TheVillage July 2018
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NEWS & FEATURES from Alvechurch, Barnt Green, Blackwell, Burcot Cofton Hackett, Finstall, Hopwood, Bordesley, Rowney Green, Lickey Lickey End, Marlbrook, The Oakalls . . . and everywhere in between!
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TheVillage
Issue 191 July 2018
ISSN 1466-3376
100 Reasons to Celebrate Page 15
It’s a snip - for £3,200 Page 16
Editorial: Editor: Sally Oldaker Publisher: Richard Peach The Limes Alvechurch Worcestershire B48 7RR
Picnic Special Pages 28–35
Tel: 0121 445 6757 email: news@villageonline.co.uk
To advertise in TheVillage
Ball’s Big Total Page 37
Call Louise Robinson:
0121 445 6757 email:
louise@villageonline.co.uk
visit: villageonline.co.uk The Village (ISSN 1466-3376) is published by Platform Publishing & Media Ltd (Reg Office: 87 Hewell Rd, Barnt Green, B45 8NL) and printed by Buxton Press in Derbyshire. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written consent is prohibited. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any errors made in advertisements or for claims made by any advertisers which are incorrect. The publishers reserve the right to refuse advertising for any reason. All material submitted for publication is done so at the owner’s risk and no responsibility is accepted by the publisher for its return.
Prickly Heat Pages 52–56
Growing Your Own Pages 58–60
Cover: Barley growing in the July sunshine in Alvechurch.
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Village News
Swans walk: The family of swans featured in our June magazine, including our “cover cob”, have been on the move once more, seeking out fresh feeding grounds over the golf course at Abbey Park, Bordesley, after a
brief stay on the mill stream at Paper Mill. Sadly the brood of seven cygnets, which hatched in May near Abbey Meadows, has now been reduced to six. Photo by Paul Wilde
‘Transparency’ plea
Independent councillors are calling for the review of Bromsgrove’s local plan to be halted while fears of a “perceived conflict of interest” are investigated. The move came after Barnt Green independent Charlie Hotham learned consultants Wood Plc had been appointed to help with the sustainability appraisal of the draft local plan. Wood are the co-authors, with GL Hearn, of the Greater Birmingham Housing Market Area Strategic Growth Study. This contains the idea of a new “garden village” of up to 15,000 homes on Green Belt land between Alvechurch and Barnt Green, since dubbed “Barntchurch”. District councillor Kate Van Der Plank told Alvechurch parish councillors the independents were “dismayed” by the discovery. Fearing residents may lose faith in the plan process, Coun Hotham tabled a motion to Bromsgrove’s June full council meeting seeking a suspension of the review. The motion said: “The potential conflict of interest surrounding the BDC plan review is deeply concern-
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ing. This has been brought about by the council employing the coauthor of the Hearn-Wood study as consultant to advise on our own plan review. “This has created the impossible circumstance whereby the average Bromsgrove resident is highly likely to lose faith in the impartiality of the plan review process.” Coun Hotham’s motion urged the council to suspend the plan review “until such time as residents, developers and elected members can have faith that, via an independent audit, the review is being and has been conducted in an open and transparent manner and that no perceived or actual conflict of interest exists”. Coun Hotham later told Barnt Green Parish councillors: “The motion was deferred and an auditor, who is separate from the council, is going to see if there is a conflict of interest.” Village View: Page 23
Parish aims to be ready with its own plan
Barnt Green is to revisit its Neighbourhood Plan preparations to ensure the parish is ready to deal with future house-building pressures. Parish chairman Robert Cholmondeley said: “Lickey and Blackwell, along with Cofton Hackett, have now prepared a draft plan and, given that Alvechurch’s plan is sitting with Bromsgrove District Council, I do think we need to consider our own position. “We now have the uncertainty at Bromsgrove with a Green Belt review and added to that there is the Hearn report.” Coun Charlie Hotham said that after a Green Belt review, those with Neighbourhood Plans “could have scope to decide where houses might go”. He added: “We don’t want to get caught out.” Have your say: Page 8
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Village News
Finstall funds defibrillator B
Rosemarie Ryan and Sajid Javid
romsgrove MP and Home Secretary Sajid Javid officially unveiled the new public access defibrillator at Finstall Village Hall. Rosemarie Ryan, chair of the Village Hall Committee, said: “This is a vital and potentially life-saving asset for the village. We have worked hard to raise the money and we are very grateful to all villagers who contributed. HSBC, the parish council and the local Scouts also supported the initiative. “We are also indebted to Rob Underwood from Charlotte and Craig Saving Hearts
Foundation, who provided training for residents.” Mr Javid said he was grateful for the opportunity to support the installation. The defibrillator is a very safe electronic device, designed to be used by a layperson. It automatically reads the heart rhythm of someone who may have had a cardiac arrest, diagnoses whether an electric shock is needed and safely delivers the shock if required. It is registered with the NHS Ambulance Service with access details given through a 999 / 112 call.
Danger bridge to go at last
after years of pressure from The Worcester-Birmingham & Droitwich Canals Society and Alvechurch Parish Council, the Canal & River Trust (CRT) has finally agreed to demolish the derelict bridge on the “dead arm” of the canal at Alvechurch. Bridge 64, described as “an accident waiting to happen”, has been closed off for two years, but concerned residents reported that children were still trying to climb on the unsafe structure. Following an inspection, CRT decided to bring forward the demolition, which had been put off a number of times and was scheduled for April 2019. Work is due to begin on July 2, and CRT anticipates that it will take up to four weeks to complete. The towpath will remain open, but the woodland footpath will be closed for the duration of the work.
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Village News
Have your say on plan
V
illagers in Lickey, Blackwell and Cofton Hackett can have their say on the parishes’ future by commenting on a draft of the joint Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP), which is out for consultation until July 16. The Draft NDP has been prepared by a steering group of parish councillors and interested residents after several years of consultation and research, providing a strong local framework to guide future development in the area. The document provides information on key issues and planning policies, as well as looking at factors such as built heritage and design, the natural environment, housing and infrastructure. “Open House” consultation events will take place on Saturday July 7, from 10am-12noon at the Trinity Centre, Lickey; 1–3pm at the Wheel, Blackwell; and 4–6pm at the Village Hall, Cofton Hackett. There’s also a drop-in event at the Wheel, Blackwell at 7pm on Wednesday July 11.
Cofton Lake (Photo/ Keith Woolford)
The Draft Plan, an information film and other supporting documents can be viewed and downloaded from www.lickeyandblackwellpc.org and www.coftonhackettpc.org Hard copies can be viewed at the Parish Office at the Trinity Centre on Wednesdays or Fridays 10.30am– 3.30pm; Blackwell Village Stores; Bromsgrove Library; and Cofton Hackett Village Hall by appointment with the
Armistice centenary planning under way
Preparations are being made across the area to find suitable ways to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War. Barnt Green Parish Council has formed a working party to consider its plans, which will focus on the seven names on the memorial in front of St Andrew’s Church. One of these is Samuel Gallimore, a 38-year-old private who died just three days before the Armistice in November 1918. His death left a widow, Alice, who lived in Hewell Road with their three young children. Another was 18-year-old Private Percy Stephens, the only child of William and Mary Ann Stephens, of The Hollies, Hewell Road, which is
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believed to be where the Tesco store is now. Among the permanent memorials being considered by the parish council are a drinking-water fountain in Millennium Park, which has recently had a water supply installed. Other ideas include a permanent flagpole for the village and the council is also going to investigate the nationwide “There But Not There” art installation project featuring 6ft high silhouettes of Tommies. Coun Jenny Jellie also said there were plans for an exhibition of memorabilia that had been left in the care of a village shop-owner, which could feature an event linked to the silhouette project.
clerk at Cofton Hackett parish council. “Our vision for the area for the next 20 years is to sustainably maintain and enhance the life of our community, retaining its rural character and building on its heritage to shape its future,” says Lickey & Blackwell parish chairman Nick Forknell. “As a resident in either parish you will get a chance to vote on the final Plan. We hope you will support it.”
Raising the pollen count
Barnt Green is embracing an initiative to protect pollinating insects and their habitats. The parish council is looking at four possible sites around the village after being approached by resident Rachel Banner, whose interest had been sparked by a Worcestershire Pollinators conference. Parish chairman Robert Cholmondeley said: “We are going to have a go at letting the grass grow, doing some planting and seeing how we get on.” The first site is likely to be on the spare land at Greenbank in Hewell Road after councillors heard the land was now owned by the Crown so there was little point trying to buy it.
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Alvechurch Parish Council News
NEWSLETTER Summer 2018 neighbourhood plan
Our Neighbourhood Plan was formally submitted to Bromsgrove District Council (BDC) at the end of March and the Steering Group met with BDC planning officers in late May. Despite this lengthy delay in responding, BDC has recommended only minor changes to the documents. They’ve given us a timeline which sees the Plan being considered by the District Council’s Cabinet in late June and, if approved, being advertised for a further six-week period to allow anyone to “make representations”. An independent examination by a Planning Inspector should follow in September and, assuming the Inspector is happy, a public referendum would then happen in November. This process may seem painfully slow to most of us. It’s partly due to the Government’s Neighbourhood Plan Regulations, but also reflects the rather ponderous nature of policy planning at Bromsgrove, an authority which took nearly 10 years to produce its own Local Plan. The key question now: how will our Neighbourhood Plan stand up to the pressures of Birmingham overspill and “Barntchurch”? The latter could be a decisive issue in the 2019 District Council elections.
the meadows
In May, parish councillors approved the outcome of a tendering exercise to buy and install more play facilities on the Wiggin. Public consultations last year favoured a zip wire, “risky play” facilities and some gym equipment. A parish council working group assessed schemes from five potential suppliers and the council unanimously selected Sutcliffe Play – the same company who successfully installed the last phase of equipment there. Preparation work is underway and the scheme is planned to start on 2nd July and be completed around the start of the school holidays. Local residents will be consulted on the best times for access and deliveries. Work also continues to complete Finlay’s Garden… stonework in the paddling pool is finished and the pool edges will soon be resurfaced.
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Philip Aubury has kindly planted shrubs around the area which may also feature “love locks”, possibly on a specially-fabricated tree.
hopwood playing fields
Last year APC made major improvements to Hopwood Community Centre and now our attention has turned to the outdated play facilities nearby. A group of local residents, calling themselves the “Hopwood Mums”, has joined forces with councillors to raise funds for new equipment. A successful stall at Picnic in the Park raised awareness and over £120, to go alongside contributions from our county councillor Charlie Hotham (£3000) and the parish council (£5000). Local businesses are also being asked to support the scheme financially. All this forms part of a New Homes Bonus application to Bromsgrove DC, applying for a £15,800 grant towards the overall cost of £30,000. New play facilities recently have tended to be in Alvechurch, where Section 106 money has come from new housing developments… this is an opportunity for Hopwood children to benefit too.
planning matters
The application by Simply Fresh at 14 The Square (incorporating a replacement Post Office), submitted earlier this year and opposed by some neighbouring residents on the grounds of overdevelopment of the site, has gone to appeal. At the time of writing no date has been set, though it is likely to be conducted by written representations rather than a public hearing. Anybody wishing to make representations to the parish council on applications can either do so at our
Planning Committee Meetings or by contacting the Parish Office prior to the meeting. Agendas and Minutes can be found on our website. You can also keep an eye on potential developments using the Bromsgrove DC Planning Portal which will show details of all current and historical applications, plus comments made by statutory consultees and by the public. Don’t forget that the Parish Council is only a consultee and all decisions are made by BDC. The APC Planning Committee meets monthly (normally the first Monday) to discuss live applications and local people are welcome to attend these meetings. If you’re thinking of extending or building a property in the parish, you should consult the Alvechurch Parish Design Statement (part of the Neighbourhood Plan) which gives guidance on good design and materials, and the best way to fit in with existing developments. Copies are available online or from the Parish Office.
in brief
l Councillors are talking to Alvechurch Ex-Services Association and the Community Choir about arrangements for this year’s Remembrance Day; the 100th anniversary of the end of the first World War. l Worcestershire County Council has agreed to a no-parking zone at the junction of Latimer and Station Roads. Double yellow lines will be painted on 19th July. l The Parish Council was audited at the end of April and praised for good financial management and providing value-for-money services to local people. Finance information, including the audit, can be viewed on the website or by appointment at the Parish Office. l The Christmas tree lights will be lit on Friday 30th November. Father Christmas has been asked to drop in and help out!
Contacting the Parish Council
You can contact the Parish Council about any of these issues on 0121 447 8016 or email clerk@alvechurch.gov. uk The minutes of recent PC meetings appear at www.alvechurch.gov.uk and you can find us on Facebook under Alvechurch Parish Council.
The views and opinions on this page are those of Alvechurch Parish Council.
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Lickey & Blackwell Parish Council News Newsletter Summer 2018
ing to the site as there will be fewer deliveries and visitors. The car park will be redesigned to improve parking and the site will be secure. Plans are to demolish and rebuild part of the building and refurbish the remaining structure and for the whole project to be finished within a year.
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
The Lickey & Blackwell and Cofton Hackett Draft Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) has been published for consultation by the two parish councils of Lickey & Blackwell and Cofton Hackett. The consultation period will run until July 16, 2018. “Open House” consultation events will take place on Saturday July 7, from10am-12noon at the Trinity Centre, Lickey; 1–3pm at the Wheel, Blackwell; and 4–6pm at the Village Hall, Cofton Hackett. A drop-in event will take place at the Wheel, Blackwell at 7pm on Wednesday July 11. You can find full information on the Neighbourhood Plan page at www. lickeyandblackwellpc.org and www. coftonhackettpc.org All comments should be submitted to our Executive Officer at the address below or by email to neighbourhoodplan@lickeyandblackwellpc.org
ENVIRONMENT
We recently met with an officer from the County Council to discuss management of the cemetery in Lickey, the wildflower verge and other issues.
BEST FRONT GARDEN COMPETITION
The judging of this year’s BFG took place during the first two weeks in May and our 20 judges were impressed by the quality of the gardens, with many flowering shrubs and trees at their best. The prize-giving on Saturday June 3 gave the council an opportunity to thank our residents for maintaining their gardens to a high standard. The winning gardens were as follows:
AROUND THE PARISH
The High House Wood Management Team planted a Red Sentinel Crab Apple tree at an event on Saturday April 21, held to commemorate the centenary of the cessation of WWI. It was a lovely morning and we had great participation. Thanks to Len Cottam, Jill Harvey and Sandra Mason for their informative talks. l
We will be placing information signs in the cemetery to inform residents about how we manage the site for wildlife.
TRAFFIC SPEEDS
Speed monitoring cables are in place on St Catherine’s Road in Blackwell as we are considering placing a new solar-powered speed sign there.
LICKEY HILLS NURSING HOME SITE
Coun Jill Harvey attended a meeting with residents and representatives of the Priory Group at the site to find out more about their plans. The plans are for the site to be used for adult mental health care with only 37 beds where before there were 88. This should mean fewer vehicles com-
CONTACT US
The parish council office at the Trinity Centre, 411 Old Birmingham Road, Lickey is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10.30am–3.30pm. Lisa Winterbourn, our executive officer, may be contacted on eo@lickey andblackwellpc.org or 07513 865011. Much more council and NDP information may be found at www.lickeyand blackwellpc.org or www.facebook.com/ lickeyandblackwellcouncil
Pic/ Keith Woolford
2nd: Rosa Lodge, Station Road, Blackwell 3rd: 56 Greenhill, Blackwell
Large gardens 1st: 8 Pinfield Drive, Lickey 2nd: 3 Merriemont Drive Joint 3rd: 47 Twatling Road and 28 Lickey Square
Small gardens: 1st: 39 Greenfield Avenue, Lickey Grange 2nd: 6 Edgewood Drive, Lickey 3rd: 8 Gleneagles Drive, Blackwell
Medium gardens 1st: 30 Fairways Drive, Blackwell
Eco-friendly gardens 1st: 29 Lickey Rock, Lickey Grange
2nd: 52 Linthurst Road, Barnt Green 3rd: 31 Linthurst Road, Barnt Green Public and commercial gardens 1st: Burcot Grange gardening team, Greenhill, Blackwell 2nd: High House Wood management team, Lickey 3rd: Greenfield Bank, Lickey Grange – Andrew Douglas Views and opinions on this page are those of Lickey & Blackwell Parish Council.
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Village News
100 reasons to celebrate
F
amily and friends gathered at Alvechurch Sports & Social Club to help Vera Palmer, a long-time resident of Alvechurch, celebrate reaching her 100th birthday. Born in London, Vera has had an interesting life. During the Second World War she worked as a “clippie” on the London buses before marrying a soldier and travelling the world, living in places such as Germany and North Africa. On returning to the UK, Vera’s first home was in Dorset, before heading to the Midlands. She ran Rednal Social Club with her late husband, and eventually moved to Alvechurch upon retirement in 1972.
Vera puts her longevity down to good genes and hard work: “My sister was 103 when she passed away. I like to do as much as I can
to look after myself. It keeps me going,” she said. Above: Vera with close family and her card from the Queen.
The Village
July 2018
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Village News
It’s a snip . . . for £3,200! A
well-known Alvechurch resident has raised £3,200 for a children’s charity by having her long hair cut. Caroline Spreckley was able to donate 16.5 inches of hair to The Little Princess Trust, which makes real hair wigs free of charge for
youngsters who have lost their hair. She was inspired by young villager Esme Morgan, who donated her own hair recently. “I thought, if a six-year-old could do it, why couldn’t I?” says Caroline. “I was aiming for £500 originally, but this soon rose as people were so generous. Customers at The Weighbridge pub, where I work, were amazing, and ABC Leisure Group not only allowed me to fundraise at the May beer festival but also donated £250.” Caroline’s hair was cut by Angela at Imagination in Alvechurch, and the fundraising is still going on. You can donate at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ Caroline-Spreckley The Little Princess Trust was set up in memory of Hannah Tarplee, a little girl from Hereford who died of cancer – her parents had found
Julie lifts Euro title for a second time
C
ofton Hackett resident Julie Davis has retained her title at the European Powerlifting Championships, breaking four British and two European records. Julie is also the current World and British Champion with the Global Powerlifting Committee, having started lifting at the age of 39, four days before her wedding. “I was originally a runner but wanted something new to aim for,” she says. “I qualified for England's Strongest Woman finals at my first event, and came 10th. I realised that I'm a bit small to do Strong Woman, so I switched to powerlifting and qualified for the World Championships at my first event in 2016, and won my category.” She is now preparing to break more records at the World Championships in Hungary in September.
