The Connection Magazine - September/October 2021

the

connection

Around Alcester, Bidford & the Villages September-October 2021 No. 151

magazine

BIDFORD RAINBOWS GLUTEN FREE BAKING

Blackberry cake

LOW MAINTENANCE GARDENING

PLUS

Alcester Town Council Bidford Parish Council Neighbourhood Watch Community updates Local cricket

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Useful phone numbers

Welcome

... to the September/October 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

Hasn’t the summer flown by? And with a disappointing amount of cloud for the school holidays, if I’m being perfectly honest.

Yet the time rolling on brings a whiff of autumn and the chillier mornings waiting around the corner. It’s almost time for blankets, knitwear and comfort food. What better way to kick off with the latter than by enjoying the spoils of blackberry foraging? If you aren’t fussed about making a batch of jam, do try our blackberry cake recipe on page 10. It’s gluten free, but the flour could be substituted for normal self raising if you’d 01527 503030 prefer.

01789 205831 01926 495321 Schools make a return in early September and, with the start of a new term, many local children’s groups will also recommence.

Bidford Rainbows is one such group, and you can read more about their meetings on page 15.

999 or 112 01789 444816 September also brings the end of cricket season and the last ‘View from the boundary’ for the year (p.32). It’s been a season 08008 00151 of mixed weather, but so great to see the sport return after 08004 04090 lockdowns. Premier League football returns, of course, and you 08001 11999 can read ‘Back of the Net’ on page 30.

It’s been lovely to receive increasing news of local community 0300 555 8171 groups returning to face-to-face meetings. One such group, 01789 773239 Evesham & District u3a, has been enjoying a range of activities, 0844 855 2322 including a recent trip to Buscot Park. Read more on page 16.

07771 616189 Our community pages are at the back, along with the regular 01789 766750 Bidford Parish Council (p.38) and Alcester Town Council (p.36) newsletters.

01789 762450 01789 766200 With autumn around the corner, you may be planning a cosy 01789 270744 staycation and we have some inspiration in our travel section 01386 871777 on pages 44-45.

01789 262889 And for all you green-fingered folk, there’s some easy, low maintenance gardening tips on pages 18-20.

A quick reminder that clocks go back on 31st October, although 01789 762285 it doesn’t seem 5 minutes since we changed them for spring. Is 01789 762494 that just me?!

01789 762888 Wishing all of our readers a fantastic couple of months. We 01789 773201 return in November with a festive Christmas edition!

01789 762444 All the best, 01789 772200 01789 488247 01789 488211 November/December Copy Deadline: 01789 762555 Friday 8th October 01789 772497 Facebook.com/theconnectionmag 01789 762578 Twitter.com/connection_mag Connection circulation: 11,300 01789 772384 Editor: Amy James Phone 01789 453130 01789 763060 01789 763293 01789 773372 111 116 123

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.

Introducing New Stylist, Emma Williams.

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This year it’s more important than ever to get the flu vaccine.

Available at Hopkins Pharmacy To book your appointment, call:

01789 764874 or email: hopkinspharmacy@hotmail.com

Alcester Primary Care Centre

01789 764 874

Fields Park Drive, Alcester, B49 6QR www.hopkinspharmacy.co.uk

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The Village Cafe 15B High Street| Bidford on Avon | B50 4BQ

Traditional & Friendly Family Jewellers Specialists in Antique, Vintage & Pre-Owned Jewellery.

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Make the most of fresh blackberries with this delicious gluten-free cake.

Ideal as a dessert with yogurt.

Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 30-40 minutes Makes one 6 inch cake / serves 10 Ingredients • 150g gluten-free self-raising our • 1 tsp baking powder • 75g xylitol or coconut sugar • Pinch of sea salt • 2 eggs • 100ml dairy-free milk or regular milk • 60g coconut yogurt or Greek yogurt • 120ml olive oil • 100g fresh or frozen blackberries • A little apricot jam for brushing • Yogurt to serve

10 connectionmags.co.uk

1. Grease and line a 6 inch cake tin. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas mark 4.

2. Place the our, baking powder, xylitol (or coconut sugar, if using) and salt in a large bowl and mix together. In a separate bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, yogurt and olive oil, then pour this mixture into the dry ingredients and beat well with a wooden spoon.

