ISBN Number 978-1-84386-316-8 Priced £7.99 you can read more about it on his website www.tredell.co.uk
Meriden Volunteers For Cancer Research UK
Strawberry Fayre
Sunday 8th July 2.00pm Strawberry Bank Hotel
The event will include a demonstration of dancing by the local children’s dance classes of Dionne Turpie Dancing School at 2.30pm.
There will be many stalls including raffle, tombola, bric a brac, books, cakes, produce and clothes and there will be an opportunity to buy a strawberry tea or strawberries and cream
Please come and enjoy the gardens at the back of Strawberry Bank and have a relaxed and sociable afternoon. The entrance is free but a donation box will be available.
Do you have a favourite recipe you would like to share with our readers? We would be delighted to hear from you.
Looking forward to some sunny summer days? Here are some local places of interest that won’t cost the earth in admission costs or petrol to get there!
Maxstoke Castle is open to the Public 1 day each year under The National Gardens Scheme.
Sunday 17th June from 11.00am until 5.00pm
Admission is £5.00 for adults and £3.00 for children which includes entrance to the castle and 5 acre gardens and grounds
The Berkswell Windmill was built in 1826 so is nearly 200 years old.
It is built on the site of a much older post mill.
This windmill is a Tower Mill (made of bricks) and is the most complete Tower Mill in the whole of the Midlands. It is absolutely breathtaking and has been left just as it was, when it was last used as a working windmill in 1948.
Fascinating guided tours are offered by the very active "Friends of the Berkswell Windmill" - local volunteers who ensure that the Mill is open and is well cared for. (We always welcome new volunteers of any age).
Special Attractions include demonstrations of spinning, using dog fur, alpaca wool, and sheep's wool. The Coventry Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers are a marvel to behold. Come and see these highly skilled people and their spinning wheels!
A not-to-be -missed opportunity is a taste of Julie's mouth-watering homemade cream teas. An array of tempting refreshments and souvenirs will be available.
There is something for everyone. Come and see "Jack and Jill", the resident geese, along with the Baby Bunnies and Guinea pigs and exciting Raffle.
This Mill is one of the region's most treasured historical landmarks. It needs ongoing maintenance and repair work so all donations and proceeds are used to this end.
We must all ensure that the Berkswell Windmill is here for future generations to enjoy.
The Windmill will be open
Monday 28th May, Saturday 9th June, Saturday 7th July, Saturday 4th August, Monday 27th August Saturday 8th September & Saturday 6th October
However, schools and other large parties may visit at other times by prior arrangement. Fundraisers and general supporters are required- full training given, so if you are interested please contact
The Friends of Berkswell Windmill,
The Windmill, Windmill Lane, Balsall Common CV7 7GY Tel 01676 530085
Entrance Fee: Adults £3.00 Concessions £2.00
Children under 12 50p
Opening Times: Sundays and Bank Holidays
1st May to 1st October 2.30pm to 6.00pm
Special Visits by arrangement 01676 532138
Admission Free Donations gratefully received Disabled access limited to ground floor
Maxstoke Castle
Tile Hill Lane, Coventry
Home Computer Repairs, Upgrading & Problem Solving
Year 6 of Meriden School recently enjoyed a visit to Hams Hall Environment Centre. Here are two of the accounts of their day PC Technical Services PC Technical Services PC Technical Services PC Technical Services
Heavenly Hams Hall
Year Six has recently enjoyed a trip to Hams Hall Environment Centre. We went there because it was to help us with our science SAT.
We had just stepped off the bus at Coleshill to be greeted by Mr Wheeler the centre’s manager. He led us into the centre to a square classroom decorated with information and humanely and naturally killed wildlife. Mr Wheeler told us about grouping animals and the three eaters. E.g. we are omnivores.
After this we were given clipboards with sheets naming animals for our search in the woods. We saw animals and learnt things about them. For example that robins often follow people looking for bugs found in the disturbances made by our feet.
Then we went for lunch. We finished it in about twenty minutes. After, we had a good play and Mr Wheeler told us that evergreen trees are either poisonous or foul tasting.
Once we had done this, Mr Street gathered us up and Mr Wheeler showed us over to the pond and we had a good pond dip. I caught a fish. In fact, altogether my group caught nine fish and all sorts of pond creatures. The fish were sticklebacks. In conclusion, any school planning a trip to help them with science SATs should go to Hams Hall Environmental Centre. It was so much fun!!!
By Liberty Christine Naylor Age 10
Heart of England
Plumbing
Carpentry
General Maintenance
Painting & Decorating
Contact Paul Morgan on 01676 542745
07917 692948 mobile
Hams Hall
Year 6 recently visited Hams Hall on Monday 26th March. It is an Environment Centre where people can go and enjoy learning about the wildlife.
First we got off the bus and were greeted by Mr Wheeler the Centre Manager. He took us into the classroom to tell us what we were going to do.
Secondly we went by the trees and he told us which are poisonous and which aren’t. You can get very ill and could die of poison.
Also we went into the Arboretum. There was hardly any sunlight getting through the tall and bushy trees that swayed in the breeze. We found a hole in the tree. We asked Mr Wheeler what was in there.
He said it was a bees’ nest.
After that, we went to have lunch in the classroom. We were all starving. Afterwards we went for a 10-minute break. We ran in and out of trees playing tig.
Then we went to a bees’ nest. They had made loads of boxes for them to make honey in. There were loads of bees, over 2000. I was amazed!
Finally we went pond dipping. I was waiting for that all day. After a while I caught a newt. I showed it to Mr Wheeler and he said it was pregnant. I was very happy but scared to touch it in case it died
At the end Mr Wheeler said goodbye. On the way back we were talking about what we enjoyed best. I enjoyed pond dipping the best because I didn’t know much about the pond creatures and I wanted to know more.
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2 Bedroomed/bathroomed holiday apartment at La Quinta near Puerto Banus/Marbella, approx 45 minutes drive south from Malaga Airport. Use of facilities at La Quinta Hotel, Golf & Leisure Complex (20% discount card) The apartment comfortably sleeps 6, is fully furnished with air conditioning, washer, dryer, dishwasher, freeview TV, DVD player, safe allocated parking space and communal swimming pool. From £350 per week www.apartment-spain.com or phone Neil on 07932 159330 or 01827 870171
First Exhibition of New Artists First Exhibition of New Artists Exhibition of New Artists Exhibition of New Artists
Julie Hyde, Barbara Hunt & Dennis King
Monday 28th thth May – Saturday 9 Saturday 9th thth th June June
10.00am until 4.00pm 10.00am until 4.00pm 10.00am until 4.00pm 10.00am until 4.00pm
The Civic Centre ll Coventry
Special viewing evening Friday 1st stst June June
7.00pm 7.00pm- 9.30pm 9.30pm 9.30pm 9.30pm
An exhibition of several styles of work, exploring different media and expression Holiday on the Costa del Sol Holiday on the Costa del Sol Sol Sol
Ron Owen 1926 - 2007
Betty and Family would like to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to Rev Michael Dawkins for a lovely service, and also for home visits. Thanks also to the ex -service men of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and to Securex Security, Royal Showground, To Alan Gabbittas and to the wonderful kind helpful district nurses. Also to Cherry Brookes for the lovely refreshments after the funeral.
We would like to thank everyone who attended Ron’s Funeral and all our friends and neighbours and those who sent sympathy cards and donations.
Also many thanks to Michael Deeley Funeral Director for all his help and kindness.
This is an
open letter to Meriden’s newly elected parish councillors
LETTERS PAGE LETTERS
With the election of a new Parish Council there is an opportunity to improve the way the Council and the community in our village work together.
We have lived in the village just three years – relative newcomers – but long enough to appreciate some of the benefits and strengths of this community; and some of its problems and challenges.
It seems to us that the most important thing is to improve communication between the different communities in the village and the Parish Council in a way that builds cohesion and leads to more people taking initiatives to improve the village.
We would like start a dialogue with yourselves and other interested and concerned residents. We would be prepared to work with the Parish Council in organising a facilitated workshop open to everyone to start the process.
We might cover some of the issues that are familiar to residents such as the village environment and its amenities. We could also look at the village’s issues in a wider context – sustainability and what we can do locally; improving support and networking between the voluntary groups in our community; better communication within the village and bringing more effective influence to bear on Solihull Council and other public bodies.
We hope the Parish Council will take up our offer and we would be very glad to hear from others in the village who would wish to be involved. If you are interested, please contact us.
Yours sincerely
Iain and Tessa Roxburgh, Hill Rise, Leys Lane, Meriden, CV7 7LQ Tel:01676 522496 tessa@hillrise.net
That Small Window of Perception
Across that marvellous band known as the ELECTRO MAGNETIC SPECTRUM which stretches from ‘steam radio’ and passes through all the radio waves, the television frequencies, radar transmissions, infra red waves and finally reaching that God given window of perception i.e. visible light. Not even stopping there the ‘magic’ of the universe passes on through the Ultra Violet, the X-rays, the gamma rays and man’s last known one the Cosmic rays.
From the BBC old light programme on the Long Wave in our old fashioned ‘steam radio’ at a frequency of 200 kilo cycles to the gamma rays from outer space at a frequency of 10 followed by 24 noughts. Wow!
Within that massive spectrum we are given just one thousand millionth of it to use our eyes, just between the infra red and the ultra violet spacing. Some people have the gift to see an aura of colour round others some times when sick. If this is so then they are able to extend their vision into the infra red or the ultra violet.
