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Issue 30

June 2021

Completely

Bromsgrove

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elcome to the June issue of Completely Bromsgrove.

Here we are halfway through the year already and with June 21st, the longest day nearly upon us. Fingers crossed this month brings us some lovely sunshine and rising temperatures. In this issue we talk to Lisa Rowles, who provides speciality coffee, in her own words, without the hype. Turn to page 6 to ﬁnd out more. Regular readers may remember we featured Leighton Webster last year after he contracted Covid19 and ended up in the Alexandra Hospital’s intensive care department for 59 days. We are pleased to report Leighton is making good progress and will be walking up Snowdon this month as a way of thanking staff from Primrose Hospice for supporting his family whilst he was in hospital. We’ll let you know how Leighton gets on in the July issue. Good luck Leighton, I’m sure our readers will make a donation. June is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and also marks the 21st birthday of Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer, a charity set up by Veronica Kumeta from Stoke Heath following the breast cancer diagnosis of one of her closest friends. You can ﬁnd out more about the charity’s history and its latest initiative in this month’s issue. Last but cer tainly not least, we had the privilege of chatting to Jim Page ahead of his 90th bir thday this month. From all of us here at Completely Bromsgrove ‘Happy Birthday Jim’ and I’m sure your friends and family will ensure it’s a day to remember. Although life is star ting to return to a more normal existence, we still must be aware to keep our distance when out and about, continue to wear our face masks and of course, wash our hands.

Women in Business Our MP’s message Bromsgrove’s Mastermind Leighton’s Charity Walk Gardening Keep B’grove Beautiful Worcs Wildlife Trust The 1199 Charter Charity’s 21st B’day

Completely

25 26 28 30 31 32 33 34 36 37

Stitching in Memory Health and Wellbeing Mental Health Awareness Alvechurch Legal Services Blue Cross Pets BARRUP Rail Artrix Jim Page History Senior Snippets

Bromsgrove Tel: 07948 086870 Email: completelybromsgrove@gmail.com

4 Completely Bromsgrove

Michele Ford

22 37 41

Contents 6 8 10 12 16 18 20 22 24

Very best wishes,

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Photography Recipe Model Flying Club Disney Travel Museum of Carpet Bromsgrove Festival Creative Arts & Crafts B’grove Cricket Club Avoncroft Cricket Club B’grove Sporting F.C.

Visit our Instagram or Facebook page and leave a comment, we would love to hear from you. www.facebook.com/completelybromsgrove

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.

International Women’s Day some of the ladies wrote their advice for the younger generation and shared it on our Facebook page,” says Louise, the home’s Lifestyle Coordinator. “There were some fantastic tips. Margaret’s advice was to ‘always have a sense of humour’.

Dementia care with the Chandler Court difference

“That’s something we deﬁnitely have at Chandler Court. At our 1970s themed day the laughter was nonstop. Fancy dress, a disco, quiz, and yummy food brought back all the colour of the decade. And the residents ended the day with cocktails in the bar!”

“When a person is living with dementia, they can still enjoy a fun and fulﬁlling life. We’re making that happen at Chandler Court.” So says Dawn, Home Manager, at Care UK’s ‘good’-rated care home in Bromsgrove. “We see the individual behind the dementia and do everything we can to make them feel special,” she explains. “Often the small things make a big difference. When a Welsh lady recently celebrated her birthday we wrote ‘happy

birthday’ in Welsh on her cake, which she loved.” Reminiscence is a popular pastime at Chandler Court and great for sparking happy memories. “In just the last few weeks we’ve revisited our favourite childhood books on World Book Day and remembered holidays and trips to the zoo on a virtual safari,” Dawn says.

To ﬁnd out more about dementia care at Chandler Court, please call 01527 907828 or email paul.chambers@careuk.com

Respect is at the heart of the home’s dementia care: the team understands that residents still have so much to offer. “For

Chandler Court care home Recreation Road Bromsgrove Worcestershire B61 8DT careuk.com/chandler-court Completely Bromsgrove

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Coffee connoisseur Lisa’s cup of cheer W

e’re surrounded by coffee shops and can’t walk down the street without passing someone holding a takeaway cup of coffee. But would legendary Pulp Fiction character and coffee lover Winston Wolf always be happy with what is served up?

Lisa Rowles of The Garden Roastery in Bromsgrove is on a mission to create and provide speciality coffee and gifts to discerning consumers who want the flavour, without the hype. Hailing from a corporate background and currently working in HR for a large engineering company, Lisa trained as a coffee roaster on a oneweek course at the London School of Coffee in 2017 before setting up her business a year later. “I loved the course as I’ve always been fascinated by coffee,” she said. “I went on a longer course to gain certification from the Specialty Coffee Association and have a purpose-built building in my garden where I develop my roasting processes. “Local customers come and collect – I currently have a collection box outside due to Covid – and deliver across the UK. “I’ve got a website and I enjoy posting photos on Facebook and Instagram. People like to see what you’re doing and they can log on every day to find out what the roasting process involves. The word is spreading among other local businesses too.” Lisa imports coffee from all over the world and produces speciality roast coffee in both whole bean and ground format for a wide range of brewing methods including espresso and French press. From seed to cup, there are many factors that affect the taste of a cup of coffee, for example, if the cherry flesh is taken off or washed and let to dry.

Lisa Rowles

“I also roast decaffeinated coffee, my customer reviews say it’s the closest they have found to regular coffee, I have also developed a half-caf blend, it is 50% caffeinated and 50% decaffeinated.”

“There are different roasts from different countries and people can decide which ones they prefer. I want to give people what they want, which is all the choice and all the ﬂavour without the hype.”

Lisa also uses whole spices, to make naturally ﬂavoured coffees, including pumpkin spice & vanilla, cinnamon and gingerbread and offers a Speciality Coffee Variety Box with four different bags of roast coffee, information sheet and tasting guide.

For more information about Lisa’s approach to roasting coffee and to place an order from The Garden Roastery, visit www. thegardenroastery.com and give her a follow on Facebook and Instagram @thegardenroastery

6 Completely Bromsgrove

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A message from our MP

hanks to the success of the vaccination programme and residents’ hard work to limit the spread of Covid19, we have now moved to step three of our cautious reopening. This will be a big moment for residents and businesses, who have sacrificed so much for this progress to be made. I would urge everyone to keep following the rules and to shop local where you can. I know public health officials and colleagues in Government are monitoring the data closely. It is clear that we all have a part to play to limit the spread of the disease, including by getting your vaccination. Over 20 million people have now received both doses of their vaccine and in the local area, our GP’s and the team at the Ar trix Vaccination Centre are doing a brilliant job. Our community has shown a fantastic spirit during this difficult time, and that was demonstrated once again by the suppor t offered to the Avoncroft Museum. I visited the museum the day after the incident, and it was so disappointing to see the damage done by mindless vandals. However, with over £40,000 raised, the community response has been fantastic. Thank you to everyone who has supported the effort and who plans to visit this summer. In May, residents in Bromsgrove District went to the polls to vote in the County Council elections and

8 Completely Bromsgrove

Police and Crime Commissioner elections. I am delighted that the Conservative Par ty has received such suppor t. I want to congratulate all the newly elected councillors and wish sincere commiserations to the former councillors - of any par ty - that lost their seats. It was a par ticularly close race in Beacon and whilst we may not always agree, I would like to thank Cllr Peter McDonald for his long service at County level. In Westminster, the Government has announced new laws to suppor t jobs and businesses; create safer streets and neighbourhoods; and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. I look forward to the impor tant work ahead to deliver on this plan. As ever, if I can be of suppor t to my constituents, please email sajid.javid.mp@parliament.uk

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Harry does Bromsgrove proud on iconic TV quiz T

he black chair, spotlight and piercing gaze of John Humphrys combine to create one of TV’s most recognisable quiz scenarios.

