The Villager February 2013 by Betty-Ann Ambury

The Villager February 2013

Marion Freeman 1934 - 2012

As many of you will know, Marion Freeman, well-known local historian and former Mayor of Pershore, passed away on 28th December 2012. Those of you who didn't know Marion personally, will have come in contact with her, albeit indirectly, through her many activities in Pershore, and through her writing. During her lifetime, Marion was involved with the Pershore Operatic Society, helped set up the Pershore Plum Festival, spent a great deal of her time working with the Heritgage Centre, and in 1999, was Mayor of Pershore. She also wrote seven books about Pershore, amongst these were the first, entitled "Pershore", others being "Pershore through Time", "Pershore Revisited" and two written in conjunction with Janet Daniels, "Pershore People" and "Pershore Digest". More recently, Marion put her writing skills and knowledge of Pershore to excellent effect writing articles for The Villager. Marion leaves her husband Ken, son and daughter, Christine and David, and grandchildren Bramwell, Ellie and Kylie. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends, and by all of us who so greatly enjoyed her writing.

Stay safe and healthy this winter…….. Staying Warm and Well over the winter months, both inside and outside of your home, is vital for remaining healthy. We can help you prepare for the cold weather through our range of services and support designed especially for the winter season:     

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The Villager

contents 5

Cloudy2Clear Windows

Recipes

Texting 4 Seniors

Pershore College Conference Facilities

ALM Fitness

HMRC Warning!

Telephone 0845 224 7061 Mobile 07754 170286

Los Reyes Magos

More Encore than Agincourt!

info@grapevinepublications.co.uk www.grapevinepublications.co.uk

Business Editorial

Whiskers & Woofers of Pershore

Exercises for the over 60's

150th Anniversary of the London Underground

Coffee Time!

Events in February

FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Mike Ambury

Your Community Directory

Index of Advertisers

NEXT ISSUE COPY DATE

Pershore Market

February 2013

“Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising.” Mark Twain

PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING

Grapevine Publications

3 Rye Street • Birtsmorton • WR13 6AS

EDITOR Betty-Ann Ambury info@grapevinepublications.co.uk

ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL Betty-Ann Ambury

10th February 2013

The aims of The Villager are to bring local buyers and businesses together to encourage the people of Worcestershire and surrounding areas to support these businesses to help the local community to flourish. © 2012. All artwork and copy appearing in this publication is copyright and may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The right to refuse advertisements is reserved. All information published is correct according to those who supplied it and no responsibility is taken if it is not. Care is taken to ensure all advertisements are truthful and no liability is accepted for errors or emissions. The use ofmention this publication canvassing, direct marketing or any other activity apart from sourcing local goods and services is strictly prohibited. Please THEforVILLAGER when responding to advertisers

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Cloudy2Clear Windows – Service With A Smile! It’s been a crazy few months for Cloudy2Clear Windows. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has grown rapidly as homeowners take advantage of their services. Managing Director Paul Papandreou feels that it’s all about service. ‘Our product is simple. If your double glazing is misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 5 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people

money, although that obviously helps. Many tradespeople have struggled since last year and I honestly feel that during the good times a minority perhaps didn’t focus on customer care as much as they should have done. We make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. I often get comments back from customers on how they really didn’t expect that sort of service which, in a way, is very sad for the service industry as a whole.’ Cloudy2Clear service the Malvern, Worcester & Hereford areas and Paul is finding that his approach is a major

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Recipes

from far & wide

Tomato Beef Casserole with Dumplings 1kg diced beef 500gm tomatoes 6 onions Dumplings: 250ml flour 5ml mixed herbs 7ml baking powder 2ml salt

6 carrots 250ml beef stock 100gm butter seasoned flour 1 egg 60ml milk 60ml water

Toss the meat in seasoned flour, then using a large heavy-based pan, fry in margarine.

Slice vegetables and add to meat with beef stock.

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Get Your Heart Pumping: Couple's Fitness Tips for Valentine's Day!

tep away from the chocolates. Cancel the date to the butter/cream/ sugar restaurant. Celebrate your sweetheart and your good health this February. Jewellery doesn't add to your waistline and neither do fun and healthy experiences you can share! I’ve got 10 tips to help you get back in shape and stay that way. 1. Partner up with your spouse and motivate each other. As the adage says, “You are the average of the five people you hang out with the most.” So plan your entertainment, meals, and workouts as a couple and motivate each other when you’re having a tough or lazy day. 2. Set specific, realistic goals and have a set time period. Then identify and eliminate your barriers to exercise and eating well. With an easy-to-accomplish plan, you’ll even be able to exceed your goals. Plus, you will have to answer to your partner! 3. Drink more! And I don’t mean Alcohol! I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to drink at least 2 litres of water a day, more if you’re working out. Water is the key to staying healthy, flushing out toxins, helping with fat loss, reducing water retention. . .the list is endless! Grab yourself a 2-litre bottle of water each day, and then you can monitor how much you’re drinking. 4. Try something new. Never taken a spin or Pilates class? How about partner yoga? Never 14

gone cross-country skiing or hiking? What are you waiting for? Surprise your body and learn something new together to keep things fun and your fitness on track. 5. Cut workout time in half. Don’t waste time standing still and doing bicep curls! Multitask by combining arm, leg, and abdominal exercises, like a curl, lunge, and twist. Then add a cardio interval. Multitasking workouts cut time while boosting metabolism, heart rate, and perspiration. 6. Eat more. Think of food as fuel, not as a gift, which means passing on food that’s high in fat and sugar, and taking just half of the portion you’d normally heap on your plate. Keep the tank half-full at all times with several small, healthy meals. If you never get famished, you’ll make wise choices with your head, not your belly. So have more dates over more meals, but share one portion! 7. Put one foot in front of the other. Many of us waste too much time saying we need to work out, dreading the process all the while. Trick yourselves by just getting dressed for it, putting on your favourite workout music, and not really thinking about what you’re about to do. If you take it one step at a time, before you know it, you’ll finish the cool-

