St George’s Day Announcement

Birmingham City Council and Birmingham St George’s Day Association have announced the plans for the city’s St George’s Day celebrations this year – and the event will be bigger and better than ever. Saturday 25 April has been confirmed as the date for the free summer fête style celebrations, which will see the city centre filled with a flurry of red and white.

New additions this year include the Knights of Middle England, who will be showing off their beautiful white horses, as well as giving some fantastic sword-fighting demonstrations.

Traditional English refreshments will be on offer, including a whole pig roast, and traditional drinks courtesy of a local brewery. New Street will also host a new English craft and farmers market, offering traditional treats and souvenirs to take away. The stage in Victoria Square, compered by BBC WM presenters Phil Upton and Joanne Malin, will see popular live music including The Fab Beatles and Central England Ensemble.

They will be joined this year by some more contemporary acts including local band Deluka and finalists in BBC 2’s young folk musician competition, Kerfuffle. A smoke-breathing dragon slide and St George themed activities will keep the children entertained, and some may even be lucky enough to be “knighted” by St George himself (aka Len Cale). Chamberlain Square will see a programme of traditional folk, clog and Morris dancing, with performances from Birmingham’s own Jockey Morris Men, and Norwich-based women’s garland and clog dancers, Fiddlesticks.

Cllr Ray Hassall, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport & Culture said, “Birmingham City Council is proud to be organising these celebrations in honour of England’s patron saint, and this will be an excellent opportunity for the city’s residents to come together to celebrate England’s wonderful heritage. This is just the first of many fantastic free community events planned for the coming year.”

Professor Carl Chinn MBE, Chair of Birmingham St George’s Day Association said, “Over 10,000 people turned out to Birmingham’s wonderful celebrations last year, considered by many to be the best in the country. It is important for us to celebrate together as a nation, and I urge everyone to come along to enjoy this free, family friendly festival.”

The St George’s Day Celebrations are organised by Birmingham City Council in partnership with Birmingham St George’s Day Association. The Association are also organising the annual Celebrating England Concert at Symphony Hall in the evening.

For more information call 0121 303 3008 or go to www.birmingham.gov.uk/st-george

Palestine fundraiser this Saturday

This saturday there will be a fundrsiser for the International Solidarity Movement, a group working in Palestine supporting Palestinian non-violent resistance and doing violence-reducing accompaniment work, such as riding with ambulances during Israeli military operations or picking olives with farmers whose land is near settlements.

Music;

Dubstep, Ska, Funk, Jungle, Reggae, Accoustic.

DJs;
Aries (co lab, lion dubs, pure vibez)
Boogie Dave (drop beats not bombs)
Lombard Royale Sound (olbi iyah and matty garber)
Audio Intifada (yarrr matey)

Bands;
The Moontones (ska)
Gabbidon (reggae, feat Basil Gabbidon of Steel Pulse fame)
Gran Torino (funk)
Balsall Heathens (accoustic)

The night is pirate themed, feel free to come dressed as a pirate, you dont have to, but it is a bit of a laugh, yarrr

Sat April 4th, 9pm - 2am, £4 on the door @ the wagon and horses, Adderley Street, Digbeth (just behind The Rainbow) B9 4ED

(www.myspace.com/wagonhorses)

ISM websites; www.palsolidarity.org / www.ism-london.org.uk

April POOLS Day

Youngsters and older people will be able to swim for free in Stafford from tomorrow (Wednesday 1 April).

Anyone aged 16 and under and the over 60s will not be charged for swimming.

Stafford Borough Council is one of around 300 local authorities to support the national swimming initiative which has been backed by double Olympic Gold Medallist, Rebecca Adlington.

Councillor Mike Smith, Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: “Improving health and well-being of the community is one of our top priorities so we are really pleased to be able to offer this free swimming.

“I hope everyone entitled to swim for free will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.”

The council opened up the new £15 million Stafford Leisure Centre last year which boasts an impressive eight lane 25-metre swimming pool and a teaching pool with innovative moveable floor.

As well as the new Stafford Leisure Centre in the town’s Lammascote Road youngsters and older people will also be able to swim for free at Alleyne’s Sports Centre when the pool reopens following repair work.

Swimming is one of the most popular ways for people in the UK to keep fit and great for people who have problems with their joints or find exercise difficult.

Rebecca, the 400 and 800 metre freestyle Olympic champion, said: “This is a great way to encourage more people into the pool and to stay fit and healthy. I look forward to seeing pools up and down the country being used to their full potential.”

For more details on the swim for free programme go to http://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/ or contact the leisure team at Stafford Borough Council on slc@staffordbc.gov.uk or 01785 619500.

SHOW YOUR VILLAGE IS ALIVE AND KICKING!

Rural champions Warwickshire Rural Community Council (WRCC) are calling on local villages to showcase their very finest attributes in a bid to demonstrate that despite many hard knocks in recent years, rural communities are thriving.

Villages are being urged to show off everything they are most proud of, whether it be their community buildings, efforts to improve their local environment or local organisations and social events.

Chairman of the council Brain Douthwaite said that it was time rural communities shouted about their achievements and assets.

"Many traditional rural communities continue to face hardships caused for example, by the decline in farming and the onset of globalism. This has been shown in the closure of many local shops, schools and post offices and now the effects of the credit crunch are driving village pubs out of business and leaving many people unable to find local work," he said.

"It's also important to recognise that many of these villages have existed for hundreds of years and are as ever, responding well to the changes going on around them. So many communities are introducing new ways to sustain their villages -everything from running community shops and rebuilding crumbling village halls to encouraging new business ventures and getting involved in local and regional planning processes.

"It's really inspiring to see how many of them are really fighting for a bright rural future and it's high time their efforts were recognised and the villages of Warwickshire really commended for helping themselves," he said.

All of the county's 300 villages are now being invited to step forward and highlight their best achievements in WRCC's Best Village 2009 competition, which offers cash prizes to each of six category winners and celebrates the successes of entrants.

Competition Organiser Ariadne Uslu commented, "We know that many of the extremely worthwhile projects and developments achieved by dozens of villages are never recognised outside their immediate communities and we want to change that.

"Rural communities who can demonstrate they know how to sustain themselves are generally taken much more seriously by all sorts of authorities and funding organisations, so this is a real opportunity for villages to show that rural communities are vital and inspiring places to live and work," she said.

Entry forms for the competition can be obtained from Warwickshire Rural Community Council, which is an independent charity committed to helping rural communities develop and thrive. Download a form at www.ruralwarwickshire.org.uk or call 02476
217390. Closing date is May 31st, 2009.

Trading Standards: notorious wheel clamper shut down

Birmingham Trading Standards is pleased to announce that wheel clamper Gary Southall’s license to operate has been revoked by the Security Industry Authority (the clamping industry watchdog). The SIA’s decision to revoke his license came as a result of Mr Southall’s refusal to pay his County Court Judgements despite repeated assurances that he would do so. Trading Standards reported his failure to settle his debts to the SIA and encouraged them to take action against him.

His license to operate was revoked as of 26th March 2009.

Councillor Neil Eustace Chair of Birmingham’s Public Protection Committee said: "I am pleased to see that the Security Industry Authority has finally revoked Mr Southall's licence to operate as a wheel clamper. Trading Standards has been lobbying the SIA for a long time to achieve this outcome and I hope that some of the other wheel clampers who work in Birmingham will sit up and take notice. Wheel clampers need to realise that there are consequences if they think they can ignore the authorities."

Birmingham City Council welcomes multi award winning Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan

BCC councillor for Equalities and Human Resources Alan Rudge and UK Box Office managing director Ashok Suman will host a press conference welcoming singer and Bollywood star Gurdas Maan to Birmingham on Thursday April 2nd.

This event marks the start of a partnership between Mr Maan and the Birmingham City Council, as led by Cllr Rudge, to promote community cohesion.

Maan is a prolific artist who has received national and international awards, produced over 27 albums, and written more than 200 songs for world-famous music labels. As an actor he has received India’s highest acting honours for his roles in Punjabi and Bollywood films. A true icon whose message resonates through all cultures and communities, he has brought the poetry of song to millions within Asia and beyond.

Cabinet member for Equalities and Human Resources Councillor Alan Rudge said: “I am delighted to meet with Mr Maan on his visit to the UK and look forward to working with him to build relationships and promote understanding between and across all communities in Birmingham.”

For media information about the press conference, please contact: Press.office@birmingham.gov.uk

Watch this space for more news about Gardas Maan's new role in Birmingham

Recession Busting Plans Put in Place in Stafford

A new raft of measures aimed at helping residents and businesses during the recession are being introduced by Stafford Borough Council.

Money awarded to the Council because of its success in encouraging business to the area has been set aside for measures aimed at easing the problems caused by the economic downturn.

Funding has now been identified to aid charities, businesses and householders and the measures will be discussed by the Council’s Cabinet next week.

Councillor Mike Heenan, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “This is the worst recession we have known for a generation. At this time people look to their local authority for assistance and we must deliver in a way which helps the most needy in our community.

