Citylife in Lichfield April 2017 by Citylife In Lichfield

April 2017 20 44

Inside...

Win Afternoon Tea for Two at The George Hotel

Answer our anagram competition to win the perfect afternoon treat. 20 City Image Competition

Calling all photographers and artists.

24 Win a Giant Milk Chocolate Sweetie Egg!

Courtesy of the Tudor of Lichfield. 40 A Window on the Past

We’ll meet again...

44 Beautiful Spaces Indoor and Out

Spring home and garden inspiration.

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 - Joss Musgrove Knibb 07833 735048

josscitylife@gmail.com

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Steve Brown 07740 166497 stevebrowncitylife@gmail.com Rebecca Hill 07970 513144 rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com Karen Fudger 07909 694286 karencitylife@gmail.com Production - Helen Smith 07967 154187 helencitylife@gmail.com

Citylife In Lichfield Ltd PO Box 7126 LICHFIELD WS14 4JS CITYLIFE in Lichfield and CITYLIFE in Rugeley magazines are not connected to any other publication or publisher, and are wholly owned by CITYLIFE in Lichfield Ltd. Citylife In 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.

Win Afternoon Tea for Two at The George Hotel

e are delighted to be able to offer our readers the chance to win Traditional Afternoon Tea for two at the beautiful and historic George Hotel. Family owned and run, this 18th century former coaching inn on Bird Street, Lichfield has played a vital role in Lichfield’s social scene for hundreds of years and holds a special place in many local people’s hearts. The stylish newly refurbished bar is a popular venue, both day and evening, for a quick drink or meal and is particularly tempting for gin lovers as there are over 30 premium gins on offer! At lunchtimes, customers can enjoy a traditional carvery with all the trimmings and in the evening, modern British food takes centre stage in Darwin’s restaurant. The ultimate treat, full Afternoon Teas featuring a selection of dainty sandwiches and cakes are served each day in the

Lounge Bar or restaurant - booking in advance is recommended on 01543 414822. www.thegeorgelichfield.co.uk

Afternoon Tea

Traditional Afternoon Tea - £10 per person. Includes a pot of tea or freshly ground coffee.

Celebration Afternoon Tea - £14 per person. Includes a glass of sparkling rosé wine, plus a pot of tea or freshly ground coffee.

To win Afternoon Tea for Two, just unscramble the anagram, and rearrange the letters to find a fruity pastry treat, probably named after a town in Lancashire.

CECASECELK ______ ____

To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to 'The George Competition'* at josscitylife@gmail.com or post your entry to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS by the competition closing date of Monday 24th April. One entry per household. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Winners will not be offered a cash equivalent. Full terms and conditions on page 58. *The George Hotel will contact the winner to arrange their prize and may contact entrants with information, offers and news. If you do not wish to be contacted please include the words OPT OUT in your entry.

Congratulations to Judith Povey who gave the correct answer of 'Custard Tart' and solved the anagram in the March issue.

Cathedral commemorates Easter with special exhibition

ichfield Cathedral will be marking the build-up to Easter with a programme of special events including a Stations of the Cross exhibition.

The Stations of the Cross exhibition is a display of 25 compelling paintings by British artist Iain McKillop. The powerful paintings offer a very intimate viewing experience, showing the path to Easter – including the pain involved – but with the aim of leaving visitors feeling hopeful and uplifted. The exhibition is on display now and runs over the Easter weekend until Tuesday 18th April. Entry is free but donations to help support the cathedral are welcome. A set of meditations by Iain Mckillop will also be on sale at £1 per copy. More information about Lichfield Cathedral and the programme of services and events for the Easter period is available by visiting the website at www.lichfield-cathedral.org.

Pen Perfection...

1930s Dunhill Namiki fountain pen discovered on a Lichfield valuation day realised a record £2,900 in a specialist Pen Auction recently. These pens are amongst the ultimate for specialised collectors of writing equipment, and are arguably both a work of art and a superlative personal writing instrument. The Maki-e lacquered style is individual, with the decoration built up over multiple layers using gold dust, mother-of-pearl, metal oxides and pigment. This one featured a Maki-e lacquer decoration to barrel and cap with raised and gilt leaf and praying mantis decoration. Company founder, Ryosuki Namiki was born in 1880 and started a small factory in 1915 close to his home in Tokyo. In 1918, he was joined by Masao Wada who provided finance for production of a number of highly individual pens featuring the traditional art of Maki-e using a lacquer made from the Urushi tree. In 1919, the Namiki Pen Company was formed, becoming a division of the Pilot Pen Company in 1923. The pens used Maki-e lacquer over a base material that was a hard rubber or ‘ebonite’ but with the addition of lacquer to the constituents giving a more durable, blacker and glossier surface than the hard rubbers used by the European and American pen makers. This was Mr Namiki’s own invention that he called ‘Laccanite’. Masao Wada’s younger brother, Setsuji, opened a branch of the company in London and quickly numbered Tiffany, Cartier and Asprey amongst its retailers. In 1927, Alfred H Dunhill negotiated an agency to sell the pens in France. Alfred Dunhill had started in business in 1907 selling motor accessories and in an effort to diversify, it was their Paris based manager Clement Court who had the idea and made the first contact with Namiki. In 1930 Dunhill signed an agreement to use the name Dunhill-Namiki and by 1931 they were selling across both Europe and the USA. The young, brilliant lacquer master Gonroku Matsuda was hired on the recommendation of his Professor Shisui Rokkaku and Matsuda put together a team of Maki-e artists to

produce a range of designs of oriental theme and on pens of different sizes. Inevitably, the Second World War affected both the supply of materials and access to market. Pilot has produced pens ever since, initially of lower quality in recovering from the War but also of innovation with only the best quality pens having gold nibs. Alfred Dunhill commenced a partnership with Montblanc in 1966 and took a controlling interest over them in 1977. Dunhill, Montblanc, Cartier and Montegrappa are now part of the Richemont group of luxury products. Pilot got into financial difficulties in 1968 but recovered with their Art Craft Silvern range of etched and engraved designs on silver. By 1984, the company was back in business producing Maki-e models followed by Dunhill Namiki in 1995. Both reproduced the designs of the 1930s using exactly the same traditional skills as the masters of old. These pens can still be bought new and, if expensive, remain wonderful examples of the Maki-e art and are highly sought after and collectable. Desirable pens are now being sourced for inclusion in Hansons forthcoming Decorative Arts & Design Auction on 26th June. Find out if you are sitting on a fortune at the free valuation days, (for all manner of jewellery, watches, silver, antiques & collectables) held every Monday 10.30am to 12.30pm at The Hedgehog Inn, Stafford Road, Lichfield, WS13 8JB. Donations are in aid of St Giles Hospice and free home visits can be arranged for large/bulky items and estate clearance/downsizing advice. Please phone 01283 733988 or email arathbone@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk for further information.

Violin Virtuoso to play Guildhall

ans of swing jazz, classical music, and the great American songbook will be in for a treat when the acclaimed Fret and Fiddle appear at Lichfield Guildhall on Sunday 9th April. Led by violin virtuoso Sally Minchin, and expert guitarist Andy Bole, Fret and Fiddle’s show takes you through the swing music of the 1920s, blues, Americana, folk, gypsy and some foot-tapping fiddle tunes. The concert takes place on Sunday 9th April at 8.00pm in Lichfield Guildhall, with tickets costing £12.00, £10.60 for friends and £6.00 for under 16s. To order tickets visit www.lichfieldarts.org.uk, telephone (01543) 262223, or call into the Lichfield Arts Box Office in Donegal House on Bore Street. To keep up to date with Lichfield Arts follow them on Twitter @lichfieldarts, or become their friend on Facebook.

Nordic Walking in Beacon Park

free introduction to Nordic walking is being held at Beacon Park in April. Nordic walking is a fitness technique that sees walkers using poles to propel themselves along and, as it uses their upper body muscles as well, it tones the whole body.

The free introduction to Nordic walking is available by booking on to a free taster session in Beacon Park on Tuesday 11 April. The session will run from 9.30am to 10.15am, and will be followed by a three-week beginners’ course. The taster session and beginners’ course is being run by Jan Shaw in partnership with Beacon Park. The walking poles will be provided but wearing trainers or soft soled footwear is recommended. Participants must be aged 16 or over and will need to reserve their places by calling Jan on 07717 393805. Following the initial free taster session, participants can choose to take part on a beginners’ course which is running on 18 and 25 April and 2 May from 9.30am to 10.30am and will cost £27.50. To find out more visit www.dancingintherain.co.uk

