This cemetery has provided me with some much needed moments of solitude and reflection over the…read moreyears. It the main it is a very quiet place as lots of the graves are extremely old. It is a large site and you can easily pass an hour wandering around. I don't find it morbid spending time in graveyards, for some reason I find it very peaceful. I have personal connections to the space and like to visit from time to time to remember lost loved ones. However, a visit doesn't have to have this purpose to be enjoyable.

You would be forgiven for thinking that this is not a charity shop as you walk past. It is a prime…read morelocation in the centre of the city and looks decidedly upmarket. The window displays are not the usual charity/secondhand shop fair, but are obviously done by people who know what they are doing. The stock they carry is also of a very high standard, most of it looking like brand new items.

I'm the joint chairman of the Cancer Research UK Relay for Life in Worcester and I work with these…read morelovely ladies in the shop - what a great group of volunteers! They always have time for the people who come into the shop as many of them are cancer survivors. A great shop in need of donations, so dig deep and give them your support.

Halesowen is charity shop central with each one having a different feel or level of stock to…read moreexplore. This is one of the smaller charity shops but it has some good quality goodies to explore. What I particularly love is that despite their small size they make a point of creating a vintage section in the small clothing stock they have. This included accessories as well as clothing and really saved time for me scouting the store as I knew the car parking time was running out. The focus for this store is definitely on the book side of things with a good range of really old books and more modern fiction. What I would say is that the number of staff seem to outweigh the customers massively, which makes the store seem busy and more cramped as you navigate loitering staff with no real purpose.

Reviewing a cemetery feels a bit weird. I feel all ghoulish and Tim Burton-esque whilst typing…read morethese words. Then again, you can book guided tours of Highgate Cemetery in London, so maybe I am merely adding to the canon of literature regarding "dark tourism"? Whatever. Whilst Highgate has loads of famous dead dudes, Rowley Regis Cemetery is where the children's author Allan Ahlberg used to work as a grave digger. He is still very much alive and has written some nice things about his days in the Black Country. The cemetery is located on a gentle slope down from Rowley Regis towards Old Hill. It is quite spread out and very neatly tended. A small flower stall is set up at the main gates most weekends. Parking is a bit of a pain, with most people choosing to park on Moor Lane. I find it really odd that it so close to Rowley Regis Hospital, the view must really bum some of the patients out.

British Heart Foundation furniture shops should be where everyone goes as their first point of call…read morein furnishing their home before a trek to Ikea. They have a good mix of vintage and new furniture here but lets be honest it's all about finding that old tallboy or a GPlan coffee table super cheap instead of paying Ebay prices for them. Having said that they also sell a range of white goods, which is always handy to know when your fridge breaks and pay day is too far away to buy brand new. Never fear when buying electrical goods here as they have to check everything out first before they can sell them. You can get a real bargain here and so you leave feeling great that you've got something super cheap whilst giving money to charity too. In West Brom you will always find a range of good vintage furniture items and they will deliver locally for a small fee. I have to limit my trips here as I have too small a house for the levels of furniture I buy. It's an addiction I know but I haven't yet found a furniture anonymous to attend.

The West Brom branch of the British Heart Foundation pretty much sets the standard for the 21st…read morecentury charity shop: Laminate flooring, bright lights, High Street merchandising methods, well organised books and over-priced records. Can something be over-priced in a charity shop? After all it's all to raise money for a good cause. But when you see a dog-eared copy of an album you know you can get for 50p elsewhere being sold for £3, you do wonder if some charity shops have become a little too wise to bargain hunters. Or maybe that's the going rate these days and I've been left behind? The books too are a little more pricey, and you won't get much for less than £1.50 - okay that's still stupidly cheap for a book but when others sell at 25p? British Heart Foundation may well be the Waitrose of the charity shop world.

there is no one I would trust with my loved ones or myself at such a sad and upsetting time…read more Ultimatley professional but always with care, a personal touch and sympathy. There is no matter too small, no question unanswered and no detail left to chance. I can not recommend them too highly.

Re. The funeral of my Mother Mrs Betty Beatrice Gilliland…read more3rd January 2017 Conducted by Huntleys Funeral Services Redditch I am not one normally given to platitudes but I feel moved to thank all the team and staff at Huntleys,in particular Chris and Paula (Funeral Arrangers). Paula was my first contact with the company who at once made me feel comfortable and at ease. She in turn introduced me to her colleague Chris, both of which were so supportive and helpful in this dreadful of times. Not only help scheduling the date and time of the funeral but also for organising the minister, the crematorium and organist, the vehicles/drivers, flowers and charity donations plus all my own specific requirements. These things were done with their constant support and reassurance while I was trying to deal with the loss of my Mother. Nothing was ever too much trouble. A special mention to the drivers of the hearse and family/friends cars. Many thanks for your help and kindness. I will always be indebted to all the team at Huntleys but especially to Chris and Paula. Thank you all so very much. Ian F. Gilliland

This is a great little collection of shops that have uniquely remained together, even after moving…read morefrom The Swan in Yardley to Acocks Green. Entering the store you are greeted on your left by a jewellers, and on your right by a shoe repair service; And at the back of the store lies a clothes alteration department. If you are a new customer, from my perspective, you're not sure exactly what to look at first, but I'm guessing that all three areas have built up their own regular shoppers, who know exactly what they are after. I love the independence of each, and the way they have survived by supporting each other. All three staff members are also very friendly, and the store feels warming, homely and old fashioned when compared to corporate businesses. The jewellers section also stocks a variation of unusual gifts too. From Betty Boop mugs and clocks collections (which are perfect for any enthusiast), to metal money boxes and watches. So it's a great place to buy presents for somebody. Or simply get your shoe repaired.

These guys are a great example of not giving in to the big, corporate bullies. When the Swan…read morecentre was sold to Tesco they effectively lost their small, independent businesses as they had nowhere to trade. Instead of accepting that they joined forces, found a nearby shop and trade as a collective. They had been at The Swan for nearly 20 years but wouldn't have been able to afford the rent on a property individually. The result is an extremely successful, wonderful and quirky arrangement that delivers three businesses for the price of one. There is a key cutter and cobbler, a jeweller and a haberdashery. The services they offer also include engraving and clothes alterations. All three businesses are friendly, helpful and normally cost very little. If you need one of these services and are looking for a bargain then this is the place for you.

A well deserved 5 stars A super local family run business…read morewho like and care about what they do and look after their customers. Great service and advice Highly recommended and a huge thank you for five years of excellent IT support