Folk Monthly is produced by Traditional Arts Team
http://www.tradartsteam.co.uk/
3 June
Simon Cardenelli & Chicken Bone Blues
Rea River Roots, Tower of Song, 106 Pershore Road South
www.towerofsong.co.uk
4 June
Rachel Harrington
Nightjar Music, Courtyard Centre for the Arts, Hereford
01432 278118
5 June
Beck Sian
The Woodman Folk Club, Ashwood Marina, Kingswinford
01384 279960
6 June
Carried Rodriguez Trio
Biddulph Town Hall
http://www.biddulphupinarms.com/
6 June
John Kirkpatrick
Upstairs at the Newhampton
www.newhamptonfolk.co.uk
7 June
Almond Greenaway
Scrag End Folk Club - Oakthorpe, near Measham
http://www.scragfolk.co.uk/
8 June
Phil Parton and Emmi Bose
Willenhall Folk & Acoustic Club, The Brown Jug, Willenhall
gwyn.theo@btinternet.com
8 June
Fairfield
Warwick Folk Club, Warwick Arms Hotel
http://www.warwickfolkclub.com/
10 June
John Tams and Barry Coope
Biddulph Town Hall
http://www.biddulphupinarms.com/
10 June
Ray Stroud
Rea River Roots, Tower of Song, 106 Pershore Road South
www.towerofsong.com
www.reariverroots.com
11 June
Moseley Village Band
St Columba's, Alcester Road
http://www.tradartsteam.co.uk/
12 June
Rob Halligan
The Chase Folk Club, Bridge Cross Club, Burntwood
http://www.chasefolkclub.co.uk/
12 June
Pete Morton
The Woodman Folk Club, Ashwood Marina, Kingswinford
01384 279960
12 June
Benny Graham
Black Diamond Folk Club, The Globe, 35 Blews Street, B6 4HN
http://blackdiamondfolkclub.org.uk
13 June
Eric Faulkner (ex Bay City Rollers)
The Omma n Chain Club, Dudley Golf Club, Rowley Regis
Lozz 01384 231013
15 June
Steve Tilson
Warwick Folk Club, Warwick Arms Hotel
http://www.warwickfolkclub.com/
16 June
Storytelling Cafe
Wednesbury Library, Walsall Street
http://www.tradartsteam.co.uk/
16 June
Jack Hudson & No Fixed Abode
Belper Folk Club, The Old Kings Head, Belper
http://www.belperfolkclub.co.uk/
17 June
Tommy Ellis (Turkey Tommy)
Rea River Roots, Tower of Song, 106 Pershore Road South
www.reariverroots.com
19 June
Pete Kelly
Unicorn Folk Club, Bradford Arms, Ivestry Bank, Staffs
http://www.unicornfolkclub.co.uk/
19 June
Clive Carroll
The Woodman Folk Club, Ashwood Marina, Kingswinford
01384 279960
22 June
Duncan McFarlane
Willenhall Folk & Acoustic Club
The Brown Jug, Willenhall
gwyn.theo@byinternet.com
24 June
Rachel Harrington
Biddulph Arms
http://www.biddulphupinarms.com/
24 June
Andy Keeble
Rea River Roots, The Tower of Song, 106 Pershore Road South
www.reariverroots.com
25 June
The Edwards Brothers
Brewood Acoustic Music Club
http://www.brewoodacousticmusic.co.uk/
25 June
Barrel O'Baddies
Upstairs at the Newhampton
www.newhamptonfolk.co.uk
25 June
Tom McConville
Bromsgrove Folk Club, Catshill Social Club
http://www.bromsgrovefolkclub.co.uk/
26 June
Malcolm Stent
The Chase Folk Club
Bridge Cross Club, Burntwood
http://www.chasefolkclub.co.uk/
26 June
Martin Curtis
Black Diamond Folk Club, The Globe, B6 4HN
http://blackdiamondfolkclub.org.uk
28 June
Traditional Song Workshop with Lauren McCormick
Dance Workshop Studio, Alcester Road, B13
0121 244 3513
1 July
Chris Aronsten (from Australia)
The Omma n Chain Club, Dudley Golf Club
Lozz at lozz@blackcountrypodcasting.com
2 July
Reg Meuross
Nightjar Folk Club in the Studio, Hereford
01432 278118
3 - 5 July
The National Forest Folk Festival 2009
Conkers Waterside, Moira, near Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
Seth Lakeman. Eliza Carthy Band, Kerfuffle, Kelly's Heroes, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Plus many more artists. Weekend tickets £52
http://www.affc.demon.co.uk/
9 July
Tom Bliss
Brewood Acoustic Music Club
http://www.brewoodacousticmusic.co.uk/
10 July
Chuck Micallef
The Chase Folk Club, Bridge Cross Club, Burntwood
http://www.chasefolkclub.co.uk/
10 July
Colin Pitts
Black Diamond Folk Club, The Globe, B6 4HN
http://blackdiamondfolkclub.org.uk
12 July
Robin Williamson (Incredible String Band)
Ticket only
Scragg End Folk Club, Oakthorpe near Measham
http://www.scragfolk.co.uk/
13 July
The Magnolia Sisters with Ann Savoy
Main House, Courtyard Centre for the Arts, Hereford
01432 278118
14 July
Lester Simpson
Belper Folk Club, The Old Kings Head, Belper
http://www.belperfolkclub.co.uk/
24 July
Beck Sian
The Chase Folk Club
Bridge Cross Club, Burntwood
http://www.chasfolkclub.co.uk/
31 July
Eric Bogle & John Munro
The Chase Folk Club, Burntwood
http://www.chasefolkclub.co.uk/
More to be added soon..... watch this space
Sunday, 31 May 2009
English Heritage Events in June and July
Friday 5th June
Garden Tours
Witley Court and Gardens
.
Every Tuesday in June
Stable Yard Tours
Witley Court and Gardens
.
6 & 20 June
6 & 20 June
Behind the Scenes Tours
Witley Court and Gardens
.
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June
As You Like It
Witley Court and Gardens
Every Tuesday in July
Stable Yard Tours
Witley Court and Gardens
4 & 18 July
Behind the Scenes Tours
Witley Court and Gardens
Sunday 12 July
The Taming of the Shrew
Goodrich Castle
Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 July
Deeds Not Words - Votes for Women
Witley Court and Gardens
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July
Time Travellers Go...Victorian
Witley Court and Gardens
.
Monday 27 to Friday 31 July
Time Travllers Go ...Knight Academy (see picture above)
Kenilworth Castle & Elizabethan Garden
Equality and Human Rights Links
Birmingham Disability Resource Centre
Birmingham Race Action Partnership
Birmingham Partnership Against Racial Harassment
Birmingham Racial Attacks Monitoring Unit
Black and Minority Ethnic Sector Regional Engagement Advisory
Council of Disabled People Warwickshire and Coventry
Dudley Centre for Equality and Diversity
East Staffordshire Racial Equality Council
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Gay and Lesbian Switchboard West Midlands
Herefordshire Race Equality Partnership
North Staffordshire Racial Equality Council
Midlands Monitoring Network to Combat Extremism
Regional Disability Network - West Midlands
Rights and Equality West Midlands
Telford Race, Equality and Diversity Partnership
Warwickshire Race Equality Partnership
West Midlands Discrimination Advisory Service
West Midlands Local Authority Equality Network
West Midlands Regional Assembly Equality and Diversity Partnership
West Midlands Region Community Cohesion Contingency Planning and Tension Monitoring Group
Worcestershire Racial Equality Council
Music Review - Findlay Napier & The Bar Room Mountaineers
Findlay Napier & the Bar Room Mountaineers
When Harry Met Charlie
The Haymaker Recording Company
A three track CD containing two versions of the title track When Harry Met Charlie, one slightly more acoustic, a delightful story of romantic musings with a twist, as we gradually discover that the would-have-been lovers are in the recollection of an old lady, remembering a holiday romance and a lover long gone.
A challenging but powerful theme, that the emotions and sensations of the distant romance of our youth will stay just as invigerating and alive in the memory vaults of old age, as they were in the reality of all those years before. Emotions played out again in our lonesome dreams, passing the hours before the completion of our lives.
The chorus is catchy and if this song is an example of Findlay Napier's storytelling craft, then I for one will seek out more.
Napier and his band reject being subscribed to a genre, but in a written review one has to make some musical references. The sound is indie-folk, when listening and not knowing anything about Findlay Napier's background I was trying to work out whether his sung accent was Irish or Scottish, I guessed correctly at Scottish though I couldn't help but hear strains of the Saw Doctors in there somewhere. Their influences are cited as including classic folk influences as well as "a more versatile selection of artists like Ben Folds and Toim Waits".
The middle track, Out All Night, is a slowly evolving, dark observation of an urban street scene at night time, slow and bassy, Dick Gaughan meets drum and bass.
Findlay Napier is one to look out for. When Harry Met Charlie deserves to become a classic, I have a feeling it will be running through my head for some time to come.
Saturday, 30 May 2009
Music Review - Missy Raines & The New Hip
What a lovely day today has been weather wise, between doing a bit of shopping, preparing the brunch and watching the FA Cup final I was even able to catch an hour relaxing in the sunshine in the back garden and listened to a couple of new albums. The first of which was Inside Out by Missy Raines & The New Hip, absolutely ideal music for lazin' on a sunny Saturday mid-afternoon!
Missy Raines & The New Hip
Inside Out
Released on Compass Records
The first album by Missy Raines with her band, The New Hip, this 10 track collection of songs and instrumentals in a gentle American bluegrass style supports her own description of it being the culmination of a "journey of artistic exploration".
Raines herself is an accomplished and celebrated stand-up acoustic bassist and her perfect, moody strum is complemented by the band members on mandolin, mandola, lap steel and resophonic guitar. Tracks like Stop Drop & Wriggle are light and jazzy, the bluegrass style tuneful but subtle, another instrumental piece, Ides of March is a rich and moving tribute to her father who died in 1984 though not before gifting his daughter a bass purchased on impulse.
