Sunday September 25 2016
Village News
Five brave members of staff from Thomas Horton Solicitors will each do a tandem skydive this weekend in support of Primrose Hospice in Bromsgrove.
The Dellow Register is celebrating the 70th anniversary of Dellow Motors on Sunday September 18.
Alvechurch & Hopwood Cricket Club has received a welcome boost with the installation of a new artificial wicket.
A large group of enthusiasts enjoyed Bromsgrove’s first annual board game festival, The Great Indoors, organised by the Bromsgrove Board Gamers club.
Jazz group finds new village home
Lickey End Social Club has come to the rescue after a local orchestra was left homeless.
Two village playgroups have raised £183 for children’s charity Barnardo’s with a fun event.
Hundreds of animal-lovers converged on the Jinney Ring in Hanbury to help The Cinnamon Trust celebrate its fifth Animals R Magic event.
Blackwell triathlete Sam Boswell has achieved her dream of qualifying for the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, after winning the UK event to earn her place.
Hopping Bob history is a mystery
The homemade street sign declaring the Alvechurch alley between Red Lion Street and Bear Hill to be Bob Hopping Street has been mysteriously replaced with a new, larger sign.
A Barnt Green man who fought in the Second World War has been honoured by France for his actions during the conflict.
The summer fete at Grosvenor House care home in Alvechurch had an artistic theme once again, as members of Pam’s Art Group entered a competition to have their paintings displayed.
Barnt Green Cricket Club’s U15 side is celebrating winning the England and Wales Cricket Board national championship – coming top out of 1,600 teams.
Plea for new street lights in village
A Barnt Green resident has shared his concerns with the parish council over a lack of street lighting on Hewell Road.
The Lounge project in Alvechurch is making good progress and is in a “better position” six months after a crisis public meeting brought an influx of volunteers.
After its summer garden party raised funds towards the restoration of Blackwell First School’s historic gargoyle, a group from Burcot Grange care home presented the school with a cheque for £730.
Alvechurch resident Mark Williams was the latest winner of a Mini Vinny in our competition.
Barnt Green is the place to be in September, with two community events attracting residents and visitors alike.
Blackwell’s first Music Festival!
Organisers of Blackwell’s inaugural Music Festival are encouraging people to buy their tickets now to avoid disappointment.
Alvechurch Library is marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme with a special exhibition.
While Alvechurch rail users and parish councillors are still unhappy with the new station’s infrastructure, at least it has been brightened up for the summer by some beautiful wildflowers!
The Worcester-Birmingham & Droitwich Canals Society has installed two new noticeboards on local canal bridges.
Duo of Burcot gardens on display
Two gardens in Burcot will be open to the public under the NGS on Saturday August 27, between 12 noon and 5pm.
Sarah Rees reports from the Oakalls and Parklands . . .
Ben Wilde, a 12-year-old Alvechurch resident, was the latest winner of a Mini Vinny in our competition.
Alvechurch held its bi-annual Open Gardens event, with 12 very different gardens raising money for charity under the National Gardens Scheme.
Lickey mums raise charity cash
A group of mothers from Lickey Hills Primary School are raising funds for a fellow mum’s cancer treatment.
Hopwood youngster William Wortley is celebrating a second place in his first-ever district sailing competition.
An Alvechurch man has helped raise more than £145,000 for Cancer Research UK by competing in the world’s longest annual canoe race.
Cofton Hackett and Barnt Green have a new curate, as Rev Sheri Gidney comes to work alongside Canon Rob Fieldson.
Villagers, friends and colleagues past and present gathered to say farewell to Alyson Williams, who has retired as manager of Alvechurch and Wythall Libraries after 12 years of service.
Rail station budget hits the buffers
There is no money left to complete the refurbishment of Alvechurch rail station, parish councillors heard.
Barnt Green’s inaugural Community Weekend raised £5,000 for local charities and provided visitors from the village and beyond with a great day out.
Alvechurch Parish Council has joined the call for action after yet another car crash at dangerous bends on the main road out of the village towards Redditch.
The Post Office has pledged its commitment to maintaining a service in Alvechurch.
As summer temperatures rise, one group of villagers say they can’t leave windows open because of the smell from lorries carrying animal parts.
Village Views
SEPTEMBER 2016
As we went to press, the road was closed again on the dangerous bends just south of Alvechurch village after yet another accident.
