Completely Bromsgrove issue 11

Issue11

July 2019

Completely

Bromsgrove

BURCOT GRANGE & THE LODGE � car� hom� wit� � differe��

Burcot Grange & The Lodge offer a unique blend of luxury country house living combined with expert 24-hour residential, dementia and respite care

TOP

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www.cinnamoncc.com/burcot Open House, Wednesday 17th July, 10am-3pm Take a tour of our beautiful home and gardens, and meet our friendly team. Everyone is welcome.

Teddy Bears’ Picnic, Monday 15th July, 10.30am-12.30pm Children bringing a packed lunch and teddy bear can enjoy a morning of nursery rhymes, fun and games. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP to reserve your place as spaces are limited.

Call 0121 392 6995, email burcot.haa@cinnamoncc.com or text Kiran on 07395 793 839.

23 Greenhill, Burcot, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 1BJ t: 0121 392 6995 e: burcot.haa@cinnamoncc.com

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• Relaxing lounges with open fires and views of the grounds • Five acres of landscaped grounds

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• Large en-suite rooms including suites ideal for couples • Friendly compassionate care teams

Welcome

Welcome to the July issue of Completely Bromsgrove.

In this issue we’re focusing on two extraordinary ladies who have raised millions of pounds between them for their charities and been rewarded for their efforts by meeting the Queen.

Bromsgrove is gearing up for this year’s carnival on Saturday 13th July.

The fun starts with an open air cinema in Sanders Park on Friday 12th July, a recent addition to the carnival programme but one which has quickly become very popular with more than 1,000 people watching The Greatest Showman in 2018. Turn to pages 18 & 19 for more information.

Also this month we’ve secured tickets for three lucky winners to pack a picnic and spend an afternoon and evening in the grounds of Ragley Hall to watch the spectacular Battle Proms. Turn to page 32 for details.

This event is not to be missed so get your entry to us by 26th July.

If you are going on holiday this month, have a safe trip and a great time!

Best wishes

Michele Ford

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18 26 33

Contents 6 8 9 10 12 13 14

A Royal appointment 70th wedding anniversary Keep Bromsgrove Beautiful Jessica’s pedal power Gardening - dahlias Bromsgrove Flower Club Keep your head

16 18 20 22 23 24 25

Completely

Find your perfect partner Bromsgrove Carnival Music and fun in the park Poet Jo Bell/Cyril Horne RIP The dreaded cholera Bromsgrove international link Mind over matter

Bromsgrove Tel: 07948 086870 Email: michelebromsgrove@outlook.com

4 Completely Bromsgrove

26 Look after your skin 28 Fashion - environmental costs 30 Local artists open studio 32 Competition: Ragley Proms 33 Strictly Worcestershire 34 Bromsgrove Sporting F.C. 35 Avoncroft cricket club

Congratulations to last issue’s Competition winners: Annette Jarrett from Bromsgrove & Steven Cotterell from Wildmoor were the lucky winners of hospitality tickets for Hanbury Countryside show

Sales: Michele Ford Tel: 07948 086870

Design: Matt Walton Design

The contents of Completely Bromsgrove magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Completely Bromsgrove magazine.

Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Completely Bromsgrove magazine cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

Local charity patrons meet the Queen

T

he head of a leading Midlands breast cancer charity was invited to meet the Queen at a reception at Windsor Castle and relished the opportunity to tell Her Majesty about the work she does in the region.

Veronica Kumeta runs the Birmingham-based charity Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer, which raises both funds to fight the illness and awareness of it and the impact it has on both patients and families.

The charity has raised over £1 million for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Cancer Unit in the 19 years since the charity was launched, while Veronica and her team of volunteers work tirelessly around the Midlands to raise awareness of breast cancer.

Veronica said: “The reception celebrated the work of volunteers all over the country and like so many charities it is the support and generosity of our volunteers that has made Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer a success over the years.

“It was lovely to have the opportunity to be introduced to The Queen, and tell her, albeit briefly, about our charity. I appreciated her interest and her good wishes. It was such an honour to be invited to the reception, but when I was told I would actually get the chance to meet The Queen I was overwhelmed and it was a wonderful experience.”

Veronica set up Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer with friends Sue Macmaster and Carol Snaggs in 2000. Carol had just been diagnosed with the disease, and sadly lost her battle, as did Sue when she, too, was later diagnosed.

It is in their memory that Veronica has since fought on to raise funds and awareness of breast cancer.

6 Completely Bromsgrove

She said: “I am so passionate about the work I do – breast cancer, like any cancer, impacts not just on the lives of the patients, but their families too, and I could never do enough to help support those fighting the illness, and to raise much needed funds for research and equipment.”

In honour of her hard work, Veronica has won numerous awards including the Pride of Birmingham Vision Award and the Prime Minister’s Point of Light Award. She also received the most public votes for the Woman and Home Friendship Above and Beyond Award, sponsored by clothing company JD Williams.

For more information about ‘Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer’, visit their website: www.lfbc.org.uk, email them at info@lfbc.org.uk, or call 0121 389 8926.

Following on from June’s volunteers week; two extraordinary women, both from Stoke Heath, share their unique experience when meeting the Queen, both were invited to attend two separate events to honour them for their tireless funding raising achievements.

N

icole Harris talks about 30 years of fundraising for leukaemia research and a memorable day representing the Bloodwise charity at Buckingham Palace.

“We started the Bromsgrove and District Branch of Leukaemia Research in 1988, a few weeks after my son, Marc, was diagnosed with leukaemia. Sadly, a year later, he lost his battle with the illness.

“Soon after, we held our first Fun Run at Barnsley Hall.

For over ten years it has been held at Bromsgrove Rugby Club and has been very successful with £24,500 raised at this year’s event.

The Bromsgrove public have been so generous throughout the years and we are very grateful for the support.

“We could not be as successful without the presence of so many kind and generous people. Last year we reached our £1 million target and this has now gone up to £1,074,652. We have various fundraising events including runs, walks, quizzes, meals, collections and stalls.

“I was honoured to be invited to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace and Sue Knoll who has been our secretary for 25 years, accompanied me. We were very lucky as the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and other members of the Royal Family were present, including the Duke of Kent who is patron of our charity, which now goes under the name Bloodwise.

“Sue and I were introduced to the Duke at Christmas 2017 when we were invited to sit in the Royal Box at the Albert Hall for our Carol Concert.

“After queuing up outside the main gates of the Palace we walked through the anterooms and out into the

Nicole Harris and Sue Knoll

gardens where huge marquees catered for 8,000 invited guests. We had delicious sandwiches and cakes with tea or coffee and followed the progress of the Royal Family as they strolled among the guests.

“We also took the opportunity to explore the gardens, an oasis of calm in the middle of busy London. It was a never to be forgotten experience.

“At the moment we are busy preparing for our quiz and a curry night in the autumn.