Basket of Singing Birds introduces the voice, soft, soulful with a bluesy-country edge, over some wonderful guitar playing. Not a single track is a disappointment, it's certainly mood music, slow and dreamy at times but always musically engaging with a floaty, rythymic pulse.
My previous exposure to the genre of bluegrass is limited, mainly through Davy Spillane's experimental cross-over with Irish music on Atlantic Bridge a few years back, but this introduction is perfect and in many ways has one or two echoes of Spillane's collaborations, such as Pootie Tang where we hear a playful interplay between jazz and bluegrass.
I have been trying to think of suitable adjectives for the music on this album and keep coming up with 'lovely', which alone doesn't quite sound powerful enough, making me think it therefore deserves an adverb to make the point, so here goes ....this music is bloody lovely.
Don't go through the summer of 2009 without finding a peaceful hour to acquaint your ears to the wonderfully relaxing sound of Missy Raines & The New Hip.
Missy Raines & The New Hip
Inside Out
Released on Compass Records
The first album by Missy Raines with her band, The New Hip, this 10 track collection of songs and instrumentals in a gentle American bluegrass style supports her own description of it being the culmination of a "journey of artistic exploration".
Raines herself is an accomplished and celebrated stand-up acoustic bassist and her perfect, moody strum is complemented by the band members on mandolin, mandola, lap steel and resophonic guitar. Tracks like Stop Drop & Wriggle are light and jazzy, the bluegrass style tuneful but subtle, another instrumental piece, Ides of March is a rich and moving tribute to her father who died in 1984 though not before gifting his daughter a bass purchased on impulse.
Basket of Singing Birds introduces the voice, soft, soulful with a bluesy-country edge, over some wonderful guitar playing. Not a single track is a disappointment, it's certainly mood music, slow and dreamy at times but always musically engaging with a floaty, rythymic pulse.
My previous exposure to the genre of bluegrass is limited, mainly through Davy Spillane's experimental cross-over with Irish music on Atlantic Bridge a few years back, but this introduction is perfect and in many ways has one or two echoes of Spillane's collaborations, such as Pootie Tang where we hear a playful interplay between jazz and bluegrass.
I have been trying to think of suitable adjectives for the music on this album and keep coming up with 'lovely', which alone doesn't quite sound powerful enough, making me think it therefore deserves an adverb to make the point, so here goes ....this music is bloody lovely.
Don't go through the summer of 2009 without finding a peaceful hour to acquaint your ears to the wonderfully relaxing sound of Missy Raines & The New Hip.
Music and racing at The Silverstone Classic, 24-26 July 2009
The Silverstone Classic from 24 to 26 July 2009 at Silverstone Circuit.
Classic car racing with live music entertainment provides three days of atmospheric and thrilling action both on and off-track. Murray Walker is the Silverstone Classic ambassador. Watch classic Formula One cars, GT and touring cars, Mini racing, Edwardian cars and celebrities in attendance from the worlds of motorsport and entertainment. Away from the track, enjoy the view of over 4,000 classic car displays from more than 80 car clubs, a Victorian fun fair, aerobatic displays, Harley Davidson® display and stunt bikes, a classic car auction and a retail village. This summer event provides a unique outing for all the family.
Tickets available from:
SEE Tickets www.seetickets.com or 0871 231 0849.
For full event information visit www.silverstoneclassic.com
bWell Employers Training - JUNE 2009 - PLACES STILL AVAILABLE!!
A small deposit (usually £50 per place booked) will be required (although depending on the size/ type of your organisation, this deposit may be returned to your organisation upon attending the training session).
Managing Stress: A Managers Guide
This one day training session provides you as Managers/Line Managers/Supervisors/Department Leads/Directors with the tools you need to provide working environments that minimise ‘stress at work’ triggers and develop ‘effective Manager’ strategies to support your staff in dealing with workplace stress.
Monday 8th June 2009 (09:30 – 16:00)
CIBA Building, Suite 203, 146 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9NX
Handling Stress
This training session is an opportunity for you to start looking at how you can manage your stress levels at work, with effective tools and exercises that will not only benefit you at work but in the home also.
Tuesday 9th June 2009 (09:30 – 16:00)
CIBA Building, Suite 203, 146 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9NX
Tuesday 16th June 2009 (09:30 – 16:00)
CIBA Building, Suite 203, 146 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9NX
Train the Trainer
This one day interactive workshop will assist you in creating positive, supportive and productive places to work for all employees. It will enable you to start the process of reducing sickness absence due to work based stress and enable you to discover the benefits of signing up to the bWell Employer Hub Network. You will also receive lots of ‘low cost, no cost’ tips about how you can support your employees by creating positive work spaces.
Monday 15th June 2009 (09:30 – 16:00)
CIBA Building, Suite 203, 146 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9NX
For training outcomes, please click on the following link: http://www.bwellbirmingham.co.uk/employer-training.aspx.
PLACES ARE STILL AVAILABLE!! Email sarah.ronald@bhwp.nhs.uk or telephone 0121 465 2993 to book your place.
We can also arrange training on other areas of interest. Contact Sarah Ronald or Elaine Russell on 0121 465 2993 to discuss your training needs.
For further information on bWell, visit: www.bwellbirmingham.co.uk.
Regards,
Sarah Ronald
bWell Membership Support Officer/ Administrator
Birmingham Health & Wellbeing Partnership
CIBA Building, 2nd Floor, Suite 203
146 Hagley Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B16 9NX
Tel: 0121 465 2993
Fax: 0121 454 0971
Mobile: 07971 304 311
Email: sarah.ronald@bhwp.nhs.uk
Website: www.bwellbirmingham.co.uk
Managing Stress: A Managers Guide
This one day training session provides you as Managers/Line Managers/Supervisors/Department Leads/Directors with the tools you need to provide working environments that minimise ‘stress at work’ triggers and develop ‘effective Manager’ strategies to support your staff in dealing with workplace stress.
Monday 8th June 2009 (09:30 – 16:00)
CIBA Building, Suite 203, 146 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9NX
Handling Stress
This training session is an opportunity for you to start looking at how you can manage your stress levels at work, with effective tools and exercises that will not only benefit you at work but in the home also.
Tuesday 9th June 2009 (09:30 – 16:00)
CIBA Building, Suite 203, 146 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9NX
Tuesday 16th June 2009 (09:30 – 16:00)
CIBA Building, Suite 203, 146 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9NX
Train the Trainer
This one day interactive workshop will assist you in creating positive, supportive and productive places to work for all employees. It will enable you to start the process of reducing sickness absence due to work based stress and enable you to discover the benefits of signing up to the bWell Employer Hub Network. You will also receive lots of ‘low cost, no cost’ tips about how you can support your employees by creating positive work spaces.
Monday 15th June 2009 (09:30 – 16:00)
CIBA Building, Suite 203, 146 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9NX
For training outcomes, please click on the following link: http://www.bwellbirmingham.co.uk/employer-training.aspx.
PLACES ARE STILL AVAILABLE!! Email sarah.ronald@bhwp.nhs.uk or telephone 0121 465 2993 to book your place.
We can also arrange training on other areas of interest. Contact Sarah Ronald or Elaine Russell on 0121 465 2993 to discuss your training needs.
For further information on bWell, visit: www.bwellbirmingham.co.uk.
Regards,
Sarah Ronald
bWell Membership Support Officer/ Administrator
Birmingham Health & Wellbeing Partnership
CIBA Building, 2nd Floor, Suite 203
146 Hagley Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B16 9NX
Tel: 0121 465 2993
Fax: 0121 454 0971
Mobile: 07971 304 311
Email: sarah.ronald@bhwp.nhs.uk
Website: www.bwellbirmingham.co.uk
Pound around the park to make £’s for charity.
On Saturday 11th July Focus Birmingham will be hosting a 5 kilometre sponsored walk to encourage more families to have fun together and to get fit at the same time.
The walk takes place on Saturday 11th July at Woodgate Valley Country Park and starts at 11am. People of all ages have already registered – but it’s not too late to join them. You can walk at your own speed – it’s not a race! As an extra challenge, some of those taking part in the event will be walking blindfolded with a partner as a guide.
Focus Birmingham is a charity supporting those with visual impairments and other disabilities, together with their carers, to live fulfilling and independent lives. Focus Birmingham hope that this event will raise awareness of not only the challenges someone with a visual impairment faces day to day, but also to show that it is not a barrier to living an independent and happy life.
If this isn’t enough to get your feet moving, Halesowen Scout Band will supply musical entertainment!
We would love you to join Focus Birmingham for this event, contact Vicky Wilcher on 0121 478 5229 or email Victoria@focusbirmingham.org.uk for more information.
Focus Birmingham is a registered supporter of the Change4Life campaign.
The walk takes place on Saturday 11th July at Woodgate Valley Country Park and starts at 11am. People of all ages have already registered – but it’s not too late to join them. You can walk at your own speed – it’s not a race! As an extra challenge, some of those taking part in the event will be walking blindfolded with a partner as a guide.
Focus Birmingham is a charity supporting those with visual impairments and other disabilities, together with their carers, to live fulfilling and independent lives. Focus Birmingham hope that this event will raise awareness of not only the challenges someone with a visual impairment faces day to day, but also to show that it is not a barrier to living an independent and happy life.
If this isn’t enough to get your feet moving, Halesowen Scout Band will supply musical entertainment!
We would love you to join Focus Birmingham for this event, contact Vicky Wilcher on 0121 478 5229 or email Victoria@focusbirmingham.org.uk for more information.
Focus Birmingham is a registered supporter of the Change4Life campaign.
Jerry Dutton links
Jerry DuttonEver since I took over the editorship of the Gazette series in September 2007, I have been very privileged to be the recipient of regular reports from two different local societies based in North Warwickshire (though covering parts of Solihull and Birmingham too), namely the North Arden Local History Society and the Probus Club of Coleshill.