“We have also identified where we can help businesses which is important as so many companies are struggling and local jobs are being lost.”

An additional £20,000 is being given to the Citizen’s Advice Bureaux in Stafford and Stone, on top of regular funding provided by the Council, to help them cope with a 25% increase in debt, legal and employment related enquiries. More than £40,000 will be used to handle demand for Council Tax and Housing benefits which has trebled in recent months. Other schemes include £20,000 to support start up grants for local businesses with an increase of £30,000 to help households reduce fuel bills through home improvements.

Councillor Heenan added: “These are sensible measures, not knee-jerk reactions, with the aim to providing long term help for our whole community.”

The new measures will be funded through money awarded under the ‘Local Authorities Business Growth Incentives’ scheme which rewards Councils who have attracted business to the area. Stafford Borough Council recently achieved the national ’Beacon Status’ for its work in “creating prosperity” in the area - the only district authority in the country to have been given this award.
Advice for businesses during the recession can be found via the homepage of the Council’s website at www.staffordbc.gov.uk

Can’t touch that: Soul revival night backs Fragile Lives appeal

Soul sisters Heidi Sutherland and (left) Carmel Forrest, of Acorns in the Black Country, warm up for hot Soul Night

Dancers are raring to go in the first revival Soul and Motown night to back Acorns Children's Hospice’ Fragile Lives appeal.

Legendary DJ Mike ‘Mr Smooth’ Hollis will be spinning the top tracks from 8 till late on Friday (Apr 4) at the British Legion Club in Lower Gornal - recalling the heady days of Northern soul in the Black Country circuit, when he played to packed dance floors at the Kingfisher and Summerhill Hotels.

The Acorns Fragile Lives Appeal - securing the future of children’s hospice care across the Heart of England – sees Acorns supporters across the West Midlands doing all they can throughout the year to raise vital funds and awareness for Acorns.

The new appeal aims to see Acorns through the recession and protect that help 600 life limited children and their families.

Event organiser Lyn Tudor, of Acorns’ Black Country Support Group, said: “We used to enjoy dancing to Mike’s music when did the circuit as Oscar Michael. This is our first soul night, and we want to make it a regular, low-cost event, to bring in more funds for our children who cannot be cared for in adult hospices or hospitals. They vitally need our help.

“We hope everyone will come to have a good time and support care for Acorns’ children.”

Acorns Children’s Hospice’ primary purpose is to offer the specialist nursing care and support needed by local life limited children and their families, who would face a much tougher challenge coping alone.

The majority of Acorns income comes from donations. The Fragile Lives Appeal offers the chance for everyone in the community to get involved. Volunteers are needed to be ambassadors of the charity and help out within the community by using their spare time to help in Acorns retail shops, give talks, organise collections and events. The corporate community has opportunities such as sponsoring a variety of appeal materials, choosing Acorns as its Charity of the Year, encouraging its workforce to take part in exciting fundraising challenges and even support packages of care within the hospices.

To support the appeal visit: www.acorns.org.uk or email: fragilelives@acorns.org.uk To make an instant donation call: 0845 120 6892.

Tickets for the £4 Soul Night tickets, also featuring DJ Jamie Carr, call 01384 830141/263875/865126

New Park Design will be Child’s Play

Youngsters are to help with the design for a new play area at an award-winning park in Stafford.

Proposals for the redevelopment of play facilities at Victoria Park in the town will be discussed by Stafford Borough Council’s Cabinet next week.

The £450,000 venture will be funded by cash from developers known as section 106 money. The plans include installing new play facilities and building a skate park on the site.

Letters will be sent to schools in the area inviting them to take part in the consultation and the Council will be asking teenagers - through the local Youth Service - as well as skate park users to help look at provisions for the scheme.

The five-acre site retained its national ‘green flag’ award last year making it one of the best parks in the country and already has a range of facilities including bowling green, bird aviary and paddling pool.

Victoria Park also celebrated its centenary in 2008 and still has original features such as bridges and bandstand.

If given the go-ahead by the Cabinet on Tuesday (7 April) work could start before the end of the year.

People will also be able to give feedback through the Council’s website when the consultation on the proposals kicks off in the summer at www.staffordbc.gov.uk.

Enterprise fuels change at Aylestone Business and Enterprise College

Pupils at Aylestone Business and Enterprise College could be instrumental in the county’s credit crunch recovery, as it launches a programme of activity to coincide with the school’s specialist status as a business and enterprise college.

In September 2007 the school successfully applied for business and enterprise specialist status. Backed by Sir Clive Richards, OBE, their success brought with it funding of £250,000 to develop the school’s new status.

Sue Woodrow took up the post of head teacher in September 2008. Since then, work has been taking place to prepare for change: a wireless network has been developed throughout the whole school, covering 80 access points and 400 laptops have been purchased for use in lessons which will supplement exercise books and facilitate a high tech approach to learning.

Being a business and enterprise college means students are encouraged to be innovative by exploring new ideas, solving problems, planning and organising, taking decisions, assessing risk, communicating, getting things done alone or in a team, learning to take the lead and responding to change. Most importantly, they are encouraged to persevere and keep going when things get tough – all important attributes required for business enterprise, as well as life in the twenty first century.

Over the next few months, the school will begin changing its ethos, placing enterprise at the core of the whole school curriculum. The idea is to foster economic understanding, teach business skills, encourage collaborative working within the school and local community and provide students with the skills to challenge themselves, respect each other and achieve their personal best.

To launch these changes and celebrate the status, the school is holding a week of special events, all with a business and enterprise theme.

Activities begin with a drama festival beginning on the evening of Tuesday March 31 and continuing through Wednesday morning, ending with a big rock opera performance by art college students on Wednesday April 1.

In the evening Carol Ann Duffy, described by the Guardian as “Britain’s greatest living poet”, will be reading a selection of her poems, with students organising front of house activities and raising funds for the Prince’s Trust from ticket sales. This will be followed by Aylestone’s own version of Question Time, chaired by Rear Admiral Philip Wilcocks, members of the panel including Jesse Norman, and Sarah Carr, prospective parliamentary candidate for Hereford.

On Thursday April 2nd the school’s year 10s will be challenged to put on a sports festival Alan Sugar style. Working with business mentors, students will have to plan the event, organise staffing, marketing, press and publicity, health and safety and manage the finances so that they make a profit rather than a loss.

On Friday April 3, the art college will be back to work with students on building a shanty town out of recycled materials. Others will produce plans and goodies to run profitable language-based cafes which will operate throughout the day. ‘A play in a day’ is also being produced. Students will also be working on an Apprentice style task.

To finish the week with a landmark memento, the art college will be working with pupils to produce various pieces of art work which will be focus on the college’s new status. These will eventually be positioned around the school.

Sue Woodrow, Head Teacher at Aylestone Business and Enterprise College, said: “Aylestone School is changing and the business and enterprise status is a very important part of that change.

“A great amount of network cabling has been going on behind the scenes over the last few months and we are finally ready to go live with our wireless network. Through wireless access and projectors in classrooms, teachers will be able to interact with students in totally different way.

“The school is also investing in monitoring software so that staff can know what students are accessing and working on during lessons.

“This high technology approach is fundamental to the school’s success as a business and enterprise college. It’s an exciting time to be at Aylestone.”

FREE family activities this Saturday at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum Fair's Fair Craft market

The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum will be filled with FREE family fun activities this Saturday as part of the Fair's Fair Craft Market taking place from 11am until 4pm.

The market, specially opened by West African artist and La Bouche Du Roi exhibition creator Romuald Hazoumé, will feature over 40 Fair's Fair Craft stalls, a Fair Trade fashion show at 2pm created by Twisted Fashion and featuring clothes from famous Fair Trade brands, make and take family arts workshops and story telling sessions (at 11am and 3pm) inspired by Fair Trade and our new touring exhibition La Bouche Du Roi.

It will also feature two stalls hosted by Garden Organic assisting in the launch of the Growing Coventry campaign by providing FREE seeds, planting kits and advice to help get Coventry Growing!

Don’t miss this opportunity to support local artists, makers and crafters who create and sell ethical and fairly produced items within the beautiful setting of the Herbert Art Gallery and Museums newly developed covered court – right next to Coventry Cathedral.

As if that wasn't enough you could also WIN a Luxury Women’s Fair Trade Gift Set* worth over £100 by attending this year’s Fair’s Fair Craft Market at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum on Saturday April 4th. Entering couldn’t be simpler. Pick up a promotional postcard and complete your details returning the tear off slip to the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum for your chance to win this brilliant gift.

Postcards will be available at the Herbert Art Gallery Museum, in Coventry city centre on Saturday morning, from Garden Organic, Ryton this week or just turn up on the day and complete your details to be entered into the prize draw.

