Completely Bromsgrove issue 44 by completelybromsgrove

Issue 44 September2022 Turn the page to see our advert.... CATERING & RETAIL BUTCHERS Tel: 01527 435669 HOMEMADE Bromsgrove Completely

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Brendan

in and

Bellway set out their plans for 370 new to be built on the western edge of Bromsgrove and North Worcestershire Water Management (NWWM) explain the origins of the names of how is treated.

our local watercourses and

your autumn

homes

sewage

we have

Bromsgrove hope you enjoy this bumper edition. 6 28 43 51 Bromsgrove CompletelyCompletely 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. Sales: Michele Ford Tel: 07948 086870 Design: Matt Walton Design Tel: 07948 086870 Email: completelybromsgrove@gmail.com Visit our Instagram or Facebook page and leave a comment, we would love to hear from www.facebook.com/completelybromsgroveyou. Welcome to the September issue of Completely Bromsgrove A s our lovely readers have come to expect, this issue is packed with interesting articles and features, starting with a tribute to Bromsgrove-born Nicholas Evans, author of the best-selling book The Horse Whisperer. We extend our condolences to his family and friends. Michele FordUntil next month, best wishes, 2824222016141210Contents68 Nicholas Evans RIP Wastewater Tour Bellway New Homes Watercourse Names Decorative Fencing PrimrosePhotoA38HistoryGardeningUpgradeWinnersFabFour 4846454443424140363534 MoveHealthwith Age UK B’groveSafariPubFoodieRecipeMotoringFairﬁeldoftheYearParkNewsSporting FC Avoncroft Cricket Artist’s New Venture Primrose Duo 6261605958575655545149 Historic Medal Award Housman Book Launch Morris Dance Group Flower Club / Creative Arts Late Artist / Dance the 60’s B’grove Concerts Fairﬁeld Flicks The Duke / Coffee & Concert Indie Rock Goddess Malvern HeritageTheatreOpenDays 4 Completely Bromsgrove

Teresa Green interviews Brendan McMahon, whose Bromsgrove-based company Classic Lines Design celebrates 30 years in business this year. is now focusing more on his life-long passion for the summer been treated to many great events and September is continuing in the same vein with so much happening around across Worcestershire. planning social schedule. Completely

Bromsgrove and

art. Throughout

Turn to page 51 to start

The team at

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The Horse Whisperer sold 15 million copies worldwide, becoming the number one bestseller in 20 countries. It has been translated into 40 languages and was made into a ﬁlm starring, produced and directed by Robert Redford.

The Horse Whisperer follows a complex and talented trainer who is hired to help an injured teenager and her horse back to health after a serious injury.

-bornBromsgrovebestsellingmournsworldLiteraryauthor 6 Completely Bromsgrove

Also an award-winning documentary maker, Evans went on to write four more bestselling novels: The Loop, The Smoke Jumper, The Divide and The Brave.

Charlie King, managing director of Little, Brown Book Group said: “Nicholas Evans was a masterful storyteller and one of the most successful, best-loved novelists of his generation.

“The day after the operation, I was going round publishing houses trying to look suave and normal, and I was in a cold sweat, I was just dying, I was in such pain,” Evans told The Guardian in 2011. “But I thought, if I tell anyone, they’ll think I’ll die.”

The story was adapted for the big screen by Hollywood icon Redford, who directed and produced the ﬁlm and also starred as the title character, with Scarlett Johansson playing young rider Grace MacLean in her breakout role.

Evans then moved into TV, producing ﬁlms about US politics and the Middle East for the weekly current affairs programme Weekend World on ITV. In 1982, he began producing arts documentaries whose subjects included artists David Hockney, Francis Bacon and writer Patricia Highsmith.

The inspiration for his ﬁrst novel came in 1993 when he met a blacksmith in the south-west of England who told him about horse whisperers, people who can purportedly heal traumatised horses by speaking to them.

B romsgrove-born bestselling author Nicholas Evans has died at the age of 72.

“The Horse Whisperer and his four subsequent novels have been enjoyed by millions of readers around the world. He will be greatly missed, but his words will live on for years to come.”

Born in Bromsgrove in 1950 and educated at Bromsgrove School, Evans studied law at Oxford University and initially worked as a journalist at the Evening Chronicle in Newcastle.

Evans, who lived in Devon, leaves behind his wife, singer-songwriter Charlotte Gordon Cumming, and their four children Finlay, Lauren, Max and Harry.

Evans’ 1995 novel

In the same interview, he said: “I think that I have been amazingly lucky.”

Evans was diagnosed with malignant skin cancer while writing The Horse Whisperer in 1994. At the time, publishers were locked in a bidding war over the rights to the unﬁnished book, which eventually earned Evans $3.15m and a further $3m for the ﬁlm rights.

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M embers of the North Worcestershire Water Management team recently joined colleagues from the Middle Severn Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) group on a tour of one of our local Severn Trent wastewater treatment plants.

While this treatment process is happening, the sludge is treated to remove any pathogens, and is then processed into a fertiliser which is sold to farmers for non-food-grade agriculture.

8 Completely Bromsgrove

Throughout the whole process, energy is created through bio-gas and on-site solar farms; this is either used on site or transferred back to the national grid.

The other non-organic waste – made up of things that shouldn’t have been ﬂushed, such as wet wipes, is separated and taken to landﬁll. Over the course of just a few days, around three skips worth of this material is collected.

The liquids then start the treatment process, ﬁrst going through settlement to remove the sludge, then through biological treatment, and ﬁnally through additional ammonia, nutrient and sediment removal before the water is discharged to a river – after going through several quality checks.

The most eye-opening part of the tour for us, was the amount of waste that is being collected which shouldn’t have been flushed. Simply keeping a bin in your bathroom and flushing only the 3Ps (pee, poo and paper) will help to reduce this, as not only does it increase the pressure on the wastewater treatment plants, it also increases the risk of sewer blockages and sewer flooding closer to your home.

Fascinating toursheds light on sewage treatment process

We started our tour at the inlet to the site, where raw sewage from thousands of homes in Worcestershire is received. Here the waste is pumped towards a screen which separates nonorganic solids. Any grit (which generally comes from the road drains which also head towards the treatment plant) is recovered and cleaned, and this is re-used in pipe laying.

NWWM members found the tour fascinating. If you’d like to learn more, visit poster.pdftrent/documents/Sewage-treatment-co.uk/content/dam/stw/my-severn-www.stwater.

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A computer generated image of how Bellway’s development in Bromsgrove could look Site plan B ellway is set to start work on 370 new homes at the western edge of Bromsgrove after being given the green light for a new housing development.

The housebuilder’s application to build on a 42-acre parcel of land off Whitford Road in the town was approved by Bromsgrove District Council’s planning committee last month.

The development, to be named Whitford Heights, will include 222 properties for private sale and 148 affordable homes which will be made available to local people through shared ownership or rent.

Bellway is planning to start building work on the site in the late summer and complete the ﬁrst homes in autumn 2023.

“This is a major residential development for Bromsgrove which will also include over 10 acres of public open space and a children’s play area for new

“Situated just over a mile away from the town centre, this site represents a sustainable location which is within walking distance of a wide range of amenities. The development will also be well served by road and rail links, including quick and direct access to the M5 for commuting to Birmingham or Worcester.

“The range of one to ﬁvebedroom properties will provide homes to suit buyers with a range of needs and budgets, as well as making a signiﬁcant contribution towards meeting the local authority’s housing targets outlined in the Bromsgrove District Plan.

“We are now looking forward to breaking ground on the site in the late summer and to welcoming the ﬁrst visitors to the development in 2023.”

As part of the planning agreement for the development, Bellway will provide more than £4 million in funding towards local projects and initiatives, including £725,753 for high school education, £648,418 for ﬁrst school education, and a contribution of £518,918 towards sustainable infrastructure projects.

residents and the existing community to enjoy.

More than 350 new homes to be built in Bromsgrove

10 Completely Bromsgrove

Dan Forrester, land director for Bellway South Midlands, said: “We are pleased that the local authority has approved our plans to deliver 370 muchneeded new homes in what will be a high-quality addition to the town. The development will be part of Bellway’s expansion into Worcestershire over the coming years, as we have also recently acquired land at Hunnington for 86 new homes.

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What is your

Battleﬁeld Brook – allegedly the site of an historic battle; no ﬁrm evidence to give further detail.

Ipsley Brook – geographical reference.

Salty Brook – Refers to the saline deposits around Droitwich.

Tardebigge Brook – geographical reference (rises at Tardebigge).

Artrix Brook – anecdotal name / geographical reference –rises by the Artrix.

Spadesbourne Brook – Spades / Spate refers to ﬂashy ﬂows; bourne refers to seasonally dry channel.

SALWARPE Elmley Brook – ley refers to forest, wood, glade or clearing, likely of elms.

Newton Brook – could relate to the name of a landowner. Park Brook – geographical reference to a historic park or estate. Burcot Brook – geographical reference (rises in Burcot).

Snuff Mill Brook – refers to historic tobacco mill.

Tanners Brook – refers to historic tannery. Hill Farm Watercourses – Anecdotal name, geographical reference. Trimpley Brook – geographical reference. Eyemore Brook – eye refers to an island; historically would be dry land surrounded by marsh or well-watered land.

Capel Ditch – from the French “chapel”?

Dagnell Brook – could relate to the name of a landowner.

Burnthorne Brook – burn refers to a stream (old English), thorn likely to refer to hawthorn trees alongside.

Woodrow Brook – lined with trees

Batchley Brook – geographical reference.

Willow Brook – refers to the willow trees lining the brook. Marl Brook – geological reference, relating to marl/clay geology.

Dowles Brook – could relate to the name of a landowner.

Lea End Brook – geographical reference or could relate to the name of a landowner.

Pinﬁeld Brook – relating to a ﬁeld of pine trees?

12 Completely Bromsgrove

River Severn – derives from the Roman name Sabrina, which might be based on a mythical tale of a nymph drowning in the river; the Welsh term “Hafren” means boundary.

Dunley Brook – geographical reference. ley refers to forest, wood, glade or clearing.

Gladder Brook – could relate to the name of a landowner.

Pinton Brook – relating to pine tree? Clay Brook – geological reference?

Elmbridge Brook – a ridge growing with elm-trees?

Lydiate Brook – geographical reference (Lydiate Ash).

Barley Brook – geographical reference (rises at Barley Mow Lane)

Lem Brook – from Old Norse meaning limb or branch; likely refers to a branch or tributary of the main watercourse.

Church Hill Brook – geographical reference. Park Brook – geographical reference to a historic park or estate.

River Salwarpe – Sal refers to Salt (Droitwich salt deposits), old English “weorp” – to throw up / mix.

