held at Balsall Common Village Hall, Station Road CV7 7EX every Saturday from 10.00. - 11.00am
Home baking and preserves Meat
Plants and seasonal vegetables Crafts and home made cards
For more details call June Smitten
On 01676 523007
A Message from Caroline Spelman MP
There is no doubt that the most talked-about issue in Meriden village is the Travellers’ encampment on Eaves Green Lane. The long-running saga has attracted national publicity, with many people sympathetic to the campaigns of residents to prevent illegal development.
As the local MP, I have made several visits, including a televised visit to the site with my colleague Bob Neill, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Planning and Local Government.
While we are keen to reach solutions that are fair to both the settled and the traveling communities, the Meriden site is in the Green Belt and in clear breach of planning regulations.
The Travellers arrived there in May, at the start of a Bank Holiday weekend, just before the closure of the Solihull Council’s offices and then applied for retrospective planning consent. This has often happened around the country, but here I was able to contact Council officials who acted swiftly and a ‘Stop’ order was issued, followed by an injunction to cover the period until the end of June.
Unwisely in my view, the ruling Liberal / Labour group on Solihull Council then allowed a measure of development on the site with the laying of sewage piping and fencing. Just seven days later, the Council’s Planning Committee voted unanimously against the Travellers’ retrospective application.
So we had a wrong decision shortly followed by the right one. That leaves people in Meriden with a sense of uncertainty, with the possibility of the Travellers appealing against the planning decision while still occupying the land.
The campaign group RAID (Residents Against Inappropriate Development) have mobilized public support of their campaign and maintained it.
Several other unauthorised sites have sprung up in the constituency: in Monkspath, Chelmsley Wood and Knowle. These sites differed from the privately-owned site in Meriden as they were Council-owned property, and the police and Council officials found it easier to move the Travellers off under rules of trespass.
In my role as Secretary of State for DEFRA, I am a national defender of the Green Belt and will seek to protect it wherever I can. I hope that the Meriden site will be evacuated and then restored to its original state. I also hope that the law will soon be changed to close the loophole on retrospective planning permission which is how it all began in Meriden.
To contact Caroline or make an appointment for a surgery please contact Rachel Anderson on 020 7219 4189 caroline@carolinespelman.com www.carolinespelman.com
Sat 18th Sept 9.00am –12 noon Chelmsley Wood Connect & Arden Hall Castle Bromwich
Fri 1st Oct 10.00-11.00am 631 Warwick Rd
Fri 8th Oct 10.00 -11.00am 631 Warwick Rd
Sat 16th Oct 9.00am –12 noon Chelmsley Wood Connect&ArdenHall
Fri 22nd Oct 10.00 - 11.00am 631 Warwick Rd
Fri 29th Oct 4.00 – 5.30pm 631 Warwick Rd
Fri 5th Nov 10.00- 11.00am 631 Warwick Rd
Sat 13thNov 9.00am –12 noon Chelmsley Wood Connect&ArdenHall
Fri 26th Nov 10.00 - 11.00am 631 Warwick Rd
CAMPAIGN DIARY
Personal reflections of David McGrath, Chair of Residents Against Inappropriate Development
MEMORY LANE - A picture of Eaves Green Lane before the 'unauthorised development'
It has now exceeded 100 days since Meriden residents decided to set up a 24 hour vigil in Eaves Green Lane to demonstrate their objection to actions which saw the destruction of part of our green belt in a much loved and designated wildlife area visited bywalkers and cyclists alike.
In truth, we are expecting to be there until day 400 as the laborious rules governing public inquiry, adjournment and vacillation set in over the next year, costing campaigners and council taxpayers a fortune. But delay should not equal despondency. It is more important to get the right decision than to get a quick decision. Our aim is no less than the reinstatement of the land and its return to green belt. Nothing else will suffice.
The campaign has wider significance than just Eaves Green Lane. It is about taking a stance for Meriden as a whole; sending a clear message that no one (whether it is a local resident, maverick business, gypsies or even the Royal Family) can simply impose a development of this magnitude on our community without prior consultation with residents, reference to environmental policy and planning protocols. It is about opposing a ‘digger first, paperwork later’ approach to development.
The position now is that Solihull Council has refused the planning application for the site and an appeal was lodged on Monday 2nd August with the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol and once again RAID volunteers will be working hard to co-ordinate the residents’ response to this appeal. We cannot leave it to the council to fight the appeal alone as we need to inject the residents’ perspective (including the walkers and cyclists) into the public inquiry. We need funds for expensive barristers and expert witnesses. Through the generosity of local residents, we have already received a massive £18,500 (profound thanks) but we need to double this and our fund-raising work will go on. In the event that our campaign ends up with surplus funds, I recommend that we donate it to a local charity or invest it into another worthycause for Meriden.
We need to ‘dig in’ to face a long hard winter at our camp in Eaves Green Lane. This gives us a constant point of reference for the campaign AND sends a clear signal to the Planning Inspectorate that we continue to oppose this development. We have, of course, been reluctantly pulled into the Gypsy and Travellers debate so let me be clear on my views. As someone who has been involved in humanitarian relief work, lobbied governments based on the testimonies taken personally from torture camp victims on the borders of Iran and Iraq, I support – to my core – the need for compassion and equal rights. RAID supports equal rights too and has publicly supported the council’s new strategy to attempt to identify suitable gypsy sites in suitable locations. We have NOTHING against well managed gypsy and traveller sites – why should we? Everyone needs somewhere to go. Solihull Council needs to establish a clear policy, which encourages the right type of development in the right place – and discourages the type of traumatic desecration that we have experienced locally.
On a lighter note, there is a fantastic, upbeat, determined mood at ‘Camp Nancy’ and a huge number of new friendships are being forged every day. It is our newest community centre! Ties are being formed that will never be broken and which will strengthen our community well beyond the life of this campaign. So get involved. Pop along to the camp. Come to one of our public meetings. Organise a fundraiser, take part in the social events, lend a skill, or just write to me at Innellan House, Eaves Green Lane, Meriden CV7 7JL to tell me how you feel or visit www.meridenraid.co.uk
Best Wishes
David McGrath
In June Mike Miles told us about the women who were involved in working on the canals until the 1960’s. They certainly lived very hard lives, bringing up families in tiny living quarters and also working on the boats with the men. No health and safety regulations for them!
In July we were once again in the shipping world, this time learning about Birmingham’s links with the Titanic!
Andrew Lound revealed how so many items for the ill-fated liner- from buttons to chandeliers-were manufactured in Birmingham. He also gave a very evocative resume of the ship’s final moments.
10 members enjoyed a craft day in the Village Hall on 20th July learning about decoupage and beading.
The August meeting – our traditional Members evening was an informal social gathering
On Tuesday 24th August we have arranged a coach trip to London visiting Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews. NB at the West Midlands Federation Day on 9th July our President won first prize for her Honey Cakecongratulations Joan
Future programme
2nd September Footpath walk leaving Bull’s Head 6.00pm
6th September - ‘Grandma’s workbox’ - Felicity Howatson
4th October - ‘Dressing the knight’ - Paul Thompson
1st November - Annual Meeting with an American Supper Elizabeth Spencer
Heart of England Social Club
Come along and visit us! The club offers a warm welcome, with excellent facilities for all, including a large concert room with live entertainment, lounge with the best view in the village, bar, games room, snooker room and beer garden with play area. Room hire available for private functions
We now have Premiership Football on Satellite television!!!
Come and discover how the beautiful flowing movements of this ancient art can improve your well-being. Relax and enjoy simple calming relaxation and meditation techniques.
Hall
Come and Meet Each Other at the Community Centre on the 4th Friday of the month at 2.00 p.m.
We have been very fortunate with the good weather this summer. In May the weather was very warm when we had an outing to Hoar Farm Park where we had an extremely good lunch, followed by a few hours browsing the shops.
Our fifth Holiday at Home was held at Berkswell Church on a lovely day in June so we were able to spend time sitting outside. During the first session of the day we were joined by Claire Laland from HERO (Heart of England Retirement Organisation) who had given us a generous grant towards the cost of the day. Claire had her photograph taken with the pretty glasses, which members had decorated under the tuition of Lucy Ball. This picture later appeared in the Solihull News. Once again the children of Berkswell School entertained us with a delightful variety of songs. Their visit has become a highlight of the day and is looked forward to very much by our members. Emma Bratton, the wife of the Vicar, introduced herself and then talked about the Bible story of Ruth and Naomi. After a delicious lunch the Merlin Singers ended the day with a wonderful and varied programme of comic and well known songs.
At our July meeting we shared our favourite poems and then enjoyed strawberries and cream.
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:-
24th September Wartime Memories and a Bring and Buy Sale.
22nd October Pat and Peter Wright “In the footsteps of Jesus – a Holy Land Pilgrimage”
26th November Claire Laland “Charity work leads to Buckingham Palace”
The new President of Meriden Rotary Club is Jane Maugham, a Rotarian for over five years and a music teacher in Tamworth. Pictured is Jane with retiring President, Warwick Kendrick.
Jane has chosen as one of her main charities this year CLIC Sergent, set up by the famous conductor, Sir Malcolm Sergent, to support children and young adults suffering from cancer. The Rotary Club are raising money for CLIC Sergent through unwanted clothing. Have you any unwanted items of clothing? If so, place in bin liners for collection and contact:
Plans are also being put in place for another project at Lavender Hall Park, Balsall Common - a daffodil field, at Katherine's Wood, in support of Marie Curie.
Jane would like to start an ‘Interact Club’ in the area. Aimed at children between the ages of 12 –16, the group could meet for a get together of ideas once a month at their choice of venue. Projects could involve, for instance, helping the elderly with light shopping or help around the home, or even light and simple gardening duties. If a member of your family, or perhaps a neighbour’s child might like to help in the community, why not meet with Jane and the parents to discuss what is involved. In the first instance, if you know of anyone who might be interested, please contact President Jane.
