Town & Village Life Magazine - July/August 2016 by Jonathon

TOWn & VILLAGE LIFE Magazine

July/August 2016

Win family tickets for Cosford Food Festival

TOWN & VILLAG E LIFE MA GA Z INE

Win tickets to see The Shawshank Redemption at The Grand Theatre

July/August 2016

Delivered to areas of: Hagley, West Hagley, Stourbridge, Pedmore, Oldswinford, Norton, Wollaston, Amblecote, Wordsley, Kingswinford, Lawnswood, Wall Heath, Kinver, Bobbington, Heathton, Stourton, Enville, Swindon, Himley and Sedgley

Local Magazine delivered to 15,500 Selected Homes and Businesses

With our dental implants...

Life doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to stop because of failing teeth. Telephone 01902 420654 for a complimentary consultation

An Independent Dental Practice 02

82 Tettenhall Road Wolverhampton WV1 4TF www.mytis.co.uk part of Jon Pugh Dental town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Hello Readers, So the unthinkable has happened. Britain is officially out of Europe- out by but a whisker, but out all the same. The people have spoken. Prime Minister David Cameron is out also. So we ask: what now? The fickle hand of fate this year struck at Kinver Country Fayre. Organisers of the popular Father’s Day favourite sadly found the main event venue fields flooded by the River Stour after it burst its banks, just two days before the fayre. The event had to be cancelled. Now, after much “can-do”, positive attitude and diary juggling, it has been rescheduled for Sunday 4th September. But it’s business as usual here at Town and Village Life as we have much to distract you from the precarious bigger picture. It’s summer time, which – as the good people of Kinver know all too well – for us Brits means lashings of rain interspersed with occasional bursts of brilliant sunshine. It’s one thing that the EU Referendum result definitely won’t change. For those of you not on holiday, there

Contents Kinver Fayre Creating an easier way to live Inheritance Tax Carver Wolverhampton Marathon Crosswords & Puzzles Recipe Active Seniors Bobbington and Kinver supper club Compton Hospice family camp out The cream of Cradley Grand Theatre competition Stourbridge Rugby Club Summer time symptoms Advertising enquiries Email: gisella@townandvillagelifemag.co.uk Gisella Wiley (Sales Director) Editorial/What’s On information Email: info@townandvillagelifemag.co.uk Geoff Hall (Editor) Magazine Design Studio 28 Design & Print (www.s28.co.uk)

10 13/14 16/17 22 24 26 28 28 32 36/37 42 44 48/49

TOWN & VILLAGE

LIFE M AGA Z I N E

Town & Village Life Magazine Ltd Lytham Rd, Perton, Wolverhampton, WV6 7YY Tel: 01902 744217 www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

are lots of ideas for your home – including news from Chancery Contracts Ltd, the electronic engineering business that can turn your house ‘smart.’ Popular building contractor Three Pines has been getting its own house in order as well. And there are big plans afoot at Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre. Another thriving Midlands-based retailer is Tile Choice – the floor and wall tiling specialist has just been recognised at a industry awards ceremony. Also in the spotlight in our Meet the Boss feature is Kevin Rogers from Paycare – the not-for-profit health cash plan provider’s head honcho. We also catch up with what’s been happening at Stourbridge Rugby Club in our social pages and bring you much fashion and beauty. Not forgetting The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, which starts in July.

See you in September!

Geoff

July/August edition Meet the boss Garden ornaments Gardening with Ann Winwood Make the most of your garden with outdoor living Stourbridge man rows a million metres for charity Wildlife photographer of the year Cosford food festival competition Food review: The Shrewsbury Arms, Albrighton Beauty: Pucker Up Sunglasses Ready for the beach Education and Schooling Social scene Smart fortwo Drayton Wolverhampton Answers to Crossword & Puzzles

50/51 52 58 59 64 69 70 74/75 76 82 84/85 88 93-95 96 98

Congratulations to: Winner of Jane Eyre competition at The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Mr Richard Bennett, Oldswinford Winner of West Midlands Safari & Leisure Park competition Mrs Mary Smith, Stourbridge

We gratefully acknowledge the support of businesses whose adverts appear in Town & Village Life magazine and whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, The Publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advert or editorial. All artwork is accepted on strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. Town & Village Life magazine does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise – without the prior consent of Town & Village Life magazine Ltd.

Total distribution 15,500 copies bi-monthly

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

New look for

Three Pines

Alan and Louise Bradshaw (front centre) with the team based at their Cullwick Street headquarters

The team at top Wolverhampton-based building contractor, Three Pines, have been busy renovating and extending their offices to meet the needs of their ever expanding business. Company Director, Louise explains: “Although we extended our offices only a few years ago, we decided to extend again to make room for our growing team of staff who are based at our Cullwick Street headquarters.” Work got underway on the most recent transformation after Christmas and just eight weeks later the job was complete. “Our skilled team of tradesmen worked hard on the project and got it finished quickly and efficiently, fitting the work in at the weekends so that they could complete the refurbishment without affecting other projects.” The remodelling has made way for a bigger boardroom, two new offices, extra kitchen and toilet facilities as well as a dedicated archive room. 04

And, the existing offices were given a complete refurbishment too. “The expansion reflects the growth of the company. It was the perfect time to make the changes as we’ve recently taken on several new tradesmen and office staff.” The Three Pines team have earned an excellent reputation in the industry and have become known for their ability to complete a project on time and to the highest possible standards, that’s why they’re always in demand with top businesses. “We do a lot of work with commercial clients across the West Midlands area and beyond. We’ve just finished work at the Audi showroom in Halesowen, as well as Skoda in Telford.” But, it’s not just commercial clients that benefit, as the company are always busy completing jobs for their domestic clients.

Seisdon, where we’re building sixteen houses as part of a joint venture with Hovi Developments.” Working closely with the MOD and the Territorial Army, Three Pines frequently carries out works to adapt the homes of injured soldiers, and they’re currently completing a project for the Territorial Army Cadets in the Cotswolds. “We’re lucky to have a fantastic team of both tradesmen and office staff working for us who ensure that we can get every job done to the highest possible standards and in a quick and efficient manner.” The Three Pines team are made up of a dedicated group of tradesmen, many of whom have been with the company for many years.

“We undertake all kinds of domestic work - everything from domestic extensions to major works.”

“We’ve got an incredibly skilled and loyal team working for us. Many of our staff have been with us for a very long time and several started with our company as apprentices and are still working for us today.”

Of course, the company are regularly involved in new-build projects too: “We’re busy working on an exciting project in Fox Road,

Thanks to the hardworking team, it’s no surprise that Three Pines is continuing to go from strength to strength.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Whether you require refurbishment, extensions or new build, Three Pines are building contractors in Wolverhampton, who have the skills and expertise to handle your project from planning through to completion. Recent refurbishment at Halesowen Audi

• Over 50 years of experience in construction • Commercial & Domestic developments undertaken • Fully qualified carpenters and bricklayers employed by the company for over 20 years • Care & consideration taken on all domestic & commercial projects • Professional & Friendly service

New development at Fox Road, Seisdon

w w w. t h r e e - p i n e s . c o. u k Cullwick Court, Cullwick Street, Wolverhampton WV1 2UR Tel: 01902 499919 Email: info@three-pines.co.uk www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

The Midlands’ largest and most inspirational furniture stores. CHOICE • QUALITY • VALUE

Visit the centre of excellence at your nearest Cousins Store for the launch of this exciting new brand.

BUY WITH COMPLETE

CONFIDENCE

CARPETS, FLOORING & RUGS

Whether your taste is contemporary, traditional, modern or classical, Cousins have the answer. The choice is enormous, all beautifully displayed in truly inspirational room settings. Put that alongside incredibly low prices on everything throughout the stores including all the famous brand names.

BEDS & BEDROOMS Innovators of comfort

IN STORE CAFÉ

30 CELEBRATING

YEARS

a true family business 06

www.cousinsfurniture.co.uk town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

HAND CRAFTED FURNITURE Exciting new Halo galleries in each store, showcasing this latest style. So, if you want a complete new look or just to complement an eclectic theme, a visit is well worthwhile.

READ WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY...

97%

independently review our products as good/excellent

ACCESSORIES

May 2016 - see website for details

Open 7 days a week / Late Nights: Tuesday & Thursday until 8pm (Subject to variation on Bank Holidays) Birmingham Warwick Road, Tyseley. B11 2EW. T: 0121 765 3300

Dudley Hall Street DY2 8NW. T: 01384 451500

Manchester A57, Regent Rd, Salford. M5 4EA. T: 0161 875 4070

PRICE PROMISE

Our promise to you, we won’t be beaten on price! * * See website for details

• Free parking • Instore restaurant • Large stocks • Immediate delivery www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

a true family business 07

WHITECROSS HOUSE, ORTON LANE, WOMBOURNE A distinguished Grade II listed residence providing extensive accommodation. Hall, cloakroom, three reception rooms, breakfast kitchen, laundry, utility, six bedrooms and three bathrooms. Lovely garden with heated swimming pool and picturesque views. 23 ft office / leisure room, three garages, garage 4 / workshop, stores and a superb 43 ft 9 entertainment barn (possible residential conversion STPP). (EPC:F). TETTENHALL OFFICE.

OFFERS AROUND Â£725,000 VIEWING: Please contact the Tettenhall Office.

13-15 High Street, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, WV6 8QS Telephone: (01902) 747744

www.berrimaneaton.co.uk town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

THE RICKYARD, WESTBEECH FARM, PATTINGHAM A beautifully situated and attractive, detached barn conversion offering superbly appointed accommodation of much calibre standing within glorious gardens of just under 0.9 acres, with far-reaching views. Dining hall, guest cloakroom, drawing room, Rebate conservatory, Dayrooms breakfast kitchen, boot room, three bedrooms, en-suite shower room and well appointed house bathroom. Substantial frontage affording ample off street parking, detached garage block and charming rear garden with stunning views. (EPC: C). TETTENHALL OFFICE.

OFFERS AROUND ÂŁ595,000 VIEWING: Please contact the Tettenhall Office.

13-15 High Street, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, WV6 8QS Telephone: (01902) 747744

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

www.berrimaneaton.co.uk 09

Kinver Country Fayre Re-scheduled for Sunday 4th September Kinver’s annual Country Fayre, due to take place on 19th June, had sadly to be postponed due to unprecedented flooding of the event fields. On the Friday morning before the Fayre, organisers went down to the fields to find a lake in their place complete with ducks! The River Stour, which borders the site, had burst its banks overnight, scuppering all plans for the weekend’s activities. “I have lived in Kinver since 1958”, said June Dillow, one of the organisers “and I have never seen flooding like this on these fields before.”

Nearly all stallholders have re-booked, with new ones keen to be involved. “There’s a lot to be said for the new date,” added organiser Andy Calloway. “It’s the end of the school holidays, so people should be back home and looking for a fun way

to round-off summer. We have been absolutely bowled over by the amount of support we’ve received from all quarters and we would like to thank everyone for the offers of help. We are expecting a great turn-out for a September Kinver Country Fayre - see you there.”

A tremendous effort by all involved resulted in a speedy notification to the 100 plus participants that the event could not go ahead and that a new date was already planned, Sunday 4 September. The White Helmets, the Royal Signals’ famous motorcycle display team, will still be performing two spectacular shows as scheduled, with a full programme of entertainment in place including music, dance, fun dog show, High Street parade, children’s fancy dress and much more besides.

Photo courtesy of Purelight Photography

Find out more at: www.kinvercountryfayre.com or email: info@kinvercountryfayre.com Follow us @KinverFayre Like us /kinvercountryfayre

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Quality, bespoke creations with an exceptional service!

Hayley WindoWs, conservatories and roofline

PVC Windows PVC Doors Conservatories Roofline Glass Extensions Folding Sliding Doors Repairs Orangeries Timber Composite Doors

We have now relocated to our new premises, you will find us at: Unit 19, Enterprise Trading Estate, Pedmore Road, Brierley Hill, West Midlands, DY5 1TX Please telephone: 01384 896989 www.hayleywindows.co.uk

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

“Affordable Prices” “Expert Advice”

“Heavy Furniture Not A Problem” “Stunning Showroom”

KARNDEAN SHOWROOM NOW OPEN Old Carpets Uplifted And Removed

FULLY GUARANTEED CARPET CLEANING SERVICE CARPETING • RUGS • VINYLS • KARNDEAN FLOORING • LAMINATE FLOORING • REAL WOOD FLOORING

Family owned and run business since June 1976 and now celebrating 40 years! 88/90 Dudley Road, Sedgley Tel: 01902 883281

FLAMING FIRES, FIREPLACES & STOVES

Here at Flaming Fires, we look forward to the long winter evenings.....

• Contemporary and traditional designs • The only approved CHESNEY’S stockist in the area • Quality fireplaces at realistic prices • Established over 20 years High Street, Wombourne WV5 9DP (ON THE VILLAGE GREEN)

01902 898221 www.flamingfires.co.uk 12

Find us on

and

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

C reating

easier way to live

But beware, it could be a truly cosmic experience devices that let you know how the weather may affect your home. If this kind of technology has you hooked, clearly the best way forward is to choose an architecture that allows for easy add-ons. This stuff is as addictive as the latest smartphones (some UK polls suggest we check them 50 times a day).

Creating the ideal home is big business – in fact there’s a world stage out there for exhibitions that can both tempt and puzzle. From the practical to the bizarre the evolution to help make us time rich is rolling out rapidly. In the home of tomorrow our front doors will be able to ‘talk’ to your smoke alarm, lights will flash when the fridge door is left open and, according to reports emerging from the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Teddy will put your child to bed.

Other features include a smart lock that unlocks the front door when the home owner is near, televisions that show notifications and can warn when a child is using the web when they should be asleep, and a system that lets you change all the clocks in your home at the touch of a button. Then, of course, there’s the heartbeat recognition gizmo that remotely alerts you if there are strangers in your house. The vision of the future is restrained only by our imagination. Intelligence that can open and close windows depending on the temperature inside and out, heat up the water for a bath with a single tap from a smartphone and lighting and music systems that welcome you home on a foreboding evening, are all concepts now being explored by innovative new-build developers and existing homeowners. With wireless connectivity it’s also possible to remotely boil a kettle from your bed as the internet gradually makes its way into everything from appliances to thermostats, security and sound systems, fire alarms and clever

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Technology by Loxone offers easy upgrades – an opportunity too good to pass for those eager to embrace the digital age in manageable bites. Local suppliers and Loxone Gold Partner installers, Chancery Contracts Ltd of Trysull Road, Merry Hill, Wolverhampton – www. chancerycontracts.co.uk – has a wealth of experience at the cutting edge of electronic engineering. Director David Lewis says: “When I talk to people, most believe such a luxury is beyond reach, but the prices have tumbled over the last decade and keen technology markets can offer a lot for your money. “For example, to incorporate smart system to the existing wiring on a 3-bed property, to include lighting and heating controls would be around £2,700. You’d need to add £1,000 if you’d got a fourbed detached,” he explains. Each package offers the potential for limitless add-ons – “the system is a bit like Lego,” he says – and can be hardwired, use air technology (internet), or a mixture of both. In the average home these days, you’ll find many devices, systems and appliances, each one of them controlled by its own switch, app, remote control, or motion detector. But in the ‘smart’ world a dilemma exists, as none of them are able to communicate with each other in order to meet (cont’d)… 13

(cont’d)… the emerging needs of homeowners who are hard-pressed to touch all the domestic bases. The technology has been around for years, but it has successfully crept under the radar of our domestic lives. It’s all about making life easier – smart – and allowing us to timemanage our domestic duties so much more efficiently. Geeky and futuristic it may be, but intelligent nerve centres offering joined-up ‘thinking’ between the domestic appliances and services we use every day (intelligent automation) clearly has a future and one that can adapt easily to trends and needs. But it’s not just smart homes that can help brush away the drudgery of domestic servitude.

Fancy getting the scrubbing done a whole lot quicker? You may consider the sonic scrubber. A very powerful cleaning tool, it scrubs at a speed of 10,000 times per minute. It will definitely save precious time and comes with interchangeable heads “so that you could access different areas, big or small.” A must for cat-lovers is the selfcleaning cat litter, LitterMaid and Purpose for Pets is another gadget aimed at those with more challenging animals. The device claims to eradicate unpleasant pet odours or stains and comes with a scrub brush and integrated backlight LEDs that illuminates hidden pet blemishes.

With some of the best designs on the market – but definitely not the cheapest – the company made a name for itself with Roomba, a vacuum cleaning robot. LG and Samsung also offer similar home ‘bots’.

If you’re still looking for a life in the digital fast lane, remember there are wireless remote crockpot slow cookers, controllable from a smartphone; smart LED light bulbs that react based on where you are in the house; smart speakers with voice activated control; and who would be without a touchscreen refrigerator that lets you view family members’ schedules, leave notes for each other and orders its own groceries?

For those needing a quick mop around, there’s the low

The future is indeed, present, but quite how futuristic some would

Vacuuming no longer needs a human operator. iRobot is one of the market leaders that deal with house cleaning tech products.

entry price Robomop – a very basic floor dusting robot.

care to be is a moot point. Does the oddly sounding Concoon Bed (hongkiat.com/blog/futuristichome-furnitures/) float your boat? The design appears to have ascended to new intergalactic heights and touched the colourful rings of Saturn with its light show. With a yacht-like design, the bed would actually feel more at home in space than the bedroom. It contains built-in surround sound, lighting that asserts to be therapeutic, waterbed sounds and a water mattress to simulate the weightlessness of space. A real cosmic experience… maybe.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

WINDOWS, ORANGERIES & CONSERVATORIES

Number 1 for all your extension plans

From planning permission to building regulations, for structural calculations for steels over bi-folds, at Choices we really can do it all, our in-house service takes all the hassle out of your building projects. Working with experienced professionals means we can get the jobs done that other companies shy away from. Plus our specialist knowledge of the best products and materials available will help you achieve your desired finish.