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down and feel amazing. Maybe even have enough energy left for cuddling! 8. Too cold to go outside? The chilly weather and lack of daylight make this time of year tough on fitness resolutions. Heat yourselves up with a healthy slow-cooked meal and break a sweat inside with a new fitness DVD or a fitness channel on TV. There are lots of workouts that both men and women can enjoy together. 9. Reward yourself. When you stick to these resolutions, reward yourself with something free or inexpensive that makes you both happy and inspires you to look and feel good. Maybe it’s a combined personal training session for you and your sweetie or a mini fitness break together. 10. Do something for Charity! Maybe a local fun run, race for life, half marathon! How about a tandem skydive or sponsored bike ride? Anything you can both set goals for and work your way towards achieving. I’ve recently been training a group that are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign. The group training has been so much fun and it’s a great motivator to workout if you’re training with at least one other person. The guys are currently on their climb as I write this, so let’s hope they make it successfully up and back down! They’ve all worked extremely hard to increase their fitness levels over the last few months, I’m really proud of their achievements. If you’d like to sponsor them, please visit www.justgiving. com/inkberrow and donate anything you have spare. It will be greatly appreciated. For more information on Personal Training, Classes and other services I provide visit www.almfitness.co.uk or call Amy 07740 366419 or email info@almfitness.co.uk

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WARNING! Please read carefully! HMRC have issued a warning about the importance of accuracy when completing your Tax Return. Mr Smith of Evesham recently had his Tax Return rejected by HMRC after he apparently answered one of the questions incorrectly. In response to the question, "Do you have anyone dependant on you?", Mr Smith wrote: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)

2.1 million illegal immigrants 1.1 million crackheads 4.4 million unemployable Jeremy Kyle scroungers 900,000 criminals in over 85 prisons 650 idiots in Parliament The entire European Commission.

The HMRC stated that the response he gave was unacceptable. Mr Smith wrote back to HMRC asking: "Who did I miss out?".

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FABULOUS SELECTION OF FOOTWEAR FROM THE LEADING BRANDS FOR ALL THE FAMILY

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Los Reyes Magos (Feast of Epiphany : The Three Kings) Article & Photography by Brian Joyce

n Madrid and throughout many cities in Spain and the Christian world (predominantly Catholic) this event is celebrated even more than than our traditional Christmas Day, in the UK.

Madrileños, the name for folks from Madrid, decorate the streets of their beautiful city with lights and the children look forward eagerly to the Annual Procession on the eve of Kings Day, 6th January. More importantly, it is the day on which they generally receive their gifts. This is the twelfth night after Christmas and is usually acknowledged as a celebration of the Baptism of Jesus, the visit of the Three Wise Men (Kings) and much more. It is certainly NOT so much a celebration of the Spanish Premiera Liga trio of footballers Messi, Ronaldo and Falcao (though footie fans here might suggest otherwise?) as it is the visitation of Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar who reputedly brought with them gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. These gents are our traditional ". . . Three Kings of Orient are", although probably more than three in number, travelling to the East towards the Star, that they, as Magi had observed. They weren’t Kings at all, and were more than likely from Persia or Syria, not from the Orient as our Christmas carol tells us. All of this matters but little to the very excited, younger Madrileños who eagerly await the annual

procession, seek out the street entertainers, look forward to the distribution of sweets from the float occupants and then, best of all . . . opening their gifts on Kings Day. To celebrate the occasion, the children in Spain (supposedly) go to bed early, awaiting the morning when they hope to find the presents that they requested of the three kings, in letters which were written on Boxing Day. They leave shoes on windowsills or balconies or under the Christmas tree, hopefully to be filled with toys and goodies. Somehow this all makes a bit more sense of some traditions, and explains why we observe such things throughout the Christmas and New Year holidays. To have three distinguished Magi bringing gifts rather than a rotund, jovial gent in red and white with a long white beard, almost sounds rational to me but then again, as a kids, did we really care where they came from as long as the long awaited doll or bike arrived as requested . . . though perhaps now it is X-Box or Laptop? I can recommend the sights and sounds of Madrid if you’re ever in Spain around Christmas & New Year.

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534014

More Encore than Agincourt! here is something very satisfying about basking in sunshine, mug of coffee in hand, inspecting serried ranks of vegetables, in the kitchen garden. A peaceful haven of regimented calm, orderly, neat rows of food.

Tasting the first peas (they never made it to the kitchen), fresh baby carrots washed off under the garden tap, their unbelievably sweet flavour resembling nothing purchased at Tesco; the ephemeral scent of sweet peas mingling with the fruity aroma of ripening tomatoes on a humid summer evening. This romantic notion of the kitchen garden is often a long march from the reality of the average British veggie plot. Several I recall resemble a battleground rather than dig for victory. Treading carefully through this vegetarian minefield, when it comes to design, I postulate that this is one instance where French style wins over British practicality. A triumph of Potager over Kailyard. Too often our vegetables are hidden away in gloomy garden corners, almost as though we are embarrassed by the sight of them. Better yields are achieved when vegetables are grown in good soil with full sun and this means turning over a prime piece of garden to production; so it needs to look good too. The French, ever passionate about food, have spent centuries perfecting beautiful kitchen gardens. Whereas historically, we have tended to be a bit resistant about the green things on our plate. However, the great culinary renaissance of the past decade, has resulted in a quest for information; we want to know how our food has been produced and that it is chemical free. Growing your own vegetables is even better; from plot to plate in less than 20 minutes with no air-miles and flavour which knocks the spots off a travel-worn supermarket runner bean.

and tasty vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers are grown in an ornamental fashion, whilst providing food for the kitchen. They are not complicated or flashy, but simply laid out with a quiet sophistication and a certain style. The French cram in the plants so close, there is no room for weeds. The potager system is so productive, there is plenty to donate to friends, with a few spare for the odd itinerant slug. Decide where to cultivate yours and to prevent the raising of a white flag, design it  first on paper: simplicity is key. On a small  scale you could choose a formal parterre or rustic cottage-garden style.

