Coffee mornings, sales and community events DEC 6 Coffee Morning - Seeds of Hope (every Wed), St Barnabus Hall, Overgreen Drive, Kingshurst, 9am-11am. All welcome to drop in for a chat where tea and toast will be served. Information 0121 788 3399. DEC 6 Christmas Evening (Light Hall PTA), Light Hall School, Hathaway Road, Shirley, 7.30pm. Stalls offering festive gifts inc Body Shop items and jewellery, demonstrations & tasting of Christmas food dishes & crafts inc card making and Christmas door decoration. Tickets cost £3 (inc mince pie and glass of wine/cup of coffee). Tickets from 0121 744 3835 or pay on the door. All proceeds go to the school following the fire earlier in the year. DEC 7 Coffee morning (Solihull Action for Advocacy) - every 1st Thurs of the month, Christ Church, Solihull, (opp Beatties), 10.30am–12pm. Information 0121 733 2434 Groups, clubs, societies and meetings DEC 8 Christmas Fayre, Lady Katherine Leveson C of E Primary School, Fen End Road West, Temple Balsall, Knowle, 3.30pm-7pm. Admission 50p (children free). Lots of attractions inc Santa’s Grotto, hot food/beverages, gifts, cakes, jewellery and much more! All welcome. DEC 8 Bentley Heath Country Market, (every Fri), 10am-11.30am, Bentley Heath Community Centre. Homemade cakes, pastries, pies, jams, plants, garden produce, and crafts. More producers needed. Information 01564 775218. DEC 11 KEC luncheon club (for people aged over 60) - every Mon, Wed and Fri, 12.30pm-3.30pm, KEC Community Care Centre, Cooks Lane, Kingshurst. Information 0121 770 9759. DEC 11 Coffee Morning for the retired, (every Mon & Fri), South Yardley Library, (near Swan Shopping Centre), 10am-12 noon. All welcome. DEC 11 Coffee Morning, Dorridge Methodist Church, Mill Lane, Dorridge, 10.15am-12 noon, (every Mon). Traidcraft available to buy. All welcome. Information 01564 775298. DEC 11 National Childbirth Trust Baby Café, (every Mon), Christian Renewal Centre, Lode Lane, 11am-1pm. Mums who are pregnant or with babes in arms welcome. Admission £2.50 inc hot drink, biscuit & use of baby play mats. Information 07005 801327. DEC 12 Nineacres Drop in Centre, Bosworth Drive, Fordbridge (near St Anne's Church) offers activities & refreshments for people aged over 18 plus with or without mental health problems every Tues, Thurs and Sat, 9.30am-12.30pm. (Sorry - no children allowed). Information 0121 770 5234. DEC 12 Age Concern Solihull Coffee Club for the over 50's (every Tues), Jubilee Centre, Balsall Common, 10.30am. Information or to volunteer at the coffee club call 0121 705 9128. DEC 14 Shirley Institute Luncheon Club's Christmas Lunch, Shirley Institute, Church Road, Shirley, 1.30pm. Senior citizens don't be lonely this Christmas time come and enjoy a tasty meal and the celebrations at the luncheon club. Pre booking essential on 0121 242 1273. DEC 14 Solihull Theatre Club - informal coffee morning (every 2nd Thurs of the month), Wilson Arms Hotel, Warwick Road, Knowle, 10.30am. New members welcome. Information 0121 705 1267. JAN 5 Seeds of Hope (every 1st Fri of the month) - Healthy eating low budget meals served including 11am-2pm All Day Breakfast (£2.50) & 12 noon - 2pm two course lunch (£3.25), St Barnabas Hall, Overgreen Drive, Kingshurst. Information 0121 788 3399. Groups, clubs, societies and meetings In this period of stress, Solihull Healing Group invites you to join them for a short break from the shopping and some relaxing natural healing on Saturday December the 16th in the Ash Room of The Hub at Touchwood Centre between 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The free, one-to-one healing sessions are open to everyone. Donations are welcomed, to help defray expenses. * DEC 