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Welcome to the April issue of Completely Bromsgrove
We must start by acknowledging the excellent job our MP Bradley Thomas has done regarding the decision not to close the Post Office situated within TG Jones, formerly WH Smith, in the High Street. Turn to page 6 for Bradley’s column with the whole story.
Congratulations also go to GTAccess Ltd. The Aston Fields based company has been recognised as an Inclusive Worcestershire Leader. Turn to page 14 to learn more.
With spring upon us and sunny days ahead, it’s time to get your walking boots on. Turn to page 20 and snap with your phone the Tything Walk written by Neil Beaumont, the Tything Man of Bromsgrove Court Leet. With trees and hedgerows in bud, spring flowers blooming and birds singing, getting out and about and enjoying the wonders of nature is always good for the soul.
And last, but certainly not least, I would like to reflect, as Easter is just around the corner. It’s the time of the year when we celebrate new life,
lambs bouncing around in the fields and children receiving a bounty of chocolate. We also take time to look more deeply at the world as we know it today.
But of course, Easter is first and foremost about remembering and celebrating the second coming of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made for us. The Completely Bromsgrove team would like to wish all our readers a Happy Easter wherever you are or may be doing.
Remember folks… support our independent businesses and keep it local!
Visit our Instagram or Facebook page and leave a comment, we would love to hear from you. www.facebook.com/completelybromsgrove
Michele Ford
A message from our MP Bradley Thomas
We
did it. We saved Bromsgrove Post Office!
Back in February, the Post Office announced that their branch in the TG Jones store on Bromsgrove High Street would be closing on Saturday, June 6th.
I wasn’t going to let it go without a fight, so I sprang into action and launched a petition. At the time, the Post Office said the closure was due to “the resignation of our retail partner and the withdrawal of the premises for Post Office use.”
However, following my petition, which was signed by more than 1,000 people, the Post Office announced that the branch will no longer be closing as “our retail partner have rescinded their resignation.”
They’ve also said that the branch will continue to offer the same range of Post Office products and services over the same opening hours.
By coming together, we have saved this vital community service. Thank you to everyone who signed my petition. Your voices were heard loud and clearly. I’d also like to thank TG Jones for rescinding their resignation and allowing the Post Office to stay.
I said we needed a Post Office in the town centre, and I kept my promise by doing everything I could to fight for just that.
And speaking of doing everything I can to fight for Bromsgrove and the Villages, following the Post Office announcement I’ve had a lot of residents ask me about what I’m doing to save Bromsgrove Golf Centre. As you may know from reading my articles in Completely Bromsgrove, I’m doing everything I can to fight to save our greenbelt.
If I had the power to stop the golf centre being lost forever to housing development I would, but I don’t - no MP does. It will be local councillors who vote on any application. This isn’t me trying to pass the buck, this is just the reality of the situation. I’m not going to pretend I can do something when I can’t.
I’ve been down to the centre and met golf club members. I can assure you that they have my full support in opposing this site being lost to housing. I’ve also met with the housing minister to demand our housing target is reduced after the Government increased it by 85%, all in the name of a flawed formula used to calculate the figure. I’m afraid developers feel emboldened right now by the Government’s housing policy.
I was elected with a mandate to fight to protect our greenbelt and that’s what I’ll continue to do.
BARRUP’s views sought on much improvementsneeded
March was a busy month for BARRUP, as we were involved in meetings with the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) and Network Rail (NR) discussing improved services for Bromsgrove.
At the WMRE “On Track” meeting on March 3rd, we raised once again with both organisations the issue of there not being a train after 10.22pm on Saturdays to travel home from New Street to Bromsgrove after an evening out in Birmingham.
We asked also whether the six trains per hour Cross City Service to and from Bromsgrove and Redditch will be restored before the delivery of the Midlands Rail Hub initiatives in the 2030s.
We were told that “the timetable needs to be robust at New Street”, which does raise the question about whether the additional two trains per hour into New Street from Kings Norton along the Camp Hill line, due to be introduced in spring/summer this year, will mean that there is no capacity to restore the six trains per hour service in the short and medium term.
At Bromsgrove station on March 5th, we met Tom Painter and Noel Lavery of WMRE in our ongoing efforts to deal with various issues, namely the lack
of cover on the platforms, the continuing poor condition of the steps leading down to platforms three and four, the introduction of ANPR for the car parks, the problem of theft from the bicycle store, the introduction of new bus shelters with real time information, and Cross Country Trains not stopping at the station.
It was a constructive meeting, and the matters we raised were taken seriously. The ANPR for the car parks should be introduced, the new bus shelters installed later this year and the problem with the poor condition of the steps will be re-investigated.
The challenges of the lack of cover, the bicycle thefts and the lack of trains travelling south to Worcestershire Parkway, Cheltenham, South Wales and Bristol stopping at the station will take longer to overcome - but we will keep trying!
by Nick Taylor,
Remembering Aston Fields
As you queue in the traffic through the much-vaunted BREP scheme, take time to reflect on how this route through Aston Fields has changed over the years.
Lying to the east of Bromsgrove, the area we now know as Aston Fields was part of the parish of Stoke Prior. ‘Estone’ is listed as far back as the Domesday Book but the term dropped out of popular use for a while. Most people knew the area as ‘Stoke Chapel’ and sometimes as ‘Little Finstall’.
