Wednesday 27 November 2013

Can you help?


Photo Credit: Express and Star

Generally on welovebearwood we get so excited that there’s so much good news to share.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case and we’re really upset to hear that local man William (everybody knew him as Bill) Fenton was killed after what looks like a hit and run accident on Beakes road on Saturday night around 9.30pm

If you know anything at all about this incident, we’re urging you to help the police with their investigations by calling them on 101



Santa At The Woods


Although this is Warley Woods' last event of the year, it's definitely one of our favourites.  Always puts us in the festive mood, think the mulled wine and mince pies help. Hic!

On Sunday 8th December Santa will ride though the Woods in his specially created Virgin Train and then will take up his place in his grotto at the Pavilion on Lightwoods Hill, ably assisted by elves, to greet the young people of Smethwick, Oldbury, Harborne and Quinton. Young people are asked to bring their torches to light Santa’s way through the Woods.

Santa will begin his journey through the Woods between 4pm and 4.15pm starting within the park at the drinking fountain near the Abbey Road entrance. He will be entertained there by members of St Hilda’s Church Choir singing carols. Then he will ride through the Woods to the Pavilion at Lightwoods Hill where children will have the opportunity to meet him and receive a gift (small charge). There will also be musical entertainment outside the Pavilion on Lightwoods thanks to Bearwood Baptist Church.

Cakes, mince pies, hot drinks and mulled wine will be on offer. The Trust shop will be open late selling cards, jigsaws calendars and other gifts and there will other craft stalls and local charities at the event.

Warley Woods Christmas Cards

Viv Cole told welovebearwood that “This is always lovely event which we all look forward to. Many people say that Christmas doesn’t start until Santa has been through the Woods and it is so heart warming to know that the event means so much to so many people. It is lovely too that Virgin Trains have been able to sponsor the event again.”

There will also be ‘Simply Santa’ on Saturday 7th December which will enable more children to visit Santa in his Grotto and visits for 7th must be prebooked on 0121 429 2440.

For more information please call the Trust office on 0121 420 1061.


P.S. Don't forget when buying Christmas pressies online that you can also support Warley Woods.  Just nominate Warley Woods Community Trust when the Give As You Live option appears on your screen.  Couldn't be easier!

Thursday 21 November 2013

Support White Ribbon Day


Monday 25th November is White Ribbon Day. 

Philippa Carr , Violet Hypnotherapy’s hypnotherapist, contacted welovebearwood to explain how we can support Say No To Violence To Women Day and help to make a real difference.

On Monday 25th November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) I shall be providing Hypnotherapy sessions in return for donations to Sandwell Women's Aid.

You can find more details on my Violet Hypnotherapy website, right here.

Violet Hypnotherapy is offering you the opportunity to have a Hypnotherapy session in return for a donation to Sandwell Women’s Aid.  All you need to do is book a Hypnotherapy session in Bearwood on Monday 25th November. 

You will receive the benefits of a Hypnotherapy session and help to support women and children in Sandwell affected by domestic abuse.

Sandwell Women’s Aid has provided refuge, support and counselling to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence for the last 25 years. They offer a wide range of services including accommodation for women affected by human trafficking, specialist young people’s counselling and a schools program.

Your donation for your Hypnotherapy session could help in the following ways:

£20 could pay for Sandwell Women's Aid's 24 hour domestic violence helpline to be staffed for an hour

£30 could pay for a one-to-one counselling session for a distressed victim of sexual violence, helping them to overcome the trauma of abuse

£50 could pay for an awareness session for teenagers around teenage relationship abuse, helping them keep themselves and others safe and healthy

£100 could pay for interpreting services to give a voice to vulnerable women who have been trafficked internationally

£200 could pay for a Christmas party for children and families in refuge, offering an important chance for fun and friendship to people in the most difficult circumstances

A Hypnotherapy session usually costs £50 so you could make a real difference to women and their families in Sandwell and to your community.

To book your appointment and show your support, please call Philippa at Violet Hypnotherapy on 0121 532 1352.

Wednesday 20 November 2013

Not Strictly Jazz!


It would be safe to say that The Silvershine Jazz Club are branching out musically over the next couple of weeks. 


Delano Mill and Friends will be sharing their classic reggage rock grooves tomorrow night and then on Friday 29th November it's Disco/Karaoke Night.  Get your glittery boobtube and hot pants on  and strutt your stuff on the dancefloor! Sounds good to us!

Tuesday 19 November 2013

Keep Calm It's Only Christmas

 Webb's Walled Garden

Keep calm it's only Christmas! If only that was true!

We think those two words...CHRISTMAS SHOPPING...are probably the most stressful around this time of year.
Bearwood Handmade Winter Fairs


Thank Goodness for Bearwood!  We've got Bearwood Handmade Winter Fairs at St Mary's Church Hall this coming Saturday and on Saturday 7th December, Webb’s Walled Gift Shop, Warley Woods Gift Shop, Miss Mollie’s Flower Room, Bearwood Indoor Market to name just a few!

So much choice and brilliant gift ideas…who needs The Bull Ring or Merry Hill anyway!

