Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Let us have your
Comments on the
Magazine
Now that travel to far
flung places like
Birmingham
is just a memory join the
Carvers on their
travels around the world
1st July 2020
No 8
COVID-19
CHURCHES OPEN
AGAIN
CRADLEY STORRIDGE AND MATHON
SUPPORT GROUP
LATEST INFORMATION
Pumpkin Competition
Produce Show
The Parish Council Meeting at 7pm
on
14 July 2020 is by Zoom virtual
meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88908744
318?pwd=REZkTGdHUlppZ0YyREt2U2
84ZGVBQT09
Click to join
Relax and enjoy
Introducing the first online magazine covering the three
villages of Cradley, Storridge and Mathon. This is a monthly
magazine with updates available during that time. We aim to
be very flexible in time scales to allow members of the
communities the maximum time to get their contributions to
us. We have a very relaxed editorial stance only requiring that
submissions meet basic standards of good manners,decency
and of course legality.
So, open house on making a contribution either personally or
on behalf of your group. Make use of us to get your point of
view or personal opinion and event out there or even debate a
topic all for FREE.
For local (and slightly further away businesses) we offer FREE
advertising with us along with direct links to your own website
and free advert design. We are a non profit making project and
only have web management costs to consider.
To contact us with any contributions, notices, information or
your expertise in your favourite interest drop us an Email or fill
in the form
Don’t forget to visit us several times during an issues month as
we are adding new items all the time
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Now that travel to far flung
places like
Birmingham is just a memory
join the
Carvers on their travels
around the world
No 8
1st July 2020
Let us have your
Comments on
the Magazine
COVID-19
CHURCHES OPEN
AGAIN
CRADLEY STORRIDGE AND MATHON
SUPPORT GROUP
LATEST INFORMATION
Pumpkin Competition
Produce Show
The Parish Council Meeting at 7pm
on
14 July 2020 is by Zoom virtual
meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88908744
318?pwd=REZkTGdHUlppZ0YyREt2U2
84ZGVBQT09
Click to join
Relax and enjoy
Introducing the first online magazine covering the three
villages of Cradley, Storridge and Mathon. This is a monthly
magazine with updates available during that time. We aim to
be very flexible in time scales to allow members of the
communities the maximum time to get their contributions to
us. We have a very relaxed editorial stance only requiring that
submissions meet basic standards of good manners,decency
and of course legality.
So, open house on making a contribution either personally or
on behalf of your group. Make use of us to get your point of
view or personal opinion and event out there or even debate a
topic all for FREE.
For local (and slightly further away businesses) we offer FREE
advertising with us along with direct links to your own website
and free advert design. We are a non profit making project and
only have web management costs to consider.
To contact us with any contributions, notices, information or
your expertise in your favourite interest drop us an Email or fill
in the form
Don’t forget to visit us several times during an issues month as
we are adding new items all the time
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
No 8
Notices
CHURCHES OPEN AGAIN
As you will have seen elsewhere, the Parish Churches at Cradley and at Mathon are again open for private prayer, with particular restrictions in place to comply with safety requirements. The churches will be cleaned each evening after closing. For this reason, opening times may be more restricted than they were before. Please read the guidelines available in each place. Due to the vulnerability of its location, Storridge Church has not customarily been left open outside of service times. We hope to be able to open all our churches for both public and private prayer before very long, and be able to resume the wide variety of concerts, talks and other events to which we've become accustomed. Up-dates will be posted on our church notice boards and the three church web-sites: www.cradleychurch.org.uk www.mathonchurch.org.uk www.storridgechurch.org.uk
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
No 8
CHURCHES OPEN AGAIN
As you will have seen elsewhere, the Parish Churches at Cradley and at Mathon are again open for private prayer, with particular restrictions in place to comply with safety requirements. The churches will be cleaned each evening after closing. For this reason, opening times may be more restricted than they were before. Please read the guidelines available in each place. Due to the vulnerability of its location, Storridge Church has not customarily been left open outside of service times. We hope to be able to open all our churches for both public and private prayer before very long, and be able to resume the wide variety of concerts, talks and other events to which we've become accustomed. Up-dates will be posted on our church notice boards and the three church web- sites: www.cradleychurch.org.uk www.mathonchurch.org.uk www.storridgechurch.org.uk
Notices
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Turning Point……….part 2
No 8
In everyone’s life there are turning points. You know, the decisions you make that can set the direction of your life.
Sometimes regret, and use of hindsight make you judge if the decision made or missed was right or wrong. The
longer you live the more critical you become on those decisions.
Now let us make it personal and about me and my decision:
Hauling was all done by hand(with the exception of the sole rope which was
kept down in the water by being loaded with lead weights and lifted with
the aid of a winch). The newer members of the crew were expected to do
the hardest job which was hauling the corks at the bow attached to the top
of the net which floated on the surface. This was brutal work for a beginner
with sometimes shooting and hauling up to five times a night. Coupled with
damaged hands aggravated by salt water into bleeding sores and callouses
made it very unpleasant but taught me to persevere until the job was done
regardless. In a gale with the boat rising and falling the tendency was for
the ropes attached to a stationary net, to try and haul you over the side.
The trick was to jam the cork rope into the gunwale ( the 18” high riser
around the deck: no safety rails in those days)with your knee and wait for
the boat to drop to haul in the slack until the next wave arrived. Fishermen didn’t wear gloves as they needed the sensitivity
in their hands to haul the net without ripping it. No nylon nets then. I was amazed to discover just how many fishermen
could not swim as they resigned to the fact that survival in the water with
the oilskins and sea boots would take you down no matter how well you
could swim.
You became very fit very quickly and attained a strength that you never
know you had, coupled with lots of grub and mugs of hot tea and coffee
between hauls, After a few weeks your hands healed hard and your body
stopped aching and the job became easier and acceptance by the crew
followed. Sometimes because you were no longer a puny kid and partly
because you had earned the respect of your crew mates rather than
expecting it as a right. Another lesson I took with me to later life.
The den of the boat (the focsle) was the crew quarters in the bow area of
the boat where there were 8 bunks a seat locker, table, cooker and sink all
in the average 12ft
square living room. It was reached by a vertical ladder from the deck
which was covered from weather by a sliding top. You certainly got to
know your crew mates quickly during your downtime and mealtime
(which was any time convenient when not working) What is today
viewed as bullying was acclimatising you to the work hardening you up
and to saving your life and your crew mates lives.
Before the inevitable question is asked-
over the side or on deck into a bucket.
Every boat had two buckets on deck with ropes tied to them. One for washing the decks
down after a haul and one for use as a toilet pan. There was a rudimentary toilet but as it
was situated in the hot fume filled engine room with a massive hammering diesel engine
next to it, it was hardly ever used except in harbour.
