Wolverhampton West Magazine

April 2016

Win tickets to see Northern Balletâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jane Eyre at The Grand Theatre

April 2016

Delivered to areas of: Codsall, Codsall Wood, Oaken, Bishops Wood, Tong, Coven, Brewood, Compton, Tettenhall, Claregate, Finchfield, Castlecroft, Penn, Merry Hill & Bradmore 01

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Contents April Edition The local property market by Nick Berriman Kinver Fayre Carver Wolverhampton Marathon Meet the boss Crosswords and Puzzles Children’s ward at Russells Hall strike it lucky Knock-out evening with The Champ Pattingham drama group – The show goes on Trysull & Seisdon open gardens weekend Create a card for Compton Hospice Recipe of the month Grand Theatre competition The Rotary Club of Wolverhampton Brierley Hill: bangers and cash

8 10 12 16/17 20 22 26 26 28 30 38/39 50 52 54/55

Advertising enquiries Email: sales@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk Gisella Wiley (Sales Director) Editorial/What’s On information Email: info@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk Geoff Hall (Editor) Magazine Design Studio 28 Design & Print (www.s28.co.uk) Wolverhampton West Magazine Lytham Rd, Perton, Wolverhampton, WV6 7YY Tel: 01902 744217 www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Gardening with Ann Winwood Spring break Food review – Shrewsbury Arms Food review – Halfpenny Green Food review – Eden Brasserie The complete reception Beautiful Bride Stunning spring fashion The addictive fitbit Young citizen awards Toms Tip Why is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament important Education and Schooling Berriman Eaton’s birthday Golf Tip Golf – swing theory Social scene Prime Peugeot Renault Clio: Fuel your desires Autosales: Suzuki Answers to crosswords and puzzles Index to Advertisers Mercedes Benz of Wolverhampton

60 68 72/73 76/77 80/81 85/86 88 102/103 108 110 113 114 118 124/125 134 136/137 143-149 152 154 156 160 161 162

Congratulations to: Winner of Into The Hoods Remixed at The Grand Theatre Mrs Dainty, Finchfield

We gratefully acknowledge the support of businesses whose adverts appear in Wolverhampton West 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. Wolverhampton West 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 Wolverhampton West Magazine Ltd.

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from the editor

There’s always a degree of forecasting involved in any good editor’s letter. Get it right and my words will leap – at this time of year at least, like a Spring lamb – from the page at precisely the proper moment. Get it wrong and I end up like Michael Fish. Speaking of the weather, all I can tell you is that there’s a 50% chance that meteorologists will get it all wrong. Necessity dictates that I welcome you all to Spring 2016; throw in something whimsical about April Fools’ Day (can you spot it?); make mention of this year’s big voter moments: the EU Referendum and the US Presidential Elections, while being at pains to employ the funkiest word of the moment: ‘Brexit’; and to encourage all of you foodies with a strong sugartooth to boo uproariously at the Chancellor’s Sugar Tax and lament the UK’s glacial economic growth, as reported in this year’s Budget. But what I’m really keen for you to read about in this issue is our curious tale of the Technophobe and the Future House; an installation by electronic experts, Chancery Contracts of Merry Hill, Wolverhampton. Talking of prognosticating, after such a horrific fire in 2012, who’d have predicted local building merchants Carvers’ resurgence from the ashes? There’s a window into the company’s world inside. Switching things up there’s fire of a much more friendly kind in the shape of Flaming Fires impresario, Jane Southall. Read all about the landmark Wombourne-based business in our Meet The Boss feature. Be sure to also check out our Social Scene pages to keep up to date with what’s been happening in your local pond. Green-fingered readers among you will be itching to get your garden into shape: we have tips from Ann Winwood at Lealans Garden Centre for tinkerers and a groundswell of ideas on landscaping from Boningale, for those of you who poo-poo a simple prune. 04

For anyone who is more interested in an altogether different type of green, swing over to our bumper golf section, which features all the top local courses in the area. As it’s spring time, it’s about time to get out the proverbial broom and get cracking on your hangover from New Year’s resolutions: get your finances in order with Midland Independent Financial Services; act immediately – but not before reading The Local Property market by Nick Berriman of Berriman Eaton – if you are in the market to move; polish up on fitness at Chris Jewkes Fitness or swim at South Staffs’ leisure centres; up the ante on your beauty regime with a consultation with Skin and Tonic – make sure to ask about their new revolutionary anti-wrinkle treatment Biotec from Elemis – or take inspiration from hairdressers Ego, Urban and Salon 27. Ladies will be pleased to see there’s much fashion too, from Aristocats and also current bag trends from Diffusion. Cupid’s long gone but if he’s left his mark on you, you’ll enjoy our wedding section. Not still smarting from the financial toll of eating out on Valentine’s Day? Well then you’ll no doubt be hungry to gobble up our three food reviews at Shrewsbury Arms, Eden Brasserie, and Halfpenny Green Vineyards.

Want to keep it simple? Look no further than local butchers Allan Bennett, Poxons and R J Hipkiss. For you stay-at-home types, there’s lots more concerning all the latest trends in kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, furniture and soft furnishings, lighting, conservatories, bi-folding doors, as well as staircases to take you to new heights from Lyndale Stairs. Can’t wait to hit the open road, but feel your motor may be in need of a touch of TLC? Then you’ll want to take a peek at BodyKraft’s new £250,000 ‘Fastrack’ rapid repair centre or maybe take a gander at our motoring section, or be adventurous with Compton hospice, as well as checking out Cannock Caravan Accessories. As Del Boy used to say, you know it makes sense. In this final print edition of Wolverhampton West (from now on we will be publishing exclusively on Twitter), there really is something for everyone: except anyone who wants their fortune reading. Or anyone happy to believe the above April Fool about Twitter. See you in June...

Geoff

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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Make it Personal, Make it Special, Make it your own… You have found the one to have by your side, and the Big Day is fast approaching. This person completes, fulfils, understands, and makes you feel special. These powerful feelings give us ‘our raison d’être’ and LONDON are relevant in the choice of your wedding rings.

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

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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The local

property market by Nick Berriman

being interested and then surprise everyone by making an offer.

As this edition is delivered we should be saying goodbye to winter and looking ahead to the better weather. Traditionally this is the time of year when the market picks up and more buyers come into contention. My father says that years ago very little happened in sales between the end of October and March but that is no longer the case and the market is less seasonal than it was. However when the “spring has sprung and the grass has ris" things do become more active. One reflects on what it is that persuades potential buyers to take the plunge or what puts them off. Showing people round houses we see very different reactions. Sometimes people react very quickly and feel the house is right for them before seeing it all. Other times it takes several visits before they can make up their minds (which can get quite frustrating for the agent and the seller). We sometimes think that the more often people go back to look the more likely they are to talk themselves out of it. Some people react with great enthusiasm whilst looking round but then disappear whilst others look round in silence, give no indication of 08

So what can sellers do to maximise the appeal of their property. "You never get a second chance to make a first impression” is an old but true saying so make sure that everything looks as good as possible at first sight. Tidy the front garden, clean windows, polished door furniture and no peeling paint in sight are a good start. A house that smells of dog or cat is not ideal. Trouble is that the owners are used to the aroma and don’t notice that all is not well. Perhaps it’s worth asking a good friend to do a smell test and hope that if it fails they remain as a good friend! We can all tell stories of dogs, cats and even rabbits who have made a house smell very unpleasant and needing to be evacuated as soon as possible. There is one house I saw years ago and still brings back unpleasant memories whenever I go past – on that occasion it was rabbits in cages in most rooms – my Watership Down moment ! I always think that a house which is obsessively tidy does not do itself justice as it does not feel like a home. I have people ask if someone actually lives there as there was not a speck of dust or a blade of grass out of place! Of course the opposite applies with even more force. The state of some properties when we show people round makes one wonder if the sellers are serious about finding a buyer. You would be astonished at some of the chaos we see. I well remember one property where we had an open view before an auction and there was a queue waiting for the door to be opened. The excitement was rather deflated when a dead mouse was found in a prominent position in the kitchen!

always advise that showing the best feature first is the best sequence as it sets the bar high whereas leaving the best until last can be a mistake as the property might well be rejected by then. Showing people round is important. One needs to pick up on what the viewers like and then emphasise whatever that is and play down everything else. It’s always said that a viewing should end with the viewers sitting down in the best room, positioned so they have the best view and chatting so they feel at home and comfortable. Opening the door to a fully tiled room with a bath, basin and WC and saying "this is the bathroom" or something similar with the kitchen is unnecessary tautology but very easily done! Whatever we do we cannot persuade someone to buy a house which they don’t like. All we can do is maximise its benefits and use gentle persuasion but there is room for some subtle psychology! The local market is active. There has been an upsurge of interest and we have been receiving multiple offers on a number of properties which is always an encouraging sign. Last year was our best year for sales since the amalgamation in 2005 so we are very pleased that our sales in both January and February have exceeded last year. Sales have been across the price bands. Easter is traditionally when the market picks up so the future looks promising.

Traditional advice is that the smell of fresh coffee and newly baked bread is ideal. It is also said, although I have not put it to the test, is that a few drops of vanilla essence in a warm oven smells like bread. I wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

NEWLANDS HOUSE, CLIFTON ROAD, STOCKWELL END, TETTENHALL, WV6 9AP An elegant period residence offering superbly proportioned and graceful accommodation with lovely gardens and glorious views. Hall, cloakroom, drawing room, dining room, sitting room, family room, garden room, breakfast kitchen, laundry, cellars, five double bedrooms and three bathrooms. Drive, double garage, large rear garden and far reaching views. (EPC: tbc).

OFFERS AROUND ÂŁ945,000 VIEWING: Please contact the Tettenhall Office.

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

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Kinver Country Fayre White Helmets to thrill the crowds Sunday 19th June Don’t miss the famous White Helmets, the Royal Signals motorcycle display team, who will be performing actionpacked shows this Father’s Day. “We are proud to welcome the oldest, best known and most accomplished motorcycle display team in the country, if not the world, to Kinver.” said Gav Bache, one of the event’s organisers. “They will be performing a combination of high speed crossovers, spectacular jumps, skilful feats of balance and reverse rides. It really will be something to see.” The arena programme also includes displays from well known sheepdog handler David Seamark, who will be inviting children into the arena to help him control his flock. There will be all the usual

Photo courtesy of Purelight Photography

favourites such as the children’s fancy dress competition, the Kinver Fun Dog Show, dance and sports displays and plenty of live music. For the first time this year the Fayre is hosting a dedicated music tent. Tim Charnock, one of the organisers of Kinver’s July Music Festival, is pulling together a programme of live music to keep visitors entertained throughout the day. The music will be playing next to the beer tent, where a selection of renowned local brews from Kinver Brewery

and nearby Enville will be on tap. Non-beer drinkers will be able to enjoy the Pimms stall or take tea at the Thyme for Tea tearoom. Of course, there will be plenty of attractions and stalls throughout the fields and in the village High Street – traders from around the area will be selling handcrafted goods, gifts, delicious food and homemade produce. Fine Preserves, Halfpenny Green Vineyards, Beans & Leaves (specialist teas & coffees) and The Pudding Shop are just a few of the dozens of stalls coming to the fayre to tempt you with their wares. Wenlock Pottery will be there too with their wheel and an opportunity to try your hand at throwing your own pot. There will also be woodcarving, an artist at work and basket weaving to enjoy. And there will be plenty to keep children occupied with pony rides, Shire horses, bouncy castles, football challenges, face painting and fun from regular fayre visitors like Mad Dominic the stilt walker. Don’t miss the grand parade through the High Street at 11am, which will include steam engines, motorcycles, old and new, and vintage vehicles. Whatever your taste, there’s plenty to enjoy at this year’s Kinver Country Fayre.

If you have a particularly rare or unusual vehicle and think it might like to join in our parade, do get in touch at: info@kinvercountryfayre.com www.kinvercountryfayre.com Follow us @KinverFayre Like us /kinvercountryfayre 10

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

FOUNDRY MEWS IRONBRIDGE F O R S A L E - Just released A collection of two & three bedroom homes set in a fantastic location

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C A R V E R Wolverhampton Marathon The organisers of the 19th Carver Wolverhampton Marathon Events are already busy planning for SUNDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER when they hope thousands will again take to the streets around Wolverhampton, running, cycling or walking in West Park. There is still a lot to do; there are some changes being made to the route, Course Manager Gwyn has been out measuring and planning and has come up with a modification to the existing route which he hopes runners and cyclists will find to be an improvement. The Banks’s 10K will include a Corporate Challenge this year. Individuals can sign up for the 10K and can add their company name to the form. The four people from the same company with the fastest times will take the award. THIS CHALLENGE ONLY APPLIES TO THE 10K. Sponsored by Marston’s Brewery this distance has become very popular; it starts

and finishes on the doorstep of Marston’s and carries the Banks’s brand name. The Events have become a firm fixture in the Wolverhampton calendar and attract competitors from all around the country as well as locals. Race Director Mary Harding has been forging links with Wolverhampton Public Health who are challenging people to take more exercise and improve their fitness. As Mary says “Our events offer something for everyone to take part in.” Furthermore the marathon events raise thousands of pounds each year for local charities and the official launch on February 1st saw two new charities announced. The Haven and Wolverhampton Rheumatology Support Group joined Charity Partner Compton Hospice for a share of the proceeds from the 2016 events. As always The Mayoral Charity Fund receives a share, the identity of those charities will be announced when the new mayor takes office.

The Marathon website has been updated and entry forms are in circulation. To enter any of the events visit the website www.carverwolverhamptonmarathonevents.co.uk or post your entry to Carvers. Their address can be found on the website. 12

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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D O Y O U h Av E M O N E Y invested IN EQUITIES? ARE YOU concerned WITh ThE CURRENT LEvEL OF vOLATILITY IN stock markets? I have many clients with monies invested in the markets who, following the negative and sensational media coverage of the falls in the FTSE 100, have felt concerned and worried that they will lose their hard earned savings. I thought that this month we would look at the reasons behind the significant falls in equities in the early part of 2016 and what we can expect for the rest of this year. There are several factors that have had a bearing on what we have seen so I will cover each area giving the real facts behind what is happening.

PrIcE oF oIl Oil price has fallen dramatically from $115 a barrel in 2014 down to $30 a barrel at the beginning of February. Why is this happening? It is simply a case of supply outstripping demand with the Saudi’s, Russia, Iran and Iraq producing more oil than ever before which in turn is making it increasingly difficult for shale producers to survive, thereby reducing future competition. It has also resulted in the closure of 35 rigs and the loss of 60,000 jobs as the price of extracting oil from the North Sea is greater than the sale price. The implications of this are felt immediately as in its peak in 2014 over 25% of the FTSE 100 was made up of mining and oil stocks which, given the fall in commodity prices, has seen their share price fall dramatically immediately impacting on the value of the FTSE 100. Long term however what we should see is a transfer of wealth in the region of $2 trillion from the commodities sector to other areas however there will be a lag before we see the results. 14

To put this in simple terms, every consumer is seeing a reduction in their fuel bills, and now, when you fill up it probably costs £30 less to fill your tank, but are people saving this money? In my experience I would say no. What they are doing is spending the surplus monies, whether it be on a visit to the cinema, a new shirt or blouse or generally just treating themselves. This will result in many other companies increasing their income and in turn their profits. What about companies? Their fuel bills have been decimated. For instance, 75% of Carnival Cruises’ expenditure is on fuel. This has now reduced enormously which should show in their future profits. On a larger scale Europe is a massive importer of oil and this saving will help its recovery. So is the fact that oil prices have fallen negative? Short term yes, longer term I don’t think so.

chIna It has been well documented that China is slowing down and their equity markets have been in freefall since the beginning of this year - so is what you read true? China is definitely slowing down, however this was always expected, as the bigger an economy gets the slower the growth. This has happened throughout history and eventually we will see China growing by about 3% a year; for 2016 it is predicted to be in excess of 6%. What about the fact that their stock market has fallen so dramatically since the turn of the year? Well, what the BBC don’t tell you, is that in the previous 12 months their stock market had increased by 152%. This was largely brought about by the Chinese Government allowing the public to open a brokerage account

and basically borrow money from the Government to invest into their equity market. In the region of 70 million individuals opened these accounts. To give you an idea of how quickly China is expanding, between the years of 2010 to 2013 they used more cement than America did in the whole of the 20th century!

amErIca This is one area of the globe that all investors need to be aware of, as whatever happens in the good old US still has major repercussions on the rest of the world. You will probably see that until September/October and the Presidential issue is sorted then very little positive news will be generated and this is probably going to be a year in limbo. The one aspect that is impacting US companies is the strengthening dollar which has seen diluted income for the likes of Google, Starbucks and McDonald’s with Apple losing $2 billion in one quarter alone due to the $ increasing in value.

UK The economy did well in 2015 and should continue throughout 2016, however, whilst the service and construction industries are growing, manufacturing industry is in decline. Wage increases in the UK are buoyant however the big problem is Government and Private debt, with the current level being 80% of GDP, together with rising taxes and austerity.

EUrozonE Recovery looks as if it will continue thanks to low oil prices and the vast Quantitative Easing project that is ongoing by the European Central Bank.

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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 John Webb

InTErEST raTES Interest rates in the US have increased slightly and a year ago it was forecast that rates in the UK would start to increase in January of this year, now it is predicted that interest rates will not rise until the last quarter of 2017. The other interesting fact is that Japan, Europe and the Swiss have actually gone negative on their interest rates meaning it costs the banks to hold funds with their federal reserve. This is being done to encourage lending which in turn stimulates growth.

conclUSIon I think that the key when investing money is diversification and it is important to ensure that you review your investments regularly with your Independent Financial Adviser. www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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

Midland Independent Financial Services is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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

www.midlandifa.co.uk Throughout the year we at midland Independent hold investment seminars with industry experts. If you would like to attend please email: info@midlandifa.co.uk 15

Meet the boss

by John Nash

Personal touch fans the flames of business

There’s this guy I know, who names amongst his hobbies, mountains, fly fishing and his beautifully restored classic MGB ragtop, Molly. On a dismal winter’s evening he enjoys nothing more than nursing a glass of fine claret while sharing with sympathetic listeners the latest escapades these pastimes have brought about. Simple pleasures, I’m sure, but in recent years he’s discovered a new one: a generous-sized inset fireplace with an oak beam (circa 1800s) rescued 16

from a former convent and… a wood burning stove.

recital of the Woodcutter’s Ode, he could well be your dream find.

He’ll argue it’s not a hobby, but believe me, it is. With the zeal of an American TV evangelist, he’ll enthuse about the lounge’s new focal point, the gnarled, ancient oak, the stove’s unyielding efficiency, the lime-mix rendering to stop heat cracks and… I’ll stop here, shall I?

Alternatively (and strongly recommended), you may well be advise to meet the quietlyspoken Jane Southall, joint owner with husband Tony, of family business Flaming Fires in Wombourne. She’s disposed to a more measured approach in selling the virtues of best-taste, bespoke fireplaces and fires.

If you’re seeking the Holy Grail of knowledge on all things wood burners and can tolerate ad nauseum the mind-numbing science of chimney draught equations, ‘airwash’ talk, cleanburn technology chat, stuff about baffles, convection, log moisture content, primary and secondary air flows, double-skin flues, nominal kilowatt output, and the odd

She’s smart, “loves the people in the village,” has a gentle, disarming humour and knows a thing or two about stoves and fireplaces. Her business has been successfully trading for nearly 26 years – 25 of them from her welcoming display studios next to the Village Green.

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

And helping her keep abreast of surveys, installations and maintenance is brother and business manager, Andrew Edwards, with whom she has worked for 14 years. “It’s my job to keep things clean and tidy – literally,” he says, “sorting schedules, making sure our installs are always up to our high standards and being the one at the practical end of our personal service.” On log burners: “Why buy one?” muses Jane. “Where do I start? Decide on a fireplace and then add a stove… perhaps?” The process of choice demands a fusion of disciplines. The aesthetics, personal tastes, the size of the room, the compatibility of chimney and stove, and just how such an ambient focal point would perform in its environment. Jane’s showrooms, that appear to infinitely extend Tardis-like from the street entrance to Millbrook House, offer the customer plenty of choice and it’s all “top end products.”

– and then help them to buy a service from us and not just a very high quality product. “We’ve been in this place 25 years. We’re known for our reliability and our customers respect the very personal follow-up we extend. “You can’t buy that commitment from the internet and it’s what sets us apart,” says Jane, a company director. As she nods and waves to passers-by it’s clear that this is a proper village business and that its defining personal touch is tangible. Tony, who mans the shop on Saturdays, “is the real stove genius and is passionate about them,” adds Jane. Flaming Fires offers impartial advice and fitting services for all of their gas, LPG, wood, multi-fuel and electrical products.

In a quaint Georgian setting, the displays cover three floors and range from the contemporary to the traditional. Something for all tastes, there’s the opulent, robust, minimalist, strong architectural and imaginative. In short, it’s a stove seeker’s utopia and the fireplaces are a class act too. “When customers come in I’m not here just to sell them a stove or fireplace. They can find a deal like that on any internet site. “What we do here is try to give them the important information they need – educate them

FLAMING FIRES, FIREPLACES & STOVES

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Find us on

and 17

Carvers make the Leap!

Choice showroom, located next to the Bathroom showroom includes a huge range of wall and floor tiles and accessories. Chandlers Roofing and Rayton Electrical have specialist trade counters offering all manner of products and friendly advice. The layout of the new building gives a sympathetic link from new to old with a link through to the Kitchen Design Studio (situated in the former Carver boardroom), offering a wide variety of kitchen displays, featuring modern, contemporary and traditional designs along with a whole host of accessories and appliances. The specialist Cooker Centre has in-house engineers providing service and repair. The centre features a range of prestigious brands on display including Lacanche, Esse, Rangemaster, Falcon and Westahl.

February 29th is a date that only occurs once every four years, and is known as ‘leap day’. For the staff at local builders merchants Carvers, that date is prevalent in the minds of many for very different reasons. The last time 29th February made an appearance on the calendar back in 2012 it marked the day that a devastating fire tore through the Carver buildings and destroyed over 116 years' of history in the building of the Carver empire. The following day, MD Henry Carver released a statement vowing to ‘regroup and rebuild’. True to his word, Henry has been the driving force behind getting Carvers back on its feet and what a journey it has been.

The final stage of the rebuild programme was the showroom facility and Builders Village in November 2014, which expands previous trading facilities and provides a fabulous purposebuilt customer showroom. Carvers are delighted to welcome; S J Dixons, Tile Choice, Chandlers Roofing and Rayton Electrical into the Carver fold, making Carvers the complete one stop shop for literally everything trade and DIY. The two storey Dixon showroom covers all manner of decorating materials, more specialist paints and wallpapers. The Tile

The existing Hire Centre has been given a complete makeover (outside and in) and the hire fleet improved and updated. Tools are available to hire for as little as ‘one day’ and are also available to purchase. Henry Carver comments: “We are delighted to be operating from our new facility. The rebuild has been an exciting project for staff and customers alike. Improvements have been made in all areas to address the quality of service our customers demand and building a custom-built facility is a major step in the right direction”.

