Completely Bromsgrove November '22 issue 46

Welcome to the November issue of Completely Bromsgrove

November 13th sees the annual Remembrance Sunday parade through the town. Find out how you can get involved and pay your respects to our fallen heroes and heroines on Page 8.

It seems that 2022 has rolled by so quickly and now we are getting close to Christmas. With planning for the festive season in many folks’ minds, I want to give a shout out to our independent businesses and call upon the good folk of Bromsgrove to support them as much as possible, whether it’s present buying for loved ones or ordering food. Turn to Page 34 where you will find lots of seasonal ideas.

Friends of St John’s are holding their Christmas market in conjunction with the Christmas lights switch

on. November 18th and 19th are the dates for your diary. Avoncroft Arts Centre are holding a craft fair on November 12th where unique gifts can be purchased.

If you favour supporting local charities, Stoke Prior has created a 2023 calendar called Stoke Prior Bares All. Turn to page 29 to find out where you can purchase yours, you might even know someone from the village who is baring all on the calendar!

As always folks, the team at Completely Bromsgrove hope you enjoy the November issue and look forward to bringing you the bumper Christmas and New Year joint issue at the beginning of December.

Michele FordBest wishes,

Fulfilling lifestyles, designed around you

At Care UK’s Chandler Court care home in Bromsgrove, your loved one can expect the very best of dementia care, whilst being supported to enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle.

Our dedicated and caring teams learn all they can about your loved one, tailoring their care and lifestyle plan to suit their unique needs as well as their hobbies and interests. We’re trained in the latest dementia care approaches, thanks to our partnership with the Association for Dementia Studies at Worcester University, whilst a Dementia Coach in each home supports all colleagues to deliver high quality care and a fulfilling lifestyle.

Enjoy each day, your way

Our Lifestyle team is passionate about enhancing your loved one’s quality of life and there’s always plenty of activities to get involved in. Reminiscence-themed activities such as music therapy and baking help to spark happy memories, whilst gentle exercise classes and yoga help your loved one to stay fit and active.

Food forms the basis of many activities at Chandler Court. Themed menus, cheese and wine evenings and afternoon tea are a regular occurrence, and our ‘Dining with Dignity’ approach means residents can feel confident knowing discreet help and support is always on-hand.

Pet Therapy sessions are proven help to prevent feelings of loneliness and can often improve self-esteem and confidence in people living with dementia. We are often visited by local animal sanctuaries, and recently residents have enjoyed cuddles with puppies, ponies and even snakes!

Everything under one roof

Chandler Court has everything your loved one will need under one roof and is designed to the latest dementia standards with its own café, hair salon, cinema and bar. Signage, colour schemes, soft furnishings and floor coverings are all designed

Bromsgrove

to create a calming and accessible setting, whilst accessible courtyard gardens with wheelchairfriendly pathways and raised flower beds provide a relaxing haven for residents.

If you’re thinking about care for an older loved one living with dementia, why not speak to our friendly and helpful team?

To find out more about the award-winning dementia care at Chandler Court, please call 01527 903670.

Chandler Court care home Recreation Road, Bromsgrove B61 8DT careuk.com/chandler-court

Bromsgrove will remember the fallen

With Remembrance Tide approaching, the Bromsgrove Branch of the Royal British Legion would like to invite everyone to take part in the Remembrance Day Parade in Bromsgrove on Sunday, November 13.

Bromsgrove pays host to one of the largest parades in Worcestershire, which has been growing year on year. Hopefully, for this year’s parade we will be able to see the residents of Bromsgrove turn out in large numbers once again.

All organisations and individuals wishing to take part are asked to muster at the top end of the High Street, by Argos, at 10.20am for the parade to step off at 10.40am.

The parade will process along the High Street giving an eyes left at the Odd Fellows Memorial, where the salute will be taken by the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire or Deputy on behalf of the King. It will then turn into Church Street, crossing Market Street to Crown Close to the War Memorial Monument.

Amphlett Hall will be open for the use of the facilities or to watch the parade from inside.

The service will be conducted outside, starting at 10.50am with the Act of Remembrance taking place at 11am after which wreaths will be laid.

There is also a short service inside St John’s Church with the laying of wreaths for anyone who wishes to attend.

Wreath bearers, and those under 18 accompanied by one adult, wishing to process with the Lord Lieutenant or Deputy are asked to gather at Amphlett Hall ready to step off at 10.15am to process to the Odd Fellows Memorial, to be part of the taking of the salute on behalf of the King.

The Bromsgrove Branch hopes that this year’s Remembrance Day Parade will be another memorable one and looks forward to seeing you there.

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Meet manager Vickyand her teams from Burcot Grange & Lodge

What does working at Burcot Grange & Lodge mean to you?

I don’t really regard Burcot Grange and Lodge as work; it’s become part of my life over the past 23 years. It’s my second home, and part of my family. My own grandparents met at Burcot when it was the eye hospital. My grandmother was a nurse, and my grandfather was the gardener. I started working at Burcot as part of The Duke of Edinburgh Award at the age of 15. I worked my way through each department to gain an understanding of all the roles. It was the original owners who encouraged me to carry out my nursing degree, which I did, and continued working while doing it. I am the longest standing team member here. What is it, in your view, that sets Burcot Grange and Lodge apart from other care homes?

Burcot Grange & Lodge are set in five acres of beautiful grounds with visiting deer and lovely wildlife.

We are unique in so many ways, especially The Grange with the open fires and rooms that can accommodate couples so that they can remain together.

Our teams make up the wonderful surroundings our residents live in and The Lodge in particular offers amazing relationships for our residents to ensure they are living well with their dementia.

We have wonderful relationships with our local community and professionals.

It was recently announced that Burcot Grange and Lodge has become part of the Berkley Care Group family of luxury care homes. What will this mean for staff and residents at Burcot Grange and Lodge?

It’s wonderful to be a part of a great and growing group but I believe the home is only as good as the team who supports and cares for those living within it.We are the Burcot family, we have been for years and always will be. We take pride in everything we do and only strive for the best.

