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Welcome to CITYLIFE
Welcome to CITYLIFE in Lichfield, a monthly magazine bringing you our pick of the city’s news, events and stories. Each month CITYLIFE in Lichfield is delivered to 18,000 businesses and homes in Lichfield, Kings Bromley, Fradley, Alrewas, Whittington, Stonnall, Shenstone, Little Aston, Hammerwich, Burntwood and Longdon, completely free of charge; bringing you the best that the city has to offer. Each issue features heritage stories exploring the rich history of our area, plus competitions, interviews and the latest in fashion and style. Got a story or charity event you want to share with our readership? Think you’ve snapped an image that captures the spirit of the city? We want to hear from you! Our business is bringing you Lichfield’s city life.
JUNE 2016
In This Issue
6 WIN Afternoon Tea at Netherstowe House Hotel Win Afternoon Tea for Two People. 16 Win 2 Tickets to BBC Good Food Show One of the Summer’s Tastiest Days Out.
20 Looking for Lichfield’s Cutest Pet Congratulations to Our Cutie of the Month!
34 A Walk Down Tamworth Street Vintage Pictures of Tamworth Street Shopping..
46 Win the Perfect Father’s Day Gift With Prizes Worth Over £500 from Arthur Price. 16
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Issue 4 June 2016
CITYLIFE CONTACTS Editor - Joss Musgrove Knibb 07833 735048
josscitylife@gmail.com
Advertising-
Steve Brown 07740 166497 stevebrowncitylife@gmail.com Rebecca Hill 07970 513144 rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com Production - Helen Smith 07967 154187 pebblesdesignagency@hotmail.co.uk Citylife In Lichfield Ltd PO Box 7126 LICHFIELD WS14 4JS CITYLIFE in Lichfield magazine is not connected to any other publication or publisher, and is wholly owned by CITYLIFE in Lichfield Ltd. Citylife In Lichfield
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Win Afternoon Tea at Netherstowe House Hotel
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e are delighted to be able to offer our readers the chance to win a Traditional Afternoon Tea at the exquisite Netherstowe House Hotel. This award winning, Grade II listed venue offers everything from fine dining to bistro gastronomy, and their scrumptious Afternoon Teas are just the right combination of elegance and laidback informality. The Hotel has welcomed many VIPs through their doors, including Hollywood stars Idris Elba, Sir Roger Moore and Helen Baxindale and much loved celebrities Barry Norman CBE and Claire Sweeney. Netherstowe House Hotel has twice been voted ‘Restaurant of the Year’ in the Taste of Staffordshire Awards, and holds a coveted AA Rosette for Culinary Excellence and Michelin Guide recommendation. Netherstowe House
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Hotel is a wonderful venue for anniversaries, birthdays, weddings and events, but also offers intimate and relaxed dining in a truly beautiful setting. With attentive and friendly staff, and a boutique ‘Country House’ feel, Netherstowe House is the perfect mix of contemporary luxury and old world ‘Downton Abbey’ elegance.
Afternoon Tea
Traditional Afternoon Tea - £19.95 per person. Traditional Afternoon Tea with a flute of Champagne - £30.45 per person. Afternoon Tea is available every day from 1pm until 5pm (last serving at 3pm). Fancy an extra special get-together with the girls? Ladies Day is every Wednesday when Afternoon Tea served with a Bucks Fizz aperitif is just £19.95.
To win Traditional Afternoon Tea for two, just unscramble the anagram below, and re-arrange the letters to find a hot drink with a hint of bergamot.
arteryeagle ---- ---- ---
To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to ‘Netherstowe House Hotel Competition’* at josscitylife@gmail.com or by post to Citylife In Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS by the competition closing date of Saturday 21st May 2016. One entry per household, multiple entries will be excluded. Winners will not be offered a cash equivalent. *Netherstowe House Hotel will contact the winner to arrange their prize, and may contact entrants with information, offers and news. Congratulations to Jenny Holtham of Sanders Way, Lichfield who gave the correct answer of ‘fruit cake’ and solved the competition anagram in the May issue.
‘Sonnets in the City’ Saturday July 9th
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hen William Shakespeare died in Stratford 400 years ago this year, nobody knew that he would go on to change the history of our language. So why is the Midlands lad so celebrated? Well, on Saturday July 9 you will have a chance to find out if you happen to be in Lichfield quaffing ale or supping tea or just doing the grocery shop. In an innovative and intriguing project Intimate Theatre and the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum have joined forces to bring Will’s words to the street with sonnets performed in surprising places across the city. A team of fantastic readers are raring to go. If you would like to get involved, look out for the sonnets posters around the city at venues taking part in the run up to the weekend, or if you have a venue to offer for a sonnet of two to be performed on the day the team would love to hear from you. It could be a shop, café, bank; anywhere where there are ears to be lent! To find out more or get involved call 01543 264 972 or email sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk.
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A Little Slice of Heaven
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Recently, we sent our Citylife restaurant reviewer to Netherstowe House Hotel to sample the new ‘A Taste of Spring’ menu. etherstowe House Hotel has a lovely atmosphere, half old-world Edwardian charm and half laid-back boutique hotel. It’s a place where you can dress up in your finest, or nip out for a mid-week treat and you’ll always feel comfortable. On arrival, we were greeted at the door and shown through to one of Netherstowe’s cosy spaces, where other diners sat having pre-dinner drinks and pouring over the menu. Just in case we were too peckish to concentrate, we were brought complementary pre-dinner nibbles that included a duck confit with chilli jam and a garlic hummus that even my hummus-hating dining companion wolfed down. After we had ordered, we were shown into the pretty cream and gold dining room and seated at a window table that gave a great view of the gardens. My dining companion has a bit of an issue with gluten, but the staff took it completely in their stride, and nothing appeared to be off the menu, as the chefs simply prepared each dish using ingredients that they could enjoy. That suggests to me that everything is prepared from scratch, and that they have a chef who truly
knows and loves what he does. The food bore this assumption out. Our smiley and professional waitress Liz next brought us complementary homemade bread (gluten free for my dining companion) with whipped butter and sea-salt (seriously good), followed by another complementary amuse bouche of Scallops Viche, Fennel, Lime and Caviar which was little mouthful of heaven. This was followed at exactly the right interval by our starters - Whipped Goat’s Cheese, Textures of Carrot and Gingerbread for me (a combination of sinfully rich and light) and Smoked Duck Breast with Plums, Soy and Micro Pak Choi for my companion (a taste sensation, with tender duck breast that melted in the mouth). For our main courses I chose the Jerusalem Artichoke and Wild Mushroom Fricassee with Potato Espuma and Petit Pois, which managed to pack into a vegetarian dish the kind of flavour that most chef’s struggle to create, and my companion chose the 28 day aged, locally sourced Rib Eye Steak with Chips, Watercress and Peppercorn Sauce, which was, they reported, sublime. Next we cleansed our palate with Raspberry, and Peach and Prosecco Sorbets (sweet, sharp and delicious) and headed into the puddings. I chose the Set Yoghurt Mousse with Vanilla, Young Strawberries and Meringue that proved to be rich, light and
accompanied by strawberries that were perfectly ripe and juicy, and my companion chose the Chocolate Delice with Caramel, Cardamom and Coffee, that was a beautiful to look at as it was heavenly to eat. Finally, we were served complementary orange and coffee fudge, sprinkled with gold and served on a bed of cocoa nibs, which was the perfect accompaniment to after-dinner coffees. With a great wine list, an interesting selection of beers and soft drinks, and a set menu price of £40 pp for 3 courses, or £48 pp for 4 courses with cheese, the meal and the service were well-nigh faultless, and we will, definitely, be going again. www.netherstowehouse.com
Salesperson Vacancy Citylife in Lichfield magazine. Citylife is recruiting!
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Citylife in Lichfield is a monthly magazine delivered to 18,000 homes and businesses in the region. We are looking for a motivated and professional salesperson to join our team. The successful candidate will have some sales experience (although training will be given) and will be able to build relationships both with our established advertisers and to convert new sales leads. The new member of our team will be out and about, talking to customers face to face, and will be competent at generating leads and booking new sales appointments. We offer a generous commission on all sales, plus set expenses. Although hours are flexible (the right candidate can work on either a full or part time basis), we would expect a minimum of 20 hours per week. The successful candidate will be able to work on a self-employed basis. For more information and to apply, email your CV to - the editor, Joss Musgrove Knibb at josscitylife@gmail.com
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Please quote when responding to adverts
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Mysteries Success
Business risk management should include making a power of attorney
As a business owner or director, have you ever considered what would happen to your business if you became incapable of making important day to day decisions?
