Upton Times May 2021 - Issue 1

UptonTimes

A free monthly newspaper for Upton-upon-Severn and surrounding villages

FREE Issue 1May 2021

Welcome to our new newspaper! We are very pleased to be publishing the Upton Times and look forward to serving the public and businesses for years to come. We follow Betty Williams who published the Upton News for over twenty years. A remarkable achievement for which she must be congratulated. Publishing a newspaper is not an easy task and this makes her achievement so outstanding and a very difficult act to follow!

Due to legal reasons we are unable to use the same name. It has been registered by a national news distribution agency. So we have a new name with an experienced team of first class contributors, ready to move forward and produce a newspaper of which we can be proud. We have successfully published the Pershore Times for the last

five years, using the latest media technology. During the lockdown we published every month, received excellent support from our advertisers and our on-line and social media followers increased to over 20,000!

We have a long family association with Upton-uponSevern and it is a ‘special’ place to us.

Optimism is in the air! A new dawn is breaking. The government is unlocking the rules and regulations that we have lived with for so long!

The vaccination drug and the way it has been administered is a brilliant achievement. The level of infections and fatalities has dropped dramatically due to these outstanding efforts. Things are looking good and it’s hard to believe that we are returning to a so-called normal life, as we have almost forgotten what that was like!

Spring is here, a wonderful time, summer to follow with more COVID relaxations in May and June. We may be able to watch some cricket, enjoy other sports and go to the pub!

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Ginger & Pickles - Traditional Toys

You might be forgiven for thinking this is a food shop until you read the next part ‘Traditional Toys’. The shop is situated in Upton-upon-Severn and Patrick Badham is its proud owner. Patrick used to be a joiner and cabinet maker but gave this up to open his own shop selling traditional toys instead of the plastic variety.

Where did the name come from?

There is a book by Beatrix Potter of the same name and both Patrick and his wife are redheads!

Unfortunately, two weeks after opening, we were in the first Lockdown. The shop had to shut having barely opened. Patrick was determined to continue his new business and began promoting it on Facebook with the help of family and friends. An old friend stepped up to help build a web-site and online trade took off! With the easing of Lockdown, the business flourished even more. Orders came in and Patrick set up his own delivery service, free within ten to fifteen miles.

Ginger and Pickles sells predominately traditional wooden toys made from wood obtained from sustainable forests. It also stocks a range of other products such as hand puppets, children’s books and board games. No plastic toys here, just toys that will endure and be cherished. Already the shop is a great success with plenty of local support, many preferring to avoid using Amazon and support businesses on their doorstep instead.

Patrick is delighted that the shop

is proving to be such a success and acknowledges the wonderful support he has been given within the community and further afield. You will find him in New Street.

Re-printed from December Pershore Times

Ginger and Pickles

Traditional Toys

2A New St, Upton upon Severn, Worcester WR8 0H 01684 594895

Open Tue - Sat 9am - 5pm www.gingerandpickles traditionaltoys.co.uk

Celebrating a year of online classes

50% admitted ‘often’ or ‘always’. Loneliness can have a serious impact on mental health, leading to depression, stress, anxiety and feeling unable to cope.

Imagine being housebound with a baby or toddler, day and night, for months on end. That has been the reality for thousands of young families during these health crisis lockdowns. Not being able to socialise or have the support from their friends and families has been tough.

Having a baby can be hard at the best of times, it’s exhausting with limited sleep. It can be lonely, the British Red Cross and Co-op conducted research into the loneliness of young parents and found a staggering 82% of mothers under 30 felt lonely ‘some of the time’ and almost

Baby and Toddler classes play a huge part in a parent’s first year with a new baby. Socialising develops important life-skills for children, playing with others and learning difficult concepts such as sharing and turn-taking! Adults forge new friendships as they navigate this exciting but challenging new time in their lives. Those feelings of loneliness can abate knowing that others are going through it too, with similar experiences. Social interaction and connecting with others is key. Singing in particular is proved to benefit post-natal depression significantly, releasing natural happy endorphins. Baby signing

allows parents to understand their children long before they’re able to talk, relieving parents of the frustration from ‘guesswork’ and giving babies a means to express themselves. Just spending time with other parents and carers, connecting over shared experiences, improves wellbeing.

Within days of the first lockdown being announced in March 2020, TinyTalk were ready to deliver their new, innovative, live classes online via Facebook Live and Zoom. They provide all the fun of a face-to-face class but from the comfort of your own home!

Parents, toddlers and babies have all been able to keep developing, learning and interacting with their teacher and others throughout the last year whilst most importantly still being able to feel connected to a supportive community.

Green target acceleration

The Government is introducing legislation to commit to reducing emissions by three quarters by 2035 – an increase of ten per cent – in an attempt to halt global warming and encourage other countries to also commit to ambitious reduction targets.

The UK has already taken important steps to reduce carbon emissions by 43 per cent and this further step comes ahead of a climate change conference hosted by the new American President Joe Biden later this week.

The UK will also play a leading role in this global challenge when it hosts the United Nations Climate Change COP 26 conference in Glasgow in November.

The Government is already working towards its commitment to reduce emissions in 2030 by at least 68 per cent compared to 1990 levels through the UK’s latest Nationally Determined Contribution - the highest reduction target made by a major economy to date.

£3 billion Bus revolution

The UK continues to break records in renewable electricity generation, which has more than quadrupled since 2010 while low carbon electricity overall now gives us over half of our total generation. Harriett said: “The Government continues to take important steps forward, enshrined in law, to commit to reducing carbon emissions and lead by example with much less reliance on carbon already and important plans for cleaner, greener transport infrastructure. Whenever I visit primary schools, climate change and the environment is always the top subject for discussion and although as a country, we are making serious progress on this issue, as a planet we need to do much more.Climate change is an issue that must dominate the national conversation, but I am also keen to make sure that it drives our own local economy to create new jobs and new opportunities whilst making sure we are the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we found it.”

Harriett Baldwin MP has offered her support for a new national bus strategy which will reform the sector and offer £3 billion of investment. The plan will pave the way for cheaper, quicker and more reliable bus services as part of the Government’s levelling-up agenda.

The new strategy will require local authorities to work in partnership with bus operators to improve services for passengers in order to be eligible for funding in future.

Bus service operators will be required to offer simpler bus fares, better services in the evenings and at weekends and a ticketing system integrated with the train network. Harriett said:

“I’ve worked with both the local

council and individual bus companies to try and secure rural services including connections for Upton-upon-Severn, Kempsey and Pershore. Bus connections are particularly important for rural areas and it is frustrating for us all, and especially the bus companies, when big diesel buses travel around the county with so many empty seats.

I welcome this strategy that will both invest in bus services and greener alternatives, but also make it easier and more accessible for local people –hopefully making it a viable alternative to the car. We’re all trying to do our bit to reach our national net-zero ambition and much more use of public transport will be an important part of that effort.”

Homebuyers make the most of Stamp duty holiday

In the budget, Rishi Sunak announced the extension of the scheme to support and boost the property market which has been hit by lockdown. The stamp duty holiday was originally introduced on 8th July 2020 to help buyers and to restart the housing market, the key driver of our economy. Tom Hayman-Joyce says: “The extension to the current stamp duty holiday will support our ethos of helping homeowners realise their dreams in the Cotswolds. It’s been a busy time and will allow those to benefit who may have missed out due to transactional delays, as the relief tapers it will continue to help until 30th September.”

What it means to you:

·The existing policy is extended from 31st March to 30th June 2021.

·No Stamp duty is payable for purchases below £500,000 (unless it’s a second/additional home purchase) and £15,000 reduction for purchases over £500,0000 if the sale completes on or before 30th June.

· No stamp duty is payable for purchases below £250,000 (unless it’s a second/additional home purchase) and £2,500 reduction for purchases over £250,0000 if the sale completes after 30th June and on or before 30th September.

