As you are all aware by now
(and if not where
have you been ?) we are all experiencing the fall
out from the COVID-19 virus pandemic. What the
future will bring of course no one knows or if
they do they are in the realms of the conspiracy
theorists.
As our normal social structure is being re-
modelled we are force fed hour after hour
instructions and advice from the big screen of
our TV in the corner and the small screen in our
hands of how we need to “STAY SAFE” We have
every manufacturer and company letting us
know how they are protecting everyone and we
are in the position of information overload
Now whether all of this is necessary, required or
effective only history will decide so we at
okcradley are refraining from publishing
information that can be obtained more
efficiently elsewhere and will restrict it to
specifics locally affecting the three Villages.
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
CRADLEY STORRIDGE AND MATHON
SUPPORT GROUP
INFORMATION
CMS Newsletter
online
NOTICE to subscribers
to and readers of Cradley
Mathon and Storridge
Newsletter.
Would you please note
that in light of the
restrictions imposed by the
Diocese on the
transmission of printed
material including Parish
Magazines, the May issue
of the Newsletter will only
be permitted to be
published on its website
which can be accessed on
www.cmsnewsletter.org.uk
Readers will be notified
when the Newsletter
recommences in print. If
any reader is unable to
access this online edition
please write to the Editor
c/o Robert Colledge,
Barratts Cottage Cradley
WR13 5NF and we will
endeavour to resolve this
issue.
Gnomes of
Cradley
27th April 2020
No 6
The seeds for this year’s
Grand Pumpkin
competition are now on
sale.
Contact Chris Lowder for
details of how to get them
and stay safe
COVID-19
NEW !
try the online jigsaw puzzle
if you have spare time
Our Queen: this will amaze your
Coming
this
month
Thank you for visiting okcradley.com
Just a point you may not appreciate: as the
okcradley magazine is online it is in fact
and during it’s publication month we are
continually adding and updating items as they arise
or change so please visit us any time for
the latest news and views as they happen
Report on the first virtual PC meeting of
Cradley & Storridge Parish Council on
12th May
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
As you are all aware by now (and if not where have you been ?)
we are all experiencing the fall out from the COVID-19 virus
pandemic. What the future will bring of course no one knows or if
they do they are in the realms of the conspiracy theorists.
As our normal social structure is being re-modelled we are force
fed hour after hour instructions and advice from the big screen of
our TV in the corner and the small screen in our hands of how we
need to “STAY SAFE” We have every manufacturer and company
letting us know how they are protecting everyone and we are in
the position of information overload
Now whether all of this is necessary, required or effective only
history will decide so we at okcradley are refraining from
publishing information that can be obtained more efficiently
elsewhere and will restrict it to specifics locally affecting the
three Villages.
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Correspondents:
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
CRADLEY STORRIDGE AND MATHON
SUPPORT GROUP
INFORMATION
CMS Newsletter
online
NOTICE to subscribers
to and readers of Cradley
Mathon and Storridge
Newsletter.
Would you please note
that in light of the
restrictions imposed by the
Diocese on the
transmission of printed
material including Parish
Magazines, the May issue
of the Newsletter will only
be permitted to be
published on its website
which can be accessed on
www.cmsnewsletter.org.uk
Readers will be notified
when the Newsletter
recommences in print. If
any reader is unable to
access this online edition
please write to the Editor
c/o Robert Colledge,
Barratts Cottage Cradley
WR13 5NF and we will
endeavour to resolve this
issue.
Now that travel to far flung
places like
Birmingham is just a memory
join the
Carvers on their travels
around the world
No 6
21st March 2020
COVID-19
Let us have your
Comments on
the Magazine
The seeds for this year’s
Grand Pumpkin
competition are now on
sale.
Contact Chris Lowder for
details of how to get them
and stay safe
Our Queen: this will amaze your
Coming
this
month
COVID-19
Thank you for visiting okcradley.com
Just a point you may not appreciate: as the
okcradley magazine is online it is in fact
and during it’s publication month we are
continually adding and updating items as
they arise or change so please visit us any
time for the latest news and views as
they happen
Report on the first virtual PC meeting of
Cradley & Storridge Parish Council on
12th May
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
Virtually OK
No 6
At 7pm on 12th May 2020 Cradley Parish Council held their
first virtual Parish Council meeting.
All councillors were in attendance with several members of
the public also linked in (two without video presence)
The system used (Zoom) coped well with the requirements
of the meeting and being a first attempt was perfectly
acceptable.
One of the problems with this type of presentation and linking people in their own homes is a certain loss of
“decorum” that becomes evident. This is whichever way you want to look at it an official meeting of an elected
body and I suppose the fact that people are working from familiar surroundings adds to a relaxed attitude.
I do not intend to go into the actual agenda items discussed in detail or how laid down procedures were or were not
followed as this being the first meeting much lee-way is required.
