TEMESPAN Apr 2023
3 Index Page Number and Article P4: Church Services P6: A coronation Ramble P7: A Pilgrimage P9: Menith Wood Community Association P11: Letter from our MP P15: Can you help? P17: Coronation Celebration P21:/P23: There’s a time and a place P25: Coffee and a Walk P29: Menith Wood WI and a Plea to save the Bell P31: Plant Fair P33: Easter Garden P37: TVHS News P39: An MWCA Plant Fair P41/43 A Beatles Fest. P45/47: Pensax News and Filling Station P49/51: TVWG P55: LPH News P59: TV Tote News P67: Knighton Litter Pick The magazine this month is, as you might expect, laden with events leading up to Easter (hence the Easter Simnel Cake on the cover) and the King’s Coronation. However, it also asks the question, do you have a few hours a month spare to philanthropically give back to your community whilst working from home? Bill and I have come to the realisation that as neither of us are getting younger we probably should look to passing on this wonderful magazine on to fresh members of this community with new ideas and new visions. Personally, I am aware that I’ve probably taken it as far as I can in the direction I have. With Bills help, we have attempted to make it a more dynamic read that you can take a little more seriously each month with some interesting articles and of course colour. Thanks to Bill, the funding of the magazine is in the black, which in and of itself, and in our current climate, is to be applauded. But I believe that the possibilities for even greater success have not yet been realised. So, before you turn to page 15 and read just what my ramblings are about, grab yourself a drink and give some thought to what you are about to read. Thank you. Editor’s Note
4 Sunday 2nd April Palm Sunday. Holy Week begins. 9.30 a.m 9.30 a.m 10.45 a.m 11 a.m. Lindridge Great Witley Abberley St Michael Abberley St. Mary Choral Holy Communion Palm Sunday Morning Worship Beginning of Palm Sunday Service. Prayer, procession and Hymns Palm Sunday Holy Communion Thursday 6th April. Maundy Thursday 7 p.m. Shrawley Holy Communion Friday 7th April Good Friday StaAons of the Cross 11 a.m. 2 p.m. 6.30 p.m. LiLle Witley Lindridge Abberley St Michael ReflecOons and worship StaOons of the Cross. Compline. Saturday 8th April Easter Vigil 7 - 9p.m. Great Witley Easter Vigil & Blessing of Paschal Candles Sunday 9th April Easter Sunday. 9.00 a.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 6.30 p.m. LiLle Witley Knighton Abberley St. Mary Stockton Great Witley Abberley St. Michael Easter Holy Communion Easter Holy Communion Easter Holy Communion Easter Garden Experience Easter Evening Prayer Easter Evening Prayer Sunday 16th April Easter 2 9.30 a.m. 11 a.m. Great Witley Abberley St Mary Holy Communion Morning Worship Sunday 23rd April Easter 3 9.00 a.m. 11 a.m. 6 p.m. LiLle Witley Shrawley Abberley St Michael Morning Worship Holy Communion CelOc Evening Prayer Sunday 30th April Easter 4 Services in April 2023
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7 Pilgrimage to the Holy Land from the Bishop of Dudley, Martin Gorick. I have recently returned from the Holy Land, where I had the privilege of co-leading a Diocesan Pilgrimage. The land of Israel/Palestine has long been a contested one, and we were very conscious of current tensions. Scripture invites us to ‘Pray for the peace of Jerusalem’ and that is still needed now. It was a joy to meet with members of the Christian community in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, particularly the Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum, who helped prepare and bless the Oil of Anointing for use at the Coronation of King Charles III. The oil was made using olives from the Holy Land and was blessed in the Aedicule (shrine) of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. We had visited that church late afternoon on the first day of our pilgrimage, and most of us found it a disappointing experience. There was a huge queue of people trying to get into the Aedicule, built over the traditional site of the empty tomb, the place of Resurrection; and another long queue of pilgrims waiting to climb the steep steps to the Chapel of Calvary, the traditional site of the crucifixion of Jesus. We were out of time though and had to leave before getting any further. But early on Sunday, some of us got up at dawn and made our way through the winding streets of the Old City to arrive again at the Holy Sepulchre. Quiet this time, except for the chanting of the Coptic clergy, we were able to ascend the hill of Calvary, to kneel and pray before the shrine, and to touch the rock of Golgotha, still bearing the split from an ancient earthquake. We then moved to join the slowly moving queue at the aedicule, the site of the tomb and of the resurrection of Jesus.
