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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 George Ellis-Kendal 07834 998004 georgecitylife@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...
12 Fly Me to the Moon Charlotte Benton journeys through space at Lichfield Cathedral
............................. 18 Curious Customs Jono Oates explores the history of The Abbotts Bromley Horn Dance
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30 Happy Birthday Dr Johnson! Lichfield's famous writer celebrates his 310th birthday
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35 Cafe Culture The perfect places to grab a coffee and a bite to eat
............................. 40 CityView The latest newsletter from Lichfield City Council
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Tastes of the Season Easy One-Pot Meals
One-Pot Recipe
By Simon Smith
Now that September is upon us we are no longer thinking about BBQs but more about easy and healthy dishes that fit in with going back to school or uni, The basic and time restraints ingredients for from a busy day at One-Pot Chicken work. The answer can often be found in a one-pot meal which can be done with the minimum of preparation or culinary skill. If cooking appliances are at a minimum it’s worth looking at an induction hob which can be found at less than £50 in many places.They are very safe, easy to clean and use little electric. Remember you need an induction pan to go with it and you are on your way to quick and easy food.
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One Pot Chicken Casserole
4x 2x 4x 1 pint 2x 1x 1x 4x
Method
Skinned and boned chicken thighs Carrots, peeled and cut in half Sticks celery Water Chicken or vegetable stock cubes Trimmed leek Onion peeled New potatoes
Put all the ingredients together in a pan, cover with a lid and bring gently to the boil. Simmer for 15 minutes and serve. For vegetarians use tofu instead of the chicken. For those who like a continental flavour leave the potatoes out and add some egg noodles at the last minute with some chilli.
Simon Smith runs a catering business from his production kitchen in Lichfield, providing bespoke private dinners plus wedding, corporate and event catering. Simon also undertakes cookery demonstrations around the country and with local businesses such as Arthur Price and Tippers. During the summer months Simon works for private clients both on superyachts and in villas in St Tropez and Europe. If you are looking for catering or a day of cookery skills go to www.simonsmith-chef.com *All recipes serve four people. **Please take extra care when preparing and handling hot foodstuffs. Go to www.food.gov.uk for further details.
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Lucky Find for Local Historian ................... Lichfield historian, tour guide, author and our very own feature writer, Jono Oates, is the new custodian of an extensive archive documenting the city’s pubs. The collection was painstakingly pieced together by Lichfeldian Laura Bowcutt and includes hundreds of photographs capturing the changing face of the Lichfield pubs.
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Laura, now 84, started taking photos almost 70 years ago. Deciding it was time to pass on the baton, she put the collection up for auction with Richard Winterton Auctioneers. The archive generated a lot of interest when it went under the hammer at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Fradley Park, on Wednesday 17th July, with the winning bid of £850 coming from city tourism specialist, Jono, who recently released his book, The A-Z of Lichfield.
As well as a mixture of Laura’s own photographs and others donated to her through the years, the archive includes newspaper cuttings and other supporting documents and memorabilia, including lists of Lichfield’s legion of pubs and their respective landlords dating back to Victorian times. As well as pubs, there is also memorabilia of The Lichfield Brewery and information on the old Regal Cinema, changing shops and trade premises, the hospitals, a collection of old maps and local history books.
Big Benefits, Local Values ...............................
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K Boiler Fit consists of three fully-trained industry professionals, with a combined experience spanning more than 50 years, who have joined forces to offer customers not only the best products and service available, but at fantastic prices too! Based in Rugeley, the brand new company can provide rates that are cheaper than the larger energy companies as well as first class customer service. UK Boiler Fit only uses the industry’s leading brand boilers, smart controls and components, along with being Vaillant and Ariston approved installers. All members of the team are DBS-checked as well as expert gas safe engineers, and can source and fit A-rated boilers at competitive prices, with the typical boiler installation costing as little as £1500.There are even options to pay via an FCAregulated finance deal should you need to and spread payments out over a longer period of time.
Boiler installations from UK Boiler Fit can come with up to a 12-year warranty, again longer than most of the big energy companies, and you will even receive a free first service, a free magnetic filter (usually worth £90) and a free smart control (usually worth £174). There are no hidden extras with UK Boiler Fit – what you see is what you get, which means reliable, first-class customer service and quality products at consistently affordable prices! For more information, visit www.ukboilerfit.co.uk or
call 01889 803178.
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Beacon Park’s Fun Day Round-Up
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Heidi - winner of 'best undreds of children and their dressed bear' families flocked to Beacon Park on Wednesday 7th August to enjoy the Fun Day. Organised by Lichfield District Council, there were plenty of happy faces at this year’s event, with a range of games and activities on offer, such as giant inflatables, a miniature steam train and stalls. There was also a barefoot walk, rides on a carousel, craft activities, target games and much more to have a go at. The Teddy Arena, where children competed in teddy themed races, was a highlight of the day. Children, along with teddy bears, took part in races, including ted and spoon, ted on the head and teddy-wanging. There was also a best in show competition to find the ugliest, scruffiest and best dressed teddy bears. And, to top off the bear-themed fun, the park’s giant teddy mascot, Ranger Ted, also made a special guest appearance. For further information about visiting Beacon Park go to www.lichfieldhistoricparks.co.uk.
Ranger Ted and friends
Park attendant Chloe with Mahari, Georgia, Jarvis, Imogen and Zoe
Berti - winner of 'ugliest bear'
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Khalil, Khaldoun, Ziad, Sham and Osama
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Fly Me to the Moon Peter Walker’s Luxmuralis display
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his summer, Lichfield Cathedral hosted its very own “Journeys through Space, Light and Time” to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Here, Charlotte Benton took ‘one small step’ onto the lunar landscape and followed in the footsteps of astronaut, Neil Armstrong.
Arriving just after sunset, with the moon illuminating the cathedral, I was met by an eager group of volunteers, each wearing a sash labelled ‘Space Crew’ - this was where my mission would start!
Once through the entrance I was immediately transported back in time and found myself standing in a replica 1960s living room, complete with a retro television screen. Here, I witnessed the moon landing, accompanied by a recording of NASA’s original commentary, exactly as it would have taken place fifty years ago. Continuing on the journey, encased memorabilia lined the cathedral walls, illuminated by the dazzling light displays that perfectly captured the imposing building’s ambience. I was particularly eager to read the news articles that were displayed, taken from the months leading up to the moon landing, as the 238,857 mile journey was hotly anticipated! One of the most exciting parts of the exhibition was the artwork installation, ‘One Small Step’, by the cathedral’s artist-inresidence, Peter Walker.
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The Cathedral is transformed into outer space The entire nave floor was transformed into the surface of the moon allowing visitors to, quite literally, walk on the moon for themselves! I took a contemplative moment to pause and ponder the future possibilities for all humanity, much as Neil Armstrong may have done five decades ago. A further highlight of the exhibition was the short video clip of Apollo 11’s departure into space. I could sense the tension in the air as the Photography by Rod Kirkpatrick spacecraft prepared to launch… “3, 2, 1...” and a collective sharp intake of breath broke the audience’s suspense; an incredible moment to witness fifty years later, let alone at the time! There were plenty of opportunities to unleash my creative side too as visitors were encouraged to help draw the biggest galaxy in the universe, and I eagerly left my interpretation of what I thought might lie beyond Earth. The final part of the interactive event encouraged everyone to lie down on the cathedral floor and gaze up to the ceiling, where a striking light display of outer space encompassed us. From shooting stars, to supernovas - this was the perfect opportunity to reflect on the walking journey and consider the wonder of Space, God, the Universe and Everything!
Photography by Rod Kirkpatrick
The whole experience was created by Peter Walker working with composer David Harper as an artistic collaboration called ‘Luxmuralis’. To find out about future events hosted by Lichfield Cathedral, visit https://www.lichfield-cathedral.org/what-s-on.
Does the man down the pub know better?
Advertising Feature
Do you take financial advice off the man down the pub or the women off the number seven bus? Did your mate once have an ISA, which makes him an expert on all things financial? Are you happy to trust your investment decisions to a non professional? Should you really be seeking advice from a fully qualified, experienced financial adviser? Can you afford not to?
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 financial needs including Pensions, Investments, Savings, Protection and inheritance tax. The first appointment will be at my cost and there is no obligation to proceed any further. 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 your priorities and where you want to be financially in the future and how I may be able to help you get there. As a member of a twelve 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. My clients are mainly in the Burntwood, Cannock, Lichfield, Rugeley and greater Wolverhampton areas, although I do have clients much further afield. At Four Oaks Financial Services we advise our clients on a range of investments and are very proud to have their trust and confidence to do so. 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 and there is no obligation to proceed further. It is often said that people deal with people so please give me a call or drop me an email, lets have a chat, 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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Monkeying Around!
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bove the treetops of Cannock Chase adventure awaits! Daredevil Charlotte Benton takes on the ultimate Treetop Challenge at Go Ape.
