Issuu

Issue 38

Completely

March 2022

Bromsgrove

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Live every day your way at Chandler Court 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. 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. When you move into a Care UK care home you are supported to live life in the way you choose. Ensuring you enjoy the very best care and quality of life is at the heart of everything Care UK does. Care that’s tailored to you Moving into a care home is just another part of later life, and Care UK teams strive to make every day fulﬁlling and fun. You’ll be supported to continue doing the things you love, from light tasks around the home to enjoying regular outings and entertainment, or hobbies like baking, knitting, singing or gardening.

Every day’s different Recently, there’s been something different happening each day at Chandler Court. Residents have loved relaxing in the home’s cinema, watching their choice of classic ﬁlm with boxes of buttery popcorn. Residents have also been taking part in the Great Chandler Bake Off, creating lots of delicious bakes each week, with the home’s team of chefs judging who gets star baker! Favourites included Jon’s fruit-ﬁlled scones, Martin and Mavis’ banoffee pie and Bill’s cheese-topped loaf for bread week! If you’re considering care, call Paul on 01527 903670 or email paul.chambers@careuk.com

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Welcome to the March issue of Completely Bromsgrove

must start by saying I hope that everyone came through Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin without too much damage. In my own garden a tree broke in half, but it does appear that Bromsgrove got away quite lightly compared to other areas of the country.

suppor ting our local High Street when it comes to buying those special gifts for the ones we love. Please keep it local, folks! On the same day the clocks will be going forward an hour, giving us longer days and taking us fully into spring, one of my favourite times of the year.

There is so much going on this month. We have a packed section of events, so turn to page 46 to start ﬁlling your 2022 diaries. If you are looking forward to travelling abroad this year, then turn to page 10 as Travel Counsellor Jane Ward has put together some useful tips. Mother’s Day is on March 27th and I’m sure generous Completely Bromsgrove readers will be

Contents

6 8 10 12 14 16 18 24 26

One of the joys of spring is the Blossom Trail around Worcestershire and if you are interested in being driven around the trail in luxury, then Royal Motorways coaches are organising pick-ups from Bromsgrove and the surrounding area. Check out their adver t on page 47 for more details. I do hope you enjoy this packed edition of the magazine and would like to wish a happy Mother’s Day to all mums. Very best of wishes,

Michele Ford

24 46 52

Our MP’s message New Cycle Path Plans Travel Car Park Closures We Spray Anything Gardening Worcs Wildlife Trust Billys Dream Day North Worcs Water

28 30 31 32 34 36 38 40 42 43

Worcs Timber Products Stoke Priors Church Alvechurch Legal Health & Wellbeing Acorn Dental Poets of B’grove Dining Out Recipe MP Runs for Primrose The Big Breakfast

44 46 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55

Drive Time The Blossom Trail The Knife Angel Photo Exhibition B’grove Words History Bloodwise Arts Alive Fairﬁeld Flicks B’grove Sporting F.C.

Congratulations to last issue’s Competition winner: Mary Ralph from Stourport won tickets to the Hatton Escape Rooms

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

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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

fter experiencing three named storms in February, I know residents will join me in thanking our emergency services for their work to support people across the country. Although Bromsgrove District was not as affected as other areas, I know some residents will have been impacted. If any constituent needs my support or that of the local authorities, I would be happy to assist with your case. Since my last ar ticle for Completely Bromsgrove, the Prime Minister has announced the removal of Covid-19 legal restrictions, which have been part of our lives over the last two years. With the vaccination programme succeeding in reducing the risk of severe infection and hospitalisations, we have now entered a new chapter in our ﬁght against COVID-19. Whilst it is right that the government remains vigilant, it is clear the best step we can all take is to get vaccinated, as we learn to live with the virus. These restrictions have impacted all of my constituents, and we have always said they should not be in place a day longer than necessary. With our pharmaceutical defences in place, I welcome the move to learning to live with this virus, as we do with other illnesses such as ﬂu. During February, constituents have got in touch to ask about the cost of living and rising global energy prices. I was therefore pleased to see the Chancellor outline a comprehensive suppor t package. These measures will help over 28,000 households across

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Bromsgrove District with council tax bills, as well as a £200 rebate on energy bills for all households. It is positive news that we are the fastest growing economy in the G7, and local unemployment is steadily reducing. But there is still hard work to be done, and I am pleased this package will suppor t residents with these global pressures. Lastly, I would like to extend my thanks to Superintendent Ed Hancox for his work across Nor th Worcestershire, as he changes roles at West Mercia Police. I look forward to working with colleagues at West Mercia and West Midlands Police to suppor t residents going forward, including on the nationwide recruitment drive for additional ofﬁcers. As ever, if I can support any of my constituents, please email me at sajid.javid.mp@parliament.uk

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Call for cycling facilities for young people to move up a gear B

romsgrove Liberal Democrats have submitted a motion calling for the district council to invest unspent covid recovery funds in improving cycling facilities for children.

At the heart of the plan is a proposal to build a new cycling training area that would mimic the road network and allow children to cycle on imitation roads with real signs, road markings and crossings. This would offer local children an exciting opportunity to learn to ride safely before they start cycling on real roads. A similar scheme has recently been installed as part of the Riverside Project in Stratford-upon-Avon. The plan, which would also see investment in cycling trails and pump tracks for older children and adults, is designed to complement existing investment in cycling infrastructure by the county council so that young people are able to fully take advantage of new safer cycling routes across the district as they emerge. Councillor Rob Hunter, the Lib Dems’ leader on the district council, said: “Of course the covid recovery

funding should ﬁrst and foremost be used to support local people and businesses who have faced hardship. “However, as we ease out of restrictions and more normal trading patterns return, we need to consider how we should prioritise any leftover funds for the wider recovery of our communities. The Lib Dems want to see these funds used to create a sustainable legacy for our district by inspiring more young people to take up cycling.” Lib Dem councillor Siobhan Robinson, who represents Bromsgrove Central on the district council, said: “I’m really excited about this. It’s a great way to encourage young people to travel in environmentally sustainable ways as they become more independent. “What better legacy could we leave than inspiring a real passion for cycling in future generations, so they don’t repeat the carbon intensive mistakes of the past.”

Cllr Rob Hunter visits the new children’s cycling scheme in Stratford that inspired the proposals for Bromsgrove

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Booking holidays with conﬁdence this year

t’s been a while since many of us have travelled abroad, so we know there is huge pentup demand for holidays with lots of people eager to book a well-deserved break.

If you’re dreaming of your next chance to get away but are unsure what steps you need to take, the following advice takes you through everything you need to know to book with conﬁdence this year, so that you have a holiday to look forward to.

5. Take out travel insurance Now, travel insurance is as impor tant as ever, make sure that it includes Covid cover, and always read the ﬁne print so you know exactly what you are covered for.

1. Use the expertise of a travel agent to help you plan your trip They are the experts at ﬁnding the best holiday to suit their customers’ preferences, and at a competitive price. They’ll look after you every step of the way, including doing all the research, giving you the latest advice for your destination and keeping you up to date on any restrictions or measures that you need to be aware of.

6. Make sure you have the documents you need Many destinations require you to have at least six months left on your passpor t. You should also apply for any visas you need in plenty of time and visit Travel HealthPro to ﬁnd the latest travel health advice for your destination.

