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Welcome to the August issue of Completely Bromsgrove
It certainly has been a very busy few weeks. Firstly, I would like to welcome our new MP Bradley Thomas, who will be keeping us all up to date on issues at Westminster and in his Bromsgrove constituency with his monthly column.
Then we move onto a summer of sport. Sadly Gareth Southgate’s England didn’t quite bring it home in the Euros but football fans were entertained right until the last kick.
Tennis lovers had plenty to enjoy at Wimbledon with outstanding young Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz lifting the prestigious trophy for the second consecutive year and it seems the excitement never stops as we are now in the thick of the Paris Olympics. We’d like to wish everyone representing Team GB the best of luck.
For those readers who aren’t sports enthusiasts, we’re sure you can get some solace from this issue!
With the summer holidays in full swing, I hope you all have a wonderful break if you are heading away from Bromsgrove. For those of us who are staying put in the Midlands, maybe you will be heading out to one of the many events happening across our region this month.
Let’s hope the sun continues to shine and remember folks, keep it local!
Very best wishes
Michele Ford
A message from our MP
It’s the greatest honour of my life to have been elected as the Member of Parliament for Bromsgrove and the surrounding villages.
Thank you to everyone who voted for me. And to those who didn’t, I promise I will serve everyone in our wonderful constituency as I’m here to help everyone.
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks since the election. I’ve been at Westminster getting to grips with how everything works, setting up my new office and building my team who will help me to represent you.
I know many of you have already emailed me since my election and I will get back to you as soon as possible. For those who don’t yet have my new email address, it’s bradley.thomas.mp@parliament.uk
I want to be the strongest possible voice for everyone across our part of Worcestershire. I will be this constituency’s greatest champion, working to secure new investment to ensure it remains a great place to live, work and visit.
My focus as your MP will be on delivering real results which improve the lives of everyone across our constituency - and I have a plan to do just that. I will:
• Campaign for better local GP and hospital access
• Improve local transport and road safety
• Secure investment across Bromsgrove town centre
• Fight to protect our green belt
• Boost local jobs and training for the future
• Push for increased police patrols and to reduce crime
I believe we can achieve this by working together –something I believe we need more of right now in our politics.
In this new Parliament I will also have an important role to play in holding the Labour government to account, especially when it comes to their plans for building on the greenbelt. Some 89% of our constituency is green belt and I will fight to protect it from inappropriate development. I will only support development in the right locations, designed to the highest standards and on brownfield land first.
Back here in Bromsgrove, I look forward to meeting as many residents as possible over the coming weeks and months.
Please get in touch with me if there’s anything I can do to help, including if you would like to visit Parliament.
www.bromsgroverail.org.uk
Time for new MP’s to step up to the (foot) plate
The General Election meant that everything requiring a political decision to do with railways ground to a halt for six weeks or so.
Now we have a new transport minister, Louise Haigh, and two new local MPs, Bradley Thomas, the Conservative members for Bromsgrove, and Chris Bloore, the Labour MP for Redditch, to educate, lobby and persuade about the benefits of improving rail services for the residents and businesses of North East Worcestershire District - Alvechurch, Barnt Green, Bromsgrove and Redditch.
Currently there are reasonable services on the Cross City Line to and from Bromsgrove and Redditch to Lichfield via University and New Street. There are two electric trains an hour from each station, with all new rolling stock by the end of 2024, although the previous third train per hour was taken off during Covid and has yet to be replaced.
Bromsgrove benefits in addition from the hourly Hereford to/from New Street service via Worcester, also with new rolling stock. If all these trains stopped at Barnt Green, it would enable passengers from Alvechurch, Barnt Green and Redditch stations, which had a combined usage between April 1st 2022 and March 31st 2023 of more than one million passengers, to travel directly to and from Droitwich, Worcester, Malvern and Hereford, instead of having to travel firstly to either University or Bromsgrove stations to board this service.
The real challenge for our new MPs is to enable people to travel directly south from Bromsgrove to Worcestershire Parkway, Cheltenham, Cardiff, Bristol and the South West, instead of either having to travel initially in the opposite direction to University to catch the Cross Country services, or having to travel to Worcester Foregate Street and then change onto Great Western Railway services.
In its Rail Investment Strategy, published in June 2023, Worcestershire County Council stated that, by the end of last year, there would be a train service from Birmingham to Bristol, which would call at Bromsgrove. As one is able to travel to / from Alvechurch, Barnt Green and Redditch to / from Bromsgrove station by car, bus or train, this would benefit residents in those areas.
However, in a revision to its strategy, the county council reneged on its statement and now North East Worcestershire has to wait until after 2029 before such a service will even be considered.
BARRUP trusts that Mr Thomas and Mr Bloore will be proactive in their efforts to improve the rail services for their constituents who voted them into office.
by Nick
Taylor, memsec@bromsgroverail.org.uk
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Thoughtless waste dumpers put on notice
Fly tippers and other environmental criminals are being warned to expect trouble in Bromsgrove district after enforcement was stepped up.
This year more enforcement staff plus intelligence experts from Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) are active in the district to help catch the criminals who dump their waste, after councillors approved a funding boost for the service.
Deployable CCTV cameras are also recording in multiple locations across the district, and new online reporting tools have made it easier than ever for residents to provide information that could lead to fines and prosecutions.
