North Arden Local History Society - January 2012 Report

Wall in the 2nd Century (after 130AD)

DAILY LIFE IN ROMAN WALL (LETOCETUM)

At the January Meeting of the North Arden Local History Society members were most excellently entertained by Society member Joanne Wenlock who is also a member of the ‘Friends of Letocetum’ and does a lot of voluntary work on the site and its associated museum. Roman Wall was, as Joanne said was a ‘Premier Inn’ of the Roman period (a posting stop-over or Mansio) on the Imperial Road we know as Watling Street (the former A5).

After a brief introduction in which the content of the talk was explained Jo told us that the name should be pronounced as “Layto-Katum” [the ‘c’ being a ‘hard-c’ as opposed to a ‘soft-c’] this is derived from a Celtic/British place name “leito kato” meaning a grey wood – possibly from the local vegetation which is known to have been birch trees. Both historically and archaeologically there is little, if any, evidence for a pre-Roman (Celtic) presence before the Roman military period in the late AD40’s although an Iron Age Round House/Farmstead is known to the east of the Roman settlement, but this could have developed after the Roman presence and the military road.

To put the site into context it was necessary to have a short history lesson. The Claudian invasion of 43AD landed in Kent with its first objective being the capture of the tribal capital of the Trinovantes/Catuvellaunii at Colchester After this three of the four legions involved fanned out across the country - across the south west towards Exeter, north towards Lincoln and north-west towards Wales. As the legions advanced they cut roads to provide rapid communication with the base (then still at Colchester). The XIVth Gemina Valeria Victrix headed North West building what later became Watling Street during its advance. This advance ceased in 47AD when a change of Governors was due and Ostorius Scapula replaced Aulus Plautius: before he left Plautius had the Fosseway created to police a frontier zone that ran from Lincoln to Exeter leaving Letocetum outside Roman control. Under Scapula (48 to 52 AD) the advance into Wales was crucial and camps were created at Mancetter (Atherstone) and Wall/Letocetum and others until Viroconium Cornoviorum (Wroxeter near Shrewsbury) was reached: this was when the settlement at Letocetum was created – initially a fort, later civilian settlement. [Watling Street (A5) showing the route of the XIVth Legion] – (Editors Note: most Roman Road names are of Saxon origin).

Remains of the 3^rd Mansio

The geographical setting was described in detail and the wet peaty nature of it may partially explain the lack of a Pre Roman presence although excavations since the 1960’s have produced artefacts of the late Neolithic and Bronze Ages but no actual settlements sites. The Round House mentioned above can not be firmly dated being a type in common usage from the 4th century BC well into the Romano British period. The Roman fort was built in the AD50’s on the hill overlooking today’s remains and it is thought that the mansion was created for officials travelling along the military way. This fort was manned by men from the XIVth Legion but closed down when the fortress at Wroxeter was established. Several pieces of Roman pottery (potsherds) have been recovered from the native farm to the east but most likely point to the integration of Romans and local Celts; the site itself is set in the area where the lands of two local tribes met the Cornovii from Shropshire and the Coritanii -(Corieltauvi) whose capital was at Leicester. Joanne then described the Roman army’s method of creating temporary/marching camps as they advanced through an area – these were rectangular ditched and banked enclosures in which 8 man leather tents were erected. Throughout the country several temporary camps developed into stone built legionary forts (i.e. Exeter, Lincoln, Gloucester and Chester) – some evidence of these camps has been found around Wall and are thought to date from the post 47AD period when Plautius was consolidating the captured territory or during the advance into Wales. Numerous small finds have been identified as belonging to the period from about 70AD to 130AD, Jo showed photographs of some of these including excavations that belong to a private collection and are not in the public domain. The first Mansio was built coincidental to the Boudiccan Revolt of 60AD and military occupation ceased around 130 after which the Mansio remained but was passed to the civilians for its administration.

The first (60AD) building was of timber construction with uprights anchored into sleeper beams in the ground with walls of wattle and daub with, in all probability, a thatched roof. Recovered evidence shows that this was destroyed by fire around 100AD – possibly as a result of local hostile action since similar damage and dating are known at Wroxeter - the area was by no means peacefully settled or consolidated to Roman ways. The importance of the Mansio at Wall on the Watling Street is evident because work n the second building was begun immediately following the loss of the first although the timber/wattle and daub construction was still favoured by the locals. Fragments of painted plaster were identified amongst the debris of the first building whereas that recovered from this second building were far more sophisticated and brightly coloured. A well cut over 6 metres deep into the underlying sandstone was also identified in this phase. In addition to these building remains iron tools associated with wheel making and animal husbandry were also found indicating that a workshop must have been present to care for the horses and transport passing through; bones were recovered belonging to oxen, and other farm animals possibly suggest butchery for feeding the customers.

Evidence is such that this second mansion was deliberately dismantled (rather than being destroyed by fire) to make way for third, stone based, mansion whose remains are those seen by today’s visitors. Joanne then took us on a tour of the bath house, describing the function of each room and stressing that these facilities would have been available to travellers on a 24/7 basis thanks to slave labour! The floors of the heated rooms (tepidarium and caldarium – closest to the furnace/stoke area) where supported by hypocausts (pillars of tiles about 9” square) that were on show in the 1970’s have now been covered-over for their preservation. Finds from past excavations of the bath house included numerous pieces of glass from toilet flasks/phials but unusually no ‘seal/curse’ tablets that are common in many bath house excavations elsewhere – Jo explained the ‘curse tradition’ in the Roman world. Mansiones throughout the country could be dangerous places with thieves, pickpockets’ and muggers at large not to mention ladies (and men) of easy virtue – even your clothes where not safe when you were using the baths! By far the worse were the governments’ spies who were known to frequent the public areas eaves dropping on conversations on the chance of picking up seditious gossip they could turn to their advantage. In confirmation written evidence of their presence at Letocetum is known.