Having at our bodies’ disposal one thousand millionth of a frequency range of our trillion trillion we are given sight. What magic lies within the depths of those massive remaining unseen frequencies? Maybe other forms of intelligence. One day our current scientific knowledge, when compared with a distant tomorrow will be no better than stone age man’s concept of fire. We are only scratching the surface of those massive 24 nought figures within the cosmological waves. At least we know they are there.
Look at your mobile phone, that two or three centimetre stub aerial, micro waves of course. Compare that to the size of the aerial rods on your chimney, or in the 1940s those ‘steam radio’ aerials as long as your back garden, BBC light programme etc. What if in time that stub aerial becomes only a pinhead, and we get down to frequencies within the atomic structure. The frequency of the atoms sub particles (Electrons, Protons etc.) rotation.
I am old fashioned and I do not like all of this scientific advancing, it seems to take away a lot of freedom, however we are all in it and without it we would surely be living in caves. It must be mankind’s destiny.
In this God given creation of the Radiation Spectrum we have found out how to use a little of it. For example Radio, Radar, the X-rays and now lasers. Which means Light Amplification of Stimulated Emission Radiation, capable of cutting through steel by pinpointing and power amplifying the energy within light.
We all use science these days one way or another, but we now need to train as many as we can get trained to save the planet. Sadly not many are taking up the sciences, but the easier options of other subjects.
F Mills-Clifton
HAVING THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE AT THE MARRIOTT FOREST
OF ARDEN HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB
Just 2 miles from the centre of Meriden set in the 10,000 acre Packington Estate is the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club. The resort boasts 214 bedrooms, 18 conference rooms and a choice of three dining experiences; The Broadwater Restaurant, The Long Weekend Café Bar and the Cocktail Bar. All restaurants offer terrace dining and a range of menus to suit any occasion including a fantastic carvery in the Broadwater on Sundays. All are open to the public as well as to hotel guests and members.
The resort also has one of the best Leisure Clubs within the locality; with an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room as well as 3 gyms and over 35 classes catering for all ages and levels. Our classes include aqua aerobics, yoga, Pilates and salsa dancing, as well as more challenging classes like spinning and BodyPump.
On site the hotel & country club boasts a great resort style health and beauty facility, The Cedarwood Spa, which offers hotel guests, members and the public wonderfully relaxing treatments and some truly memorable experiences.
With this combination of Restaurants, the Cedarwood Spa and the Leisure Club on your doorstep means that you have the ideal location for the ‘time of your life’.
Our offer to local residents is for you to try out the club during the daytime with an off peak pass valid for 5 days, great if you have time available during weekdays; or if you are working and need a rest, try the Cedarwood Spa offer and get a free family day pass for the Leisure Club for use on the same day. Let your other half look after the kids as we look after you!
Heart of England School
50th Anniversary Celebrations and Reunion 15th September 2007
OpenDayforpaststudentsandstaffon
Friday 14th September
GrandReunionon
Saturday night 15th September
Bookaticketviatheschoolbefore1st July,as
placesarelimited 01676 536713
email:freestonem@heart-england.solihull.sch.uk
HavethetimeofyourLife
Off peak memberships now available Mon to Fri. 6am to 5pm
Relax in our pool, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi
Enjoy our yoga, Pilates and Aqua Classes
Work out in our 3 gyms
Contact us on 01676 526107 to try our £10 off peak one week trial*
Or book any 1 hour treatment in The Cedarwood Spa and receive a free family day pass*
Offer only valid until August 31st2007 by appointment only, for full terms and conditions contact the club
The Cedarwood Spa and Leisure Club Maxstoke Lane, Meriden
DiningExperiences
The Broadwater Restaurant Fine Dining
A la Carte menu every evening
Carvery every Sunday with prices from £13.95 per person for 3 courses and £21 95 per person inclusive of unlimited drinks
The
Long Weekend Café Bar Casual
Dining
Serving Breakfast, lunch and Dinner
Outdoor terrace
Monthly Quiz Night
The Cocktail Bar
Ideal for drinks, light refreshments and relaxing
Outdoor terrace
Overlooks the 9th hole of the Arden course
Members receive a discount at all restaurants. Please see terms and conditions for details of discounts
Several points were raised in your replies:
Appointments System – Booking in advance of 48 hours.
Many patients do not seem aware that they can book appointments in advance of the 48-hour rule. We are now going even further to meet the needs of patients by making more of these appointments available. These extra pre-booked appointments will be audited, however, if we find we are having increasing numbers of patients not attending for these appointments as they have been booked so far in advance, we will withdraw the extra appointments.
Music in the Waiting Room (Balsall Common)
Some patients commented on the music in the waiting room. The music is used to further protect patient confidentiality. By playing music in the waiting room it is hoped that it will help prevent patients hearing conversations undertaken in reception from the waiting room. Similarly a radio is played in the Meriden reception.
Telephone System (Balsall Common)
Since the survey the practice has had a new telephone system installed. We admit to having a few teething problems but we have had many positive comments as patients can now go straight through to the extension they require without excessive waiting.
Additional Hours
Additional opening hours were requested by some patients, either at the beginning, middle or end of the day, and at weekends. The current opening hours and changes to Saturday morning opening are in line with the GP Contract applied by Central Government through Solihull Care Trust. The practice is open throughout the day, without closing for lunch, and even though Balsall Common surgery is closed on a Thursday afternoon, all emergencies are covered by our Meriden surgery and when Meriden surgery is closed on a Wednesday afternoon, all emergencies are covered by Balsall Common surgery. Other local surgeries choose to close for 2-3 hours in the middle of the day Monday to Friday. We feel patients benefit more from our present system
. Surgery Size, Décor and Car Parking (Balsall Common)
The Partnership accept that these areas need attention. We have delayed taking any action because of the work being carried out towards a new purpose built Health Centre in Balsall Common. Over the next few months a decision will have been made regarding the new building and once this is known the Partnership will address these issues accordingly.
Reception (Balsall Common)
Confidentiality issues and excessive queuing at the reception desk are acknowledged as a problem. Similarly with the previous issue we await a decision regarding the new building at which time we can address these issues.
Repeat Prescriptions by Email
The partnership acknowledge that this would benefit patients. We are at present looking into available schemes that will support this.
Thank you very much to everyone who took part.
Meriden Surgery and Pharmacy News Surgery and News
BALSALL COMMON & MERIDEN GROUP PRACTICE
Old School house, Main Road, Meriden CV7 7NG Tel 522252 Surgery Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8.30am to 6pm Wednesday 8.30am to 12.00
Emergencies - when 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
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL PATIENTS TO CHECK THAT PRESCRIPTIONS COLLECTED (EITHER FROM THE CHEMIST OR THE SURGERY) DETAIL THE MEDICATION ORIGINALLY REQUESTED. REFUNDS WILL NOT BE GIVEN BY THE PRACTICE FOR MEDICATION DISPENSED BUT NOT REQUIRED
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 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.
Appointments at Meriden Surgery
A limited number of appointments can be booked in advance for all doctors at the Practice. Once these have been allocated the surgery operates a 48-hour booking system.
For example: if you ring on Tues at 10.00am we aim to offer an appointment with a Doctor by Thursday 10.00am. To book an appointment at the Meriden Surgery the following time scale applies:
Appointments Available from
MONDAY AM THURSDAY 2.00pm MONDAY PM FRIDAY 8.30am
TUESDAY AM FRIDAY 2.00pm TUESDAY PM MONDAY 8.30am
WEDNESDAY AM MONDAY 2.00pm WED PM CLOSED
THURSDAY AM TUESDAY 2.00pm
THURSDAY PM WEDNESDAY 8.30am
FRIDAY AM THURSDAY 8.30am FRIDAY PM THURSDAY 8.30am
In an “out of hours” emergency ThePracticeusesaGPco-operativeBadgerforemergenciesoutsidenormalsurgeryhours.Fordetailson howtoobtainmedicalhelpwhenthesurgeryisclosedpleasetelephone 01676 532587.
Balsall Common and Meriden Group Practice Patient Survey Results
Thank you to all those patients who completed a patient survey for us – your views are very important to us in our constant attempt to meet patient demand and Government initiatives.
We have been sending out a patient questionnaire over the last 3 years to a randomly selected number of patients. ResponsesReceived
The weekend of the London Marathon has finally arrived. We travelled down to London with Action Heart, they are a great organisation, and they arrange all the transport and accommodation for the whole of the weekend, which takes any extra stress out of the equation.
We arrived in London at 1p.m. and the first thing on the agenda is to register and collect you race number and your chip which is fixed to your running shoe and is activated when you cross the start and finish lines. All this is situated at a large exhibitions centre and there are thousands of people milling around. The weather was hot but most people seemed to keep their sense of humour. The rest of Saturday was spent relaxing and enjoying the sunshine and hoping it wasn’t going to be as hot on Sunday.
Sunday morning 5.30a.m. Early breakfast then collect the race gear and catch the coach at 7.15a.m. to take us to the Blue Start. The general feeling is nervousness, anxious and excited, now you just want to get to the start. You have done all the miles in training over the winter months to give you the best possible chance of a good run; the only thing you can’t train for is the weather. And it is hot, not good for running a Marathon.
