Lichfield Smiles .................................. Mrs Collins contacted Lichfield Smiles after seeing an advert in a local publication.
“After having two NHS dentures that were ill-fitting, uncomfortable and at times painful, I had become embarrassed with the movement from the denture when eating or even speaking to strangers. My dentures ran my life.
“My first impression of Lichfield Smiles was how friendly, relaxed and at home all the staff made me feel. I had a personal one-to-one consultation with Matt and his understanding of issues personal to each patient is unbelievable. He explained to me things about my dentures that nobody had ever told me before. “I thoroughly enjoyed the process of choosing the denture, which teeth to use, and how the different shapes and shades would make a difference to me. I was totally unaware that such a process would take place and it was a welcomed surprise and an exciting experience.
Before
After
“My number one goal was for my dentures to look natural and I’m shocked at just how natural they are! If people think that they can’t afford bespoke dentures, I would definitely recommend they speak to Matt and his team as there is something to suit everyone. Whatever your budget, your new dentures will be worth it. “Lichfield Smiles has made me realise I can be both confident and comfortable wearing a denture.”
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Welcome to CITYLIFE
Welcome to CITYLIFE in Lichfield, a monthly magazine bringing you our pick of the city’s news, events and stories. Each month CITYLIFE in Lichfield is delivered to 18,000 businesses and homes in Lichfield, Kings Bromley, Fradley, Alrewas, Whittington, Stonnall, Shenstone, Little Aston, Hammerwich, Burntwood and Longdon, completely free of charge; bringing you the best that the city 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 city? We want to hear from you! Our business is bringing you Lichfield’s city life.
CITYLIFE Contacts Editor - Kristen Lackajis 07885 380632
kristencitylife@gmail.com Features - Jono Oates 07785 757201 jonocitylife@gmail.com Advertising -
Steve Brown 07740 166497 stevebrowncitylife@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 Lichfield
www.citylifeinlichfieldltd.co.uk Citylife in Lichfield Ltd 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 Lichfield Ltd.
e n i z a g a M l a c o Your L
Inside...
6 Win Tickets to The Ballroom Boys
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A VIP meet and greet experience at Lichfield Garrick
9 Win Afternoon Tea for Four
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A classic teatime treat at Hoar Cross Hall
12 Your Guide to Interiors
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Taking a look at the latest trends for your home
25 Perfect Food, Perfect Location!
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We enjoy a bite to eat at The Strawberry Cabin
38 The Five City Gates
.Jono . . .Oates . . . .takes . . . .a.look . . .at. .more . . . .plaques . . . . .of. Lichfield . 44 Win a Family Pass to Cadbury World A chocolatey treat could be yours for Easter
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Win VIP Tickets to The Ballroom Boys at Lichfield Garrick Ian Waite and Vincent Simone are two of the nation’s favourite performers from the hugely popular Strictly Come Dancing series and they’ll be performing together at Lichfield Garrick with their high tempo show, The Ballroom Boys, at 7.30pm on Saturday 18 May 2019. You have the chance to win a pair of VIP tickets to see the amazing Ballroom Boys in action, courtesy of the Strictly Theatre Co. The VIP tickets include the performance, a personal ‘meet and greet’ with Ian and Vincent before the show, with autograph and photo opportunities, and complimentary drinks in the Green Room Bar at the Garrick.
To win this incredible prize all you need to do is unscramble these letters to make a well-known expression from the Strictly Come Dancing show:
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ekep adgcnni
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To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to Lichfield Garrick Competition, at competitioncitylife@gmail.com or post your entry to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS by the competition closing date of 19th April 2019. One entry per household. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Winners will not be offered a cash equivalent. Please note you must be 18 or over to enter. All entrants’ information is processed in line with GDPR Data Protection Regulations and our Privacy Policy. To view our Privacy Policy go to citylifeinlichfieldltd.co.uk. Full competition terms and conditions on page 48.
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Man About Town! By Jono Oates
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s well as being a feature writer for Citylife in Lichfield, I also have my own, independent, tourism business – Jono’s Tourism. I promote Lichfield and try to encourage as many visitors to come to our lovely city as possible, as well as providing those visitors, and locals, with tours and talks telling the history of Lichfield, the small cathedral city with a big heart. I conduct private guided tours of the city, for groups of friends, work colleagues or family members, on a variety of topics. My tours generally last one and a half hours, are easy walking around the city centre streets and are a great way to learn about the history of Lichfield. I can also provide talks about Lichfield for either groups based in the city itself or out on the road. I’m happy to provide talks about all aspects of Lichfield’s history – its Georgian past, the Victorian era, the public houses, the buildings and architecture, the streets, English Civil War battles,World War One heroics and more – these are ideal for WI, Rotary Clubs, church and local history groups. I’ve got some great public tours and talks lined up for this year including: Thursday 9th May - 7pm: ‘Garrick, Johnson and Wine!’ A combined history talk and wine tasting event set in the 250-year old cellars at Worth Brothers Wine on Beacon Street. Tickets £15pp to include talk and wine tasting. Thursday 23rd May - 7pm: ‘The Bridge Tavern and Lichfield Breweries’ The story of the Bridge Tavern pub and the Lichfield brewing trade and breweries told in the Bitter Suite micropub on St John Street. Tickets £15pp to include refreshments. Sunday 16th June - 2pm: ‘What Lies Below’ A walking tour, lasting 1 ½ hours, telling the story of the people buried in the churchyard of Lichfield Cathedral. Tickets £6 per person. Thursday 26th September - 7pm: ‘The A to Z of Lichfield’ A talk, at Lichfield Library, about my new book, telling the story of Lichfield by letters of the alphabet. Includes book signing and refreshments. Tickets £5pp to include refreshments, tickets available from the library from 29th August. Saturday 12th October - 10.30am: ‘Tour of St Mary’s Church and Lichfield Library’ Discover the history of the church in the market square, the tour lasts 1 ½ hours. Tickets £6pp. For details of all my tours and talks, please see my website: www.jonotourism.co.uk. If you’d like to book me for a tour, or talk, about Lichfield, please email me at jonathan@jonotourism.co.uk or ring me on 07785 757201.
Win Classic Afternoon Tea for Four at Hoar Cross Hall Nothing can quite beat the wonderfully British afternoon tea. It’s a timehonoured tradition introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in 1840 to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner. Hoar Cross Hall is giving you the chance to win a delicious Classic Afternoon Tea for you and three friends to enjoy this quintessentially English tradition in the surroundings of the former private country house.
Afternoon tea at Hoar Cross Hall is a take on this nostalgic past-time with the menu hosting a selection of irresistible finger sandwiches, scones and sweet pastries, accompanied by an extensive selection of wonderful loose-leaf tea. The menu is overseen by the hotel’s awardwinning pastry chef, Charlotte Wakelyn, who recently stamped her authority as one of the UK’s foremost pastry chefs at the noted Salon Culinaire. Afternoon tea is served daily from 12 noon to 4pm in the magnificent Long Gallery, offering stunning views out onto the estate. Guests can choose from a choice of afternoon tea including Classic Afternoon Tea, Prosecco Afternoon Tea or Royal Afternoon Tea with Champagne. Throughout the year Hoar Cross Hall also offers a programme of themed afternoon tea events including Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea and Sparkling Easter Afternoon Tea available over the Easter weekend, each with their own special menus.
