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August 2017 12 20
Inside...
12 A Window on the Past
Hagley Hall by The Landor Society 18 Getting Back to Nature
The Wolseley Centre - one of the county’s hidden gems
20 Old Cank
By The Landor Society
22 Your Image Competition
Calling all photographers and artists!
Welcome to CITYLIFE
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Welcome to CITYLIFE in Rugeley, a monthly magazine bringing you our pick of the area’s news, events and stories. Each month CITYLIFE in Rugeley is delivered to 11,000 businesses and homes in Rugeley, Ravenhill, Etchinghill, Slitting Mill, Armitage, Handsacre, Colton, Hill Ridware and Hamstall Ridware, completely free of charge; bringing you the best that the area has to offer. Each issue features heritage stories exploring the rich history of our area, plus competitions, interviews and the latest in fashion and style. Got a story or charity event you want to share with our readership? Think you’ve snapped an image that captures the spirit of the region? We want to hear from you!
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CITYLIFE Contacts Editor - Joss Musgrove Knibb 07833 735048
josscitylife@gmail.com
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Steve Brown 07740 166497 stevebrowncitylife@gmail.com Karen Wraxton 07791 635019 kaz.citylife@gmail.com Rebecca Hill 07970 513144 rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com Production - Helen Smith 07967 154187 helencitylife@gmail.com Citylife In Lichfield Ltd PO Box 7126 LICHFIELD WS14 4JS CITYLIFE in Lichfield and CITYLIFE in Rugeley magazines are not connected to any other publication or publisher, and are wholly owned by CITYLIFE in Lichfield Ltd. Citylife In Rugeley
Citylife in Rugeley does not endorse any business or organisation appearing in these pages, and the publication of any advertisement, editorial, event listing or advertising editorial does not constitute an endorsement by Citylife in Rugeley or Citylife in Lichfield Ltd.
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Rugeley Electrical Wholesalers
Although Rugeley Electrical Wholesalers is a long-established local firm, two months ago the company expanded its range to include a wide selection of lighting, LED lights and light accessories to Rugeley and the surrounding area from its Lea Hall Enterprise Park premises. Catering to both the trade and the public, Rugeley Electrical Wholesalers is family run and prides itself on its knowledgeable, helpful and friendly staff.
Lindsay Lawton, Director of Rugeley Electrical Wholesalers commented: “We started having customers come in asking for lights, which at that time we did not supply. We realised that there were actually no lighting shops at all in Rugeley and that people had to travel a good distance, to Cannock or Lichfield, to find a proper lighting shop. Knowing that we could help the people of Rugeley, we decided to open a dedicated lighting showroom in the unit next-door to Rugeley Electrical Wholesalers. This provides customers with a ‘one-stop’ opportunity to purchase not just lighting but any cable, sockets, bulbs or anything else they may need to complete an electrical project at home, all in one go.”
The staff really take time with each customer and are experts in LED and decorative lighting. Rugeley Electrical Wholesalers also offer a large range of commercial, indoor and outdoor lighting and fitting can also be arranged where necessary.
Although the Lighting Showroom has only been open for a few months, it is proving to be so successful that plans are being made to open another lighting shop in Albion Street in the centre of Rugeley in August 2017.
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Cannock Women’s Institute July Meeting
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By Jill Gooch
resident Mary Fullelove opened the meeting and welcomed new member Ann Haycock and the speaker Trevor Bevan. Trevor belongs to the Pickwick Bicycle Club which was named on the day Charles Dickens died - 22nd June, 1870. Bicycling now takes second place to social gatherings with a Dickensian theme; and members take on the persona of a Dickens character. Trevor is the red-nosed Mr Stiggins, the hypocritical and drunken parson from The Pickwick Papers; and he came dressed accordingly in a straw boater, striped blazer and striped tie. Trevor judged our monthly competition
themed to his talk “A Dickens of a Tale”, choosing a Dickens book bought in by Louise McLaughlin. Our next meeting is on Thursday 10th August at 10.30am at St Luke’s Church Centre, when our member Diana Jones will be sharing her experience of visiting the W.I. Denman College. She had won a bursary to attend a workshop; and chose colour analysis. Members will be invited to experiment with colours using scarves, lipsticks and nail polishes, to discover which colours suit them best. Visitors are always welcome to come and join us for refreshments and chat. For further information go to www.thewi.org.uk/staffordshire
Clash of Knights Raises £1300
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rganisers of the Play in Promenade - Clash of Knights, that took place on the 17th of June, would like to thank everyone who took part and attended.
