Meriden Mag - Autumn 2017
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Meriden Mag
Autumn 2017
See inside for details for
Remembrance Sunday
Fillongley Road Bridge Closure
Village News,Events and Photos
PTA - SUMMER FAYRE
Our fantastic group of PTA members pulled
off a wonderful Summer Fayre once
again. There were all sorts of stalls and fun
activities ranging from a Coconut Shy, golf,
raffles, bouncy slides, Pimms Tent and of
course ‘Teacher in the Stocks’. A good thing
the weather was so kind to us that day as
the children (and adults) took great delight in
soaking several of our ‘willing’ teachers! With
thanks to the PTA and the support of many
helpers, they raised a staggering £1748.90.
Thanks to all of you who came along and
supported us at Meriden Primary once
again.
Good Luck!
We wish our Year 6 the best of
luck for the future. They have
been a fantastic class and have
been great ambassadors for the
school.
We are very proud of their
achievements and look forward to
hearing about their successes in
the future.
KS2 production - ‘DREAM ON’
In July just before the end of the Summer term, we saw the Key Stage 2 production of an adaptation of
Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream, ‘Dream On’. The children had worked so hard on
perfecting their performance with enthusiasm, energy, humour and teamwork! As I’m sure those of you
who saw it will agree, they brought the house down! A huge thank you to pupils, parents and staff who
contributed to making the production such a huge success.
End of year memorable events…
Here at Meriden Primary School, we have had a busy summer term of class trips, camp outs, sporting
events, the Key Stage 2 Production, Church and library visits, the PTA Summer Fayre, Competitions,
KiVa progress and much more.
Year 6 said their sad goodbyes, but not before they made everyone cry with their final assembly on the
last day. All children were awarded with a trophy for being a superb year 6, but special mentions went
to Seren for Sportsmanship, Lucy for Progress and Alfie for Achievement. Meriden Governors also
presented an award for overall attitude and commitment to ‘the Meriden way’ to Hannah.
The final assembly also saw the Chris Fryer Courtesy Award being awarded to Kara in Year 5, for
being someone who is always polite and friendly. The Queen’s Jubilee Cup, donated by Meriden
United Charities, went to Mckenzie in Year 6. He has always managed to keep his sunny smile, no
matter what life has thrown at him.
Awards for 100% attendance were given and the names of those children who had been in school
every day went into a prize draw for an Amazon Fire Tablet!
A huge thank you as always goes to our PTA who organised a very successful summer fayre.
Our end of year service was also held this year at school and the children enjoyed giving their thanks
to God for their learning experiences and friendships made during the year.
Earlier in the summer term, Mr Wainwright and Mr
Beamond had the privilege of helping train 6 local
schools in using the KiVa anti-bullying programme.
This was such a proud moment for our school as
much was shared of our journey with regard to anti-
bullying issues and our successes along the way.
These included our BBC news item, our school's
visit to Northern Ireland to share good practice and
of course the children's well-being significantly
improving as central to it all! Our head boy and girl,
Matthew and Hannah, along with Taliah, went along . Reading Focus and Life-Long Learning
to answer questions and act as ambassadors for
our school and made us all very proud. At Meriden, part of our vision for education is
around Life-Long Learning. Year 6 had the
exciting opportunity to catch the bus into
Birmingham City Centre and visit the city
library and Waterstones. Our PTA kindly
donated money for each of the children to
choose any book to take with them to their
new school. The booksellers helped to
recommend exciting new texts and some
children even got a signed copy of Greg
James' new book 'Kid Normal.' A brilliant day
was had by all. The books were presented to
the children during the end of year service,
along with bibles presented by Reverend
Lynda.
Assistant curate Rev Lynda Lilley 01676 522825
Mobile 07811 545 247 (for emergency use only)
email: rev.lynda.lilley@talktalk.net
Lay Reader:
Peter Wright 01676 522414
Church Wardens: Jonathan Douglas 01676 522455
Lis Willis 01676 521080
Although I had trained as a tea www.stlaurence-meriden.co.uk
Service details for the autumn
Jesus said, “Let the little children come unto me.’’ Matthew 19:14 03/09/17 10:30am Holy Communion
10/09/17 10:30am Morning Prayer
At St Laurence we are blessed with many very fine stained glass windows. 17/09/17 10:30am Holy Communion
One of them, the West window, is almost hidden from sight in the West 17/09/17 4pm Teddy Bears’ Picnic
Room (the ringing room of the tower). In some ways it seems unimportant 24/09/17 10:30am Baptism
but when you look at that window and see that it depicts Jesus telling his 30/09/17 10:30am Celtic Service
disciples, “Let the little children come unto me.” It takes on a whole new 01/10/17 10:30am Holy Communion
meaning. In generations past there might have been the sense that children 08/10/17 10:30am Morning Prayer
should be seen and not heard – or preferably not seen! In today’s world we 15/10/17 10:30am Holy Communion
recognise how valuable children are. They are a gift from God – they are not 15/10/17 4pm Kidz Praise
the future – they are the present. Often, as a church particularly, we have 22/10/17 10:30am Morning Prayer
struggled to make the children, and their families, welcome. Firstly, I would 29/10/17 10:30am Songs of Praise
like to say that children are always most welcome to join us in our 10:30am 05/11/17 10:30am Holy Communion
service – though I appreciate that this doesn’t necessarily meet the needs of 05/11/17 4pm Bereavement Service
themselves or their families. We offer a warm welcome to everyone – all 12/11/17 10:00am Remembrance Day
ages from cradle to grave – but in an effort to make an even greater Service at The
welcome to ‘the little children’ we will be holding a Teddy Bears’ Picnic at Methodist Church
19/11/17 10:30am Holy Communion
4pm on Sunday 17th September. Children are invited to bring their families, a
19/11/17 4pm Kidz Praise
picnic … and their teddy bear along. There will be craft, games and activities
26/11/17 10:30am Baptism
for everyone to join with – there may even be a parachute jump from the top
of the tower if any of our teddies are feeling brave! Juice and biscuits will be
provided. The Teddy Bears’ Picnic will launch our new Kidz Praise service
that will be at 4pm each 3rd Sunday of the month. See alongside for details.
