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October 2017 12 22
Inside...
12 A Window on the Past
Co-operating in Rugeley
13 Your Garden in October
Top tips for the Autumn Gardener
20 Strange Tales for Halloween
By Kate Gomez
22 Your Image Competition
Calling all photographers and artists
26 Christmas Gifts for Little Ones
Discover the perfect festive gift
Welcome to CITYLIFE
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Welcome to CITYLIFE in Rugeley, a monthly magazine bringing you our pick of the area’s news, events and stories. Each month CITYLIFE in Rugeley is delivered to 11,000 businesses and homes in Rugeley, Ravenhill, Etchinghill, Slitting Mill, Armitage, Handsacre, Colton, Hill Ridware and Hamstall Ridware, completely free of charge; bringing you the best that the area 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 region? We want to hear from you!
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CITYLIFE Contacts Editor - Joss Musgrove Knibb 07833 735048
josscitylife@gmail.com
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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 and CITYLIFE in Rugeley magazines are not connected to any other publication or publisher, and are wholly owned by CITYLIFE in Lichfield Ltd. Citylife In Rugeley
Citylife in Rugeley 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 Rugeley or Citylife in Lichfield Ltd.
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Rugeley in the 1920s
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By Canon John Lawley Brown MBE
anon John Lawley Brown MBE was born in Etching Hill in 1907 and emigrated to New Zealand after ordination into the church. In 1983 he wrote his reminiscences of Market Square, Lower Brook Street and Brook Square in the 1920s. Across Market Square from the Town Hall was George Averill’s chemist shop. He had a close relative, Walter who was ordained at Lichfield Cathedral, and after a short curacy in Stafford came out to New Zealand. Walter Averill finished his career as Archbishop of New Zealand. There is another close connection between this country and Rugeley. Mr Hall, the miller in Bees Lane, had two sons, Rupert and Leo, who both came out to New Zealand. The former became an Anglican clergyman, and the latter an orchardist. To return to my stroll, leaving George Averill’s shop the National Provincial Bank was next door. One of the officials was a Mr Kingdon. He was a short, dapper little man who was married to a most elegant woman. She was tall and stately, and he was a little over five foot. Next to the bank, on the corner of Albion Street, was Giles’ sweet shop. The daughter married George Skilleter. Continuing up Lower Brook Street there was a grocer’s shop, and next
door was a jeweller’s and watch repairer’s establishment operated by a Mr Isaac Carthy. He was a well-known Rugeley character. He used to wear spats and pince-nez g l a s s e s . Norman Upton ran the butcher’s shop next door, and further up the street was a gents’ outfitters shop, owned by Mr Jim Bradford. His son, also named FUNERAL DIRECTORS LICHFIELD & ALREWAS Jim, went to the Grammar School with me. He had a sister named Bunty. The Crompton’s ran the high class shoe shop adjoining, and nextdoor was a delightful chocolate shop under the management of Mr Will Rowlands. His only son, Ewart, was a dog fancier, and so a great friend of my father. Next came the hardware shop, also under the name of Rowlands. I think they were close relations of Will. Then came the ‘Busy Bee’. This was a draper’s shop run by a Mr Holland, who had a similar business in 24 hours a day Hednesford. His two sons Norman and Geoffrey attended the Grammar school when I did. We are proud to be Lichfield's longest Going past Gleesons, the pork butcher, and on around established family run funeral directors offering the corner into Brook Square I recall Southwells, the a wide range of choices to suit all requirements. greengrocers, succeeding Mr Carline, the jeweller. Horse drawn, non religious ceremonies, floral tributes and Walking across the end of Brewery Street there was memorials are but a few services we offer. Pre-paid funeral Gilberts’ shoe shop, and adjoining, the pawn shop run by plans are also available. Mr Darbyshire. He had a daughter named Hilda. Thank you to The Landor Society for sharing these For a truly personal service please call reminiscences with us. Next month Canon Lawley Brown remembers Upper Brook Street. 01543 255776 01283 792923 ‘What’s in a name?’ The Landor (local history) 36 Main Street, Alrewas, Private Chapel of Rest Society’s 2017 display will continue at Rugeley Library Burton Upon Trent. 116 Netherstowe, Lichfield, until October 9th. The display explores the stories behind Staffs. WS13 6TS DE13 7AA some of Rugeley’s street names.