To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is unscramble the letters below to reveal the name of a popular type of tea:
gelsinh fetabskra ------- ---------
To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to Hoar Cross Lichfield Competition* at competitioncitylife@gmail.com or post your entry to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS by the competition closing date of Friday 19th April 2019. One entry per household. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Winners will not be offered a cash equivalent. Please note you must be 18 or over to enter. All entrants’ information is processed in line with GDPR Data Protection Regulations and our Privacy Policy. To view our Privacy Policy go to citylifeinlichfieldltd.co.uk. Full competition terms and conditions on page 48
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Win Two Mouthwatering Manor Burgers with Two Desserts at The Strawberry Cabin
Looking for a little taste of the countryside in To be in with a chance of winning, all you have Staffordshire? Look no further! The Strawberry Cabin Tea to do is unscramble the letters below to reveal Room and Restaurant serves delicious food catering for the name of a popular type of breakfast: breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas, as well offering a range of mouth-watering cakes. There’s nothing better than taking in the countryside views and rural setting of Manor Farm over a glass of bubbly. The Strawberry Cabin is soon to be holding a craft weekend, with a range of different and exciting activities (weather dependant!) Why not go along and enjoy? Watch To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to The Strawberry this space for further information! Cabin Competition, at competitioncitylife@gmail.com or post your entry to There’s a whole host of events taking place at The Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS by the competition date of 19th April 2019. One entry per household. Multiple entries will Strawberry Cabin over the next 12 months, so keep up to closing be disqualified. Winners will not be offered a cash equivalent. Please note you date at www.strawberrycabin.co.uk. You can also follow The must be 18 or over to enter. All entrants’ information is processed in line with Strawberry Cabin on Facebook, or visit The Strawberry GDPR Data Protection Regulations and our Privacy Policy. To view our Privacy go to citylifeinlichfieldltd.co.uk. Full competition terms and conditions on Cabin at Manor Farm, Watling Street, Tamworth B78 3DF, Policy page 48. 01543 483680.
lufl lnhgeis ---- -------
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Interiors ........................ Advertising Feature
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s summer beckons, it’s all about bold, bright colouring and clean, white lines mixed with more rustic furniture pieces – all finished with unique ornamental items and accessories for a truly opulent feel. Scandinavian-style minimalism in the kitchen and bathroom provides a contemporary edge, mingling perfectly with the more traditional prints and patterns of rugs and wallpapers that are abundant throughout the reception rooms. The overall effect exudes an air of true elegance, whilst still giving a nod to the more classic styling of days gone by… A perfect pairing for most modern homes.
Man’s Best Friend A hand-finished, lovable pooch in cold cast bronze makes for a welcome addition to any dog lovers home. Created by artist Harriet Dunn for the Frith Collection, Bertie the Dog is priced at £77.99 and available from Paul Martyn Furniture, Heart of the Country Shopping Village, Swinfen www.paulmartynfurniture.co.uk
Maximalist Design Hinting at growth and rejuvenation, the expressive pattern of the Helleborus wallpaper, by Farrow and Ball, transforms any home into a warm and welcome retreat. Available from Decor Supplies, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield www.decorsupplies.co.uk Let There Be Light Create a little atmosphere with this nickel-plated mesh-wire lamp, weaved with fairy lights to create something alluring and highly original. Priced at £54.99 and available from Paul Martyn Furniture, Heart of the Country Shopping Village, Swinfen www.paulmartynfurniture.co.uk
Silver Service This classic, silver-plated three-arm candelabra is the ideal centrepiece for a dining table - creating a dramatic and opulent finish. Priced at £239 and available from Arthur Price, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield – www.arthurprice.co.uk
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The Perfect Posy An 8-inch silver-plated rose bowl is the perfect way to display flowers all year round. Priced at £135 and available from Arthur Price, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield – www.arthurprice.co.uk
Interiors
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Interiors
Out of this World Titled ‘Galactic’, this stunning piece by John Bate has been created in mixed media and mounted on glass. Priced at £795 and available from The Courtyard Fine Art Lounge, Dam Street, Lichfield www.thecourtyardfineartlounge.co.uk
Volcanic Art ‘Tephra’ has been constructed using mixed media, alloys and wood, for a truly unique John Bate sculpture that would enhance any home. Priced at £795 and available from The Courtyard Fine Art Lounge, Dam Street, Lichfield www.thecourtyardfineartlounge.co.uk
Clash of Horns The conflict of nature has been powerfully depicted by Michael Simpson in this bronze sculpture, entitled Highland Falls. Priced at £2,550 and available from The Courtyard Fine Art Lounge, Dam Street, Lichfield - www.thecourtyardfineartlounge.co.uk
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Life in Colour Original glassware by artist Adam Hussain, entitled Rainbow Stripes II, brings a splash of colour. Priced at £240 and available from The Courtyard Fine Art Lounge, Dam Street, Lichfield www.thecourtyardfineartlounge.co.uk
Interiors
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Interiors
Neutral Shades This Urban settee corner unit, priced at £899, and matching Urban chair, priced at £399 (manual) and £499 (electric), in a neutral shade, can add both comfort and style to your living room. Available from Half Price Warehouse, Birmingham Road, Lichfield - www.halfpricewarehouse.co.uk
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Interiors
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Interiors
Mirror Mirror The HiB Sphere 60 mirror makes a great addition to any bathroom – with colour changing ambient LED lighting, you’ll never be left in the dark again! Priced at £314 and available from City Plumbing, Birmingham Road, Lichfield www.cityplumbing.co.uk
Water World The Iflo Duxford Dual Head Waterfall Shower, priced at £254.99, can transform any bathroom or shower room into a tropical rain shower. Available from City Plumbing, Birmingham Road, Lichfield www.cityplumbing.co.uk
On yer Bike! Truly unique and a guaranteed talking point - these leather seated ‘pedal’ stools combine a retro bar stool with a vintage bicycle pedal footrest! Priced at £119, and available in assorted colours, from Blackbrook Interiors, London Road,Weeford – www.blackbrook-interiors.co.uk
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Sitting Pretty Comfortable and classic, this blue leather chair, priced at £249, comes with a matching pommel stool, priced at £89, for relaxation in style. Available from Blackbrook Interiors, London Road, Weeford – www.blackbrook-interiors.co.uk
Space Age The brand New Gingko R Space Lamp is elegant and stunning, emitting a cool white or warm LED light through this water and tear proof ‘lantern’ made of Tyvek papers. It is dimmable and can be controlled by the supplied smart remote control. Priced at £79 and available from At The Cedars, Main Street, Barton under Needwood – Tel: 07973 549 685
Interiors
Kaleidoscope of Colour Brighten up your food with this dazzling array of Aztec bowls – mealtimes will never be the same again! Available from At The Cedars, Main Street, Barton under Needwood – Tel: 07973 549 685
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Interiors
Get Creative! Sign up to a workshop and try your hand at a variety of techniques, such as ceramics, furniture painting, and upholstery, so that you will be able to design, create and transform your own furniture at home. Available at Emily Charlotte Furniture, Shenstone – www.emilycharlottefurniture.co.uk Interior Motive Find the perfect colour for your home with the Frenchic paint range, or purchase a gift voucher to give to a loved one and give the gift of inspiration! Available from Emily Charlotte Furniture, Shenstone – www.emilycharlottefurniture.co.uk
Total Transformation Old and tired items of furniture can have a new lease of life at Emily Charlotte Furniture, Shenstone – www.emilycharlottefurniture.co.uk
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Interiors
Let the sunshine in! Brighten up your home with a new rug in one of many exciting, fresh new colours added to the Lippa Plain Carved Rug Collection, available in a range of sizes. Hand tufted in India and made from 100% wool, priced at ÂŁ379 (for 2.44m x 1.52m). Available from Frith Rugs, Ridings Park, Eastern Way, Cannock www.frithrugs.co.uk
Inside, Out! Made from 100% polypropylene, these outdoor rugs are perfect for the forthcoming season. Range of sizes, priced at ÂŁ109 (for 2.30m x 1.60m). Available from Frith Rugs, Ridings Park, Eastern Way, Cannock www.frithrugs.co.uk
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Interiors
Rock It! An example of how your painted items could look following a workshop at Emily Charlotte Furniture, Shenstone – www.emilycharlottefur niture.co.uk
Remote Living The Unica 2-55 is a remote control fire designed for chimneys and is available in portrait or landscape orientation. Prices start from £2468 and optional extras include mood lighting, mirror black interior and a convection fan system. Now on live display in store at Rugeley Fireplaces & Stoves, Albion Street, Rugeley – www.rugeleyfireplaces.net
Smart Heat The Smart Bell is a premium realistic log fire, complete with electric mood lighting, which can be lit with or without the gas fire, and remote control function. It can be fitted in a chimney, or without a chimney using a specially designed flue kit. The Smart Bell 90-80 (pictured) is available with flue kit from £3757, from Rugeley Fireplaces & Stoves, Albion Street, Rugeley – www.rugeleyfireplaces.net
Modern Edge The contemporary Ideal Standard Strada II Collection is exclusive to City Plumbing. Shown here is a basin with white option waste cover, priced at £228 and available from City Plumbing, Birmingham Road, Lichfield - www.cityplumbing.co.uk
Eternal Flame A quick peak of the new Hunter Parkray Aspect 7 gas stove with logs. The Parkray Aspect range of stoves are all available as wood burners, multi-fuel stoves and now there’s an easy to use gas alternative too. On display and available from Rugeley Fireplaces & Stoves, Albion Street, Rugeley - www.rugeleyfireplaces.net
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Interiors
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Advertising Feature
Amerton Farm is a well known rural Staffordshire destination, which has been open to the public since 1984. Based at the farm there are more than 20 independent attractions and businesses for you to enjoy, including Billy’s Farm Barn, the Craft & Gift Centre and our Food Hall. Over the last few years we have carried out extensive refurbishment and our aim is to provide quality in the countryside for all our customers.You will be sure to receive a warm welcome from all at Amerton Farm. Open every day (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year’s Day) from 9.30am to 5pm (Billy’s Farm Barn closes at 4.30pm)
FREE car parking and admission.