It is safe to say that Go Ape’s Treetop Challenge is not for the fainthearted; however three hours of physical and mental strength are greatly rewarded as you cascade through the luscious forest. Overall, it’s a thrilling experience that is bound to leave you wanting more! Upon arrival I felt rather apprehensive and unsure as to what the Treetop Challenge had in store for me. Home to the longest high rope course across all the Go Ape locations in the UK, my knees began to tremble even at the thought of the 260-metre descent through the forest. My concerns were immediately eased after meeting the centre's reception staff who reassured me that I had nothing to worry about; the pleasant temperature and beaming sunshine also helped to calm my nerves (initially, may I add)! Following a friendly greeting from the reception staff, I was introduced to the instructor Gary, known as ‘G’, who proceeded to take me through the safety briefing and initial introduction to the ropes. To begin with I familiarised myself with how to securely clip onto each obstacle, ensuring that I felt confident enough to ascend up into the forest canopy. Before I knew it, I had taken to the treetops and took a moment to survey the lush greenery that surrounded us. The Challenge took place over five sites, each one offering a plethora of high rope obstacles along the way. From tunnels and tightrope bridges to Tarzan swings and long zip lines, this is one gripping course – literally! Be sure to hold on tight, as you are in for one extraordinary ride! I successfully navigated the first three sites. After my initial nerves I had now relaxed into the experience and even found myself admiring the distinctive landscape. However, the tranquillity was about to end, for as I neared the end of the fourth site, prior to descending along the course’s fastest zip line, thunder began to rumble… Thankfully, ‘G’ was on hand to safely instruct my descent as quickly as possible, but still leaving just enough time to appreciate the achievement of reaching the platform before swooping along the forest canopy and back onto the ground - a huge relief, following the return of my trembling knees! After a short break, I returned to the final site, courage restored and ready to go - this time tackling the final Tarzan swing along with several other nerve-wracking obstacles that lead me to my final, but thrilling, zip
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line ride. I was elated to complete all five sites, especially given the typical British weather conditions, whilst I even relished the adrenaline rush along the way. Overall, my favourite site has to be the third where I scrambled across a giant net and tackled the highest platforms. To capture your memorable treetop experience, be sure to purchase Go Ape’s very own phone holder, and don't forget to pose for a selfie at the end of the Challenge next to the ‘Smashed It’ sign! The Treetop Challenge is suitable for those over the age of 10, alongside those who meet the minimum height restriction of 1.4-metres (4 foot 7 inches). Be sure to check out Go Ape’s website to keep up to date with its latest news and of course the all-important weather updates!
For more information, visit www.goape.co.uk/locations/cannock-chase.
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Curious Customs
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The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
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n Monday 9th September one of the country’s most curious, and traditional, folk dances takes place in Staffordshire – the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance. Our feature writer, Jono Oates, looks at the near 800-year history of the ‘dance of the antlers.’ Each year, on the first Monday after the first Sunday after 4th September, a rather bizarrely-dressed ensemble of people, some carrying ancient deer antlers, parade around the village, and surrounding area, of Abbots Bromley. This is the historic Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, reputed to be the oldest folk dance in Britain and commemorated this year in a set of Royal Mail postage stamps. It isn’t exactly clear when the dance was first performed but it’s thought that it was at the Barthelmy Fair, held to celebrate St Bartholomew’s Day in 1226. It’s believed that the original dances were held during the time of the winter solstice and possibly held on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day but the current ceremony has been held on Wakes Monday for several hundred years. During the First World War the Horn Dance was suspended, as many local traditional dances and customs were, but other than that, it is believed that the dance has been carried out, in its current format, for more than 400 years. The group consists of 12 people, six of whom carry the heavy antlers, and the others are made up of Maid Marian (in true panto-style, played by a man), a boy carrying a bow and arrow, a jester or fool, a hobby-horse, a boy carrying a triangle and a musician playing an accordion. The 12 dancers have traditionally been played by men and boys but, in more recent times, the roles of the triangle player and bowman have also been played by girls. For many years the dancers were mainly made up of members of two Abbots Bromley families, Adey and Bentley, however the dancers today come from the local area, although some lucky visitors are sometimes given the opportunity to take part! The antlers, three pairs painted black and three pairs painted white, are reindeer horns. One of these horns was carbon-dated in the 1970s whilst being repaired, and was found to date back to the 11th century. Reindeers are thought to have died out in Britain by the 11th century so the antlers may well have been imported from Scandinavia. The ceremony starts at 8am at St Nicholas Church in the village, which is where the antlers are kept. The dancers then perform on the village green before travelling around the local area, including a visit at midday to Blithfield
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Hall, the Grade I ancestral home of the Bagot family. Here, the dancers perform in the Hall’s gardens while visitors watch from the vantage point of a ‘ha-ha’. After calling in at several local pubs during the afternoon the troupe returns to the village green at 8pm where the antlers are returned to the safety of the church. While the dancers are processing round the local area, the Wakes Monday Festival takes places in the village, with craft stalls dotted around and exhibitions in the church. Visitors can either stay in the village or follow the performers on their travels. This year a series of Royal Mail postage stamps, with the collective title of ‘Curious Customs’, has been issued and the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance is one of the eight traditional, and unusual, customs chosen for the series. The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance is quaint, historic, traditional and quintessentially British and is definitely one of the highlights of the September calendar in Staffordshire. For more information on event timings and the local area please visit the Horn Dance website at www.abbotsbromley.com/horn_dance. Sources: The British Newspaper Archive; www.abbotsbromleynostalgia.co.uk.
COOL SHAPING CLINIC
Cryolipolysis - Fat Freezing • Cavitation - Fat Blasting • Radio Frequency Skin Treatment
Ultrasound Fat Cavitation Therapy Picture this – you’ve worked hard to lose weight and tone up, but there is still that one stubborn area on your body where the fat just won’t disappear. It could be love handles, cellulite, bingo wings or a flabby tummy, but no matter how much you diet and exercise, it just won’t go! Sound familiar?
Well help is at hand as we found out when we sent Helen Smith along to experience a new treatment, called Ultrasound Fat Cavitation Therapy, at Cool Shaping Clinic, Rugeley. The treatment began with me being measured by the therapist – this is also done after the treatment too to see how much fat is lost in total. Next, I lay on the bed whilst I was covered in a cold ultrasound gel which helps to protect my skin from the machine.
Continued... Now, it’s important that I don’t drink any alcohol, caffeine or ingest any sugar for the next 48 hours in order to give the treatment maximum time to work as toxins will continue to be expelled from my body. I’m also told that I need to do some form of exercise for 30 minutes (vigorous housework DOES count ladies!) to increase my heart rate, and also to body brush my skin after a shower in order to boost circulation in the area and help push glycerine and toxins through my intestines and out of my body.
Over the next 24 hours I duly do as I am told – I avoid alcohol on the evening and even forego my beloved morning coffee the following day, all in the pursuit of a Barbie-esque waistline! My return to the clinic two days later for a further measuring session proves it has all been worth it as my inch-loss has now reached 2 inches and, if I’m careful with my diet and exercise, could reduce further still! Cool Shaping Clinic recommends between 4-6 sessions of Ultrasound Fat Cavitation to reach the desired result and all staff are fully-trained and qualified to carry out this non-invasive procedure.
A high-pitched noise is emitted by the machine once it is turned on and thus begins the ‘fat blasting’ therapy which entails the therapist working a hand held machine across my belly and waist for 20 minutes, before changing to a skin-tightening machine which is, again, massaged across the tummy and waist area. It’s a lovely relaxing sensation and I lay back dreaming of the flat stomach I had always wanted! Immediately after the treatment there is a difference – I certainly look trimmer and I can scarcely believe my eyes and ears as the therapist measures me again and tells me I have lost a staggering 1.25 inches already from the area!
Continued right...
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Your Garden in September By Byron Lewis
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s the end of the summer approaches, it’s time to look ahead and plan for a colourful autumn display. Many cottage garden plants are just coming into-their-own at this time of year.Try michaelmas daisies (Aster varieties) for a large show of daisy-like flowers from whites to pinks and blues. Japanese anemones also have good autumn blooms, while rudbeckia and crocosmia will continue the show through to October. In pots and containers, once your summer plants are exhausted, swap them for pansies, violas and spring flowering bulbs. Add in a few heathers and conifers for foliage, colour and small pots of shrubs to give further interest so your patio will look colourful right through to next spring with very little effort.
Also consider planting seed potatoes for a Christmas crop - use the special tubers available now and, after around 14 weeks, you can harvest a supply of new potatoes. If you've got a greenhouse you can also plant potatoes indoors to give an earlier crop too - it's a pity to waste the space in winter, put it to good use instead! Byron Lewis runs Lichfield Garden Centre at Curborough Countryside Centre, Watery Lane, Lichfield. Tel 01543 254306 or visit www.lichfieldgardencentre.co.uk.
Spring bulbs are now available in the garden centre. There are some stunning colours and spring bulbs offer a great way to provide interest when there is little else in flower. The old favourites like dwarf daffodils and crocus are always good choices, but why not try some of the different tulips and irises which are available? These generally flower a bit later than some spring bulbs, but the diversity in colours is huge, and many tulip flowers have different forms - some with frilly petals and even variegated leaves. It's not only the flower garden that can give you more in the winter use your vegetable garden too. Crops such as spring cabbage, broad beans, kale and much more can be planted as seedlings now and will mature over the next few months, while fast growers like spring onion, lettuce and radish will be ready before Christmas.