SEVERN Dick Brook – dic in old English means ditch. Hartlebury (Bog) Brook – geographical reference, likely formed from a person’s name.

Hen Brook – old English relating to a high place?

Wharrington Brook – whar probably derives from old English meaning weir or dam. Tun relates to a farmstead or estate.

ARROW River Arrow – Celtic term meaning stream.

Kettle Brook – might refer to historic glacial processes.

Hockley Brook – ley refers to forest, wood, glade or clearing. Hoc likely to refer to a person’s name.

Warwick Brook – anecdotal name, geographical reference (ﬂows along Warwick Avenue).

T he team at North Worcestershire Water Management has compiled a comprehensive list of the origins of watercourse names in the county. local namedwatercourseafter?

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D ecorative fencing is usually chosen by homeowners and garden designers who want fence panels to become a main feature within the garden.

• Trellis is arguably the most popular decorative panel. Generally not recommended for privacy, these panels are popular as a feature use, such as increasing the height of walls or existing fence, to help grow climbing plants, or create sides to structures or backdrops.

With many options available, including custom made designs, talk to the experts at Worcester Timber Products, located on Hartlebury Trading Estate, DY10 4JB, or visit their website www.worcestertimberproducts. co.uk for more information and inspiration.

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• Elite Slatted Top is a well-constructed double-sided panel offering a pleasing view from either side. The in-built lattice creates a decorative top which will allow light into your garden.

One ﬁnal tip to consider, many fence panels are ideal for sides of pergolas, or for screening off unsightly items so do not always think a fence panel is just for your boundary.

A guide

Sometimes fence panels are there only to frame or mark the boundary of the garden, so simpler designs are chosen. If planting is the main feature, a less decorative fence panel can be chosen to not deter or distract from the decorative borders.

The most popular styles of decorative fencing are:

• Square Horizontal, also known as hit and miss, are reﬁned classic panels that create an elegant boundary. As they look the same from both sides, they can ensure no disputes between neighbours.

• Tongue & Groove are fully framed premium panels with a professional smooth ﬁnish, which come in distinctive styles. Arched Top provides an attractive boundary to the traditional Flat Top, but both are ideal for security and noise control. Lattice Top panels are an alternative style to consider, providing standard height fence while allowing light to enter your garden. Interestingly, the tongue and groove design originate from the Victorian era, allowing for two ﬂat pieces of timber to be joined together.

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• Slatted panels bring a stylish modern touch to your garden, with a thin gap allowing light and breeze to pass through. Double sided slatted panels are also available.

• Horizontal Lattice Top is a classically designed hit and miss continental panel with a small diamond trellis at the top that adds character. Perfect for boundaries between neighbours.

• Venetian panels are great for creating attractive light effects as the sun moves around your outdoor space. These premium grade slatted fence panels can be integral to helping you create the ultimate atmosphere in your garden. Each design offers various characteristics that will guarantee character and interest, but will also create a focal point, as well as improving security.

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• Omega Lattice Top panels stand out from the crowd with their unique wave-shaped diamond trellis. With a smooth ﬁnish, they look great.

Collect ripe seed on a dry day, as soon as the seedheads (capsules or pods) ripen Seed pods will change colour when they are ripe, usually from green to brown, black or red Lay the seed heads out to dry on a greenhouse bench, warm windowsill or in an airing cupboard. The seed can then be extracted from pods quite easily, if necessary they can be gently crushed to release them You can collect seed from ﬂeshy fruits and berries by mashing them in a ﬁne sieve and then rinsing away the pulp in cold water. Leave the seed to dry for a few days on paper towels After extracting the seed, clean off any excess material attached to them as these can harbour pests and Placediseasesdryseed in labelled paper packets or envelopes, in an airtight container with some desiccant to remove excess moisture; a great use of those little bags of silica gel that you get in packaging.

Most plants can be grown from your own seed, although be careful of hybrid plants which may not come out as the plant you are expecting as two “parent” plants have been cross-pollinated to get the best result.

When collecting seed some things you should think about: Seedheads can ripen quickly, so watch them carefully in order to collect the seed before they are dispersed Only collect seed from plants which are healthy and vigorous. This will help ensure good quality seedlings and Seedplantsharvested while immature will not germinate

Start sowing hardy varieties of broad beans and peas for early crops next year Plant onion and shallot sets in a sunny spot, 10cm apart, with the tip just showing above the soil Lift gladioli corms, dry them off, then store in a frost-free shed or garage over winter Lift maincrop potatoes, dry off and store in hessian or paper sacks, in a cool dark, well-ventilated place

GARDENING

gardeningreducecosts 16 Completely Bromsgrove

Seed can be saved from many trees, shrubs, perennials and annual plants. Annual ﬂowers like calendulas (marigolds) cornﬂowers, cosmos, aquelia and poppies work well and if left will self-seed all over the place resulting in lots of new plants popping up next year with no effort.

By Suzi M, plotter and enjoyer of my garden

September is a busy month with lots of delights still to come, hopefully an Indian summer will prolong the season for us all.

Save seeds to

Some jobs to keep you busy throughout September

Pot up tender perennials, such as fuchsias and osteospermum, from summer displays and bring indoors before temperatures drop Store chillies by threading the stalks onto strong cotton and hanging up to dry somewhere warm and dry Plant up containers for autumn interest, using cyclamen, heathers, heucheras and other colourful bedding plants

Plant wallﬂowers, pansies, forgetme-nots and other spring bedding in pots and borders

In these days of tight purse strings and environmental impact, saving yourself some pennies is some thing we should all welcome; so why not think about collecting seeds from your favourite plants.

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The reed was gathered into large bundles for use in thatching, and the grain swept into a heap with a besom broom ready for milling. This exercise went on all day until the stacks were all threshed. Later winnowing machines were introduced that performed the same function.

H arvest season was the most important time of the year for our farming ancestors, as crops were harvested for food and animal feed, and the community prepared for harsh winter days ahead. by Mike

A whole array of other crops was gathered too, including apples, cherries, hops and potatoes. Apples – for which Worcestershire was famous –are picked a little later in the year, usually October. Once more than 2,500 varieties were grown in the UK, many of which have now been lost completely.

20 Completely Bromsgrove

After first clearing around the borders of the field, the farmer and workforce (which comprised men, women and children) worked in rows. Men cut the crop with scythes and were followed by other men and women who gathered the crop into sheaves using a sickle. The sheaves were then stacked and left to dry ready for threshing. Threshing was done in a barn. The floor would first be well swept, and the sheaves opened and spread out in layers. With great dexterity, a flail was then used to open out the ears. Threshing barns were built with wooden floors and wide doors on each side to allow the wind to pass through carrying out the chaff (waste). It was arm-aching work but very little remained on the stalks.

The importanceof harvest time

Before the invention of the steam engine and mechanised farming, the harvesting of crops such as wheat, corn and barley relied on manual labour using simple tools such as sickles, scythes and rakes. It was back-breaking work, often in scorching temperatures at the height of summer. Workers came out from the towns and cities to help, and in the Midlands travelled from as far away as Ireland.

The Bromsgrove Society’s programme of local history talks resumes on Tuesday, September 20th at the Methodist Centre, Stratford Road. See www.bsoc.co.uk for details.

By the end of the 19th century, the traditional farm-supper had been modiﬁed and introduced as a harvest festival service in many churches, an occasion that continues through to the present day.

SharpeHISTORY

Completion of the harvest – which was generally around the end of September – was a cause for celebration. A wide range of traditions were associated with this time of the year which varied across the country. In many areas the last load from the harvest ﬁeld was brought in escorted by the harvest workers and people of the village. Games, such as scrambling for apples or hot pennies, were also part of the celebrations. The highlight was the harvest supper, which was generally hosted by the farmer. Bread often featured, with a loaf baked into the shape of a wheatsheaf. At their most lavish, the meal would brim with meats, vegetables, puddings, tarts and ale, and would be accompanied by singing, drinking games and much reverie.

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Residents will beneﬁt from improved walking and cycling facilities. A new cycle and pedestrian corridor running parallel to the A38 will be built, while new crossings and overbridges will connect to the wider local cycle network. This will improve safety, provide more options for active travel and support the drive to net zero.

The project will generate more than £93 million in economic beneﬁts for local communities in the Midlands, with the improvements directly supporting 1,100 new jobs and the development of 5,500 new

Worcestershire County Council leader, councillor Simon Geraghty, said: “We are delighted that the A38 project has taken a huge next step forward in the journey towards securing £43 million funding.

“This signiﬁcant investment will help improve everyday journeys around Bromsgrove, easing trafﬁc for local people, as well as boosting the local economy.”

homes.

22 Completely Bromsgrove REDDITCH • BROMSGROVE 01527 547777 01527 831700 WYTHALL • ALVECHURCH • ALCESTER 01564 822001 0121 445 3422 01789 330939 “A family concern” www.thomasbrothers.co.uk email: admin@thomasbrothers.co.uk An Independent Family Owned Funeral Directors THOMAS BROTHERS Family owned funeral homes in Redditch, Wythall, Alvechurch, Bromsgrove & Alcester. We provide a friendly, dignified service paying special attention to detail. “A family concern” www.thomasbrothers.co.uk email: admin@thomasbrothers.co.uk Bromsgrove residents are set to beneﬁt from more than £43 million of government funding for A38 upgrades to tackle congestion, improve local journeys, and support thousands of new jobs and homes. A38 upgrades to support new homes and jobs

The improved trafﬁc ﬂow and lower congestion will also reduce journey times for local buses, making commutes shorter and more reliable. Real time passenger information will be installed at bus stops along the route which will provide passengers with live updates to help them plan their journey, in line with the government’s long term strategy for buses outside London.

The A38 currently experiences signiﬁcant congestion during the weekday rush hours with severe delays at junctions and unreliable journey times affecting residents’ ability to travel and get to work.

Transport Minister Baroness Vere said: “Local residents in Worcestershire are affected by congestion along this key route. That’s why we’re investing more than £43 million, providing a huge boost to the area’s economy and ensuring people can get around the region quicker and easier – whether that be for work, education or to see family and friends.”

Planned works will install new lanes at key junctions and widen the existing road, helping to improve trafﬁc ﬂow and reduce the threat of any unnecessary bottlenecks in the region. These upgrades will take place on a 7.5 mile stretch of the route, between the M5 Junction 4 to the north and the A38/B4094 to the south.

The total cost of the scheme is £49.8 million, with the Department for Transport committing to provide just over £43 million and Worcestershire County Council providing the remainder.