Amerton Farm, Stowe By Chartley, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST18 0LA. (Between Stafford & Uttoxeter on the A518)
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The Strawberry Cabin Perfect Food, Perfect Location! ..................................... Dining Review
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anor Farm Fruits is situated in the small village of Hints on the old A5 (Watling Street) between Lichfield and Tamworth and is set in the beautiful Staffordshire countryside. It is one of the longest established Pick-Your-Own fruit farms in the district, first opening to the public back in 1973! The farm has been a family run business for three generations and in October 2017 the Clarke family decided to open a new venture - the Strawberry Cabin Tearoom and Restaurant. Last month we were invited to a VIP event at the Cabin to showcase their new menu and to sample some of the delicious food on offer. Elaine Clarke provided a warm welcome to the attendees and gave a history of the farm and also the background to opening the Cabin.We were then treated to taster samples from the new menu with a selection of main courses and cakes. We started with some gorgeous battered cod, which was delicious, the cod was perfectly cooked and was a great way to start the evening. We were also treated to a warming Shepherd’s Pie, full of tasty minced lamb and fresh vegetables, just the thing for a cool spring day. There were two burger options, firstly the traditional beef Manor Burger, set on a brioche bun, and then a Tandoori Halloumi Burger, both of which looked so tempting that we succumbed to both and were glad that we did! By now we were all quite full but we could not resist some of the amazing looking cakes that were on offer, all of them freshly produced and a lovely way to finish off any meal. The food was delicious, very tasty and lovingly prepared and the service, from the experienced team, was attentive very friendly and efficient. The event was an ideal showcase for everything that the Strawberry Cabin can provide and we’ll definitely be back for more! The Strawberry Cabin is open from 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays. Ring 01543 483680 for more details or visit their website: www.strawberrycabin.co.uk
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Long-term Collaboration for City Auctioneers
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Lichfield family, which has been auctioneering in the city for seven generations, has announced a long-term partnership with St Mary’s in the Market Square. The “perfect” collaboration between Richard Winterton Auctioneers and The Guild Of St Mary’s – a registered charity – blends heritage, culture, education and entertainment, reflecting the ethos of both organisations slap bang in the beating heart of Lichfield city centre. St Mary’s reopened at the end of last year following a visionary £1.4m transformation which saw the Grade II* listed building incorporate Lichfield Library. Richard Winterton Auctioneers will be displaying a variety of fine art and other interesting objects in the upper floor exhibition space, contributing to themed displays and joint events. A raft of free valuation events and special auctions are also in the pipeline. Nick Sedgwick, chairman of St Mary’s trustees, said: “We are delighted with the arrangements, which will bring another strand to the offering within St Mary’s. “Having the changing exhibition of articles for the fine arts sales will bring a new audience into the building and planned joint events will complement our core attractions. “Soon the Silver Treasury will be open and our Photographic Archive will be available to view in the History Access Point. “We have many events planned over the coming months, some jointly with Lichfield Library. “We are recruiting volunteers to join us to – please contact us through the website. We have already held successful events in the performance space and lots more is planned in 2019.” Mr Winterton is delighted with the new connection.“It is an absolutely perfect fit for us,” he said. “The new look St Mary’s is just stunning – the moment I saw the redevelopment I was utterly captivated. “It is a lovely space and we are proud and privileged to be a part of it. “St Mary’s is a quintessential example of moving with the times to improve things for all while still retaining an absolute commitment to Lichfield. It perfectly echoes our ethos.” He added: “We have more exciting plans for Lichfield which we’ll be announcing very soon.” Mr Winterton is also a supporter of the We Love Lichfield fund, from which St Mary’s has received two charitable grants. The Winterton family name has been synonymous with auctioneering in Staffordshire since 1864, with early beginnings at Lichfield’s former Smithfield livestock market. Designed by architect James Fowler, St Mary’s Church was completed in 1870. It was converted to a heritage centre in 1981 after the numbers of people attending the church dropped. In July 2013, it was renamed St Mary’s in the Market Square and became home to Lichfield District Council’s tourist information service. The multi-functional space also hosted numerous exhibitions, including that celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Lichfield Mercury in 2015.
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Richard Winterton and Nick Sedgwick in the exhibition space.
Auctioneer Richard Winterton, vice-chair of the board of trustees Louise Fleming and Nick Sedgwick, chairman of St Mary’s trustees. Since then, the building has been stunningly redeveloped to accommodate Lichfield Library on the ground floor with over 100,000 books and audio-visual resources. A flexible open space on the first floor – with a mezzanine overlooking the Dyott Chapel end – integrates a 140-seat area for performances, art exhibitions and workshops and from March will host displays and special events alongside Richard Winterton Auctioneers. More details are available on the website www.stmaryslichfield.co.uk.
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Advertising Feature
The Future !
What does your financial future look like? When will you be able to access your personal pensions, work pensions and state pension? What tax-free cash will you be able to take and when? Will you have enough money to live on? Are you concerned with how your pensions are performing? Are you going to leave it and take a chance or ask a professional to take a look for you now? Is it time to speak to a Financial Adviser?
As an experienced local Financial Adviser, with many clients in our area, I may be able to help you. You can visit our office or I can visit you at home to discuss your Investments, Savings and Pensions. The first appointment will be at my cost and there is no obligation to proceed any further. Any future costs will be explained and agreed with you before any work is carried out on your behalf. I will carry out a full fact find of your circumstances and discuss with you where you want to be financially in the future and how we may be able to help you get there. As a member of a nine-strong Financial Adviser team at Four Oaks Financial Services I am supported by in-house research, client liaison and administration teams. I am a fully qualified Financial Adviser working with private and corporate clients to help them achieve their financial goals. I constantly keep my skills and knowledge up to date in order to provide the most appropriate advice in line with each client's risk profile and their specific needs. My clients are mainly in the Burntwood, Cannock, Lichfield and greater Wolverhampton areas, although I do have clients much further afield. At Four Oaks Financial Services we advise our clients on range of investments and are very proud to have their trust and confidence to do so. I provide financial advice to my clients on investments, pensions, inheritance tax planning and long-term care. The value of pensions and investments and the income they produce can fall as well as rise.You may get back less than you invested. Estate planning, inheritance tax planning and long-term care are not regulated by the FCA. Our first meeting will be at my cost so please give me a call or drop me an email and we can take it from there.
