Completely Bromsgrove June issue 52

Welcome to the feature packed June issue of Completely Bromsgrove

As we finally move into summer – and are blessed by some eagerly awaited sunshine – it seems fitting that this edition has a theme of celebrations running through it, starting with the amazing Bletchley Park code breaker Betty Webb who turned 100 on May 13th. Family and friends joined Betty at Grafton Manor where she celebrated in style.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled on the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid to celebrate the life and achievements of Bromsgrove resident Bill Townsend. Turn to page 12 to read about Bill’s service during World War Two.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Turn to pages 32 and 33 to see how Bromsgrove celebrated the King and Queen’s Coronation. Well done to everyone who got involved and organised street parties, community gatherings and events across the district, and to all those who came out and supported the volunteers’ efforts to make this a weekend to remember.

Moving to the world of business, the Clark brothers Douglas and Malcolm are celebrating 60 years of enterprise and endeavour. An extended feature about the siblings starts on page 27.

Bromsgrove Walking Group is celebrating 50 years of being members of the Ramblers Association and is still going strong. Turn to page 52 to find out how you can get involved.

Let us hope that with the longest day on June 21 we can enjoy some balmy days and light evenings and soak up some Vitamin D!

Best wishes,

Michele Ford

Starbound shine at Solihull meet

Gymnasts from Starbound Gymnastics Academy took part in the Solihull and Birmingham invitational team and individual floor and vault championships on April 23.

The club’s gymnasts had a fantastic day, with 14 bringing home 11 medals - six gold and five silver. Head coaches Gemma Buchanan and Marie Carrigan are extremely proud as the children work very hard and it’s lovely to see their efforts paying off.

Results: Seven and under beginners’ individual results: First Bea Tingle, joint second Hollie Mann and Sophia Odemwingie, eighth Zara Jordan. Team results: First Bea, Hollie, Sophia and Zara. Nine and under beginners’ individual results: First Imogen Lewis, second Nia Monfardini, fourth Elsie Henfield, 13th Isobel Kelly. Team results: First Imogen, Nia, Elsie and Isobel.

Eleven and under intermediates: Second Rose McDonagh. Eleven and under advanced: fifth Imogen Stabler. Thirteen and under intermediates: Joint first Isla Roberts and Mia Bendall. Fifteen and under advanced: Fourth Lily Jenkins. Sixteen and above intermediate ladies: Esmae Rowan.

The gymnasts train for between 90 minutes and 6 hours per week at the club’s facility at Basepoint Business Centre in Bromsgrove. However, Gemma and Marie are desperate to move to a larger facility where they can train on full-sized equipment.

With the success of British gymnasts at the world, European and Commonwealth championships, gymnastics is more popular than ever. Starbound Gymnastics Academy has now had to close its waiting list as many children were facing a two-year wait.

Due to the size of the facility, classes are limited to ten gymnasts. At the point of closure, there were more than 200 children on the waiting list. In a larger space, the club could have many more children in a class and easily clear the list.

Ideally, the club needs an industrial unit or similar as it requires a minimum of five metre eaves. Due to running pre-school classes during the day and after school classes five days a week plus all day Saturday, Starbound want a space they can call their own, rather than having to rent a hall.

Finding a new home has been a priority since the club opened in 2017 but the search has been hindered by planning permission. In November 2022, MP Sajid Javid and Aston Fields councillor Phil Thomas visited the current unit and both pledged their support to help finding the club a new home. Bromsgrove District Council leader Karen May has also been a great help from the early days.

If anyone has such a unit available, please contact Gemma and Marie via email at starboundgymnasticsacademy@outlook.com

Be who you’ve always been... a star baker

At Chandler Court care home being a star baker doesn’t stop when you make the journey into care. Our dementia specialists support each resident to live life as independently as possible. Bring your life with you to a place you can call home. Award winning, person-centred care for over 40 years.

If you’re considering care for yourself or a loved one call 01527 958 071 .

Rated 9.9

Trusted to care.

Chandler Court care home

Bromsgrove careuk.com/chandler-court

Luxury dining and award-winning food at Chandler Court

At Chandler Court care home in Bromsgrove, residents can dine in luxury and experience a taste of five-star food from the home’s award-winning Chef, Alex Millichamp.

Each day, residents enjoy flavourful, nutritious meals using fresh, seasonal produce. Our team’s expertise in care home catering means residents can enjoy delicious meals that are tailored to their needs and preferences.

Award-winning meals

Inspired by Care UK’s innovative approach to residents’ food and dining experience, Chef Alex joined Chandler Court in 2019. Having catered for top law firms and prestigious hotels, Alex brings flair to his dishes that makes every meal special.

Alex’s work to provide specialist menus that hit the mark on flavour, nutrition and finesse, has earned him national accolades. In 2022, Alex was named Chef of the Year in Care UK’s Stars awards, and in the National Association of Care Catering’s Care Chef of the Year competition, he was crowned a finalist, as well as taking the Health and Hygiene Award, helping lead Chandler Court to win Care Establishment of the Year.

A tailored experience

Chandler Court fosters a first-class dining experience where all residents’ preferences are catered for. Alex meets every new resident to learn about their personalities and tastes, working with the catering team to create fun, themed meals and events that celebrate them as individuals.

From making bespoke cakes for residents’ birthdays to exploring cuisines from around the world, the team’s extensive knowledge of older people’s nutrition and attention to detail, added together with a sprinkle of creativity, ensure residents’ needs are always met and taste is never compromised.

Dining with dignity

At Chandler Court, we deliver high-quality dining experiences with choice at the centre, paying close attention to table presentation and ensuring all elements of the dining experience meet residents’ unique needs.

It’s all part of our dining promise – whether an individual is living with dementia, has impaired vision or dexterity difficulties, the Chandler Court team do everything they can to ensure residents dine with dignity.

To find out more about the quality lifestyle on offer at Chandler Court care home, please call 01527 903 670.

Chandler Court care home

Recreation Road, Bromsgrove

Worcestershire B61 8DT careuk.com/chandler-court

Code breaker Betty Webb celebrates 100th birthday

Much loved and respected Bletchley Park code breaker Betty Webb celebrated her 100th birthday just days after attending the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Westminster Abbey.

Charlotte Elizabeth “Betty” Webb MBE was born on May 13th 1923 in South Shropshire. In 1941, at the age of 18, Betty was keen to help the war effort, and began work as a code breaker at Bletchley Park. She had to sign the Official Secrets Act and wasn’t allowed to tell anyone about the work she was doing.

Betty grew up with a German au pair and before the war visited Germany as an exchange student. She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) and having impressed interviewers with her knowledge of German, was posted to Bletchley Park. She was tasked with cataloguing encrypted German radio messages intercepted by the British, contributing to the breaking of the German cipher “Enigma”.

During her time at Bletchley, she also worked on intercepted Japanese messages. When the war ended in Europe in 1945, Betty travelled to Washington D.C. and worked at the Pentagon to assist the Americans with the war in the Pacific.

Betty initially returned to work at Bletchley Park, but when it closed, she returned to Shropshire to work as a secretary at Ludlow Grammar School, alongside the headmaster who she had worked with at Bletchley. However, due to the Official Secrets Act they were not only prevented from talking about their past work, but they weren’t allowed to acknowledge they knew each other until restrictions were lifted in 1975.

In 2015 Betty was awarded an MBE for her contribution to the war effort, and in 2021 the French government awarded Betty with the Légion d’Honneur. Betty was given a front row seat in the nave at the Coronation and was seen on TV as the King and Queen processed out of the Abbey.

As a resident of Wythall for many years Betty has been an active member of the Bromsgrove community, giving regular talks about her life during World War II. She is a published author, with her most recent book No More Secrets: My part in code breaking at Bletchley Park and the Pentagon released on May 4th 2023.