But how many of us would have the quizzing credentials and confidence to tackle the timehonoured Mastermind challenge and show off our specialist and general knowledge in front of millions? Twenty-seven-year-old Harry Heath, who works in procurement at National Grid and lives on his family’s farm in Bradley Green, has been there, done that, worn stand-out shir ts and battled through two rounds to reach the final. More on that once in a lifetime experience later, but as Harry told Completely Bromsgrove, this wasn’t his first attempt at TV quizzing.

fame, much-loved comedy series Father Ted and former US president Jimmy Car ter. Harry admitted that “revising” by watching films and classic comedy was an easier task than familiarising himself with Carter’s life and times, but felt that he needed to tackle a more highbrow subject for the final. “It proved to be quite daunting as there was only a month between the semi-final and the final. That was the only time I did feel nervous as I realised my general knowledge round would have to be flawless.”

“Back in 2014, when I was in my second year studying history, I was part of the Exeter University team that took part in University Challenge. Unfortunately, we didn’t get past the ﬁrst round,” recalled Harry.

Quiz fans who tuned in to the hour-long final would have seen a short film of Harry with his mum Chris, dad Carole and brother Richard on the farm plus a scene-stealing flock of geese named after the G7 leaders and Harry opening a ‘good luck’ letter from Jimmy Car ter.

“It did mean that taking part in Mastermind wasn’t a completely foreign experience though it was different in that the recording was done under Covid restrictions with a limited amount of people on set.”

The eventual Mastermind champion was 24-year-old PhD student Jonathan Gibson, the show’s youngest winner, and hopefully his and Harry’s appearance will inspire more young people to throw their hat into the ring.

A successful ﬁrst-time applicant for the programme, Harry tackled three specialist subjects during his Mastermind journey – Oscar-winning ﬁlm screenwriter and director Taika Waititi of Jojo Rabbit

As for Harry, he’d love to challenge Mark Labbett, Anne Hegerty et al in Beat the Chasers and, if he can get a gaggle of like-minded friends together, take part in the ﬁendishly difﬁcult Only Connect. Watch this space…

10 Completely Bromsgrove

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Brave dad Leighton steps out to help Primrose Hospice

eaders of Completely Bromsgrove may remember that in our August 2020 issue we reported on Leighton Webster, who was in intensive care for 59 days after contracting Covid-19. Leighton was diagnosed with the virus in April last year and his lungs exploded. He spent 59 days in intensive care and the situation was so severe that his wife Emma was given permission to go to the Alexandra Hospital to say goodbye.

Chloe, Skye and Noah and wife Emma.

Sitting by Leighton’s bedside, Emma told him that the family needed him back at home and sang the couple’s wedding song, Heaven by Bryan Adams. Leighton pulled through and deﬁed all the odds by walking out of the hospital.

Tackling the walk with Leighton to Snowdon’s summit 3,560 feet up will be his eldest daughter Chloe, NHS staff and some of his friends.

Nearly 12 months on, Leighton is continuing his slow but steady road back to health and is now beginning to look forward to returning to work as a baker at Asda’s store in Bromsgrove. To aid his recovery, Leighton has been doing a lot of walking and he is planning to walk up Snowdon in Wales on June 19 to raise money for Primrose Hospice in the town. During his time in hospital, the hospice supported Leighton’s family, which includes his three children

12 Completely Bromsgrove

Leighton can’t thank the hospice enough for supporting his family during a time when his prospects looked very bleak, a stark contrast to today’s positivity and optimism.

Leighton has set up a link where people can donate: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ leighton-bluewarrior? We will let you know how Leighton gets on with his walk in the July issue.

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Fly-tipping is tipping us over the edge!

hen the North Worcestershire Water Management team at the District Council inspect watercourses or ditches, it is unfortunately not uncommon to spot signs of ﬂy tipping and littering, especially along quiet lanes or where houses and gardens back on to a watercourse.

Many people will responsibly dispose of garden waste and unwanted items, however it is regrettable that some people will simply dispose of waste over their hedge or fence and consider it “out of sight out of mind”. Generally, this is limited to garden waste, but on occasions there are items including plant pots, fence panels and even a trampoline and sofa which have led to ﬂooding of adjacent land due to the watercourse becoming blocked. Although natural garden waste does decay over time, it can smother native plant species, lead to increased nutrients in the watercourse which may affect aquatic wildlife, and risk blockages which lead to ﬂooding.

14 Completely Bromsgrove

Please think before you throw, as littering and fly tipping could result in a fine. Bromsgrove District Council offers a garden waste collection service as well as bulky item collections to assist with removing unwanted waste, giving you peace of mind that your items won’t end up as fly tipping or causing an increase in flood risk to your local area. To find out more about the garden and bulky waste services, or to report fly tipping contact the Council on 01527 881 188 and to repot any blockages in a watercourse or ditch contact North Worcestershire Water Management on 01562 732 191 or email enquiries@nwwm.org.uk.

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GARDENING

Sunﬂowers are a glorious feast for the eyes

here is something incredibly special about the sight of a row of sunflowers standing tall and majestic against a blue sky. Did you know there are around 70 species of sunflowers which come in all shapes and sizes and a variety of colours including yellows, reds and some almost white ones. Sunflowers are not just annual plants; some are perennial and can last for years. They love a warm, sunny position, ideally against a wall where they will grow to be happy plants. Ideally, sow in a warm place indoors in March or April. They germinate very quickly and once placed in their final growing place, you need to stake well and tie in as they grow tall. Sunflower facts • In 2012 sunflower plants travelled through space on the International Space Station. • The centres are made up of thousands of tiny flowers where the seeds develop. • The tallest sunflower on record came in at over 30 feet tall. • Sunflowers are good at absorbing toxins. After a tsunami destroyed reactors at a nuclear power plant

in Japan in 2011, millions were planted to help soak up the nuclear radiation. • When the flowers have wilted and the heads have gone brown, they can be harvested for seeds. • Once the spent flower heads are empty of seeds, they can be converted into disposable scrubbing pads for tough cleaning jobs. • Van Gogh’s Sunflowers are actually a series of 12 paintings. • The French word for sunflower is tournesol, which means “turns with the sun”, sunflowers will literally seek out and face the sun. • Dried sunflower heads can be snipped from the stalk and make natural bird feeders. Tie twine around them and hang them in your garden. Visiting birds will love snacking on the seeds.

Jobs to keep you busy in June • Support tall-growing perennials, including hollyhocks and delphiniums. • Pinch out the tips of fuchsias and bedding plants to encourage bushier growth.

• Dead-head your roses if they’re repeat-flowering types. • Start to pick sweet peas as soon as they flower to encourage more blooms. The more you pick the more they will come. • When you’ve had the last rhubarb, give them a good feed by mulching with well-rotted manure mixed with compost to enable them to build strength for next year. • You can harvest beetroot, broad beans, cabbage, cauliflower, early peas, lettuce, spring onions and radish in June.

• Give container displays and hanging baskets a liquid feed every few weeks to encourage flowering. • Plant out brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflowers, celeriac, courgettes, outdoor cucumbers, French and runner beans, leeks, pumpkins, squashes, sweet corn and outdoor tomatoes. As with all young plants, water in carefully and protect from birds with netting. • Start feeding tomatoes with a high potash tomato food – this will encourage the production of more flowers, and therefore, more fruits.

If you follow these tips June will soon be busting out all over.

By Suzi M, garden lover and plotter at Roundhill Allotments

16 Completely Bromsgrove

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Get involved in the #MillionMileMission

embers of Keep Bromsgrove Beautiful (KBB) and other local litter picking groups have pledged to litter pick during Keep Britain Tidy’s national campaign.