The Mansio and Bath house
Bath house in foreground.

The presence of the Mansio and bath house obviously attracted settlers, both native and Roman citizens to the area due to the trade opportunities and a proper settlement – prototype town became established in the second century most likely in the form of a ribbon development along the Watling Street and Ryknield Street which crossed Watling Street just to the east of Letocetum on its way to Derby/Burton. Most of the traffic would have been horse or pony drawn two wheeled carts, but mounted horsemen, military units or the more affluent travelling in four wheeled wagons and the idea of posting stations (as in the 18th Century) was that changes of horses would have been available. Joanne referred back to native settlement (Round House/Farmstead) - saying that it may have provided a breeding place for horses as well as a rest area for animals from the Mansio. It is known that as well as a well documented pottery industry (mortaria) at Mancetter (Manduesedum) it is now known that it was a centre for the manufacture of the two wheeled pony carts that were known as ‘essedum’. As well as ponies it was more likely that many of carts were pulled by oxen or mules, they had no suspension and after a 20 mile journey (the usual distance between posting stations) you would have been grateful for the bath house facilities that included masseurs.

Mansio (3^rd) taken in April 1980

Although in the border lands (above) Letocetum was under the direct control of the Cornovii of Viroconium the general opinion is that although partially ‘Romanised’ the natives had no feelings of loyalty to the invaders and may well have been responsible for the uprising that lead to the fires at both Letocetum and Viroconium around 100AD. However perhaps the ‘pax-romana’ won through because after the military pulled out around 130 the native civilians were put in charge of the running of the Mansio for the next 250 years. Joanne went on the tell us of the appearance of the Ancient Britons (Celts) using information from Julius Caesar’s personal diary when he lead expeditions to Britain (55 and 54 BC) which covered their clothing and method of fighting including the use of Woad for body painting (a blue dye extracted from the plant - Isatis tinctoria in the family Brassicaceae). It is currently thought that whilst no pre-Roman settlement evidence around Letocetum has been found – because the nature of the geology of the area was not suitable for agriculture - settlers attracted by the trade advantages of the Mansio may have moved from the Castle Ring area (an Iron Age hill fort on Cannock Chase). Joanne described in detail sites and finds from archaeological work that support this hypothesis.

The Cornoviian government at Viroconium had direct control and responsibility for the running of the Mansio and would have been responsible for the rebuilding of the third phase (stone) Mansio as well as providing finance, animals, vehicles, slaves and civilian staff. It is thought that overall charge would have been the responsibility of a retired Roman administrator. We then listened to several quotations from Roman edicts on the rules and regulations for the running of Mansiones that covered the Empire up to about 400AD. A civil servant may well have had second thoughts on accepting such a posting!



 The Bath House Hypocaust in 1971                    

 Joanne went to give us a tour of the third Mansio and told us that the stone used in its construction as well as surviving timbers had all been obtained locally (Hopwas near present day Lichfield). We saw carved stones as well as inscriptions some from the private collection mentioned above and a description of the functions of the various rooms. If you visit the site there are ‘official’ artists impressions of how daily life in the Mansio may have appeared which may make life 2000 years look a lot more desirable than it actually was! Evidence was seen of a builders ‘dodge’ when the well was filled in during the construction that later collapsed and had to be repaired; tiles were made on site because transport was so rough that any brought onto site would have broken in transit –a tile showing a dogs paw print was shown – these are not an unusual find on Roman sites. A selection of numerous finds from the site and its surrounding was very interesting (much of which can be seen in the site museum) and included Romano-Gallic Samian pottery (the ‘Wedgewood’ of the Roman world). Remains of glass vessels, toilet implements and other pottery vessels are also included. Jo completed the talk telling of daily life, food and diet from finds (animal bones and oyster shells) gambling counters, marriage, illnesses (typhoid, TB and malaria were liable to strike all classes of a community – and found by study of skeletal remains; arthritis and brittle bone disease were common in adult skeletons), and finally death. Roman practice was largely cremation and we were shown two cremation urns excavated locally; inhumation burials may also have taken place but many remains have not survived 2000 years: Any bodies found within a settlement area may well be the result of foul play since the practice was that all burials were outside the town walls.

It was a very well researched and informative talk and we offer our most sincere thanks to Joanne for sharing her knowledge with us. We heartily recommend our readers to spare a day to visit the site which is signposted off the Birmingham to Lichfield road just after the Lichfield exit on the A5 Island. If you are an internet user just type LETOCETUM into your search engine and you will find a wealth of links – happy surfing!

We are always pleased to welcome guests and visitors at our meetings, the next of which will be on 8th March when the topic will be ‘Recent Archaeological Developments’ presented by Dr Mike Hodder. The following meeting will be our Annual General Meeting on 12th April. Meetings are held in the Spencer Lounge Bar at Arden Hall, Water Orton Road at 7.45pm.


