Completely Bromsgrove issue 37

Issue 37

Completely

February 2022

Bromsgrove

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I

Welcome to the February issue of Completely Bromsgrove

must start by wishing you all a happy and healthy 2022. With Covid restrictions such as mask wearing being lifted, let us hope that we’ll soon be returning to some sort of normality.

readers and if you turn to pages 34 and 35 you can read all about the new Kia Rio.

Our first issue of the year is full of interesting articles, including news of a new CEO at the helm of the Basement Project based in Hanover Street. This amazing charity suppor ts young people under 25 who are in crisis.

Celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Finstall Cross WI’s have planted a tree in the orchard area of Penmanor playing field. This is part of the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) initiative. To find out more about QGC visit www.queensgreencanopy.org We are delighted to announce that we have a new contributor for 2022. Syd Taylor will be sharing his driving experiences with Completely Bromgrove

If you are looking for some great family enter tainment this February, then turn to our Ar ts section from page 39 where you will find film listings, a dinosaur extravaganza and a fantastic competition brought to you by Hatton Country World and Hatton Arms. Good luck to everyone who enters the competition and look out for the winner’s name in the March issue.

With February being the month of love, let us all be kind to our friends, family and neighbours and never think you are totally alone, there is always somebody willing to lend an ear. The Worcestershire County Council website has lots of information about support groups who can help if you are struggling to cope and need to talk. Visit www. worcestershire.gov.uk/info/20627/ suicide_prevention/1860/suicide_ prevention_support Very best wishes, Michele Ford

8 20 30 43 Contents

6 8 10 11 12 14 16 18 20 22

Our MP’s Message Care UK Basement Project CEO Alan Wallcroft RIP White Cottages WI’s Tree Planting Gardening B’grove Flower Club Blue Cross World Wildlife Trust

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24 26 27 28 29 30 32 34 36 37

Worcs Timber Products Health and Wellbeing Recipe MFG, Charity Link-up Council News Age UK History Drive Time BARRUP Trains Primrose Hospice

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

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38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

Graffiti Artist, Nathan The Arts Fairfield Flicks FeckenOdeon/Lickey Art Februsaurus Opera at Avoncroft West Midlands Safari Park Hanbury Hall B’grove Sporting F.C. Competition

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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A message from our MP

I

would like to wish all readers of Completely Bromsgrove a Happy New Year. There is no doubt that 2021 was another challenging year, but the spirit, kindness and resolve of residents in Bromsgrove District remains strong.

My sincere thanks also go to the armed forces and frontline workers, who continued their vital work over the festive period. I visited the Princess of Wales Community Hospital in Bromsgrove on Christmas Day to personally thank the nurses and clinicians on shift and serve tea to patients.

As you will know, we are engaged in a national mission to get boosted. The response across the country has been fantastic, but there is still more to do. I was incredibly proud to see the Ar trix vaccination centre in Bromsgrove receive national attention for its work to vaccinate people 24 hours a day during the Christmas period.

Recent data from the UK Health Security Agency shows that people who have not been vaccinated are up to eight times more likely to be hospitalised with Covid. If you have not received your booster - or a first or second dose - please come forward. We know how impor tant the vaccines are in protecting you, your loved ones, and the wider community.

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As we look ahead, I will be working with colleagues locally and nationally to help deliver on residents’ priorities. We are fully focused on supporting the NHS, increasing the number of police on the streets, and helping school pupils, as we recover from the impact of the pandemic.

Alongside much more, we have made impor tant progress, but there is still more to do. As ever, if I can be of any support to my constituents, please email me at sajid.javid.mp@parliament.uk

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Quality care in Bromsgrove you can trust W

hen a family is thinking about care for a loved one, they want the best - they want to know that the care home they choose will put their loved one’s safety, happiness and wellbeing first.

Care UK’s Chandler Court care home in Bromsgrove provides residential, dementia and nursing care, giving families peace of mind that their loved ones can stay living at the home should their needs change.

With the extra support that our care home offers, new residents are often surprised at what they can do, whether that’s being able to continue with an activity they’ve enjoyed in the past, or even discovering new hobbies with our daily activities.

Living at Chandler Court is all about quality of life.

Every colleague in the home is passionate about enabling residents to enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle, tailored around their unique needs and preferences. The lifestyle team organises a huge variety of group and one-to-one activities, with plenty going on each day.

Whether your loved one enjoys a quiet cup of tea in bed before starting the day, loves going for strolls in the landscaped grounds, or enjoys a chat over a beer, the team at Chandler Court will spend time to enable them to continue living life the way they want to.

The team at Chandler Court are proud to have achieved 83% in the recent relative survey, in fact 96% of families feel their loved ones are treated with kindness, respect and dignity^. Once their relative has settled into Chandler Court, they are able to focus on spending quality time with them again just enjoying each other’s company.

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Chandler Court is part of award-winning provider, Care UK – one of the UK’s most successful care home operators* with over 35 years’ experience of delivering high quality care to older people.

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New CEO rings in the changes at youth charity A

new chief executive officer at the helm of a Bromsgrove-based charity is ringing the changes in 2022 to widen the scope of support for young people across Worcestershire.

Jerry Robinson was appointed CEO of The Basement Project following Jackie Hooper’s retirement last year.

A founding member of the charity in 1998, Jackie helped steer it through the first 18 months of the pandemic, before her departure in October.

The Basement Project is a local charity that helps young people under 25 who are in crisis, homeless or at risk of homelessness, resolving the many contributing factors such as tenancy retention, finances, relationships, mental health and wellbeing and employability.

The three main areas of delivery are a floating support service, where members of the team work with young people in their homes and the community, a drop-in service and contact centre at the charity’s Hanover Street HQ and a growing food bank that is supporting young people and families in financial hardship.

Under the leadership of Jerry Robinson, and with the generous support of the local community and funders, The Basement Project is rapidly evolving the drop-in service, contact centre and community space in Bromsgrove. This development will increase capacity for more people to access the impor tant services, remotely or directly, and benefit from social interaction in a safe environment.

The engagement of more volunteers and funding from Worcestershire Children First, District Councils and partner funders, will also see the continued expansion of the geographical scope of floating suppor t offered, preventative work and crisis management, with the outreach programme developing its existing presence in the six districts that make up Worcestershire with a strong focus on Evesham, Worcester City and Malvern.

Jerry is well placed to understand the needs of young people, having previously worked for the Youth Hostel Association (England & Wales), The Mead Educational Trust in Leicestershire, and Coventry University Students Union.

“I am delighted to have joined this charity that has supported young people and families for more than 20 years in creating a foundation for independence,” said Jerry.

“Our experienced and expert team have a track record of delivering programmes and partnerships and together we will continue to help change young lives for the better and for the long term.”

If you would like to know more about funding suppor t for The Basement Project, making a donation or are interested in volunteering oppor tunities, call 01527 832993 or visit www. thebromsgrovebasementproject. org.uk

Jerry Robinson CEO at The Basement Project

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A tribute to former Bromsgrove Advertiser editor Alan

T

ributes have been paid to ex-Bromsgrove Advertiser editor Alan Wallcroft, who has died at the age of 77.

Alan also edited the Gloucester News and spent time as deputy news editor at the Worcester Evening News and sports editor of the Malvern Gazette, as well as in regional broadcasting.

While working at regional TV news programme ATV Today, Alan covered the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings by the IRA, reporting from the wreckage caused by the attack which killed 21 people.

Twenty years later, working for BBC Radio Gloucestershire, he also reported on serial killers Fred and Rosemary West, working as special coordinator and reporter on the investigations at their home in Gloucester for the following two years.

Birmingham-born Alan left school at 16 and began working as a copy boy in the newsroom of the Birmingham Evening Mail. From there, he moved to the Oldbury News, Warley News, Raymonds News Agency in Stoke-on-Trent and the city’s daily newspaper The Sentinel before joining BBC Radio Stoke as a sports reporter.

