Issuu

Issue 39

April 2022

Completely

Bromsgrove

Turn the page to see ou

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Welcome to the April issue of Completely Bromsgrove

s always, this edition is packed full of features and events, and one event not to be missed is the Repair Café that is opening its doors at All Saints Church Hall on Saturday, April 2nd between 2pm and 5pm. This will be the second time that volunteers will be giving their time to offer their individual services. If you have a much-loved item that needs repairing, turn to page 8 to ﬁnd out more information. Back for its seventh year is the Keep Britain Tidy campaign. Here in Bromsgrove we have our very own Keep Bromsgrove Beautiful KBB which was founded by Sarah O’Connor. Sarah talks about the wonderful volunteers who hit the streets of Bromsgrove and the surrounding villages, week in, week out, to clear up other people’s rubbish. Maybe you have a spare hour to join the KBB team? Turn to page 16 for more details about how you can get involved.

Contents

6 7 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

Our MP’s message K. Bassam Jewellers Repair Cafe Care UK The Wyvern Story Hanbury Hall Dig KBB clean up Gardening Feckenham Festival

22 28 32 34 35 36 38 39 40 41

Wishing all our readers a happy Easter! Very best of wishes,

Worcs Timber/BFC Asparagus Season B’grove Job Fair Atmosphere Festival Grace Kelly Charity Alvechurch Legal Netball Charity Match Primrose Hospice Recipe Health & Wellbeing

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

Completely Bromsgrove

Spring is certainly in the air and as I write this, the sun is shining and just makes us feel so much better. But it’s almost a bittersweet feeling, as we cannot ignore what is happening in Ukraine. I’m sure like everyone here at Completely Bromsgrove our readers are praying that this awful war is brought to an abrupt halt as soon as possible and that its brave and digniﬁed people can return home.

Michele Ford

28 39 54

Completely

Here at Completely Bromsgrove we would like to congratulate Avoncroft Cricket Club on their 75th anniversary. I remember my own father playing for ‘Croft when I was just a youngster and it’s so heartwarming to see that the club has gone from strength to strength. Well done everyone past and present!

42 44 45 46 47 48 50 52 53 54

Easter Family Fun St John’s Church History Fairﬁeld Flicks Local Walks FeckenOdeon Motoring BARRUP Rail News 75 Years of ACC B’grove Sporting F.C.

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

Sales: Michele Ford Tel: 07948 086870 Design: Matt Walton Design The contents of Completely Bromsgrove magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Completely Bromsgrove magazine. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Completely Bromsgrove magazine cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

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A message from our MP

ince I last wrote for Completely Bromsgrove, Vladimir Putin has launched an unprovoked and unjustiﬁable invasion of Ukraine. The UK has been working with our allies to ensure that he fails in his efforts. It is already clear that he has gravely miscalculated, and he should be in no doubt that we intend to keep the pressure up. Across the country and in Bromsgrove District, people have come together to offer their support and solidarity to the Ukrainian people. It has been great to meet some of the residents offering support and I know the generosity of the local community will continue in earnest. The courage shown by the Ukrainian people in the face of devastation caused by the invasion of their country is nothing short of remarkable. I know suppor ting them is an issue so many of my constituents are passionate about. That’s why I was pleased to see the Government bring forward the Homes for Ukraine scheme. In its ﬁrst three days, more than 100,000 people signed up. If able, I urge people to consider becoming sponsors. Locally, I was also pleased to visit the Ar trix Vaccination centre to thank staff and volunteers. The vaccination effor t in Bromsgrove District has been outstanding, with over 220,000 vaccinations delivered. Over the Christmas period, the Artrix even opened for 24hrs a day to suppor t the booster rollout. It was a pleasure to meet the team and thank them for playing their par t in this huge national effort on behalf of my constituents. In Westminster, I delivered a speech on my priorities for reform as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Whether it has been discussions in surgery meetings, on the doorstep or in my postbag, I know my

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constituents share my belief in an NHS that is free at the point of use and paid for in general taxation. It is also for that reason that I want it to thrive. As the custodian of the NHS, it’s my responsibility to make sure it’s ﬁt for the times we live in and the future we face. If any of my constituents are interested in reading my speech, you can ﬁnd it on my website sajidjavid.com. By the time of the next issue of this magazine, I will have hosted my seventh Bromsgrove Jobs Fair. The return of this event will take place on Friday April 22, 10:00am – 12:00pm at North Bromsgrove High School. The Fair has been a fantastic success in the past and I am delighted exhibitors and attendees will be able to meet in person once again. Whether you’re looking for a job that’s full-time, par t time, a change of career or an apprenticeship, I would be delighted to see you at the event. There really is something for everyone. As ever, if I can be of any assistance to my constituents, please email me at sajid.javid.mp@parliament.uk

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Monthly Repair Café aims to make Bromsgrove greener I

f you’d like to save money and keep faulty household items out of landfill, come along to the second monthly Repair Café at All Saints Church Hall in Burcot Lane off Birmingham Road on Saturday, April 2 from 2pm to 5pm. This is part of an international network of Repair Cafés which keeps faulty appliances and clothes out of landfill and offers a cuppa to the public while they wait their turn for a repair. They then watch the ‘expert’ at work, often learning new skills. This is the main way in which a Repair Café differs from The Repair Shop on BBC One where experts are paid to fully restore items. Our volunteer experts offer a quick diagnostic service, though some repairers spend longer on the job, and we ask for donations to help keep us going. “Bring us your wobbly chair, blunt shears, faulty hairdryer, printer, laptop, your snagged jumper or jammed trouser zip,” said Ros Cooke, one of two founding members of the committee. “We will sharpen your gardening tools and mend your unroadworthy bike, by appointment. We do not touch microwaves, the latest mobile phones, TVs or items under warranty.” Marion Kenyon, NewStarts CEO and founder member said: “It’s fantastic that Bromsgrove has now got a Repair Café, where much-loved and used items can be repaired to lengthen their lives, which is very much in line with NewStarts’ work protecting the environment.” At the first Repair Café on March 5, 23 repairs were carried out, 20 successfully, and there was a great atmosphere. Repairs included a broken electrical cord, a

Completely Bromsgrove

Ros Cooke

Marion Kenyon

jack-in-the-box, a dictaphone and a wooden chair hinge. The repairers look forward to working together on the first Saturday of each month, except December. Councillor Sue Douglas said: “I was delighted with the impressive sharpening service and will spread the word.” We have 13 repairers but would like to hear from more. Customers sign a disclaimer, whereby repairs are performed at customers’ own risk, the cafe is fully insured and has a risk assessment. The hall is big enough for us to repair more items as news of the Repair Café spreads. It enjoys free parking, is light and allows social distancing. We report to a national body on the amount of household goods kept out of landfill. Former councillors Ros and Marion, inspired by a wish to make Bromsgrove greener, reached out to other climate-concerned people for committee members, repairers and volunteers and received significant help from Repair Cafés in Worcester, Redditch and Malvern. Finance came from the National Lottery plus donations from Asda, Morrisons and county councillor Josh Robinson. For more information, to book a bike repair or if you have any queries, call Ros on 07804 251731, email repaircafébromsgrove@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page repaircafébromsgrove

Exceptional care in Droitwich A wholly-owned subsidiary of the charity Turn2us

Rashwood is one of a select group of care homes operated by Elizabeth Finn Homes ERH Sǯ IVW E LSQI JVSQ LSQI JSV HMWGIVRMRK guests who appreciate comfort, quality and exceptional care. ;I Sǯ IV TIVWSREP SV RYVWMRK GEVI SR E permanent or short stay basis, as well as end of life care, all to the same exceptional standard. From award-winning restaurant style dining to beautiful landscaped gardens and industry leading social engagement, Rashwood provides the highest level of service and facilities.