Fly tips were reported in 417 locations across the district last year, and the council spends more than £1 million a year clearing up local streets.
Bromsgrove District Council’s portfolio holder for environmental services and community safety, Councillor Peter Whittaker, said: “Most people dispose of their waste properly and responsibly and ensure they’re not creating nasty problems for everyone else, for example by ensuring the person taking away their waste is a properly registered waste carrier. It’s not hard.
“But there’s a tiny minority who either don’t know or don’t care about the impact dumping unwanted items has on a community. Imagine what our staff could be doing to improve our neighbourhoods, instead of being forced to spend their time clearing up illegally dumped rubbish.”
Councillors agreed a £29,000 boost to the authority’s existing enviro-crime enforcement capacity from 2024-25, as part of wider enforcement improvements at the authority which included an additional £149,000 to deal with unauthorised developments through planning enforcement.
Cllr Whittaker added: “The considerable professional skill and expertise of WRS in enforcement matters will benefit residents, improve justice, and deter criminals, helping to keep our communities safe, well maintained, and green.”
To report a problem in your street scene go to www.bromsgrove.gov.uk and hit the Report it button, or search for Bromsgrove District Council on the App Store or Play Store to find the new reporting app.
Green Flag success at the double
Bromsgrove district is celebrating double success after receiving a Green Flag Award for Sanders Park and Lickey End Recreation Ground.
The news that Sanders Park and Lickey End Recreation Ground have achieved the accreditation - the international quality mark for parks and green spaces - is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space so that visitors and residents alike can enjoy it.
Bromsgrove District Council’s portfolio holder for leisure, Councillor Bernard McEldowney, said: “The Green Flag Award is prestigious and to have two of our parks receive the accolade this year is wonderful. We are committed as a council to providing green spaces and parks for our residents and visitors to use and enjoy and our hard work is paying off.”
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Sanders Park and Lickey End Recreation Ground. These are vital green spaces for communities in
Bromsgrove to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.
“We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.
“It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”
The scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the UK and around the world.
No buts, it’s time to reduce water runoff
Our homes can generate a lot of surface water runoff, most of which enters a nearby storm water sewer which then leads to a local watercourse.
We’re sharing a few ways you can help to manage and reduce the amount your home generates. If we all play our own small part we can make a huge difference.
Install a water butt on your guttering, but make sure to use the water! Water butts range in shapes, sizes and colours so there’s one to suit every household. If fitted to your homes, downpipes can intercept many litres of water which would otherwise be destined for the local sewer network which can become overwhelmed during heavy rain. Plants prefer rainwater to tap water, so use your water butt in drier weather to ensure it has capacity when it rains.
Consider retrofitting sustainable drainage systems. If you have the space, why not consider adding a small rain garden? These can take a variety of forms but are essentially areas that are planted with species that can tolerate being waterlogged – storm water from your roof or driveway fills the planter or depression before draining away. Rain gardens will only be suitable if you have suitably porous soil.
Don’t replace your front lawn with tarmac. Lawns and gardens provide space for water to infiltrate into the ground, as well as being valuable habitats. We’re seeing more and more front gardens being replaced with tarmac or other similar impermeable surfaces, which lead to increased surface water runoff which in turn can increase flood risk locally. If you do replace more than five square metres with an impermeable surface, remember you need planning permission and should also ensure you have incorporated appropriate drainage. Be aware of misconnections. If you’re having building or drainage work done, ensure that only clean roof water enters the storm water drain or sewer, and only foul waste (from toilets, sinks and washing machines) enters the foul sewer. Doing this not only helps to avoid polluting our watercourses, but it also helps to reduce the risk of foul flooding.
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Timeless shrub brings summer and winter joy
Wherever you go you will find that most traditional gardens contain at least one variety of hydrangea, even though it is not a native plant to the UK.
It is seen as a quintessential cottage garden shrub, up there with the roses and peonies. By mid to late summer, they are coming into their own and the flowers will continue to last long into the autumn months, the colours enriching as the weather starts to turn. They also provide winter interest with the faded lacy flower heads which are great for flower arrangements.
Hydrangeas come in various types: shrubs, climbing and even tree-like varieties. They can be evergreen as well as deciduous and can be found in several colours ranging from white to pink and even blue. An acid soil produces the blue flowers while pink flowers point towards an alkaline soil, white, red and greenflowered plants will keep their colour regardless
of soil pH. Different hydrangea species also have different shaped flowers. Some are large and round (mopheads) whereas other flowers are cone shaped. Plant your new shrub in the spring or autumn, in moist soil that drains well. Ideal conditions are light shade, but the hydrangea will tolerate a sunny spot if the soil is not too dry. Use a mulch to keep the ground moist. It is one of the few shrubs that are well suited for clay soil. Once the danger of frost has passed, generally in mid-spring, prune and remove the old flower heads, these will have helped to protect the new growth from the frost. Prune back badly damaged shoots to just above the first undamaged pair of buds on live, healthy wood.
Jobs to keep you busy in August
Keep your patio plants well watered and feed fortnightly with a liquid fertiliser.
Keep deadheading your bedding and perennial plants throughout the summer. This encourages the plants to keep producing flowers.