Now to my loss of my immortality virginity: One night in August whilst fishing off the coast of
the Isle of Man in a force 6 with a good swell on the skipper of our neighbour shot their net
and we picked up the end and the boats came together bow to bow to transfer our crew to
haul the net back onto his boat. Timing was the crucial and safe way of carrying out such a risky operation with the bows
rising and falling at different times. The idea was to jump the 4 feet as the bows came to the same level preferably when the
other boat was starting to drop so as to cushion your landing on her deck. The boats have buffers in the form of old car
tyres attached at strategic points on the starboard sides to protect the woodwork, At the bow there were always two tyres
to protect the bow. When my turn came to jump all was set and in perfect position. I jumped and at the precise moment the
bows fenders came together and the tyres did their job and repulsed the bows.
I was left hanging in mid air over a widening 6 foot gap with a boiling sea below. At that precise split second I realised that I
wasn’t immortal and my end was staring me in the face in the water squashed between the boats………..
Turning Point……….part 3 coming soon
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
No 8
Turning Point……….part 2
In everyone’s life there are turning points. You know, the decisions you
make that can set the direction of your life. Sometimes regret, and use
of hindsight make you judge if the decision made or missed was right or
wrong. The longer you live the more critical you become on those
decisions.
Now let us make it personal and about me and my decision:
Hauling was all done by hand(with
the exception of the sole rope which
was kept down in the water by being
loaded with lead weights and lifted
with the aid of a winch). The newer
members of the crew were expected
to do the hardest job which was
hauling the corks at the bow attached
to the top of the net which floated on
the surface. This was brutal work for
a beginner with sometimes shooting and hauling up to five times a night.
Coupled with damaged hands aggravated by salt water into bleeding sores
and callouses made it very unpleasant but taught me to persevere until the
job was done regardless. In a gale with the boat rising and falling the
tendency was for the ropes attached to a stationary net, to try and haul you
over the side.
The trick was to jam the cork rope into
the gunwale ( the 18” high riser around
the deck: no safety rails in those
days)with your knee and wait for the
boat to drop to haul in the slack until
the next wave arrived. Fishermen didn’t
wear gloves as they needed the
sensitivity in their hands to haul the net
without ripping it. No nylon nets then. I
was amazed to discover just how many
fishermen could not swim as they resigned to the fact that survival in the
water with the oilskins and sea boots would take you down no matter how
well you could swim.
You became very fit very quickly and attained a strength that you never know
you had, coupled with lots of grub and mugs of hot tea and coffee between
hauls, After a few weeks your hands healed hard and your body stopped
aching and the job became easier and acceptance by the crew followed.
Sometimes because you were no longer a puny kid and partly because you
had earned the respect of your crew mates rather than expecting it as a right.
Another lesson I took with me to later life.
The den of the boat (the focsle) was the crew quarters in the bow area of the
boat where there were 8 bunks a seat locker, table, cooker and sink all in the
average 12ft square living room. It was reached by a vertical ladder from the
deck which was covered from
weather by a sliding top. You
certainly got to know your
crew mates quickly during
your downtime and mealtime
(which was any time
convenient when not working)
What is today viewed as
bullying was acclimatising you to the work hardening you up and to saving
your life and your crew mates lives.
Before the inevitable question is asked- over the side or on deck into a
bucket. Every boat had two buckets on deck with ropes tied to them. One for
washing the decks down after a haul and one for use as a toilet pan. There
was a rudimentary toilet but as it was situated in the hot fume filled engine
room with a massive hammering diesel engine next to it, it was hardly ever
used except in harbour.
Now to my loss of my immortality virginity: One night in August whilst fishing
off the coast of the Isle of Man in a force 6 with a
good swell on the skipper of our neighbour shot
their net and we picked up the end and the boats
came together bow to bow to transfer our crew to
haul the net back onto his boat. Timing was the
crucial and safe way of carrying out such a risky
operation with the bows rising and falling at
different times. The idea was to jump the 4 feet as
the bows came to the same level preferably when
the other boat was starting to drop so as to cushion your landing on her
deck. The boats have buffers in the form of old car tyres attached at strategic
points on the starboard sides to protect the woodwork, At the bow there
were always two tyres to protect the bow. When my turn came to jump all
was set and in perfect position. I jumped and at the precise moment the
bows fenders came together and the tyres did their job and repulsed the
bows.
I was left hanging in mid air over a widening 6 foot gap with a boiling sea
below. At that precise split second I realised that I wasn’t immortal and my
end was staring me in the face, in the water squashed between the
boats………..
Turning Point……….part 3 coming soon
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Travel Bug
It is not widely known that we have in Cradley an intrepid couple who will
not mind us
saying, are in what most people would class as the “twilight “ of their years. Where most of us
would be sitting in the back garden in our rocking chairs watching the world go by they are out
quenching their seemingly insatiable thirst for travel. They have put together a website with
which to share their experiences and are happy to help with any advice etc. that they can give to
would be travellers to those destinations
So follow the travels across the globe of Derek and Ann Carver
Travel section of our web site
Below are some reasons why you, the readers of OK
Cradley might be interested in the travel section of
our website
Both our children spent time travelling around the
world before going to university .
We started travelling after we both qualified as sub
aqua divers. Our first open water dive was in
Mexico then we dived in Indonesia, Philippines and
Micronesia. Afterwards we continued travelling and
now have been to many different countries all over
the world.
How do we do it? Usually we have travelled
with our ruck sacs and have organised our trips
using the Lonely Planet as a guide. We book the
first night as we need to know where we are
staying as we are usually very tired after long
flights. Most of our major holidays have been for
about 5 weeks as this gives us time to see a country
(one country) well.
Why do we do it? We both like to see a
country, meet the people and learn about their
culture, way of life etc. When one meets people
who have such a poor standard of living, it makes
us really appreciate what we have. We have often
said young people should see how the other half
live and would then know how lucky they were. We
love talking to people and in one case while talking
to a young man on a train in India, he 5 years later
contacted us in England, stayed with us and we
then stayed with his family in Nepal in a small
village.
In Nepal we met a WHO worker who stayed with us
then we stayed with his family in Alaska.
contact: info@derekandann.co.uk
No 8
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
Travel Bug
It is not widely known that we have in Cradley an intrepid couple
who will not mind us saying, are in what most people would class
as the “twilight “ of their years. Where most of us would be sitting
in the back garden in our rocking chairs watching the world go by
they are out quenching their seemingly insatiable thirst for travel.
They have put together a website with which to share their
experiences and are happy to help with any advice etc. that they
can give to would be travellers to those destinations
So follow the travels across the globe of Derek and Ann Carver
Travel section of our web
site
Below are some reasons why
you, the readers of OK Cradley
might be interested in the
travel section of our website
Both our children spent time
travelling around the world
before going to university .
We started travelling after we
both qualified as sub aqua
divers. Our first open water
dive was in Mexico then we
dived in Indonesia, Philippines
and Micronesia. Afterwards we
continued travelling and now
have been to many different
countries all over the world.
How do we do it? Usually we
have travelled with our ruck
sacs and have organised our
trips using the Lonely Planet
as a guide. We book the first
night as we need to know
where we are staying as we
are usually very tired after
long flights. Most of our major
holidays have been for about 5
weeks as this gives us time to
see a country (one country)
well.