Our makeovers,includespaintingspray-serviceforyourhome,kitchenfurniture&somuchmore! Unit 23 Silver Birches Business Park, Aston Road, Bromsgrove B60 3EU. Tel: 01527 558166 / 01527 877129 Email: info@wesprayanything.com Web: www.wesprayanything.com As well as enhancing and adding value to your home, the concept is also good for the environment saving you time & money as you will be transforming, upcycling, and adding personality to your home, saving it from landﬁll & giving a fresh new look & purpose for today’s lifestyle. If you want to see more of what we do visit our showroom in Bromsgrove, that’s free! Completely Bromsgrove 23

24 Completely Bromsgrove

Richard Clifford had the unusual honour of winning two places in the calendar. March will feature his detailed image of frogspawn that he found beside his wildlife pond. He noticed a clump of frogspawn that had been laid by a frog outside of the pond in his garden. As he picked it up, he realised that it had a beauty all of its own and quickly took a couple of photos with lighting behind it before placing it into the pond. Whilst toads require deeper and more established ponds in which to lay their eggs, frogs will lay eggs in puddles, which might explain why Richard didn’t ﬁnd this clump in the pond itself.

Catshill’s Rebekah Nash spent time watching this regal kingfisher to find out more about his favourite perching spots. She tucked herself away, away from passing walkers, and “felt privileged as this beautiful bird stayed with me, fishing for over 20 minutes.” The electric blue and orange colouring of a kingfisher is unmistakeable but it’s possible to separate male from female birds by looking at the colour of their bills. The bill of males is all black whereas the bottom half of the bill in females is orangey-red.

photoBromsgrove’swinners

by Wendy WorcestershireCarter,Wildlife Trust

Linda Jones’ snowy image was taken near Dodford last year when she set out for an early morning walk to catch the sunrise over a glistening countryside. Not only did she capture the frosty feeling of an early morning, she also caught tracks and signs of wildlife moving through the snow-covered landscape. Not all mammals hibernate through winter and snowy landscapes offer lots of opportunities to see what they’ve been up to.

Snowy footprints (January) – Linda Jones Swallow (July) – Richard Clifford

B romsgrove’s photographers and wildlife feature prominently in the winners of our popular photo competition for the second year running. Three Bromsgrove residents scooped four of 12 winning spots in our 2023 calendar. From the unassuming beauty of frogspawn at a garden pond to the colourful brilliance of a kingﬁsher with its catch, our natural world inspires and delights.

Take a look at photography-competitionwww.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/formoreinformation about the competition and to view all of this year’s winners andOurrunners-up.calendarcan be purchased online www. worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/shop

The second winning image taken by Richard Clifford was of a swallow flying over a meadow near Hanbury. Richard was out looking for butterflies but couldn’t resist trying to get a photo of one of these aerial acrobats swooping low over the meadow as it hunted for insect food. Swallows fly 6000 miles from South Africa to spend their summers with us, feeding on insects as they travel. When they arrive, they return to where they were born as they look to build their mud nests in our barns, sheds andOurgarages.nextphoto

Frogspawn (March) – Richard Clifford Kingﬁsher in the rain (September) – Rebekah Nash

competition opens in November so there’s plenty of time for you to capture that perfect wild moment. Whether you watch wildlife in your garden or can be found wandering some of Worcestershire’s beautiful wild places, it’s always worth keeping a camera to hand, even if it’s just one on your mobile phone. Watching wildlife helps us to relax; it keeps us rooted in the moment and connected to the natural world that doesn’t just surround us but also keeps us going.

Completely Bromsgrove 25

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The four ladies, Sharon Johnson, Kristal Taylor, Shereen Ballantine and Sally Duff, have never attempted a marathon before but as a result of their new-found hobby and a desire to make a difference they have built a life-long friendship.

Sharon’s husband Chris Johnson was assistant chief constable for West Midlands Police when in 2018 he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

Friends and family have been raising awareness of MND and funds for Primrose Hospice ever since.

From left: Shereen, Sally, Kristal and Sharon

Chris hasn’t let MND deﬁne him and has been fundamental in raising awareness and money for charity.Hehas been part of #unitedtoendmnd and went to Downing Street to deliver a request for funding into a cure for the disease which was successful.

28 Completely Bromsgrove

Chris now has to have assistance with his breathing 24/7 and is conﬁned to a wheelchair. The only part of his body he can move are his hands but he continues to smile through the pain and is an incredible inspiration to all that know him, in particular his two children Katie, aged 17, and 12year-old Harry.

Fab four primed formarathon test

Please help support the local girls for a local charity, for a local man by donating to the following link: cornﬂowercopperstheml1K_SMbje6aULM3d_IkPJrVIi57uk3NMprhBf_yw_ytopyXbnY5cy_sharon-johnson44?fbclid=IwAR1AWwww.justgiving.com/fundraising/orgiveafollowonsocialmedia@ F our Bromsgrove women have taken on the challenge of running the London Marathon in October.

MND is a condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system. This leads to muscle weakness, often with visible wasting. Also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the disease occurs when specialist nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord called motor neurones stop working properly. This is known as neurodegeneration.Motorneuronescontrol important muscle activity, such as: Gripping - Walking - Speaking - Swallowing - Breathing As the condition progresses, people with motor neurone disease will ﬁnd some or all of these activities increasingly difﬁcult. Eventually, they will become impossible.

Completely Bromsgrove 29

30 Completely Bromsgrove Home Instead Redditch & recruitment@rb.homeinstead.co.uk01527Bromsgrove810855www.homeinstead.co.uk/rb HIRING! WE ARE Join our team of Care Professionals in Bromsgrove Regular, local clients Minimum of one hour visits £11.50 - £12.50 per hour Guaranteed holiday pay + mileage Full training is provided Part time contracts available Must be a driver with access to your own vehicle COACH HIRE AND DAYTRIPS Our 2022 Daybreak brochure is out now! With over 52 individual daybreaks to choose from, why not give us a call or visit our website. Call for a quote or a brochure today on: 01527 376 098 You can download a copy from our website: www.royalmotorways.co.uk Our is also available for Private Hire, School Trips, Sporting Events, Weddings,TransportEventandRegularContracts. Complete Bromsgrove 155x110.indd 1 11/02/2022 15:35

Completely Bromsgrove 31 MasterButcher “Constantlyinthepursuitofexcellence” 149GoldenCrossLane,Catshill, Bromsgrove,Worcs.B610JZ Tel:01527874526 Wesourcethebestproducepossible! FromFarmersandProducerswho giveyouAMAZINGGRAZING! Duncombes Ourphilosophyissimple: Joinus.... Duncombes This advert should be upside down! FRENCH CLASSES NICOLE HARRIS M.C.I.L. French native speaker with over 30 years teaching experience TEL: 01527 878493/07802 637093 Email: nicnoelharris@aol.com www.frenchwithnicoleharris.co.ukLevel1class Thursday: 3.30 – 5.30 Level 2.2 class Tuesday: 7.00 – 9.00 Level 3 (Intermediate 1) Thursday: 7.00 – 9.00 Conversation (AS’ Level standard) Thursday: 1.30 – 3.30 Conversation (A’ Level standard) Wednesday: 7.00 – 9.00 Discussion (Degree level) Monday: 7.00 – 8.30 Tuesday: 10 – 12.00 Wednesday: 10.00 – 11.30 Friday: 9.30 – 11.30 One to one or group tuition for beginners G.C.S.E & A’ LEVEL tuition Translation work ON Do you need your grass cutting? COMPETITIVE PRICESANY LENGTH OR SIZED GARDEN We have been providing a grass cutting service in the local area for the past 32 years! Your Mowing DONE For You!FullyInsured FOR A FREE QUOTE FROM A LOCAL COMPANY CALL PAUL IN BROMSGROVE on 07775 518277 DONE Mowing Services �� Every First Saturday of the Month - Saturday 3rd September - Repairers are welcome

Crossbite: Crossbite happen when one or more upper teeth bite behind the lower teeth. This can cause wear of the teeth, gum disease and bone loss.

Open Bite: Open bite can cause poor or painful chewing and even speech impairment. It can also lead to greater issues like TMJD.

The Beneﬁts of Invisalign Comfort – No braces, wires or train tracks Clear – Practically invisible so no one knows you are wearing them Convenient – Change the aligners at home so less visits to the practice Clean – They are removable allowing you to clean your teeth properly Conﬁdence – Smile and speak with no visible wires and brackets

Deep Bite: Deep bite can lead to gum problems or irritation, and/or wear on the lower teeth, and can cause painful jaw joint problems.

32 Completely Bromsgrove Why choose Acorn Dental for your simplyTosmileyouWithoutInvisalignandthechoosingThetraditionalneedsometreatedSimilarly,dentistsbraces.dentiststreatment,ManyTreatment?InvisaligndentistsofferInvisalignhowevermuchfewercandotraditionalfixedThereareevenfewerthatcanprovideboth.manycasescanbewithInvisalign,however,casesaretoocomplexandtobetreatedusingamorefixedbraceapproach.keytosuccessintreatmentisthecorrectapplianceforindividualcase.Ourworld-renownedDentist,DrDipeshParmar,hasaMastersDegreeinOrthodonticsishighlytrainedinbothandfixedbraces.bias,DrParmarwilladviseonwhatisbestforyourteeth,andhealth.startyourInvisalignjourneycallthepracticeon 0121 447 7300 or book online at www.acorndental.co.uk The consultation fee is £60 which is payable upon booking. Invisalign® - The World’s No.1 Clear Aligner Treatment Get Straight White Teeth at Acorn Dental Barnt Green What is Invisalign? Invisalign involves a series of clear, removable aligners each one being worn for 1-2 weeks then swapped for the next aligner in the series, gradually moving your teeth to the desired end goal. The number of aligners varies from patient to patient according to the severity of the case, however, the average is about 18 to 30 aligners meaning that many treatments can be completed between 6 to 15 months! Each set of aligners are custom made for each patient to achieve a beautiful natural smile.

What can be corrected with Invisalign?

Gappy Teeth: Gaps between teeth can be unsightly and can lead to unwanted tooth movements, along with potential gum problems.

Crowded Teeth: worseteethOverlappingcangetwithtime and result in severely crooked teeth. Crowding can lead to plaque build up, decay and gum disease.

Underbite: Underbite can prevent normal functioning of front teeth or molars, which can lead to wear. It can also cause painful jaw joint problems.

