Citylife in Lichfield May 2016 by Citylife In Lichfield

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.

MAY 2016

In This Issue

6 WIN Afternoon Tea at Netherstowe House Hotel Win Afternoon Tea for Two People. 20 Looking for Lichfield’s Cutest Pet Is your pet Lichfield’s cutest?

34 Here comes the Parade! A Window on the Past Vintage pictures of Lichfield Greenhill Bower.

36 John Short & Son Funeral Directors Mark 150 years of compassion and professionalism. 41 Roses and Shimmer Finishing touches to your perfect wedding day. 20

Issue 3 May 2016

CITYLIFE CONTACTS Editor - Joss Musgrove Knibb 07833 735048

josscitylife@gmail.com

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Steve Brown 07740 166497 stevebrowncitylife@gmail.com Rebecca Hill 07970 513144 rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com Production - Helen Smith 07967 154187 pebblesdesignagency@hotmail.co.uk Citylife In Lichfield Ltd PO Box 7126 LICHFIELD WS14 4JS CITYLIFE in Lichfield magazine is not connected to any other publication or publisher, and is wholly owned by CITYLIFE in Lichfield Ltd. Citylife In Lichfield

Win Afternoon Tea at Netherstowe House Hotel

e are delighted to be able to offer our readers the chance to win a Traditional Afternoon Tea at the exquisite Netherstowe House Hotel. This award winning, Grade II listed venue offers everything from fine dining to bistro gastronomy, and their scrumptious Afternoon Teas are just the right combination of elegance and laidback informality. The Hotel has welcomed many VIPs through their doors, including Hollywood stars Idris Elba, Sir Roger Moore and Helen Baxindale and much loved celebrities Barry Norman CBE and Claire Sweeney. Netherstowe House Hotel has twice been voted ‘Restaurant of the Year’ in the Taste of Staffordshire Awards, and holds a coveted AA Rosette for Culinary Excellence and Michelin Guide recommendation. Netherstowe House

Hotel is a wonderful venue for anniversaries, birthdays, weddings and events, but also offers intimate and relaxed dining in a truly beautiful setting. With attentive and friendly staff, and a boutique ‘Country House’ feel, Netherstowe House is the perfect mix of contemporary luxury and old world ‘Downton Abbey’ elegance.

Afternoon Tea

Traditional Afternoon Tea - £19.95 per person. Traditional Afternoon Tea with a flute of Champagne - £30.45 per person. Afternoon Tea is available every day from 1pm until 5pm (last serving at 3pm). Fancy an extra special get-together with the girls? Ladies Day is every Wednesday when Afternoon Tea served with a Bucks Fizz aperitif is just £19.95.

To win Traditional Afternoon Tea for two, just unscramble the anagram below, and re-arrange the letters to find a sweet treat that some people enjoy with cheese!

teakcurif

----- ----

To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to ‘Netherstowe House Hotel Competition’* at josscitylife@gmail.com or by post to Citylife In Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS by the competition closing date of Saturday 21st May 2016. One entry per household, multiple entries will be excluded. Winners will not be offered a cash equivalent. *Netherstowe House Hotel will contact the winner to arrange their prize, and may contact entrants with information, offers and news. Congratulations to Natalie Cox of Webb Close, Fradley who gave the correct answer of 'macaroon', and solved the competition anagram in the April issue.

Beyond The Grave - Putting Your Affairs In Order Preparing for the worst case scenario may feel like a daunting task but it can make all the difference to those who are left behind. Here Lee Trubshaw, Partner at solicitors Bradin Trubshaw & Kirwan LLP, explains how by making your wishes clear, you can spare family and Lee Trubshaw, Partner Bradin Trubshaw & friends potentially painful decisions or Kirwan LLP based on Beacon Street, Lichfield. financial difficulties:

Sorting through important documents and deciding who will receive your money and possessions after you die can be very upsetting. But by putting your affairs in order you can make your wishes known for a time when you may not be able to make decisions regarding yourself, family, finances, health and legal affairs.

Legal Matters There are a number of legal documents that help plan how your affairs should be handled. If you have not got a Will you should make one - not formalising who you wish to benefit from your money and belongings means the law will dictate who receives what – which may not be who you want it to be. Be sure to think about arrangements for any children you may have under the age of 18 and appoint Guardians in the event that both you and your partner die. Make a Lasting Power of Attorney which allows you to specify who you wish to handle your affairs if you can no longer do so for yourself. There are two kinds of LPA you can make one or both types. The Health and Welfare LPA allows decisions to be made about, for example, your medical care, moving into a care home and accepting/refusing life-sustaining treatment, whereas the Property and Financial Affairs LPA covers decisions about money and property.

Organisational Tasks Your Will states who you want to be your Executor(s) – those who sort out your affairs after you die. Be sure to tell them where you keep important papers and legal documents and ideally keep them in the same place - for example, birth and marriage certificates, divorce papers, bank statements, credit card statements, mortgage details, property deeds, savings and investments, insurance policies, tax certificates, outstanding bills. It is also really helpful if you list any regular payments that will need to be cancelled and the people who should be informed when you die. Some people also like to make a Funeral Plan – make sure it is left where your loved ones can find it.

Digital Legacy The concept of a Digital Legacy is relatively new and at the present time less regulated. As we continue to move towards a paperless existence it is important to make a plan covering your online presence – or digital footprint - when you pass away. Having a list of your email, online shopping and bank accounts, social media profiles, libraries of music, films and photos in both print and on a USB stick will make it easier for your family to deal with your digital life. That could include closing down an online bank account, recovering photographs on social networks, deactivating a Twitter or Facebook account. The safest way to organise your digital legacy is to list your digital assets (digital purchases such as music, films, books, online bank accounts and investments) and digital presence (social media, email and e-commerce accounts) and store it with your Will, but not as part of your Will which becomes a public document after your death - meaning that important passwords could fall into the wrong hands. Finally, you should specify what you wish to happen to each account – remember to include things like monthly subscription payments, charity debits, professional directories and air miles. For advice on putting your affairs in order and other legal matters contact Bradin Trubshaw & Kirwan LLP on 01543 421840 for a consultation or email ljt@btksolicitors.com

Win Tickets to the Spring Fashion Show

t 7.30pm on Monday 9th May at The George Hotel, Lichfield, The City of Lichfield Townswomen’s Guild and ‘Occasions’ ladieswear are presenting a Spring Fashion Show in Aid of Midlands Air Ambulance. To win two tickets to the show, simply email your name and contact details to josscitylife@gmail.com by the competiton closing date of Saturday 7th May, when the editor will pick the winning entry.

Winner of Mr Lomax's Lichfield Competition

Congratulations to Mrs Heidi Cowling of Sister Dora Avenue, Burntwood - winner of a copy of Mr Lomax's Lichfield by Howard Clayton.