However, maps from the 1830s show three fields called the First, Second and Third Aston Fields, roughly where Carlyle and Middlefield Roads were built. These belonged to Dragoon Farm, one of several farms within the locality. Others were Fordhouse Farm, Broomhouse Farm, and Newton Farm. As well as pasture, there were cherry and apple orchards and – closer to the town – allotments.
Warwick Hall was a 16th century farmhouse that was considerably extended during later periods. It grew to be a substantial estate, covering much of the area between the modern by-pass and the station, some 83 acres in all. Various building plots were sold off during the late 1800s, with the Hall and remaining 26 acres being sold as a private residence in 1918.
The transformation of Aston Fields began in earnest in 1865 when, after many years of wrangling, a new road was built between Bromsgrove railway station and the town centre. This new thoroughfare cut through many of the farms and offered attractive building opportunities for the gentry of the town. Villa residences began to appear along the length of New Road, while football and cricket were played on Three Cornered Meadow (later the Harwood Park estate).
A further wave of building came between the wars, in the 1920s and 1930s. Wellington Road and Marlborough Avenue became populated by detached houses, each individually designed. In 1927 the Aston Fields council house estate was begun on the fields that were part of the Dragoon Farm.
But it wasn’t all a rural idyll. The Midland Railway’s Wagon Works – established in the 1840s – was an important facility for building and repairing railway wagons. In 1867 two new wagon shops were built together with a large smithy. In 1872 working conditions were improved, such that the men ‘only’ had to work nine hours per day (a 54-hour week) including all day Saturday. The fortunes of the Wagon Works went up and down with the times, until its closure in 1964.
The other industrial site was Garringtons, a major supplier of parts to the motor industry. This began in 1940 as a shadow factory producing parts for military vehicles, on land that was formerly part of Newton Farm. At its height the factory had more than 3,000 employees. It closed in 2002.
A road to by-pass Bromsgrove town centre was first mooted in the 1930s. After some 45 years of talking (and a world war) the eastern relief road finally opened in May 1981. Beneath it went some of the last green pastures of the old Aston Fields.
by Mike Sharpe
Dragoon Hotel circa 1900
Aston Fields War Memorial
Lib Dems celebrate investment in parks and playgrounds
Bromsgrove Lib Dems are celebrating after securing £1.5 million for parks and playgrounds in the district.
The money will be used to upgrade a number of local parks and playgrounds, providing better facilities and making them more accessible to children with a range of different needs. The improvements will be started ahead of Bromsgrove District Council becoming part of a bigger authority from 2027.
The Lib Dems tried to push through extra investment last year but were unable to secure the funds due to the council’s financial position. However, unlike Worcestershire County Council, the district council is in a financially stable position and is able to release a limited amount of funding for much-needed investment in communities.
Group leader Rob Hunter said: “I’m really excited to see what we can do with this extra money which has been a long time coming. Many of our playgrounds haven’t been updated for decades and we owe it to our young people to make these improvements as soon as possible. It’s great to see funds finally being released so upgrades can be actioned.”
Deputy group leader Siobhan Robinson added: “As a mum to two young girls, I know what a big difference good quality local play spaces can make, especially in these times when money is tight and families can’t always afford a day out. I can’t wait to see the new facilities.”
Bromsgrove business recognised as WorcestershireInclusive Leader
GTAccess Ltd , a family-run powered access company with more than 40 years of industry experience, has been awarded Inclusive Worcestershire Leader status by the Worcestershire Growth Hub.
The recognition highlights the company’s commitment to promoting diversity, equality and inclusion within its workforce and across the wider business community.
Based in Bromsgrove, the company has grown over four decades into a respected name in the UK powered access sector while maintaining its strong family values and people-focused culture. The Inclusive Worcestershire initiative celebrates organisations that demonstrate inclusive leadership and actively support equal opportunities in the workplace.
By receiving this status, GTAccess Ltd joins a network of businesses across Worcestershire that are working to build a more inclusive regional economy. The award recognises the company’s efforts to create a workplace where employees feel respected, valued and supported.
Inclusive practices are embedded throughout GTAccess Ltd’s recruitment, training and day-to-day operations. The company works to ensure fair access to opportunities for staff at every stage of their careers and continues to take steps to remove barriers for under-represented groups, helping encourage greater participation within the powered access industry.
The recognition comes during a period of significant achievement for the company. Earlier this year, GTAccess Ltd was named Access Rental Company of the Year at the International Awards for Powered Access 2025 (IAPAs), one of the most prestigious global awards in the powered access sector. The accolade recognises excellence in service, innovation and operational performance among rental companies worldwide.
Further highlighting the company’s leadership within the industry, managing director Jonathan Till was recently appointed chairman of the UK Country Council for the International Powered Access Federation(IPAF).
Through the Inclusive Worcestershire initiative, the Worcestershire Growth Hub encourages businesses to adopt inclusive policies that strengthen communities, support employees and contribute to long-term economic growth across the county.
GTAccess Ltd will continue championing inclusive practices while supporting the development of its workforce, the powered access industry and the wider regional business community.
Quality made to measure blinds and curtains
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Showroom opening hours : Mon – Thurs 9am to 5pm | Fri - 9am to 4pm | Sat – 10am to 3pm
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Spring is the perfect time to renew and rejuvenate by replacing worn-out carpets, out-dated vinyl or old scratched wood with fresh, modern options that breathe new life into your home.
• Our own showroom with extensive ranges from top manufacturers including Carpets, Natural fibre, Designer vinyls, Cork and Wood.
