Completely Bromsgrove July issue 31

Issue 31

July 2021

Completely

Bromsgrove

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W

elcome to the July issue of Completely Bromsgrove.

Among the highlights of this month’s edition is a great offer from Lisa Turner, owner of The Wrinkly Elephant Company based in Bromsgrove. Readers who order via the website from July 1 will receive a 10% discount off their order by using the code Bromsgrove 10. Turn to page 8 to find out more about Lisa’s business journey and her amazing handmade bath and body products which include soaps and shower steamers.

We have some lovely tales of achievement in this issue. Stephen Page, son of Jim Page who was interviewed in the June magazine, has been awarded an OBE for his services to publishing.

Selfless teenager Rebecca Booth spent her 13th bir thday handing out food and drink, clothes, toiletries, books, sleeping bags and much more to the homeless in Birmingham and Leighton Webster, who was also featured in the June issue, achieved his mammoth challenge to walk up Snowdon’s hardest path. Congratulations Leighton for getting to the summit, which is no mean feat.

And last, but certainly not least, we hear from George Davis. Many Completely Bromsgrove readers will know George as a hairdresser but he has written and released a single called The Pride of England.

His rousing song commemorates England’s World Cup 1966 winning footballers and all proceeds from the single, which can be heard on YouTube, are being donated to Dementia Care.

With so much to read, I will leave you all in peace to enjoy the magazine.

Keep safe everyone and best wishes from Michele Ford

16 27 34 41 Contents 6 8 10 14 16 18 20 22 23

Our MP’s message Women in Business A Special Birthday Girl Tile Choice for Patios Gardening Stephen Page OBE Keep B’grove Beautiful Get on the BARN Bus Alvechurch Legal Services

Completely

24 26 27 28 30 31 32 33 34 35

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

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British Motor Museum Recipe Butchers Block Event Sustainability Suggestions Health and Wellbeing Senior Snippets Avoncroft/Honorary Award Birdbox Selfie Hotspot Photo Gallery B’grove Photo Society

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Leighton’s Achievement George Davis Cuts Record Grace Kelly Cancer Trust Worcs Ambassadors History Avoncroft Re-opening Safari Lodges St Johns Appeal 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.

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5

A message from our MP

I

n a month where we enjoyed warm weather (mostly) and the beginning of the Euros, I introduced a new piece of legislation in Parliament. My Bill will help tackle child abuse, by raising the minimum age of marriage to 18.

At the moment, children aged over 16 in England and Wales can be legally married with their parents’ permission. In practice, these children are rarely lovestruck teens. They are overwhelmingly young women who have been coerced into marriage for cultural or religious reasons. I have seen this myself in the community where I grew up: young girls whose parents expected them to enter into a lifelong commitment with an older man long before they were ready with painful outcomes.

Let’s call this what it is: child abuse. Victims express regret that they never had the opportunity to complete their education, make informed choices about their future and reach their potential.

We must legislate to close this loophole so that vulnerable children cannot be pushed into such serious and life-changing commitments before they are ready. The Second Reading of the Bill will take place on November 19, and I am optimistic that it will receive government support.

In Bromsgrove, I recently met with our fantastic local farmers to discuss their work. Their activity

6 Completely Bromsgrove

during the pandemic has been par ticularly impor tant and it was useful to talk about the industry and how Worcestershire farmers are getting on. I also had the chance to catch up with the brilliant volunteers at Primrose Hospice. They have been raising funds as par t of their ‘Yellow Week’ campaign and as a proud patron of the organisation, it was great to pop in and personally thank the volunteers and staff.

As we look ahead, I know residents will be keenly anticipating further news on our progress to step 4 of the Government’s Roadmap. We know that the vaccines remain highly effective against the delta variant, so please get your jab when called up to do so. As ever, if I can be of any assistance to my constituents, please email me at: sajid.javid.mp@parliament.uk

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7

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Lisa savours the sweet smell of soap success T

here’s nothing like a beautiful scent to boost our spirits and entrepreneur Lisa Turner is lucky enough to work with uplifting aromas every day.

Lisa Turner and her husband Stuar t are directors of Bromsgrove-based The Wrinkly Elephant Company, which has rapidly built an impressive reputation among soap ‘n’ smellie enthusiasts since its 2018 launch.

The couple have recently moved the business out of their garage into a unit at Bromsgrove Enterprise Park, Aston Fields, which enables them to offer a click and collect service to locals as well as continuing to deliver to discerning customers across the UK from the tip of Scotland to Lands End in Cornwall.

Lisa is the soap creator while Stuar t deals with admin, finance and packing. “He loves seeing where orders have come from when they arrive,” said Lisa.

This heartening business success story had its roots in 2017 when Lisa attended a soap making course in Pershore.

“I wasn’t enjoying my job in education at the time and just fell in love with it. I practised on family and friends to start with as understandably there are lots of hoops to go through when your products come into contact with the skin. Everything must be assessed by a chemist.

“I began selling commercially in October 2018 and it just went crazy. The timing was ideal as more people were thinking about using less plastic and a bar of soap is a lovely, waste-free product.”

Lisa gave up her job at Christmas 2018 to concentrate fully on her new venture and Stuar t, who worked in corporate communications, joined her in June 2019.

Instagram has proved to be a massive tool in the company’s marketing armoury as Lisa’s colourful photos and informative videos of how the products are made are devoured by their 6,000 followers.

You can also find the company, which was a winner in former Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday initiative two years ago, on Twitter and Facebook.

The pandemic meant that Lisa was unable to sell her wares at craft shows but as the online ordering service was already in place pre-covid the company was able to move to a new level.

Washing hands thoroughly became even more important and Lisa received excellent reviews from nurses who used her soaps, which are palm oil free, vegan and not tested on animals, and said they made their hands feel much softer and less sore.

Lisa’s personal favourites are Simply Lemongrass - “You recognise its zingy smell straight away” – and Ebony and Ivory – “Black and white with activated charcoal. It won a silver award in the Free From Skincare Awards 2020.”

Alongside soaps, the company produces lip balms, lip scrubs, bath bombs and shower steamers which release essential oils when the shower is turned on. Lisa is keen

8 Completely Bromsgrove

to add shampoo and conditioner bars to the range but admitted producing them is more complicated due to the hair’s pH levels.

The Wrinkly Elephant Company is offering a 10% discount to Completely Bromsgrove readers who place an order via the website (Quote: Bromsgrove10) www.thewrinklyelephant.com Follow them on Instagram at thewrinklyelephantcompany

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9

Selfless teenager Rebecca’s birthday gift for homeless

A

t Completely Bromsgrove we never cease to be amazed by the outstanding efforts of people of all ages in our community who go the extra mile to help others.