JERRY DUTTON.

NORTH ARDEN LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Reforms in offender health management: equipping

FaithAction, Nacro, Action for Prisoners’ Families, Men’s Health Forum and Mental Health Providers Forum are joining together for a conference to examine the changing landscape for offender health: including the justice and health reform bills, payment by results, the Breaking the cycle consultation and the publication of the Ministry of Justice’s competition strategy. All these changes means that the commissioning environment and the way that your organisation gets funding will be radically reformed with voluntary sector organisations being required to compete or work in partnership with private and public sector organisations.

Birmingham: Monday 27 February 2012. Book your place on Men's Health Forum website

http://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/content/OffenderHealth

Remembering the Holocaust in Solihull

Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Irene Chamberlain and her Escort Robert Chamberlain (centre) with Holocaust survivor Dr Martin Stern (left), Chief Superintendent Sally Bourner and Rabbi Yehuda Pink at this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day in Solihull.

Over 150 residents and school children attended a service of remembrance to mark National Holocaust Memorial Day on Thursday morning, 26 January, at Solihull Central Library.

This service honoured the survivors and marks the tragic loss of life in the genocides of World War II and more recently in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur. Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) falls on the anniversary of the liberation of the largest Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland. This year marks the 67th anniversary of that day.

The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Irene Chamberlain, officially opened the Solihull Partnership event, alongside Chief Superintendent Sally Bourner from West Midlands Police.

Guest speaker, Holocaust survivor Dr Martin Stern, presented an emotional speech at the event about the horrors he experienced as a young child during the Holocaust. Following the service Dr Stern shared many other personal stories with children from local schools including the importance of standing up to hatred.

There were also poetry readings by some of the children, and prayers led by Rabbi Yehuda Pink, leader of Solihull Hebrew Congregation based in Olton. The service was concluded by a one-minute silence and the signing of a Commemoration Book.

Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Irene Chamberlain, says: “Holocaust Memorial Day is an opportunity to remember those who died or had their lives shattered by genocide, and reflect upon the lessons from the past. This year’s theme, Speak Up Speak Out, encourages us all to play our part in stamping out prejudice, hatred and fear. We must strive to make a world where understanding and respect for others replaces one of aggression and discrimination,” adds Councillor Chamberlain.

For more information on Holocaust Memorial Day visit http://www.hmd.org.uk/

A Major Mental Health and the Arts Event in Walsall on February 29th 2012

Walsall SUE & Windows with a Difference - a new mental health arts network in the Black Country - present

Select Edit:Public Private

A Sharing day on the theme of Art and Health

With a unique performance by Artist Bobby Baker titled Mad Gyms and Kitchens

How do artists work with authentic material and lived experience, and transform these into artwork for the public arena.

Artists speaking at this event work in live art, theatre, and the visual arts.

When? Wednesday 29 February

2pm Artist Talks Bobby Baker, Mark Storor, Sean Burn

5pm Performance by Bobby Baker

Where? The New Art Gallery Walsall

Admission £5.00 both event s and coffee , £2.50 performance only

Program commences 2pm

More- Bobby Baker talks about Diary Drawings: Mental Illness and me, her book that won Mind Book of the Year in 2011.

Bobby began her diary drawings in 1997 when she became a patient at a day centre. Originally private, they gradually became a way for her to communicate complex thoughts and emotions that are difficult to articulate to her family, friends and professionals. The drawings chart the ups and downs of her recovery, family life, work as an artist, breast cancer and just how funny all this harrowing stuff can be. Observer Interview with Bobby Baker by Kate Kellaway

Mark Storor is an award winning artist working in the space between live art and theatre. His work is devised, often site specific and always collaborative. The Guardian said “he doesn't so much rehearse theatre in a traditional manner as create an alchemical process in which images, rituals and the personal experiences of patients are thrown together in the mixing bowl of the rehearsal room.” Mark Storor's For the Best: a feeling for death Guardian Lyn Gardner

Sean Burn's presentations become performance. Witness Sean’s reclamation of the language of lunacy featuring a "nutcase", marbles and several walnuts, as he describes his project in 2010 at The New Art Gallery Walsall, and meeting Mental Health groups.

The event will be chaired by Kate Broom Course Director, MA Art, Health and Well-being, Birmingham City University.

All the above artists are familiar with each others practice, so will make the afternoon entertaining, generating with ease questions about practice, which promises to be highly informative, and inclusive.

Performance Event starts 5pm

Mad Gyms & Kitchens by Bobby Baker

A Daily Life Ltd production Wend your way to wellness!

You leave feeling better than you came in, aware as you walk down the road whistling that what Baker is offering is not a show but a priceless gift wrapped in a theatrical box of tricks.

**** Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

Prepare to be surprised and delighted, moved and enlightened as Bobby Baker demonstrates how she achieves that ultimate ‘wellbeing’ factor. From working-out to chilling out, via the kitchen sink, Bobby’s wellness roadshow investigates how to get better at feeling better - cup of tea included.

Bobby has developed this brand new show out of her own experiences of illness and hard-won recovery. Designed in collaboration with sculptor Charlie Whittuck, an extraordinary set of fantastical ‘recovery’ apparatus promises surprises galore as well as state-of-the-art technical equipment, all developed with wellbeing in mind.