After his spell at ATV, he moved to the Worcester Evening News, where he also contributed to The Green ‘Un sports edition. In the early 1980s he joined Peterborough-based Radio Hereward and was for a short time the sports editor of the Malvern Gazette, before moving to BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

Alan returned to print with the Gloucester News and Bromsgrove Advertiser before his retirement in 2010 and continued to write reviews of productions at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Malvern Theatres until last year.

Completely Bromsgrove editor Michele Ford, who worked with Alan at the Advertiser in the late 80s, said: “Michele’s Advertiser colleague and Completely Bromsgrove writer/sub editor Teresa Green added: “Alan was my first deputy editor and a warm, friendly and encouraging man who loved sport, particularly his beloved Birmingham City FC, and golf.

“I will always remember him walking out of the editor’s office in Crown Close requesting a second lead or news in brief item to complete a page and our regular Friday afternoon games of Trivial Pursuit – reporters versus the sales team - when we would wheel a trolley of buffet food back from Asda over the road.”

Alan died at his home in Powick, near Worcester, on January 5 and is survived by his wife Val, son Ben and grandson Theo.

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Pretty haven for local independent women

L

ocated within walking distance of Bromsgrove town centre, Whites Cottage Homes is an almshouse charity providing flats which allow independent living for women aged over 60 who have a connection with the town.

The charity, which is administered by voluntary trustees, has 14 one and two bedroom unfurnished flats designed for the needs of older people. While the flats provide independent accommodation, residents are encouraged to make friends with other residents and share in the wider social life of the community. Residents do not pay rent and are not tenants, instead they are beneficiaries of the charity. Each resident makes a weekly maintenance contribution, payable monthly in advance.

Many Bromsgrove residents may be unaware of the charity or indeed the generous benefactor it is named after.

Born in 1819, Thomas White went to work with local entrepreneur, Captain John Adams, at the age of 16. The main distributor of revenue stamps for the payment of stamp duty on legal and other formal documents in Worcestershire, Captain Adams was also a manufacturer of extracted indigo, used in the dyeing of flax. He had bought an old dye factory at the rear of Perry Hall, a site on which he built the house which later became the Perry Hall Hotel and more recently Housman Hall.

Four years later Captain Adams took the enthusiastic Thomas into par tnership, the firm becoming Adams and White. When Captain Adams died in 1858 the business passed into Thomas’ hands and was further developed by him.

Thomas made donations to the Parish Church

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where he was church warden and for many years a Sunday School teacher. In 1885, he subscribed to the tower of All Saints Church and later to the tower at Dodford Church. Other beneficiaries were British and Foreign Bible Society, the Church Missionary Society, Bromsgrove United Charities and Bromsgrove Cottage Hospital. However, it was the Thomas White Cottage Homes which apparently gave him the greatest satisfaction.

The original terms of the trust stated that the homes were to be forever occupied by “decayed gentlewomen” or other women aged 60 and over with limited income. In the 1980s the administration of the charity was updated and amalgamated with a charity called Miss Fowler’s Endowment for White’s Homes, which had been set up in 1916. Residents now had to be “women in need” of not less than 60 years of age, with a preference for women “resident at the time of their appointment” in the ancient parish of Bromsgrove.

In 2016, the trustees decided to conver t the charity to a charitable incorporated organisation and formed and registered a new charity under the name Thomas White Cottage Homes (2016) Charity.

Should you wish to apply for a place, visit the website www. whitescottagehomes. co.uk for more information, an application form and contact details.

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WI’s tree is part of the Queen’s Green Canopy F

install Cross WI have planted a Red Sentinel crabapple tree in the orchard area of Penmanor playing field, near the village hall where the group meet.

The tree is part of the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) initiative to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.

Queen’s 70 years of service to the nation with efforts to improve the natural environment, a cause that is dear to members’ hearts.

Everyone from individuals to groups, schools, villages and businesses is encouraged to help enhance the environment by planting trees between October to March. Trees can also be gifted in memoriam or to celebrate a special occasion.

To find out more about Finstall Cross WI visit: www.finstallcrosswi.wordpress.com

The group hope that the local community will be able to help themselves to the fruit as the tree matures. As this is a late fruiting tree, any fruit that is left will provide a valuable food supply for birds at a time when other food is scarce.

A photo of the tree has been uploaded to the QGC map which will show the location of all the trees planted as part of the scheme.

Finstall Cross WI is pleased to be involved in this initiative which combines a celebration of the

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GARDENING

Treat resident insects to bug hotel stay

W

e have welcomed in the new growing year; seed and plant catalogues are dropping on the doormat as we speak. It may be winter outside and spring bulbs are starting to stir but all is damp, muddy and cold. The wildlife is dormant; curled up under leaves, taking refuge in all sorts of nooks and crannies.

Perhaps we could use this time to prepare for next autumn’s hibernation by building bug hotels for ladybirds and other insects to snuggle into. It doesn’t have to be a five star abode as wildlife will find shelter in piles of logs and leaves. With a little planning and if you have the space, you can build a bug penthouse.

display in the summer but also magnificent seed heads which are great to be used as packing material for the hotel. In fact, any large seed heads will do; pinecones and spikey teasel are ideal.

Ideally, a south facing site would suit your bug house. Place on a flat surface but make sure there is space under the structure so that your material is off the ground. You could go all out and lay a slab base but that’s not necessary as it can just be placed on the ground. I used some small pallets that I had been given but you can use any old framework, metal racking, even an old chest of drawers as long as there are “shelf spaces”, or simply a combination of bricks and wood.

You can use this time to gather up useful material: Cardboard rolls that have served their purpose already, broken terracotta pots that could form caves, straw, corrugated packing, anything that has pockets in, sticks and twigs, old sacking, air bricks, small hollow tubes that have been bunched together and secured, these are all perfect. To complete your build and make it waterproof it is a good idea to make a roof. Try a pitched roof with tiles or a living green roof with sedums. If you have any old tarpaulin or roofing felt why not reuse instead of sending it to landfill.

I am fortunate to grow artichokes; not only do they provide tasty treats and a stunning floral

Although there is little growing action in the garden there are still plenty of jobs to keep you busy.

Jobs to keep you busy in February Prune winter flowering shrubs, and cut back buddleia bushes Generally tidy the borders, cutting down perennial plants ready for the new growth Get an early start by sowing tomato and chilli seeds in a warm propagator

Fork compost or manure into your vegetable beds and cover with polythene to warm the soil before planting Trim hedging now before the nesting season starts again.

Chit seed potatoes

Take this time to get in front before the sowing and planting season begins and the weeds start breaking through.

By Suzi M, Plotter and garden lover from Roundhill Allotments

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It’s blooming good fun!

A

very happy new year from all of us at Bromsgrove Flower Club. Christmas decorations all taken down and put away time to get some flowers and foliage to brighten up the home.

With the help and skill of exper t flower arrangers, you can watch and learn new techniques and gain new and interesting ideas.

Our club meets at 2.00pm every third Thursday of the month at All Saints Church Hall Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove B60 1AF. Our first meeting of the year will take place on Thursday 17th February 2022.

Area NAFAS Demonstrator Brigette Manton will entertain us with her title “Sunshine and Showers”.

All Brigette’s beautiful creations will be raffled at the end of the demonstration.

Come along and receive a warm welcome with tea and biscuits in a relaxing and friendly environment.

Entrance fee - Members £3.00 Visitors £7.00

Arrangements designed by Brigette Manton, Area Demonstrator

www.bromsgroveflowerclub.org.uk

Advertisement Feature

Alvechurch Legal Services

M

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.

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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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Spring dangers to pets

S

pring is coming so it’s time to spend more time in the garden and in the countryside. It is important to keep an eye on our pets when enjoying the bloom of spring flowers as some are poisonous to them.

Daffodils are poisonous to dogs if they eat the bulbs or flowers, or drink water from a vase with daffodils in.