Why do we do it? We both like to see a country, meet the people
and learn about their culture, way of life etc. When one meets
people who have such a poor standard of living, it makes us really
appreciate what we have. We have often said young people should
see how the other half live and would then know how lucky they
were. We love talking to people and in one case while talking to a
young man on a train in India, he 5 years later contacted us in
England, stayed with us and we then stayed with his family in Nepal
in a small village.
In Nepal we met a WHO worker who stayed with us then we stayed
with his family in Alaska.
contact: info@derekandann.co.uk
No 8
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
I never knew that…..
No 8
In keeping with the drive for environmental protection and integration with nature a scheme is being devised in Cradley to
bring together both people’s needs and the environment, seamlessly.
It has been put together by a group of local people who are working to improve both peoples lives and the surrounding
environment.
The project is centred around a proposal to dam the Cradley brook to form a shallow lake in the valley between East and
West Cradley. It is proposed that this would allow for a leisure area centred around the lake to give facilities for local people
and to attract visitors to the area thus helping local businesses. As the area is at the moment consisting of mainly scrub
and brookside trees, and marshy ground unused by farmers flooding it would not entail any great loss of productive land.
Now before the banners come out it has to be said that such a scheme could have great merit and should not just be
dismissed out of hand by the usual NIMBY protesters.
As said the area is at the moment not very productive and the proposal includes a natural method of damming the brook
which as a side effect would help to negate the effects of flooding experienced in this area at the moment.
It is intended to introduce beavers to the area.
The most likely positioned from their damming construction would be as shown on the
map, slightly upstream from pound bridge. Timber for the dam would come from the trees
and wood lining the banks of the brook and local copses up to kings bridge thus clearing the
lake area. There would be no construction costs or maintenance costs involved and completely
environmentally friendly,
The lake would enhance the position of the otters who roam the brook and also
increase the ability to support a larger native fish population
The beavers and their lodge would be a tourist attraction benefiting the area.
It is proposed that an artificial beach be built by importing several thousand tons
of sand to the lower lying area of Morgan’s field to form a lakeside beach area for
playing, picnics and safe swimming from. Again an added facility to attract visitors
to the area.
It is understood from an “insider” in the Parish Council that they would look favourably on such a beneficial scheme as and
when it comes before them and that it in its proposed form meets the requirement of the Neighbourhood Development
Plan.
The final say of course rests with the community and we will
bring more information as it becomes available
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
I never knew that………
No 8
In keeping with the drive for environmental protection and
integration with nature a scheme is being devised in Cradley
to bring together both people’s needs and the environment,
seamlessly.
It has been put together by a group of local people who are
working to improve both peoples lives and the surrounding
environment.
The project is centred around a proposal to dam the Cradley
brook to form a shallow lake in the valley between East and
West Cradley. It is proposed that this would allow for a leisure
area centred around the lake to give facilities for local people
and to attract visitors to the area thus helping local
businesses. As the area is at the moment consisting of mainly
scrub and brookside trees, and marshy ground unused by
farmers flooding it would not entail any great loss of
productive land.
Now before the banners come out it has to be said that such a
scheme could have great merit and should not just be
dismissed out of hand by the usual NIMBY protesters.
As said the area is at the moment not very productive and the
proposal includes a natural method of damming the brook
which as a side effect would help to negate the effects of
flooding experienced in this area at the moment.
It is intended to introduce beavers
to the area.
The most likely positioned from
their damming construction would
be as shown on the map, slightly upstream
from pound bridge. Timber for the dam
would come from the trees and wood lining the banks
of the brook and local copses up to kings bridge thus clearing
the lake area. There would be no
construction costs or
maintenance costs involved and
completely environmentally
friendly,
The lake would enhance the
position of the otters who roam
the brook and also increase the ability to support a larger
native fish population
The beavers and their lodge would be a tourist attraction
benefiting the area.
It is proposed that an artificial beach be built by importing
several thousand tons of sand to the lower lying area of
Morgan’s field to form a lakeside beach area for playing,
picnics and safe swimming from. Again an added facility to
attract visitors to the area.
It is understood from an “insider” in the Parish Council that
they would look favourably
on such a beneficial
scheme as and when it
comes before them and
that it in its proposed form
meets the requirement of
the Neighbourhood
Development Plan.
The final say of course
rests with the community
and we will bring more
information as it becomes
available
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Loading crossword puzzle. One moment please.
Today’s Crossword
have a go- click
number for clue
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
More humour
Always Room for fun in Life
No 8
More humour
A right Royal Laff
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
More where those came from
No 8
The future of driving?
Reporting a pervert
Despair of our education system?
Who says the Germans don’t have
a sense of humour?
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
MAKE A CONTRIBUTION
This is a community online magazine and is open to whoever in the community wants to contribute. It is not here to churn out the
safe establishment viewpoint though accommodation will be made for their inclusion if they so wish to.
We will have a very light editorial touch but within the requirement of the law. We will not judge comments or points of view as
contrary to sometimes entrenched traditions but look upon them as a basis for open debate and discussion.
For it to be a truly community magazine we want to ensure that there is no one in the community of the three villages covered is
ever “afraid” to put forward their viewpoint or opinion
Submit an article or make a comment
No 8
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
MAKE A CONTRIBUTION
This is a community online magazine and is open to whoever
in the community wants to contribute. It is not here to churn
out the safe establishment viewpoint though accommodation
will be made for their inclusion if they so wish to.
We will have a very light editorial touch but within the
requirement of the law. We will not judge comments or points
of view as contrary to sometimes entrenched traditions but
look upon them as a basis for open debate and discussion.
For it to be a truly community magazine we want to ensure
that there is no one in the community of the three villages
covered is ever “afraid” to put forward their viewpoint or
opinion
Submit an article or make a comment
No 8
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
LOOKING AHEAD
It may have escaped some peoples notice but society as we know it is slowly closing down with
the social aspect of community life being the first casualty. With pubs and restaurants closing
and gatherings becoming increasingly thin on the ground, the usual programmes of social
events are fast disappearing.
We will until further notice not run the looking ahead or poster pages as no one is advertising
as of now. We will of course keep the villages diary up to date as and when we get notices of
cancellations and resumption of normal services.
Please keep us informed via the contact page should you wish entries or alterations to the
online diary or future posters displayed.
Let us have your Comments
to the Magazine
No 8
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
LOOKING AHEAD
It may have escaped some peoples notice but society as
we know it is slowly closing down with the social aspect
of community life being the first casualty. With pubs and
restaurants closing and gatherings becoming
increasingly thin on the ground, the usual programmes
of social events are fast disappearing.
We will until further notice not run the looking ahead or
poster pages as no one is advertising as of now. We will
of course keep the villages diary up to date as and when
we get notices of cancellations and resumption of
normal services.
Please keep us informed via the contact page should you
wish entries or alterations to the online diary or future
posters displayed.
Let us have your Coments
to the Magazine
No 8
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
No 8
JUST A THOUGHT
Now that is an interesting definition of social engineering and not the social
engineering that computer crime has now been christened. Hopefully it will ring
some alarm bells with those who are not Sun readers or Twitter users who believe
everything they read in the media.