Now in its sixth year, the Great British Spring Clean (GBSC) is the nation’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign. It will take place from 28 May until 13 June 2021 and everyone is encouraged to join in and make a difference in their local area. The campaign’s mission is to pick litter over the equivalent distance of going to the moon and back – twice! To achieve the #MillionMileMission individuals and groups are asked to pledge litter picking hours in the GBSC, where each hour will be converted to miles covered. As KBB has just celebrated three years since it began the group has pledged 300 litter picking hours to the challenge. KBB founder Sarah Milburn said “I’m conﬁdent we can smash our target of 300 hours. The GBSC covers 3 weekends and 2 weeks, one of which is half term, and we have so many enthusiastic litter heroes in the Bromsgrove district who will be supporting the campaign. I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve as a group, as our track record is pretty awesome!” Schools are also encouraged to get involved with Keep Britain Tidy’s Great Big School Clean which runs over the same dates and is part of the #MillionMileMission. With the support of Worcestershire District Councillors KBB have, so far, funded 10 schools and scout groups with litter

18 Completely Bromsgrove

picking kits and it’s hoped they will all be getting involved – look out for school groups in the white KBB branded hi-vis vests. In the past 12 months our outdoor spaces and places have mattered to us more than ever before. So Keep Britain Tidy and KBB invite you to join in the GBSC and show some love for the special places that helped us through lockdown. When we look after the environment, we look after ourselves as well. Volunteering to do something for the greater good – and being outdoors - results in improved mental and physical wellbeing. To track the litter picking activity during the GBSC the team at KBB will be keeping an eye on the online Litter Log. Anyone who pops out to litter pick is asked to ﬁll in the form and each day the running total of hours will be updated on the group’s Facebook page. Please record your activity via www. tinyurl.com/KBBLitterLog or through the new website www.KeepBromsgroveBeautiful. com and join the group at www.facebook.com/ groups/KeepBromsgroveBeautiful Together we can make a difference and play our part in the #MillionMileMission.

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20 Completely Bromsgrove

Humble house sparrows W

hilst planning and researching content for this year’s 30 Days Wild, which takes place throughout June, I learnt a new word – syanthropic. Syanthropic species are those that have adapted to living close to humans. I can think of no more obvious example than house sparrows – the clue is even in their name! House sparrows have lived alongside us in the UK for thousands of years, benefitting from nesting under our eaves and feeding from our fields and scraps. However, as our use of land has intensified and we’ve tidied our farms, gardens and buildings, we’ve pushed away our sociable feathered friends. Since 1977 there has been an estimated 71% decline in house sparrows across the UK and that drop in population is reflected here in Worcestershire. Before 1980, the occurrence of house sparrows across our county was so common that most people who recorded birds didn’t think they were worth mentioning. Nowadays, we’re often contacted by people wondering why the constant chattering of their feathered neighbours has fallen silent. Records of house sparrows in 2020 showed a preference for urban fringes and in suburban areas rather than Worcestershire’s villages where we’d also expect to find them. Is this is a true picture or does it reflect only where bird recorders happen to live? We need you - a horde of citizen scientists to let us know where Worcestershire’s house sparrows are. Whether you’re in the middle of town, the edge of Sanders Park, on a suburban estate or out in a village, we’d love you to keep an eye out for house sparrows. If you spy some, snap a picture and submit it to us using the shor t form on our website www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/wildlifesightings House sparrows favour gardens that are connected to other gardens via superhighways of hedgerows, large shrubs and trees. They love their own

neighbourhoods and rarely stray more than a 2km radius for their entire lives – if you lose a colony, it can take a very long time before they’re replaced. Take a closer look at their beaks for a hint of what they like to eat – those chunky bills are great for breaking through the shells of seeds. They won’t just be coming to your garden feeders, though – natural habitats like walls of ivy, thick hedges and even ﬂower borders will supply them with insects to feed to their growing young. June is a great time to take a closer look at the wildlife around you. Sign up to take part in 30 Days Wild www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild and challenge yourself to do something a little wild every day of the month, star ting with a Big Wild Breakfast on 1st June.

Keep up to date with us: www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/worcestershirewildlifetrust Follow us on Twitter @WorcsWT Watch us on YouTube www.youtube.com/c/WorcswildlifetrustUK1

Photos: Opposite page: Top: House sparrow male by Mark Hamblin 2020VISION Middle: House sparrow female by Lesley Betts Bottom: House sparrow female by Peter Hawcroft This page: House sparrows by Wendy Carter Completely Bromsgrove

Celebrating the 1199 Charter in Bromsgrove

or centuries, the Bailiff and Ofﬁcers of The Ancient Court Leet and Court Baron of the Manor of Bromsgrove have “walked the fair” on Fair Day and celebrated the Charter granted to the town by King John more than 820 years ago.

Fair Day is traditionally held on the closest Saturday to the Feast of St John the Baptist, the patron saint of the town, which this year falls on Saturday 26th June. Hopefully, restrictions will be lifted sufficiently to allow the traditions of Fair Day to be carried out this year, but as we go to print this is not confirmed. It is hoped that Bromsgrove will enjoy a colourful and vibrant parade, and additional market stalls hosted by local charities, crafters, producers and organisations in traditional costumes. In the morning, members of the Bromsgrove Court Leet hope to parade along the High Street, led by The Shirley Pipe Band. Traditional assizes of ale, bread, meat, leather and a report on the town’s brooks are normally given by the Officers of the Court who, in bygone times, undertook a role similar to that of today’s Trading Standards, ensuring the quality of goods for sale in the town was maintained. Following the assizes, the Bailiff traditionally proclaims the Charter of 1199, confirming the right to hold the Fair.

22 Completely Bromsgrove

Bromsgrove’s ﬁrst female Bailiff, Joanne Slade said “Fair Day has taken place every year in Bromsgrove for centuries and is an important day in the town’s calendar. The Court is doing everything we can to ensure the tradition continues, whilst keeping everyone safe and working within the current guidelines. I do hope that the town can enjoy Fair Day on 26th June and that it will be a fun and uplifting day for all.” Final details for Fair Day will be made available in the local press and on social media. Keep an eye on www.facebook.com/CourtLeetBromsgrove Twitter @BromsCourtLeet and www. bromsgrovecourtleet.co.uk for conﬁrmation of what will take place on Saturday 26th June. The painting “Fair Day Which Wasn’t” by local artist Rosie Philpott was commissioned to replicate the 2020 Fair Day which was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Visit www.rosiephilpott.co.uk to discover more about Rosie and her artwork.

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Breast cancer charity celebrates its 21st birthday

his month marks the 21st birthday of Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer, a charity set up by Veronica Kumeta of Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove in 2000 following the breast cancer diagnosis of one of her closest friends. Veronica initially started raising money to buy much needed equipment for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham that the NHS couldn’t afford, raising more than £1.5 million over the past 20 years. LFBC is entirely financially reliant upon donations, fundraising and funding to deliver critical care and support in the community through its BreastMates Central drop in centre and well woman choir to financial support and guidance, including a bursary created to ease hardship with small grants for essentials. The charity provides support group services both offline and online, free of charge for anyone with a breast cancer diagnosis. Whether you have just received a diagnosis, are currently undergoing treatment or are in remission LFBC is there for you. Its latest initiative is “A hug in a bag.” After asking ladies who have gone through chemotherapy what things they wished they could have had with them on those long days receiving treatment, they suggested lip balms, books, lap blanket for warmth, a

24 Completely Bromsgrove

cushion, notepad and pen and hand cream. LFBC is currently funding these items, putting them inside bags hand-made by crafters and posting them to patients, as well as dropping as many as 25 a time to chemotherapy units at hospitals across the West Midlands, Worcestershire and Staffordshire. These have been immensely popular and with the recent closures of several breast cancer havens across the region the demand has become overwhelming, a distraction to those having to face treatment alone without loved ones by their side due to covid restrictions and providing comfor t and care for an isolated solitary time in hospital. If you would like to suppor t this ongoing initiative so LFBC can continue to provide a hug in a bag and can help in any way with donations of items or funding, visit lfbc.org.uk You can also follow the charity on Facebook at Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer or BreastMates Central.