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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Interiors ............................. Advertising Feature
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Blush - The New Neutral By Daniel Wynn
hen you think of neutral colours in interior design, you would probably conjure up shades of beige, taupe and grey. But what most people wouldn’t consider a neutral is the ever growing and popular pretty shade of ‘Blush’. For the past decade grey was the go-to neutral for most people, but now blush is overtaking grey to fashion a more feminine and elegant room. As is the case with many neutral colours, the hues can range from almost coral pink to lighter peony inspired shades. Though it’s a more feminine alternative to grey and taupe, blush works well when used in conjunction with other neutral shades, and here we can show you how to incorporate blush in your home.
Inject Some Blush In Your Home:
1. Pink Lustre 5A Vase £20 by Dunelm. 2. The Frame Velvet Chair £599 from MADE.com. 3. Cream Shagreen Ayden Table £849 by Maison 55 at Houseology. 4. Pembrook Rose Cushion £35 by Ashley Wilde at LuxDeco. 5. Silk Oyster Cushion £26 by Kandola. 6. Jaipur Throw in Blush £140 by Christy. 7. Blush Pink Gold Metallic Wallpaper £20 per roll by I Love Wallpaper, & Rose Gold Geo Wallpaper £30 per roll by Next. 8. Brass & Blush Table Lamp £175 from Cox & Cox. 9. Rose Gold Abstract set of 2 Wall Art £120 by Graham & Brown. 10. Copper Ombre Ceiling Pendant £45 by Dunelm.
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Daniel’sTips
The key to injecting your home with blush is to not go over the top and balance it with other neutrals, such as ivory, oyster and lighter taupe colours. Don’t be afraid of contrasting it with pure white for a fresher look or a shade of grey for a more masculine style. • When it comes to decorating walls, I would paint three walls in an off white or pale oyster shade and then opt for a feature wall in blush paint or a geometric wallpaper. • Texture is key to creating that luxurious experience and experiment by mixing velvet furnishings with silks and soft cottons. • Balancing the look with metallic finishes with also create that sophisticated vibe, so consider pairing blush with brushed bronze, rose gold and antique brass.
Interiors
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Interiors Carpet Capers Superior quality carpets to suit every room and budget. Prices range from £3.99 per sq. mtr to £39.99 sq. mtr. Available from United Carpets & Beds, Phoenix Retail Centre, Watling Street, Cannock WS11 0EQ.
Bedding Down Large display of beds with double divan sets from £249. Available from United Carpets & Beds, Phoenix Retail Centre, Watling Street, Cannock WS11 0EQ.
Interior Motive! Interior Choice is a window dressing company with a difference. Whether you’re after something traditional or more contemporary, blinds or curtains, Interior Choice can provide a whole host of bespoke, custom-fitted window dressings to add the perfect finishing touches to your home. Contact Interior Choice on 01543 406162 or visit the website at www.interiorchoice.net.
Mosaic Marvel This classic stone mosaic tiling (in the delectable shade of Midnight) is very on-trend for your bathroom or wet room. Available from Just Bathrooms & Panels, Phoenix House, Market Street, Rugeley – www.justpanels.co.uk.
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Less Mess ProPlas Tile provides a stylish and cost effective alternative to tiling, minus the cost, fussy fitting, mess and maintenance! Smoked Grey Proplas is available from Just Bathrooms & Panels, Phoenix House, Market Street, Rugeley – www.justpanels.co.uk.
Interiors
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Interiors
Artistic Additions Bring a touch of class to your interiors with the occasional piece of art, such as these items from The Courtyard Fine Art Lounge, Dam Street, Lichfield – www.thecourtyardfineart.co.uk.
Chalchihuitl II Original Glass Vessel Artist: Naomi Jacques Price: £595 Waves Original Ceramic Spheres Artist: Sue Crudgington Price: £395
Open Fields Limited Edition Bronze Sculpture Artist; David Geenty Price: £1,975
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Interiors
Burn Baby Burn! For a more traditional look, the Delamere Gas Fire (priced at £499) is the ideal choice. Team with a solid natural oak mantel (£849) and a cream marble surround (£249) for the perfect fireplace to see you through the harshest of winters. Available from Rugeley Fireplaces & Stoves, Albion Street, Rugeley – www.rugeleyfireplaces.net.
Eternal Flame The Vogue Log Gas Fire, with easy top control, gives the appearance of a real log fire, without the hassle! Priced at £1284 and available from Rugeley Fireplaces & Stoves, Albion Street, Rugeley – www.rugeleyfireplaces.net.
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Interiors
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African Vibe The new Emma Shipley collection, by Clarke & Clarke, brings together rich hues with sumptuous materials, to add a splash of colour and decadence to your home. Pictured is the Zambezi Velvet Square Cushion in peach (now £56), and the Zambezi Velvet Rectangle Cushion in teal (now £48). There’s 20% off the whole Emma Shipley range, both online and in store, including wallpaper, fabric & bedding. Available from Decor Supplies, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield - www.decorsupplies.co.uk
Interiors
Heavy Metal The new metallic wallpaper collection by Farrow & Ball with bring your room to life! There’s 15% off all Farrow & Ball wallpaper online and in store. Available from Decor Supplies, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield www.decorsupplies.co.uk
Complete the Look A great range of windows and doors to suits your property and your budget. Available from Lichfield Windows. Telephone 01543 676269 or 07834 542761.
Garden Room Let us bring your outside inside with our bi-fold doors. Now available from Lichfield Windows. Telephone 01543 676269 or 07834 542761.
Get Rugged! New stock from Mastercraft Rugs (made in Belgium), such as this Mehari design, is available in all sizes and colours from Tatlow Carpets & Flooring, Unit 4, Europa Way, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield.
Climb in Style! Why not make a feature of your stairs at home using the Riviera Home Range? Tatlow Carpets overlock their runners in store to the colour edging you’d prefer! Visit the showroom at Unit 4, Europa Way, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield.
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Happy Birthday Dr Johnson! ....................................................
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The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum is commemorating 310 years of Lichfield’s great wordsmith this September with a celebration cake to share with all visitors, hands-on historic printing activities and a programme of events as part of Lichfield’s city-wide Heritage Festival. On Saturday 14th September the Museum on Breadmarket Street will be open from 10.30am- 4.30pm and admission, as always, is free of charge. The beautiful historic house will be decorated by Flower Design of Lichfield and a slice of birthday cake, supplied by local bakery Hindleys, will be available for all visitors (while stocks last!) The theme of this year’s Heritage Festival event is ‘People Power’ and the Birthplace will be exploring the theme with a special display of items from the Museum’s collections and a celebration of the power of the printing press. The Small Print Company will be on site all day to lead hands-on, drop-in activities for all ages to enjoy, where visitors can try printing with historic letterpress type and make their own posters.
Everyone is invited to ensemble on the Market Square for 12 noon when the civic party and Johnson Society members will gather to watch the Mayor lay a wreath on the statue of Johnson, accompanied by traditional hymns from St Michael’s Choir. The ceremony will be followed by an afternoon of free entertainment on the Market Square including performances by Intimate Theatre, Wildfire Folk, Three Spires Morris, Lichfield Mysteries and the City of Lichfield Concert Band. The annual Young Town Crier Competition will be returning at 2pm, and any young shouters can register at the Visit Lichfield desk in Lichfield Library, and the Guildhall Prison Cells will be open for visitors from 10am-4pm. The Johnson Society will also be marking Johnson’s Birthday with their traditional supper at Lichfield Guildhall on the Saturday evening. Current President, columnist and author, Henry Hitchings, will be handing over his badge to the former Archbishop of Canterbury, The Right Reverend Rowan Williams. For more information visit the Museum website at www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk or email sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk.
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A Walk into the Past ..................................................................
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wo groups restoring important The Cornish steam beam engine parts of Lichfield’s heritage have come together to offer an insight into the city’s industrial past. As part of Lichfield Heritage Weekend, individuals will get the chance to walk to the Sandfields Pumping Station as part of an event organised by Lichfield Waterworks Trust and Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust. Starting at Speakers Corner on Dam Street, the walk will follow the line of a tunnel under Lichfield that brought water to the pumping station at Sandfields, built to provide clean water for the Black Country during the Industrial Revolution, saving thousands from cholera. After a little over an hour’s stroll, walkers will arrive at the pumping station, with its historic Cornish steam beam engine. Those who wish to end their walk here will be guided back to Speakers Corner while the others will walk the trails and towpaths of the nearby Fosseway Heath section of the Lichfield Canal up to Lock 18 (about three quarters of a mile) and back. Walkers will then board a heritage bus for a free ride to the restored Gallows Wharf on the canal near London Road, and see part of the towpath wall dating from 1797 on the adjacent Gallows Reach, recently exposed by the Canal Trust. The bus will then take visitors back to the city centre. The walks will take place on both Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September, starting at 10:30am. For further information, visit www.visitlichfield.co.uk/heritagefestival.