The rebuild programme itself has been an exciting process. The first Carver building to emerge was the Drive Through Warehouse in July 2013, housing a full range of insulation, plasterboards, cement, timber and joinery products. With centre drive lanes and parking lanes on either side, allowing vehicles to park next to the materials and be quickly picked and loaded, whilst all under cover. 18

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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

Littles Lane, Wolverhampton, WV1 1JY 01902 577080

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

www.carvers.co.uk 19

Quick Crossword Down 1 Fasteners (4) 2 Buccaneer (6) 3 Young children (7) 4 Sailing boat (5) 5 Involuntary action (6) 6 Menacing (8) 12 Loudest (8) 14 Harshly (7) 16 Hard work (6) 18 Drenches (6) 19 Feathered friends? (5) 22 Stolen goods (4)

Across 7 Sight (6) 8 Female relative (6) 9 Largest continent (4) 10 Fit and healthy (8) 11 Beetles, ants etc (7) 13 Animal furs (5) 15 Invoices (5) 17 Considers (7) 20 Taking small bites (8) 21 Solely (4) 23 Distributed (6) 24 A capital city (6)

Sudoku

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Hard

Puzzle answers on page 160

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

Adams

Jackson

Arthur

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Carter

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Cleveland Clinton Eisenhower Ford

Madison Monroe Nixon Obama Pierce

Garfield

Polk

Grant

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Tyler wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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At Tettenhall We Love Our Brands. From 20 year guarantee on Origin bi-folding doors to Residence 9 and Solidor Composite doors now with Ultion anti snap barrell as standard and watch the cut test video on Solidors website see how Solidor succeeds with the new PAS24 security test while others fail, and our award winning Energy plus uPVC Windows. All of these brand leading products are our assurance to you that you are buying the very best quality products available in our industry. Now available new Origin Twin Flush Aluminium Windows.

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Children’s ward at

Russells Hall Lucy continued: “It was a pleasure to meet Fraser and Craig Dobson, from the casino, and to be able to thank them both in person.”

The Casino 36 group is investing heavily in the regeneration of Wolverhampton, with recent projects including the expansion of the Rubicon Casino into the adjacent building and former Dorchester/ Beach nightclub in Temple Street to create the newly branded Casino 36. Casino 36 owns casinos in Dudley, Wolverhampton and Stockport.

Lucy was joined on the day of the cheque presentation by Fraser Tranter; Craig Dobson; Group Manager at Casino 36 and Julie Dale, Place Specialist at the Children’s Ward.

Fraser Tranter has been involved in fundraising for many years and enjoys putting his strength behind any worthy cause, especially in support of local hospitals.

strike it lucky A big part of the heavy weight involved in fundraising at Russells Hall Hospital’s Children’s Ward has been lifted by a heavyweight team with a heart of gold. Local businessman and former Worlds Strongest Man competitor Fraser Tranter teamed up with Casino 36 to raise £1,500 for the specialist unit in Dudley.

And the big gesture comes as but a small part of Casino 36’s investment in the area.

Lead Nurse and Ward Manager for the Children’s Ward Lucy Davis said: “Everyone was delighted to hear that we’d been chosen and that we’d be receiving such a generous donation.” The unit will immediately put the money to good use, ensuring that as many of the children benefit as possible.

Lucy Davis, Fraser Tranter, Craig Dobson, Julie Dale

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wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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

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

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

Lyndale Stairs Limited

Manufacturing elegance and quality through design Being the leading manufacturer for Staircases across the Midlands is an accolade that Lyndale honours to maintain for many years to come.

Established twenty years ago our company has built a reputation that we are extremely proud of by supplying and installing a whole range of staircases and stair components to suit each individual client’s specific requirements, to give the best quality treatment that we are proud to add to our collection and more importantly your home. With extensive lists of traditional woods to newer more cost effective alternatives, our staircases are individually manufactured for our client’s needs. From adding seamlessly to an existing staircase to give your home that additional feature, to having one of our skilled designers generate an innovative contemporary staircase design from scratch. Step by step your design will be constructed in our workshop until it is professionally installed by our passionate and experienced team of joiners and installers. As well as our staircases, we offer the opportunity to increase the

size of your home with our folding and sliding loft ladders, designs that come in both aluminum or wooden construction. Also at Lyndale we offer boarding and insulation to maximize your home to its full potential. At Lyndale we want you to have the best experience possible and that’s why our staff members, from the offices to the workshop, work as one to produce the highest quality standard that we have built a reputation on. From surveying to installment we will find the product you are looking for to transform your home. For a more in-depth look, why not visit one of our websites. www.lyndalestairs.co.uk and www.lyndaleloftladders.co.uk or come down and view our showroom available 9am-4.30pm weekdays or 9am-12pm Saturdays, where one of our dedicated employees will guide you through everything you need to know.

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

PATTINGHAM DRAMA GROUP

THE SHOW GOES ON!

Back in 1956 a group of friends, who shared a love of theatre, got together to put on a show.

That show, ‘Everyman’, and their subsequent productions went so well that sixty years later Pattingham Drama Group are now preparing to celebrate their Diamond Anniversary with their latest production ‘The 39 Steps’. Through that time PDG has produced everything from musicals to thrillers and Shakespeare to farce. Chairman Ian Hartley says, ‘It’s a great achievement to have reached sixty and still be thriving as a group. Over the years we’ve been honoured to receive recognition from our peers through NODA awards (National Operatic Dramatic Association), but what really matters to us is that our audiences love what we do and continue to support us.’

When Hitchcock meets hilarious, the latest production of ‘The 39 Steps’ is a lovable homage to the great film director; but is fast paced, furious and fun. Lovers of Hitchcock will enjoy spotting the witty references to many of his films, but there’s something for everyone to enjoy as our hero, Richard Hannay, survives many madcap scenes in a bid to clear his name of murder, save the country and win the girl!

always happy to welcome new members whether your interest is acting or backstage. For further information email secretary@ pattinghamdramagroup.co.uk or find us on Facebook.

‘The 39 Steps’ is adapted by Patrick Barlow from a concept by Simon Corble & Nobby Dimon, and is produced by kind permission of Samuel French Ltd.

‘The 39 Steps’ runs from Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th May in Pattingham Village Hall at 7.30 pm. Tickets are £8 and available through the Box Office on 01902 700393 or email boxoffice@ pattinghamdramagroup.co.uk Pattingham Drama Group, and their youth section, Patchwork Drama (for 8-18yrs), are

Knock-out evening

with The Champ

Local couple Brian and Sam Saunders, Managing Directors of Wolverhampton Skip Hire, spent an evening with the undisputed king of the ring, Floyd Mayweather, at Scott Murray’s Premier Suite at Bar Sport in Cannock in February.

As expected, the evening brought with it much bling and glamour, as Mayweather arrived in a black Rolls Royce with a 26-strong posse of helpers. There was further glitz and razzamatazz provided for the 300-strong crowd by stilt walkers and fire-eaters.

The visit comes after former boxer Mike Tyson appeared at Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall in 2009. Mayweather also made many Black Country-based headlines recently after he struck up a relationship with Dudley shop assistant Ramarni Ball.

The multi-millionaire boxer was on the latest leg of a nationwide tour. He spoke at length to fans from all over the Midlands after first being interviewed onstage by Telfordbased fighter, Richie Woodhall. Brian said: “We found Floyd to be very entertaining and down to earth.” Mayweather paid tribute to his British fans on the evening: “UK fans are ride or die – they are really loyal fans.” Sam added: “He was very obliging and happy for us to have our picture taken with him.” 26

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Good Shepherd Church w i l l b e warmer thanks to ICET funding The Church of the Good Shepherd in Tettenhall Wood is full of warmth and cheer this year thanks to funding from Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust (ICET). The heating system in the church hall was on its last legs and the church was struggling to get money to replace it until ICET stepped in with a late Christmas present. The Church of the Good Shepherd is a community focal point with many local groups using it each week for a wide range of activities from karate and line dancing to writing groups. “This winter was going to be rather dismal and cold,” said David Hughes, Church Warden. “The old heating system was failing. The church congregation was facing

a winter of shivering in the pews and the activities in the church centre may have been cancelled.” ICET gave the church £10,000 towards the £14,000 new energy-efficient heating system that generates and circulates warm air throughout the hall. David applied to ICET for funding and the trust was please to help. “When I approached ICET they were extremely friendly and cooperative. It was easy to apply and access the funds we desperately needed. The new heater will not only keep us warm, but will cut our heating bills too.” “ICET gave us £10,000 and the rest came from a legacy left to us from John Underwood, who was keen to attract more of the community to the church. The new heater has certainly achieved that with more groups using our warm church hall this winter. The new heating is not only easier to control; it has reduced our heating bill significantly. We are very grateful to ICET,” said David. Angela Haymonds, Secretary of Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust said: “ICET is delighted to have provided funding to bring some winter warmth to this very important and active church. We hope more people enjoy the church hall now that the environmentally-friendly heating works.” Angela continued: “This is just one of the many community projects Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust has funded through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF). The scheme offers funding to projects that benefit communities living within 10 miles of a landfill site. Groups interested in submitting projects should visit our website to find out more.”

Trysu l l a n d Sei s d o n open gardens weekend 14th-15th May, 10am - 5pm Ten private gardens in the parish will be open to the public. It is a rare chance to look around them and share the gardens with their enthusiastic owners. Teas will be available in some of the gardens and there will be plant and produce stalls at others. Good directions will be posted in each 28

village. Maps will be included with the ticket and accompanying leaflet, and will be displayed at the church and around the villages. Tickets will

be available at each garden and cost £5 each for a day ticket or £7.50 for a weekend ticket. All proceeds go to support All Saints Church. Our historic parish church will be open to the public over the weekend and brief guides about the history of the church and villages will be available to visitors. For further information, please contact Cynthia Peters: 01902 893387, Jill Harper: 01902 892093, Fiona Bowers: 01902 895954

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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Create a card campaign For Compton Hospice

L-R: Simon Cater from Compton Hospice and Mat Hill from Mountain Ash Crafts

The Create a Card for Compton campaign, which is run by Mountain Ash Crafts, encourages people to make greetings cards, which are then sold on to customers in the store and at the hospice to raise money for the Wolverhamptonbased charity. Now in its ninth year, the project is estimated to have raised more than £8,000 in total and has a dedicated network of supporters who make and send in a variety of cards year on year. Every card made and sold raises funds that go directly to support the work of the hospice, which offers end of life care, free of charge to people in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell,

Walsall, South Staffordshire and East Shropshire. Owner Mathew Hill said: “The ‘Create a Card for Compton’ campaign is completely unique and it really engages the public. Making cards at home has become a very popular hobby and we have seen the number of people getting involved increase every year. “I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our customers who have been spurred on to make cards for such a worthy cause and I would like to say a huge thank you to our dedicated band of customers and friends who have helped to raise such a fantastic amount of money.” Mr Hill set up the business, which is based at Halfpenny Green Vineyards in Bobbington, along with his father Rowan 13 years ago and the duo teamed up with Compton Hospice in 2007.

craft and last year the business was named Craft Retailer of the Year for the Midlands at the 2015 British Craft Awards. As well as trading both in store and online, the company also holds a number of weekly workshops for crafters, which are taught by professionals. Mr Hill added: “We are finding that more and more people are taking up crafting and wanting to learn a new skill so we hold these workshops so they can do just that. “We supply all equipment and materials but people are welcome to bring their own tool kits. Anyone can come along and have a go regardless of age, experience or ability and we hope that after each session our visitors will leave with fresh ideas and inspiration.”

The craft store specialises in card making, scrapbooking and paper

Anyone who wants to take part in this year’s campaign should bring their handmade cards to the mountain Ash Crafts Store or to find out more about the campaign call Mathew on 01384 221554 or alternatively email enquiries@macrafts.co.uk

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Specialists in the design and complete installation of fitted kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms

For further details please call 01902 714557 or email steve@kitbedtech.wanadoo.co.uk

80 Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton, WV3 0TT www.kitchenandbedroomtechnique.co.uk www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Open: Monday to Friday 9.30am until 5pm, Saturday 10am until 4pm

Excellent service at

Ralvern Ltd Ralvern Ltd has long been providing its customers with an exceptional service, ever since the business was first established by Ralf Collis in 1946. Now his grandsons, identical twins Simon and Chris Edwards, run the well-established family business and the same commitment to excellent customer service is still in place. Manufacturing all manner of sofas, settees, chairs, chaise lounge and occasional chairs from their base in Cannock, the company can create any type of design - from ultra-modern to classically traditional. “Our highly skilled craftsmen can create any look our customers want for their home. We offer a really helpful and welcoming approach and enjoy exceeding customer’s expectations,” says Simon. "There are no salesmen at Ralvern and clients deal direct with myself and Chris, we have a very personal approach to customer relations and want to take care of customers ourselves, that’s why we cut out the salesmen, so that we can offer a unique, personal and relaxed approach.” In-house frame making enables clients to design their lounge from concept, because all frames at Ralvern are made from scratch. “We only use the best materials and we have the freedom to create sizes and designs that will suit any room and taste. We include a lifetime frame, six inch coil springs and our build quality is always exceptional.” And the company are well known for their excellent standards, establishing an excellent reputation over the 70 years they’ve been in business. “Our gallery of fabric books perfectly illustrates our capacity to create almost any type of design, using our experience, drive and passion.” It’s not just making bespoke designs that Ralvern takes care of though, the team also offer a complete reupholstery service.

“If you can’t bear to part with your existing suite, we offer a superior reupholstery service that goes above and beyond recovering your choice of fabric and leathers.” The team can recreate the original suite to an even higher standard than it was originally built to. “As a standard we strip your lounge sofas back to the frame and start from scratch, using superior foams, fillings, springs and cushions. The sofa is then finished by our highly experienced craftsmen to achieve a truly unique lounge setting.” Ralvern will collect your existing suite from home, offer you a replacement whilst work is carried out and deliver the finished suite once completed. “Customers are welcome to come and see us at work, carrying out both the manufacturing and reupholstery process in our factory showroom,” adds Simon. Whatever you’ve got in mind for your home, contact Ralvern Ltd today to discuss your ideas. Visit www.ralvernupholstery.co.uk to view completed projects or to look for inspiration for your own dream design.

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

CALL FOR A BROCHURE

T: 01543 505539

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

www.ralvernupholstery.co.uk www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

1st Choice Flooring Solutions For all your domestic and commercial flooring needs If you want a new floor but are unsure where to start, why not contact Wolverhampton-based 1st Choice Flooring Solutions.

At 1st Choice Flooring Solutions the most important thing is a happy customer and a job well done.

As a family-run business, Tom and his team have a combined 30+ years of experience and are proud to be able to guarantee you the best quality fitting and the highest standard of service from start to finish.

See the feedback below from a couple of happy customers:

Offering the very best in the supply and installation of all domestic and commercial flooring, specialising in luxury vinyl planking such as Karndean.

“1st Choice Flooring have done a great job covering our kitchen and hall floors with Karndean. The kitchen was textured ceramic floor tiles and the hall was wooden boards and they did a great job of blending the two surfaces into a new look which was exactly what we wanted. Would not hesitate to recommend them.” Paul Banks

The company also offers a wide variety of other floor coverings and undertakes solid wood flooring replenishment work. 1st Choice have years of experience working around families and their commitments, maintaining a professional, considerate and courteous approach at all times. Tom and his team ensure all work is carried out to the highest standard and at very competitive prices. If you are searching for advice or planning for your new floor the company is able to offer a helping hand in getting you one step closer to your dream home.

“Had the downstairs hall and bathroom fitted by 1st choice flooring solutions, brilliant service from start to finish. Came out the next day to provide me with a quotation which was emailed to me that night, so efficient. Really couldn’t fault a thing - thank you again!” Joanne Roberts

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wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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

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What are

LED Bulbs? LED Lamps are the latest technology in energy efficient lighting.

They are robust and long lasting and are the most flexible and versatile form of lighting and are designed to work as direct replacement bulbs for your existing light fittings I have energy saving bulbs around my house. Why should I change to LED? • LEDs reach full brightness instantaneously unlike energy saving bulbs which usually take a few minutes • LEDs are non-toxic and contain no mercury or lead so they are very eco-friendly • LEDs are long lasting – typically 30,000-50,000 hours compared to halogen/ incandescent bulbs which last 2000-4000 hours • LEDs use up to 90% less energy than halogen/ incandescent bulbs of an equivalent brightness • LEDs produce less heat so they are not hot to touch

How bright are LEDs. What wattage should I go for?

What colour LED bulbs are available?

The brightness of a bulb is measured in lumens (Lm), the higher the number of lumens, the brighter the bulb. Although LEDs use very low wattages they emit the same brightness as traditional bulbs.

• 6W LED is the equivalent of a 40W

Most LED bulbs are available in 3 colour options: Warm White which is most common as it is the ideal replacement to the halogen bulb colour and gives off an inviting, comfortable and relaxing mood. Cool White is a cooler colour option associated with fluorescent tubes in offices or retail outlets as it gives off a bright, clean and lively mood. Daylight is a very white light, almost with a tinge of blue to it and gives a very crisp, refreshing energetic mood.

• 10W LED is the equivalent of a 60W

Do I need a specific dimmer for LED Bulbs?

• 13W LED is the equivalent of a 75W

LED bulbs are available in both dimmable and non-dimmable options. You will need a specific dimmer switch with your LED bulbs as they use very little power compared to halogen bulbs. LED bulbs will not work properly on standard dimmers as this will lead to a shortened bulb life, a lower light output and a buzzing sound. For the best performance from your LED bulb you must use a trailing edge dimmer which has lower minimum loads, which are designed to be used with LED bulbs.

To make things easier; • 4W LED is the equivalent of a 25W

• 18W LED is the equivalent of a 100W How can LEDs save me money? Lighting represents 20% of the overall energy consumption in standard household or commercial premises. By switching to LED a considerable amount of money can be saved due to the lower wattages in LED Bulbs. LEDs last far longer so they won’t need changing as often which means less maintenance costs and you will start saving money in less than a year. What type of LED bulbs are available?

Come and visit our new showroom, now open, with a huge range of lighting on display including our LED lighting and bulbs or visit us online at www.lightingrus.co.uk

LED bulbs are available as replacements for most caps, shapes and sizes including standard GLS, Candles, Spotlights, Golf balls, Reflectors and Tubes.

In addition to buying your lighting from us we have our fully qualified electricians available to install using our sister company Central Electrical Contracts Ltd

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Lighting R Us Visit us online at www.lightingrus.co.uk

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10% OFF LIGHTING Take this advert into store or use promo code ‘WWAPRIL10’ on our website (excludes led bulbs & bespoke silk shades)

“Amazing choice of lights, I was impressed with the service and the fact they supply an electrician to fit the lights took the hassle out of the process. Very impressed!”  G.Phillips “Lighting R Us have an incredible amount of lights on display, so much to choose from, also the staff are polite and efficient. Overall I can’t fault the service.”  C.Westwood

WE ALSO HAVE QUALIFIED ELECTRICIANS AVAILABLE FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS

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

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

RECIPE

Serves 4 By Michael Peter Whitehurst

confit duck

I love the combination of roasted duck with a hint of star anise and that it matches so perfectly well with celeriac, especially when roasted. This dish is becoming very popular at the dinner parties I do. I think people are becoming a little more adventurous with different flavours and this shows from what they order off my menu. Try it yourself or hire me to come and cook it for you if you like. This is for a casual family service style dinner party but it can be served in a more formal way or you can adjust it to create a really lovely salad. I think it is quite simply the perfect combination of big flavours all on one plate. Equipment: • 1 deep roasting dish (300mm x 200mm and 100mm deep ideally) • A roll of strong kitchen foil • Tongs • Thick oven cloth • Food processor • Spatula • Chopping board • Cooks knife • Pestle and mortar 38

Ingredients for the confit: • 4 duck legs • 1 whole star anise • 10 all spice berries • 2 sprigs of rosemary • 2 sprigs of thyme • Maldon sea salt • 1 whole garlic cut in half horizontally • 5 litres of deep frying rapeseed oil or duck fat, but that's the expensive version. Ingredients for the rest of the dish: • 1 celeriac - quartered • Tender-stem broccoli - tops only (save the stalks to dip in hummus) • Pistachios unsalted and shelled • Toasted pumpkin seeds • 1 Garlic clove • Mallon sea salt • 1 bottle of cold pressed rapeseed oil • a few sprigs of flat leaf parsley • 1 tub of double cream • a few sprigs of watercress • a stick of fresh horseradish • a loaf of spelt and rye sour dough bread, the recipe is below this one. wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Method: Rub the duck legs with a little of the maldon sea salt and place in the roasting tray with the all spice, star anise, garlic, thyme and rosemary. Cover and leave in the fridge overnight (optional). Next, pour the oil over the duck legs until completely submerged and cover tightly with strong kitchen foil. Place in your preheated oven at 175oC for 1 hour and 45 minutes. They may need longer depending on how brown the skin looks. For the last 45 minutes of cooking time wash and quarter the celeriac and toss in oil, season and put in the oven to roast. You can slice the peel away from the flesh once it has roasted and cooled. Once the duck and celeriac have finished cooking allow to cool and then cut in half through the middle of the leg in between the joint and place in a separate roasting tin ready to be finally roasted in the oven for 10 minutes on 190serves 4C to crisp up the skin if it needs it - you be the judge of that. Cut the skin off the celeriac as though you were filleting a fish - skin side down knife almost flat on the board. Now put the flesh of the celeriac into a food processor with 100ml of double cream, a pinch of sea salt and blitz until you have a smooth puree. Season and keep warm. Now put the duck in the oven to brown and blanch the tops of the broccoli in boiling salted water for 30 seconds and then remove. To make the dressing you

need to crush about 10 pistachio nuts with a pinch of sea salt and 1 clove of garlic in a pestle and mortar and chop a few sprigs of parsley and add to the mix then pour in about 100ml of cold pressed rapeseed oil. Put a dollop of the puree in the centre of your plate and push out a little to form the base. Place a few sprigs of parsley and watercress around the plate and a few pumpkin seeds. Arrange the duck in the centre of the puree and drizzle the dressing over and around the duck. Serving suggestion: Serve with chunks of spelt and rye sour dough bread, leaves of cos lettuce and a glass of ice cold muscadet.

The recipe for spelt and rye sour dough is on my website here: www.takefood.co.uk/sourdough and for any other recipe/cooking advice please email mike@takefood.co.uk Follow me on facebook.com/takefood on twitter.com/takefood or on instagram.com/takefood

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Three Pines

excellence all round

Three Pines are always busy with various new build projects too. No matter what their surroundings, the team are used to working to the highest standards and in a professional and sensitive manner - with minimal disruption to their customers. “We have a really skilled and dedicated team working for us. Our three longest serving employees have been with us for around 30 years but we’ve got plenty of other employees who have been with us for more than a decade.”

Long-serving staff members: back l/r Bob Martin, Wayne Preece and Neil Cox with Director Graham Haughton

Top Wolverhamptonbased building contractor Three Pines has been in business since 1960. Since then the firm has laid down solid foundations in both the commercial and domestic sector, working with prominent clients like BMW, Caterpillar and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. So, it’s no surprise that the company has built an excellent reputation over the years and earned themselves a loyal client base, as Managing Director Alan Bradshaw explains: “We’re really lucky to have established strong links with so many different clients in both the commercial and domestic sectors.”

and operation. The attainment of CHAS accreditation was a major boost for the company and is added to the membership of Constructionline, Federation of Master Builders and National Federation of Builders. “We do a lot of work for the MOD and the Territorial Army, adapting and extending the homes of disabled soldiers to improve their quality of life upon returning home.” The team regularly undertake work for various councils - completing disabled bathroom adaptations - as well as carrying out projects for the fire service and multiple car dealerships. Of course,

Many of the Three Pines team started with the business as apprentices and have remained employed by the company ever since. And Alan is keen to recognise their loyalty: “To say thank you to our three longest-serving employees - that have worked for us for 30, 28 and 23 years - we awarded each of them a watch from Rudell The Jewellers.” And the company is busy extending its offices at Cullwick Street, Wolverhampton, to accommodate their evergrowing workforce. “We started work to enlarge our premises, once again, after Christmas to make room for our expanding team,” adds Alan. There’s no doubt that 2016 is set to be another great year for the company, thanks to the hard work and dedication of its skilled and loyal team.

