Completely Bromsgrove Issue 55 October 23

Welcome to the October issue of Completely Bromsgrove

As I sit and look out of the window the rain is teeming down and with temperatures dropping it certainly feels like autumn has arrived.

But on a brighter note, this issue includes lots of feelgood features and I must start by giving a big shout out to the wonderful members of the thriving Queen B’s group headed up by Bev Nibbs. Turn to page 31 to learn all about this extraordinary group of women, who have produced their very own Calendar Girls calendar for 2024 with proceeds going to Primrose Hospice. Well done ladies!

If you are looking for something to fill the diary this month, then turn to page 48 where you will find the start of 12 pages of events that are happening across the district. It certainly is a busy month if you know where to look.

Dare I mention the ‘C’ word?! Once again, Completely Bromsgrove has teamed up with the organisers of The Festive Gift Fair at the NEC Birmingham to offer four lucky readers a pair of tickets each to this great show. Turn to page 62 to see how to enter. Good luck everyone and happy shopping.

Many of our readers love autumn time, so enjoy the changing colours as you travel around our district this month and don’t forget the clocks go back an hour on Sunday, October 29th.

Very best wishes

Michele Ford

Bromsgrove author Linda Mather’s crime novel inspired by canal side contemplation

The perfectly neat row of cottages is mirrored in the still, glossy water. The scene is settled and pastoral. As if nothing bad could ever happen here.

But the discovery of a woman’s body nearby shatters the perfect image. Jo, a private investigator and astrologer, is determined to find the truth about what happened. Turning to her old boss Macy for advice, she takes on her first solo case. As her investigation unravels, she finds herself doubting everyone as the list of suspects grows rapidly.

This is the setting for The Perfect House For Murder, the 6th book in the Jo & Macy Murder Mystery series by Bromsgrove-based author Linda Mather.

Linda was born in Wallasey, Cheshire but has lived in Bromsgrove for nearly 20 years. She has always written: bashing out stories on an old typewriter as a teenager. At university, she wanted to be a journalist and was arts editor for the university newspaper.

In 2021 she left full-time work to focus on being an author. Some years ago she discovered that writing crime fiction was what she enjoyed most - especially stories with a hint of darkness and secrets to be discovered.

The Jo and Macy Mysteries series is set in the West Midlands and Cotswolds. A sense of place is really important to Linda. She likes to research the places she writes about by visiting when she can to absorb the atmosphere, weaving the details into the stories. Her new book was inspired by the canals near Stoke Prior.

Linda says ‘The idea for my latest book came to me in lockdown during many canal walks. Everything looks so pretty and perfect that it looks as if nothing bad could ever happen there. I saw that as a challenge’

Her other Jo and Macy Mystery books are Forecast Murder , A Sign for Murder , Murder as Predicted , The Hanged Man and A Future Murder

Linda has recently signed a contract for 3 books in a police thriller series and is currently writing the first of these, which is set in the New Forest. She also has plans for the next Jo & Macy Mystery.

The Perfect House for Murder is the 6th in the Jo & Macy Mystery series, published by Joffe Books. All of Linda’s books are available on Amazon.

Photo: Adam Hoskins

26 June 19341 October 2020.

25 August 193528 August 2021

A Seat to Remember

Abenchin memory of Margaret and Hilary Rice has been installed in the churchyard at St John’s. The couple made Bromsgrove their home and were very active and committed members of the church. The bench has been installed with a legacy from their family.

If you were a part of the congregation or visited St John’s or St Andrew’s churches during the 1980s, 1990s or 2000s it is likely that you would have bumped into Margaret and Hilary.

Margaret played the piano for the hymns at services held in St Andrew’s on Lyttleton Avenue in Charford, and for communion services held at St John’s Nursing home, given for the residents. She organised the purchase of bible reading notes for members of the congregation and was a baptism visitor, visiting families with children to be baptised, helping them prepare and supporting them before and after the service.

When the BBC came to St John’s and filmed Songs of Praise, Margaret read the lesson which was broadcast to the nation.

They lived on Aqueduct Lane in Alvechurch and hosted many social events, cooking meals and serving afternoon teas for their friends and family – often to raise money for the church. A favourite event was the Teddy Bears Picnics, which they held

on summer days in their garden.

Hilary was the Parochial Church Council Secretary for many years, preparing agendas, taking minutes, following up agenda items. He was meticulous in the role and ensured that the church was run efficiently. He sang in a local choir and took part in their annual musical performances staged at Solihull theatre. Friends from St John’s would go as a group to see him perform and Margaret would support him as the prompt for the shows.

Together they ran a house group for many years, inviting people into their home to study the bible, Christian principles and faith. Within church they would regularly read lessons and assist during services.

On Wednesday 13th September a group of family and friends gathered at the newly installed bench to share memories of Margaret and Hilary Rice. In a short service Revd Ray Khan remembered the couple and blessed the commemorative bench. It is hoped that visitors to the site will enjoy the view and find peace and time for reflection.

Hilary Rice

Margaret Rice

For he’s a jolly good fellow!

S4F in Hanbury is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month. Mark Treverton is the man behind the S4F success story.

It all started in 1993, when a financial advisor of 22 years was invited on a corporate ‘jolly’, introducing him to the excitement of laser clay shooting. That man, Mark Treverton, saw the potential of setting up his own laser clay business. He exchanged his calculator for an electronic scoreboard and has never looked back.

Starting with a mobile laser clay enterprise, Mark was delighted to later secure a permanent base at the Oaklands Pursuits Centre in Hanbury. The 4.5 acre rural setting provided scope for him to develop the activities he could offer, and he added real clay shooting and archery to his portfolio.

Another corporate ‘jolly’ in 2003 took Mark to Quasar in Birmingham. Bitten by the laser quest

bug he went on to become one of the first people in the UK to offer outdoor laser tag - in the forest setting at Oaklands. This has become one of the most popular S4F activities with Mark delivering laser tag combat events for children’s birthday parties, as well as stag and hen dos, adult parties and corporate entertainment.

Every outdoor shooting experience is tailored to your group size and budget. Onsite facilities include free parking and a Mess Hall for pre-event briefings.

All equipment is provided, along with professional tuition, as required.

For more information call Mark on 01527 575141. www.shooting4fun.co.uk

Luxury dining and awardwinning food at Chandler Court

At Chandler Court care home in Bromsgrove, residents dine in luxury and experience a taste of five-star food from the home’s awardwinning 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 food and dining, 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, 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

Expert dementia advice

One step at a time

A video guide to navigating dementia

Our new online guide offers expert advice to help you navigate dementia, from initial diagnosis, to living well with the condition and self-care tips for carers.

Download the guide at careuk.com/one-step-at-a-time or scan the QR code.

Lib Dems call for rail fare freeze as Bromsgrove’s residents face price hike

The Liberal Democrats have called for rail fares to be frozen for the next five years after August figures showed that Retail Prices Index inflation in July reached 9%. This is the figure normally used to increase rail fares from next March.

It comes after ministers have refused to say how much rail tickets will rise by in 2024.

The price of a season ticket from Bromsgrove to Birmingham could go up by £128.16 according to Lib Dem analysis. The rise comes despite disrupted services over the past year due to industrial action and the Government’s plans to close ticket offices at stations around the country.

The Lib Dems are campaigning against planned ticket office closures, and Bromsgrove District Council recently backed the Lib Dem motion to oppose the closures. Lib Dems are also calling for the Government to finally resolve the strike action disrupting services.

Dr David Nicholl, prospective Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Bromsgrove, said: “We are fighting for a fair deal for Bromsgrove’s commuters and families who will be left forking out even more for train journeys in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

“Ministers cannot keep turning a blind eye to these problems, especially given people are paying more for less on our rail network with more delays, cancellations and their failure to deal with the strikes.

“If this Government had even a shred of decency, they would freeze rail fares immediately to help families struggling here in Bromsgrove.We should be making clean forms of transport cheaper, yet the Government is determined to make rail more expensive than ever before.”

Time to think again about planned ticket office closures

The reaction by the travelling public to the proposed closure of railway ticket offices has been beyond anything foreseen by the train operating companies (TOCs) e.g West Midlands Rail, Cross Country Trains, GWR et al, and has left them and the Department for Transport with egg on their faces.

By the time expired for people and organisations to make their representations, either to Transport Focus or London Travel Watch, there had been more than 716,000 responses - second only in number in similar consultations to gay marriage.