Marigolds edge a flowers and

 Hazel wigwams g  the vegetables 

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Traditionally a potager garden consists of symmetrical beds in geometric shapes, divided by pathways of grass, brick, flagstone, gravel or even bark chips. Accessibility is important, so make the beds no more than 1.5m wide, so you don’t have to walk on them to cultivate. Then you can use the no-dig-system, where you mulch thickly with compost and let the earthworms do the work. Beds can be ground level, edged with timber or raised; being constructed from wood planks, sleepers or even brick. Use  good soil, enrich with compost, sharp sand   and fertilise frequently with Vitax Q4. 

 

Beautiful Hart  greenhouse set in   garden with natu   blue engineeri

The vegetables are not planted just in straight rows, but growing with some military precision would be good: think diagonals, triangles and square formations. Edge the beds with box hedging or shrubby Teucrium lucidrys. You can even use single Marigolds, Tagetes, Parsley or herbs as a border.   Which varieties?   layout and style is

      

Whilst the potager important, the choice Box hedge parte What is a Potager? In a nutshell, attractive   20 To advertise call 0845 224 7061 or 07754 170286 or visit www.grapevinepublications.co.uk Court, nea   

 

pathway through d vegetables

 ive height amidst  s in raised beds

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

tley Botanical

 a bespoke kitchen   ural flagstone and  

ng brick paths

    

of crops is equally critical. Not only should the produce taste good at harvest, but it should look beautiful whilst growing. For example, if you must have cabbage, select one with purple tinges to the leaves. Choose runner beans for flavour and flower colour: the white flowered heirloom variety Czar alongside the flame coloured ‘Firestorm’. Beetroot: Quattro Gourmet mix has four different coloured roots. Grow tomatoes of different colours: chocolate, gold and scarlet. The fluorescent pink, gold and orange stems of Swiss Chard Bright Lights illuminate a winter border, and provide baby leaves for salad and stems for a winter vegetable. Herbs and flowers are important for the French Potager and are selected to coordinate with their vegetable bed-fellows.  Nasturtiums, Borage and Calendula are ideal for attracting bees and butterflies and the petals make a great addition to the summer salad bowl. Introducing a more diverse range of plants will also ward off pests and diseases that are inherent with mono-cropping; in particular Tagete tenuifolia will confuse the rootfly which attacks your carrots and parsley. In addition, you will have created a pleasant place to sit as opposed to the traditional depressing rows of cabbages.  Tight on space? Grow small or grow tall!  Bring height to borders and structure to the winter garden with obelisks.

Install arches over pathways for training Loganberries, primocane Blackberry Reuben or cordon gooseberries. The secret to productivity is successional planting; always have something ready to pop into a vacant space, once a crop is harvested. Further more, interplant; mingle the hugely productive dwarf french  bean with lettuce. Underplant newly sown  runners with radish. I sow Cornflowers (for   of perpetual the bees) in-between the rows  spinach, grown for our chickens.  Small can be beautiful: try mini varieties 

tasty salad leaves for a quick turn around. ‘Accessorise’ tastefully. No tatty bits of polythene, nor old bamboo canes; plastic pots are forbidden! This is to be a beautiful garden feature. If cottage-garden is your plan, choose hazel wigwams, add chestnut archways, edge beds with hazel mini-hurdles. Complete the look with wicker baskets of scarlet geraniums in summer. Find a good quality bench, use terracotta cane tops, give an old metal watering-can a lick of paint, deploy bamboo or metal plant labels. If the budget runs to it, acquire a terracotta rhubarb forcer. Keep replanting with new things, and the beds raked. Above all, tidy away old crops as soon as they are over; no old leaves lying around. Heavens, anyone might think it’s a vegetable plot! Empty beds? Pop in some instant bedding or stand out a few pots of patio plants, bulbs, mix of herbs, until you need the bed again. The trick is to keep the beds in use, with something beautiful. We’re not aiming to replicate Chateau Villandry gardens (a work of art), but visit www.pinterest.com/bekytrail/raisedbeds-and-potagers for some workable ideas. And in the spirit of Entente Cordiale, pinch a leaf from the French: “bon jardinage!”

Article & Photography by Hilary Collins BSc. (Hons)hort., M.I.Hort. Grower, Horticultural Consultant and Garden Designer for Envisage...gardens by design Grafton Nursery Grafton Flyford Worcester WR7 4PW Tel: 07515 261511 email: hilary@grafton-nursery.co.uk www.grafton-nursery.co.uk www.hardy-eucalyptus.com www.envisage-gardens.co.uk

erre at Coughton of carrot, spring onions, little gem lettuce,    Please mention THE VILLAGER when responding to advertisers ar Alcester 

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 

 Please mention THE VILLAGER when responding to advertisers

Business Editorial

Bad Publicity? When I was a teenager - more years ago than I care to remember - The Rolling Stones released a number called “Let’s Spend the Night Together”. By today’s standards the song was pretty mild, but in those days it was enough to send the censors swooning with shock, and the song was promptly banned. The result: every teenager with the price of a 45rpm went out and bought it. (If you don’t know what a 45rpm is, you’re probably under the age of 50, so ask your parents or your grand-parents – they’ll know!)

So, I think its safe to say there’s no such thing as “bad publicity” – there’s only advertising which gets attention. Now I’m not suggesting that ‘negative’ advertising is better than ‘positive’ –either will get you noticed – but ‘no advertising’ will get you nothing. Now consider this: there six or seven major supermarket chains and over 60 million people in the UK, so not much competition and plenty of customers for all. And still they advertise! Open a newspaper on any day of the week and you will see a supermarket advert. Watch television for an evening and count how many supermarket adverts are screened. These multi-billion pound corporations know what it takes to be successful.