New High Sheriff of Staffordshire Colonel David Leigh

n Thursday 14th April 2016, Colonel David Leigh was sworn in as High Sheriff of Staffordshire at Stafford Crown Court in the presence of His Honour, Judge Michael Chambers QC, Recorder of Stafford. As is the custom, outgoing High Sheriff Johnny Leavesley was also in attendance together with friends and family. The appointment marks the start of a year-long service to Queen and County to support the Judiciary, the Police and all matters relating to law and order and to keeping Staffordshire safe. Colonel Commenting on his appointment, David said: “I feel David Leigh extremely honoured to serve my County as High Sheriff, and to follow in the footsteps of a long and distinguished list of High Sheriffs who have dedicated their time and energies to promoting law and order and protecting Staffordshire. “Having served in the Territorial Army for 28 years, I intend to promote the Reserve Forces and Cadets as well as Staffordshire Clubs for Young People, of which I am Chairman. I am very keen to highlight the important work carried out by our volunteers who give up their time to provide a programme of sports, adventure training and other activities for the disadvantaged young people of Staffordshire generally. These organisations provide focus, drive and opportunities for Staffordshire’s younger generations and I am committed to helping them to make a difference; I will work hard over the next 12 months to recognise and support all volunteers who care deeply about the young people of Staffordshire and their future.” David is Chairman of the Staffordshire Yeomanry Museum Trust and President of the Stafford Group of Advanced Motorists and plans also to promote these organisations during his year as High Sheriff. For more information go to highsheriffofstaffordshire.co.uk

Help buying your first home

With the average property price in Staffordshire now at £174,560, finding an affordable home can be a struggle, particularly if you are a first-time buyer. However, there are many financial schemes available to help first-time buyers get their feet onto the first rung of the property ladder, without needing to turn to friends and family for help. Help to Buy equity loans The government’s Help to Buy schemes, launched in 2013, have helped many people make the dream of home ownership a reality. Under Help to Buy, there are two schemes which can help you fund a house up to the value of £600,000: • an equity loan scheme, which offers an interest free government loan of up to 20 per cent of the value of the property for the first five years - you need to put in a 5 per cent deposit and will need to get a mortgage for the 75 per cent balance; or • a mortgage guarantee scheme, where the government will guarantee up to 15 per cent of your mortgage loan, and you also need to put in a five per cent deposit. The Help to Buy ISA These savings accounts earn interest at a rate set by the ISA provider. In addition, the government will give you a bonus of 25 per cent, up to a maximum of £3,000, when you use the funds to buy a qualifying property. Shared ownership schemes Shared ownership schemes are aimed at key workers on lower wages such as nurses and police officers, as well as over 55s and people with disabilities. To qualify, you must not already own a property and your annual household income must not exceed a certain level. From April 2016, the limit increases to £80,000, or £90,000 in London. Individual schemes may have additional requirements. Typically, you acquire a 25 to 75 per cent share in the property. For this, you must provide at least a 5 per cent deposit towards the purchase price, and take out a mortgage for the balance. In addition to making your mortgage repayments, you pay rent on the housing association’s retained share. Shared ownership can offer some great opportunities for first-time buyers. However, the scheme requirements and restrictions can be complex, particularly when you come to sell. If you are thinking about buying a shared ownership property, it is a good idea to talk to a lawyer experienced in this type of property first. For more advice contact Julie Tomasik, head of residential conveyancing at Ansons Solicitors on 01543 267 988 or email jtomasik@ansonssolicitors.com.

Darling Buds of Tea at Netherstowe House

Afternoon teas continue to blossom at Lichfield's premier dining establishment Netherstowe House. With a reputation for serving the best afternoon tea in the region, the award-winning hotel and restaurant is giving tea-lovers another reason to pay a visit with its range of exquisite flowering teas. lowering Teas are hand-tied individual tea leaves placed with dried aromatic flowers to form a tea bud. It only reveals its secret centre when placed in boiling water, blooming into an artistic and captivating display with an enriching taste to enhance your afternoon tea. The flowering tea menu offers plenty of choice for those wishing to sample its floral delights and can be enjoyed with any service at the hotel including afternoon tea and dinner. The different flavour combinations are also said to hold homeopathic qualities. The Netherstowe House menu has eight different flowering teas including: Oriental Beauty - green tea, calendula and jasmine (soothes coughs, calms and aids kidney function); Butterfly Long For Flower - green tea, chrysanthemum, globe amaranth and jasmine (purifies, helps alleviate high blood pressure, and supports liver health); Summer Love - green tea, carnation and sweetscented osmanthus (aids digestive system, regulates cholesterol, helps skin condition) and Lily Fairy - green tea, lily and jasmine (aids restful sleep, supports eye function) While flowering tea quenches the thirst, the legendary Netherstowe House afternoon tea also includes hand-crafted cakes, delicate

sandwiches, homemade scone, Devonshire clotted cream and seasonal preserve. A range of specialty teas are also available to enjoy, such as Darjeeling, Assam, Earl Grey and Lapsang Souchong. If that isn’t tempting enough, Netherstowe House has also launched a new ‘Taste of Spring’ dinner menu which is served in their cosy, candlelit restaurant. It’s utterly charming, a touch of luxury combined with homely charm. You’ll enjoy five-star hospitality, superb value and gastronomic excellence with the emphasis squarely on fresh, uncomplicated

clean flavours. They care passionately about working with local suppliers, sourcing as much local produce as possible from neighbouring farms and regional suppliers - Free Range Packington Pork is the Chef’s ever popular signature dish! Whether it be for afternoon tea or dinner, each of Netherstowe House’s dining rooms is like a hotel-hug: warm and inviting, luxurious but intimate, and elegant without being pretentious. You can also purchase a flute of champagne for an even more glamorous experience. Sip, Sip Hurray! To treat someone to a supremely comfortable, vibrant, and uniquely local experience simply contact Netherstowe House Hotel's friendly Hospitality team on 01543 254 270 or email hospitality@netherstowehouse.com For more information visit www.netherstowehouse.com

From the Chef ’s Table

ere, Food Director of McKenzie’s Restaurant – Remi Skiba, talks us through the perfect way to serve English asparagus.

Asparagus, bacon and poached free-range egg with fresh parmesan

The best way to cook asparagus is to steam the spears and then grill them. We use a ‘combo’ oven to do this at McKenzie’s Restaurant - however there is another way. Take a tall measuring jug; place the washed asparagus in tip side up, and fill it 1/4 full with water and add a healthy teaspoon of butter. Then wrap in food-wrap and microwave for three minutes on a high setting.

Allow the spears to stand for two minutes. At the same time pan-fry or grill rashers of back-bacon, and poach one egg per serving. The trick to perfect egg poaching is to add a little vinegar to the water, not too much so that it could flavour the egg, but around 1/5 of a teaspoon. Before you drop the egg into boiling water, stir the water to create a central current, then break the egg and drop gently into the centre of the pan. To serve – place on the plate four or five spears of asparagus, two rashers of back bacon and the poached egg. If you wish you can slightly break the egg yolk and then cover with parmesan. Knife and fork at the ready and enjoy! McKenzie’s source their asparagus from Ian and Helen Fortescue who own and run a 150 acre farm. They have 3000 ‘crowns’ of asparagus in the ground, and the present plants are around six years old now. If the asparagus plant is looked after it will produce delicious tips for around 20 years! It can grow up to six inches a day if the weather is right and it thrives on warmth, good drainage and the correct amount of water. Asparagus season usually starts on or around 24th April, when it is cut by hand by Ian and Helen every morning for eight weeks. After producing delicious asparagus tips, the plant is allowed to go to seed, when it also produces asparagus ‘fern’ which can be found in florists. Ian, Helen and their daughter Charlotte also own and run Fortescues boutique on Dam Street, Lichfield.

Lichfield’s Lulu is enjoying her fame

Lulu is a remarkably cute Pomeranian who lives in Lichfield with her owner Sally Smith. Lulu weighs just 4 pounds and is currently starring in the ‘webuyanycar.com’ TV ad.

t four years old, little Lulu is fully grown and could well be a UK rival to ‘Boo’ the Pomeranian who is an internet sensation with over 2 million fans including Kim Kardashian. Lulu is no stranger to fame and has her own growing fan-base that includes famous names including Sarah Willingham (Dragons’ Den) and Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant.