This month we were delighted to hear from proud mum Sarah Booth about her daughter Rebecca’s sterling work for the homeless. Sarah takes up the story…

In January Rebecca wrote me a letter which read “Dear Mum, for my 13th bir thday please can I have (this is where I thought oh no here we go).” When I continued to read the letter it brought tears to my eyes as all she wanted was bread, butter, cheese, ham, drinks, crisps, fruit and dog treats and to go out on her 13th bir thday to feed the homeless.

“In between writing the letter and her birthday, Rebecca managed to get the wonderful community of Bromsgrove involved. They very kindly donated all sorts of items such as toiletries, clothes and sleeping bags etc.

“She also wrote a letter to the managing director of CrossCountry Trains where I work to ask for donations of water and brown bags. They wrote back saying how touched they’d been by her letter and donated far more than she’d asked for.

“Rebecca managed to fill our lounge with so many items for the homeless that we had to take two cars into Birmingham. In June, her bir thday arrived and she was so excited.

“We drove into Birmingham and teamed up with an amazing homeless charity called Homeless Birmingham CERT UK. Rebecca handed out 130 sandwiches, more than 100 bottles of water, pop, fruit, snacks, clothes, toiletries, books, sleeping bags and so much more to homeless and vulnerable people in Birmingham city centre.

“Everything that she collected was handed out to those less fortunate than herself. It was tense at times but Rebecca didn’t let this stop her and she remained calm and confident. She really inspired me and opened my eyes.

“I’m so proud of her because she did an amazing thing. When anyone asks her why she says it is because she sees homeless people on the street and wanted to help them out.

“I would like to just say a massive thank you to everyone in Bromsgrove who donated - Rebecca was so pleased to see such generosity – and to thank Homeless Birmingham – CERT UK.” Visit the charity’s Facebook page www.facebook. com/homelessbirminghamCERTUK/ to find out more and see a video of Rebecca’s special bir thday treat for others.

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15

GARDENING

Discovering the wonderful world of cut flowers S

ummer is well underway and many of us are hard at work in our gardens or allotment plots. As a newbie plot holder, I thought it was all about growing fruit and vegetables but soon found out I was wrong.

Unaware of the other side of allotment life, I discovered the world of the cut flower. Nothing beats the satisfaction you feel when you pick and gift a bunch of homegrown, lovingly nurtured blooms to someone special. Pure joy. A bouquet of flowers can transform a space or brighten someone’s day.

Cut flower gardens can be as small as a few containers on your patio or as large as a field. Some of the easy-to-grow staple flowers often found on allotments include dahlias, chrysanthemums, cosmos, asters, sweet peas and sunflowers though the list is endless. Requiring very little effort to grow, you will soon be rewarded with an abundance of gorgeous blooms all summer long.

Before deciding where to plant your flowers, you need to know your soil type. In general, when planting you want an area that has good drainage and healthy soil. It’s a good idea to perform a soil test before planting to see what amendments are needed. You can buy inexpensive soil test kits

online or from most garden centres.

Directly sow your seeds into your chosen area after the danger of frost has passed. Alternatively, starting them off indoors allows you to get a jump start on the growing season. To have a successful and abundant cutting garden, you will need to tend to your plants on a regular basis. Plants need regular water and it’s important to make sure you don’t over or under water. Once established your plants will need a weekly feed to keep them happy and blooming. The more you cut, the more blooms you will have!

Cut your flowers either in the early morning or late evening to prevent wilting. Be sure to use a clean, sharp pair of secateurs. Take a clean bucket of water into the garden with you as well so you can immediately put your stems in water.

It’s so rewarding to watch your own flower garden grow from seed and to enjoy beautiful, fresh-cut flowers all summer long.

Garden jobs for July Thin overcrowded apples, plums and pears. Done now this will ensure bigger and better quality fruit.

Cut lavender for drying, choosing newly opened flowers for the best fragrance, then hang up in a cool, dark place.

Feed, water and deadhead summer bedding in pots, borders and hanging baskets regularly.

Hoe and hand-weed borders often, so weeds don’t have time to set seed.

Feed and deadhead roses to keep them flowering strongly.

Water and feed sweet peas regularly, pick the flowers every few days, and remove seed pods to prolong flowering.

Keep watch for pests such as lily beetles, snails, aphids and vine weevils and remove before they do too much harm.

Enjoy the long hot summer, keep on top of your jobs and you’ll be able to put your feet up and survey all your hard work.

By Suzi M, garden lover and plotter at Roundhill Allotments

16 Completely Bromsgrove

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Completely Bromsgrove

17

Publisher Stephen books date at Buckingham Palace

F

ormer Finstall First School and Bromsgrove School student Stephen Page has been awarded an OBE for services to publishing.

Stephen began his career in bookselling before moving into publishing to work in marketing and sales, joining Fourth Estate in 1994 of which he became managing director in 2000.

In 2001 Stephen moved to Faber as chief executive chair at the publisher, which was founded in 1929 and is one of the world’s great publishing houses.

Faber’s list of authors includes 13 Nobel Laureates and six Booker Prize winners and it publishes the foremost voices in fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama with writers including T.S. Eliot, Ted Hughes, Harold Pinter, Sylvia Plath, William Golding, Samuel Beckett, Seamus Heaney and Kazuo Ishiguro.

A trustee of the Rathbone Estate and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, Stephen is also chair of Creative Access, a social enterprise which promotes diverse recruitment, training and inclusion across the creative economy.

Stephen’s father Jim Page was awarded an MBE

18 Completely Bromsgrove

for services to local and national voluntary arts organisations in 2001, collecting his honour from Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace with wife Frances, Stephen and his twin brother Oliver proudly looking on.

Jim said that Stephen has enjoyed a “remarkably successful career in publishing and it all started at Finstall First School, where he had an excellent headteacher, Mr Chambers.”

Stephen then moved to Bromsgrove School at the age of eight and was there for ten years before studying for a degree in history at Bristol University, graduating in 1988.

“Both Stephen and Oliver were reluctant readers when they were young until they read The Hobbit

by JRR Tolkien which completely grabbed their imagination,” said Jim. Everyone at Completely Bromsgrove would like to congratulate Stephen on his OBE and wish him well in the future.

Litter picking target smashed!

I

n the June edition of Completely Bromsgrove we reported that the local litter picking group Keep Bromsgrove Beautiful had pledged 300 hours towards the #MillionMileMission for the Great British Spring Clean organised by Keep Britain Tidy.

We are thrilled to announce that the enthusiastic group smashed their target and amassed a whopping 385 hours of litter picking in the seventeen-day campaign. Congratulations to all involved! Over 500 entries were recorded on the KBB Litter Log and together those individuals spent 385 hours collecting a massive 170 bags of rubbish!

The litter was collected from across the town and district by keen individuals who solo pick, KBB members who join area leads for group litter picks, along with groups from local schools and churches.