12 Solihull Photographic Society (every Tues), the new WI Hall, Warwick Rd, Solihull, 7.45pm. Members enjoy a programme of talks, guest speakers inc leading photographers & lectures covering all aspects of photography. New members welcome. Information 0121 704 9234 (www.solihullphotographicsociety.org.uk). * Dec 12 Solihull RSPB (local group), Oliver Bird Hall, Church Hill Road, Solihull, 7.30pm (with guest speaker Steven Falk 'Nepal - Birds and People'). All welcome. Information 0121 705 9639. DEC 6 Silhill WI (every 1st Wed of the month), John Palmer Hall, Union Road, Solihull, 10am-12 noon. New members and visitors welcome. Information 0121 705 4327. DEC 6 Wythall Gardening Club (every 1st Wed of the month), Village Hall, Alcester Road near to Beckett's Island, 7.30pm. Visitors & new members welcome. DEC 6 CAMEO Club (Balsall Common) - come & meet each other group (every 1st and 3rd Wed of each month), Balsall Methodist Church Hall, Station Road, 2pm. New members/visitors welcome. Information 01676 534643. DEC 6 Solihull Flower Club (every 1st Wed of the month at 2pm & on the 2nd Wed of the month at 7.30pm). Anyone interested in flowers can come along as a visitor to any of their regular meetings held at Solihull Methodist Church Hall, Blossomfield Rd, Solihull. DEC 6 CAMEO Club - come & meet each other group (every 1st Wed of the month), St Helen's Church, St Helen's Road, Solihull, 2pm. New male/female members welcome. Information 0121 624 7723. DEC 7 The RAF Association (Solihull & district branch), every 1st Thurs of each month at Shirley British Legion, 8pm. If you have served in the RAF/WRAF/WAAF then why not join them? New members (inc partners) welcome. Information 0121 744 5116. DEC 7 Blossomfield Townswomens' Guild (meet 1st Thurs of the month), The Royal British Legion, Union Road, Solihull, 7.30pm - with Christmas decorations demonstration. New members always welcome. Seasonal refreshments will be served. Information 0121 744 4903. DEC 7 Shirley Photographic Society (every Thurs), Shirley Methodist Church, Stratford Road, Shirley, 7.30pm. New members welcome. Information 0121 711 2928 (www.shirley.btinternet.co.uk). DEC 7 Solihull Rotary Club (every Thurs afternoon), West Midlands Bridge Club, 909 Warwick Road, Solihull, 12.45pm. Information 01564 778495. DEC 7 Solihull Mountaineering Club (every Thurs), Old Edwardians Sports Club, Streetsbrook Road, Solihull, 9pm. Also indoor climbing at Creation Climbing Wall, Moseley every Tues evening. Information 07989 515774 (www.solihullmc.org.uk). DEC 7 Solihull National Osteoporosis (West Midlands & Birmingham Society), gentle exercise class, (every Thurs), Shirley Methodist Church Hall, Shirley, 9.30am & 11am. Information 0121 705 3342. DEC 8 South Birmingham Photographic Society (every Fri), at Friends Meeting House, corner of Hamlet Rd, and Stratford Rd, Hall Green, 7.30pm. New members welcome. Information 0121 745 4942 or 0121 777 5506 (www.s-b-p-s.co.uk). DEC 9 Solihull Gingerbread (every Sat), Olton United Reformed Church, Kineton Green Road, Olton, 5pm-7pm - to support lone parents & their children. Information 0121 745 3221 or 0121 765 4694. DEC 10 Free & Easy, (every Sun), Banbury Club, Bosworth Drive, Chelmsley Wood, 8.30pm. All welcome. DEC 10 Solihull Club de Petanque, (every Sun), Blossomfield Club, Widney Lane, Solihull, 10am. Newcomers welcome. Information 01564 772298 or 0121 706 1964. (Club also meets every Tues from 7.30pm). DEC 10 Overeaters Annonymous - local support group, (every Sun), Olton Friary, St Bernards Road, Solihull, 8pm-9pm. Information 0121 743 1622 (www.oagb.org.uk). DEC 10 CTC 50 Plus (The Birmingham & Midland district branch of the Cyclists' Touring