2. Book a package holiday Booking a package holiday provides the best form of protection for your travel plans, as your holiday will be protected under the Package Travel Regulations. This means you have a right to a replacement holiday or a full refund if your holiday is signiﬁcantly altered by a change in the situation at your destination. 3. Check the Foreign Ofﬁce advice for your destination and sign up to alerts Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice 4. Book early for the most choice and best prices By booking ahead of others you’ll be able to secure the accommodation and resort of your choice.

7. Plan and pack for a safe journey As your departure date nears, make sure you’re up to date on the latest measures and documentation required for travel, both for your journey and once you arrive at your destination. 8. Look forward to your holiday! Having more time to enjoy the excitement of heading off on holiday is one of the most common reasons why people book in advance, so once your trip is booked, you can sit back and look forward to heading off on your muchdeserved break. Get in touch with me for help with your holiday plans for 2022. Jane Ward, Tel: 07786 617598 e-mail: jane.ward@travelcounsellors.com

by Travel Counsellor Jane Ward

Completely Bromsgrove

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Completely Bromsgrove

Week-long closures at Parkside and New Road car parks

wo Bromsgrove town centre car parks will each be closed for a week in March for essential maintenance.

Parkside car park will be closed the week commencing March 7th, followed by New Road car park for the week beginning March 14th. Both will be closed 24/7 while the resurfacing work takes place.

“Our team have worked hard to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum and have put plans in place, such as staggered star t dates, to avoid too many issues with parking at this end of the town.

The old surfacing will be planed off before new surfacing is put down. For this reason, residents will need to remove their cars from the car parks prior to the star t of the work to avoid potential access issues or delays.

“The full closure will allow our contractors to complete the work as quickly as possible and the work will mean safer, better car parks for visitors and residents in the town.”

Car park users should also be aware that some spaces will be barriered off at New Road for the installation of new railings from March 7th. Leader of Bromsgrove District Council, Councillor Karen May, said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the closures. A week-long closure for both car parks is not ideal but due to the residential properties nearby, night working is not an option and of course brings its own safety issues.

Completely Bromsgrove

For more information on the works contact Matthew Mead on 01527 64252 or email matthew. mead@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk

Raising Steam Festival 19th – 22nd May 2022 Stoke Prior Sports and Social Club, Bromsgrove B60 4AL

A 4-day Steampunk and independent music and storytelling festival, raising awareness of and funds for New Futures Nepal, supporting disabled and disadvantaged youngsters in Nepal. Family friendly. Find out more at:

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Advertisement Feature

We Spray Anything’s Dream TV appearance

romsgrove-based We Spray Anything are thrilled to have been involved with a Channel 5 lifestyle and interior design series. WSA appeared in episode five of Dream Home Makeovers with Sophie Robinson on Wednesday, February 16 and were proud to be part of such a fantastic transformation. The company were approached by Sophie and her design team to bring to life and inject some colour into Aira and Gunveer’s kitchen. Sophie was looking for a professional finish, which is exactly what she received from the expert paint sprayers at We Spray Anything, who colour matched a bespoke colour for the kitchen respray. The team arrived in Kent with a mobile spray booth to transform the couple’s dated and bland kitchen doors and drawers. New brass handles replaced the old ones and the units received a flawless factory finish. Not only did the WSA team transform the kitchen, they also sprayed the Welsh dresser and children’s mini kitchen to complete the look. Along with the makeover team, WSA saved the

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kitchen from landﬁll and gave Aira and Gunveer a totally bespoke ﬁnish to their kitchen. The couple were thrilled with the transformation and couldn’t believe it was their original units. If you would like your kitchen transformed, please contact We Spray Anything to arrange a free site visit. The programme can be viewed on Episode 5 of the Dream Home Makeover TV programme and can be seen on My 5 catch up and you can see more photos of the transformation on We Spray Anything’s Instagram and Facebook pages.

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GARDENING

Perky primroses bring springtime joy

othing says spring like a swathe of wild primroses in a woodland dell, the pale yellow ﬂowers peeking out from beneath the green. They are part of the primula family which also contain the polyanthus variety with its tall ﬂowers that nod “hello” to the ground.

Primrose originates from the word “primus” which means first or early as it is one of the first plants that bloom in the spring. The leaves and flowers of primrose are edible and make a great addition to salads and can be used in the manufacture of wine. Most of our gardens contain the brightly coloured yellow, purple, red varieties with white thrown in for good measure. They make good bedfellows with daffodils and grape hyacinths and help welcome in the new season. These perennial plants prefer damp, woodland-like conditions and if kept happy will multiply year on year. Aim for lightly shaded areas with well-drained soil, helped along with the addition of organic matter. Primroses like a little room so space six to 12 inches (15-30 cm) apart and four to six inches (10-15 cm.) deep. Water thoroughly after planting and add a layer

of mulch around the plants to help retain moisture. Continue to give your primroses thorough watering throughout the summer months, about once a week or more during periods of drought but ease off once autumn approaches. Regular pruning of dead leaves and spent blooms will keep primrose plants looking their best. If you want to collect the seeds of your primroses, wait until late summer or early autumn before taking them. Store them in a cool, dry place until the following planting season or sow them in a cold frame. Slugs and snails are common pests affecting primrose plants. If they are not getting enough drainage, they may also be prone to crown rot and root rot. This can be easily ﬁxed by amending the soil with compost or relocating the plants to a well-drained site.

Jobs to keep you busy in March Pick off any developing seedheads on daffodils and other spring bulbs, but leave the foliage to die back naturally

Scatter general-purpose fertilizer over ﬂowerbeds and around roses, shrubs and hedges

Finish pruning roses early in the month

Feed ericaceous shrubs, such as rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and pieris, with an ericaceous fertilizer

Cut dogwoods right down to the base to promote vigorous new growth Plant lilies and other summerﬂowering bulbs in pots and borders Lift and divide overgrown clumps of perennials

Top dress containers with fresh compost Protect new spring shoots from slugs Plant shallots, onion sets and early potatoes

Wrap up and get outside to blow those winter cobwebs away. There is so much to do to keep your garden looking its best.

By Suzi M, Plotter and garden lover from Roundhill Allotments

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Common frogs by Linda Jones

Common Toad by Jason Curtis

Trio of common frogs by Sarah Fowle

Common toad by Julia Saunders

Common frog by Betsy Digger

by Wendy Carter, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

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Common frog by George Bartrip

Patrolling for toads

Common frog by Simon Wylde

n mild, drizzly evenings in March our amphibian friends wake up from their winter slumbers and start to move. Exactly when depends on a few things but I and a few friends head outside to give them a helping hand. When the temperature is right, the days are growing longer, ponds are smelling ‘perfect’ (to a toad’s nose, that is) and the moon is nearly full toads begin to migrate. More than 80% of toads migrate to the pond they were born in – they might even pass other suitable ponds on their journey ‘home’. Toads are pickier about their breeding ground than frogs, preferring more established and deeper bodies of water. Sadly, many ponds have been ﬁlled in so not only do our croaking friends have to travel further but they often have to deal with roads. Enter the toad patrollers. There are hundreds of us throughout the UK, wearing high-vis jackets and moving toads from one side of a road to the other, helping them on their way to ponds and breeding success. We count how many toads, frogs and newts we rescue (and how many we don’t get there in time for) and submit our results to the charity Froglife, who co-ordinate our volunteering efforts. On our four small rural crossings we usually rescue around 470 toads, frogs and newts each year. There are one or two crossings in other counties that are so large entire roads are closed for them. Our hopping and crawling friends actually spend very little time in ponds. Outside of the main breeding season in early spring, you’re more likely to ﬁnd a toad under a clump of earth or a frog hiding away in a pile of logs. They can spend winter more than a mile away from their breeding pond; imagine being that small and needing to wander back through long grass, dense scrub and fast roads! They spend winter in a state of torpor (similar to hibernation), safely tucked up amongst the roots of trees, in log piles or under large tussocks of grass.

