November Update

Quiz night 13th Sept
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Thankyou to all who supported a very interesting and enjoyable quiz presented to us by Ian Grafton once again. The questions were a little easier and certainly thought provoking and amusing. The room was full with a great crowd of supporters, who enjoyed the quiz questions as well as a light sandwich snack in the interval prepared by the excellent ladies of the committee. Ian, as you probably know is the curator of the local National Trust properties local to us, he used the opportunity to advertise for room stewards and volunteers in N T properties! The event was a great success with a first and second team prize, we look forward to a repeat next year! 

Variety Night-19th October
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An evening of many varied talents! Music for all and entertainment of every variety, including vocal, guitar, duo, small bands, instrumental, story telling, humour and magic.
Our variety night, a once a year presentation of local talented people is always a delight, we are now some 15 years old!
It is always refreshing to meet and be entertained by such skills.
Bring family and friends, tickets are £10 to include a ploughman’s supper not to forget a well stocked bar of course. MacMillan Coffee Morning

Thankyou so much to so many of you who came along or called in or sent a donation to the Macmillan cancer coffee morning. I believe it is the 20th coffee morning we have held representing St. Michaels. Margaret, Ros B, Clair and Alice served us coffee and delicious cakes, ran the tombola and the bring and buy sale! Di ran the raffle. There was an addition in guessing how many cups of coffee featured on a sheet- there were 166. Jan C was the nearest with 160.We are all touched along the way by cancer whether it be ourselves or friends and family, mildly or severely. Great strides have been made with cancer research in relatively short times but there are still many areas needing drastic changes, help and support. Thank you for your donations, we are able to send £365 to Macmillan Cancer support this year!! Well done.


St Michaels Variety Night Saturday 19 October

A large audience filled the Village Hall which had been laid out with tables and chairs and with the stage set up by a number of local people including committee members and other willing helpers. The bar was open, professionally run by Pat and Geoff. Catering was provided by mainly committee members so that, during the interval, everyone received a very enjoyable Ploughman’s Supper and accompaniments.

Brian Addis was in charge of making sure the sound system presented artists at their best and so everyone was ready to be entertained. Ros Plested introduced artists and we enjoyed an entertaining evening of variety.

Firstly, Shred Belly, Shropshire based, Kevin McNally, vocals and Paul Roffey, guitar accompaniment took a look at the majority of their audience and decided to play and sing items from their 60’s repertoire!

Roger Penwill entertained us, accompanying himself on guitar with some comedic numbers that he has presented at Brimfield Folk Club.

At a previous “Night” we had unexpected entertainment from a dance group, this time we were introduced to Sheena Wieckowicz, who has had an exceptionally varied musical life. She gave us some of her self-penned pieces based on different life experiences played on handpans with mallets, hands and fingers. This was a very pleasant surprise and, we believe, a first for the Hall. Her music, the timbre and melody conveyed her thoughts whilst composing and brought “hear a pin drop moments” for the audience.

Ted Bunting on saxophone and Martin Blake on guitar and vocals changed the mood reminding those of a certain age of smoke-filled cellars where jazz and blues could be heard, ending with Ted leading a rendition of Tequila.

The mood changed again with the local entertainment of Terry Tandler which was zany monologues featuring a strong Shropshire accent and dialect. He had an animated performance to keep you guessing what next.

John Mosedale, accompanying himself on guitar, closed the show with several of his own musical compositions, including a tribute to Tommy Cooper, and a Richard Digance composition.

Eddie.


College and Cadmore

We mustn’t forget the greater and the good in our neighbourhood. Two of our most important neighbours in the community have bought news this summer/autumn which are vital to our futures as well as theirs!!
We have continued as you well know and maybe been involved one way or another in the welfare and future of these most important parts of our community.

The college after 4 years of emptiness and uncertainty has been sold! And been taken over through a Chinese company who plan to open a new school in 2025 for approx. 200 pupils. We welcome the new owners and wish them all good wishes with the hard work ahead and preparations to present a new school. We also look forward to seeing youngsters in the village again and working together.

Cadmore has had its detailed planning refused (plans for 25 caravan type buildings to be placed on the beautiful old golf course site adjoining the hotel).
Well done to all who supported the campaign recently in peacefully opposing this proposed blot on the landscape plan and no plan for the main residence, the key player, Cadmore lodge Hotel ! Again we can only hope the latter can be reinstated as a functional hotel/spa greatly needed by the town and community.(maybe that 9 hole golf course too!)