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Visit our showroom or call us today on 01527 880778
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Blooming good news from Avoncroft Museum
Anew initiative from Bromsgrove’s award-winning Avoncroft Museum is looking to raise an additional £100,000 of much-needed funding this year through the on-site sale of high quality, volunteer grown, plants.
The new Plant Centre will be open on usual museum opening days but also on Thursdays and Fridays when the museum is closed. On these days the tearoom will also be open, but there will be no access to the museum.
There will also be a number of pop-up weekends where the public will be able to buy plants without paying museum entry.
The new initiative is the brainchild of longstanding Avoncroft Museum volunteer David Beauchamp, who spent his working life running both wholesale nurseries and garden centres most notably the multi award-winning David’s Nurseries & Garden Centre in Martin Hussingtree, near Droitwich Spa.
David said: “This initiative is being run by a team of dedicated volunteers who want to raise funds and all profits from the garden centre will go directly to support Avoncroft Museum.”
Through David’s contacts from working in the trade for many years, local nurseries are also supporting this venture, adding to the range of quality plants offered at competitive prices.
Zoe Willems, director of Avoncroft Museum, added: “We are delighted by the enterprise shown by David and the other volunteers. With 18 acres across the site, we have wonderful trees and plants. Some of these, including the ‘Avoncroft Acers’, have been propagated so visitors can take home a little bit of Avoncroft with them.”
Gardeners and supporters are encouraged to visit the plant centre, spread the word, and help grow vital funds for the future. Every purchase directly supports the museum and its preservation work.
For opening dates and further information, visitors are encouraged to follow Avoncroft Museum’s website and social media channels.
David with seedlings and plants
A host of beautifully arranged spring blooms
Daffodils everywhere! Bromsgrove Flower Club opened this year’s programme with a bounty of the springtime favourites.
This month Coral Gardiner will be designing Nature’s Spring Palette. Come along to All Saints Church Hall, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove on Thursday, April 16 at 2pm for a relaxing afternoon watching a masterclass of flower arranging.
Buy a winning ticket in our raffle and take home one of Coral’s beautiful designs.
You can also enter our sweepstake, enjoy complimentary refreshments, browse our bring and buy and meet lovely, likeminded people.
Entry is just £5 for members and £10 for visitors. We look forward to seeing you.
Pot, scatter and tidy on those long spring days
At last, the longer days are with us. The Sun has a bit more strength and the smiles return to all gardeners’ faces.
Comfrey is a great herb to grow for the bees and to use as a liquid fertiliser for trees and plants in the garden. Cut off some leaves and put them in water for six weeks in a watering can before delivering a much-needed boost to flowers or vegetables. The leaves can also be cut and put straight into the compost bin as a soil additive.
It’s time to start the pumpkin seeds that you saved from your Halloween decorations. Place them in water for a day or so and then put them into a pot until the seedlings are established. Pumpkins spread and make good ground cover to keep the weeds at bay over the summer.
Scatter wildflower seeds to attract the butterflies and bees, your plants will appreciate them as pollinators later in the year.
Strawberries will appreciate straw being put under their leaves to keep the fruit from touching the ground in just a few weeks. Time to get organised and buy a bale from a local farm or a bag from a pet shop.
Marigolds bring beneficial insects such as ladybirds that prey on garden pests and can be bought as plug plants from the garden centre or the market. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them ideal for borders, pots, and vegetable companion planting, as their scent helps deter pests like whiteflies and carrot fly. While asparagus undoubtedly grows better
in the ground, it is possible to grow it in large containers if you are short on space or can’t justify giving over some of the veg patch for a prolonged period. Choose pots at least 30cm (1ft) wide and deep and fill with a good quality peat-free compost, planting one crown in the centre of each pot. In addition to regular watering and supports to prevent toppling over, potted asparagus benefits from a balanced liquid fertiliser during the growing season.
It’s the time to get your pots washed out and ready to grow on any seedlings as clean pots will make the potting on job easier and quicker. And don’t forget to label your seedlings or you may get peas where you wanted beans. We are all desperate to put the seedlings out that we have been nurturing in the greenhouse, conservatory or just a bedroom window ledge but be careful of frosts that can appear from nowhere! Put seedlings out in the daytime but find them somewhere warm at night for another few weeks.
A boring but essential job is to give the greenhouse/potting shed/summerhouse a good clean out and chase the spiders away. Move things around to give the places you will be spending a lot of time a freshen up. You never know what forgotten treasures you will find in the corner.
By Jules Evans - Stoke Road Allotments
Strawberries
Comfrey
Magical moths
Chocolate tip, powdered quaker, brindled beauty, streamer, flame shoulder, frosted green, lime hawk-moth.
I recently argued with my 10 year old cousin that moths aren’t boring or brown; she likes butterflies but dislikes boring moths. But moths are as beautiful as butterflies and often have much better names. The ones above are just a few of those that fly in April but there are also peach blossoms, true-lovers knots, emperors, gold spangles, ruby tigers and coronets. Moths are far from brown and boring.
It’s easy to overlook moths. Whilst some fly during the day, most of the 2500 UK species come out after dark so unless we see them fluttering around our security lights or happen to bump into one at rest during the day, we forget that they exist. Yet these delicately-winged insects are important pollinators and a vital part of the food chain, providing food – both as caterpillars and as adults – for birds, mammals and other insects.
It was once thought that moths navigated by moonlight and that’s why they’re attracted to our artificial lights. Recent research, though, suggests that artificial light confuses those moths that are passing by and in a bid to escape it, they end up looping around it. So creating dark spaces – turning off internal lights and security lights where you can – will help your local moth population to carry on with their nightly lives.
