The Connection Magazine - March/April 2021

the

connection

Around Alcester, Bidford & the Villages

magazine

March-April 2021 No. 148

SPRING BAKING

Zesty lemon tart recipe

EDUCATE & ENTERTAIN Free resources for children

Pet Vaccinations

PLUS

Alcester Town Council Bidford Parish Council Local community updates

Spring Perennials WEB DESIGN & DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY www.onefoursix.co.uk

SEE PAGE 21

“ I never feel alone ” Our retirement village is home to people who really value their peace of mind… people who moved safely during lockdown, to enjoy a closer kind of community, with more reassurance for them and their family.

In line with government guidance you can still make the move during lockdown.

Visit safely. Complete swiftly. Move securely.

One, two and three-bedroom properties available, starting from £345,000* Buy or rent an Inspired property, get in touch today! Call 01789 867 233 or visit greatalnepark.co.uk *Starting prices may vary upon sale of remaining properties at the village.

Independent Optometrist friendly personal service Call to book an appointment on 01789 549409

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Useful phone numbers

Welcome

... to the March/April Connection Doctors / Health

Alcester Health Centre The Arrow Surgery Bidford Health Centre NHS Direct Samaritans

Hospitals

Redditch Hospital Stratford Hospital Warwick Hospital

Emergency

Emergency Services Alcester Police BT Fault Electric Power Loss Gas Emergency

Others

Alcester Library Bidford Library Citizens’ Advice Bureau Electrician Funeral Services Locksmith Plumber/Heating Plumber/Heating Plumber/Heating Volunteer Drivers

Schools

Alcester Academy Alcester Grammar St Benedict’s High Bidford-on-Avon Primary Coughton Primary Dunnington Primary Great Alne Primary Haselor Primary Our Lady’s Primary Salford Priors Primary St Nicholas Primary Temple Grafton Primary

Councils

Alcester Town Council Bidford Parish Council Stratford Dist Council

When our last edition was sent off to the printers, none of us knew for certain that a third lockdown was just around the corner and 01789 763060 would see us well into the new year. Along with it, we’ve heard 01789 763293 stories of amazing community and team efforts to get the first 01789 773372 priority groups vaccinated and we applaud our incredible NHS for continuing to work relentlessly in such challenging times.

111 08457 909090 Pet owners, don’t forget that furry friends need their own vaccines too (although obviously not for COVID!) and you can read more about which ones on page 23.

01527 503030 We’re now stepping into spring and the hope of warmer times to 01789 205831 come, signalled by the emergence of snowdrops, crocuses and 01926 495321 daffodils. On some of my local walks with my children, it’s been so lovely to see these early flowers shooting up in churchyards and front gardens. It’s certainly helped to brighten what has felt like a dragging start to the year.

999 or 112 More hope and light-heartedness can be found in this edition. And 01789 444816 what’s more hopeful that delicious food?! Why not try whipping up 08008 00151 a delicious lemon tart for Mother’s Day on 14th March? We’ve got 08004 04090 a great, easy recipe on page 10.

08001 11999 Looking further ahead, and with a view to keep young’uns entertained during the Easter holidays, we’ve got some great activity ideas on page 12.

0300 555 8171 Bookworms, turn to page 44 for some uplifting reading 01789 773239 suggestions, because we could all do with a bit of positivity at the 0844 855 2322 moment.

07771 616189 And if you need something to keep your brain ticking over, without 01789 766750 straining your eyes in front of a screen, have a go at our sudoku 01789 762450 puzzle (p.6) and the puzzle page (p.34).

01789 766200 Congratulations are in order for the fantastic team at Bidford 01789 270744 Pharmacy, whose recent accolades you can read about on page 8.

01386 871777 Don’t forget that the Census is coming up and takes place on 21st 01789 262889 March. There’s more information in the Bidford Parish Council Newsletter (p.38). Updates from Alcester Town Council can be found on page 36.

01789 762285 There are so many brilliant local businesses doing their best to 01789 762494 serve the community at the moment, and more who are itching to 01789 762888 re-open when allowed. Let’s show them our love and support as 01789 773201 we head into spring.

01789 762444 01789 772200 01789 488247 P.S. Don’t forget that clocks go forward an hour on 28th March!

01789 488211 May/June Copy Deadline: 01789 762555 Tuesday 13th April 01789 772497 Facebook.com/theconnectionmag 01789 762578 Twitter.com/connection_mag circulation: 11,300 01789 772384 Connection Editor: Amy James Phone 01789 491005

Amy

01789 766084 01789 778653 01789 267575

Email: info@connectionmags.co.uk www.connectionmags.co.uk Printed by Warwick Printing Ltd 01926 883355

Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in the publication.

Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. The Connection Magazine does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form – electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise – without the prior consent of the publisher.

