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Welcome to CITYLIFE
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!
CITYLIFE Contacts
Editor - Joss Musgrove Knibb josscitylife@gmail.com Deputy Editor - Kristen Lackajis 07885 380632
kristencitylife@gmail.com Features - Jono Oates 07785 757201 jonocitylife@gmail.com Advertising -
Steve Brown 07740 166497 stevebrowncitylife@gmail.com Rebecca Hill 07970 513144 rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com Adele Edwards 07729 590072 adelecitylife@gmail.com Production - Helen Smith 07967 154187 helencitylife@gmail.com Citylife In Lichfield Ltd PO Box 7126 LICHFIELD WS14 4JS CITYLIFE in Lichfield and CITYLIFE in Rugeley magazines are not connected to any other publication or publisher, and are wholly owned by CITYLIFE in Lichfield Ltd. Citylife In Lichfield
www.citylifeinlichfieldltd.co.uk Citylife in Lichfield Ltd does not endorse any business or organisation appearing in these pages, and the publication of any advertisement, editorial, event listing or advertising editorial does not constitute an endorsement by Citylife in Lichfield Ltd.
e n i z a g a M l a c o Your L
Inside...
14 A Window on the Past A walk through the Villages of Colwich and Little Haywood
............................. 20 Tastes of the Season By Simon Smith
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24 The Old Pubs and Breweries of Rugeley By Jono Oates
............................. 30 Love is in the Air Something special for Valentine’s Day
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32 Joseph Whitgreave - Inventor, Benefactor and Spire Climber By Jono Oates
J HOWELL & DAUGHTERS FUNERAL DIRECTORS LICHFIELD
LICHFIELD’S LONGEST ESTABLISHED INDEPENDENT, FAMILY RUN FUNERAL DIRECTORS. SECOND GENERATION BUSINESS HERE TO ASSIST YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. 24 hours a day
We are proud to be Lichfield's longest established family run funeral directors offering a wide range of choices to suit all requirements. Horse drawn hearse, non religious ceremonies, floral tributes and memorials are but a few of the services we offer. Pre-paid funeral plans are also available.
For a truly personal service please call 01543 255776
Private Chapel of Rest 116 Netherstowe, Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 6TS
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Rugeley & District Lions News
Lion Peter Fielding, Amanda Milling MP, Lion President Deb Coburn and Rotary President John Wilson.
By Peter Fielding
Lion Peter Fielding, provides us with a round-up of the Lions’ news and events from the end of last year.
The Fashion Show, held in November last year, raised the sum of £319 in aid of Max’s Mission to Move.
success. The Club would like to thank Waymax and 50-50 cabs for their support. Also, thanks go to the volunteers who helped us collect donations. Rugeley Lions & District Club’s appeal for new or unused toys saw more than 750 items ollected at St. Joseph’s Community Centre, Tesco, and Gymophobics. We would like to thank them for their help, and also to The Victory
Wildlife Trust to Celebrate Landmark Anniversary Our Christmas Float, organised along with Rugeley Rotary Club, was a huge
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Church Hub distribution.
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The Club decorated a Christmas tree for the annual Christmas Tree Festival at St. Augustine’s Church in the run up to Christmas. If you wish to see how and what we do in more detail, please don’t hesitate to contact us at randdlions@hotmail.com.
taffordshire Wildlife Trust, based at The Wolseley Centre, near Rugeley, is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2019. Since the day the charity was formed in 1969, its mission has been to protect and enhance the wildlife and wild places of Staffordshire and to promote understanding, enjoyment and involvement in the natural world. With around 50 staff members, much of the Trust’s work is carried out by dedicated volunteers who enable it to deliver on its mission, along with the generosity of its supporters, 15,000 members, its shops, grant-giving organisations, local authorities, companies and charitable trusts. The Trust will be releasing a 50th anniversary documentary on the history of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and inviting people to a 50th birthday party event to be held in the summer. Keep up to date on how the Trust is celebrating by visiting its website at www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk.
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Cannock Women’s Institute By Jill Gooch
Valentine’s Day is usually associated with red hearts, but at the Cannock W.I. the ladies will be wearing green heart badges this year, to acknowledge the Show the Love campaign and raise awareness of the effects of climate change. This national campaign aims to encourage people to take care of the environment and to take on the personal challenge of reducing our overall carbon footprint. To show their support, Cannock W.I. members will be reusing and recycling wherever possible to cut down on waste, walking instead of taking the car, and keeping an eye on household energy usage. Recently, the Club has welcomed two new members, Meena and Lilian, as a result of increasing its profile through regular news
releases and Facebook posts. January’s meeting was a social event, including a bring-and-buy stall where members bought along unwanted Christmas presents to exchange. There was also a discussion, led by Club President, Helen, to help members decide on their vote for Resolution topics which will be carried forward by the National Federation of Women’s Institute’s (NFWI) as their next big campaign. Further discussion and the final vote will take place at the Annual Conference
at Bournemouth in June. Cannock W.I. 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 for refreshments and a chat. For further information, contact the President on 01889 582632 or visit www.thewi.org.uk/staffordshire or facebook.com/oakleafstlukes.
The Ridwares W.I.
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By Dot Boulton
he Ridwares W.I. recently enjoyed an evening of crafts at its November meeting, with members sampling taster sessions at making a Christmas floral arrangement, a handmade gift box or tree decoration, as well as knitting and crocheting. The end of November saw our annual Tinsel and Trimmings Evening where the Menafest bone cancer fundraising group switched on the Christmas lights in honour of Ximena Howell. The village hall hosted the Power Station Brass Band, whilst the community enjoyed mulled wine, mince pies and crafts stalls. The raffle table has prizes donated by local businesses TopCut and Just Oil, whilst Geoff Gould provided the Christmas tree. The next Community Coffee Morning will be held on Tuesday, 5th February, 10.30am to 12 noon, at the village hall. New members always welcome. Just come along or telephone 01543 492139 for details.
