TANWORTH PARISH MAGAZINE

October 2020 70p The Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene Tanworth-in-Arden Vicar: The Revd Paul Cudby, The Vicarage, Tanworth-in-Arden B94 5EB 01564 742565 [email protected] Churchwardens: Pat Saunders, Old Bell Cottage, The Green, Tanworth-in-Arden 01564 742406 Philip Terry, 3 Station Cottages, Danzey Green 01564 742049 Readers: Margaret Keighley 01564 742903 Mike Keighley 01564 742903 Paul Jones 01564 702698 Wendy Terry 01564 742049 Mandy Butler 07706 609604 Sacristan: Margaret Way 01564 742073 Headteacher of Church School and Nursery: Mrs Shelley Bamford ([email protected]) 01564 742284 (Out of school hours please ’phone Robert Prince 07799 348807) Children and Young Families Coordinator: Rachel Rollason 07512 057401 [email protected] P.C.C. Treasurer: Philip Littleford, The Old Bell House, The Green, Tanworth in Arden, B94 5AJ [email protected] 01564 742653 Planned Giving Secretary: Matty Thacker 01564 742508 Director of Music: Anne Ellis 0121 458 2331 Captain of the Ringers: Alan Hartley 01527 65732 Women’s Fellowship: Janet Rea 01564 742040 Magazine Editor: Annie Edwards 39 Falstaff Avenue, Hollywood, Birmingham B47 5EL 01564 205151 [email protected] Magazine Distribution: Pauline Rolt 01564 742586 Magazine Advertising: Diane & Colin Cleaver, Pastures Croft, Poolhead Lane, B94 5EH 01564 702936 [email protected] 07774 610449 Various meetings take place on weekdays. Details are normally published in this magazine and given out in notices in church. Websites: Tanworth Church: www.tanworthchurch.co.uk www.facebook.com/tanworth-in-arden church Tanworth School: www.tanworthschool.org.uk Birmingham Diocese: www.birmingham.anglican.org

Cover photograph by Annie Edwards. Taken at Baddesley Clinton on 15th October 2017. View from the Vicarage

I read about an interesting experiment undertaken by a teacher. We are all familiar with the current vogue for a desirable shape for a man, so this teacher showed her pupils a pin up from her youth. If memory serves I think it was Rock Hudson. Her pupils thought it highly amusing that Are we really that shallow? Well it’s someone who was certainly shapely certainly something that has got me but definitely not with well defined thinking over the years. As a youth muscles and abs could be thought of I had a number of friends who were as attractive. I wonder what they would mechanics and mad about cars, one have made of Johnny Weissmuller of whom did an engine transplant on then, an incredibly powerful swimmer my old Ford Cortina. So of course I and the archetypal Tarzan, yet even was immersed in the culture of what less shapely than Hudson but every was desirable in a car which was ultra bit as much a pin up for the 1940s. low profile tires and big wide alloy What does this tell us about desire? wheels. So of course that’s what To me it suggests that it’s culturally we all wanted. Except I remember influenced. I remember reading a driving home from work and being paper on this a few years back which passed by a car that looked just demonstrated that human desire is like that and in a moment of clarity based around wanting something thought to myself, ‘That car looks because the actions of other people ridiculous. It looks like it’s got pram have demonstrated it to be desirable, wheels!’ Just for a moment my mind not because it is in anyway desirable saw past wanting what everyone else in itself. A classic example of this is a found to be desirable to thinking for trick people can play when they are itself. That episode has never left me trying to get someone to notice them. because I now hear this little voice If you are interested in dating X but in the back of my head asking, ‘You they don’t seem all that interested in desire that? Why? Is it because you you, then get your friend Y to come like it or because everyone else does over in full view of X and pretend and having it would make you a part to start chatting you up. That will of their tribe?’ often alter X’s view of you because Desire is a difficult issue for somewhere deep inside something Christians. There seems to be a will be saying to them, ‘Look, Y finds subtext to our religion that desire is that person attractive therefore they evil, but is it really so simple? Without must be desirable’. X’s interest is then desire there would be no children! I piqued and you’re in with a fighting desire to be the best priest I can be. I chance of a date. desire to get to the end of my life and

1 be able to stand before God and give an article for Church Times. And of back that which I have been given course it can go the other way too, with a sense of, ‘I hope you like what the unconscious desire to impress I did with the cards life dealt me.’ I others by how little we care what they desire that all my family have good think by driving the oldest car and health. Desire is one of the drivers of having the most crumpled clothes, our humanity and without desire we even though that is still an expression would slip into apathetic non-action. of desiring to impress. All of these, But clearly, from what I’ve already and many other, expressions of the said, desire has to be understood. desire to be noticed and to impress We should be mindful of why we others imply that we are not at ease desire something and I think the with ourselves. most poisonous desire of them all is So what’s the remedy? Well first it the desire to impress others and this must surely be that we become aware is the one with which I wrestle more of these things. An Aussie preacher than any other. It can express itself in I once met loved art but he wrestled so many ways. There is the simplistic with every painting he bought to ask model that if I buy this car or that himself whether he personally liked house then people will see me in a the painting or whether he wanted particular light, but it can also be, can others to be impressed by it. So there I get into the office before anyone else is a need for mindful awareness. I think so my boss sees how dedicated I am? we also need to cultivate desire more Even though Covid-19 has shattered intelligently. Philippians 4: 8 says, our office-based style of working, ‘Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever there are still people who say that is true, whatever is noble, whatever they feel they must go into the office is right, whatever is pure, whatever at least once a week so that they can is lovely, whatever is admirable — if be visible to their boss and impress anything is excellent or praiseworthy them, although we must recognise — think about such things.’ This is a that for some there is a sense of tall order but maybe we can work on vulnerability to this, that they need to interpreting that for ourselves as to be visible simply in order to keep their what we think of as true, noble, etc, job. And clergy are not immune to this, and make those things a focus for our perhaps expressed as conversations desires. with the archdeacon about some new idea they’re trying out or writing Prayers If you are worried about yourself or someone else — or would like to be included in our prayers — please email in confidence: [email protected].

Save the date… All Souls — 5th November at 8.00 pm. Further details in November magazine. Will be subject to Covid-19 restrictions.

2 Tanworth Services for October Sunday 4th — Climate Change 9.00 am Book of Common Prayer Church — restrictions apply 10.30 am The Stream Livestream via Facebook Wednesday 7th 7.00 pm Night Prayer Livestream via Facebook Sunday 11th 9.00 am Common Worship Church — restrictions apply 10.30 am The Stream Livestream via Facebook Wednesday 14th 7.00 pm Night Prayer Livestream via Facebook Sunday 18th — Harvest 9.00 am Common Worship Church — restrictions apply 10.30 am The Stream Livestream via Facebook Wednesday 21st 7.00 pm Night Prayer Livestream via Facebook Sunday 25th 9.00 am Common Worship Church — restrictions apply 10.30 am The Stream Livestream via Facebook APCM To be advised Wednesday 28th 7.00 pm Night Prayer Livestream via Facebook Facebook: www.facebook.com/Tanworth-in-Arden-Church YouTube: www.youtube.com/tanworthchurch Private Prayer The church is now open for private prayer on Wednesdays between 10.00 am – 12.00 noon. Note: Face coverings to be used unless you have an exemption.

From The Registers Baptism You were baptised into union with Christ and now you are clothed with the life of Christ himself. 23rd August Jacobi Grainger Lidsey Wedding Those whom God has joined together let no one divide. 22nd August Carrie Ann Sadler and Daniel James Cronin Funerals/Interment of Ashes For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son So that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 29th August Luke Stephen Cox 16th September Margaret Haycock

3 ST MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH Tanworth-In-Arden LUNCHTIME RECITAL

Thursday 8th October at 12.00 noon YUXIN CHEN (VIOLA) Socially distanced audience with limited numbers. Booking essential. Sign sheet in Church porch or telephone Anne on 0121 458 2331. Retiring collection to support live music in Church. Future recitals: 12th November Rebecca Schneider (soprano) and Gabrielle Toy (piano) 10th December Two’s Harmony (keyboard recital) Note: No refreshments, and face coverings to be worn unless you have an exemption. Food Bank Update I have today spoken to the Birmingham in December in next month’s magazine City Mission and asked about their and online. It was so well supported last current most urgent needs. They are year so it would be lovely if we could always extremely grateful for all and repeat or maybe exceed it this year! any donations, of course, but currently I am delighted to tell you that, after they are without toiletries for both some sleepless nights when the food males and females, small bags of bank box was empty, it has almost sugar, long life milk, tins of hot meat recovered now and EIGHT boxes were and tins of spaghetti. I need to reassure delivered to the Mission last week. That you that they only advise me of these brings the grand total of boxes to 173! specific needs because I ask them, as I Christine at Oak Tree Farm, am aware that sometimes certain items Earlswood, who collects for us there, are more popular than others and other helped to swell our total and load my items are not always available to them. boot with donations from her friends Please continue to donate whatever and neighbours. Thank you so much to you choose and know how every all those involved. packet or tin is VERY much valued and To all of you from school, church, appreciated. this community, Facebook, Messy I also wanted to tell you that I dared to Church, friends and neighbours, the approach the subject of Christmas and delivery team (their names deliberately if they planned to repeat the Reverse withheld!), THANK YOU for all your Advent Calendar of last year and, YES, selfless love and support, none of they do! I wanted to give you as much which I could do alone. Take care and notice as I could and hope to be able stay safe. Love and prayers to list the suggested items for each day Barbara x (written on 9th September) 4 A Parents’ Eye-View Of A Wedding During Lockdown Easing It’s always lovely to receive thank you atmosphere and conduct of the service messages for special services and, made it a very special and meaningful especially during this time with the marking of this key event in Alice and extra pressure on wedding couples and Scott’s lives before God, their family their families, to hear that all went well. and the wider world. Julia commented Here’s a recent note sent to Paul: afterwards that she could see now why people sometimes opted for smaller ‘I just wanted to let you know how intimate services, and she felt it was much it meant to all of us who finally almost the best possible way of ‘doing’ managed to be present at Alice and a wedding! Scott’s wonderful wedding at St Mary Until I looked at the church’s excellent Magdalene’s on Wednesday 15th July, website to find your email address, I and to recognise how much we all felt hadn’t known that almost your mission you and your team worked to enable it statement is ‘to be generous with our to happen like that. We are so grateful welcome, our time, our creativity’, but to the church, to your assistant Fran, that perfectly describes the experience to Anne for the lovely organ and piano we had with St Mary Magdalene’s, playing, but especially to you for the way the latter quality even extending to in which you combined a very human incorporating the presence of a devoted and down-to-earth approach with a real Basset Hound as an honorary child for sense of the day! celebration We are so and pleased at inspiration how Alice for what has settled they were and felt embarking comfortable on! We at the loved the church and bell-ringing we hope to and are be able to especially be present grateful for with her whoever and Scott had the job on many of preparing occasions the church and cleaning up after us to in the future. keep it safe in these Covid-19 times. Once again our sincere thanks and Obviously, as Alice’s father, I was please convey our thanks also to all who always going to find it memorable in helped make the day such a success. some way, but I suppose my worst fear May God continue to bless you and the was that we would rather feel as if we development of the church in Tanworth. were ‘going through the motions’ to Chris and Julia Carter (Alice’s dad and get it done. Whereas, in fact, the whole step-mum!)’ 5 6 Malawi Update

Our vicar, Paul Cudby, has recently heard from Revd MacDonald Gowoka from our partner church in South Lunzu:

“With us here we are still praying but with restrictions where only a hundred people are allowed to gather at one gathering. I have two services first by 6.00 am and the other one by 8.00 am and have now turned to be spoken services. We are only allowed to gather for 2 hours. But despite the pandemic our Christians are active in coming to church. Let’s continue to pray to God that he should heal our nations. Greetings to everyone there.”