Betty celebrated her landmark birthday with a party at Bletchley Park with family and friends, and a lunch at Grafton Manor where Bromsgrove’s Town Crier Kevin Ward acted as Master of Ceremony and Vintage Class entertained with songs from the 1940s.

Everyone at Completely Bromsgrove thanks Betty for her service and wishes her a very happy birthday.

by Jo Slade

WITH OVER 80 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WE ARE YOUR LARGEST LOCAL INDEPENDENT FLOORING & BEDROOM STORE

We supply traditional modern and bespoke and mattresses.

FREE Local measuring and delivery service

Eco-friendly mattresses and carpets available

No obligation quotations

Fast delivery on stock items

Expert installation service

Paypal payment options available ..and much more!

QUALITY CARPETS

BEDS & MATTRESSES

HARD FLOORING

Celebrating Bromsgrove’s Dambuster hero

On the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters

Raid, the Bromsgrove Society has commemorated Flight Lieutenant Bill Townsend, one of the pilots, by installing a blue plaque at his former home in Marlbrook.

The plaque was unveiled at a ceremony at the Avoncroft Museum, where Bill worked as a volunteer in his later years. Members of Bill’s family attended, together with local representatives of the Royal British Legion and the RAF Association, and Bromsgrove Society members. Town Crier Kevin Ward was Master of Ceremonies and read the Air Ministry’s official declaration issued after the raid.

Bill Townsend was born in Gloucestershire in 1921 and educated at Monmouth School. After a short spell in the army, he transferred to the RAF in May 1941 and qualified as a pilot. By the end of March 1943, he had completed 26 operations and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM).

The Dambuster Raids aimed to strike at the heart of Germany’s wartime industry by bombing essential dams in the Ruhr Valley. They were to be breached by an ingenious bouncing bomb developed by maverick inventor Barnes Wallis. Codenamed Operation Chastise, the mission fell to 617 Squadron, led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson.

Bill was the pilot in one of 19 AVRO Lancaster bombers that took off from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire on the night of May 16th - 17th 1943. With a crew of seven, he flew Lancaster ED886/G, which was given the call sign ‘AJ-O for Orange’. It was a reserve aircraft in the third wave of the attack.

AJ-O took off at 00:14 on May 17th and was so heavily laden that it only just cleared the boundary hedge. As they approached the Dutch coast, they encountered anti-aircraft fire which, with Bill’s skilled flying, they avoided. At one point Bill flew along a firebreak in a forest, below the level of the trees.

With the Möhne and Eder Dams having been breached, AJ-O was ordered to proceed to the Ennepe Dam and was the only aircraft to do so. The crew found the Ennepe obscured by mist and despite three attempts their bomb missed its target. On their way home, they passed over the Möhne and were able to confirm the destruction from earlier attacks and report back on the devastation that had been caused.

The return flight to RAF Scampton was flown at tree-top level, and it was solely due to Bill’s immense skill at low-altitude flying that they managed to land safely on three engines. They finally landed at 06:15, the last crew to return from Operation Chastise. Out of the 19 Lancasters that set out on the mission, eight did not return and 53 men lost their lives.

Bill Townsend was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM) for his bravery in the Dams Raid. Five of his crew were also recognised with medals, making them the second most decorated Dams Raid crew after Guy Gibson’s.

After Bill left the RAF in 1946, he became a businessman and later worked as a civil servant. With his wife Eileen and three children, he moved to Bromsgrove in 1949 and worked in the Department of Employment. He died in April 1991.

The Bromsgrove Society’s plaque commemorating Bill’s life and achievements can be seen at his family home at 42 Marlbrook Lane.

by Mike Sharpe

Showy clematis offer a flowery flush all summer long

If you are lucky enough to have a clematis in bloom and climbing its way through your garden at the moment, then you may have one of the early summer flowering varieties; with their large showy dinner plate-like flower they are pure perfection.

Even though there are three clematis types, as a plant group they give us early spring flowers right through until autumn raises its head. There is no reason why you can’t grow them all, although to have them entwining together would make for a pruning nightmare.

Type one clematis are early flowering varieties which include the aromatic montana with its green-purple foliage, and the nodding bells of the alpina types. These all make a striking sight when so much in the garden is only just waking up. Pruning should be done straight after flowering is over to ensure that enough growth can occur to carry the following year’s blooms.

When these are fading away, summer will herald the arrival of the type two clematis, and the most commonly found is Nelly Moser with her very pale pink petals and reddy-purple stripes straight through the centre. What a sight to see this scrambling over a shed or a gazebo. These will give you a second flush of flowers if you lightly prune them after summer flowering but pruning will need

to be done again in late winter.

The final type three comes later in the summer months and contains a variety of large flowers and again the bell type. These will flower on the current season’s growth and benefit from a good prune in late winter or early spring. You can afford to be quite harsh with your secateurs. The decorative seed heads give clematis the nickname old man’s beard.

If left unpruned, clematis will continue growing from where the growth ended the previous season, becoming top heavy, flowering well above eye level, and with a bare base. When planting and siting your new plant, give thought to how much sun is available for it as they dislike their roots getting too hot.

Plant the base of the clematis in light shade or provide shading with other plants. Flowering will be poor in a very shady spot. Give your plant a weekly feed with tomato fertiliser in summer, and deadhead to prolong flowering. If your clematis is in a pot, make sure it is a large container and repot every two years, remembering to mulch the surface to protect the roots from hot sun.

Some jobs to keep you busy throughout June

Give pots and hanging baskets a liquid feed every few weeks to encourage flowering.

Support tall-growing perennials, including hollyhocks and delphiniums.

When you’ve had the last of your rhubarb, give it a good feed by mulching with well-rotted manure mixed with compost to enable them to build strength for next year’s bounty.

Pinch out the tips of fuchsias and bedding plants to encourage bushier growth.

You can harvest beetroot, broad beans, cabbage, cauliflower, early peas, lettuce, spring onions and radish in June.

Start feeding tomatoes with a high potash tomato food – this will encourage the production of more flowers, and therefore, more fruits.

Once again, the joy of summer is upon us, so enjoy the warm, light nights.

By Suzi M, plotter

Full stream ahead!

A project to reduce flood risk while enhancing the biodiversity potential along the Millennium Way in Catshill has recently been completed.

The project, carried out in partnership between North Worcestershire Water Management, Catshill and North Marlbrook Parish Council, Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, as part of the Natural Networks programme, involved the restoration of the Barley Brook, the creation of two wetland ponds, and the creation of a flood relief channel. A few sections of bank have also been reinforced using timber from on site, to help keep water in-channel during high flows and also to reduce amount of sediment entering the watercourse.

Last month members of the teams involved came together to plant 600 wildflower plants (with some bluebells already looking beautiful) and install 5 bird boxes; in addition 13 bags of litter were collected from along the brook. A further 500 wetland plants will be planted out in the coming months which not only will provide important habitat, food and shelter for wildlife, but will also help to improve water quality from a storm water outfall. Finally, to mark the completion of the project, a new interpretation sign has been erected along the Millennium Way route, which gives passers by an insight into the flora and fauna found here and along the wider Battlefield Brook – why not stop and take a look next time you’re passing by. e-mail: enquiries@nwwm.org.uk Tel: 01562 732 191 or www.facebook.com/northworcsflooding

Sleep easy: How to achieve a better night’s sleep

Living in a world where technology enables us to be reached 24/7 means that when we do get some much-needed switch off time, it can be hard to relax and unwind.

Yet the benefits of good sleep hygiene are widely recognised, helping to improve mood, concentration, and memory, as well as lowering the risk of serious health conditions. When it comes to the quest for a good night’s sleep, the following tips are a good starting point for optimising the quality of those precious hours.

Colour schemes

Opt for cool colour palettes on walls and furniture (blues, green and greys) which are linked to reduced heart rate, lowered blood pressure and slower respiration: the body’s way of preparing for sleep. Warmer tones (reds and purples) have been found to have the opposite effect and are better used for accents of colour on accessories.