Recording moths that are attracted to light traps (they’re released once counted) has been happening for decades and it’s this longevity that has allowed scientists to accurately report that abundance of moths has dropped by 33% between 1968 and 2017. This may not sound like a big number but it represents millions and millions of individual moths. Further research has shown that the closer to the centre of an urban area you
get, the fewer moths you find. But gardening with wildlife in mind can make a difference.
When it comes to gardening for pollinating insects, you’ll often find that you’re advised to plant nectar and pollen rich flowers. If you’re thinking specifically of moths, though, think about night-scented flowers (like tobacco plants) as well as tubular flowers (like foxgloves). And you’ll need to also think about plants that caterpillars can eat too; drinkers will feed on longer grasses, pale tussocks will munch hawthorn hedges, scarlet tigers will nibble comfrey, early greys will feast on honeysuckle, vapourers will snack on apple tree leaves and blood-veins will eat dandelions. Just remember that holes in leaves are a sign of success.
To find out more about the magic of moths and how you can help them where you live, visit www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/wildabout-moths to download your free booklet. If you’re lucky enough to spot a hummingbird hawk-moth feasting on your flowers this year, take a photo or video and let us know www. worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/wildlife-sightings
Keep up to date with us...
- Facebook facebook.com/worcestershirewildlifetrust - Instagram instagram.com/worcswt/ - Bluesky bsky.app/profile/worcswt.bsky.social - YouTube youtube.com/c/WorcswildlifetrustUK1
by Wendy Carter, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust
Photos: Emperor by Richard Clifford (above) and True Lover’s Knot by Wendy Carter (left)
Padstone Tything walk
Start and finish – Bromsgrove Golf Centre Service Road, B60 1LD
One of the tythings mentioned in the Domesday Book was Asseberga, but within 100 years this had disappeared and Ashborough, as we would know it today, had been subsumed and renamed Padstone. Partly bordering Town Tything, it is unsurprising that it follows some urban roads, but it also traverses Bromsgrove Golf Centre and offers great views and forgotten paths.
1
Terrain – Generally easy with little in the way of steep gradients. There is one short stretch where a stout stick and thick trousers are recommended, though an alternative route is provided. We recommend downloading the What Three Words app.
Introductory notes to these Tything walks can be found in the June 2025 issue or at: Completely Bromsgrove June ‘25 issue 73 issuu by completelybromsgrove - Issuu
From the service road outside the golf club entrance head towards the bypass roundabout and cross towards the town centre. Continue up Stratford Road, dropping down into town, then on to the crossroads. At the traffic lights, continue up Stourbridge Road. At the brow of the hill, just before the pelican crossing, take the footpath on the right. Crossing the next road, continue to a play area. At its bottom right corner, in front of the bollards, turn right.
Drop down to reach Birmingham Road. Turn left, cross to the RH pavement and head up to the T-junction, using the pelican crossing to cross and turn left. At School Lane turn right and at the end, right again down Alcester Road. Use the LH pavement until it runs out, then cross to the RH side, to face oncoming traffic, before mounting the grass verge when possible. Passing Spirehouse Lane on the left, turn right onto a service road. After rejoining the main road, immediately take the footpath on the right. (Without a stick and long trousers, consider continuing along the road, rejoining the route at the fourth .)
Entering the field, veer left, diagonally away from the road, then, after approximately 50 metres, take a track heading up the RH bank through the second of two gaps in the hedge/tree boundary. (See photo.) Veer left behind the trees to continue parallel to the lower field. It’s an underused path that can become a little overgrown with nettles and brambles, making it difficult to pick out the exact line, but maintain your contour: downward slope to the left, towards the original field, upward slope to your right. When the path drops to a stile and lane, turn left, then to a T-junction. Turn right.
Cross to the LH side and continue until this pavement broadens, then cross back, taking the path marked Public Footpath Bromsgrove. After the path bends left, find a footpath and steps on the right . Through the trees, you will emerge onto the golf course. Turn right, following the course perimeter until, with a hedge in front, you reach a kissing gate in the corner. Turn left. As the LH tree line ends, continue straight ahead to another kissing gate in the facing tree line, or skirt the field clockwise. Re-enter the golf course. Turn right. Continue, passing the fourth tee on the left, then straight ahead at a path junction. As the main path bends left, veer right on a waymarked, narrower path, keeping to the trees. To avoid the dangerous recrossing of the A38, find your way to the clubhouse and the start point, or to complete the full tything boundary, cross the path at the third tee, emerging onto the Bromsgrove by-pass. Turn left, using the verge to reach a layby. Cross carefully onto the public footpath opposite. Turn left to walk parallel to the road and on reaching the roundabout, cross back to return to the start. 3
Neil Beaumont Walking route
Golf course
Your body is built with a healing language
Ever wondered why your body can heal, adapt, and thrive even after illness, stress, or injury?
It all begins with something most people have never heard of, yet it’s happening inside you every second of every day. It is called Redox Signaling. Once thought of as just a by-product of the body, today even universities are researching it and knowing its value to keeping us alive.
Think of it as your body’s built-in healing language or a powerful communication system that helps your cells talk to one another much like the internet and, as I like to call it, our inner-net.
These nano tiny chemical messengers allow cells to detect problems, repair damage, defend against stress, and renew themselves. Without strong cellular communication, the body simply cannot function at its best. Energy improves. Recovery is faster. Mental clarity sharpens. Your body becomes more resilient, adaptable, and balanced. It’s not about chasing health, it’s about supporting the systems that create health from within.