Later he wrote: “Between July and August early we lost Eliphara, Eckson and Aidan who were all members of the men’s group in our church. But we just commend them in the hands of God. The good news here is that Coronavirus cases are dropping and government is planning to open airports and schools by early September. This gives us hope that indeed God will see us through the Coronavirus pandemic. I wish you good health and God’s blessings and peace. My regards to your family and the congregation.” Fr MacDonald Gowoka  ❇  ❇ 

Margaret and Mike Keighley have also heard from Agnes Mkoko:

“Thank you very much for the email. We at South Lunzu Parish are fine. Yes, it is true we lost three men from our church, due other health problems and not COVID 19, their spouses are all members of the Mothers’ Union. As for the pandemic, we hear it is improving, most of those infected are getting better and the death rate has improved, not many deaths. Schools have re-opened, but every student is being encouraged to wear a face mask, though there are some who cannot afford to buy a face mask. We really thank God for His healing mercies. Glad to hear that you and the family are well, we thank God for this. The weather here is cool but sometimes windy. We are still looking forward to seeing you next year when you come. May you please pass on our greetings to all Brothers and Sisters in Christ at Tanworth.” Best regards, Agnes

7 Francis of Assisi — Feast Day 4th October

Francis of Assisi, born circa 1181 – father scolded him in rage. 1182, was one of several children of Around 1202, he joined a military an Italian father, Pietro di Bernardone expedition against Perugia and was dei Moriconi, a prosperous silk taken as a prisoner at Collestrada, merchant, and a French mother, spending a year as a captive. An Pica de Bourlemont, a noblewoman illness caused him to re-evaluate originally from Provence. his life and it is possible that his Francis lived the privileged life of a spiritual conversion was a gradual wealthy young man. Although many process rooted in this experience. hagiographers remark about his fine Upon his return to Assisi in 1203, clothes, lavish spending, rich friends Francis returned to his carefree life. and love of pleasures, his displays of In 1205, Francis left for Apulia to disillusionment toward the world that enlist in the army of Walter III, Count surrounded him came fairly early in his of Brienne, but a strange vision made life. On one occasion he was selling him return to Assisi, having lost his cloth and velvet in the marketplace taste for the worldly life. According on behalf of his father when a beggar to hagiographic accounts, he then asked him for alms. At the conclusion began to avoid the sports and the of his business deal, Francis feasts of his former companions who abandoned his wares and went to asked him laughingly whether he was find the beggar. When he found him, thinking of marrying, to which he he gave the man everything he had answered, “Yes, a fairer bride than in his pockets. His friends mocked any of you have ever seen”, meaning him for his act of charity and later his his “Lady Poverty”.

8 On a pilgrimage to Rome, he joined For the next couple of months, the poor in begging at St Peter’s Francis wandered as a beggar in the Basilica. He spent some time in hills behind Assisi and spent some lonely places, asking God for spiritual time at a neighbouring monastery enlightenment. He said he had a working as a scullion. He then went mystical vision of Jesus Christ in to Gubbio, where a friend gave the forsaken country chapel of San him, as an alms, the cloak, girdle, Damiano, just outside Assisi, in which and staff of a pilgrim. Returning to the Icon of Christ Crucified said to Assisi, he traversed the city begging him, “Francis, Francis, go and repair stones for the restoration of San My house which, as you can see, Damiano’s which he carried to the is falling into ruins”. He took this to old chapel, set in place himself, and mean the ruined church in which he so eventually rebuilt it. Over the was presently praying, and so he sold course of two years, he embraced some cloth from his father’s store to the life of a penitent, during which he assist the priest there for this purpose. restored several ruined chapels in the When the priest refused to accept the countryside around Assisi, including ill-gotten gains, an indignant Francis the Porziuncola, the little chapel of St threw the coins on the floor. Mary of the Angels in the plain just In order to avoid his father’s below the town. This later became his anger, Francis hid in a cave near favourite abode. Gradually he took San Damiano for about a month. to nursing lepers in the lazar houses When he returned to town, hungry near Assisi. and dirty, he was dragged home In 1208 Francis was inspired to by his father, beaten, bound, and devote himself to a life of poverty locked in a small storeroom. Freed and travelled around preaching. by his mother during Bernardone's His dedication to poverty, humility, absence, Francis returned at once to obedience, patience and compassion San Damiano, where he found shelter soon attracted followers and, in 1209, with the officiating priest, but he was he received permission from Pope soon cited before the city consuls by Innocent III to form a new religious his father. The latter, not content with order known as the Friars Minor having recovered the scattered gold (commonly called the Franciscans). from San Damiano, sought also to Francis is credited with creating the force his son to forego his inheritance first Nativity scene around 1220 when by way of restitution. In the midst of he used live animals so worshippers legal proceedings before the Bishop could contemplate the humble birth of Assisi, Francis renounced his father of Jesus whilst he preached to them. and his patrimony. Some accounts A manger placed between the real ox report that he stripped himself naked and donkey acted as an altar for the in token of this renunciation and the Christmas Mass. Bishop covered him with his own Whilst praying on Mount Verna, cloak. during a forty-day fast in preparation

9 for Michaelmas (29th September), put into a glass urn in the tomb. Francis is said to have had a vision on St Francis is the patron saint of or about 14th September 1224, the animals and the natural environment Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, and also, on 18th June 1939, Pope as a result of which he received Pius XII designated Francis a joint the stigmata. A fellow brother, who Patron Saint of Italy along with St had been with Francis at the time, Catherine of Siena. reported the event: “Suddenly he saw Today, over three million people a a vision of a seraph, a six-winged year make a pilgrimage to his tomb angel on a cross. This angel gave him revealing him to be one of the most the gift of the five wounds of Christ.” popular and beloved saints of all time. Suffering from these stigmata and If you look at the east end stained from trachoma, Francis received care glass window in the north aisle of our in several cities to no avail, so in the church you will see St Francis in the end he was brought back to a hut right hand panel. next to the Porziuncola. In the place Annie Edwards where the Franciscan movement began, and feeling that the end of his life was approaching, he spent his last days dictating his spiritual testament. He died on the evening of 3rd October 1226, reciting Psalm 142, “Voce mea ad Dominum”. Francis was canonised by Pope Gregory IX on 16th July 1228 and the following day, the Pope laid the foundation stone for the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi. Francis was buried under the Lower Basilica on 25th May 1230, but his tomb was soon hidden to protect it from Saracen invaders and his exact burial place remained unknown until it was rediscovered in 1818 with the skeleton intact. A crypt was then constructed in the Lower Basilica to house the remains. In 1978, the remains of St Francis were examined, confirmed by a commission of scholars appointed by Pope Paul VI, and Basilica of Saint Francis, Assisi 10 Social Justice Group’s Suggestions for Sustainability Milks A third of British people have switched to non-dairy milk. Dairy free alternatives have a much lower impact on the environment as cow-farming produces a lot of methane, a greenhouse gas. Much land is needed to grow the crops for cattle feed and huge amounts of water are used in this process too. Dairy milk produces three times as much greenhouse gas as any alternative and consumes nine times more land. However, some alternatives to dairy are problematic too, especially when mass-farmed. Almond farming is having a detrimental effect on bee populations. In the US, 70% of all commercial bees are drafted in to pollinate almond blossoms. By the end of the season, one third have died. Almond milk farming methods also use huge quantities of water. 130 pints of water are needed to produce one glass of almond milk. Rice milk also needs a lot of water for cultivation and has a lower nutritional value than many milks. Paddyfield bacteria produce methane and fertilisers pollute waterways. Research has shown that oat milk is one of the most sustainable milks available. As its popularity rises, its impact on the environment (water use, deforestation etc.) should not be as harsh as some other crops as it is grown in cooler climates. However, products containing conventionally-grown, mass-produced oats often show traces of glyphosate pesticide, a possible carcinogen. Choosing organic brands, such as Oatly, will ensure that this is not a problem. Hazlenut milk is also a preferable alternative as it is wind- pollinated. As a tree, it helps to turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. It is generally farmed in areas wet enough not to need much extra water. Hemp and flax are also more environmentally friendly, are less widely farmed and a great source of protein and healthy fats. Coconut farming often involves the exploitation of pickers so choose Fair Trade products if you use coconut oils and milks as alternatives to dairy products. Soy milk is a more sustainable alternative and has health benefits, especially for women, when consumed in moderation as it has a higher protein content. However, huge areas of rainforest have been and are still cut down for soy farming because it is also used in animal feed. If you are to choose food and drink produced from soybeans, try to buy organic products grown in the US or Canada. Water Tap water costs 250 – 10,000 times less than bottled water. A bottle of water is 1000 times more carbon intensive than tap water. 11 Cut Flowers A bunch of imported flowers can have the equivalent carbon footprint of a flight from London to Birmingham. Buy flowers and plants that are grown as close to home as possible as well as fruit, vegetables and meat. Palm oil The production of palm oil has increased as oil palms can yield ‘up to ten times (more) per hectare than rapeseed, soybeans and sunflowers’. Palm oil also has a long shelf-life and is cheap. High demand for palm oil can drive deforestation, particularly in places like Indonesia, Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo, as land is used for planting and harvesting palm trees. Rainforest Rescue estimate that the equivalent of 300 football fields are being destroyed every hour. This leads to rises in CO2 emissions and a loss of biodiversity. The habitats of many already endangered species, such as elephants, rhinos, tigers and orangutans, are disappearing rapidly. The demand for palm oil is expected to double by 2030 and triple by 2050. 50% of packaged goods contain palm oil, including crackers, biscuits, crisps, cereals, margarine and spreads, tinned products like spaghetti hoops, frozen foods, sweets, chocolate, nut and chocolate sauces, soft drinks, toothpaste, soap, shampoos, conditioners, bubble baths, shower gels, deodorants, face and body creams and cosmetics, including nail varnish. There are certain brands that are particularly linked to ‘dirty’ palm oil producers like Wilmar. These are Colgate, L’Oreal Ritz, Kellogg’s, Doritos, Kit Kat, Dove, M and M’s, Head and Shoulders, Mars Nestle, Johnson’s Baby, as well as P&G, Unilever and Mondelez subsidiaries. Other recognisable brands whose products contain palm oil are: Wall’s, Cadbury’s, Flora, Maryland, Oreo, Batchelor’s and Max Factor. Where possible, avoid palm oil and its derivatives by reading the ingredients list (I need my reading glasses for this!) or look for labels that show that the product uses sustainably produced or organic palm oil. Palm oil ingredients are not always easy to spot, but usually contain the words (or parts of words) palm, glyceryl, stearic acid, lauryl, sodium kernelate, elaeis guineensis, stearate/stearic. As you buy new products, check the label and try to find an alternative if they contain non-sustainable palm oil. A product by product approach is easier than trying to do everything all at once. Brands using no palm oil or sustainable palm oil are Meridan, Whole Earth, Ben and Jerry’s, Divine, Yeo Valley, Lush, Body Shop, Nakd and Yoyo. Of course, there are many more too. Some supermarkets are making their own brands palm oil free or are using sustainable sources. If you would like to do more than adjust the items in your shopping basket, you could look for and sign online petitions or write to companies to encourage change. Elisabeth Johnston — [email protected] We’d love to hear from you about any changes you make, any ideas that you’d like to suggest or if there are any areas you’d like us to write about. 12 God in the Arts