What makes these reports so special is they are penned by a local history author named Jerry Dutton, well known around Coleshill, Water Orton and Castle Bromwich in particular, whose personal knowledge of local history is extensive whilst also doing great credit to the many and varied guest speakers who speak at the monthly meetings of both groups through these fascinating reports.
I have been very pleased to have been able to publish Jerry's reports in the Gazettes and also on the Spaghetti Gazetti website. I feel that Jerry's commitment to local, and indeed all areas of history not only deserves wider recognition, but that my website visitors will benefit from a more organised archive of his fascinating reports. I have therefore set out below links to the reports which appeared on this website in the past 18 or so months. I will add a permanent link into the right hand column of the site so that this archive of post links can be quickly accessed in the future. Special thanks to Jerry Dutton and to the members of the Probus Club of Coleshill, the North Arden Local History Society and not forgetting their brilliant speakers.
If there are other history societies in the West Midlands who wish to share their reports with a wider audience through Spaghetti Gazetti, please feel free to email them to editorialgazette@aol.com In the meantime, here is the Jerry Dutton archive:
CIVIL REGISTRATION FROM 1837 IN BIRMINGHAM
THE WORLD OF BROTHER CADFAEL
COLIN GREEN'S JAQUES COLLECTION
CASTLE HALL GARDENS - THEIR RESTORATION
GETTING TO KNOW YOU - PETER WHEELER
THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY OF YARDLEY
FINGER PRINTS FOR DETECTION AND INTRIGUETHE MARY ASHFORD MYSTERY
THE WARWICK COUNTY RECORD OFFICE AND YOU
GOING’S ON BELOW STAIRS
GETTING TO KNOW YOU – CONTINUED – (ALAN VAUGHTON)
HISTORY IS NOT WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE
THE WORLD OF BROTHER CADFAEL
COLIN GREEN'S JAQUES COLLECTION
CASTLE HALL GARDENS - THEIR RESTORATION
GETTING TO KNOW YOU - PETER WHEELER
THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY OF YARDLEY
FINGER PRINTS FOR DETECTION AND INTRIGUETHE MARY ASHFORD MYSTERY
THE WARWICK COUNTY RECORD OFFICE AND YOU
GOING’S ON BELOW STAIRS
GETTING TO KNOW YOU – CONTINUED – (ALAN VAUGHTON)
HISTORY IS NOT WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE
ROYAL RESIDENCIES IN BRITAIN
WATER ORTON TO COLESHILL AND BEYOND - MORE LOCAL VIEWS FROM COLIN GREEN
THE LIFE and TIMES OF FORMER PARK HALL BOYS:WATER ORTON TO COLESHILL AND BEYOND - MORE LOCAL VIEWS FROM COLIN GREEN
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.
,
.
.
.
.
.MAKE EM LAUGH
SOLIHULL VILLAGE (AS IT WAS)
MEMOIRS OF A GERMAN POW AT MAXSTOKE
MORE (NEW) LOCAL VIEWS (Castle Bromwich and Water Orton)
Book review - local history of Castle Bromwich
BRIAN TEALL’S ANCIENT ROME
ABOVE AND BELOW GREATER BIRMINGHAM
ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL – A VICTORIAN GENIUS
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AND NINE GENERATIONS
CEREMONIAL UNIFORMS OF OUR GUARDS REGIMENTS
“Oh Yea! Oh Yea! Oh Yea!” - SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT!
BIRMINGHAM SIGHTS & STORIES
SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR CHRISTMAS
PERU: AND THE INCAS – A TRIP OF A LIFE-TIME
ROUND the TABLES
THE ROLE OF THE BIRMINGHAM CIVIC SOCIETY
Cinemas and Cinema Origins
WHAT SUMMER OF LOVE? - WHERE WAS I?
ENGLISH COUNTRY CHURCHES(and what you can learn from them)
ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT(Through force 6 gales and heavy seas…)
PERSONALITIES OF BIRMINGHAM(or Birmingham Born, Bred and/or Nurtured)
A History of Place Names
JUST THREE FROM A THOUSAND:Sauce, Tea and Custard – Comestibles of Birmingham Origin
St MARY’S CHURCHYARD, HANDSWORTH
WHAT THE GERMAN’S NEVER KNEW
THORNTON ROAD SCHOOL
THE GOLDEN AGES OF THE HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS Or “They don’t make them like that anymore!”
The Gunpowder Plot and it's West Midlands connections
THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO – JUNE 1815“The Final Conflict!”
MILLENIUM MISSION
British Tribal Customs
The Life of Shakespeare
"Trust me... I'm a politician"
SOLIHULL VILLAGE (AS IT WAS)
MEMOIRS OF A GERMAN POW AT MAXSTOKE
MORE (NEW) LOCAL VIEWS (Castle Bromwich and Water Orton)
Book review - local history of Castle Bromwich
BRIAN TEALL’S ANCIENT ROME
ABOVE AND BELOW GREATER BIRMINGHAM
ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL – A VICTORIAN GENIUS
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AND NINE GENERATIONS
CEREMONIAL UNIFORMS OF OUR GUARDS REGIMENTS
“Oh Yea! Oh Yea! Oh Yea!” - SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT!
BIRMINGHAM SIGHTS & STORIES
SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR CHRISTMAS
PERU: AND THE INCAS – A TRIP OF A LIFE-TIME
ROUND the TABLES
THE ROLE OF THE BIRMINGHAM CIVIC SOCIETY
Cinemas and Cinema Origins
WHAT SUMMER OF LOVE? - WHERE WAS I?
ENGLISH COUNTRY CHURCHES(and what you can learn from them)
ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT(Through force 6 gales and heavy seas…)
PERSONALITIES OF BIRMINGHAM(or Birmingham Born, Bred and/or Nurtured)
A History of Place Names
JUST THREE FROM A THOUSAND:Sauce, Tea and Custard – Comestibles of Birmingham Origin
St MARY’S CHURCHYARD, HANDSWORTH
WHAT THE GERMAN’S NEVER KNEW
THORNTON ROAD SCHOOL
THE GOLDEN AGES OF THE HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS Or “They don’t make them like that anymore!”
The Gunpowder Plot and it's West Midlands connections
THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO – JUNE 1815“The Final Conflict!”
MILLENIUM MISSION
British Tribal Customs
The Life of Shakespeare
"Trust me... I'm a politician"
NORTH ARDEN LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
REPORT: MEETING MAY 2009
SOLIHULL VILLAGE (AS IT WAS)
Mrs Edna Handley, (a former Teacher and Castle Bromwich Resident) accompanied by her husband Peter, was the guest speaker at the meeting of the North Arden Local History Society at their May meeting in Arden Hall (Thursday 14th). It was Mrs Handley’s second visit to the Society; on her first visit (September 2004) she told us of how she had come to write a book on Bentley Heath and Widney Manor this time she had come along to tell us, with the aid of a collection of colour slides, about the Solihull Village of old. A resident of pre 1940 Solihull, if brought forward in time would be hard pressed to recognise the 21st Century Solihull Town from the village he or she would have known in the 1920’s and 30’s. The best way to demonstrate this to an audience such as ourselves was through (old) post cards.
Mrs Handley explained that to pursue her interest in the Solihull of the past she and her husband had taken to visiting Post Card Fairs that are held regularly at varying venues from village halls to locations such as the NEC. This is now a very involved and complex field because of the wide variety of subject matter that has been used on post cards. These vary from places, to people to seaside locations to the comic/saucy types you buy when on holiday and also to factual cards: very much akin to the ‘Cigarette Cards’ of the 30’s and 40’s. So much so that the hobby has been assigned the Greek based name of Deltiology (from “deltion” = writing tablet/letter and “logia” = the study of). [Many readers may recall a Maureen Lipman BT commercial ‘…. oh you’ve got to have an ‘ology!’]. Seriously though Mrs Handley is pleased to call herself a deltiologist as the photographs she showed us proved beyond doubt. She went on to explain about Post Card Fairs, how they are laid out and also time consuming as you have to sort through hundreds of cards in boxes – fortunately usually arranged by types. Cards produced before 1918 are generally out of copyright and may be used freely but there are complications after this date: look for cards that carry a post mark because the date of posting can be beneficial in dating when the photograph was taken. For Mrs Handley’s purposes colour cards are preferable to monochrome and it is surprising just how many coloured PC’s were produced before 1918! Consequently the majority of the Post Cards (transferred to slide) were pre 1918 supplemented by some of her own photographs and copies from originals loaned by colleagues and families of former Solihull residents.
Our ‘tour’ of old Solihull began on Lode Lane with a view of the bridge over the Birmingham-Warwick Canal of 1799 (later the Grand Union in 1929 when the bridge was widened) followed by a 1906 view of the Mill Pond (still there to the present by the Scout Hut opposite Ratcliffe Road and Bramcote Drive); then we saw the buildings of the mill house that one of our members remembered visiting in her youth. Modern traffic management schemes have brought many changes to the town centre and where Lode Lane joined the Warwick Road used to be a cross roads (to Poplar Road and the Barley Mow) and we saw a card of ‘The Limes’ now called ‘Quinet House’ situate on the corner of Lode Lane and the Warwick Road that was the former premises of several Solihull Doctors starting in 1761, the name is taken from Dr Quinet of the 1930’s, a Belgian refugee who was one the founders of Solihull Hospital. From here we moved to Union Road passing several shops that brought back even more memories for the audience. Always look up at the first and second floor levels these have changed very little over the years compared to the street level which have been adapted to follow modern trends, this remark applies equally to both the High Street and Warwick Road.
Mrs Handley showed us a sketch map that our ‘tour’ was going to follow, going down the Warwick Road, with a slight diversion at Union Road, as far as Hampton Lane and to Brueton Avenue (Malvern Hall) back via Park Road and New Road into the Square by the Parish Church and so down the High Street to Poplar Road and back to the starting point on Lode Lane and its continuation past the ‘Wheatsheaf’.