Taking part in the London Marathon is a fantastic experience; the noise and support that you get from the thousands of people that turn out that you don’t get anywhere else and with the weather being so hot I am sure it brought even more people out to support us and with my name printed on my vest I had a million supporters shouting and yelling encouragement. The noise and atmosphere is something unbelievable and not captured by the television coverage. I was hoping to do a good time this year as the training had gone very well and I was in good shape. At 18 miles I was running well and about 2 minutes behind my estimated running time, but I got to a point when I couldn’t take on enough water and was feeling the effects of sun stroke, I realised that I wouldn’t be able to complete the marathon in the time I had hoped to so I slowed down and decided to enjoy the occasion. As I said earlier you can train for everything but the weather. I completed the marathon in 3hr.48. Which in those conditions was o.k. but I was disappointed. Never mind there’s always next year.
Andrew Ralph.
Oddsocks Productions present their own chaotic version of Shakespeare’s farcical play
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
Visit the mystical city of Ephesus re-created on the lawns of Fillongley Lodge On Saturday 23rd June 6.30pm Gates open at 4.30pm
Adults £12 Under 15’s £6 Under 5’s free Free Parking, Tickets from The Spar Shop, The Green, Meriden Or John O’Brien 01676 541409
One small step for mankind is still a taxi ride for Ronnie Corbett!
Reach your desired results with a personalised nutrition and exercise program. CallNikkion07786548828oremail CallNikkion07786548828oremail discoverfit discoverfitness@hotmail.co.uk ness@hotmail.co.uk ness@hotmail.co.uk (Free,noobligationconsultation) Professional, qualified and friendly Personal Trainer will help you really achieve what you want!
This season Meriden Cricket Club are hoping to hold their Sunday friendly fixtures locally. When confirmed, venue and matches will be advertised on the library notice board. Your support would be warmly welcomed. If you would like to play cricket for the village why not come and join in on our Thursday evening nets practice behind the Queen’s Head pub. All levels of ability are welcome. Coaching is available. Call Peter Levett on 07764 376243 or Trevor Sherington on 07970 688910 for further information.
Why not join us at the Queen’s Head on 27th June 7.30pm for a pub quiz hosted by the Cricket Club and fronted by Rick Wise our ever-popular Quizmaster! We look forward to meeting you.
A Prayer for Today
Dear Lord,
So far today I'm doing all right, I have not gossiped, lost my temper, been grumpy, greedy, nasty, selfish or over indulgent.
However I'm getting out of bed in a few minutes and will need a lot more help after that.
118 Fillongley Road Meriden Are you going away and don’t know where to put your small animal? Yes? Well I can help. Your pet/s will be housed in a comfortable hutch situated in a well-ventilated room
Proprietary pelletised pet food will be supplied
Sophie 01676 522405
Treatments 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 authorities are hot on the trail of three men, two of whom are convicted traitors, who last night broke out of the Tower and are thought to be heading for the coast.
Sir Stephen Segrave, Lieutenant of the Tower confirmed that his deputy and fellow landowner in the village of Alspath or Meriden, 40 year old Gerald Alspath alias Waldeive is missing together with Sir Roger Mortimer, 36 and his squire, Richard Monmouth. Nursing a serious hang over, “Someone spiked the wine,” says Segrave; he only discovered what had happened hours after the event when he regained consciousness.
“Mortimer was a lifer for rebelling against King Edward II 18 months ago,” royal adviser Hugh Despenser explained. “This escape smacks of an inside job.” There was a party for prison staff last night but someone got hold of a quantity of drugs, a crow bar and ropes. The guards were doped. A stone had been levered out of Mortimer’s cell wall and we now know the escapees ran into the main kitchen and climbed up the chimney onto the roof. Cleobury, head cook says he and his staff were threatened, so backed off.
Once on the roof, the three men seem to have abseiled down the outer curtain wall and were rowed across the Thames by sympathisers. An abandoned boat has been found near the village of Greenwich. “It seems obvious,” said an official spokesman on behalf of the government, “ that cash exchanged hands and horses were waiting nearby. Search parties are out but our borders are porous. They will have no doubt made for the coast.”
An unattributed source has suggested to our reporter that a spy in court circles tipped off Mortimer his life was in danger. Some are accusing the Queen Isabella, King Edward’s estranged wife, sister of the French King. If so Mortimer may head for the French coast. Others say Lord Berkeley and a civil servant de Newbiggin have been arrested on suspicion of collusion in the escape....
This is not a spoof. When I was a schoolgirl, I was excited to learn that Meriden was linked to one of the few successful escapes out of the Tower. Now years later I have more information. The National Archives show Gerard Alspath and Richard Cleobury received substantial rewards (£40 x year) from Mortimer for their help. Mortimer and the Queen became a couple and Edward II was forced to abdicate. For 3 years, Mortimer was Regent but in 1330 fell in a palace coup. He was hanged and his body taken by the Grey Friars to Coventry for burial. As in other failed enterprises the accomplices lost their pensions.
Mortimer’s hit man, a John Wyard was the grandfather of John Wyard whose lovely tomb is in St Laurence’s in the chantry that he founded there. Our John Wyard as an esquire of the Beauchamp Earl of Warwick was in fact, working for Mortimer’s grandson. Wyard, who died 1404, rose in status to marry Isabella a Waldeive heiress who inherited the manor later called Walsh Hall
Doreen Agutter
R.J.KENNING
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Painter and Decorator
All aspects of decorating undertaken
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BRI ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC
BRI is an independent firm based locally in Meriden offering expert investment management for:
• Stocks and Shares
• Unit Trusts
• Peps and ISAs
• Personal Pensions
We also provide advice upon planning for Inheritance Tax and Capital gains Tax. Please call us for a free review of your existing investments
“Local professional Investment Management”
To find out more information, please contact Paul Cusack or Nick Hinchliffe:
BRI Asset Management plc
BRI House, Meriden Business Park, Meriden CV5 9RL
Tel 01676 523550 Fax 01676 522799
Email: invest@brigroup.co.uk
BRI Asset Management plc are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
For any advice or literature on Crime Prevention
Phone Laura Russell or Cheryl Tyler On 0845 113 5000
Please call for a Free Menu & Quote Wendy - 07974 910763 De Montfort House, Fillongley, Warks, CV7 8EZ
Meriden library
01676 522717
Open Monday 10.00am – 7.00pm
Thursday 10.00am – 7.00pm
Saturday 10.00am – 1.00pm
Blue skies & balmy evenings…
Well, summer is finally here and if your thoughts are turning to holidays, days out or simply an afternoon stroll with the family, the library is here to help! We have lots of local tourist information including local walks, places of interest and family events. If you’re considering getting away from it all, we have books on travel in the UK, plus many guidebooks for overseas trips, from city breaks to beach destinations.
Time to book?
Once you have made your decision about where to go, come in and use our public computers to book flights, find out more about your destination, or even book accommodation! Our pcs are free to use and we only charge for printing. Drop in, telephone or reserve a computer slot online to suit you.
Haven’t a clue?
If you don’t know your Internet from your mouse, never fear, the library is here to help. Age Concern run weekly computer courses on a one to one basis, giving tuition and advice on getting the most from the pc. These sessions are bookable at a cost of £3.00 per hr.
Looking for a new interest?
Once you know what you’re doing – how about starting a new pastime and researching your family’s past? Library computers have many resources available for you to use, one of which is Ancestry.com, free of charge as we subscribe to it on your behalf! Find out where your ancestors were living in the 19th Century, look up a birth, marriage or death, and trace others looking for the same people. Ask staff for more details.
Good coffee, good conversation…
The library continues to hold coffee mornings on the last Thursday of every month. Feel free to join us for refreshments and a chat on a warm summer’s morning between 10.00am and 12 noon.
Moans, groans and gripes!
We will be hosting our usual monthly surgery with local Neighbourhood Co-ordinator, Susan East, and our local police officers, ready and willing to answer your questions, deal with any issues or offer advice. Just drop in between 10.00am and 12noon on the following dates:
Monday 18th June
Monday 16th July
Monday 20th August
Summer fun….
This year’s summer reading challenge kicks off on Saturday 14th July. The BIG WILD READ will be great fun for the summer, with loads of reading, events and activities planned across Solihull libraries. Watch out for further details at the library.
Harry, Hermione and Ron are back!
Yes – the new, and last, Harry Potter book is published on the 21st July 2007. Meriden library will have its own copy for borrowers to take home and read. Demand will be high – so why not reserve a copy now and collect it when we open at 10.00am?
Book Crossing
‘Never heard of it’ I hear you say. Neither had I until I read an article in a weekend supplement. This is how it works:
A book is left in a public place; someone else finds it, reads it and then passes it on. Along the way individual books build up stories of their travels.
A ‘found’ book is registered on a dedicated website. ‘Finders’ are asked to log on to the website and enter the book’s Bookcrossing Identification Number, enter a review and then pass it on. New members register on the site, choose a pseudonym and provide an E-mail address through which they can be contacted, but which stays private.
A book was found on top of a mountain in Dumfries and Galloway in 2003. The ‘Finder’ released the book a week later on a summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. By feeding in the unique ID number of a find you can discover other finders' comments and details of the journeys of the books.
Bookcrossing was launched in America in 2001 and has more than 500,000 members. The UK has the second most members with 50,000 and other members can be found in Afghanistan, Cuba and Kazakhstan. Favourite places to drop books are bus stops and benches. Obviously in today’s security-minded environment buses and planes are a no-go area. Weatherproof wrapping (thick plastic bags) is essential I think the whole point of Bookcrossing is the excitement of discovering a book in the first place and then perhaps finding an author, which you otherwise would not normally choose. Furthermore it’s free. More information can be found on www.bookcrossing.com Good Luck!!
Claire Rose
MERIDEN LIBRARY READERS' GROUP
Some interesting meetings recently - and quite a few books we didn't like! Forthcoming attractions are: June - Rural stories (James Herriott, Miss Read, Laurie Lee etc.)