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Julie fits powerlifting in around her job in the NHS and looking after her rescue dogs, and is entirely selffunded. She is seeking small-scale sponsorship from local businesses, so if you can help, email julie.davis@ nihr.ac.uk
it difficult and expensive to obtain a suitable wig in a child’s size. It can take up to 10 hair donations to make one wig, which costs the charity up to £500.
Fresh veg for all in village scheme
a group of volunteers aiming to bring the community together by growing and sharing fresh produce are hoping to expand the scheme in Alvechurch. The village branch of Incredible Edible, which has some 250 groups around the UK, is growing vegetables in planters in Tanyard Lane car park, maintained by volunteers, with residents able to help themselves to the produce. Group leader Tim Reading told Alvechurch Parish Council that the aim is to reintroduce people to where food comes from, and encourage them to enjoy fresh air, exercise and a sense of community. The group asked if it could also use council planters in The Square and outside the Red Lion, but since flowers for the planters had already been bought, councillors decided to wait until next year – if the scheme proved successful.
Village News
PC Marc
Ginder, the new beat manager for Hagley and Rubery, has reminded residents to ensure their vehicles are secure after a number of attempted break-ins in Cofton Hackett and Rednal. “Offenders have been walking the streets late at night into the early hours trying car door handles. Our advice to is to lock cars and not leave valuables inside,” he said. PC Ginder recently took over from long-serving PC Tim Burling.
Residents
in Alvechurch have expressed concerns that children as young as three years old are playing unsupervised in the streets around Hollington Road. District councillor Kate Van Der Plank told parish councillors that there had been some “near misses” with vehicles. She added that PC Simon Albutt and the Community Safety Team had agreed to do extra patrols in the area and speak to residents.
The
planned height restriction barrier for The Meadows in Alvechurch is set to go ahead, after Environmental Services confirmed that refuse collectors could use a code to open the barrier and turn their lorries around, rather than having to back down Meadow Lane.
Alvechurch
parish councillors continue to ask for updates on district councillor June Griffiths, who has been absent since May last year, leaving Alvechurch South without official representation. Coun John Cypher said, “I think we should register a complaint – we have been messed around for too long.”
Parish
councillors in Lickey & Blackwell are still divided over the idea of installing a cycle rack, a bench or bollards outside the Trinity Centre to deter motorists from parking next to the horse trough. Coun Jill Harvey suggested bringing the existing bench on to the paved area rather than buying a new one, while Coun Jo Eales said a rack or bollards could make the area less attractive and suggested there was not really a parking problem unless there was a big event at the venue. Councillors decided to try putting up a sign and writing to hall users to ask them not to park on the pavement.
Lickey
Community Group asked parish councillors to help in appealing to Bromsgrove District Council for a police presence outside Lickey Hills Primary School, instead of relying on Civil Parking Enforcement to catch those who park dangerously. Parish chairman Nick Forknell said, “We would need support from other parishes to have any influence, so we will bring it up at the next joint parish meeting – but the police will probably say they don’t have the resources.”
Single-use
plastics are to be phased out by both Worcestershire County Council and Bromsgrove District Council. Coun Peter McDonald told Barnt Green parish councillors he expected to see their use ended within 18 months. The Village
July 2018
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10 Years Ago From TheVillage archive
the cover of our combined July/ August 2008 magazine showed an iris behind John Adams’ Withybed Green garden during the National Gardens Open Day. More coverage was inside.
September 2013 – the diggers arrive
IN THE NEWS: Work had begun on installation of the £90,000 “MUGA” play equipment on Swans Length, Alvechurch, despite opposition from residents and controversy over why “106 money” apparently earmarked for The Meadows was being spent on this instead. Meanwhile, Lickey and Blackwell councillors were pleased that a flashing “slow down” sign had been installed near the school on Old Birmingham Road.
donato Esposito, founder of the Bostin T-shirt company, had swapped the Lickey Hills for a four-day trek through the mountains of Peru’s Inca Trail (including Waynapicchu, above), raising almost £5,000 for the British Heart Foundation. A FEATURE on Barnt Green’s very own Ironman, Nick Horton, told how he competed against the world’s best in various endurance events. Nick was pictured with daughter Siena at the 2005 Ironman event in Hawaii – and his success rubbed off, as Siena now represents her country in skiing and hockey. The Village
July 2018
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Village VillageViews Views
New station, old problems Dear Editor – Last month’s letter, “Traffic frustration”, made interesting reading. I was told by one retailer that parking on the main road in Aston Fields would be stopped once the refurbished railway station was up and running as there were going to be traffic lights at the junction where there is a roundabout at present. Good idea. There is a carpark (free) for Aston Fields at the old railway car park, but the nature of some of the shops mean that no one stopping off for a paper or a cup of coffee is going to use this facility and walk up the road. A problem here is that a great deal of traffic is parking outside the designated area back towards the roundabout, often concealing traffic exiting the station, another danger area. Perhaps the old approach to the station could be made a one-way into the station area, and the new road out of the station, further down, could be made one-way out of the station area. This would alleviate the amount of traffic at the roundabout and if traffic lights were used this would give ample opportunity for exiting traffic from the station to leave. The same thing is happening with the designated parking opposite the shops and bus stop at the top of New Road. This whole area needs to be sorted out as soon as possible. Another frustrated motorist
Have your say . . . about anything! 22
The Village
July 2018
Lawton’s View
Infrastructure has whiff of decay Dear Editor – I feel truly privileged to live in this part of Worcestershire – the trees are especially beautiful, not only at this time of year but all year round. But like any vegetation, they need care and occasional attention. Yet when was the last time any tree along the roadside was trimmed by Bromsgrove council? One cannot pass along any of the rural or major roads in the Bromsgrove area without the feeling that a catastrophe is there in waiting, as the trees get heavier and the overhanging branches more precarious. In many places, the branches encroach on the road
so much that any vehicle higher or wider than a family car is already in peril. Money may be tight, but I cannot help thinking that with all the income the government gets from the motorist, we deserve at least a safe right of passage? Surely, the best way to minimise cost is to stay on top of all types of maintenance – little and often? The whole national infrastructure (road, rail, property) has a serious whiff of neglect and decay – or is it just me? On another matter: I wonder if any Village reader can enlighten me as to the cause of a strange event recently. Our house on Ten Ashes Lane (Cofton Hackett) has Cofton Park 200 meters to the rear, and uninterrupted views of the Lickey forest to the front. I am unfortunate to be a
email: editor@villageonline.co.uk
or write to: Letters, The Village, The Limes, Swan Street, Alvechurch B48 7RR Please include your name and address – even if you request them to be withheld from publication. We reserve the right to edit submissions for reasons of space or legality. The deadline for the next issue is July 16.
bit of an insomniac, though. This has led to an unusual sight or two this year in the depths of night. At precisely 01.42am on Wednesday May 23, around ten minutes of (quite spectacular) fireworks were evident on the top of the Lickey forest hill. There is no carpark at that point. No dwelling. No immediately obvious reason for anyone to be there. I cannot think who/how/why… It led me to recall a similar unexplained event some weeks previously in 2018, although I did not note the date or time. From a similar point, slightly deeper downhill into the forest, a very bright light shone for about 10 or 15 minutes. It was a bright as a car headlamp, but only a single light – and seemingly quite still. Curiouser and curiouser. Anyone know the reason(s) behind these phenomena? Julian Cobbledick, Cofton Hackett
Street circus
Dear Editor – What on earth is going on with Swan Street in Alvechurch? First the road was closed, then there were traffic lights for weeks on end, then the road was closed again, then briefly open with vehicles having to slalom between barriers and holes, and now it’s closed again – and no one seems to know for how long. The diversion signs are confusing to people from outside the area, so we’ve had drivers going the wrong way down School Lane, not to mention people thinking the closure signs don’t apply to them and driving on the pavements to get through. . . does anyone know when normal service might be resumed? Name and address supplied
Where’s Vinny?
Hannah Gorton, aged 23 months, of Barnt Green, was the latest winner of a Mini Vinny in our monthly competition. If you want to win one for yourself, you’ll need to try to locate the little hedgehog hiding somewhere in this magazine (the one shown above is just a guide!). Just tell us where he’s hiding via phone, email or post – please include your contact details, especially if leaving a voicemail message – and we’ll draw a winner at random. The closing date is midnight on the 18th of every month. We’ll let you know if you’ve won and you can collect your Mini Vinny from our office – and pose for a photo with your prize!
TheVillage View . . .
Y
ou are probably expecting to read another column of head-banging bemusement over the antics of Bromsgrove District Council and the planning report they seem so attached to, even though the 15,000-home “Barntchurch” it suggests would render this area unrecognisable within two decades. The revelation that a co-author of that report has also been hired by the council to help in its consultation on the draft district plan has, apparently, left even some of the ruling Tories wondering if they have lost the plot. But we will spare you yet more talking in circles about whether this constitutes a conflict of interest until we hear the conclusion of the independent auditor who, we are told, is looking into the appointment. Instead, let’s be British and talk about the weather . . . and how green everything is. It already feels like we’ve had at least one normal English summer and July is only just beginning. Hot, sunny days following the miserable March, when this area recorded almost three times the normal amount of monthly rain, means nature has been having a field, hedge and tree day. How quickly the endeavours and misdemeanours of humankind are concealed and healed by natural growth. A car that somehow runs off the road and into the bushes on a sharp bend in Barnt Green is, within days, digested by the interior of the undergrowth like a plane in a lost world, the only sign that no one has bothered to extract the stricken vehicle being the strand of police tape fluttering in the breeze. Find a high point and look across the landscape: never can it have looked so lush and verdant. There are many vantage points across the Village area, but a particularly good place is as you come down Radford Road from Weatheroak Hill towards Rowney Green and Alvechurch. At a number of spots, the summer vista across the Arrow Valley, over Hopwood, Alvechurch, Barnt Green and Cofton Hackett, is quite splendid. These are the views, as far as the half-clues and splodges on the maps in the Hearn report tell us, that would be lost to “Barntchurch” so Birmingham could burst out of its borders. Who, on this green earth, would want to see that happen? The Village
July 2018
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Tutnall Hall
Tutnall Hall is an 18th century Georgian house with fabulous landscape gardens and views over Worcestershire, and is home to 35 residents.
Spring View Care A high quality local nursing home At Tutnall Hall, we provide a small homely environment where our residents are at the heart of everything we do. It is our aspiration to provide nursing homes where we ourselves would be happy to stay. Spring View Care has been recognised as a UK top 20 recommended Small Care Home Group in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Tutnall Hall has been listed in the top 20 recommended care homes in the West Midlands in 2018 by carehome.co.uk
Tutnall Hall: Tutnall Lane, Tutnall, Bromsgrove B60 1NA Tel: 01527 875 854 Website: www.springviewcare.co.uk Email: mercy@springviewcare.co.uk
Village Health
Advertisement feature
Moderation all year round J
ulie Ward is a qualified, experienced alcohol specialist who runs ACT Alcohol based in Bromsgrove. Her service provides one-to-one sessions to teach individuals how to gain control over their drinking. “It is important to make sure you know how to drink moderately all year round,” says Julie. “Abstinence for a short period will give your body a rest, but it is not an answer to a healthier relationship with alcohol. “Many of us struggle to keep our alcohol levels down… after all, it is a drug and that’s the nature of the beast! It’s all too easy to put it off for another time, when life will surely be easier. “Sometimes that can happen, but more often than not it is
overlooked and you find yourself drinking more. How did that happen!? It happens to a lot of us, but it’s what you do about it that makes the difference. Julie has developed an exciting new approach to cutting down, called “The Personal Formula”. “When you understand your own personal formula then long-term control is achievable. The key is to
learn simple rules and strategies for yourself that when applied guarantee immediate results. It’s not difficult to learn, it doesn’t take very long and it will be the best thing you ever did!” Julie is offering free 30-minute introductory “PERSONAL FORMULA” sessions at the Bromsgrove office. Either Julie (far left) or Louise (left) will introduce you to the formula and how it will work for you. Text “PERSONAL FORMULA” to 07434 286826 and one of the team will respond immediately, or call 01527 878162 to book an appointment. Find more information by visiting www.actalcohol.co.uk or searching ‘ACT Alcohol‘ on Facebook .
Don Williams Optometrist MCOptom BSc (Hons) PGDip Refractive & Cataract Surgery l Prof Cert Med Retina l Prof Cert Glaucoma l l
Providing a more personal, efficient and flexible service Patients are treated as individuals and are offered appropriate time for a full eye examination. We tailor our services to your eye care needs and as an independent practice we will ensure that we are offering complete continuity of care. Edgbaston Eye Clinic is a non-retail eye care practice so patients are not pressured into buying glasses. It is purely your eye health that matters to us. Edgbaston Eye Clinic, The Consulting Rooms, 38 Harborne Road, Edgbaston B15 3EH 0121 726 3199
info@edgbastoneyeclinic.com www.edgbastoneyeclinic.com Free Patient Car Park on site The Village
July 2018
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Village Care
Party marks sixty years
T
he Lawns care home in Alvechurch held a tea party to celebrate its 60th anniversary, with plenty of treats, games, and songs from village musician John Dale (right). Residents, families and friends enjoyed the sunshine in the home’s sensory garden, created last year. The garden, which gives residents a variety of sights, sounds and smells, all con-
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The Village
July 2018
Advertisement feature
nected by a “yellow brick road”, is just one of the special features at The Lawns aimed at helping those with living with a dementia – other novel ideas include a corridor of vintage shop-fronts to bring back memories, while there are plenty of fun activities for residents to take part in. For more information, call 0121 445 4098 or visit www.thelawnscare.co.uk
Things are hotting up at Weber® World at Webbs, Wychbold One thing we Britons love to do is to dine al fresco and with summer now in full swing, it’s time to get together and light up the barbecue. At Webbs, Wychbold, the one-stop-shop for outdoor dining, we’ve got you covered. Those who need help deciding which barbecue is best for them should head to Weber® World at our Wychbold store. Opened in 2017, it features more than 40 barbecues, some of which are exclusive to Weber® World. The flagship store has trained experts offering pitchperfect advice, regular cooking demos and an approved service centre, and it even offers a hassle-free assembly service, where the experienced team will put your barbecue together for you.
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Weber’s Genesis II gas barbecue was designed from the ground up to make barbecuing easy for everyone. With features such as infinity ignition and a powerful GS4 grilling system, you are guaranteed perfect results time after time. Prices range from £577 to £1957, offering grills for all budgets. Head to Weber® World at Webbs, Wychbold to experience the full range of products and an unrivalled barbecue experience. For more information, go to www.webbsdirect.co.uk or call 01527 860 000.
A picnic fit for a prince Picnic-goers raise a glass
taking place a week after the Royal Wedding, this year’s Alvechurch Picnic in the Park was themed around Princes and Princesses – and even ‘Harry’ and ‘Meghan’ (above) popped in to share the fun! Despite the thunder rumbling around, the rain stayed away, and huge numbers of picnic-goers enjoyed a day of family fun and entertainment on The Meadows – including the Dog Show, the Go-Kart Challenge, live music from community groups, and stalls selling refreshments and promoting local businesses and organisations. At 5pm, the party moved over to the cricket club for the evening session of more music, food and drink. Additional photography by Keith Woolford and Kieran Durrant l More pictures overleaf
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The Village
July 2018
Village Picnic
Above: TV vet Alice Rhodes opened the event with logo competition winner Lyla Breeze. Far left: The Lounge’s refreshment stall quickly sold all the entries in its Bake-Off contest, including the overall winner (left), Best Junior Entry (centre left), and Best Decoration for the ‘crown’ cake (opposite page). The Village
July 2018
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Village Picnic
Above: Picnic-goers take refreshment at the cricket club, with ales served by Pete Gwilliam (below).
Above: Withybed Poets write poems on demand. Left: Members of the WorcesterBirmingham & Droitwich Canals Society. Below: Rugby skills with Kings Norton Rhinos.
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The Village
July 2018
Left: Wayne Church invites picnickers to Play Your Cards Right and raise money for Brain Tumour Research. Far left: Promoting the Alvechurch Pumpkin Festival. Below: ‘Crayon people’ promote children’s craft workshops. Village People
Above left: A young ‘recruit’ joins new PCSO George McMillan. Above right: Local Brownies show off a knitted toy, one of many sold on the Lickey Valley Trefoil Guild’s stall. Left: Basketball fun in aid of Hopwood Community Centre’s new play equipment.
Above: An owl displayed by GCB Falconry. Left: Dudley Zoo brought an array of creatures to the Picnic. The Village
July 2018
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Village Picnic
Above: Young singers perform after learning songs with Rebecca Schwarz Singing Tuition. Right: Alvechurch Dramatic Society get into character for their upcoming piratethemed panto.
Below: The Cool Cats, a band formed by youngsters from Music Academy Midlands. The Academy also offered a chance to try out some instruments (below, far right).
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The Village
July 2018
Above: Cantare Choir. Right: Studley Operatic Society. Below: Alvechurch Community Choir. Bottom centre: Performers from Jo’s School of Dance.
The Village
July 2018
33
Village Picnic
Above: Entrants line up for the Go-Kart Challenge, which was won by Sacha Eaton (below left) and dad Richard. Below right: Young Alisse enjoys the play equipment.
Below: Picnickers cool off with ice lollies. Right: Youngster Max learns some tree surgery skills from Hopwood Tree Services, which also held demonstrations.
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The Village
July 2018
Left: Judge Alice Rhodes awards Best In Show to Danny the sprocker, shown by Bella, Jenny, and Chris Bassford. Danny also won Waggiest Tail. Right: Best Puppy – Luna the springador, shown by Anna and Kirsty Cooke. Below left: Best Veteran – 14-year-old bichon frisé Teddy, shown by Simon and Sue Crozier-Welch. Below right: The Young Handler award went to Oliver and Sebastian, with Oscar the collie cross retriever.