3. Fold in the blackberries, reserving a few for the top.

4. Spoon the batter into the tin and smooth the top. Press the reserved blackberries into the top of the cake.

5. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove from the oven and, with the cake in the tin, brush the top with a little warmed apricot jam to glaze.

Allow the cake to cool before removing from the tin.

6. Cut into slices and serve with yogurt.

Nutrition per serving (using xylitol): 218kcal, fat 13.4g (of which saturates 2.2g), carbohydrates 20.4g (of which sugars 1.5g), protein 3.4g

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en room the Garden Cafe is now Follow t gard open l i u b ly ing a refurb ishment and new

Come and visit us...

The Farm Shop • The Cheese Shop • Deli Counter • Bakery • Hillers Fish Shop Ragley Estate Meats • The Garden Shop • 3 acre display garden free for all to enjoy Hillers Gifts & Interiors • The Garden Cafe open 9.00am-5.00pm The Hillers Hut is open for takeaway service 9.00am-5.00pm Dunnington Heath Farm, Alcester, B49 5PD • Tel: 01789 772771 • www.hillers.co.uk

Conjure Women – Aa Atakora Set a few years after the abolition of slavery, Conjure Women tells the story of Rue. As a ‘conjure woman’, Rue has learnt how to treat minor ailments and birth babies. But when a baby is born with black eyes and other children succumb to a mysterious illness, Rue’s community starts to turn against her. Rue has many secrets, one of which could change her community forever. A beautifully written book for fans of Toni Morrison and Yaa Gyasi.

Beautiful Country – Qian Julie Wang The author moved to America when she was seven. While her parents were professors back in China, they found themselves relegated to working in sweatshops in the US. As undocumented migrants, the family had few rights and lived in fear of being sent back to China.

Such fear that when Qian’s mother grew sick, the family could not seek help. A stunning memoir, Beautiful Country will take your breath away.

Widowland – CJ Carey In a reimagined timeline where the Nazis won World War II, women in Britain are subject to strict controls. As an elite ‘Geli woman’ with a high-up boyfriend, Rose enjoys some privileges and has seemingly settled into the role prescribed for her. She’s tasked with rewriting classic books to align them to this new world order. However, when Rose is sent to inltrate Widowland – the slums where childless, husbandless women over fty are banished to – in order to report back on a rebellious faction, she has to decide whose side she’s really on. A slow-burner, but ultimately gripping.

My Time Will Come – Ian Manuel Ian Manuel was sentenced to life in prison at just fourteen years old for his role in a botched robbery. He was placed in solitary connement. This is Ian’s story of where it all went wrong, how he survived twenty-six years in the American prison system (most of which he spent in solitary), where he was beaten, chained and belittled, and how he came to befriend the woman he shot.

Sea Prayer – Khalid Hosseini A father and son wait for a boat that they hope will take them to a new life.

The father talks of the beauty of Syria before the bombs hit – the bustling markets, olive groves and tight-knit families. He talks of his hopes for the future and his belief that the country they’re travelling to will see all the goodness and potential in his son. Written in response to the death of Alan Kurdi and other refugee children, Sea Prayer is a deeply moving, beautifully illustrated book. It’s very short but well-deserving of a place on your bookshelf.

The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club – Josie Lloyd The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club is a surprisingly light-hearted, uplifting read based on the author’s own experiences with cancer. The main character is Keira, whose world comes crashing down after a cancer diagnosis. Struggling to come to terms with her illness, Keira nds solace, companionship and laughter in a running group of other cancer patients and survivors.

12 connectionmags.co.uk

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DISCOVER

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Your visual guide to businesses, products & services from Alcester, Bidford & the surrounding villages.

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

Nasus Hair | Salon & luxury organic haircare Alcester, B49 6EL | 01789 766314

Maypole Butchers, Bidford-on-Avon B50 4AB | 01789 750213

The Village Cafe, Bidford-on-Avon B50 4BQ | 01789 772726

Outdoor Adventurer, Honeybourne WR11 7QB | outdooradventurer.co.uk

Most of us have made mistakes with money at some point. Help your children to avoid the same nancial pitfalls by giving them the knowledge and skills to build on in the future.

Teach them the value of money Rather than buying your children sweets each week, give them pocket money, some of which they can use to buy sweets and some of which they can save for a bigger treat. It’s good for children to earn at least part of their pocket money by doing chores. They’ll learn that money doesn’t come for nothing and be less likely to waste it. To make life easier, you could use an app and debit card like RoosterMoney or Go Henry, which were created to help children get to grips with their nances and earn money through chores.