Club) enjoy leisurely rides on Sun, Tues and Wed from a local venue. Information 01564 772681. DEC 11 Shirley Toy Dog Group, (meet on the 2nd Mon of the month), Shirley Institute (Warwick Room), Church Road, Shirley, 7.30pm. Visitors welcome. Information 0121 744 2214. DEC 11 Dorridge WI (meet on the 2nd Mon of the month), Dorridge Village Hall, Grange Road, Dorridge, 7.30 pm. Visitors/new members welcome. Information 01564 773465 or 01564 775228 DEC 11 Heart of England Singers - an enthusiastic, active and long-established choir (meet every Mon), Baptist Free Church, Marston Green, 7.30pm-9.30pm. New members of any age always welcome - no auditions, only a love of choral music and commitment to rehearsals and performances are required. Information www.heart-of-england-singers.org.uk DEC 11 Short Mat Bowls - a friendly group for mainly retired people who enjoy a social game of short mat bowls, (every Mon except Aug), Sheldon Heath School gymnasium, Sheldon Heath Road, Sheldon, 5.45pm-7.45pm & Fri afternoon at the Coronation Community Centre, Green Lane, Shirley, 2pm-4pm. Information 0121 743 4771 or 0121 705 4302 or 0121 430 2696. New members welcome. DEC 12 Four Ashes WI (every 2nd Tues of the month), Dorridge Methodist Church Hall, Mill Lane, Dorridge, 10am. New members welcome. Information 01564 200233. DEC 12 Solihull RSPB (every 2nd Tues of the month), the Oliver Bird Hall, Church Hill Road, Solihull, 7.30pm. Visitors and new members welcome. Information 0121 705 9639. DEC 12 Shirley Floral Art Club, (every 2nd Tues of the month), Sharmans Cross Jnr School, Sharmans Cross, Solihull, 7.30pm. New members welcome. Information 0121 430 2600. DEC 12 Solihull (Central) Friendship Centre (every 2nd Tues of the month) at the John Palmer Hall, Union Road, Solihull, 2pm (and every 4th Mon) at St Alphege Infant School, New Road, Solihull, 7.30pm. Members enjoy a variety of activities including coffee mornings, pub lunches, diners, outings and theatre visits. Information 0121 704 0135. DEC 12 Solihull Friends R us - newly reformed social group for the over 50s looking to make new friends & improve their social life, (meet 2nd Tues of the month), John Palmer Hall, Union Road, Solihull, 2pm. (Members also enjoy regular coffee mornings, lunches/dinners, coach outings, theatre visits and holidays). Annual fee £8. New members welcome. Information 0121 705 9423 or 0121 704 0135. DEC 12 Solihull Business Club, (meet 2nd Tues the month except for Aug), Solihull Borough Football Club off Damson Parkway, Solihull, 8pm. Information 0121 707 3007. DEC 12 Solihull WI (meet every 2nd, 3rd and 4th Tues of the month), WI Hall, 745 Warwick Road, Solihull at 2pm. New members welcome. Information 0121 733 1740. DEC 12 The Lowbrook Stroke Club, (every Tues), Lowbrook Centre, Chichester Grove, Chelmsley Wood, 10am. Information 0121 240 0543. DEC 12 Solihull Philatelic Society, (meet every Tues from Sept-April), Solihull Cricket and Tennis Club, Marsh Lane, Solihull, 7.15pm. Members enjoy a wide range of talks and displays, informal gatherings and competition evenings. Visitors and new members welcome. Information 01564 776879. DEC 12 Solihull Model Railway Circle, (every Tues), scout hut off Robin Hood Lane, Hall Green, 8pm. New members welcome. Information 07817093264 after 7pm - (www.solihullmrc.org). DEC 12 Tai Chi Chuan for health & relaxation, (every Tues), Woodlands School, Woodlands Lane, Shirley, 7.30pm-9pm. Information 01676 541209 (e-mail: ko@paoputzu.fsnet.co.uk). DEC 12 Hall Green Rotary Club, (meet every Tues), West Midlands Bridge Club, Warwick Road, Solihull, 7pm. New members welcome. Information 0121 743 3882. DEC 12 IDST Scuba diving club (every Tues), Stechford