My View

By Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth

ost people will have heard of the parliamentary constituency called Tamworth. What many will not know is just how many villages and communities in Lichfield District are included in Tamworth constituency. Elford, Edingale, Clifton Campville, Drayton Bassett, Shenstone, Stonnall and Little Aston are just some of the Lichfield communities which are in Tamworth constituency; and they always have been – no matter whether the constituency was called Lichfield & Tamworth, South East Staffordshire or, as now, just Tamworth. So I tend to split my time in the constituency dealing with rural community issues as well as those which face the borough of Tamworth. Some issues such as schools and healthcare concerns are common to both, but in the rural areas broadband connectivity, housing and buses tend to feature large in residents’ concerns. These get my attention throughout the week but usually on Fridays when I am back in my constituency office or Saturday when I am out and about on constituency visits. At Westminster, where I am from Monday to Thursday most of the year, I tend to have a rather different focus. Since Christmas I have been

focused heavily on the EU Notification of Withdrawal Bill (now an Act) in my role as the whip for the Brexit Department. My job was to ensure that the Brexit Bill passed through Parliament smoothly so that the Prime Minister could invoke Article 50 by her 31st March deadline. That job has now been done, so we must focus on our exit negotiations, ensuring the country is “match fit” for the future. Back home in Lichfield there have been a number of campaigns with which I have been heavily involved. I continue to press Highways England for improvement works on the Wall Island junction which are needed to fix a very bad roundabout design, and I have been working with BT to meet residents in Little Aston and Edingale about broadband blackspots. Though it is not always possible fix all concerns, BT has been very helpful so far in supporting local residents. If anyone has had a different experience, please let me know. A great deal of an MP’s work is about the management of on-going issues; but sometimes we score some definite wins. One such has been at Shenstone station where, after a lot of pressing, London Midland has now installed a state of the art ticket machine. At the same time, Network Rail

has committed to improving access to the platforms for disabled people. Recently, I also supported the local petition to keep the minor injuries unit at Sir Robert Peel hospital. The Peel is an important hospital for Tamworth and Mile Oak (as is the Samuel Johnson to Lichfield residents) and I think it very important that it is used effectively to cater to the demands of today’s patients and the opportunities of modern medicine. Lichfield District, and those of our villages in Tamworth constituency, have great community spirit. I have lost count of the number of charities, support organisations and volunteer groups that operate from local villages. They are a hugely important part of our local fabric. That also includes publications such as Citylife which keeps residents informed about the local scene, as well as groups and tradespeople - I even found my roofer advertising here! If you have any problems or comments on any matter, or even would just like a tour of the Houses of Parliament and you live in my constituency then please do not hesitate to contact me on christopher.pincher.mp@parliament.uk or call 01827 312788 my team and I will do our best to help.

Six ‘O’ The Best Music Festival in Aid of the Stan Bowley Trust

he Stan Bowley Trust is a Lichfield based charity raising funds for the highly successful cancer treatment, Cyberknife. The Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham hosts the UK’s busiest Cyberknife machine and treats patients with various forms of cancer. The Stan Bowley trust was founded by the family and friends of local police officer, the late Alan Bowley, affectionately known as ‘Stan’. Following his journey through his own cancer treatment, he discovered this unique form of precision Robotic Radiotherapy, Cyberknife. There were no machines within the UK at that time, so Stan travelled to the USA for treatment. There is no doubt that this treatment extended and improved the quality of his life throughout the duration of his illness. Thanks

By Ady Hellyer

to the fundraising and donations, the QE is now a busy and highly successful treatment centre using this technique. The Charity has gone from strength to strength raising funds for future patients in need of the treatment. The trust’s fundraisers are diversifying and inviting more and more people to get involved and support the charity. For 10 years, an annual ball at Alton Towers hosting approximately 400 guests has raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Cyberknife treatment at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Now, The Stan Bowley Trust is delighted to support the ‘Six ‘O’ The Best’ Music Festival at Lichfield Rugby Club on 1st July this year. The festival will offer a fantastic day out with hits from six iconic bands and artists, played by local musicians and artists. A festival atmosphere of

stalls, picnic tables and amazing music for all ages, will make a great afternoon and evening for both friends and families. Tickets are available now and are priced at £10pp and £25 for a family ticket. This includes two adults and up to 4 children (11 years old and under). All proceeds from the ticket sales will go to the charity so please come along to have a great day out. To buy a ticket call or text 07745 486659 or email hellbenttmusic@gmail.com or call into The Lichfield Rugby Club.

Would you like to get involved? Lichfield Rugby Club are sponsors of this event, and if you are interested in sponsoring this event and advertising your business, please get in touch at hellbenttmusic@gmail.com

Young Enterprise Journey Award for Lichfield school

ue Arnold, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, is encouraging young people in Lichfield to become young entrepreneurs. Mrs Arnold attended the Young Enterprise Finals at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium in April to present awards to youngsters in the county who are trying their hands at business. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire sponsored this year’s Journey Award at the finals. Mrs Arnold was invited to attend as a judge in her capacity as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner and as a successful businesswoman in her own right. Students at Netherstowe School, in Lichfield, were presented with the Young Enterprise Journey Award by Mrs Arnold to celebrate the progress the team members have made and how they dealt with the challenges that they faced. Their company, ICE, has designed and produced wallet and purse sized ‘In Case of Emergency’ cards and key rings which contain an engraved emergency contact number. The Young Enterprise programme encourages school pupils aged 15 to 18 to become budding entrepreneurs and create their own company. They make all of the decisions around products and business and marketing plans for the company. The students will then attend local markets and events in order to sell their products to members of the public.

Lichfield Parks Health Walks E veryone’s invited to go on a series of free health boosting walks through Lichfield Historic Parks that are running from April to October. Lichfield District Council’s parks team is leading two walks a month around Lichfield Historic Parks, which includes

Beacon Park, Minster Pool and Walk, and Stowe Pool and Fields.

The gentle walks are open to everyone of any age and are a great way to discover your local parks and to enjoy healthy exercise. The April walk take place on Wednesday 5 April. The remainder of the walks are on 3 and 6 May, 3 and 7 June, 5 and 8 July, 5 and 9 August, 6 and 9

September and 4 and 7 October. The walks are free – participants simply need to meet at Beacon Park’s Ranger Station (next to the crazy golf course), at 10.45am in time to set off at 11am. If the weather is bad, a walk may be cancelled. To double check whether a walk is running, please call Beacon Park on 01543 308867.

The George Hotel Supports Earth Hour A t 8.30pm on Saturday 25th March, The George Hotel in Bird Street, Lichfield turned off all non-essential lights for an hour in support of the global Earth Hour ‘Lights Out’ initiative.

Earth Hour is a World Wildlife Fund initiative which started in Sydney Australia in 2007 to focus the world’s attention on the need to protect the planet and to take action on climate change. The staff at The George joined millions of people in over 7,000 towns and cities in 172 countries who switched off their lights and pledged their support for the planet, along with global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge in San

Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, Edinburgh Castle, The London Eye and Buckingham Palace which all stood in darkness.

On Saturday 25th March at 8.30pm The George’s lights were dimmed everywhere, all external lights were switched off and Darwin’s restaurant and the bar were lit by candles for the hour.

Angela Burns, Chief Executive at The George said: “At The George we are very proud of our commitment to environmental issues and sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. While the 60 minutes of energy saved during the event is important, Earth Hour also demonstrates that by taking personal responsibility for turning off lights and

unplugging electrical items each of us can make a positive difference. In past years our guests seemed to enjoy the experience of dining by candlelight and the fact that, in more ways than one, their meals did not cost the earth”.

Tim Samson and Jackie Clayton

The Lichfield Prize 2017

Call for entries is now open with prizes worth £1200

mporium gallery of Bird Street, Lichfield, in association with the Lichfield Festival is inviting emerging and established artists countrywide to participate in their annual visual arts competition.

Under the exhibition title Dreams and Extremes artists are invited to creatively interpret this year's competition theme which focuses on America; a land of hopes and dreams, and extremes of terrain and temperature, of colour, creed, culture and colonisation.

This very topical subject, as well as a wide historical or geographical brief, invites interpretation and artistic expression with paintings, drawings, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, mixed media, film or photography. First Prize is £500 cash sponsored by Lichfield BID plus a solo

exhibition at emporium The People’s Choice award prize is £200 cash sponsored by Keelys LLP Solicitors. This new prize will be awarded to the artist who receives the most votes from exhibition visitors. Competition finalists will be exhibited at Lichfield Cathedral and more selected entries exhibited at emporium for the duration of the Lichfield Festival 7th – 15th July. Entry Forms and Conditions can be found at www.emporiumgallery.co.uk. Closing date for entries: Tuesday 6th June 2017. For further information please contact emporium on 01543 256624 or email emporiumartgallery@gmail.com

City Image Competition calling all photographers and artists!

ver the coming months, we’d like to see your photographs, drawings and paintings of Lichfield and the surrounding area. Each month we’ll publish a new selection of the work received, and the final winning image (announced in the December 2017 issue) will receive a £200 prize and ‘City Image’ Trophy. For terms and conditions see page 58. The competition is open to all ages. Photographs, paintings and drawings should be of Lichfield city or the surrounding area and countryside. Please note that you should own the copyright to any image that you send in and the image should be your own work. If sending in a photograph, please make sure that you have Samuel Johnson by Dennis Verdon

permission to submit the image from any individual who may be pictured in your work, and also appropriate permissions if the photograph was taken on private property. To enter, email your images to josscitylife@gmail.com or post them to City Image Competition, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS. Apologies but we cannot return images sent to us, so if submitting a drawing or painting you may want to send us photographs of your work rather than original artwork. We have been blown away by the talent of the artists and photographers who have sent us their work so far. We print here a selection of those images that truly capture our beautiful city. Thank you to everyone who has submitted their work.

The Clock Tower by Kevin Brewin

Lichfield Cathedral at Midnight by Pat Heaney

Watercolour showing rooftops with St Mary’s church beyond during HRH The Queen’s Jubilee by Kerry Telford

Copyright of these images remains with the creators and Citylife in Lichfield Ltd and they may not be reproduced by any unauthorised individual or organisation.

Citylife in Lichfield’s

City Image Cont... Watercolour of Dr Milley’s Hospital by Brenda Jenkins

Vicars Close by Charlie Glenn Soldiers in Three Spires by Sue Caldicott

Sunset at Minster Pool by Clare Eggington

James Boswell by Dennis Verdon

St Mary’s House at Dusk by Tracey Gibson

Copyright of these images remains with the creators and Citylife in Lichfield Ltd and they may not be reproduced by any unauthorised individual or organisation.

