Town and Village Life Magazine - July/August 2015 by Jonathon

TOWn & VILLAGE LIFE Magazine

July/August 2015

TOWN & VILLAG E LIFE MA GA Z INE

Win a fabulous hair makeover with Royston Blythe, Midland Hairdresser of the Year Win family tickets for West Midlands Safari & Leisure Park Win tickets for Willy Russellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blood Brothers at The Grand Theatre Win family tickets for Cosford Food Festival

July/August 2015

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Hello Readers, So here we have it: the legendarily unpredictable British summer weather. Is it raining where you are, dear reader? It’s pouring down as I sit here, hunched over my desk, stacks of papers heaped left and right, staring down the barrel of another editor’s letter for this here summer edition of TVL. Right here in these pages we’ve got summer sussed. Like the children who will soon be breaking up from school, I am overjoyed; not tearful like a victorious celeb at the National Soap Awards, nor speechless like I will be if Andy Murray retains his Wimbledon crown; but instead, I’m just hopelessly happy with our latest magazine. You’ll no doubt be getting away from it all on holiday soon. When you return you’ll be tanned and perhaps in the market for a hot tub for your garden – if so, you’ll want to keep reading, lest land yourself in hot water. Or maybe after all that fine foreign fare, a hearty meal out may be in order; if so, check out our restaurant reviews at Windsor Castle in Lye and Bravaccio’s in Tettenhall. Looking for inspiration for your home? Our advertisers have furniture, kitchens, bathrooms, fireplaces, bedrooms, curtains, blinds, windows and doors – in short something for all floors, of your home. This country may not be able to guarantee you sun all summer long, but there’s plenty to see locally: places to visit like Ironbridge, West Midland Safari Park, Cosford Food Festival, and Old Mill Antiques, Bridgnorth. There’s also lots of fashion and beauty in store for you across 100+ pages of news and reviews – not to mention who’s who in our ever-popular social pages. Plus we have four competitions, including a freebie from Midland Hairdresser of the Year, Royston Blythe. More than enough to keep you occupied during the long rainy summer days. Enjoy your read...

Geoff

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

Advertising enquiries

Email: sales@townandvillagelifemag.co.uk Gisella Wiley - Sales Director

Editorial/What’s On information

Email: info@townandvillagelifemag.co.uk Geoff Hall - Editor Magazine design: Studio 28 (www.s28.co.uk) 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.

Contents Abraham the Iron Man

West Midland Safari Park competition

Louise Presley Turner - Life Coach

Recipe of the month

Meet the boss

24/25

Stourbridge Rugby Club

Crosswords & Puzzles

Rotary dragon boats, fun on the water at Himley Park

Porches

Rotary club of Stourbridge

Grand Theatre competition

Gardening with Ann Winwood

Kinver festival

Afternoon Tea at Himley Hall

Voices for Hospices

Bravaccios food review

62/63

Windsor Castle food review

66/67

Beauty - a perfect pout

Win a fabulous hair makeover with Royston Blythe

Women’s fashion - from the beach to the bar Education and Schooling Cosford food festival Social Scene

82/83 94 102 104-107

Men’s fashion - trainer trends

108

Motoring review - Honda CR-V

110

Motoring review - Sublimely Subaru

112

Answers to Crossword & Puzzles

114

Congratulations to: Winners of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap competition at The Grand Theatre Mrs J.A.Lamb, Wall Heath, Kingswinford Mrs L. Perkins, Kinver Michelle Hawthorne, Amblecote

*Total distribution 15,500 copies bi-monthly

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Exciting Changes at

Three Pines

Building Company There’s been some exciting new developments taking place at Wolverhampton’s premier building company, Three Pines, over the past year. The well-established business has registered a brand-new company, undertaken numerous high-profile projects, completed a vast range of domestic jobs and re-launched their newly updated website. Managing Director, Alan Bradshaw explains: “After being involved in so many new build projects, like the Compton Wharf development, and being partners with Hovi

Developments, we decided to register a new company alongside Three Pines Building Company Ltd, called Three Pines Quality Homes.” The new company will run alongside Three Pines Building Company Ltd and clients will be pleased to know that it won’t affect the company’s normal projects in any way. “We have two Three Pines Quality Homes sites at the moment, School Road, Tettenhall Wood and Fox Road, Seisdon. We’ll still be continuing to take on all domestic and commercial work and completing all of our jobs as normal.”

And as usual, the company are busy undertaking a variety of different projects: “We’re doing a complete refurbishment of Skoda Faintree Garage’s showroom, as well as doubling its size. We’re also adapting every fire station in the West Midlands to provide dedicated accommodation for female firefighters. We’ve been working on this project for the last six months and there’s about three more months to go before completion.”

And that’s not all, as Three Pines is currently in the process of extending Billesley Fire Station in Birmingham, constructing brandnew eco-classrooms at Bushbury Hill School and adapting properties

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

refurbishment and maintenance contracts and is considerate of the care and understanding needed when working on projects in both domestic and commercial sectors.”

in Shrewsbury to meet the needs of disabled soldiers: “It’s really exciting to be working with so many different organisations and we’re delighted to be able to make much-needed adaptations to the homes of soldiers - we’ve already completed 25 adaptations to date.” The company’s new and improved website has just gone live: “We’re really pleased that our brand-new website is now up-and-running. It has taken quite a few months of liaising with our website designers to bring our old website in-line with current trends, now that it’s live we’re looking forward to being

able to update it regularly with current issues and information.” Whether you require refurbishment, extensions or a new build, Three Pines has the skills and expertise to handle your project from planning through to completion. “Our company is well established as being outstanding in its

You can also be reassured that the tradesmen working for you will be well-known to the company, as many have been working for the long-established family-run business for their entire career. “These are skilled individuals who pride themselves on their high standards of workmanship and along with the dedicated office staff; the company is able to complete projects of excellent quality, every time.”

And if you’d love to join the Three Pines team, then here’s your chance: “Due to the increase in enquiries and tenders, we’re looking to employ an office-based trainee estimator/buyer.”

Applicants can contact the office on 01902 499919 for more details or email their CV to info@three-pines.co.uk

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

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QueSTIonS ABouT The neW

pension freedoms

1. How long will my money last?

a big difference to your lifestyle along your retirement journey.

3. wHat about savings i Have?

We are all living longer, on average a 65 year old in good health is expected to live for 24 years after retirement and it is thought that 25% of us will live to see our 95th birthday. Retirement savings will have to last for a long time, possibly 30 years or more. Leaving your money invested for longer could make

2. How mucH state Pension will i get?

Bank savings accounts, premium bonds or ISAs, may be better for you to take money from first before drawing from your pension plan. If you own your home you might think about downsizing or renting it out to fund your retirement.

The amount of state pension is not the same for everyone and it depends on your employment history and when you were born. Remember the State Pension is designed to cover only a very basic standard of living without any luxuries.

4. wHat are my future financial needs? Consider all of your living expenses, like household bills

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

and family costs, and how these may change over the coming years. Remember to budget for holidays, transport and house repairs. Also factor in the fact that your financial needs are likely to reduce as you get older and become less active, but keep in mind that in your later years costs of long term care may be required. 5. How can i minimise my tax bill? Consider your personal tax allowances and plan to take your retirement savings in a way which makes the most use of your personal tax allowance so you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to pay tax unnecessarily. 6. sHould i buy an annuity? An annuity is a promise by an insurance company to pay you an income for the rest of your life. You should check the terms of the annuity before you commit as they cannot usually be changed afterwards. It is worth shopping around different insurance companies before you buy as prices can vary.

9. wHere do i get more HelP? ALWAYS seek professional advice in order to avoid becoming the victim of a pension scam. Midland Independent Financial Services Ltd is directly authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are Chartered Financial Planners which demonstrates our commitment to raising standards of knowledge, capability and ethical practice. This tells our customers that they can expect the highest quality of service. Independent research shows that consumers recognise and value the charter marque as an indication of merit, capability and commitment to ethical practice. The value of pensions and the income they produce can fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you invested.

7. will i lose any of my welfare benefits? If you are receiving state benefits or Tax Credits then taking your retirement savings could impact on the level of those benefits. This is a complicated area and expected to change in the near future. Make sure you understand how your state benefits, tax credits or long term care needs would be affected before deciding to access your retirement benefits. 8. wHat HaPPens wHen i die? If you die before age 75, any money left in your pension plan will be paid to your survivors free of any tax. If you die after 75, money paid to your survivors may be subject to tax depending on their circumstances. Retirement savings which remain in pension plans are not normally counted for inheritance tax purposes. If you have purchased an annuity, benefits payable after your death will depend on the insurance contract. www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

John Webb

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.

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 09

Montana in Scarface, the country couldn’t get enough of the stuff. The Iron Bridge is just one of innumerable monuments to the process. Of course, anyone who told you that just one bloke with a furnace and some raw materials built the bridge might be suspected of sniffing another semantically similar substance, rather than smelting the stuff in question, but it’s principally true – Darby I’s grandson, Abraham Darby III, undertook all of the building and construction work. No mean feat since each rib weighed around 5 tonnes and sent every carthorse in the local area bolting.

By Rob Taylor

Abraham

the Iron Man

There’s only one sensible way to make use of a gorge and that’s to stick a stonking great hulk of metal in between it; not fill it with tourists and cheese like they do in Cheddar and certainly not leave it lying uselessly dormant, home to only rattlesnakes and adrenaline junkies like that bloke who has to cut off his own arm in the film 127 Hours.

It’s exactly here where the small town of Ironbridge, on the banks of the River Severn in Shropshire, has it sussed, because it’s a town that’s always been more interested in another kind of cut: the shortcut. For here stands a shining testament to Britain’s enduring industrial legacy; here stands the titanic Iron Bridge (no prizes for guessing how the town got its moniker). A 100ft arch bridge, which when it opened in 1781 was a bona fide world-first, that has brought the town international acclaim ever since. But although today it may inspire awe and wonder, its origins are far more prosaic.

for the bridge was driven by the very metal which courses through the bridge’s veins: cast iron. In the early eighteenth century there was a fuel crisis in Britain. Charcoal, which was made from timber, was the only kind of fuel used by the iron industry and this led to massive deforestation. Just one blast-furnace, despite using several tonnes of timber, could produce only a few tonnes of iron each day. Enter the great ironmaster Abraham Darby I who in 1709 perfected the secret of smelting iron with cheap and plentiful coke, instead of expensive and less efficient charcoal. Like Tony

The idea for the bridge was born in 1775, when a consortium of local businessmen pondered the problem of how communication between both sides of the river could be improved. The group consisted of Abraham Darby III, as treasurer to the project; ironmaster John Wilkinson and Shrewsbury-based architect, Thomas Farnolls-Pritchard. The River Severn was a crucial means of transportation at the time, meaning that a single arch bridge was the only way to go. But to create a span so large was back then a monumental undertaking. And surprisingly it was Pritchard, not Darby III, who proposed the revolutionary iron structure that would span 120ft and cost £3200. The rest is history. Today the bridge is Grade I Listed and the area is a designated World Heritage site. So if you visit the town and read among the tourist blurb things like ‘birthplace of industry’ and ‘world famous Iron Bridge’, you better believe that it’s all true.

Put simply: a boom in industry around the time necessitated a shortcut across the river, as at that time the only other crossings were far away in Bridgnorth or Buildwas. In fact the very boom in industry which dictated the need 10

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

FLAMING FIRES, FIREPLACES & STOVES

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

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Blooming lovely

at West Midland Safari Park There are fresh discoveries and lots of new babies around every corner at West Midland Safari Park. The four-mile, self-drive safari is home to a variety of wild and wonderful animals such as Rhino; Cheetah; Lions; Tigers; Giraffe; African Wild Dogs and Elephants – including the adorable baby elephant, Sutton! Be on the lookout for little camels, eland, addax black buck and lots of soay lambs. There are some marvellous attractions to visit on foot, too! Land of the Living Dinosaurs is the latest and most adventurous! Costing £2.5m, this walking trail features 38 life size animatronic dinosaurs, each with moving eyes, mouth and neck. From the first moment of glimpsing the skeleton of a mighty T-Rex at the entrance, the scene is set for an extraordinary journey through the reign of the dinosaur. It plays with the senses and really does give the feeling of walking amongst live beasts that roamed the Earth millions of years ago. Lorikeet Landing is the place where you will encounter free flying rainbow lorikeets in a tropically themed exhibit. There’s also Penguin Cove, along with a variety of splendid other attractions like Twilight Cave; Mark O’Shea’s Reptile World, Creepy Crawlies,

Seaquarium, Sea Lion Theatre and animal encounters galore. Located in the African Village is “Walking with Lemurs”, the largest Lemur Walk-through in the UK. Whilst Meerkat Mayhem gives the perfect viewing opportunity to see these highly interesting and lively little animals. There’s an Adventure Theme Park that is packed with all kinds of family fun rides and attractions as well as Tiny Tots Theme Park for younger adventurers.

Lots more info: www.wmsp.co.uk

Competition This month we have teamed up with West Midland Safari & Leisure Park to give five families the chance to win free admission tickets. Each ticket is for a family of four to visit on one occasion up to 6th November 2015. Theme Park rides not included. To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize, simply answer the following question correctly.

What is the name of the adorable baby elephant? Email your answer including your name, address and telephone number to: info@townandvillagelifemag.co.uk or on a postcard to Town & Village Life Magazine, 1 Lytham Road, Perton, Wolverhampton WV6 7YY. All entries to be received by Friday 14th August 2015. Competition Terms and Conditions -Winners will be chosen at random from all correct entries received. The ticket includes admission to the four mile, self-drive safari, Discovery Trail exhibits, animal encounters, African Village and live shows. Usual admission is £19.99 for adults, £14.99 for children and £17.99 for concessions. Children under 3 admitted free. No cash or alternative prize will be given. Prize valid until Friday 6th November 2015. All entries will be forward to West Midland Safari & Leisure Park unless requested otherwise.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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Living with an Attitude of

G r at i t u d e

Did you know that our standard of living nowadays is far greater than in any other time in the history of mankind? I know sometimes it may not feel like it, but as a society we are better paid, fed and healthier than in any other time.

Yet studies tell us that we’re actually the unhappiest we’ve ever been. Why is this? The answer lies in our conditioning. Over countless generations our minds have been programmed to look for the negative or strive for things we haven’t got. We have literally been conditioned to look for things that are wrong with our lives, from not having enough money (probably the biggest thing) to worrying about the way we look. We are too quick to filter out all the wonderful things we already have and focus on what’s missing, or what’s not working. But in doing so we wind up chasing our tails, always looking for the next thing that we think will bring us happiness and complete us. But the reality is, we never actually get there!

Here’s an interesting exercise for you to do. Imagine you’ve won a substantial amount of money, enough so that you wouldn’t have to worry anymore. Get a piece of paper and make two lists. On one side, list all the things you would change if money were no issue, you might pay your mortgage off or change career, buy a sports car or have a few luxury holidays. On the other side list all the things that would stay exactly the same regardless of how much money you had in the bank, like your friends, family, favourite food, preference in music, films etc. What this exercise demonstrates is that not many of us would actually change that much.

So what does this tell us? That everything you need to live a happy and fulfilling life already exists right in front of your eyes! To truly comprehend this we need to take a few steps back from our hectic lives and look through different eyes. It’s only our conditioning and observation of the world around us that makes us feel so discontented. So what if your neighbour or friend has just bought the latest widescreen TV or brand new BMW. Do you honestly think that they are any happier than you? If you were to acquire a new TV or car how long would that false happiness last, a week, fortnight, a few months? Eventually it would wear off and you’d be off in search of your next fix. It’s a vicious circle that only you can break.

Consider this… • Anytime you look up at the sky on one of those beautiful balmy summer evenings and marvel at the beauty of the colours, you are experiencing the same feelings as the richest person in the world. 14

There are certain things that no amount of money can buy! What we take for granted in our lives is invariably priceless, but we just don’t realise it. To help you better understand and appreciate what you already have why not answer the following questions. 1. Who or what in your life currently makes you happy? 2. What things in your life bring you most meaning? 3. Who or what are you grateful for in your life? 4. What is it in your life that brings you the most joy and pleasure? To adopt an attitude of gratitude, refer to these answers on a daily basis. Why not consider keeping a gratitude journal that you fill in each day? It’s a great way to programme your mind to see the wonderful blessings in your life. Over the next month simply write five things each day you’re grateful for and notice your mood soar. Learning to be grateful really is a skill we need to re-learn, once we can appreciate all the wonderful things we already have in our lives we can, for possibly the first time, be truly happy and complete.