RASHWOOD Wychbold, Droitwich, Worcestershire WR9 0BP www.efhl.co.uk

Why not come and see for yourself?

Call Helen Grice, our General Manager on tel: 01527 861258 or email: enquiries.rashwood@efhl.co.uk Completely Bromsgrove

Advertisement Feature

Your lifestyle, 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. We deliver award-winning care and put your quality of life at the heart of everything we do. Our team at Chandler Court learn all they can about your personality, preferences and wishes so that they can create a care and lifestyle plan tailored to your unique needs, whilst promoting independence and a healthy lifestyle. At Chandler Court, our Lifestyle team is dedicated to making each day fulﬁlling and fun, whether you like to help with light tasks around the home, enjoy getting out and about, or love to experience live entertainment. We organise a variety of daily group and one-to-one activities too. When you join us, we’ll introduce you to likeminded people so you can make new friends. And how about taking part in activities with local groups and schools? It’s all possible at Chandler Court.

Everything you need under one roof Chandler Court is a purpose-built care home where every luxury has been thought of. There’s a café, hair salon, cinema and bar and lovely landscaped gardens all waiting for you. Is there a wish or goal you’d like to achieve? Hang your wish on our wishing tree and we’ll do our best to make it happen! Recently, residents of Chandler Court have enjoyed taking part in a Snowdon Walking Challenge to keep fit, taking regular breaks to smell the beautiful flowers in the garden. Others have loved getting involved in this year’s Big Garden Bird Watch, and we’re busy prepping celebrations for Chandler Court’s 4th Anniversary! Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook to keep up-to-date with what’s happening at our home. To find out more Chandler Court please call 01527 903670 or email paul.chambers@careuk.com

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Expert dementia care at your ﬁngertips

Our dementia specialists support each resident to live life independently. At Chandler Court care home we offer exceptional care and we’re here to help you and your family at every step of the journey. If you’re considering care, call 01527 903670 or email paul.chambers@careuk.com

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The story of the Wyvern

and drainage and ﬂooding within Bromsgrove District is covered by Nor th Worcestershire Water Management, a shared Council service also covering Redditch Borough and Wyre Forest The team also undertake cer tain Lead Local Flood Authority functions on behalf of the County Council, including consenting works in watercourses and enforcing the Land Drainage Act. The dragon-like creature in the team’s logo is called a Wyvern. In medieval times it was often used on shields, coats of arms and banners; it was seen as a symbol of strength and endurance. Some researchers suggest that its appearance is linked to that of a Pterosaurs, a large ﬂying dinosaur thought to have gone extinct around 65 million years ago. There is no fossil evidence to suggest that this creature actually ever existed in North Worcestershire. The name “Wyvern” is derived from the Saxon word Wivere, which means “serpent”. When discussing the merge of the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire in the past, the name ‘Wyvern’ was suggested, with a nod to the rivers Wye and Severn that run through Hereford and Worcester respectively. During the formation of the NWWM team in 2011, the use of the Wyvern in the team logo was suggested by Bromsgrove District Council’s longstanding drainage engineer, John Bailey, who was rather fond of history. The green colour of the Wyvern sitting atop three wavey lines represents the three District Councils, whose logos are also green.

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The NWWM team is not the only organisation to have chosen a Wyvern; it is a fairly popular commercial logo or mascot, especially in Wales, Wessex and Worcestershire. A local radio station was named after it, Vauxhall has a model called Wyvern in the 1950s and the Swiss chocolate manufacturer Lindt still uses a Wyvern as its logo.

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An Care AnOutstanding Outstanding Care Home HomeininBromsgrove Bromsgrove

Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, Burcot Rated ‘Outstanding’ byathe Careblend Quality Commission, Burcot Grange Care Home offers unique of luxury country house Grange Care Home offers aperson-centred unique blend of luxury country living combined with 24-hour residential and house living combined with 24-hour person-centred residential and respite care in a warm, supportive atmosphere. respite care in a warm, supportive atmosphere. 3 Large en-suite rooms including suites ideal for couples Large en-suite rooms including 3 Friendly compassionate care teamssuites ideal for couples Friendly compassionate care teams 3 Varied activities programme Varied activities programme 3 Relaxing lounges with open fires and views of the grounds Relaxing lounges with open fires and views of the grounds 3 Five acres of landscaped grounds Five acres of landscaped grounds For more information call 0121 392 6995 to arrange a visit any time, For more 392 5552 6995 arrange a visit any time, . 445 follow us oninformation Facebook orcall see0121 our website – tocinnamoncc.com/burcot follow us on Facebook or see our website – cinnamoncc.com/burcot.

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Exciting discoveries at Hanbury Hall

programme of archaeological work has just been completed at Hanbury Hall. Archaeologists have been busy uncovering the ﬂoor plan of an earlier building that stood on the site of the modern courtyard, we believe it would have housed a kitchen, scullery and housekeeper’s room. This work has been carried out as part of the planning consent for the construction of a new restaurant extension for Hanbury Hall. The archaeological remains have been exposed, excavated and fully recorded by Worcestershire Archaeology, and will be preserved beneath the new restaurant building. We know that there has been a structure on this site since at least 1731. A map dated to this period shows an unusual, tapered building that extended from the back of the house as far as the long gallery. Archaeologists think they have found some of the remains of this early structure, including a cobbled ﬂoor surface, likely to be part of the original courtyard. Evidence suggests that this structure was replaced at least by 1813 with a rectangular building, a drainage plan for 1877 shows the room divisions for this building and gives us an idea of what each of the rooms was used for. The complete outline of this building has been exposed by the archaeological work, with brick walls surviving to a low height and parts of a beautifully

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preserved tiled surface in the corridor area. It is thought that the kitchen was moved into this extension as part of a wider rebuilding programme undertaken by Emma Vernon in the late 18th century. A few interesting ﬁnds attest to the function of this building, including a meat hook from the kitchen area and 19th and 20th century pottery. Work will now carry on behind the scenes as archaeologists piece together the details of what has been discovered and analyse the ﬁnds. The archaeological remains are not accessible to the public as they are part of a construction site, but information will be shared on social media as the post-excavation process gets underway. Visit @HanburyHallNT on Twitter, @hanburyhall on Facebook and on Instagram @nthanburyhall for the latest updates.

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Join the Great British Spring Clean in 2022

ack for its seventh year, Keep Britain Tidy’s 2022 Great British Spring Clean will take place from 25th March to 10th April. Our local litter-picking group Keep Bromsgrove Beautiful will be giving the initiative their full support.

Keep Britain Tidy believe that every act to protect the environment, no matter how small, makes a difference, and they are urging everyone to join the #BigBagChallenge. This year the message is simple: pledge to pick up as much litter as you can during the 17 day campaign. Keep Bromsgrove Beautiful will be making a pledge to the #BigBagChallenge and will be updating their Facebook page each day with the number of bags collected in the district by caring volunteers. Everyone is encouraged to join in to help keep your neighbourhood clean. KBB’s Founder and Chair Sarah O’Conor said “The amazing volunteers in Bromsgrove have proved what a wonderful contribution they can make over the past few years of the Great British Spring Clean and we’re looking forward to getting stuck in again this year. It is hoped that this initiative will help to educate people to not drop litter in the first place, and I would encourage everyone to pop out for as long as they can to make a difference in their neighbourhood and local area. As a Keep Britain Tidy Ambassador, I am 100% behind this year’s Great British Spring Clean and am really looking forward to celebrating our achievement within the KBB community online. All you need to do to join in is grab a picker (we can lend you one), get outside and pick up any rubbish you see. It’s important to then record your hard work on our simple Litter Log so that we can tally up the joint efforts of all involved. If you are a school or business that wants to take part and needs to borrow some equipment, do get in touch!” To record your litter picking activity visit the KBB Litter Log which can be found online at www.tinyurl.com/ KBBLitterLog. Numbers gathered from this record will be added to Keep Britain Tidy’s national totals. To find out more visit www.keepbromsgrovebeautiful. com or find them on Facebook.