Warley Woods Gift Shop

Monday 18 November 2013

A Christmas Carol


Oh you can feel that festive spirit in the air! The Crafty Muthas hold the first of this year’s Christmas Hand Made Fair this coming Saturday, the German Market’s open in town (well done to Bearwood’s Rutlands Sheds for all those log cabins!) and we’ve linked up with The REP for our Christmas Carol competition.

This magical, musical production is on at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 27 November to 4 January.

Dickens’ uplifting story is brought to life in this beautiful adaptation following the story of the meanest and most cold-hearted man in London, Ebenezer Scrooge. As the clock strikes midnight his world turns around when he is taken on a journey through the vivid and enchanting worlds of past, present and future. Will Scrooge change his ways in time for Christmas Day?

The REP have told us that A Christmas Carol promises to delight audiences, with lashings of goodwill and Christmas cheer. You can find out more information about the show by visiting THE REP website or phoning The REP on 0121 236 4455.

To mark the first Christmas season in the newly refurbished REP, we're delighted to have 1 x family ticket to be won for A Christmas Carol on Saturday 7 December, 7.30pm!

To be in with a chance of winning just answer this question and email your answer to us at welovebearwood@googlemail.com.

The winner will be pulled out of Santa’s hat on Friday 29th November 2013.
What is Ebenezer Scrooge’s famous saying?

a) Merry Christmas

b) Happy New Year

c) Bah Humbug!

Friday 15 November 2013

Lend A Hand For Haiyan



What a line up....truly wonderful Pete Williams (Dexys), Rudie and The Revolvers (they outskanked everybody at last year's Bearwood Shuffle) and very special guests Canard Du Jour.

Tickets are only £10 in advance and £12 on the door with all proceeds raised going to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

 
This is one gig not to be missed!

Thursday 14 November 2013

Broombust a move!



We're jamming and we hope you like jamming too!

Reggage ska rock n rollers, The Broombusters are coming to The Bear on Saturday 30th November.  They've appeared on Top of The Pops (oh how we miss that show) and  performed alongside Chaka Khan and Kool and The Gang.  No way!

The live music starts at 8.30pm at The Bear Tavern and it's FREE! 


P.S. Have you tried the Titanic Stout they serve at The Bear? It's like a chocolate creamy delight served in a pint glass.  We're dreaming about it now!

Tuesday 12 November 2013

Radio Soop


Come on Bearwood...find room in your diary for the sooper Radio Soop play!

Finding themselves plunged into a live radio broadcast with acute staff shortages, a radio repertory company are forced to come up with the sound effects for three one-act plays. Can they vocalise a death-defying carchase round the coastal paths of Cornwall? Will they pull off an alien invasion using just the contents of a handbag? Can the sound of a few sandwiches conjure up a terrifying tale of terror? As off-air mishaps collide with on-air drama, you can be sure of only one thing: the Fifties will never sound the same again!

Performing three original plays inspired by the heyday of radio, four actors provide all the voices and sound effects in an affectionate pastiche of classic genres, including a tale of intrigue and espionage, gothic horror and American science fiction.

Radio Soop is an hilarious theatrical event that recreates the magic, tensions, humour and chaos of live radio

The live theatre perfomance is on for one night only on Thursday 5th December and tickets are only £5 each.  Get yours today!  For more details call Thimblemill Library on 0121 429 2039.

Saturday 9 November 2013

Hot News Flash! Indoor Car Boot Sale!


Today it's bargains, bargains, bargains at Bearwood's first indoor car boot sale at St Mark's Church on Thimblemill Road between 10am - 12pm. Can't wait!

Friday 8 November 2013

Boys N The Wood!


130 years old and still going strong! How do they do it?  We find it hard getting up in the mornings now!

The Bearwood Boys Brigade and Girls Association meet every Thursday at Bearwood Baptist Church.
 

As it says on The Boys Brigade website..."Juniors have fun! Their meetings are crammed full of challenges, games and activities, usually ones that they themselves have suggested. There are hundreds of activities catering for just about every possible interest.

At the same time we try to encourage them to explore other new interests. There is loads of variety and little chance of becoming bored! "

Children between 5-11 are more than welcome to go along.  The fun starts at 6pm and runs until 7.30pm. Subs are £1.50 per child.

To find out more click on the 22nd Birmingham Boys Brigade and Girls Association Facebook page.

Thursday 7 November 2013

Bearwood Autumn Craft Fair


St Hilda's Church (Abbey Road) is holding their Autumn Crafts Fair next Saturday, 16th November.

The event's in aid of two very worthy charities, Warley Woods Community Trust and Ideal for All, so whether it's for a cup of tea and a slice of cake, to enter their raffle or even to be really organised and start your Christmas shopping early, make sure you pop along between 11am - 3pm.

Wednesday 6 November 2013

Chamberlains Chip In For Charity


Not only has our favourite 'plaice', Chamberlains Fish and Chip restaurant made it into the New York Travel Magazine Guide to Birmingham instead of London (read it here!) they're taking part in the Chip In for Charity event on Monday 11th November.


You can enjoy fish and chips for just £1 (what does that buy you nowadays, eh?) and help raise £10,000 for the Fishermen's Mission too. You'll need to get there early though because it's only for the first 100 order taken on the day.

You'll find more details about Chamberlains right here. Chamberlains is at the junction of Hagley Rd West & Wolverhampton Road, next to McDonalds)