Before helping toads to cross the road, we need to check a map to see where the ponds are that they’re aiming for. But how do we know what we’re moving? Toads crawl rather than hop like a frog.They have a brown and bumpy skin whereas frogs are more variable in colour (often mottled) and have a circle behind their eye. The females lay around 2000 eggs each because most won’t survive to adulthood – there are many predators that ﬁnd tadpoles rather tasty! If you have a pond full of spawn, you won’t be over-run with frogs or toads. If the spawn is laid in clumps it’s frogspawn and if you see that it’s laid in strings, you’ve got toads too. If you see toads, frogs or their spawn take a pic and let us know www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/ wildlife-sightings. If you’d like to help at a local toad crossing or register a new one, take a look at www. froglife.org/what-we-do/toads-on-roads/ All the photos used in this feature are previous entries from our annual calendar competition. You have until Monday 4th April to enter this year www. worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/photographycompetition

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Billy’s dream day as a bin man B

romsgrove District Council’s Business Waste Team paid a visit to a very special student while on their rounds. Billy attends Chadsgrove Educational Trust Specialist College in Bromsgrove, and as part of the workrelated learning lessons, the 19-year-old expressed an interest in one day becoming a “bin man”. As Chadsgrove Educational Trust Specialist College is a business waste customer, when the service found out about Billy’s aspirations, they arranged for a crew to visit the school to give him the opportunity to try out being a waste collection operative. During the visit, Billy got his own hi-vis and gloves, was able to operate the loader, sit in the cab and even went for a short drive in the waste truck. As a thank you for all his hard work delivering waste services for his school, the crew also presented him with his own certiﬁcate of achievement. A video of Billy’s experience can be viewed at: www.youtube. com/watch?v=BrqfMpoBfng Environmental services portfolio holder, Councillor Margaret Sherrey, said: “Chadsgrove is a fantastic place with very caring and dedicated staff. Thank you to Martin, Ian, Josh, Simon and Lisa, for arranging to visit. The experience clearly meant an awful lot to Billy and shows that although our team provide a commercial service, their roots remain with the communities they serve. The footage of the visit is simply heart-warming, and you undoubtedly gave Billy the best day ever.” Councillor Shirley Webb, portfolio holder for wellbeing and governor of Chadsgrove, said: “The college and school do a fabulous job with internships for students in the local area and I’m so pleased we could help Billy with his dream of becoming a waste operative. He had the most wonderful time and will no doubt remember the experience forever.”

Completely Bromsgrove

Emma Nolan, Chadsgrove’s preparing for adulthood, transition, and life beyond education coordinator, said: “We work hard to provide unique experiences for our learners, helping them to raise aspirations and prepare and equip them with the tools and skills for life beyond education. “Thank you to Bromsgrove District Council’s Business Waste Team for giving Billy the oppor tunity to discover and explore the career of a waste management operative.” BDC Business Waste Service provide ﬂexible general waste and recycling options for businesses across Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and the West Midlands. To ﬁnd out more about the services they offer, go to www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/businesswaste

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AVONCROFT CRICKET CLUB

Preparing for new season T

he release of league ﬁxtures for the 2022 season, now less than two months away, has been met with real anticipation at Avoncroft Cricket Club. The 1st XI will again be lining up in Division 3 of the Worcestershire County league and are kicking off their season with an away trip to Old Elizabethans on 16th April. At their recent AGM, Josh Cound was reappointed as 1st team captain for his second year, looking to build on a challenging campaign in 2021 which saw Croft avoid relegation on the last day of the season.

The 2nd and 3rd XIs have to wait a further couple of weeks to start their campaigns; the 2nds welcoming Chaddesley Corbett whilst the 3rds have a tough trip to Old Halesonians. Both teams will have new leaders in 2022 – experienced campaigner Mark Whitehead is taking on the reins for the seconds, looking to blend youth and experience with the aim of making a promotion push, whilst Jason Patel takes his ﬁrst steps into captaincy with the 3rd XI which will again focus on developing Croft’s promising crop of young players. Avoncroft are always on the lookout for new players and details of how to join can be found on the club’s website www.avoncroftcc.co.uk

Registration is also opening shortly for Croft’s established junior coaching programme. The programme is made up of 3 elements; The national Allstars programme for boys and girls aged 5-8 will run for 10 weeks starting on 6th May. More information on the programme and how to book is available on the ECB’s website www.ecb.co.uk/play/all-stars Avoncroft’s junior softball programme is open to boys and girls in school years 3, 4 and 5, with a planned start date of late-April The hardball cricket programme is open to boys and girls in school years 5 through to 9, also with a planned start date of late April. All coaching takes place on a Friday evening and more information, including how to register, will shortly be added to the club’s website.

by Paul Athey Completely Bromsgrove

Otters

Freshwater Crayﬁsh

Dipper

Completely Bromsgrove

Water Shrew

Kingﬁsher

Take time to discover our wonderful riverside wildlife T

he rivers and brooks in North Worcestershire form a vast web of linked habitats of vital importance to birds and other wildlife.

Fish occupy virtually all the rivers and streams in North Worcestershire; even those where we assume habitat potential is fairly poor the occasional brown trout has been spotted. Other species of fish which can be found on the watercourses of North Worcestershire include barbel (one of the most common on the Severn), dace, pike and roach. It is also possible to find eel in some watercourses, including smaller streams and ditches; these are a priority species on the UK post 2010 biodiversity framework and are listed as critically endangered on the global IUCN red list of threatened species. Eels are not to be confused with lamprey, which look similar but have large sucker-like mouths and no pectoral fin. One of the most characteristic birds found along watercourses is the dipper; this medium sized bird can often be seen standing on a rock in the middle of a brook, bobbing a few times before popping under the water to forage for its favourite food, the caddis fly larva. Dippers have a striking plumage, a deep brown head and back and a bright white breast. Often all that is seen of them, however, is a whirr of wings as they fly fast and low over the water emitting their high-pitched squeaking call. Being dependent on a rich supply of river invertebrates, the presence of dippers is an indicator of good water quality. Far less easy to see is the colourful kingfisher. Often all that is seen is a bright flash of blue as they shoot past. With patience, this shy, dramatic bird can be seen on quite a number of watercourses in North Worcestershire. By contrast, the grey heron hunts by stealth. It will often stand motionless next to a pool or quiet section of watercourse waiting for the right moment to pierce a fish with its long bill. They are more commonly seen as they flap slowly on huge wings above the riverside trees. Mammals such as otters are fairly common along all watercourses in the UK, although they are very

elusive and can be very hard to spot in the wild – being crepuscular they tend to be active at dawn and dusk, so you’re much more likely to see their spraint, footprints or feeding remains alongside rivers and streams. They are one of the UK’s top predators, and feed mainly on fish, amphibians, crustaceans and water birds. Less commonly known are the water shrew, the largest member of the shrew family. They spend much of their time hunting for insects and invertebrates and live in small burrows on the banks of streams and ponds. The water shrew is unusual among mammals as it has a venomous bite which is strong enough to immobilise fish and frogs up to 60 time heavier than itself. Watercourses are also important to other species not generally associated with water, including bats who forage for insects along tree-lined brooks and can use bridges as roosting sites. The UK’s only one native freshwater crayfish, the white-clawed crayfish, is in decline and increasingly rare, due to the introduction of the non-native signal crayfish, which has brought an easily transmissible disease to our waters which the white-clawed crayfish has no natural resistance to. Unfor tunately, in Nor th Worcestershire you are more likely to find a signal crayfish than a white-clawed crayfish. In order to help prevent the spread of disease between catchments where the native crayfish may still be present, it’s really important to practise good biosecurity when moving between watercourses – that means anyone who uses tools, boats, wellies etc in a watercourse should employ the check-clean-dry principles when leaving the water – check for any sediment, use a water-safe disinfectant to clean anything that has been in the water, and dry thoroughly before re-using. The Wildlife Trust website www.wildlifetrusts.org/ has a wealth of information if you’d like to learn more about what lives in and near our local watercourses. Completely Bromsgrove

Discover more about Stoke Prior’s beautiful church this spring S

t Michael and All Angels Church in Stoke Prior has been extensively restored thanks to dedicated efforts by the tower friends’ group over the past six years.

