Castle Bromwich Community Website

Thursday 29 September at 7.00 pm in the Visitor Centre at the Gardens

£6.00 per person - maximum 4 per team includes Fish and Chip Supper and Tea or Coffee

Pre-booking required due to limited sace - please contact the office or Malcolm on 07769717248

Castle Bromwich Theatre Group will again be presenting their annual pantomime at Arden Hall. This year's performance will be Hansel & Gretel which will run from Tuesday January 18th until Saturday January 22nd. Tickets are available by phoning 0121 247 0989 or 0776 5962667.

The Castle Bromwich Theatre Group has been performing at Arden Hall for over 50 years and during that time have used local children in their chorus. This year Hansel will be played by Ben Clayton, aged 11, and Gretel will be played by both Victoria Youster, aged 13, and Rosie Tanner, aged 11. Tommy, the Dame's young son, will be played by Alex Gamer-Jones, aged 11. The principle boy and girl are Rebecca Hands and Sophie Perry.

The pantomime will have its usual cast of characters such as the Dame, the Fairy, the Wicked Witch, the Wood Cutter and the cruel wife of the King of the Gypsies.

Castle Bromwich Community Festival which is set to kick off the Solihull Festival onSaturday September 11th is gearing itself up for a day of magnificent celebrations including music, dance, arts and crafts and lots of gunge, water, foam and fun with a charity fundraising "It's a Knockout" contest.

The Festival, which will be held in the grounds of Castle Bromwich Junior School, will boast an arena where there are 16 acts lined up to keep everyone entertained all day along with community stalls, a climbing wall and rodeo bull. Visitors will also be able to try their hand at circus skills and Bollywood dancing and enjoy free face painting and smoothies ensuring that there will be plenty to keep families happy from opening at 10.45 am till close at 5pm.

The event has been organised by the Castle Bromwich Community Project an entirely volunteer run organisation which undertakes projects designed to improve the quality of life in the areas it operates in. A fundamental objective of the Project is to ensure that young people have the opportunity to engage in activities which develop their capacities and skills, at the same time as enjoying themselves. The organisation of the Festival has provided the perfect opportunity for two young volunteers to learn more about event organisation and add some impressive details to their CVs.

Alex, aged 16, volunteered to assist with organising the Acts taking place in the arena. He will have been involved in the organisation right from the initial formulating of ideas through to the management of the event on the day. He has personally undertaken to promote the activities, find acts, and liaise with performers, to create a running order and to act as a sound engineer on the day. He has also personally enlisted the help of three other young volunteers to assist with the stage management on the day.

Ashleigh, aged 19, has also been involved throughout. He has acted as Secretary to the planning meetings, developed organisational systems, and helped to design and publish promotional literature,websites and press releases.

A spokesperson for the Project said, “The Festival has been a fantastic vehicle for young volunteers to work side by side with older members of the community. Different generations have shared skills and experiences learning from each other and developing a better understanding of each others’ perspectives.”

Castle Bromwich Theatre Group will once again be presenting a traditional pantomine to audiences in 2011. Auditions for performers for " Hansel & Gretel" will be held at the Pavilion Arden Hall  Wednesday September 8th and the Spencer Suite Arden Hall Thursday September 9th. Both audition times start at 7.30 pm and attendance at both nights auditions will be necessary to be considered for casting. Children must be between the ages of 8 to 15 with singing, acting and/or dancing ability.

This traditional pantomime features roles for 3 male & 4 female principals plus a boy & girl as the title characters. There are also 2 minor male roles, 1 minor female role, 2 people to fill Zippy the pantomime horses’ costume, plus a chorus consisting of adults, children & dancers to perform in a variety of singing and dancing roles as villagers, gypsies, mice, birds, fairies & toys. If you are interested in any of these roles, or perhaps could offer your help in any of the many behind-the-scenes positions, please go along to auditions or contact the producer, June Stephens on 0121 748 2499.