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Volunteers have recently exposed the original canal wall at Fosseway Heath
Sandfields Pumping Station in 1926
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Making Memories
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ocal lady, Maria Credali, gives us some insight into the restoration of her Romany gypsy caravan. Last summer, I finally took the plunge and invested in a lifelong dream of owning a gypsy caravan. I then proceeded to find out just how little I knew about power tools and paints during the restoration of Mary Jane (named for my Great Gran who died a rum old lady of 102 who refused to wear glasses because they might ‘make her look old’!) During the long, long process of stripping, sanding, glossing and decorating, I was aided by any number of very generous Romany people who were happy to help with advice and encouragement. These living wagons were not made by gypsies originally, but by master craftsmen, such as coachbuilders and journeymen, during the latter half of the 1800s. There are five or six basic styles, but what they all have in common is exquisite paintwork and decoration. The paintjob can literally double the value of the van. Two of the most famous makers of these wonderful moving works of art were Orton and Spooner, based at Burton on Trent. Although my caravan is now residing in splendor at Ettie’s Field near Atherstone, I can honestly say that I am not sad she is gone. She will provide a space for the making of happy memories, much as I made with my children, when they were small, many summers ago.
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
We are proud to be Lichfield's longest established family run funeral directors offering a wide range of choices to suit all requirements. Horse drawn hearse, non religious ceremonies, floral tributes and memorials are but a few of the services we offer. Pre-paid funeral plans are also available.
For a truly personal service please call
01543 255776
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Private Chapel of Rest 116 Netherstowe, Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 6TS
Cafe Culture Advertising Feature
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F
rom warming cooked breakfasts, through to a mid-morning latte with friends and from a leisurely lazy Sunday lunch to a rich and creamy afternoon tea, Lichfield’s cafes have something to tempt all tastebuds and satisfy every culinary craving. Our September Café Culture guide has lots of suggestions for the perfect location to curl up with a good book over a luxurious hot chocolate or chill out with a glass of prosecco and a cream tea – café culture is definitely at the heart of Lichfield this autumn!
Customer Testimonial
“When we opened our doors five months ago we needed to let the people of Staffordshire know that the Ultimate Vegan Cafe had arrived in Lichfield. “Our first advert in the area was placed with Citylife, where Steve, Krissy, Helen and the rest of the team couldn't have been more helpful in sorting out our artwork and promoting our business. We found that we had a response from it almost immediately. “Steve is always most attentive, popping in on a regular basis and making sure we are happy with the content of our adverts and write-ups. Thank you to the team for helping us promote our new adventure!” - Ian, Ultimate Vegan Cafe
The Strawberry Cabin Visit The Strawberry Cabin and enjoy ‘Afternoon Tea’ for £15 per person or upgrade with a glass of prosecco and some extra sweet treats for only £25 per person. The tearoom is set in the beautiful village of Hints and offers a serene setting for any special occasion. www.strawberrycabin.co.uk
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Cafe Culture
The Ultimate Vegan Breakfast ........................................
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Breakfast Review
he Ultimate Vegan Café in the City Arcade is proving a massive hit among lovers of vegan food and, having experienced their vegan curries at an evening event back in June, we thought we’d try out their breakfast options this month. The café has a lovely selection of tempting breakfasts, from small to large English breakfasts through to yummy pancakes, muffins and bagels. I chose the Ultimate Breakfast while my partner went for the stack of four American-style pancakes, with scrambled tofu, spinach and syrup. The Ultimate is a full English breakfast with the customary favourites of beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, toast and hash browns and also with ‘facon’ and vegan sausages. Facon is vegetarian bacon (a wordplay on fake-bacon), which is low in fat with no cholesterol but high in fibre. The sausages, from the Linda McCartney range, were very good, tasty and nicely spiced, and the facon was light with a smoky flavour. My partner’s pancakes were fluffy and sweet, topped with layers of healthy spinach, drizzled with syrup and with a side of scrambled tofu.Tofu is made from the curds of soymilk and here it had been crumbled and scrambled to perfection, the vegan equivalent of scrambled eggs. Topped with a yummy syrup I had to act quickly to take some forkfuls from my partner’s plate before she devoured them all! These UVC breakfasts are a perfect alternative to the meat-based options and if you are a vegan, vegetarian, or just someone looking for something different to try, they are delicious, healthy and a great way to start the day!
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Cafe Culture
Win an ‘Award-Winning’ Sunday Lunch for Two at The Strawberry Cabin The team at The Strawberry Cabin has been delighted to look after many new customers throughout the summer, hosting lots of children’s birthday parties and evening events in the beautiful tepee. The Strawberry Cabin can cater for large groups and parties in the tearoom all year round, or in the tepee up to the end of October.The team is always available to discuss any celebrations and will help you through the planning process step-by-step to ensure it’s perfect in every way! The 2019 summer season for Pick-Your-Own was absolutely fantastic and, although the summer fruits are now almost finished, Manor Farm is still busy preparing for this year’s Pumpkin Fest which promises to be bigger, better and spookier than ever before! With the onset of autumn, we’re now putting together a programme of evening functions for the winter months along with our Christmas menu, so there’s a lot to look forward to! Take a look at The Strawberry Cabin’s Facebook page (@manorfarmfruits) and website (www.manorfarmfruits.co.uk) for more information on forthcoming events, menu information and all other exciting Strawberry Cabin news! Manor Farm, Watling Street, Hints, Tamworth, Staffs. B78 3DF. Telephone: (01543) 483308.
To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is unscramble the letters below to reveal a fruit you can pick at Manor Farm Fruits in Autumn:
kupmpin -------
To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to Strawberry 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 30th September 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 56.
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Cafe Culture
I
A Little Morning Sparkle! ...................................... Breakfast Review
t’s not often that you find a breakfast menu which goes the extra mile, but Tudor of Lichfield recently wowed us with its Champagne Breakfast – the perfect way to kick-start a special day! If you’re a Lichfeldian, or local to the surrounding area, you’ll undoubtedly know of Tudor of Lichfield. One of the City’s finest examples of Tudor architecture, the preeminent original timber-framed structure, built in 1510, stands proud in Bore Street, commanding attention with its starkly contrasting black and white design. As a child I would beg my Mother to take me there, mainly because it was renowned for being a chocolate shop and I was a sucker for a sugared mouse! I also used to love gazing upon the rows of brightly coloured confectionary on display, and revelled in the smell of freshly baked goods that were being served in the adjacent tearoom. But it wasn’t until recently that I experienced my first taste of Tudor’s menu, and it has only added to my awe of the place! Step inside the tearoom and you’re taken back several centuries, with the walls featuring traditional dark panelling; quaint oriel windows which look out onto the bustling street, and the charming atmosphere that only comes with a building of this age and status. Seated at a window table so I could watch the world go by, I was served by a lovely, friendly waitress, who took my order of a Champagne Breakfast (well why not?!), consisting of a Full English, with juice, a choice of tea or coffee, and a glass of bubbly. On arrival of the food the first thing that struck me was the delicious scent of freshly cooked goods. The classic concoction of bacon, sausage and egg was accompanied by a hash brown and a piece of fried bread, and topped off with mushrooms, grilled tomato and a pot of beans – this was a feast fit for a king! But there was more to come as a slice of hot, buttered toast appeared in front of me along with a pot of jam… I
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was, quite literally, in heaven! Flavoursome and cooked to perfection, this was not your average run-of-the-mill fry-up, but a delicately-prepared and elegantly-presented dish, and as I hungrily tucked-in, only pausing to take the odd sip of my champagne, I felt every bit as special as was intended! Verdict: Great food and great atmosphere! It’s the little touches that really help set this breakfast apart from the rest, such as real butter on the toast, a pot to contain my baked beans in, and the obvious added-extra of a glass of fizz!
Cafe Culture
A
Breakfast at the Barn ............................... Breakfast Review
s the colder days start to encroach there is nothing better than enjoying a warming cooked breakfast, whether in a cosy city centre café or a rural village setting. Tuppenhurst Barn Café & B&B opened up its doors for the first time in July and is located at Tuppenhurst Farm, a fifth generation family owned farm at Armitage, halfway between Rugeley and Lichfield. The converted barn has been transformed into a boutique B&B and also a delightful café serving breakfasts, lunches, afternoon teas and Sunday dinners. When I arrived I quickly read through through the list of breakfasts available, which includes a vegetarian option as well as porridge, but I already knew exactly what I was going to order… it just had to be the traditional Full English Breakfast. The café is light and bright and I chose a table in the window, looking out over panoramic views of the Staffordshire fields. My breakfast arrived quickly and it seemed almost a shame to break up the perfect symmetry of the ingredients placed on the plate with an inviting circle of wholesome goodness – although I did succumb to the temptation, naturally! The sausages and bacon, both sourced from a local butcher, were perfectly cooked, with the bacon being slightly crispy, and were delicious. Mushrooms, baked beans and hash browns were all spot on too and the fresh egg was wonderful. The eggs come from hens that owner, Melissa, keeps on the farm, so that they travel from hen to your plate on the very same day – possibly even the same hour! The egg yolk was a gorgeous, golden yellow with a rich creamy flavour and ideal to mop up with the hash browns. I chose a freshly brewed strong Americano coffee to accompany my feast although other drinks, hot and cold, are available. The Tuppenhurst English breakfast was really delicious and there is undoubtedly something about being in the countryside that makes your breakfast taste even better.
Tuppenhurst Barn Café is open Monday to Sunday from 9am-5pm. More information can be found at www.tuppenhurstfarm.co.uk.
