Wolverhampton West Magazine

June 2017

Win a fabulous Hair Makeover at award-winning salon Royston Blythe Win a 3-course meal for two at The Cowshed Win tickets to see La Cage Aux Folles at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Win tickets for West Midlands Safari & Leisure Park Win tickets for The Cosford Food Festival

June 2017

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Contents June Edition Lashings of Lichfield The local property market by Nick Berriman Fantasy becomes fact Grand Theatre: La Cage aux Folles West Midlands Safari Park competition Crosswords and puzzles Carvers Celebrate 50 Years’ Service Recipe of the month BJ’s charity goes from strength to strength Alfresco Living – Enjoy your outside space this summer Grand Theatre competition Award-winning gardens on our doorstep The Magic Garden ‘Spectrum’ and ‘Spectacle’ Rotary Club of Wolverhampton Paycare giving back to the community Carver Wolverhampton Marathon Events Gardening in June Gardening with Ann Winwood Promise Dreams: Walk the Walk Spring lunch raises over £4000 for children’s charity Home Interiors 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

8/9 10 14 16 20 22 24 28 30 34 38 44 44 46 48 50 54 55 60 62 64

Cancer research UK: Race For Life 66/67 Love your independent retailers 68 Days Out in Derbyshire 70 Cosford Food Festival competition 72 Kinver Country Fayre 75 Win a meal for 2 at The Cowshed 82 The Oakley Arms food review 84/85 Sir Jack’s food review 88/89 Stunning summer style at Royston Blythe 96/97 Summer beauty essentials 100 Women’s Fashion: Summer dressing 104/105 Mind Babble: Mind your weight 108 Meet the boss 112/113 Win a ‘Hair Makeover’ with Royston Blythe 116/117 Tom’s Tip 121 Tettenhall College Garden Party 122 Tettenhall Summer Fete 122 Redevelopment work to start at historic Wolverhampton school 130 Hugh Porter: Life Cycle 136/137 Golf Tip 140 Social scene 146/153 The Restoration Man 154/155 Motoring: Exploding myths with C4 156 Autosales all-new Suzuki Swift 158 Index to advertisers 161 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet 162

Congratulations to: Winner of Sunny Afternoon competition at The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Kirsty 0’Connor, Codsall Winner of the meal for 2 competition at The Mount Hotel Nigel Stokes, Penn

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.

*Total distribution 25,000 copies across 2 months

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from the editor Nothing in life is certain. After calling for a snap general election on June 8th our PM Theresa May needs to be especially mindful of this, because with tricky Brexit negotiations now knocking on the door, who knows which way the country will vote – especially when times are tight. And with the new tax year just getting started, things soon promise to be tighter than a pair of hot pants in a pop music video, but don’t worry here’s some good news: it’s competition time and this month we have more prizes than Bruce Forsyth on the Price is Right.

It’s been seven years since we started this magazine and to celebrate we’re giving you the chance to win tickets for the Grand Theatre; tickets for West Midlands Safari Park; a 3-course meal and selected bottle of house wine from The Cowshed in Pattingham, tickets for The Cosford Food Festival and a hair makeover from Royston Blythe, to include colour, cut and Rapture Hair extensions. Like us the current Midland Hairdresser of The Year has much to celebrate right now, as both its Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury salons have just won the prestigious L’oreal Colour Trophy 2017 in their respective regions. Royston himself must be tickled pink. Success is no accident, of course. Like my old Nan used to say, ‘learn the value of hard work by working hard.’ It fills me with an enormous amount of pride to see Wolverhampton West reach its latest landmark, especially considering it has done so against a wider backdrop of declining print media. We’re a happy bunch here at WW HQ: there’s yours truly, my partner, Sales Director Gisella Wiley; our graphic designer, Ed Wilde from Studio 28; Social Pages snapper, Nigel Gooding from Crescent Imaging; staff writer, fashion and beauty correspondent, Helen Taylor; feature writers John Nash and Rob Taylor; Accounting guru, 04

Jonathon and, of course, our dedicated delivery team, who keep fresh editions flowing every month.

But who we really have to thank – for our longevity and ongoing success – are our loyal advertisers and avid readers, who this month have the following forthcoming features: David and Emily Smith’s personal involvement in this year’s Race for Life; local sporting legend in our midst, Hugh Porter; car enthusiast and 3 Pines Builders’ MD Alan Bradshaw; our popular Meet the Boss staple, this time it’s Olha Lac and Tracey Taylor from Taylor Biddle Opticians, plus a piece on historic Lichfield. It’s walking weather outside right now so be sure to put your Best Foot Forward for your chosen charity at the Rotary Club’s unique fundraising initiative at Aldersley Stadium; Walk for Dreams in support of children’s charity Promise Dreams and take things to the max at Compton Hospice’s Colour Blast event, which brings a whole new meaning to showing the colour of your money. Or go really big by entering the Carver Wolverhampton Marathon. Still not fit enough? Then check out WV Active - the new name for Wolverhampton’s Leisure Centres - South Staffordshire leisure centres, Chris Jewkes Fitness and the Cambridge Weight Loss Plan. We also have articles on well being from Mind Babble, teeth implants, news from Nuffield Health, opticians and chiropody. Now enough fitness and health: it’s time to undo all your good work, courtesy of our 14-page Eating Out guide. Inside you’ll be salivating over food reviews at The Oakley Arms in Brewood, Sir Jack’s Restaurant in Molineux

and will find much inspiration for the forthcoming lazy Bank Holiday days. Top of the list has to be Shrewsbury Arms in Albrighton and Halfpenny Green Vineyard’s Food and Wine festival. Tasty stuff. Failing that, drop in on Enjoy Wolverhampton – the dedicated website with all the up-to-the-minute city news. Further to this there are all the usual suspects too: everything for your home – including the kitchen sink – which includes building extensions, orangeries, fireplaces and furniture to kitchens, bathrooms, windows and blinds. There are also eight social pages, four pages of golf, an in-depth look at the Mercedes C-class Cabriolet; fashion and beauty – with advice from Cosmetique – cutting edge hair trends from Royston Blythe, as well as articles on law from FBC Manby Bowdler; tax management from Midland Independent Financial Services and education. And, as a parting shot, hear this: it’s Father’s Day soon and since we all know that dads love nothing more than the latest tech, look up Acoustic Boutique in Shrewsbury for a perfect match this 18th June. It’s certainly a better idea than socks, I’m sure. See you in August…

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Panoramic view across Lichfield

Lashings of Lichfield By Rob Taylor

It’s sometimes still hard for us Wulfrunians to remember that Wolverhampton is a city. Careless remarks such as “I’m popping up town” litter daily life and exist still despite 17 years of official city status. Maybe it’s because when used in such utterances ‘town’ has a certain ring to it that ‘city’ lacks, or maybe it’s because none of us really know quite why or how Wolverhampton was given the nod in 2000 when five times previously it had been rejected. Maybe officials were too drunk on Millennium celebrations to be pedantic this time. One city that has been about for much longer is Lichfield. Although by today’s standards it’s hard to fathom why exactly. Today we think of cities as having large conurbations, like Birmingham or London. So how did Lichfield, an area of less than 6 square miles with a modest population of around 34,000 become a city? Surely by that measure every town, everywhere, ought to be entitled. Well, no, because as soon as Henry VIII sat as head of the Church of England in the sixteenth 08

century he merrily made it all up as he went along, introducing the concept of dioceses (a number of parishes supervised by a bishop) and therefore city status came soon after. Wells in Somerset – England’s smallest city – is an even more extreme example of this. It took until 1889, when Birmingham lobbied on the basis of its population growth and local government achievements, to break the mould. So in a nutshell behind it all was a cathedral. Famous for its majestic medieval three spires, Lichfield Cathedral was attacked three times during the Civil War when the roof was holed and

the central spire destroyed by cannon fire. Parliamentary forces also defaced and destroyed many of the original features. It was then swiftly restored in the 1660s under the supervision of Bishop Hacket. James Wyatt continued the restoration work in the eighteenth century and made substantial changes to the structure. And then finally the cathedral had its medieval splendour recaptured by cathedral architect Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1855. Inside the magnificent walls there are treasures which include 8th century St Chad Gospels, 16th century Flemish Glass, monuments by Chantrey

Tudor Café dating back to 1510

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

and Epstein and the 20th century Lang Lichfield Silver Commission. Lichfield today lies in the county of Staffordshire but 1300 years ago it stood at the centre of what was then the Kingdom of Mercia. Go even further back and inevitably we run into Romans, the story of which is best explained by a visit to the National Trust’s Letocetum Roman Baths and Museum. The remains of this important Roman staging post and settlement provide excellent insight into Roman Britain and particularly Lichfield’s importance as a key Roman-Britain settlement during the Roman advance into Wales in 78 AD. Another notable place to visit is Eramus Darwin House. Former home of leading 18th century doctor, scientist, inventor and poet, Erasmus Darwin – who

was grandfather to Charles Darwin and founder member of the Lunar Society of Birmingham – this stunning Grade I-listed Georgian house is a prominent local landmark. Now run as a dedicated museum, the house brings to life one of the foremost physicians of his time – he once declined a request to be personal doctor to King George III; was the most popular poet of the 1790s - but his greatest legacy was the theory of biological evolution by means of natural selection, later proven by his significantly more famous grandson. Another big hitter from Lichfield is Samuel Johnson. The man of Dictionary fame has his birthplace now open to the public. Set over five floors and packed to the gunwales with elucidating exhibits, his birthplace is slap

Statue of Samuel Johnson

bang in the centre of the city on Breadmarket Street and charts the story of young Samuel – from difficult childhood to national celebrity. I bet he’d have been great on Countdown. After so many tongue-twisting wordy workouts visitors will be grateful for one of the 30 licensed pubs in the city. In 1732 there were 80, owing to the city’s central location and that pubs provided quarters for soldiers before proper army barracks existed at Whittington. Many old ones are still open for business: The Horse and Jockey, The Pig and Truffle and The Queen’s Head remain popular. Others such as The Bluebell, Bull’s Head and Bridge Tavern are long gone.

The entrance to Cathedral Close, with Lichfield Cathedral in the background

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Happily Lichfield’s city status remains. And no council or wife-killing, gout-stricken monasterial-burning monarch would dare ever take it away. 09

The local

property market by Nick Berriman

It’s very confusing. In the last edition of this splendid magazine I bemoaned our lack of new instructions which was a national trend. As I write this I have beside me the latest edition of the Express and Star in which we have a double page spread of advertisements ranging in price from £1,150,000 to £160,000 and the most significant factor is that of the 34 adverts 31 were first adverts. No longer should I worry about a lack of instructions but in my morning paper the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reports that house sales in the West Midlands have remained stagnant and that there is a lack of properties coming on the market! So how do we explain these contradictions? Perhaps it is because the property market is very fickle and is subject to local conditions. I would like to think that our significant success in securing so many new instructions is down to our undoubted brilliance… but perhaps I should leave that judgement to you… but come to think about it it is you who have made that judgement and hence our success ! The truth is probably that all the reports can ever do is to look at national averages which submerge local variations. We are now in the time of year when the domestic market is supposed to be at its strongest. Brexit seems to have slipped into the past, yet I suspect it will rear its head again as negotiations start being serious. One of the EU Presidents was reported 10

as saying that the UK must not be allowed to be in a better position after Brexit than it was before. Whilst that is quite understandable - as if it were to happen that way it would encourage other waverers to break away - it does indicate that our negotiators will have a fight on their hands. As of now the market outside of London seems pretty sound. It isn’t boom time but as I have said so often we do not want boom time back. It’s fun while it lasts but there is always payback time to follow and that can be very uncomfortable. If the market is better we should consider how to make the best of it. I have quoted the trite but true saying many times that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. That means the condition of the front elevation, its paint work and windows and the front garden. Overgrown grass and weed filled borders are not calculated to make a good impression. Any estate agent knows that people live in very different ways. From the extremes of serious OCD where everything has its place and is in it to the last centimetre to the frankly scruffy and almost unhygienic. The former may put some viewers off as the house looks somewhat clinical and not very comfortable. The latter speaks for itself. One problem which is serious and is often unrecognised is the unpleasant odour which is created by some domestic pets. The owners are often so accustomed to the smells that they do not notice. I have suggested that a good friend is asked to carry out a sniff test… and they must be very good friends if they have to bring bad news as telling someone that their house smells will stretch any friendship! We have all had bad experiences of this problem when viewing properties and it is enough to discourage potential buyers.

to overestimate people’s ability to imagine what a property could look like with some changes so making it look at its best is important. The state which some sellers leave their properties sometimes makes one wonder if they really do want to sell. Beware of last minute touching up of paintwork as recent and obvious work makes a potential buyer wonder what else might be covered up. The obvious answer is to keep properties in good condition but if things do need doing I always think it is best to leave things to the buyer. Put in a new white bathroom and the buyer will prefer pink or install an oak kitchen and the buyer prefers shaker style! I usually report on our performance during the last month, the spring has sprung, the grass has ris and fortunately we are not having to wonder where the buyers are as we have a satisfying number of them! Things are looking pretty good and the letting department is continuing its excellent performance. The five staff members in lettings are working well and have just secured the instructions of a local landlord to manage his extensive portfolio. I surprised someone the other day by telling them that there are seventeen people working in our Tettenhall office – she thought there were about five or six so perhaps it is worth making the numbers known and at the same time thank all our staff for their excellent work and commitment.

I think a well presented house has a much better chance of finding a buyer than one which is untidy and appears unloved. It is easy wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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TV, Audio & Home Automation Specialists Acoustic Boutique opened the doors to its revamped showroom in January 2017, moving to larger premises in the High Street, Shrewsbury, merging with the existing Bang & Olufsen showroom. Stocking a range of quality audio-visual products from Bang & Olufsen, Bose, Loewe and Ruark, they also sell Panasonic televisions, Sonos multi-room audio speakers and Pro-Ject turntables. “With new, larger premises, we can now offer a wider range of audio visual products and other complementary home furnishings and accessories,” said David Whittaker of Acoustic Boutique, which was founded two and a half years ago. Customers looking for home audio or visual products now have a ‘one stop shop’ for televisions from three brands, as well as the choice of a mirror or art TV which give customers the option of concealing their television, as well as Bluetooth speakers, headphones and wireless multi-room speakers from several brands.

The well-known brand, Bose, have a range of speakers and soundbars as well as the amazing Lifestyle system which gives full 5.1 surround sound to make films and television programmes even more engrossing and involving. With their smallest speakers ever, the Lifestyle 650 system offers amazing sound, with the ability to run the rear speakers wirelessly, making the installation easier and less invasive. And with interest free finance available on products over £1000, getting the picture and sound you are looking for is even easier. What sets Acoustic Boutique apart from the multi-brand stores is the level of product knowledge offered by the team in store, providing customers with a quality demonstration experience and advice to help them find the right

products for their home and their lifestyle. People can ask questions and find out the difference between such things as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and how the new streaming services work. If you are confused by 4K, LED, OLED, or HDR, then the team can help you with the jargon and explain how these technologies can work for you, so don’t be scared to come in and ask questions. With stylish cabinets from the German manufacturer Spectral and a new range of furniture now available from the French brand Ligne Roset, supplied by the Chester-based furniture designers, Chattels, and lighting and blind solutions from Philips Hue and Lutron, they are also able to help provide a full home styling solution. “We pride ourselves on our levels of customer service from the moment our customers enter the showroom, to the final phase of installing their products, if required. We employ our own professional installation team who receive the highest praise from our customers on the quality of their installation and the friendliness of the service,” said David.

Come in and see us at 6 High Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 1SP or call us on 01743 240757 for more information about the services we offer. Visit our website www.acousticboutique.co.uk for details of our products and our opening hours. You can be assured of friendly and helpful service. 12

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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FANTASY

BECOMES FACT This is a local magazine and we take great pleasure in supporting, encouraging and celebrating local talent.

Very many people think they have a book in them. Only a few actually succeed in writing a book and even fewer have their book published. Robert J Marsters is a local man and is one of those few. He has written a fantasy novel entitled ‘The Ascension of Karrak’ which was published at the end of March when he had the singular and hard earned pleasure of holding a hard copy of the fruits of his labours. Robert is an interesting character who hides a cultured persona behind a modest and understated exterior. He was brought up by his mother in West Bromwich in circumstances where money was short and where books took the place of expensive toys resulting in a love of reading. Tolkien was an early influence. Fantasy and science fiction was a consuming interest.

After some happy years she was stricken by a potentially life threatening illness and Robert took time out to look after her.

During this time he was able to assess his life and realised that, although he was good at what he had been doing, he did not feel he was fulfilling his potential and was feeling frustrated because he felt he was capable of much more. His answer was to start writing and did so for two years culminating in the completion of his new book. So life has taken a new turn. His wife has come through her illness and Robert has gained the confidence which comes with successfully completing a difficult task and meeting an ambition. We wish him well with his first book. Number two has already been written and his fertile brain has number three planned.

Remember the name: Robert J Marsters. Remember the title: The Ascension of Karrak. You read about it here first. It can be purchased as a paperback or eBook from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon. com, Waterstones.com, AustinMacauley.com and, if you like it, please review it. You can follow Robert J Marsters on Facebook.

It is a long journey from a love of books to becoming a published author and Robert’s was far from the norm. By one of those accidents which can so often influence the future he found himself on the bottom rung of the retail furniture trade. He was a warehouseman and gradually worked his way up that ladder to becoming a store manager where his analytical brain made him a successful organiser capable of turning problem stores around and making them successful. So good did he become that management resisted further promotion as they could not afford to lose him from where he was so good and useful to them. He was the manager of a bedding store when fantasy touched his life. In walked a very special blonde lady intent upon buying a new bed and not only did she buy a new bed but Robert found himself a new wife! 14

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Interview with Adrian Zmed & Marti Webb I think a lot of people are surprised with some aspects of the show, with how timely everything is. There’s the song which is regarded as the show’s theme song, I Am What I Am, which meant what it did at the time it was written but today, with the way the world is moving right now, it means even more. Then we have a song called The Best Of Times and that is all about living in the here and now and enjoying what you have now, not yesterday or in the future.”

Adrian Zmed plays the partner of leading man John Partridge, “I play Georges, the owner of the St Tropez nightclub that it is all about – it’s called La Cage aux Folles. “He’s running a three-ring circus. He’s putting on a show with the dancers and his partner Albin – the star of the show. At the same time, he’s got a son who announces that he’s getting married and the father of his girlfriend is quite a conservative gentleman and suddenly the entire world for these people in the club is turned upside down. And then there’s Marti Webb, whose character owns the best restaurant in all of town. “I play Jacqueline, owner of Chez Jacqueline” said Marti Webb. “It’s a lovely part in a lovely show, I watch some from the wings and I’m reminded of just what a fabulous show it is. I get some lovely costumes but not quite like those worn by the Cagelles or certainly not like those that John Partridge wears as Albin. There’s all the glamour in the night club, but I’m a bit more staid.”

a wonderful production to look at, there are wonderful sets and beautiful costumes and the Cagelles are absolutely amazing – they’re the dancers and they’re boys… but are they boys? They could be girls…. In this production, the “fourth wall” usually known as an imaginary barrier between the stage and the audience is completely removed, as Marti explains; “we don’t have a fourth wall in this production. The audience in the theatre that night actually becomes our audience in the La Cage Aux Folles club and my patrons in my restaurant and they’re very much part of the show all the time. “It’s part of the magic of this show,” explains Zmed; “as soon as I come onto stage, I interact with the audience and they are definitely part of our show. It’s a show that really speaks to the audience and

For Adrian Zmed, who has worked extensively in US theatre, this is his first time performing ‘across the pond’ in the UK. “I was in the original production of Grease on Broadway, playing Danny Zuko, then I went to Hollywood and started doing television and Grease 2. I returned to Broadway and I’ve since been involved in between 20 and 30 Broadway and US touring productions. My manager at the time said I needed to make the move from New York to Hollywood and it worked out great for me, now it’s time to make the move to the UK – for the first time ever! I love it here!” LA CAGE AUX FOLLES stars John Partridge, Adrian Zmed and Marti Webb at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tuesday 27 June Saturday 1 July. Tickets can be bought by visiting the box office, calling 01902 42 92 12 or online at www.grandtheatre.co.uk

Zmed added, “This is a throwback to the old days of grand costumes, sets and choreography. It’s a story about family and a show with such heart, it’s also very funny.” “It’s lovely to hear people laugh, that’s really nice” said Marti, “it’s 16

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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CUR VY DESIGN FOR Luxurious Bathroom

As a business, we rely on a mixture of advertising and word of mouth, so we were delighted to get a call from Barbara and Alan, after they’d found us via Google. The project was the conversion/ refurbishment of an existing large bathroom that was not only looking tired but wasn’t being utilised to its full capacity. The sanitaryware was in need of updating and the tiny shower wasn’t hugely efficient. Designer Caroline visited the property, and came up with some ideas, which Barbara and Alan both liked. “Caroline has great vision and a way of really ‘seeing’ what people want,” says Barbara. 18

“My only specification was curves as opposed to corners and a larger shower. After that we let her imagination take over.“ The bathroom is now unrecognisable. A brand new double shower sits where the bath used to and the bath is recessed into the old shower space. There’s large ‘hotel-style’ tiling on the walls to maximise the feeling of space and some clever recessed storage and glass shelving just behind the loo.

The colour scheme is a calming cream and brown palette – perfect for relaxing at the end of a hard day. “We were so pleased with everything but the trouble is now, we’ve been spoilt,” says Barbara. “We’ve got more work to do in the summer and have re-booked Roman Bathrooms for that project (it’s a bathroom and separate cloakroom) – as we don’t ever want to go anywhere else!”

Roman Bathrooms 110 - 111 High Street, Blackheath, Rowley Regis, West Midlands B65 0EG Tel: 0121 561 4374 Email: info@romanbathrooms.co.uk

www.romanbathrooms.co.uk wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

ROMAN BAT H R O O M S • K I T C H E N S • T I L ES

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110 - 111 High Street, Blackheath B65 0EG Telephone 0121 561 4374 • email info@romanbathrooms.co.uk

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

What’s on at West Midland

S a fa rI

& LEI SU RE

PA R K

Staff at West Midland Safari Park have a fun-filled few weeks coming up with the opening of a new education centre, a week celebrating rhinos and a fundraising week for lions. At the end of May, the park’s brand new, state-of-theart education centre, named Safari Academy, opened. The outstanding, sustainably-built facility features five classrooms and has been designed specifically for visiting schools. Each classroom is equipped with everything it needs to provide interactive education for groups of all ages, from pre-schools and nurseries, to university groups and adult learners. Groups can take part in a variety of activities to enhance their in-school learning, including curriculum linked guided tours, hands-on Discovery Sessions and workshops. These include close encounters with some of the park’s smaller, friendly animals and a wide range of artefacts, all relevant to the chosen topic.

From 17 to 25 June, guests will be able to take part in Protect Lions Week, a whole week dedicated to the conservation of these magnificent animals. There will be competitions to take part in, fun activities such as lion-themed arts and crafts and also the chance to meet the park’s resident lions. All the money raised during the week will go to ALERT (African Lion and Environmental Research Trust). West Midland Safari Park is open for its summer season and the standard admission charge is £23.00 for adults, £18.00 for children aged 3-15 and £21.00 for concessions. Under 3s are free. Admission includes a voucher for a return visit or safari gift. Adventure Theme Park rides are charged extra. Further information and tickets are available from the park’s website at www.wmsp.co.uk or by telephone on 01299 402114. You can find out more on the safari park’s official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/WestMidSafari.

This month we have teamed up with West Midland Safari & Leisure Park to give you the chance to win free admission tickets. The tickets entitle a family of four to visit on one occasion up to 3rd November 2017. Theme park rides not included.

To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize, simply answer the following question correctly…

What is the name of the new education centre at the park? Email your answer including your name, address and telephone number to: info@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk or on a postcard to Wolverhampton West Magazine, 1 Lytham Road, Perton, Wolverhampton, WV6 7YY.

All entries to be received by Friday 16th June 2017. Competition Terms and Conditions - Winners will be chosen at random from all correct entries received. The ticket includes admission to the four-mile self-drive safari, Discovery Trail exhibits, animal encounters, African Village and live shows. Usual admission is £23.00 for adults, £18.00 for children and £21.00 for concessions. Children under 3 are admitted free of charge. No cash or alternative prize will be given. Prize valid until Friday 3rd November 2017 excluding Bank Holidays.

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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Quick Crossword Down 1 Mumble (6) 2 Destroy (4) 3 Gazing (7) 4 A fruit (5) 5 Annual celebration (8) 6 Place of learning (6) 12 Fight (8) 14 Scowls (7) 16 Ridicules (6) 18 Mean (6) 19 Nearby (5) 21 Conceal (4)

Across 7 Eighth month (6) 8 Son of a monarch (6) 9 Knock unconscious (4) 10 Family member (8) 11 Award (7) 13 Strangely (5) 15 Begin (5) 17 Fun-loving (7) 20 Single-storey residence (8) 21 A long walk (4) 22 Obstructs (6) 23 A rat (6)

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Wells wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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C a r ve r s C eleb r at e

5 0 Years’ S e r v i ce

L-R: Mike McKay, Richard Boult, Neil Kendrick, Henry Carver, Lynda Ross (receiving her flowers) & Ivan Savage.

