A SELECT MAGAZINE FOR THE RUGELEY AND CANNOCK CHASE AREA
MAY 2015 ISSUE 18
PJs for Charity! See page 22
News • Competitions • Gazette Heritage • What’s On
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CONTENTS
06 Win Lunch for Two Win Lunch for Two (Mon-Thurs) and enjoy the Netherstowe House experience.
12 Brideshand Revisited By Kate Gomez.
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14 The Life and Times of Brook Square. Fantastic pictures from The Landor Society.
16 Brereton Sidings By Tim Jones
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20 The Drowing of Sir William Wolseley 1728. By Ken Edwards
26 to 28 Top Home & Garden Tips Beautiful homes & gardens in 2015. 32-33 Just Gorgeous Dressing for that special event.
36 What’s On in Your Area Get out and about.
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Front cover image by Joss Musgrove Knibb Carry on the conversation on facebook at Rugeley and Chase Gazette
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32 20
Contact the Gazette see page 38
Nobody wants memories any more!
You open a drawer and inside you find an old black and white photograph of Mum and Dad, or yourself as a wannabe Bay City Roller. Even better, you find a long lost school photograph of you aged 12… or even worse, it’s you on some south coast promenade with ice-cream all over your six-year-old face and those first sunglasses. What memories! My mother has albums of the family from mono-chrome fifties, through bell-bottom Polaroid seventies to pre-Millennium nineties. These days, with the wonder of computers and the digital age, all of that has come to an abrupt stop. The modern idiom of social networking coupled with the mobile phone / mega-pixel camera has rendered the old film camera quite useless. The flashcard and data stick has superseded yesterday’s outmoded technology. Gone are the days where the eagerly awaited packets of photographs from Boots, Trueprint or Super-Snaps dropped through the letterbox, where half the prints were of Dad’s thumb or heads were unceremoniously ‘chopped off’.
CONTRIBUTORS
Letter Editor A
from the
But consider this, where will those digital files and mobile phones be in 30 years’ time and will Facebook be a thing of the past? Will all our todays be lost for tomorrow? Do you even know where last year’s holiday images are now? If you stop and think about it, it’s quite sad and a little bit frightening. Or is it that no one wants memories anymore?
Yours truly Paul Oakley (Editor)
MAY 2015 Issue 18
• Caz Jones • Joss Musgrove Knibb • The Landor Society • Kate Gomez • Ken Edwards • Tim Jones ABOUT YOUR LOCAL MAGAZINE
Rugeley & Chase Gazette is your local monthly magazine distributed free to more than 15,000 homes and businesses in and around the Rugeley & Cannock Chase area. We do not seek to sensationalise but to inform and entertain our readers. The views expressed in this magazine are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the publishers. The Rugeley & Chase Gazette magazine is not a franchise or connected with any other group of publications.
A limited number of the Rugeley & Chase Gazette are available and can be purchased at 90p from our office.
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We want your stories!
The Rugeley and Chase Gazette is your magazine. Every month we bring you local stories, news, events and activities and we want to hear from you! If you have a story that you think we might be interested in, or are running an activity that you'd like to let everyone know about, just get in touch by calling Joss (the Deputy Editor) on 07833 735048 or by emailing her at gazetteeditorial@hotmail.co.uk. We'd also like to hear about your family announcements that we will run in our entire 15,000 issues for free.
When responding to adverts please mention the Rugeley and Chase Gazette
WIN
LUNCH
FOR TWO PEOPLE AT NETHERSTOWE HOUSE
Chase the Dog
Win a Lunch for Two (MonThurs) and enjoy the Netherstowe House experience. As the venue of choice for many milestone celebrations, such as anniversaries, birthdays and weddings, Netherstowe House Hotel and Restaurant resonates to the sound of laughter throughout the year from guests indulging in a seasonal soiree. Past well known patrons who have enjoyed doing just that include Sir Roger Moore, Helen Baxindale, Barry Norman CBE, Claire Sweeny and Idris Elba to name but a few. Netherstowe House are incredibly proud to have been voted 'Restaurant of the Year' at the Taste of Staffordshire Good Food awards, to have received an AA Rosette award for Culinary Excellence and to be recommended by the Michelin Guide. These coveted awards and accolades are testament to the dedication of their team who are incredibly passionate about delighting guests. Express Lunch Menu: 2 Courses ~ ÂŁ16; 3 Courses ~ ÂŁ20 12 midday to 2:30pm (Mon - Fri), 1:00pm to 2:30pm (Sat)
Chase is a naughty little puppy! True to form he has
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scampered off and got lost again in this issue and we need your help to find him. He might be in an advertisement or a story, can you find him? When you have found him (he looks like the image at the top of this page) simply tell us which page he is on for a chance to win lunch for two people at Netherstowe House in Lichfield. Write the page number on a postcard or the back of a sealed envelope along with your name and address and send it to us no later than 1 May 2015 to: Chase the Dog Competition Gazette Magazine P O Box 5414 Lichfield WS14 4EZ One entry per household only please (or disqualified). The Editor will draw the winning entry and announce it in the next issue of the Chase Gazette. Good luck!! Congratulations to Ruth Smith, Tithebarn Road, Rugeley, who spotted Chase the dog on page 17 of the Rugeley and Chase Gazette April issue.
CGMAY15
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Competition Winners
Giant Easter Egg Competition Congratulations to Sophie Moore, winner of our giant Easter egg competition.
Boots No7 Competition Congratulations to Sue Kerrison of Daffodil Walk, Rugeley, winner of the Boots No7 Gift Pack. Moddershall Oaks Ultimate Romantic Spa Competition Congratulations to Simon and Lucy Cooper of High Grange, Lichfield, winners of the Moddershall Oaks Spa Evening.