Funded by local County Councillors, ten schools have now received litter picking kits to use in and around their premises. During the #GBSpringClean new kits were delivered to Millfields and Meadows First Schools, and the children got straight to work! At Millfields a total of 246 pupils from eight classes collected 15 bags of rubbish from around the school. At Meadows 58 pupils from two classes spent a couple of hours along the footpath by the school and picked up 5 bags of litter. KBB founder Sarah Milburn was over the moon with the contributions made by the schools. She said “I’m so pleased with this initiative in the schools and the #KBBKids and their teachers should all be very proud of themselves for what they have achieved.”

When we asked Sarah how she felt about the overall results of the group during the #GBSpringClean, she said “It’s just wonderful!

We set out to reach 300 pledged hours and I am thrilled that, with a big team effort, we smashed that target! I must say a huge thank you to everyone who popped out to pick, those who go out every day, those who go when they can, to our super area leads who arrange group picks and to those who get their classes together in school to make a difference. All of you are #Litterheroes and you’ve helped to Keep Bromsgrove Beautiful, as well as contribute to Keep Britain Tidy’s #MillionMileMission. Thank you for caring, all of you!”

Find the group on Facebook or their new website www.keepbromsgrovebeautiful.com

20 Completely Bromsgrove

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BARN backed for BURT bus

B

romsgrove District Council has selected local charity BARN to run the ‘BURT’ community transport service until 2026.

BARN (Bromsgrove and Redditch Network) has run BURT since 2017 and can now continue to run it for five more years, after winning the latest tender from the district council.

Bromsgrove District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing and Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Shirley Webb, said: “Anyone who uses BURT will tell you that the people at BARN have done a fantastic job these past few years, so I’m pleased that they can now continue to do so after securing the contract.

“BURT meets an important need where, particularly in rural areas, people could otherwise become isolated because of a lack of transport that’s suitable for their needs.”

BARN’s Chief Executive, Gary Roskell, said: “We really appreciate Bromsgrove District Council’s faith in us to deliver this service, and it’s all thanks to our amazing volunteers and team. We’ve been keeping in touch with our passengers throughout the pandemic to make sure they have everything they need, and we’re helping them get out again as soon as they are

22 Completely Bromsgrove

able. This contract gives us the stability to build the service back up to pre-crisis levels, and our aim is to develop it even further.”

BURT, which stands for Bromsgrove Urban and Rural Transport, has been Bromsgrove District’s local community transport minibus service since 2009.

It helps residents of the district who are unable to make essential journeys by conventional transport, either because of personal mobility or disability difficulties, or because suitable public transport is not available.

The BURT minibus is adapted for wheelchair users and helps people get to fitness classes, life-afterstroke sessions, dementia clubs, social activities and friendship groups, and more, or sometimes just to the shops.

A new BURT bus was brought into service in 2018 with help from community fundraisers.

To find out more about the service, including how to volunteer with BARN to help run it, go to www.burtrides.org.uk or call 01527 585893

Advertisement Feature

Alvechurch Legal Services

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23

British Motor Museum announces its latest temporary exhibition

‘Factor Us In’

This new exhibition from the British Motor Museum ‘Factor Us In’ will open on 22 July and is the culmination of a two year-project to uncover the fascinating stories behind the motor industry and of the people who worked and lived around it.

In a year where the sense of community is more important than ever, the Museum wants to encourage local people to engage with the history on their doorstep, the history of an industry that has dominated the West Midlands for more than a century.

communities what they are today. The exhibition will evolve continually throughout its run and so the Museum is very keen to engage with more people to incorporate their own recollections during its lifetime, unlocking more stories of motor car communities.

‘Factor Us In’ puts the spotlight firmly on how the motor industry in the West Midlands affected people, the local landscape and surrounding businesses. The exhibition will look at the societal impact of the factories, the highs and lows of their production, as well as everyday life and reflect on the legacies they left behind.

The exhibition will run from 22 July 2021 until summer 2022. Alongside the physical temporary exhibition, the Museum will also have an online counterpart. ‘Factor Us in’ has in part been made possible by generous funding of Arts Council England.

The exhibition will primarily focus on recollections from the communities of Canley in Coventry, Longbridge in Birmingham and Lode Lane, Solihull. It explores the community response to key moments across the industry including manufacturing booms, strike actions, the subsequent loss of industry and recent efforts for redevelopment and diversification in employment.

‘Factor Us In’ uses a combination of the Museum’s rich collections of archival material, artefacts and oral history videos and recordings to illustrate those themes.

Its style is very much of overheard conversations, celebrating the people that helped make the factory

24 Completely Bromsgrove

The exhibition is included as part of a normal Museum entry. Museum entry is £14.50 for adults, £12.50 for concessions, £9 for children (5-16 years) and under 5s are FREE. There is also the option to Gift Aid or donate your entry fee and get an Annual Pass in return, at no extra cost.

To find out more information about the exhibition please visit the website at www. britishmotormuseum.co.uk/factor-us-in If you have a factory community story that you would like to share, or perhaps some artefacts you would like to loan for display then please email museum@ britishmotormuseum.co.uk

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Barbecued Oriental Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

RECIPE

Serves 4

Ingredients: 2 kg spare ribs Salt

For the marinade: 1 small, organic lemon 1 small piece of ginger (approx. 1.5 cm) 1 garlic clove 5–6 tablespoons Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons sesame oil 3–4 tablespoons honey 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (or white wine/apple cider vinegar) Freshly ground pepper 4 teaspoons sesame seeds

For the salad: 1 mango 1 Romaine lettuce (or 2 baby Romaine lettuces) 2 carrots 100 g sprouted seeds 2 tablespoons olive oil 2–3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar 100 ml apple juice 2–3 tablespoons Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce 1–2 teaspoons maple syrup Freshly ground pepper

Method:

1. Cook the spare ribs in a pan of boiling salted water for approx.

50–70 minutes, depending on the thickness of the ribs. Drain and allow to cool a little.

2. Prepare the marinade by washing the lemon under hot water, then patting it dry. Grate off some of the zest, cut the lemon in half and squeeze out the juice. Peel the ginger and garlic and chop both finely. Mix together the lemon zest and juice, soy sauce, olive oil, sesame oil, honey, vinegar, ginger, garlic, pepper and sesame seeds.

Brush the spare ribs with the marinade and put in the fridge for around 2 or 3 hours until you’re ready to start the barbecue.

3. Meanwhile, prepare the salad by peeling the mango and cutting the flesh off the stone. Slice the mango flesh into thin strips. Slice the lettuce, then wash and dry. Wash and peel the carrots, then shave off thin ribbons using a peeler. Wash the sprouted seeds, if necessary.