Completely Bromsgrove 33 Special Offer - Get FREE Enlighten home whitening, RRP £595, at the end of your Invisalign treatment to complement your perfect straight teeth. Invisalign Before and After Case Studies Case Study 1 - Crowded Teeth Case Study 2 - Gappy Teeth Case Study 3 - Crossbite Case Study 4 - Deep Bite Case Study 5 - Open Bite Award the22AAcornDentistryWinningatDentalBarntGreenHewellRoad,BarntGreenBirmingham,B458NECall:01214477300Freeparkingfor3–4vehicles.AccessisviaaprivatedriveatsideofSavoirFaireboutique.www.acorndental.co.ukCase Study 6 - Underbite

I have personally found and seen improvement with hair loss using redox molecules twice to three times daily by rubbing it or spraying the liquid molecules into the scalp.

by Colette Garside I f you suffer from hair loss or thinning hair the chances are that the cells in your hair follicle are broken. Over recent months I have written about cellular health and how important it is to keep your cells in tip-top

This 57-year-old man had this bald patch for at least 15 years. He has been applying Renu gel twice a day for three months since the ﬁrst picture was taken. It just goes to show you don’t have to be young with recent hair loss to get it to come back.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

There are many treatments available for this type of condition including surgical procedures which sometimes work and at other times are not so successful. Whatever treatment you go for results never happen overnight. We need to remember that over the years if we have not looked after ourselves this will affect our results and the older we are the longer it takes.

Check out these three testimonials.

34 Completely Bromsgrove

This lady’s hair was falling out towards the end of last year. She was going through a lot of stress and would have handfuls of hair every time she washed her hair. Since drinking the molecules and using the gel she is happy to report that her hair is growing back. As a bonus, it has been the ﬁrst spring and summer when she is not wheezing. Her energy levels have increased and she is sleeping through the night.

Another lady found this bald spot and said that it was probably due to accumulated stress. She felt so depressed and too worried to consult a doctor. She believed in these redox molecules and the science and applied Renu gel two or three times and 3x60ml of the redox water a day. The treatment took four months.

make up our bodies and if you have healthy heart cells you have a healthy heart, if you have healthy lung cells you have healthy lungs and if you have healthy hair cells you have a healthy head of hair.

Treating thinning hair the natural way

Seventy-ﬁvecondition.trillioncells

For more information about Renu gel, contact me at colette@need4change.com

These tiny redox molecules help bring vital nutrients to your hair follicles and scalp but with aging, they get damaged and stop working, leaving them malnourished, weak resulting in thinning locks. When our hair cells are not plump, they become rather like pinched straw which ﬂattens, and the hair fall out begins. We need to keep these dermal papillae working and talking to each other to keep our locks shiny and healthy and this is where our redox molecules are so important. We need to see these molecules as the foreman telling the nutrients that you take in from your diet where they are needed otherwise the hair becomes wispier and more brittle when starved of important nutrients.

With recent surveys from Sport England and the Age UK national team raising concerns about the impact that the pandemic has had on the physical health and strength of the over 50s, the team at Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch & Wyre Forest (Age UK BRWF) are encouraging everyone to ‘Move More’!

Completely Bromsgrove 35

For more information about Age UK BRWF’s new Romsley ‘Move More’ class and/or any of the other local support and services provided by the charity call the team on 01527 570490 or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/brwf/

The Living Well for Longer team are offering a free resistance band and exercise booklet to residents over 50. To get you started the exercise booklet contains a set of eight seated resistance band exercises that are easy to follow and designed to help maintain and improve your strength as you age.

It is recommended that you complete these exercises at least twice a week and use them to complement any current physical activity.

B eing active is one of the most important things that you can do for your health and wellbeing.

Anyone over 50 years old can pick up a free resistance band and exercise leaﬂet from any Worcestershire library. Just ask at the library counter.

The Age UK BRWF Team are also supporting Public Health Worcestershire’s new project ‘Living Well for Longer’ which is also encouraging over 50s across the county to keep active and well in later life. The project aims to improve mental and physical wellbeing, slow down age-related functional decline and keep over 50s independent for as long as possible.

Age ‘MoveeveryoneencouragingBRWFUKaretoMore’

The sessions will include some resistance band exercises, as demonstrated in this photo by Age UK BRWF’s Activities Coordinator, Adele Fyﬁeld, which are a great way to help build strength and improve balance. As with all Age UK BRWF groups and classes, where the social interactions are so important, the sessions will also be fun! Each session will cost £5, all equipment will be provided and there is no need to book.

Following its Community Roadshow in May, Age UK BRWF is going to be piloting a new ‘Move More’ exercise class in Romsley at Romsley Scout Centre, St Kenelm’s Road, B62 0PG. Starting on Thursday, September 8th from 12.45pm to 1.45pm, the sessions will run for an initial six-week period but, if they prove popular, the charity hope that the sessions will continue and could extend to other areas.

For more information about the Living Well for Longer Project visit: living_well_for_longer_in_worcestershirewww.worcestershire.gov.uk/info/20899/

36 Completely Bromsgrove

Like the very breath of the sweet season itself, the Hyundai Kona N lightens the heart through its transformative appeal. Its looks beguile while its functional merits recommend to good sense a rich harvest of motoring pleasures to come. But there’s more. This is the fiery Kona. A real Q car with brake discs the size of dinner plates, red calipers and low profile tyres plus zipzoom performance of the first order. Every passerby who clocked the Kona parked outside my house just had to stop and remark at its charming yet purposeful appearance: truly here’s a clever piece of practical styling. By some miracle it manages to appear sleek as well as commodious - cheekily chunky yet at the same time suavely slick and racy. You can tell at a glance it’s safe as houses too - designed to muscle its way through crowded carriageways with the confidence of a prop forward. But instead of cauliflower ears you get sculpted contours that play with the eye like coloured candy in the sweetshop window.

If ever a car distilled and conveyed such stimulating sentiments it has to be the new Hyundai Kona N: a seriously-sized distillation of design parameters pitched at the crossover conﬁguration beloved by those who believe that the better things in life are better still when packaged to please as well as to perform.

S pring and early summer are young at heart seasons packed full of zesty promise. Gloomy souls perk up. Success is just around the corner. And if that’s expecting too much, well - there’s always the next corner.

Sculptured Kona

A broad-shouldered, ﬁrmly planted stance is offset by tastefully coloured paintwork which graces an effective wind-cheating silhouette. No wonder everyone wanted to have a go when they saw the super sporty £35,395 compact SUV winking at them from the kerbside.

At this juncture, those of a technical disposition might wish to ‘get the facts’ (As older readers will remember Joe Friday of Dragnet fame saying). The potent 2.0 litre 276 bhp turbo petrol engine driving through the eight speed dual clutch automatic gearbox will take you to near 150 mph and return about 30/32 mpg overall if you drive to enjoy it - and who wouldn’t?

Switching to the sportiest mode tightens steering, stiffens suspension and somehow makes the hairs on the back of your neck bristle. There’s even a red ‘overboost button’ that releases another 10bhp for 20 seconds should you need it in an emergency.

DRIVETaylorTIME Completely Bromsgrove 37

Of course, there are ascending levels of technology on board. These depend on the micro process wizardry characteristic of our 21st century - and with such performance a limited slip differential is an essential. For those who need ‘the mostest of the latest’ there’s plenty to serve you well. Refreshingly though there is a manual handbrake. As my acquaintance with this car grew I realised I’d overlooked something. With the Kona, Hyundai has created a car for the driver in a hurry that matches its environment splendidly. Whether on city streets, on challenging B roads or on motorways it’s equally at home. In town it’s compact enough to cope with tight squeezes. It’s a car that has a wonderfully spirited demeanour and lots of fun inducing attributes. It proved to me that you don’t have to go around with a frown on your face in order to be serious about your work. This is one serious solution that generates, in motoring terms, that elusive quality called jollity. There’s no bland anodyne nonsense here: just zip, zoom and liveliness of the ﬁrst order. Undoubtedly this Hyundai will ‘Kona’ the market. by Syd

is safe as houses

It’s not just that this is a well-appointed comfortable and rewarding rocketship to drive. No. For me it’s more like that sense of piloting a machine that achieves completeness only through (to use a modern term) connectivity with the driver. The Kona N felt right: a right shape, a right size, the right ﬁt in all regards (amongst best in class for leg, shoulder and headroom), plus it drives as a proper car should. Road manners are ﬁrm, smooth and precise.

Luxury Winter Break Offering an immaculate holiday home in the beautiful village of Kingsbridge located on the Salcombe Estuary South Devon. The property offers a modern living space which comfortably sleeps 6 guests, with secure gated parking. Stunning coastal walks to work up an appetite which can be quelled at one of the nearby restaurants offering quality cuisine for you to savor within walking distance of the property. For more information or to book your break, call George on 07951 424277 To learn more about what Kingsbridge has to offer checkout their website www.hellokingsbridge.co.uk Nearby Burgh Island 38 Completely Bromsgrove

TEST DRIVE the IONIQ 5 voted World Car of the Year in September and be entered into a draw to WIN A TRIP TO QATAR and A PAIR OF FIFA WORLD CUP TICKETS!* *T’s & C’s apply e-mail: sales@hyundai-bromsgrove.co.uk | www.nglcars.co.uk 2 – 12 Station Street Bromsgrove B60 2BS Tel: 01527 872071 Neales Garage Completely Bromsgrove 39 call: 01562 777 077 | email: info@hillsautomotive.co.uk Competitive ﬁnance rates available All makes, all models service, repairs and MOTs FREE vehicle health checks State-of-the-art wheel alignment equipment hillsautomotive.co.uk Mustow Green, Kidderminster DY10 4LG 10% OFF ALL SERVICING AND MOTS for Completely Bromsgrove readers Please quote ‘CB2022’ when booking We can also supply New and Used Ford vehicles. OVER 250 IN GROUP STOCK! Your New Pilote Dealer visit hillscampervans.co.uk Your local friendly family business The Big Choice for premium used cars, commercial vehicles and campervan sales There’s so much more at Hills Automotive

Preparation: Cut the salmon into cubes of the same size. Wash and dry the spinach. Sauté garlic in a large pan with rapeseed oil. Deglaze with vegetable stock and cream and season with lemon juice and zest, nutmeg, pepper and 2 tbsp Kikkoman soy sauce. Heat plenty of water and salt in a saucepan. Cook the macaroni in it according to the instructions. In the meantime, fry the cubes of salmon in a pan with 1 tbsp of rapeseed oil. Then deglaze with 1 tbsp Kikkoman soy sauce. Add everything to the cream mixture and fold in the spinach. Divide the macaroni on plates and serve with the salmon-cream sauce.

Serves 4 Macaroni with Spinach and Salmon 40 Completely Bromsgrove

www.lovebritishfood.co.ukRECIPEwww.kikkoman.co.uk • 400 g salmon • 2 tbsp rapeseed oil • 200 g spinach • 1 clove garlic, ﬁnely chopped • 2 tbsp rapeseed oil • 50 ml vegetable stock • 500 ml cream (30% fat) • 1 lemon (juice and zest) • 1 pinch ground nutmeg • 1 pinch pepper • 3 tbsp Kikkoman naturally brewed soy sauce • 400 g macaroni Prep. time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Ingredients for 4 portions:

We know people are going to be watching budgets as we head to winter. So why not ease your way into Christmas by joining our Christmas club by putting away a bit of money each week.