Here’s to living with an attitude of gratitude.

Louise Presley-Turner is a Personal Growth Expert and Author of two books. Louise’s unique style of coaching has produced some amazing results, helping people to define their goals and turn their lives around with amazing success. Get your FREE life evaluator and life planner now.

visit www.thegameoflife.co.uk town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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Can you imagine a wide open space added to your home this summer, instantly generating a contemporary, stylish look? You can open up an entire area during warm summer days or partially fold back your windows and doors depending on the amount of fresh air and space you require. Tech Aluminium Systems manufacture standard windows and doors, bi-fold and patio doors, curtain walling and balustrade at their factory in Rumer Hill, Cannock. They manufacture all of their products in house therefore maintaining a consistently high standard and quality. Manufactured and installed to provide maximum viewing areas, bi-fold and sliding doors add 21st century style 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 the access to your outdoor living area. 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. 18

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After installation, they 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 a 21st century cutting edge chic, with a local well-established 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 2015

• Curved Glass • Glass Balustrade & Balconies • Glass Partitions • Glass Doors, Patio Doors, Bi-fold Doors • Shop Fronts, Canopies & Entrance Glass Tech Alum Systems Limited Unit 10 Rumer Hill Business Estate Rumer Hill Road Cannock Staffordshire WS11 0ET www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

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By Michael Peter Whitehurst Email: mike@takefood.co.uk

Recipe of the month Chicken and Sweet Potato Pizza Equipment • 2 baking trays • Good quality parchment paper • Rolling pin • Mixing bowls Ingredients PIZZA DOUGH • 500g Khorasan Flour (plus extra for dusting) • half tsp of Maldon sea slat flakes • 1 tsp quick acting yeast • 375ml of warm water • 2 tbsp of rapeseed oil TOMATO SAUCE • 1 tube of tomato puree • 1 tsp sugar • 50ml of water TOPPING Guideline quantities - you can add as much as you like. • 1 large chicken breast (220g) • 1 large sweet potato • 1 ball of mozzarella • 8 mushrooms pan fried in butter • 2 sprigs of fresh oregano • 1 bulb of garlic • 100g of grated mild cheddar • 8 slices of salami • Rapeseed oil 20

Serves 6 - 8

Method Read through first then measure out all of your ingredients before starting PIZZA BASE Mix together the flour, yeast and water in a bowl and once a dough is forming add the salt and knead on a floured surface for about 10 minutes. Put the dough back into the bowl, drizzle the oil over it and wrap with cling film. Leave the dough to rise for a couple of hours then turn out onto a floured surface and punch the air out of it. Portion into 4 dough balls and roll out onto your baking trays. TOMATO SAUCE Squeeze the puree out of the tube into a bowl and mix with warm water and sugar stirring until the sugar has dissolved. This needs to be the consistency of tomato ketchup. TOPPING Switch your oven on to 200oC While the dough is rising you can cook the chicken, potato and garlic. Rub a little oil and seasoning onto the chicken breast, bake the potato in its skin and put the garlic bulb in the oven in one whole piece. Once cooked you should be able to just squeeze the roasted garlic out of its little pods. The potato will take the longest so if you want it all to cook at the same time cut the potato into smallish chunks and toss in oil and seasoning. To build your pizza, place a sheet of parchment paper onto each of the baking trays and then roll out the dough into 4 individuals or 2 large bases onto your baking trays and push into corners to fit or keep as traditionally shaped round bases. Brush the tomato sauce all over leaving a 1 inch frame around the outside. Now simply just break up the chicken and place all over with chunks of the sweet potato, mushrooms, cloves of roasted garlic, leaves of oregano and chunks of ripped mozzarella. Roll up the slices of salami together and slice into strips then just sprinkle over the pizza with grated mild cheddar and season with sea salt and pepper. Bake in a hot oven for about 12 minutes. SERVING SUGGESTION Garnish the pizza with a mix of rocket and fresh basil leaves dressed in rapeseed oil and grated or shaved parmesan. Serve with roasted new potatoes (toss the potatoes in oil, sea salt and fresh rosemary before roasting.) town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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“I’ll always be grateful for the lessons my grandfather taught me from an early age,” he adds. “He was a fair man, who believed in strong discipline and self-reliance and he often told me that one day I would thank him for encouraging me to believe in these qualities. I was always very close to my grandfather and had the utmost respect for what he had achieved,” he says. Inspired by his time working for his grandfather in furniture retail at Coles, Robert eventually took the decision to leave the firm. Robert, who shamelessly indulges his six grandchildren, enjoys theatre trips with wife Ellen, family holidays abroad and golf at his Enville club, Robert recalls the privileged, close bond he had with his granddad as a boy.

Purpose-built store “As I had only a small shareholding I decided to leave Coles and set up Cousins with my brother Edward and my cousin William – although William is no longer in the business. Edward and I have worked closely together for over 40 years and we’ve always got along extremely well, not only are we brothers, we are also the very best of friends.

Robert Shotton, Cousins Chairman

Meet the boss:

Visionary grandfather key to Cousins’ success Robert Shotton has good reason to break open a bottle of best bubbly and toast his winning team. As chairman of furniture company, Cousins, the family business is this year marking three decades of successful trading – and it’s all thanks to the visionary influence of his grandfather. 24

Business “role model”, Bill Cole, who founded Coles of Bilston, instilled core values into his grandson that have lasted a lifetime. And it’s obvious that the spirit of this hugely admired mentor, who passed away in the late 60s, still lives on in the day-to-day running of one of the most successful furnishing retailers in the UK. “Whenever I’ve approached a crossroads in my business life, I have asked myself the question ‘what would my grandfather do?’ and the answer to the question becomes obvious,” says Robert.

“From an early age I always wanted to be in control of my own destiny as I firmly believed this was the best way to provide security for myself and eventually my family,” says Robert. Actress, comedienne and impressionist, Faith Brown, opened the company’s first store at Tyseley, near Solihull, in August 1985. “It was a success from the very start,” says Robert. “Our Dudley store followed in 1996 and was opened by soap stars Bill Tarmey and Elizabeth Dawn – Jack and Vera Duckworth from Coronation Street. “The opening attracted record crowds to Dudley town and many roads were closed. A few years later ‘Jack and Vera’ also helped in the re-launch of our Tyseley store, following a complete refurbishment,” recalls Robert. More business development followed in 2005 with a purposebuilt new Manchester store on a four-acre site that offers the largest selection of furniture in the whole of the Northwest. Again the Corrie stars turned out for the opening.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Cousins Furniture Store Dudley opened in 1996

Social responsibility “Over the years we’ve developed close links with Coronation Street, so much so, that a few years ago, a number of episodes were filmed in our Manchester store. We have also supplied furniture for a number of the TV sets and continue to be consulted when new pieces of furniture are required for a particular plot development,” adds Robert. With continuing company success, has come a greater awareness of social responsibility. “As the business has prospered, we’ve thought more about local good causes and what we can do to help. “During recent years we have supported Birmingham Children’s Hospital, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Help for Heroes, Compton Hospice (Wolverhampton), Francis Hospice (Manchester), the British Heart Foundation, the Air Ambulance and Promise Dreams,” says Robert. The philosophy of Cousins’ is a simple one, with happiness, accessibility, quality of service and remaining debt free as cornerstones. “I believe it’s important to have a happy ship, as we all spend so much time at work. My door www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

is always open and I’m available to talk most of the time, except when I’m tied up with meetings. “I think it’s important for all people who work in a company – from cleaners to directors – to pull together to provide their customers with a first-class service. Sixty per cent of our sales are from previous customers, or have been recommended. “It’s also important to ensure a business has strong foundations, which will enable it to weather economic storms. Cousins owns all of its properties outright and has no bank loans or overdrafts,“ says Robert.

Remaining relevant Surviving in a stony and capricious economic climate demands smart thinking on trends and a continued investment into technology, adds Robert. “I try to think of any reason why a customer may not buy from us and if I can think of anything, we’ll do something about it. “The economic climate has changed a great deal over the past few years and this has forced us to become even more efficient.

“We have installed new computer systems throughout the company, which has ensured we can continue to offer our customers an amazing choice of products at very competitive prices.” A second generation – sons, John and Matthew – has also become increasingly important to the business. “Both sons were fortunate in having had retail experience before coming in to the company. After 21 years at Cousins, John is now the MD and Matt, with 17 years’ experience, is Retail Director. Edward’s son Thomas is continuing the family tradition by joining his older cousins in the business as joint Manager of the Dudley store. In a hands-on approach, Robert regularly has meetings on sales, finance, customer service, staff, stock levels and warehousing and distribution at the company head office in Oldbury. But key to continuing success is the ability to remain relevant “visiting the stores as often as possible so I can get a feel for what our customers are looking for,” he adds. 25

Stourbridge

RFC My prediction of a mid- table finish for our First XV came to pass.

The First XV fixtures for the 20152016 season are already in print and we begin that season at home on the 5th September. There have been a number of departures from our playing squad but our Director of Rugby has been working hard to recruit and assemble a competitive team to meet our continuing aspirations to return to National One rugby. Despite the September start training begins on the 4th July and will continue in earnest in the intervening months. The Club has recently and successfully hosted the Association of Colleges Rugby Finals day followed by their National Sevens competition finals. There was some excellent rugby and I am sure the parents and spectators will have seen some stars of the future in action on both days. We hope to see them back again next season. Our social scene continues to provide value for money. A “70s Night” is already in the diary and there will be events around the Rugby World Cup fixtures starting in September. I know these will be well supported so please keep your eye on our website for details.

Our main events of the social year namely our Corporate Lunch and May Ball on the 8th and 9th May respectively, were both well attended as evidenced in the ‘social scene’ photographs published in this magazine, and were the culmination of a lot of hard work by our staff and a small number of volunteers. Breaking with tradition the Mini and Junior teams celebrated the end of the season with Presentation Days after the May weekend events. The

Minis had a very enjoyable Fun Day which resulted in a good soaking for their outgoing and hardworking Chairman, Ian Shergold and our incoming President, John Slim, who were both brave (or daft) enough to volunteer a spell in “the stocks” whilst being pelted with wet sponges and buckets of water. Good sports both!! The Club continues to host many local celebratory events with weddings, christenings and birthday and anniversary parties making the most of our excellent facilities. We now have a specific Wedding Brochure for those seeking to hire our venue, which is available for collection or despatch from the Club office. So plenty of dates for your diaries and for all of the above events please call Lin in the club office on 01384 395000 or access the club website for details and contact numbers.

Carl Wythes

T: 01384 395000 E: rugby@stourbridgerugby.com www.stourbridgerugby.com 26

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Something new

cooking in the kitchen Local entrepreneur Mitchell Smith has invested more than £100,000 into setting up a new kitchen fitting business in Brierley Hill. Mitchell, a former pupil at Ellowes Hall School, has launched Black Country Kitchens to offer customers bespoke design and installation services and access to more than 60 kitchens across its classical, contemporary and painted ranges. The fully qualified carpenter has teamed up with sales manager Bob Peters to equip a 1750 sq. metre showroom on the Delph Road Industrial Estate and has set himself the target to achieve £175,000 turnover in the first year, with a three-year business plan that will see it grow to £500,000 by 2017, with the possibility of a second showroom A host of special offers are in place to celebrate the launch and, as part of its commitment to sourcing locally, each customer will receive a complimentary ‘Black Country Hamper’ of local delicacies including beers from Batham’s and Holden’s breweries, traditional pork scratchings, black pudding and faggots. Mitchell says “We are proud of our Black Country roots so wanted to highlight this with these hampers, which give an insight into some of the finest food and drink from the local area.”

customised to make the most of available space or to add that extra special finishing touch. A virtual gallery is currently being developed for the new website and this will complement the Brierley Hill showroom, which is open six days per week and late evenings by appointment. Bob continued: “We can look after anything from a kitchen for a small flat to a large suite for a country home, we’re looking for the client that wants something a bit special and this will be reflected in the level of customer service we provide. Clients will only be dealing with either Mitchell or myself, and we will be working directly with them on the project, from initial design through to installation and after care support.” He concluded: “There will be no national call centers to tie you in knots, we just want you to love what we do and how you’ve been looked after… that will be our objective”.

“With this local approach we want to give people an alternative to the big companies who often give faceless service and generic ‘off the shelf’ kitchens,” explained Mitchell, who also owns Smith Carpentry Services. “Customers are bored with the same old flat pack ranges and are looking to increasingly add their own touches and have more of an influence over the design. This is where we really come into our own.” He continued: “Our designer – Bob Peters – has more than 20 years experience in producing bespoke fitted kitchens and, using 3D modeling, will work with you to come up with options that match your exact requirements. When the design is completed our experienced fitters will install efficiently at a time that suits you. Black Country Kitchens work closely with a number of leading kitchen manufacturers, including Burbidge, Bella, TKC and others. Each partner has been selected to provide product that reflects the contemporary, classic or painted designs we offer and all of the kitchens can be 28

Why not give us the opportunity to show you what we could do in your home. www.facebook.com/ blackcountrykitchens town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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www.blackcountr ykitchens.com 29

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The Rotary Club of Wolverhampton Rotary Dragon Boats - fun on the water at Himley Park

On Sunday 17th May, Himley Park resounded to the sounds of the Dragon Boats Event organised by the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton.

and colourful family day out, with highly competitive racing on the lake, children’s fair, and a host of stalls offering food and hot and cold drinks, ice cream, sweets, jewellery, and demonstrations by local organisations.

This has been an annual feature for the last 15 years and the current Committee Chairman, Rod Jones, not only introduced the event to the Rotary calendar but has been a leading organiser throughout most of that time. Sadly he is now retiring from the committee, and the Club, together with many local charities and the Rotary Charitable Trust owe him a huge debt of gratitude.

This year we estimate that there were over 1000 cars parked, 3000 people enjoying the spectacle, and an almost record attendance of 25 teams competing in the racing. Some were members of fitness and martial arts clubs, some local industries and businesses, and several schools who competed for a special prize.

But the Event will continue under new leadership (Sunday May 22nd 2016 has already been booked!), and it will evolve beyond the present format of an exciting

Records were broken throughout the day but the real winners are the local charities chosen by the race teams and the Rotary Charitable Trust. The total monies to be distributed is not yet known as it takes many weeks for it all to

be gathered in, but the full result will be published in due course. The Rotary Club of Wolverhampton would like to express a huge thank you to all the teams who took to the water and participated in the keen competition in such good spirit (some in fancy dress!!) and to the local populace who attended in large numbers and gave so generously. During its history the event has now raised in excess of £300,000. If any reader would like to become personally involved in such a fund raising event, see our website. It means hard work but also a heck of a lot of fun and opens the door to new friendships locally, nationally, and internationally. You don’t have to become a full member of Rotary but can get involved as an Associate Member, or Friend.

