Meriden Mag Autumn 2014
Summer happenings at Meriden School 1st prize winners at Gardeners World Live
School Bankers
Schools Will Rock You
School Sports
Mr Browning hosted our annual music evening. He was on fine form cracking some jokes in And finally farewell to between acknowledging the hard year 6 work and dedication that the children have shown in learning their instruments so well. He thanked the music teachers and the families and friends who had supported and encouraged the children to practise. Ultimately a music evening wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging the stars of the show – WELL DONE TO EVERYONE!
Hello from Meriden School! At the time of writing this, summer term has just finished. What a busy term it was too! In addition to their ‘regular learning’ in which they achieved brilliantly, pupil s took part in trips to wonderful, exciting places, camped on the school field and wowed us with their musical prowess.
Our results across all year groups are a testament to the fantastic children we have in our school; results in FS2, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 6 reflect the hard work that our pupils put into their learning throughout their primary school life.
In the final few weeks pupils in key stage 2 entertained the masses with their version of ‘Schools Will Rock You’ . Based on the hugely popular Queen show, it was a tremendous success; brilliant acting, dancing and singing combined with the wonderful set to create a truly incredible show.
Year 6 said their sad go odbyes, but not before they washed our cars as part of a ‘Young Enterprise’ project and made their parents (and teachers!) cry with their final assembly on the last day. All children were awarded with a trophy for being a superb year 6, but special mentions went to Ethan for Sportsmanship, James H for Progress and Ellie for Achievement. Meriden Governors also presented an award for overall attitude and commitment to ‘the Meriden way’ to Emily T.
The final assembly also saw the Chris Fryer Courtesy Award being awarded to Bobbie in Year 5, for being someone who is always polite and friendly, to both children and adults alike. The Queen’s Jubilee Cup, donated by Meriden United Charities, went to Jasmine in Year 5 for her dedication to raising money for The Little Princess Trust. A new award was donated by Warwick University for 100% attendance and those children who had been in school every day from 2nd September to the 18th July went into a prize draw for a mini-ipad! The lucky winner was Ethan. Well done!
The rain tried to stop us, but we eventually held our sports day as the culmination to the activities in sports week, and our summer fayre which, despite the downpour, was a huge success once again. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on these days and of course, we are extremely grateful to the PTA who worked hard to make the summer fayre the triumph it was. Thanks also go to members of our Parent Council who have worked hard to help our pupils ‘Get the fit factor’ and walk, scoot, cycle, hop, dance to school. This helps to reduce the number of cars around school in the morning and at the end of the day, therefore making our school even safer.
Reverend Kate Massey kindly took our end of year service at St Laurence’s church and our children enjoyed giving their thanks to God for their learning experiences and friendships made during the year. Olaf the snowman was a huge hit!
On behalf of all the staff and governors, may I wish you all a very happy, safe and sunny summer. Lucy Winkler, Headteacher, Meriden CE Primary School
BBC Gardener’s World Live Tuesday 2nd June saw the launch of our school bank Meriden School’s Eco-team entered an exhibit in and we had a special visitor come to officially open it! the hanging basket competition and were thrilled to The bank opens on alternate Fridays and encourages have been awarded first prize!! Our basket was children to save their pocket money and watch it grow! entitled "sECOnd hand" as we had We have our own Bank Manager-Bobbie; Clerk-Tia; incorporated recycled items. Foundation stage 2 Records Officer-Ben; Marketing Manager-Bethany. were very buzzzzy creating the "pollinating insects" we attached. A big thank you to Carole Webb, who helped us with the basket and massive The afternoon of 3rd July saw the second attempt at congratulations to Cathy Wright & the Eco-team! our Sports Day which ‘ran’ fantastically well thanks to enthusiastic children, supportive parents and lots of Key Stage 2 rocked the stage with their lovely sunshine. It was a close fought battle production of ‘Schools Will Rock You’. throughout the afternoon with all the houses doing It was an amazing show and the children once themselves proud. Future talent and excellent again showed us all what a talented group they sportsmanship was seen in all year groups but the really are, acting, singing, dancing with utter illustrious (paper mache and glitter!) gold trophy was professionalism. We expect to see some of their awarded to Eagles who scored the most points overall. names on the big screen in a few years! A big thank you to all who helped make it such a great We are incredibly proud of them, as I am sure afternoon. their families are too.
ST LAURENCE CHURCH NEWS
Rev'd Kate Massey Assistant Curate 01676 522825 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Lay Reader: Peter Wright 01676 522414 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Church Wardens: Jonathan Douglas 01676 522455 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ John Baker 01676-522939. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++www.stlaurencej -meriden.co.uk
Services are held on the 1st, 3rd and 4th Sunday at 10.30 am
“Nostalgia’s not what it used to be” runs the ironic joke about remembering the past, recalling our memories, often in an idealized way. I’m typing this on a computer that tells me I have a certain amount of ‘memory’ left in it but of course this is just a mechanical storage device. With human memory we can do so much more. With memory we can learn, create, explain and understand. A good memory is a constant source of insight and new understanding. There is a lot of public remembering going on this year, prompted by the Centenary of WW1. We are privileged to have a number of memorials in Meriden to help us remember. These have been added to, this year, by the new Coronation Island and the new Memorial Approach with its impressive Commemorative Poppy, both dedicated in short services recently. WW1 Remembrance activities are also going on throughout the year including the Remembrance Sunday Service taking place at St. Laurence Church on 9th November at 10 a.m., which will conclude with the Act of Remembrance at the Village Memorial. We also have memorials in our personal lives, not monuments of stones, but ones built of personal memories. These are significant places and people in our lives that trigger memories. Some of our memories may be good, others may be difficult but we can’t actually live in the past, we can only be confined by it. A memory never occurs in the past; a memory is only about the past. When we are stuck in the past our memory loses the urge to create, explain, and understand; and loses the capacity to forgive. We have been reminded of this in the way that the public remembrances of WW1 have emphasized the ultimate importance of how understanding that war can, and indeed has, led to peace and reconciliation between what were once enemies. The same is true of our personal remembrances. To use them to understand helps us to move on, healthily and creatively, and not to be stuck. We don’t have to try to manage this on our own because although our memories change and evolve as we re-live and re- tell them, none of that is true for God. We are always in God’s memory, always loved and precious. God knew each one of us before we were born. He never forgets us. He is not under time constraints so his memory can't be washed away by time. Even though our appearances get worn by time he still remembers us because he looks at the inner you and the inner The Christmas tree me and has always been with us. In the Bible, it says that he THE CHRISTIANSfestival OF MERIDENat St Laurence, has inscribed each of us in the palm of his hands – words that see centre page for the take on new meaning when we see the nail prints in Jesus' JOIN TOGETHERwinning treeFOR hands. This love we see on the cross can never forget us and will always be with us, helping us to understand, to move on, and to love, to forgive and be forgiven, to heal and be healed - and not to be stuck. The church is here to help us all know and experience this truth for real. With our love and prayers. Peter Wright
Bereavement Service St. Laurence Church FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY Sunday 2nd November at 4 pm CRAFT ACTIVITIES FOR 3-10 YEAR OLDS OF ALL AGES A special service of thanksgiving for our loved ones who have died will be held at MUSIC, SINGING AND A STORY St. Laurence Church, Meriden on Sunday 2nd FOLLOWED BY FELLOWSHIP AND FOOD November at 4 p.m. If you would like to share VENUE: MERIDEN METHODIST CHURCH TH in a simple and dignified service to give 4 SUNDAY IN MONTH @4.00PM thanks for their lives and all they have meant SEPTEMBER 28TH SPECIAL HARVEST THEME to you and still mean to you, then you are OCTOBER 26TH warmly invited. This special service is for you, NOVEMBER 23RD your family and your friends, indeed any one of us who travel the long road of bereavement. Joint association between We do look forward to seeing you. There will *Meriden Christian Fellowship* Meriden Methodist Church* be tea and refreshments afterwards. You are warmly invited. * St Laurence Anglican Church*
MERIDEN’S BIG PICTURE SHOW
The Firebird Singers Following the success of the recent sell-out screening of “War Horse” the Village Hall Management Present Committee is encouraged to provide regular Film Nights for the benefit of the Village. We shall An Evening With Friends endeavour to offer a wide variety of films to appeal to A joint concert with the as many sections of the community as possible. This will include family films, recent features and classics as Coventry Philharmonic Singers well as the commitment to support the WW1 initiative by including screening films with a Great War theme. AUTUMN PROGRAMME “THE LEGO MOVIE” Saturday, 1 November 2014, Saturday 13th September 2014 at 5.30p.m at 7.30pm (Doors open at 4.30p.m) at The Lime Tree Social Club Tickets: £5.00 Templar Avenue Coventry Drinks and snacks on sale CV4 9BQ Raffle for Lego prize Our chosen charity for this year is “PHILOMENA” The Macular Society SSaturday 18th October 7.00pm Registered Charity Number 1001198 (Doors open at 6.00p.m) For tickets and further information, Tickets: £5.00 or to join the choir,
contact John on 07716 721467 Tickets £8.50 Concessions/Children £5.50 Tickets available from Chris Copper Meriden Singing for pleasure, raising money for Charity Telephone: 01676 522645 Everyone welcome As seating is limited, tickets need to be booked in advance.
Packington Hall Coffee Morning
Thursday 6th November 10.30am – 12.00 noon
£4 per person
Enjoy coffee in the Pompeian Room and try your luck at the raffle! There will be bric-a-brac, bring and buy, cakes and jams and many other stalls
Samaritan’s Purse Shoe Boxes
Please fill a shoe box full of goodies for disadvantaged children abroad and bring a smile to their faces. An explanatory leaflet is available from Meriden Library. If you are unable to fill a box, donations will be very welcome, it costs £2.50 to send each box.
Contact Lucy on 01676 523502 for more information
In Meriden Minister: Rev Andrew Charlesworth BSc BA
Tel: 01676 533737 - Phone to arrange marriages, baptisms and funerals Services: Sunday 10:30am Café Church 4pm 1st Sunday of the Month only
This is buddy Jesus. It is a statue that was created for the film Dogma, starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. I like this picture because it always makes me laugh. It is one I often use in the assemblies I lead at school.
I think it is fair to say that it is probably not a realistic picture of what Jesus looked like! It seems unlikely that a winking, smiling Jesus would be seen as a dangerous radical needing to be executed by the Romans, with crucifixion being the form of punishment reserved for those who might disturb the Pax Romana, the Roman Peace. But I guess lots of the pictures we have of Jesus do not always match who he really was, and that is probably true of church goers and non-church goers alike Of course for some, Jesus is a complete and utter irrelevance, a figure from the past to be dismissed. However, whilst two billion people in the world claim to be Christians his relevance is probably assured. For some, Jesus probably seems like a homophobic, sexist bully who looks down on those with all sorts of problems. Unfortunately that is sometimes how some in the church seem to portray him. It might surprise you to hear that we have no record of Jesus ever mentioning sexual ethics and he certainly welcomed men and women equally, especially those on the margins of society. I suspect one image of Jesus shared by some, regardless of whether they go to church or not, is that of a gentle Sunday School Jesus. This Jesus is calm, wise, tall, with blue eyes, fair hair, a strong jaw line and a strange taste in white nighties. One variant on this Jesus is National Trust Jesus. This innocuous Jesus is definitely middle class and really rather well brought up. His churches are a delight to visit and to remind oneself of one’s heritage. But this Jesus is frozen in time, a time that never existed. The Jesus we meet in the gospels is none of these images. This Jesus we find there is full of surprises. . He is always bigger than we imagined. We can never pin him down and use him for our own agenda. He is someone who wants us to know life in all its fullness, how to live out the good and bad days alike. He is someone who wants us to know the love that God has for every single one of us, showing us that the whole creation has permanent value. In turn this leads to a commitment to the welfare of individuals and communities. And the Jesus we meet in the Bible calls each of us to follow him. He calls us to live our lives in the same way he did, sharing God’s love, helping those in need and
challenging inequality and injustice. BRING YOUR OWN ALCHOLIC DRINKS Anyone can join in! SOFT DRINKS AVAILABLE Love, peace and joy. Andrew
4 Course Sunday Banquet £9.95 Diary Dates: 28th Sept, 10:30am Harvest Festival Popadoms King prawn and fish dishes £2.50 extra 16th Nov, 10:30am 130th Church Anniversary Any starter Excludes Mumbai Special set meals and Mumbai exclusive feast Any main dish Only available dining in The Methodist Church Hall is available for hire; boiled rice or plain nan please contact Maureen & Alan Gabbitas coffee 01676 522 148
FREE HOME DELIVERY SERVICE (minimum order over £25 within 3 mile radius) 10% discount Collection only (minimum order over £10) Open 7 days a week 5.30pm till 11.30pm A45 Birmingham Road Millisons Wood CV5 9AY 01676 521 202 www.mumbaiblue.com
Queens Head Old Road Meriden
Monday night is music night come along and join us, music starts 9.15pm approx
Sept 1st Rob Handford 8th Keith Brett th 15 Kristen Sweet nd 22 Sam Southall 29th Chrissy
th Oct 6 Mike Leigh th 13 Justine Claire 20th Backbeat th 27 Steve Berry
rd Nov 3 Helen Hale th 10 Stevie B th 17 Natasha th 24 Paul Tracini
ALLAN SMITH SLATING Now serving Breakfast on Sunday mornings
10.00am-1.00pm Full English £5.25. Pub lunches Mon – Sat 12.00- 2.30pm Pop in for good food and a warm welcome Take away available 01676 522256 Look out for new Indian Restaurant Opening upstairs soon!