Feng Shui

The ancient Chinese art of achieving balance and creating a healthy environment has seen something of a revival in popularity in recent years, not least due to the fact we’ve all had to spend more time at home. Given that we spend around a third of our life in the bedroom, it seems like a good place to start! Ideally, space permitting, beds should be placed with the head against a wall and space around both sides and the foot to allow energy to flow freely. Symmetry is also key, whether this is achieved through bedside tables, lamps, or soft furnishings. Fitted wardrobes that are integrated into the walls of the room are preferable to oversized, potentially looming, individual pieces of furniture.

Maximising storage

Decluttering seems to be the buzz word of several home makeover shows and with good reason. A useful starting point when tackling too many belongings is to ask yourself if you’ve used it in the last year. If the answer is no, it most likely has to go! Then consider whether some of the decorative objects could be housed elsewhere in the home for a more minimalist approach to the bedroom environment. Finally, rethink your furniture choices: choosing floor to ceiling bespoke wardrobes creates a significant amount of extra storage- with the added bonus of putting an end to cleaning the tops of dusty items.

Floor space

Instantly create the perception of a larger room by keeping the floor space as clear as possible. Laundry baskets, shelving and shoe racks can all be incorporated into fitted wardrobes, whilst floating bedside tables are a great option, particularly in smaller rooms. Wall mounted items such as shelving and artwork are better placed in higher positions; the lower they are placed, the more compact the room will appear.

For further information on made to measure wardrobes and fitted storage solutions, visit AK Fitted Interiors, based in Stoke Prior, and speak to one of their friendly design team who will advise you on how to best use your space.

For more information, go to www.akfittedinteriors.co.uk

Cartwright Glass Designs continuing with tradition

The ancient Romans and Egyptians were creating stained glass as long ago as the seventh century and it is reassuring to know that in 2023 this art form is still well and truly alive in the accomplished hands of Steven Cartwright.

All of Steven’s work begins at his studio at Canalside Craft Centre in Stoke Prior. Here he creates the template for his vision and the creation is lovingly brought to life, whether that is in the form of a stained glass window for somebody’s home, a new commission or the restoration of a historic window for a listed building. The same high quality plus exacting care and attention are incorporated into every single piece of work.

An alumnus of Plymouth College of Art & Design and Chelsea College of Arts. Steven was also trained in all aspects of stained glass and leaded lights with a local company in Redditch.

The main focus is now on the success of his own studio. Locally Steven’s work can be seen in

the chapel at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bromsgrove and he also created the metal and glass sculptures which can be seen within the grounds at the New Haven Unit based at the hospital. The inspiration for these was the leaves of the trees that were planted in the fruit orchard situated within the grounds. Another of Steven’s creations is the magnificent 10 light window of The Red Lion pub in West Bromwich.

The window was commissioned by Creative Black Country in partnership with the Arts Council to celebrate the rich culture of the Desi pub in the region. Steven designed the window to give the appearance of a traditional pub with a twist, featuring the sub- continent’s striking colours and cultural heritage.

It tells the story of the Punjabi community and celebrates the establishment of the Indian Workers’ Association by Avtar Singh Jouhl and American civil rights activist Malcolm X’s visit to Smethwick in 1965. The window has featured on the BBC News home page and more recently on Grayson Perry’s Full English series on Channel 4.

Other works include an Art Deco rooflight for the palm court at the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel in Russell Square, London. This stunning feature incorporates 448 custom glass bevels within the design and illuminates the space below.

Also in London, Steven was commissioned to make a lift lobby lantern for Ancaster House. Rumoured to be the most expensive house in the U.K it is the Mayfair residence of British businessman John Cauldwell .

While chatting to Steven at his studio, Completely Bromsgrove asked whether he felt his trade wasa dying art. His initial answer was in the positive,

though he did mention that the English Antique Glass Company, which was based in Rowney Green, closed its doors several months ago. It was the only remaining company making hand-blown sheet glass in the U.K and sadly this craft has now been declared extinct in the U.K.

From his studio, Steven offers discerning customers various forms of decorative glass from stained glass to leaded lights, sandblasted, kiln formed and fused glass. Contemporary new commissions as well as more traditional designs are managed in house from design through to production and installation. He also carries out the repair and restoration of existing stained glass windows and leaded lights and associated metalwork.

To see the master of this ancient craft at work, you can arrange to meet him at his studio, which is Unit 5A, Canalside Craft Centre, 138 Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior.You can also visit his website www.cartwrightglassdesigns.co.uk

by Wendy Carter, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

Bug spotting

Common Darter

Urban bee

Big Wild Breakfast

Froghopper

Writing outdoors

Bromsgrove

Wild for June

Some of you may go a little wild every day but for others, getting connected to nature might be an alien concept. Regardless of which camp you fall into, why not try 30 Days Wild during June? This is a month-long opportunity to dabble your toes into the wild pond of nature each and every day.

We’ve been going 30 Days Wild during June for a few years now and we love it. Some days can be as simple as eating breakfast on a patio or with the window open to listen to birdsong. Other days see us counting spots on ladybirds or writing wild notes. Then we might help our buzzing friends by planting flowers to provide them with food. Occasionally we lift a stone and see how many shade and damp loving invertebrates we can spot. Every day’s a school day, as they say, so sometimes we take time out to learn fascinating facts. Did you know, for example, that earwig mums are amazing – they carefully clean each egg and will go without food in order to protect them (they’re also great to have in your garden as they clear up decaying material and some insects that you might consider to be pests).

How else could you, your family and friends go wild? If you’ve got a dense shrub in your garden, pop a sheet underneath and gently shake it to see what falls out. You could discover froghoppers, beetles, shieldbugs or even crickets. Froghoppers are the insects that create ‘cuckoo spit’ that you may have spotted over the last month or so and you might be amazed to learn that some species can jump 70cm into the air!

If you’ve got a pond or lake nearby, take a moment or two to sit and wait for wildlife to come to you.

Did you know that the damselfly and dragonfly masters of the air can spend up to three years of their life hidden in the depths of waterbodies while they find enough food to develop into the adult insects that we admire so much? While you’re watching them skim the surface of the water in search of food and mates, consider that their eyes consist of up to 30,000 individual lenses. Wow! Whether you’re young or young at heart, spending time noticing nature can do wonders for your physical and mental wellbeing so why not sign up for free downloads and regular e-newsletters to provide you with plenty of inspiration to go wild www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild

Keep up to date with us: www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk

Photos: Big Wild Breakfast – The Wildlife Trusts, Child with binoculars – Emma Bradshaw, Common darter – Magnus McLeod, Writing and Daisies – Matthew Roberts, Urban bee - Paul Hobson, Froghopper - Wendy Carter

Spring brings welcome news for B’grove’s rail passengers

If you travel on West Midlands Railway’s Hereford to Birmingham New Street service to and from Bromsgrove, you may have enjoyed being in some shiny new rolling stock which will have improved your journey.

The new train fleet - Class 196 - was introduced in May between Great Malvern and New Street. Initially a small number of journeys will be run by this fleet, as it is drip-fed gradually into service and extended to journeys beyond Great Malvern, once more trains become available and more drivers are trained to operate them.

The four car trains in the fleet have a total seating capacity for 311 passengers, which is an approximate increase of 25% over the Class 170 /172s currently used on the service.

Other benefits include smart air-conditioning which reacts to the carriage environment, free wi-fi, plug and USB sockets at every seat, more tables with improved under-seat storage, digital screens featuring live journey information, improved accessibility (including one accessible toilet per train), more bicycle storage (enabling three bikes to be carried), and clear luggage racks to remind passengers not to leave their belongings.