The Club recently held its highly successful Megaride in Meriden, raising funds for Air Ambulance and the MS Society
Many riders had started at Arrow Mill, Alcester and rode to Leamington Spa, where the numbers of bikes really grew. The Warwickshire Police escorted the ride from Leamington, enabling them to complete the journey to Meriden without stopping – arriving at about midday. Such a moving atmosphere at Maxstoke Lane –lots and lots of people enjoying themselves and being entertained by the Band SMG. Around 500 riders turned up, despite “other things” (football) happening on the day. Large numbers of local Meriden residents were there as well and £2500 was raised for charity.
The Deputy Mayor of Solihull, Cllr Norman Davies, and his wife Brenda attended and had a great time. The Mayor, Cllr, also Meriden Rotarian, Ian Courts could not attend as he had had an operation on the previous day to deal with prostate cancer.
The Megaride originally started as one for "bikers", but has since developed also to become a real village day, including Birds of Prey display, classic cars, games, a number of other features and displays, incl. trade stands. This year, there was also a tent on display, in support of the overseas relief charity, Shelterbox. The Club plans to make the Megaride an annual event of the area and broaden its appeal even further e.g. more classic cars and other displays, which have proved very popular.
youthink!…
For MOT, service, tyres & exhausts call:
024 7659 7879 KENSINGTON GARAGE EARLSDON
024 7667 0054
Courtesy car, collection & delivery options call Brendan McManus direct on: 07958 518924
We service, repair and care for your vehicle
The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.
WECARE FOR YOUR TREES
PROFESSIONAL TREE SURGEONS TO BRITISH STANDARDS 3998
FORESTRY TRAINING COUNCIL APPROVED
FULL LIABILITY INSURANCE UP TO £5 MILLION
FELLING
PRUNING
HEDGE TRIMMING
STUMP REMOVAL
CROWN REDUCTION & THINNING
CABLE BRACING & PINNING
PLANTING
OFFERING A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE BUILT OVER MANY YEARS TO ENSURE A PROFESSIONAL & EXPERT SERVICE. FOR YOUR FREE QUOTE PLEASE CALL: DUNNS TREE SERVICES
Meriden Village Hall is available for private parties etc. Rates are £10 per hour
Contact Valerie Martin 01676 522963
Berkswell and District History Group and District Group
The aim` of the History Group is to give its members and the general public the opportunity to acquire information & understanding on items of historical interest through meetings, visits and research projects.
We normally hold a meeting or a visit in each calendar month.
Wednesday, 8th September, 8.00pm at Berkswell Reading Room
“Grave Tales & Memorials” with Graham Sutherland.
Thursday, 14th October, 2.30pm at Balsall Common Village Hall.
“Titanic” – the Midlands Connection” with Andrew Lound.
Saturday, 20th November, 7.00pm at Berkswell Reading Room.
“Moonlight Sonata” – 70 year anniversary of the Coventry Blitz.
Dinner & Music & Dance & Nostalgia.
Tickets £15 per head. Selling Fast ring 01676 535782.
Membership costs £5.00 per calendar year with meeting fees of £1.50 for members; £2.50 for non-members (incl. refreshments).
For our full programme for 2010 and details of our publications, including our latest publication “Berkswell and Balsall Common – Charting the Changes” please visit our website: www.berkswell-history.org or telephone 01676 535782.
EXOTIC THAI
DEE IS AT QUEENS HEAD PUB
OLD ROAD MERIDEN
Exotic Thai cuisine cooked in the traditional Thai Way
OPEN 5 days a week Tuesday to Saturday
Food can be ordered between the following times:
Tuesday – Thursday 7.00pm till 10.00pm (closing)
Friday – Saturday 7.00pm till 10.30pm (closing)
Book in advance to avoid disappointment
01676 523740 Restaurant (Tuesday to Saturday - evening only) or 01676 522256 Queens Head (all other times)
The management reserves the right of admission
Warwickshire WildlifeTrust
Autumn 2010
The Parkridge Centre, Brueton Park, Solihull
Friday 25th September
Family Bat Bonanza Times: 7.00pm – 8.30pm Families, challenge yourselves to the batty quiz. Make a lantern to help you see when night falls, and join us on a hunt for the experts of nocturnal aviation!
Monday 25 October – Friday 29 October
10:30-12:00
We have some wonderful workshops to entertain the Children throughout the October half term including: Survival Dens, Autumn Watch, Hedgehogs and Hibernation, Halloween Horrors and Ghastly Ghouls.
Children aged 5 and under
During both holidays we will be running some workshops especially for our Younger visitors. Please call the Centre on 0121 704 0768 for more details
Similar events take place at Brandon Marsh Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry For details please phone 02476 302 912
Cost of each workshop is
£3.00 per child or £4.00 for non WWT Members
Nuts about Nature
Calling all young Nature enthusiasts! Children have a great opportunity to enjoy the Parkridge Nature Reserve from 9.30am-11: 30am one Saturday a month with our friendly Nuts about Nature Club.
25th September: Bats
23rd October: Hibernation and Survival
27th November: Autumn watch & fungi
Really Wild Parties
Why not book a party at the Parkridge Centre? Party times are available every Weekend and at other times by special request during the year. We offer a range of nature based activities and can also provide food, invitations and party bags should you need them.
Toddler Trundle Group
We also run a Toddler Group every Wednesday during term time between 10:30 -12:00, booking is essential, £2.50 per child.
To book any of these events please call 0121 704 0768
Highly Successful Business Woman
Expanding international £38 million turnover company into this area, now seeks working partners, initially part time, who must be ambitious and self motivated.
If you have supervisory, managerial, sales, marketing, recruitment or self-employed background, or feel you wish to develop an extraordinary income, with profit share, car, free international travel programme, and a balanced and flexible lifestyle, then I would like to hear from you.
Call Gill Pritchard 01676 534020 / 07817 154596
Ongoing training and support for right people
GET A WILL – THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT YOUR PARTNER AND FAMILY
As many as seven out of ten people will die without having made a Will, leaving all sorts of problems for loved ones. The only certain way to ensure that your spouse, partner or friends inherit what you intend is by making a Will. Without a Will, intestacy rules apply, in an arbitrary manner, particularly where there are no children. This could mean that your spouse is left having to share the estate with your relatives – who are often never intended to benefit.
The intestacy rules do not recognise cohabitees: they would be left having to make a claim against your estate. If you have children with your partner then they will automatically inherit the estate. Your partner would have to obtain separate legal representation in order to fight for a share in your estate. Needless to say, this would be expensive A simple Will is all that you need to ensure that your intended beneficiaries receive what you intend–exercise your ‘Will’ power – and make that Will!
Richard Holt, Evans Derry Binnion, Solicitors, Coleshill 01675 464400
www.evansderrybinnion.com
PC Technical Services
Tile Hill Lane, Coventry
Home Computer Repairs, Upgrading & Problem Solving Telephone 024 7667 4952
Independent personal attention Internet & e-mail, Troubleshooting & tuition
PHYSIOTHERAPY REFLEXOLOGY
COMPLEMETARY THERAPIES
Treatment for pain, stress, acute and chronic conditions
Alison Stain M.C.S.P., S.R.P., I.T.E.C.
The Therapy Centre, Balsall Villa
287 Kenilworth Road Balsall Common
Tel: 01676 521066
The Job Squad
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.
Meriden
Floral Society
onday 11th December18
Meetings are held at Meriden village Hall
200 mile marathon walk round Coventry
It was our "OPEN EVENING" in June. Nick Grounds was his usual funny and entertaining self. His flowers were wonderful. Together with the raffle and entrance fee the club made a healthy profit for the club funds and a big thank you for everyone who made the evening such a success. In July the club went on our annual outing. A coach took us to Ashwood Nurseries where we were given a tour of the gardens. We were all very impressed with the extremely healthy looking plants and trees and there was not a weed to be seen anywhere! After lunch we moved on to David Austin Roses where we were again taken around and given a talk on its history. We spent the rest of the afternoon having a look around. Finally we rested our feet having a gorgeous cream tea. Many of us purchased plants, and the coach driver was very happy to tuck them away in the hold for us. Thanks to Margaret (Barnsdall) for organising the day
FUTURE EVENTS
Monday 20th September - Practice Class Lorena Dyer
Please contact one of the below if you are interested in attending. Cost £4
Monday 18th October- "Mix and Match" Carol Farmer
Monday 15th November-“Come fly with me" Arnaud Metairie
We would love to see YOU at any of the above events. And finally we have our own web site with more information and pictures: www.southmidlandsnafas.org.uk/meriden.html
For more information please contact
Mo Reynolds 01676 521 457
Margaret Barnsdall 01676 540 317
June Brown 01676 522 210
7.30pm – 9.30pm approx ARE YOU READY TO
28 years old Nick Davis of Coventry is presently serving in the Royal Navy attached to the Royal Marines. He is going to walk the Coventry Way on five consecutive days beginning on 5th September. Starting at the Queens Head daily at 6 00am and completing the 40 miles in the early evening. The Lord Mayor of Coventry will be at the Queen’s Head to meet Nick on his final day at about 6.00pm. Nick is looking for sponsorship for attempting this 200 mile marathon walk. All proceeds will go to Help The Heroes Fund. He can be sponsored on www.bmycharity.com/coventryway200 or contacted directly on 07875648222.
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Call us today on 0121 777 0090
For a friendly, caring and completely confidential service
Barkers’ Butts RFC.
Pickford Grange Lane CV59AR
Executive Lounge available for meetings, functions, funerals, parties up to 60. . Overhead projector - WiFi –Disabled facilities
RING DEBBIE on 0796 3690608 for bookings and to arrange catering
Free car parking
Meriden Surgery 01676 522252
Opening Hours
1.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8.30am to 6pm Wednesday 8.30am to 12.00
When the Surgery is closed
The Practice uses a GP co-operative Badger for emergencies outside normal surgery hours. For details on how to obtain medical help when the surgery is closed please telephone 01676 532587
Repeat Prescription Requests
We prefer these to be ordered using the list attached to your previous prescription.
• Post to the surgery
• Hand to the surgery
• Fax 01676 523865 to the surgery
If necessary telephone requests will be taken between 10.00am and 12.30pm & 2.00pm-4.00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday. Please quote your computer number.