J HOWELL & DAUGHTERS
NOW LICHFIELD & ALREWAS’S ONLY FAMILY OWNED FUNERAL DIRECTORS
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Thor finds a loving home
efore Thor found his wonderful owner, he had never been a pet and had never been in a house. His current owner has showered a huge amount of love on this dog who was living in terrible conditions in London. Thor had been hit by a car, and was paralysed and unable to move his back legs. As a stray, he had been forced to drag himself around for two months, causing terrible injuries to his back legs which caused him severe pain. Thor’s new owners sent x-rays of his injuries to a veterinary clinic in Belgrade, who sadly confirmed that he would never walk again.
For more information on Rugeley Dog Welfare, or if you think you could offer a new home to a dog in need of re-homing, then please call Ruth on 07900 090993 or Pauline on 07971 817877 or see facebook.com/rugeleydogwelfare A home check and a donation will be required.
Thor’s owner commented: “The only people who supported me and believed I could take care of this boy was Ruth, Pauline and dog trust. With their help and support we managed to find a way to stop his stomach problems and incontinence and mould him into a best friend. We had a wheelchair donated from the charity Broken Biscuits, and now Thor lives life to the full, you can see the love and happiness in his eyes.”
Elmore Park Scoops Green Flag Award
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annock Chase Council has scooped six Green Flag Awards. Green Flag Award winners from around the country were revealed in July and Elmore Park in Rugeley, Hednesford Park, Stile Cop Cemetery, Ravenhill Park in Brereton, Castle Ring in Cannock Wood and Cannock Park were judged to meet the strict criteria required to be the very best public open spaces in the UK. The six sites managed by Cannock Chase Council are among 1797 parks and green spaces that received a Green Flag Award which is the mark of a quality park or green space.
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Cannock W.I. By Jill Gooch
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he theme of our meeting this month was ‘colour with confidence’ when our member Diana Jones shared her experience of visiting the W.I. Denman College. She had won a bursary to attend a workshop, and chose colour analysis. Participants were invited to explore the importance of choosing the right colours of clothes, jewellery and make-up to suit their personal skintone. Diana shared with us the secrets to buying clothes in colours and styles that worked best for us. Members were invited to experiment with colours using scarves, lipsticks and nailvarnishes. The competition this month was entitled ‘a postcard’. Amongst the great selection of post and ecards submitted, was one of a Spanish flamenco dancer, and this was chosen as the winner for its owner Janis Lomas. Our meetings are on the second Thursday of the month at 10.30am at St Luke’s Church Centre, Cannock. Visitors are always welcome to come and join us for refreshments and a chat. Our next speaker is another Cannock W.I. member Chrissy CaseleyWhereat who will be exploring house and pet sitting in her talk entitled ‘Barking Mad’. Further information is available at www.thewi.org.uk/staffordshire www.facebook.com/oakleafstlukes
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A Window on the Past
Co-operating in Rugeley
Here, The Landor Society explores the history of Co-operative Societies in Rugeley…
Rugeley Industrial Co-operative Society’s first shop was set up in 1896 in two adjoining buildings (now demolished) in Albion Street. Six years later, they acquired Albion House, followed by a site in Market Square. Stabling was built at the rear of the building so that carts could load and unload in the yard instead of blocking the main street. Fish and greengrocery were sold in Bow Street where there was also a bakery, slaughterhouse and stables. The Society also opened branches in the neighbouring villages of Armitage, Brereton, Cannock Wood, Abbots Bromley and Great Haywood. By 1970 most of these had been replaced by three travelling shops. In 1970 the Society merged with Walsall and District Co-operative Society.
1. The purpose-built store in Market Square opened in May 1916. This was rebuilt some fifty years later and (the building is now home to the ‘Iceland’ store).
2. A Letter-head from 1927 showing the locations of the various departments.
3. An advertisement from the 1931 ‘Carnival Cracker’ – the official programme for Rugeley Hospital Carnival.
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4. The shoes and outfitting department on the corner of Albion Street and Lower Brook Street in the 1930s.
5. The Market Street shop (Palmer’s house, opposite The Shrew), which was acquired in the 1930s to house the womenswear, furnishing and hardware departments. 6. An advertisement from 1953.
7. The producer and the majority of the actors in the Walsall Co-operative Players were from Rugeley. This 1968 production was staged in Rugeley Town Hall. The Landor Society is a focus for those who wish to learn more about the history of Rugeley and its surrounding parishes. It was founded in 1953 and was named in honour of Walter Noble Landor, local and county historian, who became the Society’s first President. More information is available at www.landorlocalhistorysociety-rugeley.btck.co.uk Please note that these images may not be reproduced, copied, or used in any way without express permission from Citylife in Lichfield Ltd and The Landor Society.