It takes a special kind of person to show true commitment, particularly when it’s shown to an organisation, rather than a specific individual and Carvers is lucky enough to have one such person celebrating their 50th year working for the Company. Accounts Manager, Lynda Ross started at Carvers back in 1967 on the 29th March, aged just 15. She started as an office junior, after finishing her schooling at Wobaston Secondary Modern. After completing many office duties, including a 12 month stint on the Switchboard, Lynda moved over to the Carver Oils offices based at Long Acres, Willenhall to spend a short time at the offices, covering all areas. Lynda then returned to the Wolverhampton offices and spent some time in Credit Control. She also became responsible for the Sales & Purchase Ledgers for all the associate companies at this time – Carver Willenhall, Carver Oils, Carver Gases and Barrows Heating. During this time, things were very different and the accounts were all produced by punch tape and sent to a computer bureau to 24

produce the ledgers. These days things have changed greatly! Lynda became Accounts Manager back in the early 80s, after gaining confidence and a lot of extra duties along the way! During her time at the company, Lynda has worked for three generations of the Carver family and seen the offices move from Stafford Road, over the road to Littles Lane, not forgetting the time of the Carver fire back in 2012 when the main offices, warehousing and stock suffered a devastating fire. Lynda comments: “I have met and worked with many interesting,

kind and lovely people over the years and have always loved my work, becoming particularly engrossed in all the interesting jobs that have arisen. Like anyone, from a personal point I have experienced many ups and downs. But I can honestly say, that my job here at Carvers has provided me with such stability all through my adult life, and the support I have received from the directors and staff along the way has been exceptional”. Lynda celebrated her achievement, along with her work colleagues on Wednesday 12th April, where a presentation was made by Henry Carver.

Lynda with some of her work colleagues

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Wide Range

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wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

DESIGNED FOR LIVINGâ&#x20AC;¦ MADE FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE Feel free to visit our showroom and discover our inspirational kitchen designs 20 Finchfield Road West, Finchfield, WV3 8AZ

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RECIPE

Five Spice Chicken

with Soy and Honey Sauce Serves 4 Ready in 50 minutes Chinese five-spice paste is an aromatic blend of cinnamon, fennel, star anise, ginger and cloves. It’s great for adding an authentic Oriental flavour to meat, fish and poultry. You’ll find small jars of it in the herb and spice sections of most supermarkets. INGREDIENTS • 4 chicken fillets with skin • 10ml (2tsp) Chinese five spice paste • 10ml (2tsp) sunflower oil • 60ml (4tbsp) light soy sauce • 30ml (2tbsp) runny honey • 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce • 225g (8oz) hot cooked long grain rice, to serve • Shredded spring onions and finely chopped red chilli, to garnish

Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Spread the five-spice paste over the skin of each chicken fillet and place in a foil-lined roasting tin. Drizzle over the oil and roast for 30-35 mins until the chicken is

mins until slightly thickened, Stir in the sweet chilli sauce.

cooked through and the spice coated skin is lightly charred.

METHOD 2.

Remove the chicken from the tin and cover and keep warm. Pour any juices from the roasting tin into a small pan and add the soy sauce and honey. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 4-5

Slice each chicken fillet into 5 pieces and arrange on a bed of hot cooked rice. Garnish with the shredded spring onion. Serve the soy and honey sauce in small bowls, garnished with chopped red chilli.

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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B J ’S C h a r i ty goes from strength to strength

A family of fundraisers, along with their friends, are celebrating after raising almost £20,000 for charity, in memory of their loved ones.

The group began its fundraising in 2010 with its inaugural bike ride. Then in 2014 an annual charity walk was added to the group’s programme of activities, after the father of Bijay, Gurmel Singh, died of bowel cancer that year.

The group, BJ’s Charity, raised £19,917 from May to August last year.

In July last year, a total of 40 walkers, including Tirath Kaur, Khela Bijay’s 72-year-old mother, put their best foot forward to complete a 12 mile walk in the Peak District National Park. The walk began in Buxton and ended in Bakewell.

The Khela and Aujla family set up BJ’s Charity group in 2010, a year after Bijay Khela died of a brain tumour. Bijay was only 41 when he died in 2009 after four years fighting the tumour. To honour his memory, his siblings Pete Khela of the Parklands and Kami Aujla of Denmore Gardens, Wolverhampton, decided to set up the group and raise money for charity in his name.

the Great North Run and other races throughout the country. A group of around 10 cyclists also completed a bike ride which started on Monday, July 25 in Great Yarmouth and saw the group go through Peterborough, Wolverhampton and Liverpool. After crossing the Irish Sea to Dublin they cycled to Athlone finally arriving in Galway on Friday, 29 July. On average, the group covered around 107 miles a day during the week-long cycle ride.

Despite having a damaged ankle, Mrs Khela was motivated by the memory of her son and husband and completed the full 12 miles, raising £300 individually for good causes.

Funds raised will now be donated to the nominated charities: Steve Bull Foundation, Cancer Research, Cardiac Risk in the Young, CLIC Sargent, Rays of Sunshine, Unique Home for Girls and Let us play.

Pete Khela, along with friend and fellow cyclist, Gaff Mehat, also completed the London Marathon in memory of his brother last year. He also took part in

Steve Bull said: “I’m thrilled that the foundation has been chosen to receive the money raised from some of the family’s fantastic fundraising efforts.”

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

As seen on...

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

DIY SOS

Tettenhall-based

Kitchen & Bedroom Makeover Specialists

With over 350 kitchen transformations completed in the Wolverhampton area, Dream Doors has a portfolio bulging with satisfied customers. Since its owner, Richard Foster, started taking orders while working from home in 2013 Dream Doors, based on the Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton has grown in to an established local business. “It’s been fantastic” says Richard. We’ve been absolutely flat out and have had to increase our infrastructure and we also now have 4 installation teams in order to keep up with the ever-growing demand” he says. “We find our showroom is very important for customers to come and visit, as people want to see the quality of our large selection of products for themselves. Importantly, they also want to feel reassured they’re dealing with a business that has a local presence – a place to go to if anything were to go wrong. “We give even more reassurance than that at Dream Doors, though,” he adds. “You only have to look at our website to realise 32

we aren’t just an independent local business. With over 70 branches across the country and an eighteen year history, we are part of a national brand - and the biggest name in kitchen facelifts.” Dream Doors specialise in time and money-saving kitchen and bedroom makeovers, as well as full installations, all fitted by approved and vetted local installers. Started in Hampshire in the late 1990s, the brand now has franchised showrooms as far afield as Truro and Lanarkshire. Dream Doors Wolverhampton brings the company’s innovative kitchen door replacement service to homes throughout the WV postcode area. “We offer an outstanding product and service, delivered in a manner that ensures total customer satisfaction,” says Richard. “Whatever our customers want, we’re almost always able to say yes to them. If they need some new doors to fit an existing kitchen, we can supply made-to-measure replacements that can be fitted in just one day. If they want to incorporate worktops and a sink, or even a total refurbishment, we sell some of the best products around at very competitive

prices. We can also do complete makeovers to bedrooms whether it be a simple door swap on some wardrobes or indeed a full bedroom design and installation.” Dream Doors’ customers are invited to submit feedback on the independent consumer monitoring website, Checkatrade.com and now have over 180 reviews online with an average rating of 9.8/10. One customer in Wolverhampton gave Dream Doors a glowing testimonial, writing: “From start to finish the most professional and reliable company I have ever dealt with.” Another local homeowner wrote: “We’re over the moon with the service and work done. We can’t speak highly enough of them. We’ve never been so pleased with the quality, standard and service provided from any trader before.” If you would like a Free No Obligation Quotation give Dream Doors Wolverhampton a call on 01902 752200 to discuss your requirements or pop in to see them at 281 Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton WV6 0LE. Contact Dream Doors today on 01902 752200 or visit www.dreamdoors.co.uk

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

A FREsH AppROACH TO A NEw KITCHEN SpecialiStS in Kitchen MaKeoverS and new KitchenS

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Al fresco Living

- Enjoy your outside space this summer

Edge Modular Garden Sofa by 4 Seasons Outdoor £2,449

The summer is finally here, so make the most of those long, hot days by moving your living space outdoors. Whether you’ve got plenty of outdoor space or maybe just a small area, you can create a fantastic and versatile space that’ll provide the perfect refuge after a busy day.

Get comfy The right seating is essential for offering both style and practicality. If you simply want to enjoy a coffee outside, then a basic – yet decorative – small table and chairs will suffice, however if you’re keen to enjoy most of your evening meals and free time outdoors, then invest in comfy weather-proof seating, complete with footstools and a large table.

Essential maintenance It’s absolutely essential to maintain your outdoor living space all year round to get the most enjoyment in the summer months. Regular cleaning and weeding of your patio or decking is a must and ensuring that your garden is neat and tidy is essential.

Bring the outdoors in Adding bi-fold, sliding or patio doors to your home will allow you to easily blend your inside and outside living spaces. Of course, if you really want to make the most of your garden, an orangery or garden room will allow you to enjoy the outside views all year round.

Light it up Dress-up your outside living space with the right lighting. It’s an easy and quick way to instantly transform the look of your space and serves to allow you to enjoy Al fresco dining with friends after the sun goes down. String lights work really well for small patios and lanterns are the perfect addition to any table. Statement lighting works well in a modern outside living space, whereas garden lamp posts add real character to a traditionally styled garden.

Add colour Brighten-up your newly styled outside space with bold accessories, like cushions and tableware, and fill your garden planters with an array of colourful flowers. 34

Verdi Bistro Set £159 Cuckooland.com

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Domestic • Commercial • Industrial All electrical work undertaken • Fault Finding & Repairs • Fuse Board upgrades • Power and Lighting Design • Home Networking • Full or part Re-Wiring • Immersion Heaters • Electric Showers • Indoor & Outdoor Lighting • Phone & TV Sockets • Outdoor Wiring • CCTV & Security Installations • Minor Work - Sockets, Switches etc.

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Grand Theatre COMPETITION

One lucky reader can win 2 tickets to see LA CAGE AUX FOLLES on Tuesday 27th June at 7.30pm at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. Audiences are standing and cheering, and the national critics are raving about Bill Kenwright’s spectacularly stunning and hilariously funny new production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, currently on its first national UK tour. George and the dazzling drag artiste Albin, otherwise known as Za Za and the star of extravagant nightclub La Cage aux Folles, live an idyllic existence in the heart of St Tropez. But behind the curtains of this sparkling extravaganza, all may be about to change. George’s son Jean-Michel announces his engagement to the daughter of a notorious right-wing politician determined to close down the local colourful night-life. Drama and hilarity ensue when a meeting of the parents forces them to cover up their vibrant lifestyle.

Will Albin be able to play the role of his life to ensure that JeanMichel can marry his love? The cast features West End star John Partridge whose extensive theatre credits include the West End productions of A Chorus Line at the London Palladium, Cats, Starlight Express and Chicago. He also played the loveable Christian in

BBC’s EastEnders. Alongside him is Broadway star Adrian Zmed, whose credits include Blood Brothers, Grease and Falsettos. On television he played Officer Vince Romano alongside William Shatner in the long running hit series T.J. Hooker and big screen credits include Johnny in Grease 2. Joining them is West End icon, Marti Webb. She received huge critical acclaim for Tell Me on a Sunday, a show specifically written for her by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black. The show-stopping score includes The Best of Times, With You on My Arm and the iconic I Am What I Am. Tickets for La Cage Aux Folles from 27 June – 1 July 2017 are now on sale at The Grand Theatre Box Office.

To book your seats please go online at www.grandtheatre.co.uk or contact the Box Office by calling 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 16th June 2017.

Where is La Cage Aux Folles set? A. B. C. D. 38

London Barcelona St Tropez Milan

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 16th June 2017. 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 | june 2017

Stylish Shade Solutions for your home

Simple, elegant and robust Inshade sails keep your conservatory cool in the summer months by reducing UV rays by up to 95% whilst maintaining natural light levels. Made in the UK from an exclusive solar control fabric – Inshade sails can be washed in a domestic washing machine to ensure they maintain their looks and performance for years to come.

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Bespoke Sofas & Quality Re-Upholstery

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wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Manufacturing all manner of sofas, settees, chairs, chaise lounge, occasional chairs, curtains and soft furnishing from our base in Cannock, we at Ralvern upholstery can create any type of design - from ultra-modern to classically traditional. Using traditional skills we can also strip down your old suite, sofa, occasional chairs and re-create the original design with our superior re-upholstery service.

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Spring/Summer’17 Lighting Trend With spring in full swing and summer just around the corner, new lighting trends are upon us. Alongside returning old favourites and new additions to much loved collections, our much-loved lighting

suppliers have brought out some impressive new fittings signalling the start of a new season. Listed below are some of the latest trends coming in for the new season to provide inspiration for your decorating endeavours.

Tropical Paradise The underdog of all trends. A tropical breeze has taken over and

filled our manufacturers’ heads with some stunning designs this year. As well as this, we are also ecstatic to announce a brandnew range of homeware too! Don’t let our name fool you into thinking that lights are all we do. The tropical styles and summerinfused colours are what we all need to brighten up our homes.

L-R: Divizes Tables, Wagon Mirror, Lois Mirror, Thasos Mirror, Erin Table, Phillipa Pendant, Benedita Table Lamp, Nazare Table Lamp, Cipriano Table Lamp, Sintra Table Lamp, Solomon Table, Tewkesbury Side Table, Vladimir Cupboard, Tovey Mirror.

Bright Colours 2015’s highly sought after trend for brightly coloured light fittings shows no sign of disappearing. With a new take on bold, a wide range of colourful fittings are available, adding a much-needed splash of life and colour to any

room at home. Lighting brand Dar have taken steps to branch out with colour. Among many things, Dar are known for their collection of bespoke silk shades, which already come in a fantastic range of colours. New lighting additions from Dar such as the Cibana Table Lamp and Sullivan Pendant (below)

are prime examples of what we are looking for from this season’s trend. All fittings mentioned in this article are available to buy on our brand-new website, which is launching the start of May. Visit www.lightingrus.co.uk today or alternatively visit our Aldersley showroom.

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Award-winning gardens on our doorstep

Visitors to the prizewinning garden at 19 Waterdale in Compton will have an extra treat this year, as they will be able to see the neighbouring garden at number 12, as well. Anne and Brian Bailey, who have been opening their garden for 6 years to raise money for charity through the National Garden Scheme, have persuaded their neighbours, Colin and Clair Bennett

to join them this year and give visitors even more to see. The two gardens offer an interesting contrast in styles. Number 12 has an open sunny aspect with colourful traditional herbaceous borders, while at number 19, meandering paths through lush foliage lead to hidden surprises such as the ruined folly, shell grotto and gothic summerhouse, which has been featured on George Clarke’s ‘Amazing Spaces’ TV programme. Anne Bailey said “People visit the garden for many different reasons. Some are looking for ideas to try in their own gardens or for advice on growing plants, while others come for an afternoon out and the opportunity to enjoy tea and delicious cakes in beautiful surroundings.”

• Open days – Sunday 4th June 12.30-5.30pm • Sunday 2nd July 12.30-5.30pm • The garden at 19 Waterdale can also be visited by groups of 10-30 people on other days by private arrangement • Photo opportunities by arrangement • 19 Waterdale was featured on Amazing Spaces – Shed of the Year on 31st July 2014 • 19 Waterdale won the Daily Mail National Garden Competition 2015 Contact: Anne and Brian Bailey, 19 Waterdale, Compton, Wolverhampton WV3 9DY. Tel: 01902 424867. Email: m.bailey1234@btinternet.com

The National Garden Scheme is celebrating 90 years of opening private gardens for charity this year and has raised over £50 million pounds for nursing charities since it started in 1927. • Admission charges for NGS open days: • £5.00 per person - tea and cake charged separately.

The Magic Garden ‘Spectrum’ and ‘Spectacle’ total of £2,006 was raised for charity; this brings the total raised for the charities to £50,501, all from a tiny suburban plot in the west of the city.

On the west side of Wolverhampton, just across from lovely Bantock Park, Is a small urban jewel, filmed often by various television companies; photographed frequently by noted professionals, and written about in many well-known horticultural publications. Our first opening of the year on 13th May themed ‘Tulip Spectrum’ went very well. Arriving during the afternoon in good weather, two hundred and forty visitors, aged from two to ninety, plus some curious doggy friends. A grand 44

The plant stall sold out by 3pm and cakes by 4pm! Lots of thoroughly satisfied customers, who told us they will be back for more joy and ideas on the 22 July, 1.30-5.30pm, when, hopefully, Broad Lane will be open after the major roadworks glitch, although this did not appear to stem the flow of curious customers to The Magic Garden Gate.

proceeds going to our charities, Diabetes UK, Cancer Research and The Swan Sanctuary at Shepperton. Opening times are 1.30pm-5.30pm. Entrance £3, children under 16 free. Well behaved dogs on leads welcome. After your treat, take them for their treat a walk round Bantock Park! Everyone is welcome to come along and donate, indulge and take away a plant. www.themagicgarden.webs.com

On the 22nd July the garden theme will be ‘Lily Spectacle’ with hundreds of scented lilies, again in pots and in the garden. During the afternoon, delicious homemade cakes and teas will be served, and there will be a particularly good plant stall stocked by a keen supporter of ours, Tracey Coyne, Managing Director of Anglia Bulb Company, Colchester, all wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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. The building company has over 50 years of experience in construction, covering commercial and domestic development, with many of the carpenters and bricklayers having been employed by the company for over 20 years. The company is well established as being outstanding in its refurbishment and maintenance contracts and is considerate of the care and understanding needed when working on projects in both domestic and commercial sectors.

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The Rotary Club of Wolverhampton

Best Foot Forward is back! On Saturday 1st July 2017 between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm, the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton will once again be staging this unique fundraising event at Aldersley Stadium. The Club are hoping to beat the £22k raised for good causes last year.

Whether you are young or old, in a wheelchair, dressed in fancy dress or even super fit, you can do as many laps of the stadium as you wish - and at any time of your choice between 8 am and 8 pm. You can walk, jog, run or whatever takes your fancy! You can even try and persuade your dog to take part! A personal chip keeps a tally of your laps completed. Registration is now open and the Rotary Club are seeking as many event participants as possible. The challenge is on to beat the total of funds raised last year. Anyone interested in “rising to the challenge” and joining the event on 1st July can find information and registration details by logging on to www.wolverhamptonbestfootforward.com. Entry is free for anyone under 16 years of age and for those 16 and over the charge is a modest £5 per head towards the cost of staging the event.

The event is again supported by Wolverhampton City Council, the Express & Star, The James Beattie Charitable Trust and Wolverhampton West Magazine. Event Patrons, drawn from local community-minded businesses and organisations, have each pledged at least £250 to establish a charity “pot” and every time someone completes a lap a £1 is released from the pot for this year’s event charities. It is not too late to become a Patron. Please contact the Rotary Club, via the event website. This year’s charities are the Wolverhampton MS Therapy Centre (www.mscentre.co.uk), Central Youth Theatre (www.centralyouththeatre.org) and the Rotary Charitable Trust. Everyone is welcome to take part!

The Rotary Club is delighted that squads of trainees from RAF Cosford will again be taking part in the event, each squad vying to complete the most laps. Last year there were a record number of participants completing over 100 laps each thus joining the Best Foot Forward Centurions Club. But don’t worry, even if you can only complete a few laps at whatever speed, it will be greatly appreciated and help to release the charity pot for the event charities. Best Foot Forward also allows organisations to boost their own funds by their supporters obtaining personal sponsorship, quite distinct from the funds being released for the event charities. Details and sponsorship forms can be found on the website. In the meantime, don’t forget to put Saturday 1st of July in your diary!

Apprentice Award The Rotary Club of Wolverhampton make a number of awards annually to Youth in the local community. At a dinner held at Perton Park Golf Club, the club’s President Stuart Williams, presented this year’s award of The George Sidebotham Trophy, in memory 46

of Past President and District Governor, George Sidebotham, to Madeline Whiting, an apprentice from The Michael Beetham Centre at RAF Cosford. As well as club members and guests a number of past winners also attended and gave an update on their careers since concluding their apprentiships.

The Club’s President Stuart Williams and Madeline Whiting

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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Giving Back to the Community Paycare has further strengthened its support of the local community following its most recent agreement to sponsor Tettenhall Tigers Volleyball Club, a club aimed at developing skills amongst young people aged 7 and over, both in the sport and beyond. Nick Shaffery, Club Coach at Tettenhall Tigers Volleyball Club, explained: “Our club is all about inclusivity, and welcoming with open arms anyone who wants to become involved with the club and volleyball as a sport. This includes our players, who can enjoy competing, being active and socialising, but also extends to our wider community where there are opportunities for people to progress to coaches, managers and officials, and parents to start playing and getting active.”

Paycare’s support will go towards the club’s funding for the sports hall hire required for five hours each week, entry fees for the West Midlands Volleyball Leagues and National Junior competitions, as well as towards child welfare courses, coaching and officiating courses, and marketing collateral such as kits and promotional banners. Kevin Rogers, CEO of Paycare, explained: “We’re delighted to be providing our support

to the Tettenhall Tigers. At Paycare, we’re passionate about enhancing the physical and mental health and wellbeing of our team and our policyholders across the UK, and sport can help with everything from socialising, confidence and communication skills, to fitness levels and teamwork abilities. We look forward to working more closely with the club and in further encouraging people of all ages to enjoy volleyball as a sport.”

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Ca r v e r

Wolverhampton Marathon Events

Plans are progressing for the 2017 Carver Wolverhampton Marathon Events.

The charities they chose are Compton Hospice, Sunnyside Kennels Coven and Samaritans Wolverhampton. In addition the Marathon Charities always support the Mayoral Charity Fund.

This is a special year for us as it will be 20 years since the late Roy Carver reintroduced the marathon back to Wolverhampton. Things have moved on from then. The Marathon Events now include a Half Marathon, the Banks’s 10K, the Cousins Cycle Events, the Children’s Mini Marathon and the Call Print Walk in the Park.

Our loyal sponsors and their input play a big part in the success of this event and I thank them all, almost too many to mention.

As it is a special year the organisers will be giving a memento to each competitor together with a technical t shirt. The logistics of this event are vital and it takes a lot of volunteers to help keep the competitors safe and marshal around the course. The committee for this year reviewed the last 19 years and made their charity choices from those who “stood out” with their input, number of volunteers and enthusiasm.

As always there are numerous opportunities for volunteers to get involved and help with marshalling or one of the many other jobs that help with the smooth running of the event. So if anyone can spare some time to help please call Carvers or email Mary on mharding681@gmail.com. Entries are coming in daily and from July onwards race information and numbers will be posted out. As always the late entry desk will be open on Saturday 2rd September in West Park from 9.30 until 5.00pm.

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wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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THE GARDEN IN JUNE The poets of old referred to this month as ‘flaming June’.

Now whether this was because of the glorious profusion of flowers or because, being gardeners, they were a touch fed up with all the work this month brings, is open to question. Either explanation could apply however, since June is undoubtedly the month when the garden comes into its own, when the colour of flowers and the scents of summer, simply take your breath way. It is also the month when everything goes mad and grows like billy-o, when the weeds are also growing like there was no tomorrow, and when there is a need for plenty of watering. Never mind, that’s the joy of gardening, so grit your teeth, polish off the hoe, the shears and the watering can, and get to grips with the problem. A sturdy Dutch hoe with a long handle is your best friend for weeding at this time of year. Cut the little so-and-so’s off in their prime. Chop up their root systems, exterminate! Let none escape because if you’ve got to cart 54

water by hand, you’ll want it to go where it’s needed, weeds seem to need neither water nor anything else to grow tall and strong.

moisture there is, and water only in the later evening so the water can seep well into the soil before the sun causes it to evaporate.

The lawn and hedges will be growing madly too. Mow the lawn at least once a week but remember, if the weather is on the dry side, no shorter than an inch, or it will dry up and shrivel away. If the weather is exceptionally dry, leave the cuttings where they fall. They are an excellent mulch. Hedges will require careful trimming if you want to preserve shape and density. Again a trim every couple of weeks is best but, if you haven’t the time, you can leave them three to four weeks; you are just putting off the evil hour for yourself, that’s all. If you are growing Leyland Cypress, you should trim it now, and every week if you don’t want it to take you over. Be careful about trimming flowering hedges. Leave them until the last blooms fade.

Greenfly are at their most active at this time of year, and they do love roses. They love most of the other shrubs in the garden too though, so check over all your bushes carefully for these little pests, they are particularly fond of tender green shoots and young buds. Spray whole plants with soapy water, this usually deters the little creatures. Don’t however, forget your fingers. You can pick the insects off by hand especially around those buds. It’s really important to keep greenfly in check because they quickly move to other garden subjects, though strangely, weeds don’t seem to suffer quite so much!