Of course, we are all children of God
and we must never lose the child
inside us. To live life to its fullest we
must retain our inquisitive nature, Come along to enjoy
our sense for adventure, our ability a cuppa and cake.
and willingness to try new things and 2pm-4pm
most of all, our reliance on our Every second Friday of the month
parent … God, our Father in heaven. at The Pavilion.
He wants us to have good things, He
has plans for us; plans to prosper, The new social venue for everyone.
not to harm. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Meriden Churches together are hosting a
With blessings, new initiative – a community cafe. We
have a fantastic community here in
Meriden but we’d like to make it even
Teddy Bears’ Picnic better!
th
Sunday 17th September 4pm 8 September
13th October
10th November
The church will be open on Sunday afternoons
from 12noon to 4pm up to and including October 22nd.
Everyone is welcome to visit this beautiful historic church.
Do you have a spare hour or two on a Sunday afternoon?
Why not volunteer to help keep the church open to visitors
Please contact Flick Blewitt on 01676 523229
Saturday 28th October 7.30pm
“Time of their Lives” (12A)
Autumn and winter programme at A feel-good comedy starring Joan Collins and Pauline
Collins. A former Hollywood star breaks out of her
Meriden Village Hall London retirement home in order to travel to France
to gate-crash the funeral of an ex-lover. Aided and
We are delighted that Live and Local, Warwick, which provides abetted by a repressed housewife (Pauline Collins) the
the facility for our Big Picture Shows has secured funding for a couple, on meagre resources, travel by coach, ferry,
further year in order to subsidize our screenings as well as those car and foot in a race to get to the funeral on time. A
in villages throughout Warwickshire, Staffordshire and film about true friendship, proving that the importance
Derbyshire. 2017 has seen the production of some excellent of a journey does not always lie in the destination.
films and we look forward to receiving the rights to screen films
such as “Churchill”, “Jackie” “Hampstead” and “Dunkirk”
Saturday 25th November 7.30pm
in the New Year. In the meantime, we have a varied programme
to offer for the autumn and we look forward to welcoming old “Viceroy’s House” (12A)
and new supporters back to the Village Hall screenings. Hugh Bonneville stars as Lord Mountbatten who is
appointed to manage the transition of India’s
Saturday 30th September 7.30pm independence. The film also explores the devastating
“A United Kingdom” (12A) impact of partition.
Tickets (£5.00) will be printed and available for sale
A true life story set in 1947, when the King of Botswana falls in
3 weeks before each screening.
love with a white woman. Through political and social
We are most grateful to “Fordes on the Green”,
prejudice, they risk everything to be together – their families,
Hairdressers on the Village Green for continuing to
their homes and even their countries. Starring David Oyelowo
sell tickets for us. Tickets and advance reservations
and Rosamund Pike, this is a real life love story interlaced with
also available from Chris Copper (01676 522645)
political drama.
£5 off Voucher Parties and
when two or outside catering
more people available
dine in
Take away service
10% discount on
collection
Free home delivery
service
4 miles radius
Minimum order
£15
Quote from the Coventry Telegraph: “Revealed: Best Indian restaurant in the
West Midlands isn’t in Birmingham!”
“Want the best curry in the West Midlands? Then head for Meriden, according to official One free chicken
Tripadvisor statistics. Meriden Spice Indian restaurant situated in Old Road Meriden has or vegetable
been crowned the region’s best-rated restaurant for Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi curry with every
food on the popular review web site.”
Takeaway order
of £25 or more
Not to be used with
any other voucher
Minister Rev Jane Braund
Tel :01676
Ps 533737
If you are around on the second Friday of every month between 2 and 4 it would be lovely to meet
Please phone to arrange
you over a cup of coffee or tea at the Pavilion.
marriages, baptisms and In Meriden
funerals Keep a look out for
Services: Sunday 10:30am.
Dear Friends
This year is going by so quickly and it seems incredible to me that once again the evenings are starting to draw in and we
are fast approaching Harvest time. As I've been driving recently, or walking through the fields with my husband, it is
evident that harvest time is near, with the maize standing tall in the fields and many of the other crops turning golden,
ready to be harvested. Even on the trees, the conkers and chestnuts are growing bigger as the beginning of autumn
approaches.
Since ancient times, it has been traditional to celebrate the safe gathering in of the harvest in various ways. It was the Rev
Robert Hawker who in 1843, while living in Morwenstow in Cornwall, began the British tradition of celebrating Harvest
Festival in churches, when he invited people to a special thanksgiving service at his church. Since then the custom has
grown and many churches are now decorated with home-grown produce for Harvest Festival Services. At the Methodist
church in Meriden we are planning to celebrate our Harvest Festival on 24th September, followed later that week by our
Harvest Supper. We do hope you can join us for these events.