4.To prepare the dressing, use a blender to blend 4 tablespoons of sliced mango, the olive oil, vinegar, apple juice, soy sauce and maple syrup together. Season with pepper. Add the dressing to the salad and toss.

5. Place the spare ribs on the barbecue for about 10-20 minutes depending on the heat (closing the lid, if your barbecue has one).

If needed, baste with the remaining marinade as the ribs cook.

Serve alongside the salad.

Tip: Pre-cooking the ribs in salted water significantly reduces the time they need on the barbecue and keeps them succulent and full of flavour.

The marinade also tastes fantastic on beef steaks and pork chops.

To bring out the full flavour of the marinade, leave the spare ribs to marinate overnight.

Preparation time: approx. 10 min. + marinading Cooking time/hands-on time: approx. 25 min. + boiling spare ribs Total time: approx. 35 min.

www.lovebritishfood.co.uk

26 Completely Bromsgrove

Nutrition data, per serving: kJ/kcal: 2652/633 Protein: 39.6g Fat: 35.1g Carbohydrate: 31.8g

Advertisement Feature

Butchers Block Annual Charity Event is back for their 3rd Anniversary

O

n Saturday the 7th August, Michelle and Lilith are again pulling out all the stops as they celebrate three years on the High Street.

Lil’s Baps will be on the market for the day exchanging her hugely popular Street food for charitable donations. “Last year surpassed all expectations, so we are hoping we can raise the bar again this year,” said Lilith.

As always the money raised is split between two local charities.

S.O.B.S (survivors of bereavement of suicide), the ladies nominated charity and Nor th Worcester Basement Projects who support young people in the local area. “Both are fantastic local charities and we are really hoping to do them proud” adds Michelle.

As well as money being raised on Lil’s Baps, they are also running a raffle to win £50 spend in store! A strip of tickets are £2 and available to buy in store from now till August 7th.

To be kept up to date follow them on Facebook at @butchersblockbromgrove

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Completely Bromsgrove

27

Sustainability suggestions from Social Justice Group Milks A third of Brits have switched to non-dairy milk.

However, some alternatives to dairy are problematic too, especially when mass-farmed.

Almond farming is having a detrimental effect on bee populations. In the US, 70% of all commercial bees are drafted in to pollinate almond blossoms. By the end of the season, one third have died. Almond milk farming methods also use huge quantities of water.

Rice milk also needs a lot of water for cultivation and has a lower nutritional value than many milks. Paddy field bacteria produce methane and fertilisers pollute waterways.

Research has shown that oat milk is one of the most sustainable milks available. As its popularity rises, its impact on the environment (water use, deforestation etc) should not be as harsh as some other crops as it is grown in cooler climates. However, products containing conventionally-grown, mass-produced oats often show traces of glyphosate pesticide, a possible carcinogen.

Hazlenut milk is also a preferable alternative as it is wind-pollinated. As a tree, it helps to turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. It is generally farmed in areas wet enough not to need much extra water.

Hemp and flax are also more environmentally friendly, are less widely farmed and a great source of protein and healthy fats.

Coconut farming often involves the exploitation of pickers so choose Fair Trade products if you use coconut oils and milks as alternatives to dairy products.

28 Completely Bromsgrove

Soy milk is a more sustainable alternative and has health benefits, especially for women, when consumed in moderation as it has a higher protein content.

However, huge areas of rainforest have been and are still cut down for soy farming because it is also used in animal feed. If you are to choose food and drink produced from soybeans, try to buy organic products.

Palm oil High demand for palm oil can drive deforestation as land is used for planting and harvesting palm trees. Where possible, avoid palm oil and its derivatives by reading the ingredients list or look for labels that show that the product uses sustainably produced or organic palm oil.

If you would like to do more than adjust the items in your shopping basket, sign online petitions or write to companies to encourage change.

I’d love to hear from you about any ideas that you’d like to suggest or if there are any areas you’d like me to write about.

Elisabeth Johnston: lil.harris@hotmail.co.uk

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29

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Essential information on soothing oils

T

his month I am continuing the theme of essential oils as it is such a vast subject but I am going to include cellular technology in this ar ticle as well.

I remember having a tooth extracted when I was at school in the mid-1950s. The dentist packed the hole with gauze soaked in clove oil and I hated the taste.

Today I would have asked that the dentist used my cellular technology called Renu 28 which is a gel, has no taste, stops the bleeding and speeds up the healing process. This tube of gel goes everywhere with me because it is great for bites, stings and even sunburn.

Clove oil has been a favourite of new mothers for years as a soothing relief for baby’s teething pains or for toothaches. It’s been used for toothaches since the 1600s when dentistry was not at its best, but it’s thought that it’s been in use for more than 2,000 years.

In one study, it was shown that clove oil had the same effect as benzocaine. What’s more, clove oil can actually help to re-calcify teeth as well as prevent cavities.

Clove oil contains the same active ingredient as cinnamon oil, eugenol, and it came out second only to cinnamon oil in studies of essential oils effectiveness against common bacteria and candida albicans. Clove oil has been shown to be as effective as the conventional medication, nystatin, in treating yeast infections, as well as intestinal parasites. It is also especially good at treating acne, as it can kill the bacteria responsible for causing acne breakouts, as well as warts, coughs, colds, and asthma.

Cinnamon oil is one of the strongest antibacterial oils according to some research. Having read a study

30 Completely Bromsgrove

from 2006 on cinnamon oil and bacteria such as staphylococcus aureaus, E. coli, pseudomonas, and klebsiella, cinnamon oil has been shown to be more powerful that even other anti-bacterial oils including clove, rosemary, geranium, lime, orange and lemon.

Effective against common dental bacteria that cause cavities and root canal procedures, cinnamon oil works well added to toothpaste or you can make your own.

Using cinnamon oil in a diffuser or steamer will add a delicious fragrance to your home and help to kill off airborne bacteria.

Cinnamon oil has other amazing benefits. It’s a powerful antioxidant, digestive aid, blood sugar stabilizer and blood circulation booster. It can relieve depression, stimulate the immune system, and combat cardiovascular disease. It works as an antiparasitic, and anti-inflammatory. Oh, and it’s an effective remedy for impotence too as it contains the active ingredients eugenol, cinnamaldehyde and phellandrene.

Finally if you have mint growing in your garden cut it and pour over boiling water. Allow it to seep and strain and you have a wonderful mint tea and the same can be done with slices of lemon. We have had these in our kitchen for centuries.

For more information about essential oils please contact me on colette@need4change.com

by Colette Garside

Advertisement Feature

Senior Snippets – Sun Safety W 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 about staying sun safe.

Restrictions are easing and the nice weather is finally upon us, if you are anything like me then you cannot wait to start getting out and about again. While getting out in the sunshine certainly has health benefits it is also very important to remember to be sun safe in the process.