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A Winning Team A positive start to the year for Bidford’s award-winning pharmacy

Despite the massive challenges Covid has provided, the pharmacy has thrived in the past year, achieving a 100% rating in its customer satisfaction survey for 2020/21 which Guriq says is testament to the high quality services that the whole team provide and also due to the continued support of the community: “We have received immense support from our customers in the village and surrounding areas including Honeybourne, Salford Priors, Harvington, Welford and Arden Grafton, so this award is as much for community spirit as it is for the pharmacy team.”

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Pharmacy Assistant of the Year, Heidi Norton with the pharmacy’s 100% customer satisfaction survey results.

Follow Bidford Pharmacy on Facebook for news & updates.

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You can visit the pharmacy at: 17 High Street, Bidford-on-Avon, B50 4BQ ST

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ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER RC CHURCH

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he year may have started with another lockdown, but for Bidford Pharmacy, it began with the well-deserved good news of being shortlisted for the ‘Pharmacy Team Of The Year’ Award at the Pharmacy Business Awards.

Bidford Pharmacy is part of the Stratford LPC and is situated in the heart of Bidford-on-Avon.Established nearly 40 years ago, the pharmacy is renowned locally for being a family-run business, firstly by Colin Harris, then by his daughter Chris Sturdey who retired in April last year, selling the business to Guriq Randhawa.

Given the timing of the first COVID lockdown, it was a challenging start for Guriq, but the entire team rose to the occasion and have managed to deliver high quality pharmacy services throughout the pandemic.

It was a fitting tribute to Chris’ legacy and the efforts of the team, therefore, when they finished in the top 3 of pharmacies nationwide – a fantastic achievement for all the staff and also for the local community of Bidford-on-Avon.

More accolades were to follow at the virtual awards ceremony, which was hosted by Rory Bremner and featured appearances from London Mayor, Sadiq Khan and the Health Secetary, Matt Hancock when Heidi Norton was handed the Pharmacy Assistant Of The Year Award. This was just reward for Heidi’s incredible work ethic and exceptional patient care that she has provided for many years. Heidi has put in an incredible amount of time in to making Bidford Pharmacy a top Healthy Living Pharmacy.

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ST.LAURENCE CHURCH

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Serves 8 Ready in 1 hr 30 mins, plus chilling and cooling INGREDIENTS • 300g ready-made sweet shortcrust pastry • Flour, for dusting • Grated zest and juice from 3 large lemons • 100g caster sugar • 2 medium eggs • 2 medium egg yolks • 150ml double cream • Lemon slices and mint leaves, to decorate TIP Allow the pastry to come to room temperature for about 30 mins before rolling out, otherwise it may crack.

10 connectionmags.co.uk

This divine dessert has a crisp and buttery pastry case filled with a tangy lemon cream filling.

1. Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface and use to line a 23cm loose-based fluted flan tin. Trim the edges and prick the pastry base all over with a fork. Chill in the fridge for 30 mins.

2. Preheat the oven to 200C / 180C fan / gas mark 6.Place a baking sheet in the oven to heat up. Line the pastry case with greaseproof paper and baking beans. Bake on the hot baking sheet in the preheated oven for 10 mins. Remove the lining paper and beans and bake for a further 5-10 mins until the pastry is pale golden.

3. Reduce the oven temperature to 170C / 150C fan / gas mark 3. In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, sugar, eggs and egg yolks. Gradually whisk in the double cream and lemon juice. Leave the mixture to stand for 10 mins.

4. Pour the lemon mixture into the pastry case and bake for 30-40 mins until the filling is just set – it should still be a little wobbly in the centre. Leave to cool in the tin. To serve, carefully remove the tart from the tin and decorate with lemon slices and mint leaves.

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the farm shop & so much more

“Spring will come and so will happiness.

Hold on. Life will get warmer.”

ANITA KRIZZAN

We are excited and busy, getting ready to open the garden shop & display gardens in early March.

Bulbs

SPRINGTIME AT HILLERS SPRINGTIM ME AT HILLERS SPRINGS i bulbs, b lb with new growth, that We have many varieties of Spring are ideal to instantly transform bare beds.

These can be bought in pots for easy planting and we have a great range including specialist varieties.

Roses

SPRINGTIME AT HILLERS SPRINGTIM ME AT HILLERS SPRINGCome and see our extensive range off new stock Roses.

A varied selection with an additional supplier; we have more than we’ve ever had before.

Competitive prices and a fantastic choice!

Dunnington Heath Farm • Alcester • Warwickshire • B49 5PD Tel: 01789 772771 • info@hillers.co.uk www.hillers.co.uk

The education technology (edtech) sector is booming. Many of the sites and apps are a tad pricey, but if you dig deep enough, there is a ton of free resource to explore.