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Brideshand Revisited
Thanks to Kate Gomez for this fascinating insight into a mysterious local tradition.
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here is a ‘Bride’s Hand’ carved into the stonework of the south porch of St James the Great at Longdon. It’s an old tradition that brides arriving at the church would place their own hand against it, in the hope that it would bring good fortune and fertility to their impending marriage. Apparently, some twenty-first century Longdon brides-to-be still partake in this ritual. Recently, I was idly scrolling through Twitter when two hands, similar to the one at Longdon, grabbed my attention.The image had been taken from Timothy Easton’s article on symbols which appears in the Winter edition of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings‘ magazine*, and the carvings themselves are to be found on the south doors of two churches in the neighbouring
South porch of St James', Longdon where the carving can be found.
send a very definite ‘Stop!’ sign to any evil spirits attempting to sneak inside. As anyone who follows the Medieval Graffiti project (a project that discovers and catalogues graffiti carved by the medieval congregations of churches in The ‘Bride’s Hand’ Carving, St James the Great, Longdon the UK) will know, these hands are just one of the many types of markings that Gloucestershire villages can be found in our churches. Some were of Ampney St Mary and an attempt to ward off evil spirits and no Ampney Crucis. Until doubt some were an attempt to ward off now, I wasn’t sure boredom. St James the Great may be filled whether the Bride’s with beautiful carvings but I can’t help Hand was just a quirky being drawn to these ones that aren’t bit of history unique to really supposed to be there. For me, a Longdon but the crudely etched protective symbol and appearance of similar Joseph Nevill’s graffiti trump grand symbolism, in a similar memorials and marble tombs hands-down. position, at churches one hundred miles Kate Gomez south of here suggests not. Timothy Easton *Which their press officer very kindly believes that the sent to me after I sent an excited tweet carvings were added to telling them I’d seen one just like that.
Graffiti at St James the Great, Longdon
Looking for a forever home.
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Hello there, I'm hoping one of you could help me by giving me a home and lots of love and cuddles? My name is Vinnie and I'm around five years old I think. I was born outside and I have never had a real home. Someone caught me one day and took me to an animal doctor who tipped my ear and also 'neutered' me but then I was released outside again. Until one day a kind lady from Rugeley Cats Society rescued me and said I could stay with her until she found me my perfect human companion. I have always wanted my own human because when I have spoken to other cats in the streets where I have roamed, they seem so happy and I have never felt that happiness. I really don't mind other cats and
those big slobbery things called 'dogs' don't particularly scare me. I also wouldn't mind sharing my new home with the little humans either, as long as they're not too little though. I have longed for love and a home to call my own for all of my life and I promise to be your friend forever if you tickle me behind my ears and I have a soft warm bed. If you have room in your heart and home for me then please contact the lovely ladies at Rugeley Cats Society via their facebook page or email them at rugeleycatssociety@gmail.com and then they can explain my adoption process. Thank you for reading my story. Lots of love and purrs Vinnie xxx
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Obesity and disability discrimination - time to update your business policy
tatistics published in 2014 by the Health and Social Care Information Centre showed a marked increase in the proportion of adults who were obese between 1993 and 2012. Among men figures rose from 13.2 per cent to 24.4 per cent, and the figure for women rose from 16.4 per cent to 25.1 per cent. These statistics could be significant in light of the recent European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling which concluded that severe obesity can fall within the definition of disability in equality law. This gives employees certain rights if treated unfairly as a result of their obesity. Adam Pike, an employment lawyer in the dispute resolution team at Ansons Solicitors in Cannock, advises business owners on what they should do to prevent disability discrimination claims: “Businesses have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to premises or working practices where a disabled job applicant or employee is placed at a substantial disadvantage,” says Adam. “Failing to comply with this duty is a form of disability discrimination. There is no limit to the amount of compensation that can be awarded for a successful disability discrimination claim.”
The ECJ confirmed that there is no free standing prohibition against discrimination on grounds of obesity, but concluded that severe obesity could be classed as a disability if the following factors apply: • the employee has a physical or mental impairment as a result of their obesity that results in reduced mobility or the onset of medical conditions. As such, preventing them from carrying out their work or causing discomfort when carrying out their duties; and • the effect is substantial and likely to be long-term. Employers should be alert to the impact that obesity has on their workforce. It may be necessary to consider special allowances, known as reasonable adjustments, for certain employees who have obesity related medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or mobility problems. What types of adjustments may a business have to make? The reasonable adjustments businesses are required to make depends on the facts of the individual situation. Examples include: • making adjustments to premises. For example, widening a doorway or providing a ramp; • providing information in accessible formats. For instance, producing instructions and manuals in Braille or on audio tape;
• reinstatement, such as reinstating an employee who resigned while depressed; • transferring a disabled employee to a new role, such as moving them to fill an existing Adam Pike vacancy; or • altering the disabled person’s hours of working or training. For example, permitting part-time working or different working hours to avoid the need to travel in the rush hour. Failing to address these issues could result in employees bringing a claim for unfair dismissal or disability discrimination in the employment tribunal. This could be costly for your business as compensation for discrimination is uncapped. Getting specialist advice from an employment solicitor on your business’ disability procedures and protocol can help prevent this. For further advice about your disability policy and procedures or disability discrimination claims, please contact Adam Pike in the dispute resolution team, on 01543 431 197 or email apike@ansonsllp.com. Ansons Solicitors has offices in Cannock and Lichfield, Staffordshire.