Lulu is enjoying her fame, and loves posing in-front of the camera; in fact she was recently signed up by modelling agency Animals Direct! Sally told Citylife: “She is a very sweet, rare, unique and diminutive little adult dog, and a big hit with children. She’s very well trained and wherever she goes she attracts a lot of attention.” Lulu will soon be making further TV appearances and will be featured in Chat magazine. She will also be appearing at the Excel London Pet Show on 6th and 7th May, and at the NEC Birmingham alongside Professor Noel Fitzpatrick of Super Vet fame, plus a further ‘meet and greet’ appearance at the NEC later in the year. To see more of Lulu go to her Facebook page luludoguk. You can also follow her on Twitter @luluthepom and Instagram @luluthecutestdog

Looking for

Cutest Pet

Citylife in Lichfield’s

Think your dog is adorable or your cat is the cutest? Does your rabbit have real character or your hamster have model looks? We’re looking for the Citylife in Lichfield Cutest Pet, and we want to see your pictures of your dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, pigs, horses, snakes –

anything goes! Every month we’ll pick our selection of the cutest pets in the city and district of Lichfield and we’ll print them here in Citylife in Lichfield magazine. Later this year we’ll print the final 12 competitors chosen, and we’ll be asking for your votes to crown one lucky pet Citylife in Lichfield’s Cutest Pet! The winner will win a £200 cash prize and trophy! To get the ball rolling, here are our pets here at Citylife magazine – Stan the Border Terrier and Tui the New Zealand Huntaway, Border Collie cross. Send your pet pics to josscitylife@gmail.com or post them to Citylife in Lichfield Pet Competition, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS. Apologies but we can’t return pictures posted to us.

Limburg Choir Visit n 29 March, the internationally renowned Cathedral Boys Choir performed at Lichfield Cathedral. The Choir is from Lichfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s twin town of Limburg, and was officially welcomed to Lichfield by the Mayor, Councillor Andrew Smith at the Guildhall. After refreshments, the choir-boys had a tour of the Guildhall and the prison cells, which they found very impressive. The concert was very well received by the large audience, and the Choir Director, Mr Andreas Bollendorf, thanked the City of Lichfield for their huge support for the concert. To the great appreciation of the choir, the cathedral spire was floodlit during the evening in memory of Mr Klaus Knubben, the former director of the Limburg choir, who had died suddenly two weeks previously. He had directed the choir for 28 years.

Citylife in Lichfield nominates We Love Lichfield as Charity of Choice

Citylife in Lichfield are delighted to announce that our Charity of Choice for 2016 is We Love Lichfield.

he We Love Lichfield Fund started in 2011, when £24,000 in dormant Trusts were identified by Lichfield District Council. These Trusts had been set up by benevolent individuals and companies over the last few hundred years, to defray the costs of activities and needs across the district that in the 21st century no longer existed. With Government match-funding, the fund’s capital went up to £48,000, and through fundraising, investment and bequests, it now stands at £350,000. We Love Lichfield is a local fund that provides small grants to a wide range of voluntary groups and projects based in Lichfield District. Its aim is simply to make a difference across the district and to create an on-going legacy that will benefit the area both now and in the future. The fund will consider all applications from

local groups in need twice a year. Companies and individuals are welcome to donate or fund-raise, and all money is invested through a permanent endowment fund (that is overseen by registered charity Staffordshire Community Foundation on behalf of We Love Lichfield in line with charity commission guidelines). The interest and dividends earned on the invested money are then distributed as small grants across the district by the We Love Lichfield Fund. The beauty of this model is that it will provide a source of on-going funding that can be used for small grants (and larger grants as the fund grows), for many years to come. In fact, once the main fund reaches £500,000, it could give away £25,000 per annum for ever! Only voluntary groups that meet the fund’s criteria (which includes being situated in

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Lichfield District) are eligible for funding. In December 2015 We Love Lichfield presented Whittington Community Computer Group; Darnford Moors Seniors; TLC; 5th Lichfield (St Chad) Brownies; Churches Together in Lichfield; Holy Cross Church Holiday at Home; Lichfield Mysteries; Stonnall Gardeners Guild; Ridware Rascals; 1st Burntwood Scout Group; Burntwood Memorial Hall Community Association; Armitage with Handsacre Parish Council; Lichfield U3A; Blast Off and Longdon Old People’s Welfare Club with amounts totalling over £7500. The next round of funding has just closed and groups whose applications have been successful will be presented with their money at a special event on Friday 13th May at The George Hotel in Bird Street.

A Very Successful Year for Lichfield Ladies Tangles Lichfield Ladies Tangles has had a very successful 12 months, raising over £2500 for charities, both locally and nationally. The group was formed 3 years ago, for ladies between the ages of 45 and 60, and is part of the National Association of Tangent Clubs, with the founder members having been members of Lichfield Ladies Circle. The aims of the group are ‘Fun, Friendship and Fund-raising’ and there has been plenty of all three this year.

t their AGM in March, the outgoing Chairman, Viv Wyss was able to present cheques to three of their chosen charities: Dogs For Good, Lichfield Stroke Club, and Whittington Step Forward Stroke Club. In addition, cheques have recently been presented to The Alzheimer’s Society, The Buddy Bag Foundation, The Lichfield Garrick Community Stage Project and Round Table Children’s Wish, which was the National President of Tangent Clubs’ chosen charity, who was also present at the AGM. Lichfield Ladies Tangles has also supported the Helping Handbags initiative in Lichfield and assisted a local young friend, Chloe Harrington, raise £470 for The Little Princess Trust, by facilitating her sponsored haircut

through the club’s secretary’s salon, Francesco group. Lichfield Ladies Tangles has also sent Christmas cards to a very poorly little boy through Round Table Children’s Wish, and is also match-funding the efforts of Lichfield Ladies Circle to purchase Baby Journals for parents of very poorly babies at Birmingham Women’s Hospital. This will be presented in the near future. The funds have been raised through raffles and special events, such as a Thanksgiving Supper, and a pamper night at Body Beautiful Day Spa in Lichfield. A Phoenix Cards evening was hosted by Veronica Butt, who has also put forward the group’s charities as recipients of Phoenix Trading national charitable donations. Lichfield Ladies Tangles meet up every three

Lichfield Arts in May

weeks to partake in a wide range of activities to suit the members. Events coming up include Salsa Dancing, Lichfield Cathedral Spire Climb, Summer BBQ and wine tasting, and a Gala Fundraising Evening at Debenhams on May 12th, in aid of Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Tickets for this event are on sale at £5 and include free makeovers, refreshments and goodie bags. If you are interested in finding out more about this event, or Lichfield Ladies Tangles, please contact Sue Jay, Chairman, on 07808 727006.

Lichfield Arts closes its spring concert season at Lichfield Guildhall in May with 3 events.The month starts off on Saturday May 7th with folk music from Dan Donnelly and Ben Paley. Dan Donnelly is an Irish guitarist and singer-songwriter who mixes folk, blues, Americana and punk styles, whilst Ben Paley is an English Fiddle player steeped in both Appalachian music and Swedish folk music. The following evening, Sunday May 8th, will see a night promoting the return of Lichfield Fuse festival in July 2016. Local bands will perform and one will be chosen to fill the remaining Saturday slot at Fuse. Closing the season on Friday May 20th are The Born Again Beatles, who have wowed sell-out audiences with their note perfect renditions of The Beatles priceless backcatalogue. Lichfield Arts will be announcing

their Autumn Season events soon. Activity will continue over the summer with their Blues and Jazz festival in June and the highly anticipated return of the Fuse Festival in Beacon Park in July.

You can find further information or book at www.lichfieldarts.org.uk, by calling (01543) 262223, or visiting Lichfield Arts box office in Donegal House, Bore Street. Lichfield Arts are also on Facebook and Twitter.