It has to be said that there is room for much improvement to get away from the unprepared and disjointed thought
processes that were evident.
Zoom provide a large selection of assistance modes for the person holding the chair of the meeting to control the
proceedings. It was noted during votes being taken that raising of hands should have been substituted with a
voting click activation icon. Likewise the desire to speak should also be achieved likewise. As this is a council then
votes should be recorded as for, against and abstaining so these can be registered in the minutes accurately.
Unfortunately several hands were not readily evident as the councillor’s hand could not be seen due to bad
positioning at their camera.
Participants must master the art of checking their image positioning and lighting prior to any meeting for system
to work efficiently. The intervention on camera of the house pet may be cute on Good Morning Britain but not at an
official meeting of the PC
A quick check of how good or bad their microphones are or their positioning for optimum sound quality is very
necessary for good communication. Logging into Zoom at any time will allow anyone to check their set up of video
and sound. Desktop microphones are not expensive and it might be worth supply by the PC to those who need to
upgrade.
It is unfortunate that Zoom require that anyone wishing to record the proceedings ( and have the disc space free!)
have to request permission from the chair. As the PC must allow any such recordings then either on the agendas or
prior to the meeting commencing an announcement should be made that requests to record will be granted.
What has also been shown up is that ALL documentation must be in place before the meeting so all referrals to
such and such are available to all who wish them and that there are no referrals to documents not published for
councillors and public.
It is appreciated that our new clerk has hit the ground running and has a backlog of catching up to do under the
overshadowing of virus requirements and I am sure no one envies him his task.
So welcome Phil and we look forward to our Parish Council once again being a professional body working for the
communities of Cradley and Storridge
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
No 6
At 7pm on 12th May 2020 Cradley Parish Council held their first virtual
Parish Council meeting.
All councillors were in attendance with several members of the public
also linked in (two without video presence)
The system used (Zoom) coped well with the requirements of the
meeting and being a first attempt was perfectly acceptable.
One of the problems with this type of presentation and linking people
in their own homes is a certain loss of “decorum” that becomes
evident. This is whichever way you want to look at it an official
meeting of an elected body and I suppose the fact that people are
working from familiar surroundings adds to a relaxed attitude.
I do not intend to go into the actual agenda items discussed in detail or
how laid down procedures were or were not followed as this being the
first meeting much lee-way is required.
It has to be said that there is room for much improvement to get away
from the unprepared and disjointed thought processes that were
evident.
Zoom provide a large selection of assistance modes for the person
holding the chair of the meeting to control the proceedings. It was
noted during votes being taken that raising of hands should have been
substituted with a voting click activation icon. Likewise the desire to
speak should also be achieved likewise. As this is a council then votes
should be recorded as for, against and abstaining so these can be
registered in the minutes accurately. Unfortunately several hands were
not readily evident as the councillor’s hand could not be seen due to
bad positioning at their camera.
Participants must master the art of checking their image positioning
and lighting prior to any meeting for system to work efficiently. The
intervention on camera of the house pet may be cute on Good Morning
Britain but not at an official meeting of the PC
A quick check of how good or bad their microphones are or their
positioning for optimum sound quality is very necessary for good
communication. Logging into Zoom at any time will allow anyone to
check their set up of video and sound. Desktop microphones are not
expensive and it might be worth supply by the PC to those who need to
upgrade.
It is unfortunate that Zoom require that anyone wishing to record the
proceedings ( and have the disc space free!) have to request permission
from the chair. As the PC must allow any such recordings then either
on the agendas or prior to the meeting commencing an announcement
should be made that requests to record will be granted.
What has also been shown up is that ALL documentation must be in
place before the meeting so all referrals to such and such are available
to all who wish them and that there are no referrals to documents not
published for councillors and public.
It is appreciated that our new clerk has hit the ground running and has
a backlog of catching up to do under the overshadowing of virus
requirements and I am sure no one envies him his task.
So welcome Phil and we look forward to our Parish Council once again
being a professional body working for the communities of Cradley and
Storridge
Virtually OK
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 6
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 6
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
I never knew that…..
No 6
We were a little shocked by the pictures when it penetrated our brains how long she's been
around. She gives new meaning to the phrase "Long Live the Queen"!
How old does this one make you feel? Scroll, and keep going… back in time
One Queen 12 American Presidents. You put the great in GB.
God bless you Ma’m!
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
I never knew that………
No 6
We were a little shocked by the pictures when it penetrated our
brains how long she's been around. She gives new meaning to the
phrase "Long Live the Queen"!
How old does this one make you feel? Scroll, and keep going…
back in time
One Queen 12 American Presidents.
You put the great in GB.
God bless you Ma’m!