“I am delighted to say that all the money raised has been used to further research into the 137 blood cancers. We have seen so much progress in the past 30 years and it is so heart-warming to see such success.

However, there is still much more work to do and the fight must go on.” www.bloodwisebromsgrove.org.uk Completely Bromsgrove

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70th Wedding Anniversary Celebrations for Georgina and Arthur

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usband and wife residents at luxury care home Burcot Grange in Bromsgrove celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a traditional afternoon tea in the care home’s conservatory.

Georgina and Arthur Mitchell’s tea party was attended by their daughter, Hazel and son-in-law, Ken. Fellow residents shared their anniversary cake.

The card they received from Her Majesty the Queen was proudly on display throughout the celebrations, among the mass of other cards from family and friends congratulating them on their special achievement.

Arthur Mitchell, 91, said: “We would like to say a very big thank you to all the staff at Burcot Grange for giving us such a happy and memorable day on our special anniversary. The success to our long and happy marriage has been a lot of love, tolerance and a shared Christian faith. We feel blessed to have shared so many happy years together – and getting an anniversary card from The Queen was the icing on the cake!”

Originally from Glasgow, Georgina and Arthur were members of the same church from an early age and their friendship blossomed into love. After serving in the RAF and returning to civilian life, Arthur proposed. They were married in Rutherglen, near Glasgow, and went on to have two children, Hazel and Derek, before moving to Hereford for Arthur’s work as a metallurgist.

8 Completely Bromsgrove

The couple moved to Leominster in 1992 and lived there until 2016 when they moved into Burcot Grange.

They recently became great-grandparents to a baby girl called Nala, who is Derek’s grandchild.

Vicky Osborne, general manager of Burcot Grange, added: “It was an honour to be able to arrange Georgina and Arthur’s 70th wedding anniversary celebrations. They are a wonderful couple and we wish them many more happy years together.

“The team were thrilled to join them in celebrating this special milestone and we took plenty of photos to share with their family in Scotland who were unable to attend in person.”

Burcot Grange is a 36 bedroom care home in Greenhill, Burcot, which provides residential care, dementia care, day care and respite care. It is part of the Cinnamon Care Collection which, based on a range of criteria such as overall standard of care homes, facilities, care and support, residents being treated with dignity, staff, activities and value for money, was recently recognised as one of the Top 20 Care Home Groups in the country by reviews website carehome.co.uk.

For further information, please visit www.cinnamoncc.com/burcotgrange

All in it together to Keep Bromsgrove Beautiful

I

t’s just over a year since Sarah Milburn started up the Facebook group Keep Bromsgrove Beautiful in the hope to get a few people to help out with some local litter picking. One year on, and thanks to the community in Bromsgrove pulling together, Sarah picked up an award for the “Most Prolific Individual in the Media” at the Great British Spring Clean celebration party.

It’s thanks to all the efforts from so many people that Sarah had so much to post about on social media platforms of Facebook and Twitter, which also attracted the attention of BBC Midlands Today and BBC Hereford and Worcester.

Each quarter the group adds up how much activity has taken place, by how many people and how much litter has been taken off the streets in the District. The latest statistics, which are generated by members of the group logging their efforts in the online “Litter Log”, showed just how much effort is being put in by local people who care about their local areas: THREE MONTH TOTALS (which includes the Great British Spring Clean) 155 individual entries were made in the Litter Log; 469 people were recorded as contributing (some people feature more than once) 383 bags of litter were collected

And a huge 521 volunteer hours were spent litter picking in Bromsgrove in the three months recorded.

What a fantastic effort! The Litter Log is accessed online www.tinyurl.com/KBBLitterLog All the litter collected is sorted into recycling and grey bin waste – and the good news is that the grey bin waste in Bromsgrove is taken to the EnviRecover plant where it is burned to create electricity in an environmentally friendly process.

Sarah said “My heartfelt thanks go out to everyone involved – there are just too many people and groups to mention anyone by name. I wasn’t expecting to win the award, but I am delighted that everyone’s efforts have been recognised. We’ve got some exciting projects coming up in the next few months and the monthly litter picks will continue, and hopefully grow with everyone’s support.”

To find out more about Keep Bromsgrove Beautiful join the Facebook page or email KBB@itstartswithus.co.uk

by Jo Slade Completely Bromsgrove

9

Jessica uses pedal power to boost Prince’s Trust J essica Beasley, digital marketing manager at Tile Choice, will be embarking on a gruelling cycle ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats in September with the aim of raising £3,000 for The Prince’s Trust.

Here’s Jessica’s story in her own words: “I started cycling just over 18 months ago when I signed up to ride from London to Paris in 24 hours to raise money for Mind, the mental health charity. This was my first experience of an endurance cycling event and the camaraderie and support from the other riders was invaluable. We all helped each other along the way, from fixing each other’s punctures to telling jokes to keep spirits high when it got tough.

“Cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats is a trip that any keen cyclist will no doubt have on their bucket list as it covers 980 miles in nine days. The challenge presented by the repeated days in the saddle and camping along the way sounded too good to resist so I have signed up to ride the Deloitte Ride Across Britain and chosen to support their partner charity The Prince’s Trust.

“It is vital to get the training miles in before such a big ride and I’m lucky to have assistance from Tile Choice who not only support me with my training regime but have also pledged to double the sum I raise.

“The Prince’s Trust is an ambitious and innovative organisation which believes that every young person should have the chance to embrace exciting opportunities. It helps 11 to 30-year-olds who are unemployed or struggling at school to transform their

10 Completely Bromsgrove

lives. Many of these people are in, or leaving, care, facing homelessness, have mental health issues or have been in trouble with the law.

“Over £1.4 billion has been returned to society through help for disadvantaged young people over the past ten years. The free programmes provide both the practical and financial support they need to stabilise their lives whilst developing key skills and boosting their confidence so they too can dream big. Over the next ten years The Prince’s Trust plans to help one million more young people.

“Ride Across Britain will be a true test of both stamina and will, while passing through breathtaking scenery. Whilst there are shorter routes from end to end, the route is carefully planned to allow riders to appreciate the contours of the country, despite adding some extra miles on each day.

“We will be challenged by the diverse nature of the landscape but also treated to a combination of moorland, green valleys, winding back lanes, hilly coastal roads and many historic sites.

“Anyone interested in supporting me can head to my Virgin Money Giving page: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JessicaBeasley2 Thanks to everyone who has backed me so far and to Tile Choice for being incredibly supportive.”

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Keep the show going with the

dahlia I

n July and August the garden reaches its pinnacle. That’s not to say it’s all over, far from it, numerous plants will keep the show going and none more so than the dahlia.

Native to Mexico, the dahlia is a bushy tuberous perennial. Dahlias come in such a varying range of colour shades from pastels to brights, perfect for cutting and for use in floral displays.