Robin Place DipFA, CeLTCI, MLIBF Financial Adviser 0121 323 2070, 07968 504805 robin@fouroaksfs.com
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Easter Treat for Music Fans
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ichfield Arts has lined up a weekend of pure musical enjoyment between Friday 19th and Sunday 21st April. Music ranges from the country and rock songs of The West Coast Eagles, the experimental folk sounds of Gigspanner and the boisterous jump and jive of the ever popular King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys. West Coast Eagles Friday 19th April Tickets £13.00 A five piece tribute band with the same love of live performance and stage-craft as The Eagles. Life in the Fast Lane will never seem the same again. Gigspanner Saturday 20th April Tickets £16.00 Peter Knight’s Gigspanner blends his own approach to modern technology, with a love for the traditional, to bring new life to older tunes, and his own compositions. King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys Sunday 21st April Tickets £15.00 Rough, tough and always rocking, the legendary King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys’ zany stage show is one of the most authentic rhythm & blues bands ever to come from outside the USA.
Tickets and further details are available from www.lichfieldarts.org.uk, by phoning 01543 262223, or calling into the Lichfield Arts Box Office in Donegal House.
Lichfield Festival of Folk Lichfield Arts is pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for L2F 2019. The festival takes place between Friday 18th and Sunday 20th October at various venues, including Lichfield Garrick, Lichfield Guildhall, Samuel Johnson’s Birthplace Museum and on the streets of Lichfield. Now in its sixth year, L2F has become a landmark event in the folk calendar for South Staffordshire, hosting nationally well-known names, and local acts. This year will see a co-production with the Lichfield Garrick, who will be showcasing the talents and sterling musicianship of the epoch changing folkrock band Home Service. This is a grand reunion, featuring both John Tams and John Kirkpatrick, and is an ideal way to start the festival, and a very rare opportunity to see this line-up. Earlybird full weekend tickets priced at £47 are now available. For full details and to book tickets visit www.l2f.co.uk.
King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys
Gigspanner
West Coast Eagles
Lichfield Cathedral News Easter in Lichfield
Santa Dash Raised Lots of Cash!
pring is always a rich and meaningful time at Lichfield Cathedral. We observe the six weeks of preparation for Easter (known as Lent). Easter itself is a glorious 40 days of celebration and thanksgiving. We have dedicated 2019 to a special theme: ‘Journeys Through Space, Light and Time’. We’ll be thinking about our own personal journeys through life, the journeys of adventure and exploration which have resulted in astonishing discoveries, and we will be joining many others across the world remembering the achievement of landing a man on the moon fifty years ago. The Dean of Lichfield, the Very Rev.d Adrian Dorber describes it like this: “The human instinct is to travel, explore and discover. More profoundly, Christianity steers all believers along a path throughout life. We have no permanent home on Earth; we are pilgrims (wanderers) and strangers until we are at home with God. “Christianity shares with Judaism and Islam its foundation in the story of Abraham, who, on God’s command, wandered and journeyed throughout the ancient near east. He was a ‘Hebrew’, meaning a wanderer, with no fixed abode. Key to any understanding of these three great world faiths is the notion of Abraham as the Father of faith, travelling, celebrating and living a covenanted kind of life with God by living a life of itinerancy and trust in God’s good purpose.” The programme for 2019 is the Cathedral’s most ambitious yet and focuses on pilgrimage, and the nature of sacred space, holy objects, and how prayer takes place. It will examine what makes ‘our’ world, whether that be a confident sense of travelling through the known and expected, or, as is the case of the world’s 67 million migrants and refugees, an involuntary, desperate search for security. A major attraction will be the transformation of the cathedral floor during the summer into a huge map of the moon’s surface that visitors will be able to walk on. The spiritual and moral questions will be contained in ‘One Small Step’ exhibitions that will explore the big bang, science, and the engineering that facilitated space travel.
ichfield Santa Dash 2018, held in December last year, raised more than £1000 to help provide exercise clubs and clothing for young people with disabilities in Lichfield. Paul Griffin and Gary Williams (pictured), from KP Events, presented a cheque to Liberty Staffordshire, along with some of the youngsters who turned up to greet KP Events and show off their running skills! Liberty Staffordshire, a non-profit making charity, is committed to help to increase fitness and muscle tone in as many young people with disabilities that they can reach. It was set up to help both socially, vocationally and with physical and mental health. These youngsters are unable to attend gym clubs, mainstream dance classes or sports activities as others do, which limits their social skills, stamina and physical development. The event was sponsored by St Johns House, Medizen, Alpha Sports and the guest of honour and race-starter Bev Bevan (exdrummer with The Move and ELO). The Lichfield Santa Dash will be back in the first weekend of December 2019.
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The Month in Pictures
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March
e take a look at the events and activities of the last month, bringing you a roundup of the city in pictures...
Lichfield Writers group at the Word Cafe, Guildroom, part of Lichfield Literature Festival
Save the Tower Day models at St John's Church, Shenstone
Presentation of historic plaque by Lichfield District Council to St Mary's in the Market Square Images by Jono Oates www.jonotourism.co.uk
Willow Words poetry at the Boat House, part of the Lichfield Literature Festival
Fradley 10k drink station
Members of Lichfield Running Club celebrate at the end of the Fradley 10k
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Young runners at the Lichfield Pancake Day races!
Opening of the Ultimate Vegan Cafe (UVC), City Arcade
Official opening of Lichfield Library at St Mary's in the Market Square
Lichfield Townswomen's Guild presents cheque to St Giles Hospice at the George Hotel
Men's event at the Lichfield Pancake Race, Bore Street
Lichfield Pancake Day winner collects prize from City Jewellers on Market Street
'Impressive' ancient book highlights Lichfield's literary importance By Adrian Rathbone of Hansons Auctioneers A newly discovered 18th century book underlines the importance of Lichfield’s literary heritage centuries ago. The book of poems, entitled Needwood Forest, is a first edition printed by John Jackson in Lichfield in 1776, making it both unusual and impressive, according to expert Jim Spencer. Mr Spencer, head of the books and works on paper department at Hansons Auctioneers, said: “At that time London dominated the book publishing world and many antiquarian books I see were made in the capital. For that reason, I was impressed to find one that had been published in Lichfield 243 years ago.” The book, which includes a note from the author, is the most noted work of Francis Noel Clarke Mundy (1739-1815), an English poet born at Osbaston Hall, Leicestershire. It was created to defend Needwood Forest, a large ancient woodland in Staffordshire which was largely destroyed under the authority of the Inclosure Act of 1803. Poetry in the book includes work by Erasmus Darwin, one of the key thinkers of the Midlands Enlightenment, Erasmus Darwin junior and Anna Seward. Anna, a romantic poet known as the Swan of Lichfield, lived from 1742 to 1809. Mr Spencer said: “Some of the most important poets and thinkers of that generation joined forces to contribute to the book in a bid to save the woodland. Sadly, they weren’t successful but this book bears testament to their efforts and highlights the fact that people were fighting to protect England’s natural environment all those years ago.” The book, from a private Staffordshire collection, will be sold at Hansons’ April 11 Library Auction and carries an estimate of £200 to £300. Hansons offers free antiques, collectables and jewellery valuations every Monday from 10.30am12.30pm at The Hedgehog Inn, Stafford Road, Lichfield, WS13 8JB. Free home visits for large/multiple items, house clearance and downsizing solutions. To find out more, email arathbone@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk.