Tel: 01902 884581

100 Sedgley Rd, Woodsetton, Dudley DY1 4NG Open: Monday to Saturday 10am until 4.30pm

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

www.choiceswindows.co.uk 15

advertisement feature

INHERITANCE

T A X

THE ONLY TRUE VOLUNTARY TAX THE NUMBER OF UK FAMILIES FACING INHERITANCE TAX IS SET TO REACH A 35 YEAR HIGH

In the period 201415 (The latest figures available) Inheritance Tax receipts amounted to approximately £3.825 BILLION and this figure has risen by 11.9 % compared to 2013-14. Let’s be clear from the start on what Inheritance Tax (IHT) really is. Briefly it is a tax on the property, money and possessions 16

of someone who has died – in other words their estate. Everyone has a tax free allowance on their estate; this is also known as a “nil rate band”. The threshold for 2016-17 is £325,000. So if your total estate is below this figure you will not pay any IHT. Married couples and civil partners are allowed to pass on their estate to their spouse tax free. They can also pass on their unused tax-free allowance to their spouse. So, for example, if a husband dies

his wife can take his allowance and add it to her own tax- free allowance. The new combined allowance means that when she dies her estate will only incur IHT if it’s more than £650,000. IHT is usually paid from the funds in the estate or from the sale of assets if there is no cash available. It is normally paid within six months of the person’s death. If it is not paid within that timescale then interest will be charged

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

John Webb

although HMRC may allow more time if certain parts of the estate e.g. property take some time to sell. In certain instances HMRC may allow the tax to be paid in yearly instalments. Naturally, we all wish to pass on as much as we can to our families and loved ones when we die, but if we don’t plan ahead and make provision now then our families could miss out by as much as 40% of our wealth. IHT is not a mandatory tax. Effectively we volunteer to pay it by not choosing the right path with regard to our assets during our lifetime so for this reason I term it a voluntary tax. One of the major factors that we should take into consideration when we look at IHT is of course House Prices. In the year to November 2014 house prices rose by 8.5% and it is anticipated that they will continue to rise this year by a similar figure. We know that the current nil rate band will be frozen at £325,000 until 2021 and that as a consequence more and more people will suffer a 40% charge on their wealth unless they exercise prudent money management now. True, one could argue that the government has taken some steps to alleviate this by announcing that from 6th April 2017 each person will receive an additional allowance of £100,000(rising to £175,000 by 2020-21) to use against the value of their home, but they can only get this additional allowance if they leave their home to their children or grandchildren and the total value of their estate is below £2 million. www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

John Webb is a Chartered Financial Planner and a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society, the highest accolade designated by that organisation. The Personal Finance Society is the professional body for the Financial Advisory Profession in the United Kingdom, promoting the highest standards of technical knowledge, client service and ethical practice.

I have termed IHT a voluntary tax; how do you organise your estate to ensure that you avoid what I also consider to be an unfair tax? We find when meeting with clients that the majority of individuals with estates valued at two to three million pounds are unaware that measures can be taken and that they simply accept the fact that a large part of their estate is going to go to the Chancellor of The Exchequer whether they like it or not. But this does not have to be the case and certainly this contrasts with the thinking of those in the highest positions in government as was made only too evident when our Prime Minister David Cameron and his parents took the appropriate action to ensure that they addressed their future liability.

If you would like more information or need advice on your specific circumstances please feel free to contact the author John Webb of Midland Independent Financial Services Limited on 01543 468877 or john.webb@ midlandifa.co.uk Midland Independent Financial Services is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Midland Independent Financial Services Ltd, 153 Avon Road, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 1LF. Telephone 01543 468877.

www.midlandifa.co.uk Throughout the year we at Midland Independent hold investment seminars with industry experts. If you would like to attend please email: info@midlandifa.co.uk 17

• Old Charm •

Sherborne

Pargeters:

Ninety years

of excellent customer service

•

Nathan

Sale now on

Strongbow

Summer

G-Plan

•

Parker Knoll

25% off all leading brands

• •

Family run for 90 yrs

Pargeters High Street, Stourbridge DY8 1EQ

01384 394176 www.pargetersfurniture.co.uk

FREE customer car park at rear 18

Willis Gambier

•

Bradley

Wade

Bridgecraft

•

3 Floors of fine furniture

Vale

Cintique

& many more brands

•

Collins & Hayes

•

Titmarch & Gnoodwin

Duresta

Sutcliffe

•

Ercol

• G Plan Washington Sofa

With roots that stretch back four generations, Pargeters is a family-run furniture business with a difference. Managed by directors, John Pargeter, Miles Pargeter and David Pargeter - who will be retiring in August - the company has been a mainstay landmark in Stourbridge since 1926. Supplying quality furniture and providing exceptional customer service has always been the focus of the business and this is no different today. Pargeters’ extensive showroom displays contemporary and modern designs, from leading British brands, over three floors. A change in direction has taken place over the last five years, which has seen the store focusing on being an upholstery specialist and so it no longer sells bedroom furniture, curtains and carpets. Now instead, there is a brand new department that specialises in Sherborne lift and rise beds, reclining chairs - which are all exempt from VAT - as well as sofas to match. With all of this and more you’re sure to find

outstanding designs and style at affordable prices when you pay a visit – especially right now as June sees the start of Pargeters’ Summer Sale, with 25% off all leading brands. Customers at Pargeters are always surprised by the independent stores’ low prices, as Miles explains: “Sometimes an established business and single store furniture shop can be deemed to be more expensive to buy from than larger group stores. “But I can assure you that it won’t cost you to shop at Pargeters, very often we are cheaper and will price match the leading brands. We pride ourselves on offering the lowest possible prices combined with the highest standard of customer service.” Thanks to Pargeters’ competitive pricing, it’s clear that you’ll no longer have to accept that good customer service has to be sacrificed in exchange for low prices. The company even offers free delivery within a 50 miles radius and will also take your old items away free of charge. Visit Pargeters’ showroom today to enjoy a legacy of 90 years’ worth of fine customer service.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Style

We source from the most stylish manufacturers and we have more than a quar ter of a centur y of experience. We design and install inspirational bathrooms and kitchens that are totally unique to your lifestyle.

THE ROMAN WAY

ROMAN BATHROOMS • KITCHENS • TILES www.romanbathrooms.co.uk 110-111 HIGH STREET BLACKHEATH B65 0EG TEL: 0121 561 4374 Open Tuesday - Saturday 9am-5pm Late night by appointment

Soft furnishings ~ Haberdashery ~ Alterations

Advice, Measure, Make, Fit

Bespoke custom made Curtains • 100’s of fabrics and wallcoverings Roman blinds made to measure • Pole and Tracks • Haberdashery Wool • Scarf Yarns • Dress Fabrics • Knitting and Dress Patterns Clothing Alterations with Tailoress on site • Phaff Sewing Machines now in stock O p e n : 9 a m - 5 p m M o n d a y t o F riday. 9am-4pm Saturday. Tel: 01384 295960

7 The Cross, Kingswinford, DY6 9JA

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

www.totalsewing.co.uk

KEY INDUSTRY

A W AR D

FOR THRIVING MIDLANDS RETAILER

Tile Choice winners from left to right, Martin Jeavons, David O'Connell, Emma Jesson (Host), Lee Rudkin (Tile Choice Marketing Director), Michael Gough

A leading Midlands independent tile retail chain is celebrating a successful business year after winning a prestigious industry award. Tile Choice, whose headquarters are based in Wolverhampton and now have sixteen stores throughout the central region, attended the 2016 TTA Awards in Birmingham, where they were recognised for their marketing excellence in the retail sector winning the Gold Award for “Excellence in Marketing”. The Tile Association represents all aspects of the wall and floor tile industry in the UK, from manufacture to installation. Formed in January 2000, The Tile Association represents the whole of the UK wall and floor tile industry under one organisation. The Awards recognise and reward the innovative designs and projects 20

that have happened over the last year, as well as retailing, marketing and tile fixers within the industry. The TTA Awards is now in its 16th year and is still growing fast. This year, the awards were held at St John’s Hotel and Conference Centre in Solihull, on Saturday 14th May, along with a black tie dinner for the estimated 500 people who attended, and were hosted by TV presenter Emma Jesson. Marketing Director at Tile Choice, Lee Rudkin was particularly proud of the company’s achievement, “We have a strong marketing mix for Tile Choice across a broad cross section of media. In 2015 we decided a fresh more stylish delivery in our creative for our Radio and Television campaigns was needed. This was to compliment the new instore designs, our new instore brochures and Press advertising. A well planned advertising campaign with a combination of different media ensures that we stay at the forefront of the retail tile industry”.

“This is the fourth time in the last five years we have won a TTA Award and the first time for Marketing. “As a company, we’ve been working very hard within the retail sector and invest wisely in our campaigns to deliver great results keeping Tile Choice the market leader”. “A strong brand identity and the right message combined with maximum exposure in all forms of media have proven to be an excellent marketing campaign in the retail sector. Over the past years this formula has proven to be successful in keeping Tile Choice at the forefront of customers’ minds plus bringing the focus to the tile industry and the products we sell within main stream media platforms”. “We are extremely proud to be recognised by our piers at The Tile Association for the work our dedicated team have put in to making Tile Choice such a success”.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

THE LARGEST SELECTION OF WALL & FLOOR TILES THROUGHOUT THE MIDLANDS

50 UPTO

% off all tiles

ANNIVERSARY 1991-2016

BILSTON

KIDDERMINSTER

SHREWSBURY

CANNOCK

7 Millfields Road Bilston Wolverhampton WV14 0QJ

Unit 6 Easter Park Worcester Rd (Opp. Hoo Farm) DY11 7AR

Unit B & C Arrow Point Retail Park Brixton Way SY1 3GB

Units 25&26 Longford Ind.Est Longford Rd WS11 0DG

01902 405526

01562 825720

01743 464565

01543 469400

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

freephone: 0800 1 560 560 www.tilechoice.co.uk

C AR V ER

Wolverhampton City Marathon Events The Call Print Walk is included in the events again this year and has already attracted plenty of interest. Race Director Mary Harding says “it is wonderful to see that so many people are attracted to and taking part in such diverse events.” Entries so far are up on 2015 which is good news for the organisers. As always there are opportunities for volunteers to get involved and help with marshalling or one of the many jobs that help with the smooth running of the event, which is now in its 19th year.

With just under three months to go things are progressing well for the 2016 Carver Wolverhampton Marathon events. Course Manager Gwyn James has engineered a slightly different course which he says is “flatter and faster” than before. The cycle route has also been slightly changed to take in part of the new I54 business park.

The Banks’s 10k will include a team challenge this year. The four runners from the same corporate company or association with the fastest times will win an award. (Please note that the company name must be declared beforehand on the entry form to qualify for the award).

So if anyone can spare some time to help please call Carvers or email Mary on mharding681@gmail.com. Race information packs and numbers will be posted out during July, and as always the late entry desk will be open on Saturday 3rd September from 9.30 until 5.00pm.

Marshals Manager John Nightingale will begin his marshal training courses over the next few weeks.

For more details please visit our website:

www.carverwolverhamptonmarathonevents.co.uk 22

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

The Design Centre Studios Visit our design centre studios for a complete range of modern, contemporary and traditional kitchens and bathrooms with accessories to suit every budget. Design and installation service available.

Littles Lane, Wolverhampton, WV1 1JY 01902 577090 www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

www.carvers.co.uk 23

Quick Crossword Down 1 Information (4) 2 Type of seabird (6) 3 Cleaning (7) 4 Intoxicated (5) 5 Coil (6) 6 Attractive (8) 12 Deduced (8) 14 Sickly sweet (7) 16 Hire (6) 18 Noon (6) 19 Quick (5) 22 Trip (4)

Across 7 Fruit (6) 8 Echo (6) 9 Sunrise (4) 10 Centuries (8) 11 Far away (7) 13 Type of boat (5) 15 Later (5) 17 Immobilized (7) 20 Correctly (8) 21 Silly (4) 23 Devils (6) 24 Almost (6)

Sudoku

Easy

Hard

Puzzle answers on page 98

Word Search Find the words below in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a phrase.

Anise

Ginger

Basil

Marjoram

Bay

Mint

Caraway

Nutmeg

Cayenne

Oregano

Chilli

Paprika

Chive

Parsley

Cinnamon

Saffron

Coriander

Sage

Cumin

Sorrel

Dill

Thyme

Fennel

Turmeric

Garlic

Vanilla town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

We can turn your conservatory into an all-year-round garden room, in less than one week! For the last 12 years this was just a typical glass roof conservatory but was hardly ever used because of the temperature issues. It was either too hot in summer or too cold through the winter months. Now, thanks to the lightweight fully insulated Guardian™ Warm Roof the room has become a fully integrated part of the home and has extended the living area for everyday use.

The UK’s No. 1 Conservatory Roof The Guardian™ Warm Roof is the UK’s favourite and most popular replacement roof system with well over 100,000 happy home owners already enjoying their ‘new’ conservatory. By replacing the existing glass or polycarbonate roof on your conservatory with a thermally efficient Guardian™ Roof you’ll be able to spend as much time as you like in your “new” garden room. Nice and cool in summer, cosy and warm in winter. It’s the perfect solution. Let our expert installation team convert your old conservatory into a beautiful home extension and see the difference for yourself.

For an instant free quote go to our website & send us your sizes or why not give us a call and will also send you our full colour brochure completely free.

0800 988 5938 24 HOURS, 7 DAYS A WEEK

www.guardianroofs.net

Email: info@augustwindows.co.uk www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

See what people say about us on Checkatrade - over 600 independent customer references

RECIPE

Makes 4 By Mike Whitehurst

roasted beetroot

and whipped goats cheese Salad INGREDIENTS • • • • • • • • • • • •

400g of fresh beetroot 100g of goats cheese 100g of mascarpone 2 ripe figs 2 whole walnuts shelled and bashed up a bit a pinch of dried rose petals and crushed coriander seeds 1 tablespoon of pumpkin seeds half a lemon a bunch of pea shoots organic local clear and runny honey fresh flat leaf parsley 1 bottle rapeseed oil

equipment • food processor - a nutri-bullet is good for this if you have one otherwise any processor with blade attachment. • brush • mixing bowls • wooden spoon • baking trays • plastic tray • chopping board and a good sharp knife • iron pan • metal spoon - teaspoon / dessert spoon

•

prepping • Trim the stalks off the beetroot and wrap each root with kitchen foil then roast in the oven for about an hour - timings do differ according to the size of the root so if they are relatively small check after 40 minutes by poking with a metal skewer - if it slides straight through with no resistance then they are cooked through - check each one individually though to be certain. Once cooked take out of the foil and allow to cool enough so that you can peel them. Once peeled set aside 600g and blitz

•

the 400g in a food processor with a dash of oil and a few drops of fresh lemon juice to help the process - you need to achieve a nice smooth beetroot puree so pass it though a sieve or fine chinois if you have one and put it in a squeeze bottle or a bowl in the fridge until needed. The rest of the beetroot can be diced, sliced thinly, melon balled or wedges it’s up to you! Do something with it and set it aside for later. Blend goats cheese (rind removed) and mascarpone until smooth in a food processor or beat with a wooden spoon then chill in the fridge until needed. Quarter the figs, place on a baking tray and drizzle with a little clear runny honey - if your honey isn’t runny place it in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes, that will loosen the honey. Set the tray of figs aside ready to be grilled later on. Heat a cast iron skillet or black iron frying pan if you have one otherwise use what you’ve got. Once heated add the bashed up walnuts, pumpkin seeds with the rose petals and coriander seeds quickly tossing around in the pan to prevent burning then once browned a little turn out onto a tray to cool. In a food processor blitz the leaves of the parsley gradually adding rapeseed oil until you have good liquid motion, now leave that blitzing for a few minutes, the colour will intensify over time. You can buy pea shoots from certain supermarkets or you

can buy a sprouter and a bag of dried marrowfat peas and grow your own - takes about 4 weeks so start now and keep them going all year round. plating • Smear the beetroot puree across the plate however you like. Use a spoon, a brush or just put the plate on some newspaper and splatter it across the plate. • Place your sliced, diced beetroot in a row across the puree. • Boil a kettle, pour hot water into a cup and using a tea spoon, heat spoon in water, then carefully scoop the blended cheese towards you hopefully creating a nice oval shaped cheese quenelle. • Grill the figs for a minute or 2 just to get the edges burning a little. • Now place the cheese quenelle’s in-between the beetroot with 2 pieces of fig next to them then top with the walnut mix and garnish with pea shoots then spoon over the parsley oil and drizzle a little rapeseed oil. SERVING SUGGESTION Serve with some homemade sour dough bread and a glass of sancerre.