By Tim Jones Brereton Sidings
Until recently there was a signal box at Rugeley Town station. With the modernisation of signalling along the line, it’s been taken down and moved to Chasewater Light Railway where it will be re-erected. But why was it called “Brereton Sidings”? The answer is that there used to be a mineral line from what we now call the Chase Line up to the collieries in the Brereton part of Cannock Chase. The last of these, Brereton pit in Colliery Road, closed in 1960 when Lea Hall colliery opened. Here’s a photo of one of its engines “Vanguard” with a coal train and the signal box, familiar to many of us, behind it. Tim Jones, Chair, Brereton and Ravenhill Heritage Committee.
Family Announcements
See your family announcements here from next month’s issue births, deaths and marriages, contact our sales team for details 01543 302748. Page 16 www.chasegazette.co.uk
Lyric - 100% invisible - extended wear hearing aid - no one will ever see how well you can hear available on 30 days free trial!
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yric is completely invisible and is the world’s first hearing aid which can be worn for extended periods of time. No one can see how well you can hear 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s the future of hearing! The Lyric device from Swiss hearing aid manufacturer Phonak is placed completely in your ear canal by a trained professional, is just 12mm long and sits just 4mm from your eardrum. It offers exceptional sound quality and is the ultimate invisible hearing aid. Rebecca Cross of Dove Hearing Centre in Lichfield said: “As a Lyric approved partner, we are excited to welcome Lyric as part of our range of products. Lyric takes your hearing loss results and creates the optimum listening for you. This digitally programmable hearing device gives a natural sound because it sits so close to your eardum. Your go to sleep hearing and awaken hearing! We have been chosen by Lyric because of our specialist technology and skilled training.” Lyric uses the natural properties of your ears anatomy so you are hearing the way your ears are designed to! Lyric gives you
exceptional hearing and lets you live your life without constraints. It is chosen by all people who like the fact that Lyric sits completely in the ear canal so it is 100% invisible, and is the most cosmetic hearing aid on the market. Among the celebrities wearing Lyric is Karen Hardy from Strictly Come Dancing. Constant use
You can wear Lyric for all your daily activities, including showering, exercising and sleeping. No daily insertion or removal, battery changes or maintenance. You are using the natural properties of your outer ear to improve localisation. Lyric has been available in the USA since 2007, where there are thousands of people successfully wearing the instrument. It is only available to 38 hearing centres in the UK and in many other countries across the world. It is exclusive in this area to Dove Hearing Centres. Lyric is completely different to any other hearing aid on the market due to the fact that it can be worn continuously for two months at a time. You will have no daily reminder of your hearing loss and people who currently wear Lyric say that they no longer feel like a hearing aid user.
To book your free 30 day Lyric trial call 01543 262670
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The Drowning of Sir William Wolseley - 1728 By Ken Edwards
n the Rugeley area floods and fires were of frequent occurrence. On one occasion an extraordinary occurrence at Longdon, mentioned here, caused the death of Sir William Wolseley, 3rd Bart. Sir William was a great traveller, and on one occasion he brought four beautiful Arab mares back to England from Persia. In Persia he had had his fortune told to the effect, that as a punishment for having consulted a fortune-teller he and his four mares should be drowned together. To
avoid this calamity he sent his mares home in one ship while he followed in another. Some years after, while living at Wolseley Hall, he invited the Rector of Colwich to accompany him to Lichfield and dine there, but the Rector excused himself on account of a dream his wife had had the night before. Sir William accordingly went to Lichfield by himself, and was returning about 8pm on 6th July 1728 in the midst of a great storm. He reached the little brook at Longdon, (Shropshire Brook) and at that instant the increase of water in the brook caused by the thunderstorm burst the mill dam, and a great flood of water came down carrying horses and carriage with Sir William down the stream and drowning them. The coachman’s life was saved by means of an over-hanging tree which he clung to. 100 years or so later one of the plates of the hammercloth* was dug up near the spot and is now in Wolseley Hall. Sir William was buried at Colwich St Michael’s Church on the 9th July 1728. *Part of the driver’s seat and the seat covering of a horse-drawn carriage. Ken Edwards is a member of the Landor Society. These notes were taken from an article written by George Marmaduke Cockin and from Colwich Parish Register.
Longdon Village near the site of Lord Wolseley’s drowning
The MASE Group Monthly Alzheimer’s Support Evening
The MASE is an opportunity for people with Alzheimer's/ Dementia, their carers, families and friends, to meet and socialise with others in a similar situation. MASE Drop in dates: Cannock - St Luke Church Hall, Cannock, WS11 1DE, 1st Monday afternoon of the month from 1:30 - 3:00. Great Wyrley - Old Wyrley Hall, WS15 2EH, 1st Monday of the month from 7pm - 9pm. Haughton - Village Hall, ST18 9EZ, 2nd Thursday of the month 7pm - 9pm. Rugeley - St Joseph's Church Hall, WS15 2EH, 3rd Wednesday of the month 7pm - 9pm. Hednesford, Aquarius, WS12 1BT, last Thursday of the month 7pm - 9pm. All events are free of charge, and include drinks, buffet, raffle and musical entertainment. For more information please contact: Daphne (01785) 211140 Elaine (01785) 823110 Registered Charity No: 1137193 www.themasegroup.com
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The conclusion of a sparkling year
he last speaker meeting of the Cannock and District Soroptomist International Diamond Anniversary year was held on St Patrick’s Day and members wore something green in honour of the date. At the meeting they celebrated the work they have done during the year to support Staffordshire Women’s Aid and the Pathway Project by inviting representatives of each organisation to update members and guests on the Dickie James, Dr Janis Lomas, Amada Milling and Tracey Rowley. work they are doing and to present cheques from the monies raised during the year. Dickie James, CEO of Staffordshire Women’s Aid said that they work closely with Pathway, particularly in providing services for women and children in the Cannock area who need their support. President Janis Lomas then introduced Tracy Rowley from the Pathway Project. Cannock Soroptimists have supported Pathway for the last 20 years by providing toiletries, goods to equip homes and, from time to time, funds. On behalf of Kathy Coe, Pathway’s Director, she thanked Soroptimists for the support they give to the project, saying that the gifts of comfort bags are always so much appreciated by the women who enter the refuge. Although fund raising wasn’t a major focus for the Diamond Anniversary year, SI Cannock raised £1500 which was divided between the two organisations. Both Dickie and Tracy were thrilled to receive the cheques, which they hadn’t known about beforehand. Staffordshire Women’s Aid will use the money towards furnishing their new Refuge and Pathway will use theirs on some much needed new equipment for their youth club which runs each week and provides young people whose lives have been difficult with an opportunity to make new friends and to have some time to be children again. For more information please visit: www.sigbi.org/cannock-and-district or www.facebook.com/SICannock
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PJs for charity!