July - Childhood favourites
August - Island stories
We meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7.30 pm - details of the venue from the Library staff. Please come and join us - you will be most welcome. Sue Fuller
LARCH TREE OSTEOPATHIC PRACTICE
TREATMENT
OF MUSCULAR AND SKELETAL PAIN, SPORTS AND PERSONAL INJURIES
Liam Halton B.Sc (Hons) Ost. 49 Larch Tree Avenue, (Off Broad Lane), Tile Hill, COVENTRY, CV4 9FT TEL: 024
Florist
THE GREEN MAIN ROAD MERIDEN 01676 522294
Call in and see Call in and see Call and see Call and see our Large our Large our Large our Large Selection Selection Selection Selection of bedding plants of bedding plants of bedding plants of bedding plants Hanging Baskets Hanging Baskets Baskets Baskets etc etc etc etc
Meriden Toddler Group at Methodist Church Hall
Main Road Tuesdays 10,00-11.30am
This is an informal, friendly group for adults who care for young children and babies. Come and meet other parents and carers for a chat, refreshments are provided for children and adults at a small cost of £1.50 per family. Children can play safely in the hall or garden. Each week there is a different craft activity and song time for the children
• Local farm turkeys, boneless turkey breast, fresh farm chicken
• Wide selection of bacon including dry cure English
• Deli counter with a wide selection of cheese, pies and cooked meats
Girls!! If you are 10-14yrs and want to have lots of fun, enjoy challenges and would like to make new friends then come along and join us.
Meetings are at the Meriden Methodist Hall, Main Road, Meriden
Wednesday evenings during term time: 7.30pm-9pm
Phone Hazel Matthews 01676 522862
T’ai Chi and
Meditation and Relaxation
Come and discover how the beautiful flowing movements of this ancient art can improve your well-being. Relax and enjoy simple calming relaxation and meditation techniques.
Mondays 9.30-10.30am
Meriden Village Hall Call Jacqui on 07703 345210 …the perfect start to your day!
Senior Citizens Party
On Saturday 17th February, Meriden Rotary Club’s annual Senior Citizens’ Party took place at Fentham Hall, Hampton in Arden. Everyone was ‘well fed and watered’ and all were thoroughly entertained by 3 + 3 who performed two sets, singing many old, and not so old, popular songs. 3 + 3 very kindly gave their services entirely free of charge and Meriden Rotary Club would like to thank them sincerely for giving up their time for this event; the fact that everyone had such a wonderful time was in no small part due to them.
Plans are already underway for next year’s event. If you are ‘of an age’, or know someone who is, who would like to come next year, please contact David Maugham, Community and Vocational Chairman of the local Rotary club with the contact details and David will send an invitation to them next year.
David can be contacted on 01827 68271 or by email at Maugham97@aol.com.
JAZZ ON THE LAWN JAZZ ON THE
Rotary Club of Meriden
Celebrity Speaker evening
Sunday, 24th June, sees the return of Meriden Rotary Club’s bi-annual major fundraising event at Meriden Hall. Bring you own picnic, drinks, chairs and rugs and enjoy traditional jazz in a traditional setting, with music provided by the excellent Heart of England Jazz Band.
There will be a number of other attractions on the day, including a Tombola, Book Stall, WI Cake Stand and Chess Club. The Midsummer Draw will also be held during an interval.
The Meriden Art Group will also be showing an exhibition of drawings and paintings by local artists; there will be floral and quilting displays too.
Meriden Methodist Nursery will provide crèche facilities, for which donations would be very welcome.
Admission charges are just £6 per adult, £3 concessions or a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) is £15. Tickets can be obtained from David Maugham on 01827 68271, Chris Swindells on 01676 523510, Meriden Tearooms or any Meriden Rotarian.
All proceeds will go towards Macmillan Cancer Support.
We would love to see as many people as possible; both local and those from further afield, so spread the word and come along and support this very worthwhile cause. It’s a great day out. We look forward to seeing you.
The Rotary Club of Meriden are thrilled to announce that they are holding another Celebrity Speaker Evening- in fact a Celebrity Entertainer Evening – on Tuesday 31st July at 7 for 7.30pm We have a World Champion coming to The Manor Hotel, Meriden to entertain us. He has appeared on ITV’s ‘today with Des and Mel’,’ This Morning’ with Philip Schofield and Fern Britton, Blue Peter, ‘Friday Night is Music Night’ and on Radio 2’s Chris Evans drive time show and was runner-up for the public’s favourite guest of the year. He has performed in the USA, New Zealand, Malta and Dublin and all over the UK as a soloist with BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, various other orchestras, concert and brass bands
He is David MorrisWorld Whistling Champion of 2003!
Tickets are available on a first come basis at £20 a head which includes a 3 course dinner – amazing value for what promises to be an evening to remember – in fact an evening that could blow you right away
For more info on The Rotary Club of Meriden visit our website: www.meridenrotary.org.uk or contact either Celia Parker 01675 481443 or Neville Riley 01676 532709 (tickets available from either of these)
All profits to The County Air Ambulance
Guests at the Senior citizens party enjoying the entertainment
CAMEO CAMEO CAMEO CAMEO
Come and Meet Each Other at the Community Centre on the 4th Friday of the month at 2.00 p.m.
We have again had some very interesting speakers and meetings. In February members exchanged stories about past romantic encounters! In March Michael Coleman, a local preacher and a school guide for Coventry Cathedral, spoke on reconciliation as the message of Easter. He told us that after Coventry Cathedral was destroyed in 1940 two of the charred beams, which had fallen in the shape of a cross, were set on the altar and three of the medieval nails were bound into the shape of a cross. This cross of nails has become a powerful and inspirational symbol worldwide of reconciliation and peace. There are now 150 Cross of Nails Centres around the world and every Friday the Litany of Reconciliation is said at noon in the Cathedral ruins.
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At our April meeting Judy Dunk and Margaret Hicks spoke about the background and work of St. John’s Guild. Judy, who is herself blind, explained that the Guild gives spiritual and practical support to people who are blind, deafblind and visually impaired. Local branches give people the opportunity to meet friends on a regular basis and newsletters are published in large print, Braille and on audiotape. St. John’s Guild also runs a residential and a holiday home.
Looking to the future, in June we are holding another ‘Holiday at Home’ in Berkswell after the success of last year’s. Once again, the choir from Berkswell School will entertain us and there will be activities such as art for beginners, movement to music and games etc. We look forward to welcoming more friends to this and to our other meetings so if you need information or a lift please telephone:
01676 521502 mob 07801 579910 Find us at www.localbusinessdirectory.co.uk
Midland Landscapes
• Blockpaving
• Red & black paving
• Forecourts
• Fencing
• Turfing
• Brickwalls
• Gravel / slabbing
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• Decking
Add value to your house and smarten up your driveway!
Get your garden ready for those summer barbecues
Office 51 – 55 Broomfield Place Coventry CV5 6GZ midlandlandscapes@tiscali.co.uk
Make us your number 1 choice for a first class and quality job, over 30 years experience all our work fully guaranteed Call now for a free no obligation quote 02476 711 368
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Don’t forget the Meriden Mag now has its own web site, where you can view back issues or friends and relatives not in the area can catch up with the local news www.meridenmag.co.uk
For all your dry cleaning and laundry requirements
Dry cleaning
Leather & suede
Laundry services
Alterations
Shoe repairs
Curtains
Quilts
Bedding
Wedding gowns
Friends in Retirement Friends in Retirement Friends in Retirement Friends in Retirement
Coach Trip to Cheltenham and Tewkesbury on Thursday 28th June
LeavingBalsallCommonat9.00am andMeridenat9.15am
CostofTrip£7.25perperson
PleasecontactFrankByrne 02476713662
AGM Thursday 16th August 2.00pm
VillageHallBalsallCommon
SpeakerInnesBrett "Theyhadn'tgotaFormforit"
New Members are always made welcome to groups. The phone number to ring for further information is 01676 532537
THE BRIDGE RESTAURANT At Stonebridge Golf Club
Having recently seen a £100,000 refurbishment the Bridge Restaurant, now open to the public, offers an experience not to be forgotten. Our 84 cover A La Carte restaurant serves fresh local produce cooked by our two award winning Chefs.
The restaurant is open on Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday Lunch Times
Book a table during June July & August & receive a free bottle of house wine
Please bring this voucher with you to redeem your bottle of wine.
With an exciting new menu bookings are advisable Telephone 01676
Meriden Village Hall is available for private parties etc. Contact Valerie Martin 01676 522963 Rates are £9.00per hour
Queen’s Head Old road Meriden
Monday night is music night, come along and join us, music starts 9.15pm approx
June 4th Terry Fox
11th Linc (duo)
18th Buskin Rambler
25th Justine Claire
July 2nd Keith Brett
9th Julie Christie
16th Marc Drew
23rd Alan Penny
30th Vicky Pensom (New to the Queens)
August6th Justine Claire
13th Backbeat
20th Stevie Best (New Act)
27th TBA
Sept 3rd Paul Tracini
10th Kellie
Pop in for good food and good company
Phone 01676 522256 for further information
For details of your local Rosemary Conley class Call 0121 705 7078
Wednesday 6.30 - 8.00pm Meriden School
Monday 11.00am - 12.30pm
British Legion Club, Union Rd Solihull First class free with this voucher! All classes include weigh-in, talk & optional exercise www.rosemary-conley.co.uk
(membership £10 class fee £5)
My wife drove me to drink. I must remember to thank her!