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y t i VIEW C
The Newsletter of Lichfield City Council - September 2019
Grants to local organisations
Each year the City Council awards grants to support the invaluable work carried out by local voluntary groups, societies and clubs operating in the City. In 2019/20 the City Council provided nearly £30,000 in general grants to local organisations. Forms for the 2020 grants round will be available from the City Council’s offices or from our website from October 2019 and applications must be submitted by 7January 2020.
Councillor Mark Warfield, Leader of the Council
Welcome to this issue of City View.
As always September is a busy period for the traditions of the City, as I write this message final preparations are underway for the 466th Sheriff’s Ride on 7 September. The ride dates from Queen Mary’s Charter of 1553 which commanded the Sheriff to make a ‘complete perambulation’ of the City Boundary each year on the 8 September. The event became known as the Sheriff’s ride and has been held each year without interruption ever since, even throughout the war years! The ride will be led by this years’ Sheriff of Lichfield, Dr Daryl Brown, whom many of you may know as the headteacher of Maple Hayes School. In addition, the 310th anniversary of the birth of Lichfield's most famous son - Dr Samuel Johnson will take place on Saturday 14 September at 12 Noon on the Market square. Dr Johnson most famously compiled the Dictionary of the English Language, which was published in 1755 and his Birthplace, on the corner of Market street continues to attract visitors from all over the world, particularly during the Birthday celebrations. Both these events continue to attract large audiences and it is always a pleasure to see so many local residents lending their support at each of the events. I would like to welcome all the new Councillors to the City Council as they settle into their roles representing the people of Lichfield, all are local and committed to making Lichfield an even better place live and work in. It has been a busy summer for the Council with the judging for Lichfield in Bloom and the Mayor and Sheriff’s indoor Street Party as well as the normal day to day activities of the Council. Our next issue of City View will be published in November when we will be putting the finishing touches to the Christmas Lights Switch On timetable taking place on Sunday 24 November.
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SAVE THE DATE – TWINNING CELEBRATION IN GERMANY
The next international twinning celebration will be held in a year’s time in Limburg, Germany from 25 - 28 September 2020. These visits take place every three years and are a great way of bringing people from all three twin towns together to form new links between families, clubs and professions. There is already an active exchange programme for apprentices and students, as well as various sports, music and drama groups between the twin towns. Accommodation for the long weekend can be provided in German host families free of charge and transport to Limburg will be self-funded but can be arranged as a group booking. Limburg Council will be organising a citizen festival with musical, theatrical and dance performances as well as sports tournaments and have invited Lichfield groups and clubs to take part. For more information or to register your interest in joining the visit to Limburg, please contact the Twinning Officer, email Gabriele.lasch-burden@lichfield.gov.uk
Markets in Lichfield
The Lichfield General Markets offer a wide selection of goods and local produce from friendly and established market traders and are held on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The Bella Dame stall selling Marks & Spencer seconds and other lines will be sited on Market Square on many Sundays during the remainder of 2019. The Market Square is also available for hire on a commercial or charitable basis on non-market days.
For further details regarding any of the above or for information relating to Lichfield Markets please contact the City Council’s Markets Officers. Tel: 01543 309853 or e-mail: markets@lichfield.gov.uk
CityVIEW
Coming soon at the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
The Newsletter of Lichfield City Council
Johnson’s 310 Birthday Celebrations Saturday 14 September, 10.30am – 4:30pm Annual commemorations including a free slice of Hindley’s cake for all (while stocks last!), hands-on printing activities with the Small Print Company and special displays. Free event The Girl in the Picture Saturday 28 September, 7.00pm & 8.30pm Discover how people and events shaped the life of Lucy Porter, Johnson’s Stepdaughter, in this new drama from David Titley and Intimate Theatre. Tickets £9.50 including arrival drink
Silver Sunday Sunday 6 October, 11:00am – 1:00pm Drop-in to enjoy gentle craft activities and a cup of tea on this national day of events for older people. Free event Lichfield Storytellers: Tales from Beyond the Grave Wednesday 23 October, 7pm A deliciously chilling collection of stories: ghosts, hauntings and mysterious occurrences Tickets £8.50 including arrival drink
Spooky Stories for Families with Lichfield Storytellers Tuesday 29 October, 11am, 12pm and 2pm Scary tales in an eerie witches’ lair, an exciting interactive session for families. Suitable for children up to age 11 Tickets £3.50, £1 for accompanying adults
Half Term Fun Thursday 31st October, 11:00am & 2:00pm Hands-on arts and craft activities for the school holidays. Limited space, booking advised Tickets £2.50, accompanying adults free of charge
Words Alive! Every Saturday from October 12th 10:30am – 11:45pm A weekly club for 8-12 year old’s who love words! Read, write, create, act and illustrate in the inspiring setting of the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum. Try your first session free! £3.00 per session, £2.00 for siblings. Book a block of 5 sessions for £12 (£10 siblings)
Open Daily 10.30am – 4.30pm. Standard entry is Free of charge. Please note that events take place on the first floor and are accessed by a flight of stairs. Call 01543 264 972 or email sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk for more information or to book an event.
Dates for your diary…
Saturday 7 September Sheriff’s Ride 10.30am, Ride Leaves the Guildhall
Saturday 14 September Dr Johnson Birthday Celebrations 11.50am Market Square
Sunday 10 November Remembrance Sunday 10.00am Cathedral Service, 10.50am Garden of Remembrance
Saturday 23 November Mayor & Sheriff’s Charity Dinner Dance 7.00pm Guildhall
Sunday 24 November Switch on Christmas Illuminations 5.00pm Market Square
For more information please contact Lucy Clarke on 01543 309852, or email lucy.clarke@lichfield.gov.uk
Weddings at the Guildhall
Located in Bore Street in the heart of the city, the Guildhall is a beautiful historic Grade II Listed Building, and is a magnificent setting for civil ceremonies, receptions and other celebrations. The main hall has oak panelling and a beamed roof giving a fine mediaeval appearance, and can accommodate up to 160 guests. A wedding at the Guildhall The Guildroom, on the Ground (Image by Assassynation) floor, has paneled walls and timber ceiling and can seat up to 70 guests. A number of smaller rooms are also available to hire, and are ideal for conferences, seminars or small meetings. For more information or to enquire over availability please contact Helen Winter at Lichfield City Council. Tel: 01543 309850 or e-mail: helen.winter@lichfield.gov.uk. A wedding brochure is also available either from the City Council offices at Donegal House or by downloading from our website www.lichfield.gov.uk
VACANCIES:
Premises Attendants - Guildhall, Lichfield £9.36/hour
Additional casual support is required to assist with caretaking at the Guildhall, Lichfield. Hours would be flexible in response to business demand, including evenings and weekends. Duties include room setup, assistance to hirers, general maintenance and being responsible for securing the building following events. Application forms are available from the City Council offices, Donegal House, Bore St, Lichfield or by contacting us using the details below: Telephone: 01543 250011 Email: vacancies@lichfield.gov.uk
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CityVIEW
The Newsletter of Lichfield City Council
If you would like to keep up-to-
date with more of the City
Council’s activities, you can
follow the City Council on Twitter
@lichfield_cc.
OUR WEBSITE: www.lichfield.gov.uk
Have you visited the City Council’s website? It offers a wealth of information about the work of the City Council; including details of all Council meetings and associated documents. In addition it contains useful information about the City, its history, festivals and major events, and its many unique customs and traditions.
The right Council… Lichfield City Council is the ‘parish’ authority for the City and is the smallest of the three councils serving the City area. Within the City we deal with local matters such as the markets, maintenance of open spaces and churchyards, civic and mayoral events, the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum and public lettings of the Guildhall. Lichfield District Council (Tel: 01543 308000) is the larger local authority dealing with such matters as planning, environmental health, refuse collection, housing, car parking, arts and tourism, and leisure services. Staffordshire County Council (Tel: 0300 111 8000) is the responsible authority for wider services such as Education, Social Services and Highways.