He gave us eyes to see them: ‘St Francis of Assisi preaching to the fish’

On 4th October we give thanks for one of the most loved saints in the church — Francis of Assisi. He died in 1226, but his example and witness have lived on to inspire Christians through the centuries. His was a life focused on the crib and the cross, Lady Poverty postage stamps, and the basilica of and the stigmata, suffering and Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre. Here in transfiguration. But also, it was a life this canvas, we see St Francis with marked by a deep love of creation: St followers young and old, a faithful dog Francis had a special nearness to all and the fish at the water’s edge. creatures great and small. As we read What was the saint telling them? I the stories of Thomas of Celano, we think that they were loved and valued learn how he tamed a wolf in Gubbio, as part of the rich tapestry of God’s how swallows would chirp and fly creation, and they must return that around his head, how lambs would love. It is the mood of the Benedicite come close and gaze with delight, how where all things that move in the earth, his faithful donkey wept as the saint the skies and the seas are exhorted approached death, and in this month’s to praise the Lord and magnify him painting, how fish would come to the forever. St Francis captures that mood shore to hear him preach. in his own Canticle of the Sun. Thomas relates how Francis returned In the weeks and months of some fish that had been caught to the lockdown many of us have had the water, telling them not to be caught time to look afresh at our relationship again. They lingered near the boat, with the world of nature as we have listening to the saint until he gave them journeyed through the seasons of permission to leave. spring and summer. We have learnt to The sermon to the fish is portrayed wonder at the richness and variety of in this work by Luc-Olivier Merson, creation. We need to take that lesson a French artist who lived from 1846 into the ‘new normal’ as restrictions to 1920. He is better known for his are gradually relaxed. The clock and work with designs for banknotes, the complexity of life may easily take 13 over again, but St Francis is inviting us to journey with him in simplicity and joy as we praise God with all His creatures:

‘Let all things their Creator bless and worship Him in humbleness.’ Michael Burgess

Note: This painting hangs in the Musée D’Arts in Nantes.

And, as usual, the music’s organic too Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday 18th October

Our Harvest celebrations will be somewhat different this year. We still encourage you to bring your food donations to church but ask that you restrict them to tins and packaged foods (not fresh produce). Donations can be brought to church at any 9.00 am Sunday service up to and on 18th October. Alternatively, on any Wenesday before 18th October between 10.00 am and 12.00 noon. All gifts will go to the Birmingham City Mission. Thank you.

Women of Jamaica Lord, Show us where there is loneliness …that we may take friendship. Show us where individuals are not seen as persons …that we may acknowledge their identity. Show us where there is alienation …that we may take recognition and reconciliation. Contributed by Annina

14 Tanworth-in-Arden WI

Twelve members of the WI met for a by far the most important thing was picnic lunch on 10th August. Carole being able to be with our families Hyde-Smith had kindly offered her again. That restriction placed on us by garden as our venue and she also the virus was very hard to bear. arranged a lovely sunny afternoon for October is the month of the us. We all brought our own picnics and anniversary of our first meeting way Carole had set up tables and chairs back in 1922. We had planned a bring on the lawn. It was such a pleasure and share supper but that would not to see everyone again and there be feasible now. However, we will not was much catching up to be done. let it go unmarked. You don’t get to 98 Carole’s husband, Alex, resplendent years without being resourceful. in bow tie and jacket, ensured we did Our Committee has not met since not go thirsty by serving us a delicious before lockdown either and we miss fruit punch. We all enjoyed a relaxing the companionship and planning afternoon and went home with happy of our meetings. We hope we can smiles on our faces. meet in October to look to the We debated whether we should future as best we can and to try to try to have a meeting in September make arrangements for our AGM in but many of our members are not November. It’s important, as it’s when yet ready to meet in a larger group we elect our President and agree our indoors and we were unsure if the committee for the year ahead. Some Village Hall would be ready to take of us can “Zoom” but others cannot us. So our last speaker was cancelled and we must ensure that every with all the rest we had cancelled member has a say in these important through the year. decisions. However, Pauline asked us to let We will continue to do our best in her know what we had been doing the knowledge that our members since lockdown eased and published are still committed to WI and looking our 10th Lockdown Times. While we forward to the time when we can meet all had enjoyed the freedom to travel again. and go out more, it was obvious that Eunice Pearson Quotes by Bruce Lee as philosopher Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do. I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.

15 Tanworth-in-Arden Flower and Produce Show In a normal year at the beginning of September, we would have been making final preparations for the Show which was scheduled for Saturday 12th. Unfortunately, that was not to be, but I thought we might look at some judging points for a few of the most popular vegetable entries at Tanworth Show. Runner Beans These usually attract a good number Elizabeth Woodward of entries as many people who do not have a large garden often like to grow to have uniformity which any gardener a few in a small area or container. The will tell you is quite difficult to achieve beans should be long, slender and unless you dig up half a row! However, straight with fresh pods of a good they should be tender roots of a good colour and no outward signs of seeds. shape, free from side roots and with Always check the correct number are a clean skin. There should be no pest entered and that they are uniform in damage or green at the crown. size and shape. You may notice after judging that a bean has been broken Courgettes because if it is fresh and tender it will Very popular at Tanworth Show. They snap easily. need to be young and tender and not Tomatoes too large — about 10 – 15 cm (4 – 6 Another very popular class at inches) is an ideal size. They can be any Tanworth. Again, these can be grown colour but need to be well matched. in small spaces in containers or “Gro- If you have grown any of these bags”. There are usually two Classes vegetables this year you might like to — cherry tomatoes, which usually judge them yourself just for a bit of requires ten to be presented, or larger fun. Let us hope you can grow them sized ones, requiring five to be entered. again next year and enter them for rd Always check the Schedule to make real. I notice at the time of writing (3 sure you entered the correct number. September) that the sloes are starting The tomatoes will be judged on their to appear. Keep your eye open for condition, colour, size and shape them in preparation for the alcoholic and their uniformity. They should beverages Class. always have their little stalks (calyces) Remember that we are looking for attached. a bumper crop of entries for the 2021 Show so let us hope we can soon say Carrots goodbye to this horrible virus and get We usually ask for three with 75 mm back to more normal times. Keep well. of tops left on. Again, it is important June Hemming 16 Crossword Solution on page 32 Across 1. 1951 novel by Nicholas Monsarrat based on his North Atlantic naval experiences in World War II (3,5,3) 7. Company founded in 1945 in Clichy, France, which manufactures disposable consumer goods (3) 9. Town in East Sussex nicknamed "the bonfire capital of the world" (5) 10. Sovereign state in southern Africa whose capital is Mbabane (9) 11. Bill ___, actor who played ARP Warden William Hodges in TV sitcom Dad's Army (7) 12. Village 8 miles from Coventry which claims to be the geographical centre of England (7) 13. The world's highest uninterrupted 3. Ken ___ , Australian tennis player, the cascade of water (5,5) losing Men's Singles finalist at Wimbledon in 15. A fixed stake put down by a poker player 1974, aged 39 (8) usually before the deal (4) 4. Disc jockey who broadcast his Radio 2 17. In Indian cuisine, the potato (4) show live from the summits of Ben Nevis and 18. European city which hosts the annual Snowdon for charity in 1995 (2,7) Spectre Film festival celebrating science- 5. A sustained involuntary muscular fiction, horror and fantasy (10) contraction (5) 21. Oakland ____, NFL American football 6. The standard monetary unit of Madagascar club who play in grey and black colours (7) (6) 23. A lightweight weapon first manufactured 7. Neoclassical monument in Berlin built in Brno, now in the Czech Republic, then in by Carl Gotthard Langhans in the late 18th Enfield, England (4,3) century (11,4) 24. A medicinal and lubricating liquid 8. A succession of chords closing a musical obtained from the seeds of the tropical phrase or at the end of a complete melody (7) African plant Ricinus communis (6,3) 14. American folk and blues musician born 25. A richly jewelled semicircular head- Huddie William Ledbetter in 1889 (9) ornament worn by women (5) 16. French term meaning "see you again 26. An obsolete measure equivalent to 216 soon" (1,7) gallons of ale (3) 17. An Asian fruit, Prunus armeniaca, 27. English rock and roll star who reached roundish, orange-coloured, with a downy number one with Singing the Blues in 1957 skin and of a rich aromatic flavour (7) (5,6) 19. The top edge of the hull of a nautical Down vessel where it meets the deck (7) 1. Genus of edible freshwater fish native to 20. A vessel used in a chemical process, Africa and the Middle East, also known as St typically a flask with a long bent-back neck Peter's fish (7) used for distillation (6) 2. Actor who played notorious gangster 22. A wind of force 10 on the Beaufort scale, Johnny Rocco in the 1948 film Key Largo reaching speeds of 55 to 63mph (5) (6,1,8) 17 The Battle of Britain — 80th Anniversary This year we have been com- memorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II which means that it is the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The Battle of Britain takes its name from the speech given by Prime Minister Winston Churchill to the House of Commons on 18th June 1940: “What General Weygand called others for several days, so radar vans the ‘Battle of France’ is over. I expect were temporarily used to replace those that the Battle of Britain is about to affected. Unfortunately radar detection begin.” This was the first major battle to did not stop the Germans attacking be fought entirely in the air and began Fighter Command airfields and aircraft on 10th July when 70 German fighters factories on 13th August, ‘Eagle Day’ attacked British supply convoys in the (Adlertag), but bad weather did disrupt English Channel with 30 British fighters the action. attempting to intercept them. During On 24th August German night-time the remainder of July and into the first bombers aiming for RAF airfields two weeks of August, German planes drifted off course and accidentally continued to assault the shipping and destroyed several London homes, coastal regions of England. killing civilians. The following day the Adolf Hitler had expected the British RAF bombed Berlin in retaliation with to seek a peace settlement after the 80 aircraft from three squadrons taking French defeat in June but Britain part but doing very little damage. They was determined to fight on. He then continued attacks over several nights explored options that would bring incensing Hitler who ordered reprisals the war to a quick end and issued a on London and other major British directive on 16th July to prepare for cities which turned out to be an error an invasion of Britain — Operation of critical importance. The ‘Blitz’ lasted Sealion — which would be mobilised from 7th September 1940 to 11th May once the Luftwaffe had air superiority 1941 and the British press was the first over the Channel. to use the term which means ‘lightning’ In mid-August the Germans realised in German. The raids had devastating that the British were using radar effects but also they gave Britain’s to detect their aircraft so launched defences time to recover. attacks on the ‘Chain Home’ stations On 15th September 1940, 1,120 along the coast. Some stations were German planes were sent to attack put out of operation for a few hours, London and the South East and were 18 the scale of British aircraft production and the use of technology. The Battle of Britain ended on 31st October 1940 when the last daylight raid by the Germans took place in the UK. However, the night-time attacks continued throughout the winter ceasing only in 1941 when the Luftwaffe moved east in preparation repelled by 630 RAF fighters in what is for their attack on the Soviet Union. now regarded as one of Britain’s finest Victory in the campaign did not win hours. In that large daylight attack, 60 the war, but it made winning a possibility German planes and 26 British planes in the longer term. Four years later, were shot down during the fighting. the Allies would launch their invasion After that significant loss, the Luftwaffe of Nazi-occupied Europe, Operation switched its main effort to night attacks. Overlord, from British shores, which Failing to have gained air superiority on would prove decisive in ultimately that day, Hitler postponed Operation bringing the war against Germany to Sealion indefinitely. an end. Although Fighter Command There are numerous memorials to suffered heavy losses and was the Battle of Britain, amongst which often outnumbered during actual are those on the Victoria Embankment engagements, the British outproduced in London, Capel-le-Ferne in Kent, the Germans and maintained a level of Armadale Castle on the Isle of aircraft production that helped them Skye, commemorative windows in withstand their losses. The Luftwaffe, Westminster Abbey and St James’s with its lack of heavy bombers and Church, Paddington, and Croydon failure to identify critically important Airport. There are also two museums targets, never inflicted strategically to the battle, one at Hawkinge in Kent significant damage. It suffered from and one at Stanmore in London, at constant supply problems, mainly due to underachievement in aircraft production, and poor intelligence in underestimating the size of the RAF,