A few years later, Peter Sarstedt (under 50’s, you know the drill!) released “Take off your clothes”. Now this song was pretty racy - it was also very funny - but the song police deemed And now look closer . . . 'no advertising' it “unsuitable” and in my to home, and at home town of Nairobi, will get you nothing . . . your particular line the radio stations could of work. How many only play it after midhairdressers are there in night so children wouldn’t Worcestershire? How many hear it! And in less time than it takes to tell, solicitors, bridal shops, window cleaners, the record shops sold out and you couldn’t get estate agents . . . the list goes on – and here’s a copy anywhere! the crunch - how many people are there in Worcestershire? The ratio of customers to More recently, I’m sure you’ve all heard about any specific business is small. So if you aren’t the horse-meat burgers “scandal”, and in doing something very deliberate and very the Daily Mail (and no doubt in all the other positive to attract those customers, then your national dailies) Tesco ran a full page apology, competition is getting the business! offering a refund to anyone who’d bought the offending burgers. No till slip required, just One of the reasons people often give for take in the packet, full or empty, and get your not advertising is that they’ve tried it and it money back! This is undoubtedly one of the doesn’t work. Well we know advertising does cleverest pieces of advertising I’ve seen for a work, so next month I’ll cover some of the long time! Why – because not only does it say reasons why an advertising campaign fails to “we’re sorry and we care about you” (always get the required response. good for business!) but it also gets people in In the meantime, if you would like to discuss their thousands flocking to Tesco to get their your advertising requirements, or have any money back. And while they’re in the store questions about advertising, please give me a getting their £2 or £3 refund, they’ll almost call at any time. certainly decide to do a bit of shopping at the same time. So Tesco refunds a couple of tel: 01684 833715 quid and the customer spends another ten or mob: 07754 170286 twenty! Brilliant! email: or info@grapevinepublications.co.uk 24 To advertise call 0845 224 7061 or 07754 170286 visit www.grapevinepublications.co.uk

E. Hill & Son

Avon Safe Home Ltd

Funeral Directors

Electrical – lights, sockets, rewires, repairs etc Locksmith – locks fitted, repaired, opened Double glazing repairs - misted/broken

Established 1960

Independent Family Run Business Holders of Diploma in Funeral Directing

glass, handles, hinges, locks, patio wheels.

Professional & Sympathetic Service Available 24 Hours Prepaid funeral plans available

Tel: 01386 898422 (24hr) Qualified, Registered, Insured

01386 552141 www.ehillandson.co.uk

Fairfield House, Defford Road, Pershore, WR10 1HZ

Construction General General Construction General Construction General Construction & Refurbishment & Refurbishment & Refurbishment General Construction & Refurbishment GeneralGeneral Construction Construction General Tel345020 No:Construction 01905 345020 Tel No: 01905 Tel No: 01905887676 345020 TelRefurbishment No: 01905 345020 Mobile No: 07823 & Mobile No: 07823 887676 & Refurbishment & Refurbishment & Refurbishment Mobile No: 07823 887676 Mobile No: 07823 887676 Email: enquiries@welconstructuk.com Email: enquiries@welconstructuk.com

Email: enquiries@welconstructuk.com Email: enquiries@welconstructuk.com Tel No: 01905 345020 www.welconstructuk.com

Tel No: 01905 Tel No: 345020 01905Tel 345020 No: 01905 345020 www.welconstructuk.com www.welconstructuk.com Mobile No:www.welconstructuk.com 07823 887676 Professional Service for both Commercial & Residential Clients Mobile No: Mobile 07823 No: 887676 07823 Mobile 887676 No: 07823 887676 Email: enquiries@welconstructuk.com Professional&Service for bothClients Commercial & Residential Clients Professional Service for both Commercial Residential

Professional Service for both Commercial & ResidentialEmail: Clients enquiries@welconstructuk.com Email: enquiries@welconstructuk.com Email: enquiries@welconstructuk.com

www.welconstructuk.com

www.welconstructuk.com www.welconstructuk.com www.welconstructuk.com Doors, windows, Professional ServiceProfessional for both Commercial Service for & Residential both Professional Commercial Clients Service & Residential for both Commercial Clients & Residential Clients porches and conservatories Professional Service for both Commercial & Residential Clients

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Insurance backed guarantee FENSA registered Trader Register member Local references available Locally based in Worcester Tidy, polite & reliable Argon-filled, double-glazed units fitted as standard. Composite doors in a range of colours. Eight-point locking system on all new PVC doors. Order to installation within a fortnight! Range of prices to suit No pushy salesmen Full design service Call Free! 0800 0832 660 info@pjimprovements.co.uk

Please mention THE VILLAGER when responding to advertisers

Whiskers & Woofers of Pershore Dog Walking • Pet Sitting • Doggie Day Care • Pet Taxi

Hi, I'm Clare, I run Whiskers and Woofers . I am a dedicated pet lover based in Pershore, providing a friendly, reliable and responsible pet care service in Evesham, Pershore and the surrounding villages.

I set up Whiskers and Woofers last year after finding it a real challenge to get combined holiday care for my family of pets . . . my dog, four cats and brood of hens. I know from personal experience what it is like working long hours, getting home in the dark or in the rain, when walking the dog is the last thing on your mind. That’s where Whiskers and Woofers can help! We provide a dog walking service to suit you and your dog’s needs. Whether on a short walk around town or a long countryside walk, we aim to provide a stimulating experience to match your dog’s energy level! Whiskers and Woofers primary focus is to provide top quality pet care at an affordable price. We cater for all your pet care needs, including:

• dog walking - all sizes and ages welcome! • pet sitting

- holiday stays for your dogs, cats, small animals and poultry

• pet taxi

- visits to the vet, kennels, cattery and grooming parlour

• doggie day - combine your dog walk with a day care stay . . . complimentary cuddles and play provided!