As we age our skin undergoes changes that weakens our defences against skin diseases, making our skin more vulnerable to the effects of the sun. Our skin loses fat and water content, becomes thinner, allowing UV light to penetrate more deeply.

Here are some of my tips to remaining safe in the sun: • Be aware of the time, the sun is at its strongest between 10am – 4pm, take extra precautions during these times.

You could have a break inside, retreat to the shade or put on a light covering for a while.

• Wear sun safe clothing, protecting your head is important – wear a wide brimmed hat and ensure that sunglasses are UV filtering.

• Always use a minimum of SPF15 suncream for daily use, if you are going to have an extended period of exposure then use at least SPF30. Remember to reapply every two hours.

• Drink plenty of water to keep yourself and your skin hydrated.

• Watch out for any suspicious growths and have regular skin exams.

For more information about Home Instead or if you have a suggestion for a future topic, please write to me at annie.dixon-dunn@homeinstead.co.uk. Alternatively, you can also call me on 01527 810 855.

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31

Seventy-five happy years of arts and crafts M

embers of Avoncroft Arts Society have enjoyed 75 years of pursuing their interest in arts and crafts.

Art classes are tutored and run throughout the week.

As well as painting in watercolour, acrylic and oil there are other activities such as pottery and sugarcraft groups.

New members are guided in the first steps of painting.

Avoncroft Folk Dance Group meet weekly but due to the restrictions and lockdown have not met for the past months. They are hoping to start dancing again soon and will ensure that social distancing guidelines are met.

Rooms are also let out to self-help groups and classes in ar t textiles and embroidery.

The society has come through the pandemic thanks to the hard work of administrators and tutors but members have been affected by not being able to go to their classes.

Art projects set by tutors via Zoom or e-mail have been successful though members prefer to be in a social atmosphere with their friends and paint in a classroom.

Since May 17th classes and other activities have returned under government restrictions and we are all looking forward to the further opening up of society.

New members are encouraged to join the society, which has the backing of Bournville Village Trust to pursue leisure and education in the area.

Visit www.avoncroftarts.org.uk for more details.

Honorary award after 50 years

B

romsgrove man, John Davidson, was made an Honorary Member, in recognition of his 50 years of membership of Bromsgrove Photographic Society.

He also received ‘The Gail And Roger Lewis Memorial Trophy For Services To Bromsgrove Photographic Society’.

The introduction was made by BPS Chairman, David Jellie and the vir tual presentation was by BPS President, Barry Green. Suppor t for these decisions was by the whole of BPS, who consider John to be a very worthy recipient.

John is to be seen regularly at Zoom meetings and previously would be one of the first through the door at the Ar t Centre, Avoncroft, which is where BPS held their meetings before Covid. He always has a warm smile, a kind and supportive word for everyone and is there to help at the drop of a hat.

One cannot ask more of a member than that. He may not wear an ermine and velvet cloak or a crown but to Bromsgrove Photographic Society, John is royalty.

32 Completely Bromsgrove

Street art installed to stop vandals preying on BirdBox

A

Catshill business has stepped in a bid to stop potential vandalism at Bromsgrove’s BirdBox space.

After two spates of vandalism of the panels in 48 hours, Karen Talbot at Modern Electric Tattoo Co had the idea to ‘graffiti’ the panels professionally.

Fred Yorke, who works at the Catshill parlour, is also a street artist and came up with the design in a bid to stop the panels being defaced.

community safety, said: “BirdBox is meant to be a space for everyone to enjoy but unfor tunately it was defaced twice in the space of 48 hours.

The creative idea reflects the BirdBox and represents the government and European Welcome Back funding, which has been used in Bromsgrove to help get the district thriving again post pandemic.

“Now, as we move along the Government’s roadmap to recovery, we hope the space really comes into its own and we don’t want this to be ruined by a few thoughtless people.

The street art, the Welcome Back BirdBox event and adverts to encourage people to shop local are just some of the projects which have been funded by the cash.

“Hopefully this street ar t will encourage people to respect this space and stop costing the council, and in turn the taxpayer, money to make right.”

Bromsgrove district councillor Phil Thomas, whose portfolio covers leisure, community services and

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34 Completely Bromsgrove

Bromsgrove Photographic Society shines spotlight during pandemic I

n a time when our lives have been affected by the restrictions that Covid has imposed upon us, Bromsgrove Photographic Society has had two main aims; firstly to stay safe and secondly to ensure that its members are still able to take part in and contribute to the society’s winter and summer programmes.

Throughout the winter season, annual and monthly competitions still took place, the difference being, instead of judges attending Avoncroft Arts Centre, the pre-Covid home of the society, they met via Zoom.

Using the same medium, we have maintained an excellent array of speakers, including one from New Zealand, who opened our minds and hearts to the beauty of his country with an amazing display of his images.

Another of the speakers was Adrian Weale, the grandson of a Fleet Street photographer, who gave a talk titled ‘A Family Business: A Perspective On War Photography’, which was fascinating.

Other talks covered nature, flowers, a great variety to stimulate the photographic mind. Before each presentation, there is an early session, given by individual members, with a focus on helping novices and refreshing the knowledge of more experienced members.

One particular early session is a series of presentations titled the Roger Lewis Foundation Course in Photography, which has been of great benefit and is very popular.

Where there are competitions or speakers at our meetings, the meetings are recorded in order for members to review them on the society’s YouTube channel. This is particularly useful for anyone who is unable to attend the original meeting.

As well as attending the Zoom meetings, some of the members organised a display in one of the empty shop fronts in Bromsgrove town centre, which has been well accepted by the public, as it’s a positive addition which enhances the street scene. The display can still be seen in High Street.

In between all of this, members have been entering external competitions and sharing their successes with others.

The summer season got underway in June and the first presenter via Zoom was Bruce Hammersley, an experienced photographer and author of 100 Strangers and Their Dogs.

Week two saw 25 members descend on Droitwich, taking photographs of the old building, parkland views and narrowboat marina, taking onboard social distancing. There has been so much provided for the enjoyment and wellbeing of our members and we are sure it will continue.

Anyone wishing to find out more about Bromsgrove Photographic Society can email bpscontact1@gmail. com or catch up with our activities on our website www.bromsgroveps.com, Facebook and Twitter.

Completely Bromsgrove

35

Leighton hits the heights to help hospice

I

n the June issue of Completely Bromsgrove we featured Leighton Webster, who planned to walk up Wales’s highest peak Snowdon with his eldest daughter Chloe and a team from the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

Leighton feeling on top of the world!

Leighton wanted to show his appreciation for the Primrose Hospice staff who looked after his family whilst he was in hospital last year with Covid-19 and the amazing staff who cared for him during his long ordeal, which included 59 days in intensive care.