Boasting a wide range of locally sourced bread, meat, cheese, eggs, vegetables and fruit along with a host of other items such as savoury pies, cider, fruit juices, honey, jams, cakes, and many other goodies.

Plan ahead for Christma� with our Christmas club

Lizzy Rogers of Cooksey Quality Meats discussing theﬁeldforarrangementsFoodieFairwithRobertGarvinofFVCA 53 High Street, Bromsgrove B61 8AJ Tel: 01527 570241 The only all female staffed butchers in the West Midlands! To keep up to date with everything in store, follow us on Facebook @butchersblockbromsgrove

F airﬁeld Village Community Association is launching a new food market – Foodie Fairﬁeld - to provide an opportunity for people in the Bromsgrove area to buy good quality local produce direct from the producers.

Pick quality local produce from Foodie Fairﬁeld

Foodie Fairfield will be held in Fairfield Village Hall on the first Saturday morning of each month and the first event will be on Saturday, September 3rd in Fairfield Village Hall. Doors will be open from 9am to noon.

Whether you want to make regular small payments or bigger ones when you have the spare funds, it will all help when it comes to getting your meat for Christmas. To join the Christmas club, just come and see us in store for a payment card and start building your balance.

There is ample, free parking behind the hall and buyers will not have to struggle carrying their purchases a long distance.

The stalls at Foodie Fairﬁeld will show just how much great food is produced in or around the Bromsgrove area.

Completely Bromsgrove

Further details about Foodie Fairﬁeld can be found by visiting www.fvca.org.uk/foodie-fairﬁeld

Association spokesperson Robert Garvin, said: “Local people are keen to support local small businesses and Foodie Fairﬁeld will help them to reduce their food miles by enabling them to buy food from local farmers and artisans.”

The Cross lifts Pub of the Year crown Completely Bromsgrove

We are now delighted to share the news that the pub has now been awarded the Pub of the Year title for the whole of Worcestershire. Ryan was presented with his award by Gez Quinn from the district branch of CAMRA. With more than 700 pubs in the county, the award is an amazing achievement for Ryan and his team, and they will now go forward into the West Midlands awards. We will of course let you know how the pub gets on in the next round and would like to wish Ryan and his excellent team the very best of luck.

Ryan (right) is presented with his award by CAMRA’s Gez Quinn

Black Country Ales reopened this beautifully restored traditional village country pub four years ago with Ryan at the helm. This is not the ﬁrst time Ryan and his team have been rewarded for all their hard work and dedication, with the pub winning CAMRA awards on several previous occasions. You can follow The Cross on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CrossFinstall/ I n the June issue of Completely Bromsgrove , we featured The Cross at Finstall winning the coveted prize of pub of the year given by Bromsgrove and Redditch District branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).

Head of wildlife, Angela Potter, said, “We are delighted that Dourga has arrived with us after several months of planning. She has settled in very quickly, meeting all her new keepers who were excited that she has joined the WMSP family. They have reported that she is a calm and friendly cat, so I can see her quickly becoming a favourite with guests.

Dourga is currently in an area not viewable to the public while she settles in, but Sumatran tigers Nakal and Hujan, can be seen on the four-mile safari drive-through.Furtherinformation about West Midland Safari Park is available from www.wmsp.co.uk or by calling 01299 402114.

It is our hope that they will have cubs together in the future. Sumatran tigers are critically endangered, so it is very important to bring the right individuals together to ensure the survival of the species in the longer term.”

Conservation and education teams are championing tigers this summer by talking to park guests about the threats these exceptional big cats face and telling them some fun facts. If children can recite a tiger fact back, they can earn a special tiger sticker.

It is estimated that there are fewer than 4,000 tigers left in the wild and only 400 of those are Sumatran tigers, gaining them their critically endangered status from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Tigers face a very uncertain future, due to threats such as habitat loss, conﬂict with humans and poaching for the illegal trade in tiger body parts.

Born at Le Parc des Félins in France, Dourga has already mothered two cubs and has been identiﬁed as a compatible match for Nakal, hoping that the couple will play an important role in protecting their species from extinction.

Dourga, a ten-year-old female, arrived at the tourist attraction from Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland in August and is already becoming a ﬁrm favourite withFollowingkeepers.asettling in period, she will be introduced to the park’s male Sumatran tiger, eight-year-old Nakal, in the hope that they may become a breeding pair.

W est Midland Safari Park has welcomed a new arrival in the form of a critically endangered Sumatran tiger.

The park is also partnered with the charity WildCats Conservation Alliance, supporting the Kerinci Seblat Tiger Protection Project, which is committed to maintaining a sustainable and effective conservation programme for Sumatran tigers in one of Asia’s largest national parks.

park’sSafari

conservationnewsgrrreatarrivalnewisfor

“Once she has ﬁnished her quarantine period, she will be slowly introduced to our male, Nakal, as part of a European breeding programme recommendation.

Completely Bromsgrove 43

With many of last year’s players having departed, manager Thomas Baillie has pretty much a completely new squad and it is expected that a few more matches will be needed before the team really begins to perform and to take advantage of the skill and experience of new arrivals.

Sporting’s Women’s and Veteran’s teams will be playing at the Victoria Ground again this season with matches on Sundays but their seasons have yet to start. The Colts teams play their games on pitches around the Bromsgrove area with the majority on Barnsley Hall Fields. They will get going once youngsters are back at school. Sporting can be found on Facebook - @ BromsgroveSportingFC and Twitter - @SportingFC with much more information on the web site www.bromsgrovesporting.co.uk Any enquiries can be sent by email to hello@ bromsgrovesporting.co.uk.

by Phil Baker

Sporting's Women's and Veteran's teams will be playing at the Victoria Ground again this season with matches Sundays but their seasons have yet to start The Colts teams play their games on pitches around the Bromsgrove area with the majority on Barnsley Hall Fields. They will get going once youngsters are back at school.

44 Completely Bromsgrove

Fixtures for September and early October are shown below though the match on 17th September is dependent on the result of the 1st Qualifying Round match and that for the FA Trophy will depend on which team comes out of the draw.

romsgrove Sporting began their league season on 6th August with a home match against St Ives Town. Despite taking a one-goal lead in the ﬁrst half, the game unfortunately ended with a 1 - 2 loss. Mixed Results as Season starts for Bromsgrove Sporting

Mixed results as SportingstartsseasonforF.C.

Fixtures for September and early October are shown below though the match on 17th September is dependent the result of the 1st Qualifying Round match and that for the FA Trophy will depend on which team comes out draw.Sat

Any enquiries can be sent by email to hello@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk.

Sporting can be found on Facebook @BromsgroveSportingFC and Twitter @SportingFC with much more information on the web site www.bromsgrovesporting.co.uk.

The next two ﬁxtures though went much better with a 1 - 0 win in Suffolk against Needham Market, courtesy of a penalty in added time then three days later Sporting gained a decisive 3 - 1 victory at the Victoria Ground over local rivals Alvechurch. However the second away match of the season against Rushall Olympic saw The Rouslers succumb to a 3 - 1 defeat, leaving them 10th in the Southern League Premier Division Central.

Dan Sweeney avoids a challenge and gets his shot off

Bromsgrove Sporting began their league season on 6th August with a home match against St Ives Town. Despite taking a one goal lead in the first half, the game unfortunately ended with a 1 2 loss. The next two fixtures though went much better with a 1 0 win in Suffolk against Needham Market, courtesy of a penalty in added time then three days later Sporting gained a decisive 3 1 victory at the Victoria Ground over local rivals Alvechurch. However the second away match of the season against Rushall Olympic saw The Rouslers succumb to a 3 1 defeat, leaving them 10th in the Southern League Premier Division Central. With many of last year's players having departed, manager Thomas Baillie has pretty much a completely new and it is expected that a few more matches will be needed before the team really begins to perform and to take advantage of the skill and experience of new arrivals.

Photos by Chris Jepson Naythan Hayward running with the ball away at Needham Market

3 Sep 3:00 PM H FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round Stamford Sat 10 Sep 3:00 PM A Southern League AFC Rushden & Diamonds Tue 13 Sep 7:45 PM H Southern League Redditch United Sat 17 Sep 3:00 PM FA Cup 2nd Qualifying round TBD Sat 24 Sep 3:00 PM H Southern League Basford United Tue 27 Sep 7:45 PM A Southern League Hednesford Town Sat 1 Oct 3:00 PM A Southern League Kings Langley Sat 8 Oct 3:00 PM FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round TBD

by Rod Braithwaite

The ground has endured the heatwave remarkably well due to the diligence and leadership of curator Mark Taylor. He has marshalled his team with great skill during the heatwave despite multiple problems. Equally, Jason Huxley has led his social team energetically in the continued organisation of 75th anniversary events. Likewise, he and Paul Athey and a multitude of coaches continue to have success with the thriving junior side. Overall, this has been a thoroughly successful and enjoyable year for the club.

The most significant event has been the addition of young batsman Will Baker who has scored almost 600 runs for the club in his first eight games, including three centuries. His batting is of the highest quality, with a wide range of delightful stroke play and footwork. Much credit for the team’s confident approach goes to young skipper Josh Cound and his wily, cunning deputy Duncan Roke.

Unquestionably, Avoncroft have the best top ﬁve batters of any side in their league, and certainly the best top order in the club’s history. Each of these players has scored centuries this season, with current averages of each being between 45 and 98.

AVONCROFT CRICKET CLUB

The inbatsmenCroftareparadise!

The First XI have recently hit a purple patch especially in their batting. They have the scent of promotion ﬁrmly in their nostrils and are producing some consistently amazing performances. With four games to go this season, the team lies in the second promotion spot after several recent crunching victories.

T he last month has seen some excellent performances from all of Avoncroft Cricket Club’s teams. The Saturday Third XI, under the astute leadership of Jason Patel, Phil Seers and Derek Croal, completed a brilliant season by guiding their team of mainly very young players to winning their league including 11 victories and only one defeat.

This was a terriﬁc performance based upon splendid teamwork with all players, including chair Chris Townsend, making positive contributions. Unfortunately, the county system then introduced a complicated playoff procedure in order to ﬁnd one team from three leagues eligible for promotion. Although the team gave a good account of themselves, they were short of several regulars because of holidays and injury and gallantly bowed out.