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9 It is small and you stoop to enter. I prayed for you all in that place. I had been once before as a parish priest. I’d gone early that morning too and was thrilled if rather overawed to get the chance to enter that ‘holy of holies’ for the very first time. That time I remember clearly hearing words from Mark’s gospel: “He is not here. He is Risen!” Whether in the Holy Land, or here in Worcestershire or in Dudley, Jesus Christ, our crucified, risen and ascended Lord is with us still. May the joy of our Risen Lord be with you and those you love, this Easter and for ever more. Menith Wood Community Association Coffee mornings 10.30 to 12.00 Thursday 30th March Thursday 27th April Saturday 29th April Plant sale, with coffee and cakes Thursday 25th May Thursday 29th June Thursday 27th July Thursday 31st August Thursday 28th September Macmillan Coffee Morning Thursday 26th October Thursday 30th November For more details, contact Sharon on 01584 881744 Would you like to feature in this magazine? Do you have photographs you’d like to share Have you recently taken part in an event that will inspire your community? Are you doing something special soon or do you have another story to tell? Do you want to talk about concerns here or abroad? Then tell me - and I will share all with your community! Editor
10 MICK FOX Tiling, Painting & Carpentry Services Bathroom and Kitchens Laminate floors Interior and exterior Carpentry Interior and exterior painting No job too small, please phone Mick for advice and quote 01584 881434 mob.07814048177
11 WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Harriett Baldwin enjoyed a taste of success after visiting a small business based in Tenbury which is winning awards for its pies. The Wyre Pie company welcomed the MP to its HQ at Tenbury Wells Business Park to talk about how it was planning to expand its business. The company runs a successful butchers and manufacturing facility from the outskirts of Tenbury, as well as a busy retail outlet, and its game pie scooped first prize at last year’s Eat Game awards. The company has grown rapidly over the last five years, and it won local accolades for its support for the community during the 2020 floods and the subsequent Covid lockdowns. Harriett said: “The Wyre Pie company is a perfect example of a small vibrant business making the most of our amazing local produce and employing local people. “I’d hear great things about the company during lockdown and it was great to come and chat to the team and hear about their plans to expand. “One of their biggest challenges is recruitment and I was eager to hear the detail on how they go about recruiting local staff. “It’s a great company with great people and I am delighted to say that having bought one of their pies, is also a great product.” MP Enjoys Taste of Success at Award-Winning Pie Maker Harriett Baldwin
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15 We are looking for volunteers to take over the running of Temespan. There are three key jobs:- Editorial Advertising and finance Distribution Temespan is the magazine not only for the church and its activities but for everything that goes on in Teme Valley North. It is published ten times per year - every month except January and August. To enable a gradual handover from the current team we would like the new team in place by September. The key tasks are as follows: Editorial role • the collecting point for all the new material for each issue. They are the main arbiter for what is suitable for the magazine. • Collating information from key contacts in each church area together with information about the Diocesan Church, wildlife in the valley, health and what our MP is doing. • Ensuring that all the articles knit together for publication. • Use of editorial software. • Author of an editorial each month • Provision of a topical picture for the front cover. • On final check in consultation with the Advertising manager submits electronically to the printing company who prints the magazine and arranges delivery to the person arranging distribution. Advertising and Finance Role Advertising is sold on an annual basis with the advertisers signing up for 10 issues . The role is • To manage the advertising by sending out the renewal notices and invoices by email and monitoring the payments which are usually paid by BACs. • Seeking new advertisers when necessary • To bank cheques as applicable (limited number) A few advertisers prefer to pay by cheque . • Maintaining the payments in a cash book. • Monthly payment of printing bill. • Managing the voluntary donations annually. • Managing the gift aid and ensuring that this is collected from the Inland Revenue annually. Temespan has its own bank account. It produces one set of accounts per year which are reviewed by the examiner doing the church accounts. Temespan is part of the church and counts as a charity so there are no tax issues or duties. Help Is Required To Keep Our Temespan Running