Win a Giant

Milk Chocolate Sweetie Egg!

itylife in Lichfield have got together with the Tudor of Lichfield, Bore Street, Lichfield, to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a 700g Milk Chocolate Sweetie Egg! Made of chunky English milk chocolate and decorated with swirls of milk chocolate, candied chocs and jelly cherries, this is the perfect treat for chocoholics and those who like to share. The egg is part of the fantastic range of Easter treats on sale at the Tudor of Lichfield, including Italian foiled eggs in baskets; bunny, hen, lamb, duckling and chick chocolate figures and lollies; beautifully decorated individual eggs; jellies and boxed chocolate selections; fudges and toffees and even tinned teas and biscuits – the perfect gift for those with less of a sweet tooth. Their large selection of individual, hand finished chocolates include lots of traditional favourites and exciting new flavour combinations. The Tudor of Lichfield is set in an exquisite beamed Tudor building dating to 1510, making shopping there a pleasure from start to finish.

To be in with a chance of winning a 700g milk chocolate sweetie egg, just answer the following question:

The Tudor of Lichfield can be found on… A. B. C.

Bore Street Market Street Bird Street

To enter, send your name, answer (A, B or C) to Easter Egg Competition, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS or email josscitylife@gmail.com by the competition closing date of Friday 14th April. The winner will have the egg delivered to their door in time for Easter Sunday. For full terms and conditions please see page 58.

Co-operative Easter Egg Hunt! C

entral England Co-operative has come up with a cracking way to keep boredom at bay for the family with a special instore Easter egg hunt. The Society’s two stores in Lichfield, in Boley Park and Curborough Road, will be taking part in the egg-citing one off event which will see parents and children urged to find answers to a special Easter related quiz around stores in order to receive a free Cadbury Crème Egg*. The special event will run from Saturday, 1 April to Saturday, 15 April and is open to all customers and members.

All entries will also be placed into a major prize draw with the winner scooping one of five family passes to Cadbury World and a chocolate hamper. All people have to do is pick up an Easter quiz sheet and pencil as they enter stores, find and fill in the answers and hand the sheet into one of the till points to receive their prize and be put forward to be in with a chance of winning the main prize.

Some of the questions people will have to locate answers to will include ‘name a special kind of bun made at Easter’ and ‘what is the name of the bean that chocolate is made from’. People are urged to share pictures of their involvement in the Easter egg hunt on Facebook and Twitter by using #mycoopegghunt

Keep up to date with a wide range of Easter related offers at Central England Co-operative Food Store at https://www.centralengland.coop/deals

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.

Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visitinghttps://www.members.coop

Queen’s Croft School pupils volunteer for parks Q

ueen’s Croft School sixth formers have been rolling up their sleeves and working in Lichfield’s parks as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award. Since September, 12 students along with staff members from Queen’s Croft School have been helping Lichfield District Council’s parks team two mornings a week. So far work has included weeding, litter picking, tree planting, raking and collecting a huge amount of leaves and fallen twigs after storm Doris. The students have been helping out at a variety of local parks, including Beacon Park, Stowe Pool and Christian Fields. On Wednesday 15 March, the group got the chance to see the results of their work to plant around 1,000 purple crocus bulbs near Beacon Park’s tennis courts last October. Blooming Lichfield donated the bulbs to Beacon Park, after buying them from Lichfield Rotary Club, which has pledged to eradicate polio worldwide. The colour of the crocuses represents the purple dye that is put on children’s fingers to show they have been vaccinated against the disease.

Soap Lovelies Handcrafted in Alrewas.

n first sight, you won’t believe that the exquisite cup-cakes, truffles, fluffy lambs, and petal perfect floral loveliness in the ‘Lovelies’ range from More Tea Soaperie are in fact made from luxurious, natural, gentle and creamy goats’ milk and silk soap. Each ‘Lovely’ is a captivating and sumptuous work of soap art, reminiscent of the finest work of a Paris patisserie, that has been lovingly handcrafted in tiny pampered batches using only the finest locally sourced sumptuous natural plant oils and butters, including organic shea butter, cocoa butter and castor oil. Essential oils {the alluring natural fragrant essence}, cleansing French clays and skin cosseting botanicals come together to create an opulent, gently cleansing, glycerine rich, finely balanced soap indulgence. Free from harsh detergents, sulphates, parabens, preservatives and palm oil. The soap 'Lovelies' are exquisitely packaged and perfect for every celebration, wedding favours, baby showers, birthdays and anniversaries. ‘Lovelies’ add a bespoke and luxurious touch to any wedding or family event – reflecting your unique day. Visit www.moreteasoaperie.com to see some of the range or contact Julie on 07989 779152 to embrace the endless soap 'Lovely' possibilities.

Collecting Medals and Militaria By Nick Thompson, Medal Valuation Consultant at Richard Winterton Auctioneers

here are so many areas for the collector and enthusiast these days, but in my opinion, none offers as much scope as Military Medals and Militaria. When it comes to Military Medals, the world is your oyster and you can build a collection that represents our Military History, in so many ways, no matter how deep your pockets. Take for example the collecting area of World War One medals. Over 6.5 million medals were struck, representing all branches of our Forces. Collectors often specialise in battles, actions, regiments, dates, casualties, rare units etc. As an example of this, a medal relating to a soldier who was killed in action on 1st July 1916 (the first day of the Battle of the Somme) from a sought-after Regiment (for example, the North Staffords) could realise easily in excess of £500 at auction. If you were to add the fallen soldier’s Memorial Death Plaque, and the parchment scroll, the price goes way above £750. The same collecting areas apply to most of the wars and conflicts that British Forces have been involved with over the years. Often medals relating to servicemen or women who paid the ultimate price during these conflicts attain higher prices at auction than those of serving personnel who survived. Militaria items too are very well collected, and go hand in hand with medals. At Richard Wintertons Auctioneers we see items, from the quite common, to the extremely rare. Sometimes vendors have the provenance of such items which may have belonged to a family member, or written ephemera which adds value at auction. From swords, daggers, firearms to military equipment, we see them all. As in all cases, condition is vital. We recently acted in the sale of an

archive from a retired Major in the British Army. Over the years, many items had been accumulated including books, prints, uniform items, badges, etc. We were fortunate enough to receive great interest from the bidding public, and many prices were achieved in excess of guide prices. What about Medals and Militaria from other countries I hear you ask? I probably see more Imperial German and ‘Nazi’ medals and badges than any other country after UK forces. The German market however is a tricky one due to the existence of so many copies and fake items that flood the market. It can be very difficult to distinguish the genuine item from a copy, but again with time and a little research we are in the main able to offer the vendor an accurate guide price for items placed into sale. What strikes me about medals is that there is always a story behind the name and rank impressed or engraved around the rim. It’s the collector that finds out that story, and in this way the recipient of the medal lives on. If you have any medals or military items that you would like valued, please look out for our regular Valuation Days at Fradley Park, and come and see us, you may be pleasantly surprised with what you may have.

Kara Strachan - The Art Loft

Lion House Art - Studio of Carl Knibb ARBSA

Eden Gallery

Lime Sky

Festival of Artists

urborough Hall Farm Countryside Centre’s free “Festival of Artists” event is back for its fourth year, and will be bigger in 2017! The event is now confirmed for three days from Saturday 29th April to Monday 1st May (11am to 4pm on all days). Located on Watery Lane, just outside Lichfield centre, the event will highlight the exciting works of over 50 different local and regional artists and art groups, including Carole Baker RBSA. The event is organised by on-site artist Kara Strachan of the Art Loft (who will also be exhibiting on the day), along with the help and support of Curborough Hall Farm and the Centre’s other artists and galleries: Home of Colours, Lime Sky: Studio & Gallery, Lion House Art – studio of Carl Knibb ARBSA and Eden Gallery, all of whom are located at the Centre all year round. Kara’s passion and enthusiasm for art is infectious, and a big reason why the event has been so successful and popular with both artists and art lovers alike. Kara commented: “We have had some fantastic feedback about our festival over the past few years, but we are always looking at ways that we can make it bigger and better. This year we have decided to add an extra 30

29th April to 1st May

day, and that will help us to accommodate family during the bank holiday weekend. even more visitors to this exciting event.” The Festival of Artists will culminate in On view will be artists working with oils, the Geoff Hollinshead Award being given to pastels, acrylics and watercolours – even the artist displaying the best piece of wood, stained glass and stone, so there is an artwork. Who will follow in the footsteps of excellent and diverse range of artists last year’s winner Martin Carty? With so attending. It’s not just their artwork that will much great art sure to be on display, come be on display. A real highlight is the fact along to Curborough Hall Farm that exhibitors will be demonstrating their Countryside Centre for a great day out and exquisite techniques throughout the festival to see if you agree with the judge’s decision. so it’s a great opportunity to watch, learn There’s free entry to the Festival of Artists and be inspired. Ultimately, the event is all and lots of free on-site parking every day. about trying to create a long-term legacy for art, both locally, and for the wider area. Curborough Hall Countryside Centre can As well as the Festival of Artists event the be found at Curborough Hall Farm, Watery Centre’s other businesses and retailers will Lane, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 8ES. be open as usual. All are located in Go to converted, old, barns and farm buildings, www.curboroughcountrysidecentre.com for offering visitors a great choice of shops and further details. services as well as crafts. From antiques to gifts, there’s even a farm shop, garden centre and Mabel’s T e a r o o m (renowned for their delicious cakes and home cooked food), so there will be plenty of things to see and do for all the Michelle from Home of Colours

J HOWELL & DAUGHTERS FUNERAL DIRECTORS LICHFIELD & ALREWAS

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We are proud to be Lichfield's longest established family run funeral directors offering a wide range of choices to suit all requirements. Horse drawn, non religious ceremonies, floral tributes and memorials are but a few 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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Francesco Attend International Event

he team at Francesco G r o u p , Lichfield have had a busy start to the year, perfecting their skills at specialist industry events across Europe. Salon Director, Alice Reeve and Stylists Phil Underhill and Chelsea Southwell have recently attended Sebastian Professional’s International event, which brought together creative minds from across the industry for inspirational seminars and demonstrations; showcasing the latest products and hairdressing techniques. Phil and Chelsea were then invited to support the Sebastian Professional CULT Team at the Raw Edge Fashion Show in London, helping to create all the catwalk styles. If you’re looking for a little inspiration for a new Spring look, visit Francesco Group Lichfield’s expert team, who have all the latest trends and techniques at their fingertips! Call the salon on 01543 416466 for your complimentary consultation.