Contact Clare: Tel: Mobile: Email:

01386 556079 07584 161916 cpiper@sky.com

For prices, more information and our photo gallery, visit our website:

www.whiskersandwoofers.co.uk

To advertise call 0845 224 7061 or 07754 170286 or visit www.grapevinepublications.co.uk

CRAIG MERCHANT ELECTRICAL SERVICES

Part p' Domestic Installer Registered

• New Builds & Extension • Full/Part House Rewires • Outdoor Security Lighting • Mains Smoke Detectors • Extra Sockets & Lights • Night Storage Heaters • Fuseboard Changes

Call for a FREE

Inspection / Quotation t: 01905 828004 or m: 07899 964866

Heating & Plumbing

Hate Flat-packs? We love 'em!

Gas Safe Registered Engineer

Mark Hartley

Call now for our assembly rates

[based in Inkberrow]

Gas & LPG Boiler Servicing from £65

Tel: 01386 793 221 Mob: 07846 198157 BG Digital Photographs Digital Photography for you. Contact me to cover your event, photograph your product, take images of you or your loved ones. Getting married and want images of the whole event. Preparing product or website advertising and need images (including digitally manipulated), need shots taken of architecture, landscapes or landmarks.

Are you a model or an agent needing portfolio or fashion shoot photographs. All of these and more can be provided by BG Digital Photographs. Just contact me by email, mobile phone or the contact form on the website.

BG Digital Photographs, your friendly, experienced local digital photographer in the Vale of Evesham.

BG Digital Photographs Primary Business Contacts: brianjoyce@usa.net

tel: 01684 833715

mob: 07966 355448

NEED SOME HELP? Can I help you with any of the following: • Shopping • Doctors / Dental / Hair Appointments • Local trips out to Garden Centres, Cafes, etc. • Help with Post / Diary • Any other assisted help Please call Jacqui Garner

mob: 07834 601962 or email: jacq-garner@hotmail.co.uk

Mobile: 07864 264 4 59 www.bgdigitalphotographs.co.uk

Please mention THE VILLAGER when responding to advertisers

Fully CRB Checked 27

My Worcestershire Free Solar FREE solar panels means:  

My Worcestershire Free Solar is all about giving away free solar to qualifying properties in Worcestershire. There are no fees, no catches. FREE.

Your electricity bill will reduce – saving you money You will be reducing your carbon footprint, helping the environment, and helping the country reach it’s carbon efficiencies targets

How can we do this? In April 2010 the government introduced an initiative called the FIT Scheme. The FIT scheme allows investors to be paid for all the electricity that panels generate. This means that if you let us put panels on your roof, you benefit from free electricity, and we sell what is left over back to the grid.     

You must own your property (mortgaged is fine) Have a south facing roof or within 30 degrees of south Your roof must be free from shading No slate roofs, thatched roofs, or listed buildings Have 24 square metres of interrupted space on your roof (larger semi detached and detached properties on the whole are fine)

To apply go to www.myworcestershirefreesolar.co.uk or call 01905 676222

To advertise call 0845 224 7061 or 07754 170286 or visit www.grapevinepublications.co.uk

161 MJ Print Ltd

Jackie Richards MAAT MAAT Bookkeeping and Accountancy Services Based in Inkberrow in Worcestershire, Bookkeeping • VAT • Payroll Personal Income Tax • Business Income Tax Corporation Tax • Final Accounts Preparation 16a Stonepit Lane, Inkberrow, Worcestershire WR7 4ED www.jackierichards.co.uk • 01386 793725 • 07967 791317

EXERCISES FOR THE OVER 60'S 1. Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. 2. With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax. 3. Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags.

14/11/2012

11:10 am

Alarming! “& ALL ASPECTS OF ELECTRICAL WORK”

MJ Print ltd

Electrical Contractors & Security System Specialists

SUPPLY, INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE & REPAIR OF

• CCTV & ALARMSRO L SYSTEMS

ACCESS CONT

RCIAL QUALITY DOMESTIC & COMME

ICE RV ALY 24SE TRERGICENC ELwitEC Out l Cal hr EM h

Call: Matt Print 01386 Mobile: 0779 3432 008

443451

e: info@mjprintltd.co.uk

Formerly Bob Harris Alarms Ltd

4. Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag i n each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. 5. When you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.

TATOES

Home Handyman Painting  Decorating  Tiling Someone to do those odd jobs around the house No job too small Tel: John 01386 550263 Mob: 07770 442851 email: johnstbbrt@gmail.com

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150 th Anniversary of the

LONDON UNDERGROUND

London Underground

his year marks the 150 th anniversary of the London Underground, when the world's first underground railway was opened.

London has changed considerably since the Metropolitan, or Met as it was known, first opened on 9th January 1863. Today the London Underground covers over 250 miles of railway, with 275 stations and more than 3 million passenger journeys made every day.

1884 these lines completed to form the route known today as the Circle line. The Met was here to stay, and the search was on for ways to extend and expand it, and in 1869 the world's first underwater tunnel became a railway tunnel which now carries the East London line.