16 Domestic Cleaning Service Spring Clean Builders Clean Weekly or fortnightly Telephone Spit & Polish tel. 01584 781719 Lynne Evans 31 High St.,Cleobury Mortimer DY14 8DQ For both CHIROPRACTIC & OSTEOPATHY, we use gentle methods suitable for all ages. Appointments available outside of normal working hours. Both practitioners are fully registered, insured and regulated. * BACK PAIN * POSTURAL PROBLEMS *SCIATICA * some SPORTS INJURIES * JOINT PAIN * HEADACHES (from neck) Sue Brown CHIROPRACTOR 01299 519351 07932 000028 07506 287191
17 Distribution As explained above the magazines are delivered by the printer to the person running the distribution. They then divide the total delivery into smaller lots that are collected by the main deliverers. Each of the roles above are not onerous. They do require a sense of care and interest. Each requires about 10-14 hours per month. Some knowledge of Adobe would be helpful when designing the magazine which helps in the laying out. The techniques will be revealed. If you are interested or wish to find our more information about any of these roles do please get in touch with Bill Andrewes or Pete Thorp whose details are at the back of this magazine. Thank you Coronation Celebration Stockton celebrates the Coronation of King Charles III on Sunday 7th May Everyone is invited! Plans are afoot for a street party and a short service of thanksgiving in St Andrews Church at 4pm. Keep an eye out on the Parish noticeboard and social media, for further information.
18 Here at Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire we offer a range of services including: • Help at home • Foot care • Veterans service • Allotment • Computer Cafes • Meeting Centres And so much more… You can find us on social media, visit our website, or call our referral hub. Referral hub 0800 008 6077 www.ageuk.org.uk
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21 Dear friends, On the 3rd January, it was reported in the national news that major supermarket stores had already started to sell Easter Eggs. They claimed that as the public like to buy ahead, they were meeting public demand. Now, I don’t wish to cast aspersions on our commercial cousins, and I love chocolate as much the next chocolate lover, but even I don’t buy chocolate three months in advance of the event – Easter is in April not January. You see Easter, like Christmas appears to have two images; the secular, all about Easter bunnies and chocolate eggs and the religious, all about the resurrection. But, do these two images have to be completely separate? If we go back three thousand years, to ancient Mesopotamia and Syria, the hare symbolised death and rebirth. Overtime, the hare shifted to the rabbit, and began to be depicted on Greco-Roman gravestones. They also appeared on early Christian gravestones. Hares and rabbits are also early symbols of fertility and are associated with the arrival of spring, signalling the rebirth of the winter earth in pre-Christian Europe and pagan traditions. Strictly speaking the Easter bunny has at best a tenuous link to Easter, but if we wish to look again with a generous lens, there may be more connection than we first imagined. If we buy into the symbolism of rabbits being fertility, death and rebirth these are important elements of the Easter story, the crucifixion on Good Friday (death) and resurrection on Easter Day (rebirth), with the fertility element representing the growth of Christianity after the resurrection. As, I say, this is a generous view. The Easter egg fairs slightly better. Humans have understandably, always seen eggs as symbolic of fertility and birth. It is believed that Easter eggs can be traced back to Christians in ancient Mesopotamia, being symbols for new life, new beginnings rooted in the resurrection of Jesus. In Britain in the Middle Ages the eating of eggs during lent was banned. However, chickens didn’t stop laying eggs There’s a time and a place... Christine Clarke Licensed Lay Minister
