Aldridge United Podcast

13/08/2022

A beer-flavoured special, recorded the night before today's Aldridge Social Club Beer Festival.

With a special interview about the summer activities for young people at Aldridge Youth Theatre.

30/07/2022

Episode 21 – the podcast comes of age and we have a long old chat about the summer, the beer festivals (well done to the 1st Aldridge Scouts on yours!), and interviews with Aldridge Running Club and Orchard Hills Bakery.

Aldridge Running Club’s website is here: http://www.aldridgerunningclub.co.uk
If you want to try the club, you should contact the club by e-mail. The details are on their new members page: http://www.aldridgerunningclub.co.uk/new-members.html

Orchard Hills Bakery is also online here: http://orchardhillsbakery.co.uk

Aldridge Social Club Beer Festival is Saturday 13th August. Details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/294577349403597/

The Kids Disco is tomorrow night, 4:30 til 6:30 at Aldridge Social Club. Pay on the door. I understand you’ll be able to watch the England v Germany match on the screen while the tunes are keeping the little ones dancing.

19/07/2022

We talked to these people recently on an episode - what a great cuase and fantastic to provide entertainment for the little ones over the holidays! No need to book - just show up and join in.

☀️☀️Who’s ready for our next disco?? ☀️☀️

We are raising money for the wonderful James Brindley foundation by having an indoor beach party so come join us on Sunday 31st July 4.30pm till 6.30pm! X

02/07/2022

This week we hit TWENTY episodes of Aldridge United Podcast and we’re talking about the usual important things – beer, community, karate and trying to catch up with the running club.

Aldridge Beer Festival is in two weeks’ time, and you can find out more (including getting advance tickets which are essential) on their page here: https://www.facebook.com/aldridgebeerfestival/

The Aldridge Social Club Beer Festival on August 13th is open entry (£2 on the door plus £1 glass deposit) and you can join up to the Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/294577349403597

Holiday at Home has launched (we spoke to Anne Kelsall last episode) – find out more through Linking Lives Aldridge https://www.facebook.com/linkinglivesaldridge/

Finally, you can just turn up to see what Zen Shin offer in Aldridge, or you can visit their page here: https://www.facebook.com/zenshinmartialartsassociation

And if you have suggestions for cool things to do within 3 miles of Aldridge, just e-mail them to us here: [email protected]

26/06/2022

As featured on our last episode.

18/06/2022

Episode 19 pf Aldridge United Podcast, celebrating everything brilliant about Aldridge and the surrounding area. Andrew and Russell are nearly recovered from the Jubilee, and in fine form!

We’ve an exclusive interview with Anne from Linking Lives, talking about the Holiday at Home project, and you can find out more from their page: https://www.facebook.com/linkinglivesaldridge

Also, shout outs to Grimm Tales at Aldridge Youth Theatre (tickets from here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/walsall/aldridge-youth-theatre/grimm-tails/e-pylmpr?fbclid=IwAR3ZbXZxtb7s98Se8H9099CHhz2PcT_dNtdaN6klF4rLc2_xEotzPlgzsJQ)

And finally to the kids’ disco next Sunday., where the theme is Superheros. They have a page here: https://www.facebook.com/Keeping-kids-entertained-101646615836150

28/05/2022

Episode 18 – and we have loads of things to talk about regarding the Jubilee celebrations. One's four-day weekend begins Thursday.

Beginning tomorrow night with the Kid’s Disco: https://fb.me/e/2kAVG8JgB
Then on Thursday the Beacon lighting on The Croft.
Saturday’s big picnic on The Croft will be a highlight of the week, and there’s a funday at St Thomas’ church as well!

If you want to turn out on Sunday for church on The Croft – Aldridge Parish Church are out there hold their morning service outdoors.

And of course there’s Walsall Festival of Words on June 8th/9th. https://www.facebook.com/walsallwords

God save the Queen!

30/04/2022

Another episode of Aldridge’s most positive podcast.

Thanks very much to Rachel at Simpsons Gin Bar for their hospitality, and don’t forget to shout up if you can be the voice of Daniel Challis. More info on the BBC website here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-birmingham-61237277

16/04/2022

What’s the plan for the Jubilee weekend in June? We have some of the answers locally, and it includes a national register and bagpipes.