What is stamp duty? Stamp duty is a tax paid by the buyer on the purchase of property or land in England and Northern Ireland. Call Hayman-Joyce, email or Whatsapp if you'd like to sellor buy - your dream home in the Cotswolds. 01608 65118 |

TomHJ@haymanjoyce.co.uk |

www.haymanjoyce.co.uk

A few words from…

Harriett Baldwin MP

Back hop growers

The Government has been called on to consider a special scheme to help farmers find people to pick their crops this year, as the country starts to emerge from lockdown. Harriet quizzed the Employment Minister about schemes which can be used to help local employers create new jobs for young people through the successful Kickstart programme. She has been contacted by local employers who have needed assistance to take on staff and she met with a delegation of farmers last week who are also keen to identify routes to recruit staff to pick produce this year. The Seasonal

Agricultural Workers Scheme helps farmers to access staff from abroad but Harriett urged the Government to consider focusing on creating jobs for local young people through a specific kickstart scheme for farmers and local growers. Harriett said: “Farmers face the annual challenge of recruiting people to come and pick their crops and with travel restrictions in place at home and abroad, it is essential that local businesses look nearer to home to fill their vacancies. The national kickstart scheme has been set up to help young people into full time employment and I suggested that the Department for Work and Pensions could focus on helping to get the farming community to access this opportunity. I’m also getting reports from smaller businesses that the scheme is difficult to access so I took the opportunity to feed back to Government that we could be doing better. As the schools fully re-open and we start to plan for the opening of the economy, I’m eager to see all options explored to help address the increased unemployment by creating new jobs, especially for young people. Last year, we created special schemes to encourage local people to go out and pick the crops. It is a job I enjoyed doing as a student in the 1970s, and that message will be as relevant again as the peak growing season approaches.”

Growth support for businesses

A £520 million scheme which will help businesses to develop new skills and create a platform for growth. The scheme was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak at the Budget earlier this month and it is aimed at small and medium sized businesses to help them grow through the post-Covid recovery period. The Help to Grow scheme offers subsidised executive training courses at some of the country’s top business schools and helps staff to improve their digital skills. Businesses can now register for the scheme which will formally open in June. Harriett said:

“Businesses of all sizes are

going to face challenges this year as we plan to re-open the economy and get back to a normal way of life. This scheme will help local business people to develop their skills and get the best possible support to grow their businesses. Throughout the pandemic, the Government encouraged people to access free courses to enhance their skills during lockdown and now that we are preparing to come out, there are important steps that local firms can take to get ready for business growth.”

Businesses can find out more information and register their interest by visiting www.helptogrow.campaign.gov.uk

With pubs and restaurants closed down for periods of lockdown, brewers have reduced their beer and lager production, and this means that hop growers face reduced demand for their crops this summer.

And although the hospitality sector has received additional support including tax and rates relief and the popular ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme, hops producers are facing a second year of shrinking demand. There are only 59 hop growers in England and many are based in Harriett’s West Worcestershire constituency and neighbouring Herefordshire as well as major hop exporters.

Harriett Baldwin has been contacted by local growers and agreed to sign a joint letter from MPs to the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs, calling for a plan to

support the hop industry this Summer.

Harriett said: “Hop growing is one of our most valued skills and farms have been produced world-beating hops for many decades producing beers at home and abroad. Hop vines are permanent crops that require expertise to nurture and it is not possible to stop growing the crop for a year or two while demand is in flux.

Farmers are worried that demand will decline again this year meaning that farmers won’t harvest their crops and may be forced to stop growing hops for good. During the Summer, hop vines form a wonderful part of our rural landscape and I am keen to join efforts to extend support for the industry and ensure that we preserve hop production and this vital agricultural sector.”

Fund to help re-opening

A £56 million fund which will help councils prepare to re-open high streets as lockdown restrictions are lifted. The cash is part of a wider package of measures to revitalise high streets and level up communities – including steps to make it easier for eateries to serve customers outdoors and set up market stalls this Summer. Malvern Hills District Council will get £70,000 and Wychavon District Council will receive £115,000 to encourage people back onto the high street. A total of £56 million will be invested through the new Welcome Back Fund to help councils across England boost tourism, improve green spaces

and provide more outdoor seating areas, markets and food stall pop-ups – giving people more, safer options to reunite with friends and relatives.

Harriett Baldwin said: “People have been amazing in following the rules and staying at home but soon the conditions will allow us to return to the things we love doing. “Last summer, I was out and about in the constituency helping promote many of our businesses who re-opened their doors and I plan to do the same as conditions allow.

“It is good to see councils getting access to Government support to start planning for reopening and I look forward to hearing their plans shortly.”

Green home boost

County social housing will be going greener through a £62 million Government initiative. Wychavon District Council has successfully bid for funding to improve more than 230 homes with energy efficient heating systems to help reduce their carbon footprint.

The fund, allocated by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, will allow 2,400 homes to be improved, supporting over 1,300 jobs as well as helping families reduce their energy bills.

Harriett Baldwin said: “We are already rolling out a series of

programmes to move our country towards the net-zero target and I want to congratulate Wychavon District Council for this successful bid.

“This fund has the double win of helping make social housing more efficient but also meaning that local people will get to pay less for heating their homes.

“I’ve been keen to see the widening of schemes which help people improve the energy efficiency of their homes and I hope that this will pave the way to many more homes getting this sort of upgrade.”

Reg Moule

In addition to his award winning media work Reg is also available to speak at Gardening Societies and other organisations something that he has been doing regularly since 1972.

If you would like Reg to visit your group please email reg.moule@gmail.com for further details and to check availability.

Soxy Crafts

I have always been a “crafty” type of person. Not in the sneaky meaning but in the wool and sticky back plastic meaning. I was taught to crochet and knit from an early age, so that I could make my doll her own personalised clothes. Over the years I have made things for my children when they were young. Hand puppets, theatres, kitchens, etc you get my drift. People have always said why don’t you start a business and sell these. Commitment to jobs, finance were some things standing in my way.

Along came COVID19 and lockdown and a lot of time on my hands, a bonus to this terrible time.

Jackson’s appoint new General Manager

So SOXY CRAFT was born. A little family of fun characters soon materialised. They are really fun to make, they really do become a character in your hands as you are making them. I have realised that I can personalise them as a unique gift. I can theme them for the seasons i.e. skiers, gardeners, occasions such as birthdays, sports characters the list is endless.

If you would like one please contact Wendy on 07733 401762 or email me at shrimpton733@gmail.com

Find us on facebook: soxycrafts or visit www.soxycrafts.co.uk

Tennis Centre is back!

Jackson Family Funeral Directors welcomes Jonathan Branchett to the team as their new General Manager. As part of their expansion plans, this is a brand new position for Jackson’s echoing their continued drive and commitment to care for the Worcestershire community. Jackson Family Funeral Directors having been established in 2018 with an experienced team of funeral directors, Jonathan joins the business to springboard the next phase of growth in 2021. Matthew Jackson, Director at Jackson Family Funeral Directors explains, “The ability to adapt and grow has never been more important than in the last 12 months with the COVID-19 pandemic testing all businesses,

including those within the funeral industry. We are delighted that Jonathan has joined the team and as I have known him for many years. His strong leadership qualities, compassionate nature and forward thinking attitude will provide a unique foundation for growth at Jackson’s. Renowned for their family values, Jackson Family Funeral Directors is one of only very few independently owned funeral directors in the region, with many other businesses being bought by national organisations.

For more information regarding Jackson Family Funeral Directors, please call 01386 552724 or alternatively email: marketing@ jacksonfamilyfunerals.com

Pershore Bowling Club – Open Day

Interested in taking up a new activity?

Meeting new people?

Open Day on Monday 31st May from 10.00am until 3.00pm.

As the restrictions ease and grassroots sport starts to play again, it’s smashing to be able to announce that Pershore Tennis Centre is back!

The team at the local awardwinning club have opened up their outdoor courts for members and encourage everyone to join them and join in with the fun.

Sarah McCormick, Club Chair, says: “We are extremely happy

to welcome our members back to the club today and are very thankful for their support over the past year. We can’t wait to get back on the courts and play some tennis!”

For more about Pershore Tennis Centre, how to become a member and how to book, please go to: http://pershoretennis.co.uk/ or call 01386 556677

We are in Abbey Park, Pershore, so why not come along, try your hand at bowling, discover more about this great summer sport and Pershore Bowling Club. Free coaching is available to anyone who is interested.

The Day will be managed to ensure social distancing but please wear a mask when you arrive. No special clothing is required but wear flat soled shoes, (no heels) such as trainers. It would be helpful if you could contact the Secretary in advance to agree a time for your visit on the day.

Our Secretary is Alison Cartwright

Telephone 01386 552161

Email pershorebowlingclub@outlook.com

If you cannot come on the day, contact Alison to arrange another day and time when you can visit.

(Jonathan Branchett, New General Manager at Jackson Family Funeral Directors)

Cooking for fun! Ailsa Craddock

Cooking this month starts with a pair of wellies and a bag – for today is the day to go out and collect the first of the year’s green treasures – wild garlic. The weather has finally been kind to us (something has to!) and we have been having the most beautiful Spring weathereverything is starting to bloom and hazes of green cover the trees and hedges. We have all been encouraged to go for a walk in the fresh air for our physical and mental health and this what the Husband and I did yesterday, alongside a riverbank, where we spotted the familiar long leaves. It looks like this:

A fairly low growing plant, smelling slightly of garlic/onion and the most beautiful vibrant green. If you are in the Malverns it is almost a weed and grows everywhere; otherwise you will find it near a riverbank or in a wood. Pick it when you find it (flowers and all) and you can make wonderful soup, dips and oil. This recipe is enough for four but freezes beautifully (or you can give it to neighbours/friends?)