If the articles, letters, and interviews in the national and local media are representative, then the great majority of people want ticket offices to be kept open.

Of course, many people will be able to use their digital devices to book tickets online, or use the ticket vending machines at their local stations,

But, as the TOCs and Department for Transport don’t seem to, or don’t want to, realise, many people don’t have a digital device on which to book their tickets, or, if they have one, they are not confident in using it for buying tickets for more complicated journeys and need advice.

A couple of Thursdays ago, I travelled to Worcester Foregate Street from Bromsgrove. While I was waiting in the ticket office, a party of three visitors from the USA asked for advice on the best way to travel to Bath Spa (four changes involved), two visitors from Australia were buying tickets to go to Worcester and

then onto Paris, one customer was buying a railcard, and one was asking for advice about what ticket he needed to reach a particular destination. And this is in 20 minutes at Bromsgrove.

There was a letter in The Times recently about the experience of a reader at Paddington Station. He noticed that there were three clerks working continuously to answer enquiries from a queue of 20 people.

And at the increasingly busy Worcestershire Parkway Station - and when are the county council and the West Midlands Rail Executive going to put pressure on Cross Country Trains to stop its hourly Nottingham to Cardiff service at Bromsgrove so that passengers from Bromsgrove can directly travel to Parkway in ten minutes instead of taking half an hour and more to travel to Foregate Street and then change trains to reach Parkway?apparently five times more tickets are sold through the ticket office than via the ticket vending machines. The TOCs and the Department for Transport need to think again - or are they too arrogant to do so?

by Nick Taylor memsec@bromsgroverail.org.uk

Help is at hand as energy bills rise

That autumn feel in the air often turns our thoughts to switching the heating on and thinking about how we’ll manage our bills this winter.

You may have seen the news coverage that the energy price cap will fall from Oct 1 for most people.

But even with this welcome fall, we know that many people will struggle this winter to pay their bills. There will not be the Energy Bills Support Scheme this winter (the £400 that people received last year towards their energy bills) although there will be cost of living payments for the most vulnerable – and winter fuel payments/ warm home discount for certain groups.

Please also remember that the price cap is not a total cap on usage. It’s a cap on the unit rate so the more you use, the more you’ll pay. The standing charge too is payable no matter how much energy you use.

That’s why it’s crucial to make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible to help reduce bills. Bromsgrove District Council has partnered with energy advice experts Act on Energy to help anyone in the area with their energy needs. Simply call 0800 988 2881 and speak to a friendly advisor to make sure you are receiving all the help and support available.

There are lots of schemes available and not all of them have the same application criteria so please call to find out more. Help is available with

energy efficiency schemes and grants, bill payments and fuel vouchers, help with energy debt and the Household Support Fund.

Measures are income related but there is scope for wide ranging help so please call to see if Act on Energy can help. Call for free on 0800 988 2881 or visit www.actonenergy.org.uk

If you don’t have mains gas for your home heating, and have an income of less than £31,000, you may be eligible for a Home Upgrade Grant. The grant can provide fully funded energy efficiency improvements to poorly insulated homes within Bromsgrove. For more details call the number above.

Take autumn comfort in pumpkin and squash

Onone of the hottest days of this year it seems bizarre that I am thinking about roasted squash, smothered in warm comforting autumn spices; cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger undertones, the perfect addition for the onset of those dark nights. Autumn is here and it wouldn’t be October without the sight of big orange scary Halloween pumpkins.

Pumpkins, along with olives and tomatoes are technically fruits, and are part of the family that include cucumbers and melons. They are a product of the flowering plant and have seeds inside. Pumpkins are 90% water, which makes them a lowcalorie food. They also have more fibre than kale, more potassium than bananas and are a rich source of magnesium and iron. The flowers can be eaten - try them stuffed with cream cheese or dipped in tempura batter and fried.

Squash are so easy to grow and don’t necessarily need to have a huge growing space. The seeds should be started off in a greenhouse or propagator in early spring and placed on their side in the pot which can help to prevent them from rotting.

Squash are frost tender and can be planted out at the end of May in richly manured soil; they are very thirsty and require lots of water throughout the season especially when the fruits start to show.

Most squash will happily ramble along the ground and some varieties can climb, but you will need a sturdy structure. This casts a dramatic sight with fruits hanging down. When the fruits are ready to harvest, generally autumn time, cut leaving a couple of inches of stalk which helps with the plant to store longer. Most can store throughout the winter but choose your variety carefully.

Just remember that the world’s heaviest pumpkin weighed over 2,700 pounds (1,200 kilograms) and was grown in Italy.

Jobs to keep you busy in October

Plant spring bulbs either informally in a lawn, or in tubs to create welcoming winter displays and mix with heathers, cyclamen, winter pansies and skimmia.

Lift and pot up tender perennials, to protect over winter. Move shrubs that are in the wrong place or have outgrown their current position, better done this time of year whilst soil is warm.

Wrap layers of fleece or straw around exotic plants like bananas and tree ferns to protect from frost.

Collect seeds from hardy perennials and sow straight away.

Reduce the height of bush roses to avoid windrock damage over winter but don’t over prune.

Take cuttings of shrubby herbs, such as rosemary, lemon verbena and thyme.

Plant garlic cloves in a sunny welldrained spot, place 15cm apart. Finish picking beans, but leave a few pods to ripen fully, so you can save the seeds.

Cut down the ferny shoots of asparagus to soil level once they’ve turned yellow, then add to the compost bin, cover the crowns with manure.

Wrap grease bands around the trunks of fruit trees to trap the crawling female winter moth.

Raise pumpkins and squash onto bricks to keep them dry and expose them to more sun, to ripen the skins.

Cut fruited stems of blackberries and autumn raspberries down to the ground, leaving the new season’s growth for next years fruit.

Plant out spring cabbages.

October is the precursor to the long winter ahead so close the curtains and enjoy tucking into a hearty, warming pumpkin curry. Can’t be beaten.

By Suzi M, garden lover and plotter at Roundhill Allotments

Lawns do wonders for our wellbeing. That’s why we’ve devised three programmes of year-round treatments to keep your grass a cut above.

From controlling weeds to bringing out the green, we’ll help you to look after the lawn that looks after you.

by Wendy Carter, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

Photo by Rosemary Winnall

Photo by Rosemary Winnall

Photo by Magnus McLeod

Photo by Wendy Carter

Photo by Ruth Bourne

Bromsgrove

Autumn colours

I love all four seasons for very different reasons but the colour in Worcestershire’s countryside, towns and city as the natural world winds down for winter gives us one final glimpse into nature’s splendour. Whilst autumn’s glory bowls over my creative side, it’s the chemical reactions of science that cause this colourful phenomenon.

So just why do deciduous (that’s Latin for falling) trees go naked for winter; the one time of the year when you surely need as much cover as you can? The fact that it’s quite a complex process should come as no surprise but it makes it very difficult to predict whether we’re about to have amazing autumn colour or whether, by the time you read this, most of the leaves will already have fallen.

Leaves produce the energy for an entire tree. They capture the sunlight that interacts with carbon and water to produce sugars and oxygen. You might know this process better as photosynthesis and its other necessary ingredient is chlorophyll, the thing that makes the leaves green in the first place. Chlorophyll is replenished during summer but the harsh weather that’s on its way makes the trees begin to seal off their leaves. This reduces the production of chlorophyll and the other pigments that are present in the leaves begin to show through. Which colours become apparent depends on the species of tree but the brightest colours appear before frosts happen and when days are short and

nights are cool. Leaves eventually fall when the cells between the leaf and the stem break apart.

Of course, there are many factors in play here and not just what happens in autumn itself. Amounts of sunlight, temperature and rainfall throughout the year can determine the appearance of our autumn colours and how long they last. Dry springs, for example, can prompt early leaf drop whereas a wet summer can result in reduced colours. Really cold nights can produce yellow leaves whilst warmer evenings produce reds. Of course, high winds just as autumn is getting going can bring everything to the ground before we’ve been treated to our arboreal delight.

Whether it’s the trees on your local supermarket’s car park, your village green, your walk to school, your weekend patch or views across the county, perhaps you’ll look at autumn colours with new eyes this year as you marvel at this natural spectacle.

Photo by: Jason Heath

Golden hues, crispy leaves underfoot, beauty abounds. It must be autumn.

Former health secretary delights care home residents

Staff and residents at Burcot Grange and Lodge, a luxury all-inclusive care home in Bromsgrove, had the honour of hosting a distinguished visitor last month.