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The Lodge Team with Vicky in the centre

The Grange Team

A simple way for WMT to rebuild its passenger numbers

At a time when, for economic, environmental and social reasons, the use of the railways should be encouraged, a practical impediment to rail travel to and from North East Worcestershire is the withdrawal of timetable posters and pocket timetables from our four stations - Alvechurch, Barnt Green, Bromsgrove and Redditch.

West Midlands Trains will argue that there is no need for them nowadays, as passengers will be able to look up the times of trains on their smartphones, home computers and laptops, but this is very discriminatory.

A sizeable proportion of potential rail users, particularly those of an older generation who find digital devices difficult to use, or those who do not drive or who cannot afford to own a car, and thus need to use the trains, or those who cannot afford to pay out, particularly in these economically difficult times, for a digital device, thus have now considerable difficulty, following the withdrawal of timetable posters and pocket timetables, in finding out the times of trains which they need to use.

for probably a quarter of its potential customers to do so.

Having the posters and pocket timetables at the stations means that train times are available to everyone.

Bromsgrove

If you want to catch a train to a station, or meet someone from a train on the WMT Cross City or Birmingham New Street-Hereford services, or if you want to know which trains stop at which stations e.g which Cross City or New Street-Hereford services stop at Barnt Green, you can find out which is the appropriate train simply by looking at the poster at your local station or in the pocket timetable - if there were any !! - and everyone can do that.

WMT should be encouraging people to use its services and rebuild its revenues after the pandemic, however it is making it more difficult

BARRUP will be pressing WMT to reinstate the timetable posters and the pocket timetables for the services used by the people of Alvechurch, Barnt Green, Bromsgrove and Redditch.

by Nick Taylor

The annual Community Survey asks residents for their views and opinions about issues affecting them, their local area, and district council services. The results are then reported to members and officers of the council to review and action.

The council are encouraging as many residents as possible to respond from across the district, to get the fullest possible picture of what is important to the community.

Leader of the council, Cllr Karen May, said: “We want to make sure that our services are delivering what our residents need. We value this feedback and use it to make key decisions in our district, so please use this prime opportunity to tell us your feelings, issues, experiences, and opinions to help us shape our services for our communities. We take the results of this survey very seriously, so, I hope that representatives from all communities in our district take part and help us plan for the future.”

The 2022 survey is available for anyone by visiting www. bromsgrove.gov.uk/consultations and will also go before the council’s Community Panel, a group of 410 residents

who choose to actively take part in regular engagement sessions.

It covers a range of areas and is shorter than past versions so should take about five to 10 minutes to complete, with the option to ‘save and continue’ if you want to take a break while filling it in. You can also pick up a hard copy from Parkside Offices or contact the equalities team on the details below. The closing date for responses is 5pm on Friday, November 11th.

For more information, contact the council’s engagement, equalities and policy team at equalities@ bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk or 01527 548284.

If you would like to apply to join the Community Panel, you can do so via the consultation pages or by using the contact details above.

that helps inform

District Council’s thinking for the year ahead has been launched.

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The best firewood for wood burning stoves

A s winter approaches, re-stocking your firewood supplies is on the agenda and choosing the best types of firewood can create the perfect fire.

A wood burning fire is a welcome and comforting sight during the winter months. Flickering flames, cracking and popping of burning bark, and the smell of woodsmoke all help us to get through the British winter.

Worcester Timber Products are here to help you prepare for the months ahead, highlighting the best firewood and providing tips on how to store your logs and build the perfect fire.

Which woods to burn

Ash wood produces a steady flame in fires with a good heat and burns well even when green. It will burn successfully on its own, so does not need to be burned in a mix of different species. Traditionally said to be one of the best woods for burning.

Oak is the slowest wood to season at approximately 2.5cm a year and ideally should be seasoned for a minimum of two years. Because of its density, it is slow to burn as firewood and is best used in a mix of faster-burning logs. It can help to keep the fire going at night if required.

Birch makes excellent firewood, producing a good heat, although it burns relatively quickly, so in a fire, it’s best to use it in a mix of slower-burning woods, such as elm or oak. Birch will burn unseasoned although the sap can cause a build-up of deposits in the flue. The bark can be peeled off and used as a natural firelighter.

Beech is a superb burning firewood, although it has a high-water content so needs to be dried well. Ideally, it should be seasoned for three years before use. It does not need to be burned in a mix.

Cherry burns slowly with a good heat output in a fire and gives off a lovely aroma. Needs to be well seasoned, although strips of the bark can also be used as natural firelighters.

Sycamore burns in a fire well when seasoned with a moderate heat output. It seasons very quickly, usually

within just one year. How to stack firewood

• Keep your logs as dry as possible and do everything you can to keep them from getting firewood wet or damp

• Never stack your logs on the ground as your firewood needs constant air circulation. An old pallet makes an ideal base

• Make sure your logs are under cover but open on one side. This is particularly important if you use polythene to cover your logs as they need to breathe to avoid sweating

• When building the stack, start at the outer edge and work inwards, keeping the logs level, and avoid sloping in or out. Corners should be created with one layer being laid at 90 degrees to the next, similar to the brickwork on the corner of a house.

Creating the perfect fire

Make sure your logs are dry and fully seasoned before you bring them indoors and use a good mix of species, as they will burn at different rates. Having a plentiful supply of components to hand is essential, especially on a cold, wet night. Keep a basket full of kindling wood close to the fire so that it’s ready for use at a moment’s notice.

Start with a good layer of loosely rolled balls of newspaper – avoid weekend supplements as many seem to be almost fireproof.

Add a good handful of kindling, small pieces first and larger pieces last. Try not to lay all the pieces in the same direction.

Finish with the logs. The first to go on should be smaller in size, ending with the largest. Light the paper, sit back, watch the fire roar into life and enjoy the warming glow.

Visit www.worcestertimberproducts.co.uk or our display area on Hartlebury Trading Estate, DY10 4JB

It’s time to consider future growth options

T he gardening year is quietening down, the ground has been put to bed in readiness for the long wintery sleep. We have worked hard and now we can enjoy the breathing space until the next growing season begins.

