Citylife in Rugeley April 2017 by Citylife In Lichfield

April 2017 12 26

Inside...

11 Win a Bennet Bunny

The perfect Easter treat for chocoholics! 12 A Window on the Past

Sunday School & the Congregationalists. 20 Looking for Rugeley’s Cutest Pet

Is your pet Rugeley’s cutest?

26 Beautiful Spaces Indoor and Out

Spring home and garden inspiration. 32 Rugeley’s First Responders

By Joss Musgrove Knibb.

Welcome to CITYLIFE

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!

CITYLIFE Contacts Editor - Joss Musgrove Knibb 07833 735048

josscitylife@gmail.com

Advertising-

Steve Brown 07740 166497 stevebrowncitylife@gmail.com Rebecca Hill 07970 513144 rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com Karen Fudger 07909 694286 karencitylife@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.

Win a Bennet Bunny!

erfect for all true chocaholics, or people who like to share â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bennet Bunny is 900g of delicious Swiss chocolate. Standing at 32.5cms tall, this is a big bunny! To be in with a chance of winning an M&S Bennet Bunny, look through our pages and spot the ten little Easter eggs hidden in this issue. To enter send your name and contact details plus the page numbers where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve found all ten eggs to Citylife Bunny Competition, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS or email josscitylife@gmail.com by the competition closing date of Monday 10th April. The winner will have the bunny delivered to their door in time for Easter. One entry per household please, duplicates will be disqualified. For full terms and conditions see page 34.

Rugeley this Easter

By Revd Dr David M A Evans

ome might remember the December issue of Citylife in which I wrote about the Stable Trail – an event that led visitors through the events of the Christmas story. It was attended by nearly one hundred families and was a great success. In the Church year, Easter is the other major event that points to the ultimate significance of the arrival of Jesus at Christmas. And, yes, you’ve guessed it, we will be running the Easter Trail! Easter Trail will take place at St Michael’s Church in Brereton on Saturday April 1st from 10am to 1pm. It will be a chance to enter into the different scenes from the Easter story. Again, lots of volunteers acting the parts – huge fun! Our churches will be busy working with the local schools in the run up to Easter, holding special services and working with teachers to unpack the meaning of the Easter message for all people in our day. Holy Week is the week between Palm Sunday on April 9th and Easter Day itself on 16th April. All the local churches will be having their Palm Sunday services which are often preceded by a short procession, reliving the time when Jesus was given a hugely enthusiastic welcome as he arrived in Jerusalem at the start of the final week of his life. Maundy Thursday includes the very moving and poignant foot washing, re-enacting the moment when Jesus symbolically demonstrated to his followers the kind of humility good leadership demands – a willingness to wash the feet of people – bear in mind the heat and dustiness of the Holy Land! It is probably the busiest week of any vicar’s year! One of the high spots will be the Churches

Together open air service in Brook Square, Rugeley at 11am on Good Friday (April 14th). Lots of people, lots of singing and the Lea Hall Brass Band companying the singing of the traditional Easter hymns. We are very fortunate to have a really strong relationships between the different church leaders and we love any excuse to work together!

The core message of Easter is that love is stronger than separation, intolerance hatred and ultimately even death. We belong together. We share far more in common than separates us. In an age in which people are suspicious of people who are different, the poet Longfellow said words to the effect that ‘My enemy is the person whose story I have not yet heard’, which complements what Jesus was saying when he said ‘love your enemies’.

Easter Services in Brereton and Rugeley:

Good Friday 14th April. Public service of witness, 11am Brook Square, Rugeley led by Churches Together St Augustine’s, Rugeley. Holy Saturday April 15th at 8pm: a Parish-wide Easter celebration – the lighting of the Easter fire, a vigil, the renewal of baptismal vows and the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. St Augustine’s, Easter Sunday morning service is at 10.30am, St Michael’s, Brereton at 9.30am, Church of the Holy Spirit, Etching Hill at 10am, Church of the Good Shepherd, Peartree Estate at 11am and St John’s, Slitting Mill at 9am. Throughout Holy Week the churches will have various special services details of which can be found at www.breretonandrugeleyparish.co.uk Victory Church, Rugeley: Easter Sunday 15th April 10.30am “The Day that Changed the World!” St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church Good Friday Solemn Liturgy of the Passion 3pm Holy Saturday Vigil Mass of the Resurrection 7pm. Rugeley Community Church (Rugeley Community Centre, Burnthill Lane, WS15 2HX): Easter Saturday Family Fun Time 2pm – 4pm; Easter Sunday 10am-12pm. St Paul's Methodist/ United Reformed Church, Lichfield Street, Rugeley WS15 2EH: Easter Sunday 11am and 6.00pm. St John the Baptist, Armitage Good Friday at 7pm a united service with Handsacre Methodist Church at St John’s. Easter Sunday morning at 10.30am. Revd Dr David M A Evans is Team Rector, Brereton & Rugeley Church of England Team Ministry, Lichfield Diocese.