Watering is the big problem. Conserve water in every way you can, especially used domestic water. Mulch every inch of the garden to conserve what soil

Now is a good time to make sure you have sufficient room for any bedding plants you’ve been bringing on elsewhere - and those ‘bargains’ you see for sale in garden centres and by the roadside where other gardeners are trying to shift their surplus stock.

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

The growing season

has arrived

at Lealans Garden Centre There’s plenty to plant out and do in the vegetable plot at the moment. Plant smaller quantities little and often to keep a steady supply of veg for the kitchen. Sow or plant salad crops fortnightly. There’s no need for vegetable and salad shortages when you can grow it yourself. Lettuces in particular have a fairly quick turn round. There’ll be a full range of vegetable and herb plants available now in garden centres. Remember don’t plant out tomato plants or cucumbers until it’s warmer at night – they soon go blue if they’re cold! Make up hanging baskets and tubs, but don’t leave them outside at night until the beginning of June, a late frost will spoil them. Use a good multipurpose or tub and basket compost that has added moisture control and slow release

fertilizer. Don’t be tempted to put them in a dark garage or shed, they need good light levels to get established. A popular theme at the moment is to plant up your basket with just one type of plant – Million Bells, Trailing Petunias, and Verbenas are ideal to do this with. Our own baskets should be ready for sale from the end of May. Summer bedding can be planted outside from the end of May onwards, so long as we aren’t getting any late frosts. Antirrhinums, Asters and Lobelia first, leaving Marigolds, Begonias, Impatiens and Geraniums until the beginning of June if necessary. Water well to get established, feed fortnightly and dead head regularly. Prune spring flowering shrubs once flowering has finished – forsythia, spiraea and flowering currants - this will produce nice long

Tips are provided by Ann Winwood, Lealans Garden Centre, Wolverhampton growths for next spring’s flowers. Once Clematis montana has finished flowering, prune back to encourage new compact growth. Now that the gardening season is in full swing, keep the lawn in good order by treating any weeds and moss with products such as Scotts ‘Evergreen Complete’ which will fertilise the lawn as well as killing weeds and moss. Never be tempted to rake out moss before killing it, you’ll just make the problem worse. MO Bacter, the moss treatment and lawn food I wrote about last month, can be applied to your lawn at any time from March through to September. A new product from the makers of MO Bacter is Bio-Press which is an organic spot treatment for patches of heavily moss infected lawns, it’s child and pet friendly and works within days.

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GARDENS WITH AN

EYE FOR DESIGN

subtle features. Tip: think about the seasons - if you want all-year round impact for example, choose a larger specimen plant / topiary which come in many different shapes, sizes and colours. • Borders: Each flower bed should also have its own focal point, which can be a tall plant or a bright flower. Tip: invest in an unusual species and resist the temptation to centre your focal point – just off centre is more effective. • Structures: Summerhouses, garden kitchens, entertainment areas and fire pits can also make striking statements. Tip: look at where the sun and shadows lie in your garden, so you can identify the best position with the most vantage points.

Creating an eye-catching focal point in your garden can make a marked visual difference to the completed design, and Martin Neenan, Boningale Garden Creations’ General Manager offers his expert advice here. A strong and creative focal point can add real design flair to your garden; it can be used to highlight points of interest, as well as to cleverly hide and divert attention away from unsightly areas. The trick to getting it right is choosing the right location and the right type of focal point.

Types of Focal Points • Objects: Using an ornament, statue, water feature, or a piece of furniture can create a striking centrepiece, especially against an elegant planting scheme. Tip: make sure the object fits with the size and style of garden. Your chosen object can also work to emphasise / complement architectural detail that is unique to your home. • Plants: Using plants as focal points can work really well, as they can create more

For a smaller garden, you might also want to consider a circular lawn or gravel bed with wrap-around flower beds for a focal feature. The use of mirror(s) is also a good tip, as they can give the impression of a larger space; they will also reflect more light into your garden, as well as provide a focal point. These are just a few simple design tips, to find out more come and talk to us and gain professional advice from our award-winning garden designers.

Location The first rule is ‘less is more’. Too many focal points in a garden can create a confusing space, which in turn will take away the value of creating a focal point. Next, try and get a feel for your garden; see where your eyes are naturally drawn and use this to test your focal point – remembering to check the position from all different angles of the garden, including the view from the house (and the neighbours, if privacy is required).

Call 01902 376500 or visit www.boningale-garden-creations.co.uk 56

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Ca r v e r s for all your home improvement projects

Rumour has it … summer is well on the way and now is the perfect time to start thinking about dusting down the cobwebs and start preparing your home and garden for the summer months.

offering lots of ideas to help you make up your mind, including natural stone paving, block paving, garden walling, fencing, edging, decking, decorative stone and accessories, along with many other feature products including Orangeries and Conservatories by Bespoke Windows, who are based on-site at Littles Lane.

Whether you are in need of a complete renovation or want to simply update what you already have, there are plenty of options available down at your local builders’ merchants.

The centre benefits from a huge landscaping display at the store entrance, showcasing a large selection of products on display. Making it incredibly easy to view the products, when they are right there in front of you. All the products are suitably laid in situ, so customers can get a clear idea of what the products would look like in their own back garden. Carvers have landscaping experts on hand to advise right through the decision making process.

Creating your perfect outdoor space can be incredibly daunting and with an endless list of possibilities, this may well be a task that keeps getting put on the back burner year after year. It can be almost impossible to imagine your ideal space when you have a blank canvas in front of you. With this in mind, pay a visit to the Landscaping Centre at Carvers Building Supplies. They have a wide range of products on display,

bathrooms with a complete design and fit service. The team can work wonders to create a bathroom that not only lives up to your dreams, but also fits in with your budget too. Tile Choice are on hand with a huge selection of floor and wall tiles to complement any room in your house and Dixons decorating department offer all manner of decorating materials, specialist paints, wallpapers and a full paint mixing service. They are also on hand to offer advice on any decorating problems you may have. Carvers is open to Trade and Retail customers and has a huge Kitchen, Bathroom and Cooker Centre showroom, along with a very nice Café!

If the inside of your home is the priority this season, Carvers has a fantastic range of bathroom suites – ranging from takeaway bathrooms at budget prices, right through to

Carvers are open Monday to Friday 7.00am – 4.50pm and Saturdays from 7.30am to 4.20pm. For more information contact Carvers on: 01902 577000 or log on to: www.carvers.co.uk 58

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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Walk the walk

and help make a dream come true Wolverhampton-based children’s charity Promise Dreams is absolutely delighted to be announcing the return of its biggest single fundraising event - Walk for Dreams 2017! You may well have heard the team on Signal’s 107 talking about this year’s event and seen the banner going up around the city! Sunday 16th July will see walkers, family and friends return to the grounds of Himley Hall in Dudley in their thousands to set off on a 9 mile walk to Wolverhampton Racecourse. The start time is 11am and on arrival, after registration, walkers will be given a warm up to ensure they’re ready for the off and a full-on party atmosphere awaits them at the Racecourse with music, bouncy castles, face painting, refreshments and, most importantly, somewhere to rest your weary feet. As in previous years entry to Walk for Dreams is totally free but walkers are encouraged to get sponsored or fundraise in whatever way they can as this will enable Promise Dreams to raise even more special smiles. There will also be “I walked the walk” t-shirts on sale

at both the start and finish venues for participants of the event. The team at Promise Dreams are hugely grateful to their key partners in this project who, through their generosity, will ensure that every penny raised from the walk will go directly to the families that the charity works to support. This money will make a real difference to some very special children and help to create memories that will be treasured for a lifetime. To sign up or find out more about Walk for Dreams simply visit www. walkfordreams.co.uk and complete

the online registration page. You can sign up individually or as a team so why not recruit as many of your friends and colleagues as you can and then see who can raise the most sponsorship. The website shows the different amounts in relation to different dream requests so you could even set yourselves a group target and know that you’ll be fulfilling a dream through all your hard work. For a small charity like Promise Dreams volunteer support at a big event like this is crucial so if you would like to help out on the day then you can also register on the same website to volunteer at this event. Promise Dreams is committed to helping seriously and terminally ill children and their families see their precious dreams become reality. Whether that dream is the chance to meet a celebrity, go to the theatre or simply to have access to medical equipment that will enhance each and every day of their lives. To find out more please visit www.promisedreams.co.uk

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

promisedreams.co.uk Registered Charity No . 1086020

Join us for a with friends and family from Himley Hall to Wolverhampton Race Course and you can help to make a difference to seriously & terminally ill children.

Call : 01902 212451 Email : walk@promisedreams.co.uk

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Visit : promisedreams.co.uk

Spring lunch raises over £4000 for children’s charity Tricia Ward-Jones held her annual Spring Ladies Lunch on Monday 3rd April at The Down Inn in Bridgnorth. 80 ladies attended the event which raised over £4,000 for Promise Dreams, a Wolverhampton-based charity who turn dreams into reality for terminally and seriously ill children across the UK. The attendees enjoyed a demonstration of spring flower arrangements from local florist Chelsea Owen, owner of ‘Inspired by Chelsea’ on Railway Street, Bridgnorth, followed by a two course dinner and a raffle and auction in which prizes such as beauty hampers and kitchenware were up for grabs. With the funds raised Promise Dreams

has been able to help a young man named Finlay to have lifechanging surgery. Finlay had a bleed in his brain shortly after birth that left him with cerebral palsy. Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery combined with intense physiotherapy will enable him to stand and walk independently for the first time in his life. A long-term supporter of Promise Dreams, Tricia organises a Spring and a Christmas Lunch each year to raise money for the charity and has raised over £25k. In 2012 she won the Lyn Evans Fundraiser of the Year award as a result of her efforts. Beverley Bird, manager of Promise Dreams charity, said “We couldn’t be more grateful for the support that Tricia has given the charity over the years, not to mention the ladies who attend her event year after year and give so

generously. Their ongoing support makes such a huge difference to the families that we are able to help. Steve and Sharon at The Down Inn are always so generous too and we can’t thank them enough for hosting Tricia’s events.” www.promisedreams.co.uk

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12/04/2017 12:10

you decide to select a new chandelier, a set of wall lights, some table lamps, spot lights or just a dimmer switch, you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t regret paying some attention to the lighting in your room. Wall coverings these days come in an astonishing array of colours and patterns. They are strong, easy to hang, hard wearing and very user-friendly. Some come ready pasted. The materials and fabrics used in their manufacture can produce a whole range of fascinating effects and as well as paper and vinyl you will find them in other materials such as printed textile, linen, split-cane, cork and jute. Colours and patterns are as varied as the taste of customers and prices are not quite as high as you might imagine - unless of course, you opt for something hand-printed and totally unique.

HOME INTERIORS There is absolutely no excuse for living in a dowdy, uninteresting and bad environment.

And in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home-owning society it has never been easier to achieve eye-catching and comfortable results. There are userfriendly materials and tools in all the DIY stores and they are more than ready with help and advice. Home style magazines carry features and articles on how to do the necessary jobs. And on television there are programmes almost daily, showing how great changes can be achieved with a little imagination and not a lot more. First of all you need to wander round stores to see exactly what is on offer. Most of the larger stores have exhibition style displays that suggest a variety of colours, textures and materials being used together for a variety of effects. Colour charts show the range of paint and varnish colours available and many stores have paint mixing machines 64

that will produce thousands of subtly different shades - enough to match any soft furnishings or materials you can find.

On the subject of soft furnishings, it is important to remember that they are an integral part of the overall design effect. Fabrics soften and enhance the effect of the applied decor and the stores are crammed full of fabrics, designs and pattern books that will show you how to mix and match, enhance and embellish. Curtains add insulation to the room, keeping out the heat and cold as required. They can be bought in fabric lengths to make up at home, ready-made for those standard sized windows or made-to-measure to match your exact ideas. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget either that blinds, cushions, throws or lampshades can also lift a room from its dowdy doldrums and may be all that you need to make your room look like something from an exhibition. Lighting is important because it adds that essential emphasis to the decorating plan. Whether

An alternative to the above could be tiles. Tiles come in ceramics, pottery, wood or cork and are made for use on floors and walls, though the floor type are not necessarily heavier duty than those used on the wall. For ceilings there are fireproof polystyrene tiles that are exceptionally easy to hang. Hanging tiles can be a touch problematical especially in those awkward nooks and crannies because they are obviously not nearly so easy to cut and shape as paper, vinyl and the rest. However, buy the right tool from your supplier; practise a couple of times on an old tile and you should soon get the hang of it. When selecting floor tiles, have regard for the area in which they will be laid. On a floor inside a door to the garden, unglazed ceramics or pottery are best because the grit from the garden will soon wear away any glaze. In bedrooms and bathrooms, thick cork is best because it is warm to the touch, quiet to walk upon and relatively happy in the humid environment of the bathroom. For a kitchen, quarry tiles are an excellent choice. For a lounge or dining room, beautifully decorated continental glazed ceramics are probably the tiles of choice. So if your home does need that face-lift, what are you waiting for? Check out our advertisers to see what they have to offer!

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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Wolverhampton father and daughter

Unite in the fight to beat cancer Wolverhampton dad David Smith has a special reason for volunteering at Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.

The 70-year-old former Civil Servant has had to share his life with cancer for the past 33 years. After losing his wife to the disease in 2005 he was proud to witness his daughter Emily join Cancer Research UK in 2009 as an Area Event Manager and organise Race for Life in their hometown, Wolverhampton. David immediately joined a crucial band of volunteers who help make the event happen every year. But in 2010 he was diagnosed with mouth cancer and the battle began again. This year David is back for the 7th time and more determined than ever to take on cancer at Wolverhampton’s Race for Life in West Park. David wants

to encourage more women to take part in the event and more volunteers to sign up to help at the event which takes place on Wednesday 7th June. “Losing my wife and then being diagnosed myself was unthinkable but I refuse to let cancer define our family,” said David who was faced with treatment at the same time his daughter Emily was due to get married. David nursed his wife Denise through breast cancer in 1984 but lost her to ovarian cancer in 2005. Five years later he was diagnosed with mouth cancer after visiting the dentist with a suspected abscess on his gum. David underwent surgery to remove the cancerous tissue followed by a three month course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy at New Cross Hospital. Knowing the treatment could affect his ability to speak David recorded his ‘father of the bride’ speech beforehand. Three days after leaving hospital, in September 2010, David proudly

walked his daughter down the aisle and received a standing ovation for his speech which was played at the reception. “I’m so proud of Emily’s work for Cancer Research UK I want to do all I can to help,” said David. “Every year I volunteer at a number of Race for Life events but Wolverhampton will always hold a special place for me. Watching my daughter on stage rallying the ladies to the start line makes me very proud. This year we have a clear message ‘Cancer we’re coming to get you’.’’ Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring womenonly series of 5k events which raise millions of pounds every year to help defeat cancer by funding life-saving research. Emily Thompson, David’s daughter and Senior Area Event Manager for Race for Life said: ‘‘when you or a loved one get a cancer diagnosis, you can feel powerless to change what’s happening. “But taking part in Race for Life helps participants feel they’re making a real difference and doing something tangible to help. If you are thinking of signing up, stop thinking - please just do it! It’ll be one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll have.’’ Cancer Research UK’s lifesaving work relies on the public’s support. Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, the charity was able to spend over £9million last year in the West Midlands on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

David and Emily outside the church before the wedding ceremony

research - helping more men, women and children survive. Every day, around 85 people are diagnosed with cancer in the West Midlands*. Everyone is special, everyone is somebody’s mum, dad, brother, sister, friend or colleague. That’s why we’re calling on ladies in Wolverhampton to sign up right now and be part of a collective force of women who stand united in their aim to beat cancer sooner. Emily continued: “Race for Life is an amazing way to celebrate life but also remember those who have been lost to the disease. There are over 200 cancers and we won’t give up until we find cures for them all.”

Race for Life events in West Midlands 5k Events in West Midlands 7th June Wolverhampton, West Park 9th July

Himley Hall, Dudley

About Cancer Research UK

in 4 people will survive their cancer for at least 10 years.

• Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research.

• Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.

• Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.

• Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

• Cancer Research UK receives no government funding for its life-saving research. Every step it makes towards beating cancer relies on every pound donated.

For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org

• Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival in the UK double in the last forty years.

• Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, 3

Let’s beat cancer sooner To enter Race for Life today go to www.raceforlife.org or call 0845 600 6050 www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Wolverhampton gets set for chart toppers in

free live event!

The stage is set and Enjoy Wolverhampton Live! is coming to the City Centre on Saturday June 3rd, a free event that will see chart toppers The Hoosiers, Toploader and more play live on an outdoor stage to a packed audience in Queen Square. The day-long event, organised by the Wolverhampton BID and funded by City Centre businesses, will give revellers an evening outdoor concert to remember from 6pm until 10pm. The entertainment will kick off with X-Factor star Lucy Spraggan followed by heartthrob Kevin Simm, the winner of last year’s BBC’s The Voice.

Top Loader

The penultimate act of the evening will see Brit Award nominees Toploader; relive the late 90s and Noughties with hits like Dancing in the Moonlight, from their platinum selling album Onka’s Big Moka.

Kevin Simm

As dusk gives way to night time, the stars will well and truly come out to shine in Queen Square as The Hoosiers top the bill as the headline act. The English-American pop rock band, who’s hit’s include Goodbye Mr A, Cops & Robbers and I’m seriously worried about Ray; will delight the crowd with some of the biggest hits in recent years. This free event simply should not be missed!

Families will also be able to take advantage of an exciting daytime line-up of fun and entertainment. CBeebies favourite Swashbuckler’s Cook and Line will be bringing the laughs in a duo performance for the kids. Children’s entertainment and a fun puppet show will make it a family event to remember. Hosted by Dickie Dodd and the Signal 107 FM Roadshow, the family fun will be running from 12pm until 4pm. Enjoy Wolverhampton Live! Will be the second successive free annual summer event to be held in Queen Square. Building on the massive success of the 80s Fun Fest last year which attracted thousands to a family fun day with Mr

Hoosiers

Lucy Spraggen

Bloom and an Evening music concert featuring 80s stars including Sonia, T’Pau’s Carol Decker, Katrina of the Waves, Jacki Graham and Nathan Moore from Brother Beyond. BID Director Cherry Shine anticipates the event to be bigger and better than last year. Cherry said: “Last year 80s Fun Fest surpassed our expectations for a first event. The spectators and families were fantastic and the whole city centre was vibrant and excited to see a host of famous singers and TV personalities perform in a great outdoor setting. We have high hopes that this year Enjoy Wolverhampton

Live will bring the same buzz, excitement and draw the crowds into supporting the City Centre economy.” Spectators will be able to take advantage of those City businesses servicing the crowds with refreshing drinks from the tents and food stalls. As the fun in Queen Square ends at 10pm, there will be further chance to enjoy more of the cities evening entertainment with a wide selection of bars and restaurants still open. For more information on the days’ events and the performing artists, please visit www.enjoywolverhampton.com/wolverhamptonlive or follow their Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages, search “EnjoyWolverhampton”.

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Cook and Line

Out and About: EXPLORING DERBYSHIRE Matlock Bath

By Trevor Langley With customs dating back hundreds of years in pretty villages, plus fashionable shopping centres, Derbyshire has something for everyone – including cable cars! The largest shopping centre is Derby, with its splendid cathedral. Westfield Derby has all the bigname stores and modern facilities throughout. Sadler Gate and Iron Gate have designer fashions and products in traditional shops. Attractive, historic market towns are found all over Derbyshire. Ashbourne – Gateway to Dovedale – having some narrow streets, is charming. Belper, with one of the world’s earliest water-powered cotton mills, will intrigue many. Matlock Bath is very popular, with pleasant riverside gardens. This town came into favour during the late 17th century. Having spa waters, it was nicknamed ‘Little Switzerland’! Bakewell, largest of the towns in the Peak District National Park, is famous for

Buxton Opera House

Bakewell Pudding. The ‘Palace of the Peak’ Chatsworth House, is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and makes for a very memorable visit. Buxton is another spa town of repute and also has an impressive Opera House. Chesterfield, with its crooked-spire church is well worth visiting. There are several caves and caverns in North Derbyshire, including Blue John and Peak cavern. Speedwell, has 105 steps leading down to its underground canal. Boat trips are regular, some 200m below the surface, to a magnificent cavern, containing the famous bottomless pit – truly amazing! Crich Tramway Village will delight enthusiasts, with trams running all day, taking visitors through cobbled streets. Maybe heritage railways are for you. The Midland Railway Centre at Butterley and others are a ‘blast from the past’. Royal Crown Derby has been producing fine bone china since 1750 and the tour is most worthwhile, as too is Denby Pottery, creating tableware from 1809. If you are a football fan Pride Park Stadium is the place to go. Derbyshire is also famous for Well

Crich Tramway Village

Dressings. This traditional art of decorating springs and wells really is a celebration, giving thanks for water. Well dressings take place in numerous towns and villages from May to mid September each year and are intricate and beautiful. To the South of Derby other interesting places can be located, such as Calke Abbey, where time has stood still. There are beautiful gardens and a nature reserve, set in some 600 acres. Bus and rail links have rover tickets available. And the cable cars I mentioned earlier? – head for Matlock Bath and take a ride high above the Derwent Valley. Awesome! These are just some ideas for a short break or a romantic few days away. In my book, it takes some beating! Tourist Information Centre Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Derby DE1 3AH Tel: 01332 255802 Email: tourism@derby.gov.uk www.visitderby.co.uk www.visitpeakdistrict.com www.nationalrail.co.uk www.derbyshire.gov.uk/buses

Chatsworth House

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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Cosford FOOD FESTIVAL

Fine food and flying machines!

Tickets to the festival are now available to purchase in advance via the Museum website www.rafmuseum.org/ cosford. Keep up to date with the latest Cosford Food Festival event info by following the event on Facebook @ CosfordFoodFestival.

A tasty line-up of over 90 local producers will be heading to the Cosford Food Festival, taking place on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July, which promises to serve up the very best food and drink the Midlands has to offer. Held in the unique setting at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, a bustling food market will showcase some of the region’s finest artisan produce and locally brewed beverages. On top of 66 popular favourites, 26 new producers will be joining the Cosford Food Festival for the first time, making this year’s event the biggest and the best yet. If browsing all the stalls makes you hungry, fear not, foodies can feast on delicious street food with flavours from around the world. The diverse menu on offer will include everything

from Indian, Italian and French cuisine to a taste of the Caribbean with Cuban and Mexican food to tempt visitors. Gourmet burgers, hot dogs and ribs along with chicken tikka flatbreads are the perfect hot food option for those who love a summer BBQ….all washed down with a freshly ground cup of coffee or maybe a glass of fizz from the Champavan! For those who can’t resist something sweet, traditional dairy ice creams, waffles, crêpes and milkshakes will all be on offer. Visitors can learn from local chefs how to prepare the perfect dish during live cooking demonstrations on both days. Plus, festival goers can sit back and enjoy live music including performances from Cosford and Shawbury Military Wives Choir and the 1940s vintage vocal harmony trio The Bluebird Belles. With plenty of entertainment for the entire family taking place over the whole weekend, including cookery classes, pottery workshops, circus skills and a play bus, it is sure to be a great day out!

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

How many local producers will be at this year’s Cosford Food Festival? Entries to be received by Friday 7th July 2017. Competition Terms & Conditions: To enter you must be aged 18 years or older. Winners will be chosen at random from all correct entries received and informed by telephone. No cash or alternative prize will be given.

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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A member of the Guild of Q Butchers Quite simply, this means that Allan Bennett is one of the best butchers in Britain. Quality is our number one priority, and we are committed to preserving the skills passed down through generations of traditional craftsmen. At Allan Bennett’s we produce all our products using the best English meat, which is bought from Bridgnorth market every Tuesday. This means that all of our meat has full traceability, and guarantees you top quality meat from local farmers. In short, you can’t buy better!

Perfect pastry aids top triumph Allan Bennett beat more than 200 competitors in the Meat Traders Journal Pork Pie contest in Bolton. Judges were impressed by the meaty contents of the pie and the perfectly produced pastry. Steven said: “The ingredients we use in the pies has been the key and it feels fantastic to have won first prize”.

Allan Bennett Ltd, 15 Station Road, Codsall. WV8 1BX Tel: 01902 842204 Open 6 days a week : Monday to Friday 7am-5.30pm, Saturday 7am-5pm

96 Windmill Lane, Castlecroft, Wolverhampton WV3 8HG

NEW ‘Bring your own dishes’ service We will fill your dishes with delicious meals prepared fresh in our kitchen using Poxon’s quality meats

Quality Butchers Tel: 01902 761693

www.poxonsbutchers.co.uk

Dishes include: Lasagne / Cannelloni / Meatballs / Quiches We also make sweet pies.