Keep ponds topped up and make sure that the birds have access to clean fresh water.
Stake tall or top heavy plants like dahlias or lilies to prevent damage in the rain or wind.
Collect seed heads from your flowers for next year’s sowings.
Cut back herbs to encourage a fresh crop of leaves before the frosts. Be aware of potato or tomato blight, remove any diseased plants in your general household waste. Keep an eye out for white powdery mildew. Remove the affected leaves and spray with a fungicide.
By Suzi M , garden lover and plotter at Roundhill Allotments
Take the time to enjoy all your hard work, this is the time to stop and smell the flowers.
Ssssnake eyes
Worcestershire’s most common reptile and our longest snake, there’s more to these slinky slitherers than meets the eye.
When I sat down to write about grass snakes I wondered whether the page should come with a warning; snakes aren’t everyone’s idea of a beautiful creature but they’re wonderful in their own way. Females can grow to over one metre and their sinewy body is an olive green/brown with black markings along the side and a distinctive yellowygreen ‘collar’ behind the head. They only eat every couple of weeks and their diet changes with seasonal availability and ease of catching their prey. In spring they eat fish, in early summer they feed on newts and as summer continues they change their diet to frogs and toads. Juveniles favour tadpoles and adults will take other species if the opportunity arises. You’ll notice a theme here – it’s a very water-related diet so the presence of ponds, lakes and rivers is essential for their survival and they’re remarkably good swimmers. I remember watching one crossing a wide section of the River Avon a couple of years ago; it didn’t quite manage a straight line against the current but it wasn’t far off.
Grass snakes hibernate during winter, usually underground. Mating takes place in spring and females lay eggs in June and July. It takes two to three months for the eggs to hatch so the first youngsters (about the size of a pencil) will emerge from early September, needing to find food to fatten up before the onset of winter. The female snakes seek warm nest sites to lay their eggs in. Compost heaps are just one of several places that are perfect for this so if you’re a keen composter, do take care not to damage eggs or snakes. At Lower Smite Farm, our headquarters, we regularly
have a grass snake lay her eggs in our compost heap so we know not to disturb it during egg development or hibernating time.
Grass snakes are not venomous and are more likely to gently move into cover when they feel your footsteps vibrating along the ground. They have a couple of ways to deter predators - one is to inflate their body, hiss and strike (with mouth closed) whilst another is to feign death. They’re also able to produce a foul-smelling fluid from their anal glands, which I’m reliably informed is very difficult to get away from!
Grass snakes are often faithful to breeding and hunting sites so the loss of farmland and garden ponds, areas of long grass near to waterways and a decline in their prey species means that numbers of grass snakes are reducing. If you’d like to give your local grass snake population a boost, take a look at www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/wild-about-ponds and if you see one and are able to get a photo, please do let us know via www.worcswildlifetrust. co.uk/wildlife-sightings
Keep up to date with us... - on Twitter @WorcsWT - on Facebook www.facebook.com/worcestershirewildlifetrust - on YouTube www.youtube.com/c/WorcswildlifetrustUK1 on Instagram www.instagram.com/worcswt
Carter,
Inspiring progress at St John’s
It’s been a busy first half of the year for Friends of St John’s as they work towards the fundraising target of £360,000 to repair and restore the spire at Bromsgrove’s landmark church building.
We reported on the successful award of £249,975 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in January and since then the team have been delighted with the progress, and the generosity of many individuals and organisations.
Grant funding totalling £45,000 has been secured from a collection of organisations including Bromsgrove Rotary, Laslett’s Charities, Bromsgrove Court Leet, Bromsgrove Institute Trust, Grimley Trust, Droitwich Preservation Society and L G Harris Trust. The generous contributions for the Spire Appeal are most gratefully received.
On 20th July a Summer Open Day was held to showcase heritage crafts and skills in partnership with Avoncroft Museum, Norton Collection Museum and The Bromsgrove Society. More than 150 visitors were welcomed to the Grade 1 listed building and over 100 people, including Bromsgrove’s newly elected MP Bradley Thomas, climbed the 100-step spiral staircase to the top of the tower to enjoy the far-reaching views, many ringing the bells too.
Visitors came from far and wide. Many walked to the church from homes in Bromsgrove, some came from further afield in the district and throughout the Midlands. Visitors had also travelled from the South of England, London, France, Germany, Canada and New Zealand to enjoy our local heritage. Inside
the church they participated in the heritage crafts available, including building a model of the church, making clay bricks with the team from Avoncroft who were also showing attendees how historic wattle and daub walls were formed. To top off a wonderful, uplifting day, over £1000 was added to the Spire Appeal in donations made by visitors.
The team at Friends of St John’s are incredibly grateful for all the support received, and delighted to see the ancient building buzzing with people, activities, energy and joy.
Following these successful months, the appeal is only £50,000 away from reaching the target needed to undertake the important restoration work. To find out more about the work of Friends and the Spire Appeal visit the website www.stjohnsfriends. co.uk or scan the QR code to visit the Just Giving page to make a donation.
Prestigious student grant honours three county doctors
Alegacy of compassion and innovation from three remarkable Victorian and Edwardian doctors and surgeons is now helping to fuel the dreams of the next generation of medical professionals.