Not only is it delicious but it also helps lower cholesterol and high blood pressure!

Wild Garlic Soup

1 onion sliced 2 - 3 potatoes (these are for thickening the soup so depends on size)

500 ml water stock cube (I use a vegetable one) milk/crème fraîche/cream

Sautéthe onion in a little butter in a large saucepan. Add chopped potato, stock cube, and water and bring to the boil. Cook until the potato is soft. Lay 3 - 4 handfuls of the garlic leaves on the top and allow to wilt and cook for 2 - 3 minutes. Cool slightly and, using a hand blender, puree. Put back into the saucepan and add milk or cream or creme fraiche to taste along with plenty of pepper. It never lasts long in our house but will keep in the fridge for 12 days - or ladle into bags to freeze. Serve with crusty bread

and a dollop of creme fraiche. You might like to try this, too, to add to any other flavoured oils you may have.

Wild Garlic Oil

Blanch several handfuls of leaves in boiling water for 5-10 seconds then immediately drain and toss into iced water (this keeps the colour). Drain again and wrap in an old tea towel and squeeze all the liquid out. Chop up into small pieces and put in a jam jar or bottle and top up with 150 ml of olive oil.

Garlicky Green Goddess Dressing

Put about 30 washed and dried garlic leaves into a food processor or blender with 300ml sour cream (if you haven’t got this creme fraiche will do or make your own by adding some lemon juice to fresh creamleave aside for a minute or two whilst it goes thick), the juice of

half a lemon and salt and pepper. Blitz till smooth and serve over a green salad or use as a dipping sauce for bread or crisps.

Wild Garlic Butter

I made lots of this last year and froze it – and just managed to eke out the last bit before this year’s harvest! Mash up as much butter as you want and add finely chopped leaves, salt and pepper to taste. Roll into sausage shapes, wrap in cling film, freeze, keeping one in the fridge for use. Add it to vegetables, fish, toast for pate – it looks really beautiful melting into whatever foods you like, leaving behind little blobs of greenery as it does.

If you are lucky enough to find a lot of it you can even just freeze the leaves as they are, giving you the privilege of making any of these recipes out of season (which is only about two months)

Revills - Venison fillet and Asparagus, Risotto

Being smaller, muntjac (or rabbit) lends itself perfectly to this dish if using a larger game meat you may need to adjust cooking times etc.

local honey and 1tsp maple syrup (you could use a shot of espresso if you wished a stronger flavour).

Ingredients

Venison fillets

1 bunch of Revills asparagus

1 red chilli

Used coffee grounds

Revill’s Tewkesbury Gunpowder

mustard

Sea salt

Honey / maple syrup

Risotto rice

Mint

I had planned to find morel mushrooms, make a sauce and peel the asparagus stalks to make the venison/asparagus look like large morel mushrooms but my efforts to score these prized mushrooms have fallen flat (maybe I can share that with you soon if my luck changes).

To make the coffee rub, place 1 tbsp dried used coffee grounds and 2 tbsp Tewkesbury Gunpowder Mustard in a grinder with a pinch of sea salt and blitz to a fine powder.

To make the marinade, finely dice the chilli, mix with 2 tbsp

Slice the fillets into 4-5cm long pieces, then using a thin blade or an opened pair of scissors push through the centre to create a cavity in which to place an asparagus spear (woody stem removed and saved for risotto stock)

Rub your marinade coating all over, repeat until you have three venison/asparagus spears per person and refrigerate for an hour. Place woody asparagus stems in a pan of boiling water and reduce by 3/4 and pass through a sieve to make an asparagus stock, add to this stock risotto rice, a pinch of salt and slowly

cook your rice adding water as required. Adding a diced asparagus stork and some mint. Take your venison out of the fridge, spread the coffee rub on a plate and roll the venison spears on the coffee/mustard mix then barbecue or shallow fry in a cast iron skillet with a little rapeseed oil. You are looking to get a good golden coating on the venison but still retaining a crunch to the asparagus.

Alex (Chef)

Wild about Garlic

Garden Watch

Issue

VillagesofCulture

The grass is indeed growing now as is everything else. It has had two cuts already so the garden is looking more like a garden and less like a rather neglected field. The earlier array of daffodils and crocuses has been added to with tulips, primroses, polyanthus and grape hyacinths. The winter pansies just keep getting better!

The blossom has not properly arrived yet but the forsythia and some blossoms of indeterminate origin are providing clusters of brightness. The pear, apple, plum and cherry blossoms are biding their time, though the pear has fattening buds. The magnolia is starting to flower but it is still early days yet and blooms are quite sparse. Many things seem to be later this year when compared with photographs taken at the same time last year. In the flower beds there are lots of signs of new growth. Shoots of various colours - some tall with unfurled leaves, others already small plants - are gradually filling the beds. The standard rose which was heavily pruned is making a valiant effort to produce leaves. The wisteria is mostly a mass of twisted woody stems still.

The bird feeders have been very busy with the usual customers and have been joined by a pair of long-tailed tits. Although these are apparently common visitors to gardens, they

have not visited us before. We also have some blue tits which are very blue! There are lots of pairs of birds and last year’s family of magpies have reappeared fully grown, looking for mates. We have also had a beautiful cock pheasant which appeared to have only one leg but in fact has two. The second leg is held up close to its chest, presumably injured at some time. It doesn’t seem too bothered and hops around on its one leg. It can still fly though, particularly when our dog Sophie appears! It is still early for most insects but we did have a stray butterfly, possibly a peacock butterfly, flying around our patio. Bumble bees are already blundering around and swarms of gnats appear with the sunshine. These are all good signs that the weather is getting warmer. It is now a year since Garden Watch began with the first Lockdown but we didn’t know that we would be back in Lockdown in 2021. It has been fascinating to focus on the garden and observe more closely what goes on out there. There seems to be never a dull moment and always something new!

See Spring as a season of hope William Shakespeare, The Bard, of Stratford upon Avon, can literally be described as “a man for all seasons”. He eloquently described this country's transition from Winter to Spring with such stirring phrases as “Blow, blow, thou winter wind,” and “Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,” to his warming song for Spring, flowers “do paint the meadows with delight”. As we walk around the villages we are struck by the emerging flowers and their vibrant colours, particularly the displays of golden daffodils, planted last Autumn in each of the villages in anticipation of their marking the start of Spring with its promise of hope for this new year. The road from Stratford to Worcester, the A422, which runs between the villages of Broughton Hackett, White Ladies Aston, Churchill and Spetchley was a road no doubt recognised by the young William as he travelled the route to Worcester to apply for a bond of marriage to Anne Hathaway and later, in November 1582, when they possibly travelled to Old St. Martin's Church in the Cornmarket, Worcester, to be married. The opening months of this year have been a very busy time in the villages. In February, “Animal Antics” was launched

encouraging both children and adults to participate in creating “Animals in My Garden”, a poster and animal making project which resulted in a deer, giraffe and more than a dozen other creatures appearing in villagers' gardens, long before Sir Antony Gormley, of “The Angel of the North” fame, introduced his Great Big Art Exhibition. For March and April, creative craft kits were issued to families in the community so that they could design unique gifts and cards for Mothers' Day and Easter and knitted chicks and chocolate eggs will be distributed to the children prior to Easter Day. It is proposed that designated Easter Egg Trees in each village will be decorated with eggs designed by residents to celebrate the holiday. Zoom also offers opportunities for additional activities for Easter. An Easter quiz is planned based on bunnies, chicks and Easter eggs and “It's Easter flowers for Easter” is a flower arranging demonstration presented by a local expert who last year was selected to arrange flowers in Westminster Abbey for the annual Anzac Day Service (25th April) to be attended by The Queen. Sadly though she missed this opportunity due to lockdown. On Friday, 12th February, villagers held a virtual meeting with Nigel Huddleston, M.P. He officially launched the booklet, “Walks of Historical Interest”; congratulated the villagers on their “Village of Culture” award and offered hope and encouragement for the coming months. The key weapon in our fight for the future against the virus is vaccination and how appropriate it was that the first man in the world to receive the vaccine on the morning of 8th December 2020 was no other than William Shakespeare, aged 81, of Warwickshire. This fact enables us to speculate on the titles of The Bard's plays in the setting of 2021, such as “The Taming of the Flu”, “Twelfth Night in Lockdown” and with his son, also William Shakespeare, we have “The Two Gentlemen and Corona”. Hopefully the final footstep to freedom on the 21st June will not be

“A Midsummer Night's Dream”

Future events:

See the Facebook page for more details bit.ly/villages-together

Looking after our local heritage

continue to grow. Graham Evans joined Tony and Albert and offered to start negotiations with the National Trust who owned Croome, to find a space for the materials that had been collected for a museum.