With the majority of work done, but not completely ﬁnished, the new heritage friends group are continuing the task of raising funds for unforeseen problems and maintenance through a series of events held throughout the year which will promote the area’s history and heritage.

Between April 30 and May 2, visitors can enjoy the stories of the stones, a look at the prominent and important people buried within the churchyard. There will be displays inside the church together with Budding Builders interaction days for younger guests.

One such event is a history walk and talk around the churchyard and inside the church on Saturday, March 19 at 5.30pm when visitors will be able to discover more about this beautiful building.

A spring craft fair with indoor and outdoor stalls, cake stall, photography, garden wear and much more will be held on May 7 and 8.

Booking is not required, just turn up and take a journey through history from the Jurassic age to modern times, learn what the Lychgate was used for, see the devil’s door and be astounded by the prominent important people buried within the grounds including John Corbett, who was known as the Salt King.

For more information about any of the above events, please contact Jill Howe at jillbryan@ hotmail.com or Dave Lewis at px53dlo@icloud. com

Completely Bromsgrove

Advertisement Feature

The Perfect OXO Family?

aura Hawkins from Alvechurch Legal explores the problems faced by Lynda Bellingham’s family after her death.

When actress Lynda Bellingham died in 2014, her sons were left an unexpected nightmare. Lynda and her husband, Michael, made Mirror Wills, in which Lynda left her entire estate to her third husband, expecting him to leave her share of their combined assets to her sons on his death. “We both wrote wills as a married couple and they mirrored each other in how we would leave our estate.” admitted Michael. Lynda will undoubtedly have felt, that she could trust her husband to carry out her wishes and provide for her sons. But, it turns out that her trust was misplaced. What actually followed, was a very public dispute between Lynda’s husband and her sons… Michael decided to re-write his own Will, disinheriting them altogether and leaving everything to his own children. “I have re-written the will and they

(Lynda’s Sons) will get nothing from me.” Michael told the Daily Mail. Can Michael do that? In a word: yes. Having executed Mirror Wills, Lynda passed all her assets to Michael when she died. His promise to look after her sons was never legally enforceable. Lynda’s assets are now Michael’s to do with as he wishes. There is nothing in law to prevent Michael going back on his promise and re-writing his earlier Will. Can this be prevented? Sadly, these types of disputes are common amongst families, but they are preventable. Proper ty Protection Wills could have been set up to safeguard her proper ties for both her husband and her sons.

Estate planning is complicated. This is why it is important you speak to someone like Laura from Alvechurch Legal Services who specialises in offering sound advice.

This would have protected her son’s inheritance, whilst ensuring that Michael had somewhere to live for the rest of his life

If you would like to discuss updating your Wills, you can contact Alvechurch Legal Services on 0121 445 3307 or email laura@alvechurchlegal.co.uk Or visit their website at www.alvechurchlegal.co.uk

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Keeping your pets healthy I

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

f you are like myself, I love my pets and I will do anything to keep them healthy and happy. As a child when we lived in a pub in Worcester, I had my own menagerie.

We had 2 Alsatian dogs and a King Charles Spaniel and one morning we came downstairs to 8 Alsatian puppies. At this time beside the dogs, I had a cat, budgerigar, 5 Guinea pigs, a tor toise, a goldﬁsh and a pony. I think my family thought I would be a vet or work in that area. In actual fact with everything that I have learnt over the years animals have played a very impor tant part of all my healing practises. I have over the months written about cellular health and Redox molecules and guess what …. Yes, I have even given these amazing molecules to the four-legged members of my family with amazing results. When my eldest Cavalier (now 13 years old) is feeling under the weather, I will give him an ounce of the liquid and if he has a cut or sore, I will use the Renu 28 gel, and this has saved me a for tune in vet fees over the last six years when I had 3 dogs. For tunately, you can use these two products on any of your pets. We have people using it on their birds, horses, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, even their ﬁsh.

There is a testimonial from one of my customers who breeds horses. She had a 12-year-old steeplechase racehorse who was notoriously nervous and highly-strung. This racehorse had digestive issues and they had long suspected he had stomach ulcers. They began giving him 4 oz of ASEA twice a day rectally. Within a week, he relaxed and mellowed out to the point where he was easy to ride, with eyes soft and ears perked. Due to unforeseen circumstances, he left our barn and was removed from the product for about a week before his ﬁrst race. In spite of not being on it at race time, he ran very well and most importantly, he recovered better after his race than he ever has in his life! Needless to say he will never be without these molecules again.

I even had a baby bird who accidentally flew into one of my windows. I saw blood in her mouth and as I sprayed her, she opened her mouth for more and then she flew off none the worse for wear. Yes, it’s so perfectly safe and beneficial for all creatures.

I have 2 free booklets I am giving away. One booklet is full of different testimonials from cats to ﬁsh and everything in between and the second booklet is my own booklet containing recipes, essential oils and redox molecules. If you would like a copy just contact me on colette@need4change.com

by Colette Garside

Completely Bromsgrove

Tel: 01527 874526 149 Golden Cross Lane, Catshill, Bromsgrove, Worcs. B61 0JZ

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Exciting times ahead for

ollow our journey from foundations to completion on the ‘State of the Art’ extension, renovation and refurbishment of our dental practice in the heart of Barnt Green. Our beautiful modern practice will consist of four surgeries offering a full range of general and specialist dentistry including, cosmetic dentistry, implants, orthodontics, endodontics (root ﬁllings). Full range of Hygienist services and Facial Aesthetics. We will also have a CBCT scanner (3D xray). The project will take approximately 6

months to complete and over the next few publications we will keep you all fully informed of the progress. An Open day/evening event will be organised once the renovations are complete. Date to be announced nearer the time. To all our patients old and new we are open and will remain open during the whole process.

Meet the Acorn Dental Team: Raj Shah

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Completely Bromsgrove

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Acorn Dental Barnt Green

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acorn D E N T A L www.acorndental.co.uk Completely Bromsgrove

Wise words from the Poets of Bromsgrove

ompletely Bromsgrove had the pleasure of attending the launch of another ﬁlm made by Syrian director Maz Salmou.