Taking care of refurbishments, extensions and new builds, Three Pines has been called in to undertake all manner of different projects. “We’ll undertake the smallest of maintenance work right up to the large contracts required for big business. We’ve got the skills and expertise to handle your project from planning through to completion.” Over the years Three Pines has grown considerably and has expanded both its workforce 40

Deep in thought, Three Pines MD Alan Bradshaw

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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

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Smart choices

for busy lifestyles The technology has been around for years, but it has successfully crept under the radar of our domestic lives. Alongside smart phones and a generation of smart watches, we now have the technical evolution of smart houses. But for millions juggling the time-taxing duties of domestic servitude, the benefits of intelligently automated living still remains one of lifestyle’s best-kept secrets. Geeky, futuristic, impractical and just too expensive? Surprisingly not! JOHN NASH unpacks the facts and meets the technophobe businesswoman whose hectic life has been transformed after having this clever Wi-Fi gadgetry installed in her home. my partner suggested that we should consider having these devices, I said: ‘What! Me?” Lisa adds: “It’s been three years since I had the first install and I was shocked just how easily I took to it. The beauty with the technology in my home is that it can grow with you. It’s modular. “Initially I just had the lights linked up. I wanted the additional security of being able to come home late and have the house looking like someone was actually there. I also have teenagers, who’d leave every light switched on in the house and being able to instantly review that while I’m away is essential, as well as being cost effective.”

The present reality of living in a ‘sci-fi’ home. Homes that think for us have for years been the backdrop of science fiction films and a staple diet of World Fairs and the Ideal Home Show. Perceived as being beyond reach, they have for many property owners remained a futuristic frontier. But now a growing number of people who wish to reimagine daily interaction with their homes are embracing the ‘future’ and enjoying a present reality of integrated living. Their smart homes are often ordinary domestic builds – semi-detached, detached and occasionally grandiose – where occupants have undergone nothing short of a major lifestyle shift for the better. For technophobe Lisa Pitt that transformation appears to have been a remarkably liberating one. Lisa, who lives in a secluded Shropshire hamlet, is New Business Manager of Financial Services for one of the largest retail chains in the UK and a convert to smart home living. She’s also a self-confessed Luddite with a deep-rooted, irrational distrust of all things digital. The premise that she would ever have the conviction to use an app on her mobile devices to control heating, lighting and security while being away from her house was not only unlikely, but also bordering on ludicrous. “You can’t imagine just how bad I am. I’m the one with a calculator hidden in the handbag. When 44

After ten minutes of exalting the benefits of “managing everything remotely or centrally,” the 48-year-old is enthusing with an almost evangelical zeal about living with intelligent automation. “Especially in the winter… I now come home and the place is always warm, welcoming and my music’s playing, even if no-one’s around.” The technology by Loxone offers easy upgrades – an opportunity too good to pass for this convert. Frustrated there was never enough hot water to indulge in a bath after returning late from business meetings, Lisa commissioned an add-on for the heating. “On the way home I can just turn it on. This technology changes the way we live for the better,” she says. Other additions have included lightsenstive window blinds, a multi-room music system, garden lighting, security cameras and alarms. And how user-friendly is the system? “My nephew, aged seven, can operate it and so can mum and dad, both in their 80s, with the touch of a button,” adds Lisa. The installation was carried out by Chancery Contracts Ltd of Trysull Road, Merry Hill, Wolverhampton. On the cutting edge of electronic installs, the company has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry, Managing Director David Lewis says: “We are a Gold Partner with smart home technology suppliers Loxone and their domestic servers are excellent. In the three years we’ve been fitting them we have never had a failure. Cost of the basic system starts at £595.”

A no-mess, no-wires option on installs – air technology that uses wireless connectivity – adds to the appeal. wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

‘The same technology works for business premises too and is limited only by our lack of imagination’ MD David Lewis of Chancery Contracts Ltd.

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Stylish Designs at

Virgo Interiors

The helpful team always on hand to offer expert advice

If you feel like you’ve been putting up with tired décor for far too long, then why not make some changes this spring and pay a visit to Virgo Interiors@No.72? The business, that’s based in Tettenhall Wood, has everything you’ll need to transform your home into the stylish and modern abode you’ve been longing for.

And it’s the perfect time of year for redecorating, restyling and redesigning - whether you’re planning a simple change or full-on transformation. “The better weather tends to make us take a fresh look at our home décor and can inspire us to make some changes,” says Virgo’s Owner, Cora Turner-Collis. It’s been three years since Cora opened her showroom at Tettenhall Wood and the shop is bursting with fabulous wallpapers, fabrics, floor coverings, lighting and accessories from leading brands and top designers. “We’ve recently made some changes to the showroom by re-designing the entrance and removing a wall. It’s created extra space for us to display even more products from our everexpanding range of suppliers.” With the trend for wallpaper looking set to stay, Cora has made room for plenty of designs at the showroom. “Wallpaper is really fashionable at the moment as people have begun to move away from minimalist style, in favour of a more glamorous and opulent look for their home.” Casadeco, K&K and Prestigious make up just some of the ranges

and there’s a fabulous range of co-ordinating fabrics too. “Those who love the opulent look will adore Olivia Bard’s collection that’s fully coordinated with matching tiebacks and accessories.” Greys, creams and beiges that are highlighted by accents of zesty colours, create a modern look and are completely on-trend. “Orangey hues are big news at the moment too, with rose gold and copper shades appearing in many collections. We even have copper lighting to match.” Leading brands, Clarke & Clarke and Voyage have an impressive selection of styles in wallpaper and fabric and Jim Dickens’ and Sanderson designs offer a traditional look. “We really do cater for all styles and tastes at Virgo and we’re always on-hand to offer advice.” The team offer a bespoke making service and take care of all measuring and fitting. “We offer a complete service from start to finish and work hard to ensure that our clients are delighted with the results, whether we’re simply making a

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

headboard for them or completely re-designing their room.”

homes, offices, schools and shops over the years.”

There’s an extensive range of carpets and flooring available at the showroom too.

The right lighting provides the perfect finishing touch for your re-designed room and Virgo have plenty of styles to choose from.

“We have luxury flooring from Cormar, as well as 80% wool twist carpets from brands like Ulster, Brintons and Westex.” It’s not just homeowners that benefit though, Virgo also take care of many commercial clients. “We undertake commercial work and supply specialist products - like safety flooring and fire retardant curtains - that meet the requirements of various organisations. We’ve carried out work for many residential

“We have plenty of different lighting styles that work with traditional, contemporary and glamorous home interiors at prices to suit all budgets.” So, whatever you’ve got planned for your home this spring, make sure that you visit Virgo Interiors at No.72 today. Interiors@No.72, School Road, Tettenhall Wood, Wolverhampton WV6 8ET, www.virgo-interiors.co.uk

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Grand Theatre COMPETITION

One lucky winner can win two tickets to see JANE EYRE on Friday 10th June at 7.30pm at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

to life the ultimate dramatic tale of romance, jealousy and dark secrets. Orphaned at a young age and cruelly treated by her Aunt, Jane Eyre is a plain but intelligent child who grows up knowing little kindness. Sent away to a charitable school, Jane later accepts a position as a Governess at Thornfield, a gentleman’s manor whose master is the dark and impassioned Mr Rochester. In

Join Northern Ballet, a Company renowned for transforming well known stories into brilliant dance theatre, as they return to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre with Charlotte Brontë’s JANE EYRE. Coinciding with the 200th anniversary of Charlotte Brontë’s birth, the ‘best dance actors in the world’ (Dance Europe) will bring

spite of their social differences, an unlikely bond grows between the pair but as their romance develops, it becomes clear that Mr Rochester has a hidden past that threatens to ruin them both. The ultimate dramatic tale of romance, jealousy and dark secrets, Jane Eyre is the story of one woman’s indomitable spirit overcoming all boundaries at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on 10 and 11 June 2016.

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

To be in with a chance of winning simply answer the following question correctly and send it on a postcard with your name, address and telephone number to Wolverhampton West Magazine or email info@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk by Friday 6th May 2016.

Who wrote the original novel Jane Eyre? A) B) C) D) 50

Emily Brontë Charlotte Brontë JK Rowling Jacqueline Wilson

Competition Terms and Conditions Please send postal entries to Wolverhampton West Magazine, 1 Lytham Road, Perton, Wolverhampton WV6 7YY or email info@wolverhamptonwestmag. co.uk. To be received no later than Friday 25th March 2016. Winners to collect tickets from the box office on the evening of the performance. Tickets cannot be exchanged and no cash or alternative prize nights available. Winners may be required to partake in relevant publicity.

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

The Rotary Club of Wolverhampton

Tree of remembrance 2015 On Tuesday 26th January, at Wolverhampton Rotary Club's normal lunchtime Meeting at Linden House, members of the Club sat down to enjoy their weekly fellowship but on this occasion representatives of three local charities joined them to receive cheques amounting to £1250 for each charity. The M.S. Therapy Centre was represented by manager Sue Husband, Compton Hospice by Mary Harding and Nikki Rowley from Promise Dreams. Also there to see the presentation was Diane Davies, Deputy Editor of Express and Star, the new Mander Centre Manager, Robert Gough and his colleague Emma Stokes. The Rotary Club of Wolverhampton would like to express sincere thanks to Express and Star for the tremendous support we have been given over the twelve years that the Tree of Remembrance has been set up in the Mander Centre, printing in each edition of the evening newspaper from early December, the names of the family loved ones for whom a short messages of commemoration had been made. We are also very appreciative of the continuing support and help given to this venture by the Mander Centre staff. These events don't just happen but require meticulous planning and considerable effort from members of the Rotary Tree of Remembrance Committee. In previous years we have had to seek out, purchase and manhandle into position a 20ft high spruce from Cannock Chase (which had

L to R, Sue Husband, Mary Harding, Roger Fellows, President, Alan Jacques, Chairman Tree Committee, Nikki Rowley

been sponsored for us in the recent years by an anonymous donor), nor do we have to arrange the transport of the tree (assisted by a local industrialist who supplied a flatbed truck and driver), which then had to be carried into the Mander Centre, erected, and decorated by Rotarians (and you can imagine the problems with putting the fairy on the top!!! ). However the much maligned Health and Safety and Fire Regulations sadly have brought all this to an end and in 2014, the Mander Centre management provided us with a "tree" which wasn't a "tree" as we know it, but an eye catching illuminated metal structure comprising shiny spheres arranged loosely in the shape of a tree, placed this year strategically adjacent to the central escalator on the main concourse. The organising of this year’s event was a somewhat nail biting affair as during the latter

part of 2015 the Mander Centre complex was sold, and the then Centre Manager left. For a while contact with the new owners was difficult, giving our Committee Chairman, Alan Jacques, a few sleepless nights, but late in the day, a new Centre Manager, Robert Gough was appointed and we are really grateful to him and his staff for the enthusiastic support they gave during what must have been for them a very difficult transitionary period. We thank the people of Wolverhampton and its environs for giving us their tremendous support in these difficult economic times, and all who have contributed through their donations to raise just over £5000! And in a few weeks the process of planning and organising the Christmas 2016 Event starts all over again!

Visit www.rotaryclubwolverhampton.co.uk and talk to us. 52

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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Brierley Hill: By Rob Taylor

Bangers and Cash Sausages and steel: that’s what stands out for many mature locals when asked to remember Brierley Hill as it used to be. Superdry and Sainsbury’s are more appropriate synonyms for today’s generation, such is the pull of the nearby Merry Hill Shopping Centre. But as ever, to understand the present we must first look to the past, so travel with me if you please on a journey to look

until the 19th Century for things to really heat up, as heavy industry rolled in to develop the area into being closer in size and scope to that which we know today.

at the history of this ever-soslightly-less-than-historic hill. With a name derived from three Anglo-Saxon words: ‘brer’ – which means: place where the Briar Rose grew; ‘leah’ – which means: woodland clearing; and ‘hill’ – which means, er, hill, Brierley Hill has roots stretching back as far as the Domesday Book and yet it’s scarcely mentioned in texts until the 17th Century. However it would take

Of course, since all of this development took place in a time and place when you certainly didn’t expect to be charged 5p for a carrier bag, this industrial enterprise came with certain drawbacks. In fact, such was the overspill from the collieries, quarries, glass works, and iron works – that brought mining subsidence, open shafts, cinder tips, heaps of slag and waves of black smoke – that Brierley Hill was even compared to Hell in the following poem: ‘When Satan stood on Brierley Hill, And far around it gazed, He

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Moor Shopping Centre today occupies the factory’s former site. From the ashes of Round Oak Steel and Marsh and Baxter came the entrepreneurial Richardson brothers and a grand plan that would point to the future of this countries’ preferred shopping habits. said, “I never more shall feel, At Hell’s fierce flames amazed.”

stroke by the recession in the early eighties. In 1982 the plant closed.

Barbs along the lines of “Merry Hell” from the unfortunate many stuck queuing to exit the countless car parks at the monolithic Merry Hill Centre just before Christmas not withstanding, such comparisons are today far from the mark. Conversely, there is much fondness forthcoming from locals about Brierley Hill, which has been a vibrant community for many.

Another popular and productive employer in Brierley Hill was sausage stuffers Marsh and Baxter. A famous Black Country name, known always to bring home the bacon, Alfred Marsh set up a butcher’s shop in Brierley Hill in 1867. By 1871 he was manufacturing sausages at his large workshop in Hall Street. He then took over the former factory of A.R. Baxter, to finally become Marsh and Baxter.

Round Oak Steelworks was at the centre of this. Founded in 1857 it employed at its peak over 3,000 employees and was an internationally renowned bastion of steel-making. With it came social clubs, football and cricket teams: a whole community – of which its people were deeply proud – supported by a single employer, all of which was ultimately undone at a

From these humble beginnings, Marsh and Baxter secured royal warrants in pork and became world famous for its hams, bacon, sausages and pork pies, supplying to notable retailers like Harrods. But the business showed signs of steady decline throughout the seventies before eventually closing its doors in 1978. The

Surpassed only by the cataclysmic shift brought about by online shopping, the creation of purposebuilt out-of-town shopping centres was even back in the early eighties seen by many to be sounding the death knell for traditional town centres and so much resistance met the proposal to build the Merry Hill Centre. But in 1981 the 300-acre site was designated as a ‘Enterprise Zone’ by a government desperate to provide incentives – like a 10 year break in business rates and relaxed planning laws – to businesses in the hope of reinvigorating industrial wasteland. Dudley Council asked Roy and Don Richardson, twin brother businessmen, to transform the former Round Oak site and a large farm space, Merry Hill Farm. Construction kicked off in 1984 and was completed in 1989 after a build that was beset with difficulty – owing mostly to the 200 remaining coal mining pits beneath the area. Since then much expansion and further development has taken place which has seen the Waterfront office complex, Food Court and other annexes added at a total overall cost of around £1 billion. Today the Merry Hill Centre brings in an annual £55 million in rent alone. The centre is still to this day a shining example of the vision and confidence needed to invest in land in an area that many had already written off. It is one of the many landmarks of which Brierley Hill should be duly proud.

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Bring the outside into your home with

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

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

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

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

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

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Doorsmart

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Doorsmart utilise the latest advances in composite door technology to offer customers the very best in design and quality of composite fibreglass doors. Their policy is to manufacture a composite door of the highest specification and quality and to provide a personal service to meet the needs of their customers.

Why not visit their new showroom which has a large display of composite doors in a wide range of colours, together with glass styles, furniture and accessories. Come and have a browse around at your leisure, no appointment is necessary. Their helpful staff can advise you on the benefits of the composite door range and help you choose the best door for your needs. 58

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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Spring in

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

the garden at Lealans Garden Centre With the arrival of April it should be full steam ahead out in the garden. Continue to weed and clean borders, after which a general purpose fertilizer can be applied before adding a mulch of compost or well-rotted manure. If you have any lime hating (ericaceous) plants, such plants as Camellias, Rhododendrons and Azalea, make sure you use an ericaceous fertilizer as they require extra trace elements. Empty gaps in borders can be planted up now so long as there’s no frost in the ground. For a hot sunny border that is likely to be dry or well drained try Verbascum, Foxglove Silver Fox, Red Hot

Pokers, and Cistus. For shady spots try Viburnums, Skimmias, Astilbes or Hostas on moist soils and for shady dry borders use Cotoneaster and Dicentra (Bleeding Hearts). Many herbs can be grown in pots all year round and are ideal in a cold greenhouse at this time of year – sage, thyme, parsley, rosemary are easily grown this way. Watch out for late frosts if you’ve got potatoes in tubs with plenty of leaf growth – always protect at night. Sow your first and second early potatoes followed by maincrops, again watching out for late frosts once the foliage appears. Carrots, celery, beetroot, leeks, onions, broad beans

and lettuce can all be sown or planted outside during April. Sow at regular intervals to give a steady supply of vegetables. Plug plants are now appearing in garden centres, pot them up into larger pots and keep them warm and in a sunny position. Don’t be tempted to leave them outside at the moment – the end of May is plenty soon enough. Although many can be grown at low temperatures once it dips below 5 deg C they need some heat, and should be kept reasonably dry. A cooler grown plant makes a sturdier, stockier plant. Happy Gardening.

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THE ONLY WAY IS UP If your borders are filling up nicely but you still hanker to add more interest in your garden – there’s only one way you can go, and that’s up. Adding height to your garden (literally) lifts your eye to another layer of colour, texture and vibrancy, plus provides yet another focal point. However, don’t limit yourself to thinking just about planting trees or positioning climbers, such as clematis and honeysuckle, to creep up your perimeter fence or wall.

By Steve Tonks, General Manager at Boningale Garden Creations

Whether you have a very small outdoor space or a large garden, you can use height to help create a series of “rooms”. One very effective way to lift the eye is to add pergolas in strategic areas of the garden. Not only do these structures add architectural interest – ideal when you need visual stimulus after climbers have died down for the season – they also open more options for planting creeping plants. Position them over a seating area or over a walkway and you’ll instantly create a more intimate ambience to your outdoor space. Gazebos add welcome shade to seating areas and if planted with scented climbers will delight anyone who takes a few moments to relax in the garden. Of course, adding height to your garden can also increase privacy. Trees and hedges can be used to block out less aesthetically

pleasing views, while a trellis can disguise areas such as where the compost heap or bins are. Whatever you plan, the main thing to think about is scale – make sure your chosen structure is right for your plot. Too small and it will be lost; too big and it will overwhelm.

If you need any further information or want to seek professional advice from our award-winning garden designers please visit www.boningale-garden-creations.co.uk, or call me on 01902 376500. At Boningale we have a team of experts, from our award-winning garden design associates to our horticultural specialists and project management team, who will give you expert advice, every step of the way.

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Established for over thirty years, Profence has long been meeting the fencing requirements of domestic, commercial and industrial clients alike.

of each of our client’s individual needs. We’ve got fencing to suit every application and environment.” Working closely with a number of local authorities, Profence carry out work for various schools, parks and public buildings across the region.

Having become one of the leading companies in the trade thanks to a commitment to excellent and efficient service in every job they undertake, the Wombourne-based business has built an extensive and varied client base across the West Midlands.

But it’s not just large scale work that the company carries out “we work with all types of property and buildings and offer advice throughout the planning, design and installation stages to ensure that everything runs smoothly”.

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wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Telephone scams

continue Some people still aren’t aware of the telephone scams.

Two recent ones reported to us had a phone call from someone claiming to be calling from Talk Talk. The customers weren’t alarmed as Talk Talk is their broadband provider. The caller convinced the customers they had detected problems on their line from their computer and explained how to open the in-built Event Viewer to view the errors. As it is common to see some errors, the

unsuspecting customer believed the caller and downloaded some software to enable them to take remote control of the computer. Fortunately both people became wary when asked for money to fix the problems and hung up the call. It’s not clear if these calls were a result of the recent data breach at Talk Talk, as the callers knew the name, address and phone numbers of the customers. Please remember, Microsoft, your ISP nor anyone else will contact you by phone to fix your computer!

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Centre, Bridgnorth Road, Wolverhampton, WV6 8AE 67

Spring B r e a k By Kate Duggan

Spring is the perfect time to explore a new area, and there are certainly plenty of events planned across the UK this year to tempt you on to the road. For starters, you could head to the Isle of Skye on April 29th for a weekend of live music; more than 30 acts are planned and weekend tickets are a steal at £95. Or maybe you fancy taking in some truly breath-taking scenery? If so head to the Scottish Highlands on May 21st, for a coast-tocoast classic car tour with The Rotary Club of East Sutherland. Kids will love to explore the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall, with its outdoor sculptures, rope bridges and ‘jungle’. Or how about a trip to Escot in Devon, where they can run riot through the maze, see otters being fed, watch wild bird displays and play hide ‘n’ seek in the woods? Book into nearby Yellingham Farm B&B, or camp at Crealy Meadows Caravan and Camping Park, where you can also take advantage of the adventure park, with its huge indoor play area, sandpits and rides for all the family.

mini-break in itself. National Trust properties are usually a pretty safe bet. Choose between castles, forts and other historic buildings, or just spend a few hours wandering through the parklands or gardens. Cliveden in Buckinghamshire is a good choice for garden lovers: its Italianate Long Garden has been planted with some 20,000 sweetsmelling hyacinths, while the Water Garden will be awash with cherry blossom, wisteria and magnolias. Or why not just pack a picnic and head off to the beach or woods? Check out Walking Britain for some inspiration. www.walkingbritain.co.uk If you fancy going a bit further afield, try Morzine in the French Alps. In the winter it is a popular skiing destination, but at this time of year it’s quieter. The scenery is still stunning though, and there’s certainly plenty to keep you busy. The mountain

biking trails are among the best in the world, but there are also plenty of more leisurely sports to enjoy, including golf.

How about nabbing a last minute cruise deal? The Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas starts from just £569 for nine nights, and calls at Naples, Sicily and Malta to name a few destinations. If you crave the sun, Dubai is a good bet, with temperatures in April reaching 32°C. Wander around the street markets, from the Gold Souk, to Deira Fish Market, and then have a coffee in the Ramada Dubai hotel where you can admire one of the world’s tallest stained glass windows. You’re pretty spoiled for places to stay in the UAE, but the Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf at Madinat Jumeirah is a great choice, as it’s one of the top rated hotels on Trip Advisor.

A good day trip can feel like a 68

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Cannock Caravan Accessories We are happy to bring 40 years of expertise within the industry to our premises in Cannock with 7000 square feet of leisure accessories. Cannock Caravan Accessories has a huge selection on offer whether it be for your caravan, motorhome or tent. We have all your favourite brands here for you to see all year round. With a large selection of awnings on display including Kampa, Dorema, Isabella and many more.

We pride ourselves on knowledgeable staff who are always on hand to advise and recommend items suitable for customers' specific requirements. Customer service is at the forefront of what Cannock Caravan Accessories stands for.

west at Land's End there are many wild and beautiful places to enjoy. Come and see us for all your Caravan accessories at Unit 4, Watling Street Business Park, (A5 between Norton Canes & Brownhills) WS11 9XG

Camping today is as popular as it has ever been. More and more people want to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to find peace or adventure in the great outdoors. Fortunately there is a great variety of open spaces in the UK with stunning national parks, forests and spectacular coastline all offering something unique. From the remote Scottish islands to the far south

We are celebrating our 1st anniversary on the 23rd April! Why not come and join us for our birthday weekend on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th April where we will be celebrating with bubbles, cake and some great birthday offers! We are so grateful to the many customers that we have acquired over the last year, we want to thank all of them for their business. We look forward to welcoming new customers for all your Caravan accessories.