Don’t forget the oldies It’s easy to forget about the likes of BBC Bitesize in the days of Twinkl and The Maths Factor, but it’s still going strong. In fact, BBC Bitesize now offers online lessons, including videos, games, stories, short cartoons to explain complex subjects and a whole heap more (www.bbc. co.uk/bitesize). Check out CBBC too (www.bbc. co.uk/cbbc) as many of the online games have an educational twist.

Make the most of free printables Your child has probably played an Orchard Toys game before, either at home or school. But you might not know that the brand also has loads of free activities on its website (www.orchardtoys. com), all aimed at younger children. There are simple jigsaw puzzles to print out, along with word games, activity sheets, recipes and so on.

Basically, if you have a child aged three to six and a printer, this site should provide hours of entertainment. Oxford University Press also has lots of free printable activities for primary-aged children at home.oxfordowl.co.uk.

Virtually visit attractions When they were forced to close their doors, many major attractions decided to offer virtual visits. Some also created extra resources for parents to use at home. Paignton Zoo (www. paigntonzoo.org.uk), for example, runs live video lessons covering subjects such as habitats. It also offers almost forty downloadable activities on its website, including ones focusing on science, art, literacy and history.

The National History Museum (www.nhm.ac.uk)

12 connectionmags.co.uk

has numerous resources on offer, including a virtual tour, videos, games, quizzes, science experiments and step-by-step craft activities.

It’s also worth checking out: • The Eden Project: www.edenproject.com • Longleat Safari Park: www.longleat.co.uk/ education/resources/teachers-resources • The Science Museum Group: learning. sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/resources.

(My nine-year-old absolutely loved the Total Darkness game.)

• The V&A: www.vam.ac.uk Look for free incentives Subscription sites often offer a free trial or try to lure you in with sample resources. Make the most of ‘try before you buy’ offers and set a reminder to cancel the subscription before the offer ends. Do check reviews first though – some companies make it as difficult as possible to cancel (presumably in the hope that you’ll give up and start paying). Direct debits and standing orders are usually easiest to manage, as you can cancel them through your bank.

Children’s magazines also tend to have free activities on their websites. National Geographic Kids’ site (www.natgeokids.com/uk/primaryresource) is particularly worth a visit.

Plan lessons If you want to take home-learning to the next level, STEM Learning (www.stem.org.uk/ resources) is a hub for literally tens of thousands of teaching resources linked to the National Curriculum. It’s aimed at teachers rather than parents, but you’ll find downloadable worksheets and activities, videos, games and pretty much everything else you might need.

You can filter by age, subject and the type of resources you’re looking for.

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If you applied for a mortgage in 2020 you faced an even longer wait than usual to get a decision thanks to an unprecedented backlog after the initial lockdown. That may slowly return to normal this year but it’s still worth taking every possible step to speed up the process. These are some of the best ways to avoid unnecessary delay.

Your Finances Be ready to answer questions about your income and your fixed or regular outgoings. Lenders need to know how much you are committed to spending each month outside of your mortgage and if you’d manage if interest rates rose.

Make sure you know the dates of any time you were under the coronavirus furlough scheme.

If you’re still on furlough, check if you have a confirmed return-to-work date.

Check your credit reports at all three UK agencies: Equifax, Experian and Transunion.

Look for any errors, for example if you have a closed credit account listed as still active.

Paperwork at the Ready If you use self-assessment, make sure your tax filings are up to date. You may be required to prove that your latest filing has been submitted and accepted before the lender will accept the relevant figures. If you applied for any government assistance such as the Self Employment Income Support Scheme, make sure you have up-todate business accounts showing whether or not you are back to sustained profitable trading.

they’ll usually have to provide bank statements showing they’ve either had it for a certain period or that it came from a legitimate source. They may also have to sign a form confirming it is a gift rather than a loan and that they disclaim any right to ownership of your property. Make sure they are happy to do both of these and have any documentation in place.

Double-check all paperwork, including names, addresses and dates of birth. In particular, make sure the spelling of names is correct, hyphenated names are listed correctly and middle names are either included or excluded consistently. Any mismatches can throw a spanner in the works and cause annoying delays.

For all documentation you need to supply, check whether you need originals or if a photocopy or scan is acceptable. Check also whether any copies need to be certified as genuine and if so, where you can get certification.

Using a Broker One of the best things you can do is consider using a mortgage broker. They’ll be able to suggest specific mortgages where you stand the best chance of acceptance, removing the wasted time of an unsuccessful application. They’ll also save time by completing the application using their professional experience to avoid any errors or omissions.

Have proof that you have the funds for your entire deposit. If the money isn’t simply savings, you’ll likely have to provide bank statements showing it arriving in your account to fulfil moneylaundering regulations.

If it’s a gift, for example from a family member,

14 connectionmags.co.uk

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15

Live life your way at Ambleside At Ambleside, Care UK’s care home in Stratford-upon-Avon, residents who are living with dementia enjoy fulfilling activities and experiences every day.

The highly trained team focuses on what a person can do, rather than what they can’t, and supports them to do the things they love.