For more info you can look here:

Platinum Jubilee Planning: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jubileealdridge
Aldridge Running Festival: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aldridgerunningfestival
Aldridge Beer Festival: https://www.facebook.com/aldridgebeerfestival
(Social Club beer festival will be Sat 13th August too! Link will be shared when we have one)

And of course we’re winding up to a huge Christmas in eight months!

19/03/2022

Episode 14 and our chaps are just having a bit of a chinwag.

Some exciting stuff coming up though – Aldridge Cinema on Mother’s Day showing Minions. £3 per child, £1 per adult, and a special deal on popcorn and milkshake. 4:30pm on Sunday 27th March. More here: https://www.facebook.com/aldridgecinema/

Walsall Festival of Words – https://www.facebook.com/walsallwords

Aldridge Beer Festival (the original Scout Hut one) - https://www.facebook.com/aldridgebeerfestival/

More information will be published about Jubilee celebrations when we have it.

Other honourable mentions:
Aldridge Transport Museum (formerly Aston Manor Road Transport Museum) - http://www.amrtm.org
The Table coffee shop - https://www.instagram.com/thetablewalsall/
Asgard Games - https://www.asgardgamesuk.co.uk
Jewellery & Gifts - https://jewellery-and-gifts.co.uk
Linking Lives (Aldridge Methodist Church) - https://linkinglives.uk/project/aldridge/
Aldridge Youth Theatre - https://www.facebook.com/AldridgeYouthTheatre/

Feel free to drop us a line at [email protected] for further information on anything mentioned in the podcast.

05/03/2022

Episode Thirteen of Aldridge United Podcast, and we’re on a roll – things are returning as the weather improves and Andrew pops Out of Aldridge once more. What a surprise, he’s having a last beer before he gives them up for Lent.

Aldridge Village Partnership meets regularly in the village and is chaired by Maria of Jewellery & Gifts. Pop into their shop or drop her a message on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jewellery-Gifts-Aldridge-251708181540760/
Aldridge Cinema has a page here: https://www.facebook.com/aldridgecinema
Finally, The Brew House is also on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BrewHouseMicropub

19/02/2022

Episode Twelve, and Russell’s been about the village meeting Aldridge Shed and finding out how panicked Mr Mainwaring was when the Circle Players brought Dad’s Army to the stage of Aldridge Youth Theatre.

Aldridge Shed have a page here: https://www.facebook.com/aldridgeshed/
The Circle Players are likewise here: https://www.facebook.com/TheCirclePlayers

05/02/2022

God save the Queen! On the eve of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee we talk to the bellringers planning to ring in the big day and have tea with the commanding officer at the local air cadet squadron.

More information about the squadron can be found on the MOD website here: https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/find-a-squadron/wales-west/staffordshire-wing/425-aldridge/
The squadron also have a presence on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/425-Aldridge-Squadron-Royal-Air-Force-Air-Cadets-Public-1529063490647893/

As always, let us know if you have a story we should share, or somebody brilliant we should be interviewing. Is it really February already?

22/01/2022

Into double figures! We’re at Episode ten, and Russell and Andrew are still going.

Hear the back story to a tale of goodwill and community care; the mysteries of Bob’s Garage and the tools in use on the canal; and Russell has big news.

Aldridge Rotarians can be found on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/aldridgerotaryclub/
Andy Tidy’s YouTube channel gets a mention: https://youtu.be/MQ5VPjGwj7I
If you have ideas or suggestions for articles and interviews, please let us know.

Congratulations to Russell and Victoria; and we’ll be back in early February!

08/01/2022

Happy New Year! Russell and Andrew are back presenting as a daring duo once more. This episode we feature interviews with Jane Garratt of Zen-Shin Martial Arts Association, The Circle Players who are bringing Dad’s Army to life on stage at Aldridge Youth Theatre and a Middle 8 from local pop idol CJ Jarratt.

You can find out more about Jane’s classes and Zen-Shin here: https://zen-shin.co.uk
CJ Jarratt’s YouTube is available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQdmST8MFOzA0eg8lxCXiWg
The Circle Players are on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/TheCirclePlayers/

What’s your New Year’s Resolution? Did we share ours? How come we’re going to fortnightly? All will be revealed.