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Picture by Robert Ings
Picture by Sasha Lauer
unshine and showers greeted audiences out to see Lichfield Mystery Plays over the May Bank Holiday (1st and 2nd May), but only two plays were postponed in the afternoon on Monday because of the rain and they went ahead later in the day. In the planning stage of the 2016 production, Lichfield Mysteries Community Arts had been disappointed not to receive major Arts backing, but with the financial support from local trusts, companies and councilors, together with some amazing groups of performers, the Mysteries 2016 went ahead and has been hailed a resounding success.
You may think that a power of attorney is only necessary for the elderly, but business owners are also vulnerable to health risks that could affect your mental or physical capacity - such as increased levels of stress, travelling abroad and participation in adventure sports.
Marie Tisdale, director and wills and probate solicitor at Ansons Solicitors in Lichfield, advises all business owners and entrepreneurs to create a lasting power of attorney.
“Drawing up a lasting power of attorney should be as much a part of your risk management approach as taking out key-man insurance� advises Marie.
If your business is run as a partnership or has a board of directors, it is prudent to ensure that all members have a lasting power of attorney to cover what happens to their company voting rights, shares and drawings.
Once you become unable to manage your own decisions even your close family do not have an automatic authority with company employees, your contacts or your company bank or Companies House.
Creating a lasting power of attorney is relatively straightforward and it can cover both your business and personal finances, or you can make two separate ones. For example, you may want to appoint your second-in-command at work to act alongside a trusted family member. Alternatively, you might appoint an independent professional.
For advice on appointing a lasting power of attorney or any wills and probate matter, contact Marie Tisdale in the wills and probate team on 01543 267 981 or mtisdale@ansonssolicitors.com. Ansons Solicitors has offices in Cannock and Lichfield, Staffordshire.
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WIN 2 Tickets to the BBC
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16 - 19 June
he BBC Good Food Show Summer returns to the NEC Birmingham this June, and promises to be one of the summer’s tastiest days out and a great way to spend a day with food loving friends. The Supertheatre will host a range of chefs and celebs including Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, The Hairy Bikers, Tom Kerridge, Michel Roux Jr, James
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Martin and more. A BBC Good Food Show first, Alan Titchmarsh joins Mary Berry in the Supertheatre on Friday for a home-grown extravaganza. The BBC Good Food Stage will be hosted by Barney Desmazery and Cassie Best from the BBC Good Food cookery team. This stage features a combination of celebrity interviews and recipe demos. Discover and Learn by Lexus is an interactive feature at the BBC Good Food Show Summer consisting of three themed masterclasses which focus on different foodie areas; Cupcake decorating with Marcus Bean, Sushi Making with Yo Sushi and Taste Sensation with Flavour Sense Nation. The Producers’ Village is a huge speciality food market at the heart of the show, packed with small artisan producers. The Ludlow Producers Market section of the Show brings together a fantastic collection of producers from Ludlow and the Marches. Visitors can also discover far eastern flavours in the Chinese Pavilion and The BBC Good Kitchen is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing lunch at the show where visitors can savour dishes inspired by bbcgoodfood.com seasonal recipes. Includes free entry to BBC Gardeners’ World Live! Tickets to the show include free entry to BBC Gardeners’ World Live which takes place alongside the food show. See gardening experts including Monty Don, Carol Klein, Joe Swift and Alan Titchmarsh live on stage sharing their expertise. For more information and ticket prices go to www.bbcgoodfoodshowsummer.com Win two free tickets to the BBC Good Food Show! Citylife in Lichfield is delighted to be able to offer one lucky reader and their plus one the chance to win free tickets to the show*. To enter, simply email your name and contact details to josscitylifegmail.com or write to Good Food Show Competition, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS by the competition closing date of Monday 13th June. *Tickets valid every day except Saturday and do not include Supertheater.
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The Hired Man A
More than fifty talented performers from across the region have started rehearsals for the Lichfield Garrick’s first community musical.
ged from 8 to 69, The Hired Man’s community cast is made up of performers representing Lichfield, Walsall, Burntwood, Rugeley, Tamworth, Sutton Coldfield, Cannock, Stafford, Burton upon Trent, Derby and Birmingham.
Mother and daughter, Tracy (52) and Martha Shepherd (12) from Darwin Park, Lichfield are in the show together. Tracy commented: “I wanted to get back on stage for ages and loved the idea of the show being a real community
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event that everyone could get involved with. It’s also, a great excuse to join my daughter on stage!” It’s the first time a community cast has joined forces to create a large scale musical production with the Lichfield Garrick’s professional team led by Artistic Director, Tim Ford, including West End and Broadway musical director, Angharad Sanders and set designer John Brooking, best known for his work designing the Lichfield Garrick’s annual
pantomime set. Tim Ford, Lichfield Garrick’s Artistic Director, said: “Lichfield and the surrounding area is renowned for its incredible talent and a vibrant theatre scene, so everyone at the Garrick is hugely excited to be collaborating with our local community to present our first show together. The themes in the musical reflect Staffordshire’s local history, our agricultural and coal mining traditions, as well as the impact of the First World War on the
family and wider community. It’s a beautiful production and a tear-jerker too, so bring a hankie!” The Lichfield Garrick is now looking for musicians and backstage volunteers from the local community to get involved in the production. You can register your interest by e m a i l i n g education@lichfieldgarric k.com. The Hired Man is playing at the Lichfield Garrick from Friday 29 July to Saturday 6 August with a variety of evening and matinee performances. Tickets cost £15 or £12 for students, and can be booked online at www.lichfieldgarrick.com or by calling Lichfield Garrick’s Box Office on 01543 412121.
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Cutest Pet Competition Citylife in Lichfield’s
Cutie of the Month!
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Well done to Milo, winner of June’s Cutie of the Month! Milo’s owner Susan told us: “This is Milo our Cocker Spaniel loving his teddy. He is 12 months old in June.”
Ruby - Ruby’s owner Sonia told us: “This is Ruby our Miniature Schnauzer who is so cute and funny. Her ears are always up, alert and waiting for mischief. She is 12 months old. We call her Bat Dog as she looks like Batman!”
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Alfie and Suki - Alfi and Suki are owned by Steve and Karen.
ver the next few months, we’ll be bringing you a selection of the cutest and most characterful pet pics, as sent in by you, our readers. Each issue, we pick our Cutie of the Month, and the winner for June is Milo the Cocker Spaniel! The final winner of Citylife in Lichfield’s Cutest Pet 2016 will win a trophy and £200 cash prize and will be chosen from all of the pictures sent in. The winner of Citylife in Lichfield’s Cutest Pet will be announced in the December issue. Thank you to everyone who sent in pictures of their furry friends, we’ve been truly spoilt for choice! Remember, this competition is open to all pets great and small! To enter the Citylife in Lichfield’s Cutest Pet Competition, send your pics to the editor at josscitylife@gmail.com or send them to Citylife in Lichfield’s Cutest Pet Competition, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS. Apologies but we can’t return pictures posted to us. We’ve had such a great response that we aren’t able to print all of the pictures here. If you don’t see your pet in this issue, we’ll do our best to feature them in the coming months.
Baxter - Baxter the Pug is owned by Tobias and Melanie and lives in Lichfield.
The Kitten - Rachel told us: “This is my 7 year old son’s cat called ‘The Kitten’.
Honey - Honey the Jack Russel is owned by Jennifer and lives in Lichfield.
Annie - Annie’s owner Amanda told us: “This is our family dog Annie. She is a Maltichon Maltese crossed with a Bijon Frise. She was 2 on 16th May. We adopted her in October 2014 when she was 5 months old. She has completed our family.”
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Cutest Pet Cont... Citylife in Lichfield’s
Helen - Helen’s owner Gillian told us: “Here is Helen my plump little bantam. She is so cute because she waddles from side to side when she walks. She is very tame and always sits on my knee in the evenings and eats mealworms from the bag. Helen featured in Your Chickens Magazine recently… I have 7 chickens but she is definitely the cutest and the one everyone always wants to cuddle.”
Teddy - Teddy is a Chihuahua and is owned by Mandy
Nellie - This is Nellie sent in by Rebecca from Lichfield.
We don’t know this puppy’s name, but he/she is very cute. We like the bunny friend too!
Dorothy - Dorothy’s lives in Lichfield with her owner Emma Jane.
Sienna - This is Sienna who adores cuddles, she is 9 and owned by Helen from Lichfield.
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We're giving you the chance to try contact lenses Free with this advertisement. At Specsavers Lichfield, we're offering either one pair of monthly lenses or five pairs of daily disposables to try before you buy. We'll also give you a contact-lens-specific eye check and a thorough assessment to make sure that your eyes are suitable for contact lenses. All of this is Free and without obligation. One Free Trial per Person per year*. At Specsavers Lichfield.