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by Jo Slade

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GARDENING

Cherry trees give your garden the wow factor

here’s no doubt that if you want a tree with the wow factor in spring, then a cherry is the perfect choice. They are literally smothered in blossom and many provide excellent autumn foliage colour too. Cherries can be ornamental, in some cases producing inedible fruit, or fruiting, providing deliciously tasty fruit. Cherry trees prefer an open, sunny site, which isn’t too exposed. If there are strong winds much of the blossom will be blown away, reducing the overall ﬂowering display. They prefer a good, well-drained soil, especially chalky and alkaline. Enrich the soil with lots of organic matter and this will help to hold plenty of moisture in spring and summer. There are numerous species and varieties to choose from; some being small, very slow growing, spreading or weeping habit making them suitable for all tastes. They can even be grown as a patio plant. Flower colours range from white through to deep pink, and the blooms may be single or double – with lots of petals, which provide an even more spectacular display. Foliage colour can either be green or purple and many will produce a beautiful autumn leaf too. Once your cherry tree is properly established it will need very little aftercare. It may need watering

during prolonged dry periods in summer. Feed in spring to give it a boost for the coming season. Unless essential, it is best not to carry out any pruning. If your tree needs to be pruned, it should be carried out when the tree is actively growing, from May to August, to prevent your tree contracting any diseases. Edible cherry trees take about three years to establish and will begin bearing fruit in the four th year. Once it begins fruiting, it can continue to do so for years as long as it is kept happy. If your tree size permits, it would be wor th covering as the birds also love to eat these delicious treats. A few fun facts: The average cherry tree has 7,000 cherries Japanese cherry blossom trees don’t produce fruit The world record for cherry stone spitting is 93 feet Cherries are also a major source of minerals like zinc, iron and potassium On average, there are about 44 cherries in one pound

Jobs to keep you busy in April Keep weeds under control

Tie in climbing and rambling roses

Prune winter-flowering shrubs that have finished flowering

Beetroot, cabbage, carrots, cauliflowers and sprouting broccoli can be sown outside. Ensure that the soil has been dug over to leave a fine finish and is free of weeds and large stones

Dead head daffodils as ﬂowers fade to prevent bulbs putting energy into producing seeds. Leave the foliage until it turns brown

Enjoy dodging the April showers and if they get you down remember that your plants are always grateful for that downpour

By Suzi M, Plotter and garden lover from Roundhill Allotments

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Quality made to measure blinds and curtains

Come and visit our NEW showroom in Studley

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07592 303104 or 07910 289565 www.acsinteriordoors.co.uk

A family run business offering a personal touch for your window dressings. Established for over 30 years. Visit our large showroom to browse samples of materials and blinds and receive some friendly advice.

Showroom opening hours : Mon – Fri 8am to 5pm Sat – 10am to 4pm Supablind LLP Units 6&7 Aldi Business Park 84 Sherwood Road, Aston Fields Bromsgrove, Worcs B60 3DR T: 01527 831940 E: office@supablind.co.uk www.supablind.co.uk

FLOORING

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STEP INTO SPRING WITH A FRESH START & FRESH NEW FLOORS At KSH, choosing the right flooring to brighten up your home could not be any easier. Whatever the room! What a year and now, more than ever is the time for a fresh start and a spring update to you flooring. Whatever the room or style, we can help you achieve it. From contemporary new carpet ranges, traditional real woods and stylish designer vinyls. At KSH there is something for everyone.

Visit our showroom or call us today on 01527 880778 Over 40 years experience Full measuring service No-obligation quotations Exceptional quality, competitive prices Professional installation Insurance work Follow us

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Feckenham ﬂower and garden festival T

his hugely successful triennial festival, which is now entering its 37th year, raises funds for the Maintenance Fund of our historic 12th Century parish church of St. John the Baptist.

Feckenham is a charming Domesday village situated along the Saltway that runs from Droitwich to Alcester (B4090). At its largest the historic Forest of Feckenham extended south to the Avon and south-west to the gates of Worcester once employing Geoffrey Chaucer as Clerk of Works and Keeper of the Lodge, in 1389. As many listeners to The Archers will know Hanbury (Ambridge) is just down the road, so this is most deﬁnitely Archers’ territory, with many similar storylines! Previous Festivals have featured in the BBC’s Gardeners World Programme. In 2018, over 30 gardens were open to visitors and we hope there will be a similar number open again this year. Many of our gardens are hidden and vary enormously in size and style, from tiny courtyard gardens to those rather larger. This variety creates a huge amount of interest together with an element of surprise. There will also be a Flower Festival in the Church themed ‘Thankfulness’.

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On The Square there will be stands for : local nurseries selling plants; The Barn traditional and contemporary garden supplies; Feckenham Forest History Society. There will be W.I. teas in the Village Hall and a pig roast/barbeque. Our award-winning community Village Shop and the two delightful village pubs will be open all day. The Festival will be open from 11 to 5pm, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th May. Admission - £7.50 per person - children under 16 free. Visitors should follow all signs to the Festival Car Park in the village where, upon admission, they will be provided with a detailed programme together with lapel stickers for admission to all of the open gardens and ﬂower festival. Feckenham is located off the B4090 Alcester to Droitwich Road. For Satnav users, enter postcode B96 6QH. www.feckenham.com

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Advertisement Feature

Protect your fence against rainy days I

t’s that time of year when the Great British weather can be considered at its most unpredictable. April showers? Sun…and then rain again? This means 36% of our days are subject to increased moisture, which for gardens – and speciﬁcally fencing - is not great news. In addition to its practical role forming the boundary to your proper ty and garden, providing security and protection, fencing also has an aesthetic function, as the backdrop to your planting and landscaping. Timber’s versatility, eco-credentials and decent durability mean it’s consistently a top choice for fence panelling. Whilst it’s true that the majority of timber fencing is pressure treated for a longer life span extra TLC is needed. A fence stain will enrich the wood, deepen the colour, and give protection from the elements. Pick a dry day to apply (and expect to reapply follow manufacturers guidelines regarding frequency of reapplying). Different ﬁnishes, tints, and colours will allow styling to suit your tastes. A heavy-duty stain works robustly against wet weather, whilst a semi-transparent stain will subtly enhance the wood and its grain – either will give protection. Another consideration is UV which turns timber grey over time and can be pre-empted.

As timber and fencing exper ts, Worcester Timber Products recommends the following: • Osmo UV-Protection Oils, Osmo Country Colour, Osmo Natural Oil Woodstain – protective, nourishing and sustainable. • DuraPost - galvanised steel fence post system to avoid moisture damage. • Post caps and panel capping – water will run off and avoid damage. Visit www.worcestertimberproducts.co.uk or call 01299 250744.