There is also another benefit of the increased seating capacity. On the pre-May 21st timetables,

there is a weekday train leaving Hereford at 7.10am. Currently it passes through Bromsgrove at 8.14am approximately, but does not stop, the reason given for it not doing so is ‘excessive passenger loading (from the stations between Hereford and Droitwich) prior to a Bromsgrove arrival’.

However, the increased seating capacity of the Class 196s would overcome this problem, and enable this train to stop at Bromsgrove at a key time, both to allow business commuters and students to alight at Bromsgrove station and to pick up passengers for University station i.e. for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and University of Birmingham and then for New Street.

With the introduction of the Class 196s, BARRUP will be pressing WMR to introduce Bromsgrove stops on both these services. It’s important to remember that travelling by train, instead of by car, can save up to 70% of carbon dioxide emissions.

by Nick Taylor memsec@bromsgroverail.org.uk

Douglas and Malcolm Clark – Sixty years of enterprise

With the opening this month of Buntsford Business Centre, their latest development, brothers Douglas and Malcolm Clark are finally calling time on their commercial journey.

For more than 60 years Clark’s have brought significant prosperity to Bromsgrove and other nearby towns, so it’s fitting that 60 makes it a diamond occasion.

Douglas will tell you with a smile that they are proud of the rough diamond heritage of, in his words, “a couple of Clampetts from Chaddesley”

He started work at Rednal Garage in 1959 as a selftaught mechanic in addition to playing lead guitar in a rock ’n’ roll band. He chose mechanics over possible stardom and 60 years later that has proved to be a very wise decision.

Malcolm joined him as soon as he was old enough and they have enjoyed a life-long, unconditional friendship as well as an enduring business partnership.

The brothers have had an uncanny knack of recognising opportunities, whether this was in garages, dealerships, or other commercial projects. Golden rules being never acting on a whim or a blind gamble; always do extensive research, carefully chosen partnerships and total commitment to the project in hand. If it was a customled business, then the customer always came first.

Malcolm Clark

Douglas Clark

Opportunities need funding and Douglas admits the brightest move they made in the early 80s was to set up a small, self-administered pension scheme. This was something they were introduced to by Lloyds TSB financial wizard Robin Hunter, where accumulated profits were put straight into the SSAS (later to become a SIPP) and then used to buy and develop land and businesses. Interest was charged by the fund on the loan and that too was re-invested.

The first momentous Bromsgrove venture using the fund occurred when they put forward a plan to the district council to transform an austere area at the top of the town.

The old Midland Red bus garage on Birmingham Road had been empty and up for sale with no takers for several years. On the opposite side of the road, Bromsgrove’s oldest car sales company Bryant’s - specialising in Austins - was near to closure. If this happened, the area would become even more desolate –not the image BDC wanted to project to visitors to the Victoria Ground, home of Bromsgrove Rovers FC.

Clark’s acquired the crumbling old depot and transformed it into an architecturally attractive MG Rover dealership and state-of-the-art service centre.

They also purchased the land next door with a house on it that was right by the main road; this became and remains the popular Mint Lounge restaurant.

Simultaneous to developing the Birmingham Road site, another opportunity arose. A two-

acre site the Post Office had earmarked in Aston Fields for their new sorting office unexpectedly became available. The Post Office decided instead to move to a ready-made building in Sherwood Road. Clark’s BW-SIPP snapped up the land with the intention of using it for vehicle storage and preparation centre for the dealerships.

Events dictated a different course of action. With the ink barely dry on the land deal, the American supermarket giant Safeway approached them with a view to buying it from them to build their Bromsgrove superstore. To make it work, it needed more land than the Clarks’ newly acquired two acres, however. It so happened that adjacent to the Aston Fields site was the council depot where, among other vehicles and equipment, refuse collection lorries were stored.

Douglas Clark introduced Safeway’s management team to the district council who agreed to add their land to Clark’s. Before a deal could be finalised however, a solution to the original Clark’s BW-SIPP purpose of purchasing a site for vehicle storage and preparation had to be found.

It so happened that a looming catastrophe brought with it a solution. The council let Clark’s know that a bombshell was about to be announced - Bromsgrove’s biggest employer and cornerstone of the local economy, car component manufacturer Garringtons, founded in 1948, announced it was to close with the loss of more than 500 jobs.

Sad news though this was, Douglas and Malcolm saw an opportunity to develop a prosperous new business area. The main Garringtons factory was located in Sherwood Road, Aston Fields. Clark’s, together with BDC executives Bob Lewis and Bob Bradshaw devised a plan to develop this area.

The prime objective was to provide opportunity to both existing and fledgling companies to thrive in a brand new, purposebuilt environment.

The Safeway deal was also struck and Clark’s BW-SIPP got the site they needed for the designated purpose and much more besides. The arrival of Safeway created many new jobs for local people and brought food shopping to the community on the town’s outskirts. Now Safeway is Morrisons.

As part of the new Aston Road development, a sewage plant became highly visible. Clark’s screened this by planting numerous evergreens so that it became unobtrusive. Today this has matured to where it is not only a complete screen but has also become a haven for wildlife.

Another part of the scheme was the highly praised Silver Birches Business Park, which included a conference centre and an assortment of multi-purpose units.

Clark’s BW-SIPP also constructed most of the other buildings, which have mushroomed around the Aston Road area.

Douglas and Malcolm look back on this time with great pride; they brought diversity,

employment, and opportunity. It was a major turning point that helped achieve near zero unemployment in Bromsgrove. Even with all the diversion into other areas, Clark’s continued to expand their core business of car dealerships. By the mid-1990s they had dealerships and service centres in Rednal, Lickey, Marlbrook, Longbridge, Hagley, Halesowen, Kidderminster, Redditch and Stourbridge - as well as Bromsgrove.

The last addition was Toyota and to house that they designed and built another architecturally unique showroom next to their MG Rover outlet on Birmingham Road. Today these buildings are demolished and a shopping complex erected.

Clark’s BW-SIPP purchased 11 acres on Buntsford Hill to create a Motor Village, not theirs of course but they sold the idea and the land. Many multi-car franchise dealerships now reside there offering new and used vehicles in a one-stop environment – history and progress.

Alongside the business, Douglas and Malcolm shared their success with the community and took an equally unique approach to charity, for instance with the pioneering scheme Clark’s in School.

Through this initiative, Clark’s have given significant funding to Bromsgrove state schools for the sole purpose of buying equipment that would not otherwise have been provided. They have enabled schools to purchase arts equipment such as pottery kilns and technology including computers for the classroom.

Douglas Clark talked at school assemblies on a weekly basis, firing up young people to prepare them for the business world waiting for them once they left academia.

In addition to the schools project, they also provided two 18-seater coaches for clubs and community groups to use free of charge. This included taking the elderly on excursions, schools on trips to museums, art galleries and theatres and sports clubs to out-of-town matches.

Clark’s Motor Group Ltd became the major sponsor of Bromsgrove Rovers FC and repainted the stands at one point.

At its peak, Clark’s employed 460 full-time people and many more part-timers. They purchased locally wherever possible and were always mindful of ‘Community First’. Clark’s were the first local company to achieve the prestigious Investors In People status.

Buntsford Business Centre incorporates the core values the Clarks have put into all their developments; uniqueness in design, constructed of quality materials and providing the most modern opportunity to the latest generation of Bromsgrove business entrepreneurs.

When asked if he had any regrets, Douglas said “Just one really – when MG Rover collapsed, we put in a bid to take it over which was rejected. I like to think had we been successful cars would still be being made in Longbridge today.”

Sixty years of business creation and enterprise in Bromsgrove must surely put the Clark brothers high on the pedestal for bringing prosperity to the town.

Written by Euan Rose | Artwork by Mike Hatcher

God save The King

Crowds gathered to celebrate the crowning of HRH King Charles

The Third on 6th May 2023. Parties lined the streets of Bromsgrove uniting patriotic people together to pay tribute to this historic moment in time. Cakes were baked, sandwiches were made and flag waving residents danced away to live music long into the evening.