Value takeaways
Your body is designed to heal itself when supported properly - We are not built to break down. We are built to repair. The body constantly replaces damaged cells, fights invaders, and restores balance. But like any system, it needs the right environment and support to do this efficiently.
Cellular communication is the foundation of longterm vitality - You can eat well, exercise, and take supplements but if your cells aren’t communicating, results can be limited. Redox Signaling sits at the foundation of how the body functions, adapts, and ages.
Daily habits directly influence your body’s ability to repair and renew - Sleep, hydration, movement, nutrition, stress levels every choice either
strengthens or weakens cellular signaling. Small daily actions compound into lifelong wellbeing.
Key benefits of strong Redox Signaling
More natural energy - not stimulants, but energy created at a cellular level.
Stronger resilience and recovery - physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Better focus and overall performance - healthy cells support a healthy brain and body.
True health isn’t built overnight, it’s built cell by cell, choice by choice. And this is where many people feel called to something bigger not just improving their own wellbeing but helping others do the same.
As awareness grows around cellular health and redox science, more individuals are stepping forward to share, educate, and build communities focused on proactive wellness.
Getting involved isn’t just about a product, it’s about being part of a movement that empowers people to understand their bodies, take ownership of their health, and create new opportunities for themselves and their families.
Whether your interest is personal vitality, supporting loved ones, or exploring a purposedriven business path, the door is open. Because when people feel better, they live better. And when you help others do that, the ripple effect is powerful.
Your cells are listening to every choice you make today, fuel them with intention. And if this message speaks to you, share it. You never know who might be ready to hear it. For more information, contact colette@ need4change.com
RRGS Dodderhill School - Girls Equipped for the World
GS Dodderhill in Droitwich Spa is a school for girls with ambition. Girls with tenacity. Girls who think independently, speak with confidence and lead with purpose. This is a place where strength is cultivated, voices are heard and expectations are high.
For girls aged 9 - 16, RGS Dodderhill offers a focused, academically ambitious environment designed around how girls learn, lead and communicate. Every pupil is known, valued and driven to achieve their very best. This enables us to stretch, support and inspire self-assured young women who are ready to step forward and lead with confidence.
Girls are encouraged to be fearless and curious. They question, debate and analyse, taking intellectual risks and developing resilience. Free from limiting stereotypes, confidence grows naturally and leadership becomes part of everyday school life.
Academic standards are uncompromising. Specialist teaching, small class sizes and a flexible GCSE curriculum ensure girls pursue subjects that reflect their strengths and ambitions. As part of The RGS Worcester Family of Schools, pupils benefit from outstanding facilities and a digitally fluent education that prepares them for a rapidly changing world.
Beyond the classroom, girls explore their passions and develop character through Cocurricular opportunities. Sport, performing arts, STEM, leadership roles, trips and enrichment activities encourage collaboration, problem-solving and global awareness.
Pastoral care and an extensive Learning Development Team equips girls to meet challenges with confidence. Tutors and pastoral staff guide girls to understand themselves, take responsibility and manage pressure effectively. Support adapts to different stages from Year Five to Year Eleven, helping pupils to develop emotional intelligence, resilience and focus.
Girls leave RGS Dodderhill grounded, capable and confident. Ready to take on challenges, lead with purpose and make their mark on the world.
Our Open Week at RGS Dodderhill offers the opportunity to discover a school where ambition is normal, confidence is built and girls lead. Please do come and visit us.
ReNEW launches in style with performancesvibrant
The Cultural Compact for North East Worcestershire’s first major creative project, ReNEW , has been successfully launched.
Held at Rubicon’s Boathouse Café at Arrow Valley Country Park in Redditch, the launch event brought together partners, community members, young people, local arts organisations, and representatives from Arts Council England.
Bromsgrove District Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, leisure and culture, Councillor Shirley Webb, said: “ ReNEW marks a real step forward for creativity. By listening to residents and working closely with our partners, we’re creating a programme that is welcoming, ambitious, and rooted in local stories.”
ReNEW : Sharing Stories, Shaping Futures has been specifically designed for North-East Worcestershire and the country park provided the perfect backdrop for a vibrant youth-led performance created by Highly Sprung Performance in partnership with HoW College, Waseley Hills School, Arrow Vale, and Chadsgrove School.
Chair of the Cultural Compact for North East Worcestershire, Petro Nicolaides, said: “It was inspiring to see so many partners, performers and community members come together for the launch. This programme is built on collaboration and on the belief that everyone’s story matters.”
Midlands area director at Arts Council England, Liz Johnson, added: “We’re proud to invest
£550,000 into Bromsgrove and Redditch through our National Lottery funded Place Partnership programme. Creativity and culture make us feel happier, and proud of the places where we live.”
ReNEW aims to reduce barriers to involvement with creative activity, responding directly to feedback from residents who want more informal, welcoming, and accessible creative spaces, places where creativity can become part of daily life.
The launch event reflected a strong commitment to partnership working, amplifying diverse voices, and making creativity fun and accessible for everyone over the next 18 months and beyond.
Applications are now open for the three opportunities that make up the Sharing Stories strand of the programme: Awe & Wander, Gateway to Nature, and Wagons Roll. Each one caters to a specific art form: digital, visual, and performing respectively, and offers a chance for young people and artists to work together.