Keeping active and independent is key.

The home has its own café, cinema, hair salon, plus large and accessible gardens for residents to enjoy. The dementia suite itself has themed areas where residents can do familiar tasks. There’s a doll nursery, DIY and sports-themed areas, and popular sensory items, like a multicolour bubble lamp.

The lifestyle team organises daily activities, from baking and movement

and music, to crafts, carpet bowls and afternoon teas. Residents are enjoying the virtual world trip with its themed food, and the ‘Halloween hoedown’ was a great opportunity for a dance.

One relative says, “Mum’s general health has improved considerably due to the care, support and excellent diet provided by the home. She’s extremely happy.”

Living at Ambleside brings something different every day. In fact, one gentleman who is living with dementia, who joined us for respite care, decided he’d be staying permanently!

Julia, the home’s manager, says, “We support him to do as much as he can for himself, and he loves the lifestyle – the friendships, the food and the fun we have.”

To find out more about dementia care at Ambleside, please call Gary Hulme on 01789 868 641 or email gary.hulme@careuk.com Ambleside care home Evesham Road, Dodwell, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9TG careuk.com/ambleside

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DISCOVER

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Aanando’s Bistro, 67A High St, Bidford-on-Avon B50 4BG | 01789 772666

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Find out more about our Craft Beer Club.

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Takeaways: Fri/Sat nights & Sunday lunches

Tilly Rose Beauty Boutique, Bidford-on-Avon B50 4BG | 01789 778349

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With the seed-sowing season upon us in earnest, now is the time to buy seeds from your local garden centre or a reputable online UK seed supplier. At the same time buy some seedsowing or multipurpose compost and some small seed trays and get sowing!

Heated propagators are not essential, but they will dramatically increase the range of plants you can grow. If you do use one, remove the seedlings when they appear then grow them on somewhere with plenty of natural light and, often, a fair degree of warmth.

A common problem is algae covering the surface of the compost when you sow slow-germinating seeds. Using a freshly opened bag of compost and mains water reduces the chance of algae getting into the seed tray, and make sure your watering can is really clean. A thin layer of vermiculite on the surface of the compost can also help.

Seeds come in an amazing array of shapes and sizes. Tiny seeds like begonias and lobelias must be more thinly spread or a congested thicket of seedlings competing for light, food, water and space that is more prone to diseases will result. Buy yourself some fine horticultural silver sand, make sure it is thoroughly dry and then mix the seed from the packet in about half a teaspoonful of sand before you sow. Play sand

18 connectionmags.co.uk

used in children’s sand pits works well too.

I always recommend sowing seed into compost before you wet it and then, once the seeds have been sown, water the seed tray or pot by standing it in the sink or in a tray of water, with the water about 1cm in depth. This will allow the moisture to be taken up without disturbing the seeds’ position.

Prick seedlings out when they are large enough to handle, but take care. Wait until there are the two seed leaves (larger, chunkier and differently shaped from the true seedling leaves) plus a pair of true seedling leaves. With tiny seedlings I tend to transplant or prick them out in blocks, gently easing them apart slightly as I pop them into their new compost. Make sure the compost is moist but not saturated to minimise root damage.

Use a small dibber (or a pencil) to carefully ease the roots out, handling the top part of the seedling by the seed leaves, never by the stem.

Make sure you put the seedlings into their new home immediately and water them in from the base, so that the compost and its moisture are in close contact with the fine roots.

At Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) you’ll find stylish cloches, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and the ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa’ system.

Or book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club.

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Spring Perennials We are a traditional, family run nursery located just outside Salford Priors. All of our plants are grown on the nursery and are exceptional quality and price.

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Answers on page 43

PET VACCINES

Dogs and cats are just as prone as humans to picking up viruses, albeit different ones to us! This means that vaccinations and boosters are essential part of caring for your pet.

For Cats Core vaccinations include one for feline parvovirus and others to prevent cat flu. As with people, flu can spread rapidly and has many different strains, which means that it will never be completely wiped out. A cat flu vaccine – given from around eight weeks of age – will boost immunity. A booster vaccine should be given a year later.

For Dogs There are many diseases that dogs should be vaccinated against. However, most vaccines are combined, and the schedule starts when the puppy is about six weeks old. A Lyme disease jab should be given to adult dogs once a year, particularly if you walk in grassy or woodland areas.

Will This Hurt?

Pets are generally given an injection underneath the skin at the scruff of the neck. Dogs’ kennel cough vaccine is usually administered as a nasal spray, however. The single-use disposable needle is very sharp and shouldn’t trouble your dog or cat too much.

Don’t Forget!

Make a note in your diary to get these shots done regularly. It’s part of the cost of owning a pet and of course prevention is so much better – and cheaper – than cure.

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Government announcements mean more EVs will be on our roads, but what do you need to know about them?