The John Weston Stretton of Kidderminster charity provides grants for students who are studying medicine at The University of Cambridge, St Bartholomew’s Hospital London, or the recently added Three Counties Medical School at the University of Worcester, which will be taking students from September.
The charity offers a limited number of scholarships which are awarded annually for students from the North Worcestershire area. The intention is to support successful applicants throughout their training.
The three surgeons of the Stretton family - Samuel, Lionel, and John - dominated the medical history of Kidderminster from 1856 until John’s death in 1952.
Samuel, the founder of the dynasty, came to Kidderminster in 1856 after serving in the Crimean War. He seized the challenge of treating the poor in the workhouse and lobbied for the new water works in the town, resulting in significant environmental improvements.
iodine’ as a powerful weapon for surgeons to combat infection.
Samuel and Lionel were constantly battling with the town’s industrial leaders to provide funds to build, maintain and extend the structure of the Infirmary for the treatment of the workers and families of the town.
John Weston Stretton, the son of Lionel, was educated at Cambridge and completed his training as a surgeon in 1921, when he returned to Kidderminster. From then until his death, he was a member of the medical staff at the infirmary and was responsible for pioneering radium treatment in the town to treat cancer patients.
Lionel Stretton, the son of Samuel, returned to Kidderminster in 1882 after qualification at St Bart’s, to assist his father as medical officer in the workhouse. He became president of the infirmary and during his 56 years working in Kidderminster undertook over 40,000 operations. He gained national recognition for introducing ‘tincture of
The charity was set up in 2013 under the terms of the will of Antony John Stretton, the son of John Weston, grandson of Lionel and great grandson of Samuel. Since 2013, it has financially supported 68 medical students, of which 12 have yet to complete their training. In 2022 it paid out more than £75,000 in grants to applicant medical students.
Closing date for applications is September 30th but early applications are encouraged. To apply, visit www. johnwestonstretton.org.uk/ scholarship-applications
Lionel Stretton
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For this month’s issue I thought I would return to where I started with health and wellness.
In my late thirties, having had seven years of extreme health issues and being told I would be in a wheelchair by the time I was 40, I really focused my mind to change.
This brought me into the world of Louise Haye’s Heal Your Life and The Arthritic’s Cookbook by Dr Collin H Dong and Jane Banks. At that time, I was living in the Netherlands, and I was introduced to Reiki. I went to the first level kicking and screaming and only did it because of my friend who booked me on the course with her.
That first day I was thinking “what is this all about?” . I had never meditated before and by the time I got home I had a terrible headache to beat the band. The following day I was there again thinking it was a waste of another day. I spent most of the day in tears and thinking this is crazy. On the third and last day, I was beginning to give a sigh of relief that I didn’t have to do this anymore.
However, as I had my own beauty business, my friend said my place would be great to practise once a week as I had massage couches. Eight months later the same friend booked for level two Reiki and again I was hooked, but not by choice. In those days all the symbols were secret, and we had to learn them by heart, and I began to see what Reiki was and how it was working.
When I moved to Malaysia I was introduced to other healing practises. I started with Pranic Healing
and its founder Master Choa Kok Sui from the Philippines taught me this amazing therapy. I then became a Reiki master, a colour therapist and a teacher with a system called Aura-Soma. Again, I was lucky enough to be taught by its owner Mike Booth and I missed being taught by the founder Vicky Wall by just 12 months when she had passed away.
In the late 90s and early 2000s, I was back in the UK. I met Kevin Core and worked with him for a number of years on a number of different healing modalities. During this time, he was the founder of Angelic Reiki, which was launched in 2003. I was not only a teacher for Aura-Soma, but I became a teacher of Angelic Reiki. I also took this to Malaysia and Singapore which was great fun.
When I moved back to the Netherlands, I trained with the Institute of Biochemic for Dr Schussler Tissue Salts as well as doing a naturopathic nutrition course. In the last few weeks, I have completed a nutrition course with Cambridge College.
I have been very blessed to have had some amazing teachers in my holistic journey and for the next two issues I will write about these different healing modalities in relationship to cellular health and wellness.
To book a colour consultation, contact colette@ need4change.com
by
Colette Garside
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A bitter pill
Drugs and medical remedies have been offered since the earliest times and pharmacies were once a mainstay of Bromsgrove’s High Street.
In the days before modern medicine, the treatment of medical complaints relied on folklore and homemade remedies. From the late Middle Ages this service was the preserve of apothecaries, who used traditional recipes, alongside growing medical knowledge, to prepare medicines for a wide range of complaints. They worked alongside, and sometimes in competition with, barber-surgeons who offered cupping, bleeding and tooth extractions, as well as shaving and cutting hair.
An apothecary had to serve a seven-year apprenticeship and then to pass an oral examination set by the College of Physicians. This gained them exclusive rights to set up an apothecary’s shop, from where they were able to make, sell, and prescribe medicines. The Society of Apothecaries was formed in 1617 to protect the trade and the following year the first London Pharmacopoeia – a reference work on medical compounds – was published.