Below, from left: Handsomest Dog – Buddy, shown by Jan Bevan, who travelled from Dudley for the show; Scruffiest Mutt – Norman, a Hungarian puli, shown by Jacob; Prettiest Bitch – Maddie, a brindle Staffie, shown by Jess Davis.
The Village
July 2018
35
Village People
Ball raises a big total
A
Masquerade Ball held in Barnt Green raised more than £20,000, to be shared between St Andrew’s CofE First School and Barnt Green Sports Club – with the final total announced in pictures by the Ball Committee’s children (below). The annual event, held at the Sports Club, featured a live auction with prizes including signed sports paraphernalia, a “signed by the PM” bottle of champagne and a glamping holiday. There was also a silent auction, which included a four-ball at Blackwell Golf Course, a dining experience at the Vic, Jaguar/Land Rover off-road experience, tennis coaching, music lessons, signed football shirts and many more. The 318 guests enjoyed a threecourse meal, live music from 2 Weeks’ Notice, and a silent disco. Paul Phillips of Seamless Chauffeurs provided a free shuttle service to take guests home at the end of the evening. Any donations for this service went to the Fiona Edwards Scanner appeal at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Committee members Janette Day, Ragan Mathews, Kiran Kularia, Sarah Adcock, Denise Carter and Lucy Challinor would like to thank all sponsors, people and companies who donated prizes to the auction and raffle.
Above: The committee. Left and below: Revellers at the ball.
The Village
July 2018
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Village Directory
The Village Directory To get your business or service noticed, call Louise on 0121 445 6757
Kevin Smith ksinstallations@hotmail.co.uk
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Tel: 0121 445 5636 Mobile: 07813 188806
French Classes
Plumbing & Heating Services Boiler Replacement Bathrooms Service & Repair Pipework Design & Installation Domestic, Commercial & Industrial
Worcester boiler accredited installer
from Sept 10
Avoncroft Arts Centre and Chaddesley Corbett Village Hall
30 weeks’ course
Level 2.1: Thurs 19.00–21.00 Level 2.2: Thurs 13.30–15.30 Level 3: Tues 19.00–21.00 Conversation (A-Level standard: Weds 19.00–21.00 Discussion (Degree level): Tues 10.00–12.00 (Chaddesley),
Weds 10.00–12.00 or Fri 09.30–11.30
French in your company l One to one /group tuition for beginners l GCSE & A-Level tuition
l
Nicole Harris M.C.I.L
French native speaker with 30 years’ teaching experience
Tel: 01527 878493 / 07802 637093 Email: nicnoelharris@aol.com www.frenchwithnicoleharris.co.uk
traditional Joinery & furniture makers
Can’t get what you want? We make kitchens, conservatories, stairs, windows, doors etc, using traditional woodworking techniques to match existing work or to your own design. All work carried out to the highest standard.
Beautiful Interior Doors Supplied and Installed
Please visit the only door showroom in Redditch. Unit 6, Britten House, The Old Needle Works, Britten Street, Redditch B97 6HD
The Workshop, 3 Bear Hill, Alvechurch B48 7JX
Tel: 0121 447 8017
www.robertsbespokejoinery.co.uk
www.acsinteriordoors.co.uk
Call us on 07592 303104 or 07910 289565
Village Directory Nicky Robinson Aesthetics Aesthetic treatments with qualified medical professional - including anti-wrinkle treatments, fillers, Microneedling, dermaplanning and skin care
Deborah Glover GHR Affil., Dip. Clin. Hyp.
u Fully insured u Certified by Derma Medical Member of the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses Tel: 07843 047688 E: nrobinsonaesthetics@gmail.com Web: www.nraesthetics.co.uk Instagram: @Nickyrobinsonaesthetics u
Struggling to cope with anxieties or challenges? Need some help and support? One-to-one therapy for all aspects of women’s physical and mental health and well-being
Call 07866 564 724 or 0121 537 7958 or visit www.lickeyhillshypnotherapy.co.uk
Protect your loved ones by making a Will today Sue Jenden Associates
Based in Lickey
u
n n
Fixed fees
Tel: 0121 445 5874 info@suejendenassociates.co.uk www.suejendenassociates.co.uk
City & Guilds Fully Qualified Plumber
P Pledger E Electrical S Services
Specialists in Wills, Trusts, inheritance tax planning, and administration of estates u Affiliate member of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners u Meetings in your own home u
u
Lloyd Morgan 07789 622453 0121 445 6441 morganplumbingandheating.co.uk
LOCAL ELECTRICIAN
Part P Registered Installer
Installations n Maintenance & Repair Inspection & Testings n Reliable Service
Call Dean: 0121 445 1601 or 07891 498909 This firm complies with the IPW Code of Conduct
Kiln-dried hardwood logs Coopers Hill Farm, Alvechurch B48 7BX 0121 447 7313 sales@logco.co
Established in 2013 l Over 15 years experience in the construction industry
Our areas of expertise include New Builds, Extensions, Renovations & General Building Work Wayside, Redditch Road, Hopwood, B48 7TL T: 07795 681 182 E: Alan.jones49@yahoo.co.uk
www.ajbuildingcontractors.co.uk
C & M DECORATORS FATHER & SON u Interior & Exterior u 32 Years’ Experience u Free Quotes u Fully Insured Based in Lickey End, Bromsgrove
Tel: 01527 576136 or 07850 380162
Life Coaching Therapy
PROPERTY SOLUTIONS
Make a positive change
ALL MAINTENANCE WORK CARRIED OUT
Alicia Benbow: Qualified business coach,
u PLUMBING u KITCHEN REPAIRS u BATHROOM REFURBISHMENT u FURNITURE ASSEMBLY / SHELVING
NLP Master and clinical hypnotherapist Anxiety, panic attacks, stress and phobias Confidence, relationships, career changes l EMDR l Based in Blackwell l GHR registered l l
NO JOB TOO SMALL
Tel: 07876 688497 Email: alicia@lifecoachingtherapy.co.uk www.lifecoachingtherapy.co.uk Life Coaching Therapy
TEL: 07880 946456 Jane Ward Independent Travel Counsellor based in Blackwell
FRIENDLY FAMILY BUSINESS
With me... it’s personal
7 days a week
Tailor made travel a speciality
Tel: 0121 445 3605 or 0845 058 7140
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Fully ATOL protected
www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/jane.ward Email: jane.ward@travelcounsellors.com
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24 hours a day
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Fully insured
Free boxes, bubble wrap, tape and a packing service
www.moveit-removals.com Freephone 0800 7734189 Tel: 01527 893250 Mob: 07973 358392
Roofing, Floors, Kitchens, Doors, 1st & 2nd Fix New Build, Extensions & Refurbishment Domestic, Commercial and Schoolwork CRB Checked & Fully Insured Shop Fronts & Glazing Dependable & Quality Service
Contact Paul on 07961 342304 / 0121 445 6236
e-mail:lickeycarpentry@hotmail.co.uk www.lickeycarpentry.co.uk
mobile hairdressing by
JACQUELINE JAMES
$
15 Cofton Lake Road, Birmingham B45 8PL
Over 20 years’ experience u Vidal Sassoon trained
SWIMMING POOLS & SPAS SHOWROOM OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Walkmills Farm, A38 Wychbold, WR9 0DH 01527 861321 / 861597 The Village
July 2018
41
Worked in London, Manchester and Birmingham Trained in all aspects of hairdressing for ladies, gents and children Please call for your consultation
07966 413 794
Village Directory
It’s the time of year to spring clean your oven. . . To receive £5 off your clean, please call quoting this advert
Call 07582 321 593 / 01527 559123 www.ovenclear.co.uk / info@plain-janes.co.uk
T.S. Electrical Domestic & Commercial Property/Landlord Inspections Full & Part Rewires l Fuse Board Replacements Alarms Fitted l PAT Testing l Part P Certified
01564 823882 / 07974 829794
M.A. Thomas Drive cleaning
Professional Restoration for: l Block Paved Driveways 4 FREE SURVEYS l Paths l Patios l Conservatories 4 FREE ESTIMATES 4 FREE DEMO l Garden Walls l Stone Ornaments
Tel: 0121 453 9889 Mobile: 07765 644811 Email: thomas.m6@sky.com
Lilley Green Road, Alvechurch
Decorating / Renovations / Repairs Preparing your house for sale?
Services include: Painting u Plumbing u Carpentry Kitchen/Bathroom Fitting u Guttering u Fencing Sheds u Hedge Cutting u Grounds Maintenance u No-fee, no-obligation visit u High quality results, reasonable rates
Contact Mike Painter: 07581 077849 or mike4mpfltd@yahoo.co.uk
Facebook: fb.me/WeathertopRenovations
Recommended
Mike Nash - Qualified - Local - Friendly Mobile Computer Engineer – will visit your Home or Office n Virus & Spyware Removal n Wireless Broadband Set Up/Repair n All Computer Hardware Repair n Laptop Screen Replacement
Tel: 0121 445 2065 helpme@ontrackcomputers.co.uk
www.ontrackcomputers.co.uk
80 Hewell Rd, Barnt Green, B45 8NF
PETER R.YARNOLD CARPENTRY & JOINERY Quality, bespoke, handmade joinery in hardwood or softwood. u Doors u Windows u Kitchens u Stairs u Conservatories u Furniture
n n n n n n
Tel: 01527 873552 or 07717 102604
Plumbing Plastering Tiling Carpentry Vinyl/Laminate Fitting Fully Insured
Phil Newton
t. 0800 310 2720 m. 07900 925 651
w. www.newtonbathrooms.co.uk e. sales@newtonbathrooms.co.uk
PAUL GRANT PLUMBING & HEATING 4 Boiler replacements 4 Up to ten years’ warranty on selected boilers 4 Boiler service & gas safety checks
Tel: 07958 016318 4 ACS approved 4 City & Guilds 4 Fully insured
& HETAS Stove Installer l l l l
Prompt, reliable and friendly service Cowls and Chimney Pots fitted Fully qualified and fully insured Guild certificates issued after every sweep
Call Eddie: 01527 962555 / 07712 220671 www.elitesweeps.co.uk
R. M. B. SERVICES Domestic Appliance & Gas Engineer
CTB alarms ltd Your local alarm company
• Alarm Installations • Alarm repairs • Alarm system servicing • Upgrade/Modernisation of alarms 24/7 response • 25+ years experience
t: 0121 445 2865
Texecom & Honeywell approved Company reg number: 06164927
e: sales@ctbalarms.co.uk w: www.ctbalarms.co.uk
Friendly Service, Free Estimates, Quality Work
as seen on Alvechurch Village Society’s Facebook page
Servicing of gas & LPG boilers, gas fires etc Home owner and landlord certificates
Repairs to washing machines, tumble driers, fridges, freezers, electric ovens and cookers, electric showers Based in Alvechurch
0121 445 0184 07977 487 999
Find us on Facebook: ‘RMB Services’
Is your car trying to tell you something?
All Internal & External Carpentry Insurance Work Undertaken
Dave Terry
0121 445 1574 or 07970 966470 www.classic-carpentry.co.uk classiccarpentry@hotmail.co.uk
Poppins Home & Office Cleaning Services special offers on all services in summer!
Poppins offers One-Off, End-of-Tenancy and Regular Cleans, Oven & Carpet Cleaning, Painting & Gardening. We also provide Laundry, Dry Cleaning and Tailoring with a Pick-up and Drop-off service available
BASED AT THE LAUNDERETTE IN ALVECHURCH Office: 0121 445 0544 www.poppinsservices.com Mobile: 07891 899837 info@poppinsservices.com 1b George Road, Alvechurch B48 1PB FULLY INSURED Member of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
A.S. PAINTING & DECORATING
Service Work, Engine Management Faults, Electrical Repairs and All Mechanical Repair Work
Now at Coopers Hill, Alvechurch B48 7BX
Tel: 07948 044671
dave@appletreegarage.co.uk
For all your decorating needs contact Alan on 07730 477564
Cleanliness Assured l Free Quotes
Taylor brothers 3 Fencing services 3 Hedge cutting 3 Trees 3 Garden clearances 3 Shed bases 3 Complete house removal service available 30 years’ experience Free quotes Call 07717 682813 or 01527 874533 email marktaylor1961@hotmail.co.uk
How would you like this view from your workplace every day?
Offices to rent
Three separate units at Bordesley Hall Farm, Storrage Lane, Alvechurch, B48 7ES Formerly part of Bordesley Hall Farm, the offices are in a picturesque spot two miles south of Alvechurch. The location has a quiet rural feel, but still offers convenient access to Junction 2 of the M42. All three units have been refurbished to a high standard, retaining their rural character and many of their original features. Each unit also has allocated parking, a staff kitchen and WC.
Unit 1: £10,000 p/a 875 Sq Ft Self-Contained Offices Allocated Parking Staff Kitchen and WC
Unit 2: £9,000 p/a 740 Sq Ft Self-Contained Offices Allocated Parking Staff Kitchen and WC
Unit 4: £17,500 p/a 1,476 Sq Ft Self-Contained Offices Allocated Parking Staff Kitchen and WC
For more information, call 07710 381124 or email LibbyPrice@bprice.co.uk
Village Beauty
Advertisement feature
Happy birthday, Bliss!
I
t’s been 10 years since Bliss Hair Therapy in Alvechurch welcomed its first clients, and the salon continues to attract plenty of custom with its blend of friendly service and expert styling techniques. The Bliss team work hard to keep up with the latest trends, and owner Zoë is able to bring cutting-edge style to the salon as she’s part of the prestigious Affinage Colour Rebels Art Team. Luxury haircare brand Affinage held a competition last year to select its first-ever artistic team, and their first collection, “Rebelution”, was published in leading trade press UK and worldwide. The Colour Rebels’ new collection of looks will launch at Salon International in October, and Zoë
is taking part in lots of shows and events throughout Europe and the UK. On a recent trip to Abu Dhabi, she used her expertise to train staff at a new Affinage salon. Zoë and her team love being able to
use their knowledge at Bliss, to give clients the best experience possible. With a re-design of the salon and a re-launch party coming soon to thank all clients for their support, there’s lots to look forward to at Bliss! Bliss Hair Therapy 12b Red Lion Street, Alvechurch Tel: 0121 445 4009 www.blisshairtherapy.co.uk
Oakalls Village
New lines for safer roads V
ehicles will no longer be allowed to park along sections of Regents Park Road after drivers expressed concerns that parked cars were obstructing their vision. Coun Caroline Spencer told The Village that Worcestershire County Council has made an Order to prohibit waiting at any time on lengths of Regents Park Road and its junctions with Abbey Close, Green Park Road and the Slideslow roundabout. This Order came into operation on June 7 and contains exemptions to allow parking/access for certain purposes and limited waiting by disabled people’s vehicles. “This has been a long-standing concern for drivers and I’m pleased that it has finally been addressed by
C
hildren from Finstall First School took part in an afterschool Bell-Boating club at Upton Warren, following their BellBoating journey along the canal from Droitwich to Worcester. The Year 4 pupils developed their paddle skills and improved their stamina, with the help of head teacher Mr Evans and class teacher and PE subject leader Miss James. They also learned a lot about the lake environment, showing particular interest in a grebe that was seen sitting on her eggs in her nest. Some of these children will represent the school at the Bromsgrove and District Bell-Boating Regatta at Upton Warren on July 11, competing against 37 other teams from schools across Bromsgrove and beyond. In 2017 the two Finstall First School teams won 1st and 2nd place in the Regatta – the first time that two crews from the same school had finished in the top positions.
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Bromsgrove District Council, Customer Service Centre, Parkside, Market Street, Bromsgrove, B61 8DA, and County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester, WR5 2NP, during normal office hours.
Sarah Rees reports from the Oakalls and Parklands.
The Village
July 2018
SPEED-CHECK update
Worcestershire County Council,” said Coun Spencer. A copy of the Order, relevant map and Statement of Reasons for making the Order may be inspected at
Following concerns raised by local residents and parents of children using school coaches which pick up and drop off on Regents Park Road, the Local Policing Team carried out speed checks at 10:40am on May 10. One hundred vehicles were monitored over the duration of one hour. The highest speed was 39mph and the lowest was 17mph, making the average speed recorded 28.8mph. Please contact me with your news, views and concerns about any aspect of life on the estate. Email: oakalls@villageonline.co.uk
Boaters to defend title Mr Evans said: “The children hope to defend their title at what has become one of the largest inter-school regattas to take place in the country. However, regardless of the outcome,
all the children who have taken part in the club have had a very enjoyable time developing new skills and growing in confidence as they worked together as a team.”
Huge choice of doors, worktops, appliances, sinks and taps l
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Installed by local skilled tradesman
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UK manufactured products
Village Finance
Controlling emotion in the market cycle
J
D Rockefeller once said, “The way to make money is to buy when blood is running in the streets.” Warren Buffett echoed this sentiment when he said, “Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.” When things are great, we feel that nothing can stop us. And when things go bad, we look to take drastic action. Because emotions can be such a threat to an investor’s financial health, it is important to be aware of them. This awareness can then protect you from the negative consequences of impulsive and irrational reactions to these emotions.
Stage 1: Optimism, thrill and euphoria Investors all start with optimism. We commonly expect things to go our way, or we tend to expect a return for the risk of investing. As expectations are met, it is common to get excited about the possibility of even greater returns and the excitement becomes thrilling as the returns exceed expectations. At the top of the cycle is when investors experience euphoria. But it is here where investors are at the point of maximum financial risk. When we believe everything we touch turns to gold, we fool ourselves into believing we can beat the market, that we cannot make mistakes, that excessive returns are commonplace and that we can tolerate higher levels of risk.
Stage 2: Complacency, denial, hope The second phase of the cycle occurs when the market stops meeting our new lofty expectations and begins to turn. At first, we anxiously watch the market for any signs of direction. Anxiety turns to denial and then quickly to fear, as the value of the investments decline. Many people will then start to act
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Martin Pryor points out the pitfalls of impulsive decision-making.
defensively and may think about switching out of riskier assets to more defensive shares or other asset classes such as bonds.
Stage 3: Panic, capitulation, despondency In the third phase of the cycle, the realities of a bear market come to the fore and an investor may become desperate. Many panic and withdraw from the market altogether – afraid of further losses. Those who persevere become despondent and wonder whether the markets are ever going to recover and whether they should be there at all. Ironically, at these times, an investor will commonly fail to recognize they are actually at the point of maximum financial opportunity.