St Michaels college

It is with great pleasure to be able to let you know that st Michaels college has today completed its sale to a Chinese company who are opening their second international school  in the UK,here at St. Michaels. They plan to open their school in sept 2025 following many major building works.
Eric and myself have attended a meeting with Nicholas Fry and Belinda before they exit the building to start a new office opposite the Regal in town.
After 4 years we are delighted to welcome a school again. Please feel free to share this news with others. R. Plested

WhatApps Group – “friends of the hall”

We are very keen to open a what’s app group for “friends of the hall”, this would enable anyone who is keen and willing to help us with any village hall event, an outdoor or indoor task that may need doing and general help with a current event or activity we may be putting on, e.g. chairs and tables to be put out, helping decorate an event, watering outside plants, a sweep up, whatever? To have extra pairs of hands would be a godsend!

If you are prepared to help and go onto a friends of the hall group, you can always say no!, ignore or say yes!

Thankyou!!! Please contact Julie-Ann Prince or committee member if you are interested.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

As guest gather on an island somewhere in West Ireland to celebrate the wedding of Jules and Will, secrets from the past arise. On the night of the wedding a storm leaves the island in a blackout.

When the lights finally come back on a distressed waitress screams that she has found a dead body. It has been described as evoking an Agatha Christie mystery but most of us didn’t think that was a good comparison. I though it rather slow to begin but when all the multiple character reveal themselves, the atmosphere builds, and the plot does come together in the end.

There are many storylines running through it and lots of detail. This is definitely one for mystery thriller fans but it’s not for young readers as it does have more ‘adult’ aspects of its plot.

we all enjoyed the book with minor reservations and thought it was well written and a good plot.

AUGUST UPDATE

Dear St. Michaels,

Firstly, we have welcomed many newcomers to our village this year. It’s amazing how many of you have moved in and are now enjoying getting straight and growing into our community! Hurray and welcome! (Please let us know if you haven’t received a welcome pack?)

Summer, (says she enjoying a sea view in North Wales through the latest heavy rain cloud burst)’ has been quiet in our village. We have been taking a short break, but been busy refurbishing the kitchen and a few other maintenance jobs while giving the committee a petit vacance!


However we did entertain the Tenbury twinning group last weekend from Pont du Casse. After a weekend of activities and hosting we ended up in the village hall for a lovely meal and soiree with over 70 very jolly French and English friends. We hope to see them in 2025 and renew friendships.

Coffee mornings continue to flourish, we welcome you all on 3rd Friday of the month, this week will be 18th August. You will be welcomed with delicious cakes and now proper coffee from our new machine.


Our weekly activities continue with a few new ones, do feel free to try them out and tell others!

Monday; Art class 10.30-12.30am
              Creative writing/poetry is starting on 11th sept,2.30-4.30pm (fortnightly)
              Tai Chi 5.30-6.30pm


Tuesday; Total fitness 9.45-10.45am
                Village singers 7.30-9.30pm

Wednesday: Mums and Tots 9.30-11.30am
                       Scottish dancing7.30-9.30pm
 
Thursday: Zumba 10.00-11.00am
                 Chair based exercise 3.15-4.00pm(fortnightly starting 14th Sept)
                 Gentle Pilates 4.30-5.30pm (fortnightly starting 14th sept)


Our monthly activities continue;

                  Floral Arts:  2.00-4.00pm (3rd Wed in month)

                  Gardeners group:  7.30-9.30pm(2nd Wed in the month)

                   Women Institute: 2.00-4.30 (1st Thurs in the month)

                   Readers group: (3rd Mon in the month)

Dates for your diary!


QUIZ NIGHT—Friday 15th September 7.30pm, Tables of 4/5. £5 a head to include light refreshments.
Please let committee members know asap

VARIETY NIGHT—Saturday 21st October 7.30pm Tickets £8 from committee members
A wide variety of acts! Some local and some a distance, all brilliant and guaranteed to give you an excellent night!

CEILIDH—Saturday 18thNovember      

Please let us know if you are requiring any help with activities and dates, we hope there is plenty for all! Meanwhile I’ m putting on my sou’wester and going on the beach to finish summer!
Take care and thankyou for your continued support.

Ros and Village Hall Committee

Open Gardens

St. Michael’s Village Hall held their third very successful Open Gardens event on 3rd and 4th June and would like to thank everyone who was involved in opening their gardens as well as the many helpers who made it possible. Most importantly, thank-you to the many lovely visitors who made their way to visit on Saturday and Sunday, quite a few, both days!