Tim Hickson

As we all know, Worcestershire is rich in history but often the evidence can be lost unless someone looks after it. Is the World War 2 pillbox alongside Eckington Bridge still there? Why was it built and why there? At the time that was constructed so were the structures by Pershore’s two bridges. Where exactly are they and what were they for? Around the middle of the 17th Century, during the English Civil War, Pershore’s older bridge was knocked down. Who did that - and why?

These are part of one type of history, that of warfare. Whatever we might think of that, if we were alive at the time, like it or not, our lives would have been affected those conflicts. They are part of the history of all of us. When, in 1940, Defford Common, with its grazing rights was taken and two farms removed to construct an aerodrome, RAF Defford, that too, of course, would have affected people’s lives. What happened there was vitally important in ensuring we did not lose that war but, once the RAF had to leave in 1957, significant

parts of that airfield began to disappear. Local farmers regained some of the land they had lost and others found new uses for the runways and surrounding land. For example, an important radio telescope with two dish aerials was constructed using the old runways. However, there were still around, men and women who had worked there during the War. Led by Andy Walls, who had arrived at RAF Defford in 1943 as an Aircraft Fitter, a veteran’s group, the RAF Defford Reunion Association, was formed which also worked to ensure that what happened there was not forgotten. Andy and another WW2 RAF Defford Aircraft Fitter, Albert Shorrock, started a newsletter, Contact!, which helped to keep the group together and which acted as a forum to develop new ideas. One such was to have a Museum in which the story of RAF Defford could be told. The group, called the RAF Defford Reunion Association would meet annually in Defford Village Hall.

All such groups need people who make things happen if they are to

Graham had organised and built, on the small green behind Defford Church, the memorial to those from RAF Defford who died. This was unveiled by Sir Bernard Lovell who had led the wartime team at Malvern that developed the airborne radar known as H2S, and after the War had moved back to Manchester University and had built the huge radio telescope at Jodrell Bank. In 2010, the RAF Defford Reunion Association became the Defford Airfield Heritage Group. The DAHG acquired two more enterprising members, Bob Shaw and Dennis Williams.

Near Croome Church remained a set of buildings that constituted the last remaining, almost complete, wartime RAF Sick Quarters. Negotiations with Michael Smith, the Property Manager for the National Trust at Croome were set in motion to make some of these a museum to RAF Defford. Bob Shaw was a particularly effective fund-raiser and Dennis Williams had the knowledge and expertise to set up and run the RAF Defford Museum that exists today. With Graham Evans, Michael Smith had ensured that the buildings were faithfully restored to their original appearance. The Airmen’s Ward became Croome’s National Trust Canteen, the Officers’ Ward is now the NT Reception. What was unused were the wartime Decontamination buildings as well as the Ambulance Garage and Mortuary. (Because poison gases had been used in WW1, it

was assumed in 1939 that they might be used again. So all military establishments had decontamination facilities which, thank goodness, never had to be used.)

Now, when you visit, you will find the Decontamination buildings house the RAF Museum Reception and the displays that deal with RAF Defford. The Ambulance Garage has displays relating to the later use of RAF Pershore as well as the front end of a Canberra bomber that flew from RAF Defford. Outside, the Gloster Meteor night fighter that you can see there, rescued and restored, was the last aircraft to fly out of RAF Defford before the aerodrome ceased to be used by the RAF in 1957.

The Museum is currently closed, of course, but once it is able to be opened again, do go and have a look at what once happened near Pershore.

In the meantime, have a look at the DAHG website and watch the video whose title is Defford AirfieldA Secret History.

An Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF Mk II

Flight Offices at Defford

RAF Defford in 1945

The RAF Defford Memorial

Rediscovering or re-engineering for pain relief?

Karen Harris

I ended last months article saying tension - that’s dynamic tensionin the musculoskeletal system, is good for us; the body needs it. So what does happen when those muscle lengths and tensions change? We ignore it of course! Who cares about a twinge here and there, a bit of an ache that turns into something more permanent? Do you rest; pop a pill, or two, or more?

Pain is your body’s voice. Pain is telling us that something is not happening when it should be. Pain due to musculoskeletal issues shouldn’t be something we should be living with, but it never ceases to amaze me not just how many people are on pain-killers, but the amount of time they have been on them,

steadily getting stronger and stronger as they fail to work, and often having to take other tablets to counter the side effects. And then I hear of people going to ‘pain management’ centres. Does pain management make any sense to you? Do we REALLY need specialist centres for people to stay in pain, managed or otherwise? Shouldn’t we actually be finding out why the person is still in constant pain, and get the reason sorted so they can live a painfree life?

The answer is yes, of course, but it doesn’t happen; that is a very sad state of affairs.

I recall a young lady, just 21years old, in front of me in tears, facing a life on Naproxin

for back pain that, after many consultations, no one could help her with. I’ve got a feeling she would have been one of those visiting the ‘pain management’ centre! (She’s fine, in case you are wondering, back to kickboxing and living a painfree life as she should be.) What is the alternative? Many drastic, highly invasive treatments for chronic pain conditions are commonplace. These treatments see the body’s design as a reengineering challenge. As a result we have

persuaded ourselves that health and life are not connected to the way our heart beats and lungs fill with air, or to the way we stand on two feet and hold our heads high. Why then, do such approaches so often provide no escape from chronic pain? We need to be rediscovering, not reengineering. By rediscovering the body’s design and allowing it to work as intended, many of the disabling conditions that take such a financial and personal toll, can be reversed or avoided all together.

Why do some COVID symptoms last so long? The Linbury Doctors

Here at The Linbury Doctors we are working hard to keep you up to date with the latest COVID news. In this latest article, we look into the symptoms of Long COVID and the theories behind its cause. We all know by now that COVID is not your average cold or flu. In some cases, symptoms can remain for a long while after initial infection. So, why is this?

Long COVID is a term to describe the effects of Covid-19 that continue for weeks or months beyond the initial illness. The health watchdog NICE defines long COVID as lasting for more than 12 weeks, although some other people consider symptoms that last more than eight weeks to be long COVID, Symptoms can

include:

- extreme tiredness (fatigue)

- shortness of breath

- chest pain or tightness

- problems with memory and concentration (‘brain fog’)

- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)

- heart palpitations

- dizziness

- pins and needles

- joint pain

- depression and anxiety

- tinnitus, earaches

- feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite

- a high temperature, cough,

- headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste

- rashes

Research suggests that up to 87% of people with Coronavirus go on to experience symptoms related to the virus for

more than a month after they were first infected. The British Society for Immunology states that, “Every individual’s immune system is as unique as their fingerprints, and so different people can respond to a virus in different ways.” However, some people can be more susceptible to severe effects than others, including the elderly and those who suffer with underlying health problems. This is because these people may have weakened immune systems that struggle to keep the response to particular pathogens under control.

The Theories

Long term symptoms of COVID (often referred to as ‘long COVID’) could be due to an inflammatory response, suggested by The British Society for Immunology’s report. As inflammation is a natural response to injuries, a Coronavirus infection could cause the body to flare-up this way, meaning it could take more time for the symptoms of the virus to lessen. In some cases, the virus may have been cleared from most of the body but continue to “linger in some

small pockets”, according to the BBC. For example, if the virus is in the gut, there may be cases of long-term diarrhoea, whereas if the virus is in the nerves then people may experience loss of smell. Some medical professionals believe that people suffer from long COVID due to an overactive immune response; this can also cause damage throughout the body; however this is not yet confirmed officially. There are many theories surrounding why some people suffer from long-term COVID symptoms, however there are no definitive answers yet. The virus only emerged at the end of 2019 so therefore there’s a lack of long-term data. We provide same-day and prebookable appointments with your own dedicated GP Monday to Friday and urgent appointments at the weekend. We are available 7 days a week to our members.

For more information: www.linburydoctors.co.uk follow us on Instagram and Facebook, email us at info@linburydoctors.co.uk or call on 0333 050 7338

Women’s Hour!

