Wolverhampton West Magazine - March 2015 by Jonathon

WOLVERHAMPTON WEST MAGAZINE

March 2015

Win a meal for 2 people at The Shrewsbury Arms and arrive in style Win a great hairdressing experience at Salon 27 Win tickets for The Ghost Train show at The Grand Theatre

MARCH 2015

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Hello Readers Brace yourselves, dear readers, because as general election fever prepares to sweep through Britain they’ll be myriad vomit-inducing PR shams to avoid, involving flower sniffin’, kitty pettin’, baby kissin’ politicians, hell-bent on obtaining your vote – whatever the cost. At Wolverhampton West, we won’t debase ourselves in such oleaginous fashion to curry favour with our good readers – oh no! – we’ll instead just keep on toiling away quietly and let you decide for yourselves who is best. There’s no political bias here either. In these pages you’ll see no Red Ed, Yellow Clegg or Tory Dave. Any sign of manifest Monster Raving Lunacy from our writers is strictly unintentional. What you will find is loads of Mother’s Day gift ideas. So why not treat dear old mum to a visit to Royston Blythe hair salon? As you’ll see from our exclusive interview, this salon knows a thing or two about looking after VIPs. Or how about a trip to Apley Farm, Halfpenny Green or Old Mill Antiques in Bridgnorth? Lucky lovers among you will have your interest piqued by our feature on tying the knot. Furthermore, it’s just about time to spring into action for Spring. As in the case of politics, a new broom sweeps clean. There are ideas for new kitchens and bathrooms to help tart up your castle; best built-in bedroom furniture bargains; carpets and home furnishings - including curtains, blinds and awnings. And never forget your garden: now’s the time to knock-up fencing, lay slabs or get a complete garden makeover from landscapers, Boningale. Talking of makeovers: if you do get seduced by the politicians’ perfectly photoshop’d smiles, why not consider shining up your own pearly whites with a little cosmetic dentistry of your own. We have the answers. It’ll paint a smile on your face regardless of who wins in May. See you in May…

Geoff

Lytham Rd, Perton, Wolverhampton, WV6 7YY Tel: 01902 744217 www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Editorial/What’s On information

Email: info@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk Geoff Hall - Editor Magazine design: studio 28 (www.s28.co.uk) 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 Wolverhampton West Magazine Ltd.

Contents the local property market by nick berriman 8 louise presley turner – life coach 10 prince Charles visit celebrates 40 years 12 of interfaith Wolverhampton 12 Carver Wolverhampton marathon 18 Crosswords & puzzles 20 furniture and fabrics 23/24 mother’s day 30 recipe of the month 32 meet the boss 34 piano recital at Codsall Community High school 38 Codsall Community Arts festival photo competition 38 Coven or coven? 42 Jai Jashn dance present ‘Holi a Celebration of Colour’ 46 rotary dragon boat challenge 46 grand theatre competition 48 business ladies golf network tees oﬀ for 2015 54 Charity wants people to go purple, purple crazy 56 gardening with Ann Winwood 59 the shrewsbury Arms competition 64 the Wergs food review 76/77 make your wedding day one to remember 83/84 royston blythe tell us what’s hot for spring 86/87 salon 27 competition 90 fresh faced 94 Women’s fashion – flower power 98/99 rotary president hits the heights 108 toms tip 113 social scene 114/115 education & schooling 124 golf tip 132 motoring review 136 the new mercedes-Amg gt 138/139 A new chapter for the volvo xC90 140 the new mercedes-benz C 350 plug-in hybrid 142 Answers to puzzles 144

Congratulations to: Winners of the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time competition at The Grand Theatre Mr B Fieldhouse, Wombourne Caroline Willoughby, Albrighton Mr Luke Rogers, Perton Winner of the Hair and Beauty makeover at Royston Blythe Heather Clark, Pattingham

*Total distribution 24,500 copies across 2 months

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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or simply as floor heat to keep the chill off Underfloor Heating from Warmup® is inexpensive, easy to install and comes with a lifetime warranty. Our SafetyNet™ guarantee covers under tile heating installation errors for complete peace-of-mind! Tile Choice are now offering lower prices with 40% off all Warmup Underfloor heating products, Britain’s best-selling electrical underfloor heating system. The first company to offer a lifetime guarantee on undertile heating.