WOOD-n’t it be nice! B

romsgrove Flower Club will welcome Julie Pearce when she visits the club on Thursday April 21st at 2pm. Julie from Worcester, is well known for her unique and interesting designs, her title is “WOOD-n’t It Be Nice”! All her arrangements will be raffled at the end of the demonstration. New members and visitors are warmly welcomed. Enjoy a relaxing couple of hours with tea and biscuits, watching and learning tips, about flowers, foliage and gardens. Bromsgrove Flower Club meets every third Thursday at 2pm All Saints Church Hall, Burcot Lane. Bromsgrove B60 1AE Visit our website www.bromsgroveflowerclub.org.uk

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Arrangements designed by Julie Pearce

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2 spot ladybird by Nicki Farmer

7 spot ﬂy away home ladybird by Wendy Carter

14 spot ladybird by Amy Lewis

22 spot ladybird by Jon Hawkins SurreyHillsPhotography

16 spot ladybirds by Wendy Carter

7 spot ladybird by Jon Hawkins SurreyHills Photography

by Wendy Carter, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

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7 spot ladybird by Jon Hawkins Surrey Hills Photography

Loveable ladybirds L

adybirds are probably the one insect that everyone loves. The collective noun really is ‘a loveliness of ladybirds’, which hints at how much we’ve taken these six-legged beauties to heart. They’re with us from childhood; who can’t recite ‘ladybird ladybird fly away home’? We all know what a ladybird looks like…they’re red with black spots, right? Well, partially. Peer into the undergrowth and, if you’re lucky, you’ll spot (pun intended) ladybirds of different colours and patterns. There are 46 species of ladybird in the UK and whilst most of them have spots, others are much smaller and are called ‘inconspicuous ladybirds’ because that’s exactly what they are. Let’s take a closer look at some of the more common ones that you’re likely to notice. 7-spot ladybirds are the quintessential ladybird. They have red wing cases with seven black spots. Along with their smaller and less dotty cousins, the 2-spot ladybirds, these are gardener’s friends as they’ll happily munch their way through aphid colonies. Not all ladybirds eat aphids. 16-spot ladybirds, for example, feed on mildew. These creamy-buff ladybirds huddle together in large numbers during winter and can often be seen dispersing on warm spring days – fence posts can be great places to watch this happening. It’s thought that as well there being protection in numbers during winter, huddling together also means that the ladybirds are well-placed to find a mate when they wake up in spring. Don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s just a case of counting spots, though; 16-spot ladybirds can have between 13 and 18 spots. The more yellow 14-spot ladybirds often have their spots fused together, creating bigger splodges. This fusion, however, can help to distinguish it from the bright yellow 22-spot. Confused by spots? Let’s try colours. Orange ladybirds are, as their name suggests, orange. Instead of black spots they have creamy white spots and they’re found nibbling on mildew on trees rather than in your flower

beds. If you’ve got conifers in your garden or nearby, how about searching for cream-streaked ladybirds – their orange, yellow or pinky wing cases have anything up to 20 black spots on them as well as the cream streaks that give them their name. Our beloved beetle buddies are great for your garden so what can you do to help them out? It’s estimated that the spiky alien-looking larvae can eat thousands of aphids in their short (three to six weeks) life between hatching and pupating. Ladybirds feed on aphids, pollen and mildew so try to ensure a plentiful supply of ﬂowering plants. Put away the chemical bug-killers because ladybirds will do the job for you! Leave an area of your garden a little wild and provide nooks and crannies for them to hide away in – old pine cones, dead stems, log piles and leaf litter. Discover more about which ladybird is which with www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/lovelyladybirds or check out ways to help wildlife www. worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/wildlife-gardening

Follow us on Twitter @WorcsWT www.facebook.com/worcestershirewildlifetrust www.youtube.com/c/orcswildlifetrustUK1 Completely Bromsgrove

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Sajid Javid MP to host Seventh Community Jobs Fair

ocal MP, Sajid Javid, has announced that his popular Bromsgrove District Jobs Fair will be returning for its 7th instalment on Friday, 22nd April at North Bromsgrove High School. In welcome news, the Fair will also return to being held in person after moving online during the pandemic. In 2019, the record-breaking Fair saw people take advantage of thousands of career oppor tunities being offered by over 70 local, national, and international employers. This year, Sajid will be bringing together an even broader range of local businesses and organisations looking to make their next hire. Conﬁrmed attendees for the Fair include Severn Trent, Hewett Recruitment, JCB, Barclays Bank and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. The Jobs Fair will be held from 10:00 – 12:00 at North Bromsgrove High School and will be free for exhibitors and members of the public to attend. Sajid Javid said “I am delighted to be hosting my Bromsgrove Jobs Fair once again. They have been a fantastic success in the past for both businesses and attendees and I know this one will be the same.” “I know how intimidating it can be to apply for a job. That’s why my Jobs Fair gives everyone the chance to

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talk one-on-one with potential employers, and hear about the opportunities available to them ﬁrst-hand” “Whether you’re looking for a job that’s full-time, par t time, a change of career or an apprenticeship, I would be delighted to see you at the Fair. There really is something for everyone.” “Finally, I would especially like to thank Excool, The Best Connection and Sanctuary Group for being our primary sponsors for the Fair. The Jobs Fair wouldn’t be possible without the generous contribution of local organisations who care about our community.”

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New outdoor Spring festival for Worcester A

tmosphere, a new outdoor Spring Festival is planned to take place in Worcester city centre and Worcester Woods Country Park on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th April 2022.

The festival, which is part of The Arches Worcester Festivals programme is a free event designed to appeal to all ages and spark discussion through a mix of live performances, workshops and events inspired by the environment and the natural world. On Cathedral Square in the city centre there will be a stunning outdoor performance entitled Castaway by Highly Sprung which has been co-commissioned by Arches Worcester Festivals team at Severn Arts, Coventry City of Culture, Basingstoke Festival and the Canal and River Trust. This performance with a ‘ﬂying machine’, combines engineering, imagination and dynamic movement to explore the impact of today’s throwaway society on our waterways. At Worcester Woods Country Park visitors can enter into the Actual Reality Arcade, a life-sized interactive game zone for all ages, inspired by classic arcade games, wander amongst the honey-perfumed colony of bees housed in the hand-made hives by Artizani, take a moment in the performance installation ‘Take Ten’ with bespoke and colourful swing chairs by Fluid Motion Theatre and Lorna Rees, and are invited to join a community picnic to bring everyone together at the end of the day. On the same site there will also be curated talks by experts on a wide range of specialist subjects discussing nature, wellness, horticulture, and human

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connections will be on offer, as well as an opportunity to engage in an exciting new concept of engaging people through visual art and performance with poetry, My Heart, My Heart : Live Poetry Jukebox. Each day begins with an hour of either yoga or meditation in a green open space. There will be a Traders Village with home grown and hand-made products and information stands including Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Canal and River Trust, Worcester Beekeepers and Severn Rivers sharing what they do. David Edmunds, Festivals Director, Severn Arts said: “I’m excited for us to bring Atmosphere to our audiences, it’s a great festival which I hope gives people the opportunity to just pause and breathe out and take some time with their family and friends to come together and share the fantastic programme of events we’ve put together over the two days.” Join The Arches Festivals Volunteer Team to help welcome thousands of visitors. If you are energetic, enjoy meeting and helping others and are over 18 and interested in volunteering at this event please contact Katy Rooke, Festivals Volunteer Manager on volunteers@severnarts.org.uk Visit www.thearchesworcesterfestivals. co.uk/atmosphere/ or follow @archfests on social media to keep up to date with Atmosphere 2022.

GKCCT launches new riverside Worcester City Walk

oin the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust on Saturday 25th June as the sun goes down and they take to the streets of Worcester embarking on their ﬁrst ever riverside Worcester City Walk which is suitable for all the family with dogs being welcome as long as they are on a lead.

The 7k scenic route will take participants in a circular route along the River Severn starting from the Worcestershire County Cricket Club at 6pm and back around. There is a shorter route available for anyone who wishes to not do the full 7k.

childhood cancers, working to educate families and clinicians about the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer and producing information booklets that are written by medics to explain to parents and children about the treatments they are facing.

Entertainment, music, refreshments and food will be available at the start along with an opportunity for those who have lost a loved one to leave a message at our memory area.

The GKCCT also provide ﬁnancial, practical, and emotional support to local families through their family support service, giving families a listening ear and support at the time when they need it most.

Alongside the ticket price, the GKCCT would like to encourage as many individuals and families to wear fancy dress and to set up a fundraising page and raise as much as they possibly can to support the vital services the Charity delivers.