Stitching in memory of a wonderful colleague

romsgrove-based fabric store and haberdashery Brenda Killigrew Sewing Studio and its sister company Inkberrow Design Centre are hosting a “sew-athon” in memory of former colleague Laura Callard on July 17th. The highly respected and loved tutor was a key team member of the Inkberrow Design Centre for more than 15 years during which time she inspired and educated hundreds of budding designers and costume makers, not only through her work at IDC and Hear t of Worcestershire College where she also taught, but also as a wedding dress designer working in Stratford upon Avon creating one-off customised designs for brides. Sadly, Laura lost her three year battle with breast cancer earlier this year. To celebrate her life, creativity and her love of teaching, director Brenda Killigrew wanted to give her former students a way to leave tributes. Covid restrictions had meant that we could not attend the funeral, so will be raising funds for Cancer Research UK alongside funding a memorial tree to be planted close to one of the college’s former teaching sites at the Westall Park Woodland Cemetery at Holberrow Green. BKSS and IDC will be inviting past students, customers, local sewing enthusiasts new and old, novice and exper t to come along and sew in the ﬁrst ﬂoor studios at 17 Worcester Road and be involved in a creatively charged tribute, making mementos to hang on the planned memorial tree.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to make a Morse bag reusable shopper to get an introduction to sewing and show their support whilst they shop with their own make to take away on the day. If the weather allows there will also be an opportunity for outdoor sewing. We will have breast cancer charity boxes available on the day for donations. Alongside the sew-a-thon the ground ﬂoor shop will be running a Think Pink Sale during July with proceeds from all pink items going to Cancer Research UK. Look out for a special window display to mark the fundraising efforts reﬂecting Laura’s love of handmade corsetry and show-stopping design. Brenda said: “This is a perfect way to remember Laura and raise some much-needed funds to suppor t research and suppor t for Breast Cancer patients and their families. Laura was an amazingly creative person who loved to share her knowledge and passion with others and would be thrilled to see everyone getting creative and involved.”

Completely Bromsgrove

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Aromatherapy H

aving trained in Aromatherapy some 40 plus years ago now, I remember giving a talk just after I qualified to a group of ladies on essential oils. After the talk a lady approached me and said, “Dear, this will never take off ”. Needless to say, essential oils seem to be showing up everywhere lately, but they have in actual fact been used for thousands of years for many different types of health and medical problems, embalming, and spiritual purposes. You can use essential oils effectively for relaxation, a better night’s sleep, cleaning, and as alternative medicine. (However I wish to caution here that there can be contra indications to using essential oils and your oils need to be of therapeutic grade.) Essential oils get their power from being distilled or extracted from the leaves, flowers, bark, peels and many other parts of the plants. Essential oils are highly concentrated and it often takes only a drop or two to deliver some amazing health benefits. Essential oils can have many different therapeutic benefits that stem from their antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial properties. Essential oils have been in use by many different civilizations for thousands of years and have been put to use by the Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks and Roman civilizations. Today, many of the healing arts use essential oils in their practice such as physical therapists, massage therapists, alternative medicine practitioners, and yogis. Even some hospitals and midwives use essential oils for their patients to reduce anxiety and pain and improve moods. How do you use essential oils? Essential oils, molecularly, are very small and are very easily absorbed into the skin. Once they penetrate the skin, they can be absorbed into the blood stream by the tiny capillaries and sent to all parts of the body. They can also be mixed with other carrier oils (like grapeseed oil) to be spread out over the skin.

26 Completely Bromsgrove

Essential oils are a wonderful addition to add to your natural personal care products like shampoo, lotions, deodorant, bug spray, and even laundry soap and household cleaners. Essential oils, is such a large subject I am only going to briefly mention 2 major oils Tea Tree oil: Tea tree oil is effective for infections, scrapes, cuts, burns, and even skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, acne, and even warts, fungal infections like athlete’s foot and nail fungus. It can be used in a diffuser to help kill cold or flu virus, stop a sinus infection, or clear up nasal or chest congestion. Oregano Oil: Used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for more things than just seasoning their food. Oregano oil is a powerful antibiotic and has been used for years to treat wounds and infections on the skin. Its ability to knock out an infection has shown to be effective against staph infections. It is also antiviral, antioxidant, antifungal, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, and has anesthetic (pain-relieving) properties. Effective against fungus like athlete’s foot and toenail fungus. If traveling, don’t forget your oregano oil capsules to combat common parasitic infections. The key is to take it regularly when travelling in foreign countries, and increase the dose if you feel any symptoms of illness. Oregano is best taken on a short term basis (no more than two weeks at a time). Need more information? Contact: colette@ need4change.com by Colette Garside

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Council and partners mark Mental Health Awareness with launch of new service

romsgrove District Council, Onside and Bromsgrove PCN are marking Mental Health Awareness with the announcement that a new wellbeing service has been launched in the district.

The new Social Prescribing Service launched officially on Thursday 13th May in line with MHAW. The service will be run in partnership with Onside and will see four new Social Prescribing Link Workers working across the area: Jennifer Murray, Antonia Whitlock, Rebecca McGrory, and Timothy Bird. The service is designed to help residents back to normality after the challenges of the past year. Social Prescribing is a means of connecting residents with a link worker through a self-referral process. The link worker then provides them with a face-to-face conversation during which they can learn about activities in their communities and design their own personalised solutions to life struggles. Recent research states that 1 in 5 people go to their GP with non-medical issues which can be helped through schemes like Social Prescribing instead. Research also states that within 3 to 4 years, Social Prescribing schemes have reduced the pressures on GP appointments by up to 40%. Jennifer said: “Whilst we are all excited for restrictions to lift, it’s completely normal to feel anxious about this too and once again people will have to adapt to another ‘new normal’ which can be hard. “I am looking forward to giving 1-2-1 support, helping people increase their confidence, realise their potential, empower them to cope better with whatever life throws at them and improve their overall wellbeing. “After the last year, it will be fantastic to support people to lead a happier and more enriched life.” A ‘social prescription’ is provided so that people with social, emotional or practical needs are empowered to find solutions which will improve their health and wellbeing, often using services provided by the voluntary and community sector. Antonia added: “During the Pandemic and lockdown, we have all felt lonely and isolated at

28 Completely Bromsgrove

times, so I am looking forward to helping people to connect with their community and feel more confident about the future. “Since star ting this job, I have been amazed to find out how strong the sense of community is in Bromsgrove District and I am excited to help link people to what’s going on locally, so they can find new interests and make new friends. “We are here to help guide people back to happier life in the wake of the pandemic.” Social Prescribing is an innovative and growing movement, with the potential to reduce the financial burden on the NHS and particularly on primary care. Onside is a local charity working across Worcestershire and Herefordshire, providing a wide range of support services to ensure fairness and equality for all members of the community who may be vulnerable, disadvantaged or discriminated against.