Workhouses were common in many towns and many still in use into the 1940’s; between Quinet House and Union Road is a red-brick building that was once Solihull’s Workhouse, dating from 1742. Originally two stories high but a third is now evident in dormer windows inserted into the roof space. Union Road is opposite the end of Drury Lane with the much modified and renamed Golden Lion Inn on its corner, but the points of interest we saw on old postcards were the Bethesda Chapel (on the right hand side its site now occupied by the ‘John Palmer Hall’ and opposite this on the left was the Infirmary of the workhouse that became incorporated into the Hospital built in 1939 to 1944, we could clearly see the house in which the Master of the Workhouse resided with windows over looking the original exercise yard for the inmates. Solihull School is very well known with a high reputation and its original building dates from 1882, in the post card we saw it was covered with ivy that has long been cleared, and over years many more modern buildings have been added to meet the changing needs of education.
Just after the School is Hampton Lane, a sight previously known as ‘Maids Cross’ with a ‘Maids Cross House’ nearby, but the interesting factor here was at Brueton Avenue that joins the Warwick Road on its way to Knowle and leads to St Martin’s School, formerly and better known as Malvern Hall for which Mrs Handley gave us a great deal of information about owners and building alterations. Mrs Handley also spent some time telling us of a long lost Windmill that she has since proven existed about half way down the tree-lined Brueton Avenue where a footpath from the town crosses on its way towards Brueton Park. It began when she was given a colour slide of an oil painting depicting a dilapidated ‘Stump Mill’ (somewhat similar to the Danzey Green Mill rebuilt at the Avoncroft Museum, but of an earlier design) that the owner claimed was located in Brueton Avenue. There being no surviving records of a mill around here Mrs Handley naturally carried out some research at the Warwick County Record Office and found, on a plan drawn in 1726, a windmill indicated half way along a tree-lined path leading to Malvern Hall at the junction of an early enclosure road! This was followed up by walking along the present day footpath mentioned above and finding that the highest point was where the path crossed Brueton Avenue and began its descent to the Park. Our tour route took us back towards the town by way of New Road and on the way we saw the building that began Solihull School (1615 to 1882) where the school masters where all clerics who specialised in teaching Latin, Greek and other classical subjects to the young men in their charge. In New Road itself is the very recently restored “Old Lock-Up” (by ‘Bryant’s’) the original of which was so badly deteriorated that it has been rebuilt from the foundations upwards working from early plan drawings that Mr Handley was able to provide.
From the “Old Lock Up” we passed the George Hotel ( a card produced before 1905) to the Square with a pause to look at Alphege’s Parish Church (pictured) both inside and out, it is a building well worth visiting and dating from the 12th and 13th Centuries: bad weather was not confined to the present climate change the media is so fond of, Mrs Handley told how there was a extremely violent tornado in 1757 that caused the spire to crash through the nave roof causing damage that took 9 years to repair. Until 1880 anyone apprehended for misdemeanours would have been confined in a gaol that was set in the church yard with cells on the ground floor and a court room upstairs, it is said that at that time there were still ‘village’ stocks adjacent to this building. This was replaced by the recently restored “Old Lock Up” in New Road but visitors to Solihull Library can see some leg-irons and body restraining chains that were used. The Square, (not to be confused with the current ‘Mell Square’) is that space outside the Church and the end of High Street where the War Memorial is located; Mrs Handley showed Postcards of the area without the Memorial and a photograph of it dedication in 1921. Church Hill is the road passing between the Church and the Council Buildings that goes down to Homer Road and on to Widney Manor it was obvious in the old card that the footpath was several feet higher than the carriageway giving a good example of an old wagon wheel worn ‘hollow-way’. After a look at the Bowling Green to the rear of the ‘George’, which was recorded there in 1693 we entered the High Street as it was in 1908.
The Manor House (pictured), now a centre for public use that also displays various artefacts from now vanished Solihull buildings was built by the Greswold Family in the 15th Century, although in fact they never resided in it, originally known as ‘Lime Tree House’ (from Lime Trees that grew in front of it) It was renamed when it was converted to its present usage (including a tea room). Almost opposite the Manor House and leading into Mell Square is the much post 1960’s modernised Drury Lane: We looked at post cards of Touchwood Hall, built by the Holbeche’s in 1712 but later in the early years of the 20th Century the home of a branch of the Martineau Family (French Huguenot immigrants originally) who are also well known in the Birmingham/Edgbaston area. Although the Hall was demolished (in the name of progress??) in the 1960’s it has provided the name source for Solihull’s latest shopping development! Mill Lane also leads from the High Street to Mell Square and is now a far cry from the half timbered Tudor Cottages that lined it and survived, still lived in, until 1957 even though they had been condemned as unfit in 1939. – No Bathrooms and outdoor privies at the bottom of the gardens were hardly contributing to the desirable residential properties image in the centre of a blossoming Solihull in a post (WWII) war world!
Following the line of High Street is Station Road that starts at Poplar Road and, at least in the old Post Card views of 1918 and 1926 showed a distinctly rural atmosphere of which Sillhill House and adjacent farm buildings were then prominent. To the modern reader they will know there is now a row of shops with a lay-by set back from the main road and known as the ‘Parade’. Station Road also contains Solihull’s Catholic Church, St Augustine’s that similarly has undergone several changes over the years. Poplar Road itself was once the nerve centre of Solihull containing the Police Station (1906) and the Council House/Town Hall in a building now very nicely fitted out for the 21st Century by Witherspoons and adjacent to the Multi Storey Car Park Entrance and foot-way to Sainsbury’s. Now known to many modern ‘Gay-Young-Things’ as O Neil’s was for many years the Barley Mow and before that it was, originally, the ‘Limerick Inn’. Poplar Road probably takes it name from 12 Poplar Trees that were set in the grounds of Poplar House on the corner of Lode Lane and Warwick Road opposite our starting point of Quinet House, there may also have been poplar trees lining the road in the area now occupied by several Banks. Mrs Handley went on to explain in some detail the origins of the Coat of Arms used by LloydsTSB Bank since the Black Horse was only acquired by the original Lloyds Bank when they acquired Stokes of Lombard Street, a London based bank in 1880! From here Mrs Handley took us back down Lode Lane and Hobs Moat Road to cross the Coventry Road at the ‘Wheatsheaf’ and concluded her talk with early postcards of the Church Road Sheldon at St Giles Church and the old Smithy that faced it for many years, and now has a road named after it,
It was an excellent and well structured talk that contained the results of hours of research and investigation (not to mention time spent sorting through Post Cards at Fairs) that make it impossible to give a verbatim account all the fascinating facts she had uncovered and related to us. The audience remained transfixed throughout and went home very much the wiser for the experience. Thank you so much for sharing this with us Mr & Mrs Handley.
We are always pleased to welcome guests and visitors at our meetings, the next of which will be on 9th July when the topic will be ‘Green Men Gargoyles, Grotesques and Stone’ presented by Dr Colin Harris. The following meeting (September 10th) will be ‘A History of Civil Registration’ by Mr John Yates. We do not meet in August. Meetings are held in the Spencer Lounge Bar at Arden Hall, Water Orton Road at 7.45pm.
JERRY DUTTON.
NORTH ARDEN LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
SOLIHULL VILLAGE (AS IT WAS)
Mrs Edna Handley, (a former Teacher and Castle Bromwich Resident) accompanied by her husband Peter, was the guest speaker at the meeting of the North Arden Local History Society at their May meeting in Arden Hall (Thursday 14th). It was Mrs Handley’s second visit to the Society; on her first visit (September 2004) she told us of how she had come to write a book on Bentley Heath and Widney Manor this time she had come along to tell us, with the aid of a collection of colour slides, about the Solihull Village of old. A resident of pre 1940 Solihull, if brought forward in time would be hard pressed to recognise the 21st Century Solihull Town from the village he or she would have known in the 1920’s and 30’s. The best way to demonstrate this to an audience such as ourselves was through (old) post cards.
Mrs Handley explained that to pursue her interest in the Solihull of the past she and her husband had taken to visiting Post Card Fairs that are held regularly at varying venues from village halls to locations such as the NEC. This is now a very involved and complex field because of the wide variety of subject matter that has been used on post cards. These vary from places, to people to seaside locations to the comic/saucy types you buy when on holiday and also to factual cards: very much akin to the ‘Cigarette Cards’ of the 30’s and 40’s. So much so that the hobby has been assigned the Greek based name of Deltiology (from “deltion” = writing tablet/letter and “logia” = the study of). [Many readers may recall a Maureen Lipman BT commercial ‘…. oh you’ve got to have an ‘ology!’]. Seriously though Mrs Handley is pleased to call herself a deltiologist as the photographs she showed us proved beyond doubt. She went on to explain about Post Card Fairs, how they are laid out and also time consuming as you have to sort through hundreds of cards in boxes – fortunately usually arranged by types. Cards produced before 1918 are generally out of copyright and may be used freely but there are complications after this date: look for cards that carry a post mark because the date of posting can be beneficial in dating when the photograph was taken. For Mrs Handley’s purposes colour cards are preferable to monochrome and it is surprising just how many coloured PC’s were produced before 1918! Consequently the majority of the Post Cards (transferred to slide) were pre 1918 supplemented by some of her own photographs and copies from originals loaned by colleagues and families of former Solihull residents.
Our ‘tour’ of old Solihull began on Lode Lane with a view of the bridge over the Birmingham-Warwick Canal of 1799 (later the Grand Union in 1929 when the bridge was widened) followed by a 1906 view of the Mill Pond (still there to the present by the Scout Hut opposite Ratcliffe Road and Bramcote Drive); then we saw the buildings of the mill house that one of our members remembered visiting in her youth. Modern traffic management schemes have brought many changes to the town centre and where Lode Lane joined the Warwick Road used to be a cross roads (to Poplar Road and the Barley Mow) and we saw a card of ‘The Limes’ now called ‘Quinet House’ situate on the corner of Lode Lane and the Warwick Road that was the former premises of several Solihull Doctors starting in 1761, the name is taken from Dr Quinet of the 1930’s, a Belgian refugee who was one the founders of Solihull Hospital. From here we moved to Union Road passing several shops that brought back even more memories for the audience. Always look up at the first and second floor levels these have changed very little over the years compared to the street level which have been adapted to follow modern trends, this remark applies equally to both the High Street and Warwick Road.