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Are you in with the trends this Spring/ Summer? Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal for us all. The snows of winter melt away, flowers bloom, and all the world seems new again… It is the perfect time to embrace colours in all their aspects, make up, clothing and round this all up with your jewellery. The details are what make the real difference. According to Coeur de Lion, Jewellery Brand Award Winner 2014 - “Make a statement without a word”. We love this year’s trends from gentle deep pastels to the intensity of tropical wonders. So which one will you go for this year? Their Spring Summer collection features both pastel colours pieces and statement pieces so whether you like a more understated style or whether you like making a statement with what you wear Coeur de Lion brings colour to any wardrobe. New and exciting collections have just arrived at T.A. Henn Jewellers in addition to their fabulous fine jewellery. Shop fashion and watches online at www.tahenn.com and find fine jewellery instore.

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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The local

property market by Nick Berriman

increase of £18,750 with the actual amount payable being £165,750. This system takes away the anomaly of a big jump being payable on an increase of £1 above one of the brackets. For instance it was 3% at £500,000 and 5% at £501,000 so not many houses sold at between £500,000 and £510,000! There are some quirks in the new rates but I am sure that No.11 will soon block the apparent loopholes.

Taxation and its payment, avoidance or evasion seems to have become very important in this pre election period. One tax change and one threat affects property and it might be helpful to some of our readers if they are explored. Stamp Duty Land Tax, to give it its full name, changed significantly from last 4th December and it is said that 98% of purchasers will benefit and only purchases of over £937,500 will attract a higher rate. The old system was a flat rate based on the purchase price. The new charges are on a sliding rate which is much fairer. Nothing is now payable on the first £125,000 of the price, 2% on the next £675,000, 10% on the next £575,000 and 12% on the remainder, i.e. above £1,500,000. This means that on a purchase of £185,000 there will be a saving of £650, on £275,000 a saving of £4,500 and on £510,000 a saving of £4,900. At £975,000 the old and the new charges are the same and over that amount the new system will cost more and will become progressively more as the purchase price increases. On a purchase of £2,100,000 there is an 08

The other taxation proposal which will affect only a small proportion of properties is the so called Mansion Tax which the Labour Party say they will introduce. This is a non political column so I will endeavour to stick to the facts which are known and will refrain from any comment on the motives behind this idea (with, I may say some difficulty!). There are no detailed proposals but Mr Ed Balls has said it will apply to properties valued at over more than £2,000,000 - most of our readers can now relax - and that owners of properties in the £2m to £3m bracket will have to pay an annual amount of approximately £3,000 in addition to all other rates and taxes. Labour has said it would be levied at progressively higher rates as the values rise. There are estimates that there are between 50,000 and 100,000 properties in Britain that will qualify. So top value properties will not only be faced with the increased Stamp Duty rates but also with this new tax.

indicate a large bank balance. We do not yet know how the values will be assessed but I am happy to predict that there will be many properties around valued at about £1,999,000! That was all a bit mathematical and heavy going but there is merit in understanding what is going on as if one part of the market is influenced it has a knock on effect on the rest. Which leads me on to discussing the current market and I am pleased to say it remains in pretty good health and although no one would suggest it is boom time we continue to be busy with a good level of both sales and instructions. Funny things can happen such as a recent instruction where we had valued the house at considerably more than another agent and then sold it very quickly at over the asking price! It all depends on the right buyer being there at the right time and our job is to ensure that we find and attract that buyer. It’s twenty five years this year since my father started our business and twenty years since we moved to Tettenhall when we were the only agents in the village. There are some others there now but we continue to prosper in what is a very different world today from twenty five years ago and we are very grateful for all the support we have received.

One expert estimates that top value properties will fall by 10% if the mansion tax is introduced and by 0.5% if not. Already people are holding off marketing until after the election and some owners are letting. One of the objections to this proposal is that many owners of properties which will qualify are asset rich and cash poor. There is an estimate that 15% of houses valued at over £2m have been in the same ownership for more than 20 years so they were bought when values were much lower and their ownership does not necessarily wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Property of the Month UPPER LEA BARN, NR CLAVERLEY, BRIDGNORTH, WV15 5PW A beautifully situated detached barn currently providing a pair of semi detached homes either side of a shared entertainment centre section with the real possibility to create a magnificent country residence of style and distinction in grounds of approaching 0.5 acres in total. Proposed plans have been drawn up for such a conversion which facilitates a LOUNGE, DINING HALL, KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY to the ground floor together with FOUR BEDROOMS and FOUR BATH/ SHOWER ROOMS and a further RECEPTION ROOM to the upper floor. (EPC: D). Joint Sole Agent - K Stuart Swash 01902 710626.