Knitique F

or the fourth year running we are celebrating Yarn Shop Day on Saturday 6th May 2017.

Yarn Shop Day is the creative craft industry supported annual event that celebrates the existence of local bricks-and-mortar yarn shops and the unique customer service that they provide.

We have taken part since the day was launched in 2014 and this year will be offering tea, coffee and cake for all our customers throughout the day, limited edition goody bags, and reductions on selected yarns. We look forward to welcoming our customers old and new to join us in celebrating the creative craft of knitting and crochet.

Advertising Feature

Before

After

The Barn - Breathing New Life into a Fascinating Building. By Joss Musgrove Knibb

he Barn Pub and Restaurant has become a popular destination since it opened its doors in 2016. The newly refurbished building has uncovered original beams and carpenter’s marks, dating back to the building’s construction in the 18th century (if not before).

The Old Pubs of Lichfield by John Shaw notes that in 1771 The Barn was known as the Three Tuns Inn. In the 1930s reports in the Lichfield Mercury discuss the ‘Cherry Wakes’ that took place here in the 19th century, when white heart cherries from the neighbouring orchard were harvested and enjoyed by crowds who arrived to enjoy both the ripe cherries and the pub’s ales. In 1938, F.H. Shilcock, a published poet, became landlord of the Three Tuns Inn.

Recently, I spoke to James Lawlor, owner of The Barn and Managing Director of Lawlor’s Ltd and Lucy Lawlor, licensee and Manager

about saving one of Lichfield’s historic buildings and their plans for the future. Lawlor's Ltd are based in Bloxwich but several members of the family live in Lichfield. Lawlor's are builders and building contractors and specialise in the refurbishment and redevelopment of buildings for commercial and industrial use, nationwide.

J.M.K: When did you buy The Barn? J.L: I purchased The Barn in July 2014 from the owners of Panache restaurant that used to be based here. My sister and brother in law live in Leomansley, and they’d eat there now and again and knew that the owners were interested in selling it. When I saw the place I really liked the location – I could see a lot of potential. Usually we'd undertake these works on behalf of the owners of the buildings, so The Barn is the first time we've bought a building, refurbished it and run it as an ongoing concern ourselves, although my daughter Lucy has a lot of experience as a licensee and in the hospitality trade.

J.M.K: Did you know the age of the building when you bought it?

The Barn at Lichfield

James and Lucy Lawlor

Mezzanine dining area. Image by Shelley Simmonds Photography

Image by Manos Koukakis Photography J.L: I had no idea that it dated to the 1700s as all of the original beams were covered up and there’d been a couple of extensions. We didn’t know they were there until we started ‘stripping out’ and exposed them. The Barn isn’t listed but we spent a lot of time with planners getting everything right. We’ve been careful about keeping as much as we could of the original structure.

J.M.K: What made you think about restoring the building back to its original purpose as a pub? J.L: I lived in Solihull for a while and enjoyed eating out in the kind of chic, gastro pubs that they have in the town, and we’ve created The Barn to bring the best of this kind of business to our area. We’ve got a sunny, secure garden area that has great views, and this year we’re looking at installing a pizza oven, outside bar and added lanterns and illuminations so it’s going to be a magical spot in the summer and the perfect place for lunch if you’re on a tight schedule. L.L: The Barn is a great place to eat, everything is cooked from scratch from local produce by our team of chefs, and you can watch your food being prepared. We wanted to create the kind of laid back dining experience that people are looking for, serving fantastic, a la carte, high end restaurant quality food in a beautiful setting where you can wear what you want and even bring your dog! Our beer garden is fully heated and has comfortable outdoor booths, and we're offering great deals on pizzas. The interior is designed so that it feels relaxed and friendly, but we also have different spaces to suit your mood. There’s a private mezzanine dining area, a dining area with a hard wood ‘Bajan’ ceiling and seating areas that can

accommodate, two to fourteen people. We’ve also got beautiful views of the countryside. We offer a great welcome and great service – we’re a country pub but on the edge on the city. We’re a freehouse so we can control and design our own unique menu where everything is made from scratch by our trained chefs in the kitchen. This means that we can accommodate diners who are looking for gluten free options etc if requested, although to give you the biggest choice it’s best if you let us know in advance if possible. Our new spring menu will be launched soon and our new dessert menu has gone down a storm.

J.M.K: Do you cater for events? L.L: We can host small weddings and we have a room with its own private entrance which is ideal for family events, and the Leomansley Room has its own bar, balcony and garden. We can accommodate 40 for a served dinner or 60 for canapes. We’re open from midday every day and we close at 11pm Sunday to Thurs and midnight on Friday and Saturday. We’re planning lots of great events too including ‘Ascot Comes to Lichfield’ on the 22nd and 23rd June. There’ll be a marquee, champagne and all the glamour of Ascot, plus an opportunity to wear your best hats on our Ladies Day on the 22nd. A Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Morning will be taking place on Saturday 20th May from 9.30am to 11.30am, and there's more charity events coming up. J.L: We bought a building that needed restoring - transformed it and restored it into a lovely space. We’d really like people to come and see what we have done. The Barn at Lichfield is a family run business and we're very proud of it.

The Barn at Lichfield, Walsall Road, Lichfield WS13 8JL, Telephone: 01543 224269

email: info@thebarnatlichfield.co.uk www.thebarnatlichfield.co.uk

Before

After

Exciting developments at Lichfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Historic Waterworks T

he Lichfield Waterworks Trust, a registered charity set up to save Lichfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic waterworks at Sandfields, is now one step closer to achieving its plan to bring the redundant Grade II* building back into reuse as a community facility.

The Trust has been working jointly with the owners, Persimmon Homes Ltd, Lichfield District Council and the City Council and have now agreed the terms of a licence to enter the building to conduct a feasibility study. The study will enable the trust to find a sustainable long term solution that will preserve the Victorian Waterworks for the benefit of the community in perpetuity.

Following a short ceremony presided over by the Mayor of Lichfield Cllr. Sheelagh James, Paul Foster of Persimmon Homes Ltd handed the keys to David Moore, chairman of the Lichfield Waterworks Trust. David Moore said that this is one small step for the Lichfield Waterworks Trust, and one giant leap for the people of Lichfield.

David then spoke about how in 1854 the city of Lichfield in an act of unselfish generosity completely remodelled itself to become a living waterworks. Both lakes were substantially enlarged, the Museum Gardens created and a mile-long tunnel built to convey the water to the pumping station at Sandfields, so it could save the people in the Black Country from the dreaded cholera epidemics that had wiped out thousands of lives.

Sandfields Pumping Station is one of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most exciting pieces of industrial heritage that played a significant part in the development of the industrial revolution.

The Trust welcomes new members who have an interest in heritage or social history and who wish to support the community. If you would like to be a part of this exciting project, please visit the website at: www.lichfieldwaterworkstrust.com

Celebrating

Lichfield’s Talents on

Staffordshire Day

of the city’s most famous inhabitants, David Garrick. The Garrick 300 Community Party will see the Market Square and Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum brought to life with performance, activities and events for all ages throughout the day.

ank Holiday Monday, 1st May, is Staffordshire Day, the second of the now annual event celebrating our county and all that makes it special. For 2017, Lichfield is celebrating the creativity and heritage of our part of the region with a giant party named after one

The main stage on the Market Square will host talented local groups including Wildfire Folk and Lichfield Lighthouse Company, as well as community theatre from The Upstagers, Lichfield Garrick and more. The Samuel Johnson Birthplace will be taking a trip down memory lane with a local history exhibition and hands-on activities, and a display of local

he legends of children’s TV, Dick and Dom are about to be unleashed on the Lichfield Garrick.

the controlled chaos of Dick and Dom Live on the road will give audiences an experience they’ve never had before and will never forget!” The duo have built a diverse portfolio of programming across different genres including the double BAFTA winning Dick & Dom in Da Bungalow, Diddy TV and The Legend of Dick & Dom (which received BAFTA nominations for all three series). Their science entertainment show Absolute Genius with Dick & Dom, which they won the BAFTA for best presenters, is now filming its fifth series. Dick and Dom Live will be playing at the Lichfield Garrick on Wednesday 12 April at 11am and 2pm.

primary school’s printmaking inspired by Garrick will be on show at the Guildhall. Young visitors can create and style their own crazy Georgian Wigs in the craft area, and Lichfield’s poetry groups will have some inspiring activities on offer. The community market on the square will celebrate local arts and heritage organisations and give the chance to find out about all the things to get involved with in the area such as Erasmus Darwin House and Lichfield Arts, local charities and many more. Reflecting on the rich history of our city, reenactment group the Prince Rupert’s Bluecoats will also be on the square and around the streets throughout the day, looking for new recruits.