Varieties are divided into flower classes. Water lily has rounded petals that spiral tight just like a water lily and the cactus has tightly curled spiky petals which give a distinctive appearance.

Ball or Pom Pom’s perky perfectly round flowers have a honeycomb of lightly rolled petals. They are also frequently featured in wedding bouquets and are good for cutting as are the anemone ones with their pin cushion flowers in vivid shades.

The dahlia likes a well-drained soil in a sunny spot in the border or is just as happy in a pot. They come in varying heights so choose short types for pots and taller varieties for the back of the border. Taller varieties will need staking especially with the weight of multiple flower heads but dwarf types will not need supporting.

Apply a granular general purpose feed at planting time and fortnightly thereafter. Deadhead as the flowers fade as this will encourage further flowering. As the summer temperatures drop they will slow down but will keep up a great autumn display until the first frosts.

You may be able to keep them in the ground over winter if you apply a deep mulch of bark chippings or compost, especially in our part of the country if the winter is not too harsh. To be sure of keeping your dahlia tubers for next year then dig them up after the first frost and dry them off. Store them in a dark frost-free place until next spring when they should be replanted once the new growth restarts,

Dahlias cope well with dry periods and are relatively easy to grow, they can be tempting to slugs and snails when new emerging growth is sweet and less so as the season moves on. Earwigs also like to take refuge in the blooms so be aware if you are cutting for the home and give them a good shake.

Dahlias are popular for summer and early autumn colour.

The Bishop range is very fashionable with its dark foliage and contrasting semi double red flowers, one of the most common being the Bishop of Llandaff but there are others.

The Bishop of Auckland with its hot pink flowers and dark chocolate foliage is delightful and striking.

Dry tubers can be bought in the spring or ready pot grown in July for direct planting and are available in nurseries and garden centres. Wagon House Gardens at Jinney Ring Craft Centre have a good selection of pot grown dahlias for instant planting so you can get that late summer show going without having to wait till next spring.

From Victorian times dahlias were grown on allotments and in back gardens for showing and exhibition and there is still an abundance of dahlia societies. If you go to any flower show you will still see wonderful examples of specimen dahlias grown with all the skills and tricks that generations have acquired and passed on. Perhaps you are inspired now to grow some dahlias. Who knows you might just get hooked on the dahlia and become our very own local dahlia expert!

Karl Strawbridge

Wagon House Gardens The Jinney Ring Craft Centre, Hanbury, B60 4BU Tel: 01527 821421

Jobs for July 1. Deadhead and tidy up perennials regularly.

2. Sow foxglove and wallflower seeds for planting out next year.

3. Cut back hardy geraniums to encourage a new flush of flowers.

4. Prune any whippy new growth from side shoots on wisteria about five leaves from the stem.

5. Cut back bearded Iris down to 4’’ and let them bake in the sun, still time to divide and replant now.

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Bromsgrove Flower Club

A

t their Meeting in May, members and visitors were entertained by Sue Munslow with her title “My World of Flowers” The Competition for members was “Darling Buds of May”

Design by Sue Munslow

Design by Sue Munslow

Bromsgrove Flower Club’s next Meeting will be on Thursday July 18th “Glass and Crystal” is the title of the demonstration by Kerry Artess.

The competition for members is”Minature” The meeting will be held at All Saints Church Hall, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove B60 1AF For more information contact Wendy Robertson on 01905 480571

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Advertisement Feature

Keep your head: the psychology of investment

Martin Pryor advises on how our own biases can affect financial decisions.

U

nderstanding your personal biases can help you form investment strategies that work for you across the good times and when the going gets tougher.

Traditional finance theory starts from the principle that markets and their investors are perfectly rational. A quick look around will convince you that such an idea is optimistic to say the least.

Rational markets would not fluctuate without any apparent reason, nor would rational investors feel the pain of a loss more than twice as much as they enjoy the feel of equivalent gains.

The field of behavioural finance, which studies the impact of investor psychology on financial decisions, has developed in response to the inconsistencies between rational theory and irrational, human, reality.

Behavioural finance can offer lessons to all investors.

People can act in surprising ways in all sorts of circumstances. For instance, you might ask yourself if you recognise any of these behavioural finance biases in yourself or others: Overconfidence Many people, when asked, identify themselves as “above average”, whether in terms of driving ability, intelligence or looks. By definition that cannot be true – no more than 50% can be above average. Overconfident investors can pay a high price to learn this truth.

Hindsight bias How many times have you heard someone say “I always knew that was going to happen”, after the event has happened? Yet the same person probably never warned you beforehand. People like to imagine their predictive powers are good - and some can convince themselves their hindsight was once foresight.

Herding “Everybody is investing in technology/emerging markets/commercial property, so I will too.” It seems the easy option, not least because human beings are

14 Completely Bromsgrove

inherently fearful of going against the crowd. However, the crowd’s judgement is not always right. Also, if and when the crowd changes its mind, the reversal can become a dangerous stampede, especially in investment markets.

Confirmation bias Which do you pay more attention to, the information and comments that reinforce your views or those that contradict them? The natural response is the former, something that some people on social media have learned to exploit. However, when it comes to investment, hearing only what you want to hear could mean ignoring important if uncomfortable truths.

Self-attribution You choose to invest in X and its value rises – that is proof of your skill. Then you choose to invest in Y and its value halves – that’s just bad luck. Such a view of expertise makes us feel better about both outcomes, but it could be pure self-deception. It is also possible that the choice of X was down to luck and Y to lack of skill. By developing an understanding of behavioural finance ideas, you can identify your own investment behaviours. The nearer you come to acting like a rational investor, the more you may be able to benefit from the irrationality of others. A sensible starting point is to identify your innate biases and take advantage of the professional, objective advice we can offer when making decisions.

The value of your investments, and the income from them, can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested.This article is for general information purposes only.

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17

Bromsgrove Carnival T

he history of Bromsgrove Carnival goes back over 100 years and it is still going strong, attracting over 5,000 people to Sanders Park.

The event is run by a small team of volunteers who give up their time to help raise money for local charities and good causes. This year’s beneficiaries are Primrose Hospice, Libby Mae’s Little Angels, and Midlands Air Ambulance.

This year’s festivities will start in Sanders Park on Friday 12th July with an open air cinema. This is a recent addition to the carnival programme but has quickly become very popular with over 1,000 people watching The Greatest Showman last year.

This year’s film will be Bohemian Rhapsody which organisers hope will be equally popular and they are praying for good weather.

The success of the weekend often hinges on the weather and over the years the carnival has seen everything from hail and floods to bright sunshine and temperatures in the 30s.

Saturday is the big day for carnival and it kicks off with the spectacular procession through the town and out to Sanders Park. After a period of absence, the traditional carnival floats are back – lorries creatively decorated in the theme of the weekend which this year will be safari.