For any other recipe/cooking advice please email mike@takefood.co.uk Follow me on facebook.com/takefood on twitter.com/takefood or on instagram.com/takefood 26

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

G e t act i v e with Active Seniors is a new not-forprofit Social Enterprise delivering exercise classes for anyone postretirement who wants to improve their strength and balance. Statistics show that 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 will fall at least once a year – don’t become a statistic take action now. This newly formed not for profit organisation may be just what you need! Exciting new exercise classes have arrived in a venue near you – do you live in any of these areas – Sedgley, Wall Heath, Kingswinford, Lawnswood, Brierley Hill, Stourbridge and Hagley? If so there are classes near you – ring for more details and to book a free taster session. Active Seniors is run by Kim Sproston and Angela Amphlett who are highly qualified exercise specialists with years of experience. The classes are particularly beneficial to those diagnosed with osteoporosis or for those who have experienced a fall or deterioration in their balance, but are also suitable for anyone who is still active and wants to stay that way! There are classes to suit a range of abilities and some include elements of tai chi style movements to improve balance.

instructors in class mean clients receive guidance and help to get the most out of the exercises. They have helped improve the lives of hundreds of older people with their proven exercise programmes – let them help you too!! Ring Kim or Angela on 07512 546480 for more details and to book your free taster class. Get active with Active Seniors - give it a try you’ve nothing to lose and plenty to gain!

Kim and Angela are trained to deal with a range of health and mobility problems and are listed with the ‘Register of Exercise Professionals’. Exercise can be adapted to suit individuals and two

BOBBINGTON AND KINVER Bobbington and Kinver Supper Club, which has given more than £20,000 to local charities since 1988, has divided the profits of its 2015-16 season between six charities. The Samaritans, Beacon Centre for the Blind, Mary Stevens Hospice, Living Springs, Actin Heart and Midlands Air Ambulance will each receive £115. Then donations were agreed at the club’s AGM when Ken Graham was elected Chairman; Mike Deathridge, Vice Chairman; Denise Geoghegan, secretary and Alicia Pawlowski, treasurer. Meetings for the 201617 season, held at the Fox, Stourton, will take place on Tuesday, Oct 28

GET PAID TO EXERCISE

18, Tuesday Nov 29, Tuesday Jan 31, Tuesday February 28 and Tuesday March 28. Topics to be covered by the speakers lined up will cover The Cadbury family; modern manners; the local girl who was one of the first to sail to America on The Mayflower; “watch your language” and the history behind Kinver Edge as details are unveiled to celebrate the centenary of the gift of the Edge to the nation by its owners. New members are welcome – there is no subscription or attendance stipulation. Call Ken Graham on 01384 872802 for full details.

TOWN & VILLAGE

LIFE M AGA Z I N E

Can you help to distribute the Town & Village Life Magazine? • Ideal for mature, semi-retired or mums at home • Sedgley, Gospel End, Hagley Cotwall End, Stourbridge and Wollaston routes available • Excellent Rates of pay

LETTERS

If you are interested in distributing the magazine in your area on a regular basis or to cover holidays in all areas, please let us know and we will put you on our waiting list. Please call Mike or Irene on:

01952 261267 town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Brierley Hill Bathrooms

Large Showroom Helpful Staff Free Survey Special help for the disabled & elderly Bath removed & shower cubicle with Anti-slip tray installed together with decorative waterproof wall panelling (no grout lines), shower valve, seat & grab rails

from ÂŁ1,950 inc. VAT Bathrooms fully fitted from ÂŁ3,950 inc. VAT www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

01384 484088 10/11 Garratt Street, Brierley Hill, DY5 1JU

www.brierleyhillbaths.co.uk 29

W olverhampton F i r e p l ac e s & Sto v e s If you’re looking to find the perfect fireplace or stove for your home, then pay a visit to Wolverhampton Fireplaces & Stoves Ltd. The family-run company, that’s based in Chapel Ash, has just celebrated its 10th year in business. Known for their vast selection of fireplaces and stoves - as well as excellent customer service - it’s no surprise that the company has gone from strength to strength over the years.

Company Director, Steve Field explains: “We opened our doors at Chapel Ash over a decade ago on the 27th December 2005, since then we’ve increased our turnover year on year despite economic downturn and recession.” The team attributes their ongoing success to their commitment to excellent customer service. “We use our many years of experience in the industry to guide and advise our customers so that they can find the fireplace or stove that’s perfect for them.” And Steve does indeed have vast industry experience: “I started in business back in 1982 when I set up my first fireplace showroom in Walsall Wood. After working at the showroom with my family for many years, I left to open our Stafford branch in 1999.” The Stafford business grew rapidly and Steve was

soon taking on extra staff and expanding his showroom. “The company continued to be successful over the years and really began to flourish when my son, Richard, joined in 2001 after gaining great results in his A-Levels.” Richard wanted to grow the company - by opening another branch - and was instrumental in expanding their range to include multi-fuel stoves. The Stafford showroom now boasts over 100 live displays, as well as solid fuel stoves. “After a few years at Stafford we decided to expand and opened our sister showroom in Chapel Ash.” Both showrooms have proved to be extremely successful and business has never been better: “We’re expecting 2016 to be a record year for both branches.” To celebrate the company’s ongoing success the team will be running special offers across their whole range in store in July & August 2016.

Celebrate Our Anniversary To celebrate our Wolverhampton Branch's 10 year anniversary we are adding extra discount on top of all sale prices throughout July and August 2016!

Wolverhampton FireplaceS & StoveS Over 100 FireS, FireplaceS anD StOveS On DiSplay acrOSS Our 2 StOrey ShOWrOOM in 5 theMeD rOOMS

Free SurveyS • Free Delivery • expert Fitting Service Open 7 Days a Week, Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sunday 11am-3pm Branches at Wolverhampton and Stafford

15 Merridale road, Chapel ash, WolverhaMpton, Wv3 9rX 01902 422111 www.wolverhamptonfireplaces.com 30

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

21 Enville Road, Wall Heath Kingswinford, West Midlands DY6 0JT Open Tuesday to Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturday 9am - 4pm

A family established business since 1992. Large enough to cope – small enough to care. Wet rooms and luxury bathrooms for the less abled are our speciality. Call us for a full design and in house fitting service. Flexible payment terms available.

01384 400016 www.wallheathbathrooms.co.uk info@wallheathbathrooms.co.uk

BLAKE’S GLASS AND GLAZING

Dave Russon Painter & Decorator

DOUBLE GLAZING PROBLEMS? Steamed up double glazing?

Don’t’ replace the frames… just the Panes! Locks repaired Broken handles and hinges repaired

Professional Painting & Decorating

◗ Interior & Exterior ◗ Reliable & friendly service ◗ City and Guilds Qualified

Upgrade existing windows 24 hour emergency call out and boarding up service All glazing backed by our 5 year manufacturers guarantee 25 years experience, competitive prices

Call John 01902 279790 or 07973 295357 blakesglassandglazing@gmail.com www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

For a free quote please call

01902 687818 or 07710 485036 Woodbank Road, Sedgley, DY3 3NW

Compton Hospice family camp out the opportunity to enjoy two nights camping and two days and evenings of activities and entertainment.

Pitch your tent and enjoy a range of crafts and activities including archery, grass sledging, zip lining, keep fit and much more – all for one great price! Let mum master the climbing wall, while dad tries his hand at the shooting range and the kids go all Ray Mears in our bushcraft sessions. Alternatively simply soak

up the sun and get back to nature as you and your family explore the woodland glades away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In the evenings why not join in the Compton Campfire (weekend campers only), complete with acoustic sessions and a traditional sing-along, great entertainment for all of the family.

Pause the computer games, put down the smart phones and shut the lids on those laptops… join us for our second annual Compton Hospice Family Camp Out. Bring the whole clan and join the hospice team as they set up camp in the heart of the picturesque Kinver Scout Woods. From Friday 12th to Sunday 14th August 2016 we will be offering you

Weekend ticket for a family of 5 just £125! For more information please contact Vicki Wootton on 0845 2255497 or email fundraising@compton-hospice.org.uk 32

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

As seen on...

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

DIY SOS

LOVE YOUR BL:INDS

Beautiful homes

Deserve beautiful blindsâ&#x20AC;Ś and shutters too! For impartial advice on all types of blinds, awnings and plantation shutters call Simon at our Kinver showroom on:

01384 877518

or Paul at our Bridgnorth showroom on:

01746 768138

Alternatively you can visit our showrooms at:

83 High Street, Kinver & 10 Whitburn Street, Bridgnorth

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

CALL FOR A BROCHURE

T: 01543 505539

Ralvern Upholstery Unit 19, Martindale, Hawks Green Cannock, Staffs WS11 7XN E: sales@ralvernupholstery.co.uk

www.ralvernupholstery.co.uk www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

The Cream of Cradley By Rob Taylor

Ironically it seems that there is much colour to be found in the Black Country. Much has already been made about the region’s dark heart of industry: JRR Tolkien used it as inspiration for ‘Mordor’ in his novel, Lord of the Rings; Charles Dickens wrote in his book, The Old Curiosity Shop, that the Black Country’s factories “poured out their plague of smoke, obscured the light, and made foul the melancholy air.” In 1862, Elihu Burritt, the American consul in Birmingham, described the region as “black by day and red by night”, with the red being the glowing furnaces of Industry. And although this inspired the use of the black and red on the Black Country flag, it’s not the colour I’m referring to. I am instead talking about the 36

very many colourful characters who have over the years shown defiance in the face of mediocrity and whose legacy is today celebrated at the very many local festivals, which light up the area

each year on July 14th, also known as National Black Country Day. Cradley Heath has had more than its fair share over the years. Take firstly Rev. George Cosens. He has the distinction of being the first Afro-Caribbean minister to hold a pastorate in Britain. In 1837 he took over at Cradley Heath Baptist Church, also known as Four Ways Baptist Church, which had just four years earlier become the first Christian Church in Cradley Heath to build a chapel. A mere four years after the Slavery Abolition Act became law, George Cosens bravely preached from the pulpit at a time of still enormous racial upheaval. And he did it in Cradley Heath. Not in Cradley – since this is another place entirely, in nearby Halesowen – but in this little town in the Rowley Regis area of the Black Country. This hitherto anonymous stretch of heathland really got going and achieved prominence in the

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

nineteenth century as a centre for iron chain making. Chains were made on a hearth by hammering cut lengths of red-hot wrought iron rod into oval links, one link passing through the next to form a cable. Nail-making was big here also. Although, despite the town’s bigtime reputation, it’s neighbouring Netherton which holds all of the bragging rights because it was its historic forging company, Noah Hingley & Sons Ltd, who produced the anchors and chains for the Titanic. Oh how Cradley Heath’s chain-gang posse must have wept with professional envy in 1911, as the procession of 20 shire horses dragged the 16-ton Titanic anchor to the old Dudley train station! And despite society still being devoutly sexist, it wouldn’t have only been men who suffered the indignity, because most ‘hand-hammered’ chains were produced by women or children in small cramped forges at home. The work was hot, physically demanding and poorly paid; a so-called “sweated” trade. Because of this injustice over 1000 women workers took industrial action in the 1910 nine-weeklong Chainmakers’ Strike, which ultimately led to the successful implementation of a national minimum wage for the industry – effectively doubling wages. This is again more colourful courage of conviction at work in the parish. And finally there’s one more undeniably colourful character who merits mention: Lew Foley, the Lion Man of Cradley Heath. He kept big cats in the garden of his semi-detached home in Cradley Heath with only a ‘Beware of the Lions’ sign on his front gate during the early 1970s. During his long life in the town the eccentric also kept a crocodile in a bathtub, a tiger called Winston – and even a gorilla. His antics necessitated the 1976 Dangerous Wild Animals Act. With characters of this calibre peppering the annals of the town’s history it’s no surprise that today Cradley Heath is considered to be a shining jewel of the Black Country. www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Castle Blinds gets a new look The team at Castle Blinds and Awnings have been busy giving their Kingswinford-based showroom a makeover, as director, Amanda Jones explains. “We’ve just finished re-vamping the outside of our premises to give it a fresh new look. We’ve taken down our old canopies, had a new sign - that lights up at night - and installed some of our new season design awnings.” And the new look is certainly eye-catching: “We wanted a bold look so that customers can see us easily from the road, so we decided on a colourful rainbow effect for the awnings.” As the company manufacture their own blinds and awnings they can create products to any specification. “Having our own factory means that we can cater for any of our clients requirements and provide them with a fast service and excellent prices too. “The rainbow effect we created for outside our showroom is just one of the many colourful designs we can produce.” It wasn’t just the exterior of the showroom that was treated to

a makeover though; the interior was brightened up too.

battery operated, rechargeable and completely affordable.”

“We redecorated the showroom and made way for our new display of motorised Vision Blinds.”

Safety has always been a number one priority for the company, that’s why they’re members of the BBSA and fully accredited by the Make it Safe Campaign.

Designed to eliminate loop cords - which pose a hazard to small children when not fitted with a safety device - and allow you to control the amount of light and privacy in your home easily, Vision Blinds are an innovative new product. “Our new range of Vision Blinds are fully motorised and don’t require a cord at all. They’re

“We’ve always worked hard to highlight the potential risks posed by loop cords and ensured our blinds are fitted with the best safety devices.” Thanks to their unique design, Vision Blinds make controlling the light levels in your room easy: “The system uses a dual fabric layer with alternating mesh and fabric panels that can be easily adjusted to control privacy and light levels, in a similar way to Vertical or Venetian blinds but it can also be rolled fully or partly up, just like a roller blind.” A friendly and knowledgeable sales team work from the showroom and are on-hand to offer guidance and advice. And, when it comes to fitting, Castle Blinds and Awnings only use their trusted, fully qualified in-house team of fitters to install their blinds and awnings. So, why not give the team a call today and transform your home or office with a fantastic new set of blinds.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

FREE No Obligation Measure Service FREE Installation

Established over

20 yEars

Vertical Blinds Roller Blinds Venetian Blinds Pleated Blinds Roman Blinds Perfect Fit Blinds Plantation Shutters Conservatory Blinds Motorised Blinds Awnings Canopies

Visit our Showroom

Portway House, Stream Road, Kingswinford, DY6 9NT

Monday - Friday 9:00 - 5:00 Saturday 10:00 - 4:00

Telephone: 01384 273769 www.castleblinds.co.uk www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

a company to be proud of! purchase into your home as quickly as possible. Fully qualified ‘Gas Safe’ registered engineers will then make installation effortless and ensure peace of mind - all at a very reasonable price. Proud to be agents of Rangemaster Cookers and Refrigeration, along with top manufacturers, Hotpoint, Bosch, Siemens and Miele; Capital bring the latest and most stylish appliances to your locale. Excitingly, a new and very exclusive range is on sale also, Blomberg. Available in Germany, the Blomberg brand is on a mission to be in harmony with every aspect of life and creates products with technological, practical and environmentally friendly features and aesthetic design, which all come with a 3 year warranty.

Kingswinford shop

Boasting an impressive 47 years of trading history, brothers Clive and Patrick Baker have a company to be proud of: Capital Appliances is a trusted, respected and long established family-run business, specialising in high quality white goods. Formed initially at modest premises in Oxley, the extremely successful organisation has expanded rapidly over the years, and now incorporates six outlets, which span both Shropshire and the West Midlands. Shrewsbury, Telford, Kingswinford, Dudley and Wolverhampton are all home to Capital.

Low energy washers, dishwashers, refrigeration and soon to be available built-in ovens and hobs, make up the extensive range, all carrying a very impressive three year warranty. Recently acknowledged for their standards of excellence, Blomberg have been presented with European awards for creating the most energy efficient fridge freezers on the market. The team at Capital are determined to provide a superior and extensive service, as owner Patrick explains: “We offer the complete package and as a result have thousands of satisfied customers. With many internet companies going into administration and letting people down, here at Capital we aim to be ‘hands on’.”

Always committed to quality, a visit to the central warehouse at Claregate reveals top branded products at spectacular prices. With a display of over 250 built-in ovens, hobs, laundry, refrigeration and cleaning appliances; as well as expertly trained staff on hand to offer impartial advice, every customer experiences only the best in both product and service.

“The staff are there to help, guide and advise - we recommend Capital and so do many others.”

As members of Europe’s largest electrical buying group, Euronics, Capital has the same purchasing power as any one of the high street’s chain stores.

With a reputation for being the best in the business, Capital offer something really special and as Patrick concludes, “the journey is a must to a firm that you can trust.”

Making maximum savings available to all customers, end of line and boxed-blemished items are available at bargain prices. But rest assured, purchasing from a store that is passionate about its products, means that they all come with a full warranty. Bulk buy and special trade discounts rival that of any internet company and Capital are always keen for a deal to be struck. With stock changing on a regular and even daily basis, a good buy is certainly waiting to be had. Once you have found just what you wanted, a delivery service is on offer to get your new 40

Central Warehouse, Claregate Wolverhampton

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

APPLIANCE CENTRE LTD

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Grand Theatre COMPETITION

Photgraph by Mark Yeomans

Previous cast photography.

One lucky winner can win two tickets to see THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION on Tuesday 27th September at 7.30pm at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. Based on the 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption comes to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from 27 September – 1 October. This thrilling stage production examines desperation, injustice,

friendship and hope behind the claustrophobic bars of a maximum security facility. The 1994 feature film, regularly voted Britain’s favourite ever movie, starred Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman and was nominated for seven Academy Awards. Despite protests of his innocence, Andy Dufresne is handed a double life sentence for the brutal

murder of his wife and her lover. Incarcerated at the notorious Shawshank Facility, he quickly learns that no one can survive alone. Andy strikes up an unlikely friendship with the prison fixer Red, and things take a slight turn for the better. However, when Warden Stammas decides to bully Andy into subservience and exploit his talents for accountancy, a desperate plan is quietly hatched…

To book your seats today please go online at www.grandtheatre.co.uk or contact the Box Office on 01902 42 92 12.