The weather on the day was very hot, but despite this audiences still supported the residents of Mavesyn Ridware, the students of Hart School in Rugeley, Shakespeare in the Park and local Bell Ringers as they hosted Clash of Knights – a community event in aid of St Nicholas Church, raising over £1,300. The morning performance welcomed spectators to a coffee morning in the historic church of St. Nicholas (c.1140), Mavesyn Ridware and the afternoon performance finished with tea and cakes baked by the W.I
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Keeping babies out of care
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pioneering programme that gives intensive support to parents who have had children taken into care is helping keep families together.
Staffordshire County Council’s Breathing Space programme works with women who are pregnant again by giving them and their partners practical and emotional support to enable babies to stay safely in their parents care. After going live in January 2016, a total of 24 families have been accepted on to the project for intensive support. These families receive parenting programmes which look at attachment and child development before birth, and are given a practical parenting programme where needed. They also receive support from other agencies, which could include health, housing and mental health. So far, 15 babies have been born since the project started, with 13 returning home following birth and staying there.
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St Michael’s Church, Brereton
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By Tim Jones
ne of the best-loved buildings in Brereton is St Michael’s Church. That isn’t surprising since it was given most of its present shape by one of the greatest architects of the nineteenth century, Sir George Gilbert Scott.
St Michael’s opened in 1837 and was the second place of worship in Brereton – the first was a Methodist chapel on the site of the present Methodist church. Originally it was a simple church with a floor plan in the shape of a cross. In 1878, under the direction of G G Scott, the two side aisles were added and the chancel was created. The tower with its clock and bells was added in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee. The lychgate was built in 1884 – if you’re passing, why not pause and read what is written on it? The photo below shows how little its exterior has changed in recent years. It’s also worth taking time when you’re in the church to look at the stained glass windows (most of which are events recorded in the New Testament); the reredos (i.e. the panel above the altar) and the unusual sgraffito (scratched decoration) high on the internal walls.
As for St Michael, he is the patron saint, not only of Brereton, but also of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police, firefighters and paramedics. Interestingly he’s also the patron saint of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Toronto, Kiev and many other places.
The national importance of St Michael’s Church is recognised by its being a listed building under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
Tim Jones chairs the Brereton and Ravenhill Heritage Committee
Sir George Gilbert Scott was the architect for many fine buildings including the Albert Memorial; the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; the Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras Station; St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow; the main building of the University of Glasgow; St Mary's Cathedral; Edinburgh and King's College London Chapel.
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Private Chapel of Rest 116 Netherstowe, Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 6TS
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36 Main Street, Alrewas, Burton Upon Trent. DE13 7AA
Cannock Women’s Institute
A voluntary ladies community group, Cannock W.I. meet on the second Thursday of the month at 10.30am in St. Luke's Church Hall, Cannock. Meetings will usually include a speaker or demonstrator. W.I. provides educational opportunities, and the chance to try and develop new skills and crafts. A link with Staffordshire Federation provides further activities like craft fairs and quizzes. Guests and prospective new members are always welcome. For further information contact The President on 01543 271617 or www.thewi.org.uk/staffordshire
Pupils achieve above national levels
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leven-year-olds in Staffordshire are achieving above national levels when it comes to their attainment at Key Stage 2. Results show local pupils are attaining above the national average in all areas, meaning they are setting themselves up for more exam success in the future. The revised exams implemented from 2016, designed to measure pupils’ abilities in reading, writing and maths, are more challenging in an effort to raise standards in primary schools. Results show that nearly 63% of children in Staffordshire have achieved the expected standard 100 score in reading, writing and maths combined, exceeding the national figure of 61%. Individual results also show Staffordshire pupils have attained above the national average in reading, writing and maths. Reading is at over 73% compared to 71% nationally, with maths at nearly 76% compared to 75% nationally. In writing, which is assessed in school, nearly 78% of pupils met the expected standard which is again above the national average of 76%.
