February 2017 - My Solihull, Knowle & Dorridge

MY

February / March 2017

SOLIHULL,

KNOWLE & DORRIDGE Your award winning local community magazine

The two Pauls

A partnership made in

gastro pub heaven

Human of Solihull:

Maggie cabeza

Foxy facts...

Find out more about your furry neighbours

PLUS

Local business directory inside!

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Editor’s Welcome

MY

SOLIHULL

KNOWLE & DORRIDGE February / March 2017

In this issue Dear Neighbours, Welcome to our Valentines & Mother’s Day, mid-winter issue full of interesting stories about people from our Solihull community.

As I walk, shop and eat out around our borough, it is a delight to meet other Solihull residents and hear their stories. One such is Maggie Cabeza, this issue’s Human of Solihull. Maggie’s paintings, together with the written battle with her cancer is terrific. Her book is quality.

Do look out for it.

And then there are the two Pauls of The Lovely Pubs (a perfectly appropriate name for their company) who embody the phrase self-starting “entrepreneurs”. They’re wild cards and we need more like them.

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7

Your local vintage fair

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Simple pleasures: a walk in the park

13 Foxy Facts 15 Remember your mum this March 15 A Valentine’s poem for you 17 Changes to inheritance tax kick in 19 Paul Anderson - a surgeon in Zambia 21 Birmingham Airport - the early days

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22 Human of Solihull - Maggie Cabeza 28 Mad Hatters Charity

Regulars

Julia Parsons 07831 395029 juliaparsons

Reach out on social media and tell us what you’d like to see in future issues!

The two Pauls and ther lovely pubs

11 Get your lawn ready for BBQ season

It always feels Narnian to me when nature awakes and the energy of Spring arrives.

Enjoy.

@swanpublishing.org www.swanpublishing.org

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Tutor listing Where to eat What’s on Clubs & societies Business directory Advertising rates

Printed by Newman Thomson: 01444 480 700

Cover photo and article photo taken by Seven Star Photography Paul Hales and Paul Salisbury with editor Julia Parsons

The ‘Lovely’ Partnership behind Solihull’s award-winning eateries Many of Solihull’s residents have enjoyed eating and drinking at privately owned The Boot, The Farm and The Orange Tree amongst others. We thought you’d be interested in knowing about their creators, Paul Hales and Paul Salisbury. Who are they and what is behind their success?

They have built together a mini empire, charmingly called The Lovely Pubs Group, of eight pub restaurants from Bromsgrove to Solihull, each individual, but sharing qualities prioritising attention to the key fundamental details of hospitality - they’ve found a great formula.

Solihull is enriched by having a variety of great places outside of town to visit and eat. With so much choice it says something for this special partnership that they get it so right.

Paul Hales lives in Leamington Spa and Paul Salisbury has raised his family in Dorridge.

There’s something slightly Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid about them. They’re quite different from each other, yet share a similar energy and vision. Self-described perfectionists, they met in their early twenties through a chance encounter whilst working in London. Salisbury went to Solihull School and earned a degree in hotel management at Birmingham’s highly

regarded College of Food & Tourism. Hales did a course in hotel management in Stratford on Avon - so both had the ideal training behind them. They give each other the freedom and space to exploit their individual strengths. It works - hence the longevity of their partnership.

Neither have a desk to sit behind or feel that it’s like having a real job. I asked if there was any major differences to running their business now over the decades since they began…? “Competition”, was the answer. “There’s a lot more of it.

And people’s expectations are higher”.

Surprisingly they said they loved TripAdvisor.

Their philosophy is to appeal to three generations of a family and do what they can to cultivate and progress the careers of those working for them.

As bosses, they set standards of care for their staff, for others to follow. Both men are fun, hands on and approachable - as special as their properties reflect.

Written by Julia Parsons 5

Cranmore Park

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Up to 150 stalls of preloved goods?

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General Maintenance Garden Design Landscaping Grass Seeding Turfing Services Bedding Plants Lawn Mowing Weed Control Leaf Clearing Hedging Garden Clearance Power Washing ­ driveways Water Features

Sunday 12th March Early: 9am - £3 Entrance: 10am - 3.30pm - £2.50 Cranmore Park Exhibition Centre, Cranmore Avenue, Shirley, Solihull. B90 4LE.

www.changesgardening.org.uk M: 07495 078 723 T: 0121 796 4080 jamescoote@changesgardening.org.uk www.facebook.com/changesgardening

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Your local vintage fair Do you love all things vintage? Have you got an eye for style? If your answer is yes to either of these, then make sure you visit the Cranmore Park Vintage & Antiques Fair.