To be in with a chance of winning simply answer the following question correctly and send it on a postcard with your name, address and telephone number to Town & Village Life Magazine or email info@townandvillagelifemag.co.uk by Friday 19th August 2016.

Who played the character of ‘Red’ in the 1994 Shawshank Redemption film? A) Tim Robbins B) Bob Gunton C) Clancy Brown D) Morgan Freeman 42

Competition Terms and Conditions Please send postal entries to Town & Village Life Magazine, 1 Lytham Road, Perton, Wolverhampton WV6 7YY or email info@townandvillagelifemag.co.uk. To be received no later than Friday 19th August 2016. Winners to collect tickets from the box office on the evening of the performance. Tickets cannot be exchanged and no cash or alternative prize nights available. Winners may be required to partake in relevant publicity.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Specialists in all types of Blinds Vertical - Fabric, Wood and PVC Venetian - Wood & Aluminium Rollers Including Blackout • Awnings and Canopies Romans • Woodweave • Velux • Conservatory Blinds

Free Measuring & Fitting + 12 Month Guarantee

Call Now 01902 754 129, 07891 197 369 or 01902 212314 No 72, School Road, Tettenhall Wood, WV6 8ET

as seen advertised on

www.valheverblinds.co.uk

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Stourbridge

RFC At Stourton Park it seems that the summer break has been far too short.

No sooner have the final games been played in April than the May Marquee weekend is under way as highlighted in the Social Scene pages. This year’s May Corporate lunch was attended by some 100 extra guests than in 2015 and was deemed to be the most successful to date. The May Ball on the following night similarly ticked all the boxes. The Annual Club Dinner was held on June 10th where the guest speaker was Andrew Vertigan, also known as “The Rugby Vicar” an ex Championship referee who now mentors Premiership level referees. Stourbridge Golf Club was the venue for The 24th Annual Rugby Club Golf Day competing for The Lombard Trophy organised by Chris Cook of Nicklins Business Advisers of Halesowen. The club’s association with England’s Test Series against Australia was highlighted because Glen Ella, England’s Skills Coach, was the Stourbridge 1st XV coach back in 1997. Such

May Corporate lunch- John Bentley (Master of Ceremonies), Andy Dickens (Stourbridge RFC), Nigel Owens (Guest Speaker) and Barry Adams (A& H Construction)

was his influential impact that the following season the 1st XV averaged five tries per game. The Mini and Junior Section have itchy feet during the summer and displayed all their skills at the Kinver Fayre on June 19th.They were then active in a three day rugby camp from July 26th through to July 28th and are all looking forward to a second training camp organised by Worcester Warriors on August 22nd and 23rd. The fixtures are now out for the 2016/2917 season and we are fortunate to have three home games in September against South Leicester on September 9th, against Sheffield Tigers on September 17th and against Scunthorpe, promoted

newcomers to the league on September 24th.Director of Rugby Neil Mitchell has engaged 80 % of last year’s squad and with ten judicious additions from players eager to join in the club’s success and ambition is confident that he now has the strength in depth to double last year’s ideal of contention for promotion. Pre-season training started in earnest on June 24th and that will continue through to two pre-season games firstly away against Birmingham and Solihull on August 17th and at home against Welsh side Tondu RFC on August 24th.

Robin Edwards Chairman, Stourbridge Rugby Club

The Greyhounds before their fund raising game on behalf of MacMillan Cancer Support

T: 01384 395000 E: rugby@stourbridgerugby.com www.stourbridgerugby.com 44

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Gift Shop Gallery Picture Framers Summer Sale n ow o n

Two floors of eye catching giftware, jewellery and home accessories provides a visual treat that makes shopping here such a pleasure. To complete that perfect gift, select from a range of beautifully designed contemporary gift wrap and bags. Open: 9.30am - 5.30pm Monday to Saturday

Stourbridge

Galleries

58 Worcester Street, Stourbridge, DY8 1AS Tel: 01384 390170 www.stourbridgegalleries.co.uk

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Lighting R Us Celebrating their first year in business kinds of domestic, commercial and industrial installations.” The electrical business has developed an extensive client base over the years and Paul and his team have won contracts with The University of Wolverhampton as well as big businesses like Cousins. And, the company is a favourite with domestic clients too, who know that they can call on Paul and his team to take care of any job, big or small. “The electrical side of the business is really well established but we wanted to expand on the lighting side of the company to give our customers an extensive choice of fittings for their home.” (centre front) Paul Jones, MD and his team

It’s been a year since Lighting R Us opened their impressive showroom in Macrome Road, Aldersley, Wolverhampton. Supplying the very best selection of lighting, the company have quickly become known for their fantastic range of fittings. As Manager, Laura Aston explains: “We have thousands of light fittings, in all different styles and designs. We’ve got everything from modern and contemporary pieces to traditional styles as well as statement fittings that create a real focal point in a room.”

as well as an extensive selection of LED lighting.” And, there’s even a small selection of furniture too: “We stock console tables, chests, drawers and mirrors. We also have some beautiful garden furniture that’s perfect for enjoying in the summer months.” “The business started over 30 years ago from a small showroom in Green Lane, as part of Laura’s stepfather’s - Paul Jones company, Paul Jones Electrical.” “Central Electrical Contracts Ltd has been in business since 2008, the company takes care of all

After finding that their small showroom no longer met the needs of their increasing customer base, Paul decided to grow the business and move out of Central Electrical Contracts Ltd offices into a new, dedicated showroom to expand Lighting R Us. Providing their customers with the same excellent levels of customer service, the lighting company have already earned a loyal client base. “We work hard to provide an excellent personal service for all of our customers,” adds Laura. So, there’s no doubt that Lighting R Us will continue to go from strength to strength as they enter their second year in business.

And, there’s something for every budget: “Whatever the budget, our customers are sure to find something that fits their price range. We use many different suppliers to provide our clients with the best choice.” The showroom has lighting that’s perfect for every room in the home, as well as a selection of exterior lights. “We have pretty much everything even nightlights for kid’s bedrooms. We also sell commercial lighting and sign lights for businesses, 46

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Lighting R Us UNIT 1A MACROME ROAD, ALDERSLEY, W’TON WV6 9HD sales@lightingrus.co.uk | 01902 757825

10% OFF LIGHTING

Take this advert into store or use promo code ‘TVL10JUL/AUG’ on our website www.lightingrus.co.uk Valid until the end of August 2016. (Offer excludes bespoke shades and bulbs. £100 minimum spend.)

QUALIFIED ELECTRICIANS AVAILABLE FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS

Central Electrical Contracts Ltd DOMESTIC | INDUSTRIAL | COMMERCIAL | TESTING & INSPECTING cecontracts@aol.com 01902 744100

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Summer time symptoms By Liz Jefferson RVN Head Nurse & Practice Manager, Blacks Vets Lye

mobile (Blacks Vets 01384 252509 for 24/7 Care) and keep it with you.

If your dog gets too hot, wrap them in a cool damp towel, changing it regularly with a fresh damp one. Heat stroke starts with excessive panting and can progress quickly to collapse which can be fatal. Take your dog to the nearest vet immediately if symptoms start.

Brush away disease

Well at the time of writing, it’s warm, sunny and the temperature is well into the mid 20’s. Lets hope this beautiful weather sticks around for the next few months! But, as wonderful as it is to see the sun, it’s always best to be mindful of how the weather can be affecting our pets at this time of year. There are a few common complaints that tend to be more prevalent during the Summer months. Here’s some advice on how to avoid them and make this Summer the best for you and your four legged friend.

Feeling hot and bothered Overheating is a potential danger for our pets at this time of year, but there are some simple steps we can take to minimise the risk. Even when the sky is overcast, heat can still build up significantly in enclosed spaces such as cars, caravans or conservatories with possible fatal consequences for any pet trapped inside. Animals can die in a matter of minutes so please, never leave a pet in this kind of environment, even for a short period of time.

We all know how important it is to regularly clean our own teeth, but did you know that this also applies to our pets as well? A build up of plaque on the teeth of both dogs and cats can harbour bacteria that can cause heart disease, as well as increasing tooth decay and Gingivitis (gum disease). Establishing a regular tooth cleaning habit, ideally every day, helps combat these issues and saves your pet a lot of pain and discomfort in the future. Use a specialist toothbrush for the job or a finger brush may be an option depending on your pet’s size and breed. Make sure you also use a toothpaste that is specifically formulated for your animal as human toothpaste can be toxic to dogs and cats. Contact the nurse at your veterinary practice for advice and tips on teeth cleaning or book an appointment for one of the nursing team to clean your pet’s teeth for you.

Beware of lungworm Angiostrongylus vasorum - it’s here, it’s in the Midlands and it kills. So very sad as there are very effective treatments to prevent it. Slugs and snails carry larvae which can be ingested by either eating the slug

or snail itself or ingested through contact with their slime on grass, in puddles, outdoor water bowls and toys, subsequently growing inside your pet. Prevention for lungworm is possible but it MUST be administered every month (and can be done at home) to maintain protection. It’s a serious problem - 194 confirmed cases in dogs within a 50 mile radius of us here in Lye. Check out http://www. lungworm.co.uk/lungworm-map/ with your postcode - it’s travelling fast. Preventative treatment can only be prescribed by a vet.

Feline foes Many cat owners find that flea infestations increase during the Summer months when cats are inclined to be out and about more. It can be tricky to detect that your cat has fleas as many cats will eat them whilst grooming, so a thorough combing session with a special fine toothed flea comb is important. Do this over a white surface such as a large sheet of paper and any debris can be clearly seen and examined. If you find that your cat does have fleas, remember that the effectiveness of flea treatments can vary and products prescribed by your vet are usually the most thorough. Blacks runs a Healthy Pet Club which amongst many other services, includes a year round flea programme. Why not visit our website www.blacksvets. co.uk for further details? Its worth knowing that a single female flea can lay up to 2000 eggs in her lifetime so its vital that you take steps to prevent reinfestation

Always ensure a cool, fresh supply of water in a shady area is available and keep water and food bowls extra clean. Walk your dog early or late when the day is at its coolest and take water with you. Watch out for any of the signs of heatstroke - heavy panting, lying down on a walk, sickness, diarrhoea, red gums or stumbling. Add the emergency 24/7 care vet to your 48

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

after treatment. Help minimise this risk by vacuuming regularly and treating all soft furnishings with a specialist insecticide.

Be careful in the garden With gardens in full bloom and the whole family out enjoying the fine weather, our attention often turns to how we maintain our gardens. Slugs pellets are often in use, but be aware that many brands of slug pellet contain an ingredient called Metaldehyde which is poisonous to dogs and cats. Symptoms usually appear about an hour after they have been ingested and include incoordination, muscle spasms and seizures. An animal will require

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

urgent veterinary treatment under these circumstances, so please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t delay in seeking help straight away. Other common garden poisons can include some fertilizer and mulching products, compost and some varieties of plants such as lilies and crocuses. If in doubt, check it out with your vet!

Bunny buddies When the sun is out, us humans are more likely to be out enjoying the company of friends and family. Like us, rabbits are social creatures and need companionship to thrive, yet many live solitary lives. If you are considering an additional bunny companion, a male and female

pairing is usually the most successful combination if both are neutered. A same sex pairing can work, but has a much higher success rate if both animals are introduced at a young age and again, both are neutered. There is a host of useful information about this subject on the Pet Factsheet section of our website. Its also at this time of year that cases of Fly Strike increase. This nasty condition is prevalent in rabbits with a moist or dirty bottom and occurs when flies lay eggs in the soft tissue. The eggs quickly hatch to maggots and burrow into the skin causing horrific wounds, which in some cases, can unfortunately be fatal. It is preventable, so please do contact us for advice and information if you have any concerns. For further information on Blacks Vets visit www.blacksvets.co.uk

Mee t the boss

Sitting in the firm’s “chill-out area” drinking coffee, a relaxed Kevin Rogers extolls the virtues of the best job he has ever had.

Being brave and pushing boundaries

Quietly confident and upbeat, the life-long Wolves fan is very clear that the prospects of his business show much more promise than the disappointing performance by his beloved football team which saw them end the season languishing in the bottom half of the Championship table. It’s a conversation that’s short and left hanging with a silent exchange of knowing looks. As Chief Executive of not-forprofit health cash plan provider, Paycare, he remains proud of his working class upbringing,

is equally proud of his family values having been married 32 years to Lindsey, and has a consuming social and moral enthusiasm about his 40,000 policy holders and the charitable ethos of his employer. Under his tenure, Paycare has donated generously to charities and local organisations, recently helping to fund The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton that launched in January. A pioneering £5.5 million Wolverhampton City Council

Chief Executive of Paycare, Kevin Rogers – My style is about investing in staff and trusting them to innovate, create, and question.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

partnership with local business, it aims to take 8 to 19-yearolds off the streets and offer them life skills and a creative focus for their futures. Since 1966 the company has given away more than £2 million to worthy causes. Additional support has gone to Staffordshire Wolves Visually Impaired Cricket Club, Bilston FC, Darlaston FC, Penn Cricket Club, Wednesfield Ladies’ FC, and Black Country Fusion – the first lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender football club to kick off in the Black Country and play in a mainstream Sunday league. Without question, Kevin breaks the mould of the stereotypical CEO, but his encouraging management style appears to be well received by his 29 staff. In a reference to rock band the Eagles’ 1977 hit, he adds: “People say that working here is like going to the Hotel California – you can check-out any time you like, but you can never leave. Our staff turnover is incredibly low.” It’s something Kevin intends to build upon… “I want to make Paycare the most soughtafter employer in the city.” He adds: “I don’t need to micro manage the team. My style is about trusting people to make the right decisions, investing heavily in them so they can be as great at their jobs as they possibly can be, and it’s about me being brave – I’m always looking to push boundaries. “Many of the training programmes we run are developed by the staff. We run a five-week happiness programme, because happy workers make an efficient team. It’s like this… they might well be present at work, but how present are the staff in their work?” Leaving school with three CSEs and two O-levels, Kevin admits he’s been lucky landing what he describes as his “dream job”.

stock was stolen from his vehicle on the Heath Town estate. “From there I stumbled into accountancy in 1978 and took a trainee job with Tarmac. After ten years I then progressed my career becoming Financial Controller with the Eaton Corporation and then with North American global engineering business, Multimatic.” Kevin took a three-month contract with Paycare as Interim Finance Manager in 2009 after being made redundant. “From the day I walked into the building I was impressed by the culture. Coming from a profit-driven background, it was very different. The job was more about people, and what and how we could invest in them. And I’ve loved every day here since,” he says. Proud of its Wolverhampton roots, Paycare is based in the historic enclave of George Street, a pretty cobbled road just on the outskirts of the city centre. The company, still known by some as the Patients’ Aid Association, was founded in 1874 out of the city’s former Royal Hospital. “The romantic story, though some facts may be lost in the telling, is that a fund was first set up when factory foremen collected premiums to safeguard their workers from costly doctor’s bills,” Kevin says. “It was a way of ensuring ordinary people could receive affordable, everyday healthcare. Their contributions – the penny in the pound or Saturday fund initiatives – were a simple way of budgeting for unforeseen health expenditure. “Of course, for the factory owners it meant their workforce remained healthy and able to work.

“As both the chief executive of Paycare and also personally, I am driven to preserve the good intentions of those founders and that impacts on the way I manage our team. And, not least, the way policyholders are treated,” adds Kevin. Some 90,000 claims are processed every year, 95 per cent within 48 hours. “People get to speak to my team, not a call centre, and the claims process could not be more simple. In essence, we are doing now what’s been done for 142 years. Our ethos is not how can we avoid the claim, but rather, how can we pay it,” he explains. With only three major stakeholders in the business – the policyholders, employees and benefitting charities – the company, as a notfor-profit concern, is able to invest generously back to its customers and the community in which it serves. “I’m really proud of how efficiently the team work and the amount of funding that can go directly back to our policyholders,” says Kevin. As part of the Paycare service, the company offers its policies to businesses under its Employee Paid Benefits scheme. “But it doesn’t finish there,” adds Kevin. “We work with over 800 business and help many with performance management matters, signposting vital services including mental health and counselling providers, as well as with HR and communications.” Paycare is indeed a rare find – a place where humility, humanity and moral principles join and drive the economies of success in this remarkable piece of living history.

With aspirations of becoming a professional footballer when he was younger, he soon realised he “just wasn’t talented enough” and took work as a milkman. It didn’t last long. His entire milk www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Garden View Th i s m o n t h - G a rd e n o r n a m e n t s By Rachel Leverton love of birds and my passion for recycling. It stands near a boulder fountain and I occasionally brandish a broomstick at my sons when their football strays too near...

Ornament Ideas… ...not a gnome in sight! To set off ornamental grasses try ceramic balls in vivid blues and greens set among cobbles. For minimalist contemporary plots, mirrored columns and pyramids look striking.