We now have Staffordshire spring lambs in stock

Specialists in high quality British meat for over 50 years Comprehensive range of pork pies using the finest ingredients

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

K i n ve r

Country Fayre Celebrating Kinver 100 Years

S unday 18th June Kinver Country Fayre, back on its traditional Father’s Day date, has a special focus for 2017: Kinver 100 Years, celebrating the centenary of the National Trust’s ownership of Kinver Edge. The Fayre is one of the summer highlights in a whole year of celebrations by the National Trust, who will have a large presence at the event. “Our ‘100 years of transport’ parade that opens the Fayre will showcase the types of vehicles ordinary folk used to visit Kinver,” said Mark O’Neill, one of the organisers. “Each decade will be represented from 1917 to the present day. Vintage, veteran and classic cars, with many owners in costume, will join commercial vehicles, motor & pedal cycles and tractors in the parade. They will then be on display in the event fields.” Music will be taking visitors back to times gone by. The fabulous Bluebird Belles will be singing songs from the 1940s, while the music tent will also play host to popular rockabilly band

The Straight Aces, with sounds of the 1950s and 60s. There will be dance displays and even a wrestling show - a popular attraction back in the 1960s and now enjoying a revival. Skilled equestrian team The Cavalry of Heroes is the star attraction in the arena, performing thrilling stunts in a Cavalry through the Ages display that includes Roman warriors, medieval knights and Napoleonic soldiers, ending with a First World War tribute that ties into the 1917 centenary. Then there is the everpopular fun dog show, children’s fancy dress, falconry displays, Shire horses, pony rides, children’s attractions including animals from Dudley Zoo, bouncy castles, games and rides, scores of stalls and the real ale tent serving local brews from Kinver and Enville.

Photo courtesy of Purelight Photography

The Fayre provides a great day out for all the family. For discounted tickets buy online at: www.kinvercountryfayre.com National Trust members’ reduced entrance fee with membership cards on the gate. Contact us at: info@kinvercountryfayre.com Follow us @KinverFayre Like us @kinvercountryfayre

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Book Tickets and find out more at:

kinvercountryfayre.com

Eating Out, Entertainment, Food, Drink and Wedding Venues

Promote your venue to over 50,000* readers with Wolverhampton West Magazine To find out how your venue can be featured please call Gisella on 01902 744217. 76

*over a 2 month period

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Wolverhampton’s premier independent 4 star hotel A multi-million pound refurbishment has been recognised by the AA who have awarded The Mount Hotel 4 stars. The Grade II listed manor house has been tastefully renovated with modern en-suite facilities, offering a variety of accommodation choices. To arrange a viewing please call our sales team on 01902 752055. 01902 752055 | sales@themount.co.uk | www.themount.co.uk

Upcoming Events FATHER’S DAY Sunday 18th June Savoury afternoon tea, including a reception drink (ale or prosecco) £24.50 per adult | £15 per child* or Father’s Day lunch with all the trimmings, including a reception drink (ale or prosecco) £24.50 per adult

SUMMERTIME FAYRE Sunday 20th August Join us from 12pm – 4pm for our family afternoon event filled with tasty food, ice-cream and lots of fun entertainment. FREE Admission *Aged 12 and under

Wedding × Conference × Dining www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

A busy s u m m e r a h e a d a t

Halfpenny Green Wi n e E s t a t e perfect destination for all appetites. Additionally, the restaurant hosts special A La Carte Evenings throughout the year, for a unique dining experience. Featuring a one-off menu created specifically for each evening, it’s the perfect way to celebrate – or just to treat yourself! Upcoming dates include Friday 15th September and Friday 13th October.

As more and more English wine is drunk by wine lovers both in the UK and abroad, Halfpenny Green Wine Estate in South Staffordshire are in for its busiest summer ever! Boasting a range of 14 still and sparkling wines, with vintages stocked by Marks and Spencer and Waitrose, the Wine Estate is truly riding an upward curve in 2017. If two of the UK’s biggest retailers don’t convince you, why not pop along to the on-site shop’s Wine Loft and try for yourself? In addition to the 14 wines, the Loft also boasts a range of over 50 artisan British gins, plus liqueurs, beers and ciders. The true connoisseurs can even book a wine or gin tasting with a member of the shop staff, and really sample the best the UK has to offer. To learn more about the wine, guided public tours are available (by booking only) for small groups through the summer months from May to October. Upcoming dates include Thursday 29th June (6:30PM start) and Saturday 22nd July (12PM start). For larger parties, groups and societies, private guided tour packages are also available, as well as privately catered functions and meals. Enquire for further details.

Throughout the summer, the Wine Estate’s on-site Craft Centre – featuring 15+ bespoke businesses – will be bustling with activities and events, the perfect place to pick up a handmade gift. At the end of the Craft Centre lane lies WILD Zoological Park, a sprawling site filled with animals from all over the globe. With daily shows, feeding times and VIP packages available, there really is something for the whole family! The summer will be crowned by the Wine Estate’s Food and Wine Festival. Held for the first time in 2016, the day was a roaring success, and will return this year on Saturday 10th June. The day promises food and drink from suppliers locally and around the UK (not to mention Halfpenny Green’s own wine), as well as live music, a barbeque, and a bustling atmosphere. With free entry all day, there’s no excuse not to get involved! Halfpenny Green Wine Estate will be busier than ever this summer, so if you haven’t sampled some of the UK’s finest produce yet, there’s no better time to get involved! For booking and enquiries, contact the Wine Estate on 01384 221122 or enquiries@halfpenny-green-vineyards.co.uk.

www.halfpenny-green-vineyards.co.uk

For the foodies, the Wine Estate’s restaurant and tea rooms are the perfect destination, featuring a wide selection of freshly cooked traditional and modern meals, created by the team of chefs, from only the freshest local ingredients – and even the site’s own wine! With tea, cake, and vintage high teas available to book, it really is the 78

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

A family business, established in 1983, 30 acres of vines are managed by Martin and produce award-winning wines crafted by his son Clive. The acclaimed shop, restaurant, deli and tea room are run by Clive’s wife Lisa, and offer a great day out for visitors.

AWARD-WINNING ENGLISH WINES

LOCAL PRODUCE SHOP & DELI

RENOWNED RESTAURANT & TEA ROOMS

U P COM I NG E V E N TS

FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL SATURDAY 10th JUNE public tours

(by booking only) Thu 29th June Sat 22nd July Thu 19th Aug

à la carte evening

Wine & Gin Tastings

Friday 15th Sept

in the Wine Loft throughout the year

Tom Lane, Bobbington, South Staffs, DY7 5EP visit www.halfpenny-green-vineyards.co.uk call 01384 22 11 22 www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

The Oakley Arms Brewood

Welcome to The Oakley Arms Sitting on the outskirts of Brewood, our pub is well within the hearts of locals who drop by on horseback, bicycle or with their dogs during countryside rambles. We are lucky enough to have the most fabulous lake, which can be seen from many of the pub’s rooms; and is flanked by our stone terrace which is the most wonderful place to dine on sunny days. We like to think of ourselves as a charming pub with well-spaced rooms, wooden floors and roaring fires; as well as a well-stocked bar at the centre of all things and a beautiful garden room filled with light. We hope to see you soon. Tel: 01902 859 800 • www.oakleyarms.co.uk Kiddemore Green Lane, Brewood, ST19 9BQ Email: oakley@brunningandprice.co.uk

Wombourne Tandoori Restaurant Established 1989

Air conditioned

Cuisine of Bengal

Fully licensed

 FOOD HYGIENE RATING SCHEME 2011-2016

Rafique Miah welcomes you to the longest established Indian Restaurant in Wombourne Village, serving sumptuous Bangladeshi Cuisine for over 28 years.

Restaurant of the year West Midlands region 2016

“We pride ourselves on our Quality of Food, Excellent Customer Service and Customer Satisfaction.” Recently refurbished in contemporary surroundings, air conditioned and fully licensed.

Open 7 days including Bank Holidays 5.30pm until 11.30pm

Our popular Take-away Service is still the best in Wombourne offering 10% off our Menu price.

Tel: 01902 324148 / 324437 High Street, Wombourne WV5 9DN 80

facebook.com/wombourne.tandoori

www.wombournetandoori.com wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

A truly exciting and vibrant eating experience offering exquisite fine cuisine and traditional culinary styles from India and Bangladeshi

SPECIAL OFFER WHEN DINING IN Popadom and chutney tray, Any starter, Any main dish*, Any nan bread or any rice Available Sunday to Thursday £10.95 per person / £6.95 children under 10 *Steak and king prawn dishes £2.50 extra. Game meat not included.

Open 7 days a week 5.30pm – 11.30pm. Free home delivery within 4 mile radius, minimum order of £15. 10% discount on collected take-away orders, minimum order £10. www.flamingoperton.co.uk

To avoid disappointment please book on

01902 744500 or 01902 745200

7 Anders Square, Perton, Wolverhampton, WV6 7QH

The Park house hoTel Shifnal www.parkhousehotel.net

2 for 1 on Sunday Lunch including Fathers Day Sunday 18th June 2017 Book a table in our restaurant for a traditional 3 course Sunday Lunch for only £24.95 and receive another course 3 course lunch FREE* *Valid until December 31st 2017. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. Not valid for private dining or for bookings of more than 6 people. Valid only when 3 courses are purchased.

Afternoon Tea Party with

Sunday, 25th June 12-2pm

Princess Belle & Friends To reserve a table please call The Park House Hotel on: 01952 460128 The Park House Hotel, Park Street, Shifnal, Telford, TF11 9BA reservations@parkhousehotel.net

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The Cowshed - Pattingham

Win a meal for two

To celebrate our 7th year of publishing the magazine we have teamed up with The Cowshed to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a superb 3 course meal for 2 including a bottle of selected wine. Set in the backdrop of the beautiful South Staffordshire countryside, the family-run Cowshed restaurant is a charming little barn conversion, nestled away within a quaint farmhouse courtyard at the heart of Pattingham. The Cowshed prides itself on rustling up the very finest of traditional British-farmed food, cooked fresh to order and with a modern twist. Every dish is made with a pinch of finesse, a splash of innovation and a big dollop of seasonal charm.

mustard mash and creamed savoy cabbage, finished with a sweet sticky cider reduction; and last but not least, a selection of prime cut steaks, cooked to preference and served with bespoke sauces. These are just some of the delights on offer this summer. Whatever your culinary persuasion, The Cowshed offers a taste sensation fit for every palate and promises you and your loved ones a truly delicious experience.

Favourite light bites include pan-seared black pearl scallops presented on a bed of crispy ginger beer-braised pork belly and a serving of butternut squash puree; garlic mushrooms served on toasted brioche, topped with green leaves and parmesan shavings; and chilli infused tiger prawns served in garlic butter and a side of warm baked ciabatta. For mains, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fillet Rossini, served with homemade chicken liver parfait and chunky hand-cut chips, topped with a rich madeira sauce; parma ham wrapped monkfish with king prawns prepared in lime, accompanied by The Cowshedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature chips and a delicious homemade garlic mayonnaise; beerbraised pork belly, complimented with wholegrain

To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize, simply answer the following question correctly.

In which county is the Cowshed located? Email your answer including your name, address and telephone number to: info@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

or on a postcard to: Wolverhampton West Magazine, 1 Lytham Road, Perton, Wolverhampton WV6 7YY. All entries to be received by Tuesday 20th June 2017. Competition Terms and Conditions -Winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries received and informed by telephone. To enter you must be aged 18 years or older. No cash or alternative prize will be given. Prize valid Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday inclusive and booking date will be subject to availability. Prize to be redeemed by Friday 28th July 2017, all entries will be forwarded to The Cowshed unless requested otherwise.

wolverhampton wolverhampton west west magazine magazine || june june 2017

Clive Farm, Pattingham, Wolverhampton WV6 7DU

For a meal to remember!

Special Offer

20% Off*

Evening A la Carte Menu Lunch Menu 2 courses £14.99 | 3 courses £19.99 Sunday Lunch 2 courses £19.99 - 3 courses £24.99

Your total bill When you presen t this advert

*Offer valid Wednesday, Thursday, Friday evenings and Sunday lunchtimes for up to a max of 8 people throughout May and June 2017 when you present this advert, no photocopies.

Opening Times

Wednesday to Saturday Lunch 12pm - 2.30pm (last sitting) Wednesday to Saturday Evening 6.30pm - 9.30pm (last sitting) Sunday 12 - 5pm (last sitting)

For bookings please telephone: 01902 701888 Cowshed Pattingham

@TheCowshed1 thecowshedpattingham www.thecowshedrestaurant.co.uk

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk info@thecowshedrestaurant.co.uk

By Rob Taylor

The Oakley Arms, Brewood As any hungry traveller will tell you first impressions count. Get it right as a pub and you’ll draw in people in droves – a dab of kerb appeal, a dash of plentiful parking and a smorgasbord of affordable culinary choice is always a winning trio. Boasting all of the above in spades, The Oakley Arms in Brewood sends road-weary would-be diners careering off Kiddemore Green Road on a regular basis. And once they’ve eaten inside they return again and again and I can tell you why. Arriving just after dusk on a dry Wednesday evening, my partner Nicola and I are immediately lured towards the pub’s twinkling lights, which stand out like the bioluminescent algae off the coast of Tasmania. We’re right on the fringe of the ancient Roman village of Brewood and darkness out here falls quickly. Best get inside quick, I think, before the spectre of a lost Centurion taps his cadaverous finger on my shoulder to ask the quickest way to Watling Street.

If there are ghosts in this place then they are more likely to be holding a guitar than a Gladius. The building – which was all but razed to the ground in 2015, when the former country club was deliberately set ablaze by arsonists, before being painstakingly restored to become the latest in Brunning and Price’s spectacular chain of pub restaurants – has a history stretching back to the mid-nineteenth century. It is its intervening years when it played host to myriad rock stars – like George Harrison, Noddy Holder and Deep Purple – that most capture my imagination. As for Nicola, she’s transfixed by the extensive gardens and lake, which provide a remarkable setting for Al fresco dining – especially, according to Assistant Manager Bethany Cummings, on a late summer evening. Inside is just as impressive. There’s real warmth to the ‘posh-rustic’ décor. In the bar there is much space, but also character and charm. We are seated quickly and order drinks. The restaurant is an open-plan dining space and tonight it is very busy; there’s much hustle and bustle around us and yet because we are ensconced in the corner, away from the grandiosity

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

arrive. Most deserving of praise is the picked radish, which enlivens the saline salmon enormously. Next arrives a ‘10oz rump steak with Dijon and tarragon butter, portobello mushrooms, tomato and chips’ (£18.95) for me to get stuck into and for my long-suffering companion, ‘Cumin and chilli spiced chicken with tzatziki salad and roast sweet potato’ (£14.50). Now I’m happy to admit that I’m about as familiar with a ‘tzatziki salad’ as Basil Fawlty is with a Waldorf salad, but we’ll gloss over that. After all, I didn’t eat it and Nicola seems as ebullient and happy as she’s been since the starter, so the Oakley is definitely doing something right. of a dazzling chandelier that hangs above a massive Arthurian table, we both feel a relaxed intimacy. It is testament to the quality and level of interest shown by the waiting staff on duty tonight that, before our drinks have even arrived, we are asked twice again if we’d like to order drinks. One prestarter ‘Bellini’ each – a delightful mix of peach puree topped up with Prosecco (£5.95) – soon follows. Thereafter comes my choice from the healthy-sized menu: ‘Pan fried scallops with pineapple, mint and chilli salsa with ham hock fritters’ (£10.75) and Nicola’s ‘Smoked salmon with pickled radishes, horseradish and lemon crème-fraiche’ (£7.25). 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 Oakley has in Lee Walley, a fine and skilful head chef and a well-oiled kitchen team. My plate has a well-judged harmony of flavour and a balance that really benefits from the pineapple in a way I hadn’t expected. And the salsa punches harder than Mr Punch on steroids. The salmon arrests Nicola’s taste buds, tantalises her palate and leads her to eulogise about not a lot else until the mains

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Instead I stick to what is bread and butter fare for any pub worth its salt: steak and chips – this time with a side order of ‘Peppercorn sauce’ (£1.95). The steak is tender for Rump and it’s cooked precisely to my exacting specifications, which stop just short of me writing reams of notes for “Chef’s Eyes Only”. Never ever have I tasted such a satisfying sauce. The pillow-soft, hand-fashioned chips prove to be a big success on both sides of the table, as inevitably Nicky has to nick the occasional one. ‘Crème brûlée with shortbread biscuits’ (£5.50) rounds things off for me and a ‘Hot waffle with toffee apples and honeycomb ice cream’ (£5.75) does so for Nicola. Each dessert provides us with enough sugary sensations to keep us up and jumping long into the small hours. And just like so many visitors before us, we’ll be coming back to The Oakley Arms very soon to get our next fix.

The Oakley Arms, Kiddemore Green Road, Brewood ST19 9BQ. For table reservations please call 01902 859800 or visit www.oakleyarms.co.uk.

THE SHREWSBURY ARMS Are you yet to pay a visit to The Shrewsbury Arms!? Then let us give you an insight into what we have to offer... With our NEW and improved Beer Garden being a success, it would be rude for us not to share what we’ve got going on… We have our full Main Menu running 12 noon until 10pm, 7 days a week. However, if you fancy more of a light lunch, our Mid-Week Fixed Price Lunch Menu is available from Monday to Friday 12pm until 5pm... With 2 courses for £10.95 and 3 courses for £13.95! Maybe you are you a Steak Fan!? Do you enjoy the finest cut of meat with that succulent mouthwatering taste? Then this may be of interest to you… We have recently introduced our NEW and improved Steak Night Menu which is available every Thursday Evening from 6pm onwards alongside our Main Menu, so there is always something for everyone! Friday’s at the Shrewsbury Arms sees a twist on the British “Fish Fridays”, bringing you our “Fish & Fizz” menu. With the finest fish available, being driven directly from Brixham harbour that very same morning… the ‘taste of the sea’ is brought to your doorstep, along with great discounts on Prosecco and Champagne, it’s a great way to start the weekend.

And that’s not all! Do you like a good night out? It’s got to be a ‘yes’ hasn’t it? With a great atmosphere and drinks flowing? Well every Friday and Saturday evening we have Live Music from 9pm onwards! With NEW faces being added every month. So if you want a great atmosphere, live music and multiple cocktails… look no further! 86

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

What’s On… Sunday 11th June

Air Show Day

Saturday 8th July

Albrighton Fayre Day

Sunday 27th August

Beach Party

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

With Music and a great atmosphere, why not join us from 2pm for the BEST SEAT in town and sample our very famous flatbreads outside in the garden from 2pm onwards on Air Show Day.

We are going to be hosting the AFTER PARTY. Live Music and a DJ from 9pm onwards, Gin, Cocktails and Prosecco served in our garden and flat breads baked in our woodfire pizza oven!

Join us for the very first British Summer beach Party! With Music from 2pm, we will be sure to bring the Beach feeling to you!

Sir Jack’s

Restaurant,

Molineux

I soon find that my pleas to the driver to deliver me to the ‘Visitors’ side of the stadium in the Steve Bull stand, just for dramatic effect, have been vetoed by my partner Gisella. Instead we, along with friends Alan and Louise, enter the Billy Wright Stand and are shown into Billy’s Boot Room – an intimate facility that can accommodate up to 32 guests, with its own bar facility. Here we all enjoy a glass of Prosecco and an Amuse of Irish Stew, before being led into Sir Jack’s Restaurant. At this point I must confess there is just the slightest trace of visiting team hostility bubbling away inside me. Of course they’ll be no spat between me and my party (they are all Wolves fans) akin to the fracas in 1999 between Keith Curle and Jason Van Blerk, but I am resolved not to be a pushover, no matter how good the service or how fine the food.

By Geoff Hall Today, I’m in the Lions’ Den. Like Daniel before me, I’ve dropped into what is on face value, for any West Bromwich Albion football fan at least, a very uncomfortable spot: Molineux Stadium.

Home of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC for over a hundred years, Molineux is a monument to my favourite team’s biggest local rival: voted in a Football Pools survey in 2008 as the fiercest rivalry in English football, there has been over 120 local derby games between the two clubs since their first ever clash in the FA Cup and every one of them has been momentous. The Baggies lead the current headto-head standings, by the way… We arrive in chauffeur-driven opulence, which is provided by Image Luxury Travel, and

Happily at least the restaurant is not decorated with football memorabilia documenting over a century of sporting history and success, often at the expense of my beloved Albion. It is instead a smart, modern and welcoming dining space, which boasts spectacular pitch-facing views. This evening is a St Patrick’s Daythemed gourmet night. Running once a month, every month, these gourmet events enable diners to feast on flavours from around the world, and each course is served with complimentary wines and liqueurs. This aspect is especially appropriate tonight, I think, as I soak up the

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

accompanied with La Fonda Cabernet Carmenere, which is a medium bodied wine full of fruit. Lamb is sometimes a difficult dish to cook to a high standard. Only top-notch product allied to serious culinary flair can assist in building flavours this good: I could eulogise about this dish for well over 90 minutes but already the final whistle approaches.

Head Chef Richard Paul with Restaurant Manager Matthew Hunter

intricate table dressings, which include a big hat and serviettes folded up like 4 leaf clovers. There’s a palpable buzz inside the spacious room that makes for a fantastic atmosphere for the 50 diners to gorge upon until the food arrives. Soon it’s clear that we are poised for a thoroughly enjoyable evening with unequalled standards of service. Suffice it to say that since Sir Jack’s uses only the finest, freshest ingredients in their cuisine which is aiming for AA Rosette accreditation (Gisella: “That food is so good, I’m surprised they’ve not been recognised already!”) and that when Head Chef Richard Paul and his staff pop out from the kitchen they receive a standing ovation, my party is blown away – more convincingly than when in 2012 Albion mauled Wolves 5-1 in a defeat that signalled the end of Mick McCarthy’s six-year reign. Of course, as I said, I’ll take more convincing.

Every course is announced and explained by Restaurant Manager, Mathew Hunter, along with the drink it is served with. This is a nice touch that provides a level of enlightenment for the uninitiated. With so much food for the four of us there’s just too much to relate here, so here is, in tried and tested Match of the Day style, the highlights: ‘Honey and Cider Glazed Bacon, Baby Leek, Celeriac, Bulls Blood Chard’, accompanied with Pinot Grigio Principato Blush, which is a salmon-pink coloured juicy berry wine with good acidity and an off dry finish. What a delicate, flavoursome effort this dish is: brimming with tang and taste. Bringing home enough bacon each month to be able to dine at Sir Jack’s on food as good as this is well worth the long hours. I must commend also: ‘Herb Crusted Rump of Lamb, Desiree Mash, Spring Cabbage, Rosemary Infused Carrot’,

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Another stand out player is the ‘Pot of Gold’ cocktail, made by a mixologist, comprising Magners, Archers, vodka and pineapple. Two more of these and a splash of Late Bottle Vintage port and I can feel my lifelong allegiances beginning to waver. In short, we all agree, every dish is delicious and by the end of the evening we are all suitably stuffed. And whether for the footie or not, we’ll all be coming back. It looks like Sir Jack’s is yet again responsible for another win for Wolves. The restaurant is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings and Sunday lunchtime. Private suites are available for parties/ special occasions, any day of the week. For details or to book a table for the next themed gourmet evening please contact: Sir Jack’s Restaurant, Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, Molineux Stadium, Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, WV1 4QR. Telephone 0871 222 2225.

www.sirjacksrestaurant.co.uk

La Minky The Smooth Operators BARE TO BE DIFFERENT

One area we surpass in is our waxing treatments. We are specialists in all areas of waxing with particular knowledge in intimate hair removal. Our in house specialist June Laing (salon owner) has been a beauty therapist and owned her own business for over 10 years. During her career June branched out and made a move into the intimate waxing field and initially trained with Hive in Brazilian Bikini waxing and then in London with Kim Lawless waxer to the stars.

high quality wax. The range includes hypoallergenic waxes, moisturising natural waxes, strip and non-strip waxes, scented and unscented. The waxes are perfect for both male and female waxing treatments including intimate waxing. We use non-strip waxing in the salon specifically for intimate hair removal as the waxes literally shrink wrap the hair, removing the entire hair with its roots from the follicle, leaving the skin undamaged. Since the wax sticks to the hair and not the skin it takes the smack like sting out of the process you get with strip waxing hair removal. We have found regular waxing with this method weakens and slows down hair regrowth and produces results that last longer.

With years of experience under her belt June has mastered technique and client comfort during waxing of all parts of the body. Much care has been put into the choice of products used for hair removal within the salon. In 2012 June registered with the Perrin Rigot Expert Network and has been using these waxes ever since. With 30 years of innovation Perron Rigot is a renowned French creator of

Due to the sensitive nature of intimate waxing we offer a free consultation prior to treatment and advice on any area of waxing you are concerned about. If you do decide to try intimate waxing we recommend you exfoliate gently 3 days prior to hair removal and allow the hairs to grow for a minimum of 4 weeks prior to treatment. On the day of treatment the skin is prepared with Blue Lotion, a low

Here at La Minky we pride ourselves on our professionalism and our high level of skilled treatments.

Intimate Waxing

Treatments for Ladies

inner and outer labia and buttock crease. Buttocks if necessary.

