Living in Tamworth September 2017 by Citylife In Lichfield

The Pear Tree Crêperie Situated within the centre of The Heart of the Country Shopping Village, The Pear Tree Crêperie is a French Crêperie with lots of character and a relaxed informal atmosphere. From the moment you walk through the doors you will be welcomed by a friendly smile and service that is second to none. Our Crêpes are absolutely delicious with variations to tickle both the sweet and savoury palate. When

it comes to sweet options you shouldn't leave until you've tried the classics such as Lemon and Sugar or a Banana Tree with fruit, ice cream, chocolate sauce and Chantilly cream. The savoury section will also make you drool with the likes of Chicken Tikka or Mushroom Stroganoff. Prices from £2.80 to around £7. We are wheelchair friendly on the ground floor and everyone is very welcome.

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September 2017 24 39

Inside...

Win Afternoon Tea for Two at Christopher's

Answer our anagram competition to win the perfect afternoon treat 24 Living in Tamworth’s Cutest Pet

Is your pet Tamworth’s cutest? 39 A Window on the Past

A view of Polesworth Abbey 40 Unearthing History

Discovering the past with metal detectorist Gary Starkey 50 Your Garden in September

What to do in your garden this month

Welcome to LIVING IN

Tamworth

Welcome to LIVING IN Tamworth, a monthly magazine bringing you our pick of the area's news, events and stories. Each month LIVING IN Tamworth is delivered to 18,000 homes and businesses in Tamworth, Two Gates, Stoneydelph, Amington, Perry Crofts, Fazeley, Wilnecote, Drayton Bassett, Dosthill, Atherstone, Polesworth, Hopwas, Whittington and Elford completely free of charge; bringing you the best that the region has to offer. Each issue features heritage stories exploring the rich history of our area, plus community achievements and positive news, local events and 'what's on', interviews, competitions, home, style, and town and country living. Got a story or charity event you want to share with our readership? Think you’ve snapped an image that captures the spirit of your area? We want to hear from you!

Our business is bringing you everything that's great about living in Tamworth.

LIVING Contacts

Editor - Joss Musgrove Knibb 07833 735048

josscitylife@gmail.com Deputy Editor - Kate Gomez 07742 917708 katecitylife@gmail.com Advertising-

Steve Brown 07740 166497 stevebrowncitylife@gmail.com Karen Wraxton 07791 635019 kaz.citylife@gmail.com Rebecca Hill 07970 513144 rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com Production - Helen Smith 07967 154187 helencitylife@gmail.com

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

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 Christopher’s

hristopher’s is situated at 13 to 14 Aldergate, in the newly established cultural quarter of Tamworth, and offers guests a sumptuous and contemporary dining experience in relaxed and chilled surroundings. Their head chefs combine the very best of English culinary tradition with a young and vibrant palate. Serving the finest, freshest and wherever possible locally produced ingredients, Christopher’s dedication to good quality food and welcoming hospitality, plus 40 years’ experience, creates the perfect place for luxury dining or a laid-back, mid-week treat whatever the occasion. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea – pop in and sample their seasonal offers or reserve a table to avoid disappointment. Christopher’s is also open all day and evening for lighter refreshments, be that fabulous, specially selected coffee, or something from their sumptuous wine menu and comprehensively stocked bar. They also have a private dining room for private functions of up to 28 people.

Afternoon Tea

Christopher’s Afternoon Teas are served from 3pm till 4.30pm, Monday to Saturday and are the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends and family over tea, coffee, cake and cucumber sandwiches for just £15 per person or £22 per person with a glass of Prosecco. For more information visit thepeelaldergate.com/christophers or call 01827 67676

To Win Afternoon Tea for Two at Christopher’s, just unscramble the anagram, and re-arrange the letters to find a lemony cake that’s a favourite with the whole family…

DAZZLERCOKEMENIL _____ _______ ____

To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to Christopher’s Competition at citylifecompetitions@gmail.com or post your entry to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS by the competition closing date of Friday 15th September 2017. One entry per household. No cash equivalent offered. For full terms and conditions see page 49.

The Timeless Style of Ercol

By Richard Winterton of Richard Winterton Auctioneers

ucian R Ercolani (or “The Old Man" as he is affectionately known in the company), founded Ercol in 1920. Born in Italy in 1888, Lucian's family moved to London in the 1890s. There he went to night-school at the Shoreditch Technical Institute where he studied drawing, design and the theory and construction of furniture. In 1907 he made his first piece of furniture - a musical cabinet, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Years later the company tracked this down and still have it to this day. Between 1910 and 1920, The Old Man worked in the design teams for what would later become Parker Knoll and G-Plan, before founding Ercol in 1920. He designed the company's products for many years. The Windsor range remains one of the most popular ranges over half a century after it was first launched in its original guise, and a few years ago they reintroduced some of Lucian's classic designs, which now form the Ercol Originals range.

Furniture was designed for the Living Room, Dining Room and the Bedroom to suit any style from formal or casual, contemporary or traditional, plus new designs for the modern day. Ranges are named Adrano, Cosenza, Teramo, Bosco, Capena, Evergreen, Chesham, Marino, Renaissance, Romana and Windsor, and the company provides exclusive ranges to big retailers such as John Lewis, Next, White Company and Furniture Village. Through the auction market, the sale of Ercol in recent years has got stronger and stronger with high prices being achieved. At our most recent sale we had a price battle between room bidders and internet bidders for an Ercol Elm spindle back Windsor chair which sold for a hammer price £260. An Ercol Blonde Elm room divider/shelves sold for a hammer price £480 and an Ercol Light Elm rectangular extending dining table with two extra leaves and six matching spindle back chairs sold for a hammer price of £900. We hold a free valuation service every

Tuesday from 9.30am to 4pm at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, Lichfield, WS13 8NF. For larger items or house clearance please contact us to book an appointment for a home visit.

Cutlery – Exploring a world of traditions By Simon Price, CEO of Arthur Price One of the most common questions I’m asked is how to use cutlery properly. But is there a right and wrong answer? In the U.K. we are taught; fork to the left and knife to the right of place settings. In Armenia and Turkey, however, they lie in opposite positions. In America and Canada, it is common practice to use a fork and knife in the left and right hands respectively, and then put the knife down and transfer the fork to the right hand to pick up the food. Our trans-Atlantic friends also hold their cutlery differently to Europeans.

So who, if anyone, is right? Does it matter, as long as you feel comfortable? And what if you are left-handed?

Different cultures have different rules… there is no right or wrong answer globally, indeed ‘When in Rome’. With cutlery deeply ingrained in our social etiquette after hundreds of years of use, we are not

likely to give up our cutlery habits any time soon.

And that brings me on to tradition. Don’t you think it’s nice to keep traditions, not to forget our heritage and partake in good dining every now and again? Sunday lunch – even though my children have flown the nest they all still love to find their way home for Sunday lunch with all the trimmings. Or what about Christmas, the time when everyone gets out their best crockery, glassware and of course cutlery, and when it’s laid on the table, doesn’t it look good?

So that’s how I answer my most common question. I can direct people to Debrett’s for information on cutlery etiquette but for me whatever your nationality and whatever your cutlery customs, just being around a table with family and friends is just the most perfect place to be.

COSMEDIC SKIN CLINIC At Cosmedic Skin Clinic we are passionate about providing the highest level of treatment in a professional and ethical manner, as well as maintaining standards within the industry. We offer free impartial consultations to all patients to advise which treatments may best suit their needs. The award winning Cosmedic Skin Clinic is owned by Dr Martyn King and Sharon King. Our ethos is to provide a friendly, relaxed and professional environment for all our clients and to treat people ethically, honestly and how we would be expected to be treated ourselves. From our luxurious and upmarket clinic we offer free, nocommitment consultations for all of our treatments and you will find the team extremely knowledgeable and highly trained in all of our procedures and skin care products. We constantly receive extremely positive feedback from our clients and continue to look at ways to offer an even better service. So why not come along and indulge in the Cosmetic experience? You can find Cosmedic Skin Clinic at Prospect House, 13 Albert Road, Tamworth, B79 7JN. For further information, or to book an appointment, please telephone 0845 388 3808 or email info@cosmedic-clinic.co.uk.