In recent years, while churches still celebrate the harvest that has been produced, there has also been a growing awareness
and concern for those in other parts of the world where the harvest has failed or has not been sufficient for the needs of the
people. Many churches therefore, use the time of harvest to support relief organisations, who are working to help those
who have been affected by poor harvests. In Leviticus 23:22 God gives instructions on how to harvest. He tells the people
'Don't reap to the edges or gather the gleanings'; He tells them not to go over the vineyards a second time or pick up grapes
or other produce that had fallen to the ground. Why? Because he wants to ensure that there is a harvest for the poor, the
foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. As a gracious and compassionate God, He was making sure there was provision
for everybody. We have so much to be thankful for, and as we give thanks to God this harvest time for all his provision -
let us also remember that there are many in poverty, both in this nation and abroad; many who are fleeing war and finding
no safe haven; many who are facing injustice, persecution and hardship. May we be willing to share our harvest, by doing
our best to help, support and provide for them.
PS. If you are around on the second Friday of every month between 2pm and
4pm it would be lovely to meet you over a cup of coffee or tea at the Pavilion.
Meriden Methodist Diary Dates
Sunday 24th September Harvest Festival 10.30am
The Methodist
Wednesday 27th September-Supper Club - Roberto Troiolo from the Gideons. Church Hall Is
Friday 3rd November-Supper Club John Green JP "The Days of our Lives" available for hire
Sunday 12th November 10.15am Remembrance Sunday Please contact
Friday 15th December - Christmas Supper and Quiz Night. Alan Gabbitas on
Everyone welcome 01676 522148
For information about supper club please contact Gail on 07913 872280 or 02476 272752
Meetings are held at Christmas Fayre
Meriden Village Hall Saturday 2nd December
7. 30 – 9.30pm approx
Meriden Village Hall
On the 3rd Monday of
The month 10.30 to 12.30 Entrance £2
18 Sept. “At This Time of Year” Anita Wright to include coffee, tea and Mince Pie.
Lot's to see and do!
16 Oct. Practice Class Alison Suffolk Fresh Christmas wreaths for sale £10
or order one to collect later,
20 Nov. “Bloomington Christmas” Zoe Podmore Make your own Christmas decoration
(with help)
New members are always welcome Xmas presents already wrapped at a £1 each,
For more information please contact Pull out a bottle for a £1 - a win every time.
Mo Reynolds 01676 521 457 Super raffle and lots more!
September 4th Keith Brett
11th Dean Thomas
18th Anthony Hardy
25th MickyDean
October 2nd Natasha Marie
9th Stevie Best
16th
Sam Southall
23rd Marade
30th Marade
ALLAN SMITH SLATING
November 6th Guy Surtees
13th Chrissy
20th 2 Left Feet
27th Mickey Dean
(
Part P
Registered
•
•
Fuse box upgrades
• Test and inspection •
• Extra lights and •
sockets
•
• Security lights
• Full or partial •
rewires •
Digital TV aerials
•
Free quotations
•
Meriden Garage,
Temporary premises
Back of Shirley’s Garage,
Main Road, Meriden
New
Now open
Showroom.
Carpets, vinyls, laminates, real woods,
underlays and accessories
For a no obligation free quotation call in to
see us or…we will come to you
The Old Forge Stores,
68 Balsall St,
Balsall Common CV7 7AP
T: 01676 530695 Mob: 07775 515504
Saturday 23rd September
60’s Retro Band - Tickets £5
Saturday 14th October Multi-award
winning Lee Alexander as Elvis - Tickets £5
Sunday 5th November Bonfire Night and
Fireworks Spectacular
6pm fireworks from 6.45 approximately
Tickets available from the bar and on the
night
Every Friday Bingo 7.30pm
Karaoke 9.30pm
Spar, 1 The Green, Meriden
01676 522287
We are very proud to announce that thanks to everyone’s generosity we have been able to
donate £3500 to our chosen charity The Alzheimer’s Society. We have also made a donation
of £500 to the Memory Lane theatre company which helps people with dementia and
provided new lights for Meriden Village Hall. We are just starting a new season of concerts
and this year will be supporting the Huntington’s Disease Association.
***Advance news*** we are delighted to have been invited back to the Manor Hotel to perform
our Christmas concert again this year, on Sunday 10th December. Due to the popularity of last year’s sell-out concert it
has been decided to do two performances at 2.00pm and 7.00pm.
If you would like to put your name down on the advance ticket order After a fantastic total last year
list please email val.simon@btinternet.com stating how many
tickets and which performance you would like. Alternately you can The Firebird Singers are holding
telephone 01676 522963. Tickets are all priced at £6 each.
We are very grateful to the Meriden Sports Park Trust for their
recent grant which will go towards the cost of staging our
September Concert Divas and Legends.
Firebird Singers present
“Divas and Legends” Come and join us on Saturday 30th September
Meriden Village Hall 11.00 am until 2.00 pm
7.00pm Saturday 16th September
for home- made cakes, tea and coffee.
Blue Coat School, Terry Rd, Coventry You can also take part in the 'Cake Off'
Tickets £11 and £9 Concessions if you want to bake a showstopper.
To enter please contact abbie.lou@live.co.uk.
Tickets: 01676 522963 £2 per entry.
Great for children and pets to play,
No mowing, edging or watering.
Stunning looking lawn 365 days a year
Just relax and enjoy
Please phone for more details
0845 388 0800
Visit our website @ www.coventryartificialturf.co.uk
We wanted to share the amazing opportunity we were given to be involved
with the International Milano Hair Show
/ in Dubrovnik in May 2017
Regular visitors to Fordes on the Green Meriden will know what huge fans
we are of the Alfaparf Milano range for beautiful hair, introducing ppd and
ammonia free colours and 100% natural shampoos and conditioners. Their
choice and vitality is truly stunning and innovative, bringing a uniquely,
enriching experience both for stylist and client alike.