01543 416412

Snapping Up Value with Cameras and Accessories

By Richard Winterton, Director at Richard Winterton Auctioneers

rom the humble beginnings of the Pin Hole Camera to the modern day Digital Full Format Cameras, these amazing devices have recorded images and memories for millions of people. From the first snap of your child’s first moments to the iconic images generated by the lenses of professionals, photographs can instil so many emotions. The Leica camera was the mainstay device used by the greatest photographers of the 1930s and 1940s, and the Leica III camera in the hands of these artists has ‘snapped’ arresting images from the D-Day Landings to the Nagasaki Atomic Bombings. The Leica III was the first usable camera with a range finder, 35mm enclosed film (for quick change) and interchangeable lenses to bring the distant to the foreground, and the near into sharpness and definition. For this reason cameras and lenses like these will adorn any camera buff’s collection, and accessories and lenses are also highly sought-after. We recently sold a Leica IIIa camera, which alone had a moderate value of £200 to £250, but with the addition of a rare lens with a very small aperture size forced the auction price up to £4,500. This is a great example of rare accessories having a greater value than the main item. It isn’t just Leica cameras and lenses that have high values at auction. We have also had great results with Hassleblad and Bromica, as well as modern and more well-known names in the photographic field such as Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Mamiya. At Richard Winterton Auctioneers, we assess and research any item of photographic equipment from individual cameras to large collections, from older film cameras to modern digital cameras. We have in recent years sold large collections of older photographic

and cinematic equipment and even though there wasn’t much value in individual items the whole collection still made over £3,000. The same can be said for the more modern collections. One collection of film and digital SLR cameras, lenses, flashes, tripods and other accessories made £10,000. Although an individual camera in most instances will have some sort of value at auction, invariably it’s the lenses and accessories that will carry a greater value in both vintage and modern collections. A small collection of photographic equipment that came to us from one of our house clearances that included a Canon Digital camera with its stock lens made a reasonable price of £120, but the rest of the lenses made the fantastic amount of £3,600. Notably one telephoto lens made over £2,500 alone, so it always pays to accessorise! So let’s all have a root around in our attics, garages and sheds. They might be hiding enough money to take you and your family away on a lovely holiday or it might just buy you a nice meal. You never know until you bring it along to our valuation days for us to take a look at.

Please call or come along to The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, WS13 8NF, for a Free Valuation Every Tuesday 9.30am to 4pm

Rugeley & District Lions Club

By Peter Fielding

ur Christmas break is now well and truly over and we now start planning for the next few months. We have our successful Duck Race to plan and have set a date of Saturday 8th July in the usual place â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the river at Brook Square. Tickets will be available soon and future articles will give details of when and where they can be purchased. We are still in discussion with Staffordshire Search and Rescue Team to organise a date for our other main fundraiser â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a Lion Hunt on Cannock Chase. This will be set for the latter part of the year, probably September. More details coming up. Before then, we shall be present at the Rugeley Charter Fair which is being held on 10th June on the playing fields at Green Lane. In the meantime we shall be continuing our Service work as and when we get requests from the Public and organising social events. 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. You are assured a warm welcome.

A Window on the Past

Sunday School and the Congregationalists By the Landor Society

Thank you to The Landor Society for sharing with us here the story of the growth and popularity of the Congregational Church in Rugeley. Congregationalism was brought to Rugeley in the 1790s by Samuel Sleigh, a manufacturer of beaver hats, who originated in London.The first services were held in his cottage. By 1811 the number of worshippers was growing and money was raised to build a chapel in Elmore Lane. In 1819 a Sunday School was formed, one of whose objects was to teach children to read. The Sabbath School was so successful, that by 1832 and with 140 members, a separate school was built behind the Chapel. A new church was built at Heron Court in 1874 to replace the by now inadequate Elmore Lane Chapel; and in 1896 a new Sunday School was erected. In 1972 the Presbyterian Church of England united with the Congregational Church and so Heron Court became known as Rugeley United Reformed Church. The next year severe problems were discovered with the church building and morning services were transferred to the Sunday School hall and the congregational joined the Methodists at St Paul’s Church for the evening services. The two Churches eventually agreed to unite on 18th January 1976. The Heron Court church buildings were demolished in 1980.

1. Samuel Sleigh’s cottage in Brereton Road, near the entrance to Newman Grove.

2. Providence Chapel in Elmore Lane, later converted into two cottages. Image reproduced from photo by Mr Teall.

3. Inscription on the Communion Chalice from the Elmore Lane Chapel. 4. The Heron Court Church seen through the gates with the Sunday School buildings on the left.

5. The 1909 Sunday School outing to Seven Springs setting off from the Bryans Lane canal wharf. 6. The programme for the service in 1924 celebrating 150 years.