Back in 1863, the first stretch of the Met measured just 4 miles and ran between This tunnel had been built in 1843 by Sir Tube map Bishop's Road Marc Brunel and 8 8 7 6 9 7 5 6 and Farringdon his famous son, 5 4 Street. The first Isambard, and 4 3 sections of the ran under the 3 2 Met were built Thames between 2 using a method Rotherhithe and 2 1 3 4 2 1 known as 'cut 6 5 4 3 Wapping. The and cover'. This method used to 2 2 1 involved digging build the tunnel 3 4 3 2 5 up the road along was similar to 4 the route, laying that used in coal 3 4 5 the tracks and mining. Vertical then covering the whole with a brick- shafts were sunk and the tunnels were lined tunnel, after which the road surface then excavated from inside a metal shield. was replaced. However, although this It is a tribute to the Brunels' engineering was a quick way of building the railway, genius that the first major refurbishment the congestion caused during the to the tunnel only became necessary in process lead to this method of building the 1990's. being abandonded towards the end of the 19th century. By now though, the In 1870 another sub-Thames railway Met was a great success and stretched opened. This had a cable-hauled line across Middlesex, Hertfordshire and into between the Tower of London and Buckinghamshire. This success lead to Bermondsey. Unlike the success of the other companies becoming involved in the Thames Tunnel, this one failed as an construction and in December 1868 a new Underground line and was converted for line was opened between Westminster pedestrian use a few months later. It was and South Kensington. The new line was permanently closed when Tower Bridge linked to a branch line off the original Met station opened in 1894. and some extensions to the east, and in 30 To advertise call 0845 224 7061 or 07754 170286 or visit www.grapevinepublications.co.uk 1

Chesham

Ruislip Manor

Ickenham

Mill Hill East

Stanmore

Harrow & Wealdstone

Harrowon-the-Hill

West Harrow

South Harrow

Northwick Park

Kenton

Queensbury

Preston Road

Kingsbury

Northolt

Harlesden

Sudbury Town

Greenford

Kilburn High Road

Kilburn Park

Maida Vale Warwick Avenue

Hanger Lane

Westbourne Park

Park Royal

East Acton

West Acton

North Acton

Acton Central

Ealing Common

South Acton

South Ealing

St. John’s Wood

Edgware Marylebone Road

Acton Town

Chiswick Park

Shepherd’s Bush

White City

Shepherd’s Bush Market

Turnham Stamford Ravenscourt Brook Park Green

West Kensington

Earl’s Court

Victoria

Cannon Street

Monument

Tower Hill

Fenchurch Street

Blackfriars

Fulham Broadway

Kew Gardens

Parsons Green

Temple

London Bridge

Bermondsey

Richmond

Southfields

Wimbledon Park

Heathrow Terminal 5

Wandsworth Road

Wimbledon

Clapham High Street

Oval

Kennington

Queens Road Peckham

Peckham Rye

Stockwell

Heron Quays

Clapham Common

New Cross

Beckton

Step-free access for wheelchair users only --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Turnham Green Served by Piccadilly line trains until 0650 Monday to Saturday, 0745 Sunday and after 2230 every evening. At other times use District line --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Waterloo

Not served by DLR trains from Bank towards Lewisham before 1900 on Mondays to Fridays ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

King George V

Key to lines

Woolwich Arsenal

Bakerloo Central Circle

Greenwich

District District open weekends, public holidays and some Olympia events

Deptford Bridge

Brockley

Special fares apply. Open 0700-2000 Mondays to Fridays, 0800-2000 Saturdays, 0900-2000 Sundays and 0800-2000 Public Holidays. Closed on Christmas Day. Opening hours are extended by one hour in the evening after 1 April 2013 and may be extended on certain events days. Please check close to the time of travel. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Heron Quays

Waterloo & City line open 0615-2141 Mondays to Fridays and 0800-1831 Saturdays. Closed Sundays and Public Holidays --------------------------------------------------------------------------------West India Quay

Gallions Reach

London City Airport

Elverson Road

Hammersmith & City

Lewisham

Jubilee

Metropolitan

Northern

Piccadilly

Anerley

Crystal Palace

Norwood Junction

Victoria

Waterloo & City

DLR

West Croydon

Colliers Wood

Morden

Beckton Park

Pontoon Dock

Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich

New Cross Gate

London Overground

South Wimbledon

Emirates Greenwich Peninsula

Penge West

Tooting Bec

for The O2

Sydenham

Brixton

Tooting Broadway

Forest Hill

Balham

Transport for London

Royal Albert

Cyprus

North Greenwich

South Quay

Honor Oak Park

Denmark Hill

Clapham South

MAYOR OF LONDON

Prince Regent

West Silvertown

Crossharbour

Elephant & Castle

Clapham North

Custom House for ExCeL

Emirates Royal Docks

Mudchute

Vauxhall

Clapham Junction

East India

Island Gardens

Borough

East Putney

Heathrow Terminal 4

Blackwall

Poplar

Royal Victoria

Canary Wharf

Canada Water

Surrey Quays

Southwark

Lambeth North

Putney Bridge

Heathrow Terminals 1, 2, 3

Star Lane

Canning Town

Open until 2100 Mondays to Fridays. Closed Sundays and most Saturdays --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Emirates Greenwich Peninsula and Emirates Royal Docks

Step-free interchange between Heron Quays and Canary Wharf Underground station at street level --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hounslow West

West Ham

Langdon Park

West India Quay

Wapping

Rotherhithe

Embankment

Waterloo

Pimlico

Imperial Wharf

Westferry

Limehouse

Tower Gateway

River Thames

Upton Park

Plaistow

Bromleyby-Bow

Devons Road

All Saints

Shadwell

Mansion House

Westminster

Sloane Square

South Kensington

Stepney Green

Whitechapel

Aldgate

Leicester Square

Charing Cross

Becontree

Upney

Barking

East Ham

Abbey Road

Bow Road

Bow Church

Aldgate East

Bank

Elm Park

Dagenham Heathway

Woodgrange Park

Mile End

Shoreditch High Street

Moorgate

St. Paul’s

Gunnersbury

Hounslow East

Hounslow Central

Hatton Cross

Dagenham East

Wanstead Park

Hackney Wick

Hornchurch

Stratford

Pudding Mill Lane

Bethnal Green

Liverpool Street

Barbican

Chancery Lane

Piccadilly Circus

West Brompton

Osterley

Homerton

Holborn

Green Park

Upminster

Upminster Bridge

Leyton

Hoxton

Farringdon

Russell Square

Step-free interchange between Underground, Canary Wharf DLR and Heron Quays DLR stations at street level --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cannon Street