Volunteers needed to help pack

Buddy Bags

he Buddy Bag Foundation supplies Buddy Bags to children who find themselves in emergency care after a traumatic incident. The bags help make a difference by ensuring a child has the essential items they need for their immediate well-being and comfort. Each bag is tailored to a particular age group and contains necessities such as toiletries and pyjamas, and items such as a book and a teddy bear to provide reassurance. Participating centres keep a stock of bags which are handed to children when they arrive at the emergency care setting and there is no cost to the centre or any individual who participates in the scheme.

The idea began in 2014, when founder Karen Williams read about a similar scheme in Australia and discovered that there was a huge need for Buddy Bags in the UK to help make the transition of children in to emergency care a little easier. To ensure that as many children as possible can benefit from the Buddy Bag Scheme, she set up the Foundation and launched an appeal. Earlier this year, Karen was awarded the Prime Minister’s Points of Light award for outstanding individual voluntary work and for making a change in her community. The Foundation’s mission is to have delivered 20,200 bags to children in need by 2020.

On 2nd September, the Buddy Bag Brigade will be packing 180 Buddy Bags with 12 essential items at St Peter’s Church in Glascote Heath and are looking for volunteers to help them. Volunteers are asked to arrive at the church at 10am promptly to take part in a team brief. Each Buddy bag costs £25 and is funded by donations, fundraising and sponsorship. For more information on how to support the Buddy Bag Foundation, please visit their website www.buddybagfoundation.co.uk or Facebook page www.facebook.com/BuddyBagFoundation/

Wild About Tamworth!

By Shelley Pattison of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust ach issue, Shelley will be bringing us stories of some of the wonderful wildlife that can be found in our area. This month, Shelley looks back at the Wild About Tamworth Project.

While every new venture dreams of lasting a long time, many do not, especially when they were planned originally to only last three years. So, this summer, it’s wonderful to be able to look back on over a decade of the hugely successful Wild About Tamworth Project. A partnership initiative between Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Tamworth Borough Council and the people of Tamworth, it originally took Tamworth’s only Local Nature Reserve (LNR) Hodge Lane in 2003, then created another six LNRs. During this time, the solid base upon which Wild About Tamworth has been able to grow has

been the network of nine community conservation groups that have each supported their local sites and made such a difference on the ground.

The rewards have been very pleasing to those involved in the project, but especially wonderful has been the news that this summer a pair of breeding barn owls have nested on one of the Wild About Tamworth sites and three young barn owls have now fledged. This is one of the many success stories of the WAT project and you could be involved. New volunteers to the groups are welcomed, no skills or experience are necessary, just an interest in wildlife and a desire to make a difference.

The nine groups meet every month, primarily at the weekend, for a few hours of practical conservation, species surveying, exercise and good company. Of course, the

sites can be visited and enjoyed even if you do not have the time or ability to volunteer on the project. On the eight WAT sites, visitors can enjoy a variety of habitats including woodland, wetland (ponds, streams and rivers) and wildflower meadows. These sites are home to a host of wildlife including birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians and are lovely places to walk and enjoy.

More information about the sites and the volunteer groups can be found on staffswildlife.org.uk/wildabouttamworth The WAT project officer can be contacted through the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust via email at Tamworth@staffs-wildlife.org.uk or on 07970 067711. Shelley Pattison is Wild About Tamworth Officer at the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

Tomato and Courgette Chutney T

his month Annamarie from Woodhouse Farm and Garden shares one of her favourite seasonal recipes with us.

So, what's a girl to do with no internet and a glut of produce in the garden? If you have been lucky enough to escape blight on your tomatoes, around now you should have a healthy number of red ones. I love tomatoes as they are very easy to work with and even skinning them is not that bad! All you need is a bowl and a kettle of boiling water*. Pop the tomatoes into a bowl and cover them with the hot water. Leave for a couple of minutes until you see the skins start to crack. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon and the skins should peel off easily.

Something else that may be growing out of control in your garden is courgettes. One of my favourite ways to use up a glut of tomatoes and courgettes is this simple chutney recipe. Use 1kg of tomatoes, 250g of courgettes, 250g of onions, 150g of demerara sugar, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1tsp ground cumin, 1tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp paprika and 300ml of malt vinegar. If you have a gluten allergy you can use cider vinegar as an alternative. There is no need to skin the tomatoes, just chop them up along with the onion and courgette (the more finely you dice the vegetable, the smoother your chutney will be!). Add the chopped vegetables, salt, spices and half the vinegar to a pan, bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Then add the sugar and the remaining vinegar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Simmer the chutney uncovered until it thickens and there is no excess liquid on surface. To store the chutney (most chutneys are better for a bit of time maturing) you will need glass jars with good fitting lids. Wash them well and then put the jar and the lids on a tray in a low heated oven for 15 minutes. Pack the warmed jars with hot chutney and seal them carefully. Be careful to use a cloth when touching jars as they will be very hot. You can use marrow as an alternative to courgettes but they will need to be peeled first.

* Always take extra cae when working with hot ingredients

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We are specialists in made to measure blinds, curtains, soft furnishings, and upholstery plus professional interior design solutions. All our products are installed by our professional installation team to create your new dream interior.

Supreme Blinds & Interiors can be found at Bonehill Farm, Bonehill Road, Tamworth, B78 3HP Tel: 01827 52448 www.supremeblindsandinteriors.co.uk

CANNOCK

Advertising Feature

CARAVAN ACCESSORIES helping you enjoy the great outdoors

f you’re looking forward to taking your caravan out on the open road this spring, then you’ll need to pay a visit to Cannock Caravan Accessories first.

Stocking everything caravaners could possibly need, as well as plenty for motorhome owners and campers too, this independent, family run business supplies customers with an impressive range of products from industry leading brands.

Caravanning and camping is as popular as it’s ever been as more and more people want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and seek out an adventure, or maybe just some peace and quiet in the great outdoors. Cannock Caravan Accessories have an enormous range of products on sale at their 12,000 sq ft store.

Cannock Caravan Accessories can provide customers with all those essential

and luxury items that will make their trip complete. Caravan accessories ranges include everything from gas fittings, electric equipment and lighting to TVs, barbeques, homewares and even solar panels. Motorhome ranges include storage solutions, mirror guards, bike carriers and Fiamma/Thule products.

There’s all manner of spare parts for caravans and motorhomes too plus an impressive selection of awnings from leading brands like Isabella, Kampa, Dorema, Vango and Ventura.

Full awnings, inflatable awnings, porch awnings and motorhome awnings are all available in-store with over 30 on display.

When it comes to camping there’s plenty to choose from too - you’ll find everything you need for a camping trip apart from the tent!

With more than 40 years of experience in the industry, the Cannock Caravan Accessories team have worked hard to bring their customers the finest selection of caravanning and camping accessories and pride themselves on excellent customer service. Their friendly, knowledgeable team are always on hand to offer advice.

The company has built an excellent reputation based on their impressive service and top quality product range. You don’t have to visit the store to benefit – their comprehensive website is complete with all of the products you’d find in store. Any website queries are dealt with by members of the team in store, who can be contacted by telephone, and online customers can also email different departments directly.

Whether you’re a seasoned caravanner or, maybe just caravan curious, why not visit Cannock Caravan Accessories and start planning your getaway this spring?

The Life and Death of Sir Robert Peel By Nigel Morris of The Peel Society

he Peel Society was formed in 1979 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Metropolitan Police Force, and promotes the study of the life, works and times of Sir Robert Peel and the Peel family. The society also runs The Peel Collection and Police Museum at Middleton Hall. Here, Chairman Nigel Morris gives us a closer look at one of the fascinating objects from the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique collection of memorabilia.

When Sir Robert Peel died in 1850, after falling off his horse on Constitution Hill outside Buckingham Palace, he was mourned not for forming the Metropolitan Police but for bringing down the price of bread.

Peel was an M.P. at the age of twenty one and Chief Secretary for Ireland at the age of twenty four. He was twice Home Secretary, when he reformed the criminal justice system culminating in the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829 and was also twice Prime Minister. In his second term from 1841 to 1846, his government made many important reforms.

In October 1845, he had news from Ireland that there was a disastrous disease of potatoes, (the staple food of much of the Irish population) due to blight, and knew this meant famine. There were import duties on foreign grains, called the Corn Laws, which kept the price of bread high to ensure the aristocrats could receive substantial rents. Peel could not countenance high prices for staple foods, when

people were starving and decided to repeal the Corn Laws, against the interests of the Conservative Party. The Corn Laws were repealed but he was defeated.