Mrs Handley showed us a sketch map that our ‘tour’ was going to follow, going down the Warwick Road, with a slight diversion at Union Road, as far as Hampton Lane and to Brueton Avenue (Malvern Hall) back via Park Road and New Road into the Square by the Parish Church and so down the High Street to Poplar Road and back to the starting point on Lode Lane and its continuation past the ‘Wheatsheaf’.
Workhouses were common in many towns and many still in use into the 1940’s; between Quinet House and Union Road is a red-brick building that was once Solihull’s Workhouse, dating from 1742. Originally two stories high but a third is now evident in dormer windows inserted into the roof space. Union Road is opposite the end of Drury Lane with the much modified and renamed Golden Lion Inn on its corner, but the points of interest we saw on old postcards were the Bethesda Chapel (on the right hand side its site now occupied by the ‘John Palmer Hall’ and opposite this on the left was the Infirmary of the workhouse that became incorporated into the Hospital built in 1939 to 1944, we could clearly see the house in which the Master of the Workhouse resided with windows over looking the original exercise yard for the inmates. Solihull School is very well known with a high reputation and its original building dates from 1882, in the post card we saw it was covered with ivy that has long been cleared, and over years many more modern buildings have been added to meet the changing needs of education.
Just after the School is Hampton Lane, a sight previously known as ‘Maids Cross’ with a ‘Maids Cross House’ nearby, but the interesting factor here was at Brueton Avenue that joins the Warwick Road on its way to Knowle and leads to St Martin’s School, formerly and better known as Malvern Hall for which Mrs Handley gave us a great deal of information about owners and building alterations. Mrs Handley also spent some time telling us of a long lost Windmill that she has since proven existed about half way down the tree-lined Brueton Avenue where a footpath from the town crosses on its way towards Brueton Park. It began when she was given a colour slide of an oil painting depicting a dilapidated ‘Stump Mill’ (somewhat similar to the Danzey Green Mill rebuilt at the Avoncroft Museum, but of an earlier design) that the owner claimed was located in Brueton Avenue. There being no surviving records of a mill around here Mrs Handley naturally carried out some research at the Warwick County Record Office and found, on a plan drawn in 1726, a windmill indicated half way along a tree-lined path leading to Malvern Hall at the junction of an early enclosure road! This was followed up by walking along the present day footpath mentioned above and finding that the highest point was where the path crossed Brueton Avenue and began its descent to the Park. Our tour route took us back towards the town by way of New Road and on the way we saw the building that began Solihull School (1615 to 1882) where the school masters where all clerics who specialised in teaching Latin, Greek and other classical subjects to the young men in their charge. In New Road itself is the very recently restored “Old Lock-Up” (by ‘Bryant’s’) the original of which was so badly deteriorated that it has been rebuilt from the foundations upwards working from early plan drawings that Mr Handley was able to provide.
From the “Old Lock Up” we passed the George Hotel ( a card produced before 1905) to the Square with a pause to look at Alphege’s Parish Church (pictured) both inside and out, it is a building well worth visiting and dating from the 12th and 13th Centuries: bad weather was not confined to the present climate change the media is so fond of, Mrs Handley told how there was a extremely violent tornado in 1757 that caused the spire to crash through the nave roof causing damage that took 9 years to repair. Until 1880 anyone apprehended for misdemeanours would have been confined in a gaol that was set in the church yard with cells on the ground floor and a court room upstairs, it is said that at that time there were still ‘village’ stocks adjacent to this building. This was replaced by the recently restored “Old Lock Up” in New Road but visitors to Solihull Library can see some leg-irons and body restraining chains that were used. The Square, (not to be confused with the current ‘Mell Square’) is that space outside the Church and the end of High Street where the War Memorial is located; Mrs Handley showed Postcards of the area without the Memorial and a photograph of it dedication in 1921. Church Hill is the road passing between the Church and the Council Buildings that goes down to Homer Road and on to Widney Manor it was obvious in the old card that the footpath was several feet higher than the carriageway giving a good example of an old wagon wheel worn ‘hollow-way’. After a look at the Bowling Green to the rear of the ‘George’, which was recorded there in 1693 we entered the High Street as it was in 1908.
The Manor House (pictured), now a centre for public use that also displays various artefacts from now vanished Solihull buildings was built by the Greswold Family in the 15th Century, although in fact they never resided in it, originally known as ‘Lime Tree House’ (from Lime Trees that grew in front of it) It was renamed when it was converted to its present usage (including a tea room). Almost opposite the Manor House and leading into Mell Square is the much post 1960’s modernised Drury Lane: We looked at post cards of Touchwood Hall, built by the Holbeche’s in 1712 but later in the early years of the 20th Century the home of a branch of the Martineau Family (French Huguenot immigrants originally) who are also well known in the Birmingham/Edgbaston area. Although the Hall was demolished (in the name of progress??) in the 1960’s it has provided the name source for Solihull’s latest shopping development! Mill Lane also leads from the High Street to Mell Square and is now a far cry from the half timbered Tudor Cottages that lined it and survived, still lived in, until 1957 even though they had been condemned as unfit in 1939. – No Bathrooms and outdoor privies at the bottom of the gardens were hardly contributing to the desirable residential properties image in the centre of a blossoming Solihull in a post (WWII) war world!
Following the line of High Street is Station Road that starts at Poplar Road and, at least in the old Post Card views of 1918 and 1926 showed a distinctly rural atmosphere of which Sillhill House and adjacent farm buildings were then prominent. To the modern reader they will know there is now a row of shops with a lay-by set back from the main road and known as the ‘Parade’. Station Road also contains Solihull’s Catholic Church, St Augustine’s that similarly has undergone several changes over the years. Poplar Road itself was once the nerve centre of Solihull containing the Police Station (1906) and the Council House/Town Hall in a building now very nicely fitted out for the 21st Century by Witherspoons and adjacent to the Multi Storey Car Park Entrance and foot-way to Sainsbury’s. Now known to many modern ‘Gay-Young-Things’ as O Neil’s was for many years the Barley Mow and before that it was, originally, the ‘Limerick Inn’. Poplar Road probably takes it name from 12 Poplar Trees that were set in the grounds of Poplar House on the corner of Lode Lane and Warwick Road opposite our starting point of Quinet House, there may also have been poplar trees lining the road in the area now occupied by several Banks. Mrs Handley went on to explain in some detail the origins of the Coat of Arms used by LloydsTSB Bank since the Black Horse was only acquired by the original Lloyds Bank when they acquired Stokes of Lombard Street, a London based bank in 1880! From here Mrs Handley took us back down Lode Lane and Hobs Moat Road to cross the Coventry Road at the ‘Wheatsheaf’ and concluded her talk with early postcards of the Church Road Sheldon at St Giles Church and the old Smithy that faced it for many years, and now has a road named after it,
It was an excellent and well structured talk that contained the results of hours of research and investigation (not to mention time spent sorting through Post Cards at Fairs) that make it impossible to give a verbatim account all the fascinating facts she had uncovered and related to us. The audience remained transfixed throughout and went home very much the wiser for the experience. Thank you so much for sharing this with us Mr & Mrs Handley.
We are always pleased to welcome guests and visitors at our meetings, the next of which will be on 9th July when the topic will be ‘Green Men Gargoyles, Grotesques and Stone’ presented by Dr Colin Harris. The following meeting (September 10th) will be ‘A History of Civil Registration’ by Mr John Yates. We do not meet in August. Meetings are held in the Spencer Lounge Bar at Arden Hall, Water Orton Road at 7.45pm.
JERRY DUTTON.
NORTH ARDEN LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
Slimming success in Coleshill !!
Hi Pete,
I just wanted to write to say a huge thank you for publishing my story in the Gazette last month. You featured the story of my 5 stone weight loss and how it had lead me into a career as a Slimming World Consultant, taking over the group that meet at the Coleshill Social Club, Parkfield Road every Monday at 7pm.
I thought you might like to know what a positive impact your story had on so many people in the area. The week before I took over in Coleshill there were 7 members signed in, now we have a buzzing group of 50 thanks largely to your fantastic editorial, which has helped so many to take the important 1st step to improving their health. Their weight losses have been amazing- some even earning their half stone weight loss awards in their 1st week! I'm having the best time meeting all of the new members and sharing in their exciting journeys. I’d just like to thank you and the Gazette for playing such an important roll in each one of their lives.
Kind Regards
Katie Whitehead
01827 282 163
MPs expenses song
All mps have been sent a link to the mps expenses song video!
Ger Corrigan lead singer of Corrigan Brothers has advised all mps to have a look at the video and if they want to be in the song to let Corrigan Brothers know- “ridiculous claims will be an advantage”.
MPs expenses song Corrigan Brothers youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlT0xsDCI5o
Ireland’s Corrigan Brothers, the Band who had the International hit “There’s no one as Irish as Barack O’Bama” and who played at President Barack Obama’s inauguration bring you the MP’s Expenses Song!
The incredible story of those incredible expenses!
Please visit our website
http://www.corriganbrothers.com/
Ger Corrigan lead singer of Corrigan Brothers has advised all mps to have a look at the video and if they want to be in the song to let Corrigan Brothers know- “ridiculous claims will be an advantage”.
MPs expenses song Corrigan Brothers youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlT0xsDCI5o
Ireland’s Corrigan Brothers, the Band who had the International hit “There’s no one as Irish as Barack O’Bama” and who played at President Barack Obama’s inauguration bring you the MP’s Expenses Song!
The incredible story of those incredible expenses!