48 HOURS NOTICE MUST BE GIVEN FOR ALL PRESCRIPTION REQUESTS
NHS Blood and Transplants
The next session for blood donors will be Thursday 25th November at the Heart of England Social Club 1.30 - 3.30pm & 4.30 - 7.30pm
Appointments available by calling 0300 123 2323 (new telephone number )
Annual Flu Season
Before we know it the annual vaccination for influenza will be upon us! Influenza vaccine is for everyone 65yrs and above and for all patients who have a chronic illness such as Diabetes, Heart, Kidney and Liver Disease, Respiratory conditions and patients who are immunocompromised and their carers.
This year the injection will contain H1N1 (swine flu) as one component of the vaccine so patients who have already received the swine flu vaccine will probably be advised to still have the injection to ensure they are protected against the other strains of flu predicted for this year, as well as boosting their swine flu immunity. This will be confirmed nearer the time.
Vaccines are scheduled to be delivered towards the end of September so don't wait for a letter just book yourself in our designated clinics at the Meriden surgery or at the Saturday clinics run at our Balsall Common Surgery
Change of Personnel
Dr Kirkham retired from the Practice on 31st May 2010
Dr Carlile joined the partnership from 31st July 2010
Dr Tahir Nadeem joins the Practice on 1st September 2010 as a full time Salaried GP.
Home Visits
If patients are too ill to attend the surgery, or are housebound and need a doctor to visit them at home please telephone the surgery 01676522252 before 10.00am.
Comments
If you would like to make any comments, complaints or suggestions concerning the surgery please contact Joanne Hope, Practice manager on 01676 532213 or in writing to the surgery.
If you can’t attend please remember to cancel your appointment!
Letter from Malvern by Elaine Hitchens
After 28 years living in Balsall Common and 6 months in a rented house, we have now uprooted ourselves and moved to a hillside in Malvern. From developing a garden of 1 ½ acres over that time and opening it under the National Garden Scheme we are now confronted with ½ acre of docks, brambles and thistles – a virgin site one might say.
We have moved some of our more precious plants such as my collection of hostas and my husband’s tree ferns. These plants stood out during the last winter and despite the cold have all survived. The challenge of the garden is also an opportunity to select and plan with a blank canvas. We will start with the area at the front, which will be planted for spring and now is just the time to be thinking about plants and bulbs, which will provide a show after the winter. Snowdrops, crocus, daffodils and other spring bulbs can provide a fairly long flowering period if chosen carefully.
When to plant snowdrops (Galanthus) causes quite heated arguments and growers such as John Grimshaw from Colesbourne Gardens plant in the autumn whilst other growers insist that they will not send out bulbs until the spring “in the green”. I will be planting a range of snowdrops including nivalis – the so called common snowdrop, a vigorous strain which likes to grow in light shade and has slender, grey-green leaves; it does not seed and must be lifted and divided to increase it. Varieties include Nivalis “Sam Arnott AGM and Nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Flore Pleno' - a double snowdrop. Also worth considering are some of the elwesii group, the Giant or Turkish snowdrops. As the name implies they originated in Turkey and like a dry place in the garden - tucked at the base of a tree for instance, if they are happy they may seed. Galanthus elwesii 'Comet' is particularly impressive. Glanthus Atkinsii (AGM) and Magnet AGM are also good varieties.
Wisley Magnet
We have grown crocus for many years and they do well in grass where they will naturalise and spread, providing a jewel like carpet for some weeks. The only drawback is that you cannot mow the area until the foliage starts to die down. Some corms to look out for are Crocus Joan of Arc, a large and beautiful white crocus with conspicuous orange stigmata. Crocus Pickwick silvery lilac with dark lilac stripes, very large flowers, produced in profusion. C. Tommasinus is the species that increases rapidly; it has a delicate mauve flower, whilst the variety Ruby Giant is a very striking ruby-purple.
Scilla siberica; can be planted at the base of trees or naturalised in grass; it produces a lovely early blue bell-shaped flower. Another ‘must plant’ for us will be Fritillaria meleagris the Snake’s Head Fritillary with wonderful, purple, bell-shaped flowers that look perfect when naturalised in grass. Narcissus can provide a good show starting early in the year. Narcissus Jetfire AGM is an early cyclamineus daffodil with orange corona; vigorous and free-flowering. One of the smaller varieties Narcissus 'Tête-à-tête'is a free-flowering little daffodil for pots, rock garden or naturalizing. Whilst two of my favourite white daffodils are Narcissus Ice Follies and Ice Wings, they have creamy white flowers, frilled and highly ornate; robust and reliable in all climates and ideal for naturalizing. Whilst Narcissus 'Hawera (AGM) flowers later and is a vigorous and free-flowering daffodil with a number of neatly nodding flowers per stem. However, our particular favourite is the native wild daffodil - Narcissus pseudonarcissus.
Hellebores are also delightful when planted in a woodland setting amongst bulbs. Ashwood Nurseries near Kingswinford is worth a visit for varieties of these, as the range offered is huge. New varieties have been developed which look upwards rather than sadly hanging their heads. Hellebores can be left to naturalise, when they will interbreed and produce new forms, some of which are fairly “muddy” but there is always a chance of producing a gem.
Finally spring would not complete without primroses and cowslips and anemone nemorosa(wood anemone).
We have transplanted some of ours from our previous home and they will be planted out amongst the new bulbs and left to spread naturally.
Anemone nemoroso
Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Roy Thompson March 5th 1934 –July 4th 2010
Roy Thompson sadly passed away after a short illness on 4th July this year. He leaves Lesley his wife of 44 years, his daughter Claire and son-in-law Mick and his grandchildren Sophie, Michael and Ryan. Roy was born in Marston Green and went to Marston Green Primary School and then attended Coleshill Grammar School.
On leaving school he worked for his father in the family butchery business which he loved –and eventually managed his own shop for many years.
He was called up for National Service and joined the Royal Army Service Corps and served from May 1952 –May 1954 and spent most of this time in Faro, Egypt.
He played football for the Marston Green Taverners Sunday League and several other Birmingham teams, cricket at Leamington Spa and he loved his snooker.
He met Lesley at a Testimonial event, which was held for his friend Trevor Smith (who played for Birmingham City). They married in September 1966 and their daughter, Claire was born in September 1968.
Roy retired from his butchery business in 1980 and later joined Lesley at the Property Company she ran and they had ten wonderful years working together.
Roy loved shooting and keeping and training Springer Spaniels and when they left Hales Properties they started a new venture together building luxury kennels for their dogs and ultimately starting Meriroyles Luxury Boarding Kennels, which they have run for the past seventeen years.
Claire and her husband Mick had 3 children – Sophie, Michael and Ryan, which was a wonderful chapter in Roy’s life. In particular Sophie, from the age of 11 years (now aged 19), spent a lot of time with her Pop working and training her dogs and entering Working Tests and Trials which Roy took her to all over the country – he was so proud of her – particularly when she represented England in a trial a few years ago. Before Roy died Sophie was able to give him her news that she had been accepted by The Royal Army Veterinary Corps to train as a Dog Handler and she will be going in January next. The judging panel had said she was the “No. 1” girl applicant and Roy said in his eyes she had always been his No. 1 girl. In recent years Roy and Lesley have had some wonderful holidays.
To sum up Roy – numerous old and new friends have been in touch since his passing to say that he was a larger than life character, compassionate, honest, generous, do anything for anyone, terrific sense of humour and just loved life to the full. He will be sadly missed by his family and many friends.
Lesley has said that Roy was her soul mate and they had enjoyed 44 wonderful years of marriage and their secret was to laugh a lot and with Roy it was not difficult at all as he was so happy-go-lucky.
Tom’s Butchery
Established 25 years Established 25 years
3 The Green 3 Green
Meriden Meriden
Telephone: Telephone: 01676 522822 01676 522822
• British Beef
• Wide selection of prize winning sausages
• Best quality English lamb & pork
• Wide selection of bacon including dry cure English
• Deli counter with a wide selection of cheese, pies and cooked meats
• Fish counter, fresh and smoked fish available Tuesday –Saturday
• Locally baked fresh bread and pastries delivered daily
• Fresh cut flowers
Sunset and Geese by Julie Hyde
What a great summer we have had! The art classes have been out and about painting on location at various places and our annual exhibition at Coleshill raise £200 for Cancer Research, plus we sold quite a few paintings too. Well done to all who put pictures in
I thought that we would have a go at painting a sunset picture this time. You will need water colour paper and paint for this, plus a piece of white candle or white wax crayon.
1. Lightly draw the mountains and their reflections. Make sure that the horizon line is only about a third of the way up the piece of paper.
2. Using a candle or a white wax crayon, neatly fill in the sun. Add horizontal dashes with the wax to the water where the suns reflections fall.
3. Mix watercolour paints with water to make three separate puddles of paint. Make big puddles and of a fairly strong colour. You can choose your own colours, use either pinks, purples and reds or I have used: -
• Yellow
• Yellow and Red (Orange)
• Red
Using a big soft brush wet the paper all over. Make sure the paper is evenly wet and with no puddles of water sitting on it and then quickly apply the Yellow the Orange and Red, making sure the reflections match Let It Dry
4. Distant mountain. Mix a medium strength wash (or puddle) of a dark colour, I used:-
• Dark Blue with Dark Brown and a touch of Red
With a big brush paint this all over both mountains. With a smaller brush add the reflections making sure that you paint in horizontal stripes on the water.
Let this dry.
5. Middle distant mountain
With the same colour mix, re apply over right hand mountain and its reflection. Leave a thin gap between the mountain and its reflection.
6. Foreground. Mix a VERY strong wash of the same colour. Then, using a dry bristle brush, stipple on pine needles on tree. Swap back to a small, soft brush and paint the trunk and branches, bank, stones and the reflections. If you are brave enough, paint on a few geese (but practice painting them on another piece of paper first)
(Look out for articles by Julie on painting trees in acrylics in October and November issues of the Leisure Painter magazine) For more information on classes call 01676 523357
MERIDEN MIDSUMMER DRAW.