Dick and Dom, Live at The Garrick

Their show promises to get the whole family on their feet, with a live performance that will be full of madcap challenges and audience games that will guarantee to have you in stitches. The duo, who this year are celebrating 20 years as a double act and are famed for their mischievous antics, promise to bring the chaos usually reserved for screen to the stage in a new live show that will prove to be unmissable. Dick said: “We can’t wait to get going! It’s totally interactive. One half of the audience is against the other half, so everyone who comes along will get to be involved – Oh, and we can’t guarantee it won’t get a bit messy!” Dom added: “We’ve been doing this show for five years now and it’s an absolute riot. Taking

Tickets cost £11.50 (child), £13.50 (adult) and £41.50 (family), and can be booked online at www.lichfieldgarrick.com or by calling the Box Office on 01543 412121.

Ladies Night at

Pom’s

A Review

ecently, the Citylife editorial team, intrigued by the ‘buzz’ around Ladies Night at Pom’s, booked a table to see for ourselves why Pom’s on a Tuesday night is becoming so popular. Ladies Night at Pom’s takes place every Tuesday from 6pm until 10pm. At £25 a head, diners enjoy their choice of three courses from a compact but delicious menu, alongside lavish Prosecco or soft drinks, all included in the price.* The restaurant is cosy but spacious, giving you enough elbow room to relax. Our menu choices for the evening were Soup of the Day with Fresh Bread; Southern Fried Chicken Caesar Salad with Garlic Mayo, Baby Gem lettuce, Parmesan, Croutons and Bacon or Crayfish Tails bound in Curried Mayonnaise on a crisp Bruschetta with Charred Lime. The team chose either the Caesar Salad or the

Crayfish tails. The salad proved to be large enough for a main meal portion, with the chicken fried to perfection – not at all greasy and very succulent. The crayfish tails were delicious, and a nice twist on the classic prawn cocktail. One of our party has a gluten intolerance, and another a nut intolerance, but this proved to be no problem at all. Bravo to the waiting staff and kitchen for juggling our complicated orders with aplomb, accuracy and no long wait. The choice of mains covered Thai spiced Cod Fillet on a Tomato, Chorizo and Coconut casserole; 6oz Ribeye Steak with French fries, Mushrooms and Tomato and Wild Mushroom and Blue Cheese Tart with Sweet Potato fries. The Thai spiced cod was light but filling with just a touch of heat, and the steak was served well-done on request. I often think that serving meat well-done can be tricky, as if not caught

exactly right it can prove chewy and tough. Again the kitchen came through with flying colours. The puddings on offer were Warm Waffle topped with Needwoods Ice Cream and Toffee Sauce; Orange and Chocolate Eton Mess or Tea and Coffee. Only two of the party had enough room for pudding, but the waffle (offered with a wide choice of ice cream flavours, which was a nice touch) and chocolate orange Eton mess were as decadent as you could wish for. All in all, I can see why Ladies Night at Pom’s is so popular, and not just with ladies, it’s a popular night with couples, friends and work colleagues too. If you’re free on Tuesday night, give it a try for a real mid-week treat.

*Please note, although diners may enjoy as much free Prosecco as they wish for £25 per head, Pom’s are also responsible restauranteurs, and will only provide alcohol strictly within UK legislation and guidelines.

A Window on the Past

We’ll Meet Again…

1. Peter Salt (second from the right) in 1948. Image courtesy of Peter’s daughter Fiona Crisp 2. Muriel Aston and Gordon Thick on their wedding day on 14th August 1945. Image courtesy of Brenda Carpenter 3. Cyril Eccleston with his parents in the 1940s. Image courtesy of Cyril’s son Keith Eccleston 4. Ted Bateman in 1945. Image courtesy of Ted’s son Brian Bateman 5. V.E. Day at Dovehouse Fields in 1945. Image from the collection of You’re probably from Lichfield, Staffs if… 6. Daisy and Richard (known as Paddy) Maquire in 1945. Image courtesy of son Kevan Maquire 7. Frank Myatt in the 1940s. Image courtesy

At Citylife in Lichfield we’re intrigued not just by the medieval story of our city but by recent history that’s still within living memory. In May, the country will celebrate the anniversary of V.E. Day – 72 years after Victory in Europe was declared. Like practically every corner of the country, Lichfield had been transformed by this epic conflict, and there’s something about photographs from this period that’s so evocative of these extraordinary times. We’re proud to be able to print here images provided by the members of local history group ‘You’re probably from Lichfield, Staffs if…’

of Frank’s grandson Clive Read 8. Lesley Salt in 1946. Image courtesy of Lesley’s niece Fiona Crisp 9. Belonia Wincup (known as Belle) who was a member of the Land Army in the 1940s. Image courtesy of Belonia’s daughter Alyson Deakin

For more stories, pictures and memories, visit the group’s Facebook page ‘You’re probably from Lichfield, Staffs if…’ or go along to their next meeting on Tuesday 4th April from 7pm till 10pm at Lichfield Social Club, Purcell Avenue, Lichfield, WS13 7PH. For more information call 01543 416393 or 01543 268842. The group’s great displays of local photographs and memorabilia can be booked free of charge to appear at shows, nursing homes and clubs etc.

rt enthusiasts will be given the chance to discover the works of JMW Turner when an exhibition celebrating the acclaimed Romanticist painter comes to Lichfield Cathedral in April.

The free exhibition, entitled ‘Mr Turner Comes To Lichfield’, will take place at the cathedral from Monday 24th April to Sunday 11th June, and people of all ages are being urged not to miss out on this unique opportunity.

While the event will showcase Turner’s striking landscapes, including the rarely seen vivid watercolour of Lichfield Cathedral, and related sketchbooks donated by Tate Britain, it will also introduce guests to pieces by Thomas Girtin, John Piper and other prominent 19th and 20th century artists.

The London-born artist visited Lichfield Cathedral in 1830 as part of a tour of the Midlands, and it is believed that his watercolour of the cathedral, which depicts the building’s spires looming beyond a body of water, originates from around this time. It is one of a series of paintings by Turner illustrating the cathedral’s artistic merits.

Simon Warburton, Director of Operations and Enterprise at Lichfield Cathedral, commented: “It is wonderful to be hosting this very special free exhibition here in Lichfield, and we are particularly excited to be presenting Turner’s beautiful painting of the cathedral to the people of the city, which until recently has been in a private collection.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for all art lovers, and I would strongly encourage people to come along and learn more about one of the greatest masters of British watercolour painting.”

A controversial figure in his day, Turner (1775-1851) is now recognised as the artist who brought landscape painting to an eminence rivalling that of historical painting, his most notable works including ‘The Slave Ship’, ‘Rain, Steam and Speed’ and ‘The Fighting Temeraire’. 42

Turner Comes to Cathedral

Entry to the exhibition is free of charge, although donations to the cathedral are encouraged and welcomed.

As well as the Mr Turner Comes To Lichfield exhibition, other events related to Turner are also being developed including a unique opportunity to see the film Mr Turner projected inside the cathedral. The West End play The Painter, starring Iain Fletcher, will also play ‘in the round’ inside the cathedral from Monday 29th May to

Monday 3rd June (tickets, including a limited number of VIP tickets will be available from the Cathedral Gift Shop).

To find out more about ‘Mr Turner Comes To Lichfield’ and the cathedral’s other upcoming events, please call 01543 306100, email info@lichfield-cathedral.org or visit www.lichfield-cathedral.org.

HOMES & GARDENS

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

We understand that choosing a new ‘forever fireplace’ can be a daunting process, so at Rugeley Fireplaces we combine years of experience with a friendly and approachable service. Rugeley Fireplaces was established in 1989, giving us the expertise to guide you through the most cost-effective heating solutions, or design your dream ‘wow factor’ statement designer piece to add the finishing touch to your home re-design. Whatever you have in mind we will always strive to meet your needs with utmost professionalism and attention to detail. Rugeley Fireplaces' years of experience in solid fuel, gas and electric fires, stoves and fireplaces allows us to help you visualise your new

nother mild weather patch at the moment – will we end up having a drought this summer? Let’s hope not - but just in case, this month we’ll take a look at some water-saving measures you can take to help both the plants and your water bill too! Firstly, if you have a dry soil, try and choose plants that will do well without much water. These can range from bedding and patio plants such as Begonias and Geraniums through to some of the succulent perennial plants like Sedums, Bergenia and Euphorbia, or for more colour – the daisy-like flowers of Anthemis and hardy Geraniums. For shrub choices, why

fireplace or design bespoke pieces at surprisingly good prices. Our reputation for service and quality is outstanding and we are able to keep our prices very competitive because we’ve built up relationships with our suppliers over many years. Rugeley Fireplaces, 41 Albion Street, (Find us at Service Area 10), Rugeley WS15 2BY. Phone: 01889 574022. www.gratefireplaces.net

Your Garden in

April

By Byron Lewis

not try some Cistus, Skimmia or Pieris. Improving the soil and planning in advance will also help reduce watering. Adding organic matter such as rotted manure and home-made compost to borders will help water retention, and covering your borders with a permeable weed-control material and mulching will both keep in water and keep down the weeds. For hanging baskets and pots, consider a drip-irrigation system which consumes far less water than hosepipes, and when you plant your pots, add water-retention gel to the compost. This jelly like substance swells up and releases water over time and

is easy to add to pots and baskets. Another good idea is to store as much rainwater as you can in water butts. Using these methods you should successfully save lots of water an lots of work too – but I bet now I’ve written this, we’ll have a soaking wet summer! That’s all for now - have a great Easter! Byron Lewis runs Lichfield Garden Centre, at Curborough Countryside Centre in Lichfield. Tel: 01543 254306, visit the website at www.lichfieldgardencentre.co.uk or find them on Facebook and Twitter. 43