So....when invited from a choice of international salons from 12 different
countries, to the beautiful Dubrovnik on the stunning Adriatic coast of
Croatia....? We didn't have to think twice!
The last night hosted the main event. An exciting, motivating and 'all that
glitters' Hair Show, saw 32 models boasting a variety of trend-led cuts and
vibrant colours- some that even glow in the dark! Held in the Revelin
historic fortress; a perfect backdrop for a mesmerising show. Special guests
Paul Stafford, stylist of the year, Mummo Lassera, Rahero Mata and Ana
Cala Visnjc were very entertaining with an after-show party (I'd forgotten
what 5.00am looked like...)
A wonderful and informative experience we couldn’t wait to share with our
clients.
Please see centre colour pages for photos of Louise and Sean’s visit
• Pensions
• Investments
Protection
•
• Savings
• Employee benefits
• Inheritance Tax
Chartered Financial Planners and
Employee Benefit Consultants
the rest!
You can try Jamieson Christie Wealth
Management Ltd
But we’re
the best! Regent House
430 – 432 Kenilworth Road
Balsall Common CV7 7ER
Tel 01676 532 210
www.jamiesonchristie.com
Email: mail@jamiesonchristie.com
Jamieson Christie Wealth Management Ltd is authorised and
regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
I was recently reading an advertisement for local agricultural shows in Warwickshire villages this summer, the nearest being
the popular[[[[[[[Kinwaldsey,
Fillongley Show whichson
William began in 1919
of Gerard at Coundon
(possibly butbrother
Geoffrey’s Meriden too wascalled
elsewhere famous in 1840sRichard
‘ Gilmyn’), and 50s
Hillfor its own
AgriculturaltheSociety
Mason, so
Nicolas Godyng
I thought andreaders
some many others.
mightI be
imagine them all
interested crowding
to learn round listening, all of 700 years ago.
more.
The 4th Earl of Aylesford ought by rights to feature in books on the Agrarian Revolution so significant was his contribution
but he wasDoreen Agutter.
apparently a shy and retiring man who preferred not to be in the lime light. He did though take a keen interest in
promoting improvements on his estates usually with the help and inspiration of skilled estate managers like John Wedge
who sent his employer’s innovations for publication by the Board of Agriculture from 1794. They adapted ideas from other
estates and regions: Norfolk, Lowland Scotland and Northumberland, implemented by skilled practitioners who came to live
in the Meriden area. The centre for such enterprises was the Model Farm built in 1788 on the Heath by the side of the new
Enclosure Road we call the Straight Mile and is now the business premises ‘Cogent’. The building is not even mentioned in
the latest national gazetteer of Model Farms despite the retention of the distinctively shaped horse gin house.
A new era began in the 1830s with the employment of Robert Evans, father of the author ‘George Eliot’ as the Estate Agent.
Local agents set the tone and were viewed as rural elite. You can make a virtual tour of Meriden and Packington farms by
reading his diaries.
The National School built in 1842 and now the Health Centre, housed a library of nearly 400 books on farming concepts
and techniques, the new schoolmaster Mr Kimpton acting as librarian and adult education tutor. Lord Aylesford sponsored
or perhaps founded Meriden’s Agricultural Society organising an annual ploughing match and hedging competition from
February 1844, ‘a bright, very frosty winter’s day on a 25 acre site near Heath Farm’. 21 ploughmen entered the Match, each
with a 2 horse plough, the horses working side by side, each man on a ¼ acre plot. The Earl awarded all the competitors 2/6d
(22p) in lieu of lost wages and those judged first class ploughmen won a crimson ribbon. The hedge cutters received 2/-
(20p) in lieu of lost wages, the most skilled won blue ribbons. To conclude the day in style there were competitive sports
like football and a free supper also provided by the Earl, of beef and ale in the rick yard at Heath Farm. These events
continued to attract attention till the late 1850s. I believe the death of the 5th Earl in 1859 had a profound influence, leading
to its closure.
A significant Report in the ‘Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society’ 1856 summed up in glowing terms the results of
adopting modern developments on the Aylesford Estate. 200 acres of waterlogged heath land had been drained on the later
Race Course, now the North Warwickshire Golf Course; wheat production had been doubled to 32 bushels per acre using the
famous four year Norfolk Rotation of crops: winter sown cereals, roots, spring wheat and clover and grasses. The Earl kept
100 fattening Hereford oxen, scores of pigs, 60 Devon dairy cows built up from prize stock since 1840, 14 breeding
Ayrshires and was an early owner of a flock of Shropshire sheep: rams, ewes and threaves (between one and two year old
ewes). This breed produced profitable wool and meat. Another tradition begun in 1851 was an annual auction of these
thoroughbred sheep attracting visitors and buyers from a distance. An advertisement said the sale was within easy access of
Hampton in Arden station, presumably for transport of live animals. At the same time the newspapers asserted that the
railway had seriously reduced the amount of road transport through the village and affected the livelihood of the innkeepers.
In fact a number of businesses relying on the needs of road transport went bankrupt like the wheelwright, Mr Lea.
This was on the other hand a period of expansion and renewal on the Aylesford Estate. Farmsteads, barns and cottages were
.rebuilt from 1842 onwards with bricks made at the Estate brick yard on Fillongley Road just beyond Walsh Hall Lane.