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Staffordshire find seals year of success for Jim Spencer In September 2018 Jim Spencer, head of the Books and Works on Paper Department at Hansons Auctioneers uncovered a hugely rare copy of the Wealth of Nations at Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire. He spent hours searching high and low for something special, even looking up chimneys, utterly convinced the hall would reveal hidden treasure. It did. Jim commented: “At the 11th hour, I discovered a first edition of Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations, published in 1766. It was in a cupboard beneath a silver cabinet where the family stored hymn books and boxing gloves. It was a magical moment for me. I had to catch my breath when I saw it. It sailed above guide price at auction to fetch £65,000.” It’s one of Jim’s most remarkable finds to date but there have been several. Hansons’ quarterly Library Auction of Books and Works on Paper has been making headlines around the world with its unusual offerings and breaking records with its hammer prices. Jim said: “I’ll never forget the Medieval illuminated manuscript Psalter that arrived in the post just 30 minutes before a catalogue was going to print, with a note stating ‘it's probably nothing, but I forgot to show you when you visited the house’. It sold for £5,800. In my last Library Auction, I was confident a manuscript night-watchman’s journal dating from the 1830s would race past its guide price of £300-400. It sold to a private UK collector for £2,100.” Jim is now inviting entries of fine and rare books and works on paper for his Spring Library Auction. To find out more email jspencer@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk He added: “As for curiosities, a cased set of prosthetic glass eyes, found in Lichfield, made £3,200.”
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Image courtesy of Hansons Hansons Auctioneers holds free valuations (except seasonal closures) every Monday, 10.30am-12.30pm, at the Hedgehog Inn, Stafford Road, Lichfield, WS13 8JB. To find out more, email cjones@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk.
Brereton Wheelers
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ounded in 1948, local cycling club Brereton Wheelers has been embracing the sport for the last seven decades.
During the club’s lifespan it has promoted every aspect of the sport, from leisurely touring to the hard and fast life of track racing. Included in the club’s membership have been a Tour de France rider, National Track Sprint Champion, a multiple World Masters Track Champion and a host of Division Champions. On a weekly basis the club holds a Sunday morning ride to places of interest, with the golden rule that all ages and abilities are welcome and no-one gets left behind. Routes are carefully chosen to avoid main roads as much as possible, and popular destinations include Denstone, Haughton and Forsbrook, amongst others. Coming up in 2019, there will be four club rides during the summer for experienced riders and four mini events targeted at the younger or less experienced rider. The friendly club is keen to welcome anyone interested in cycling, whatever their age or experience. Find out more at www.breretonwheelerscc.co.uk.
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Meals for the Elderly .......................... Advertising Feature
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Care Cuisine is the provider of tasty, nutritious and satisfying ready-cooked and frozen meals, at great value prices, delivered directly to your door. You’re spoilt for choice with ICare’s superb range of freshly prepared delicious meals, using the finest ingredients and traditional cuts of meat, seasonal vegetables and fish. There’s traditional favourites like roast beef and shepherd’s pie, as well as vegetarian options and even special dietary meals including low-fat, low-salt and gluten-free dishes. At ICare Cuisine, our service is not just about delivering good meals; it is about enabling people to maintain their independence at home, no matter how vulnerable. ICare staff are not simply delivery drivers - they are also trained in providing a care service and can be relied upon to help you make your menu choices, keep a friendly eye on your wellbeing and become a familiar and regular visitor. All delivery staff are reliable, friendly and safe and have been carefully recruited and trained, especially in adult awareness and care skills, in order to provide the best possible service to you. Our staff are thoroughly checked to ensure they do not have a criminal record and are able to work with vulnerable people. They are all easily identifiable by wearing purple ICare polo shirts and carrying identification badges to give you added reassurance that they are genuine ICare employees. To find out more about ICare Cuisine, visit www.icarecuisine.co.uk or telephone 0845 604 1125.
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A Window on the Past This month the Landor Society travels a little further along the old Chester Road. The villages of Colwich and Little Haywood are now bypassed, but are still on the bus route from Lichfield to Stafford and are well worth the trip.
The Villages of Colwich & Little Haywood
The civil parish of Colwich lies about three miles north of Rugeley on the north east bank of the River Trent, near Wolseley Bridge. Comprising of about 2,862 hectares of land, the parish consists of the hamlets of Colwich, Great Haywood, Little Haywood, Moreton, Bishton and Wolseley Bridge. 1. An unusual view of Colwich and its church taken from the southern bank of the canal, postmarked 1910. 2. The Main Road through Colwich village. This card was posted by A. Shipton of Brook End House, Longdon, in May 1907. 3. St. Benedict’s Priory, Colwich – a postcard postmarked 1928. Charles Trubshaw built a house here circa 1730 and called it Mount Pleasant. A century later it was enlarged and renamed Mount Pavilion. Shortly afterwards it was sold to a group of French Benedictine nuns. Today, the community has been renamed St Mary’s Abbey. 4. Main Road, Little Haywood, showing the Lamb and Flag Hotel. To the right of the inn is the Post Office which had a bake-house round the corner in Meadow Lane.