This is a wonderful shopping event featuring up to 150 stalls with an eclectic mix of antique and vintage items - from art deco lighting to retro furniture and from delicate china to vintage fashions.

Visitors can enjoy a perfectly vintage day – after shopping they can indulge in delicious refreshments in the pop-up vintage tea-room, whilst being serenaded

by Vintage Class, a singing group performing songs from the 1940s-50s!

Location: Cranmore Park Exhibition Centre, Cranmore Avenue, B90 4LE. Dates for 2017: 12th March, 9th July and 26th November.

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Autumn leaves on a stick

A golden vision on a Solihull morning - Written by local education officer, Jessie Longstaff Most people would shudder at the thought of a wintery walk on a cold winter morning but actually, if you can gather up enough motivation, woolly mittens and cosy jumpers I promise you it will be well worth the effort.

Walking through Brueton Park in Solihull, on my way to work, the park is pretty empty at 8.30am; even the dog walkers have thought better of it.

But as I’m grumbling at the cold, and the fact I had to scrape the ice from my car earlier this morning and now can’t quite feel my fingers, I notice the most gorgeous, golden tree.

The air is white with frost, the grass is a crisp hue of green and the sun perfectly captures the golden, falling leaves of the Oak tree and the crystal clear reflection of the pond, fed from the River Blythe. I’m drawn to this marvellous vision.

I stop to admire all the colours and the unique bonding of two spectacular seasons, autumn and winter.

As Education Officer at The Parkridge Centre in Solihull I love to use the seasons as inspiration for my Nature Tot sessions. In Autumn we were spoiled with perfect leaves for wax rubbings, stencil painting and giant colour collages in the

woods, but I always struggle to find inspiration at this time of year.

This morning I have decided to find the beauty in winter - to begin to embrace the season myself and encourage Solihull families to do the same. This week, my Nature Tots session will include a crunchy run across the frosty field, a giant hug around the gorgeous golden Oak Tree and feeding a mixture of seed and veg to the winter birds that have taken residence on the pond.

Don’t hibernate this winter but join us on one of our Nature Reserves. You can visit us locally at The Parkridge Centre, Clowes Wood, Elmdon Manor, Shadowbrook Meadows, Brooke Meadow, Cuttle Pool, Temple Balsall and Earlswood Moathouse.

Jessie Longstaff, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust #staywild 9

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Get your lawn ready for Spring!

Spring is just around the corner; the days are starting to lengthen and you want your lawn looking its best for all those garden parties and barbecues. So here are a few handy words of advice from local lawn-care specialist Phil Harrison.

Unfortunately, as the grass wakes up after its winter snooze, so do the weeds. Dandelions, buttercups and daisies can take over as summer approaches. So start your lawn care regime by tackling them with an appropriate weed killer.

Once the weeds have been sent packing, it’s time to fertilise your grass, building its strength and getting it lush and green for the summer.

But be careful - using the wrong products, or using them incorrectly, could leave your grass weak and patchy.

Professional lawn care experts have access to top products used by football clubs and golf courses that aren’t available in the shops. Plus our expertise comes with a satisfaction guarantee. If you’re serious about your lawn, then save yourself time and money by giving us a call.

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Foxy facts We all know that foxes in fairy stories are clever and cunning and disliked for stealing chickens. But how much do you know about them?

We’ve put together some fascinating foxy facts….

They’re city slickers

Foxes survive just as well in the city as in the country, especially in areas where there are lots of gardens.

Foxes are like cats

The fox may be a member of the dog family, but in many ways they’re more like cats with cat-like claws that enable them to climb trees. Foxes also stalk their prey, pounce and play with it, just like cats.

Foxes have amazing senses

Foxes are great at hunting at night because their eyes are specially adapted to the dark. They have an extra layer of light-sensitive cells in their eyes, so their vision is very sharp. They can also hear a tiny rustle in the grass from 30 metres away.

February is mating season

Have you been woken up recently by high pitched wailing coming from your garden in the middle of the night? Don’t worry, nothing bad is happening – it’s just the foxes’ way of finding a mate!