Thoughts turn to what worked this year, what could be done differently and what do we really want to grow? There are many unusual fruit and veg, many I have not got around to growing yet; lemon cucumbers, oca, quinoa, samphire, luffas, cucamelons, salsify, lemon grass.

Oca is a root vegetable similar in appearance to potatoes and has its origins in South America. Oca is cultivated mainly for its edible tuber, but the leaves and young shoots can be eaten as a green vegetable also. The texture ranges from crunchy (like a carrot) when raw or undercooked, to starchy or grainy; when fully cooked they can be used like potatoes, boiled, mashed and even fried.

They need a long growing season, tubers start to form towards the end of summer, ready for autumn, but they are frost tender so will need protection. First flowers bloom around three to four months after planting, and then the tubers start to form.

Samphire (pictured above right) has featured in lots of recent TV cooking programmes, although it is a coastal vegetable it can be grown inland. It’s a good idea to have successive sowings as it is slow growing and is a cut-and-

come-again crop.

As samphire is a seawater plant, it thrives when watered with a saline solution; water regularly to keep the compost moist and ensure it doesn’t dry out. It is best started in spring under cover. It prefers a warm, sunny position which makes a greenhouse the perfect environment for it to thrive, although can be grown outdoors. Harvest your crop between June and August for the best results.

I’m going to try to grow the cute cucamelon (pictured above left); also known as mouse melon. It is neither a cucumber nor a melon. The vine will quickly take over and is better suited to the greenhouse, polytunnel or against a warm wall. Small yellow flowers appear in the late spring to early summer and are followed by the striped green fruits, which are about the size of a large grape.

Cucamelons have a unique crunch and a cucumber-like but slightly tangy flavour. The seeds germinate and sprout in 10 to 14 days and reach maturity in 60 to 70 days. Ideal conditions include well drained soil with lots of organic matter and kept moist but not soaked.

Some jobs to keep you busy throughout November

Send off for seed catalogues and start planning what to grow next year

Cut down faded perennials that are looking tatty, then mulch the surrounding soil with garden compost

Prune autumn-fruiting raspberries to the ground after harvesting Prune fruit bushes once dormant, including blackcurrants, redcurrants, whitecurrants and gooseberries

Wash out all empty pots and trays and store neatly under greenhouse staging, ready for use in spring

Wrap bubble polythene or hessian around pots to protect from frost damage and to insulate vulnerable plant roots

Clean out and scrub bird feeders regularly to maintain hygiene

By Suzi M, plotter and garden loverMake your plans for next year and enjoy the autumn rest.

Creating beautiful

As AK Fitted Interiors celebrates 40 years of kitchen, bedroom and home living projects across the county, we look back at their journey and discover why they feel they’ve stood the test of time within the home market.

Starting with relatively humble origins, former Lickey End resident John Davies opened his first kitchen showroom from his home in 1982. Naturally practical with a creative flair, John realised that there was a significant gap in the market for design-led yet affordable, quality kitchens that could also be installed by the retailer.

John explains: “Consumers had a choice of either very expensive, high end kitchen companies who would manage the whole project for them or buying a supply only kitchen from one of the DIY retailers and finding a fitter themselves. We looked to fill that void and entered the market at a point in between, delivering on both high quality and value for money. These core principles have not changed to this day.”

The business, originally known as Affordable Kitchens, was born at an exciting time within the kitchen industry that saw a significant change in consumer attitudes. A room that was traditionally perceived as a purely functional area for preparing meals increasingly became a place for entertaining, paving the way for the open plan living spaces that have now become the norm in modern homes.

The company grew at such a pace that after 12 months working from home, a showroom was

opened in Aston Fields, where it stayed until 1993.

Affordable Kitchens became AK Fitted Interiors as the company increased their offering to include bedroom and home living furniture. As demand grew, three additional branches were opened across the West Midlands and Warwickshire.

The Bromsgrove site, now based at Saxon Park in Stoke Prior, provides visitors with two floors of stunning kitchen, bedroom and home office inspiration. Want to pop in? Showroom manager, Lee, explains the process: “Anyone visiting will always receive a warm welcome. Over a cup of tea or coffee either myself or one of our experienced design team will guide you through the displays where you will be free to browse and try out a wide range of appliances.

“Following the initial visit, we offer a no obligation home consultation where measurements are taken and the space is assessed. This information is transformed into a photo finish, computerised image which enables the customer to envisage how the end result will look.”

AK also benefits from strong and long-lasting relationships with their suppliers. Through using two UK based furniture manufacturers and another in

interiors since 1982

Germany, customers are able to choose from a broad range of styles from ultra-modern, handleless designs to classic, in-frame shaker.

So why does AK think that it has survived what has often been a turbulent industry for many national and local retailers?

Dan Lewis, who now oversees the day to day running of the company, believes it’s down to a consistent commitment to customer service at every stage of the project.

“The role of our designer is to listen to the individual requirements of the client, create intelligent use of space and be available as a point of contact throughout the whole project. Designs take several hours because we consider a wide range of options in order to get the most out of the room,” says Dan.

“We never take for granted the excellent team we have. Across both the design and installation departments we’re proud to employ talented people who have naturally high expectations and take a huge amount of pride in what they do”. This may explain why many people return to the showrooms for repeat purchases.

He continues, “Much of our business comes from previous customers who are now onto their second or even third AK project. With small businesses reputation is everything and our sincere thanks go to everyone who passes on our details to their friends and family.”

What’s next for this local kitchen specialist? Over to Dan: “We see AK as only 40 years young rather than 40 years old! There are lots of exciting developments going on within the company and a number of showroom transformations planned.”

A new technical room has recently opened on the second floor at Bromsgrove, providing a bright and relaxing space that customers can use whilst finalising the detail on their projects. The next stage will be to update downstairs in the new year, showcasing the very best of innovative kitchen design.

You can find AK Fitted Interiors on the Saxon Business Park, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove. B60 4AD. The showroom is open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 5 pm. Branches also at Kenilworth, Knowle and Studley.