ReNEW is also currently seeking young people aged between 16 and 25 to join its Creative Producers scheme, which is an opportunity to gain hands on experience, collaborate with professional artists, and build new skills and confidence. For more details, email www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/renew
Image: Stellarium
Fast-moving meteors reward patient sky watchers
A pril 22nd marks the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower. Meteors, often known by the misnomer “shooting stars” are nothing to do with stars and are usually associated with debris from comets.
Comets originate in outer reaches of our solar system, spending much of their lives as frozen blocks of mainly dust and ice. Imagine a comet as a large dirty snowball. When the orbit of a comet brings it closer to the Sun, the ice melts, releasing the gas and dust which stream away from the nucleus, giving rise to the characteristic comet tail. This material becomes dispersed along the comet’s orbit and when the Earth passes through it, friction from our atmosphere causes any particles to heat up and vaporise. They are visible as a short-lived streak across the night sky.
Most meteors are from particles no larger than a grain of sand, although occasionally larger, pebble size, objects arrive. These produce fireballs which can be bright enough to cause shadows and leave trails across the sky.
The Lyrids, first recorded in 687 BC and are now known to be associated with Comet Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861. Meteor showers are usually named after the constellation from which they appear to radiate, in this case Lyra. If you trace back the path of Lyrid meteors, you will arrive at point near the bright white star Vega in the eastern sky. The Lyrids do not have any direct association with Lyra and what you are seeing is a visual effect.
The same effect is seen if you are driving in a snow blizzard, with the snow appearing to originate from a point in the distance.
Observers can typically expect to see around ten fast-moving meteors per hour, the brightest of which can leave trains (trails) which last several seconds. The best viewing will be late evening onwards, when observers should keep the crescent Moon behind them and allow at least 15 minutes for their eyes to become dark adapted.
Owners of a DSLR or mirrorless camera can try imaging. Mount your camera on a sturdy tripod and pointed toward Vega. With a lens of 14 to 24mm and exposures of 15 to 20 seconds, use an intervalometer to take multiple exposures. You will have many images with no meteors, but you may be lucky enough to capture a bright coloured meteor across a background of stars.
Bromsgrove Astronomical Society’s AGM is being held on Monday, April 20th and Dr Steve Barrett will present a talk entitled Exploring the Solar System.
.Visitors are always welcome, so if you would like to learn more about astronomy, you can find more details at: www.broms-astro.org.uk
by Adrian Bigland
Grab trainersyourfor fund-raising race day
There’s still time for runners of all abilities to sign up for the Bromsgrove Fun Run over 5K and 10K, which takes place at Bromsgrove Rugby Club, Finstall Park, on Sunday, May 10th.
So far 100 runners have registered for the annual event and Worcestershire accountancy firm Ormerod Rutter will have 32 people taking part.
Organiser Nicole Harris said: “I started the race in 1989 when my nine-year-old son Marc lost his battle with leukaemia.
“It has become a popular community event in the town and over the years our branch of Blood Cancer UK has raised more than £1,200,000, which all goes towards vital research.
“The 10K race starts at 11am and the 5K race begins at 11.10am. Both are road races.
“Anyone who raises over £30 for Blood Cancer UK will receive a t-shirt on the morning of the race. There will be some stalls on the day, including food and a bar, plus sports massage. We are also hoping to partner with Leo’s Army to recruit more stem cell donors on the day.”
Please note that on the day Walnut Lane will be closed for 45 minutes from 11am.
To register for the race, visit www.bcukbromsgrove. org/2025/11/02/2026-fun-runenter-here
GArtrix brings the energy thisSpring
et ready for a jam-packed month of big name comedy, electrifying tribute shows, powerful live music and must-see big screen events at Artrix.
Whether you’re in the mood to laugh out loud, sing your heart out or discover something new, the Bromsgrove venue is the place to be.
The month opens with a comedy heavyweight as Reginald D Hunter and guests comes to Artrix on April 1st.
K-Pop Superstars (April 9th) – a vibrant celebration of global pop
The Radiohead Project (April 10th) – an atmospheric and authentic tribute to the classic band
The Annie Lennox & Eurythmics
Experience by Yourythmics (April 11th) –synth-pop classics
Shania Twain Tribute by Shania Live (April 12th) – a country-pop favourite
The Remi Harris Hot Club Trio (April 17th) – world-class gypsy jazz and blues
There is a powerful theatrical experience with Samuel Beckett’s play Krapp’s Last Tape on April 2nd.
One Night of Adele feat Naomi Johnson (April 17th) – powerhouse vocals and emotion
Comedy and commentary collide in Jonny Cole: Armagudd’n 2026 from April 14th and 15th, promising topical humour and plenty of laughs.
Music fans are in for a treat with a packed calendar of sensational tribute performances and live concerts:
Smooth Criminal – Michael Jackson Tribute (April 2nd) – moonwalking magic and iconic hits
Electrik Live Orchestra (April 4th) – highenergy orchestral rock
WILD BOYS BACK TO THE 80s (April 23rd) – the ultimate retro party night
Artrix continues to bring the best of national and international performance to Bromsgrove audiences with:
National Theatre Live: All My Sons (April 20th)
Royal Opera House Live: The Magic Flute (April 21st)
Tickets are available online at www.artrixbromsgrove.co.uk or at the onsite box office, which is open from 10am to 12pm on Wednesday and Saturday and from 6pm to 8pm on Monday.
Two inspiring men reign this month!
Film lovers have a couple of wonderful movies to look forward to at the FeckenOdeon Cinema Society in Feckenham in April.