Visit www.rotaryclubwolverhampton.co.uk or www.rotarydragonboats.co.uk and talk to us. 32

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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In the 1950’s and 60’s it seemed nearly every house was having a porch of some sort added. In the spirit of those times of course, the structure seldom bore any relationship to the design of the house. Many looked as though they had simply been stuck on as an after-thought, which of course they had. Much use was made of corrugated plastic materials which were cheap, easy to erect and light. Without doubt, the majority of these structures looked awful and did almost nothing for the properties on which they were built. Admittedly they helped to keep draughts out but there was many a family who bought new furniture, only to find they could not get it into the house without dismantling that porch. Today with certain housing, the porch is making something of a come-back, though it’s a far cry from those horrendous structures of yesteryear. Today’s householder is more sophisticated, has a greater appreciation of style, form and colour, and recognises the value of a well-built, professionally designed porch. But what is the point of a porch? Why put one up on the front of the house? For a start, the porch looks good if it is in keeping with the architecture of the rest of the house. It may add that special extra something that ‘finishes’ the house. And if it houses attractive, sturdy plants, it can look inviting to visitors as well. But appearance isn’t all. Nice though a well-built porch may look, it is too expensive an erection to put up purely on the basis of looks. It can be a very real aid to keeping down fuel bills and enhancing the inbuilt comfort of the house. It traps air in a wind-proof pocket betwixt porch door and front door, so every time the front door is opened, a vast quantity of expensively heated air is not lost to the great outdoors. It cuts down on draughts and, if the front door is glazed, it will help stop the loss of heat by conduction. A porch can also be a security barrier, providing one more hurdle for the burglar to get across - as long as it’s locked that is! Ideally the external door in a porch will be secured with the same quality of locks as any other external access door, so it will be as hard to break through as the original entry door. 34

OUTSIDE PORCHES If it is a large porch it can house those things you don’t always want in the house such as children’s bikes, muddy boots, the dog’s lead, and maybe even raincoats. If the structure is well designed it could well incorporate some sort of cupboard in which to store and conceal such items. A porch can also be a dirt trap of sorts. It provides a vital area between the great outdoors and inside the house. Trodden dirt and blow-in dust may be trapped in there thus saving the wear and tear of dirt on the inside of the home. A porch could be a miniconservatory in which exotic plants are grown. If there is a sufficient area of glass, the sun will generate the right amount heat during the day, which a wellfitting blind will keep in at night. If you are considering having a porch, think about having the job done professionally. It may look an easy proposition as a DIY exercise, but it is far from being so. Such

things as the right materials, right depth of footings, and correct wall to porch sealing, roofing of the structure and general safety of the finished product, all need the attention of an expert. A porch is possibly the smallest of all ‘home extensions’ but, it can share the common facility of adding value to your home. If you feel a porch is what your house needs, go ahead and cost the exercise. A porch is usually small enough not to require planning permission for its construction. However, there may be local rules governing the erection of external additions to the fronts of houses in your street. A surveyor will be able to inform as will also, the local planning department, who will be only too happy to help with information on this, and provide a list of suitable builders to carry out the work. A well-built porch can be a valuable addition to any house, so why not consider having one for your home?

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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‘Unique and Chic’

Total Sewing Service Finding an outfit for a special event is hard work and you can never guarantee that you’re going to be the only one wearing it - we all know that there’s nothing more embarrassing than bumping into someone in the same dress as you. Fortunately for Natalie Hemming and Sue Preston, there’s no chance of that happening because the lovely ladies from Total Sewing Services designed and made their own dresses and hats, ready for their big day out when they went to Royal Ascot on Thursday 18th June. We were lucky enough to visit the Kingswinford-based shop just in time to see owner, Natalie, and senior sales assistant, Sue, trying on their fabulous outfits. They looked gorgeous and the dresses fitted perfectly!

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town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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The Rotary Club of Stourbridge 2015 Palfrey Award The Rotary Club of Stourbridge has presented Jane and Robert Chapman with the 2015 Palfrey Award in recognition of their valuable and unstinting work for vulnerable children and their families, caring for them at the Living Springs Residential Centre in Bridgnorth Road, Stourton. Living Springs was founded by Jane and Rob in 1985 when they made over part of their home to help vulnerable teenage mothers and their children, providing care, support and most of all hope.

Robert and Jane Chapman with Club President Arthur Baker and Community Services Chairman, David Collins

Jane was awarded the MBE in 2011 for her work with the charity. Today the charity also runs a Debt Advice Centre from the Vines Restaurant in Stourbridge High Street.

The Stourbridge Club is supporting Living Springs as one of its charities this year and Jane and Robert were presented with a donation along with a certificate at the club’s meeting on 13th May 2015.

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Competition Three lucky winners can each win two tickets to see BLOOD BROTHERS on Monday 26th October at 7.30pm at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. The legendary BLOOD BROTHERS arrives at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Monday 26th to Saturday 31st October. Willy Russell’s captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences. The superb score includes Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True. Few musicals have received quite such acclaim as the multi-award winning BLOOD BROTHERS, and Bill Kenwright’s production, having celebrated over 20 years in London at the Phoenix Theatre, continues to enjoy standing ovations at every devastating performance. No wonder BLOOD BROTHERS is now ‘The musical for all time’. ‘A Triumphant evening... Unmissable and unbeatable’ The Spectator ‘DAZZLING’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Exhilarating... One of the best musicals ever written’ Sunday Times

Call the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Box Office for more information on 01902 42 92 12 or please visit www.grandtheatre.co.uk

Maureen Nolan Starring Marti Pellow and

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 before Friday 11th September 2015. Can you name the twin boys in Blood Brothers? A) Barry and Paul B) Mickey and Eddie C) John and Edward D) Charlie and Craig Competition Terms and Conditions Please post all 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 11th September 2015. Winners to collect tickets from the box office on the evening of the performance. Tickets cannot be exchanged and no cash alternative prize nights available. If a winner has any access issues please let us know as this may affect the date of the tickets we have issues for this reason only we will exchange the tickets for the production. Entries will be forwarded to the Grand Theatre unless otherwise stated. Winners may be required to partake in relevant publicity.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Castle Street, Dudley Centre, DY1 1LA Tel: 01384 234620 Unit, 26, Vanguard Way, Shrewsbury, SY1 3TG Tel: 01743 463261 3 Riverside, Stafford, ST16 3PT Tel: 01785 223338 Macrome Road, Claregate, Wolverhampton, WV6 9HD Tel: 01902 752764 Townsend Place, Kingswinford Centre, DY6 9JA Tel: 01384 271812 Salop Street, Wolverhampton, WV3 0RX Tel: 01902 429060 Castle Street, Hadley, Telford TF1 6GJ Tel: 01952 257007 www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Itching for better pet care? quite quickly by self trauma or a natural progression of the problem.

By John O’Flynn MRCVS MVB Cert AVP

(Dermatology)

What causes skin conditions in dogs?

Dog skin and coat conditions are some of the most commonly seen issues in veterinary surgeries, affecting all ages and breeds. Skin problems present in many ways, including hair loss, excessive itching, or harder to spot problems such as redness between skin folds or saliva staining on the hair. Many conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism and cushings cause coat and skin changes which can be an early warning sign that something is wrong. Therfore by paying close attention to their skin you can keep them healthy for longer. Regularly examining our pets is the starting point for early detection of problems and can be done during grooming. Good lighting helps to quickly spot any changes.

Indicators to look out for: Discoloured or saliva stained coat Scratching, licking or biting of the skin or coat Excessive dandruff Sore, inflamed or red areas Head shaking or scratching at the ears Any scabs, rough or dry areas on the skin Spots or pustules Greasy skin or any discharge Lumps on the skin especially if your dog is paying attention to them Any of these findings are likely to indicate a skin problem. Early treatment is essential because many skin issues will be made much worse

There are many reasons why your dog might develop problems with their skin, including allergies, parasites, underlying illnesses, cancers and more. Some overlap, for example rashes often become infected which can then make the rash worse.

‘I’m itching… I’m in pain’ Many people may not realise that itching can also mean that your dog is in pain... He or she just can’t tell you.

Here are some of the most commonly diagnosed skin conditions in dogs: Allergies - Dogs can develop allergic reactions to many things. Pollen and household dust mites are common triggers. They result in scratching and over grooming which damages the skin and causes pain. Adverse food reactions - Not quite an allergy but similar. If a dog develops an intolerance to something they regularly consume it can cause severe skin rashes. These rashes often become secondarily infected and become very uncomfortable. Parasites - Parasites are easily contracted from other animals and the environment. Sarcoptic mange is common in the greater Birmingham area and it’s important to know that over the counter parasite control products are ineffective against it. Fungal infections - Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin that causes patchy hair loss and crusts. Ringworm is contagious to other pets and people. Pyoderma - Is the term given to bacterial skin infections. It is very common but mostly arises secondary to other issues so can be complicated to treat. Folliculitis - Is inflammation of the hair follicles. It can be caused by bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections. A dull and scaly coat, shedding hair are common symptoms. Like most conditions, treatment depends on the underlying cause.

Yeast infections - If your dog is forever chewing or licking at their paws and the area between their toes, a yeast infection may be the culprit. This can be treated with oral anti fungals and topical treatments such as special shampoos. Lumps and bumps - Many skin lumps are benign and don’t cause problems for our dogs but there are some that are malignant and telling them apart can be tricky. Ask your vet’s opinion, a lump may be nothing to worry about, though in many cases a biopsy is the best way to be sure. Pets cannot tell you how they feel and love you to take care of them. A quick consultation with a trained eye can cost less than a hair do or a few drinks with friends, the paws you love could feel much better too! John O’Flynn MRCVS MVB Cert AVP (Dermatology) is an Advanced Veterinary Practitioner in Dermatology with 15 years experience as a vet. As well as routine practice John also gives second opinions as part of Blacks’s Referral Service.

To save

£10.00 on a first skin consultation with John O'Flynn, call 0121 552 9996 and bring this article with you. A standard consultation costs £26, on presentation of the article this will be discounted to £16.

You do not need to be a Blacks Vets client to come and see us for the first time or gain a second opinion. Offer valid until 31st July 2015

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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Summer gardening

Tips ar e provided by A n n W i n w o o d , L e a l a n s G a r d e n C e n t r e , Wo l v e r h a m p t o n 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. If the drying winds of May continue, keep the base of new plants moist and firm into the soil to prevent rocking.

Once we get into July and August a lot of the hard work in the garden is done and you can start to reap the benefits of all that back breaking labour.

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. 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. If you’ve got gaps in borders add instant colour by planting larger geraniums, begonias or impatiens, for permanent planting use herbaceous plants or shrubs. As we move 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. 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.

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Lealans Garden Centre Bridgnorth Road, Shipley, Pattingham, Wolverhampton WV6 7EZ www.lealansgardencentre.co.uk

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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K i nve r

Photos courtesy of Purelight Photography

Country Fayre

Record crowds turned out on Father’s Day for the annual Kinver Country Fayre. Visitor numbers exceeded expectations, with the High Street filling up for the parade that kicked off the celebrations. Classic cars took pride of place as the parade made its way along the High Street, with vintage motorcycles, dancers, bands, village organisations, cyclists and school children all enjoying the spotlight. Several of the children went on to take part in the fancy dress competition held in the main arena on the Meadow. This year the theme was medieval and the judge himself a professional knight – one of The Knights of Middle England, the Fayre’s star attraction. “Inviting the Knights to Kinver was always going to prove popular, as they are a high profile and professional act”, said Phil Brown one of the Fayre’s organisers, “As it turned out, their jousting shows really were spectacular – colourful, entertaining and full of excitement. We were thrilled to have The Knights at the Fayre and by the look of the crowds around the arena, visitors agreed with us”. Of course the day also played host to a wide range of other attractions including dance displays and live music from The Naughty Corner ukulele band. Visitors enjoyed local brews in the beer tent, a glass of Pimms or afternoon teas and homemade cakes while indulging in the entertainment. Children were kept busy, not least through Kinver Colts FC’s football challenge and Kinver Scouts’ range of activities which included archery and a climbing wall. Mad Dominic the stilt walker also ensured everyone had lots of fun!

Kinver’s next big event! Kinver is staging its very own Music Festival over the weekend of 10-12 July. This the second year that Kinver has hosted music throughout the village and now the event is growing. In association with Kinver Rotary Club, the organisers have a great line-up to suit all tastes playing over the entire weekend. Kicking off on Friday evening with free live music in the pubs, Kinver Rotary Club’s Saturday Spectacular follows with a programme of six concerts in six venues for just one ticket. Monies raised will be going to Mary Stevens and Acorns Children’s Hospices. There’s also a Last Night of the Proms Fireworks Finale to finish the evening in style. Sunday sees a return of free live music from mid-morning running through the entire day. Visit www.kinvermusicfestival.co.uk for more details.

Local organisations joined craftspeople and an array of stalls – selling everything from chillis to china - in providing a massive selection of things to buy. The food was good too – many caterers had entirely sold out of stock by the end of the day. With the Fayre over for another year, the next step will be looking at how monies raised from the event can be used to benefit local charities and good causes with grant applications being accepted during the autumn.

www.kinvercountryfayre.com www.kinvermusicfestival.co.uk Email info@kinvercountryfayre.com

Like us /kinvercountryfayre

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Get your garden ready for summer with

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The first Jacuzzi hot tub was created in 1956 when Candido Jacuzzi designed a hydrotherapy pump for his son, who was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Since then, the brand has developed beyond belief and the technology has flourished with it. ®

pride in knowing that each of our hot tubs are designed with this in mind. We also strive to carry on developing products and not rest on our laurels. The brand new J500 series is a simply stunning design which combines excellent technology with the premium hydrotherapy we are best known for. The Curvalux™ cabinet creates the look and feel of high end garden patio furniture accentuated by the glow of innovative exterior corner lighting which makes a great feature in any garden.

Jacuzzi® prioritises offering quality to our customers in every way – from the dedication towards creating the perfect hydrotherapy massage and putting our customers’ wellness first, to the continuing dedication to develop the technology of our PowerPro® jets.

We have introduced the new PowerPro® FX Directional jet for a targeted hip massage and we’ve also provided a wider variety of seating levels to accommodate varying heights comfortably.

The four pillars of the brand are design, health, pleasure and performance and we take great

From a technology perspective, the J500 series includes a fullcolour ProTouch™ glass control

panel and utilises a smartphone app for monitoring maintenance reminders and remote operation of the tub. It is added touches such as these which makes the J500 series so special. To find out more about the J500 series and all our other ranges, visit your local Jacuzzi® Hydrotherapy Centre based at Webbs Garden Centre where Jen, Natalie & Emma are on hand seven days a week to answer your questions. They also have a wet test area so if you’d like to get the true “try before you buy” experience then bring your bathing suits and come and have a dip! Jacuzzi Hydrotherapy Centre Webbs Garden Centres Wychbold, Droitwich Spa WR9 0DG

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HOW YOUR DRIVEWAY

PROVIDES MAXIMUM KERB APPEAL

By Steve Tonks, General Manager at Boningale Garden Creations

In response to a client brief recently, who wanted to turn his car around on the drive, we created a practical yet creative solution with the driveway becoming an integral part of the curved landscape design – remember straight lines are not the only answer.

Your driveway is an important part of your landscaping because it gives a first impression of your home – they call this ‘kerb appeal’, making the approach to your home attractive and appealing. However, it is also likely that your driveway will be driven on every day. That means in addition to looking good, it needs to be durable and functional.

A designer will advise on the pros and cons of each material and may also suggest additional ideas, such as multiple colours to create a pattern, pattern stamping or decorative borders, lighting or gates. While many homeowners understandably want to maximise the space they have to park their

cars safely on their property, try not to create a car park. Planting softens the hardscaping, creates a more inviting space and assists with drainage, but choose carefully the shrubs and plants that will be used in the borders alongside driveways – check for overhang, maximum growth and spread.

A well-designed driveway will take into account the surrounding landscape as well as your home’s architectural style and car parking needs. The four main issues that a designer considers when creating and building a driveway are access, safety, drainage and aesthetics. Materials are the most important component in the design and with so many options, from block paving and asphalt to concrete and gravel, to choose from, it may feel overwhelming. It’s important to look at the width and layout of your driveway to see which will work best but ultimately, your budget and design goals will determine what you choose. 48

For further information and advice on choosing a striking driveway, please visit www.boningale-garden-creations.co.uk, email inspiration@boningale.co.uk or call us on 01902 376500. Whatever you choose, your space, large or small, will be transformed with our professional advice. From our award winning garden design associates, to our horticultural specialists and project management team, who oversee and manage the project from start to finish, you are assured of expert advice every step of the way.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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So why not contact Steve for a free consultation to discuss your dream garden further. inspiration@boningale.co.uk Follow us: @boningalegarden

01902 376500 www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

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Dudley South Ladies Luncheon Club Chairman Mary Jones was delighted to welcome 4 visitors and 28 members to an excellent lunch at the Kingfisher Hotel, Wall Heath, to hear speaker Ruth Lowe, who not only spoke about the life of fashion icon Mary Quant, but arrived in a Mary Quant mini car dressed in her most famous black and white dress, peaked cap and white plastic boots. Mary was born in 1934 but due to the outbreak of war in 1939 was evacuated and attended 16 different schools. She became influenced by a young man called Alexander who was different to other men because he dressed in outrageous bright colours. At this time young people liked to gather in coffee bars and restaurants in the Kings Road where she decided to open her first boutique selling accessories. It was here she designed her first dresses which were snapped up immediately. In 1963 she moved to Carnaby Street extending her range to underwear and tights with flowers, stripes and diamond patterns in bright colours to accompany her short dresses. She was the first person to introduce many fashionable items including bright make-up and make-up for men. Finally members enjoyed the nostalgia of browsing through an exciting selection of Mary Quant dresses and accessories. The speaker on 10th July will be Ray Sturdy with a See and Hear Quiz and on August 14th, instead of the usual luncheon, members were invited to a Coffee Morning at the home of Ann and Mike Rogers, 10.30am to 12.30pm. This

Pat Chance (member,) Mary Jones (Chairman), Jan Burrows (Registrar), Sandra Chappell (Treasurer), Sam (Kingfisher staff), and Jill Griffiths (Treasurer).

would include a Raffle, Bring and Buy, and refreshments. The following luncheon will be on 11th September when the speaker will be Black Country Poet David Bartley. A canal trip and cream tea has been arranged on the 18th August departing from the Bonded Warehouse, Stourbridge, at 2.00pm. Luncheons are held at the Kingfisher Hotel, Wallheath, on the second Friday each month,12noon for lunch at 12.30pm, departing at 3.00pm. Visitors will receive a warm welcome and can attend three times before deciding to join. For further information ring the Secretary on 01902 372984 or Email the Chairman, maryjones30@sky.com

Cypher Locksmiths Pick locks, not pockets Cypher locksmiths are a local, reliable and trusted independent locksmiths operating throughout the West Midlands. We offer a 24 hour emergency call out service, and non-emergency lock repair/installations for all types of domestic property doors. Our vans are fully stocked with all the latest tools and high security locks. We aim to complete most of our jobs on the first visit to your premises. At Cypher Locksmiths there is no call out fee unlike most franchised 50

companies, you are only charged for the work that has been completed; we pick locks, not pockets! All of the work that we carry out is covered for 12 months, so if any of the locks fitted by us fail within that time period we will install new ones for you free of charge. A discount of 10% is offered for customers that serve in our armed forces and who are over the age of 65. So for all your home security needs, don’t hesitate to give us a call for a free quote, we look forward to hearing from you.