The Poets of Bromsgrove, which was premiered at the town’s Methodist Centre in Stratford Road on January 28, concentrates on poets who live or have lived in the area, with the aim of encouraging more local people to express their own poetic sense of the area. Poets were invited to submit their work and a group chaired by Jo Freeman of Severn Arts, and Huw Moseley, arts officer of Bromsgrove District Council, selected the eight poems to feature in the new film. Featured poets are Rachel Broad, Michael Hurst, Anna Dear, Margaret Evans, Gwyn Evans, Pat Leighton, Jenna Plewes and Faith Taylor, who is currently young poet laureate for Worcestershire and was featured in the August 2021 issue of Completely Bromsgrove. Maz Salmou, who is rapidly building an impressive reputation for his work, directed the film and chose the locations with Margaret Evans coordinating the people and places. The film is threaded through by Faith Taylor’s poem Sparrow and shows Bromsgrove

Completely Bromsgrove

from dawn to dusk with music played by local musicians Charlotte and Alastair Moseley. The Poets of Bromsgrove can be viewed at: www. youtube.com/watch?v=IcO9xLB0rT0 The new film is a successor to Bromsgrove and Its Poets which featured poets from the town’s past including A E Housman, Geoffrey Hill, Molly Holden and Sally Purcell. It can be viewed online at: www. youtube.com/watch?v=YQ-y671HwNc Both films can also be enjoyed by searching for MazBroadcast on YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn and via his website: www.mazbroadcast.com Thanks for support for this initiative go to WORDS, The Bromsgrove Society, Bromsgrove Arts Association, The Housman Society and various individuals. Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings supported the project by allowing filming to take place on site.

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Baked camembert with red onion marmalade and toasted bread

Ale battered ﬁsh, triple cooked chips, tartare sauce, crushed peas, and lemon

Conﬁt of duck leg

Lemon tart, raspberry coulis topped with italian meringue

Completely Bromsgrove

DINING OUT

Excellent value at friendly village pub

n the mood for a relaxing Saturday evening meal out, we recently visited The Lygon Arms in the charming village of Feckenham.

We were happy to eat in the early evening and were surprised and pleased to be told we could book a table for two people at 6.30pm. When we arrived, we entered the bar area where a pleasant gentleman asked if we wanted to go straight to our table or have a drink in the bar and peruse the menu, which we chose to do. The restaurant menu offered a choice of five starters and we opted to share the baked Camembert, served with red onion marmalade and toasted bread. Moving on to the main course, there was a choice of four options, and I opted for the confit duck leg, served with sauteed new potatoes, spinach, caramelised onions, and veal jus. My partner decided to select from the pub classics menu, opting for ale battered fish, triple cooked chips, tartare sauce, crushed peas, and lemon. The gentleman showed us to our table, and the camembert arrived. While we were waiting for our starter, we did comment that the rather hip-hop style background music was an interesting choice, but as the restaurant quickly filled up, it was soon drowned out by the sound of joyful chitter chatter from the other tables. The Camembert was baked well, with the cheese completely melted. It was strong enough without being overpowering and was sufficient for us to share. If you have a good appetite, then I would suggest ordering one for yourself. My confit of duck leg was tender, well cooked

and, with the accompanying vegetables and sauteed potatoes, offered a generous por tion. My par tner’s fish and chips were lovely and hot, with a large fish por tion and without an excessive helping of chips, which is often the case. We savoured every mouthful of the well-cooked and presented cuisine, emptying both plates. I am not really a pudding person, preferring a good cheeseboard, but I was full and declined a third course. My other half ordered a lemon tart, raspberry coulis topped with Italian meringue and a coffee as she was driving, I embarked on a second glass of Malbec while she devoured the dessert and sipped contently on her coffee. The whole experience was a delight. Well spaced out tables were dressed with linen napkins and a small vase of fresh flowers and the young ladies working alongside the gentleman were attentive and friendly. Each of them wore the pub’s uniform which looked casual but smart. The bill arrived and we were not disappointed at the £56 cost for the two of us including drinks. We rounded it up to £60 which we felt was excellent value. Overall, The Lygon Arms is definitely worth a visit. The pub is less than three miles away from its own farm at Lower Berrow and calves and lambs are reared from birth, being fed only on grass and home-grown grains to enhance the natural flavour of the meat. For more information and to browse the menu, visit www.thelygon.co.uk

Completely Bromsgrove

Falafel quinoa and baby leaf bowl

RECIPE

Serves 4

Method: Prepare the quinoa according to the instructions. Drain the chickpeas, place 580 g in a blender and blend brieﬂy. Season with cumin and 2 tbsp Kikkoman soy sauce and mix with the chickpea ﬂour. Fold the chopped herbs into the mixture. Put the rapeseed oil in a tall saucepan and heat. Shape the chickpea mixture with two teaspoons and fry in the hot fat until cooked in the centre. Fry the remaining 80 g of chickpeas in another pan with rapeseed oil and season with paprika until toasted. At the same time, stir together lemon juice, 3 tbsp Kikkoman soy sauce, tahini and water in a bowl to make a dressing. Divide the quinoa between 4 bowls. Add the baby leaf, beetroot, and toasted chickpeas. Place the falafel on top and garnish with tahini sauce and reserved herbs.

Completely Bromsgrove

Ingredients: 200 g quinoa 1 bunch of chopped parsley leaves, some reserved for garnish ½ bunch of chopped coriander leaves, some reserved for garnish 660 g chickpeas, cooked or canned 1 tsp of cumin 5 tbsp Kikkoman naturally brewed soy sauce 2 tbsp chickpea ﬂour

300 ml rapeseed oil 350 g baby leaf salad 2 fresh beetroot, peeled and cut into strips 1 tbsp rapeseed oil 2 pinches paprika 1 tbsp lemon juice 4 tbsp tahini 7 tbsp of water

Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 30 minutes

www.lovebritishfood.co.uk

Riverside Carvery & Country Inn

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Lower Chaddesley DY10 4QN Tel: 01562 777247 e-mail: thefoxchaddesley@outlook.com www.thefoxinnchaddesley.co.uk Images by hodgkissphotography.co.uk at greatestbritish.org

Completely Bromsgrove

Fantastic fundraisers continue to support Primrose Hospice

ising to the challenge of two tough years, Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre in Bromsgrove have maintained and even expanded their clinical and support services.

While it has been difﬁcult to raise the £1.75 million needed each year to provide services for free for everyone who needs support across North East Worcestershire, the hospice felt it was more important than ever to do so. Rebecca Stone, fundraising manager, said: “We are proud to have been there for people during the pandemic, sometimes when they needed us the most. We wouldn’t be able to continue our services without the incredible support of our community. “We’re honoured to have support from individuals who have been touched by our services, local businesses and community groups, right up to the halls of Westminster and the incredible support we receive from the Health Secretary himself.”

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The Rt Hon Sajid Javid has not only raised an amazing £20,000 by ﬁnding time to run a 10km in aid of Primrose Hospice, all while taking work calls on his mobile, but has now agreed to host a networking lunch in Bromsgrove. In his usual candid style, he will network with attendees and conduct a frank and honest Q&A. More details can be found at www.bit.ly/ networkwithsajidjavid or contact the fundraising team on 01527 889796 or by emailing events@primrosehospice.org Find out more about the support provided by the hospice by visiting www.primrosehospice.org or by calling 01527 871051.

The Big Breakfast is back! O

n March 19th 2022 the Bromsgrove Farmers Club will be putting on the Big Breakfast at Tardebigge Community Hall B60 3AH in aid of Cancer Research and the Primrose Hospice. We serve a bumper breakfast between 8.30am 11.30am, no need to book just come along and make your generous donation to two very worthy causes, there will be a tombola too. This year will be our 18th year and to date we are pleased to announce that we have raised £49, 719.51! Looking forward to seeing you all, any queries please contact Helen Hirons 07976 573306.