everal traders at Rugley Indoor Market, Bees Lane, have been presented with a certificate to thank them for their fantastic fundraising efforts in aid of the NET Patient Foundation, a neuroendocrine cancer community website. On 21st February Tracey Pierpoint from Serenity Hairdressers, Angie Walker from Lachmere and Sue from Hollys Café all took part in a Pyjama Day, where they and their customers were sponsored to wear their PJs or onesies for the day. In addition to sponsorship and donations, homemade cakes were also sold to raise a total of £136.57.
Sailing Club Open Day
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anor Park Sailing Club will be holding an open day on Saturday May 9th from 10am to 3pm. As part of the clubs 'Push the boat out' day, the aim is to show how dinghy sailing could be the sport for you. They will try to get you out sailing with experienced sailors, weather allowing, as well as show you around the club and grounds, introducing you to club members. If you want to get involved then expect to get wet! Bring a towel, change of clothes, spare trainers and a smile. Manor Park Sailing Club is located along the A513 Rugeley Road between Kings Bromley and Armitage. Parking is free, just drive all the way down the track and to the large car park past the clubhouse.
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The Lichfield Prize 2015
re you an ar tist? Would you like to win £500 cash and a gallery exhibition? Emporium art gallery, in partnership with The Lichfield Festival, is looking for artists across the UK to participate in their annual visual art competition. Under the exhibition title of Field Of Vision entrants are invited to creatively interpret this year's festival theme of landscapes and journeys. Paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, textiles, mixed media, and photography are welcome. The First Prize of £500 cash is sponsored by Tempest Ford of Lichfield and includes the opportunity of a solo exhibition at Emporium. All finalists work will be exhibited in the Field of Vision exhibition at Lichfield Cathedral and all selected artists will be exhibited at Emporium for the duration of The Lichfield Festival. Information on how to apply and the rules of the competition can be found on at www.emporiumgallery.co.uk Closing date for entries is 2nd June 2105. For further information please contact Emporium on 01543 256624 or email emporiumartgallery@gmail.com
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Changes at Amazon
ouncillor Gordon Alcott, Portfolio Leader for Economic Development and Planning has recently visited the Amazon Fulfillment Centre, Rugeley, to see the improvements made to increase capacity at its store. Last year following proposals made to Cannock Chase Council to expand the 700,000 sq ft centre, many improvements have been made including; a new entrance built, extra car parking spaces added, a new bus stop installed as well as internal alterations to build a mezzanine floor which are all now complete. Councillor Alcott said: “I can’t believe the changes that have been made since my last visit, the mezzanine floor is a great addition, it has increased capacity and allowed the business to grow. I was delighted to hear of the significant growth in permanent employees and the introduction of apprenticeship opportunities. “It’s good to see that when working closely with local businesses that the Council can help address issues such as the problems that Amazon had with the HGV access. There is now a new lorry park that provides access to a HGV waiting area. We want to help Amazon to grow its business in Rugeley and in return see more permanent jobs and apprenticeships created at the fulfilment centre. We look forward to continuing to work with Amazon as a major employer in the District.”
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Top Ten Tips for Selling Save £800 on stamp duty Your Home when you move into your
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re you looking to move in 2015? If you want to give your house a helping hand in the market, why not consider these easy top tips for selling your home? 1. Keep it clear Move small items like kettles and toasters off your worksurfaces. This gives the buyer a good impression of the space available. 2. Keep it light Put up mirrors to reflect light into darker rooms or spaces. Mirrors also give the impression of space. 3. Clear those keepsakes Take down family photographs and box up your ornaments.You want your buyer to visualise their belongings in your home. De-personalising a room will help them do this. 4. Clean and fresh If you can, have your carpets cleaned throughout the house. It will instantly make your home look fresher. 5. Take down your art You may love your paintings and prints, but if your buyers hate them it could affect their feelings towards your property. 6. Buy fresh flowers Fresh flowers add colour and glamour to a room, just don’t go for flowers that shed pollen that could stain clothes or bring on hayfever! 7. Keep it bright Buy brighter lightbulbs for each room. This will instantly make your home look brighter and more airy. 8. De-clutter Take your clothes and stored items out of built-in wardrobes. This will allow your buyers to appreciate the space available. 9. Bake! The smell of freshly baked bread or biscuits is pretty irresistible, and makes your home a truly welcoming space. 10. Feel the pressure! Hire a pressure washer to clean off paved areas. It’ll make them look brand new in no time. 5.
Monarch Park development in Cannock.
9.
Show home example.
10. 6. 2.