Servicing Call in for a Repairs quotation Tyres for your
Exhausts motoring needs Suspensions Brakes
01676 521010
Meriden Garage, Birmingham Road
Millison’s Wood
CV5 9AZ
The Centre Charity Shop and Heart of England Outreach 01676 523050
Greetings to everyone, AsBlessings usual a huge Kevin thank and you Lyn to our Hunt. hardworking staff for their dedication and support. Our thanks are also extended to the people who provide us with such an array of interesting and useful donations to sell. We cannot believe that we have been working at The Centre charity shop since April 2007 and it was opened ten years prior to us taking over. So in total it's been in the village for seventeen and a half years. We have seen many changes during this time with new people arriving and people leaving to settle elsewhere. New houses being built, a new park, new ministers, change of owners at The Strawberry Bank hotel, new head at the school to name but a few. When we first arrived people bought and watched videos now its DVDs or streaming from T.V. Everyone read real books, now often they use e readers. People used to want new or modern, now retro or vintage is often the preferred choice. So in just a few years we have seen such a change in what people are looking for, but I guess that never changes. By the time this magazine is delivered to your door there will be changes afoot at The Centre but at the present time we don't know exactly how they will pan out. Today we've spent a lovely day in Stow on the Wold and I visited all the charity shops and am pleased to report that not one of them had as many nice things for sale as we have. The only thing I was tempted by was a really old Wedgwood dinner service but the fact that it wasn't complete coupled with a few hairline cracks finally made the decision for me (much to Kevin's relief!!) With best wishes and hope to see you soon Kevin and Lyn
Meriden Christian Fellowship What a glorious summer we've had this year, hardly a rainy day from the month of May until now. I hope those of you reading this have all managed to go on a holiday and had a fantastic time with family and friends. I wonder how many of the dad's have shown their children just how a sand castle is meant to be built. I can just hear the ladies thinking 'men never grow up do they?’ Well I have to admit that there may be some truth in that, as I know what I was like when I managed to get to the beach with my children and I'm now looking forward to doing it all over again with my grandson when he's a little older. Talking of building things on the beach reminds me of a parable (story) Jesus told to a crowd one day when He said "Therefore anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like the wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundations on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like the foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27). That story challenges me to look at my life and all that I've done or achieved over the years and ask what is the foundation of my life build on, and when put to the test will it stand? What sort of legacy will you leave behind when you die? What will people say about you? And do you have a hope that you know where you are going when your final day comes? I know this sounds a bit morbid, but it's a question that will at some point cross everyone's mind. So let me ask you a question. On a scale of 1 - 10, 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest, if you were to die today how sure are you that you would go to heaven? If your answer was anything other than 10 then the chances are you're not going to heaven. You see that's the hope I was talking about, unless you're a 100 per cent sure you're going to heaven you're probably not. None of us are good enough to be a 10 but through the shed blood of Jesus all our sins are washed away. He enables us to reach the 10 mark, because He paid the price for our sins on the cross, and when we ask His forgiveness and ask Him into our hearts and build our lives on Him our rock, then He sets us free and gives us a hope a future and a confidence that we will go to be with Him when we leave this world. So next time you're building a sand castle on the beach, ask yourself the question, "what's my life built upon"? ‘We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done'. (Psalm 78:4). Every blessing Kevin and Lyn Hunt
PHYSIOTHERAPY REFLEXOLOGY David Deakin Treatment for pain, stress, acute and chronic conditions Plastering Services Local home visits to ladies available
Alison Stain Interior plastering and coving work. Insurance work welcome. M.C.S.P.,M.S.R., HCPC. Registered
The Therapy Centre, Free Estimates, reliable, friendly, Balsall Villa clean service.
287 Kenilworth Road Tel: 01676 521389 Balsall Common. Tel : 01676 522284 Mobile: 07767 237860
A Message from Caroline Spelman MP
I am exceptionally fond of the beautiful countryside around Meriden. I have enjoyed walks on the Heart of England Way as it winds through the village. I know there is often concern about planning applications to develop the village and surrounding countryside and I want to reassure you that I am committed to protecting the Green Belt from inappropriate development. Planning decisions should recognise the intrinsic value and beauty of the countryside. The Government’s National Planning Policy Framework is explicit that Green Belt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. The Government has also given new powers to councils to resist unwanted garden grabbing and introduced a new planning protection for valuable local green spaces. As you will appreciate, demographic changes necessitate an increase in the housing supply. However, this can be done by bringing empty homes back in to use, as well as building new homes. The Government is also working hard to get brownfield land back in to use. I held a drop in surgery in July and residents raised with me the flooding that has got worse as a consequence of the development at the centre of the village. I have written to the council to see what can be done to improve this situation. I was also asked about further development but unless there are more houses in the Local Plan which was approved by the Planning Inspectorate this is unlikely to happen , unless the village wants some such as sheltered accommodation. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided. Where development is necessary and there are no other suitable sites available at lower flood risk, it should be safe and resilient, without increasing the flood risk elsewhere. The Government has also recently launched a programme to help individuals and companies to make improvements to their homes. The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund started in June, as part of the Government’s long term plan to encourage individuals to make energy saving home improvements. Under the new scheme, householders, landlords and tenants can claim back up to £7,600 towards energy efficiency improvements such as solid wall insulation, heating and glazing. The fund is open to everyone who installs at least two eligible improvements. Autumn is a good time to install improvements, to get the work done before winter sets in. I would encourage anyone who is interested in the scheme to visit the website for more information: www.gov.uk/greendeal. To contact Caroline or make an appointment for a Mrs C Booker surgery please contact Katy Steele 0121 711 7029 CAROLINE Home visiting SPELMAN Email :carolinespelman.com
Chiropodist/podiatrist ME S OR CH The Orme School of O State and HPC registered E O H L Dancing T Tel 01676 534265 Meriden Branch Methodist Church Hall
Friendly and professional advice Classes in Ballet, Tap, on all foot problems Modern Jazz, Freestyle and Contemporary
News from the Orme School of Dancing Jennifer Faulkner Meriden Branch F.I.D.T.A BA Hons Tel: 02476 467271 Fellowship Teaching The dancers at The Orme School of dancing have had Degree another busy few terms at the Meriden Branch. They all dip A.B.R.S.M danced beautifully at ‘Showtime 2014’ at the theatre; the Principal- Sandra Clarke little ones looking gorgeous in their ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘64 Zoo Lane’ dances, the senior dancers sparkling in their show pieces. We invited all of our younger dancers to a New Beginners Adult ballerina party in May and our dancers plus a friend enjoyed Tap Class! fun dances, party games and won lots of prizes – all whilst No experience necessary. We are a friendly, social group looking lovely in their ballerina outfits!(Please see colour and are building up the new sessions on a Monday photo in centre pages) evening at the Methodist Church in Meriden – get in Then in June we started a new class for adults – Beginners touch to find out more. Tap. This takes place on Mondays at 7:15pm and we have made a good start so far. The ladies seem to be enjoying Also - September is the perfect time to get your child themselves and learning lots of new tap dancing skills in this involved in our Ballet, Tap and Modern Jazz sessions. friendly new group. If you would like to get your child We have classes suitable for 2 year olds involved in ballet, tap and modern jazz sessions at up to seniors at our Meriden Branch. our Meriden Branch on Mondays at the Meriden Visit our web site for more information Methodist Church then please get in touch on www.ormecoventrydance.co.uk 02476 467271 www.ormecoventrydance.co.uk
Everything you need for your weekly shop !
Local poultry, game, beef & lamb plus our own pork, gammon, hams & pork pies. Plus: a full deli & cheese counter & a large selection of fruit & vegetables. Plus: chocolates, cakes & sweets as well as Relax and unwind in home ware & great gift ideas. our Coffee Shop Find us on Facebook ‘The Hayloft’ to keep up to date with special offers, new products and CV7Berryfields 7LB Farm Shop events 0Berr1676 522 155 Berkswell Road CV7Meriden 7LB email: [email protected] 01676CV7 7LB 522 155 web: www.berryfieldsfarmshop.co.uk 01676 522155
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Independent Financial Advisers EDEN HOLISTIC DOG FOOD www.reddotgroup.co.uk 5 STAR RATED DOG FOOD Red Dot (Cymru) Ltd (check out the review of the food you feed your Luke Stanley DipFA dog with the review for Eden on Independent Financial Adviser www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk) Luke will work with you to achieve all of your Made from only the best ingredients:- lifestyle aspirations and long term financial plans, All meat and fish of human grade and sourced whatever form these may take. Protect your family; within the UK. provide for your retirement; save tax efficiently. No animal derivatives, by products or flavours. Herbs, vitamins and minerals with joint support Call Luke to discuss your goals and priorities and prebiotics. Tel – 07807 519 811 TOTALLY GRAIN FREE – NO FILLERS E-mail: [email protected] HIGH DENSITY FOOD Red Dot (Cymru) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the USE LESS FOR EACH FEED financial conduct authority 2 VARIETIES AVAILABLE: EDEN ORIGINAL MIDLANDS CLEANERS 80% Chicken, Salmon, Herring, Duck and Egg Domestic & Commercial Cleaning Services • Window Cleaning EDEN CATCH OF THE DAY
• Fascia & Soffit Cleaning 80% Salmon and Herring, including seasonally available Cod, Haddock, Hake, Plaice and Pollock • Gutter & Cladding Cleaning • Conservatory Roof Local prices for 15kg and Patio Cleaning (smaller quantities can be provided):
Adam Eales 0794 389 3354 Original : £50 [email protected] Catch of the Day: £53
Tel: 01676 522466 to order and collect Nutritional and general dog advice given Do you need a cleaner?
Do you want Dog pet sitting service provided – days, weekends someone to do all those household or longer in a non-kennel environment
jobs you haven’t got time for? Balsall Common Country Market
A weekly market is held at Balsall Common Then call Jenny now on Village Hall, Station Road CV7 7EX 07901 530861 every Saturday from 10.00 - 11.30am Domestic cleaning, Office cleaning and the first Sunday of the month at the Professional cleaning service Saracen’s Head from 1 - 4pm
Home baking and preserves, meat, plants and seasonal vegetables, crafts and homemade cards Wedding Bells Hampers can be ordered and Local farmer John Arnold delivered countrywide. Contact 01676 534148 married Miss Amy Farmer A free cup of tea at Ansley Church or coffee on July 12th. with this
voucher Congratulations from both For more details call families June Smitten on 01676 523007
I am sitting in the garden, overlooking my beautiful view- a field of golden wheat, gently shimmering in the late sun. I am mindful of how I bemoaned the loss of the grass field as it was turned into crop in my last entry to you good people of Meriden. But wow, what a magnificent view! I guess it just goes to show that all change isn’t necessarily bad. Another change in my household is the joyful news that my partners’ son and his gorgeous partner- who both lived with us until last year, have just given birth to a beautiful baby girl, so welcome to the world sweet Una! The landscape is indeed changing, and all for the better! I am of course, a mere evil stepmother, but nevertheless I have been bestowed the honour of being named a grandparent- and am proud and excited as can be, but what to call me? At the moment I have settled for the catchy title of ‘Nanna Cupcake’. But time will tell and I expect Una will be the one who decides once she is old enough to speak. I have her first birthday cake already planned in my mind and “Gramps” will be designing a tree house to slip into our oak tree I hope. The picture included is the cake I made for Lizzie’s baby shower- I hope you like it as much as they did! It was a six layer Oreo cookie sponge, filled with Morello Cherry and vanilla buttercream. We have dubbed this ‘Oreo Oreo Baby’ flavour. The recipe I shall give you this quarter will be to use up some of the damsons we see hanging heavy from the trees at this time of year. Other fruit may be substituted of course, but this tart Olde English fruit is in abundance in our garden. Damsons contain a lot of pectin so it is one of the easier jams to get right. This will be made, and used and relished (pun intended) on our toast all through the winter months. Making this jam is how I got the name of my cake company in fact. After I had bottled up my jam we made labels on the computer and came up with “Juci Luci’s Jam Factory” -we gave the jars away to neighbours and family at Christmastime.
Ingredients: Damson & Port Jam 4 lbs (1.8 kg) damsons ¼ pint (145 ml) water 4 lbs (1.8 kg) sugar (I use dedicated “jam sugar with added pectin” available in all stores in the home baking section) 75ml port Method: 1. Wash and wipe the damsons. Pick over to remove stalks. 2. Use a stoner, and de-stone all of the damsons- wear latex gloves or your hands will be purple! 3. Boil all the glass jars for ten minutes to sterilize them. 4. Put fruit in a pan with the water and simmer gently until the fruit is soft. Luci’s baby shower cake 5. Add the sugar, stirring until it has dissolved. 6. Bring to the boil and boil rapidly for about 10 minutes until the jam sets when tested. This stage is known as 7. a “rolling boil” and it is vital you get it up to this temperature in order for it to set properly. 8. After ten minutes boiling ferociously, take a little jam on a spoon, put it on to a plate straight out of the freezer and put 9. it in the fridge to cool, the jam should be wrinkly and set. This is the sign that the jam is ready to rock. 10. Remove the remainder of the stones as they rise to the surface. 11. Remove the scum. Any missed stones will hopefully float, so remove them too. 12. Stir in the port, have a little glass to congratulate yourself of a job well done. 13. Carefully pot and seal the jars while still hot- wait about 15 minutes- a good time to enjoy said glass of port I’d say. 14. Using warm jars is a good idea, not stone cold ones. 15. Have fun with making labels with the kids. If you can’t make them on the computer, chances are, they can!
Balsall Common U3A Are you retired or semi-retired have you considered joining the Balsall Common U3A? The local U3A is part of a national and international voluntary learning co-operative whose aim is to encourage activities for people 55+. Members join not only to learn new subjects but also to meet and socialise with likeminded people. We have 25 active groups providing something different on each week day.
Beside the group activities, each month we have a core meeting. Included in the core meeting is a talk on subjects of interest to the group, the subjects and speakers for the next few months are as follows:
Date Topic Speaker 22nd September 2014 The Quest for Frank Wild Angie Butler 27th October 2014 A Major Investigation – The Jury Decides Alan Cutler 24th November 2014 The Craft of Thatching David Wood
Core meetings are held in the Balsall Common Village Hall Station Road and start at 1-45 pm. Prospective members are welcome to attend. For more information see our web site www.balsallcommonu3a.org or telephone Mary Dawson 01676 532467.
WELCOME 'SITE'. FIRST SUCCESS IN LAND SALE - EAVES GREEN LANE
Part of the former wider (unlawful) Gypsy site in Eaves Green Lane saw progress towards its' return to responsible ownership recently. One of the four plots put up for auction by the Gypsies in July 2014 was sold.