For further information on the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum’s extensive programme of FREE events, exhibitions, workshops and family activities please visit http://www.theherbert.org/

Deaffest 2009 opens Call for Film Submissions

Deaffest, the UK’s only Deaf-led Film and Television Festival which celebrates the talents of Deaf filmmakers and media artists, returns on Friday 27 - Sunday 29 November 2009 at Light House Media Centre. Filmmakers can now submit their film to be shown at the festival by emailing info@deaffest.co.uk for an application form.

This year’s festival sees the return of the Deaffest Gala Awards and so Deaf filmmakers can also enter their film into an international competition in the categories of Best Drama, Best Factual Film, Best Animation, Best Experimental Film and Best Deaf TV programme. More details on the festival programme will be available on www.deaffest.co.ukThis year the weekend of festivities will include screenings of films produced by UK and International Deaf filmmakers, Young Deaffest which showcases work produced by young Deaf filmmakers, a Gala Awards ceremony featuring the winners of the competition, and plenty of panel discussions, networking opportunities and social events.

Deaffest 2009 will be the eleventh festival to be held in Wolverhampton since 1998. Deaffest aims to nurture new talent in the Deaf community and showcase the work of Deaf filmmakers and producers to a wider audience.

Festival Coordinator Marcella Stratton said, “We are really excited to open the call for film submissions for this year’s Deaffest. Filmmakers can either enter their film to be shown generally at the festival or enter it into the Film Gala competition for a chance to win an award. Each year Deaffest gets bigger and better, with growing audience numbers and an increasing number of films submitted from Deaf filmmakers from all around the world, making the festival truly international.”

For more information about the programme as the festival takes shape or to download an application form to submit your film to the festival visit www.deaffest.co.uk or email info@deaffest.co.uk

For more information about Light House contact Tel. 01902 716055 / email. info@light-house.co.uk or visit www.light-house.co.uk

Crafty people needed for new craft fair in Ledbury

Herefordshire Council is looking for talented crafts people and artists for a new market being set up in Ledbury.

Arranged for Friday 10th July the plan is to have 30 creative stalls in the centre of Ledbury. All exhibits have to be unique original works of good quality and individual design, and will occupy the centre of Ledbury under the market house extending out into the street parking area long the road. Crowd barriers will be supplied to protect stalls on the road side.

“Herefordshire has some very talented crafts people producing a range of goods from basket ware, ceramics and glassware to jewellery, textiles and photography,” said Andy Dawson, co-ordinator. "The market is timed to coincide with the Poetry Festival so should get lots of arty customers."

The deadline for applications is Tuesday April 14. For further information, please contact Andy on 01432 383064.

Hereford Cathedral Choir to perform St Matthew Passion

Tuesday 7 April, Hereford Cathedral 7 pm

On Tuesday 7 April at 7pm, Hereford Cathedral Choir will perform J.S. Bach’s compelling and emotionally intense St Matthew Passion. Sung in the sublime setting of Hereford Cathedral, and accompanied by the period-instrument orchestra Marches Baroque, the piece forms a crucial part of the events of Holy Week. It will be sung in the original German.

The internationally acclaimed line-up of soloists is Simon Wall (Evangelist), Colin Campbell (Christus), Lucy Bowen (soprano), James Bowman (countertenor), Huw Rhys-Evans (tenor) and Robert Rice (bass). The performance will be directed by Geraint Bowen, the cathedral’s director of music.

The Revd Canon Andrew Piper, in charge of music and liturgy at Hereford Cathedral, described the work as “lyrical and contemplative” and an encouragement to enter more deeply into the spirit of Holy Week. “Each year in Holy Week the cathedral choir sings one of the Bach Passions as part of our offering of worship. This year it will be the St Matthew Passion. Bach uses the text of St Matthew’s Gospel to recount the story of the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus, and interleaves poetic interjections sung by the chorus, which are lyrical and contemplative, that encourage us to reflect upon the saving work of Christ on the cross and his triumph over the power of evil. For performer and listener alike, it is a wonderful (and dare I say divine?) preparation for Easter.”

As well making use of a double orchestra and eight-part chorus, there is a separate soprano line in the first chorus which will be sung by the Herefordshire Junior Singing Club. Director of Music, Geraint Bowen, said “I am absolutely delighted that the Singing Club will be joining the cathedral choir for this performance. Since the Club’s formation in 2003 as part of the cathedral’s acclaimed music outreach programme, it has gone from strength to strength under its director Martyn Lane.”The performance is supported the Alan Cadbury Charitable Trust.

Tickets, priced £18 and £14, can be obtained from the Hereford Cathedral Shop; The Outback, Church Street, Hereford; and at St John’s Door on the night. Doors will open at 6.15 pm.

LOOKING FOR A NEW CAREER? TRY FOSTERING SAYS ACTION FOR CHILDREN AS NEW SERVICE LAUNCHES IN BIRMINGHAM.

Leading children’s charity, Action for Children is launching a new fostering service in the Midlands and is seeking to recruit foster carers in Birmingham and across the region.

There is an estimated shortfall of about 10,000 (1) foster carers in England who are needed to provide safe and secure homes and the urgent need for more people to come forward as foster carers is clear.

Action for Children has got a long and successful history of working to place children and young people with foster carers and currently runs 12 other foster services across the UK.

Kathy Scott, Fostering Team Manager at Action for Children Midlands, says: ‘We are very excited to be launching this new fostering service for the Midlands and are really hoping that people will come forward to find out more about becoming a foster carer.

“There are lots of misconceptions about the kind of people that are eligible to foster and we want to breakdown some of these myths. Some people think that they might be too old or because they are single they can’t foster, but in fact none of these are true. Action for Children welcomes applications for fostering from all walks of life. Fosters receive generous allowances and paid breaks, we provide lots of training and there is also 24 hour support. We urge people to pick up the phone and find out more and make a real difference to the life of a child.”

Birmingham born singing sensation and mother of two, Jamelia, has leant her support to the launch and says: "Being a mum, I understand the importance of providing a safe, secure and loving home to children, every child deserves that. That's why I'm supporting the launch of Action for Children's new fostering service in the Midlands and encouraging more people to get in touch with the charity and find out more about fostering.”

Foster carer Julie Simpson says: “My husband and I have been foster carers for over five years now and it is such a rewarding experience. The help, support, training and advice that we have received from the Action for Children fostering team has been outstanding; any problem that occurs no matter how big or small, we know that they are always on hand to help, it really is invaluable.”

There are many different types of fostering that Action for Children needs carers for, for example, emergency foster placements when a child needs somewhere safe to stay for a few nights or longer term foster care placements which can last from anything from months to years. Some foster carers provide regular short breaks form children with disabilities, special needs or behaviour difficulties to give their parents a break.

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a foster carer for Action for Children please ring 0845 200 5162 or visit www.actionforchildren.org.uk/fostering.

North Arden Local History Society - March Report

NORTH ARDEN LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

REPORT: MEETING MARCH 2009

MORE (NEW) LOCAL VIEWS
(Castle Bromwich and Water Orton)

On Thursday 12th March members of the North Arden Local History Society met at Arden Hall and settled down to the latest instalment of Colin Green’s “Local Views”. Colin is one of the original founder members of the Society (1974) but, as he explained, his interest in the local history of Castle Bromwich goes back to the early 1960’s when he worked with his father as a jobbing builder going to do various jobs in many of the older properties of the village, many of which have long since disappeared.

Colin’s talk was very well illustrated by his own collection of slides all taken with his Rollieflex Camera he purchased new in the 1960’s, and which he has continued to use regularly ever since although in this digital age film for it is very hard to come by, and as he told us, it is also beginning to show its age! The slides which were all 6cm x 6cm (2¼” square) were of excellent quality and were pure little gems of nostalgia in both monochrome and colour. He spoke for over an hour and half using well over 150 slides; all we can attempt is to cover some of the highlights in this report. Every picture he showed was augmented by his detailed knowledge and personal recollections of over 40 years pursing his historical interests.

THE “CASTLE” HILLS:
Initially we were taken round what used to be known as the Castle Hills area that few of us today remember since the greater part of it was removed in 1969/70 to construct the ‘Chelmsley Wood Collector Road’ (now the A452). It began at Castle Bromwich (or Mill) Hill and the Church Yard and ran between Chester Road and the River Tame until it reached the Water Orton Road and included fields worked from Beechcroft and Parkfields farms: much of it is now the Parkfields estate but what little of it remains is designated as ‘Public Open Space’. It used to be a very popular area for dog walking and Sunday afternoon strolls; it included the now isolated remains of Castle Bromwich Castle (Pimple Hill) the Norman Castle that was the source of the place name, complete with a bailey surrounding the motte mound on three sides commanding the crossing point of the Chester Road and the river. Colin showed us several slides of this Grade I listed monument both before and during the 1969 excavations that he assisted on.