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 6
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 6
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 6
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 6
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
No 6
JUST A THOUGHT
The following confirms the general view that journalists and other media reporters continue to
look for problems rather that offer solutions to our present predicament. The UK and the rest
of the world are fighting an unknown enemy and petty point scoring doesn’t win the war.
If Matt Hancock announced that the UK had
created a Covid-19 vaccine, the press questions
would be:
Will you apologise for not creating it sooner?
Is is true it contains animal products?
Wouldn’t this have been quicker and more lives
saved if the UK had joined the EU vaccination
scheme?
You clearly said that creating a vaccine would take a
year: do you now accept that you were misleading
Parliament, the media and the general public?
Isn’t it true that austerity stopped the vaccine
being made sooner?
Do you accept the evidence suggesting vaccines
are racially biased?
Welcome to the media view of what is important in the world
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
No 6
The following confirms the general view that
journalists and other media reporters continue to look
for problems rather that offer solutions to our present
predicament. The UK and the rest of the world are
fighting an unknown enemy and petty point scoring
doesn’t win the war.
If Matt Hancock announced that the UK had created a Covid-
19 vaccine, the press questions would be:
Will you apologise for not creating it sooner?
Is is true it contains animal products?
Wouldn’t this have been quicker and more lives saved if the
UK had joined the EU vaccination scheme?
You clearly said that creating a vaccine would take a year: do
you now accept that you were misleading Parliament, the media
and the general public?
Isn’t it true that austerity stopped the vaccine being made sooner?
Do you accept the evidence suggesting vaccines are racially biased?
Welcome to the media view of what is important in the world
JUST A THOUGHT
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 6
Isolation to many has cast them and their families into uncharted territory with new prob-
lems and opportunities arising in equal measure.
The media is crammed full of great videos of people casting inhibitions to the wind
and from the cocoon of their living rooms sticking their tongues out at the world and
the virus responsible for their situation. Great! freedom of expression at its best you
say and long may it be so. Whether TV companies realise when it’s all over that they
don’t need to send reporters to the far side of the world to read the weather remains to
be seen.
I wander, it’s my age……. What everyone has of course missed and I have yet to see the matter discussed is a small matter that many people may have not realised. Once upon a time people went to work and their partners stayed at home to keep house and bring up the kids. Old fashioned I know but it is an experience for those now in their late 50’s onwards. The problem is that this was a relationship that continued until, usually the man retired and with promises of wealth and time to spend on anything but work he stayed home. Great, pottering around the garden and hours in the shed-BLISS. Not for the woman of the house who after kissing hubby bye in the morning had her world to herself. This all changed when he was at home 24hrs a day and “ under her feet”. It took a lot of adjustment and give and take to completely change the way you had lived your life for over 40 years and some people never adjusted realising that they didn’t actually like the person they were with but daily separation had made it tolerable. I used to interview and train people to take on businesses that had a 24/7/365 working in partnership requirement and one of the little exercises I had them do was to go away independently and write down how many hours per week they were actually together (excluding sleeping together) Try it, and I think you will be surprised at how little time even the most dedicated couples actually spend TOGETHER. Being aware of this may just help you realise one of the underlying dangers of isolation that you may not have considered.
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
OBSERVATIONS
Let us have your observations
to the Magazine
No 6
Isolation to many has cast them and their families into
uncharted territory with new problems and opportunit-
ies arising in equal measure.
The media is crammed full of great videos of people
casting inhibitions to the wind and from the cocoon of
their living rooms sticking their tongues out at the world
and the virus responsible for their situation. Great! free-
dom of expression at its best you say and long may it be
so. Whether TV companies realise when it’s all over that
they don’t need to send reporters to the far side of the
world to read the weather remains to be seen.
I wander, it’s my age……. What everyone has of course missed and I have yet to see the matter discussed is a small matter that many people may have not realised. Once upon a time people went to work and their partners stayed at home to keep house and bring up the kids. Old fashioned I know but it is an experience for those now in their late 50’s onwards. The problem is that this was a relationship that continued until, usually the man retired and with promises of wealth and time to spend on anything but work he stayed home. Great, pottering around the garden and hours in the shed-BLISS. Not for the woman of the house who after kissing hubby bye in the morning had her world to herself. This all changed when he was at home 24hrs a day and “ under her feet”. It took a lot of adjustment and give and take to completely change the way you had lived your life for over 40 years and some people never adjusted realising that they didn’t actually like the person they were with but daily separation had made it tolerable. I used to interview and train people to take on businesses that had a 24/7/365 working in partnership requirement and one of the little exercises I had them do was to go away independently and write down how many hours per week they were actually together (excluding sleeping together) Try it, and I think you will be surprised at how little time even the most dedicated couples actually spend TOGETHER. Being aware of this may just help you realise one of the underlying dangers of isolation that you may not have considered.
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
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
No 6
This week from Germany…….