When he died four years later, twenty statues were erected in his memory and an amazing amount of memorabilia was produced. The Peel Society has a unique collection in its museum and one of the finest pieces is a Victorian washstand set, jug, bowl, soap dish and toothbrush holder.

The Peel Museum at Middleton Hall is open from Sunday to Wednesday, 11am to 4pm until the end of September. For more information, please visit www.thepeelsociety.org.uk

alking Leaves is a project which combines myths and legends, enchanting characters, drama and dance, all within a Tamworth park.

The project, which is taking place in Wigginton Park, will see the creation of a tree trail built around new myths and legends created by local schools and community groups from Tamworth. Each group will select one of the trees in the park to be featured on the trail and through a workshop with Staffordshire’s first Poet Laureate, Mal Dewhirst, and storyteller, Christine Genders, will develop a plot, characters and costumes to help tell their tree’s story. Following these workshops, Mal and Christine will write the stories which will then be displayed in the park and designed in such a way that visitors to the trail can take rubbings

‘Take part in Talking Leaves’ in Wigginton Park

of them. All 10 stories can then be put together to form a book. The project is looking for groups of all ages and interests to take part in the workshops which will last around two to three hours. When completed, the trail will be unveiled and its stories performed with theatre, dance and characters wearing costumes designed in the workshops and made by a local costume maker, as a way of showcasing some of the skills and talent that people of Tamworth have. The Talking Leaves project is being delivered in partnership with Tamworth Borough Council and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, through the Wild About Tamworth initiative. It is open to everyone in Tamworth and so if you belong to a singing group, W.I., sports club, local history society, charity, dance or theatre group and are interested in adopting a tree and creating its story, Mal and Christine would be delighted to

hear from you. For more information, please contact Mal on 07884 430142 or via email at talkingleavestamworth@gmail.com.

“Education is my passion and it’s what sets us apart” By Tony Walmsley, Owner – Anthony John Salons

When I started Anthony John Salons I wanted to create something different but the challenge was how? I wanted a beautiful building and location and we have that. But the key to any successful business is having the right people. I’ve won national awards, had high-profile clients and my work has been published worldwide. But my greatest satisfaction comes from growing and developing my team. Our education ethos is simple: Technique We teach all stylists ‘technique’. Whether they are an apprentice or an experienced stylist who has recently joined us, we re-

train them our way! Why? We don’t deliver a textbook of core cuts. We must respond to any client request so having the correct core technique enables us to create hair for that individual.

Time Together the team discuss and develop new techniques to make sure we are always on trend. All staff share best practice with each other, and the team also constantly receive education at our affiliated academies in London.

So, what does all this mean for the customer? With us you are guaranteed to have someone who knows how to create what you want. The only difference between a junior and senior stylist is experience.

We don't compare ourselves to others in

the industry, we are different. Our staff are trained to listen as soon as you walk in. We see ourselves as being a total experience.

There is nothing better than seeing people achieve their dreams. We are proud of our team of local talent who achieve great things! Training is everything to us as it’s what sets us apart. So, whether you want to sit down in our chairs or stand up behind them and create... contact us now.

www.anthonyjohn-salons.co.uk. Tel: 01543 481900

Tamworth Society of Artists

he Tamworth Society of Artists was established in 2000 and is keen to expand the group’s membership to include even more talented and creative people from the Tamworth area. The Society of Artists meets at 7pm on the third Wednesday of every month at the Central Methodist Church hall in Aldergate, Tamworth, and anyone with an interest in art, in any form, is welcome to attend. Members of the society, which is made up of people of all ages, abilities and interests, pay an annual subscription of £25. However, the monthly meetings are open to all, with a £5 charge for nonmembers and guests. At each month’s meeting, there is usually a demonstration from a professional artist, followed by refreshments and the chance to exchange ideas and talk art with like-minded people.

In addition to the regular meetings, members of the Society also have the opportunity to take part in a range of art related activities from photographic shoots to summer sketching at locations across the Tamworth district. The Society also organises exhibitions where members are able to display their work and hold a number of social events for members throughout the year.

President of the Tamworth Society of Artists, Angela Gaughan, has recently been presented with the David Shepherd award for the best work depicting an endangered species at the 25th anniversary exhibition for the Wildlife Art Society International for her painting of a snow leopard. Angela is especially keen to encourage more young people to become members. Her own passion for art started when she caught TB as a child, and began drawing to alleviate the boredom of

Pat Cordell and Angela Gaughan

being confined to bed. Her talent was spotted by renowned artist Andrew Vicari, who tutored Angela in portrait painting, and over the years she has become a recognised artist herself, best known for her portrait and wildlife studies.

As well as new members, the society is also looking for volunteers to provide practical help at events. Anyone interested in finding out more can contact programme secretary, Pat Cordell, at thecordells@hotmail.com or visit the Society’s website at tamworthartists.org.uk.

Cutest Pet Looking for Tamworth’s

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

Every month we’ll pick our selection of the cutest pets and we’ll print them here in Living in Tamworth magazine. Later next year in the September issue we’ll print the final 12 competitors chosen, and one lucky pet and their owners will be the winner of ...

a Trophy & £100 cash prize!

To get the ball rolling, here are our pets here at Living in Tamworth magazine – Stan the Border Terrier and Tui the New Zealand Huntaway/Border Collie cross.

Send your pet pics to katecitylife@gmail.com or post them to Living in Tamworth Pet Competition, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS. Apologies but we can’t return pictures posted to us. For full terms and conditions see page 49.

Cathedral to Castle Run

he Lichfield Cathedral to Tamworth Castle ten mile charity run will be back in 2018 with more than double the amount of spaces. After a successful first year, which saw the event sell out in just six days, the four Rotary clubs of Tamworth and Lichfield have joined forces again to organise a bigger event. The amount of available places has been extended from 500 to 1,200, giving more people the chance to run this iconic course, linking the two historic monuments. The 2018 Rotary Cathedral to Castle Run will take place on Sunday 8th April 2018 and will once again start in Beacon Park Lichfield, and finish in the grounds

of Tamworth Castle. Registration opens on 3rd August and this year’s £25 entry price includes a finisher’s t-shirt, a goodie bag and, new for 2018, a medal. Runners must be aged sixteen or over. Other new features for 2018 include fun runs for children and juniors in the Castle Grounds with an even bigger family fun day at the finish line in Tamworth Castle grounds park. The ten mile route has been carefully mapped out and crosses a variety of terrain including Lichfield City Centre, Ministry of Defence Land at Whittington Barracks and Hopwas Woods. This year’s run also takes in the Cathedral Close in Lichfield. Once again, all proceeds will be donated to four charities to be chosen by the Rotary clubs and runners are welcome to raise additional sponsorship money for charities of their own choosing. A variety of sponsorship packages are available for 2018 and any businesses interested are asked to email sponsorship@c2crun.co.uk. To register for the 2018 Cathedral to Castle Run or for more information on the event, please visit www.c2crun.co.uk

Shopping with a distinctive flavour at Heart of the Country

Advertising feature

eart of the Country is a family owned shopping village in the heart of Staffordshire offering a wonderful shopping experience in a beautiful setting. The first shop opened here in 1984, and fast became a venue renowned for its great selection of independent boutiques, chic shops and distinctive restaurants, all housed in a range of light and bright converted farm buildings.The combination of the countryside setting and ample free car parking, make the village a unique and convenient place for people to shop, socialise and pamper themselves with exclusive beauty treatments, all at a leisurely pace. Little visitors to the village will be enchanted by the Green Fairy Trail where they can hunt for the eco-friendly fairies who have made their homes amongst the trees. Families can also enjoy the woodland picnic area or leave their little-ones to stay

and play with the Woodland Beasties at a Forest School session, whilst they browse the boutiques or catch up with friends over a coffee. Canine companions are also welcome at the village, and for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;walkiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the woodland, plus each of the restaurants offer an al fresco dining option.

A market offering an array of artisan foods and crafts, all made within thirty miles of the village, takes place between 10am and 4pm on the second Sunday of each month and visitors can browse the stalls, talk to local producers and be inspired by artists and designers, whilst sampling some of the tasty treats on offer. The village is conveniently located at Swinfen on the A38, just a ten minute drive from central Tamworth, and shops and restaurants are open between 10am and 5pm, from Tuesday to Sunday.