Stage 4: Scepticism, caution, worry In the fourth stage of the cycle, investors may experience some scepticism when markets start to rise. They often have a sense of caution or worry, wondering if market growth will last – and may be reluctant to invest money in the market at a point when prices are still relatively low and opportunities are attractive.
What are the consequences of this emotional roller-coaster? Emotions turn rational investors into irrational investors. So it is important to remember that markets move and investments will always go in and out of favour. Developed, diversified long-term
financial plans are placed in jeopardy when investors are confronted by extraordinary events because we are guided by our emotions. This is where the role of the financial advisor is of utmost importance – your advisor can help you separate your emotions from reality and endeavour to steer you on the path of rational investing. You can also help to avoid the emotional roller coaster by being aware of the emotions you are likely to experience. The five most common behavioural pitfalls are: l Overconfidence – when investors over-rate their ability to select winning shares or investment managers l Loss aversion – A loss causes about twice as much pain as a gain causes pleasure. During periods of market volatility investors experience the sense of loss more acutely l Chasing past performance – we see this time and time again, but unfortunately, individual investors who abandon a well-diversified portfolio for bonds, or even cash, may be jeopardising their future financial security l Timing the market – it is difficult to correctly predict the market’s movements l Failure to rebalance – the risk/ return characteristics of an investor’s portfolio should be independent of what’s happening in the market and this means selling high and buying low. The temptation to fall into one of these traps can be resisted by developing and committing to a well defined, long-term investment plan. This may be the best way to protect yourself from your emotions. n Contact Pryor Portfolio for more information and advice. See page opposite.
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Village Sport
AFC ready for challenge
I
Alvechurch prepare to compete in a new league for 2018/19.
n the wake of Alvechurch FC’s promotion-winning season, midfielder Babucar Sauane has been selected to attend the prestigious V9 academy this summer. The V9 academy is the brainchild of England and Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, with the aim of discovering non-league talent and promoting players to the professional game. The five-day residential programme takes place at City Football Academy, the training complex of Manchester City FC, and will also be filmed as a Sky Sports documentary. Meanwhile, the club has been celebrating last season’s success with the Player Awards 2017-18. The winners were: Players’ Player – Ashley Carter; Manager’s Player – Zac Foster; Supporters’ Player – Tom Turton; Chairman’s Player – Yusifu Ceesay; Young Player – Luke Yates; Top Scorer – Josh March; Goal of the season – Daniel Dubidat. l As Alvechurch prepare to play in the new Southern League Central Division next season, the club has made a number of new signings. Kieran Cook follows Luke Yates to AFC from Wednesfield FC and will add extra pace to the side as an attack-minded player. Danny O’Callaghan, who can play in defence or midfield, has played for both Coleshill Town and Sutton Coldfield Town so brings plenty of experience to the squad. Mamoke Akauna, a strong forward with plenty of pace, actually scored against Alvechurch in the league last season when playing for Carlton Town. Dominant defender Kyle Morrison has returned to Lye Meadow where he started his career. For the past three seasons he has been ever-present in the Halesowen Town defence,
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Yusifu Ceesay in action (Photos/ Ian Macvie) and brings plenty of experience playing at step 3 level. Midfield powerhouse Mitch Botfield, whose strength and tackling ability played a significant role in last season’s success, will be staying at the club, along with Nathan Waite. Nathan’s goals were vital last season and his goals per minutes played ratio were the best in the entire squad. However, right back Jamie Ashmore has decided to leave the club to seek pastures new. Also leaving is goalkeeper Lewis Gwilliams, who played 15 matches for Alvechurch last season. Lewis has decided to join Midland football league side Worcester City, who groundshare at Bromsgrove Sporting. l The club is offering fans the opportunity to sponsor their favourite Church player in the new season. All sponsorships will contribute to the player budget, so the more you can contribute the better! Players can be multi-sponsored so it doesn’t matter if someone else has sponsored them already. It’s entirely up to you who you sponsor and for how much. For example: 38 weeks @ £5 per week is £190, or £10 per week is £380. However, every contribution helps. You can pay per week by standing order or up front in advance. Payments can be made direct to the club’s account (sort code 30-96-97,
account 01860704; Reference: Player Sponsorship – Name). l AFC has announced its admission prices for the new season: (League/ League Cup/FA Comps) Adults £10; Over 65s £7; Juniors (13-17) /Students (with ISIC Card) £5; Under 13s FREE (with a paying adult). Season Tickets (League games only): Adults £150 (saving of £60); Over 65s £100 (saving of £47); Juniors (13-17) / Students (with ISIC Card) £75 (saving of £30). Note: Season tickets will NOT include cup games, but holders will receive discounts for cup matches. Pay for your season ticket online by clicking on Website Payments. l For more info or sponsorship enquiries, please contact Trevor Ball at saintsarehot2@btinternet.com or visit www.pitchero.com/clubs/alvechurch Follow the club on Twitter @ Alvechurch1st
Pre-season friendlies Thurs July 12 Malvern Town (A) Sat July 14 Wolves Casuals (A) Tues July 17 Kidderminster Harriers (H) (WSC) Tues July 24 Bromsgrove Sporting (H) Thurs July 26 Rugby (A) Sat July 28 Highgate (A) Tues July 31 Sporting Khalsa (A) Fri Aug 3 Sutton (A)
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Mary Green continues her series on trees in the Celtic calendar.
ow we are properly into summer, but we had some lovely early summer spells with plenty of sunshine and some good “growing” rain! It’s been a good year for all the blossom and flowers, and the fruit looks to be setting well, though maybe not as heavily as last year. By the time you read this, you will see the young apples and pears, damsons and plums, and the cherry plums will be ripe. Wild cherries may have come and gone – you have to pick them quickly once they’re ripe or the blackbirds will get them! The Celtic tree for July is the holly, which seems odd to us because we associate it so much with December. It wasn’t a plant particularly associated with the old midwinter festival, only the later Christian one. It had certainly been associated with Christmas since the
middle ages. Holly doesn’t even flower in July, but much earlier in the year, in May. The flowers are pretty, small and white in clusters at the base of the leaves – easily missed. In really mild winters they sometimes blossom in winter, as they did a couple of years ago. The blossoms attract a special butterfly, the holly blue. In the autumn this appears again to lay a second brood, and this time it feeds on ivy. Unfortunately, a lot of holly hedges are cut hard back so they don’t flower or have berries. But if they flower well, and they did this year, we should get good berries in the winter. Holly has male and female flowers separately; sometimes on different trees, though, so you need a female flower to bear the
Winter holly
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PRICKLY
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Village Country Diary Wild mountain Young thyme prickly holly
Cherry plum in July
HEAT
berries and a male to fertilise. The berries are loved by birds, who will strip them in a cold winter. Despite the female having the red berries, holly is treated in folklore as a very male tree, a bit like the oak. And like the oak, it is sometimes called the king of the woods (“Of all the trees that grow in the wood/ The holly tree bears the crown�). This is mostly because of its association with heroes and gods in folklore, the hero that overcomes the darker forces of the ivy, or the female power of the ivy in some legends. Many traditions have a battle in winter between the forces of fire and light, symbolised by holly, and the forces of darkness. You get it in stories about the fight between the robin and wren too, and it persists in the mummers’ plays where St George with his red cross defeats continues overleaf
Withybed goslings surviving Holly flowers
Autumn oaks The Village
July 2018
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Village Country Diary
July above Alvechurch
Sycamore continued from previous page
the powers of darkness. So, holly is a kind of burning bush of blood, light and life. In more prosaic real life, holly was encouraged to grow and prized as a fodder crop. This seems strange, as the lower leaves of holly bushes are so prickly animals can’t eat them – that’s the point of the prickles! But if you look further up the tree, the leaves are free of prickles and relatively soft, above the reach of grazing animals. With a
July on the canal
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little help from people, the higher branches were picked and fed to animals during the winter when grass was scarce. It is one of only a few native evergreens, and the only edible one for animals, so you can see how valuable it must have been in winter. Holly grows to quite a big bush in the
open, and clumps of holly were often called Hollins, a word that survives in place names and people’s names (The Hollins, Hollingsworth and so on). There are Holly Cottages and Hollybush Roads round here – and of course Hollywood. Sometimes the trees were used as boundary markers, like the oak. And there are Holly blue pubs named after butterfly on the holly bush. It holly and ivy also grows profusely as an understory in woods, where it is sometimes seen as a nuisance, but it is a good protective tree which doesn’t need much sunlight to grow. Holly of course is THE Christmas plant and was brought into churches even in medieval times, leading to its being sometimes called the holy bush or just “Christmas”. The kingly nature of red berries became associated with Christ, and the leaves with the crown of thorns. There is a funny old tradition about bringing holly in for Christmas. If the smooth leaves come in first,
Autumn field maple – centre left
then the wife rules the household: if the prickly ones come in first it is the husband! Holly wood is small and hard – an interesting traditional use was for wooden handles for teapots, and it was also used for riding crops. The story that a profuse crop of berries on holly means a hard winter to come is not true. The berry crop depends on the flowers that year, the weather and the size of the previous year’s crop! My second tree this month is the field maple. It isn’t one of the Celtic calendar trees, but is common around here, if unrecognised. It doesn’t grow much in the Celtic countries. It’s our native member of the Acer family, along with sycamore which was introduced but is now naturalised. Many people know the foreign, especially Japanese, Acers which are a feature of ornamental gardens, especially for autumn colour. Our own field maple is a very pretty tree too. Like all maples, it has fivepointed leaves, in this case small and rounded. They are lovely when in light spring green, and in the autumn go a gorgeous bright yellow. The tree is common in hedges
along roads and the canal. It’s relatively small and doesn’t seem to grow to a great age. The leaves and wood are full of sugars and the leaves used to be stripped for cattle feed, like the holly. You could get maple syrup from the tree, though the maple used in the US and Canada for
this is slightly different. The wood is too small for most uses but is beautifully marked and stripy, so is much in demand for ornaments. The spring flowers are very pretty, in little upward growing clusters, and have male and female parts on the same flower. In the autumn, like continues overleaf
Field maple The Village
July 2018
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Village Country Diary continued from previous page
many trees, they have “keys” or winged seeds. Related trees include the sycamore, a rather maligned tree as it grows everywhere and isn’t especially pretty. But is has been very useful in growing where other trees can’t, even in cold and salt sea-winds, and is much planted as a shelter belt around houses in bleak areas. The flowers are very pretty, dangling masses of tiny golden florets, full of nectar and buzzing with early bees. The leaves are lovely when they first appear too, often reddish and coming quite early in spring. Another tree that looks similar with fivepointed leaves, but isn’t related, is the plane. This is the favourite city street tree, because it absorbs pollution and seems to thrive on it! There was one outside my window when I worked in Handsworth, lovely in spring when the first leaves came out and comical in autumn with its odd balls of seeds. Trees have so many uses! My poem this month is about a recent very Alvechurch Comma butterfly event.
Sycamore flowers
Oak flowers in July
A Whitsun wedding
July blackberries
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Today we are speaking in tongues. We claim Back the worn phrase Wedding Breakfast with real Bacon and egg butties in the early morning sun Outside the resurrected Crown, warming with talk. The spirit of fire is on us as we dress in red to sing Elvis and Robbie Williams songs in the cool church Where Sue and Roger fill the aisle with grandchildren In colours of cow parsley and bluebells, red campion Burning among them with the flames of love. It is all about love, stepping gaily out of the winter cold Out of the lives of strife and responsibility Into a time of sun, of white may and green oak Warm enough to move your bones to laughter. The spirit among us is a green spirit, the seed of growth, A red spirit, of passion and blood, unquenchable life. We are gentle people, holding each other carefully But fierce with the knowledge of the dark waiting As we sing and dance to keep the sun alive.
Village Stargazing Iridium satellite and flare
Flares out of fashion J
uly, and just when we are at the height of summer, I bring some bad news for keen satellite-spotters out there. The wonderful Iridium satellites are being replaced with more modern ones and we will lose one of the most amazing spectacles in the evening sky. OK, let’s start at the beginning. The very short nights of midsummer don’t allow for much in the way of stargazing but it’s the perfect time for observing some of the thousands of man-made objects that orbit our planet. You just need to wait until the sky starts to get fairly dark, get yourselves seated comfortably, perhaps with a few friends and something to keep the cold out and stare skywards. As your eyes adjust, you’ll soon spot the occasional bright dot crossing the sky, at about the speed of a passing aircraft but without any flashing lights. These are satellites or, more commonly, the spent rockets used to launch them. These tend to tumble, as they are uncontrolled, and so vary in brightness. You can even find out exactly
Amateur astronomer Brian Watkiss peers into the Village night sky.
what they are by checking on www. heavens-above.com but don’t spoil it by spending more time looking down than up! One thing the website is good for is to find out when the ISS is visible. This can be done in advance and is well worth it as the Space Station is astonishing to see. So why the excitement over Iridium? Well, this is a global phone satellite system, used by explorers everywhere to phone home, and the huge aerials needed reflect sunlight very well indeed. This shows up as an extremely bright flash of light in the sky, seemingly from nowhere. These flashes are also predicted and are well worth looking for but you need to know exactly where to look. Fortunately this, too, is shown on the website by clicking on the date. The replacement satellites don’t use these aerials so won’t produce
the same effect – so get Iridiumspotting now while you still can. One of the best ways to locate the position of a flare is to gauge it against a bright planet. We have the two brightest with us all month and they appear as soon as the sky starts to darken. Venus appears in the west in the glow of the setting Sun and is very obvious. For the first week or so, Mercury is between it and the Sun but will be a challenge to spot, being so close to the horizon. Well worth giving it a go though, especially on the 14th when an extremely slim crescent Moon is close by, itself difficult to see. On the following two nights, the Moon gets a little thicker and is either side of Venus so this presents a better viewing opportunity. Higher towards the south is Jupiter, easier to see because it sets later and is better placed in the sky. An even bigger Moon visits on the 20th. Full Moon is on the 27th and will be very interesting as it will be totally eclipsed as it appears. Look out for it from nine-thirty. The Village
July 2018
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Village Gardens
Start gr Philip Aubury, organiser of Alvechurch Open Gardens, offers expert tips on growing veg and salad.
T
here is nothing quite like growing your own greattasting produce: the freshness of what you harvest, not to mention the satisfaction of having grown it, along with getting a bit of healthy exercise thrown in. We are lucky enough to have a greenhouse so we are already picking tomatoes and cucumbers. A greenhouse or conservatory means you can plant at the end of March or early April. In a sheltered position outside, it would be the end of May or early June before you can plant. Although it is too late for this year, perhaps a photo of home-grown tomatoes can inspire you for next year. Using a good-quality growbag is the easiest way and in the picture (right, top) you can see that I use metal supports for the canes and put in two empty pots between the plants to make watering and feeding so much easier. Note also that you can buy growbag-sized trays so that if you are growing in a conservatory you won’t get water running across the floor. There are now available reusable growbags in a woven material that can be washed and refilled each year. For success you must ensure the compost does not become waterlogged, so make a few slits in the bag about an inch up from the floor. I prefer to grow climbing plants rather than bush varieties and this means you regularly have to remove side shoots and tie the stems to the canes. Also, once the first fruits have set, in addition to regular watering, do give a liquid tomato feed every week. If you don’t have room for a growbag, how about a trailing tomato in a hanging basket? The variety ‘Tumbling Tom’ is great but the one pictured (page 60) is ‘Peardrop’. This has a pear-shaped yellow fruit with a lovely sharp flavour. If you are already growing tomatoes in a growbag you will be picking fruits till the end of September, possibly October in a greenhouse or conservatory. You could just add the contents of the bag to the garden, but why not reuse it? I cut out the tomato roots, remove the polythene top to the bag, add some chicken pellet fertilizer and plant up with winter hardy lettuce. You can raise you own plants from seed sown at the end of August. Last month we started harvesting new potatoes. A
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owing your own
few “seed” of an early variety (I use Rocket) were purchased just after Christmas and placed in egg trays until they had half-inch shoots. While you can buy reusable woven potato sacks, I just use an old compost bag with some holes punched in the bottom. Five sprouted seeds were placed on four inches of compost in the bottom and covered with another four inches of compost. The bag was then placed in a frost-free greenhouse but a conservatory or porch would be fine. As the shoots came up through the compost, I kept re-covering with more compost until the bag was nearly full. By May it was safe to move the bag outside and you can see in the picture (far left) just how much growth there was by the time I harvested in early June. Do you fancy some nice fresh finger carrots for Christmas dinner? An old plastic pot, 12 to 18 inches in diameter, is ideal. Make sure that there are some drainage holes in the bottom. We always used to put crock (broken clay pots) over the drainage hole but broken-up polystyrene packing will do fine. During August, fill with compost to within an inch of the top, level up and firm gently. Sow carrot seed thinly over the surface. I used the variety
continues overleaf
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The Village
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Village Gardens Oak Tree House in spring
continued from previous page ‘Ideal’ and covered with a sprinkle of sifted compost. The pot was left outside, being careful to make sure it was not allowed to dry out. As it is a late sowing and the seedlings are raised in a pot they don’t get attacked by carrot root fly. By Christmas Eve you can see what I was harvesting (page 59). In July there is still time to grow some French beans in pots. Prepare a pot as for sowing carrots but this time the seeds need to be pushed into the compost by about half an inch. By the autumn you will be harvesting handfuls of lovely fresh beans.
If you would like fresh salad leaves throughout the winter, it’s really easy if you have a conservatory, porch or unheated greenhouse. All you need is a couple of washing-up bowls. Drill some holes in the bottom of these for drainage. Again, put a layer of gravel or broken-up polystyrene across the bottom. Fill the bowl to within two inches of the top with a multipurpose compost and sow with your choice of salad leaves. Garden centres and seed firms offer several different seed mixes. If you sow bowls at six to eight-week intervals this will keep you supplied with fresh leaves. In a similar way to the mixed
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leaves, spring onions are really easy. I use an eight or nine-inch pot and sow a pot every two months. In the winter I keep them in an unheated greenhouse but if you use a winter hardy variety you can keep the pot in a sunny sheltered spot outside. If you have a little more space you can always build a raised bed or two and increase your productivity, but that’s another story. Do give container growing a try. Philip Aubury, M. Hort., retired director of Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Next month: Pictures from Alvechurch Open Gardens
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Village Art
Diverse art on display
Dave Morgan looks forward to a display of paintings in three very different styles.