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Eating Out and Entertainment

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wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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

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

The Shrewsbury Arms

By Rob Taylor

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

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

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

So now you have a little context, allow me to rewind somewhat and put into context exactly 72

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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

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

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

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.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

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01902 742 225 wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Full Main Menu Available 7 days a week

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www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Halfpenny Green Vineyards

By Rob Taylor In front of me there is a “Polite Notice” affixed to the rear of a bottle of Halfpenny Green Vineyard’s very own, homegrown Penny Red, it reads: ‘All hot food is cooked fresh to order and may take longer from ordering during busy periods.’ From this three things strike me: firstly – and most importantly – is that the need for such a notice immediately marks out the vineyard’s restaurant as being fully entitled to label the many dishes on their menu as ‘homemade.’ This in my book is a very good thing indeed. Logic dictates that an increased number of diners will lead to an increased load upon table and kitchen staff and as such will necessitate a slightly longer-than-is-usual wait for one’s ‘Homemade Chicken Liver Pate.’ I for one am always prepared to wait for good food and I don’t believe that I’m in the minority. I’m not hurriedly bolting down a Big Mac and fries, after all. Secondly, I think: since today my long-suffering girlfriend Nicola is doing the driving to and from our luncheon appointment, I really must get to work on enjoying the spoils of my job as Wolverhampton 76

West’s resident foodie. And thirdly, I ask myself: I’ve seen countless “Polite Notices” on my travels through life but never an “Impolite Notice”…. but, I digress. Always a popular attraction, the family-run vineyard has undergone much expansion in recent years and is today a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of the Wolverhampton metropolis. Nestling into the idyllic Bobbington countryside, the 30-acre site provides more than enough scope to merit an entire day-out, but right now it’s the newly-launched 2016 restaurant menu that occupies my thoughts. Stepping in from a wickedly cold February afternoon, we receive a warm welcome from vineyard impresario, Lisa Vickers, before being taken to our corner table by Restaurant Manager, Laura Mavroidi. This is not our first visit to the restaurant. We visited last year for a culinary soiree known as ‘Gourmet Night’. And yet despite the setting being the same, the story is not. The ambiance of the restaurant is today far less formal and yet just as charming. It has to it a cottage-like quality that is homely, cosy and warm and yet it is spacious, professional and modern all at the same time. There are beams, distressed candles, mismatched chair-covers and picture-postcard views, out across to neighbouring hills, from our table. Nicola sums it up best when she calls it: “Quaint and quirky.” There’s a warmth and friendliness to the staff too, even renowned wine-maker Clive Vickers pops in to light a fire beneath the wooden mantle. Despite wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

having a room full of hungry diners the waiting staff are attentive and personable, always willing to stop for a moment here and there to converse with their guests. Only the faint yet omnipresent ‘ping’ from the pick-up call bell draws them away. For me, it’s music to my ears because in some eateries the only ‘ping’ coming from the kitchen is the sound of a microwave – whether the menu reads ‘homemade’ or not. Their fare is about as “homemade” as Mr Kipling’s Mince Pies. No such nonsense here – even the wine is local, so I make a start on a glass of exquisite Pink Sparkling Rose (£4.50). We don’t have to wait long for our first course. From a menu stuffed to the gunwales, we plump for ‘Soup of the Day with Rustic Bread’ (£4.95) and ‘Smoked Haddock and Spring Onion Fishcakes, Dressed Leaves and Lemon Crème Fraiche’ (£5.50) for starters. Nicola’s soup, I am told, is “potato and leek and has been souped-up with much tasty flavour and character.” My fishcakes are light and delicate and comprise copious quantities of fish; the crème fraiche is an expertly judged and fitting complement. Now to the mains: ‘Battered Fish and Chips: Homemade Batter with Hand Cut Chips, Peas & Homemade Tartare Sauce’ (£9.50) for me; ‘Vineyard Beef Burger, Toasted Bun, Fresh Lettuce Leaves, Tomato, Red Onion and Mayo, Hand Cut Chips and Tomato Relish’ (£8.25) for Nicola. Both dishes arrive quickly and are piping hot, having been delivered promptly after an appropriate pause between courses by the capable complement of waiting staff. Special mention goes to the fine quality of the fish, which is both tender and tasty. Each dish is very well received by each of us, which is high praise indeed, since both are classic staples on the menu of so many other competing restaurants. In other words, since they are so well known to everyone it’s easy to get them wrong. But that’s not the case today. The burger is, I’m told, “well-cooked and expertly juxtaposed with a fine array of interestingly-flavoured textures and trimmings.” Both dishes are telltale of a capable and well-oiled kitchen staff. We both enjoy every morsel and now eagerly await the next course. Dessert choices of ‘Treacle Sponge Pudding’ (£5.25) and ‘Homemade Irish Cream Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream’ (£3.95) prove to be delicious also and – following a pot of tea for two (£3.40) – leave me happily spent; ruminating on a thoroughly pleasant afternoon away from the rigours of working life. “H’penny for your thoughts?” Nicola then asks. “Let’s not leave it another year before we come back here again.”

Halfpenny Green Vineyards, Tom Lane, Bobbington, South Staffordshire DY7 5EP. To book or for further details please call 01384 221122 or visit www.halfpenny-green-vineyards.co.uk www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Independent restaurant located at

Codsall & Wergs Garden Centre Open 7 days a week Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5pm and Sunday 10 .00am to 4.00pm

Fully licensed restaurant seating 120 diners in air conditioned comfort

Try our carvery

Served 7 dayS a week

Monday - Saturday 12.00pM – 2.30pM Sunday 12.00pM – 3.00pM

Fresh food served every day Don’t forget our two for £10 Mondays We also have a full extensive menu with many home-made dishes including lasagne with vegetarian options available All meals cooked to order Monday Mini Breakfast including Tea or Coffee £4.75 (excluding bank holidays) Eden Brasserie is available for private parties with a choice of hot or cold buffet. We will even arrange the disco!

Based at Codsall & Wergs Garden Centre, Wergs Hall Road, Codsall WV8 2HJ All major credit cards accepted.

Tel: 01902 845936 Email: edenbrasserie@codsallandwergs.co.uk

Monday & Tuesday

Special Offer Choice of any starter, main course and a choice of rice or nan only £10.95pp* *Tandoori mix grill, king prawn, duck and fishes dishes £2 extra

Serving freshly prepared mouth-watering dishes for all the family

Outside catering service available

Free home delivery on takeaways within a 3 mile radius on orders over £12 OR Receive a 10% discount on collection of orders over £10

Small or large party bookings welcome, we can cater for up to 70 diners in our function room.

Please call 01902 846723 or 07930 497764 139 Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, Wolverhampton WV8 1PF

www.codsall s p i c e . c o m 78

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

MAy fAiR with ANdReW LLoyd

TAke THAT TRibuTe

Wednesday 25th May

Friday 29th April enjoy a three course meal with coffee followed by a disco until 1:00am.

Shop from 5:30pm, two course meal served 7:30pm. A evening of shopping, flower arranging and guaranteed laughter.

£27.00 per person

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Served 12:30-2:30pm

Every Thursday in our Lakeside Restaurant, 2:30- 4:30pm

Traditional three course Lunch choice menu served by our friendly and experienced team.

3 Course including Coffee £21.95 per person 2 Course including Coffee £15.95 per person

enjoy traditional Afternoon Tea with freshly prepared finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and tea. We also offer Prosecco or Champagne if you’re looking for that extra special treat.

£14.50 per person

Look us up on Trip Advisor

sales@patshull-park.co.uk

01902 700100

www.patshull-park.co.uk

Pattingham, Nr Wolverhampton WV6 7HR

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

EDEN BRASSERIE

If you’re looking for a restaurant that serves delicious homemade food, at great valuefor-money prices, then you really should pay a visit to Eden Brasserie, as Helen Taylor explains. There have been plenty of times that I’ve sauntered aimlessly around Codsall and Wergs Garden Centre, completely unaware of the culinary delights that lie just off its main shopping area in Eden Brasserie. That was until I met a friend for lunch and discovered just what the restaurant had to offer.

Despite there being a vast choice of tempting traditional main meals on the menu - like lasagne, haddock and chips and jacket potatoes, as well as a selection of sandwiches, paninis and baguettes - according to Vicky, Eden’s carvery was the must-have choice - and many diners appeared to agree. As a vegetarian it was great to see that there was not only one, but two veggie carvery options - something that’s almost

unheard of in my experience of carvery restaurants. So I was, for the first time ever, spoilt for choice when I decided on the ‘Vegetarian Wellington’ - a delicious mix of mushrooms and vegetables in a white wine sauce, wrapped in pastry. Adamant that I’d try the ‘Sweetcorn and Potato Cutlet’ next time, I filled my plate with a greedy selection of perfectly cooked vegetables - carrots,

As a Codsall local, Vicky knew that when you’re in the mood for a hearty lunch there’s no better place to dine than at Eden, so we decided to head straight for the eatery and see what was on the menu. It was 12.30pm on a Friday afternoon and the spacious restaurant was already packed with diners eagerly lining up to purchase their carvery lunch. 80

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

cabbage and new potatoes - as well as a generous helping of creamy cauliflower cheese, plenty of crispy roast potatoes and a rather large Yorkshire Pudding. Vicky was close behind, her plate piled high with three large slices of turkey breast, a colourful selection of vegetables, plenty of potatoes, a helping of cauliflower cheese and a serving of stuffing. We hurriedly sat down, flooded the plate with gravy - vegetarian in my case, of course - and quietly tucked in. Concentrating on the food - more than each other’s company - we paused only to comment on how tasty every single part of the meal was. The homemade ‘Vegetarian Wellington’ was rich and flavoursome, the turkey succulent and tender and the vegetables beautifully crisp. The roast potatoes were just as they should be, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and the cauliflower cheese was so delicious that I wished I’d been more generous with the portion I’d served for myself.

And that’s before you realise just how impressive the prices are.

it and besides, we can always resume the diet on Monday.

After surprising ourselves by almost completely clearing our plates, we sat back, relaxed, chatted and enjoyed the atmosphere in the restaurant.

Eden Brasserie don’t just do lunchtime meals though, there’s a fantastic breakfast menu as well as snacks, desserts and drinks that are served all day.

But, it wasn’t long before Eden’s Ice Cream Sundae Menu caught our eye.

In fact, the restaurant even does afternoon teas, serving freshly made sandwiches, scones and English tea in style - complete with vintage tea sets, cake stands and tablecloths.

Although we’d been more than a little indulgent with our main course, we decided that we deserved a treat and opted for a Chocolate Brownie Sundae to share. Mouth-watering Bennett’s Farm chocolate and vanilla ice cream was layered with chocolate brownie squares, drizzled with chocolate sauce and topped with cream and a wafer and served in a tall glass with two spoons. The result was impressive, and utterly scrumptious. Fighting our way through the sundae we both agreed that we’d probably eaten more than we should, but all those extra calories were definitely worth

There’s no doubt that there’s something for everyone at the restaurant and I couldn’t wait to plan my next visit. Feeling very full we made our way back through the Garden Centre and decided that we’d be making the restaurant our only destination for lunchtime catch-ups in the future. After all, there’s just so much more on the menu we have to try. Eden Brasserie based at: Codsall & Wergs Garden Centre Wergs Hall Road Codsall, WV8 2HJ

It was clear to see why Eden is well-known for its carveries and why the restaurant was filled with a seemingly continuous stream of hungry customers. www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Himley Hall A local treasure

options for couples who will also be able to meet Himley’s resident DJ and view the ceremony rooms and North Wing artdeco style function suite.

An indulgent afternoon tea

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

Weddings Open Day On Sunday 17th April couples looking for their perfect wedding venue are invited to view the ceremony and reception rooms at Himley Hall set out ready for their special day, at the Hall’s Weddings Open Day from 11.00 am – 4.00pm. Himley Hall has 3 rooms licensed for civil ceremonies, the Pink Room; once the Library of the Earls of Dudley, the Green Room; originally the formal Dining Room. Both of these rooms overlook the Hall’s terrace gardens with stunning views towards the lake. The former Billiard Room of the Hall the Oak Room, which overlooks the Hall courtyard is also now licensed for civil ceremonies. Himley Hall also offers a superb choice of wedding breakfast menus from fully inclusive three course dinner packages to high quality buffet receptions. For wedding breakfast celebrations and evening ‘after wedding’ parties the choice of Himley Hall’s North wing will ensure a couple’s wedding day experience is a special one.

Enjoy one of the true traditions of our culinary heritage in a venue where royal newlyweds spent their honeymoon and princes and earls once strolled. The classic combination of ribbon sandwiches, scones with fruit conserve and cream, sweet pastries and tea in the superb setting of Himley Hall is an afternoon of luxury that cannot be missed. Arrival at Himley Hall is at 2.00pm with guests seated in one of our beautifully refurbished ground floor rooms by 2.30pm ready to enjoy an afternoon of indulgence. Afternoon tea costs just £19.95 per person and guests may also ‘top up’ their afternoon tea with a glass of prosecco or a ‘G & T’ for a small extra charge. Afternoon Tea in Himley Hall must be pre-booked and is offered on individual weekday dates each month. Individual, small party or large group bookings are available on all Indulgent Afternoon Tea dates or for larger parties there is an option to book a private room (30- 100 persons). Gift vouchers are available if you wish to treat someone for a special occasion or simply indulge them!

Himley Hall’s wedding co-ordinators and catering managers will be available to discuss wedding day

If you would like more details on Himley Hall as a civil wedding ceremony and reception venue or for an Indulgent Afternoon Tea please call 01384 817817 or visit www.dudley.gov.uk/himleyhall 82

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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masquerade S U M M E R

B A L L

21ST MAY 2016 tickets@tettcoll.co.uk 84

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The complete reception There is far more to arranging a wedding reception than just booking a meal at an appropriate venue. All kinds of aspects have to be considered if the day is to go without a hitch. The wedding reception is the celebration by both the bride and groom’s families and their respective friends. It is possible that it is the first time all attending have ever met before. Traditionally, the bride’s parents send out invitations to all those from both families who are to be invited. The invitation will naturally contain the date, where the wedding ceremony is to take place, and then where the reception is to be held. If the invitations are to be specially printed, the printer will naturally be able to advise on the recognised wording, but special ‘template’ invitation

cards can also be bought when the details can be filled in by the bride’s parents. Nowadays, when tradition is less common, invitations are often sent out by the bride and groom themselves.

The actual venue must be chosen very carefully. Often it is a local catering establishment with a good reputation for providing such functions. Sometimes it is difficult to find such a provider with sufficient accommodation to cater for large numbers of guests. However, if the wedding ceremony is to take place at a registered wedding venue, and not a church or Register Officer, more often than not, they can provide a reception for up to 150 people, sometimes more. One thing is certain, if the reception is to go on during the evening, after the official wedding breakfast, and special friends invited to that alone, it is essential there be sufficient facilities to cater for those extra numbers. The wedding breakfast itself traditionally will be a three course meal with coffee. However there are many variations on this

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theme. Buffets are quite popular, and often less expensive than the formal sit-down affair. With a buffet though, there should be sufficient tables and chairs so that guests do not have to juggle with eating and drinking whilst standing up, and ladies having to cope with a handbag as well. Seating should be a priority, especially if there are elderly people attending. There will inevitably be children present with their parents, and arrangements should be made to cater for their needs with regard to food, drinks, and amusements. Speeches will inevitably be made, usually immediately after the meal. Sometimes these can be very amusing, other times a bit boring. Ensure those who are to make a speech will comply with the requirements of the couple. The cutting of the wedding cake is usually carried out after the speeches, but can be done before. Arrange for the baker to deliver the cake to the venue, especially if it has more than two tiers. They are experts at the ‘construction process’. Also

ensure there are an appropriate cake stand and knife. They may not necessarily be included in the cost of the cake but can be provided for an extra hire charge.

fireworks being let off at certain times, so it will be essential to contact the local authority well in advance of the date, to ascertain what the ruling is.

Some wedding celebrations may break up immediately after the meal, speeches and the going-away of the bride and groom. However the custom of extending the celebrations into the evening is now very popular. Extra guests can be invited to this ‘evening do’ where a buffet may be provided for both those who did not attend earlier in the day, and also for those that did.

There are other things that will add that extra touch to the success of the day. It is essential to ensure that transport is available for all those travelling to the reception from the ceremony location. There could well be guests who do not have cars or who are unable to drive for whatever

reason. A local taxi firm or the provider of the official wedding cars can usually oblige. The reception provider may not automatically include flowers in their ‘price per head’. If these are required, ask that they be included, or contact a local florist to make the necessary arrangements. All this will take careful planning, but you do want the wedding to be remembered for all the right reasons, don’t you?

Entertainment of some sort is essential for this part of the day. It can be a dance band complete with singer, a disco if that is more appropriate for the average age attending, or just a musician playing whatever type of music is preferred. Sometimes the evening ends with a firework display. This can be quite expensive, but some newly-weds consider it to be a special end to their special day. If the reception provider is the organiser of this, that’s fine. But care must be taken if the family is planning to this do themselves. There are bye-laws which prohibit 86

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Patshull Park, Hotel, Golf & Country Club

The Perfect Venue

At Patshull Park, we are very experienced in helping couples organise their perfect Wedding Day. We are conveniently located in the stunning Shropshire countryside between Telford and Wolverhampton and our beautiful grounds offer many opportunities for those perfect wedding photographs. As an independent Hotel, Patshull Park has an excellent reputation for hosting wedding receptions. From your initial enquiry, all planning and

finer details of your wedding day are handled by our professional and dedicated team, ensuring your special day is a memorable one. With breathtaking scenery, fantastic food and experienced professional staff, you are sure to make the right choice when booking at Patshull Park. The Dartmouth and Lewisham suite which is situated at the front of the hotel, has spectacular views over the Great Lake and is fully air conditioned. The suite also benefits from its own patio which has seating during the summer months. The flexibility of the suite means that it is suitable

Wedding

For the perfect

Winter Wedding Offer 2016

for Wedding Breakfasts up to 120 and is also licensed to hold civil ceremonies and civil partnerships. The Dartmouth and Lewisham Suite can also accommodate up to 200 guests for your evening buffet. Patshull Park prides itself on its unique mix of hospitality and service which can be tailored to suit your individual needs. So whatever your objectives for holding your wedding at Patshull Park, we are confident you will be impressed with our venue and service. Call our Wedding Coordinator Jo Guest on 01902 700100 to book your visit.

Patshull Park Hotel Pattingham WV6 7HR www.patshull-park.co.uk email: sales@patshull-park.co.uk For a personal visit please call 01902 700 100 and ask for the sales team.

November & December 2016

£3,500.00 package including 50 lunch guests, 100 evening buffet guests plus, disco and room hire until 1.00am. Contact Jo Guest for available dates.

Experience the Scenery Breathtaking scenery and professional staff. Excellent food and friendly service. Packages for most budgets including ‘off peak’ offers. A perfect day tailored to your specific requirements.

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Wedding Fair Sunday 25th September Free Entry, 11.00am - 3.00pm Special offers for guests booking their wedding on the day.

Planning Your Beauty Routine The venue is booked, the invites are posted and you’ve found your dream dress, so now it’s time to focus on your beauty routine. Courtesy of BHS

by Helen Taylor

Beautiful Bride There’s plenty to be doing in the months and weeks before your wedding, here’s where to start:

Exfoliate regularly and invest in some quality skincare products that are specially formulated for your skin type.

Begin a dedicated skincare routine as early as possible. Thoroughly cleansing, toning and moisturising every day is essential for a clear complexion.

Booking in for regular facials at the salon is a good idea too; schedule one every four to six weeks, several months before. You need to plan your hair care routine just as thoroughly, start by thinking about how you want your hair to look on your big day. If you want long, flowing, glossy tresses then you’ll need to start maximising the condition of your hair now. Book in for regular trims, ditch the heat styling tools, use quality products and try a change of hair colour. Darker shades add gloss to your locks and can help improve the overall look of your hair. It’s always a good idea to speak to your stylist and colourist to make a plan for your big day as soon as possible. Well-groomed and well-shaped brows are essential for creating that beautiful natural look that works so well with your wedding makeup. If you’ve over-plucked in the past give your brows time to fill-out by abstaining from plucking. Make regular appointments at the salon for eyebrow shaping, so that you’ll be guaranteed to have the perfect arched brow to accompany your natural make-up look. Schedule weekly manicures leading up to your big day to ensure that your nails are a uniform shape and length. Plan to get your teeth professionally whitened around three weeks before your wedding as sensitivity can hang around for a couple of weeks after the treatment. Don’t forget to avoid red wine, coffee and other teeth-staining food and drinks afterwards.

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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Dream Hair at Ego: Great Lengths Extensions

take care of clients looking to transform their tresses. “We always do a thorough consultation before we apply any extensions. It gives us a chance to look at our client’s hair type and establish what will work best for the look they want to achieve.” The consultation costs £25 and is refunded against the price of the service. “Great Lengths extensions are premium quality and are made from genuine human hair, that’s why they look so natural when they’re applied and can be styled and coloured just like normal hair.” Length, volume, texture and even colour can be instantly added to your locks and you can have as many or as few extensions applied as you like. “We have a lot of ladies come to the salon who’ve always wanted long hair but have never been able to grow it, as well as those who are fed up of their fine hair and want to have a really volumised style.”

The team at Ego know that there’s no better way to transform your look than with hair extensions, that’s why they offer their clients only the best quality, ethically sourced, 100% human hair extensions from leading brand, Great Lengths.

client’s can rest assured that we’re always completely up-todate with the latest techniques.” Layla and Caz are the salon’s extension specialists and they

And thanks to Great Length’s specially formulated bonds, natural hair remains undamaged by the extension process. “As long as the extensions are applied by a certified Great Lengths stylist, using either the Classic Heat

Able to create fabulous length, volume and texture, the team have made client’s dreams come true using the Great Lengths extensions, giving them the hair they’ve always wanted. Officially recognised as skilled extensionists by the brand, Ego has achieved an impressive Silver Salon status, as salon owner, Layla Sedgemore explains:“Great Lengths ensure that salons using their extensions meet their high standards in training and professional application, so 90

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

or Cold Fusion system, there should be no damage to the natural hair.” The extensions can last up to five months when clients follow a simple maintenance programme. “We always give our clients plenty of advice on how to look after their extensions as well as a free ‘care pack’ - that’s complete with a brush, shampoo and conditioner - to take home.” You can rest assured that when you choose Great Lengths extensions the hair you’re wearing has been ethically sourced.

“The brand prides itself on its 100% ethical and traceable hair, which is sourced from Temples in India.” The Ego team have created some gorgeous looks for their clients using Great Lengths. “We’ve got lots of pictures on our facebook and twitter pages showing the fabulous looks we’ve styled for our customers,” adds Layla. So, whether you’re looking for just a subtle change or a fabulous new look Great Lengths extensions are sure to be perfect for you.

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Book in with Layla or Caz today and get the look you’re always wanted for your hair. Ego Ego 299/301 Tettenhall Road 299/301 Tettenhall Road Newbridge Newbridge Wolverhampton Wolverhampton WV6 0LB WV601902 0LB 754455 Tel: Tel: 01902 754455 Email: news@ego-hairsalon.co.uk Email: news@ego-hairsalon.co.uk Facebook: Ego-HairSalon1 Facebook: Ego-HairSalon1 Twitter: @EgoHairSalon1 Twitter: @EgoHairSalon1 Instagram: EGOHAIRSALON1 Instagram: EGOHAIRSALON1 91

Skin & Tonic

Beauty at Its Best eyes further enhance the

Skin & Tonic has just celebrated its 15th birthday and as a birthday gift to their clients they’ve introduced a revolutionary new treatment from their skincare brand ELEMIS. “We selected Elemis to be the leading brand at Skin & Tonic 15 years ago and we have not been disappointed. It has continuously improved its formulations to cope with the ever changing lifestyles of our clients,” says salon owner, Claire McCormack.

25 years of wisdom “The new BIOTEC Line Eraser Facial is a rejuvenating treatment that combines scientific expertise and a new technological experience with the very best of Elemis’ hands-on therapy to deliver truly effective anti-ageing results.”

Here’s how it works: “Following a bespoke consultation, skin is cleansed, exfoliated and toned to prepare it for the skin-renewing properties of the Lines and Wrinkles Activator.” Hydra-Active Gel Soothing Masks for the face and 92

Activator’s unique ingredients, helping to moisturise and calm the skin, while a luxurious re-energising Amber Massage Balm stimulates specific skin responses for maximum results.