The Draw raised £ 1030 for Macmillan Cancer Support, which I sent to them at the end of June. The range and number of prizes was, I'm sure you will agree, impressive and I really cannot adequately thank the businesses that donated them. I also thank all those who bought tickets--as a village; we are showing just how much we care about those who are at a devastating stage of their lives!! Thank-you for your support.
MERIDEN TREE OF THOUGHT 2010
.
I have started preparations for this year's Tree. As ever, all proceeds will go to Macmillan Cancer Support-Charity No261017. At the time of writing, Steve's Industries of Dorridge have agreed to, again, select & install the tree & fit the lights. Also Potter's Poultry are providing the marquee and electrics on Dedication Day. You will note that both of these companies do this every year, without charge and deserve a vote of thanks. (The tree does have to be purchased and is made possible by the generosity of local businesses and other organisations). Having spoken to Mrs. Smith, I have established that Dedication Day will be on Friday 26th November at 4.00.pm. Other school commitments preclude other dates. Please mark this date on your calendars!!
The children from the school put so much effort into their singing and I believe they deserve the full support of the grownups. Canon Eardley from Coventry Cathedral as last year will conduct the proceedings. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Mrs. Smith for the support she has given me over the past five years by encouraging and preparing the children for the Dedication. I'm sure she will be missed and I wish her a long, happy and healthy retirement. I feel certain I can look forward to similar support from her successor, Mrs. Winkler See you at the dedication. Thank-you. Alan
Ramblings From the allotment
March 31st The first rain for several weeks fell today and the weatherman got it right this time as predicted the rain fell at 1pm and did not stop all afternoon. I am not really moaning about it because we did need some rain on the gardens and it also helps when planting out cabbage and broccoli plants.
RAMBLINGS FROM THE ALLOTMENTS
While it was raining I managed to re-pot some Geraniums plants into larger pots, they do look a treat, can’t wait to see them in the garden.
I am glad to welcome two new ladies to the allotments and another couple have also taken over one that had recently been vacated, it is nice to see all the allotments being looked after.
April 5th The beginning of this week saw the start of some very warm weather which went on until the first week in May, so you can imagine that we got quite a lot done including construction of a brassica cage, (we will keep the cabbage white butterfly and the pigeons off the greens.)
May 3rd Very cold today but we did have some sunny spells. Managed to get a few parsnips plants and some fennel planted out while construction on a new site for the chicken coop was undertaken, very busy today, considering we had a 4 yr old underfoot all day. I was able to get in the greenhouse and sow the runner bean seeds into root trainers. The start of May brought with it some very mixed weather but it did not stop the moving and construction of a new chicken coop and after roughly two weeks the chickens are now living in the Hilton of chicken coops.
June The first week in June came in very wet but later in the month the weather was quite mixed.
June 21st Was the start of a very hot week. Planted out sweetcorn, swedes and carrots, and 25 bags of manure were collected, that was on Wednesday, on Thursday 22 bags were fetched and on Saturday 52 bags were collected. (Don’t ask me what they are doing with it).
July 1st Even more manure today. Weather still mixed but all the planting is done and we are now beginning to reap what we sowed.
July 18th We had 10 more rescue chickens today, our friends had 6 we had 4 and they are settling in quite well considering where they came from and the conditions they were living in.
Don’t forget that the allotments are open in conjunction with the Cancer Research open garden scheme again this year and we will be selling produce for the charity.
Three of our allotments entered the allotment class in the Fillongley Show. Congratulations to Ann and John Butler on coming first and Shirley and David Smithers on winning third prize. Finally about 30 of us enjoyed a summer barbecue on the car park of the allotments at the end of July. It isn’t all hard work !! Ann Butler - 01676 522745
Pea & Courgette Soup
Ingredients
1 medium onion (chopped finely)
4 Medium sized courgettes (topped and tailed and then cut into chunks)
A mug of frozen peas
½ pint of milk
½ pint of vegetable or chicken stock
Small bunch of fresh basil
Small chunk of hard cheese (such as parmesan or strong cheddar) about 1oz grated 2 tablespoons of pesto
Directions
Sweat the onion in a little oil until starting to soften. Add the chopped courgette and cook for a few minutes until starting to soften (the onion should have cooked fully by now). Add all the other ingredients and bring to the boil, before reducing the heat and simmering, about 20 mins or until veg are cooked. Either serve as a chunky soup, or whiz with a blender to make a thick smooth soup (you may need to add a little water to get to the consistency that you like).
This is yet another way of dealing with the courgette glut that seems to happen every year despite the weather!!
After 28 years - a queen
Office clerk Beverley Godfrey began a royal reign today – as Meriden's first carnival queen for 28 years. Sixteen year old Beverley of Millisons Wood, Meriden beat 12 other girls for the title.
Now she will reign at fund raising events, including Meriden's gala on June 9th, the first to be held since 1945.
The gala is organised by Meriden's Playing Fields Improvements Committee.
Beverley, whose parents Mr & Mrs Vernon Godfrey run a grocery store, was chosen at a dinner-dance organised by the Association.
She is seen here with her maids of honour - 17 year old Susan Griffiths (left) and 18 year old Sylvia Neary
Taken from the Evening Mail February 15th 1973
(With thanks to Grace Tuckey for the newspaper cutting)
Letter
Farm report, 2010
Eureka! I’ve discovered agriculture, and there's nothing to it! That is, I recently finished spreading 24 bags of dirt (excuse me: “soil”) on low spots in the lawn, then mulching and seeding and watering them. Then I did the whole joint with a brand-name product that costs $40 a bag and guarantees to build turf for you –plus it has certain herbicides in it that have been engineered to kill ugly weeds (these ingredients no doubt have scary chemical names like 3-4-5-nothing-left-alive) and now my hands smell like toxic agricultural chemicals. Which really isn't such a bad scent. Maybe they should bottle it, call it Chanel No. 3-4-5.
And I’ve discovered this formula: agriculture = money + chemicals. Just add water. And we've since had temperatures up to 103 F. (that's easily 39 C.), but the grass is still alive. I was going to get a load of dirt (I mean “soil”) dumped in the driveway and then I figured I'd haul it around in a wheelbarrow. Or I’d buy the special wagon designed to be pulled by my riding mower, but I can only imagine how much those things cost.
But then I thought, who am I kidding? I can't do all that grunt work. Why, some mornings (after the cat announces that it’s time to get up – a job he seems to have inherited from my father, whose idea was that you have to get up in the morning, not because anything necessarily needs to be done, but because God frowns on laziness) it’s all I can do to stagger out to the kitchen for coffee, with several ambushes of stabbing back pain along the way.
And besides, last year I got some so-called topsoil delivered and some of it was OK but one load was pure clay –nothing will grow in it; stuff grows better in Hiroshima than in the local clay, which must be why there used to be so many brick factories here.
Anyway, I soon dropped the idea of a big pile of dirt in the driveway and decided instead to pop down to the local big-box home store, where they have brand-name dirt (excuse me: “soil”) for two bucks a bag, and even my little Mini Cooper can easily hold a dozen bags at a time, so then all I have to do is drive to the afflicted section of the lawn, no muss, no fuss. Plus, I can listen to disco music (or whatever) while I rake.
Oh, and I bought six plants at the local garden center (you know: a place with a family name on the sign out front, so it doesn’t seem to be owned by BP or any other multinational corporation) and stuck them into six pots (excuse me: “transplanted” them) on the theory that any six living plants will look better than the dead sticks from last year. And two of them turned out to be curry plants, which smell nice.
And now I’ve finished all my gardening for the year.
That may not sound overtly green, but it’s green enough for Yrs Trly.
Glenn Richter
Berkswell Vil Berkswell Vil Berkswell Vil Berkswell Village Museum lage Museum lage Museum lage Museum
Hidden away in the centre of Berkswell is a small museum full of interesting items from the past with connections to the village and the surrounding area. The museum is housed in a pair of cottages built about 1500 and is very typical of the half-timber framed cottages found in Warwickshire. The cottages were turned into one property for the home of the village district nurse and midwife early in the twentieth century and were then condemned for habitation in the 1940s. It has been a museum since 1981 and consists of memorabilia, agricultural and domestic articles displayed in four attractive rooms.
Berkswell’s famous people are remembered with displays. Maud Watson – the first Ladies Singles Champion at Wimbledon, R E S Wyatt – a former England Cricket Captain and the film star Jeremy Brett – best known for his role as Sherlock Holmes. Come and see the cannon and Russian shield, trophies from the Crimean War presented to the village 150 years ago. The museum is open on Sunday afternoons and Bank Holidays at Easter and from May to the end of September and at any other time by request, contact 01676 522077
Reach Glenn Richter at grichter@record-journal.com
IDYLLIC GARDENS
Design and Construction
• Cultivated Turf & Lawns
• Patios - Paths - Yorkstone
• Block Paving - Drives
• Decking - Pergolas
• Fencing - Trellis Work
• All Brickwork - Ponds
• Garden Maintenance
Free advice & estimates
Portfolio and references available
Meriden library
01676 522717
Open Monday 10.00am – 7.00pm
Thursday 10.00am – 7.00pm
Saturday 10.00am – 1.00pm
It’s
good to be back!
Thank you for all your kind and generous comments we received when we reopened for business in July. It’s always nice to know we are a valued service in the village. We have enjoyed welcoming everyone back into the library, so come and visit us soon!
New Readers
As the children return to school for their new term, remember we have lots of books to help with their reading and homework. We have a special collection of books called “Ready, Steady, Read” which have been selected with early readers in mind. There are three levels in the collection:
Ready –Picture books with illustrations to help interpret the stories and lots of repetition for children who are just starting to learn words.
Steady – First books with a few sentences and lots of illustrations, for children and parents to share or children to read aloud.
Read – Entertaining books to practise new reading skills. Just ask us if you want more information about the books we stock.
Chatterbooks…
We hope to start a reader’s group in the autumn called “Chatterbooks” aimed at 9 – 11 year olds. This is an exciting new venture for us and local families – look out for more information in the near future.