It is an area that was largely untouched by their otherwise disastrous and destructive unlawful occupation. Hopefully, by the time this newsletter is published the new owners will have completed on the sale and will be using the land for its lawful purpose - which is much welcomed by the local community. Responsible land owners - of any cultural background - will always be a valued partner in our combined efforts to protect, preserve and promote the countryside of Meriden. The other 3 plots (having been vacated by the Gypsies) saw significant levels of topsoil removed and mature - otherwise healthy - trees felled - a sore point with local residents. The starting point for bidding on each plot was £40,000 - including one plot which was an area less than 3/4 of an acre. This is a hefty valuation by anyone's estimation - especially when one takes into account (a) the damage to the land - with reinstatement work still outstanding and (b) the legal and planning constraints placed on the land by the Council, Courts and indeed the travellers themselves (by way of covenants). Unsurprisingly these 3 plots did not sell. Anyone considering the purchase of this land should ask for details of the injunctions and conditions on the land - so that they can be sure that any uses they have in mind do not fall foul of these extensive conditions aimed at protecting the green belt land for the foreseeable future. The last thing that residents want (or need) is to re-start their considerable 'engine' of protest' with new owners who - possibly through lack of knowledge - may use the land inappropriately. We are determined that the long term beneficial legacy of our arduous campaign will remain. Also, the gypsies have placed 'overage' clauses on the plots which means that once the land is sold they can achieve financial 'clawbacks' on the land in the future if there is any appreciable increase in the value of the land through any changes in the land status. Potential purchasers should go through their own legal routes to assess this and other matters in detail but Meriden RAID will also be happy to supply any documents in our library of files to help anyone to carry out a full appraisal of the plots. Contact us via meridenraid.org.uk But if there was ever a case of 'buyer beware' this is it! Let us hope that the owners and potential purchasers can once again review this land - and its realistic sale prospects and uses, achieve a new sense of realism and continue the progress towards the rehabilitation of this much loved area of green belt land.
Only then can we say 'the plot thickens'! (Couldn't resist it!) David McGrath Chairman Meriden RAID
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Meetings are held in the Village Hall on the first Monday in the month at 7.30pm kl
Contact Flick Blewitt 01676 523229
Our June meeting proved to be quite nostalgic for many members when Mr R Witham came to talk about Glen Miller and his music. “American Patrol”, “Moonlight Serenade” and” In the Mood” were among the old favourites we enjoyed hearing again. Happy memories! The subject of the July meeting was “Stories Grandad told”, when Vanessa Morgan read to us from her Grandfather’s memoirs of life in a village at the beginning of the 20th century – including his poaching activities. How different it was from the present day The August meeting is always an informal meeting. There were games available and it was good to have time to socialise. Future Programme Monday 1st September Laughter is the best medicine – David Howe this is an open meeting and we hope to welcome many visitors Admission £1 including refreshments Monday 6th October Have Travel Pills - will cruise Mrs S Gaskell Monday 3rd November Annual meeting
T’ai Chi
and Visitors always welcome Meditation and Relaxation
Come and discover how the beautiful flowing movements of this ancient art can improve your well- being. Relax and enjoy simple calming relaxation and meditation techniques.
Mondays 9.30-10.30am
Meriden Village Hall
Call Jacqui on
WARWICK OFFICE BALSALL COMMON OFFICE 07703 345210 61 Coten End 2 Meeting House Lane Warwick CV34 4NU Balsall Common CV7 7FX Tel:01926 499889 Tel 01676 533755 …the perfect start to your day! Fax: 01926 499552 Fax 01676 533699 www.macnamaraking.com CAMEO
Come and Meet Each Other at the Sports Pavilion on the 4th Friday of the month at 2.00 p.m.
CAMEO In May Heather Alford from the Leprosy Mission spoke to us about her experiences whenth volunteering in Nepal. She Come and Meet Each Other at the Community Centre on the 4 Friday of the had always been a supporter of The Leprosy Mission and in 2009 as a retired physiotherapist she offered her services and was asked monthto go to atNepal 2.00 and p.m. spend some time at Anandaban Hospital. She illustrated her talk with pictures of that
beautiful country and the wonderful work done there. The Leprosy Mission’s vision is ‘a world without leprosy’ and its goal is to eradicate the causes and consequences of leprosy. It educates Health Workers to recognise leprosy which does not hurt or make you feel ill. It starts with white patches on the skin and it is important to start treatment before it affects the nerves of the. face, hands and feet and consequent loss of feeling. It is identified by a skin scrape from the ear and not by a blood test. Treatment is free and medication should be taken for a year. At present there is no vaccine. Heather worked in the hospital with people with problems with their hands as hands can be stuck in one position and after stretching the fingers surgeons can take over. We were told the story of Mia who was helped in this way and eventually she was able to take a tailoring course and become self- sufficient.
Everyone found the talk extremely interesting and there were plenty of questions at the end followed by the opportunity to purchase some of the crafts made by the patients to help fund the hospital.
In June we held our annual Holiday at Home with the assistance of a grant from HERO (Heart of England Retirement Organisation). Julia Proud demonstrated how to decorate fairy cakes with block icing. After spreading the cake with
apricot jam she stuck different colours and shapes of icing on top to make a dragon fly, bumble bee and ladybird. We then had fun trying to follow the instructions and roll and cut the icing into the various shapes, as directed. Everyone
ended up with a box of cakes to take home. After a delicious lunch the children from Berkswell School entertained us, as usual. They sang a variety of songs from various musicals and accompanied some songs with musical instruments. The soloists were very good. We enjoyed a cup of tea before Bob Telford and his springer spaniel Tango took the floor. Bob is an evangelist who uses his dog to help share his faith. He performed a dog-handling demonstration which involved Tango retrieving, jumping and resp onding to whistles and hand signals, as well as to his voice. He used this to illustrate the importance of hearing and responding to what God has to say. Finally, we all enjoyed an ice cream! At our July meeting we held our popular poems and strawberries and cream meeting. This year in addition to members
reading their favourite poems, they were also invited to share memories and one of the members, David Watkins, spoke
about his memories as a war time evacuee when he was evacuated from Olton to Stanway Hill. He described his life and
the house there with its horse brasses, oil lamps, candles and outside toilet.
We look forward to welcoming more friends to our meetings so if you need information or a lift please
telephone: Ellen 522534 or Pam 523372
Forthcoming Meetings:-
26 th September – Harvest Meeting with Kath Shortley from Tear Fund.
24 th October – Doreen Agutter talking about Meriden in World War One.
th 28 November – A talk about The Island Project at Diddington Hall.
LARCH TREE OSTEOPATHIC PRACTICE
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The Meriden Spartans are coming to the end of a successful first cricketing season playing in the village. The first XI playing on a Saturday are currently 19 points clear at the top of the league with only 5 matches left to *Receive your 1st full month’s play.
The second XI (currently at Wolston) are second in the Leisure membership HALF PRICE league with 2 games in hand. on receipt of this advertisement. The Sunday XI with 2 games to go are currently 8th in a *Valid for new membership sales only. T&C apply. very competitive Arden second division. After reaching Membership joining fees applicable. the finals of the Arden second division 20 over competition they lost in the final match to Pak Shaheen.
The T20 Tuesday team are in the top half of the league *Ultimate Revive Spa day and have been playing some outstanding cricket in Relax and unwind in our luxurious facilities Meriden. with this exclusive Spa package: Standout performances with the bat so far are Ani, Full use of Leisure facilities Sheepy, Bick and Josh. Choice of any 1 hour treatment Top bowling performers are Shaun, Ash and Fiaz Use of robes and slippers
The free children's cricket coaching that takes place on £49.00 per person Fridays at 6pm has attracted up to 30 keen youngsters PLUS, receive a complimentary cream tea with and it is hoped that a junior team will be up and running each Spa booking upon receipt of this for next season. Children aged 5-15 welcome to join! advertisement(valid one per person per advertisement) *Spa day valid Mon-Fri only
The Meriden Spartans would like to set up a Ladies XI, if For more details on membership and other offers you are interested in playing pop over to the park on please call 01676 526 107 and quote MM14 a Friday evening during Children's coaching or when the Offers subject to availability and available until 30/11/14 only. Spartans are playing.
Come along to a Fillongley Show The show went on despite the tail end of warm welcome Hurricane Bertha. The weather improved with Candy at after lunch and the people that did make it enjoyed a good Meriden Village show. The Devils Horsemen were excellent, as were the Hall Pantomime horses.
Zumba Pilates Thursday evenings Thursday evenings 6.00pm 7.00pm £4 per session £4 per session
Pilates focuses on building your body's core strength and improving your posture through a series of low Devil’s Horsemen repetition low impact stretching and conditioning exercises. There were 135 more entries in the horticultural section of It not only provides a complete body workout (you will the show, all of a high standard. be working muscles you didn't even know you had!), Congratulations to: but also helps you develop an awareness of how your Ann and John Butler who came first in the best allotment body works, helping your mind and body to work in harmony. class and Shirley and David Smithers who came third. Chris and Roger Bache won the best fruit and vegetable Any queries please contact: Tel. 07828709650 garden class.
Rugby is ‘fizzing’ at Barkers’ Butts Barkers’ Butts RFC With the prospect of the Rugby World Cup bringing thousands Pickford Grange Lane Coventry CV5 9AR of supporters to England from all over the world in 2015, local club Barkers’ Butts RFC is “fizzing” with excitement as the 11 Mini & Junior age groups from 6-16 new rugby season gets on the way. years The club has been boosted by the erection of new match Non-Contact Rugby for girls 11-18 years quality floodlights enabling the club to stage occasional night Under 18 Colts Side matches at the club’s grounds in Pickford Grange Lane. Our facilities are 1st class and all our coaches The club has invested more than £100,000 during the last year are RFU Qualified and CRB checked on the new state-of-the -art lights, new training lights and a new roof to the club’s full-size sports hall which stages badminton, indoor archery, dances and rugby training sessions. Contact Scott English 07963 134923 More than 250 youngsters, aged from seven to 17 will be playing their rugby each week on the club’s 25 acres of We also have 4 adult grounds, tucked behind the trees just off the A45 as part of the sides 1st XV to Vets club’s ever-popular Mini and Junior programme. The extent of M&J Rugby’s appeal was demonstrated last There will be a special Easter when more than 450 young club members and their welcome to players families enjoyed a playing tour to Cornwall – the second returning to the game st largest rugby tour in Europe.Barkers’ Butts 1 XV has begun in time for the 2015 their third successive season in Midlands 1 West with matches Rugby World Cup starting in September and going through to May. Last season the Club enjoyed a memorable year winning the 2nd Team Cup at the Butts Park Arena in Coventry and were runners up in the Contact Glen Southwell 07598 980546 League, while the Colts won their Warwickshire League and reached the final of the Colts Cup. Club President John Askill said the club was enjoying a “fabulous” period and players of all ages were looking forward to playing under the new floodlights. He said: “Our lights will be the finest in Warwickshire. They have been specifically designed to ensure that there is no spillage of lights beyond the pitches and yet are able to turn the playing area into virtual daylight. “During the dark winter months, I am sure they will prove to be a tremendous asset to the club and to the wider rugby community.” He added: “The club welcomes everyone in Meriden to come to watch matches or to arrange social events and meetings or to take advantage of all of our splendid facilities. “With the Rugby World Cup starting in September, the club is fizzing with expectation and we want everyone to enjoy being part of it”. The club, next to the former Triumph Motor Cycle factory site, first began as an Old Boys’ Club from Barkers’ Butts School in Coventry which became part of Coundon Court School when it closed.
Contact John Askill, President Barkers’ Butts RFC 07831350147 [email protected]
Support group for
Survivors of Bereavement We are looking forward to starting Brownies again in September after our summer holidays. by Suicide We had a great end of year disco to celebrate 100 years of Brownies which some of the Brownies attended. We also Meet at the Samaritans enjoyed our end of term party making loom bands for Centre next to each other and playing party games.
Solihull Station I would just like to say a quick thank you to my young leaders who have helped me over the last couple of years Rebecca Court and Hannah Morgan. And also the parents Last Wednesday of any of the Brownies, their support is invaluable. month from 7.30 to 9.30pm I am looking to recruit a young leader to help us, so if Free parking in adjacent car park anyone over the age of 14 is interested then please contact me for more information. For more information please contact Jenny on 07854 310492 Sarah Markham 07572 508727 www.uk-sobs.org.uk [email protected]
Franklin Construction The Meriden Plumber NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL Services Established 1979 Fully Qualified in Natural Gas & LPG For all aspects of building work Our services include:
Full Central Heating installations Domestic + Commercial Landlord Gas Safe Certificates & Servicing + Industrial. Boiler Replacements New Build + Extensions Cooker & Fire Installations + Renovations Power Flushing Shower installations Full property maintenance- External & Internal Taps all trades carried out Blocked Drains No. 544788 Sewage treatment plants installed Underfloor Heating Systems and repaired Bathroom installations from start to finish (inc electrics, plastering, tiling & carpentry work) Workmanship may be All Plumbing Work Undertaken inspected locally
07972 868 512 Tel:02476 422 999
email:[email protected] Mob: 07801 579910 www.themeridenplumber.co.uk
BALSALL Grove House COMMON Bed & Breakfast
VETS Bill and Sheila Hunt would like to welcome you to
Grove House 384a Kenilworth Road Balsall Common CV7 7ER A spacious and friendly quality B&B offering luxury rooms and delicious food
Open by appointment Located off a quiet lane in Meriden, we are newly Monday – Friday 11am-6pm Sat 9am-10am opened and AA graded. Local friendly practice, established over 40 years Airport Transfers Highly qualified and experienced staff Secure parking Car parking at rear of surgery ASK US Selling food, toys and other Business people catered for ABOUT FREE Warm friendly environment pet care items IDENTICHIPS 24 hour emergency care & advice FOR YOUR
DOG Tel: 01676 530792 8, Whichcote Avenue, Meriden www.broadlanevets.co.uk Coventry CV7 7LR Our surgery at 255 Broad Lane CV5 7AQ Email: [email protected] is open until 7.30pm weeknights, Saturday 8.30am-5pm & Sunday 11am-3pm 01676 523295 www.grovehousebandb.co.uk
First – class care for Meriden Fish and Chips your car is closer than The Green, you think!… Meriden For MOT, service, tyres & exhausts call: ACE GARAGE Awarded 5 ***** by Birmingham Mail 2011 RADFORD Solihull Environmental Department 2012 S And in “Top Ten Chippies” March 2012 024 7659 7879
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Berkswell and District In September the final BERKSWELL MUSEUM decision will be made on History Group the future of the museum.
The aim of the History Group is to give its members During Wimbledon Week and the general public the opportunity to acquire BBC Coventry and information and understanding on items of historical Warwickshire Radio visited interest through meetings, visits and research projects. the museum and broadcast We normally hold a meeting or a visit in each an item on Maud Watson. calendar month. She was the first lady to Meetings are held at Berkswell Reading Room at win the ladies Wimbledon trophy in 1884 defeating 7.45pm for 8.00pm start her sister Lilian. Maud was the daughter of the Wednesday 10th September Rector of Berkswell Church. Her memorabilia is “The Somme – One Hundred Years On” in the museum. The interviewer’s comment was Tony Sweatman once the museum is closed and the unique collection disbanded it will never ever be Wednesday 8th October restored. “Here Come the Girls” Sheila Woolf There are many unusual objects, probably of little value, which will just be lost for ever. Wednesday 12th November Do we want this to happen? History of Music Alan Hill Please, please is there anyone, or even a group of people who
All these Meetings are open to Members would be willing to give up some time to help the committee run & Non-Members. Membership £5.00 per calendar year. Meeting fees the museum and save it from
are £2.00 for members; £3.00 for non-members disbanding the collection and
(incl. refreshments). For our full programme and finally closing the museum. details of our publications, please visit our website
If you are able to help in any way www.berkswell -history.org please contact or telephone 01676 535782. Wendy 01676 522077
Or Margaret 01676 522453 Maud Watson
A family run business, for the ultimate
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experience fORDES onthegreen Celebrate with us!