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town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Dave Russon Painter & Decorator

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Beautiful tables made to your design & specification in-house using only the best quality seasoned Oak or Pine.

Homemade Cakes & Snacks Open 7 days – 10am to 5pm Car Parking Available

Mill Street, Low Town, Bridgnorth WV15 5AG Tel: 01746 762248

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

International Wine Awards

for The Vineyards Halfpenny Green vineyards in Bobbington has just been awarded no less than seven international awards for its estate grown and produced wines.

Judged against tens of thousands of other wines from around the world by two of the highest recognised awarding bodies in wine, the International Wine Challenge and the Decanter World Wine Awards, singled out their 2014 Long Acre still white, which received a silver medal and their 2014 Mercia Still White, itself receiving a bronze medal alongside their 2013 Sparkling White. Their 2013 Sparkling pink also received a high commendation. Halfpenny Green Vineyards are no strangers to being recognised for their successes, having received awards for their previous wines both nationally and internationally.

This marks the first time, however, that a brand new wine – the 2014 Mercia – has achieved such a level of immediate critical success. It marks the start of an exciting summer at The Vineyards. Having kicked off the season in style by celebrating National Cream Tea Day on June 26th, with a fabulous afternoon of tea and scones, all eyes are now on the future with an exciting shop expansion ahead. A large mezzanine floor is being added offering outstanding views of the area as well as providing much more room for a wider range of exciting products, just in time for the start of the Christmas countdown.

Halfpenny Green is also holding its ever popular Gourmet evenings. Hosted on a Friday night once a month you have the opportunity to enjoy fine dining with meals made from locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients with the beautiful Vineyards as your backdrop. Upcoming dates are Friday 10th July, Friday 7th August, Friday 11th September and Friday 9th October. Call 01384 221122 for more information and to book a table. So head down to the Vineyards and share in their successes!

www.halfpenny-green-vineyards.co.uk Halfpenny Green Vineyards, Tom Lane, Bobbington, South Staffordshire DY7 5EP Special Gourmet dinner events monthly, Friday 10th July, Friday 7th August & Friday 11th September

Enjoy traditional High Tea in style Perfect as a gift or to enjoy yourself

Superb restaurant offering an exquisite selection of food and drink including daily specials

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 9.30AM – 5.00PM Tel: 01384 221122 Email: sales@halfpenny-green-vineyards.co.uk www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Afternoon tea

in Himley Hall

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. Himley Hall is a commanding 18th Century building set amongst 180 acres of ‘Capability Brown’ landscaped parkland. Once the family home to the Earls of Dudley and host to royalty and high society, today it offers art and craft exhibitions during spring and summer, as well as prestigious conference facilities and guided tours.

The Hall also provides a glamorous setting for civil wedding ceremonies and receptions and other special occasions. The classic combination of ribbon sandwiches, scones with fruit conserve and cream, sweet pastries and tea in the superb setting of Himley Hall is an afternoon of indulgence that cannot be missed. Arrival at Himley Hall is at 2.00 pm with guests seated in one of our beautifully refurbished ground floor rooms by 2.30pm ready to enjoy an afternoon of indulgence.

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 up to a maximum of 100 persons. If you would like more information on Afternoon Tea at Himley Hall or Himley Hall as a civil wedding ceremony and reception venue please call 01384 817817.

Guests may also ‘top up’ their afternoon tea with a glass of prosecco or a ‘G & T’ for a small extra charge.

Himley Hall is open to the public until 6th September Tuesday – Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday 2.00-5.00pm, admission is free. 54

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

afternoontea treat yourself to

HimleyHall at

An afternoon of indulgence

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

Call Himley Hall on 01384 817817 to enquire about current dates available or to make a booking Himley Hall & Park, Himley, Dudley,West Midlands DY3 4DF

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Multi-Award-Winning Fish and Chips

One visit and you’ll be hooked.

The best fish and chips in the Black Country; 3,000 customers a week can’t be wrong. Fresh fish from sustainable waters Top quality fresh ingredients delivered daily Oil purifying equipment in daily use Fast and friendly service Large orders catered for

(Factories, Offices, Church Functions, etc)

Battered or plain chips available

Join us for a drink…

* Our wine promotion runs until 31st August 2015 or until stocks last. Shop expenditure does not include the cost of drinks. The voucher has no cash value.

Spend £15* or more at The Blue Submarine, and we’ll give you a free bottle of wine: red, rosé or white. Simply present this voucher.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

We are pleased to announce…

We are soon to open a coffee lounge in Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge! Bringing our love of coffee and fresh foods to the park. Opens late July 2015. Like us on Facebook for updates.

Opening Times

Mon – Fri: 7.30am till 5pm Sat: 9am till 4pm Sun: 9am till 1pm

CALL 01384 396 722 92 Hagley Road, Oldswinford, Stourbridge DY8 1QU www.oldswinfordcoffee.co.uk

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

acebook, search for ‘Oldswinford Coffee Lounge’

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Voices for Hospices

Penn Singers is a mixed voice friendly community choir with approximately 70 members who sing under the enthusiastic and imaginative leadership of our musical director Helen Smith. The choir performs a wide repertoire of music ranging from classical, spiritual, folk and musicals. Helen has been with the choir for nearly 5 years. She studied music at Birmingham University where she began conducting, working with choirs, orchestras, wind bands as well as musical theatre productions. Helen is a member of the CBSO Chorus and has performed with them throughout Europe. Our aim as a community choir is to foster the cultivation and enjoyment of good music. We are keen to support local charities by raising funds at our concerts. We have long been a keen supporter of Compton Hospice and look forward to maintaining a long and fruitful relationship with them and their remarkable work. Our concert Voices for Hospices will be support Compton Hospice and St Mary’s Hospice, Stourbridge on 10 October 2015 at Dudley Town Hall.

down the country. He is a keen concert recitalist and after dinner entertainer. He is a regular guest with our choir and enjoys a loyal following. The Jackfield Brass Band has a long illustrious history dating back to the end of the nineteenth century. It maintains a strong presence in Jackfield village (near Telford) and continues to entertain audiences. In 1998 Chris Lewis became the band’s musical director and under his leadership the band qualified for the National Final’s Great Britain. Coming back up to date the band comprising of approximately 40 talented musicians got off to a flying start in January 2015 at the Butlin’s Mine Workers Concert. The band put on a great performance coming third out of nineteen bands. It has recorded several cds the latest ‘Feeling Good’ received critical acclaim from the Brass Band Press. Anyone who has heard the Jackfield Band will have had an unforgettable experience, contributing to their loyal following throughout the West Midlands.

Joining us on this occasion will be tenor soloist Russell Painter and the full Jackfield (Elcock Reison) Brass Band. Russell Painter started singing as a chorister in St George’s Church, Kidderminster. He moved to London to study at the prestigious Guild Hall School of Music and Drama. He is now a freelance singer and has made his mark up and www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Eating Out Promote your venue to over 32,000* readers in the Stourbridge and surrounding areas with Town & Village Life Magazine

TOWN & VILLAGE

LIFE M AGA Z I N E

For further details and to find out how your venue can be featured please call Gisella on 01902 744217 60

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

• Sadler’s Tap House • Craft beer & cider • Fresh delicious home-made food - locally sourced produce • Bed & breakfast available • Tuesday night’s gourmet burger night - £6.95 • Sunday lunch – roasts of the day £8.95 • Fish night Friday’s • Live music Sunday evenings • Saturday morning breakfast at the brewery for only £5. Served 8am - 11am

Windsor CasTle inn Stourbridge Road, Lye, Stourbridge West Midlands, DY9 7DG Tel: 01384 897 809 www.windsorcastleinn.co.uk

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 www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

facebook.com/wombourne.tandoori

www.wombournetandoori.com 61

Bully for By Geoff Hall

I make no apologies for not at first being entirely sure about what Bravaccio means in Italian.

Keen to sample the newly launched ‘Bully’s Mid-week Hat trick Special Menu’, which offers diners three courses for £11.95, my party of

five bustle into the plush dining space overlooking Tettenhall Green with much mirth and merriment, intent on scoring a scrumptious dinner at reasonable money. Value-for-money pricing twinned with sumptuous surrounds in the heart of one of the jewels of the Wolverhampton suburbs is indeed a cornerstone of the business, which is owned by former Wolves and England ace, Steve Bull.

Foreign tongues have never been my forté. Friends will tell you that I’m a bit of talker and a loquacious dinner guest, but never yet have I invoked a foreign language to help improve a story. Until now. I wouldn’t have to mention any of this at all if only my partner, Gisella, she of – ironically – Italian ancestry, would be so kind as to put me out of my misery. Taunts of “Well you’ve eaten here often enough before and never thought to ask” and “I’d rather let you figure it out for yourself” have a way of rubbing me up the wrong way on the eve of our mid-week meal with friends at Tettenhall’s number one Italian hotspot, when on a mission to find out why there’s so much more to Bravaccio’s than meets the eye. So for now I’ll settle for the slim consolation that since this restaurant has so much more on the menu than standard Italian fare, what’s in an Italianate name? Names won’t feed us five hungry tums on a sunny June evening. So let’s get to it. 62

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perfect fusion of garlic and cheese. The dish is a towering credit to longstanding head chef, Mario, and his kitchen staff. Equally pleasing is my dish from the other side of the pond; for me, it is this evening’s pièce de résistance (I’m learning on the fly with my languages). The liver and onions main is redolent of a proper authentic Black Country dish: a titanic achievement in that it surpasses even the dishes I remember with rose-tinted spectacles from childhood. Gisella is also enormously impressed with her choices: ‘Bruschetta La Casa’, which she describes quirkily as “an expertly judged juxtaposition of tomato and onion and friends”, and ‘Il Bravaccio Beefburger with Chips and Garnish’; a “tasty and entirely satisfying take on the classic main, with stand-out top quality beef.” I remind her – as we tuck into our two delicious desserts: ‘Homemade Tiramisu’ and ‘Chocolate Brownie served with ice cream’ - that this is no surprise given that one of Bravaccio’s main suppliers is award winning butchers, Robinsons in Tettenhall. And that further still, it is the restaurant’s overarching ethos to use only the very best stock from the local pond…

In fact, never one to willingly put words (especially foreign) into another man’s mouth, I’ll let the main man speak for himself: “People want value. I always wanted to give value-for-money when I was playing football and I want to do the same with Bravaccio’s. Our normal a la carte menu is very popular as we try to offer fresh, locally-sourced food at value-for-money prices. If anyone can find better value anywhere then I’d like to know,” says Steve. So there you have it, Bully’s thrown down the gauntlet and even though I’m keen to tuck in to the grub, there’s more – and it’s not what you’d expect – that’s right up my humble English street. “Customers look for something a bit more traditional as well and that’s why our Sunday lunch and Black Country dishes are so popular.”

Hang on a minute there, Steve, did you say Black Country dishes - in an Italian restaurant? A quick look at the menu and one impulsive order from me for ‘Liver & Onions with Onion Mashed Potatoes and Fresh Vegetables’, to complement my starter of ‘Cheesy Garlic Pizza Bread’, confirms this.

At this point my garrulous rambling is rudely interrupted by Gisella, with six simple yet choice words: “Bravaccio loosely means ‘bully’ in Italian.” A-ha! Therefore Bravaccio’s must mean “Bully’s”. Needless to say that from this point onwards my dessert tastes so much sweeter.

That’s right: as well as retaining its core Italian menu, Bravaccio’s has diversified into offering more traditional English dishes, including a Sunday Roast and mid-week Black Country favourites, both starting at only £6.95. Already such a firm favourite with the restaurant’s regular customers, Sunday lunch is strictly a must-book-in-advance event. There’s also 20% off the a la carte menu on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. My starter is sensationally flavoursome; the bread being light and exquisitely textured, with a

For reservations please call 01902 756052, 4a Upper Green, Tettenhall. www.bravaccios.co.uk www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

at Village Dudley

ING C U D O INTR

Our Exciting

New Menu!

Music Quiz Every Thursday ...and our very own Public House Darts League.

A great night out! Village Urban Resort Dudley Castlegate Business Park, Dudley DY1 4TB For more information call

0871 222 4584 Village-Hotels.co.uk 64

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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 £11.95 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”

Now available Tuesday to Thursday evenings

OUR EVER POPULAR SUndAy LUnch

still from only £6.95 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

Fully Licensed

Air Conditioned

Car Park at rear of Restaurant

Contemporary Modern Dining at Sedgley’s Premier Indian Restaurant

Saffron Pink’s RestauRant

Sayed Miah along with his expert team of knowledgeable chefs and waiting staff welcome you to Saffron Pink. We pride ourselves on our high standard of service and authentic Bangladeshi cuisine.

Take Away Service Available FREE Home Delivery within a 3 mile radius, minimum order £15 Orders between £10 to £15 within a 3 mile radius, only £1.50 To book a table please call

01902 671759 / 673665 Open 7 Days including Bank Holidays, Sunday to Thursday 5.30pm to 11.30pm, Friday and Saturday 5.30pm to 12 Midnight 2 Bull Ring, Dudley Street, Sedgley, DY3 1RU

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

 FOOD HYGIENE RATING SCHEME 2011

A Secret

By Rob Taylor

to Share

I have a secret that I’m reluctant to share. But before we begin, I ask that you indulge me in a brief preamble; it’s the kind of analogy that can really do some talking. Pause for a moment and cast your mind back to a time when music really mattered to you; real music; not manufactured dross on Saturday night TV, but proper bands, playing proper songs. Back to when you were plugged into a scene and prone to discover new, up and coming artists, preparing their ascent into the stratosphere.

So it is now with a heavy heart that I must – for fear of swift and brutal consequences from my editor, if I don’t – share with you my secret, at enormous risk to myself, because firstly it is my duty as Town and Village Life’s humble servant to restaurant reviews and, secondly, because I know you’ll love this pub just as much as I do. So without further ado, I give you the Windsor Castle Inn in Lye – a pub that has impressed me so much that I’m already planning to revisit it, despite having eaten there only last night; a pub that I can proudly declare – in music business parlance – will be “the next big thing.”