They can give your dog an upset stomach, make them vomit, and make them very sleepy and wobbly. A dog that’s been poisoned by daffodils might also have fits.

Tulips can irritate your dog’s mouth and gastrointestinal tract. Normally they will only experience drooling, being sick and diarrhoea, but heart problems and difficulty breathing are also signs of tulip poisoning.

Bluebells, rhodedendrons and the leaves and seeds of foxgloves are also toxic and can even be fatal so avoid planting in your garden and make sure dogs don’t consume any of these plants when out and about.

If you think your dog has been poisoned by anything, you need to act quickly and contact your vet as soon as your pet shows signs of being ill. If you have seen your dog eat something that they shouldn’t, don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Call your vet immediately and ask for their advice.

The joy of small pets S

mall animals like rabbits and guinea pigs are probably the most misunderstood pets and we get many that are brought into Blue Cross rehoming centres across the country every year.

They are often bought for children as pets but some smallies like gerbils and hamsters and even rabbits might not suit every child.

Small animals can make good companions for children as long as they understand that not all enjoy being handled and picked up, especially rabbits.

Meanwhile hamsters are nocturnal which means they can spend a lot of time during the day asleep.

Smallies are fun to watch and care for and rabbits and guinea pigs flourish if given a run where they can graze freely, safe from predators, in the garden.

This also gives children the opportunity to sit quietly and wait for the pet to come to them. This way the animals will feel more confident as they will have all four feet on the ground and will be able to scuttle away if they want to.

To find out more about caring for small pets, plants and foods poisonous to pets visit the advice pages of the Blue Cross website: www.bluecross.org.uk

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Robin by Wendy Carter Starling by Wendy Carter

Dunnock by Wendy Carter

Redwing by Wendy Carter

Starling by Wendy Carter

by Wendy Carter, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

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Goldfinch by Bas Yates

Blue tit by Tony Ellis

Surviving winter I

t was an odd start to the year wasn’t it? Record breaking mild weather to see in 2022 that was quickly followed by a cold snap with snow on high ground. On festive walks I heard the ‘teacher teacher’ song of a great tit in the spring-like sunshine and there was even a mistle thrush quietly singing, warming his vocal chords ready for his spring song. The mild temperatures might have given wildlife a bit of a break from the usual harshness of winter’s cold but the season isn’t over and tough times may still lie in wait for our wild friends.

Garden birds are probably the most visible example of the winter fight for survival. For much of the year they might pop into your garden to take advantage of any food that you put out in order to supplement their natural diet of caterpillars, spiders, insects and other minibeasts. As colder weather sets in, invertebrates become harder to find and berries and natural sources of seed are soon exploited. If you’re a keen gardener you can help in this by not deadheading seed-rich plants (teasels and sunflowers, for example) and leaving berried plants (such as ivy) until early spring before pruning. By midwinter, birds might flock to your garden to make the most of the high energy food like suet, peanuts and seeds that you provide.

Surviving the cold isn’t just about finding enough food but also about finding somewhere to shelter, especially overnight. Birds can fluff up their feathers to create air pockets that help to keep them warm but it’s crucial that they find nooks and crannies to hide from wind, rain and snow. Dense evergreen shrubs or cavities in trees can help but nest boxes, whilst usually used for breeding, can also offer a warm dry space for roosting birds during winter; amazingly, one birdwatcher discovered 58 wrens in just one box in a very cold winter! If a box isn’t available, the next best thing is to huddle together. You may be familiar

with starlings that dance in the sky before dropping into bed at dusk? When they’re roosting in reedbeds, each reed may hold ten or twenty starlings with the ones in the middle being warmest and safest. Similarly, long-tailed tit parties – usually made up of extended family members – snuggle together for warmth with the dominant members usually hogging the warmth and security of the middle.

If you’d love to help birds but aren’t able to help them where you live, why not consider renting a nest? We have boxes on our nature reserves to provide extra places for them to roost during winter and breed during spring and summer. It won’t be long before birds are starting to look for a place to raise their families. Nest box leaseholders receive an update on who’s set up home and might even have the chance to visit their box with a member of our team. Visit www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/ shop for more information.

Follow us on Twitter @WorcsWT Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/worcestershirewildlifetrust

It’s that time of year when the weather

can be unpredictable and here in Worcestershire we are all too familiar with floods and storm damage.

Damage from gales, snow, storms and floods causes stress, disruption and unsecured property.

If mother nature has blessed you with storm damage to your garden or outdoor spaces, remember that Worcester Timber Products hold a wide range of fencing products which can be delivered at short notice to help secure collapsed or dangerous fences, often associated with major storms or flooding.

Let’s think first about pre-empting mother nature’s blessings. Poor installation or low quality products can often mean that your fences aren’t as stable as they should be, so that if the wind picks up and your fence starts to sway, it can only hold on for so long if it’s not firmly installed. Factors from fence panels with damaged framing, timber posts suffering from rot and decay and incorrect or poor-quality nails are all reasons that could lead to vulnerability of your fence at the slightest sign of adverse weather.

In addition, the design of the fencing and the materials it’s made of will assist or deter adverse weather. The type of post is important too: standard timber fence posts won’t fare as well as more robust products against strong winds.

When it comes to panels, a slatted fence panel will offer less wind resistance and look great in situ too.

The fence nails are extremely important and will make a surprisingly big difference to the outcome of stormy weather. They keep your fence together which in turn keeps the garden secure. Poor quality nails will rust more quickly, boards and framing can become loose and black staining will run down the face of your panel.

Worcester Timber Products are experts in fencing, offering supply and delivery from extensive stocks, and the team highly recommends DuraPost which is designed to the highest quality to withstand winds of up to 110mph! Not only has DuraPost been wind tested, but it comes with a 25 year guarantee too. Although good weather can’t be promised, the resistance of DuraPost can.

Once you have chosen DuraPost, get a head start by employing a professional fencing contractor to install your fence. Using a trusted fencing contractor for the installation of your fence will ensure that all these aforementioned factors are addressed and the best possible make and style of panels and posts used for your needs and any weather conditions.

Worcester Timber Products is an elite stockist of the DuraPost range. See the DuraPost range and display at Worcester Timber Products in Hartlebury. Other key brands stocked by Worcester Timber Products include Osmo, SiteMate, Gatemate and Fencemate, as well as Readymade Gates, Easigrass, Post Saver and European Decorative panels from KDM. A number of products are also manufactured in-house and bespoke timber products can be created too.

Learn more at www.worcestertimberproducts.co.uk or call the Worcester Timber Products team on 01299 250744.

www.worces

@worcestertimb

FREE LOCAL RY DELIVE for site see web s detail

Fencing • Landscaping • Sheds

stertimberproducts.co.uk • 01299 250744

berproducts

@worcester_timber_products

@wtp_fences

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

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Understanding your health pyramid s we close the door on 2021 and begin 2022, I would like to wish all Completely Bromsgrove readers a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Since I broke my ankle in August, memories have flooded back from when I was in my mid 30s and was seriously ill for seven years. During that period, I had to think why I was in that situation - and make the decision to change. I did, but it wasn’t easy. My health and family were the main reasons why I needed to get my health back on track.

This led me into new research, new education and taking exams, looking at my holistic journey to turn my life around. In my early 30s I entered the holistic world of colour therapy, Reiki, Pranic Healing, nutrition, coaching, as well as beauty therapy, and there I have been for more than 40 years.

Since last August I have had to take stock of where I am and what I truly wish for in 2022.

The biggest shock was my husband going into hospital for the first time

in his life for open heart surgery. Due to the shock and trauma of everything that has happened over the last few months, I have ignored my own immune system but concentrated on hubby’s, which has helped him recover quickly.

As I connect the dots from a book I was reading in hospital, I understand how Redox molecules that I take as a supplement are so important. In Redox Matters, Dr Lee Ostler writes: “Redox is foundational. Redox matters because it is the foundation of all cellular processes and metabolic pathways in the body.