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
Culture Vulture
Or just relax and listen
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
No 6
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
BEAT THE COVID-BLUES --
By growing a WHOPPER!
Yes, it's that time of year again -- time to fork out a measly tenner for a packet of
seeds, plant them, nurture them lovingly, then, at last, pop 'em into (preferably) your
back-garden midden -- and see the fruit grow to gigantic proportions!
In these dark days, what could be more enticing and satisfying than watching something you've planted burst into its
full glory? And as a bonus, you can eat it too! You can certainly never have too much curried pumpkin soup with
soured cream -- Ahh! I feel a recipe coming on (which'll have to wait for another time, alas).
So -- your Cradley Village Hall Grand Pumpkin Contest Committee has decided to carry on with the 2020 Grand
Pumpkin Contest -- come hell or high water! Of course there are various impediments to overcome, but frankly, given
man's (and woman's) ingenuity, we ought to be able to sort something out.
Here's what we'll be doing: Every year I always handle seeds wearing surgeon's gloves as a matter of routine (me
wearing the gloves not the seeds), so no problem there. Once sealed inside their Pumpkin Contest envelopes, said
envelopes have all been rubbed down with anti-bacterial wipes. Packets of seeds can now be safely collected
over the garden gate from Clematis Cottage (just up from the old post office) -- upon payment of a crisp tenner, natch.
As the Grand Pumpkin Contest Committee knows full well, there are quite few regulars and old stagers in and around
Cradley who determinedly take part in the annual competition year after year (you know who you
are!). You will be contacted!
A small tranche of seed packets will be placed in Cradley village hall and may be purchased
via Andy, our stalwart Post Office guy, on Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons.
And remember -- you have a whole 6 months to grow your massive fruits. Plant
in May, show in October -- the end of October, actually on Hallowe'en itself,
Saturday 30th. Whether the Weigh-In will be held at the village hall itself, or the Red
Lion, as last year, will of course depend on circumstances at the time. Let us hope for
much relief by then.
And don't forget! Each seed packet is individually numbered. Don't
throw them away! All those handed in on the day -- 12-noon, whatever
the location -- will be chucked into our CVH Pumpkin Contest raffle-hat, with the possibility of copping
an at least half-way decent bottle of wine from your correspondent's dusty wine vault (still a few left, tho
no 2005 clarets, alas).
Finally: 880282, to order a packet of prime seeds, or purchase from CVH.
Meanwhile-- keep well, keep safe, and keep growing!
Chris Lowder
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
PUMPKINS
No 6
BEAT THE COVID-BLUES --
By growing a WHOPPER!
Yes, it's that time of year again -- time to fork
out a measly tenner for a packet of seeds,
plant them, nurture them lovingly, then, at last,
pop 'em into (preferably) your back-garden
midden -- and see the fruit grow to gigantic
proportions!
In these dark days, what could be more enticing and satisfying than
watching something you've planted burst into its full glory? And as a
bonus, you can eat it too! You can certainly never have too much
curried pumpkin soup with soured cream -- Ahh! I feel a recipe coming
on (which'll have to wait for another time, alas).
So -- your Cradley Village Hall Grand Pumpkin Contest Committee has
decided to carry on with the 2020 Grand Pumpkin Contest -- come hell
or high water! Of course there are various impediments to overcome,
but frankly, given man's (and woman's) ingenuity, we ought to be able
to sort something out.
Here's what we'll be doing: Every year I always handle seeds wearing
surgeon's gloves as a matter of routine (me wearing the gloves not the
seeds), so no problem there. Once sealed inside their Pumpkin
Contest envelopes, said envelopes have all been rubbed down with
anti-bacterial wipes. Packets of seeds can now be safely collected
over the garden gate from Clematis Cottage (just up from the old post
office) -- upon payment of a crisp tenner, natch.
As the Grand Pumpkin Contest Committee knows full well, there are
quite few regulars and old stagers in and around Cradley who
determinedly take part in the annual competition year after year (you
know who you are!). You will be contacted!
A small tranche of seed packets will be placed in Cradley
village hall and may be purchased via Andy, our
stalwart Post Office guy, on Monday mornings and
Thursday afternoons.
And remember -- you have a whole 6 months to grow
your massive fruits. Plant in May, show in October -- the end of
October, actually on Hallowe'en itself, Saturday
30th. Whether the Weigh-In will be held at the
village hall itself, or the Red Lion, as last year, will
of course depend on circumstances at the time.
Let us hope for much relief by then.
And don't forget! Each seed packet is individually numbered. Don't
throw them away! All those handed in on the day -- 12-noon, whatever
the location -- will be chucked into our CVH Pumpkin
Contest raffle-hat, with the possibility of copping an at
least half-way decent bottle of wine from your
correspondent's dusty wine vault (still a few left, tho
no 2005 clarets, alas).