Despite its imposing site on Stourbridge Road, the Windsor may not be as magnificent a building as its castle namesake in Berkshire and you are unlikely to see Her Maj walking a Corgi round the beer garden or Prince Philip propping up the bar on a Friday night, firing off ethnic slurs, but it has all of the warmth and charm you’ll ever need from a family owned and run – by the Sadler family, owners of local craft brewery, Sadler’s Ales – local. And since The Queen let her place burn down in 1992 because she was too tight to spring for a few fire alarms, I doubt she’d be too accommodating if you popped by, hoping to be fed on the hottest day of this year so far. I have no such problem when my partner, Nicola, and I visit on a busy Thursday evening. We are given a warm welcome by pub manager Russell Grindley (who is throughout the entire evening both charming and attentive); receive drinks at the bar – where they serve Sadler’s Ales that have been uniquely brewed on-site at the brewery behind the pub – before being settled into our comfortable spot by the window. Unleashing my full sensory system upon the smart, open plan dining space, I suck in the sights and smells; immediately finding the décor – which is a kind of modern take on

You like them; you think your friends will too, so you tell them about your new favourite band and sure enough they like them as well. So they tell their friends ad nauseum. And before you know it, even your mom likes them and she’s taken to wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with their logo, which she bought from Primark. It is then at that exact moment, when they are fully assimilated into the mainstream, that your interest wanes; you stop liking them because they are no longer special, they’re no longer your secret. 66

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

rustic, with over-sized beer barrels, exposed wood, a malt shovel and original brewing equipment affixed to the walls – pleasing and entirely conducive to dining. The tables are clean and tidy; the pub is immaculately kept. But before I can go further, there’s the small matter of the food to attend to. From a healthy-sized menu we choose ‘Stout-cured Smoked Salmon’ (£6.95) and ‘Garlic Bread’ (£4.50) 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 Windsor has in Andre Pelaud, a fine and skilful head chef and a well-oiled kitchen team. The whole piece of Ciabatta bread is drizzled with herbs and butter and offered with the option of cheese topping – it is a balanced and well-judged harmony of flavour that benefits from the addition of cheese. The salmon, which is served with prawns and a homemade horseradish sauce, arrests Nicola’s taste buds, tantalises her palate and leads her to eulogise about not a lot else until the mains arrive. After an appropriate rest we then receive: ‘8oz Sirloin Steak, with hand-cut chips and Diane sauce’ (£16.95), with a side order of ‘Beer Battered Onion Rings’ (£3.00) and ‘Pan-fried Fillet of Salmon, with Tiger Prawns and crushed new potatoes’ (£13.95). My salmon is simply spectacular; the lemon and cream sauce is a triumphant accompaniment to the dish; the fish, tender and moist; the potatoes, soft and pillowy. I devour every morsel and Nicola’s steak is polished off with equal gusto, prompting only mumbles and murmurs of praise. Dessert choices of ‘Chocolate Brownie’ (£5.95) and ‘Three scoops of Bennett’s Amaretto Ice Cream’ (£5.25) prove to be delicious also and leave us both happily spent; keen to reflect on what has to be among the very finest food we have eaten this year. And let me assure you, this is not just the standard effusive hyperbole, which courses through the majority of food reviews: every word is considered and deserving. So there you have it: the secret is out. Oh well, at least there’s time to visit once more before this magazine goes to print, before it’s impossible to get a table. Make sure you check out the new Monday – Friday lunch menu, where two courses cost from as little as £12; a new summer menu has also just been launched on 29th June. Food is served 12noon - 3pm Monday to Saturday and 12noon - 8pm on Sundays, with live music from 8pm; 6 - 9pm Monday to Thursday and 6 - 10pm Friday and Saturday. And don’t forget from 8am until 11am on Saturday, there’s breakfast on the menu for just £5. The Windsor Castle 7 Stourbridge Road Lye, Stourbridge West Midlands DY9 7DG www.windsorcastleinn.co.uk To book please call 01384 897809. www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Possibly the most

significant advance in sculpting the perfect ‘Me’ Secretly we all want to be different to what Mother Nature dispensed – maybe younger, taller, shorter or with less excess in the places we cleverly try to disguise. But perhaps most of all, we desire to be as near to the perfect “Me” we could envisage. Much of what our DNA dictates we cannot change. And for the

majority, we are just not ready for what full-blown, clever plastic surgery procedures can achieve. For years, those who required body contouring bought into the liposuction dream, parting with millions of pounds for liposculpture or suction-assisted lipectomy procedures. The surgery permanently removed fat cells, allowing people to be thin without tortuous exercise regimes and low-fat, low taste diets. But what if the same results could be achieved without such an invasive procedure and at a fraction of the cost of a full surgical operation? Year on year medical science has invaded the beauty market, but a recent development is setting the bar for body contouring at a new level – without the painful discomfort of traditional lipo treatments. This innovation – 3D-lipo – offers a revolutionary fat reduction treatment and it’s available at Medi Visage, basted in Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton. Articles in The Daily Express, The Express online and OK! Magazine have ensured that the message about this treatment is ‘out there’ and the response for treatment has been staggering. Medi Visage business partner, Bibi Dodd, says: “Since we have had this revolutionary piece of equipment we have seen staggering results in skin tone and fat reduction and it doesn’t involve the normal rigour of exercise.” High profile fans of 3D-lipo have included Coleen Rooney, Liverpudlian wife of Wayne Rooney. Following the birth of her second child she

Medi Visage Bibi Dodd – I’ve seen staggering results in skin tone and fat reduction and it doesn’t involve the normal rigour of exercise

decided on a helping hand from a beauty clinic to get back into shape. The therapy combines Cavitation (the use of ultrasound) which converts fat cells into liquid that is then naturally drained by the body’s own filtration system, as well as a body sculpting treatment called Cryolipolysis, where fat cells are literally frozen away. Unlike other lipo offerings that utilise Diode Laser (I-Lipo, Strawberry and Laser Lipo) this new technology “physically destroys the fat cells.” The advantage of this is that the client is not required to exercise post treatment in order to metabolise the released fat. “Added to this, with the combination of radio frequency and 3D-dermology, clients are able to combine an effective skin tightening application for both face and body and also target the dreaded cellulite,” says Bibi. Partnering Bibi in the Medi Visage venture are established Wolverhampton implant dentist Jonathon Pugh BDS MSc (Implant Dentistry), Maxillofacial surgeon Mr Khaleeq-Ur-Rehman BDS, FDSRCPS, MBChB, MRCS (Gen Surg), FRCS (OMFS) and consultant dermatologist Dr Hamdi Hamad. The surgical team will offer a full body dermatological approach to patients and will, among other procedures, address anti-wrinkle facial aesthetics, skin cancer screening (including tissue biopsies), and the removal of moles, skin tags and basal-cell carcinoma (BCC). Internationally acclaimed Deborah Mitchell’s Heaven products are being used for skin care pampering and are on sale at the clinic.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Fun in the sun Is it time to get your skin checked for damage? • Surgical and non-surgical therapies • Our service is consultant led • Skin cancer screening service • Facial aesthetics – anti-wrinkle treatments • First clinical assessment with consultant • Maxillofacial surgeon Mr Khaleeq-Ur-Rehman BDS, FDSRCPS, MBChB, MRCS (Gen Surg), FRCS (OMFS)

Consultant dermatologist Dr Hamid Hamad

To learn more CALL NOW

01902 429586

82 Tettenhall Road Wolverhampton WV1 4TF www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Aristocats An excellent all round ladies fashion experience

some exciting new ranges to their existing collections. Furthermore, they have recently dedicated a showroom for the popular Joseph Ribkoff collection. The showroom is full of the Canadian brand’s latest collections ranging from day and evening wear to smart occasion and cruise wear. Additionally, Aristocats has a dedicated sale room, ideal for ladies who love a bargain! There are always items to be found that are incredibly useful for those unexpected events and out of season holidays. Twice a year Aristocats organise a charity fashion show and hire a team of professional models to showcase the latest seasons styles. These have raised thousands of pounds for many deserving causes over the years. The fashion shows have become very sociable occasions enjoyed by many customers and friends, combining a fabulous catwalk show with a delicious lunch.

Excellent customer service, although sometimes hard to find these days, is always a priority at Aristocats. The business has earnt an excellent reputation and a loyal clientele over the three decades it has been trading.

Elegant furniture throughout the two floors of the premises allows customers to take time in comfort to contemplate their purchases and to discuss or chat with staff and friends. All clients and partners are able to relax and unwind whilst drinking a freshly made cup of tea or coffee, always readily available!

Aristocats ladies fashion boutique opened in Bridgnorth in 1980 when Carol Billingsley, the proprietor, opened the first store in Whitburn Street. Fourteen years later the second Aristocats branch opened in a prime location on Coalway Road, Wolverhampton.

Personal service is what Carol, her team and current Aristocats clients value so much.

Sadly, after 35 years trading in Bridgnorth, Carol was unable to renew the lease on the Bridgnorth shop and made the decision to merge the two branches in Coalway Road. Aristocats customers will be pleased to know that all the staff from the Bridgnorth branch have joined the team at Coalway Road. Aristocats offers the perfect environment for ladies who love to shop. A variety of classic styles fill the rails. Gorgeous accessories including belts, bags and fashion jewellery are displayed alongside a wide range of hosiery together with a beautiful Belgian collection of lingerie from Prima Donna. 70

Aristocats is open from 10am till 5pm, Monday to Friday, and Saturday from 10am till 4pm. There is ample parking behind the premises in New Street or on the road opposite the Esso petrol station. There has never been a better time to update your wardrobe! Call in at Aristocats today and experience excellent customer service first hand – you will be made most welcome.

Carol states, “Our customers always come first, we want to create a wonderful shopping experience for them. They know and appreciate that we will always provide an honest opinion. We have ladies who have shopped with us for many years and we consider them to be our friends. We always welcome new customers to the store and enjoy helping them find a style that will suit them.” Aristocats stock a great selection of excellent quality, continental brands, such as Basler, Olsen and Gelco, to name but a few. Never content to stand still on the stock to be found on the rails or on the layout of the showroom, Aristocats is always looking for new, exciting collections to improve choice for customers. Since the beginning of the year Aristocats has added town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

• Day Wear • Coats • Cocktail & Evening Wear • Lingerie • Accessories • Belts • Bags • Jewellery • Hosiery

Tel: 01902 344003 234www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk Coalway Road, Penn,Wolverhampton WV3 7NN

Michael Kors £285

NOT JUST BAG ENVY, WE’VE GOT...

Brand

Envy

Vivienne Westwood £195

Vivienne Westwood £240

Lulu Guinness £195

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Michael Kors £285

Michael Kors £240

With an expanding brand profile including Armani Jeans, Vivienne Westwood, Versace Jeans, Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors theres something for everyone to get excited about at Diffusion.

Versace Jeans £130

Michael Kors £130 Michael Kors £155

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Michael Kors £240

Paul Smith £449 Armani Jeans £115

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

Celebrating 30 Years

Wollaston Beauty Clinic There was a fantastic evening held at Wollaston Beauty Clinic, on Wednesday 24th June, to celebrate the salon’s 30th year in business. Pimms, nibbles and fabulous offers awaited clients as they poured through the doors of the well-established beauty salon. Owner Rachel Ward explains: “We were delighted with how many people came to support us. We really enjoyed chatting to our clients and showing them the full range of beauty treatments we offer here at the salon, whilst celebrating our very special birthday.”

Rachel Ward, Mary Birch and Jenny Birch

Although they’ve been in business over three decades, the team have always ensured that they’ve kept the salon - as well as the products and services they offer - completely up to date. “Over the years we’ve had three complete salon refurbishments, stayed ahead of all of the newest beauty trends and have always offered the latest - and best - products from industry leading brands.”

30 “Celebratingars” beautiful ye

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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at u ra l

Summer S

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153 Bridgnorth Road, Wollaston, Stourbridge DY8 3NU 01384 393305

www.wollastonbeautyclinic.co.uk www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Let’s Talk Cosmetic Surgery at Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital Come and meet one of our Consultant surgeons specialising in cosmetic surgery at our complimentary 10 minute advice chats held every month.

For more information or to book, contact

Whether you’re looking to reduce, enlarge or lift, here’s the perfect opportunity to talk with one of our experts. Or, simply listen to some good advice.

NHOD-15-238 Wolverhampton cosmetic ad 218x140mm.indd 1

01902 275 211 nuffieldhealth.com/wolverhamptonhospital

Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital, Wood Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton WV6 8LE

11/06/2015 16:44

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Cosmetic Surgery – Getting it Right! If you find an alternative private hospital in your local area offering a better price for the same surgical intervention, sold with the same service conditions, we will lower our price to equal it.*

Our Treatment Promise We promise to guide and support you through every stage of your treatment at Nuffield Health. You will be looked after throughout by your Consultant. At the same time, our matron will ensure you receive the highest standard of compassionate and professional care.

Our Follow Up Promise

Cosmetic treatments, carried out well, can add enormously to your quality of life; not only adding to physical well-being but improving your psyche and adding to personal confidence. Recent years have seen an explosion in demand for and acceptance of cosmetic procedures, both surgical and nonsurgical. We live in a young world where people are living longer and remaining active to a much older age. Feeling fitter, more and more individuals want to keep looking fresh to make sure they enjoy life, at ease with the way they look. These are procedures of choice, carried out to change or improve appearance. However with treatments of choice it is even more important that proper counselling takes place so that treatments are based on the needs of the individual, making sure that your aspirations can be matched by surgical interventions, and that you are fully informed of the limitations and possible complications that they may carry. Proper consultation, with examination, is vital to achieve good results and happy outcomes. This should always be with the surgeon and you should never be rushed into decisions and do not proceed with treatment unless you are sure it is right for you. Consultants carrying out surgery must be on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council. Our aesthetic surgeons are Members of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). You can view their details on the BAAPS website (www.baaps.org.uk).

Our relationship with you doesn’t end when you walk out of one of our hospitals. As a Nuffield Health patient, subject to the clinical needs related to your procedure, there are no time limits on your aftercare.** We offer a range of cosmetic surgery procedures including:

Surgical Procedures • Breast Augmentation • Breast Uplift • Breast Reduction • Tummy Tuck • Liposuction • Facelift • Neck Lift • Eyelid Surgery • Rhinoplasty • Otoplasty (ear correction) • Gynaecomastia (Male breast reduction)

Non-Surgical Procedures • Injections for wrinkles

Complimentary Cosmetic Events Here at the Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital we run regular complimentary cosmetic open events once a month. These events give you the opportunity to meet one of our consultants for a one-to-one advice chat that lasts ten minutes and gives you the chance to ask any questions you have regarding the specific treatment you are thinking about. For more information or to book a complimentary advice chat please contact us on 01902 275211.

It is important to find a properly trained Consultant, practicing in the right environment. Procedures should be to your benefit, to improve the quality of your life. They can be life changing and must be properly considered. With Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital you can be sure you are in the best possible hands. Our aim is to provide a different kind of treatment for cosmetic surgery patients - the Nuffield Treatment. This means we can make the following promises:

Our Price Promise Our prices will always be totally transparent and when you are quoted an inclusive procedure price it will be inclusive of all costs – with no hidden surprises. This inclusive price will include your consultation fee, anaesthetist fees, hospital fees, any overnight stays, medication and take home drugs. It also includes all your follow-up appointments and after-care.

Mr Darren Lewis, Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeon

Mr Naiem Moiemen, Consultant Plastic Surgeon

*Not including private patient units at NHS Hospitals. Local are defined as within 15 miles of the Nuffield Health hospital. We will match against written quotes only. Promise is valid for patients paying for themselves. **where possible, we promise to assist you to receive any follow up advice, treatment or care that is clinically required from your Consultant for as long as you may require it. If a prosthesis is used as part of your treatment this is guaranteed for the manufacturers official lifetime of that prosthesis. “Clinically required” indicates where further intervention and/or monitoring of a patient’s condition is deemed necessary as a direct result of surgical intervention.

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

by Helen Taylor

A P e r f e c t

Pout Image courtesy of New Look Beauty

Uneven Lips

If your bottom lip is fuller than your top, then your lips can look uneven - but it’s easy to balance things out with well-applied lipstick. Choose a lip liner in a shade that matches the lipstick you are going to use and apply it to your cupids bow - at the centre of your top lip. Don’t be tempted to extend the line all the way down because you only want definition in the centre.

Cover your bottom lip with a dot of concealer or foundation - this makes it easier to correct the shape - then line the centre of your bottom lip slightly above the natural line and softly extend the line outwards, but not all the way to the corner of your mouth. Bring the lip liner on to your bottom lip and lightly fill it in - the aim is to create a matte finish so that your bottom lip appears less prominent. Then, using a lip brush, fill in your top lip with the lipstick that matches your liner.

Getting a perfectly, plump pout is easier than you think once you’ve identified what you need to do to make the best of your lips. With the help of a few simple make-up tools and techniques it’s easy to transform your lips into the pout you’ve always wanted.