HOMES & GARDENS Ralvern Upholstery

Established in 1946, Ralvern Upholstery are a family firm of traditional bespoke fine furniture makers and reupholsterers that pride themselves on customer service, high quality materials and attention to detail. They design and manufacture sofas, chairs and furniture to order and to customers’ specifications. Their handmade furniture is built on the strongest frames and covered in the finest fabrics, creating a sofa, chair or suite that you can be proud of for many years to come. Customers are welcome to visit their Factory Showroom to see the attention to detail that is put into every piece - new or old. Ralvern Upholstery have a background in old-school upholstery methods which gives them the skills to create designs from drawings - either inspired by lifestyle magazines, interior designers, or by a design of your own. Alternatively they can offer an in house design service upon request. Their “Manufacturers Promise” guarantees that they will adhere to the finest build quality. You can be proud to have a Ralvern suite in your home. 19, Martindale, Hawks Green, Cannock, Staffs, WS11 7XN. Tel: 01543 505539 email: sales@ralvernupholstery.co.uk, www.ralvernupholstery.co.uk

Stag Oak & Pine

Formed in 1994, Stag Oak & Pine has developed an enviable reputation for the design and creation of beautiful, custom-made furniture – everything from simple shelves to full bedroom suites! Offering a hassle free design service and a no obligation free call out to measure up, deliveries are arranged around customers’ schedules. Stag Oak & Pine specialise in the use of Scandinavian Redwood Pine, American White Oak, Poplar and Radiata Pine, constructing pieces with high quality dovetail, morticed and tenoned joints and in a choice of finishes from waxed, oiled and lacquered to painted. Stag Oak & Pine stock an impressive selection of furniture and also create fully bespoke items. They understand that people want their homes filled with the best, and their bespoke design service creates pieces of furniture that

really provide the wow factor. Assisting you every step of the way, during an initial conversation they advise on what would work best, and then follow this up with a home consultation to measure up and to help you visualise your new furniture in situ. Products are manufactured in their own workshop, so your exact specifications can be met. Contact Stag Oak & Pine at 3 Boston Industrial Estate, Power Station Road, Rugeley WS15 2HS. Tel: 01889 583583, www.stagpine.co.uk

Tatlow Carpets & Flooring

Tatlow Carpets & Flooring are the first choice for flooring in Lichfield and Staffordshire, and are an established family business that offer great value and personal advice. Ken Tatlow started working in the flooring industry in 1972 and Jayne, his daughter, now carries on this family tradition. Jayne commented: “We have a wealth of experience in advising clients on just the right flooring. Also, if customers bring in their colour samples, we can help colour coordinate. We can also give you the right advice on what will work best in each room or space when carrying out our free measuring service.” Tatlow Carpets & Flooring’s fitters offer a great service from start to finish, uplifting and disposing of old flooring, moving furniture and preparing surfaces. They also offer a guarantee

that stands the test of time. Tatlows can take any carpet surplus, edge it in a colour to suit your colour-scheme and turn it into useful rugs. They also supply accessories like ‘Rug Stop’ (which prevents your rugs from sliding on carpets and smooth floors), plus caster-cups to stop indentations and other useful products that will enhance and protect your flooring. Tel: 01543 264766 Email: jayne.beard@tatlowcarpets.co.uk. Unit 4, Europa Way, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield, WS14 9TZ. Open to the public Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat 10am - 4pm.

The Fire Place

Russell and partner Sue opened The Fire Place in July 2007 and have been growing year on year. The Fire Place offers a complete service, covering all aspects of installation, including free surveying (within 20 miles), fitting, any allied building work and rubbish

HOMES & GARDENS

removal. On arrangement, Russell will come to your home and advise on flue types/ventilation and fitting fees. He will be able to tell you what you can and cannot have, (but usually if you want something, Russell will be able to provide it!). Once the choice is made and deposit is paid The Fire Place will provide a fitting date. One of their professional teams of fitters will arrive on the fitting day and carry out the necessary work, including any necessary plastering. At the end of the job the team will tidy up and vacuum the area. The Fire Place offers a wide range of gas fires, wood burners and electric fires. They also offer a wide range of fireplaces in natural stone, marble, wood etc. They have around 70 displays of which most are working fires. They offer a range of efficient contemporary flue fires which can be fitted on any external wall or within a standard chimney breast. They offer a wide range of multifunctional stoves, wood burning stoves include Contura, HETA and Purevision-very efficient and controllable stoves. They offer contemporary electric fires made by Evonic or Flamerite (Flamerite are manufactured in Lichfield). Their opening hours are 9.30am - 5pm Mon to Fri, 10am - 4pm Sat, closed Sundays and Bank Holidays. Feel free to pop in and browse around the showroom. Tel: 01543 263383.

HOMES & GARDENS

Chase Bedrooms & Kitchens Ltd

At Chase Kitchens and Bedrooms we can offfer you a complete service from design to installation. All of our kitchens are bespoke designs, made to suit your

HOMES & GARDENS

requirements. Whether a small utility or a large country kitchen we will guide you through the whole process. We have a large showroom where we can offer advice regarding your choice of doors, worktops, appliances, walls and flooring. All of our rigid kitchen carcases are made on the premises by our skilled cabinet makers. Made from 18mm MFC board and colour matched to your doors, where possible, fitted with soft close hinges, on doors and drawers, as standard. We do not make flat pack units, whether we are fitting your kitchen or supply only, your cabinets will arrrive built, ready for installation. Visit our Brownhills showroom, open 6 days a week, and take a look at the huge choice available. Unit 1, Toll Point, Gatehouse Trading Estate, Chase Rd, Brownhills WS8 6JT. www.chasebedroomsandkitchens.com Phone: 01543 379666

The Fireplace & Stove Co.

The Fireplace & Stove Co. are a family-run business with over 30 years’ knowledge and experience within the industry. They offer a wide range of fireplaces and stoves to suit individual tastes, property styles and budgets and all of their quality workmanship is fully guaranteed. The Fireplace & Stove Co. pride themselves on their excellent customer service, and combine traditional attention to detail and quality of finish with modern design standards. Their expert team has a wealth of knowledge and experience that they bring to every fireplace and/or stove installation they undertake, from a marble fireplace to a wood-burning stove. As part of the complete package they can also supply and fit a selection of flue systems. Whether you’re looking for wood burning stoves, contemporary gas fires or everything in-between, The Fireplace & Stove Co. are your one stop shop for fires and fireplaces. Their huge range of fires and fireplaces and years of experience mean that you can be sure that you have found a company who know their products inside out. Also available are a range of gas fires to suit all flue types. GAS SAFE engineers are available for installations. We are main dealers for some of biggest names in the industry including Parkray, Broseley, ACR, Aduro and Hunter. All stoves

come with a manufacturers’ backed warranty as standard, are DEFRA approved, therefore, are suitable for smoke controlled areas. All stove installations are carried out by our HETAS Registered, fully insured tradesmen. To complement our stoves we have a range of Natural Stone fire surrounds on display. A large range of fireside accessories and oak beams are always in stock. The Fireplace & Stove Co’s team are here to help you achieve what you want. For more information pop in to their Lichfield based showroom, call or email and one of the team will assist you with your enquiry. The Fireplace & Stove Co. 23, Heart of the Country Shopping Village, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS14 9QR Telephone: 01543 480444 Email: info@thefireplaceandstove.co.uk www.thefireplaceandstove.co.uk Open Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm Closed on Monday

Lichfield Kitchens & Bedrooms

Lichfield Kitchens & Bedrooms have been in business for over 30 years and have an excellent team to help and advise you all the way, whether you are looking for plain and simple, glossy and glorious or contemporary and chic. Lichfield Kitchens & Bedroom’s designers will visit your home and listen to your needs to truly understand what it is you are hoping to achieve. They will offer advice and guidance when needed, and reproduce your ideas using the latest computer aided software so that you can view your new kitchen design in 3D. Their highly-skilled craftsmen carry out their work with the utmost respect in your home, and your Designer is always on hand to ensure the project is running to plan. They also undertake all necessary works required. Lichfield Kitchens & Bedrooms have a large showroom where you will find lots of samples to choose from. They are an accredited five star Master Partner with Neff appliances and have exclusive access to appliances that are not available to other dealers. Their Designers are always available for a chat and their showroom is open Monday to Saturday from 9am – 5pm. Kitchens & Bedrooms, Britannia Way, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield WS14 9UY. Tel: 01543 263340.

HOMES & GARDENS

M Squared Bathrooms

M Squared Bathrooms have been established for over a decade and opened the doors of their Lichfield showroom three years ago. Stocking and supplying a comprehensive selection of everything for your bathroom, from full shower enclosures, baths, WCs, vanity units, radiators, taps, grab rails, flooring, panelling and mirrors – their ranges cater for all budgets and tastes. M Squared don’t just supply bathrooms, they fit them too, and their team of professional fitters are committed to providing an excellent customer experience. Their attention to detail is the same regardless of the size of project - whether it’s a bathroom or wet room installation. They also provide a two year guarantee on all labour, plus manufacturers’ guarantees as standard and M Squared stock only reputable suppliers including Barwick and Frontline. M Squared’s friendly staff have over 20 years’ experience and there’s a free measuring service available. The Lichfield showroom is on two floors with lots of free parking. They also offer free local delivery, with 90% of products available for next day delivery. Trade accounts are welcome. M Squared Bathrooms Ltd, 17 Titan Way, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield, Staffs. WS14 9TT. Tel: 01543 624442 www.msquaredbathrooms.co.uk

Arco Decorators

Arco Decorations specialise in the renovation, conservation and transformation of any building – from a large hotel or office complex to a private home. Arco Decorations are a comprehensively accredited, full service, painting and decorating company working with customers all over the Midlands. Being Safecontractor and Constructionline certified, Arco Decorations offer the highest quality workmanship and specialise in all interior and exterior decorating for domestic homes, commercial and retail property, and industrial buildings and sites. Arco Decorations was formed two years ago by experienced decorators Mark Evans and Steven Potter. With over 40 years of experience between them, their new office at 2 Titan Way, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield is open both to the public and trade. Arco Decorations are perfectionists and work to very high standard, making sure that they deliver exactly what the customer wants, all on time, within budget and with the minimum of disruption. Because Arco Decorations Limited only use the best products, you can rest assured that the quality of workmanship is always second to none. Arco Decorations Limited, 2 Titan Way, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield, WS14 9TT www.arcodecorations.com Tel: 0121 573 0800.