The Squirrel – £16.50

The Mink – £38.50

The Coyote – £38.50

This is my version of the “Hollywood” All the hair is removed from the pubic triangle, inner and outer labia, buttock crease and buttocks.

The Lynx – £44.50

Hair is removed from panty line and crease of leg.

The Tanuki – £22.00 Hair is removed from side panels, going narrower inside the panty line and across the top of the pubic triangle.

The Chinchilla – £27.50 This is my version of the “Brazilian”. Hair is removed from the pubic triangle leaving a (one or two finger) landing strip,

alcohol cleanser especially recommended for delicate areas and sensitive skin, before adding a few drops of Jasmine Oil to ensure the wax clings to the hairs and not the skin. After treatment the waxed area is to be kept clean, avoiding heat and friction for 24-48 hours. We advise that you do not apply any deodorants, body sprays, make-up, perfume or lotions to the waxed area during that period. However we do recommend the use of Lemon Myrtle multi-purpose liquid soap (sold in salon) to tackle possible ingrowing hairs and post waxing irritation. It is made from all natural ingredients, suitable for sensitive skin, contains Lemon Myrtle essential oils, has 30% more antibacterial properties than T-tree oil and can be used as an invigorating body wash that cleanses and protects the skin. Finally a few days after your appointment gently exfoliate up to 3 times a week, moisturise every day to keep skin soft and smooth.

Vajazzles are available as an optional extra. Please note; gems are fun only.

Treatments for Men Hair removed from buttocks and buttock crease.

Hair removed from the penis, pouch and pubic triangle.

The Grey Fox – £55.00 Hair removed from the penis, pouch, buttocks, buttock crease and pubic triangle.

The Silver Fox – £77.00 Hair removed from the penis, pouch, buttocks,

buttock crease, pubic triangle and full back.

The Blue Fox – £82.50 Hair removed from the penis, pouch, buttocks, buttock crease, pubic triangle, chest, abs and upper arms.

The Sly Fox from £135.00 Hair removed from full body (consultation is essential). Due to the sensitive nature of intimate waxing treatments, please feel free to contact us and discuss any questions you may have.

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Let usus make you feel Let make you wonderful this Summer Let usus make you feel feel fantastic with Let make you with our fabulous wonderful this Summer feel fantastic withoffers.

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Telephone 01543 500 340 www.salonlamink.co.uk www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Please mention this advert Offer runs till the 30th June 2017 Dawtry Stables, Dawtry Farm, Watling Street at time of booking. Hatherton, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 1SD Dawtry Stables, Dawtry Farm, Watling Street Hatherton, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 1SD

St. Chad’s School

My name is Victoria Attwood and I have embarked on a mission with another Mother, Dimple O’Gorman to help raise £10,000 for our children’s school St.Chad’s in Pattingham. Last year the school started a mile a day challenge. Children and staff would walk, jog or run at least 8 laps of the field each afternoon to keep fit and healthy. Since October they have not been able to get out onto the field as the mud was being transferred all over the school. We hope to raise money to fund a rubberised

all-weather track for the perimeter of the field so that the children can get back to their daily mile challenge. As well as helping the school, the track would benefit the local community enabling cycle classes, balance bike training and the local running club. The children have missed the opportunity to exercise with their friends and would like to get running again. If you would like to make a donation online please go to www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding and type in the search space Victoria Attwood.

First class travel Perton and Bridgnorth Travel is a well-established Executive Travel company which has been expanding considerably over the last few years. The company ethos is to provide the best possible experience for our clients. We provide excellent quality vehicles and drivers for any journey. We currently use a Range Rover for more luxurious travel, and this year invested in another Mercedes Viano. We now have three drivers to satisfy customer demand, who all give the same level of courtesy, punctuality, reliability and service. We cover any airport, seaport, wedding venue, concerts and shopping trips, along with all 92

corporate, sporting and social events. Our client base is made up of many regular customers, but we always welcome new customers. We will continue to expand our company, making it the number one provider of this service in the area. We currently have bookings all the way through to February 2018 so please do not hesitate to contact us with your enquiries and bookings and please like our Facebook page Perton and Bridgnorth Travel for more information.

Part-Time Beauty Therapist Wanted Could you be what Simply Beautiful is looking for? We are looking for a Beauty Therapist with good experience, motivation and passion for working within the beauty industry. Somebody who is willing to work hard and meet our high standards. Being a part of the Simply Beautiful team is a fantastic opportunity to be trained by a highly qualified beauty therapist, who has over 20 years of experience to help guide you through this exciting opportunity within the beauty world.

Email your CV to Samantha at: samanthacox69@hotmail.com Alternatively pop into the salon with your CV. Tel: 01902 762387 Simply Beautiful, Finchfield Lane, Merry Hill, Wolverhampton, WV3 8EE

Perton & Bridgnorth travel • Mercedes Viano 7 seater & Range Rover available with DVD entertainment • All airports, seaports, days/nights out, corporate functions, social & sporting events and weddings • Wolverhampton, Bridgnorth & all surrounding areas • 24 hours a day, 365 days a year • No journey too far or too short • Very competitive prices • Reliable and always on time

We are CUrrentlY looKing For eXPerienCed driverS, PleaSe ContaCt US on 07807 123688 For More inForMation

Mobile: 07807 123688

email: enquiries@perton-bridgnorth-travel.com

www.perton-bridgnorth-travel.com wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Give yourself a boost with IntraVita IV Vitamin Drips at

Cosmetique

Penn-based aesthetic clinic, Cosmetique, has recently introduced an exciting new treatment that promises to help you combat those nagging day-to-day health issues, providing you with the boost you need to look and feel fabulous.

“Everybody is unique and so are their nutrient requirements, that’s why there are so many different treatment options for IV therapy depending on your individual goals and needs.”

As Director, Suky Chana, explains:

“The IV infusions take 15 – 60 minutes and many patients begin to feel the effects straight away, which continue over the following hours and days.”

Following a consultation with one of Cosmetique’s medical practitioners, a personalised formulation is prepared for the client, that’s been designed to address their nutrient requirements and health needs.

“If you’re fed up with dull skin, carrying excess weight and sick and tired of being sick and tired, then our new IntraVita IV Vitamin Drips will be perfect for you.”

It doesn’t take long to feel refreshed, re-energised and revitalised. “The therapy is much more effective than oral vitamins as the active ingredients enter the bloodstream directly, allowing the body to better absorb and utilise the nutrients.”

Vitamin infusions have become the secret weapon of tired or burntout celebrities, with the likes of Brad Pitt, Madonna, Simon Cowell and Rhianna becoming fans.

The infusions can be used as an adjunct in any condition where low levels of nutrients or deficiencies are suspected.

And now, everyone can experience the benefits provided by IV nutrition at Cosmetique.

“In addition to immune support, anti-ageing, energy enhancement, improved athletic performance and general wellbeing, the treatment is also beneficial for allergies, depression, hormone balance, migraines, chronic fatigue, inflammation, GI conditions and many other issues.” Cosmetique is the only clinic in the Black Country to offer the therapy.

So, to start feeling better today, contact the team on 01902 334181.

IntraVita IV Vitamin Drips Special Offer £205 now £150* *available throughout May and June 2017.

570 Penn Road Penn Wolverhampton WV4 4HU

Clinically led with all procedures carried out by qualified staff New! LED Opera Mask (skin rejuvenation) as used by

celebrities, only available at Cosmetique for the West Midlands area.

Special offer until end of June £150 Now £49 • • • • • •

Laser Hair Removal IPL Pigmentation Scars, Blemishes Stretch Marks Collagen Enhancement Vitamin Infusion (vitamin boost injections)

• • • • • •

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

New 3D Lipomed Treatments now available, please call for further details

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

Spring - Summer 2017

New Collections now on board! Aristocats aim to provide excellent customer service to women who appreciate quality fashion. Whatever the event our stylish Spring/Summer designs will take individuals effortlessly to a wide range of functions, casual or formal, daytime, weddings, after six, cocktail or late evening. Our professional staff are always on hand, if required, to help with decision making and offer alternatives to customers from the West Midlands, Shropshire and further afield from the wide range of fashion designers.

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

• Aldo Martins • Basler • Eugen Klein • Frank Walder • Happy Rainy Days • Joseph Ribkoff • Just White • Michaela Louisa • Michèle • Olsen • Oui • Rabe

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

Stunning Summer Style At

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Turn Back the Clock “Fabulous hair is essential for creating a youthful look. If you want to turn back the clock then secret hair extensions – that boost volume and style – cleverly cut hairstyles and complexionboosting colours will help you to look and feel amazing.”

Special Occasion Style

Whatever you’ve got planned this summer, you can be sure that your hair will look amazing thanks to the awardwinning team at Royston Blythe. Here’s Nick Malenko’s guide to fabulous summer style:

Summer: The Look “Effortless, undone hair is the look this summer. Whatever your age and whatever your length and colour, the trick to making an enviable summer style statement is to forget over-styled, structured hair and opt for a show-stopping, barely done finish with an incredibly healthy sheen. “There’s something charming about undone styling and soft, super-feminine, flowing tresses that really complement

summer fashions, like pretty prints and girly dresses, too.”

Get the Gloss

“The summer is all about special occasions. Whether you’ve been invited to a wedding or a glitzy bash, you’ll want to impress with a stunning style. Take inspiration from the red carpet and ask your stylist to tailor the look to suit you and your outfit. “After all, head-turning hair is essential for making you look – and feel – fabulous.”

“When it comes to hair, the current status symbol is ultra-hydrated, oh-so-glossy locks that exude health and vibrancy. To get the look, opt for an in-salon treatment - like our favourite, Fusio Dose by Kerastase - and maintain a dedicated at-home hair care plan. “If you’re jetting off to warmer climes, don’t forget to protect your hair with a selection of quality products that’ll help to combat the damaging effects of sunshine, chlorine and salt water. “If you struggle with unruly, rebellious and frizzy hair then a Kerastraight treatment will be just what you need to tame your mane. Designed to transform dry, frizzy locks into manageable, low-maintenance lengths, the semi-permanent blow-dry system has wowed our clients at the salon, with many commenting that it’s actually transformed their life.”

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

s k i n

t r e a t m e n t s

Time to bee flawless PURE & SIMPLE Wake up like you’re in your Make up. Become absolutely flawless with the revolutionary, naturalchemical peel facial that blurs, not only the marks and lines on your skin but also the lines between cosmetology and natural skincare. Delivering never before-seen results to treat fine lines and wrinkles, Hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tones. BeePeel™ contains the Heaven Skincare patented ingredient *ABEETOXIN®, coconut oil, raw cane sugar and apple pectin to gently, but effectively, dissolve away skin imperfections. It reduces dark pigmentation, evens out skin tones and, due to the inclusion of ABEETOXIN®, relaxes lines and has a plumping effect on the skin, leaving your face looking bright, refined and dewy! And all without the downtime associated with regular chemical peels. This facial is for all skin types, including sensitive, for an immediate, perfecting effect. “Facial skin is constantly exposed to UVA and UVB light, which can cause an increase in localised melanin production, which causes hyper-pigmentation. Pigmentation is the single most ageing skin concern, much more so than fine lines or wrinkles, and although, prevention is the key to pigmentation by using facial SPF’s like my Silk Skin Bee-Bee creams, when the damage has already been done, my brand-new treatmentproduct, BeePeel™, will help to repair the damage and rejuvenate the skin,” Deborah clarifies. Heaven Skincare uses natural ingredients to remedy the stress experienced by your skin, safely and effectively. The BeePeel™ stand alone treatment is just 30 minutes long, for busy, time-poor, fast paced people who are looking to achieve medi-spa results quickly and definitely. The BeePeel™ can also be added to existing Heaven facials, for intensified results. *ABEETOXIN® is the patented Heaven Skincare ingredient created using bee venom. But, no bees are harmed collecting the venom for our formula; bees are stimulated safely for venom and these bees have been noted to yield more honey than their non-stimulated counterparts. Win, win, bee-autiful skin, safe bees and more honey production.

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Summer

Beauty Essentials Before you step into the sunshine make sure that you’re ready with our essential summer beauty guide. Get a Glow If you want to swap pale skin for a golden glow in an instant, then reach for the fake tan or book in at the salon for a spray tan. Just remember, preparation is key to achieving the best results, so make sure that your skin is

thoroughly exfoliated and moisturised beforehand.

Minimal Make-Up A glowing sun-kissed complexion is a must for summer, so to get the look switch heavy foundation for a light tinted moisturiser that’ll provide a hint of colour and offer just enough coverage to hide any flaws. When it comes to eye make-up, keep it simple with just a sweep of mascara. Finish with a light dusting of bronzing powder on your face – and body – and a pop of colour on your lips.

Heavenly Hair Make sure that your hair is set for summer by following a dedicated hair care routine. Regular trims, conditioning treatments – both in-salon and at home – will make sure that your hair will stand-up to the soaring temperatures. When it comes to styling, don’t bother. Keep hair looking as natural as possible and opt for an undone, laid-back look.

Sandal-Ready Feet Before you even contemplate stepping into your sandals make sure that your feet have been treated to some serious pampering.

Image courtesy of New Look Beauty

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Whether you book in for a pedicure at the salon or decide to do it yourself at home, give your feet a summer makeover. Soft callous-free skin and painted nails are sandal-essentials. wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

www.taylorbiddleopticians.co.uk

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 Now stocking optical frames from the fabulous Oliver Peoples range

£15 upgrade to PhOTOChrOmiC (sun reactive) lenses with every purchase of a premium varifocal! (Offer ends 30th June 2017 T&C’s apply)

39 Bridgnorth Road, Compton Tel: 01902 750 325

34 Windmill Bank, Wombourne Tel: 01902 895 909 www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Spa Find at

Simply Beautiful

Finding a professional and affordable salon skincare range isn’t easy but the team at Simply Beautiful have discovered the perfect collection for their clients.

perfect for all skin types - including sensitive and problematic.”

As salon owner, Samantha Preece explains:

Almost every skin condition is caused in part by a vitamin or mineral imbalance within the body and Spa Find’s products serve to normalise and bring inner health back into balance.

“When I opened the salon 10 years ago I decided to use Thalgo as my main skincare range. Although my clients loved the treatments it was costly to maintain the routine at home.”

“The wide range of luxurious treatments utilise the natural power of mud, salt and seaweed to tone and firm the face and body, ease muscle tension and deeply relax the body and mind.”

Samantha realised that she needed to find a quality professional brand, to offer alongside Thalgo that would be more affordable.

Treatments include facials, mud wraps, salt scrubs, slimming treatments and the amazing Spa Find Heaven Hot Poultice treatment which offers an hour and a half of pure relaxation.

“After a lot of research I came across Spa Find, which is similar to Thalgo in that it uses properties from the sea. I absolutely love the range because it’s full of healing Dead Sea minerals that are

And, Samantha also offers something special for her youngest clients too:

“We’ve recently started doing kids’ pamper parties on a Saturday afternoon, which are really popular. We decorate the salon in girlie pink and the package we offer includes a mini manicure with diamante, bubbly foot soak with foot rub and a glitter tattoo. The party girl receives a group photo too,” adds Samantha.

Despite Spa Find being the salon’s primary range, the salon still provides many Thalgo treatments.

Whichever treatment you book, you can

be sure that you’ll have a great experience at Simply Beautiful salon.

Salon owner, Samantha Preece

• Spa Find and Thalgo beauty treatments & massages • St Tropez Bronzing • Eye Lash/Brow treatments • OPI Gel Polish • Manicure and Pedicure • Waxing • CACI

20% OFF Spa Find Heaven Hot Poultice Treatment £60 now £48*

*Offer valid when you mention advert at time of booking until end of June 2017. One voucher per person, no photocopies, and not to be used in conjunction with any other offers.

CHILDREN’S PAMPER PARTIES NOW AVAILABLE – CALL FOR DETAILS

Finchfield Lane, Merry Hill, Wolverhampton, WV3 8EE

simplybeautiful2007

To book please call (01902) 762387 www.simplybeautifulwolverhampton.co.uk Open Tues 9am-5pm, Wed & Thurs 10am til late, Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm, Mon Closed.

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wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Treating Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are very common and affect more than one in three adults. Often hereditary in cause, they occur because the valves of your veins weaken and fail to work effectively. The National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) now advises minimally invasive surgery under local anaesthetic, where patients can walk in and walk out within a couple of hours and quickly return to driving and normal activities.

Symptoms include aching and itching, swelling and restless legs at night and the sensation of throbbing over the vein. If left untreated, this can lead to bleeding, eczema, phlebitis and potentially leg ulcers, which take a long time to heal.

of course, to ease any suffering. With local anaesthetic and short treatment time, recovery is quick and there is minimal bruising, scarring or swelling, so you can both look and feel better sooner.” When the sun comes out, people who have been putting off surgery may feel inclined to find out more about available treatments for their blue lumpy veins. Sadly for patients the NHS no longer offers treatment for the majority of patients.

During a consultation, an ultrasound scan will detect the source of the problem and from the size and position, indicate the required treatment. Recognised by all major Medical Insurers. For self paying patients, the consultation fee is £150 and an ultrasound of both legs is £99.

When the vein valves weaken, blood pools in certain areas and this can cause painful and unsightly bulges at the skin’s surface.

Wolverhampton based surgeon, Nuffield Health’s Mr Simon Hobbs has been a consultant vascular surgeon for the last six years and, back in his training days, can still remember the older treatment methods for varicose veins, including stripping the vein from the top of the groin. He explains that nowadays, with more technology available, guided treatment is almost painless and the results are much better. Mr Hobbs says, “In deciding when to have your veins treated, usually the sooner the better for the best results and,

Before Procedure

Post Procedure

Love your legs VARICOSE VEINS are a source of discomfort and can also significantly affect your selfesteem. Having these assessed and treated could be easier than you think.

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

• High quality varicose and thread vein treatments • Minimally invasive local anaesthetic techniques • Walk-in, walk out procedures • Quick recovery • Insured and self paying patients

Please call 07555 581698 info@simonhobbsveins.co.uk www.simonhobbsveins.co.uk Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital Wood Road | Tettenhall | Wolverhampton | WV6 8LE

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Summer Dressing

Print Dress £119 Monsoon

By Helen Taylor Keeping cool and looking stylish is easy this season once you’ve found the perfect summer dress. Whether you favour mini, midi or maxi styles, there’s nothing more practical than one of the high street’s pretty printed designs that can be easily dressed up or down depending on the occasion. So, whether you’re enjoying the summer at home or abroad, make sure that you hit the shops and treat yourself to something new. Here are our favourite headturning summer dresses:

Tunic Dress £59 Monsoon

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Flare Dress £79 Monsoon

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Print Wrap Dress £45 Miss Selfridge

Pink Floral Mini Dress £22.99 New Look

Embroidered Dress £38 Next Red Print Dress £49 River Island

Print Dress £59 RJR John Rocha at Debenhams

Yellow Floral Print Cold Shoulder Midi Dress £27.99 New Look

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Dress £45 Topshop

Blue Embroidered Bardot Dress £27.99 New Look

Side Split Pink Maxi Dress £19.99 New Look 105

Amazing results with Nioxin at Hair loss can be extremely distressing for both men and women, and many of us suffer from it at some point in our lives. Whether the cause is stress, trauma, medication - like chemotherapy, hormone fluctuations after pregnancy, dietary, environmental or genetic factors, Salon 27 can help. “Nioxin is the number one selling brand for thinning hair and offers clients incredible results, whatever the cause of their hair loss,” explains salon owner, Jodie Mason. And 70% of Nioxin users notice thicker, denser hair in just four weeks. “We give our clients an in-depth consultation and prescribe the best Nioxin treatment for them.”

The products are tailored to meet individual needs and the salon has recently introduced Nixon’s new 3D Styling range. “We went on an in-depth training course when the styling range was launched and we were absolutely blown away by the products - they reduce hair loss and breakage and amplify hair for thicker, fuller results.” Clients can book in for Nioxin treatments at the salon and purchase the products to use at home too. “We sell a three step trial kit for £29.99 that client’s can use at home and if they’re not satisfied after 30 days, Nioxin offer a full money back guarantee.” There’s something new from Wella at the salon too: “Wella’s ‘EIMI Shape Me’ Memory Hair Gel is amazing. The heatactivated gel is formulated with a

memorising polymer complex which helps to shape or blow-dry hair the way you want. It holds the look for up to 48 hours,” adds Jodie. Whether you want to address thinning hair, treat yourself to a new look or find the products that are perfect for you, book in at Salon 27 today.

Special offer for all new clients

CUT & FINISH ONLY £20 June offer

INTrodUCTIoN To BaBy LIgHTS 15 SUN KISSED FOILS, CUT & FINISH

ONLY £45 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 Wed & Thurs 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

(01902) 836565

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July offer

LUXUry TrEaTMENT & BLoW-dry

£40 NOW ONLY £22.50 Opening times:

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

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Why join a Gym... when you can join a Revolution?

At Chris Jewkes Fitness we are true gym enthusiasts – experts in what we do, and getting you the results you’re after, as seen on ITV's Biggest Loser! Our VIP memberships give you flexibility - No contract, No joining fee! Lifestyle, health and goals to ensure you get the most out of your membership. • • • •

Monthly consultation and Fitness review with a qualified Personal Trainer. Personalised Gym programmes Priority class bookings Classes including Pilates, Legs, Bums & Tums, Spin, HIIT, Boxercise, Tabata and Bootcamp.

Simply call today to book your free tour on 01902 750355 Danescourt Road, Tettenhall WV6 9BQ • 01902 750 355

www.chrisjewkesfitness.com www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Mind YOUR WEIGHT

With the spring sunshine starting to become a more regular visitor, thoughts turn to summer holidays and… Beachwear! Jumpers and big coats hide a multitude of sins!

March saw the beginning of my first Placebo Diet VIP course; six lovely people join me each week, to learn how their mind works and what to do to make positive changes that last. Then we spend time on a super simple colour code system that makes choosing and buying healthy food easy. There are so many diets and food fads around; it’s very confusing. It may help to understand a bit about why dieting often ends in disappointment, and worse still, loosing weight, only to put it back on again, and then some! The body knows how to manage the right food, eaten at the correct time. It’s when our busy lives get in the way that it all goes a bit wonky! Some of the ‘low calorie’ or ‘fasting’ diets work really well in the short term, and show some impressive results. However, as with a lot of diets, often it involves eating foods we may not like, and has us feeling deprived, miserable and craving sweet sugary or stodgy foods. Slimming clubs are a good social way of getting motivated to lose weight. The weekly weigh-in can be a cause for celebration; (or humiliating evidence of a bad week). So what does the word diet mean to you? The correct description is; food you eat every day. So who’s on the ‘micro meals and take away’ diet?!

Whatever slimming plan you choose, it will only work if you do it all the time. So if you have to feel deprived or hungry every day, its no wonder we fail! So to make permanent, healthy food choices, knowing why we do what we do, when we don’t choose what’s good for us is key. Here are a few tips: Ask yourself ‘Why’? If you are losing weight for any one else but yourself, it won’t work. Get a really strong image of what you want to look like – be realistic. Write a list of what you WILL be able to do when you reach your healthy weight – NOT what you don’t want. If you have a limiting belief that you’re not worth it or you just fail all the time, it won’t work. Get some help to sort out that little voice that gets in the way of you being successful. Put a picture of a pair of eyes on the fridge, and the cupboard with the snacks in – trust me, it works! Write down all the foods you eat that you know are unhealthy, and then write a list of healthy foods – only ones you like! Then you will see where you can make swaps. Throw away the scales! Instead, find a piece of clothing that you want to be able to fit into comfortably. Use this as your guide. Hang it up where you will see it every day.

“I aim to help you quickly gain skills and techniques that will empower you to clear your ‘Gremlins’ and move you towards a bright future. I use a mix of new science-based processes and well established systems, suited to your own unique situation.” Sue Wilkinson

Some of the issues I work with:

Anxiety • Stress • Phobias • Self Sabotage • Limiting Beliefs • Fear • Low Self Esteem • Weight Management I run ‘at home’ VIP courses for weight management and my Platinum one to one fast track course for people with limited free time. I am available as a speaker for events and fundraisers and I hold regular courses and Wellness Yoga days throughout the year.

Find out more at mindbabble.co.uk Contact me for a FREE consultation call & see how I can help you.

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Phone: 07980 541271 email: change@mindbabble.co.uk wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Stepping into the

Spotlight wanting to lose weight for her forthcoming 40th birthday.

“Louise was an incredibly focused client who achieved her goal of losing three stones * in less than a year. I asked her if she’d consider taking on the role of a Consultant and in April 2014 she completed the required training to become an Accredited Consultant.” Three years on, Louise has built her own strong business and is keen to help others achieve their goals. “I nominated Louise for an award at a recent UK Annual Cambridge Weight Plan Annual Convention and she won a ‘Highly Commended Award’, she was delighted and so was I.”

Karen Price introduces fellow Cambridge Weight Plan Consultant, Louise Peck

And Karen has helped her clients to achieve recognition too, as she explains: “My clients have been awarded ‘Male Slimmer Finalist’, ‘Female Inspiration of the Year Finalist’ and ‘Male Slimmer of the Year Semi-Finalist.’

