We are constantly receiving comments of praise for our road.  People say that they derive pleasure from walking down it – how nice to hear in this day and age.  We work to keep it litter and graffiti free and have lots of annual plants that have been potted on and which we are in the process of putting in the 20+ planters which we have in the road.  We do need help – it is time and energy consuming

Neighbourhood Watch News from Jeff Robinson

There’s not a lot new to report;  I think the Police are busy adjusting to their revised boundaries which must be a good move.  At last the whole of Acocks Green is under one Police area instead of being split down Olton Boulevard!

One item worth mentioning is the new ‘Nominated Neighbours’ scheme aimed mainly at combating doorstep crime.  The idea is for a fit and active person to deal with doorstep callers on behalf of a frail or elderly/disabled occupant.  If you need further details, contact Georgina Johnstone, Community Partnerships Officer on 0845 1135000.

Meanwhile, the advice remains as always: never leave windows open or doors unlocked when you are out of the house for however short a time and don’t leave anything on display when you park the car.  Break-ins have occurred even when an old jacket has been on the seat, in case the pockets contained anything

As you are all aware, we have trees vandalised continuously and we are constantly contacting the Council to replace them.  Three have been replaced this Winter but unfortunately one of these has been vandalised.  We have contacted the council about replacing more but they inform us that they have a limited amount due to budget restrictions!

Several residents have died since Gordon Kendrick died last year and we have carried out collections for these deaths. The Residents’ Association always provide flowers or where these are not wanted, sends money to their family’s preferred charity. 

As more people have been requesting this, in order to maximise on the amount we give to charity, we have therefore held collections.  We have given around £1000 since the summer fete last year to charities, which have included The British Legion, Alzheimers, Kidney Research, The Seeing Dogs’ Alliance, Marie Curie Hospice, Dog Watch UK and The Woodland Trust.

We have been sent heart-felt thankyous from Sylvia, Bill Fullard’s Wife, Pauline, Roger Fillery’s wife and John Trigwell on behalf of Glynn. 

Collection of GREEN plastic milk bottle tops for a school wheelchair project organised by Patricia Jones.  A bag will be tied to the noticeboard for this purpose.

22 of us went to Dorridge Village Hall Theatre in January.  The star was Rosie, Pauline Fillery’s Granddaughter.  It was Sleeping Beauty but it definitely didn’t send us to sleep with its pantomime humour full of double entendres.  The second half featured a nostalgic look at the War Time Years.  We were encouraged to join in with songs from Vera Lynn such as ‘We’ll meet again’ and ‘The White Cliffs of Dover.’  An actor attempted very successfully to fulfil the role of Churchill and looked very convincing with his large cigar.  A very tasty supper was included.

Security Alert!  Beware - Telephone Scam

There are cases of fraudsters phoning to say that they are representatives of BT and threatening to disconnect because of an unpaid bill.  On being questioned, they offer to demonstrate that they are genuine by cutting off the line, telling you to hang up and then try to telephone someone.  The line is dead until they 'phone back and again, demand, payment, by credit card, at once.  Do not be taken in by this - it is a fraud.  The 'dead' line is achieved by the fraudster leaving HIS 'phone off the hook - it can only become 'live' again after he hangs up - you do the same!! 

Arthur Huckfield

Kath Huckfield felt very proud recently that friends and neighbours held a commemorative service to celebrate his life and his unstinting service to the community.  A plaque has also been laid into the grass on the island at Fox Hollies to honour his life.

He had received the British Empire Medal in his lifetime – these are the type of people who have made our area special.

Strangers’ cars have been noticed at the end of Dogge lane Croft which was linked to break-ins to garages opposite in Hazelwood Road and to a car in Dogge Lane Croft. The latest problem was much worse. There are some people who are working on a local project who live away from their home in Bristol in the house immediately opposite Dogge lane Croft.  Unforyunatley not one, but two of their vans were stolen with a wallet inside one of them.  Someone else living near Dogge Lane Croft had his tools stolen from his van.

We all need to be vigilant and if you see anything suspicious, no matter how trivial it might be, please report it to the police  0845 113 5000. Also please pause and double check that you have locked your car before entering your house

 Please contact Fran if you have any spare time.  Fran would also be grateful for any contributions you can make in the way of seeds or plants.

Trees in the road: unfortunately, the Council appear to be short of trees this year and the City Council confirmed that no trees have been bought for the Ward this year.  However, Bob Hudson has kindly donated two Acers and Ged Hughes of the Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum who works with Fran on the Acocks Green in Bloom has donated six trees – the labels have fallen off so we are not sure whether they are Rowan, Wild Cherry or Silver Birch, that is until they put their leaves on.  They are only babies at present so if anyone would like to grow them on in pots or in their garden please contact Fran. We are also asking Tony Vellam to create a metal surround for the tree which goes on the corner of Dogge Lane Croft in order to stop the dustbin people running over the corner of the road. 

We also managed to get the Highways Department to put weedkiller onto Green Acres only.

NEW ROAD NAME - the observant amongst you will have noticed the new road sign at Green Acres whereby the developers' name of Keepers Way has become Ilsley Drive

This bus route passes the bottom of Hazelwood Road

On the eleventh of November a disparate group of psychogeographers, artists, bloggers, photographers, bus drivers and babies spent eleven hours on Birmingham’s number eleven bus starting after eleven am. There were rules. But not many. The rules were:

• Get on the 11C after 11am on 11/11.
• Get off the 11C at 10pm — 11 hours later — on 11/11.
• You can get on and off the bus as many times as you like (don’t spend more than an hour off bus at one time).
• Document your journey; photos, film, writing, cross-stitch, knitting, amigurumi, poetry, blog, twitter, however you like.
• Meet up with others as mad as you, if you want.
• Record everything here — or on your own space and link us up.

The idea is that a snapshot of the real Birmingham from a number of different people will emerge, one that’s unedited, unspun, and unwashed. Circling the city will force the gaze inward, focussing our attention exclusively on our municipality.

Commander Alex McDonald who lived in the road for over 40 years died this month.

He was born in Northern Ireland and attended Dartmouth Naval College as a youth emerging with a Commission, commanding submarines and ships in World War II. He also became Chairman of the Evening Mail’s ‘Christmas Tree Fund’ which donated provisions to the needy at Christmas and was awarded the OBE for his services.