Benchmarx Kitchens

At Benchmarx we can make your kitchen more than just a room. Benchmarx are ‘tradeonly kitchen specialists but this doesn’t mean that the public can’t also enjoy the perfect kitchen from us. To see some of our ranges of kitchen, accessories and appliances, go to our website www.benchmarxkitchens.co.uk We've designed this website to help you choose the right Benchmarx kitchen for your home, budget and individual needs. Browse by kitchen style and colour to choose a design that is unique and special to you. Then, let us help you with our free kitchen design and planning service. We understand the importance of creating the right look for your kitchen, whether that's cool, sleek and stylish or warm, homely and welcoming. We'll find the perfect balance of form and functionality combining inspiring designs with essential practical features. When it’s time to purchase, you’ll need to appoint your trade professional kitchen installer, as we only sell to the trade. Why do we sell our kitchens and accessories to trade professionals only? It’s because we believe you’ll get the best possible results if your kitchen is installed by an experienced tradesperson. Benchmarx also gives you access to top brands at competitive trade prices, backed up by comprehensive guarantees. What’s more, you’ll

HOMES & GARDENS

benefit from our free design service. Our professional kitchen designers are here to help plan your kitchen – turning your ideas for your living space into reality. For more information go to www.benchmarxkitchens.co.uk or pop into Benchmarx Kitchens, Birmingham Road, Lichfield WS14 9BJ.

City Plumbing Supplies

City Plumbing Supplies are your local, national plumbing and heating supplier for the trade. City Plumbing Supplies have been delivering quality products at competitive trade prices for well over 30 years. From boilers and copper tubing to bathroom suites and towel rails, all from top brand names, we have everything you need to complete the job. We know in your business time really is money and that you can't afford to wait for products, which is why we hold stock of a wide range of essential products that you need on a daily basis and can source most other products from our central distribution centre within a day or two. Our friendly specialist staff are our best asset and their knowledge and expertise will ensure you always get the right products and advice when you need it. We have a nationwide network of over 300 branches so wherever your work takes you, you should always be near a City

HOMES & GARDENS

Plumbing supplies branch. We also offer a delivery service which is available to all our trade customers and will ensure you get your orders delivered in full and at a time that suits you. For more information visit www.cityplumbing.co.uk or pop into City Plumbing, Birmingham Road, Lichfield WS14 9BJ for a warm welcome and great products at the right price.

Lichfield Garden Centre

Now entering its fourth year of trading, Lichfield Garden Centre at Curborough is looking forward to the season ahead. Owner Byron Lewis moved up from the South Wales valleys to fulfill his dream of running his own Garden Centre. After four years studying for a degree at Pershore College in Worcestershire and with now over 20 years experience in Garden Centres (Plus the odd Chelsea Gold Medal and

Gardening Programme on local radio along the way!) he is looking forward to summer. “We stock hundreds of varieties of perennials, shrubs, roses, patio plants and more – each year there are lots of new plants and new gardening items to buy, and we love stocking slightly different products too. We also have a very popular hanging basket refill service where customers let us fill their baskets and pots with colour – saving them time and effort. We get a lot of customers coming back each year saying how lovely their planters have looked.” The Garden Centre is also known for its programme of Coach Trips, all departing directly from the Garden Centre. This summer they visit (amongst others) Kew Gardens, Highgrove, Tatton Park, Chatsworth at Christmas and the highlight for 2017 is a trip to see Raymond Blanc’s ‘Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons’ with a guided garden tour and 4 course meal! If you happen to be ‘of a certain age’, you can visit them on a Tuesday and get a 10% Senior Citizen’s Discount on (nearly) all items – this is quickly becoming one of the busiest days of the week at the Garden Centre! Add to this a new and growing ebay store where selected gardening products can be purchased online (Byron recently sent some items to Italy, Canada, and even to a diplomat at the European Union!), Lichfield Garden Centre is becoming a one-stop shop for all your

gardening needs. The Garden Centre is open 7 days a week and can be found at Curborough Countryside Centre, just off Eastern Avenue in Lichfield – pay them a visit to create your perfect garden.

Lichfield Windows Ltd

Award Winning Group Lichfield Windows Limited is a family run business who offers a trustworthy and professional service. With many years experience within the construction industry, you can be sure of a quality job. They pride themselves on excellent workmanship and all of their fitters are extremely skilled with many years of experience fitting windows and doors. Lichfield Windows Limited work in association with Anthony Webb & Son Limited. Over the last 30 years they have gained an outstanding reputation

HOMES & GARDENS

within the building industry. They are an award winning company for their previous work. At Lichfield Windows they aim to achieve the same high standards and quality of work for all their customers. Lichfield Windows offer a free no obligation quote and have no sales gimmicks or pressure tactics, just a genuine customer service that you will hopefully recommend to others.

McCaniels’ Kitchens, Bedrooms and Doors

McCaniels are manufacturers of the highest quality kitchens and bedrooms, giving them the flexibility to design furniture that’s unique to you. McCaniels can create your perfect kitchen; bedroom; windows; all types of doors including vinyl, sliding and external doors, or warm roof, using the best and most durable components and manufacturing methods. McCaniels don’t believe in the ‘hard sell’, their customers simply deal with designers and surveyors, who will design, manufacture, install and project manage from start to finish. As a manufacturer, it allows them to cut out the middle man and deliver to you furniture that’s made from the best of materials and built to last a lifetime at unrivalled value for money. Every home should have gorgeous furniture and McCaniels’ pieces are designed to grace any home and to be affordable to most, so whether your budget is a £1000 or £50k, the quality, attention to detail and service will be the same. McCaniels design and manufacture your furniture to your own specification. All you have to do is choose from their extensive range of kitchen features and they will manufacture your very own kitchen, just how you want it. Ordering furniture from McCaniels could not be more simple. Call them to discuss your requirements or arrange for a designer to come and visit you (no obligation). Why not visit their showrooms and see for yourself the design, quality and choices on offer? What’s more, McCaniels’ industry leading guarantee assures all their customers that they are dealing with one of the best manufacturers in the business. McCaniels, Unit 3C, City Point, Swan Road, Lichfield, WS13 6QZ Tel: 01827 287971 Open 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Saturdays and 10am to 2pm Sundays www.mccaniels.com

Calling all Business Owners, Landlords and Occupiers!

• Are you a business owner considering your current lease or looking for new premises? • Are you looking at an imminent rent review and want to know your options? • Have you just received your 2017 Business Rates bill? • Are you looking for a valuation of your business premises for company accounts, probate, tax etc.? • Are you a landlord looking to let or sell your commercial/industrial property? Your next step should be a quick call to Kingston CPC Ltd.

Kingston CPC Ltd. is an independent firm of Commercial Property Consultants based on Bore Street, Lichfield and has with a wide portfolio of both local and international clients. The Commercial Property services cover industrial, warehouse, office and retail sectors, with services including Rent Reviews, Lease Renewals, Commercial Property Rates, Management, Valuation, Planning and Development. What this means in practice is that Kingston CPC Ltd. can assist Landlords in the sale or letting of premises, the negotiation of leases and the management of commercial properties/tenants within the premises: whether you own one or multiple commercial premises – Kingston CPC Ltd. can help.

If you are a business looking to find new premises, or are perhaps are looking at an imminent rent review or lease renewal, Kingston CPC Ltd.

can help to guide you through the process.

The Practice has been based in Lichfield for over 50 years and the five directors have decades of experience in all areas of commercial property. We work to the highest standards of professional integrity, and all five directors are members of the Royal institution of Chartered Surveyors.

For a free, no-obligation chat call Kingston CPC Ltd. on 01543 414300, or Andrew Price, MRICS arrange to come into our offices at 30 Bore Street, Lichfield. This completely confidential initial chat will outline how Kingston CPC can help you and also give you an indication of possible costs involved should we be instructed to act on your behalf. In the first instance, give us a call to see how we can help.

Kingstons CPC Ltd, 30 Bore Street, Lichfield, WS13 6PQ. Telephone: 01543 414300 enquiries@kingstoncpc.co.uk www.kingstoncpc.co.uk

LOCAL NEWS Christmas Illuminations Voted Best Staffordshire Event 2017!

The spectacular illumination show which brought Lichfield Cathedral and the city centre to life over the festive period has been crowned ‘Best Staffordshire Event 2017’ by readers of Staffordshire ‘What’s On’. The Lichfield Lumiere – funded by Lichfield Cathedral and the Lichfield Business Improvement District (BID) and created by Luxmuralis and Peter Walker, the cathedral’s artist-in-residence – was handed the prestigious title in the Staffordshire What’s On Readers Awards. The stunning event, which took place from Monday 19th to Friday 23rd December, incorporated the iconic ‘Cathedral Illuminated’ display as well as additional projections across the city, while in addition, through Advent and Christmas, the 10,000 Angels installation was installed in the cathedral’s South Transept. Through the 10,000 Angels project, Lichfield Cathedral worked with more than 7,500 children, while over 25,000 people flocked to the city to see the illuminations. For more information about upcoming Lichfield Cathedral events, please visit www.lichfield-cathedral.org.