One of Bromsgrove’s earliest apothecaries was Thomas Flavell, who was operating from a timberframed house on the corner of St John’s Street by 1668. When he died in 1676, his shop contained a stock of ointments, syrups, powdered herbs, and earthenware pots of all shapes and sizes. Ointments were made by pounding herbs in hog’s lard in a stone mortar. The most valuable items were the drugs (i.e. finished preparations), valued at £5 17s 6d.
Apothecaries made a comfortable living but also faced risks, since many diseases were not understood and had no effective treatment. Thomas Flavell and his successor, Thomas Norris, both died young.
By the late 18th century, the term apothecary had passed out of use and been replaced by ‘druggist’. In 1820 Bromsgrove had four druggists, all with shops in the High Street: J. Cullwick, T. Greening, W. Parry and
J. Rose, who were also described as grocers. William Parry’s shop at 73 (now 7) High Street was taken over by Aaron Huxley. It remained a chemist’s shop until the 1960s when it was run by Timothy White and Taylor.
By 1835, the list of ‘Chymists and Druggists’ included Benjamin Maund at 90 (now 41) High Street and John Jenkins Haines at 85 (now 31). Haines later moved to 64 (now 12) High Street. Following his retirement in 1892, the shop was taken over by Walter Noke, and then in the 1930s by Terence Hall. He was the last of the traditional chemists, providing remedies and advice to his customers until he retired in the 1980s. The brass fittings from the base of the shop window are now in the Norton Collection Museum.
Other pharmacists operating in the town in the mid-20th century were Austin’s, Harper’s and Boots. Pictures of all the premises mentioned here are available on the Bromsgrove Society website.
by Mike Sharpe
Timothy Whites Chemists, 73 High Street
Apothecary shop
Boots Chemists, High Street
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Enter a friendly world
of floral creations
Bromsgrove Flower Club invite you to join us for a relaxing afternoon at the Church Hall, All Saints Church, Burcot Lane, on Thursday, August 15 at 2pm to enjoy a masterclass of flower arranging.
This month we are welcoming national demonstrator Lorena Dyer . Her displays will be entitled “Are you sitting comfortably?”
Members are invited to bring in their own displays and this month the competition theme is “Afternoon Tea” . Bring out your best china and fill it with flowers.
There is also a sweepstake to win, a bring and buy to browse through and at the end of the demonstration all the beautiful arrangements created by Lorena will be raffled off. If you enter the flower of the month or the competition you will receive a free raffle ticket.
Enjoy a complimentary cup of tea or coffee with biscuits, a warm welcome and make some new friends. Entry is £4 for members and £10 for visitors.
Bromsgrove’s local music festival Orchardfest
Local music festival Orchardfest is back on 9th and 10th August 2024 at Puddle Wharf Farm, B60 4JN.
Join Puddle Party and Primrose Hospice for a local family-friendly festival full of music, food and fun in the sun, all to raise vital funds for your local hospice. Orchardfest was started in 2016 by local supporter of the hospice Dave Morgan in memory of his wife Trish. Now back for its 8th year, they will be back with a bang, hoping to raise more money than ever for Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre.
Lucy Perkins, Fundraiser at Primrose Hospice said: “We hope the sun will be shining again for us this year at Orchardfest and look forward to seeing so many of our loyal supporters at the event. You helped us raise over £28,000 in 2023; this year we want to try to break the record and hit over £30,000.
We have been busy putting together a fantastic lineup with something to suit everyone. As always there will be plenty of space for you to pitch your gazebos, join family and friends and even bring the dog too. Join us to enjoy a great family day out with over 11 hours of live music, fun, laughter and dancing.
There will be great food on offer, the Primrose Bar will be serving up your favourite tipples and as always you are more than welcome to bring your own too.
Tickets are selling fast so if you have not yet booked be sure not to miss out.”
Get your tickets here: www.primrosehospice. org/events/orchardfest or call: 01527 889799
Photo Lee Moody
SUNDAY 4th August
Catshill Social Club, Meadow Road
Catshill, B61 0JJ
Doors Open at 9.00am to 3.00pm Tel: 07783 680627
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Everyone welcome
Black Country Fairs
Ramblers and radicals are Mikron’s thought- provokingthemessummer
Mikron Theatre Company are touring their new shows Common Ground and Jennie Lee across the country this summer and you can catch them at The Weighbridge , Alvechurch, in August.
Jennie Lee – The Radical MP You’ve Never Heard Of will be performed on Wednesday, August 21st at 7pm and Common Ground on Thursday, August 22nd at 7pm. No tickets are required. A ‘pay what you feel’ collection will be taken after the show.
A new play with original songs and integrated audio description, Jennie Lee charts the extraordinary life of the radical Scottish politician. Westminster’s youngest MP, she was so young that, as a woman in 1929, she couldn’t even vote herself.
Jennie Lee left her coal-mining family in Scotland and fought with her every breath for the betterment of all our lives. She believed that every person deserved their share of the fruits of the earth – for wages, health, and housing, and for art and education too.
Her role in the foundation of the Open University and the expansion of the Arts Council aided Jennie’s fight for bread and roses, and in doing so, changed the 20th century. Nye Bevan, the founder of the NHS, was her husband.
Common Ground is a ramble through the history of land access in England. Only eight percent of land is designated ‘open country’ our right to roam and the legal right to access are hot topics with stories in the press recently around the pay walling of Cirencester Park and ‘Access Islands’.