Finally: 880282, to order a packet of prime seeds, or
purchase from CVH.
Meanwhile-- keep well, keep safe, and keep growing!
Chris Lowder
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
Pumpkins
No 6
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
No 6
Grandma was in the bathroom, putting on her
make up, under the watchful eyes of her young
granddaughter, as she'd done many times
before. After she applied her lipstick and
started to leave, the little one
said, "But Grandma, you forgot
to kiss the toilet paper good-
bye!" I will probably never put
lipstick on again without
thinking about kissing the
toilet paper good-bye.
My young grandson called the other day
to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked
me how old I was, and I told him, 80.
My grandson was quiet for a moment,
and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"
After putting her
grandchildren to bed, a
grandmother changed
into old slacks and a
droopy blouse and
proceeded to wash her
hair. As she heard the
children getting more and
more noisy, her patience
grew thin. Finally, she
threw
a towel around her head and stormed into their
room, putting them back to bed with stern
warnings. As she left the room, she heard the
three-year-old say with a trembling voice,
"Who was THAT?"
A grandmother was telling her little
granddaughter what her own childhood
was like. "We used to skate outside on a
pond. I had a swing made from a tire;
it hung from a tree in our front yard.
We rode our pony. We picked wild
raspberries in the woods." The little girl
was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last
she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know
you sooner!"
My grandson was visiting one day when he asked,
"Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?"
I mentally polished my halo and I said, "No, how are
we alike?''
"You're both old," he replied.
A little girl was diligently pounding away on her
grandfather's word processor. She told him she was
writing a story. "What's it about?" he asked. "I don't know,"
she replied. "I can't read."
That’s Grand! (Mother of Father)
I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her
colours yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out
something and ask what colour it was. She would tell
me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I
continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying,
"Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of
these colours yourself!"
When my grandson Billy and I entered our holiday cabin,
we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from
attracting pesky insects.
Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I
did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa. Now the
mosquitoes are coming after us with torches."
When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly
replied, "I'm not sure." "Look in your underwear,
Grandpa," he advised." Mine says I'm 4 to 6."
A seven year old came home from school and said to her
grandmother, "Grandma, guess what? We learned how to
make babies today."
The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep
her cool.
"That's interesting," she said. "How do you make babies?" "It's
simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'."
A 6-year-old was asked where his grandmother lived.
"Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and when we
want her, we just go get her.
Then, when we're done having her visit, we take
her back to the airport."
Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good
things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as
him!
My Grandparents are funny, when they bend over, you hear
them pass wind and then they blame their dog.
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
No 6
Grandma was in the bathroom,
putting on her make up, under
the watchful eyes of her young
granddaughter, as she'd done
many times before. After she
applied her lipstick and
started to leave, the little
one said, "But Grandma,
you forgot to kiss the toilet
paper good-bye!" I will
probably never put
lipstick on again without
thinking about kissing the
toilet paper good-bye.
My young
grandson
called the other day to
wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me
how old I was, and I told him, 80.
My grandson was quiet for a moment,
and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"
After putting her
grandchildren to bed, a
grandmother changed into old
slacks and a droopy blouse and
proceeded to wash her hair. As
she heard the children getting
more and more noisy, her
patience grew thin. Finally, she
threw a towel around her head
and stormed into their room,
putting them back to bed with
stern warnings. As she left the
room, she heard the three-year-
old say with a trembling voice,
"Who was THAT?"
A grandmother was telling her little
granddaughter what her own
childhood was like. "We used to skate
outside on a pond. I had a swing
made from a tire; it hung from a tree
in our front yard. We rode our pony.
We picked wild raspberries in the
woods." The little girl was wide-eyed,
taking this all in. At last she said, "I
sure wish I'd gotten to know you
sooner!"
My grandson was visiting one day
when he asked, "Grandma, do you
know how you and God are alike?"
I mentally polished my halo and I
said, "No, how are we alike?''
"You're both old," he replied.
A little girl was diligently pounding away on
her grandfather's word processor. She told
him she was writing a story. "What's it about?"
he asked. "I don't know," she replied. "I can't
read."
I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colours yet, so I decided
to test her. I would point out something and ask what colour it was. She
would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At
last, she headed for the door, saying, "Grandma, I think you should try to
figure out some of these colours yourself!"
When my grandson
Billy and I entered our
holiday cabin, we kept
the lights off until we
were inside to keep
from attracting pesky
insects.
Still, a few fireflies
followed us in.
Noticing them before I
did, Billy whispered,
"It's no use Grandpa.
Now the mosquitoes
are coming after us
with torches."
When my grandson asked me
how old I was, I teasingly
replied, "I'm not sure." "Look in
your underwear, Grandpa," he
advised." Mine says I'm 4 to 6."