Thin Lips Thin lips are a big beauty concern for many women, especially as they age, because over the years, our lips loose their plumpness and become visibly thinner. Choose lipsticks in light, bright shades and always opt for a glossy finish. Lighter colours work to make lips look bigger by bringing that area of your face forward, whereas darker shades have the opposite effect by pushing it back. 78

Light-reflecting pigments in glosses and lipsticks add instant fullness to thin lips - unlike matte formulations that make the lips look flat. A creamy lip liner, in a natural pale hue is an essential tool when making-up thin lips. Warm the pencil in your hands before lining your lips just slightly outside their natural line, bring the liner as far down to the corners of your mouth as you can - whilst still keeping it looking perfectly natural. Particularly emphasis your cupids bow and the middle of your bottom lip. Using a lip brush, neatly fill in your lips with your chosen lipstick. Add a dab of gloss to the centre of your bottom lip and highlight your cupid’s bow by adding a touch of shimmer highlighter - powder, cream or pencil varieties will all do the job.

Draw attention to your top lip and create a perfect finish by adding a touch of gloss to the centre of your top lip.

Narrow Mouth If your mouth is small and narrow it can look out of proportion compared to your other facial features. A little lip liner and lipstick can easily ‘extend’ the mouth though. Find a lip liner that matches the natural colour of your lips as closely as possible, then line the outer corners of your mouth by using light, feathery strokes. Bring the line up and round, over your cupid’s bow but make sure the line isn’t as strong as the one on the corners of your lips, because emphasising the corners of the mouth will have an elongating effect. Choose a neutral coloured lipstick in a creamy or satiny finish - it’s important to stick to lighter shades, as darker hues will make your lips appear smaller.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Win a fabulous hair makeover with

Midland

hairdresser of the year To celebrate Sophie and Nickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent title win at the British Hairdressing awards held at Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grosvenor Hotel, they are delighted to offer one reader the chance to win a hair makeover with Sophie. The appointment will consist of a cut, colour and conditioning treatment as well as an exclusively styled Glam Girl Doll, styled and signed by Sophie herself. Royston Blythe is known for their warm, down-to-earth persona, and their enjoyment in doing hair for everyone; young and old, new and established clients, from film stars to busy working mums, and everyone in between. This outlook on life and their work is

also noticeable throughout the salon; the atmosphere is buzzing but unassuming, and their team endeavour to make everyone feel relaxed and welcome. In a warm and friendly atmosphere, their innovative and professional team of highly trained and award winning stylists have a wealth of knowledge in all areas of hairdressing, ensuring that clients have the upmost service available at all times. To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize simply answer the following question correctly.

Name the venue where the British Hairdressing Awards 2014 were held? Please email your answer including your full name, address and telephone number to: info@townandvillagelifemag.co.uk or on a postcard to: Town and Village Life magazine, 1 Lytham Road, Perton, Wolverhampton, WV6 7YY. Entries to be received by Friday 14th August 2015. Competition terms and conditions: Winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries received. To enter you must be ages 18 years or older. When booking winners package Royston Blythe require at least 30 days notice of appointment. Package cannot be sold or exchanged for cash alternative. Package must be booked within 12 months of winning and is valid from Monday to Thursday subject to availability. A skin test will need to be taken 48hrs before the appointment. Winners must be available for photography.

Royston Blythe 36 Bridgnorth Road, Compton, Wolverhampton WV6 8AE Tel: 01902 751720 email: info@roystonblythe.co.uk www.roystonblythe.co.uk Royston Blythe @RoystonBlythe

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Looking For The Perfect Body Without Surgery? Imagine a non-surgical fat reduction procedure that costs a fraction of what most treatments cost, is permanent, and tackles those tough spots like ‘love handles’ and belly fat. UltraSlim LipoFreeze Cryolipolysis and Ultrasound Cavitation Lipo are the most effective non surgical body sculpting treatments available on the market today. Inches can be lost off any given area of the body with a short, simple treatment administered in a comfortable, relaxed environment. Cryolipolysis LipoFreeze (Fat Freezing) delivers controlled cooling to reduce fat by up to 40% during a single treatment, while Ultrasound Cavitation Lipo & RF delivers instant results for fat reduction, in addition to targeting cellulite, reducing stretch marks and tightening loose skin after child birth. We are shaped by what we love, but you’ll love the shape you can achieve at UltraSlim Clinics. 80

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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www.ultraslimclinics.com www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

From the Beach to the Bar By Helen Taylor

The perfect summer wardrobe should contain a mix of key pieces that are adaptable enough for all summertime socialising. By selecting on-trend items and mixing them with your style staples you can create a versatile, fashionable and stylish collection that will see you through the season. Bright colours, bold prints and feminine embellishments have filtered down from the catwalk to the high street and are perfect for hot days and long summer nights. We have selected the best highstreet pieces that will take you from the beach to the bar in style…

Blue Maxi Dress £149 Gold Snakeskin Clutch £89 Biba at House of Fraser

Black Kaftan £45 Black Logo Print Swimsuit £55 Biba at House of Fraser

Leopard Print Shirt £69 Plum Faux Leather Skirt £59 Gold Snakeskin Clutch £99 Biba at House of Fraser

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Bikini Top £32 Bottoms £20 Dickins & Jones at House of Fraser

Tie Swimsuit £55 Phase Eight Colbalt Blue Bikini £18 BHS

Cami Top £35 Monsoon

‘Debyy’ Rainbow Waterfall Swimsuit £79 Ted Baker at Diffusion

Silk Maxi Dress £99 Phase Eight

Dress £45 Instaglam by Red Herring at Debenhams

'Katia' Kimono £39 Accessorize

Floral Print Skirt £42 Michelle Keegan at Lipsy

Print Dress £79 Phase Eight

Block Heel Sandal £69 Monsoon

‘Tropkon’ Toucan Large Icon Bag £39 Ted Baker at Diffusion

Gold Embellished Sandal £39.99 New Look

White Denim Shorts £45 Phase Eight

Valid until 31st August 2015. Many colours available in store.

Large White Tote £310 Ralph Lauren at House of Fraser

White Ankle Buckle Strap Sandals £119 Armani Jeans at Diffusion

Special Summer Offer Receive a FREE pair of Coeur de Lion Earrings when purchasing the matching Necklace and Bracelet.

Beige Havana Sunglasses £122 Marc by Marc Jacobs at Diffusion

Necklace £119

Bracelet £59

Exclusively at T.A. Henn, Wolverhampton

= Earrings FREE! (individual price £35)

The images used in this article are readily available in various places on the internet and are believed to be in the public domain. Town & Village Life magazine claims no credit for them unless otherwise noted. If you own the rights to any of the images, or if any content appearing in Town & Village Life magazine infringes on your copyright, please notify us and they will be promptly removed.

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

5 TOP TIPS

TO STAYING HEALTHY THIS SUMMER

Summer is finally here; the time of infinite fun, BBQs, relaxation, vacations and spending time with loved ones. However, for many of us, summer also brings the temptations to over indulge in ice creams and smoothies, overdoing the tan and forgetting the summer diet and exercise. We have put together 5 top tips to help keep you on top of your health whilst enjoying the summer festivities: 1. Protect your skin We all know how crucial it is to apply sunscreen lotion when going out in the sun, yet a lot of us ignore its importance and head out without protecting our skin. It is vital to use a sun screen lotion of at least SPF 30 in order to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. For sensitive skin, a mineral-based sunscreen is best. Try and avoid long periods of sitting out in the sun during peak hours (between 10am and 4pm) in order to minimize UV radiation. If you are planning to be out in the sun for a long period of time, reapply sun screen every two to three hours and try and look out for areas where you can take shade. 2. Stay hydrated During the hot summer months, heat and sweat can leave our bodies dehydrated. A lack of water can be harmful to our bodies and also make us crave food when we’re not actually hungry. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking at least eight to nine glasses of water a day. Bored of water? Add some low calorific flavouring to water 84

such as a piece of fruit, or opt for healthy alternatives like green tea or coconut water. 3. Eat well When the weather is fab and the days are long, the thing to do is fire up the grill, round up your family and friends, and feast. Everybody loves a barbecue. However, large food spreads can lead to over indulging on the wrong types of food. Stock up on salads, vegetable sticks with hummus, yoghurts and endless amounts of fruit. Go for more raw foods that are full of nutrients and vitamins. 4. Exercise We work out throughout winter and spring for the perfect beach body and as soon as summer comes we start to neglect our exercise regime. We swap evenings at the gym for evenings lounging in the garden or socialising – and who wouldn’t. Try and get

your daily 30 mins of exercise by swapping vigorous gym workouts for summer evening walks, sports activities with the family or cooling off with a 20 minute swim. 5. Relax Sometimes we try and do too much during the summer – we think that we have to book a vacation or be out doing an activity. However, it’s ok sometimes to just take time out. Allow yourself to sit back and let your mind and body relax and rejuvenate. We hope you find the tips above helpful and that you have an enjoyable summer. For further information on how you can stay on top of your health please visit www.paycare.org or call 01902 252 265.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

A Paycare plan helps you to reclaim money spent on health care. Cover starts from as little as £6.25 per month with your first premium FREE!

Easy healthcare cash plans to Recover the cost of healthcare A Paycare cash plan makes every day healthcare affordable; so you can focus on getting the treatment when you need it and not when you can afford it. For a small monthly premium you are protected against the cost of Dental, Optical, Chiropody, Specialist Consultation and Tests, professional Therapies, Hospital Cover and much more. All plans include a 24 hour counselling and help line service for when that extra support or advice is needed.

FREE

Under 25s Paycare Go is a healthcare cashplan 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 252 265

A Paycare plan is useful for both day to day healthcare and those unexpected emergencies that crop up from time to time.

Individuals 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.

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.

Need help?

From £6.25 per month Call 01902 252 265

Mon to Fri 8.30 to 4.30pm or email us.

Tel: 01902 252 265 enquiries@paycare.org

F monirst prem ths ium

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 252 265

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 252 265

www.paycare.org *First months premium free offer ends 31st Dec 2015.

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Simply Confident, Simply Natural...

Simply Dentures

Telephone 01902 420654

Working with

Total Implant Solutions

for a complimentary consultation 82 Tettenhall Road Wolverhampton WV1 4TF www.simplydentures.net

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Simply Dentures,

creating beauty in every smile involved and informed through every stage of construction gives you the confidence that you will get the smile you deserve. With years of training and experience our team aims to provide you with dentures that help you overcome the challenging problems you face. Peter Brookes DipCDT ‘Creating beauty in every smile’

You may never have given much thought to who or how dentures are made. Typically if you require new false teeth you pop along to your dentist and the process begins. The relevant impressions are taken and the teeth are constructed by a technician in a laboratory hidden away somewhere.

Illustration of implant-retained overdentures

Peter says “Having to wear dentures is something that many people through the years have struggled to cope with. We find that the three most common issues for denture wearers are the fit, the function and appearance. We work with you to enable you to get the best from your dentures as well as have them look good too”. He continues “I recently had the pleasure to fit new dentures to a patient who was left in a poor state and had no teeth for 6 months. There was a great sense of satisfaction that we were able to provide dentures on implants which look great and enabled the patient to eat foods of her first choice once again.

Using the latest technologies such as injection moulded acrylic, ultra suction device and implants ensures that your denture wearing experience is as good as it can be. Not every option is suitable for all so we offer you a free consultation to see what may be a good solution for you. Our clinic offers warm welcoming facilities for all, easy ground floor access, 3 ground floor surgeries, car park to the rear and friendly staff. We will do what we can to help overcome any issues you may face to make your journey to your new smile as smooth as possible. Should you require a denture repair, relines or cleaning services then these are available too for those dentures which work but need that extra touch of TLC”.

More people have become aware over recent years that you can now see a Clinical Dental Technician to provide you with dentures. As part of the extended dental team a CDT can make your dentures in the laboratory and also work with you in the clinic and literally put the smile on your face. Mr Peter Brookes is our lead Clinical Dental Technician who has over 15 years experience as a technician. For the last 6 years he has been been training within a private denture clinic, giving him great insight into the manufacture of high quality dentures. His firm belief that you should be www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

See the website for more information www.simplydentures.net or call for a free information pack. 87

Dudley Building Society

offers additional financial services

Dudley Building Society has announced a new exciting partnership with Openwork. The new relationship will provide customers with access to Openwork advisers offering investment, pension and retirement planning advice. Openwork is one of the largest financial advice networks in the UK and has been operating for over 40 years. Changes in pension regulation and the increasing age of retirement is encouraging people to address their financial health, these services are aimed towards supporting this.

Chief Executive, Jeremy Wood said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are thrilled to be increasing the financial services that will now be available to our customers. Our customers require additional products and services to cater for their financial needs and we have a duty to try and cater for them. We selected Openwork as a partner as they share our values of quality serviceâ&#x20AC;?. Appointments can be made with advisers either over the telephone on 01384 231414 or by calling into a branch. Branches are located in Dudley, Gornal,

Kingswinford, Stourbridge, Brierley Hill and Perton. Appointments can then either take place in branch or in the comfort of a customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own home. Dudley Building Society and Dudley Financial Solutions Limited introduce to Openwork for advice on investments, pensions and protection. Dudley Financial Solutions Limited is an appointed representative of Openwork Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. (Registered Number: 04399725).

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Helping to Plan Your Future £

£ £

£ £ £

A new Partnership with Openwork means through them we can offer the following services. Ask a member of the team today.

Investment Advice Pensions Advice Protection Planning Advice Retirement Planning

If you have any questions about the information above, please call 01384 231414 or email enquiries@dudleybuildingsociety.co.uk

www.dudleybuildingsociety.co.uk Dudley Building Society and Dudley Financial Solutions Limited introduce to Openwork for advice on investments, pensions and protection. Dudley Financial Solutions Limited is an appointed representative of Openwork Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. (Registered Number: 04399725).

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

A local Firm with a regional presence Recently arrived in Kinver, we would like to introduce ourselves. We are one of the regions longest established and reputable law firms, having 6 offices based around Worcestershire and the West Midlands, employing over 100 staff. Over the last 2 years we have grown our business significantly and have ambitious growth plans of 25% over the course of 2015. Our Kinver branch is a key part of our 2015 development plans. We will provide Kinver with professional legal services, that have been absent from Kinver for some considerable time.

How can we help you? We have the resources and expertise to provide a full range of legal services to both individuals and businesses. Our philosophy is to offer practical advice and solutions to your legal problems and to use our proven experience in all areas of the law to acheive the best possible outcome.

Our Services for Business Your expertise is running a business, our expertise is the law. We have many years of experience in advising a wide range of commercial and corporate clients from small family businesses to listed companies. We will develop a strong personal relationship with you and get to know you and understand your business. 90

Graham Kilkelly of Sanlam, Gavin Williamson, Michelle Hetheridge of Thursfields, Edward Kimpton of Sanlam, Sarah Mason of Thursfields, Nick O’Hara of Thursfields

One option may be to retain our services for a fixed monthly fee which will help budget and gives continuous access to specialist legal advice.

are keen to build relationships which stand the test of time.

We have a dedicated team of expert lawyers able to advise you on the following:

• Dispute Resolution • Family and Matrimonial • Wills and Estates • Residential Property • Personal Injury • Care Proceedings • Employment • Insolvency

• Business start up • Commercial Litigation • Commercial Property • Employment • Insolvency and Debt Recovery • Litigation • Corporate Matters • Mediation • Healthcare

Our Services for Individuals We appreciate that there are many different things in life for which you can plan and some that are unexpected. From setting up home, to planning for retirement, from caring for your children and parents or managing your career and finances. We are here to help you face your changing circumstances at work or at home. We pride ourselves on being approachable and supportive Lawyers and

We can advise you on the following:

Our core values as a business are integrity and expertise. Make an appointment to meet one of our lawyers on 01384 883415 or call in at 85 the High Street, Kinver.

Nick O'Hara, Managing Director

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Integrity & Expertise

Everything as it should be Seen as fair yet formidable opponents

Respected for our insight and knowledge

Halesowen 0121 227 3850 Stourport 01299 827 517

Kidderminster 01562 820 575 Worcester 01905 730 450

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Reassuringly friendly and down to earth

Kinver

01384 883 415

22/06/2015 09:48

PERRY a n d PHILLIPS Auction report for 2nd June 2015

Perry and Phillips always hold their auctions on the first Tuesday of the month and the start is 10.30am. Viewing for the auction is held on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday prior to the auction. The Auction Room was full of high quality furniture which were collected from two large houses and both had quality antique and modern furniture. On Auction Day the room was very full and there was huge interest in the furniture, mostly from private individuals.