The gardens in the August edition of The Village were very impressive. I missed making any contribution, but I think our dahlias are worth a view
I spotted this grey heron in early morning light on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal near Withybed Green, Alvechurch.
I am trying to find my stepsister, Carolyn (Rapson) Mansell, whose last location was Barnt Green, England.
Council decision caused ‘eyesore’
I wonder if the councillors who turned down the retirement homes application by McCarthy & Stone for 2 Birmingham Road, Alvechurch, and the field behind have seen the site recently?
I am a 92-year-old WWII veteran who came to Bromsgrove in 1965 and have lived in Lickey End for a number of years.
This edition of The Village has blossomed unintentionally into a gardens special, so we hope most of you will enjoy seeing what the industrious villagers of Barnt Green and Alvechurch have been doing on their patches.
AUGUST 2016
Rainbow brightens Alvechurch skies
My daughter Caitlin took this photo of a rainbow after a shower.
I would like to say thank you for the last 50 years that George has been delivering milk to residents in Cofton Hackett.
Why has someone re-named London Road as “Bob Hopping Street”? I first thought it was a joke, but the sign remains in place.
Regarding your photo of the new sign for “Bob Hopping Street” (The Village July 2016). As a child growing up in Alvechurch in the 1950s, I distinctly remember that there was a road sign by the chip shop naming the alley from Red Lion Street to Bear Hill as “London Road”.
Why are police not using powers?
After Alvechurch Parish Council urged landowners to take precautions to prevent incursions by travellers on their land (The Village July 2016), I recently wrote to our newly-elected Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion, on this subject.
Minority give dog owners bad name
Walking across between The Meadows playing fields and Old Rectory Lane, I saw that some irresponsible dog owner had left poo bags on the fence.
People are very quick to criticise the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch but I for one would like to express how good they are.
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Village Features
The history of a fondly-remembered village band from the swinging sixties.
Hannah Genders explains why September is a perfect month.
Raise a glass to the countryside
Mary Green looks at plants that make alcohol – and other things!
Will Humphreys, AFH’s Head of Investments, looks at post-Brexit market responses.
Mysterious mists of our Milky Way
Amateur astronomer Brian Watkiss peers into the Village night sky.
Alvechurch amateur weatherman Phil Thomas records the changes.
Ahead of the new season, Kings Norton Rugby Club has been improving its facilities and promoting the club to attract new players.
Your children’s schedule may be overloaded with enjoyable activities, so you may be unsure about adding piano lessons to the list – but there are many great benefits to playing the piano.
A prep school to suit everyone
The RGS family of schools offers a choice of two “excellent” and “outstanding” prep schools.
At the heart of Winterfold’s ethos lies a very genuine concern for the happiness and success of every child.
Dodderhill’s head explains why continuity of independent education is important.
Village Archive: 10 years ago…
A look back at what was happening around here in September 2006.
Sally Oldaker meets a village artist whose work attracts international attention.
Friends for life at happy school
Bromsgrove School’s results are impressive, but Bromsgrove is much more than a place to get good grades.
Village volunteers are hoping local people may have stories or mementos to share from the days when a First World War munitions testing site was based in the heart of the Lickey Hills.
Many readers will be familiar with Singletons Nurseries at Lydiate Ash, which has been supplying top quality home-grown plants and produce for almost 70 years – and now the family-run business has another string to its bow in the shape of an on-site restaurant.
As the world commemorates the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, Alvechurch can remember in particular a young village man killed in action during that drawn-out conflict.
Alvechurch FC finds history repeating itself in an FA Cup clash.
Of all the things you grow in your garden, spring flowering bulbs must be the easiest, most rewarding and colourful, writes Nicci Gow.
South Africa – our best holiday yet!
Blackwell travel counsellor Jane Ward plans a tailor-made trip.
A village electrical business has proved so successful that it has now launched its own town centre shop.
Bliss celebrates eighth birthday
Popular Alvechurch salon Bliss Hair Therapy has notched up eight years in business thanks to its expertise in ladies’ and gents’ hairdressing, the team’s passion for the job they love and their care for each individual client – backed by support from loyal customers.
Alvechurch FC gears up for a new season with new signings.
Hannah Genders revamps a sustainably-sourced garden.