Pride Month & Volunteer Week, 1-7 June With National Pride Month and National Volunteers’ Week both falling in June, we wanted to highlight two things in this update: inclusion and volunteering. We actively promote inclusivity within all of our programmes, with specific disability sessions gradually returning to face-to-face delivery but if you feel you’re able to take part in any other activities please get in touch with us and we’ll accommodate you as much as we can. If you have any specific wants or needs please feel free to email or ring and we can talk through the options available. There are lots of opportunities for people to volunteer across Bromsgrove District Council’s Development Services team. Below is some information on the projects led by our much-valued volunteers. If you want to help out in any way across any of our activities then we’d love to hear from you. C25K - Our extensive Couch to 5K programme across Bromsgrove is aimed at absolute beginners, people recovering from injury or anyone trying to get back into running after a long lay-off. We’re always looking for volunteer helpers to support delivery of the programme. Walking for Health - We are always looking for volunteers to support our Walking for Health sessions, where people take part in gentle walks in their local area led by a qualified fitness instructor. Fitness Class Advocates - We are looking for people who would like to support our fitness instructors who deliver a variety of fitness classes, gather information, help people who are part of the class. With this role as a Fitness Class Advocate, you can take part in a free fitness class and get involved fully with the group. Local Sports Clubs - We can support people who are interested in taking up volunteering roles within local sports clubs close to them. If you are interested in finding out how to get involved with your local sports club in a volunteer capacity, please feel free to get in touch with Sam Flatley, Sports Development Officer, at samuel.flatley@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk In terms of Pride our partners the Word Association are currently offering a programme of online mental health and LGBTQ+ support creative writing sessions to residents. For more information visit www.the-word-association.com or contact ‘holly@hollywinterhughes.com’. Finally, we’re delighted to be working with Bromsgrove Walking Sports Centre on inclusive Walking Rugby, also in partnership with Warriors Community Foundation and Bromsgrove Rugby Football Club. Sessions will be held on Fridays, 12.30-13.30 on the lower field AstroTurf at Bromsgrove Cricket, Hockey and Tennis Club. For more information on the details above which don’t have a specific contact please get in touch with the Sports Development Team on 01527 881289 or email sd@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk

Completely Bromsgrove

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Alvechurch Legal Services

ost people in Alvechurch will know of Alvechurch Insurance Services or David E Matthews. The faces will be very familiar to village residents, and the roots of the business date back nearly 50 years. After Brian Hawkins finally retired in October 2019 (at the age of 82!) after over 40 years with the firm there was a spare seat in the Alvechurch Office and thus the idea Alvechurch Legal Services was born… Laura Hawkins (the Daughter of Andy and Granddaughter of Brian) and James Raybone made it their mission to fill the large gap left by the retirement of Brian. James and Laura had both worked for national law firms, working all hours under the sun for little reward. We also both felt we could not offer our clients the service they deserved whilst working in such a pressured environment. So, Alvechurch Legal Services was founded so that they could have the freedom to treat our clients like actual humans! The firm specialises in Wills, Power of Attorney and Probate as they found that they loved this area of law and working together. However, they wanted to be able to offer their clients a friendly, local service but with realistic fix fee pricing.

You can usually ﬁnd Laura inside the Alvechurch Insurance Services ofﬁce however, she is still working from home due to COVID19 but you can still contact us on 0121 445 3307 or email laura@alvechurchlegal.co.uk

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30 Completely Bromsgrove

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We continue to support pets & owners in need D

espite closures, Blue Cross has continued to help the pets most desperately in need, taking in almost 3,500 pets since the start of the ﬁrst lockdown.

Demand for Blue Cross pets rose dramatically, in May 2020 alone there was a 515% increase in online applications for dogs. To cope with the demand and to ﬁnd pets a loving family of their own the charity increased rehoming through a ‘home direct‘ scheme which ﬁnds a new home for the pet while they are still with owners who can no longer keep them.

with their pet and also to support the many owners of new pets looking for help to settle their puppies and kittens into the home. The team launched a new animal behaviour line, open to any pet owner in the UK, to support owners needing help and have received more than 500 calls so far since the helpline launched last April.

The national network of dedicated volunteer pet foster carers also grew through a recruitment campaign and more than 2,000 pets were placed in foster care over the period. As a result loving new homes were found for over 3,000 cats, dogs, small pets and horses.

The number of people taking on a new pet during lockdown and while being at home more may also see problems in the future when life returns to being back to normal. Those who have worked from home may be returning to work and people may be out and about more, leaving the new pet at home which could lead to behavioural problems if they haven’t been used to or trained to be home alone.

The Blue Cross animal rehoming centre in Catshill, Bromsgrove, took in 261 pets for rehoming and found new homes for 218 pets over the period. Blue Cross was also aware that the vast and sudden changes to a pet’s surroundings and routine, due to families being at home when they would usually be at work or in school, could be confusing and unsettling for them. The charity’s animal behaviour team sprang into action to offer advice to owners who were experiencing problems

Blue Cross asks any pet owners struggling to cope to get in touch before selling their pet on or abandoning them. Contact the centre on 0300 777 1460 for advice or, if looking to take on a new pet, visit www.bluecross.org.uk to see pets currently looking for a new home.

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Rail Affairs from BARRUP

www.bromsgroverail.org.uk

(Bromsgrove and Redditch Rail User Partnership)

he votes have been counted in the Worcestershire County Council Elections of May 6th, and Bromsgrove has returned seven Conservatives, one Labour and one Liberal to argue for the Town’s best interests in the Council Chamber. A vital matter, which the Councillors need to pursue in the recovery of the local economy from the effects of the Pandemic, is the improvement of Rail Connectivity at Bromsgrove Station. Built at a cost of over £24 million pounds ﬁve years ago, it could be used to much greater effect to make it easier, cheaper and quicker for residents and business people to travel to the South, South West and South East from the Station, and for Day and Short Stay Visitors to travel to the Town to visit the various attractions that it has to offer. All that is needed is for the many Nottingham Cardiff Cross Country (XC) Trains, which thunder through the Station every day, to stop in Bromsgrove - none do so currently! Then people can board / alight to travel directly to/ from South Wales, with one change at Cheltenham travel onto / from Bristol and the South West and, with one change at Worcester Parkway, travel onto/ from The Cotswolds, Oxford and Paddington. So we need all nine of our County Councillors, whatever their political afﬁliations, to be proactive in getting the County Council Cabinet Member for the Economy and Infrastructure (whoever is appointed to that role) to put pressure on XC Trains for the trains to stop in Bromsgrove.

32 Completely Bromsgrove

This will require a change of mindset from the County Council. In an email to me in 2018, the response from the previous County Councillor in the role was “to expect XC Trains to stop at Bromsgrove would be asking them to greatly slow their services to all the other stops on the line” and “if Bromsgrove residents were able to join XC services at the Town’s Station, it would place them in a privileged position that must be accommodated before anyone else in the County”. Since then, the services have been changed due to the opening of Worcestershire Parkway in February 2020, and no doubt will be changed further due to the effect on travelling numbers due to the pandemic. So there is no good reason now why a change can’t be made for the XC Trains to stop at Bromsgrove. And Bromsgove residents are not asking to be placed “ in a privileged position”. We have a fit for purpose, but under utilised station - If XC Trains stop at it, there will be significant economic and environmental benefits for everybody in Bromsgrove and Nor th East Worcestershire (and XC Trains will generate more revenue for itself by having more passengers!). It’s called “ Win Win”!

by Nick Taylor

Theatre wins £615k for green upgrade T here’s been a ‘step change’ for the future sustainability of Bromsgrove’s theatre and arts venue Artrix after it won a £615,000 grant for green energy upgrades.

The facility will be outfitted with renewable energy sources after it was granted the money from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund, a £1bn Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) initiative to deliver ‘significant carbon savings’ and ‘stimulus to the energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation sectors, supporting jobs’. The bid for the funds came after an energy report commissioned by Artrix owners the Artrix Holding Trust from Bromsgrove District Council showed that upgrading the building with easily-installed air source heat pumps and solar panels, as well as with LED lighting and an energy management system, could cut up to 128 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, and energy costs of up to £21,000. The trust then teamed up with the district council to successfully bid to the Government for the money to make enhancements. The works are now being planned. As well as ‘decarbonising’ Artrix, the work will permanently lower the heating and

energy costs of the venue, improving its future ﬁnancial footing as a working arts space. Stuart Laverick, deputy chair of the Artrix Holding Trust, said: “We are over the moon that the application was successful. I’d like to thank the district council for its hard work on our behalf to secure this money from the decarbonisation fund. “It will be a vital investment in modern upgrades to renewable energy systems that will boost energy efﬁciency and in so doing, cut both running costs and carbon. “It’s a step change in the future sustainability of Artrix.” The funding bid is the latest part of ongoing efforts by the trust to secure a sustainable future for Artrix, after its former operator folded shortly after the start of Covid-19 restrictions. Meanwhile the venue on Slideslow Drive in Bromsgrove continues to be temporarily used by the NHS as a mass Covid-19 vaccination centre, vaccinating up to 2,500 people a day.