Family DVDs
A new collection of children’s and family DVDs is now available at the library. We have lots of new titles that you can borrow on your library ticket for a week at a timefrom Peppa Pig to Clone Wars, there’s something for all the family. Restrictions and charges do apply – so please ask for details.
Computers for beginners!
Do you know your mouse from your megabyte? Would you like to learn how to use the internet or send an email in a friendly and relaxed environment?
We will be running one-to-one sessions to help you achieve your goals - from using a keyboard and mouse to searching online. Look out for more information about the sessions and how to register your interest in the autumn.
Delving into the past…
Anyone interested in family history can use the Ancestry website at the library for free, with no charges for viewing search results. You can search the website for lots of information, from Census returns to marriages. Please ask us for more details.
Come along and see us at Meriden Library – everyone is welcome!
With a membership of 175 the committee is now looking at 'moving forward’ in line with The Third Age Trust's recent booklet 'Growth Matters’. The introduction of a coffee morning at Haig's Hotel for new members has proved very popular. A further one is planned for the autumn to encourage members to become interest group coordinators to expand groups that have now reached their maximum capacity.
Currently Coordinators have come forward and four new interest groups will commence in the autumn - ‘Finance’, 'Social and Political History', a board game 'Diplomacy', Jazz Appreciation.
Our latest e-newsletter 'The Informer' has been sent out and anyone interested in learning more about what we do is welcome to a copy – email: info@balsallcommonu3a.org or for further information about membership phone Anne Santos, Chairman on 01676 534003. www.balsallcommonu3a.org
The rambling group enjoying the good weather
MERIDEN LIBRARY READERS GROUP
The Meriden Library Readers Group meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7.30 pm. to discuss books with a similar theme. We find this a lot more fun than all reading one book and then discussing it because this way we can indulge in our personal tastes and still find a great deal in common. You can get details of the venue from the Library or from Mike Watkinson on 521496.
8th September - All things Irish - Anything goes here: history, geography and all the wonderful places to visit plus Irish authors on any subject under the sun.
6th October (first Wednesday) - A political theme: factual and serious, biographies, novels and of course, thrillers.
10th November - A modern children's author. If you feel that this isn't your bag, you may be surprised at the wealth of talent in this field with top class authors like Anthony Horowitz producing the Alex Rider series for teenagers: Alex is a fourteen years old James Bond. Or perhaps you would like to find out what the little ones are loving now.
Freshly prepared food available all day, every day until 10.00pm and 9.30pm on Sundays
• We also serve cracking roasts every Sunday from £7.95 for 1 course & £9.95 for 2 courses
• Fantastic wine list
• Children’s menu We have 13 comfortable bedrooms with flat screen TV’s and tea & coffee facilities. All ensuite. Rates from £49.95 per room, per night. To book visit www.innkeeperslodge.com
The Farm Shop Berkswell Traditional Farmstead Meats
Larges Farm Back Lane Meriden Tel & fax 01676 522409 www.farmsteadmeats.co.uk For meats of outstanding quality & flavour
• Fresh Spring Lamb
• Licensed to sell Game
• All cuts of beef including beef on the bone
• Superb home made sausages & burgers
• Free Range Chickens
• Famous Berkswell Ewes Milk Cheese
• Traditional pork with real crackling
• Real home cured bacon
• Award winning butcher Warwickshire’s only accredited traditional breeds butcher
Listed as one of Rick Stein’s “Food Heroes”
Phil Tuckey “The Country Butcher”
Inheritance
and
Dear Editors,
In the previous Mag there was a reference to men of WW1.
Frank Ledger late of 123, Fillongley Road married my Aunt Elsie, they had one daughter,Beryl,( I think she became Mrs Michael Maclochlan – or similar).
Frank drove the last steam lorry I saw and also real steam rollers, almost certainly for Warwickshire County Council. He was a dab hand with motor bikes and small petrol engines.
My wife, Olive, and I really enjoy reading the Mag.
John Webb
As a resident of Millison’s Wood for over 25 years I have not been able to catch a direct bus to and from Solihull and during my 10 years of working there, for convenience, I used to drive. The newly rerouted 82 bus (Coventry – Solihull) which runs every hour has now given me independence from car and parking. They have been new clean buses and I have found the experience of travelling by bus quite pleasant.
May Queen identified I know the name of the May Queen. She is my cousin Beryl May Jansen I agree it was taken about 1950 – I know Beryl was married about 1952/53 as I was a very small bridesmaid at Meriden Church. Sorry I don’t recognise anyone else other than the ones named.
Pat Eyre (by email)
The Atom’s Heartbeat
So the world’s ATOMIC CLOCK with an accuracy of one second in 300 years is now obsolete. Replaced by a QUANTUM LOGIC CLOCK with an accuracy of 4 seconds in 13 billion years. Who cares? It’s of no use to anyone. Well it is actually. It’s the scientific side effects that really count. Maybe satellite navigation becoming accurate to inches instead of yards. Then there are Solar Probes becoming more accurate, and no doubt much more to come out of it later.
With a QUANTUM LOGIC CLOCK using the natural oscillations of an aluminium atom oscillating at a frequency of I.I. quadrillions (15 noughts) cycles per second, tuned with a laser oscillator of much lower frequency, no doubt the atom’s quadrillions of oscillation becomes manageable. What intrigues me is that science is now getting well into the heartbeat of atoms. Therein lies the very route to the Quantum Computer. It is most likely that this Quantum Clock will show the way to the scientists’ Holy Grail of the true Quantum Computer
When I was a “Saturday Boy” with Hanson’s of Coventry (if anyone remembers them) they gave me the job of installing a Long and Medium wave aerial as long as a back garden of course in a back garden, so I saw the wavelengths in a lifetime go from that garden size down to the TV frequency of one or two feet, and right down to today with 1cm in the mobile phone. Also of course with the corresponding frequencies increasing from about one hundred thousand cycles to one hundred million cycles. So coming back now to our latest frequency of QUADRILLIONS at one thousand million, million cycles or Hertz as they call cycles these days, this massive frequency would make a wavelengths tuning of the aerial a pinhead or even a pin prick.
To make these massive frequencies manageable like the new quantum clock, I suspect they will always be tuned to a lower light frequency. The very same thing was done with the old “steam radios” when they used the SUPERHETODYNE principle of beating the incoming signal with a lower intermediate frequency and extracting the difference.
If,as it now seems, future scientists are able to use the very HEARTBEAT OF THE ATOM, in my book they will be joining up with the very depths of all absolute life on Earth. Furthermore if mankind is given the brains and capacity to achieve this it surely must be the will of the Creator.
Frank Mills- Clifton
News from The Orme School of Dancing
The students at The Orme School of Dancing have had another exciting year of performing on stage in two shows and successful dancing examination results. The most recent show the dancers took part in was ‘Dance Fusion 2010’ in June where they put on a great performance and really excelled themselves.
The dancers come for lessons every Monday evening at The Meriden Methodist Church and have ballet, tap and modern jazz lessons as well as a lot of fun in a friendly environment. If you would like your child to get involved with dancing lessons and all that we offer then please call Sandra Clarke on 02476 467271.
David Deakin Plastering Services
Interior plastering and coving work. Insurance work welcome.
326 Kenilworth Road, Balsall Common Tel :07970 227821
Monday 9.00 -17.30 (Pat)
Tuesday 9.00-17.30 (Brian)
Wednesday CLOSED
Thursday 9.00-17.30 (Brian)
Friday 9.30-19.00 (Pat) Late Night
Saturday 9.00-16.00 (Pat)
Sunday CLOSED Pensioner’s Days Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Friday “Dads and Lads” offers available everyday
WHAT’S ON AT THE MANOR HOTEL
LADIES DAY:
MONDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER: £26.00
Looking for a truly sophisticated day out? Fashion ideas, catwalk show, live demonstrations accompanied by an exquisite lunch.
WEDDING FAYRE:
SUNDAY 3rd OCTOBER
Between 11am & 4pm The Manor plays host to all manner of Wedding professionals and services. Includes Fashion Show. Free Admission
HALLOWEEN MURDER MYSTERY:
SATURDAY 30TH OCTOBER.
As the forces of darkness gather, why not pit your wits and have some fun whilst enjoying a fabulous three course dinner followed by dancing with our resident DJ. £29.00 per person
2 FOR 1 DINNER, REGENCY RESTAURANT,
NOVEMBER
Throughout November its your last chance this year to enjoy Two meals for the price of One in our Regency Restaurant.
LADIES DAY IN ASSOCIATION WITH JOHN LEWIS, SOLIHULL. MONDAY 29TH NOVEMBER; £26.00
A great day, a Fashion workshop presented by John Lewis of Solihull, good company, live demonstrations and a superb Lunch.
To enquire or to make a reservation please call us on 01676 522735 The Manor Hotel, Main Road, Meriden CV7 7NH www.manorhotelmeriden.co.uk sales@manorhotelmeriden.co.uk
24 hour Service Private Hire 4, 6 & 8 Seater Airport Transfers Executive Cars Available on Request Lady Drivers available
We have 20 years experience in providing a 24-hour taxi and executive chauffeuring service to our customers
We have employed new drivers to improve the service in Balsall Common, Meriden, Hampton in Arden, Millisons Wood and surrounding areas.
All our drivers have been CRB checked
All our drivers are licensed through the local council
We have improved the service to keep all our customers satisfied
Try our fast, reliable, friendly and efficient service and compare it to the rest !
Meriden Charities. Part 3. Part
I would like to dedicate this article to the memory of Phillip Marshall who died earlier this year. A descendant of Meriden people including Hannah Beaufoy, Dr Kittermaster and Anna Maria Kittermaster wife of Charles Marshall, RA, he became keenly interested in Meriden’s history though for much of his life he did not know about his origins. He was a generous man who shared his family knowledge with me. For example I have a copy of the cookery book compiled from Meriden sources most likely by Hannah who ran a draper’s shop in the village and a photograph of ‘Vale of Arden’ (Meriden from Dr K’s garden on the hill) painted by Charles about 1849. A second copy was given to the library.