All things bright and beautiful Susan Catford

Dark days are disappearing, evenings are brighter and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I am emerging from my Winter hibernation and looking forward to taking some clothes off! Although I was born a winter

Eggcellent

I like eggs. They are so versatile. Sometimes they are so simple And sometimes they have style.

Poached ones can be quite tasty Or simply fried in oil.

Some beaten in an omelette

Or given a soft boil.

My favourite ones are scrambled

And served up on some toast, But better with smoked salmon, The breakfast I love most.

They can be used in baking

To make a lovely cake

Or in a treacle pudding, And lots of things to make. Eggs Benedict and soufflées, Or baked in a cocotte

Are more sophisticated

baby, I have always been a summer one at heart. The cosy evenings with log fires behind closed curtains (with the thermostat set high!) have begun to pall. I am impatient to embrace the sunnier days of spring and summer now. I do not enjoy being swathed in clothes – woollies, coats, hats, scarves and gloves encumber me, though admittedly they are a necessity in Winter. My feet are desperate to escape the confines of boots, in particular, wellies. As a dog walker I have to kit myself out for all weathers from torrential rain to biting ‘beast from the east’ winds. Streaming eyes, runny nose, frost bitten fingers and mud-splattered legs are definitely not an attractive look! The only compensation is the health benefits and being able to enjoy sunny days and fresh air. Over recent months we have had some beautiful frosty mornings and even a few snowy days but it

seems to have been a dull, dark time in this latest Lockdown. At least we can look forward now to longer, lighter days. There is a feeling of cautious anticipation (and desperation!) as we navigate our way through the road map to better times. Never has the prospect of simply being able to spend time in our gardens with friends and family initially, and later in pub gardens, been so attractive. And we may even be allowed to do this indoors eventually! For now we have the lovely spring flowers, the blossom and new green shoots with the promise of more to come. The house has been brightened with my Mothering Sunday flowers and daffodils glow on t he window sill as well as in the garden. The birds are busy once more finding partners and greeting the dawn noisily. Lambs are beginning to appear in the fields and roadsides are

scattered with primroses and cellandines. Meanwhile, I am cautiously reviewing my spring wardrobe and anticipating the welcome shedding of layers. In the past, by now, I have sometimes been lucky enough to have boarded a plane and enjoyed some winter sunshine. My duty free fragrance would have been purchased and my Winter pallor replaced with a golden glow. This year it will probably be browsing on the internet and an acquired tan from a bottle! Looking on the bright side, I have saved myself quite a lot of money and I have a bit more time to shed my excess Lockdown baggage before I assume my summer attire. Every cloud has a silver lining and whatever else happens, we know spring and summer are on their way. Who knows, it may be a bright and beautiful Spring weatherwise like last year; we will all live in hope!

For those who know what’s what.

When whisked into meringue And made into a sweet, A lovely fruit Pavlova

Is really such a treat.

Then in a simple sandwich

With mayonnaise and cress

Or cooked into a French quiche

If trying to impress.

But possibly for many

The chocolate ones are best

That come in pretty packages

And not a chicken’s nest!

P.S. There’re lots more things to do with eggs

I haven’t time to mention

But showing just how good they are

Was simply my intention.

‘Thought Plants’ is Susan’s first book and is a new collection of writing and poems exploring ideas, events and everyday life. At times serious and thoughtful, at others enjoying the whimsical, lighter side of things. It has grown surprisingly well from early seeds and a fertile imagination.

Available for £9.95

from: Hughes & Company 8 Church Street Pershore Tel: 01386 803803 hughescompany@btconnect.com susancatford@gmail.com Published by Hughes & Company

Thought Plants

Susan Catford

120 pages A5 full colour illustrated by Susan Catford

Teenage Focus! Gregory Sidaway (17)

And we’re back!

Hello again, fellow reader! I hope you’re well and haven’t quite descended into the mindboggling insanity that is a common symptom of lockdown. If it’s a reassurance to anyone, I’ve been teetering on the verge of it for quite a while now. Although it sometimes sounds so incomprehensibly far away, we’re another step closer to defeating this virus. At the time of writing this, over half of the adult population in the country have had the first dose of the

Country file

vaccine. I like to imagine some twenty five million upgraded immune systems sporting headbands and a brand-new pair of boxing gloves that read “Astra” and “Zeneca”; they’re pumped and ready for a fight. On my generation’s side of things, well, the big news is that school is back. Goodbye, lagging connection and forgetting you’re on mute. Registers no longer take ten minutes and my uniform is no longer my pyjamas. It’s a little different, of course, and the rules

take a moment or two to get familiar with. For those not aware, I am a glasses wearer –short-sighted since 2012. As I approach school, I have my mask at the ready and memorise a mental layout of the route inside, before hooking the elastic around my ears and getting this blast of blurred fog on my glasses. I then have to wander over to where I hope the hand sanitiser dispenser still is, reach out and get this sort of camel-spit of gel which becomes more watery each month. There is a knack to it. Eventually, with enough adjusting and tweaking, I’m able to manage. I feel for every glasses wearer like me out there in society who’s staggering around, hands out in front of them, blinded by their own breath, even as I write this. We’re also making the most of what we can do. On a side note, I can’t recommend enough the new services that have opened up on the roundabout between Pinvin and Wyre. My friend, Nathan (I’ll name him this time; hopefully, he’ll be chuffed when he reads this) christened the new Greggs with the purchase of a vegan sausage roll. And it’s also that time for me when I’m jumping up another step in the stair of independence: slowly but surely, I’m giving

driving a go. I haven’t had a great history with this sort of thing. My first go-karting session kicked off with me hurtling into a blockade of car tyres, whiteknuckles clamping the wheel, get-me-out-of-here engrained into the whites of my eyes. On a holiday in Barcelona, I was nicknamed “the Good Samaritan” for the steady speed I maintained throughout the half hour circuit, letting everyone else roar past me. So it’s been a long way in the making, but I finally gave the real thing a go – and it was actually alright. I wouldn’t exactly say I’m Bond, but I no longer stall every five seconds (my neck used to hurt a lot). From the way I see it, I’d already mastered the CD player and the air conditioning, so the actual driving part is just a natural progression. Whenever I’m a little tense, I just try to imagine the Formula One theme tune “bom- bomming” in the back of my head. It alleviates things somewhat.

Well, it’s still early days but I’ve made a good start. In the meantime, I hope everyone is okay and coping. With each month, we get closer to more relaxation of the rules – and just more relaxation in general. Stay safe! Oh, and have a Happy Easter!

smooth, moist skin and can grow to 9cm., nose to tail. They are generally olive green or brown with a dark patch behind the eyes giving a mask-like appearance.

They often have bands of darker striping on their back legs. They spawn during the early spring. Tadpoles take up to sixteen weeks to grow back legs, then front legs before becoming froglets. By early summer they are ready to leave the water. The tadpoles are speckled with gold/brown unlike toad tadpoles which are black. Common frogs feed on a variety of invertebrates including slugs and snails which makes them a friend to the gardener.

Frogs

There are two native species of frogs in the U.K., the Common frog and the Pool frog.

The common frog can be found throughout Britain and Ireland, its habitat being anywhere near suitable breeding ponds. It has

The Pool frog has only been reintroduced into this country between 2005-2008 as they were presumed to be extinct.

This was done successfully in Norfolk. They are about the same size as Common frogs but are more variable in colour. During the mating season the males have a loud call generated by a pair of inflatable pouches each side of the mouth. This feature is absent from the common frog. They also breed much later in May/June when it is warmer. They particularly enjoy basking in the sun on even very hot days.

Many of us will remember tanks of frogspawn on classroom nature tables and watching them slowly develop into frogs. They were then safely transported to nearby ponds. It is still something of a novelty to see frogs in their natural habitat, unless you have a pond, and they don’t tend to stick around for long once they have seen us!

Reg Moule’s Garden Diary

Book Review

Reg Moule has produced an excellent handbook for those just starting their gardening journey which is also an extremely useful reminder for more experienced gardeners. He writes with enthusiasm and a wealth of experience.

This compact (pocket sized) book provides advice month by month on the jobs gardeners need to do. These tasks include: seed sowing, looking after lawns, roses, growing fruit, vegetables, bedding plants, shrubs and also hanging baskets. Advice on choosing compost, feeding plants and where to plant the right shrub in the right situation is excellent. There is also advice on pond care, how to attract wild–life and care for house plants. For such a small publication it is amazingly comprehensive.

Reg’s pocket sized book comes along with me to the garden centre where I am often phased by the choice of plants and horticultural supplements (fertilizers, pesticides, composts, etc.) on offer. His handbook concisely informs overwhelmed amateur gardeners, like myself, in clear terms without being over technical. It has certainly helped me make informed decisions and I am sure it will help me avoid making purchasing mistakes in the future.