Ornaments polarise gardeners. They’re a love ‘em or hate ‘em subject. I fell firmly into the hate ‘em category. I thought they had a place in big country gardens but looked slightly tacky in suburbia. This antipathy may date back to my childhood and Mrs. Frost, our elderly neighbour, who had a front garden stuffed to the brim with gnomes, windmills and concrete toadstools. If our ball ever strayed into this shrine to kitsch she’d burst from her house with a banshee-like scream, brandishing a broom at us. Somewhere along the way though I’ve mellowed.

type or size the ornament you choose should be special to you. My father had a grumpy gargoylelike creature, set among ferns at the bottom of his patch. It made everyone who saw it smile in recognition of my dad’s own avuncular manner. A girly friend of mine has a series of small bronze faeries set around her tiny plot, which are perfectly in tune with her personality. I favour natural materials myself but several years ago I purchased a beautiful and rather elegant heron created from recycled metal. I adore it because it reflects both my

Classical statuary and urns look best in more formal, traditional settings. They are best made from marble or stone. Resin copies can look tacky. Don’t be frightened to show your sense of humour. Quirky can look brilliant in the right setting. Sculptor Dennis Fairweather’s best seller is a stone face and hands which emerge from a tub of water as if the figure had just been for a dip! Natural materials can be a good starting point for garden ornament novices. Balls and sculptures made from willow are subtle and elegant additions to any garden.

As I’ve studied show gardens and magazines I’ve realised that ornaments have a definite place in a garden as long as two important considerations are met: Context: The ornaments complement the style of the garden. Classical statuary doesn’t work in contemporary spaces, while traditional gardens might need to avoid stainless steel or modern, abstract sculptures. Size: Ornaments should be an appropriate size for the setting. Rules are there to be broken of course and whatever your garden 52

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

visit: www.caneandpatio.com

email: studio@charlesfellows.co.uk

CANEFURNITURESTUDIO

FOR THE BEST UK PRICE AND PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE CALL 01384 404455 Dawley Trading Est, Stallings Lane, Kingswinford, West Midlands DY6 7BH

QUALITY CONSERVATORY AND GARDEN FURNITURE SPECIALIST INDOOR RATTAN AND CANE COLLECTIONS GARDEN AND OUTDOOR LIVING RANGE LIGHTING MODERN ACCESSORIES CONTEMPORY ART SPACE RE-COVER SERVICE AVAILABLE

SUMMER OFFER *10% DISCOUNT OFF ALL PURCHASES *Offer valid until Friday 12th August 2016 when you present this advert. 1 voucher per person. No photocopies accepted.

Open Monday to Saturday 10am until 5pm, Closed Sundays. Canefurniturestudio

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

J a cu z z i

Hot Tub showroom at Webbs of Wychbold One of the biggest garden centres in the UK, Webbs of Wychbold is the place to visit for all your home and garden needs and prides itself on its jam packed events programme which is guaranteed to have something for all ages. Offering a number of facilities, including a specially designated picnic area, toyshop, café, restaurant and riverside gardens, it’s a perfect day out for all the family. Based in Webbs, the premier Jacuzzi® Hot Tub showroom offers a large range of Jacuzzi® hot tubs for you to browse at your leisure. Displaying hot tubs from all the Jacuzzi® core ranges all year round and rotating other key products throughout the year, Jacuzzi® Worcestershire ensures visitors experience the widest selection of Jacuzzi® hot tubs possible. Offering the latest technological innovations available in the hot tub market, ground-breaking design

and the ultimate hydrotherapy treatment, Jacuzzi® Worcestershire showcases the J-575 hot tub (renowned for it’s technologically advanced design), the J-470 (a sociable tub that provides serious hydrotherapy treatment with its 43 jets), the J-335 (ideal for those who desire the ultimate wellness experience due to its lounge feature), the J375 (perfect for those who like entertaining with family and friends), the J-315 (small but perfectly formed), the J-275 (one of the largest models in this range making it perfect for socialising), the J-235 (easy to use with premium features), the J-210 (offering Jacuzzi® quality at an entry level

price point) and the Lodge (initially designed for holiday homes, that is fast becoming popular in homes due to its easy to use controls and easy clean technology). With such a large choice available, it can be daunting trying to make a decision on the perfect hot tub for you and your family. Luckily, the Jacuzzi® Worcestershire team are on hand to match you to your perfect hot tub. The team include Jennifer, Natalie and Emma: with over eight years experience with Jacuzzi®’s, Jennifer understands every aspect of a hot tub purchase from the customer’s point of view. Natalie recognises all the benefits of hydrotherapy thanks to her previous job as a nurse and is the perfect person to speak to regarding health and wellbeing. Emma understands the importance of little luxuries in life so knows the difference a Jacuzzi® can make.

You can find out more information about Jacuzzi®’s Hot Tub Centre at Webbs Garden Centre in Wychbold herewww.jacuzziworcestershire.co.uk and don’t forget to stay updated with the latest Jacuzzi® news on Twitter: @JacuzziUK and Facebook at: Jacuzzi Spa and Bath. 54

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

CHOOSE A LASTING EXPERIENCE I M P R O V E D W E L L - B E I N G S TA RT S W I T H J A C U Z Z I ®

V I S I T Y O U R L O C A L J A C U Z Z I ® S T O R E T O D AY

www.jacuzziworcestershire.co.uk Jacuzzi Hot Tub Centre, Webbs Garden Centre, Wychbold, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire WR9 0DG | 01527 869378 | hottubswebbs@jacuzziemea.com

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Bring the outside into your home with

Tech Aluminium Systems Ltd When closed, Bi-fold and sliding doors offer shelter and warmth with little reduction in natural light, allowing you to stay connected to the outside from the comfort of your home. Our products meet the stringent security standards required for construction, security, safety, weather-tightness and strength of performance. This means behind its striking looks, your door is robust and built to last all-year round. Whether we are asked to create and plan original bespoke designs from your requirements or we are working with other architects and designers, we promise you that from the moment we take on your project, we will work very closely with you from the start to the finish. Aluminium, Stainless Steel and Glass production has developed so much over the past few years that almost anything is possible to achieve your desired look, so please do not hesitate to contact us with your bespoke ideas, plans and projects

Can you imagine a wide open space added to your home, instantly generating a contemporary, stylish look? You can open up an entire area during the day or partially fold-back depending on the amount of fresh air and space you require. We manufacture standard windows and doors, bi-fold and patio doors, curtain walling and balustrade at our factory in Rumer Hill, Cannock. We manufacture all of our products in house therefore maintaining a consistently high standard and quality. 56

Manufactured and installed to provide maximum viewing areas, our bi-fold and sliding doors add the 21st century to any property and can provide you with clearer access to your patio or garden bringing the outside in, just unlatch the high security locking and with a light push you have access to your outdoor living area.

With our wealth of experience you can be assured that our ability to transform some style into your property comes with an attention to detail and uncompromising commitment to quality and performance, our aim is to deliver a first class product, at a competitive price. After we have installed your product, we offer after sales care advice to maintain and increase the effective life of your bespoke glass product.

So if you are looking at updating your property and injecting style and the 21st century cutting edge chic, with a local Cannock based company, contact the team at Tech Aluminium Systems Ltd. Tech Aluminium Systems Limited Unit 10 Rumer Hill Business Estate, Rumer Hill Road, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 0ET Tel: 01543 467272 Website: www.techalumsystems.co.uk Email: admin@techalum.co.uk town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

• Curved Glass • Glass Balustrade & Balconies • Glass Partitions • Glass Doors, Patio Doors, Bi-fold Doors • Shop Fronts, Canopies & Entrance Glass Tech Aluminium Systems Limited

Unit 10 Rumer Hill Business Estate Rumer Hill Road Cannock Staffordshire WS11 0ET www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

01543 467272 admin@techalum.co.uk

www.techalumsystems.co.uk

Summer

in the Garden

Once July and August arrive most of the hard work in the garden should be done and you can start to reap the benefits of all that back breaking labour.

Tubs and baskets need watering daily if the weather is dry, do it first thing in the morning or in the evening to avoid scorching leaves. Remember to liquid feed weekly. Warm summer winds can dry plants out quickly so make sure that you keep the base of new plants moist and firm into the soil to prevent rocking. Tomatoes and cucumbers need water regularly during

hot weather – preferably in the morning – this keeps the atmosphere humid and stops the plants being damp overnight which can cause problems with mildew and botrytis, particularly with cucumbers. Make sure greenhouses are well ventilated on warm days. Once tomato plants are as tall as you want them, take out the growing point one leaf above the last truss of fruit.

Tips are provided by Ann Winwood, Lealans Garden Centre, Wolverhampton

impatiens for summer show. Many herbaceous plants are available in 2 -3 litre pots and will lift any bare spot instantly. Going into August it’s time to start trimming hedges. Use secateurs on large leaved plants such as Laurels to save mutilating foliage. Cut out the old fruited stems from blackcurrants and gooseberries once the fruit is picked.

Continue to sow salad crops – small amounts fortnightly for a continuous supply. Pick runner beans regularly to encourage further cropping, keep plants moist so beans are tender.

Plant seed potatoes in tubs in July and August to get a crop of new potatoes for Christmas. Remember they’ll need frost protection once the winter frosts appear in November and December.

Any gaps in borders can be filled by adding instant colour. Plant larger geraniums, begonias or

Watch out for autumn planting bulbs arriving towards the end of August.

OPEN DAILY

Bridgnorth Road, Shipley, Pattingham, Wolverhampton WV6 7EZ

Planted hanging baskets ready now Tel 01902 700209 58

Wide selection of Herbaceous, Shrubs and Trees.

Giftware, stone ornaments and bird baths always in stock.

www.lealansgardencentre.co.uk town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR GARDEN WITH OUTDOOR LIVING

Steve Tonks, General Manager at Boningale Garden Creations provides his top design tips We may live in a temperate climate, but that’s no reason for our gardens to be used only during the few weeks that we enjoy hot, sunny days.

choose from, from barbecues to increasingly popular pizza ovens.

It’s easy to turn your garden into a room you can use all year round – all you need to do is take a little time to think carefully about the design, making sure it fits in with your needs.

Consider building a low wall around your seating area, and add some strategically placed lighting and heating. This will not only make it a more intimate, “room-like” space, it will also help you feel less exposed to the elements.

The first thing to do is decide what your priorities are. If you want to use your outdoor space to cook and eat outside, then there are plenty of options to

A canopy is another great option: not only will it shade you from the height of the sun, when we get it; it will also provide some much-needed shelter when the heavens open!

Complement this cooking area with a cosy entertaining space, complete with a table, comfy outdoor sofas and chairs, so you can enjoy a relaxed meal in comfort.

You should also consider creating a seamless pathway from indoors to outdoors (make the garden an integral part of the home). Use materials and hard landscaping in complementary colours. If you decide to use decking to complement a wooden floor, make sure the boards run in the same direction as the flooring in your home – this will ensure a better flow. The choice of paving can also make a real difference to the look and feel of your garden. Get a few samples and see how they look in their intended space, particularly if they are right against your property. Pour some water on them, too; you may find the colours are completely different when they have been rained on!

If you need any further information or want to seek professional advice from our award-winning garden designers please visit www.boningale-garden-creations.co.uk or call me on 01902 376500.

garden creations

garden creations INSPIRING

GARDEN DESIGN

Creating your perfect outdoor space is a big step, but you’ll be in safe hands with garden creations.

FREE

Our award – winning designers offer imaginative designs to suit your personality and life style, traditional or contemporary, large or small. Our experienced landscape team offer a complete planting and landscaping service which will bring your garden design to life.

Consultation Contact us today

Quality

So why not contact Steve for a free consultation to discuss your dream garden further.

Guaranteed

inspiration@boningale.co.uk

01902 376500

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: WWW.BONINGALE-GARDEN-CREATIONS.CO.UK Facebook.com/BoningaleGardenCreations

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

@boningalegarden

Profence

Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Fencing Kate Scott, Shane’s daughter and Office Manager at ProFence explains: “The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international network designed to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. It provides standard setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services for companies who are interested in responsible forestry.” “We want to ensure that we’re doing our part in helping to protect forests, by sourcing wood that comes from sustainable sources.”

Established for over thirty years, Profence has long been meeting the fencing requirements of domestic, commercial and industrial clients alike. Having become one of the leading companies in the trade - thanks to a commitment to excellent and efficient service in every job they undertake - the Wombournebased business has built an extensive and varied client base across the West Midlands. Owner Shane Gamble explains: “I started the company back in 1983; over the years we’ve grown and grown and are now a well-established and trusted name in the business.” “We manufacture, supply and install a range of different products which meet the requirements of each of our client’s individual needs. We’ve got palisade fences, welded mesh fences, powered gates, timber panels, picket fences, as well as close board designs too.”

buildings, and we offer advice throughout the design and installation stages to ensure that everything runs smoothly.” Shane places a great emphasis on ensuring that all of his team are fully trained, so that they can offer the best levels of service to his customers. “I employ 40 members of staff and they are all experienced in their role. Our clients can rest assured that they are receiving the best service. We offer free no-obligation quotations, guarantee all of our work and never ask for money up-front.” It’s not only providing great customer service that ProFence are concerned with though. The company take great care to ensure that the products they use are sourced responsibly, that’s why they’re proud to be FSC certified.

ProFence also hold Chain of Custody (COC) certification: “COC certification provides independent evidence that forest products originate from well-managed forests. It helps consumers and businesses make informed decisions about the timber products they buy.” And, the entire ProFence team work together to ensure that the chain of custody process runs smoothly. “We only buy from companies that can supply FSC timber, when it arrives we check it has all of the correct paperwork, so that when our customers ask for FSC products we can ensure their delivery notes and invoices include our COC code.” It’s values like these that set ProFence apart from the competition. Whatever plans you’ve got in mind for your garden fencing, contact the team today to make your plans a reality and enjoy the excellent service ProFence has to offer.

Working closely with a number of local authorities, Profence carry out work for various schools and colleges across the region: “We do jobs for Wolverhampton, Walsall, Cannock and Dudley Councils, which means that we are contracted to work on all manner of different institutions.” And that’s not all: “We work with all types of property and 60

L/R – Andy Vaughan and Nigel Dolan (Contracts managers), Kate Scott (office manager) and owner Shane Gamble

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Manufacturers, Suppliers & Installers of all types of domestic and commercial fencing and gates. • Over 30 Years’ Experience • Free Quotations • Local Authority Approved • Competitive Prices • Insurance Work Undertaken • Metal or Wood Fencing & Gates • All work guaranteed

YOU CAN COUNT ON

PROFENCE!

‘Good At What We Do’ Call us today on:

01384 482922 www.pro-fence.co.uk

Heath Mill Industrial Est, Heath Mill Road, Wombourne WV5 8AP

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Zero dry time: No hassle carpet cleaning Imagine if you were having your carpets cleaned, would you like to be told: “that they’re fresh, dry, clean and ready to use for immediate use.” OR “they are wet, please keep your children, pets and furniture out of the room with the heating on and windows open until they are dry.” At zerodrytime we have developed our own unique range of environmentally friendly products that have been tested to industry standards. • • • • •

Zero dry time Dry Carpet & Upholstery cleaning processes have now altered the way we work and think when it comes to offering you a cleaning solution which provides a high class end result.

Environmentally friendly Safe for babies, young children and animals Sanitises and deodorises Removes tough stains Leaves environments fresh and clean

Do you have a problem with slippy hard floors in your home? Our “ invisible Antislip System” can be applied to quarry, ceramic & porcelain tiles, bath tubs and shower trays.

The ‘on your hands and knees, scrubbing and carrying dirty water’ process is now a thing of the past. With the advancement of new technology and products, Zerodrytime have developed a fully robust cleaning system that will enable us to give… you, the home owner what you want when having your carpets cleaned.

Making your home or workplace a safer environment. Help prevent slips on all wet floors including, showers, kitchens, toilets, bathrooms, conservatories, hot tubs, Jacuzzi’s, office and shop-fronted areas. For a free no obligation quote on all flooring and upholstery cleaning requirements call Chris Cox locally based in Kingswinford on 0800 180 49 81.

“Dry carpets and upholstery ready for immediate use with no fuss” – what’s not to like!

Can you imagine this

We have dry cleaned carpets & upholstery in over 100,000 homes

Dry Carpet Cleaning

Y ou w ill dry cle an

“no soggy carpets or wet dog smell in your home”

Get

Mai

sav

n Ro

50% om

Cle

on a ll + Fr furthe ee S r tain rooms Gua rd

i n g sy

ou r ste m !

ane

We also clean... • Removes spills & spots • Sanitize & deodorise • Deep cleans & lifts carpet pile

We are locally based You can call us FREE on

Anti Slip coating for hard floors and wet areas - ask for Upholstery Hard Floors details Leather & Fabric Tiles • Stone • Vinyl

2 0800 180 49 81 www.zerodrytime.com

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Local company services all types of boiler

for just £39!

Many people put off having their boiler serviced because of cost. Now, with local company Gas First servicing all types of boiler for an all-inclusive £39, there really is no excuse to put lives at risk any longer. Based in Kingswinford, Gas First utilises the very latest combustion testing equipment and provide gas safety certificates after each service. Gas First engineer Martin explains: “ The special offer really is an inclusive price, we do not charge for add ons and we do NOT attempt to sell additional services. Customers can be assured that they are dealing with a gas safe registered engineer, fully trained and insured to offer a comprehensive boiler service. Servicing normally takes one hour.”

Anything else? “We pride ourselves on punctuality; if we say 2 pm we really do mean it.” Martin added “... and if someone is not ready for their annual service yet, they can still book now and secure the offer price, even if it’s not due till next year”. Services can be booked by telephone or you can book online at gasfirst.net

So what happens if the service takes longer? Martin continues “a couple of weeks ago I spent over 2 hours sorting out a problem during a service. The customer was quite surprised when I said it was still just £39. People seem to think there is a catch, there isn’t. The offer is not FROM £39, it is £39. The offer is genuine and this is the amount you will pay.”