Gants Hill

Leytonstone High Road

Haggerston

Covent Garden

St. James’s Park

Leyton Midland Road

Stratford International

Hackney Central

Old Street

Euston Square

Tottenham Court Road

Knightsbridge

Gloucester Road

Barons Court

Hammersmith

Dalston Kingsland

Canonbury

Dalston Junction

King’s Cross St. Pancras

Goodge Street

Oxford Circus

Marble Arch

Hyde Park Corner

Kensington (Olympia)

Goldhawk Road

Caledonian Road & Barnsbury

Fairlop

Barkingside

Newbury Park

Wanstead

Leytonstone

Stratford High Street

Warren Street

Bond Street

Highbury & Islington

Angel

Regent’s Park

Lancaster Gate

Queensway

High Street Kensington

Walthamstow Queen’s Road

Holloway Road

Caledonian Road

Redbridge

Walthamstow Central

Waterloo & City line open 0621-2148 Mondays to Fridays and 0802-1837 Saturdays. Closed Sundays and Public Holidays --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Camden Town Sunday 1300 -1730 open for interchange and exit only --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Canary Wharf

Chigwell Hainault

Snaresbrook

Blackhorse Road

Tottenham Hale

Euston

Bayswater

Notting Hill Gate

Holland Park

Wood Lane

Great Portland Street

Baker Street

Edgware Road

Ladbroke Grove

Latimer Road

North Ealing

Northfields

Paddington

Mornington Crescent

Finsbury Park

Arsenal

Camden Road

Camden Town

Swiss Cottage

Royal Oak

Ealing Broadway

Boston Manor

Finchley Road

South Hampstead

Upper Holloway

Grange Hill

South Woodford

South Tottenham

Seven Sisters

Manor House

Tufnell Park

Kentish Town

Chalk Farm

West Hampstead

Brondesbury

Kensal Green

Queen’s Park

Gospel Oak

Kentish Town West

Belsize Park

Kilburn

Brondesbury Park

Kensal Rise

Willesden Junction

Alperton

Perivale

Finchley Road & Frognal

Willesden Green

Stonebridge Park

Hampstead Heath

Hampstead

Harringay Green Lanes

Crouch Hill

Archway

Golders Green

Dollis Hill

Woodford

Wood Green

Turnpike Lane

Highgate

Brent Cross

Neasden

Wembley Park

Bounds Green

East Finchley

Colindale

Hendon Central

South Kenton

North Wembley

Wembley Central

Sudbury Hill

Check before you travel

Bank

Roding Valley

Arnos Grove

Finchley Central

Burnt Oak

Canons Park

North Harrow

Rayners Lane

Debden

Loughton

Buckhurst Hill

Southgate

West Finchley

Edgware

Headstone Lane

Pinner

Eastcote

Ruislip Gardens

South Ruislip

Hounslow West

Epping

Theydon Bois

Oakwood

Woodside Park

Hatch End

Northwood Northwood Hills

Cockfosters

Totteridge & Whetstone

Carpenders Park

Moor Park

Ruislip

Hillingdon

High Barnet

Bushey

Croxley

Rickmansworth

Uxbridge

Watford Junction

Watford High Street

Watford

Chorleywood

West Ruislip

Special fares apply

Chalfont & Latimer

Amersham

This diagram is an evolution of the original design conceived in 1931 by Harry Beck Correct at time of going to print, December 2012

Emirates Air Line

THE FABRIK SHOP 24a Broad Street, Pershore. Tel: 01386 553 626 e: thefabrikshop@btinternet.com

Independent Financial Advisers • Pensions and Retirement Planning • Savings and Investments • Later Life Advice

Stockist of: Linens, Cotton Poplins, Lawns and fabrics for evening wear Full range of fleece, patchwork cottons, waddings, stencils, cutters and boards Fat quarters from £1

• General Financial Advice

www.cameronandcompanyfp.co.uk Eugénie Cameron AIFP APFS Certs CII (MP&ER) Chartered Financial Planner Call: 01684 891768 Email: advice@candcfp.co.uk

1/4pp advert for Guide to Pershore 2012.

covering pershore and surrounding areas . . . . . . evening and weekend appointments always available Please mention THE VILLAGER when Focus responding 25to advertisers Ledbury

Number Workout Fit the numbers 1-6 once in every hexagon so that where the hexagons touch, the numbers are the same. No number is repeated in any hexagon.

5 2

4 3

5 1

3 6

1 6

Fill in the blank squares so each row and each mini the numbers 1 - 9 without same number in any row,

7 7

8 3 9

5 1

8 7

14 7

1. Which Brothers Grimm character is renowned for her long hair? 2. What do printers call the primary colours? 3. What is the main ingredient in a guacamole dip?

4. Which flying dinosaur did OC Marsh discover in 1871?

2 5

6 1

that each line, square contain duplicating the line or square

Trivia (answers on page 37)

Coffee Time!

Sudoku

2 1

Fill in the blank squares, ensuring that the numbers add up to the number in the grey box to the left of the row or above the line. Only numbers 1 to 9 can be used and no number can be repeated in the same row or line.

Kakuro

4 3

5. What element makes up 89% of water's weight? 6. What is the active ingredient in smelling salts? 7. What colour is the Central Line on maps of London's underground? 8. Who had a big hit in 1955 with The Drinking Song from The Student Prince? 9. What traditional Japanese drink is served warm in cups? 10. What disease is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito?

To advertise call 0845 224 7061 or 07754 170286 or visit www.grapevinepublications.co.uk

Professional Paws & Claws

CLIVE CAMPION Painter & Decorator

Dog Grooming Salon

Interiors, Exteriors & Exhibitions

clipping, bathing,

Over 23 years of experience

nail cutting etc...