Dr Kittermaster’s 1830s drawings show us the extent of
the changes that took place, some of which can be seen
today. Gone were the C17th half-timbered outbuildings
PC Technical Services
like those once at Moat House Farm by the church or at Tile Hill Lane Coventry
Hollyberry End to be replaced by Victorian ones. By the
end of C19th, only the Meriden Horticultural Society Home Computer Repairs
advertised an annual Flower Show in the grounds of
Upgrading & Problem Solving
Meriden Hall supported by Mr Digby and then his
daughter, Mrs Bankes. Doreen Agutter
Telephone
Heath farm in 1989 before Cogent Elliot converted
it into offices
024 7667 4952
07963 850001
Independent personal attention
Internet & e-mail
Troubleshooting & tuitionSamaritans Purse
Please support this wonderful charity by picking up a
leaflet from the library or myself and fill a shoebox
with wonderful goodies.
Last year from this area 8,000 boxes were sent to
various countries.
If you can’t fill a shoebox I will accept
donations to help send them.
Thank you for your support
Lucy Ball 01676 523502
Set in the middle of Brueton Park, on the edge of Solihull
Town Centre, 5.5 acres of tranquil beauty offering nature MONDAY NATURE BABIES, lovely relaxed session
themed activities for babies and children, holiday events for age 0-2 years between 10-12, drop-in style
and Really Wild Birthday parties. Tearoom and shop for format so great flexibility.
refuelling and treats!
TUESDAY 10:30-11:30 ‘Lovely Leaves’ age 2+
There’s so much fun to have when the leaves
Nature Babies every Monday morning 10- 12
Drop-in format and exclusively at our Parkridge Centre site in
start to fall, collect leaves of all shapes, sizes and
Solihull. Wonderful gentle nature themed sensory play, a colours, make them into a natural collage or a big
good chance to meet other parents and make new friends. pile to jump in!
Nature Tots every Friday 10:30-12 or 1:30-3 Afternoon 12-1pm ‘Autumn Urban Safari’ age 6+
Absolutely perfect for active 2-4 year olds. Then 2-3pm FREE FAMILY WATCH (see website)
Really Wild Parties Very competitive prices, offered every
weekend throughout the year for up to 20 children, call 0121 WEDNESDAY 10:30-11:30 ‘Den Building’ age 6+
704 0768 for more information or to book. 12-1 ‘Wild about Bats’ age 6+
THURSDAY 10:30-11:30 ‘Autumn Colour Palette’
age 4+ then at 12-1pm ‘Happy Hedgehogs’ 2+
All 2017 events now booking online:
FRIDAY NATURE TOTS, 10:30-12 or 1:30-3
Halloween Spooks for age 2-4 games, magic
potions and learn about the animals brave
enough to come out on Halloween!
https://www.facebook.com/WKWTParkridgeMeriden shows its support for Merchant Navy Day, 3rd September 2017
You may be wondering why the Red Ensign was flying proudly on Meriden
st th
Green from the 1 to 4 September! Well it was to support Merchant Navy
Day that has been commemorated since 2000. For the last two years
Seafarers UK (King George’s Fund for Sailors) have focussed on a
nationwide campaign to raise public awareness of our ongoing reliance on
seafarers and shipping.
The following is a quote from Admiral The Right Honourable, the Lord West
of Spithead GCB DSC PC:
rd
“While many of you will be aware that the 3 September 1939 marked the outbreak of the Second World War, few
are aware that it also marks the first major British maritime casualty - the merchant vessel SS Athenia, torpedoed
just a few hours after hostilities were declared, with the loss of 128 passengers and crew. Although many hundreds
rd
of merchant ships and thousands of seafarers would meet the same fate in the years to come, 3 September is now
enshrined as ‘Merchant Navy Day’ to honour the brave men and women who kept our island nation afloat during
both World Wars, and even during peacetime faced - and continue to face - the more routine perils of violent storms
and mountainous seas.
“The Red Ensign, or ‘Red Duster’ as it is affectionately known, has been the recognised flag of the British Merchant
Navy since 1854. It has become inextricably linked with the world-wide trade links that made the United Kingdom’s
fortune in the intervening years and, while there are now fewer ships on the home register, many thousands of
British seafarers still work on the oceans of the world, underpinning the vast majority of the international commerce
that keeps our economy buoyant. By volume, 95% of trade comes by sea; without it, we would surely become an
insignificant island off the coast of Europe.
“But the majority of today’s large ports are high security operations, often miles from population centres. Many young
people know little of ships and seafarers, and fail to appreciate their absolutely vital contribution to our way of life. In
recent years, campaigns such as ‘Seafarers Awareness Week’ have tried to highlight this huge impact, and I strongly
believe that a visual demonstration of the debt we all owe to merchant seafarers, past and present, should become
an annual feature of our national calendar.”
rd
Meriden Parish Council are proud to announce that the Red Ensign will be raised on each and every 3 of
September in perpetuity. Your very own Cllr Bob Kipling served in the Merchant Navy for two years. For further
information or to make a donation please visit www.merchantnavyfund.org
Cllr Paul Lee, Meriden Parish Council
Lavender Hall Lane
Berkswell CV7 7BN
01676 530 299 / 07949 119 436
Cafe open to the public from
8.00am – 2.00pm week days
and now until 3.30pm Saturday &
Sunday
Serving hot and cold food
Specialising in an all day
Breakfast for £4.20!
Gates open Special
offer
at 7.00am
Coffee &
close Cake £3.00
at dusk`
Come and discover how the
beautiful flowing
movements of this ancient
art can improve your well-
being. Relax and enjoy
simple calming relaxation
and meditation techniques.