Jim Spencer with the book which was published in 1776 in a bid to save Needwood Forest. Image courtesy of Hansons
One of the poems in the book is by Anna Seward. Image courtesy of Hansons
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Your Garden in April By Byron Lewis
After the prolonged heat of last summer, plants certainly suffered (as well as us gardeners!), and many people lost plants and shrubs to the hot weather. This month, we’ll take a look at some water-saving measures you can take to help both the plants and your water bill too, just in case the same thing happens again! If, like us at the garden centre, you were spending hours each day trying to keep everything alive, firstly consider when you actually do the watering. Watering in the early morning or late evening is best, as plants will soak up the water before it evaporates. Regular watering is also key - if you allow the compost to dry out, any water you put on later will more than likely run straight through. Do you use a sprinkler or hand water your garden? We find that plants watered by hand seem to do better - sprinklers need to be left on a long time, and much of the water can sometimes end up on the path and not near the plant roots. If possible, use a watering can or, at the very least, walk around with a hose pipe and direct the end of the hose towards the roots. Improving the soil and planning in advance will also help reduce watering. Adding organic matter, such as rotted manure and homemade compost, will help water retention, and covering your borders with a permeable weed-control material and mulching will both keep in water and keep down the weeds. For hanging baskets and pots, consider a drip-irrigation system which consumes far less water than hosepipes, and when you plant your pots, add water-retention gel to the compost. This jelly-like substance swells up and releases water over time and is easy to add to pots and baskets. Plus, most obviously, store as much rainwater as you can in water butts. Finally, adapt by choosing drought tolerant plants. As we start the summer season, begonias and geraniums are two patio plants that will tolerate being dry. Plants like hardy geraniums and cistus are happy in dry soil, as are bergenia with their water retentive foliage. Using these methods you should successfully save lots of water and lots of work too – but I bet now I’ve written this, we’ll have a soaking wet summer! Happy Gardening!
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Byron Lewis runs Lichfield Garden Centre, based at Curborough Countryside Centre. Contact 01543 254306 or visit www.lichfieldgardencentre.co.uk.
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Peace Woodland Easter Blessing
St Chad Statue Appeal
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aster Sunday is all about new life and resurrection, so for Lichfield Cathedral it is a perfect time to celebrate what is believed to be the first Peace Woodland planted outside Jerusalem ahead of an official opening in early summer. The Peace Woodland – a permanent living artwork created from 1,918 sapling trees in Beacon Park - is the brainchild of the cathedral’s artist-in-residence, Peter Walker. Invitations have just gone out to the 1,328 sponsors inviting them to the Easter Sunday service on April 21 before walking to the newly planted woodland for prayers and a blessing. Lichfield Cathedral worked with Lichfield District Council and an army of volunteers to save, pot, nurture and plant these young saplings to create a lasting memorial to peace for everyone to enjoy. Over 1,300 people have dedicated names of friends, departed loved ones, or living family members to this unique project marking the Centenary of the First World War. A six-foot bronze plaque will be unveiled by the Local Authority in early summer bearing the names of all those who sponsored the project - many chose to inscribe the names of relatives who lost their lives in the First World War. Easter Sunday service is on 21st April at 11am in Lichfield Cathedral followed by prayers and blessing at the new Peace Woodland in Beacon Park at 1pm. Join in the service at 11am; meet outside the cathedral at 12.30pm or at the Peace Woodland for 1pm.
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saint, whose popularity founded a city and a cathedral, is to be immortalised in bronze to mark his 1350th anniversary and to welcome the modern day pilgrim. In his day, Chad, the first missional bishop, inspired hundreds of thousands of pilgrims – making Lichfield the third most important medieval pilgrim site in the country after Walsingham and Canterbury. Earlier this year, on St Chad’s Day (2nd March), Lichfield Cathedral launched the St Chad Statue Appeal to raise £300k to create a three-metre bronze statue of their patron saint close to the city centre. To find out more, or to donate, visit www.lichfieldcathedral.org/donate/st-chad-statue-appeal.
City Jewellers ..................................
After more than 20 years’ trading in Market Street, Lichfield City Jewellers is pleased to announce that it will soon be moving to larger premises on Bore Street. The City Jewellers’ team looks forward to welcoming customers, both old and new, to its new premises where the same high-quality jewellery and brands will be showcased, and the same fantastic levels of customer service provided.
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In the meantime, Lichfield City Jewellers is still open for business as usual in Market Street, until further notice.
St Peter’s School Challenge Ride ...........................
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riends of St Peter’s School (FOSPS) are raising money for St Peter’s School in Yoxall by holding a 12-hour cycling event at Curborough Sprint Track, Lichfield on Friday 21st June. FOSPS are opening this event to the wider community and are looking for cyclists to join in as an individual or as a team. The track will be available from 8am-8pm and each rider and team is free to join in at any time throughout the day, and set their own challenge. The minimum sponsorship for each rider is £50 with all money raised going towards renovating and modernising the school library, an essential resource for every child. There will also be a group of parents attempting to beat a mile total which will have been set by the children and the day will finish with a family BBQ to celebrate. For more details or an application form, please email fosps.cycle.challenge@gmail.com, or call one of the team: Chris 07713 068210, John 07594 505417 or Mike 07974 009685. Special thanks goes to Lichfield-based bike shop, Cycling 2000, who will be providing a selection of children’s bikes for the day. Having recently extended its premises at Wheel Lane, Cycling 2000 offers a fantastic selection of bikes, accessories and workshop services. Visit www.cycling2000.co.uk for more information.
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Plaques of Lichfield The Five City Gates By Jono Oates
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ichfield was once surrounded by a combination of ditches, city walls, gates and towers, all designed to keep its citizens safe… and its enemies out! Feature writer, Jono Oates, continues the series on the plaques of Lichfield, this month looking at the five gates of the city. In the 12th century Bishop Roger de Clinton helped to establish the structure of Lichfield, setting up the layout of the streets that are still recognisable today, fortifying the boundaries and installing a ditch around the perimeter of Lichfield. Where the ditch intersected with the major roads coming in to the city, a number of gates were erected, on Tamworth Street; Beacon Street; Sandford Street; Stowe Street and St John Street. As dusk fell the gates were closed and this effectively locked the city down for the night, until the gates were reopened at dawn the next day. The gates were made of wood and were not really intended as a means of fortification, but more likely to have been installed as a means of controlling entry to the city for travellers and market traders. The gates were also known as bars or barrs, as in a barred gate, and are listed in the record books as being constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries. All of the original gates are now long gone but their approximate locations are marked by a number of plaques, which are fixed on, or set into, buildings and walls throughout the city. The Tamworth Street gate plaque is attached to the side of the Lee Garden Cantonese restaurant, at the top of the street, in the Greenhill area. This gate marked the entrance to the city from Tamworth, Burton and Derby and would have provided a commanding view of the city from the top of the hill. Travellers entering the city from the direction of Stafford and the northwest, along the popular route from Chester and Liverpool, would have accessed the Beacon Street gate. The gate plaque here is located on the Lichfield Family Dental Surgery building, at the junction of Beacon Street and Shaw Lane. The Stowe Gate plaque is actually located on Lombard Street, close to the junction of Stowe Street and George Lane, and is attached to a property called, appropriately, Stowe Gate House! Built in 1760, the plaque on the wall of this Grade II listed Georgian building tells us that the Stowe Gate, or bar, was in operation from the 12th to the late 18th century. In medieval times, many pilgrims travelled to Lichfield to pay their respects to the relics, or bones, of St Chad, the first Bishop of Lichfield, who died in 672 AD. Those travelling from the south of the country would enter Lichfield through the St John Street gate. The plaque is located on the wall of what was the Lichfield Grammar School, now the offices of Lichfield District Council. It was called the Culstubbe Gate (spelled as Culstrubbe on the plaque) and named after a marshy area nearby. On the other side of the road was the St John the Baptist Hospital, a chapel and almshouse for the poor men of Lichfield. Pilgrims who arrived in Lichfield late in the day, after the gates had been closed, could knock on the door of St John’s, which was on the other side of the gate, and ask for shelter for the night. The Hospital became known as ‘St John the Baptist without the Barrs’ as it was outside of the Culstubbe, or St John Street gate. The final gate is Sandford Street gate, which allowed access from the west of the city. The plaque for this was located on the junction of Swan Road and Lower Sandford Street, although the plaque was removed when the new apartments were being built at that junction and has not, currently, been replaced. The gates of Lichfield were in place for more than 600 years and allowed travellers, market traders and pilgrims to travel safely though the city. Although we cannot see the gates themselves today the plaques of the five gates provide a permanent reminder of their original locations. Sources: The British History Online website; St John’s Lichfield website; Lichfield Lore
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Accessible Swing for Beacon Park
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he Chairman of Lichfield District Council, along with fundraisers from Lichfield Roundtable and Lichfield Ladies Circle, joined Stephanie Hufton in cutting the ribbon on Beacon Park’s new accessible swing on Friday 8th March. Lichfield Roundtable started raising money in 2018 to install the new swing so that children in
wheelchairs could have a dedicated piece of play equipment in Lichfield’s Beacon Park. Activities included raising money at Lichfield Bower, Cars in the Park and Santa’s Sleigh. Stephanie Hufton was keen to get an accessible swing launched in Beacon Park as her daughter, Isla, had really enjoyed her time on a similar swing. Sadly, Isla, who suffered from Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome, died when she was just 18 months old. Lichfield District Council covered the installation costs of the swing and it is now available for children in wheelchairs to use. It can be accessed with a radar key, which is available from Beacon Park’s Ranger Station.