Alternatively, visit www.akfittedinteriors.co.uk

Owner John Davies receiving a plaque from one of their trusted suppliers congratulating the business on 40 years of trading

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Luxury Care Homes In The Midlands

Feel part of a friendly new community

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Foley Grange Haywood Lodge Millcroft Woodland View

by Wendy Carter, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

Parasol mushrooms

Turkey tail fungi

Fly agaric mushroom

Porcelain mushroom

Parasol mushroom

Candlesnuff fungi

Bromsgrove

Fantastic Fungi

N ovember can be a colourful time of year but you need to look a little more closely to see what I mean. Mushrooms (they’re the same thing as toadstools) are the fruiting of fungal bodies that extend far beneath our feet and even up into the trees above our heads. There are over 3500 species in the UK and their fruiting is weather dependent so it will be interesting to see what pops up where t his autumn!

Fungi play a really important role in recycling dead organic matter into nutrients for other organisms. The root systems of many plants rely on an association with fungus – our native orchids, for example, need specific associations in order to grow whereas the gardeners amongst you may have bought mycorrhizal fungi for some of your own plants. As well as helping to connect our natural world through these hidden networks, fungi provide food and shelter for more than 1000 species of invertebrates too.

You might find fungi sprouting from woodchip mulch on flower beds or on the dead tree stump you left to breakdown in the corner of your garden. Other fungi might grow in your lawn, in nearby park grassland or on the floor of your local woodland. Some are only associated with one or a few species of tree and whilst some grow on living trees, others only grow on deadwood. The conspicuous and beautiful fly agaric (the red one with white spots that’s usually illustrated as a fairy house) often grows beneath silver birch trees. The sticky-looking porcelain fungus usually grows on decaying beech wood but can sometimes be seen on living trees. Candle snuff and turkey tail fungi grow on the dead and decaying wood of a number of different tree species.

If open spaces are more your thing, keep a lookout for parasol mushrooms. Starting off domed, it doesn’t take long for these pancake-like fungi to flatten

out to almost dinner-plate sized mushrooms, some specimens growing to a whopping 25cm diameter. The more diminutive shaggy inkcaps start out as tall, elongated eggs but as the cap begins to curl upwards into a bell shape, it starts to ooze a black ‘ink’ – catch sight of it one morning and it’ll probably be all over by the next!

One of the great things about fungi is that they don’t move so are great for photography. While fungi in your garden or local greenspace may be easy to spot and photograph, if you’re out and about in more wild places, please resist the temptation to go offpiste on the hunt for specimens to snap. Some fungi can be tricky to spot amongst leaf litter and can be easily trodden on but it’s also important to keep to paths to ensure that other wildlife has the chance to find food, hunker down and keep warm throughout our autumn and winter months.

Follow us on Twitter @WorcsWT www.facebook.com/worcestershirewildlifetrust www.youtube.com/c/worcswildlifetrustUK1

Photos: Ric Harding, Paul Lane, Wendy Carter, John Bingham, Ashley Connolly & Barry Green

Shaggy inkcap mushrooms

Volunteering at Hanbury Hall

H anbury Hall is a William and Mary-style country house, garden, and park located in the heart of Worcestershire between Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa.

Whether you’re looking to help in the great outdoors, work with the public or get up close and personal with our houses, we’ve got plenty of volunteer opportunities available.

Volunteering is a fantastic way to gain new skills, meet new people and most importantly have fun.

We’re recruiting for several roles, including:

Visitor Welcome volunteer - Visitor Welcome volunteers create a positive first impression with a warm welcome; helping all visitors get all they need from their visit. You’ll also help us provide a personalised thank you, leaving people with a positive lasting impression.

Host volunteer - Hosts give visitors a warm welcome, bringing stories from Hanbury Hall to life and helping people get the best out of their day.

Visitor Experience volunteer - Visitor Experience volunteers

make sure visitors get the most from their time with us, assisting with events such as outdoor theatre, the apple harvest, and craft activities.

Recruiting in 2023:

Garden volunteer - Garden volunteers help with the upkeep, development, and protection of the beautiful garden and parkland so visitors and wildlife can enjoy them for years to come.

A variety of days of the week are available, but we’re particularly in need of support on weekends.

To learn more and apply visit www.nationaltrust. org.uk/volunteer and search for Hanbury Hall. If you’ve got any questions get in touch on 01527 821214 or hanburyhall@nationaltrust.org.uk

Bromsgrove’s near neighbour

Now largely lost as a separate entity, the parish of Stoke Prior has a history of its own. Stoke Prior, or ‘Stoche’, is mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086, when the landlord and tenant-in-chief was the Bishop of Worcester. It was described as being ‘in the Forest’, meaning Feckenham Forest, a royal hunting forest that covered much of eastern Worcestershire. ‘Aston’, meaning Aston Fields, is also mentioned.

The Church of St Michael and All Angels dates from the 12th century and has been considerably altered and extended over the years. Much was renewed in the 1890s under a restoration project paid for by John Corbett. It is fairly large for a rural parish church, which likely indicates that the settlement was relatively populous.

During the 18th century the area was highly agricultural and contained many large farms. Some of these live on in the names of houses and housing estates, such as The Oakalls, Stoke Heath House Farm, and Newton Farm.

The boundary with Bromsgrove parish was partly formed by the Sugarbrook, which in turn ran into the River Salwarpe. Mills grew up along both of these, including Bant Mill, Sugarbrook Mill, Fish House Mill, the Needle Mill, and Stoke Prior Mills. They were used for grinding corn originally and later some were modified for needle-making.

Little by little industrialisation began to encroach. The route of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal took it through Stoke Prior. Construction began in the 1790s but was delayed as the engineers grappled with how to lower the waterway 400 feet between Tardebigge and Worcester. A total of 40 locks were built across the parish, including the famous flight of 30 locks at Tardebigge. The canal finally opened to Worcester in 1815.

In 1841 the Birmingham & Gloucester Railway was opened, dissecting the parish from north-east to southwest. Like the canal, the railway had to descend nearly 300 feet from the Birmingham plateau, requiring a two-mile 1 in 37 incline, most of which is within Stoke Prior. The siting of ‘Bromsgrove’ station more than a mile outside of the town (and within Stoke Prior parish) required the construction of a new road, appropriately called New Road. Just east of the station was a major wagon works, which was later operated by Midland Railway.