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Stourbridge Businessman

Rows a Million Metres for Charity Stourbridge based businessman Phil Fellows has rowed 1 million metres without leaving the gym. Lifelong Aston Villa supporter, Phil Fellows, has taken on the challenge of rowing one million metres for Sunfield, a residential special school based in Clent. Phil, the owner of Swinford Graphics, has been completing the gruelling challenge at his local Pump Gym in Stourbridge. The row has seen Phil clock up 621 miles since 13th October by fitting in sessions before and after work and has so far raised £295 for the school that supports children with complex learning needs. In September 2014, Phil completed the Black Country Run raising over £350 and last year completed his first gym fitness

challenge for Sunfield by helping raise £480 by running 500 miles. Phil explains why he chose this challenge: “Sunfield is a great local charity who do fantastic work and I just wanted to do something to help them on an ongoing basis. I’m not a runner and I didn’t like doing that challenge, but I like rowing even less. By taking on the challenge, it was the only way I was ever going to get on a rowing machine as i’ve spent many years actively avoiding it. I worked out that I needed to row four times every five days to complete the challenge. I get up early in the morning and sit on the rowing machine and think to myself, I really don’t want to do this, but helping Sunfield inspires me to carry on.”

challenges like this tend also to be mentally challenging and require dedication. Phil is a loyal supporter of ours and we’d like to thank him for never giving up for our children and young people who live and learn at Sunfield. The funds Phil has raised will go towards purchasing enhancing equipment such as much needed sensory, play and fitness equipment for our students.” Sponsorship is still available via www.justgiving.com/PhilFellows1/

Georgina Forrest, Sunfield’s partnership development manager said, “Long term physical

Major Refurbishment

at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has announced plans for a major refurbishment due to take place in the summer of 2016 with a grand opening in the autumn.

The new Encore Lounge will be created in the current stalls bar and will maximise the use of space, providing more seating and creating a small stage for extra performances such as comedy and live music. The Dress Circle will feature new exclusive booths and a suite available for hire and the Grand Circle will have improved seating areas and another suite that will also function as a conference room. The booths and suites were recently named by the public as part of a popular online campaign. The refurbishment will allow the Grand Theatre to become

more of a destination, somewhere to visit during the day, outside of performance times for drinks. The work will take place during the theatre’s summer period in 2016, for minimal disruption to touring shows. The new project will be funded jointly by the Black Country and Wolverhampton LEP and the Grand Theatre along with fundraising. Chief Executive, Adrian Jackson said: “I am delighted we are able to extend our refurbishment project to include the whole front of house area. Enhancing the Theatre in this way will greatly improve the customer experience and will ensure the Grand not only continues as a celebrated Theatre venue but also becomes a popular daytime and early evening destination for socialising and intimate performance within the heart of the city centre”.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

CARAVAN & MOTORHOME AWNINGS CARAVAN ACCESSORIES / FIAMMA AWNINGS / CAMPING EQUIPMENT / ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT / SECURITY GAS / WATER / HEATING

WE ARE HAPPY TO BRING 40 YEARS OF EXPERTISE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY TO OUR PREMISES IN CANNOCK WITH 7000 SQ FT OF LEISURE ACCESSORIES WITH UP TO 20 AWNINGS ON DISPLAY!

www.cannockcaravanaccessories.co.uk Unit 4, Watling Street Business Park, (A5 Between Norton Canes & Brownhills) WS11 9XG Open: Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 4pm Tel: 01543 372 400 Facebook: Cannock Caravan Accessories

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Himley Hall A local treasure

Himley Hall is an afternoon of luxury that cannot be missed. Arrival at Himley Hall is at 2.00pm with guests seated in one of our beautifully refurbished ground floor rooms by 2.30pm ready to enjoy an afternoon of indulgence.

Himley Hall is an 18th Century former stately home set amongst 180 acres of ‘Capability Brown’ landscaped parkland, situated just 6 miles north of Stourbridge and 4 miles west of Dudley. Once the family home to the Earls of Dudley and host to royalty and high society, today it offers a glamorous setting for civil wedding ceremonies and receptions, elegant afternoon teas, special occasion celebrations and parties, art and craft exhibitions as well as prestigious conference facilities and guided tours.

high quality buffet receptions. For wedding breakfast celebrations and evening ‘after wedding’ parties the choice of Himley Hall’s North wing will ensure a couple’s wedding day experience is a special one.

An indulgent afternoon tea Enjoy one of the true traditions of our culinary heritage in a venue where royal newlyweds spent their honeymoon and princes and earls once strolled. The classic combination of ribbon sandwiches, scones with fruit conserve and cream, sweet pastries and tea in the superb setting of

Afternoon tea costs just £19.95 per person and guests may also ‘top up’ their afternoon tea with a glass of prosecco or a ‘G & T’ for a small extra charge. Afternoon Tea in Himley Hall must be pre-booked and is offered on individual weekday dates each month. Individual, small party or large group bookings are available on all Indulgent Afternoon Tea dates or for larger parties there is an option to book a private room (30- 100 persons). Gift vouchers are available if you wish to treat someone for a special occasion or simply indulge them!

Weddings at Himley Hall Himley Hall has 3 rooms licensed for civil ceremonies, the Pink Room; once the Library of the Earls of Dudley, the Green Room; originally the formal Dining Room. Both of these rooms overlook the Hall’s terrace gardens with stunning views towards the lake. The former Billiard Room of the Hall the Oak Room, which overlooks the Hall courtyard is also now licensed for civil ceremonies. Himley Hall also offers a superb choice of wedding breakfast menus from fully inclusive three course dinner packages to

If you would like more details on Himley Hall as a civil wedding ceremony and reception venue or for an Indulgent Afternoon Tea please call 01384 817817 or visit www.dudley.gov.uk/himleyhall 66

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Halfpenny Green Vineyards the perfect setting for summer

The sun is out, the wine is flowing, and it’s ice creams all around as the grapes begin to grow at Halfpenny Green. Back in March The Vineyards appointed a brand new head chef, Scott, in their restaurant. With over 10 years’ experience in the industry, he is already proving a roaring success. His new menu - now served throughout the airy

conservatory, intimate restaurant and tranquil garden areas - is being met with fantastic reviews from customers. Breakfast is served from 9-11am, and lunch from 12-3pm seven days a week. Sandwiches, cakes and drinks are served throughout the day. The Vineyards are also excited to announce that a series of brand new á la carte style evenings will be launched in the autumn. If a liquid lunch caters more for your appetite, why not try a wine tasting experience in the new Wine Loft? With views over the lush Staffordshire countryside and a specially trained wine taster on hand, the setting is absolutely perfect to sample some of the award-winning English wines that are sold in the on-site shop (as well as Waitrose and Marks & Spencer Stores around the country!)

If a posh afternoon celebration is more your cup of tea, why not indulge with a vintage afternoon tea! Served from 2:30pm daily, you will enjoy homemade finger sandwiches, cream cakes and scones, served with tea or coffee - or even a glass of sparkling wine, for an extra special day out! From couples and small groups, to large parties and even corporate and private functions, it’s the perfect afternoon out for any occasion (booking necessary). The Staffordshire countryside serves as the perfect backdrop for this rural retreat, and with 16 other businesses as part of the on-site Craft Centre, there’s something for everyone! For all the latest news and information, follow Halfpenny Green Vineyards on Facebook and Twitter, and sign-up to the fortnightly newsletter on the website.

www.halfpenny-green-vineyards.co.uk Halfpenny Green Vineyards, Tom Lane, Bobbington, South Staffordshire DY7 5EP Enjoy Vintage High Tea in style, perfect for couples and groups of all sizes. Gift Vouchers available. Other functions and events available upon enquiry.

Wine Tasting Experiences held in the Wine Loft all year round. Gift vouchers available.

Brand new restaurant menu for summer 2016, now served in the garden and conservatory areas. New À La Carte style evenings beginning in the autumn

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 9.00AM – 5.00PM Tel: 01384 221122 Email: sales@halfpenny-green-vineyards.co.uk 68

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

advertisement feature

Go wild in Wolverhampton this summer!

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.

Now in its fifty-first year, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition provides a showcase for the world’s very best nature photography. The resulting exhibition is put together by the world-renowned and trusted British institution, the Natural History Museum. The exhibition, visiting Wolverhampton as part of a worldwide tour, boasts more than 75 of the 100 stunning images that form the full collection. Take in some of the world’s most astonishing sights and see nature at its most staggering in this blockbuster show put

together by the world-renowned and trusted British institution, The Natural History Museum. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, providing a global platform that showcases the natural world’s most astonishing and challenging sights for more than 50 years. Founded in 1964 and organised and produced by the Natural History Museum, it is one of the longest and most prestigious photography competitions in the world. This year the competition again received more than 40,000 submissions from amateur and

professional photographers from more than 95 countries, all of whom were competing for the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Every year, the best images submitted are selected to form the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, which tours venues across the world to millions of visitors, helping to ensure that biodiversity and sustainability remain at the forefront of public awareness. Prices are £4 for adults, £2 for children and family tickets (two adults and two children) are £10. It runs from 23 July – 18 September perfect for the school summer holidays.

You can pre-order tickets for weekend entry here: www.wolvescivic.co.uk/-/mbo-events www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Cosford FOOD FESTIVAL

Fine food and flying machines! A tasty line-up of over 80 local producers will be heading to this year’s Cosford Food Festival, which promises to serve up the very best food and drink the Midlands has to offer. Popular favourites on the food festival scene, as well as brand new local producers are all on-board for this year’s festival, which takes place on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 July. Held in the spacious grounds at the RAF Museum Cosford, with the VC10 and Hercules aircraft acting as a backdrop to the bustling food market, organisers have also lined up delicious food for visitors to enjoy at the festival. Serving up flavours from around the world, the diverse menu will include everything from Indian, Italian and French cuisine to a taste of the Caribbean with Cuban and Mexican food to tempt visitors. Gourmet burgers, flame grilled chicken and ribs will also be on offer and for those with a sweet tooth, why not sample some of the traditional dairy ice creams, waffles, crêpes, milkshakes or smoothies? Visitors can learn from local chefs during live cooking demonstrations which include special guest Great British Bake Off contestant Beca Lyne-Pirkis. Famous for her modern twists on family favourites and cooking for her husband’s regiment and local Military Wives Choir, Beca will be live on the demo stage both days. Festival goers will also be treated to a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota flypast on Saturday 23 July (weather permitting). Plus, visitors can sit back and enjoy live music including performances from Cosford and

Shawbury Military Wives Choir and the 1940s vintage vocal harmony trio The Bluebird Bells. With plenty of entertainment for the entire family taking place over the whole weekend, including cookery classes, pottery workshops, face painting, circus skills and an under 5’s play bus, it is sure to be a great day out! Admission Prices: Adult £5.00 Senior Citizen £4.00 Child (5-15 years) £2.00 Family (2 adults, up to 4 children) £12.00 Children under 5 - FREE www.rafmuseum.org/cosford 01902 376200 Follow the event on Facebook @CosfordFoodFestival

Win Family Tickets to the Cosford Food Festival We have teamed up with the RAF Museum Cosford to give three lucky readers the chance to win family passes to this year’s food festival. To enter the competition answer the following question and email your answer including your name, address and telephone number to: info@townandvillagelifemag.co.uk or send on a postcard to: 1 Lytham Road, Perton, Wolverhampton WV6 7YY.

Which aircraft will be flying over this year’s Cosford Food Festival? 1. Dakota 2. Vulcan 3. Spitfire Entries to be received by Thursday 14th July 2016. Competition Terms & Conditions: To enter you must be aged 18 years or older. Winners will be chosen at random from all correct entries received and informed by telephone. No cash or alternative prize will be given. A family ticket is for 2 adults and up to 4 children.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

10a-m 5pm

Enjoy the finest artisan food & drink from over 80 local producers at this unique venue Learn from top chefs during our cooking demonstrations, including a chef from the RAF

Held in the spacious grounds at the RAF Museum with over 75 historical aircraft on display

Live music and entertainment

Foodie fun for all the family!

£5.00 - Adult £4.00 - Senior Citizen £2.00 - Child (5 – 15 years) £12.00 - Family (2 adults / up to 4 children) Children under 5 Free

Save time and beat the queues by purchasing your tickets online at: www.rafmuseum.org/cosford Only assistance dogs are permitted in the festival

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Great British Bake Off contestant Beca Lyne-Pirkis will be live on the demo stage

Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8UP Just off Junction 3 on M54 Follow us on Facebook for all the latest information about the festival!

@CosfordFoodFestival 71

Eating Out Promote your venue to over 32,000 readers with Town & Village Life Magazine

TOWN & VILLAGE

To find out how your venue can be featured please call Gisella on 01902 744217

LIFE M AGA Z I N E

Wombourne Tandoori Restaurant Established 1989

Air conditioned

Cuisine of Bengal

Fully licensed



FOOD HYGIENE RATING SCHEME 2011

Rafique Miah welcomes you to the longest established Indian Restaurant in Wombourne Village, serving sumptuous Bangladeshi Cuisine for over 25 years. “We pride ourselves on our Quality of Food, Excellent Customer Service and Customer Satisfaction.” Recently refurbished in contemporary surroundings, air conditioned and fully licensed. Our popular Take-away Service is still the best in Wombourne offering 10% off our Menu price.

Tel: 01902 324148 / 324437 Open 7 days including Bank Holidays - 5.30pm until 11.30pm

High Street, Wombourne WV5 9DN 72

facebook.com/wombourne.tandoori

www.wombournetandoori.com town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Serving Fine Italian and English Cuisine including Traditional Black Country favourites

with master chef Mario and his enthusiastic team

BULLy’S MidWEEk hAT-TRick! 3 course meal for only £12.95 per person Choice menu of both Italian and English food or

20% OFF A La Carte menu

“Steve Bull invites you to come along and sample the delights of his delightful restaurant overlooking the Green in Tettenhall”

Excluding Friday & Saturday evenings

OUR EVER POPULAR SUndAy LUnch

still from only £8.49 Bookings essential

To avoid disappointment please book:

Situated at:

T. 01902 756052 E. reservations@bravaccios.co.uk www.bravaccios.co.uk

4a Upper Green, Tettenhall WV6 8QQ Ample Free Parking

Full Main Menu Available 7 days a week

Fish & Fizz Fridays Every Friday

We serve a 'Fish Inspired' Menu and offer great discounts on Prosecco

New and improved

Cocktail Menu

Just in time for summer, 2 for £12.00!

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

The Shrewsbury Arms

By Rob Taylor

“That has to be the finest main course I’ve ever eaten as restaurant critic for Town and Village Life magazine,” I proclaim with the fervour of a man who has just eaten his fill. Only to then immediately take off my reviewers’ hat and modify the statement: “Scratch that: that has to be the finest main course I’ve eaten… ever.” Now, before you dismiss the aforementioned exclamation as hyperbole, let me impress upon you that I am in no way some melodramatic, demonstrative European-type who waves his hands wildly at everything and professes that any given thing is “the best ever.” Nor am I likely to ever end any sentence – let alone every sentence – with an exclamation mark, á la the Facebook generation. No, I’m mild-mannered, reserved and critical by nature.

where I am and why I’ve chosen to begin so boldly. My evening out with my longsuffering girlfriend Nicola at The Shrewsbury Arms in Albrighton begins prosaically enough. “The car park is full; that’s a good sign,” says the fiery-haired maiden sitting beside me, on approach to the imposing timber-framed Grade II listed building, which has stood for centuries across from St Mary Magdalene’s church, providing locals with a kind of consolation that gives even the Almighty a run for his money. Consolation is exactly what we are both looking for when we arrive, windswept and bedraggled, having just cut a path through

the inclement elements on this miserable night. Therefore I can only muster a nod of condescension: I know all too well that a jampacked car park means little unto itself. It may well indicate a pub’s popularity, but it has yet to pass my test. After all, over 10 million people watched England’s defeat in last years’ Rugby World Cup; I didn’t. The People are definitely not always right. No, I’m adamant; we must enter to investigate further. This pub has to pass my test. Immediately struck by the interior’s intelligent fusion of the building’s roots – that of aged coaching inn, all beams and quirky nooks and crannies– and

So now you have a little context, allow me to rewind somewhat and put into context exactly 74