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5. Coley Lane, Little Haywood, at the beginning of the twentieth century. 6. Meadow Lane, Little Haywood taken circa 1910. The cart in the distance stands outside G.H. Smith’s Butchers. 7. The view, probably dating from the 1880s, shows the old wooden footbridge in Meadow Lane, erected in 1830. Cattle and wheeled vehicles still had to cross the River Trent by the ford. In 1887, a public subscription was launched to raise money for a new bridge to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. This became known as Weetman’s Bridge. 8. Postmarked 1908. This card shows a group of walkers enjoying Cannock Chase at Little Haywood. The Landor (local history) 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.landor-localhistorysociety-rugeley.btck.co.uk
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Tastes of the Season Happy New Year to one and all By Simon Smith
Over the next few weeks many of us will be meeting up with friends and family that we didn’t manage to catch up with over Christmas. These two dishes are great to serve at any dinner party and both can be prepared in advance.
and sweat for 1 minute. Add the chopped hard boiled eggs and stir together. Add the spinach and remove from the heat. Allow to cool. Roll out the puff pastry and then add the salmon mixture, fold together like a sausage roll and use egg wash to seal. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 15 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden. This is an ideal dish for a starter or you can make a larger one for an impressive buffet centrepiece.
Salmon ‘en croute’ (serves 4) You will need:*
4 1 4
1 2ozs 2ozs 1x
Method
Salmon fillets** Cup raw baby spinach Hard boiled eggs (I always use Burford brown for their beautiful yellow yolks) Bunch spring onions Fresh ginger Butter 500 gm block puff pastry
Finely chop the spring onions and fresh ginger. Gently sweat in a pan with the butter. Cut the salmon into 10cm cubes and add to the pan. Stir
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Ferrero Rocher cheesecake (serves 4)
This Ferrero Rocher cheesecake recipe is really easy to prepare. You can also make it with Kit Kat or Crunchie bars, in fact any chocolate treat that’s got a crispy element works well.
You will need:
16x 4ozs 6ozs
Ferrero Rocher Caster sugar Double cream
12ozs 12 2ozs 3ozs
Method
Philadelphia cream cheese Chocolate Hobnobs Melted butter Toasted hazelnuts
To make the base: Crush the Hobnobs and mix with the hazelnuts and melted butter, stir together. Press into a spring-form cake tin (if making a large centrepiece dessert) and chill whilst creating the cheesecake mixture. If you wish to make individual biscuits as I do (see image) cut out the biscuit rounds and chill. To make the cheesecake: Crush the Ferrero Rocher in a bowl, add the cream cheese, cream and sugar and stir together. Pipe into a pastry ring and chill for individual cheesecakes (and add your individual biscuits before serving) or pipe the mixture on top of the chilled base in your spring-form cake tin – then chill. To serve, add fresh berries, an individual Ferrero Rocher and a caramel sauce. Simon Smith runs a catering business from his production kitchen in Lichfield, providing bespoke private dinners plus wedding, corporate and event catering. Simon also undertakes cookery demonstrations around the country and with local businesses such as Arthur Price and Tippers. During the summer months Simon works for private clients both on superyachts and in villas in St Tropez and Europe. If you are looking for catering or a day of cookery skills go to www.simonsmithchef.com
*All recipes serve four people
**Please take extra care when preparing and handling hot foodstuffs. Go to www.food.gov.uk for further details. Caution must also be used when eating fish as small bones may prove a hazard.
Piper Nurseries .............
Advertising Feature
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stablished in 1947 by Cyril Piper, the nursery is still owned and run by the same family today, ensuring you enjoy a fantastic, homegrown experience.
Cyril Piper started out supplying bedding and perennial plants to surrounding garden centres and markets in the 1940s. Over the years, he handed the business down to his son and, subsequently, his grandson, who now owns and manages the nursery with his wife and daughters. Throughout the years, the business has grown which allowed the family to open its doors to the public in 1995 and, later, adding retail units and a coffee shop too. Now in its fourth generation, what began as a small home-based enterprise has developed into a bustling garden centre where the family offer quality produce, expert advice and friendly customer service. Visit Piper Nurseries at A5 Watling Street, Gailey, ST19 5PR, or online at www.pipernurseries.co.uk.
Pro-Elite Saddlery .............
Advertising Feature
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eing practically born and raised in the saddle both Emma and Samantha, owners of Pro-Elite Saddlery, have years of experience and knowledge. Starting off as young riders at just two years of age, their love and dedication for horses and all things equestrian grew with them, as did the dream to one day run their own saddlery. Wanting desirable items of high-quality, the girls took time sourcing and visiting specialist companies to bring top-class products for both horse and rider to the area.
At Pro-Elite Saddlery, customers will find beautiful soft leather tack, designer riding and leisure wear, riding hats, boots crafted from the finest Italian leather, horse wardrobe collections, plus lotions and potions for your four-legged friend! Pop in to Pro-Elite Saddlery at The Nurseries, Watling Street, Gailey, Staffs, ST19 5PR, or find them on Facebook at: facebook.com/proelitesaddlery.
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My Month in Parliament
especially Made With Love Tea Rooms who were the overall winner of the competition, having received the most votes by any business in all the categories across the District.