Baby foxes have ‘aunties’

Female foxes, or vixens, give birth in early spring – around the end of March. Sometimes a vixen’s sister, or one of her older daughters, will act as ‘auntie’ and look after the cubs. It’s good practice for when she has her own babies.

They’re playful animals

Even older foxes enjoy fun.. People have filmed them playing with dog toys left in the garden. And of course, there’s the Christmas John Lewis advert featuring foxes bouncing on a trampoline.

Do foxes visit your garden? Have you seen a fox doing something funny? The Woodland Trust would love to hear about it so why not post it on their Facebook page? www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/naturedetectives

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What’s THE best Mother’s Day Gift?

I’m a mum and still trying to understand how quickly the time has flown because my children are now adults.

I put caring for them at the top of my list of priorities, and was selfless in ensuring that everything I did kept them safe and thriving.

They had all the tools and support they needed to move towards their full potential.

My children left home at 18 yrs old for further education abroad. I did my job so well teaching them self-sufficiency, I have deprived myself of being able to enjoy seeing them more which makes it even more poignant for me when we do get together. And that’s a gift to treasure time spent in each other’s company.

A mum will be cherishing those moments more than you can imagine.

Make words count if you can’t see her - with a card hand-written with your sentiments. Or a telephone call to tell her how important she is to you. Forgetting or dismissing this day as unimportant - could be most hurtful.

Mother’s Day is for you to honour the person who made you - in every way.

Julia Parsons

Poem for your Valentine...

I love you so deeply, I love you so much, I love the sound of your voice And the way that we touch.

I love your warm smile And your kind thoughtful way, The joy that you bring To my life every day.

I love you today as I have from the start, And I’ll love you forvever With all of my heart.

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Paul Anderson, Zambia, Africa

Inheritance Tax threshold increased to £1 million

From April you will be entitled to an additional inheritance tax allowance in respect of a residential property. Great news for some, but there are also pitfalls to be aware of. Ellie Holland of Wilkes Partnership explains.

These changes are not without limitations:

House price increases in recent years have resulted in more families being caught by inheritance tax. These changes will see an extension to the current tax free allowance by reference to a residential property.

l The new allowance will only apply to deaths on or after 6 April 2017 - with some exceptions if one spouse dies before this date - and will start at a rate of £100,000 for the tax year 2017/18, rising to £175,000 in 2021. l This allowance will be capped at the value of the property in the estate and only applied if the property is correctly inherited by an appropriate beneficiary. l Whilst this allowance can be maximised by married couples with offspring, taxpayers without descendants will miss out as they will not be able to satisfy the requirement of passing their property to direct descendants. l There will also be an upper limit applied to the overall net value of the estate of £2 million, above which the residential allowance element starts to be reduced at a rate of £1 for every £2 above the threshold.

By 2021 tax payers who pass a property to direct descendants (spouse, civil partner, children or grandchildren) on death will receive an additional allowance of £175,000, which is also transferable between spouses and civil partners. This additional transferable allowance of £350,000 raises the potential tax free allowance on death to £1 million for a couple.

For more information, or to discuss how to ensure that the residential allowance is applied to your estate, please contact Ellie Holland at Wilkes Partnership on 0121 733 8000.

The current ‘nil rate band’ (the amount that can be passed free of tax on death), is set at £325,000, which has been frozen since 2009.

This is transferrable between spouses and civil partners, meaning that potentially a tax free allowance of £650,000 can be passed by a married couple to beneficiaries on death.

In order to benefit from these changes you must review your wills to ensure your estate is eligible and your wills are prepared to allow for the use of this enhanced allowance.

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Treat a loved one.... ...to a one piece of

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This piece is called ‘The King of Spain’s Daughter’ and was part of a series that won the Zelli award in 2005. It was sculpted with porcelain and features real gold and platinum lustre.

See the captivating pieces on sale now at www.etsy.com/shop/LindaKieftCeramics

To see her past work, and find out more about the artist visit www.lindakieft.com 18

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Paul Anderson, Zambia, Africa

Top urologist Mr Paul Anderson This borough has some wonderful undeclared ‘celebrities’ living in it. People you wouldn’t recognise immediately and who don’t regularly feature in gossip columns. They are professionals and volunteers who benefit and give to humanity for little or no reward.