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

the contemporary, this family-run establishment – fondly referred to by locals as “The Shrew” – delivers considerable warmth and charm. Flowing out of the confinements of the old building, through the crowded bar space we are drawn towards a truly impressive dining space, which is thoroughly unexpected by anyone unfamiliar with The Shrewsbury Arms. The expansive and inviting annex – a former skittle alley – delivers a wide-eyed moment of disbelief to us both. We are given a warm welcome, before being quickly settled into our comfortable corner spot. Unleashing my full sensory system upon what can best be described as a grandiose banqueting hall, I suck in the sights and smells; immediately finding the décor – which is formal and benefits from many ornate flourishes – pleasing and entirely conducive to dining. Despite the burden of having so many revellers to attend to, we wait but minutes before a friendly team of attentive waiting staff are on hand to furnish our every whim and fancy. The tables are clean and tidy; the pub is immaculately kept; the ambiance is oddly cosy for such a large room. From a healthy-sized list I choose ‘Asparagus Spears wrapped in Smoked Salmon, with a Poached Egg and Hollandaise sauce’ (£6.95) from the ‘Specials Menu’ and Nicola opts for ‘Duck Spring Rolls with Hoi Sin dip’ (£6.75) for starters. Both parcels of food arrive swiftly and are exquisitely presented. This is a world away from mere ‘pub grub’; already it’s clear that The Shrewsbury Arms has in David Thorogood, a fine and skilful head chef and a well-oiled kitchen team. We immediately reach a consensus that both dishes are delicious and perfectly proportioned, deftly designed so not to upset the

forthcoming mains. My choice is ‘Aged 8oz Fillet Steak with Chips, Beer-battered Onion rings, Vine Tomatoes and field Mushrooms’ (£21.50) and for just £1.50 more, Blue Cheese Sauce. The two key aspects of this dish - steak and sauce - intersect to make this the headline-grabbing extravaganza main course. Seldom is steak so tender; rarely is it cooked precisely as I demand; never ever have I tasted such a satisfying sauce. The accompanying array of pillowy, soft hand-fashioned chips etc do much to complement the dish also, but, like the Meat Industry’s favourite competition: The Great British Chop-off, this is all about the meat. Nicola insists that her ‘Dolecatte Chicken: Chicken Breast Stuffed with Dolcelatte Cheese and Asparagus, Wrapped in Bacon, Dijon Mustard Cream,

with Cracked Black Pepper Chips’ (£13.25) is a sensational suffusion of taste and texture; a dish so appetising that she is left spluttering superlatives like a mad woman. Stand-out mention must go to the succulent chicken, which she insists is of exceptional quality. Given that Nicola eats enough chicken to make even Bernard Matthews’ daughter blush, that’s high praise indeed. It’s at this point that she suggests we order more drinks. Never one to refuse, our glasses are refilled and I loosen my belt, while she salivates over the dessert menu. An order of ‘Warm Chocolate Brownie, with Chocolate Sauce and Vanilla Pod Ice Cream’ (£5.50) and ‘A Selection of Cheshire Farm Dairy Ice Cream’ (£4.50) is swiftly placed. The ice cream is so good that it evokes in Nicola memories of holidays on the Cornish coast and the lashings of syrupy sauces complement both desserts, proving to be a perfect note on which to end an evening of fine dining, in fine company at one of the finest pubs I’ve come across locally. In short, The Shrewsbury Arms passed my test. Looks like the people are always right after all. The Shrewsbury Arms, 70 High St, Albrighton, Wolverhampton, WV7 3LA. To make a reservation call 01902 373003. www.theshrewsburyarms.com

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

by Helen Taylor

Pucker Up Make-up tricks for kissable lips Soft, plump, kissable lips are guaranteed to get you noticed - but if mother nature hasn’t blessed you with them, don’t despair, because we’ve compiled a clever guide that will help you to fake a full-on pout. Soften Up Before you even think about applying lipstick to your lips, it’s essential to spend a bit of time creating the right base for your product. Exfoliation is key in keeping your lips looking luscious as well as smooth and free of flakes, so it’s important to do this once a week. Start by applying a generous amount of lip balm to your lips to soften them, and then gently remove the top layer of skin using a soft wash cloth or toothbrush, in circular motions. Smother your lips in balm every night so that they are super soft for the next morning, when you apply your make-up.

Get In Line Although lip pencil probably isn’t high up on your shopping list of beauty must-haves, when used correctly it can be a valuable and essential tool. It allows you to shape and define your lips, and helps to stop your lipstick from ‘bleeding’. Choosing a neutral and natural shade of lip liner is key for creating a modern look. Lining just outside the coloured part of your lips provides the fullest effect. Many women don’t do this, and tend to line inside the lip line, but this makes your lips appear thinner because the natural lip line generally extends further than the coloured part of your lips. 76

Be sure to choose a soft lip liner and ‘round off’ the tip by smudging it on the back of your hand a few times - a sharpened point will look unnatural and harsh - before you apply. Define your ‘cupid’s bow’ by drawing a V in the centre curve of your top lip, bring the line round and down using soft feathery strokes. Line the curve of the bottom lip with the same light movements, and soften by lightly blending with your finger.

Complete with Colour It’s best to choose a natural shade of lip colour for two reasons: firstly, light and bright hues look youthful and secondly they make the lips appear fuller, unlike dark shades which have the opposite effect. Use a lip brush to paint the product onto your lips for a neat and even

application - ensure that you take the colour right up to your lip liner line.

Get The Gloss Apply a shimmery gloss to the centre of your lips and blend gradually outwards to make your lips look really full. And, if you really want to make an impression with your pout, try one of the plumping glosses that are on the market. Using menthol, cinnamon or even chilli as active ingredients, these lip glosses create a mild irritation on contact with the lips causing them to temporarily increase in size. The tingling sensation lets you know it’s working and the results last for a few hours, so to keep the look you’ll need to re-apply regularly.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

We create beautiful looking hair L’Oréal Professionnel UK Salon. Experts in hair colouring, cutting and styling for women, men and children.

To book an appointment please call 01384 273070

www.jonkevan.co.uk

Open: Mon-Tue 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Thu-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 8am-4pm

You’ll find us at 18 Market Street, Kingswinford DY6 9JR

We are looking for talented creative stylists to join our successful team at Jon Kevan. Salon floor experience essential. Excellent salary and commission. www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk Interested? Call Kevin for further details or pop into the salon with your CV.

“

s e t hi

r e m um

Versace Jeans Bag £170

Vivienne Westwood Watch £170

Michael Kors Clutch Bag £130

Michael Kors Bag £285

Michael Kors Shoe £140

Vivienne Westwood Earrings £55

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Summer 2016 Once summer arrives, there doesn’t seem to be an outing for which a crisp white dress doesn’t work: lunch date, beach day, race day or a picnic. What really counts is the detail, pick a dress with lace, broderie anglaise or delicate cutwork which will elevate the design from simple to eye catching. Finish the look with white sandals or choose a white bag to update your summer wardrobe.

< Religion cut out detail dress £85

Visit Diffusion in Wolverhampton, Merry Hill Centre, Telford or Walsall, or online at diffusiononline.co.uk

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Look gorgeous this Summer

Wollaston Beauty Clinic

Wollaston Beauty Clinic’s Marketing Manager, Jenny Birch, gives us the low-down on how to look gorgeous this summer. We never really know when the sun might show its face here in the UK - which is why so many of us will be jetting off to warmer climes this summer. So, to help you prepare your skin for lounging on the beach or going for cocktails in your favourite summer dress, I’ve compiled a must-read guide on how to get summer-ready skin in no time.

FACE FACTS Ditch the face wipes in favour of cleansing products that are kind to skin and don’t dry it out. My personal favourites are ESPA’S ‘Optimal Skin Procleanser’ which has a 3 in 1 formula - it’s a cleanser, exfoliator and a mask all in one - and Demalogica’S ‘ Special Cleansing Gel’, which is a fresh face wash that foams up to remove makeup.

Cleanse morning and night, and if like me, you wear eye make-up, be sure to use a gentle eye makeup remover like Dermalogica’s ‘Soothing Eye Makeup Remover’.

ESPA’S ‘Exfoliating Body Polish’ or any one of their three ‘Salt Scrubs’, will do the job as they buff the skin with natural salt but quench it too with essential oils.

Remove dull dry skin with an exfoliator and kick start your own routine with a salon treatment. The Caci system offers a great 45 minute ‘Microdermabrasion’ treatment to brighten sallow complexions and help you achieve skin that’s ready for make-up free summer days.

Moisturise really well during the summer months to help your skin glow. St Tropez have some great body moisturisers which include melanin activators as well as gradual tans. Or, you could always treat yourself to a confidence boosting spray tan.

Don’t forget to follow cleansing with a good moisturiser and always use one with an SPF. Visit your favourite beauty counters and tell them whether you have dry, combination or oily skin and they’ll find the best product for you.

BODY BEAUTIFUL Get your skin pool side ready with a scrub to remove dry skin.

FEET FIRST Your feet are important and need to be in top condition when you slip on those strappy sandals and flip-flops. Use an intensive foot cream to soften hard skin and cracked heels, like GET FRESH ‘Rescue Me’ which contains AHA’s. Finally, finish off your toes by painting them with your favourite nail polish or treating them to a Spa pedicure. Personally, I love all the ORLY nail polishes, as there are so many colours to choose from. This summer’s palette is bang on trend with bright vivid oranges and yellows and is available in ORLY original as well as the fast drying, longer lasting ORLY Epix range which ensures you’re good to go in 8 minutes.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

THE BEST OF A BB, A CC, AND A TINTED MOISTURISER… IT’S A WHOLE NEW WAY TO THINK ABOUT MAKEUP. Speak to a therapist today to discover more and receive your FREE sample.*

153 Bridgnorth Road Wollaston DY8 3NU where relaxing & pampering is essential 01384 393305 www.wollastonbeautyclinic.co.uk *While stocks last www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk 81

Wollaston Beauty Clinic

Sunglasses

By Susan Brookes-Morris It’s really important to wear sunglasses, to protect your eyes against harmful ultraviolet (UV) light. UV rays can cause damage to your eyes which could lead to cataracts. These cause clouding of the lens, reduced vision and even blindness if left untreated. Most sunglasses now filter out both UVA and UVB rays. There is a vast array of sunglasses to choose from including prescription sunglasses. There may be a few styles that aren‘t suitable for your prescription but an expert can advise on this. It is important to think about the shape of your face to determine which sunglasses may suit you best. Decide whether your face is heart shaped, round, oval or square, as this will help you work out whether square frames, cat’s eye shape, aviator style, shield, oversized or sport may work best for you. 82

Those with heart-shaped faces will generally find that frames that are wider at the top than the bottom will look best, whilst oversized, rectangular and angular frames will counterbalance a round face and shallow rectangular frames will visually shorten a long face. Think about your colouring too. What frame colours will suit your skin tone and hair colouring? Those who are fair may find pastel shades or transparent frames most complimentary. Of course you may want to make a statement and choose a bolder frame. Sunglass lenses are usually plastic for increased durability and versatility. Some opticians offer a range of different colour lenses from the more traditional browns and greys to yellows, blues and green. Different tints suit particular circumstances such as green for enhancing contrast and thus being really helpful for those who play sports like golf. There are a variety of tints too. Dark tints are best for mountains

and sea and lightly-tinted for more urban and general environments. All sunglasses reduce brightness, but to reduce glare as well, you need polarized lenses. They are particularly effective when driving, skiing or fishing as they block glare increase contrast. As with all spectacles you have the choice of designer brands such as Ray Ban, Ted Baker and Oakley or non-designer. There is an element of fashion and celebrity endorsement too. Iconic images of Tom Cruise wearing L.G.R. Tangeri and Cosmoros sunglasses in last years Mission Impossible 5 film had a huge influence and led to other brands copying the trend. Check out the latest looks at your local optician or fashion chain. It’s always helpful to seek the assistance of a store professional to help you select the most suitable sunglasses, particularly to check that the specification will offer you the correct protection but also to advise on aesthetics.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

40% OFF UP TO

MEN’S, WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S WEAR Visit Diffusion in Wolverhampton, Merry Hill Centre, Telford, Walsall or online at diffusiononline.co.uk www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Ready for the

beach

By Helen Taylor

With so many different swimwear looks now available on the high street, there is no reason not to look - and feel - totally fabulous on the beach this summer. Model Wears:

Rainforest Maxi £55 Savannah Swimsuit £55 House of Fraser

When you’re on the look out for new swimwear, remember to keep in mind the style that will be most flattering for you. Check out our guide to buying swimwear for your body shape: Hourglass figure - complement your curves by choosing a bikini or swimsuit in a solid, statement colour. Avoid pattern, print and embellishments because a simple style is best for you. Athletic figure - show off your lean figure by choosing a bikini style. Bold patterns, prints and embellishments add softness to your shape and help to create curves. Any girly styles will look great on you. Pear shaped figure - halter straps look fabulous on a pear shape figure and you’ll find them on bikinis, swimsuits and tankinis. Opt for bright colours and styles which really bring the eye up to your top half. Boy shorts and tankini styles are perfect. Fuller figure - choose from a gorgeous selection of structured swimsuits and swim dresses which will maximise your curves, whilst flattering your fuller figure and creating a perfect silhouette.

Model Wears:

Swimsuit £55 House of Fraser

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Tankini Top £22 Tankini Bottoms £16 M&Co

Bikini Top £17 Bikini Bottoms £14 Accessorize

Pink Fringed Bikini Top £17.99 Pink Low Rise Bikini Bottoms £9.99 New Look

Cut Out Swimsuit £42 Butterfly by Matthew Williamson at Debenhams

Halter Neck Swimsuit £12.99 New Look

Tummy Control Swimsuit £30 M&Co

Flower Print Swimsuit £42 Jasper Conran at Debenhams Sandals £220 Michael Kors

Control Wear Swimsuit £30 Very Shoes £110 Michael Kors

Watch £139 Bering at T.A. Henn, Wolverhampton

Bag £220 Michael Kors

Necklace £99 Earrings £45 Bracelet £42 All Coeur de Lion at T.A. Henn, Wolverhampton

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Bag £189 Ted Baker at Diffusion 85

AFFORDABLE LEISURE IN SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE Your Local and Friendly Leisure Centre

• • • • • • •

Gym Classes Swimming Toning Suite* Studio Cycling Badminton Squash*

ALL THIS FOR LESS THAN 70p PER DAY

Affordable Prices Flexible Packages No Joining Fees or Long Term Commitment Free Inductions Open 7 Days A Week Free Health Checks and Fitness Programmes Discounts for Students, Apprentices and Corporates

Entitles voucher holder free access into specific facilities for 1 day only

www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure *Terms and conditions apply

tA ug

01902 898202

Wombourne Leisure Centre

–3

01785 714152

Penkridge Leisure Centre

01902 844032

01922 417790

Codsall Leisure Centre

Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre

CALL US TODAY!

DA FR Y EE PA SS

USE 4 LEISURE CENTRES FOR 1 GREAT PRICE

Specific facilities include gym, swimming, exercise classes, toning suite

Booking iS ESSEntiAl

For gym access, you will be required to sign a Health Commitment Statement tAkE tHiS VoUCHER WitH YoU to ClAiM YoUR FREE DAY PASS Name _____________________________________________ Leisure Centre ______________________________________ Town & Village Life Magazine July/August 2016 Edition. 1 voucher per person, per offer.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Royal Ad 140 x 106_Royal Ad 140 x 106 20/06/2016 14:19 Page 2

The Royal School Wolverhampto n

OPEN DAYS For entry in 2017

Year 7 Open Day Saturday, 1 October, 10 am – 1pm Sixth Form Evening Thursday, 13 October, 5:30 – 7:30 pm

FREE SCHOOL PROVISIONAL OPENING 2016

Check website for admissions details

Penn Road, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV3 OEG Tel: 01902 341230 mo@royal.wolverhampton.sch.uk www.theroyalschool.co.uk

Call now for an information pack and book a complimentary consultation.

Creating beauty in every smile Many people suffer with dentures that are either ill fitting or worn down for years. Often they have tried new dentures but never found them to be as comfortable so end up going back to the previous set. It doesn't have to be like that. Allow us to help you overcome the problems you experience with your dentures. Smile with confidence once again! Dentures by Mr Peter Brookes DipCDT, GDC No: 124429

Call free on 0800 9788 665 More info at www.simplydentures.net 16-17 Roseville Precinct, Castle St, Coseley, WV14 9EP

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Education

and Schooling

by David Williams – Headmaster of Tettenhall College hours of football and cricket in unsupervised games on an estate where violence often lurked. For today’s budding actors, musicians and sportspersons there will also be safe, high quality classes and sessions provided by the everincreasing army of rigorously checked volunteers, whilst schools such as ours also provide a rich and varied extra-curricular programme.

As I write the two events dominating the news have inadvertently taken me back to my childhood: the European Referendum and the death of Muhammed Ali. The first as we have the opportunity to vote as my parents did in 1975 whether to stay as part of the European Union or Common Market and the second with memories as a family watching the latter fight the likes of Joe Frazier or George Foreman in the “Thriller in Manila” or the “Rumble in the Jungle”. As an educator and father, they have also made me reflect on childhood today as one poses the question about whether we have progressed and the country is now a better, happier and safer place for the average 12 year old. The media and “research” that thrive on negatives will lead us to the inevitable conclusion that childhood is in crisis; with mental health issues formerly reserved 88

for adults now proliferating in our young people who are in turn enslaved to electronic devices, celebrity culture or materialism and equally cannot walk out of the door unaccompanied for fear of paedophiles or knife wielding gangs. Fear of exam failure or having to sit the latest governmentimposed test in a school worried about not being “outstanding” has created a generation of stressed teenagers. Meanwhile our 24/7 news channels serve a diet of the latest terrorist atrocities, corrupt politicians and economic crises to remind them of the terrible world which they will enter as adults. Yet if I consider my own childhood in the 1970s watching the Ali fights on one of the three available channels was it “better”? An overwhelming memory of the Britain of this time was one of boredom in an age devoid of iPads, box set DVDs and weekends and evenings crammed with organised activities. As a keen sportsman I can barely remember being properly coached but skills were honed in endless

The schools of today from which parents can choose, rightly have pupil wellbeing at their core as well as teams of teachers dedicating their time to ensuring that lessons are stimulating, relevant and engaging for those in their care. Pupils and parents are regularly consulted on how these schools can be improved. In our leisure time, we regularly eat out in the region in one of the range of family-friendly restaurants where children are welcome and not excluded (as in the pubs of the 40 years ago) to eat food of a variety and quality that would be unrecognisable in anything but the best establishments of the same period. The same comparisons could be made with the availability of taken for granted foreign holidays, travel and entertainment. Despite our impressions, childhood and schools continue to make progress, though each generation will still invent its own ills and present its own challenges. Previous generation’s television is today’s internet, both have a tremendous power to educate and children still need to learn what constitutes a correct balance. A certainty however is that parenting and teaching will never be easy tasks, yet both will always be fulfilling and only truly appreciated with the benefit of hindsight. You can now follow David on Twitter @tettcoll_head

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

WHAT INSPIRED THEM?