St MARY & St MARGARET’S CHURCH: - THE HALL:
Most Castle Bromwich readers will be aware of the uniqueness of our Parish Church and how it is one of only 8 churches of outstanding historic and architectural merit in the Birmingham Diocese. Colin showed us several pictures but the most unusual one was of the 15th Century timbers in the roof being checked for signs of insect infection at some time in the 60’s. The earliest recorded mention of a chapel is in 1175 and we now understand that there is a possibility that some of the sandstone blocks forming the footings of the present chancel may be of this 12th Century date.

Castle Bromwich (or Bradford) Hall dates from the 1590’s and has gone through several changes over the years, originally it only had a ground and first floor until the Bridgeman’s added a second upper floor to give it its present appearance. As with the Church we looked at several earlier views of the exterior of the hall beginning with a one taken from a painting where the artist had stood in what is now a car park on the western side and showing a summerhouse in the gardens of which only the footings remain.

Beechcroft - older than the Hall

(OLD) CHESTER ROAD THROUGH THE VILLAGE:
We then embarked on a tour of the old nucleus of Castle Bromwich Village virtually as it was in the 1930’s, 40’s 50’s and 60’s. We began on Chester Road opposite the Church and Hall on the corner of Rectory Lane where we saw a picture of Number 1, - Eldon House this was used as a site office and finds store by the Archaeologists when they investigated the Motte and Bailey site, it was demolished and its site is now a part of the Rectory Gardens development. If you are fortunate enough to have a copy of Colin’s Book ‘Castle Bromwich in Times Past’ (part one published in 1984 – green cover) many of the photographs in this are the same that he had transferred to slides for this talk. The cross roads at Hall Road Chester Road and (the now closed) Birmingham Road were once a focal point for this end of the Village and marked by ‘Lady Ida’s Tree’, that she is said to have planted in the late 19th Century to commemorate one of Queen Victoria’s jubilees. We saw the old Estate Office where Bradford tenants paid their rent, next to this was the only building in Castle Bromwich to be hit by a German bomb in the 40’s, there were several old cottages at this junction since replaced by 1970’s bungalows, a display area for Halls Gardens and a Midland Red bus stop for the 161 to Coleshill. Next came a pair of Georgian Houses (Numbers 15 and 17 - Delamere and Wayside) where Colin and his father worked decorating the interiors and also in the cellars in the 60’s; originally this was one building known as the ‘Bridgeman Arms Inn’ where Red Coat Officers stayed on their way to oppose Bonnie Prince Charlie at Derby in 1745/6. Incidentally if you look carefully you can still see the scars of the 1940’s bomb damage on the gable wall of No’ 15. Progressing along Chester Road Colin showed the original Hawksford House and Campden House that have left their names in the present day blocks of flats/maisonettes, further along (after Kyter Lane) is Langwood Court but we saw its predecessor a large house called ‘The Gables’ that was covered with mock Tudor black and white timber framing, this Colin told us came off in a sheets when it was demolished!

The original Bridgeman Arms Inn

Beechcroft Road only dates from the mid 1970’s when the Parkfields estate was built; this takes its name from the large white house now on the corner that was the farmhouse for the last of two farms that brought an end to the rural life of the village (again in the 70’s). Beechcroft Farm – also know as Webb’s or Rawlings Farm, according to date, had a barn running along Chester Road whose lower sandstone courses were said to been brought from Castle Bromwich Mill, this barn was well known for letter ‘V’ marked out in the roof tiles after bomb damage was repaired, it is understood that the Webbs lost several Cattle to enemy action! Colin and I were told by Farmer Webb’s grandson that experts had examined the farm house and from timbers in the roof deduced that it is actually older than the hall, possibly belonging to the 15th Century. Much could have been said about our village with the Castle Inn, the Green and the Coach and Horses that had to be passed over to talk about other little known aspects of the villages. From Beechcroft we continued down Chester Road past the site of the Village School built in the 1870’s (now maisonettes), looking very much vandalised and waiting demolition after pupils and staff were relocated in the present school in Southfield Avenue. We then paused to look at what were once known a ‘Leake’s or Croft’s Cottages’ set round the corner almost opposite Clayton Drive, when it was a rural community the village pound (for straying farm animals) was next to these.

The old village school before demolition

WHATELEY GREEN TO WATER ORTON:
Our photo tour continued and Colin’s route left the Chester Road to go off to the right past the Bradford Arms towards Stonebridge (the old Toll Road of the 19th Century). The road to Water Orton begins at Whateley Green and Colin related how he came to acquire the arm off the Warwickshire County Council sign post that pointed the way to Water Orton and Coleshill. Our tour then took a diversion at the Farthings (a 1970’s building) to talk about and see Green Lane as it used to be; originally this once ‘green-road’ began near the Church and went in a virtually straight line across the ‘Castle Hills’ area, along its present course to eventually join the Lichfield Road (the A446) at the Beggars Well just outside Coleshill. It is said this was once the stage coach route to Coleshill and there are several folk legends attached to it. Green Lane Farm was burned down (eventually) in a controlled training exercise in the mid 70’s by the Warwickshire Fire Service. Colin had a photograph of this event but the story attached to the farm concerned the highway men Dick Turpin and Tom King who were reputed to have had a secret hideout in one of the barns where evidence was found that may substantiate this tale! This farm was located where Austin Croft joins Lanchester Way to day.

Colin was born in the last house but one on the right hand side of Water Orton Road just before you reach Park Hall School he showed us a view taken from the front bedroom window of a harvest in the fields of Parkfields Farm directly opposite this house – roughly where Parkfield Drive now begins; a tree in his picture is still there to this day on the corner of Faircroft Road (see photo on page 20 in CB Times Past Part 2). This farm was the once owned by the late Aubrey Tomlinson and was the other last working Castle Bromwich farm (1975). We then enjoyed looking at several pictures of this farm including its barns that included the Bromwich Barn a large cathedral like structure that was often mistaken for a Tithe Barn – there are still several similar barns to be found out in countryside that archaeologists are now becoming interested in. On older maps you will see ‘Park Hall Moat’ indicated in a field opposite the farmhouse of Mr Tomlinson (the original home of the Arden’s where Shakespeare’s ancestors were born – another story!) from here we saw photo’s of a medieval ‘Holloway’ – a route that lead to a later Park Hall built in the valley of the Tame. (The origin of the School name).

WATER ORTON:
Moving swiftly on, as they say, we came to Water Orton (or as it once was, ‘Overton’) a village virtually, but never officially, twined with Castle Bromwich but with very much in common. Both are now thought to have been included in the Domesday Survey of 1086 under the same lord of the Manor (of Dudley) and a part of the Parish of Aston (Aston Manor) until 1894. Both had Chapels of Ease attached to Aston Parish Church dating from the12th Century: (St Mary and St Margaret’s in Castle Bromwich and St Peter and St Pauls at Water Orton) that only became Parish Churches in 1894. Colin’s pictures of Water Orton began at the site of the medieval chapel whose grave-yard still remains in Old Church Road together with a ruinous medieval cross that was probably erected before the Chapel was built; Old Church Road is now the centre of a Conservation Zone that includes fine examples of timber framed houses in the ‘Chestnut’s and ‘Wakefield House’, Orton Lodge is an 18th Century building all of which Colin is very familiar with both internally and externally having worked on them and had stories to relate of their owners. Perhaps the most notable character in Old Church Road was the late Gilbert Rhodes who kept an off-licence store with a shotgun under the counter and a tall flag pole from which he flew appropriate flags on numerous suitable occasions, including one of a stork every time a child was born in the village. The Present day St Peter and St Paul’s Parish Church was built in the 1870’s and the medieval chapel (above) was demolished when then new church was up and running being, by then, in a very dangerous state.

Colin also explained that this village remained totally rural and agricultural until the coming of the Railway in the 1830’s which divided the village into two with the older part between the railway and the river (still with its medieval bridge built on the orders of Bishop John Vesey of Sutton Coldfield) and the new part being a creation of the Victorian age providing houses for railway workers especially after the construction of the junction that meant trains could get to Tamworth via Kingsbury as well as Whitacre and Nuneaton via Coleshill. The railway provided a “Victorian Rapid Rail Transport System” into an expanding Birmingham and many prominent business men seized the opportunity of a house in the country and a commute to ‘Brum’ for work giving birth to the commuter age! Travelling through Water Orton on the way to Coleshill down New Road (new in the 19th Century!), or past the ‘Digby’ to Vicarage Lane you can still see several fine Victorian houses that were built by the entrepreneurs of a 100 or more years ago. Colin’s photographs also showed several that have been lost to modern developments on a before and after basis.

Colin is always careful to include pictures of people going about their daily tasks over the last 150 years and we looked at many family groups, carnivals and village shows, ladies groups (W.I’s) School Classes and organised outings both in Castle Bromwich and Water Orton. Because of his family connections with the Mansell’s and Wyatt’s he was able to show us Squire Mercer and his family with relations including Howard Jaques a Victorian Solicitor and photographer who used to live at the Woodland’s in Vicarage Lane where he had a working miniature steam locomotive in his (large) garden. This locomotive is still alive and well and in regular use – but not in Water Orton. When he wound up his talk he was only half way through his slide collection; consequently we are now awaiting follow-up/continuation talk at a future date. It is well nigh impossible to give full justice to Colin’s talk in a report of this nature: keep your eyes open for local publicity to see if and when he is giving it at another venue in future – it will be well worth your time to go along.