In the 19th century, Stoke Prior was closely associated with the industrialist John Corbett. In 1853 he purchased a disused salt works at Stoke Works from the British Alkali Company and set about modernising the business. Corbett’s salt works became the largest in Europe and brought him a huge fortune (see Completely Bromsgrove, July 2021).

During the 20th century Stoke Prior continued to lose its rural character and became ever more closely tied to its larger neighbour. The opening of the Eastern Bypass in the 1980s led to the construction of many new housing estates and effectively cemented its position as a suburb of Bromsgrove.

The history of the parish is told in Stoke Prior: A Short History, by local historian Andrew Harris, available from the Bromsgrove Society, www.bsoc.co.uk

by Mike Sharpe

John Corbett

Salt-Works

Caring villagers unitefor fundraising venture

Towards the end of 2021, a group of friends from the Boat & Railway pub in Stoke

Prior came together in support of a popular local lady, Kim Chandler.

Kim had received the devastating news that her secondary breast cancer had moved to her lungs and was now terminal.

Despite a life expectancy of two years, Kim has always been determined to support others like herself. She regularly attends the Gals Group at Primrose Hospice in Bromsgrove and all those who attend speak of the group playing a significant role in their lives, giving them some much-needed respite with other women who understand and support one another.

Following lockdown however, they have been left without a budget and are badly in need of funding. In support, a 2023 calendar was proposed and initiated by Kim’s friends and acquaintances living in and around Stoke Prior that reflected the famous Calendar Girls story. There could be no better way to acknowledge the fun and friendship that is so important to her.

Stoke Prior Bares All includes its residents, including The Butcheress, general store manager, hairdresser as well as licensees and customers of the local pub and sports club. All were photographed artistically, as nature intended, in and around the village.

Local businesses have showed their support by sponsoring the calendar. Further donations can be made either via the JustGiving page at www. tinyurl.com/mvvnecn6 or by contacting tracey.wolsey1@gmail.com

Kim Chandler

The official launch of the calendar was held on October 8 at the Boat & Railway pub where the initial idea was conceived. There was a mix of live music featuring Satchel Paige, a disco, a quality raffle and, of course, an opportunity to purchase the 2023 calendar which is now on sale for £10.

Copies of the calendar can be bought from: The Boat and Railway, Stoke Prior Sports and Country Club, The Butcheress, Stoke Prior Post Office/ Convenience Store, Capelli Hair Salon, GJH Electrical 12A Church Street, Bromsgrove, Wychbold Sports and Social Club and The Dry Spy, Bromsgrove.

Upgrading your skin care range

Being a beauty therapist for many years, I have seen skin care products come and go and claim this and that and a hundred different ingredients have been included. A couple of weeks ago however I received a new range of skin care products that has blown me away.

Your skin care system can be your not-so-hidden superpower. With a little help, your skin knows just how to dodge any dulling effects of time, stress, and pollution. RENUAdvanced Skin Care System is here to do just that, helping you look and feel your absolute best. The simple four-step process, powered by Redox, is packed with incredible science and brings stunning results into your daily regimen.

Step 1 : This gentle foaming cleanser removes excess oil, dirt, and makeup without stripping away the natural oils your skin needs.

RENUAdvanced Foaming Cleanser promotes vibrant and even-toned skin by helping maintain the skin’s natural barrier, while making sure it stays smooth and supple with redox technology.

Step 2 : The RENUAdvanced Balancing Toner refreshes skin without any of the harsh ingredients often found in other toners. Instead, powered by Redox ingredients, layer on healthy probiotics that balance your skin’s natural microbiome and soothe the appearance of blemishes while lessening redness and sensitivity.

• Provides healthy probiotics to balance the skin’s good bacteria

• Helps lessen skin redness and skin flaking to reduce occasional skin sensitivity

• Reduces the appearance of enlarged pores by maintaining skin moisture

• Improves the appearance of healthy-looking skin by supporting the skin’s barrier function.

Step 3 : Luminous and radiant skin is all about finding balance, and RENUAdvanced Glow Serum for

the older skin is here to help. By supporting your skin’s natural protective barriers, it’s able to adapt to challenges and everyday stresses without skipping a beat. Be ready to put your best face forward, no matter what comes your way.

• Supports skin protective barrier from daily environmental assaults for radiant skin

• Helps to even out visible photoaged skin tones

• Helps to re-energize and calm your skin for a radiant appearance

• Get immediate hydration and long-lasting results.

Step 4 : Get skin that looks positively ageless with powered by Redox ingredients which hydrate and nurture from deep within your skin’s outermost layer. Double down on your skin’s health with deep hydration that helps improve your overall appearance and results in firmer, more youthful looking skin. Improves the visible signs of wrinkle and sagging skin.

• Supports and balances the natural skin microbiome to promote surface skin cell turnover for youthful looking skin

• Helps to reduce the feeling of skin sensitivity and enhances the appearance of healthy skin

• Helps reduce the appearance of your dark spots for radiant skin.

I am offering a price reduction on each product in November. If you book a home demonstration with four to six people the hostess will receive a free product from this range. This would make an ideal Christmas gift.

For more details contact colette@need4change.com

by Colette Garside

Pumpkin soup with Caramelised PumpkinSeeds

Preparation:

Cut the pumpkin in half, remove the seeds and cut into small pieces. Peel and roughly cut the onions. Sweat both in a saucepan with rapeseed oil for about 15 minutes. Add tomato puree and sweat for a couple more minutes.

Pour in the apple juice and vegetable stock, then season with 3 tbsp Kikkoman soy sauce, 1 pinch of sugar, lemon juice and pink pepper. Cover and simmer for another 20 minutes.

In the meantime, dissolve 2 pinches of sugar and honey in a pan on a low heat. Add the pumpkin seeds and caramelise with 1 tbsp Kikkoman soy sauce. Blend the soup finely and serve in deep plates. Garnish with caramelised pumpkin seeds, drizzle of coconut milk and coriander.

for

as simpleas that!

Bromsgrove Christmas Markets 2022

T he lead up to Christmas starts in the High Street on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th November with the Bromsgrove Christmas Markets.