Catshill and Pepperwood

Street party in Dodford

Catshill and Pepperwood community

No. 3a’s decorated van

The Big Help Out on Fairfield Recreation Ground, Monday 8th May. The project was to tidy the Millennium Garden, clearing vegetation from the paths and creating a wildflower zone amongst the fruit trees.

Crowds gather in Aston Fields

A birds eye view of Aston Fields’ street party

Jules, Jeff and Gaz Evans

Screening of the Coronation Concert at

Bromsgrove

Pepperwood toasting

The King

Town Cryer with Court Leet

Vintage Class

Royal cake at Dodford

Court Leet

Vaseline on stage

at the Village Hall, Sunday 7th May

Coronation party at Fairfield village hall

Community Choir

Catshill and Pepperwood dancers

High Street party revellers

Redox signaling for our four-legged friends

Carrying on my theme from last month’s post on animals I thought I would expand it to horses after watching the Grand National meeting at Aintree.

Having had horses myself, I know how easily they can hurt themselves and they don’t have to go racing to do that. I have written quite a bit about Redox molecules, but they are amazing for our animals, and I will write about cats and dogs in the next issue.

A colleague of mine is a horse trainer and owner of racehorses. She had a horse that was not winning and was having difficulty with his moods. Being sceptical and wanting the best for her horses, she looked at the

performance of professional athletes who had taken the molecules. She decided that her horses were also professional athletes and she would test it on her horse Vortex as he was the one that was not winning. My friend would give Vortex the drink rectally both during his training and after a race. As you can see from the photo, he won 23 races. Vortex was then invited to race in Dubai by the Sultan of Dubai and was placed in the race.

Other testimonials read as follows: Renu 28 gel is fabulous on open wounds, heat in legs, mud fever or any injury at all. I’ve never used any antibiotics and it has saved thousands in vets’ bills.

This poor boy has a face full of painful and bloody warts. These are caused by a virus and are notoriously hard to get rid of, usually taking weeks or months. The photo on the left is the first day. I began spraying the liquid liberally all over his muzzle two to three times daily. The right photo was taken a week later and the last photo after ten days.

ASEA and Renu 28 Advanced do not make any medical health claims, and neither do I.These products from ASEA are not a drug, vitamin, mineral or energy drink. ASEA empowers the body cells to heal themselves and it is the body that does the healing by increasing cellular efficiency, cellular function, cellular communication, and cellular replenishment.

If you want to find out more, visit: www.need4change.myasealive.com

For a copy of a free animal booklet, email: colette@need4change.com by

Colette Garside

Small Medium Large Drives - £50 £130 £300

Paths - £30 £70 £180

Patios - £80 £150 £300

VIP tickets to be won!

The Hanbury Countryside Show on Saturday 1st July, celebrates the very best of rural life in Worcestershire and is well known as a great day out for the entire family, with fun things to do, wonderful livestock displays, delicious food and drink, its own Gardeners’ Question Time, music and entertainment. Special guest, TV Presenter Jules Hudson, will be starring in the Carter Jonas Theatre

New to the ETG Civil Engineering Main Arena this year is the spectacular Stuntworld International vehicle display team, with a daredevil repertoire of ramp jumps, wheelies, stoppies and quad stunts –and the equally daredevil Two Bar Show-jumping Challenge, guaranteed to have spectators on the edge of their seats!

Also new to the Show is the crowd-pleasing Young Farmers Club West Midlands Area Tug of War. Come and cheer them on!

Championing the region’s agricultural roots will be parades of livestock, steam engines, heavy horses and farm machinery and more than 500 competitions for horses, sheep, cattle, pigs, goats, farriers, cookery, floral art and gardening. The Fun Dog Show is back too, and there’s a whole host of shopping opportunities from 200 quality trade stands.

Little ones can get up close and personal to furry friends in the new Attwell Farm Park Feature. Other

activities for children include toy tractors, amusements, pony rides and have-a-go activities, all set in acres of space. Tickets are on sale now at www.hanburyshow. co.uk Adult tickets are £15 in advance (£19 on the gate), with free entry for children under 16. There are membership options too.

To be in with a chance of winning one of the two special hospitality packages for two people to include free entry to the show, forward parking, access to the exclusive members enclosure next to the ETG Civil Engineering Main Arena, just answer the following question:

Who is the special guest at this year’s show?

Email your entry to showmanager@hanburyshow. co.uk and please indicate if you are happy to receive further ticket offers. The closing date is Monday June 19th 2023. Only one entry per household please. www.hanburyshow.co.uk

Saturday 1st July 2023

Easy Beef Stir Fry with Noodles

This simple beef stir fry recipe combines thinly sliced rump steak, vegetables and noodles in a delicious soy, ginger and garlic sauce. Instead of rump you could use beef labelled ‘stir fry strips’ or ‘minute’ steak

Cook the egg noodles according to the pack instructions, then drain.

Toss the strips of beef in the cornflour and set aside. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. Put the vegetable in a small saucepan set over a medium heat. When the oil is hot, lightly fry the garlic for 1 minute, then add the ginger paste and cook for 30 seconds. Add the water, Kikkoman Soy Sauce and brown sugar to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes or until the sauce begins to thicken. Keep warm while preparing the rest of the ingredients.

For the stir fry, put the vegetable oil in a wok or large non-stick frying pan set over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, quickly stir-fry the beef in 2-3 batches. You want it to be crisp on the outside, but not cooked throughout. Transfer the seared beef to a plate. If the wok has a lot of oil in it, remove all but 1 tbsp. Add the water chestnuts, peppers, broccoli and most of the spring onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes before returning the beef to the wok. Add the sauce, stir, and allow everything to cook for an additional 2 minutes before removing from the heat. Toss through the noodles and serve garnished with the remaining spring onions and sesame seeds, if liked.

Prep. time: 15 mins | Cook time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

• 250g egg noodles

• 200g lean beef rump steak, cut into thin strips

• 3 tbsp cornflour

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

• 225g can sliced water chestnuts, drained

• 1 small red pepper, deseeded and sliced

• 1 small yellow pepper, deseeded and sliced

• 1 head broccoli, cut into small florets

• 4 spring onions, sliced

• Sesame seeds, to garnish (optional)

Sauce:

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

• ¼ tsp ginger paste

• 100ml water

• 4 tbsp Kikkoman Soy Sauce

• 2 tbsp brown sugar

An exciting new chef lands at The Vernon, Hanbury

Jegan Bobb is a renowned chef who has worked with some of the greats such as Raymond Blanc at his acclaimed Mitchelin star restaurant in Birmingham and Gary Rhodes.

Jegan has great plans for The Vernon, including weddings which he can cater from 20 through to 500 with your own marquee for your special event. Private dining experiences, corporate catering and of course his own new menu which he is inviting everyone to come and try out!

Jegan is now looking to turn The Vernon into the destination establishment it so truly deserves. With long summer nights ahead of us, what better way to spend time with friends and family, than over a delicious, cooked meal, with locally sourced produce, including meat supplied by The Butcheress only a stones throw away in Stoke Prior.

Care home celebrates Charles III’s coronation with entertainment fit for a King

Staff and residents at Burcot Grange and Lodge, a luxury all-inclusive care home in Bromsgrove, celebrated the coronation of King Charles III with a three-day weekend of events that included a concert and street party.

On the day of the coronation, the home, which is a part of the Berkley Care Group, invited residents and their loved ones to watch the historic event together in the morning. Classic British food and drinks were served to guests as they watched the historic coronation procession in the home together. The home’s staff arranged a coronation concert in the afternoon which took place on the home’s grounds. Guests were entertained by Leigh, Jo and Sarah, a group of vintage singers known as Vintage Class. They performed a range of classic British songs from decades gone by. The home also provided everyone with traditional British summer food and drinks, including Pimms, prosecco, and the home’s very own cup cakes and famous shortbread, freshly made by the in-house catering team. Residents and their loved ones enjoyed the food whilst being entertained by the live music.