Help them to budget Encourage children to save up for something they really want rather than just waiting for Christmas or their birthday. You could start by explaining how much they’d need to save each week to achieve their goal. Younger children tend to need quicker results, so start with a small goal that can be achieved in a few weeks rather than months.

Give them responsibility Part of appreciating the value of money is learning through mistakes. It’s tempting to step in and stop your child from spending their pocket money on things that you know they will quickly discard. Offer advice but let them make their own decisions on low-value items. They may well then think twice next time they want to buy a blind bag or an expensive T-shirt. When older children are ready, you could give them more responsibility for budgeting for the things they need by giving them an allowance for clothes, school dinners, travel expenses, toiletries, days out and so on, and helping them to work out a monthly budget. Again, they can earn more through chores if they want to save up for highvalue items.

Discuss money Don’t be afraid to talk about money with your children. You could share how much you’re setting aside each month for next year’s holiday for example, and talk about your own experiences with money. You can also help your child to see that, while it’s good to shop around for the best price, cheap doesn’t always mean best value. However, try not to make your child worried about family nances. It’s ne to talk about not being able to afford something or how you’re saving up for a big purchase, but you don’t want your child to lose sleep worrying that you won’t be able to pay the bills.

Learn from the experts Make the most of children’s love for online games. MyBnk is a UK charity on a mission to help children build good money habits. It has created a series of fun online courses for ages 5 to 21. You can access them for free at learning. mybnk.org/our-courses.

By Kate Duggan

14 connectionmags.co.uk

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Bidford’s Rainbows Rainbows is a fun and exciting activity for girls aged 5-7 which is all about: learning by doing; girls playing games; doing crafts; and earning all sorts of badges from ‘First Aid’ to ‘Construction’.

Just after Christmas, 15 brand new Rainbows “met” for the first time via Zoom, where we learned sign language, cooked popcorn over candles and even earned a camping badge from our own homes!

Litter picking with Bidford’s Rubbish Friends and Swimming at Bunkers Hill Swim School.

We are looking forward to a bright new term filled with excitement and adventures!

Thanks to a generous grant from Bidford Parish Council, we have been very busy on Bidford’s Big Meadow: launching space rockets; painting with pendulumss; and learning teddy bear first aid, as well as visiting the Fire Station;

We are always looking for new rainbows and vvolunteers, you can find out more by going to:

www.girlguiding.org. w uk/get-involved/

or email our District Commissioner, Jane Vance: jaane.vance@btinternet.com

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15

Every picture tells a story.

Evesham & District u3a members enjoy meeting again.

E

vesham u3a was started with a handful of people in 200. The organisation was set up to serve people in their ‘third age’ i.e. those who are now retired or semi-retired. No qualifications are required for membership, nor are there any qualifications on offer. All learning is learning for its own sake.

The u3a is a mutual aid organisation which offers opportunities for members to learn from each other. Everyone is able to participate and contribute their own particular skills, knowledge and experience. is for people who consider themselves retired to inspired - no longer in full time work with a wish to develop their current interests and find new ones.

There are more than 80 interest groups ranging from Art to Yoga. They include bird watching, crafting, dancing, games, languages, lunching, music, outings, photography, sports, walking – anything and everything.

Geoff Hodgson, a member of ‘Urban Sketchers’ in All Saints Church grounds.

16 connectionmags.co.uk

u3a’s recent outing to Buscot Park, Oxfordshire.

“It’s local, social, friendly, low cost and open to all”, said one member.

Recently, the Urban Sketchers group met, seeing a couple of the members spending time studying All Saints’ Church grounds and Abbey Park, Evesham.

This particular group meets every fortnight to capture scenes around the town.

In the first Evesham u3a coach outing since November 2019, sixty-seven members climbed aboard two coaches from Cresswells of Evesham for a visit to Buscot Park, a National Trust property across the Cotswolds near Lechlade.

“It’s wonderful to be out and about again, especially after the year or more we’ve all been through”, said one of the visitors.

New members are welcome, with existing members encouraged to return after months of online meetings.