The home, which is part of the Berkley Care Group, welcomed former Health Secretary and Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid.

This special visit came about in a unique and personal way. One of the residents, who prefers to remain anonymous, had a connection with Mr Javid from their time living in Bromsgrove. This resident expressed her wish to see him again and the home team made it happen.

The main focus of Mr Javid’s visit was to reconnect with the Burcot community and reminisce about his previous visit to one of their garden parties. Upon arrival, he was welcomed by the care home’s manager, Vicky Osborne, who guided him on a tour of the facility.

The highlight of the day was when Mr Javid joined a gathering of 15 residents in the conservatory. They were treated to an afternoon tea and had the opportunity to engage in a lively discussion. Residents seized the moment to ask him a wide range of questions, touching on subjects such as Covid, local concerns, the recent prison escape incident, and the state of Bromsgrove.

Feedback from both residents and staff was overwhelmingly positive. The residents appreciated the chance to connect with a respected public figure, and they expressed their gratitude for his willingness to answer their questions and share his insights.

Vicky Osborne said: “We were truly honoured to welcome Mr Javid. His visit brought immense joy to our residents and staff, and his genuine warmth and engagement in meaningful conversations left a mark on our community.

“I am proud of the Burcot team who made this possible. We are immensely grateful for his presence and the positive impact he had on everyone here.”

Imprisoned in a strange land

Aged between 19 and 21, all four were nailers, and John and Thomas were brothers. The court heard that they had followed Thomas Morgan from the Dolphin public house and stolen a half-sovereign and other money from his person. All four were found guilty and sentenced to be transported to Australia for 15 years.

Transportation was a frequent punishment for middle-ranking crimes, such as robbery, theft or sheep stealing. In the 17th and 18th centuries, offenders were transported to ‘Virginia’ (meaning America). After Britain lost her American colony in 1776, the newly-discovered land of Australia was substituted instead. The so-called First Fleet arrived in 1788, just 18 years after the continent’s discovery by Captain James Cook.

Over the next 80 years around 162,000 convicts –women as well as men – were deported to serve out their sentences on the other side of the world. Some were as young as 12 years old. Justice in those days was strict. People could be transported for stealing just a few shillings in money, or the theft of as little as a shirt or handkerchief. Repeat offenders were especially likely to receive this harsh sentence.

While waiting to be transported, prisoners were housed on ship hulks anchored in rivers and along the sheltered coastline of southern England. The hulks were dank and disease-ridden, and around one third of the prisoners died while on board. The journey to Australia was little better, crammed into the hold of an over-crowded ship as it made the three month journey ‘down-under’.

In Australia their lives were hard as they helped build

the young colony. Convicts were put to work from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week. Punishments such as whippings or being put in leg-irons or solitary confinement were meted out to those who broke the rules. Further crimes could result in sentences to hard labour prisons.

The vast majority worked for the government or free settlers and, with good behaviour, could earn a ticket of leave, conditional pardon or even an absolute pardon. When they had served their sentences, most stayed on and some became successful settlers.

The four Bromsgrove convicts were transported to Parramatta, New South Wales. All were eventually granted tickets of leave – generally after serving around ten years of their sentence – and settled in the Parramatta area. I had the pleasure of meeting some of the Harbidge descendants when they visited Bromsgrove a few years ago.

Transportation will be discussed at the Bromsgrove Society’s local history meeting on October 17th, when David Clark will talk on ‘Sentenced to Beyond the Seas’, the story of eight Worcestershire women transported to Australia on the first convict ship.

Other meetings in our autumn programme are: Stained glass windows of A. J. Davies on November 21st; and From Christmas Past to Christmas Present on December 5th. Meetings are held at 7.45pm at the Methodist Centre, Stratford Road and are open to members and non-members alike. For further details see www.bsoc.co.uk

by Mike Sharpe

OnMarch 15th 1838 four men from Bromsgrove – William Hutton, Benjamin Pugh, Thomas Harbidge, and John Harbidge – were tried for robbery at the Worcester Assizes.

Remember someone special this Christmas with Lights of Love

Everyyear Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre invite you to join them to dedicate a light for someone special in your life for their Lights of Love appeal.

Appeals like this allow the hospice to continue to support people living with life-limiting illnesses and families at Christmas and all year round.

Throughout the year they support many people who are going through the hardest time in their life. People like Olivia and Henry who they have been supporting for the past six years following the tragic death of their parents.

Primrose Hospice have supported the whole Kershaw family with counselling, group support, 1-2-1 sessions and more.

David Kershaw, Olivia and Henry’s uncle, said: “There are many difficult moments throughout the year, and Christmas is one of the hardest. Last year was the children’s first Christmas without both parents and we knew it would be important to make it fun. Olivia showed us her mum’s perfect technique for stringing the Christmas lights up on the tree, and Hannah kitted us all out in matching Grinch pyjamas. Together we got through it.

“Primrose Hospice is like a hidden gem. It doesn’t

dwell on the sadness, it offers a way to a better, happier, and more optimistic future. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a place like Primrose, so it’s worth celebrating and it’s worth looking after.”

Join Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre in 2023 for their Evening of Remembrance at Primrose Hospice on December 2nd. They will also be holding their usual church services in November.

You can find out more about Lights of Love and how to dedicate your light here: primrosehospice.org/events/lightsoflove or call 01527 889796 or email info@ primrosehospice.org

Thank you for your support which will allow Primrose Hospice to provide care and support for more people like the Kershaw family during the times when they need us the most.

Queen B’s realise dream

Twenty years after Helen Mirren, Julie Walters and friends lit up the big screen in the acclaimed movie Calendar Girls , a daring group of women from Bromsgrove have paid homage with their own calendar.

Calendar Girls 2024, which is now available to buy, is the brainchild of Bev Nibbs and the thriving Queen B’s group.

Hypnotherapist Bev told Completely Bromsgrove that the group for over 50s was formed two years ago to bring women together to support each other, have fun and enjoy adventures out of their comfort zone following the often unsettling, isolating and confidence sapping experience of lockdown. There are now 400 like-minded members.

“Back in April I had this idea about creating a calendar and for two weeks I lay awake at night thinking if we could do it,” Bev recalled.

“I mentioned it when a group of us were out disco dancing one evening and they all said ‘yes, yes, yes’. We formed a committee and organised the photo shoots, which took place over a three-month period, including on Sunday afternoons and at Bromsgrove Golf Club at 7am in the morning.

“The calendar is all about empowering women and raising much needed funds for charity too. Some of the ladies were shaking before the photoshoot but

afterwards said they said that enjoyed it so much they wanted to do it again!”

Photos were taken by Bromsgrove-based photographer Natalie Clarke, ably assisted by Jan Harris, at 12 locations in Bromsgrove and Halesowen. They were: Ascott’s Bromsgrove, Arden Estates, H20 Restoration, Bromsgrove Golf Club, LK Hair, Shine Aesthetics, Eye Deal Eyecare, Atwood Accountants, Royal Motorway Coaches, Jeeves Dry Cleaners, Fabulous Feather Creations and CR Products.

Business support extended to the printing of the calendar. Premier Paper Group paid for all printing costs and have offered to do a reprint free of charge if the first 2,000 copies are sold. Bev would like to thank Dave Jones from the company for his support.

Proceeds will go to Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre in Bromsgrove. The charity was chosen as several Queen B’s have lost partners to cancer and the hospice supported them during a difficult time.

Finally, Completely Bromsgrove asked Bev how she felt when she saw the calendar for the first time: “I cried!”

to be calendar queens

You can purchase a copy of the calendar – or as many as you like – for £15 each (including postage and packing) by scanning the QR code on this page. We’re sure that any Queen B’s you know will be happy to sign it too!

The calendar is also available for £10 from the following Bromsgrove businesses: LK Hair, Alexandra Richmond, Marsia Hair and Glamour, Zenergy, Nails

Avenue, Lickey End Social Club, Capillago, Primrose Hospice, Bromsgrove Golf Centre, Aston Fields Social Club, Atwood Accountants, Scruples Hairdressers, Total Image, Eyedeal Eyecare, Gilbert’s Barbers, LHDP Smilecare - Lansdowne House Dental Practice, Sherwood Barbers, George Davis Hairdressers and Duncombes Butchers.

www.onlinecalendarshop.com/queenb

Food and Drink

Pulled Pork with caramelised apples & sage

Preheat your oven to 220°C (fan 200°C), Gas Mark 7. Line a roasting tin with a sheet of foil large enough to cover the pork later. Loosely fold the foil back for now. Remove the string, unroll the pork, pat dry with kitchen paper and place in the tin.