On the following day, residents were treated to a traditional Sunday dinner, prepared and served by the home’s cooking team. It provided an opportunity for the residents to reminisce on the coronation. Many were even able to heart-warmingly recall the Queen’s coronation in1953. For the bank holiday Monday, residents got involved in a street party organised by Burcot’s staff. This was a great opportunity to get the local community involved in the home’s celebration of the King’s coronation. Commenting on the celebrations, Vicky Osborne, General Manager said: “We are thrilled to have been able to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III with our residents and their loved ones here at Burcot Grange and Lodge. It was wonderful to see the joy on our residents faces as they watched the coronation take place.“Our staff worked incredibly hard to create a three-day celebration that was enjoyable for everyone involved.“I can’t thank our vintage singers enough for their wonderful performance of some classic British hits. The concert was a hit with all our guests.“Our staff are dedicated to providing the highest standard of care to residents at Burcot Grange and Lodge. Their exceptional organisation made this long weekend a great success! “It was a wonderful celebration and we hope that it will be remembered fondly by everyone involved for many years to come.”

Women Who Changed the World

The next meeting of Bromsgrove Flower Club, is on Thursday June 15th, our guest demonstrator Jo Davis, has chosen ‘Women Who Changed the World’ as her title, I think we are in for a very interesting afternoon.

Which women would you select to add to your list of ‘Women Who Changed the World’ ? Come and join us, and you’ll be able to compare your list to Jo’s.

Jo’s arrangements will be included as prizes in our raffle.

The title for the June Flower Club competition is ‘A Day at the Races’ . The title conjures up exquisite hats and dresses in my mind! I wonder what members of our club will come up with in their beautiful arrangements. Everyone is encouraged to enter. Throughout the year, Bromsgrove Flower Club meets every third Thursday of the month, at 2.00pm, at All Saints Church Hall, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove, B60 1AF. Everyone is welcome to join us, both existing and new members. Come for tea and a chat, and enjoy a wonderful afternoon. The entrance fee for members is £3.00, and for visitors the entrance fee will be £8.00.

For more information check out our web page at www.bromsgroveflowerclub.org.uk

Feckenham Wake

Saturday, 24th June from 1pm on The Square and Recreation Ground, Feckenham

Agreat afternoon out for all the family. The Wake is a “fete on steroids” centred on the ancient village Square in the picturesque Worcestershire village of Feckenham.

It features lots of attractions guaranteed to appeal to all ages and tastes – there’ll be games and things to bounce on for the youngster, a trial of strength for the dads (and mums) and a Fun Dog Show for Fido. There’ll be an enormous Classic Car Show with over 100 shiny motors on display. Also featuring will be Punch and Judy, The Arrow Valley Brass Band, All Round Voices Choir, Erstwhile Border Morris and Feckenham Country Dancers. There’ll be lots to see and plenty to eat and drink – a real ale bar, a prosecco bar, cream teas, a pig roast, pizzas, home made samosas, ices and candy floss… and there’ll be The Nutkins – a pair of giant performing squirrels – you won’t believe your eyes!

It all starts at 1pm on The Square at Feckenham. Entrance is free – though there is a small charge for parking. Feckenham is just south of Redditch on the B4090. Satnav users should enter the postcode B96 6QH.

www.facebook.com/FeckenhamWake

Be happy and creative at arts and crafts showcase

There’s a real buzz in the air as the Creative Art Showcase team are putting the final touches to the programme of events for Creative Fest 23 at Sanders Park on July 22 in partnership with Bromsgrove Festival.

This free event, which is being held for the second time in this location, is sure to be a great success, running in collaboration with Friends of St John’s Open Day with a fun trail between the two.

The combination of an arts and crafts event with festival performances throughout the day was a winning formula last year and many features will remain the same, including face painting, circus skills, taster art and craft tables, and much more. The event runs into the evening so bring tables, chairs and make yourselves comfy.

Award-winning band The Weekend Anthems Band, formerly Killerstream, will provide an amazing finale with a combination of rock, indie and hip-hop influences giving them a fresh exciting edge. Local talent includes Vintage Class, Helen Pearson and Pete Harrington, Got to Sing Choir, SJU Dance PQA Academy and Milo on classical piano.

For the child in you, try the circus skills workshop, the community paint zone and marvel at Rachel’s giant bubble dance.

Throughout the spring, the Creative team were busy offering free workshops with both BDHT and Avoncroft Museum and will shortly be popping up at the Jinney Ring supporting Primrose Hospice’s fundraising event.

The team would like to thank volunteers and all valued sponsors. These include the National Lottery Community Fund, Dry Spy Restaurant, Iguana Exhibitions, Councillor Shirley Webb, BAA, Millstone Business and Willowbrook Garden Centre.

We are passionate about making art and creativity available to all our diverse communities. If you or your team can support us in any way, contact us at info@creativeartshowcase.org

For more details, visit our website www.creativeartshowcase.org

Enjoy showtime on Bromsgrove’s Fair Day

During the afternoon of June 24thBromsgrove Fair Day - Barnt Green

Choral Society presents “It’s Showtime” , an hour or so of songs from much-loved musicals including The Lion King, Les Miserables and Fiddler on the Roof.

The choir will be joined by well-known local soprano Catherine Tabberner, who will sing some great showtime solos, and both will be backed by a five-piece instrumental ensemble. The show starts at 3p.m and is being staged in Bromsgrove Baptist Church, a short stroll from the High Street up New Road.

Tickets costing £12 each (under 16s are free), including refreshments after the concert, are available via the Ticket Source website (£1 booking fee will apply)www.ticket source.co.uk Simply type It’s Showtime into the Find Event Search Bar. Alternatively, pay on the door with cash or card.

County’s free annual art event seeks entries for 2023

Worcestershire Open Studios, the well-loved free annual art event, where artists and creators across the county throw open their doors to the public returns this year from August 19th to 28th.

The event is looking to showcase the diverse range of creative talent across the countypainting, sculpture, printmaking, jewellery, ceramics, photography, textiles, furniture making, and lots more.

“For artists and creators it’s an amazing platform to increase their exposure, meet buyers, gain feedback, build experience and encourages artists to look at how they can develop and sell their artwork,” said Gillian Simpson of Worcestershire Open Studios.

“It isn’t just about what happens during the ten days though, we’ve seen lots of artists start conversations during Open Studios that lead to opportunities including commissions, teaching engagements and approaches to participate in other exhibitions. Our website and printed guide do get used as a directory of talent in the county.”

This year the organisers are looking to encourage younger artists to take part by removing some of the barriers such as cost of entry and a suitable studio. Artists aged 30 and under will benefit from a reduced registration fee and a system will be in place for artists to seek or offer studio space for the duration of the event to support others.

Worcestershire Open Studios was founded in 2015. It is a not for profit organisation and is run by a team of three organisers, Sally Morgan, Richard Nicholls and Gillian Simpson. Sally and Richard have been with Worcestershire Open Studios since the start and this is Gillian’s third year as an organiser.

If you’d like to take part, please visit www.worcestershireopenstudios.org/ for more details.

Photo: Emma Trimble

Popular race day is back in the running!

2 023 will see the 19th running of the Timberhonger 10K, part of Bromsgrove Carnival weekend.

The popular Saturday evening start time slot will make the event the finale for the main carnival day. Over the years, the 1OK has grown from humble beginnings to being a highlight of the Bromsgrove sporting calendar and has raised more than £60,000 for local good causes.

This year’s event on July 15th will be supporting three more worthy charities: Primrose Hospice, the Friends of St John’s Church spire appeal, and the Rose and Daisy Foundation who support families with children in intensive care or who have experienced neonatal loss.