Completely Bromsgrove

“90 up for cultural community heavyweight Jim I

f you’ve any knowledge of Bromsgrove’s thriving cultural scene and its many music and literary organisations, the name Jim Page will be familiar to you.

And if you’re an Old Bromsgrovian, you’ll certainly have looked up to the junior school’s hard-working headteacher. Jim still sees some of his former students now: “When they ask if I remember them, I tell them I can remember their surname but not their ﬁrst name,” he admits. At 90 that’s good going and when Completely Bromsgrove spoke to Jim on the phone during a minor household drama involving a lack of electricity at the Bromsgrove home he shares with wife Frances he was full of fascinating stories and optimism for the future. Jim’s enduring passion is live music and he can’t wait to star t attending concerts again. “My hearing is going a little but when you’re in a concert hall focusing on an orchestra you hear every note. I’m a regular at CBSO concer ts at Birmingham Symphony Hall and probably attend 15 concer ts a year. I don’t listen to records, I prefer the feeling when you’re on the edge of your seat.” Before then, there’s the small matter of Jim’s 90th birthday par ty on June 2, which will take the form of a tea par ty. “We’ve sent out formal invitations and are delighted that everyone we’ve asked apar t from two people will be able to come,” said Jim, father of twin sons, Stephen, who is based in London, and Oliver, who lives in Italy. Born and bred in Somerset, Jim arrived in Bromsgrove as a young English teacher in 1960. He’d already spent two years teaching in London before deciding to apply to the new junior school. “I didn’t actually have any teaching qualiﬁcations,” he admitted. “I studied law at Oxford but to be honest I wasn’t clever enough to pursue it as a career. I always enjoyed English and had a hankering to teach so I bought a copy of the Times Educational Supplement and star ted applying for jobs.” Jim retired in 1989 at the relatively young age of 58 - “I’ve been retired for longer than I actually worked!” – which gave him more time to devote to his leisure activities and membership of various groups and organisations.

34 Completely Bromsgrove

Probably his best-known role is as chairman of the Housman Society for 30 years. The society led the campaign to get A E Housman in Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey and organised the annual commemoration ceremony at Housman’s statue in Bromsgrove High Street on March 26, the poet and classical scholar’s bir thday.

“We’d invite a local or national character to attend. Among them was Enoch Powell, who was a very divisive ﬁgure as a politician. Housman taught Powell when he was at Cambridge.”

with a varied and imaginative programme. The organisation is still thriving and gained a national reputation for its weekend events devotes to the music of Beethoven (twice), Shostakovich and Janacek.

Jim’s other roles included regional secretary of Making Music, a membership organisation for amateur groups of all musical genres, representing over 10,000 musicians and promoters of all levels and experience. He edited and published 49 newsletters – “I didn’t get to reach 50” and his dedication to the organisation was recognised in 1992 when he received an award in memory of English conductor Sir Charles Groves.

To cap a long list of achievements, Jim was awarded an MBE for services to local and national voluntary ar ts organisations in 2001, collecting his honour from Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace - and exchanging a few words about her recent visit to Bromsgrove - with Frances, Stephen and Oliver proudly looking on.

In 1963 Jim founded Bromsgrove Concerts, whose aim is to bring music alive and music lovers together

Everyone at Completely Bromsgrove would like to wish Jim a very happy birthday and thank him for his outstanding contribution to the town’s cultural life and spirit. Completely Bromsgrove

HISTORY

Charford’s story told on new Heritage panels F

our interpretation panels which tell the story of the development of Charford and its important part in Bromsgrove’s successful post war reconstruction have been installed at key locations within the estate.

The heritage panels have come into existence thanks to a partnership with three local organisations - Bromsgrove Past & Present, The Bromsgrove Society and Bromsgrove District Council. Annie Deeley, who runs the Bromsgrove Past & Present Facebook page, began researching the area after discovering that her husband John’s parents were amongst the first residents of the new estate, moving in shortly after the Second World War. The Charford History Project developed into a series of talks, articles, guided walks, an online talk as part of The Bromsgrove Society’s recent season of local history talks and has culminated in the production of the four heritage panels. The four heritage panels “The Development of the Charford Estate” cover the topics “Where it all began and why”, “The proposed new suburb”, “Lyttleton Avenue” and “Charford Road”. The panels contain detailed information and pictures to tell the story of the estate from choice of site, the initial plans, the first Garringtons houses, the building of the High School through to the completion of the estate. The panels were designed, using words, images and layout supplied by Annie Deeley, by the marketing team at Bromsgrove District Council. They reflect the style of the heritage panels found in Bromsgrove High Street. Pat Tansell, Chair of the Bromsgrove Society said “We were happy to support this important project and extend our thanks to Annie Deeley for the excellent research and to Arts Development Officer Stewart Sanderson for managing the project. We hope that the residents and visitors to the estate will find the panels interesting. Charford has a rich history and we hope that the panels will help build pride in the area.” Michael Thompson, District Councillor, for the Charford Ward, has been involved from an early stage. Local Bromsgrove company Spire Graphics and Signs produced the panels which were put in place by the Worcestershire County Council Highways Department. Anyone interested in local history is encouraged to visit the estate to view the heritage panels which can be found outside St Andrew’s Church on Lyttleton Avenue, on Humphrey Avenue close to the Community Hub, outside Charford First School and close to the site of the old Charford Mill, now South Bromsgrove High School on Charford Road.

by Jo Slade

36 Completely Bromsgrove

An article on the history of the Charford Estate by Annie Deeley, was printed in a recent edition of the Rousler and is available via the book store on the Bromsgrove Society website www.bsoc.co.uk

Advertisement Feature

Senior Snippets – Boost your mood

elcome to the latest edition of our monthly advisory column with the older members of our community in mind, brought to you by Annie Dixon-Dunn of Home Instead Redditch & Bromsgrove.

In this instalment, I will be sharing some tips to help boost your mood. As we begin to enter life after lockdown, it’s more important than ever to keep an upbeat state of mind in order to lead a positive lifestyle. Eating healthy foods and exercising are obvious ways to remain ﬁt and healthy but there are many other adjustments we can make to improve our mental health and state of mind. Here are some mood boosting tips: • Laugh - As adults we often forget to just enjoy ourselves and laugh more. Laughing releases endorphins into our body which increase serotonin levels in our brain, causing us to instantly feel happier. Life doesn’t need to always be taken too seriously. • Practice gratitude - It’s important to recognise what we’re grateful for, acknowledge it, and appreciate it. When you wake up in the morning, try and think of a few things that you are grateful for and notice the difference it makes to your mood. • Talk to someone - Whether it’s a friend from your social bubble, a relative via FaceTime or the phone or a neighbour over the garden fence, knowing you have someone you can turn to can help to put your mind at ease. Don’t forget to be there for someone else too, as this can brighten your mood just by knowing you have helped someone else. Remember the advert - ‘it’s good to talk’. • Surround yourself - With positive scents and sounds. Sometimes when we feel our mood dipping it is good to surround yourself with scents which can lift your mood.