Friday, 17th April at 8pm
Saturday, 25th April at 7.30pm
THE CHORAL (12A)
As WW1 rages on, the Choral Society in a small English town has lost most of its men to the army. The Choral’s committee is determined to press ahead with new recruits. They engage a driven new chorus master, Dr. Henry Guthrie – recently returned from a career in Germany. As conscription papers start to arrive, the community discovers that the best response to the war is to make music together. Scripted by Alan Bennett, this heart-warming film stars Ralph Fiennes, Mark Addy and Alun Armstrong. (UK 2026)
THE ONE-HUNDRED-YEAROLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT OF THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED (15)
Based on the internationally best-selling novel by Jonas Jonasson, the unlikely story of a 100-year-old man who decides it’s not too late to start over. He climbs out of his care home window and heads off into the unknown. For most people it would be the adventure of a lifetime, but Allan Karlsson’s unexpected journey is not his first. For a century he’s made the world uncertain, and now he is on the loose again. Fast, funny and explosive! (Sweden 2014)
Tickets for all FeckenOdeon films can be booked online through feckenodeon.co.uk , by phone on 0333 666 3366 or in person at The Rose & Crown and The Village Shop in Feckenham. The FeckenOdeon is Feckenham’s community cinema based at Feckenham Village Hall, High Street, Feckenham. B96 6HN
BARTS line-up throws
SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends set sail in their biggest, all-new, can’t miss cinematic event ever… THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS , being screened at Bromsgrove Arts on April 2nd.
Desperate to be a big guy, SpongeBob sets out to prove his bravery to Mr Krabs by following The Flying Dutchman, a mysterious swashbuckling ghost pirate, on a seafaring comedy-adventure that takes him to the deepest depths of the deep sea, where no Sponge has gone before.
Our final screening of Shakespeare’s OTHELLO will be on April 5th. This compelling new production stars David Harewood OBE, Toby Jones OBE, Caitlin FitzGerald, Vinette Robinson and Luke Treadaway. Filmed live at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London, this epic story of manipulation, jealousy and toxic masculinity explores the darker side of power, rage and desire.
Winning outstanding British film and best actress in a leading role for Jessie Buckley at this year’s BAFTAS, HAMNET , which is being screened on April 15th, tells the powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.
spotlight on the Bard
G et ready for a night of nonstop live music on April 18th as THE PRONOUNCED t ake you on a highenergy journey through the decades. From the unforgettable sounds of the 1950s to today’s modern hits, this show celebrates the music that shaped generations. Expect iconic classics, crowd-pleasing anthems, and modern favourites all performed live with their own twist.
Stratford Theatre Company performs MUCH ADO ABOUT FALSTAFF , on our stage on April 22nd. This new play focuses on Sir John Falstaff, rogue, philanderer and glutton, but also one of Shakespeare’s greatest and enduring comic creations. As the creditors arrive demanding payment, will Falstaff resort to marrying Mistress Quickly to pay off his debts? Will he turn teetotal? Will he mellow in his old age? Find out the answers to all these important questions that Shakespeare never bothered to answer and join Falstaff for an evening of jollity, frivolity and more Shakespearean insults than ever previously heard on a theatrical stage.
Returning to our stage on April 25th is JACK GOODALL , who performs his own kind of music, contemporary yet inspired by an array of different artists. Having studied under and jammed with blues performers Ian Siegal and Aynsley Lister and Afrobeat star Dele Sosimi, Jack displays these stylistic influences in his own music while melodically and lyrically very much doing his own thing. Supporting Jack will be SAMduo. Martin and Sandy from SAM band will be performing songs drawing on their love of blues, classic soul, jazz and singer songwriter genres.
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
S-Cross serenity and
It’s difficult to find a cross word when appraising the Suzuki S-Cross Mild Hybrid Ultra Allgrip manual because this superb ‘crossover’ induces a rhapsodic mood. Representing today’s motoring at its best, it does everything asked of it superblyso no ‘cross words’ here.
It’s a pleasant, well-made vehicle to drive, with charming looks. There’s a ‘chumminess’ - yet with classiness too. The earlier S-Cross looked rather anonymous but this one displays a definite presence. Beneath this subjective delight lie facts. There are two equipment grades: Motion and Ultra. The Ultra All Grip tested has great comfort features plus the latest electronic connectivity - and all safety features you could wish for. Unfortunately, there’s one feature I wish I could be without... forever. That infernal lane departure intervention tugs at the steering wheel at the sight of a white line. However, there’s useful traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitoring and a brilliant 360-degree camera giving you super confidence when manoeuvring.
The 1.4, four cylinder petrol engine is a gem; working together with a lithium
battery and a 48-volt electric system. This Mild Hybrid System is one of the best, giving a smooth and torquey power delivery. All is linked to a six-speed manual gearbox - so good that I reconsidered my commitment to automatics. Naturally there is a stop start system - that’s one step ahead of the grinding systems used by other manufacturers. Suzuki’s system uses a belt drive instead of gears and you stop and start again in near silence. You hardly know the engine has stopped and you don’t hear it start again.
superb performance
The interior is very comfortable. Hard wearing and functional materials will obviously stand the rigours of family use. It’s a warm and pleasant place to be, constructed without resorting to the use of glitzy and fluffy delicate materials. This is a car built to survive.
There are enough airbags to refloat the Titanic and there’s enough space to carry more than you will ever need to carry. Boot space is adequate with a floor that can be set at different heights. There’s no need for options because there’s an abundance of the best gear on the Ultra - not least of which are the leather seats.