The serious question has to be asked as to whether the Covid 19 epidemic is a
man made or god sent opportunity for governments around the world and vested
interest groups to use the crisis to introduce social changes.
Before calls of “conspiracy theorist” are raised on the banners think it through. In
Britian when have we seen such fast moving changes to legislation which govern the population and impose under “health”
removal of freedoms of a democratic nation. Emergencies require emergency powers I hear you say. The test of course will
be how quickly these powers are removed after the “ emergency “ ends. I don’t think that there will be a quick removal but
public pressure will make it happen eventually but of course there will be powers that will languish in the government
ammunition box awaiting use at a later date.
During WWI emergency powers were brought in to ensure that pubs only opened at certain times so that factory workers
supporting the war effort did not stay in the pub or turn up drunk to work. Those laws are still with us today. Opening
times are enshrined still in the licensing laws
No the social engineering bit is wholesale change of every persons way of life in this and other nations. We are being
indoctrinated into behaviour that is being normalised.
Making the use of cash undesirable to support the banks desire for a cash free society where they control all the
movement of finance and make all transactions in trade available to government scrutiny and of course taxation.
Pre ordering meals and drinks in your pub or restaurant and ensuring you pre-book, order and pay before you arrive will
be advantageous to retailers and hospitality companies who will wish to keep such an arrangement.
Many outlets have made attempts to do so before Covid but resistance for customers has now been overcome and will
remain.
Doctors surgeries who have been seeing patients on an individual appointment basis with no one in waiting rooms must
surely take advantage of keeping such a system along with consultations by phone or video link.
Many many people are realising that the culture of running to your doctor or A&E department every time you or little
Johnny have a sneeze and demanding a pill are over, A lot of people have realised that actually ( as their grandparent knew)
only the most serious cases need medical attention. If you can live for four months without medical attention then it must
be true. The NHS must realise this now.
Churches report an upturn in congregations since services have been held online. They won’t want to loose those faithful
will they?
Companies across the world are realising that the start up of businesses will actually not require large offices with
hundreds of staff with a desk and an infrastructure to support them so get used to working from home and having virtual
meetings. This will of course have the effect of cutting down on office based illicit affairs and a drop in the divorce rate.
TV companies are realising that they can produce amateur programmes with loads of “normal” people thus producing one
massive “reality” programme for a fraction of their normal budget. Couple this with endless repeats of old series and you
have a boost to their profit coffers they will find hard if not impossible to give up when “ normality” returns.
You would have thought the BBC would have turned in their graves for introducing the licence fee for over 75’s to be
trapped at home paying AGAIN for the programmes they watched the first time round.-----Discuss!
The greens will get their way along with the vegans as lack of pollution due to the shut down of factories is declared a
desirable outcome. The present publicity regarding high incident levels of Covid in meat processing plants in Germany has
led to calls for meat consumption to be lowered by the veggies and vegans who must be the biggest social engineers ever.
The list of engineering is endless but hopefully I have started you down a road of questioning and examination of where
we are being led then that has to be a good thing.
Social Engineering: the use of centralized planning in an attempt to manage
social change and regulate the future development and behaviour of a society.
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
No 8
JUST A THOUGHT
Now that is an interesting
definition of social engineering
and not the social engineering
that computer crime has now
been christened. Hopefully it will
ring some alarm bells with those
who are not Sun readers or
Twitter users who believe
everything they read in the
media.
The serious question has to be
asked as to whether the Covid
19 epidemic is a man made or
god sent opportunity for
governments around the world and vested interest groups to use the
crisis to introduce social changes.
Before calls of “conspiracy theorist” are raised on the banners think it
through. In Britian when have we seen such fast moving changes to
legislation which govern the population and impose under “health”
removal of freedoms of a democratic nation. Emergencies require
emergency powers I hear you say. The test of course will be how quickly
these powers are removed after the “ emergency “ ends. I don’t think that
there will be a quick removal but public pressure will make it happen
eventually but of course there will be powers that will languish in the
government ammunition box awaiting use at a later date.
During WWI emergency powers were brought in to ensure that pubs only
opened at certain times so that factory workers supporting the war effort
did not stay in the pub or turn up drunk to work. Those laws are still with
us today. Opening times are enshrined still in the licensing laws
No the social engineering bit is wholesale change of every persons way of
life in this and other nations. We are being indoctrinated into behaviour
that is being normalised.
Making the use of cash undesirable to support the banks desire for a
cash free society where they control all the movement of finance and
make all transactions in trade available to government scrutiny and of
course taxation.
Pre ordering meals and drinks in your pub or restaurant and ensuring
you pre-book, order and pay before you arrive will be advantageous to
retailers and hospitality companies who will wish to keep such an
arrangement.
Many outlets have made attempts to do so before Covid but resistance
for customers has now been overcome and will remain.
Doctors surgeries who have been seeing patients on an individual
appointment basis with no one in waiting rooms must surely take
advantage of keeping such a system along with consultations by phone or
video link.
Many many people are realising that the culture of running to your
doctor or A&E department every time you or little Johnny have a sneeze
and demanding a pill are over, A lot of people have realised that actually
(as their grandparent knew) only the most serious cases need medical
attention. If you can live for four months without medical attention then
it must be true. The NHS must realise this now.
Churches report an upturn in congregations since services have been
held online. They won’t want to loose those faithful will they?
Companies across the world are realising that the start up of businesses
will actually not require large offices with hundreds of staff with a desk
and an infrastructure to support them so get used to working from home
and having virtual meetings. This will of course have the effect of cutting
down on office based illicit affairs and a drop in the divorce rate.
TV companies are realising that they can produce amateur programmes
with loads of “normal” people thus producing one massive “reality”
programme for a fraction of their normal budget. Couple this with
endless repeats of old series and you have a boost to their profit coffers
they will find hard if not impossible to give up when “ normality” returns.
You would have thought the BBC would have turned in their graves for
introducing the licence fee for over 75’s to be trapped at home paying
AGAIN for the programmes they watched the first time round.-----Discuss!
The greens will get their way along with the vegans as lack of pollution
due to the shut down of factories is declared a desirable outcome. The
present publicity regarding high incident levels of Covid in meat
processing plants in Germany has led to calls for meat consumption to be
lowered by the veggies and vegans who must be the biggest social
engineers ever.
The list of engineering is endless but hopefully I have started you down a
road of questioning and examination of where we are being led then that
has to be a good thing.
Social Engineering: the use of centralized planning in an
attempt to manage social change and regulate
the future development and behaviour of a society.
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
OBSERVATIONS
Let us have your observations
to the Magazine
No 8
It must become clear to all that our present lives are not going to change any time soon and what the
future holds for us all is very uncertain to us. Uncertainty leads to fear which in small doses is a good thing
and allows us to be more aware of our surroundings. An instinct honed for self preservation over many
thousands of years of human history.
