
I was really pleased to be able assist Kempsey Colts by funding 28 Warm Bench Coats. Kempsey Colts is a Kempsey based community, grass-roots football club, catering for youth teams from age 5 to 18, for both girls and boys. The club is run by volunteers and has over 200 children signed up, and over 350 parent members.
Sport is an important part of our children's wellbeing, both physically and mentally. I feel it is so important to ensure children get away from the internet and instead get out in the fresh air and enjoy themselves. I was delighted to
help.
Vice Chair Richard Smith, who along with so many others helps run Kempsey Colts, said “These coats will allow the 200+ children to keep warm whilst playing football through the winter months. It’s important that substitutes keep their bodies warm, as they might have to join the game at any moment. These jackets will allow the kids to enjoy their game, plus reduce injuries
through the young players getting cold while waiting on the subs bench.”




Kempsey Times

Kempsey Colts get to keep warm

Freedom Activities CIC are a not-for-profit local community interest company offering inclusive fun sports and physical activity sessions within and around
Pershore. Our aim is to provide a safe and fun environment for all participants to enjoy our sessions whilst improving fitness levels, mental and emotional
wellbeing and having the opportunity to meet new people.
All sessions we run are very sociable offering refreshments and the chance to enjoy the social aspect of the group.



Young at Heart is a gentle yet effective exercise class, run to music, inclusive for seniors of all abilities and ages. The class also includes a game of Boccia (indoor bowling). Classes are held in Pershore every Monday 1.15 - 2.15pm at Pershore
Leisure Centre and every Friday 10-11am at Eckington Village Hall. Each class is £4 and includes refreshments.


www.freedomactivities.com/
young-at-heart.html

 is a fun social inclusive version of netball. It is suitable for all genders and may appeal to those who are new to netball and prefer a slower pace of the
game. We meet every Tuesday 12-1pm at Pershore Leisure Centre. Sessions cost £4.50 and for those who become regular players a free club t-shirt is available.


is a fun sociable version of football
inclusive to all and open to players of all genders. No previous football experience is required. We meet every Thursday 11am-12pm at Pershore and District Sports Club. Sessions cost £4.50 with tea and coffee included.


www.freedomactivities.com/
pershore-plum-stars-fc.html

www.freedomactivities.com/
pershore-plummies.html


If you would be interested in
finding out more about our fun,
sociable activities.
Please get in touch with Lorna
on:07904 354642 or email:
freedomactivities123@gmail.com
Find us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/
freedomactivities123



Powick Times

Pershore Times

Upton Times

Freedom Activities

 Public Consultation Plans for the community land at Old Road South / Pixham Ferry Lane as a Community and Sports Centre were on display to the public during the weekend of
the 3rd and 4th February at the Youth Centre, Plovers Rise recreation grounds. Over 200 members of the public attended the event and members of the council and project partners were present to answer questions and collect comments. The plans were available at the Parish Council’s website for a further two weeks with an invitation to send in comments to the Parish Office. The consultation period has now closed. All the comments received have been collated and are being considered by the Council which intends to publish a summary document of the outcomes towards the end of March. Four significant offers of help with the project were received from members of the public with particular expertise.
If you would like to be involved in creating this facility, please contact the Parish Office.


 Kempsey continues to face development on its doorstep.This time last year there was the possibility of nearly 240 more houses being added to the village
from three speculative planning applications, all outside its defined development boundary. These would have been additional to the 540 or so developed in recent years and the 46% population growth between 2011 and 2021. All three applications were opposed by the Parish Council and residents, not the least because infrastructure and services have not grown to meet the extra demand created. One application was refused planning permission on appeal. Despite this success, another, for 40 dwellings, was granted by MHDC in December subject to a legal agreement first being completed. This decision was
strongly influenced by there not being a sufficient supply of developable housing land as the government requires. The same applied to the remaining
application (M/23/00372/OUT), this time for 140 dwellings at the southern edge of the village, which led to it being recommended for approval. Over 280 letters
of objection, a petition raised by a local action group and several Parish Council
representations had been submitted. However, the strength of local feeling was
made abundantly clear when District Councillors, inspecting the site, were met by 60 or soangry local residents bearing placards. A similar number attended the committee meeting on 7th February with standing room only for many. The
debate centred notably on the lack of services and particularly the fact that our primary school is at over capacity with no further room to expand. Forty or so young children would need to be bussed to schools elsewhere. Although the
proposal included the offer of land for a primary school and a financial contribution, the estimated £13.7 million required to build it is not available now or is likely in the foreseeable future. The application was overwhelmingly refused by 11 votes to 2, against the officer recommendation. It is likely that an appeal will follow.
This is a good example of public involvement in the planning process. However
influential such open expression of local concern may be, it is essential that you are proactive in these decisions. After all it is your lives, your homes, your towns and villages and your environment which are being affected.