It has been eight years since Karen Price left her high-flying job in finance to embark on an exciting new career as a Cambridge Weight Plan Consultant, and she hasn’t looked back since.

From her Tettenhall-based office, that’s located within Chris Jewkes Fitness, Karen takes care of clients, both old and new, and fulfils her role as Team Leader by mentoring and working closely with her team of fellow Consultants.

Highly regarded by both her clients and her colleagues, Karen has achieved a catalogue of success and a string of accolades. Working hard to help her clients transform their lives and keen to develop her business, Karen has established a slick and professional operation and has won many coveted awards, including ‘Above and Beyond’, ‘Highly Commended’, ‘Business Building’ and ‘Sales Champion’.

And Louise was equally pleased when one of her own clients achieved the ‘Man of the Year Slimmer Finalist 2016/2017’ award. Based in Perton, Louise is keen to follow in Karen’s footsteps and grow her business in the local area. “I’m immensely proud of all Louise has achieved, she is a credit to my team and I’m sure she’ll go on to achieve much success in the future,” adds Karen. To start your weight-loss journey today, contact Karen on 07974 974 994 e:Karen.s.price@btinternet.com or Louise on 07790 982 888 e:loupeck1@googlemail.com

Passing on her knowledge and expertise, Karen has helped her team to grow their individual businesses’ and achieve success in their own right. “I really enjoy working with my team and enjoy sharing in their success, that’s why I’m keen to introduce Wolverhampton West Magazine readers to Louise Peck.”

Tettenhall Weight Loss Centre, located within Chris Jewkes Fitness Ltd., Danescourt Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton WV6 9BQ.

Karen met Louise in June 2013 when she contacted Karen

*The weight lost and timeframes are particular to this slimmer. Everyone’s weight-loss journey is unique to them.

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Women’s Health

A c r o ss t h e A g e s .

From Menorrhagia to Menopause. such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and dementia. For those over 45 experiencing menopausal symptoms, whilst the most effective treatment is HRT, there are other non-hormonal options. All of these will be discussed during the consultation including the risks and benefits of HRT, which vary according to age, length of treatment and previous family history. Current UK guidelines state that there should be no arbitrary time limits for the duration of HRT and that for healthy women under 60, the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks. Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital has nine consultant Gynaecologists. For an appointment, please ring 01902 275253

Menstrual problems at all ages can be successfully investigated by a specialist gynaecologist. At Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital, multi-lingual Ms Uma Bathula is a private gynaecological surgeon who specialises in managing menstrual problems, such as those affecting adolescents, concerns over heavy periods (menorrhagia) and women reaching the menopause. Qualifying at one of the premier medical institutes of India, JIPMER, Pondicherry, Ms Bathula completed her early medical training in India and then continued in the West Midlands, where she also undertook her specialist training. In addition to her extensive medical knowledge, Ms Bathula is proficient in a number of languages as well as English, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Punjabi and Urdu. She works in the NHS as a Consultant Gynaecologist & Obstetrician at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust and County Hospital Stafford, as well as at her private practice at Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital. A member of the British Menopause Society, Uma Bathula, who specialises in menstrual irregularities, explains, “Heavy periods means menstrual blood loss that is more

than normal. It differs from one woman to the next, so I ask my patients to tell me what their normal loss is and how this is greater or longer than the usual 2-5 days or if it is associated with clots or flooding. Where heavy periods are affecting a woman’s quality of life and she reports certain symptoms, we will investigate and then treat her for these problems, using evidence-based treatment.” Once the cause is ascertained, a specific treatment is decided upon, based on the woman’s age and future fertility plans. Medical, rather than surgical, treatments are usually the first option and this can include a hormonal coil, or oral contraceptive or non- hormonal treatments, such as drugs which help with clotting. Surgery may be advised where medical treatment is ineffective or if there is no wish for future fertility. Minimal access (keyhole) techniques ensure speedy recovery and a quicker return to normal activities. Ms Bathula is a British Society of Colposcopy & Cervical Pathology accredited Colposcopist, dealing with abnormal cervical smears.

View Nuffield Health Wolverhampton’s Facebook page to see how our patients rate their experience at our hospital. If you would like to sample the services on offer, the following free patient events are being hosted by consultants at the hospital throughout July. Each event starts at 6:30pm – parking is free, and snacks and refreshments will be served: • Wednesday 5 July: Let’s Talk Hips • Thursday 13 July: Let’s Talk Knees • Wednesday 26 July: Let’s Talk Shoulders, Elbows & Hands • Thursday 27 July: Let’s Talk Women’s Health To book your place at any of our events go to: www. nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/ wolverhampton/events or call us.

Women who experience an early menopause (under 45) are usually advised to take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to control their symptoms and to prevent long term complications

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Meet the boss (both of them)

Olha Lac

Focus on a better future

Reading problems? It could be visual stress With a fresh approach to educational challenges, treatment of an often unheard of neuro-optical condition – visual stress – is helping to remap young lives and providing a focus for the future that was never expected. John Nash meets optometrists and directors of Taylor Biddle Opticians, a practice that’s embraced this therapy with astonishing results.

Currently the success rate reported by Taylor Biddle Opticians, which has branches in Wombourne and Compton, is between 80 and 90 per cent.

Better behavioural patterns are regularly being reported and pupils previously disengaged from their education, displaying a fresh interest in learning.

Quite literally, the vision therapy is bringing a fresh focus on the future for those whose reading and writing challenges do not align with their intelligence. And the benefits are not only being seen in literacy improvements.

Treatment targets, in medical terms, Mears-Irlen Syndrome – a condition that can mimic dyslexia symptoms, but is not the same. Symptoms can occur despite normal vision. Approximately

A pioneering ophthalmic treatment is bringing fresh hope to children experiencing reading difficulties. Undiagnosed, they could be suffering from visual stress, a condition that is slowly being recognised as a towering educational stumbling block. Therapy involves extensive diagnostic tests and complex prescriptions with coloured lenses. But the clinical outcomes have been nothing short of radical, with so-called low-achievers making strident progress in the classroom. 112

Tracey Taylor

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

that he feels he ‘has a chance to get a good job now.’ Socially more engaged, he has asked for a trendy haircut and new clothes. His brother, academically capable, but disruptive because of sensory problems, has shown marked behavioral progress after receiving treatment.

five per cent of the population is severely affected and 20 per cent to a lesser degree. Critically, visual stress sufferers complain of movement on printed text, blurring of print with letters changing size or shape, patterns in print sometimes described as rivers of worms, colour halos surrounding letters or words, headaches, sore and watery eyes and fatigue whilst reading. There is no clinically recognised cure, but some patients report symptoms have disappeared or significantly decreased after wearing their special prescriptions for around two years. One of just around 40 registered UK Schoolvision practitioner optometrists, Olha Lac, a joint director of the practice with fellow optometrist Tracey Taylor, says: “It’s as if the brain pathways re-establish themselves.” Treatment essentially involves balancing the eyes – establishing accurate binocular vision, but it’s a lengthy process, examinations are intense taking a full hour and prescriptions are often fairly complex. Olha combines the diagnostic tools from the Schoolvision methodology; colorimetry, which measures the absorbance of a specific light wavelength; clinical eye tracker tests and other binocular vision tests for what she describes “a unique treatment that gives reliable results.”

“In the initial assessment, along with the extensive analysis, I conduct a speed of reading test. In a follow-up check-up, normally after three to four weeks, I measure the improvement the glasses have made. “I have one patient whose reading went up two [educational] levels in a month and another, whose reading speed went from 50 seconds a line to 17 seconds,” she says. The profile of Olha’s patients can include those on the autism spectrum, diagnosed Asperger syndrome children and pupils with specific educational needs. Adds Tracey: “We are getting referrals from all over and recently treated a girl from Greece, whose sister saw Olha about visual stress.” Admitting she was at first sceptical about visual stress as a concept, Tracey says: “I cannot deny the results we are seeing. It has potential to transform lives of both patients and their parents. “We know of a mother who has told us that the dramatic improvement in her son’s behaviour has changed her life too. It’s very humbling.” Most recently, a three-week follow-up appointment with a nine-year-old patient presented the following: the mother reported ‘the transformation has been amazing.’ The boy was underachieving at school, suffered regular headaches and was socially withdrawn. Adds Olha: “Within three weeks of wearing glasses he has completely changed. His confidence has soared, his SATs are expected to be normal rather than poor, and teachers are saying he is totally different – he now answers in class, is happy and wants to study.” In a touching comment made to his mother, the boy said

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“His mother said ‘everything around him appeared to be moving. He couldn’t stay still, had poor concentration and hated reading. Now with the glasses he’s much calmer and happier and improved at school’,” says Olha. For the first time this he has said he can see his mum’s face properly. According to the mother, both boys have gone from “disruptive to golden.” “It’s great, isn’t it,” adds Olha. Another success story is of a patient who was struggling at school, but has now been awarded a top educational scholarship. With an eye to the future, the business is expanding and its Compton branch in Bridgnorth Road is currently planning a firstfloor VIP suite to address styling with exclusive designer frames, including Lindberg – the glasses favoured by Simon Cowell. Over the years the company has invested heavily in technology and has its own 3D eye scanner. In 2015 Taylor Biddle reached the final of Express and Star Business Awards in a category of Best use of Technology. The business was founded in Compton in 1994 by Tracey and Mike Biddle. Tracey previously worked for Mike at his practice within the old Eye Infirmary on the Compton Road, and together they decided to form a partnership - Taylor Biddle Opticians. Two years later the Wombourne branch on Windmill Bank was developed. Mike retired in 2010. Olha joined as a director in 2014, having previously worked with the firm as a locum. Says Tracey, an eventing enthusiast, who has recently qualified for the Badminton Grassroots horse trial finals: “We’re now seeing third generation patients through the doors. Our emphasis is always on a very personal service.” 113

The benefits of fitness

classes Variety

Many people regularly exercise in gyms, swimming pools and outdoors, covering activities such as running, swimming and weight training, but very few people incorporate fitness classes into their exercise routines. Gym goers often avoid fitness classes, preferring to head to the cardio or weights section of a gym and overlook what instructor-led sessions have to offer. Others don’t feel confident enough to join in if it’s something they’ve not done before, or are worried in case they cannot keep up with the class. In fact, classes can shorten the time it takes to reach your fitness goal, and with everything from Yoga, Aquacise and Zumba to more intense sessions such as Bootcamp, HIIT and Group Cycle, there’s something suitable for all interests, abilities and routines.

With fitness classes available for all interests and abilities, there’s always something new and enjoyable to try. Adding a regular Yoga or Pilates class to your routine will help increase your flexibility and muscle tone, whilst adding in a HIIT or Circuits session could introduce you to new challenges and give you inspiration for your own workouts.

Instructors Following the lead of a professional fitness instructor can help improve your form and the way you carry out particular movements. Instructors are always on hand to give demonstrations or talk through anything you may find difficult. They can also provide alternatives if you’re suffering from an injury and want to take it easy, or if you’re looking to progress and want more of a challenge. Motivation Being part of a class and getting stuck into your workout alongside other people can be hugely empowering. Seeing other participants enjoying their workout and pushing themselves to achieve their fitness goals can motivate you further, making you want to work harder. Instructor encouragement and enthusiasm is also a benefit of attending fitness classes.

Socialising Lastly, attending a fitness class can be a social experience; through seeing the same people on a regular basis, many class attendees become friends and start to socialise before and after their workout sessions. Leading on from this, you may meet people who go to many fitness classes and invite you along to a new session which you may not have been to before. If you’re still unsure about adding fitness classes to your routine, why not try one out with a friend? As well as knowing someone else in the class, you can work together to motivate and support one another throughout the session. To find out more about WV Active and to see what fitness classes are on offer at the leisure centres, visit wvactive.com

The Health and Fitness Team at WV Active have many reasons why you should add regular fitness classes to your exercise routine.

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NO EXCUSES Join today from ÂŁ10 per month. No contract, no joining fee.

wvactive.com Aldersley | Bilston - Bert Williams | Central

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Y o u r Ch a n c e t o W i n

a H a i r M a k e o v e r at A wa r d - W i n n i n g S a l o n

Olivia before

Olivia after

More Competition Success for Royston Blythe Royston, Nick and the team travelled to the luxury Titanic Hotel in Liverpool to support Jade Stephenson and Nicholas Tucker in the finals of the prestigious L’oreal Colour Trophy that was held in April.

unveiled as the North West Regional Winners. It was the second time that the duo had won the coveted award and once again their winning looks blew the judges away. And, there was even more cause for celebration, when Bethany Price and Lauren Jeavons from the Wolverhampton team were also announced as L’oréal Colour Trophy

It was a spectacular event and the entire team were keen to celebrate when Nick and Jade were

India before

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India after

Midlands Regional Winners at a separate - yet equally spectacular - event that was also held in April at Villa Park Stadium. The winners were announced by one the UK’s most respected hairdressing icons, Queen Of Balayage Sophia Hilton. Nick, Jade, Bethany and Lauren have all secured their place in the Grand Final, that’s taking place in London at Battersea Evolution, on the 5th June. It’s one of the most prestigious evenings in the hairdressing world as the country’s top talent and industry icons are brought together under one roof. Royston Blythe are utterly delighted to once again have teams representing both salons at the event.

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Winners from Wolverhampton salon, from left Lauren Jeavons and Bethany Price

Nick and Royston

Winners from Shrewsbury salon, 2nd left, Jade Stephenson and far right Nicholas Tucker

You Could Be a Winner Too!

If you’ve been dreaming of a new look, then here’s your opportunity to be in with a chance of winning a fantastic hair makeover - which includes Rapture Hair extensions - at the salon. Stylists to a long list of celebrities - including Real Housewives of Cheshire star, Dawn Ward – the Royston Blythe team are well-known for their fabulous hair transformations. Using Rapture Hair extensions - that are made of the finest quality human hair - the team have styled some amazing looks for their clients. The extensions take less than an hour to apply and

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won’t damage your own hair, they’re incredibly natural looking and can be used to boost volume and add luscious lengths to hair. Of course, it’s not just hair extensions that will create an amazing new look for the lucky winner though, a full consultation, expert colour application, cut and blow-dry will ensure that the winner will look – and feel –amazing when they leave the salon. So, to be in with a chance of winning your dream hair look, simply answer the question below:

What brand of Hair Extensions do Royston Blythe use? Please email your answer to: info@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk or on a postcard to: Wolverhampton West Magazine, 1 Lytham Road, Perton, Wolverhampton, WV6 7YY. All entries to be received by Friday 16th June 2017. T&C’s: prize must be taken Tuesday to Thursday. By entering the competition you are agreeing that Royston Blythe and Wolverhampton West Magazine are able to use any images that are taken on the day for marketing and social media purposes. No cash or alternative prize. You must visit the salon 48 hours before your appointment for a skin test.

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FEEL GOOD THIS

SUMMER

With the summer holidays already in sight, South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres are encouraging people to start taking part in a little exercise every week to get that summer body in progress. There’s still time to make a transformation and feel fitter, healthier and more confident for the summer holidays. One member who started their journey over 12 months ago made the life changing decision to join our leisure centres and he never looked back, losing over 9 stone in just 12 months he has managed to completely change his lifestyle and now looks and feels great. MAKE A CHANGE AND FEEL GOOD THIS SUMMER WITH SOUTH STAFFORDHIRE COUNCIL’S LEISURE CENTRES

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wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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Park Avenue Clinic 13a Park Avenue Wolverhampton WV1 4AH For an appointment or to book a home visit please call Tom Casey on 07828 613165 or 01902 833426 For other surgery appointments please call or visit: Six Ways Clinic 24 Birmingham Road Walsall WS1 2LT 01922 622521 Albrighton For home visits, please call: 01902 754377 or 07917 520199

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Tom’s tip:

Pes Cavus one successful international runner with this problem.

• Painful corns and callous may develop under the 1st and 5th toe joints. • Unstable ankles may develop.

A claw foot is a genetic defect in the foot with a high arch. You can be born with them or you may develop them from some conditions i.e. Diabetes. Claw feet are relatively inflexible. This will often be associated with very tight calf muscles at the back of the lower leg. What Problems Can Pes Cavus Cause? • Pain in the feet during running. • Painful toes that are bent and cannot be straightened. • You will not usually be any good at long distance running - however I know of

• Problems may occur with the Achilles Tendons. • Knee problems may occur as a secondary condition. Treatment What can you do about claw foot? • Do plenty of static stretching, especially of the calf muscles and the sole of the foot

(Claw foot)

Advice on the correct running shoes Neutral shoes have a midsole of constant density. A motion control shoe will have a harder inside midsole to help prevent the foot rolling in or pronating. If you have the wrong running shoes you will just make any problems worse. People with high arches are often supinator’s and should contact a shoe specialist for advice.

Thomas Casey Chiropodist/Podiatrist HCPC registered

• Take steps to avoid injury such as correct shoe selection, strengthening and stretching exercises • See a podiatrist/chiropodist who can assess your biomechanical function of the feet and provide appropriate orthotic devices. These should alleviate or prevent the above problems.

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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 793269 / 01902 793241 email: info@wolverhamptonhipandkneeclinic.co.uk or visit: www.wolverhamptonhipandkneeclinic.co.uk

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Tettenhall College Garden Party 24th June 2017, 2:30pm Tettenhall College is once again holding its annual garden party which is now in its second year this June. Last year the sun shone on a very successful event which attracted more than 600 people from the local community. From close encounters with farmyard friends to bucking bronco challenges, there was plenty to keep everyone entertained.

There were donkey rides, stalls and a host of other attractions, including chicken races and guess the weight of Buster the turkey. There was a bouncy castle and lots of fun games and activities for the children. Musical entertainment and a dance display also displayed some fantastic TC talent. Bookings for stands and stalls are being taken through the School’s Development Office who can be contacted on 01902 751119.

Te t t e n h a l l Vi l l a g e Fe t e

Now in its 19th year, this year’s Tettenhall Village Fete will once again be playing host to an array of local entertainment acts, charities and local community groups. Attractions will include entertainment from local dance and theatre groups, a kids’ zone, disco dome and a retro gaming tent where you can play to your hearts content on games consoles from the past such as the Sega Mega Drive and Nintendo 64!

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Tettenhall Round Table will be providing refreshments and entertainment including a Tombola, Barbeque and the now famous Tea Tent kindly packed with a fine selection of yummy cakes made by local residents (donations are greatly appreciated!). Those feeling thirsty will be able to sample local ciders from Hail to the Ale and glasses of ice cold Pimm’s and Prosecco. The event will be attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Wolverhampton. Through the Fete, Tettenhall Round Table hopes to generate in

excess of £5000 for a selection of local charities including Promise Dreams, Compton Hospice and Central Youth Theatre. Tettenhall Village Fete takes place on Sunday 9th July on Tettenhall Village Green. Entrance is free all day with ample parking available. Your support will be greatly appreciated by all involved and also by all who will benefit from the donations! Contact: Steve Slade - Tettenhall Fete Chairman, mobile 07881 938906, e-mail: stevedw@aol.co.uk

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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A final decision in landmark

inheritance case

But what does it mean for you? A decision by the Supreme Court to rule in favour of three animal charities in a long running legal wrangle between a woman and her estranged mother is set to have far reaching implications for future inheritance disputes. Craig Ridge, a Partner at Wolverhampton law firm FBC Manby Bowdler and an expert in contentious probate, said the ruling to allow Heather Illot to only inherit £50,000 from her late mother’s estate could “close the floodgates” to potential claims from those in a similar position. He explains what the landmark judgment means and what it means to you: The true story of Heather Ilott who was disinherited when she fell out with her mother when she left home at 17 to live with her now husband may seem like a plot from a television drama but it has been a closely watched case in the legal world due to the repercussions it will have. Heather’s estranged mother, Melita Jackson, left her entire

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estate to three animal charities. At first, Heather was awarded £50,000 as she claimed, under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, that she could rightfully expect to be provided for in her mother’s will. This was increased to £163,000 on appeal. But the charities challenged that decision in the Supreme Court, which ruled she now will only inherit the original £50,000 lump sum. This decision will close the floodgates in relation to claims made against a deceased’s estate. The main lesson to learn from this is the importance of a properly drafted will. The number of inheritance disputes have increased eight-fold in the last year as more people are prepared to challenge what they perceive to be an unfair decision by their parent or relative.

wrongfully excluded, there will need to be cast iron grounds for a claim before a court rules in your favour. If you’d like to know more contact Craig on 01902 392402 or by email at c.ridge@fbcmb.co.uk. Craig Ridge is Head of FBC Manby Bowdler’s Disputed Probate team. His areas of practice include providing advice in relation to claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, disputes in relation to the validity of wills and disputes regarding the construction of wills, actions for breach of trust and/or breach of duty in the administration of trusts/estate and professional negligence in relation to wills, trusts and/or estates.

Although the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 exists, the Illot saga tells us that judges will be looking at a number of broader issues when ruling on cases in the future. It highlights the need to have watertight grounds on which to exclude someone from your will. And although there will still be opportunities to legally challenge a will if you feel you have been

Craig Ridge, a Partner and Head of the Disputed Probate team at FBC Manby Bowdler.

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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New director on board for

PAYC A R E

A Wolverhampton-based health Cash Plan provider is celebrating the expansion of its senior level team with the appointment of a new Director. Paycare, which operates from its head office in George Street, has announced the promotion of Anthony Burns, the organisation’s former Head of Sales and Marketing, to Commercial Director. Kevin Rogers, CEO of Paycare, said: “Anthony has been an integral part of the Paycare team for the past four years, and we are absolutely delighted to be welcoming him onto our Board of Directors. Since joining the organisation, Anthony has played a pivotal role in driving forward a large number of our key strategies, including the investment in and retention of our Policyholders, and the continued development of our own people to ensure that they deliver the very best service at all times. We would like to offer our heartfelt congratulations to Anthony on this very well-deserved recognition, and very much look forward to continuing to work together over the months and years ahead.”

A highly-experienced sales professional, Anthony joined Paycare in 2013 and, since then, has drawn upon his extensive experience across the industry to lead the not-for-profit organisation’s sales and marketing teams. His core focus over the past four years has been to not only ensure the delivery of the organisation’s commercial aims but, fundamentally, to make sure that the money received through Policyholders’ premiums continues to be reinvested back into improving the products and services it provides, as well as helping the communities it serves. Anthony has seen his efforts in leading the organisation’s sales and marketing teams recognised through a coveted national award shortlisting. Paycare has been named a finalist in the Insurance Brand of the Year category of this year’s Insurance Marketing & PR Awards, with judges praising Paycare’s fresh and innovative use of PR and marketing in improving awareness and trust in its brand, and enhancing engagement with staff, customers, and the wider community. The awards, which are held annually, recognise and reward those organisations across the industry who have successfully remained connected to the markets they serve through their PR and marketing activity, with Paycare the only health Cash Plan provider in the UK to have made the finals across 14 categories. 126

Anthony Burns, Commercial Director

Anthony has also been integral to the organisation’s technological developments, with a number of services launched over the past 12 months alone, including an online claiming service – all part of a defined strategy to benefit both Policyholders and employees alike. This month will see the organisation launch its new and dedicated Paycare GP 24/7 app and Paycare Perks package, further developments designed to help ensure the optimum health and wellbeing of its Policyholders. “I am thrilled to have been made Commercial Director here at Paycare, an organisation that I am immensely proud to be a part of. My principal passion lies in helping our Policyholders improve their overall quality of life through providing access to cost-effective health and wellbeing solutions, and I am very much looking forward to working alongside each member of the Paycare team, the Senior Management Team, Non-Executive Directors, and affiliated partners to ensure that this continues.”

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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New servers please at

tennis club

Pictured making it game network and match are l-r Chris Wilkinson, Concero engineer, Marc Hughes, WLTS Club operations manager and Bradley Clegg, Concero director.

It’s game, network and match for a Midlands IT company after netting a new contract with Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis and Squash Club. IT experts Concero Ltd have been awarded the contract to upgrade, manage and maintain the sports club’s computer and wireless networks as well as data storage and security. The company, based in Newbridge Tettenhall, provides IT services for schools and businesses across 128

Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall. Securing a contract with the sports club is the latest in a series of new business deals for Concero Ltd. Marc Hughes, operations manager at Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, in Newbridge Crescent, said: “We are undergoing a lot of investment at the club and we realised our network was outof-date and not fit for purpose. “Concero surveyed the site, looked at our current IT provision and resolved network problems. With their help we have invested in new computers and laptops and we are now using their expertise to plan for future upgrades.”