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new home
nap up one of the last two homes One of the final two homes available. available at Lovell’s popular Monarch Park development in Cannock – both ready for purchasers to move into this spring - and you’ll make a significant saving on stamp duty. The development is close to Cannock Chase, but at the same time within a short distance of the town centre and the motorway network. Thanks to the latest changes, purchasers can save £800 in stamp duty – compared with the previous rates – when they buy one of the development’s final two homes. Each is the detached Queenswood threebedroom house style, priced at £169,995. Another appealing feature for purchasers is that the Government-backed Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme is available on both homes available at Monarch Park. Each property is offered at £169,995 (£135,996 price after Help to Buy Equity Loan). Designed for both first-time buyers and people looking to move up the property ladder, Help to Buy means purchasers need only find a five per cent deposit to secure a new home, backed with a 20 per cent equity loan from the Government which is interest-free for the first five years. Queenswood offers a generous open-plan living / dining room on the ground floor with French doors to the turfed, walled rear garden. There is also the kitchen, with breakfast area, hall and cloakroom. Upstairs, the master bedroom has fitted wardrobes and an en-suite shower room while two further bedrooms and the family bathroom complete the first-floor layout. Each property also benefits from parking. To find out more, contact Lovell’s selling agents Bairstow Eves in Cannock, on 01543 331 086, or visit lovellnewhomes.co.uk
Children on lookout for spring
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n Tuesday 18 March children from Chase View Nursery (Rugeley) very much enjoyed visiting the Wolseley Bridge Garden Centre. With the sun shining and smiles on their faces they built on all they had learnt in class about growing plants and looking for signs of spring. A plant specialist gave them a lesson on how to plant seeds and how to care for them. They enjoyed investigating different plants, looking out for lots of colours and comparing sizes of leaves and stems.The children really enjoyed their adventure.
G-Scapes of Lichfield, Fullbrook Nursery. Exciting news from G-Scapes
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s a response to public demand, G-Scapes is opening the gates of its own Fullbrook Nursery to the public. For over 30 years, Fullbrook Nursery has been operating on a wholesale cash and carry basis, growing and selling an extensive range of quality plants for trade customers. This excellent service will continue midweek, but from the end of March, members of the public will be able to purchase home-grown plants direct from the grower on weekends and Bank Holidays. Fullbrook Nursery is open every weekend and Bank Holiday until the end of September. We had a couple of plant sales from the Nursery last September and the overwhelming feedback we got from customers was …please open more often to the public. …we’re missing your friendly faces. …we love the quality and range of your plants. …you have plants we can’t get anywhere else. …we know you can give sound horticultural advice. …we want plants, not candles, clothing and cake. …we don’t mind getting our feet dirty! So, here we are, the gates are open and G-Scapes is back by popular demand to share with you their passion for plants and their extensive horticultural experience. We will be selling a wide range of home-grown plants including trees, shrubs and specimen plants. We have an enviable range of herbaceous perennials, over 300 varieties guaranteed to give your garden all year round colour and interest. Our prices will be very competitive. Remember… “to get the best out of your garden, put the best into your garden”. Public opening times March to September - Sat 9.00 - 5.00. Sun & Bank Holidays 9.00 - 4.30. We really look forward to seeing you at Fullbrook soon.
£2,300 raised for Blood Bikes
Just a reminder, beware, Ben, the Nursery cat is trained to kill stray midweek plant hunters! So, for personal survival, stick to weekends! G-Scapes of Lichfield is a well established, family run business. From Landscape Design and Construction... to supply of plants and planting, G-Scapes offers your “Complete Garden Solution”.
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nsons Solicitors would like to thank everyone who popped into their offices in March to make a will and help raise £2,300 for Shropshire and Staffordshire Blood Bikes. An impressive 115 wills were written by the wills and probate team on the day, in return for a donation of just £20 each. The money raised will go towards the tireless work of Shropshire and Staffordshire Blood Bikes, a volunteer service that provides urgent emergency transportation of life saving medical supplies to local NHS Foundations. Marie Tisdale, head of the wills and probate team, said: “We are delighted to have welcomed so many new clients to the firm and raise money for Blood Bikes in the process. Having had such encouraging feedback, the team will certainly be planning another event like it in the near future.” Ansons Solicitors has offices in Cannock and Lichfield.
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Garden Perfection in 2015
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he sun is finally shining, the clocks have gone forward and it’s time to think about long lazy summer days in the garden. If your plot needs a bit of updating, why not consider these top garden trends for 2015? Micro salads Great on a windowsill or greenhouse, sprinkle a few seeds, wait a couple of weeks and you’ve got a tasty, tender salad that also looks beautiful! Raised beds They’re great if bending down can be a problem, and they also add structure to a garden design. Consider staining the bed containing walls grey, blue or black for real wow factor. Portuguese pavements Oh so pretty and decorative, Portuguese pavements use a mosaic style to add Mediterranean glamour to your garden. Native plants Just sprinkle and go – a bed of native wildflowers is not only exquisitely beautiful, it will attract lots of pollinating insects to your garden too! Just add drama!