If you’d like further information about Evesham & District u3a, please visit their website: www.u3asites.org.uk/evesham/welcome

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Group pots together so the plants can enjoy a micro climate

By Caroline Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk

Ask anyone who looks after a garden if they would like a high-maintenance outdoor space and the answer will almost denitely be no. The requirement for most is to have a garden that is easy to look after. So how do you go about achieving this?

If your own garden is a maintenance nightmare, then now is the perfect time to start improving the situation.

Keep it Simple Start with simple things. Look around to see how potty you have gone over pots - you really don’t want too many. The content within pots and containers requires regular watering by the head gardener and nutrients within the

18 connectionmags.co.uk

compost depletes within just a few weeks and they require feeding. If there are annual plants in pots, these will need changing as the seasons progress. Plants also require gentle snipping to keep them looking neat and attractive and to encourage more owers. If you have shrubs in pots, they are likely to need pruning as well as turning so that each side of the plant receives an equal amount of light. If all this is making you feel exhausted, just keep a few very large containers for certain specimens and make them into a feature. If, however, you aren’t ready to abandon your potaholic habits, group them together so that they can create their own microclimate. Each pot will provide a bit of shade for another and the air around them will enjoy increased humidity.

Continued on page 20

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19

No Mow Next, we come to the lawn, if there is one. Allow the grass sward to grow a little longer. You don’t need to mow every week. Welcome weeds and wildowers into the lawn; it’s far better for wildlife and biodiversity than a monoculture of grass.

Your garden isn’t Hampton Court and provided the lawn looks vaguely green, it really doesn’t matter if there are daisies, dandelions, moss or most other self-seeded delights sparkling amongst the grass. The gentle buzzing of bees is the reward you get for being more relaxed about your green carpet. Lawn edges can be dened by using some sort of edging system that will stop the grass spreading into the owerbeds.

There are dozens of options, from rustic and durable Corten weathering steel through to rubber, plastic, wood and brick.

Keep Weeds in the Dark Ask a gardener about a job that always needs doing and weeds will be high on the agenda.

There’s a very simple way to stop weeds growing: cover up your soil! It’s inevitable that nature will send something to inltrate any little patch of bare ground. So, if you would rather choose your own variety of species to grow in your garden, rather than whatever a passing bird decides to eject, ensure you plant densely.

While new plants are establishing, spread mulch onto any bare soil to stop weeds taking hold.

The More the Merrier Try not to plant just one of something, unless it’s a specimen. Use several of the same species to create a swathe that can form part of a tapestry of plants that knit together, thus crowding out any unwanted lodgers. There is always something that will grow in areas that might feel ‘difcult’ – that dark and shady corner where the bindweed always snakes up the fence, for example.

These places are

20 connectionmags.co.uk

often perfect for ferns, an underused plant that is ideal within a low-maintenance garden. Plant a group of the same species that are suited to the position and their lush green fronds with wonderful textures will delight you.

Shrubby Heroes Shrubs are generally the best low-maintenance plant of all. Replace annual planting schemes with shrub beds, but don’t inict the hedgecutter ‘blob treatment’ on them. The secret lies in choosing your plants wisely and thus not planting something that grows larger than the space available. You can allow them to grow into their natural form.

Wildlife Workers Maybe you have a problem with aphids and leaf-nibbling pests, including slugs and snails?

Before reaching for a chemical spray, try recruiting local wildlife to work on your behalf.

Birds, frogs, toads, ladybirds and many different insects including beetles are ace at eating plant pests. Make sure you provide plenty of ground cover and shady nooks where creatures can hide. Think about positioning a bird table near plants that are prone to suffering from pests.

Blue tits will enjoy a feast t for a king once they nd aphids. Create a garden where everything is welcome and it should nd a natural balance.

Container lled with annuals

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If you fancy a hybrid with more space there are plenty of options The SUV lends itself perfectly to a hybrid powertrain, with more space for the batteries and hence a better boot. This is why there are so many hybrid SUV offerings available today. We’ve picked out some of the best options available today.

BMW X5 xDrive45e BMW’s X5 now has a plug-in hybrid variant – badged X5 xDrive45e. With electric range of up to 54 miles, it far exceeds the vast majority of other hybrids and allows for decent-length journeys to be completed on battery power alone.

Plus, you still get the premium cabin and sharp looks that you’d associate with the standard X5.