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*Trial subject to suitability, and includes easyvision and Acuvue lenses only. A current glasses prescription is required. Alternatively, an eye test will be required at our standard charge. Excludes other brands, coloured or gas-permeable lenses. One free trial per person, per year. At Specsavers Lichfield.
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A Brilliant Line-Up at This Year’s Festival
A packed programme of music, film, theatre, comedy, dance, family events, visual arts and talks will be included in this year’s Lichfield Festival (1-10 July). One of the most eclectic multi-arts festivals in the UK, Lichfield Festival celebrates its 35th anniversary bringing together world-class musicians, actors and entertainers for a 10-day takeover of our beautiful City. Visitors include BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Ballet Cymru and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, comedian Susan Calman, film critic Mark Kermode and singers Kate Rusby and Claire Martin. There are world premieres from composer in residence, Deborah Pritchard, and a specially-commissioned production of Mozart’s opera Così fan tutte. Other highlights include a light show projection on the Cathedral walls, ragdoll trail across the city and festival fete. he Festival’s opening night (Friday 1 July) falls on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, and 1916 and the First World War centenary is a theme explored throughout the Festival. But there’s also a look at the lighter side of popular entertainment of the time, from music halls and cabaret to the burgeoning medium of film. Deborah Pritchard is this year’s highlytalented composer in residence, in partnership with Sound and Music’s Embedded programme, and the Festival’s opening night includes the premieres of her World War One themed choral work, We Will Remember Them, and trumpet concerto Seven Halts on The Somme with renowned trumpet soloist Tine Thing Helseth, Manchester Camerata and conductor Ben Gernon. Deborah’s music features throughout the Young Artists recital series and in her work with students to create the Last Post Fanfares, heralding the Festival across the city and at key memorial sites. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Martyn Brabbins give the closing Cathedral concert, with Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending, with soloist Chloe Hanslip, and Fifth Symphony framing Colin Matthews’s No Man’s Land and a new work by Deborah Pritchard – responses to the 1916 era. Continuing with the First World War theme, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain recreate their funny, touching and irreverent commemorative concert When This Lousy War is Over, for one night only. A spectacular light show will see projections by Luxmuralis on to Lichfield Cathedral taking the Somme as its inspiration and an exhibition War Music brings together instruments, manuscripts and images from the Royal Academy of Music. Exploring some of the popular culture of the era, Jessica Walker’s Peace Cabaret uncovers some alternative war songs and Lucy Adlington
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introduces The History Wardrobe: Great War Fashion. A specially-commissioned opera production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte follows last year’s much-enjoyed The Magic Flute, with an all-star cast, new narration by Joe Sheridan and fresh piano duet transcription by Anthony Kraus. I Fagiolini’s ‘Amuse-Bouche’ serves up a tasting menu of French choral delicacies from Fauré to Poulenc. The Marian Consort delves into the music and murky personal life of Italian Renaissance composer Gesualdo in Breaking the Rules, and baroque ensemble Barokksolistene present their Norwegian folkinfused, beer-inspired, Alehouse Sessions. 1916 also saw the birth of children’s author Roald Dahl and in his centenary year, Ballet Cymru presents Roald Dahl’s’ Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs, and the city’s youngsters showcase their creativity in a drama workshop Dahl in a Day. Other events for the whole family include a Ragdoll trail around the city’s shops and cafes with everyone invited to get involved and the Florette Festival Market is back. A Festival Fete features traditional dancing, and a gathering and procession leads from it to Mahogany Opera Group’s theatre adaption of the cautionary tale The Rattler (Rumplestiltskin). Film presenter Mark Kermode introduces Charlie Chaplin’s silent films The Rink and The Immigrant with a live orchestral backdrop provided by Orchestra of the Swan, and there’s popular song from the golden age of Hollywood with the celebrated jazz singer Claire Martin, Tippett String Quartet and James Pearson Quintet. Other highlights include comedians Susan Calman and Rob Beckett, known to millions through their TV appearances, folk songstress Kate Rusby and her superb band, and the latest stunning creation from the Sonia Sabri Company whose Salaam (Peace) marries live music with Kathak dance. On stage, the Malachite Theatre Company returns to Lichfield Festival to perform Hamlet, The Foundry Group presents Those Magnificent Men - a staging of the hit play about British aviation pioneers Alcock and Brown - and Dinosaur Park is an awardwinning theatrical spin-off on Jurassic Park. The Mary Bijou Cabaret and Social Club pushes cabaret to new frontiers with Hitch, and film showings include Dial M for Murder, Sunset Blvd and Singing in the Rain. And there are visits by authors Sebastian Faulks (Where My Heart Used to Beat), Tracy Borman (The Private Lives of the Tudors) and Frances Welch (Rasputin: A Short Life), while Mona Siddiqui gives the 2016 Peace Lecture.
Susan Calman
Mark Kermode
Chloe Hanslip
Festival Market
Tickets are available via the Box office on 01543 412121, via www.lichfieldfestival.org or in person via Lichfield Garrick Theatre, Castle Dyke, Lichfield, WS13 6HR
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tinyCOW - the name behind the big names
company whose b i g g e s t achievement was signing the Stone Roses and releasing their first single and worked Lichfield recently got just a little bit more rock n’ roll with the arrival of on the A&R side tinyCOW, an independent, creatively-led communications, marketing, design for them. From and events company. TinyCOW are bringing Tom Jones to Beacon Park on there I wrote to the June 12th, and we caught up with CEO Lee O’Hanlon to find out more about manager of a band that I knew as this fascinating new addition to Lichfield’s city life. Tragic Love Company and said JMK: Can you tell me a little about about ‘take me on, I can do a fantastic job for you’, which tinyCOW. LOH: TinyCOW is a company of four parts – they did. The Tragic Love Company by then had public relations, design, marketing and events. The changed their name to the Stereophonics, so I was events side works on everything from conferences A&R manager in the Stereophonics management to bringing in acts for corporate entertainment. We team, and the band went multi-platinum. From there work with governments, local authorities and I worked as an A&R consultant to Bjork’s label private clients all over the world. We’re also a One Little Indian, and I then developed a number of booking agency - representing artists that we place other artists for other management companies. Then into festivals and shows. We’re delighted to I went into an act for a while, a sort of Talking announce that we’re now representing The Heads type act… we had the Boots advert Boomtown Rats with Sir Bob Geldof, and Martha soundtrack for quite a few years from 2004 to 2007. Reeves and the Vandellas plus a whole host of other Since then I’ve developed artists - securing them people. We’re based in Lichfield, but we have half-a-million pound contracts, and we work now on people all over the UK from London to Leeds, who a plethora of events. We do the marketing and work with companies and artists all over the world. booking for artists such as Jess Glynne. With a lot On the design side, the studio does everything from with the festivals we work on, we work with bigwebsites, banners, leaflets and branding. We’ve got selling acts like Travis, Tinie Tempah and Sigma, but we also try to get the best of the new people who lots of different areas of creativity here. JMK: How did you first get into the music are coming through. We work with James, Razorlight, Erasure and 10cc, so we work across all industry? LOH: Initially I started out doing something genres. JMK: Do your family get involved in tinyCOW? completely different – I was a prison officer when I LOH: My son who’s ten loves music and has was young, and went on hostage negotiation training and things like that. I was also in a band at grown up not really recognising fame. He’ll go the same time, and I gave up the job to sing and back-stage at festivals and have water-pistols fights drive the band. We had a small record deal that we’d with Jess Glynne. JMK: What made you think of bringing Tom signed for the price of a cup of tea and a packet of chips, but it gave me my first taste of the music Jones to Lichfield? LOH: We’ve just moved to Lichfield and that was industry. Next, I got in touch with a local record
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part of doing the Tom Jones show here. We decided to do something massive here, and the plan was to do something great for the city – to fill the hotels and bring tourists from all over the country. We’re doing a full day on June 12th with a few extra surprises thrown in. Cast and Tony Christie have been added in support of Tom with another six acts to be announced. In the afternoon I’m looking to give bands from across the country the opportunity to support Tom. In fact just the other day I approached a young man who was busking in Lichfield doing ‘Le Mis’ covers, and I said; ‘do you want to come and support Tom Jones’ and he thought I was joking! It turns out that he’s won the opportunity to do a Masters at the Royal College of Music. JMK: Do you plan to bring other big names to the city? LOH: Yes, we have lots of other plans, and we’re confident that people will continue to show the kind of great support that they’ve shown Tom Jones. We’ve planned for every eventuality on Saturday 12th, we have a 10,000 capacity marquee going up in Beacon Park so no one needs to worry about the weather; we can open the sides if it’s a sunny day and keep everyone dry and comfortable if the weather’s not so good. JMK: Are you enjoying living and working in Lichfield? LOH: I adore the city, it’s a great place to work and everyone has been so friendly. We love walking around the city and Beacon Park, it’s beautiful.