Gardening in May T

he garden is alive with growth and flowers now – shrubs such as lilacs, azaleas and rhododendrons are at their best. Summer seems just around the corner and lengthening evenings make working in the garden a pleasure. The first crops are almost ready for harvesting and the garden is bursting with life. TASK LIST 1. Finish sowing hardy annual flowers outside in May - later sowings will result in later blooms. Sprinkle general purpose fertiliser around clumps of spring-flowering bulbs and ensure permanent shrubs and hedging are given a generous feed using this or rose fertiliser. 2. Lightly trim off dead flowers of alpine plants such as moss phlox, saxifrage and aubrieta once they have faded and trim excessive growth to keep plants tidy. Any rooted trimmings can be potted up to create

By Diana Muir of The Plant Plot

new plants. Prune back the flowering stems of hellebores as soon as blooms are past their best, cutting back to their base to make room for new shoots. If seedlings are required, leave a stem to set seed, then collect it and sow when ripe and dried. 3. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by warmer days. While the weather continues to be unpredictable, it pays to take precautions. Night temperatures can still dip to freezing so be wary of planting out half-hardy bedding and vegetable plants. 4. In the greenhouse continue sowing seeds of summer bedding plants. Thin out those in trays, or prick them out individually into pots. Plant up your hanging baskets with fuchsias and basket-plants and hang them in the greenhouse to give them a good start. Alternatively, buy young plants for pots, containers, and bedding - most need to be potted up into 7.5cm (3 inch) pots and grown on in warm, bright conditions ready for planting out at the end of May. 5. In May bedding plants such as fuchsias and geraniums benefit from pinching out by removing the very tip of a shoot to encourage nice bushy plants. Check plants regularly as their demand for water increases and most will also benefit from weekly liquid feeds. 6. Keep a look out for pests and treat immediately for the control of greenfly, blackfly, whitefly, red spider mite and other pests. Control slugs and snails by trapping them under flat stones or grapefruit skins. Collect the slugs and dispose of them. 7. Crops to sow outside or under cloches during early May include dwarf French beans, beetroot, sprouting broccoli, Brussels sprouts, summer and savoy cabbage, cauliflower, ridge cucumbers, endive, kale, kohl rabi,

lettuce, marrows, peas, radish, spinach, swede, sweetcorn and turnips. Delay sowings if soil conditions are cold and wet. For an early crop of beans, sow French and runner beans in pots in the greenhouse or on a windowsill. Choose deep pots, if possible, sowing two seeds per pot, and thinning to leave the strongest seedling which is then planted outside in late May or June. Alternatively, sow directly outside under cloches in May or June for a slightly later crop. 8. Hoe the soil up around the base of the stems of growing broad beans for extra support. Push twiggy supports into the soil along rows of tall peas to provide support as they grow. Sow sweetcorn seed in pots in a warm greenhouse, growing plants to the largest size possible before planting outside in June.

NEWS IN-STORE May is probably the busiest month of the year for gardeners as everyone becomes inspired by the better weather and the prospect of warm summer days spent in the garden. Gardens have in the past few years become very much ‘outdoor living areas’ and as such require planning and attention to their layout and maintenance. Spend some time this month keeping the weeds down, trimming and treating the lawn, planting up any gaps with fresh stock, protecting your plants from pests and diseases and generally making the garden look spic and span ready for the summer. As the chance of frosts diminish this month, it is time to plant up borders, pots and containers with summer bedding which will last through to autumn. By the time the Spring Bank Holiday comes round at the end of the month it is safe to put out all your tender plants that you may have started in a greenhouse or on a windowsill – if you haven’t had the time or space to start your own then there are plenty available in the garden centre now. Diana Muir The Plant Plot Ltd www.theplantplot.com

Walking Medieval Lichfield

ere, Kate Gomez takes us on a whistle-stop walk around the ancient boundary of our city, and finds that there’s a lot of medieval Lichfield left to see! An effective way to wind-up a Lichfeldian is to refer to Staffordshire’s premier heritage city as a ‘town’, and in fact Charters currently held at the museum in St Mary’s include Queen Mary’s declaration of 1553 that Lichfield was not only to be a city (as granted by her brother Edward five years earlier) but also a county in its own right. It is this charter that gave rise to the annual Sheriff’s Ride (and its much more recent and considerably shorter spin-offs) - a twenty mile perambulation of the current boundary of Lichfield. I have often sat and wondered

By Kate Gomez

whether at any point, the boundary was physically marked in some way (I do need to get out more) and just recently found an article written in the late nineteenth century which says it was ‘formerly marked by wooden posts, but they have much deteriorated and in some instances disappeared. A renewal in iron of the most important has recently taken place’. Descriptions of the boundary of the City of Lichfield date back to the late 1700s. Back then it was only a sixteen mile round trip. Although in 1806, local historian Harwood said they were based on ‘ancient writings’, I understand there is no earlier written description of exactly what constituted Lichfield. However, there are piecemeal records showing some of the boundary changes over the centuries. And there

must have been a fair few changes to get from a medieval town you could walk around in an hour to a city with a circumference of sixteen miles. A few months ago I spent a sunny morning trying to trace the boundary of what would have been the medieval town. With the help of John Snape’s 1782 plan of Lichfield, it’s actually fairly easy to do, even for someone as illiterate at map reading as me. Bishop Roger de Clinton surrounded the south part of the new town he had laid out in the late twelfth century with a bank and ditch and fortified the shared northern boundary of the town and The Cathedral Close. Apart from a couple of inconveniently placed walls, you can pretty much walk the whole way around.

3. The driveway passing the Lichfield District Council Offices follows the line of the town ditch, and there’s a plaque there too.

5. Looking up George Lane which was actually once part of the town ditch, possibly until the 16th century

1. The moat marking the northern boundary of both medieval Lichfield and the Close. Described on Snape’s map as a dry ditch or dumble.

2. Remains of the north east Tower, part of The Close’s fortifications. Thanks to archaeological investigations, we know that the town ditch in the St John’s Street area was about five metres wide, two metres deep and inevitably, was also used as a public tip.

When a section in the Council House car park was excavated in 2008, archaeologists discovered the sole of a woman’s shoe from the twelfth century, part of a medieval jug and the remains of a medieval dog’s head.

4. This plaque is located at the junction of Lombard St, Stowe Rd and George Lane.

Snape’s plan also marks the gates, or bar(r)s, at the main entrances into and out of Lichfield, and there are plaques at each of the locations, with the, hopefully temporary, exception of the Sandford Street gate. The building it was mounted on has recently been demolished but hopefully the plaque is being kept safely somewhere. Perhaps the best known of the gates is the one at St John Street which is still recalled in the name of St John the Baptist without the Barrs. As the name indicates, this stood just outside the gate and started out as a hostel for those arriving when Lichfield was closed for business for the night, many of them pilgrims on their way to see the shrine of St Chad at the Cathedral.

6. On the subject of names, the section of the ditch running from the gate on Tamworth Street, to the gate near St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital was known as Castle Ditch, and this, alongside hard evidence in the form of stones turning up nearby and local myth and folklore, has caused much speculation as to whether Lichfield ever had a castle proper alongside the fortified Close with its towers, turrets and strong walls.

7. Remains of one of the towers which were part of the south gate between Dam Street and The Close. Excavated in the 1980s. Finally, on the subject of names, I have to mention that Bakers Lane was once known as Peas Porridge Lane! Kate Gomez is the author of history blog Lichfield Lore, and one of the founding members of local history group Lichfield Discovered. Kateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first book on the history of Lichfield will be published next year. Follow Lichfield Dicovered on Facebook and on Twitter @lichdiscovered

Be the artist you want to be!

ion House Art School - pay-as-you-go weekly learning sessions taught by professional artist Carl Knibb ARBSA

• Art School sessions take place every Tuesday (10am to 12 noon) and Sunday (11am to 1pm). • Learn everything from drawing with pencil to working with gouache and oils, plus en plein air, life drawing and painting to music! • Everyone from complete beginners to experienced artists welcome. Learn new techniques, overcome obstacles in your work and have a lot of fun! • £15 per 2 hour session, no need to block book • No commitment, just pay-as-you-go, but places are limited so booking in advance is essential. Easel and basic art materials provided. To reserve your place contact Carl or Joss on 07833 735048 or 07935 855636, email lionhouseart@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page Lion House Art Lion House Art, 75 The Arches, Curborough Countryside Centre, Watery Lane, Lichfield, WS13 8ES. Tel: 07833 735048 or 07935 855636 www.lionhouseart.co.uk

Tippers acquires G&J Builders Merchants

Tippers have announced their acquisition of G&J Builders Merchants, Rugeley. This acquisition follows the purchase of Huthwaite Roofing supplies in 2015, and is a new chapter of growth for the business. G&J Builders Merchants had been trading for over 20 years and stocks a range of essential building materials alongside landscaping, plumbing and roofing supplies.