26 connectionmags.co.uk

Mercedes-Benz GLE350de The GLE350de is a diesel-powered hybrid, which is not common across this segment. Mercedes claims you’ll get up to 256.8 mpg combined, which will help with the fuel bills.

Plus, when you’ve run out of electricity – which should still give you a decent 54 miles between charges – you’re left with a smooth and rened 2.0-litre diesel engine.

Kia Sorento PHEV Kia’s plug-in hybrid version of its latest Sorento SUV uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine linked to an electric motor and batteries, and Kia claims you’ll get around 35 miles of electric-only driving.

Audi Q5 TFSI e Audi’s Q5 has proved to be a popular choice in the SUV segment thanks to its premium interior and good level of standard equipment, with a plug-in hybrid version recently added.

As well as a striking exterior design, the Sorento boasts a well-made cabin that is tted with a healthy level of standard equipment.

You should get 26 miles of electric-only range in the Q5, allowing for plenty of driving without having to trouble the petrol engine.

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Peugeot 3008 Hybrid Peugeot’s range of electried vehicles is expanding, with the 3008 plug-in hybrid one of its latest. It uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine hooked up to two electric motors for a combined power output of 296bhp. Four-wheel drive means it’s got plenty of traction, too.

Volkswagen Touareg R A hybrid setup can be used for performance, as demonstrated by the new Volkswagen Touareg R. It’s now Volkswagen’s most powerful production car to date, thanks to its V6 petrol engine and electric motor combination producing 456bhp and 700Nm of torque.

Peugeot claims an electriconly range of up to 36 miles.

On top of this, you get loads of standard equipment and one of the sharpest exterior designs around.

But it remains a practical and well-sized option, while a claimed fuel economy gure of 94.2mpg should make it a little cheaper to run than a conventional Touareg, too.

DS 7 Crossback E-Tense As part of the wider PSA Group, DS can take advantage of all manner of hybrid powertrains.

It’s why the 3008 and the DS 7 Crossback E-Tense appear so similar – they’re essentially the same underneath. However, the DS has a slightly more dramatic, eye-catching exterior combined with a amboyant interior.

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BACK OF THE NET Here we go again! Another season begins and thousands flock to watch their first game for quite a while. And it wasn’t a bad week.

VAR has been tweeked. We now have ‘thicker lines’, apparently to ‘allow players to go out and express themselves and let the game flow’ with ‘a slightly higher threshold for referee and VAR intervention’, with ‘the benefit of the doubt for the attacking player, so where we have a really close offside situation we will follow the same process as last year but now apply thicker broadcast lines.’

‘Effectively what we have done is given back 20 goals to the game that were deemed offside last season by using quite forensic scrutiny.’

‘So it’s the toenails, the noses of players that

30 connectionmags.co.uk

were offside - they won’t be offside now.’

What a pity it’s taken so long to realise what most of us knew a year go.

England were not too shabby at Euro 2020, were they? Italy were far superior in the final and thoroughly deserved the win, although at least one of their team deserved a red card.

But onward and upward to a new season.

The first week’s matches in the PL have seen a few surprises. As bad as Arsenal have been, they weren’t expected to lose at Brentford, although they did have their two main strikers missing. Villa losing to Watford was also something of a surprise, especially how they went three down. Also, I expected Leeds to do better than losing 5-1 to Man U. Then there was Man City with the most expensive starting eleven in Premier League history. And with Grealish, their newest and most expensive recruit, they were beaten by a Tottenham side missing their top striker. That’s football for you.

So we are up and running and hoping for a VAR free season, at least as much as possible.

Till next time...

Back of the net!

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View from the boundary

by Rich James

Criticized from all quarters in the press, a prime example of style over substance, a short term placeholder - we’ll come back and discuss the England test batting efforts more in due course and focus immediately on The Hundred.

Very much the marmite of the sport; too garish, not needed, financially driven, all accusations levelled at the ECB’s new format of cricket which debuted in July. Whilst there is some basis for criticism, it is safe to say that the spectacle has been great, the cricket has been excellent and the fans have taken to it immediately. It has been fantastic to see packed stadiums and cricket back on the BBC after years away. The women’s game has had a huge boost with the staging of their matches prior to the men’s games as part of the game programme and on the basis of a single uncompleted tournament it’s pretty safe to say it is here to stay already. We’ll learn the impact of this on the wider county game in due course, but the ECB’s huge financial gamble would appear to have paid off. (I can only hope our local Birmingham Orange Popcorn Franchise is victorious in the upcoming final).