Organisers are hoping to have over 700 runners taking on either the 10K course, the shorter 5K option, or the Children’s Challenge fun run.

Both the 10K and 5K courses present a good challenge for participants and their hills have become infamous but they are much part of the character and fun of the event, indeed the race’s logo incorporates the oak tree that runners can see when working their way up the final hill. Closed to traffic throughout, it’s a beautiful setting on picturesque country lanes, and the carnival atmosphere extends well beyond the start in Sanders Park.

The 5K option was introduced last year and prides itself as having all the best bits of its 10K big brother but in half the distance.

Since 2006, there has also been a Children’s Challenge fun run. Children as young as two have the chance to race round Sanders Park and through the Timberhonger finish line to receive their medal and a well-deserved finisher’s ice cream. They even have chip timing and a race number just like the adult’s race.

Race director Mark Graham has been involved in all 19 years the event has been run. He said: “There always seems to be a special friendly atmosphere on race day. I don’t know if it is the carnival setting, the summer sunshine or our Timberhonger beer but everyone appears to have a good time.”

It is estimated that more than 6,000 people from all backgrounds have run the Timberhonger with a complete range of running experience, each with their own reasons for running. Some are doing their first run, others are experienced club runners. In 2014 two Malawi athletes used the race as a warm up for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow knocking two minutes off the course record. Everyone receives a special Timberhonger medal and gets a big cheer as they come through the finish line.

Entry is via the race website www.timberhonger10k.com

A mousy adventure of love and cinema

We start June with something for the kids, as it’s the summer half-term break

Epic Tails (U) - Thursday 1st June

11.00am - tells the story of super smart mouse Pattie and her feline friend Sam, as they embark upon an exciting adventure of paw-some proportions through Ancient Greece. With a little help from ageing hero Jason, the animals’ quest brings them face to face with some the most bizarre and dangerous creatures from Greek mythology, as they race to halt the threat posed to their city by Poseidon himself. A hilarious and inventive comedy adventure for the whole family, EPIC TAILS features the special guest voices of Rob Beckett, Giovanna Fletcher and Josh Widdicombe as the many Gods of Mount Olympus, including Zeus, Poseidon and Aphrodite.

How do you find lasting love in today’s world? In the British romantic comedy What’s Love Got To Do

With It? (12A), which will be screened on Sunday 11th June at 7.30pm, we find documentary-maker and dating app addict Zoe (Lily James), swiping right has only delivered an endless stream of Mr. Wrongs to her eccentric mother Cath’s (Emma Thompson) dismay. For Zoe’s childhood friend and neighbour Kaz (Shazad Latif), the answer is to follow his parents’ example and opt for an arranged (or “assisted”) marriage to a bright and beautiful bride from Pakistan. As Zoe films his hopeful journey from London to Lahore to marry a stranger chosen by his parents, she begins to wonder if she might have something to learn from a profoundly different approach to finding love.

Part memoir, part ode to the power of the movies, The Fabelmans (12A), on Wednesday 21st June 7.30pm, finds Steven Spielberg digging at the family roots that helped make him a beloved filmmaker — and proves he hasn’t lost his magic touch. Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother. Fairfield Flicks is located at Fairfield Village Hall (B61 9LZ), there is free parking and a licenced bar.

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

Music & moves of classical enjoyment

Zubin Mehta (conductor) and Yefim Bronfman (piano) have been artistic companions for many years – Mehta was on the podium when Bronfman made his debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker in 1983

You can enjoy these two maestros when Berliner Philharmoniker’s Summer Concert is screened on Saturday 17th June at 6.30pm. During this programme, you will hear the two musicians in Béla Bartók’s highly virtuosic Piano Concerto No.

Coming to the big screen (Wednesday

28th June 7.30pm) is Matthew Bourne’s

Sleeping Beauty

as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations. Now established as a firm favourite in the New Adventures repertoire, this ‘utterly brilliant’ ( Sunday Mirror) awardwinning production has enchanted audiences throughout the UK and across the globe. Enter a wondrous world of magical fairies and vampires, where the timeless tale of good vs evil is turned upside-down, creating a supernatural love story that even the passage of time itself cannot hinder. Will Princess Aurora ever find her true love again? With an unforgettable score, sumptuous sets and costumes, evocative lighting and masterly storytelling, the beloved fairy tale is brought to life by the uniquely talented New Adventures company. Get ready to be transported in time from the halcyon days of the late Edwardian era through to the modern day in this ‘dazzling’ ( Sunday Express) gothic romance.

2, which alternates between percussive force and refinement – an ideal work for Yefim Bronfman’s vigorous, soulful playing. Zubin Mehta also conducts Peter Tchaikovsky’s dramatic Fourth Symphony, which reveals the composer’s suffering to the world but also celebrates the joys of life at the close.

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

Take a trip back in time at the Classic & Vintage Commercial Show

The British Motor Museum is inviting visitors to travel down memory lane when it hosts the Classic and Vintage Commercial Show on June 10th and 11th, offering visitors a rare opportunity to see hundreds of pre-2003 commercial vehicles.

With popularity and demand at an all time high, this is the award-winning museum’s busiest schedule to date and it is also freezing ticket prices at 2022 rates.

One of the largest shows of its kind in Europe, the show features a varied display of trucks, vans and pick-ups, such as Ford Transits, Morris Minors and J Types, to lighter lorries from Austin, Bedford, Dodge and Ford Thames, through to heavier lorries such as AECs, Atkinsons, ERFs, Fodens and Leylands. A good selection of early Volvos and Scanias for 70s, 80s and 90s fans is also expected.

The show also attracts overseas visitors, adding to the diverse selection of classic commercial vehicles on display. For vehicle restorers, amateur or veteran, there is a large commercial autojumble selling vehicle spares, photos, brochures, models, and many other items associated with historic commercial vehicles.

There is also an indoor model show within the museum, with more than 160 tables of models on

display. Whether they are kit or scratch-built, these models add a different dimension to the show.

Those wanting to participate can enter their lorry for free, with exhibitor tickets including entry for the driver and one passenger. Camping is also available for those that want to make a weekend of it.

For more information, call 01926 895300 or visit www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whatson/classic-and-vintage-commercial-show

Nimble MG combines

For motorists keen to plug into tomorrow, the only way is electric. That’s why a new face-lifted electric estate car that combines practicality with panache is well worth a look.

Especially as in this case, should a car in question just happen to be adorned with the MG badge. The MG 5 electric estate has a lot going for it. That’s obvious from the very first glance.

A charmingly sleek but functional design manages to combine a pleasing hint of sporting pedigree with an evident capacity for load carrying (475 litres). The best news is it doesn’t cost ‘loadsa dosh’ - £33,440. It’s possible to carry all the golf clubs an octopus might need whilst still cutting a dash at the clubhouse car park.

As I soon discovered, it’s a car that attracts plenty of the right sort of interest. The two most frequently asked questions were: “Is that electric?” and “Is that an MG?” It was a matter of chance whichever came first. Regardless, you could guarantee that one would follow the other. The umpteenth time this happened, I’d parked in the one available space in the concert hall car park prior to attending a lunchtime concert of progressive electronic music.

I felt entitled to treat myself to a little culture now that, so to speak, I was “plugged in”. A fellow music lover shuffled over to me.

“I say. Is that an MG?” he said.

“Sir,” I declaimed. “The illustrious vehicle that presents itself to your ocular advantage is none other than an electric estate car bearing, as you correctly surmised, the legendary and mouth-wateringly exciting badge that belongs exclusively to vehicles of the MG stable.”

To his credit he smiled at this.