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23 during Lent, so this began the practise of hard boiling eggs and decorating them to share with family and friends on Easter day. The first hollow chocolate egg was introduced to Britain in 1873 by the company Fry’s. In 2022 the number of chocolate easter eggs purchased was 3.5 million! I suppose what I am suggesting here, is that there is space for generosity of spirit for both the secular image and religious image in life, and that perhaps we are not so far apart as some imagine we are? For Christians, Easter is the single most important time of the Christian Calendar and we celebrate our belief in the resurrection of Jesus through a variety of services. From Palm Sunday, with processions and hymns. Maundy Thursday, a Holy Communion reflecting on the Last Supper of Jesus with the 12 Apostles. Good Friday, the day on which Jesus’ crucifixion is observed we have ‘Stations of the Cross’, reflections and compline. Easter Saturday, an evening Easter Vigil with cheering and a joyful noise. Easter Sunday Holy Communion in several churches, and an Easter Garden Experience in Stockton with Easter Egg hunt! Just as spring plants often struggle to pop their heads up through the cold soil of passing winter, when we wish to refresh our lives, to seek a new way, we may also struggle, or not know how to take that first step. May we in 4Rivers Churches this Easter time, offer you that first step, come in or speak with one of us. Even if you believe you are currently unknown to us, you are known and loved by God, and we are already praying for you. So, however you celebrate Easter this year, please know that your Church families in 4Rivers hold the wellbeing of all people in our communities, in our hearts and prayers. Have a blessed and happy Easter, enjoy the bunnies, eat the eggs and know that you are loved. Christine Clarke Licensed Lay Minister If you wish to contact 4Rivers churches contact details will be on Church noticeboards. Church office email: [email protected] Church office phone: 01299 575055 Website: 4rivers.church
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25 “MID-WEEK BREAK” CHANGE OF DATE!!! Please note that our next coffee morning will be on Wednesday 5th April, the first Wednesday of April and not the second, Lindridge Parish Hall 10.30am to 12noon Enjoy your mid-morning coffee with others in our community at Lindridge Parish Hall on the above Wednesday between 10.30am and 12 noon. Spend time chatting with friends, old and new, over drinks and biscuits. For more information contact Kate Harley – 881194 All are welcome Free guided walks along our footpaths and bridleways taking 2-3 hours, off the roads and into the countryside. Everyone welcome but sorry no dogs allowed For further details and any other announcements or changes please visit website www.rockpathfinders.uk PLEASE NOTE NEW WEB ADDRESS email: mdsskev@rockpathfinders.uk Or ring Alan on 01299 400304 April 2023 walks Thursday 06.04.23 starting at 10.00am From Rock Village Hall Porchbrook Road, Rock DY14 9SD Thursday 20.04.23 starting at 10.00am Astley Village Hall Ridleys Cross, Astley Stourport DY13 0RE Rock Pathfinders - March
26 SERVICED OFFICES AND SMALL WORKSHOPS AVAILABLE ON FLEXIBLE TERMS New faster Broadband (exceeding 20Mbps) now available Please contact Kate Shrubb on 01886 888 455 for more details Maylite Limited, Maylite Trading Estate, Martley, Worcestershire WR6 6PQ www.maylite.co.uk
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28 We take babies & children from 6 months to 5 years & Breakfast club for primary school children! DoodleBugs Nursery Pound Lane Clifton-upon-Teme WR6 6DE Monday - 7.30am - 5pm Tuesday - 7.30am - 5pm Wednesday - 7.30am - 5pm Thursday - 7.30am -5pm Fr iday - 7.30am - 5pm We are open 50 weeks a year! Email- [email protected] Call - 01886 812 380 Funeral Directors 15 Market Street, Tenbury Wells, Worc. WR15 8BH Tel. 01584 810281 Fax. 01584 811420 A Family Run Business Established 1919 Burials Cremations Chapel of rest Covering all areas and offering a personal,caring 24hour service
29 Menith Wood WI In our March meeting on Monday 6th we were taken on a “Tour of Australia” with Alf Jenkins which, for those who have already visited, and one member who is actually Australian, relived memories and was much enjoyed. Our next meeting will once again be held at Lindridge Parish Hall, 2.15pm for 2.30pm start when Louise Mawditt from Angel Gardens, Stanford will demonstrate and guide us on “Hanging Baskets”. Visitors are always welcome to our WI meetings, and if you would like further information about us and our future programme then please email menithwoodwi@ gmail.com Pledge now to help Save The Bell at Pensax Residents of Pensax and the surrounding area have formed a working group to save their local pub The Bell at Pensax from permanent closure. The traditional country inn closed its doors in October 2022 having served the local community for over 180 years. Pensax has lost its primary school and village hall in recent years, leaving the pub as the only community venue. Having achieved Asset of Community Value status for the pub in December 2022 the group now plans to sell shares and purchase The Bell through a Community Benefit Society. Anyone aged 16 or over can go to www.savethebellatpensax.co.uk and pledge their intention to invest between £250 and £25,000. The Bell is well known for its excellent selection of real ales, warm welcome and beer garden with fantastic views. It has traditionally held a hugely popular summer beer festival and was once voted “West Midlands Pub of the Decade” by CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale). A public meeting held on Wednesday 1 March in Abberley Village Hall was standing room only with over 150 local