the former RAF Bentley Priory (Fighter Command Headquarters). Annie Edwards

19 Arden Division County Councillor Report — October Government in Westminster is due Arden Division Clerks and Chairs to release a white paper of local will be meeting on 7th October and government reform next month and I will be receiving a special briefing on have reported previously the County the rôle and activities of the police Council will be debating the merits Rural Crime unit, a regular update of creating unitary authorities in on the performance of the Safer Warwickshire this month. A unitary Neighbourhood Teams and a County authority is a single council that officer will discuss how Parishes and assumes all the duties of the County the County can work together on Council and the District Councils. roads maintenance, speeding and Parish Councils would remain as they flood alleviation. are. During my time as County Councillor, The choice before the Council I have received many justified seems to be boiling down to either complaints about speeding and road one unitary council covering the whole safety, roads maintenance, flooding of Warwickshire or two unitaries, and anti-social behaviour. Last one covering Stratford and Warwick winter’s weather and the more recent Districts and one covering Rugby, severe thunderstorms and Lockdown Nuneaton and Bedworth and North have highlighted shortcomings in the Warwickshire. County’s response to these issues. When this matter was debated about There are options that are open to 5 years ago the Conservative group the Parishes to address this. Parishes voted for one unitary and Labour could fund their own dedicated team of and Liberal Democrats voted for two private community officers to suppress unitaries. One unitary was estimated to anti-social behaviour and prosecute save Warwickshire residents about £25 speedsters, and they could also hire million a year and two unitaries saved contractors as “lengthsmen” to carry around £13 million a year. At the time out roads and flood maintenance. there was no appetite in Westminster The downside is that it would require to push through unitary government everyone paying a higher Parish and so nothing happened. However precept, but this is a choice we will given the impact of Covid-19 on the have to make if we want to improve Government finances we can expect things. Paying a higher County precept more enthusiasm for cost saving would not guarantee the money would and so must assume something will be spent in the Parish. happen. John Horner, 01926 842068

20 Warwickshire Rural Community Council (WRCC)

WRCC is a local registered charity supporting residents in Warwickshire. We run an oil syndicate helping people who are off the mains gas supply network obtain very competitive prices on their heating oil. As winter approaches we hope to reach as many residents as possible for them to consider becoming a member of the syndicate and benefit from the consistently lower prices we achieve. Becoming a member is easy and free of charge. Orders are placed monthly either online or over the ’phone. We deal with the negotiations, which removes the hassle from members. We have been running the syndicate since 2012 and have an excellent track record for securing cheaper than average quoted prices. Our website offers further information about the syndicate and membership. Should you have any queries about the syndicate, please contact Sharn on 01789 472619 or via email at [email protected].

Visit our website: www.wrccrural.org.uk Office: Warwick University — Wellesbourne Campus, Wellesbourne, Warwick CV35 9EF

Quotes “Even when all the experts agree, they may well be mistaken.” Bertrand Russell “A ruffled mind makes for a restless pillow.” Charlotte Brontë “Whoever is winning at the moment will always seem to be invincible.” George Orwell 21 22 CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR 2020 — Limited Stock Our church Christmas cards are available to purchase in packs of ten, with envelopes (18 x 13 cm; 7 x 5 in), at £5 per pack. This year we are featuring two related designs — the figurines from the church’s Nativity display and a knitted Nativity created by Betty Riley. There will be 5 cards of each design in a pack. Cards are FSC certified (Forest Stewardship Council) and Eco-Pack wrapped.

Message inside reads: Wishing you joy at Christmas and in the year ahead

Sold in aid of St Mary Magdalene, Tanworth-in-Arden Supported by the Friends of St Mary Magdalene There is also a limited stock of previous years’ cards available in packs of 10, single design, at £5 per pack. Cards will be available to buy/collect when the church is open at 9.00 am Sunday services and Wednesday Private Prayer between 10.00 am – 12.00 noon. Please bring the correct amount of cash or a cheque (payable to Tanworth-in-Arden PCC) Email [email protected] with any queries All proceeds go towards furthering the work of the church. 23 A House Through History

In my previous article I wrote about our home which is part of a building built in 1448, and was an inn until 1860 before conversion into three cottages. In particular I wrote about Gertrude Robinson who owned all three cottages for 50 years and lived in our house until her death in 1952. This time the subject is Frank Smith and let me say straight escape. On his return to civilian life he away that the link with the cottages is married and worked in the car industry a bit tenuous. Frank Smith was a child in Birmingham. Early on his wife evacuee during the war and was taken developed schizophrenia and was in in by Mr and Mrs Tibbles. They had and out of hospital. She died eventually moved to Tanworth in 1911 and had from an officially administered lived in one of the three cottages but overdose of lithium. His son was also a by the time of the war had moved to schizophrenic and committed suicide. Timbers Cottage which is opposite us. In any other person these events could Lionel Tibbles was a tailor and he and have bred bitterness and depression Sarah had three children who by then but he took up painting and decided to had grown up. tell his life story through paintings. The Frank grew up in a children’s home result was published in 1993 under the while his mother was in a workhouse. title “A Brush with Life” and it contains He never knew his father. For him the 34 paintings of his time in Tanworth. five years in Tanworth during the war Many scenes will be familiar to us and were the happiest of his childhood, if the story is moving. Used copies of his not of his life. He describes arriving in book can be bought from Amazon for Tanworth, aged ten, and being taken about £5. to the school, with other evacuee He frequently visited Tanworth and children, where local residents chose on one visit presented the village with which child to take in. Frank and one the painting illustrated in recognition other boy were the last to be taken but of the help given to the war time they were lucky. It was Sarah Tibbles, evacuees. and as Frank wrote much later “I felt What of the Tibbles? Lionel died in a glow of happiness come over me. I 1943 from polio. His wife moved to knew I had a new home with someone the Ivy Stores at the end of The Green I liked.” where she and her son Owen sold Frank stayed in Tanworth until he was beer and spirits. She died in 1958. 15 when he returned to Birmingham to There is a headstone in the churchyard live with his mother who had remarried. commemorating her and Lionel as well Unfortunately, his step father was a as their three children. brute and Frank joined the army to Michael Saunders