Looking for a

Forever Home

ere, Cats Protection Lichfield and Tamworth Branch tells us a little of what they do to help and support our feline friends, and introduces us to some beautiful cats who are looking for a new forever home…

From humble beginnings in 1927, Cats Protection has grown to become the UK’s leading feline welfare charity. We help around 200,000 cats and kittens every year through our network of over 250 volunteer-run branches and 32 adoption centres.

Cats Protection also promote the benefits of neutering to prevent unwanted litters from being born and becoming the abandoned cats of tomorrow, and seek to educate people of all ages about cats and their care.

The Lichfield and Tamworth branch have a small number of fosterers who look after cats and kittens that come into their care until they are found their new forever homes. When a cat comes into branch it is vet checked within the first few days, it will then receive its first vaccination and will be neutered and microchipped before it is ready for homing.

Living in Tamworth and the Tamworth Business and Community Awards

he Tamworth Business and Community Awards celebrate all that’s great about Tamworth, from its businesses to its residents, and Living in Tamworth are delighted to be sponsoring The Tamworth Business and Community Awards’ Large Retailer of the Year category.

Living in Tamworth is the latest publication from the team behind Citylife in Lichfield and Citylife in Rugeley magazines, which together put out 47,000 magazines a month across the region. We are very

Kittens will receive their first vaccination and if they are old enough they will also be neutered and microchipped. There are several cats and kittens available for adoption at the moment, a few being Cheeky and Patch (mother and son), Treacle, Pepper and Dobby, plus several black kittens of varying ages.

During September Cats Protection Lichfield and Tamworth Branch will be appealing for people with a variety of skills and a love of cats to volunteer for the charity. People from all walks of life are encouraged to contact Cats Protection to find out how they can help unwanted and abandoned cats in their area. Volunteers are desperately needed including various opportunities within our fundraising team; helping trap, neuter and return; fostering; events co-ordinator; home visitors and educational speakers.

If you have time to spare and would love to get involved please get in touch via our email address at lichtamcats@gmail.com, by phone on 0345 371 2741 or visit our stall in Market Street, Lichfield on the 9th September. There will be a similar function within Tamworth in October.

excited about launching in a town that is so close to our hearts, and sponsoring an award that recognises the hard work and dedication of its residents.

Living in Tamworth focuses on good news, positive stories, community achievements, local history, ecology and events - aiming to engage and entertain our readers from cover to cover. We consider ourselves to be part of this community, and are keen to promote, support and celebrate this town with its rich history and bright future.

MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTORS WANTED

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Henry VIII visits Tamworth

hank you to Margaret Clarke for this picture of ‘Henry VIII’ on his recent visit to Tamwor th Soroptimists.

Do it with Gusto

At Tamworth Food Gusto Food & Drink Festival 2017

f you are a Foodie and love great Food & Drink, then the Tamworth Food Gusto Festival on the 9th and 10th of September is the place to be!

Food Gusto have lined up over 80 of the region’s best Food & Drink producers all hand picked to set your taste buds on fire. All producers are passionate about what they do and create exciting products made with care and provenance.

The two-day event returns to Tamworth Castle Grounds with tantalising treats on offer including hog roasts, bison and venison burgers, wood fired pizza baked before your eyes, plus traditional Indian, Caribbean, Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Russian, Mexican, Indian, vegan and vegetarian dishes, as well as good old English favourites.

Cheese lovers can sample a wide range of flavours such as oak-smoked, cheddar with Port Wine, chilli, garlic and for the brave, fiery dragon. For those with a sweet tooth, there are handmade chocolates and fudge.

All of these can be washed down with locally-brewed beer, real ale, cocktails, English wines, organic wines, prosecco or barista coffees.

International professional chef Simon Smith will be running the demonstration area and you will be able to get up close and enjoy the live cooking demonstrations from the show kitchen. On Saturday Mat Gothard will demonstrate his butchery skills by holding a demonstration and showing us how sausages are made.

In addition to the sight, smell and taste of fine food there will be a full live music line up easy listening with a glass of wine or beer! On Saturday people can dance and sing along to music from the 1940s and ‘50s with a Cilla Black tribute and mother and daughter duo Sincerely Yours. On S u n d a y , talented artists from the local area will be taking to the stage hosted by BrindleyHunt.

Children will also be kept entertained by the rides, face painting and competitions.

Food Gusto has been organising food and drink events in the Midlands region for several years and this event aims to be bigger and better. Full details can be found on the website www.tamworthfoodgusto.co.uk.

The company’s Event Director, Wesley Ewing, said:

“Tamworth is a great place to hold a Food & Drink Festival. The Castle Pleasure Grounds are next to the river and as well as being a beautiful setting to hold this event, they are easy to access from Tamworth and the wider region.

Being close to the A5 the events attracts visitors from Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield, Solihull and the Birmingham area. The area is also bursting with high quality food and drink producers, ranging from small artisan producers working from their own farms or kitchens, to nationallyrecognised businesses.

“The event gives people the chance to find out more about the fantastic businesses they have on their doorstep and to sample some of their exciting creations.

“Food Gusto festivals aren’t just about food; they are about having a good time. We’ve worked hard to make sure it includes a range of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.

“We also pair brilliant food with amazing local music to give you a great day out and we hope to see you there.”

Any local food and drink producers who would like to have a stall at the festival can contact Food Gusto on 01530 411337, or email info@foodgusto.com to check availability. The same applies to creative businesses who would like a space in the artisan tent.

tribute to three of the greatest entertainers of all time arrives at the Lichfield Garrick theatre on Saturday 9th September. The Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular features the combined talents of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr, widely known at The Rat Pack and takes you back to the golden years of the 1960s that wowed audiences worldwide.

The Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular

Now entering its 16th consecutive year, this newly revised production of the tribute show will feature a new stage set, a new Dean Martin (Phil Barley) and a new direction. The entertainers are joined by The Vegas Showgirls, bringing their glitz and glamour, and a live big band, The Rat Pack Orchestra.

Come and re-live the musical magic of the Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular on Saturday 9th September at 7.30pm. Tickets are £25 each and can be booked online at www.lichfieldgarrick.com or by calling the Box Office on 01543 412121.

Advertising feature

Bradley Scott Windows offers Excellence as Standard

radley Scott Windows Ltd is an independent family run business specialising in the installation of PVCu doors, windows and conservatories, in and around the Tamworth area since 1999. As a local firm, Bradley Scott Windows is proud to support the community, and is a long-time sponsor of a number of organisations including Tamworth Football Club and Coleshill Town Football Club.

In addition to traditional conservatories, Bradley Scott Windows are now also able to offer ‘Skyrooms’, elegant and contemporary living spaces which combine the light of a conventional conservatory with the external and internal aesthetics of an orangery. Skyrooms can be built from scratch or built on the foundations of an existing conservatory and their minimalist modern design is an ideal way to bring the outside indoors. Now in its eighteenth year of trading, the company has always prided itself on offering a professional and friendly service and are delighted to be the first company in Tamworth to sign up to the ‘Excellence as Standard’ charter. Managing Director Andy Farrington believes this will give even more confidence to customers as it highlights Bradley Scott Windows’ on-going commitment to raising standards across the industry and demonstrates that the business is dedicated to delivering the best possible service at every stage of their customers’ journey. Being an Excellence as Standard authorised installer provides customers with the assurance that the company has been independently checked through on-site inspections and has

agreed to on-going independent inspections of the quality of their installations. There is also a code of practice for businesses who are part of the charter scheme, which requires customer care to be of a high standard and this re-emphasises the company’s existing belief that clients should not be subjected to any form of hard selling and should instead be provided with all the information necessary to allow them to make a decision in their own time. All doors, windows and conservatory installation work is carried out by Bradley Scott’s own team of fitters, all of whom are directly employed by the company. Every fitter holds an NVQ Level 2 in Window Fenestration, and is currently working towards obtaining a Level 3 qualification. Employees are DBS checked, hold Construction Skills Certification Scheme and Minimum Technical Competency cards, and are required to adhere to the company’s Health and Safety guidelines. All of this confirms to clients that they will be dealing with skilled and trustworthy fitters who respect their home and carry out installations to the highest possible standards. More information on the Excellence as Standard Scheme can be found at www.excellenceas.co.uk/homeowners/faq. Examples of Bradley Scott Window’s work, including the new Skyroom, are on display at the company’s showroom at 440 Watling Street, Two Gates in Tamworth or can be found online at www.bradleyscottwindows.co.uk and on Facebook at w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / b r a d l ey s c o t t w i n d o w s l t d . For more information, or to obtain a free no obligation quote, please call 01827 288688.