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The Newsletter of Lichfield City Council - June 2016 Grants to local Organisations
Each year the City Council awards grants to support the invaluable work carried out by local voluntary groups, societies and clubs operating in the city.
Boley Park Community Hall
A total of £28,645 has been awarded for the 2016/17 financial year across 40 organisations. Cheques were handed out by the Mayor, Councillor Mrs Sheelagh James at the Annual Town Meeting on 26 May.
Councillor David Smedley, Leader of the Council
Welcome to this issue of City View. The Annual Meeting of the Council was held on 16 May where a new Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Sheriff were appointed. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the previous office holders for their work on behalf of the city during their year in office; Between them the Mayor and Sheriff raised over £6,000 for their chosen charities, Trent Valley First Responders and Macmillan Cancer Support, which is a fabulous total. Lichfield is both steeped in history and proud of its heritage. The City Council organises a variety of traditional events each year, with the forthcoming Sheriff’s Ride being the next event following the highly enjoyable St Georges Court held at the Guildhall on 23 April. The Ride, an annual perambulation around the boundary of the city, has taken place each year since Queen Mary's Charter of 1553. If you are interested in taking part, please contact our Civic Officer, Sarah Wallace on 01543 309854. The City Council is also looking to the future. Parish Councils have only recently been allowed to take payment by card, and we introduced this facility at the start of 2016. Our new website has also been received positively and our social media presence is growing. There is also a further programme of renovations planned for the Guildhall, both to address necessary repairs and to improve its appeal to hirers. This is a time of change in the way the council carries out its business, but I am keen to promote stability and continuity during that process. To that end, I have made very few changes to the roles held by individual Councillors within the City Council for 2016/17, and we are all looking forward to an exciting year ahead.
Application forms for 2017/18 grants will be available from the City Council offices and our website later in the year. All applications must be submitted by 31 December 2016.
Civic Team 2016-17
Lichfield City Council is seeking volunteers to form a new Management Committee to carry out the day to day management of Boley Park Community Hall.
If you would like more information please contact the City Council on 01543 250011 for an informal discussion.
If you would like to keep up to date with more of the City Council’s activities, you can now follow the City Council on Twitter @lichfield_cc. The investiture of the new Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Sheriff took place at the Guildhall on 16 May.
The new Mayor of the City is Councillor Mrs Sheelagh James. Sheelagh has been a member of the City Council for five years and served as Chair of Planning Committee and Deputy Mayor in 2015/16. Sheelagh’s husband, Dr John James is the Mayor’s Consort. The new Deputy Mayor is Councillor Mrs Janice Greaves who has also served on the City Council for five years. Her husband Keith is the Deputy Mayor’s consort.
Completing the new civic team is Councillor Robert Yardley who has now become Sheriff of the City. Robert has been a Councillor since 2015 and is also a highly regarded local wedding photographer with a particular passion for the history and traditions of our city. The Sheriff’s Lady is Councillor Miss Jayne Marks.
During their year in office the Mayor and Sheriff will jointly host five events to raise money for their nominated charities, the Erasmus Darwin Foundation and the We Love Lichfield Fund. More information on these events will be published over the course of the year in this newsletter and on our website. For further information please contact Sarah Wallace, the City Council’s Civic Officer, on 01543 309854 or sarah.wallace@lichfield.gov.uk
Neighbourhood Plan
The City Council is now ready to begin the statutory pre submission consultation of the Lichfield City Neighbourhood Plan. The six week consultation period will begin in early June and you can submit comments electronically by emailing enquiries@lichfield.gov.uk. Alternatively you can send written submissions to the City Council by writing to the Town Clerk, Donegal House, Bore St, Lichfield WS13 6LU. Following the consultation your comments will be considered and the Draft Plan will be finalised.
Plan will then be submitted to Lichfield District Council who will arrange a further consultation exercise to enable final comments to be submitted. The Plan will then undergo examination by an Independent Examiner who will decide whether the basic conditions set out by law have been met. The examiner will then recommend one of three next steps: • That the Plan proceeds to Referendum • That further modifications are required • That the Plan is unable to proceed to Referendum.
At a Referendum, if more than 50% of votes are ‘yes’, Lichfield District Council will bring the Plan into force. We are very keen to hear your views, so please do take the time to read the draft Plan and give us your feedback. A copy of the Lichfield City Neighbourhood Plan and related documents will be posted on our website shortly: www.lichfield.gov.uk/Neighbourhood_Plan_1085.aspx
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CityVIEW
Coming soon at the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
The Newsletter of Lichfield City Council
For more information about any event or to make a booking call 01543 264972, email sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk or pop into the Museum Bookshop on the corner of the Market Square. Bookworms United! Read, explore and enjoy popular titles in our Fortnightly book and activity club for 7-10 year olds. New Bookworms always very welcome! £4 per session including books and refreshments, discounts for family groups.
Guided Tours of Johnson’s Birthplace First Saturday of the month, 2pm. Join a lively and entertaining tour bringing the home of Lichfield’s famous son to life £3.50, booking advised
Half Term Fun! Thursday 2 June, 10.30am – 1.00pm Get creative in hands-on arts and craft activities for the half-term holiday £2, just drop-in! Harmony & Grace: Lichfield Calligraphers at the Birthplace Saturday 2nd July – Sunday 25th September, Daily 10.30am – 4.30pm Artworks bring words to life in this exhibition of Calligraphy displayed around the historic building Free entry
Shakespeare 400: Sonnets in the City Saturday 9th July Look out for sonnets performed in surprising places around the city and at the Birthplace Free entry
Summer Fun at Sam’s House Every Thursday in August, 10.30am – 1.00pm Drop-in arts and crafts fun throughout the holiday. A different activity every week. £2, just drop-in!
Latin for Everyone A new friendly Tuesday afternoon course starting from the basics of the fascinating ancient language, starting in September 2016. Contact the Museum for more information about joining.
Twinning
Two German bands from our twin town in Limburg, are performing at this year’s Fuse festival. Back2Basix, are a college band from Limburg and are playing pop and pop rock on Sunday 10th July at 12pm on the Momentum Stage. The second band is Hanne Kah and Band. The music of Hanne Kah is handmade folk rock and she will be playing on Sunday 10th July at 12.45pm, also on the Momentum Stage. The musicians from Limburg will be welcomed by the Mayor, Councillor Mrs. Sheelagh James on their arrival on Friday 8th July and will be staying at Wade Street Church with Rev. Ian Haytor for the duration of the Fuse Festival. This is a joint project between Lichfield City Council and the community band Blast Off, led by Nick Dewhurst, to showcase international young musicians coming together in harmony. For more information about the Fuse festival, please visit www.fuselichfield.org.uk
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Dates for your diary:
Swinfen Broun Challenge Trophy Bowls Match: 29 June 2016
The annual challenge match between the City Council team and the Museum Bowling Club has been played since 1924, although it was not until 1926 that the trophy was donated by local benefactor, Colonel Swinfen Broun. As in previous years, the City Council team are best described as ‘rank outsiders’.
Town Criers Competition: From 11:20am, Saturday 2 July, Speaker’s Corner, Dam Street Town Criers from all over Britain will gather to compete in Lichfield’s Town Criers Competition. Held over two rounds during the morning and afternoon, the criers will represent their towns and cities. Our own award winning Town Crier, Ken Knowles, will be master of ceremonies and therefore not be competing. The morning round allows the criers to proclaim about their home cities and towns. The afternoon cry will focus on the 250th Anniversary of the Lunar Society and Erasmus Darwin. Entrants have only 100 to 125 words to impress the judges and a close competition is expected. The competition will take place at Speaker’s Corner and is free to spectators; however the criers will be seen around Lichfield and the Festival Market, during the day.
Sheriff’s Ride: 10 September 2016 This is a unique tradition dating from Queen Mary’s Charter of 1553 in which Lichfield was separated from Staffordshire and made a City and a County with the right to appoint its own Sheriff. The Charter commands the Sheriff to make a complete perambulation of the city boundary each September, a tradition that has been upheld for more than 450 years. The route is approximately 22 miles long, and there are morning, lunch and afternoon breaks at venues along the ride. The ride follows a well-established course via private land, road sections and bridle ways, returning to the city via Cathedral Close at approximately 6.30pm. The route is lengthy and includes gallops, so participants must be competent riders. Entry fee is £30 and a strict dress and conduct code is expected from all riders.