As well as lorries, there are marching bands and many organisations choose to enter as a walking group. These groups represent the whole Bromsgrove community ranging from schools to charities, local businesses to youth groups.

Procession supremo Natalie Holland said: “I think it’s great the way the community comes together to support local groups and charities as well as having fun on the day.”

In Sanders Park, Wilson’s funfair will be in full swing providing thrills and excitement for those of a more daring disposition. There is a music stage with a full programme of acts throughout the day to keep everyone entertained and a range of stalls, shows and activities as part of the Carnival Gala.

To round off the day, local athletes will be tackling the challenging Timberhonger 10k and Children’s Challenge fun run, cheered on by the carnival crowds.

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18 Completely Bromsgrove

The carnival takes a lot of organising but more hands are required on the day. Carnival leader Adam Lote, who is appealing for help, said: “We’re just a small group of volunteers and we always need extra people to help us marshal the events and make them a success.”

For more information see www.facebook.com/ bromsgrovecarnival/ or if you can help on the weekend contact adam@bromsgrovecarnival.org

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19

Bandstand Music in the Park FREE events

If you enjoy the traditional music from Brass, Concert, Silver & Jazz bands, this is the place to spend your Sunday afternoon. Performances will start at 2.30pm & finish at 4.30pm.

July 7th Worcestershire Youth Jazz Orchestra 14th Alcester Victoria Silver Band 21st Arrow Valley Brass Band 28th Royal Spa Brass August 4th Bedworth Brass 11th Sovereign Brass 18th Chase Jazz Men 25th Tenbury Teme Valley Band

September 1st Avonbank Brass Band 8th Stourport on Severn Brass Band 15th Worcester Concert Brass Community Events Bromsgrove Festival 21st June - 21st July www.bromsgrovefestival.co.uk Bromsgrove Carnival 12th - 13th July www.bromsgrovecarnival.org Tommy Wilson Fair 12th - 14th July

Venues Catshill Village Meadow, Meadow Road, Catshill, Bromsgrove, B61 0JL Hagley Park, Worcester Rd, Hagley, DY9 0NW

Bandstand Schools in the Park 4th July Sidemoor First School (1pm) 5th July Rigby Hall Special School (12 noon) and Stoke Prior First School (1pm) 12th July Chadsgrove Special School (11am) and Fairfield First School (1pm)

Bromsgrove Street Theatre 11am – 3pm Street Theatre entertainment, displays, children’s activities & more. www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/events Wednesday 24th July - Recreation Ground Thursday 25th July - Wythall Park Tuesday 30th July – Catshill Village Meadow Wednesday 31st July – Sanders Park Thursday 1st August – Hagley Park Tuesday 6th August – St Chad’s Park Rubery

St Chad’s Park, Leach Heath Ln, Rubery, B45 9JW Recreation Ground (next to Asda), Bromsgrove Town Centre, B61 8DA Wythall Park, Silver St., Wythall, B’ham, B47 6LZ

Fun in the Park Mr Wow 11am - 3pm Wednesday 31st July The Mr WOW show is exactly what it says on the tin. This bendy foolish chameleon-like clown loves anything that makes him “WOW”! Highly infectious and ridiculous, kids and adults love his non-verbal show of many tricks and just one word – Wow. Flying pigs… tiny tiny bubbles…

HUGE HUMUNGOUS bubbles… Giggles… the Incredible Biscuit Race… WOW… and more, much more.

The Afrikan Warriors 11am - 3pm Wednesday 31st July Direct from the dusty streets of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, The Afrikan Warriors bring the finest East African acrobatics to Inverness. Their highenergy show includes rope-skipping, tumbling, limbo, human pyramids and dance. Having performed at street festivals and in circuses across the world, they know how to put on a show to leave everyone smiling.

The Owl Man 11am - 4pm Thursday 1st & 15th August & Bank Holiday Monday 26th August A group of volunteers led by Karl Perry, who provide a Static Bird of Prey Display. The public are able to hold and stroke our birds whilst learning about the bird they are holding. All birds were born and raised in captivity or are rescue birds. They include hawks, a kestrel and owls from all over the world. Please come and visit us and experience a close and personal encounter with these magnificent Birds of Prey.

Circus Kaos Workshops 12pm - 4pm Tuesdays on the 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th August Roll up for the Circus Kaos Workshops with heaps of equipment to play, learning & fun for all ages from 6 to 106 with the help of professional performer Steve Kaos.

Professor Chandler’s Punch & Judy Show 1.30pm & 3pm Thursday 8th & Thursday 22nd August A simple pleasure for all ages, which never fails to delight. Professor Chandler is an expert in raising smiles. Come & see the Crocodile & old Mr Punch up to their usual tricks!

Wolly the Clown 12pm - 4pm Monday 26th & Thursday 29th August Slapstick clowning, acrobatics & uninhabited audience participation.

20 Completely Bromsgrove

Give us your feedback!

Visit www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/consultations to give your feedback on our summer events by completing a short survey.

Outdoor performances are subject to change/cancellation due to adverse weather conditions. All details are correct at the time of going to print. Please note that the event programme may be subject to change.

You are welcome to bring chairs, tables & picnics. For more information on events please go to www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/events or call 01527 534030 email: events@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk

HOLIDAY FUN REGI

Activity Camps for children aged 8* - 13

ACTIVITY DAY CAMPS at Bromsgrove Campus and FUN SPORTS DAY CAMPS at Winterfold For information and to book a place, please contact activities@bromsgrove-school.co.uk

bromsgrove-school.co.uk

Monday 1st July to Friday 23rd August

£35 per day or £160 per week including a hot lunch *Year 3 and above

01527 579679 ext 357

Explore & Discover!

700 years of history to uncover at Avoncroft Museum See our website for our summer programme

www.avoncroft.org.uk

The Museum is 2 miles south of Bromsgrove off the A38 Sat Nav B60 4JR Completely Bromsgrove

21

The Currency of Kindness: Poetry and Cake at Bromsgrove Library!

Y

ou might recognise her from the Nationwide adverts and now, as part of the Bromsgrove Festival, awardwinning poet Jo Bell comes to Bromsgrove Library on Thursday 18th July at 2pm.

Jo will be reading her work, including extracts from her Radio 4 docupoem Slow Machine and, especially for the afternoon, some previously unheard new poems.

An entertaining speaker, ‘lively, sexy and deft’ according to broadcaster Stuart Maconie, Jo lives on a narrowboat and writes about her life on boats, and her career as an archaeologist. Her global workshop, the 52 project, brought hundreds of poets together to write in a ‘virtual village’.

Jo’s how-to books, including How to Be a Poet and 52: Write a Poem A Week, are bestsellers. One of the poets invited to Buckingham Palace as a representative of the country’s finest, the outgoing poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy calls her ‘one of the most exciting poets writing today.’

The free event is organised in conjunction with the library by WORDS, the group which promotes interest in the written and spoken word in Bromsgrove.