We Love Tamworth returns

he We Love Tamworth extravaganza returns to the Castle Grounds in September, bringing with it a day of activities for the whole family.

Taking place on, September 2 (10am till 4pm), the event includes fairground rides, stalls, games, inflatables, Tamworth’s strongest man competition, a dog show, impromptu raves, a parade by the Mercian Regiment and much more.

We Love Tamworth is presented by Tamworth Borough Council’s Arts & Events team and the 2016 event attracted a recordbreaking number of visitors.

At the centre of the festivities there will again be a special ‘Children’s Zone’ area to keep youngsters busy all day. The Children’s Zone will feature a variety of activities including walkabout characters, bouncy castles and slides, face painting, giant games and craft activities. Entry to the Children’s Zone is £3 for children (adults free) and children can come and go as they please throughout the day.

New for this year and also part of the Music Outside summer programme of free concerts, Mr Wilson’s Second Liners marching band will be rallying impromptu raves with local community musicians and special guests. Stepping out in uniformed style, they guarantee to get audiences dancing wherever they play.

The stalls arena is again being run by Tamworth Lions club, which has been supporting local charities and causes for 40 years. A variety of stalls have already been confirmed including Relax Kids, The Fairy Dig Mother, The Pea Pod Family, St Giles Hospice, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, girl guides, gifts, toys, refreshments, pet products and even Silver Star UK, a charity which will be conducting free diabetes tests.

Any charities, businesses or organisations interested in booking a stall at the 2017 event can contact Mark Kyte at Tamworth Lions by emailing mark.kyte@tamworthlions.org.uk.

Dog lovers are invited to enter their fourlegged friends into the fun dog show, with a variety of classes competing regularly throughout the day. More information about the

dog show is available by calling 0121 3130174 or 07894 644572.

This is also the 10-year anniversary of the formation of The Mercian Regiment at Tamworth Castle Grounds and a special parade will be taking place to mark the event. Known as ‘the Heart of England’s Infantry’, the regiment is one of the most decorated and operationally experienced regiments in the British Army.

We Love Tamworth also coincides with the 24-day launch of the Focus 24: 24 Hours in Tamworth exhibition which has invited amateurs and professionals to submit photographs and video footage of the people, places, objects and experiences of Tamworth, at all hours of the day. The chosen photographs – a total of 24, taken by 24 different photographers - plus the new film, 24 hours in the life of Tamworth, will be exhibited for 24 days, starting on Saturday, September 2, when they will go on digital display in Ankerside Shopping Centre.

More information is available www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk.

Crowds enjoy films at outdoor cinema

ince being introduced five years ago, the annual Outdoor Cinema event has become a firm favourite on Tamworth Borough Council’s programme of events. This year’s event, which took place on Saturday 5th August, was a sell-out success with audiences enjoying watching two classic films on the big screen in Tamworth’s Castle Grounds.

For the last two years, the choice of films shown has been decided by the public, and this year over a thousand votes were cast to give Pretty Woman and The Goonies the top spots. The event received great feedback from audiences who enjoyed watching their favourite films under the stars.

The Heroic Stories behind Tamworth’s Anchors

By Margaret Clarke

of the Tamworth Heritage Hub

Tamworth from on high

By Neil Bradley, Heritage Open Day Co-ordinator

he tower at St Editha’s Church in Tamworth, which was built between 1380 and 1420, is 30 metres high and will be open to visitors to the church on this year’s National Heritage Open Day, on Sunday 10th September between 2pm and 3.30pm. There is also a rare opportunity to be admitted into the bell ringing chamber. Bring your ear plugs!

The tower was originally intended to have a high central spire but this plan was abandoned when subsidence was discovered. Instead, four pinnacles were erected, each of which varies in height. The north-west is the highest of the four, and is approximately 68 centimetres higher than the north-east pinnacle. The tower is actually only standing on three legs and is honeycombed with a series of passages.

The tower’s double helix spiral staircase is a rare feature and is one of only two in this country, the other being at All Saints in Pontefract. There is also an example at the Chateau of Chambord in France. The two flights of stairs wind one above the other around the central newel post, with the outer staircase having 106 steps and the inner having 101. Visitors ascend the tower by the outside door in the south west corner of the church, which carries the image of St George, and descend to the porch of the church, using the other staircase.

To find out more, please visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/st-edithas-parishchurch-tamworth or the church website www.stedithas.org.uk.

any people enquire about the anchor seen near the gatehouse as you enter the castle grounds in Tamworth. This was captured by Capt. Sir William Peel VC KCB from a Russian ship during the Crimean War. Sir William was awarded his VC during this conflict by picking up a live shell with burning fuse and throwing it over the parapet where it exploded safely thus saving the lives of his men. The anchor first resided in the grounds of the family home of Drayton Manor but when the family lost the house it was transported to its present site. A picture of Sir William hangs on the walls of the council chamber of the old Town Hall. The Three Anchors memorial in St Editha’s square commemorates the sacrifice of three sailors – Lt Anthony Fasson, Tommy Brown and Tamworth-born Able Seaman Colin Grazier, who were shipmates on board HMS Petard. In 1942, this ship, by the use of depth charges, disabled a German submarine, forcing it to the surface. Despite the sub taking on water fast Lt Fasson and Colin Grazier boarded and saved secret enigma codes - passing them out to Tommy Brown. They then returned inside to try and rescue a coding machine and continued to search the vessel. Tragically, the sub went down under them but their actions shortened the war by at least two years. Colin Grazier was awarded posthumously a George Cross. Tommy Brown once again exhibited his great heroism when in 1945 he lost his life in a house fire trying to rescue a sister.

Peel Society welcome greatgreat-grandson of

Sir Robert Peel

he Peel Society is pleased to announce that the guest speaker at their 2017 dinner will be author and journalist Harry Mount, a great-great-grandson of Sir Robert Peel.

At the age of 50, Harry is the youngest ever editor of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oldieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a literary and political magazine for the older generation, and he has also written books on a range of subjects.

The dinner takes place at 7.30pm on Thursday 14th September in the Park Suite at Drayton Manor Hotel. For further information and booking forms, please contact Nigel Morris at njhmorris@aol.com or 01827 51242.

YOUR JOB HERE FOR £105!

Your next recruitment advertisement could be in 18,000 hand-delivered copies of Living in Tamworth for just £105 + VAT!

Get your job seen across the region and by thousands of online readers too. To book call Karen on 07791 635019

executive lounge, virtual offices and conference facilities.

Businesses can use the centre for a variety of purposes, whether they’re looking for a professional setting in which to meet a client, need room for a large training session or conference, or require an official registered address. The centre is equipped with state of the art technology including superfast broadband Wi-Fi and interactive TVs.

New Tamworth Enterprise Centre

he brand new Tamworth Enterprise Centre is now open for business, providing modern serviced offices to rent, meeting rooms for hire and state of the art facilities for small businesses in the area.

The former Philip Dix Centre in Corporation Street has been renamed Philip Dix House and transformed into a business hub complete with 16 fully serviced offices to rent, three wellappointed meeting rooms for hire, and an

It is hoped the centre will encourage the creation and growth of small businesses in Tamworth by providing professional facilities with low set-up costs, along with on-site business advice and support from Tamworth Borough Council’s Economic Development and Regeneration team.

The opening of Tamworth Enterprise Centre marks the completion of the first stage of the major Enterprise Quarter project to regenerate Tamworth town centre in a £6.1 million project led by Tamworth Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council. It has also been funded in part by the Local Growth Fund, through Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

For more information about the facilities on offer, businesses can visit the website www.tamworthenterprisecentre.co.uk or email tec@tamworth.gov.uk.

A View of Polesworth Abbey

The Abbey Church

Window on the Past

Until recently, Polesworth Abbey was thought to have been founded in 827 but new evidence uncovered in a series of archaeological digs undertaken between 2011 and 2014 suggest that it was probably established in the 8th or even 7th century. Given its proximity to the Roman road, Watling Street, and its location alongside the River Anker, there is also speculation that this holy site may have even earlier origins. The first Abbess here was Editha and after her death, she became the patron saint of the Abbey and it is likely that there would have been a Saxon shrine dedicated to her here. Inside the Abbey church is the worn effigy of a woman holding a crozier and a bible, which is thought to date to 1200 and was likely to have been part of a Norman memorial to St Editha.