Mondays 9.30-10.30am
Meriden Village Hall
Call Jacqui on
WARWICK OFFICE BALSALL COMMON OFFICE
61 Coten End 07703 345210
2 Meeting House Lane
Warwick CV34 4NU Balsall Common CV7 7FX
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Come and Meet Each Other at the Sports
Pavilion on the 4th Friday of the month at 2.00 p.m.
In May we were invited to Meriden Primary School for a tea party at the end of Stroke Awareness Week. Mr. Evans and
Year 5 were our hosts for the afternoon and gave a short presentation on what they had learned during the week. They told
us that stroke is a medical emergency and that if you suspect someone has had a stroke you should act fast and call 999 as
prompt action can prevent further damage to the brain and help someone make a full recovery. The Face, Arm, Speech,
Time (FAST) Test can help you recognise the symptoms of a stroke: F – for facial weakness, can the person smile, has
their mouth or .eye drooped? A – arm weakness, can the person raise both arms? S – speech problems, can the person speak
clearly and understand what you say and finally T – time to call 999. Other symptoms include sudden loss or blurring of
severe headache with no apparent cause and dizziness or a sudden fall. We were told that to decrease our
vision, confusion,
chance of a stroke we should stop drinking and smoking, have a healthy diet and exercise.
The pupils then handed out cups of tea and cakes, some of which the children had made. They split up into groups and
came to each table to ask if we had any questions. The children were a delight. They were charming, polite and articulate
and kept pressing more cups of tea and cake upon us! They were a credit to the school.
In June, we held our 12th “Holiday at Home” but this time in Meriden instead of Berkswell, as in the past. We were once
again grateful to HERO for their generous grant which greatly helps to keep down the cost to members. After coffee and
biscuits, we enjoyed a quiz on the theme of time, at the end of which a few small prizes were awarded. Gail Di Chiara from
the Methodist Church then spoke to us about friendship and what makes a good friend. She said that there is a beautiful
trail through the Bible which builds up to the amazing picture of friendship. Book of Exodus “the Lord would speak to
Moses face to face as a man speaks to a friend”. Proverbs 17 tells us “a friend loves at all times” and “a person of many
companions may come to ruin but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother or sister”. An interesting proverb says
“wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy”. Gail spoke about the New Testament and how Jesus
loved his friends who were incredibly important to him. She gave a number of examples including the commandment to
love one another. She concluded by saying that Christians feel that friends and fellowship are one of the wonderful aspects
of being a Christian. We then helped each other to make friendship bracelets.
After a delicious lunch of fish and chips from the village shop, we were entertained by Dampier’s Round, a folk band who
sang and played the violin, harp and guitar. We ended the day with tea and ice cream.
Our July meeting was our traditional strawberries and cream and poems meeting which was enjoyed by all. We had a
near capacity attendance of 27 members 14 of which brought favourite poems to share varying in traditional, humorous and
personal.
Dulcie was welcomed back after a spell of ill health and absent members, due to ill health were all remembered.
We look forward to welcoming more friends to our meetings so if you need information or a lift please
telephone:
Joan 523507 or Pam 523372
Forthcoming Meetings:-.
September 22nd – Hayley from Solihull Community Housing.
October 27th – Linda Donavan ‘My Life’s Work’. (In the Village Hall).
November 24th - Hugh MacNeil from Coventry Central Food Bank.
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Greetings from MCF Life Church to everyone reading this article. Well what a strange start to the summer holidays we
have had weather wise. We had our holiday in Devon for 10 days in June. The first five days were blighted with wind
and heavy rainfall. The last five were beautiful and sunny. We were so thankful to feel the sun on our faces and
everywhere looked so much nicer for the latter part.
As a church we have been blessed to have a couple of adult baptisms in the past few months. It is so exciting when
individuals make the decision to receive Christ and follow God. In the World at the moment there is so much
uncertainty regarding Brexit, new Prime Ministers, cuts in benefits, economic instability etc., I am really pleased that I
serve a risen Saviour who fills me with such a peace that as long as I stay close to Him things will all work out okay.
That's not to say I can bury my head in the sand but that I wouldn't upset and disturb myself over things I have no
jurisdiction over.
As you will have read in the last Meriden Mag the three churches are involved in a coffee afternoon called 'All
Together' at the pavilion in the park the 2nd Friday of each month from 2-4p.m. The one in August will be the first that
Kevin and I have managed to get to, so for any of our regular shoppers who used to visit us when we ran the 'Centre'
charity shop we would love you to pop in for a catch up and chat and see how your life has changed over the last
couple of years.
Also on the first Monday of each month we as local churches in Meriden, Knowle, Barston, Hampton and other
surrounding villages have a meeting called 'Heart of England Filling Station' it's for local rural churches to come
together and go deeper with God. The meetings are held in the Hampton Manor Hotel in Hampton in Arden which
opens its doors at 7p.m. for coffee/tea and cake for a 7.30 start. (If there's a bank holiday Monday, then it's held on the
2nd Monday of that month)
The Filling Stations came about when a vision was given to a man called Richard Fothergill who is a member of Holy
Trinity Brompton in London. (If you google Filling Station you can listen to Richards testimony of how God gave him
the vision and why he started the Filling Station meetings). These meetings are now running all over the UK and
abroad.