Image by Lee Allen

For more information on WORDS, visit www.bromsgrovewords.com, or follow WORDS on Twitter @bromsgrovewords You can follow Jo Bell at @jo_bell

Well known Midlands violinist and teacher Cyril Horne has died at his home at the age of 93

B

orn in Swindon, Cyril started learning to play the violin at the age of seven. Cyril initially worked for the Great Western Railway as a fitter and turner. When he won a scholarship to study at Trinity College of Music in London, his father described it as a flash in the pan and said that Cyril was leaving a secure position - the GWR Works closed a few years later.

Whilst working in Swindon, Cyril attended his first symphony concert performed by the London Philharmonic under the baton of Dr Malcolm Sargent, as he was known at the time.

After leaving music college, Cyril took up a position with the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, based in Leeds, and later wrote in his memoirs that he was paid the princely sum of £10 per week. During his time in Leeds, Cyril met Nan, who was to become his wife for almost 67 years.

Following indications in 1953 that the YSO was to be disbanded, Cyril and several of his fellow YSO players auditioned for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Whilst with the CBSO, Cyril played under Rudolph Schwarz amongst others.

Five years later Cyril, now with a young family to support, wanted a career with

22 Completely Bromsgrove

Cyril Horne 27th April1926 - 11th May 2019

more sociable hours. He took up a post with Worcestershire Music Service and spent the rest of his working life there, becoming head of strings.

Apar t from his day to day peripatetic and private teaching, Cyril was an active musician in the county, conducting Barnt Green Choral Society for 36 years and Bromsgrove String Orchestra.

The leader of Worcester Symphony Orchestra from 1960 and its conductor from 1976 until retirement in 1992, Cyril continued playing professionally until a mild stroke in 2000 made this difficult.

Cyril leaves behind an outstanding musical legacy, having influenced pupils who have gone on to make music their career. He will be fondly remembered in the local area for impar ting his love of music on all those who met him.

The Dreaded Cholera W

ith warmer weather on the way, many of us will be turning on the taps to keep our gardens watered and ourselves cool. But in the 19th century water could be a killer and in 1849 cholera broke out in Bromsgrove.

Sanitation was very poor in those days. In Worcester Street, where many nailers lived in terraces packed tightly together, a row of houses usually shared one outdoor earth closet.

Although middle class families had lavatories of their own, they were just unventilated cupboards that drained into the brook or into a cesspit which was liable to overflow. The Spadesbourne Brook was effectively an open sewer, meaning that the top end of the town was a good deal sweeter than the lower end.

The first person to spot the problem was Dr Thomas Fletcher, a well-respected doctor. In July 1849 he reported a case of cholera at Stoke Heath. Further outbreaks were found in August and September. Then in October, Fletcher identified cases in the centre of town after he was called to homes in the courtyards off Holy Lane (now Church Street). The victims were from two families that shared the same privy or earth closet. Thomas Saunders was 10 years old and William Hampton was 17; both died within 24 hours.

Cholera was a terrible disease that caused violent diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration. Often the victim’s skin and fingernails would turn blue or black and they would experience severe cramps before collapsing into a coma. Death soon followed.

Fletcher was convinced that the hideously foul privy in Holy Lane was to blame and reported his concern to the Board of Guardians, the forerunner of the town council. He worked night and day to contain the

outbreak and could be seen at all hours of the day and night, mounted on his trusty steed, visiting patients carrying a leather case with his instruments and medicine across his saddle. The epidemic persisted until the end of October, by which time it had claimed around 25 lives in the Bromsgrove area.

Unfortunately, at that time people did not properly understand how the disease spread. Fletcher followed the general, but incorrect, view that poisonous gases were to blame. It was not until 1854 that Dr John Snow of London was able to prove that water was the transmission vector. Nevertheless, Fletcher was well ahead of most doctors in the 1850s in his conviction that clean water supplies were essential for healthy living. He pressed the Local Board to improve Bromsgrove’s water supply and sanitation, although no actions were taken until the 1870s.

To show their gratitude for his efforts, in March 1850 the people of Bromsgrove and Stoke Prior organised a collection for Dr Thomas Fletcher and presented him with a collection of silverware.

See www.bsoc.co.uk for further details.

Overflowing privy caused cholera in Church St. in 1849

by Mike Sharpe

Completely Bromsgrove

23

Bromsgrove international link

B

romsgrove International Link (formerly Bromsgrove Twinning Association) hosted a party of visitors from their twin town in Normandy, Saint Sauveur Lendelin over the weekend of 30th May to 2nd June. This was the 11th visit since the link was established in 1999.

Saint Sauveur is a small town around the size of Alvechurch on Normandy’s Cotentin peninsula around a one-hour drive south of Cherbourg.

The party arrived at the Parkside Centre on Thursday to be greeted by council vice-chairman Drew Beaumont and chief executive, Kevin Dicks. They then spent the remainder of the day with their hosts in their own homes, rather than hotels or B&Bs, in and around the Bromsgrove area.

The visits are not just sightseeing trips but an attempt to give guests a flavour of life in the town - and indeed the country - combined with an element of history and culture. On this occasion, trips were made to Warwick Castle on the Friday and Lichfield on the Saturday which included the cathedral and National Memorial Arboretum, the latter being particularly significant with the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord though Saint Sauveur was not liberated until General Bradley’s US 1st Army entered the town on 28th July.

Friday evening was a meal at Kings Norton Golf Club when the présidente (chair) of the Saint Sauveur Association, Annick Boissard presented opposite number Judith Stephenson with a small sculpture to mark the 20th anniversary of the friendship link.

Saturday evening was spent at Barnt Green Parish Centre with entertainment by Bromsgrove’s Gemini Choir and an informal buffet.

Guests departed for Portsmouth and the crosschannel ferry early on Sunday morning so they could be back home in time for work and school on Monday.

Photos: Michel Lebargy

youngsters, speak excellent English whilst Bromsgrove hosts get to update what they learnt at school, in some cases many years ago.

Plans are already in progress to visit Saint Sauveur in 2020 to take in the famous festival at the nearby city of Coutances, Jazz sous les Pommiers (Jazz under the apple trees) which attracts a host of famous and international artistes.

Bromsgrove International Link is the new name for Bromsgrove & District Twinning Association. The association was formed in 1978 initially with a link to Gronau in Germany. The friendship was agreed with Saint Sauveur Lendelin in 1999 and this was consolidated into an official twinning arrangement in 2009.

New members are always welcome and language skills are not essential. Many visitors, particularly

Further information is available on the association’s website, www.bromstwin.org.uk

24 Completely Bromsgrove

Mind over matter F

Advertisement Feature

or many of us, everything we know about hypnosis has been learned from watching TV programmes where adults willingly humiliate themselves. I have been asked many times ‘will you make me cluck like a chicken?’