For more information or to book tickets please contact Sarah Wallace on 01543 309854, or email sarah.wallace@lichfield.gov.uk
Markets in Lichfield
The Lichfield General Markets and Farmers' Market offer a wide selection of goods and local produce from friendly, established and reliable market traders. As well as the weekly General Markets on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, a Farmers' Market is held on the 1st Thursday of the month (except January). The Market Square is also available for hire on a commercial or charitable basis on non-market days. For more details or for any information or queries relating to Lichfield Markets please contact the City Council’s Markets Officers 01543 309853 or e-mail: markets@lichfield.gov.uk
CityVIEW
Weddings at the Guildhall
The Newsletter of Lichfield City Council
Located in Bore Street in the heart of the city, the Guildhall is a beautiful historic Grade II Listed Building, and is a magnificent setting for civil ceremonies, receptions and other celebrations. The main hall has oak panelling and a beamed roof giving a fine mediaeval appearance, and can accommodate up to 160 guests. The Guildroom, on the Ground floor, has paneled walls and timber ceiling and can seat up to 70 guests. A number of smaller rooms are also available to hire, and are ideal for conferences, seminars or small meetings. For more information or to enquire over availability please contact Helen Winter at Lichfield City Council. Tel: 01543 309850 or email: helen.winter@lichfield.gov.uk
OUR WEBSITE: www.lichfield.gov.uk
Have you visited the City Council’s website recently? It offers a wealth of information about the work of the City Council; including details of all Council meetings and associated documents. In addition it contains useful information about the City, its history, festivals and major events, and its many unique customs and traditions.
The right Council…
Lichfield City Council is the ‘parish’ authority for the City and is the smallest of the three councils serving the City area. Within the City we deal with local matters such as the markets, maintenance of open spaces and churchyards, civic and mayoral events, the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum and public lettings of the Guildhall. Lichfield District Council (Tel: 01543 308000) is the larger local authority dealing with such matters as planning, environmental health, refuse collection, housing, car parking, arts and tourism, and leisure services. Staffordshire County Council (Tel: 0300 111 8000) is the responsible authority for wider services such as Education, Social Services and Highways.
Public Participation
City Council meetings are held in the Guildhall, Bore Street. Dates and times of meetings can be found on the notice-board outside the Guildhall, and on the City Council's website at www.lichfield.gov.uk Meetings are open to the public, with public participation sessions held at full Council and at the Planning Committee. Advance notice needs to be given to the Council of the subject matter of each question, and any person wishing to speak must contact the Council Offices at Donegal House, Bore Street (next to the Guildhall) before NOON on the day of the meeting.
Wednesday 22 June, 2016
6.30pm
COUNCIL
Thursday, 21 July, 2016
6.30pm
Planning Applications Committee
Thursday 30 June, 2016 Tuesday 26 July, 2016
Thursday 11 August, 2016
Thursday, 1 September, 2016
Tuesday 13 September, 2016
6.30pm
6.30pm 6.30pm
6.30pm
6.30pm
Planning Applications Committee COUNCIL
Planning Applications Committee
Planning Applications Committee COUNCIL
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Beautiful Dam Street
You’re Sure to Find what You’re Looking for on Historic DAM STREET links the citycentre from Market Square to Lichfield Cathedral, and is home to shops, businesses, hairdressers, beauticians and cafes.
If you walk down Dam Street towards the Cathedral, beautiful Minster Pool is on your left, and opposite is Brook House where during the Civil War a lucky shot from the top of the defended Cathedral killed Colonel Brook of the Roundhead (Parliamentarian) force.
Body Beautiful Day Spa is a Thalgo Award-Winning luxurious day spa and salon located on Dam Street overlooking the beautiful Cathedral of Lichfield in a tastefully restored listed building. Here you will find every kind of treatment to suit men and women, ranging from holistic therapies, facials and body treatments to nails and waxing. All our treatments are carried out by highly qualified therapists to give you the best results. We only use the best products
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available - Thalgo Skincare, Jane Iredale Makeup, OPI, CND, IBD Nailtiques, Advanced Nutrition Programme, Aromaworks, St Tropez and Fake Bake. We also cater for group booking, hen parties and birthday.
Keely's Solicitors. Keely's are a long established law firm providing high quality legal advice to businesses and individuals. They give a high quality service tailored to your needs. Keely's ensure that they meet your expectations, both in terms of servicedelivery and budget, from a team who are well known locally and have strong connections in the Lichfield area. Keely’s Solicitors can be found on Dam Street near Mister Pool.
Silks hairstylists have been in Dam Street for over 20 years. They offer a wide range of services to both men, women and children - in fact the whole family! Their experienced staff are highly trained in all aspects of hairdressing. Silks recently
welcomed new stylist Nicola Price. Make an appointment with Nicola and receive an introductory 20% OFF a colour, cut and style during June and July. A warm and friendly welcome awaits at 13 Dam Street.
Dame Oliver’s. One of the most famous shops in Dam Street, Dame Oliver’s is an Aladdin's cave filled with all sorts of wonderful things including womenswear created using natural fibres such as silk, cotton, linen and wool. Their aim is to provide individual style - appealing to those who don't wish to "run with the pack". Dame Oliver’s stock hats, cocktail hats, fascinators, bags, scarves, jewellery and more. For a fantastic shopping day-out on Dam Street, why not also visit The Little Curio Shop and Quercus of Quonians Antiques?
The Olde Nook In the heart of Dam Street you'll find The Olde Nook where Afternoon Teas, a specialty of theirs, is a delight, reminding us why the British love them so much. For Father's Day, The Olde Nook has a very Special Offer - one child eats free with a paying adult, for Father's Day only. So visit 14 Dam Street for an absolute treat.
Dam Street Feature
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10
A Window on the Past
A Walk Down
Tamworth Street has always been a great place for a spot of shopping. Many of our readers will have very fond memories of going to the flicks at The Regal, or nipping in for a pint at The Acorn, and we hope that you enjoy this walk down memory lane.
Tamworth Street
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hanks again to the local history group ‘You’re probably from Lichfield Staffs if…’ for these fantastic pictures. For lots more pictures, photographs and stories visit the Facebook page ‘You’re probably from Lichfield, Staffs if…’ or pop along to their meeting taking place at 7pm on 5 July at Lichfield Social Club, Purcell Avenue, WS13 6TS. 1 T. Johnson Fruiterer and Greengrocer (picture taken in the 1930s). Johnson’s is now Spellbound Bead Co. 2 T. Purves (1932 – 1970), now Pizza by Goli
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3 Mullarkey’s fish and chip shop. 4 Burger House 5 Linney’s Fish Bar 6 Linney's Grocer (pic taken in the 1950s). 7 Froggarts boutique (1946 -1989). 8 Goldney’s ladieswear (1958 till 1986). 9 Lichfield Motorcycle, also known as Don’s (1963 – 1991). 10 A & H Worsey tobbaconist and newsagent (1954 -1984). 11 The Acorn Inn. 12 Ballards Rentals (1966 – 1972). 13 The Regal Cinema (1932 – 1974). 14 Handyman (1956 – 1993).
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An Intriguing Memento of Far-Away Lands
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By Lyn Tyler of The Lichfield Museum.