In 2019 when we tugged with the idea of the wonderful “village fete” again, and realised we weren’t getting any younger and needed a change from lugging chairs and tables, other people’s white elephant stuff, gazebos and umbrellas that blew away to a venue or garden. So, we put on our first Open Gardens and to our delight it was successful, enjoyable, and profitable, which helped with our refurbishment project.


In 2021 we were keen to repeat the open gardens event, especially as people needed their spirits lifting. What better than to come out visit gardens. During the long months of the pandemic it was safer outside and believe it or not people came and gardens were the tonic we could provide! How fortunate we are to live and thrive here!


So here we were again for a third go.

Each time, different gardens have opened, with a unique flavour in each. Plenty of like-minded people come and visit and share their love of gardens and gardening.
We wish to convey our thanks to all involved in making this weekend so successful. The beautiful sunshine while visiting 18 gardens, including our newly refurbished pond area, was the icing on the cake. Your enthusiasm does not wane, your gardens are all so different and amazing; depicting those who live there!
It amazes me that if you are really tired, to go in the garden for an hour seems to have some therapeutic calming and restores energy.
Gardens galore!! Different and new attractions and a chance for people to renew energy and friendships; a chance to talk to people and make connections.

Thankyou to all of you who helped in some way, opening your gardens, help with parking, catering, selling tickets, and raffle tickets, providing delicious cakes and scones, providing excellent plants for sale as well as being there with lovely smiling welcoming faces!

We are fortunate to have an exceptional village hall committee (the latter word meaning committed!) but there are others who have given such time and effort in making this such a grand weekend. The after supper was welcomed by all involved and such a buzz was apparent from discussions and stories of the two days events!
The fete will no doubt come round again, or something new? Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Well done and thank-you.


RP

May Update

Dedication of the pond
Skittles

Thank-you to you all for coming along to enjoy another great skittles night on 22nd April. Everyone who attended enjoyed a few goes and then the chance to win killer. Vernon undoubtedly is king of killer! With Danny a close second!
Many thanks to all who helped and organised the night; to Vernon and his team for erecting the alley, Mary and hers for scoring and Di and her team for providing lovely bangers and mash half way through. A great night all round!
If you wish to book or hire this marvellous alley for your private party or a fundraising event please get in touch with Vernon  or any committee member.

Coronation weekend

Service around the pond
One of the areas that our new King Charles III has a special interest in is the green canopy of England! Therefore we have taken this coronation year to focus on our own millennium pond area, and develop this area of natural beauty.
In the past two years we have received help and interest from Natural Networks, Malvern Hills who have visited and suggested ways  to enhance the pond area, including the flora, fauna and wilding. From their advice we then engaged Biosphere Organics, a local team, to clear much of the pond and the surrounding. They also installed bat boxes, bird boxes and bee posts, together with an information board.
Each year we hope to maintain approx 25% of the pond area within a rolling programme in order to keep this area a significant area of beauty for passing walkers, cyclists and of course the local wildlife!

During the service we dedicated the pond area:
“This is for all with the special occasion of this coronation of Our King,we hope you will enjoy this area— and in doing so we dedicate this blessed area to our community for enjoyment and memories to be nurtured!
 GOD SAVE OUR KING!!”
 Thank-you all for coming along.

Coronation Tea
A glorious tea was held on Sunday 7th May to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. 80 lovely people sat down to tea dressed in red, white and blue, they all looked lovely and the smiles and laughter went well with the surroundings. Sandwiches, cakes, scones, jam and cream were abundant, all prepared by volunteers and served and prepared by the village affairs group. We listened to our King’s playlist and watched wonderful slides of the coronation, enjoyed a raffle and learned a bit more about Charles and Camilla in a quiz.

King Charles especially wanted people from all walks of life and volunteers at his coronation. Some of us are fortunate to have remembered the Queen’s coronation 70 years ago! Have our values of life changed much? People are the most important feature and therefore each and everyone of us is valued.We are all volunteers of some sort and help make communities survive and thrive.
Therefore the tea on Sunday was held for friends and community, to gather together in celebration of our King and celebrate his coronation.
Secondly the tea was to raise funds in order to keep a rolling programme of maintenance for our wildlife pond area for the future to enjoy.Thank-you for your support.

Future events

OPEN GARDENS—3rd and 4th June—12 till 5pm

We look forward to welcoming you to st Michael’s Open Gardens, parking, teas and lots of interesting gardens to visit.

Midsummer Madness supper /dance—8th July,

Thankyou for your continued support!
Ros Plested