A seven year old came home from
school and said to her grandmother,
"Grandma, guess what? We learned
how to make babies today."
The grandmother, more than a little
surprised, tried to keep her cool.
"That's interesting," she said. "How
do you make babies?" "It's simple,"
replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to
'i' and add 'es'."
Grandpa is the smartest man on earth!
He teaches me good things, but I don't
get to see him enough to get as smart as
him!
My Grandparents are funny, when they
bend over, you hear them pass wind
and then they blame their dog.
That’s Grand! (Mother or Father)
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
No 6
What did you do in the lock-down Daddy ?
Filling in our time.
I decided to paint some panels at the back of the veg patch,
then having done those, decided to paint the tool shed, why
not, looks better. After that the greenhouse looked as if it
could have a lick of paint. At least it has kept me busy for a
few days.
Then the summer house, well that has been painted recently
but the windows needed a clean - no idea when they were last
done, but they do look better now,
Before the lock down, Derek went to keep fit at Mathon every
week. So guess what, he has me doing the whole routine
several times a week and it takes about 3/4 of an hour. I am
exhausted at the end of it.
At the end of the day I seem to have done quite a lot. It will be nice to hopefully get
together with friends in the not too distant future, particularly our children and
grandchildren who live miles away from us and contact via Zoom or Whatsapp is the only thing we can do. I’ve
also got into using video now.
Anne Carver
Thanks Ann like the wellies in the sun!
Let us have your experiences on lock down. The good, the bad and the funny
along with photos or videos and we will post them under this page.
Come on you’ve nothing better to do and lots of spare time to do it in
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
No 6
Filling in our time.
I decided to paint some panels at the back of the
veg patch, then having done those, decided to
paint the tool shed, why not, looks better. After
that the greenhouse looked as if it could have a
lick of paint. At least it has
kept me busy for a few days.
Then the summer house, well
that has been painted recently but the windows
needed a clean - no idea when they were last done,
but they do look better now,
Before the lock down, Derek went to keep fit at
Mathon every week. So guess what, he has me
doing the whole routine several times a week and
it takes about 3/4 of an hour. I am exhausted at
the end of it.
At the end of the day I seem to have done quite a lot. It will be nice to
hopefully get together with friends in the not too distant future,
particularly our children and grandchildren who live miles away from
us and contact via Zoom or Whatsapp is the only thing we can do. I’ve
also got into using video now.
Anne Carver
Thanks Ann: like the wellies in the sun!
Let us have your experiences on lock down. The good, the
bad and the funny along with photos or videos and we will
post them under this page.
Come on you’ve nothing better to do and lots of spare time
to do it in
What did you do in the lock-down Daddy ?
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 6
New our online jigsaw Puzzle
Give it a go and let us know if you want more
if you get a message regarding flash
being disabled on google
log into your browser
Click and hold pieces to move into position, if they match they will click together
Petrol is
finally
affordable
but we
can’t drive
anywhere!
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
Always Room for Fun in Life
Too much doom and gloom in today’s world?
Let us have you favourite joke or cartoon to share
with others and brighten up their day and put a
smile on their faces
No 6
Petrol is
finally
affordable
but we
can’t drive
anywhere!
More humour
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
This Month’s gardening videos
One good thing to bless us is the unusual amount of
sunshine we are experiencing at the moment. Not
many Aprils are met with a prayer for rain and “April
showers “ have been significantly absent.
As a result the plants have got on with a very
quick start this year and the flowers are
bursting out in profusion. A couple of early
leaders have suffered slightly from an
unexpected frost but as usual nature has a
built in catch up programme in reserve.
My cherry blossom has been very nice and early and my miniature
apples have bloomed and show signs of a bumper harvest ahead.
My trial outside vine which had a couple of bunches of passable
grapes on last year has transformed itself from a withered stick to
sprouting leaves already, A full month earlier than last year so
hopefully fingers crossed.
Still looking for my Tiki for the fountain but I don’t think it is a
“priority” for home delivery. No sense of priorities some people.
Looks like I will just have to continue with the old one providing sound and tranquility to the patio.
The problem with isolation is that you start finding jobs that
you have been planning to do for years and worse still start
doing them.
Such it was to deciding to renovate the trusty old greenhouse
which had been used for several years as a dumping ground
for everything the wife couldn’t get into my holy of holy-----
my shed!
After emptying it and throwing out all manner of dead
creatures including a rat, the survey showed a sad story of
neglect and accumulated spiders webs and many
unidentified “bits”. These included some old watering pipes
which will be found a new life in the garden. The supporting
brickwork had collapsed due to a myriad of burrowing creatures taking up residence in and around
the building. The greenhouse had been home to many a plant raised on concrete slabs in grow bags.