It’s no real surprise that there’s a healthy amount of skepticism attached to hypnosis. Contrary to popular misconceptions, hypnosis is not mind control or mystical powers, as we all experience ‘trance’ in every day life. Driving for example, and wondering how you reached a certain point, or asking yourself ‘were those traffic lights on green?’.

Moments in your day where you kind of ‘zone out’.

At these times the subconscious mind has taken over completely.

The subconscious mind could be considered the storage room of everything not currently in your conscious mind.

It stores all previous life experiences, belief systems, memories, skills, all situations experienced and all images ever seen. One useful way to understand the subconscious mind could be through the example of someone who has just learned to drive. In the beginning, the new driver would not be able to hold a conversation with anyone whilst driving and focusing on the different moves involved. That’s because they are driving very much with the conscious mind. A few weeks later, the driving process comes automatic without having to do any thinking.

The driving process has been now transferred to the subconscious mind, leaving the conscious mind to focus on something else. Amazing!

I use a fair mixture of incredibly effective therapies that deal very successfully with stress, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias (we are only born with 2 phobias - fear of falling and loud noises), habits and addictions (eg smoking/overeating), insomnia, lack of confidence & pain management, to name but a few. I have also worked with 3 reproductively challenged women with the most amazing results! But please bear in mind that therapy is a 50/50 approach. I will give 100% to my half of the work and you must be prepared to give 100% to yours.

Unlike counselling, which can sometimes see people committing to ongoing weekly appointments, I usually see people for 3-4 sessions. There are obviously exceptions; some phobias and smoking cessation for example, may need just one session. But some deeper traumas often need more than 4 appointments. Each case is individual and my approach with each client is bespoke. And each case is, of course, treated with absolute confidentiality.

With each session my clients receive an mp3 recording to continue the healing process at home. I also provide a wonderful guided meditation mp3 free of charge.

by Jules Davey My therapies are safe, inexpensive and have produced dramatic and life changing results.

Please give me a call (07949 874854) or drop me an email (jules@julesdaveytherapies) if you’d like to book in for a free, no obligation consultation.

My aim is that you finish your sessions with me, with a happy heart, a playful spirit, a peaceful mind, and are able to walk in harmony with your own well being.

hypnotherapy psychotherapy emotional freedom technique core transformation meditation Call or email for a free 15 minute consultation tel: 07949 874854 email: jules@julesdaveytherapies.com HELPING YOU TO A HEALTHY MIND

Completely Bromsgrove

25

Never forget - always look after your skin L

isa Turner, owner of The Wrinkly Elephant Company, tweeted Theo Paphitis of Dragons Den about her business during ‘Small Business Sunday’ and was one of the weekly winners to gain a retweet by Theo to his 500,000 Twitter followers and as a result gained more followers on her own account and more orders. The weekly initiative, set up by Theo in 2010, now has over 2500 #SBS winners and supports small businesses in the UK. They are also profiled on the SBS website (theopaphitissbs.com) Prior to this on the 20th March 2019 The Wrinkly Elephant Company was also recognised by British businesswoman, Jacqueline Gold CBE, for her success as a female entrepreneur, and awarded with a prestigious #WOW badge. Lisa was one of the winners selected by Jacqueline after she entered ‘Women on Wednesday’ – a competition launched by Jacqueline in 2011 to celebrate the growing number of UK female entrepreneurs and businesswomen.

When selecting the winners, Jacqueline looks for businesses that are interesting, that have strong brand values and that she thinks have potential to grow and succeed in their industry. She looks for quality products and services, well designed websites and entrepreneurs who demonstrate good business acumen and who have spotted a gap in the market that meets the consumer’s needs.

Lisa first got into making soap as a hobby as she wanted to find something that was more moisturising for her skin and was also becoming more aware

26 Completely Bromsgrove

of the harsh chemicals that are being added to beauty products. It soon became apparent that she was addicted to the process of making soap and had to start giving away a lot of what she had made to family and friends. It was then that people started to comment on how much better their skin felt using them and asking for more. The Wrinkly Elephant Company was then formed and is going from strength to strength. Lisa made the decision at Christmas 2018 to quit her job in education and focus on the business full time.

The soaps Lisa makes are all made using natural ingredients and are free from harsh chemicals, which can be irritating to the skin. They are Vegan friendly and are fragranced using plant essential oils. No synthetic colours are added and none of our products are tested on animals or contain any palm oil. Lisa has even thought carefully about the packaging and has kept it to the bare minimum and most definitely plastic free.

The soaps are made in small batches with love and care to ensure the highest quality at her studio in Bromsgrove, but more importantly have been assessed by a Cosmetic Chemist to comply with EU regulations.

The Wrinkly Elephant Company travels around the Worcestershire area to various craft fairs, farmers markets, school fairs, festivals and pop up shops in shopping centres. If anyone is interested then they can also hold a pop up shop in the luxury of their own home.

You can follow Lisa’s journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and find details of her soaps at www.thewrinklyelephant.com

Completely Bromsgrove

27

Stopping the environmental costs of fast fashion (& still looking stylish)

T

he fashion industry is the second largest contributor to global landfill, largely due to the amount of clothes we throw out. Do you ever consider the processes that are needed to make our clothes including the environmental impact of them being picked or produced, washed, spun, knitted, woven, finished, sewn and transported when you go shopping? We need to make our wardrobes sustainable and ecofriendly. Even making small changes could make a difference. Here are some of the best ways of how to do just that.

1. People are buying more clothes and wearing them less.

See the contents of your wardrobe as an investment with longevity in mind. Knowing what truly suits you and seeing past fad trends is an important step. Aim for timelessness.

2. Buy less but concentrate on cost per wear ie actual cost is not the purchase price, but the price divided by how many times you are going to wear it. Choose better quality clothes to get great cost per wear. Avoid cheap tat.

3. Look out for products that are made from recycled fibres, organic cottons and quality materials. Use locally sourced renewable materials when you can. Avoid polyester or nylon because they’re non-biodegradable. Synthetic fabrics are fashion’s equivalent to single-use plastic.

4. Typically (but not always) middle and higher end retailers tend to have better supply chain ethics than their fast fashion retail compatriots. Buy cheap and someone else pays.The likelihood is if your ‘perfect’ dress was only £20, then it was probably made in factories practicing cheap labour and poor conditions. Buy from brands who are actively working to improve the environment and put pressure on fashion firms to eco-fy their labels, by choosing companies committed to eco fashion practices.

5. Having a disposable mindset is not good for the planet’s health. Be choosy and ask yourself do you REALLY love the garment you are about to buy. Don’t buy something in a sale which you wouldn’t have bought otherwise.

Consider where you are making purchases – look out for vintage and pre-loved items (including charity shops). It goes without saying - never ask for a plastic shopping bag.