By Amanda Milling MP
I would like to start by wishing everyone a very happy New Year. I hope you are maintaining the willpower to keep up with your New Year’s resolutions! As 2018 drew to a close, much of my time during December (when not in Westminster) saw me enjoy many festive events. A particular highlight for me here in Rugeley was joining Rugeley & District Lions Club, Rugeley Rotary and their Santa sleigh. As ever, the local community was very generous and dug deep to support the collection for charities. It was also fabulous to see the real joy and festive cheer that Santa brought to everyone – young and old. A huge thank you must go to all the volunteers who made this happen and spent their evenings during December (whatever the weather) helping with the sleigh and collecting donations. On the topic of Christmas, I was also
delighted that a child from a school in Rugeley was the winner of my annual Christmas card competition. Each year I invite local primary school children to design the cover of my official card. There were hundreds of entries but there can only be one winner and this year’s was Harkaran (Harry), from Chancel Primary School. Well done to Harry - the design was fantastic! This was not the only winner I announced at the end of last year, as Small Business Saturday saw me announce the winners of my annual competition to find Cannock Chase’s best independent retailers. There were three categories up for grabs here in Rugeley - best shop, best market stall and best café. The competition was very popular and thousands of votes were cast by the public. I was thrilled to present Lachmere, Meat To Please You and Made With Love Tea Rooms with their awards. A huge congratulations to all the winners, but
As we look into 2019, I also wanted to touch on the public engagement event that ENGIE, the owners of the Rugeley Power Station site, conducted last month. ENGIE was seeking to gain public input into the ideas it has for the site. I popped into one of these sessions and was really struck by the energy and passion that participants had in terms of shaping a future vision. There is recognition by ENGIE that this redevelopment has the ‘opportunity to bring positive change to the town and spark Rugeley’s Renaissance.’ More information about the scheme, the next steps and how to get involved can be found at www.jtp.co.uk/projects/Rugeley. As always, if you need my help with any issues or concerns, please do contact me on 01543 877142 or email amanda.milling.mp@parliament.uk.
Five New Year’s Resolutions for Your Computer
Advertising Feature
Running the Best Security Software - By Neil Fletcher
Most computers today run at least some form of basic antivirus. In the modern day however, threats have evolved to be more sophisticated, more damaging, and much more common. Ransomware, malware, phishing, and zero-day attacks all work to attack unpatched systems without strong security. Today, to keep up with increasing threats, you need a complete internet security package. A layered system means more than just virus scanning. A comprehensive security package includes prevention, detection, firewall and system monitoring at a minimum. These layers work together to provide security many times stronger than a stand-alone system. Reliable, up-to-date security keeps you safe online. It’s a resolution you simply can’t afford to skip. Clean Up Files Cleaning up unnecessary files is the number one way to gain additional storage space on a typical device. It’s cost-effective without any extra hardware purchases too. Almost all computers have files hanging around from old software, data or applications they no longer need. Just like tidying the spare room or decluttering the kitchen, clearing files off your desktop
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and organising your emails will leave your computer feeling refreshed and new again. Restart Your Computer Fully shutting down a computer and rebooting can take time.When you are watching the clock, waiting to start a task or get work done, it can feel like an eternity. Most of us enjoy simply opening the lid or powering on the screen to have everything ready to run. At times, a computer may not be fully restarted in weeks or even months. Our poor habits can cause issues with running software and the operating system too. Hardware updates, security patches, and critical updates often wait for a reboot before they install. Waiting too long can leave security flaws open and the system vulnerable to attack. Merely performing a reboot every once in a while can secure your system and help get rid of software problems. Often, updates prevent new issues from cropping up too. Use a Password Manager Hacks of large institutions and popular websites are frequently in the news today. Almost every month a major service reveals they have been hacked, their database compromised, and their customer credentials have been stolen. For this reason, it is very unwise to use the same password to access multiple websites. This can be a challenge for many. It’s nearly impossible to remember a unique and secure password for every site you visit. We recommend using a password manager that can
store and recall your passwords for you. A good password manager relies on just one, very secure, remembered password to safeguard an encrypted database of all your login credentials. The password database is often stored in the cloud for access from all your necessary devices. A manager can typically assist in creating a strong, secure password for each of your accounts too. Using a good password manager and unique password for every site protects you against the attacks commonly in the news. Hacks compromising major services from your providers will be powerless against directly affecting your other accounts and services. Keep Your Computer Away from Dust Dust, hair, and household debris are one of the major causes of premature death for computers. Fans, used to cool components, suck in house dust as well as the air they need.This dust often clogs up the inside of the device and overheats internal components. If possible, keep a tower PC off the carpet, don’t run your laptop sitting on the floor, blanket, or soft furnishings. Cleaning out your device is as good a resolution as any, and there’s never a better time than now. For a little help sticking to your digital New Year’s resolutions and starting off on the right foot, give us a call today at 01889 579990.
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The Old Pubs and Breweries of Rugeley
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By Jono Oates
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y the middle of the 19th century Rugeley, like most English towns and cities, had a host of pubs on every street and it was not until the licensing laws of the early 1900s, and the influence of the temperance movement, that many of them closed down. Our feature writer, Jono Oates, takes a look at the story of the old pubs and breweries of Rugeley.
Whilst Rugeley cannot claim to be as noted as Burton-on-Trent, or Lichfield, as a major location for brewing and ale it did boast a significant number of inns, ale houses and even breweries.
The Vine Public House comes from today. At the sessions the landlord of the Britannia Inn, George Stonier, was fined £3 and required to pay court costs for allowing drunkenness in the pub and his licence was not renewed that year. There were also a number of breweries in Rugeley, the most significant of which was the Crossley Stone Brewery. In 1843, the owners of the brewery, Messrs Bate, Brothers and Hellings, were declared bankrupt and the contents of the brewery, as well as the living quarters, were sold at an auction at the home of Mr Thomas Bate of Crossley Stone House. Along with all the household furniture and furnishings, the stock-in-trade of the brewery was also sold, including: 8000 gallons of superior old ale; 3000 gallons of porter; two large vats that could hold 8000 gallons each; two waggons; two carts and three ‘useful’ horses! The malting’s building of the original brewery is now part of The Vine public house. By 1849, Crossley Stone Brewery belonged to Mr William Price Williams but in 1857 he left to set up his own brewery, the Anchor Brewery, also in Rugeley. There was also a brewery at Armitage, sometimes known as the Old Brewery, and the workers’ cottages that were associated with the brewery are still in evidence today and situated on the Armitage Road. Join us in the next issue of Citylife where we’ll be looking at more of the old pubs of Rugeley, some of which closed many years ago and others which were closed more recently.