7. During the 1920s and 1930s Heron Court held a ‘Musical Service’ on the evening of Good Friday.

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.landor-localhistorysociety-rugeley.btck.co.uk

Continued on page 14

MP calls for debate on illegal waste.

manda Milling MP has called for a Parliamentary debate on the issue of illegal waste. In a recent debate she called on the government to set aside time in Parliament to debate the issue of illegal waste sites and fly tipping, following her calls to review and tighten environmental laws. Citing local residents' experience as 'horrendous', the MP has been seeking a review of regulations, enforcement action and the introduction and implementation of stricter penalties following the fire at the illegal waste site in Slitting Mill. With illegal waste dumping becoming an increasing problem nationally, as well as in Staffordshire, the Cannock Chase MP believes it is time for the government, the Environment Agency and local authorities to step up action to tackle the issue. Staffordshire has seen two large fires at illegal waste sites in recent months. The first was the fire at a farm in Slitting Mill which saw 1,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste burn, taking over two weeks for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue to bring it under control. The waste was then capped with soil but continues to burn underneath the stack six months on. More recently there was a fire at Milton, Stoke-onTrent, centred on a building containing 1,500

tonnes of recycled plastics. According to the Environment Agency, the company, Hanbury Plastics Recycling (Stoke) Ltd, did not have an environmental permit and had been issued with legal notices to clear waste plastics. Fly-tipping has also been well documented and publicised recently and is causing much local concern with 471 cases of fly-tipping in Cannock Chase last year, according to figures released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Amanda Milling commented: “The Slitting Mill fire was horrendous for local residents and the cost of managing it has been a significant pressure for the fire service. Six months on it is still burning underneath the soil cap and continues to emit smoke. I want to see local authorities and agencies to make sure they are using all of their powers to tackle illegal waste dumping and where it is required legislation tightened to make it harder for such sites to spring up. Illegal waste sites are a problem in Staffordshire and present a real fire risk, but we are not alone, this is an increasing issue nationally and a significant cost to the tax-payer. “Illegal waste sites are just one part of the problem, fly-tipping is just as serious and can result in rural roads, industrial estates and many other places becoming a dumping ground for

irresponsible individuals. We need to step up moves to address these issues. On the one hand we need to make sure legalisation is tightened but we also need to ensure locally the laws are used." Amanda has been working with Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service and other agencies to learn lessons from the incident at Slitting Mill, adding: "The fire at Slitting Mill highlighted numerous issues. The fire should never have happened in the first place, begging questions as to whether agencies were being sufficiently robust in dealing with the illegal waste dumping in the first instance and previous fines clearly hadn't acted as a deterrent. When the fire did occur it was clear that the Fire Service were limited in what they could do as there were conflicting priorities from the other various agencies involved. We need to learn lessons from this in terms of ensuring a co-ordinated, effective and efficient response. This is one of the many issues that I have been working on with the Fire Service, other agencies and government ministers over the last few months.” The MP is currently seeking to secure a debate in Parliament to raise the profile of the problem and urge on Ministers to review policy.

Cannock W.I. Goes Green

wo teams comprising of eight members of Cannock W.I. attended the annual Staffordshire Women’s Institute Quiz at Stafford County Showground. In all there were 90 teams from W.I.s across the region; and although Cannock didn’t win they did hold their heads high with an acceptable score of 79.5 out of 100. The evening was themed to raise awareness of the things we love which may be affected by climate change - so ladies wore green clothing, green hearts, decorated their tables with all things green, and even ate green food. Cannock team members had made green felt heart brooches which they wore on the evening and also at their “Show the Love” themed meeting the previous week. The National W.I. campaign is encouraging women to

raise awareness of the impact climate change could have on the environment we love; and to lobby M.Ps to take action on climate change. Cannock members are participating by making small but significant changes in their lifestyles: examples include planting pollen rich flowers to assist bees; turning off lights to reduce energy; growing oak trees from acorns; and recycling. The green heart badges can promote conversations on what we all can do to raise awareness of all we love and do not want to lose to climate change. W.I. meets on the second Thursday of the month at St Luke’s Church Hall Cannock at 10am. Further information from The President on 01889 582632 and www.thewi.org.uk/staffordshire

Mary Lindop’s Diary of Daily Life

By June Pickerill

r Thomas Lindop was, in the 1840s, a butcher, with a shop next-door to The Crown in Cannock. Mary Lindop’s diary (written by Thomas Lindop’s daughter) reveals the type of business carried out by him in Rugeley during that time. On 21st April, 1840 ‘Father went to Rugeley Fair’ and on 6th June 1840 he ‘Bought 9 sheep of Mr Masfin from Rugeley Fair and killed one’.

Rugeley’s Horse Fair business was apparently ‘flat’, with poor attendance of London and country dealers and first class horses not numerous, although the best belonged to Joseph Boulton of Castle Church and Mr Mann of Marston Hill, near to this town.

The Talbot Arms Inn was later renamed ‘The Shrewsbury Arms’ and is now the ‘The Shrew’.

In another extract, Mr Wood from Rugeley provided his drill to Thomas Lindop to sow the turnips at Mosswood and Little Wyrley, and twelve months later again on 21st April 1841 ‘Fetched the beef from Rugeley Father did’.