The Second XI have improved as the season has moved on especially in the batting. However, despite some substantial scores the team is still ﬁnding it difﬁcult to defend them. An entertaining feature in a recent game was a stand of over 200 at Stoke Heath between veterans Jon Bird and Stuart Walton, who both made unbeaten centuries. As the temperature at the time was in the mid-30s, they ensured that a large proportion of the runs were boundaries although they did run one two!

Completely Bromsgrove 45

Reputation and a knack of winning pitches made me popular but at this point I only wanted a fulltime position with an advertising agency as I loved the atmosphere of a busy, successful agency. Later the ad agency market reduced and more direct clients emerged. I went from a freelancer to a full design consultancy with a team of seven.

How have you been able to manage major technological change in the industry?

Illustrating the children’s book, The Adventures of Thomas and the Magic Owl (www.thomasandowliver. com), was another major project with more than 25 illustrations. I reverted to the Procreate app to produce the illustrations and enjoyed the ﬂexibility and ability to change colours and line work quickly.

The R word. The agency I was working for went bust just before Christmas 1991. I started 1992 jobless and with no prospects but the government was offering start up grants of £40 a week for 12 months. I started knocking doors and rapidly grew a freelance business working for most of the advertising industry in the Midlands.

Industry awards come top as there’s nothing like your peers judging you the best. CLD have won three DRUM Cream Awards. Robert Horne Paper creative of the year and NHS innovation awards are others that come to mind.

I’ve always loved art from childhood to a newfound inspiration today. My days at art school were some of the best times ever as I made great friends and met my future wife and business partner Liz. In business I’ve always illustrated for clients but this is all about exploring my inner passion to paint freely and with my own imagination to guide me. I hope to offer small classes to individuals and may be taking on some tutoring classes at Avoncroft Arts Society ( www.avoncroftarts.org.uk ) later this year, it’s a great, local, creative space to learn and enjoy art of all descriptions. Anyone wishing to commission Brendan can contact him through his website www. brendanmcmahon.co.uk where you will ﬁnd further information about limited edition prints for sale.

Completely Bromsgrove spoke to the company’s founder and creative director Brendan McMahon about its achievements over the past three decades and Brendan’s own ambitions for the future. What prompted you to set up on your own?

A string of industry awards helped to build our new independent design ﬁrm status. We mainly worked with local authorities, NHS trusts and global brands including Kraft Foods, Jordan Motorsports, Arts Council, Woolmark, National Grid and many more. We listened like no other agency and had no sales or account managers getting in the way. Some of these clients are still with me 30 years on.

Bromsgrove-based branding, marketing and web design studio Classic Lines Design is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2022.

ShetlandSnowdonCraig

Completely Bromsgrove

Artist’s new venture

The launch of Apple Macs in the mid-1980s was a game changer for our industry and gave my business the platform to grow quickly in an ever-changing design world. Technology gave smaller agencies the power to control product and move fast. Before Macs, even small projects could take weeks. With this new ability, we were turning projects round fast, but at a cost of many long hours. Are there any projects you’re particularly proud of?

Art has clearly been a life-long passion and now you have decided to devote more time to it. How do you hope this new career will develop?

by Teresa Green After the rain St Michael’s Mount Gloucester Old Spot - Albert is on the right lines Completely Bromsgrove 47

James Godsall, managing director at Jukes Insurance Brokers, said: “Primrose Hospice are a wonderful charity. We are lucky to have them as they play a key role in supporting our community.

“Jukes Insurance Brokers have had a longstanding relationship with Primrose for many years and we’re proud of the small part we’ve played in supporting their amazing work. This year we want to raise more than ever before. Through various fundraisers over the years, we’ve raised over £12,000 so are keen to raise as much as“Onepossible.ofmy biggest motivators for running the marathon is that I’m hitting 40 this year and felt the need to balance the cake and occasional celebratory beverage with something healthy.”

“Every penny really does count and the funds they have raised is vital for us to continue supporting people living with life-limiting illnesses and families experiencing bereavement in our local community. We hope that the training is going well and wish them good luck.”

Ben, who is joint managing director at John Truslove Chartered Surveyors & Valuers said: “Primrose Hospice have provided fantastic care and support to a number of people with life-limiting illnesses very close to me. I have already raised more than £3,000 for the hospice thanks to generous donations from family, friends and clients for marathons and Wolf Runs.

Rebecca Stone, fundraising manager at Primrose Hospice, added: “We were so pleased to hear that Ben and James wanted to take on the iconic London Marathon to support us.

B romsgrove-based duo Ben Truslove and James Godsall have been spending their summer in training for the London Marathon. a challenge to both runners Preparations are well underway for the 26-mile challenge on Sunday, October 2nd. The pair are off to a steady start and have already raised more than £800 for Primrose Hospice with plans to boost the total.

James’ JustGiving page: marathon-2022fundraising/james-godsall-london-www.justgiving.com/

If you’d like to support them visit the links below. Ben’s JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ben-truslove1

On their marks for Primrose! 48 Completely Bromsgrove

“I hadn’t run a marathon before Chester in October last year and after completing the Worcester event earlier this year, I’m really looking forward to the atmosphere in London.”

medalHistoricshowcased on Heritage Open Days

Completely Bromsgrove

On show will be memorabilia, a model tank, and various other interesting items on the theme of astounding inventions. The bell tower will also be open for a period of time each day. Entry is free with donations welcome.

The medal was awarded to Corbett in 1875 for the quality of his salt produced at the salt works in Stoke Prior. He was then awarded the only gold medal for his salt three years later.

As part of the event, Andrew Harris will be presenting a talk on John Corbett on the evening of the September 17th at 7pm in the church and everyone is invited to attend. Free entry but donations welcome. There will also be the opportunity to buy Andrew’s new book on the Harris Brush Works.

T he Paris International 1875 Medal awarded to John Corbett, who was known as the Salt King, has been presented to Sue Abel on behalf of the St Michael’s and All Angels Heritage Friends Group in Stoke Prior by Andrew Harris.

The medal will be on display at the Heritage Open Days held at the church on September 17th and 18th from 10am to 4pm as part of an exhibition of artefacts, photographs and presentations connected to John Corbett and the salt works in Stoke Prior along with various items and information and a photo display regarding the Harris Brush Works.

Purchased by The Andrew Harris Charitable Trust, the model was donated to the friends’ group, who promote the history of the church and the surrounding area through events and exhibitions.

Photos: Jill Howe

Bob Fox

50 Completely Bromsgrove

The diverse nature of the festival continued with Heritage Walks, the three day Summer School organised by The Bromsgrove Society and a talk entitled This Sporting Life given by BBC sporting commentator/reporter, Pat Murphy, presented by WORDS. The Bromsgrove Carnival, The Bluegrass Bash, Bromsgrove Pride and the concerts in the Sanders Park bandstand all added to an eclectic mix of events.

Here’s to a more certain future for our Festival

Bromsgrove Folk Club continued its policy of booking acts during the festival period which would appeal to a wider audience than just the folk genre by presenting Bob Fox who for ﬁve years was the Song Man in the London production of War Horse and Richard Digance, whose appearances on Countdown, among many other TV appearances, have made him a household name. The continued policy was successful with a packed house for both concerts.

Organisers dabbled, with a view to expansion next year and beyond, with the results of the “Tell Me What You Want” survey carried out in 2019. The survey identified areas in the district and groups within those areas which would benefit from a greater involvement in the arts in its widest sense, not just classical music and painting but more accessible activities such as rock painting, flower arranging and spoken word and taking those, and other genres, out to the residents rather than being town centric.

Bromsgrove Festival has been put to bed for another 12 months. Following a total abandonment in 2020 and a severely reduced affair in 2021, we have this year witnessed a tentative commencement of the return to normal.

On a more positive note, the three High Street Saturdays proved popular especially the Day of Music and Dance and the events supported by the festivalBite Sized Classics and The Bromsgrove Bluegrass gigs. Those events came about as a result of the festival being reinvigorated and Festive Classic Wednesday lunchtime concerts at Avoncroft continue to thrive.

One ﬁnal note – we are a small team and, if we are to build on on the success of the last nine years, we are looking for like-minded people to join us, especially if you have ideas on how the festival and the arts could be developed to take in more of those areas which are on the fringe of that description. If you are interested, contact Bob Bignell at bbcons@ aol.com with a view to discussing your possible involvement. Visit www.bromsgrovefestival. co.uk for more information.

We have, as with many festivals, suffered from a reduced number of events, the continued closure of Artrix didn’t help, and reduced attendances to some events as people are either still not conﬁdent to mix in public or have got used to staying in.

We once again produced a brochure of events and, whereas we understand and, indeed, will expand upon, the use of social media in its various forms, the 32-page hard-copy document remains the primary organ of publicity for the festival. Our thanks go to all of the advertisers who made production of the brochure possible and we trust that some beneﬁt came your way also.

On Friday 9th September, at Bromsgrove Library, members of the Housman Society will launch the book in the town. Guests are invited to join this free event from 6.00pm when refreshments will be served.

Local historian and Housman enthusiast Julian Hunt will welcome guests and introduce his brother Max Hunt and Linda Hart. The literary duo will give a presentation based on letters written by A.E. Housman to his publisher in 1922, prior to printing the book, with Max reading Housman’s own words.

Following the presentation, a selection of poems from the book will be read by local poet Anna Dear. Guests will be able to purchase a copy of the book at a special event price of £12.00.

A young A. E. Housman at the time of the ﬁrst book launch

Housman Society book launch at LibraryBromsgrove

In the afternoon of the same day, as part of the Heritage Open Days scheme, Julian Hunt will lead a walking tour, in and around the town centre, looking at places associated with the Housman family. Places are limited. To book a place please call Pat on 07896 943203. Anyone wanting more information on the Housman Society can visit the website www.housman-society.co.uk

T o commemorate the centenary of the publication of A. E. Housman’s Last Poems the Housman Society has commissioned a new edition of the book, with a foreword by former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion and an introduction by Housman biographer Edgar Vincent. The poems are complemented by helpful commentaries by John Cartwright. The Centenary Edition has received a very favourable review in the Times Literary Supplement.