B 32

ill Tipper commented: “The acquisition of G&J Builders Merchants means that we are able to start trading in Rugeley whilst the construction of a brand new branch is underway on the 2.6 acre site we acquired in 2015. Once work is complete, we will move over to the new site which will offer customers a range of building materials and plumbing supplies, as well as a dedicated tool hire facility.” Tippers supplies home improvement, building and landscaping supplies to both the trade and public and is celebrating its 100th year in 2016. There are now 9 Tippers branches: Lichfield (where the head office is based), Tamworth, Wolverhampton, Kidderminster, Birmingham, Nuneaton, Uttoxeter, Huthwaite and Rugeley. Each branch incorporates a self-selection store and a trade counter. Certain branches also offer a tool hire service and have a dedicated kitchen and bathroom showroom. See www.tippersbm.co.uk for more information.

A Window on the Past

Here comes the parade! Welcome to the Bower

ay back in the 12th century, Henry II had no regular army that he could call on to wage the various wars and battles that were common in the Medieval world, and so he needed to keep a record of all the men between 16 and 60 in his kingdom who would be able to fight for him when the call went out. To ascertain this number, Henry set up a ‘Commission of Arraye’, whose job it was to organise in every region a once-yearly ‘Court of Arraye’ where the count could be made. In Lichfield on Whit Monday, a temporary structure or ‘Bower House’

On Monday 30th May, when you’re watching the parade go by, you might be interested to know that you’re taking part in an event that has roots that stretch back over 800 years, although the original ‘Bower’ was a very different occasion.

was set up on Greenhill, decorated with laurel leaves and lilac flowers, where the men attending (including those who were wealthy enough to own armour, weapons and perhaps even a war-horse or charger) were given a feast while their names were noted down. This impressive group of fighting men then paraded through the town, and as the years went by they were joined by morris dancers, religious iconography, representations of the city’s trades and men wielding muskets, who would fire a volley over Lichfield’s most important citizen’s house, and be given cake and ale

in return. Lichfield Greenhill Bower takes place this year on Monday 30th May. These fantastic pictures are presented here courtesy of the local history group ‘You’re Probably from Lichfield, Staffs if…’ The group’s Facebook page is a wonderful place to share memories of the city, and their regular meetings are open to all. The next meeting takes place on 3rd May at 7pm at Lichfield Social Club, Purcell Avenue. For more information call 01543 416393 or 01543 268842. Bower Day has always been a time of spectacle and civic pride. Long many it continue.

Big Wheel on Greenhill

Past Bower Queens The Bower ‘Big Heads’

C1960s. Linda Downton with a monkey.

C1897

Bird Street

‘Evelyn’ the old fire-engine

John Short & Son Funeral Directors

Mark 150 Years of Compassion and Professionalism ohn Short & Son Funeral Directors are celebrating their 150 anniversary this year. When the business was first opened in 1866, Queen Victoria was on the throne and gas-lights still illuminated the streets of England. It is truly remarkable that the same family has steered this highlyregarded business through the 19th, 20th and into the 21st century. The business is directed today by John and Mary Short, and their daughter Catherine, ably assisted by managers Ms Moira Tunnicliffe and Mr Terry Hadley. The business was created in 1866 by the current John Short’s great, great grandfather – Alfred Morgan, and the business is still located in the same premises at 3 High Street, Chasetown, Burntwood. In the early days the business was known as A F Morgan Funeral Directors, up until the 1930s when

John & Mary Short with elder daughter Catherine.

John Short married M i s s Morgan, and the business n a m e changed to its current one. Catherine Short is the sixth generation of the family to work within the business, and this wealth of knowledge and experience means that there is practically no request that can’t be met, and you truly will not find a more thoughtful, kind and professional service at this most difficult of times. John Short & Son is at the heart of the community, serving many of the same families now for generations, but their customer base ranges across Staffordshire and the Midlands. In the 1940s when family cars were pretty unheard of, their fleet also provided a taxi service for weddings and other important family occasions, weaving the business into family stories from the most joyful to the most poignant events. The bereaved could be confident that their funeral Mr Jan Allister & Mr Dave Kelley (driver/bearers), Ms Moira Tunnicliffe (Manager), arrangements were to be handled Miss Catherine Short (Director & Funeral Administrator), Mr Terry Hadley by friends, and that is how every (Manager), Mrs Sue Hadley (Funeral Administrator) and Mr. Graham Croshaw (full time Funeral Operative). Our other full-time Funeral Operative, Mr. Graham new customer is received – with Roberts, was on holiday when the photograph was taken. the care and sensitivity that only old friends can show. John Short & Son are dedicated to providing the best, most competent and compassionate service to the bereaved, and believe in faceto-face customer service. They strive to fulfil every request and to conduct each funeral service in exactly the way that the bereaved and deceased would wish – from providing traditional horse-drawn hearses to specially adapted motorcycle hearse and sidecar, and willow-work coffins. Many of us have definite ideas of how we would like our funeral service to be organised, and leave written instructions to our loved ones. Many families however do not have written instructions to guide them, or have not had to deal with the complex arrangements needed to ensure the smooth running of a funeral before. John Short & Son take the time to talk each customer through their options,

suggest ideas where requested and make the process of saying goodbye as stress free as possible by carrying out as much of the preparations as the customer needs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; without fuss. They are a name to be trusted, and generations of families have done just that. In fact they are fourtimes Golden Charter Award Winners. John Short & Son offer all kinds of funeral services, from religious to non-religious ceremonies, and also offer pre-payment funeral plans to ensure that bereaved families have one less thing to worry about. John and Mary Short would like to thank their daughters Catherine and Felicity, and all of the team at John Short and Son Funeral Directors for their hard work, commitment and dedication.

John Short & Son Funeral Directors

Great Entertainment

May 1st and 2nd

lans are all set for a great weekend of free entertainment in Lichfield city centre this Bank Holiday weekend. Lichfield Mysteries Community Arts (LMCA) has gathered groups of players from all over the region to perform the 2016 Mystery Plays and additional events will be taking place around the city. Market Square and Wade Street Church are the settings for the of 24 short plays performed over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, Sunday and Monday May 1 and 2. Some of the stories will be told using modern settings and others performed in a more traditional genre. Around 600 people will be taking part in the event produced specifically for all the family to enjoy. Additional events staged by LMCA at the Lichfield Garrick include a photography exhibition by Rugeley Phoenix Photography Group, art by Sylvia Royal’s Art Groups, poetry from The Lichfield Poets and Poetry for the People, performances from Shepherd’s Crook Puppet Theatre and a lunchtime sing-along led by the Lichfield Lighthouse Company. Acclaimed Storyteller Maria Whatton will bring the Medieval world to life through dark and ancient stories for the over

12s at St Mary’s Church and The George IV pub in Bore Street. The Phoenix Group’s Mysteries-inspired photography will also be exhibited at Lichfield Library and the art group’s main exhibition will run at Lichfield Cathedral until May 4. A special and unique event for Lichfield Mysteries will be a filmed presentation of Exodus by Epic Arts and Za’atari Refugee Camp, Jordan. The idea of having this film screened to an audience in England is really exciting for the young Syrians, and is a chance for their voices and stories to be heard. For further information go to lichfieldmysteries.co.uk.