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Public Participation
City Council meetings are held in the Guildhall, Bore Street. Dates and times of meetings can be found on the noticeboard outside the Guildhall, and on the City Council's website at www.lichfield.gov.uk
Meetings are open to the public, with public participation sessions held at full Council and at the Planning Committee. Advance notice needs to be given to the Council of the subject matter of each question, and any person wishing to speak must contact the Council Offices at Donegal House, Bore Street (next to the Guildhall) before NOON on the day of the meeting. Monday
9 September 2019
6.30pm
COUNCIL
Monday
21 October 2019
6.30pm
COUNCIL
Thursday Thursday Tuesday
26 September 2019 24 October 2019
5 November 2019
6.30pm
6.30pm
6.30pm
Thursday
6.30pm
2 December 2019
12 December 2019
Planning Committee
10.30am Johnson Birthplace
Wednesday 20 November 2019 Monday
Planning Committee
6.30pm
Advisory Committee
Planning Committee COUNCIL
Planning Committee
The Beatles - in miniature make a surprise appearance in Lichfield
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By Hansons Auctioneers
op phenomenon The Beatles never played in Lichfield but have turned up - in miniature - at an antique valuation day in the city. A Lichfield client went along to Hansons Auctioneers’ weekly event at The Hedgehog Inn with four dolls representing each member of The Beatles. Made of rubber and complete with realistic hairstyles, the rare dolls were issued in 1964 by Seltaeb. Adrian Rathbone, associate director at Hansons, said: “Seltaeb, which is Beatles in reverse, was set up in 1963 by Nicky Byrne on behalf of Brian Epstein, The Beatles manager, to aid merchandising interests. “Byrne accepted the role subject to a 90% rate, leaving only 10% for The Beatles. Unaware of the potential market that existed, particularly in America, Epstein agreed to the deal and subsequently lost The Beatles an estimated $100,000,000 in potential income.” The Beatles, estimate £150-200, will go under the hammer at Hansons’ Toy Auction on September 20. Mr Rathbone said: “You just never know what will turn up at a valuation day or home visit. We see numerous tea sets and general china – much with little or no value. Occasionally, something out of the ordinary turns up and that’s what make my job so interesting. “Although I am not old enough to have lived at the height of Beatlemania, I can well imagine the delight the Fab Four’s original owner
The Beatles dolls found in Lichfield. (Image by Hansons) had. They’ve clearly been cherished as they’re in good condition. These dolls are rarely seen on the auction market as most were played with and lost over time.” Something of interest lurking in your attic? Hansons holds free valuation days for all manner of jewellery, watches silver and antiques and collectables every Monday, 10.30am to 12.30pm, at The Hedgehog Inn, Stafford Road, Lichfield, WS13 8JB. The event is held in aid of St Giles Hospice. Free parking and refreshments. Free home visits can be arranged for large, bulky, multiple items, house clearance and downsizing advice. For further information, contact Adrian Rathbone on 01283 733988 or email arathbone@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk
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War Heroes Commemorated at Lichfield Development ....................................................
Standard bearers at the Saxon Gate official opening.
Guests at the Saxon Gate plaque unveiling. Dr Peter Burdett, relative of Captain Arthur Forbes Gordon Kilby VC MC.
Mandy and Nicholas Caddick, relatives of Private Thomas Barratt VC.
The Wassall family with the road named after Private Samuel Wassall VC.
Watchman the mascot, with his handler Greg Hedges, and standard bearer.
Housing group Orbit has marked the completion of its Saxon Gate development in Lichfield with a commemorative event in honour of six soldiers from the former Staffordshire Regiment. The completion ceremony took place on Friday 9th August at the 99-home Eastern Avenue development where six roads are named after recipients of the Victoria Cross and a further one is named after the Regiment’s mascot, a Staffordshire bull terrier called Watchman. The Victoria Cross is one of the highest and most prestigious honours awarded to members of the British Armed Forces and the South Staffordshire Regiment soldiers and mascot who are commemorated at the development are:
Private Thomas Barratt VC Major Robert Henry Cain VC Captain Arthur Forbes Gordon Kilby VC MC Sergeant John Thomas VC Captain John Franks Vallentin VC Private Samuel Wassall VC Watchman
WWI WWII WWI WWI WWI Zulu War Mascot
Barratt Court Cain Close Kilby Avenue Thomas Lane Vallentin Way Wassall Lane Watchman Close
Orbit invited the families of those soldiers named at Saxon Gate to a special official opening ceremony, along with mascot Watchman and trustees of the Staffordshire Regiment Museum. Representatives from Lichfield District Council, Homes England, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and Finance Birmingham also attended. 44
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Heart of the Country The original rural shopping village
Heart of the Country Shopping Village is a collection of converted 19th century farm buildings, now home to individual shops and boutiques, as well as two restaurants. The Village, having started as a single country store in 1985, now gives life to a collection of eclectic and stylish local businesses. Heart of the Country Shopping Village, A38, South Swinfen, WS14 9QR. Open: 10am-5pm, Tuesday-Sunday
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Lichfield Proms’ Line-up Revealed Conductor Richard Jenkinson
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British Police Symphony Orchestra
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n Saturday 7th September, Lichfield will welcome thousands of people to Beacon Park as 2019’s Proms takes place, promising a musical extravaganza culminating in the evening’s much-loved firework finale! Prom-goers will be treated to an evening of entertainment, featuring hits from The Greatest Showman, Frozen and Batman film scores, as well as opera pieces, such as Nessun Dorma, alongside other renowned prom anthems. This event is free to attend and welcomes people of all ages, inviting them to bring their own picnic blankets and chairs, in order to make the most of this local event. Prime seating is also available, for a small cost, which offers you a table in front of the stage. From 6pm onwards, crowds will be warmed up courtesy of the City of Lichfield Concert Band with its repertoire of show tunes, film themes, pop hits and classical greats. The British Police Symphony Orchestra will take to the stage at 7.30pm for the main concert, led by conductor Dr Richard Jenkinson. Opening with Sunrise from Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss, the 75-piece orchestra will play a varied programme, including scores from popular films as well as opera pieces and other classics. The orchestra will be joined on stage by three classically trained singers, including the soprano Claire Prewer, the tenor Anando Mukerjee and Nick Pilborough.The evening will conclude with a rendition of Pomp and Circumstance No.1 (Land of Hope and Glory) by Edward Elgar, prior to the highly-anticipated firework display. The event is free to attend, however seating options are available (telephone: 01543 308869). Find out more about Lichfield Proms in Beacon Park by visiting www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/lichfieldproms.
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Anando Mukerjee
Two’s Company
........................... By Lauren Hirst
R
osie and Murphy’s story is a sad one and we’d like the ending to be ‘happily ever after.’ Initially homed five years ago, their owner's circumstances changed and so she asked someone she knew to care for them on a temporary basis but, unfortunately, they couldn't keep them permanently. Greyhound Trust Hall Green was approached and agreed to take Rosie and Murphy into care. Through no fault of their own the two hounds had found themselves homeless twice in a short period of time but, thankfully, they've been kept together which must give them much comfort amongst all the changes. As they have lived together for five years we can’t split them up now. At eight years of age they should be relaxing and enjoying their retirement as much-loved family pets but, being older and wanting to home them together, has posed a homing challenge to the Trust. However, we believe that there is a home out there somewhere. Rosie is a placid, sweet girl who has a calming effect on the livelier Murphy. Murphy loves his cuddles so much that he really would like to live in a family where someone is home most of the day. If you can open your home and heart to these two hounds then please call us on 0121 426 4810 or email hallgreen@greyhoundtrust.org.uk. All of Hall Green's dogs are spayed/neutered, microchipped, and come with up-to-date inoculations, plus a leather collar and lead, muzzle, and four weeks of free insurance. Congratulations to our competition winners from the July/August issue. Ms A Bromley won wedding rings, courtesy of Allen Brown Gallery at Heart of the Country, and Ms S Woods and Ms A Smith both won entry for two adults and two children (plus a punnet of fresh strawberries) at Manor Farm Fruits!
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The Month in Pictures
W
July & August
e take a look at the events and activities of the summer, bringing you a round-up of the city in pictures...
Maple Hayes Dyslexia School pupil, Ben Owen, presents £1200 cheque to Border Collie Trust’s Ben Wilkes, with headteacher Daryl Brown and school dog Lucy
Blooming Lichfield competition at Swinfen Hall Hotel
Carters Steam Fair in Beacon Park
God, Universe and Everything light installation at Lichfield Cathedral
Extreme Cyclist at Cars in the Park Enjoying the Parkinsons UK garden party at The Spires Care Home
Cars in the Park
Lichfield Cheese, Gin and Ale Festival
Lichfield Gospel Choir at the Grub Club, Lichfield Cathedral
May the Force be with you! Star Wars characters at The Plant Plot Garden Centre
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Images by Jono Oates www.jonotourism.co.uk
Great British Bake Off star, Val Stones, at the Lichfield Food Festival
Lichfield Cathedral School students collect their GCSE results
Councillor Wai-Lee Ho with volunteers at the Buddy Bag Packing Event
Music tent at the Alrewas Show
The Edward Waite artist exhibition at the Courtyard Fine Art Lounge on Dam Street
Space Parade at the Lichfield Festival
Richard Winterton Auctioneers Charity Auction at St Mary's Church for the We Love Lichfield fund
Burntwood Wakes Festival
Walking on the Moon at Lichfield Cathedral Town Crier at the Lichfield Farmers' Market
Summer Baseball camp in Beacon Park
Beacon Park Family Fun Day
Market Square at the Lichfield Food Festival
Bustling Bird Street at the Lichfield Food Festival Images by Jono Oates www.jonotourism.co.uk
Tractors at the Alrewas Show
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S
Local Art Group’s Exhibition
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tudents from Lichfield Art Group will be exhibiting at St Mary’s on Market Street from 5th27th September.
The exhibition is designed to celebrate the work achieved by students of all levels, from beginners to intermediate through to advanced, and will feature works undertaken in the mediums of watercolour and drawing. Lichfield Art Group is run by artist and tutor, Imogen Kilfoyle, and is a great place for artists of all levels to develop and learn new skills and techniques, build on existing ones, and to socialise with likeminded people. Classes are held regularly throughout term time at Lichfield Sport Centre on Eastern Avenue. For further information, contact Imogen on imogen.kilfoyle@gmail.com.