Rosie Weaver 2) I have extensive work experience within the health and social care sector and understand how local services are delivered.
3) To build on what has been done previously and increase local involvement in local issues.
Melanie Lee 1) I support a playing field, which is going to provide modern facilities and a safe and clean environment for all in Meriden.
2) Working in the communications industry, I would like to improve our relationship with Solihull Council, so that we are always front of mind when they make decisions on our behalf.
3) Put Meriden back on the map as the Centre of England – preserve its past and build its future.
Sarah Markham 1) I support a resolution to the problem & would like to see a decent playing facility for the families/children in this village.
2) As a mother of two young boys, I would like to represent the viewpoint of Mums and housewives, raising awareness of well being for Meriden’s families.
3) I would like to achieve a rejuvenation of pride in our village.
Will Markham 1) I believe the battle of the playing fields has gone on long enough at the cost of children and families in Meriden. We must make the best of a bad situation otherwise the decision will be taken out of our hands. Before I make an informed decision on this subject I would like to educate myself with all the facts.
2) My dedication, enthusiasm and hopefully the pride that I have in this village will guide me over my term(s) and enable me to do the best for the people of Meriden. I am prepared to listen and take on board issues that are bought to our Council and make every effort to deal with them.
3) To work more closely with the community and get Meriden the respect that it deserves at County level.
Graeme Goodsir 1) Existing. I believe we need a renovated field, but on the site in Maxstoke Lane!
2) I have always tried to do my best for the village and will continue to do so. I always try to listen to what people have to say and act on it.
3) To see the playing field restored to its former glory and have things on it that people want and need. To see the toilets used for their rightful purpose and not closed down.
Shirley Goodsir 1) Existing
2) I walk round the village and speak to people and see and hear problems.
3) For Meriden’s playing field to be saved for the village once and for all and to be back in full use after many years.
Marilyn Hamilton 1) I just want a playing field, equipped for children /adolescents to use NOW.
2) To listen and hopefully take their point of view forward.
3) To build on the past of Meriden to make it a great place to live.
MERIDEN PARISH COUNCIL
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.
June 2007 13th Sub-Committee Meeting
25th Parish Council Meeting
July 2007 11th Sub-Committee Meeting
23rd Parish Council meeting
August 2007 8th Sub-Committee meeting
20th Parish Council Meeting
Your Parish Council can be contacted: The Clerk to the Parish Council Mrs M Edwards 3 Thebes Close . Millison’s Wood Coventry CV5 9QW
Tel/Fax: 01676 522076
Email: Meriden_PC@yahoo.co.uk
Website: Meriden-pc.org.uk
Following local elections your elections your
Parish Councillors are: Parish are:
Graeme Goodsir Graeme Goodsir
Shirley Goodsir Shirley
Marilyn Hamilton Marilyn Hamilton
Bob Kipling Bob Kipling
Melanie Lee Melanie Lee
Sarah Markham Sarah Markham
Will Markham Will Markham Will Markham Will Markham
Rosie Rosie Weaver Weaver
District Councillors a District Councillors a Councillors a Councillors are: re: re: re:
Your Neighbourhood Coordinator at Solihull MBC is Neighbourhood Coordinator at Solihull MBC is Susan East. Tel:0121 704 6435 Susan East. Tel:0121 704 6435 East. Tel:0121 704 East. Tel:0121 704
e e--mail neighbourhoodman mail neighbourhoodman mail mail neighbourhoodmanagementarea3@solihull.gov.uk agementarea3@solihull.gov.uk agementarea3@solihull.gov.uk agementarea3@solihull.gov.uk
1) RURAL NEIGHBOURHOOD – JOINT POLICE & COUNCIL SURGERIES CONTINUE.
PC Sharon Williams representing the Police along with Susan East of Solihull Council will be attending Meriden Library on Monday mornings 10 00- 12 00, 18th June, 16th July and 20th August. Further dates, when notified, will be posted on the Library notice board.
The Clerk also attends and you can notify her of any problems and these will be passed to the relevant department.
2) WEST MIDLANDS POLICE - WARNING.
There have been a series of burglaries and attempted burglaries in the East Neighbourhood where some of the properties have been entered from the rear. Please ensure, especially whilst it is warmer that the rear of your property is secured and all side entrances locked.
Reminder: Remove all valuables from your vehicles, especially Satellite Navigation sets.
Please report any suspicious behavior by calling 0845 113 5000.
3) ALLOTMENTS.
The Parish Council has a number of allotments on Leys Lane to let at £15 per year. For further information please contact the Clerk.
4) PUBLIC TOILETS.
Because of anti social behavior and requests from residents and police the toilets on Main Road have been closed temporarily. The Parish Council has agreed to thoroughly clean, repair and redecorate the toilets, which is already taking place.
5) PROPOSED DOG CONTROL ORDER WARNING TO DOG OWNERS AND DOG WALKERS
Solihull MBC intend in the near future to make an Order which makes it an offence at all times for a person in charge of a dog within Solihull Borough to fail to remove dog faeces deposited by that dog for which he or she is responsible.
6)
USE OF THE GREEN
As previously requested, can all persons wishing to use The Green for an event / entertainment, please apply to the Parish Council a month before the event. Forms are available from the Clerk and Meriden Library. There are certain implications, which might apply: double bookings, licensing, highway and footway safety, police awareness and insurance.
7)
PARISH COUNCIL AUDIT
Notices will be posted end of May displaying Audit Date 23rd July with a summary of electors rights for Year End Accounts 2006 / 2007.
THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE
In this fourth article focussing on the Officers and Men named upon the Meriden War Memorial, Paul & Melanie Lee feature two, sadly lost during the Second World War who still have family in Meriden.
First Officer John Charles Shirley affectionately known as ‘Jack’ was the third son of William James and Annie Shirley, proprietors of Shirley’s Garage (Meriden) Ltd. He married Joan Mary Penrice of Dorridge, daughter of the headmaster of Meriden C of E School. Jack and Joan had one son. Sadly, Jack was killed, aged 35, on the 7th August 1943, a mere two weeks after the birth of their son. Jack had gained his pilot’s license prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, having taken lessons at Elmdon Airport. He received an immediate call up once war broke out and served with the Air Transport Auxiliary, testing and transporting aeroplanes to different locations within the UK. Jack is pictured (sitting on the wheel arch) outside Shirley’s Garage in 1925 with his Uncle Percy.
With the birth of their son, Jack was anxious to get home, but compassionate leave was refused. This refusal must have been unbearable for Jack, as he decided to go AWOL for a few hours to spend time with his wife and his new baby son. It would appear that Jack wasn’t missed for this short time; however, upon returning to base he was detailed to deliver a plane to Scotland. During the flight the plane developed problems whilst Jack was flying in a mountainous area. There was no chance of landing and he was far too low to bail out, as his parachute would not have had time to fully open. He was also unable to lift the plane over a mountain, and consequently crashed into it and was killed immediately. Jack’s remains were brought back to Meriden where he received a full military funeral. The RAF led the procession from Shirley’s Garage to St Laurence’s Church, where a service followed and Jack was laid to rest in the churchyard. His grieving parents, William & Annie later purchased the adjacent plot and now lay at rest next to their beloved son.
We visit Jack’s grave on a regular basis and offer our sincerest thanks to Mollie Robertson (nee Shirley) for sharing the story of her uncle Jack and allowing his photograph to be reproduced here.
Leading Stoker Geoffrey Ralph Innchicoff Brett, Royal Navy D/KX80456 was the son of Thomas and Florence Brett, born in 1913. He married Daisy Anne Williams, of Whichcote Avenue, Meriden on the 7th August 1938 at St Laurence Church. They had one daughter, Chris, born in 1940. Geoffrey joined the Royal Navy sometime before 1936 as he was serving in the Navy when he first met his wife-to-be. At one time he served on submarines including HMSM Starfish. Later serving on HMS “Glorious” he was sadly lost when she was sunk on the 8th June 1940 along with her escort, the 2 destroyers, HMS “Ardent” and HMS “Acasta” in an encounter with the infamous German battle cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst.
HMS “Glorious” was originally a heavy cruiser and was converted in the 1920’s into a 22,500 ton aircraft carrier, armed only with 4.7” guns; she relied upon her escorts for protection. Scharnhorst and Gneisenau on the other hand were both of 32,000 ton and had vastly superior firepower with nine 11” and twelve 5.9” guns. “Glorious” and her two escorts sank approximately 170 nautical miles west of Harstad, off the Norwegian coast, with the tragic loss of 1,519 men; only 45 survived this catastrophic encounter. As Geoffrey was lost in action he is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial to the Missing (panel 40, column 2). We have visited the Plymouth Naval Memorial, unfortunately, we were unaware of the Meriden connection at the time, and we look forward to visiting again to pay our respects to Leading Stoker Brett. We again offer our sincerest thanks, to Chris Ellison (nee Brett) for sharing her father’s story and allowing his photograph to be reproduced here.
Look out for the next issue where we will re-feature one of Meriden’s brave sons with the story of how we obtained the photographs of his final resting place in the Middle East.
If you have further information on the officers and men commemorated on the Meriden War Memorial, please contact either John Moorhouse or Paul & Melanie Lee via the Meriden Mag.
A Message from Caroline Spelman MP
Veterans Badge and Veterans Day
In May 2004 the Government launched the Veterans Badge for former members of the Armed Forces. Those eligible are those who served up to and including 31st December 1969. This includes the Cyprus Regiment, Home Guard and Polish Forces under UK command. The badge has been particularly popular and, to date, around a quarter of a million have been awarded. Over time the aim is to award the badge to all veterans; this will be an effective way of promoting the value of our current and former service personnel to wider society.