OFFERS AROUND ÂŁ675,000 VIEWING: Please contact the Tettenhall Office.

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

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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FINDING HAPPINESS I recently interviewed fellow author Dr Robert Holden for an event I’m running later in the year. Robert works in the field of positive psychology and well-being and has written many books on the subject, one of which is called ‘Happiness Now’.

NOW!

We were talking about how we look for happiness in all the wrong places, mainly in the material world – food, clothes, gadgets and so on. We believe that the things we’re taught to covert are the things that will bring us lasting joy and happiness. Yet they often don’t. We may get a temporary fleeting high, but it quickly wears off leaving us with that all too familiar void inside. We are in an endless cycle of chasing happiness. How do we end this fruitless cycle? Robert shared something that really hit home. He said that happiness doesn’t come from the outside world; happiness is in fact an inside job! Every person that finds real happiness in life at some point made a decision to be happy. Happiness is simply a decision we all have to make. We can look at some of the poorest povertystricken families in the world, yet they seem to find joy and happiness in their daily lives. Happiness doesn’t come from outside of ourselves it comes from within. It’s a mindset shift. It’s a decision that no matter what is going on around us, you choose to look for happiness. Here are three ideas to shift your mindset this year…

Create Your Gratitude Jar. I love this idea. Happiness and gratitude is quite simply a state of mind, so in order to help you rewire your thinking why not create a ‘Gratitude Jar’. Find yourself a nice big jar or even a small fish bowl. Each day on a small piece of paper write just one thing you’re grateful for. This could be the Sainsbury’s deliveryman, the socks on your feet or the sausage and mash you’ve just eaten for your dinner. Just write down one thing each day and pop it in your jar. This simple act is training your brain to find happiness. Over time you will start to notice more and more things to be grateful for. Plus, at the end of the year you’ll have 365 notes of gratitude to enjoy!

Learn to meditate. For hundreds of years, meditation was an exclusively spiritual practice for serious seekers. Yet, meditation is becoming more and more commonplace. Everyone seems to be at it! By quieting the mind and deeply relaxing the body, the person meditating experiences deep states of inner peace and, ultimately, higher states of consciousness. But many people wrongly believe that meditating is about sitting quietly for hours on end thinking about nothing. This is not the case. Meditating is about quieting the mind in order to go inwards in search of greater self-awareness. It’s an active training of the mind to increase your awareness of self. In my own personal experience the more I take time to meditate, the more content I feel with life. No matter what is going on around you, you feel at peace. Meditation has changed my life and made me a much happier and more content person. Find out more about how to meditate in my new book Mindset Mastery. Happiness is a decision we all must make at some point in our life. So why not set the intention this year to be happy, right here, right now!

Follow Your Joy. I’m always talking about following joy in my courses and books. We are on this planet to play. Yes, we have many responsibilities, things that we simply have to do. But, we must not forget to pursue our joy, because this is our happiness. Find time each day or week to do things that you really enjoy; walking in nature, singing, baking, chatting over coffee with friends, taking a bubble bath, watching clouds drift buy, painting, playing games with the kids, exercise, sewing and so on. Make time to follow your joy and you will become a happier person! 10

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

visit www.thegameoflife.co.uk wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

17 MERCIA DRIVE PERTON A well positioned and immaculately presented detached bungalow close to open fields and standing in a favourable South Staffordshire village close to local amenities and within convenient travelling distance of Tettenhall Village and Wolverhampton city centre. Benefitting from full double glazing, recently fitted new combination boiler and an attractive private rear garden. Entrance Hall, Lounge, Modern Kitchen, 2 Bedrooms, Bathroom. Garage and Pretty Rear Garden. No Upward Chain

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Prince Charles’ visit celebrates 40 years of