So every single penny really does make a massive difference.

Every single penny raised will go back into the services and support that the Charity offers which includes funding research in to rare and aggressive

For more information please contact: Emma Williams, Charity Operations and Fundraising Manager E: emmawilliams@gkcct.org T: 01905 885777

Upon completion of the walk each participant will be give a GKCCT gift and certiﬁcate of recognition for taking part and their support.

Big turnout for The Big Breakfast

egular readers of Completely Bromsgrove would have seen in the March issue that The Big Breakfast had returned to Tardebigge Community Hall.

Helen Hirons, who organised the event, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who came along and supported us. We had a great turnout and fed around 350 people.

“At the time of going to print, we have raised £4,400 – a record for the event – and donations are still coming in.” Funds raised will be split between Primrose Hospice and Cancer Research UK. Over the past 18 years an astonishing £49,719 has been raised with this year’s funds still to be added.

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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

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Take a journey back in time to Avoncroft Museum as it is brought to life this spring! With reenactors, historical traders, immersive activities and much more, Avoncroft Museum is a perfect day out for all the family to enjoy!

Dates to remember… International Living History Festival Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 April

Easter at Avoncroft 11-24 April (closed Tues & Thurs)

Morgan Three Wheeler Club Sunday 24 April 2022, 10am-5pm

Queens Platinum Jubilee Friday 3, Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 June

Firing up for Fathers Day Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 June

www.avoncroft.org.uk The museum is located 2 miles south of Bromsgrove off the A38, Sat Nav B60 4JR Now open Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays in term �me as well Mondays & Fridays in school holidays. Completely Bromsgrove

Charity netball contest raises £500 for Hospice

netball tournament organised by a Bromsgrove law ﬁrm has raised £500 for the town’s Primrose Hospice.

The event was hosted at Bromsgrove School by mfg Solicitors with 12 companies from across Worcestershire entering teams into the knockout competition which was won by the team from Ormerod Rutter Char tered Accountants. Event organiser Sarah Ben-Tariﬁte, a solicitor at mfg Solicitors: “Our support for Primrose Hospice will see a wide variety of fundraising events and the netball tournament was our biggest yet. It was great to see almost 90 people attending across 12 teams and was so popular that we hope to make it an annual event. “It was all about raising funds and awareness of the great job Primrose Hospice does every day to support people and their families. I’d like to thank everyone who attended and donated.” Sarah McDowall, Primrose Hospice’s marketing and communications ofﬁcer, added: “To see so many teams getting together for the tournament was brilliant. It is events like this which are so important to help us raise funds to keep the hospice operating. “Everyone, especially Sarah and the team from mfg Solicitors, have been amazing and we look forward to taking par t in more events.” The trophy was awarded to the winners by Ben Rothery, a partner at mfg Solicitors, who also took part. Primrose Hospice needs to raise £1.75 million every year to run all its services but receives less than 15%

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of this requirement through statutory funding. The charity relies heavily on voluntary donations. The hospice offers day therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, alongside its Family Suppor t Centre which provides bereavement and counselling suppor t to families, loved ones and children in the local community. mfg Solicitors announced in November last year that its staff in Bromsgrove would support the charity for 12 months as par t of a new par tnership. A range of other events are planned this year to suppor t fundraising.

Volunteering with some added sparkle!

Elaine (second from left) with Primrose Staff and Volunteers at the 2019 Primrose Hospice Ball

rimrose Hospice & Family Support Centre in Bromsgrove is supported by hundreds of volunteers who spend their free time doing everything from gardening to fundraising After setbacks due to the pandemic, the hospice will be able to hold its annual ball which this year has a fabulous Roaring 20s theme.There will also be a rafﬂe with prizes donated by a huge variety of local businesses.

As an independent charity, it relies on the support of individuals and businesses to help raise the £1.75 million needed each year to provide services free to our local community.

The volunteer who has the task of gathering hundreds of prizes is Elaine Ostroumoff. She has been volunteering for Primrose Hospice for five years and has spent hours of her free time using her friendly charm to acquire hundreds of prizes. These have included cruises and beautiful items for the home! Every year the raffle raises around £2,500 which goes straight back to the hospice so it can support more people in our local community. Elaine said: “The raffle is often a big draw for our community as some of the prizes we’ve had over the years have been superb. Even though I’ve been doing this for years I am still shocked by people’s generosity.” If you would like to buy tickets for the Roaring 20s Ball or donate a raffle prize visit: www. primrosehospice.org/events/primrosehospice-roaring-20s-ball/ or contact the fundraising team on 01527 889796 or email events@primrosehospice.org Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre offer care and advice to patients living with a life-limiting condition and support families in North East Worcestershire.

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Roast lamb glazed with apricot, soy and lemon

RECIPE

Serves 4

ikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy sauce makes a great glaze for all kinds of roasts. Take a tip from professional chefs and brush with Kikkoman before cooking for a wonderfully savoury taste. A splash of Kikkoman in the gravy or sauce before serving will complete the transformation from boring roast to exotic treat.

Method: Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas mark 5. Cut small slits all over the skin of the lamb with the point of a sharp knife and push tiny sprigs of rosemary into the holes. Lift the lamb into a roasting tin, arrange the lemon and garlic halves around it and spoon over the olive oil. Roast in the oven for 45 minutes, basting occasionally with the juices in the tin. Mix together the apricot jam and soy sauce. Remove the lamb from the oven and brush the soy mixture over it. Return to the oven and roast for a further 45 minutes or until the meat is cooked to your liking. Cover the lamb loosely with foil and leave to stand in a warm place for15 minutes to allow the juices to ﬂow back into the meat and make it easier to carve.

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Ingredients: 2kg (4 1/2lb) leg of lamb Fresh rosemary sprigs 2 lemons, halved 2 garlic bulbs, halved 3tbsp olive oil

3tbsp apricot jam 3tbsp Kikkoman Soy Sauce

Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 1 hour 30 minutes plus 15 minutes resting time

www.lovebritishfood.co.uk

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Why do we need to look to our Gut?

n previous issues I have written about our gut health and how taking a good Biome can help keep our gut in tip-top condition.

Dr Michael Mosley recently wrote in the Daily Mail: Why looking after your gut could protect your brain from dementia. I can’t reproduce the whole article here, but he said: “Fortunately there are plenty of scientiﬁcally proven things you can do to reduce your risk. Research points to a surprising new place where you might want to start - by improving your gut health.” There are at least 100 trillion bacteria viruses and fungi living in our guts, with a mix of “good” and “bad” microbes. Very recently scientists have begun to appreciate that these microbes not only affect your gut but your brain as well. This is just one paragraph from Dr Mosley’s article, and it just shows why they call the gut the second brain because it has a direct link to our brain cells. The fact that oxidative stress plays such a signiﬁcant part in our health is not breaking news. For many years scientists have known this to be the case and we have been consuming the latest superfoods, antioxidants, supplements, and vitamins to try to combat oxidative stress. However, these antioxidants are only part of the solution. You need the materials (the good nutrition) and the labour (the body’s ability to put those materials to good use). Redox signaling molecules give us that opportunity to supplement the body with what it needs to do the labour.

Our cells produce these molecules constantly to maintain our cellular health. However, as we age our bodies become less efﬁcient at producing redox signaling molecules due to factors such as stress, poor diet, toxins, pollution, sun damage and lack of exercise. Being able to supplement with these molecules is a game changer when it comes to improving our health and incorporating a Biome is essential. The balance of your microbiota, and overall microbiome health and function, is extremely important, affecting nearly every system in our body. An imbalance (often referred to as dysbiosis) of the gut microbiome and microbiota has been connected to many issues in the body including: Allergies, depression, autism, obesity and weight gain, digestive disorders (GERD, IBS, etc), yeast overgrowth compromised immunity and much more. Therefore, by using a Biome that works in conjunction with these redox molecules you are giving your body the best equipment possible to help keep you healthy. The Biome that I take last thing at night has 16 probiotics and three prebiotics in each capsule. You can order it via www.need4change. myasealive.com or contact me at colette@need4change.com

by Colette Garside

Completely Bromsgrove

Easter Holiday fun for families

chool holiday activities and support will be available for many families across Bromsgrove district this Easter.