Craft stalls, local producers and charities will be decking their stalls in the event space outside the Slug and Lettuce. There will be children’s fairground rides and entertainment throughout the day with the Rock Choir, Steve Kaos on stilts, Sounds of Steel Drums and Vintage Class Singers all on the stage on Saturday.

Market stalls will include local businesses, many returning from previous years, including Fruitfields Apple Juice and Honey, Dragonfly Gifts, St John’s Fundraisers, Panache Gifts, Charming Creations, The Denim Upcycler, Chadsgrove’s Poppy Emporium, St Basil’s Crafters, Lucent Scents and many more. Do come along and support our wonderful local traders.

The Christmas Markets are organised by Friends of St John’s and held in conjunction with the Christmas Light Switch on which will take place at 5pm on Saturday 19th November.

Keep an eye on www.facebook.com/FriendsStJohnsBromsgrove for more details, then come down to the High Street for the Christmas Markets to make a start on your festive celebrations.

Completely Bromsgrove

Celebrate Christmas with fabulous flower arrangements

Andrew Lloyd, who is a popular demonstrator, will join us and once again he will inspire members and visitors alike with his floral interpretations, showing us his way to celebrate Christmas.

At the end of Andrew’s demonstration, his wonderful arrangements will be included in our raffle.

Bromsgrove Flower Club meets every third Thursday of the month at 2pm at All Saints Church Hall, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove, B60 1AF. We welcome both old friends and new members, so come and join us for a cup of tea and a chat and to be entertained.

The entrance fee is £3 for members and £7 for visitors. For members there is a flower of the month competition and a flower arranging competition. November’s competition title is ‘prelude to winter’.

At the October meeting, the flower of the month was by Jan Heason and the competition winner was Angela Harvey.

Arrangement by Sally Taylor

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas by joining Bromsgrove Flower Club members for their next meeting on Thursday, November 17th. For more info, visit www.bromsgroveflowerclub.org.uk or www.facebook.com/bromsgroveflowerclub

Vote for your favourite at Christmas Tree Festival

St Michael and All Angels Church in Stoke Prior is hosting its ever-popular Christmas Tree Festival again this year.

The festival will run from December 3rd to January 6th and is free for everyone to enjoy.

Anyone can have a tree, whether you run a business or are a member of the community. Maybe you would like to have a memory tree to remember a loved one.

The church will be manned at the weekends for teas, coffees and lovely home-made cakes but it will be open every day from 10am until 4pm.

Go along, have a close look at the trees that will be illuminated, then you can vote for your favourite.

If you wish, you can leave a donation towards the maintenance of the church.

Please come and join us for this popular event. For more details, contact Jill on 07821 589766.

BOOK YOUR

at Hillscourt

Plum Tomato & Thyme Soup with Croutons (v) (vg) (gf) Chicken Liver Parfait, Sweet Chilli & Onion Chutney, Toasted Brioche

Get fit and festive with Primrose this Christmas

The signature Santa Run returns to Arrow Valley Country Park in Redditch on Sunday, December 4th. Run off those early Christmas treats with the 5K course and don’t forget about the 1K kids race.

Set yourself a challenge and use Primrose’s Santa Fun Run as an opportunity to get fit, just like Jo Painter did in 2021. Jo decided she wanted to get fit in 2021 and joined a fitness group in Redditch. The group take part in the Santa Fun Run every year and Jo said: “I’ll take part – but I can’t run!”

After gearing herself up with her trainers and Santa suit, the bell went and something in her said “I’m going to run!” With the support of her group, Jo ran the whole course despite never having ran 5K before.

Jo said: “The more I did, the more I wanted to run and the more I was inspired to carry on. With the atmosphere and my teammates encouragement I ran the whole thing. Everything is achievable - I have rheumatoid arthritis and there are times when I struggle to walk from room to room so running 5k is quite amazing really. It’s incredible what you can do when you’ve got the right people around you and the right support.”

Join Jo and hundreds of others for Primrose Hospice’s Santa Fun Run 2022 by signing up at www.primrosehospice.org/events/santafun-run/ or call 01527 889796.

Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre offer care and advice to patients living with a life-limiting condition and support families in the North East Worcestershire area.

Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre in Bromsgrove have got the perfect way to kick off your festive activities this December.

Joanna Painter

The annual extravaganza puts a fresh slant on a timehonoured tale. Captain Hook has long since been defeated by Peter Pan and banished from Neverland but now he’s returned even more nasty than before and he is determined to wreak his revenge.

To help him in his task, he enlists the help of two of the nastiest pirates ever to sail the seas. Hook is still wary of the ticking crocodile and has hired Australian crocodile hunter Croc Fundee to capture the beast.

Meanwhile, Peter Pan enjoys another day having a lie-in after binge-watching the latest Netflix series. It seems that since defeating Hook and his pirates, Peter has become bored and no longer bothers to join in adventures with Tinkerbell and The Lost Boys, In fact, he doesn’t even bother to fly anymore because it’s too tiring.

to

Peter discovers Hook has returned, but because he hasn’t flown in ages, he has now lost the ability to fly. To regain the power of flight, he must travel to the Neverlandee tribe’s sacred cave and drink from the magical spring.

Peter and his friends travel through the Neverland Jungle, beset with a wild gorilla to reach the cave, however once inside, Hook dynamites the only entrance sealing Peter and his friends inside, along with the crocodile. This version of Peter Pan has Peter’s feet firmly on the floor, but will that enable Hook to finally defeat his once airborne adversary?

Tickets are available from www.bromsgroveschool.co.uk/whats-on.aspx

There is reserved seating for disabled guests. Please contact Liz on 01527 579679 (extension 616) to book.

Movies and music mix at Fairfield Flicks

Fairfield Flicks’ November line-up comprises an incredible plot that tricked Hitler, two French films and the sounds of folk and Americana.

Operation Mincemeat (12A) will be screening on Sunday, November 13th at 7.30pm. It’s 1943. The Allies are determined to break Hitler’s grip on occupied Europe and plan an all-out assault on Sicily; but they face an impossible challenge - how to protect a massive invasion force from potential massacre.