24 Halloween Quiz 1. The Lincoln Highway was dedicated on this date in 1913, what was significant about this highway? 2. 31st October 1795 saw the birth of which romantic poet who wrote ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’? 3. Which iconic sculpture in South Dakota was completed in 1941 after 14 years? 4. On Halloween of 1984 who was assassinated by two of her Sikh security guards? 5. In 1922 who was made Prime Minister of Italy? 6. Halloween 1956, the United Kingdom and France began bombing Egypt. Why? 7. Which American magician and stuntman died of peritonitis on the Halloween of 1926? 8. Name either of the two Pokemon characters that resemble pumpkins? 9. Residents of New Hampshire set a new world record for most carved and lit pumpkins — how many did they light simultaneously? a) 3,029 b) 15,832 c) 30,128 10. In the Agatha Christie murder mystery ‘Halloween Party’, a girl suffers an unfortunate death at the hands of which Halloween related activity? 11. On Halloween 1864, this ‘Silver State’ was admitted as the 36th US state? 12. What is the name of the Irish bread often eaten at Halloween which is yeasted with added sultanas and raisins? 13. Who sang the 1962 song ‘Monster Mash’? 14. What did the Scottish Witchcraft Act of 1735 forbid the consumption of? a) Sausage rolls b) Pumpkins c) Treacle toffee 15. Which actress played Debbie Jellinsky in ‘Addams Family Values’? 16. Which film sees a troubled teen wake one night to be led outside by a figure in a rabbit costume who says his name is Frank? 17. What sweet treat is often made for Halloween using butter, molasses and sugar? 18. ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ is a short story set around the time of Halloween. Who is the author? 19. Who are Dr Peter Venkman, Dr Raymond Stantz and Dr Egon Spengler better known as? 20. What is the name of the British private detective television series, which when shown in the United States was called ‘My Partner the Ghost’? 21. Thing was a character from The Addams Family TV series. What was the only part of the character ever seen? 22. What is the name for a ghost responsible for physical disturbances, such as loud noises and objects being moved? 23. Which TV series had the characters Fred, Velma, and Daphne? 24. Which ‘Surely you can’t be serious’ actor starred in the Mel Brookes film — ‘Dracula: Dead and Loving it’? 25. Who played the lead in the 1922 film ‘Nosferato’ and who was the director? Answers on page 32 25 USEFUL CONTACTS Age Concern, Warwickshire Tel: 01926 458101 Family Information Service, Warwickshire 0845 090 8044 Family Information Service, Birmingham 0121 303 3521 Citizens Advice Bureau: Redditch 03003 302157 Solihull 03444 111444 Stratford 03003 301183 Council: Stratford-on-Avon District 01789 267575 Warwickshire County 01926 410410 Hospitals: Warwick 01926 495321 Solihull 0121 424 2000 Alexandra, Redditch 01527 503030 NHS Direct 0845 4647 NHS Primary Care Trust, S.Warwickshire 01789 269264 Police All enquiries 01926 415000 Non Urgent 101 PCSO Gary Johnson-Jones 07789 653018 Relate (Relationship Counselling): Birmingham 0121 643 1638 Warwick 01926 403340 Worcester 01905 28051 S.Warwickshire Carers’ Support Service 01926 485486 Trading Standards (Consumer Direct) 08454 040506 Trading Standards (Consumer Direct) Warwick 01926 414000 Volunteer Centre, Stratford 01789 262886 Western Power 0800 678 3105 Member of Parliament Nadhim Zahawi 01789 292723 County Councillor John Horner 01926 842068 District Councillor Tony Dixon 742584 Parish Councillors Roy Willmott (Chairman) 702567 Peter Oakley (Vice Chairman) 702525 Michael Saunders 742406 Tom Ross 742520 Susan Jones 702525 Dermot O’Brien 702866 Leila Chaudry 07738 879193 Dave Burgess 703674 John Doidge 703200 John Brougham 742364 Jason Adams 703200 Lee Ebbutt 703200 Parish Council Office Julie White (Clerk) 703200 Sue Bauckham (Deputy Clerk) 703200 Beavers [email protected] Brownies Tracey Higham 742009 Children’s Society Tracey Higham 742009 Coffee Shop Nicola Humphries 741799 Cricket Club Steve Hartley (Secretary) 07891 142396 Cubs [email protected] Doctors — Medical Centre Reception 742274 Earlswood Baby Group Rachel Evans 741848 Earlswood Historical Society Val Tonks 703911 Earlswood Lunch Club Rachel Boer 742365 26 Earlswood Museum Val Tonks 703911 Earlswood Village Hall Rob Parlett 01564 703427 Bookings: Sue Bethune 07503 173101 Email: [email protected] Website: earlswoodvillagehall.org.uk Earlswood Wildlife Partnership Bob Roberts (Membership Sec) 703231 Flicks in the Sticks Dave Burgess 703674 Flower & Produce Show June Hemming 742148 Footpaths & Bridleways Richard Barnard 01926 412883 Gardening Club Carole Sheppard 742415 Henley Flower Club Sue Eagle 742299 Little Ones’ Service Mary Tipping 742216 Malawi Link TBA Neighbourhood Watch Tony Dixon 742584 Pilates Val Elliott 0121 744 4778 Rainbows/Guides Dawn Rooke (Leader) 01527 544496 Residents’ Assoc (Earlswood) Ewen Cunningham (Chairman) 702617 Residents’ Assoc (Tanworth) Tom Ross (Chairman) 742520 Jane Ashcroft (Secretary) 743073 Website: tanworthresidents.org.uk Royal British Legion Graham Taylor 07866 312231 Scout Group [email protected] Screen on the Green Jo Davis (Membership Secretary) 742374 Table Tennis Club Michael Saunders 742406 Tanworth School & Nursery Reception 742284 Tennis Club Penny Meakin 07801 545363 Tree Officer TBA Tanworth Village Hall Website: tanworthvillagehall.org.uk Bookings: Leila Chaudry 07738 879193 Wheelchair Hire/Hosp Driver Service Volunteer Centre, Stratford 01789 262886 W.I. Sandra Woore (Secretary) 742037 Women's Fellowship Janet Rea 742040 Yoga Kerry Nock 07949 459442

TANWORTH-IN-ARDEN PARISH COUNCIL

is seeking a new PARISH CLERK For further details please contact: [email protected] or call 01564 703200 Closing date for applications is midday on 16th October

27 Sudoku — Difficulty rating: Hard

Solution on page 32

Smoked Mackerel Pots (served hot) Another delve into the Parish Cookbook, and this looked like an appetising starter and maybe something you could serve after a bracing autumn walk with the family. Thanks go to Bibby Barratt who supplied this recipe. Serves four as a starter. 2 smoked mackerel fillets 1½ oz cheddar cheese, grated ½ oz butter Salt and pepper ½ oz flour ¼ tsp mustard powder ½ pint milk Remove the skin from the mackerel fillets and flake the fish into small pieces. Melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour, add the mustard and cook gently for one minute. Remove from the heat and gradually stir in the milk. Bring to the boil, and continue to cook, stirring until the sauce is smooth. Take off the heat and add 1 oz of the cheese. Stir and season. Add the flaked fish and divide between four ramekins. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and place under a hot grill until golden and bubbling. Bibby says it is a very simple starter and always a favourite. Elizabeth Woodward 28 Watcher Of The Skies

October starts with a full moon. The Mars will be at opposition on the Moon will be located on the opposite 14th being at its closest approach side of the Earth as the Sun so its face to Earth and its face will be fully will be fully illuminated. A full moon at illuminated by the Sun. It will be this time of year was known by early brighter than any other time of the Native American tribes as the Hunters’ year and visible all night long so this Moon as the leaves are falling and will be the best time to view and game was ready to be hunted. It has photograph Mars. You should be able also been known as the Travel Moon to see some of the dark details on and the Blood Moon. This full moon the planet’s orange surface through a will also be the Harvest Moon as it medium sized telescope. occurs closest to the September The Orionids meteor shower will equinox. Also on 1st October Mercury peak on the night of the 21st and will be at Greatest Eastern Elongation morning of the 22nd producing about reaching a degree of 25.8 from the 20 meteors an hour. It is produced by Sun. Mercury will be at its highest dust grains left by comet Halley and point above the horizon in the evening the waxing crescent moon will set sky so this is the best time to view it. before midnight leaving dark skies On 3rd October there will be a for best viewing. Meteors will radiate conjunction of the Moon and Mars from the constellation Orion but can followed by a close approach between appear anywhere in the sky. the Earth and Mars on the 6th when At the end of the month we move they will only be 38.6 million miles on to the Southern Taurids meteor apart! shower, a long-running minor shower This is a great month for producing only about 5 – 10 meteors meteor showers starting with the per hour. It consists of debris left Camelopardalids on the 5th and the behind by Comet 2P Encke and is Draconids peaking on the 7th. The famous for producing a higher than Draconids is a minor shower only normal percentage of bright fireballs. producing about 10 meteors an hour It peaks this year on the night of but is unusual in that the best viewing 29th and morning of the 30th but a is in the early evening instead of early nearly full moon will block out all but morning like most other showers. It is the brightest meteors. Meteors will created by dust grains left behind by radiate from the constellation Taurus Coment 21P Glacobini-Zinner which but can appear anywhere in the sky. was first discovered in 1900. There Finally, on the 31st there will be should be a good show as the second a full moon/blue moon as it is the quarter moon will ensure dark skies second full moon this month. The and meteors will radiate from the Moon will be located on the opposite constellation Draco but can appear side of the Earth as the Sun so its face anywhere in the sky. will be fully illuminated. Uranus will

29 This year’s Orionid meteor shower is under favourable Moon conditions, with a peak ZHR of 23 meteors per hour. Credit: Pete Lawrence also be at opposition on its closest into space, forming a dust cloud that approach to the Earth and its face blocked starlight coming from the will be fully illuminated by the sun. surface. This started in October 2019 It will be brighter than at any other and by mid-February 2020 the star time of the year and visible all night had lost more than two-thirds of its long so this will be the best time to brilliance. In late June and early August view it, however it will only appear NASA’s STEREO (Solar and Terrestrial as a tiny blue-green dot in all but the Relations Observatory) observed most powerful telescopes due to its Betelgeuse and its measurements distance. revealed that the star is dimming Betelgeuse (see map) was a cause again. It typically goes through for concern recently as its unexpected brightness cycles lasting about 420 dimming mystified astronomers. days but meant that the dimming is Observations by NASA’s Hubble happening unexpectedly early after Telescope are showing that this was the previous minimum in February. most likely caused by an immense This is an intriguing phenomenon that amount of hot material being ejected scientists will continue to study. Annie Edwards 30 The Stiliyan Petrov Foundation