‘Fordes on the green’ will be 5 years old in September. 01676 As a special thank you to all our loyal 521653 customers, both old and new, there will be lots of special offers for both hair and the green Meriden CV7 7LN beauty treatments.
Please call in for more details Opening hours:
Tuesday 9.00-7.00pm Gift vouchers, packages and Wednesday 9.00-5.00pm Thursday 9.00-8.00pm courses available Friday 9.00-5.00pm Kids welcome Saturday 8.30-4.30pm
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust The Parkridge Centre, Brueton Park, Solihull
Support our Help for Hedgehogs Campaign Donate by text – WKWT04 and your donation amount e.g. WKWT04 £10 to 70070
To book any of these events please call
0121 704 0768. Workshops: £3:50 members and AUTUMN 2014 £4.50 for non WWT members It’s going to be great fun! Crafty Drop-ins: £2.00
th st 60 minute Marvels: £3:00 WORKSHOPS 27 October – 31 October members and £4.00 for non WWT Pond Dipping, Dens, Halloween Spooks, Giant Spider, Monstrous Masks, Ghostly Adventures for Tots, members Prickly Friends Marvels to name but a few… Similar events take place at Brandon Marsh Check out our website for more event details Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry Telephone: 02476 302 912 www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk You will always be assured of a big welcome
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Heart of England
Social Club
Come along and visit us! Families welcome The club offers a warm welcome, with ARE YOU IN NEED OF SUPPORT AND excellent facilities for all, including a large GUIDANCE IN FINDING THE RIGHT CARE concert room , bar, games room, snooker room, SOLUTION FOR YOU OR A LOVED ONE?
darts and a beer garden with play area Well look no further.
Non Members Welcome Senior Care Support Services are here to help, guide and support you with what can be an
extremely difficult, stressful and emotional time.
As a local senior care specialist, with many years
Live experience working with the elderly and frail, Room Hire support, advice and guidance is offered in finding Premiership available for the right care home, albeit residential, nursing or dementia care, or domiciliary care in the home for football games private you or a loved one. 3pm Saturdays Why not speak, in confidence, with a ‘real’ person functions with years of experience of ‘the care system’ to
help you through this minefield.
Telephone Geraldine Davies on Heart of England Social Club, 01564 743067 or Berkswell Road, Meriden 01676 522430 email: [email protected]
Contact: 07549 603 601 The Job Squad 01676 521 243 Director: The Job Squad is not Mr. Neil Massey just for plumbing, Address: carpentry, electrical Leys Lane, Meriden repairs and general Services we offer: www. maintenance! We are Garden Design TheJobSquad. available whenever Maintenance you need a “spare pair co.uk Landscaping of hands”.
Paving and patios Small odd jobs such as assembling flat-pack Fencing furniture, hanging pictures and televisions, Decking changing light bulbs in awkward places, finishing that job you started! Our local handymen are Water Features always on hand to help. At a time that suits you, Natural Stone even evenings and Saturdays. specialists All work guaranteed Free estimates ...And many more!
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ndayExhibition 11th D 01676 540178 Opening hours Mon-Sat 9.00- 5.00pm Sun 10.00 – 4.00pm Fentham Hall
Marsh Lane Now available: winter flowering Hampton in pansies, wallflowers and autumn and
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Saturday 18th and
Sunday 19th
October
10am -5pm
Refreshments, cakes
Light lunches available WE ARE BIGGER THAN YOU THINK
£1 entry (children free)
The Countryside Forge Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01675 443752
07828939513
Hand forged sporting game priests £40 Interior and exterior wrought iron work undertaken. Hanging basket brackets £45
Sporting weathervanes made to order Commissions undertaken.
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Meriden Wasps 0 from The Heart of England ‘SPECIALISTS’ FOR THE CONTROL OF: Wasps
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Centre of England Arts Annual Art Exhibition 25th and 26th October 2104 Location: Patricks Farm Barns, Meriden Road, Hampton in Arden, Solihull, B92 0LT
10.00am to 4.00pm Come along and see the wonderful and amazing paintings done by your local friends and neighbours. There are all sorts of different work for you to see and the standard improves each year. There will be a few things to buy and tea and coffee will be available.
Classes and Courses at Centre of England Arts. The classes are for adults of all abilities from the complete beginner to the more advanced.
We run regular weekly/monthly classes in:- Drawing, Watercolours, Modern Mixed Media, Acrylic Painting, Ink Wax and Watercolours, Watercolours plus pen, Oils, Photography, Glass Painting, Portrait Drawing……
If you don’t want to commit yourself to a weekly class then there are lots one off workshops in various media and crafts, many with well known guest tutors such as Jeni Neale, Geoff Kersey and Terry Harrison……
We are a charity and have been founded to enable individuals to appreciate creative arts, through education, personal achievement and enjoyment. For details of current weekly courses and workshops, starting September 2014 and availability, see our website; www.COEA.co.uk email: [email protected] or Tel: 01676 523357
The wonderful colours of Autumn are with us again and it is supposed to have been early this year. Grab a camera and with a little imagination we can capture a lasting impression of these stunning colours. No drawing on this painting but as you start, think of the tree trunks being just in the lower third of the painting and the trees themselves going right off the top and sides of the picture. 1. First coat. Mix Separate Puddles of:- • Blue (weak) • A couple of different Yellows (not too strong) • Red and Yellow (orange) • A couple of different Browns (not too strong) • A blue/purple Wet all the paper with a big, soft brush and clean water. With a large brush add the different colours in patches, letting them run in together. Use the Blue for the sky area and then add tree shapes with the Yellows and Orangey colours. Add the weak Brown and the Purple to the ground going straight across in bands. Add a little of the stronger Purple to the lower, shadowy areas behind the trees (make sure that this is only 1/3 up the paper) With a clean dry brush; drag out a few trunks while this is still wet. LET IT DRY. 2. Leaves and texture. Using the same colours as before, sponge on patches of the different colours. Try to use a rough textures natural sponge, make sure the sponge is clean and slightly damp. Don’t go mad, just do a few patches, let it dry and then add a few more if required. 3. Foreground trunks and branches. Mix two puddles of different shades of:- • Blue + Brown (Brownie/grey) • The same mix but much stronger Using a smaller round brush, wet the lighter, right hand side of the trunk with clean water, add the slightly lighter tone to the left hand side, letting it run into the water and then add touches of a stronger, darker tone. Make sure that the trunks are only short and go from in the foreground to just where the leaves start. Add a few branches and twigs in between the patches of sponging. 4 . Background trunks and branches Using a weaker shade of the Blue + Brown (Brownie /grey) add smaller, thinner trunks in the background. Make these start a couple of millimetres higher than the main trunks. Add a few little people. 5. Foreground and shadows Using:- • A blue/purple Add shadows from the tree trunks, straight across the foreground. Sponge on a few extra leaves with:- • Red and Yellow (orange) • Brown
Contact Julie 01676 523357 for details of classes or see ww.CoEA.co.uk
Meriden Summer Events
The flowers in the village have been a joy to see!
.
We had good weather for the Memorial Garden Cyclists’ service on the Green
Flower Club members
celebrate their 50th anniversary
Little Ballet dancers at
the Megaride at the Queen’s Head Orme School of Dancing Picnic in the park
Meriden families enjoying a day out in the park. The WI had a World War One display in the Pavilion
Cameo members decorating cakes at The Holiday at Home
WI Members held a Craft day in the Village Hall
1st Meriden Scout Group – News from the Green Hut BEAVERS Back in May we joined with Beaver Scouts from across Warwickshire at Coombe Abbey Park for our annual day out and what a great time we had! There were lots of activities, a picnic lunch and the sun was shining! A huge well done to Hannah, Joel, Archie, Charlie, Freya and Henry for their district winning entry in the ‘Art in the Park’ Competition. We have been continuing our badge work including learning about Morse code and other forms of messaging, learning about the different food groups and what our bodies need each day, carrying out experiments and playing games. We held our awards ceremony in July and invested Caitlin in to the Colony. On a personal note I would like to say a massive well done to all of the Beaver Scouts for their hard work over the past 12 months and a big thank you to the parents who come and help out each week – it is very much appreciated by me and the children! September will see us tackling new challenges and for some of the Beaver Scouts working towards their Chief Scout Award. CUBS Our recent activities have taken the Cubs outside and we have made the most of the good weather and have had some great fun in learning new skills and performing some great activities. We have recently created a play using the Plaster of Paris masks we made and decorated. The Cubs have also learnt some essential camping skills like tent building and fire lighting which will be used at our next camp. We have also been Geocaching around the village once more and found some new sites, as well as using the village sports field to perform a fitness challenge and learn new games such as Swedish Longball. The Cubs had their 5 senses tested with a blindfolded challenge, and our final session before the summer holidays was an obstacle course challenge that ended with an enormous and fun water fight. It has been another enjoyable programme and the Cubs are having great fun being a part of it. There are still spaces available, so please do not hesitate to get in touch and bring your children down on a Thursday night. SCOUTS Another action packed half term and more new scouts, we now have 24, that has seen us making mini drag racers, cooking, eating every part of a dandelion, participating in Malvern challenge, playing Robin Hood (Archery), and finishing off with water games and a water fight. So here are the thoughts from a few of the scouts on some of these activities: Balsa-wood dragsters by Emily: In my favourite session the scouts were given some balsa wood, four wheels, dowels, screws, nails, glue and a knife and were challenged to each make a car. Balsa wood was a good material to use for this activity because it is light, easy to shape and flexible. We had to think about how we could make the cars travel as fast and straight as possible because when we had finished we had to test them. When we raced the cars we were all very excited because we all wanted our patrol’s car to go the furthest so that we would win the most patrol points. I enjoyed this session because you could be as creative as you wanted to be when you made the cars and racing them was lots of fun! The Malvern challenge by Cleo: 1st Meriden Scouts joined 5,000 other scouts and guides at the final Malvern Challenge on 27 June. The event, one of Britain’s biggest Scouts and Guides festivals has been running for 32 years but the site will not be available after this event. The size of the Challenge meant the task of finding our tents was quite hard when we arrived but, once there, we helped set up the site and put on our purple wristbands. Then it was time to explore – fields of tents, a big stage with entertainment, a tuck shop and a café. But also miles of beautiful scenery and hills – hills which weren’t so appreciated on our eight-mile challenge in the rain during the weekend… Sadly we missed out on the abseiling due to a thunderstorm but we completed the challenge. Hurrah! The Sunday was our final day with a massive variety of activities and rides - obviously we tried to do the silliest ones - sumo wrestling and land zorbing, which I surprisingly won by running away from the opponent. The challenge was a great experience and helped improve map-reading and teamwork skills. It was my first Scout camp and I can't wait for the next - although, I'm not sure how you could beat the Malvern Challenge. And a general summary from Nelly: At Scouts we do loads of fun things which everyone enjoys. For example, on the last week we played a lot of water games and which ended in a very fun and wet water fight. We also spent an evening in Millison’s Wood when we played team games like “Capture the Flag”. In Patrols we earn patrol points and the winning patrol at the end of the term gets a prize. Then we had a “Drag Racing” night, where everyone had the same amount of wood, screws and glue and we had to make a car and then race them. My car won, it went so far it went out of the room!! I earned loads of points for my patrol –yay. I confess my favourite programme was ‘Every part of a dandelion is edible’. The scouts made spicy fritters with the flowers, coffee from the roots and tea from the leaves. The fritters went down well. I thought the coffee and Tea were good but there was mixed opinion from the Scouts. On the Malvern Challenge I can’t praise the scouts enough, with all the work we’ve done over the last 22 months coming to fruition with our 3 teams coming in 86th, 63rd and 25th place out of 401 teams. Hope to keep next term action packed with plenty of fun and variety. For more detail of what we’ve been doing and what we have planned please visit our blog site at http://1stmeridenscouts.blogspot.co.uk and if you think Scouting’s for you get in touch. If Bear Dares why don’t you.
Please contact the Leaders below if you would like to join – Go on, come and meet some new friends, learn something new Pleaseand have contact FUN!! the Leaders below if you would like to join – Go on, come and meet some new friends, learnBeavers: something Girls and newboys agedand 6have-8 years FUN!! meet on a Monday at 6.30pm. Contact Lis (521080) Cubs: Girls and Boys aged 8-10½ meet on a Thursday at 6.30pm. Contact Malcolm (07967 325520) Beavers:Scouts: Girls Girls and and Boys boys aged aged10½-14 6 meet-8 years on a Tuesday meet on at 7pm.a Monday Mark (07801 at 6.30pm. 773352) Contact or [email protected] Lis (521080) Cubs: Girls andWe Boys also need aged help 8 -from10½ any meet adults on outa Thursday there that wouldat 6.30pm. be willing Contact to spare Malcolm some time (07967 with 325520) st Scouts: Girls and Boysany aged of the 10½ sections-14 – meet even ifon it isa justTuesday for the atodd 7pm hour Contact or two each Mark month. (07801 773352) or 1 [email protected] We also need help from any adults out there that would be willing to spare some time with any of the sections – even if it is just for the odd hour or two each month.