Follow Bobby’s expert example and join her on the road to wellness - and beyond.

Please pay on the door

Limited free spaces service users

For more information

Contact Alan McLean

check http://www.wwad.info/

email: windowswithadifference@gmail.com

Text/Mobile 07757 254852

If you request BSL interpretation please contact by March 10

Funded by Arts Council England

Thank you Walsall Council Creative Development Team, Walsall SUE and The New Art Gallery Walsall

STOMP at Birmingham Hippodrome

• CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF STOMP

• GREAT HALF TERM TREAT

• FEEL GOOD SHOW RETURNS TO BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME

• NEW ROUTINES, NEW MUSIC

After touring the globe almost continuously for 20 years, setting feet stamping, fingers drumming and adrenalin rushing for over 15 million people in 48 countries across 5 continents, STOMP returns to Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 February 2012.

Since its premiere at the Edinburgh Festival in 1991, STOMP has become a global phenomenon, showcasing a universal language of rhythm, theatre, comedy and dance that has resonated with audiences throughout the world. Eight performers use everything from Zippo lighters and plastic bags to bin lids and even the kitchen sink to hammer out an explosively feel-good rhythm.

With brand new routines, new choreography and new music STOMP is now fresher, faster and funnier than ever!

From a single drum hanging around Luke Cresswell’s neck back in 1991, STOMP has taken on a life of its own. Creators and co-directors Cresswell and Steve McNicholas developed a pulsating, witty, utterly irresistible theatrical event that has become a worldwide phenomenon.

Over the last 20 years, STOMP has garnered truly diverse recognition; from an Olivier Award and the headline-grabbing performance at the 1996 Oscars to the City of New York celebrating its 10th birthday at the Orpheum Theatre by renaming 2nd Avenue at 8th Street ‘Stomp Avenue’!

STOMP returns to Birmingham Hippodrome during Half Term providing the whole family with the perfect theatre outing during the holidays.

STOMP runs at Birmingham Hippodrome Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 February 2012. Performance times: Tue – Sat Eves 7.30pm, Wed & Fri Mat 2pm, Sat Mat 2.30pm. Tickets: £14.50 - £30, call 0844 338 5000 or choose your seat online at http://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/  (calls cost from 5p per minute, 5% transaction fee applies).

Upcoming events from TSRC

Beyond the Radar events

Happy New Year! TSRC has been running a series of events to examine how community groups can maximize their impact. As part of this 'Beyond the Radar' series, we will be holding three online discussions in January and February, and an event in April. Please join us in these conversations!

You can spread the word on twitter using #btr11

Online discussions:

Civil society beyond the radar

30 January 2012, 7.30 – 8.30pm

How important are below the radar groups, how can their autonomy be maintained and what is the impact of current policy/recession/deficit reduction? Join us for this online discussion with Globalnet21. Panel members include David Taylor of Community Matters and TSRC researcher Angus McCabe.

More details on Globalnet21 website

Below the Radar and the unintended consequences of voluntary sector reconfiguration

1 February 2012, 2-4pm

How are small community groups being affected by wider changes within the voluntary sector? The panel will include the Big Lottery Fund, Community Development Foundation, Trust for London, and Barrow Cadbury Trust, along with TSRC. Online discussion will take place on this website.

More details on the btr11 website

Strengthening civil society through social media

28 February 2012, 7.30 – 8.30pm

Can social networking help strengthen the influence of civil society groups?This discussion will be held by Globalnet21. The panel to include Joe Taylor, NATCAN and David Wilcox, Social Reporter.

More details on Globalnet21 website

Event

Social networking below the radar: social media or action media?

4 April 2012, 1.30pm – 5pm

Big Lottery Fund, 1 Plough Place, EC4A 1DE

This event culminates the series of Beyond the Radar events. We invite those who have been involved in the BTR11 project, as well as anyone interested in below the radar, to evaluate the lessons of social media activity. What activities work for community groups? Can social media help them have a greater impact? After events during the Arab Spring, how can social media become ‘action media’?

The event will be held in partnership with Globalnet21 and hosted by the Big Lottery Fund. A networking lunch will be included. To register interest email Naomi: n.landau@tsrc.ac.uk

ESRC Public Policy seminar series

Marrying scale and responsiveness

8 March 2011, 12 – 4.30pm

Birmingham

The next in a series of policy seminars from TSRC and the Economic and Social Research Council, this seminar will explore service delivery by third sector organisations. It will be held in association with ACEVO.

The seminar will address developments in policy and practice resulting from the Localism Bill, Commissioning Green Paper and the Public Services Reform White Paper. It will look at attempts to improve economic performance and efficiency through partnerships, improved supply chain management, spin-outs and co-production, examining the effect of these developments on third sector organisations and the services they deliver.

To register, email: knowledgeexchange@esrc.ac.uk

TSRC seminars

Southampton seminar series

Modelling volunteering types in the UK

26 January 2012, 12 noon

Frida Geyne Rajme and Peter Smith analyse statistics to explore characteristics of those most likely to volunteer.

Who cares for whom? Rural ageing, migration and networks of informal care

26 January 2012, 3pm

Alasdair Rutherford looks at how older people and their families make decisions about informal care.

Lunch will be provided for anyone attending both seminars.

Birmingham seminar series

Lost in translation? Understanding policy genesis: the example of the ‘Big Society’

1 February 2012, 12 - 1.30pm

James Rees explores how construction of the Big Society concept can be understood as a process of policy 'translation'.