Now for the technology that puts the TEC in BIOTEC. “The treatment begins with a low intensity microcurrent, which stimulates and strengthens muscle memory to lift and firm up skin. L.E.D light therapy and oxygen infusion technologies then help plump up and smooth away visible fine lines and wrinkles, leaving skin looking refreshed, radiant, and healthy.”

After a thorough consultation your Beauty Therapist will advise on the most suitable Biotec Facial for your needs. .................................................... Another of Skin & Tonics new treatments for 2016 is LVL ENHANCE created exclusively by Nouveau Lashes. LVL ENHANCE is the revolutionary natural lash treatment taking the beauty industry by storm.

“Unlike a traditional lash perm, LVL ENHANCE straightens your natural lashes at the root, creating the appearance of longer, thicker lashes. Plus the added lash tint creates a mascara-type effect, so your lashes are perfect from the moment you wake up,” adds Claire.

Introductory price: £40, with Hana, our Lash Expert Please note a patch test for the LVL treatment is required at least 48 hours prior to your appointment.

With this trio of actives, hands and technology, combined in a layered system, clinical results show Elemis have achieved something very special. “Independent Clinical Trials on the BIOTEC Line Eraser Facial show 100% would delay surgery or Botox following a course of facials, 100% felt there was a dramatic reduction in fine lines and wrinkles and 95% agreed there was an increase in skin firmness and elasticity after just one treatment.” There are 7 more highly affective super charged facials to choose from. wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

ELEMIS

BIOTEC FACIAL TREATMENTS Now available in Wolverhampton exclusively at Skin & Tonic A unique fusion of ACTIVES, TOUCH and TECHNOLOGY. 8 highly effective super-charged facial treatments target specific skin needs to reveal a new generation of facials. Clinically proven and bridges the gap between a hands-on facial and cosmetic/non-invasive procedures. 8 customisable facials target specific skin needs.

• Anti-ageing • Lifting & Firming • Resurfacing • Pigmentation • Dullness • Anti-Blemish • Sensitive • Dehydrated Skin & Tonic are offering Wolverhampton West Magazine readers 10% dIScOuNT* on all Elemis Biotec Facial Treatments *Offer valid until 31st May 2016 when you present this advert, no photocopies, one voucher per person and must be mentioned at time of booking. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Open Monday - Saturday, late nights Wednesday & Thursday until 8pm To book an appointment or for further details please call 01902 757357 or email: claire@skintonic.co.uk www.skintonic.co.uk 21 School Road, Tettenhall Wood, Wolverhampton WV6 8EN

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y t t e r Pin ! k n i P Vivienne Westwood Earrings £45

Spring/Summer is here again and we are all looking to update our current wardrobes, one of the easiest ways to make a statement is a change of accessories.

Michael Kors £155

The Spring/Summer catwalks highlighted a number of key styles including the bucket, cross- body and satchel bag. These styles are obviously nothing new but what is evident is that bags are heading to smaller dimensions. The major colours highlighted on the catwalk included soft pinks with warm neutrals, hardware on accessories and jewellery is dominated by rose gold detailing. With an expanding brand portfolio including Armani Jeans, Vivienne Westwood, Versace Jeans, Calvin Klein and Michael Kors there’s something for everyone to get excited about.

Adidas £90

Michael Kors £155

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

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Armani Jeans £165 Michael Kors £155

Michael Kors £285

Armani Jeans £169

Michael Kors £315

Armani Jeans £110

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2016 S p r i n g a n d S u m m e r at

Aristocats

Whatever the occasion, you are sure to find the perfect outfit at Aristocats. Clothes that will take you effortlessly to any function whether casual or formal in the daytime, after six or late evening. Fabulous quality, stylish and easy to wear. Call in at Aristocats today to update your fashion look this season.

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

• Aldo Martins • Basler • Betty Barclay • Eugen Klein • Faber • Frank Walder • Gelco • Joseph Ribkoff • Just White • Olsen • Rabe • Oui

Open Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm, Saturday 10am - 4pm Ample parking behind the premises in New Street or on the road opposite the Esso petrol station.

Co-ordinated Day Wear • Coats • Cocktail & Evening Wear Lingerie • Accessories • Belts • Bags • Jewellery • Hosiery 234www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk Coalway Road, Penn,Wolverhampton WV3 7NN Tel: 01902 344003

Special offer for all new clients

CUT & FINISH ONLY £20 April offer

KIDS CUTS Salon 27 are a unisex salon and have a monthly offer throughout the year, even one for the kids! Half price colour To book an appointment please call on: every Thursday with selected stylists. Kids cut offer every www.salon27wolverhampton.co.uk Monday 3pm-5pm Find us on Facebook: Salon 27 unisex hairsalon. 65 Wakeley Hill, Penn, Wolverhampton, WV4 5BA

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Monday 9am – 5pm Wednesday 9am – 7pm Thursday 11am – 8pm Friday 9am – 6pm Saturday 8.30am to 4.30pm Closed Tuesday and Sunday

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We’re experts in identity design, brand development and marketing communications and provide businesses with clear thinking, straight talking and well crafted design. Get in touch to discuss your next project.

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Dermapen at

Cosmetique

The team of experts at Wolverhamptonbased Aesthetic Clinic, Cosmetique, have been busy helping clients take care of all manner of beauty concerns using the latest - and best techniques and products. Owner Suky Chana explains: “We’re a GP/Consultant-led clinic that specialises in dermal fillers, Dermapen, laser treatments and other skincare treatments to enable clients to tackle their skin concerns.” Cosmetique is not a beauty salon, so clients can rest assured that when they receive treatment they’re in capable hands.

Dermapen has proved to be an incredibly popular treatment at the clinic, with clients being delighted with the results.

“Dermapen is a revolutionary micro-needling treatment that works to tighten, lift and rejuvenate the skin, promoting natural collagen production with very little downtime.” The treatment is ideal for treating fine lines and wrinkles, minimising pores, dealing with surgical or acne scars as well as treating pigmentation and stretch marks. “As the Dermapen device is in the form of a pen, it is perfect for treating hard to reach areas around the eyes, nose and lips.”

And, there is little epidermal damage when compared to the Dermaroller, which means there is minimal discomfort for the client. “A lot of people have the treatment a day or two before a night out, party or function they’re attending to ensure they look their best.” A course of three Dermapen treatments are recommended and the results are sure to impress. Contact the clinic today to find our more.

Throughout March and April 2016 Cosmetique are offering a course of 3 treatments that usually cost £150 per treatment for only £99 per treatment.

“The procedures we offer are carefully researched, backed by medical evidence and carried out by professionals.”

570 Penn Road Penn Wolverhampton WV4 4HU

Clinically led with all procedures carried out by qualified medical staff • • • • • •

Laser Hair Removal IPL Pigmentation Scars Blemishes Stretch Marks Collagen Enhancement

• • • • • •

Skin Rejuvination Anti-wrinkle Injections Dermal Fillers Tear Trough Dermapen (needling) Cryotherapy (removal of warts, skin tags and age spots)

To book an appointment or further details please call 01902 334181 cosmetiqueaesthetic@gmail.com www.cosmetiqueaesthetics.co.uk www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Urban Hair and Beauty

2016 Update The team at Urban Hair and Beauty have been busy making some exciting changes at the salon over the past 12 months. As owner, Karen Lewis explains: “We’ve been extremely busy lately, we’ve launched our brand new website, developed an app for iPhone and Android - that allows clients to earn loyalty points to spend on salon services - and welcomed two new staff members - making us a team of nine.”

And that’s not all: “We have created beautiful wedding hair looks for many brides-to-be and transformed client’s hair using Great Lengths extensions.” Beautician Emma Jackson joined Urban last year and has quickly established a loyal clientele. “Emma is passionate about beauty and highly skilled in nails. She takes care of waxing, Lash Perfect semi-permanent eyelashes, HD Brows and CND Nails.” And Chloe Griffiths is the salon’s newest stylist: “Chloe recently qualified and has been doing a great job styling gorgeous looks for our clients.” As a TIGI Colour Specialist Salon, the team are well-versed in all of the latest colouring techniques. “We’re using plenty of new colouring techniques for 2016; Marble Shading, Abstract Shading and TwoTier Glazing. Each different colouring technique allows us to create an individual look for our clients.” The team specialise in hair extensions and Hayley Lewis

is the salon’s certified Great Lengths specialist. “Hayley has completely transformed clients’ hair using the extensions and the results have been amazing.” Urban have delighted plenty of brides on their big day by giving them - and their bridal party - the look they’ve always dreamed of. “Bridal hair is our forte and we love styling brides-to-be, whether it’s at their wedding venue or in our salon. Thanks to Hayley’s qualifications in Airbase make-up we’re able to take care of the bride’s make-up too.” It’s not just the ladies that benefit though, Technical Colour Director, Christie Williams, has recently been awarded her Advanced Barbering Qualification and has been taking care of the salon’s ever-growing male clientele. So, whether you fancy a restyle, new colour or maybe even some extensions, get in touch with Urban today.

TIGI© Colour Specialist Hair Salon offering only the highest quality products

Spring Offers with Chloe

£5 off CUT & FINISH or £10 off COLOUR

Offers available Monday to Thursday during March and April 2016 when you present this advert. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Official Bronze Salon for Great Length Hair Extensions Qualified Barbers

Please call 01902 847306 13 Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, WV8 1PT

www.urbanhairandbeauty.com

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wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Cambridge Weight Plan

Join Karen and be a part of the success story today

Karen meets regularly with her team to share her knowledge, advise on best practice and help them with any problems they’re facing as new Consultants. “We’re a great team and each member has a unique skill set we work really well together.” Anyone who has completed Cambridge Weight Plan is able to be considered for Consultant training, although Karen handpicks her team to reflect her high standards and those of the Company. “Completing the weight loss journey is all part of the process of becoming a Consultant, as you need that personal experience of Cambridge Weight Plan and its products to properly understand its benefits.”

Front row from left Tim Jones, Ruby Mander, Karen Price, Penny Higgs & Tanyer Mercer. Back Row from left Mark Williams, Dave Deeley & Louise Peck.

Dedicated to helping people achieve their weight-loss goals, Karen Price has worked hard over the past 7 years to ensure that her Cambridge Weight Plan clients become a success story.

the Plan with me, they decided they wanted to join Cambridge Weight Plan and help others.”

Now, she’s taking her support to the next level by sponsoring her clients as they embark on a new journey.

“Each of my former clients have achieved a great deal of success and I’m really pleased to have been able to recommend them to Cambridge Weight Plan and support them now that they’re accredited.”

Karen explains: “Several of my exclients have recently become fullyAccredited Cambridge Weight Plan Consultants. Having completed

As their sponsor, Karen helped them become a part of the Cambridge Weight Plan family and after completing all of their required training with the Company, they’re now ready to set-up on their own.

Once you’ve completed the Plan with Karen you can then be recommended for Consultant training. “Being a Consultant is so rewarding and there’s so much support available from the Company and from myself as your sponsor. It’s great to be able to spread the word of Cambridge Weight Plan.” And the Company which has been established for over 30 years is only going from strength to strength: “Cambridge Weight Plan as a brand is flourishing and the company has just embarked on another national TV advertising campaign.” To achieve your weight loss goals today, or to find out more about becoming a Consultant contact Karen on 07974 974 994.

Tettenhall Weight Loss Centre (based at Chris Jewkes Fitness), Danescourt Road, Tettenhall , Wolverhampton WV6 9BQ

KSP Team Contact Telephone Numbers & Areas Covered: Based in Tettenhall Weight Loss Centre Karen Price – 07974 974 994 Mark C Williams - 07445 306 738 (also covering Bridgnorth) Wolverhampton and surrounding areas Louise Peck - 07790 982 888 Albrighton and surrounding areas Penny Higgs - 07540 899 907 Mobile visits to home available on request 15 miles radius of Wolverhampton Tim Jones - 07890 138 682 Mobile visits to home available on request Wolverhampton & surrounding areas Ruby Mander - 07720 314 098

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Wolverhampton areas, Cannock & Burntwood Tanya Mercer - 07790 389 551 Wombourne/Stourbridge/Kingswinford and surrounding areas Dave Deeley - 07962 400 515 (also covering Coventry) Wolverhampton City Centre & surrounding areas Samantha & Anthony Worton - 07974 694 609 Featherstone Brewood Coven & surrounding areas Rozina Ali - 07860 814 904 Compton, Wolverhampton & surrounding areas Rachel Bruerton - 07885 409 478

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Model wears: White Tiered Dress £50 Gold Crystal Earrings £16 Both River Island

Stunning

Spring Fashion By Helen Taylor Spring fashion is all about fresh hues and pretty prints, that’s why it’s the perfect time of year to rethink your style and treat yourself to a new look. And, because there’s so many flattering and feminine pieces to choose from there’s no doubt that you’ll be spoilt for choice when you hit the high street.

Model wears: Ruffle Shirt £35 Denim Patchwork Mini Skirt £35 Both River Island

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for 2016’s hottest trends for a real fashion-forward look; denim, Spanish-inspired ruffles, romantic floral patterns and off-the-shoulder tops are all big news this season. Earrings

Necklace

Ring

Cascade Collection by Fei Lui from £125 Also available in Silver and Black Rhodium Vermeil. Exclusively at T.A. Henn, Wolverhampton 102

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

‘Carey’ Wedges £65 Dune

Off-The-Shoulder Blouse £35 Wallis

Dress £42 River Island

Silver Bag £140 Michael Kors at Diffusion

Bucket Bag £255 Vivienne Westwood at Diffusion

Trousers £35 Wallis

‘Lizzie’ Floral Dress £130 Phase Eight

Floral Knit £69 Phase Eight

Brooch £120 Vivienne Westwood at Diffusion

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Handbag £55 Nica at House of Fraser

High Shine Shoes £125 Michael Kors at Diffusion 103

We hear so much about the importance of setting objectives and working towards that all-important goal, but we know as much as anyone how life can simply get in the way. We get embroiled in so much of the day-to-day – whether that is stressing over a meeting at work, worrying about not having enough time to see our friends, or frantically preparing for our child’s birthday party –

that actually we forget about what’s really important. You! So, how do you make sure that you achieve our own precious goals? We are ultimately responsible for our own behaviour and we are also too often the biggest barrier to us achieving our own goals. The key is to grab firm hold of the reins and take full responsibility for getting to where you want to be. Here are just a few of our tips on how you can do it…

Make Time | In the frenzy that is everyday life, we often lose focus and by the time we’ve done all the jobs we need to throughout

the day, before we know it it’s time to prepare for tomorrow. If your goal is really important to you, make sure that you allocate a little bit of time – even if it’s just ten minutes – to focus on you.

Go For It | Many of us think a lot about what it is we want to achieve, but the majority of us fall at the first hurdle by doing just that – ‘thinking’. To really have a chance at fulfilling your goal, no matter what it might be, the first step is to make a decision and take action! Be Focused | During the time you’ve specifically set aside to work on your own goal, make sure that you spend this time carefully and don’t get distracted by activities that won’t get you to where you want to be. Ask For Help | If you’re struggling with committing to your goals, or need someone to be accountable to, don’t be afraid to ask. Friends and family will jump at the chance at being your cheerleader and supporting you in your mission for happiness!

Kevin Rogers

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www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Looking after

your eyes At Taylor Biddle Opticians, looking after your eyes is our top priority.

Good vision is essential throughout life. During the first few years of life it is important to ensure that children have the opportunity to achieve their full visual, educational and social potential. Obstacles to vision such as squints and refractive errors (long and short-sightedness) during the early years of life can lead to amblyopia (“lazy” eye) which, unless detected and treated leads to irreversible visual impairment in the affected eye. Therefore it’s essential for all children to have an eye exam before they start school the cost of which is covered by the NHS.

is perfectly natural, albeit annoying and spectacles often become more necessary as we get older. Unfortunately, not all problems with the eyes are correctable with spectacles, and a thorough examination of the eyes can detect problems which may need referral on to a specialist. Early detection is the key to preventing sight loss. Did you know that we can lose up to 40% of our vision before we may notice? At Taylor Biddle Opticians, we offer extended eye examinations which include 3D OCT scans of the back of the eye, sometimes requiring dilation of the pupils. These scans are very detailed and are not to be confused with “free” photos offered by many high street multiples. The results of the scan are analysed and explained by Optometrist so that diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration can be detected much sooner than the normal eye exam getting you the treatment you need fast. Good vision is essential for enjoying good quality of life.

During school years and forward into working life, clear, comfortable vision allows us to perform at our best. There are now far more challenges to the visual system because of our dependence on computers/tablets/mobile phones, so much so that even a small correction combined with a good antireflection coating on the lenses can bring huge relief. In our 40s, even if we have been lucky enough to not need to wear spectacles or contact lenses, we find that our eyes change and we start to need extra magnification close up. This change (presbyopia)

Designer Frames from… & many more Your Local Family Opticians Full eye examinations Ocular health checks The latest eye scanning OCT technology Visual Dyslexia Colorimetry assessments

SpECIAL OFFERS FREE TRIAL We are offering you the chance to try new Daily Disposable ACUVUE® Oasys - the Contact Lens that keeps up with your demanding days. (Offer ends 30th April 2016. Not suitable for astigmatism.)

£10 upgRADE to Sensity photochromic lens Now stocking fabulous and exclusive Oliver peoples frames

with every purchase of bespoke varifocals (Offer ends 31st May 2016. Terms and conditions apply to both offers.)

www.taylorbiddleopticians.co.uk 39 Bridgnorth Road, Compton Tel: 01902 750 325 34 Windmill Bank, Wombourne Tel: 01902 895 909 106

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Your current wardrobe can be easily updated with the correct accessories to achieve a great new look...

SPRING

& SUMMER Hudson £110

2016

Adidas £100

Armani Jeans £79

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Vivienne Westwood £375

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

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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The Addictive

Fitbit Want to make sure you’re completing your 10,000 steps a day, or are you looking to improve your training? An activity tracker can help. The FitBit is probably the best known brand on the market, with several models to choose from:

The entry level Zip, at around £50, tracks your steps, distance walked and calories burned. “So it’s a fancy pedometer then?” I hear you ask. Well, yes, basically, but it’s more responsive and you can sync it to your computer or smartphone to see your activity presented as a graph. This makes it much easier to monitor your activity levels over time and track your progress. The Zip also acts as a watch, and there are various other extras, such as the ability to log your food intake. Feel like you’re getting your full eight hours of sleep, but still feel tired? You might want to opt for One or Flex, which track your sleep as well as your activity. They also have silent alarms, to wake you up, but not your partner. One clips onto your clothing, while Flex is worn like a watch. There are some

differences in what they offer – Flex doesn’t have a clock, for example. Charge is similar to Flex, in that you wear it like a watch, but it comes with some added extras, such as a clock. If your phone is nearby and it rings, the caller ID will come up on the Charge display. It also has a better battery life, of up to 10 days. Charge HR is designed for people who work out regularly, as it can recognise different exercises, and has an automatic heart-rate monitor to help maximise your training.

Top of the range is Surge, at around £200. It’s been designed for people who are really serious about their sports performance, and want to monitor every aspect of their training. For instance, you can track the route you’re running using GPS. You can also control music and read texts that come through to your smartphone. So which one to go for? Well Zip is a great choice if you just want to check whether you’re walking those recommended 10,000 steps a day. If you cycle, run, or enjoy another sport, you’ll want to opt for a more advanced model. Now, a warning… It is possible to get ever so slightly obsessed with the FitBit. You can easily find yourself checking it hundreds of times a day, which can distract you from real life, and you can find yourself pushing ever harder, unnecessarily. On the positive side, it does encourage you to increase your activity levels and build up your fitness. Like so much in life, the key is moderation. Tempted? Head to: www.fitbit.com

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wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

PERSONAL TRAINING DELIVERS RESULTS

Personal training now includes: FREE use of all the club’s facilities, including classes at any time. No membership required. Chris Jewkes Fitness has quickly become the premier personal training centre in the area. The club offers memberships and classes like any other, but the real difference is the array of bespoke personal training programmes on offer. www.chrisjewkesfitness.com • Danescourt Road, Tettenhall, WV6 9BQ • 01902 750 355

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Young Citizen Awards

Do you Do knowyou a young, inspiring know individual a who young, enjoys Do you know a young, inspiring individual who enjoys going that extra mile going helping others? that ext going that extra mile helping others? If so, you shouldIf nominate so, them you for the shoul If so, you should nominate them for the Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Young Citizen Award 2016 Wolverhampton Young Citizen Award 2016 The winner receives The thewinner Young Citizen trophy receives and a The winner receives the Young Citizen trophy and a

CASH CASH PRIZE CASH PRIZE of of £500 £500 PR Nominees Nominees must be: must be: Nominees must be: • Aged under 19•on theAged 31st August 2016 under 19 on the

31st

Aged under 19 or onstudying the 31st within Augustthe 2016 • •Living, working • Living, boundaries working of the City ofor Wolverhampton studying • Living, working or studying within the boundaries of the City of Wolverhampton for a Deadline for applications is 30th April 2016 Deadline

applications is 30thDesk April Nomination Nomination forms areDeadline availableforfrom the forms Reception are at2016 the Civicavailable Centre or the f Nomination forms areat available from the Reception Desk or at the oratthe Customer Customer Services Desk Waitrose Services Superstore, Penn Desk Road, are Civic downloadable atCentre Waitrose :Customer Services Desk at Waitrose Superstore, Penn Road, or are downloadable at :-

www.wolverhamptonyoungcitizen.co.uk www.wolverh www.wolverhamptonyoungcitizen.co.uk In association with...

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wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

embrace your inner smile

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CHIROPODY & PODIATRY CLINICS

HCPC/STATE REGISTERED

Tom Casey BSc (Hons), MCHS, SRCH Margaret Kennedy BSc (Hons), MCHS, SRCH Ian Banyard Chartered Physiotherapist MCSP, MMACP, MAACP, MSc Physiotherapy Clinic now available please call 01902 833426

Treatments for: Nails, callus, corns, verrucas Diabetic & arthritic feet Heel and forefoot pain Ingrown toenails & nail surgery Functional & biomechanical issues Conditions needing orthotics/insoles

• Friendly Personal Service • Medical Centre Facilities • Secure Parking • Disabled Access • Centrally located • Home Visits Available Presentations & talks are available to interested groups.

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Park Avenue Clinic 13a Park Avenue Wolverhampton WV1 4AH For an appointment in our refurbished modern surgery please call Tom Casey on 07828 613165 or 01902 833426 For other surgery appointments please call or visit: Albrighton Eye Centre 2 Station Road Albrighton WV7 3QG 01902 374727 Six Ways Clinic 24 Birmingham Road Walsall WS1 2LT 01922 622521

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Tom’s tip:

Causes of gout

A high level of uric acid in the blood (called hyperuricaemia) is the main cause of gout. When there is too much uric acid in your blood, it can no longer dissolve and it crystallizes into urate crystals. Your body then attacks these crystals, causing the tissues to become inflamed. The crystals usually settle where blood circulation is poor, such as the joints in your extremities. This is why most gout attacks first occur in the big toe. Even though the symptoms of gout may subside within a few days, you may still have too much uric acid in your blood, and future gout attacks are likely.

• Pain or discomfort suddenly increases and lasts most of the night, then gradually subsides over several days. • Peeling itchy skin that may appear red, angry, shiny and infected around the affected joint. • Limited mobility in the affected joint • Lumps or nodules (called tophi) appear around the affected area.

Treatment

While the exact causes of gout are not fully understood, some factors are known. Some people have a genetic predisposition to develop gout. Gout may also be related to other medical conditions. Diet also accounts for some gout; foods that contain purines, a kind of protein found in meat and fish, produces uric acid in the body. Some people have poor uric acid metabolism, so when they eat purine-rich food, they develop hyperuricaemia as a consequence.

For those people with an on-going gout episode then Colchicine is prescribed to return the urate crystals back to uric acid fluid.