There are still some veterans who have not applied for their badge, so if you are one of those then please phone my office on 01676 534359 and we will be able to send out the appropriate forms.
From last year, the 27th June each year has been designated as Veterans Day. The Veterans Agency provides funding for community projects and events on this day and this is an excellent way to involve our local communities in celebrating the contribution of the Armed Forces and veterans to our society.
It is so important that we do not forget the service given and service that goes on being given by those in our Armed Forces. The poppies that many of us wear in November, the silence we observe at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month and the services we attend are all signs that we do not forget. With our troops on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and deployed elsewhere in the world, the Veterans Badge and Veterans Day are as important as ever.
To contact Caroline or make an appointment for a surgery at Chelmsley Wood, Castle Bromwich or the Balsall Common Office, please contact Katy Steele at the following address
Constituency Office 285 Kenilworth Road
Balsall Common CV7 7EL Tel 01676 534 359 Fax 01676535147 email caroline@carolinespelman.com www.carolinespelman.com
Caroline Spelman advice surgery dates
Friday
8th June 4.30pm–6.00pm ConstituencyOffice 285KenilworthRoad BalsallCommon
Saturday 16thJune 9am–10.30am 11.am–12noon
ChelmsleyWood Library
ArdenHallCastle Bromwich
Friday 29th June 4.30–6.00pm BalsallCommon Office
Thursday 12th July 4.30pm DickensHeath Library
Saturday 14th July 9am–10.30am 11–12noon
ChelmsleyWood Library
ArdenHall,Castle Bromwich
Message from Councillor David Bell
The recent local Government elections altered the make up of Solihull Council as follows. Conservatives 24, Liberals 17, Labour 7, Independents 2 BNP 1. I should like to express my thanks to all of you who voted for me and assure all residents that I will be very pleased to represent them over the next four years Now that the dust has settled I would like to update you on the following matters.
You will be aware that the Council have started plastic bottle collection at three centres including one at Bickenhill Recycling centre off the A45. We are at present assessing the benefits. For those who cannot get to Bickenhill rest assured that your rubbish does not go to landfill. It is sent to Coventry where all that is combustible is burnt and is used to heat local buildings or converted to electricity and sold to the national grid. As a result Solihull has one or the lowest landfill figures in the Country. However we must still work hard to reduce it further and produce less waste as a whole.
On the Green waste front the Green wheelies have had to be phased in due to our poor government grant but Meriden residents that want these Wheelies will have them next spring. It is still preferable however, for those that can, to have a compostor in the garden.
The issue that split the village so many years ago is the new Sports Centre. It is a great shame that the village has been in limbo for so long and there are many reasons for this. The decision to go ahead was made a long time ago. Now is the time to get behind the project, take ownership of it and influence its implementation. I hope that residents and the parish Council will do this and make the best of this facility, which I feel sure all residents will appreciate when it is built next year. As I understand it the new sports field will include a children’s and separate youth play area, tennis courts, cricket wicket, football pitch, petanque area and a sports pavilion with changing facilities. The specification is close to being finalised and will form part of the sale document for the existing field so as to ensure that a high quality sports field will be provided. The developer will sign up to completing the new sports facilities before housing can be built on the old field.
A man walked into a doctor’s office and said, “ I think I’m a moth. The doctor replied, “I think you want the psychiatrists office down the hall” the man replied, “I was on my way there but I noticed your light was on”.
• Dog Walking & Exercise
• At Home Pet Visits
• Pet to Vet & Pet Taxi
• Food Delivery service
• Fully Insured
• Trained
• Police Checked
• Unif ormed Staff
• Daily or Ad-hoc visits
The pupils of Meriden school have set us a Sudoku puzzle with a difference “Egyptian Sudoku” See if you can solve it!
Coventry@petpals.com www.petpals.com
Thisisthe3rd inaseries ofwalkskindlyprovided bytheCoventryWay Association
1 Walk along Eastern Green Lane towards the city for 200m, T/L between the middle of four apartment buildings. Thro’ k/g & hg-right to go thro’ k/g, cross-field to gap & then hg-left to bottom, follow round right, T/L over f/b. Fwd, pick up hg-left & go up thro’ a series of k/gs bearing left until “OPL” at outward hedge corner. Cross-field to pylon, thro’ k/g then H/L cross-field to field corner. Thro k/g, hg-left, then down steps to road.
2. T/L up road & then T/R to next corner. T/L down track towards Pickford Grange Fm. Just past farm, thro f/g, fwd then x-stile right of metal gate. Hg-right to x-stile left of f/g. Hg-left down towards two f/bs in corner, do not cross. T/R, brook on left over next two fields. X-stile and s/b to continue over next field with initially brook on left, follow hg-left round right until stile is reached near wood, x-stile. (Route A see below).
3. Cross-field, initially keep parallel to the boundary of wood on right. Fwd leaving the boundary of the wood to aim for the opposite hedge line towards the far right hand corner. As short hedge comes in on left look for & x-stile left of metal gate in this hedgeline. T/R, hg-right, continue to end of field. X-stile, H/R using a permissive path off to the right that enters Church Lane. T/L & follow road around to the right, pass Vicarage Mews on left to just before road turns sharp right.
4. Enter field on left by gap at side of metal gate (WMP) to join ACW. H/L towards hedge on left. Keep hg-left, the next stile is just off field corner. Continue with hg-left to x-stile in corner, H/L thro’ next field (hedge curving away to left) to x-stile in corner, with hg-left uphill to x-stile next to metal gate. H/L uphill across field to x-stile in the middle of opposite boundary (left of fence). Keep hg-left then fc-left, thro’ paddock & x-stile into access track & fwd down gravel track to road.
5. Fwd over road, & x-stile, with hg-left follow farm track & after 100m go thro’ hedge gap (WM on large tree). Fwd with hg-right. At the end of this field, fwd thro’ hedge gap, pass larger gap on right to continue forward with hg-right to reach & x-stile in field corner. Hg-right, pool left, fwd to field corner, H/L in front of another pond to reach hedge, keeping hg-right bear round to the right to another corner. T/L to leave “Heart of England Way”, fwd cross-field on old hedge/fence line to x-stile in opposite hedge line. X-stile, hg-right, past pond to corner, x-stile next to gate. Fwd down drive to road.
6. T/R & in a short distance T/L & go down Benton Green Lane, continue past lane on right (leaving ACW) to next corner. Just under “OPL” T/L, thro’ f/g, along hedged/fenced track over s/b, then x-stile, T/L & x-stile, fwd stream & hedge left. Thro’ gap, H/R cross-field to far corner. X-stile on left, hg-right until a stile is reached (on your right!), cross to other side of hedge. T/L, hg-left to reach & x-stile into fenced path, continue & go thro’ garden via stiles left of cottage to road.
7. T/R along road for 220m, T/L x-stile and in a short distance x-stile on right. Hg-left to x-stile, fwd on to concrete drive passing farm on right to road.
8. X-stile opposite & follow track, continue hg-left to s/b & x-stile. V/R cross-field to outward hedge corner, right of school. Hg-right to x-stile into enclosed path. Fwd to reach road, H/L into Church Lane. T/R to Finish.
Route A
At the end of Note 2. T/L, cross-field to corner with copse on right. X-stiles & s/b, cross-field to opposite hedge line, aiming for left hand side of large gap. Pick up farm track, hg-left, stay on this track to road. T/R for 375m, T/L, x-stile, hg-left over two fields. In the next field leave hedge after approx. 50m, V/R & aim for corner of farm enclosure. X-stile in hedge/fence ahead right of metal gates. V/L cross-field to x-stile in corner, fwd down drive to road. Continue with Note 6.
Letter from Meriden, Connecticut, USA
I think I wrote you something, last fall to the effect that everything was fine here except that we were in the homestretch of another annoying election. And it wasn’t even a presidential year, but we were being hounded night and day by television and phone and mail to vote for this one or that one.
Well, neither is this a presidential year; what we have coming up this fall is just a local election, with all the town councils and boards of education and library boards and police commissions and water boards and probate judgeships and what-not to be filled. And yet we’re already in the thick of the 2008 presidential campaign, which once again promises to be the worst ever, as each of the past several has turned out to be even more maddening than the one before.
As I write this, we’re still 20 months away from that election 20 months! but the Clinton people are already sniping at Mr. Obama, and the Obama people are doing the same to Mrs. Clinton, and the McCain people are looking askance at the Giuliani people, and the Giuliani people are giving them the evil eye right back, and every third member of the Senate is having the thought that what this country really needs (if only we would all wake up and smell the coffee) is himself at the helm. And then I saw a chart in some magazine the other day forecasting that this will be the first campaign to cost a billion dollars, all told. Aside from the sheer waste, just think what an awful pile of TV commercials and junk mail and automated phone messages at dinnertime that’s going to buy.
I don’t see how we’re going to survive this one with even a few brain cells left.
Then, from Mrs. Beryl Lucas, whom I believe you know, came in the mail a clipping (what you folks call a cutting; for us, that’s a gardening term) from some obscure publication, bringing to these shores the awful news that, because we’ve made such a muddle of things, Her Britannic Majesty Elizabeth II has decided to revoke our independence and resume monarchical rule, effective immediately. ("We are not amused: Queen takes colonies back" is the title I would have given this item. But that’s just me
Anyway, Congress will be disbanded, we are informed, and Tony Blair will appoint a Minister for America. Certain taxes backdated to 1776 will become payable at once. The letter U will be restored to words such as "favour" and "neighbour" and we will have to change all our "izes" to "ises." Baseball and American football will be banned, all intersections will be replaced with roundabouts and we will be forced to go metric without the benefit of conversion tables.