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Outstanding Results for Cathedral School
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ichfield Cathedral School students celebrated recently excellent exam results, both in GCSEs and A Levels, highlighting yet another year of exceptional academic and personal achievements.
A Level students with their results With regards to A Levels, 31% of grades were A*-A, up from 17% last year, whilst 86% of all grades were A*-C and the school’s unbroken record of a 100% pass rate at A Level continues. Students will now progress to university to study courses including law, medicine, astrophysics, maths, modern languages and music.
Regarding GCSE results, 39% of all grades were 9-7 (A**, A* or A) and 94% of all grades were 9-4 (A** to C). Once again, the School’s unbroken record of 100% pass rate has been maintained.
Mining Memorial for Arboretum
Part of a drawing showing detail for the bronze frieze
A national, permanent memorial to commemorate the men, women and children who worked in the mining industry and served or died for their country is to be installed at the National Memorial Arboretum, in Alrewas, at a cost of £100,000. Chase Arts for Public Spaces (CHAPS), set up in 2003 to support and promote public works of art to celebrate the area’s heritage, has been given the go-ahead to place the monument at the 150-acre Staffordshire site. The structure, which has taken two years of planning, has the backing of the National Union of Mineworkers as well as MPs representing former mining constituencies and will be built in Derbyshire stone by sculptor Andy de Comyn, who also created the renowned Shot at Dawn monument. Fundraising will now begin to enable the project to go ahead, with the monument expected to be unveiled in 2021. More information, and details of how to donate, can be found at www.chaseartsforpublicspaces.co.uk .......................................................................................
Volunteers’ MBE for Lichfield Student
work in helping the city’s Canal Trust to win the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS). The QAVS is the voluntary sector’s equivalent of the MBE and was awarded to Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust (LHCRT) to recognise its outstanding contribution to the local community. Adam, aged 17 and a year 12 student in the school’s Trent College, was praised by LHCRT’s engineering director, Peter Buck, who attended the assembly and gave a short talk on the history of the canal. .......................................................................................
Lichfield’s Nether Stowe School held a special assembly where sixth-form student, Adam Yardley, was presented with a badge to mark his
Alfonzus Gilmore (11) and Alice Coats (12), who also demonstrated their sporting ability after winning bronze medals in the junior Independent Schools’ Association (ISA) national track and field, held at the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr. .......................................................................................
Parkinson’s UK Garden Party
Green-fingered Beavers
Seven children from Burntwood Beavers got their hands dirty recently to help Lichfield District Council with a spot of gardening at Burntwood Park. If you have a group that would like to volunteer to help in one of the parks across the district, please email parks@lichfielddc.gov.uk or call the team on 01543 308867. .......................................................................................
Maple Hayes’ Sporting Trio
Left-right: Alice Coats, Cameron Cartwright and Alfonzus Gilmore Headteacher Glyn Langston-Jones (left) with Adam Yardley and Peter Buck (right)
LOCAL NEWS
Maple Hayes Dyslexia School in Lichfield is celebrating sporting success after three of its students won national prizes in their disciplines. Year 9 student Cameron Cartwright, aged 13, has scooped gold at the PKA national kickboxing championships in the 13-16 age category after competing in Grantham. His win follows success for his fellow students,
Parkinson’s UK Lichfield Branch held its annual fundraising garden party on Saturday 13th July at The Spires Care Home, which saw residents joined by friends and family for an afternoon tea and activities. The funds raised will help support the activities of yoga, movement, speech, and balance organised by the Lichfield Branch for those with Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions. The Lichfield Branch of Parkinson’s UK holds social meetings on the second Thursday of each month at 2pm in the Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane, Lichfield. Anyone with a neurological condition is welcome to join the activity sessions. For enquiries please call 01543 264465. .......................................................................................
Cathedral’s First Podcast
This summer saw the launch of Lichfield Cathedral’s first podcast, as it ventures to explore the link between science and faith. The 20-minute episode is inspired by the anniversary of the moon landing, as the Cathedral embraces a year of creativity to commemorate the occasion. For further information, and to download, the podcast visit www.lichfieldcathedral.podbean.com/e/journey s-through-space-light-time/.
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LOCAL NEWS
Alzheimer’s Event at Shopping Village
existing artwork which will be available to purchase, with all monies raised being donated to The Mase Group – a volunteer run organisation which supports people suffering from Alzheimers and their families. .......................................................................................
Turn your Old Inflatables into Bags!
Allen Brown (Allen Brown Jewellery) and Rachael Galbraith (Frankie Doodle) hand over a cheque to Lisa Courtney from The Alzheimer’s Society.
In July, Heart of the Country Shopping Village, located at Swinfen, Lichfield, held a ‘Village in Bloom’ event to raise funds for The Alzheimer’s Society. Floral displays were created by the boutiques, shops and restaurants in the village, as well as a Forget-Me-Not Picnic, hosted by The Lichfield Tea Company; a floral-inspired silver jewellery making course at Allen Brown Jewellery; and an Antique Jewellery and Silverware Valuation Day with Hansons Auctioneers. The finale of the week included Swinfen Supper Club offering three unique tasting plates in the Village’s three resident restaurants; The Barn at Swinfen, Lichfield Tea Company and Pear Tree Creperie. The proceeds of the events held throughout the week meant that £1930.70 was raised for The Alzheimer’s Society, the UK’s leading dementia support and research charity. .......................................................................................
Charity Art Exhibition in Shenstone
Local artist, Dennis Harper, will be exhibiting his work at S h e n s t o n e Community Library on from Wednesday 4th until Saturday 28th September. There will be a special preview event at 7pm on Tuesday 3rd September, where Mr Harper will be taking part in a demonstration and attempting to capture Shenstone War Memorial with the village in the background. The exhibition, which is supported by The Rigid Kitchen Company, will be filled with new and
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final against Australia; a cricket bat signed by cricketer Graeme Swann and sports broadcaster Pat Murphy; and a limited edition RAF Red Arrows 2019 artwork signed by ‘Red 1’ through to ‘Red 10’ and the aerobatic team’s commanders, donated by Michael Mullarkey and Michael’s Menswear. In the past year, Richard Winterton Auctioneers has already raised more than £3,000 for We Love Lichfield.The latest amount sees the family firm well on the way to the £5,000 milestone. .......................................................................................
Staff at Shenstone Community Library were recently inspired by a talk from local duo, Sisters Against Plastic, about how to reduce all the single-use plastics that are creating so many problems in the world. Thanks to tips from the girls, the library has since joined the plastic crusade and collaborated with Isle of Whyte-based company, Wyatt and Jack, which specialises in turning old plastic (and other waste) into bags and accessories. To stop plastic inflatables heading to landfill, the library has launched the Shenstone Inflatable Amnesty Collection Point where people are encouraged to donate off their old paddling pools, lilos and novelty floats to be sent away and turned into items which can then be sold. Visit the library for more information and don’t forget to search for Sisters Against plastic on Facebook and follow their progress. To take a look at some of the items created by Wyatt and Jack, visit www.wyattandjack.com. .......................................................................................
City Auction Raises Money for Fund
Richard Winterton Auctioneers’ Watch & Designer Sale, which took place on Monday 15th July at St Mary’s, raised £1,000 for We Love Lichfield and a further £500 for the Guild of St Mary’s. The sale began with three charity lots – a 2019 ICC World Cup England jersey, fully signed by the England team at Edgbaston before the semi-
Lichfeldian Performs at Edinburgh Fringe
Once a student of local school The Friary, as well as a member of Lichfield Garrick Youth Theatre, Katie Arnstein recently starred at the world’s largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe, in her second self-penned play, entitled Sexy Lamp. Following the success of her first hit show, Bicycles and Fish, Katie has performed all around the UK, as well as locally in her home town in June 2018. Sexy Lamp previewed at VAULT Festival in February 2019 where it was awarded Show of the Week and Pleasance Pick of VAULT Festival. The combination of comedy, original songs and storytelling has projected Katie into the spotlight. Find out more about Katie at www.katiearnstein.com.
The Future of Friary Grange
raised towards the next packing session. A huge thank you goes to the main sponsors and organisations who took part. To make a donation to the charity to aid a future backpack event in Lichfield, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/buddybags lichfield. .......................................................................................
Happy Landings!
On Monday 7th October the future of Friary Grange Leisure Centre will be considered by Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet.The meeting will be held in Lichfield Garrick’s main auditorium to allow as many people as possible to attend, and will start at 6pm. Chaired by Councillor Doug Pullen, Leader of Lichfield District Council, the first part of the meeting will be set aside for members of the public to have their say. Representatives can also be nominated so that specific groups can reflect their views during the meeting. Following the public session, the cabinet shall have its debate. To register your interest to speak, email mark.hooper@lichfielddc.gov.uk by no later than Sunday 29th September 2019.
Two budding photographers from Lichfield are over the moon after their camera skills won a lunar-themed competition. Little stars Rebekah Abbigail Stewart-Guerrero, aged 7, and Adin Jones, 9, were among scores of children who took part in the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Moon Photography Competition at St Mary’s in the Market Square. Lichfield auctioneer Richard Winterton, who sponsored the event, presented Adin and Rebekah with £25 prize money each and their winning photographs beautifully framed.