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St. John’s Church, Slitting Mill Coffee Morning
First Wednesday of each month at 10.30 am. £2.50 including tea/coffee and home-made cake/biscuits plus raffle. Pop along for a chat you will be very welcome.
Sequence Dance in aid of The Alzheimer’s Society
7.30 pm - 10.30 pm Sunday 8th October. Lea Hall Social Club, Sandy Lane, Rugeley. Pay on door £3. All welcome.
St. Augustine’s Church are having a Barn Dance and Bring & Share Supper
At The Victory Hall, Slitting Mill 7.30 pm. Friday 20th October. Caller: Jeff Miller. Tickets £5 (schoolchildren £2)
Coffee Morning at Etching Hill Village Hall
10:30am to 12 noon. Wednesday 25th October in aid of: Macmillan Cancer Support. Stalls, cake, cards, plants, jewellery & raffle. Entrance: £3.00 inclusive of a cup of coffee/tea and a piece of cake.
200 years of mining in Brereton and Ravenhill By Tim Jones
For two hundred years from 1791, there was coalmining in the parish of Brereton and Ravenhill. This began on the Chase. Then from 1960 it was at Lea Hall Colliery in the Trent Valley. Some confusion is caused by the fact that the name ‘Brereton Colliery’ was used for different pits. Firstly it was used for a group of pits close to the Levels on land owned by Earl Talbot. Later it was applied to another colliery southeast of Colliery Road, originally known as ‘Brick Kiln Colliery’ and owned by the Marquis of Anglesey. The pits in the vicinity of the Levels continued until the disastrous flood of 1908 in which three men died; while the second Brereton Colliery continued until 1960. Other renaming can cause further confusion. For example, Middle Pit (to the east of Chetwynd’s Coppice and close to the Levels) was renamed Belfast Pit. The Ginnies Tramway from the Levels to the Canal was built to serve the pits in the Levels area in about 1808 – longstanding residents will remember its last substantial remnant, a subway under Brereton Main Road by the Castle pub. Another railway, a horse-drawn tramway, opened in 1820, ran from the pits on Colliery Road by a circuitous route to Sandy Lane, Horsefair and a canal basin between Lockside View and the Mossley - part of this basin still exists. The final railway to serve the Brereton pits on the Chase was a standard-gauge line from what is now the Chase Line (originally the Cannock Mineral Railway, opened in 1859). In 2006 Brereton and Ravenhill Parish Council created Brereton and Ravenhill Way, most of which follows the route of this line. It runs from Rugeley Town station car park up to the Chase. This photograph (believed to have been taken in about 1947) shows the second Brereton Colliery when it was still in use. On the right is the Holy Bush Inn, now a private house. Tim Jones is the Chair Brereton and Ravenhill Heritage Committee.
Your garden D in October
ays are getting noticeably shorter, with the clocks going back at the end of the month, and the changing colours on the trees are a clear sign that autumn is now here. Although much of the year’s harvest is drawing to a close, it’s time to start planting and planning for next year. Let’s hope this year we are lucky enough to have a St Luke’s summer (traditionally this is a period of sunny weather around the saint’s feast day on the 18th October) to make those busy days in the garden this month even more pleasurable!
Jobs for October Plant winter hanging baskets now to provide some much needed colour through those grey winter days. Classic choices include frost hardy flowers such as winter pansies and viola blended with evergreens and hardy herbs. Ensure all tender plants have been brought inside the conservatory or greenhouse. Continue planting spring bulbs while the soil is still warm, giving roots time to establish before the weather turns cold. Edible alliums such as garlic, onions and shallots can also be planted now for an early summer crop. Bare-root bushes and trees can be planted or moved now whilst they are dormant and before the soil gets too hard or water-logged. Finish harvesting root crops, pumpkins and other squashes before the first frosts appear. Bring any unripe tomatoes indoor to ripen in a paper bag along with a banana or apple. These fruits produce a gas called ethylene which helps to speed up the ripening process! Enjoy the glorious displays of colour from autumn leaves and once they’ve fallen from the tree, add them to your compost heap or allow them to rot down separately to create leaf mould full of nutrients. Start putting out bird feeders and think about giving a hedgehog a home this autumn, either by providing a purpose built box in a sheltered position or by leaving piles of leaf litter and logs in a quiet part of the garden.