“Redox is at the bottom of the health pyramid. Everything else sits above it and is controlled and managed by reduction-oxidation reactions which provide the epigenetic influence and control inside all cells and throughout the body.”

This is the Inner Doctor which resides inherently inside every cell, every tissue, every organ, and every system of everybody.

The foods that we eat are just the building materials, but you need a foreman to direct where these nutrients are needed, and this is where Redox Molecules come in. As we age, these amazing molecules decrease and by the age of 40, we are only making about 50% of these molecules They decrease by about 10% every 10 years.

Research on these molecules is happening all over the world including at universities in Bath and Southampton.

There are more than 1,200 books written on this subject.

You may remember in the early 70s when Aloe Vera first came on the scene and hardly anyone in the UK had heard of it. Now everyone is aware of it and I believe it is going to be the same with Redox technology. I am so glad I am at the forefront of this research.

For more information, please visit www. need4change.com and join the members area or my Facebook private group: Redox Health & Wellness.

Alternatively, contact me directly at colette@need4change.com

by Colette Garside

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Completely Bromsgrove

RECIPE

Trout with creamy risotto style orzo

Serves 4

Method: Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large high sided frying pan, or a large casserole pan. Add the onion and cook over a medium heat for 4 - 5 mins until softened. Add the garlic, cook for a minute, then stir in the pasta, followed by a ladleful of stock. Cook, stirring until the stock is absorbed, then repeat until you have about 200ml of stock left. Add the asparagus to the pan along with the remaining stock, cover and leave to bubble for 2 minutes. The pasta and asparagus should now be just tender. Stir in the crème fraiche and parmesan, season and leave with the lid on while you cook the fish.

Heat a large frying pan with the remaining oil until hot. Season the plain flour and then coat the fish with it. Cook the trout for 1 to 1 and a half minutes on each side until lightly golden. You may have to do this in 2 batches. Stir the basil into the orzo, divide between plates and top each with a piece of trout and a few basil leaves. Serve with extra parmesan if liked.

Ingredients: 3 tbsp rapeseed oil 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 300g orzo pasta 1 litre vegetable stock made with a reduced sodium stock cube 2 x 250g bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into chunks 3 tbsp half fat crème fraiche Handful basil, shredded

3 tbsp grated parmesan cheese, plus extra to serve 50g plain flour 4 British trout fillets

Per serving: 744 kcals, 28g fat, 7.7g saturated fat, 72g carbs, 6g sugars, 5g fibre, 48g protein, 0.43g salt

Prep: 5 minutes Cook: 20 minutes

www.lovebritishfood.co.uk Completely Bromsgrove

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Bromsgrove law firm announces link up with Primrose Hospice A

Bromsgrove law firm is set to suppor t Primrose Hospice for the next 12 months as par t of a new charity partnership.

Staff at mfg Solicitors have voted for the hospice to be its local charity for the coming year with a variety of events planned to suppor t fundraising for people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families and loved ones.

The new link-up kicked off with a fun Primrose Day event at the firm’s High Street office which saw staff raise £230 by selling homemade cupcakes and hosting a raffle, all based on a Primrose Hospice yellow theme.

Carol Godwin, conveyancing administrator at mfg Solicitors, said: “So many staff here know the amazing things Primrose Hospice does for its patients and their families and we are delighted to be suppor ting them as our local office charity over the next 12 months.

“They provide a vital service for the community and we are looking forward to doing all we can to help through the many events we have planned and present the charity with a healthy cheque this time next year.”

Abi Coulson, corporate fundraiser from Primrose Hospice, added: “We were delighted when we

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heard we had been chosen by mfg’s staff in Bromsgrove.

“Carol and the team are already working hard to help us raise much-needed funds and I was pleased to attend the recent Primrose Day to give a little more insight into what we do and how fundraising money is spent. We can’t thank ever yone at the firm enough and look forward to getting involved in all the fantastic ideas they have planned.”

Throughout the year staff at mfg Solicitors will be hosting a wide range of events including dress down days, a netball tournament, regular raffles and book sales to raise money. mfg also has offices in Kidderminster, Worcester, Telford, Ludlow and Birmingham.

Photo: Carol Godwin, Abi Coulson and Becky Husband.

Inspire others to get walking with free training

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alking enthusiasts are being called upon to inspire others to take up the activity this New Year.

In a bid to get more people walking in areas local to them, Bromsgrove District Council will be offering a free training session for anyone interested in becoming a Worcestershire Health Walks Walk Leader.

Walk Leaders run safe and enjoyable walking sessions for other local people of varying abilities. It is a voluntary role and walk leaders usually set up walks in their local area at a time to suit them.

The training to become a walk leader will take place on Wednesday, February 2nd and will take approximately two hours from 2pm to 4pm. A local venue, likely to be Parkside, will be confirmed when it is known how many people are interested in attending. It is open to anyone from Bromsgrove district and Redditch borough.

The training will help participants to: • Understand the role of a walk leader • Be clear about some practicalities of running a safe and enjoyable walk • Know that walking is good for us all, and how to help others overcome barriers to joining a walk • Gain the confidence needed to lead a health walk

• Meet each other, share ideas and trouble-shoot any concerns about walks While Walk Leaders will be responsible for many aspects of the walks they set up, the council will provide suppor t with promoting the walk to the public as well as administration and cover when needed.

Walks come in all shapes and sizes, with current sessions covering everything from gentle walks for the more unsteady to buggy walks for new parents.

Councillor Shirley Webb, whose por tfolio covers health and wellbeing, said: “Without our dedicated volunteer walk leaders, we would not be able to run our health walks across the district and we’d love to get more people on board. Walking is a fantastic form of exercise, and more walk leaders means more people getting fit with a walking group near them.”

For more information or to sign up for the training, please contact Hayley Gwilliam, physical activity development officer on 01527 881404 or email: hayley.gwilliam@ bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk

Temporary free transport aims to inspire active lifestyle

V

ulnerable and elderly residents can travel fur ther for free and be able to access more activities to help keep them fit thanks to public health funding.

Bromsgrove District Council have been successful in bidding for additional funding from Worcestershire Public Health, made available to help those most impacted by Covid, to support the transpor t of people to council-run community exercise sessions helping the lonely, elderly, disabled and vulnerable.

visit www.bromsgrove.gov.uk Alternatively, to discuss your needs call the council on 01527 881404.

Residents who are eligible for Community Transpor t, usually those who are unable to access public transpor t easily due to disability or older age, can now use the transport for free to attend council-run community exercise classes designed to improve mobility, prevent falls, and help vulnerable people stay independent in their homes.

Por tfolio holder for health and wellbeing, Councillor Shirley Webb, said: “We know that transpor t can be a barrier when it comes to our elderly and vulnerable population engaging in activities that can help them in the long term. This funding will be greatly appreciated and has the potential to make a big difference to lots of people.”

The extra funding will cover the cost usually charged for this service, or alternatively the registration set up fee, and will be available until the end of March.

To deliver additional free service, the council will be working alongside local transport partners BURT and others and would like local taxi drivers interested in supporting the scheme in outlying areas, where traditional community transport is not as readily available, to contact Hayley Gwilliam on 01527 881404 or email Hayley.Gwilliam@ bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk

All transport will need to be pre-booked and uses volunteer driven cars and multi-purpose vehicles. More details about start dates are available on the council’s website, search for “community classes”.

To find out more about how to book free transpor t or learn more about the community classes available near you

Please be aware this funding is only eligible for use by par ticipants attending the council’s community classes and cannot be used for other exercise sessions or other journeys such as shopping.

Completely Bromsgrove

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Age UK BRWF opens pop up shop on High Street N

orth Worcestershire charity Age UK BRWF started 2022 with an exciting announcement about a new pop up shop in Bromsgrove High Street.