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31 residents present to hear about the proposed community purchase. Also present were David Chambers from Worcestershire County Council, District Councillors Douglas Godwin and Paul Cumming and several members of Pensax Parish Council including Chair, Stu Meese. Toby Wise, Chair of the working group said: “We were overwhelmed by the support from everyone. We were even receiving pledges to our website before the meeting ended. This is our one chance to buy The Bell and run it for the community. Our thanks to Mark Haslam from The Brewers Arms community pub in West Malvern, and to Nick Comley from Community First in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, for their ongoing support and advice”. Shares will be £250 and each individual can Pledge to buy a minimum of one share (£250) up to a maximum of 100 shares (£25,000). To find out more, make a Pledge or register for future progress updates, please visit www. savethebellatpensax.co.uk Let’s keep the village of Pensax on the map!
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37 TEME VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Mike Harley Following a late notice of our scheduled speaker’s unavailability, we were fortunate to secure the services of Kate Green who gave a talk entitled “Mortimer Landscape”. We heard about the formation of the North Herefordshire Landscape following the Ice Age. A very gentle shelving sandy coastline spread across the Welsh borderlands which produced the Downton Castle Sandstone. Various other changes occurred to shape the land including a period of sub-tropical conditions in this country. The beautiful Downton Gorge is a good example of the Tilio-Acerion forests with its own microclimate. As the water receded and the land appeared, rivers were formed like the Teme and Lugg, both of which ran into the River Severn at one time. We were told about Drumlins which are oval shaped hills made up of glacial drift formed under the ice sheet, and revealed once the water recedes. These can be seen at Lucton and Shobdon. Another important site is that of the ruined castle known as Wigmore Castle built in the 11th century. The castle was owned by the Mortimer family from 1075-1425. The early construction was a motte and bailey fortress surrounded by oval shaped earthworks. However, it was developed by the Mortimers adding an east tower in the 13th century, and substantial gatehouse in the 14th century. The Mortimers were a powerful aristocratic family in the Welsh Marches. One of the earliest recorded members of the family was Ranulph de Mortimer who was granted lands in Herefordshire and Shropshire before 1086 by William the Conqueror. The surname is of Normal origin and is translated as “stagnant lake” which does not have the ring of a powerful family! Wigmore Castle always remained their main home. The ancestors at all times had powerful connections with the royal family supporting the kings and fought in many battles. Probably the
38 ARE YOU LOOKING AT A FORTUNE? • Free auction estimates on items you are considering selling. • Valuations for insurance and inheritance tax purposes. • Live on-line Auction sales held every three weeks, to include - • Fine Art and Antiques sales every two months, and • Interiors Sales of Victorian, Edwardian and later furniture and effects • Expert jewellery valuations Contact us for an appointment Philip Serrell Auctioneers and Valuers The Malvern Saleroom Barnards Green Road Malvern WR14 3LW 01684 892314 [email protected] www.serrell.com A pair of Royal Worcester covered vases, decorated with Highland cattle by John Stinton Sold for £7,000 FURNITURE – PAINTINGS – SILVER JEWELLERY – PORCELAIN GLASS - OBJETS D’ART
