News

Dr Cathleen Elliott MBE

1^st Jun 2019

It was with great sadness that we recently learned of the death of Dr.Cath Elliott who passed away on April 18, 2019 aged 98. Cath was a long standing member and indeed a life member of the Society.

Cath lived in the area for most of her life and spent most of her childhood living at Chadwich Manor, Lydiate Ash.  In 1953 she moved with her parents to a new home in Monument Lane where she lived until 2015 when she moved to live near her sister in the village of Elmley Castle, near Pershore.  A Thanksgiving Service for Cath’s life was held at Elmley Castle Church on May 9.

For many years, Cath was a respected and well-loved Family Doctor in Bromsgrove. She was awarded the MBE in 2007 for her work as Chair of the Bromsgrove Branch of the Save the Children Fund which she served with distinction for many years.  It was typical of Cath that she wrote regularly to the local media to thank those people who supported the charity in many different ways.

Cath was also a very active and much loved member of Holy Trinity Church at Lickey.  Cath took part in various working parties at the church where one of her responsibilities was cleaning the drains – not the most glamorous of jobs but one that Cath was happy to take on.  A number of members of the church travelled to Elmley Castle for the Thanksgiving Service.

Photo - Cath in 2007 with a cup at the SCF stall in Bromsgrove - courtesy of Jane Ashe

Cath was an active member of the Society, regularly attending meetings and taking part in practical activities.  I well remember one autumn litter pick five or six years ago.  It was pouring with rain and those of us who had gathered in the Visitor Centre were considering cancelling the event due to the conditions.  We were just about to make an announcement to that effect when the doors opened and in walked Cath in full wet weather gear.  If Cath who was in her early nineties at the time was willing to turn out then who were we to cancel!  We did agree to collect for about an hour and meet back in the Visitor Centre – who was last to return, Cath of course.

This one simple event well illustrates the commitment and dedication of Cath to the Lickey Hills and to the Society.  She loved the Lickeys which played an important part in her life, it is thought that she walked her various dogs on the Hills every day for some 60 years!  Our thoughts at this time are with Cath, her family and her many friends.

Rednal Tram Terminus

13^th Mar 2019

The Bristol Road tram line was extended to reach Rednal on 14 April 1924.  The number 70 trams linked Birmingham city centre to the Lickeys until the last tram ran on 5 July 1952.  The trams provided Brummies and others with an easy means of access to the Lickey Hills.

As many members will know, there is a stretch of the original tram tracks at Rednal adjacent to what is now the Lai Ling restaurant.  Following consultation with the restaurant manager and Birmingham’s Conservation Officer, several members of the Society’s committee have started work to remove the moss and weeds that cover the tracks.  

The Society believes that the original tram track at Rednal is the last remaining in situ track in the city.

'Jack's Support' Programme

12^th Mar 2019

The new Jack’s store – the ‘value store’ of Tesco – opened in Rubery in October 2018.  The ‘Jack’s Supports’ Programme funds local community groups using money raised from the sale of plastic bags.  The Society is delighted to have been nominated for an award under the scheme along with a number of other organisations.  Each nominated group receives £250 to celebrate their nomination.  We will be looking to identify a project which can be supported by the award, possibly the re-establishment of an orienteering course on the Lickeys or work to be done at the tram terminus.

The Society is currently putting together an application for further funding.  Customers at the store will be encouraged to vote for the organisation that they would like to see receiving the funding using a voting machine at the exit of the store.  The winning group will be guaranteed a minimum of £500.  We are naturally asking members to vote for the Society when you next visit the store.  Many thanks for your support.