A passionate team of inspirational teachers where everyone knows your potential and believes in your ability to achieve your best. More than just results, this is preparation for life.

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

PAYCARE

pledges support for visually impaired cricket team A not-for-profit organisation is marking the start of a successful partnership which has seen it sponsor a local visually impaired cricket team. Wolverhampton-based Paycare has pledged its support to the Staffordshire Wolves which has seen the club secure new branded shirts which were worn for the first time during their recent home match at Wolverhampton Cricket Club in their Blind Cricket England and Wales Regional League (North and West) match against Lancashire Lions.

Kevin Rogers, CEO of Paycare, explained: “We are absolutely thrilled to be announced as the official sponsor of the Staffordshire Wolves team, and in supporting them in the future as they compete with other visually impaired teams from across the country in the North and West Regional League. As an organisation, Paycare is proud of helping to support the communities it serves, and this team is another example of a fantastic initiative within our region. We wish the team huge success during the coming season!” Staffordshire Wolves was launched in 2014 following a desire by Wolverhampton Cricket Club to promote visually impaired

cricket in Staffordshire and the West Midlands, and since this time, have worked closely with Beacon Centre for the Blind in Wolverhampton. With players both male and female, and spanning all ages, the club focuses on not just enhancing the individual players’ cricketing ability, but in supporting the personal development of its team across areas such as increasing selfconfidence and social skills. Mike Elphick, Community Development Officer at Staffordshire Wolves, added: “Our aim is to develop our players’ cricket ability and to offer a supportive network for individuals to increase their self-confidence and social skills. We have players travelling to training match days to Wolverhampton from across the area, and we encourage anyone interested in joining to get in touch. We’d like to thank the team at Paycare for its kind sponsorship of the team, who I know are hugely grateful of the support and who are proud to wear their new shirts. Paycare’s generosity will help us to compete in the league and feel proud to represent our county and city in the future.” A well-respected and dedicated not-for-profit health cover provider, Paycare has helped individuals, families and businesses across the Black Country and Wolverhampton protect themselves against everyday healthcare costs and bills for over 140 years. For further information about Paycare’s full range of health cover please call 01902 371000, email enquiries@paycare.org, or visit www.paycare.org.

Mike Elphick (Community Development Officer) with Andy Causton (Staffordshire Wolves player) and Kevin Rogers (Paycare)

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Would you like to reclaim the money you spend on everyday health care?

F monirst prem ths ium

FREE

Cover starts from as little as £6.25 per month with your first premium FREE! Easy Healthcare Benefits Plans to Recover the Cost of Healthcare A Paycare plan makes healthcare cost recovery individual plans and corporate plans let you reclaim 100% of the money spent on healthcare such as dental, optical, chiropody and many more (up to an annual limit) for a simple monthly payment.

Under 25s Paycare Go is a healthcare benefits plan designed specifically for young adults aged 18 to 24. Whether at home, away at college, or just enjoying independent living for the first time healthcare is easy to overlook.

From £5.00 per month Call 01902 371 000

Individuals

Refunds are prompt, usually within 48 hours of receipt, directly into your bank or building society account - so you are never left out of pocket for long.

Paycare direct is aimed at individuals aged between 18 & 64. No medical is required to join. With the choice of four premium levels you can choose just how much cost protection you would like to receive.

Need help? Mon to Fri 8.30 to 4.30pm or email us.

Tel: 01902 371 000 enquiries@paycare.org

From £6.25 per month Call 01902 371 000

Over 64s Paycare Gold is aimed specifically at the over 64s. There are extra benefits where seniors have an increased need: for things like hearing aids and home care assessment and support.

From £21.00 per month Call 01902 371 000

Families Aimed specifically at Parents and their children, this comprehensive policy ensures that your whole family can receive necessary medical care, without worrying about making tough decisions as claims are generally settled within 48 hours.

From £30.00 per month Call 01902 371 000

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

www.paycare.org 91

Registered Charity No. 512387

nd Weekend a day passes available

Family Camp Out & Activity Weekend Archery * Rifle Shooting * Activity Wall * Keep Fit * Bushcraft * Campfires * Live Entertainment

Set up camp at the beautiful Kinver Scout Camp in the heart of the Staffordshire countryside, then try your hand at a range of activities including; Archery, Rifle Shooting, Bushcraft, Climbing Wall, Zip Wire, Keep Fit and much more all for one great price!

Make this summer one to remember and book your place today!

Friday 12th – Sunday 14th August 2016 Full Weekend With Camping Family £125 (2 adults 3 kids) Adult £35 Child £25 Full Weekend No Camping Family £105 (2 adults 3 kids) Adult £30 Child £20 Day Passes Adult £20 Child £15

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Social Scene

3 5

Blakelands Bobbington 115 ladies attended a charity lunch on Wednesday 8th June which was organised by Tricia Ward-Jones, volunteer fundraiser for Promise Dreams. £3,580 was raised to purchase a Snap Dragon Power Chair for 7 year old Eilidh MacFarlane who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy. This also included a £match from Lloyds Bank of £1000. www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

7 The fashion show was organised by Carol Billingsley, owner of Aristocats ladies fashion boutique based in Coalway Road, Penn. Volunteer models showcased the latest seasonal styles and this proved to be most enjoyable. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Carol Billingsley, Tricia Ward-Jones (organiser). Toni Wyer, Lynne Cave, Marita Morrison. Gill Rollings, Rachel Mitton-Davis. Margaret Davies, Carol Marple, Pauline Calloway. Pam Thompson, Margaret Bill. Jill Rossiter, Jane Perks. f/r Gill Row, Carol Whittle, Thelma Quayre, b/r Liz Stoll, Kate Banerjee, Sue Jones. 93

Photographs by Steve Fisher

Social Scene 1 2

3 4

Stourbridge Rugby Club

1. Nigel Owens (Guest Speaker).

The Stourbridge Rugby Club Annual Corporate Lunch was held on Friday May 6th. The event attracted 880 business guests from all over the West Midlands.

5. Jacqui Edwards, Richard Baron, Chris Batham-Reid and Justine Batham-Reid.

The lead speaker was International Rugby referee Nigel Owens, followed by Test Match Special commentator Henry Blofeld, with John Bentley as Master of Ceremonies. 94

2. Neil Mitchell (Director of Rugby), John Bentley (Master of Ceremonies), Nigel Owens (Guest Speaker) and Andy Dickens (Stourbridge RFU). 3. Sharon Dickens, Helen Boaler and Emma Teague. 4. Henry Blofled, (OBE) Peter Thompson, Andrew Dickens and Max Totney.

6. James Syree (Ballard Dale Syree Watson), Dan Ballard (Halls), Richard Tomlinson (Halls) and Jason Clines (Halls). 7. Nick Perry, Henry Blofeld OBE, Bryn Mazey and Huw Mazey. 8. Dominic King (Zeus Capital) Calum Nisbet (IoD) and Adrian Lewis (Brown Shipley). town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

Photographs by Steve Fisher

Social Scene

3 5

Stourbridge Rugby Club

7 3. Courtney Stephens, Abby Trinham, Emma Sheldon and Helen Pearson. 4. Jo Peplow, Jacqui Grenfell, Elizabeth Grenfell, Timothy Grenfell,

Stourbridge Rugby Football Club held their popular Annual Ball on Saturday May 7th. Over 550 attended and danced to the music of â&#x20AC;&#x153;One Stop Boogie.

5. Peter Flint, Karen Flint, Vanessa Canavan,

1. Diane Scriven and Martin Freckelton.

6. Thirsty work.

2. Alan Prince, Tracey Prince, Sara McMaster and Mark McMaster.

7. Guests enjoying a flutter on

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Jennifer Ferguson and James Grenfell. Sally Scott, Pete Canavan.

the roulette wheel. 95

Smarty Pants

By Rob Taylor

The Smart ForTwo is a clever little car: a groundbreaking design for an overpopulated planet. If it could talk it would regale you with witty motoring anecdotes, explain the intricacies of the internal combustion engine and do it all while driving you to the shops. Look in its glove-box and you’ll see a Mensa membership card. But no-one really likes a smart rear-end or do they? As of this year, old clever clogs can arrive on your driveway as a roofless cabrio, but today I’m concentrating on its hard-top sibling, because it’ll take a lot more than flashy gimmicks to un-stick my own fascination with the Smart car, which began soon after it launched in the late 1990s. This 1 litre Passion test car certainly still cuts a dash in its natural habitat around the towns and cities of the West Midlands not quite the neon-glow of Tokyo but just the terrain needed to see if it can outsmart its many rivals, most notably the Renault Twingo, which, thanks to Smart’s jointventure development programme with – ahem – Renault, shares the ForTwo’s underpinnings. The Smart’s short wheelbase (the whole car still retains a tiny 269cm length) means that it turns into corners responsively 96

and rewardingly, yet the ride is smooth and comfortable, which could never be said of the previous generation - it had road manners akin to a substandard soapbox race entry. This gutsy three-cylinder engine develops 71bhp and makes keeping pace with traffic in town easy. And there’s every reason to greet passing cyclists without shame or green-faced embarrassment, because - as a corollary of its urban-orientated design – it coughs out less than 100g/km of the nasty stuff. It fits right in with slick city fashion too: trendy shoppers nod approvingly, while sipping lattes outside ultra-cool coffee shops, and the Smart’s supercool 15” alloy wheels allow you to bask in your own shopwindow-reflected glory, knowing that this vehicle costs just a smidgen under £12,000. But much of this will come as no particular surprise, nor will fans of Mercedes (Smart’s owner) be shocked to learn that it is well-built, blessed with finely upholstered seats and made with top quality interior plastics – or that it can be specc’d to be as sombre or colourful as you wish. Equally unsurprising is the fact that every bit of tech, whether infotainment – the £795 Premium Package which gets you built-in sat-nav, is a must – or safety is top-notch.

However what is truly staggering is that in a car small enough to park in your pocket, this six foot tall writer could comfortably be accommodated inside for a lengthy cross-country three hour run, involving motorways – the old Smart car’s nemesis – and myriad A and B-roads, and not come out the other side beset by tinnitus, wracked with back ache. Admittedly the engine can feel strained when under load, but you never feel too under-powered or intimidated on motorways, unless of course you happen to come up against a large automotive colossus when there’s a particularly strong cross-wind. A 0-60mph time of 14.4 seconds won’t win any drag races, however a top speed of 94 mph is all you’ll ever legally need. The Smart ForTwo is still an impressive amount of innovation for a not particularly impressive starting price of £11,070. The 5-speed manual gearbox (you can pay more for an auto) is precise and the gearing is well spaced and, when employed sensibly, it will return up to – officially - 69mpg on the combined cycle. With some fun and frolics I managed around 45mpg. So without having a retro gimmick like the Fiat 500, the cheap practicality of the Renault Twingo, the little Smart ForTwo is a big success in its own right.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

For more fun in the city. Choose smartly.

Drayton

Call us on 01902 219695 to book a test drive. Drayton Group smart at Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton Penn Road, Wolverhampton WV2 4HD 01902 219695 www.draytonsmart.co.uk Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the smart range: urban 55.4(5.1)-58.9(4.8), extra urban 72.4(3.9)76.4(3.7), combined 65.7(4.3)-68.9(4.1). CO2 emissions 99-93 g/km. www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Appliances Electrical & Gas Capital Appliances Awnings Castle Blinds Love Your Blinds Bathrooms Brierley Hill Bathrooms Roman Bathrooms Wall Heath Bathrooms Beds & Bedroom Furniture Cousins Sofa Factory Outlet Woodrobes Beauticians Wollaston Beauty Clinic Blinds - Curtains Castle Blinds Love your Blinds Total Sewing Val Hever Blinds Building & Maintenance Contractors Three Pines Builders Merchants Carvers Building Supplies Caravan Accessories Cannock Caravan Accessories Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Zero Drytime Carpets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Supply & Fit ND Walters Virgo Car Sales Drayton Smart Car Service/Repair Four Ashes Renault Conservatory Roofs August Home Improvements Dentistry Simply Dentures Total Implant Solutions

41 39 34 29 19 31 6/7 33 11 81 39 34 19 43 5 23 65 62 12 43 97 99 25 87 2

Education Royal School 87 Tettenhall College 89 Entertainment & Leisure Cosford Food Festival 71 South Staffs Leisure 86 Wolverhampton Art Gallery 69 Estate Agents Berriman Eaton 8/9 Fashion - Retail Diffusion 78/79/83 Fencing & Gates Profence 61 Financial Advisers Midland Independent Financial Services 16/17 Fireplaces & Stoves Flaming Fires 12 Wolverhampton Fireplaces 30 Furniture & Furnishings Cane Furniture Studio 53 Cousins 6/7 Pargeters 18 Ralvern 35 Sofa Factory Outlet 33 Virgo 43 Galleries & Gift Shops Stourbridge Galleries 45 Garden Design Boningale 59 Gardening & Landscaping Boningale 59 Lealans Garden Centre 58 Gas Boiler Servicing Gas First 63 Glass & Hardware Specialists Tech Aluminium Systems 57 Glazing Repairs Blakes Glass & Glazing 31 Haberdashery & Wool Total Sewing 19 Hairdressers Jon Kevan 77

Health Care Cover Paycare Home Improvements August Home Improvements Hospices Compton Hospice Hot Tubs Webbs of Wychbold Interior Designers Virgo Kitchens - Supply, Design & Fit Carvers Building Supplies Intoto Kitchens Roman Bathrooms Lighting Lighting R Us Outdoor Furniture Cane Furniture Studio Painters & Decorators Dave Russon Restaurants & Pubs Bravaccioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Halfpenny Green Vineyards Shrewsbury Arms Wombourne Tandoori Tea Rooms Halfpenny Green Vineyards Himley Hall Theatres The Grand Theatre Tiles & Interiors Tile Choice Veterinary Services Blacks Vets Vineyard & Craft Centre Halfpenny Green Vineyards Wedding Venues Himley Hall Windows & Conservatories Choices Hayley Windows

91 25 92 55 43 23 27 19 47 53 31 73 68 73 72 68 67 100 21 49 68 67 15 11

Puzzle Answers Sudoku:

Easy

Quick Crossword:

Hard

Word Search: Hidden Phrase: Spices, of course, are essential Marcus Samuelsson

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016

WHY PAY DEALERSHIP PRICES TO SERVICE

YOUR RENAULT? MINOR SERVICE £89* ALL INCLUSIVE

Servicing with us at Four Ashes will not affect your Manufactures Warranty. We also service all other Renault models out of the warranty period.

FULL SERVICE £149* ALL INCLUSIVE

w w w. r s f o u r a s h e s . c o. u k NOW OPEN ROAD & RACE REPAIRS LTD ALL IN-HOUSE FACILITY OFFERING A FULL RANGE OF BODYSHOP SERVICES

FOR ALL MODELS Including: * Accident and Insurance Work * Full and Partial Resprays * Scratch and Chip Repairs * Alloy Wheel Repairs

Had an accident, in need of a respray? Give Us A Call!

01902 790454

62 Reg Vehicles (3 years old) - Your MOT is (or soon will be) due - Check your date of registration on your vehicle log book. • MOT testing arranged • Large stoock of new and used parts • Computerised diagnostic (main dealer equipment) • Accident/mechanical repairs & insurance work undertaken • All work is fully guaranteed! • Courtesy Cars free of charge • Pick up and Drop-off service* • Servicing while you wait *conditions apply, please call for more details

MOT WITH ANY SERVICE

£25 *All models over 3 years old and out of Renault warranty period. Prices start from as listed. Please call for more details and exact price for your vehicle.

11 Reg and 61 Reg Vehicles DONT FORGET YOUR CAM/TIMING BELT!

Most Renaults require Cam/Timing Belt change at 72,000 miles or 5 years (whichever comes first). Cam/Timing Belt failure will result in serious engine damage, so make sure yours is changed at the correct intervals. Call us for more details.

Units S1 & S2 Station Drive, Four Ashes, Wolverhampton WV10 7BU www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

01902 790123

GREAT SHOWS COMING UP AT WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE TUE 27 SEPT – SAT 1 OCT

TUE 4 – SAT 8 OCTOBER

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Bill Kenwright presents A NEW PRODUCTION OF

THE SOUND OF MUSIC Music by Lyrics by RICHARD OSCAR RODGERS HAMMERSTEIN II Book by

HOWARD LINDSAY

and

RUSSEL CROUSE

Suggested by ‘The Trapp Family Singers’ by Maria Augusta Trapp Presented by special arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe www.rnh.com

LUCY E O’BYRN Runner Up in last year’s THE VOICE as MARIA

100

‘LUCY O’BYRNE IS QUITE POSSIBLY THE BEST MARIA SINCE JULIE ANDREWS HERSELF’ THE SCOTSMAN

TUE 11 – SAT 15 OCTOBER

TUE 15 – SAT 19 NOVEMBER

9 TO 5 – THE MUSICAL

OUR HOUSE

BOOK ONLINE

grandtheatre.co.uk

•

BOX OFFICE

and

TV ’s awardwinning ANDREW LANCEL as CAPTAI N VON TRAPP

01902 42 92 12

town & village life magazine | july/august 2016