The slabs had taken on the appearance of a street having just been hit by a category 5 earthquake
without the fallen buildings. Nothing for it but to dig it up and re-lay. Then I had the idea to leave 10”
deep borders 2feet wide along three sides with just the middle slabbed- magic thoughts.
First slab raised showed the folly of the idea- exposed a bed of pristine sand on a bed of gravel. Sand
and gravel removed from bed areas down 12” sieved to separate and the result was several plastic
boxes (removed from the greenhouse store) of pristine sand and gravel. Goodness me I built this well
when I was younger. Backfilled the borders with 2” deep clean washed gravel for drainage and relaid
the slabs on a new bed of sand. Now all I need is enough soil to fill the borders 10ft long x 2ft wide x
10” deep.
Have you tried getting multi purpose potting compost or sterilised soil delivered during the lock
down? Earliest delivery for 20x 50ltr bags is mid May so hopefully the plants will be in before the next
issue.
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!
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 6
With apologies to those with weak bladders
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)
Don’t forget the great pumpkin
competition. judging at the end of
October seeds now available
from:
Chris Lowder
call on
01886 880282 before collecting
and paying to ensure social
distancing
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
Coming Soon
site being completed
(Email sign up for new articles to your computer)
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 6
One good thing to bless us is the
unusual amount of sunshine we are
experiencing at the moment. Not
many Aprils are met with a prayer
for rain and “April showers “ have
been significantly absent.
As a result the plants have got on with a very
quick start this year and the flowers are bursting
out in profusion. A couple of early leaders have
suffered slightly from an unexpected frost but as
usual nature has a built in catch up programme in
reserve.
My cherry blossom has been very nice and early
and my miniature apples have bloomed and show
signs of a bumper harvest ahead. My trial outside
vine which had a couple of bunches of passable
grapes on last year has transformed itself from a
withered stick to sprouting leaves already, A full
month earlier than last year so hopefully fingers
crossed.
Still looking for my Tiki for the fountain but I don’t
think it is a “priority” for home delivery. No sense
of priorities some people.
Looks like I will just have to continue with the old
one providing sound and tranquility to the patio.
The problem with isolation is that you start
finding jobs that you have been planning to do for
years and worse still start doing them.
Such it was to deciding to renovate the trusty old
greenhouse which had been used for several years
as a dumping ground for everything the wife
couldn’t get into my holy of holy----- my shed!
After emptying it and throwing out all manner of
dead creatures including a rat, the survey showed
a sad story of neglect and accumulated spiders
webs and many unidentified “bits”. These included
some old watering pipes which will be found a
new life in the garden. The supporting brickwork
had collapsed due to a myriad of burrowing
creatures taking up residence in and around the
building. The greenhouse had been home to many
a plant raised on concrete slabs in grow bags. The
slabs had taken on the appearance of a street
having just been hit by a category 5 earthquake
without the fallen buildings. Nothing for it but to
dig it up and re-lay. Then I had the idea to leave
10” deep borders 2feet wide along three sides with
just the middle slabbed- magic thoughts.
First slab raised showed the folly of the idea-
exposed a bed of pristine sand on a bed of gravel.
Sand and gravel removed from bed areas down
12” sieved to separate and the result was several
plastic boxes (removed from the greenhouse
store) of pristine sand and gravel. Goodness me I
built this well when I was younger. Backfilled the
borders with 2” deep clean washed gravel for
drainage and relaid the slabs on a new bed of
sand. Now all I need is enough soil to fill the
borders 10ft long x 2ft wide x 10” deep.
Have you tried getting multi purpose potting
compost or sterilised soil delivered during the lock
down? Earliest delivery for 20x 50ltr bags is mid
May so hopefully the plants will be in before the
next issue.
With apologies to those with weak bladders
Don’t forget the great
pumpkin competition.
judging at the end of October
seeds now available from:
Chris Lowder
call on
01886 880282 before
collecting and paying to
ensure social distancing
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
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
The Gnomes of Cradley
No 6
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 6
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 6
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 6
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Out and About
CRADLEY WANDERINGS
Plenty to ruminate upon during my daily peregrinations
around Cradley and its labyrinthine network of
footpaths and bridleways . Coronovirus , now
imaginatively known as Covid-19 , has tossed the
world of we human beings into a complete tiswas .
Does anybody really believe that the pandemic will
fizzle out any time soon ? My guess is we have
the problem for at least the rest of 2020 .
I recall that the last national census of 2011 had Cradley and
Storridge recorded as some 63% of our community being either retired
or not in active work ! It is not unreasonable to conclude that the vast
majority of some 1800 soles are indeed in the 60-90+ age category .
Last weekend I took the path from Kingsbridge via Netherley Farmstead and up over Cockshott Hill, down to Bank Farm ,
along through Six Acre Wood and down from Upper Vinesend via Vinesend Lane , to Buryfields and then home via Brookside
, Poundbridge and Chapel Lane . One of my favourite walks . It takes me around 90 minutes to cover approximately 5 miles .