Bradley Clegg, Concero director, added: “We work with schools, small, medium and large businesses and whatever the nature of their business – be it sport, school or industry, they all have increasing expectations and demands on the computer their staff and customers use. In this case the club needed new hardware as well as improving its wireless network and more importantly its data storage and security. It’s a nice case of game, network and match for both businesses.” For more information, contact us at enquiries@concerouk.com

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wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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Redevelopment work to start at historic

Wolverhampton school Work is set to get under way on a 3 million pound redevelopment project at Tettenhall College. The historic independent school, which has seen a recent rise in pupil numbers, has unveiled its designs of how some of the new developments will look. Plans include a striking new sixth form centre, a modernised library, upgraded boarding houses and additional sporting facilities. The stunning new sixth form centre at the heart of the School will provide the best of both worlds for pupils with a mezzanine ICT and study area. A brand new contemporary sixth form common room is also planned and is due to be completed by Autumn 2017. Sport will be given a boost with the installation of two multi-purpose games areas, for tennis, netball and football. In addition, the School’s squash courts will be given a refurbishment thanks to a former pupil’s generous legacy.

Graham Aston, a keen squash player and former Head Boy, left a £400,000 legacy to the School to develop the sport at the School. As a result of this funding, the School is able to offer several academic scholarships available for students looking for Sixth Form places in September 2017 and is open to applicants with immediate effect. The School’s Boarding Houses celebrate their 150th anniversary this year and will also be refurbished with a modern and welcoming new look as well as stylish ensuite bathrooms. Headmaster David Williams said: “We are very pleased that work will begin on these exciting redevelopments at Tettenhall College. We are already proud of

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our educational offering to pupils and the proposed upgrades will strengthen this further. “The work undertaken will blend the contemporary with the historic, which supports our drive to maintain traditional values while moving forward with the times.” As part of the works, renovation of The Towers, one of Wolverhampton’s few Grade II* listed buildings, will be undertaken. The ‘Towers’ were added in 1866 by eccentric owner and inventor Colonel Thomas Thorneycroft but now house the School’s theatre which regularly hosts local community theatre groups. Work has already commenced on the project and will be completed over the summer holidays.

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

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wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

One of the top 25

Prep Schools

in England The Sunday Times Parent Power Top 100 Independent Preparatory Schools has listed Newbridge Preparatory School in the top 25 Prep Schools in England. The rankings are based on Key Stage Two SATs (Standard Attainment Tests) results, in which Newbridge Preparatory pupils have achieved results well above the national average across all three subject areas.

As an Independent prep school, we continue to voluntarily enter our girls for SATs which we do as a benchmark to help us see where we sit amongst the state sector; ensuring our high standards are maintained and externally measured. Newbridge Preparatory School, ranked 24th in the Sunday Times listing, achieved the following percentage of pupils meeting a level 5 standard in their SATs results: • Reading: 100% • Mathematics: 88% • Grammar, punctuation and spelling: 88% Additionally, at level 6, which is achieved by less than 1% of

pupils taking Key Stage Two SATs, Newbridge girls achieved:

• Mathematics: 40% • Grammar, punctuation and spelling: 31% • Level 6 SATs were additional tests intended to challenge Year Six children who were excelling in maths and/or English. Level 6 is a standard that the average child does not reach until Year Ten.

Forefront of academic achievement Newbridge is the only prep school in the West Midlands to reach the top 25; continuing the school’s reputation for being at the forefront of academic achievement across the West Midlands. This is an outstanding achievement for a small, non-selective prep school. Many of the other schools appearing in the top 25 are selective on entry. Newbridge is thrilled with the academic success which is the result of innovative teaching, a creative curriculum and a robust assessment programme. However, Newbridge Preparatory School is about so much more than just academic results with our focus on inspiring all to achieve their potential in all areas of school life through the support and dedication

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of the whole school community and our excellent pastoral care. Our Upper School girls take part in over two hours of sport each week, at least two hours of music and all have dance and drama lessons. In addition, we have many ‘extra-curricular’ clubs on offer each week including our own Brownie Pack – 1st Newbridge Brownies.

Outstanding School Earlier this year, Newbridge was inspected by the Independent Schools inspectorate and was awarded an ‘Excellent’ rating (Ofsted equivalent = outstanding) the highest grading in every inspection category. So Newbridge is truly an excellent and outstanding school in every way.

Creating a choice at 11+ Invest now and you will have far more options when your daughter is eleven. In and around Wolverhampton, we are fortunate to have diversity of choice across both state and independent sectors for senior schools. We work closely with parents to identify the next school in which each individual child will truly flourish – we will help and support you, every step of the way, to find the right senior school for your daughter.

Come and visit us Please do not just take our word for it. Read our ‘Excellent’ 2016 inspection report (www. isi.net/schools/6725) or better still come and visit us – as every day is an open day. Please ring 01902 751088 to make an appointment. Early registration for places is highly recommended for guaranteed places.

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Top School welcomes even younger pupils

Leading Staffordshire Independent School, St. Dominic’s Brewood is launching an expanded children’s nursery – open for 11 and a ½ hours a day, 50 weeks of the year and offering the free Governmentfunded hours. St. Dominic’s has achieved outstanding academic results and has been ranked the Number One Performing School in Staffordshire in the Attainment 8 category and EBacc GCSE results by the Department of Education. Their A Level results are also outstanding with 100% pass rate and 37% at a staggering A*-A grade. Not only will the nursery, based at a former convent in the idyllic village of Brewood, be open from 7.30am until 6.00pm five days a week, it will also care for children from the age of two.

Former Ofsted Early Years Inspector Jane Durand, who manages the nursery, said: “It’s such a lovely school, where the children are happy and settled in a wonderful environment with fabulous facilities.

“The school is very popular with parents and children from the Brewood, Wolverhampton and Telford areas but is also accessible to other districts as we are very close to the M54 and M6.”

“I’m very excited to be in at the beginning to help shape the new, extended nursery, offering a vital and unique service to working parents, who can be sure that we will provide first rate care and education for their child.”

Mrs Durand, who is a 44-yearold mother-of-two from Walsall, returned to university as a full-time student in 2011, graduating with a first class BA (Hons) degree in Early Childhood Education two years ago.

Mrs Durand, who has worked in early years education for more than 25 years, including 10 years as an Ofsted inspector, said: “We will be able to take up to 30 children in our extended nursery but parents should act quickly and register their interest with us to ensure a place.

She now continues to mentor Birmingham University students who are on early years and teaching courses. Besides managing the nursery, she aims to develop extra-curricular activities, such as music and dance, which could be offered to young children from the local community, as well as nursery pupils. Peter McNabb, Head of St. Dominic’s Brewood, said: “We count ourselves very lucky to have attracted such an experienced and inspirational early years expert such as Jane Durand to work with our existing, outstanding team. “By extending the age at which our nursery admits children from three down to two and opening extra hours daily and throughout the year, we believe we will be offering an unrivalled service to children and parents from a wide area.”

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wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

School Wh o l e eek, Open W th y5 Monda iday Fr June to 2017 e 9th Jun

Little St. Dom’s Nursery is open • Offering care and education for 2 year olds • Government funded hours are available • 7.30am – 6.00pm, 50 weeks of the year, guarantees busy parents full flexibility

For further information or to arrange a visit to the school please contact us on (01902) 850248 or Email: secretary@stdominicsbrewood.co.uk www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk Bargate Street, Brewood, South Staffordshire, ST19 9BA

www.stdominicsbrewood.co.uk

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Life Cycle

by Rob Taylor

Hugh arriving at the Palace to receive his MBE

their golden wedding anniversary. When they married in Huddersfield in 1965 news cameras were rolling.

Hugh receiving his Freedom of the City from the Mayor Councillor Mrs Christine Mills

Wolverhampton West sits down with Wolverhampton-born cycling legend Hugh Porter to discuss a career rich with success, both on and off two wheels. Today everybody is famous. Affordable technology has made good on Andy Warhol’s prescient words, making stars of us all and ushering in with it the cult of 136

Celebrity on an unprecedented scale. And yet conversely it seems, for those of us blessed with discerning and wit, there are fewer and fewer people genuinely worthy of status and fame. Hugh Porter is such an individual. Hugh is a four-time world individual pursuit cycling champion and has been for over 30 years’ BBC’s “voice of cycling”. He won Commonwealth Games gold in 1966 and is married to wife Anita, a former Olympic gold medallist in the 200m Breaststroke. Appropriately the couple have already celebrated

However, despite his innumerable sporting accolades and a lifetime spent in and around the spotlight, rubbing shoulders with the great and good, I find Hugh to be disarmingly modest and warm during my visit to his home in Tettenhall. Here is a man who measures achievement in the role he is able to play in supporting local sporting events and charities, which are dear to his heart. “I love being involved with events like the Round the Wrekin Sportive which supports Compton Hospice and runs again this year in May,” says Hugh. “I also sit on the Carver Marathon committee. My wife and I helped introduce the 20K family cycle ride which is now a regular at the event each year.” And it’s a ride Hugh is familiar with himself, as he’s taken part many times. In fact he still cycles locally, roughly three times a week, and

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

travels around the Shropshire lanes despite now being in his seventies. Of course Hugh is very proud of both his and Anita’s sporting success - his four world titles in the professional class over 5000m are a record - but he’s at pains not to thrust it in my face, never wanting to play ‘Mr VIP’. When I mention the tale of him riding through the gates of Buckingham Palace in 1973 fully decked out in his finest suit, on his way to collect his MBE from the Queen, he is characteristically unpretentious. Even Anita’s BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year trophy, which is sitting beside me, passes his notice. Instead he sparks at the mention of his Honorary Freeman of the City of Wolverhampton award, which he says is “very flattering”, and only smiles when asked about what it’s like driving down ‘Hugh Porter Way’ in Aldersley.

Hugh on the rostrum after winning his third World Professional Pursuit title in Marseille. Left Belgian Ferdinand Bracke and Dirk Baert also from Belgium

“I’m a proud Wulfrunian- a real local lad through and through. I was born in Parkfields, attended Dudley Road Junior School, before going to St. Peter’s,” continues Hugh, “I’ve travelled and worked all over the world but this is still home.” A semi-retired veteran broadcaster of eight consecutive summer Olympics - he has commentated on every gold medal winner in the modern era, up to and including London - Hugh remembers the early days at BBC Radio Birmingham (latterly BBC Radio WM).

Hugh and Chris Boardman in commentary box at the World Road Race Championships, for BBC TV

“It all really started off when Sports Editor Roger Moody offered me a minority sports segment. Then I went on to BBC TV. I love the spontaneity of it; calling each race is a real thrill.” When pushed to name a favourite moment his mind races to all the gold medallists but he highlights a couple, Chris Boardman’s gold in the 1992 games in Barcelona was Britain’s first for seventy-two years and Chris Hoy’s record sixth gold, Hugh’s last Olympic Velodrome commentary - however it’s clear that Hugh prefers to live in the here and now. “I still feel like I have a lot to give.” And we believe him. www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Hugh with Sir Chris Hoy commentating at the Manchester Velodrome, for BBC TV

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Married Couple’s

Tax allowanCe

Are you eligible and if so are you claiming it? I am staggered at the number of people I see who have no idea that there is a married couple’s allowance, let alone claim it. The allowance was introduced on 6th April 2015 and it allows a couple to benefit if one is earning less than £11,500 and the other is earning between £11,500 and £45,000 in tax year 2017/18. The allowance means that the lower earner can transfer £1,150 (2017/18) to their husband, wife or civil partner which will save £230 in tax for this year. 138

You can also backdate any claim to 6th April 2015, so for anyone who is eligible it means you could be entitled to a combined tax rebate of £662. There are in the UK 4.2 million people eligible for this allowance however to date only 2.4 million couples have claimed it. How do you go about claiming? It is a simple process for anyone who is tech savvy, simply log on to https://www.gov.uk/applymarriage-allowance and at the bottom of the page hit “start now” For those of you who do not have access to a computer simply phone HMRC on 0300

200 3300, making sure that you have both of your national insurance numbers together and acceptable forms of ID. Please note that it must be the lower earner who contacts HMRC as it is they who are transferring part of their allowance. Pension contributions for higher rate tax payers close to retirement For anyone approaching retirement, making use of the tax relief available to you when investing in a pension is so beneficial that it just doesn’t make sense not to benefit. Take someone earning £55,000 per annum. The tax payable on

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

the top £10,000 of earnings is £4,000, meaning that after tax you would receive £6,000. Now, most people approaching retirement tend to have savings and can forgo what is in effect £500 per month from their net salary, and by doing this when you retire and become a basic rate taxpayer (as most people do), after tax you would receive £8,500 giving you a profit of £2,500 on what is in essence a £6,000 investment. I recently had someone contact me for advice regarding his potential retirement. He is 58 years old and wants to ideally retire when he is 60 however, because of the mortgage they have, he may be 65 before he is in a position to finish work and live comfortably. Whilst discussing his financial circumstances, in order to clear their mortgage he is overpaying by £600 per month which, over 2 years, would give him capital repayments of £14,400 or if he continued working until age 65 the overpayments would total £50,400. By redirecting these overpayments into his pension the benefits are considerable as, should he retire at age 60, instead of £14,400 he would have £20,400 and if he continued to work until his 65th birthday the £50,400 would be £71,400, providing he did not withdraw the full amount in one tax year as this would put him in the higher rate tax bracket.

working for JLR requested figures should he decide to take early retirement within the scheme. His projected pension at age 65 is just in excess of £30,000 p.a. so when he was told if he retired early he would be entitled to £70,000 tax free cash plus a reduced pension of £13,500 p.a. he was to say the least crestfallen. Fortunately, he then contacted us and we approached JLR to request a transfer value which came back at £679,00. After all costs of transferring this give him tax free cash just in excess of £166,000 and a pension fund remaining of £500,000. As it happens, he does not need all his tax free cash so this will be staggered as and when required. The decision has been made that he will retire next March on his 59th birthday - to say he is looking forward to next year is an understatement. If you have a preserved pension and would like to explore your options please feel free to contact us and we can advise you accordingly.

With the changes we have seen in pension legislation over the last few years there is, in my opinion, no better place to invest as you have total control of how and when you access your benefits once you reach your 55th birthday plus, in addition, pensions are outside of your estate for inheritance tax. Another happy client For those of you who read my article on a regular basis: in the last edition I told you about Mrs R who is 58 years old and is now retiring after transferring her preserved pension with Jaguar Land Rover. I have now just advised another JLR employee who, like Mrs R, is 58 years old and after 37 years www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

John Webb

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

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

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

www.midlandifa.co.uk 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 139

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wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Oxley Park: an emerald gem

in the city of Wolverhampton 103 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 Award Winning PGA Fellow Professional Craig Thomas and his team offer a wide range of brands and products in the newly refurbished professional shop. 2017 has seen the introduction of a swing room within the shop where club demo’s, custom fitting and coaching can take place all using the industry leading technology (FlightScope). The Golf Academy also offers an extensive range of coaching packages to meet the needs of every golfer from the complete beginner to the tour professional. 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 773989 ext3 or email office@oxleyparkgolfclub.co.uk

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. An ongoing course improvement plan is well under way including the reconstruction of bunkers which means the course will continue to be a challenging test to all level of golfer. 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.

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South Staffordshire Golf Club Great Golf, fine food in a stunning setting his helicopter pilot training at the local RAF base – and frequently enjoyed the couples’ food.” After spending three years at Burnley Golf Club and welcoming their first child, the couple decided to return to the West Midlands and have now taken on their latest roles at the club. “Since arriving at the club, Neven and Angela have impressed everyone with their delicious cuisine.”

Founded in 1892, South Staffordshire Golf Club has long been regarded as one of the finest courses in the West Midlands. Located just outside of the picturesque village of Tettenhall, in Danescourt Road, the club is set in 160 acres and boasts a 6512 yard par 71 course that was designed in 1908 by Harry Vardon, one of the greatest players and most influential figures in the early history of the sport. Over the years the course has been ‘tweaked’ by other golfing greats, including Harry Colt, James Braid and most recently, Donald Steel. So, it’s no surprise that the club is prized by its members, praised by visitors and this year is celebrating its 125th anniversary. As Sue LeBeau, Club Manager, explains: “The course is maintained to the highest standards and offers a series of interesting and challenging holes, including no fewer than six par four holes of over 400 yards from the Medal Tees, contributing to a standard scratch of 72 and demanding a mixture of skill and imagination to play them well.” 142

It’s not just skilled golfers that can enjoy the club though, there’s also the Peter Baker Golf Academy that offers lessons to those looking to improve their swing in the indoor swing clinic or at the 10 acre driving range and practice area. “We also have a well-stocked Golf Pro Shop and Clubhouse that’s complete with a lounge bar, spike bar and terrace, television lounge and restaurant – all of which offer splendid views.” In fact, the restaurant’s menu has recently been transformed by the clubs’ new resident culinary experts, Neven Vukasovic and his wife, Angela, who both have an impressive background in the industry. Born into catering, Neven was introduced to the industry from an early age by his father. When he left his home country of Croatia, he settled in Birmingham and ran the Strathallan Hotel’s restaurant before working at an Italian restaurant in the Merry Hill Centre, which is where he met his wife Angela. “Neven and Angela decided to work together and found positions as stewards at Halesowen Golf Club before moving to the Fox and Hounds Gastro Pub in Shawbury, Shropshire, where Prince William became a regular - whilst he completed

Whether it’s a dish from the new menu, Angela’s delightful traditional afternoon tea or a specially created spread for a special occasion, the duo don’t fail to delight diners. “We’ve launched new bimonthly Sunday lunches, which we’re hoping to develop into a weekly occurrence and we’re also planning themed events that showcase food from around the world.” Excitingly, it’s not just members that can enjoy the club’s delicious fayre and great location. “The club is available for hire for all private functions, like weddings, parties, Christenings and wakes,” adds Sue Lebeau. And non-members can also enjoy Sunday Lunch and Afternoon Tea when making a booking for a small party. So, why not celebrate your special occasion at South Staffordshire Golf Club and combine fine food with a great course for a memorable society day out.

Neven Vukasovic and his wife, Angela

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Celebrating 125 Years of Golf

NEW MEMBERS OPEN DAYS

On Friday 2nd and Sunday 4th June from 10.00am – 2.00pm Visitors on the day will have the opportunity of a walk and talk around the Golf Club play a few holes with their host for the day, hit some balls on the driving range and receive some top tips from Peter Baker, Mark and Lisa Shervill, then relax with some refreshments in the Clubhouse. In addition to full membership we now have available flexible memberships. An attractive package is available for new members up to and including the Open days subject to a successful application. For further information contact Sue LeBeau 01902 751065 option 1.

OPEN COMPETITIONS 2017 SENIOR OPEN AM-AM

JUNIOR OPEN

Team of 4. £120 per team includes a buffet lunch.

SENIOR MIXED OPEN 4 BBB

Wednesday 14th June 2017

MIXED OPEN 4 BBB

Sunday 18th June 2017 £38 per pair.

Thursday 3rd August 2017 £12 entry fee. Thursday 31st August 2017

£60 per pair including buffet lunch.

LADIES 3 BALL ALLIANCE

VARDON BOWL

of 3. £45 per team.

Mens individual £25 each, scratch and nett prizes.

OPEN AM-AM

SENIOR MENS OPEN 4 BBB

of 4. £100 per team.

£60 per pair includes a buffet lunch.

Tuesday 11th July 2017 Team

Sunday 30th July 2017 Team

Download the form or book directly online at the club website: www.southstaffordshiregolfclub.co.uk

Saturday 2nd September 2017

Thursday 14th September 2017

We look forward to welcoming you to South Staffs Golf Club to what promises to be a wonderful summer of Golf, with good food and excellent company on Harry Vardon’s great course. Sue LeBeau, Club Manager, The South Staffordshire Golf Club

The South Staffordshire Golf Club, Danescourt Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton WV6 9BQ @SouthStaffsgc /SouthStaffsGolfClub www.southstaffordshiregolfclub.co.uk Tel:www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk 01902 751065

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Registered Charity No. 512387

The Compton Colour Blast 5K is set to return – and 2017 guarantees to be more colourful than ever! This year we’ll be hosting two events across two consecutive days. Taking place on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd July 2017 at East Park participants will embark on a 5k route whilst being blasted with colourful powdered paint. Each participant will receive a Colour Blast pack featuring sponsor forms, race number and a commemorative Colour Blast 5K t-shirt. On the day you’ll also be given a pair of stylish sunglasses and a complimentary colour packet to use in the colour blast arena. Registration costs £30pp or £35pp on the day. Under 5’s go FREE. The event is open to all ages but under 16’s must be accompanied by a participating parent or guardian. To register visit https://tinyurl.com/prlyy8p or complete and return the entry form over the page.

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wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Compton Hospice Colour Blast 5K Saturday 1st OR Sunday 2nd July 2017 PLEASE FILL IN CAPITAL LETTERS

(must be over 16)

Name of Lead participant ……………………………………….D.O.B………………… T-Shirt Size XS S M L XL Address ………………………………………………………………….…………..……………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………….……………………………Postcode………………..……..... Tel no. (Day)………………………………..…….(mobile)……………………………...…..….…. Email address…………………………………………………………………………………..….…

Date you wish to participate on: Saturday 1 Names of other participants

Sunday 2nd

(required for insurance purposes)

1. ……………………………………………………….……D.O.B if under 16 .………………..…..

T-Shirt Size

XS S

M L

2. ……………………………………………………………D.O.B if under 16 ……….…………….

T-Shirt Size

M L

3. …………………………………………………………… D.O.B if under 16 ……………..……..

T-Shirt Size

M L

4. …………………………………………………………… D.O.B if under 16 ……………..……..

T-Shirt Size

M L

Full terms and conditions can be found at https://tinyurl.com/lc8fkpa

DECLARATION ** I understand that single and group photographs may be taken of myself and my group at Compton Hospice events and I am happy for any photographs to be used for Compton Hospice marketing and future publications** ** I understand that as lead participant I am over 16 and will be responsible for collecting all sponsorship money from my group and returning it to Compton Hospice** ** On behalf of my group I accept the terms and conditions of this event **

I enclose payment of …………………… Signed by lead participant ……………………………………………

Please return your entry form and payment to: Fundraising Department, Compton Hospice, The Cedars, 39 Compton Road West, Wolverhampton, WV3 9DW www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Social Scene

Porsche Wolverhampton

Porsche Wolverhampton hosted a VIP night to launch the new association with Chris Jewkes Fitness and Heaven Skincare. The champagne reception was attended by over 120 guests and was a great success. Future events are planned throughout the year.

Sponsored by

1. Simon Priest, Deborah Mitchell, Chris Jewkes. 2. Karen Price, David Price.

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3. Sarah Fiddler, Claire Fiddler, Jackie Green. 4. Cora Rees, Mark Rees. 5. Sharon Plevin, Ken Sheffield. 6. Royston Blythe, Jo Bridgwood, Malcolm Bridgwood. 7. Steph Jones, Catharine Hammond. 8. Di Jones, Neville Clements. 9. Royston Blythe, Deborah Mitchell. 10. Derek Weatherhogg, Nadine Green. 11. Nicola Carrera, Carole Ragonesi. 12. Tarnia Davies, Anita Russell, Tracy Doughty. 13. Mark Rees, William Rees, Katherine Brueton.

A fresh approach to Dentistry

14. Terri Jewkes, Richard Barnfather, Fiona Swann, Libby Walton. 15. Sadie Simpson, Tasha Phipps. wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Social Scene

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Social Scene

Penn Bowling Club Wolverhampton Merry Hill FC ex-players and friends, past and present, came together in aid of Prostate Cancer Research. Two of their most prominent players, Nigel and Richard Ormerod, who are twins, had both been diagnosed with this most common cause of male cancer. However, both are thankfully now making real progress. The evening, organised by Pete Hand, Chris Haddock and Les Smith, was a big success, raising £1360 for the charity.

Sponsored by

A disco was provided by Colin Tolly, who played tunes from the 60s and 70s much beloved by all ‘the old 60s and 70s swingers’ who attended.

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A fresh approach to Dentistry

1. Gill Marshall, Bob Marshall. 2. Roger Campbell, Kath Campbell. 3. Bob Harris, Sue Harris. 4. Maria Ormerod, Richard Ormerod, Peter Hand, Cheryl Ormerod, Nigel Ormerod. 5. Helen Hughes, Brian Hughes. 6. Les Smith, Peter Hand, Chris Haddock. 7. Rita Hawley, Brin Hawley. 8. Elaine Barnbrook, Helen Bull, Jean Bryan, Sandra Bryan. 9. Sandra Dainty, Vic Dainty. 10. Christine Bennescuitti , Glynis Westwood (back), Lynn Webb, Hannah Wardle, Diane Wardle, Gail Foxall. 11. Kevin Bryan, Graham Bull, Paul Bryan, Jeff Bryan. 12. Sharon Banks, David Banks, Helen Harris, Peter Harris, Tracey Hudson, Andy Witts. wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Social Scene

11 www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Photographs courtesy of Crescent Imaging

Social Scene

Ladies Link Albrighton

the theme. Funds were raised for the local Messy Church group and a local breast cancer charity.

Ladies Link Albrighton organised a relaunch evening following a lull in activity, having assembled a new committee. Their first event was held on Wednesday 15th March 2017 at St Mary’s Church Centre, Albrighton.