£10

I found the information in this mini handbook inspirational, reassuring and certainly useful in helping me plan this year’s garden and allotment activity. I look forward to Handbook2, available in Autumn 2021.

Richard Catford

ORDERFORM

Hughes & Company

8 Church Street, Pershore

Worcestershire WR10 1DT Tel: 01386 803803

www.hughesprinters.co.uk

Please send ........copy(ies)Reg Moule’s Garden Diary

Price £10.00 plus postage – UK £4

Payment:

Overseas by quotation

Cheque, email, phone or Credit/Debit Card

Bank transfer: Lloyds Bank, Hughes & Company

Account 34434260 Sort Code 30-80-34

Order by e-mail: hughescompany@btconnect.com

BBC Hereford & Worcester

Planning your digital marketing for 2021/22

Ruby Edwards

Support for the self employed - one year on Carol Draper

A year ago lockdown had just started and I was writing about the newly announced Furlough Scheme and the Self-Employed Income support scheme. I don’t think anyone would have believed that one year on we would still be in lockdown and that the government schemes would still be needed.

To date three payments have been made under the SelfEmployed income support scheme (SEISS) covering the period from April to November 2020. In view of the latest lockdown, two more SEISS grants have been announced to cover the periods November 20 to April 21 and May to September 21.

With the digital marketing world seeing an increase in input and effort due to the pandemic, online is where it’s at right now. Add into the equation the end of financial year, it’s time for businesses to evaluate their budgets for 2021/22. Setting and sticking to a budget for the year will undoubtedly help your organisation stay profitable, but what areas of the business should you spend your money on?

Have you thought about a few marketing campaign ideas but wondered how that looks on paper and how much money you need to allocate for it? The thing is, many businesses overlook public relations and when you forget to dedicate resources to PR, you don’t get the results you may have hoped for. Instead of simply setting money aside for paid ads, consider budgeting for PR too.

As noted by Deloitte and in Forbes:

Digital is likely to be the clear winner here, and companies –including ones that may not so much as had a Facebook page before – will need to move into social marketing, content marketing, SEO and influencerled campaigns.

Have you and your business thought about rewriting your marketing strategy? Adapting your existing marketing plan to take into account the omission of expos, trade shows and other events in 2020/21? Advertising?

Editorial and content

management? Brand awareness? Increasing social media engagement?

If you don’t know where to start with your social media, or just need an extra few hours a month support for your marketing communications, outsourcing might be a good option. Will Hobson, PR Director for public relations giants Rise at Seven, states:

Digital PR is here to stay but it's becoming much more than just a piece of content with some high authority links to it, it's social, brand building and revenuedriving.

Do you and your business need support with curating content for your website and blogs? Or sharing your news with the media via a well-written press release? Maybe you need to up your game on social media?

Local Agency You Do Better PR deliver pay-as-you-go services to support you and your business.

You Do Better | Pay-as-you-go PR, communications & networking www.youdobetter.co.uk

Delivering London skills locally 07891 777464

To receive the Upton Times by e-mail visit www.uptontimes.co.uk enter your name and e-mail address

While much of the detail for the scheme remains the same, there are also some important differences. Most importantly eligibility for the fourth and fifth grants will be based on Self-Assessment returns submitted for the 19-20 tax year. This means the scheme is now open to those who only became Self-Employed in the 19-20 tax year. For those who have claimed before it is possible that future payments could either increase or decrease. To be eligible for the scheme you must have submitted your 2020 Self-Assessment return by 2 March 2021. Profits for the year must be below £50,000 and should account for more than half your overall income. You must have been selfemployed during the 19-20 tax year and remain self-employed during the 20-21 tax year.

The fourth grant will be calculated as 80% of 3 months average profit capped at £7500 (£2500 per month). Claims can be made from late April to 31 May. The fifth and final grant will be available from late July, however payments made will be determined by the percentage Self-Employed turnover reduced in the year April 20-21. If turnover for the year reduced by 30% or more then the payment will be the same as for the fourth grant. However, if turnover reduced by less than 30% payments will be calculated as 30% of 3 months average trading profit capped at £2850 (£950 per month).

For full details about the upcoming grants visit Self-Employment Income Support Scheme fourth grant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Carol Draper FCCA Clifton-Crick Sharp & Co Ltd

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS ADVISORS

40 High Street, Pershore, Worcestershire WR11 1DP Tel: 01386 561100 Fax: 01386 561040

Email: mail@clifton-crick.co.uk

www.accountantsworcestershire.co.uk

JazzNews Peter Farrall

Reflexology Angela Johns

confidence boost, the possibility, the potential. It's the effort of preparation, the work it has taken to free yourself, the end of indecision and blocks. Perhaps it has been a long time coming, maybe the time wasn't quite right until now. It could have been a conscious choice or you feel you were pushed to this point. Either way, you are ready for it now. This time of year when Spring seems to suddenly make itself noticed, feels more like the new year to me. The preparation has all been going on underground of course but then it all seems to change over a weekend and you know: the new season is ready and about to start. And it's a great feeling.

Embarking on something new

We’re back!

Yes, it’s now definite that Pershore Jazz Festival 2021 will run from 13th to 15th August on Pershore College campus. The programme is planned to be as near as possible to the one postponed last year, so it’s a full scale, three day event featuring most of the promised bands and artists. The College is hosting the weekend with their perennial enthusiasm, offering all day bar and restaurant facilities, caravan, camping and the much sought after onsite B&B although most of the rooms are already taken by roll overs from 2020. We are busy catching up with all the arrangements which, normally, would have begun before Christmas and by now should have been well in place. It’s very satisfying to receive comments from all quarters that at last, something positive is happening locally and of course the musicians, most of whom have not performed to a live audience for twelve months, are elated at the prospect of doing the job they love and getting a proper remuneration.

There is a bonus too with a Jazz Club lunchtime special

presenting the Zoltan Sagi Quartet on Wednesday, 26th May.

Many lockdown restrictions will still be in force at that time so we had to find a venue where the distancing rules allow for enough people present to pay the musicians a realistic fee. We settled on Elmley Castle Village Hall which, unless regulations change, can open at fifty per cent capacity and is large enough to accommodate the required audience size. There are no bar facilities so our loyal fans will have to bring their own drinks (there is no corkage charge!).

Admission has to be by ticket only to control numbers and it is expected that most will use lockdown postponement vouchers from last March. It will be good to finally see long suffering Zoltan who, due to the covid fluctuations, has had his gig postponed twice since September.

For Club enquiries ring 01527 66692

Festival ring 07487 606964 www.pershorejazz.org.uk find us on Facebook

That delicious feeling when you are just about to start. There is nothing quite like it. You have all the ingredients ready, the equipment set out, the instructions to hand. You can now start cooking your masterpiece. You have spent years studying, juggling. You now have your certificate and the job offer and Monday is tomorrow. You have decided you won't put up with it any longer, you have cleared out, you have a new road map to your life. You are ready. What a delicious moment! It's the anticipation, the self

Embarking on something new has that heady mix of certainty and uncertainty. The quality of nervous excitement shows that we know we can do it but not everything is in our control. Relax. Enjoy the moment. Just do your best and go with it. Whatever you are starting, infuse it with love and compassion. Think kindly of the past, thankful for the present and hopeful for the future.

Angela is a qualified Reflexologist, Aromareflex Practitioner and Reiki Teacher/Practitioner. She is passionate about her therapies and spends quality time with her clients to facilitate their wellbeing. You can find her at angelajohns.co.uk

Festival orchestra

Weight loss re-imagined! Pam Clark

As a Nutritional Therapist I spend many an hour helping my client untangle diet myths, misinformation and negative mindset around the thorny issues of weight loss. Weight loss is a big-bucks business with a strong emotional backdrop; but the truth is there is so much more to it than calories in=calories out. There is so much I could say on this subject but let’s start with a couple of pointers:

Be less Beige: Years of the lowfat, calorie counting diet dialogue has found us reaching for refined “beige” carbs; leaving us hungry, cranky and overweight. Instead, I facilitate Intelligent Weight Loss with my clients – ensuring good hydration, portion control and helping them truly understand their food.