Fresh look for Butcher’s Block Exciting things are happening at Butcher’s Block in Bromsgrove this spring. The popular High Street store is having a facelift at the end of March and beginning of April and closing for a week. The shop is being completely re-tiled and a fully functioning kitchen added to allow more deli products and ready meals to be freshly made on site. For aged meat lovers, a new dry aging cabinet will house some extra special joints. With Easter around the corner, it’s time to place your order. Lilith and Michelle were very busy with orders last year so why not get ahead of the game in 2022. Follow @butchersblockbromsgrove on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news.

The only all female staffed butchers in the West Midlands! 53 High Street, Bromsgrove B61 8AJ

Tel: 01527 570241

www.facebook.com/ButchersBlockBromsgrove/?ref=py_c Completely Bromsgrove

Hybrid is worthy I

awoke with a start. Drenched in cold fear it took a splash of water and a shake of the head before the phantoms of the night evaporated. I’d had a motoring correspondent’s worst nightmare. A vision of roads even more pock-marked with potholes, polluted with overhead gantries and overhead cameras and robots behind every corner ready to pounce with an on-the-spot ﬁne. Truly a vision of hell.

I opened the blinds and below, gleaming and ready to go - a 21st testimony to automotive marvels just waiting to conﬁne restless nights of the soul to oblivion. “Thank goodness,” I said, as the promise of testing the spor ty and striking ‘dark star’ from Toyota raised my spirits. The RAV 4 Black Edition in Galaxy Black is an incarnation of the SUV concept guaranteed to make moments behind the wheel moments to savour. You notice the car at once when it’s parked waiting, on account of the poised stylishness: not quite pugnacious but no shrinking violet with the one colour treatment of black cosmetic tweaks everywhere making it an attractive, purposeful package. The alert-looking, powerful and comfortable design incorporates SUV versatility with city-sweet practicality, making it the ideal vehicle for urban dwellers fortunate enough to be able to maximise leisure time opportunities for weekends in the country amid rolling hills and honey-stoned cottages. This £35,184 2.5 hybrid AWD Black Edition features the unique Integrated Dynamic Drive System that proactively and variably distributes torque between front and rear wheels to optimise traction and stability

Completely Bromsgrove

(You can have a 2WD version if you never venture off smooth tarmac - but you will miss out). Inside levels of comfor t are probably only exceeded by a Royal Yacht or an Orient Express, as you enjoy the sor t of ease only proper ergonomics can bring. There’s plenty of passenger room and it makes light work of your luggage needs - not only serving them but anticipating them. This edition features a power back door that opens and closes at the ﬂick of a switch so loading and unloading is easy. It struck me as I climbed onto the electrically adjustable and heated seat, pressed the button to start and cruised down the road, that I was behind the wheel of an exceedingly versatile vehicle, embodying all the savvy and nous of the style-conscious urbanist and yet I was in a vehicle as appropriate for a point to point meeting as a pair of green wellies. And if you’re the sort prepared to risk the sand ﬂies, there’s a touch of the Indiana Jones about it as well if you twist into ‘trail mode’. Where would it all end? I mused. Would my nightmare of the previous night transform into a heaven of expectation?

DRIVE TIME

of a Rave review There was no urge to get out from behind the wheel as life became a wonderful symphony of motion. But high-minded thoughts were put aside to consider the practicalities of such a useful car as this. Here is a vehicle that’s a sensible choice for the stylish minded: an asser tive statement for today’s go-ahead times. And it’s as solid as a rock thanks to that legendary Toyota build quality that, in my opinion, makes offerings from the likes of Peugeot, Renault, Vauxhall, Fiat, Citroen and Jeep seem rather ‘lightweight’. Out on the open road (The M5 at 7am) one relishes Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Road Sign Assist and Lane Assist. Smoothly swanning along in security and comfor t you feel as if you are not so much ‘going with the ﬂow’ as ﬂowing along and going places pleasantly. So far, so seamless. And I use the word advisedly, for a hybrid RAV4 offers you discreet assistance with the deft levels of understanding, sympathy and deliverance one might associate with the staff at a well-known TV stately home. This is because it draws its power from twin sources. It is a petrol/electric hybrid - not that you’d know it. There’s no clunky transitional intervals, no panic perusing of the battery charge levels: no worries of any kind. What you do notice is delightful fuel economy of the new 4 cylinder 2.5 litre, non-turbo (less to go wrong!) petrol engine - with the bonus of emission free city driving,

assured via a self-charging system that simply gets on with the job. This means you can ride the range with your eyes on the horizon and not on the battery charge level. You get nearly 50 mpg from the punchy combination. A hefty total system output of 222 bhp ensures that the RAV4 copes with all demands from towing trailers to attacking off-road trails to high speed runs up to about 112mph. The Intelligent-all-wheel-drive system adapts to all conditions without fuss in unison with the seamless automatic transmission. With the motorway left behind it was a joy to tackle twisty Cotswold roads. The rigid chassis, low centre of gravity and lack of surplus weight made for a driver pleasing spell of hustling along. That is until numerous temporary trafﬁc lights impaired progress. As the red-eyed dragons brought everything to a halt in the interests of growing sluggishly moving tails that stretched back a mile or more, I simply listened to Wagner’s Ring Cycle on the sound system while in comfor t. I told myself that no trafﬁc light delay would ever outlast that. Before I knew it, I was near to Stratford and - inspired by my proximity to the Bard - composed a sonnet to the RAV4 Black Edition. With this car petrol and electric power are harnessed in a rhyming couplet of rewarding grace, expressive of the best in the latest Toyota motoring technologies. “This all brand new Toyota SUV Dost earn, you see, a ‘RAVE’ review from me.”

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Advertisement Feature

The Vale of Evesham Spring Blossom Trail

ou know that “Spring has Sprung” when those famous yellow AA signs go up to guide blossom spotters through some of the most productive horticultural land in the Country. The Vale of Evesham - famous for its plums, apples and pears is home to the country’s most famous Blossom Trail - now in its 39th year and taking in almost 50 miles of idyllic Worcestershire countryside. Photo: Mark Everett

There are so many ways to enjoy this magical natural attraction. Not only can you travel the trail by car, you can also enjoy a fabulous day out on the Springtime in the Vale Coach tour (as featured on BBC’s Countryﬁle). Operated by Royal Motorways on Wednesday 20th April, this value for money tour with your very own Blossom Tour Guide allows you to experience the best of the Vale and the Blossom (weather permitting). Pick up points throughout the County. For further details and to book your seat – call 01386 792206 or visit www.royalmotorways.co.uk For those who prefer “the great outdoors” without engines, why not explore the blossom trail by bike – there are many farmshops and local hostelries en route to enjoy much needed refreshments.

Photo: Mark Everett

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If you are planning to take a group around the Trail - why not book a Tour Guide to enhance your visit. Specialising in the area and more importantly its Blossom Trail, they will cer tainly make your journey around the Vale of Evesham one to remember. Call Helen Piper on 01386 765972 for more information regarding the Evesham Vale Tour Guides. Blossom doesn’t last long so it is impor tant to plan your trip. We have carefully crafted a blossom trail guide that will provide you with the best locations to witness the Vale’s stunning bloom; a vir tual guide can be found at www.valeandspa.co.uk/blossom or order a free copy from Marie-Ann Sharman at 01386 565564. www.valeandspa.co.uk

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Knife Angel to bring message of hope to Worcestershire

27ft tall Knife Angel, created using over 100,000 knives and blades conﬁscated by 43 UK police forces, is set to visit Worcestershire this month.