Poppy Hollman’s witty production tells the tale of the fictional Pendale and District Ramblers. They are looking forward to celebrating in style on their 50th
anniversary walk, but the path has been blocked by the landowner. How will they find their way through?
Mikron’s talented actor-musicians will navigate this thorny subject matter with originally composed songs, witty lyrics, silliness, hat swapping and gusto.
Jennie Lee – The Radical MP You’ve Never Heard Of
Sounds and screenings at Bromsgrove Arts
Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie prove a wellmatched duo in Eileen (15), which is being screened by Bromsgrove Arts on Sunday, August 11th at 7.30pm.
Eileen (McKenzie) is aloof and unfazed by the gloomy nature of her job at the local youth prison. But something in her changes the day that the new counsellor, Dr Rebecca St. John (Hathaway) arrives. She is instantly captivated by Rebecca’s glamorous, enigmatic presence. As the two women grow closer, Eileen is inspired to explore new facets of her own personality and desires. Her metamorphosis takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret, throwing Eileen onto a much more sinister path.
In What Happens Later (15) on Wednesday, August 21st at 7.30pm, two ex-lovers, Bill (David Duchovny) and Willa (Meg Ryan) get snowed in at a regional airport overnight. Indefinitely delayed, Willa, a magical thinker, and Bill, a catastrophic one, find themselves just as attracted to and annoyed by one another as they did decades earlier. But as they unpack the riddle of their mutual past and compare their lives to the dreams they once shared, they begin to wonder if their reunion is mere coincidence, or something more enchanted.
From the USA and touring the UK, Willow Hill will be stopping off in Bromsgrove on Wednesday, August 28th at 8pm. Recently named a band to watch by Rolling Stone, Willow Hill have cemented themselves as one of Nashville’s most unique sensations. Led by husband and wife Alexandra and CT Fields, they deliver a fresh and modern twist on the classic country sound. This has helped them develop a global fanbase.
André Rieu is ready to blow you away with his new cinema concert Power of Love, which is being shown over the August Bank Holiday weekend on August 31st and September 1st.
From his picturesque hometown of Maastricht,The King of the Waltz presents a must-see big screen spectacular. Accompanied by the Johann Strauss Orchestra and a cast of hundreds, this promises to be the music event of the summer by one of the world’s most prolific artists.
Set against the backdrop of the historic Vrijthof square, André will amaze you with iconic film scores, beautiful waltzes, tear-jerking ballads and unexpected chart hits. Included in the admission price is a complementary drink.
Bromsgrove Arts, the home of Fairfield Flicks and Fairfield Music, is located at Fairfield Village Hall (B61 9LZ). Free parking and a licenced bar. For information and advanced tickets for all events visit www.bromsgrovearts.org.uk
Community arts project aims to break down barriers
Creative Art Showcase are delighted to have received National Lottery funding to launch a new two-year community project called Creative Friends.
Its aim is to bring the wider diverse community together in the pursuit of inspirational fun art and craft activities, breaking down barriers while encouraging friendships.
Creative Art Showcase have been providing free or low-cost workshops within the community since they launched during covid. The charity’s volunteers quickly realised that more art workshops were needed, particularly as people facing loneliness, mental health issues, and financial difficulties due to the cost of living crisis. They also recognised the lack of affordable creative opportunities locally.
The project will offer the opportunity to a regular monthly creative workshop for all and activities will include painting and drawing using a large range of techniques.
Craft activities will involve learning a wide range of new skills using materials such as clay, resin and textiles. Other sessions will promote health and wellbeing and will be run by the community’s talented artists and artisans.
Workshops will take place on the first Thursday
of every month and will commence with a launch evening on September 5th at Destination Zone in Bromsgrove High Street. Come along and meet the team and find out more.
The project is open to all. To book or reserve a place, or if you know anyone that would benefit from taking part, email events@creativeartshowcase. org or call or text 07818 830988 for further details.
Creative Art Showcase are once again hosting Showcase 24 in Bromsgrove School in October. The town’s biggest creative event, it attracts artists and artisans from across the Midlands. There’s still time to book a stall or enter your artwork. Email the address above for details.
Get hands on at museum’s Access Day
The British Motor Museum is to host its second dedicated Access Day of 2024 on Friday, August 16th.
Committed to being accessible to all, the museum will showcase its range of accessible activities and will be open until 8pm to ensure that everyone, regardless of their needs, gets the chance to experience what is on offer.
On offer will be hands-on sensory touch and access tours, which will bring the collection to life, allowing visitors to get up close and touch several of the cars. Relaxed hours will take place between 9am and 10am and from 5pm to 8pm for those who prefer a quieter environment. Audiovisuals and hand dryers will be switched off, and the lighting will be lowered.
Object handling workshops will take place from 10am to 6pm, offering visitors the chance to get hands-on with a selection of artefacts and discover a variety of treasures that will provoke memories and encourage conversation.
A new permanent Changing Places toilet has been installed, thanks to grant funding provided by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities with support from Stratford on Avon District Council in association with Muscular Dystrophy UK. This new facility is designed to accommodate those with accessibility needs, with specialist equipment, such as a hoist and space for carers.