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egular viewers of the BBC programme The Great Painting Challenge will know that the amateur artists who take part are set a challenge each week by the programme presenters, and each week one of them has to leave the series. The Great Painting Challenge in Alvechurch has some similarities in that a group of amateur artists are set a particular task – but the main difference is that the challenges are annual rather than weekly, much to the relief of the artists, and no one is asked to leave! For the past few years, members of Pam’s Art Groups (which meet in Alvechurch on Thursdays and Droitwich on Wednesdays), have been given a challenge by Kamal Khan, owner of Grosvenor House nursing home in Alvechurch and Tutnall Hall near Bromsgrove. Last year the task was to create Georgian-style paintings, but this year Kamal has laid down three totally different challenges. The first was to emulate the Impressionists, started by Monet and other Paris-based artists in the early 1860s. Impressionism was based on
painting “en plein air” (in the open air) rather than in a studio based on sketches, although the paintings that will be on show in July have all been painted indoors! A second option was to produce a painting in the style of Leonardo da Vinci. One of the local artists, Di Morgan, who has already created a large painting of an angel in that style, shares her birthday with the great artist – albeit nearly 500 years apart! The third option, which was a more difficult concept, was to produce a work of art representing Mozart, using musical instruments within the picture. Art tutor Pam McGregor commented, “When we first heard the three options we were not sure if anyone would have the courage to attempt to emulate such great artists but, as
in previous years, many of them have, and we have provided Kamal with plenty of entries for him, his staff and clients to judge.” The winners of this year’s challenge will be announced and displayed at Tutnall Hall’s Summer Fete on July 21, and Kamal has invited Bromsgrove MP and Home Secretary Sajid Javid to award the prizes. The challenge entries, together with up to 100 other original images, will then be on view in Alvechurch Village Hall for the annual Art Exhibition from July 26 to 28. Many will be for sale at prices that should make them attractive investments, especially as purchasers will be able to buy a work of art that no-one else owns. Previous exhibitions have received excellent reviews by visitors and the intention is always to improve on the standard of work. So all pictures in the main exhibition will be art that has not previously been exhibited and that has been created during the last 12 months. The exhibition will be open from 10am to 6pm (10am–5pm on the Saturday). Entry is free and refreshments will also be available. More details about the art classes can be found at www.pamsartclasses.co.uk Left: Pam McGregor advises Barnt Green-born artist Alison Collis. Above: Last year’s exhibition.
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Village What’s On
Gifts galore at craft fair A variety of hand-crafted goods were on sale at Blackwell’s 39th Craft Fair at Blackwell Methodist Hall. Textile and paper cards made by Pat Davies, the Happy Crafters and Lyn and Hannah Perkins of Karenacrafts were popular with customers, as were gifts such as decorated guest towels, Shelagh’s jams, and knitted and crocheted toys. For those inspired to make their own gifts Kim Neale’s haberdashery stall was there to supply the materials, while Blackwell gardener Chris Kirkman was kept busy selling his home-grown plants. This year’s event was in aid of BRWR (Bromsgrove and Redditch Welcomes Refugees) and the Friends of Palestine brought along a range of olive oil products, dried fruits and a variety of grains. The next Craft Fair will be on Sunday November 4, when a crafts corner for young people is planned.
Sinfonia’s season finale The Midland Sinfonia presents its Season Finale at St Laurence Church, Alvechurch, on Fri July 6 at 7.30pm, as part of Bromsgrove Festival. Tim Gill, the principal cellist of the RPO, will join the orchestra to perform Boccherini’s Symphony No.17 in A, Haydn’s Cello Concerto No.1 in C, Strauss’ Sextet from Capriccio, and Mozart’s Symphony No.29. Tickets £14.50 on the door or £13 in advance from Gin & Pickles, The Square, Alvechurch, or www. midlandsinfonia.co.uk (FT students and schoolchildren accompanying an adult free). More information on 0121 447 7040 or by emailing midlandsinfonia@gmail.com
Photo / Keith Woolford
Help with hearing aids We people with a hearing loss come in all shapes and sizes, and so do our hearing aids, writes Pat Booth of Can You Hear Me? We need hearing aids that fit into our lifestyle: do we enjoy music, are we active in our community and enjoy conversation? How do we cope in a group setting or at meetings? Do we send our friends and relationships into chaos with misunderstandings or full-blown frustration? The answers are in the techniques we learn and the continued patience of those around us. I am sure people don’t “mumble” on purpose, nor do they turn away so we lose the facial expressions and lip patterns that are an important part of our communication clues… yes, we admit that we do a lot of guesswork, often laugh at the wrong joke and speak too loudly. Our hearing aids are our link with the world. The loop system is a life saver as the message is relayed directly to our aids and places us
on an equal footing. So… get that aid out of the box or drawer and persevere to get the most out of top-notch technology. There is an excellent service on the NHS; talk to your audiologist. Dates to remember: l Wednesday Sept 19 Caring for our Hearing Aids: a practical session with audiologist Kay. l Wednesday October 17 Open Morning – all welcome (both hearing and those with hearing loss) Both events take place at Alvechurch Cricket Club, 10.30am– 12noon. Find the hidden you by using your aid to gain the maximum benefit – and if you want to meet others who are on the same journey you are welcome to join a group of us who meet monthly at Alvechurch Cricket Club to share and learn together as well as enjoying each other’s company. For further information contact Pat Booth on 07966 370448. The Village
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EVENTS The third Bilberry Wake will take place on the Lickey Hills on Sun July 15 – meet at 3pm outside the Visitor Centre. This is a fun event for children (and their adults), who will have a chance to make hobby horses with the help of members of the Lickey Hills Society, before racing them around an obstacle course. Medals for all entrants and rosettes for the top three in each race. A Bittell Reservoir Circular Walk organised by the Lickey Rangers takes place on Sat July 7 from 11am–2pm. Approx 5-mile walk mainly off-road, hilly and uneven terrain with steps. Wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear, bring water and a snack and your hat and sun cream if it’s scorching! Meet in the Visitor Centre, Warren Lane, B45 8ER. Bromsgrove Bridge Club holds a Café Bridge event in Barnt Green in aid of the Primrose Hospice on Thurs Oct 4. Bridge will be played in three different venues in the village. Entry fee of £30 includes welcome tea/coffee, lunch, a glass of Prosecco and prizes. For details contact Gillian Ford on 01527 873723. TEAMBUILDERS Holiday Bible Club runs at Bromsgrove Baptist Church from Weds July 25– Fri July 27, 10am–12 noon. Suitable for ages five to 10. £3 per child per session. Loads of fun craft, games, songs, puppets and more! Limited places: register at: www.bromsgrovebaptists.org.uk/hbc More info from Claire on 01527 882155. ‘Quiet Space’ at Alvechurch Baptist Church takes place each Mon and Fri from 10am–12 noon. The church is open as a quiet space, with “welcomers” on hand to help if required, for anyone who would like to come and find peace and
what’s on guide rest for as long as they need. For more info, call Revd Fiona Lee on 0121 447 7369, email revfiona@alvechurchbaptist. org.uk or visit www.alvechurchbaptist. org.uk
backed by the 17-piece big band. Between the vocal spots the band will perform a selection of big band arrangements from all eras. £6 on the door. For more details ring Geoff on 07970 662692.
MESSY CHURCH For All! Something a little different for all the family. This event is held on the third Sunday most months at Catshill Methodist Church from 3.45pm, to include games, singing, crafts and a story on a Bible-based theme, concluding with a simple meal around 5.30pm. Free entry and a warm welcome for all. More info from James Knott on 07968 110 631.
Singing to Beat, the group for people with dementia, Parkinson’s, MS and other neuro conditions (plus carers, friends and relatives) is now at the Longbridge Retirement Village (B45 8TD) every Weds from 11.30am–1pm. Cost £3.50 for those from outside the village – all welcome. No previous experience necessary. More info from Ruth on 0121 453 6952.
MUSIC
Matinee Musicale, an informal concert for all the family, will be given by Lickey Singing for Fun, together with members of its Sunday Club and church family. It takes place on Sun July 8 at 2.30pm in Holy Trinity Church, Lickey (B45 8RR) in aid of Bloodwise, the blood cancer research charity. All welcome; come along and bring your friends. Admission is free, with a retiring collection for the charity.
ACE Rowney Green presents King of Diamonds, a professional tribute act featuring the music of Neil Diamond and Elvis Presley, on July 14 at Rowney Green Village Hall. Bar opens 7pm; show starts 8pm. Tickets £10, available from Sue on 0121 445 1562 or 07977 254519. Worcestershire Jazz Orchestra welcomes back a popular guest singer for its next concert on Fri July 13 at Lickey End Social Club (Alcester Road, Bromsgrove B60 1JT). Lynn Dawes will put her own magic into great American standards,
Orchestral family favourites Are you four years old or over? Have you ever fancied playing with a full orchestra? If so, pop along to Artrix in Bromsgrove from 1pm on Sun July 8. The Redditch Orchestra will be offering the opportunity to see and hear small groups of instruments such as the French horns and strings, while creative activities will also be on offer.
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At 2pm the orchestra will give a short concert and there will then be the opportunity to play with them in the Toy Symphony and to listen to Peter and the Wolf with narrator. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £8 for under 16s, or you can buy a family ticket (four people) for £32. Purchase at www.artrix.co.uk or 01527 577330. For more details, visit www.theredditchorchestra.co.uk
Shamanic Drumming Group meets monthly at Hopwood Village Hall. Drumming for Vitality, Healing and Joy. No previous experience necessary, drums available to borrow. For further details email Andy on Fixedholdsworth@sky.com The Cats Chorus is described as “a fun choir for people who love to sing but don’t have to be vocally gifted”, and meets on Tuesdays (term-time) at 7.30pm in The Wheel, Blackwell. They sing hits from the 60s to the present day. For more info, email sharoncatschorus@yahoo.com Alvechurch Community Choir meets at 7.30pm on Mondays in Alvechurch Village Hall, though on the 2nd Monday each month they move to a different venue, usually Alvechurch Social Club. In July they will meet every Monday, but some sessions are at different venues so ring for information. The choir is an open access singing group; new members of all abilities are welcome. It is part of a charity called Everybody Let’s Sing and is committed to bringing music to a wide community, including a regular choir it runs at The Lawns care home. The choir sings gospel, folk and popular songs from all ages and loves to perform for local occasions. Find out more about the choir at www.lets-sing.co.uk To ask about booking the choir for an event, or for details of sessions and venues, ring Mary on 0121 445 5957. Blackwell Concert Band is always on the lookout for new players (all abilities and instruments welcome). For further details, email blackwellconcertband98@ gmail.com, or alternatively, visit www. blackwellconcert band.co.uk to learn more about the band and find details on
Village What’s On upcoming events. You will also find info on how to book the band. The Arrow Vale Singers meet on Wednesdays from 8–10pm at Batchley Community Centre, Redditch B97 6PB, including a refreshment break. More info on 07718 113086, www.arrowvalesingers.co.uk or arrowvalesingers@gmail.com TARDEBIGGE CHURCH choir is seeking new recruits! The choir, based at St Bartholomew’s (B60 3AH) is struggling with declining numbers due to age and health, but still sings in four parts at morning and evening services on Sundays, plus weddings and funerals. They particularly need a bass or bass-baritone, but all parts are welcome! Pop along to a practice on Sat at 10am, or contact Robert Barnett on 01527 542491.
MODEL RAILWAY SHOW A model Railway Exhibition takes place on Sat July 14 at St Laurence Church, Alvechurch, from 10.30am to 4pm. There will be layouts, demonstrations, local railway history traders, a test track and refreshments. Ian Rathbone will be demonstrating painting and lining, Peter Silvester will demonstrate etched kit construction, and Roger Crombleholme will show how to build Alphagraphic kits. The East Midland 0 gauge test
track will be in attendance, so you can even bring along your own loco and stock for a run! A number of layouts, including East Dean, will be on display. Entry price is £3 for adults and £1 for those aged five to 18, while under-fives go free. All proceeds from the show go towards the church window fund. More info from Nigel on 0121 445 3749 or David on 0121 445 3569.
A display from a previous exhibition
Alvechurch Sports & Social Club hosts a series of music events including ACOUSTIC ROOTS with a variety of local performers ten times a year, KARAOKE every Sunday evening and LIVE bands. For up to date details visit the Club’s Facebook page or phone 0121 445 2121. A JAZZ Night takes place at Beoley Village Hall on the 4th Wednesday of each month, featuring some fantastic “trad” jazz bands. For further details, or to order advance tickets, call 01527 62584 or 01527 66646 (both before 9.30pm please). BROMSGROVE FOLK Club meets on the second and last Thurs every month at Catshill Club, starting at 8pm. For a full list of events call Bob Bignell on 0121 476 5938 or see www.bromsgrovefolkclub. co.uk BROMSGROVE ROCK Choir offers everyone the chance to sing pop, rock and chart songs – no audition. Free taster sessions available. More info at www. rockchoir.com or on 01252 714276. Bromsgrove Community Choir meets on Thurs evenings, 6–7 pm at Bromsgrove Methodist Centre, in room 6, at the rear of the building off the small car park. They sing for fun and enjoyment; everyone welcome, singers or not. If you are interested, please contact Ruth Henley for details on 01527 527022 or email r.g.henley@ btinternet.com Bel Canto Singers... do you enjoy singing bright and lively pieces? Join in
with a friendly group of mixed age singers. The music is a good variety (pop, retro, musical and popular classical), and the group’s aim is to produce a quality sound whilst supporting charity and community fund raising. The singers meet on Monday evenings at Crabbs Cross Methodist Church, Crabbs Cross Lane, Redditch B97 5LD. The marvellous men would love more tenors and bass voices! If you enjoy singing, or would like to try something new, the group would love to hear from you. For more info visit www.belcantosingers.co.uk or contact Polly Speers on 01564 822672. Alvechurch Samba Band, Banda Sem Nome, is looking for new recruits! This local community side meets on the 1st and 3rd Thurs each month at Alvechurch Cricket Club at 8pm. Go along if you fancy having a go at something a little bit different and discovering your hidden talents! No previous experience required, all welcome (under 16s must be accompanied by an adult). More info from Andrea on 07867 858099. Cantare Daytime Choir meets on Fridays 9.15–10.15am at Alvechurch Cricket Club – everyone welcome. Do you enjoy
singing with other people? Don’t worry if you think you can’t sing, or don’t read music, everyone is welcome. You can even bring your kids/babies if they let you sing. Whether you want to perform in concerts or simply sing for fun, for the therapeutic or health benefits gained from group singing (or the cuppa we all share before singing), why not come along for a free trial session? For more info contact cantarechoir2011@gmail.com, call Rebecca on 07803 900154 or see www. cantarechoir.com
DANCING Graham & Denise Darby present a Saturday Night Social Dance on Sat July 21 at Fairfield Village Hall (Fairfield, near Bromsgrove), in aid of Midlands Air Ambulance and Prostate Cancer. Ballroom, Latin & Social Sequence Dancing to live music by Graham Darby. Doors open 7.30pm; dancing from 8–11pm. £5 per person on the door. For details call 01543 502722 or visit www.grahamdarbysmusic.com Aelfgythe Border Morris is actively
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continued from previous page seeking new dancers (female) and musicians (male or female) to join them for fun, exercise and dancing. They meet at 7.45pm every Wednesday in Alvechurch Baptist Church Hall. Everyone welcome. Come and play traditional folk music, or try morris dancing. For more details call Pam on 07961 830 831. Tea Dances run by Bromsgrove District Council now take place in the new council building at Parkside Hall (Stourbridge Road, Bromsgrove, B61 8DA) on the last Tues of the month, 2–4pm, dancing to Brian’s super sounds! £4 entry includes tea/coffee and biscuits. For further info contact Jan on 01527 881478. No longer able to dance? Try Wheelchair Dancing instead! Wheels and Toes meets in Harborne each Thurs, 6.15-8pm. Wide variety of dances. More info: Barbara on 0121 458 3686 or marshall8558@hotmail.com Sequence ballroom and Latin dancing every Monday evening at 8pm at the Longbridge Social Club, 1012 Bristol Road South, Northfield. Occasional free tuition. All welcome to a friendly fun-filled dance. More details from Kalvin on 07725 265024. DANCE SESSIONS take place every Tuesday from 11am–12noon at the Where Next Hub (Unit 2a, Millsborough House, Ipsley Street, Redditch B98 7AL). Designed for people with special needs, but all are welcome – join Nikki and the team and learn some new moves! £7 per session. Book now on 01527 69330 or nickylevy5@ btconnect.com. All proceeds to the Where Next Association. THE CIRCASSIAN Circle Barndancing Club runs on the first Saturday each month at Rowney Green Village Hall. £5 per person to include sandwich, tea and cake! More info on 01527 545002. Alvechurch Morris Men are on the look out for new dancers and musicians. They practise on Mondays at Alvechurch Baptist Church Hall, 8.30–10pm, followed by a “debrief” at a local hostelry. They dance in local towns and at various local and national events, and perform a world-famous (sort of ) mummers play in the village every New Year’s Day. No ability, fitness or co-ordination required – if you are male, 18+ and prepared to spend more time than is probably good for you in public houses, pop along to meet the
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group! Drop in to any practice or contact Chris on 07984 570763 or email chris.alvechurchbagman@gmail.com THE PHOENIX Dance Club has now moved to the new Bromsgrove Council building at Parkside Hall, Stourbridge Road, Bromsgrove B61 8DA. The club holds Ballroom and Sequence Dancing to live music twice a month on Sat nights. No membership required. No bar facilities – please bring your own refreshments. The Tuesday dances have been discontinued – sorry! More info from Mick or Thelma on 01527 872634. BJ’s Busy Boots Line Dancing Classes: Tuesdays 2–3pm Dolphin. 7–10pm Stoke Prior Sports/Country Club. Thursdays 10.30–11.30am Amphlett Hall; 12–2.15pm Bromsgrove Methodist Centre. A fun way to exercise. For more details phone Brenda on 01517 870151.