The Angel is designed by Alﬁe Bradley at the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, with the aim of bringing the issue of knife crime to the front of society’s consciousness. It is set to visit Cathedral Square in Worcester from March 1 to 31 and a series of workshops at Worcester Cathedral, school visits, classroom activities and interactive events at the statue will take place. During the month a general weapons amnesty is being proposed, in the form of a ‘surrender’ secure bin which travels with the Angel. “People often think of knife crime and violence as something that happens in other cities. However, the most commonly reported types of crimes involve threats of violence without injury,” said Councillor Marc Bayliss, leader of Worcester City Council.

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“We hope that the Knife Angel’s visit can be a catalyst for change. We will actively encourage visits from schools, colleges and community groups. Guest speakers who have experienced violence ﬁrst-hand will talk to young people about the impact it has had – as well as the long-term consequences for perpetrators.” Worcester City Council will work with Worcester Cathedral, the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, West Mercia Police, the South Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership and other partners to make the most of the Angel’s presence in the city and to ensure that its message has maximum impact. The Knife Angel has already visited major UK cities and landmarks including Chester, Coventry, Liverpool, Birmingham, Hereford and Telford & Wrekin and has been recognised by the Home Ofﬁce as the National Monument Against Violence & Aggression.

Exhibition of photography

by Bromsgrove Photographic Society

romsgrove Photographic Society are delighted to be returning to Bromsgrove Library with a catalogue of 60 new images across several genres. The exhibition is for the whole of March and admission is free of charge. There is something for everybody, nature, portrait, landscape and more. Viewing can be done according to the library’s opening hours, which can be seen on their website. If anyone is interested in ﬁnding out more about a particular image or about joining Bromsgrove Photographic Society, please email bpscontact1@gmail.com

Golden Girls by John Davidson

Bromsgrove Photographic Society meets every Tuesday at 8pm at Avoncroft Art Centre, Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove, visitors will be made very welcome.

The Boxer by Linda Allen

International Living History Festival 9 & 10 April 2022 Delve into the past as Avoncroft Museum is brought to life! Experience life from the Stone Age to the Cold War (and everything in between!) Take part in hands-on activities Explore the historical markets around our multi-period site

For more information and to book your tickets, visit avoncroft.org.uk/international-living-history-festival

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A word to the wise

ORDS, which has been bringing the best of the written and spoken word to Bromsgrove for over forty years, is pleased to announce that it has arranged three live events for the Spring and Summer of 2022, and is working on arranging at least one more event in the Autumn. The ﬁrst event is on Friday, March 25th, at 7.30pm in the Learning and Resource Centre at Bromsgrove School (entry via the School’s Worcester Road Car Park), when Peter Lloyd, the Series Producer of the award winning and long running BBC 1 television series, “Doctors”, which is made in Birmingham, will

talk about the process of bringing the daily show “From Script to Screen”. Peter was educated at South Bromsgrove High School, then Aberystwyth University, and joined the BBC at Pebble Mill in 1997, working as Script Editor on “Dalziel and Pascoe”, “Dangerﬁeld”, and “The Scarlet Pimpernel” among other shows.

Peter Lloyd

The second event is on Wednesday, May 11th, also at 7.30pm. at the Learning and Resource Centre at Bromsgrove School, when the political journalist, broadcaster and commentator, Steve Richards, will speak on “Reﬂections on Leadership”. WORDS has been trying to book Steve for several years and, having heard him speak at the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival last September, is delighted to have ﬁnally managed to do so. The third event is at 7.30pm. on Wednesday, July 13th at Bromsgrove Rugby Club, and is part of this year’s “Bromsgrove Festival”. The speaker will

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be Pat Murphy, one of the Midlands ﬁnest Sports Broadcasters and Journalists, who has spent a lifetime reporting on cricket and football for BBC Radio, as well as producing more than forty books with such as Ian Botham, Brian Clough, Andrew Flintoff, Alex Stewart, Imran Khan, Graham Gooch and the late Bob Willis. He has a fund of stories and insights into the world of sports broadcasting forthright, funny, entertaining, and from the various horses’ mouths! For details of how to buy tickets, please go to the WORDS Website: www.bromsgrovewords.com

HISTORY

Bromsgrove lecture discusses rejuvenating heritage buildings

he Bromsgrove Society is proud to be hosting the 35th Bromsgrove Lecture and this year’s speaker Aidan Ridyard will discuss the topic of creative conservation, where heritage buildings are brought back to life for our modern society.

The presentation will take place at Routh Hall, Bromsgrove School on Tuesday, April 12th and is open to all. Aidan Ridyard graduated from Birmingham School of Architecture with First Class honours and a Distinction in his post-graduate diploma, which he completed in Venice, winning the prize for best portfolio of his year. He has always worked in and around the Midlands, including a summer job in Bromsgrove and was the director of a large international practice, for eight years, leading their education team and winning a number of prestigious design competitions in the UK and overseas.

Royal Society of Arts Grade I listed headquarters in central London.

In 2014 Aidan joined Burrell Foley Fischer Architects (www.BFF-Architects.com) as a partner, to concentrate on increasingly challenging and rewarding projects. He has developed a reputation for working with ambitious architectural programmes at historically sensitive locations.

Closer to home, Aidan led BFF’s team for the redevelopment of The Roundhouse as a canal side visitor centre in central Birmingham for the National Trust and C&RT and is helping Bromsgrove District Council to develop their Bromsgrove 2040 vision for the town centre.

Aidan has led schemes for complex projects including the regeneration of a highly signiﬁcant group of Listed Buildings (Grades I, II* and II) in York, centred on the 1460 Guildhall, a new 1350 seat theatre in Truro (incorporating two listed buildings) and a phased re-development of the

Over recent projects, Aidan and his team at BFF Architects, have been developing a series of uniquely crafted design solutions to unlock the potential of some remarkable historic buildings around the country. These are characterised by a fresh approach to the perennial problems of helping historic structures ﬁnd contemporary relevance and a meaningful long-term future in an ever-changing world.

Speaker Aidan Ridyard

Outside work, Aidan has been writing his ﬁrst book on the church architecture of Wolverhampton architect Richard Twentyman, which will be published this year.

For The 35th Bromsgrove Lecture Aidan has brought together an overview of these projects to share his experiences of creative conservation, helping to ensure sustainable futures for some remarkable buildings, right across the country. Tickets, which cost £7.50, are available from www. bromsgrove-school.co.uk/boxofﬁce.aspx or in person from FotoFactory, 123 High Street, Bromsgrove. Further details can be found on the Bromsgrove Society website and social by Jo Slade media platforms. Completely Bromsgrove

Have fun and raise charity cash

he Bromsgrove & District Branch of Blood Cancer UK is calling on residents to support three forthcoming fundraising events. A virtual quiz night via Zoom will be hosted by quiz master Steve on Friday, March 18. The winners won’t receive a prize but you will have fun.You can take part on your own or with several people in your own household. A suggested donation of £5 per person but it is at your own discretion.