ne of the most unusual objects in our collection can be found in storage. It has been carefully wrapped and bears the label ‘East India Company Playing Cards’. These cards we believe come from the 19th century. Carefully peeling back the protective tissue paper around them, one is confronted first by a small wooden box. It is nearly 5 inches long and 3 inches wide with a sliding lid on the top. It is obviously handmade and beautifully decorated. It has a line of bright red dots carefully painted around the edges. The whole of the box is covered by a diamond pattern and within each diamond is a little flower decoration no doubt carefully and painstakingly executed by the craftsman
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who made it. Although the box is slightly faded now, it still shows the vibrancy of the colours and has an unmistakable Asian feel to it. When the lid is removed there are 96 playing cards in the box, but these are no ordinary cards. They are small round wooden discs again beautifully decorated. They can be divided into eight suits each with 12 cards. All of the discs are terracotta coloured on the back with a delicate gold line painted around the edge. On the front of the cards each suit has its own colour; black, dark green, light green, light gold, dark gold, terracotta, dark red and yellow. Each suit has ten ‘pip’ cards each of which have small dot designs or small exquisitely painted figures and two special cards showing a Raja (King) and a Vizier
(Minister).The human figure of the Raja is most often found seated on a throne covered by a canopy, while the Vizier is usually mounted on a horse with or without a retinue. These sorts of playing cards are called Ganjifa cards. Ganjifa is an ancient Indian card game the format for which is believed to have originated in Persia (modern Iran). They became very popular in India under the Mogul Emperors. The first known reference to them appeared in the diary of Emperor Babur in the 16th century. The game used to be a favourite pastime in the Indian court where the cards tended to be very lavish, often encrusted with precious stones, tortoiseshell or ivory. They later spread to the general public in the form of cheaper sets made from wood, paste board or palm leaves. The colours of the cards were made by hand from natural materials and vegetable dyes and hand painted using very fine brushes including those made from squirrel hair. The set of cards in our museum obviously belongs to this category. How was the game played? These
antique cards are now very rare and few people know how to play the game. Many believe that it was a trick taking game like bridge or whist with strict rules about what cards were to be led. It usually comprised of three players and all cards were dealt in a counter clockwise fashion. It was also a game of memory, matching and identification. Sadly, just as the rules of the game have been forgotten, there are also fewer artists producing the cards and it is quickly becoming a dying art. The really intriguing question is how were these beautiful cards acquired by a museum in the city of Lichfield? Their exact provenance is unknown. They were obviously brought back from India at some time during the 19th century. How was this possible? The title East India Company provides us with a clue. This company was formed for the exploitation of trade with Asia. It started as a trading company but quickly developed political aspirations. Towards the end of the 17th century, India became the focal point of their trading, dealing in cotton cloth woven by Indian weavers, goods which were imported into Britain in huge quantities, in order to supply the
increasing demand for cheap, washable, lightweight fabrics. The company business was centred in small trading settlements mainly in Bombay, Madras and Calcutta. These settlements evolved into major commercial towns under British jurisdiction and were run by the company who acted as an important agent of British Imperialism, employing many British people. When the East India Company ceased trading in 1873, the British government took over control employing many British people. This developed into what was known as the British Raj and its heyday was reached during the 19th century. The playing cards could have been brought to Lichfield at some point before 1873. It was very common for British middle class men to opt for a lucrative post working for the East India Company, or helping to administer this important colony of the British Empire, often taking their wives and children with them. The inhabitants of Lichfield would have been no exception and on their return to their native country, many would have brought back mementos of their stay in India. These playing cards would have been
easily transported and would have provided a unique reminder of that experience. Conversely as always in history there are other alternatives. The cards may have been brought back by one of the many soldiers serving in the Staffordshire Regiment stationed in India. The North Staffs Regiment served extensively in India and took part in the quelling of the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and the relief of Lucknow, remaining in India until 1861, while the South Staffs Regiment served in India in 1881. Whoever brought these cards back to Britain, we are eternally grateful to them for this reminder of a faraway land and time. But, the most intriguing thing about these cards is that when you open the box you are met, even after all of these years, by the exotic aroma of Indian spices; cardamom, cumin, coriander, cinnamon and cloves. To see the many other interesting articles on display visit Lichfield Museum at St. Mary’s in the Market Square. Admission is free and the Museum is open every day except Sundays.
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Cathedral School to host Charity Cream Tea
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ichfield Cathedral School will host an afternoon tea in aid of the We Love Lichfield Fund on Sunday 3 July from 3.45pm.
The School’s Head of Junior Years, Joanna Churton said: “We hope that as many people as possible will join us and enjoy delicious scones and refreshing tea in the grounds of the Grade 1 listed Palace building in The Close, which has been used by the school since 1953. There will also be a raffle with the chance to win fabulous prizes, with all proceeds going to the We Love Lichfield Fund.”
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Tickets for the Charity Cream Tea cost £5 and must be purchased in advance. All enquiries and reservations to Hannah Price (Events Coordinator) on 01543 306178 or email h.price@lichfieldcathedralschool.com by Monday 27 June.
Tamworth Street.
A Street of Independents, with a wide variety of Choice and Excellent Value. Niche, trading in its sixth year, is a well established boutique known for its eclectic collection of women's separates and jewellery by ENVY - beautiful pieces to complement the seasons. We are now the largest stockist in Staffordshire of popular ROBELL trousers - an absolute must for the summer; available in a range of 24 colours! Receive a 10% discount off your first pair with this advertisement!
Framework - It's been nearly 30 years since Framework Picture Framers opened their doors in Tamworth Street and they have been serving the good people of Lichfield ever since. With all that experience, quality is assured and delivered. The artwork, sculptures and framing styles have changed as the years have passed because Framework is always looking for the latest and best new work from the art world from the art world.
Mooch Kids - To help Mooch Kids celebrate seven year's trading in the city we are offering the first seven customers the opportunity to receive a 20% discount off any purchase throughout June when they quote "TAMMOOCH". Mooch Kids offer a wide
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range of clothing, toys and accessories and their gift range offers the perfect solution for any new-born, christening, birthday or baby shower present. Greeting cards and a gift wrap service are also available for those that need a "Gift ready to Give". Follow them on Facebook for the latest updates and offers www.facebook.com/moochkids
Tan and Beauty - Tan at 57 Tamworth Street, Lichfield, is offering a special Holiday/Prom Package of a St Tropez spray tan and Nouveau Cluster Lashes, plus OPI/Shellac Gel Nails - toes and hands, all for just £50 (normally £67.50) if you take in their advertisement from this Feature. This well-established business offers a full range of beauty treatments and sunbed tanning courses. Whether you're looking for a relaxing treatment, beauty essentials or a gift for someone special, their treatment rooms and expert staff will provide a quality experience.www.facebook.com/moochkids
Pizza by Goli - You will find Pizza by Goli at 63 Tamworth Street - offering Pizza, Pasta, Tapas - style Cichetti and Mediterranean classics in a modern eatery with open kitchen. For Father’s Day why not treat Dad to an Italian culinary experience in one of Lichfield’s bestknown and established restaurants? Pizza by Goli offer excellent food, super service and a wonderful menu. A customer r e c e n t l y commented: “It's the best I t a l i a n restaurant that is not in Italy.” A welcoming and friendly atmosphere awaits you at Pizza by Goli.
Lichfield Factory Specs - provide frames and lenses at up to 70% OFF high street prices. Just take your prescription to them and they make glasses to your requirements. Lichfield Factory Specs at 49a Tamworth Street also take NHS vouchers and do some repairs on site. Single lenses from £9.99; Varifocals from £29.99. Designer frames by D&G, Versace, Guess, Gucci and many more.
Titan Games - is the perfect place for all your war-gaming, role-playing, miniatures and board-game needs. They stock a wide range of products for all your favourite games from companies such as Games Workshop, Privateer Press Manticore, Warlord Games, Wyrd and many more. There is room to game and paint and they regularly hold gaming and hobby events at
Tamworth Street Feature 45 Tamworth Street.
Dolly & Joe's are an independent, familyowned business stocking a unique selection of Country Home products and unusual Vintage Collectables plus a fantastic range of restored furniture. Many items of furniture have been hand painted using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ and Dolly & Joe’s are very proud to be an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ Stockist. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ workshops at Dolly & Joe's include: 'Essential Techniques workshop 1' - the essential techniques in painting your own furniture and 'Essential Techniques workshop 2' - interesting methods to accentuate your work. Contact Dolly & Joe’s for availability and booking. Materials, tea, coffee and cakes provided!
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Tamworth Street Feature
NUYU Located on the newly refurbished top floor of Thrales House "THE NAIL BAR" is the latest addition to the NUYU brand where we will be offering express pedicure and manicure treatments, various gel systems,
pamper parties, afternoon tea, cocktail master-classes and exclusive venue hire. The new area is host to a four station pedicure suite, seven nail stations and a fully licensed 20ft oak bar and seating area.
Mooch Kids
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Dove Hearing Wins Community Guardian Award
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n 2015 Dove Hearing C e n t r e , Lichfield, funded a public a c c e s s defibrillator for the community of Lichfield. The defibrillator is situated on Barclays Bank in Breadmarket Street and is available for use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It has been deployed 10 times in the last year. 100,000 people in the UK die every year from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA); it is the UK’s biggest killer. The use of a defibrillator within the first 3 minutes of a SCA can increase the patient’s chances of survival by upwards of 80%. So having one available to the community of Lichfield could help to save a life. AEDdonate (the defibrillator charity who worked with the Dove Hearing Centre on this project) held their first Charity Ball last month. The Charity was delighted to present Neil and Rebecca Cross from Dove Hearing with the Community Guardian Award for helping to make their community heart-safe. Following on from the Charity Ball the Community Guardians, Dove Hearing, have sponsored a second public access defibrillator, which is to be placed in the centre of Hanley.