Ladbrook Park Golf At the time of his illness, and with two Club recently wel- young sons, he became all too aware of comed new member, the support families need in this situation Stiliyan Petrov, a to help battle this terrible disease. As a professional footballer and talented result, and once back to full health, he golfer. He is Bulgaria’s most capped founded The Stiliyan Petrov Foundation player, has 4 Scottish Premier League which funds medical research and titles and is an Aston Villa legend having offers support to those families who are played for the Club from 2006 to 2012. facing the same situation as he did. The When he first came to the UK he Fund has already raised over £250,000 spoke little English but was helped by and to this day Stiliyan and his wife a friend (a security worker at Celtic) remain committed to further developing whose wife ran a burger van. “People the Charity. It is hoped that a Charity would order and say ‘can I have…’ so I Golf Day at Ladbrook can be organised just picked up on it.” Eventually he used at some time in the future as soon as the phrases for himself in restaurants asking for meals, ketchup, salt and even change. “That’s how I learnt because I couldn’t go to lessons” — probably something you wouldn’t see in today’s game. This strength of character and determination was never more evident, however, than when, in 2012, he faced a life and death battle with acute Leukaemia. Dark days were spent in London receiving extensive treatment, supported by his wife, to present restrictions have been lifted. whom he credits his survival. His steely www.facebook.com/ determination prevailed and thankfully thestiliyanpetrovfoundation. he was given the all clear in 2016. Sue Pedley

Quote Frank Zappa knew it 45 years ago! "None of us have the promise of tomorrow. God forbid this is my last day on this beautiful earth — it won’t be spent listening to some news person telling me how rotten we are, how rotten life is. Heck no, I’m going out and seeing how beautiful life is. As humans, our time on this planet is very limited… Turn off, tune out and turn on your life. Peace.” Frank Zappa, American musician and composer

31 Answers to puzzles

Halloween Quiz 1. It was the first automobile highway 14. a) Sausage Rolls across the United States 15. Joan Cusack 2. John Keats 16. Donnie Darko 3. Mount Rushmore 17. Bonfire toffee 4. The Indian Prime Minister, 18. Washington Irving Indira Gandhi 19. Ghostbusters 5. Benito Mussolini 20. Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) 6. To force the reopening of the 21. The hand Suez Canal 22. Poltergeist 7. Harry Houdini 23. Scooby-Doo. The characters solve 8. Gourgeist or Pumpkaboo weird phenomena. The final 9. c) 30,128 episode was screened on 10. She drowned whilst bobbing for 31st October 1970 apples 24. Leslie Nielsen (‘I am serious, and 11. Nevada don’t call me Shirley’ 12. Barmbrack (‘Airplane!’ movie 1980) 13. Bobby Pickett and the Crypt 25. Max Schreck was Count Orlok and Kickers the director was F W Murnau

Nature Notes On the weather front August was surpassed the 150 milli-metres which particularly fell during February. Grassed areas to memorable for the rear of the house are very squishy thunderstorms to put it mildly. The birds do not mind and intense rainfall the abundance of water, so they look events. The 170 contented. At this time of the year millimetres of col- their plumage looks very neat and lected rain in August tidy. There is plenty to eat and drink 32 which will enable them to be in good berries of the bryony were shiny. It condition to survive the winter. The has been an amazingly fruitful year for colours of the young goldfinches and sloes. There were no such vivid colours the nuthatch catch the eye. So too in the verges. There were a few red clover inflorescences which were dull purple rather than red, and occasional meadow buttercups. Unlike creeping buttercup, these stand high on thin branched stems. Yellow also, were a very few Nipplewort flowers. These also grow on thin branched stems, but the flowers are very small indeed. do the greater spotted woodpeckers. Almost overlooked was a single St Young woodpeckers have a “red John’s Wort plant with a small cluster hat” covering the tops of their heads of yellow flowers. It was almost buried when they first start to look after by the surrounding grass. The most themselves. After a few weeks, the noticeable of the wayside flowering females lose the red hat. Young males plants were the willow herbs. Both retain a much smaller red hat. It may the American and the native varieties be that the larger red hat is a signal are tall. They have almost finished to mature woodpeckers to allow the flowering, but a few pink or red flowers youngsters to feed unmolested until they are mature enough to be driven away from the territory to look after themselves. That does seem to be a reasonable possibility. Once a week or so, the afternoon circular dog walk takes in White Pump Lane, other lanes, and a rather muddy track. The sources of colour in the grass verges and hedgerows would be recorded. The verges had been mown recently, so it seemed doubtful that there would be much to see. Beginning in a field entrance, it was the hedgerow that caught the eye. A small area of hedgerow displayed purple, red, white and, of course, green. This patch had remain. They grow in large colonies purple sloes, purple, red and green and produce a profusion of wind berries of Black Bryony in clusters and dispersed seeds. The native variety in varying degrees of ripeness. There has seeds with fine, long silky hairs to were also white flowers of Bindweed. aid wind dispersal. The colour was enhanced as the Harry Tipping

33 Warwickshire Switch & Save in conjunction with Warwickshire County Council

The latest Community Energy Switching Scheme is currently live — Warwickshire residents can now register for the upcoming auction.

Warwickshire County Council is running its eighth collective energy switch to help residents save money on their gas and electricity bills. The scheme has become increasingly popular in Warwickshire with households having already saved a combined amount of £1,071,736 on their gas and electricity bills.

All of the tariffs secured are now 100% renewable electricity!

Key dates: ● Launch: Tuesday 4th August ● Auction: Tuesday 6th October ● Offers: From Monday 19th October ● Closes: Monday 23rd November

For more information, the link for our website is: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/switchandsave.

Max Usen, Junior Energy Manager Apprentice Warwickshire County Council | Shire Hall | Energy Team Construction Services | Enabling Services | Resources Directorate | Warwick | CV34 4RL

Office: +44 (0) 1926 41 2263 Mobile: +44 (0) 7894 359194 Email: [email protected] Energy Team Email: [email protected]

34 Directory Disclaimer: Advertisements are accepted from advertisers in good faith and the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any loss, damage or dispute howsoever caused arising from misprints or omissions or advertisers’ wording, services and supplies. Please mention Tanworth Parish Magazine when responding to any advertisements.

Aerials, Satellite and TV A+ Aerial & Satellite Specialists: Digital Aerials ...... 07989 619577 Freeview & Freesat HD, Sky & Foreign Satellites, extra TV points, 07989 099463 poor reception, wall mount TVs. Fully insured. 2 year guarantee. OAP Discounts. Call Mark for free advice and quotations.

Amenities and Entertainment Earlswood Village Hall For Dances, Private Functions and Meetings. For more details, including Bookings, please ring Sue Bethune on...... 07503 173101 Email: [email protected]

Tanworth-in-Arden Village Hall for your Dances, Concerts, Wedding Receptions, Parties, Meetings — For Bookings ring Leila Chaudry...... 07738 879193 www.tanworthvillagehall.org.uk email: [email protected]

Automobile Repairs & Servicing Tanworth Garage, The Green, Tanworth-in-Arden ...... 01564 742218 MOT Testing. Service. Repairs. Tyres. Diagnostics. Air-conditioning. Exhausts. Suspension. Bodywork. Paintwork. Petrol & Diesel. Car & Light commercial. New & Used Vehicles supplied. FREE COLLECTION & DELIVERY. Call in or telephone for bookings and quotations.

Beauty and Nails Bellissima Spa...... 01564 742472 Facial aesthetics, beauty therapy. Wide range of treatments, gel nails, massage & some fantastic anti-wrinkle treatments. Call for details or appointment.

Builders, Carpenters and Roofers Hopkins Property Services Hockley Heath. Building repairs...... 01564 784109 Roof repairs & maintenance, Painting & decorating, Landscaping, 07989 591587 Patios & Fencing, Garden maintenance. No VAT. More services undertaken.

JM Rubber Roofing…………………………………………………….....07469 190090 The alternative to bitumen for your flat roofs. Firestone Rubber Cover approved installer. www.jmrubberroofing.co.uk; email [email protected]

35 Peter Hussey, 5 Mayfield Drive, Henley-in-Arden B95 5JG ...... 01564 792039 Quality work at competitive prices: Repairs, Maintenance, Security Locks, Replacement Windows, Staircases, Fitted Kitchens, Purpose Made Joinery.

Tim Payne ...... 07976 818580 Odd Jobs, all aspects of General Household Repairs undertaken, no job too small.

Woodside Carpentry and Joinery ...... 07515 718443 Experienced, well established local carpenter. All aspects of carpentry including kitchens, doors, storage, alterations and repairs.

Care Services Senior Care Support Services ………………………… 01564 743067 / 07798 703007 Locally based care advisory service. Here to offer advice and support to help you understand how the care system can work for you. Our extensive knowledge of local domiciliary care agencies and care homes, will mean that you have a guiding hand when exploring your options. Email: [email protected]

Carpets and Flooring Richard Burman — Carpets & Flooring..………………………………07590 395142 Local, friendly and professional service with over 10 years experience. We supply and fit carpets, cushion floor vinyls, Karndean and Amtico and wet rooms. We are happy to dispose of any existing flooring and move furniture if required. Please call for a free quotation or email [email protected].

D.A. Mander & Son Ltd ...... 01564 700200 All makes of Carpets and Vinyls supplied and fitted. 07976 778694 Choose your carpets in the comfort of your home; seeing them in their true lighting. Free Estimates. We can uplift and remove existing carpets and move furniture. Family business for 25 years. Suppliers to The National Trust. No deposit required.

Wainwright’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning...... 01527 459776 / 07748 801658 Family run since 1980 specialising in high quality eco-friendly carpet and upholstery cleaning. Professional and friendly service. Full member of the NCCA. ‘Which?’ Trusted Trader. www.wainwrightscarpetcleaning.co.uk.

Central Heating Services Brian Hartles – Plumbing and Heating Engineers...... 0121 258 4433 / 07804 882218 Tower House, Broad Lane, Tanworth in Arden, B94 5HX. Email: [email protected]. Gas and LPG “Gas Safe Registered” — Oil “Oftec Registered” — Unvented Cylinders — Solar Thermal Safe — Contractor Accredited. We can offer Finance Options and Debit/Credit Card Payments on new boiler installations we fit. All domestic/commercial plumbing and heating replacement, service and repair work undertaken. We are Worcester Bosch accredited installers who can offer boilers with up to 10 years warranty. We also fit Vissemann, Valliant, Baxi, Vokera and Ideal Boilers. 36 Wythall Heating Services Ltd, 403 Alcester Rd, Wythall, B’ham B47 6JL....01564 824350 For all your heating, plumbing and electrical needs. Family owned business for over thirty years. Fully qualified for Natural Gas, LPG, Oil and unvented domestic hot water systems. Installation, maintenance and repair of all types of gas appliances. 24 hour emergency service. System efficiency improvements including power flushing. Landlords’ certificates. Gas Safe registered. Email: [email protected]

Chimney Sweeps Chimney Sweep...... 07597 672655 Local. Very good rates and very reliable. Also smoke alarms supplied and fitted. 20% discounts for pensioners. Please call for details.