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A Window on the Past
Hagley Hall
By The Landor Society
Here, The Landor Society looks at the history of Hagley Hall, that stood in Rugeley until the late 20th century. Hagley Hall, originally known as Bank Top, was built in the early 1600s for Sir Ralph Weston. One hundred years later it was bought by Mrs Anne Lane and then passed to her son-in-law, the Jacobite Warren Faulkner. In 1753, Assheton Curzon (afterwards Viscount Curzon) bought the property and lived there for many years. The already large house (it was taxed for 15 hearths in 1666) was remodelled and greatly extended by Assheton Curzon who also improved the grounds and built a high wall round the park. Further alterations to the east side of the house were made in the early 19th century. After passing through various hands a large part of the building was demolished in about 1932. The remaining portion was bought during World War ll by Mr C. J. Whieldon. He sold it to Rugeley Urban District Council in 1967 when it was used as an Arts Centre, which was frequently vandalised. After standing empty for some years it was finally demolished in 1985. 1. An early 19th century engraving of the east front 2. The west front in the late 19th century 3. The interior in the late 1960s
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4. A wrought-iron bridge over the Rising Brook 5. Lake in the grounds of Hagley Hall built as a fishing pond by William Harrison c 1870 6. In the mid 1980s this was all that was left of the octagonal drawing room designed by James Wyatt in 1771 for Assheton Curzon 7. The caves, whose purpose remains a mystery. The series of underground chambers were listed in 1991 as - Grotto, c. late 18th century 8. The Hall just before it was demolished in 1985. The porch with sandstone pillars was brought to Hagley from Abbots Bromley by Mr C. J. Whieldon
The Landor Society is a focus for those who wish to learn more about the history of Rugeley and its surrounding parishes. It was founded in 1953 and was named in honour of Walter Noble Landor, local and county historian, who became the Society’s first President. More information is available at www.landorlocalhistorysociety-rugeley.btck.co.uk Please note that these images may not be reproduced, copied, or used in any way without express permission from Citylife in Lichfield Ltd and The Landor Society.
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If music is the food of love...
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By Richard Winterton of Richard Winterton Auctioneers
or many years music of all types has been performed and recorded. Most of those recordings were pressed and sold in small numbers, but many sold in their millions. Over the years technology has moved on and music has been pressed on many different formats from a wax cylinder through to today's downloads – often our mobile phone holds nearly as many songs as a warehouse full of vinyl LPs. Many people have fond memories of the very first record that they bought, or the first time they heard a certain track - who they were with, where they were, who they were dancing with. I think we all have a story or two to tell about moments and memories involving music. Music has the uncanny ability to take us back in time. It’s this that gives music such a connection with the collector. Music is also a very tactile thing to collect. Enjoying the sleeve artwork, reading the sleeve notes and booklet, and turning the disc over in your hands is an interactive experience that simply downloading music doesn’t give you.
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Although most of the LPs, singles and 78s that are sold at auction are sold to collectors and retailers there are many instances where people are buying back music that has a special relevance to them – special memories contained in one small 12 inch disc in a cardboard cover. Why not have a look online or pop into one of our sales to see if one of our lots hold one of those memories. The sale of vinyl and acetate discs is a growing market. There are instances where misprinted records have sold for thousands of pounds for individual items, so they don't have to be perfect to have value - in fact an oddity can have more value than its perfect counterpart. When I was a lot younger I remember buying a certain single from a small record store, and the disappointment on returning home to find both sides of this 7" single played the same song. As most of us would, I returned the item back to the store boy am I kicking myself now, that single in today's market is worth around £5000 in mint condition. It isn't just high value individual records that are sold in Auction, we also sell a box or two, or massive collections. The last
large collection realised over £7000. None of these lots were individual items. They were assessed and grouped into types and artists such as Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, heavy rock, folk, jazz etc. Some of these lots made over £300. So if your attic holds a box or two or your spare room is bursting at the seams with vinyl, let us have a look and see if we can turn it into a little bit or a lot of cash. Alongside the resurgence of vinyl, there’s also a growth in interest in vintage Hi-Fi equipment. Our last Music Collectables sale had numerous items manufactured by Bang and Olufsen, Dansette, Hacker and Linn among other names from the 1960s, 70s and 80s, along with gramophones by HMV, Columbia etc from earlier times. Our Specialist Sales also carry great quality radiograms, gramophones, vintage turntables and Hi-Fis as well as records and C.Ds for all tastes. Free Valuation Every Tuesday 9.30am till 4pm with Stuart Hay at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, Lichfield, WS13 8NF.