Furthermore, the article reads, "You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you’re not adult enough to be independent." This is quite a trade-off:
On the one hand, we’ll have to bow down to Mrs. Windsor (you know, the old gal with the big pocketbook) and send her some money. And driving will be a nightmare. And we’ll have some trouble with spelling, and with measuring things. And we’ll miss baseball.
On the other hand, Congress will be kaput which means we can stop paying people to pass a bunch of bills every year that may, at best, correct one or two of the mistakes they made the year before and we’ll have no more of these twoyear-long, billion-dollar presidential campaigns.
This is a tough one. Hmmm. Let’s see. How soon can we start?
Reach Assistant Managing Editor Glenn Richter at grichter@record-journal.com or (203) 317-2222
Stormy Weather in Meriden USA
Just to let the residents of Meriden UK know how lucky they are weather-wise compared with their counterparts in Meriden Connecticut USA. Whilst we have been enjoying the summer temperatures, getting on with planting out tender plants, eating lunch outdoors (unheard of in April for some time) and even discarding winter woollies!
Our friends across the pond have endured rainstorms of hurricane proportions with 6 feet deep flooding of basements, playing fields out of action and looking more like outdoor swimming pools. This information has been accompanied by newspaper cuttings from the previous weekend's " Record Journal".
So, whilst we could do with SOME rain for our parched countryside, we hope such extremes are not heading our way.
Beryl Lucas
Beryl took up Caroline Spelman's suggestion of contacting Meriden Connecticut's local newspaper and is now in regular contact with people from the "other Meriden".
Inner Wheel Club of Meriden
We would like to thank everyone who attended our two recent fund raising events. It was especially great to see so many local residents supporting us. The Merlin Singers concert at the village hall in March raised over £600, and the flower arranging demonstration at Fentham Hall in April raised the amazing sum of £1190. Special thanks go to Lorena Dyer for so kindly donating her time for free and entertaining us so well. As usual the supper provided by Ros Ellender and her helpers was excellent and we look forward to handing a cheque over to the Air Ambulance at our meeting in July.
Val Martin President 01676 522963
The Centre Charity Shop 01676 523050
Hello to all readers of the Meriden Magazine. We are Kevin and Lyn Hunt; the new Managers of The Centre Charity Shop so if you haven’t already visited the shop then please come in and introduce yourselves to us.
This is only our third week here since taking over from John and Pam Yates, but it has been lovely to be welcomed by so many of you and thank you for making us feel at home.
Kevin has been in Management for 15+ years and also leads a church in Castle Bromwich. I am a Qualified Nursery Nurse and have also run my own Recruitment Company (to name just a couple of career changes!!). We have three children, two boys and a girl but we’re not telling you their ages because it will make us feel old.
Our aim at the Centre is to sell quality items at affordable prices, and to make the shop an inviting place for you to visit, so if you are having a clear out please remember that we are now able to receive your donations. At the time of writing we are short of toys, menswear, household items and trouser hangers – we would be extremely grateful for donations of the latter!! I’m sure Denise; the lady who does our ironing for us would be too!! We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our helpers, both old and new, for their hard work and support.
Also bear in mind that it doesn’t matter if you don’t want to buy anything you can just come in for a chat or if you have a problem and want some advice or help we will do our best to support you.
Opening times at The Centre are generally Monday – Friday 10a.m. – 4 p.m. The telephone number of The Centre is 01676 523050 so if you want to check if we’re open or want to reserve an item then please call.
We are endeavouring to open on a Wednesday afternoon for Cream Teas 1.30 – 3.30 please look out for our notice, which will announce the opening date.
Jumping ahead to the Meriden Festival on the 9th June we are opening The Centre for cream teas so please join us if you are available.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Many blessings.
Kevin and Lyn Hunt.
Meriden Knights Chess Club
Meriden Knights will be at “The Centre” c Celebrations on The Green between 10.00am & 3.00pm on 9th June and at the Jazz on The Lawn on 24th June midday until 4.00pm with a camera and chess display. As always the Knights are looking for players of any age or ability, whether you can just come along and play as and when, or join us playing in the Coventry District Chess League. We are presently playing at Whoberley in the Summer Cup, but will meet every Tuesday from the beginning of June in the Dawson Suite, Meriden Methodist Church at 7.15pm £1.50 per evening
Graeme Goodsir 01676 521259
We would like to congratulate the Meriden Knights in obtaining a grant of £100 from The Coventry Co-operative Society to help buy and engrave new trophies
The Farm Shop The Farm Shop
The The
Berkswell Traditional Berkswell Traditional Farmstead Meats Farmstead
Larges Farm Back Lane Meriden
Larges Farm Back Meriden
Tel & fax 01676 522409 Tel fax 522409 www.farmsteadmeats.co.uk
For meats of outstanding quality & flavour
• SelectionofSuperbBarbecueMeat
• LicensedtosellGame
• RealHomeCuredBacon
• FreeRangeChickens
• FamousBerkswellEwesMilkCheese
• SuperbhomemadeSausages&Burgers
• HomeDeliveries
Warwickshire’s only accredited traditional breeds butcher
Listed as one of Rick Stein’s “Food Heroes”
Opening Hours Monday - Closed Tuesday – Saturday 9.00am– 5.00pm Sunday 9.00am– 1.00pm Phil Phil Tuckey Tuckey Tuckey
Monday 4th June
The Perils of House & Pet Sitting – Betty Barnett
Wednesday 13th June
Mid summer evening walk 6.00pm
Sunday 24th June
Cake stall at Jazz in the Park
June Afternoon Tea, Natter & Knit TBA
Monday 2nd July
A history of Patchwork & Quilting – Anne Runacres
With a members craft display
Wednesday 25th July
Day School - Flower Arranging 10.00am
July Afternoon Tea, Natter & Knit TBA
Monday 6th August
Members evening
August Afternoon Tea, Natter & Knit TBA Today’s Women working for Tomorrow’s World
We are inviting all accompanied pre-school children (18 months – 3 years) to A Fun afternoon
On Thursday 14th June 1.00pm to 4.00pm
£3.00 to include snacks, drinks & activities Come along and try us before registering for September
We are also providing a Creche for Jazz on The Lawn on 24th June Come and visit us there too!
Forfulldetailspleasevisitusortelephone 01676 523472 (answerphone) or 0787 8569373
blitz
Beauty Salon
Telephone 01676 521100
Men and Women welcome Open 7 days a week
Monthly offers available
New dual treatment room
Gift vouchers available
All aspects of Beauty Therapy to include; Manicures, Pedicures, Waxing, Eye treatment, Facials, Caci facials and body treatments, microdermabrasion , massages, Hopi Ear Candles, Reflexology, Gel Nail Extensions, Body Wraps, Hot Stone Massage, Spray Tanning and Vertical Sun bed.
Clinics available for Restylane, Muscle relaxing injections and Teeth whitening Also the home of Blitz the Bulge slimming club!!
For more details or to go on our mailing list Telephone 01676 521100
9-11, Birmingham Road, Millisons Wood, near Meriden CV5 9AY
METHODIST
CHURCH
Minister
Rev Jenny Dyer BA MTh Tel 01676 533737
Phone to arrange Marriages Baptisms and Funerals Services
Sunday morning 10.30am (Junior Church & crèche for children)
Sunday evening 6.30pm 3rd Sunday in month
It is good once again to be a part of the Meriden Festival. Our "tree service" grows every year. It is an open-air service, on a remote bend in Kinwalsey Lane, at a place where in past centuries open-air preaching often took place. There used to be a huge elm there (sadly now a stump), which was known as "The Preachers' Tree" or "The Kinnersley Pulpit". You will find it by the letter 'D' on page 6 of the Coventry A-Z.
The service this year is on Sunday 10th June at 4pm. There is parking in a nearby field (follow the signs), but be warned that it is a few minutes' walk up the lane to the tree. If you are bringing someone who is disabled, please do drive up to the tree, but then return to the field to park. Bring a folding chair, if you would like to sit. There is tea and cake afterwards in the gardens of a nearby house. And there is the optional extra of a walk to the tree, starting from Meriden Green at 2.30pm. Rev. Jenny Dyer
The children of year one at Meriden School have been writing some spring prayers:
Dear god, Help all the little baby animals grow safely.
Help all the shoots grow safely as well.
Amen By
Grace
Dear God, Thank you for all the beautiful flowers of Spring.
Amen By Kasey
Dear God, Thank-you for the little babys, help them to grow.
Amen
ST LAURENCE CHURCH NEWS LAURENCE CHURCH NEWS
Rector Rev Michael Dawkins Tel 01676 522 719
The Rectory The Green Meriden CV7 7LN
Church Wardens Marian Theobald Tel 01676 523 475
Linda Barnett Tel 01676 523 277
We have two older (but young!) women in our church who go paddling in the mud of local streams to pick watercress. It is distributed to various needy folk, including the vicar. We all appreciate it, but one recipient especially. I saw an envelope being pulled out of a drawer the other day and asked what it was. Ah, So and So, every time she is given watercress, puts aside the money it would have cost and gives the cash to the roof restoration fund! What a lovely bit of hidden generosity.