We are told we now live in an information age in which we have access at our fingertips to a world of
knowledge upon which we have become reliant in our decision making. Whether it is checking today’s
weather to investing our life savings we have our decision making entrusted to others. This is why retailers
and advertisers enthusiastically invest in the latest data streams to be able to tell us what we want or
need from their products.
Unfortunately, when this information stream we have access to, whether from TV or internet fails to give us the answers,
many people who come to rely on others for decision making, are lost.
Such it is with the virus that lives with us now. We expect the powers that be to have all the answers and to upkeep their
duty to protect us as a nation. Unfortunately, like the disappointment held when the doctor you have the same level of
expectation of cannot diagnose what is wrong with you, anger and resentment come to the fore.
Despite having global access to the best thinkers in the world governments have in many cases failed to react in time or
even sufficiently concisely and no matter what they do get blamed.
Governments do not have all the answers and should not be expected to produce them on
demand or to meet political expedience or pressure.
We are individuals and have to start taking responsibility for our own safety and well being and not
relying on others to do it for us. A more self sufficient generation knows this and as generally
defined as “at higher risk” take whatever precaution that are seen as sensible and will I am
sure be the last in the community to jump on the bus to stand in a queue with 200 people to
buy some cheap clothes bargains at Primark or the like.
They do their risk assessment but call it “common sense”
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
OBSERVATIONS
Let us have your observations
to the Magazine
No 8
It must become clear to all that our present lives are not
going to change any time soon and what the future holds
for us all is very uncertain to us. Uncertainty leads to fear
which in small doses is a good thing and allows us to be
more aware of our surroundings. An instinct honed for
self preservation over many thousands of years of
human history.
We are told we now live in an information age in which we
have access at our fingertips to a world of knowledge
upon which we have become reliant in our decision
making. Whether it is checking today’s weather to
investing our life savings we have our decision making
done by others. This is why retailers and advertisers enthusiastically invest
in the latest data streams to be able to tell us what we want or need from
their product range.
Unfortunately, when this information stream we have access to, whether
from TV or internet fails to give us the answers, many people who come to
rely on others for decision making are lost.
Such it is with the virus that lives with us now. We expect the powers that be
to have all the answers and to upkeep their duty to protect us as a nation.
Unfortunately like the disappointment felt when the doctor you have the
same level of expectations of solutions, cannot diagnose what is wrong with
you, anger and resentment come to the fore.
Despite having global access to the best thinkers in the world governments
have in many cases failed to react in time or even sufficiently concisely and
no matter what they do get blamed.
Governments do not have all the answers and should
not be expected to produce them on demand or to meet
political expedience or pressure.
We are individuals and have to start taking
responsibility for our own safety and well being and
not relying on others to do it for us. A more self
sufficient generation knows this and as generally
defined as “at higher risk” take whatever precaution that
are seen as sensible and will I am sure will be the last in
the community to jump on the bus to stand in a queue
with 200 people to buy some cheap clothes bargains at
Primark or the like.
They do their risk assessment but call it “common sense”
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
Culture Vulture
No 8
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Culture Vulture
Art, music, dance, theatre we will have it here. Want your great work of
art shown to the world then let us have a picture or painting
and we will display it here for free
Or just relax and listen
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
God Bless America
No 8
The number of bourbon barrels
in Kentucky outnumbers the states
population by more than 2 million
The total length of Idaho’s
rivers could stretch across the US
about 40 times
In 1893 an amendment was
proposed to rename the country
to the “united States of Earth”
The entire Denver International
Airport is twice the size of
Manhatten
The Library of Congress
contains approx 838 miles of
bookshelves- long enough to
stretch from Huston to Chicago
The Empire State Building has
it’s own postcode
Oregon’s Crater Lake is deep
enough to cover six Statues of
Liberty stacked on top of each
other
Kansas produces enough
wheat each year to feed
everyone in the world for about 2
weeks
There’s enough concrete in
the Hoover Dam to build a two
lane highway from San
Francisco to New York City
It would take you 400 years to
spend a night in all of Las Vegas’s
hotel rooms
In 1872 Russia sold Alaska to
he US for about 2 cents per acre
There is enough water in Lake
Suoerior to cover all of North and
South America in one foot of
liquid
The word “Pennsylvania” is
misspelled on the Liberty Bell
More people live in New York
City than 40 out of the 50 states
AND NOT ONE MENTION OF TEXAS?
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
God bless America
No 8
The total length of
Idaho’s rivers could
stretch across the US
about 40 times
In 1893 an
amendment was
proposed to rename the
country to the “united
States of Earth”
The entire Denver
International Airport is
twice the size of
Manhatten
The Library of Congress
contains approx 838
miles of bookshelves-
long enough to stretch
from Huston to Chicago
The Empire State
Building has it’s own
postcode
Oregon’s Crater Lake
is deep enough to cover
six Statues of Liberty
stacked on top of each
other
Kansas produces
enough wheat each
year to feed everyone in
the world for about 2
weeks
There’s enough
concrete in the
Hoover Dam to build
a two lane highway
from San Francisco
to New York City
It would take you
400 years to spend a
night in all of Las
Vegas’s hotel rooms
In 1872 Russia sold
Alaska to he US for
about 2 cents per acre
There is enough water
in Lake Suoerior to cover
all of North and South
America in one foot of
liquid
The word
“Pennsylvania” is
misspelled on the
Liberty Bell
More people live in
New York City than 40 out
of the 50 states
AND NOT ONE MENTION OF TEXAS?
The number of
bourbon barrels
in Kentucky
outnumbers the states
population by more
than 2 million
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
No 8
Does colour really matter?
Many of our historical photos come from an era when everything was in black and
white. We unfortunately related history to be colour free and were amazed when
old films were given the magical treatment thanks to technological advances’
Here we display just a few photos you may be familiar with but recoloured by com-
puter wizardry.
Does Colour really matter? You decide
Audrey Hepburn
Mark Twain 1900
Charlie Chaplin at 27 years old in 1916
Pablo Picasso
Albert Einstein 1921
Elizabeth Taylor 1956
Charles Darwin
Alfred Hitchcock
A Washington DC filling station 1024
A car crash in Washington DC around 1921
Marilyn
Monroe
Hindenburg Crash
MORE NEXT TIME
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
No 8
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Does colour really matter?
Many of our historical photos come from an era when everything
was in black and white. We unfortunately related history to be col-
our free and were amazed when old films were given the magical
treatment thanks to technological advances’
Here we display just a few photos you may be familiar with but re-
coloured by computer wizardry.
Does Colour really matter? You decide
Audrey Hepburn
Mark Twain 1900
Charlie Chaplin at 27
years old in 1916
Pablo Picasso
Albert Einstein 1921
Elizabeth Taylor 1956
Charles Darwin
Alfred Hitchcock
A Washington DC filling station 1024
A car crash in Washington DC around 1921
Marilyn Monroe
Hindenburg Crash
MORE NEXT TIME
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
This Month’s gardening videos
A great site to try if you don’t want to trudge
around garden centres. Great range of plants
available to order on line and have delivered
to your door..