Several smaller charities were created through bequests by landowners in the C17 and C18. In each case we can identify where the property is. The owner arranged for some of the rent from a certain field for example to be paid annually to his or her charity no matter who purchased the land. This was called a ‘rent charge’ and in the passage of time depended on the integrity of the lands’ later owners.
The oldest was Thomas West’s. He owned a flourishing business selling wood from huge tree trunks down to lops and tops (brushwood) used in broom making. One of the richest men in the village when he died early in 1617, his home at Holly berry End was a medieval, moated house called Marbroke Hall. He owned an 8 acre pasture field on the left hand side of the now green road from Eaves Green to Hollyberry End called Lucas’s Grove which he had purchased from Laurence Flint. He gave clear geographical details about its position saying Balls Grove was to the south and Sherrif’s Wood, (the name of an Elizabethan village farmer), now called the Shafts to the North West. The Lucas Family had once owned a vast acreage around Eaves Green but usually when someone’s name was attached to a field or wood it meant they were only leaseholders. The rent money, £30 a year went to the village poor between early December, St Thomas’s day and New Year. Four poor men chosen by the church wardens were to be its administrators. Thomas Rotten’s 1635 bequest of £10 a year was financed from Tyburn Croft in Eaves Green Lane. Should the money not be forthcoming the vicar and church wardens could take over the property until the tenant paid up! His father another Thomas Rotten has been the vicar of Meriden and his only daughter Elizabeth still has a memorial in the chancel of St Laurence’s. They lived at the Talbot Inn now the Village Stores. Miss Susanna West a great grand daughter of Thomas West and one of 5 sisters including two sets of twins left a Gift out of the Barley Grove at the rear of the Shafts. It was intended for 5 poor women. Possibly Susannah had spinsters like herself in mind. In all, this accounted for £45 per year for the village’s poor available shortly before Christmas. Abraham and Susannah Winspear a Quaker couple lived at Lodge Green, he a descendant of Rev Julius Winspear vicar of Meriden (1618-29). It seems that it was Susannah nee Bradford, who as a memorial to both of them, arranged for £1 for bread and a sermon shortly before Michaelmas each year, possibly on the anniversary of their wedding. Douce Field and Lodge Orchard part of the land attached to their home at Lodge Green were the source of this income. The initial recipients of these monies were normally the church wardens and overseers of the poor who ensured the most deserving paupers received a share. Two later endowments: £5 from John Reynolds inn keeper at the Bull Head from 1707 to 1756 was invested for the poor and handed out on St John the Baptist’s Day (24 June) ‘for ever’. Humphrey Hawkesford a farmer at Hollyberry End who died in 1778 nominated the vicar Rev Anthony Bliss as his trustee to distribute the interest on a similar gift.
The final part will tell you about properties in Meriden which paid for charities elsewhere and some lost village charities dating from the Middle Ages.
Doreen Agutter
Tel: 02476 441149
Mob: 079 86385308
World’s biggest coffee morning
Help us to support Macmillan Cancer
Come and have a cuppa. We will have a tombola, white elephant and various other things to try and raise much needed money for this deserving cause. Please come and join us, if you only give a pound it will be one pound well spent and we will refill your cuppa for nothing. Have a natter, a laugh and a morning’s entertainment.
Friday 24th September (10-12 noon) at the Community Centre, Alspath Road.
Do you need a hand in the garden?.. Yes...
Then call Ken on 07542 944975
Full range of garden services: Mowing, Edging, Weeding, Hedges and preparation for Spring
Very competitive rates 20 years garden experience
• Fuse box upgrades
• Test and inspection
• Extra lights and sockets
• Security lights
• Full or partial rewires
• Digital TV aerials
• Free quotations
The public and press are cordially invited to all meetings in the Village Hall at 7.30pm. An opportunity will be given for the public to speak. Look out for the Agenda which is posted on the parish notice boards prior to the meeting.
September 2010 8th Joint Councillor Surgery
27th Parish Council Meeting
October 2010 13th Joint Councillor Surgery
25th Parish Council Meeting
November 2010 10th Joint Councillor Surgery
29th Parish Council Meeting
Your Parish Councillors are:
JOINT SURGERIES AT THE VILLAGE HALL – WHAT’S THIS?
Ken Allsopp David Bell Dr Peter Lea
The Parish Council and Solihull Council Ward Councillors will hold their next Joint Surgery on 8 September 2010 from 7.30pm at the Village Hall. This is an opportunity to speak face to face with a parish councillor and a ward councillor to discuss issues that concern you on a one-to-one basis as opposed to speaking publicly at a normal parish council meeting.
Residents are asked to contact the Clerk to book a 10-minute slot. One of Meriden’s Ward Councillors, featured right will be in attendance with one of our parish council
COMMUNITY SURGERIES AT MERIDEN LIBRARY
Representatives from the West Midlands Police along with Susan East, our Neighbourhood Coordinator from Solihull MBC, will be available for you to discuss any issues at Meriden Library on Monday mornings from 10.00am – 12.00 noon on the following dates: 13 September, 11 October and 8 November 2010.
COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH
As the winter months close in future sessions will need to be conducted during the day. We need more volunteers as the current volunteers find it difficult to attend weekday sessions due to work commitments. As a volunteer you will be trained in an informal setting and supervised by WPC Sharon Williams. If you’d like to volunteer contact Shafim Kauser, Parish Clerk on 01676 533395 or email her at shafimk@btinternet.com
Meriden Community Speedwatch 2010
Melanie Lee Bob Kipling Graeme Goodsir Shirley Goodsir Marilyn Hamilton Paul Lee Will Markham Rosie Weaver (Chair) (Vice Chair)
EAVES GREEN LANE
As we await the decision from the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol to the appeal lodged on 2 August 2010, rest assured that the parish council will continue to object to this inappropriate development based on the preservation of our greenbelt land.
900 AND 82 BUS SERVICE
At the time of publishing the Meriden Mag, the parish council had raised the reduction in service to Solihull Partnership. They have in turn placed it top priority within Solihull Council’s Transport, Environment and Sustainability Group by creating a ‘task and finish project’ with Centro. The parish council continues to seek a solution through this partnership.
TENNIS COURTS ON THE CURRENT PLAYING FIELDS
The courts have now been demolished. We apologise to residents who are dismayed at this, but it ensures that the site is no longer a health and safety hazard, due to vandalism, to innocent by passers. New tennis courts will be in place by 2011.
THE PARISH COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO THANK
Susan East, Neighbourhood Co-ordinator, and colleague Kathryn Hemmings from Solihull Council’s Places Directorate for instigating the re-paving of the footpath on Fillongley Road. The thank you is especially deserved, whereby early in the year, they were sorry to advise the parish council and Meriden Parish Plan Action Group that due to cutbacks, it might not happen.
They have obviously worked hard on Meriden’s behalf to ensure this promised work would be completed in 2010. It’s one action in the Meriden Parish Plan that is now completed. Well done!
SHAFIM KAUSER AND PAUL LEE – WELCOME ABOARD
As you will have noticed from our contact details, we have a new clerk and councillor.
Julie Hall resigned at the end of July, and Shafim joined us from August. Shafim will take on her duties to progress us to Quality Parish status by undertaking CiLCA qualifications. She brings to the council legal experience as she was previously a solicitor. As a mother of two, she applied for the clerk position so that she could develop her skills whilst having the flexibility to fit work around her family life. In Meriden, our parish clerk works 20 hours a week.
Councillor Sarah Markham resigned in May due to family commitments, and Paul Lee was co-opted as councillor on 26 July 2010 and will see his term through to the next elections in May 2011. As a reminder to residents, the parish council is currently comprised of eight councillors; we need more able bodies to deal with the ever increasing issues within the parish. If you feel you could help contribute to the improvements of parish life, consider standing for election next year.
MERIDEN PARISH PLAN ACTION GROUP
The next meeting takes place at the Heart of England Social Club on Thursday 23 September 2010 from 7:30pm. New volunteers are always welcome. One main focus for 2010 is to present to Solihull Council the Visual Design Statement for Meriden which will be used as supplementary planning guidelines when planning applications are decided on by Solihull Council’s planning committee
HIGH SPEED RAIL 2 (HS2) DEVELOPMENT
Readers may be interested in up –to-date news on this development, a high speed rail from London to West Midlands and beyond, which will go to government public consultation in 2011. You can find out more by visiting www.hs2actionalliance.org. The Campaign for the Protection or Rural England features it as well at www.cpre.org.uk/campaigns/transport/rail/highspeed2
Pied Piper Pest & Wildlife Management
The solution to all your pest vermin and wildlife problems
Wasps nests removed and destroyed
A Fast Discreet Service, Domestic/Commercial/Agricultural Free Survey & Quote, Fully Insured
Traditional forms of mole & rabbit control
Tel 0121 246 8879
Mobile 07989 348 467
www.piedpiperpestmanagement.co.uk
www.broadlanevets.co.uk 384a Kenilworth Road Balsall Common CV7 7ER
• Private car park
• Low cost vaccinations
• Free puppy parties
• Microchipping
• Free five-month development reviews
• Premium pet foods for sale/to order
• Qualified Veterinary Acupuncturist Please phone for an appointment 01676 530 792
Franklin Construction Services
Established 1979
• New build, renovations, maintenance, extensions, on domestic, commercial and industrial properties.
• Full design planning and build service
• Free Quotations
• Window and door replacement in UPVC, timber and aluminium
• Conservatories erected, kitchens and bathrooms fitted.
Workmanship may be inspected locally 01676 521502 Mob: 07801 579910
BALSALL COMMON VETS OPEN DAY 2010 SUNDAY 3RD OCTOBER 2 - 4PM
Come along and see what made us Coventry and Warwickshire Small Business of the Year 2010!
See what goes on behind the scenes and meet our staff (and some of their pets!).
Meet local charities and animal businesses (groomers, hydrotherapy, training clubs, petsitters).
Learn about other treatments available for your pet.
Children – Meet our dog! Have fun dressing up, help us bandage your teddy and take part in our crafts.
Competitions and charity tombola.