Mix together the salt, pepper, onion powder, sage and sugar. Rub the mix lovingly all over the pork. Roll the pork up again (there is no need to re-tie the string) and put it in the oven for 15 minutes until beautifully browned.

Turn the oven down to a laid-back 150°C (fan 130°C), Gas Mark 2. Remove the pork, add the onions to the bottom of the tin and fold the foil over the top. Put it back into the oven and let it cook lazily for at least 5 hours or until tender and ready to pull apart. Make the most of your chilling time.

Serves 6

Take the pork out of the oven, cover with foil and let it rest for 30 minutes.

While the pork is taking it easy prepare the caramelised apples. Core and cut the apples in half, melt the butter in a large frying pan and stir in the sugar. Add the apples, cut side down and cook over a medium heat, gently shaking the pan occasionally for about 8 minutes or until the apples are lightly caramelised. Squeeze over the lemon juice and then carefully turn the apples over. Cover the pan with foil and cook for about 4-5 minutes or until the apples have softened, but not collapsed. Turn the apples over again to coat in the mixture.

Shred the pork (in the cooking juices) into chunky pieces with two forks and serve with the apples, onions and crackling. Such a feast, so little effort.

Ingredients:

• 1.6 kg joint boneless pork shoulder (remove the rind/skin if you wish)

• 2 tsp sea salt

• 1 tsp ground black pepper

• 1 tbsp onion powder

• 1 tbsp dried sage

• 2 tbsp light brown sugar

• 3 red onions, halved

• 6 eating apples, such as Braeburn

• 25 g butter

• 25 g soft brown sugar

Discover an earthy and uplifting essential oil

I studied aromatherapy at length in my beauty therapy course many years ago and thought I would write about the healing properties of the sacred oils from the scriptures.

The first oil in this series is frankincense –(Olibanum-Boswellia carteri). The Hebrew word for frankincense is Levonah, (sometimes translated as incense) and it is found in the Bible 22 times.

Frankincense is one of the oldest essential oils and has a variety of uses. It has often been used in religious ceremonies and is considered an incense, mood enhancer, stress reducer, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial and digestive aid. Frankincense oil also works well on the skin to heal wounds and reduce scarring, itching, and swelling and even help with cancer.

Essential oils are great for beautiful skin. The conventional cosmetic and body care industry contains products loaded with dangerous chemicals that can disrupt hormones and even destroy your skin.

Frankincense essential oil has a broad range of uses, from enhancing spiritual and meditative practice to use in beauty routines. Frankincense has an earthy, uplifting aroma that’s perfect for grounding and spiritual connectedness. In addition to elevated spiritual experiences, Frankincense oil can help you

maintain the appearance of radiant skin.

After 50 years in the industry, I recommend Young Living Therapeutic Oils. The company sources frankincense resin from the Boswellia Carterii trees located in northern Africa, near the Arabian Peninsula. After the bark is cut back and the sap is released, it is left to harden for up to three months. The hardened sap is then harvested, brought to their partner farms in Europe and steam distilled, resulting in pure frankincense essential oil.

Suggested uses:

• Inhale: Rub a few drops into your hands, cup lightly over your nose, and breathe deeply to enjoy the rich aroma that promotes a sense of grounding and purpose.

• Beauty: Add a few drops to your favourite moisturiser to promote the appearance of healthy-looking skin and help reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone.

• Massage: Combine with Young Living V-6® and massage into skin after activity.

• Meditation: Use during yoga or meditation to promote feelings of peace and relaxation.

For more information please contact me at colette@need4change.com

by Colette Garside

Summer can take its toll on your skin Judy B. AestheticsLook like your best you!

Our skin is left dehydrated from the heat, daily swimming in salt and chlorinated water making it look dull and dry or break out in spots.

UV rays from the sun cause brown spots, freckles and uneven skin tone.

So give your skin the love and care it needs with our winter prep bundle from Judy B. Aesthetics.

2 peels and 2 micro needling treatments - Normally £400. NOW £350!, and throughout October we are giving away a FREE, Yes FREE skin care gift pack to address whichever skin issues you have. These gift packs have been put together by Mesoestetic Pharmagroup and contain medical grade ingredients. They normally retail at £200. Don’t delay contact Judy. b . Aesthetics for your free consultation to discuss your skin issues.

Croft’s juniors shine across all age groups

With the season drawing to a close, junior players and their families gathered at Avoncroft Cricket Club in early September to celebrate what has been undoubtedly the most successful junior season in the club’s history.

Leading the way with the plaudits was Croft’s under nines team who, having qualified through a tough group over the course of the season, dominated the county finals day with four more victories on the way to being crowned as county champions.

The under eights team came incredibly close to matching the feat of their older peers by qualifying initially for finals day and then through three games to the final itself before falling agonisingly short at the final hurdle.

Finishing off the club’s softball successes, 2023 saw the first ever season of competitive girls’ cricket at Avoncroft, with both the under nines and under 11s girls finishing runners up in their festival groups over the course of the season – a great achievement given their relative inexperience this year.

Not to be outdone, Croft’s hardball junior sides also saw a great deal of success in 2023. The under 12s won their pairs league, qualifying for the county playoffs, where they triumphed in the semi-finals before falling short against strong opposition in the final.

The under 13s and under 14s also won their T20 leagues; in both cases, losing just once over the course of the whole season.

On an individual front, four batters (Ben Athey – under 14, Hayden Smith – under 13, Rhys Pate – under 12 and Ben Huxley – under 15) scored more than 200 T20 runs while four bowlers, all under 12s, took more than ten T20 wickets (Evan Walford, William Lewis, Ben Mumford and Ethan Lowe).

For further details about getting involved in the 2024 season, please keep an eye on the club’s Facebook page and Twitter/X (@ CroftCricket) for more information.

by Paul Athey

Boy’s under 14’s

Boy’s under 9’s

Girls under 9’s and 11’s

Talented youngsters sing with kindness

Agroup of 20 talented pupils from Bromsgrove Preparatory School started the new school year in style by featuring in the newly released The Kindness Song, a composition by Becky and Nick Drake who also composed the Coronation Song, performed by schoolchildren nationwide.

The song, which was recorded in Maple Hall at the school by the organisation Worship for Everyone, is a reminder to choose kindness in how we play, what we do and what we say, and the pupils had a joyous time collaborating with the composers in sending such a positive message.

Mrs Jessica Russell, music teacher, said: “Following the junior choir’s glorious performance of the Coronation song Our King, they were invited by Becky and Nick Drake to

collaborate on a recording of their new work. They had an exciting day with the sound engineer and successfully laid down the vocals for the song.”

The group’s singing has been layered with the composer’s own voice and backing track and has released via YouTube and on the Songs for Schools website.

The lyrics convey a message of love and kindness that exactly parallels the ethos of Bromsgrove School: “Kindness is the way, every day” .

Safari park supports students for first in family programme

The three-day programme, named Conservation Pioneers, works with local colleges and sixth forms, to help students from across Worcestershire gain experience for university courses related to ecology, animal science and zoology.

The education team set up the project following research from The Nuffield Foundation which suggests that students whose parents are not graduates are less likely to go to university.

The aim of the project is to assist ‘first in family’ learners, by providing a concentrated three-day experience, where students could attain some memorable and relevant experiences to put towards their UCAS application.

UCAS look at learners’ grades and academic skills, but also asks them about their experiences outside of education, so Conservation Pioneers was designed to help learners to demonstrate key skills and qualities that they could evidence to universities, such as communication, leadership and problem solving.

Chloe Walton-Stenson, senior education officer, who helped set up the programme said: “We contacted a range of colleges and sixth forms across Worcestershire to ask them if they were interested and what activities students would find valuable for their applications.

“Students were able to attend for free if they wrote a 300-word summary of why they wished to attend the course. The programme was open to any students who were ‘first in family’, based in Worcestershire and intend to apply to start university in September 2024, with most students attending being between their first and second year of college.

“We have been delighted with the feedback from the students who have attended this summer. Students

reported back to us that they felt they had developed skills in at least one area, with some reporting that they felt more confident in up to five out of the six areas we asked them about. They also commented that they felt staff were approachable, the activities were fun, and the time with us was useful in developing their personal statements.”