THEATRE Blackwell & Barnt Green Theatre Group has been in existence for over 40 years and only of late has any vacancies for new members. The group makes five or six visits a year, usually to Malvern or Symphony Hall in Birmingham. Membership includes reduced ticket fees and coach travel to the selected venue from the crossroads at Blackwell Post Office. More details on 0791 273 3226 or 0797 100 7604. Rubery Drama Group usually meets every Wednesday at the Beacon Church Centre, Whetty Lane, Rubery, 7.30 for 7.45pm.
CLUBS, GROUPS & SOCIETIES Bromsgrove U3A. Retired/semi-retired? Meetings with guest speakers 1st and 3rd Tuesdays most months at Artrix plus a variety of activities and outings: something for everyone. Curious? Call 01527 870449 or see www.u3asites.org.uk/bromsgrove/ home Redditch Military History Society meets monthly in St Luke’s Church Hall (Evesham Road, Redditch, B97 4JX), 7 for 7.30pm. The next meeting is on Weds July 18, when Paul Harding presents The Battle of Evesham, complete with replica weapons and armour. More info from Ron on 01527 545450 or ronnieg33b@hotmail. co.uk Catshill Carers Group is a group set up specifically to offer one afternoon
a month of respite, socialising and occasional speakers to carers in the area. It meets on the last Tues each month in the coffee bar area of Catshill Methodist Church Centre in Golden Cross Lane from 2.30pm for about 1.5 hrs. All carers welcome, as well as those who used to care for someone who may have passed away or is now in a care facility. Tea and biscuits or cake provided – no charge. Contact Sheila (0121 445 2813) or Di (0121 445 3595) for details and encouragement. Central Radio Car Club meets every Friday 6.30–10pm (racing starts 7pm) at Woodrush Community High School, Shawhurst Lane, Wythall, B47 5JW. Members race electric cars LMP & GT12 indoors on carpet. There is a club GT12 loan car if you would like to try your hand at racing. For more information visit www. centralcarclub.co.uk, search ‘CentralRadioCarClub’ on Facebook or call Bob Jones on 01527 870463. Bromsgrove Speakers Club meets at The Barn at The Bell at Belbroughton every other Tues, 7.45–10pm. Everyone who wants to gain confidence in public speaking is welcome, but please tell the group that you are coming by using the ‘Visit Us’ page at www.bromsgrovespeakers.org.uk, which also contains full details of events. Burcot Knit & Natter meets weekly on Mondays from 1–3pm at Burcot Garden Centre, B60 1PW. Phone Kim Neale on 0121 445 1677, or drop by, for more details. Cost £3 to include a drink and cake. Redditch Rotary Club meets Monday lunchtimes at the Abbey Hotel, Hither Green Lane, Redditch, B98 9BE. You would be very welcome to join in. Want to be involved, hear interesting speakers, and serve your community? Want to know more? Contact Peter Williams on 01527 60277. The North Worcestershire Association of the National Trust Supporters’ Group (covering members resident in Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch), meets at 7.30pm on the 3rd Thursday each month in Tardebigge Community Hall, behind St Bartholomew’s Church. Selection of interesting talks, plus coach outings, rambles, an annual holiday and fundraising activities, with emphasis on FUN! New members always welcome; annual subscription £7.50. More details from membership secretary Betty Millward on 01527 523805 or email bettymilllward36@hotmail.co.uk
Village What’s On Contact the Elderly aims to help isolated elderly people in the village area by offering monthly tea parties where they can reconnect or make new friends in their own community. If you know of an elderly person who could benefit, please get in touch on 07539 276054. Guests need to be aged over 75 and living alone, and must be mobile enough to walk to a driver’s car with assistance. You can find general information at www.contactthe-elderly.org.uk and details of the local group by searching for ‘Contact the Elderly Redditch’ on Facebook. COFFEE BREAK meets every Friday morning from 10.30am–12noon, in the Parish Centre behind St Andrew’s Church, Sandhills Road, Barnt Green. You will find a friendly and warm welcome – see you soon! For enquiries ring 0121 445 4278. Bromsgrove Photographic Society is a friendly, active and mutually supportive club for those interested in photography and digital imaging. The growing membership includes those with interests in both film and digital techniques, wideranging subjects and from highly-skilled photographers to novices. The club meets on Tuesday nights, 8–10pm at the Avoncroft Arts Centre. New members and visitors welcome. For more information, please visit www.bromsgroveps.co.uk Burcot Niddie Noddies spinning group meets on the 3rd Sat each month, 10am– 1pm at Burcot Garden Centre, B60 1PW. Open to all crafters, not just spinners. Bring your own chair. Phone Kim Neale on 0121 445 1677, or drop by, for more details. Cost £3 to include a drink and cake. ROTARY CLUB OF BROMSGROVE meets 2nd and 4th Tuesday every month at 7pm for 7.30pm at Rosado’s Restaurant, 2 Finstall Road, Bromsgrove, B60 2DZ. New members welcome. For more information visit www.bromsgroverotary.org.uk or contact Ron Pearce on 07703 567982. Alvechurch Sports & Social Club has a large Function Room available for hire. It has a bar, choice of two stages, plenty of seating, a dance floor and a capacity of 140. CHARITY fund raising events enjoy FREE room hire. Please book early; for more details contact the Club on 0121 445 2121, visit the Facebook page and leave a message, or email alvechurchssc2015@hotmail.com MONDAY CLUB meets on TUESDAYS 11am–4pm at Catshill Baptist Church, Mil-
Insight into writing for theatre WORDS, the Bromsgrove group that promotes interest in the written and spoken word, presents an evening with James Yarker at Artrix in Bromsgrove on Sun July 8 at 7.30pm. James is co-founder and artistic director of Stan’s Cafe Theatre Company, based in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham. Stan’s Cafe (pronounced Caff) is well known for its original, experimental productions and has toured widely in the UK and internationally. James will talk about his writing for the stage, describing the processes of creating dialogue with actors and improvisation, writing poetry for early shows, using interton Road, Catshill. Convivial atmosphere where anyone with an interest in mental health and distress as casualty, carer or well-wisher can exchange and share strategies and ideas for healthy living over tea, coffee and optional low-cost lunch. Subgroups include poetry writers and readers and music. All day’s national newspapers for free perusal. 50p buys tea, squash, coffee and biscuits. Persons of any faith or none equally welcomed. The Birmingham branch of the International Plastic Modelling Society caters to scale modellers interested in a variety of subjects including Aircraft, Vehicles, Ships, Science Fiction and Figures. All ages and abilities welcome, building anything from basic kits to complicated scratch-built models. Meetings take place at Longbridge Methodist Church in the Reception/Cafe area (1654/8 Bristol Road South, B45 9TY) usually on the 3rd Sun each month (sometimes the date is changed to avoid clashing with model shows or holiday periods). You can find more info at: www. ipmsbirmingham.blogspot.co.uk Heart of England Speakers is a small, friendly, public speaking club, based in Knowle near Solihull. It is affiliated to Toastmasters International, and meets on the 1st and 3rd Tues every month, 7.30pm to 9.30pm, at the Greswolde Hotel, Knowle. More information at www. heartspeakers.org.uk Lickey Valley Trefoil Guild, as a branch of the Guide Association, is open to
views as inspiration, and his approach to ideas of character. There will be plenty of time to ask James questions and talk to him about running a successful theatre company and how he found time to write his book, Devising Theatre with Stan’s Cafe. If you are not a WORDS member but would like to come along then tickets (£15, students/under 16s £7.50) are available from Artrix box office on 01527 577330 or www. artrix.co.uk More information about WORDS can be found at www.bromsgrovewords.com anyone over the age of 18. Make new friends, travel, explore, serve the community and help Guiding and Scouting in your area. The Guild meets at Barnt Green Scout & Guide Centre (off Blackwell Road, Barnt Green, B45 8BT) every second Weds 7.30–9.30pm. For more info call 0121 445 3907 or 0121 445 2813 or visit www. trefoilguild.co.uk Alvechurch Ex-Services Association meets on the second Weds each month (except January) at Alvechurch Social Club at 12.30pm. They are looking for new members, so if you have ever served in any branch of the forces and are free at lunchtime, please go along and join in. midland ancestors meets monthly at 7.45pm at Bromsgrove Methodist Centre, 19 Stratford Road, Bromsgrove, B60 1AS. On Tues July 10 there’s a visit to Greyfriars, a restored 15th-century house in Worcester. Free entry for National Trust members; £5.10 for non-members. More info at www.bromsgrove bmsgh.co.uk Common thread is a friendly group of women who enjoy crafts including sewing, knitting, crochet and more, together with tea, cake and chat. For more info contact Maggie on 0121 439 9324 or Jayne on 0121 445 1113. BEACON LADIES CLUB meets at 8pm on alternate Wednesday evenings at The Hawthorns Social Club, Rednal Hill Lane, Rednal. There is a varied programme of speakers and outings, including occa-
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continued from previous page sional visits to the theatre. New members of all ages welcome. £10 annual membership, plus £1.50 fortnightly. Please ring Barbara on 0121 445 3456 or Anita on 445 3770. Bromsgrove (1982) Probus Club provides regular opportunities for retired professionals and businessmen to meet socially and share common interests. A members’ meeting is held at Avoncroft Arts Centre on the 3rd Weds each month, 10am–12noon, including refreshments and a talk by a guest speaker. For more info visit www.bromsgroveprobus.co.uk or contact Jim on 01527 833531. Available for hire: The Wheel community room by St Catherine’s Church, Blackwell. Suitable for groups. Quiet, enclosed garden adjacent. For details contact the church office on 0121 445 1425. COFFEE, CAKE and Chat meets from 10.30am to 12noon on the fourth Friday of the month (not August) in The Wheel at St Catherine’s Church, Blackwell. All welcome; for details, call Rodney on 0121 445 2070. Lickey Phab Club is a social club where people aged 14 and over, with and without disabilities, can come together each week to have fun! It is affiliated to national charity Phab (Physically Disabled and Able Bodied). The club meets every Mon from 7.30–9.30pm at The Trinity Centre, Lickey Parish Hall to have fun, play games, do crafts or just chat – there’s also a tuck shop! More info from Louise Edgell on 07814 122990 or lickeyphabclub@ hotmail.com Bromsgrove Astronomical Society usually meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at Bromsgrove Rugby Club (Finstall Road, B60 3DH). Doors open 7.30pm, speakers begin 7.45pm. Admission free on your first visit; refreshments available. On July 16, Richard Hendey presents Tycho to Picard (Moon Walk). Observing meetings are also held on the first Monday each month – bring your telescopes. More information on 01527 908331 or www.broms-astro.org.uk The Worcester-Birmingham & Droitwich Canals Society meets at the Alvechurch Boat Centre, Scarfield Hill (just a few steps behind The Weighbridge pub) on an “almost monthly” basis. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each
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month, 7.45pm. There is usually a guest speaker and a raffle. Non-members are very welcome to come along. Please visit the website: www.wbdcs.org.uk Beoley Good Companions, a group for retired people, meets on the 1st Mon monthly at Beoley Village Hall to socialise and enjoy an entertainer or speaker. Membership only £7 per year plus £2 entry charge, which includes a free raffle ticket. If you are interested in joining the group, contact Secretary Ken Hawkesford on 01527 61130 or email kenhawkesford @yahoo.co.uk or beoleygood.companions @yahoo.co.uk for an application form. THE FRIENDSHIP Club of Barnt Green has its next meeting on July 17, when there’s an Afternoon Tea at Burcot Grange. Meetings usually take place at 2.15pm at the Friends Meeting House, Barnt Green. Visitors £3 to include tea and biscuits. For more details call Rosalind Tyler on 0121 445 0598. Alvechurch Baptist Church Hall has regular Monday to Thursday morning and afternoon booking vacancies. Next to the car park, and available at reasonable rates for regular bookings, with “special rates” for local community organisations, the two halls can accommodate up to 60 persons at a time. More details on the church website: www.alvechurchbaptist.org.uk To discuss ABC hall bookings, please call Mrs Joyce Pimm on 0121 445 4635. THE WEDNESDAY Club usually meets on the second Weds of each month at Alvechurch Cricket Club at 1.30pm, and offers the chance to make new friends, meet old ones and enjoy talks, demos and visits. Visitors £4 including tea. On July 11, Avril Pulley presents Too Good To Eat. Please call Janet for more info on 0121 447 7870. LICKEY HILLS Local History Society usually meets monthly at 7.30pm in the Trinity Centre, Old Birmingham Road, Lickey B45 8ES. Visit ccgi.lickey.plus.com for details. Annual subscription: £15. Non members: £3 per meeting. More info from George Gascoyne, Hon Secretary on 0121 453 6320, or on the website. BROMSGROVE RAILWAY Club usually holds monthly meetings at St Godwald’s Church Hall in Finstall, 7.15pm for 7.45 start. There are always refreshments and a book stall, and new members are welcome. However, in July and August, coach excursions are planned – more details
from Dave on 01527 873800 or Gordon on 01527 873609. TARDEBIGGE COMMUNITY Hall for hire: large, bright facility for functions, clubs, societies and all activities. To book call 07763 446902 or email tchbookings@ gmail.com KINGFISHER PROBUS Club provides the opportunity for retired and semi-retired men to meet people in a friendly situation. Meetings are held at The Foxlydiate Arms, every 2nd Thurs of the month at 11.30am. Lunch is followed by an interesting talk given by a visiting speaker. Partners/friends welcome for walks, trips, golf, skittles and special lunches. Now recruiting – pop along to a meeting or contact Max Sayer on 0121 445 4724. HOPWOOD VILLAGE Hall is available for hire: ideal for parties and gatherings. Contact Ann on 0121 447 7668 or visit www.hopwoodvillagehall.co.uk Soroptimist International of Bromsgrove and Redditch meets on the 2nd Thurs each month at 7pm at the Southcrest Manor Hotel, Pool Bank, Redditch B97 4JS. New members welcome. For further information contact Hazel on 07799 482444. Bromsgrove Ladies Probus meets monthly for a light lunch with a speaker, networking and occasional outings. If you are a professional or business woman and are recently retired, or coming up to retirement and would like further info, please email bromsgroveladiesprobus@ gmail.com ALVECHURCH HISTORICAL Society has no meetings in July and August, but usually meets on the first Mon of the month (except Jan) at 7.45pm at the Museum in School Lane, Alvechurch. More details from Anne Humphries on 0121 445 5955. New members welcome. Woodrush RUGBY Club “Old Dogs” meet on the first Thurs in the month at the Clubhouse, Icknield Street, 01564 822878. Open to all former players, social members and old friends for a social chat and the odd reminisce over a glass of beer. Join us: call Mike Betts on 07960 303254 or visit www.pitchero.com/clubs/ woodrush BROMSGROVE PHOENIX NCDS (National Council for the Divorced, Separated &
Village What’s On Widowed) Club meets at Lickey End Working Men’s Club every Thurs from 8-11pm. For more info call Mark Waring on 01562 824057, Pam Banks on 01527 759424 or Marilyn Cornish on 01905 778636. CAN YOU Hear Me? Communication is an essential part of our relationships! Those with a hearing loss speak too loudly and those without tend to mumble... according to friends and family. So: whose problem is it, yours or mine? Both deaf and hearing people are welcome to join this friendly group to explore the interaction between us and ways to make us all more aware. Meetings usually take place on the 3rd Wednesday each month at Alvechurch Cricket Club, Birmingham Road, from10.30am–12noon. More details from Pat on 07966 370448. ROTARY CLUB OF LICKEY HILLS meets on Monday evenings, 7.15 for 7.30pm, at Hillscourt Conference Centre (NASUWT headquarters) on Rose Hill (B45 8RS). For details please contact Graham Wiseman on 0121 460 1402. SILVER THREADS, the Alvechurch club, meets on the first Weds each month at 2pm in Alvechurch Village Hall. You’ll be sure of a welcome in this friendly atmosphere, where members can chat over a cup of tea. There are regular bingo sessions, and occasional days out. New members welcome. More info from Pat on 0121 447 8630. Forget-Me-Not is a group for people who have been bereaved, whether recently or at some point in the past, and would like to meet with others in a similar situation. Members meet twice a month in the upper room of the ARK at St Laurence Church, Alvechurch, and new members are always welcome! To find out more call Sue Phillips on 0121 445 3620. The Monday Fellowship Group meets at the Parish Centre behind St Andrew’s Church in Barnt Green at 2.30pm on the second Mon each month. £1 per talk, to include tea and biscuits. For more information, go along or ring Joyce Linford on 0121 445 1884. the MACULAR Society Barnt Green Support Group usually meets on the last Friday of the month (with some exceptions) at The Parish Centre, behind St Andrew’s Church, Sandhills Road, Barnt Green, B45 8NR, from 2 to 4 pm. It’s a friendly, self-
Time to enjoy cricket action Come and enjoy the cricket at Alvechurch & Hopwood Cricket Club: Sat July 7 – 1st XI vs Netherton Sat July 14 – 1st XI vs Avoncroft Sat July 21 – 2nd XI vs Bromyard Sat July 28 – 1st XI vs Eastnor 1pm start. Bar open from 2pm – non-members welcome.
help group, which proves there is more to life than this devastating eye condition. New members always welcome. For more info, ring Wendy on 0121 445 1585 or Alan on 01527 877864.