For more information regarding the activities of the Parish Council, please refer to our website
www.kempseyhub.co.uk
For all enquiries, please
contact Sharon Baxter,
Parish Council Clerk
and Financial Officer on
01905 828183 or by email at
kempseyparishcouncil@gmail.com

Kempsey Parish Council News

Local musicians and choir aiming high for Air Ambulance Charity

A full orchestra and choir are set to stage a special performance in aid of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity in Pershore Abbey at 7.30 pm on Saturday 13th April.
The programme will feature a live performance of In Paradisum, an original requiem by Andrew Hemming (Musical Director of popular Pershore Operatic and Dramatic Society) along with music by American composer Keith Jarrett played by award winning local concert pianist Marcel Zidani.
Andrew told us that the Air Ambulance Charity is close to his heart. “My Grandad Harry, who lost his son Stephen after a car crash before I was born,
often wondered would Stephen’s chances of survival have improved had the air ambulance been operating then?
Raising cash to help avoid other families having to ask that question seemed appropriate, especially as the concert date will mark the third anniversary
of Harry’s death. ” Grateful to the musicians and singers volunteering their time and talent to this fundraiser, Andrew added, “Thanks to their interpretive
artistry, the evening’s music promises to match the majesty of its setting. Together, we aim to raise enough cash for one of our Air Ambulance’s life-saving missions, but that’s down to people’s support. Please get your ticket and – together – we’ll keep our Air Ambulance funded and flying for all.”


Tickets are on sale at
Blue in Broad Street,
Pershore Town Hall, or
online at Ticket Source.
www.ticketsource.co.uk/
whats-on/pershore/pershoreabbey-church-walk/inparadisum/2024-04-13/19:30/



Requiem Concert


For those new to this area, Croome Court is a National Trust property about 4 miles from Pershore towards the Malverns.
It was the home of the Earls of Coventry until World War 2 when the 10th Earl was killed, in France, as the Worcestershire Regiment covered the Allied Army’s retreat
to Dunkirk in late May, early June 1940.
Croome Court became nationally famous in the 18th Century when the 6th Earl, George William Coventry, inherited the property
and brought in Lancelot Brown (later to be known as Capability Brown) to enlarge and to ‘modernise’ the old house in which he had grown up. Later, talent-spotting again, he brought the Scot, Robert Adam to
design interiors. The results produced by these three very talented men attracted the
attention not only of other wealthy
landowners (who copied what had been done at Croome) but also the King, George III. When he was in Cheltenham,
taking the waters, he came with the Queen and the Princesses to spend a day looking at what had been done.
When, after the War, the family could no longer afford to keep the Court and its estate, it was offered to the National Trust.
Unfortunately, that organisation was not interested so the remarkable contents, house and land had to be sold. Today, after
about fifty years in other hands, the Court, some of the estate, and part of the original contents are being looked after by the
National Trust and the Croome Estate Trust.
Thousands of people visit this property each year. It is fascinating and impressive and worth going to see at any time but over
Christmas not only has the Court been splendidly decorated but the ladies who, each week make brilliant flower arrangements, have really gone to town. Some of the decorations, made by Croome
staff and volunteers are shown in the accompanying picture as well as some of the works of our talented flower team.



Local Community

Kempsey Colts get to keep warm

Freedom Activities

Kempsey Parish Council News

Requiem Concert

Croome court