LOCAL NEWS
Lichfield Chess Club enters its 50th anniversary season this month with a campaign to take its membership over the 50 mark and will be holding an open night for potential new members on Thursday 5th September. Secretary, David Short, said the Chess Club probably has the widest age range of members offered by any club in the area, ranging from ages eight to 80 plus! Everyone can enjoy friendly games of chess at a reduced subscription, whilst full members with a competitive urge may play in one or more of 13 Lichfield teams which compete in the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Cannock and Derby leagues. The club began after Mr Short’s own son was refused membership of a leading chess club in Lancashire at the age of seven. Mr Short’s response was to form a new club and his son, Nigel, went on to become a grandmaster who reached the World Championship Final in 1993 against the Russian legend Gary Kasparov. To find out about joining Lichfield Chess Club, pop into the Guild Room on the ground floor of the Guildhall on Thursday 5th September, from 7.15pm onwards. .......................................................................................
Shenstone Festival Success
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Buddy Bag Pack Raises Money
Pictured from left: Adin Jones, auctioneer Richard Winterton, Rebekah Stewart-Guerrero and chairman of St Mary’s trustees Nick Sedgwick. .......................................................................................
50 Years for Local Chess Club
A bag packing event took place in Lichfield, in aid of Buddy Bag Foundation charity, on 30th July. This charity aims to help young people who are escaping domestic violence, by supplying them with a backpack full of essentials, when they arrive at a refuge centre. The Police Cadets of Lichfield, students from the Juniper Centre and young people from Lichfield Life Church were bag packing volunteers and loaded the bags with necessary items such as pyjamas, toothbrushes, deodorant and books. The session raised £4,500, which enabled 180 bags to be packed, with a further £3,000 being
Chess Club secretary, David Short
This year’s Shenstone Village Festival, which took place on 29th-30th June, saw more than 1,000 visitors enjoying the open gardens, activities, and food and drink. A total of over £4,000 was raised from the sale of programmes and will be made available to Shentone-based community organisations by way of small, one-off grants. Thanks to organisers and everyone who took part in what was a successful weekend.
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LOCAL NEWS
Burntwood Neighbourhood Plan
Burntwood Town Council has submitted the B u r n t wo o d Neighbourhood Plan to Lichfield District Council (LDC). The plan outlines how the area could be shaped in the future and, if approved, will provide a framework for potential development, forming part of LDC’s Local Plan. LDC is now holding a six-week consultation so local people and organisations can see the Burntwood Neighbourhood Plan and give their views. This is running until Friday 20th September 2019. Following this, LDC will collate all the comments and pass them on to an independent examiner who will consider them before proceeding to the next stage of the process, which is a referendum within the neighbourhood area. To read the Burntwood Neighbourhood Plan and give your views, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/burntwoodnp.
and social intellectual turmoil, the play is written and directed by David Titley, and performed by Intimate Theatre the in atmospheric setting of the Museum. ‘The Girl in the Picture’ takes place on Saturday 28th September with performances at 7pm and 8:30pm. Tickets cost £9.50, which includes an arrival drink. To book call 01543 264 972, email sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk, visit the website at www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk or call in to the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum. .......................................................................................
Huddlesford Heritage Gathering
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Play Sheds Light on Lucy Porter
This September, a new theatre event will reveal the story of Lucy Porter, Dr Johnson’s stepdaughter, who once occupied a splendid house on Tamworth Street. Inspired by a striking portrait of Lucy as a young girl, which was loaned to the Museum recently, the play tells her story while exploring the themes of childhood and how we reflect on the past. Set in the Midlands during a century of 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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Organised jointly by Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust and Lichfield Cruising Club, the Huddlesford Gathering features historic boats, floating traders, private boats and classic vehicles, along with music, entertainment and food, plus exhibitors and displays on the field. More than 6,000 people attended the biennial event in 2017 and, with new attractions and the return of old favourites, this year’s Gathering, 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
on 21st-22nd September, has something for everyone. Huddlesford Heritage Gathering is held at Lichfield Cruising Club, Huddlesford, Lichfield WS13 8PY from 10am-5pm. Entry is £5 with free parking. For more information, visit www.heritagegathering.uk/index.php. .......................................................................................
Local Artist Paints a Blinder
Tamworth artist Sue Verity has had one of her paintings selected to be part of the promotion campaign for the upcoming series five of the BBC’s TV show Peaky Blinders. Sue’s painting of Arthur Shelby was selected as one of 16 from over 1000 entries in the BBC’s Peaky’s Fan Art Competition and will be seen online and on posters nationwide. For more information about Sue and her art, visit www.verityart.co.uk/.
Opportunity for a Sales Executive Citylife in Lichfield Ltd is expanding!
We currently have an opportunity for a Sales Executive to work on our two magazines – Citylife in Lichfield and Citylife in Rugeley & Cannock Chase. You must be self-motivated and comfortable speaking to clients on the phone as well as face-to-face. A car is essential for this post. For further information and a full job description, please email helencitylife@gmail.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 Sept Wednesday 4th September Grub Club at Barton Marina
The first Grub Club at this venue will feature live entertainment and street food on the Barton Marina Promenade. Venue: Barton Marina, DE13 8DZ. Time: 5-11pm Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th September Open Weekend – LITEs Events More than your average craft fair – LITE’s presents a weekend of art, craft and gift stalls, falconry, face painting, tarot readings, vintage music, dinner & disco, plus a free children’s treasure trail! Venue: The Plant Plot Garden Centre. Wednesday 11th September Lichfield U3A A talk, entitled ‘Apollo and Moon Landing,’ will be given by Andrew Lound. New or potential new members will be welcome to attend. There will be no open monthly meeting in October. For further information on this or other events please visit www.u3asites.org.uk/Lichfield or call the enquiry desk on 07510 634476. Saturday 14th September Johnson's 310th Birthday Celebrations Annual commemorations including a free slice of Hindley’s cake for all (while stocks last!),
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'. hands-on printing activities with the Small Print Company and special displays as part of Lichfield Heritage Festival. Venue: The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Time: 10.30am-4.30pm Free For more information call 01543 264 972, email sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk or visit www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org .uk. Tuesday 17th September Lichfield Beacon Probus An inspiring talk on the life of William Coltman VC, DCM and Bar, MM and Bar - arguably one of the most heroic men to serve in World War 1. Venue: St Matthews Sports & Social Club, Burntwood Time: 2.30pm Potential members welcome. Please email lichfield.beacon.probus@gmail.co m, or phone our secretary John Lundie on 01543 264327. Tuesday 17th September Lichfield Civic Society The Comberfords of Comberford Hall & The Moat House Speaker – Patrick Comberford Venue: The Lichfield Room, Wade Street Church Community Hall, Lichfield. Time: 7.45PM Free to members and students. Non-members welcome - £3 payable at the door. Sunday 22nd September Afternoon Tea at the Movies Enjoy a delicious afternoon tea with a live choir performing songs from your favourite movies! Venue: The George Hotel, Lichfield Time: 1pm-4pm Price: Adult £19.50. Child £10. Wednesday 25th September Stonnall Conservation Society Childhood Memories of Life on the Home Front, a talk by Doug
Morrison. Venue: Stonnall Youth and Community Cnetre, Main Street, Stonnall, WS9 9EE. Time: 7.30pm Tea and biscuits served. Thursday 26th September Macmillan Coffee Morning Slices of homemade cake, scones and biscuits will be on sale to eat or to take home and enjoy later. The usual range of drinks and snacks will also be available and all proceeds that morning will go to Macmillan Cancer Care. Venue: Lichfield Methodist Church Time: 10am-1pm. Saturday 28th September The Girl in the Picture Inside us all is the child we once were… Discover how people and events shaped the life of Lucy Porter, Johnson’s Stepdaughter, in this new drama from Intimate Theatre. Written and directed by David Titley and performed in a beautiful historic setting. Venue: The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Time: 7pm & 8.30pm Price: £9.50 including arrival drink For more information call 01543 264 972, email sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk or visit www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org .uk.
Sunday 29th September Wedding Open Day Your chance to see The George’s Garrick Suite dressed for a wedding. Venue: The George Hotel, Lichfield Time: 12-3pm Free entry. Every Saturday Children’s Classes in Ballroom and Latin Dancing at Linda Lovell School of Dance. IDTA accredited with twice yearly medal test. Catering for all ages. Venue: St Chads Church Hall, The Leasowe, Lichfield WS13 7HD. Price: £3.25 per lesson (30 mins). Only pay on attendance. First class FREE. Call Linda on 01543 257012, email: lindajl@btinternet.com or visit www.facebook.com/lindalovellsch oolofdance. First Tuesday of Every Month City of Lichfield Men’s Probus The club, which is over forty years old, is a place for men who have retired, or who are about to retire, to congregate. The format is a guest speaker, on many various subjects, followed by a brief meeting. We do have an optional lunch before the start of the meeting and we also have a ladies club for interested partners. Venue: St Matthews Social Club, Burntwood. Time: 2.30pm For further information please contact Peter Johnson on 01543 306651.
Correction In the June issue of Citylife in Lichfield (page 30) we captioned the bottom right photograph as 'Three Spires Morris Men'. This should, in fact, have read 'Three Spires Morris.' We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
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