Symptoms of Gout

Thomas Casey

• Warm, burning pain with swelling in and around a joint, such as fingers or knee. Gout usually starts in a big toe joint. • Pain usually begins during the night. Even light pressure from a sock or sheet is intolerable.

Creating beauty in every smile

For some people prone to gout episodes then Allopurinol is usually prescribed. This is taken one a day for life. Some people have to have both medicines, but this is unusual. Chiropodists/Podiatrists are often the first professionals to diagnose gout due to frequent patient contact.

Chiropodist/Podiatrist HCPC registered

You don’t have to let denture problems get you down. At Simply Dentures our aim is to provide the best options so you can wear dentures with confidence. The main problems tend to be either the fit, the appearance or the function. Taking time to listen to your individual needs means we are in a good place to help get things right. Call now for an information pack and book a complimentary consultation.

Mr Peter Brookes

Call free on 0800 9788 665 More info at www.simplydentures.net

Find us at Parkdale Dental Clinic 82 Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton, WV1 4TF

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

(GDC No.124429) is our leading Clinical Dental Technician and has spent over 16 years refining the skills needed to produce your high quality dentures.

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WhY is THE

Anterior Cruciate Ligament IMPORTANT? Almost everyone can remember a famous footballer who has damaged this ligament eg Michael Owen, Paul Gascoigne. Inevitably it means a missed season, whilst they rehabilitate following repair of this ligament in their knee. The knee joint is comprised of three bones; The lower end of the thigh bone, top of the shin bone and kneecap. On their own, these bones have little inherent stability and require muscles and ligaments to enable the stability necessary for normal function. The main stabilising muscle groups are situated on the front (Quadriceps) and back (Hamstrings) of the thigh. Four major ligaments provide stability to the knee; Two located on either side of the joint called ‘Collateral ligaments’ and two ‘Cruciate ligaments’ located within the centre of the joint itself. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is located to the front of the knee with the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) hidden towards the back of the knee (see Fig 1).

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) This ligament is the main provider of ‘rotational’ stability in the knee. Without it the knee is prone to ‘giving way’ doing activities which require sudden changes of direction. eg. Playing football, turning quickly whilst just shopping or even walking the dog on uneven ground. Patients complain that they lack confidence in their knee.

How is the ACL damaged?

FIG 1, KNEE ANATOMY Thigh bone

Knee cap

Collateral ligament

Outer cartilage

Inner cartilage

Posterior Cruciate Ligament

Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Shin bone

Knee Examination When I assess knees with a torn ACL, the most striking feature is the amount of abnormal movement (laxity) between the thigh and shin bone, compared to the opposite knee. In most patients we confirm our diagnosis by performing a MRI scan. Images (Fig 2) show a normal and torn ACL.

How do we treat a torn ACL?

Classically, it is torn following a severe twisting injury sustained during sport, however any situation leading to an uncontrolled vigorous rotation of the joint can tear the ACL eg stumbling down some steps.

To regain the stability required for normal function, we have to reconstruct the ACL using a patient’s own tissue; either part of their patellar tendon or hamstrings. This is performed by keyhole surgery. The images (Fig 3) show actual pictures from within the knee during the operation.

Symptoms

Rehabilitation

Patients’ experience severe pain in the knee and many are convinced they must have broken a bone. Often they hear a ‘pop’ or ‘crack’ sound which is the ligament rupturing and the knee swells more or less immediately.

A structured individualised rehabilitation protocol is provided for all patients. Physiotherapy exercises will be started immediately following surgery and patients will require 2-3 weeks on crutches.

FIG 2, Knee MRI Normal ACL

Torn ACL

A return to full sporting activities is expected in approximately 6 - 9 months.

FIG 3, Keyhole surgery pictures A: New reconstructed ACL, P: Posterior Cruciate Ligament P P A

Distinct Ligament Fibres

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No Ligament Fibres

Before reconstruction

After reconstruction

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

WOLVERHAMPTON HIP

& KNEE CLINIC

The Wolverhampton hip and knee clinic has been developed to provide modern, comprehensive and evidence based treatment for all hip and knee disorders. Mr David Simpson is an established and experienced Consultant orthopaedic surgeon. He is the leading regional exponent of custom made, personalised ‘Signature’ knee replacements.

MR DAVID SIMPSON CONSULTANT ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON

Areas of expertise: - Hip and knee arthritis - Hip and knee replacements - Custom made patient specific ‘Signature’ knee replacements - Sports Injuries - Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery - Cartilage surgery - Tibial osteotomy / realignment surgery

To book an appointment or for further details please contact: The Wolverhampton Hip and Knee Clinic, Nuffield Health Hospital, Wood Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, WV6 8LE Tel: 01902 754177 ext. 2391, 01902 793225 or visit: www.wolverhamptonhipandkneeclinic.co.uk

Wolverhampton Police We are urging parents of teenage boys to look out for the signs their sons may be carrying knives… before it’s too late.

Our new anti- knife crime campaign illustrates the catastrophic consequences knives can have on young lives. The campaign had been launched to tackle the levels of recorded knife crime which has increased since August last year. Most people in possession of knives are young men aged 15 to 19. These knives, which are predominantly kitchen knives, are then used in robbery or violence. We are urging mothers who find their children are carrying knives to encourage them to deposit it at one of the many knife surrender bins across the region. Knife bins give people a place to safely off-load items which could otherwise destroy lives…they are successful because the community wants them and are working hard to make sure people use them. People who have disposed of knives have made a positive decision… probably the best decision they’ll ever make. It is illegal to carry any knife, other than a small folding pocket knife, in public. Anyone found carrying a knife in public, irrespective of whether they used it in anger, faces up to four years in jail. Locations of knife surrender bins in Wolverhampton are: New Testament Church of God, Wednesfield Road, Heath Town, WV10 0EN Tabernacle Baptist Church, Dunstall Road, Whitmore Reans, WV6 0NJ Morrisons, Black Country Route, Bilston, WV14 0DZ

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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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 18th May FOR ONE WEEK ONLY *Places limited and sold on a first come, first served basis

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FREE Child Swim Pass Voucher valid until 30th May 2016 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…………………...................................................... Wolverhampton West Magazine March/April 2016

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Learn To Swim • High quality swimming tuition • Affordable prices and pay scheme

with South Staffordshire’s Swim Academy

• Lessons from 3yrs up to adults • Beginners and non-swimmers to advanced standards Codsall Leisure Centre

01902 844032

Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre

01922 417790

Penkridge Leisure Centre

01785 714152

Wombourne Leisure Centre

01902 898202

www.sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure GET YOUR FREE SWIM PASS ON THE OPPOSITE PAGE www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Education

and Schooling

by David Williams – Headmaster of Tettenhall College

I spent Christmas Eve morning at the top of the Schiltorn, Switzerland admiring not only the fantastic views of the neighbouring mountains in the Jungfrau region but also “James Bond World”.

personal fulfilment. These lofty ideals and worthy spiritual messages are both contained in “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Groundhog Day” with two men, for completely different reasons, seeking to commit suicide due to the futility of their existence but ultimately achieving redemption and happiness in life.

Fans will of course know that the revolving restaurant at its summit doubled as Blofeld’s headquarters for world dominance in the film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. As my children enjoyed the tastefully designed, fun and informative museum dedicated to a film made almost 50 years ago one pondered the enduring power of 007, M and Q as prior to the trip we all had also enjoyed the most recent offering “Spectre” with latest Bond, Daniel Craig.

Despite this enduring power of cinema at various levels, apart from at A level and universities, there does not seem to be an official role for film as a subject in our curriculum. The reality is that its potential is far greater than the traditional view of guilty “filler” at the end of term or on a wet Wednesday instead of games. A new charity Film Nation UK aims to put film at the heart of children and young people’s learning and cultural experience and thanks to their efforts film clubs are being run in more than 7,000 schools, with 220,000 young people watching, discussing and reviewing film. Their aim is that film becomes accepted alongside literature, art and music in schools and a legitimate way of understanding more about events, history and society.

However enjoyable these films are it would be difficult to claim great meaning for the Bond series other than inspiring people to visit exotic locations, marvel at gadgetry and stunts and, at a stretch, ponder the triumph of good over evil. Yet on returning to school in January I found myself using film on two occasions as an inspiration for assemblies and reminding us of the need to appreciate what we have and value others in order to achieve 118

An inherent advantage of film is its ability to cut across all ages and abilities as a “universal language”. We should be using this popularity

in the classroom in order to enrich learning. In my career as a languages teacher its immediacy and accessibility mean that discussions and observations can be made quickly and I am always impressed by young people’s observational skills and desire to talk about what they have just seen. This can be just as effective in a 5 minute clip or, at a higher level, a three or four week study of a particular film or director’s work. Indeed my first visit to Wolverhampton some 25 years ago was made with a group of Alevel pupils from Reading to attend the fantastic courses that were run by the then Polytechnic on the French director François Truffaut. Films in all their formats seem to captivate, engage and can supplement reading as a way to understand people’s behaviour or tackle the issues of today or the past. Furthermore, the digital world of mobile devices, YouTube and Netflix means that pupils are not only increasingly visually aware but, thanks to technology, have the opportunity to be creative as film-making is becoming ever-more accessible and pupils can make their own high quality films with minimal equipment. The latter trend also points to career opportunities where there will be more and more jobs out there that involve the creation of digital content and require standard film-making techniques. It is with this in mind that Tettenhall College is looking to set up its own residential film course in October this year and, who knows, our wonderful grounds in the suburbs of Wolverhampton may well be chosen as a future location for some future Bond movie! You can now follow David on Twitter @tettcoll_head

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Release

YOUR POTENTIAL

Whole School Open Morning Saturday 7th May 2016

Tours start at 10.00am. Book Now.

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wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

A School of ‘Excellence’ A top graded school Pupils perform well in dance, speech and drama and instrumental music exams. Pupils are highly successful in gaining places at secondary schools of their choice, many with scholarships and awards. Results in National tests at age 11 have been exceptional in relation to the national average for maintained junior schools. This level of attainment indicates that pupils make a high rate of progress.

Recently, we were host to a fourday Independent School Inspection team. The inspection looked at both our Early Years department (two– five year olds) and our main school (aged five to eleven year olds). The Independent Schools Inspectorate is the body responsible for the inspection of independent schools. ISI does not make a single overarching judgement on a school but instead makes a clear judgement on each aspect of its provision using one of the following four grades: excellent, good, sound and unsatisfactory.

Newbridge Preparatory School is delighted to announce that we were judged ‘Excellent’ in all eight areas:

The pupils’ overall achievement is supported by their excellent attitudes to learning. They demonstrate an outstanding work ethic at all times. Pupils clearly enjoy their education and always give of their best. Pupils are active independent learners and their high level of participation and interest is worthy of note. Their learning skills are exemplary. Pupils are confident, mature and articulate. Behaviour around the school is of the highest order at all times. Pupils have an excellent level of personal development by the time they leave the school. They are confident, well-mannered, caring and conscientious young people. They are proud of their school, their achievements and equally those of their peers. Leadership and management are most successful in providing a high quality learning environment that fully supports the school’s aims in providing a high quality education which effectively prepares pupils for the next phase of their education. The excellent achievements and their strong personal development directly reflect the drive, passion and determination of school leaders.

The quality of the children’s achievement and learning - excellent.

The 2016 inspection report is now available to read in full at: www.isi.net/schools/6725/

The contribution of curricular and extracurricular provision - excellent.

The contribution of teaching - excellent.

The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the pupils - excellent.

The contribution of the arrangements for pastoral care - excellent.

I would like to thank each individual within the Newbridge community for making Newbridge a special place; the leading independent preparatory school within the city of Wolverhampton which specialises in primary education. (Mrs Fisher – Headmistress).

The contribution of arrangements for welfare, health and safety - excellent.

The quality of governance is excellent.

The quality of leadership and management including links with parents - excellent.

The following are some of the main findings contained within the inspection report: Pupils achieve high levels of knowledge skills and understanding in all areas of the curriculum. www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Debunking the myths

about divorce

TV sports pundit Gary Lineker and his former wife Danielle are the latest high profile celebrity couple to go their separate ways, apparently using a Government website to file for divorce.

While the split is said to be amicable and the couple have reached a financial settlement, it’s not always that straightforward. Fay Rothery, a Partner in the Family team at FBC Manby Bowdler, explains the reality behind some of the common myths about divorce and separation:

1. We’ll have to go to court and it will be really expensive. There are a number of ways to avoid going to court. Mediation enables you and your spouse to sit down with an independent trained person who will assist you in reaching solutions to the issues between you. Alternatively you might be invited to a “round the table meeting” which you and your solicitor attend with your former partner and their solicitor, in order to try and agree matters. Collaborative law is another option where both people appoint a solicitor but, instead of conducting negotiations by letter or over the

Fay Rothery

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telephone, discussions take place over a series of meetings involving solicitors and their clients.

2. We’ll just split everything 50/50. There are a number of reasons why the court may decide on a different outcome. Each case is different and decisions are based on a number of factors. Sometimes a court may decide that if either one of the couple has made an exceptional contribution to the financial assets of the marriage, or if there is a business involved, that can also complicate how assets are split.

3. The children will have to stay with their mother. It’s a commonly held misconception that mothers are more likely to be successful in legal bids to have their children live with them. But research in 2015 revealed that courts are deciding children should live with their fathers as often as their mothers following a relationship breakdown and shared care arrangements are becoming increasingly common. Each case will be judged on its merits and the wishes of the parents and children so if you can’t come to an agreement that satisfies both parties, seek legal advice.

4. We’re not married but the rules are the same if we split up. There is no such thing as a common law marriage or husband/ wife. A lot of people think they automatically get the same rights as a married couple if they live together. However because there is no legal framework governing what happens to the assets on separation of a non-married couple, the court are bound by laws of Property and Trusts, which may produce unfair results. For this reason it is advisable for a cohabiting couple to consider an agreement at the outset of their relationship, clearly setting

out what will happen if their relationship comes to an end.

5. Divorce revokes a will. This is not true and it’s one of the most common misconceptions we hear about with sometimes devastating consequences. Marriage revokes a will but divorce doesn’t. Advice is always to redraft your will as soon as possible following a divorce to ensure your wishes are carried out. Fay Rothery has considerable experience in divorce and financial matters, children disputes and cohabitation matters including disputes regarding the ownership of property, financial provision for the benefit of children of unmarried couples and cohabitation agreements. To contact Fay please email f.rothery@fbcmb.co.uk or call 01902 392420.

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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BERRIM A N E ATON ’ S

BIRTHDAY Tettenhall Office 10 year members left to right: Linda Davies, Jane McGuire, Nick Berriman, Vicky Blakemore, Tric Gooding, Sarah Brown

The well known local Estate Agents has celebrated its tenth birthday having been created in 2006 by the amalgamation of David Berriman and Eaton Estates both of which have their roots in Walker Barnett and Hill, the old established Wolverhampton multi discipline firm of Estate Agents and Auctioneers which dated back to 1780 when it was started by Randle Walker. He would be astonished by how Estate Agency has changed since then. David Berriman started as an articled pupil with WB&H in 1953 earning £1 per week and remained there, with the exception of two years National Service when he qualified as a pilot, until the business was sold to General Accident in 1987 when he was senior partner. He remained on a service contract until leaving in 1990 to start his own business in Albrighton with a stock 124

of twelve properties. That has now grown into a business which agreed sales of £150 million in 2015. Caroline Eaton started as a trainee with WB&H in 1987 and since she was trained by David she now blames him for the very rare mistakes she now makes! She showed immediate promise and two years later aged nineteen she was entrusted to manage the Perton Office becoming the youngest known office manager in the country. She remained with GA managing the Wolverhampton branch until leaving in 1994 to start her own business in Wombourne as Eaton Estates. This business prospered with some friendly rivalry with David Berriman and expanded to open an office in Bridgnorth.

Nick Berriman completed a Law Degree in Manchester and spent some years training as an Estate Agent in London before coming back to join his father in 1998 who had moved from Albrighton to Wolverhampton in 1995 as larger premises were needed. David sold up and stood back to be a Consultant in 2005 when Nick took over and then in 2006 Nick and Caroline amalgamated their two firms to create Berriman Eaton. They knew each other and were friends. They were confident that they had complimentary skills and abilities and would benefit from having someone else to discuss things with. That confidence has been borne out, the business has grown exponentially and they are still

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

friends! With offices in Tettenhall, Wombourne and Bridgnorth they cover an important part of the property market including parts of West Midlands, Staffordshire and Shropshire and yet are near enough together to be able to act closely which is often not the case with far flung branches. Some amalgamations work and others struggle. When WB&H joined GA in 1987 there were five well established and profitable firms which came together to form the midland region and promptly made a loss. There were many reasons for this but when DB and EE came together there was synergy and all the offices moved forward. One particular success story was rentals. Both firms had dabbled but together they created a rental department which soon outgrew its place in Wombourne and moved to take over most of the first floor in Tettenhall where the original office unit had been doubled by adding the one next door. Under the management of Associate Andy Roberts this is now an important part of the business and agreed 248 lettings last year. However professionally capable the principals are of any business it can only grow and succeed if the staff are equally good and stay together. That is an area where BE has been particularly successful. There are still thirteen staff today who were working for either DB or EE at the time of the amalgamation ten years ago and thirteen is certainly our lucky number. They are spread around the three offices and are the backbone of the business. Many other excellent staff

have joined during the last ten years but the originals still set the tone and BE feel very lucky to have had their support for so long. Within BE there are two Law Degrees, one BA, one Chartered Surveyor, one Fellow and eight Members of the National Association of Estate Agents and three Members of the Association of Residential Letting Agents so there is a strong mix of many years of experience blended with extensive professional qualifications. In addition there are still the roots of family businesses with two Berrimans and three Eatons still involved. In addition to Nick, Caroline and David those who have completed ten years are, in alphabetical order: Bruce Attwood, Associate / Bridgnorth Manager Vicky Blakemore, Lettings Negotiator, Tettenhall Sarah Brown, Sales Negotiator Tettenhall Linda Davis, Sales Progression Manager, Tettenhall Ellie Eaton, Sales Negotiator, Bridgnorth Richard Eaton, Associate / Technical Manager, Wombourne Sarah Edwards, Senior Negotiator, Bridgnorth Lynn Glover, Sales Negotiator, Wombourne Tric Gooding, Property Manager, Tettenhall Dianne Hennessy, Administrator, Wombourne Jane McGuire, Administrator, Tettenhall

Wombourne office 10 year members left to right: Carol Pilsbury, Lynn Glover, Dianne Hennesey, Richard Eaton, Maddy Swann

public baked cakes in the shape of a house. This raised £236 and all funds raised have gone to Hope House. A bit different from the popular image of Estate Agents! So it’s a success story and the first ten years have exceeded expectations. Randle Walker founded WB&H by auctioning ‘under the light of a candle’ where a candle was lit whilst in a dish of water and the winning bid was the one in hand when the candle burnt down to water level and was extinguished. Times have moved on since then but candles are still important as we now have ten and have no wish to see them extinguished!

Carol Pilsbury, Sales Negotiator, Bridgnorth Maddy Swann, Associate / Wombourne Manager In addition, which is quite appropriate for Estate Agents, Carol, Dianne and Maddy all have the key of the door for over twenty one years’ service!

Bridgnorth office 10 year members: Back - Ellie Eaton, Bruce Attwood, Sarah Edwards, Front - Caroline Eaton

A recent initiative from the staff, which was covered in some detail in the last edition of Wolverhampton West, is BE in the Community and has included staff serving in a soup kitchen, working in a charity shop, organising a cake sale, gardening at Penn Hall and the Great Bake Off where staff and members of the

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

David Berriman

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Sharratts looking forward to new additions to the team for 2016

Sharratts Wergs office

It’s been a hectic but successful few months here are Sharratts, we took time out to see in the New Year with a celebration or two! But then straight back to work! We plan to continue the momentum of 2015, our 10th year anniversary year, which saw the move of Sharratts from our base at “Rock House” Old Hill to our new modern premises on the Wergs Road, Tettenhall which many will remember as the former “Wergs Garage” and others will pass on the way to the Crown pub!

Jane Swancott Managing Director

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New premises were the theme last year, in December we expanded into an additional city centre office in Darlington Street Wolverhampton. The new site is headed up by Claire Hawke

Claire has been part of the Sharratts team for 5 years. She specialises in family matters and covers all aspects of family law. The Darlington Street launch took place in January 2016 and we spent the day chatting with the many visitors over coffee and cake. It was lovely to meet so many new people. The run up was pretty hectic and in hindsight Christmas was probably not the best time to be organising the re-fit, so we thoroughly enjoyed the launch day and in particular the well- earned cake!

For 2016, the focus will be back on the main office at Wergs Road which is our head office and where most of the team is based. Jenny Stretton

has agreed to take on the role of head of our private client department; Jenny is already head of the family department at Wergs with specialism in divorce; separation and financial matters. The new role will see Jenny develop the private client department into 2016. Jenny is assisted by Sarah and Hayley. For any enquiries relating to wills; probate or elderly relative needs please contact sarah@sharratts.com Jenny has been a key team member at Sharratts for 6 years and client testimonials always comment on Jenny’s professional but personable approach. Jenny will remain based at our main site in Wergs Road Tettenhall, but is available to see clients at the Darlington Street site on request. We aim to help and assist anyone who is in need of family law advice or in need of guidance on future will/estate planning or care needs and we believe that every individual’s need requires legal advice tailor-made to fit that need. We are looking forward to welcoming some new personalities into our niche firm for 2016. Anyone interested in joining the Sharratts team can email me at janeswancott@sharratts.com For more information please visit the website at www.sharratts.com or call Wergs Road office on 01902 759 500, or Darlington Street on 0345 565 2070.

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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New “Round the Wrekin” Cycle Sportive

in aid of Compton Hospice web results service, emergency support, on site catering, event photography, broom wagon and every cyclist that completes the course will receive a medal.

Compton Hospice is excited to stage its first cycling sportive as a new fundraising initiative for the charity in 2016. The event will take place on May 22nd and will run out of Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Club. The event is supported by World Champion Cyclist - Hugh Porter MBE who is a 4 time World Pursuit Champion and Commonwealth Gold Medalist, and is known more recently for being the voice of British cycling. Hugh will be cycling one of the routes on the day.

The sportive offers 3 routes so that every level of cyclist can take part. The Epic Route (101.5 Miles / 160 Km) (+7471ft / -7469 ft) Starting at Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Club, this route will take participants in a north westerley direction towards Church Stretton. From Church Stetton cyclists will encounter some serious hills travelling up The Burway towards The Stiperstones before turning north and heading downhill to the 50 mile point at Snailbeach. Just past Cressage the incline will again start to increase, heading north towards Uppington before heading towards The Wrekin, Ironbridge, and finally ending back at Kingswinford.

The Standard Route (64.1 Miles / 102 Km) (+4127 ft / -4123 ft) Starting again at Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Club, this route will take cyclists in a north westerley direction via Bobbington, Claverley and Worfield, then south through Bridgnorth and Upton Cressett, towards The Wrekin. The last 15 miles of slightly undulated land is where cyclists can pick up the pace through Ironbridge, Coalport, Pattingham, Seisdon, Swindon and finally ending back at Kingswinford. Finally, the Short Route (23.9 Miles / 38 Km) (+1019 ft / -1017 ft) This will again start at Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Club, this slightly undulating route will take cyclists in an north westerley direction via Bobbington, Claverley, Hopstone, Wyken and Worfield at the 10 mile point and then head north to Ackleton where the undulations will start to increase and then east through Kingslow and Pattingham. The last two miles is predominately downhill back towards Dudley and Kingswinford.