Plenty of time to cogitate about the hugely underused and poorly maintained pathways and signage of this fantastic public
asset .
I got to thinking that , over the next 6 months , our myriad housebound over 60's could get to acquire some depressive
tendencies . In which case our 67 kilometres of public rights of way offer the perfect antidote to feelings of depression and
hopelessness .
I know these paths well . They offer some of the very best walking and relaxation that anyone could wish for . With summer
on the cusp and the older members of our nation being urged to self -isolate it dawned upon me that I may be able to help .
So here is an offer to do my bit to help members of our almost housebound and ageing community.
I am up for sharing suitable gentle walks around the parish with one or two folk at a time .
If you want to come with me any time just phone me on 01886 881019 and we could set something up to suit us both.
Spring is almost officially here and nature is at last waking up. Lots of wild-life flora and fauna to enjoy and a chance to
recharge one's emotional batteries !
Geoff Fielding
No 6
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
Out and About
Cradley Wanderings
Plenty to ruminate
upon during my
daily
peregrinations
around Cradley and
its labyrinthine
network of footpaths and bridleways .
Coronovirus , now imaginatively known as Covid-19 , has
tossed the world of we human beings into a complete
tiswas . Does anybody really believe that the pandemic will
fizzle out any time soon ? My guess is we have the problem
for at least the rest of 2020 .
I recall that the last national census of 2011 had Cradley and
Storridge recorded as some 63% of our community being
either retired or not in active work ! It is not unreasonable to
conclude that the vast majority of some 1800 soles are
indeed in the 60-90+ age category .
Last weekend I took the path from Kingsbridge via
Netherley Farmstead and up over Cockshott Hill, down to
Bank Farm , along through Six Acre Wood and down from
Upper Vinesend via Vinesend Lane , to Buryfields and then
home via Brookside , Poundbridge and Chapel Lane . One
of my favourite walks . It takes me around 90 minutes to
cover approximately 5 miles . Plenty of time to cogitate
about the hugely underused and poorly maintained
pathways and signage of this fantastic public asset .
I got to thinking that , over the next 6 months , our myriad
housebound over 60's could get to acquire some depressive
tendencies . In which case our 67 kilometres of public rights
of way offer the perfect antidote to feelings of depression
and hopelessness .
I know these paths well . They offer some of the very best
walking and relaxation that anyone could wish for . With
summer on the cusp and the older members of our nation
being urged to self -isolate it dawned upon me that I may be
able to help . So here is an offer to do my bit to help
members of our almost housebound and ageing
community.
I am up for sharing suitable gentle walks around the parish
with one or two folk at a time .
If you want to come with me any time just phone me on
01886 881019 and we could set something up to suit us
both.
Spring is almost officially here and nature is at last waking
up. Lots of wild-life flora and fauna to enjoy and a chance to
recharge one's emotional batteries !
Geoff Fielding
No 6
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
No 6
PETROL HEADS PAGE
Are you one of those people who when getting into your Ford Fiesta magically transforms it to a racing Porshe?
If so then the opportunity is there to race your familymobile.
Every year Nurburgring is opened up to "would be racers" to come and pay $45 to race your car or bike around at
whatever speed you can or cannot handle - no insurance coverage so when you rack it up its yours to fix.
You should be aware of course that the cost of crashing can soon ramp up with barrier repairs, track damage and track
closure costs and safety cars to at least a whopping 6000 Euros. This doesn’t include any hospital treatment or damage
to your car which of course won’t be covered by your normal insurance as you were racing.
Even saying this there seems to be no shortage of petrol heads who want to try.
The online magazine for Cradley, Storridge & Mathon
No 6
PETROL HEADS PAGE
Are you one of those people who when getting into your Ford Fiesta
magically transforms it to a racing Porshe?
If so then the opportunity is there to race your familymobile.
Every year Nurburgring is opened up to "would be racers" to come and pay
$45 to race your car or bike around at whatever speed you can or cannot
handle - no insurance coverage so when you rack it up its yours to fix.
You should be aware of course that the cost of crashing can soon
ramp up with barrier repairs, track damage and track closure costs
and safety cars to at least a whopping 6000 Euros. This doesn’t
include any hospital treatment or damage to your car which of course
won’t be covered by your normal insurance as you were racing.
Even saying this there seems to be no shortage of petrol heads who
want to try.
Contact Us
Editor: final selection pending
Features Editor:Harold Armitage
Storridge: Vacancy
Cradley: Vacancy
Mathon: Vacancy
Web: Ken Nason
Villages Diary
Halls Diaries
No 6
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 6
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 6
Suspended until after isolation
restrictions are lifted and the world
gets back to normal
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 6
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 6
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 6