Graham Cornell, Flat 2, 46 Oxford Rd, Moseley, Birmingham B13 9ER.....07545 876475 Family business established over 40 years. Clean and efficient service. Competitive prices.

Geoff Waldron, 18 Cadbury Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 9BH...... 0121 449 6218 Chimneys swept and cleared with brush and vacuum. Efficient 07790 039533 service. No mess. Same day call out.

Chiropodists and Podiatrists Penny Holland RGN OHNDip MSSChA MSBChA ...... 01564 200802 Modern ground floor surgery and visiting practice. Evenings and 07968 659425 weekends available. 137, Alcester Road, Hollywood.

Jonathan Leese, M. Ch. S., HPC Registered ...... 0121 733 1292 The Coach House, 193, Creynolds Lane, Cheswick Green, Shirley B90 4ES Surgery and Home Visits.

Cleaning and Domestic Services Bright and Beautiful Housekeeping ……………………01564 339967 / 07419 750975 An award-winning concept in domestic cleaning services, we provide eco-friendly cleaning, tidying, laundry and ironing with the highest standards of security and service to give you a beautifully clean home and a brighter you! Let us make your house sparkle and shine! Call Delpreet for a free tailored quotation. www.brightandbeautifulhome.com.

Pressed for Time...... 07867 311811 A Quality Ironing Service. I live in Tanworth Village so please ring me in the evening for further details.

Hamilton Cleaning Services...... 07391 665260 Local domestic home care, providing eco-friendly cleaning, tidying, laundry and ironing; with carefully selected professional cleaners and high standards of security and service. References available. Please call Sue Small. infohamiltonhomesand [email protected].

37 The Maid Brigade...... 01564 824289 / 07855 435073 Cleaning offered weekly, fortnightly, monthly, spring cleans, one off cleans, office and end of tenancy cleans. We provide flexible, reliable and affordable cleaning by our professional experienced and reference DBS checked staff. We are fully insured and provide all cleaning products. Please do not hesitate to contact Rachael for more details. www.the-maid-brigade.co.uk. ‘We’re here to help so please feel free to give us a call!!’

Computer Services Computer Doctors for home and business (Tanworth-in-Arden) ...... 01564 741846 Helping local people with computer problems for over 10 years. 07903 545085 No jargon, just excellent, prompt, reliable service. 25+ yrs experience. No fix No fee.

Computer Repair Man...... 01564 785566 With IT expertise gained over twenty years, Computer Repair Man works quickly, professionally and never charges more than two hours for home visits. What’s more, if he can’t fix it, you won’t pay a penny! For a local reliable and friendly service, direct to your door, please call Jason today, or send him an email to: [email protected].

Ontrack Computers Ltd………………………….………………………01564 330505 Local, friendly, WHICH? recommended computer engineer. We come to your home or business to sort out email, broadband, wireless and virus issues. Also services include 1-2-1 training, annual servicing/MOTs and much more. We also upgrade computers, repair hardware and even supply new. Over 20 years’ experience, fully insured with 5 star WHICH? reviews. Based locally in Hockley Heath. Check out my reviews on Which? Trusted Traders. Call Mike Nash. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.ontrackcomputers.co.uk.

Conservatories, Doors and Windows The Window Centre (Solihull) Ltd ...... 0121 745 7713 Specialists in all types of replacement Windows. Doors and Conservatories. Insurance work undertaken. Local Representative.

Counselling Barbara Grant MBACP, qualified experienced Person-Centred counsellor offering a safe confidential environment in which to explore personal and emotional conflicts, depression, relationship difficulties, or similar issues. Please call: ...... 01564 742293

Decorators Bill Boyce Decorators ...... 0121 744 0040 / 07976 810680 Family run business established for over 30 years. All types of painting & decorating carried out. Website: www.billboycedecorators.co. Email: [email protected]

Angus Heinrich, The Birches, Kemps Green, Hockley Heath...... 01564 742381 Painting, Decorating and Home Maintenance, competitive rates. No VAT. 07828 673957 38 Dentistry Bellissima Dental and Aesthetics Clinic...... 01564 742787 Dr Elliott (GDC 63636) is pleased to announce the opening of his dental clinic in the heart of Tanworth. The clinic takes pride in offering a highly professional, individual and distinctive service. We listen to our patients’ requirements and then provide a bespoke service specific to the individual. No treatment plan is the same, as no individual is the same. Email enquiries@ bellissimaclinic.com.

Domestic Appliance and Washing Machine Repairs Chris Ready Services, 96, Tanworth Lane, Shirley ...... 0121 733 1946 Full Repair and Maintenance for all Kitchen and Laundry Equipment 07860 744937 including Refrigeration, Dishwasher and Washing Machines.

John’s Repair Services……………………………………...…………..…07469 232230 All kitchen appliances repaired. Experienced engineer based in Hockley Heath. Friendly professional service. Call us or email [email protected].

Drainage SOS Services, 184 Haslucks Green Road...... 0121 744 0505 SOS Services Drainage Engineers. Domestic & Commercial. HP Jetting. CCTV Surveys. Drain Repairs & Insitu Lining. Drive and Patio Cleaning. Same Day Service. Fixed Price. No Call Out Charge.

Driveways Surfco Solihull...... 01564 785121 Specialists in block paving, tarmac drives and resin-bonded driveways in addition to hard garden landscaping including walls, pathways, fencing and patios. Domestic and commercial with Car Parks, Perimeter Roads, Playgrounds and Forecourts. All categories of Macadam or Asphalt work undertaken. Call for a free visit and quotation.

Electricians David L. Turner...... 0121 628 9236 / 07716 764257 Domestic installer NICEIC registered Electrician. 35 years’ experience. Domestic, Commercial, Industrial, Garden Lighting, Outside Lighting. Test and Inspections, Security Lighting. Email: [email protected].

Electrician...... 07958 611257 Domestic and Commercial. A reliable trustworthy service. For all your electrical needs including rewires, fault finding, CCTV, alarms, maintenance and safe removal of existing electrics. No obligation quotes. Call Richard Kavanagh.

39 Financial Services Marion Fletcher Money Saving Coach...... 01564 742206 / 07702 095244 As an Accountant and NLP Coach, I will work with you to develop confidence around money matters to enable you to reduce outgoings and increase savings. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.moneysavingcoach.co.uk.

Walford Wealth Management — Financial Planning...... 0121 809 0600 / 07919 054994 We provide a comprehensive wealth management service based in Tanworth-in- Arden. Specialising in Retirement and Investment Planning, Inheritance Tax Planning, Corporate Services and Protection. We offer a bespoke advice service tailored to our customers ever-changing needs. Contact [email protected] or visit us at www.walfordwealth.co.uk.

Florists Petals of Piccadilly...... 0121 643 2468 We are a boutique florist set in the heart of Birmingham city centre. We have been established as one of the city’s favourite boutique florists for over 27 years and the team is passionate about creating the perfect flowers for any occasion. We pride ourselves with working with only the freshest blooms offering great customer service and creating bespoke designs you won’t find anywhere else. For all flowers required for weddings or funerals taking place at the church a 30% discount is offered. Have a browse of our website — www.petalsofpiccadilly.co.uk.

Funeral Directors and Monumental Masons Bannocks of Solihull, 117 Streetsbrook Road, Solihull B90 3PF ...... 0121 744 1727 We manufacture memorials to your requirements. All memorial work undertaken. Large display. Five generations of quality and service.

Hemming & Peace Funeral Services ...... (24 hrs) 01564 794795 2, Doctors Lane, Henley-in-Arden, B95 5AW. Independent family owned business assuring you of a high quality, sensitive, caring and personal service with attention to detail.

James Giles & Sons Ltd 24 Stourbridge Rd, Bromsgrove B61 0AE...... 01527 872318 Appreciate the difference of a family owned company, serving the community for 100 years. Established in 1916, an independent business taking pride in high quality personal service. www.jamesgilesandsonsltd.co.uk

Pollard Memorials...... 01676 534618 Headstones and Cremation Tablets. Free brochure and advice. Only 20 minutes from Tanworth-in-Arden church. www.pollardmemorials.co.uk.

Stephen and Philip Painter Independent Family Funeral Directors...... 0121 707 1172 213 Yardley Road, Acocks Green, B27 6LZ. www.stephenandphilippainter.com. Family owned business with many years of experience offering a dignified and personal service. 40 Thomas Brothers The Funeral Directors...... 01527 547777 Birchfield House, 494 Evesham Road, Redditch, Worcestershire B97 5JF. A family owned business offering a friendly dignified service paying attention to detail.

Garden Machinery Tim Horne, Claremont Cottage, Tom Hill...... Tanworth 742179 Sales, service and repairs. Mobile: 07850 300748

Garden Services, Supplies and Landscaping Bridgwater Gardens...... 07776 260467 Regular Mowing Service, General Garden Maintenance, Hedge Cutting etc Free quotation. E-mail: [email protected]

J&H Garden Service…………………………………………………...... 07873 592707 Lawn mowing and garden care. For a regular and reliable service call or text Jake.

Julie Rudge — Tanworth-in-Arden...... 01564 742067 / 07849 833956 Lawn treatments: Seasonal feed ’n weed, moss treatment, aerating, scarifying. Gardening: Maintenance/pruning/tidies, border design, pots replenished, etc.

KSD Treeworks & Landscaping...... 0121 243 1225 / 07765 355096 All levels of tree surgery and landscaping for the local community. NPTC Qualified. Fully insured. Free quotations. [email protected] or visit www.ksdlandscapes.co.uk.

Lawns and Gardens Ltd...... 01564 205040 Regular reliable lawn mowing service, weekly or fortnightly cuts. Nice tidy job. No Vat. Local company. Call for a free quotation.

Philip Cook Landscapes...... 07973 791878 / 07974 375844 Lawn mowing services — weekly, fortnightly or to suit. General garden maintenance, turfing, weeding etc. Autumn/Spring tidy. Email: [email protected].