Meriden Volunteers for Autumn programme
th Friday 19th September Friday 24 October 1. Race Night at “In the Pink Evening”
The Heart of England Club At Strawberry Bank Hotel
Once again Lesley Smith Admission by Race Programme £3 including a ham, pork or cheese batch. will be entertaining us,
This is a Special event to raise money for research into men’s cancers. this time as Boadicea. Please come along to this fun evening and This is an event for strong powerful women!
wear blue to show your support We will be having the usual stalls and a glass of pink fizz will Tickets available from the Committee and be included in the admission price of £12. local pubs Please come along and enjoy this evening and wear pink. We are very grateful that the new management at Friday 3rd October Strawberry Bank are continuing to support this popular event
th Music and Dancing Night Friday 12 December Tickets from local committee members: with Stevie B Black Country Night 01676 522160 At the Heart of England At the Heart of England Club 01676 522855 Club 7.30pm With comedy duo DANDY 01676 522702
Tickets £8.00 See the winter issue for more details 01676 523165
The Award Winning Farm Shop Berkswell Traditional Meats Larges Farm, Back Lane, Meriden CV77LD Tel 01676 522409 www.berkswelltraditionalmeats.co
For meats of outstanding quality and flavour Wide range of BBQ meats Free range chickens All cuts of beef including beef on the bone Superb homemade sausages and home cured bacon Traditional breed pork with real CRACKLING Famous Berkswell ewes milk cheese Warwickshire’s only accredited Traditional Breeds Butcher
Listed as one of Rick Opening Hours Stein’s “Food Monday –closed Heroes” Tuesday to Saturday Warwickshire Life’s 9.00am-5.00pm “Butcher of the Year” Sun 9.00am- 1.00pm
Meriden library
01676 522717 Monday 10am - 6pm Thursday 10am - 6pm Rhyme Time Saturday 10am - 1pm Our Rhyme Time group will restart in September for 0-2 year olds and their parents and carers .Please come and Story Time join us in the library for songs, rhymes and lots of fun. Our popular story time takes place every Monday from Sessions take place once a month on a Thursday afternoon
2.45pm – 3.15pm during term time. Please come along and between 2.30pm and 3pm. The next sessions are on 18th join in our lovely story group of parents and carers: make September, 16th October and 20th November. friends Open and Mondayenjoy some 10.00am stories and – 6 .00pmcrafts with your young children in the library. This begins in the Autumn term on ICT st Thursday 10.00am – 6.00pm Meriden Library has free to use computers and now Monday 1 Saturday September. 10.00am – 1.00pm offers: Two hours free internet access for library Reading Café Our Reading Café is open every month and continues to offer members a warm welcome to everyone who attends. Bring along books Microsoft Office packages to swap with like-minded readers over coffee (or tea) and a Printing facilities (charges apply) cake! Have a chat about authors, books, reading or anything Scanner facilities else. It’s free to attend, with free books! You will need your library card to use a computer. If The dates for the next Reading Cafes are: you’re not yet a member, joining the library is easy and Monday 15th September quick, so ask staff for more details. Monday 20th October Library members can book a computer for up to two Monday 17th November. hours free of charge each day. Sessions can be extended All take place from 10.30am -12 noon. for £1.50 per hour or part of an hour. Computers are available until 15 minutes before the Meriden Library Readers Circle library closes. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each For more information please contact Donna Brennan or month from 7.30 to 9.00 pm. Carole Cooper at Meriden Library, 01676 522717. The lovely Library staff provide us with a selection of books to choose from and will give you the address of the BALSALL WRITERS meeting place. We continue to embrace more aspects of writing 10th September with the introduction of a twice yearly workshop for It seems to be Scotland's year so far what with the Scriptwriting. Commonwealth games and the run up to the referendum. Our re- jigged website now gives more information about Choose a book by a Scottish writer. our forthcoming 2014 Short Story and Poetry competition 8th October along with access to entry form and payment with PayPal. Can you find a really enjoyable short story to recommend? We hope that by encouraging entrants to use this convenient 12th November form of entry it will make entering easier. We will, of It's twenty five years since the Berlin Wall fell course, still be open for postal entries. on November 9th.1989. During its lifetime it spawned a There is a new section for members who are now published plethora of books and novels which included lots of spy authors to promote their books and writing. Plus another stories. The wall was rebuilt four times during its new feature Goodreads by Elsa who each month gives the existence - there are probably books on that too. We title with her brief comment on five books she has read. would enjoy meeting any would be members and finding Website news section is updated monthly along with diary out about their likes and dislikes. Please come and visit dates. We are still open for membership for our Tuesday us. Group. For further information contact Anne Santos – Margaret Houldsworth 01676 523603 [email protected] –www.balsallwriters.org.uk View our blog – balsallwritersblog.
Meriden Playgroup
Come and join us for a little playtime crafts, indoor and outdoor play, a healthy snack, a cup of tea and a warm welcome Every Tuesday (term time only) 9.30 – 11.30am Meriden Methodist Church Hall, Main Road £1.50 for one child + 50p each additional children (first session free) Please call Vanessa Walker 07779 235 248 for more details
Forthcoming Meetings:
15th September ‘A turn of the page’ – Zoe Podmore
20th October
Meetings are held at Practice Class – Julia Mitchel Meriden village Hall th 7.30pm – 9.30pm 17 November approx ‘Winter Wonderland’ – Jane Fox On the 3rd Monday of every month New members are always welcome. To join for the year it will cost you On 25th June Meriden Floral Society celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a only £24. Subscriptions are due at luncheon and floral demonstration at Stonebridge Golf club.(Please see centre the March meeting. colour pages for another photograph.) Non- members and visitors The event was a great success, the highlight being provided by Jayne £5 per evening. Edmonds with her amusing and enlightening demonstration. Jayne was For more information suitably dressed for the occasion in a C & A suit to reflect the society’s 50 year history. We were looking forward to meeting Margaret Shirley, a founder please contact: member. Unfortunately Margaret was too ill to attend, however she did send a Mo Reynolds 01676 521457 very interesting letter on how the club was founded and we would like to share this letter with you. Regrettably she passed away a few days later.
A History of Meriden Floral Society by Margaret Shirley
Never in our wildest dreams, as Brenda Price and I walked across the forecourt of Shirley’s Garage to the inaugural meeting being held around the dining room table of Elizabeth Platten, wife of the local village doctor, did we think we would be making that same journey in 50 years’ time. We were very well attended. If I remember, correctly, Mrs Bradbury, Ann Jewkes’ mother, commented on how popular a flower club would be as she was an active member of the Coventry W.I. We were fortunate to have the Rt. Hon Countess of Aylesford present at that meeting. She graciously agreed to become our President in spite of her busy diary.
We have seen many changes in those 50 years – from the days of the glorified Constance Spry style of pedestal for the Church Harvest Festival and the decorated window sills with branches of pruned fruit trees. Fortunately we were able to take advantage of Mr. Parker Gibson, a local nursery owner from Millisons Wood, who kindly donated huge prunings and there were always contributions from local gardens. What has become the mechanics (the anchorage of material for safety in the vases) has changed considerably. From the very humble beginning of crumpled newspaper and chicken wire to the introduction of the Japanese metal pin holder, called KENZAN They were very heavy as they had to keep the graceful formation of tree branches in place. Sometimes later plastic holders were introduced with plastic tape to hold them in place. We were encouraged to rescue any tins which held liquid, like salmon, sardine and pilchard. 2lb jam jars were a useful size as they held a lot of water. They were all so versatile. Over many years we developed an interest in looking for unusual containers. Chelsea became very popular with exhibitors from abroad and so we were introduced to beautiful evocative flowers from different parts of the world. We seem to have come full circle and after the introduction of placements such as wool, buttons, laces and ribbons, we are now returning to the natural garden flowers once more.
During the past 50 years members have attended many interesting venues. The most venturesome being the club’s flight to Clarkson’s Bulb Fields in Holland. The volume of coloured tulips was magnificent and to visit the bulb market was very very interesting indeed. Brenda and I were very fortunate in having tickets to celebrate the Westminster Abbey Prayer Service. It was a magnificent sight to see these huge floral pedestal arrangements and the perfume that greeted us as the church doors were opened was overwhelming.
During our term of office, Princess Grace of Monaco came to Solihull Flower Club to celebrate the Festival of Solihull Church. Brenda and I manned the flower stall and she graciously came to speak to us. The most memorable time during our term of office was organising and taking part in the first Flower Festival at the local church of St Laurence. We notified and invited all the local clubs in our vicinity who were also in their infancies to take part and it was a challenge to us all. I understand that this practice has been regularly carried out over the years.
Meriden Tree of Thought
I am writing this on the 27th July, having started
preparations for the TENTH MTOT. To date, I have
May I thank Trevor Payne for his letter in the Summer received donations from DeMULDER ENTERPRISES edition expressing appreciation of the Meriden Pool, it's and CASSIDY GROUP, with another on the way from associated wildlife, and the need to respect feeding advice, PERTEMPS. My sincere thanks to each of them! and use of litter bins. It is indeed precious for us, and We now, have the new set of 1920 LED Tree Lights which future generations. are much brighter than the old set. The purchase of these One only has to look at aerial photographs or ordinance was made possible by an, extremely generous, donation of survey maps to appreciate the myriad of streams, rivers, £500 from GUY SALMON-LAND ROVER, pools, ponds, lakes, ranging from North Warwickshire to COVENTRY. Without this, which was instituted by Mr. Berkswell that sustain wildlife and provide recreational David Martin (MD), I would not have been able to obtain outdoor facilities. the superior set of lights. The balance came from your The Meriden Gap is well worth fighting to save, and, response to my Light Appeal. There was a residual whilst welcoming new residents into the village, further amount which is being shared, equally, between development into green belt land should be subject to Macmillan Cancer Support and The Marie Curie Hospice, major scrutiny and, if necessary, protest. Solihull, as will the proceeds from The Tree. Regards, Kelvin THE MANOR HOTEL are making a wonderful gesture with the Christmas Lunch, on the 10th December for Dear Meriden Village residents aged 65+. They are charging a very I would like to thank everyone involved in making my nominal £6 per head for a 3-course meal for 120 people!! painting exhibition at Meriden Village hall, a great Not only this but they are making a donation to MTOT. At the time of writing there are just 22 places available. If success! More than three hundred people attended, st nd you have not already booked, do ring Reception at The over the weekend of 21 and 22 June, and many Manor-522735. paintings sold. It was lovely to see many contacts and I would hope that many of you are aware of THE friends, made over fifty years of painting. The MERIDEN TREE OF THOUGHT website. There is now experience was very emotional and moving, a revised site. This along with the previous one has been particularly as I was in the village of my birth! I could created by Stuart Bonnar of KLN DESIGN. not have asked for more. (email. [email protected]) I hadn't got a clue The comments in the visitor’s book indicated that all of how to go about this but Stuart has put in so much effort of those who attended enjoyed the experience also. to make it possible. Do take a look. The weather, as well as the people and location, made Yet again , Norman Kimberley of KIMBERLEY & CO it a ‘perfect weekend!’ has prepared the MTOT Accounts free of charge. HUGE THANKS to everyone mentioned above and to all Once again my sincere thanks of you who support THE TREE. Michael Warr Author and Artist Just one more point- please mark your calendars for FRIDAY 28th NOVEMBER! The Dedication of The We would like to thank Elaine and Brian for making Tree will be at 4pm on The Green. It would be wonderful our village one to be proud of; the flowers and the to see you there supporting the input of the children of Village Green are a credit to them. They work so hard Meriden School. in all weathers and the War Memorial in Berkswell Alan Lole Lane looks lovely. Brian has made a lovely job of making new tubs for the flowers. MacMillan Coffee Morning Pat Mills and Chris Ellison Come and join us on Friday26th September between10am and 12 noon
at the Scout Hut, behind the Village Hall. Thanks to the good weather this summer Meriden has looked lovely. From entering the village the plants on We are having a cuppa and refreshments both roundabouts are a real splash of colour. The to support a very worthy cause. Green always looks very cared for and the planters there and at the duck pond are full of colour. The new There will be a raffle, white elephant stall and flowerbed near the War Memorial which is mainly others red and yellow is a fitting tribute to the 100 year £1 for your cuppa, nothing for a top-up. centenary of the First World War Thank you to all who have planned, planted and looked after it. All proceeds to MacMillan Cancer Support Lesley Rhodes Shirley Goodsir The Environment - A Modern Approach to the Problem and the Solution
A healthy lifestyle is something most of us strive towards, so why do we not all harbour the same desire for our planet? In our globalised and adapted world, why do we not try to reduce energy and resource wastage, in the same way that our impatience means we don’t waste a second? Whilst such environmental predicaments are, rightfully, overwhelming and at the source of contentious debate, I believe that climate change and the toxic impact of the greenhouse effect can be significantly slowed down. Although I am not a scientist, I think one group of our society have the biggest role to play in this integral process: young people. We’ve all heard the unshifting scare stories about the environment, in a large part due to the media. Few days pass when I don’t watch or listen to news stories about recently endangered species or a brutal natural disaster, often in relation to the damage that humans have inflicted on the environment. Although the current population are not solely responsible – post-industrial nations all contributed to these problems – the worst environmental destruction yet is omnipresent in our international conscience. According to the California Coastal Commission, over one million seabirds are killed every year; the fatal BP oil spill of 2010 and others don’t make this figure surprising. Regardless, we humans continue to commit these destructive acts in the name of modern living. Perhaps the youngest generation are the most culpable energy users; the striking rise in the use of technological devices compounded by the population growth have perhaps been caused by a shift in society towards modern and lightning-fast ways of living. Whilst this cannot necessarily be attributed to a particular guilty party, we, as the most powerful inhabitants of the planet, certainly hold the responsibility to combat climate change and the greenhouse effect. This, at least, would be a bold gesture for the other species of planet earth. For me, it is the youth that need to act in particular. For practical reasons, it is they who will be and who will nurture the next inhabitants of the most thriving and throbbing countries, the countries that are currently the biggest exponents of climate change. Moreover, it is the young people who can now connect with each other on a continual and accessible level in order to spread messages, ideas and solutions to the most pressing environmental issues. With the click of a few buttons, a demonstration about water pollution can be advertised; a tweet can encourage someone to turn off the taps when brushing their teeth. Equally, young people have the power to strongly influence their peers, some of whom may have a sense of self-entitlement when it comes to the environment. Naturally, pollution, the greenhouse effect and climate change, among a host of serious issues affecting the course of planet earth, would be best tackled by a universal mobilisation. However, the current youth of the Western world should take note of the warnings and advice offered by scientists in order to reverse the damage wrought by our predecessors and by ourselves.