Interfaith Wolverhampton (IFW) IFW was registered as a Charity (Wolverhampton Inter-Faith Council) in 1974, the first interfaith organisation, we believe, in the country. Its origins go back to Enoch Powell’s 1968 ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech. (Enoch Powell was MP for Wolverhampton South West) In response, faith leaders started to come together to consider how the fearful premonitions of the speech could be countered through the promotion of understanding between the varied faiths and cultures of Wolverhampton’s diversely rich population. The current Chairman, Dr Harun Rashid, was one of those involved in those early days. In the past forty years, IFW has not only created deep friendships and greater mutual understanding within Wolverhampton. It has also played an important role in defusing potential situations of conflict by working behind the scenes; one such example was when a head teacher refused to allow one of his pupils (a Sikh) to enter the school wearing a turban. Following long nocturnal meetings between the parties involved, mediated by interfaith members, a satisfactory compromise 12

was reached and the Sikh community (the second largest in the country) was reassured.

schools to various places of worship as well as a number of talks and assemblies in schools

To mark our 40th anniversary, we were pleased to host, at the Royal School, a visit in November by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cambridge.

• A pilgrimage to places of national interest (this year, to the National Holocaust Centre in Nottingham)

Each year, IFW organises a number of events, open to its 200 plus members from all faith communities and to the wider community. They include notably:

• Monthly Bring and Share lunches at which one of the participants shares their faith and how it affects their day-to-day life

• An interfaith ‘Prayers for Peace’ service held in St Peter’s Collegiate Church • A Holocaust Memorial Service, organised on behalf of the Mayor’s office • A Conference (this year, it will be on human rights with eminent speakers from 6 faith traditions). • The organisation of visits for over 1,000 pupils from different

• A visit to local places of worship

• A quarterly newsletter, with articles and a diary of events IFW also works extensively with schools, organising visits to places of worship and organising teaching sessions on different faiths. For further information, contact admin@ifwton.org.uk or view our website at www.ifwton.org.uk

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

2015 advertisement feature

Pension Pitfalls As from April 2015, pension investors will be free to do what they like with their pension savings at retirement.

Almost half a million people will be eligible to take advantage of these new rules this year, the question to be answered is, are the pension freedoms a good thing or bad thing? The Government has voiced its opinion that it expects some people to make wrong choices, given the new freedoms on offer. Recently, Steve Webb, the Government’s

Pension Minister said “this coming April some people will get it wrong”. So what should people be aware of, here we explain some possible pitfalls and how you could try and avoid them? Don’t turn yourself into a 45% income tax-payer Once you turn 55 you can normally take up to a quarter of your pension as a tax-free lump sum. This has not changed and this tax-free cash is yours to spend or invest as you wish. You can then take as much or as little as you like from the pension, however, these withdrawals are taxable. Some argue the hope of the Government is that these new pension rules could net the Treasury an extra £3 billion in tax receipts over the next four years. All withdrawals you make during the tax year will be added to the rest of your income in that tax year, and then will be subject to

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

income tax at your highest rate. This could move you into a higher tax bracket and you could possibly end up being a top rate tax payer (45%) if you make a withdrawal which, combined with your other income, takes you over £150,000. The other problem here is your personal annual tax allowance (for most people this is £10,000) starts to be scaled down once your income exceeds £100,000. It reduces for every £2 of income you have over £100,000. So if your taxable income is between £100,000 and £120,000 (2014/2015), you might effectively be subject to a tax rate of up to 60%. Avoiding the problem can be achieved by: 1. Not taking large withdrawals all at once. Staggering your withdrawals over different tax years, could reduce the tax you pay. 2. Use more of your tax-free cash to supplement you otherwise taxable income in the early years. 3. Pensions shelter your savings from tax until you take the money out, you don’t pay income tax or capital gains tax on the income or growth from your investments, and in most cases your pension is exempt from inheritance tax. It can be sensible to keep this tax efficient status going for as long as possible. The new rules also offer more options for passing on your pension, in some cases tax free, when you die.

Make sure you don’t run out of money A pension is there to provide income in retirement; this period could be 30 years or more. If you spend all your pension savings in the early years, or draw more income than is sustainable over the long term, your pension might not last as long as you do. Many people in the UK underestimate their life expectancy; few will want to be reliant on the state in their old age. It is therefore very important to know how much money you are likely to need to last your retirement. Avoiding the problem can be achieved by: 1. Setting in place some funds which can be used to buy a secure income for life. Whilst low on risk and return, this will never run out and can be used to pay essential living costs, which have a tendency to keep increasing through retirement.

represents around 1,300 funds, with 17 million savers, has warned there could be severe delays. Major insurance companies have also predicted capacity concerns. There is no legal obligation for providers to be ready for the April 2015 kick-off. Avoiding the problem can be achieved by: Consider transferring your pension to a provider who will be ready by the kick-off date. Don’t get a fine from HM Revenue and Customs Savers who have more than one pension may be required to notify their other pension providers once they start to draw from one of these pensions. Many of the issues surrounding pensions are very complex and before making any decisions it is recommended that advice is taken from an independent professional qualified financial adviser.