It falls to two remarkable intelligence officers, Ewen Montagu (Colin Firth) and Charles Cholmondeley (Matthew Macfadyen) to dream the most inspired and improbable disinformation strategy of the warcentred on the most unlikely of secret agents: a dead man. Operation Mincemeat is the extraordinary and true story of an idea that hoped to alter the course of the war - defying logic, risking countless thousands of lives, and testing the nerves of its creators to breaking point.

Fairfield Flicks will be screening two movies as part of the 2022 French Film Festival, the only festival in the UK dedicated to French and Francophone cinema. The festival is now in its 30th anniversary year. The films being screened will appeal to students learning French, as well as people who are linguistically competent. Both will have English subtitles.

On Wednesday, November 23rd at 7.30pm, it’s the turn of Vicky and her Mystery/Mystère (PG). Stéphane decides to move to the beautiful mountains of Cantal to reconnect with his eight-year-old daughter, Victoria, who has been silent since her mother’s death.

The first film is a comedy, The French Minister/Quai d’Orsay (15) on Wednesday, November 16th at 7.30pm. Young graduate Arthur Vlamrick (Raphaël Personnaz) is hired as a speechwriter for the tough-talking minister of foreign affairs (Thierry Lhermitte) and rather than idealism what he finds is a world filled with ambition and dirty dealings.

During a walk in the forest, a shepherd gives Victoria a puppy named Mystery who will gradually give her a new taste for life. Very quickly, Stéphane discovers that the animal is a wolf. Despite the warnings and the danger of this situation, he cannot bring himself to separate his daughter from this seemingly harmless ball of fur.

My Girl The River and Red Shoes will be performing at Fairfield Flicks on Saturday, November 19 at 8pm. Created by Kris Wilkinson Hughes, My Girl The River was born out of a song.The Last Song was the first song written for this Americana, alt country, folk and roots project. Kris, hailing from Louisiana, and English bassist Joe Hughes have created a gorgeous collection of songs.

Also appearing on stage will be Red Shoes. Soaring, passionate vocals, chiming acoustic guitars and a superb catalogue of original songs in the folk, roots and Americana vein by Birmingham’s Carolyn and Mark Evans lie at the heart of the Red Shoes success story.They have become a live favourite on the club, theatre and festival circuit over the years.

Fairfield Flicks is located at Fairfield Village Hall and there is free parking and a licenced bar. For information and advanced tickets for all events, visit www.fairfieldflicks.org.uk

Films and live shows combine into an eclectic programme

The November programme at The FeckenOdeon Cinema Society in Feckenham offers quirky comedy and a moving family tale.

Friday, November 18th at 8pm – Brian and Charles (PG). Brian, an affable and odd amateur inventor, is holed up in a cottage in the wintry Welsh countryside. To stave off loneliness he constructs ‘Charles Petrescu’, a seven feet tall robot who looks like Albert Einstein struggling to digest a washing machine. At first all goes well until Charles develops ideas of his own in a gentle, quirky and very British comedy.

There is also a live event at Feckenham Village Hall on Sunday, November 13th at 7.30pm with Untied Artists presenting The Head Gardener .

The first show in the new Live & Local season, The Head Gardener features real garden design, visual surprises and delights aplenty. This horticultural theatre show is perfect for those who love their garden or those who don’t quite know what to do with their green space.

Gardening is good for you and it seems more and more people have been embracing the simple pleasure of growing things. Brothers Jake and Warren Oldershaw have propagated a delightful theatre show during which they’ll design, draught and bring to life a unique and beautiful garden, share fascinating stories of different plants and species and throw a few songs into the mix. They’ll even let audience members walk around the garden they create on stage.

Saturday, November 26th at 7.30pm - Belfast (12A). Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical film about growing up during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Although violence is always lurking in the background, this is primarily a film about the way people maintain their humanity - and humour. It’s a poignant story of love, laughter and loss in one boy’s childhood, amid the music and social tumult of the late 1960s. Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds play the grandparents.

The FeckenOdeon is Feckenham’s community cinema based at Feckenham Village Hall, High Street, Feckenham. Tickets for all FeckenOdeon films can be booked online through feckenodeon.co.uk, by phone on 0333 666 3366 or in person at The Rose & Crown and The Village Shop in Feckenham.

Also in the Live & Local season is Jez Lowe’s That Snow Joke on Saturday, December 10th. Awardwinning songwriter Jez will be joined by his touring band for this Christmas show, so expect a musical feast of guitar, cittern, fretless bass, fiddle, melodeon, piano, whistles and their trademark harmony vocals.

Tickets for live shows are available from The Village Shop and The Rose & Crown. You can also book by phone (through TicketSource) on 0333 666 3366 or online at www.feckhall.org

Completely Bromsgrove

Youngsters amongwinners at Croft anniversary awards

Avoncroft CC finished off their 75th anniversary celebrations in style with an end of season presentation evening at the Rouslers Bar in Bromsgrove.

With a great turn out from players and supporters, plus a few guest appearances from club legends, the event was the perfect way to celebrate a fine season for the club, on and off the pitch.

Dan Elliott stole the show in the First XI awards section, picking up batter of the year and players’ player of the year thanks to a season where he narrowly missed out on becoming the first Croft player to score 1,000 league runs. Despite this, 966 runs and 24 wickets was a great return for the Croft all-rounder, making him a well-deserved winner on the night.

Alex Richardson was an easy choice for bowler of the year, with the leg-spinner picking up 40 wickets across the season. Unfortunately, Alex was unable to attend the presentation evening, but his acceptance video sent poolside from Florida was one of the highlights of the night!

In the Second XI awards section, Chris Pitt was a popular winner of the batter of the year award, scoring 325 runs at an average of 81. The bowler of the year award was even more clear-cut, with 14year-old Ben Huxley a thoroughly deserved winner. Ben took more than double the wickets of any other bowler with 34 wickets across league, cup and friendly Second XI matches, proving himself a handful throughout the season with his unrelenting accuracy.

Sixteen-year-old Fin Morris took the players’ player of the year award thanks to the progression he showed across the course of the season and the development of his all-round game, highlighted by a match-winning knock of 35 to end the season in style.

