News from Castle Bromwich Parish Council & Arden Hall

News

Condolences

Castle Bromwich Parish Council wish to express it's regret at the sudden death of Ernie Woodhouse. Mr Woodhouse had been a regular attendee at parish council meetings and events for many years and was always prepared to offer his views as a long standing resident who proudly cared for his neighbours in Castle Bromwich and the wider community of Solihull. The Parish Council wish to pay tribute to Mr Woodhouse in memory of his contribution in helping to make Castle Bromwich the type of community that cares for others and a place in which people wish to live. He will be sadly missed by all members of Castle Bromwich Parish Council and staff of the Council Office.

PRESENTATION OF AWARD FOR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

Castle Bromwich Parish Council Award for Services to the Community

At the Parish Council Meeting on 27th January 2010, Cllr John Riordan, Chairman of Castle Bromwich Parish Council, presented Jonathan Adams, Park Hall Academy, with the Parish Council’s Award for Service to the Community together with a gift voucher. Jonathan is pictured receiving the award with his parents.

The Parish Council had been particularly impressed with Jonathan’s community work. He had worked with architects to help design the new Academy, helped the school arrange the successful Garden and Christmas parties, worked with the School Council on travel plans, given presentations to governors and helped to interview staff, including the current Principal. Since his work experience placement at Heartlands Hospital the previous year, Jonathan has become a voluntary helper at the Hospital every Sunday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Horace Benson, S.Q.M.S. a World War II Veteran delivers a presentation on Team Leadership in the Uniformed Public Services

Mr Horace Benson, S.Q.M.S. a World War II Veteran delivers a presentation on Team Leadership in the Uniformed Public Services

On Monday 25th January the BTEC National Public Services Sixth Form students, Mr Smith and Mrs O'Keefe were treated to a session at Arden Hall with Horace Benson, a World War II veteran. The session was arranged by The Castle Bromwich Parish Council and Councillor Mrs Pauline Allen was in attendance to support Mr Benson and the students, it proved to be a wonderful experience for all involved.

The Park Hall Academy students are looking at "Team Leadership in the Uniform Public Services" and clearly enjoyed listening to Mr Benson's accounts about life in the forces in the 1940s and the Dunkirk Landings. The Sixth Form students asked Mr Benson numerous questions about his memories and experiences and then a female student asked Horrace if he would teach them how to march. Mr Benson readily obliged and spent an hour putting the students through their paces. Mr Benson had a lovely manner when working with the students and when the session came to an end everyone showed their appreciation in the usual way. We were especially proud to see every student came over and shook Mr Benson's hand. Mr Benson said that the students clearly enjoyed the session as much as he did and that they were a real credit to their generation, praise indeed from a man whose generation "gave their tomorrows for our today".

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service

An extract appears below of the letter of thanks from the Chairman of the Parish Council following the open-air Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service at the Village Green in Castle Bromwich. Over 700 people attended this poignant event, including a growing number of young people, Youth Parish Councillors and representatives of local schools.

"On behalf of the Firs Branch of the Royal British Legion, Members of Castle Bromwich Parish Council and Parishioners, may I thank you most sincerely for your kind contribution to this annual occasion.

The service was most dignified and the public who attended were clearly moved by the service. There has been much praise and appreciation for the service that was provided. It is gratifying to see attendance still growing and community support clearly established for such a poignant event.

The Clerk to the Council is particularly grateful for all of the help she received with the increasing arrangements that are required - both before Remembrance Day itself and also behind the scenes to enable the march, the service and the road closures to safely take place. As recorded in the 550 service sheets distributed, I express my thanks to:

to all voluntary safety marshals;
to Highway Traffic Management Ltd for again supplying road barriers and signage completely free of charge;
to Mr C Beebee for public address system support;
Castle Bromwich Singers for providing choir and organist;
to West Midlands Police and Safety Advisory Group;
helpers who prepared the refreshments, residents and motorists who showed patience during road closures and to those people who helped plan and prepare for this service.