After the Reformation, the Abbey and its lands were given to Francis Goodere and his son Henry used stone from the Abbey to build a new manor house known as Polesworth Hall on the site of the Abbess’s lodgings. The hall was demolished in 1860s and the vicarage now stands on the site, once again incorporating some of the ancient recycled stones.

One of the few remaining parts of the Abbey which stills stands, is the 14th century gatehouse which would originally have been used as accommodation for visitors to the

By Kate Gomez

Abbey. The gatehouse has one entrance for carriages and one for pedestrians, sometimes referred to locally as ‘the dungeon entry’, as tradition has it that the small room through the wooden door half way along the passage was used as a village lock-up. Over the centuries, the building has also been a school room and head-quarters for the Home Guard during WW2. However, the building has now been restored and is available as a holiday let, once again offering visitors to the Abbey a place to stay.

Another remnant of the Abbey is the Dovecote which largely dates back to the 17th century, although it is believed that the stone foundations may be part of an original structure dating back to the 12th century. Inside are 489 nest holes and the remains of the ‘potence post’, a revolving pole or ladder, which would have enabled squabs and eggs to be collected.

When the archaeological digs took place between 2011 and 2014, one of the areas excavated was an intriguing mound in the churchyard which had been the subject of much speculation over the years. There had been suggestions that it could be anything from a Saxon burial mound to a medieval rabbit warren! The excavation revealed it was in fact a 17th century prospect mound, created by the

Part of the C14th gatehouse

owners of Polesworth Hall to enable them to enjoy the surrounding views. In a place as beautiful and historic as this, who can blame them!

Polesworth Abbey is open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 5pm. For more information, or to take a virtual tour, please visit www.polesworthabbey.co.uk

3 All images copyright Kate Gomez and Living in Tamworth

1. The 'dungeon entry' in the gatehouse

2. The dovecote

3. The prospect mound

4. The view of the River Anker and countryside from the Abbey gardens

5. The C12th effigy of St Editha

Sources include www.polesworthabbey.co.uk

Unearthing History

By Gary Starkey

ere, local metal detectorist Gary Starkey gives us a taste of some of his remarkable finds. We’ll be keeping up with Gary’s discoveries, and in this issue he explores some of the beautiful artefacts to be found under our feet.

I started detecting around eighteen years ago after my friend Joey told me he had been doing it for a couple of years and loved it, saying he had found some nice old bits and pieces. I’ve always liked history and so thought I’d give it a go. Armed with a very basic machine lent by Joey, off we went to a local field, after getting permission off a farmer friend of mine. Straight away, early coins started to come out of the ground and I was amazed and hooked!

I am fortunate to live in a small and lovely village just outside Tamworth and therefore have farms and fields all around. I gained some more permissions and we were soon out regularly when work and time allowed. One farm on some private land looked promising as

it had a moat around it and the owner told me there was a possible Saxon site somewhere nearby, so with high hopes, we set off. We chose a grassy field with a sort of half round ditch in the middle. Finds were sparse at first but then I got a good signal. About 10 inches down I saw a greeny-coloured item and pulled it out. I hadn’t a clue what it was and showed it to Joe who said I’d found a Bronze Age axe-head! I was amazed and it just reinforced my thoughts about what a great hobby this was. I had the axe checked out by a Finds Liaison Officer at a rally I went to in Lincolnshire and he said it was one of the earliest types you could find, around 3,900 years old and called an Areton Axe, possibly from the Isle of Wight.

So started a process of winding up from that age to the more modern days. My first early coin came on a foggy day near my home. I thought it was a hammered coin at first but Joey said it was a silver William III shilling in great condition. I was ecstatic! I found a small field nearby which was always productive and one afternoon after digging up nine buttons on the run, out popped my first hammered coin, a short cross penny of Richard I. In this same field one

Saturday morning, I was killing time before a cricket match, and near a hedge I found a glorious early medieval pendant of roughly the same age at the Richard I coin. Very nice! This field produced a lot of medieval items such as buckles and mounts. I believe it was a fair site in the past. It was great to be discovering items personal to people many hundreds or thousands of years ago.

On a building site, I found my second axe head, this time a rare Iron Age socketed type. These don’t survive as well as the bronze types so I was delighted. I was now pushing out all over the country to rallies and meeting some good people whom I still see occasionally.

That’s it for now. Next time, we’ll look at some more good local finds.

A Guide to Lasting Powers of Attorney

By Richard Wells, Managing Partner at Philips Legal Solicitors

ccessing someone’s finances if they become incapacitated or ill is a complex and protracted process, which could make things very difficult for a spouse, partner or children. Bills could go unpaid and if cash is needed for any purpose, it would be inaccessible. Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows someone that you trust to act on your behalf should the need arise. Your chosen person can then manage your affairs in your best interests. This could be in the long term or until such time that you are able to take up the reins again yourself. There are two types of LPA, both of which Philips Legal Solicitors can help you with. A Property and Affairs LPA This allows your nominated person to: • Manage your finances and property • Make sure your bills are paid • Make decisions about your assets

A Health and Welfare LPA This allows your nominated person to: • Make decisions about your medical treatment • Decide whether it’s best for you to continue to live at home or whether residential care would be more appropriate If you haven’t set up an LPA, your loved ones may have to pay out a lot of money on your behalf. The Court of Protection would have to appoint a deputy to manage your affairs, which is both time-consuming and costly. An LPA will avoid the distress of a delay and also preserve your assets to pay for the care you may need in the future. With Philips Legal Solicitors, setting up an LPA is a pretty straightforward process. Simply call us free on 0800 228 9988 and we will happily give you more details or arrange a meeting.

All images copyright Susan Biggs.

TDCS Cares About Where We Live

David Biggs

amworth Civic Society - the conservation, environmental, local history and heritage organisation for the area since 1973 sadly became inactive in later years, but relaunched like a phoenix at a public meeting on 22nd September 2015 as The Tamworth and District Civic Society (TDCS), and is flourishing. The new name emphasises that the society, as always, serves both Tamworth and surrounding villages in Staffordshire and Warwickshire.

TDCS honours its predecessor’s achievements whilst forging its own path, and once again provides the district with a strong community voice on planning, environmental, and heritage issues, and a forum to express and promote civic pride.

It provides a popular monthly events programme of visits and speakers for its growing membership, aged from 21 to 85, and actively engages with local authorities and other bodies on local issues. The society’s motto of “Protecting the Past, Promoting the Present, Planning for Posterity” is certainly put

By David Biggs

into practice with gusto.

Since its re-launch, TDCS has instigated several major initiatives such as an annual Tamworth Lecture to bring national speakers into town, and has brought Tamworth’s Hall of Memory back into use after 20 years with an annual Armistice Day Service. The society’s chairman, David Biggs, received the prestigious national Marsh Trust award of Civic Volunteer 2016 for his “outstanding” work in re-launching the society and leading it to such success in just 12 months. Civic Voice, the national umbrella body for civic societies, describes TDCS as “one of the most active groups in England”.

This year volunteers have been surveying local memorials for the War Memorials Trust

on-line project to record the location and condition of UK war memorials. Members have campaigned vigorously since 2015 to protect the historic Wilnecote School buildings from demolition, discovering that they were designed by famous architect Basil Champneys, and that former pupils include WW2 Enigma Code hero Colin Grazier, G.C. as well as England footballing legend of the 1920s-30s, Harry Hibbs. This effort has led to the buildings being Locally Listed by Tamworth Borough Council. TDCS’s Website. Facebook page and Blog can be accessed via: www.tamworthcivicsociety.com If you wish someone to speak to your group about TDCS please e.mail: secretary@tamworthcivicsociety.com

SPLAT 2017!

Danny Midwinter. Image copyright Lizzie Morgan

tory-making took an exciting multimedia twist this summer when ‘SPLAT’ (Stories, Performance, Literature and Arts in Tamworth) launched with a one-day event in July at locations across Tamworth town centre.

Organised collaboratively by Dig-iT dyslexia group, Tamworth Library, Fired Up Theatre and Community Together CiC, ’SPLAT’ celebrated story-making for all ages in ways to fire the imagination through a variety of creative formats.