On Saturday, March 26, thousands of supporters across the UK are taking part in Blood Cancer UK’s Walk of Light, lighting the way for a brighter future for everyone affected by blood cancer. If you don’t want to organise your own walk, why not join Martyn from the Bromsgrove & District Branch on his Walk of Light as he will be walking along the canal from Worcester to Bromsgrove. To celebrate completing the Walk of Light, walkers are being encouraged to host a light-ﬁlled event. This celebration can take place in your garden, on your balcony or even in your living room. Registration is free and when you sign up, you’ll receive a fundraising pack via email. Sign up at www.bloodcancer.org.uk/get-involved/ fundraising-events-and-challenges/ sports-challenges/walk-of-light/

The charity’s Annual Fun Run will take place at Bromsgrove Rugby Club on Sunday, May 8 and will consist of a 10k and a 5k race. All runners will receive a medal and all fundraisers with £30 sponsorship will get a commemorative T-shirt. The 5k route, which can be walked, follows the canal towpath for some of the route so children must be accompanied by an adult. The 10k is more challenging and attracts runners from a wide area. The run will be using chip timing. The event is limited to 500 runners so do not wait to register. This can be done online at: www.bloodcancer.org.uk/get-involved/ fundraising-events-and-challenges/sportschallenges/bromsgrove-fun-run The registration system has changed, so you will not receive a pack as in previous years but you will receive an email with all the information. You will need to collect your number and chip on the morning of the race. Remember to be present at least an hour before the race as you will be taken to the start at 10.50am. You will also receive your t-shirt on the morning of the race if you have raised the minimum amount needed. If you would like further information about the charity or the above events, or would like to volunteer at the fun run, contact Nicole at nicnoelharris@aol.com

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Coming soon - some great performances T

he ongoing series of Coffee concer ts at St John’s church continues to prove popular, attracting regular audiences of around 70 who ﬁnd it a great way to start the day. They enjoy a shor t informal concert of up to an hour, followed by a choice of delicious homemade cakes and tea or coffee. The concerts start at 10.30 am and there is no charge for admission or refreshments, although any donations are greatly appreciated. Upcoming concer ts this season include Bromsgrove’s own Vintage Class singing alongside Poet Jenna Plewes who will read some of her work written during lockdown, with the theme ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’. This is on March 19th, then on the 23rd April the Birmingham Philharmonic Wind Quintet will be enter taining us. There are further concer ts in May and June before the Summer break. Barnt Green Choral Society are looking forward to singing Carl Orff ’s wonderful ‘Carmina Burana’ at a concert at north Bromsgrove High School on the afternoon of Saturday April 2nd. The performance begins (and concludes) with the instantly recognisable ‘O Fortuna’ and will use Orff ’s own arrangement for two pianos and percussion. It starts at 3pm and lasts about an hour – tickets are £10 with children and students free.

Vintage Class with Poet Jenna Plewes (centre)

Carmina Burana

Back at St John’s Church on the evening of April 10th (Palm Sunday) at 6pm, the choir will be joined by baritone Dave Coulson to sing Fauré’s beautiful Requiem. There is no admission charge for this. Do come along for a reﬂective 40 minutes or so!

Barnt Green Choral Society

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Movies and Sport this March at Fairﬁeld Flicks I

t’s Rugby, Beer & Pizza when Fairfield Flicks screens the England v Ireland Six Nations rugby match on Saturday 12th March from 3pm. Woodcote Brewery will be serving a selection of fine craft ales plus street food supplied by Pizza Reeta. Come along a cheer on your team. FREE Admission. A test of paternal love in the film Beautiful Boy (15) on Sunday 13th March 7.30pm. Based on the best-selling pair of memoirs from father and son David and Nic Sheff, Beautiful Boy chronicles the hear tbreaking and inspiring experience of survival, relapse, and recovery in a family coping with addiction over many years. It’s back to 1980, with a Dolly Good Night, as we screen 9 to 5 (15) on Wednesday 16th March 7.30pm. Meet Franklin Har t (Dabney Coleman). The biggest “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot” boss on the planet. He thrills in taking advantage of his head female office staff; humiliating, downplaying, and condescending against them whenever conveniently possible, par ticularly his top assistant Violet (Lily Tomlin). Long-exhausted over his gruesome bullishness, Violet, alongside co-workers Doralee (Dolly Par ton) and Judy (Jane Fonda) comprise comical methods of “doing him in”, when a freak incident occurs. They then manage to kidnap Hart and trap him in his own house, while assuming control of his department, and productivity leaps. But just how long can they keep him tied up? To end the month, on Wednesday 23rd March 2.15 pm, Dream Horse (12A). The film tells the inspiring true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely race horse bred by small town Welsh bartender, Jan Vokes (Academy Award nominee Toni Collette). With very little money and no experience, Jan convinces her neighbors to chip in their meager earnings to help raise Dream in the hopes he can compete with the racing elites. The group’s investment pays off as Dream rises through the ranks with grit and determination and goes on to race in the Welsh Grand National showing the heart of a true champion. For further information & box office visit www.fairfieldflicks.org.uk

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Frustrating time for Bromsgrove Sporting O

ver the last month, Bromsgrove Sporting Frustrating have found lifeBromsgrove difﬁcultSporting against the better Time for teams in the Southern League Premier Division Central but they gained a useful win Over the last month, Bromsgrove Sporting have found life difficult against the be against Lowestoft Town and surprisingly drew against runaway leaders Banbury United. Premier Division Centralleague but they gained a useful win against Lowestoft Town and

The away game against Peterborough Sports was called off by the match referee moments before the players arrived after the pitch had been passed as ﬁt to play earlier in the morning resulting in a fair amount of anger and disappointment for fans who had made the two-hour journey. Connor Taylor on the ball

league leaders Banbury United.

In addition, manager Gavin Hurren has had a long

The away game against Peterborough Sports was called off by the match referee list of injuries and suspensions to deal with but arrived after the pitch had been passed as fit to play earlier in the morning result has managed to bolster his squad with three disappointment for fans who had made the two-hour journey.new

signings in Jon Letford, Dom Perkins and Mitch

In addition, manager Gavin Hurren has had a long list of injuries and suspensions Candlin along loan ofinToby RaisonDom from bolster his squad withwith three the new signings Jon Letford, Perkins and Mitch Hereford FC. FC. Raison from Hereford

Forthcoming Forthcoming fixtures areﬁxtures as follows: Day

Date

K/O

Sat

5-Mar

3:00 PM

Sat Sat Sat

26-Mar 3:00 PM

are as follows:

Opponents

Competition

Tamworth

Southern League

12-Mar 3:00 PM

H Coalville Town

Southern League

19-Mar 3:00 PM

H Biggleswade Town Southern League A

Barwell

Southern League

Sat

2-Apr

3:00 PM

H Redditch United

Southern League

Sat

9-Apr

3:00 PM

H Needham Market

Southern League

Bromsgrove Sporting Ladies are on a good run

Bromsgrove Sporting Ladies are on a good run winning both of their last two mat winning both of their last two matches 6 - 0 away. Veterans team have only played a couple of games recently owning to postponem Meanwhile the Veterans other. The Colts teams have seenteam severalhave their only recentplayed matchesacancelled as a resu

couple of games recently owning to postponements, losing one but drawing the other. The Colts teams Any enquiries hire)recent can be sent to hello@bromsgrovesporting.co.u have seen(including several bar their matches cancelled as a result of waterlogged pitches. More information about Bromsgrove Sporting can be found on the web site www.bromsgrovesporting.co.uk Any enquiries (including bar hire) can be sent to hello@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk

More information about Bromsgrove Sporting can be found on the web site www

by Phil Baker

Photos by Chris Jepson

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