An inter-departmental programme is being created by youth ofﬁcers in the district council’s community safety team, sports development team and the Star ting Well Partnership to provide fun activities and support for families during the two-week break. This project is also being supported with funding from Worcestershire Children First and Ready Steady Worcestershire.

team, Impression Communication, The Round Table, Bromsgrove School and Morrisons.

The team is organising themed outdoor activities such as Easter egg hunts, as well as providing support through some schools, pre-schools, The Basement Project, Bromsgrove Library, Home-Start and youth providers for families who would normally receive free school meals.

“School holidays can be a difﬁcult time for some, especially after the last two years, so thank you to the team for making this a reality. Look out for a hunt near you and hop along to see if you and your children can ﬁnd a gift from the Easter bunny.” Some of the hunts are limited to families who currently access Star ting Well Services, others are open to all. For more information about the Star ting Well Par tnership, go to www.startingwellworcs.nhs.uk For more details about the exact times and locations of the egg hunts or spor ts activities, visit www.bromsgrove.gov.uk

Over the course of the school holiday, 2,000 Easter eggs, provided by Tesco, will be hidden around the district as part of 14 different organised hunts in Rubery, Hagley, Catshill, Sidemoor, Blackwell and Lickey End, Charford and Wythall. Families can also take part in a variety of different sports and activities. The Easter activities have also been supported by the local Bromsgrove Safer Neighbourhood

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Project champion, Councillor Helen Jones, said: “Thank you to Tesco and our other par tners and sponsors for helping to make these events possible for our communities. Something as simple as an Easter egg hunt can make a world of difference to the wellbeing of local families.

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Nave beam repairs completed at St John’s thanks to local grants T

he vital repairs to the cracked internal nave roof beam at St John’s church in Bromsgrove have been undertaken thanks to two grants from local organisations. The Rotary Club of Bromsgrove made a donation of £7,000 towards the repairs and an application to Bromsgrove District Council’s Community Grant Scheme resulted in a grant of £4,950 towards the project. The crack in the oak beam in the nave was noticed last spring when the church opened after lockdown. The church’s Structural Engineer, Ian Ceney, reported that urgent repairs were necessary to ensure the beam was secured and the crack didn’t get any worse. During the proceeding months plans were drawn up and work began to ﬁx additional structural support and brackets to the ancient beam. Major restoration of the church roof was previously undertaken by Scott in 1858 when portions of rotten timber were cut out and patched in large sections, particularly towards the wall ends. Most of the nave tie beams are therefore composite structures, with medieval central portions and Victorian end sections, held together with wrought iron straps and ﬂitch plates. The crack had appeared at the site of one of the joints between the timber sections. The repair work was undertaken by Bob Graydon and Glen Carter from Red Spider Hire and Maintenance, initially from their access platform. Due to the solid nature of the old oak beam, internal scaffolding was required to ensure safety as they completed the work.To secure the new metal support beams and brackets to the existing ancient beam, the 15inch thick old oak beam had to be drilled in a number of places.This allowed for steel bolts through the beam to connect the new support beam and brackets together.The ancient oak beam is so solid that many drill bits were broken whilst drilling the holes!

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Tony Docherty, President of the Bromsgrove Rotary Club said “We recognise the importance of St John’s church to Bromsgrove as a heritage building and as a community asset and so we were delighted to be able to help ﬁnance the nave beam project.”The project was overseen by the Friends of St John’s who raise funds for maintenance and restoration projects at the ancient church building. Anyone wanting to offer help or make a donation can email friends.stjohns.church@gmail.com or donate via PayPal or www.facebook.com/ FriendsStJohnsBromsgrove

A new book on Bromsgrove’s history has been published

HISTORY

Queue at the Maypole Store, Bromsgrove High Street, circa 1900

he Bromsgrove Society are thrilled to announce the launch of their latest publication. Bromsgrove: The Story of a Market Town will be published in April 2022.

Written by well-known local historians and Bromsgrove Society members, Jenny Townshend and Julian Hunt, the book chronicles the history of Bromsgrove over the last one thousand years. Based on extensive original research, the authors present an exhaustive account of the town’s development, from a medieval settlement to a prosperous market town and industrial centre whose inﬂuence extended across the whole of North Worcestershire. This major new work will appeal to all those who know and love the town, providing an evocative trip down memory lane. Running to 320 pages, the hard backed book is lavishly illustrated with drawings, maps and photographs, many of which have not been published before. Its scholarly and detailed treatment will appeal to local and family historians, as well as students of economic and social history. The opening chapters look at Bromsgrove’s geographical setting and its early evolution. Bromsgrove is mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086, when it was described as comprising 18 hamlets and the manor belonged to the king. After a char ter to hold a market was granted by King John in 1199, Bromsgrove emerged as the principal market town of nor th Worcestershire. Around this time the church of St John the Baptist was built, standing on a hill overlooking the town. Early industries and trades, such as tanners, maltsters, clothiers and linen manufacturers, are all described. Nail-making - the district’s best-known trade – was ﬁrst recorded in the 16th century, and by the 19th century exploitative conditions within the nail trade attracted national attention and strikes ensued. Transport links such as roads, canals, and railways have all played a key role in

the town’s development. Other chapters deal with aspects such as the Poor Law and workhouses, schools and schoolteachers, health and welfare, housing, and the town’s rich religious history. A launch event will be held at the Methodist Centre, Stratford Road on Saturday 9th April between 10am and 1pm. The publication was ﬁnanced by advanced subscription and subscribers are invited to collect their copies at the launch event. The authors will be on hand to sign the book and additional copies will be available for non-subscribers to purchase on the day. Society chairman Jo Slade said “The authors, Jenny Townshend and Julian Hunt, with research assistance from Pat Tansell and typesetting from Mike Sharpe, have worked diligently to produce this book. The pandemic stalled the process as access to research materials wasn’t available, but I am in no doubt that the book is wor th the wait!” The book is available to pre-order via the Bromsgrove Society website www.bsoc.co.uk priced £25.00 by Jo Slade plus £3.50 postage and packing. Completely Bromsgrove

April reigns Great Movies & Ballet at Fairﬁeld Flicks

To start the month, recently released British drama Ali & Ava (15) - Sunday 10th April 7.30pm. Both lonely for different reasons, ALI and AVA meet through their shared affection for SOFIA (6), the child of ALI’s Slovakian tenants, whom AVA teaches.