Unsubordinated collaboration between governments and NGOs in South Asia

6 March 2012, 12 - 1.30pm

Richard Batley looks at collaboration between governments and NGOs in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, questioning whether this leads to loss of autonomy and policy influence.

London seminar series

Amateur arts and civil society

21 March 2012, 2 - 3.30pm

Dr Jenny Phillimore from TSRC and Robin Simpson from Voluntary Arts look at the impact of grassroots arts groups. Research highlights the importance of grassroots arts activity for the health, happiness and well-being of individuals and communities.

Conferences

VSSN Day Conference

23 May 2012, 10am - 4pm

The next VSSN day conference will be hosted by the Third Sector Research Centre at the University of Birmingham.

more information

ISIRC 2012

12-14 September 2012

University of Birmingham, hosted by the Third Sector Research Centre.

In September 2012, TSRC will be hosting the 4th International Social Research Conference at the University of Birmingham. The call for papers is now open. Papers are welcome on all aspects of the voluntary sector/civil society/social entrepreneurship. More

All our research is available here. A full list of events is here

Second window of new £20m plus grant fund to encourage social action is now open

The Social Action Fund is a new grant Fund of over £20 million, managed by us on behalf of the Office for Civil Society. The Fund's second window opened 9 January 2012 and will close noon 3 February 2012.

The Fund aims to inspire organisations to create new social action opportunities through people giving what they have, be that their time, their money, or their assets, knowledge and skills.

The Fund will support social action applications that cover the following themes

•Encourage people to come together in their locality to support each other: Projects that include plans to scale proven models to regional or national levels, or replicate them in other localities. Some priority will be given to models that encourage those who do not traditionally get involved as volunteers

•Focus on the different life stages of volunteering

The Social Action Fund is open to applications to fund social action projects in England from civil society organisations, public sector bodies and businesses with a track record of delivering social action programmes.

Please note that you must first ensure your proposal meets the new eligibility criteria for the Fund prior to applying. If you were unsuccessful in the previous round please refer to the guidance notes.

Find out if you are eligible

Enquiry line:

0191 269 2276

Email:

info@thesocialinvestmentbusiness.org

Funding Information

1

BIG Lottery have published a discussion paper for voluntary sector and social enterprise managers working in both frontline and infrastructure support and development organisations. It sets out their approach to ‘building capabilities within voluntary organisations’, and gives an opportunity for voluntary and other organisations to influence this approach.

Helping VCS organisations and social enterprises to become more effective will continue to be a priority for BIG over the next few years. This approach will mean that they are able to get the support they need to do their work and that people and communities most in need will see greater benefits from our funding.

Government has made £30m available for a final national investment in local infrastructure. The Big Lottery Fund has indicated that we will provide at least £20 million to complement this in distinct and additional ways. We have formulated a set of principles which give rise to further questions on which we would now welcome views ahead of finalising details in 2012.

The discussion paper can be found at http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/building_capabilities.

This webpage also provides access to an online survey which is open until 15 March 2012.

2

On 24th January, Communities Minister Andrew Stunell invited community and voluntary organisations to apply for a share of £100 million that will help revitalise communities and bring the empty homes blighting their areas back into use. It is expected that up to £30 million will be given over to community groups.

Fund Manager TRIBAL have been appointed to administer the fund - they will also assess applications.

Successful applications will:

· bring empty homes back into use as affordable housing

· deliver value for money

· have support from their local authority

· expect to be complete by 31 March 2015.

Guidance and the application form are available to download from Tribal's website at

http://www.grantsadmin.co.uk/

Guidance is available on the Department's website here:
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/emptyhomeappguidance

The deadline for applications is 17 April 2012.

Macmillan and BID Cancer Support Group

• Do you have a hearing loss and a cancer diagnosis?



• Do you have a relative or look after someone with a hearing loss and cancer?


BID and Macmillan are holding a new Cancer Support Group at the Deaf Cultural Centre. All welcome. Interpreters will be at the meeting

The first meeting will be on

Tuesday 31st January, 10am till 12

In the Ashton Room, BID Services, Deaf Cultural Centre, Ladywood Road, Birmingham, B16 8SZ

• Come along to meet other people who have similar experiences.

• You can talk, get support and advice.

• Sarah’s role is Macmillan BID Deaf Cancer Care Coordinator. She has 7 years experience of supporting deaf people. She has also been through cancer experiences with family members.

If you want to know more or to talk you can contact Sarah by phone, fax or email

Phone: 0121 246 6100 Textphone: 0121 246 6101

Fax: 0121 246 6125

Email: sarah.treadwell-baker@bid.org.uk

* If you would prefer an evening group please contact Sarah

Godiva Awakes - Pipe and Marching band drummers wanted!

Marching Band and Pipe Drummers needed to bang the drum for London 2012 and be part of Imagineer Productions Godiva Awakes

The World’s Fastest Drummer, Carl Williams originally from Coventry, is joining Imagineer Production’s Godiva Awakes drumming group who will rehearse together and perform as part of Godiva Awakes in July 2012, summoning Godiva and heralding the Godiva Carnival 2012. Godiva Awakes is part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Carl is seeking to add 10 Marching Band Drummers and Pipe Band Drummers to the already 100 strong drumming group with an open audition taking place on Sunday 29 January in Coventry. The successful auditionees will join samba, dhol, djembe and drumkit drummers as they prepare for the awakening in July 2012.