39 most important member of the family was Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, born 1283. He led a colourful life fighting in Ireland and Wales, supporting King Edward II but then fighting friends of his caused him to be imprisoned in the Tower of London. He managed to escape and fled to France, where he was joined by Queen Isabella the estranged wife of the King, who became his mistress. They then invaded England in 1326 and deposed King Edward II in favour of his son Edward III. Mortimer, in the name of the king, ruled England and he was made Earl of March in 1328. However, he soon became very unpopular, and King Edward III had him imprisoned in the Tower once more. He was tried for treason and beheaded at Tyburn in 1330. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 25th April at Abberley Village Hall 7.30pm when Heather Randell will be speaking to us about “Owen Glendower – Myth or Truth”. All are welcome. Menith Wood Community Association PLANT SALE & COFFEE MORNING Old Chapel Hall, Menith Wood Saturday 29th April 10.30 – 12.30 Contact Lynda (01584 881384) or Sharon (01584 881744) Plant contributions welcome
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41 ‘BEATLES FEST TENBURY: BEFORE ABBEY ROAD THERE WAS TEME STREET...’ THE REGAL IS PROUD TO LEAD ON A WEEKEND FESTIVAL CELEBRATING 60 YEARS SINCE THE BEATLES PLAYED IN TENBURY. 60 years ago, on Monday 15th April 1963, fresh from releasing their third hit single ‘From Me To You’ the previous Thursday, the Fab Four arrived in Tenbury Wells to play the Riverside Dancing Club at the Bridge Inn. This epic concert went straight into local legend the moment that last chord was played. The Regal, Tenbury Wells are working together with local partners including Tenbury Town Council, Malvern Hills District Council and The Bridge public house to present Beatles Fest Tenbury on 14th, 15th and 16th April 2023. Liverpool Poet Roger McGough headlines the festival on Friday 14th April with his show ‘Alive and Gigging’, the ‘world best-loved Liverpool-born Beatles tribute The Mersey Beatles headline Saturday 15th April with two shows: playing at 4pm and a
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43 sold-out evening performance at 7.30pm and George Harrison’s favourite guitarist Robin Nolan headlines Sunday 16th April with his show Robin Nolan Presents: The Music of George Harrison. We are joined for a talk by the world’s leading authority on the Beatles, the writer Mark Lewisohn titled ‘A Twist & Shout In Tenbury Wells’ on Friday 14th April and Tenbury Wells born writer Andrew Lowe on Saturday 15th April to talk about his new book ‘Before Abbey Road there was Teme Street’. There will be performances by the Regal Community Theatre and the students of the Regal School of Creative Arts in the Regal auditorium on the Saturday also. The Regal will be screening three of the iconic Beatles movies A Hard Days Night (U), Help! (U) and Yellow Submarine (U) in the Regal Studio with free entry and hosting an ‘I was there’ Party as a chance for the original gig goers to reminisce all on the Sunday 16th April. The Bridge will be hosting live sets by Steve Roberts and as well as a 60s and 70s disco (with optional fancy dress) on the Saturday 15th April and open mic night on Sunday 16th April. This townwide festival will see involvement from many other businesses within Tenbury Wells, and we will be adding more events to the line-up throughout the build-up. See www.regaltenbury.co.uk for more information! T ME VALLEY AccoUNTS Book-keeping PAYE, VAT, Sage, Tax Returns. Cost effective rates and friendly advice. For no obligation discussion or visit call: Claire Elliott 01584 881708 07731 010099 Email: claire. tva-accounts@outlook. corn • Massage • Reflexology • • Aromatherapy • Gift vouchers available Treatments by appointment Monday - Saturday (Late evenings available) Frith Common WR15 8JX To Book your treatment get in touch today! 07866 267 286 [email protected] Sarah Hall Complementary Therapy
44 The Estate Office · Hill House · Great Witley Nr Worcester · WR6 6JB T: 01299 896 968 E: [email protected] www.gherbertbanks.co.uk Land & Estate Agents Chartered Surveyors Auctioneers Your Local Agent Since1898 Planning Consultants • Estate & Letting Agents • Chartered Surveyors & Valuers • Planning Consultants • Auctioneers • Land & Estate Management • RICS Registered Valuers • Landlord & Tenant Negotiations • Basic Payment Scheme & Associated Matters • Commercial Property Consultants Robert Parry FRICS FAAV Richard Banks MRICS MARLA MNAEA Tim Gaston BA (Head of Residential Agency) Nick Jethwa MRICS