‘Ribbon’ paths
Raised beds
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ALL-NEW KIA SORENTO AVAILABLE AT ACORN KIA IN BURNTWOOD
‘Ribbon’ paths These paths emulate the ruts left by old fashioned wagons and carts by creating a double path with grass running down the middle. Not only do they look delightful they also help with water distribution and run off during a downpour. Just add drama! To show off your planting to its best affect, consider painting garden fencing black. It adds instant drama and gives a glorious backdrop to flowers and foliage all year round. The English country garden Abundant, luscious and informal, the English country garden with its emphasis on a mixture of traditional and native plants, vegetables and recycling of materials is bang on trend. It’s also one of the most beautiful ways to plant a smaller garden. Sheds Sheds are not just spaces for potting plants and storage (although we love them for this), they’re magical rooms for writing, creating and •Third generation Sorento enjoys new and relaxing! innovative technologies. •Major strides in engineering, refinement and The English country garden quality. •Seven seats, EU6 diesel engine and all-wheel drive as standard. •Available at Acorn Kia from just £28,795. Following Kia’s recent launch of the allnew Sorento, Acorn Kia is proud to announce that from April 8th the fantastic new model will be available for purchase. Featuring some fantastic technologies, the seven-seat SUV is sure to be an instant success with the public. Previous versions have appealed to a diverse range of customers, and the thirdgeneration Sorento will again change the way that people see the brand as it is better equipped, more refined, stylish and technologically advanced than ever before. Safety and convenience technologies new to the model include Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Advanced Cruise Control, Around View Motoring and Speed Limit Information. Powered by an EU6-compliant 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine, it is more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly too. The all-new Sorento is longer, lower and wider than the previous model thanks to an all-new platform, while an extended wheelbase creates greater room in all three rows of seats. Minutely detailed body and Portuguese chassis engineering work has resulted in a pavements Native plants car which is not only more engaging to drive, but also much more refined to travel in. Matthew Sparkes of Acorn Kia said: “I’m thrilled to announce that the all-new Kia Sorento is now available at Acorn Kia. The new generation model boasts some fantastic new features, and the fact that it’s more fuelefficient is great news too. We look forward to welcoming customers along for a test drive!” Sheds Micro salads
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St John's Church Coffee Morning
Coffee Morning at St. John’s Church, Church Close, Slitting Mill. First Wednesday of each month at 10.30am. £2.50 including, raffle tea or coffee and homemade cake or biscuits. Pop along for a chat - you will be very welcome.
Rugeley Foodbank
Rugeley Foodbank is open every Tuesday and Friday from 2pm to 4pm at Rugeley Community Church. Regular weekly gifts of tins and packets of food are urgently required. You can bring your gift to your local church but please make sure that all food has a sell by date of at least six months ahead.
Music is in the Air
A concert in aid of The Alzheimer’s Society 'Music is in the Air' featuring The Stafford Grammar School Concert Band and The Rugeley Academies Vocal Ensemble will take place on Friday 1st May at 7pm at Lea Hall Social Club, Sandy Lane, Rugeley. Tickets £4. Pay on the door. All welcome.
John Short and Son Win 4th Award
John Short and Son, the independent, family owned firm of Funeral Directors in High Street, Chasetown, have won the Regional F u n e r a l Planner of the Year award 2015. This is the fourth time L to R Mrs Sue Hadley, Senior Funeral Arranger. Mrs Mary Short and that they have daughter Catherine Short. won the award in the last six years. Regional Funeral Planner of the Year is awarded by Golden Charter, in conjunction with SAIF (the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors). To win this coveted award four times is a tremendous achievement. Mrs Mary Short, director, said how proud they are to receive this prestigious acknowledgment of their family run business’s ongoing commitment to the local community. John Short and Son have been established since 1866 and will celebrate their 150th anniversary next year. Page 31
All the fun of the Charter Fair!
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his year’s Rugeley Charter Fair Parade starts at 12 noon on Saturday 6 June from Power Station Road and finishes at Hagley Park at 1pm. The theme of the Fair is the ‘800 year anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta’. This year there’s even more to enjoy including: Jousting; Hand to Hand Medieval Combat; Various Medieval Workshops (from archery to storytelling); Lurcher Racing; Falconry; Duck Herding; Ferret Racing; Market Stalls; Charity Stalls and lots more. Anybody wishing to take part in the Fair and Parade can contact the Town Council offices on 01889 574074 or email finance@rugeleytowncouncil.gov.uk
2nd Rugeley Scout Group is 40 years old!
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Claire Sheasby, Cub Leader
he 2nd Rugeley Scout Group is one of the biggest in the area and includes over 90 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts aged from between 6 to 14 years old, plus group leaders and volunteers led by Delma Draper - Group Scout Leader. It is 2nd Rugeley Scout Group’s 40th anniversary this year. This thriving group has benefitted hundreds of Rugeley children and is based at Sheepfair Community Centre. This centre was built as a result of a charitable grant of £403,000. It is the home of 2nd Rugeley Scouts but is also used by over 500 members of other
organisations. Do you enjoy working with young people? The group is looking for volunteers to help out with this fantastic group. If you only have time to spare occasionally, or could commit to more regular hours 2nd Rugeley Scout Group wants to hear from you.There are lots of ways that you can help, from cooking on Scout camp to becoming a Scout Leader. There are no upper age restrictions as long as you are able-bodied. For further information contact Delma Draper on 01889800282 Michael Hall (9) or email receiving his Chief delmaanddavid@virginmedia.com Scout Silver Award. Page 34 www.chasegazette.co.uk
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Spring into 2015 with new seasonal menu from Netherstowe House
pring has finally sprung and Netherstowe House is celebrating by unveiling a brand new seasonal menu. Packed with flavour, this a la carte menu offers greater choice and genuine value for money, with diners able to select one, two, three or four courses to suit both their appetites and their budget. So what does the menu have in store for local food lovers? Head Chef Steve Garland has picked a sample from each course of the new Netherstowe House menu to bring his simple, flavoursome cooking to life for Gazette readers...
STARTER – SCALLOP The scallops served at Netherstowe House are of the highest standard available in the UK. They are hand dived, meaning that trained divers select them based on size and quality. Caught off the coast of Dover, they are served in the hotel restaurant the following day. They possess a wonderful flavour that is unspoilt, dressed with elderflower pickle from the chef's garden.