Last year’s announcement by Boris Johnson that sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans will be phased out by 2030 means that electric vehicles will become an important part of our driving lives.

To dispel some of the mystery, hear are some of the key things to know about making the leap to an EV. How much range do you need?

If you only make short trips around town and do fewer than 100 miles a week, for instance, then a car with a shorter range is fine. Drivers who travel further afield should consider a car with a bigger battery. Note that cars with shorter ranges will still offer more than most people do on average each week, and cars with smaller batteries offer quicker charge times.

How do I add charge when I get home?

Home charging is a crucial aspect of owning and running an electric car and there are incentives in place for charging at home. Government grants and even manufacturer schemes will make installing a home wall box much cheaper.

Will it actually be cheaper to buy and run an electric car?

Although the initial upfront cost for an EV is often more than an equivalent internal combustionengined car, this is becoming less common as the technology progresses. Plus, there are government cost. grants available to help lower the cost

Charging is where cost savings are really made.

Although prices do vary between chargers, around 100 miles of additional charge will cost about £6-7.

Charging at home depends on your energy tariff and there are companies offering EV-friendly plans that take advantage of lower-priced charging times, such as overnight. For an average EV with around 200 miles of range and a 60kWh battery, you’ll be looking at around £8.40 for a full charge – good value compared with petrol and diesel.

Are there any benefits that aren’t as obvious?

As well as cost saving, one positive is refinement – EVs are quiet and, therefore, relaxing to drive compared with a petrol or diesel car.

Another positive is performance, with even lowerpowered EVs offering rapid acceleration.

But isn’t the UK lacking in charge points?

The number of charging stations in the UK has grown enormously. According to ZapMap, there are over 35,000 connectors across the country, made up of around 20,000 charge points in about 13,000 locations.

26 per cent are in central London alone, with 13.5 per cent in the south east and 12.3 per cent in Scotland. Government funding will make fast chargers more widespread and improve the country’s charging structure to ma ake charging easier.

Do oesn’t the energy for electric cars only come from fossil fuels anyway?

En nergy and charger unit suppliers are wo orking to ensure their energy is green. BP Ch hargemaster’s charging stations, for example, all provide renewable energy, while home energy providers like Octopus Energy provide completely green power.

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27

BAC T E NET “They think it’s all over...”

Well, let’s face it, it is almost all over regarding the Premiership. Man City have eventually pulled up their collective socks and, having beaten Everton in mid February, were 10 points ahead of Man United and Leicester with 14 games to play.

So that’s it, isn’t it? If you have an opinion on which team you think might make a late challenge, please let us know.

It’s not been a great season for any team till City pulled away, winning their 17th successive match in all competitions. Covid seems to have made a difference one way or another. United have flattered to deceive so many times and must thank Fernandes for his huge contribution which has kept them in the chase till recently. Liverpool have lost their way big time and will point to the loss

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of van Dijk early in the season, as well as other players since, as being the reason for falling so far behind, although some of their previously influential players have taken dips in form. But these issues are faced by many other teams that have far less strength in depth. I would imagine that lessons will have been learnt at Anfield.

As well as looking likely that the title will go to City, it also looks as likely that the the three for the drop are pretty much nailed on. Sheffield United, West Brom and Fulham are surely as good as down now, aren’t they? I feel for West Brom who have a huge local following, many of who must have thought that Big Sam’s arrival might have been the miracle that could possibly keep them up, but they’ve shipped far too many goals this season.

In the Championship it’s not looking good for Blues, who also have a big following locally. They are currently firmly entrenched in the bottom three, with relegation a distinct possibility. Coventry aren’t doing much better and need some improvement to stay in the second tier. Time will have told by our next edition.

Till next time...

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NEIGHBOURHOOD N EIGHBOURHOOD WATCH WATCH A ALCESTER LCESTER Engaging Communities, Targeted Activity & Promoting The Right Culture.

Continued development of an improved policing service for residents and businesses in Warwickshire has been assured thanks to the PC 1672 Rob Davies reports... Alcester South SNT approval of the budget put forward by Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe. Over the with the support of Stratford SNT attended two next financial year 2021/22, the approved budget locations in S Warwickshire and recovered drugs. will deliver: The information on the addresses came from the A further 41 police officers to keep people safe community and were actioned in partnership with and provide extra visibility in local communities.