ALI finds comfort in AVA’s warmth and kindness and AVA finds ALI’s complexity and humour irresistible. Over a lunar month, sparks fly and a deep connection begins to grow. However, the legacy of AVA’s past relationship and ALI’s emotional turmoil at the breakdown of his marriage begins to overshadow their newfound passion. Enveloped in music and imbued with humour, ALI AND AVA is a compelling contemporary love story written & directed by BAFTAnominated Clio Barnard (The Arbor, The Selfish Giant, Dark River). The week following Easter Dear Evan Hansen (12A) - Wednesday 20th April 7.30pm - a film adaptation of the Tony and Grammy Awardwinning musical by Steven Levenson. Evan Hansen, a young man beset by social-anxiety disorder, is ordered by his therapist to write self-addressed motivational letters to himself in order to improve his disposition and communication skills. After one of these missives is stolen by a classmate who subsequently takes his own life, the deceased’s parents believe it to be a genuine note intended for Evan, who ingratiates himself with the family. As this relationship deepens, he begins to truly understand what it means to belong. As it’s the Easter break, something for young and old, Clifford The Big Red Dog (PG) - Thursday 21st April 11.00am. When Emily Elizabeth wishes that her tiny, red puppy named Clifford will grow to be big and strong, she never anticipated waking up to find a twelve-foot pup

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in her small New York apar tment. In an effort to keep him, Emily sets out to locate a magical animal caretaker she hopes can restore her pup to his normal size. As she searches the city with her irresponsible uncle Casey, schoolmate Owen and Clifford the big red dog, word of Clifford’s size attracts the attention of a scientist who wishes to claim him as his own. Merlin (PG) will be released to cinemas across the UK from 24th April 2022, and Fairfield Flicks will be screening this marvellous production on Sunday 24th April at 2.30pm. Inspired by the story of the mythical wizard, Northern Ballet’s ‘Merlin’ will take audiences on a sweeping epic adventure of heartbreak, hope and more than a little magic. Choreographed by Olivier Awardwinning Drew McOnie (Broadway’s King Kong and Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom), expect an enchanting spectacle. Don’t miss the legend reawakened through Nor thern Ballet’s blend of classical ballet and unrivalled storytelling. To end the month the Academy Award and BAFTA Award-winner The Father (12) - Wednesday 27th April 2.15pm, a tremendously powerful story about a man who begins to question the fabric of his reality. With powerhouse performances from Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, Florian Zeller’s uniquely made feature film debut is disorientating and intriguing, and must be seen to be believed. www.fairfieldflicks.org.uk

First of three new local health walks launches in Finstall

alkers can get into their stride at Bromsgrove district’s new health walk.

The Oakalls and Harwood Park Health Walk in Finstall is the latest addition to the range of free, volunteer-led, group health walks in the district and it star ts on Wednesday, March 30th. It’s the ﬁrst of three new sessions coming this spring as extra health walks also gear up to launch in Blackwell and Stoke Prior, complementing existing ones in Lickey End, Rubery, Wythall, Bromsgrove, and now Finstall. Councillor Shirley Webb, whose portfolio covers health and wellbeing, said: “Health walks are enjoyed by so many people already

and it’s our pleasure to announce another one, this time in Finstall. “They’re such a good way to get out, exercise and be social as well. And remember, the health walks are always looking for potential volunteer walk leaders – if that’s something that could take your fancy, just discuss it with the team.” The steady, social walk will set off from the play area on Green Park Road, postcode B60 2RD, at 2pm every Wednesday. This walk is an Active Bromsgrove health walk as par t of the Worcestershire Walking Network partnership.

For information on this and other local walks visit www.bromsgrove. gov.uk/walking or contact Bromsgrove District Council’s sports development team on 01527 881289.

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

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Village Hall hosts French fantasy and Ukraine fundraisers

esidents of Feckenham and beyond have three events at the Village Hall to look forward in April.

An unusual and interesting film at The FeckenOdeon, Feckenham’s village cinema, on Saturday, April 30th at 7.30pm is The Man in The Hat (12A). The man sets off from Marseilles in a small Fiat 500. On the seat beside him is a framed photograph of an unknown woman. Behind him is a 2CV into which is squeezed five bald men. Why are they chasing him and how can he shake them off? So begins a picturesque odyssey across the French countryside, the best Provençal driving holiday you’ve never had. It’s a British film with a French feel and despite being made in 2020, it’s timeless. Ciaran Hinds plays the man. The Hat plays itself. 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. A Night at the Movies, a concert for Ukraine, takes place on Sunday, April 10th at 7.30pm. Shropshire film composer Phil Mountford brings his award-winning ensemble Fordante for a selection of hits from the movies, including Love Actually, Slumdog Millionaire, Braveheart, Ladies in Lavender and Lord of The Rings. The concert contains stunning projected visuals and computer-controlled lighting and is presented in a light-hearted, entertaining manner. Skilfully produced bespoke musical arrangements result in a much bigger sound than would be expected from a five-piece ensemble. This event is suitable for absolutely anyone who enjoys music, not just classical aficionados. All proceeds to the DEC Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal. Tickets are on sale at The Village Shop and The Rose & Crown. You can also book by phone (through TicketSource) on 0333 666 3366 or online at www.feckhall.org On Saturday, April 23, the Village Hall plays host to The Great FECKENBREAKFAST for Ukraine. Feckenham’s Village Hall Committee thought that it would be good if we could come together as a community to do something to help so we’re going to offer a slap-up breakfast for everyone to enjoy from 8.30am to 12.30pm.

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For £10 you’ll get a bowl of cereal, fruit juice, a Full English (bacon, sausages, eggs, tomatoes, baked beans, etc), toast and as much coffee or tea as you can drink. A vegetarian option will be available. Bucks ﬁzz will be on offer for those who need a kick star t. Please book in advance and come along when it suits you within the band: Early Birds from 8.30am to 9.30am, Gentle Star ters from 9.30am to 11am and Sleepy Heads from 11am to 12.30pm. Tickets are on sale at The Village Shop and the Rose & Crown, online at feckhall.org and by phone on 0333 666 3366.

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The Octavia VRS -

ritical readers have sometimes rather wickedly cast aspersions on the veracity of my road tests - suggesting that the cars I drive can’t all be ‘that good’. To which I reply: ‘Sir or Madam, Doubting Thomas or Thomasina both - let me open your eyes to the truth of the matter’. We are in a golden age of motoring. We have never had cars so good. Modern cars are more reliable, more economical, more comfortable, assuredly 100 times safer, better performing and - dare I say - better looking than ever before. And right on cue to prove my point, may I introduce you to the Skoda Octavia Estate VRS 2.0 TDi 200PS DSG 4x4 : a car of today designed to delight throughout everyday of ownership. A super-looking sleek estate car of excellent performance, poise, and verve. It sits on the road like a spring-heeled pentathlete ready to pounce. A glance inside reveals an interior as temptingly comfortable as a pullman carriage while the understated dynamism of the overall concept bespeaks purposefulness. High quality materials, class leading space for occupants and a large load area with more room than in my granny’s attic. You won’t - I suggest ﬁnd a more sensibly versatile estate car in this class on the market today. Let me give it to you straight. This 200PS diesel engine is remarkable, paired with the renowned DSG

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automatic gearbox - and 4wd. for enabling you to go where other estates have not gone before. On the touchscreen you select a driving mode from eco, comfor t, spor t or custom and the driving characteristics change to suit your mood. For parsimony or for rocket ship mode when you feel the need for speed - it’s a wonderful combination. Smooth and punchy, in spor t mode an acoustic throatiness permeates the cabin and you grow horns. Whoosh! This is a real Q car. It’s as good as you like: fun, fun, fun all the way and yet as safe as houses, as enduring as a Neolithic monument (My local taxi ﬁrm have several 400,000 mile Octavias) and as dependable as an oil sheikh’s bank balance. Speaking of mineral wealth it won’t set you back a packet at the pumps. It’s a jolly good clean breathing diesel). When was the last time you sat behind the wheel of a 150 mph 4wd express that could sometimes return over 50mpg? Is that the sound of silence I hear? Amazed? Well, you ought to be.