The charity’s new store, which occupies the former Dorothy Perkins building, will specialise in good quality, pre-loved furniture and homeware, as well as offering a range of sustainable and affordable clothing and shoes, books and toys plus vintage items and other great finds.

Age UK BRWF’s CEO, Amanda Allen, said: “We are really pleased to be star ting 2022 with positive news.

While we have been able to accept some furniture items at our charity shops and eBay store, we have never had the space to be able to properly develop furniture sales. This shop provides us with that opportunity to develop our retail income so that we can continue developing the suppor t and services that we provide for local older people.”

To help re-enforce its focus on community, the charity sought nominations for members of the public to perform the shop’s official opening.

Amanda added: “The last two years have been incredibly difficult for everyone, but this period has shown that our local services, including our free information and advice and befriending services, have never been needed more. However, we need the

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support of our communities so that we can continue helping others.

“If you have any pre-loved furniture and household items that you would like to donate, we would appreciate you getting in touch and can offer a free collection service. If you would like to suppor t us by buying items from our new store, then we can also offer a delivery service with local delivery charges.

“We would also love to hear from anybody who is interested in volunteering at our High Street store or any of our other charity shops. With your help, we can keep making a difference for people aged 50-plus living in Nor th Worcestershire.”

For more information about Age UK BRWF’s new store or its local work, call 01527 570490 or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/brwf/shops/

BROMSGROVE 01527 872318 Funeral Plans

STUDLEY 01527 852213

www.jamesgilesandsonsltd.co.uk

An Independent Family Owned Funeral Directors

THOMAS BROTHERS Family owned funeral homes in Redditch, Wythall, Alvechurch, Bromsgrove & Alcester.

We provide a friendly, dignified service paying special attention to detail.

REDDITCH • BROMSGROVE 01527 547777 01527 831700 WYTHALL • ALVECHURCH • ALCESTER 01564 822001 0121 445 3422 01789 330939

“A family concern”

www.thomasbrothers.co.uk email: admin@thomasbrothers.co.uk Completely Bromsgrove

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The life of John Cotton: Builder of Bromsgrove L

ook around our town and you can’t miss the work of John Cotton, the prolific 19th century architect. But who was this man who did so much to shape our town?

John Cotton was born at Westbourne House, Worcester Road on November 5th 1844, the son of William Cotton and his wife Caroline.

The family originated in Staffordshire but had moved to Bromsgrove in the late 18th century.

Cotton’s mother died when he was 13 and his father remarried. He was educated at Sedgley Park School near Wolverhampton.

Cotton set his sights on becoming an architect and moved to London to achieve his ambition.

He was influenced by the Gothic style which was becoming popular in Victorian times and admired Birmingham buildings such as St Chad’s Roman Catholic Cathedral and King Edward’s School.

In 1869, he won a prize set up in honour of renowned architect A.W.N Pugin and this helped cement his reputation. He opened an office in Birmingham and began to practise as an architect in his own right.

Cotton worked on commissions across the Midlands.

In 1881 he was one of several architects employed on Impney Mansion, better known as Chateau Impney, at Droitwich Spa for local entrepreneur John Corbett.

Another notable early project was the church of St Thomas, Nuthurst, Hockley Heath, which again was completed in his beloved Gothic style.

He designed many notable buildings in and around Bromsgrove, including Dodford School (1882), St Godwald’s Church, Finstall (1883), the National School at Linthurst Hill, Blackwell (1884), the Cottage Hospital in New Road (1891), the Literary and Scientific Institute, New Road (1894) and Manchester House in Bromsgrove High Street (1897).

Bromsgrove Institute and hospital

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Many of these projects were undertaken in partnership with one or other of three local builders, Jonathan Brazier, Joseph Tilt and William Weaver.

Perhaps Cotton’s most important work in Bromsgrove is All Saints Church, Birmingham Road, completed in 1874. The interior of the church was characterised by the use of polychromatic brick. It cost £4,500 and was consecrated by the Bishop of Worcester.

John Cotton was also an accomplished artist.

As well as the new buildings he was being paid to build, he often made sketches of the old buildings they were replacing and many of these have contributed to the historical record.

Cotton retired from architecture in the 1890s, following the death of his brother William who was an auctioneer and historian. His later years were spent drawing, painting and writing poetry.

He wrote articles on subjects such as local dialects and the ancient manors of Bromsgrove, and contributed to Notes and Queries, a correspondence column in the Bromsgrove Messenger newspaper.

John Cotton died on April 8th 1934, seven months before his 90th birthday, and is buried in Bromsgrove Cemetery. He left an archive of his drawings and historical scrapbooks to Birmingham Reference Library.

Limited copies of the 2002 publication, John Cotton: The Life of a Midlands Architect, by Jennie McGregor-Smith are available from the Bromsgrove Society, www.bsoc.co.uk

Sketch of Bromsgrove Cotton Mill

HISTORY

John Cotton

by Mike Sharpe

All Saints Church

Sketch of Town Hall with stocks Completely Bromsgrove

33

Romance this Rio and V

ery competent in everything without going crazy over anything, this car shows the worth of the policy which dictates how Kias from Korea are marketed: as cars offering great value for money and with a confidence inspiring seven-year warranty too.

Because the range starts at just £14,100 OTR for the cheapest version, the Rio is one of the most affordable small cars in the UK when you take into account fuel economy and low cost of servicing. Even the 1.0 T-GDi DCT Rio ‘2’ tested here costs only £18,300. Try getting an equivalent Vauxhall, Peugeot or Renault for that.

Compact outside and roomy inside thanks to a tall roofline and wide cabin, that generous interior space makes it a sensible-shoes five door, five seat hatchback super-mini that is pleasant to be in.

With an appealing silhouette rather than an attempt at a supersonic sculpture like some rivals, it certainly looks ‘youthful’ and sporty - but looks aside, it provides all that the average driver needs in today’s world of motoring mayhem: room for a family and luggage, economical running and more than a measure of practicality.

Quality thinking invests the Rio with rational appeal and many will be attracted by the functionality and

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not be bothered about the image - and they can afford to be because Kia’s cars function so well. It’s proof that a car can achieve great ends with modest means. With the Rio no single aspect of the design has been allowed over-emphasis and yet nothing has been overlooked.

If there were ever any doubt that one could aspire to enjoyable, practical and reliable motoring without going to extremes of elaborate specification, halfbaked homage to evocative names over which washes blank unthinking admiration and spending a fortune, that doubt must be dismissed by the Kia Rio. While the 1.0 99bhp petrol version is not the car for Mike Mercury, near 120 mph is fast enough for Captain Sensible on today’s miserable roads. The little threecylinder engine is a jewel. It spins so smoothly and so willingly that you do begin to realise that sometimes ‘less is more’. Bimble about in ‘eco’ mode and life is very tame. Select ‘normal’ and it’s just that...normal.

DRIVE TIME

you’ll be forever in love Use ‘Sport’ mode and everything comes together beautifully and you can whizz along in a really lively way. It’s a fairly light car which doesn’t have the leadloaded feel of a Volkswagen but is a very well put together quality product.

Fixtures and fittings inside and out are sufficiently substantial and everything seems durable enough to last for years. In the trim level 2 variant here, you get - among other things - air con., all round power windows, extra airbags, and smart alloy wheels.

Electronic stability control (ESC) is standard too. What more do you want? Or more correctly ‘need’?

Settle comfortably behind the wheel, take in the perfect ergonomic layout and you’re ready to go in an instant - unlike last week’s ‘executive express’ which required a post graduate level of understanding to drive the sound system and understand the numerous beeps and bongs.

And what did I love most of all? The key goes where it should - in the ignition lock. You always know where it is instead of having to search under seats and the places that it might have fallen into.

Light and easy to manoeuvre in town and running straight and true at speed, the Rio is a balanced car that is a delight to handle whether parking or powering round twisty bends. The little petrol engine is a surprisingly eager beaver. 80mph cruising is quiet and the DCT automatic transmission is perfectly matched to the engine characteristics. You don’t even feel any sign of strain under hard acceleration, so you are encouraged to enjoy the engine’s willingness.