No 1 Vets, formerly The Britannia Inn
Sources: The British Newspaper Archive; British History Online website
In October 1965, the Lichfield Mercury looked at the old pubs of Rugeley from the year 1912 and was amazed at the number of pubs in each of the main streets of the town. The Horse Fair and Upper Brook Street, in particular, were lined with pubs.These included the Robin Hood; Bush House; the Anglesey Arms; the Lawyer’s Arms and the Green Man, on Horse Fair, whilst Upper Brook Street played host to the Wellington Inn; the Royal Oak; the Rose and Shamrock and the Swan Inn. At the annual Licensing Sessions in 1910, police reports were held in front of a panel that represented some of the most famous names in Rugeley’s history, consisting of Sir Charles Wolseley; Colonel William Wetherall; Mr Frederic Bonney and Mr Walter Landor. Inspector Moss declared that there were some 60 licensed premises in Rugeley, 37 of which were fully licensed, 12 beer houses ‘on’ and eight ‘off’ licence, and three shops licensed to sell wine. An ‘off’ licence allowed the beer house to sell beer to be taken off site, in other words to take away from the pub and be consumed at home, and this is where the term ‘off-licence’
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Upper Brook Street
Advertising Feature
Taking the Hassle Out of Paying Your Bills
Homecare Budget Accounts was started by Handsacre resident Robert Robinson in 1991 in Birmingham. In 2017 he moved to Kings Bromley where his two daughters Louise and Samantha joined the company alongside him and his staff. Homecare Budget Accounts takes the stress out of managing your household finances by spreading paying your bills equally throughout the year, providing you with the easiest and most efficient way possible to ensure your payments are always made. It’s great for families and those who lead hectic and busy lifestyles, as you can rest assured that all the bills are paid on time, every time, leaving you to concentrate on the important things in life!
Recommend Homecare Budget Accounts to your friends and family and you’ll receive £50 for each person that signs up! For more information on how you can make life easier, visit www.homecarebudget.com or call and speak to their friendly staff.
What their customers say: “We have been with Homecare for some years now and couldn't recommend their services enough. Always on the other end of the phone to help out and I know my bills are paid as soon as they are received.” Mrs D, Sutton Coldfield
"Thank you for taking care of everything for us. It means we have one less thing to worry about each month and we can get on with enjoying life instead." Mr & Mrs B, Lichfield
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Postcards Paint a Picture of the County’s War Role People interested in Staffordshire’s role during the First World War can now view a unique collection of photos and images brought together online for the first time.
The Jake Whitehouse Collection features more than 1,600 postcards, photographs and objects relating to the county’s role in the war.
His military experiences and a lifetime’s study of military history gave him a unique insight into the camps of Cannock Chase.
The training camps on Cannock Chase, along with the stories of the thousands of British and New Zealand servicemen who trained there, are documented in the collection. Over 300 of these original postcards show soldiers and civilians working, training and at leisure, while stories of German prisoners of war are also documented. The postcards were first published by local businesses for the troops to send to their loved ones or keep as souvenirs.
Staff and volunteers from local community groups and Staffordshire County Council’s Museum Service have created the resource after permission was granted by Jake’s wife for the collection to be shared online.
The collection belonged to local and military historian and author of 'A Town for Four Winters', Jake Whitehouse, who sadly passed away last year.
Armistice Day 1918, Rugeley Camp, Cannock Chase. A German Prisoner of War is hoisting the Union Jack on the YMCA Hut
The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund with support from the Landor Society, Berkswich History Society and the Friends of Cannock Chase who have helped research and document the collection. The Jake Whitehouse Collection can be viewed online at www.jakewhitehouse.org.uk.
Novelty postcard, Rugeley Camp, 1915-1918
Cllr Gill Heath and Chris Copp from Staffordshire County Council’s Museums Service.
(Brocton Camp, Cannock Chase, 1916-1917
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Jake Whitehouse (right) with his brother Captain Philip Whitehouse and Patrick Lichfield at a West Midlands Military History Society Event at Alton Towers in 1976.
Empress Theatre, Penkridge Bank, Cannock Chase, 1916-1919
A Corporal from South Staffordshire Regiment with ventriloquist's dummy. Rugeley Camp, Cannock Chase 1915-1919
Finding a Forever Home
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...................... By Rugeley Welfare for Dogs
uth and Pauline of Rugeley Welfare for Dogs introduce us to a couple of their fourlegged friends searching for their forever home in 2019. Leo Buggy is a 16-monthold Staffordshire Bull Terrier. He has been castrated and is fine with other dogs, but would need to be homed with older children. Buggy can be a Buggy bit excitable at times but is a very friendly boy. With patience, and training, he would make the perfect family member and has a lot of love to give. Eight-year-old Leo is a Labrador crossbreed who loves to go for walks and play ball. He is good around most dogs and would be suitable for a family with older children. Special thanks go to Les Mills and her family, who support Rugeley Welfare for Dogs all year round. Pictured is Les with just one of the many hampers she has collected. Also, thank you to Hannah and Jess who, along with their parents, help to support the charity throughout the year. “We are so lucky to have so much support and we would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all our supporters,” said Ruth and Pauline. “We could not help the rescue dogs that so badly need us without you all.”
For more information on Rugeley Welfare for Dogs, or if you think you could offer a home to a dog in need, then please call Ruth on 07900 090993 or Pauline on 07971 817877. Alternatively, visit facebook.com/rugeleydogswelfare. Please note that a home visit and a donation will be required.