Amy Bradley Image copyright Dig-iT

By Julie Cappleman-Morgan

The event, part-funded by Staffordshire County Council and Tamworth Borough Council, kicked off with two visual storymakers. Animator Danny Midwinter and children’s book illustrator Amy Bradley demonstrated their skills and talents at Tamworth Library, each running small project workshops for primary school-aged children.

The venue also marked the start-point for SPLAT’s ‘treasure hunt’, following on from the launch of the Library’s ‘Animal Agents’ Summer Reading Challenge and leading families around town to seek out animal clues. Continuing with the theme, Community Together CiC hosted a range of creative animal craft activities at their Castle Grounds-based Community Hub.

For adults, St Editha’s Hall provided the base for comic creator Al Davison’s illustration workshop. Al, ‘The Astral Gypsy’, also showcased his work alongside Comic Guitars and the SPLAT Book Fair selling graphic novels, comics, dyslexia-friendly and listening books. Talks were also given at the Hall by film-maker Thom Davies and Steampunk Fantasy author Sid Lotto, exploring the link between dyslexia, creativity and escapism.

Outdoors entertainment for all was provided by Tamworth’s vibrant UpBeat Dance studio, who performed Red Riding Hood-themed pieces in Ankerside and Tamworth Castle Grounds, alongside spokenword performance from Birmingham-based Jasmine Gardosi and story-telling sessions organised by Fired Up Theatre and Tamworth Borough Council. ‘SPLAT’ really showed us what can be achieved on a small budget when local organisations work together, share resources and help each other. We hope it’s just the beginning!

Sid Lotton Image copyright Dig-iT

For further information see splatevents.wordpress.com

Julie Cappleman-Morgan is part of Dig-iT (Dyslexia Information Group in Tamworth).

Advertising feature

Devlin Wholesale

Over the years Devlin Wholesale have gained an outstanding reputation being recognised as a highly respected family business offering a truly outstanding collection of carpets, woods, vinyl and flooring at exceptionally good value for money.

In more recent years Devlin Wholesale have expanded into furniture and now offer, from their large stores at Fazeley, a collection that represents what is possibly the best value furniture and flooring in Britain.

From beautiful sofas, Corner groups, Cuddle chairs, Reclining chairs, Rise and Recline Chairs at wholesale prices, to one of the largest collections of Beds, Mattresses. Wardrobes and Bedroom furniture. Complimented by a wide choice of Dining and occasional furniture - all at Wholesale Prices Direct to the Public.

Why Devlin Wholesale? What does Devlin Wholesale offer that many other companies do not? The answer lies in the fervent effort made by management and staff within the Devlin Wholesale family business to satisfy customer needs.

Primarily customers seek value for money and a good service. Whilst there is an old saying that ‘you cannot please all of the people all of the time’ Devlin Wholesale have faced the challenge, resulting in their impressive track record showing a 99.9% positive response from their valued customers.

Such high level recommendation can only be achieved through conscientious effort, dedication, care and attention to detail, an ethos that is meticulously followed by all at Devlin Wholesale.

Over the Bank Holiday weekend Devlin Wholesale are offering ‘Interest Free Credit’ on most items and from their clearance department many products are at less than half price.

Enjoy the bargain of a lifetime. A small deposit will secure your order.

Devlin Wholesale also offer a delivery service together with an assembly service facilitating the professional assembly of furniture or beds within your home should it be required. Open seven days: Weekdays 9am - 7pm, Saturday 9am - 5pm, Sunday 10am - 4pm. Web: devlinwholesale.co.uk Email: furniture@devlinwholesale.co.uk Telephone: (01827 254972) (01827 265526)

Tamworth Dementia Friends

ementia Friends was an initiative set up by the Alzheimer’s Society in 2013 to transform the way people think, act and talk about the condition. There are currently 2,772 official Dementia Friends listed in Tamworth, a number which has risen significantly since the town was granted Dementia Friendly Community status in May this year, and the goal is to now reach the 3,000 mark.

Anyone can become a Dementia Friend by learning a little about what it’s like to live with dementia. Training takes less than an hour and can be done online or by attending an information session. Afterwards, participants are asked to turn their understanding into action by spreading further awareness, fundraising or visiting someone with dementia. 44

Anyone interested in becoming a Dementia Friend can visit

www.dementiafriends.org.uk or contact Tamworth Borough Council’s lead for Dementia Friendly Communities, Karen Clancy, on 01827 709565

Much of the training in the area is delivered by Tamworth’s 10 Dementia Friends Champions who have already hosted 85 information sessions at Tamworth Borough Council, businesses, community groups and schools across the area. Dementia Friend Champions undertake a day of training which then enables them to deliver Dementia Friends awareness sessions in the community. More information on becoming a Champion is available on the Tamworth Dementia Action Alliance website www.dementiaaction.org.uk/local_alliances/20018_tamworth _dementia_action_alliance

Community Create Mercian Mosaic

n ambitious community art project to create a massive Mercian mosaic design in Tamworth Castle Grounds is underway, with hundreds of people across the town decorating the 1,400 individual pieces that will make up the final image.

Once completed, the individual tiles will come together to make a large and intricate design which will be laid out on the lower lawn during a special one-day event in summer 2018. The completed mosaic will measure 70 yards by 20 yards.

Hundreds of people from more than 40 different groups are involved in bringing the project to life and there will also be opportunities for members of the public to take part at open workshops to be organised throughout the project. Recent participants include children at Flax Hill Junior School and art students at the Landau Forte Sixth Form Centre. The Mercian Mosaic project is one of

several initiatives taking place as part of the Arts in Unusual Spaces scheme. The overall design has been created by Tamworth artist Maggie Carney and features key elements of the town’s Anglo Saxon history, incorporating its landmark buildings, rivers and people, as well as details such as Tamworth pigs, dragons, fish, the Staffordshire knot and Mercian flag.

As the centre is Tamworth’s ‘Lady of the Mercians’, Queen Aethelflaed, who played a pivotal role in English history by building a chain of fortifications against Viking invaders throughout the kingdom of Mercia and her fortification of Tamworth in 913 became the forerunner to Tamworth castle. Daughter of Alfred the Great, Aethelflaed’s accession as a female ruler has been described as one of the most unique events in early medieval history and the Mercian Mosaic project will be unveiled during a series of events taking place next year to mark the 1,100 year anniversary of her death.

Home welcome

HUNTERS

Successfully selling property for 26 years

Hunters are celebrating selling properties within Tamworth and surrounding villages for 26 years. Allan Brown – Branch Manager of the Tamworth branch said: “We are delighted to be celebrating such a great milestone and it’s a real credit to my Team. We pride ourselves on our local knowledge and expertise to help people move.“

Tamworth branch was crowned with Tamworth’s Top selling agent published by Rightmove in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Allan and his team provides a positive and professional approach to Estate Agency, delivered in an enthusiastic and hardworking manner.

For all your property requirements with selling or letting your property call Hunters Tamworth for your free no obligation valuation on 01827 66277 or tamworth@huntersgroup.co.uk.

Advertising feature

• Buying • Selling • Renting • Letting

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

What’s On in SEPTEMBER Friday 25th August to Monday 28th August Lichfield Street Rocks Charity Festival! Raising money for The Charlie Round Foundation – Neuroblastoma Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, come along and enjoy live music, food stalls, fairground rides and more on Lichfield Street. For more information contact Andy at the Wherever Bar on 01827 768183

Saturday 2nd September We Love Tamworth 2017 Family fun day at Tamworth Castle Grounds 11am - 4pm. Fairground rides, children’s zone, music, a dog show and more. For further information see www.visittamworth.co.uk/ events

Sunday 3rd September Dosthill Park Wildlife Group Help out with tree seed collection and boardwalk maintenance. 10am – 1pm. No previous experience needed and tools and refreshments provided. Meet at the car park on Blackwood Rd. Contact Dave Ansell on 01827 282 594

Sunday 3rd September Friends of the Lakes Help with access maintenance and path clearance. 10.30am – 12.30pm. No previous experience needed and tools and refreshments provided. Meet at the car park on Bird’s Bush Rd. Contact Margaret Clarke on 01827 330669

Saturday 9th September The Wherever People 11am & 2pm. A fabulous, fun, interactive storytelling show and play session for younger children aged between 1 and 12.