Thank you, most sincerely, Colin for an excellent picture show and your fond memories and experiences over the last $%*# years or so!

If any reader would like to learn more about the background and history behind Colin’s talk and this report please see our book(s) such as ‘Tales From the Village Green’ and ‘Castle Bromwich in Times Past Part Two’: contact us through the Gazette Editor.

We are always pleased to welcome guests and visitors at our meetings, the next of which will be on 9th April when the topic will be ‘200 Years and Nine Generations’ presented by Jerry Dutton – this will be followed by the Society Annual General Meeting. The following meeting will be about Solihull (Old) Village on 14th May by Mrs Edna Handley. Meetings are held in the Spencer Lounge Bar at Arden Hall, Water Orton Road at 7.45pm.

JERRY DUTTON.
NORTH ARDEN LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Anyone with local knowledge of Edgbaston history?

This is an email I received recently from Rebecca at Action For Children with a question about the history of a local building. I'm trying to picture the building to which Rebecca refers, I should know the building as I often drive home that way in the evening heading from Five Ways towards Harborne.

Is it the building by the college on the other side of the road to the Botanical Gardens? That resembles a gatehouse. If so, was there a big manor house on that site? I think there's a student hall of residence right by it now. I will try and get a photo of it one of the evenings - at the risk of upsetting all the drivers on their way home!

So come on you Edgbaston history buffs, can anyone enlighten us?

Here is Rebecca's email:

Hi Pete

I have been trying to find out if anyone knows the history of the building for sale at 8 Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, near the Botanical Gardens. It's a Victorian property and looks like a gatehouse. Do you know its history or if it once belonged to a larger manor house?

Best wishes,

Rebecca Short

Editor:

I would remind you that we are still seeking answers to the question posed by Don a few months back regarding a statue in Birmingham he saw as a child, with a boxer and two other figures - the boxer in a Queensbury rules stance.

I spoke on the telephone with Jason Lowe earlier this evening and asked him if he knew anything about this statue. Jason is a boxer himself and also boxing correspondant with The Harp Newspaper, but is also carrying out his own research into the history of boxing clubs around Birmingham during the past 40 or 50 years. Unfortunately he did not know the whereabouts of this statue and has asked around on our behalf. Incidentally, I'm going to meet up with Jason soon and see if we can't persaude him to let us have some sneak previews of his history research for publication.

Enjoy Life, Live Life and Help Others - Without Spending a Fortune!

What if there was a way to get something you've wanted for ages, without havingto spend a fortune on it?

What if you could use the skills you've got to get the things you want?

What if you could find a way to connect with people in your local community thatbenefits you both?
Sounds like you need to visit oddjobswap.co.uk

oddjobswap.co.uk is simple - it's a website created to help you swap the talents and abilities you have with other people locally. So, if you're a dab hand at making cakes but need to get your hallway painted, you could use the website to find someone who's great at glossing skirting boards and banisters, and make them birthday, Christmas or occasion cakes. You get your hallway spruced up and they save themselves a frantic (and expensive) dash to the supermarket for that special cake - it's a win-win situation.

Maybe you can speak another language fluently and can exchange lessons for a week's break in your odd job swapper's holiday home in the sun? Whether it's practical help or pure relaxation - let your skills get you the things you want.

How oddjobswap.co.uk works

Registration is easy, just go to oddjobswap.co.uk and fill in the online forms. And you don't need to pay costly membership fees to access the website either -there's a one-off, credit-crunch friendly payment of less than £6 a year - and for those who sign up in March and April the cost is reduced further to less than £4 for the year! This gives you access to their online database of fellowoddjobbers. You can go online whenever it suits you, so it's convenient and you don't have to spend hours ringing round to get quotes, stay in for appointments or wait for firms to call you back.

Just link up to get the jobs you need done at the click of a mouse.

How oddjobswap.co.uk was born

oddjobswap.co.uk is the brainchild of Peter and Julie Bruce, who were thinking of ways to boost community spirit and beat the credit crunch at the same time.

'I'd grown up in an area that had such a strong sense of community spirit and Iwas wondering where that sense of togetherness had gone,' says Julie. 'We wanted to create something that would bring people together and have a positive impact. With the credit crunch, it's easy to think you can't afford to get work done, but oddjobswap.co.uk looks for the positives, letting people benefit from one another's skills without having to spend loads of money.'

Peter adds: 'Although I'd had secure job for years, when I decided to work in the contract market we had to take on board the reduced lack of security too - which was challenging, so I'd been thinking about various business ideas as well. We wanted our business to be fair and ethical, something that would work by fostering a sense of community.'

The result of their hard work is oddjobswap.co.uk, a place where people can cometogether, pool their skills and get the jobs that need doing, done.

www.oddjobswap.co.uk

Brook comment on proposals on advertising of condoms and sexual health services

Comment below and useful background further down:-

Penny Barber, Chief Executive of Brook in Birmingham commented on the proposals out for consultation on advertising condoms and sexual health services:-

“Consultation question 146 considers condom advertising. The current rule is that no unwrapped condom can be shown before 22.30 on any channel, no wrapped condoms before 21.00 except Channel 4 where adverts are banned before 19.00. Yet both programmes and advertising before these times can have a high sexual content. Condom advertising would simply add some welcome sexual health balance to this sexualised content. Young people have told us that they want to see condom advertising on television and that we need to “Get into the real world” and stop being squeamish about it. Currently, it is possible to promote condom awareness (as Condom EssentialWear does) but you must not show the actual product.

Consultation question 62 asks for views on implementing the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee recommendation that pregnancy counselling services are explicit about whether or not they will refer for abortion. This is similar to the requirement for GPs to state if they are conscientious objectors to abortion and to refer a woman seeking a termination to another colleague.

Pregnancy tests are widely advertised; it seems logical to be able to advertise post conception services and to be clear about those services. Even if you are trying for a baby, it can be very scary when you do see that blue line and many women welcome the opportunity to explore their feelings.”


Background


This 319 page consultation document is part of a huge and wide ranging review of broadcast guidelines by the Broadcast Committee on Advertising (BCAP) – Part of the Advertising Standards Authority.

http://www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2B2803C9-AC10-4EC8-9864 FB17A057D978/0/BCAPConsultationdocumentandAnnex1.pdf

On the proposal being reported as proposals to advertise abortion clinics see section 11.43, proposed rule 11.11 and consultation question 62 on page 91 but see also 11. 34 through to 11.44 for the background. This comes from the House of Commons select committee on Human Fertilisation and Embryology recommendations that pregnancy counselling services should be explicit about whether or not they refer for termination.

The proposal to relax restrictions on condoms is covered in sections 32.25 to 32.27 on pages 202 (very bottom of) and 203 and consultation question 146.

You may find the attached research with young people helpful (contact Brook for a PDF copy via email) .

Brook in Birmingham is a young people’s sexual health services offering a six day a week service to anyone under 25 living in the West Midlands. The centre number is 0121 643 5341 our helpline is 0800 0185 023 and our website www.brook.org.uk includes a secure, confidential enquiry service.

Regards

Penny Barber
Chief Executive
Brook in Birmingham

Ramblers calls West Midlands to its feet for FREE short walks festival

YOUR LEGS NEED YOU!
Get Walking Day 2009
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/campaigns/GWD

Ramblers calls West Midlands to its feet for FREE short walks festival

On May 30th the Ramblers is calling everyone in the West Midlands to slip on their trainers, boots, and shoes and join them – no matter what age or ability - for a FREE walking festival to celebrate Get Walking Day 09.

Get Walking Day 09 will see carnival-spirited short walks take place all over the West Midlands, in cities and the countryside alike, to help people of all ages discover the joys of walking and to mark the event. Each walk will be under 5 miles, open to everyone, and will take place over the Bank Holiday weekend (May 30th, June 1st) in England, Scotland and Wales. Many will include refreshments and special events to celebrate the day.

Tom Franklin, CEO of the Ramblers, comments: “Make this May weekend the best ever, by dusting down those shoes, opening your door and getting your friends and family out to join the Ramblers on one of our fun, free, festival events. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how much you use your legs, there’s a walk for everyone to enjoy this Get Walking Day.”

“It’s a fantastic, free way to make new friends and make the most of the weekend!”

Now in its second year, national Get Walking Day, aims to help people discover the joy of walking and promotes the huge mental, physical and mood-boosting benefits that walking can bring. To find a Get Walking Day walk near you visit http://www.ramblers.org.uk/campaigns/GWD and click ‘Find a walk near you’.

Floella Benjamin, President of the Ramblers, comments: “Free, fun and accessible to all, walking is a perfect form of exercise. Even walking for half an hour five times a week makes a real difference. Make walking part of your life as the more you do, the better you'll feel.”