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Looking Back on a Wonderful Year and Forward to an Exciting 2019! By Richard Winterton
Whether it’s a home visit or one of our free valuations, here at Richard Winterton Auctioneers we never know what we might find. One thing’s certain though, there’s always something to pique one’s interest! In 2018, we have been privileged to market such diverse finds as a life-size Dalek, a signed letter from the first man to walk on the moon and a highly collectable first pressing of The Beatles’ Revolver album. We’ve seen a rare 1964 James Bond Goldfinger poster fetch £6,700, a Japanese lacquered fountain pen make £7000 and a sought-after Omega wristwatch sell for £9,000. A collection of model aircraft kits went under the hammer for £12,800 and a string of Japanese ojime beads which came to us on a Tuesday free valuation made £2,600. We’ve also been trusted with a vast family collection of medals covering virtually every conflict in which the British Army and Navy were involved since the early 1800s.
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Our last sale of 2018 was an absolute triumph of treasure upon treasure. We auctioned a superb diamond ring for £29,500, a mirror which belonged to the captain of the Titanic sold for £2,800 and a rare bottle of Chateau Petrus Pomerol dating back to 1968 sold for £1,200! As a longstanding family firm, the Wintertons have been auctioneering in Staffordshire since the 19th century and we are always delighted to help local organisations as much as possible where we can. From the Lichfield Greenhill Bower to the Canwell Show, Alrewas Open Gardens Weekend and the incredibly poignant Lichfield Cathedral art installation The Consequence of War, we’ve been glad to be involved with them all. It was super to sponsor the 2019 calendar for the ‘You’re Probably From Lichfield, Staffs if…’ local history group and I was tremendously saddened at the loss of the group’s wonderful leading light Dave Gallagher
in October. Throughout the year, we’ve also raised thousands of pounds for We Love Lichfield Fund and St Giles Hospice through special events and charity auctions. Looking forward to 2019, our regular threeday sales will start at 9.30am each day and will be embellished by a specialist section at noon preceded by a dedicated jewellery auction. Our special Fine & Decorative Arts Sales – of which we stage four a year – will continue to take place on Wednesdays but will also start at 9.30am. We also offer free valuations on Tuesdays, with a chance to show your items to our team of experienced experts. Whether it’s a diamond ring, teddy bear, coin collection or all three, we can value your treasures in one easy visit. So do come and see us at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park.
Fitness for All!
Advertising Feature
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D
ue to high demand Anytime Fitness has been opening gyms across the globe at an impressive pace, with more than 4,000 clubs worldwide and nearly three million members. But Paul Coleman, of the brand new Rugeley franchise, explained that it’s not all about membership numbers. “The difference with Anytime Fitness Rugeley is that we want you to get to know us and get to know the other members,” he explained. “We’re a social gym and we want to encourage a sense of community spirit by creating a friendly club culture, where anyone and everyone is welcome.” The new facility, which opened its doors in November 2018, features state-of-the-art fitness equipment in a clean and spacious environment. It also offers a range of classes, to suit all ages and abilities, as well as personal training sessions and personalised fitness plans. Paul and his team are even offering an eight-week Boot Camp course to people in the local area, to encourage the community to get fit together. “We looked at the main issues that prevent people from exercising regularly,” he said. “We found that cost, time and childcare were the barriers that stopped people from being as active as they would like to be.”
Children are welcome at the Anytime Fitness Boot Camp and Paul is encouraging people to bring their children to join in with the activities and learn how to lead a more active lifestyle. “We want to bring fitness to everyone and we love to see families exercising together.” The first session, held on 8th January, saw a fantastic response with more than 40 people attending to start their fitness journey! The Boot Camp is running every Tuesday evening, from 6.30pm7.30pm, at Victory Christian Centre, Anson Street, Rugeley. There is no need to book a place, everyone is free to turn up and join in! Please ensure appropriate clothing and footwear is worn, and bring along a drink. Do not exercise if you have been advised not to by a medical professional. There will be a nominal fee of £1 per person (under 16s free) charged to cover the cost of venue hire.
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£9.99
From £12.99
Crystal and pearl hair barrette – available from Cath’s Cuts
Silver-plated crystal bracelets – available from Gifts from the H rt A range of hip flasks – available from Gifts from the H rt
Love is in the air...
Ladies’ House of Tweed purses – available from Pro-Elite Saddlery
£11.99
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Vanity cases - available from Lipstick Powder and Paint
£20
If you’re after something special for your loved-one this Valentine’s Day then look no further.
£19.99 Scarves from £3.99, hats from £5.99 available from Lipstick Powder and Paint
£8
Pre-owned red Radley handbag – available from Cath’s Cuts
£25 £50
Cubist Art Deco horse figure – available from Decodance
French Art Deco picture frame – available from Decodance
£12.99
£45
Louis Paget Pen – available from Gifts from the H rt
Crystal flower hair slide – available from Cath’s Cuts
Yellow and white gold cubic zirconia heart necklace – available from MW Jewellery & Repairs
£45
£65
£29.95
9ct gold heart locket and chain – available from MW Jewellery & Repairs Opal and cubic zirconia sterling silver necklace – available from MW Jewellery & Repairs
Art Deco black panther figure– available from Decodance
£39.99
£5.99
£40
Black Radley handbag – available from Cath’s Cuts
£5
Butterfly trinket dish – available from Gifts from the H rt
Stockists: Gifts from the H rt – Brewery Street Shopping Centre, Rugeley, WS15 2DY. MW Jewellery & Repairs - Brewery Street Shopping Centre, Rugeley, WS15 2DY. Lipstick Powder & Paint - Brewery Street Shopping Centre, Rugeley, WS15 2DY.
Salamo Italian leather polo belts, men's and women's available from Pro-Elite Saddlery
Decodance - Brewery Street Shopping Centre, Rugeley, WS15 2DY. Cath’s Cuts - Brewery Street Shopping Centre, Rugeley, WS15 2DY. Pro-Elite Saddlery – The Nurseries, Watling Street, Gailey, ST19 5PR.