A great afternoon out for all the family
THIS EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT OUR MAIN SURGERY 255 BROAD LANE COVENTRY CV5 7AQ
A day in the life of a councillor
By councillors Mel Lee and David Bell
Mel: As a parish councillor, I’m often frustrated by what we can and cannot do. 2010 has been the worst year so far with unsettling changes in our community. Our greenbelt is currently under threat; there has been abuse of planning control at Eaves Green Lane, our bus service has been reduced, and there’s a pending High Speed Rail (HS2) development where miles of greenbelt land within 3km of our parish will be destroyed. Government public consultation on HS2 is due at the start of 2011. All these issues suddenly revealed themselves over the summer. Residents ask “So, what is the parish council doing about it?”
We have limited powers. We are unpaid, elected volunteers and some of us juggle parish council business with our day jobs. Although we are independent of Solihull Council, we maintain a close working relationship with them. David has been very supportive since we launched the parish appraisal and plan. We often seek advice from Solihull’s Director of Governance and have to follow a Code of Conduct. Powers vary depending on how large and how active a parish council is. Some larger parishes look after items such as street lighting, cemeteries, allotments, commons, village halls, war memorials and markets. Meriden looks after allotments, the village green, war memorials, bus shelters and the playing field. When we achieve Quality Parish status, we should be able to increase our responsibilities. I’m photographed here with another councillor, Rosie Weaver, during the duck pond project that Solihull Council organised for us with Meriden Primary School, Npower and Enterprise.
David: I’m one of three ward councillors for Meriden. Unlike, parish councillors, I stand for election as a member of the Conservative party, and I get paid an allowance which recognises the demands of being a ward councillor. There is plenty to do every day; planning appeals, requests for traffic calming, housing issues and of course continual pressures on the Meriden Gap such as new proposals for mineral extraction, HS2, and the Travellers. I have been a Councillor now for 10 years and prior to becoming Mayor held the portfolio for Community Services for 4 years and was Scrutiny Chairman for the previous 4 years.
Ward councillors help shape future services for the community and are essential in deciding public interest on council issues. Although I don’t sit on the planning committee, I was able to speak to the committee as a ward councillor on residents’ behalf against the inappropriate development at Eaves Green Lane. I was also able to demonstrate with residents outside Solihull Council as Cllr Bell, after all, they are my constituents. Parish councillors cannot undertake public displays of objection as a councillor; this would mislead residents that they have influential power. I work closely with the parish council and helped them with their parish plan by introducing them to influential partners throughout the borough. I’m photographed with Cllr Weaver, introducing the Parish Appraisal and Plan to our partners. Meriden Parish Council has, I am pleased to say, been one of the most hard-working and proactive parishes in the borough in consulting with these partners to improve the environment and services in this area.
Mel: The parish council, as statutory consultees, opposed the inappropriate development because of the material considerations that would impact on our green belt. We found out about the changes to the 900 and 82 bus services through rumour and immediately invited National Express and Centro to our council meeting where they informed us that it was a commercial decision that needed no consultation with residents and that the Taxi Bus could fill the gap, which it can’t. Cllr Weaver chairs the Solihull Area Committee and met with Solihull Partnership where she raised the bus issue. The Partnership has now activated a task and finish group with Centro through their Transport, Environment and Sustainability Group. We found out about the HS2 development through the Solihull Area Committee as well.
David: My contact with Centro has produced the same answers but I now have a large number of letters and emails and with Caroline Spelman’s help, aim to confront Centro with the fact that the Taxi Bus simply won’t be able to cope and that access to Balsall Common for the new surgery, youth and club facilities and the schools must be improved. At Solihull Council much work is going on to ensure that when the Eaves Green Lane appeal is heard, they have robust answers to the expected protests from the Travellers. Equally with the previous Regional Spatial Strategy now scrapped by the present Government it is important that we have a policy to replace it and here we need to think of first time buyers, the lengthening list for social housing and the needs of the elderly and those with special requirements. Shortly we begin the budget process and the unenviable task of trying to provide more for less once again and this process leads up to setting the council tax in the new year.
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!
Picture Framer
Calvin
Home Workshop
279 Kenilworth Road
Balsall Common
Wednesday-Thursday-Friday & Saturday
10.00am thru to 5.00pm
Needleworks – Prints - Photos
Medals - Artworks
Mirrors available and framed
01676 544562
Meriden Mums and Toddlers Group
Meriden Methodist Church Hall Tuesdays 9.30-11.30am
Craft activities, healthy snacks, outdoor play, cup of tea and chat for Mums and carers
£1.50afamilyandfirstsessionfree
Contact 07921 766882 for more details
Heart of England
Property
Maintenance
Plumbing
Carpentry
General Maintenance
Painting & Decorating
Contact Paul Morgan on 01676 542885 07917 692948 mobile
Beauty Salon
Telephone 01676 521100
Men and Women welcome
Open 7 days a week
Monthly offers available
New dual treatment room
Gift vouchers available
Over 60’s special Wednesday 9.00am-3.00pm
Manicure £15
Pedicure
£20
Back Massage £15 Or 15% off any treatment
Also complimentary tea and biscuits
All aspects of Beauty Therapy to include; Manicures, Pedicures, Waxing, aspects of Beauty include; Manicures, Waxing, Eye treatment, Facials, Caci facials and body treatments, microdermabrasion , massages, Eye treatment, Facials, Caci body microdermabrasion ,
Hopi Ear Candles, Reflexology, Gel Nail Extensions, Body Wraps, Hot Ston
Hopi Ear Candles, Reflexology, Gel Nail Extensions, Body Wraps, Hot Ston
Hopi Ear Nail Extensions, Wraps, Ston
Hopi Ear Nail Extensions, Wraps, Stone Massage, e Massage, e e
Spray Tanning and Vertical Sun bed. Spray Tanning and Vertical Sun
Also treatment rooms available at the Windmill Village Hotel and Nailcote Hall Hotel
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SOLIHULL FESTIVAL IS EVOLVING
There are big changes in the air for this year’s Solihull Festival. Over 2 weeks starting on11th September the Festival’s Trust will be co-ordinating over 40 events across the borough hoping to appeal to everyone living in Solihull. As well as the traditional Fun in the Park, Fun Run and Solihull Arts Complex events there will be new opportunities to get involved all manner of activities.
The Festival, jointly organised by Soroptimists International Solihull and the Rotary Clubs of Solihull, has been running since 2001 and the Clubs have been involved from the beginning. They have always supported the tin shake and the “fun run” which is always in aid of Breast Friends. For the last 3 years they have been involved with Monkspath Rotary Club in organising Fun in the Park, which is the grand finale to the activities. This event is a real community / family event. Each year fantastic sums of money are raised for local charities.
‘We have brought together Solihull organisations keen to ensure the two weeks of events has something for everyone,’ says Richard Wallwork Acting Co-ordinator. ‘We aim to increase awareness of the Festivals to a much larger proportion of residents and hope they will want to take part, watch or support our programme. All events are being offered by voluntary groups with many of the events continuing to raise funds for charities and local organisations.’
The Festival starts with the Castle Bromwich Community Festival and Solihull Together Walk, include the Ruxton Photographic Competition and Rotary Music Competition; the festival continues with events as diverse as Falconry display, drum & dance shows, kite flying, Dorridge Day, bulb planting, a barn dance, street collection and finish with Fun in Tudor Grange Park on Sunday 26th September
To see the full programme of over 40 events visit www.SolihullFestivals.org.uk
Solihull Parks
Events at Lavender Hall Park Balsall Common
Saturday 18th September 11.00am-3.00pm
Heart of England Kite Day
Tuesday October 26th 10.30am-12.30pm
Leaf Rainbows
Round Table Community Firework s Display
Tudor Grange Park
Saturday 6th November
Gates open at 5.30pm
In the Town
Rotary Festival High Street and Mell Square
Saturday 25th September
Craft market
Friday 25th and Saturday 26th September
Halloween treats
Friday 29th October Mell Square 12-2.00pm
This is just a selection of activities in or around Solihull. You can find out more by reading the new Events in Solihull’s Parks and Open Spaces Guide filled with lots of events for all ages – from brass bands in the park to scarecrow making and conservation groups to fun festivals. So please down load a copy from www.solihull.gov.uk , visit your local library or call 0121 704 8000 for a free copy.
THE MERLINS THE MERLINS NEED NEED NEED NEED
TO RAISE RAISE FUNDS FOR FOR TROOP AID TROOP AID AID AID
A programme of laughter, songs and instrumental items for everyone to enjoy
At the Dovehouse Theatre
Kineton Green Road, Olton
Friday 24th September at 7.30pm
Admission £8
Tickets from the Box Office 0121 706 7139 or 01564 779782
Meriden Volunteers for Cancer Research UK
“Together we can beat Cancer”
On Friday 8th October we are having our annual “In the Pink” Evening to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research. An audience with Queen Elizabeth I has been booked!!!! This historical curator, who is also an actress, is fitting us in between TV and filming work. She is a very informative, humorous and entertaining act and slants her work towards an all women audience. We are confident of a wonderful girly night.
On Friday 3rd December we are holding a four piece live music event at the Heart of England Club. This group ‘Vivo’ play nationally and will be playing music from 60’s & 70’s up to the present day. They have already played at two of the best parties in Meriden.
We do hope you can attend one of our events
Mary 01676 522160 Jan 01676 523118 Carol 07811613905
AN AUDIENCE WITH AN QUEEN QUEEN ELIZABETH 1 ELIZABETH
Historical and informative Historical and informative and and At Strawberry Bank Hotel At Hotel
Friday October 8 Friday October 8 October October th thth th at 7.30pm at 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm
“VIVO” LIVE MUSIC QUARTET
at the Heart of England Club at the Heart of England Club the Heart England Club the Heart England Club
Friday December 3 Friday rd rdrd rd at 8.00pm at 8.00pm 8.00pm 8.00pm
Tickets £10 to include Rose Punch
Tickets £10
Phone 522160 / 523118 / 07811613905
Joan Barber
Joan Mary Barber (nee Foden) died on July 12th, 2010 in Leamington Spa after a short illness.
Joan was born in 1926 and was educated at Barr’s Hill School, Coventry, before completing a teacher-training course in Chorley, Lancashire.