Professional Gardener Garden maintenance, lawn mowing, pruning, planting plans,...... 01564 773327 supply of plants, autumn/spring tidy. Toby Nicol HND (Pershore) 07973 305011

Gutter, Roof, Driveway & Window Cleaning Lawns & Gardens Ltd...... 0121 457 8635 Guttering cleared of leaves and debris and stonework drives and terraces cleaned. No Vat. Local company. Call for a free quotation.

41 Change ‘Hairdressing’ category to: Hairdressers and Barbers Traditional Gents Barber, Chris Freegard-Elmes……………………………………..07980 710726 Member of both the British Barbers’ Association and the British Master Barbers, offering a mobile service. DBS checked. Tanworth-in Arden based. Call to make an enquiry or book an appointment.

John Marks — Drive Patio Clean ...... 0121 777 6174 All types of surfaces cleaned. Chemical free. 07831 729157 Also Window Cleaning service. Inside and out.

Hairdressers and Barbers Salon 4 Hairdressing...... 01564 702528 Umberslade Rd, Earlswood. (Opposite Reservoir Public House.) Telephone for latest offers. Booking advised. www.salon4hair.co.uk. Traditional Gents Barber, Chris Freegard-Elmes...... 07980 710726 Member of both the British Barbers’ Association and the British Master Barbers, offering a mobile service. DBS checked. Tanworth-in-Arden based. Call to make an enquiry or book an appointment.

Holistic Therapy Holistic Therapy by Lucy Poole...... 07725 882097 The Bowen Technique is a therapy proven to offer relief for back pain, sciatica, frozen shoulder, stress, arthritis, migraines/headaches, knee problems or simply to assist in general relaxation. The treatment is suitable for people of any age and can be adapted to work with pregnant women. Unlike some time-consuming courses of treatment, as little as three one hour sessions can provide long-standing relief. We are locally based in Weatheroak and accept bookings during day or evenings. For testimonials please see www.bowenstherapy.co.uk/testimonials.

Hotels, Accommodation and Functions The Bell at Tanworth-in-Arden ...... 01564 742212 Stylish accommodation with nine individually furnished en suites; Michelin recommended bar and restaurant. E-mail: [email protected]

Leisure Umberslade Farm Park. Open daily from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm ...... 01564 742251 Great day out for the whole family. Visit a real working farm; enjoy animal feeding and handling sessions. Bottle feed calves, see our baby lambs and piglets. Tackle the outdoor play areas and the indoor Egg Splat cannons. Farmhouse Café open daily (without having to pay admission). www.umberslade.com

Nurseries and Garden Centres Earlswood Garden & Landscape Centre ...... 01564 702314 Forshaw Heath Road (continuation of Poolhead Lane), next to Earlswood Train Station • Large, one stop independent garden centre with everything you need for your garden or driveway. • Manufacturers of premium quality fence panels, gates, sheds and timber structures with made to measure service. • Huge plant centre with trees, conifers, hedging, seasonal bedding, basket plants, shrubs, heathers and alpines. • Modern heated store specialising in tools, hardware, gardening sundries, outdoor lighting and Hozelock watering equipment. • Patio paving specialist with natural stone, porcelain and concrete slabs and block paving. • Stockyard filled with paving, timber, decking, sleepers, fencing products and much more! • Over 15 concessions offering a wide variety of products and services. Open 7 days — Home delivery service — buy online anytime! Email: [email protected] : www.earlswoodglc.co.uk 42 Opticians Dickens Eye Clinic, 39 Main Street, Dickens Heath, B90 1UB...... 0121 744 5544 Independent family Optician specialising in testing for dyslexia and other learning difficulties. Contact lens clinic with Ortho-K alternative to Laser surgery. Exclusive designer and luxury eyeware. Cartier, Chanel, Tag Heuer, Nikon & Zeiss lenses. NHS services available. Late clinic Tuesday. www.dickenseyeclinic.com

Pabari Opticians, 2 Drakes Cross Parade, Alcester Road, Wythall ...... 01564 824482 Independent Opticians offering wide range of frames, well-known designer brands and unknown but chic, flamboyant brands. Contact lenses available and spectacle lens designs from NIKON and Varilux. Visit our website www.pabari.co.uk

Pest Control Hinton Pest Control Limited ...... 01386 41762 / 07775 168666 15 years’ Pest Control Experience. Speedy response to Wasps, Ants, Flies, Bed Bugs, Fleas, Textile Pests, Cockroaches, Rats, Mice, Rabbits, Squirrels, Birds, Moles. Fully Insured, BPCA/RSPH 11 Qualified, Competitive Rates. www.hintonpestcontrol.co.uk

Pets: Catteries, Grooming, Home Care Pussy Galore, Mount Pleasant Farm, Ullenhall...... 01564 792558 Fully licensed, Heated Cabins, Outdoor Runs. All diets catered for. 07778 239797 Inspections welcome. Tel: Richard & Kathy Burman

Physiotherapy Advance Physio...... 0121 673 1578 Your local private physiotherapy service in Tanworth-in-Arden Medical Centre. Please visit our website for further information. www.advancephysiosolihull.com or email: [email protected]

Plumbers Brian Hartles — Plumbing and Heating Engineers...... 0121 258 4433 / 07804 882218 Tower House, Broad Lane, Tanworth-in-Arden B94 5HX. Email: [email protected]. Gas and LPG “Gas Safe Registered” — Oil “Oftec Registered” — Unvented Cylinders — Solar Thermal Safe — Contractor Accredited. We can offer Finance Options and Debit/Credit Card Payments on new boiler installations we fit. All domestic/commercial plumbing and heating replacement, service and repair work undertaken. We are Worcester Bosch accredited installers who can offer boilers with up to 10 years warranty. We also fit Vissemann, Valliant, Baxi, Vokera and Ideal Boilers.

A.S. Kennedy — gas plumbing and heating ...... 01564 829822 / 07976 284855 Central heating boilers — gas fires — radiators — services — heating systems. Bathroom installations — toilets — hot water tanks. Gas safe registered

43 Restaurants Giovanni’s Authentic Italian Dining Main St Dickens Heath ...... 0121 744 8088 www.giovannis.uk.com Lunchtime Mon - Sat 12 noon - 2.00 pm Evenings Mon - Thurs 6.00 p.m. - 10.00 pm Fri - Sat 6.00 pm - 10.30 pm

Schools, Pre-Schools and Skills Tuition Tanworth Nursery, at Tanworth School, The Green, Tanworth………….01564 742284 We are a teacher-led Nursery offering high-quality provision from an experienced and innovative team between the hours of 9.00 am and 3.15 pm. We also offer wrap-around care between 7.30 am to 9.00 am and 3.15 pm to 6.00 pm. We offer our children a host of unique activities ranging from weekly on site Forest School sessions to football and cookery. We have full use of the school facilities and work closely with the school to ensure that our children have the best possible start to their early education; enabling all children to make a seamless and natural transition into school life.

Security: Glazing Jason the Key Man at Castle Nurseries, Mappleborough Green B80 7DF...07789 761412 Shop sales include key-cutting, engraving of trophies, awards & locks. Also 24 hr locksmith, glazing & double glazing repairs. 27 years experience with City & Guilds Tradesman qualification. Free advice & quotes. 25% discount for Tanworth residents.

24-Seven Glass and Glazing ...... 01546 989016 / 07971 485761 We offer a glazing, locksmith and double glazing Repair Service with over 32 years experience in replacement sealed units. All glazing repairs undertaken, UPVC repairs, replacement Euro Barrels, locking mechanisms, door and window handles and hinges. Ask about our window and door make overs. 3 star Ultion Euro Barrels. Rapid service day or night. All work guaranteed. Free quotations. Members of the Guild of Master Craftsmen, Checkatrader, CRB, Centass. A local company you can trust with over 19 years trading.

Skip Hire Bell Skips………………………………………………………...... ……0121 777 7373 All sizes of skip available. Same day Service. Call for prices.

Sports and Recreation tprtennis LTA licensed tennis coach offering individual and group tennis coaching for all ages. Contact Tony Ravenscroft on ...... 07969 649092 E-mail: [email protected]

Transport JMT Contractors Transport Services...... 07795 955764 Light Transport and Vehicle Recovery. Nationwide 24/7 recovery of accident damaged vehicles or transport of new purchases etc. Transport of large items up to 2.8t. Fully insured up to £60k. [email protected] or find us on facebook.

44 Travel Johnsons of Henley-in-Arden, Liveridge House, Liveridge Hill, Henley-in-Arden Also minicoach hire, day excursions and weekend breaks. Personal, friendly service from a local family, ask for a brochure ...... 01564 797000

Journey the World...... 01564 777744 We have been established for over 22 years and are an independent travel agent offering good old fashioned personal service and expert advice. We cover the globe with bespoke tailor made itineraries, tours, cruises including expeditions, skiing, solo holidays, safaris, weddings, honeymoons and family beach holidays. We would be delighted to hear from you. 1683 High Street, Knowle, Solihull. B93 0LL. www.journeytheworld.com. ABTA.

Wedding Planners Alcott Weddings...... 07725 882097 Are you looking for a unique picturesque country setting for your wedding? A choice of structures include Tipis, Yurts and Marquees. Festival themed weddings, street food to formal dining. On site Bed & Breakfast, glamping and camping options. Alcott Weddings is the perfect blank canvas for you to put your stamp on. Call Lucy to discuss your plans or email [email protected]. www.alcottweddings.com. www.facebook.com/alcottweddings.

Weight Management Transforming U...... 01564 82282 Weight management using a combination of healthy eating and/or meal replacements, to lose weight, combined with weekly 1-2-1 coaching or group coaching to support you getting it off. Then on-going support to help you keep it off. Based at Becketts Farm. Call Lisa.

Wine Merchants Village Vineyards...... 0121 445 5914 / 07932 380964 We are an independent wine merchant and store based in Barnt Green. We are able to supply our customers with an unrivalled portfolio of the very best selections of wine, beers and spirits. We also operate a portable mobile bar service. For weddings, parties and corporate events our newly converted horsebox or trolley bars are suited to any occasion. We stock over 120 different gins, 200 whiskeys and an amazing range of craft and real ales so we can tailor a package to suit your demands. Let us plan your perfect event. www.villagevineyards.co.uk. [email protected]

Please mention Tanworth Parish Magazine when responding to any advertisements. Created by the Bible Arts Group of Tanworth School for the Harvest Festival at St Mary Magdalene Church, Tanworth-in-Arden, October 2019. Photograph by Annie Edwards

CCLA733613 Set and printed by S Alban’s Church Litho Unit Birmingham B12 0XB