Please visit our website
http://www.corriganbrothers.com/
The Teaching Awards 2009 ceremony for the West Midlands
Outstanding teachers will be among a host of education stars from schools across the West Midlands who will shine as finalists at the 2009 Teaching Awards.
BBC presenter Sarah Falkland will host the ceremony where winners, distinctions and commendations will be announced. They will be cheered on by pupils, parents and colleagues from their schools, helping to celebrate excellence in the West Midlands.
All finalists will attend a thought-provoking workshop, followed by a celebratory lunch.
Talented teachers, headteachers, teaching assistants, governors and schools from the West Midlands will be celebrated at the 2009 Teaching Awards ceremony
Friday 12 June at 14.30
Heritage Motor Centre, Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwickshire, CV34 OBJ
BBC presenter Sarah Falkland will host the ceremony where winners, distinctions and commendations will be announced. They will be cheered on by pupils, parents and colleagues from their schools, helping to celebrate excellence in the West Midlands.
All finalists will attend a thought-provoking workshop, followed by a celebratory lunch.
Talented teachers, headteachers, teaching assistants, governors and schools from the West Midlands will be celebrated at the 2009 Teaching Awards ceremony
Friday 12 June at 14.30
Heritage Motor Centre, Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwickshire, CV34 OBJ
Next Play from Company of the Curtain
Daisy Pulls It Off
The Company of the Curtain are presenting 'Daisy Pulls It Off' by Denise Deegan.
We invite you to join us for a spiffing evening.
This lively parody of life in a school for young ladies is set in 1927 and features many of our Studio Group members as the schoolgirls with some of our long established actors playing the staff. Follow Daisy's adventures and tribulations as she keeps her chin up, plays the game and wins through!
Performances are 23rd-27th June, at the Village Hall, Curdworth.
Curtain up at 7.30 prompt.
Tickets are £7 (including coffee, tea or squash) and can be ordered from Anne :-
01675 463 095 or e-mail cotc@hotmail.co.uk
Marston Green Gazette - June edition
The Marston Green Gazette is ready to be distributed, but thanks to my colleague Karl on the design team at Westpoint, Spaghetti Gazetti readers can have a sneak preview of the PDF version at the following link:
https://share.acrobat.com/adc/document.do?docid=4f16b61b-c044-4959-a54c-e6504122d11f
Chatsworth Summer of Secrets and Surprises
Naked picnickers; beer pipes; a grotto built by Duchess Georgiana; Lucian Freud’s paints; a telephone from Alexander Graham Bell and a personal weighing chair used to record the weights of the 6th Duke’s visitors are among the Secrets and Surprises Chatsworth is giving up this summer.
Visitors will have the opportunity to unearth some of the more unusual stories surrounding the house and garden as well as being asked to solve some mysteries themselves from 1 June to 31 August. Visitors will also be able to ask any staff wearing a question mark badge to reveal their own secret or surprise to find out more about the Palace of the Peak as well as reading about some of the favourite discoveries made by the Duke and Duchess over the last year.
One room guide will reveal how Father Christmas arrives in the Painted Hall for the annual Christmas party while another tells how her father, chauffeur to the 11th Duke of Devonshire for many years, drove John F Kennedy, President of the United States of America, from Chatsworth to the grave of his sister at Edensor.
A stroll round the 105-acre garden will uncover 10 secrets or surprises including a first peek into the Grotto built by the infamous Duchess Georgiana, wife of the 5th Duke of Devonshire. The inside is lined with crystals of copper ore that were discovered in a local mine. Behind the Grotto is another secret - a stove the purpose of which presents a puzzle but could have been used to make tea for one of the Dukes or Duchesses as they wandered around enjoying the beautiful garden.
Four naked picnickers are captured in a remarkable metal screen made by the sculpture Allen Jones, on view to visitors for the first time, and elsewhere, visitors can see the Mummy Peas in the Kitchen Garden that are descendants of seeds found mummified in the Pyramids or try to spot the tiny smiling face carved in the stone in the Rock Garden.
In the House, 11 different objects, many brought out specially for this summer, are sited around the visitor route to provide some fascinating insights. These include a telephone presented by the inventor Alexander Graham Bell to the 9th Duke of Devonshire in the early 20th century, including the diary entries made by the Duke recording the occasion. “Civic luncheon. Terribly long and I was dreadfully wakened by the Mayor. He is old and dotty and very tiresome. Afraid I spoke badly.”
Or try to work out why the 19th century 6th Duke decided to record the weight of all his visitors using a mahogany personal weighing chair. Even the most important visitors seem to have agreed to this curious practice. The first name recorded in the weighing book is that of the Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia, later Tsar Nicholas 1.
Visitors to the Green Satin Room can find out about the fascinating family history of Head Housekeeper Christine Robinson which spans 300 years. Christine remembers, “My grandmother said legend has it that when Sam’s wife Hannah was pregnant, it was a difficult labour and Sam set off on horseback to fetch the doctor from Baslow. He met the devil at the coal gate at the blue doors entrance into Chatsworth park, and said that he would sell him his soul if he would give him a son. A son was born, but he never made anything of himself, turned to drink, and ended his life without a farthing to his name. When old Sam Grafton died in 1866 he was buried in Beeley churchyard, and to this day no grass will grow on his grave.”
In the same room is a panel used to blank off a window in the 1830s, just removed as part of the current masterplan, revealing a series of mason’s drawings from the building work of that period.
Even the catering team is taking part. Visitors to the Cavendish Rooms will discover a secret ingredient added to the afternoon tea.
No extra charge beyond the normal admission fees. Chatsworth is open every day until December 23. For opening times, admission prices and details of other forthcoming events and attractions, guided tours and behind the scenes days, visit http://www.chatsworth.org/
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth
Bakewell
Derbyshire
DE45 1PP
BBC Gardeners World Live and BBC Summer Good Food Show
The following ten people have won our first batch of ten pairs of tickets to Gardeners World Live and the Good Food Show taking place at the NEC from 10th-14th June 2009. I will get them in 1st class post on Monday morning.
Remember, I am waiting for delivery of another 15 pairs of tickets from the show organisers, so I will announce a second batch of winners early next week to give you plenty of time to plan your visit the following week. Well done to the first 10 winners, my apologies for stringing it out and thanks everyone who participated in the competition, if I had my way you'd all get tickets!
1. Dale Gregory (Hodge Hill, Birmingham)
2. Mandy Windridge (Coleshill, Warwickshire)
3. Mrs M G Yendall (Lichfield, Staffordshire)
4. Mandy Woodhouse (Quinton, Birmingham)
5. Eve Fleetwood (Netherton, Dudley)
6. Mr R A Stallard (Water Orton, Warwickshire)
7. Pamela Crampton (Mickleover, Derby)
8. Mrs P Richards (Chelmsley Wood, Solihull)
9. Helen Joubert (Aldridge, Walsall)
10. Rosie Fox (Streetly, Sutton Coldfield)
The tickets will get the holder into both shows which take place simultaneously at the NEC.
Gardening Show Update
For those people waiting to hear if they have won tickets to the Gardening Show at the NEC, I have been in touch with the organisers and they are sending me more tickets as originally promised.
I will select some winners for the first 10 pairs of tickets today and fingers crossed will announce the second batch early next week.
Pete
I will select some winners for the first 10 pairs of tickets today and fingers crossed will announce the second batch early next week.
Pete
Friday, 29 May 2009
Emergence Photography Exhibition
An exhibition of work by BTEC, HND and HNC photography students from Sandwell CollegeOpening times
6th-13th June, 10am - 7pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm
Free admission
Private View
Friday 5th June, 7pm-10pm
Location
The Gallery
The Custard Factory
Gibb Street
Birmingham B9 4AA
Further information
emergence@live.co.uk
www.sandwellemergence.webs.com
Job Opportunity
Destination West Midlands (D: WM) – Co-ordinator
Hours: 25 hours per week
Salary: currently £27,573 pro– rata
Closing Date: 9am 8 June 2009
Interview Date: 19 June 2009
Proposed Start Date: 1 July 2009
Destination West Midlands - a regional partnership of specialist and generic third sector infrastructure consortia requires a Co-ordinator to deliver its infrastructure strategy, and co-ordinate the work of the partnership and its sub groups. The Coordinator will undertake a significant role in ensuring excellent communication and information sharing between members, and between members and regional and national stakeholders. They will be the person responsible for the management, maintenance and promotion of http://www.improvingsupport.org.uk/ at a regional level.
The successful applicant will have responsibility alongside the members of the partnership for building relationships with existing members as well as developing new relationships with key external stakeholders and potential funding agencies.
Previous experience of working in a third sector infrastructure environment, policy analysis and interpretation as well as content management and maintenance of websites is essential.
The ability to build relationships with key strategic stakeholders in delivering a shared vision and programme will also be required.
Applicants should be willing to learn and undertake internal training as part of their development. An ability to manage their own time and perform as part of a team is also necessary. The post holder will be employed by Regional Action West Midlands, and be based at their offices in Birmingham. They will be required to travel in and around the West Midlands region.
This post is also open for secondments.
For more information about the role please contact Jacquie Aucott, D: WM member on 07813 620761 or email: info@cwicnet.org.uk
For an application pack please see www.rawm.co.uk or email rawm@rawm.co.uk, or contact Support Services (Projects) Matt Bullock on 0121 359 9110.
Arts All Over The Place
Volunteer Stewards needed for Arts Festival at the Crescent Theatre and Custard factory.
VOLUNTEER OPEN DAY ROOM 317 CUSTARD FACTORY
Digbeth B9 4AA
Monday June 8th
12.30- 3pm
Volunteer stewards are needed for the exciting festival of Arts and Mental Health from Monday 22nd June until July 17th 2009
Stewards will be overseeing the exhibition space at the Crescent Theatre and the Custard Factory, Digbeth, which will hold service users’ artwork, as well as various arts workshops.