The Heart of England Filling Station was started when a lady called Jan, one of the owners of the Hampton Manor
Hotel felt a calling of God on her life to start the meetings, so after much prayer a team was put together of people from
a number of churches in Meriden, Knowle, Hampton and Barston and the 'Heart of England Filling Station' was
launched. It has been going for 2 years now and seen some amazing moves of God and answers to prayer. We have an
amazing time of Worship and Ministry usually with 80 to 120 people coming to each event. So if you're ever feeling a
bit dry why not come and join us. We don't have meetings in August or December so the next one will be Monday 4th
September.
The time of our service at MCF Life Church is 1p.m. each Sunday, so if you'd like to join us we'd love to see you. We
realise this is a really strange time, but as we hire the Methodist building we have to wait until their service is finished
before we can begin ours. Therefore if anybody reading this knows of any other building in Meriden we can hire or use
please contact us with details.
We pray you have a blessed summer and lots of fun during the holidays.
''God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.'' (Matthew 5:9)
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Mobile: 07767 237860Another Year, Another Decade
At the end of a very exciting year the Princial, Jacqueline highlight of the autumn and our students have been fortunate
Hughes-Williams considers how our school renews and enough to attend workshops held by successful writers as
changes as we prepare to celebrate our Diamond Jubilee: we consolidate our whole school DEAR (Drop Everything and
Read) initiative. Music, Art and Drama continue to flourish at
The end of term is a time for reflection and evaluation and Heart of England. Educational visits to galleries, the Cavern in
our thanks go out to everyone who has supported us in so Liverpool, theatre visits, the recent musical tour of Austria, our
many varied ways. As this academic year closes we not only Chamber Choir performing at Warwick Arts Centre and our sell
say goodbye to twelve months but to yet another decade in out school production of The Sound of Music are to name but
our history; September sees the start of Heart of England’s a few of the exciting events that have punctuated the year and
Diamond Jubilee. Our school is neither old nor new; its exemplify the concept Shama expresses so clearly.
evolving context and culture have inevitably been influenced
by what went before and our future depends upon the strength
and delivery of our present vision which is committed to
building upon the best of the past.
This academic year began with an assembly that was centred
on the 2016 Summer Olympics and the concept of achieving
not just gold, silver or bronze but striving for, and achieving,
personal bests. I quoted R Shama who stated that, “…truly
enlightened people never seek to be like others. Rather they
seek to be superior to their former selves. Don’t race against
others. Race against yourself.” So many members of our
school community have embraced this idea and achieved Our academic focus continues to centre on a broad and
great outcomes on so many fronts. balanced curriculum strengthened by an enlightened
Reading our web-site news blog (that covers just some of assessment framework. The futures we create are diverse,
the key events of the past three terms) the richness of our spanning routes into work via universities of first choice or
academic and extra-curricular offer shines through. Having other pathways such as apprenticeships. At the heart of our
become a directly licenced centre for the Duke of Edinburgh offer is the clear determination to ensure that students stick
Award we have augmented our offer from bronze to silver with what is difficult in order to achieve their personal best.
this year and are planning to deliver gold in 2017/18. We When we return in September it will be to even further
have held both US and UK student elections focusing on improvements in our physical environment, with detailed plans
the centrality of democracy in parallel with the national and in place to refurbish classrooms and study facilities in both
international events. Our students have once again been the main school and sixth form. On a final note, as Heart of
fortunate enough to visit the Hadron Collider at CERN, helping England School leaves its fifties behind, it has been another
to inspire our next generation of scientists. Our students positive year seeing much change and much consolidation,
have achieved great success in the Maths Challenge, public all delivered with characteristic hard work, humour and great
speaking events and Chef of the Year Awards. We gained kindness. I will sign off with an overheard remark made by
43 medals at the Solihull Borough Swimming Gala, continue one of our students after a House assembly “ …that makes me
from strength to strength in selected sports and have a world want to be a better version of me.” Now there’s a student with
champion dancer in year 10! Nick Skelton’s visit was a the courage to race against themselves!
The group of 40 Heart of England students consisted of members
High on a Hill... of our various school choirs and the trip incorporated three concert
performances in Salzburg, St Gilgen and Filzmoos. Audiences
included locals and tourists from as far away as the United States.
“We also managed to squeeze in a visit to Werfen Ice Cave, which
was quite a trek up a mountain and a trip down Hallein salt mines
where we tasted the water with 28% salt content,” said Mrs Henton.
Each travel group donned their bandanas in true Sound of Music
fashion to complete a tour around all the locations used in the
famous film. “We also skipped down the same path taken by Maria
as she sang, ‘I have confidence’ during the film,” said Mrs Henton.
“Our guide was impressed we knew the songs so well!”
Some of our students have been reliving memories of out recent “A huge thank you also to Balsall Commons Lions,” said Mrs Henton.
production of The Sound of Music in a visit to Austria this term. “They kindly provided funds to allow some of our students to take part
in this experience who otherwise would not have been able to.”
After a morning of lessons, the party set off at 1pm on their 24 hour
trek across Europe. Travelling through France, Belgium, Luxembourg It all sounds like a very harmonious trip, which took place from 7-13
and Germany the group arrived in Austria at 2pm the next day. The July, with singing at every opportunity. Mrs Henton commented on
performers took the opportunity to sing during the journey to help the how brilliant the students were and thanked them all and the staff
hours pass more quickly! who went along, for making it such a memorable trip.
@HoE_School www.facebook.com/heartofenglandschool/ www.heart-england.co.uk
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. Our August meeting is traditionally a social evening
when we enjoyed a light hearted Quiz, strawberries
and cream and plenty of chat !