That said, this Rio is no thunder blasterwhizzbang but I was impressed with how brisk it proved to be when pressing on and no matter how much I used the spurs, economy seemed to be unaffected. A very easily achievable 55/60 mpg overall is well within anyone’s capability and I have no doubt that should you choose to pussyfoot around in one of these, you’d see even better results (But how boring do you want to be?).

Not only does a Rio beguile you with its value, once you drive it, it will beguile you with its manners too.

So, if your heart is set on a supermini, try romancing this Rio and you certainly won’t settle for less.

by Syd Taylor Completely Bromsgrove

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Full steam ahead needed for improvements to our local station

www.bromsgroverail.org.uk

A

recent article in Rail Business Daily was headlined “Full Steam Ahead for Improvements to Droitwich Spa Station”. Several organisations, including Wychavon District Council, Droitwich Town Council, West Midlands Trains and “The Friends of Droitwich Station”, together with the County Council, are carrying out a number of improvements at the Station and on key routes into the town.

Which begs the question - why isn’t Bromsgrove District Council, the North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration Organisation, and the County Council doing the same for Bromsgrove Station?

state of the art bus shelter being installed at the Station, giving all passengers alighting there real time information needed for their onward journeys, as well as having smar t lighting and integrated CCTV.

The “new” Bromsgrove station in Aston Fields was opened in July 2016 and the Cross City service was extended to Bromsgrove in July 2018. So, travelling on the New Street to Hereford Service, and on the Cross City Service from Lichfield Trent Valley to Bromsgrove, there are thir ty stations from which one can travel directly to and from the town.

When is Councillor Alan Amos, the W.C.C. Cabinet Minister with responsibility for Highways and Transport, who was the source of the article, going to have this installed?

There are three bus services connecting the Railway Station directly to the Town Centre. - thus the Station is a major gateway to the District, and to the Town Centre in particular, and can play an important part in the economic recovery from the pandemic.

So what needs to be done to improve the Station?

In the Bromsgrove Standard of September 4th last year, there was a major story about an Eco

There is no undercover seating located within the concourse area of the station building, there are insufficient covered shelters on the four platforms, and there is only cold stainless steel seating for waiting passengers.

There are many other improvements which could be made, for which funding may be able to be obtained via the Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership.

Perhaps our District, County Councillors and the NWEDR should get together with the West Midlands Rail Executive and the WCRP to draw up a plan to improve this important and underutilised asset?

by Nick Taylor

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Environmentally savvy shopping is here!

A

re you trying to do your bit for the environment by spending less on clothes this year?

Primrose Hospice charity shops can help. With six shops throughout North Worcestershire, there are plenty of opportunities to find a gem for a bargain price.

The fashion industry is responsible for 2.1 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions every year so why not make a New Year’s resolution to update your wardrobe from the hospice’s shops rather than buying new items. You can find everything from coats to gifts all under one roof to make your life that little bit easier.

Ian McRoy, retail manager at Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre, said: “We love seeing new and regular customers come through the doors of our shops, including our new store in the Kingfisher Centre.

We are able to offer an alternative way of shopping while raising vital funds for our local hospice.”

If you prefer to shop online from the comfor t of your own sofa the Primrose Hospice eBay shop is brimming full of unique items ready to purchase. eBay items could make the perfect gift for your loved ones and with everything from collectables to beautiful jewellery there is something for everyone.

To keep services across the hospice and family suppor t centre free to patients and their families, it needs to raise over £1.75 million every year and couldn’t achieve this without the generosity of our community visiting shops to donate and buy items.

Good quality pre-loved clothing, shoes, household and enter tainment items are welcome, and your donation could be another person’s treasure.

To find out more about the shops or donating your pre-loved goods call 01527 871051 or visit www. primrosehospice.org/support-us/shops/ our-shops/

Shops are located in Bromsgrove, Redditch, Headless Cross, Rubery and Droitwich Spa.

Completely Bromsgrove

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Nathan’s graffiti gives business kerb appeal R

egular readers of Completely Bromsgrove will remember the feature in our November issue about Birmingham-based mural artist Nathan Smith, who was commissioned by Stoke Prior Parish Council to give concrete bus shelters in the village and nearby Stoke Works a fresh look.

Fans of Nathan’s work – and street art in general - will be pleased to know that he’s been wielding his spray cans once again, this time at the offices of GTAccess Ltd at Unit 4 and 19-21 Sherwood Road in Aston Fields.

Director Jo Till, who lives in Stoke Prior with her husband and the company’s managing director Jonathan, explained how the colourful project came about.

“When we purchased the old badge factory at Unit 4, we thought that the grey wall looked bare and needed brightening up.

“I put an appeal out on Facebook for a graffiti artist but didn’t get a response. Then I saw what Nathan had done with the bus stops on the Stoke Prior Network group on Facebook and contacted him.”

Jo said that it took Nathan a week to work his magic at both sites and admits that he was often distracted by passers-by who were keen to find out more about his creations.

Nathan was given free rein to transform the grey wall at Unit 4 and cladding at 19-21 Sherwood Road and his bold designs using primary colours incorporate machinery to promote GTAccess Ltd’s status as the UK’s leading independent powered access company.

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Jo hopes that other Bromsgrove businesses will follow their lead, adding: “Cities like Birmingham, London and Bristol have a considerable amount of street art and it is well respected, unlike the other type of graffiti. Industrial estates can be grey and boring and need a lift.”

An enthusiastic, self-taught artist, Nathan seized his opportunity to turn his hobby into a thriving business after he was made redundant by Severn Trent Water when the pandemic hit. His striking designs now adorn businesses, homes and gardens across the West Midlands and further afield in London, Leicester and Liverpool.

You can see more examples of Nathan’s work at www.facebook.com/Graffitieffect/

The Arts

FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS FOR FEBRUARY

SAT 19 FEB 7.30PM

WED 23 FEB 1.30PM & 4.30PM

FRI 25 FEB 7.30PM

BOX OFFICE 01527 - ONLINE www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk Completely Bromsgrove

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Fantastic February at Fairfield Flicks with four films to get rid of the winter blues THE COURIER (12a) on Sunday 13th February 7.30pm is a true-life spy thriller, the story of an unassuming British businessman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) recruited into one of the greatest international conflicts in history. At the best of the UK’s MI-6 and a CIA operative (Rachel Brosnahan), he forms a covert, dangerous partnership with Soviet officer Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze) in an effort to provide crucial intelligence needed to prevent a nuclear confrontation and defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis.

February is the month of love – LGBT & St. Valentine’s Day – and on Wednesday 16th February, 7.30pm, BEAUTIFUL THING (15) will be screened. Jamie (Glen Berry) is a shy teenager, often bullied at school. His neighbour Ste (Scott Neal) has a rough time at home, being beaten by his father and brother. Jamie and Ste have never really seen eye to eye but the bullying they suffer brings them together. Soon they discover that what they feel for each other is more than friendship.

Another superb performance from Timothy Spall, in THE LAST BUS (12), Wednesday 23rd February 2.15pm. A heartwarming tale of Tom (Timothy Spall), a pensioner whose wife, Mary (Phyllis Logan), has just passed away, who travels from Britain’s most northerly point, John O’Groats, to his original home town at its most southerly point, Land’s End, using his free bus pass. He carries with him only a small suitcase, travelling the length of the country with it. Along the way, his adventures are recorded by the people he meets and helps, and by the end of his trip he has unwittingly become a social media celebrity.

One for all the family, as it is half-term week, STARDOG AND TURBO CAT (U) on Thursday 24th February 11am.