Claire Hargreave, year 13 student at Heart of England Sixth Form
Police News from Sergeant Craig Hurst Our Neighbourhood Policeman
I’m sure many of you reading this will at some point have dreamt about winning the lottery. Even now you’re probably becoming distracted by thinking about what your first extravagant purchase would be! But have you ever been told you’ve won a competition that you haven’t even entered? One small snag - the money, luxurious car, house and holiday could be yours...after you’ve sent money in to cover the cost of transferring the funds. Maybe you’ve had a knock at the door when someone has offered to do that job you’ve been putting off at a price that sounds too good to be true - but the workmen never returned after a deposit was paid and the work was never finished! Worse still have you received a phone call from your ‘bank’ claiming your account has been hacked and that you need to confirm your personal details to the ‘bank assistant’ on the other end of the phone? If any of these scenarios sound familiar to you then you could have been contacted by a scammer whose sole purpose in contacting you was to trick you into handing over personal details or cash. So while my previous safety advice has focused on the traditional criminals who look to steal from unsecure cars or homes, I want to this time focus on how you can protect yourself against fraud. It is really important to be on your guard at all times. And if you have any concerns don’t hesitate to contact officers. Even if you have fallen foul of a scammer there is nothing to be embarrassed about. The information you provide to us could prevent further crimes. I’d also ask everyone reading this to pass on the safety advice to friends and relatives, especially the older members of our communities who sadly can be some of the most susceptible to this crime. -Never buy goods or services from people who unexpectedly knock on your door; if in doubt, keep your door closed -If you are interested in having work done on your property, seek quotes from reputable local traders with verifiable names and addresses. -Local authorities run reliable trader schemes; ask the council for information. -Your bank or police will never send a courier to your home to collect bank cards -Your bank or police will never ask for your PIN number -If you receive one of these calls end it immediately -If you’ve been a victim call your bank and cancel your cards immediately - try to call from a different phone if reporting it immediately after being contacted by someone you believe was a scammer If you suspect you have been a victim of fraud, or would like some safety advice, please call officers on the 101. At the same time if you’d like a visit from officers from the team to discuss this matter, or any other concerns you have please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Lavender Hall Lane Berkswell
01676 530 299 / 07949 119 436 Cafe open to the public from 8.00am – 2.00pm daily
b 7 days a week Serving hot and cold food Specialising in an all day Breakfast for £4.20! Party Treasures of Meriden
Speciality treats for all occasions 5 fishing lakes in We offer glorious Party bags ,sweet cones and hampers countryside. for children and adults Bait and tackle Wedding favours, Baby shower gifts, shop now open teachers’ thank you gifts
Wrapped pass the parcel gifts Gates open at 7.00am close at dusk and games prizes You tell us the occasion and we will tailor The Meriden Mag has its own web site gifts to meet your needs and budget www.meridenmag.co.uk where you can view back Contact Liz Roche 07875 405592 issues and friends and family, not in the area, can Nina Angus 07745 442366 catch up on local news
Houston’s Bar and Grill
MANOR HOTEL Our All New.. Main Road, Meriden, Solihull, American Afternoon Tea West Midlands, CV7 7NH To include Bagels – selection of fillings £8.95 Tel: 01676 522735 Oreo Cheesecake, Mini Muffins, Per Mini Sugar Doughnuts, person Sunday Lunch in the Regency Restaurant Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Choice of Hot Beverage
Treat yourself and the family this Sunday to a Enjoy… traditional 3-course Sunday lunch served in our 2 AA 3 Courses for the price of 2 Rosette Regency Restaurant. Have a day off the From the set lunch menu available washing-up and let us do all the hard work for you! Only Wednesdays and Fridays 12.00 – 5.00pm £10.95 Treat yourself… Adults - £19.95 per person Children (12 years and under) - £10.95 per person Sunday Lunch Children 2 years and under eat FREE 1 Course £7.95 2 Courses £11.95 3 Courses £14.95
Call the Hotel on 01676 522 735 or Call Houston’s on 01676 522 735 to make email [email protected] to book your table! your reservation
Lost Buildings of Meriden Part 2 Darlaston Hall
Darlaston Hall[[[[[[[ orKinwaldsey, Court was William once a sonmajestic of Gerard three (possibly storey Geoffrey’sbuilding brother elsewhere called ‘ Gilmyn’), Richard Hill Opposite Meridenthe Mason, Pool Nicolas shaded Godyng by a row and ofmany mature others. beec I imaginehes. It wasthem still all crowding round listening, all of 700 years ago. listed Grade 11 in 1951.There are no documents proving when precisely it was builtDoreen but judging Agutter. from its architectural features about 1740. The earliest known drawing of it, dated 1752 is in the Aylesford
Collection and there is also an 1830s watercolour by Dr Kittermaster. The name ‘Darlaston’ derived from its mid C19th owner Charles Darleston Blakesley. The family purchased lands in the village and the house became a private residence, then a boys’ boarding school. The original Darlaston Row,cottages fronting the Green was built for their servants. Mr Blakesley died in 1859. His widow remained until the late 1860s when Charles Careless continued to run a preparatory school into the 1870s. Captain Bankes of Meriden Hall killed in the Great War was a pupil here. Previously described as,’ the handsomest inn in England’ it began its commercial life as ‘The Bull Head’. John Reynolds senior, an entrepreneur and ‘man of great private economy’ leased it replacing a substantial C16th establishment on the site. Meriden, the half- way stopping place between London and Chester, even before the turnpike- improved roads, boasted many hotels but this one surpassed all, attracting the titled and wealthy traveller with its silver tableware, fine wines, brandies and varied menus. He enlarged Meriden Pool in 1756 so that fresh fish could be available. His son Richard built the Chimes in its grounds famous for its carillon. Even on the verge of decline as an inn, it changed its name to the prestigious, ‘Royal Sussex Hotel’ in honour of Queen Victoria’s uncle. As Princess Victoria, she and her mother stayed here twice. The Royal Mail coach stopped from 1784 and the village’s first post office was set up in its outbuildings in 1840. In its time the old house had been used to launch many projects: the Woodmen of Arden, Enclosure plans, the Society for the Prosecution of Felons and in 1880s village charity events. Dr William Harvey Smith moved from ‘The Cottage’ on marriage in 1891 and remained there until his death in 1939. The house became dilapidated during the Second World War and at one point housed a Fire Engine. Sold several times and ultimately divided into apartments, it was an early casualty of village development schemes in the mid-1960s. Mr Hurton who demolished it told me it had a cellar full of empty bottles. Do you need a hand in the garden? Yes... 'I was sad to read that Meriden, with the death of Edna
McDougall or Barnett as I think of her, has lost such a long term member of the community. I can't recall when or where I first Then call Ken on 07542 944975 met her or her brothers Paul and John but it must be well over Full range of garden services: 60 years ago. A friend of my mother, I knew her well . She Mowing, Edging, Weeding, was quiet, kind and concerned about her wider family. Ron with Hedges and preparation. his warm and welcoming smile was often on duty before service Very competitive rates at St Laurence's. He gave you a sense of assurance. I would like 20 years garden experience to dedicate this to their memory. Doreen Agutter
PC Technical Services Tile Hill Lane Coventry
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News from Meriden Rotary Club Meriden Rotary 2014 Santa Fun Run The Rotary Club of Meriden is organising the 3rd Greetings from Meriden Rotary Club! Annual Santa Fun Run on Sunday December 7th. Last year, our Santa Fun Run attracted more
The new Rotary Club President’s year started in July participants who together with sponsors raised the and I am delighted and excited to be the President of magnificent sum of £5,000. Many thanks to all. this Club for the year 2014 – 2015. I hope to get much We are hoping to do even better this year, so come on all satisfaction from my year serving this great Club and you “Fun Run” people and help make this one even better! the Community. Tell your friends and family and get them to take part. If This year we have planned many events including you want to sponsor your own favourite Charity let us know. Santa Fun Run and Santa Sleigh in December. Meriden If you have never done a “Fun Run” before, this is a 4
community have always supported us in our events and kilometre course around Meriden and is open for I look forward to even more support this year. everybody to run or walk - it is not a race. This being a Our usual Tuesday evening meetings continue at the “Santa Fun Run” santa suits are included in the registration Manor Hotel in Meriden with a range of varied and fee. Everybody can do this and it is really great fun to do interesting speakers, so why not come along and join the run in a Santa suit. We are raising funds in aid of “Marie Curie Cancer us? See how you can become involved, can contribute Care” and other Rotary Charities. Online registration and have some fun whilst helping others! will be available and as last year, it can be done through Our focus will now be on Santa Fun Run taking place “Virgin Money Giving”. on 7th December, 2014 and I hope to see many of you For full details see our website www.meriden-santa-fun- putting on your running shoes wearing the Santa outfit! run.org.uk Once registration opens, a link to our page on Finally, were you at the “The Picnic in the Park” on “Virgin Money Giving” will be provided. Alternatively, a 20th July and visited the Rotary Club display about registration form will be available for download, as well as a sponsor form and a medical form. World War I and some of our Club events? The FAQ page provides more information and if you Dev Kulkarni, President, cannot find what you are looking for, use the form on Meriden Rotary Club the “Enquiry” page.
Temple Balsall
A Sure Start Children’s Centre
The Children’s Centre at the rear of Meriden C of E Primary School next to Beechwood Nursery Play and Stay Mondays 12 noon to 2.00 pm (in term time) For families with children age 0 – 5 Adult Craft Exchange Fridays at 9.00 am – 12.00 noon At Meriden Children’s Centre Please call Vanessa to book 07779235248
Alternate Fridays 1.30 pm-2.30 pm Caterpillar Club - messy session in the school nursery contact school for further details
For more details of the Children’s Centre activities call 0121 248 7654
Anything you need relating to children and families, we can help
Heart of England High Speed Railway Action Group (www.hhag.org.uk)
What have the Church of England, the English Folk Dancing and Song Society, and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists got in common? Answer - they all petitioned against HS2! And so have a lot of others – a total of 1925 - including many local people with their personal petitions. All the petitions can be downloaded from: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cmhs2/petitions/petcontents.htm. It's remarkable that, more than 5 years into the project, HS2 Ltd and the Government seem to have been unable to agree anything with anyone, even the closest supporters of the scheme. We've had consultation after consultation, a series of community forum meetings, and direct correspondence. Despite all that, HS2 Ltd just can't give a straight answer on any measure intended to reduce or compensate for the impact of the project. So everything has been passed to a Committee of 6 MPs to sort out. HS2 Ltd didn't challenge the right of HHAG and other local bodies to be heard by the Committee, so we're all planning what to say to them when our turn comes in the Autumn. It's not just a case of reading out the petition - it's all about evidence, and that means maps, photos, information, and witnesses prepared to confirm the serious damage expected unless changes are made. Any of the local petitioners would welcome contributions, but everything has to be linked to the requests in the petitions. Petitioners will be able to submit photographs and written material, so please consider carefully whether you have anything that could help get the Committee of MPs on our side. This is a vital battle to win the best possible mitigation and restitution of our environment, to win effective control over the disruption during the many years of construction, and to minimise the long-term harm to our area. The revelation that Solihull Council is planning a new city in the Meriden Gap greenbelt around the Bickenhill Station just adds to local concerns. The proposals were revealed - like HS2 itself - after several years of secret study without any local consultation. HHAG's petition is 65 pages long, and tries to cover issues along the 14km of planned railway in Solihull Borough. By sharing our work with residents, and by responding to the successive consultations on HS2, HHAG built up a long list of items needing mitigation. 248 of the 260 paragraphs contain one or more specific requests for changes to the Bill, but that's still not enough to capture every issue in the area. Our focus was on matters of direct concern to residents: Noise - trains, maintenance works, construction, and road traffic. Landscape, appearance of structures, noise barriers, screening plantings, viaducts, embankments, flood-lighting, drainage ponds, future inappropriate development. Public access, closure and diversion of footpaths and bridleways, spooking of horses by noise and trains. Road closures and diversions, junction design, access to farm land. Construction traffic, dust, work camps and security, use of narrow lanes. Blockage of radio, TV and phone signals. Archaeology and listed buildings. Wildlife habitat, migration routes, threat to barn owls, ancient woodland, hydrology. Economic damage to farms and businesses during construction and afterwards, loss of community facilities and recreation, and a community fund. The petition was arranged by area, north to south through the borough, followed by sections on generic issues affecting the whole area. A tunnel through the high ground of Balsall Common would hugely reduce the impacts on the area, and a proper study is being requested by HHAG and other local petitioners. The passage of the HS2 Bill through Parliament will take several years, and there are good prospects for saving the area from some of the worst impacts of the scheme. HHAG and other petitioners are grateful for all the help and support received from the wider community, but unfortunately there's a lot of work yet to be done!’ Richard Lloyd Chairman
An Exhibition in Berkswell Church This year in November an Exhibition is being held in Berkswell church to commemorate the anniversary of the outbreak of World War One , as a tribute to the fallen men on Berkswell’s Roll of Honour. The exhibition will run from November 9th to November 23rd and will be open from 10am to 4pm daily. Many people and parish organisations have kindly volunteered to take part and depict various aspects of the Great War. The ideas are fantastic and it will be a brilliant display and a fitting tribute. There will be a small exhibition of texts taken from various sources with a theme of “Conflict” collated by Ken Teague in the Bercul Room.
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The public and press are cordially invited to all parish council meetings at 7.30pm. An opportunity will be Should you wish to contact the Parish Council, please given for the public to speak. Look out for the agenda contact the Clerk or drop into the Parish Council office and venue which is posted on the parish notice boards on Monday or Thursday mornings where you may and our website www.meridenparishcouncil.org.uk access information or have a private chat with the prior to the meeting. Clerk to address local community issues.
The next meeting dates are: Barbara Bland The Pavilion 22 September 2014 – Parish Council Meeting, Meriden Sports Park Pavilion, Sports Park Main Road 20 October 2014 - Parish Council Meeting, Pavilion, Meriden CV7 7SP Sports Park 24 November 2014 – Parish Council Meeting, Village Hall Tel: 01676 522474 (Mondays and Please note the change of venue to the Parish Council Thursdays) office for some meetings is to afford access to wi-fi and Mobile: 07767 162423 Parish Council files for effective and efficient use of Email: [email protected] meeting times. Web: www.meridenparishcouncil.org.uk
Your Parish Councillors are:
Melanie Lee Rosie Weaver Bob Kipling Paul Lee Mandy Haque Frances Jon Barber Matthew Nunn (Chair) (Vice Chair) Lynch-Smith
Community surgeries at Meriden Library Community surgeries are held by Barbara Bland, our Clerk, and Bruce Brant, our Neighbourhood Co- ordinator, from Solihull Council to discuss any issues at Meriden Library on Monday mornings from 10.00am – 12.00 noon on the following dates: 1 September, 6 October and 3 November 2014. If there is a preference for confidentiality you may arrange to meet Barbara and Bruce at The Pavilion. Please call Barbara so she may organise this for you during the Community Surgery time slot.
Police beat surgeries Sgt Craig Hurst and his team will conduct their beat surgery on Thursday 18 September, 16 October and 20 November 2014 at Meriden Library between 11am and 12noon. If you have any policing concerns do come along and discuss them with one of the local officers that is responsible for patrolling your area.
Sports Camps this Autumn at Meriden Sports Park
27-31 October 2014
9am – 3pm each day. £10 per day or £40 per week. For boys and girls aged 5-12.