Completely Bromsgrove 51

WHAT'S ON 21 - 24 SEPTEMBER 2022 7.30PM, TICKETS: £12/£11 THE NORBURY PLAYERS PRESENT AN AMATEUR PRODUCTION 12 - 15 OCTOBER 2022 7.30PM, TICKETS: £15/£13 LES MISÉRABLES THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA WICKED MISS SAIGON THE PRINCE OF EGYPT DEAR EVAN HANSON THE BOOK OF MORMON SISTER ACT ANYTHING GOES SPAMALOT PLUS MANY MORE Call or go online to book your tickets now: BOX OFFICE: 01905 www.norburytheatre.co.uk770154 THE NORBURY PLAYERS - BEGINNERS ON STAGE PRESENT AN AMATEUR PRODUCTION 12TH NOVEMBER 2022 2PM & 6PM, TICKETS: £10/£8 THE NORBURY PLAYERS PRESENT AN AMATEUR PRODUCTION THIS AMATEUR PRODUCTION OF “SPIDER’S WEB” IS PRESENTED BY ARRANGEMENT WITH CONCORD THEATRICALS LTD. ON BEHALF OF SAMUEL FRENCH LTD. WWW.CONCORDTHEATRICALS.CO.UK 13-15, 19-22 & 26-28 JAN 2023 7.30PM, SAT & SUN MATINÉE 2.30PM TICKETS: £14/£12 THE NORBURY PLAYERS PRESENT AN AMATEUR PRODUCTION SCRIPT PROVIDED BY PANTOSCRIPTS,NODA , PETERBOROUGH, PE2 7UH 52 Completely Bromsgrove

BOX OFFICE 01527FORTHCOMING65203EVENTS

Founded in 1980, the group dance in the NorthWest Morris tradition, a style which is both exuberant, energetic and keeps you ﬁt. Among the many things that distinguish it from other Morris traditions are the distinctive clogs which can be seen and heard during performances.

Cotswold is the tradition that most people will be familiar with, but there are others such as Border and North-West, which Nancy Butterﬂy follow.

To keep the tradition alive, the group perform at folk festivals and welcome bookings to dance at events, pubs and inns. Due to the nature of the footwear, it is necessary to have a hard, non-slip and preferably ﬂat surface to dance on as grass is unsuitable.

Alternatively, call 07726 915289 or email nancy@ nancybutterﬂy.co.uk

54 Completely Bromsgrove

Morris dancers in the North-West used to accompany a rush cart during the procession to the village church at the annual wakes week. The team would dance along and stop now and then to do a ﬁgure. Because of this, the chorus in North-West dances is frequently called up streets. The dances performed tended to follow the same pattern, but the ﬁgures and arm movements would vary.

From Monday, September 5th between 8pm and 10pm Nancy Butterﬂy will be holding their weekly practices at Catshill Methodist Church Hall in Golden Cross Lane, Catshill, B61 0LG. This will be an excellent opportunity for any potential new members to visit and possibly join. Musicians are also welcome.

In the dances which the group have developed themselves, they have maintained the tradition of naming the dances after places where they were performed. Many of them are now locations for trafﬁc jams on the M6 such as Knutsford and Holmes Chapel and Crabbs Cross originates in the area of Redditch where they practised for many years.

Dances derive from the North-West Morris tradition based mainly around industrial Lancashire and Cheshire. Some are traditional, some the group’s own.

The music is based around several traditional tunes and often two tunes are used for a dance. Originally the music would have been provided by local brass bands. Nowadays it is usually played on melodeons, accordions, ﬁddles and guitars, and an occasional brass instrument, while the rhythm is kept by drums and a variety of other percussive instruments.

To find out more about the group, visit www. nancybutterfly.co.uk/ or com/profile.php?id=100063542381774www.facebook.where you can find a calendar of events and contact details.

If you love dancing and are passionate about keeping great British traditions alive, Bromsgrove-based group Nancy Butterﬂy would love you to step out with them.

There are several types of Morris dancing.

Spread your wings with this energetic Morrisdance group

than 4,000 square metres of exhibition, display and performance space this promises to be a sparkling event. Local small craft businesses and start up groups are encouraged to apply now for your own stall. There is always a festival atmosphere so just join in and have fun. Creative Art Showcase 22 is part funded by the

With more National

30-Oct-22Final.docxuploads/2021/12/Craft_Art-Stalls-29-creativeartshowcase.org/wp-content/www.

It will be exciting to see how Sally Taylor will use flowers and foliage to create her title “Sallying Forth Again” when she visits Bromsgrove Flower Club on September 15th 2022. Join us and enjoy a cup of tea with a very friendly group and see what amazing arrangements Sally creates.Atthe end of the demonstration all Sally’s arrangements will be put into a raffle. For members there is a Flower of the Month competition and a Flower Arranging competition - this month’s title “Summer Holiday”Bromsgrove Flower Club meets every third Thursday of the month, at 2.00pm All Saints Church Hall, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove B60 1AF Visitors and new members always warmly Entrancewelcomed.fee - Members £3.00 Visitors £7.00 September 15th 2.00pm ArrangementsbySandraGunner O ne of the definitions in the dictionary, for “Sallying Forth” - is, an adventure off the beaten path! Sallying Forth again! For more info, visit www.bromsgroveflowerclub.org.uk or www.facebook.com/bromsgroveflowerclub

you

The Open Call is out for artists to submit a piece for Flora & Fauna Exhibition 22. Just head for the website and ﬁll in a form to submit your piece: Flora & Fauna Open Call

Lottery Community Fund. The event will be family friendly and include lots of fun, free activities.

Businesses who are committed to the community are invited to contact the organisers as they would love to establish more relationships. more information visit

is calling all local artists and crafters to get involved with its forthcoming event at Bromsgrove School Arena and Hospitality Suite on October 29 and 30. A call out to all you local talented art and crafters Completely Bromsgrove 55

For

CAS are run by volunteers and if like the sound of what they do and would like to involved, email info@creativeartshowcase.org Art Showcase

or call 07818 830988. Creative

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Graham passed away in November 2021 after a hard-fought battle against cancer leaving behind a host of paintings.

There will be incredible performances and beautiful bespoke costumes as Twist & Shout transports its audience to the Swinging Sixties through more than 40 songs that feature a fourpiece live band and a cast of six singers and dancers.

Graham continued to paint almost to the end, and he has left many beautiful paintings, if you are free to come along and have a look you are in for a treat, all items will be for sale should you wish to treat yourself or buy a present.

Exhibition of late artist’s paintings

Theatregoers can enjoy the music of The Beatles, Hermans Hermits, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Rolling Stones, Cilla Black, Manfred Mann, Dusty Springﬁeld, Lulu, Sandie Shaw and more.

Including hits such as She Loves You, Glad All Over, You’re My World, Jumpin Jack Flash, Something Tells Me I’m Into Something Good, Shout and Ferry Cross The Mersey, the show is guaranteed to get people on their feet and dancing.

Over the years Graham has exhibited his paintings in the AIR pop up galleries, local libraries and exhibitions where his style always proved popular. He loved experimenting and worked in watercolour, acrylics and water-based oil, his quirky sense of humour always raised a smile. You may have been to a demonstration run by Graham when you would not only have learnt a few tips but would have gone home smiling.

A n all-star cast from the West End will deliver Twist & Shout, a musical powerhouse of a show that starts with the explosion of British pop in 1962 through to the era of Flower Power and Free Love of the late 1960s, at the Swan Theatre on Saturday, August 27.

56 Completely Bromsgrove

T here will be a retrospective exhibition of Graham Wilson’s paintings in Unit 24 Walford Walk, the Kingﬁsher Centre, Redditch (opposite Clinton’s) on September 23/24/25th

Twist & Shout will be at Swan Theatre in Worcester for one night only. Tickets are available to buy from the venue’s website www.worcestertheatres.co.uk or by calling the box ofﬁce on 01905 611427.

Dance through the swinging 60s with foot stomping show

B romsgrove Concerts are thrilled to announce their exciting season of concerts for 2022 and 2023. Along with so many organisations, Bromsgrove Concerts have been on a challenging journey through the Covid pandemic, and as such are very pleased to be launching their new season. It is with thanks to local and regional support that the organisation has been able to sustain the concert series and can now look to the future with inspiration and excitement. The concert season will bring a feast of music to audiences in the fine acoustics venues of the Routh Hall and Cobham Theatre, both within the grounds of Bromsgrove School. The inspiring first concert on Friday 30th September features Illuminate Women’s Music, with the Brompton String Quartet and soprano Sarah Parkin. These sparkling performers will take the audience through the centuries from the 16th to the present day, including a piece by composer Angela Slater. Impressively, Angela has been commissioned by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to compose a piece of music for them. The concert will take place at 7.30pm in Routh Hall and will also be live streamed so that you can watch from anywhere in the world! Eight concerts make up the full season and other artists performing in the programme include the Callino Quartet, the Pomegranate Trio, the Dante Quartet, the Birmingham Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble, an amazing duo of Saxophone and Guitar, playing Spanish and Romanian pieces, a well-established duo from the Conservatoire, with an international award-winning pianist, and finally the acapella singing group Papagena, who have wowed Bromsgrove Festive Classics audiences in the past. There’s plenty to look forward to! Bromsgrove Concerts strive to attract an excellent range of chamber artists for their concerts. Audiences will be treated to some well-loved classics, mixed in with the signature ‘bursts’ of contemporary works, to keep our audiences on their toes to reflect the organisation’s strapline “Bringing Music Alive and Music Lovers Together”. Tickets are £22 per seat, with discounts available for booking multiple tickets for the same or many concerts. Visit the website www.bromsgroveconcerts.org.uk to secure your seats and enjoy world-class entertainment in Bromsgrove. Keep an eye on forthcoming concerts in Bromsgrove on the website www.bromsgroveconcerts.org.uk

Bromsgrove Concerts season springs to life in September

Sarah Parkin

Completely Bromsgrove 57

Fairﬁeld Flicks is located at Fairﬁeld Village Hall and there is free parking and a licenced bar.

Join us at Fairﬁeld Flicks as we singalong to Mamma Mia Here We Go Again Sing Along (PG), the sequel to the hit musical Mamma Mia which will transport you to the ﬁctional Greek island of Kalokairi, on Sunday, September 11 at 7.30pm.

Released earlier this year, The Outﬁt (15) will be screened on Saturday, September 17th at 7.30pm. The ﬁlm title has a double edge: it means a suit of clothes and the mob.

From Graham Moore, writer of The Imitation Game, comes a gripping and masterful thriller in which an expert tailor, played by Mark Rylance, must outwit a dangerous group of mobsters in order to survive a fateful night. Rylance plays Leonard, a British tailor who left his homeland with nothing but his tailor’s scissors and set up shop in Chicago.The reason he’s been able to make a success of things is that he is almost solely patronised by the local gangsters: the ageing capo is Roy Boyle (Simon Russell Beale), who runs this turf with his hothead son, Richie (Dylan O’Brien); Richie is resentful that his old man now favours a new lieutenant, Francis (Johnny Flynn).

The documentary film Lancaster (PG), which will be screened on Wednesday, September 28th at 2.30pm, tells the story of the World War Two icon told through the words of the last surviving crew members, re-mastered archive and aerial footage of the last working Lancasters in flight. At the heart of the film are the recollections of the veterans.When interviewed, the youngest was 95 years old, the oldest over 100.Their recall of events from over 75 years ago is nothing short of incredible and is the last time they will ever share their stories.