MAIN COURSE – MONKFISH Indian spices have been a strong influence on Steve's food experiences. So with this North Atlantic line-caught monkfish, he takes the tail meat and marinates it in a secret spice recipe that includes garam massala, cardamom and cinnamon for six hours. This is then presented simply with delicious cauliflower pakoras and roasted cauliflower and dressed with curry oil.
DESSERT – STRAWBERRY, BASIL & CHOCOLATE Basil is a herb that compliments sweeter dishes and is used in this dessert to infuse a champagne reduction that is then made into a jelly. It is coupled with shards of aerated chocolate, made in the Netherstowe House kitchen. Local strawberries add colour and flavour to meringue droplets which are added for decoration.
If that has whetted your appetite, why not consider Netherstowe House for your next meal out? It is a family owned and run venue where the welcome is warm and the gastronomy is exceptional. Offering affordable luxury in a tucked away corner of the cathedral city, Netherstowe House opened in 2008 following a thoughtful restoration that articulates the elegance of a bygone era.
A truly original venue for exquisite dining, memorable experiences and enchanting celebrations, Netherstowe House was voted ‘Restaurant of the Year’ at the Taste of Staffordshire Good Food Awards, has received an AA Rosette award for Culinary Excellence and is now recommended in the Michelin Guide. The new menu comprises a choice of five starters, priced from £7, seven main courses which start at £17 and a tempting range of desserts, each priced at £8. Netherstowe House also continues to offer a sumptuous cheese board priced at £10 which is served with grapes, celery, water biscuits, malt loaf, quince jelly and home-made chutney. The lunch menu is priced at £16 for two courses and £20 for three courses.
Guests can also enjoy the new seasonal menu and whimsical hotel surroundings as part of a special Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Offer. By choosing to relax and indulge in an overnight stay at this unique retreat, guests receive a freshly prepared three course evening dinner in the fine dining restaurant, sizzling English breakfast and charming double accommodation in one of Netherstowe House's individually designed boutique bedrooms. Alternatively, contemporary courtyard apartments are also available as part of the package, priced at £185 per room per night (total price for two guests sharing). To make a reservation, call 01543 254270. For more information, visit www.netherstowehouse.com
Celebrate St George’s Day with us in the ‘Mucky Duck’ at Fradley Junction! Live music, great food
Join in the fun of St George's Day at The Mucky Duck on Saturday 25th April. An evening of fun and food including Music and Storytelling intermingled with an old Vaudeville 'knees-up' in the traditional pub style.
Something for everyone It’s easy to enjoy Fradley Junction with all its colour and tranquility and its nearby nature reserve, which features in a couple of published British Waterways trails, or just sit with a beer (or a cup of tea) and watch the world float by. Over the past six years Rick & Tracey have resisted the urge to make The Swan into a trendy ‘gastro pub’ and kept it as a traditional canalside-socialising pub that folk have loved for well over two hundred years. Open 7 days a week, The Swan has something for everybody – it’s a retreat from the hurly burly of everyday life. It has a Sunday Carvery every week 12-3 with five meats and fresh vegetables for £10 inc. sweet and coffee. Lunch is served Mon-Sat 12-2.30 with a full menu available every evening 5.30 – 9pm. If your fancy is for traditional and homemade foods then The Swan is the place to enjoy a mixed grill, sirloin steak, beer battered cod, pork-belly & black pepper plus homemade curries and pies. Plus freshly made sandwiches, snacks and much more. Beer and entertainment The Swan has a superb selection of beers on draught such as Abbot and Pedigree, with four guest ales on all the time (so there’s always something new available). And of course all your popular ciders and lagers. And talking of something for everybody – why not call and enjoy the evening entertainment. Every Thursday evening is Folk Night, with Open Mic on Sunday evenings together with other events on throughout the summer months. And something unique is the Curiosity Shop, now open at the rear of the Mucky Duck selling all manner of things where you are welcome to have a mooch-around. Rick & Tracey extend a warm welcome and suggest you rediscover Fradley Junction and The Swan this weekend. Proper Pizzas - freshly made
The chef uses his skills to produce 9 and 12 inch pizzas throughout lunch and evening (also takeaway available). Great on a fresh Spring’s night with a glass of Italian wine with varieties such as: ‘Bitter Sweet’ with Mozzarella and caramelised onion; ‘All-day-Pizza-breakfast’ with bacon, egg and black pudding; Americano, Hawaiian; and Calzone. Follow that with coffee made from real Lavazza beans.
The Swan at Fradley Canalside eating at its best DE13 7DN Telephone 01283 790330 We are a dog friendly pub
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What’s On in your area
What’s On in April at Your Local Library
Rugeley Library Phone number 01889 256010 Friday 17th, 24th April 1pm –3pm. Rugeley Craft Club. Free. Weekly Club making various items. New members welcome, contact the Library for more information.
Monday 20th, 27th April 2pm –4pm. IT Support. Drop –in for IT support. Volunteer-led.
Monday 20th, 27th April 10am –10:30am. Baby Bounce and Rhyme Musical Session for Babies and Toddlers Under 5. Free, drop in.
Tuesday 21st, 28th April 11am –1pm. Regular IT Courses with ACL. Ask staff for details, booking is required.
Tuesday 21st, 28th April 1:30pm-4:30pm. Careers advice for young people with Entrust. Free, drop in.
Thursday 23rd April 11am –12:30pm. Spring online Week— Dobbie’s Garden World Rep demonstrating useful gardening websites. Free but booking is required.
