Last Saturday I had the privilege of opening the Worcestershire Orchid Society's Show at Stourport High School. 
I knew that orchids were difficult to grow but I did not know that there are over 35,000 species of every size, shade and shape imaginable and that many examples would be there on stands from the host society and from visitors. The stands showed breathtaking masses of colours and forms. I was assured that two purchases I made on a trade stand were the easiest for an amateur to grow and I was extremely grateful to be given a magnificent white orchid in full bloom. Now I am terrified that even with the provided cultural notes it may not survive my care.

I visited Morgan Ceramics to view their plans for development at the rear of their large site in Stourport. 
The plan is to free up the front of the site for housing and then to invest the proceeds in modernising their factory to manufacture the innovative unique ceramic products that they export worldwide. It is a sympathetic development and I was pleased to see the company trying very hard to take local residents along with their plans so vital to the future of this excellent firm employing 280 people.

I attended the fiftieth Anniversary Lunch of the Kidderminster and District Archaeological and Historical Society. 
It is good to know that with this and the Kidderminster Civic Society we have two bodies determined to fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge of Kidderminster's history.

2007 Centre for Social Justice Awards: These are awards of £5000 to reward and celebrate grassroots organisations doing exceptional work in tackling poverty and advancing social justice - www.centreforlocaljustice.org.uk/awards - closing date 25 April.

The Football Foundation provides grants to schools, sports clubs and other organisations for new sports kit and equipment, coaching packs, safety goal posts and much larger grants for improving local sports facilities. Information from: www.footballfoundation.org.uk

I visited Kidderminster Magistrates Court recently to find out about the support available for children who appear in court or on a video link as witnesses. 
Although we have a new court building the design leaves much to be desired. The room in which a child witness is interviewed is separate from the main building that houses the court room. Parents understandably are not allowed into the interview room with their child and the waiting area outside this room does not have a video link, thus waiting parents cannot know what happens during the interview except from their child's comments afterwards. If two parents accompany the child, they can request that one of them goes into the court to watch the video session while the other waits near the child. This permission is at the discretion of the magistrates but I am assured that it would normally be granted.

RT

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