Carl Williams said: “I am really keen that people currently in Pipe Bands or Marching Bands come forward to take up this once in a lifetime opportunity. We want to ensure a real mix of drumming sounds summon Godiva when she reawakens in Coventry.”

People interested in coming along to the auditions should contact Alayne Clark on 07979 525489 for full details on the time and location of the audition.

In July 2012, Imagineer Productions' 21st Century Godiva will awake to a spectacular performance involving dancers, actors, aerialists, musicians, pyrotechnicians, carnivalists and 220 young people in a procession marking the unveiling of this Godiva for the modern age.

Powered by 100 cyclists and clothed in a coat crafted by artists from across the region, Godiva will then journey from Coventry to London to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

On 28 July 2012 Godiva will awake for the first time in 1000 years in Coventry and through a once-in-a-lifetime performance, featuring the Drummers recruited by Carl Williams, and be presented with her quest to deliver the Book of Intent to London. The Book of Intent carries the voices of young people and their global partners to the world - it is the actions they will take to make the world a fairer place.

The following day, 29 July 2012 she will be the focal point of the Godiva Carnival in Coventry; a magnificent celebration for all the family where she will board her Cyclopedia for the first time. On 30 July, she will begin her epic journey travelling along the A5 to London over seven days passing through seven towns inspiring a series of extraordinary outdoor celebrations.

Over 1000 people are already part of the Godiva Awakes project across the region, including the 100 drummers, the Communitas (220 young people), the Choir (150), the Cycle Team (100) with 58 people employed on delivering Godiva Awakes alongside eight apprenticeships for young people and a further 100 jobs planned to be created during the project.

Godiva Awakes is part of Artists taking the lead, a series of 12 public art commissions across the UK to celebrate the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, funded by Arts Council England.

Godiva Awakes is also supported by Coventry City Council and is part of the Cities 2012 programme.

For further information or to sign up to receive regular up-dates visit http://www.imagineerproductions.co.uk/.

Review of audio described performance of Welsh National Opera’s Don Giovanni at the Birmingham Hippodrome from Vidar Hjardeng

Welsh National Opera’s Don Giovanni at the Birmingham Hippodrome on the evening of Friday, 18 November 2011 – reviewed by Vidar Hjardeng.

Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni tells the story of a dissolute Spanish nobleman whose seductions of a large number of women were carefully catalogued by his servant Leperello.

This Welsh National Opera production was created by the team responsible for one of the world’s most popular musicals, Les Miserables – director, John Caird, designer, John Napier and lighting designer, David Hersey. First produced in Prague in 1787 the action takes place in an unknown location in Spain, at the end of that century. Having had the welcome opportunity to listen to, and digest, the informative pre-show notes on CD (giving a synopsis of the plot, and details of the characters, costumes and scenery), it was good to be taken on stage to get a closer look at the set during the ever helpful touch tour, some 90 minutes or so before the start of the opera.

Far from naturalistic, the set consisted of 6 walled sections that either pivoted, or slid forward and sideways, to create a series of different locations. This enabled 3 or 4 different situations to develop at the same time as the characters in the opera deceived each other, watched each other unseen, or escaped when necessary! Accompanied by WNO stage management, the describers and members of the theatre staff, we were shown the setting for the start of the opera – very high walls with the focal point being massive double doors. These doors were based on the monumental work by the French sculptor, Auguste Rodin, entitled, The Gates of Hell, and it was extraordinary to literally get a feel for the deeply carved, 100 plus figures, writhing and screaming in despair as they tumbled down into Hell’s abyss. We were also told about another frieze of figures running across the top of the doors, containing the seated figure of a naked man with bowed head, possibly representing Adam contemplating Man’s destruction brought about by his own original sin. On each side of the monumental doors were 2 walls and, in the same bronze each section of wall contained 2 more narrow recessed sets of double doors, each framed by similar friezes of contorted, tortured naked figures. We were encouraged to follow this pattern along the sidewalls which ended in rough lumps of stone, from which emerged the half carved figures of Rodin’s The Thinker on the left hand side, and on the right, The Kiss. The latter depicting the naked figures of a man and a woman, entwined in a passionate embrace - our describers said that they seemed to be almost growing out of the rock on which they were seated.

The overall mood of the setting was dark, and the costumes of the 8 main characters reflected the late 1700s in which the action took place.

It was an altogether wonderfully presented and absorbing night at the opera, and without the illuminating touch tour and ‘live’ audio-description I know I would have missed so much of it.

The next WNO audio-described opera at the Birmingham Hippodrome will be Verdi’s La Traviata, on the night of Friday 10 March 2012 and details on ticket prices, how to book headsets and places on the touch tour, can be obtained from the box office on 0844 338 5000.

CBeebies Live! Reach to the Stars

13 April 2012


LG Arena

Tickets on sale now, priced from £15.00 for an adult ticket, from £12.50 for a child’s, and a family ticket from £50.00 (plus booking and transaction fees)

Available from The Ticket Factory: http://www.theticketfactory.com/  or 0844 338 8000

CBeebies’ favourite young knight-in-training, Mike the Knight, is donning his armour in preparation to join the channel’s biggest stars in the brand new show CBeebies Live! Reach to the Stars. The energetic and cheeky character will be appearing at the LG Arena, Birmingham on 13 April 2012.