Paul Anderson is a Consultant Urological / Genito-urethral reconstructive surgeon at the top of his profession. He works on wounded soldiers at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Birmingham Hospital as well as in many other Midlands locations. He can also be seen on TV in Channel Four’s Embarrassing Bodies and Live from the Clinic.

For two weeks each year he travels with a group of colleagues to Zambia, southern Africa as a volunteer surgeon. “Patients are crammed into every available space”, Paul recalls of his first day on arriving in Lusaka, Zambia. “My main memory is a rainbow riot of colour because to divide the patients in such a packed space, the staff hang immaculately clean sheets covered in brightly coloured designs.”

The men he sees have life limiting and life threatening urethral conditions. A man in

Zambia is the main wage earner. If he can’t work the whole family will suffer. With the right expertise, urethral strictures can be treated enabling the patient to return to normal life. But in Zambia with a population of 14 million, there is only one urology department with just three consultant urologists, none trained to a high enough level.

Arriving in Lusaka, the team’s first task is the difficult decision of who to operate on. “Many had travelled days to get to the hospital in the hope of being treated”, said Paul.

“In the UK, the challenge for us at the QE Military Hospital are the young men with appalling injuries not seen in most areas of civilian medicine. In contrast to Zambia, we are treating them in Birmingham with the best in medical technology in an ideal hospital environment.”

Paul will be returning to Zambia for 2 more years, treating patients and training surgeons.

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“Birmingham’s airport to be built at Shirley.”

That may well have been the local headline nearly 90 years ago!

The intention behind the project was to divert continental air traffic from London to Birmingham, boosting trade in the region.

Land owners in Longmore Road, Shirley area could not agree a price with the council and so the latter sought compulsory purchase orders.

In the meantime, the City Engineer, disturbed by the rapid increase in housing developments within Shirley, shifted his attention to Elmdon.

For a time, things went off the boil but in 1934 the Elmdon Airport project was revived and compulsory purchase orders secured a 500acre site.

Birmingham’s own airport opened in May 1939.

It had a contemporary art-deco terminal building, proudly bearing the city’s coat of arms and was flanked either side by cantilever canopies (to protect passengers from the rain).

Although some scheduled flights commenced immediately and the RAF moved in a training unit, the formal opening occurred on a very wet 8th July. The Duchess of Kent did the honours and Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was

present, as was the now legendary pilot Alex Henshaw. However, the Second World War was but weeks away, and civilian flying from Elmdon would not get into its stride for a number of years to come.

With the advent of package tours in the 1960s, various extensions were built to the west side of the original terminal. This was but a stop-gap measure until the new airport complex to the east of the main runway was opened in 1984.

Today passenger figures are increasing month on month, partly due to the extension to the main runway permitting larger aircraft to fly longer distances non-stop.

Written by Steve Richards See extended article at swanpublishing.org Buy Steve Richards book Luftwaffe Over Birmingham for £19.95 at WH Smith and www.birminghamair-raids.co.uk 21

Human of Solihull Maggie Cabeza The Dragon Tamer Author, Painter and best of all….Survivor Our special person has a story that will inspire.

Maggie has been well churned through the mill of life and transformed in the process.

Coming from southern Spain with her family at the age of 3, Maggie’s father came to seek work, which he found at a psychiatric hospital in Hatton. Following the completion of her education, Maggie trained as a cognitive behavioural therapist, moving to Hampton in Arden where now married she began her business from a little office in Knowle - Arden Counselling Now in her 40’s, Maggie felt something was wrong with her body - regularly passing blood - but was told it was piles. Eventually though, a large aggressive tumour was discovered in her bowel and Maggie as so many others have had to do, began chemotherapy and treatment, blogging everything on her Facebook page bringing the support, strength and energy of family and friends But in her darkest hours of pain and sickness, often in the night, she felt a strong urge to paint. You and I might take to the TV, our iPads 22

or a book to distract us but Maggie bought simple art equipment and created a studio in her old VW camper van and there she would go, using painting as therapy to get her through the worst.

She says “It was the support of my husband, the unconditional love of my little dog who had a sixth sense for my need, and the wonderful messages sent to me from Facebook that carried me.”

“I am a naturally positive person and my thinking would never be about the worst that could happen - but always looking at the best outcome. And, I accepted my illness as really, it’s the toss of a dice. I never considered it ‘a fight’ but with acceptance I got fear under control and tamed the dragon”.