45 Pensax Parish Council Chairs Report: Stu Meese [email protected] A huge thanks to Cllr Nancy Gould, (picture) who organised the Pensax Wombles spring clean, focusing on the B4202 from Porchbrook down to Abberley. Many Pensax r e s i d e n t s r e g u l a r l y ‘Womble’ the C-roads from S t o c k t o n , through Pensax C o m m o n , through to Porchbrook, but this faster B-road doesn’t often get the attention it needs. The parish councillors and residents started at the war memorial and the Bell Public House and worked outwards, including Snead Common and collecting over twenty-one full bags of rubbish from the roadside. Assisted by Malvern Hills District Councils Adopt a Street Campaign, who kindly lent us some signage to warn drivers, the Wombles were decked out in Hi-Viz, gloves and with hoops, bags and pickers. Full bags were collected by an e-cargo bike – perfect for this task and left in the layby to be managed later by the Malvern Hills waste team. A thanks to all the regular local Wombles who collect litter daily and those joining us for this special clean. Look out for notices of the next litter pick! https://www.malvernhills.gov. uk/community/adopt-a-street Pensax Parish Council consultation An open evening was held on the 28th February in the Old Chapel Menith Wood as part of the ongoing Pensax Parish Council Project consultation. Residents are being asked to rank the issues that they raised in order so that after the elections, Pensax Parish
46 ROCK BRIDGE CLUB Rock Bridge Club has started its new season. New members are welcome whether on their own or with a partner. We meet every Sunday at 7.00 pm at Rock Village Hall. The meetings are very sociable and relaxed; and not competitive. (We do not play duplicate bridge.) Please do come along. Just turn up or phone 07854 951 330 Please contact Zoe Herington: www.zedyoga.co.uk Tel: 07962 981456 Yoga classes at Eastham Memorial Hall For adults of all ages
47 Council can start to get to work investigating and making them happen. If you are a resident of Pensax, Menith or Stockton, don’t lose out on the chance to have your say. The consultation closes on the 4th of May. www.pensaxparish.org Save the Bell Campaign Pensax Parish Councillors attended the Save The Bells public meeting on the 1st March to find out how they could help. A packed Abberley village hall heard about the intention to create a community benefit association and produce a community share issue to raise the funds they need to buy the pub and then find a tenant to run it for the association. They are seeking pledges now. https://www.savethebellatpensax.co.uk/ Dog Poo bins Pensax Parish has a dog poo bin at Menith Wood Millennium Green that has proved super successful, so much so we are looking at options with MHDC to improve what we have there. In the meantime, please take your dog’s poo home if the bin is full or overflowing. Keep up to date - Pensax Parish has: an email group: https://groups. io/g/PensaxPCResidents a facebook page: https://www. facebook.com/pensaxpc a website: www.pensaxparish.org THE FILLING STATION The next meeting of the above will be held on Thursday 20th April at Eastham Memorial Hall, Eastham, Worcs. WR15 8NP at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start when Dave Kelly, a church planter and leader, will be speaking to us. We look forward to you joining us for this evening of fellowship, worship, teaching and refreshments. If you are not on our mailing list and would like further information or details about our meetings, then please do not hesitate to contact me on kate. [email protected]
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49 Teme Valley Wildlife Group by Stephanie Mocroft The subject for this month’s article occurred to me earlier in the year, when I unexpectedly spotted several lapwings flying across the lane leading to my home. I had never seen a lapwing in the village before, but our local farmer had recently watched a flock of twenty-five or so feeding in his fields. When I was a child living in south Derbyshire I regularly saw flocks of many thousands of birds near to my home. Our house lay on the flood-plain of the River Dove and in winter the broad flat fields surrounding us were frequently waterlogged. The names of nearby lanes reflected this, being called Watery Lane, Miry Lane and Boggy Lane respectively. Huge flocks of lapwings arrived, turning the sky almost black and providing an amazing spectacle as they wheeled down together onto the damp ground. Lapwings are said to be friends of the farmer because they eat pests known to damage crops. Waterlogged ground causes wireworms and leatherjackets and other insect larvae to come to the surface where they offer an easy meal. In drier conditions the birds sometimes stamp their feet to bring up their prey. I had forgotten how large lapwings are. Standing twelve inches high, their smart black and white colouring and large curving crests really stand out. Light falling on their black feathers reflects a beautiful
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