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Rolex - Precision and Beauty Combined
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By Richard Winterton of Richard Winterton Auctioneers
he company name ‘Rolex’ was registered on 15th November 1915. The company and its subsidiary, Montres Tudor SA design, manufacture, distribute and service wristwatches sold under the Rolex and Tudor brands. Founded by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London in 1905 as Wilsdorf and Davis, Rolex moved its base of operations to Geneva Switzerland in 1919. The first self-winding Rolex wristwatch was offered to the public in 1931, and Rolex participated in the development of the original quartz watch movements. Although Rolex has made very few quartz models for its Oyster line, the company’s engineers were instrumental in the design and implementation of the technology during the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1968 Rolex collaborated with a consortium of 16 Swiss watch manufacturers to develop the Beta 21 quartz movement used in their Rolex Quartz Date 5100 alongside other manufacturers including the Omega Electroquartz watches. Rolex was also the second watch company to create a water resistant wristwatch that
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could withstand pressure to a depth of 330 feet. Wilsdorf even had a specially made Rolex watch called ‘DeepSea’. Rolex produced specific models suitable for extremes of deepsea diving, caving, mountain climbing etc. Early sports models included the Rolex Submariner 1953 and the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Sea Dweller. The second market for ladies’ and gentlemen’s Rolex wristwatches proves that they are still in high demand, with auction markets booming. In recent sales we have achieved amazing prices with live sales across a world-wide market via the-saleroom.com. Recently, an 18ct gold gents’ Rolex OysterPerpetual Day Date wristwatch sold at a hammer price of £4,400; a gents’ stainless steel Rolex Submariner wristwatch sold at £3,000; a 1930s 9ct gold Rolex ‘Prima’ ladies’ wristwatch sold at £540; a 9ct gold 1926 Rolex Oyster Ultra Prima watch face sold at £1,300 and a Rolex Oyster Precision stainless steel gents’ wristwatch, in a presentation box sold at a hammer price £1,350. We have a Clock, Watch and Collectors’ Sale coming up on Wednesday 8th November.
Entries are now being invited. Free valuations are held every Tuesday from 9.30am to 4pm at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, Lichfield, WS13 8NF.
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Horse Fair Care Home Shines in CQC Inspection
Advertisement Feature
Rugeley’s Horse Fair Care Home is a high quality care home that was scored ‘Good in All Categories’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following a recent unannounced inspection. The CQC grades the services delivered in care homes in five categories (Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Wellled) and judged that Horse Fair and its staff scored consistently highly throughout. Horse Fair is operated by leading national care provider Avery Healthcare, Residential Care Provider of the Year in 2016 from two awarding bodies and Qube Learning Employer of The Year in 2017. With quality services to match the high standards of care, the home has quiet lounges, restaurant style dining rooms and spacious bedrooms all with en-suites. Horse Fair welcomes residents and visitors to relax with a cup of tea in their Butterfly Café, or to enjoy the beautiful gardens, where residents who have green fingers can get involved with the gardening club. Their CQC report highlighted that “staff treated people with kindness and respect” and “encouraged them to maintain their independence”. "It's one of the best moves I ever made coming here", one resident told the CQC inspector. Another said "I feel safe here, you know the staff are reliable, sensible people". A relative told the inspector, "I knew as soon as I walked in the home was right…The staff are excellent". Staff also commented that "There's a warmth when you walk in, everyone is happy and the staff are enjoying their work”. Residents spoke positively about Horse Fair, praising the support they received as well as the catering, saying "The food and drink is first class, the chef comes round for comments and they are always keen to amend the menus.” For more call 01889 721300, search ‘Horse Fair Care’ online or on Facebook, or call in anytime.
Trick or Treat, Prayer and Random Acts of Kindness
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By Rev David Evans
alloween is fast approaching! The word ‘Halloween’ comes from ‘All Hallows' Eve’, and another name for All Hallows’ Day is All Saints’ Day. November 1st is All Saints' (Hallows') Day and thus Tuesday 31st October is the Eve of All Saints’ Day. Many churches will postpone the celebration of All Saints’ until the following Sunday, which happens, this year to be November 5th - Bonfire or Guy Fawkes’ night. It is on All Saints' Day that the church stops to give thanks for all the people (saints) who have helped others down through the centuries who were in some sort of need, people who were recognized in their time as being very good and Godly people. All Saints’ Day is followed by All Souls’ Day (November 2nd) when we remember our own loved ones who have died in the last year, giving thanks for their lives and the memories we cherish. You may well get an invitation from your local church to attend a special service on November 5th. In the old days, on All Saints' Eve (Halloween), the poor would go and knock on the doors of the rich and ask for a 'treat', usually food for their starving stomachs. In exchange they would promise to pray for someone in the household who may be sick or on a journey or in some kind of danger. They would also offer to perform some sort of 'trick', usually a dance or a song. Today's 'trick or treat' is somewhat different from the old days! Many of us will be accompanying a child or a group of children this Halloween as they go ‘trick or treating’, and it can be a time when we’re reminded of the people living in our local streets – some of whom might be unwell, lonely, anxious or depressed. This year let’s give a ‘treat’ too in the form of any sort of act of random kindness for people we encounter over the coming few days. It could make all the difference. Revd David M A Evans is Team Rector, Brereton, Rugeley and Armitage Team Ministry.