28 Completely Bromsgrove

by Jane Brook www.houseofcolour/janebrook 6. If an existing garment doesn’t feel quite right for you, ask a friend who is nifty with a sewing machine to alter it or take it to a tailor or alterations specialist. Changing the neckline, leg length or hem length is a classic way to make an item that has always felt slightly wrong feel really right.

7. Create a virtual filter on your wardrobe. Always offer hand me downs and see if any of your friends are interested in a few wardrobe swaps. Re-gift unwanted presents, take unwanted clothes to the charity shops and sell through dress agencies or online such as eBay. 8. Water wastage is very environmentally unfriendly so cutting down on your laundry or always doing a full wash will help.

9. Create a capsule wardrobe that makes you look and feel amazing. A capsule wardrobe is the minimum number of items to create the maximum number of outfits. Don’t repeatedly buy items you already have - how many coats, neutral tees and pairs of trousers do we actually need? Don’t double up.The strongest basis for a capsule wardrobe is using your colour palette and understanding your style profile because you should be able to wear any of the clothes in your wardrobe with one another.

10. Educate yourself about landfill.The North Face and M&S allow consumers to drop off unwanted items in their stores, regardless of condition or brand and they are then repurposed for another use. High-street names such as H&M, Levi’s and MAC reward you for recycling your unwanted goods. Being wasteful is far from cool.

OPEN WEEKEND & EXHIBITION 20th & 21st July 2019 10am to 4pm

149 Golden Cross Lane, Catshill, Bromsgrove, Worcs. B61 0JZ Tel: 01527 874526 “Constantly in the pursuit of excellence”

CORSETRY

EMBROIDERY & TEXTILES

TAILORING

FASHION &

PATTERN CUTTING

City & Guilds September enrolment active now

17 Worcester Road, Bromsgrove www.sewingstudio.org 01527 758 373

Duncombes Butchers This advert should be upside down!

Don’t forget to book your christmas advertising!

Bookings are now being taken for our festive editions Call Michele on 07948 086870

E-mail michelebromsgrove@outlook.com

Box Office 01527 65203

Check website for performance times and prices

Online booking www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk Completely Bromsgrove

29

Local artists open their studio doors

G

o behind normally closed doors, see inside artists’ studios and talk to them about how they make their work as Worcestershire Open Studios returns this August bank holiday weekend.

Artists in and around Bromsgrove will be welcoming visitors to their studios as part of Worcestershire’s largest free art event at over 80 locations around the county.

ask questions or just look at enamelled artwork.

My studio is where I make and where I teach.

There will be examples of work to look at, I will be demonstrating and also running have a go sessions.”

Now in its fifth year, Worcestershire Open Studios is an artist-led initiative that allows art adventurers to speak directly to local artists and to see how and where they create their work. Over 180 artists will be inviting visitors into their home studios, shared spaces and galleries.

Other local artists taking part include painter Gillian Simpson based in Bromsgrove, wildlife artist Eric Watson based at Canalside Craft Centre in Stoke Prior, ceramicist Chris Bell who works out of the pottery at the Jinney Ring Craft Centre, Belinda Terry who makes jewellery at the Jinney Ring and Hanburybased Eva Walters, who designs cross stitch and jewellery.

Sally Morgan, one of the event’s organisers and a participating artist, said: “Worcestershire Open Studios is a fun-filled way to spend the bank holiday weekend.

We’ve got more artists than ever taking part, so whether you’re an art lover, a crafter, a budding young artist or have never set foot inside a gallery, you’ll definitely find something to interest you.”

Enamel artist Teresa Kent, of Lappelli Craft Studio in Bromsgrove, added: “I enjoy the interaction of meeting people and explaining the art of enamelling. It’s a little-known subject so I feel it is important to allow people to have a go,

Entry to all venues is free and some artists will also be offering visitors the opportunity to watch demonstrations and have a go at their art form.

Wherever you go, you will be guaranteed a warm welcome.

Worcestershire Open Studios is also the perfect opportunity to start your Christmas shopping early or to pick up unique, locally-made art for your home, as most artists will be offering work for sale.

Eva-Walters

Gillian Simpson

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Eric Watson

A full list of participating artists and an interactive map showing their locations can we found at www. worcestershireopenstudios.org and in guides available in libraries, tourist information centres and other locations near you from July.

Worcestershire Open Studios is a not for proďŹ t organisation run by a group of artists who want to connect the region with local arts. The event was highly commended in the Visit Worcestershire Awards of Excellence 2018 and is sponsored by the Malvern School of Art and Bevere Gallery. www.worcestershireopenstudios.org.uk Chris Bell

Lappelli

Sally Morgan

Completely Bromsgrove

31 

Competition

WIN tickets for the Ragley Hall Battle Proms!

Saturday 10th August 2019

T

he UK’s premier picnic concert series, The Battle Proms, return to their stunning lakeside setting in the grounds of historic Ragley Hall, Alcester, on Saturday 10 August and we have three pairs of tickets to give away!

The Battle Proms is a summer celebration with a full programme of captivating classical music from the 60-piece New English Concert Orchestra, complemented by toe-tapping vintage vocals and a breath-taking Spitfire aerial display

by The Grace Spitfire, which is accredited with shooting down the first enemy aircraft over the Normandy beachhead on D-Day, 75 years ago.

There’s even a sensational freefall demonstration

by The Red Devils parachute team, dramatic Napoleonic cavalry displays and ground-shaking live fire from over 200 cannons.

These quintessentially British ‘party in the park’ concerts feature magnificent musical firework displays, culminating in a flag waving, sing-a-long spectacular including all the ‘last night of the proms’ finale favourites such as Jerusalem, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory.

To enter our competition to win one of three pairs of tickets to this unforgettable night out, please fill in and post the coupon below. Don’t want to leave it to chance? Book online at www.battleproms.com

B AT T L E P R O M S P I C N I C C O N C E RT JSL PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

RAGLEY HALL

S ATURDAY 10 A UGUST 2019 PLUS!

COMPETITION WIN a pair of tickets for the Ragley Hall Battle Proms!

Simply answer the following question “How many cannons are there at the show?” then fill in this form, cut out and post to: Ragley Hall Battle Proms Competition, 11 West Road, Bromsgrove. B60 2NG. All entries in by Friday 26th July 2019 Answer .................................................................................................................................

Name ....................................................................................................................................

Address ............................................................................................................................... .............................................................. Telephone ............................................................ e-mail ....................................................................................................................................

32 Completely Bromsgrove

A SUMMER CELEBRATION WITH MUSIC FIREWORKS SPITFIRE CANNONS CAVALRY

Photographs by FT Images

Good causes receive £36,000 boost from dance spectacular

Bromsgrove couple Mark Evans and Ela Kropornicka

A

nnual dance spectacular Strictly Worcestershire has raised £36,000 for several county charities including St Paul’s Hostel and Worcester Community Trust.