Rugeley’s Annual Cattle Show was held on 5th December 1840 in the spacious yard at the Talbot Arms Inn at 10 o’clock. The dairy states that ‘The Annual Dinner to commemorate the 11th Anniversary of its establishment will take place after the show. Jame O. Oldham Esq of Bellamore Hall has accepted an invitation to preside on the occasion. From the increasing interest taken in this cattle show, it is expected that the attendance will be both numerous and respectable’.

Extracts are from the daily diary for 1840/41 published in the book ‘Butchers, Bakers and Bonnet Makers written by June Pickerill, who is a member of The Landor Society. To obtain a copy telephone 01543 422733 (price £10).

Peace of Mind – Protecting your Property

By Richard Wells, Partner at Philips Legal Solicitors e spend our lives working to provide for ourselves Property Protection Trusts and our loved ones. You may have a house or flat,

shares, savings, investments as well as your personal possessions. All of these assets are your ‘estate’. Making a Will ensures that when you die your estate is shared according to your wishes. It’s never too early to plan ahead for the future, everyone should have a Will, but it is even more important if you have children, you own property or have savings, investments, insurance policies or you own a business.

A Will is a legal document that sets out your wishes regarding the distribution of your property and the care of any minor children. We are regularly asked what additional steps can be made to further protect assets for future beneficiaries, for example if a spouse or partner remarries or from long term care fees.

Philips Legal Solicitors is a Lichfield-based, family run, law firm. My colleague, solicitor Rebecca Hill, is head of private client. She works with clients who are looking to put their affairs in order for peace of mind in later life.

A Property Protection Trust is structured to help couples protect their share of the home from assessment by the local authority for long term residential care costs and to ensure that their share in the property passes to their intended beneficiaries after first death. The half share of the family home belonging to the first person to pass away, passes into the Trust. This type of trust is known as a Life Interest Trust in favour of the survivor which means that they can benefit from the share of the house in the trust during his/her lifetime and on their death the Trust Fund passes to others, usually children of the family.

About Us

Philips Legal Solicitors is a family run firm with offices on St John Street, Lichfield. The firm was established in 2012 and has grown to become one of the leading providers of Estate Planning services, with over 30 members of staff. We run a free drop in service every Wednesday 9.30am to 1pm where we can answer your questions and offer guidance at our offices in Lichfield. To find out more please contact us on 01543 624062 where we would be happy to chat over the phone, make an appointment at our office or arrange a home visit all without obligation. Philips Legal Solicitors, Friary Court, 13 St John Street, Lichfield, WS13 6NU.

Cutest Pet Competition Citylife in Rugeley’s

Cutie of the Month! Congratulations to Sophie and her owner Hayley, who told Citylife: “This is our little family dog Sophie the Sausage. Our little boys love her.”

George - George is a Shih Tzu who is owned by Felicity. He’s shown here playing with his favourite toy. George is “full of mischief!”

Dusty - Dusty’s owner Malcolm told Citylife: “This is Dusty, my 13 week old Maine Coon. He's a sweetie who likes getting into mischief with his sister Mrs Grayson.” 20

e love looking through your pet pics here at Citylife. It’s such a hard job to choose which ones will appear here in our pages. We wish we could print them all! As you know, over the next few months we’re looking for Citylife in Rugeley’s Cutest Pet and we want to see pictures of your dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters – anything goes! Every month we pick a selection and publish them here. The final winner will be selected from all of the images submitted, and this lucky pet and their owner will be the winner of £100 cash prize! The winner will be announced in the July 2017 issue. To enter your pet into the competition, send your pet pics to josscitylife@gmail.com or post them to Citylife in Rugeley Pet Competition, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS. Please clearly mark your entry ‘Citylife in Rugeley’s Cutest Pet’ and tell us a little bit about them. Apologies but we can’t return pictures posted to us. For terms and conditions see page 34.

Lulu- Lulu’s owner Gloria told Citylife: “This is Lulu, a three year old little Cairn Terrier who loves her walks and treats and lying on the bed for a nap.”

Izzie - Izzie is 16 weeks old and owned by Sally

Tia - Tia the cavachon puppy is owned by Ann

Casper - Casper is eight years old and owned by Geoff.

It's Spring At Last!

There's nothing quite like that feeling in the air as winter makes way for spring. Members of Rugeley Phoenix Photography Group have been out and about capturing images of this most beautiful time of year. Rugeley Phoenix Photography Group meets on Monday afternoons at Etching Hill Community Centre, East Butts Road at 1.45pm. Beginners and more experienced photographers are welcome.

1. Tulip in the park by Ann Mayo. 2. Bluebell wood by Ann Mayo. 3. Bluebells by Ann Mayo.

4. Cyclamen by Peter Bell. 5. Spring snowdrops by Peter Bell. 6. Spring crocus by Peter Bell.

Cedar Lodge

By Tim Jones

ne of the b e s t known and finest of Brereton’s buildings is the main part of the Cedar Tree Hotel the three-storey Cedar Lodge, a Regency building with an eighteenthcentury core and wrought-iron balconettes on its front facade. The Earls of Shrewsbury owned it from the 19th century until 1938, when one sold it for £250. It was then an RAC and AA approved restaurant and guesthouse - the Cedar Tree Guesthouse, run by Miss Kathleen Earl until 1938.During the Second World War RAF Officers stayed in it. In 1969 it opened as a hotel with the addition of the banqueting suite to its rear. It’s a listed building and so protected under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. The cedar tree itself is legally protected by a tree preservation order. It may be over 200 years old. Here’s an old photo that may bring back memories.