Cascades, 8.30pm. New members of all ages & training qualifications welcome - inc non divers. The diving club also regularly dives at Dosthill Quarry on Thurs evenings, weekends and organises boat trips. Information 0783 7811840. DEC 12 Chelmsley Solo Club, (every Tues), The Fordbridge Centre, Nineacres Drive, 7.30pm. New members welcome. DEC 12 Shirley Over 50s Club (every Tues), The Bridge, Shirley (access from Stratford Road shoppers' car park behind the Bank of Ireland). Information 0121 733 1038 or 0121 705 0935. DEC 13 Gilson Ladies Club (every Wed), St Barnabus Church Hall, Overgreen Drive, Kingshurst, 8pm-10pm. Admission £1.20 (with a small yearly subscription). Members enjoy listening to speakers and theme evenings. Information 0121 770 3221 or 0121 770 3215. DEC 13 Solihull Plus Group - a social and activities group for young adults aged between 18-35, (every Wed), Silhill Football Club, Sharmans Cross Road, Solihull, 8.15pm. Information 0790 3854624 (www.solihull18plus.org.uk). DEC 13 Solihull Chess Club, (every Wed), Blossomfield Club, Widney Lane, Solihull, 7.15pm. Novice or expert, young or old, new members welcome. Information 0121 742 9077. DEC 13 The AD Concert Band (civilian band), Alderbrook School, Solihull, 8pm-10pm (every Wed). New members welcome. Information 0121 711 1983 (e-mail via website: www.adband.org.uk). DEC 13 Acocks Green Singers (rehearse every Wed night), Acocks Green Methodist Church. Information 0121 449 3134 or 0121 777 7735. DEC 13 Bingo, (every Wed), Solihull Lodge Community Association, Grafton Road, Solihull Lodge. Doors open 7.30pm - refreshments available. All welcome. DEC 13 Wednesday Afternoon Club (for the over 60s) (every Wed - except Aug), St Margaret's Church Hall, Olton, 1pm for bingo, cards, chat and quizzes. New members welcome. Information 0121 628 5611 or 0121 743 8131. DEC 13 Stretch & Shape for the over 50s (every Wed), Shirley Institute, 9.45am-11am. Limber up in friendly atmosphere. £2 per session. Both ladies and gentlemen welcome. (Bring own mat). Information 01564 782279. DEC 13 Solihull - National Osteoporosis Society (West Midlands & Birmingham), gentle exercise class, Solihull Methodist Church Hall, (every Wed) - 9.30am & 11am. Information 0121 705 3342. DEC 13 Solihull Singing for Pleasure Group (meet every 2nd, 3rd and 4th Wed), Solihull Methodist Church Vestry (Margaret Wharam Room), 2pm-4pm. Information 0121 788 0577. DEC 13 Hall Green Art Society (every 2nd and 4th Wed of the month), Chatterton Hall, Church of the Ascension, Hall Green, 7.30pm. The society enjoys a variety of demonstrations throughout the year. New members welcome. Information 0121 453 7475. DEC 13 Breast Friends - a support group for all ladies affected by breast cancer, (meet every 2nd Wed of the month) at the SIMTR Centre, Parkway Hospital, Solihull, 7.15pm. New members welcome. Information 0121 705 1942. DEC 13 Hobs Moat Townswomens' Guild, (meet 2nd Wed of the month), The United Reformed Church, Faulkner Road, Solihull, 1.45pm. All welcome. DEC 14 Heart of England WI (meet every 2nd Thurs of the month), Village Hall, Station Road, Balsall Common, 7.45pm. New members welcome. Information 01676 533596. DEC 14 Olton WI, (every 2nd Thurs of the month), Mason Court, Hillborough Road, Olton, 7.30pm. Information 0121 742 7226. DEC 14 Solihull Soroptimist Club (an organisation for working, professional & business women) meet 2nd Thurs of each month at The Holiday Inn, Solihull, 7.30pm. Soroptimists are involved in local, national/international issues - while enjoying fun & friendship. New members welcome. Information 0121 711 2656 (e-mail: susan_knowles@blueyonder.co.uk). DEC 14 Solihull Ladies Probus Club (a group