Lavender can be seen as relaxing, whereas peppermint can help to soothe your overactive mind. This can work just as well with your favourite perfume. Listen to your favourite music and light a candle; you may ﬁnd yourself feeling great afterwards. • Take deep breaths - We don’t often concentrate on our breathing because it’s a natural function, but consciously focusing on your breathing and taking deep breaths can relieve stress and increase relaxation. Simply place one hand on the abdomen and one hand on the lower ribs and take a breath that starts in your abdomen and works its way up your body. Control your breathing by breathing in for three to ﬁve seconds, hold for the same amount of time and slowly exhale out through your mouth. Do this for three minutes and you will feel the stress melt away. For more information about Home Instead or if you have a suggestion for a future topic, write to me at annie.dixon-dunn@ homeinstead.co.uk. Alternatively, call me on 01527 810855.

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We provide support and encouragement to enable you to maintain independence in your own home.

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A dedicated and supportive oﬃce based team, who will be there every step of the way with you on your care journey.

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Completely Bromsgrove

Ann Clare

Lee Moody

Debbie Graham

Rebecca Boardman

Rebekah Nash

38 Completely Bromsgrove

Joanne Lewis

RECIPE

One pan roast British trout with asparagus and cherry tomatoes Serves 2

Ingredients: 4 British trout ﬁllets 16 asparagus spears, woody ends trimmed 10 cherry tomatoes 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar Fresh basil leaves Squeeze of lemon Mayonnaise Boiled rice to serve

Method: Preheat oven to 180C Fan. In a small roasting tin, add the asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and lay the ﬁsh on top. Drizzle over the olive oil and balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the trout is cooked and the vegetables are tender and tinged round the edges. Tear over the basil leaves. Decant some mayonnaise into a ramekin and stir in some lemon juice to taste. Divide the vegetables and trout between two plates and serve with boiled rice and the lemony mayonnaise.

www.lovebritishfood.co.uk

Completely Bromsgrove

Flying is fun join us! H

ave you ever been interested in flying a radio controlled plane and thought that it would be just too expensive and too difficult? Here is your chance to come and try your hand at this fascinating hobby. Bromsgrove Model Flying Club have been flying model aircraft for approaching 50 years and have members aged from 12 to 80. We fly models ranging from simple electric foam plastic ones to larger petrol powered scale models.

of bending their beautiful new plane on its ﬁrst ﬂight.

This hobby is open to anyone at a reasonable cost and you no longer even need to be able to build a model from a plan as many are now available par tially or completely assembled. If you decide to build your own plane from a kit, there will be plenty of help and advice available.

We provide members with free tuition to attain the cer tiﬁcation required to ﬂy on their own and all members are covered by relevant British Model Flying Association third par ty insurance and follow all government registration guidelines.

Joining a club is also the best way into this hobby as there is a great camaraderie between the members and endless advice available as to what to buy to ensure a smooth path to becoming an expert pilot.

Like all electrical items, the radio control systems are much cheaper and more reliable than in the past and many perfectly useable systems are available second hand.

As a club, we have social events and as most members are generally interested in all things aeronautical, we also arrange occasional visits to model and full size air shows during the year.

We also have ‘dual control’ systems that enable beginners to ‘buddy up’ to an experienced pilot who can instantly take control of necessary.

So why not get in contact with us and come and have a test ﬂight? You’ll ﬁnd we are a very approachable and friendly bunch.

Potential new members can have a go on a club plane under the guidance of one of our experienced members at no cost and in a safe environment with none of their own equipment.

If you are interested in visiting, please contact Alan at earthtoalan@hotmail. co.uk or 07875 866535. Scan this QR code to watch a video on our YouTube channel.

This also enables new members with their own planes and equipment to learn how to ﬂy without as much risk

40 Completely Bromsgrove

Disney’s coming to our seas

his summer, set sail on a unique Disney Staycation at sea, for 2,3 or 4 nights departing from the UK. Sailings will be available from Liverpool, Southampton, Newcastle and London Tilbury and they are exclusive to UK residents. Be immersed in Disney storytelling, thanks to an amazing collection of onboard entertainment, dining and recreation for the whole family, with all the care you would expect from Disney. Discover a brand-new, close-to-home sailing experience awash with imaginative kids’ activities, fun family entertainment and exclusive adult recreation—it’s a staycation you’ll never forget! Spend quality time with beloved Disney characters. Snap photos of Captain Mickey, behold a royal promenade with Disney Princesses and greet Toy Story friends. Enjoy spectacular West End-quality musicals be dazzled as the Disney stories come to life on stage, including a pre-show celebration with Mickey. Overﬂowing with creative fun for the kids, unique recreational offerings for adults and thrilling entertainment for the entire family, a Disney cruise provides fun for one and all. Health & safety is a top priority We’re implementing multiple layers of health and safety measures considering the guidance from the UK government, health authorities and medical experts. For more information call Jane Ward 07786617598 or email jane.ward@ travelcounsellors.com

Completely Bromsgrove

Museum of Carpet gets snappy T

hanks to a grant from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Museum of Carpet in Kidderminster opened on May 18th with the next phase of lockdown lifting. Staff and volunteers couldn’t be happier to return to the museum and welcome visitors back through our doors again. Visitors can be assured that the Museum of Carpet offers an enjoyable, safe and secure day out. The galleries have undergone a deep clean by our tenants, the National Carpet Cleaners’ Association, to ensure the museum is spotless for our reopening. One-way systems and sanitiser stations give visitors conﬁdence and you can book a timed slot on our website. Our Collections and Archives can now reopen and volunteers are working hard on researching exciting and diverse enquiries. We received unprecedented interest in our collections during the third lockdown as local people traced their family and embarked on research projects. As we reopen, we look forward to our summer exhibition which will open on June 28th. Generation: The People and Production of Kidderminster will showcase stunning photographs of the Kidderminster carpet industry and local community from the Museum of Carpet’s extensive archive. The exhibition will combine historical photographs from the last century with photographs of life in

42 Completely Bromsgrove

Kidderminster and surrounding areas now, submitted by local children, young people and adults. At a time when all of us have had to stay local, the exhibition takes a fresh look at what Kidderminster means to the generations of local families who have lived and worked in the town over the past century. Generation: The People and Production of Kidderminster is at the Museum of Carpet from June 28th to September 4th. See our social media or website for more details: www.museumofcarpet.org

Festival promises live events galore this summer B

romsgrove Festival is rising from its pandemic slumbers albeit, like most of us when waking up, it will be a little slow getting itself moving!

As this ar ticle was being written there were, subject to restrictions, plans for High Street events on most of the Saturdays of the festival period – June 26th to July 25th - which all the family can enjoy. These events are still in the planning stage so keep your eye on social media and local press for updates or visit www.bromsgrovefestival.co.uk

as well as many others. Tickets can be obtained from www.bromsgrovefolkclub.co.uk

It is hoped that, on June 26th, Bromsgrove Fair Day will take place when the Cour t Leet will uphold the tradition of proclaiming King John’s Royal Charter from 1199 and the traditional parade can take place.

During the pandemic many resourceful arts organisations have been continuing online. One of these is Bromsgrove Folk Club who have to date broadcast 20 shows on a private YouTube channel and, as par t of Bromsgrove Festival, will, on Thursday, June 24th at 8pm, broadcast a free to air YouTube concer t featuring highlights of those 20 concer ts. Details of how to view can be found at www. bromsgrovefolkclub.co.uk It is anticipated that, during The Bromsgrove Festival period, other organisations will be featuring vir tual presentations.

Live events already deﬁnitely scheduled to take place are a return of the Music at Lunchtime Concerts presented by Festival Classics at Avoncroft Museum of Buildings. These shows include Quirkish Delights featuring Michael Lunt on June 30th, Hush featuring the world class voices of Papagena on July 7th, The Romantic Era featuring the Orchestra of St John on July 14th and Bach to Bernstein featuring The Sennet Brass Ensemble on July 21st. Tickets can be obtained by visiting www.FestiveClassics.co.uk Bromsgrove Folk Club and Festival have bitten the bullet and their annual Folk Music Festival will take place at The Bowling Green Inn, Shaw Lane, Stoke Prior, B60 4BH over the long weekend of July 8th to 11th.