Tim Jones chairs the Brereton and Ravenhill Heritage Committee.

J HOWELL & DAUGHTERS FUNERAL DIRECTORS LICHFIELD & ALREWAS

NOW LICHFIELD & ALREWAS’S ONLY FAMILY OWNED FUNERAL DIRECTORS 24 hours a day

We are proud to be Lichfield's longest established family run funeral directors offering a wide range of choices to suit all requirements. Horse drawn, non religious ceremonies, floral tributes and memorials are but a few services we offer. Pre-paid funeral plans are also available.

For a truly personal service please call

01543 255776

Private Chapel of Rest 116 Netherstowe, Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 6TS

01283 792923

36 Main Street, Alrewas, Burton Upon Trent. DE13 7AA

Hot Diamonds Pendant Competition

ongratulations to Carrie Williams, winner of a Hot Diamonds Sterling Silver and Diamond Ribbon Bow pendant courtesy of H.S.Johnson. Carrie answered the competition question correctly by giving the answer 'A' - H.S. Johnson can be found on Anson Street, Rugeley.

HOMES & GARDENS

April is the perfect time to plan for the year ahead in your home and garden. If you're considering home renovations, or pondering the perfect plot, here's a little inspiration... Studio Interiors

Bring life to your walls and floors Bring your kitchen to life by choosing your flooring and wall tiles from our extensive range. Our range of tiles will create a unique look for your kitchen, bathroom or any other place in your home which requires tiling. Specialists in design and installation Whether you want a new kitchen or bathroom installed, contact Studio Interiors. As a family run business, we specialise in designing and installing high-quality kitchens and bathrooms

in homes across Rugeley and Staffordshire. Our team of experienced professionals can also provide tiling and flooring solutions. You can depend on us not only for the supply of materials but also to completely manage your project. You can visit our bathroom, kitchen and tile showroom for more details. Studio Interiors, Unit 13, Lea Hall Enterprise Park, Wheelhouse Rd, Rugeley, Staffordshire WS15 1LH, Phone: 01889 578 881 www.studio-interiors.com

HOMES & GARDENS

Beautiful Outdoor Spaces ur gardens are waking up, and you can just feel a hint of summer in the air. No matter how big or small your outdoor space, take a look at these top garden trends 2017 for a little bit of inspiration. Colour and Scent

Big sweeping beds of traditional scented blooms like Phlox, Dianthus, Iris, Sweet William or even Peony add intense colour and an intoxicating scent. For structure experiment with Hydrangea, Gladioli, Foxglove and Lavender - adding drama to any garden (and also attracting bees and other insects).

Monochrome Gardens

All white gardens have been a favourite of grand ‘country house’ gardeners for years, but this planting scheme works just as well in a more compact space, and creates a truly uplifting and tranquil feel.

Paint it Black

Painting sheds, garden offices, walls and fences a deep colour instantly adds interest to your garden, and gives summer blooms a fantastic backdrop. On trend colours this year are dark grey, blue, green and even black!

Outdoor Living

Use garden and patio furniture mixed with fabrics, scatter cushions and accessories to create a relaxing socialising space that’s not just about dining. Fire pits and all kinds of garden heaters are extending the season and garden-friendly LED lighting that can be controlled by your smartphone can turn every garden into a wonderland.

Mix it Up

Add herbs with pleasing foliage to patio planters to enjoy their scent on a warm summer’s evening.

Rugeley Fireplaces

We understand that choosing a new ‘forever fireplace’ can be a daunting process, so at Rugeley Fireplaces we combine years of experience with a friendly and approachable service. Rugeley Fireplaces was established in 1989, giving us the expertise to guide you through the most cost-effective heating solutions, or design your dream ‘wow factor’ statement designer piece to add the finishing touch to your home re-design. Whatever you have in mind we will always strive to meet your needs with utmost professionalism and attention to detail. Rugeley Fireplaces' years of experience in solid fuel, gas and electric fires, stoves and fireplaces allows us to help you visualise your new fireplace or design bespoke pieces at surprisingly good prices. Our reputation for service and quality is outstanding and we are able to keep our prices very competitive because we’ve built up relationships with our suppliers over many years. Rugeley Fireplaces, 41 Albion Street, (Find us at Service Area 10), Rugeley WS15 2BY. Phone: 01889 574022. www.gratefireplaces.net

HOMES & GARDENS

Just Panels

Just Panels have been trading since 2004 and opened their doors in Rugeley town eight years ago. Pop down and see owner Tony Hill and his team for a no-obligation