Angela and Leon Jennings with William (aged 7), Stephanie Hufton, Charlie Leake with Jacob (aged 5), Bob Awty and Emily Rich.
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! Contact Citylife at kristencitylife@gmail.com
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J HOWELL & DAUGHTERS FUNERAL DIRECTORS LICHFIELD
LICHFIELD’S LONGEST ESTABLISHED INDEPENDENT, FAMILY RUN FUNERAL DIRECTORS. SECOND GENERATION BUSINESS HERE TO ASSIST YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. 24 hours a day
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For a truly personal service please call
01543 255776
Private Chapel of Rest 116 Netherstowe, Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 6TS
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Cadbury World has Easter fun cracked this year!
Win an Egg-citing Family Pass to Cadbury World
On Bank Holiday weekend (Friday 19th - Monday 22nd April) the Bournvillebased attraction is expecting a visit from the Easter Bunny who will lay out an Easter egg trail with a prize at the end. Children are encouraged to showcase their artistic skills by arriving in their own Easter Bonnet to be entered into a daily competition. Throughout April (6th - 28th) families can enjoy a new live stage show featuring Mr Cadbury’s Parrot, as well as meeting their favourite Cadbury characters; Creme Egg, the Caramel Bunny and Freddo. Guests can discover the amazing world of Cadbury through a variety of interactive chocolatey zones, including travelling back to the Aztec Jungle; uncovering digital chocolate delights in Purple Planet; making a taster in the Chocolate Making zone, and practicing piping skills in the Have A Go zone. Families can also catch their favourite characters in action in the 4D Chocolate Adventure zone - an interactive cinema experience complete with motion seats – where visitors can experience the feeling of diving into liquid Cadbury Dairy Milk, riding the Crunchie Rollercoaster and soaring through the skies in a Cadbury Creme Egg airship. No visit is complete without a pit stop in the Cadbury Café and The World’s To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to Lichfield Cadbury World Competition, at competitioncitylife@gmail.com or post your entry to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS by the competition closing date of 19th April 2019. One entry per household. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Winners will not be offered a cash equivalent. Please note you must be 18 or over to enter. All entrants’ information is processed in line with GDPR Data Protection Regulations and our Privacy Policy. To view our Privacy Policy go to citylifeinlichfieldltd.co.uk. Full competition terms and conditions on page 48.
• The winner will win a Family Ticket at Cadbury World which can be redeemed for entry to Cadbury World for a family of 4 (maximum 2 adults). • The Family Ticket at Cadbury World is valid until 30th December 2019. • Tickets for Cadbury World must be booked in advance by calling the reservations team on 0121 393 6004 and quoting your unique booking number.
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Biggest Cadbury Shop, for the perfect place to stock up on Cadbury favourites. For more information, and to book tickets, visit www.cadburyworld.co.uk
For your chance to win a family pass to Cadbury World, simply answer the following question:
In which zone can you catch the Cadbury characters in action in an interactive cinema experience? a) b) c)
4D Chocolate Adventure zone 4D Chocolate Journey zone 4D Chocolate Quest zone
• Travel and accommodation expenses are not included and the winner will be required to make their own travel arrangements to and from Cadbury World, Linden Road, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 1JR. • The winner will have 7 days following initial contact to claim the prize. Your complimentary family pass will be sent to you by email. • If for any reason any aspect of this promotion is not capable of running as planned, including by reason of infection by computer virus, network failure, bugs, tampering, unauthorised intervention, fraud, technical failures or any cause beyond the control of the Promoter which corrupts or affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this promotion, the Promoter may in its sole discretion cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the promotion, or invalidate any affected entries. • The Promoter will only use the personal details supplied for promotional purposes and for no other purpose, unless we have your consent. Your personal details will at all times be kept confidential and in accordance with the latest Data Protection legislation. Click here [https://www.cadbury.co.uk/privacy] for the Promoter’s Privacy Policy. By participating in the Promotion, you agree to the use of your personal data as described here. You can withdraw your consent at any time, but will no longer be able to participate. • Promoter: Mondelez Europe Services GmbH – UK Branch, Cadbury World, Linden Road, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 1JR.
Greyhound Myth Busters ..........................................
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Ronnie
By Lauren Hirst, Greyhound Trust Hall Green
reyhounds make great pets for all kinds of individuals and families. As a breed, they are often even-tempered and laid-back, with a reputation for being 40mph couch potatoes! When looking at what kind of dog to adopt, people often dismiss greyhounds because they think they need lots of exercise. Nothing could be further from the truth. Greyhounds have little stamina - they are the Usain Bolts rather than the Mo Farah's of the greyhound world. Two twentyminute walks a day is all they need – perfect for people who either don't have the time or capability to walk miles and miles with their dog. Greyhound Trust Hall Green, whose homing kennels are on Watford Gap Road, Little Hay, works tirelessly to ‘myth bust’ and let the public know what great pets ex-racing greyhounds make. Greyhounds are gentle dogs who are used to being handled by lots of different people. They are very loving and affectionate. Some take early retirement and can be as young as two years old when they finish racing. Almost all greyhounds retire by the time they are five and live to between 11-14 years of age. That's lots of time to be loved as someone's pet! Some greyhounds can live with cats and other small pets as they just don't have the chase instinct. Although they are large dogs, they are gentle and are generally good with children - it's all about getting the right match. The volunteers at Greyhound Trust Hall Green can advise which dog is best for each situation and encourage prospective adopters
to become volunteers to get to know the breed before adopting when the right greyhound will capture their hearts. There are 24 dogs at the Watford Gap kennels and 15 more at Hall Green's kennels near Stourbridge. Adopting one dog won't change the world, but the world will change for that one greyhound. Greyhounds like Ronnie are waiting for you to visit. Please ring us to arrange to come to the kennels or email the Trust at hallgreen@greyhoundtrust.org.uk. Greyhound Trust Hall Green 0121 426 4810 www.greyhoundtrusthallgreen.org.uk
WINNER
Congratulations to Mrs Hackett of Lichfield who is the winner of breakfast for two at The Strawberry Cabin.