Sponsored by

Around 60 guests attended a charity dinner with musical entertainment. It coincided with International Women’s week which was part of

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A fresh approach to Dentistry

The ladies enjoyed singing along and dancing with Rat Pack style singer Paul Drakeley. The evening turned out to be a great success. 1. Tracey Read, Debbie Bradshaw, Josie Fisher, Mel Drakeley, Lydia Radigan, Vanessa Bentley, Deborah Williams-Ruth. 2. Isabella Ashman, Sheila Stewart. 3. Jenny Sawbridge, Pam Slater. 4. Zoe Ross, Sara Bowater, Marita Morrison. 5. Pam Bradshaw, Tami Murray, Debbie Bradshaw. 6. Rachael Churm, Gill Churm. 7. Kate Elmore, Joyce Colley, Ann Williams. 8. Judith Ragdale, Jill Griffiths, Meg Collins, Ann Foluger, Isabella Ashman, Jenny Hartwright. wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Social Scene

The Oakley Arms Brewood

Their full range can be bought via the website, please visit www.soulcandles.co.uk

Soul Candles launched their full range of organic, hand poured aromatherapy candles and new website at The Oakley Arms in Brewood on Friday 17th March 2017.

3. Jo Cowlishaw, Faye Pugh.

They also welcomed Guerlain’s Wolverhampton team and catering by The Village in Codsall. Friends and business partners Sarah Duncan and Gemma Vujnovic are excited to showcase Soul’s range. Each scent has been chosen to impact on an individual’s wellbeing as well as looking beautiful in the home. www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

1. Gemma Vujnovic, Sarah Duncan. 2. Emma Woolley, Lucy Dunn. 4. Penny Whittingham, Priya Jassal. 5. Annie Barrett, Dawn Hobbs, Tracy Leonard, Claire Brown. 6. Amber Byrne, Louise Smith, Charlotte Lloyd, Karen Westbrook. 7. Jane Smith, Charles Smith. 8. Mal and Gemma Vujnovic, Sarah and John Duncan. 151

Photographs courtesy of Crescent Imaging

Social Scene

South Staffordshire Golf Club, Tettenhall Berriman Eaton Estate Agency held a charity dinner at the wonderful South Staffordshire Golf Club on Saturday 29th April 2017 in aid of the Samaritans.

2. David Berriman (Hosting the charity auction) 3. Georgie Savage, John Savage 4. Hetty Dodd, Vernon Dodd 5. James McCready (Samaritans Branch Director), Christine Jones 6. James Coles, Amanda Coles, Mark Vandaele, Clare Vandaele

Entertainment was provided by ‘The Icon’. Guests included local Estate Agents, Solicitors and other Professionals. The evening was a huge success and was greatly enjoyed by all who attended.

7. Louise Jones, Jess Wheway, Alison Collins, Tom Ruff

Over £2,000 was raised for The Samaritans.

10. Kevin Drew, Sarah Elliott

1. Lynda Davis, Maddy Swan, Sarah Willis, Tric Gooding, Sophie Guest

11. Neil Lloyd, Rana Lally, Preeti Kaur

Sponsored by

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8. Pam Deol, Deepa Patel 9. Tric Gooding, Richard Eaton, Chelle Eaton, Vicky Blakemore

12. Caroline Heatley, Vicky Blakemore 13. Jeanette Gettings, Jaz Kandola A fresh approach to Dentistry

14. Sophie Guest, Debbie Guest 15. Michelle Monnes-Thomas, Lucy Macklin Smith 16. Chelle Eaton, Richard Eaton wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Social Scene

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The Restoration Man Alan beside the powerful v8 Mustang

Rob Taylor gets to the nuts and bolts of why car nut Alan Bradshaw is nuts about cars. Modern cars are boring. Modern cars are soulless. Modern cars are just overly complex white goods. This is a prevailing opinion nowadays as we steer ever closer towards total gridlock. And from where I’m sitting, which is behind the wheel of a classic 1978 Ford Escort Mexico, I’m inclined to agree.

cars – they rarely breakdown or rust – but there’s no way anybody will be found at home in a garage, tinkering under the bonnet after 10pm on a 2017 Ford Focus, 40 years from now. But that’s exactly where you’ll find Fast Ford fan and all-round car enthusiast and restorer Alan Bradshaw most nights – especially if it’s car show season. It’s where I find him today, surrounded by metal – two Ford Escort RS Mexico’s, a RS1600i

and a v8 Mustang take prominence – in his recently extended garage space. It’s easy to see why he requires the extra space. Managing Director of prominent building firm Three Pines when he’s not in his overalls, Alan has a sensational array of classic cars at his home in Codsall Wood and has been into cars ever since he was out of short pants. “My collecting started with a Mark II Escort RS Mexico. I bought it with

The thrill of keeping the rebuilt 1.6 litre 125 bhp engine ‘on cam’ and nestled into the sweetspot, never relying on a surfeit of torque to make progress, while experiencing a charming supply of chatter through the steering wheel and an inimitable thrum from the modest powerplant is electric. Other drivers honk and salute my presence. Driving this car is an event. When it comes to cars, yesterday was and is better. Of course there’s a necessary functionality to modern 154

Alan with the latest addition to the family, a 1983 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

2500 were built during 1975 and 1978 it’s not hard to imagine why. The Mark II is a genuine cult classic, the last fast Escort belonging to a golden era of simplicity of design and engineering. “I have a white Mark III RS 1600i, which like my green Mexico has a rebuilt engine, but there’s a level of complexity to it – such as with the fuel injection and twin coils – that can be off-putting when it comes to doing work yourself at home.” Immaculate engine compartment in the Ford Mexico

a view to doing only minimal work before transforming it back into the one I remember owning in the 1980s,” say Alan, with real warmth and enthusiasm. A rummage through a potted history of the vehicle turns up an old photo showing Alan and his wife Louise beside a then-new Mk II 1600 Sport, resplendent in Signal Green. After admitting to me that he’s probably on some level “trying to recapture his youth” and the Mexico he bought three years ago was patently orange and not green (“people said I was mad!”), he goes on to highlight some of the pitfalls involved in classic car ownership. “I’ve only been doing the restoration projects for around 4 years but I’ve learned so much. I was quite naïve at first. Buying directly from websites like eBay can be a risk. My first Mexico needed a lot more work than I’d expected.” This is understatement in the extreme as photos charting the vehicle’s history in Alan’s care point to a serious amount of work indeed, but get it right and the rewards are legion. “It basically had to be taken back to just a shell and gutted. As with most Seventies cars, the culprit is rust. You have to be so careful when you buy but it’s all well worth it.” Top-notch examples of Alan’s Mexico can change hands for upwards of £40,000 and since just

There’s a deep sense of achievement involved in taking part directly in the restoration process and much ensuing pride – especially when Alan shows his cars at various local car festivals. “My wife, son-in-law and I will be driving to Weston Park Classic Car show on Easter Monday. We’ll then sit beside the cars on our deckchairs, fielding questions from interested parties – at a show at Shugborough Hall one year we had about 30 people clamouring to see the car, I felt like I’d talked non-stop all day.” Unlike some OCD car fanatics who obsess about recreating vehicles exactly as they once were, Alan’s philosophy is more relaxed (unless he’s cleaning his cars: “I once cleaned one – which was basically brand-new, by the way – for four hours; drove it, then cleaned it again.”). He continues: “I put in power steering on my green Mexico because I’d hurt my shoulder at the time; I’ve also swapped out the original 4-speed gearbox for a 5 and added the odd non-factory bit of garnish here and there – particularly with the exhaust system. But I’d say it’s still sympathetic. More ‘my spec’ than ‘factory spec’.” So what’s next for Mr Fast Ford? The answer is both surprising and familiar. “A 1983 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera, although this one only needs some paint correction…” Famous last words...

A family of Fords

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E x p loding Myths

with C4 tarmac tragedies - in spite of its large 18” ‘Python’ alloys. The clever automatic gearbox on this model is a helpful and willing partner that never detracts from the journey and the ergonomically beautiful cabin bestows all modern techluxury - air-conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth etc - without impacting upon aesthetics.

By Rob Taylor A week spent driving a new car can do much to explode preconceptions. When I drive a Audi A4 I don’t feel a God-given right to bully other road users out of my way. When I drive a Range Rover Evoque I don’t feel like a Cheshire housewife. When I drive a Honda Jazz I don’t inherit a predilection for wearing leather driving gloves. My week with Citroen’s latest entry into the Picasso canon – the Grand C4 Picasso – has left me again convinced that no car should be reduced to caricature. For too long I haven’t paid much attention to what I still call “people-carriers”. Undoubtedly it’s because I remember riding in the first-gen Renault Espace when I was a boy: it never set my pants on fire quite like the Escort Cosworth, which belonged to the father of my mate Dan. 156

Until recently I maintained that style and fashion is just for young people. At length I’d bore my long-suffering girlfriend, Nicola, with how it has no business in the lives of people who have mortgages, children and mother-in-laws. Already I feel the creeping hand of middle-age upon my shoulder, so my time for choosing form over function has to be behind me. Style and practicality do not make good bedfellows. You can’t have comfort and have fun. You can’t have your cake and eat it. Or so I said. This seven seat MPV from Citroen is a modern day marvel and it has made me eat my words. It is achingly stylish given its bulk. As my days with the C4 rolled by I became increasingly bewitched by its poise, drivability and grace, convincing myself that it was actually getting smaller externally while conversely getting bigger internally. Comfort is king in this Flair Blue HDi 120 EAT6 automatic version. A well-suspended ride insulates driver and family from everyday

The C4’s 2 litre diesel 148bhp powerplant happily pulls its weight about town and on longer motorway cruises, where it has a generous surfeit of 300 Nm of torque, always available. Furthermore it controls its large body mass very well when things get twisty and it steers with precision. Allied to this is reasonable fuel costs: the official number is 74.3 mpg combined (I achieved 59.8 mpg), and Co2 emissions are 106g/km. A basic on-the-road price of £28,700 isn’t bad either. If comfort is King, then convenience is Queen. Every imaginable gadget makes mincemeat of every motoring malady: there’s everything from parking sensors and a handsfree opening tailgate to electric seat massaging functions and a ‘Child observation mirror’. There’s room for all the family and half of your next-door neighbours’ too. All will enjoy ample head and rear legroom and supportive seating. Fido will be happy as well because with the full seven seats disengaged, boot space is officially measured at 2181 litres, which is code for “absolutely massive.” It’s probably big enough to hire out for children’s parties. This Grand C4 Picasso really is all things to all men – its style and flair has blown away all of the hot air I espoused previously. I used to think parking in the C4 was a cinch too, until I pulled a nonchalant parallel manoeuvre and scuffed a virgin alloy wheel. Oh well. Pride always comes before a fall.

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Why service your air-con?

Most cars should be serviced every 10,000 miles or every year but did you know that an air-con service is not included in your car’s regular service schedule?

because lubricating oil is mixed with the gas to keep the compressor unit running smoothly. In an air-con service the system is drained to remove any oil, gas and moisture from the system. It is then recharged with new gas and oil to keep it running effectively. 3.

As with all things mechanical, the air-con system needs to be serviced regularly to keep it working at optimum performance. It is recommended that you have your air-con serviced and pollen filter replaced every 2 years.

Below are the 3 main reasons for servicing your air con.

Bacteria build up. Ever had a stale smell when you turn your aircon on for the first time in a while? This smell is usually associated with a dirty pollen filter and a build-up of bacteria in the air vents. A regular service will include an antibacterial clean removing nasty odours and germs so that all you get when you turn on your air-con is fresh air.

1. Checking for leaks.

Your car’s air-con system has to cope with a pretty hostile environment and as a result the refrigerant gas leaks out of the air-con system over time. This gas is required to cool the air and on average, the air-con system will lose around 10% of gas per annum. If the level of gas gets too low the system will not function.

The system has not been used for a while. The system needs to be used regularly to ensure that the seals are kept moist (this also helps stop the gas leaking out): this is

The friendly team at HiQ

HiQ Wolverhampton.

Keeping you safe on the roads this Summer.

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Tyres • Exhausts • Brakes • Batteries • Servicing • MOTs 049175_HiQ Wolverhampton West_Mag.indd 1

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15/05/2017 17:00

157

THE ALL NEW

SUZUKI SWIFT New Swift available as a 5-door model only, priced from £10,999

Ahead of its launch date of 1st June, Suzuki is pleased to announce competitive UK pricing for the all-new Swift. The range starts with the SZ3 5 Door from only £10,999. Metallic paint is a £485 option and dual tone metallic paint is £650. It’s good news for customers if they want to replace their Swift after three years too as industry leading residual value specialists CAP have set a forecast retained value of 41 per cent for the SZ3 after three years or 60,000 miles – a higher mileage than many Suzuki owners would cover. The SZ-T model is only slightly behind at 39 per cent which places Swift significantly ahead of its main competitors. Standard equipment for all Swift models in the range is comprehensive and the SZ3 model with 1.2-litre Dualjet engine and manual transmission includes six 158

airbags, air conditioning, leather steering wheel, DAB radio with Bluetooth and four speakers, rear privacy glass, LED daytime running lights, 15-inch wheels, body coloured door mirrors and front electric windows. The SZ-T model is available with 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine and manual transmission adds rear view camera, Smartphone link display audio, 16-inch alloy wheels and front fog lamps glass. SZ5 adds auto air conditioning, 16-inch polished alloy wheels, satellite navigation, Advanced forward detection system, keyless entry and start and rear electric windows. The SZ5 is available with a six speed automatic transmission as an option.

and wide stance. Additionally, the European Swift has a wider front and rear track than the Japanese Domestic model.

New-generation platform ‘HEARTECT’ The new Swift rests on a newgeneration platform “HEARTECT” that delivers enhanced fundamental vehicle performance due to being light and highly rigid. This new platform is now 30kg lighter than before which has contributed to the car registering a kerb weight of just 890kg (SZ3 model) - 120kg lighter overall for the whole car.

At just 3,840mm long, the new Swift is 10mm shorter than the outgoing model, while its wheelbase is 20mm longer, creating more interior room including 25 per cent more luggage capacity at 265L, or 54 litres more. It is also 15mm lower and 40mm wider, further accentuating its low wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

The Swift has always been well known for its driving experience so if you thought it couldn’t get any better, you’re in for a nice surprise. It’s more powerful, more dynamic but most importantly, it’s more fun. The all-new Swift will be on sale at Autosales from June, so contact us now to ﬁnd out more.

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

Autosales Suzuki Bilston

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

Autosales Suzuki Cannock

Progress Drive, A34 Bridgtown, Cannock WS11 0JE 01543 431360 www.suzuki.co.uk/autosalescannock

Swift range official fuel consumption figures in mpg (L/100km): Urban from 44.1 (6.4) to 58.8 (4.8), Extra Urban from 65.7 (4.3) to 76.3 (3.7), Combined from 56.5 (5.0) to 65.7 (4.3). Official CO2 emissions from 114g/km to 97g/km. The above fuel consumption figures are based on an EU test for comparative purposes only and may not reflect real driving results.

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159

Service You Can Trust PAINT AND BODY REPAIR SPECIALISTS

We offer a friendly personalised service at an affordable price!

befoRe

AfTeR

MInI folloWIng fUll ResToRATIon

• Accident repairs • bumper and body scuffs • Paint scratches, chips and dents • Alloy Wheel repairs • full Valet/ Mop & Polish • Classic car restoration • full body resprays

Call into the workshop for a free no obligation quote or ring Chris on 01902 597847 / 07966 931704 alternatively email elitebodyrepair@outlook.com Unit 10 Walton Works Industrial estate, Macrome Road, Wolverhampton WV6 9HD

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160

wolverhampton wolverhampton west west magazine magazine || june june 2017

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Airport, Transfers & Executive Travel Image Luxury Travel 125 Perton & Bridgnorth Travel 92 Audio & TV Acoustic Boutique 13 Bathrooms Eaton Kitchens 27 Kitchen & Bedroom Technique 29 MBH Builders 49 Roman Bathrooms 19 Beauty Salons Heaven Skin Care 99 La Minky 91 Simply Beautiful 92/102 Beauty Clinics – Cosmetic Cosmetique Aesthetic Clinic 93 Beds & Bedroom Furniture 15 Merridale Furnishers Bedroom Wardrobes (fitted) Dream Doors 35 29 Kitchen & Bedroom Technique Blinds, Curtains & Shutters 17/39 Love Your Blinds Merridale Furnishers 15 Val Hever Blinds 26 Building Services & Contractors MBH Builders 49 Three Pines 45 Butchers 74 Allan Bennett Poxons 74 Caravan Accessories 71 Cannock Caravan Accessories Car Body Repairs Elite 160 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Specialists 48 Touch Dry Carpets & Flooring - Supply & Fit 1st Choice Flooring 39 Sandford Carpets 25 Virgo Carpets & Interiors 26 Car Sales & Service Autosales 159 Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton 163 Children’s Charity Promise Dreams 61 Chiropody & Podiatry Tom Casey 120 Cleaning Services – Interior & Exterior Able Facilities Services 49 DCS (Drive Cleaning Services) 53 RC Cleaning 52 Superclean 63 Composite Doors Doorsmart 36 Computer Services Finchfield IT 62 Delicatessen Corbelli 63 Dentistry Parkdale Dentures 123 Parkdale Implants 2 Diet & Slimming Cambridge Diet 109 Driveways MBH Builders 49 Resindrives.co.uk 21

Education Newbridge School 132 St. Dominics 135 Tettenhall College 131 Electricians & Electrical Contractors Central Electrical Contracts 43 Excel Electrical Contractors 37 MBH Builders 49 Entertainment & Leisure Enjoy Wolverhampton 69 Cosford Food Festival 73 Kinver Country Fayre 75 Estate Agents Berriman Eaton 11 Fashion & Retail Aristocats 94/95 Fencing & Gates Profence 51 Fireplaces & Stoves Flaming Fires 17 Wolverhampton Fireplaces 15 Financial Advisors Midland Independent Financial Services 138/139 Fitness & Leisure Centres Chris Jewkes Fitness 107 South Staffordshire Leisure 119 WV Active 115 Furniture & Furnishings Merridale Furnishers 15 Ralvern 40/41 Sofa Factory Outlet 31 Virgo Carpets & Interiors 26 Garage Services HiQ Tyres 157 Garden Design Boningale Garden Creations 57 Gardening & Landscaping Keepers Lane Nursery 52 Lealans Garden Centre 55 The Potting Shed 52 Glass & Hardware Specialists Tech Alum System 47 Glazing Repairs Blakes Glass & Glazing 53 Golf Clubs Oxley Golf Club 141 South Staffordshire Golf Club 143 Hairdressers Salon 27 106 Health Care Cover Paycare 127 Hospices Compton Hospice 144 Hospitals – Private Nuffield 110 Hotels Mount Hotel 77 Park House Hotel 81 Italian Deli Corbelli’s 63 I.T. Media & Communications Concero 129 Jewellers T.A.Henn 6/7 Kitchen Doors - Replacement Dream Doors 33

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Kitchens - Supply, Design & Fit Bespoke Kitchens 23 Dream Doors 33 Eaton Kitchens 27 Kitchen & Bedroom Technique 29 MBH Builders 49 Legal Services Manby Bowdler Solicitors 125 Letting Agents Berriman Eaton 11 Lighting Lighting R Us 43 Loft Ladders Lyndale 27 Music Lessons M2K Music School 63 Rick Hampton 63 Opticians Taylor Biddle 101 Orthopaedic Surgery Wolverhampton Hip & Knee Clinic 121 Painters & Decorators Kevin Jackson 65 Patrick Bellew 65 Personal Fitness Training Chris Jewkes 107 Photography Crescent Imaging 125 Plumbing & Heating JB Plumbing & Heating 65 MBH Builders 49 Restaurants/Pubs Cowshed 83 Flamingo Pink 81 Halfpenny Green Vineyards 79 Mount Hotel 77 Park House Hotel 81 The Oakley Arms 80 The Shrewsbury Arms 87 Wombourne Tandoori 80 Skip Hire Wolverhampton Skip Hire 65 Stairs & Stair Components Lyndale 27 Tea Rooms / Afternoon Tea Halfpenny Green Vineyards 79 Park House Hotel 81 Theatres The Grand Theatre 164 Tiles & Interiors Heart of Stone 26 Tile Choice 5 Tyres HiQ Tyres 157 Vein Clinics Simon Hobbs 103 Vineyard & Craft Centre Halfpenny Green Vineyards 79 Wallpaper, Paints & Decorator Accessories S J Dixon & Son 25 Wedding Venues Mount Hotel 77 Park House Hotel 81 Windows, Conservatories, Orangeries Tettenhall Windows 23

161

The C-Class Cabriolet

Unlimited opening times Summer is included Customers opting for a cabriolet like to drive as often as possible with the top down. The fact that, also in the C-Class Cabriolet – as in the E- and S-Class Cabriolets – the occupants can enjoy maximum open-air comfort is made possible by AIRCAP and AIRSCARF, which make the joys of fresh air pleasant even at low temperatures. Inconspicuously integrated into the roof frame, the electric AIRCAP draught stop system was specially developed for Mercedes-Benz cabriolets and is coupled to an electric draught stop behind the rear seats, which reduces the interior turbulence also for the rear passengers at the press of a button. AIRCAP is part of the Cabriolet Comfort package, which also includes AIRSCARF neck-level heating for the driver and front passenger. The combination of these two systems extends the open-top season to the entire year. Alternatively, there is also the option of a retrofitted manual folding draught stop behind the front seats. This noticeably stops draughts in the front seats.

Suspension: sportily agile and comfortable The suspension offers a high level of comfort with low road roar and tyre vibration characteristics while ensuring agile driving dynamics – the basis for driving enjoyment. The suspension on the Cabriolet, which is 15 millimetres lower in comparison with the Saloon, comes as standard with steel springs with a selective damping system. An optional sports suspension with firmer springing and damping, including the Sports Direct-Steer system, makes for even more agile handling.

Riding on air The Cabriolet is optionally available with AIRMATIC air suspension. Its electronically controlled, continuously adjustable damping on the front and rear axles ensures low road roar and tyre vibration characteristics in every situation.

DYNAMIC SELECT – standard with AIRMATIC and optionally available with a steel suspension – allows the driver to choose their desired setting: sporty, comfortable or fuel-efficient. To this end, the driver can select one of five transmission modes using the DYNAMIC SELECT switch: “ECO”, “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport Plus” and “Individual”. Selecting “Individual” allows the driver to customise the vehicle settings to suit their personal preferences.

Dynamic: 4 and 6-cylinder engines and, for the first time, 4MATIC Powerful and efficient petrol and diesel engines with ECO start/stop function and an extensive 4MATIC range make for sporty performance and driving pleasure all year round. All are compliant with the Euro 6 emissions standard. Six petrol engines are available for the Cabriolet. The range of outputs extends from the 1.6-litre four-cylinder unit in the C 180 rated at 115 kW (156 hp) to the 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine in the Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC Cabriolet (270 kW/367 hp). The C 200 is optionally available with 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The diesel models are powered by a four-cylinder engine delivering 125 kW (170 hp) in the C 220 d or 150 kW (204 hp) in the C

250 d and are equipped with eco-friendly SCR technology (Selective Catalytic Reduction) for exhaust after treatment. 4MATIC is available for the C 220 d. The new 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission can be ordered for all engine variants.

Sensitive climate control for open-air driving Specially developed for cabriolets, the climate control system responds to whether the vehicle is being driven with the roof up or down. With the roof closed, the system performs in the same way as in the Coupé. With the soft top down, the climate control system adapts by, for example, blowing warmer air onto the driver’s hands on the steering wheel and deactivating the air recirculation function. The special adjustments for open-top driving make allowance for whether cooling or heating is required and respond sensitively to the transition zones in between. Peter Smith, General Manager of Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton added “The C-Class Cabriolet is the first ever open-top C-Class”. The excellent choice of diesel and petrol engines will prove popular with our customers. Experience the drive first hand, call us on 01902 427897 to book a test drive today.”

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

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

The C-Class Cabriolet Unlimited opening times

Call us on 01902 276977 to book a test drive. Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton Penn Road, Wolverhampton WV2 4HD Call us on 01902 276977

Model shown is a C-Class C200 Cabriolet. Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the new C-Class Cabriolet range: urban 23.5(12.0)–54.3(5.2), extra urban 39.2(7.2)–72.4(3.9), combined 31.7(8.9)–62.8 (4.5). CO2 emissions 208-116 g/km. Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors.

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163

GREAT SHOWS COMING UP AT WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE THU 20 JULY

FRIDAY 21 JULY

THE ELVIS YEARS

VOICE OF THE HEART

MON 24 – SAT 29 JULY

MON 31 JULY – SAT 5 AUGUST

FUNNY GIRL

WONDERLAND

THE STORY OF THE KING

NEIL ECKERSLEY presents

A whole new adventure for the Alice in us all

WENDI PETERS as Queen of Hearts

BOOK ONLINE 164

grandtheatre.co.uk

•

starring

DAVE WILLETTS as White Rabbit

BOX OFFICE

RACHAEL WOODING as Alice

01902 42 92 12

wolverhampton west magazine | june 2017

Wolverhampton West Magazine - June 2017