Orbit. The first was where there were environmental More Special Constables to support police teams issues and concerns to the community. Working across Warwickshire. Extra resources for teams in partnership drug misuse was taking place working with vulnerable victims and tackling child and action was taken to address this and the exploitation and trafficking. The opening of a new environmental issues. force control room, with state-of-the-art facilities to improve the way in which calls from the public At the second address, intelligence again was are responded to. Improved forensic services to provided by the community and Orbit which led support police investigations, delivered through to the arrest of the occupants for cultivation and possession. By working in partnership and attending a new collaboration. More warranted officers to strengthen the force’s capability to investigate the addresses together there was no need for crime and catch offenders. Extra financial support obtaining warrants, closer working arrangements allocated to increase the number of Independent formed, and in turn increased public confidence. A similar joint visit was conducted on 5/2/21 whereby Sexual Violence Advisors, to support victims of sexual offences and domestic abuse. two occupants of the address were arrested and The exact budget figures are subject to final large amounts, approx. £3,000 worth of cannabis, confirmation of Warwickshire’s share of national was seized. Joint agency working is proving to be policing funding but will be notified to households useful, made possible by intelligence provided by when they receive their Council Tax notices from the public! their district or borough council in late February/ Policing Budget finalised after securing early March.

support of Police and Crime Panel.

Alcester Police South Safer Neighbourhood Watch Scheme Emergencies and active crime, call 999.

The Police non emergency number: 101 to be used to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response. 101 diverts to your local Police.

Calls cost 15p per call, (landlines and mobiles). Online reporting services are also available on our website: https://www.warwickshire.police.uk Team email: alcestersouth.snt@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk SGT 125 Stacey Naughton stacey.naughton@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk PC 1672 Rob Davies robert.davies4@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk PCSO 6327 Carolyn Davis carolyn.davis1@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk PCSO 6111 Gary Johnson-Jones gary.johnson-jones@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk PCSO 6336 Mark Lucas mark.lucas@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk

Alcester Office 01789 444816.

Facebook - Alcester Police Twitter - @AlcesterCops Instagram - southwarwickshiresnts Website - www.warwickshire.police.uk Call Crimestoppers anonymously with information about crime on 0800 555 111.

Crimestoppers is a charity that will pass on information to police without revealing any details of the caller.

Contact Warwickshire Trading Standards 01926 414040 to report a suspect rogue trader. General advice on scams and rogue traders contact 0845 4040 506.

Sign up to receive scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams.

You can also report a fraud or cyber crime to Action Fraud on: 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk.

For more information about Neighbourhood Watch Alcester please contact nhwalcester@gmail.com or telephone Dorrie Manders on 01789 762999.

Alcester is a relatively crime free area. We work together to keep it that way 30 connectionmags.co.uk

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If you’re on the hunt for a staycation closer to home instead of your usual holiday abroad, the Scottish Highlands should definitely be on your radar.

Imagine awe-inspiring landscapes, towns rich in culture, fluffy Highland cows, centuries of history and castles straight from a fairy tale – all topped off with a dose of Scottish hospitality. We’ve put together some of the top things to do on a staycation in the beautiful Scottish Highlands.

Hike or ski Ben Nevis A hiker’s paradise in summer and a skier’s playground in winter, the UK’s highest peak is a year-round magnet for keen outdoor types.

Nevis Range is the Scots’ favourite ski resort in winter, but its panoramic mountain views make it worth a visit during summer too. Take a cable car there to enjoy hikes of varying degrees or tackle the seven-hour trek to Ben Nevis’s peak!

While exploring Ben Nevis, base yourself at nearby Fort William, a fantastic jumping off point for exploring the Highlands’ glens and mountains.

Visit Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness Lose yourself in the medieval history of Inverness’s ruined castle, dating all the way back to the thirteenth century. The castle also sits on the banks of the iconic Loch Ness, making the pair a must-visit for anyone travelling to the Scottish Highlands.

Book a fascinating tour around Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness to learn about their role in Highlands history, keeping an eye out for the mythical monster rumoured to roam these waters…

Spend some time on the Isle of Skye Scotland’s crown jewel, the Isle of Skye is the largest and arguably the most beautiful island of the Inner Hebrides, with spectacular moors,

32 connectionmags.co.uk

rocky valleys, dramatic mountain ranges and white sandy beaches.

Admire the Old Man of Storr, take a dip in the turquoise waters of magical Fairy Pools, walk along the cliff front to Neist Point Lighthouse and hike the Quiraing, drinking in the outstanding scenery.

Go hiking in Glen Coe Glens are deep, narrow valleys that are synonymous with beautiful scenery, and Glen Coe is one of Scotland’s finest.

Carved out centuries ago by glaciers and volcanic explosions, Glen Coe’s beauty has made it the star of many famous films, including Skyfall and the Harry Potter series. If you don’t fancy exploring on foot, the A82 highway cuts straight through the verdant valley. Make time for plenty of stops – the scenery is out of this world!

Explore Britain’s biggest national park Covering 1,748 square miles, Cairngorms National Park is twice the size of the Lake District and cradles five of the UK’s six highest summits.

You could easily spend days exploring the mountains, lochs, rivers, forests and villages of this mammoth national park, but if you’re short on time don’t leave out a visit to Balmoral Castle – Queen Victoria’s favourite – and a ride on the Cairngorm Mountain Railway. As you explore, look out for the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd, the UK’s only free-grazing reindeer!