Future programme
th
On Wednesday 10 May we hosted the Annual Group Meeting
for the Meriden Group of five neighbouring W.I.s The Rev Paul Monday 4th September ‘Mary Quant’s later life’ –
Sinclair gave us a very lively talk entitled ”Would you be seen Ruth Lowe
dead in a sidecar?” For many years he had been a Pentecostal
minister at Willesden Revival Centre in London. Then he decided Monday 2nd October ‘Life with a Guide Dog’ –
to change careers and set up a business providing motorcycle Louise
hearses for funerals. He now has a fleet of 11 sidecar hearses and Monday 6th November – Annual Meeting
says they help to make a funeral more personalised and a
celebration of a life. The hearses had often been used at funerals Visitors and potential new members
of women who had served as despatch riders in World War 2. always welcome
Later in May we provided tea and cakes for the cyclists who had
attended the Annual Memorial Service.
Elizabeth Spencer
At our June meeting Jeremy Thompson came to talk about
Antiques. He pointed out that there can often be fluctuations in
the market but there is always a call for items of good quality.
June 7th saw the Annual meeting held in Liverpool this year when
two resolutions were proposed. The first called for action to
tackle the release of micro-plastics into the seas and the second
called for the W.I to work with health and social care services to
identify and support lonely people. Both resolutions were passed.
In July Molly Murray gave us a very amusing talk on the theme
‘Everybody loves a wedding’ She told us about various mishaps
when she had worked as a waitress at wedding receptions –
including the time the planned dessert suddenly became apple
pie and ice cream after the vat of custard was spilt all over the email :
kitchen floor! colinbrown879@yahoo.co.uk
We are proud to announce that we sent £9,500 to the National Account
for the last financial year. Thank you to all who supported us.
We are now planning events and activities for next year.
On Friday 8th September we will be collecting at Sainsburys Coventry.
On Friday 29th September we have our annual “In the Pink” Ladies Night at Strawberry Bank Hotel, who kindly donate
the use of the room for free.
Lesley Smith will be arriving as Queen Elizabeth I we already know what a great night we will have.
There will be a sales table with jewellery, cards, candles and Christmas gifts.
Friday 8th December we are holding our Christmas evening at the Heart of England Club who also let us use the room
for free. Vivo our very popular, regular live music group will be entertaining us. Tickets will be £10 including nibbles.
The evening will include our extensive Christmas raffle.
We are often asked about Open Gardens in Meriden, which
we haven’t run for several years, however we are ready to
give it a try if enough people are willing to share their
gardens, we will probably hold the event next June (avoiding
Wimbledon ) All sizes of garden are very welcome.
In May 2018 we are holding a Bric-Brac and ladies stall – I
jewellery, scarves handbags etc and will need your goods.
We are always grateful for your support in any way that you
can. Mary Warr and Committee
522160 * 522855 * 522986 * 523165 * 522702
Meetings Tuesday 7.30pm at the Manor Hotel, Meriden. Tel; 01676 522735
Rotary Clubs all around the world have just celebrated the beginning of the new
Rotary Year. I took over as President on 1st July and am really looking forward to the
rest of my twelve months in office!
I was Vice President during the previous year and it has been hectic! I have arranged for our speakers, who come along to
The Manor Hotel to talk to us, to fill a packed and varied programme!
While we enjoy our meetings, where we get together to have a meal and a very pleasant social evening, [with lots of laughs!], as you
can see from our motto above Rotary is not, and never has been, just a ‘supper club’. No, there is much more to Rotary than that!
We have a range of events and activities planned in Meriden and the surrounding area which I’m sure you will recognise as some of
them are becoming traditional: the Megaride, the Santa Fun Run and the evenings in December when Santa comes to ask us to
transport him on our sleigh to meet everyone!
But we have other events during the year, for instance make sure you put details of our Car Boot Sale into your diaries: at
The Queen’s Head on 9th September, sellers 10.00am and buyers 11.00am, [cars - £5, vans/trailers - £8]. We hope all of the
organisations in the area will come along and have a table - or two!
And here is something new that everyone can join in: during this year we have decided to have ‘QUARTERLY COLLECTIONS’ for four
local charities and, instead of giving money we are collecting small items and someone from the charity will take them when they
come to tell us about the work they do. Any organisation in the area can join in – just collect & then e-mail Meriden Rotary at
lynchsmith@hotmail.co.uk to come and pick them up or give your items to any Rotarian to bring along to our meeting. The autumn
COLLECTION is The Dog’s Trust out at Honiley and they would like
items such as toys and bags of treats to help train the rescue dogs
ready for their new homes, please.
Here’s the calendar for all four:
th th EXTEND provides exercise to music for senior people
Dog’s Trust Aug 7 - Oct 2th 24 October
and for anyone of any age with a disability. Our mission
Speaker Helen Barlow
th th is to promote health, increase mobility and
The Haven Nov 7 – Jan 30th 30 January independence, improve strength, co-ordination and
Coventry Speaker Jaime Richards balance and to counteract loneliness and isolation.
th th
Aqua -Box Feb 6 – Apr 17th 17 April – Speaker
Come & Join me at Meriden Village Hall
Mike Tomlinson
st th and exercise whilst sitting or standing
Troop Aid May 1 - June19th 19 June- Speaker
Pam Cooper
30th August 2017 2pm – 3pm
Every two weeks
If you are interested in working alongside others who
with tea/coffee and a natter for afters !!
support causes locally, nationally and internationally, come
along and meet us one Tuesday Jay 07983 979 404
Rotary President 2017-18 Qualified EXTEND fitness instructorYou can also read