Students took part in a range of activities, including husbandry experiences with small and large exotic species, conducting an ecology survey, running observations on animal behaviour and self-reflection sessions.

Throughout, the learners logged the skills they had developed, which can then be taken to college with them in September to help them start writing their university application.

Careers and enrichment teams for Worcestershire colleges or sixth forms, interested in sending learners for the programme next year, can contact the education team via email education.team@wmsp. co.uk for further information.

WestMidland Safari Park’s education team has welcomed a group of students as part of a programme to help them progress with university applications.

Determined Dorje helps GB to world powerlifting gold

After finishing second in the British Junior Power Lifting Championships (Under 18, 66kg) earlier this year, Wythall teenager Dorje Watson was selected to represent Great Britain at the World Junior Power Lifting Championships in Romania.

Dorje had to self-fund for the trip, setting up a GoFundMe page. Two local businesses also helped by giving him some sponsorship. As Dorje is only 16, he had to have a chaperone, pay for a trainer and physiotherapist, pay entry fees and for drug tests. He also had to fly out on specific flights and stay in specified hotels three days before. Dorje was also one of the youngest competitors as most were 18.

In the run up to the championships in ClujNapoca, Dorje sustained a back injury and at one point it looked like his dreams would crumble.

However, buoyed by the news of his excellent GCSE results - where he obtained 3 A*s and 2 As - and with the encouragement of his coach and physiotherapist, Dorje showed his determined character once again and he changed his lifting technique to overcome his injury.

Squat came first and he lifted 182.5kg, lower than he hoped for and achieved in training prior to his injury. Undeterred, he smashed his own GB record on bench press, confidently lifting a huge 142.5kg. Deadlift followed with a lift of 190kg. Although his squat and deadlift didn’t go to his original plan, his bench press secured him first place, winning the gold medal for the GB team.

Dorje and his family are so grateful to all the supporters who have shared and donated to help him compete, with special thanks to E J Gilberts and HB9 Foundation. He is now looking forward to representing GB in the European Championships in Budapest, Hungary in October.

Could Tai Chi help you?

Thanks

to funding from the Bromsgrove Social Prescribing Fund, Age UK BRWF has started a new Tai Chi Class at Catshill Village Hall on Monday between 11am and 12pm.

With its gentle movements and controlled breathing, Tai Chi has been shown to have a positive effect on muscle strength, flexibility, and balance, in addition to supporting wellbeing.

Age UK BRWF’s new Catshill class is being run by local instructor, Steve Taylor, who credits Tai Chi with helping to transform his life following a severe back injury 19 years ago.

After a long course of treatment and ongoing issues with his balance and posture, Steve’s chiropractor recommended that he tried Tai Chi. He said: “Although I had done martial arts for 40 years, Tai Chi was not something that I was aware of, but after that first session I was taken as I could see how the exercises could help me with my balance and flexibility.

“It wasn’t until after five or six sessions however that I started to really appreciate that there was more to it, and how the breathing and visualisation that accompany the movements really help to clear the mind and support relaxation, helping with my overall wellbeing.”

After eight years of regularly attending classes, Steve decided he wanted to help others benefit and decided to train to become an instructor. He now runs several classes across the area, including classes focusing on those living with specific health conditions, such as strokes and Parkinson’s disease, in addition to classes aimed at older people.

Having been involved with Age UK BRWF for several years, Steve emphasises the importance of the social aspect of the groups run by Age UK BRWF adding: “The groups are always so welcoming, and it is great to see new friendships also being formed as a result of Tai Chi.”

For more information about Age UK BRWF’s new Tai Chi class in Catshill, in addition to the class in Redditch, contact the charity on 01527 570490 or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/brwf/activities-and-events/

Instructor, Steve Taylor

Mixed fourball triumph for Bromsgrove pairing

Bromsgrove Golf Club entered the PING Mixed 4BBB for the first time this year holding its qualifier in June. Ian Barber and lady captain Michelle Parry won the qualifier with 46 points and James and Karen Pearson finished second with 43 points.

An anxious wait followed while more than 250 qualifiers took place at golf clubs across the country. In mid-August it was confirmed that Ian and Michelle’s qualifying round score had secured them a place alongside 51 other pairs in the national final which took place on Tuesday, September 5th at Thonock Park Golf Club in Lincolnshire.

Ian and Michelle were one of the last pairs to tee off in the final on a hot and windy day. Things went well for them from the first tee and they scored well throughout the day with one of them contributing

on a hole whenever the other one failed.

Twenty-five points on the front nine was followed by another 25 points on the back nine giving them a total of 50 points and a victory by five shots over runners-up Kim Markillie and Nick Markillie of Gedney Hill Golf Club.

The pair were presented with the PING Mixed 4BBB Salver, a cut glass trophy, and a PING voucher each by the president of England Golf, Chris Pascall and Matthew Clark, the European marketing manager of PING Europe Limited.

Michelle and Ian pictured holding the PING Mixed Betterball Salver

Image by Leaderboard Photography

Mixed results but progress in the FA Cup for Sporting

by

Bromsgrove Sporting player/manager Mike McGrath might consider doing what another manager did a few years ago and consider taking his players on a coach trip before the next home match to kid them that they are playing away as at the time of writing, Sporting have lost all four matches at home but remain undefeated away with five wins and a draw.

Mixed results for Sporting but progress in the FA Cup

Sporting player/manager Mike McGrath might consider doing what another manager did a few years ago and consider taking his players on a coach trip before the next home match to kid them that they are playing away the time of writing, Sporting have lost all four matches at home but remain undefeated away with five wins and draw. Two of the wins were in the FA Cup against Ashby Ivanhoe and Barwell that sees The Rouslers through home tie in the Third Qualifying Round against Chelmsford City to be played at the end of September. In the league Sporting can consider themselves unfortunate not to be higher than 14th after outplaying the opposition in several matches and getting nothing for it but there is still a lot of football to be played.

Two of the wins were in the FA Cup against Ashby Ivanhoe and Barwell that sees the Rouslers through to a home tie in the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round against Chelmsford City.

In the league Sporting can consider themselves unfortunate not to be higher than 14th after outplaying the opposition in several matches and getting nothing for it but there is still a lot of football to be played.

years that saw Sporting gain three promotions along with an FA Vase semi-final appearance. Taking over at the top is Brian Seymour-Smith, a former director at Bristol Rovers who has had a successful career in business and as a sports commentator. Brian has said that he wants to improve facilities at the Victoria Ground and has set a target to get Sporting into the National League North.

Off the pitch, there have been major changes at board level with chairman Mike Burke stepping down after 8 that saw Sporting gain three promotions along with an FA Vase semi -final appearance. Taking over at the top Seymour-Smith, a former director at Bristol Rovers who has had a successful career in business and as a sports commentator. Brian has said that he wants to improve facilities at the Victoria Ground and has set a target to Bromsgrove Sporting into the National League North

Off the pitch, there have been major changes at board level with chairman Mike Burke stepping down after eight

Here are the fixtures into the beginning of November but with cup competitions and re-arranged matches, a check should be made on the club’s website for any changes.

Here are the fixtures into the beginning of November but with cup competitions and re-arranged matches, a should be made on the Club's web site for any changes.

Saturday 30th September 3:00 p.m. H The Victoria Ground Chelmsford City FA Cup

Saturday 7th October TBA FA Trophy

Saturday 14th October 3:00 p.m. A Westwood Road St Ives Town Southern League

Saturday 21st October 3:00 p.m. H The Victoria Ground Hitchin Town Southern League

Saturday 28th October 3:00 p.m. H The Victoria Ground Alvechurch Southern League

Saturday 4th November 3:00 p.m. A The MEL Group Stadium AFC Sudbury Southern League

Saturday 11th November 3:00 p.m. H The Victoria Ground Stratford Town Southern League

Bromsgrove Sporting Ladies’ league season has yet to start but they were successful in the Women’s FA Cup beating

Bromsgrove Sporting Ladies league season has yet to start but they were successful in the Women's FA Cup beating Sedgley & Gornal Women 3-1 in a penalty shoot out after scores were level at full-time then the next week they 7-0 away to Evesham United Ladies in the County Cup.

Sedgley & Gornal Women 3-1 in a penalty shoot out after scores were level at full-time. The following week they won 7-0 away to Evesham United Ladies in the County Cup.

Spinney, a team that included Lee Hendrie.