Got a story or charity event you want to share with our readership? Think you’ve snapped an image that captures the spirit of the region? We want to hear from you! Contact Citylife at josscitylife@gmail.com
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Strange Tales for Halloween
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By Kate Gomez
he area around Cannock Chase is well-known for its mysterious creatures and paranormal activity, and with Halloween approaching, Kate explores three local stories with a spooky flavour. The Ghost of Nun’s Well Hidden beneath the gnarled roots of a tree, at Cannock Wood, is a rock-cut chamber. A brick-work arch incorporated in the structure suggests it dates to at least Tudor times but it is possible that this is a truly ancient site. A spring flows from the chamber and its water is believed to have healing powers, in particular for ailments relating to eyes. According to local folklore, this curious site became known as Nun’s Well after two farm labourers discovered the final resting place of a nun inside the chamber. The nun’s ghost is said to have appeared to the labourers, and folk-lore has it that she has haunted the area ever since. The Black Dog of Brereton Tales of hell hounds and demonic dogs are found all across the country and our area is no exception with numerous sightings of a fearsome beast reported in the area near Coalpit Lane. Black dogs are often associated with stretches of road where, in times past, criminals have been dispatched from this world. Interestingly, a map created by John Ogilby in 1675 shows ‘a hangman’s oake on ye road’ between Brereton and Rugeley. The Devil at Hamstall Hall The derelict watchtower alongside the church of St Michael and All Angels in Hamstall Ridware is part of the ruined Hamstall Hall, a manor house dating back to the 15th century. In 1939, the Derbyshire Times featured an interview with a 93 year old woman known as ‘Grannie Shelton’, who had once worked as a parlour maid and nurse at the hall. Although Mrs Shelton claimed never to have seen a ghost herself she did once dress up as one to scare the pantry boy she suspected of stealing fruit. Mrs Shelton’s trick appears to have done the trick as the young thief ran off shouting, ‘the devil is in the pantry’! The devil may not have been in the pantry but the article mentions that a stone carving of a devil, complete with horns, was found in a small hollow compartment in one of the hall’s bedrooms. Another relic associated with the hall is a Scold’s Bridle, used as a form of public humiliation. It was primarily a punishment for women accused of gossiping, but was also used in cases of blasphemy or religious dissent. The bridle, also known as a brank, was essentially an iron muzzle and the example at Hamstall Ridware took the form of of a cage, with a mask. Although the whereabouts of this particular brank is unknown, there is an example of one on display in the Guildhall Prison Cells in Lichfield.
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Sources www.insearchofholywellsandhealingsprings.com museumofwitchcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/object-of-month-scolds-bridle.html www2.lichfielddc.gov.uk/hamstallridware
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Your Image Competition
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calling all photographers and artists!
ver the coming months, we’d like to see your photographs, drawings and paintings of Cannock Chase and the surrounding area. Each month we’ll publish a new selection of the work received, and the final winning image (announced in the June 2018 issue) will receive a £100 prize and ‘Your Image’ Trophy. For terms and conditions see page 34. The competition is open to all ages. Photographs, paintings and drawings should be of Cannock Chase and the surrounding area and countryside. Please note that you should own the copyright to
any image that you send in and the image should be your own work. If sending in a photograph, please make sure that you have permission to submit the image from any individual who may be pictured in your work, and also appropriate permissions if the photograph was taken on private property. To enter, email your images to citylifecompetitions@gmail.com or post them to Your Image Competition, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS. Apologies but we cannot return images sent to us, so if submitting a drawing or painting you may want to send us photographs of your work rather than original artwork.
Spring Beech Trees, Cannock Chase – watercolour painting by Paul Massey
Power station chimney before the rain – by Marion Henaughan
Copyright of these images remains with the creators and Citylife in Lichfield Ltd and they may not be reproduced by any unauthorised individual or organisation.