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Rugeley Snooker Club, formerly Heron Court Hall
Joseph Whitgreave - Inventor, Benefactor and Spire Climber!
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By Jono Oates
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ne of the most imposing buildings on the Rugeley skyline is the St Joseph & Etheldreda Church on Lichfield Street. It was built in 1849 and opened in 1851, with one of its founders being Joseph Robert Whitgreave, who was also an inventor and a Justice of the Peace for Staffordshire. Born on 19 March 1823, Joseph was the son of George Thomas Whitgreave whose family home was Moseley Court, now Moseley Old Hall, where King Charles II was granted shelter from the Parliamentarians towards the end of the English Civil War in 1651. Joseph moved to Rugeley in 1849 where he assisted with providing the funds to build the church on what was Heron’s Field and on land that had previously belonged to the Marquess of Anglesey.When Julia Cecilia Whitgreave, one of Joseph’s sisters, became a nun she took the name Etheldreda and
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moved to Princethorpe Priory near Rugby in Warwickshire, bequeathing her money to her brother. Joseph used this money to help build the church and, at the same time, he also built a family home, Heron Court Hall, opposite the church, which is now the Rugeley Snooker Club on Heron Street. The stone that was used to build the church and the tower came from Beaudesert which was the home of Henry Paget, the Marquess of Anglesey, who had served with Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. As the church was being completed Joseph chose to ascend the spire himself to place some ornaments, despite having no skills as a steeple-jack, and while he was doing so one of the ladder rungs snapped, leaving him clinging on to the ladder with his bare hands until rescued! Joseph was also an inventor and his inventions included a narrow boat that allowed water to flow through it so that it prevented the wash being thrown up on a canal; a safety stirrup so that riders could mount their horses more safely and a double-action piston for steam engines. In 1855, an inquest took place following the death of John Parsons Cook, one of the alleged victims of Dr William Palmer. The foreman of the jury was Joseph Whitgreave and the jury returned a verdict of ‘Wilful Murder’. In 1860, Joseph became a Justice of the Peace for Staffordshire. By the 1881 census Joseph and the family were living in Erith, Kent but he returned to Rugeley where he passed away on 3 February 1885, aged 61, leaving a widow, three sons and two daughters. A memorial window to him is in the St. Joseph & St. Etheldreda church and the church itself is a lasting memorial to Joseph and his sister, who provided the funds and the inspiration for the church to be built in 1849. There is also a road named after the family in Rugeley, this being Whitgreave Lane. Joseph Whitgreave is perhaps not the most well-known name but as a benefactor, inventor, justice of the peace and founder of one of the most iconic buildings in the town, he fully deserves his place as one of the most significant men in Rugeley’s history. Sources: The British Newspaper Archive; British History Online website; www.ancestry.co.uk; www.rugeleycatholicchurch.co.uk
Brereton in 1892
Thanks to The Landor Society for introducing us to the wonderful ‘Sketches in and around Lichfield and Rugeley’ by Alfred Williams, published in 1892. Here, we bring you an extract as we take a stroll through Brereton as it was back then.
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Main Road with the Talbot Inn on the far right.
bout one mile from Rugeley, on a gentle elevation, stands the pleasant village of Brereton. It is situate on the high road to Lichfield, with well wooded upland scenery on the right, and the valley of the Trent on the left. The walk to the village is a delightful one the road being edged with noble trees, pretty gardens, and smiling meadows, while several residences of an extensive character are dotted here and there between pretty rows of cottages. The traveller having passed the District Hospital on the left, standing in well laid out grounds, comes to Ravenhill, or Revering Hill, as it was formerly called, where is an old-fashioned mansion, the residence of R. Anderson, Esq. At this point the trees overshadow the road on either side, while the view from the top of the hill is exceedingly pretty. A few minutes’ walk further on brings the traveller to the top of another hill and to the village itself, with its picturesque church nestling, as it were, amongst the trees. Nearly opposite is
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The Plough Inn, c.1910, when the landlord was Richard Watkiss
Pepper Pot Lodge, Brereton Hill Road. Built c.1814 as the south-west entrance to Armitage Park (now Hawkesyard Hall).
the Wesleyan Chapel, the Perseverance Institute, and the Free Schools, while further along is the Girl’s National School, that for the boys being situate in Red Brook Lane. The Free School, which has done more than half a century of sound educational work, was originally designed for the accommodation of forty poor boys. It is strictly of an undenominational character no creed or catechism being allowed to be taught. The school was erected in 1838 by Miss Elizabeth Birch, and was enlarged in 1866, being now as large again as it was previous to the alteration. The alms houses, which were also the gift of Miss Birch, were erected to accommodate six poor women, over 60 years of age, who were of good moral character and in necessitous circumstances, each of whom were to receive four shillings a week.
Etching Hill W.I. .............
he first Etching Hill Women’s Institute meeting of 2019 was extremely well attended with an almost full-house.
Guest Speaker, Ranger Rob Davis, gave an informative talk on the very local subject of Deer of Staffordshire.
Amongst the hills, on the right, are the Earl of Shrewsbury’s extensive collieries, which provide employment for a large number of the male population of this and surrounding villages. There is a line of railway connected with the collieries which joins the Cannock line at Rugeley, and a single line of rails also runs down to the side of the canal. The Vicarage stands by the side of the road, in very pleasant grounds, while the meadows at the back of the same are frequently enlivened by the presence of the school children and members of the church, who hold their annual fetes here by the kind invitation of the Vicar. At the extreme end of the village are two old-fashioned Inns, while beyond is the steep ascent, known as Brereton Hill, which leads up to Longdon, and commands a magnificent view of the country around Rugeley.