In 1950 she married Hartley in Meriden Methodist Church and they farmed at Berryfields, where they brought up Gillian, Christopher and Rachel.
Joan was a keen gardener, an accomplished cook and hostess at many family and Methodist Church functions. She was also a loving and active grandmother to Ben, Katharine, Sam, Tom, Joe, Will, Charlotte, JoJo and Alex.
After the death of her husband, Joan eventually moved to Michael Blanning Place in Balsall Common, where she enjoyed another lease of life, making new friends and participating in all the activities.
Six weeks before her death, Joan was still driving her car and shopping for herself.
After spending several weeks in hospital, Joan passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children.
Tickets £8 to include sherry
Tickets £8 to include sherry
Tickets £8 to sherry
Tickets £8 to sherry and a mince pie and a mince pie pie pie
Phone 522160 / 523118 / 07811613905
Meriden’s new Head Teacher
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself.
My name is Lucy Winkler and I have been teaching in Warwickshire schools for the past 15 years, most recently in the post of Assistant and acting Head Teacher.
On a personal note I have Been married to Phil for 15 years and have two children; Dan, 12, and Caitlin, 10.We live just outside Tamworth with Noodle our cocker spaniel.
I look forward to taking over from Jacky in September and building on the success of the school to date. I have been fortunate to be able to spend time with the staff of Meriden and am now eager to get to know all the children and the parents so we can work together to provide the best education possible.
Fillongley Show Sunday 8th August
Wonderful weather brought out the crowds for the 86th Fillongley Show which the organisers feel has had another successful year. Seeing so many people enjoying themselves makes all the hard work worthwhile. Without the efforts of the Committee and other willing helpers there would not be a show
There was something for all ages, face painting, Punch and Judy and bungee trampolining for the children. Trade stands and a working craft tent for the ladies to indulge themselves and tractors and vintage cars to make the men envious. The Horticultural Tent was full of wonderful flowers, vegetables, and home made cakes, produce, handicrafts and plenty of entries from children. Outside there were examples of wheat, oats and superb scarecrows. The Garden and Allotment results were announced complete with photographs of their fabulous entries. The Overall Winners in the Garden Competition were Mr. and Mrs. G Hudson of Fillongley and the First and Third winners of the Allotment Competition were Ann & John Butler, and Shirley & David Smithers, both couples live in Meriden and have their allotments at the Meriden Oddfellows, which is on Leys Lane. Congratulations to all the winners.
The livestock entries were plentiful with the Supreme Champions of the Cattle, Sheep and Pigs being shown in the Grand Parade with the Shires and all sizes of horses down to the smallest Shetland pony being led around the main ring by their proud owners.
Have a look at our website www.fillongleyshow.org.uk,
it will give you an idea of what categories are available for you to enter the 87th Fillongley Show which will be 14th August 2011. We look forward to seeing you all there.
Editor’s note: My impressions as a first time visitor to the show with my grandchildren: we had a wonderful time and will certainly be making it an annual event, if you have never been before make a note in next year’s diary for a great day out for all the family.
2nd Oct SupperClub MethodistChurch 7.30pm MaureenGabbitas522148
3rd Oct Balsall Common Vets open day 255,BroadLane 2.00-4.00pm 530792
4th Oct W.I. VillageHall 7.30pm JoanRussell522666
6th Oct ReadersCircle 7.30pm MikeWatkinson521496
8th Oct “InthePinkevening” StrawberryBank 7.30pm MaryWarr522160
9th Oct FirsOpenDay JubileeCentreB.C. 10.00amonwards MalcolmGratton523505
10th Oct HarvestFestival StLaurenceChurch 10.30am PeterWright522414
11th Oct PoliceCommunitySurgery TheGreen 10.00am-12noon
13th Oct ParishCouncilSurgery VillageHall 7.30pm ShafimKauser533395
15th Oct FirsCoffeeMorning JubileeCentreB.C. 10.00am-12noon MalcolmGratton523505
18th Oct FlowerClub VillageHall 7.30pm MoReynolds521457
22nd Oct CAMEO CommunityCentre 2.00pm Ellen522534
24th Oct Cyclesolihull TheGreen 2.00pm StephenHolt01564779235
25th Oct ParishCouncilMeeting VillageHall 7.30pm ShafimKauser533395
25th Oct Charitycardshopopens BClibrary 10.00am JudithWoodcock533428
30th Oct RAIDHarvestSupper VillageHall 7.00 for 7.30pm KateBeaty01675443623
31st Oct BereavementService StLaurenceChurch 4.00pm PeterWright522414
1st Nov W.I. VillageHall 7.30pm JoanRussell522666
4th Nov CoffeeMorning PackingtonHall 10.30-12noon
8th Nov PoliceCommunitySurgery TheGreen 10.00am-12noon
10th Nov ReadersCircle 7.30pm MikeWatkinson521496
10th Nov ParishCouncilSurgery VillageHall 7.30pm ShafimKauser533395
13th Nov WarRequiemConcert CoventryCathedral 7.00pm JillPacey532436
14th Nov RemembranceService MethodistChurch 10.00am RevCharlesworth533737
15th Nov FlowerClub VillageHall 7.30pm MoReynolds521457
19th Nov FirsCoffeeMorning JubileeCentreB.C. 10.00am-12noon MalcolmGratton523505
25th Nov BloodDonors HofEClub 1.30-3.30pm 4.30-7.30pm 03001232323
26th Nov TreeofThoughtDedication TheGreen 4.00pm AlanLole522138
26th Nov CAMEO CommunityCentre 2.00pm Ellen522534
29th Nov ParishCouncilMeeting VillageHall 7.30pm ShafimKauser533395
3rd Dec “Vivo”musicquartet HofEClub 8.00pm MaryWarr522160
Out and About this Autumn
Coombe Country Park, Coventry
For a family day out, or a quiet little picnic in the open air, visit Coombe Country Park. It offers 500 acres of beautiful gardens, woodland, lakeside walks, and bird watching.
With a full programme of events throughout the year, including school holiday family activities such as mini-beast hunts, pond dipping, crafts and nature trails you'll be sure to find something of interest.
It has taken ten centuries and the vision of many individuals for the magnificent Country Park to reach its present splendour. Come and explore its beautiful garden, woodland and lakeside walks and relax in the historic surroundings. The 500 acres of beautiful historic parkland offer a memorable experience to visitors all year round.
A large part of the site is classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) as recognition of its importance to wildlife. Its historic parkland is on the English Heritage register of historic parks and gardens.
Coombe Country Park offers a wide range of facilities including a Visitor Centre with Discovery Centre, History room, information desk, Cafe and gift shop. Outside in the park, Coombe has one of Warwickshire's largest heronries easily viewed from the park's large accessible bird hide.
Coombe also has a climbing forest and children's play areas, formal gardens, premier coarse fishery, and extensive educational programmes. It is situated five miles east of Coventry city centre in in the rural Warwickshire countryside, on the B4027 Coventry to Lutterworth Road
Come and see the Help for Hero’s / Road to Recovery medal-winning garden, a highlight of the Chelsea Flower Show and the NEC’s Gardeners’ World’. The exhibit won silver and will feature the spectacular Chinook Helicopter suspended over the ‘hospital retreat’ garden.
In the Floral Marquee, there will be demonstrations and you can ask a panel of experts for gardening help and advice.
Also at the show will be bargain priced plants and bulbs, garden furniture and accessories. There is also a craft area and a children’s area with bouncy castles, small children’s rides, workshops and a crèche to leave plants.
There will be a traditional Farmer’s Market selling a range of meats, jams, pork pies and cheeses.
Heritage Open Days
Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th September
Heritage Open Days celebrates England’s fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission. Every year on four days in September, buildings of every age, style and function throw open their doors, ranging from castles to factories, town halls to tithe barns, parish churches to Buddhist temples. It is a once-a-year chance to discover hidden architectural treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities, which bring to life local history and culture
In Coventry the Watch Museum in Spon Street will be open on the Saturday and Sunday from 10.00am –6.00pm It is a 19th century project recently converted to a museum.
Exhibition of watches, tools photographs and maps.
A WWII air raid shelter now adjoins the building. Two ground floor cottages, an old air raid shelter and a steel building area are on display.
Cars going through Coventry city centre on last year’s car run.
Coventry Festival of Motoring weekend starts on Sat 4th September with Classic cars displayed outside the Museum in Millennium Place from 12 o`clock mid day. Throughout the afternoon from 1pm to 4.30pm there will be music played by the Coventry Police Band and Face Painting for the children. On Sunday hundreds of vehicles will gather at the War Memorial Park in Coventry to embark on a 60 mile route through the Coventry and Warwickshire countryside. The cars will start to leave the park at 10.30am and the first cars will pass through Meriden at approximately 10.45am. It would be lovely if as many people as possible could be out to cheer them on. While the run is taking place there will be lots to see and do at the park including dare devil stunt riding, the Jaguar (Coventry ) band, Land Rover experience, a Craft fair and Marketplace and Circus Skill workshops for children.
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Reminder!! Deadline date for the winter issue
(Out by Dec 1st) Friday Novemder 5th 2010
Val Martin. val.simon@virgin.net
Margaret Argyle. margarete.argyle@googlemail.com
Deliveries: Mandy & Doug Bacon
Proof Reader: Claire Rose
Useful Village Contact Numbers
Winter 1st November –31st March
Monday-Friday 8.00am-6.00pm
Saturday and Sunday 8.00am-4.30pm
Summer 1st April- 31st October
Monday-Friday 8.00am-8.00pm
Saturday and Sunday 8.00am-4.30pm
Last admission 15 minutes before closing time
MeridenPrimarySchool Mrs.LWinkler 01676522488
MeridenLibrary 01676522717
MeridenSurgery 01676522252
LloydsChemist 01676522722
St.LaurenceChurch PeterWright 01676522414
MeridenMethodistChurch Rev. Andrew Charlesworth 01676533737
Meriden Christian Fellowship Pstr.Kevin&LynHunt 01676523050
Charity & Community information & 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