All information about Bromsgrove Sporting can be found at www.bromsgrovesporting.co.uk as well as Facebook, Twitter (X) and Instagram.

Bromsgrove Sporting Veterans have started their season but lost their first match at home to West Brom Spinney, team that included Lee Hendrie.

Bromsgrove Sporting Veterans have started their season but lost their first match at home to West Brom

All information about Bromsgrove Sporting can be found on the web site, www.bromsgrovesporting.co.uk as Facebook, Twitter (X) and Instagram.

Any enquiries should be emailed to hello@ bromsgrovesporting.co.uk though the Colts can be contacted at colts@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk

Any enquiries should be emailed to hello@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk though the colts can be contacted at colts@bromsgrovesporting.co.uk

Words: 458

Brian SeymourSmith

Photos by Chris Jepson

Phil Baker

and away as at and a to a 8 years top is Brian sports to get check beating they won Spinney, a as well as

Heritage Open Day draws large turnout

The church doors were open at 10am for visitors to take their seats to listen to local organist Oliver Neale. A video camera was set up to project the organ keyboard onto a big screen to add an extra dimension to the concert, when the instrument could be seen and heard. Being a Cake and Coffee Concert refreshments were enjoyed after the performance.

From noon the open day got underway with a queue of people waiting to climb the spiral staircase in the tower to ring the bells and enjoy the views over the town from the battlements. During the next two hours over 70 people, including many young children, ventured up and returned to the lobby full of smiles and delight.

Within the historic building visitors were able to play the organ under the guidance of Director of Music Steve Cowperthwaite, search all round the building to find the old keys which had been left around, get creative with the team from Creative Arts, learn about the history of the church, browse the Bromsgrove Society bookstall and enjoy a drink and cakes - all for free as part of Heritage Open Days (HODs).

The event was organised by the Friends of St John’s. For many visitors it was their first time in the building, and the open day attracted tourists who were visiting

the town from Poland and America. Friends Chairman Jo Slade said “It was a wonderful day at St John’s, I’m sure the large number of visitors was very much helped by the collaborative work of local organisations and Bromsgrove District Council who produced a booklet to promote all the HODs events in and around Bromsgrove. It was fabulous to welcome new faces to the building, and to greet visitors from around the world! The feedback we received from everyone was all extremely positive. It is fantastic to host events which bring joy to those who attend and I’m grateful to everyone who helped to make the day a huge success.”

The Friends were also able to tell people about the current project to Save our Spire. £360,000 plus vat is needed to carry out restoration work to the spire. The top section of the spire and its internal stabilising metal rod needs to be replaced. The metal rod is rusting, causing the stonework to crack. Friends will be submitting an application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund in October, and will be running a local fundraising campaign in the new year.

To find out more about the work of the Friends of St John’s visit their facebook page www.Facebook. com/FriendsStJohnsBromsgrove or get in touch via email friends.stjohns.church@gmail.com

Wellover 200

people attended the Heritage Open Day at St John’s Church on Saturday 16th September.

The Arts

BOOK A SHOW TODAY!

Five revolutions and counting - the good news story of books in the 21st century

Earlier this year, on March 9th, WORDS was looking forward to Stephen Page’s talk with this intriguing title, for which more than 90 people had booked tickets, but the best laid plans of mice and men were thwarted by a heavy fall of snow overnight and the event had to be cancelled.

Happily though, WORDS has managed to reschedule the talk to 7.30pm on Thursday, October 12th in the Learning and Resources Centre at Bromsgrove School. Access is via the Worcester Road entrance and car park (B61 7HP). A buggy will be available.

Stephen, who was born and raised in Bromsgrove, is the executive chair and former chief executive of Faber and Faber, one of the world’s leading independent publishing houses, and makes a welcome return to WORDS.

His talk will be an eyewitness account of what has happened to the book industry during the last 20 years, and how it has thrived and confounded the

expectations of its destruction in the face of digital transformation.

It is a story of rebellious leaders, visionary booksellers, bold publishers, and the power of writers in a period of dramatic societal change.

Tickets, at £12 each, are available via www.ticketsource.co.uk - (in the find event search bar, type in Five Revolutions and Counting) or from WORDS, Sycamore House, Rigby Hall, Rigby Lane, Bromsgrove, B60 2EW. Please make cheques payable to WORDS and enclose a stamped addressed envelope and email address if you have one.

Relax and enjoy coffee and cake entertainment at St John’s

The monthly concerts are on Saturday mornings at 10.30am and feature a variety of local talent. Around 50 minutes of music is followed by cake and coffee or tea. There is no charge for the concerts or refreshments although any donations are appreciated. The opening organ recital was given by Oliver Neale on September 16th to mark Heritage Open day, and the October concert on the 28th will feature operatic and classical favourites from vocal duo Belaria, who will be joined by baritone Dave Coulson and accompanist

Catherine Lack. On November 25th the award-winning chapel choir of Bromsgrove School will present a ‘Celebration of Song’

Future concerts will see The Moseley Brothers trio covering songs by artists such as the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Simon and Garfunkel and The Beatles (January 20th) and in February there will be an opportunity to hear performances by some of the talented young musicians from local schools in a Young Players’ Platform (February 24th).

Join Bromsgrove Flower Club on an Autumn Day

The October meeting of Bromsgrove Flower Club will be held on Thursday 19th October. This is one that is not to be missed, because one of our favourite demonstrators, Andrew Lloyd, will be entertaining us with his interpretation ‘On an Autumn Day’. We’re sure to have a very entertaining afternoon!

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

The title for the October competition is ‘A Nursery Rhyme’ . Now that suggests that there will be a wide range of interpretations on that theme. Which Nursery Rhyme would you choose?

Debbie Bowyer will have a stall with her jewellery for sale. It’s not too early to start thinking about Christmas gifts for friends and family.

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 is £8.00.

For more information check out our website: www.bromsgroveflowerclub.org.uk

The displays were designed and arranged by Christine Ramsey (above) and Jan Heason (inset left)

Another season of popular Cake and Coffee concerts has started at St John’s Church in Bromsgrove.

Dave Coulson

Vocal duo Belaria

Catherine Lack

It’s the Fairfield Flicks

Unexpected journey of mind games and friendship

A mystery thriller with plenty of action is Bromsgrove Arts’ offering on Wednesday, October 18th at 7.30pm.

In Hypnotic (15), Austin detective Danny Rourke (Ben Afleck) finds himself spiralling down a rabbit hole while searching for his missing daughter. He finds himself investigating a series of reality-bending crimes where he will ultimately call into question his most basic assumptions about everything and everyone in his world.

Aided by Diana Cruz (Alice Braga), a gifted psychic, Rourke simultaneously pursues and is pursued by a lethal spectrethe one man he believes holds the key to finding the missing girl - only to discover more than he ever bargained for.

An ordinary man passes through life on the sidelines until the day he goes to post a letter in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (12A) on Wednesday, October 25th at 2.30pm.

When Harold (Jim Broadbent) learns his friend Queenie is dying, he is moved to act. He leaves home, walking to the post box to send her a letter, then he realises a letter is not enough. In that moment Harold decides to keep walking, all the way to her hospice, leaving at home his worried wife, Maureen (Penelope Wilton).

Timeless classics from Ricky Cool and the In Crowd

Take a shuffle and a shimmy back in time to the early 1960s and Soho’s most famous music venue, The Flamingo, in the company of Ricky Cool and the In Crowd on Saturday, October 14th at 8pm. Be prepared to enjoy red hot rhythm and blues and a side order of classic early Jamaican grooves that’ll guarantee to have your feet itching to dance.

The Flamingo was the home of the burgeoning Mod scene of the time, where Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames held sway and hipsters with their chicksters danced the night away.

Ricky says: “The band members are all top-class musicians with fearsome pedigrees, working with artists that include Ruby Turner,The Beat, Alexis Korner, X Ray Spex and Fine Young Cannibals.The music we play is timeless and the show is wild and wacky by anyone’s standards.The band’s often nutty brand of enthusiasm is contagious, so much so that the audience get to feel that they are part of the show.”

Be prepared for a great evening’s entertainment, fabulous music and captivating stage show straight out of those legendary Flamingo nights. Sit back, enjoy the show, or get up and dance.