The Midlands Sinfonia will be holding two concerts on June 26th, one in the afternoon and one in the evening at The Ark in Alvechurch. Details of the concer ts and how to buy tickets can be found at www.midlandsinfonia.co.uk

2020 was a write off as far as Bromsgrove Festival was concerned. It is to be hoped that 2021 will provide a stepping stone for bigger and better events in the coming years and we look forward to announcing more 2021 events as they emerge. Visit www.bromsgrovefestival.co.uk to keep up to date and follow us on social media.

Featured ar tists in an all-star line-up include The Lost Notes (pictured) and Mad Jocks and Englishmen from Birmingham, Gloucestershire’s The Jigantics, Dave Gibb from the Scottish Borders, Anthony John Clarke from Northern Ireland and Jez Lowe from County Durham

Completely Bromsgrove

CREATIVE ART & CRAFT Show & Sale 9th - 11th July

Creating fun and inspiration for all!

he Creative Art and Craft Show is taking place at the Bromsgrove Hotel, on the A38 just off junction 4 of the M5. The Show will relaunch many small businesses that have been unable to trade effectively over the last 12 months. Most importantly it gives our local community and the Midlands region a great opportunity to experience a continental street party atmosphere without getting on a plane! It promises to be an inspiring fun event designed for the whole family to enjoy and have a great day out. What’s more, its free entry. At the Show, in the newly refurbished Hotel, there will be ample opportunities to select hand-crafted and Midlands designed goods, for use in the home and garden. There will be a wonderful mix of gift and table items, side by side with accessories for Summer, textiles and toys. Local amateur art groups are also displaying their talents and offering a full range of pastels, oils, watercolour and much more, original artwork at truly affordable prices. Visitors will have the opportunity to watch a pastel demonstration (amongst others) or sign up to join a local class and get ‘hands-on’ with a new creative skill. To top the lot there will be a Curated Art Exhibition - with submissions from across the Midlands. This quiet and reﬂective Zone is designed to lift, inspire and elate your senses. Why not try a new experience with the family (free entry tickets available at Eventbrite www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/creative-artshowcase-33156237299 - sign up now? For more information and to get involved with the show, head to the website for opportunities: www.creativeartshowcase.org/

44 Completely Bromsgrove

An England XI plays at Bromsgrove!

n Sunday, June 13th, Bromsgrove Cricket Club is delighted to stage two T20 Matches between an England Disability XI and an M.C.C. XI at St. Godwalds Park “Bromsgrove’s Hidden Oasis”, St. Godwalds Road, in Aston Fields. The oppor tunity for people with disabilities to get involved in cricket has grown beyond all recognition over the last decade. In 2019 The Physical Disability Team participated in the International Disability Cricket World Cup, competed for by teams from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, India and Pakistan, and which was played on several grounds in Worcestershire, including Bromsgrove. People who watched the matches were amazed by the level of ability, commitment and skills shown by the players. All the matches played were truly inspiring and those who were privileged to be spectators saw history being made. Today, through the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and its close partners, disability cricket can boast cricket for people with a wide range of disabilities. At grass roots level, The ECB has launched its “Disability Champions Clubs” Initiative and to date over 100 Clubs have signed up. For the elite disabled players, the ECB is developing a new competition for the elite disabled players. The 2021 Season will see a pilot of the “Disability

Premier League” with the plan to launch it fully in the summer of 2022. Alongside the “Disability Champions Clubs”, the ECB has partnered The Lords Taverners to launch further initiatives to increase greatly the number of people of all ages involved in cricket over the coming years. The ECB’s National Campaign to encourage children into playing cricket - “All Stars” and “Dynamos” caters for both disabled and those without disabilities For these two T20 Matches, the England XI will be selected from established International Players from the Physical Disability, Hearing Impaired and Learning Disability Squads. The ﬁrst T20 Match starts at 11.00.a.m and the second at 3.00.p.m. Admission and parking are free and the bar will be open in accordance with the relevant Government Guidelines on the day. The ANP Training Ground at St. Godwalds Park, on which both matches will be played, is a large family friendly area and thus watching the matches will make a great day out by Nick Taylor (please bring your own chairs).

Completely Bromsgrove

AVONCROFT CRICKET CLUB

Mixed weather & success

at Avoncroft Cricket Club!

he 2021 cricket season has started with a bit of a splash at Avoncroft, with May’s wet weather leaving Croft’s players wistfully looking back at last year’s blazing hot May when cricket was suspended due to our first Covid lockdown. In between the storms, there has been mixed success on the pitch. The 1st XI, who started playing in mid-April, looked very rusty in their first game, falling to a comfortable defeat. Since then, two improved performances that led to draws had Croft pointing in the right direction before May’s rain brought proceedings to a halt. The 2nd and 3rd XIs have only managed to play 1 game out of the first 3 due to the weather, but the 2nd XI game vs Harborne will last long in the memory. 85 from Jon Brunt was the key contribution for Avoncroft in their total of 273-8 but things were looking a bit nervy as Harborne closed in on their victory target before the intervention of Tom ‘Doc’ Holyoake, who finished the game in style by taking a hattrick to remove the last 3 batsmen and leave the visitors 35 runs short of their target. The weather has been kinder to the club’s junior section, with Friday evenings staying mercifully dry. With the club’s All Stars cricket programme now

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underway, the sight of over 80 boys and girls aged between 5 and 9 years old, plus another 40-50 children in the older age groups, has been great to see as junior cricket in Bromsgrove goes from strength to strength. The excitement of Friday evening training has been matched in some of the early season junior matches, with the U11s taking to T20 cricket like a duck to water by scoring 140-0 in their first match of the season, and a couple of very tight finishes at U12 and U14 level; the U12s scrapping home by 4 runs in a very tight game against Alvechurch whilst the U14s were battling to a tied finish against Droitwich. With many games needing to be rearranged after weather cancellations, there’s likely to be a lot of cricket going on at Croft’s Stoke Heath ground over the next couple of months. From 17th May, spectators are now allowed back at recreational sport so visitors are welcome to pop along and enjoy the village cricket atmosphere

by Paul Athey

Season draws to a close for Bromsgrove Sporting teams

ith one eye fixed on their next campaign and another seeing out what remains of the current season, manager Brendan Kelly recently oversaw a couple of friendly practice matches for Bromsgrove Sporting’s first team. With the pitch at the Victoria Ground currently being renovated for the next season both matches were played away. First up was Stourport Swifts at Walshes Meadow where a fairly even contest ended up one all, then a week later an improved Sporting side gained a 5 - 2 victory against Rushall Olympic. The Red Recruitment Cup left incomplete at Christmas owing to lockdown restrictions was due to be finished at the end of May with round robin matches between Sporting, Alvechurch and Redditch United. With planning for next season well underway, Kelly is already looking to bring in new players though several current favourites are expected to re-sign for 2021/22. Sadly centre-back Tom Taylor has left the club as he is unable to combine playing with his new job. However coming in the other direction are new assistant manager Ian King and goalkeeping coach Adam Marusiak. The Ladies team have recently been on a run of good form winning three successive league matches and a friendly against Stratford 13 - 0. Three more matches remain with the season finishing in early June. Manager Alan Horton is recruiting for next season and any women interested in playing for them (particularly goalkeepers) should contact the club at email address below. The Veterans also continued their good run with three league wins and getting through their cup competition 5 - 4 on penalties again Hampton. The season is also drawing to an end for the Colts teams but an early success is the under 12s Red team who were crowned champions of their league. Any enquiries for Bromsgrove Sporting can be fielded via hello@ bromsgrovesporting.co.uk and all news is on the website: Photos by by Phil Baker Phil Baker www.bromsgrovesporting.co.uk Completely Bromsgrove

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