SPORT, FITNESS & HEALTH AN ACTIVITY Day in Alvechurch offers the chance to try out fitness classes for free. The event takes place at the Baptist Church on Thurs July 12, with Legs Bums and Tums at 9.15am, Pilates from 12–1pm and Zumba Gold from 1-2pm. Aimed at people who don’t want to shell out for gym membership and who want to walk to a session, the classes are a good way to meet other local people. More info from the Sports Development Team on 01527 881404 or sd@bromsgroveand redditch.gov.uk Youth football club Barnt Green Colts runs “turn up and play” Wednesday Night Football sessions throughout the summer, on South Bromsgrove High School’s 3G pitch. These take place every Weds from 7pm to 8pm, until September 26. Cost £3 per session. If you’re in Year 9 at school, going into Year 10 in September 2018, register your interest via the Facebook page ‘Wednesday YOUTH Football’ or Twitter @ Bromsgrove3G, or ring or email Paul on 07977 042907 or pawb45@outlook.com Adult Coached Swim Training every Sunday 6pm–7pm at Bromsgrove Sports and Leisure Centre (School Drive, B60 1AY). Contact Andrew Cunnell on 0121 445 5210 or email: bits@bratclub.co.uk. All swimmers welcome. Yoga Really Works: Yoga classes at Saint Nicolas Place, The Green at Kings Norton. Antenatal Thursdays, 6.25pm and Postnatal Fridays 11am (Stretch & Relax with baby). No Yoga experience necessary
See www.yogareallyworks.co.uk for more info or Facebook /yogareallyworks Lunchtime FUNCTIONAL Fitness Class for over-40s – every Tues 12noon at Barnt Green Scout and Guide Centre, starting March 20. 1st attendance free, £4 per session. Contact Peter on 07449 181189. kings norton Golf Club has an Open Day on July 22 – take a look and have a complimentary round of golf More info at www.kingsnortongolfclub.co.uk There’s also a Men’s Get Into Golf course, starting on July 17 and running for five weeks, to learn the basics of golf. More info at www.kingsnortongolfclub.co.uk/ mens Slimming World at Lickey End Social Club (17 Alcester Road, B60 1JT) – come and join our warm and friendly group, every Thurs at 5.30pm and 7.30pm. More info from Tracey on 07989 105937. Physiotherapy-Led Pilates Class – Weds evening 7.30pm and 8.30pm at Cofton Hackett Village Hall. 6 lessons for £50. Mixed ability classes to improve muscle tone and posture as well as overall body strength. Contact Beth on 07841477363 or elizabethalexanderltd@ gmail.com ZUMBA with LEESH! Come and SHAKE it til you make it, every Monday 7.30– 8.30pm at Crown Meadow School. Contact: 07531 623959 for more information! Tai Chi: would you like to make a positive change in 2018, help to relax, have a new interest and exercise? Classes at Finstall Village Hall, Wednesdays 2pm. Term-Time Yoga Classes: Mondays 9.30– 10.30am, Cofton Hackett Village Hall. Classes £7.50 each with 4 weeks payable up front. Equipment provided. Please contact Sarah on 07970 072038 or hello@ themotorcyclingyogi.co.uk Calling all ROCKSTARS! Make some noise in the cardio jam session that is POUND! Every Wednesday 7.30–8.15pm at Crown Meadow School. Contact Leesh Waldron: 07531 625939. Booking required! BARNT GREEN Sailing Club offers regular sailing, either racing or casual sailing, in beautiful surroundings at Upper Bittell reservoir. For information contact secretary@bgsc.uk
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continued from previous page ALVECHURCH WALKING Buddies: join a regular local walk with like-minded people who simply want to go on a local, sedate and friendly walk with no pressure. Well-behaved owners and their dogs are very welcome. The group meets at 10.30am every Thurs. For more info, search for ‘alvwb’ on Facebook or contact Tony on 07763 468893 or Diana on 0121 445 1445. Saracen cycling Club is seeking new members. Men, ladies, beginners, and regular riders are all welcome. The longestablished club meets regularly by the Tardebigge Pub on Thurs at 10am and Sun at 9.45am. See www.saracenroadclub.com or call Ivor on 0121 453 2287. Kettlercise classes at Blackwell Methodist Hall, Greenhill, B60 1BL. Mon 7.15–8.15pm, Weds 7.30–8.30pm, HIIT class Sat 8.15am. Kettlebells provided, all welcome. Contact Louise: 07792 229837. Facebook: ‘Kettlercise with Louise: North Bromsgrove’. Alvechurch Village Society’s next walk is “The Village Treasure Hunt” on Sat July 7. Prompt start (if you want to finish) at 5pm in Tanyard Lane car park; then meet in the Weighbridge pub at 8pm for prize giving. Entry fee £2 to cover printing costs and prizes. More info on 07941 508881. Barnt Green Fishing Club manages angling on the Bittell Reservoirs complex. Trout and coarse fishing are available. For further information and application forms email the Membership Secretary at bgfcmembership@outlook.com Longbridge Ladies Cycling Club wants lovely new members! Weekly Weds and Sun rides, hotel and hostel weekends away, cycle camping adventures, social outings and much much more. Beginners and seasoned cyclists welcome. Call Deb on 07738982161, email debweston@aol. com or see www.longbridgeladies.co THE RAMBLERS, BROMSGROVE GROUP: Guided walking with our group for pleasure, fitness and fun. Full programme of walks / events throughout the year. More info at www.bromsgroveramblers.webs. com or Clare on 01527 821917 or Peter on 01527 558203. One Fit Mama: Mother & Baby Wednesdays, 9.45am at Rowney Green Village
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Hall. Like us on Facebook: One Fit Mama Alvechurch, Barnt Green & Wythall. PILATES: ONE-TO-ONE tuition using studio Pilates equipment to improve body awareness, posture and fitness. An efficient mind and body workout – principles learned can be helpful in improving sports performance and functional fitness and managing pain. One-to-one tuition may lead to participation in studio and mat classes. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Call or text 07759 590830, email pilates@steff affleck.co.uk or visit www.steffaffleck.co.uk SOCIAL TENNIS takes place at Rubery Community & Leisure Centre, Holywell Lane, Rubery B45 9AD on Mondays from 1–3pm. The group would welcome a few more players – just turn up or ring Don on 01527 759 318 for further details. Mindful yoga & Meditation classes, Day Retreats and Weekend Workshops. For Peace & Calm, Fitness, Vitality, & Better Sleep. For classes and bookings, contact Sally on 0790 366 3085 or classes@ MyYoga Mind.co.uk; visit www.MyYoga Mind.co.uk or Facebook: Sally MyYogaMind Mercian Nordic Walking: Walking and exercise activities outdoors at the Ryland Centre and on local walking trails. Ian Northcutt BEM and his colleagues provide instruction and lead fun, friendly groups for all levels of fitness. More info at www.merciannordicwalking.co.uk PILOXING CLASSES: fusion of Pilates/ boxing /dance. ALL levels of fitness. Tues 9.30am (Alvechurch), Tues 7pm (Barnt Green) and Sat 8.45am (Burcot). Alison: 07790 916947, alibenford@yahoo.co.uk, Facebook: ‘Exercise with Alison Benford’ FIVE WAYS Old Edwardians’ Cricket Club at Ash Lane, Hopwood: Junior, Men’s and Women’s teams, come and join in! Open to all. Excellent facilities. Everyone welcome. Coaching for juniors on Fri evenings May to Aug. Contact Mark Tovey on 01527 835031. Barnt Green Sports Club holds a Badminton Social Open Evening each Thurs, 8pm to 11pm (Margesson Drive, Barnt Green, B45 8LR). No membership required. Players of all abilities welcome. More info from Nick Butcher on 0121 445 1978 or visit www.barntgreen sportsclub.co.uk
Astwood Bank Angling Club has 8 lakes, including 2 just outside Alvechurch. Annual membership £57 adult, £42 conc, £10 juniors. Info at www.astwoodbankac. co.uk or contact Paul on 01527 522704 or abac.membership@virginmedia.com Junior cricket coaching at Alvechurch Cricket Club runs every Sun from 10am to noon throughout the season, for boys and girls aged five to 11. All abilities welcome to enjoy cricket in a friendly environment. Led by ECB Level 2 or Level 3 qualified coaches. No charge for first session. Refreshments available. Info from Simon Bowron on 07753 621528. For details of coaching for ages 12–16, contact Nick Jones on 07779 267609. THE NEW Ravens (North East Worcestershire Ravens Rugby League Club) play at Kings Norton Rugby Club, Hopwood Park, Ash Lane, Hopwood. Playing opportunities for men’s open age, juniors, women and girls. Touch rugby will also be played for those not wishing to play full contact. Further details can be found on www. newravensrl.co.uk BROMSGROVE & REDDITCH Badminton Club welcomes players for social and league play. Playing Sunday evenings 5.40 to 7.40pm. Details from Steve Whittaker 07805 051456. Alvechurch Cricket Club Pavilion (rear of 6 Birmingham Road) is available for meetings/functions/child and adult parties. Bowling alley, pool table, table football, darts, table tennis, excellent children’s entertainer and DJ. For details/ availability, contact Pete Gwilliam on 07960 550884 or petergwilliam@btconnect.com Kings Norton Rhinos offers contact and non-contact rugby for children from Reception to Year 12. A safe and friendly introduction to rugby – and plenty of outdoor fun and exercise! Training takes place at KNRFC Ash Lane, Hopwood, on Sundays from 10–11.30am. Contact Steve Washington on 07771 911209 or visit www.knrfc.co.uk Lee-Ann’s Fitness Classes: Zumba Fitness on Mondays 7.30pm (£4) and Cardio Aerobics on Wednesdays 7.30pm, both at Alvechurch Middle School. Contact LeeAnn on 07888 841034. TRADITIONAL YOGA: Classes on Monday evenings at Lickey End Methodist Church.
Village Village What’s What’s On On Suitable for all. Please call Sandra on 01527 835642 for more information. CATSHILL FC offers youth coaching sessions each Saturday morning at Catshill Middle School, Meadow Road, Catshill, B61 0JW. Boys and girls from Reception age upwards are welcome. Contact Gary on 07462 118920 or see www.catshillfc. co.uk for further info. Rubery Taekwon-Do at Waseley Hills High School, Rubery on Thursdays and Bournville College, Longbridge on Fridays, with Yvonne (2nd Degree Black Belt). For more info email yvonne@ rubery-tkd.co.uk or visit www.rubery-tkd. co.uk Legs Bum Tums: Thurs 9.15–10am at the Friends Meeting House, Barnt Green. £3 per 45min session. A great workout to target those difficult-to-hit areas. Adaptations offered depending on ability – all welcome. Active Seniors: Thurs 10–11am at the Friends Meeting House, Barnt Green. £3.15 per one-hour session. Active session for older people who want to keep fit and healthy – all welcome. Pilates: Thurs 12–1pm at Alvechurch Baptist Church. £3.15 per one-hour session. Pay as you go session concentrating on core work, working on posture, alignment and tummy/back conditioning. Zumba Gold: Thurs 1–2pm at Alvechurch Baptist Church. £3.15 per one-hour session. For people who want to stay active and fit with a dance-style class, keeping the high energy and funky moves of Zumba but without the jumping and spinning around, making it accessible to all. AEROBICS classes at Alvechurch School, Birmingham Rd, Tuesdays 7.30–8.30pm and Fridays 6.30–7.30pm. Lapsed or new members welcome. More info from Tony on 0121 445 1819. Hopwood Ladies Cycling Club meets at Hopwood Playing Field on Tuesdays at 11.30 am and Wednesdays at 9.30 am. For more information, visit www.hopwoodladies cyclingclub.co.uk or phone Sheila Evans on 07779 530017. Karate classes take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 7–8pm at Hopwood Community Hall. First three
Classes FREE. Call Colin on 01527 578880 or 07738 674023 or colin.abbott@homecall.co.uk Tai Chi (Qigong) sessions in Alvechurch Village Hall on Mondays 10–11am (with Steve Taylor) and Fridays 11am–12noon (with Nigel Ryan), both £2.50 per session. Qigong is an integration of physical postures, breathing techniques, and focused intentions. For more details call 07966 069956.
CHILDREN & FAMILIES NEW STAY And Play opens its doors on Monday September 10, 2018 at Rowney Green’s Village Hall. Visit ‘POL POL’s PLAYTIME’ on Facebook for exciting updates and more information. Every Scout Group in Bromsgrove (which includes Barnt Green, Blackwell, Catshill, Finstall as well as the town centre) currently has girls and boys waiting to join, their numbers restricted by the ratio of adults to young people. A few more adults helping would enable existing leaders to open more Beaver Colonies and Cub Packs and allow more young people to experience Scouting. If you could spare a few hours, please call Val on 01527 837060 or visit www.bromsgrovescouts.org.uk TINY CHURCH Lickey: babies, toddlers and carers meet in Holy Trinity Church, Lickey, on Weds from 11.15am–12.45pm during term times. Games, toys, snacks and stories, with a time to meet together with God. Just pop along or contact clive. rushton@btinternet.com RHYTHM TIME: Award-winning multisensory, fun music classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. Classes in Alvechurch, Barnt Green, Lickey and Bromsgrove: see timetable at www.rhythmtime. net/vt374 or email: rhythmtimevicky@ gmail.com BABY & TODDLER swimming classes with Turtle Tots: Thursdays 9.30–11.30am in Barnt Green. Teaching water confidence, key life-saving skills & stroke development. Great post-natal workout! More info: holly.wyer@turtletots.com Barnt Green Preschool is at the heart of the community. Open since 1978, it offers learning through play in a nurturing, home-from-home environment. The Preschool follows the Early Years Curricu-
lum and with regular visits to St Andrew’s School and lots of outdoor space, it’s the perfect place to prepare your child for school. It is proud of its OFSTED report (ref 205125) and offers government-funded places. Sessions run 9am-12pm and/or 12pm-3pm Mon and Weds, and 9am-1pm Tues and Thurs. For more information or to get on the waiting list call Tina on 07790 017 777. Marlbrook Pre-School: St Luke’s Church Hall, Braces Lane. Learning through play from 2 years to school age. Mon–Fri, 9am–3pm, term-time only. Contact Tina: 07951 869175 or Sharon: 07913 486619. New NCT Home Birth Support Group in Alvechurch meets Sunday evenings in the home of a volunteer. All welcome. Meet in an informal atmosphere, share concerns, get information and hear firsthand experiences. More info from Emilie on 07874 927 256 or emiliedeeringbfc@ gmail.com Mum’s the Word playgroup takes place every Thursday in term time 9.30– 11.20am at the Ark in Alvechurch. All are welcome, no charge; tea and coffee available for parents and grandparents. Come and join in! St John’s Baby & Toddler Group meets every Friday morning between 9.15 and 11am during term time at St John’s church hall, Kidderminster Road, Bromsgrove. For further details please contact Cathy on 01527 870048 or just come along. CATSHILL TODDLERS Club meets at the Methodist Church, Golden Cross Lane, Catshill every Weds 1–3pm (except school hols). £1.50 per child (£1 for additional siblings; under 9 months free) includes drink and biscuit for you and your toddler, plus action toys, craft table, book corner, noisy instruments, and kicking footballs, learning to catch and having fun with hoops – all in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. For more information contact Sheila on 0121 445 2813 or drop in. You will be very welcome. blackwell Baby & Toddler Group runs from 10–11.30am every Weds (term-time only) at Blackwell Methodist Church Hall, Greenhill, Blackwell B60 1BL. Small group run by local mums, all welcome. Great chance to meet local families and for your
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Mother Goose (pantomime) Dec.18th - 22nd at Artrix, Bromsgrove.
continued from previous page child to make new friends. Any questions please call Carrie on 07985 539983 or find the group on Facebook.
parent if preferred. Close links with FFLAG. Visit www.newroad parents.org, email evansmargar@gmail.com or call Maggie on 01527 832492 for details.
Bromsgrove NCT Bumps and Babies Group now meets every Thursday, 10– 11.30am at David Lloyd Fitness Centre, Slideslow Drive, B60 1GJ. The group is free and anyone is welcome, including toddler siblings. Contact Claire and Karen at bromsgrove@nct.org.uk
Lickey End Playgroup runs Toddlers, Pre-School and Rising Stars sessions at Lickey End Methodist Church, B60 1JX. More information on 07791 851382 or at www.lickeyendplaygroup.co.uk
Finstall Pre-school in Finstall Village Hall, Mon–Thur 9.30am–1.15pm (term-time only). Led by qualified lower primary teacher. Visits welcome; call 07903 560787 or email Finstallpreschool@ hotmail.com
ROWNEY GREEN Horticultural Society will not have its usual monthly meeting in July, but there are several events taking place this month. On Weds July 4 there’s a visit to Morton Hall Gardens (Morton Hall Lane, Holberrow Green B96 6SJ). Cost £10 to include escorted tour plus afternoon tea. You will need to make your own way there by 2pm. If you are interested, contact Janet Barnett on 01527 69399. There are still a few places available for the visit to Broughton Grange Gardens and Ball Colegrave Nursery, nr Banbury (OX15 5DS) on July 18. Coach departs Rowney Green Village Hall 10.30am, depart for home approx 5.30pm. Cost £26 includes transport and gratuities, entrance to both venues. Café on site. The society’s Main Show takes place on Sat Sep 1. Schedules available at www. rowneygreenhorticultural.co.uk, so take a look and decide how many entries you would like to make. More info from Lindsay Smith on 01527 592874. Meetings usually take place at the Village Hall on the 2nd Thurs each month at 7.30pm. Guests always welcome: £3.50 including refreshments.