On Saturday, June 19th, Leighton and the team arrived in Snowdonia and started their challenge, walking the Pyg Track which is the most rugged and challenging of the six paths up Snowdon, leading along the foothills of Crib Goch. The route up Crib Goch and along the ridge is extremely dangerous.

Leighton said: “After about three hours I hit a brick wall and thought, I can’t do this, but with the team’s encouragement I pushed on.

“When we reached the summit it was very emotional as I reflected on where I was this time last year, with the team seeing me at my worst, and now doing this walk with me. We celebrated by opening a bottle of prosecco and raising a toast!”

Leighton had been given some painted rocks to take with him by one of the nurse’s neighbours on behalf of Redditch Rocks. As they climbed, Leighton placed the painted rocks along the route.

Leighton’s eldest daughter Chloe

At the time of going to print, Leighton had raised in the region of £1,000. Anyone wishing to donate can do so by going to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/leighton-bluewarrior Well done to Leighton and the team from everyone at Completely Bromsgrove.

We made it! - from left to right : Phil Kristian Lucy Elliott Natalie Leighton and Chloe

36 Completely Bromsgrove

Birmingham City shirt signed by NHS staff

Back of the net! George’s football song is charity hit M

any Bromsgrove residents will know George Davis from his successful hairdressing salon in St John’s Street, but few may know that he is also an accomplished musician.

George’s mother-in-law Angela, who was his salon coordinator for 35 years and ran a team of 10 stylists, is sadly now in a care home suffering from dementia.

After watching a TV programme about legendary footballers affected by dementia including West Bromwich Albion striker Jeff Astle and World Cup winners Jack and Bobby Charlton brothers, George was moved to rewrite an old song he had recorded years ago.

Sitting in his dining room at home with his trusty guitar, George set to work and within a short period of time the song was completed. Titled Pride of England, the song referenced the three lions on the England shirt and is George’s thank you to the players who won the World Cup. After seeing the impact that dementia has on people’s lives and their loved ones, George was encouraged by friends and family to re-record the song for Dementia UK during lockdown and it was completed in time for Euro 2020, which kicked off on June 11.

Research shows that there are more than 850,00 people in the UK who have dementia and the condition affects 1 in 14 people over the age of 65

and 1 in 6 people over the age of 80. A staggering 3% of the UK population will develop dementia by 2051.

All proceeds from the song will go to the charity and donations will help Admiral Nurses give one-toone support to families during their toughest times.

Donations have soared to £3,000 and many generous and supportive people, including some that George has never met, have called the salon and popped in to make donations.

George is overwhelmed by the response so far but is still keen to raise more money.

Click on the YouTube link to hear Pride Of England: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFQMzfxkvi4 To make a donation head to George’s JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ pride-ofengland or you can visit the salon at 14 St John’s Street.

Completely Bromsgrove

37

A special milestone for the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust

F

ive years ago, the GKCCT became a registered charity. Founded in memory of fouryear-old Grace, who sadly passed away in 2014 following a battle with a rare form of cancer, the charity started by selling a few pin badges at the side of the road.

Today, Grace’s legacy stands at over £1.8 million.

It now works not only in Grace’s memory, but in memory of many other children too.

Childhood cancer remains the number one medical cause of death of children in the UK and the trust is working to change this for the children of the future.

It has been heart-warming to see how people coming together to help has made such a difference to so many children and families.

Dr Jen Kelly, charity founder, said: “Grace was a compassionate and caring little girl, who looked after others before herself. Above all, she wanted to take care of others before herself. The fifth birthday of the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust is a poignant milestone for the charity to reach because Grace never made it to her own fifth birthday.

“I believe that Grace would be so proud of all she has helped to achieve, so we would like this to be a time that the charity can reflect on all that has been we have achieved and all the families that Grace’s legacy has helped to support.

“We would like to say a big thank you to all our trustees, both past and present for their time and dedication to help the charity over the years, and our employees.”

The past 18 months has been an incredibly difficult time for so many people. When shop shelves were bare, the GKCCT delivered support packs of food and supplies to the local families that needed them.

For the charity to continue its vital work supporting oncology families by raising

38 Completely Bromsgrove

awareness of the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer and funding the vital research required to help find more effective and kinder treatments for children with cancer, it needs to raise more than £250,000 a year.

To find out more about the charity’s work and get involved, visit the website www.gkcct.org for further information.

Accountants support Ambassadors’ team for city run challenge

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roitwich-based accountants Ballards LLP have confirmed their commitment to support positive mental health and well-being by sponsoring the Worcestershire Ambassadors team taking part in this year’s Worcester City Run. The Ambassadors’ involvement in the half marathon and 10K events on September 5 is part of their year-long 2021 Walk Challenge, which encourages par ticipants to log their weekly mileage.

Funds raised will help Worcester Community Trust (WCT) offer professional support and activities.

Julia Williams, chairman of Worcestershire Ambassadors, said: “As well as promoting the county as a great place to live, work, invest, visit and do business, one of our core aims is to support local good causes and charities. The last 18 months have been challenging due to flooding and the pandemic and many people have bravely shared how this has impacted on their mental health.

“The aim of the 2021 Walk Challenge is to promote good health and mental well-being and we are proud to par tner with Air Products Worcester City Runs to grow our campaign and in turn raise money for WCT. We already have several runners in our team but would welcome more.”

Ballards LLP par tner James Syree said: “As a firm, we take the physical and mental health of our team

seriously and have procedures in place to suppor t those in need. We are delighted to be helping to raise awareness by supporting Worcestershire Ambassadors in the 2021 Walk Challenge and Worcester City Run.” Ruth Heywood, CEO of Worcester Community Trust, said that over the coming months WCT will be focusing on delivering services enabling local people to access mental health support. Funds raised through the Worcester City Run will be dedicated to hosting mental health first aid and Moodmaster courses.

“We’re thrilled to be part of one of the city’s best events and I’m looking forward to getting my trainers on to do my bit too,” Ms Heywood added.

For more information about Worcestershire Ambassadors and how to become a member, visit www.worcestershireambassadors.com Pictured, from left, are Sarah Mackay (WCT), Chris Orr (WA), Ben Allman (Ballards), Julia Williams (WA) and Ruth Heywood (WCT).

by Chris Green Photo: FT Images.

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HISTORY

John Corbett: The Salt King

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n 1812 workmen cutting the Worcester and Birmingham canal through the parish of Stoke Prior revealed deposits of salt. This chance discovery led to the establishment of salt and chemical works at what later became known as Stoke Works. The man behind these developments was the indefatigable entrepreneur John Corbett.