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Getting Back to Nature at The Wolseley Centre
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By Joss Musgrove Knibb
rom seeing the bright blue flash of a kingfisher to spotting a tiny bank vole, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s headquarters – The Wolseley Centre near Rugeley, is one of the county’s real hidden gems and a perfect place to see an array of wildlife. The headquarters, set amongst 26 acres of beautiful grounds, has been the Trust’s home since 2003. It is full of interesting features and wildlife-friendly habitats. Here, editor Joss Musgrove Knibb chats to Jon Owen of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust about this natural gem.
J.M.K: How was the Wolseley Centre created? J.O: The centre started life as a derelict stable block, but following a generous offer from local developer Adrian Seabridge and two substantial donations, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust began work to transform it into their new HQ. Work began in earnest in the summer of 2002, and the newly refurbished building was officially opened by former Wildlife Trust president David Bellamy and Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire Sir James Hawley in June 2003.
J.M.K: What habitats do you have? J.O: The centre’s 26 acres of grounds holds a wonderful selection of habitats including three lakes; a sensory garden; The Fernery; Park Bank (meadow grassland); woodland; wet meadowland; dry stone walls; a variety of trees and of course the River Trent.
J.M.K: Are there opportunities for ‘wildlife watching’? J.O: The boardwalk offers plenty of opportunities for wildlife watching and is one of the most popular features for visitors. It crosses over a lush marshland area (great for dragonfly spotting) and winds around a tranquil pool which is home to many ducks, swans and frogs. There are also many natural sculptures and willow creations to search for in the leafy undergrowth around the site, and plenty of benches if you want to sit and enjoy the tranquillity. The Wolseley Centre is a place where you can visit and discover lots of different wildlife habitats, including peaceful woodlands, a colourful hay meadow, tranquil lakes and lush wet meadows. And, if you’re lucky, you might even spot one of the bright blue kingfishers flying along the River Trent right by the Wolseley Centre. They really are a sight to behold.
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J.M.K: What bird species have made the centre home? J.O: We have Reed Buntings in the wet meadow area and Reed Warblers in the reedbeds. They are mostly attracted by suitable sites for nesting - Reed Bunting in the rush tussocks and Reed Warbler in the reedbeds themselves. We also have Starlings nesting in the large old trees in the open lawn area on the driveway - these are RedListed as a breeding species and need old woodpecker holes in trees or building cavities for nest sites plus open short-sward grassy areas for foraging. Other examples of birds that are breeding here include Nuthatch, Blue and Great Tit in our nestboxes and Song Thrush, Bullfinch, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Garden Warbler in the scrub areas and hedges. Also Moorhen, Coot and Mute Swan on the lakes. We are very lucky to be home to lots of bats plus rare insects such as the Goldenbloomed Longhorn beetle which was spotted very recently.
J.M.K: How do you work to maintain and improve the habitats? J.O: Volunteers have played a huge part in making the Wolseley Centre into the place it is today — and many have been helping Staffordshire Wildlife Trust for a decade or longer. The Wolseley volunteer group meet up once a week and have undertaken a huge variety of tasks. To find out how to volunteer just go to www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/volunteer
J.M.K: Do you run wildlife events? J.O: The charity (Staffordshire Wildlife Trust) holds dozens of events throughout the year, including plenty at its Wolseley Centre home, as well as regular sessions for children and families to engage with nature. Events throughout the year range from Wildlife Fairs to peaceful guided walks across the grounds. The centre is a photographer’s paradise. Many photographers can be seen on the boardwalk near the River Trent attempting to get the perfect shot of one of the beautiful kingfishers. It’s the perfect place for a picnic or day out with the family. Youngsters are more than catered for with the centre’s Play Trail – which includes a welly splash bridge (also fun for adults!), musical sculptures, rocks, logs and trees to explore. There’s even a gift shop at the centre so children and adults alike can take home a souvenir of their visit.