The lush Mediterranean Diet, one of the most heavily researched diets in the world is a great starting place. This way of eating encourages us to eat an array of brightly coloured fruit and veg and – importantly for weight loss - to fill up on protein like well-chosen meat, eggs, and fish, nuts and seeds, pulses (beans, lentils) and other vegetarian sources of protein like tofu, plenty of vegetables, and delish natural fats like oily fish, olive oil, nuts, seeds, and avocados. This allows us to regulate our blood sugar levels (goodbye mid-afternoon energy dip), feel fuller for longer

Colourandhowitmakes youfeel Emily Papirnik

(cheerio snack-attack) and provides our body with the essential nutrients for repair, regeneration and optimal wellbeing (hello-vibrant new you). Stress Sabotage: Sleep and stress management play a significant role in hormonal balance and weight. Optimising sleep and stress-support are critical to my consultation as resolving these issues helps decrease inflammation – if the body is dealing with inflammation or “internal fire” it cannot focus on other body processes that help to maintain homeostasis or balance. So, is it time to join that Yoga, Meditation Class, App or regular walk with a friend? That box-setbinge-a-thon until midnight might feel like a “treat” but it may be sabotaging your weightloss plans and having long term implications for your health? So many of my clients tell me; “This is not a diet – it is simply a way of life for me now”; allowing them to make informed, intelligent choices so they can live their best life. This is precisely why I am launching my new Monthly Membership Programme. We are kicking off on 1st May with a 28 day Program focused on female health and hormones; perfect for those heading into Perimenopause wishing to lose weight, improve energy, focus, concentration and mood. For more information head to www.nurturenutrition.org

Colours make such a difference to us, whether it is our favourite shirt or jumper, a beautiful cushion or the kitchen tiles. Different colours mean different things to us, yellow and grey were my primary school uniform colours, maroon was my secondary school jumper which always put me off ever having that colour again!

When we look at certain shades or tones of colour we can guess the decade, avocado coloured bathroom suites, not sure we’ll ever see them again! I remember going to a friend’s for an evening to have colour analysis, which was a way of finding out which colours suit your complexion. It was extremely helpful and did make a huge difference to how I looked. There are some people who will love strong colours or particular shades and look amazing and others who will look washed out and ‘never’ wear a specific colour because of how it makes them feel. Have you ever been given something you would ordinarily love but is in a colour you hate? I know I have, I don’t like it and might even recycle, but there is nothing wrong with it, I just don’t like the colour. Our curtains and our duvet

covers will usually be chosen by us for their colour, yes there may be other considerations but colour is key, we don’t surround ourselves with colours that make us feel uncomfortable or remind us of something we don’t like.

Look at your clothes and what you prefer to wear, do you often choose a similar colour? Why? What draws you to those colours? Sit with colour feel the difference it makes to you. Surround yourself with colour that makes you feel good. Enjoy that feeling.

Emily Papirnik Intention 07973 232177

How to make a boring boundary more interesting

Nikki Hollier – Border in a Box

screenwithenvy.co.uk for inspiration.

Now we’re out of winter it’s time to start titivating the garden and a good place to start is the fence.

If it’s taken a battering over the past few months from the harsh rain and wind, it probably needs a bit of TLC.

There are plenty of options open to you, so it depends on your budget, space, and overall design you want to achieve. Whether it’s hiding an eyesore or enhancing an existing view, here’s a few options to think about.

The simplest solution to making a wooden fence look more loved is paint – I’m not talking the

orange-coloured stuff in big plastic tubs, I’m thinking beautiful shades by Cuprinol (other paint brands are available). They have a fantastic colour chart online, where you can also see what it would look like painted on your shed, fences or garden furniture before purchasing. Obviously, it’s not an exact match but it will give you a good idea what the end result will be. You can coordinate with all the wooden items in your garden. Alternatively, there are composite fences which never need painting. Lots of styles and patterns available – try

Instant hedge – to plant in front of the fence. Ready-grown hedges can be purchased by the metre. There’s plenty of choice with regards to height, colour, leaf texture and style. Which means you can find something suitable for your plot that’s a different option to a Leylandii. Try Readyhedge.co.uk located in Eckington – they can provide lots of advice to help you choose the best hedging plants for your garden. If you have a low fence and want to add some height to provide privacy, a pleached tree has a clear stem of 1.8m or 2m‚ providing an aerial hedging effect. These are ideal for screening above the existing fence/wall and can also make an architectural statement. Plant an evergreen border – there are so many shrubs to choose from, regardless of your soil type or light levels. Make sure there is plenty of texture and different leaf shapes and colours to avoid it looking overly‘green’ Here are a few of my favourites: Pittosporum – there are approximately 200 types to

Nikki Hollier

Nikki@borderinabox.net @borderinabox

www.borderinabox.com

Royal Horticultural Society

Silver Medal Winner & Peoples Choice Award Winner

choose from. Personally, I love the ‘Tom Thumb’ variety which is quite small and grows to around 1m tall with dark purple leaves with a crinkly edge. New growth is lime green and is really attractive as it shows up against the mature dark leaves. It likes full sun in well drained soil. Other varieties include ‘Elizabeth’ and ‘Tandra Gold’. Other evergreen shrubs to try are Choisya × dewitteana 'Aztec Gold', Viburnum × burkwoodii and Leucothoe firestar.

May gardening tips Reg Moule BBC Hereford & Worcester

Plant out chrysanthemums for flowering in borders or for cutting.

Plant out summer bedding plants when frost risk is minimal. Tie in wallshrubs and climbers to their supports try to train them at 45 degrees or horizontally to encourage flowering. Trim over aubretia and arabis after flowering to keep them neat.

Early May

Keep all newly planted items well watered. This includes ones planted last autumn.

Sow seeds of herbaceous plants. Sow or turf new lawns and keep mowing established ones – but not too low.

Treat difficult lawn weeds e.g. clovers, black medic with Weedol Lawn Weedkiller, it has the right ingredients for these weeds.

Hang up a codling moth trap in your apple tree ,or a plum moth one in your plum tree, to reduce the number of maggoty fruit.

Plant out cabbage, cauliflower and other brassicas but take precautions against root fly. Keep on top of pest and disease outbreaks, and controlling weeds. Don’t forget your houseplants feed and water them regularly. Control algae and blanketweed in ponds.

Mid May

Sow suitable varieties of pansies to flower from autumn throughout the winter. Sow biennials for flowering next spring onwards e.g. wallflowers, mysotis, sweet williams, foxgloves and honesty.

Prune wall trained pyracantha and chaenomeles after flowering. Keep strawberry fruits off the soil using straw or mats. Cut down spring flowering perennials – e.g. pulmonarias and doronicums after flowering to produce a neat mound of new foliage. Untrimmed plants often become mildewed.

Sow swedes, beetroot, carrots, parsnips, French and runner beans outdoors.

Plant out sweet corn in blocks, rather than a long row, as they are wind pollinated. Take cuttings from dahlias and chrysanthemums for flowering later in summer.

Plant tomatoes, peppers,

aubergines, cucumbers etc. in a cold greenhouse or outdoors if in sheltered site. Make up summer flowering hanging baskets and containers.

Late May

Brighten up your patio with some spectacular frost tender container plants, like brugmansia. Prune clematis montana straight after flowering, if they are getting out of bounds. Plant out leeks, marrows, courgettes and melon plants. Enjoy more herbs by sowing Basil, Corriander and Parsley every fortnight.

Spinach often runs to seed if sown after mid May –so sow leaf beet instead. Sow some half-hardy annuals for use a winter pot plants e.g. calceolarias, schizanthus and cinnerarias. Sow ornamental cabbage and kale for winter colour in tubs and borders. Beware of houseplants getting scorched on sunny windowsills. Listen to the weather forecast in case of any nasty late frosts.

Photo by Cuprinol

Coffee Break

Across

1It suffers meltdown when overloaded (4)

4Supply route (8)

8Forms of art (8)

9Romantic meeting (4)

10 Follow furtively (5)

11 Wild horses (7)

13 His opposite (4)

14 Sweet potato (3)

15 Address to Her Majesty (4)

16 Brass hats (4-3)

18 Often sported by 16 Across (5)

20 Down (4)

21 "The moment has come" (4,2,2)

22 Sent into battle (8)

23 Type of cricket (4)

Sudoku

Down

2The latest (2,2,3,6)

3Clears the air? (7)

4Breathe hard (4)

5Seasoned smoked beef (8)

6Shown to one's seat (3,2)

7Peoples crookedly initiate loans (13)

12 Sometimes found with tea (8)

15 Politically, well red (7)

17 Kind of nut (5)

19 Variety (4)

General Wordsearch

March Answers

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.

William Wordsworth 1770–1850

Fun pubQuiz!