Corbett was born in Dudley in 1817, the eldest son of Joseph Corbett who had a canal carrying and boat building business at the Delph, near Brierley Hill. On leaving school he joined his father in the business and gained an extensive knowledge of the canal system. He took a job as an agent for the British Alkali Company, delivering and selling salt along the waterways. Noting how the salt industry was slipping into decline, he determined to rescue it and restore it to prosperity.

In 1852, John used the proceeds from the sale of his father’s carrying business to lease the British Alkali Company’s works at Stoke Prior. Nine years later he acquired a rival business, the nearby Imperial Works.

Between them the two companies manufactured a wide range of products, from soap and washing soda, to chemicals associated with the salt industry.

By 1867 Corbett had become the owner and sole proprietor of Stoke Prior Salt Works.

Corbett called his creation ‘The Model Salt Works of Europe’. As well as the salt factory, the 30-acre site included a brickworks, a canal boatyard, a soapworks, an iron foundry, an internal railway and a wagon shop.

He retained his interest in canal transport and built up his own fleet of some fifty canal boats for bringing and delivering salt. Salt was taken by canal to his depots in London and Birmingham, and to Gloucester from where it was shipped all over the world.

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In its heyday in the 1860s and 1870s, Stoke Works produced over 150,000 tons of fine salt and broad salt each year. It provided employment for over 500 people and made John Corbett a very wealthy man, earning him the reputation as ‘the Salt King’. He became a considerable landowner and philanthropist, and was elected to Parliament four times.

Corbett re-founded the settlement of Stoke Prior, funding a school, dispensary, church and other contributions to the village. Like many Victorian industrialists, he was aware of the advantages of a contented and well-fed workforce, and abolished female labour in the salt works in 1861. Other North Worcestershire institutions that benefited from his philanthropy included the Bromsgrove Cottage Hospital, where he was president of the inaugural committee set up in 1877.

The 1880s were difficult times for the salt industry.

Over-production and foreign competition led to falls in both prices and profits. The solution proposed was the merger of all the major producers into a Salt Union. Corbett sold Stoke Works to the Union for the inflated sum of £600,000. He served as its managing director for a while, before retiring to Chateau Impney, his Frenchstyle chateau near Droitwich

by Mike Sharpe where he died in 1901.

Court Leet re-open Avoncroft

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romsgrove Court Leet were honoured to support Avoncroft Museum to officially reopen the Museum after the long lockdown break.The day of the reopening was a perfect early summer, blue sky day which really showcased the wonderful selection of heritage buildings on site.

The Bailiff, Joanne Slade, arrived at the site in style in an open top Alvis which was walked in by the Bellman and Town Crier Kevin Ward. Once all members of the Court were gathered, at 11am, a procession to the Town House put the Court in place for the Bailiff to cut the ribbon and the Museum was declared OPEN! Chairman of the Trustees at Avoncroft, Mr Michael Woolley, welcomed the Court to the Museum and thanked them for their support. In reply, the Bailiff said that the Court felt very at home at the Museum.

Research has shown that the Bailiff elected in 1846, William Llewellyn, a grocer on the High Street had lived in the Town House on its original site on Worcester Road. His son, also William Llewellyn and resident of the house, became the Bailiff in 1865. It was, therefore, very fitting that the Town House was chosen as the building to cut the ribbon and officially reopen the Museum, with the link between the building and the Court stretching back over the centuries.

Assizes of ale, honey, bread and meat took place throughout the day in different locations across the site, and another ribbon was cut at the inauguration of the bee compound which is to be managed by the Worcestershire Beekeepers’ Association. The Avoncroft Honey, which is available for sale in the shop, was tasted

by two members of the Court and was found to be of excellent quality.

Alongside opening the museum thanks were extended to the many volunteers and supporters who have helped to get the site ready for opening following the recent vandalism. This wonderful day of pageantry and celebration certainly helped to put that awful incident into the past. The Bailiff expressed the thanks of the Court, and the town, to the new Director Zoe Willems and the team who had worked so hard under difficult circumstances and wished the Museum every success in the year ahead.

In a break from the formal ceremonies and processions, the Bailiff, Reeve, Marshal, Headborough, Carnitor and Bellman rode on the train!! Toot-Toot!!

Huge thanks were extended to the Bromsgrove Society of Model Engineers for the warm welcome.

Bailiff Joanne Slade said “We had a really wonderful time at Avoncroft and it was an honour to officially reopen the site after the lockdown and the vandalism.

It is clear to see how much hard work has gone into getting the site ready to re-open. Bromsgrove really is so fortunate to have this splendid Museum in our town, and I urge everyone to visit as often as they can.”

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Safari lodges offer an unforgettable wildlife experience T

he long-awaited Safari Lodges at West Midland Safari Park near Bewdley have officially opened to the public, welcoming guests to stay in the luxury overnight accommodation.

Eight exclusive lodges are integrated into newly updated animal habitats on the park’s reserves, overlooking cheetahs and African elephants, designed to give guests an immersive and unforgettable overnight wildlife experience.

The double-storey elephant lodges are authentically themed with thatched roofs, accommodating up to five people. They have large, open plan living spaces with lounge, dining area and kitchenette. The spacious balcony with outdoor seating offers spectacular views to watch elephants Latabe, Five and Sutton approach the pool in front of the lodges.

The two single-storey, detached cheetah lodges sleep up to six guests. The living spaces feature large windows, spanning one side of the building offering panoramic views of the cheetahs in their new habitat.

A floor-to-ceiling window offers similarly incredible views in the bedrooms where guests can watch cheetahs Azrael and Bappe run and play.

Safari Lodges shor t breaks will include breakfast

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and dinner, exclusive views of the animals in their natural setting and admission to the safari park and its attractions.

Wristbands for the adventure theme park will also be included for those staying during the park’s summer season. Each lodge will offer free Wi-Fi, TV, coffee machine and mini bar filled with local produce.

Project manager Neil James said: “It’s been thrilling to watch this amazing project grow into something so spectacular and to have done it with conservation at the forefront of our minds when it came to the design and build throughout has been hugely impor tant.”

Bookings for 2021 have almost sold out already, but 2022 breaks are now available to book online or by phone. Prices star t from £171 per adult per night and £147 per night for a child.

For fur ther information on the Safari Lodges and details on how to book, visit www.safari-lodges.co.uk

A different view from St John’s

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s the guardians of an ancient building, we have a responsibility to maintain the fabric of St John’s church to ensure it survives at the heart of the town for the years to come.

The Friends of St John’s is a charity dedicated to raising funds to finance maintenance and restoration needs at the church building. During the past 18 months fundraising opportunities have been hugely limited, and the invitation the charity had received to apply for Heritage Lottery Funding was withdrawn so that the funds could be redirected to other heritage organisations whose income streams had dried up due to lockdown.