Launched into space by his scientist owner in 1969, loyal dog Buddy crash lands in the present-day in a small town where pets are ruthlessly rounded up by animal-hating cop Peck. Desperate to be reunited with his owner, Buddy recruits genius millionaire cat Felix to help him on a madcap adventure across town. But when they encounter rabbit Cassidy and her misfit organisation of animal rights activists G.U.A.R.D., Buddy and Felix are forced to confront Peck and become the heroes they need to be! Children must be accompanied by an adult.

For further information & box office visit www.fairfieldflicks.org.uk

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February at The FeckenOdeon Cinema Society in Feckenham Saturday, 26th February at 7.30pm THE DAY OF THE JACKAL (15)

A

rare chance to see a classic thriller on the big screen. With French police on his trail, a mysterious English assassin attempts to kill President de Gaulle in this gripping adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s thriller.

Fred Zimmerman directs one of the greatest films of its type “Not just a suspense classic, but a beautifully executed example of filmmaking. It’s put together like a fine watch.” Starring Edward Fox, Cyril Cusack and Derek Jacobi. (UK 1973) Tickets for all FeckenOdeon films can be booked online through feckenodeon.co.uk, by phone on 0333 666 3366 or in person at The Rose & Crown and The Village Shop in Feckenham.

The FeckenOdeon is Feckenham’s community cinema based at Feckenham Village Hall, High Street, Feckenham. B96 6HN

Join Lickey Hills Art Society

W

e meet to enjoy and learn from demonstrators by established artists in a friendly and informal atmosphere. Our aim is to bring members an increased knowledge of art in its various forms through demonstrations, exhibitions, workshops and kindred activities.

A warm welcome is waiting for visitors who would like to come along to any of our meetings.

We meet at Longbridge Methodist Church Hall, Bristol Road South, B45 9TY (next to Kidderminster Carpets, opposite McDonalds) on the first Saturday each month.

Annual Membership: Individual:£20 | Family:£30 | Visitors:£4 plus £1 per meeting for tea/coffee/biscuits.

Meetings star t 7.30pm - 9.30pm February 5th is our first live meeting for 2022 MIKE SKIDMORE - Portrait In Oils Mike demonstrates the many skills he has fine tuned to ar tists all over the country. He uses traditional and new techniques and presents them in an informal informative way. See his work at www.mikeskidmoreonline.com For more information please email … lyndasharp2010@yahoo.com Completely Bromsgrove

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Roar with delight for Febresaurus

B

romsgrove town centre will be transformed into a mini–Jurassic Park on Sunday, February 27.

Children and adults alike will be able to witness the wonders of the dinosaur kingdom. Take a selfie in the dino egg, roar with a giant T-Rex and play with baby dinosaurs. Your little ones can even learn how to become a Dinosaur Ranger.

Activities will take place at the BirdBox and the full line up looks like this: • Ranger Training Camp (BirdBox Stage) at 10am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 3pm and 4.30pm • Baby Dinosaurs (Roaming, Birdbox) at 10.30am and 4pm • Rex the T-Rex (Roaming, Birdbox) at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm & 3.30pm • Tank The Triceratops (Roaming, Birdbox) at 11.30am, 2.30pm & 5pm • Giant selfie Egg (BirdBox) from 10am to 5pm Dino-fans can also follow the dinosaur trail across Bromsgrove town centre and discover some fantastic businesses that will be handing out special Dinosaur stickers.

Find all five stickers, stick them onto your trail leaflet and then spell out the dino-themed word

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to enter a competition to win a £200 toy voucher.

Trail booklets are available at Berry Boutique, Holt House Tea Room, Nature’s Intention, Sew ‘N’ Stuff and School Days.

Ask your parents to email your name and the answer to info@BBBromsgrove.org.uk Terms and conditions: Entries open on January 31st and close on February 27th. Only one entry counted per person. Prize cannot be exchanged for cash value. You must answer the question correctly to win. The winner will be contacted on February 28th.

Guesten Hall hosts fund-raising opera

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he Bromsgrove Society and Bromsgrove Court Leet are jointly hosting an event in Guesten Hall at Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings to give a platform to local musicians and raise money for local charities.

Founded and run by Tim and Claire Johnson, Consensus Opera (consensusopera.uk) will present Mozart’s comic opera Cosi fan tutte on Thursday, March 24 at 7.30pm.

Taking the lead role in the opera’s master conman (Don Alfonso) is Bromsgrove’s David Coulson who many will know from his performances with the Police Choir and at St John’s Church.

Consensus Opera specialise in taking opera and making it more accessible for modern audiences. To this end, Tim Johnson has taken Cosi Fan Tutte and updated it a little.

Tickets for the evening cost £15 per person and are available to buy online via Eventbrite, visit www.cosi-fan-tutte-bromsgrove. eventbrite.co.uk. Audience members are encouraged to bring their own drinks and nibbles to help to create the café style atmosphere.

Even without an interval, the original opera is over three hours long and, especially if sung in Italian, can be a little hard to follow.Tim has translated the opera into English and stripped out a lot of the recitative, replacing some of that with dialogue so that the story is easier to understand. He has also modernised the story.

Instead of two 18th century army officers, the two male leading roles are now safety engineers who deal with emergencies at oil production installations. The whole show is set in a café so the Guesten Hall will be laid out café style which also lends an air of informality about the evening. This new production will finish around 10pm including a 20-minute interval and is in English.

Funds raised from the event will be split between the Bromsgrove Society and the Court Leet Charity Fund to support local organisations.

by Jo Slade

Completely Bromsgrove

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Safari Park keepers count creatures…

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nimal keepers at West Midland Safari Park have had a busy start to the year by completing the annual animal stock take.

Every year, each animal big and small must be counted, from the huge African elephants to the tiny, critically endangered, golden mantella frogs.

The total number of animals changes each year and in 2021, the Park welcomed some new animals, including the birth of two white rhino calves and 26 rainbow lorikeet chicks, as well as the arrival of a red panda.

Head of Wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “This is the time of year that we carry out the annual count of all our animals, big and small. We have 121 species with over 1000 individuals, so it’s a real team effort to ensure every animal is included. Most are counted as individuals such as our white rhino herd, which had the addition of two lovely boys, Jambo and Jumani, born in 2021, but some are counted in colonies such as our tiny leaf cutter ants. It would take a very long time if you were to count every one of those individually!

“Of course, our keepers count our animals on a daily basis and give them a good look over to ensure they are all healthy and well, but this annual audit which takes place in January, is something that each wildlife attraction must undertake as part of our zoo licence requirements.”

She continued, “In 2021, we welcomed some new species to our collection and these included Mei Lin, our beautiful red panda, who joined us in August and three smaller species: white belly reed frogs, crocodile lizards and Lau banded iguanas.

We also said goodbye to some notable characters who left us to join collections in Scotland. These included Fennessy and Gerald, our two young male giraffes and Grace, our young Grévy’s zebra who all went to Edinburgh Zoo and three Bactrian camels; Dierdre and Dippy who are now at Highland Wildlife Park and Doris who is at Blair Drummond Safari Park.

The audit is part of zoo licensing requirements and once every head has been counted, the results are noted in

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a repor t which is sent to the local authority. The Park’s Wildlife Administrator then checks the results against the animal record system, to ensure the census matches.

A variety of animals call the Park home, including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Some are easier to count than others, such as the pancake tortoises, compared to the quick, scurrying Madagascar hissing cockroaches.

The Park has some exciting changes in store this year for some of their animals and guests, including new habitats for the white rhinos, giraffes and Sumatran tigers and the installation of new pathways, so that day guests can see these animals, as well as the African elephants, on foot.

The animal habitats will be upgraded alongside the introduction of eight new, luxury lodges offering spectacular views of the Park’s tower of charismatic giraffes and crash of white rhinos, due to open in April.

The Park is currently open Fridays to Mondays only for its winter season and all of the animals can be seen as par t of the admission charge of £25.00 for adults, £20.00 for children aged 3-15 and £22.00 for concessions. Children under the age of three are free.