Some of the tasks Stewards do:
· Sit or stand at the meet and greet desk
· Watch the artwork to make sure it is ok
· Write down enquiries about artwork or the Creatives network from visitors
· Offer people evaluation forms to fill out and encourage people to fill in the comments book
· Direct people to information leaflets or organisations that will be available (if asked)
In return for you help you will get:
A limited edition “Arts All Over The Place ” pen (2 shift)
A limited edition “Arts All Over The Place” t-shirt (3 shifts)
A chance to view the artwork and sample the workshops
Free refreshments
Travel expenses
A chance to contribute and feel part of Arts All Over The Place 2009
Most Shifts last for 3 hours and run from 11 - 2pm, 2 - 5pm, 4 - 7pm . . . and don’t forget, for doing 2 shift you get a pen for 3 shifts you get a T-shirt!!! You can do as many shifts as you want!
There are also opportunities to volunteer for other activites as well
Please come along to the open day at the Custard Factory room 317
Monday June 8th 12.30- 3pm or contact:
Emma Marks
Freepost: RRSE – CTTH - YGYK
Social Inclusion Team
Uffculme Annexe
80 Queensbridge Road, Moseley
Birmingham B13 8QY
Email: Creatives@bsmht.nhs.uk
Tel: 0121 678 2787
(Mob) 07985 883140
Go-Co Coffee
The Co-Go Concept; a social enterprise
The Co-Go concept is to combine the sale of high quality coffee, in convenient locations, served quickly with friendly service, at very competitive prices with advertising on the cups; supplementing the revenue and discounting the price of coffee.
The revenue supplementation from the advertising will allow Co-Go to price its products at low cost therefore eliminating price competition, facilitating Co-Go’s aim; to rapidly expand the business around the UK.
Through an innovative coffee-cup shaped trailer, Co-Go build a strong brand image as “the” to-go coffee shop. The trailer based business model allows Co-Go to fit vendors into small spaces while giving the flexibility to change sales location easily. The coffee carts will be located in universities and prime commuter locations, aimed at tapping in to the “to go” coffee market, so that daily commuters and students can get high quality, fairly priced coffee.
In addition to this Co-Go is establishing itself as a social enterprise by including social aims in the articles of association. The main points of these aims are to use Fair Trade ingredients, green energy where possible, to sell coffee at the lowest price, and most importantly run education programmes in the local community. More information is given about this below.
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About us
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Co-Go Coffee has been created by two recent graduates of Aston University, Nicolas Holzherr and Simon McCann. Both founders have experience working in young people education programmes and during their second year of university were Co-Presidents of a student organisation, Stude
nts in Free Enterprise (SIFE).
nts in Free Enterprise (SIFE).Whilst managing SIFE the society had involvement in 13 social projects around the Birmingham area, it was this experience that has motivated us to create a social enterprise that benefits young people by providing work experience.
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Both founders have had work experience with Multi National Corporations; Nicolas spent a year working for Deutsche Bank in shareholder relations, whilst Simon spent a year at PricewaterhouseCoopers working in the audit department.
Business education through practice As a social enterprise Co-Go will reinvest profits into educational projects. We are currently looking for existing youth programmes that would be interested in creating a partnership whereby Co-Go provide business orientated education classes. The aim of the programme will be to give young people the opportunity to work with a start up business, focusing on areas such as management, advertising, marketing and managing finance. There is scope for a more tailored package once a partnership has been formed.
Co-Go is looking to create a blend of fun classroom based education classes that will teach the base level information, from here Co-Go would be looking for young people to work on tasks from the planning to implementation level. This would include time working with Co-Go management and experiencing “on-the-job” tasks.
Our overall aim would be to act as a way for young people to get practical experience that will benefit them in their long-run employment search, as well as providing motivation towards employment and entrepreneurship.
Co-Go has a team that are ready to implement any projects, and would also be looking to reinvest a percentage of profits generated from Co-Go operations to provide a long lasting sustainable partnership.
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Next step
If you are interested in a meeting to discuss the options available please contact Simon McCann on 0792 190 7320 or simon@co-go.co.uk.
West Side Story racist?
We received the following comment from an anonymous poster in response to a review on the site about the musical West Side Story
"West Side Story is a banal story that originally was entitled East Side Story about an Irish boy who falls in love with a Jewish girl. The producers figured it was not marketable. When they found out about Chicano gangs in Los Angeles and gang violence in the local LA newspaper they changed the story. Stories like these should be banned from Broadway. NYC is more than 50% latino but these stories denigrate and condescend towards hispanic history. In a world with political correctness in speech and a black president, why do we let abysmal stories like this continue. There is no truth to this story. There never was gang violence like this. However, it has been used as a rationale to label hispanics, stereotyping and pigeonholing them. It is incredible that stories like this, not authored by hispanics and full or racism are allowed to continue to play on Broadway. It is fake and a lie and should be treated as such. The time to stop these plays is now. Boycott this show and signal to the producers that this type of fare should not be tolerated.
http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC39folder/westSideStory.html"
Editor: It would be interesting to hear other people's comments. Do you agree with the analysis of West Side Story as a racist story filled with negative stereotypes about hispanic people in America, or is it simply a Shakesperean love story with a sub plot about juvenile gangs?
info@bignbostin.com
"West Side Story is a banal story that originally was entitled East Side Story about an Irish boy who falls in love with a Jewish girl. The producers figured it was not marketable. When they found out about Chicano gangs in Los Angeles and gang violence in the local LA newspaper they changed the story. Stories like these should be banned from Broadway. NYC is more than 50% latino but these stories denigrate and condescend towards hispanic history. In a world with political correctness in speech and a black president, why do we let abysmal stories like this continue. There is no truth to this story. There never was gang violence like this. However, it has been used as a rationale to label hispanics, stereotyping and pigeonholing them. It is incredible that stories like this, not authored by hispanics and full or racism are allowed to continue to play on Broadway. It is fake and a lie and should be treated as such. The time to stop these plays is now. Boycott this show and signal to the producers that this type of fare should not be tolerated.
http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC39folder/westSideStory.html"
Editor: It would be interesting to hear other people's comments. Do you agree with the analysis of West Side Story as a racist story filled with negative stereotypes about hispanic people in America, or is it simply a Shakesperean love story with a sub plot about juvenile gangs?
info@bignbostin.com
The flavours of the world in Birmingham
Birmingham residents can take a culinary tour of the world next month after City Council leader Mike Whitby today unveiled plans for the first ever Birmingham International Food Fair. And Cllr Whitby confidently predicts the fair will one day match Birmingham’s now world famous Frankfurt Christmas Market, which attracted a massive 2.8million visitors last year, boosting the city’s economy by an estimated £67million.
Billed as a ‘summer sister’ to the hugely successful Frankfurt market, the Birmingham International Food Fair, in partnership with Heart FM, will showcase food and drink from across the globe. Over 60 stalls, located in Victoria Square and New Street, will feature dishes and flavours from a wide range of countries, including France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Australia and the Far East.
The best of British will also be represented with traditional produce and locally brewed drinks. Running over nine days (June 20- 28), the fair has been launched to coincide with the 2009 Rotary International Convention and Cllr Whitby said; “This exciting event will perfectly showcase our multicultural city to visitors from across the globe and enhance Birmingham’s reputation as a destination city.
“Our aim is to develop this event over the next few years, just as we have developed the Frankfurt Christmas Market into what is now a world renowned event that is a major draw for visitors to Birmingham and significantly contributes to the city’s economy.
“Figures show that fewer people will be taking their holidays abroad this summer, so we’re bringing the flavours of the world to the people of Birmingham.”
Billed as a ‘summer sister’ to the hugely successful Frankfurt market, the Birmingham International Food Fair, in partnership with Heart FM, will showcase food and drink from across the globe. Over 60 stalls, located in Victoria Square and New Street, will feature dishes and flavours from a wide range of countries, including France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Australia and the Far East.
The best of British will also be represented with traditional produce and locally brewed drinks. Running over nine days (June 20- 28), the fair has been launched to coincide with the 2009 Rotary International Convention and Cllr Whitby said; “This exciting event will perfectly showcase our multicultural city to visitors from across the globe and enhance Birmingham’s reputation as a destination city.
“Our aim is to develop this event over the next few years, just as we have developed the Frankfurt Christmas Market into what is now a world renowned event that is a major draw for visitors to Birmingham and significantly contributes to the city’s economy.
“Figures show that fewer people will be taking their holidays abroad this summer, so we’re bringing the flavours of the world to the people of Birmingham.”
Seeeking information about the Walsall hippo
hi Pete
I've just posted a comment on Spaghetti Gazetti, but dont know if it will reach you, so I`m trying this way as well. I`m writing about the history of the Walsall hippo and really hoping that you might have some info on John Wood who designed it?
I really hope you can help in any way.
Regards
Shani Clarke
Pete's reply:
Hi Shani,
That's an interesting question. I have seen the hippo in Walsall and come across it on websites about street art in the past. But have to confess I know little about John Wood. Ask me about our old friend King Kong, formerly of the old Bull Ring and I have a lot more information.
The Walsall hippo is a loveable chap, let's throw it out and see if any one out there in Spaghettidom can provide us with his story.
Please email me if you have any info about the Walsall hippo or about John Wood and we'll share it with Shani and also post it on the website (photos also welcome):
British Film Classic Takes to the Stage in Coventry
A host of stars from some of TV’s biggest shows will soon be performing at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre in a new stage adaptation of the 1960s British film classic, Billy Liar.
Presented by the award-winning Middle Ground Theatre Company, the cast of Billy Liar includes Dicken Ashworth (Coronation Street / Emmerdale), Lauren Drummond (Waterloo Road / The Royal), Victoria Hawkins (Emmerdale), Holly Quin-Ankrah (Grange Hill / Rock Rivals) and Adam Henderson Scott (Byker Grove).