For each day please ensure you bring a packed lunch, healthy snacks, warm waterproof clothing as well as boots/trainers. Please book through the Parish Council’s sports co-ordinator Paul Jayes on 07508 611922 or email Paul at [email protected] to guarantee your child’s place on our Sports Camps. Book your place early as places are limited.
Solihull Neighbourhoods in Bloom 2014 Meriden Parish Council are delighted to work with local retailers, the business community and contractors embracing localism. Due to recent housing developments and quarry extensions it was considered Meriden was not at its best and therefore not entered a Bloom Competition in recent years. Dovetail, a new Parish Council contractor, has been instrumental in supporting the Parish Council in getting Solihull Neighbourhoods in Bloom 2014 underway in Meriden. They have given their labour pro bono planting, clearing and maintaining two unattractive “grot spots” being the old conveniences and roundabout at Birmingham Road/Maxstoke Lane.
Sponsored by NRS Wastecare Limited the newly named Coronation Island in commemoration of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee received a wonderful makeover from Dovetail with the help of Meriden school children and local residents. The design being a bull’s eye acknowledging the history of The Bowmen of Arden to Meriden.
With a site clearance and financial contribution by Taylor Wimpey Homes and a donation from Pertemps, the site of the old conveniences received Dovetail’s magic to create a unique living memorial in the shape of a Poppy. The newly named Memorial Approach in commemoration of the Centenary of World War One was dedicated on 4th August 2014 (see below).
At the time of going to print, Bloom judging had taken place and we eagerly await the results.
Meanwhile we wish to thank our wonderful sponsors NRS Wastecare Limited, Taylor Wimpey Homes, Pertemps, Meriden Tea Rooms, Spar, Meriden Fish & Chips, Fordes on The Green, The Bull’s Head; contractors Dovetail, Brian Ball and AMS; Meriden School and Alan Lole who donated thousands of poppy seeds that have been sown throughout the village for the enjoyment of us all in years to come. A huge thank you and we applaud you all!
First World War Centenary – Meriden commemorated On Sunday 3 August 2014, the eve of the centenary, St Laurence Church held a special WW1 service. The following day, 4 August 2014, the 100th anniversary of Britain’s entry into World War One, the Mayor of Solihull hosted an ‘Inter-Faith Service Commemorating the Outbreak of World War I’ at the Civic Chamber which was attended by Cllr Frances Lynch-Smith.
Later in the afternoon, Peter Wright from St Laurence Church conducted a dedication to Meriden’s new Memorial Approach and poppy flower display on Main Road. The dedication was attended by veterans and residents and our sponsors Taylor Wimpey Homes and Dovetail Facilities Management.
In the evening a lamp was lit by Meriden’s War Memorial between 10pm and 11pm joining the rest of the nation in an hour’s reflection.
A message from our ducks Please note that white bread, which is highly processed, has very little nutrition for us.
A little is not harmful, but a high percentage in our diets can lead to malnutrition for the ducklings and the excess can mean pollution of the pond. It can also mean more ‘poop’ as it makes us ‘loose’ which can spread avian botulism!
Poor diets can give ducks deformed ‘angel’ wings which are incurable and mean we cannot fly – so we could not escape from danger or move to another pond if this one becomes over-crowded.
Over-feeding us can affect our natural behaviour – we need to know how to forage for food so that we can feed when there are no hand-outs!
Too much white bread can attract pests to the area, too. Thank you for feeding us brown bread or corn, instead!
Brick built heated/fully tiled kennels with individual runs. Highly recommended, small family run business Vaccinated dogs only please Working Springer Spaniel and Cocker Spaniel puppies sometimes for sale
For the very best for your dog, contact… Lesley Thompson, at Meriroyles 118 Fillongley Road, Meriden. Telephone 01676 522405
email: [email protected]
Tom’s Butchery
Established 25 years
3 The Green Meriden Newspapers and Magazines Telephone Beer and Wine 01676 522822 Groceries and Fresh Barbecue Meats fresh produce Cash Machine and Fresh local farm chickens cash back available Hand raised pork pies all sizes Dry Cleaning Lottery Ribs of beef on the bone Award winning Lashford Free range English pork sausages Send and receive parcels from Top quality lamb here Wide selection of prize winning sausages Opening hours Weekdays 6am – 10pm Weekends 7am – 10pm Wide selection of cheeses Open Weekdays 6.30am-10pm Wide selection of bacon including Spar,Weekends 1 The Green, 7.30am- 10pmMeriden dry cured English bacon 01676 522287
Margaret Shirley (nee Billie Norburn) 28th December 1925 – 27th June 2014 Margaret’s parents, Iris and Os Norburn, moved to Meriden during the Birmingham bombings and lived in Eaves Green. Margaret joined them in the 1940’s having been evacuated from Waverley Grammar School in Birmingham. Margaret took part in many of the local activities, becoming founder secretary of the newly formed Meriden Young Farmers’ Club; founder secretary of the new Conservative Association; a Meriden school governor and the founder secretary of the Meriden Floral Society, now celebrating its 50th anniversary. She was very involved in organising the first Flower Festival at St. Laurence Church and remained active in the society until she left Meriden. Margaret (Billie) and Alan met at the YFC and married in 1950. They lived first of all in a converted cottage called “Charlie’s “, then to “Brookside” next to Shirley’s Garage .They had two children Jill and Ian. Jill has two children, Julie and Adam; Ian also has two children Tom and Louise. Margaret’s husband Alan died suddenly in 1970 which left her to run Shirley’s Garage, which she did until it was sold in the mid 70’s when she moved to Cornwall to be near her parents and sister, Zita. After the death of her parents she returned to the Midlands, to live in Rugby before moving to Warwick to be near Jill and her husband. Following major surgery in 2013 she had the delight of seeing and getting to spend time with her first great grandchild,
Olivia, born in November 2013.After being in hospital and two nursing homes, including a time living with Ian and his wife, she died peacefully in Northamptonshire, aged 88. Her passion for family , history, gardening, flower arranging, crafts, travel and animals, particularly horses and dogs, lives on through members of the family. Margaret had the ability to make everyone that she met feel special and she will be sadly missed by all those lives she touched. Jill, Ian and their families would like to express their sincere thanks to the Meriden Floral Society for the beautiful floral tributes that they kindly placed in the church in celebration of Mum’s life.
Beryl Lucas February 1923 - May 2014 Beryl was born in Coventry, where she won a scholarship to Barrs Hill Grammar School. In 1939, aged sixteen, she left school to start work since the war had begun and her brother and father were both in the Forces and later trained as a Metallurgical Assistant at Wickmans. Beryl married Ken in1946 and in 1950 they took over a busy post office in the Holbrooks area of Coventry, where their two daughters grew up. Beryl and Ken’s shared passion was walking and mountaineering, taking every opportunity to head for the hills. They enjoyed many walks, picnics and camping trips over the years with friends and sometimes with fellow members of the Coventry Mountaineering Club. Around thirty years ago Beryl and Ken retired and moved to Meriden where they took great delight in exploring new walks from their doorstep and in the surrounding countryside. They led a rambling group for Solihull U3A and after Ken died in 2007, Beryl, by now in her eighties, was still leading walks across fields and stiles. Sadly a fall later left Beryl with restricted mobility but she remained determined to go down to the village on her walking frame. She loved visiting the library, talking to people and being able to choose her own fresh produce from the butchers, whilst also appreciating the kind support of friends and neighbours who helped with what she could no longer do herself. The garden, too, was a source of joy and interest to Beryl, who encouraged birds and bees and loved to see things growing. Despite coping with physical difficulties and discomforts in her later years Beryl tried her best to keep up her own spirits and be cheerful company, finding something of interest to focus on and have a laugh whenever she could. She valued the opportunities open to her to enjoy the company of neighbours and of the friends old and new whom she saw at groups such as Cameo and Age UK’s Club K and continued to take a lively interest in what was going on around her. She will be missed by many who will remember her zest for life, enquiring mind and sense of humour.
CHARITY CHRISTMAS CARD SHOP 2014 The Midland Charities Association Christmas card shop is back in Balsall Common library for six weeks from Saturday, November 1st until Saturday, December 13th. The shop operates at all library opening times during that period, i.e. Monday & Thursday 10-6; Tuesday 10-5; Friday 2-5; Saturday 10-4 (closed Wednesday). There will be cards from 16 different charities. For more information, please contact Judith Woodcock 01676 533428 or Pam Brown 01676 532580 In addition, the card shop in Allesley Park Community Library, Whitaker Road CV5 9JE will be open for 6 weeks from Monday, November 3rd until Saturday, December 13th. The opening times here will be Monday & Thursday 1-7; Tuesday 9-1; Friday 9-12; Saturday 9-4 (closed Wednesday). We are looking for volunteers to help in 1½ or 2 hour slots on our rota at Allesley Park, so if you can help, we would be very pleased to hear from you. Please contact Janice Whittlesey 01676 534407
Meriden Surgery 01676 522252 School House, 200 Main Road, Meriden, CV7 7NG Dr M Bhandal Dr S Barratt Dr A Carlile Dr T Nadeem Dr R Horsley (Partners) Associate GPs Dr L Palmer & Dr C Bayliss www.balsallcommongrouppractice.co.uk1.
Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8.30am to 6pm Wednesday 8.30am to 12.00
For details on how to obtain medical help when the surgery is closed please phone 01676 935000
Are you aware that there are a number of ways in Online Appointments & Repeat Prescriptions which you can cancel your unwanted appointment? Would you like On-Line access to book certain By telephoning - 01676 522252 appointments, cancel appointments and order your By secure email to [email protected] repeat medications? If you would like to use this facility please inform Please note that no other requests will be actioned via this reception or email Joanne Hope at [email protected], email address. Please remember to include your name, date of you will then be sent a consent form to sign and return birth, date and time of the appointment you wish to cancel to us. Once this is received we will supply you with a and which staff member the appointment is with username and password for you to gain access to the Via our website www.balsallcommongrouppractice.co.uk You online services within our website can either cancel an appointment you have booked using Online access or send the practice a message via the website Practice Quarterly Newsletter If you have not already done so then sign up For additional surgery information & latest news please today for Online Access pick up a practice leaflet at reception or log onto our website at By Fax - 01676 523865 In Writing www.balsallcommongrouppractice.co.uk Face to Face at Reception Or request to be added to the distribution list for the quarterly Newsletter Appointments
All consultations are run by appointment only. We have pre- bookable appointments which are available to book 4 weeks in advance. Once these slots are taken patients are requested to Coventry Breathe Easy telephone the surgery at 8.30am and 2.00pm on the day to make an appointment. Telephone consultations are also available, please For more telephone the surgery to request a telephone consultation. If a patient regularly fails to attend an appointment without cancelling information it, they may be removed from the practice list please ring Cynthia on Ordering your repeat medication 02476 440316
The practice provides a repeat prescribing service for authorised A support group for all those affected by a medication. We prefer these to be ordered using the list attached to your previous prescription. Please tick the items you lung condition, including friends, family require and put the slip in the box at the main entrance or and carers. alternatively you can telephone 01676 522252 between the hours Meets on the 2nd Friday of every month. of 10.00am and 4.00pm (until 12 noon on Wednesdays) or fax your 2 – 4 pm Eadon Hall, Central Hall, request to 01676 523865. If you have Online Access you can also order your repeat medication via the website. Methodist Church Warwick Lane, Coventry, CV1 2HA 48 hours notice is required for ALL medication requests Friday 12th September -Karen Payne, Nurse Specialist - Bronchiectasis Complaints/Comments/Suggestions If you have any comments, suggestions or a Friday 10th October - Beverley Bostock, Nurse Practitioner - “Why am I coughing?” complaint regarding the service you th receive from the practice, please contact the Friday 14 November - Social morning at Conroy’s Coffee House, Corporation Street, Practice Manager, Mrs Joanne Hope, either in Coventry. 10.30am – 12noon writing or by telephoning 01676 935000
An Article written by Dr Richard Horsley - Why no antibiotics?
The World Health Organisation reported on 30th April that antibiotic resistance is a serious and current global threat. The majority of people have already heard the message and completely understand the issues regarding antibiotics. The public are aware about hospital superbugs like MRSA and the diarrhoea bug c. difficile and growing antibiotic resistance. I am a GP and I know most of my patients are aware when they have a cold and understand that it is caused by a virus. Often parents confirm this in their opening sentence and that they just want me to check over their child. We all know that antibiotics do not work for viruses. So, I would like to consider the motivations for people seeking help and antibiotics despite this widely held knowledge.
There are some conditions which definitely need antibiotics such as pneumonia, meningitis, proven urine infections, tonsillitis and skin infections. There are some high risk groups who need antibiotics promptly such as those with long term conditions, the elderly, the very young and those with low immune systems. It is to protect these people and ensure the future effectiveness of antibiotics that we must all work together. Doctors are entrusted with responsible prescribing of antibiotics but the public also want to defend the antibiotics we have for the future. Very few antibiotics are being developed now and usually the new ones are only prescribed in hospitals. I try to discover the reason why patients come for antibiotics despite having this knowledge. Well, firstly hands up that historically doctors have given antibiotics for conditions which did not require them at all. This sets up a misunderstanding and potential conflict when another doctor says no at a later stage. This situation can be resolved with proper explanation of the condition. Sometimes patients say 'I know you don't like giving them' but this is only true when they are not appropriate to prescribe and would not work.
Other reasons for coming can be that life is stressful enough but then an important event will come along just when you feel unwell. People may be struggling along and are keen to continue working or to fulfil commitments. Patients in desperation will then seek ‘something’ to make them better, to recover quicker or prevent infection. Clearly logic tells you antibiotics still won't work but GPs often know their patients and will empathise about the wider issues then offer the diagnosis and explanation. It follows that patients also come after battling along with a condition using over the counter medicines. Some just want to be examined in case there is something else wrong, to prevent something developing or because of a relatives concerns. This is reasonable and I can offer information about expected duration of common illnesses and these alarm features. I can assess then offer advice, optimise symptom control and remind about drinking extra fluid.
Some specific conditions to consider such as a cough can be a significant nuisance and interferes with sleep and causes discomfort. I would be concerned about smokers or people with other chest conditions who have a persistent cough. I would want to review a cough which is associated with shortness of breath, chest pain or people who are very unwell. However, I will unfortunately not be surprised that the cough syrup hasn't worked. A simple way to check if your cough is likely to be caused by a virus is if it develops with a cold. There are lots of useful resources to explain the normal illness process and expected symptom duration. Knowing your own body and having faith in your immune system whilst treating symptoms effectively is important. My role is to look out for the vulnerable groups and complications. People with long term conditions are often given their own emergency plans and supply of antibiotics. A very common problem but not a well-known word is 'pharyngitis'. This is the medical term for sore throat and is certainly viral if you have other cold or flu symptoms. Most people mistake this for tonsillitis but this can be considered if you have high fever, pus on your tonsils, tender glands and don't have a cough.