“I used to own a ‘46 MG TC Midget,” he declared. “Lovely little car. Owned it 20 years. Should never have let it go. What I call a proper car. Nowadays it’s all about emissions, environment and all that stuff.”

practicality & panache

“Indeed,” I agreed. “But don’t you think it’s a mistake to dwell on the past? This MG 5 Estate, in my view, represents a positively charged way of thinking. It’s an MG for the here and now with tomorrow in its sights. And by the way, despite this electric estate’s focus on versatility and functionality, it nonetheless would outperform a TC in every respect. It’ll do about 115 mph thanks to its 61 kWh/154bhp electric motor that drives the front wheels. But that apart, for the challenge of squeezing into a shoebox, your TC wins hands down.”

A couple of hours later as I coasted along city streets in calm serenity, comfortable in the supportive seats, untroubled by ULEZ regulations, unbothered by anxieties over range having comforting residuals of battery beef at my command (claimed range now 235 miles). I wondered how anyone ever could disagree with the contention that motoring in recent years has undergone a beneficial revolution.

On the open road as the wheels kept turning, I paid conscious attention

to all the attributes that together combined into an experience of ultimate assurances.

The new MG pilot driver assistance systems, offering safety braking along with a host of other benefits associated with both comfort and safety, contributed to an overall impression of modernity and grace. Or MG for short.

What a quality car this is I thought to myself as I admired the attention to detail within the cabin and how solid and settled it felt despite the jarring resulting from pothole encounters. It felt particularly robust as I was encouraged to ‘press on’ and enjoy the nimble handling and secure roadholding on a road that got twistier and bumpier.

While stopping for a coffee break, I encountered a fellow motorist who passed derogatory comments about the trend towards electric vehicles. I pointed out that in my view electric cars represented the future. He responded with a truly shocking joke.

“It’s a good job,” he said. “Because there’s no future in the electric chair.”

by Syd Taylor

Bromsgrove Ramblers celebrate 50 years with circular walk

ABromsgrove walking group became constituent members of the Ramblers Association charity in 1973 and after 50 years it is still going strong, although the charity is now called The Ramblers.

To mark this historic milestone, the members are having their own celebratory party but are also rewalking the 30 mile (50k) Bromsgrove circular walk that was mapped out by members at the time of their 30th anniversary.

The walk, which will be over four days, is open to anyone who would like to join the experience. Each stage of the walk will be approximately seven miles in distance and will be organised as follows:

Tuesday, July 4th – Wychbold to Chaddesley Corbett;

Thursday, July 6th – Chaddesley Corbett to Lydiate Ash;

Monday, July 10th – Lydiate Ash to Tardebigge;

Wednesday, July 12th – Tardebigge to Wychbold

Each day the initial meeting point will be the car park at All Saints Church Hall on Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove at 9.50am for a 10am drive away to the start of the day’s walk. Just bring some sturdy footwear, a packed lunch and suitable all weather clothing.

Bromsgrove Ramblers organise three regular local walks each month – one long (about eight to 10 miles), one short (about four to six miles) and one shorter which will have some point of interest and may end at a pub or tearoom (about three to four miles).

We offer day coach trips further afield twice a year, travelling to locations including the Shropshire Hills or the Peak District and providing a choice of two hikes. Additionally, there are a couple of weekends away – we recently visited the Lake District, North Wales and the Devon Coast. We also lay on social events, such as summer pub rambles, quiz evenings and meals out.

Bromsgrove Ramblers invite people to join them for the chance to enjoy fresh air, amid some beautiful landscapes in good company with the opportunity to make new friends. Social group walking with a leader allows you to relax and enjoy your surroundings.

For more information contact group secretary Peter Davies on 07772 458130.

Croft play catch up after stormy start

After the wettest start to the season that anyone can remember, cricket has finally returned to Avoncroft and all of Croft’s teams have hit the ground running. The consistently wet weather in March and April resulted in no cricket taking place at Avoncroft’s Stoke Heath ground for the first four weeks of the season, leaving Croft’s First XI lagging behind a number of their rivals who had managed to dodge some of the storms to get some cricket in.

The firsts have done everything that they could to stay in touch, winning two games out of two since they managed to get on the pitch. A dominant bowling display against Brockhampton saw Croft cruise to a comfortable seven wicket win in their first game, with skipper Josh Cound picking up a five-for, before Martley were also brushed aside in an eight-wicket win – Ant Pittam (4-30) and Ben Warwick (3-23) were the key wicket takers, with Will Baker (60 unbeaten) and Josh Cound (59) leading the way with the bat.

Croft’s Second XI are joint top of Division Eight (East) after three wins out of three to start the season. After a first win against Astwood Bank, where a partnership of 72 between debutant Jason Lynch and Ben Athey proved decisive in a low scoring game, captain Chris Pitt put down a marker to the rest of the league with

a superb 126 to see Croft home to a seven wicket win against Belbroughton. Croft’s third win came against Inkberrow, with Mark Wood (47), Fin Morris (3-36) and Jack Wright (3-28) taking the plaudits.

The Third XI have found things a bit tougher in Division Eight (North) after their promotion last season, but 47 from captain Jason Huxley was key in getting their first win of the season against Enville, which helped the Thirds to eighth place after three games. The Sunday XI have also got their first win on the board, with 39 from Andrew Blow and wickets from youngsters Hayden Smith, Carter Morgan and Ben Huxley taking Croft to a 12 run victory over Blakedown.

Croft’s junior sides have all got their campaigns underway; the highlight being the first girls’ festival where the newly formed U11 girls’ side did brilliantly to get their first ever win on the board.

With the weather looking to be set fair for a few more weeks, spectators are welcome to come down to the John Sutcliffe Memorial Ground to watch some cricket and catch up with old friends.

by Paul Athey

New season preparation begins

After a poor end to the 2022-23 season, planning for the next campaign began almost immediately after the referee blew for the end of the final game.

Bromsgrove Sporting player/manager Mike McGrath has wasted no time in signing up players though registration forms still have to be completed.

First up was captain and centre back Tom Taylor who has committed for 2023-4 as has midfielder

Miro Pais and striker Brandon Smalley. Moving to the Victoria Ground is left back Ben O’Hanlon, who joins the Rouslers from Ilkeston Town, and returning to Bromsgrove from Worcester City is popular defender Aaron Roberts, who played in Sporting’s first ever match back in 2010 and subsequently clocked up 239 appearances in three spells for the club.

Because of relegations, promotions and movements to other leagues, Sporting will have a few new opponents to face next season. Following their promotion there will be a mouth-watering local derby against Halesowen Town along with matches against AFC Telford United, Leamington, and Kettering Town. There will be another long trip to Suffolk to play AFC Sudbury along with visits to Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire and Stamford in Lincolnshire, who Sporting defeated in last season’s FA Cup.

Stourbridge, Redditch United and Stratford Town remain in the Southern League Premier Diction Central providing a few more local encounters.

Bromsgrove Sporting Ladies finished on a high note defeating Kidderminster United Women 10-0 in their last match. Summing up, manager Alan Horton said: “This was a really productive season for the ladies; it was the first time in the FA Cup for us, we reached the semi-final of the county cup and finished fourth in the league. We are progressing nicely. After only two full seasons we now look to move forward for next year and I would like to thank everybody for their support.”

Meanwhile Bromsgrove Sporting Veterans became champions of their league winning 16 out of 18 matches and capped a fine season by claiming a double when they also won the league cup.

Several of Colts’ team had successful seasons. They are already recruiting for next season and can be contacted via email at colts@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk

More information about Bromsgrove Sporting can be found on the website: www.bromsgrovesporting.co.uk Enquiries can be made to hello@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk

by Phil Baker

There are also Facebook pages for Sporting’s first team, Ladies, Veterans and Colts. The Twitter account is @SportingFC

Miro Pais controls the ball

Aaron Roberts returns

Photos by Chris Jepson

Tom Taylor receives a salver from director, Graham Scott to mark his 100th appearance for the Club