Set ten years after the first film, Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried) is preparing for the reopening of her mother Donna’s hotel. Since the last film, Donna, played by Meryl Streep, has died and as Sophie explores more about her mother’s past. At the film screening, the audience can join in with songs and there will be lyrics on screen. This musical comedy features ABBA hits such as Thank You for the Music , I Kissed the Teacher and Knowing Me, Knowing You

Head off on a wild adventure on Wednesday, September 21st at 7.30pm with The Lost City (PG), an actionpacked movie with a romantic comedy twist.

Great autumn movies at Fairﬁeld Flicks

Directed by David Fairhead and Ant Palmer, Lancaster features aerial footage from one of the world’s top aviation photographers, John Dibbs, an original score from composer Chris Roe performed by the Central Band of the RAF.

Reclusive author Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) writes about exotic places in her popular adventure novels that feature a handsome cover model named Alan (Channing Tatum). While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta gets kidnapped by Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe), an eccentric billionaire, who hopes she can lead him to an ancient city’s lost treasure from her latest story. Determined to prove he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her.

For information and advanced tickets for all events, visit www.fairﬁeldﬂicks.org.uk

58 Completely Bromsgrove

Parking at the church is for blue badge holders only - use postcode B61 8DW and continue to drive up through the churchyard.

Why not come along and enjoy around 50 minutes of short informal music concerts followed by cake and coffee, or tea on Saturday mornings, 10.30am at St John’s Church, Bromsgrove. cake and coffee with your concert experience

Enjoy

S eptember’s ﬁlm at the FeckenOdeon, Feckenham’s community cinema, is set in 1961 when Kempton Bunton, a retired bus driver, stole Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London

It was the ﬁrst (and remains the only) theft in the Gallery’s history. Kempton sent ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on condition that the government agreed to provide television for free to the elderly. What happened next became the stuff of legend. Only 50 years later did the full story emerge – a startling revelation of how a good man set out to change the world and in so doing saved his son and his marriage. Jim Broadbent plays the unlikely thief, Helen Mirren is his long-suffering wife in a ﬁlm full of charm, humour and comforting warmth (UK 2022)

Tickets for all FeckenOdeon ﬁlms can be booked online through www.feckenodeon. co.uk , by phone on 0333 666 3366 or in person at The Rose & Crown and The Village Shop in Feckenham. The FeckenOdeon is Feckenham’s community cinema based at Feckenham Village Hall, High Street, Feckenham. B96 6HN - Saturday, 24th September at 7.30pm The Duke (12A)

On Saturday 17th September we are pleased to announce a Heritage Day Special with Paul and George Charman - father and son pulling out the stops to entertain you with classics on the St John’s organ.

On Saturday 22nd October we welcome The Barnt Green Choral Society and Gemini choir along with Dave Coulson (Baritone) celebrating 40 years of Bromsgrove/Gronau twinning featuring choral items and songs. Cake and Coffee Concerts are held once a month, are free to attend and start at 10.30am with refreshments afterwards. All are welcome to enjoy the music, refreshments and meet with like minded attendees - it’s a great opportunity to catch up with others. Donations are appreciated and help to support music in St John’s and maintenance of the church organ.

See all concert dates at www.facebook.com/StJohnsChurchBromsgrove

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October 2017 saw the re-release of Winter of Desire on Iron Man Records - the first element of a four-part art work that includes music, film and poetry.Praise for Rachel Mayfield from the critics includes: ‘An extraordinarily gifted singer songwriter - possessed of an exquisitely way-ward, multi octave voice.’ Paul Lester - The Guardian.

‘Rachel ﬂings her head back, opens her mouth and this voice unleashes itself in all it’s controlled, terrifying beauty.’ Sarra Manning – NME.

Rachel is a singer, writer and mixed media artist from Birmingham who now lives in London. In the 1990s she formed and fronted indie rock band Delicious Monster. The band received critical acclaim for three top ten singles and one album placing them at the forefront of the cultured indie rock scene. Since then, she has diversiﬁed into solo albums, ﬁlm and art installations while continuing to develop creative collectives.

Rachel’s support acts will be The Sitting Room who will be providing some chilled and reflective songs with flair and originality, and the energetic SteveThereIson.isfree parking and a licenced bar. For information and advanced tickets, visit www.fairfieldflicks.org.uk H ailed by the NME as a goddess of indie rock and as exciting, unpredictable and dangerous as a ten-legged tyrannosaurus, Rachel Mayfield, takes to the stage at Fairfield Village Hall on Saturday, September 24th at 8pm. Goddess of indie rock to take centre stage

‘Rachel Mayﬁeld has wit and nerve.’ Time Out London.

60 Completely Bromsgrove

‘Rachel Mayﬁeld is one of the most important women in contemporary music. She is a bruised yet strangely sensuous woman.’ Andrew Field – Anthem.

Featuring a full cast of talented West End actormusicians, their performance will take audiences back through the Groovy times of the 1960s. It tells the story of both Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel from their humble beginnings as Rock n Roll duo ‘Tom and Jerry’, right through to their massive success, dramatic break-up and ﬁnishing with a stunning recreation of the 1981 Central Park reformation concert.

With every performance, from Sydney to Seattle leading to a standing ovation, this is an evening not to be missed!

“FOR ONCE, YOU CAN REALLY BELIEVE THE HYPE” - British Theatre Guide “AS CLOSE TO THE REAL THING AS IT’S POSSIBLE TO GET” - The Daily Express “A NOSTALGIA FEST” - Mail On Sunday “AMAZING” - Elaine Paige, BBC Radio 2 “AUTHENTIC AND EXCITING” - The Stage “A REAL TREAT” - The Metro “SPINE TINGLING HARMONIES” - The Daily Record www.thesimonandgarfunkelstory.com

Direct from a weeklong run in London’s West End at the Vaudeville Theatre and performing to SOLD OUT audiences in over 50 countries worldwide, The Simon & Garfunkel Story is BACK. This show is currently the biggest and the most successful theatre show celebrating the lives and career of Folk/Rock sensation Simon and Garfunkel. Simon and Garfunkel

StoryFriday 23rd September 2022 Completely Bromsgrove 61

Using a huge projection screen, the show features 1960’s photos and ﬁlm footage whilst a full live band perform all their hits including Mrs Robinson , Cecilia , Bridge Over Troubled Water , Homeward Bound , Sound of Silence and many more!

It’s back and heading to Malvern - The

Saturday 17 September, Church and Bell Tower 10am until 4pm, Talk at 7pm and Sunday 18 September, Church and Bell Tower 10am until 4pm St Michael & All Angels Church, Stoke Prior. Discover the church and explore local heritage through talks, displays and photographs. The Bell Tower will be open to visitors during the day. The evening talk will be given by local historian Andrew Harris on the Salt King, John Corbett. For full details on these Heritage Open Day events and others taking place in the region and across the country visit: www.heritageopendays.org.uk

Saturday 10 September 10am until 4pm. Sunday 11 September 11am until 4pm.

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Saturday 10 September 10am until 5pm St Laurence and The Ark Open Day. Join in with activities and enjoy entertainment at Alvechurch’s Grade II listed building, designed in part by William Butterﬁeld.

Tuesday 13 September 10am until 12noon. Christ Church Catshill host a ﬂower festival with craft stalls and light refreshments. Visitors can also see the beautiful stained glass windows with a link to Alan Turing.

E very September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate local history and culture, giving visitors a chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences for free from Friday 9th to Sunday 18th September.

Heritage OpenDays in and Bromsgrovearound

Friday 16 September at 2.00pm Bromsgrove Geology and Heritage Walking Trail. A guided 5km walk taking approximately 3 hours looking at landscape, outcrops and buildings. This event is led by a volunteer from the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust, geology expert John Gerner. Booking required.

Avoncroft Museum has two events. Talk to the Telephone Team - join experts in the National Collection of Telephone Kiosks who maintain everything in working order and ﬁnd out how we stayed in touch before mobile phones. Meet the Miller – join a private behind-the-scenes tour where the Avoncroft Miller will show you how we moved from primitive technology through to the development of the Windmill and Lister mills. Booking required.

Saturday 10 September at 10am, 11.30, 1pm and 2.30. Sunday 11 September at 10am, 11.30 and 1pm. Tardebigge Locks. Enjoy a guided tour around the wharf and top lock and learn about the engineering feat of the Experimental Perpendicular Boat Lift which was a mechanical marvel of its day.

Saturday 17 September 11am until 2pm Bromsgrove School’s Archive and Heritage Centre open event. This newly opened Heritage Centre contains a bespoke temperature-controlled archive store and a curated History of Bromsgrove School Museum covering 300 years of School history. Booking required.

Saturday 10 September 10am until 4pm and Sunday 11 September 2pm until 4pm All Saints’ Church. See inside the church and enjoy the special exhibition of documents, pictures and records about Bromsgrove nailers, Bromsgrove Workhouse and Davenal House.

Friday 9 September at 2.30pm Housman Family Heritage Walk. Local historian Julian Hunt will lead a walk around Bromsgrove town centre looking at sites associated with the Housman family, including the poet A. E. Housman, and his siblings the writers and social and suffrage campaigners Laurence and Clemence.

Here at Completely Bromsgrove we’ve compiled a list of the events taking place in our area.

Saturday 17 September from 10.30am St John’s Church Coffee and Cake Concert followed by an Open Day until 4pm. Have a go on the church organ and climb the bell tower. Visitors are encouraged to take a look around the building, learn about the history and explore the churchyard.

Wednesday 14 September 5pm until 7pm

Co-educational, Day and Boarding Senior 1090 pupils aged 13-18 Prep 520 pupils aged 7- 13 Pre-Prep 220 pupils aged 2 - 7 Founded 1553 admissions@bromsgrove-school.co.uk 01527 579679 bromsgrove-school.co.uk R E G I Open Mornings pre-Prep & Nursery (ages 2 - 7): Saturday, 10th September 10.00am - 11.30am Prep School (ages 7 - 13): Saturday, 24th September Senior School (13+ and Sixth Form) Saturday, 8th October Indvidual visits also available, please contact Admissions to book a place at the open morning or to arrange an individual visit

FITTED INTERIOR S *Until 30.9.22. T&Cs apply Visit us at: Saxon Park, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove B60 4AD Tel: 01527 835924 | Showrooms also at Kenilworth, Knowle and Studley www.ak ttedinteriors.co.uk Kitchens | Bedrooms | Home Studies 40 YEARS 1982 2022 Celebrating 40 years of beautifulcreatinginteriors on FittingHalfordersALL*Price