Tom Franklin adds: “Joining Get Walking Day is an excellent way to kick start a lifelong love of walking.”

If you can’t join in with a Get Walking Day walk, but you need some help getting started, then visit our website http://www.ramblers.org.uk/campaigns/GWD

Walking rewards:

Walking is free! In the current economic downturn, we at the Ramblers welcome anything which is free! A mile is under a 20 minute walk and so you could save some pennies walking instead of using the bus or your car.

Walking keeps your body fit and your mind healthy. Walking burns as many calories as jogging over the same distance. Furthermore it boosts happiness and reduces stress.

Walking is good for the environment. If we all walk more and use our cars less, we will significantly reduce carbon emissions which contribute to climate change.

For more information call the Ramblers press office 0207 339 8531/32 or 07801 749 385 (out of hours), press@ramblers.org.uk, http://www.ramblers.org.uk/

Offshore renewables financial boost kicks in

Sea-based renewable technologies will receive added financial support from this week following an overhaul of the UK's system for supporting renewable energy.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Mike O'Brien will today also announce that up to £10 million is to be made available to develop the next generation of offshore wind technology.

Speaking at an event on Monday which, for the first time, brings together renewable industry leaders and the ports industry, Mr O'Brien will say that the UK government is determined to do all it can to meet its challenging renewable energy targets of securing 15% of all energy from renewable sources by 2020, despite the current economic situation. Mr O'Brien will say:

"Renewable energy is a weapon in our armoury to secure future energy supplies, reduce our reliance on foreign imports, and help tackle climate change.

"That's why we're taking the right long term decisions to encourage the massive investment in renewables that we need to see. This includes changing the planning laws, increased financial support, and ensuring sufficient access to the grid.

"This week's ramping up of financial backing in favour of technologies such as offshore wind is evidence of our determination to create the right investment environment for renewables. And the funding being made available in the next few months will put the UK ahead of the game for the next generation of offshore technologies.

"I know that right around the world, companies, including energy firms, are facing difficult times. We are therefore actively examining how we can help make sure there is sufficient finance and other support available for viable projects which are short of the investment they need.

"Taken together, these measures should leave investors in no doubt of the UK's commitment to renewable energy."

Maria McCaffery, Chief Executive of British Wind Energy Association, said:

"This is an important signal from Government on the continuing commitment to offshore wind and emerging offshore technologies. With the right policy framework and levels of support we can reach our 2020 targets."

From 1 April, a new regime will come into place which will give offshore wind 50% extra financial support, through the Government's Renewable Obligation (RO) scheme. This is as a result of 'banding' the RO, which means rather than a flat rate of support across all renewable technology, emerging technologies that are further from commercial deployment will receive greater levels of support to encourage their development. Since its introduction in 2002, the amount of renewable electricity generated has nearly trebling from 1.8% in 2002 to 4.9% in 2007.

Banding will deliver further incentive to developers to deliver more eligible renewables generation such as offshore wind. The Low Carbon Energy Demonstration Fund, part of the Environmental Transformation Fund, is aimed at accelerating the technology needed to see more large-scale multi-mega watt turbines in offshore wind farms. Applications will open next month for up to £10 million of funding, which will be allocated to businesses in June.

NORTH ARDEN LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

PROGRAMME FOR 2009 - 10

All dates are Second Thursday of the Months

2009

April 9th – “200 Years + 9 Generations” – Jerry Dutton - Followed by A.G.M.

May 14th - “Solihull Village – A Guided Tour in Old Photographs” – Mrs Edna Handley

June 11th – “Entertainment in the 18th Century” Dr Chris Upton

SAT ? OUTING - T.B.A.

July 9th – “Green Men, Gargoyles, Grotesques and Stone” – Dr Colin Harris


August 13th – NO MEETING – As decided by members at EGM in November 05

SUN ? OUTING - T.B.A.


Sept’ 10th: “History of Civil Registration / Register Funnies” Mr John Yates

October 8th – “From Knights to Dames (Temple Balsall)” – Mrs Beryl Ellerslie

SUN 11th OCTOBER: SUNDAY LUNCH – Details TBA Nearer the date.


November 12th - “The Pearl Workers of Birmingham” Mrs Val Preece (Return Visit)

December 10th: - MEMBERS SOCIAL GET-TOGETHER (Members Talk / Quiz?)

2010

January 14th – “Chatting to the Stars” Mrs Bobbie Collison

February 11th –“The Story of Baddesley Clinton” Mr John Jarman

March 11th – “Goings on Below Stairs” Dr Wendy Freer

April 8th: - “A Prisoner of War at Maxstoke Castle” – Harry Collison - Followed by A.G.M.

Meetings are held in the Spencer Lounge Bar at Arden Hall, Water Orton Road
Castle Bromwich – 7-30/7-45 pm for 8.00pm start

In the stocks for Red Nose Day

Staff from Warwickshire County Council’s Resources Directorate have raised £550 for charity after getting the chance to throw wet sponges at their management team.

Cllr Alan Cockburn, Portfolio Holder for Resources, was amongst the ‘unlucky’ volunteers to spend time in the stocks in aid of Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day. Other activities on the day included a cake stall, a photoquiz and a ‘dress down day’.

SWIMMING LEGEND DUNCAN GOODHEW MBE SUPPORTS CADBURY EMPLOYEES AS THEY MAKE A SPLASH FOR SWIMATHON 2009 IN BIRMINGHAM

Olympic champion, Duncan Goodhew has sent a message of support to Cadbury employees who are going the extra length to raise money by taking part in Swimathon the world’s largest fundraising swim, next month.

The Olympic Champion and Head of the Swimathon Foundation, has sent a message to staff from Cadbury’s Bournville site, who will be diving in to take part in the event on Sunday 5 April, ahead of this years main event on 16th - 19th April. Each of the teams will be swimming five kilometres in a bid to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care, which offers free care and support to people suffering from cancer and terminal illness.

Duncan Goodhew said:
“I’d like to wish all of the Cadbury employees who are taking part in Swimathon the best of luck. It is great to see an organisation and its employees making a conscious effort to keep fit, whilst raising money for charity. Swimathon is a great way of helping thousands of people across the UK; I am delighted that they have already smashed through their original £2000 target.”

President of Cadbury Britain and Ireland, Trevor Bond, will be opening the event at Linden Pool, Bournville. He will also be joined on the sidelines by Marie Curie nurses and Andy Anstey, Director of Limelight Sports. As the main organisers of Swimathon, London-based Limelight has seen over the past two years, 30,000 swimmers raise over £3million for Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Swimathon Foundation. This year, Swimathon is looking to raise more money for charity by encouraging everyone in the UK to get in the pool and make 2009 a huge splash.

Swimathon comes as part of Cadbury’s ongoing dedication to investing in the community through volunteering and fundraising. The event has been organised by Cadbury employee, Michael Huggins, who wanted to encourage his colleagues to take part in more sport and get fit.

Huggins said, “Cadbury has always been dedicated to healthy living and employee wellbeing through the Community programme. I have taken part in many similar events and I thought this would help encourage people to get fit together, and support the work of Marie Curie. It is also a great opportunity for employees from across the Cadbury business to meet one another.

I am delighted that Trevor Bond will be attending the event and showing his support to everyone taking part, and I am so grateful for the recognition from the sporting legend, Duncan Goodhew.”

The Cadbury Swimathon takes place at Linden Pool on Sunday 5 April from 12.00pm.

Swimathon 2009 is open to everyone, encouraging people to set their own personal challenge by accomplishing a distance of their choice. Swimmers can challenge themselves to the ultimate 5K challenge, 2.5K for the intermediate swimmer or 1.5K for those who swim occasionally. For those interested in joining forces with friends, colleagues or family, the 5K challenge can also be completed as part of a team with up to five people.

To find out more about Swimathon or enter for the 2009 challenges go to: www.swimathon.org

Who are you kidding?

I just received an email informing me that a post I put on the website earlier today was in fact embargoed until Wednesday morning because it was an April Fool joke.

I won't tell you which one so we don't don't spoil it any further although you brainy bunch out there will no doubt have spotted it as you probably aren't as gullible as me. I think we can say I have been fooled two days early!

If anyone else wishes to submit an April Fool's press release to the editorialgazette@aol.com address tomorrow I'll post them all up on the website at midnight and see how many we can actually pick out as trick articles.

I think there is another one I posted over the weekend which is possibly also a trick press release. Scroll down and see if you can spot it ...I'll leave that one up because I think it's an ongoing joke.

Vandals Made to Clean Up Their Graffiti

On Thursday 19 March PC 887 Louise Baxter and PCSO 6162 Gavin Scott attended Hurley Primary School after the headteacher reported two year 7 pupils had spray-painted the play equipment in the local park causing unsightly graffiti. After carrying out a visual audit check on the park to gather photographic evidence, PC Baxter and PCSO Scott went to see the parents of the offenders, and were shown the damaged caused by their children. Both sets of parents were appalled and it was decided by the officers, with the parent's support and consent that the two youngsters should clean up the graffiti after school.