O Superstars

n Wednesday 13th April I was in the audience for Lichfield Operatic Society’s performance of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Lichfield Garrick. This perennially popular musical was created by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice in the 1970s, but avoids feeling dated. This was helped by a contemporary and interesting lighting and set design, that locked together to create everything from a temple to the Garden of Gethsemane. It’s a daunting score, with musical numbers that demand a punishing range from the singers, but they tackled it with commitment, and managed to give real emotional punch to perhaps the best known story in the Western world - the betrayal and death of Jesus Christ. Phil Bourne was an intelligent and exasperated Judas, pushed to breaking point by what he sees as Jesus’s increasing delusions of godhood, and the threat to the group that this brings. His realisation that he’s betrayed the Messiah, and that he was trapped by circumstance was truly moving. Victoria Beck as ‘Mary’ gave polished performance after polished performance, and her rendition of ‘I don’t know how to love him’ was just beautiful. Special mention must go to Patrick Jervis (Simon), and James Pugh and Mark Johnson (Annas and Caiaphas) – gloriously unpleasant Pharisees, and Dan Anketell’s ‘Herod’ simply brought the house down with his 1920s inspired Busby Berkeley-esque number. Michael Manser (Peter) gave a strong and impressively competent performance, and Pete Beck (Pilate) combined this traditional ‘baddy’ role with an urbane and world weary compassion in scenes that were genuinely moving. Perhaps the most difficult role, that of Jesus himself, was tackled with sensitivity by Eoin Edwards, with an intriguing combination of vulnerability and power. Hats off to him. In fact, hats off to the entire cast, who rightly received a standing ovation from the delighted audience.

By Joss Musgrove Knibb

Shoppers’ helping hand to LHCRT

ichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust has received a donation of over £500, thanks to shoppers at Waitrose. Under the store’s ‘Community Matters’ scheme, shoppers are asked to vote for their favoured charity by placing a green token into a box. Each month, every Waitrose store donates £1,000 to local good causes, divided between three organisations, with the amount given to each determined by the number of tokens in the collection. Thanks to support from shoppers, Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Trust has been awarded £530 from the March collection. Receiving a cheque from the store organiser Sarah Fry, Trust Chairman David Dixon said: “We are very grateful to Waitrose for this helpful donation which is the third time from this source in recent years. It is good to know that so many of the shoppers support restoration of the nearby Lichfield Canal in this way.”

Roses and Shimmer The finishing touches for your perfect day

ne of the lovely things about modern weddings is that anything goes. Fancy a ‘festival style’ wedding held in a summer meadow? Want to treat your guests to traditional pub grub for a laid back reception? Or maybe you’re dreaming of full on 1930s Hollywood glamour? If you’re looking for some stylish twists on the traditional, we’ve put together a little taste of the most intriguing and enticing wedding trends 2016.

Vintage the way

all

The timelessly elegant styling of the Art Deco period is a hot trend for 2016,

as bridal hair-styling takes its inspiration from the drop-dead-gorgeous screen icons of Hollywood’s golden age. Think pincurls and waves, demi waves and rolls.

Arriving in Style

T h e r e ’ s something charming and joyful about wedding car trends this year. A hot new look is to extend your floral decoration to the outside of the car, with garlands and swags adding to this chic but ‘home-spun’ look.

A Little Slice of Heaven

Metallics and shimmer are big in 2 0 1 6 . Delicate silver or gold ‘lace’ decoration, geometric designs, and edible glitter can make a big, bold statement. Or if you’re looking for something more subtle, a touch a shimmer is perfect for any wedding in any season.

Rose Gold

Following on with the metallics theme, Rose Gold is the hot shade this year. It can

be added to wedding invitations, reception décor and even bridal makeup (it’s incredibly flattering to most skin-tones) and rose-gold wedding rings are a unique choice for brides who want their wedding ring to reflect their personality.

Petal Perfection

There are some charming ideas for wedding flowers becoming popular this season, from including edible berries, herbs and vines to both bridal bouquets and venue arrangements, to ensuring that the floral element of your wedding can be recycled by adding potted plants and shrubs. Very f o r m a l displays are out in favour of more relaxed arrangements, using blooms that are in season. Pick five or six flowers in a similar tone to create an ‘ombre effect’.

Signature Tipples

A great way to save the expense of an open bar is to simply serve two signature cocktails, the favourites of the bride and groom. Following the rose theme pink champagne is a very popular choice too.

Congratulations to Francesco Hair Salon

rancesco Hair Salon, Lichfield, are delighted to announce that Amy Forestor, Master Colour Artist has recently been put through to the Regional Finals of the L'Oreal Colour Trophy. Senior Stylist Chelsea Southwell is also through to the Wella Trendvison Regional Finals (Creative Vision Catagory), taking place on 17th May, and trainee Sianie Leigh Guest is through to the Hair Council Trainee of The Year Awards taking place in London in May. For perfect bridal and wedding hair-styling, contact Francesco Hair Salon on 01543 416466.

Tudor Row - At the Heart of Lichfield

Tudor Row is an exclusive shopping arcade at the heart of the City of Lichfield.The row is situated behind the TUDOR OF LICHFIELD - a wellestablished, family owned restaurant business housed in one of the city's oldest buildings that dates back to 1510. Enjoy one of their superb lunches, an afternoon tea, or some beautiful chocolates. The row connects Bore Street to Wade Street where it's almost opposite the Garrick Theatre, and within walking distance of the bus station, city train station and multi-storey car park. On Tudor Row you will find shops, hairdressers, beauticians, a florist, an ice cream servery and other quality retailers. SECRET GARDEN offer flowers for all occasions. This long-established family business creates exquisite floral bouquets, arrangements and sympathy tributes in modern and traditional designs. Their exclusive Wedding Floral Design service is available with free consultations. Visit them at 6,

Tudor Row. Local, national and international deliveries can be arranged. TUDOR BARBERS have been giving superb haircuts for almost 20 years. In the centre of Tudor Row, they offer superb value with Mens wet cuts at only £11.50; Boys wet cuts £10.50 and Senior Citizens (65+) wet cuts £8.50. They are open Monday to Saturday, and late night Thursday by appointment. For the finest haircuts by expert barbers visit Tudor Barbers at Tudor Row off Wade Street. TUDOR SEW Has over 30 years’ experience. It offers the best in Ladies and Gents clothing alterations and repairs. Tudor Sew offers bespoke ladieswear for that special occasion. There are sewing workshops for beginners. Find them on facebook.

TUDOR ROW

Tudor Row Barbers Established 19 years

Traditional & Modern Hairdressing for men & boys

• Mens - £11.50 • Boys - £10.50 • O.A.P’s - £8.50

Call for appointment for Thurs late night. No appointment needed any other time.

Open 6 days a week NOW OPEN TIL 6PM MON & TUES, THURS & FRI.

Tudor Row, Off Wade Street, Lichfield. Tel:

rest@tudor-lichfield.co.uk

01543 263351

Knitique

BENE UMBRA welcome new stylist Angela Lindsey, who has 15 years’ experience and has recently joined from high class salons in Solihull. Make an appointment with Angela for an introductory special price, by taking in their advertisement from this Tudor Row feature. Do you pay £35-£100 for your cut and blow-dry? At Bene Umbra you will pay from £19.95.Tel: 01543 250676, they are open 6 days a week. ERASE UK. Erase UK are the unisex solution to unwanted hair and are a well-established IPL and Skin rejuvenator clinic. They recently welcomed Kirsty on to the team, offering superb Nail and Beauty services. Kirsty

Additions

TUDOR ROW

previously worked in a spa and has 3 years’ experience; training in various different up-and-coming new treatments. Why not take advantage of their offer of 15% off your first visit to Erase UK for nails, waxing and tinting? If you have further questions, ring 07904 198615. KNITIQUE are now trading at their superb new shop at 7, Tudor Row. Your local yarn store, stocks quality yarns, patterns and accessories. Why not try one of Knitique's workshops? The details can be found online at www.knitiqueonline.com. Follow Knitique on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Call in to this beautiful shop in Tudor Row and speak to the friendly, helpful staff. ADDITIONS specialise in accessories for men and women. The shop in the centre of Tudor Row stocks a wide range of Hats, Walking Sticks, Bags, Jewellery, Grooming products and Gifts, all at affordable prices and excellent quality. Additions open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm. Why not checkout their Facebook page, facebook.com/additionslichfield or follow on twitter@additionslich.