Winners of the sparkling contest at the Chateau Impney in Droitwich on May 23rd were Elaine and Stuart Watt, whose The Greatest Showman themed Latin showdance and quickstep impressed the judging panel comprising Lord Digby Jones, broadcaster Bob Warman, dancer/choreographer Katie Love and choreographer Jennifer Bennett Price.

The victorious couple won a nail-biting dance off with Jason and Gaya Barnett. Jack Tingle and Grace Walton were placed third and Tracy and Tony Lowe claimed the audience vote trophy.

Organised by Worcestershire Ambassadors, the event also gave the eight contestant couples the opportunity to support charities close to their heart and those good causes will receive a percentage of the overall total.

Among the runners-up were Bromsgrove couple Mark Evans and Ela Kropornicka, who have raised over £1,000 so far for their chosen charity Primrose Hospice.

The Aston Fields residents performed a waltz and a rumba which earned praise from the judges and looked back fondly on their Strictly journey.

“We’ve had a great four months learning to dance and enjoyed sharing our experiences with the other couples,” said Mark.

Alan Dedicoat, the voice of TV’s Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing With The Stars in the USA, was the announcer for the second successive year and MC was BBC Hereford and Worcester presenter Elliott Webb.

Previous Strictly Worcestershire contestants performed an energetic showdance and 2018 champions Gareth Keyte and Dawn Owen reprised their winning quickstep.Teenage dance group Art in Motion, choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden, also lit up the stage.

Event partners were Andrew Grant, DRPG, Greenworks Solutions and Lowe’s Solicitors.

Completely Bromsgrove

33

No let up in work at The Victoria Ground S No let up in work at The Victoria Ground

Since gaining promotion, work has been going on at the Victoria Ground in preparation for Contractors turned up the day after the last game and spread 40 tonnes of top soil and fer thanks to the recent rain the grass is growing well.

The new physiotherapy room is complete whilst an additional bar near the main stand is in ince gaining promotion, work has been going on at the Victoria Ground in preparation for the Bromsgrove District Council has approved plans to build a stand at the Town End of the gro new season. Contractors turned up the day after the last game and spread 40 tonnes of top and a small enclosure for fans with disabilities or restricted movement is planned near the soil and fertiliser on to the pitch and thanks to theManager recent rain isnew growing Brendan Kelly the is busygrass looking for players andwell. retaining others. New arrivals a

The new physiotherapy room is complete whilst an additional bar near the main stand is in progress.

Bromsgrove District Council has approved plans to build a stand at the Town End of the ground that will offer shelter and a small enclosure for fans with disabilities or restricted movement is planned near the turnstiles.

Manager Brendan Kelly is busy looking for new players and retaining others. New arrivals are Shaquille McDonald from Mickleover Sports, Leon Broadhurst and Robbie Thompson-Brown from Stourbridge, whilst Joe Hull joins from Rushall Olympic.

Staying at the Victoria Ground are Charlie Dowd, Will Shorrock, Nathan Hayward, Jono Brown, Jack Wilson, Kyle

from Mickleover Sports, Leon Broadhurst and Robbie Thompson-Brown from Stourbridge, Lincoln, Tom Taylor, Josh Quaynor, Richard Gregory, Tom Rushall Olympic.

Massey, Jake Heath and Kieren Westwood.

Staying at the Victoria Ground are Charlie Dowd, Will Shorrock, Nathan Hayward, Jono Bro The league season startsRichard on 10th August and ďŹ xtures Lincoln, Tom Taylor, Josh Quaynor, Gregory, Tom Massey, Jake Heath and Kieren W are expected in mid-July with season tickets on sale The league season starts on 10th August and fixtures are expected in mid-July with season shortly. number friendlies will be played pre-season: number ofAfriendlies will of be played pre-season: Date

Kick-off

Tues 16th July

7:45 p.m. Littleton

Opponent

Sat 20th July

3:00 p.m. Kidderminster Harriers Away

Tues 23rd July

7:30 p.m. Boldmere St Michaels

Thurs 25th July 7:45 p.m. AFC Wakefield

Venue Away Away Home

Sat 27th July

3:00 p.m. Worcester City

Away (Victoria Ground)

Tues 30th July

7:45 p.m. Cheltenham Town

Home

Sat 3rd August

2:30 p.m. AFC Dunstable

Home

The Colts meanwhile will be holding their Summer Fun Day at Barnsley Hall Fields over the

Sporting were also successful at The Worcestershire FA awards with Rob Birch and Brain P team trophy whilst the County fan of the season went to William Chaundy who travels to m despite having a disability.

More details of all matters Sporting can be found on the web site, www.bromsgrovesporti Enquiries can be sent to info@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk.

Leon Broadhurst

Shaquille McDonald

Robbie Thompson-Brown

by Phil Baker Sporting were also successful at The Worcestershire FA awards with Rob Birch and Brain Poole winning the grounds team trophy whilst the County fan of the season went to William Chaundy who travels to matches from Malvern, despite having a disability.

34  Completely Bromsgrove

More details of all matters Sporting can be found on the web site, www.bromsgrovesporting.co.uk Enquiries: info@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk

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Bowled over with the season so far!

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voncroft Cricket Club’s good start to the season has continued through June, despite the best efforts of the weather to slow down progress. With just one game to go until the halfway stage of the season, the First XI are sitting in fourth place in what has been a very competitive Division 3 competition, just five points off the promotion places. e weekendWorcestershire of 29-30 June.

Poole winning the grounds Croft have matches from Malvern,

won 3 games and had 2 winning draws to go with an exciting tied game against table toppers Netherton.

The Second XI have also played some encouraging cricket ing.co.uk this season and are unlucky to be sitting in seventh place despite 4 wins and only 3 defeats. Both the First and Second XI’s have continued the club’s recent good form in T20 cup competitions having both reached the semi-final stages of their respective competitions. Fingers crossed for more silverware to come later in the year! The Sunday XI have suffered more than most with the unseasonably wet spring and early summer, but have still put together some excellent results whilst starting to give some of the club’s Under 13s their first experience of adult cricket.

Avoncroft’s junior section have been really flourishing during the first half of 2019, with the U10s, U12s and U13s all unbeaten to date in their respective leagues. There have been some incredible individual performances as well, with leg-spinner Matt Croal becoming the first Croft junior to take a five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5-9 against Ombersley U14s. Having not seen a hat-trick since the youth section was set up, Croft juniors have now delivered three of them in the last month. Louis Griffiths started the ball rolling

with 3 wickets in 3 balls against Belbroughton U13s before Ben Athey twice achieved the feat, with hat-tricks against Ombersley U10s and Rushwick U11s. To find out more about junior cricket, including the successful launch of the All-Star Programme, or to keep up to date with all your Croft news, please check out our website: www.avoncroftcc.co.uk or twitter feed (@CroftCricket).

by Paul Athey Completely Bromsgrove

35

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