Solar Power by Bob Southall
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Alongside Stile Cop cemetery by Jean Terry
Morning Stroll by Bob Southall
My Month in Parliament
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By Amanda Milling MP
arliament has now returned after the summer recess. The summer let me spend more time at home in Brereton and take part in local events, speak to local people about their issues and support many great local causes. My constituency office remained as busy as ever, and I spent the recess period answering hundreds of letters and emails from local constituents on a range of issues.
As well as attending many of the events in Rugeley over the summer I joined Amazon as they adopted the two Rugeley train stations. Amazon have now come on board to help maintain and improve the stations, including the planting of flowers. This adoption should help create a more welcoming atmosphere for visitors and commuters using our stations.
The summer also saw a spate of road repairs across the district, with more planned. The road at the Sandy Lane and Queensway junction is soon to be resurfaced, something that is long overdue. This follows many smaller repairs to potholes across Rugeley over the past few weeks.
One of the other big issues facing Rugeley is the regeneration of the Power Station site. The District Council launched their consultation and I have called on them to promote an ambitious, bold and visionary plan for the site. The site has the potential to attract businesses which create high-skilled and higher paid jobs and I hope this opportunity is not missed. We don’t want to see the site used for more warehouses. The district council’s plans for the site must make the most of the site’s connection to the National Grid and the national fibre optic broadband backbone. This is the perfect time to benefit from the growth in high technology industries and I don’t want us to lose out to other towns, especially when we have the perfect site right here.
I have also called for any future plans to ensure that lost sports and leisure facilities are replaced. The facilities were used by so many residents and their loss leaves a shortage of facilities in the area, so their provision has to be part of the site once it is redeveloped.
Now Parliament has returned we will be proceeding with the important business of Brexit, with the EU Withdrawal Bill being debated in the Commons. Like many of my colleagues I will be supporting the Bill to ensure the wishes of Cannock Chase, and the country, are delivered.
As always, if you have any issues you need my help with, please get in touch with me on amanda.milling.mp@parliament.uk or call 01543 877142. Amanda Milling is Member of Parliament for Cannock Chase
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Your Image Competition
Cont...
Kingfisher by Andrew Pointon
Painting by John Hewitt.
By Jon Poole
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The Stepping Stones, Cannock Chase by Dennis Verdon
By Julie Littlewood-Farmer
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Town Talk
News from Rugeley Town Council
Dates for your diary
Now that the kids are back at school and the nights are drawing in, it’s time to put dates in the diary that will mark the progress towards Christmas! We have a number of great activities planned over the next few months which we hope the local community will enjoy:
Monday 23rd October to Thursday 26th October: a Free Art Course will be available from 10am – 2pm Monday to Wednesday. Come and improve your artistic skills. On the Thursday there will be an exhibition of the work undertaken between 10am and 6pm. For more information contact the Rose Theatre: 01889 584036
Friday 27th and Saturday 28th October: Halloween events 6pm – 10pm include a craft room, fancy dress, best carved pumpkin (bring your pumpkin with you) and a show by Rugeley Musical Theatre Company. Tickets are just £5 per person. For more information, visit the Rose Theatre website: www.rugeley-rose-theatre.co.uk
Saturday 4th November from 7pm: Rugeley Fireworks and Bonfire will be held at the Rugeley Cricket Ground. Come and join us for burgers, hotdogs, warming drinks and some good cheer. There will also be small fairground rides for children and they can have their faces painted. Bring the family to this free event.
Friday 24th November from 2pm: join us for the Christmas Lights Switch On and Rugeley Market. Run by Rugeley Town Council and Rugeley Lotto Events, join us for an afternoon of Christmas shopping (2pm), see the lights switched on (5pm), bring the kids to meet Santa (5.15pm) and then stay for the firework display (8pm).