Retailers of Fine Luxury Chocolates. Come and see our exciting range of Novelty Chocolates, Luxury Biscuit Tins and Speciality Jams and Teas
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Ford KA Plus Active Motoring Review
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By Bob Hickman
f, like me, the Ford KA conjures up images in your mind of a very small city car, with 2-doors and minimal space, then you will be amazed when you see the KA Plus Active. This new derivative to the Ford staple is their entry into the small SUV marketplace and a very willing contender. It is a sensible car, which prioritises its space, and also value for money, in this day and age of ever increasing costs. The only engine available is a 1.2-litre petrol with a choice between 69bhp or in the case of the test car 85bhp. This is more than enough to propel the diminutive vehicle along to a top speed of just over 105mph and give a 0-60 in a lethargic 13.5 seconds, with the combined fuel figures being quoted at 49mpg. The Ford KA has always been a small car therefore the KA Plus really is about increasing space and utilisation. There is more room in the rear for passengers and headroom is reasonable, however tall passengers behind a tall driver may become a little bit tight but not impossible. I do like the fact that there is plenty of headroom in the front of the vehicle and there is an awful lot of storage space too, including glovebox, door bins and cubby holes to store all those various items that we need to carry. The KA Plus is a reasonably safe car to be ensconced in. In the event of an accident, it has six air bags as standard, as well as other factors to assist you in your driving style, such as Hill Hold Assist, which is quite useful, and an Electronic Stability Control System. The level of equipment is reasonably good. It comes with 15 inch alloy wheels and a rugged body styling kit, as well as privacy glass which is a useful feature, however I was not impressed with the all-weather floor and cargo mats which I found a little slippy. Air conditioning is incorporated and also a DAB radio which can utilise Apple car play and
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Android too, however the car does not come with a satellite navigation system. The vehicle has cruise control, electrically operated door mirrors with indicators and a speed limiter which, in this day and age, is a useful feature. From a driver’s perspective the steering wheel isn’t adjustable but the driver’s seat does adjust for height and rake. The KA Plus represents really good value for money when you compare it to the other small city cars and SUV-style vehicles. The onthe-road price for this vehicle would normally be £13,445, but the exclusive paintwork added £750, and a city pack (which includes rear parking sensors, power heated and foldable door mirrors and power rear windows) added a further £350, making the total cost of this vehicle £14,545.
Run for World Kidney Day
Members of Chasewater Running Club took part in a 13 mile run on Thursday 14th March for World Kidney Day. Led by Burntwood local, Kay, the group was raising money for charity PKD (supporting Polycystic Kidney Disease) as Kay’s family is affected by this illness. Kay dedicated each mile to a different friend or family member suffering from kidney disease. Over the last few years, Kay has raised more than £4000 for the PKD charity. To find out more, or to donate, please visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kayturner2.
saw the outlining of its future aspiration to work with every single care-leaver across the county. To find out more about Talent Match Staffordshire, visit www.talentmatchstaffs.org.uk or find them on Facebook.
Amanda Bailey,TMS CEO, with the Mayor and Mayoress of Lichfield
Lions’ Presentation to Children’s Hospital
Kay (front left) with members of Chasewater Running Club
Talent Match Staffordshire’s 5th Birthday
Talent Match Staffordshire celebrated its five year anniversary by holding a birthday celebration event on 1st March. Starting as a National Lottery Funded project, Talent Match Staffordshire offers a free service that supports young people, aged 18-24 in the Lichfield and Cannock districts, who have been out of employment, education and training for 12 months or more.The event saw Talent Match Staffordshire thank the National Lottery Fund for helping them to invest in local young people. Talent Match Staffordshire has now engaged with almost 300 beneficiaries across the county, and has helped 87 of these young people to secure employment. A further 124 beneficiaries have been supported into volunteering roles and another 26 young people have gone into work placements. Following speeches from Mayor of Lichfield, David Leytham, and Matthew Ellis, the Conservative Staffordshire Commissioner of Police Fire and Crime, the birthday Celebration
Lichfield Lions recently visited the Oncology Outpatients Area of Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s new clinical block and presented two iPads for children to play on whilst receiving treatment. Waterfall House, a state-of-the-art building which opened in 2018, is home to the UK’s first pioneering Rare Diseases Centre for children, and a combined inpatient and outpatient Oncology and Haematology Centre. At the presentation was a little boy known as ‘Carter the Brave’, who has been suffering for several years with Leukaemia. Carter was joined by his parents, two senior nurses plus Nick Lamb (Vice President of Lichfield Lions), Chris Prichard (past President) and John Whitehouse (current President). Both the Rare Diseases Centre and the Oncology and Haematology Centre were supported massively by donations to Birmingham Children’s Hospital charity and its creation would not have been possible without them.
LOCAL NEWS
Lichfield Man Selected for England Squad
Local golfer, Tom Beard of Lichfield, has been selected for the England Disabled Squad for the 2019/2020 seasons following his performances at the English Open, where he finished fourth, and the EDGA Portugal Masters, where he came fifth. Currently ranking as number 33 in the world, Tom is a 5-handicap golfer with the ambition to break into the top 20 in the world bracket by the end of this season, making him one of the top five players in England. His ultimate goal is to be in Team GB at the Paralympic Games, and to be successful he needs to travel across Europe competing in qualifying events. Tom is looking for companies and sponsors to support him and help propel him to the top. You can find out more about Tom, and how to sponsor him, by visiting www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/thomas-beard, or Instagram @clubfootgolfer.
Hop Down to Beacon Park this Easter
A colourful Easter trail will lead children around Beacon Park, while finding and solving a series of puzzles. It’s aimed at children aged three and over and has three levels of clues, so the whole family can take part. It costs £1.50 per child to follow the trail, and once they have spotted the clues they will each receive a small prize. The Easter trails are available from the Ranger Station (near the crazy golf course) in Beacon Park every day from 30th March to 28th April between 9am and 4pm. If you enjoy the Easter trail, why not try the Swinfen Broun trail too? It gives children a brief history of Beacon Park and Minster Pool, while following footprints on a map to find eight brass rubbing plaques and complete fun puzzles. The Swinfen Broun trail is available to buy for 50p from Beacon Park’s Ranger Station or can be downloaded for free from www.lichfieldhistoricparks.co.uk/trail.
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LOCAL NEWS
New Guides to Boost Visitors
Lichfield District Council has launched a 2019 Visit Lichfield guide and spring /summer What’s On brochure. Produced by the council’s tourism team, this year’s Visit Lichfield guide aims to encourage more people to come to the city. It provides tourists with a great overview of the places to visit and the attractions to see when planning a trip. It also features a map of the city, a brief history of Lichfield and an overview of four famous Lichfeldians. The guides and brochures are available from Tourist Information at St Mary’s in the Market Square, as well as from certain venues across the city and district. They can also be downloaded at www.visitlichfield.co.uk/download.
Five of the boards also have interpretation panels displayed on the other side to give visitors a chance to find out more about the history and its famous historical characters, a brief history of Lichfield, and an overview of some of the top things to see and do on a visit. The interpretation boards have been provided in partnership between the city and district councils. Lichfield City Council has funded the display cases, while Lichfield District Council has produced the map and interpretation boards. Lichfield District Tourism Association also contributed funding towards the project. The next phase in the joint project is to get new interpretation boards installed at Lichfield and Trent Valley railway stations.
