Recorded in the Doomsday Book as Bremesgrave and boasting the future guild that would one day make the gates for Buckingham Palace - not to mention from the 17th Century being the World's leading nail manufacturer following the French Hugenot's input, Bromsgrove, the birth place in 1959 of Mark Williams (perhaps better known as Arthur Weasley, Ron's dad in the Harry Potter franchise) surely has a history to rival that of any small provincial town.

Travel just a couple of miles along the A38 south of Bromsgrove you will come to the broadcasting masts at Wychbold, beaming out across the 6 Boroughs and letting the outside World know we’re here. By night twinkling red lights warn oncoming light aircraft of their presence whilst by day their name is still visable on old dark wooded radiograms; indeed it can be disconcerting to see Droitwich glowing on the dial, jostling for airtime with the Berlins, Belgrades and Bratislavas of mainland Europe; a valance dangling atop an iron Curtain. The masts are easily visible from the road so there is no need to stop, they just sort of go into the earth. Drive a mile or so further and you will arrive at Droitwich Spa where the M5 provides easy access; North to Birmingham and South to Bristol.

North East Worcestershire College - '...this might just be the place for you'.

North East Worcestershire’s (N.E.W) college occupies two campuses, at Bromsgrove and Redditch respectively. Joined at the tip by duel carriageway they offer mainly vocational courses so if you’re into make up, tourism or simply want to put off becoming a single mum just a little while longer then this might well be the place for you. 

For the more 'motorvated' school leaver N.E.W college has an apprenticeship in Car Vehicle Engineering, no doubt essential for working at one of the tyre and exhaust shops that dot the towns backstreets. Talking of courses there are also bricklaying courses to satisfy the inner brickie in all of us. Indeed, a mature student from Bromsgrove won the Battle of the Brickies, a.k.a the Guild of Master Bricklayers Competition, beating competitors from as far away as Stoke on Trent and Litchfield.

0.00 Start out on unnamed road Unclassified 0.00

0.93 Turn left onto the B3069 B3069 0.93

2.11 At T-junction turn left onto the A351 (signposted Wareham) A351 3.04

1.30 At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A351 (signposted Wareham) A351 4.34

2.33 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A351 (signposted Wareham) A351 6.67

1.53 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A351 (signposted Poole) A351 8.20

0.80 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A351 (signposted Poole) A351 9.00

0.30 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A351 (signposted Poole) A351 9.30

0.67 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A351 (signposted Poole) A351 9.97

0.45 Warning: Speed Cameras along the A351 A351 10.42

0.25 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A351 (signposted Poole) A351 10.67

1.05 At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A351 (signposted Poole) A351 11.72

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Bromsgrove’s favourite son remains the poet AE Houseman (1859 - 1936), who having been born in the town attended the town’s minor public school and wrote A Shropshire Lad (1896) by way of thanks – a triumph of vanity publishing. In later years Dad married a cousin and Alfred Edward experienced unrequited love at Oxford.

For this local delicacy you will need the following; two Black Worcestershire pears, half a cup of semi skimmed milk and some muscavado sugar.

Peel and slice the pears making sure to discard any horrid bits.

Put all the ingredients in a food mixer and mix at a high speed. Add more milk to dilute and sugar to taste. Decant into a long glass. Tasty!

For decoration why not add a slice of pear or even a cocktail umbrella, classy!

Variations on this include adding a small amount of almond or cinnamon or for something a little more sophisticated add Amoretto liqeur to create the Pear of the Dog!

For a party trick add black food colouring - not too much though or you won't want to drink it since it does look fairly indigestible!

Salut! x