Friday 15th and Saturday 16th December: Come and join us for a great local pantomime – SNOW WHITE. Tickets are available from Rugeley Rose theatre booking office: 01889 584036 or email theatre@rugeleytowncouncil.gov.uk
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Defibrillator to be placed at Rugeley Rose Theatre
Rugeley Town Council has been awarded a British Heart Foundation grant to help purchase a new defibrillator for the community to use in emergencies. The unit will be placed on the wall to the Rugeley Rose Theatre so that it is accessible 24 hours a day. Should you wish to sign up to be trained in its use and basic CPR, please email the Locum Town Clerk at clerk@rugeleytowncouncil.gov.uk
Urban Orchard
Do you have green Fingers? Do you want to tidy up a piece of vacant land? If the answer is YES, then Rugeley Town Council’s Urban Orchard grant scheme could be for you. The Town Council have written to all the local primary and secondary schools to encourage them to plant fruit and vegetables on school grounds. We are now looking to the public to plant food rather than flowers on vacant land (providing they have the land owner’s permission) or in tubs / baskets around the town and residential areas. This food could be cropped and eaten by anyone or cropped and passed on to the Rugeley Food Bank. If you need any support in purchasing the materials, please apply to the Town Council using the application form available from our website: www.rugeleytowncouncil.gov.uk
Town Talk Survey
Rugeley Town Council is looking for ideas on how to further support the local community. The Town Council are looking for your thoughts and views on projects that you would like to see the Council support / develop. A short survey is available for you to complete on our website and/or Facebook page. There are only ten questions so it should take you no more than three minutes to complete.
Rugeley Power Station
News from Rugeley Town Council
A bit about Rugeley Town Council
Rugeley Town Council is the first and smallest tier or layer in local government. The next layer is Cannock Chase District Council and then Staffordshire County Council. All three of these layers have elected Councillors. A town or parish council is a type of English local government unit going back centuries. We have no official links to the parish churches or the parochial church councils. Town councils have a number of powers: many provide allotments, look after playing fields, village greens and other types of leisure facilities. They may have a hand in maintaining or guarding Rights of Way, bus shelters, public seats and small scale town lighting. The Town Councils can do these things by actually providing them itself or by funding other organisations, such as a charity, to do them through grants or contracts. So what does Rugeley Town Council do? We have a statutory right to be consulted on planning applications and Rugeley Town Council is expected to represent the interest of the town by supporting, making comments or objecting to all or part of formal applications. In addition, Rugeley Town Council will also consider many other things which concern local residents such as traffic, litter and play facilities. It makes grants of money to deserving local organisations where the lives and welfare of local people will be improved. Rugeley Town Council also operates the Rugeley Rose Theatre. It provides the Charter Fair, bonfire/fireworks and Christmas lights. Here is a breakdown of councils’ roles and responsibilities:
Rugeley Town Council has recently been consulted on the draft supplementary planning document for the power station. If you would like to read our response, please go to our website and look under the Community Notice Board page.
Town Councillors know the area and can represent your views to other authorities like the District and County Councils, Health Authorities, Police and Fire Authorities. Money to fund the Town Council is raised through the Council Tax – it’s your Council funded with your money. This funding is called a Precept. Each year we set a budget and decide how much the Council will need to continue providing services, and consider whether to expand what we provide including our support for the community. This informs what level of Precept we set. You will find this information on your Council Tax bill. The budget is managed by the Council, supported by the Town Clerk who is the Responsible Financial Officer. Parish and Town Councils are the most unbureaucratic and the cheapest kind of local authority in existence. Our funds are the smallest part of the Council Tax and we get no general government grant so we have every incentive to keep expenditure low and be economical. The accounts are strictly and independently audited every year.
If you want to know more about the council, please visit our website: www.rugeleytowncouncil.gov.uk or give us a call on 01889 574074.
Local authority
Staffordshire County Council
Cannock Chase District Council
Rugeley Town Council
Responsibilities
Education and schools Fire Service Highways, including potholes, tourism signs, gritting Libraries, recreation, arts and museums Public rights of way Social Services and Youth Services Strategic planning and some planning applications (mainly mineral extraction and waste disposal sites) Trading Standards Transport Waste Recycling Centres
Car Parks owned by the District Council Community advice and support Council Tax and Government benefits Electoral Services Environmental Services, e.g. noise, pest control Help and support for businesses Housing Services Information about local services Planning Services Recycling, food waste and residual waste collections Restaurant and takeaway inspections Sports and leisure Street cleaning and dealing with fly tipping Tourist Information
Planning application observations Management of Charter Fair Grants to local organisations Hire and use of Rose Theatre Bonfire and Firework event Christmas Lights Planning and Local Authority consultations
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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.