DRIVE TIME

- room and vroom! You settle into that most comfortable and enticingly evocative cabin where everything fits perfectly. There’s no geeky nonsense, no bizarre novelties just a common sense disposition of controls and instrumentation - all within easy reach of a perfect driving position. Star t up and there’s just enough noise to promote the tiniest flutter of anticipation - yet nothing to disturb the pleasurable sense of refinement. Before you know it you’re away. Remember, you’re not reading the words of an MP declaring an interest. You’re reading the comments of Mister Impar tial himself. But on the road with the VRS who can remain impar tial for long? Such responsive road manners, such controllable power and torque, such a business-like sense of ‘doing the business’ because it’s an estate. And the best news is that nothing in its class (representing, as it does, one of the best) offers such good value at £36,350. I can’t see the point in paying more because you will struggle to get a better buy than this Skoda. As I said at the beginning, we live in a golden age of motoring - and yet you’ll often hear the ignorant complain that all cars now look the same and lack character. That this is patently not true was brought

home to me as I pulled up at the newsagents. I bumped into a local businesswoman who gazed admirably at the rich red Octavia estate and said: “That’s very tasty”. For a moment my head was turned as I thought she was referring to me. No such luck - but then I was the lucky man at the wheel of this Skoda. So you see: cars are not all the same. An Octavia VRS diesel Estate 4x4 radiates in ways not yet fully understood, a singularity of purpose that is the distinguishing mark of the good automobile. Loaded to the gunnels as a working estate or with just your correspondent aboard it handled superbly. The slightly lowered suspension gives a spor ty feel but not at the expense of too ﬁrm a ride. The whole handling and ride ‘feel’ is one that instils total conﬁdence. With one of these a motorist will want for nothing. You want high performance? You’ve got it. You want to take the rugged trail? Style? Ditto accommodation? Spacious? Comfor table? Versatile? Feel good factor? Off the scale. It pulls like a train, is deft as a dancer and is packed with safety features. All this and all that room. A hard-pressed banker could even live in one of these.

by Syd Taylor Completely Bromsgrove

Making punters happy with direct route is safe bet T

he Cheltenham National Hunt Festival took place last month with more than 250,000 spectators from across Britain and Ireland ﬂocking to the racecourse for the annual event. I was having a cup of coffee in a cafe in Aston Fields on the Thursday morning of the meeting. On the next table there were six people closely studying The Racing Post newspaper, and I asked them how they were travelling to the course. The reply was: “By train, but it’s a pain. Either we have to go to Worcester Foregate Street and then change trains to go to Cheltenham Spa station, or we have to go to University station or New Street stations, change trains and come back through Bromsgrove to go to Cheltenham Spa station. Why can’t we get a train directly from Bromsgrove?” The answer is that there is no real reason why they couldn’t! The Cross Country (XC) Trains Nottingham to Cardiff service passes through Bromsgrove regularly, stopping at University, then Worcestershire Parkway and Cheltenham. All it needs is for the service to stop at Bromsgrove, which is designated as an “interchange” station, and then it would be an approximately 25 minute direct journey

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to Cheltenham Spa - so much easier, quicker and cheaper than the existing alternatives described above. There would be considerable potential economic beneﬁts for the hospitality businesses in Bromsgrove and Nor th East Worcestershire. Visitors to the festival will be looking for accommodation and restaurants within a reasonable distance of the racecourse and without having to drive. At 25 minutes away on a direct train route, Bromsgrove would meet their requirements. I would urge the leaders of the Worcestershire L.E.P. , Worcestershire County Council, Bromsgrove District Council, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, North Worcestershire Economic Regeneration and Development and business leaders in the region to come together and put pressure on Cross Country Trains to stop its Nottingham to Cardiff services at Bromsgrove, so the town and the district can take advantage of this economic oppor tunity in March 2023 when the next Cheltenham Festival will be held.

by Nick Taylor

2022 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of Avoncroft Cricket Club

AVONCROFT CRICKET CLUB

75 YEARS

Exciting events mark ACC’s 75th anniversary

he club was founded in 1947 by some employees at Avoncroft Cattle Breeders and over the ensuing years it gradually expanded, starting with an interesting ﬁxture list of friendlies against such teams as Redditch Young Farmers and Salwarpe where the sheep had to be moved from the outﬁeld before play could commence.

Friendlies continued until the 1970s when the advent of the Haig Village Knockout galvanised the club to par ticipate in competitive cricket. Amazingly this proved successful, and the club performed brilliantly in twice reaching the last 16 in the country, only succumbing on each occasion to the eventual national winners. These successes paved the way for ‘Croft to enter the Banks and Silvers League based across the West Midlands. Although having several generous sponsors over time, this league has now become the highly rated Worcestershire County League which also has member clubs from Herefordshire and the Black Country. ‘Croft now runs three teams on Saturdays and a development team on Sundays, as well as teams and coaching for youngsters from ﬁve to ﬁfteen. The club is proud of its diversity and links to the local community and always welcomes new players of

whatever age who can make contact through the website www.avoncroftcc.co.uk The committee is planning a number of celebratory events for the club’s milestone bir thday, star ting with a president’s evening for past and present players on June 24. This will be followed by a T20 competition in July, a Beer and Music Festival in August, a six a-side charity day in August as well as a Chairman’s XI v President’s XI match. Finally, a presentation dinner will be held in October. All events will be held at the club’s John Sutcliffe Memorial ground in Stoke Heath, named after the mentor and guiding light for many years, without whom there would not be an Avoncroft Cricket Club. John left the area with a wonderful legacy. by Rod Braithwaite

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Challenging times for Bromsgrove Sporting Challenging Times for Bromsgrove Sporting

It has not been an easy time for Bromsgrove Sporting over the last month. Surprisingly the draw from runaway League leaders Banbury United at the beginning of February but since for Bromsgrove Sporting over the last theybeen just 1-0 defeats fall with five consecutive losses. The month. last four ofSurprisingly those matches have has cost points. At the time of writing there are 8 matches to go and points from from runawaychances League leaders Banbury United at the beginning of avoid relegation.

t has not been an easy time gained an unexpected draw February but since then it has been a steadyFans fallthough withhave ﬁvesupported consecutive losses.The last four of those the team well and crowds have been good particularly the m matches have been just 1-0 defeats but failure capitalise chances hasfreecost points. At the Townto when spectatorson were admitted for and asked to donate theirtime admission charge £3,000 was collected and donated to DEC from the 1,537 who attended including the chai of writing there are 8 matches to go and points from these matches should avoid relegation. District Council, Rod Laight. Fans though have supported the team well and crowds have been good particularly the match against Biggleswade Town when spectators were admitted for free and asked to donate their admission charge to help Ukraine. A total of £3,000 was collected and donated to DEC from the 1,537 who attended including the chairman of Bromsgrove District Council, Rod Laight.

Fixtures for and toseason the end the Fixtures for April andApril to the end of the are asof follows: V

season:

Day

Date

K/O

Sat

2-Apr

3:00 PM

Tue

5-Apr

7:45 PM

A Leiston

Southern League

Sat

9-Apr

3:00 PM

H Needham Market

Southern League

Sat

16-Apr 3:00 PM

Mon 18-Apr 3:00 PM Sat

23-Apr 3:00 PM

Opponents

H Redditch United

Competition Southern League

A AFC Rushden & Diamonds Southern League H Stratford Town

Southern League

A Hitchin Town

Southern League

The Veterans team are struggling to get

The Veterans team are struggling get matches with postponements matchesto played withplayed postponements but but recently away win and progressedrecently in the league cup albeit via a penalty shoot-out. managed a useful 6-0 away winThey are still in their league.

and progressed in the league cup albeit via

Bromsgrove Sporting Ladies have alsoshoot-out. been the victims postponements andaan abandon a penalty Theyof are still in with games to go, though winning the league may be their a long shot. chance of winning league.

Ladies have also All enquiries (including barBromsgrove hire) can be sentSporting to hello@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk. There is been the victims of postponements and an about the club on the web site, www.bromsgrovesporting.co.uk.

by Phil Baker Donation collection for Ukrane

Photos by Chris Jepson

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abandonment but still have seven games to go, though winning the league may be a long shot. All enquiries (including bar hire) can be sent to hello@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk. There is plenty more information about the club on the web site: www.bromsgrovesporting.co.uk

Re-opening ��ri�

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ey gained an unexpected e then it has been a steady s but failure to capitalise on these matches should

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