Now in remission, Maggie has self-published (no mean feat) a beautiful book of her blogs and paintings which demonstrates her natural gifts. Together they tell a remarkable story - one which many will relate to.

“The Dragon Tamer” can be bought for £12.50 on Amazon or email Maggie on maggie@ cabeza.co.uk

Local private tutors Helen Mills

Flute & Intensive grade 5 Theory BMus; GBSM Hons; ABSM

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All abilities, ages & levels taught. Excellent results record. ALSO Aural Training Member of ISM Blenheim Road, Moseley Tel: 0121 449 2135

ncer Kerry Spe istory and 11+

English, H h) Tutor (Maths & Englis ught.

and levels ta e All abilities ages in your own hom Lessons provided d weekends. an during the week , lts su re t an illi Br 1 055 220 Call or text: 0789

Tech Smart Training C.I.C

Support for those susceptible to digita l exclusion and online vulnerability, specialising in “jargo tuition & remote co n free” 121 mputer support for businesses and individuals of all ag Based in Solihull - es and abilities. DBS certified.

Hello@techsmarttr0121 704 9648 aining.co.uk www.techsmarttrain Facebook.com/tec ing.co.uk hsmarttraininguk Twitter @techsmartu k

n n arman DavidullPMaths Roefvmisaio ths tuitio Solihcialist provider

A spe ision courses ion.co.uk and rev lihullmathsrevis www.so 36 672187 ld r and wou Tel: 078 a local tuto d here If you are te n rg etails pri like your d il: info@swanpublishing.o a m e se plea

Local IT specialist Lola Rickets from Tech Smart Training helps with your biggest worries.

Q: I am worried about cybercrime - how do I recognise a fraudulent email message?

A: Cyber criminals who email you are usually

after your personal data such as banking information, names and addresses. These emails are often poorly written, with spelling and/or grammatical errors, and may include the following: l Urgent payment requests; l Emails linking to company websites which are different to the company’s real web address; l A link for you to update your payment information (which will take you to a false website): and l Threats of consequences if you don’t respond or act.

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If you’re not expecting an email from that person/organisation or you’re unsure about it, do not open it, delete it straight away and never open the attachments. If in doubt, contact the person or company to check if they did genuinely send you that email.

For IT Training & Support give one of Tech Smart’s friendly team a call on 0121 704 9648 or search online for “Tech Smart Training” Quote SWPU and get your first lesson half price.

23

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Where to eat

A guide to the best places to eat in and around Solihull

Aroma Indian 100a Widney Rd Solihull, B93 9BN Tel: 01564 777 613

Hillfield Farm Pub Pub Food 2 Cranbrook Way, Shirley, B90 4GT Tel: 0121 733 8810

The Forest Restaurant Hotel Restaurant 25 Station approach Dorridge, B93 8JA Tel: 01564 772120

Berryfields Farm shop Restaurant Berkswell Road Meriden, CV77LB Tel: 01676 522 155

Hogarths Restaurant Hotel Restaurant Four Ashes Rd Dorridge, B93 8QE Tel: 01564 779988

The Punchbowl Pub Food Mill Lanwe Lapworth, B94 6HR Tel: 01564 784 564

The Beech House Steakhouse 727 Warwick Road Solihull, B91 3DA Tel: 0121 272 7730

The Malt Shovel Gastro Pub Barston Lane Solihull, B91 3DX Tel: 01675 443 223

The Red House Pub Food & Carvery Hermitage Rd Solihull, B91 2LP Tel: 0121 711 8856

The Farm Inn Gastro Pub Farmhouse Way Solihull, B90 4EH Tel: 0121 711 7273

Met Bar & Kitchen Modern European 680-684 Warwick Rd Solihull, B91 3DX Tel: 0121 659 8062

Waters Restaurant Fine Dining Floor 1, Resorts World B40 1PU Tel: 0121 273 1238

Fukuoka Japanese 373 Stratford Road Shirley, B90 3BW Tel: 0121 439 6262

Orange Tree Gastro Pub Warwick Rd Solihull, B93 0BN Tel: 01564 785364

The White Lion French & British Hampton-in-Arden Solihull, B92 0AA Tel: 01564 442833

Happy Heart Cafe Organic 26 Richmond Road, Olton, B92 7RP Tel: 0121 706 8674

Pavarotti Italian 2 Hobs Moat Rd Solihull, B92 8JN Tel: 0121 743 3222

Little Italy Italian 156-158 Stratford Rd Solihull, B90 3BD 0121 293 1987

Special moments deserve seven stars

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Call: 0121 704 0564

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What’s on guide A snapshot of things to do around Knowle & Dorridge in Feb & March.