Many thanks yet again and I hope you feel able to join us again next year to help - Sunday 14th November 2010 is ready to go in our diary.

Yours sincerely,
Councillor John Riordan
Chairman of the Parish Council

You may be interested to see photos that the local police team have taken and displayed of the Remembrance Sunday service at the Village Green, which I know Sgt. Paul O'Reilly is happy share via this link.

MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING RAISES £664.06

MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING RAISES £664.06

The Parish Council is delighted to announce that their first Macmillan Coffee Morning on Friday 25th September, raised a staggering £664.06

Grateful thanks to all local businesses, groups and friends for their generosity, kind donations and support for this event, including those below.

Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to visit stalls, find out about events and shows at Arden Hall, buy their cakes, choose Macmillan goods, watch line dancing, or wait for the marvelous raffle to be drawn.

Donations received from:

  • Morrisons
  • Tescos
  • Redcroft Building Supplies
  • Parkfield Building Services
  • Pete the Butcher
  • Woolpack
  • K.F.C
  • Alex Smith Estate Agents
  • Discovery Cabling Solutions Ltd
  • Castle Convenience
  • The Local
  • The Black Country Living Museum
  • S.P Fisher
  • Halfords
  • RTP
  • Halls Garden Supplies
  • Castle Bromwich Parish Council
  • Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens
  • Walsh Chiropody & Podiatry
  • Colas Fish and Chip bar
  • George Rigby
  • Natalie Szrejder
  • Kirsty Szrejder
  • Debbie Szrejder
  • Pauline Allen
  • Frances Nicholas
  • Jackie Blackburn
  • Chris Beebee
  • Carol Haycock
  • Martin Lance
  • Cathy Tibbles
  • Derrick Bache
  • Mr & Mrs Cook

5th Castle Bromwich Brownies

5th Castle Bromwich Brownies having been working on their garden in the Garden of Memory throughout the summer and on Saturday 24th October 2009 planted two rose bushes in memory of a former Brown Owl. They also planted spring bulbs which were given as part of the Solihull Youth and Community Scheme for "plant a bulb" day. Rain didn't stop play and everyone enjoyed the morning.
Our thanks go to the Parish Council for allowing the Brownies to have a section of the Garden of Memory for our Community Project and to remember a very popular Brown Owl, which hopefully can be enjoyed by all.
All Brownies will continue to be involved and look forward to the Spring when this garden should be ablaze with colour.

5th Castle Bromwich Brownies meet every Monday in term time from 6 pm - 7.30 pm in the Pavilion at Arden Hall. Should your daughter be interested in joining Brownies, then contact Arden Hall who will pass on your details.

CHAIRMAN PRESENTS CHARITY CHEQUES TO LOCAL ORGANISATIONS

CHAIRMAN PRESENTS CHARITY CHEQUES TO LOCAL ORGANISATIONS

Following another successful year of well-supported and different fundraising events, the Chairman of the Parish Council, Councillor John Riordan, presented cheques to 17 different local organisations.

The proceeds of the Chairman's Charity Fund are distributed annually in May according to the preferences of the retiring Chairman. This took place at the Annual Meeting of Parishioners on Tuesday, 5th May 2008 at 7.45 pm in the Spencer Suite at Arden Hall. The organisations receiving a donation from the Chairman's Charity Fund this year were :-

  • 5th Castle Bromwich Brownies
  • Friday Club of Age Concern
  • Monday Club of Age Concern
  • Castle Bromwich Boy's Brigade
  • Castle Bromwich Cub Scouts
  • Castle Bromwich Friends in Retirement
  • Castle Bromwich Friends of Acorns
  • Castle Bromwich Girl Guides Association
  • Castle Bromwich Girls Brigade
  • Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens Trust
  • Castle Bromwich Infants School
  • Castle Bromwich Junior School
  • Castle Bromwich Scouts
  • Castle Bromwich Youth and Community Centre
  • Castle Bromwich Youth Parish Council
  • Park Hall School
  • St Mary & St Margarets School

After the cheques were presented a group photograph was taken. The total amount presented was staggering £2,635.