Thanks to the expertise and guidance of their two sponsors Andy Dawson of Ride Ventures, and Karl Fisher of Fishface Cycles in Wombourne, the hospice is able to stage a very professional event. Andy is a long-time sportive rider and experienced event organiser who is also a British Cycling Level 2 coach and a CTC qualified ride leader. He is heavily involved in local sportives - co-running the Tour d’Arts Alive and has just taken over the Autumn Epic. Karl will be providing mechanical back-up and small repairs on the day and he is proprietor of Fishface Cycles, a family-run independent bicycle and action sports dealership based in the heart of Wombourne. Social road rides (Fishface Cycles Gruppetto) are also run from the store every other Saturday. The sportive will include event centre facilities and parking, mechanical support, full route marking, course food stations, electronic chip timing, 128

Anyone interested in taking part in any of the 3 routes can find more information and can register at: www.roundthewrekin.co.uk or you can contact Compton Hospice on 01902 774529 or by emailing fundraising@compton-hospice.org.uk wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Oxley Park: an emerald gem

in the city of Wolverhampton 102 years of age and barely a stone’s throw from the city centre. Fresh faces and fresh ideas in motion at Wolverhampton's Oxley Park Golf Club this season mean a revitalised venue with much to offer. Oxley's easy walking parkland course sits in the middle of a large residential area but comfortably offers a peaceful and tranquil feel throughout. On the flip side it also presents a good deal of out of bounds, half of the holes offer that threat. It's a tight course with a high premium on accuracy, the lush and well conditioned fairways offer a helping hand to a well aimed golf ball.

Pro Shop – Our Head Professional Craig Thomas brings his award winning TGA Academy to the club, a new young team with a completely revamped pro shop recently opened and a 5 hole development course has been established specifically for the junior academy. If you are interested in joining one of the best courses in the area with a friendly atmosphere please call the Pro Shop on 01902 425892 or email office@oxleyparkgolfclub.co.uk

Course Designer Harry Colt’s design made good use of the natural gently rolling landscape and it's a good layout to test out the state of your mid to short iron game. Club selection also needs to be spot on to successfully approach a few of these raised targets plus a few more tucked away attractively in tree-clad corners. 19th hole – Traditional clubhouse facilities which have had minor renovations giving a fresh feel for the coming season, large club room plus a private room for hire. Great choice of menus for all occasions, and a varied social calendar.

Now the golfing season is upon us there is no time like the present to join a club and take advantage of the summer weather and lighter nights.

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With the summer holidays their way it can be an expe on nsiv time trying to find somethin e g for the children to do. Why not introduce them to with our great offer of just golf £32.50! Just £1.25 per week (up to 31st September 2016) for 6 mon unlimited golf, this includes ths fund coaching every two weeks. ed Prices will vary dependin g on age group.

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G o l f…

not just a rich man’s sport

place on our driving range on topics such as golf swing work or how to hit the driver. We also head out onto our 18 hole course to focus on short game, chipping, putting and bunker play." Rob and the Academy team recognise that barriers to people participating in the sport are being broken down, thanks to changing club policies, reduced costs and their need to cater for a wider market. The attraction for golfers being that the 3 Hammers Programme is affordable at only £20 for a 4 week course and that the complex is open to the public. In recent years the complex has expanded its facilities to enable the teaching of golf to beginners on a much wider scale with the design and commission of a purpose built Learn 2 Play Zone, the first of its kind in the UK. At over 10,000sqft the Zone is fully netted, astro turfed with synthetic putting green and an undercover pavilion.

A local sports venue has created a unique (and affordable) Learn 2 Play golf programme for the region’s budding golfers which has proved to be extremely popular, mainly due to its low costs. As a great opportunity to meet new friends, learn a new sport and keep fit, more and more golfers are joining in to what is traditionally known as an expensive and ‘stuffy’ sport. 3 Hammers Golf Complex, Coven, boasts first class golfing facilities including an 18 hole par 3 golf course (ideal for beginners), undercover 20

bay driving range and the largest Golf Academy in the region with 5 full time PGA Golf Professionals providing easy and affordable access to learning, practising and playing the sport. Their Learn 2 Play group classes are nationally recognised by the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) and England Golf who choose 3 Hammers Golf Academy as an example of good practice for teaching beginner golfers. Over 400 adults learned the sport with them last year. Golf Academy Director, Rob Bluck says "we have a friendly no membership culture here at the 3 Hammers which suits our beginner golfers. Supervised practice takes

Special offer for April Save 50%! Learn 2 Play courses ONLY £10pp!

I was bought Learn to Play Golf vouchers for my birthday. I had always assumed golf people were standoffish. I soon found the professionals were so encouraging and friendly and that I have developed lasting friendships through meeting fellow golfers. Continuing to enjoy the frustrating but fun game of golf. Chris I did the Learn 2 Play golf sessions at 3 Hammers as a 61 years old woman who had just retired. It was so relaxed and well-structured that I was eager to develop and progress through the various levels. I found that I developed a confidence in my own ability encouraged by the golf professionals. I would encourage others to start with Learn 2 Play; it has opened up a whole new hobby for me. 2 years later – I’m still playing 2-3 times a week. Michele.

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At 3 Hammers the number of people taking up the sport is increasing year on year including a growing number of ladies. Indeed, almost half of all students enrolling on their Learn 2 Play golf classes are female. Their accessible, relaxed golf classes are proving to be an ideal way to discover if golf is the sport for them. Whether it's to get fit, socialise or learn a new sport their expert PGA Professionals guide beginners through the basics giving them a great understanding of this fabulous sport. They are also continuing with a £250,000 investment project including upgrading their 20 bay driving range with the latest automatic power tees and further investment on their championship short course - making it even more accessible for juniors and novice golfers alike. Learn 2 Play is the first Tuesday or Thursday of the month from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. The cost is £20 for 4 weeks tuition and all equipment is provided. 3 Hammers Golf Reception 01902 790428 www.3hammers.co.uk

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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Richard Bissell, PGA Golf Professional at Patshull Park Golf & Country Club

No Nonsense Golf Tips

Gain Distance From The Tee I think most club golfers would like to hit the ball a little further off the tee. More distance off the tee means a shorter club into the green, which should mean you hit the ball closer and hole more putts. Here are a few simple tips that are often overlooked.

club and then cannot complete their backswing correctly.

SETUP

TECHNIQUE

It is important that we have a good stance, so aim for the feet to be about shoulder width apart, maybe an inch wider, but not too wide as we will restrict the ability to turn.

Take the club away from the ball by simply turning the shoulders. The key to hitting the ball further is getting plenty of width on the backswing. Cock your wrists when you feel comfortable but try to keep the club away from you. This will ensure a wide arc and plenty of power.

Tee the ball up opposite the left heel. Relax the muscles in your arms and fingers. Make sure your grip pressure is light. This is key as a lot of golfers going for a big drive â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;strangleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the

Now we need the clubhead to reach impact at maximum speed so as the lower body rotates and pulls the midsection, this will pull the shoulders, arms and club downwards with accelerating force. Make sure you have cleared your left hip at impact. Swing through the ball and try to finish in a balanced position with chest facing the target and weight on the left foot.

At the top of the backswing check that your shoulders have rotated 90 degrees and your hips 45 degrees.

Happy golfing.

Rich Patshull Park Hotel, Golf & Country Club, Pattingham, Nr Wolverhampton WV6 7HR 134

T: 01902 700100 Golf Shop: 01902 700342 www.patshull-park.co.uk wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Opening the Door to Golf

Thinking of taking up golf? Currently play, but looking for a better course? If you’d like the opportunity to experience playing golf on one of the region’s premier golf courses, then come along to one of South Staffordshire Golf Club’s Open Days being held on:

Thursday 28 April & Sunday 1 May 2016, 10am-3pm South Staffordshire Golf Club has an 18 hole parkland Championship-level course in Tettenhall, which boasts some of the best greens in the Midlands. In addition, members also have free use of the 18 hole par three golf course at Ledene in Codsall Wood. During the Open Day, existing members will show you around the clubhouse followed by a round of golf or, if you’re inexperienced, a member will help you play a few holes. Refreshments will be available during your visit and people of all ages and abilities are more than welcome to come along.

Playing the 5th Hole at South Staffs Golf Club

Various membership packages are available to suit your needs including: Gentlemen, Ladies, Juniors and Student - all at affordable rates.

Learn how to play? If you’re looking for Golf lessons, these are available through the Peter Baker Golf Academy, run by European Ryder Cup player Peter Baker with a team of fully trained coaches who offer professional training at the club’s 10 acre driving range and practice area. The club’s golf Academy, aimed at youngsters aged up to 15 years, is highly popular with lessons held at Ledene golf course.

For more information about us visit www.southstaffordshiregolfclub.co.uk or call Sue LeBeau on 01902 75 10 65 or email suelebeau@southstaffsgc.co.uk or pop along on the day!

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Swing Theory By Rob Taylor

Forget whether or not there’s any last vestige of truth to golf’s still-familiar stereotypes: just get out there and play the game, writes Rob Taylor, because the rewards are legion. It’s nothing new to hear that today golf is no longer the preserve of the wealthy and the elite. Much has been made of the strides taken by the sport – and in particular its governing bodies – in moving it away from the bad old days of too much pride and prejudice, towards a modern-day cosmopolitan and egalitarian utopia. For centuries it was seen by outsiders to the game as a stuffy pastime for retirees, 136

obsessed by quirky rules and regulation and eager to preserve an almost Masonic 'old boys club'. This is of course now entirely unfair and thankfully those days are long gone. When Tiger Woods burst onto the scene in the 90s, millions of youngsters were excited into action, keen to dig out their parent's clubs and take their first swing. Today we are seeing a changing of the guard in the professional game, with stars like Rory McIlroy, Jordan Speith and Jason Day – all in their 20s – continuing in the paw prints left by Tiger.

The findings from the Golf Actives Study – a trailblazing programme designed to establish a complete picture of golf activity and engagement – revealed that 11 million people in the UK are actively engaged in the game. And this year, Sport England’s figures showed that 730,300 people had played golf at least once a week during the previous year.

After years spent encouraging the next generation, those tasked with growing the game now report that participation in the UK is flourishing, especially among younger demographics, according to a European Tour survey last year. wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

It is figures such as these that have no doubt persuaded the money-men to invest in a big way: Sky TV recently won the rights to exclusively screen The Open Championship – golf’s oldest major – in a £15m-a-year deal, which sees the BBC dumped after years of tireless service. The Royal & Ancient – golf’s UK governing body - is often portrayed as a haughty lawmaker, but it has grown impressively in recent times and Sky’s riches will allow it to invest heavily in grass roots enterprises. And it’s just here – outside in the fresh air, upon the green, green grass – where golf really comes into its own. Ask a real golfer to talk about the game and you will likely hear and see it described with almost religious fervour, using strange words and familiar words strangely combined. Far and beyond some of the more obvious virtues of playing the game – like gentle exercise, social interaction, and getting out into nature, as well as those extolled by the corporate ladder climbers – there is a world of fun, as well as many selfaffirming aspects which are key to good social development, especially in youngsters.

for marking the correct number of strokes, assessing and enforcing penalties all by himself, and complying with the particular conditions of play. There’s also the strong bond of justice, which the game encourages. Most sports encourage tactics to disrupt competitors through physical contact or mental gamesmanship, sometimes as part of the game, sometimes on or beyond the fringes of legality. But the spirit of golf etiquette demands that a golfer avoid anything that might harm a pal’s performance. Watch a true golfer in bright sunlight be ultra-conscious of where his shadow falls when his mate is lining up a putt for evidence of this. As well as these there is the incumbent perseverance involved in the game: "No matter what happens," said the great Harry Vardon, "keep on hitting the ball." This singleness of purpose allows golfers to carry on despite slow or annoying partners, or maddeningly odd bounces. When you slice that first tee shot into the lake, causing a ripple of amusement from your partners, perseverance helps you shoulder your bag and walk

off the tee with the confidence required to play your next shot. Of course, since the object of the game is to be the player who requires the fewest number of strokes, the sense in a mantra of “just keep on plugging away” is deeply ironic, yet telltale of golf’s addictive qualities. Happily in the 21st Century – when women play just as often as men – such addiction can no longer be used as grounds for complaints along the lines of, “your golf addiction is driving a wedge between us.” In fact with golf growing all the time and courses redoubling their efforts to reach out to every single one of us, there will soon be yet another new generation of budding golfers ready to take to the tee. There’s certainly an embarrassment of golfing riches in the Midlands, with local golf facilities offering everything for beginners; the casual, dilettante golfer who just wants to play with friends on a weekend; right through to the ultra-competitive low handicap golfer, looking for regular competition golf. Check out our advertisers for more information.

Truth and honesty is one such example. A golfer is responsible

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Patshull Park - Golfing Paradise Patshull Park Hotel is one of the West Midlands best known resort hotels, conveniently located a short distance from Wolverhampton, Dudley and Telford near the village of Pattingham.

The 49 bedroom Hotel, 18 hole Golf Course and Health Club are set in some of the most glorious countryside that Shropshire and the Black Country can offer. Looking for a new Golf Club? Then try our great value golf memberships starting at just £495 for a 5 day membership (that is less than £2.00 per day) and current members enjoy 20% off a selected range of products throughout the hotel. Junior memberships are only £50 per year with a free club shirt, regular junior golf clinics; inter-club competitions and much more.

such as christenings and wedding anniversaries. With seven private rooms we can cater for events of all sizes including corporate team-building and company fun days in the hotel grounds.

Please contact our Head Pro Richard Bissell for details or visit our web site www.patshull-park.co.uk.

After a stressful day at work, why not relax in our leisure club which boasts a 15 metre heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi, saunas, steam rooms, and two gymnasiums.

Golf Society packages are also available from £26 per person, including refreshments on arrival and an informal meal in Earls Brasserie, these can be booked in advance through our sales office.

Our qualified beauty therapists also offer a full range of treatments including full body massages, facials, pedicures and manicures.

The hotel is also a popular venue for company Golf Days, conferences and a range of family celebrations

For all other enquiries, please contact our sales team on 01902 700100 or email sales@patshull-park.co.uk

patshull park Hotel 2016 Golf MeMbersHips 2016 Great offers available

Including junior golfers just £50 per year. Organised events, PGA coaching, competitions and inter-club matches.

HealtH Club MeMbersHip 60’s and over for less than £8 per week

Look us up on Trip Advisor

Great facilities, friendly staff, and close to Wolverhampton.

Pattingham, Nr Wolverhampton WV6 7HR 01902 700100 sales@patshull-park.co.uk www.patshull-park.co.uk

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wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Swindon becomes

The Staffordshire Golf Club Swindon Golf Club is very excited to announce that it is re-branding and renaming ‘Swindon Golf Club’ to ‘The Staffordshire Golf Club’. This step has been taken to keep pushing the club forward to make it a premier venue for golfers, focusing on membership and the facilities we can offer. We believe the course has the potential to be one of the finest golf facilities in Staffordshire, and we are working hard to make this happen. Many clubs are reducing the facilities they offer, where at the Staffordshire we are looking to expand and invest. Over the next 12 months the refurbishment of the driving range will begin. This will include a makeover of the shop externally as well as a new range design which will expand further the facilities we can offer. We are not looking to reposition the club in terms of the membership price; we will continue to offer a competitive membership package. It is only the name of the club that is changing, not the owners or the Limited Company behind it.

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

We are currently offering a very competitive joint membership with Perton Golf Club from just £650. To introduce golfers to the facility and to see the changes we have made The Staffordshire is offering current members of a golf club a free 2 weeks trial of the course. This will be a full membership experience, with access to our online membership system and scoring analysis. Come and see why we are the ‘Most Picturesque Golf Course in the Midlands’, call 01902 897031 for details.

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Great Golf on offer at With longer days and the promise of sunshine to come (hopefully!), why not join the fastest growing club in the area with probably the best value golf membership in the country. Owned by the Moseley family for two generations, Wergs Golf Club offers a superb 18 hole, 6949 yard course in a glorious rural setting, only 10 minutes from Wolverhampton City Centre. Currently offering a fantastic seven day, two year golf membership for the price of one for only £710, the club is going from strength to strength having increased its membership to over 500. Offering good value for money is undoubtedly key to the increased uptake in club membership. In conjunction with this there has been significant investment in the course. In addition the golf club has created a new extension which was part of a £250,000 refurbishment programme. Welcoming visitors and corporate groups the clubs popularity is certainly growing so make sure you don’t miss out on the great facilities available.

The course itself offers a variety of new features including bunkers, ditches, ponds, conifers and deciduous trees to add a variety of hazards to your golfing day. You can choose from the full, short, ladies and seniors routes, all of which provide their own unique characteristics and challenges. If you would like to brush up on your skills before you tee off, you can make use of the 20 acre practice area which includes bunkers. Alternatively, you may like to have a chat with the resident expert and PGA professional Shaun Ball. With over 30 years' golfing experience, Shaun is able to use his knowledge to give you practical tips focussing on specific areas to improve your game. Wergs also offer a well-stocked club shop selling equipment and clothing for golfers of all standards. Novices can feel assured that they are purchasing the right equipment for them with the advice of experienced shop staff, whilst advanced players will also be able to find the perfect equipment that they are searching for. After a long day of golf, you may choose to relax in the 19th hole, the relaxing spike bar. Unwind and discuss your day in the friendly

ambience whilst enjoying a guest ale or a light snack while watching Sky TV and using the free Wifi, all without having to get changed. Wergs Golf Club has long been a popular dining place with the locals, serving quality, fresh home-made food, so for that special occasion consider booking a table at the beautifully furnished Wergs’ restaurant. Open to non-members, the locally sourced menu will satisfy the appetite but remember to leave room for a delicious dessert. Part of the £250,000 refurbishment included a new cellar, kitchen, toilet block and an extension to the main function room. This now offers a separate more intimate room for smaller private functions, ideal for christenings, birthdays, anniversary parties, wakes and corporate seminars for up to 60 people. With this extension now complete Wergs can now accommodate functions with approximately 160 guests with unrestricted on-site parking. Wergs Golf Club makes the perfect setting for any special occasion and is guaranteed to make your day unforgettable. For bookings or more information please visit www.wergsgolfclub.com or call 01902 742225.

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wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

WERGS GOLF CLUB

2 YEARS

MEMBERSHIP FOR THE PRICE OF

1 YEAR 7 DAY £710 – MONTHLY PAYMENTS AVAILABLE

SPECIAL DEALS AVAILABLE FOR SOCIETIES* *All packages minimum of 12 people

PAR PACKAGE

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18 holes of golf, full english breakfast. Weekdays £25pp. Weekends/Bank Holidays £30pp.

18 holes of golf, two course meal. Weekdays £30pp. Weekends/Bank Holidays £35pp.

18 holes of golf, full english breakfast, two course meal. Weekdays £35pp. Weekends/Bank Holidays £40pp.

WEEKDAY GOLF £20.00

WEEKEND GOLF £25.00

TWILIGHT GOLF FROM £12.00

Wergs Golf Club

FoR FURThER inFoRMATion on GoLF,

Keepers Lane, Tettenhall Wolverhampton West Midlands WV6 8UA

DininG oR FUncTionS oR To MAKE A

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prices correct at time of going to print 141

DO YOU HAVE

MORE THAN ONE HANDICAP

WHEN PLAYING GOLF?

Do you have trouble treading the fairways? Do you suffer with heel, shin or knee pain?

Contact Chiropodist/Podiatrist Tom Casey BSc (Hons), MCHS, SRCH for an appointment:

07828 613165 OR (01902) 833426 142

Park Avenue Chiropody & Podiatry Clinic, 13A wolverhampton Park Avenue, Wolverhampton WV1 4AH west magazine | april 2016

Social Scene

BodyKraft Pensnett

Mr Pugh said: “Our new Fastrack facility is a major investment for us and will mean more jobs for people in the Black Country. It’s is the most ambitious initiative in our history.”

Accident repair firm BodyKraft recently held an event to celebrate the opening of its new £250,000 Fastrack rapid repair centre.

1. Dawn Owen and Mike Pugh

Over 100 guests attended the VIP launch at the stateof-the-art facility, which is on Kingswinford’s Pensnett Estate, including Wolverhampton Wanderers legend Steve Bull and the Mayor and Mayoress of Dudley. Guests were treated to drinks and canapes and demonstrations of the innovative painting and drying technology which will help the Fastrack team spray and dry up to 12 vehicles each day. www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

www.bodykraft.co.uk

2. Duncan Taylor, Karl Horsley, Stephen Smith 3. Dudley Mayoress Jayne Waltho, Mike Pugh, Steve Bull, Mike Freeman and Mayor of Dudley, Cllr Steve Waltho 4. John Powell, Terri Baron and Hollie Styles 5. Mark Lomas, Paul Insull and Amerdeep Johal 6. Roy Casey, Jackie Casey and James Osborne 7. Tim Freeman and Jason Parton 8. The BodyKraft Fastrack team 143

Photographs courtesy of Crescent Imaging

Social Scene

The Mount Hotel Tettenhall A fabulous Great Gatsby 1920’s themed event was organised at The Mount Hotel in support of a very special charity, Macmillan Cancer Support. Live Jazz entertainment was performed throughout the evening, vintage cars from the period were on display and all guests made a marvellous effort dressing up for the occasion. The sponsors for the evening were – Firewalker Fitness & Martial Arts, Diffusion and Blue Chip Contractors. The charity is very close to the hearts of the event organisers Lisa Kidd-Penny and daughter Nardhia KiddWalker. The event named “Jazzmatazz” raised £4,812 during the evening, with a total amount of £8,500 so far and the donations still keep coming in! 144

7 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Cassel Burnett, Thelma Dunlop. Paulette Bailey, Charlotte Baile. Joanne Cresswell Ann Western, Stephanie Western. Julie Gallagher, Delroy Ricketts. David Trend, Ron Walker. Louise Walker, Cheryl Walker, Paulette Walker, Alicia Walker. Kirsty Webb, Jon Webb. Helen Davenport, Adam Davenport. John Pratt, Shelia Pratt, Arthur Thompson, Sally Thompson. Lisa Kidd-Penny, Nardhia Kidd-Walker (organisers). Marlon Walters, Stacie Hicks, Nicola O’Shea, Barry Chiverton. Gail Fraser, Russel Fraser. Liz Lowe, Gwen Rogers, Katie Marsh. Audrey Clarkson, Joanne Richards. Room with a view. wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Social Scene

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Social Scene

Molineux Wolverhampton

4. Lucy Ellen Parker, Lindsey Grant, Lisa Crossley, Phoebe Bruerton, Hannah Dean, Isobel Burgess, Maureen Oakley.

177 people attended a fabulous spring charity ball held in the Haywood Suite, Molineux which was organised by Rachel Bruerton to help raise funds for the Newlife Foundation charity and Dementia Ward at New Cross Hospital.