Bake Sale for Comic Relief

Recently, all of the staff at Specsavers, Lichfield, dressed in red, held a bake sale, and sold Specsavers 'red nose' glasses to raise funds for Comic Relief. All of the cakes sold were made by Specsavers staff to raise funds

for this great cause. Specsavers nationally raise money for 'Comic Relief' by designing 'fun' glasses to be sold at £2 a pair, with all proceeds going to Comic Relief. The store's bake sale raised £108.78. The final amount raised by the sale of red nose glasses will be announced by the Specsavers group later this year.

Extra consultation event to run in Burntwood

Burntwood residents will get a further chance to find out more about Lichfield District Council’s Local Plan Allocations at an extra consultation event on 10th April. Local Plan Allocations is the second part of Lichfield District’s Local Plan and covers issues, from housing and employment land allocations through to reviewing planning policies used to determine planning applications. As part of the consultation, which is running until 5pm on Friday 12 May, Lichfield District Council has been running a series of events across the district that are open to anyone, where planners are on hand to talk through the proposals and answer questions. The council is also putting on two small exhibitions at Lichfield and Burntwood libraries. In response to demand, the council has added another event to the line-up. It will be held at The Old Mining College Centre in Chasetown on Monday 10 April between 10am and 1pm. The remaining consultation events are running from 3.30pm to 6.30pm on: Monday 3 April at The Old Mining College Centre, Queen Street, Chasetown WS7 4QH; Tuesday 4 April at Fradley Village Hall, Church Lane, Fradley WS13 8NL; Wednesday 5 April at St John the Baptist Church Hall, St John’s Hill, Shenstone WS14 0JB and Friday 7 April at Armitage & District Royal British Legion Club, New Road, Armitage WS15 4BN. The Local Plan Allocations document and supporting technical reports are available to view in reception of Lichfield District Council’s Frog Lane offices in Lichfield throughout the consultation period. To read the Local Plan Allocations and find out how to give your comment online visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/allocations. Please send any written comments to developmentplans@lichfielddc.gov.uk or by post to: Spatial Policy and Delivery, District Council House, Frog Lane, Lichfield WS13 6YZ. The deadline to comment is by 5pm on Friday 12 May 2017.

Lichfield Arts present The Stumble

One of the most acclaimed live blues bands, The Stumble will make their many local fans happy when they return to play at Lichfield Guildhall. Touring to promote their latest release, the critically acclaimed The Other Side, the six piece band has influences that range from the blues of Freddie, Albert and BB King, Muddy Waters, and Peter Green, to the solid dance-able grooves of Maceo Parker, and Booker T and the MGs. The Stumble are vocalist Paul Melville, guitarist and harmonica player Colin Black, Boyd Tonner on drums and vocals, Simon Anthony Dixon on saxophones, Cameron Sweetman on bass, and lead guitarist Ant Scapens. Their releases to date, The World is Tough (2006), The Houngan (2008) and Lie to Me (2012) and The Other Side (2016) have gained increasingly positive feedback. Lichfield Arts offer concert goers a unique experience, with fine live music within the splendid Guildhall. A well-stocked bar, with competitive prices, and a friendly team of volunteers mean that we can guarantee you a good night out. The concert starts at 8.00pm in Lichfield Guildhall on Saturday April 9th. Tickets for the concert cost £14, £12.60 for members and £7 for under 16s. Tickets are available from www.lichfieldarts.org.uk by phoning (01543) 262223, or by calling into the Lichfield Arts Box Office in Donegal House, on Bore Street.

George IV Meal for Two Competition.

Congratulations to Simon & Jenny Thompson who gave the correct answer of 'Banger Bros' and won a meal for two at The George IV.

Spring Fashion Show Prize Draw

Congratulations to Anne Scandrett who won a pair of tickets to the Townswomen's Guild Spring Fashion Show

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

Your Citylife -

What’s On in April

Every Saturday Linda Lovell School of Dance St Chads Church Hall, The Leasowe, Lichfield WS13 7HD. Takes place every Saturday. We cater for all ages. £3.25 per lesson (30 minutes). Only pay on attendance. IDTA accredited with twice yearly medal test. Call Linda on 01543 257012 or e mail lindajl@btinternet.com www.facebook.com/lindalovells

Tuesday 4th April loveART? - ARTCLASS 6pm to 8pm. Beginner or Budding Artist? A different lesson each week! Try lots of different mediums, styles and areas of Art. Learn professional skills and top-tips. Short, fun, and easy! Start anytime... a 6 week halfterm @£60 and ALL materials are provided! MORNINGS: Lichfield Garrick, Wednesdays 10.0012.00 noon, EVENINGS: HobbyCraft Tamworth, Tuesdays 6.00-8.00pm, some SUNDAYS: Painting Workshops, £15 ALL materials provided! 1.00-3.00pm HobbyCraft Tamworth. Call/text 07855-156540 : see FaceBook Page Sam Orton Milne Artistchoolofdance

Monday 10th April Lichfield Embroiderers' Guild: Hats and Fascinators! 7pm for 7.30pm at the Methodist Centre, Backcester Lane, Lichfield WS13 6JH. Please join us when we will be enjoying an evening with the very talented Claire Muir who makes the most wonderful head-pieces, hats and fascinators. Visitors very

welcome - £4. For further information, please call Iva Davies on 01543 252177 or email iva@davies125.plus.com

Tuesday 11th April Talk at College Hall - The life and times of Joseph Wright, the Philosophers’ Painter At 7.30pm. Join us as we continue to celebrate Lichfield’s links to the worldrenowned Lunar Society, which shaped the world we live in, and helped spark the Industrial Revolution. Lucy Bamford, Senior Curator of Art, from Derby Museums Trust will deliver a fascinating talk on the life and times of Joseph Wright, the Philosophers’ Painter. Tickets £5, places limited. Booking essential, 01543 306260, enquiries@erasmusdarwin.org Refreshments available. Please note this lecture is taking place at College Hall, Cathedral Close, WS13 7LD.

Wednesday 12th April Lichfield U3A Meeting and Talk At Lichfield Guildhall, Bore Street. Lichfield U3A Main Meeting for April. At 2pm. Admission £2. Subject: The Staffordshire Hoard, Robert Sharp. Details of all U3A activities for the retired can be found at www.u3asites.org.uk/lichfield

Saturday 15th April Cellar Tour at Erasmus Darwin House At 2.30pm. Step back in time with exclusive access to the cellars under the museum. Glimpse a hidden history of 13th Century Lichfield. Tickets £1.50, pre-book to avoid disappointment. 01543 306260, enquiries@erasmusdarwin.org

Saturday 15th - Monday 17th April

Easter at Darwin House! From 11am till 5pm. There’s plenty to see and do for all the family including an Erasbunny trail, Georgian fashion in our costumes corner, a pop-up tea room, cellar tours and more over the Easter weekend. Free entry. Please note the House will be closed on Friday 14 April.

Sunday 16th April Easter Sunday Lunch At Moor Hall Hotel & Spa, Moor Hall Drive, Sutton Coldfield T: 0121 308 3751 and The George Hotel, Bird Street, Lichfield T: 01543 414822. Enjoy a delicious lunch with friends and family and make Easter really special. £13.75 (carvery) at The George and from £15.95 at Moor Hall Thursday 20th April Thalgo Promotion Day At Moor Hall Hotel’s Spa, Moor Hall Drive, Sutton Coldfield T: 0121 334 2323. Book an Illuminating Radiance Facial for only £35 (normally £44) and buy the Radiance Gift Set for the special price of £10 (worth £56)!

Sunday 23rd April St George’s Day Lunch 12:30pm at Moor Hall Hotel & Spa, Moor Hall Drive, Sutton Coldfield T: 0121 308 3751. Relive the good old days of wartime Britain as the delightful D-Day Darlings take you on a nostalgic musical journey back to the heart of the 1940s. £27.50 per person, includes a 3 course lunch

Tuesday 25th April Lichfield Civic Society Meeting and Talk At 7.45pm. Lichfield Civic Society. Great Games on the Old Silk Road. Speaker: Peter Reddish. This meeting, held in conjunction with the Royal

Geographical Society, will take place in The Lichfield Room, Wade St Church Community Hall, Frog Lane, Lichfield, WS13 6HS. Admission is free to members. Non-members are always welcome - £3 at the door.

Meeting of Lichfield Branch of Arthritis Care Are you living with Arthritis? If so, why not come along to the monthly meetings of the Lichfield Branch of Arthritis Care. We meet at The Community Room in the new Lichfield Fire Station on the fourth Tuesday of each month (except August & December) from 7pm to 9pm, and offer support, signposting and social activities. Transport is provided for a small contribution. Our next Meeting is on Tuesday 25 April 2017. For further information please contact 01543 263347 or 255698. Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th April Spring & Summer Flower Arranging 10.30am – 3pm at The George Hotel, Bird Street, Lichfield T: 01543 414822 Includes coffee on arrival, a flower arranging demonstration and a three course carvery lunch. £23 per person

Sunday April 30th Nearly New Baby & Kid Sale. 2.30pm - 4.00pm at Boley Park Community Hall, Ryknild Street, Lichfield, WS14 9XU. www.mommasandshoppers.co.u k Superb, quality pre loved baby equipment, prams, toys, books, clothes up to the age of 10 years being sold. Amazing bargains for a fraction of the high street costs. Admission £1.50. Kids free.

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