J HOWELL & DAUGHTERS FUNERAL DIRECTORS LICHFIELD & ALREWAS
NOW LICHFIELD & ALREWAS’S ONLY FAMILY OWNED FUNERAL DIRECTORS 24 hours a day
We are proud to be Lichfield's longest established family run funeral directors offering a wide range of choices to suit all requirements. Horse drawn, non religious ceremonies, floral tributes and memorials are but a few services we offer. Pre-paid funeral plans are also available.
For a truly personal service please call
01543 255776
Private Chapel of Rest 116 Netherstowe, Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 6TS
01283 792923
36 Main Street, Alrewas, Burton Upon Trent. DE13 7AA
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Win Perfect Father’s Day Gifts worth over £500!
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itylife in Lichfield have got together with Arthur Price to offer 5 readers to the chance to win a 6 piece Acrylic Knife Block Set plus Cheese Board and 3 Cheese Knives (RRP £108.95) – the perfect gifts for Father’s Day! Each of the five prizes includes a 6 Piece Acrylic Knife Block Set. Everyone always ends up in the kitchen at parties and you can make sure you really get people talking at your next one with a stylish Arthur Price Knife Block. Each of the 5 knives is suspended in a transparent acrylic helix that gives them the appearance of being frozen in mid-air, showing of their chic white-coated blades that contrast starkly with the smooth black handles and sleek black base. The
remarkable design will really turn heads in your cool contemporary kitchen. The Knife Block includes:- 1 x Chef's Knife, 1 x Bread Knife, 1 x Slicing Knife, 1 x Utility Knife, 1 x Paring Knife and retails at £79.00! Each prize also includes a Cheese Board and 3 Cheese Knives so that you can prepare cheese the old fashioned way, with a traditional cheese board with wire from Arthur Price (RRP £29.95) Please note that you must be over 18 years old to enter this competition, and that the prize winners must collect their prize from the Arthur Price Shop, Brittania Way, Lichfield. To enter, send your name and contact details to Arthur Price Competition, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS or email josscitylife@gmail.com by the
Arthur Price a household name with Lichfield at its heart
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oncorde, QE11, Titanic, the Savoy Hotel, the Royal Family… the list of iconic transport, brands and people who use Arthur Price is what makes the Lichfield based firm a byword for the finest cutlery. The company celebrates its 114th birthday in October this year and since 1982 its HQ has been on Britannia Way in the north of the city. Citylife caught up with current CEO and fourth generation of the Price family to be at the helm Simon Price and his eldest son James. The city of Lichfield and indeed the whole district is an integral part of the company. Much of its manufacturing is still in Sheffield and Birmingham but everything is managed in the city including its nationwide chain of concessions. This brings employment, the supply chain and income through its 180 staff into the area. Simon believes passionately in the district of Lichfield. The
competition closing date of Tuesday 14th June. Good luck! For more information on Arthur Price go to www.arthurprice.com
majority of staff at the head office are from Lichfield and the surrounding area forming a dedicated team, some of whom have worked for the company for 35 years including Customer Service Manager Mandy Stokes. Many new suppliers are chosen from the local area as Simon believes that they offer much more than just a price - they share ‘something’ in common - a passion for the area, and Lichfield in particular and a shared belief in supporting each other. This has created many opportunities for the company, and for Simon, to give something back to the city itself. Simon has worked tirelessly for the benefit of the city and has orchestrated notable achievements including, amongst other things, Fairtrade status for the city. He is currently the patron of ‘We Love Lichfield’, a fund that distributes cash to local groups and organisations for the benefit of the community. The Arthur Price Lichfield shop is based on Britannia Way and is the UK’s biggest cutlery shop but it also stocks many gift items for all occasions. Simon and his son James can regularly be seen behind the tills in the Lichfield shop so pop in soon.
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Advertise your event in our what’s on guide for only £3 for up to 100 words max, please contact Joss Musgrove Knibb 07833 735048. (Local Charities and advertisers may place what’s on listings free-of-charge). Your Citylife What’s On in June
Tuesday 31st May to Friday 3rd June Discovery Week. Come along throughout Discovery Week at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum and meet their WWI personnel who will be on hand to guide you and answer your questions on trench life. Get under the surface of WWI with the help of our knowledgeable Education Team.
Tuesday 31st May to Saturday 4th June Hairspray. Sutton Coldfield Musical Theatre Company at The Lichfield Garrick Theatre. Winner of eight Tony awards including Best Musical and four Olivier awards including Best New Musical, Hairspray is a big, bright musical, piled high with laughter, romance, spectacular production numbers and contagious hits. Adult tickets from £16.
Thursday 2nd June Farmers' Market Lichfield - 15th anniversary. On the Market Square, Lichfield. Popular established Farmers' Market with numerous stalls selling fresh, delicious local produce, tempting treats, arts and crafts. Held every first Thursday of the month (except January). This June we are celebrating the 15th Anniversary of our much loved Farmers' Market, so why not come down, celebrate and enjoy the fantastic local fayre on offer! 9am till 3pm.
Half Term Fun! At The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, Lichfield WS13 6LG. Get creative in hands-on arts and craft activities for the half-term holiday. Drop in sessions. 10.30am till 1pm. £2.
Friday 3rd June EU DEBATE At Lichfield Cathedral. 7.30pm. Two of Staffordshire’s MPs, Tristram Hunt and Michael Fabricant will debate the case for and against Britain remaining within the European Union. There will be an opportunity for contributions and questions from the floor. The debate will be chaired by the Very Revd Adrian Dorber, Dean of Lichfield. All are welcome to attend!
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Saturday 4th June Bruno & Olly Tribute Evening. At Moor Hall Hotel & Spa, Moor Hall Drive, Sutton Coldfield T: 0121 308 3751 A three course dinner followed by entertainment from the talented Rob Glenn who will entertain you with all of Bruno Mars and Olly Murs’ greatest chart hits. £32.50 per person or from
£129 for 2 to include an overnight stay.
Thursday 9th & Friday 10th June I, Elizabeth. At The Lichfield Garrick Theatre. 1568: At a vital crossroads in history a young queen steps from the shadows to reveal her thoughts on marriage, succession, religion and war. But time is against her. Using only Elizabeth's words, Rebecca Vaughan explores the queen's struggle to reconcile the desires of womanhood with the duties of sovereignty. 7.45pm. Tickets £13.50.
Saturday 11th June Local author and volunteer coffee morning. At Lichfield Library. Are you a local author and you would like to publicise your work, or perhaps you are interested in meeting local authors? Are you interested in volunteering in the library? If so this coffee morning is for you. If you are a local author please contact Lichfield Library in advance so we can book you a space otherwise please drop-in for a cuppa and a chat. 11am till 1pm. Sunday 12th June THE BIG LUNCH At Lichfield Cathedral, 12.30pm. The national 'Big Lunch' is returning to Lichfield! Come and join the fun in the grounds of the Cathedral. Either bring a picnic along or pay a visit to one of our food stalls, which will feature cuisines from across the world!
Saturday 18th June. Yard Party at Curborough Countryside Centre. We are holding a fun filled family day that will be carrying on the Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations. Our party is on Saturday 18th June and will start at 10am coming to a close at 4pm (free entry!). We’ll have stalls, craft activities and lots for children to see and do including magic, face painting, balloon modelling and a “toddle treasure hunt” for Barnado’s. All children are encouraged to come in fancydress – there will be prizes for the best outfits
EU referendum debate at Speakers’ Corner, Dam Street, Lichfield WS13 6AA. David Dundas will be making the case for remaining in the EU and Derek Bennett will be making the case for leaving. Take this opportunity to engage with the issues and join in the discussion. 11 am.
The Ugly Duckling. At the Lichfield Garrick Theatre. Sea Legs Puppet Theatre’s gentle, musical adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic tale of belonging and identity. 11am & 2pm. Tickets from £7.
Sunday 19th June. Father’s Day. At Moor Hall Hotel & Spa, Moor Hall Drive, Sutton Coldfield T: 0121 308 3751. Treat your dad to a delicious Family Sunday Lunch in the Charter Suite, a carvery lunch in Moor Hall’s Country Kitchen carvery or in the 2 AA Rosette Oak Room restaurant on Father’s Day. From £17.50 per person.
Stretton, Burton on Trent, DE13 0BN. As well as the fun dog show there are games, stalls and refreshments. Come and join in the fun. Entry is £1 for adults. Free entry for children under 16.