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Puzzle Page

Wordwheel

Answers on page 43.

PICTOGRAMS

Each word to be three letters or more (but no plurals), and all must contain the central letter. There’s at least one word which uses all of the letters.

4 words

Target: Excellent: 24 or more words Good: 18 words Fair: 15 words

_ COLLINS _

3 words

T

WORD ü WORD û WORD û WORD ü WORD û

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M A L R

3 words AR MR & MRS SON

Quick Crossword 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 9

10

11 12 13

14

15 16

17

18

19 20

22

34 connectionmags.co.uk

21

23

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Across 1 Jewels (4) 3 Allowed in (8) 9 Worried (7) 10 Annoy (5) 11 Fading away (12) 13 Deny (6) 15 Interfere (6) 17 Directions (12) 20 Ships load (5) 21 Vital part of healthy diet (7) 22 Enjoyed (8) 23 Repair (4) Down 1 Protecting (8) 2 Blends (5) 4 Dismiss (6) 5 Crossroad (12) 6 Taught (7) 7 Deceased (4) 8 Contests (12) 12 Flavoured (8) 14 Army rank (7) 16 Flexible (6) 18 Overweight (5) 19 Mark left by wound (4)

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Adver�sement Feature

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35

Alcester Town Council MARCH-APRIL 2021

Alcester Window Wanderland

For the second year running, Alcester enjoyed its streets being lit up with wonderful window displays. From 16-23 January, window makers brought Covid-proof joy to window wanderers in our lovely community.

The Mayor of Alcester, Cllr Gill Forman made her choices for the four categories in this year’s Window Wanderland Challenge. The overall winners of the Creative Award were Sean & Sally Macreavy from Moorfields Road. Their underwater water themed display covered all four windows on the front of their house!

The Community Window Award went to the whole of Gerard Road. The Best Business Award went to The Cherry Trees Care Home.

The Positive Message Award went to a property on Alcocks Road.

36 connectionmags.co.uk

Town Council Meetings In line with government legislation, Full Council meetings are being held remotely by video conference using Zoom software. Committee meetings have also resumed using Zoom.

Please note Community Care and Community Facilities Committees are now meeting bimonthly. All meetings in 2021 commence at 7pm.

Full Council Meetings: Tuesdays 2 March & 13 April Community Facilities: 16 March Presidium: 30 March & 27 April Community Care: 27 April Planning Committee: Mondays 15 & 29 March & 19 April All Town Council meetings remain open to the public. Anyone wishing to participate remotely using Zoom software, or ask questions, should contact the Town Clerk on: clerk@alcester-tc.gov.uk before 2pm on the day before the meeting to obtain further details.

Agendas are published on the Town Council website: www.alcester-tc.gov.uk and copies can be viewed on the council notice boards.

Alcester Town Council Contact Details: The Town Council offices are open Monday to Friday, 9am-1pm, with staff attending on a rota basis in accordance with government guidelines. The general public will not be admitted unless by prior appointment.

If you have an enquiry for the Town Council, please phone 01789 766084 or email clerk@alcester-tc.gov.uk and we will repond as soon as we can.

Alcester Town Council offices: Globe House, Priory Road, Alcester B49 5DZ Tel: 01789 766084 Town Clerk - Vanessa Lowe: clerk@alcester-tc.gov.uk Planning & Communication - Sarah Duran: administration@alcester-tc.gov.uk Community Care - Jenny Theobald: office@alcester-tc.gov.uk Facilities - Jan Rowlatt: reception@alcester-tc.gov.uk Health & Wellbeing - Wendy Sherwood: info@alcester-tc.gov.uk Further information can be found on our social media pages: www.facebook.com/alcester www.twitter.com/AlcesterTown

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community events & what’s on...

To publicise any community events, email info@connectionmags.co.uk by 10 th of April.

Because of the current covid-19 situation, local groups are unable to meet, so we are including what we can, with contact details and website addresses where we have them.

Local WI Groups All groups will keep in touch and let you know as soon as we can meet again.

Broom WI Invitations to future meetings will be sent to all members via email. If any non-members are interested in attending, please contact Shirley Talboys on 01789 778840 for details.

Alcester WI Although we haven't been able to actually meet since a socially distanced get together on a seriously hot summer day under the oak tree in the park on the Stratford Road, we've managed to stay in touch. There have been emails and phone calls between members. One member celebrated their 70th (platinum) wedding anniversary with a card from the Queen and there have been special birthdays too. There have also been losses which have saddened us all.

We have managed to re-start our book club with 12 members enjoying a varied selection of books. So we are looking ahead to when, hopefully, we can meet again, fully vaccinated, and do what we do best - talk and eat cake!

And we have some exciting news... we are trialling Zoom meetings for the book club, so members will be updated in the usual way.

Salford Priors Ladies Group Contact Barbara McIlwaine on 01789 778392 for details.