Quality plants well packaged and protected.
From plugs to ready to plant out
(depending on season and plants.)
Only one slight drawback is that they have
had to abandon free delivery this season and
now charge £3.95 per order (over £40 to get
free delivery) but with such a great selection
of top quality plants at great prices you will
want to buy more than £40 anyway!
Cradley Annual
Produce Show
Sept 12th has been
postponed until 2021
LET US KNOW HOW YOUR GARDEN IS GOING WITH ALL
THE ATTENTION IT IS GETTING AT THE MOMENT
TAKE SOME PICS ON YOUR PHONE
No 8
Found the best equipment
around or an innovative gadget?
Let your fellow gardeners share it.
Visit Now for news and views
Email sign up for new articles
to your computer)
This year’s pumpkin
competition has been
postponed until 2021 but
don’t stop growing and send
us pictures of your pumpkins
by the end of October and we
will hold an online gallery of
them and at cradley village
hall site
Our Vegetable plot
sent in by Ann and Derek Carver
Tip: Cut off large head of
calibres and then shoots
will come from side to
increase harvesting time
Well, at long last the backlog of undone jobs put
off for years is dwindling and now, at the time of
year when the plants move into growing hyper-
drive (too much TV these days) the battles of
control and containment begin.
My petunias in the wall mangers and hanging baskets bought as plug plants
from Jersey Plants Direct have stopped languishing at a small 2” high with the
odd bloom tentatively appearing to suddenly overnight growing 3” and
producing a profusion of buds. Nature always continues to amaze.
I planted a Himalayan lilly last year in a pot on the patio
wall and this year it has made a great show
Those of you who
follow here will recall
that when
refurbishing the old
greenhouse I used
up some old
concrete blocks to
form a new border at
the entrance . Now
look at it. Great reward for little input,my
type of gardening.
One monster job was the hacking back of an untamed thorn hedge which had
had its own way over the years and had become about 6ft thick and was
encroaching onto my new wildlife area (un-mown lawn!). Three days of
blood(from the thorns) sweat(from the sunshine) and tears (why did I start
this?)
have reduced it by over half its width but the illusion of the increase in garden
size is amazing. Every piece removed had to be cut into small pieces and
bagged for transporting to the recycle centre which luckily had just re-opened.
It is impossible to get these type of cuttings through the garden shredder.
(note to self for next time).
Saw a video on Youtube from Australia
about how simple it was to take
cuttings fro a Yucca plant.”Cut it off
peel back it’s leaves and stick it in
the ground”.Sounds simple
enough for me so I am
giving it a go as I have
seven Yuccas all from one I
planted over 20 years ago.
We will see if our
Aussie friend was
telling the truth
This year’s Cradley Produce
Show has been postponed
until 2021 but don’t stop
growing and send us pictures
of your vegetables and
flowers by the beginning of
September and we will have a
gallery here on line and at
cradley village hall website
Thanks to Derek and Ann for these great pics
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
Let us have your gardening tips and
tricks and even host a regular gardening
column. We will continue to seek out the
most informative videos from the web
but feel free to let us have a video tour
of your garden or a video of how you do
things. Wonderful things
smart phones!
Found the best equipment
around or an innovative gadget?
Let your fellow gardeners share it.
This Month’s gardening videos
A great site to try if you don’t want to trudge around garden
centres. Great range of plants available to order on line and
have delivered to your door..
Great quality plants well packaged and protected from plugs to
ready to plant out (depending on season and plants.)
Only one slight drawback is that they have had to abandon free
delivery this season and now charge £3.95 per order (over £40 to
get free delivery) but with such a great selection of top quality
plants at great prices you will want to buy more than £40
anyway!
No 8
Our Vegetable plot
sent in by Ann and Derek Carver
Tip: Cut off large head of
calibres and then shoots
will come from side to
increase harvesting time
Thanks to Derek and Ann for these great pics
Well, at long last the backlog of undone jobs put off for
years is dwindling and now, at the time of year when the
plants move into growing hyper-drive (too much TV
these days) the battles of control and containment
begin.
My petunias in the wall mangers and hanging
baskets bought as plug plants from Jersey Plants
Direct have stopped languishing at a small 2” high with
the odd bloom tentatively appearing to suddenly overnight growing 3” and
producing a profusion of buds. Nature always continues to amaze.
I planted a himalayan lilly last year in a pot on the
patio wall and this year it has made a great show
Those of you who follow
here will recall that when
refurbishing the old
greenhouse I used up some
old concrete blocks to form
a new border at the
entrance . Now look at it.
Great reward for little
input,my type of gardening.
One monster job was the hacking back of an untamed thorn hedge which
had had its own way over the years and had become about 6ft thick and
was encroaching onto my new wildlife area (un-mown lawn!). Three days
of blood(from the thorns) sweat(from the sunshine) and tears (why did I
start this?)
have reduced it by over half its width but the
illusion of the increase in garden size is amazing.
Every piece removed had to be cut into small pieces
and bagged for transporting to the recycle centre
which luckily had just re-opened. It is impossible to
get these type of cuttings through the garden
shredder. (note to self for next time).
Saw a video on Youtube from Australia about how
simple it was to take cuttings fro a Yucca plant.”Cut
it off peel back it’s leaves and stick it in the
ground”.Sounds simple enough for me so I am
giving it a go as I have seven Yuccas all from one I
planted over 20 years ago. We will see if our Aussie friend was telling the
truth
This year’s pumpkin
competition has been
postponed until 2021 but
don’t stop growing and send
us pictures of your pumpkins
by the end of October and we
will hold an online gallery of
them and at cradley village
hall site
This year’s Cradley Produce
Show has been postponed
until 2021 but don’t stop
growing and send us pictures
of your vegetables and
flowers by the beginning of
September and we will have a
gallery here on line and at
cradley village hall website
LET US KNOW HOW YOUR GARDEN IS GOING WITH ALL
THE ATTENTION IT IS GETTING AT THE MOMENT
TAKE SOME PICS ON YOUR PHONE
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Gnomes@okcradley.com
Cradley’s world famous Gnomes are out and about enjoying the sunny weather but clearly not
observing distancing requirements!
Fool! they are not human and therefore invulnerable to viruses.
They are still queueing at the old shop along with their duck friends who
are keeping their distance by the bench with some others on the window
ledge probably realising that they need to go to Pete the Meat or
Crumpton Hill for provisions.
The old Gnome was spotted playing leapfrog with a real frog on the top of the
fence by the brook. No sense of danger these Gnomes health and safety will have
a fit.
One has taken up guardianship of the dog bin and is re-inforcing the fact that they cannot be used
and instructing people to
take it home!
Keep an eye out for the Gnomes on your exercise walks and send us any snaps by email or
by filling in the contact form
(link below)
Spotted in your area
The Gnomes of Cradley
No 8
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
Spotted in your area
Gone but not forgotten
Someone took a lot of care to build a
cross and I’m sure they would like it
back. Found in the bushes at
Poundbridge after the recent floods, it
must of course have originated
upstream, kings ditch, Mathon??