for retired business & professional women) meet every 2nd Thurs of the month (except Aug) for lunch followed by a talk on a variety of subjects at the Old Silhillians Club, Warwick Road, Solihull. New members welcome. Information 01564 776661. DEC 15 Solihull Carers Support Group (run by Social Services and Solihull Carers Centre), meet every 3rd Fri of the month, Fordbridge Centre, Nineacres Drive, Fordbridge, 1pm-2.30pm. The group provides mutual support/advice & information for those looking after someone else. Information 0121 788 1143. DEC 18 South Birmingham Antique & Collectors Group, (meet 3rd Mon of the month - except Aug), Meeting Room, Hall Green Library, Stratford Road, Hall Green, 7.45pm. New members welcome. Information 01564 770302. DEC 18 Solihull Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society drop in centre (meet every 3rd Mon of the month), Shirley Centre, Stratford Road, Shirley (next to Burger King), 10am–1.30pm. Anyone affected by MS ( People with MS, carers, relatives and friends ) are welcome. Tea & coffee served all morning. DEC 18 Knowle Women's Institute (every 3rd Mon of the month) Guild House, Knowle (next to Knowle Parish Church), 2pm. Visitors welcome. Information 01564 776193. DEC 18 Birmingham Inventors (every 3rd Mon of the month), Aston Science Park, Love Lane, Aston Road, Birmingham, 7pm. All welcome. Information 0121 353 1522 (www.birmingham-inventors.org.uk). DEC 19 Solihull Lions Club, (every 3rd Tues of the month), British Legion, Union Road, Solihull, 7.30pm. Information 01564 770755 (e-mail: cross@cottage30.freeserve.co.uk). DEC 21 Packwood and Bentley Heath WI (meet 3rd Thurs of the month except Aug), Bentley Heath Community Centre, 7.30pm. New WI members & visitors welcome. Information 01564 773288. DEC 21 Solihull Amateur Radio Society (founded in 1948) meet 3rd Thurs of the month, Shirley Community Centre, 7.45pm. The society also runs amateur radio validation courses. New members welcome. Information 0121 684 2921. DEC 21 Sheldon Residents' Association, (meet 3rd Thurs of the month), the RAFA Club, Ragley Drive, in Sheldon (next to St Giles Church), 7.30pm. Membership £1 (senior citizens 50p). Information call 0121 742 9941. JAN 2 Shirley Residents (ladies group) meet on the first Tues of the month in the small hall at the methodist church (10am for coffee and speaker 10.30am). The group enjoys two outings a year and an autumn party. Yearly subscription £7 (coffee 50p). New Members welcome. Information 0121 744 2933. JAN 2 Heart of England Speakers Club, (meet on 1st and 3rd Tues of the month), Solihull Borough Football Club (except Aug). Information 0781 252 5544 (e-mail: info@heartspeakers.org.uk). JAN 6 Solihull & District Orchid Society (every 1st Sat of the month), Arden School, Station Road, Knowle, 2.30pm. New members/visitors welcome. Information 01564 822897. JAN 8 Knowle Astronomical Society, (every 1st Mon of the month), Dorridge Methodist Church Hall, Mill Lane, Dorridge, 7.30pm. Information www.knowleastro.org.uk JAN 22 Shirley Carers' Group (meet 4th Mon of the month), Evangelical Church, Green Lane, Shirley, 2pm-4pm. Information Solihull Carers' Centre on 0121 788 1143. JAN 24 Solihull Horticultural Society, (meet 4th Wed of the month except Aug), Women’s Institute, Warwick Road, Solihull, 7.45pm. New members welcome. Information 01564 774194. JAN 25 A support group for visually impaired people (VIPs) (meet last Thurs of the month), Chelmsley Wood Library, 1.30pm-3.30pm. New members welcome. Information 0121 747 3122 or 0121 779 4598. JAN 25 Balsall & District Horticultural Society, (meet last Thurs of the month), Balsall Common Village Hall. Information 01676 533091. | 