Whilst the fun and glamour have been wowing the crowds, the purists have been left disheartened and frustrated by England’s ineptitude in the test format. There may well be a direct correlation as the Hundred is occupying prime mid-season County Championship time. Our squad of out of form red-ball cricketers selected to represent England have thus far failed to win a game this summer; defeat to New Zealand has been followed by two dreadful performances against India. Whilst our test players are struggling for runs, the only players the selectors have to call on are making a name by smashing a white ball to all parts in as much of a contrasting format as there could possibly be. Is this the pay off for the success of the 100 ball game?

32 connectionmags.co.uk

After the rains of May, I read last week that July was the hottest on record. It was delightful to see the high temperatures and sun from Monday to Friday through the month with any weekly bad weather consistently appearing each and every Saturday! Local cricket seems to be thriving despite a few bumps in the road due to Covid cases. The Cotswold Hills League has just two weeks remaining and we already have confirmation of local success to shout about!

Exhall & Wixford have an outside chance of retaining the Premier Division title they won in 2019, but need results to go in their favour. In Division One, Alcester & Ragley started well, but have had to settle for a mid-table spot. Division Two will go down to the wire with Temple Grafton in the thick of a title challenge as they look to achieve their highest ever league finish. Bidford on Avon have guaranteed themselves back-to-back divisional titles having won Division Three; Great Alne are favourites to join them in promotion.

Welford are in with a chance of promotion from Division Four but Alcester & Ragley’s 2nd XI will most likely finish bottom. In Division Seven there is a guaranteed promotion for Temple Grafton’s undefeated 2nd eleven whilst Bidford on Avon 2nds should finish a credible third in their first season back in the league. In the Worcester County League both Harvington and Cookhill have finished mid-table in Divisions Eight South and East respectively.

Despite the local scene winding up shortly, cricket is not done for the year. England have a test series to finish against India, followed by the T20 World Cup in the UAE this October and an Ashes tour of Australia in December. Most fans will have faith in the short format and hope that the rest of it exceeds low expectations.

Until 2022. Go well all.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD N EIGHBOURHOOD W WATCH ATCH A ALCESTER LCESTER Ghost Brokers ‘Ghost brokers’ are fraudsters who sell fake or invalid car insurance policies. Victims are sold fake insurance documents for a policy that does not exist, or for a genuine policy that has been set up using false details to lower the price of the premium.

Fraudsters lure victims with the offer of cheaper insurance premiums, usually via social media or by word of mouth. This type of fraud is typically carried out either by forging insurance documents, falsifying your details to bring the price down, or by taking out a genuine policy for you but cancelling it soon after. Often, the victim is not aware that they have been scammed until they are involved in an accident and try to claim on the policy.

‘Ghost brokers’ tend to target vulnerable communities, including members of non-English speaking communities who may not have full knowledge of UK insurance and laws, as well as young people looking for cheaper insurance deals.

Communicating with the Police: 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 Alcester Police South Safer Neighbourhood Watch Scheme Team email: alcestersouth.snt@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk SGT 1685 David Ebbs david.ebbs@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

Last year, Action Fraud received 694 reports of ‘ghost broking’, with almost a third (29%) coming from victims aged 17-29. The reported losses for these victims alone totalled £113,500, with each individual losing an average of £559.

To protect yourself against Ghost Brokers:

• Ghost brokers’ often advertise and communicate via social media, online forums and messaging apps. If a broker is only using a mobile phone or email as a way of contact, this can be a sign of this type of crime.

• They may also try to sell policies in pubs, clubs or bars, newsagents • If a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is. If you are not sure about the broker, check on the Financial Conduct Authority or the British Insurance Brokers’ Association website for a list of all authorised insurance brokers.

You can also contact the insurance company directly to verify the broker’s details. You can also check to see if a car appears to be insured on the Motor Insurance Database website.

Alcester Office 01789 444816.

Always report an active crime on 999. Nonemergency calls on 101. https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/ Facebook - Alcester Police Twitter - @AlcesterCops Instagram - southwarwickshiresnts 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.

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 34 connectionmags.co.uk

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Alcester Town Council SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021

Alcester - Get A Move On! The months of June and July were very active for some of our residents as the ‘Alcester – Get a Move On!’ project provided a wonderful opportunity to improve their health and wellbeing through exercise and movement.