A new addition to CBeebies, Mike the Knight has very quickly become a hit with its young audience, as it brings the excitement and enchantment of medieval times into the life of the modern pre-schooler.

Joining Mike the Knight at the show will be Justin Fletcher MBE, Mister Maker, Postman Pat with Jess the Cat and the ZingZillas, together with CBeebies presenters Andy Day, Katy Ashworth and Andrew Agnew. Combining big screen video footage and live performance, a host of CBeebies favourites including Squiglet and Robbie Rotten, Stephanie and Sportacus from LazyTown will join in the fun, interacting with the audience for an incredible live experience.

To find out more about the show and to book tickets, visit http://www.lgarena.co.uk/.

Tickets for CBeebies Live! Reach to the Stars are on sale now, priced from £15.00 for an adult ticket, from £12.50 for a child’s, and a family ticket from £50.00 (plus booking and transaction fees). They will be available from The Ticket Factory: http://www.theticketfactory.com/  or 0844 338 8000.

For Sale sign on historic Martineau Cetre

Birmingham City Council are pushing through their plan to sell the historic Martineau Centre in Balden Road, Harborne for demolition in spite of denials by councillors over a number of years that such a decision was the only proposal being considered.

In August last year Conservative councillor Randal Brew distributed a letter to local people dismissing the suggestion that the City Council was planning to destroy the Martineau Centre, stating that he was saddened at the claim and adding he wanted to outline "the truth of what is really happening."

Brew's letter coincided with a rapidly orchestrated public consultation, arranged suspiciously close to the main public holiday period, where concerns from local residents about the loss of education, community and sporting amenities appeared to be totally disregarded and the realpolitik of selling the site as quickly as possible for demolition were over-whelmingly evident, in spite of Mr Brew's clumsy late-hour PR job.    

Less than six months later the 'for sale' sign has gone up and it seems that the prospective residents of Whitby Croft and Brew Close will join their Quinborne neighbours in looking to Sandwell for their community amenities.

Celebrate Chinese New Year in Birmingham

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Tribute – West Park, Wolverhampton: Monday 4th June

Send her victorious!

2012 marks Her Majesty The Queen’s 60th year as our monarch and that has to be a cause for celebration.

On the evening of Monday 4th June The Queen will light the first of a network across the nation of Diamond Jubilee Beacons and, on the same night in Wolverhampton’s beautiful Victorian West Park, we will be lighting one of those 2012 beacons as the people of our fine city celebrate the Jubilee together.

It’s not just a beacon that will be burning in West Park on this monumental occasion. The Civic Halls and Banks’s have organised an enormous summertime bonfire party in Her Majesty’s honour with fireworks, rock music, children’s characters, funfair rides and food and drink aplenty. We are calling it The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Tribute.

There will be a ‘Kind of Magic’ in the air as The Wolf Radio road show hosts the first ever female fronted Queen tribute band ‘She Will Rock You’ but first, for the kids, Rastamouse and Peppa Pig will be putting in appearances early evening either side of a children’s firework display.

As the sun sets on West Park and we prepare to light the bonfire, the crowd will be treated to a moment of rock majesty when a lone guitarist will take to the skies above to play the national anthem in the style of Queen’s Bryan May.

At 10.00pm, the evening will conclude on a high around the warming glow of the bonfire with a spectacular volley of fireworks to salute our Queen and send her happy and glorious into her 60th year of sovereignty!

Councillor Elias Mattu, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities said: “This is a once in a lifetime chance for everybody to get involved in celebrating our monarchy at a great event for all of the family”

Entry to the event costs £5.00 for adults and £2.50 for children (under 16).

Gates open at 5.30pm

Celebrate Chinese Year of the Dragon at Coalport China Museum

Half-Term Monday 13th – Friday 17th February

Go along to the Coalport China Museum, near Ironbridge during half-term between Monday 13th and Friday 17th February to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon, which began on 23rd January. The museum will be taking on an oriental flavour with a series of hands-on family activities

Join drop-in ceramic workshops modelling a clay dragon or try painting an oriental ceramic flower or fridge magnet depicting an animal from the Chinese zodiac. There’s also a chance to solve Chinese puzzles, read storybooks and follow a Chinese Zodiac trail around the museum; activities will vary from day-to-day.

The half-term workshops at Coalport China Museum will be held from 11am until 1pm and 2pm until 4pm; ceramic activities carry costs in addition to entry fees with items sent home after firing.

Coalport is one of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums. An Annual Passport ticket offers unlimited visits to all ten museums and is valid for twelve month and costs £22.50 per adult, £18.25 for the 60 plus, £14.75 for students and children and £61.50 for a family of two adults and three children aged up to 18 years in full time education; under 5s free. Individual museum entry tickets are also available.

The museums are open seven days a week from 10am until 5pm; activities and workshops vary day-to-day and some carry an extra charge in addition to the museum admission fee. For further information, contact the Ironbridge Tourist Information Centre on Tel: 01952 433 424 or visit http://www.ironbridge.org.uk/.  The Gorge is easily reached via the M6 and M54 motorways exiting at Telford (M54 junction 4 or 6).

BEN Launches New Free Service to Automotive Industry

BEN, the automotive industry charity has launched a free online recruitment advertising service, exclusively for the automotive industry.