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* Always take extra cae when working with hot ingredients
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T
Rugeley Runners
he photograph shown here is of members of Rugeley Runners at our new home of Rugeley Cricket Club. Whilst the cricket club was established in 1857, the running club was formed in 1984, and now has 120 members which has resulted in us outgrowing our previous home at Rugeley Leisure Centre. Being based at the cricket club will give us a home and a base from which we can conduct meetings and social functions. The cricket club host numerous fundraising and charity events which we are keen to assist with, including their forthcoming Family Bonfire Night Party. The cricket club is ideally situated for Rugeley Runners, as we can continue utilising the tracks and trails of Cannock Chase to train. We meet at 6.20pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays with groups going out various distances as well as taking part in organised runs of varying distances on Cannock Chase at weekends. A large number of runners have come to us through our ten week Beginners’ Courses, which we will be repeating in January 2018. Many of these runners joined us unable to run a mile, and it’s fantastic that many went on to run 10k, half marathons and full marathons. These members have shown real steel and determination, and have pushed themselves further than they could ever have imagined when
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they were struggling along that first mile run with the club. Our primary aim is to get people running and improve their health, however we have also had huge success in races, with winners in the Rugeley 10k and the North Staffs Road Running Association league, along with age category winners in the Palma Marathon. Two of our runners even managed to beat the train in the infamous ‘Race the Train’ event 2017 in Tywyn, Wales, where the conditions were very challenging. Both of these runners were from our beginners’ courses. In the coming weeks we have runners competing in the Keilder Marathon; Birmingham Marathon and half marathon; Lake Vyrny Half Marathon and many more events. This year we organised the Rugeley 10-mile road race that attracted 300 competitors from all over the UK. The race was a superb success as this 10 mile distance is coveted by racers as an iconic distance, and is also an ideal preparation for half marathon events. The race will again be
run on 18th February 2018 and is open for entry via bookitzone. Anyone wishing to join Rugeley Runners can contact us through the website www.rugeleyrunners.org.uk or look us up on Facebook and Twitter. We have qualified running coaches and run leaders to assist improving runners. All we ask is that runners can run a minimum of three miles continuously, or complete beginners can lookout for the announcement of the next Beginners’ Course.
Tracy Ball is a Rugeley Running Club Committee member.
Rugeley & District Lions Club
ur new President for the year is Jane Stevenson who will lead the Club for the next year. Jane has been a member of Rugeley Lions for just under 20 years. One of our main aims this year is to increase our membership so that we can do more. Please consider coming along to one of our meetings or events to see us in action. Our Charity of the Year last year was Visually Impaired Children. This was to support peripatetic teachers providing out-of-school activities for children with visual impairment so that they can get together and share experiences with other children with the same needs as themselves while enjoying activities they may not otherwise be able to. The donation is dependent upon our net charity proceeds for the year and we were pleased to be able to present them with a cheque for £450 at our last meeting.
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By Tracy Ball
By Peter Fielding
We have been donating £250 each quarter to enable them to keep the activities going throughout the year and this meant that we have donated £1200 over the year. Similarly we have picked our next Charity of the Year for 2017/2018. This is the Mase Group (Monthly Alzheimer’s Support Evening) who hold support meetings for Sufferers, Carers and their families to meet - sharing information, advice, experiences and support. More information on their work can be found at www.themasegroup.com As part of the Lions’ motto ‘We Serve’ we do look for Welfare or Service activities to be involved with rather than just donating monies – if you know of anything we could be involved with please let us know so that we can consider helping, either via Facebook or by phoning Lion Debbie on 07970 380746. If you would
like to contact us or come along and join in with us to see exactly what we do (and how we do it!) we can be contacted via Facebook or our email address at randdlions@hotmail.com .
Peter Fielding is a member of Rugeley & District Lions Club.
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MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTORS WANTED
Earn extra money delivering magazines in various areas. Must be over 16
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Staffordshire offers hope for threatened birds
Call Marie 07548 682576
ight species of threatened wading birds have been seen breeding across Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s reserves in 2017. Wading birds are ground-nesting species that live in a range of open habitats, including moorland, fens and marshes, wet meadows, farmland and gravel pits. This reliance on open habitat does make them very vulnerable to habitat loss, predators and disturbance. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is committed to improving the fortunes of these birds across the county. This year, the Trust’s Monitoring Officer, Jonathan Groom, has been able to assess the fortunes of curlew, snipe, lapwing, ringed plover, little ringed plover, woodcock, oystercatcher and common sandpiper. Jonathan commented: “It has been a really pleasing year for breeding wader numbers across our reserves. Our reserves offer such variety, with many offering suitable habitats for waders like open moorlands and wetlands. Some species are more difficult to monitor than others, but I have certainly been delighted to see that many including oystercatcher, lapwing, common sandpiper and little ringed plover were able to hatch young successfully.” Competition and Prize Draw Terms and Conditions 1. By entering the prize draw/competition, you agree to the terms and condition 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
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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
Curlew - image by Jon Hawkins
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 stated, 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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