October extravaganza

Soothing sounds from the Midland Concert Orchestra

There’s a change of tone when the Midland Concert Orchestra, a 40-piece ensemble, will be playing music from the libraries of Gershwin, Porter, Lowe and more. Under the baton of inspiring young conductor Joe Davies, there will be unique arrangements of the best songs from Broadway, The Great American Songbook and jazz standards.

You will not only be entertained by the orchestra, their compere Peter Tomlinson, whose unrivalled experience as a broadcaster, and his knowledge of the

orchestra’s repertoire, will make for an informative, entertaining, and smooth-running evening of music.

Vocalists will be Claire Worboys and Jonathan Darby who between them have many years’ experience performing with the orchestra and will bring characterisation and dramatization to their performances.

From Gershwin to Goodman, from Henderson to Hines, come and celebrate the Golden Age of Swing on Sunday, October 22nd at 7pm.

Christmas with Andre Rieu

A new festive concert, Andre Rieu’s White Christmas, will be screened on Sunday, December 3rd at 7.30pm and Wednesday, December 6th at 2.30pm.

Bromsgrove Concerts mark 60th Anniversary with a Celebratory Season

2 023 marks a big birthday for Bromsgrove Concerts, which has been putting on a wide range of classical music concerts for music lovers of Bromsgrove for sixty years this year.

The organisation was founded by Jim Page and Jennie McGregor-Smith in 1963. Together they have done so much for arts and music in our town.

Alastair Moseley, Bromsgrove Concert’s Chairman is really excited about the season ahead: “We started the season with a concert to leave everyone with a big smile and tapping their feet. A programme of jazz, pathos and comedy, inspired by the iconic Simon Rattle Jazz Album, performed by local musicians from the Birmingham Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble directed by Keith Slade. The season will continue with uplifting concerts to create an anniversary year to remember.”

The second concert in the season takes place on the actual date of the very first concert, back in 1963. On Friday 3rd November, in the Cobham Theatre at Bromsgrove School, the Solem String Quartet will entertain the audience. Praised for their “immaculate precision and spirit” (The Strad) and “cultured tone” (Arts Desk), the Solem Quartet has established itself as one of the most innovative and adventurous quartets of its generation. A 2020 awardee of the Jerwood Arts Live Work Fund, one of 33 artists selected from more than 1200 applicants, the Solem Quartet takes its place amongst some of the UK’s brightest artistic voices. The organisers are excited to be welcoming them to the town.

The programme will include some fantastic music by Beethoven and Bartok – pieces which will provide an opportunity for mindfulness and reflective thought. To celebrate 60 years of music making in Bromsgrove there will be balloons and champagne on offer as part of the £23 ticket price, to raise a glass and toast the organisation.

The season will continue with four concerts showcasing pianists, singers, strings and flute. Details can be found by visiting Bromsgrove Concerts’ website www.bromsgrove-concerts.org.uk

The standard ticket price is £23 with big discounts available if you buy tickets for multiple concerts in advance. And as always, students and under-18s attend free of charge. The multi ticket booking form can be found on Bromsgrove Concerts’ website or single concert tickets can be purchased from the Bromsgrove School Box Office at www.bromsgroveschool.co.uk/whats-on.aspx or on the door.

Alastair sums up “you can see we are going to have fun this season, and we hope to see many new faces discovering the joys of classical music here on the doorstep in Bromsgrove. Coming to hear live music is a real joy, and even better when you can enjoy it in the company of other people, which is why our motto is ‘Bringing Music Alive, and Music Lovers Together’. See you there!”

Photo: Dimitri Djuric

Band’s birthday celebrations are in full swing

Blackwell

Concert Band, based in Catshill, are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year.

Over the years, the band have performed at various local events. A community band, made up of members from all walks of life and backgrounds aged from 10 to 90+, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive, safe space for people to come and share their enjoyment of making music.

Up to 70 members meet every Thursday night to rehearse pieces of music from a wide range of genres from Holst’s Second Suite in F to the Muppet Show theme and from Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up to Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train.

Over 25 years, we’ve raised more than £20,000 for charity, with

During the pandemic, the band continued to meet, albeit virtually, creating a range of online video performances. Last year, the band recorded their third CD entitled Heroes Near and Far.

We will be celebrating 25 years with a concert at Routh Hall, Bromsgrove School on October 14th. The band have commissioned a new piece of music called Silver Celebration by the renowned wind and brass composer Alan Fernie. The new piece will receive its premiere performance at the anniversary concert.

You can find out more information about the band on our website and YouTube channel. Visit

Find your voice with Bel Canto Singers

TheBel Canto Singers are a Worcestershire four-part harmony choir who have been singing together since 1990 and are always looking to encourage new members. Rehearsals take place in St John’s Church, Redditch, B98 7PZ on Monday evenings from 7.30pm until 9.30pm.

The choir has a wide and varied repertoire including pop, jazz, folk, musical theatre, classical and choral. We benefit from the guidance and support of a professional musical director, Liz Green, and accompanist, Wendy Quirk. In order to sing four-part harmonies, we use sheet music so an experience of this would be beneficial but is by no means essential.

Bel Canto has had enormous success in 2022-23. Our Christmas 2022 concert at St Laurence’s church Alvechurch was a sellout, we performed in a reflective Easter service in St Stephens church Redditch and ended the year with our annual summer concert at St Bartholomew’s church in Tardebigge. We also took a smaller group to care homes in the Redditch area. Bel Canto supports local charities on an

annual basis who benefit from the proceeds of our concerts.

Should you wish to hear us, we will be singing at Bromsgrove School on October 29th as part of the Bromsgrove Arts Fest and on October 30th at the Methodist Centre Bromsgrove. To round off the year our Christmas Concert is to be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Redditch on December 9th.

Singing has been proven to increase our sense of wellbeing and the Bel Canto Singers are guaranteed to do that. Our rates are hugely competitive so to find out more, please visit our website belcantosingers.org.uk where you can listen to us sing, browse the gallery and find out times of our concerts and more information. Or contact us on 07985 238 334 should you choose to give it a go.

Get creative at Art from the Heart exhibition

TheCreative Art Showcase team have been buzzing about all summer, supporting events at BDHT free family days, Avoncroft Museum’s craft workshops, Heritage Open Days at St John’s Church and the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham.

Showcase 23 and Art from the Heart exhibition, which takes place at Bromsgrove School on October 28 and 29 from 10am to 4pm is the biggest event in the Bromsgrove creative calendar.

Working with St Andrews and National Lottery funding, this year there are even more opportunities for everyone. Activities include Hallowe’en inspired craft and all types of face painting, make and take craft, performances from Got to Sing and other choirs, Milo on piano, singers Helen Person and Pete Harrington and many other performances on stage and around the event.

Art from the Heart Exhibition and gallery occupies an elegant, light, and airy space in the hospitality suite and has been curated by local artists Annmarie Hulley and Lorraine Wright. It’s a great opportunity to buy artwork for that special person in your life.

Available to book are free taster slots in the Revitalise Your Life zone with Izabela, everything from reiki and sound bathing to ‘Stressbox.’

Also on board are many community support teams including Primrose Hospice, Talking News, Men in Sheds, Age Concern, Bromsgrove Society and Bromsgrove Arts Alive.

Creative Art Showcase would like to thank the 100% volunteer team and all valued sponsors in 2023, which include St Andrews (National Lottery Community Fund), Councillors Shirley Webb and Kit Taylor and Willowbrook Garden Centre. If you or your business can support them in any way, please contact Dee Hirst on 07831 123031.

Wacky and wonderful Scarecrow Weekend returns

Feckenham’s popular Scarecrow Weekend is back after a gap of four years.

Villagers have been busy making the most imaginative, weird, and wonderful displays to delight, enthral and (sometimes) scare. It’s an ideal day out for all the family before the winter takes all the fun out of being outdoors.

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, October 7th and Sunday, October 8th and the scarecrows will be on parade from 11.30am to 4.30pm each day.

There’ll be a Scarecrow Trail to follow with maps available at the start on The Square - where you’ll also find the (in)famous pink Tea Tent with a mouthwatering array of cakes to be washed down with tea, coffee, or soft drinks. This year a barbecue and small bar have been added and youngsters can enjoy games and novelties.

Last time there were more than 50 scary creations for visitors to enjoy – and to judge. The Scarecrow Competition will be judged by the public who can pick up their voting slips at the start of the trail. The winners will be announced on Sunday afternoon.

This event is just for fun – admission and maps will be free of charge. There is free parking too. Use postcode B96 6HQ.