Thursday 23rd, 30th April 10am -12noon. Rugeley Job Club Drop in for advice about applying for Jobs. Run by Groundworks. Free, drop in, please contact the Library for more information
Thursday 23rd, 30th April 9am—1pm. National Careers Service Advice. 1-1 appointments available. Free 1-1 appointments. To be booked through the Job Centre. Please contact Job Centre Plus for information. Friday 24h April 10am –10:45am. Crafty Caterpillars Tots Group (Term Time only). Free, drop in. Suitable for ages 2-5 but younger siblings welcome.
27th April –Saturday 1st May. Book sale—1 week only! Drop in, during normal Library hours!
Brereton Library Phone number 01889 256605 Monday 20th, 27th April 2:15pm –2:45pm. Story time for under 5’s (Term Time Only) Free drop in. Thursday 23rd, 30th April 9am—12noon. Coffee Morning. Free, drop in.
Cannock Library Phone number 01543 510366 Wednesday 15th April 2:30pm -3:30pm. Reading Group meets monthly 3rd Wednesday of every month). Free event, currently full, waiting list for places. Tuesday 21st April 2pm—4pm. Knit and Natter. Free event, drop in, new members welcome.
Thursday 23rd, 30th April 10:30am –11am. Baby Bounce and Rhyme. Musical Session for Babies and Toddlers under 4. Free event but places are limited due to space constraints.
Friday 24th April 10am –10:45am. Tots Time Craft Session for Under 5’s. Full, waiting list for places, please contact the Library for more information. Saturday 25th April 10am –12noon. Lego Play and Stay Free, drop in. Tuesday 28th April 2pm –4pm Knit and Natter. Free event, drop in, new members welcome. Thursday 30th April 5:30pm- 6:30pm. Mammoth Cheese Reading Group. Meets last Thursday of every month, new members welcome, please contact the Library for more information.
What’s On in May
2nd May Wildlife Watch at The Wolseley Centre 10:00am - 12:00pm. Wildlife Watch is the junior branch of The Wildlife Trusts and the UK's leading environmental action club for children and families. As spaces are limited booking is recommended. Tina Turner Tribute…Kinisha at The Spode Steak House & Grill Page 36 www.chasegazette.co.uk
All the classics as you would expect with the rasp we all love 4th May Family Wildlife Walk at The Wolseley Centre 2:00pm - 3:00pm. Our Wild about Stafford group are holding a Family Wildlife Walk, looking, listening and hunting for wildlife. Discovery Day at The Staffordshire Regiment Museum. The Battle of Gallipoli. Each Discovery Day throughout the year has a different theme including the Napoleonic Wars, the Battle of Gallipoli and much more. Uniform and weapon handling, lots of interactive activities and tours of the amazing WW1 trench system make these great events for all of the family. 11am to 3pm. Adults £5, children, senior citizens and concessions £4, children under 5 free. Family ticket (two adults and up to three children) £20. Go to www.staffordshireregimentmuseum.com for further details. 5th May Luncheon Club at The Rugeley Rose Theatre & Community Hall A Luncheon Club for the older generation is held every Tuesday afternoon, an opportunity to mix and mingle. Come and join in. 6th & 20th May Nature Tots at The Wolseley Centre 10:00am - 12:00pm. Come and explore! Fun naturethemed activities for under 5s and their carers. 8th May Coffee Morning at The Wolseley Centre 10:00am - 12:00pm. Join us for a cuppa and a chat in the tranquil surroundings of The Wolseley Centre. £1.00 admission which includes your first hot drink. Nostalgic Video Disco at The Spode Steak House & Grill Something different, come see what Craig Hugh is all about. Ga Ga at The Rugeley Rose Theatre A fantastic Queen tribute night. 9th May West Coast Eagles at The Spode Steak House and Grill Eagles tribute band. Classic songs performed by great musicians. 16th May Larry Shannon’s 60s Show at The Spode Steak House and Grill Classic night of 60s pop 17th May Rheanna Forrester at The Spode Steak House and Grill A singer songwriter with real talent 21st May Watercolour Course at The Wolseley Centre 7:00pm - 9:00pm. Local artist Sue Chatterton will be holding her ever popular water colour course over a 6 week period. This tutor led, practical course is suitable for beginners and intermediate artists. 23rd May Sahara Cee at The Spode Steak House and Grill Excellent Motown and Northern Soul songstress 25th May Discovery Day at The Staffordshire Regiment Museum. Meet the soldiers of Waterloo! To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo the museum will be welcoming Napoleonic era soldiers. Each Discovery Day throughout the year has a different theme including the Napoleonic Wars, the Battle of Gallipoli and much more. Uniform and weapon handling, lots of interactive activities and tours of the amazing WW1 trench system make these great events for all of the family. 11am to 3pm. Adults £5, children, senior citizens and concessions £4, children under 5 free. Family ticket (two adults and up to three children) £20. Go to www.staffordshireregimentmuseum.com for further details. Songwriters Night at The Spode Steak House and Grill An array of talent performing original music. Starts around 8pm
26th May Wildplay at The Wolseley Centre 10:00am - 3:00pm. Get outside and be wild this half-term! 30th May Knoxville Highway at The Spode Cottage Steak House and Grill Absolutely brilliant country band with fine musicians 31st May Staffordshire Wildlife Fair at The Wolseley Centre 11:00am - 5:00pm. Come along to our Fair to enjoy and learn about the best wildlife that Staffordshire has to offer!
Venues The Wolseley Centre, Wolseley Bridge, ST17 0WT. Tel: 01889 880100 Rugeley Rose Theatre, Taylor’s Lane, Rugeley, WS15 2AA. Tel: 01889 584036 The Spode Steak House and Grill, Rugeley Road, Armitage, WS15 4AT. Tel: 01543 490900 The Staffordshire Regiment Museum, DMS Whittington, Whittington, WS14 9PY. Tel: 01543 434394.
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