PCSO Scott collected the pupils from school the next day and escorted them to the park where they were given cleaning materials to clean up the graffiti and given advise about their behaviour in the future around the village.

PCSO Scott said, "With the support of the parents this sent out a clear message to the two individuals and fellow school pupils, that if you commit criminal damage then you will be made to clean it up."

Newhampton Arts Centre Wolverhmapton - What’s On in April 09

RUTH NOTMAN

Ruth started out on the live circuit at just 13 years old performing at folk clubs and venues in and around Nottingham and Derby and soon began securing slots at leading Festivals. In 2006 Ruth reached the finals of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award.

19 year old Ruth's pure and powerful voice conveys stories of love, loss, adventure and heartache, weaving through simple stripped down ballads and soaring above complex arrangements.

“Her voice is amazing” Mike Harding, BBC 2

Saturday 4th April at 8.15pm Tickets: £10

INSIDE OUT

Starring Fraser Hooper and Matt Rudkin
Two friends are locked out of the one place they call home – the street. With original music, live percussion, sound effects and a front door key, these two clowns bring the house down – and then move in!

Contemporary clowning meets cartoon calamities in an inside-out spectacular by two of the UK’s finest clowns.

“Perfect comic timing. Hooper is super” Sunday Mail Australia

Family show for all ages. (See associated workshops below)

Thursday 16 April at 2pm
Adults £6; Children & concessions £3; Family £15 F

CLOWNING ABOUT

Easter holiday workshops
Friday 17th April
Discover your funny side with Jane Sutcliffe from Metaphysique. How to be funny using your body; the smallest mask in the world and performance techniques

10am-12pm: 7-11 years
1-4pm: 11+ years
Cost: £3 / £2 with show ticket

Stay and Play

Clown fun for 2-6 year olds
10-11am. Cost: 50p per child
Please book in advance

COMING UP

1 May: Mayday with The Wicker Man
16 May: Jeremy Warmsley with Jake Flowers and The Young Runaways
23 May: Dan Whitehouse & Guests
29 May: Peter and the Wolf
26 - 30 May: Dynamics International Puppet Festival
20 June: Midsummer Madness with Pappy’s Fun Club

http://www.newhamptonarts.co.uk/

King Edward’s School, Birmingham – Representing England

Two boys from King Edward’s School, Birmingham have been chosen to represent their country in two different sports, water polo and chess.

Morgan Hirsch, who is in Year 11, has been selected as captain of the Great Britain Under 16 team which will tour Romania. Although he is still only 15 years old, he plays for City of Birmingham adult side. In 2008 he played in the school’s Under 18 team that won the National Championships last year. That school team has remained unbeaten for 18 months and will compete again in the finals of the National Championships at Walsall in late April.

Dani Malik has been chosen as a member of the England Team to take part in the Western European U18 Championships which take place in Glasgow in July. His younger brother, Kaiser, also took part in the same qualifying tournament to be picked for this England team. With these two exceptional players, the school has progressed to the quarter finals in the National Schools Competition. The success of the Maliks follows on a rich chess tradition at King Edward’s: Tony Miles was a pupil in the school and he was this country’s first ever Grand Master.

Judo champ throws her weight around for national success

Nine-year-old Savannah Foster has been throwing her weight around recently, becoming the independent schools’ girls’ national champion at judo.

Savanna, of The Blue Coat School, Edgbaston, competed against opponents three years her senior in the annual competition at High Wycombe to scoop the coveted silver trophy.

A 5th Mon with only three years’ experience of judo, the school’s sporting protégée has already been turning a few heads. Voted ‘Most Promising Newcomer’ by Dudley Judo Club, and the winner of two gold medals at the Kidderminster Samurai Tournament, Savannah found herself invited to the GB Women’s World Championships to meet the Beijing Olympic Team. The young judoka enthused: ‘Becoming girls’ champion was an amazing experience – almost as good as meeting the Olympic Team!’

Deputy Headmaster Richard Lynn commented: ‘Savannah’s achieved an incredible amount in such a short time and looks set for a promising future. We’re watching her progress with interest.’

Ceremony of the Keys. Tower of London

The ceremony takes place daily at 10pm

Interested parties/ individuals should write to H.M Tower of London giving as much notice as possible. 40-50 visitors are admitted to watch the Ceremony of the Keys each night.

A worthwhile experience for visitors to London.

JMellor,

Chairman City of Wolverhampton United Ex Service Council.

Local ports meet with Government to discuss wind farm future

More than 100 port operators, developers, investors and wind manufactures from across the UK today met with the Government to cut through a potential bottleneck in offshore wind farm development. With the potential market for UK ports worth £1bn up to the year 2020, there is an extraordinary opportunity for ports to be involved in the supply of services to manufacturers and developers of offshore wind farms.

The UK needs ports with the capacity to handle large vessels and with available space for wind turbine manufacturers and their supply chain. At the moment, there are too few sites to meet future demand for offshore wind technology, although port operators have started to recognise the potential revenue opportunities from offshore wind.

Energy Minister Mike O'Brien said in his speech today: "We want the UK to make the world's biggest investment in offshore wind. We are an island nation with a fantastic wind resource.

"Britain's ports could become the hub of activity and economic opportunity as we massively increase the amount of renewable energy we get from our seas - and could be key to constructing and transporting wind technology.

"Thousands of jobs could be created as a result of the construction of wind farms - including in our ports which will face enormous demand. Today's seminar will for the first time discuss what Britain's ports have to gain from the development of offshore wind, and what needs to happen to make sure that government, energy developers and Britain's ports work together so that all benefit."

The meeting will inform the offshore wind industry about the opportunities and discuss how to co-ordinate the parties involved in developing ports.

Free NIMHE Publications - Your chance to snap them up!

Dear Colleague

Free publications available – your chance to snap them up!

As you may be aware, the regional legislation programme is coming to a successful close in March 2009. We have remaining copies of several of our free publications and workbooks and would like to offer you the chance to snap these up. Attached is a form listing all available publications, please fill this in requesting as many copies as you would like (regardless of your organization size) and email back to NIMHE.publications@googlemail.com

Please note: we do have finite stocks, so whilst we aim to fulfill your request, it may not be possible to supply you with the exact numbers you have requested.

All our publications are available in PDF form from our website: www.mhact.csip.org.uk

List of publications and their availability:

Children and Young People: The Legal Aspects of Care – A Guide for Professionals - available
IMHA Guidance for Commissioners – limited stock
Mental Health Act 2007: New Roles - available
Supervised Community Treatment: A leaflet for service users – limited stock
Supervised Community Treatment: A Guide for Practitioners - available
NIMHE Training Publications:
Administrators Workbook – limited stock
ASW to AMHP Workbook – no longer available
Brief Workbook – limited stock
Children and Young People Workbook – limited stock
Generic Workbook - available
Hospital Managers Workbook – limited stock
“Living through the Act” DVD – available
Carers DVD - available

With best wishes for the future,

Marketa Simonova
Legislation Programme Administration Support
London Development Centre
National Institute for Mental Health in England
11-13 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0AN
Tel: 020 7307 2431Fax: 020 7307 2432
marketa.simonova@ldc.org.uk
Website:http://www.mhact.csip.org.uk/regions/regions/london.html

The Mental Health Act is changing.
Are you ready?
http://mhact.csip.org.uk

Local lad done good!

Local poet Anthony Owen will be on his home turf when he appears at the Third Coventry International Festival Of Literature at the Belgrade Theatre in May. The Coventry Literature Festival is unique among UK literature festivals due to its focus on community events, with public writing workshops, children’s events and opportunities for local writers incorporated into the programme.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Moira Stuart, interviewed about her career as a pioneering broadcaster. She will be joined by a host of poets and performers over the course of four days, and further events will take place at other venues such as The Herbert, the Tin Angel and selected libraries.

Antony Owen is from Allesley, Coventry and has been writing poetry for fifteen years. Recently, he represented Coventry’s rich history of writers at the Cork literary festival alongside award winning poet Jon Morley, igniting literary links between Coventry and Ireland, featured in the local press.Antony Owen will be launching his book ‘My Fathers Eyes Were Blue’ at The Third International Festival Of Literature at the Belgrade Theatre on May 14th 2009.

The Word….

“The range of Antony Owen’s poetry is startling.Owen’s verse can powerfully capture a child’s introduction to nature’s cruelty and a grown man’s painful recognition of the hold the past has on us all. His images are often stark but always with a humanity that renders the common and uncommon equally new.”

Dr. Gilbert L. Gigliotti,. Author, A Storied Singer: Frank Sinatra as Literary Conceit ( Greenwood Press, 2002)

To book tickets for this book launch, or for any other exciting events that are part of The Third International Festival Of Literature visit the what's on section at www.belgrade.co.uk today.For information about the Literature Festival visit www.heaventreepress.com for updates.