The museum also offers SEND bags, which can be lent out to visitors during their visit. The bags contain a range of items to help make their visit easier, including fidget toys, a teddy bear, a magnifying glass, SEND-friendly trails and PECS cards. It also offers a limited number of sensory bags, including stress toys, magnifying glasses and ear defenders, and these can be requested on arrival.
For more information, visit www. britishmotormuseum. co.uk/whats-on/summer-access-day
All our commercial vehicles are van-tastic!
Have you been considering upgrading your commercial vehicle? The Hills Ford Transit Centre in Mustow Green, Kidderminster, are proud to be an official New and Used Ford Commercial Vehicle dealership.
Our state-of-the-art showroom features the full range of new Ford Commercial vehicles, including the New Transit Connect, All-New Transit Courier, All-New Transit Custom, All-New Transit Custom MS-RT, All-New E-Transit Custom, Transit, E-Transit, Ranger, Ranger MS-RT and Ranger Raptor, all with 0% APR Finance available.
In addition to our new vehicles, we also offer a great selection of Ford Approved used vans and pick-ups for those looking for a reliable pre-owned option, plus we give the most generous part-exchange allowances; there really is something to suit every business!
When it comes to maintaining your vehicle, our approved Ford Transit Service Dealer extended hours workshop based at Worcester Road, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY10 1JB, is here to provide you with comprehensive Ford servicing and MOTs to keep your vehicle running smoothly.
Whether you’re in the market for a new commercial vehicle or require maintenance services for your current one, we are here to help. Visit us online or stop by our showroom to speak with one of our specialists who will be happy to assist you with any of your commercial vehicle needs.
You can find us at Hills Ford Transit Centre, Mustow Green, Kidderminster DY10 4LG.
Visit our website on www.hillsford.co.uk/transit-centre/ Call us on 01562 777 077 for more info
A first-class ride
Ringing alarm bells in the ears of rival manufacturers, the Kia Stonic GT- Line S MHEV brings fresh and sparkling vigour to the compact SUV market, challenging the likes of Renault’s Captur and Ford’s Puma; and in my opinion, outshining them in most respects.
With bright appeal deriving from looks that ooze personality, this beguiling family friendly mild hybrid delivers a package of pleasing attributes for the attention of customers looking for quality at a sensible price.
City motoring is made easier courtesy of the Stonic’s practical proportions and safety features, while open road driving and motorway progress are reassuringly rewarding. Modern motorists are rightly fussy when it comes to demanding the very latest driver-assist technologies yet at the same time those motorists who insist on the pleasures of controlling their cars with all the skill at their command hate feeling circumscribed by smartness.
In short, it’s a compromise manufacturers have to make. To put it candidly, a compromise between
making a motor idiot proof and supplying the proper motorist with all the attributes of the proper motor. This £25,800 variant is specified to just the right level, with all the necessary comfort and safety features you’re ever likely to need.
Recent experiences behind the wheel of the super Stonic have convinced me that Kia have struck a perfect balance between opposites which seem on the face of it irreconcilable. Its compact size offers the virtues of the small car but without the vices that attend too cramped a space.
While assessing its suitability for 21st century motoring it became clear very quickly that here is a Stonic for all seasons, all circumstances and all environments. Not only that, it radiates the kind of striking charisma that is the hallmark of the true winner.
that’s super Stonic!
Critics of the SUV concept are becoming more and more prominent. To them I say ‘Try the Stonic’. It is a unified whole of a delightful all-rounder that catches attention through never dropping clangers.
For those who behold its stylish passage through city streets or respect its composure on congested motorways where subtle refinements ensure safe and silent progress, it brightens the day. I doubt very much that Sonic owners will have reason to feel glum behind the wheel. It’s that kind of ‘pick-me-up and give me a twirl’ kind of car.
A car like the Stonic doesn’t need steroids in order to lead the way towards classic common sense atop a Motoring Acropolis of marvellous radiance. It’s the sort of car guaranteed to outshine and outline the superficial. And the clincher is the excellent economy. A claimed combined fuel consumption of 53.5 mpg from the 1.0, 3 cylinder petrol engine with its mild hybrid battery assistance, is very conservative if you stay in eco mode and let the smooth seven speed
transmission perform unobtrusively. 60 mpg is easily attainable.
I know what you’re thinking. ‘1.0 litre. Only three cylinders’ - and you have mountains to climb and tight schedules to meet. While some 3 cylinder units give this concept a bad name, it’s certainly not the case here. You might even think the Stonic is atomic because it revs so freely, pulls so hard and is velvet smooth.
Carrying passengers in a new car is always instructive. They will notice things of which the driver is likely to remain unaware. My trio were more positive than one dared ever to have hoped. They told me, voices chorusing in unison, that passenger comfort was first class.
The Stonic is simply superb and before long many contented customers will bear testimony to this versatile car’s winning appeal. And don’t forget that industry leading seven year warranty.
by Syd Taylor
Sporting heartened by pre-season success
BromsgroveSporting have kickstarted their 2024-25 campaign in fine style, winning their first four matches of pre-season. Trips to Worcester Raiders, AFC Wulfrunians, Stourport Swifts and Lichfield City have seen the Rouslers score 11 goals and concede none.