“The magic of this performance had me tearful with laughter and emotion …
this really is one not to be missed.” BBC Essex
Billy Fisher is less than inspired with his job as an undertaker’s clerk in a dull Yorkshire town. He escapes his humdrum existence by daydreaming his way to a mythical fantasy kingdom where Billy becomes ruler, hero and lover! He has aspirations as a script writer in the big city, but his over-eager imagination leads him to tell constant tall stories which create havoc in his work, family and romantic life! His hilarious exploits eventually lead him to make a difficult decision…
This charming, witty and sensitive comic masterpiece is compelling viewing for all ages. Albert Finney made a legendary West-End success of Billy in 1960, while he was immortalised by Tom Courtenay in the classic 1963 film.
“The quality is apparent from curtain up … a thoroughly entertaining production.” Lancashire Evening Post
Billy Liar is written by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, directed and designed by Michael Lunney with music by Mat Larkin.
Tickets are available now from the box office on 024 7655 3055 or via http://www.belgrade.co.uk/, priced from £11.74 to £23.49. Concessions are available.
Presented by the award-winning Middle Ground Theatre Company, the cast of Billy Liar includes Dicken Ashworth (Coronation Street / Emmerdale), Lauren Drummond (Waterloo Road / The Royal), Victoria Hawkins (Emmerdale), Holly Quin-Ankrah (Grange Hill / Rock Rivals) and Adam Henderson Scott (Byker Grove).
“The magic of this performance had me tearful with laughter and emotion …
this really is one not to be missed.” BBC Essex
Billy Fisher is less than inspired with his job as an undertaker’s clerk in a dull Yorkshire town. He escapes his humdrum existence by daydreaming his way to a mythical fantasy kingdom where Billy becomes ruler, hero and lover! He has aspirations as a script writer in the big city, but his over-eager imagination leads him to tell constant tall stories which create havoc in his work, family and romantic life! His hilarious exploits eventually lead him to make a difficult decision…
This charming, witty and sensitive comic masterpiece is compelling viewing for all ages. Albert Finney made a legendary West-End success of Billy in 1960, while he was immortalised by Tom Courtenay in the classic 1963 film.
“The quality is apparent from curtain up … a thoroughly entertaining production.” Lancashire Evening Post
Billy Liar is written by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, directed and designed by Michael Lunney with music by Mat Larkin.
Tickets are available now from the box office on 024 7655 3055 or via http://www.belgrade.co.uk/, priced from £11.74 to £23.49. Concessions are available.
Thursday, 28 May 2009
AFROBEAT LEGEND TO PERFORM AT FESTIVAL’S EXCLUSIVE ART EXHIBITION
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"Tony Allen is probably the most important musician of the past 50 years." Brian Eno
Pioneering Afrobeat musician Tony Allen will perform at the London launch of BASS Festival 2009, kicking off the festival’s month-long celebration of Africa. Allen’s appearance will coincide with the opening of an exclusive art exhibition that documents the work of Ghariokwu Lemi, best-known for designing 2000 album sleeves, including nearly 30 for iconic Nigerian musician Fela Kuti.Allen, the former musical director and drummer in Fela Kuti’s band, will appear alongside other celebrated African musicians on Tuesday 9 June at Rich Mix in Shoreditch, London.
Fela Kuti once stated that “without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat”.
His unique drumming style, which incorporates all four limbs, helped shape the funky rhythms that defined the genre.Since his influential work in the 70s, Allen has established himself as an artist in his own right, recording and touring with his own band as well as collaborating with acclaimed contemporary musicians such as Sébastian Tellier, Air, Jarvis Cocker and Damon Albarn’s The Good, the Bad and the Queen.
Allen’s performance at BASS precedes the release of his new album ‘Secret Agent’, released in June 2009. Joining him on the night and also performing will be Fela Kuti keyboard player Dele Sosimi, singer/dancer Wunmi and hip hop DJ Rich Medina. Lemi will also be appearing to curate the launch of the exhibition.BASS has the UK rights to ‘Art’s Own Kind’, the first showing of Lemi’s work in England for five years.
The exhibition brings together some of his most infamous designs to show how creative and repressive moments in the 1970s bore the Afrobeat phenomenon. Running for its fourth consecutive year, BASS (British Arts and Street Sounds) 2009 will be celebrating the influence of Africa and Africans throughout June. The month long celebration of urban music and art will play host to live music, theatre and dance performances, exhibitions and master classes.The ‘Art’s Own Kind’ launch will take place on 9 June at Rich Mix, Shoreditch, London. Entry is free and from 7.30pm onwards.
For more information on BASS Festival, including full line-up details, please visit http://www.bassfestival.co.uk/.
Cream Tea Afternoon for Dog Watch UK West Midlands
CREAM TEA AFTERNOON INCL RAFFLE & TOMBOLA TABLE & LIVE MUSIC
Saturday 20th JUNE
92 ELMDON LANE, MARSTON GREEN
2pm until 5pm
Come along & enjoy a cream tea with scones & clotted Cream & fancy cakes in a lovely garden setting & help support dog rescue
Wet weather facilities available
£2.50 per ticket - advance bookings can be made from 779 2345
ORGANISED BY – Dog Watch UK West Midlands
Charity No 1118841
AN EVENING WITH JOHN STARKEY
CLAIRVOYANT & PSYCHIC
In aid of Dog Watch UK West Midlands
THURSDAY 25th JUNE
7.15 PM PROMPT
MACKADOWN SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB
MACKADOWN LANE
TILL CROSS
TICKETS £7.50 EACH - DOG CHARITY EVENT
REG NUMBER 1118841
*TICKETS FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE CLUB*
OR RING 779 2345 TO PRE BOOK
In aid of Dog Watch UK West Midlands
THURSDAY 25th JUNE
7.15 PM PROMPT
MACKADOWN SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB
MACKADOWN LANE
TILL CROSS
TICKETS £7.50 EACH - DOG CHARITY EVENT
REG NUMBER 1118841
*TICKETS FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE CLUB*
OR RING 779 2345 TO PRE BOOK
Drs Pooch and Mutt make internet debut
Free counselling from Dr Pooch and Dr Mutt at http://www.drpooch.co.uk/
Girlfriend dumped you? Spent too much on your credit card? Worried about the future? Then talk to your dog! According to recent research* 59% of people are regularly off-loading their problems on their pets.
This is all very well for pet owners but what about the millions of people who don’t own pets? Concerned that these people are missing out on valuable one-to-one counselling, professional listeners - Dr Pooch and Dr Mutt, are making their debut on the internet, giving away 5 free minutes of their time to anyone and everyone who needs a pet to talk to.
One of the benefits, of course, of discussing your problems with a pet is that they are great listeners and don’t interrupt or offer an opinion. So, pour out your problems to Drs Pooch and Mutt, or simply log on to share some gossip at http://www.drpooch.co.uk/.
Editor: A bit of a silly one but I think it's a clever idea, so if you have 5 minutes, check out this site and off-load your stress to Drs Pooch and Mutt. Personally I'd like to see a bit more of Nurse Kitty!
I think there's also a serious point about pets helping to relax their owners. We bought our daughter Alice 2 goldfish for her 7th birthday today and I am so chilled out from watching them.
James Summerfield supports National Autistic Society with album and tour
Birmingham singer-songwriter, James Summerfield, is supporting the National Autistic Society (NAS) by donating £1 from his latest album ‘Count To 10 & Start Again’ and collecting money for the charity at all of the gigs on his upcoming tour as he supports Scott Matthews.
The tour will take him from his home town of Birmingham to Nottingham, Oxford, Cardiff, Manchester, Bristol, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Leeds and Wolverhampton.
James said: “Autism is a cause very close to my heart as I have worked with children and adults with autism in the past. I hope that people will dig deep at the gigs and donate as much money as possible to the NAS as I know they work hard to support people with autism all over the country.”
NAS Head of Fundraising, Steve Cheshire, said: “We are really grateful to James for his generosity in supporting us in this way. Autism is a serious, lifelong and disabling condition that affects around 1 in 100 people. As a charity, we are dependent on donations and fundraising to continue to provide services and support to as many people as we can.”
For more information on James’ album and tour, please see http://www.jamessummerfieldmusic.com/.
For more information on autism, please see http://www.autism.org.uk/.
James Summerfield’s (and Scott Matthews’) tour dates.
19 May 2009 20:00 Glee Club, Birmingham
21 May 2009 20:00 Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
23 May 2009 20:00 Academy, Oxford
24 May 2009 20:00 Glee Club, Cardiff
25 May 2009 20:00 The Ruby, Manchester
26 May 2009 20:00 The Fleece, Bristol
28 May 2009 20:00 Whelans, Dublin
29 May 2009 20:00 Academy, Liverpool
30 May 2009 20:00 Oran Mor, Glasgow
31 May 2009 20:00 Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
3 Jun 2009 20:00 Bloomsbury Theatre, That London
5 Jun 2009 20:00 Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton
6 Jun 2009 20:00 Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton
It's an Otterly Mad Week
From 30 May - 6 June, 2009
All over the country, people will be going 'Otterly Mad' from 30 May - June, 2009, as The International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF - http://www.otter.org/ ) launches its event to raise awareness of otters and their conservation.
Grace Yoxon from IOSF says: "Otter fever is growing and there are already plans for otterly mad tea parties, fun days, otter fancy dress competitions and sponsored events. We hope people will have fun while spreading the word about how important these animals are."
The IOSF is looking for support from friends, family, schools and clubs to get involved with a sponsored event for Otterly Mad week, and will publish photos and details of all activities on its site.
For further information on how to get involved in Otterly Mad week, please visit http://www.otter.org/IOSFdownloads/GET-INVOLVED-IN-IOSF(new0209).pdf
Grace concludes: "All funds raised will go to support IOSF's otter sanctuary which cares for orphaned and injured otters, like Dylan here. He followed someone with a harmonica and so he obviously had to be named after Bob Dylan! We care for otters from all over the UK and Ireland and give advice to other people caring for otters worldwide. Otters are the No 1 UK animal so we welcome people to come and join in with this special event."
For further information, please visit http://www.otter.org/
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