Alcester Flower Club For information please contact Marian Buchanan 01789 400868 or Wendy Beesley 01789 762865.

Alcester Ladies Probus Club Best Wishes to all Members, keep safe and well.

Contact: Hon.Sec. Cynthia Hill: 01789 763446.

Alcester & District Local History Society www.alcesterhistory.org.uk Contact Alan Godfrey 01789 765385.

40 connectionmags.co.uk

Cookhill Garden Club Website www.CookhillGarden.Club for further details.

Bidford Gardening Society www. bidfordgardens.com Bidford History Society www.bidfordhistory.org.uk Alcester Town Hall alcestertownhall.org.uk Alcester Cafe Alcester Cafe is running a Befriending phone, checking carers and people with dementia.

They also have two Zoom groups, one for carers and another for a KIT (Keeping in Touch) group.

Contact Carole on 01789 488088 for more information.

From all at The Connection Magazine, please stay safe and we hope we can bring you more news soon.

Sudoku solutions (see page 6)

Easy grid

Not so easy grid

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Reflections on a decade Our 10th anniversary fell during ‘Lockdown 1’ - w we hope to celebrate 10 + 1 later this year! Originally called ‘Alcester Alauna’, we offer a quick, informal breakfast meeting for people who want a good fit for their working day. These were a wonderful start to our Thursday mornings & we can’t wait to get them back We aim to support charities as directly as possible. Mostly they are local which makes this easy, and we apply the same principle overseas. In our first year, two members did a sponsored cycle ride through UK & Ireland & raised over £5,000 for the End Polio programme which was then ‘matched’ by both Rotary International & the Gates Foundation. Rotary are regularly involved in the inoculation programmes in Polio-affected countries & several of our members went to India to give on-the-ground help to make another part of the world safe from polio. We also liaise directly with Stratford based GAGA to help them promote growth in Africa.

Our local community in the Alcester & Bidford area is very close to our hearts and over the last decade we have supported more charities & organisations than we can list here. Our charity fundraising has been varied & fun - Big Breakfasts, Pimm’s Stands,, Santa’s Grotto,, Bulldog Bash ‘shop’ to name a few. A huge thank you to & everyone H ’ to t the th next ten years! in Alcester & Bidford for all your support. Here’s

E: alcesterbidfordrotary@gmail.com www.facebook.com/AlcesterandBidfordRotary To advertise please call 01789 491005 or email info@connectionmags.co.uk

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By Kate Duggan

Books to uplift, inspire and help you to move forwards.

The Shift – Sam Baker Whether you’re just approaching the perimenopause or have reached the other side, Shift is a must read. It covers everything from common symptoms to the media’s treatment of ‘invisible women’. You won’t find a list of all the different types of HRT or discover a magic cure-all for hot flushes. Instead, as the subtitle says, it’s the story of how Baker lost (and found) herself after 40 – and how you can too. I loved the author’s wry humour and admission that she doesn’t have all the answers.

Interspersed with her writing are quotes from hundreds of women, revealing differing views to the menopause, ageing and life in general.

Where Hope Comes From – Nikita Gill Nikita Gill’s poems take the reader on a journey through the stages of grief, onwards to hope. Gill is at high risk from Covid-19 and lives thousands of miles away from her family. Her poems helped her to find a way forward. As she explained on Instagram, “When I realised that I needed to honour my grief and anger, I finally began to work my way through them.” The result is a truly beautiful collection of short poems to help the reader “… come away with a little more joy and hope than before.”

One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot – Marianne Cronin A book about two terminally ill friends may not seem like the most uplifting of reads, yet somehow One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot manages to be just that. seventeen-year-old Lenni and eighty-three-year-old Margot meet in hospital. They set themselves a challenge of painting a hundred pictures, one for every year of their lives. As they grow closer, they reveal the stories behind the paintings. While the original focus in on Lenni, it’s Margot’s life, with all its ups, downs and loves lost, that ends up taking centre stage.

Do Pause – Robert Poynton Poynton discusses how pausing (whether to reconsider, question yourself, appreciate your surroundings or just rest) can help us to take back control, become more creative and, ultimately, be happier. If you’re struggling to find a balance in life, or find your brain is always ‘on’, this little book could be the coffee break read you’re looking for.

The Atlas of Happiness – Helen Russell Helen Russell explores traditions, practices and beliefs from around the world, from the Italian ‘dolce far niente’ (the joy of doing nothing) to Japan’s ‘wabi-sabi’ (appreciating things as they are, with all their imperfections). She also offers advice for embracing some of these practices in everyday life. An enjoyable read to dip in an out of, The Atlas of Happiness might just help you to see life a little differently.

Other books to try…

I’ve covered these before, but in case you missed them, I highly recommend: • Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library • Charlie Mackesy’s The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse • Brandon Stanton’s Humans

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