Free Quotations 1 Cowleys Way, High Street, Pershore

(Find us in Pershore Market)

Tel: 01527 401427 We also sell bowls, collars and accessories.

References available on request

o o k Ga r d

● Fully qualified by the Guild of Master Sweeps and fully insured. ● Stove/Log burner Installations. ● HETAS Approved Installer.

Call Eddie T 01905 700701 / 07895 612915 www.elitesweeps.co.uk

& Elite Stoves ● Prompt, reliable & friendly service ● All types of flues & appliances cleaned. ● Cowls and bird guards fitted. ● Guild certificates issued after every sweep.

Email: clivecampion@sky.com

07933 153433

Mob: 07768 104525

• • • • • •

Imaginative High Quality Landscaping Patios & Garden Walls Pond & Patio Cleaning Ponds & Water Features Swimming Pools & Ponds Fibreglassed Fencing & Hedge Cutting

Local Friendly Service ~ References Available contact Glenn Baker 01905 380128 or 07792 613020 Please mention THE VILLAGER when responding to advertisers

Events in

February Saturday 2nd February Basket Making - Introduction This is a one day introduction to basket making, with well known tutor and member of the Basketmakers Association, Jenny Pearce. Come and have a go at making your own basket (to take away), and learn some of the history behind willow weaving. Lunch and refreshments provided. Pre- booking essential. Min age 18. 10am to 4pm. Phone: 01299 250513. £60 pp. Crossway Green, Stourport, DY13 9SE Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd February Rustic Furniture - Intermediate Course This is our intermediate 2 day Rustic Furniture course, for those who want to take their skills a little further. Learn more about green wood joinery, and the traditional skills and techniques used to create rustic furniture. Lunches are provided. 9am to 4pm. Phone: 01299 250513. £140 pp. Pre-booking essential. Crossway Green, Stourport, DY13 9SE Saturday 9th February The Ramblers group walk. Distance 10 miles Enjoy British wildlife on a Ramblers group walk. Pershore, through villages of Pensham, Great Comberton and Birlingham, and Tyddesley Wood, returning along the river. 10am. Contact: Kath tel: 01905 425114. Non-members are welcome to join us as guests on two or three walks. The Ramblers group walk starting point. Grid Ref: SO952452 Worcestershire WR10 1AS. www.ramblers.co.uk/walksfinder/walkInfo.php Saturday 9th February Valentines Craft Fair Craft fair with lots of lovely ideas for Valentines Day: hats, bags, cards, hearts, soaps, jewellery etc. Admission free. Call Jill on 07754950939 for booking and details. 11am till 3.30pm. Bargains galore all hand made; some taster treatments, vouchers and readings £10 for 20 mins. The Blue Bell, Guarlford Road, Malvern, WR14 3QP. www.jillpeertreatments.com Thursday 14th February Valentine’s by Candlelight The Cross, Bretforton. Three-course menu. £30 pp. 7pm to 11pm. Booking advised. Phone:01386 831173. The Cross, Bretforton, Evesham, WR11 7JE. www.thefleeceinn.co.uk

Sat 16th, Wed 20th & Sat 23rd February “A Big Surprise” - Tudor House, Worcester Following on from our Diary Day last year when we asked the good citizens of Worcestershire and their children to turn into Diarists, this year we are extending the Love idea to "A Big Surprise". The love or friendship that individuals have for each other or family members to arrange something to surprise and/or amaze someone else. Come and tell us and write about or draw the Biggest Surprise you have ever had, or organised for someone else. Bring pictures to put with the event or just draw. You can bring your page printed on your computer. Are there memories of music, words or travel. All our work will be laminated and put in a folder on permanent display like our “Best Day” one. The event will take place from 10am – 4pm. Why not bring your special drawing and writing things? Tudor House, Friar Street, Worcester. Saturday 23rd February Close Encounter of the Third Kind (PG) An ordinary man sees something strange. He doesn’t know what it is but he feels compelled to find out more. Stephen Spielberg’s intriguing and intelligent film about what and who just might be “out there”. Richard Dreyfuss and Françoise Truffaut star. Restored and showing in HD Digital (Original theatrical version). 7.30pm - £4.50 – book online or call 0844 8700 887. The FeckenOdeon Cinema, High Street, Feckenham, B96 6HN. www. feckenodeon.co.uk/ Sunday 24th February Worcester Dance Festival A full day of Ballroom & Latin American Dance competitions for children and adults covering all grades from Beginners to Champions. Childrens events commence 10.30am. Adults Ballroom 2.30pm. Latin 5.30pm Admission: Children/Parents/Spectators £9, Senior Citizen Spectators £5, Adult Competitors £11. St Johns Sports Centre, Malvern Road, St Johns, Worcester, WR2 4LE. www.Dancextras.co.uk

To advertise call 0845 224 7061 or 07754 170286 or visit www.grapevinepublications.co.uk

Mothers R Us Visit our online shop for a range of affordable mother and baby items See our new range of affordable stylish maternity clothing Baby clothing: new and pre-loved, including Next, H&M, Osk Kosh and many others Baby shower, new baby and mum to be gifts and hampers Relax & Chill Out range of pampering treats for everyone follow us on www.facebook.com/MothersRUsShop @MothersRUsShop info@mothersrus.com

www.mothersrus.com for more information and to view our full range

EFT - The Path to Inner Peace Emotional Freedom The Path to Inner Peace Do you suffer from anxiety, stress or depression? Do you want to ‘let go’ of this and really start enjoying your life? EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) helps to:  let go of any negativity so you feel calm and gain peace;  increase your positivity and well-being;  bring you self-acceptance and contentment. Gain more peace in your life, contact Kim on 07518 053311 www.eftworcestershire.co.uk

Please mention THE VILLAGER when responding to advertisers

VETS & ANIMAL CARE