Lickey Baby & Toddler Group meets on Mon and Thurs mornings 9.30–11.30am, term time only. Have a hot drink while your children play in Lickey Trinity Centre (Parish Hall), Old Birmingham Road. For more information call Caroline on 07511 660727, email caroline_rebecca@hotmail. co.uk or find ‘Lickey Baby & Toddler Group’ on Facebook. The National Childbirth Trust is now running antenatal courses in Alvechurch. These are designed to help parents prepare for labour, birth and early parenthood and run over a number of weekday evenings and/or weekends. For info please call 0844 243 6873 or email bookings6d@nct.org.uk or visit www.nct.org. uk/confidence Rowney Green Pre-school offers learning through play for children from two years to school age, Tues–Thurs 9am– 2pm, term-time only. More info from Rosemary: 07836 770468 or Geraldine: 07725 553894. BARNT GREEN Toddlers – Come and Play! Every Thursday 10am-11.30am (term time only) for 0-3s at The Parish Centre, Sandhills Road (behind St Andrews Church). Run by a qualified childminder with lovely new toys and the emphasis on fun. A great place to make friends before school. Sibling discount and biscuits for parents too! Call Hannah on 07740 673894. New Road Parents Support for parents of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans children meets monthly in Aston Fields. A confidential, voluntary, small support group for parents by parents. Individual meetings can be arranged with another
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GARDENS & FLOWERS
Fun Floristry/Flower Arranging classes run each month at The Ark, Alvechurch. Ring Claire for more information, and to book, on 07564 339157. WYCHBOLD FLOWER Club meets nearly every 2nd Tues of the month (unless there’s an outing) at 7.30pm in the Royal British Legion Hall, De Wyche Road, Wychbold WR9 7PN. The varied and interesting programme includes demos, workshops, garden visits and garden party, and there’s also a plant stall and raffle. Visitors welcome – just £4 to include refreshments. More info from Barbara on 01299 851282. Dodford Gardening Club meets on the 2nd Monday each month (except August) usually in Dodford Village Hall at 7.45pm. New members and visitors
welcome. More info at www.dodford gardeningclub.co.uk or call Penny on 07706 153618. Rowney Green Flower Club usually meets on the 4th Thurs of the month at Rowney Green Village Hall at 7.45pm. Small, friendly informal club – new members/visitors very welcome. More info from Clare on 01527 66071. Rosehill Flower Arrangement Society meets at The Trinity Centre (Lickey Parish Hall) Old Birmingham Road, B45 8EU, on the second Monday each month (except January). Refreshments served before each meeting. Meetings start at 2pm. For further info please call Diana on 01527 870549 or Belinda on 0121 447 7477, or visit www.tcandsw.org.uk/rosehill/html Burcot Gardening Club meets on the first Weds each month at Burcot Village Hall. Meetings start at 7.30pm. New members and visitors very welcome. For more info please call Jenny or Brian on 01527 522109. BROMSGROVE & DISTRICT Flower Arrangement Society meets on the 3rd Thurs each month at 2.15pm (except January) in All Saints Church Hall. Visitors welcome. Info at www.bromsgroveflowerclub.org.uk or Beryl on 01527 833287, or by searching ‘Bromsgrove Flower Club’ on Facebook. Solihull & District Orchid Society meets on the 1st Sat each month at St George & St Teresa’s Parish Centre, Station Road, Dorridge B39 8EZ. New members and visitors welcome, and members are always willing to offer help or advice. For more info or advice call Malcolm Moodie on 01295 788159 or see www.solihullorchidsociety.org THE NORTH Worcestershire Fuchsia Society meets on the 2nd Weds each month at Bromsgrove Sports & Social Club, 7.45pm. Info from Stewart on 01527 877662.
games & COMPETITIONS The ALVECHURCH Templars Wargames Club meets most Monday evenings from 6.30pm at the Alvechurch Sports & Social Club. Visit (or join) the ‘Alvechurch Templars’ Facebook page for details or e-mail Karl Farrell at bluenostrils@outlook.com Bromsgrove Bridge Club meets at the Life After Stroke Centre, Church Lane,
Village What’s On Bromsgrove each Tues – play commences 7.30pm; doors close at 7.25pm. Table money (to include coffee/tea and biscuits) £3 for members, £4 for visitors, who are always welcome. The club operates a host system, which means a partner is guaranteed. Contact the Secretary, Sally Flood on 01527 832468. SPADESBOURNE BRIDGE Club plays at the Life After Stroke Centre in Church Lane, Bromsgrove. Join the group for friendly bridge in a pleasant venue on Thurs evenings, 7pm for a 7.15 start. They aim to finish by 10pm. Table money for visitors is £3. Phone Jan on 01905 772256 for more details. BROMSGROVE BRIDGE Clubs: The Amphlett and Crown Bridge Clubs meet at the Stroke Centre in Church Lane, Bromsgrove, on Mon and Fri evenings. Both clubs are friendly and sociable. New members welcome, helpful guidance available and parking is excellent. Contact Alistair on 07814 393416 or Val on 01527 875041. Bromsgrove Board Gamers is a friendly group which meets at 7.30pm each Weds at the Ladybird Inn, Aston Fields. More info on Facebook ‘Bromsgrove Board Gamers’. Monday Bridge Club at Barnt Green Friends Meeting House would like to welcome a few new members – contact the organiser, Des Clarke, on 0121 453 3034. A “TEXAS HOLD EM” poker tournament will be held on the first Saturday each month in the lounge at Alvechurch Sports & Social Club. Registration from 7pm for an 8pm start. Further info from Karl Farrell on 0121 445 4616 or bluenostrils@outlook.com The Friday Bridge Club plays friendly, competitive, duplicate bridge at the comfortable Burcot Village Hall. New members and visitors are very welcome. Play starts at the new time of 7pm. For further details phone Gill on 01527 401019.
Skating and slime at library Alvechurch Library‘s Summer Reading Challenge is well under way, with lots of events for youngsters to enjoy. The scheme is aimed at children 12 years and under and challenges them to read six library books over the summer (until Sept 22). l Animal Antics Storytime and Craft
takes place on Sat July 14, from 2.303.30pm, for little ones under six. Listen to some adventurous stories and get crafty too. No charge; no need to book. l There’s a Summer Reading Challenge
Day at Croome Park in Worcestershire on Weds July 25 from 10-4pm. An exciting day of workshops, storytelling and author talks. l The library holds a Skaters Club taster
session on Mon July 9 from 3.30–4.30pm. Skaters Club is a non-profit making organisation, which runs weekly rollerskating sessions in Redditch and Studley. Join in the fun and learn a few new moves! The session will be dived into 15 minute slots, with 10 children skating at a time. Skates available from children’s size 10 to adult size 5. Free event, please book through the library. More info at www. skatersclub.org.uk
l Family First Aid – Basic Paediatric
Skills: Learn the essential skills to keep your little ones safe. A basic paediatric first aid course for parents, grandparents or carers and their child. The course is broken into one-hour sessions over three weeks. No accreditation or testing, just sharing of knowledge and information. Fridays July 6, 13 and 20, 10.45–11.45am. Cost £15; booking essential. Course 15931. l Alvechurch and Wythall Libraries
launched a Young People’s Reward Card in June – if you are aged 11-24 years, you can join up to receive rewards. After visiting the library five times to borrow one or more books, you’ll be able to choose a reward on your sixth visit. Rewards include schools’ e-praise points, voucher for money off a milkshake or smoothie at The Lounge, free DVD hire from the library and many more fantastic treats. l Creative Writing with Irene will start
again in September, and there will also be a new Spanish class for beginners with Patrick. Please register your interest asap with a member of library staff as it will enable them to plan for these two new courses.
l The library hosts Mischievous Slime
l For any enquiries, pop into the library
with Mango Slimeeee on Tues July 30, 2.30–4.30pm. Kate, Ann and the team are back for a fun-packed slime-making workshop. Booking essential via the library; cost £2 per child.
on Birmingham Road, contact The Hub on 01905 822722, email alvechurchlib@ worcestershire.gov.uk or see Facebook. For Adult Learning courses, pop in to pay by cash/cheque, or online by card.
perfect for emerging players. Entry £3.50 covers session, some tuition and refreshments. Info from Anne on 01527 882169.
be made very welcome! Info from Betty Oakley on 01527 63725.
A QUIZ takes place every Thursday from 8.30–10.30 pm at Bridley Moor & Batchley Social Club, Bridley Moor Road, Batchley B97 6HS. £1 to enter; all money to the winning team. There is also stand-up bingo with a prize. For more info call quizmaster Dave on 07815 456178.
BINGO every Wednesday and Sunday evening at the Alvechurch Sports & Social Club. First games start at 8.30pm in the lounge. Non-members welcome, phone 0121 445 2121 for more info.
A WHIST DRIVE takes place every Weds from 7.15–9.30pm at Buckley’s Green Community Centre, Alvechurch (B48 7NG). The friendly group welcomes new members. £2 entry, includes raffle ticket and prizes.
“managed” duplicate bridge sessions are run by Anne Glendenning and Eugene Elijah on Tues (1.15 for 1.30pm) at Bournheath Village Hall, Claypit Lane –
Rummikub Club meets in the Social Room at Rowney Green Peace Hall fortnightly on Tuesdays from 2–4pm. Entry £2 to include tea and biscuits. You will
A popular weekly quiz takes place each Thursday at Alvechurch Sports & Social Club and follows the normal format. Doors open at 8pm. Organise a team, or just turn up and join a team. All welcome. Barnt Green Duplicate Bridge Club meets at St Andrew’s Church Hall each Weds afternoon and would like new members – contact Liz on 0121 445 0704. Halesowen Bridge Club offers Chicago Bridge on Thursdays at 2pm in the United Church Hall, Hagley Road, Halesowen B63 4PX and is seeking new members. All are welcome. Within easy reach of Bromsgrove; parking is available. For info ring Ann Gittins on 0121 550 5246 or see www.halesowenbridgeclub.org.uk
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Village What’s On continued from previous page
HELP & ADVICE REDDITCH & BROMSGROVE Advanced Motorist Group are a local charity committed to helping drivers of all ages improve their driving skills. They meet at 7.30pm on the third Weds each month in Beoley Village Hall. Info from Geoff Poole on 07707 054757 or secretary@redditcham.org.uk The Library Service at Home provides free delivery of books to people in their own homes. If you are housebound or unable to visit the library then please call Alvechurch Library on 01905 822722 to find out how they can provide you with brilliant reads. Divorced/separated and having trouble seeing your children? Being excluded from their lives? The Association for Shared Parenting has been helping mums and dads deal with the family court system and problems over contact and residence for over 20 years. Walk-in support workshops on the first Thurs each month at 7.30pm in Selly Oak (serving the Bromsgrove/Redditch area). Visit www.associationforsharedparenting. org.uk Barnt Green Day Care: Thursdays 10am–2.45pm at St Andrew’s Parish Centre. Offering a day out with care and lunch for older people in the local area. For more info on attending or helping ring Christine Davis on 0121 445 0125. ALVECHURCH LIBRARY hosts one-to-one Computer Sessions for people wanting to learn the basics. If you need help with your emails or advice on surfing online then why not pop into the Library to arrange for free tuition, provided by talented volunteers on Tuesday mornings. For more information please call The Hub on 01905 822722 or pop into Alvechurch Library.
ART & LITERATURE Withybed Poets are a group of poetry writers who meet in Withybed Green to share their poems and write together. They are open to anyone who enjoys writing and sharing poetry. They love reading their poems to audiences, which they do at the monthly Acoustic Roots in Alvechurch, but also for libraries, churches, community groups and festivals. They write poems on request for people and special occasions – they did this recently
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at the Picnic in the Park. Next meeting is July 11 at 7.30pm; for details, or to ask about commissioning a poem, ring Mary on 0121 445 5957.
Thurs each month, 7.15–9.30pm at Burcot Village Hall. Info from John on 0121 458 5884 or visit www.burcotwoodturners.org.uk
Art & Soul Creative – artist and potter offering tutored art and pottery activities in Alvechurch. All abilities welcome. Call Marina on 0121 445 0655, email artand soulcreative.org@gmail.com or visit www.artandsoulcreative.org
ALVECHURCH Library is available to host day and short courses such as card-making or scrapbooking. If you have a skill to teach or share, call 01905 822722.
Forge Mill Creative Textile Group (formerly Forge Mill Embroidery & Textile Group) are a friendly group of enthusiastic local crafters, both experienced and beginners, who meet every Fri morning at Beoley Village Hall. Various techniques and media are used to create textile artwork, such as printing, dyeing, hand and machine embroidery, along with fabric manipulation. A welcoming group, who share knowledge and encourage one another with their creativity. If you are interested in becoming a member, contact Lynda on 0121 445 3212 or Lyn on 0121 258 2771. ART IN The Village: Learn how to draw and paint or how to improve your skills. Small friendly groups in home-studio setting in Barnt Green village with plenty of one-to-one tuition. All abilities welcome. Daytime and evening classes available. Contact Jo Pardoe on 07967 041446 for more info. Alvechurch Readers Group now meets in the library on the last Tuesday of the month from 2pm until 3.30pm. New members always welcome. Please ring the Hub on 01905 822722 and ask for Alvechurch Library or pop into the library on the Birmingham Road. Alvechurch Art Group meets at the Baptist Hall (rear of church) every Tues from 1–3.30pm, using all mediums except oil. All welcome, especially beginners. Friendly tuition. Call Paul on 0121 445 5437 or drop in. Barnt Green Art Club runs a morning and afternoon tutored session on Fridays at The Friends Meeting House in Barnt Green. There is a waiting list for both sessions. Call Jackie on 0121 445 4745. Burcot Woodturning Club offers a friendly meeting place for woodturners of all abilities and experience. A varied programme includes demos, talks, hands-on practical evenings and visits to exhibitions. The group meets on the first
THE “CRAFTY Ladies” craft group meets every Monday morning in Alvechurch Library from 11am–1pm, with knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting etc. An informal and self running group that uses shared library space. More info on 01905 822722. WYTHALL WRITERS meet at the Peter Thompson Room at St Mary’s Church, Shawhurst Lane on the second Thurs each month. New members always welcome. More info from Helen on 01564 824517, Eileen on 01564 822214, Louise on 0121 430 4992 or www.wythall writers.com Avoncroft Arts Society at Avoncroft Arts Centre (Redditch Road, Bromsgrove B60 4JR), runs tutored/ non-tutored classes in Art, Textiles, Ceramics, Embroidery and Dance. Contact Alyson or Joyce on 01527 833829 or avoncroftarts@ =btconnect.com LICKEY HILLS ART SOCIETY, a friendly bunch of artists and those interested in art, meet at Longbridge Methodist Church, Bristol Road, B45 9TY, on the first Sat each month at 7.30pm. Open to artists and non-artists alike. For more info call Graham on 0121 453 7097 or come to a meeting – the members would love to see you. Bromsgrove Art Society has a new venue: Burcot Village Hall, 340 Alcester Road, Burcot, Bromsgrove, B60 1BH. Meetings are still held on the 3rd Weds each month (except Jan and Aug) at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome, entry £2 including refreshments. For more info email lyndasharp2010@yahoo.com or visit www.bromsgroveartsociety.org.uk
WOMEN’S INSTITUTES Fairfield WI meets in Fairfield Village Hall on the second Weds of the month at 7.30pm. Contact Carol Hine on 01527 873072 or fairfieldwi1932@gmail.com Lickey WI meets on the first Tues of every month at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall
(Trinity Centre), Old Birmingham Road, Lickey. More info from President Janet Ratcliffe on 0121 445 0163 or see www. LickeyWI.Wordpress.com
RUBERY WI meets at Beacon Church Centre, Whetty Lane, on the second Wednesday each month at 7.30pm. More info from Judie Fisher on 07810 765314.
FINSTALL CROSS WI meets at Finstall Village Hall on the second Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm. For more info see www.finstallcrosswi.wordpress.com or contact Jenny Banner on 01527 871249.
Bromsgrove WI meets at the Life after Stroke Centre, Church Lane, Bromsgrove B61 8RA on the second Tues each month at 2.15 pm. For more info please contact Christine Hickman-Smith 01527 870342 or email christine.hs@uwclub.net
Hillside at ALVECHURCH WI meets at 7.45 pm on the first Weds each month at The Ark, Alvechurch. For more info call Pat McDonagh on 0121 628 4121.
ALVECHURCH WI meets on the second Monday each month in Alvechurch Village Hall, at 7.30pm. For more info call President Julie Hurlston on 07583 326252 or email mrsjulieturley@hotmail. com
Blackwell & BURCOT WI meets at Burcot Village Hall on the second Weds each month, at 2pm. For info call President Mrs Barbara Knight on 0121 445 3456.
Bentley Pauncefoot WI meets at 7.30pm on the second Tues every month at Bentley Village Hall. More info from Vivien Mackenzie on 0121 445 1245.
Finstall & Cofton Hackett WI meets on the first Monday of the month at Finstall Village Hall at 2pm. For more info call President Val Wheeler on 01527 874518.
Bromsgrove Belles WI meets on the second Monday each month at The Life After Stroke Centre, Church Lane, Bromsgrove, B61 8RA at 7.30pm. For more info, contact President Carla Priddon at carlapriddon@aol.com
BEOLEY WI meets on the first Tuesday of each month in Beoley Village Hall at 7.30pm. For more info please contact Georgia Jacobs on 01527 62766.
St Catherine’s WI meets at 7.30pm on the third Thursday each month, in ‘The Wheel’ at Blackwell. More information from Sue Barratt on 01527 596092 or s.barratt@bnvillej.bham.sch.uk Barnt Green WI meets at the Baptist Church in Barnt Green on the third Thurs each month, from 7.30–9.30pm. More info from Alyson Williams on 0121 445 6577. Hopwood WI meets at Hopwood Village Hall on the first Thurs of the month at 7.30pm. For more info call Ann Thurrell on 0121 447 7668. ARK ANGELs WI meets on the second Monday each month from 7.30pm at the Ark, Alvechurch. On July 9 there’s a pub walk – for more info email ark.angels@ hotmail.com
To have your event or group listed, send details to Sally Oldaker via the addresses on Page 3, by July 16.
Village Baking
Perfect for Wimbledon T
In our occasional recipe series, keen baker Jen Morris, of Rowney Green, creates a very traditional taste of summer.
o tennis fans, July means Wimbledon – to me, Wimbledon means strawberries and cream. And what better way to celebrate British strawberries being in season than with a classic fruit scone? I serve them filled with strawberry conserve, clotted cream and fresh strawberries, and then sandwiched back together; that way, you can eat them with one hand, should your other hand be holding a glass of Pimm’s. These are quick to make and are best eaten fresh from the oven, still slightly warm. Ingredients: l 500g plain flour l 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda l 4 ½ tsp cream of tartar
1 ½ tbsp caster sugar 50g cold unsalted butter, diced l 35g cold Trex, diced l 75g sultanas l 300ml milk l 1 large egg, beaten for egg-wash To serve: l Strawberry conserve l Clotted cream l Fresh strawberries l l
1) Heat your oven to 220C / 200C fan / Gas 7. Lightly grease a baking sheet. 2) Sieve the flour, bicarb, cream of tartar and sugar into your mixing bowl. 3) Rub in the fats with your fingers, then add the sultanas and milk and mix together briefly. 4) On a floured surface, knead the
dough lightly, then roll out to 3cm thickness. 5) Stamp the scones out, using a 6.5cm cutter and arrange close together on the baking sheet. 6) Brush the tops with egg wash, then bake for 10 mins. Cool slightly on a rack. 7) Split the scones and fill with your choice of conserve, cream and strawberries. Enjoy! The Village
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VISIT US AT: BROMSGROVE: Saxon Park, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, B60 4AD - 01527 835924 STUDLEY: Alcester Road, Studley, Warwickshire, B80 7AG - 01527 857772 KENILWORTH: Leyes Lane, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2DE - 01926 855044 SHIRLEY: 153 Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull, B90 3AY - 0121 744 0989