In total, over one million people have been to the Wolseley Centre since it opened in 2003. And the Trust has exciting plans to make it an even better place to visit in the years to come.
For more information on your visit, head to www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/wolseley-centre or call the centre on 01889 880100. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, The Wolseley Centre, ST17 0WT.
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Old Cank By The Landor Society
‘Old Cank’, or ‘Old Cannock’ was a leaden statue of a River God that used to reside on a bridge over the Rising Brook in the grounds of Hagley Hall. On some maps this is shown as ‘Father Cannock Bridge’. He was regarded by some as the ‘river god’ of the several brooklets on Cannock Chase which used to feed the Rising Brook until many were drained dry by the pumping of South Staffordshire Waterworks.
The statue was probably brought to Hagley by Assheton Curzon after he acquired the property 1753, because it is similar to other leaden statues which landed gentry erected in their gardens in the 18th century. In 1830 the eighteen-year-old Edward Wilson Landor wrote the following lines when he was living with his uncle. Walter Landor, a Rugeley solicitor. By Cannock’s waters, swift and clear. Old Cannock’s self I found, The lenient hand of many a year Has clasped his temples round; All on the water’s edge he lay, The monarch of the deep, The dashing of the tuneful spray Had lulled his soul to sleep.
Lord of the Seven Streams that vow Their homage at thy throne! Why dost thou slumber idly now Upon they bed of stone?
When lo! The stranger’s impious hand Has cropped thy regal toes! And yet, magnanimous and bland. Thou smilest on thy woes!
‘Tis thus the little ever prey On him, who nobly scorns To sweep their gnat – like strength away And crush their insect horns. Robert Curzon (later 14th Lord Zouche) wrote in 1864 that: “Old Cannock was a leaden statue, much larger than life, being cast from the antique, and a very fine thing in its way. It was placed upon a bridge, over two waterfalls which Lord Curzon had improved into weirs, down which the water poured quite flat and even, without even making a ripple.”
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Lady de la Zouche, the widow of the Hon. Robert Curzon of Hagley, removed the statue to her seat at *Parham House in Sussex when the Hagley estate was sold in 1864, after the death of her husband. There ‘Old Cank’ remains, with, nearby, a summer house called ‘Cannock House’. * Parham House and gardens are open to the public.
My Month in Parliament
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By Amanda Milling MP
hat would normally be a busy period in Parliament with a Queen’s Speech and lots of new bills to scrutinise turned into a very busy General Election campaign. So, as opposed to running all over Parliament, I was running all over Cannock Chase, knocking on doors and delivering leaflets. During these very busy few weeks I spoke to thousands of voters and it was a great change to spend more time talking to local people, instead of other MPs. I am humbled to have been re-elected and I would like to thank everyone who voted for me for their support. Regardless of who you voted for I am here to serve everyone in Cannock Chase. I will work hard to ensure the trust placed in me is rewarded and I will redouble my efforts to make sure Cannock Chase’s voice is heard loud and clear in Parliament. Unfortunately the General Election was overshadowed by two awful events. A terrorist attack in Manchester and a second one in London. These awful attacks shocked us all and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. As always, the people of our great country rally together when disaster happens and terrorists should realise that we don’t give up or stand idly by. The emergency services’ response to the incidents were swift and they again threw themselves in harm’s way to protect the public. Since the election I have been very busy settling back into Parliament and have spoken on several occasions already, on topics including town centres, broadband access and the regeneration of our area, including Rugeley. As always if you have any issue or queries you need my help with, please call me on 01543 877142 or email amanda.milling.mp@parliament.uk.