Free Event. Tamworth Library.

Saturday 9th September Town Wall Conservation Group Help with path maintenance. 10.30am – 12.30pm. No previous experience needed and tools and refreshments provided. Meet at end of Sycamore, off Hockley Road, Wilnecote. Contact townwall@hotmail.co.uk

Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September Tamworth Food Gusto From 10.30am – 5pm, Tamworth Castle Grounds. Wide range of food, drink and artisan stalls with live entertainment and demonstrations. Activities including face painting, bouncy castle and rides for younger children. For more information see www.tamworthfoodguston. co.uk or email info@foodgusto.com.

Sunday 10th September Friends of Wigginton Park Help with ditch maintenance. 2pm – 4pm. Meet outside rugby club at the end of Solway Close No previous experience needed and tools and refreshments provided. Contact Richard Kingstone on 07723 411543

Sunday 10th September Tameside Wildlife Conservation Group Help out with hedge and fencing improvements. 10am – 1pm. No previous experience needed and tools and refreshments provided. Meet at south end of lake, just north of Meadowbank. Contact Mandy Austin on 07849 977517.

Sunday 10th September Wherever Bar Charity Event Welcome to Fabulous Whenever Tamworth! A night of entertainment with Mark Booton as Elvis vs Chris Pemberton as Buble Doors open 7pm. Tickets £10 with all proceeds to Changes Tamworth. For tickets and more information contact 01827 768183

Thursday 14th September The Peel Society Dinner 2017 At 7.30pm, Park Suite, Drayton Manor Hotel. Guest speaker will be Harry Mount, author, journalist and great-greatgrandson of Sir Robert Peel. For further information, contact Nigel Morris on 01827 51242 or nhjmorris@aol.com

Sunday 17th September Friends of Warwickshire Moor Help with reed bed maintenance. 10am – 1pm. No previous experience needed and tools and refreshments provided. Meet at the entrance of Moor Lane, near end of Leedham Avenue. Contact the group on 07968 495 494

Tuesday 19th September Tamworth Readers and Writers Group 10.30am at Christopher’s Restaurant, The Peel Hotel, Aldergate, Tamworth Speaker is Darren Young, thriller writer. Contact the group on 07562 653565

Wednesday 20th September Broad Meadow Group Help with site surveys. 10am – 12pm. No previous experience needed and tools and refreshments provided. Meet at the end of Lincoln Avenue. Contact Wild About Tamworth Officer on 07970 067711

Wednesday 20th September Tamworth Society of Artists 7pm, Central Methodist Hall, Aldergate. A demonstration by artist Jo Allsop on Animals in Watercolour, followed by refreshments. Members free, guests £5

Sunday 24th September Hodge Lane Conservation Group Help with nest box management. 10am – 12pm. No previous experience needed and tools and refreshments provided. Meet at the entrance off Chandlers Drive. Contact Diane Wells on 01827 703 820.

Sunday 24th September Tamworth’s Memory Walk Starts 11am. Join the Alzheimer’s Society for a memory stroll around Tamworth Castle Grounds. For more information, contact Dave Barnes 01827 51615

Friday 29th September Macmillan Coffee Morning at Bradley Scott Windows Raising money for the Macmillan Cancer trust. Pop along to showroom, 440 Watling St, Tamworth, B77 1EJ from 10am

Saturday 30th September Wilnecote Wildlife Conservation Group Help out with bramble maintenance. 10.30am. No previous experience needed and tools and refreshments provided. Meet at entrance to Quarry Hill, opposite Red Lion pub. Contact Joan Jenkins on 01827 286147

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Living in Tamworth is a glossy, full colour, coffee-table magazine that’s delivered to 18,000 homes and businesses in Tamworth and the surrounding villages. Featuring: Positive news stories and events History and heritage The countryside and country living Competitions and give-aways What’s on Interviews and features Community achievements We’re exploring all that’s great about living in Tamworth October issue out 22nd September!

Competition and Prize Draw Terms and Conditions 1. By entering the prize draw/competition, you agree to the terms and conditions stated. 2.The closing date is stated on each individual prize draw or competition. 3.Where stated in the competition that a clearly stated competition partner will contact the entrants after the competition with news, stories and offers, entrant’s contact details will be passed to this competition partner for these marketing purposes only. As stated in the competition/prize draw, if you do not wish to receive marketing information from the competition partner stated, please add the words OPT OUT to your entry. For a copy of Citylife in Lichfield Ltd’s privacy policy please write to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS. 4.By entering the competition/prize draw, entrants agree to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd using or publishing materials provided by the entrants in any of their publications and online. 5.Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for any breach of copyright or breach of any other legislation entailed by entrants in their creation or submission of materials. 6.Only one entry per prize draw/competition, per reader. 7.Except in the case of cash prizes, no cash equivalent will be offered and the prize is non-transferable. 8.All prizes are subject to availability and the prize suppliers' terms and conditions. 9.No purchase necessary. 10.Prize draws and competitions are only open to UK residents aged 18 years or over (unless otherwise stated). 11.Competitions and prize draws may not be entered by any employee or individual associated with any employee, agent or third party of Citylife in Lichfield Ltd. 12.Winners will be selected at random in the case of applicable prize draws and competitions, or by an independent judge in the case of photographic/art/applicable

competitions from all entries received. 13.Winners will be notified by Citylife in Lichfield Ltd up to 28 days after the closing date of the competition/prize draw by the contact details provided by the entrant. 14.A list of the surnames and county of residence of the winners will be available by writing to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd no earlier than six weeks after the competition closing date. 15.When the prize draw/competition winner has been selected, this decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 16.Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for the prize being lost, damaged or delayed in transit. When the prize is provided by a third party, Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for any change to the prize, or for the quality of the prize provided. 17.Competitions may be amended or withdrawn at any time. 18.By entering the competition or prize draw, you agree to having your name, (photograph, where stated) and city or county of residence published in any of Citylife in Lichfield Ltd’s publications and online. 19.Unless otherwise suggested, the promoter is Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS. 20. Citylife in Lichfield Ltd do not express any warranty or endorsement of any competition prize, information, service or product provided in connection with a competition by printing or otherwise publicising any competition. 21.To the full extent of the law, Citylife in Lichfield Ltd shall not be liable for any loss, claim, punitive, indirect, incidental or consequential damages of any kind incurred as a result of entering this prize draw or competition. 22.By submitting photos, text or artworks as part of competition/prize draw entries you agree that you own these photos text or artworks, that it is your original work to which you own all rights to distribute, and that your entry is accurate, moral and legal.

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Your garden inSeptember A

s the summer draws to a close, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to enjoy the fruits of your labours whilst preparing your garden for the colder, darker months ahead. Even those without a garden can enjoy a harvest crop by heading to woodlands and hedgerows in search of juicy blackberries. Make sure they are picked by 29th September though! Legend has it that after Michaelmas, the devil will have spat on them!

Jobs for September Carry out essential lawn maintenance by aerating it with a garden fork and remove thatch (old grass, moss and other debris) from the surface. Feed with a fertiliser which is rich in potassium and low in nitrogen. Autumn is a good time for lawn establishment and to repair any dead patches, although the cooler, wetter weather should also help with brown areas. Lawns will need less frequent mowing now and lawnmower blades should also be adjusted to raise the cutting height. Sweetcorn and winter squashes should be ready to harvest. If you plan to store the latter, the skin will need to toughen and so once picked, these crops should ideally be

left in a dry sunny spot for a week. Autumnfruiting raspberries will also be ready to pick now. Pick apples and pears before the first frosts. Ripe fruit should come away from the tree with a gentle twist. If you plan to store apples, they should be harvested when slightly under-ripe and stored in a cool location, around 2.5 to 4.5C. Pears should be stored in slightly cooler conditions. Beans and peas will be coming to an end and once they have finished cropping, cut the plant at ground level and leave the roots in the ground as this will help to fix nitrogen into the soil. Start planting spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils, tulips and alliums in beds, pots, or even in lawns for some welcome colour to herald the return of spring next year. Deadhead flowers such as dahlias, roses and pelargoniums as well as any flowers in hanging baskets to ensure a display of colour throughout early Autumn. Plant evergreen trees and shrubs to ensure they become established while the soil is still warm. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t over tidy your patch! Give wildlife a helping hand by leaving some leaf litter for hibernating insects and old flower heads as food for the birds.