Success for Lichfield Artist
Cllr Ian Pritchard, Brian Pretty and Cllr David Dundas
Aileen Beesley and Sally Morton from Visit Lichfield
Visitor Interpretation Boards Unveiled
Lichfield District and Lichfield City councils have joined forces to install eight new interpretation boards across Lichfield city centre. Visitors to Lichfield city centre will find it easier to make their way to all the attractions thanks to a new city map that is being displayed on a number of boards at strategic points across the city. Competition and Prize Draw Terms and Conditions 1.Entrants’ details will be held and processed in line with Citylife in Lichfield Ltd’s Privacy Policy, which in turn adheres to GDPR Data Protection legislation. For a copy of our Privacy Policy please email josscitylife@gmail.com 2.By entering the prize draw/competition, you agree to the terms and conditions stated. 3.The closing date is stated on each individual prize draw or competition. 4.Entrants’ details will be securely held by Citylife in Lichfield Ltd in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Details will be held only until the closing date of the competition. After this date entrants’ details will be securely destroyed/deleted. Winners’ contact details will be securely stored only until the winner has been informed of their win/prize. After this details will be securely deleted/destroyed. 5.Entrants’ details will never be shared with any third party. The only exception to this is the name (and if the prize is to be posted) address of Competition/Prize Draw winners that will be communicated to the competition partner to allow winners to securely claim their prize, after which all details will be securely destroyed. The initial and surname of winners will be printed in our magazines – no other details will be published. 6.By entering the competition/prize draw, entrants agree to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd using or publishing materials provided by the entrants (but not address or contact details apart from initial and surname) in any of their publications and online. 7.Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for any breach of copyright or
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receive support from local companies in Lichfield. Donations or raffle prizes would be warmly welcomed and any interested sponsors can contact Rotarian David Kershaw on 01543 251520.
Rotary Schools Concert
Lichfield Rotary Club is supporting a live theatre event which attracts some 350 children of all ages to show their talents at the Garrick Theatre. On 9th April, nine schools from the Lichfield area will be taking part, with acts varying from dance to jazz music, and also extracts from well-known musicals. The event provides children with the unique experience of live theatre, which comes along with advice and support from staff. Lichfield Rotary Club has put £4000 towards the community venture and would love to breach of any other legislation entailed by entrants in their creation or submission of materials. 8.Only one entry per prize draw/competition, per reader. 9.Except in the case of cash prizes, no cash equivalent will be offered and the prize is non-transferable. 10.All prizes are subject to availability and the prize suppliers' terms and conditions. 11.No purchase necessary. 12.Prize draws and competitions are only open to UK residents aged 18 years or over (unless otherwise stated). 13.Competitions and prize draws may not be entered by any employee of individual associated with any employee, agent or third party of Citylife in Lichfield Ltd. 14.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 competitions from all entries received. 15.Winners will be notified by Citylife in Lichfield up to 28 days after the closing date of the competition/prize draw by the contact details provided by the entrant. 16.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. 17.When the prize draw/competition winner has been selected, this decision is
After gaining national attention when he reached the semi-finals of the Sky Arts 'Landscape Artist of the Year', Lichfield-based Carl Knibb has enjoyed a successful first exhibition at Artifex Gallery, The Mitchell Centre, Sutton Coldfield. The ‘Life in Light’ exhibition showcased 15 completely new works, many of which were snapped up before the exhibition even opened its doors, and is currently touring galleries across the UK. The talented artist has also recently moved to a new studio on Quonians Lane in his home town of Lichfield. For more information about Carl’s work, visit www.carlknibb.com.
final and no correspondence will be entered into. 18.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. 19.Competitions may be amended or withdrawn at any time. 20.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’s publications and online. 21.Unless otherwise stated, the promoter is Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS. 22. 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. 23.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. 24.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.
What’s On in April
Friday 5th April - Britain's Post War Prefabs, talk by Jane Hearn Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society Venue: The Guildhall, Bore Street, Lichfield. Time: 8pm Price: £3 Visitors welcome. For more info call 01543 416144 or see website www.sahs.uk.net.
Tuesday 16th April – Make Yourself Cyber Safe, guest speaker Lichfield Beacon Probus Our speaker at this meeting will tackle this important, and very relevant, issue. And the Club’s bowlers get ready for action on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from April. Venue: St Matthews Sports & Social Club, Burntwood. Time: 2.30pm Potential members who would like to come along should please contact our secretary on 01543 264327, or email johnlundie833@gmail.com.
Monday 18th April - Lichfield Textile and Stitch Group Michaels Gyteval is an award winning textile artist who “paints with fibres”, stitching and layering in a variety of materials. Venue: The Fire Station, Birmingham Road, Lichfield, WS13 6HU. Time: 7pm for 7.30pm Price: £2 to cover entry and refreshments For information call Iva Davies on 01543 25177 or email iva@davies125.plus.com.
Promote your event in our What’s On guide and reach over 18,000 homes and businesses for only £15 for businesses and £5 for charities. Entries must be 50 words maximum. To book contact Rebecca Hill 07970 513144 rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com (businesses who are already advertising in the relevant issue may place additional what’s on listings free-of-charge). Please clearly mark your email ‘What’s On Lichfield'.
Thursday 18th April - Family Crafternoon Tea Party Join a tea party with a difference! Find out about famous tea parties in history and fiction and enjoy an afternoon of magic, cake and craft activities in a tea-lover’s house. Venue: The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Time: 2pm Price: £3.50 per child, £1 accompanying adults For information and booking: 01543 264 972; sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk
Tuesday 23rd April – Transforming the Trent Valley Lichfield Civic Society Speaker: Louise Morris, TTTV Landscape Partnership Manager Venue: The Lichfield Room, Wade Street Church Community Hall, Frog Lane, Lichfield, WS13 6HS. Time: 7.45pm Price: £3 (members and school students free of charge).
Tuesday 23rd April at 12.30pm St George’s Day Lunch at The Cathedral Hotel Enjoy a delicious 3 course lunch and step back in time as Celine Rose performs songs from the 40s, 50s and 60s. £19.50 per person
Wednesday 24th April – Palaces for the People - The Story of Prefabs Ned Williams has lived and worked in the Black Country for over 45 years and enjoyed a ‘nosy interest’ in the areas past. Venue: Stonnall Youth and Community Centre, Main Street, Stonnall WS9 9EE. Time: 7.30pm
Friday 26th April at 7pm Gin Experience at The George Hotel A new interactive evening of G&T making! Discover the perfect flavour combinations so you can create your perfect G&T. £30 per person.
Birthplace Museum Time: 10.30am - 11.45am Price: £3, discounts for family groups and first session free. For information and booking: 01543 264 972; sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk
Tuesday 7th May - City of Lichfield Men's Probus AGM Meeting. Venue: St. Matthew's Club, Burntwood WS7 9EP Time: 2.30pm There is a friendly environment, so come and join us. For information, phone Ken on 01543 686965.
FLEAMARKET & COLLECTORS: FAIR: At Boley Park Community Hall, WS14 9XU. Saturday 27th April 2019. 10.00am - 2.00 pm. Buy, sell, swap, Collectables, Curio`s, Memorabilia, Antiques, stalls £10. Phil 01543263922/07828424683. philsmith432@hotmail.com Sunday 28th April - History Workshop: Behind Every Great Man… Join Sue Bray as she explores the hidden histories of the women in Johnson’s world, revisits some of his well-known quotes and gives insight into attitudes in the 18thcentury and beyond. Includes behind-thescenes archive visit. Venue: The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Time: 2pm Price: £4 For information and booking: 01543 264 972; sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk
Friday 26th April - The Hodson Shop Collection, talk by Dr Jenny Gilbert Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society Venue: The Guildhall, Bore Street, Lichfield. Time: 8pm Price: £3 Visitors welcome. For more info call 01543 416144 or see website www.sahs.uk.net.
Wednesday 8th May between 2 to 4pm in the Guildhall Lichfield, U3A will be holding their next monthly meeting, when Mark Kershaw will talk about ‘How the BBC Proms are brought to you’. New members will be very welcome. For further details, please see our website www.u3asites.org.uk/Lichfield or call our enquiry desk on 07510 634476.
Every Saturday - Words Alive! A friendly reading, writing and hands-on activity club for 7-11 year olds who love words! Venue: The Samuel Johnson
Daily from Saturday 6th – 27th April - Easter Trail Join an Easter tea-cup hunt around Johnson’s House, plus free activities throughout the holiday Venue: The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Time: 10.30am - 4.30pm Price: £1 for trail pack, just drop-in! For information: 01543 264 972; sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk
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MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTORS WANTED Earn extra money delivering magazines in Lichfield and Rugeley. Must be over 16 Call Marie 07548 682576