Beacon Park on Bower Day! Bene Umbra

On Bower Day, 30th May, following the procession and crowning of the newly named Miss Lichfield outside the Guildhall at 12 noon, Beacon Park comes alive with lots for everyone to enjoy.The main arena will explode into action with Motorcycle Stunt Displays team - MotoStunts International, a team of 8-10 motorcycle riders including Britain's top female motorcycle stunt-rider and skilled trick and freestyle display jumpers. The team is also one of the UK’s largest car stunt display teams, and one of the few display teams to include cars, race quads, motorcycle stunts and specialist vehicles. Also appearing on the day are Portsmouth Action Field Gun Team, performing their flat field gun run; said to be the toughest team event in the world! At 3.30pm look to the skies and see the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team who are widely recognised as the UK’s premier military parachute display team.

n the day there’s a buzzing music tent with English power-pop rock trio Dodgy who rose to prominence during the Britpop era of the 1990s who are headlining this year, plus Stealth fronted by local singer Shaun Smith. The park will be filled with a colourful array of fairground attractions, charity stalls and arts and craft activities, plus the fabulous ‘Paws in the Park’ dog show, picnic areas, food stalls and fine wines and Prosecco from Lichfield’s

Worth Brothers Wine Merchants. Kids will love the play areas and the chance for an icecream treat! Paws in the Park opens registration at 12pm for Scruffs and will feature a Good Citizen Display Scheme, Prospectors Heel Work to Music, K9 Power Paws Protection Dogs Display and SSART Demonstration alongside Scruffs. Could your pooch walk away with one of these titles: Waggiest tail, Best cross breed, Best pedigree, Dog judge would most

like to take home, Cutest puppy, Prettiest bitch, Most handsome dog, Most talented dog, Scruffiness dog, or Best pack? There’s a free bandana for every dog entered provided by Groom for Improvement. Why not while away a fun afternoon in Beacon Park for just £3? Buy before 19th May and your wristband will only cost £1. Under 5s go free. Alternatively visit www.lichfieldbower.co.uk and buy your tickets online.

LOCAL NEWS Lichfield and Burntwood Tennis Leagues

Local tennis players in Lichfield & Burntwood now have an opportunity to play friendly, competitive tennis matches in the new Lichfield & Burntwood Tennis League. Open to men and women aged 18 and above, the league is for players of all standards. Players are organised into groups of 6-8 people of a similar level and arrange their own matches at mutually convenient times over an 8 week round. Entry costs £15 per round and each player has between 5 to 7 matches to play. Players may use any court that suits them both. With no annual membership to worry about, and only court fees to pay if applicable, it’s an affordable way to play friendly, competitive tennis. Players submit results via their phone or online and can see all the other results and match commentaries in their groups. There are prizes for the winners of each group and a free can of tennis balls for all players who complete three matches by the midway point of a round. The Lichfield & Burntwood league officially launched on 21st April. If players are interested in taking part they can view further details and sign up via the league page localtennisleagues.com/lichfield

World’s Shortest Fun Run

KP Events, best known for organising the Lichfield Half Marathon and the Lichfield Cathedral Dash, are staging a World record attempt: the World’s Shortest Fun Run on Monday 2nd May 2016 at the UK’s smallest park to raise money for the charity We Love Lichfield. The fun run is around the UK’s smallest park – Princes Park off Church Road and Farewell Lane in Burntwood. There are lots of definitions of a ‘park’ but in essence it must be a fenced open space, not adjoined to a building and be solely used for recreation. It will take around 55 strides to get around Princes Park in approximately 45 seconds. Everyone who takes part will, once verified by the Guinness Book of Records, be a record-holder. Fancy Dress is encouraged. KP Events are organising this unique event to raise money for We Love Lichfield, a local fund

that provides small grants to a wide range of projects based across Lichfield District. The World’s Shortest Fun Run forms part of a running-themed May Bank Holiday weekend. For more info and to register visit www.kpevents.net. For more information about the We Love Lichfield Fund visit www.welovelichfield.com

Lichfield Prize Call for Entries

The Lichfield Prize returns for its third year in 2016 with prizes worth £1000. emporium, in association with Lichfield Festival, is looking for emerging and established artists across the UK to participate in their annual visual arts competition. Under the exhibition title of Shadow, artists are invited to creatively interpret this theme with paintings, drawings, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, mixed media, or photography. First Prize is £500 cash (sponsored by tinyCOW) and a solo exhibition at emporium. Finalists’ work will also be exhibited within Lichfield Cathedral alongside an exhibition of selected entries at emporium for the duration of the Lichfield Festival. Entry Forms can be found at www.emporium-gallery.co.uk The closing date for entries is Tuesday 31st May 2016. For further information please contact emporium on 01543 256624 or email emporiumartgallery@gmail.com

Victorian May Day

Lichfield District Council is hosting a Victorian May Day event at Museum Gardens in Beacon Park on Monday 2 May, between 11am and 3pm. The May Day celebrations will include maypole dancing, a Victorian craft activity, and a range of traditional games, including a coconut shy. A highlight of the day will be a free 30-minute Punch and Judy show at 12.30pm. It is free to come along to the Victorian May Day event, although there will be a small charge for some of the activities. To find out more about visiting

Beacon Park, go www.lichfieldhistoricparks.co.uk

Cathedral to work with Bethlehem Icon School

Lichfield Cathedral has commissioned the Bethlehem Icon School to create new icons for the Cathedral, which will be displayed in the Nave. Icons have been part of the Christian Church from a very early period, and are considered to be special paintings that can bring individuals closer to Christ. The icons for the Cathedral will represent the Archangel Gabriel and the Mother of Jesus to whom the Cathedral is dedicated, along with St Chad. Two residential projects will take place in the summers of 2016 and 2017, when Ian Knowles, Director at the Bethlehem Icon School will bring students to Lichfield to create these works on site. The Cathedral will also be hosting workshops which will allow visitors to gain a better understanding of iconography, and of Christian culture and identity in the Middle East. The students from the Bethlehem Icon School will be given the opportunity to experience a different culture and find out more about life in the UK. To find out more about the Cathedral’s upcoming services and events please visit www.lichfield-cathedral.org

Ian Knowles

King Edward VI Leisure Centre

Lichfield District Council has given King Edward VI School and Staffordshire County Council notice that it intends to withdraw from the lease of King Edward VI Leisure Centre. The council has managed the leisure centre, which is owned by the school/county council, since its construction in 1995. This move comes as part of a wider review into the way leisure services are managed. The council’s aims to support leisure opportunities are outlined in its draft Sport and Physical Activity Strategy. To read the draft strategy and comment on it, visitwww.lichfielddc.gov.uk/sportstrat. The deadline for comments is 12 May 2016.

Advertise your event in our what’s on guide for only £3 for up to 100 words max, please contact Joss Musgrove Knibb 07542 522472. (Charities and advertisers may place what’s on listings free-of-charge).