Castle Bromwich Theatre Group is  also holding a social evening in the Bar Lounge of Arden Hall on Thursday 2nd September at 7.30pm for anyone who would like to discuss the roles or any other aspect of the theatre group.

Mell Square will be encouraging visitors to get active on Thursday August 5th.

Have a go at the rock climbing tower, trampolines and the bungee swings – they are sure to get your heart pumping. For something a little calmer, the Yoga Bugs will be around to give free yoga with a difference for children.

Solihull received its seventh Green Flag Award this year and in celebration held special flag raisings across the borough. On Wednesday 28 July Green Flags were hoisted in the seven parks by the Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Ian Courts, Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Tim Hodgson  and representatives from a number of Friends of Parks groups and conservation volunteers, who work with the Council’s Park Rangers to keep Solihull’s park clean, tidy and green. 

This year Meriden Park joined Malvern & Brueton, Shirley, Knowle, Elmdon, Lavender Hall and Dorridge parks to gain Green Flag status.A record number of Green Flags Award winners in the UK were announced by the Award body this year who encouraged all parks to raise their flags on Wednesday as part of Love Parks Week. The Green Flag Award scheme is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. Solihull Council received its first Green Flag in 2002 for Elmdon Park.  For the second year running Solihull has the second highest number of Green Flags in the West Midlands region.

Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Tim Hodgson was at the morning hoistings at Malvern & Brueton, Shirley and Knowle parks and the Mayor of Solihull attended the flag raisings in the afternoon at Meriden, Lavender Hall and Dorridge parks.

The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Ian Courts said: “We have a great range of beautiful parks in Solihull, which offer spaces to relax, play, socialise and exercise in.   I would also like to thank all those who help in our parks.  These volunteers dedicate their time to improve and maintain our parks for all residents and visitors to enjoy. The Mayoress and I were personally involved in the four acre woodland planting at Lavender Hall Park, Katherine's Wood, and helped organise Lottery Funding through Meriden Rotary Club.  This enabled its early designation as a Nature Reserve, as well as helping its Green Flag achievement"

More information on parks administered by Solihull Council can be found HERE

Councillor Tim Hodgson said: “Receiving seven Green Flags in Solihull is a remarkable achievement and something everyone in Solihull should be proud of.  Last year we narrowly missed out on a Green Flag in Meriden Park but after a lot work from Park Rangers and volunteers we have been awarded with a flag. We have a great range of parks in the borough where people can enjoy the outdoors and nature.  We also hold many events throughout the year which really bring the parks alive. I would urge all residents to get outside this summer and see what your local park has to offer.”

CHELMSLEY Wood police officers got theirhands dirty when they helped build a new adventure playground in Meriden Park.

The playground, which has been funded by theNational Lottery, aims to provide the local youths with an exciting and funarea to play in, with a tyre swing, woodwork area that doubles up as a rain shelter, and a water area to splash about in.

Sergeant Mark Cowl and his team were keen to get involved with the project and working alongside the park’s play leaders andpark rangers, they got their shovels out to dig up ground to create the new features.

Sgt Cowl added: “As local neighbourhood officers, we are always looking for different diversionary activities for th local youths to take part in and encourage them to stay out of trouble. 

“The new adventure playground allows the kids to hang out with their friends as well as learn new skills from the playleaders, including building and growing their own fruit and vegetables.”

Throughout February & March Solihull Libraries will be hosting a range of fun activities for the under 5s and their carers. From 2pm on Tuesday 9th February, the popular Sally Tonge will be telling stories and singing songs at Castle Bromwich library.

Also entertaining at Castle Bromwich library will be Jo Jingles who makes music and rhymes for children from 18 months to 4 years. Jo will be at Castle Bromwich library from 1pm on  Thursday March 4th.

A range of other activities will be on offer for young children at other libraries throughout Solihull. You can find details HERE