Tobacco Box with the lid being mounted with a fine figure of a Lurcher which sold for £350.

Lot No: 133 was a most interesting lot, being a box of 500 Northern Soul records from the 1960/70’s . The vendor had said he thought there was nothing rare in the collection and he suggested an estimate of £100 – £200 . However, it transpired that there was more interest in Northern Soul Music than we had anticipated and as soon as the catalogue was published we were getting calls asking for a list of all the records (both sides please ! ) and when we opened for viewing on the Saturday there were people looking through the records straight away. The bids quickly went from £165 to £650 and the final bid was £1350 plus buyer’s premium. Any more boxes of Northern Soul records would be readily accepted for auction !

The highlights of the furniture in the auction were: a beautiful Irish Georgian Mahogany Sideboard which sold for £950, a very attractive Victorian burr walnut chiffoniere £425, a painted pine housekeeper’s cupboard for £260 and a 19th Century oriental carved hardwood pedestal table which realised £330.

Two more interesting items were Lots 65 and 66. Lot 65 was a Silver Mounted Hippopotamus Foot, hallmarked Chester 1912 which sold for £425 plus buyer’s premium: and Lot 66 was a Bronze

Lot No. 116 was a Victorian Carved Ivory Aide Memoire which was beautiful quality and sold for £130.

The quality of the lots in the auction meant that it was very well attended with an exciting atmosphere and the fact that the Tearoom is situated in the gallery of the auctions room adds to the auction experience. All in all, an extremely successful auction, which was very well attended with the internet attracting successful bidders from New Zealand, Germany, France, Hong Kong and USA; we were therefore busy packing and posting for the rest of the week! Our next forthcoming auctions are Tuesday 7th July and Tuesday 4th August, we are open for viewing all over the weekend prior to the auction.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

OLD MILL AUCTION ROOMS MILL STREET, LOW TOWN BRIDGNORTH WV15 5AG

TEL 01746 762248

ANTIQUE AND SELECTED FURNITURE AND COLLECTABLES AUCTIONS NEXT AUCTIONS Tuesday 7th July Tuesday 4th August Tuesday 1st September

VIEWING

Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm, Monday 10am – 5pm prior to auction

LAST DAY FOR LOTS

Accepted up until 10 days prior to Auction

SELLING AT PERRY AND PHILLIPS

If you have old items around the house or you have a deceased estate to clear we have the ability and experience to help. We have monthly auctions so items can be dealt with quickly.

FREE VALUATION

We have a FREE valuation day every Wednesday from 10am to 4pm. As well as discussing auction estimates we will advise on the best way to sell your items.

TRANSPORT AND STORAGE

As we employ our own delivery and collection staff we can ensure your goods are dealt with by trained staff and are insured.

www.perryandphillips.co.uk www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Education

and Schooling

by David Williams – Headmaster of Tettenhall College or her personal best, I felt a sense of unease. There is inevitably a sense of injustice that accompanies prizegiving as we think about the pupils for whom academic study is hard graft and lessons, homework and revision a source of frustration and defeat. Where are their prizes as they watch the gifted who already have the pleasure of success, sometimes gained with minimal effort, collect their awards? I say to prospective parents that there is an equal place in our school for those who have sweated and strained to achieve C and D grades as those who have a string of A* so one cannot help but reflect that we have let them down.

The end of a school year is marked in schools such as ours by the annual prizegiving ceremony in which the bright, the clever, the sporty, the musical and those who try hard are rewarded for their many achievements in public. Although I was told last year by a group of Year 9 pupils that this event was the “longest hour and a half “ in their life it is generally an event full of the feelgood factor where there is much satisfaction from parents, pupils and even some pupils from what can be termed “an institutional thanksgiving”. We are all in a marquee and this spirit pervades the space with all feeling that we have somehow played a part as various cups and certificates are handed out, photographs are taken and the words of the Chairman of Governors, an invited dignitary and even myself are dutifully applauded by the assembled throng. Yet this year as I talked in my speech of a school in which all are valued and encouraged, in line with the vision statement where each child will achieve his 94

Another voice can however ring in my ear that says that life is about “winners and losers” and that to shield young people from this reality an educationalist would be failing in his or her duty. Pupils themselves can see through systems in which modern educational philosophy attempts to artificially level off and reduce the natural outcomes of any competitive situation. Parents actively seek independent and state schools where team sports and fixtures form part of the working week. My own tendency was revealed when I recently texted my son after a cricket match in which I asked two questions: “did you win? How many runs did you get?”. In a recent article the Scotland football manager bemoaned the demise of his nation’s footballers on “mollycoddling” and derided the fact that there were leagues North of the Border where young players were not told the score. He would I have assume approved of another famous Scot, Bill Shankly, the great Liverpool manager who stated “If you are first you are first. If you are second, you are nothing.” As with many facets of twenty-first century education it is about learning from the past and avoiding some of the downright humiliating aspects of previous educational systems (my own mother talks of classrooms being organised from front to back on academic ability) whilst not ignoring the demands of the job market where all will have to compete at some point or other. At Tettenhall College we will not be seeking to ban the handing out of prizes but will review our criteria as our aim is to produce a school in which all pupils are convinced that they can do something really well and feel confident that they can make a contribution in the next stage of their life. Only then can we deem to have won. town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Molly, Year 4 Forest School

take a closer look...

Open Morning Saturday 26th September 2015 10.00am - 1.00pm

A unique atmosphere with remarkable opportunities, where every pupil achieves their personal best. To reserve your place please contact admissions@tettcoll.co.uk or telephone 01902 751119.

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Health cover provider

c e l e b r at e s C EO ’ s

prestigious position Chamber forward further and ensure we continue to enhance the service we offer our members. “In addition to my role, I will be leading the Chamber’s Vision 2023, an initiative which is focussed on helping the Black Country achieve its aims for growth nationally and internationally. As a region, our unique mix of heritage and industry enables us to stand-out from other counties, and the Chamber is dedicated to ensuring we showcase this and create the right conditions to maximise growth in an extremely competitive market.”

The CEO of a local independent health cover provider is celebrating after being appointed to the Black Country Chamber’s Board of Directors. Kevin Rogers, CEO of Wolverhampton-based Paycare, has recently been announced as the Vice President of the Black Country Chamber, a role which will see him working alongside the President, Board of Directors and Consultative Forum to support the growth of the region’s economy and help maintain its competitiveness on a global scale. Working in senior management positions across the manufacturing,

automotive and construction sectors for over 20 years, Kevin brings a wealth of experience to his new role on the Chamber Board of Directors. In addition to his Vice President position, Kevin will also chair the Chamber’s Vision 2023 campaign, where he will be responsible for identifying and defining the vision for the industrial mix of the Black Country to help achieve its growth aims. Kevin said: “It’s an absolute privilege to be selected to join the Black Country Chamber Board of Directors, particularly at a time when business enterprise across the region is thriving, and members are really recognising and reaping the benefits of being part of the organisation. The Board of Directors is made up of some brilliant business brains, and I look forward to working with the team to help drive the

Kevin is also CEO of Paycare, a Black Country Chamber Patron and dedicated not-for-profit health cover provider, which has been supporting families and businesses across the Black Country and Wolverhampton for nearly 140 years. Since Kevin joined the firm six years ago, he has been paramount in implementing strategies to develop the thriving company further and to ensure the Paycare team continues to deliver the highest level of service to its policyholders UK-wide. Kevin continued: “As an organisation, we’re incredibly proud of our Wolverhampton roots, and becoming a Black Country Chamber Patron has provided us with the opportunity to give back to the local community and support other businesses in the region. We’ve already developed a strong partnership with the Chamber, so this coupled with my new position on the board will enable us to continue to support other local businesses, and we look forward to working alongside it in the future.”

Black Country Chamber of Commerce Telephone: 0330 024 0820 www.blackcountrychamber.co.uk Creative Industries Centre, University of Wolverhampton Science Park Ltd, Glaisher Drive, Wolverhampton WV10 9TG 96

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

•D O

R ST

IS I

M INU S•F RU

O P E N D AY

R e c e p t i o n t o Ye a r 1 3 Friday, 18 September 10 am – 3 pm Saturday, 19 September 10 am – 1:30 pm

al ision L P ro v HOO E SC 016 FRE 2 G NIN e rOPE emb -Sep

w w w. t h e r o y a l s c h o o l . c o . u k Penn Road, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV3 0EG

Admissions: mo@royal.wolverhampton.sch.uk Telephone: 01902 341230

Abbiss High Street Wombourne WV5 9DN

OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK

YOUR LOCAL SCHOOLWEAR SPECIALIST

Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts Uniform and Accessories

Fashion Jewellery, Handbags and Accessories!

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Thank you!…

by Sue Chance

Around this time last year, I explained how the demand for our hospice care in the home service had dramatically increased by over 20% in just two months.

I also asked if people would be willing to help contribute towards the daily cost of these services by making a small donation. Thank you so much if you helped to support us in this way. I am delighted… to let you know that thanks to the local support a total of £34,235 was raised through the Compton Hospice ‘Hospice Care Everywhere’ appeal. This means we are now able to make positive plans for the future of our desperately needed community based care.

The kind support has enabled us to: • engage additional Healthcare Assistants as part of our Hospice at Home team, providing personal and emotional care 24/7 as part of either the night team or day team • initiate a recruitment programme to double the number of our Community Nurse Specialists, who offer an holistic assessment of our patients and their family’s needs in their own home, identifying any physical, psychological, spiritual or social needs and issuing prescriptions where necessary, preventing any lengthy wait for new medications when time is of the essence. • actively recruit a specialist palliative care doctor whose role it is to assess and monitor patients and to provide symptom and pain relief to people in their own home. • overall, to provide dignity and comfort to many more people wishing to spend the last weeks and days of their lives at home.

Please, if you can continue to help… We aim to double the size of our Community Nurse Specialist team over the next few years at an estimated 98

Compton Hospice

Caring Together

Charity Reg No: 512387

ongoing cost of £200,000 per annum to Compton Hospice. There is an urgent need to meet the ever growing demand of local people with an incurable illness. We will never charge patients for the care they receive but we ask for your support in order to be able to expand our care to where people need and want it most… in the comfort of their own home. Any small donation towards this would be very gratefully received.

How to donate: Visit: www.compton-hospice.org.uk/donate/online/ Text COMP01 followed by the amount you wish to donate e.g £5 to 70070 Post your donation to us using the form overleaf to 39 Compton Road West, Wolverhampton WV3 9DW Most people are aware that we have an excellent inpatient unit at Compton Hospice which offers free expert medical and nursing support for local people with an incurable illness. However very few people realise that for every one person we care for on our ward, there are 33 more people we are looking after out in the community. At any one point in time, Compton Hospice is tending to over 500 patients, most of whom are being cared for in their own homes. Most of us express a wish to die in our own homes with our loved ones around us and at Compton, we do everything within our power to ensure this can happen wherever possible. We will never charge our patients for this care and we receive only 1/3rd of the cost from the NHS. We therefore ask you to consider making a donation towards the cost of this important service which allows families to cherish their time together in their own home. We are so fortunate to have supporters who donate so generously to ensure that Compton Hospice can continue this care for local people. town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Hospice Care Everywhere

Please write your message of support below. Your tag will form part of bunting which will be hung up in our main reception during July and August.

Thank you so much for your support To Compton Hospice

Thank you From

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Learn to Swim with South Staffordshire’s

Swim Academy Learning how to swim is a crucial life skill and one that everyone regardless of their age should learn to do.

South Staffordshire’s Swim Academy offers local people of all ages the opportunity to learn to swim for health, safety and for fun.

The academy which operates at all four of South Staffordshire’s leisure centres has a lot to offer: • High quality swimming tuition at affordable prices • Lessons from 3yrs up to adults • Beginners and non-swimmers to advanced standards • Good teacher/child ratios • Lessons run throughout the whole year to ensure continual progression • Assistants in the water to aid weaker classes and give additional support for swimmers What else makes us special? • Our swim teachers are professionally trained • We follow the STA’s international Learn to Swim programme – one of the most successful ranges of learn to swim and aquatic courses in the world • Above all, we make learning to swim fun, progressive, inclusive, safe and affordable. This means that everybody is: • Encouraged to enjoy themselves • Motivated to improve • Taught step by step with rewards at every level • Supervised within a safe environment • Given the opportunity to develop all four swimming strokes What’s more, those who enrol get: • Free swimming for those that pay by Direct Debit • Free success tracker • One to one lessons available on request (extra charge)

NEW ENROLMENTS BEING TAKEN FROM 27th JULY FOR ONE WEEK ONLY *Places limited and sold on a first come, first served basis

100

FREE Adult or Child Swim Pass Voucher valid until 4th September 2015 Terms and Conditions: Voucher offers 1 free swim during a public session - Voucher cannot be redeemed against swimming lessons - Child to parent ratios apply in the water - please contact reception for full details and for swimming times - 1 voucher per person, per offer - Voucher must be presented at reception. Name……………………................................................................... Postcode……………………... Date………....................…………… Leisure Centre…………………...................................................... Town and Village Life Mag July/August 2015

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Summer SUSSED 2015

Affordable School Holiday Activities Fun filled programmes are on offer this Summer to entertain children aged 5-12 years old.

•

Parents can ‘Drop and Go’ or ‘Stay and Spectate’

•

Visit www.sstaffs.gov.uk/sussed to find out if you are eligible for any discounts

Why Choose South Staffordshire Council?

on the leisure centre activities, or if

• • • •

your Parish Council is holding any

Affordable Prices Local, Friendly and Convenient Great Range of Activities No Block Booking, Just Pay As You Go

activities within your actual Parish.

Cut out your FREE voucher below…

FREE JUNIOR SWIM PASS



Valid 20th July – 4th September 2015. Voucher must be presented at reception. You must be aged 5-12 years to use this voucher. 1 voucher per person, per offer. Children under 8 must be supervised in the pool by an adult. Vouchers can be cancelled at any time. Contact your leisure centre for swim times. The leisure centres will be closed for bank holiday on 31.8.15

Name……………………....................................................... Date………………................................................................. Centre………………….......................................................... Town & Village Life Magazine – July/August 2015

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Cosford FOOD

FESTIVAL 25th-26th July 2015, 10am - 5pm

This summer, food lovers from across the Midlands are expected to descend on the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford for the annual Cosford Food Festival, with some of the region’s finest artisan produce, tastiest treats and best cooked dishes all on offer. Taking place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July from 10am until 5pm, this food festival with a twist, will take place outdoors with the giant Hercules aircraft acting as a backdrop for the bustling food market.

Following on from the success of the first two festivals which have seen over 15,000 people attend, around 80 exhibitors from across Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands will be tempting visitors with a wide range of exquisite local, fresh and handmade produce not available from your average supermarket store. With everything from organic produce to handmade indulgences and thirst-quenching beverages on offer, there is sure to be something to suit everyone’s taste buds. Visitors will learn fascinating techniques and tips from the experts through live talks and cooking demonstrations courtesy

of the Wot’s Cooking team. Plus, visitors can sit back and enjoy live music, sample some of the culinary delights available and take part in some of the children’s food and craft activities. With plenty of entertainment for the entire family taking place over the weekend, it is sure to be a great day out. Visitors to the food festival will also have access to the RAF Museum which is home to over 70 historic aircraft including the world’s oldest Spitfire and the mighty Vulcan bomber to name but a few.

Win Three Family Tickets to the Cosford Food Festival This month we have teamed up with the RAF Museum Cosford to give three lucky readers the chance to win family passes to the upcoming food festival. To be in with a chance of winning this family prize simply answer the following question correctly.

Which aircraft will be acting as a backdrop during the food festival? Email your answer including your name, address and telephone number to: info@townandvillagelifemag.co.uk or on a postcard to 1 Lytham Road, Perton, Wolverhampton WV6 7YY. Entries to be received by Friday 10th July 2015. Competition Terms & Conditions: To enter you must be aged 18 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.