7. Liz Simmonds, Rose Neal.

Kevin Bruerton and Richard Webster are running the London Marathon for Newlife and the Dementia Ward, Richard’s wife Samantha is a Sister on the Dementia Ward. A total amount of £5000 is the target they need to raise, Kevin and Richard have got a just giving page with £1300 on so far. 1. Pauline Hemmings, Gaynor Boyce. 2. Lisa Crossley, Maggie Jervis. 3. Anita Finnegan, Carol Cockayne, Jackie Pasey, Jan Reading, Stephanie Leadbetter. 146

5. Paul Crossley, Kevin Burgess, John Nutting, Terry Oakley. 6. Ruth Noble, Paul Noble. 8. Di Jones, Neville Clements. 9. b/r Nikki Wootton, Sandra Hall, f/r Tracy Foster, Sally Ann Breakwell, Joy Egginton. 10. Kevin Bruerton, Rachel Bruerton. 11. Alex McDowell, Amandeep Jhawar, Jo McDowell, Manny Jhawar, Kristina Woodward, Lee Woodward. 12. Richard Hall, Josie Hall, Gavin Jackson, Kelly Jackson. 13. Richard Webster, Keleigh Tomlinson, Kevin Bruerton. 14. Chris White, Sonia Turner, Sid Sangha, Ken Sangha. 15. Stuart Bowen, Nick Hall, Kay Bowen, Jayne Thorpe, Louise Peck, Ian Peck. wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Social Scene

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Photographs courtesy of Crescent Imaging

Social Scene

Ed Sheeran Tribute Patshull Park Patshull Park held a great evening of entertainment with the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s No.1 Ed Sherran tribute act headlining. The audience also enjoyed a delicious 3 course meal and danced into the early hours. 1. Dawn Bailey, Sara Hammonds, Nadia Grant 2. Julie Adams, Ian Adams. 3. Luke Giles, Katie Parkes. 4. Betty Thornton, Norman Taylor, Terry Bennett. 5. Hannah Louth, Daniel Naghshineh. 148

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

Gemma Green, Netty Twardon. Derek Baldwin, Stephanie Montanna, Karen Montanna. Diane Podmore, Ann Jones. Netty Twardon, Sue Brennan. (Back Row) Nigel Postles, Nick Hunt, (Front) Janet Pearson, Richard Quigley, Diana Hunt, Joanna Hunt, Jill Postles. Pete Slater, Joanne Slater, Melissa Hubball, Eric Hubball. Simon Briscoe, Alyson Briscoe, Jayne Coper, Paul Cooper. Lisa Bates, Daniel Bates, Mark Lavender, Teresa Lavender. Caroline Bates, Lydia Broadbent, Charmaine Carpenter, Emma Kingston, Becky Reynolds. Michelle Shaw, Jo Preece, Lisa Bentley, Zoe Bourne. Dawn Bailey, Kayleigh Breakwell, Caterina Thomas Sonia Annakin. wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Social Scene

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STAY UNDER MY WING… Low cost advertising reaching 50,000* LOCAL readers Call Gisella at Wolverhampton West Magazine t: 01902 744217 e: gisella@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

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Email: info@excelelectrical.net 151

Prime

Peugeot

By Rob Taylor

Let’s start with some numbers:

85.6 mpg and 88 g/km. Ten years ago few people cared too much about fuel economy or especially emissions. Only car bores used to prattle on about how their motor uses .00001 of a gallon of fuel less or produces still fewer carbon dioxides than their friend’s car, but what matters today is exactly this – and almost only this. Driven undoubtedly by government interference consumers, otherwise entirely disinterested in cars, now care enough to buy on this basis alone. With this in mind it is commendable therefore that Peugeot has – in the shape of the 308 SW – bothered to engineer and build a car that is absolutely fantastic in almost every other regard as well. Yes, as unbelievably good as this – the Allure BlueHdi 120 – 308 SW’s performance is on both fuel consumption and emissions, it’s far from being the whole story. And so, just for fun, since car buyers today seem so keen on short, startling, salient stats, here begins my 20-point guide to why you should buy this car for reasons other than you-know-what.

Let’s start off objectively: It costs nothing to tax and comparatively next to nothing to buy at just £21,945; it has the largest load space in its class with up to 660 litres; it has the highest safety score possible from Euro NCAP: 5 stars; it has “Magic” fold-flat rear seats and uber-practical stuff as standard, like roof and boot rails; it can come with the International Engine of the Year 2015, the 1.2 litre three cylinder petrol; it can be spec’d with a postcollision SOS location system that has to date come to the aid of over 152

7,000 individuals; it can park itself… if you option the ‘City Pack’; it has full LED headlights as standard; it incorporates one of the lowest boot sills in its class; and it has front and rear parking sensors as standard.

And now rather more subjectively: It offers a ride that is comfier than many other cars I’ve driven which cost twice the price; it has a silky smooth 6-speed manual gearbox that begs the question: why go auto when shifting can be executed this well?; it demonstrates beautifully the folly of forgoing a proper estate car for a fashionable crossover; it has a delightful 1.6 litre diesel engine that is both tractable and refined when stretched fully through the rev-range; it has steering that is sharp and precise; it has ample head and leg room; it has an entertainment system that is easy to fathom and intuitive to use; it has a ferocious heating system which is perfect for cold winter mornings; it features a system that tucks away the wing mirrors when parked and locked, so I can tell at a moment’s glance whether I’ve remembered to lock the doors; and it has courtesy

lights that at night light the gloomy path between my home and car. So without an over-dependence on evidence consisting solely upon fuel economy and emissions a case can clearly be made for the Peugeot 308 SW, however, it’d be remiss to disregard entirely what has until this point been the elephant in the room: the headlinegrabbing 85.6 mpg figure. In a world where official fuel consumption figures are no longer credible indicators of what motorists are likely to see at the pumps, I’m pleased to report that this Peugeot – while unable to reach the promised heady heights – did return into the high sixties. And considering I used the vehicle for plenty of inner-city driving during my time with it I’d say that’s deeply impressive and a fitting note on which to end – that you did, presumably, read this far and didn’t put down this magazine after my first sentence and rush immediately to the nearest Peugeot dealer is to your enormous credit.

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

MOT

T e s t i n g Just like us, our cars can sometimes need a little TLC, which is why all vehicles over 3 years old are required by UK law to have an annual safety check or MOT, in the interests of road safety and environmental standards. It is the responsibility of the owner to renew their MOT certificate and without it, you are unable to drive your vehicle legally, or renew your road fund license.

Agency (VOSA), which means, what we check here at HiQ Wolverhampton, is exactly the same as the things other approved MOT centres will check too. Throughout the month of March we are offering 50% off MOTs if you bring the voucher from the below advert with you. Whilst in store why not ask us about the all new Goodyear F1 Eagle Asymmetric 3 tyre - the new performance tyre that, with

active braking technology, delivers you shorter braking distances on wet and dry roads so that you are in control and ready to enjoy the journey. With proven Eagle F1 Asymmetric test win heritage, it is Goodyear’s premium offering for ultimate braking performance, responsive handling and control in both dry and wet conditions, steering precision and durability. For more information please contact HiQ Wolverhampton on 01902 420234.

The earliest date to MOT your vehicle can be found on your last MOT certificate, but you can have an MOT test completed up to one month before the expiry of your current MOT, without it affecting the annual expiry date. The MOT process is governed by strict rules set down by the Vehicle and Operator Services

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11/02/2016 09:32

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F u e l

your Desires I’m doing 76 on the motorway, but I’m not speeding. The dashboard display is showing mpg, not mph. Yes, you read that correctly: 76 mpg. And it’s still climbing.

I know what you’re thinking: I must be taking part in some geeky RAC fuel consumption study; hyper-miling in a fashion to cause tailbacks longer than those inflicted by an asthmatic pit-pony pulling a gypsy cart, or maybe that I’m some state-sponsored boffin on a simulator in a laboratory in Brussels, responsible for producing vehicles’ ‘official fuel consumption figures.’ But I’m not, honestly. I’m driving in the real world, as I normally do, in the latest Renault Clio. And I’m getting numbers which are tantamount to a motorist’s wet dream. Coming at a time when drivers are more suspicious than ever of manufacturers’ claimed fuel consumption figures, this particular version of Renault’s fourth generation Clio is just what’s needed to restore confidence in what have become spurious statistics at best.

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At the heart of the matter is a 1.5 litre diesel engine which manages to do a lot more than just achieve its attention-grabbing promise of 78.5 mpg on the combined cycle. The little 90 bhp four cylinder can more than pull its own weight, being as it is both refined and tractable at low revs, so it never requires a great deal of effort to keep pace with traffic. Which is, of course, great for driving down costs. And if you want to go one better, there’s even the option of deploying the ECO button - which is standard on this Dynamique S MediaNav iteration - to make savings of a further 12%. Plus, you won’t have to pay road tax due to admirably low emissions of 90g/km. But if you really have a burning hatred for fuelling stations and want to turn the knobs all the way up to 11, spec the ECO pack, which fits low-rolling resistance tyres and boosts savings up to a titanic class-leading 88.3 mpg. And I for one believe such numbers. Yet not everything is for purposes of pleasing parsimonious Papa, so what about Nicole? Never before has a Clio looked this good; its sleek, sexy lines embody the very style and verve which has made the French marque famous. A

By Rob Taylor

set of the most stunning 16” alloy wheels I’ve ever seen maintain the effect, as does the optional Flame Red metallic paint. And it’s loaded with high-tech systems - like Renault’s brilliantly intelligible R-Link multimedia system with Bluetooth and USB function - to keep you entertained while you’re looking good. Refusing to allow five door practicality to corrupt its design purity, the little Renault confuses many carsavvy passengers with its disguised rear-door handles; just as it boggles their minds when they experience a comfortable and refined ride atypical of most cars in this class especially when considering the astested model costs only £17,625. Similarly, the Clio is chock-full of creature comforts, unlike most of its competitors: satellite navigation, cruise-control, air-conditioning, auto-windscreen wipers and parking sensors all feature. All of which complement a driving experience which is in itself thoroughly rewarding; the steering is direct; the visibility, good; the handling, composed. Oh, and the fuel economy. Did I mention the fuel economy?

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

WHY PAY DEALERSHIP PRICES TO SERVICE

YOUR RENAULT? MINOR SERVICE £89* ALL INCLUSIVE

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

FULL SERVICE £149* ALL INCLUSIVE

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

01902 790454

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

MOT WITH ANY SERVICE

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

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

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

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

01902 790123

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Suzuki Delivers High fuel economy in what car? real-world mpg tests Suzuki’s Dualjet technology available on Celerio and Swift positions the fuel injectors very close to the engine inlet valves, which allows for a finer fuel atomisation (or mixture), and in turn, provides a more effective transfer into the powertrain. Internal modifications include the use of a new type of inlet port and combustion chamber with other mechanical parts also refined to reduce frictional losses and facilitate smoother running. Amongst the benefits offered is further improved fuel economy, as well as significantly reduced CO2 emissions.

Two Suzuki models featured in top 10 most economical small petrol cars classification in latest What Car? realworld MPG tests. Suzuki GB PLC is pleased to announce that two of its models have been featured in What Car? magazine’s top 10 most economical small petrol cars on sale in the UK today. The publication’s week long real-world MPG tests compare official combined fuel economy figures with those achieved when cars are driven by their technicians on the open road.

MPG” of 62.9mpg and was the second most economical car out of a total of 165 cars tested during 2015. What Car? comments: “Suzuki’s five-door, five-seat city car is the most economical small petrol car our technicians have tested. Impressive economy aside, it’s also well-equipped and comes with a versatile interior, making it a decent buy.”

Dale Wyatt, Sales and Marketing Director at Suzuki GB PLC, explained: “The very encouraging results from the recent What Car? tests prove the exceptional value for money that the Suzuki model range provides to today’s motorists, and the impressive return on investment that they receive for every gallon of fuel that they purchase.”

The 1.2-litre Suzuki Swift with manual transmission reached 51.7 as its “True MPG”. What Car? stated: “The Swift offers great value for money, and our MPG tests show it should be reasonably cheap to fuel.” The frugal 1.0-litre Suzuki Celerio Dualjet topped the table as the most efficient city car model with a “True 156

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

With its standout design, the Swift SZ3 is hard to miss. Its light, agile chassis works with responsive steering for handling that’s nothing but fun. With top-class safety, low running costs and head turning curves, you really must see one.

Contact Autosales Today.

Request a test drive today; See below for your local dealership

Autosales

Vulcan Road, Bilston, West Midlands WV14 7JW 01902 402233 www.suzuki.co.uk/autosales

Autosales Suzuki Cannock Progress Drive, Bridge Town, Cannock WS11 0JE 01543 431360 www.suzuki.co.uk/autosales

Swift SZ3 official fuel consumption figures in mpg (L/100km): Urban from 46.3 (6.1), extra urban from 64.2 (4.4), combined from 56.5 (5.0). Official CO2 emissions 116g/km. Fuel consumption figures are based on an EU test for comparative purposes only and may not reflect real driving results. 0% APR representative on Suzuki Personal Contract Purchase. Maximum 43 month term. Terms and Conditionsapply. Offer available on registrations of Suzuki Swift SZ3 between 1st January 2016 to 31st March 2016, subject to availability. Offer excludes 5dr SZ3 4x4. This finance offer is at a rate better than that of High Street lenders. The offer above is available from participating Authorised Suzuki Dealers only. The offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Finance is provided, subject to status by Suzuki Financial Services Ltd. Applicants must be 18 years or over and UK resident (excludes Channel Islands and Isle of Man). Suzuki Financial Services Ltd reserves the right to withdraw or amend this offer without notice or prior warning. Suzuki Financial Services Ltd, part of Lloyds Banking Group, St William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff, CF10 5BH. We may receive commission or other benefits for introducing you to Suzuki Financial Services.

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

157

BodyKraft speeds up

its operation

Tim Freeman, Lorna Freeman, Mike Pugh, Dawn Owen

Accident repair firm BodyKraft opened the doors to its brand-new £250,000 rapid repair centre in February. The state of the art facility played host to 100 guests and myriad VIPs, including Wolverhampton Wanderers’ legend Steve Bull and the Mayor and Mayoress of Dudley, at a gala launch event, which demonstrated innovative painting and drying technology. The 6000 sq ft unit – BodyKraft’s second facility on Pensnett Trading Estate, in Kingswinford – will facilitate its latest ‘Fastrack’ venture. It comes much to the delight of the Black Country’s accident-prone and unfortunate, and is the latest in a long line of good news for the company, which was founded in 1998 by owners Mike Pugh and Lorna Freeman. Mike Pugh, managing director of BodyKraft, said: “As we mark our 17th anniversary we have invested in providing one of the 158

most high-tech vehicle repair and spraying facilities in the country.” The new ‘Fastrack’ service will focus on small and minor body repairs. It is designed to speed up the spraying and drying of customers’ vehicles, reducing the process to just five minutes; it will be handling up to 12 vehicles per day. A £78,000 moveable spray booth and UV infrared drying system is a first for the region. Much of BodyKraft’s work involves full-on accident and business insurance repairs together with paint and dent removals. Another 12 employees – among them mechanics, panel beaters, paint technicians and office staff – have been added to the business, which now employs a team of 90 across four sites in Dudley, Wolverhampton and Merry Hill. And it’s no accident that so much investment has been forthcoming because such things are very important for the family-focussed company, as Mr Pugh adds: “We’re delighted that this new facility will mean more jobs for people in the Black Country. It’s the engine

room of Britain and we need the best local people to be part of our team in what is the most ambitious initiative in our history.” “Many of our customers are local people and businesses who rely on their vehicles and need them back on the road as quickly as possible, so our new rapid service means owners can have their cars and vans repaired on the same day.” Giving back to the community has seen the company attract not only local people and businesses but many other established brands also. BodyKraft is the trusted repair specialist for many global car manufacturers, including Vauxhall, Chevrolet, Kia and Citroen. BodyKraft is also an accredited repairer for West Midlands Police. So you might even say that the business comes highly wreck-a-mended. BodyKraft also ensured that fellow Black Country businesses benefited from their expansion by using local firms for the construction and fitting out of the new premises – including near neighbours, M Foster Construction.

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Block A, Progress Point, Second Avenue, The Pensnett Estate, Kingswinford DY6 7FT www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Airport, Transfers & Executive Travel Image Luxury Travel 89 Perton & Bridgnorth Travel 89 Bathrooms Carvers Building Supplies 19 Eaton Kitchens 39 Kitchen & Bedroom Technique 31 Roman Bathrooms 35 Wall Heath Bathrooms 23 Beauty Clinics – Cosmetic Cosmetique Aesthetic Clinic 99 Beauty Salons Skin & Tonic 93 Beds & Bedroom Furniture Chasewood 53 Interiors Italia 42/43 Merridale Furnishers 13 Blinds, Curtains & Shutters Creative Interiors 23 Merridale Furnishers 13 Val Hever Blinds 48 Virgo 49 Building Services & Contractors Three Pines 41 Building Suppliers Wolverhampton Building Supplies 62 Butchers Allan Bennett 64 Poxons 64 R J Hipkiss & Sons 67 Caravan Accessories Cannock Caravan Accessories 69 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Specialists Touch Dry 48 Carpets & Flooring - Supply & Fit 1st Choice Flooring 34 Premier Carpets & Flooring 27 Virgo Carpets & Interiors 49 Car Sales & Service Autosales 157 Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton 163 Chiropody & Podiatry Tom Casey 112/142 Composite Doors Doorsmart 59 Computer Services Finchfield IT 65 Delicatessen Corbelli 66 Dentistry Parkside Dental Surgery 111 Simply Dentures 113 Total Implant Solutions 2 Debt Collection Services JB Credit Services 62 Design & Print Synaxis Design Consultancy 65 The Studio 98 Diet & Slimming Cambridge Diet 101 Education Newbridge School 121 Tettenhall College 119 The Royal School 123 Electricians & Electrical Contractors Central Electrical Contracts 37 Chancery Contracts 45 Excel Electrical Contractors 151

Electrical Goods Suppliers Geo-E-Davies 62 Electrical Installation & Design Chancery 45 Entertainment Tettenhall College Ball 84 Estate Agents Berriman Eaton 9 Fashion & Retail Aristocats 97 Diffusion 94/95/107 Fencing & Gates Profence 63 Fireplaces & Stoves Flaming Fires 17 Wolverhampton Fireplaces 13 Fitness & Leisure Centres Chris Jewkes Fitness 109 Patshull Park 138 South Staffordshire Leisure 117 Furniture & Furnishings Creative Interiors 23 Interiors Italia 42/43 Merridale Furnishers 13 Ralvern 33 Sofa Factory Outlet 25 Virgo Carpets & Interiors 49 Garage Refurbishment Services Danmarque Garages 51 Garage Services Bodykraft 159 Church Road Motors 160 Four Ashes Renault 155 HiQ Tyres 153 Rock Garage 160 Garden Design Boningale Garden Creations 61 Gardening & Landscaping Lealans Garden Centre 60 Glass & Hardware Specialists Tech Alum System 57 Golf Clubs & Driving Ranges 3 Hammers Golf Complex 133 Oxley Park Golf Club 131 Patshull Park Golf Club 138 South Staffs Golf Club 135 The Staffordshire Golf Club 139 Wergs Golf Club 141 Hairdressers Ego 90/91 Salon 27 98 Urban 100 Health Care Cover Paycare 105 Home Care Support Health Care 1st Choice 66 Hospices Compton Hospice 30/129 Hospitals – Private Nuffield 130 House Builders Morris Homes 11 Independent Financial Advisers Midland Financial Services 14/15 Interior Designers Creative Interiors 23 Virgo Carpets & Interiors 49 Italian Deli Corbelli’s 66

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Jewellers T.A.Henn Kitchen Doors - Replacement Dream Doors Kitchens - Supply, Design & Fit Carvers Building Supplies Dream Doors Eaton Kitchens Kitchen & Bedroom Technique Roman Bathrooms Legal Services Manby Bowdler Solicitors Sharratts Solicitors Letting Agents Berriman Eaton Lighting Lighting R Us Locksmiths Cummings Brothers Loft Ladders Lyndale Log Supplies Manor Logs Music Lessons Rick Hampton Opticians Taylor Biddle Orthopaedic Surgery Wolverhampton Hip & Knee Clinic Oven Cleaning Services OvenClean Painters & Decorators Kevin Jackson Photography Crescent Imaging Plumbing & Heating JB Plumbing & Heating Restaurants/Pubs Bravaccios Codsall Spice Eden Brasserie Halfpenny Green Vineyards Patshull Park Shrewsbury Arms Sir Jack’s Wergs Golf Club Wombourne Tandoori Skip Hire Wolverhampton Skip Hire Stairs & Stair Components Lyndale Tea Rooms Halfpenny Green Vineyards Himley Hall Theatres The Grand Theatre Tiles & Interiors Heart of Stone Tile Choice Tyres Hi Q Tyres Vineyard & Craft Centre Halfpenny Green Vineyards Water Softener Specialists D A Baldwin & Son Wedding Venues Himley Hall Patshull Park Hotel Windows & Conservatories Tettenhall Windows

7 29 19 29 39 31 35 123 127 9 37 150 24 62 66 106 115 66 151 89 151 75 78 78 71 79 75 71 74 74 150 24 71 83 164 35 5 153 71 22 83 87 21 161

FIVE STARS

FOR THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLC Top score in the Euro NCAP rating The Mercedes-Benz GLC has achieved the top score in the Euro NCAP rating. The new mid-size SUV has received five stars, continuing the Mercedes-Benz success story in impressive style. In 2014 the GLA, C-Class and V-Class were likewise awarded five stars by Euro NCAP. The GLC has achieved five stars for occupant safety, child safety, pedestrian protection and its assistance systems – giving it the maximum score in the Euro NCAP rating. The basis for this outstanding result is the perfect interaction between active and passive safety: the combination of a highly rigid safety passenger cell, highly effective restraint systems, the latest driver assistance systems and other measures leads to first-class test results. “The new GLC’s gratifying result in the Euro NCAP rating confirms the success of our efforts in the areas of active and passive safety,” said Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rodolfo Schöneburg, Head of Vehicle Safety, Durability and Corrosion Protection at Mercedes-Benz Cars. “We will continue to intensify our efforts in the future, so as to provide the best possible safety not only for drivers and passengers in a Mercedes-Benz, but also for more vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.”

role it plays as a safety pioneer in the field of automotive safety. The comprehensive approach taken by Mercedes-Benz Accident Research Centres focuses on avoiding accidents completely or mitigating their consequences. The company uses the term “Real Life Safety” to describe this approach. Almost all of the driver assistance systems which are familiar from the C-, E- and S Class are available for the new GLC. As part of the Intelligent Drive concept, these systems combine data from various sensor technologies to substantially enhance comfort and safety. COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS, Crosswind Assist, Headlamp Assist and ATTENTION ASSIST are on board as standard. The Driving Assistance package Plus provides an even more comprehensive range of active safety features, comprising DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot, PRE-SAFE® Brake with pedestrian detection, BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and PRE-SAFE® PLUS. These measures exceeding the bounds of the actual Euro NCAP rating have been acknowledged

by Euro NCAP with two so-called “Advanced Rewards” for PRE SAFE® and ATTENTION ASSIST.

Best possible protection for more vulnerable road users The protection of more vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists is also taken very seriously by Mercedes-Benz. The GLC is equipped with an active bonnet which is raised by 80 millimeters during an impact to provide additional deformation space. Under the bonnet, the package has been further optimised with a new engine cover and deformable air intake, creating yet more deformation space. In this way the GLC meets the stringent pedestrian protection requirements of Euro-NCAP, which go well beyond the legal requirements. Peter Smith, General Manager of Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton, added “Our SUV range is an important part of our showroom, with SUV’s being so popular amongst our customers, Mercedes-Benz must make sure they get it absolutely right when developing the new models. They have done this with this new range, not only do they look so attractive, the safety is second to none too, which is vital! If you need any further information on our SUV range, please call us on 01902 427897.”

Real Life Safety plus Intelligent Drive Assessment by means of crash ratings is only one aspect of the comprehensive safety philosophy followed by Mercedes-Benz. Thanks to the knowledge acquired as a result of accident research conducted in-house, the GLC has also been systematically designed with real-world accidents in mind. In this way, Mercedes-Benz is once again highlighting the leading

Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton, Penn Road, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV2 4HD 162

wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Our SUV Range As impressive as it looks.

Get behind the wheel of one of our striking SUV models and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be able to feel the excitement for yourself. All available at Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton, each SUV is unique in its own right and you can find the one right for you with the help of our sales team.

Call us on 01902 276977 to pre-book your test drive.

Drayton Group Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton

Penn Road, Wolverhampton WV2 4HD 01902 276977 www.draytongroup.co.uk www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Great Theatre at the Grand! MON 2 - SAT 7 MAY

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TUE 24 - SAT 28 MAY

BOOK BY RICHARD BEAN MUSIC BY DAVID ARNOLD LYRICS BY RICHARD THOMAS Based on the Wooley/Karlsen/Number 9 Motion Picture. Financed by the BBC, BMS Film Finance. BFI and Lip Sync Productions. Directed by Nigel Cole. Screenplay by William Ivory

This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd

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wolverhampton west magazine | april 2016

Wolverhampton West Magazine - April 2016