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Your Image Competition
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calling all photographers and artists!
ver the coming months, we’d like to see your photographs, drawings and paintings of Cannock Chase and the surrounding area. Each month we’ll publish a new selection of the work received, and the final winning image (announced in the June 2018 issue) will receive a £100 prize and ‘Your Image’ Trophy. For terms and conditions see page 34. The competition is open to all ages. Photographs, paintings and drawings should be of Cannock Chase and the surrounding area and countryside. Please note that you should own the copyright to
Stag at Slitting Mill by Keith Marriott
Rugeley Market Hall “the fruit stall was run by John and Rosa Moorcroft for almost fifty years.” An original painting by John Hewitt
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any image that you send in and the image should be your own work. If sending in a photograph, please make sure that you have permission to submit the image from any individual who may be pictured in your work, and also appropriate permissions if the photograph was taken on private property. To enter, email your images to citylifecompetitions@gmail.com or post them to Your Image Competition, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS. Apologies but we cannot return images sent to us, so if submitting a drawing or painting you may want to send us photographs of your work rather than original artwork.
Stafford sky by Ross Harvey
The top of Etching Hill, looking towards the Chase by Sian Brockhurst
Copyright of these images remains with the creators and Citylife in Lichfield Ltd and they may not be reproduced by any unauthorised individual or organisation.
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Your Image Competition
Cont...
Along the canal, Armitage Road, Rugeley by Leslie Grindey
“Monkey Row” An original painting by John Hewitt
The Chase by Leslie Grindey
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A frosty morning looking over the fields towards Kings Bromley - by Tim Wigley
Elmore Park on a cold winter day – original painting by Kim Hamilton
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Colton House Colton House is set in the beautiful village of Colton, and was built in high Georgian style in the early 18th century. Since then it has been home to politicians, scientists and some of the most important personalities of their day. Today, the house is a multi-award-winning bed and breakfast with a difference, combining the luxury and style of a grand country house with the comfort and friendliness of a boutique bed and breakfast. Colton House is set in idyllic gardens, and seems a world away from the hustle and bustle of modern life, but is in fact only a short drive away from theme parks, the great cities of Staffordshire and the Midlands, and the beauty of Cannock Chase and the surrounding countryside.
With only 11 bedrooms, you can rest assured that you’ll receive a friendly and personal service during your stay. Each of the bedrooms is individually designed to reflect a ‘country house’ style, and all have en-suite facilities. From grand fourposter beds to contemporary king-sized comfort, family spaces and unique attic rooms, Colton House is the perfect combination of luxury and comfort. All guests enjoy freshly-prepared and award-winning breakfasts which use locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.
comfortable conference rooms all have stunning views of the gardens, and each seat approximately 30 guests. Colton House is a beautiful venue for one-to-one meetings, large company conferences or even corporate team building events in a quiet and peaceful setting in rural Staffordshire.
If you’re looking for somewhere inspirational to hold a business meeting or company conference, then Colton House is just what you need. Our
Colton House can be found at Colton, near Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 3LL.
We look forward to welcoming you to Colton House! For more information or to book call 01889 578 580 or email mail@coltonhouse.com More information is also available at www.coltonhouse.com
A new home for Brandy? By Rugeley Welfare for Dogs
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Could you offer a new home to Brandy? Brandy is an eight year old female red ‘staffy’, who is fine with people and some dogs, but not so good with cats. Brandy was a much loved pet but her life took a change when her owner was made homeless. She is currently living in a friend’s garden. Her owner and friends have reached out to everyone they know to try to find a place for Brandy, but without any luck. Now Brandy’s owner has turned to Rugeley Welfare for Dogs for help. Could you give this girl a home? A home check will be required. For more information contact Rugeley Welfare for Dogs via Facebook, call 07900 090 993 / 07971 817 877 or go to rugeleywelfarefordogs.co.uk.
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Plans for new memorial to Rifle Brigade A new memorial to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (NZRB) and their role in the Great War could be dedicated on Cannock Chase if a crowd funding project is successful. The project is being led by the Friends of Cannock Chase in partnership with Staffordshire County Council and is offering organisations and individuals the chance to be involved and help crowd-fund the costs of designing, building and installing the memorial. The estimated cost of the project is £12,500, with £1,000 already secured from the New Zealand Government. People can find out more about the project and donate at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/in-the-footsteps From 1915 to 1918 the military training camps on Cannock Chase trained over half a million men for the trenches from across the United Kingdom and abroad including
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soldiers from New Zealand. It was here that men would have spent time learning the skills required on the Western Front. It was also on Cannock Chase that men from the NZRB built an intricate scaled model of the battlefield at Messines which was used to train troops and was excavated and recorded by archaeologists in 2013. Ngā Tapuwae Memorials in Gallipoli, Belgium and France already pay tribute to those brave New Zealanders who lost their lives. Now, 100 years after the arrival of the brigade on Cannock Chase, the memorial at the Marquis Drive Visitor Centre would also pay tribute. Ngā Tapuwae means ‘In the footsteps’ in the Maori language. The project is being supported by Cannock Chase District Council, Cannock Chase Area of Natural Beauty (AONB) Unit, The Chase Project, Friends of Cannock Chase and Historic England.