HOMES & GARDENS

chat, great advice and lots of inspiration in their showroom (free parking available). Just Panels are not only suppliers of the best bathrooms, they can also recommend experienced local fitters who offer very competitive prices. Just Panels stock a great range of everything for your perfect bathroom; including vanity units, full shower enclosures, flooring and paneling. Their ranges of waterproof, low maintenance wall, ceiling and flooring products are available to suit every budget. They're also leading suppliers of decorative panels, showerwall panels, hygienic panels and bathroom cladding online to all parts of the UK, all supplied from their base in Staffordshire. Just Panel's own delivery team and trusted couriers will deliver your orders right to your door. Many items are held in stock at the showroom, and staff will gladly help you load your goods and advise as to any additional items you may need. Just Panels are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday and on Saturdays from 9am till 1pm and can be found at Phoenix House, Market Street, Rugeley, WS15 2JJ. Phone: 01889 576669 or go to www.justpanels.co.uk for more information.

Ralvern Upholstery

Established in 1946, Ralvern Upholstery are a family firm of traditional bespoke fine furniture makers and reupholsterers that pride themselves on customer service, high quality materials and attention to detail. They design and manufacture sofas, chairs and furniture to order and to customers’ specifications. Their handmade furniture is built on the strongest frames and covered in the finest fabrics, creating a sofa, chair or suite that you can be proud of for many years to come. Customers are welcome to visit their Factory Showroom to see the attention to detail that is put into every piece - new or old. Ralvern Upholstery have a background in old-school upholstery methods which gives them the skills to create designs from drawings - either inspired

HOMES & GARDENS

by lifestyle magazines, interior designers, or by a design of your own. Alternatively they can offer an in house design service upon request. Their “Manufacturers Promise” guarantees that they will adhere to the finest build quality. You can be proud to have a Ralvern suite in your home. 19, Martindale, Hawks Green, Cannock, Staffs WS11 7XN. Tel: 01543 505539 email: sales@ralvernupholstery.co.uk, www.ralvernupholstery.co.uk

Craig’s Carpets

Craigs Carpets is run and owned by Craig Knight who has lived in the area all of his life. Craigs Carpets Warehouse, at Canal View Business Park, Rugeley, offers an extensive range of room sized remnants at a fraction of recommended retail price. Craigs Carpets’ buying power means that they can offer quality carpets, vinyls, laminates and rugs at low prices but with the highest customer service. Just pop in to browse the range. There’s free parking and a warm welcome at Craigs Carpets. Craigs Carpets Showroom at 15 Upper

Brook Street, Rugeley, is a onestop-shop for all of your flooring needs. Stocking a comprehensive range of samples and carpets, rugs, vinyls and laminates in contemporary and traditional styles – there’s never any pressure to buy and measuring and quotes are free. Most carpets can be delivered and fitted free of charge, and your old carpet can be taken away and disposed of to make the whole process as hassle free as possible. Stocking a wide range of widths plus ‘soft carpets’, stain-free and wool carpets from trusted names such as Abingdon, Cormar and Crown Carpets (Balta). Craigs Carpets Warehouse can be found at Unit 10, Canal View Business Park, Wheelhouse Road, Rugeley WS15 1UY, Tel: 01889 577277. Craigs Carpets Showroom can be found at 15 Upper Brook Street, Rugeley, WS15 2DP. Tel: 01889 583969.

It's Spring At Last!

Shugborough Estate by Bob Southall

St Michael’s Church Brereton by Bob Southall

Continued

Garden pond Brereton by Bob Southall

St Michael’s Church Brereton by Bob Southall

New Rugeley Roundabout

ork to build a roundabout on a main road to provide access to a housing development starts in March. It will be built on the A51 Lea Hall Way near Rugeley and provide safe access to the housing development on former power station land. The £750,000 scheme, paid for by the housing developer, will see the new roundabout built 400 metres north-west of the existing roundabout junction with Wheelhouse Road. In addition there will be new pavements and cycle paths into the development site, crossing facilities on the roundabout and new signs and lighting. The scheme will take 20 weeks to complete and finish in late July. Throughout the works period there will be a temporary 30mph speed limit and there will be temporary traffic signals in place at times. When Lea Hall Way is resurfaced, the road will need to be closed for two days in May and for one week in July. Closure dates will be displayed closer to the times. Staffordshire County Council’s highways leader Mark Deaville said: “The A51 around Rugeley is a busy route and close to areas seeing significant development. This roundabout will improve access and traffic flow onto the new housing development and should be completed in July. We support continued growth in Staffordshire which does involve improvement to roads and services. We’d urge people to allow extra time for their journeys and thank them in advance for their patience while work is carried out.”

MP Comments on Slitting Mill Fire Injunction

manda Milling, MP for Cannock Chase has commented on the Slitting Mill Fire High Court Injunction: “I welcome the news that Staffordshire County Council have secured a High Court injunction order on the landowner and operator of the Illegal waste site at Slitting Mill, and I hope that we will now see the end to this awful situation. “This news will be welcomed by local residents who have been affected by the fire at Slitting Mill. I have long stated that the clean-up of the site should not be left to the taxpayer and those responsible for this awful situation should foot the cleanup bill. This order means the perpetrators of the illegal waste site will now have to pay the bill for the clean-up and Staffordshire County Council was also awarded costs of £18,000.