Some of you will know that English Heritage has also been generous. Against the Quantity Surveyor’s calculation of £554,000 they have made a grant of £351,000 for the roof repair of St. Laurence Church. Isn’t that fantastic?! It was apparently the largest grant in the region - we don’t know why, but are very grateful. I think they took into account the faithfulness of the little old ladies, and one or two men, and knew they were doing all they could.
Similarly others of you have also sent in gifts. Please accept my thanks again. I appreciate your initiative and consideration. All credit to you for being up ahead of any asking. I wonder what you value? Meriden? Its heritage? Architecture? History? Faith? Is it something to do with God? Is this old stone building (if we put its meaning into a picture) like a well with water at the bottom of it? No words, just feelings, that the well and the water are still badly needed?
The water is free but the old well requires maintenance. If you feel happy to help, wonderful. The Bible has that funny verse about happy giving. (Happy!?) Poor widow’s million or millionaire’s mite, happy. And after we have reached our first half million for the roof we’ll go on to the second half million for the stonework! Happy!
Our simple worship is every Sunday at 10.30am and you are very welcome. Rev Michael Dawkins
JENNIE VINES 1917 – 2007
Jennie passed away very suddenly on 7th March 2007. After the death of her husband in 1964 she came to live in Meriden in 1965 with her children from Burton Green where the cottages they lived in were due to be pulled down in favour of new houses.
Jennie lived in Meriden for over thirty years. During that time she worked very hard on the Meriden Cancer Committee along with the late Mr and Mrs Pettifor, she was also a founder member of the First Meriden Scouts supporters group helping with all the fund raising activities to obtain their first headquarters ‘The Green Hut’. Whatever Jennie got involved with she was very generous with her time and was always there for any one who needed help. Although Jennie moved to Shropshire in 1996 to be closer to her son Robert and his family, Jennie never forgot her ties with Meriden and always came back to visit her lifelong friends in and around the Meriden area.
Jennie’s ashes will be interred at Berkswell Church and laid to rest with her Husband. The time and date will be dependant upon the arrival of Jennie’s daughter Jean from Australia
I am sure we are all going to miss her very much. She was my Big Sister and friend. On behalf of her family and myself I would like to thank everyone for the many cards and kind messages of sympathy we have received.
Connie Curtis.
BALANCE HEALTH AND FITNESS
Brings SHAITSU to Meriden WHAT is Shiatsu?
An ancient form of treatment, working on the same principle as Acupuncture. The practitioner’s hands, elbows, knees and feet are used to activate changes in life energy of the person rather than needles.
WHAT CAN SHAITSU DO FOR YOU?
It works to help the body self heal thereby strengthening and rejuvenating.
HOW DOES SHAITSU FEEL TO RECEIVE?
The experience is very individual but we believe everyone agrees that it is a pleasure to receive and deeply relaxing.
Experience for yourself this safe and deeply effective therapy in the comfort of your own home or in a wonderfully peaceful setting at our local therapy room.
For further details contact Ernie Boxall or Anne Brown on 01676 521393 or 07862 216833
Initial treatment offer, saving £5
“Wake
up and Shake up”
Meriden Primary School Invites you to a Summer Fayre
Hello everyone from all at Meriden Primary School.
The Spring Term saw a very exciting new project being completed. With the aid of a Government grant ‘Zoneparc’ created a whole new playground environment for us
The children helped plan the ideas and made suggestions for games and equipment to enjoy at playtime. We had to have the playground resurfaced, but then the markings were laid down, and the exciting day came when all the play equipment came too. With the training of all our Lunchtime Supervisors, and all the Year 5 children as “Play Leaders” we were ready to transform playtime.
Now the children can choose to play quietly in the yellow “Chillout” zone of the playground, with benches to sit and chat at, or tabletop games to play. They can play in small groups in the blue “Game” zone; or they can run and be energetic in the red “Sports” zone. Every day a different selection of small equipment is available, so that everyone tries a variety of games, and there is something for everyone. Even singing to music!
All the Lunchtime Supervisors and staff have noticed an improvement in the quality of the behaviour and how the children play happily alongside children of other years.
The photos you can see are another part of our outside routines. It is well known that exercise is good for you, and research shows a quick burst of activity can help make you more alert and receptive to learning. We have begun a “Wake up and Shake up” start to the day for 5 minutes, which Mr Wainwright is leading, for staff and children. Parents are welcome to join in! So far it has been a fun and invigorating start to the day.
All this doesn’t detract from the main business of school, of course, which is learning! Of course much of the school day is always taken up with English, Maths, Science and the other important subjects too.
We are delighted we will be able to continue to offer French to all our juniors, alongside our other enrichment lessons such as Music with teachers from Solihull Music Service, and now some PE coaches.
As always, we hope our village friends may be able to join us for our Dress Rehearsal of the Junior Production, on July 10th –please ring if you’d like to attend, so we can confirm the time, and know you’re coming.
You are also very welcome to come along and join in the fun at this year’s Summer Event organised by the PTA. They have arranged for a pantomime to be performed here at school, on the field - Sat 30th June. Watch out for further details and notices nearer the time.
All the usual Summer Term events come crowding in hot on each other’s heels – class visits to places such as Avoncroft Museum of Buildings and Kingsbury Water Park; residential visits for Arts and for Outdoor Activities; Sports competitions and Sports Day. The end of term Leavers’ Service will leave us sad to say goodbye to another Year 6 class, but proud of all that Meriden School has contributed to the children.
May we wish you all a happy and fulfilling summer too.
Best wishes from the Staff and Children at Meriden School.
Jacky Smith
STRAWBERRY BANK HOTEL & RESTAURANT STRAWBERRY BANK HOTEL RESTAURANT
Open: Tuesday – Friday 12 noon – last orders 1.45pm Monday – Saturday evening 6.30pm last orders 10.00pm
Sunday lunch 12 noon – last orders 2.00pm 2 course lunch Tuesday – Friday £7.95 (starter & main course)
3-course evening TDH menu
Monday – Friday £16.95
Saturday evening £17.95
3 course Sunday lunch £15.95
Also A La Carte menu available except Sunday lunch
We have 2 function rooms available for parties from 20 up to 200 Please feel free to call in and view We also offer excellent conference and wedding facilities
Please contact reception for information or booking or visit our web site
Tuesday to Friday 10.00am to 5.00pm And Saturday 10.00am to 4.00pm
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 £3.60!
5 fishing lakes in glorious countryside Now selling a complete range of baits
Gates open at 7.00am close at dusk
All proceeds to Macmillan Cancer support
Feature Prize 3 night weekend Warner Break for 2 donated by Bourne Leisure Plus19more,thankstotheamazinggenerosityof: BassM&B,theBearBerkswell,BirminghamHippodrome,Blitz,TheBullsHead,CorleyCaninePool, CoventryCityFC,CoventryStadium,HattonCountryWorld,LloydsPharmacy,ManorHotel, MeridenFish&ChipShop,NotcuttsGardenCentre,SolihullIceRink,SparShop,StonebridgeGolf Club,WarwickRaceCourse,&TheWhiteHorseBalsallCommon TheDrawwilltakeplacePMonSunday24th JuneatMeridenHallthiswillbeduringtheJazzonThe LawnorganisedbytheRotaryClubofMeridenwhohavebeenkindenoughtoinvitemetoincludethe drawattheirevent.
Tickets on Sale at: Spar shop, Meriden Tea Rooms, Blitz, The Bulls Head, Lloyds Chemist and Warmead Electrical Coventry. Mysincerethankstoallthosementioned Ifyoufeelyoucouldhelpbysellingticketsatyourplaceofworkorbusiness,dopleaseringme. InadditionImustexpressmythankstoKimberley&CoAccountantsforpreparingtheaccounts withoutcharge.
DO PITCH IN, HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER & GOOD LUCK DO PITCH IN, HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER & GOOD LUCK DO PITCH IN, A WONDERFUL SUMMER & GOOD DO PITCH IN, A WONDERFUL SUMMER & GOOD Alan Lole Organiser 01676 522138 Alan Lole Organiser 01676 522138 Alan Lole Alan Lole
When contacting advertisers please mention The Meride When advertisers please mention The Meride Meriden Mag n Mag n
Reminder!! Deadline date for the autumn issue
Monday 6th August 2007 contact
Val Martin 174 Main Road, Meriden 01676 522963 val.simon@virgin.net
Margaret Argyle 3 The Croft, Meriden 01676 522453 Margaret.argyle@mattargyle.com
Treasurer: Adele Fox 16 James Dawson Drive, Meriden
Deliveries: Keith & Kath Nightingale 01676 522125
Proof Reader: Claire Rose
Useful Village Contact Numbers
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Summer 1st April–31stOctober
8.00am–8.00pm
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MeridenPrimarySchool Mrs.J.Smith 01676522488
MeridenLibrary 01676522717
MeridenSurgery 01676522252
LloydsChemist 01676522722
St.LaurenceChurch Rev.MichaelDawkins 01676522719
MeridenMethodistChurch Rev.JennyDyer 01676533737
CentreChurch Rev.John&PamYates 01676523050
ParishCouncil MavisEdwards(Clerk) 01676522076
CommunityCentreWarden PatDelaney 01676522867
“ “ “ ValFriend 01676522867
SolihullMBC 01217046000
DistrictCouncillors KenAllsopp 01217822408
DavidBell 01676535211
Dr.PeterLea 01676532577
MemberofParliament CarolineSpelman 01676534359
GirlGuidesGroup HazelMatthews 01676522862
BoyScoutsGroup GerryRussell 01676522666
CricketClub MikeGallagher 01676521085
RuralPoliceSector SgtMelvinKing 01217126123
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