One-hour sessions were held by two qualified instructors every Saturday for six weeks to encourage residents over sixty to improve their physical health after spending time in lockdown.

These sessions aimed to improve spatial awareness through common exercises, such as stretching, balancing, and use of equipment to strengthen the core. The event also provided some much-needed social interaction, allowing the attendees to finally get an opportunity to engage with other members of the community.

All in all, the event was a huge success, with both the attendees and the instructors really enjoying both the experience and improvement.

Gone Fishin’...

In May and June, Alcester Town Council hosted a fishing programme for a small number of individuals. Funding from The Angling Trust (Sports England Tackling Inequalities Fund) provided an opportunity for four lucky residents to have some free coaching sessions and learn how to fish.

One of the participants is now training to become a fishing coach and will put those skills to use by teaching the children at the Youth Club.

36 connectionmags.co.uk

Town Council Meetings

In line with government legislation, Full Council meetings are now being held in person at Globe House with the exception of Planning Committee meetings which will continue using Zoom. Please note Community Care and Community Facilities Committees meet bimonthly. All meetings in 2021-22 commence at 7pm.

Full Council Meetings: Tuesdays 7 September & 5 October Community Facilities: Tuesday 21 September Presidium: Tuesdays 28 September & 26 October Community Care: Tuesday 19 October Planning Committee: Mondays 13 September & 4, 25 October All Town Council meetings remain open to the public.

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.

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

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Bidford on Avon Parish Council in the County of Warwickshire

RECREATION SURVEY As you may be aware, the Parish Council is carrying out an extensive Recreation Survey that will help it assess the needs of the local community. The Parish Council has appointed an independent Project Manager, Andrew Maliphant, to help it create this new Recreational Strategy so it is very important that as many of you as possible complete the survey – preferably online – via Survey Monkey. If you prefer, hard copies will be delivered to you.

A site for this Recreational Strategy will be available on the Parish Council Website: bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk/recreationalstrategy/ where you will be able to find the survey as well as all the findings and updates etc.

EVENTS FRIDAY BINGO returns to Bidford Bowling Club (to the rear of the Crawford Memorial Hall). Eyes down at 7.15pm.

THE INCIDENT AT BIDFORD BRIDGE: On 25/26 September, a historical reenactment comes to Bidford on Avon Big Meadow.

Full details of the above events can be found the Parish Council website.

WARWICKSHIRE BUS SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PLAN Following the Government’s National Bus Strategy for England, Warwickshire County Council will be publishing a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and subsequently launch an Enhanced Partnership (EP) between County Council and bus operators.

As part of this project it is essential to engage with the traveling public to assess what passengers, would-be passengers and communities want from local bus services to reverse the cycle of decline in bus use and provision.

This is an important concern, as a rural village, and the Parish Council would urge you all to complete this survey as the more information County Council has, the better the

38 connectionmags.co.uk

service it will be able to provide. The survey can be found online here: https://ask.warwickshire.gov.uk/insightsservice/bus-service-improvement-plan/ MEETINGS All being well, the Parish Council will return to face to face meetings as from end July at the Parish Council Meeting Room, Bramley Way, once the school has finished and Covid restrictions have ended.

• Planning Consultative Committee Meeting: Monday 13 September & 11 October at 7.30pm.

• Parish Council Meeting: Monday 27 September & 25 October at 7.30pm.

All meetings, which are open to the public, are held at the Parish Council Meeting Room, Bramley Way, B50 4QG (unless stated otherwise).

BIDFORD EMAIL INFORMATION Want to know what is happening in the village every week? Sign up by emailing the Clerk at info@bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk and your name will be added to the Weekly email Information list and you will receive an email regarding upcoming events and notices.

PARISH COUNCIL CONTACTS Clerk to the Parish Council – Mrs. Elisabeth Uggerløse.

Tel No. 07718 628 925 Email: info@bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk Website: www.bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk.

A list of Parish Councillors can be found online: bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk/ councillors.htm SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook - Bidford on Avon Twitter - @Bidford_PC).

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Elisabeth Uggerlose - Clerk to the Parish Council

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community events & what’s on...

To publicise any community events, email info@connectionmags.co.uk by 8th of October.

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.