The competition for January was to snap the best photograph of deer. Margaret’s entry came first, closely followed by Jan and Karen. The meeting continued with a mini auction of items brought in by members, such as unwanted Christmas gifts, books and toiletries, which raised an amount of £120.80. The next meeting is on 13th February and will be the traditional Members’ Night. Meetings take place on the second Wednesday of the month at Etching Hill Village Hall, East Butts Road, Etching Hill from 7.45pm and new members are always made most welcome. For more information please visit our web site at www.wi-etchinghill.org.uk.
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What’s On at your Local Church January/February 2019 .............
Community Passion Play, in conjunction with Hart School, to be performed on Good Friday. If you would like to be involved in any way, please come to our meeting on Thursday 24th January at 7.30pm at St. Augustine’s Church, Station Road, Rugeley. Valentine’s Lunch at St. Augustine’s Church, Station Road, Rugeley on Saturday 16th February. More details available online at www.brateamministry.org/diary. Coffee Morning at St. John the Baptist Church, Church Close, Slitting Mill. Everyone welcome. £2.50 including coffee/tea biscuits and homemade cake. First Wednesday of every month (6th Feb) at 10.30 am. Please note: there are no toilet facilities at the church. Organists wanted for both St. Augustine’s and St. Michael’s. Please send CVs and covering letters to davidmaevans1@gmail.com. Deadline 31st January.
MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTORS WANTED
ADVERTISE IN THIS SPACE FROM AS LITTLE AS £30 PLUS VAT
Earn extra money delivering magazines in various areas. Must be over 16
Call REBECCA 07970 513144
Competition and Prize Draw Terms and Conditions 1.Entrant’s details will be held and processed in line with Citylife in Lichfield Ltd’s Privacy Policy, which in turn adheres to GDPR Data Protection legislation. For a copy of our Privacy Policy please email josscitylife@gmail.com 2.By entering the prize draw/competition, you agree to the terms and conditions stated. 3.The closing date is stated on each individual prize draw or competition. 4.Entrants’ details will be securely held by Citylife in Lichfield Ltd in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Details will be held only until the closing date of the competition. After this date entrants’ details will be securely destroyed/deleted. Winners’ contact details will be securely stored only until the winner has been informed of their win/prize. After this details will be securely deleted/destroyed. 5.Entrants’ details will never be shared with any third party. The only exception to this is the name (and if the prize is to be posted) address of Competition/Prize Draw winners that will be communicated to the competition partner to allow winners to securely claim their prize, after which all details will be securely destroyed. The initial and surname of winners will be printed in our magazines – no other details will be published. 6.By entering the competition/prize draw, entrants agree to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd using or publishing materials provided by the entrants (but not address or contact details apart from initial and surname) in any of their publications and online. 7.Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for any breach of copyright or breach of
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Call Marie 07548 682576
any other legislation entailed by entrants in their creation or submission of materials. 8.Only one entry per prize draw/competition, per reader. 9.Except in the case of cash prizes, no cash equivalent will be offered and the prize is non-transferable. 10.All prizes are subject to availability and the prize suppliers' terms and conditions. 11.No purchase necessary. 12.Prize draws and competitions are only open to UK residents aged 18 years or over (unless otherwise stated). 13.Competitions and prize draws may not be entered by any employee of individual associated with any employee, agent or third party of Citylife in Lichfield Ltd. 14.Winners will be selected at random in the case of applicable prize draws and competitions, or by an independent judge in the case of photographic/art competitions from all entries received. 15.Winners will be notified by Citylife in Lichfield up to 28 days after the closing date of the competition/prize draw by the contact details provided by the entrant. 16.A list of the surnames and county of residence of the winners will be available by writing to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd no earlier than six weeks after the competition closing date. 17.When the prize draw/competition winner has been selected, this decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
18.Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for the prize being lost, damaged or delayed in transit. When the prize is provided by a third party, Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for any change to the prize, or for the quality of the prize provided. 19.Competitions may be amended or withdrawn at any time. 20.By entering the competition or prize draw, you agree to having your name, (photograph, where stated) and city or county of residence published in any of Citylife in Lichfield’s publications and online. 21.Unless otherwise stated, the promoter is Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS. 22. Citylife in Lichfield Ltd do not express any warranty or endorsement of any competition prize, information, service or product provided in connection with a competition by printing or otherwise publicising any competition. 23.To the full extent of the law, Citylife in Lichfield Ltd shall not be liable for any loss, claim, punitive, indirect, incidental or consequential damages of any kind incurred as a result of entering this prize draw or competition. 24.By submitting photos, text or artworks as part of competition/prize draw entries you agree that you own these photos text or artworks, that it is your original work to which you own all rights to distribute, and that your entry is accurate, moral and legal.
Cycling 2000 extend premises Advertising Feature
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A warm welcome awaits you at Cycling 2000, the well known local bike shop. Cycling 2000 have recently extended their premises on Wheel Lane, Lichfield offering an even greater selection of bikes, workshop services and now also a place to stop for coffee. They offer bikes and accessories from well known brands such as Merida, Cannondale, GT, Ebco and Frog with Scott and Altura accessories, catering for all ages and abilities from children’s bikes to electric bikes. The recently installed Zwift and Elite turbo demo area is also proving very popular for people wanting to try indoor cycling. David and Fleur Green together with Fleur’s brother Paul, who runs their Burton store, believe cycling should be inclusive and are passionate about encouraging and enabling everybody to give it a go. Maintenance and repairs are carried out in the workshop by qualified mechanics offering a professional and friendly service. Collection and delivery of your bike can be arranged for your added convenience. Cycling 2000 is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm (Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 5pm) at 50-52 Wheel Lane, Lichfield, WS13 7EA with free parking available. Get in touch via email at info@cycling2000.co.uk or call 01543 258280. You can also visit their website at www.cycling2000.co.uk.
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