Tuesday 21st June. Civic Society Talk. At 7.45pm. Lichfield Civic Society presents: The Dyotts of Freeford - speaker: Richard Dyott. The meeting will take place in The Lichfield Room, Wade St Church Community Hall, Frog Lane, Lichfield, WS13 6HS. Admission is free to members. Nonmembers are always welcome - £3 at the door.
Wednesday 6th July. Special Festival Museum at Night. Between 6pm & 9pm.Guided tour of Lichfield Museum. Meet our costumed guides who will tell you about some of the famous Lichfeldians from the past and show you some of the rarely seen interesting artefacts from the archive. Complete your evening with a guided Spire Tour for fantastic views of Lichfield. Spire Tours are available at 6pm, 6.45pm, 7.30pm and 8.15pm and must be prebooked. A combined ticket is £5pp museum only £2pp. Tickets now available from the TIC desk in St. Marys. Tel 01543 256611 for further information. The event will be repeated on Saturday 9th July between 10am & 3pm. (Spire tours at 45min. intervals from 10am.)
Sunday 19th June. Father’s Day. At The George Hotel, Bird Street, Lichfield T: 01543 414822 and Darwin’s T: 01543 412766. Treat your dad to a delicious carvery lunch or to an evening meal in Darwin’s restaurant. Carvery Lunch: £13.75, Darwin’s fixed price menu: £14.50 (2 courses), £17 (3 courses).
Wednesday 22nd to Saturday 25th June Twelfth Night - Shakespeare In The Park. This year's instalment of Shakespeare in the Park at MAPLE HAYS "If music be the food of love play on" and Shakespeare in the Park's 2016 production will certainly be full of live music and bursting with tales of love and loss. Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare' most beloved and popular comedies. This production promises to be fast, frenetic and full of surprises. The story features many of the Bard's most recognizable motifs; shipwrecks, mistaken identity and revenge most foul! Performed al fresco in the Italian Gardens at Maple Hayes Hall, the production promises to be a magical evening for all ages. Tickets from £12. Booking via Lichfield Garrick Box Office For more information visit www.sitp.org.uk
Saturday 25th June. Islam and the meaning of Ramadan. At Speakers’ Corner, Dam street, Lichfield WS13 6AA. Dr Ahomed Moosa from the Lichfield Mosque will be our main speaker on Saturday 25th June. Come along and meet other members from our local Muslim community, who will be joining us. 11 am. Sunday 26th June. Fun Day and Dog Show. At RSPCA Hillfield Animal Home. 12noon till 4pm. Hillfield Lane,
Saturday 2nd July. Rocklands Primary Special School Summer Fayre, 11am to 1pm at Rocklands School, Purcell Avenue, Lichfield. Fun for all the family including stalls, games, refreshments, and raffle. Come along and support our school, we are fundraising for specialist equipment and communication aids for our children. Stalls available for £10 and a raffle prize. Please email clairejennings@rocklands.staffs.sch.uk if you would like a stall.
Event Venues
The Lichfield Garrick Theatre, Castle Dyke, Lichfield, WS13 6HR. Tel: 01543 412121 Moor Hall Hotel & Spa, Moor Hall Drive, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, B75 6LN. Tel: 0121 308 375 moorhallhotel.co.uk The George Hotel, Bird Street, Lichfield, WS13 6PR. Tel: 01543 414822 Lichfield Cathedral, The Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 7LD. Tel: 01543 306100 Wade St Church Community Hall, Frog Lane, Lichfield, WS13 6HS. Lichfield Museum in St. Marys on the Market Square, Market Square, Lichfield, WS13 6LG Tel: 01543 256611 Market Square, Lichfield, WS13 6LG Curborough Countryside Centre, Watery Lane, Lichfield WS13 8ES RSPCA Hillfield Animal Home. 12noon till 4pm. Hillfield Lane, Stretton, Burton on Trent, DE13 0BN Speakers’ Corner, Dam Street, Lichfield WS13 6AA The Staffordshire Regiment Museum, DMS Whittington, Lichfield, WS14 9PY Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, Breadmarket St, Lichfield WS13 6LQ Tel: 01543 264972 Lichfield Library, the Friary, Lichfield WS13 6QG Tel: 01543 510700 Maple Hayes, Abnalls Lane, Lichfield, WS13 8BL Rocklands School, Purcell Ave, Lichfield WS13 7PH. Tel: 01543 510760
Free Boxing sessions for young people
Positive Futures, which provides sporting and leisure opportunities for young people across Burntwood and Lichfield, is launching weekly boxing sessions, thanks to a grant awarded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Proceeds of Crime Fund. The sessions take place at Wade Street Church in Lichfield on Friday evenings, from 7.45pm to 8.45pm. They are run by World Middleweight and British Boxing Champion Wayne ‘Mad Dog’ Elcock’s Box Clever Coaching Academy. There is no need to book, if you are aged between 14 and 19, simply turn up and try out boxing. The sessions are free, however, they may go up to £1 in the future.
Illusion Street Cheer Classes
If you love to dance, and would like to join a group that works together on dance routines once a week, why not come to an Illusion StreetCheer dance class? Positive Futures, which provides sporting and leisure opportunities for young people across Burntwood and Lichfield, runs weekly street cheer dance sessions in Friary Grange Leisure Centre’s dance studio. Street cheer combines elements of cheerleading with street dancing. No experience is necessary, as the moves are fairly easy to pick up. The Illusion StreetCheer classes run on Fridays from 4.30pm to 5.30pm for ages 9 to 13 and from 5.30pm to 6.30pm for ages 14 to 19. It costs £1 a session. The classes do not need to be booked – just turn up and have a go. To find out more, please contact Tasmin Turner by calling 01543 308835 or 07736497186 or email tasmin.turner@lichfielddc.gov.uk.
Lichfield Jolly!
The third Lichfield Jolly Bike Ride takes place on Sunday 12th June. Cyclists meet from 4.30pm at the Market Square, Lichfield, for fun and games and the ride will go off at about 5pm.
Cyclists ride for 2 or 3 miles together through the city centre before returning to the Wheelie Workshop at Minster Hall for food and drinks. All are welcome to this fun and free, familyfriendly ride. Fancy dress, vintage clothing or your best togs are encouraged but not essential!
LOCAL NEWS European Union referendum 2016
Until Saturday 11th June, an exhibition entitled Dappled Light by Artist Morven Browne will take place at Emporium Gallery on Bird Street, Lichfield (10am till 5pm Tuesday to Saturday), and visitors will be able to Meet the Artist on Saturday 4 June from 11am - 4pm. North Shropshire based Artist Morven Browne was brought up in Dumfriesshire and her work is inspired by her rural background and the relationship of movement and light within the natural world. The elegant sculptural forms exhibited are made from laminated birch, paper and metals such as silver, copper and brass which have been textured and patinated and then soldered or riveted together. For more information go to www.emporium-gallery.co.uk
A referendum on whether the United Kingdom should remain in or leave the European Union will be held on Thursday 23 June. If you have not already registered to vote, the deadline to register in time to have your say in the referendum is Tuesday 7 June. In the EU referendum on 23 June, voters will be asked whether they wish the United Kingdom to either: · remain a member of the European Union, or · leave the European Union Ahead of the 7 June deadline to register to vote, Lichfield District Council is reminding anyone who has not yet registered to do so online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. However, the council is keen to stress that if you have already registered, and received a poll card for the recent Police and Crime Commissioner election, there is no need to register again. Diane Tilley, Electoral Registration Officer for Lichfield District Council, said: “The majority of our residents who are eligible to vote are already registered. However, we’re getting a number of enquiries from people who are not sure if they need to register again for the EU referendum. This is not the case. You only need to register if you have recently moved house or have not registered in the past.” If you are unsure whether you are registered, please visit Lichfield District Council's Frog Lane offices to see the register of electors, call 01543 308999, or email elections@lichfielddc.gov.uk to find out if you are registered.
Former Vice C h a i r m a n , Councillor David Salter, was appointed the new Chairman and Councillor Mark Warfield was sworn in as Vice Chairman of Lichfield District Council on Tuesday 17th May. Councillor Salter has replaced Councillor Norma Bacon after a year in the role. The Chairman will update an online blog at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/chairmansblog
Children under 5 years of age are invited to take part in a weekly Mini Mambos class. The sessions are packed full of games, movement, music making and story time. Councillor Andy Smith, Lichfield District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure & Parks, said: “These classes are an excellent way to promote co-ordination, motor and social skills. They also offer parents a chance to meet other local families.” Mini Mambos runs on Wednesdays from 1.30pm to 2.30pm. These parent/guardian sessions costs £2.70 and there is no need to book.
Dappled Light at Emporium
New Chairman of Lichfield District Council
Little tots get active at Burntwood Leisure Centre
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