A visit to the Bridge at Chelmsley Wood
The Bridge provides a lot of support , as well as many and varied treatment services for those affected by alcohol and drugs; in this cash strapped world that we live in, it is good to see how the partnership here between the public (=NHS) and the third sector (=Aquarius and Welcome) at the Bridge is working to help our residents. I felt that this was indeed a welcoming place and that a great deal of thought had gone into what the needs of each individual were. There is a drop in clinic also.
“Send off” for a sponsored drive round Europe for Macmillan
In a way, this will be a bit of a holiday for David and Molly (at their cost, of course), but the fact is that they are at the same time raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support. What a wonderful car – an MGTD Sports Car, rebuilt to “concourse standard”. The journey will take them through Spain and Portugal. David has just recovered from a stroke, so the trip may be a challenge for him. David has raised amazing amounts of money for MacMillam, including £20,000, in memory of his late wife, Karen. This time he hopes to raise £5000.
Workshop for the proposed Sainsburys Store in Dorridge
A discussion about the “public realm” areas and work that will be needed if the proposed development goes ahead
Exhibition by the Coventry & Warwickshire Society of Artists
We had already seen their work displayed at their annual exhibition at Berkswell and we were pleased that their exhibition had reached the Arts complex. A large variety of styles and media were there to be seen. Some very good work had been done. This was their 99th Exhibition: next year, for their 100th, it will be at the Herbert Museum in Coventry. The group has over 70 artists as members.
Young Enterprise Solihull Area Final
Hosted by Arup at the Blythe Business Park, this was a demonstration by six teams of students from local schools of their business acumen and talent. Each of the teams had set up a company and were involved in producing, marketing and selling their products, in fact running their companies as a business. They were here for the Final of the Competition. In previous years, Solihull Schools had narrowly missed the national finals. I was very impressed by how smart and efficient they all were. I asked each of the teams what was their USP, rather unfair really, but I received some very good answers. A very good programme.
Hello Dolly
Another great production at the Arts Theatre and a lot of talent on display. I was particularly taken by the restaurant scene, with more than a dozen waiters/waitresses dashing around in their bright red uniforms, superbly choreographed.
St Augustine’s Church
Homer Road Solihull is home to the National Border Agency, with responsibility for asylum seekers, who have to register there every month, or more often. Sometimes they can be waiting for many, many years for their case to be dealt with. In the church hall, each week, a group of volunteers provide a little refreshment and a welcome to some of those who live their lives in a cloud of uncertainty. We paid a visit on the Friday and spoke to several of the asylum seekers and they have harrowing stories. A lady from the Congo told me about the awful violations that many women suffer at the hands of gangs.
Opening of the Sensory Room at Reynalds Cross School
We have visited the school on a couple of other occasions and even attended the last School Council. This event was the official ribbon cutting for the opening of the Sensory Room. There were many parents and others there, and Tom Ross from BRMB helped create a great atmosphere. The new room is the culmination of a lot of fund raising effort by the School and the PTA and Sainsburys, and Noel Edmunds (Experia) were very supportive: the equipment is first class and we were able to see just how much benefit the children derived from it. The school does a magnificent job with its pupils, helping those with special needs have a better life.
Misfitted Dance – “Laid Bare” at Coventry University
Some Solihull residents were involved in this and we were invited to see the dance performance. The production is a dramatised performance about the society in which we live, its relationships, how we are manipulated by the media. A very original work.
Ironing under water
It does sound crazy, doesn’t it, for someone who has spent most of their life denying knowledge of such weapons. In fact, it was David Butler,
Rotary 1060 District Governor, who was doing the aqua-domestic work, on a sponsored basis for a charity called “Deptherapy”. The purpose of the charity is to provide therapy and relief for servicemen injured in battle. Sheila and I both put on sub-aqua gear and went down to do a bit with David, who spent about two hours ironing tea shirts, with an old cast iron. We both spent time with Fraser, who had set up the charity, and Arron, a soldier from the Royal Anglian. He had had his insides re-arranged by shrapnel, having had to have some parts replaced, and could talk at first hand about how he had been helped by the diving therapy. The courage of these guys is amazing. When they say “there are many blokes much worse off than me”, well, it is so humbling. Mixing with Americans, the guys compare very unfavourably the support and treatment that we give ours compared to the US.