01/01/2022

After a bit of a busy time over Christmas, and with one or other of our households tackling a covid scare at any given moment, Russell and Andrew are going to make the podcasts fortnightly, to allow us to gather interviews and interesting stories without the same manic urgency! The next episode of the podcast will be January 8th, assuming we both survive.

In the meantime, Happy New Year. May 2022 be peaceful, prosperous, profitable, and as ping-free as possible.

Stay positive folks. But test negative, obvs.

25/12/2021

Merry Christmas one and all. Russell has things to sort out, so Andrew takes an episode flying solo… and it’s a lovely one at that. A chat by phone with the delightful Janet Fry from Aldridge Volunteer Gardeners, words of comfort and joy from Rev Steve Doel and a Christmas carol, just in case you haven’t heard enough already this year!

Take care of yourselves and each other, and we’ll see you next year.

Russell and Andrew

11/12/2021

What a palaver! Andrew abandons ship and leaves Russell holding the fort, but we have excellent interviews with Anne from Linking Lives and Paul from Sparta KM, with a middle 8 from local producer and recording artist CJ Jarratt.

You can find out more about Linking Lives Aldridge here: https://www.facebook.com/linkinglivesaldridge/
Sparta KM have a website here: https://www.spartakm.co.uk
And you can find out more about CJ Jarratt here: https://www.facebook.com/cjjarratt/

Linking Lives Aldridge is hosting a free Christmas Dinner at Aldridge Methodist Church on Christmas Day particularly for people who would normally be alone. If you want to register interest, you must do so in advance. Their e-mail address is [email protected] or you can visit their website www.linkinglives.uk/aldridge and get in touch there.

Two weeks to go. Chestnuts need roasting, sleighs need an MOT and a delivery route, and if you’re lucky you’ll have seen the big man about already!

04/12/2021

Some people are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. You'll have to decide which is which in episode 6 of Aldridge United Podcast.

Mike Hawes talks rubbish and Walsall Community Litter Watch https://www.facebook.com/groups/WalsallCommunityLitterWatch

Matt Clayton plays saxophone.

Heidi Pettitt has a funny-shaped front door. (Fundraising link here - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/heidi-rutter1)

Andrew and Russell simply celebrate the positives of living in a village where such things happen! E-mail us on [email protected] with you suggestions for articles, interviews, or content for the Middle 8.

And if you want to name the Snowman, post your suggestions below!

22/11/2021

20/11/2021

Andrew and Russell ride again, but not on the buses this week – they’re parked up in the Transport Museum on Shenstone Drive. Russell takes a look around Debbie Flenley’s studio ahead of her open days and Andrew finally makes it into Walsall for a chat with the proprietor of Asgard Games.

Aston Manor Road Transport Museum: https://www.facebook.com/AstonManorRoadTransportMuseum
Debbie Flenley’s Art Classes: https://www.facebook.com/Debbie-Flenley-Art-Class-1545213719081194/
Asgard Games: https://www.facebook.com/AsgardGamesUk

Aldridge United Podcast episode 4 is a bumper edition, including a very quick catch up with C/Sgt Tam Miller after last Sunday’s Remembrance Sunday Parade. You can find out more about the RBL here: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPoppyLegion

E-mail us at [email protected] with your suggestions for interviews and items, and especially if you have events coming up that you’d like us to mention!

13/11/2021

Andrew and Russell out and about again: interviewing Walsall's new Poet Laureate, and catching up Autumnwatch style with some of the people who look after the animals in our local greenspaces.

Links to our guests:

+ Ian Henery, poet: https://www.ianhenerypoet.com
+ Coulson Family Rescue: https://www.facebook.com/coulsonfamilyrescue
+ Stubbers Green Nature Reserve (Swan Watch): https://www.facebook.com/groups/567186823469585 (this is a closed Facebook group, but you can apply to join if you are a Facebook member)

Last but not least we hope everyone parading and observing Remembrance Sunday tomorrow stays safe and warms up quickly afterwards! If you want to watch the service live from Aldridge war memorial on YouTube, you can do so here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj2Esp6GMY4

06/11/2021

Episode two of Aldridge's most positive podcast. Please do get in touch via e-mail - [email protected] - or comment on the post.

This week, we speak with C/Sgt Tam Miller about this month's Remembrance Sunday parade and the past year; and meet Zara Khan, Walsall Council's award-winning apprentice.

Russell and Andrew talk fireworks, anniversaries and local celebrities.