In terms of the squad, two more players from last season have been retained - popular midfielder Jack Newell and versatile wide man Callum King-Harmes. There have also been a couple of new additions to the side, with defender Aksum White returning to the club after a spell at Leicestershire-based Barwell and 17-year-old Zac Powell joining up the with the first team squad after impressing in the middle of the park in games with the club’s new Under 21 side.
The U21s are, like the first team, playing pre-season matches. For the latest news, follow their new Twitter/X account @rouslersu21s.
Off the pitch, there has been a lot of positive activity. A new sponsor partnership has been announced with UK Electrical, which will see the successful local company have stadium naming rights and help Sporting to become carbon neutral. The company’s electrical engineers will provide their services for a variety of projects at the ground, while technologies such as LED stadium lighting and solar panels for renewable energy will be implemented.
The UK Electrical Stadium’s Rousler Bar has been used for a range of events, as the club endeavours to make the venue a hub for the community. From England’s Euro 2024 matches to busy networking
sessions and awards evenings for youth teams to a wedding, the bar’s hard-working team have welcomed a whole host of visitors in recent weeks.
The club were delighted to have a stall at Bromsgrove Carnival at Sanders Park. Visitors were able to look at lots of Sporting memorabilia, including shirts and pictures, as well as take part in some fun games.
Representing Sporting were chairman Rod Brown, along with Simon Cadwallader,Vicky Onions and Joe Amess, all of whom are part of the club’s commercial team.
Joining the club’s commercial team and board is passionate Sporting fan Phil Yates, who will bring extensive skillsets from his previous senior managing director roles at major companies such as EH Smith and Ibstock.
The club’s league fixtures for the 2024-25 season have been released; proceedings begin with a visit to Hitchin Town on Saturday, August 10th, before the first home game three days later versus Stratford Town.
For a full list of fixtures, which include festive encounters with local rivals Stourbridge and Halesowen Town, head to bromsgrovesporting. co.uk , where you will also find all the latest news from the club.
by Max Banner
Carnival photo by Bromsgrove Sporting FC
Mixed fortunes for Croft with Firsts battling the drop
As we move into the final stages of the cricket season, it’s been a mixed bag of results for Avoncroft CC.
The First XI are in a battle to avoid relegation in a very tight league where the entire bottom half is separated by just a couple of wins. They currently sit eighth out of 12 with four wins and six defeats in the season so far and have Will Baker (310 runs) and Ben Huxley (16 wickets) heading their individual performances.
In a season where availability has been a challenge, Croft will be hoping that a number of key players will be back from injury and various other commitments for what could be a nail-biting last few weeks.
The Seconds and Thirds are sitting far more comfortably in their leagues and both have an outside chance of pushing themselves into the promotion race. The Seconds currently occupy sixth place in Division Eight, but with only one win separating them from third, there is still all to play for. Skipper Chris Pitt has held the batting together all season, scoring 364 runs at an average of 73, with Pete Smith leading the bowling attack with 15 wickets.
The Third XI are sitting in third place in Division
Nine, but with the top two streaking away, it will take a strange set of results for Croft to overhaul one of the playoff places. Damian Hampton leads the Third XI runs with 205, whilst Kunar Issar tops the bowling standings with 11 wickets at an average of 5.27!
The Sunday XI have continued to perform well despite facing some strong opposition over the last month. Fifteen-year-old Ben Athey took the individual plaudits, hitting his first ever ton (106*) against Himbleton, while Jon Tovey has been the pick of the bowlers, taking 5-20 against a strong Martins CC side.
Finally, Avoncroft are sad to report the passing of one of the club’s longest serving members, Bob Irish. Bob joined the club in 1966 as a pacey, left arm swing bowler and, after a short break through the 1970s, settled into his role as a wily opening bowler until he retired in the early noughties at the age of 69.
In addition to his playing duties, Bob also served as the club’s groundsman for a number of years. The club’s best wishes go out to his wife Heather and their family.
by Paul Athey
Gifted artist Holly showcases compelling work
Are we looking at the same thing’ is the intriguing title of the inaugural solo exhibition by talented local artist Holly Barton, which will be held at Destination Zone on Bromsgrove High Street on August 24th. ‘
Holly, who was born with Muscular Dystrophy, grew up in London before moving into the Bromsgrove area during her early teens where she attended South Bromsgrove High School.
After completing her studies, Holly returned to London to attend the world leading University of Arts, whose illustrious alumni include many famous talents including the late British fashion designer Alexander McQueen, Sir Anish Kapoor and the inspirational Brazilian artist Anna Maria Maiolino.
Holly uses her art – paintings, ceramics and photography – to articulate the world as she sees it, seeking to create a strong, emotional bond with the viewer and change perspectives of the social world through her lived experiences. She pushes boundaries of the society we live in, much like the artists she finds inspirational such as Anne Bean, Naira Mushtaq and Tracey Emin.
Holly uses art to advocate for greater accessibility, representation and social justice, both within and beyond, the art world. Her compelling narratives are being recognised within art institutes as ‘one to watch’.
The exhibition, which will run from 6pm to 8pm, is free to attend with refreshments included.
Holly will be there to talk attendees through the pieces, which are all for sale, in the form of originals and signed limited edition prints.
You can view more of Holly’s work and follow her journey at @holly_barton_art on Instagram