If you would like it
back, please contact
me via the Editor
Ivan
Editor@okcradley.com
Part of the inscription
Gnomes@okcradley.com
Cradley’s world famous Gnomes are
out and about enjoying the sunny
weather but clearly not observing
distancing requirements!
Fool! they are not human and
therefore invulnerable to viruses.
They are still queueing at the old
shop along with their duck friends who are keeping their
distance by the bench with some others on the window ledge
probably realising that they need to go to Pete the Meat or Crumpton
Hill for provisions.
The old Gnome was spotted playing leapfrog with a real frog on the
top of the fence by the brook. No sense of danger these Gnomes
health and safety will have a fit.
One has taken up guardianship of the dog bin
and is re-inforcing the fact that they cannot be
used and instructing peopel to take it home!
Keep an eye out for the Gnomes on your
exercise walks and send us any snaps by email
or by filling in the contact form
(link below)
No 8
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Car Park Donations:
The
Club
Committee
would
like
to
thank
all
surgery
visitors
who
have
contributed
via
the
car
park
donations
box
(on
the
reception
desk).
If
you
park
in
the
Club
car
park,
then
you
can
help
us
to
keep
it
open
for
you,
by
making
a
donation each time you use it.
As
well
as
our
events,
join
us
Monday
–
Saturday
for
a
drink
and
a
chat
from
7:30pm.
Our
member’s
facilities
include
snooker,
pool,
skittles
and
darts.
You
don’t
need
to
be
ex-service
to
be
a
member;
you
can
join
for
around
5p
a
day
and
membership
includes
annual
Royal
British
Legion
Membership,
a
quarterly
magazine
and
other
benefits
only
available
to
members!
Why
not
come
along
and
see
for
yourself
the
benefits
of
joining,
and
start
planning
your
local
nights out.
No 8
Royal British Legion Club – Events for the future
In line with regulations we have had to curtail our events for the foreseeable future. We
apologise to pur patrons and will ensure a swift return to normal business as soon as
regulations allow.
Until then stay safe
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
Car Park Donations:
The
Club
Committee
would
like
to
thank
all
surgery
visitors
who
have
contributed
via
the
car
park
donations
box
(on
the
reception
desk).
If
you
park
in
the
Club
car
park,
then
you
can
help
us
to
keep
it
open
for
you,
by
making
a
donation
each
time you use it.
As
well
as
our
events,
join
us
Monday
–
Saturday
for
a
drink
and
a
chat
from
7:30pm.
Our
member’s
facilities
include
snooker,
pool,
skittles
and
darts.
You
don’t
need
to
be
ex-
service
to
be
a
member;
you
can
join
for
around
5p
a
day
and
membership
includes
annual
Royal
British
Legion
Membership,
a
quarterly
magazine
and
other
benefits
only
available
to
members!
Why
not
come
along
and
see
for
yourself
the
benefits
of
joining,
and
start
planning
your
local
nights out.
Royal British Legion Club – Events for the
future
In line with regulations we have had to curtail our events
for the foreseeable future. We apologise to our patrons
and will ensure a swift return to normal business as soon
as regulations allow.
Until then stay safe
No 8
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Out and About
CRADLEY WANDERINGS
No 8
Well what a momentous year 2020 is turning out to be ! I
last penned my thoughts around the time that the now
infamous Covid-19 Pandemic was just getting into its
stride. And what devastating strides the virus has
mad, and in its wake uprooted our world of
normality, whatever that euphemism conjures up.
Cradley Parish is still here, the earth continues to
turn on its axis and the great British weather continues to
confound all the pundits and the UK Met office alike. Apart from this
just about every aspect of our lives has been turned upside down. Four
seasons have morphed into just two. The wet season from September to
March followed by the dry season from April to August, or so it seems.
I have been self-isolating along with most folk for almost three months now with no real sign of an end in sight this side of
the next wet season. However, the daily walk with our two dogs has continued using the lesser used public rights of way,
away from the village. What a torrid drought period for our poor farmers and their livestock with no proper precipitation
now for over two months. The disaster of the wettest winter in living memory followed by the driest spring on record, has
dealt the agricultural sector a wicked financial blow to heap upon the pending huge changes for farmers which are
engrossed within the new agricultural Bill now passing through our British Parliament. Grazing is already in short supply, the
prospects for winter fodder are looking terrible and spring crops are desperate for sustained rainfall, It could be that by early
winter significant food cost inflation will be with us.
Cradley is more akin to a ghost town than a village community since the lock down began and the almost zero presence of
walkers on our 65 kilometers of public footpaths is testament to not only the lock down rules but also the fact that very few
people now take regular exercise in the form of a good 4-6 mile walk in our hills each day. The paths have not been given the
care and attention that our parish council is signed up to manage. The same criticism can justly be said of the council’s
responsibility to repair and thereafter maintain the village infrastructures which were for years neglected until the
lengthsman scheme was set up by a previous council some five or six years ago.
I note that the dreaded virus has invaded several households in Cradley and Storridge so we should all heed the government
advice and display our sense of community responsibility for each other. Pete and Lynne at the village Butchery and Stores
have been doing a sterling job of meeting the needs of the community with many old faces returning. I hope that people will
continue to appreciate the value of our last village shop and support continues to grow past the end of the pandemic.
Meanwhile back on the ranch, our gardens, veg patch and orchard have never been in better shape thanks to two months of
summer weather in spring. Our first early potatoes came onto the dining table some 3-4 weeks earlier than normal and we
have already used our first crop of radishes, spring onions, asparagus and lettuce. Even the tomatoes have set, and the
strawberries are ready four weeks before Wimbledon, as was.
With the country well into what I feel will be a very long period of unrest, economic strictures for many and even no haircuts
for a fair number of we lock-down golden oldies the prospect for a nation at ease is but a mirage on the distant horizon.
Take care everyone and keep smiling!
Geoff Fielding
Spotted by our intrepid travellers Derek and Ann Carver. A field
crammed full of poppies. Afghanistan? No- whilst near Stow and a
bit closer to home this field of daisies near Mathon. Isn’t our
countryside wonderful. Why we want to go abroad for holidays is a
mystery?
Follow Derek and Ann on their
far away travels here
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
Out and About
Cradley Wanderings
No 8
Well what a momentous year
2020 is turning out to be ! I last
penned my thoughts around the
time that the now infamous Covid-
19 Pandemic was just getting into its stride. And
what devastating strides the virus has mad, and in its wake uprooted our
world of normality, whatever that euphemism conjures up.
Cradley Parish is still here, the earth continues to turn on its axis and the
great British weather continues to confound all the pundits and the UK Met
office alike. Apart from this just about every aspect of our lives has been
turned upside down. Four seasons have morphed into just two. The wet
season from September to March followed by the dry season from April to
August, or so it seems.
I have been self-isolating along with most folk for almost three months now
with no real sign of an end in sight this side of the next wet season.