Thirteen-year-olds Callum Hooper and Ben Athey were the big winners in the title-winning Third XI awards. Callum took home the players’ player of the year award thanks to his 14 wickets and 108 runs, which included his first adult 50.

Ben pipped a number of other junior bowlers to take home the Bowler of the Year award thanks to his 10 wickets which earnt him a call-up to the Second XI for the second half of the season. Phil Seers was the deserved winner of the batter of the year award, not only for his volume of runs (265) but also for his style of play at the top of the order; regularly giving Croft the momentum they needed in tight games.

Another junior, 16-year-old Jack Wright took the bowling award for the Sunday XI thanks to a series of consistent performances, adding a wicket-taking threat to his previously reliable line and length bowling. On the batting side, Ben Athey demonstrated his all-round skills by adding a batting award to the bowling award he won for the Third XI. Ben’s batting developed beautifully through the season, with his last five innings resulting in 115 runs without being dismissed.

For his performances across the Second XI, Third XI and Sunday XI, Ben Athey also scooped the young player of the year award, thanks to overall senior stats of 325 runs at an average of 25 and 34 wickets at an average of 15.

A good night for the Athey family was completed with Paul Athey picking up the club member of the year award for his long service to the club as treasurer, captain, junior coach and committee member.

by Paul Athey

Difficult times for Bromsgrove Sporting

After useful wins away against Hednesford Town and Kings Langley, Bromsgrove losing to lower division Chasetown in the FA Trophy and league leaders Tamworth at home to Leiston in the league.

After useful wins away against Hednesford Town and Kings Langley, Bromsgrove Sporting hit a poor run of form losing to lower division Chasetown in the FA Trophy and league leaders Tamworth before suffering a heavy 7-1 loss at home to Leiston in the league.

After that result,

team

to

the

After that result, manager Thomas Baillie and his coaching team agreed to leave the time of writing, the team management is being conducted by senior players appointed.

by

his

and at the time of writing, the team management is being conducted by senior players

a new coach

manager

clearly taking time

by Phil Baker

the hope is that results will

as the season progresses and when a new manager is

Fixtures for the next month are shown below though

games can get called off at

It is clearly taking time for all the new players to settle down, but the hope is that progresses and when a new manager is appointed. Fixtures for the next month are shown below though with unpredictable weather notice so please check the club's website.

so please check the

Bromsgrove Sporting's Ladies team have had a good start in their

Bromsgrove Sporting’s Ladies team have had a good start in their league winning all three matches so far and they are yet to concede a goal. In the County Cup they beat Wyre Forest 4-1.

The Veterans’ team have also made a good start winning all four matches and are currently top of their league.

The Bromsgrove Sporting website can be found at www. bromsgrovesporting.co.uk where there is plenty more information about the club. Enquiries can be sent to hello@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk Follow the club on Twitter @SportingFC and on Facebook at @ BromsgroveSportingFC

Photos by Chris Jepson

George Forsyth on the ball

New look Karoq

The facelifted Skoda Karoq brings fresh and sparkling vigour to the mid-size SUV market. Now with a wider grille and various tweaks, there’s a nine percent improvement in aerodynamic efficiency.

With bright appeal deriving from looks that ooze personality, this five-door family friendly car delivers a package of pleasing attributes for the attention of customers looking for quality over and above such as Renaults, Peugeots, Fiats and Vauxhalls, at a sensible price.

City motoring is made easy courtesy of practical proportions and safety features, while open road driving and motorway progress are reassuringly rewarding because it’s particularly quiet at speed.

Modern motorists are rightly fussy when it comes to demanding the very latest driver-assist technologies yet at the same time those motorists who insist on the pleasures of controlling their cars with all the skill at their command hate feeling circumscribed by smartness. They want to enjoy driving. At least that is until such time as drivers are made as redundant as hand loom weavers. It’s a compromise manufacturers have to make.

To put it candidly, a compromise between making a motor idiot proof and supplying the proper motorist with all the attributes of the proper motor. This SEL

variant is specified to just the right level, with useful features such as a rear camera, all-round parking sensors, eight-inch touchscreen, Alcantara leather seats (heated) and not forgetting that ‘clip on’ waste bin in the door pocket. But sadly there’s no umbrella tucked into the door like other Skodas have.

Recent experiences behind the wheel of this Karoq have convinced me that Skoda has struck a perfect balance between opposites which seem on the face of it irreconcilable. Its compact size offers the virtues of the small car but without the vices that attend too cramped a space.

is a true winner

While assessing its suitability for 21st century motoring it became clear that here is a Karoq for all seasons, all circumstances and all environments. Not only that, it radiates the kind of striking charisma that is the hallmark of the true winner.

For those who behold its stylish passage through city streets, or respect its composure on congested motorways where subtle refinements ensure safe and silent progress, it brightens the day. I doubt very much that Karoq owners will have reason to feel glum behind the wheel. It’s that kind of ‘pickme-up and give me a twirl’ kind of car.

I soon established a good working relationship with the Karoq. SUVs are sometimes maligned for their bulk, which often disguises a meanly proportioned interior. No such criticism could be levelled here at the roomy interior and generous boot space.

There was no sense of compromise. I

appreciated the jewel of a combination of engine and the ‘snickety snick’ slick six speed manual gearbox driving to the front wheels. The 1.0 litre 110 bhp three-cylinder turbo petrol engine is outstanding in its smoothness and willingness to perform.

In a hurry? Around 118 mph is possible if you are so disposed - which is enough in today’s broken world. Light and effortless steering, nimble handling and overall performance are perfectly attuned to today’s motoring needs. Skoda have indeed managed to develop a driver friendly chassis that serves passengers needs too. Safe and securely planted there’s an excellent ride quality so everyone aboard feels relaxed and at ease.

It struck me that this is the ideal family SUV. Ideal too for a broad range of other purposes. In short, it’s a car with personality aplenty together with a comforting absence of eccentric extremes. As such it suits you sir or madam wherever you are or wherever you want to go. I discovered not one frown-inducing element during my time at the wheel.

At £28,090 this Karoq SEL might not be as cheap as a comic, but the value it represents is no laughing matter.

by Syd Taylor

Completely Bromsgrove