“The order, which is permanent, means no waste can be brought onto the site, waste cannot be recycled or burned and the stack cannot be disturbed as it continues to burn. Additionally they cannot remove any waste unless it is being taken to an authorised site. Any breach of the order could result in a fine, assets being seized or imprisonment. “This order sends a clear message to anyone involved in illegal waste sites that the cost and penalties are very serious. I am also pleased that a Staffordshire wide group has been set up to look at the issues around illegal waste and how this can be tackled. “I look forward to the issue being resolved once the waste has cooled down enough to be removed. Hopefully we are close to the end of this long running saga.”

Rugeley’s First Responders

By Joss Musgrove Knibb ecently, I visited Rugeley Fire Station to interview Sean and Fay Cooper who are members of Rugeley and District Community First Responders. Sean (Community First Responder Group Co-ordinator), and Fay (First Responder and trustee for the charity) give us here a snap-shot of the vital work Community First Responders do in the town and local area.

J.M.K: How did the group get started? F.C: We live in Rugeley now but in 2007 I was living on the edge of Rugeley near Cannock Chase and I was quite conscious that, for parents living in that area, there was the possibility of a delay in an emergency situation, and I therefore thought a First Responders scheme would be useful – as a result we were one of the first ‘town’ first responders schemes to set up. Initially I liaised with the Ambulance Service’s Community Response Manager and then put posters up on local notice-boards saying; ‘We’ve got one of the fastest ambulance services but you could help make it faster’. That’s how people like Sean and fellow

responders first got in touch. We set up our initial training at the Mansfield. The training was 27 weeks long. It was explained to us during our training that we needed to gain charity status and that we would be completely self-funded, including purchasing our own response vehicle from scratch. So we applied for grants and managed to purchase our car, our uniforms and our initial equipment and we went ‘live’ in August 2007. The Ambulance Service provides all our clinical governance, training and updates, and also provides our radio communications but we have to continually fundraise to remain operational. The group covers Rugeley and all surrounding villages and has been operational now for ten years, being assigned to over 7,000 calls in this time. J.M.K: What do Community First Responders do? S.C: We are all volunteers who give up our spare time to respond to 999 calls on behalf of the Ambulance Service. We don’t replace the Ambulance Service, we assist them. First Responders respond to a large variety of calls. Basically if we’re the

closest resource then ambulance control send us and we can provide life-saving treatment and initial care until the Ambulance Service vehicle arrives. F.C: It could be that we arrive at the same time as the ambulance, but it could be that we’re a bit closer and we can arrive in the crucial minutes before. We don’t replace the Ambulance Service and we’re mobilised at the same time, it’s just that as we’re so local, we might be on the next street to someone who needs help and we can get there in those, sometimes crucial, minutes. S.C: We have local knowledge which can be useful with place names and knowing where roadworks etc are. F.C: All of our responders are local people who live in Rugeley and it’s actually one of the requirements that you live within the catchment area because if you’re taking the response car home, which is what we encourage, if you don’t live locally you’d be taking the car out of the local community who help fund it.

J.M.K: Where are Rugeley Community First Responders based? F.C: We are very lucky to work closely

us updates on incidents and navigates, giving us patient details on the type of condition we’re going to so we can prepare en route. We only attend incidents that we’ve been assigned to by the Ambulance Service.

with Rugeley Community Fire Station they provide us with a garage at the back of the station and we’re trusted partners - so if responders want to partner up and not take the car home they can stay on station. S.C: The whole idea of Community First Responders is that you can be available for a call but can still get on with your daily life. As long as we have the car and radio contact, we can be at home getting on with life.

J.M.K: How many hours do Community First Responders do? S.C: It’s a minimum commitment of 20 responding hours a month. Some people do 12 hours every Saturday and some people can only do a couple of hours some evenings etc - but a minimum of 20 hours a month. F.C: These hours each month ensure responders maintain their knowledge and experience. We are quite a busy area in Rugeley and we can get four or five calls per shift for example.

J:M.K: What’s a typical shift? S.C: We have a diary system online, where responders book the vehicle and say what hours they want to do. On a Saturday for example you might attend six to ten jobs on a day and they could be straight after one another. F.C: When you start your shift you come to the station, collect the car from the garage, and radio ‘control’ and let them know you’re available. You then log on and that updates them that they’ve got a resource. About seven years ago we purchased a mobile data terminal which is exactly what is in all the ambulances so the ambulance control can pick us up on their system. It’s one of the best aids and it gives

J.M.K: What kind of jobs do you get called in to? S.C: We go to a wide range, it could be anything - cardiac arrests, unconsciousness, chest pains and strokes, falls, people who feel generally unwell, abdominal pain etc. Community First Responders aim to save life, provide initial care and reassurance and prevent deterioration. F.C: Someone who’s made the decision to ring 999 is obviously feeling quite poorly and time can be crucial during some incidents. We carry a defibrillator, and it’s been proven that every minute that passes without treatment during a cardiac incident decreases the patients’ chances of survival by 10%. One of the messages the group is really pushing this year is greater public access to defibrillators outside your local shops or pubs, it’s something that would really help the community. Our main purpose is to save life and provide reassurance. When we arrive, even if the type of incident means that some specialist

treatment has to wait until the paramedics arrive, sometimes just holding someone’s hand, reassuring them or applying pressure to a wound, plays a vital role in recovery. We can give oxygen where necessary and Sean and I along with some of the other responders are Enhanced Responders, which means we’re trained to give a package of drugs for certain conditions.