We have all had conjuctivitis and this can lead to issues for some working families as schools or nurseries often have policies which exclude children. GPs may advise cleaning only for 48 hours as most often it is viral especially if associated with a cold. A GP will treat if the condition is severe but bacterial conjunctivitis is usually one sided with a thick yellow discharge but even then 65% resolve by day five. We can offer advice, a delayed prescription and I would like to work with local services to review policies.
Sometimes patients want an insurance policy but if you are ill NHS Blood and Transplants and come for a review then a GP will offer an assessment at that point. Preventing possible problems for well people with minor The next sessions for blood donors illness is not a good reason for antibiotics. Predicting how things will develop is near impossible but I can offer advice of alarm will be Thursday 30th October symptoms and when to seek a further review. at The Heart of England Social Club 1.30 – 3.30 & 4.30 – 7.30pm My hope is that we will look after the antibiotics then they will continue Appointments available to look after us! by calling 03001232323
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Tuesday -Friday 10.00am thru to 5.00pm Saturday 9.00am - 4.00pm Any other time by appointment
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blitz Tuesday 10am-3pm Beauty Salon 25% off any treatment Telephone 01676 521100 New to Blitz Men and Women welcome Also complimentary Open late nights tea & biscuits Vibration plate Monthly offers available and Ultrasonic Dual treatment room Liposuction Gift vouchers available Friendly, welcoming environment
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Serves 6 Mary Ann Beaty of the Dairy Farm Packington is a new chef 1 onion writing cookery articles for the Farmer’s Weekly. This is her recipe 1 stick of celery 1 red pepper for Chicken chopped and Baconfinely Roulade which looks delicious. Handful of spinach/swiss chard 1 Carrot Chop all the vegetables finely 4 eggs, separated 1 tsp Worcester sauce 2oz grated cheddar cheese 3oz cooked chicken chopped 3oz cooked ham chopped 8oz cream cheese with chives or chilli or plain Salt and pepper Swiss Roll Tin, greased and lined 200C/ Gas 6 / Fan 180 METHOD 1. Dry fry (or use a little rapeseed oil) all the veg until soft and leave to cool slightly. 2. Whisk the egg whites until stiff. 3. Beat the egg yolks and add the Worcester sauce, cheese, half the cooked veg and salt and pepper. Fold into the egg whites. 4. Turn on to the prepared tin and bake in the preheated oven for approx 15 mins or until firm to touch. 5. Meanwhile add the chicken, bacon and cream cheese to the remaining veg and season to taste. Heat slightly to form a thick sauce. 6. Turn out the cooked and still warm roulade on to a tea towel or greaseproof paper and spread the sauce all over. 7. Roll from the long side using the tea towel to help you. Serve warm or for picnics/packed teas allow to cool and cut into chunky slices.
5.Net ponds before leaf fall gets underway
10 jobs to do in the garden this September 6.Keep up with watering of new plants, using rain or
grey water if possible 1.Divide herbaceous perennials 7.Start to reduce the frequency of houseplant watering 2.Pick autumn raspberries 8Clean out cold frames and greenhouses so that they 3.Collect and sow seed from perennials are ready for use in the autumn and hardy annuals 9.Cover leafy vegetable crops with bird-proof netting 4.Dig up remaining potatoes before 10.Plant spring flowering bulbs slug damage spoils them
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Letter from Meriden, Connecticut, USA
Meriden's 'Blarney Stone' mystery Harbor Brook meanders through Brookside Park, which is just down a flight of stairs from Broad Street, on its way to downtown Meriden. Much of the land that makes up the 13-acre park was bought by industrialist Walter Hubbard in 1901 and donated to the city. Many of the amenities that once made the park an active place for children and families — such as a wading pool, a ball field, picnic benches and fireplaces — are gone now, part of a legacy of flooding, bank erosion, vandalism and neglect. But the park remains a place of sylvan respite from the pace of modern life. But as we either whiz by in our cars or perhaps text our way throu gh the park with heads down, do we even notice the details of this bucolic place? For part of the way through the park, the brook flows between low stone walls. Two pedestrian bridges, built in 1958, also of stone, span the brook, and right next to one of them is an anomaly: Set into the stone wall — right where a culvert brings storm water down from the other side of Broad Street, almost behind the Dairy Queen — is an oversize stone with this message neatly carved into it: “A LITTLE BIT O BLARNEY.” It’s possible that this bit of blarney was added in 1978, when there was a major project to restore the stone retaining walls of the brook after years of particularly serious erosion. But a search of the newspaper files reveals nothing about Meriden’s blarney stone. There’s another Blarney Stone, of course, the one over in Ireland — the one that’s been drawing tourists and pilgrims for hundreds of years. It’s at Blarney Castle, in County Cork, and` m.to kiss it, one has to lean backward, holding on to an iron railing. Then, legend has it, he will be granted the gift of eloquence. Meriden’s blarney stone makes no such promise; then again, there’s no dangerous hanging upside down required. A search of this newspaper’s files has produced nothing, so if anyone has a clue as to the source of this hunk of gray rock in the middle of the Silver City — if anyone knows the who? what? when? or why? of it — we’d love to hear about it, and share it with our readers. Reach Glenn Richter at [email protected]
SOLIHULL ARTIST’S FORUM
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Berkswell Road, Meriden, Coventry CV7 7LB Tel: 01676 522403 Mob: 07917518724 Fax: 01676 523181 Email: [email protected]
Village Diary
DATE EVENT VENUE TIME CONTACT 1st Sept WI Open Evening Village Hall 7.30pm Flick Blewitt 523229 1st Sept Community Surgery Library 10.00am-12 noon Barbara Bland 522474 1st Sept Story time for the under 5s Library 2.45 -3.15 pm 522717 4th Sept Meriden School Term begins 522488 10th Sept Readers Circle 7.30pm Margaret 523603 13th Sept Lego Movie Village Hall 4.30pm Chris Copper 522645 15th Sept Reading Cafe Library 10.30-12 noon 522717 15th Sept Flower Club Village Hall 7.30pm Mo Reynolds 521457 18th Sept Police Community Surgery Library 11-12 noon Sgt Craig Hurst 101 18th Sept Rhyme Time 0-2 year olds Library 2.30-3.15pm 522717 19th Sept Race Night H of E Club Mary Warr 522160 22nd Sept Parish Council Meeting Sports Pavilion 7.30pm Barbara Bland 522474 26th Sept CAMEO Sports Pavilion 2.00pm Ellen 522534 26th Sept Macmillan Coffee morning Scout Hut 9.00 am-12noon Shirley Goodsir 521259 27th Sept Prom For All Coventry Cathedral 6.00 pm 28th Sept Harvest Festival Methodist Church 10.30am Rev Charlesworth 533737 3rd Oct Music and Dancing Night H of E Club 7.30pm Mary Warr 522160 6th Oct WI Village Hall 7.30pm Flick Blewitt 523229 6th Oct Community Surgery Library 10.00am-12 noon Barbara Bland 522474 8th Oct Readers Circle 7.30pm Margaret 523603 16th Oct Police Community Surgery Library 11-12 noon Sgt Craig Hurst 101 16th Oct Rhyme Time 0-2 year olds Library 2.30-3.15pm 522717 18th Oct Philomena film Village Hall 6.00pm Chris Copper 522645 18/19 Oct Arts and Crafts Exhibition Fentham Hall 10-5.00pm 20th Oct Reading Cafe Library 10.30 – 12 noon 522717 20th Oct Flower Club Village Hall 7.30pm Mo Reynolds 521457 20th Oct Parish Council Meeting Sports Pavilion 7.30pm Barbara Bland 522474 24th Oct “In the Pink” Strawberry Bank Hotel 7.30pm Mary Warr 522160 24th Oct CAMEO Sports Pavilion 2.00pm Ellen 522534 25/26Oct Art Exhibition Patricks Farm Barns 10.00-4.00pm Julie Hyde 523357 26th Oct British summer time ends 27/31Oct Half Term Sports Camp Sports Park 9.00-3.00pm Paul Jayes 07508 611922 30th Oct Blood Donors H of E Club 1.30-3.30pm 0300 123 2323 4.30-7.30pm 1st Nov – Charity Christmas Card Balsall Common Judith 533428 Dec 13th shop opens Library 1st Nov Firebirds Concert Lime Tree Social Club 7.30pm John 07716721467 2nd Nov Bereavement Service St Laurence Church 4.00pm Kate Massey 522825 3rdNov Meriden Mag deadline 3rd Nov W.I. Annual meeting Village Hall 7.30pm Flick Blewitt 523229 3rd Nov Community Surgery Library 10.00am-12 noon Barbara Bland 522474 6th Nov Coffee Morning Packington Hall 10.30am-12noon 9/23rd Nov WW1 Exhibition Berkswell Church 10.00am-4.00pm 9th Nov Remembrance Service 12th Nov Readers Circle 7.30pm Margaret 523603 16th Nov 130th Anniversary Methodist Church 10.30am Rev Charlesworth 533737 17th Nov Flower Club Village Hall 7.30pm Mo Reynolds 521457 17th Nov Reading Cafe Library 10.30 – 12 noon 522717 20th Nov Police Community Surgery Library 11-12 noon Sgt Craig Hurst 101 20th Nov Rhyme Time 0-2 year olds Library 2.30-3.15pm 522717 24th Nov Parish Council Meeting Village Hall 7.30pm Barbara Bland 522474 28th Nov CAMEO Sports Pavilion 2.00pm Ellen 522534 28th Nov Tree of Thought Dedication Village Green 4.00pm Alan Lole 522138 Places to go and things to do this autumn
Discover Birmingham Guided walking tours These walking tours run every Saturday all year round, leaving from between the Council House and the town Hall, on Victoria Square. Look out for the large black umbrella. The city centre walks are every Saturday at 11.30am. The themed walks are every Saturday afternoon at 2.00pm; they include a Jewellery Quarter Walk, Canal walk and a Tolkien Middle Earth tour.
Tickets cost £8 adults £6 students, £5 children and are available from the Tourist Information desk at the central library or via the website www.midlandsdiscoverytours.co.uk
Find out about the twice
monthly ghost walks
The Great War: Coventry’s Story
The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum
Admission Free
The Great War: Coventry’s Story marks the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, and the experiences of Coventry people in the armed forces and on the home front. Through objects, photographs and archive material from the Herbert’s collections, the exhibition explores the lives of active servicemen, and their personal experiences of combat and life in the trenches, including the loss of comrades. It looks at the impact of the war on the lives of people in Coventry, focusing on war production and the role of women. Refugees to the city, rationing and food shortages are also portrayed in the exhibition, examining how those who were left behind adapted and survived. A section of the exhibition looks in detail at the memorials created to commemorate the soldiers who were killed in the conflict, with the City of Coventry Roll of the Fallen a poignant reminder of those who were lost. The Great War is an exhibition of memories, collected and preserved by Coventry people, and serves as a moving reminder of their sacrifices and contribution.
What’s on at the NEC this autumn Cruise show - 20th -21st September Motorhome and Caravan Show 14th – 19th
October Cycle Show 26th – 28th September
National Wedding Show 3rd – 5th October Crafts for Christmas 6th – 9th November
Grand Designs Live 9th – 12th October BBC Good Food Show 27th – 30th November-
Dates for hoisting New recycling service for Meriden the flag on From autumn recycling will be getting even easier. Meriden Green You will be given a brown-wheeled bin for your plastic, paper, card, and cans. You will also be able to recycle additional materials such as 15th September juice cartons, foil, and aerosols. There is no change to your glass Birthday of the Prince Harry recycling. This will continue to be collected in your recycling box. If you currently receive purple sacks for your rubbish you will receive 9th November clear plastic sacks for your recycling. There is no change to your glass Remembrance Sunday recycling. This will continue to be collected in your recycling box. We will also be collecting your unwanted textiles, at the same time as 11th November your recycling. Recycling will be collected on a fortnightly basis. Your Remembrance Day domestic waste will continue to be collected weekly. 14th November Birthday of the Prince of Wales Thank you to all the
photographers who keep us 20th November supplied with pictures. Her Majesty’s Wedding Day This time we have used photos
from BICKENHILL PUBLIC WASTE Matthew Nunn Don’t forget to register Meriden School DISPOSAL SITE for the Rotary Club’s OPENING HOURS Roy Hands st st Chris Yarwood Santa Fun Run on Winter 1 Nov –31 March Joan Russell Sunday December 7th Monday-Friday (except Tues) And the Farmers Weekly 9.30am – 4.00pm www.meriden-santa-fun-run.org.uk Tuesday 9.30am – 5.30pm (Cookery picture) Saturday and Sunday 8.30am - 4.00pm Reminder! Deadline date for the winter issue: Summer 1st April- 31st October st Monday 3rd November. Out by 1 December. Monday-Friday (except Tues) Val Martin 01676 522963 [email protected] 9.30am -5.00pm Margaret Argyle 01676 522453 Tuesday 9.30am – 6.30pm Saturday and Sunday [email protected] 8.30am- 4.00pm
Deliveries: Doug Bacon and Paul Lee Last admission 15 minutes Proof Reader: Claire Rose before closing time
Useful village contact numbers Meriden Primary School Mrs L. Winkler 01676 522488 Mag advertising rates Meriden Library 01676 522717 Meriden Surgery 01676 522252 Lloyds Chemist 01676 522722 Eighth page £10 St. Laurence Church Rev’d Kate Massey 01676 522825 Quarter page £20 Meriden Methodist Church Rev. Andrew Charlesworth 01676 533737 Half page £40 Meriden Christian Fellowship Pstr. Kevin & Lyn Hunt 01676 523050 Small ads (sale or wanted) Parish Council Barbara Bland 01676 522474 £5.00 (Mondays & Thursdays only) Sports co-ordinator Paul Jayes 07962 375038. Charity & Community events Solihull M B C 0121 704 6000 FREE Solihull District Councillors Ken Allsopp 0121 782 2408 Views expressed by the David Bell 01676 535211 contributors are not necessarily Tony Dicicco 07780438290 those of the co-editors. Member of Parliament Caroline Spelman 0121 711 7029 We are unable to print Meriden Scout Group Gerry Russell 01676 522666 anonymous letters or articles Post Office Sue Harper 01676 522230 Rural Police Sector Sgt Craig Hurst 101 New non- although we will withhold name emergency no. and address on request