Markets, Fairs & Festivals Solihull Farmers’ Market Freshly grown produce.

Where: High Street & Mill Lane When: First Fri every month Info: sol.gov.uk/events Fine and Local Food Fayre Locally sourced food from top quality suppliers.

Where: High Street & Mill Lane When: 3rd Sat every month Info: sol.gov.uk/events Bentley Heath Community Market Enjoy tea or coffee and homebaked cake whilst shopping local produce, crafts & plants.

Where: Bentley Heath When: Every Friday 9.30-11.30 Info: bhcountrymarket.com Mum2Mum Market Nearly New Sale Where: Solihull Renewal Family Centre, Vulcan Rd, B91 2JR When: Sat 25 Feb 10:30-12:30 Info: 07817 140 997 Cake International Over 400 top craft and cake exhibitors.

Where: Birmingham NEC When: Fri 17 - Sun 19 Mar Info: ichfevents.co.uk Midland Vintage & Antique Fair Vintage, retro, antiques etc.

Where: Fentham Hall, Hampton in Arden, B92 OAH When: Sat 4 Feb & Sat 4 Mar Info: 0121 784 1581

Community Projects Hedge Laying Help to create a living fence which encourages new growth.

Where: Brueton Park, The Parkridge Centre, B91 3HW When: Sun 5 Feb Info: www.solihullcv.org.uk.

Charity Events Endo Ball 2017 A ball to in aid of Endometriosis UK Where: St. Johns Hotel, 651 Warwick Road, B91 1AT When: Sat 4 Mar Info: endo_ball@hotmail.com Troop Aid Quiz Night Quiz and fish n chip supper Where: The Royal British Legion, Union Road, B91 3DH When: Fri 17 Feb Info: 0121 711 7215 Charity Parachute Jump You’ll be harnessed to a professional parachute instructor and receive full training. Simply raise £395 in sponsorship, then the jump is free When: Sat 11 Mar Info: events@ageuksolihull.org. uk or call 0121 704 7842

Family Fun Den Building Make a survival den in the woods, to keep warm and sheltered from the cold. Age 6+.

Where: The Parkridge Centre, Brueton Park, B91 3HW When: Tues 21 Feb Info: www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on

Winter Woodland Winter adventure in the woods Age 4+. Booking advised Where: The Parkridge Centre, Brueton Park, B91 3HW When: Wed 22 Feb Info: www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on Hedgehog Winter Wander Find out about hedgehogs & their night time lives - Age 2+ Where: The Parkridge Centre, Brueton Park, B91 3HW When: Thurs, 23 Feb Info: www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on Nature Tots - Sensory Explorer Explore the outdoors using the five senses.. Age 2-4.

Booking recommended.

Where: The Parkridge Centre, Brueton Park, B91 3HW Info: warwickshirewildlifetrust. org.uk Brueton Park 5k Run Costs nothing to join in - but must register your first run.

Where: Brueton Park When: Every Sat at 9:00am Info: parkrun.org.uk/register The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe SMASH (The music & drama group of Solihull Methodist Church) production.

Where: Methodist Church, Blossomfield Rd, B91 1LG When: 29-31 Mar, 7.30 pm Info: solihull-smash.org.uk

A magical day It’s 7:30am, and we’re standing in the middle of an empty Birmingham Botanical Gardens on a drizzly Monday. In a few hours this will be full of 1,000 children.

In the corner a circus starts setting up their trapezes and stage. Rails of Alice in Wonderland-themed costumes arrive - where are we going to put them? Suddenly there’s a big gust of wind. We run to grab hold of a gazebo before it flies away.

People begin arriving - volunteers will help stage this amazing day. Nearly 130 and without them, nothing would be possible. Local businesses are represented, and we couldn’t do it without them either. Students from Solihull College will make a video. (To recognise the contribution our volunteers and partners we’ve just received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. It’s great the volunteers have been recognised in this way.)