Price is set at a level guaranteed to maintain that approving grin on the face of the Mona Lisa. Just over £28,299 is exceptional value.
With 4wd technology, it’s so advanced that Isaac Newton would struggle to comprehend how it works. but he would certainly award an apple to the engineer behind the delightful driving
experience. It’s quite capable off-road - so unless you go to extremes, you are unlikely to get stuck.
Mediating the gap between engine and wheels are transmission systems offering yet more choice. You can go ‘auto’ but the manual version tested here with six carefully chosen ratios, provides performance without shooting you in the wallet at the pumps (It will easily return more than 50 mpg overall.) Gear ratios have been well matched to the power characteristics allowing lively acceleration and easy cruising in sixth.
On the highways and by-ways it handles beautifully, rides very well and goes fast enough (near 125mph I’m told) rewarding you with progress: not of the snobbish kind but of the democratic kind. It’s an allround proper motor for today.
“Does it do absolutely everything wonderfully?” You ask. Possibly not. What it does do is turn every drive into a safari of serenity - a regal progress making aspiration redundant. When driving the new Suzuki S-Cross you are certain of one thing. You have already arrived.
by Syd Taylor
Hopes high as days lengthen and new season starts
As Avoncroft Cricket Club begins another season, there’s a renewed sense of energy around the ground - a feeling that the club is not only moving forward but opening its arms wider than ever to the community we’re proud to represent.
Cricket has always been about more than runs and wickets at Avoncroft. It’s about people: the volunteers who give their evenings to keep the club running, the junior players discovering a lifelong love of the game, the seniors who set the standard, and the families who fill the boundary with encouragement on warm summer nights. As chairman, I’ve had the privilege of seeing all of this up close, and this year that spirit feels stronger than ever.
On the field, we are working hard to build depth across our senior sides, continue the momentum within our junior section, and further develop the women’s and girls’ game, which is fast becoming one of the club’s most exciting growth areas.
To support this, we’re actively welcoming new players - whether experienced cricketers or complete beginners who simply want to be part of something local and friendly. Anyone thinking about
giving cricket a try will find a warm, inclusive home at Avoncroft.
Off the pitch, we continue to invest in improving our facilities for players, members, and visitors.
One of this year’s key projects is the installation of a new scoreboard - a much needed upgrade that will enhance matchdays and support the club’s long term development plans. It’s a tangible example of our commitment to building a sustainable future while honouring the traditions that make village cricket special.
As we look ahead to the summer, our goal is simple: keep growing, keep improving, and keep bringing people together through the game we love. Whether you’re interested in playing, volunteering, or just enjoying a drink and some cricket on a sunny afternoon, we’d love to welcome you to the Croft.
by Mark Whitehead
IEight goals shared in a Sporting thriller
n what was the most dramatic game of Bromsgrove Sporting’s season, their final match of February saw them beat AFC Sudbury 5-3 in a crucial six-pointer.
With both teams looking to accrue points to secure their league status, it was Sudbury who looked like they would emerge victorious, when they went 3-1 up against Sporting’s ten men, after Luke Benbow was sent off for a handball offence.
However, two goals from substitute Tyrone Lewthwaite, along with strikes from captain Aaron Roberts and midfielder Jack Newell, turned the game completely on its head, as Sporting went on to claim a vital victory in front of a joyous crowd.
Other matches in the same period as that encounter saw the Rouslers lose by just the solitary goal, with the side arguably deserving of more than zero points across fixtures against Worcester City, Kettering Town and Stourbridge.
More new faces have been added to the squad; with five players coming in on loan - versatile full back Isaac Godwin (Shrewsbury Town), Southern League Central winning defender Lewis Green (Bedford Town), energetic midfielder Kyle Belmonte (Worcester City), exciting attacker Kian Ryley (Solihull Moors), and entertaining playmaker Charlie Trustram (Luton Town).
February player of the month went the way of Luke Softley, who became the first player this season to win the accolade twice. Signed in August from Hungerford Town, the defender has become a fans favourite, with countless assured displays at the back.
The match against Kettering saw Jack Newell play his 150th game for Bromsgrove - in doing so, the popular midfielder became the sixth Bromsgrove player to hit this landmark. Aaron Roberts, Jack Wilson, Craig Jones, Danny Morris and Josh Quaynor are the other Sporting stars in the illustrious sextet.
At the win over Sudbury, Sporting welcomed Carina and Chantelle from Chadsgrove School. They raised more than £180 from a collection to help develop their learning and playing area, with club sponsor Elliott Nash kindly donating £1,000 to the cause. Afterwards, Aaron Roberts and manager Tim Flowers visited the school, in which they gifted a cheque and met pupils.
Sporting’s U21s returned from a February fixture drought to win their first game of March, beating Ashby Ivanhoe U21s 2-1. Alemi Obey-GM and Harvey Flemming bagged the goals.
Sporting has announced that it is moving closer to confirming a new controlling interest - Bromsgrove Sporting Holdings Limited is the consortium that is in the process of acquiring a 75 per cent controlling shareholding in the club.
For more news, including details of reduced ticket prices for the remainder of the season and news from the Ladies, U21s, and Youth sides, visit bromsgrovesporting.co.uk by Max
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Defender Luke Softley celebrating winning Player of the Month with Brian Poole, from the club’s ground staff team
Photos by Chris Jepson
Jack Kelly and Jack Newell celebrate a goal together
Victory cry from Jack Kelly and joy from Aaron Roberts