Admission includes a Free Return Code to visit again in six months, only when booking online in advance, without a Tesco or ASDA voucher. Guests can also receive discounts for selected dates, when booking online at least two days in advance. The Adventure Theme Park is not open during the winter season.

Fur ther information about West Midland Safari Park is available from the Park’s website www.wmsp.co.uk or by telephone 01299 402114. Find out more on the Safari Park’s official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/WestMidSafari

Hanbury Hall, Gardens and Parkland

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ow! What a year 2021 was here at Hanbury Hall. It continued to be a strange and challenging time for us all, but we’ve made it through another year. We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who’s supported us throughout 2021 and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2022.

This February, we’re here for all your wintry walk needs, with 3 way-marked routes to choose from.

For longer legs, we recommend following the red route where you can walk up and see our friends at Hanbury Church and enjoy the rolling views of the Worcestershire countryside. For young explorers, we recommend following the blue route around the park, a semi-flat, one-mile route, taking in the natural signs around you – keep an eye out for signs of wildlife and the early signs of spring coming to life. The Parkland is particularly squelchy underfoot at this time of year, perfect for the kids to stomp around in – just make sure to pull on your walking boots or wellies!

An exciting addition at the end of 2021 was the relocation of our Second-Hand Bookshop. After the success of Rose’s Cottage Bookshop, we’ve relocated to a bigger location, in the Long Gallery within the Parterre. A bigger space means we need more book donations to fill it with! If you wish to make a donation of second-hand books to the bookshop, please call 01527 821214 to arrange a drop off.

The Hall*, Garden, Parkland and Stables Café are open daily. Normal admission applies, National Trust members and under 5s are free *The Hall will be closed on weekdays in January, opening 7 days a week from Monday 21st February.

If you’re looking for a gentler stroll, head on into the Formal Gardens, where you’ll find trees budding with the first signs of spring, snowdrops lining Cedar Avenue and the yellow petals of primroses peaking out on Primrose walk.

Once you’ve finished your adventure around the park, or your wander around the gardens, head over to our Stables Café, located in the stableyard, and pick up a warming beverage or a tasty slab of cake. If you’re feeling peckish, we also have a range of soup, sandwiches, sausage rolls and pasties on offer – yum!

Completely Bromsgrove

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Mixed results at Sporting T

he last two months have been mixed for The Rouslers under new boss, Gavin Hurren. After his appointment as manager was made permanent, Sporting went six Assortment of Results for Bromsgrove Sporting league matches undefeated, winning two, drawingThefour and making steady progress. Since last two months have been mixed for The Rouslers under new boss, Gavin Hurren. A manager was made permanent, Sportingdefeats went six league matches undefeated, winning t Christmas though, there have been a couple of goalless draws and two along with making steady progress. Since Christmas though, there have been a couple of goalless dr an exit from the Worcestershire Senior Cup on with a penalty Town. an exit from shoot-out the Worcestershireagainst Senior Cup Pershore on a penalty shoot-out against Pershore

On the positive side, popular midfielder Nathan Hayward made his 100th appearance for club against Stourbridge on Boxing Day and the defence has been strengthened by the return of experienced centre-back, Tom Taylor.

Skilful winger Jamie Molyneux signed from Halesowen Town along with Jordan Goddard Josh Quaynor prepares to pull the trigger!

On the positive side, popular 100th appearance fo whilst the loan of Joemidfielder Willis Nathan from Hayward Walsallmade hashisbeen Boxing Day and the defence has been strengthened by the return of experienced centre-

extended. Promising striker Callum Ebanks has also

Skilful winger Jamie Molyneux signed from Halesowen Town along with Jordan Goddard signed onhas loan Cheltenham Town. from Walsall beenfrom extended.

Promising striker Callum Ebanks has also signed on loan

Fixtures to of the end March Fixtures up toup the end March areof as follows: Day

Date

K/O

Sat

29-Jan

3:00 PM

Sat

5-Feb

Sat

12-Feb

Tue Sat

V

are as follows:

Opponents

Competition

H Lowestoft Town

Southern League

3:00 PM

A

Banbury United

Southern League

3:00 PM

H Rushall Olympic

Southern League

15-Feb

7:45 PM

H Coalville Town

Southern League

19-Feb

3:00 PM

A

Peterborough Sports

Southern League

Leiston

Southern League

Tue

22-Feb

7:45 PM

A

Sat

26-Feb

3:00 PM

H Nuneaton Borough

Southern League

Sat

5-Mar

3:00 PM

A

Southern League

Sat

12-Mar No Match Arranged

Sat

19-Mar 3:00 PM

H Biggleswade Town

Southern League

Sat

26-Mar 3:00 PM

A

Southern League

Tamworth

Barwell

After several postponements, the Sporting Veterans and Ladies matches resumed in mid After several postponements, thefellSporting and progressing in the Major Cup but the Ladies to a narrowVeterans defeat in the league.

by Phil Baker Photos by Chris Jepson

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Ladies resumed in mid-January with the “Vets” All newsmatches about Bromsgrove Sporting (including the Colts section), can be found on the w progressing in the Major Cup but the Ladies fell to a www.bromsgrovesporting.co.uk. narrow defeat in the league.

Enquiries about room hire can be made by emailing hospitality@bromsgrovesporting.co All news about Bromsgrove Sporting (including the Colts section), can be found on the web site, www. bromsgrovesporting.co.uk Enquiries about room hire can be made by emailing hospitality@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk

Competition

Win a family day out to Hatton Escape Room Plus a meal at The Hatton Arms

C

ompletely Bromsgrove has teamed up with Hatton Country World to offer one family the chance to win entry to Tulleys Escape Rooms Hatton plus either lunch or dinner at The Hatton Arms (food only).The prize is for two adults and two children and is worth up to £300.

After his appointment as The complete destination to enjoy the outdoors two, drawing four and this winter, raws and two defeats along the 100-acre site is also home to e Town.

Hatton Shopping Village which has more than 20

or club against Stourbridge on independent -back, Tom Taylor.

shops including a garden centre and farm shop created by TV presenter Lottie Newitt. d whilst the loan of Joe Willis Alfie’s Café and the Spinning Jenny also offer a n from Cheltenham Town. choice of home-cooked dishes.

The Escape Rooms have been created by Tulleys Entertainment Group, the brains behind the awardwinning Shocktober Fest. Tulleys Escape Rooms Hatton features two live experiences - pirate-themed challenge Mutiny and The Outfitters, set in the Great Depression, which are both rated number two in the world on TripAdvisor. There is also a licensed bar and a lobby with puzzles and board games.

Those visiting the rooms enter a game scenario with friends, family or work colleagues for an hour and solve a series of puzzles and mysteries. They will have to search high and low for clues and work together if they want to escape. The rooms are d-January with suitable the "Vets" for two to eight people. There are no age restrictions, but the puzzles may be too demanding web site, for those aged 12 and under.

o.uk.

With sweeping views of the idyllic Hatton Locks, the award-winning Hatton Arms has established a reputation among locals for authentic dining and classic British cuisine made with the finest ingredients, often sourced direct from the privatelyowned Hatton Estate.

Following a refurbishment last year, the gastro pub has adopted a fresh look inside and out including a new lighter and brighter and contemporary interior to greet visitors, while still staying true to the traditional pub vibe the locals have come to love.

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is answer this question: Name the two Tulleys Escape Rooms experiences at Hatton Country World?

Send your answer together with your name, address, phone number and email to: Hatton Escape Room Competition, 11 West Road, Bromsgrove. B60 2NG. All entries in by Tuesday 22nd February 2022. Only one entry per household.

For more information on Hatton Escape Rooms please visit www.hattonescaperooms.com For more information on The Hatton Arms please visit www.hattonarms.com Completely Bromsgrove

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FITTED INTERIORS Visit us at: Saxon Park, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove B60 4AD Tel: 01527 835924 | Showrooms also at Kenilworth, Knowle and Studley

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