BEN Autojobs, is a dedicated section of BEN’s main website where recruiters can register and post an unlimited number of vacancies at no charge. It is also free for prospective candidates looking for a job.

BEN’s website sees significant traffic from those who are either currently working or have worked in the automotive and associated industries so its audience is hugely relevant to recruiters.

Ray Diggins, BEN’s Head of Marketing said, “As a not-for-profit charity, BEN is pleased to make this service available as a no-cost service. BEN Autojobs is simple and easy to use and already some of the industry’s biggest names are using the site.”

BEN Autojobs can be found at: http://www.ben.org.uk/

New Ross Library and Customer Service Centre to open

Herefordshire Council’s newly refurbished Ross Library and Customer Service Centre is now open to the public.

The newly combined service is being officially opened on National Libraries Day and to celebrate this, a wealth of celebrated writers will be attending the event.

Popular local authors Phil Rickman, Rebecca Tope, Carol Peacock, Quentin Letts; and Jon and Heather Hurley will be joining in celebrations for the official opening of the refurbished centre, which now boasts a new exhibition space, new library area as well as a suite of customer service points.

Work from Herefordshire’s Young Poet Laureates will be on display and Bookstart bear will be at a special storytime for under 5s at 2pm. The celebrations kick off from 11.30am with the official opening at noon and all friends and supporters are welcome.

For the whole of February, Herefordshire Council’s library service is offering a voucher for a free rental of an audio book, a DVD or a game if you introduce a new member of your family or a friend to the library, and what’s more they will get a voucher too.

There will also be special National Libraries Day postcards asking people to say what they love about their library.

Customers are encouraged to visit the centre to see the wide range of surgeries designed to support the needs of the local community. Surgeries are held weekly and will be showcased across the launch week on the following days:

• Councillor surgery – Saturday 4 February 10am to 11am

• Housing advice surgery – Wednesday 8 February from 9.30am

• Planning applications surgery - Thursday 9 February 2pm to 4pm

Councillor Roger Phillips, Herefordshire Council’s cabinet member for enterprise and culture, said: “In Herefordshire, we are fully committed to keeping all of our libraries open and sustainable into the future which is why we have combined our library service customer services team.

“This reduces our running costs and means we can keep all of our permanent libraries open, unlike many other authorities who have been forced to close these vital community services.

“We have also been able to use the old shelving at Ross library, which had to be removed because it would not fit the reconfigured space, to improve the facilities at both Bromyard library and the children’s library at Hereford.

“I am delighted we have such a wealth of popular writers coming along to the official opening and I hope as many residents as possible will come along to meet them as well,” he added.

Councillor Philip Price, Herefordshire Council’s cabinet member for corporate services and education, said: “As part of our strategy to provide better services for customers, this new centre will provide a one-stop shop for residents who want to take out library books or use the council’s other services such as advice on housing and making planning applications.

“By combining the library and customer services centre, we have reduced our running costs while still ensuring residents enjoy the same level of service,” he added.

To find out more about Herefordshire Council’s library service log onto www.herefordshire.gov.uk/libraries

Rick Davies’ Black Country Stories

A free exhibition of Rick Davies’ Black Country Stories will take place at The Public in West Bromwich from 27 January 2012 to 20 May 2012 (Wednesday to Saturday - 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday - 11 am to 3 pm).

West Bromwich’s Multistory, one of the UK’s leading community arts agencies has commissioned photographer Rick Davies to document the Black Country. Rick makes panoramic images that invite us to step into, and explore, the detail of the landscape in ways we might not have looked before.

Rick has used a cherry picker several times to go as high as possible to get his incredible shots to show us a different view of everyday locations and objects; a view we would never see in our everyday lives.

Rick photographs the contemporary landscape to illustrate how geographical, historical, political and economic factors impact on individuals and society; he describes his work as being ‘A Visual Geography of the Post-industrial Landscape’.

Rick Davies:

“The reason that I document the urban landscape is because it has such a major effect not only on the material conditions of life but also on the way we think and feel. Taking these panoramic shots of the Black Country, has given me the opportunity to show the changes that have taken place.”

Emma Chetcuti, Director of Multistory:

“Rick Davies has created a series of wonderful, sweeping images of the Black Country that we hope will give you a new way of looking at local landscapes and landmarks. Most photography is as limited as the human eye. Not so with panoramic photography that captures an entire field of view.”

Linda Saunders, Managing Director of The Public:

“Rick Davies’ exhibition is not only a fascinating portrayal of life in the Black Country but also plays a significant educational role, teaching the audience about the makeup of such a diverse region.”

Black Country Stories is a multi-commission programme, produced by Multistory, that invites outstanding artists to document and record life in the Black Country. Black Country Stories commissions internationally renowned documentary photographers, film makers, and authors to tell amazing stories that celebrate everyday life in the Black Country.

Rick Davies’ Black Country Stories forms part of The Art of Architecture, a series of exhibitions that looks at how artists engage with the built environment and influence the world around us. The Art of Architecture also includes a fascinating 3D structure designed by award winning architect, Will Alsop, video work from acclaimed film makers John Wood and Paul Harrison, suspended sculptural forms from Heather and Ivan Morison and photography from Andy Day.

For more information about exhibitions at The Public visit http://www.thepublic.com/ or call 0121 533 7161.