Historic Design will be at the ART of Stone

A piece of public art designed by people in Stone is to be unveiled next week (Monday 30 March.)

Children from local schools and residents have come together to create the artwork which will sit beside the Trent and Mersey Canal in the town’s Westbridge Park.

The creation celebrates the rich history of the market town with images of the canal, local wildlife and the area’s brewing heritage. It will form the latest phase of the £250,000 canal improvement programme funded by Stafford Borough Council and Advantage West Midlands through the Stone Market Town Initiative.

The artwork was undertaken by county-based artist, Phillip Hardaker, and includes ceramic tiles designed by children from the eight local schools. Residents also attended design workshops to help with the artwork.

The official unveiling of the public art is being made by the Mayor of Stafford Borough, Councillor Ann Edgeller.

The artwork was commissioned by environmental regeneration charity Groundwork on behalf of Stafford Borough Council. Improvements to the canal area already include new towpath surface, pathways and signage.

Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, Councillor Doug Davis, said: “This is a fitting way to celebrate the excellent work being done not only to enhance this beautiful area of the Borough but create jobs and support local business as well.

“The artwork is a fantastic example of what can be achieved by working together in partnership with the community.”

It’s a Knockout! Could You Take Up The Challenge?

Due to the fantastic success that was Children Today’s ‘It’s a Knockout’ Challenges in 2008, we are pleased to announce that this event will be taking place again on Sunday 17th May 2009 at Longford Park in Coventry.

This wacky and wild local event will be hosted by the ‘Utterly Brilliant’ Timmy Mallett. Children Today are looking for teams of up to 10 people to take part with a minimum sponsorship of £1000.

Local fundraiser Emma Fawcett commented “This will be a fun day for everyone involved! And at the same time the sponsorship monies raised will go towards helping Children Today purchase vitally important life changing specialised equipment for disabled and sick children in the local area.”

If you are game for a laugh, don’t mind getting soaking wet and covered in foam then what are you waiting for? Sign up today for this hugely enjoyable version of the much loved television classic. For further details please call the events teams on 01244 335622 or email ceri@childerntoday.org.uk

GLAMOROUS LAUNCH FOR ST GILES LADIES’ LUNCH CLUB!

St Giles Hospice’s new Ladies’ Lunch Club launched with a stunning spring fashion show at the Oat Barn at Packington Moor in Lichfield.

Attended by more than 160 women from across the region, the spectacular event featured new-season styles from the Ooh la la Boutique at Heart of the Country Shopping Village in Swinfen, as well as stunning wedding gowns and mother of the bride outfits from the St Giles Hospice Bridal Shop in Swadlincote.

Guests were served a delicious two-course lunch, and took part in a fun fashion quiz and a raffle.

Helen Relihan, Head of Fundraising for St Giles, says: “The event was a superb way to start the spring season, and was extremely well-supported by people from across the region who helped raise a total of £2,000 for the hospice.

“We’re very grateful to all those who came along to support the new lunch club, and to Ooh la la Boutique, who inspired us with fashion tips and style ideas for the coming season.

“Our thanks also go to Joy Fielding from Shaw Lane Flowers, who kindly donated the amazing flower arrangements which were included as raffle prizes.”

The Ladies’ Lunch Club’s next fundraising event is ‘Ladies Lunch Al Fresco’ and takes place at Moxhull Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield on Tuesday 30th June from 12 noon.

This will include a three course buffet lunch served in the lovely grounds of the hotel and guests can enjoy a game of croquet, browse around the summer craft stalls or simply relax to the sound of the live jazz band.

Tickets are priced at £25.00, or £22.50 for early bird bookings before Friday 10th April.

Money raised goes towards St Giles Hospice’s caring services for local people with cancer and other serious illnesses.

For further information or to purchase tickets contact Sarah Shelton on
01543 434542 or email sarah.shelton@st-giles-hospice.org.uk.

St Giles Hospice is a registered charity offering high-quality medical and nursing care for people with cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as providing support for their families and carers.

Patients come from across the hospice’s catchment area, which ranges from Ashby de la Zouch and Atherstone in the east, to Cannock and Walsall in the west – and from Burton and Uttoxeter in the north, to Sutton Coldfield and Coleshill in the south.

Care is offered at the hospice's facilities in Sutton Coldfield and Whittington between Lichfield and Tamworth, or in patients' own homes across the region.

St Giles spends £6 million every year providing its specialist services and with less than a third of this funded by the Government, relies heavily on donations and fundraising.

WARWICKSHIRE LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

On Tuesday the 17th of March 2009, Dr. Catherine Richardson, Director of the Canterbury Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies and senior lecturer in Renaissance Literature at the University of Kent, asked Who lives in a house like this? Then, using contemporary inventories, she explored the houses, possessions and domestic life of the inhabitants of Elizabethan and Jacobean Warwick, ranging from Lord Brooke of Warwick Castle to a widow occupying a single room. The talk was a “sell out” and the huge audience very much enjoyed Dr Richardson’s fascinating lecture.

On Tuesday the 21st of April 2009, Dr Stephen Roberts from the History of Parliament Trust, will talk on the ‘Republican MPs of Warwickshire, 1649-60’, examining the careers and motives of those men who, following the execution of Charles, represented the county in Cromwell’s Republican Parliament.

The lecture, will begin at 7.30 p.m. at the Quaker Meeting House, High Street, Warwick, CV34 4AX and is open to all, though there is a charge of £1.50 for non-members - refundable on the night if they join the Society.

Details of this and other Society events are available from Neville Usher, 6, The Fold, Payton Street, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6NJ Telephone 01789 205 043, E mail Neville.Usher@ic24.net

People with cancer diagnosis invited to offer their stories

Dear Editor,

1 in 3 people are affected by cancer, and Macmillan Cancer Support has an ambition to help improve the lives of everyone affected by cancer by 2010. As well as fundraising, providing services and healthcare professionals, Macmillan also campaigns and raises awareness about issues affecting cancer patients and their families.

After speaking to cancer patients, we have identified that many people experience difficulties or need support around the issue of sexual relationships following their cancer diagnosis or treatment. As a result we will be campaigning around this issue and trying to get patients and their partners the support they need.

In order for us to do this, we are looking for media volunteers who have had a cancer diagnosis and have experienced difficulties with their sexual relationships as a result. We need people who would be happy to tell their story in the media to help us highlight the issues people face. Through their support we hope to break taboos and that other cancer patients will be able to see they are not alone and it is ok to ask for support.

If you would like to use your experience to benefit other cancer patients in similar situations, and in particular are happy to tell your story openly in local media campaigns, we would love to hear from you. To offer your assistance, or for more information, please contact Nicola Strong in Macmillan’s Regional Communications office, on 01264 343 807, or email nstrong@macmillan.org.uk.

Kind regards

Rachel Barnes
Regional Communications Manager

Volunteers needed in Shropshire

Volunteers are required by Shropshire Disability Network to join the steering group and help with the newsletter and website. Any area of expertise is welcome.

The group was fomred on 27th May 2008 to empower and represent disabled people, raise awareness and develop a collective voice for disabled people.

Email Geoff Forgie for more information:
geoffforgie@hotmail.com

On at Light House, Wolverhampton

Light House Media Centre to offer exclusive courses in High Definition Production and Post Production techniques for professional filmmakers and broadcast engineers

Light House Media Centre in Wolverhampton is now offering structured and bespoke continuous professional development in High Definition production and post production techniques, which will enable UK based filmmakers and broadcast engineers to widen their skills base as well as allowing independent production companies to access this knowledge transfer at a competitive rate.

April and May will see courses in Camera and Lighting with High Definition, running Monday 20 & Tuesday 21 April, and Post Production for High Definition on Monday 18 & Tuesday 19 May. The courses cost £105 + VAT each, including lunch in Lock Works cafe bar at the centre. These courses are supported by Skillset as part of A Bigger Future, the skills strategy for the UK film industry and are open to applicants who have some professional experience of working in the film & TV industry.

Camera & Lighting with High Definition runs on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 April and is an intensive 2 day workshop providing an introduction to High Definition and covering skills including camera tests and shooting of footage, exploration of the differences between High Definition and Standard Definition, and lighting techniques. Applications for this workshop must be submitted by Thursday 9 April.

Post Production for High Definition runs on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 May. This 2 day workshop will cover operation of Final Cut Pro and Avid HD post production suites, how HD can affect editing styles, colour correction and exploration of the characteristics of the various HD tape formats. Applications for this workshop must be submitted by Friday 8 May.

Both these courses cost £105 + VAT each and are are supported by Skillset as part of A Bigger Future, the skills strategy for the UK film industry. Applicants must have some professional experience of working in the film & TV industry. For an application form and more details on the courses, contact Kelly Jeffs on kelly@light-house.co.uk

Light House is located in the historic Chubb Buildings in Wolverhampton City Centre. For further information contact Light House box office on t. 01902 716055 / e. info@light-house.co.uk or visit www.light-house.co.uk