Alcester Flower Club We are planning to start meeting again on Monday 6th September, 7.30 pm at Alcester Methodist Church, Priory Road, Alcester. Masks will be worn and social distancing organised. We know that some members are happy to come but understand if some would prefer to wait a little longer. Our flower arranging demonstrator and designer will be Mr. Lee Berrill, with 'A Wonderful World'.

IfallgoeswellwehopetomeetagainonMonday4th October with Sharon Badger and 'The MidasTouch'.

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

Broom WI Thursday 2nd September, 'My Life as a (Lady) Blacksmith', with Di Vernon.

Thursday 7th October, 'Painting on Silk', with Clive Garner. Both meetings will be held in Broom Village Hall, commencing 7.30pm. These will be our first face to face meetings in the hall since March 2020. We would ask any non members interested in joining us to call 01789 778840 to check that the meeting will be going ahead, just in case of any last minute changes to our plans.

Cookhill Garden Club Wednesday September 15th, 7.30pm at Cookhill Village Hall, a talk by Julie Richie on ‘Plants for Awkward Corners’. Visitors welcome.

Wednesday, 13th October, the Club has arranged a coach trip to Westonbirt Aboretum, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire. Details from 01527 894317 or website www.Cookhillgarden.club.

Alcester WI We are still meeting monthly in the park. So far we've had heat, rain and lastly the grass cutting machine to contend with. That kept us a bit quieter! What August will bring remains to be seen! We are making plans for the autumn when hopefully we can maybe meet indoors. Members will be kept informed by email or snail mail. In the meantime best wishes to all our members.

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

40 connectionmags.co.uk

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.

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.

Details of more events can be found as they are updated on alcester-tc.gov.uk and bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk websites.

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We are a friendly group of men and women who are committed to helping local and international communities. We have been in action for 11 years and organise many regular events including the ‘Big Breakfasts’ in Alcester and Bidford.

We are looking for new members of all ages & backgrounds to boost our team. If you’re interested in having fun whilst helping others & can spare some time, WHY NOT JOIN US? You are welcome to come along to one of our meetings to find out for yourself more about what we do & meet our members.

For more information about visiting meetings or joining our Rotary Club, contact Jackie Walsh on 07775 975 316 or email: alcesterbidfordrotary@gmail.com

Upcoming Events 22 Sept Social Evening and Talk about “Global Sight Solutions” 2 October Big Breakfast in Bidford 9 October Big Breakfast in Alcester www.facebook.com/AlcesterandBidfordRotary To advertise please call 01789 453130 or email info@connectionmags.co.uk

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Puzzle Page Answers on page 45.

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.

PICTOGRAMS

4 Words

WORL WORLD WORL WORL

Target: Excellent: 8 or more words Good: 6 words Fair: 4 words

4 Words

S

X KARL .

I

B E E D

4 Words

A4 CRACK CRACK

Quick Crossword 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16 18

17 19

22

24

42 connectionmags.co.uk

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21

23

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/theconnectionmag

Across 1 Entrance (6) 4 Be owned by (6) 9 Hold (7) 10 Previous (5) 11 Brush (5) 12 Conversing (7) 13 Promises (11) 18 Sediment (7) 20 Undressed (5) 22 Avoid (5) 23 In the open air (7) 24 Guard (6) 25 Grown-ups (6)

Down 1 Blame (6) 2 Type of light boat (5) 3 Soap (7) 5 Banish (5) 6 Belief (7) 7 Car repair centre (6) 8 Directive (11) 14 Make clear (7) 15 Caught re (7) 16 Snakes (6) 17 Worships (6) 19 Curse (5) 21 Small hill (5)

@connection_mag

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Stroll along empty beaches Anyone who argues that our beaches are just for summer hasn’t been to the right beach in the UK’s shoulder season. Swap swimming shorts for jeans and jumpers, and amble along a blustery beach that – if you’re lucky – you could have almost entirely to yourself.

Holkham m beach in Norfolk was made for autumn strolls. This striking expanse of sand still mana ages to feel stark and unspoilt, despite being a world-renowned lming destination.

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Spend the morning strolling the city streets before picnicking in a local park.

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Puzzle Answers Pictograms

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Wordwheel ANSWER: BESIDE

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Ignited, 16. Adders, 17. Adores, 19. Swear, 21. Knoll.

Kids Puzzle Answer:

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