It’s 10:30am, and the first minibus arrives. It’s a glorious carnival of laughter and colour – even the sun has come out.

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Circus acts, Punch & Judy, a ten-foot tall costumed insect, stilt-walkers all vie for space in ordered chaos. A surreal sight with Alice in Wonderland chatting to clowns.

This massive Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is specifically for children with special educational needs and disabilities. They come from all over the West Midlands.

Hours later as the children reluctantly leave, we have big grins on our faces – the hard work has been so worthwhile. Re-energised, our thoughts turn to what we do next. The Summer Tea Party is the biggest event we do, but not the only one.

We’re based in Solihull, so we’ve recently started a Mayor of Solihull’s Tea Party for our local special schools. Lots of work, but days like this are what it’s all about.

Written by Gary Roskell, Development Director Mad Hatter’s Children’s Charity madhatterscharity.com. Phone: 0121 713 2270 or follow ‘madhatterscharity’ on Facebook and Twitter.

Clubs & Societies Clubs & Societies

Our community is rich and diverse and there is something for everyone, whatever your interests may be.

Blythe Barracudas swimming club Lessons & competitions www.blythebarracudas.com Dorridge Flower Club 01926 484 598 www.southmidlandsnafas.org.uk/dorridge Knowle Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Cafe Tel. 07827 940 844 www.solihullcarers.org Knowle Art Group www.freewebs.com/knowleartgroup Knowle Astronomical Society www.knowleastro.org.uk Knowle Bridge Club 01564 776 498 / 205 363 www. bridgewebs.com/knowle Knowle Camera Club www.knowlecameraclub.co.uk Knowle & Dorridge Ladies Circle www.ladiescircle.co.uk/knowle kanddladiescircle@hotmail.com

KPC’s The Marriage Course: relationshipcentral@kpc.org.uk Knowle Probus Club 01527 529 363 www.knowleprobus.org.uk Knowle and Dorridge Racquets Club www.knowleanddorridgeracqets.co.uk Knowle Ramblers Group www.knowleramblers.tripod.com Knowle Scottish Country Dance Club 01564 779 853 Solihull Speakers Club www.solihullspeakers.co.uk Knowle Women’s Institute 01564 770 485 mbpbknowle@talktalk.net West Midland Bird Club 0121 705 8507 solihull@westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk Ye Olde Knowle Bowling Club www.ykbc.co.uk

Knowle & Dorridge Lions 08458 335 894 www.knowleanddorridgelions.com

Solihull Symphony Orchestra www.solihullsymphony.org.uk

Knowle Flower Club 01564 775 899

Solihull & Shirley Bridge Bereavement Support Group 0121 733 1038 enquiries@thebridgeshirley.com

Knowle Local History Society www.knowlehistory.org.uk knowlehistory@yahoo.co.uk Knowle Male Voice Choir www.knowlemalevoicechoir.org.uk kmvc14@gmail.com Knowle Musical Society www.knowlemusicalsociety.co.uk Knowle Parish Council www.kpc.org.uk

Solihull Embroiderers Solihullembroiderersguild.blogspot.co.uk Solihull Down syndrome Support Group lizwilliams193@hotmail.co.uk If you know of a club or group that is not listed here but should be, please get in touch to let us know: juliaparsons@swanpublishing.org

29

Local Business Directory Support your local community = support your local economy + watch our neighbourhood thrive!

Business Expo MK City Expo

20

Care Services Information Adam Life 32 Charity Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice 6 Domestic Appliances Macphersons Appliances Direct 3

Plumbing Cullen Plumbing & Tiling 10 Property Maintenance All Aspects Property Maintenance 16 Restaurant Sweet Chillies Waters Restaurant

24 14

Solicitor Wilkes Partnership LLP

17

Estate Agents Hunters Estates

2

Tiling Cullen Plumbing & Tiling 10

Fireplace Showroom MD Services

18

Tuition Tech Smart CIC

Gardening & Landscaping Betel UK Gardens & Treeworks 3 Central Driveways Ltd 7 Changes UK 6 Lawnscience Solihull Ltd 11 Markets & Fairs B2B Events Ltd B2B Events Ltd

7 6

23

Wedding DJ & Lighting Hire Sundown Events 12 Windows & Doors Cloudy2Clear

8

Working From Home Lisa McCann

7

Photographer Seven Star Photography 26

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