J.M.K: Is it possible to work full time and be a Community First Responder? F.C: Yes, Sean is a manager in a large I.T. company and I’m an Operational Fire Fighter at Rugeley Fire Station and I also have a part-time chair-covering company. You don't have to have any previous experience.

J.M.K: How can people who are interested in becoming a First Responder, or who might want to help fundraise get in touch? S.C: We’ve got an active Facebook page and there’s more information on the website www.radcfr.com. You can also email coordinator@radcfr.com

You can help support Rugeley and District Community First Responders by coming along to their next fundraising event, a Charity Afternoon Tea, taking place on Saturday 1st April at St Joseph’s Community centre. There’ll be delicious afternoon tea and cakes available plus Bar and Raffle. Tickets are £12.50 each.

MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTORS WANTED

Earn extra money delivering magazines in your area. Must be over 16

Call Marie 07548 682576

Competition and Prize Draw Terms and Conditions 1. By entering the prize draw/competition, you agree to the terms and condition stated. 2.The closing date is stated on each individual prize draw or competition. 3.Where stated in the competition that a clearly stated competition partner will contact the entrants after the competition with news, stories and offers, entrant’s contact details will be passed to this competition partner for these marketing purposes only. As stated in the competition/prize draw, if you do not wish to receive marketing information from the competition partner stated, please add the words OPT OUT to your entry. For a copy of Citylife in Lichfield Ltd’s privacy policy please write to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS. 4.By entering the competition/prize draw, entrants agree to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd using or publishing materials provided by the entrants in any of their publications and online. 5.Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for any breach of copyright or breach of any other legislation entailed by entrants in their creation or submission of materials. 6.Only one entry per prize draw/competition, per reader. 7.Except in the case of cash prizes, no cash equivalent will be offered and the prize is non-transferable. 8.All prizes are subject to availability and the prize suppliers' terms and conditions. 9.No purchase necessary. 10.Prize draws and competitions are only open to UK residents aged 18 years or over (unless otherwise stated). 11.Competitions and prize draws may not be entered by any employee or individual associated with any employee, agent or third party of Citylife in Lichfield Ltd. 12.Winners will be selected at random in the case of applicable prize draws and competitions, or by an independent judge in the case of photographic/art/applicable competitions from all entries received.

Your Citylife Whats’ On in April

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. Membership is £39. Meetings will usually include a speaker or

13.Winners will be notified by Citylife in Lichfield Ltd up to 28 days after the closing date of the competition/prize draw by the contact details provided by the entrant. 14.A list of the surnames and county of residence of the winners will be available by writing to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd no earlier than six weeks after the competition closing date. 15.When the prize draw/competition winner has been selected, this decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 16.Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for the prize being lost, damaged or delayed in transit. When the prize is provided by a third party, Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for any change to the prize, or for the quality of the prize provided. 17.Competitions may be amended or withdrawn at any time. 18.By entering the competition or prize draw, you agree to having your name, (photograph, where stated) and city or county of residence published in any of Citylife in Lichfield Ltd’s publications and online. 19.Unless otherwise stated, the promoter is Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS. 20. Citylife in Lichfield Ltd do not express any warranty or endorsement of any competition prize, information, service or product provided in connection with a competition by printing or otherwise publicising any competition. 21.To the full extent of the law, Citylife in Lichfield Ltd shall not be liable for any loss, claim, punitive, indirect, incidental or consequential damages of any kind incurred as a result of entering this prize draw or competition. 22.By submitting photos, text or artworks as part of competition/prize draw entries you agree that you own these photos text or artworks, that it is your original work to which you own all rights to distribute, and that your entry is accurate, moral and legal.

CLASSIFIED To Advertise please contact our classified team on

07967 154187 This ad... £38 plus VAT

Advertise your event in our what’s on guide for only £3 for up to 75 words max, please contact Joss Musgrove Knibb 07833 735048 josscitylife@gmail.com. (Local Charities and advertisers may place what’s on listings free-of-charge).

demonstrator. W.I. provides educational opportunities, and the chance to try and develop new skills and crafts. A link with Staffordshire Federation, and a National organisation, provides further activities like craft fairs and competitions; and to campaign on issues that matter to them and in the wider community. For further information contact The

Chairman on 01889 58263 or www.thewi.org.uk/staffordshire

Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th April Colton History Society Exhibition

The village of Colton has a long and interesting history explored in the Colton History Society exhibition from 10am to 5pm in the Village Hall, Colton.