Your Citylife What’s On in May

Sunday 1st May Staffordshire Day Staffordshire Day will take place on Sunday 1 May 2016. Celebrations include: Thanksgiving Service at Lichfield Cathedral at 3pm - all are welcome to attend; Middleton Motors Monthly, attracting over 100 motor enthusiasts gathered in vehicles old and new. Lichfield Mystery Plays; The Language of Sculpture Walk at 11am & 2pm - Join sculptor Peter Walker on Staffordshire Day to explore Johnson’s link to sculpture in a talk and walk around the city sculpture trail. £7.50 booking advised; Lichfield Half Marathon, a half Marathon starts at St Edwards School and finishes at Stowe Field at 10.30am, £24 affiliated runner/£26 non-affiliated runner.

Sunday 1st and Monday 2nd May Festival of Artists At Curborough Countryside Centre. 11am to 4pm each day, free entry. A large, exciting exhibition of over 50 talented local and regional artists working with oils, pastel, acrylics, watercolour, glass, wood, stone and other mediums. See the visiting artists demonstrate their techniques. View original works of art. Gain advice and be inspired. For more information on this event contact Kara Strachan on 07970 709098.

Tuesday 3rd May – Saturday 17th May Evita Brownhills Musical Theatre Company. In the Lichfield Garrick Theatre’s Main Auditorium. Featuring some of the best loved songs in musical theatre, including Don't Cry For Me Argentina, On This Night of a Thousand Stars, You Must Love Me, and Another Suitcase in Another Hall. Tickets from £17. Box Office 01543 412121

Friday 6th May Michael Bublé Tribute Evening At Moor Hall Hotel & Spa, Moor Hall Drive, Sutton Coldfield T: 0121 308 3751 A 3 course dinner followed by an evening of Bublé’s chart topping hits, to leave you “Feeling Good”! £35 per person or from £139 for 2 to include an overnight stay

Duets for Django At the Lichfield Garrick Theatre. If you love inspiring and stirring acoustic guitar then this show is definitely for you. Take two stunning guitarists, who

play with passion and extraordinary skill, place them centre stage and we have the ingredients for a very special concert. Paul Vernon Chester and Nick Mellor, cousins who have performed together since childhood, enthral audiences throughout the UK with their unique blend of Gypsy Jazz, Classical, Flamenco, Country and Blues. Also a composer, Paul's music has been broadcast in several countries. 7.45pm. Tickets £14.

Saturday 7th May Aled Jones MBE at Lichfield Cathedral Welsh singer Aled Jones MBE is set to wow audiences across the UK in 2016 as he embarks on a 22-date Cathedral tour. Aled is best known for ‘Walking in The Air’, the song from the animated film ‘The Snowman’, as well as being one of the world’s most successful boy sopranos. He made his professional debut aged 12, performing the role of the Angel in Handel’s Oratorio ‘Jeptha’ on BBC2 and BBC Radio 3. Since his first album ‘Diolch â Chân’ was released in 1983, Aled has gone on to release 30 albums selling a staggering eight million records to date. 6.30pm till 9pm. Tickets £21.45 - £38.50.

Friday 13th May Poacher Turned Murderer At 7.30pm. "Poacher Turned Murderer", was John Hewitt guilty or innocent? A Victorian tale of crime, punishment & tragedy. Presented by the St. Marys Players at Lichfield Museum in St. Marys on the Market Square, Tickets £6.50 now on sale from the T.I.C desk in St. Marys. Tel. 01543 256611 for further information.

Saturday 14th May St Peter’s Little Fishes May Fayre and Car Boot Sale 3pm – 6pm at ST PETER’S SCHOOL, STONNAL. Join us for: Games, bouncy castle, displays, refreshments and bar, birds of prey, and many new and exciting stalls.

Casino Royale Murder Mystery Evening at Moor Hall Hotel & Spa, Moor Hall Drive, Sutton Coldfield T: 0121 308 3751. Put your investigative skills to the test and enjoy a fun filled evening of murder, mystery and intrigue. £37 per person or from £149 for two with an overnight stay.

Tuesday 17th May At 7.45pm. Lichfield Civic Society

talk - Lichfield’s New Edwardians. Speaker: William Jackson The meeting will take place in The Lichfield Room, Wade St Church Community Hall, Frog Lane, Lichfield, WS13 6HS. Admission is free to members. Nonmembers are always welcome - £3 at the door.

Thursday 19th – Saturday 21st May At Lichfield Garrick Theatre. Giselle - Vienna Festival Ballet. With its irresistible combination of a heartbreaking story and exquisite choreography, Giselle is the perfect way to discover classical ballet. Tickets (adult) from £16.50.

Friday 20th May An Evening with Lola Lamour at The George Hotel, Bird Street, Lichfield T: 01543 414822. Enjoy a delicious three course evening meal in the Garrick Suite with nostalgic entertainment from the glamorous vocalist, Lola Lamour. £27 per person.

Sunday 22nd May Plant Hunters’ Fair at Middleton Hall, Middleton, Tamworth B78 2AE A wonderful plant fair at this Staffordshire gem with entrance to the Gardens, Grounds, Hall and Plant Fair all for just £2.00. 10am-5pm. The plant fair has a brilliant line up of fifteen nurseries including Bob Brown's Cotswold Garden Flowers, award winning Edrom Nursery from Scotland, exciting new nursery Jurassic Plants from Wales as well as Staffordshire terracotta pots, garden furniture and vintage garden tools. For full details of all nurseries attending see www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk

Saturday 28th May Plant Hunters’ Fair at the National Memorial Arboretum DE13 7AR FREE ENTRY to the Plant Fair and Arboretum (P&D parking). 10am – 4.30pm. Popular plant fair featuring many highly respected specialist nurseries with a great range of perennials, shrubs, trees and old heritage varieties. Simply something for every plant lover. Nurseries include Pottertons Alpines, Edrom, Special Perennials, Shady Plants, Hill View Hardy Plants, Gobbett Nursery, Bridgefarm Nursery, Linda Scott Plants, Chris Cooke Plants, Artisan Plants, Green's leaves, Tissington Nursery, Conquest Plants, Penmere Plants, Mayfields, Plantazia, Studio 8 Pottery, Lyneal Mill, Chilli Zoo, Hall Farm Nursery, Packhorse Farm. Details

www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk

Tuesday 31st May to Friday 3rd June Discovery Week Come along to the Staffordshire Regiment Museum throughout Discovery Week and meet our WWI personnel who will be on hand to guide you and answer your questions on trench life. Get under the surface of WWI with the help of our knowledgeable Education Team.

Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th June Plant Hunters Fair at Hodnet Hall Gardens, Hodnet, Market Drayton, TF9 3NN Great event at the wonderful Hodnet Hall Garden with special low entry price of only £3.50 for adults and children free for the plant fair and gardens (garden normally £6.50 for adults/£3.00 Children), 10am-5pm. Plant fair featuring a brilliant line up of specialist nurseries from across the country. Over 60 acres of breath taking gardens and dramatic lakes. Visitors can explore the gardens, meet top nurserymen and women and enjoy refreshments in the picturesque restaurant. Full details from www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk

Event Venues St Peter’s School, Main Street, Stonnall, WS9 9EE The Lichfield Garrick Theatre, Castle Dyke, Lichfield, WS13 6HR. Tel: 01543 412121 Moor Hall Hotel & Spa, Moor Hall Drive, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, B75 6LN. Tel: 0121 308 375 moorhallhotel.co.uk The George Hotel, Bird Street, Lichfield, WS13 6PR. Tel: 01543 414822 Lichfield Cathedral, The Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 7LD. Tel: 01543 306100 Wade St Church Community Hall, Frog Lane, Lichfield, WS13 6HS. Lichfield Museum in St. Marys on the Market Square, Market Square, Lichfield, WS13 6LG Tel: 01543 256611 Curborough Countryside Centre, Watery Lane, Lichfield WS13 8ES Hodnet Hall Gardens, Hodnet, Market Drayton, TF9 3NN National Memorial Arboretum DE13 7AR Middleton Hall, Middleton, Tamworth B78 2AE The Staffordshire Regiment Museum, DMS Whittington, Lichfield, WS14 9PY

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