Combining the best of classic and new British cinema

The October season at The FeckenOdeon Cinema Society in Feckenham begins on Friday, October 13th at 8pm with Polite

Society (12A).

A merry mash up of sisterly affection, parental disappointment and bold action, Polite Society, which was released this year, follows martial artistin-training Ria Khan who believes she must save her older sister Lena from her impending marriage. After enlisting the help of her friends, Ria attempts to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists in the name of independence and sisterhood. Hilarious, action packed and fun.

“By turns a spy thriller, martial arts movie and sci-fi fantasy, Polite Society playfully expands the parameters of the kitchen-sink family melodrama, wresting the kitchen sink from the wall and throwing it full force at the audience to tell the coming-of-age story of Ria, a karateloving British Pakistani teenager.” - British Film Institute.

The screening on Saturday, October 28th at 7.30pm is

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

(PG).

At the height of the Cold War, British spy Alec Leamas is nearly ready to retire, but first he must take on one last dangerous assignment.

A tense and finely acted thriller based on John le Carre’s book of the same name, the film was released in 1965. It’s not James Bond but it’s totally believable and compelling. Richard Burton heads a fine cast which includes Claire Bloom, Michael Hordern, Sam Wanamaker, Robert Hardy and Rupert Davies.

The FeckenOdeon is Feckenham’s community cinema based at Feckenham Village Hall, High Street, Feckenham, B96 6HN. Tickets for all FeckenOdeon films can be booked online through www.feckenodeon.co.uk, by phone on 0333 666 3366 or in person at The Rose & Crown and The Village Shop in Feckenham.

Chilling ghost story welcomemakes return

The legendary production of Susan Hill’s chilling ghost story The Woman in Black returns to Malvern Theatres direct from London’s West End after an incredible 33 year run at the Fortune Theatre.

Running from November 7 to 11, the production will star Malcolm James as Arthur Kipps and Mark Hawkins as The Actor.

Malcolm James returns to The Woman in Black having first played Arthur Kipps on a UK Tour and then at the Fortune Theatre. His other West End credits include The Mousetrap at St. Martin’s Theatre and Volpone at the National Theatre. On-screen credits include HBO’s My Dinner with Herve, Secret Invasion on Disney+, the BBC’s Doctors and EastEnders, ITV’s Coronation Street and The Bill. On radio he has been heard on Letters to an Icon, The History Man and several afternoon dramas all on BBC Radio 4.

Mark Hawkins first played The Actor in The Woman in Black at the Fortune Theatre and The Madinat Theatre. His other theatrical credits include The Railway Children at Kings Cross Theatre, Julius Caesar at The Globe, the UK tour of Lady Chatterley’s Lover and the international tour of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. His television credits include HBO’s The Nevers and ITV’s Vera.

The tour cast is completed by Jon de Ville (The Sound of Music UK tour, Netflix’s Scoop, BBC’s Strike) as understudy Arthur Kipps and Dominic Price (The Woman in Black) as understudy The Actor.

Over 33 years The Woman in Black played more than 13,000 performances in the West End and has been seen by more than seven million people in the UK. In June 2019 the production celebrated its 30th anniversary in London’s West End with a special gala performance.

Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s best-selling novel tells the story of a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over his family by the spectre of a ‘Woman in Black’. He engages a young actor to help him tell his story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. It begins innocently enough, but as they delve further into his darkest memories the borders between make-believe and reality begin to blur and the flesh begins to creep.

Following a Christmas production in 1987 at a pub in Scarborough, The Woman in Black was brought to Hammersmith’s Lyric Theatre in January 1989. Reviews were sufficiently encouraging (apart from The Independent, who regretted the production’s inability to incorporate a live dog) to warrant a West End run. Its West End tour started at the Strand (now Novello) Theatre in March and moved to the Playhouse in April, finally lodging at the Fortune on June 7, 1989.

For tickets, visit www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

Smooth chariot

Seldom do manufacturers get it right when naming motor cars. When they do, the clouds part and the sun shines. There’s an inevitability about it. A new dawn. A new hope. A better experience. Cue the roll of drums.

My elevated mood is the result of getting to know a cool small car guaranteed to banish the blues. The new look Honda Jazz Sport hybrid is a hatchback not ashamed to blow its own trumpet right in the face of market rivals. When it comes to hitting the high notes and gracing the highways and byways with polyrhythmic pleasure, the new Jazz is the only cool cat in town.

Take Five. - Sorry! Four - well-shod wheels, a 1500cc engine that drums up a ready rhythm, two electric motors for the hybrid side of things, comfy seating, a premier position for the driver, a versatile multirepertoire interior that offers lots of space. Wrap the whole lot up in a racy new suit of panel work and a new frontal design and be ready to relish the marvellously modern self-charging Jazz Sport - Honda style.

This swinging car proves itself to be one smooth chariot of cheerfulness. Zippy yet economical, on the beat, yet off the beaten track of small car stereotypical sameness. If ever a small car was guaranteed to bop away the blues this happy Honda just has to be ‘It’. It scores top marks for safety and reliability that other manufacturers can only dream of. All a result of what has become the motor industry universal yardstickHonda engineering quality.

As jazz music once had to learn to accommodate fully rhythmic styles into an already established format, so today’s cars combine venerable underpinnings of syncopated engineering with

of cheerfulness

modern micro-processed digital devices in the interests of smooth running. So many complex systems working together can lead to over complexity and driver perplexity. Not so, however, with the Jazz where electronic assistance is delivered as smoothly as scoops of velvety cream. As a driver, you just lap up the experience and delight in the sense of well-being that Honda technology brings.

Forget that this is a small car - for the clever seating arrangements allow you to bend, fold and transform the load carrying space - so much so that you could almost put a ‘hot combo’ inside to enliven the mood. Not that you would need it. The Honda Connect ‘infotainment’ system with Navigation keeps you well connected via wi-fi and other ether-penetrating devices of aural deliverance.

On the road you go with the flow all the way to about 110 mph. The £28,145 Advance (mid spec)

Sport is a joy to drive. Constantly variable transmission takes all the stress out of town driving. There’s a choice of modes - normal, eco and sport. Your correspondent runs a lovely 2015 Jazz - but this latest model is a quantum leap forward in every respect.

This ‘uptempo’ Honda encourages roads to roll by with melodious ease. A ‘drive-easy’ dream of a dashing little car heralding a new jazz age of undiminished razzle dazzle. There really is no need for the paddle shift at all.

As for the engine and electric motors combination...it’s a gem. The engine runs when needed and the electric motors do their stuff when the computer decides. You just sit back and drive. Not all cars in this class are as surefooted either. Ride quality and handling are excellent. If discs are platters (to persist in the musical idiom) then this firmly shod four-wheeled wonder is a veritable platypus that won’t be shifted from its place at the top of the bill. Don’t duck out of buying one.

by Syd Taylor

Be inspired at Festive Gift Fair

Now in its 27th fabulous year, it remains one of the most popular Christmas shopping events in the UK for a good reason.

The fair will be bursting at the seams with a colourful, eclectic mix of unusual stocking fillers and presents, festive food and drink and great Christmas decorations for your home and garden.

There will be more than 325 stalls in one hall with clever gift ideas for all ages and tastes and lots of special show offers!

The festive atmosphere is always fantastic. While browsing the stalls, let the music get you into that Christmassy mood and enjoy being entertained by the Grinch, who will be up to his usual menacing antics, Father Christmas with his amazing sleigh, a whole variety of Christmas harmonies by live musicians and jazz stilt walkers who will be legging it up the aisles.

Make sure you visit the popular Festive Food and Drink area where you’ll find tempting stalls selling everything from cheese to chutneys,

spices to spirits, puddings to preserves, chocolates to champagne, beers to brownies and hampers to hog roasts.

Tickets are now on sale at www.festivegiftfair.co.uk

Advance adult tickets start from just £7 (plus transaction fee) and you can also take advantage of the special buy three, get one free ticket offer on advance Thursday and Friday adult full day tickets.

The Festive Gift Fair is open daily from 9am to 5pm. A list of stallholders, entertainment programme and visitor information can be found on the website.

Completely Bromsgrove has four pairs of tickets to give away. Simply send your name, email address and phone number to completelybromsgrove@gmail. com to be in with a chance of receiving a pair of tickets. The closing date is the 23rd October 2023

Get your festive preparations off to a flying start at the ever-popular fourday Festive Gift Fair at the NEC Birmingham from November 16 to 19.