1. Who created a series of jewelled Easter eggs for the Russian imperial family?

2. What traditional cake is covered in marzipan and toasted at Easter time?

3. What is celebrated on Easter Sunday?

4. In medieval legend, what name was given to the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper?

5. What is known as the Osterhase in Germany?

6. What was Jesus' crown made out of?

7. When were the first Cadbury's Easter eggs made: a) 1845 b) 1875 c) 1915?

8. Who played Hannah Brown in the 1948 movie 'Easter Parade'?

9. What type of meat is traditionally eaten on Easter Sunday?

10. Which plant is a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus?

11. What sweet spiced bun is typically served on Good Friday?

12. Jesus was crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem at

Golgotha. By what other name is Golgotha known as?

13. Which Christian holiday occurs 50 days from Easter Sunday?

14. In which European country was the world's largest decorated Easter egg, measuring 14.7m x 8.4m, built?

15. By what name is the Sunday that falls before Easter Sunday known as?

16. What type of fancy hat is traditionally worn at Easter time?

17. Which 2016 movie is based on a Roman soldier's search for Jesus' missing body following his resurrection?

18. By what name is the 40 day period of prayer and fasting ending on Holy Thursday known as?

19. In the Christian liturgy, what colour vestment is worn by a priest on Good Friday?

20. Which American state held the biggest Easter egg hunt in history?

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Fabergé

Simnel cake

The resurrection of Jesus

Grail (The Holy Grail)

The Easter Bunny

Thorns

b) 1875

Judy Garland 9. Lamb

10. Easter Lily (Lilium Longiflorum)

11. Hot Cross Buns 12. Calvary 13. Pentecost 14. Portugal

Palm Sunday 16. Easter bonnet 17. Risen 18. Lent 19. Red

20. Florida in 2007 when 9753 children searched for 501,000 eggs

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I’m dean cook a local beekeeper and we are coming to that time of year when honeybees swarm this is nature’s way of dividing a healthy hive so they leave to start up on their own usually taking a rest in your garden ,compost bin , your shed you can leave them but they might take a fancy to a place that is difficult

Dear Editor,

Like your anonymous correspondent, I was appalled by the litter along a road leaving town (in my case, Allesborough Hill). Instead of just complaining to the Council, I decided to do something about it, and signed up the Wychavon’s Adopt A Street. All that you have to do is commit to litter picking at least twice a year, and nominate your stretch of road. You are then supplied with gloves, hi-viz tabard, special bin bags, and a long handled grabber, and after you pick, you just put the bag out with your regular bin bags on collection day.

I have been picking fortnightly for several months now, and have noticed a gradual reduction

to remove them ie your home so could you ask your readers not to spray them or call pest control but to contact Evesham beekeepers association or drop me a message on my sight www.deansbeerescue.co.uk and we will collect and give them a nice hive to live in Kind Regards Dean

Cook

in the amount that I pick up. I strongly believe that people are more inclined to litter where they can see existing litter. It doesn’t take much time, and I am pleased to think that I am doing something for the community. I would far rather that my Council Tax was spent on services that I cannot help with. It is very easy to complain and ask why “they” don’t do anything. Why not sign up as an individual or group, and make our community a more pleasant space?

https://www.wychavon.gov.uk/w aste-and-recycling/street-careand-cleaning/adopt-a-street

Yours sincerely, Sue Cooke (Pershore)

Upton Times

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“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

Albert Einstein

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Franklin D. Roosevelt

Time for treats Brian Johnson - Thomas

Spring is here, at last! With its’ advent come a whole range of exciting leisure opportunities, albeit confined within our own Island.

Firstly I see that Statesman Rail are again offering their luxury rail day trip to Cornwall from Worcester Shrub Hill on Wednesday June 2nd. Called the Cornish Riviera Statesman and composed mainly of lovingly (and lavishly!) restored Pullman coaches this train will depart at 0715 and return around 2030. It’s not cheap at £310 per person for the full dining experience, but you get your money’s worth. We sampled it, some years ago now, in a foursome from Pershore and it remains an unforgettable experience.

Leaving Worcester behind us we were soon served a glass of Buck’s fizz as the train thundered past Ashchurch and our full English breakfast was consumed as we ran south past Bristol and into the county of Devon. We then found room for a late morning coffee service with pastries as we ran alongside the sea shore between Dawlish and Teignmouth.

This year’s route takes the train across the famous Royal Albert Bridge over the Tamar and into Cornwall. Hailed by many as Brunel’s best ever work, history records that he was taken over it by a hand hauled flatcar shortly before his early death.

Continuing South West the train first stops at Truro, the county town where passengers can alight either to visit the town or to take the branch line down to the pretty port of Falmouth. Those who stay on the Statesman can continue to St.Erth where you can change for St.Ives, or carry on to the end of the line at Penzance.

For us, perhaps the highlight of

the experience was the sumptuous four course dinner served at our table on the return journey. It was preceded by a pleasing glass of champagne and a selection of canapés and succeeded by a truly impressive cheese board featuring British cheeses.(The fare also includes a half bottle of wine per person and, of course, there’s more to choose from at the well stocked bar). We also found space to finish with a service of coffee and petits fours. Whilst the Pullman service is quite simply superb there is also a First Class option from £155 per person which includes complimentary tea and coffee and light snacks with a buffet bar also available. The company operate a whole range of other trips including an annual one up to the highlands of Scotland, which involves an overnight stay in Fort William, and which I was able to join again at Shrub Hill. Again it was a superb experience (I admit to especially enjoying seeing the look of disbelief on the faces of bystanders as this magnificent train was routed through

Glasgow’s Underground stations on its way North!) For full details on all their excursions see www.statesmanrail.com or phone them on 0345 310 2458. Indeed, June promises to be a fine month all round with the Longborough Festival Opera kicking off with this years’ Wagner spectacular and the Three Counties Showground offering a Midsummer Garden Life Festival on the 23rd and 24th of the month. See www.threecounties.co.uk for details and ticket prices. Also, at the end of July the Game Fair makes a welcome return to Ragley Hall near Alcester, see www.thegamefair.org for details and ticket prices. Finally, to return to a railway theme the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway will run its first train since Christmas 2020 on Tuesday April 13th, steaming out of Toddington Station and – for the first time in over six months will pass Winchcombe en route to Cheltenham Racecourse. It’s booked to be the first train to run on any heritage railway since

lockdown and the engine in charge will be a centenarian tank engine built at Swindon in 1919. These first trains on the line will be subject to the same Covid compliant regulations as last year, so they will start and finish only at Toddington and all seats must be booked in advance online. All their other stations will remain closed for the time being.

The railway is using trains of six carriages each with five compartments and each compartment is able to accommodate from two to six people in a social bubble. Picnics and snacks can be pre booked also for delivery on the train by volunteers.

See their website wwwgwsr.com for more details and prices.

Falconry at The Game Fair

Fine dining on Statesman Rail

4270 accelerates away from Winchcombe 27 May 2017

8

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Anglers Corner! J.R. Craddock

To the angler, March 14th is a depressing date. OK it may be Mother’s Day, but to the angler it signals the end of the coarse fishing season. Coarse fishing sounds somehow….er…basic. Not in the elevated league of game fish. Trout and salmon. Though why they should be ‘elevated’ I don’t know.

Those fish are perceived to be ‘up there’ somewhere, with the toffs. Coarse fish are the underrated rest. Roach, perch, bream, barbel and so on. And then there’s pike.

This is the aquatic loner. It doesn’t shoal like most other fish do with their mates. Pike sit alone at the very top of the food chain, remaining hidden, their upward pointing eyes watching for an opportunity to strike at an unwary roach or perch.

Admittedly they do look fierce,

and most people find them intimidating, They shouldn’t though. These fish have evolved over millions of years to do this job.

Armed with rows of backward facing teeth, torpedo shaped, they can accelerate at blistering speed, their teeth giving their prey little chance of escape. Should one unexpectedly wriggle free from this grip, the anticoagulant coating on pike’s teeth inflicts an injury such as to ensure it won’t last long.

I love pike fishing, and my preferred method is to wobble a sardine or small herring through a deep slack where pike lurk. The smash and grab from the depths never fails to make me gasp as they swirl on the surface, taking the bait sideways, then returning to the deep to swallow it head first. That’s when your

turn comes to strike. Unhooking can be tricky. Wear gloves, pull the bottom jaw down carefully, and use long forceps extract the (barbless) hook.

I’ve probably caught hundreds over the years and always put them back. They are absolutely essential to the health of other fish species. Their role in the balance of nature is to weed out the weakest and most sickly from the shoal.

Thus keeping the remainder fit and healthy. Until or unless of course, another one weakens in which case Mr Pike will be waiting. And where will he be waiting?

‘Don’t tell ‘em Pike!’

(with sincere apologies to Dad’s Army)