Changing the World – One Cup at a Time
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t can be surprising how much changing the little things can make a difference. We have become more aware of using ‘bags for life’ instead of plastic ones and taking walks for shorter journeys instead of using the car - but what about the difference an everyday household object can make? Here at Lichfield Cathedral we are passionate supporters of Fair Trade, ethical produce and buying locally. We strive to stock a wide selection of products that help to support the environment. Our Eco Coffee Cups embody this ethos. Every year 100 billion single-use disposable cups end up as landfill. It is hard to imagine that many cups simply being thrown away. Most plastic cups are not biodegradable, therefore dumping them pollutes both land and water. Plastic destroys the quality of soil by preventing proper absorption of water and minerals and it cannot be
decomposed by microorganisms. Plastic is also very harmful to terrestrial and aquatic animals since those foreign materials put them at risk of ingesting a harmful substance or losing their life through suffocation. Burning plastic can be just as detrimental to the environment too as this causes the plastic to release harmful fumes and toxic gases like carbon monoxide into the environment. Even recycling plastic requires the use of huge amounts of energy. We were thrilled when we discovered Eco Coffee Cups. They are not made from plastic, ceramic or stainless steel but from one of the fastest growing and most sustainable resources on the planet; naturally organic and sterile bamboo fibre. They are light, bright and beautiful to drink from as they come in a variety of pretty designs including our limited edition William Morris collection. They are available in both 140 oz and 120 oz sizes and can be used for many drinks other than coffee. It is amazing the difference one small cup can make and shows just how much the little things matter. For more information please contact us on 01543 306150 or visit our Facebook page @TheShopatNo.9.
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Rugeley & District Lions Club By Peter Fielding
t’s been another busy period. We attended Rugeley Charter Fair and took part in the Parade. The Fair was well set out and we had a good day with the weather playing a good part. The following weekend members of the Club volunteered to help out at the Staffordshire Ironman competition, this being part of our service ethic. We emphasise that we assisted, not took part! The Friday after saw us at Weston Park setting up our pitch for the weekend MFest 300 Festival. Saturday turned out a fine day with a good crowd and we did well with our tombola with lion related prizes – Lions Club International celebrating 100 years. In the evening members adjourned to a local Indian Restaurant for sustenance then it was back to the park to watch an Abba Tribute and then a musical firework display which was truly magnificent. The next morning we returned to Weston Park but, unfortunately, the weather wasn’t brilliant with squally showers affecting the footflow. However, the overall result was that we took over £1000 on the two days which was a great success for us. On the 30th June the Club celebrated its 25th anniversary by having a dinner dance with members, their partners and friends and other clubs at Ingestre Hall Golf Club. On Sunday we went down to the river in the town centre and were joined by members of Staffordshire Search and Rescue Team to clean the river up ready for the Duck Race. The Duck Race was held on Saturday 8th July, and with fine weather we had a thoroughly good day, once again with the help from our friends from SSART. The winners of the race were Emma Bailey of Burntwood, M. Morgan of Darlaston and Dawn Hopley from Hednesford. All winners have been notified. The Corporate race was won by Fierro Garage and the public decided that the Best Dressed Duck was from Lachmere Fashions. Thanks to everyone for their support. We shall be present at Brereton Carnival and we will be manning the
car park at the Cannock Motocross event. And then we rest... If you would like to come along and join in with us to see exactly what we do (and how we do it!) we can be contacted via Facebook or our e-mail address at randdlions@hotmail.com You are assured a warm welcome.
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