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25-26 July 2015 Enjoy the finest artisan food and drink from over 70 local producers at this unique venue Live music and entertainment Learn from top chefs during our cooking demonstrations Foodie fun for all the family

Save time and beat the queues by purchasing your ticket in advance. www.rafmuseum.org/cosford

Free park and ride from Cosford Train Station

Prices £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

Tel: 01902 376 200 www.rafmuseum.org/cosford Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8UP

www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

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Social Scene

Stourbridge Rugby Club Lunch The Stourbridge Rugby Corporate Sporting Lunch was held on Friday 8th May. The event was attended by 783 people including local business leaders; this is surely the highlight of the local corporate calendar. Guest speakers were John Bentley (Master of Ceremonies), Shane Williams (Ex Lion), and Martin Corry (Ex Lion). Entertainment was provided by comedian Andy White. 1. Mark Holloway, Jerry Hedges (Enville Ales) Carl Wythes (Chairman Stourbridge RFC), Andy Whitfield 2. David Lawrence, Miles Edge 3. David Lawrence, Miles Edge and Neil Mitchell (Stourbridge Rugby Club) 4. Rhona Lowe, Jacqui Edwards, Vicky Waterfield 5. Jade Wilding, Lizzie Sawyer (Auction Route 39) 6. Dave Hewitt (Yorkshire Bank) Rob Cresswell (Mazers), Simon Haydon (Yorkshire Bank) 7. Dick Jeavons-Fellows, John Jeavons-Fellows 8. Richard Riley, Steven Pamely, Bob Warman, Richard Boot, Paul Knight, Paul Issacs, Jonnie Evans 9. Pearl Holton, Rob Virr, David Allport, James Allport. 10. Dick Jeavons Fellows, Ronan Hughes (Sanlam) Sponsors, Stuart Mico (Midland Comms) 104

Photographs by Steve Fisher Photography

11. Lindsay Griffiths (Serfis Construction),Chris Cooke (Nicklins Accountants), John Jeavons Fellows 12. Chris Loughran, Paul Sanders 13. Â John Bentley (Master of Ceremonies) Barry Adams (A+H Construction) Shane Williams MBE (Guest Speaker) 14. John Bentley, Paul Evans (Prosperity Wealth), Shane Williams 15. Neil Mitchell, Shane Williams MBE, Martin Corry MBE, John Bentley 16. Neil Mitchell (Director of Rugby) Steve Lloyd, Chris Read (ESC)

Looking for advice on cosmetic surger y?

Book a FREE 10 minute one-to-one chat with a consultant at our next cosmetic events on Monday 20th July 2015 and Tuesday 11th August 2015. Please call 0845 603 4346 to book your place.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Social Scene

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Social Scene 2

Blakelands Bobbington 1. Leah Davidson, Elle-Mae Davidson, Louise Evans, Paul Morgan 2. Lisa Needham, Ceri Bannister, Alison Brittain 3. Janice Whitehouse, Hayley Frost, Carol Payton, b/r Elizabeth Dyoss-Adams, Louise Faux 4. Louise Evans, Kim Hammond, Julie Clifton 5. Debbie Roberts, Chloe Johnson, Laura Roberts, Karen Johnson, Sophie Roberts 6. Amanda Sperling, Adele Stewart, Karen Fletcher, Kerry Moseley, Rachel Memie 7. Kathleen Evans, Louise Beattie, Michelle Thompson 8. Su Fernandez, Nikki Hudson, Joan Gregory, Gwen Harris 106

8 Blakelands Country House, Bobbington, hosted a charity afternoon tea on Thursday 4th June in order to raise funds for a very special local girl, Elle-Mae Davidson. Elle, who lives in Kingswinford, sadly suffered a massive brain haemorrhage in January 2013, at the tender age of 16. Her family and friends, who are affectionately known as ‘Elle’s Angels’, have been fundraising tirelessly ever since, in order to help Elle’s parents give her as many opportunities as possible to get better.

Looking for advice on cosmetic surger y?

Book a FREE 10 minute one-to-one chat with a consultant at our next cosmetic events on Monday 20th July 2015 and Tuesday 11th August 2015. Please call 0845 603 4346 to book your place.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

Social Scene

Stourbridge Rugby Annual Ball Stourbridge Rugby Football Club held its annual ball on Saturday 9th May. It was a real success with 584 people attending. One Stop Boogie provided the entertainment and got everyone in the party mood with dancing into the early hours. www.townandvillagelifemag.co.uk

Looking for advice on cosmetic surger y?

Book a FREE 10 minute one-to-one chat with a consultant at our next cosmetic events on Monday 20th July 2015 and Tuesday 11th August 2015. Please call 0845 603 4346 to book your place.

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MEN’S TRAINER

Adidas £70

TRENDS SUMMER 2015

Creative Recreation £80

Filling Pieces £180

Adidas £80

Gourmet £90

Filling Pieces £195

Like so much of mens fashion, when it comes to trainers anything goes from leather high-tops to retro tennis plimsolls. There is so much to choose from and certainly the offer goes a lot further than Adidas and Puma.

Ralph Lauren £65

Paul Smith £175

So if you are looking for something different then look out for: Android Homme, Gourmet and Filling Pieces which are all the New Era footwear styles and should be on your must have trainer list. White trainers are the key footwear style for summer they are timeless, clean and simple and compliment an array of smart or casual looks. So forget reaching for the same old sneakers, it’s time to try something new. With an expanding footwear portfolio visit Diffusion in Wolverhampton, Merry Hill Centre, Telford or Walsall, or online at diffusiononline.co.uk

Hugo Boss £129

Filling Pieces £180

Converse Leather £60

Prices correct at the time of going to print and may be subject to change due to summer sale please contact stores for more infromation.

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town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

G R e a T Golf & Health Club OffeRs Golf Club Memberships

5 day and 7 day availability from just £9.00pp per week: • Competitive Golf • Social calendar • Club nights • PGA clinics • Members discount scheme

Junior Golf Membership

just £50 per annum: • Club shirt • Junior lessons • Club nights • Competitions and Matches • Dedicated junior organiser

Health and fitness Club Annual Memberships for less than £8.00 per week: • Two gyms • Heated pool • Beauty therapy • Free Induction • Classes • Members discount scheme

We are delighted to announce that a new range of Star Trac fitness machinery has been introduced into the Cardio Gym.

Great location, convenient to J3 M54 and only 20 minutes from the centre of Wolverhampton and Telford. Look us up on Trip Advisor

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H i s

R o y a l

P l e as u r e

By Rob Taylor

I wave to the chap sitting hunched over the wheel of his shiny newfangled French “crossover vehicle” (read: a hatchback on stilts that costs twice the price) with an air of condescension – fans of the Monarchy will know it as the ‘Royal Wave’; signalling that he may now at last break free from the shackles of the oblique junction, which has kept him prisoner since the road system became dreadfully overwhelmed on this sunny Friday afternoon. But this is not purely a gesture of goodwill. It has a lot more to do with the fact that said sorry commuter has protruding from his car’s rear a modestly-sized twoseater sofa, which is dangling precariously in a way that has the makings of a skit more hilarious than a clown riding a tiny bicycle; and I just want to get a better look. And all of my smugness owes entirely to the new Honda CR-V that I’ve been driving all week, which is a proper full-blooded 4x4 SUV. Yes, it may have been among the first of a wave of SUVs that helped coin the term ‘crossover vehicle’ some twenty years ago, but it’s nothing at all like the detritus of hybrid shapes and styles that litter today’s highways, being as they are just nothing short of a marketing person’s wet dream. Here we have a vehicle that does entirely what it sets out to do and makes no apologies for it. It’s not some wishy-washy, limp-wristed modern day aberration or fad – and I’m looking squarely at you and your wheels Mr Amateur Furniture removalist – but it is instead a marvel of sense and reason; a paradigm of practicality and a bastion of bloody-mindedness. Every since the first iteration of the BFG (Big Friendly Giant) landed here in 1997, Honda has 110

refined and tweaked the concept only ever-soslightly, making it just-perfect for every generation thereafter, in wilful defiance of gimmicks and trends. And it’s worked. In the first nine months of last year, the CR-V was the world’s best-selling SUV with nearly 50,000 being sold in Europe alone. People always respond in droves to good, sensible stalwarts for which there are no substitutes: the CR-V is big; not monumentally “Hummer-Big”, just big enough for a two-seater sofa; and a dog; and a load of shopping. Honda quantifies all this space at 589 litres, or with seats folded, 1146 litres. Yet when at the wheel, you are never overly aware of the CR-V’s size, as it is easy to point and park, especially thanks to the as-standard on all models above ‘S’ spec front and rear parking sensors, rear view camera and reverse tilt mirror. And all this comes as no surprise since this SUV is developed, engineered and built in the UK. This attention to the UK is both refreshing and rewarding when it comes to being out and about because the CR-V copes admirably with every surface, providing a comfy ride and proving itself to be an excellent motorway cruiser. Interior build quality is noticeably good and there’s plenty of kit thrown in for the £34,670 this top-spec EX model costs. Now in its fourth-generation, this face-lifted model features a beefier take on the sublime 1.6 litre diesel, which develops nearly 160 bhp and in my case is mated to a new nine-speed automatic gearbox that promises big improvements in both economy and power. All of which is reflected in impressive stats: 55.3 mpg, despite the four-wheel drive system; 139 co2 g/ km and 360 Nm of torque. The data is supported in the real world as well: I averaged nearly 50 mpg. So then: it’s a real SUV built for the real world. Our world: the UK. And it’s fast becoming as much a British institution as the monarchy. town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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prices correct at time of going to print 111

Sublimely Subaru The trouble with the everincreasing raft of technology in cars is that, like a child with a bottomless bag of sweets, manufacturers just don’t know when enough is enough. Drive - or even just go so far as to open the door on - almost any new car today and you are berated with myriad beeps and bongs. Everything from dashboard “oil pressure OK” pop-ups to parking sensors and messages about risk of ice on road is deemed ‘bong-worthy’, but I find it all hugely distracting and at times deeply unsettling. You’re a dipstick if you don’t regularly use the oil dipstick and if you can’t figure out for yourself that falling temperatures may be a potential driving hazard then you should probably just stick to having snowball fights with your friends. I don’t trust parking sensors or reversing cameras, that’s why I turn around in my seat when reversing… and also because vampires have no reflection. So I say, enough is enough. At last I’ve found a car that credits me with a modicum of common sense – the new Subaru WRX STI. I enjoy the sense that with the STI everything essential to driving safely and soundly is unspoken and reassuringly present, but without

112

By Rob Taylor

any trace of annoying bossiness. You may think this odd given that the STI is the Japanese marque’s iconic sports saloon; a car that is a demonstrable powerhouse of speed, brimming with attitude. You may think that with more power and performance comes a greater need to interfere in the business of driving, but it doesn’t. Thankfully. Instead Subaru just gets on with equipping every WRX STI with a cavalcade of kit to make your time in the vehicle as safe – and fun – as possible. Most noteworthy are newly tweaked A-pillars to improve forward visibility; greater use of ultra high-tensile steel to provide a cocoon which maximises protection through passive safety, as well as a revised ESP system with multiple modes that is so clever that the STI can boast near identical braking performance in both wet and dry conditions. And yet there still exists an option to disable the systems if you want to have more fun on a racetrack and since this latest STI has a upgraded suspension set-up and tweaked chassis that was benchmarked dynamically against a Porsche 911 Carrera S in development, why wouldn’t you? Forget egregious coddling and the faux safety of the aforementioned beeps and bongs: what could be safer than permanent four-wheel drive?

With any Subaru there exists an implicit trust between manufacturer and owner: a tacit agreement that rather refreshingly gives power back to the people, breaking the shackles of the Nanny State. And – my goodness – what a lot of power there is. There may now be nary a Impreza badge in sight, but today this Scooby is still the biggest beast on Bodmin Moor. It packs just as much horsepower as ever (296 bhp) and oodles of torque (300 lb ft) on its way to a 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds and it spits it all onto the tarmac through four gargantuan tailpipes. Crucially for all aficionados of styling, a big rear wing and the option of 18” gold alloy wheels and iconic Subaru World Rally Blue paint are back too. It looks stunning and redolent of a proper Impreza of yore and now that it costs some £4,000 less than its predecessor – because of the vagaries of exchange rate witchcraft – the STI is more attractive than ever at £28,995. In fact newly improved practicalities make this STI better to own than ever before. Fuel consumption is now a credible 27.9 mpg; interior tactility is much improved with flourishes of Alcantara fabric and leather, high grade materials, welltooled switchgear and there’s lots of as-standard equipment. The ride is comparatively comfy too, plus the soundtrack from the burbling 2.5 litre Boxer power-plant is hugely addictive. Oh, and it’s wicked fast. With four doors and a big boot, there’s never been a more exhilarating – or safer – way of getting you and your kith and kin from A to B. Ding - dong: absolutely no need for a bong.

town & village life magazine | july/august 2015

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Antiques & Auctioneers Old Mill Antiques Centre Perry & Phillips Appliances Electrical/Gas Capital Appliances Awnings Castle Blinds Love Your Blinds Bathrooms Brierley Hill Bathrooms Eaton Kitchens Roman Bathrooms Wall Heath Bathrooms Beds & Bedroom Furniture Cousins Interiors Italia Sofa Factory Outlet Woodrobes Blinds/Curtains Castle Blinds Love your Blinds Total Sewing Val Hever Blinds Beauticians Wollaston Beauty Clinic Beauty Clinics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cosmetic Medi Visage Ultra Slim Building & Maintenance Contractors Three Pines Builders Merchants OCL Building Societies Dudley Building Society Carpets Supply/Fit ND Walters Car Sales/Service ETB Chimney Sweeps Wilkins Chimney Sweep Coffee Shops No.92 Coffee Lounge

52 93 41 16/17 31 33 33 11 13 6/7 22/23 27 15 16/17 31 36 37 75 69 81 4/5 45 89 13 113 51 57

Composite Doors Doorsmart 35 Dentistry Simply Dentures 86 Total Implant Solutions 2 Education Royal School 97 Tettenhall College 95 Entertainment & Leisure Cosford Food Festival 103 Voices for Hospices 58 Fashion/Retail Aristocats 71 Diffusion 72/73/108 Fencing & Gates Profence 51 Fireplaces/Stoves Flaming Fires 11 Wolverhampton Fireplaces 37 Fish & Chip Shops Blue Submarine 56 Floral Design & Venue Styling Every Occasion 38 Furniture/Furnishings Cousins 6/7 Interiors Italia 22/23 Sofa Factory Outlet 27 Galleries/Gift Shops Stourbridge Galleries 39 Garage Services ETB 113 Garden Design Boningale Garden Creations 49 Gardening/Landscaping Lealans Garden Centre 44 Glass & Hardware Specialists Tech Alum System 19 Golf Clubs Patshull Park Golf Club 109 Wergs Golf Club 111 Haberdashery & Wool Total Sewing 36

Health Care Cover Paycare Hospices Compton Hospice Hospitals (Private) Nuffield Hot Tubs Webbs of Wychbold Independent Financial Advisers Midland Financial Services Kitchens (Supply, design & fit) Black Country Kitchens Dream Doors Eaton Kitchens Roman Bathrooms Leisure & Fitness Clubs South Staffs Leisure Locksmiths Cypher Locksmiths Painters/Decorators Dave Russon Restaurants/Pubs Bravaccios Halfpenny Green Vineyards Himley Hall Saffron Pink Village Hotel Windsor Castle Wombourne Tandoori School Wear Abbiss Solicitors Thursfields Theatres The Grand Theatre Vehicle Hire 4x4 Vehicle Hire Veterinary Services Blacks Vets Vineyard & Craft Centre Halfpenny Green Vineyards Windows & Conservatories Hayley Windows

85 99 77 47 8/9 29 21 33 11 101 50 51 65 53 55 65 64 61 61 97 91 116 115 43 53 15

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town town& &village villagelife lifemagazine magazine| july/august | may/june 2015

Hire a New Model Range Rover Vogue from £113 per day plus VAT with Insurance included. “Have you got visitors coming from abroad for the holidays or business? Why not arrange a luxury car for them” Or are you just looking for a vehicle for the summer...

+44 (0)7507 444444 | www.4x4vehiclehire.co.uk/central Wolverhampton / Stourbridge and surrounding areas: +44 (0) 1902 504944 Also covering: Warwickshire +44 (0)1926 804444 | Worcestershire +44 (0)1905 704444 Herefordshire +44 (0)1432 814444 | Cotswolds +44 (0) 1285 651555

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Great Theatre at the Grand! FRIDAY 4 - SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER

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42 92 12

BOOK ONLINE www.grandtheatre.co.uk town & AT village life magazine | july/august 2015