However, the daily walk with our two dogs has continued using the lesser
used public rights of way, away from the village. What a torrid drought
period for our poor farmers and their livestock with no proper precipitation
now for over two months. The disaster of the wettest winter in living
memory followed by the driest spring on record, has dealt the agricultural
sector a wicked financial blow to heap upon the pending huge changes for
farmers which are engrossed within the new agricultural Bill now passing
through our British Parliament. Grazing is already in short supply, the
prospects for winter fodder are looking terrible and spring crops are
desperate for sustained rainfall, It could be that by early winter significant
food cost inflation will be with us.
Cradley is more akin to a ghost town than a village community since the
lock down began and the almost zero presence of walkers on our 65
kilometers of public footpaths is testament to not only the lock down rules
but also the fact that very few people now take regular exercise in the form
of a good 4-6 mile walk in our hills each day. The paths have not been given
the care and attention that our parish council is signed up to manage. The
same criticism can justly be said of the council’s responsibility to repair and
thereafter maintain the village infrastructures which were for years
neglected until the lengthsman scheme was set up by a previous council
some five or six years ago.
I note that the dreaded virus has invaded several households in Cradley
and Storridge so we should all heed the government advice and display our
sense of community responsibility for each other. Pete and Lynne at the
village Butchery and Stores have been doing a sterling job of meeting the
needs of the community with many old faces returning. I hope that people
will continue to appreciate the value of our last village shop and support
continues to grow past the end of the pandemic.
Meanwhile back on the ranch, our gardens, veg patch and orchard have
never been in better shape thanks to two months of summer weather in
spring. Our first early potatoes came onto the dining table some 3-4 weeks
earlier than normal and we have already used our first crop of radishes,
spring onions, asparagus and lettuce. Even the tomatoes have set, and the
strawberries are ready four weeks before Wimbledon, as was.
With the country well into what I feel will be a very long period of unrest,
economic strictures for many and even no haircuts for a fair number of we
lock-down golden oldies the prospect for a nation at ease is but a mirage
on the distant horizon.
Take care everyone and keep smiling!
Geoff Fielding
Spotted by our intrepid travellers Derek and Ann Carver. A field
crammed full of poppies. Afghanistan? No- whilst near Stow and a bit
closer to home this field of daisies near Mathon. Isn’t our countryside
wonderful. Why we want to go abroad for holidays is a mystery?
Follow Derek and Ann on their
far away travels here
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Villages Diary
Halls Diaries
No 8
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
No 8
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Your local group or club here
Please email us if you wish us to include your group/organisation
in our contact list
CMS Newsletter
online
No 8
Cradley,Storridge & Mathon
Support Group
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
Web Sites & Contacts
Your local group or club here
Please email us if you wish us to
include your group/organisation
in our contact list
No 8
CMS Newsletter
online
Cradley,Storridge & Mathon
Support Group
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Poster Parade
Free
exposure
for
that
poster
for
your
event
or
fund
raising.
We
can
design
it
for
you
or
you
can
fill
in
the
contribute
form
and
attach
a
picture.
Either
way
you
get
full
colour
exposure
without
printing
or
laminating costs (save the planet)
Suspended until after isolation
restrictions are lifted and the world
gets back to normal
No 8
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
Poster Parade
Free
exposure
for
that
poster
for
your
event
or
fund
raising.
We
can
design
it
for
you
or
you
can
fill
in
the
contribute
form
and
attach
a
picture.
Either
way
you
get
full
colour
exposure
without
printing
or
laminating
costs
(save
the planet)
No 8
Suspended until after isolation
restrictions are lifted and the world
gets back to normal
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
Resource Centre
Come along to Cradley Village Hall
Resource Centre and get help with your
computer problems or questions on a
one to one basis FREE of CHARGE. Use
our computers, internet access and
tablets all free of charge. We also have
a full colour laser printer to copy or
print your documents at a fraction of
the cost in Malvern (and no travelling).
Pop in and have a chat and a coffee. We
don't judge or bite just help! For details
call Ken on 01886 880 952
Resource Centre open
Mondays 10:30am -12:30pm
Thursdays 2:00pm -4:30pm
Heritage Group
Come along to Cradley Village Hall
and search our archives and get
help in tracking down your
ancestors in the local area. We have
people available to point you in the
right direction and extensive records
and photographs of Cradley,
Storridge and surrounding area.
Come on in, NO CHARGE and enjoy
a chat and a cup of coffee. For
futher information or specific
requirements contact Jeff White on
01886 880 000
Heritage Group open
Mondays 10:30am -12:30pm
Thursdays2:00pm -4:30pm
Post Office
In Cradley Village Hall for all your
needs. Do virtually all the services
available at Malvern PO. Cash
withdrawals for Post Office Card
Account customers and for the
majority of High Street Banks. All mail
services.( Parcel force and Royal Mail)
Stamps, Postal orders,Passport
checking. Vehicle licensing. Foreign
currency (pre-ordered) and travel
insurance, Health Lottery.. And much
more.
Post Office open
Mondays 9am-1pm
Thursdays 1:00pm-4:30pm
YOUR GROUP OR CLUB
HERE
Just let us have details and
a picture and we will put
you on the “on your
doorstep “ page in every
issue until you decide to
stop. Include what you do
when you do it and a
contact number or email
for information. All for
free!
Resource Centre
Come along to Cradley Village Hall
Resource Centre and get all of your
printing needs catered for. From one
off sheets to large run copying. Full
colour laser printing up to A3 size all at
cheaper rates than you can get in
Malvern and with no travelling. We also
supply a free design service for your
documents or posters. Further
information call Ken on 01886 880 952
Resource Centre open
Mondays 10:30am -12:30pm
Thursdays 2:00pm -4:30pm
On Your Doorstep
Cradley Wi
Come and join us or just find out
what we do.
We meet on the first Thursday in each
month February, March & November at
10am. All other Months at 7.30pm. We
meet at Cradley Village Hall. Rectory
Lane Cradley WR13 5LH unless
otherwise stated in the diary.
Subcriptions 2020: £43 Full Member.
£21.10 Dual Member . Visitors £4
For more information contact
President Maureen Sullivan:
maureensullivan60@gmail.com
01886 881045
Secretary: Sue Hyson.
sueh@cmail.com
01886 880541
No 8
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE
We are offering free advertising for local businesses and groups within easy reach of
the three villages to assist in recovery during and after the present situation.
We include links to your own website and any additional promotions you may run during
that period without extra charges.
We also do a free design service for your advert or publish whatever you have at the
moment.
Contact us today: no obligation just free help
AJ Mowing Services
All your mowing
needs covered
with one call or
email
To advertise with us call
01886 880952
or email us
jim@ajmowing.com
No 8
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE
We are offering free advertising for local
businesses and groups within easy reach of the
three villages to assist recovery during and
after the present crisis
We include links to your own website and any
additional promotions you may run during that
period without extra charges.
We also do a free design service for your advert
or publish whatever you have at the moment.
Contact us today: no obligation just free help
AJ Mowing Services
All your mowing
needs covered
with one call or
email
call us to
discuss your advert
01886 880952
jim@ajmowing.com
No 8
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