When the building opened its doors again in the spring signs of deterioration were showing, and the team noticed a split in one of the wooden roof beams in the nave of the ancient church, and signs of water ingress on the aisle walls. A Structural Engineer was immediately called to look at the ceiling in the Grade One listed building and a small team ventured onto the church roof to investigate on the outside.

Whilst internal investigations are taking place the church building must close. The large oak structure spanning the church roof is one of six beams which sit 13 meters above the ground level, making a closeup inspection difficult, but once the inspection takes place the full extent of the situation, and the repair need, will be determined.

The external investigations highlighted areas requiring repair along the battlements, and also gave the team a chance to take a close look at the ancient, carved, stone pinnacles, and wonder about the masons who carved them. One of the carvings looked very much like it was a Bromsgrove Boar!

by Jo Slade With the glorious sunny weather in recent weeks, the parishioners have enjoyed outdoor services held by the tower in the church yard, and whilst the inspection and reports are carried out the congregation will continue to meet outside, or at another church if the weather isn’t kind.

With an ancient building there will always be an ongoing need for maintenance and restoration.

Anyone wanting to support the current projects at St John’s by making a contribution or signing up to become a Friend of St John’s can find out more details and make a donation via www.facebook.com/ FriendsStJohnsBromsgrove or email the team friends.stjohns.church@gmail.com

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AVONCROFT CRICKET CLUB

The cricket season is now in full swing!

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he cricket season is well underway, and it’s been a positive start on the field for the teams at Avoncroft CC. The 1st XI currently sit just inside the top half of Division 3 with a consistent record of two wins, two draws and two defeats.

Dan Elliott leads the way with 149 runs, although many of the batting plaudits should go to Alex Richardson, who has held a number of innings together on his way to an average of 44.5 to date.

On the bowling front, Paul Athey leads the way with 16 wickets at an average of 8.9.

The 2nd XI are similarly placed in Division 8, with two wins and two defeats to their name. Captain Joe Ingle has marshalled a very young side in excellent fashion to date, and has led from the front with the bat with 158 runs at an average of 52.7. The bowling spoils have been shared more evenly, with Tom Holyoake and youngster Matt Croal heading with wickets table with 5 each.

Croft’s most successful team to date have been the newly formed 3rd XI, who currently sit just one win away from top spot in Division 9, with a game in hand on their competitors. With a mix of experienced

heads and promising youngsters, the 3rds have won two of their three games to date. Runs have been shared around pretty equally, with Ant Pittam and Rohan Levy the key contributors with the ball.

The key objective for Avoncroft this season has been to introduce their junior players into adult cricket and this has been a resounding success with 12 players aged 15 or under representing the club in senior cricket.

Many of these players have formed the backbone of Croft’s Sunday XI, who have been victorious in three of their six games to date. Junior cricket has also flourished on Friday nights, with over 100 boys and girls regularly taking part in junior training. Weather permitting, this will continue throughout the summer! Spectators continue to be welcomed down to the ground to watch weekend and evening cricket, with the club’s bar open on all game days, in line with current Covid restrictions.

by Paul Athey

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World Wellbeing Week, 21-30 June We know that cultural and physical activities are some of the most powerful tools we have to build health and wellbeing in our communities. As such, with World Wellbeing Week running 21-30 June, we wanted to highlight some great opportunities to get active, creative and generally energised.

In terms of sports and physical activity, Walking Cricket will be taking place at Bromsgrove Walking Sports Centre at Bromsgrove Cricket Hockey & Tennis Club. Sessions will be running 10.30 - 11.30 every Tuesday morning beginning 29th June 2021. At just £4 per session it’s a wonderful capabilities and levels of experience. For more information please e-mail: ’. ‘ Keeping going with sports and physical activity, our ‘Strong and Steady’ falls prevention exercise classes are back up and running. Classes are being held at Bromsgrove Methodist Church, New Song Church (Sidemoor), Fathers Barn (Rubery), and The Village Hall (Wythall).

To access the programme please either call Hayley on 01527 881404 or complete an online registration form that can be found on the Strong and Steady page by searching for the word “Strong” on www.bromsgrove.gov.uk or at www.redditchbc.gov.uk/sas Turning to culture now, BirdBox is the exciting new space in Bromsgrove Town Centre. It’s the perfect place to bring to life your ideas for new events and businesses and gives residents the chance to celebrate, share and explore. Following the delayed opening of the BirdBox from last year due to the pandemic, we are excited that the space is starting to be used to showcase cultural and community talent in the town and the surrounding area. The BirdBox is situated next to Waitrose in the town centre. If you would like to know more about the new BirdBox space, please contact the Events Team: events@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk Finally we want to focus on the positive role heritage can play in developing good health and wellbeing. On the closest Saturday to midsummer day, the Feast of St John, Bromsgrove Court Leet traditionally parade through the town and proclaim the Charter granted to the town by King John in 1199.

This year, a scaled down version of the usual day took place on Saturday 26th June. A parade of 30 Court Leet members and guests walked from Kidderminster Road to the Housman Statue run by local charities and organisations.

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Successful end of season for Sporting

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he Red Recruitment Cup played between local teams in lieu of the Southern League season being aborted was finally completed at the end of May after being suspended at the end of last year owing to the COVID lockdown.

Sporting beat Redditch United 2-1 at The Trico Stadium with the winning goal in added time from club captain Leon Broadhurst. Alvechurch then beat Redditch 1-0 the following week at Lye Meadow but that was not enough to enable them to lift the trophy as Sporting ran out 1-0 winners at Alvechurch courtesy of a screamer from Jason Cowley.

Planning for next season is well underway and with non-league football arrivals and departures are more frequent than with bigger clubs.

Leaving Sporting are Gift Mussa, Chris Lait, Josh Ezewele and Mikey Taylor but arriving are James Mutton, a central defender and Jack Newell, a midfielder from Northampton Town.

Staying at the Victoria Ground are a number of club favourites including Jason Cowley, Jack Wilson, Luke Ward, Liam Spink, Nathan Hayward and Miro Pais.

Miro has also received a call-up to the England Colleges national Under 19s squad, an honour for him and the club.

The Sporting Women’s team were unable to complete their season on a high, losing their final match 5-2 away to Hereford Pegasus Ladies. Manager Alan Horton was not unhappy however saying: “It was our inaugural season.We had a number of good results and we have a great squad that will get better.”

There was another success for the Colts outfit with the Under 15s winning their division in the Central Warwickshire Youth Football League. Enquiries to play for the Colts teams can be sent to colts@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk Kit for the new season will be available soon following a deal with suppliers O’Neill as will season tickets. Details will be posted on the club website: www.bromsgrovesporting.co.uk Photos by All enquiries for Bromsgrove Sporting, particularly anybody

by Phil Baker Chris Jepson wanting to play for the women’s team can be sent to hello@ bromsgrovesporting.co.uk

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