2. When you take regular income directly from your pension fund, keep the amounts under regular review to ensure you stay on track and consider just taking the income generated by the investments themselves. Will your provider pay the bill? One big unanswered question of the new freedoms is will pension firms allow their clients to take advantage of them in full. The National Association of Pension Funds

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.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Education volunteers wanted

AT WeSToN PARk

for the children who come to Weston from a wide geographical area. These include toys and games, WWII, pond dipping and sensory walks. Volunteer Education Assistants play a vital role in supporting these activities.

Weston Park attracts around 7000 school children aged between 4 and 11 through its gates each year. As a small self-funded charity the Weston Park Foundation looks after an amazing property and shares it as an educational resource through its work with schools and other learning users. Set in 1000 acres of stunning Capability Brown parkland, Weston offers endless inspiration for enthusiastic learners! The Learning Department at Weston Park put on indoor and outdoor curricular-based activities

Pat Cook, an education volunteer at Weston Park says, “The assistants are required to participate in, or actively lead the day activities with school groups. I greatly enjoy leading groups of children on the Toy Day as I like telling them how Victorian children used to live and showing them old fashioned toys from the Bradford family’s collection. Each child then makes their own toy to take home with them.” Becoming a volunteer has its advantages too. Pat Scarrott from nearby Codsall says, “I really enjoy volunteering with the education team. I’ve made some great new friends and at our Annual Dinner we have the privilege of eating in the Dining Room of the house which is fantastic.” If you would like more information about the volunteering opportunities available, please contact Juliet on 01952 852130 or email enquiries@weston-park.com.

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wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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Carver Wolverhampton

marathon events The 2015 Carver marathon events, scheduled to take place on SUNDAY 6th SEPTEMBER in West park, were launched on 2nd February. The organisers have already started to assemble and their first task was to select the charities who are to benefit, from this, the 18th year of the running of the events.

of bottled water again this year, and NJB Sport & Physio based in Codsall are again sponsoring the medical provision as well as offering massage and physiotherapy services on race weekend.

The charities selected are Compton Hospice, Samaritans Wolverhampton and Beacon Centre for the Blind. The Mayoral charities will again also benefit.

Greenhous based in Wednesfield are sponsoring the van hire for the course signage team to set out the course and all the important signage around the course.

We are hoping to raise lots of money again this year, and we are sure we will benefit from participation by the supporters of the charities. Chair, Mary Harding, is pleased to announce that major sponsors Carvers, Marston’s and Cousins Furniture have all agreed to sponsor again. In addition the organisers have decided to add a 3K walk in the park to the events. Kindly sponsored by Call Print, the marathon printing provider, Mary hopes that this will encourage further family participation. We are also delighted that another local company, “Angel Springs”, have agreed to sponsor the provision

There will again be a children’s mini marathon in the park, so that there will be an opportunity for everyone to participate. The organisers are always requiring help with water stations or marshalling. Anyone wishing to help please contact Carvers or put a message on the website. This event is wonderful for the City of Wolverhampton. It brings a great atmosphere to the park. Please come along on September 6th to be a part of it. An entry form for all the events is on the Website www.carverwolverhamptonmarathonevents.co.uk

For more details visit the website www.carverwolverhamptonmarathonevents.co.uk 18

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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Quick Crossword Down 1 Swap (6) 2 Type of fruit (5) 3 Adult (5-2) 5 Incorrect (5) 6 Relating to healing (7) 7 Saunter (6) 8 Substitute (11) 14 Apparent (7) 15 Reckon (7) 16 Cared for (6) 17 Shouted (6) 19 Overweight (5) 21 Transport (5)

Across 1 Unkempt (6) 4 Bogs (6) 9 Get better (7) 10 Command (5) 11 Not dirty (5) 12 Rational (7) 13 Honourable (11) 18 Consistent (7) 20 Hoard (5) 22 Blockade (5) 23 Impartial (7) 24 Tasks (6) 25 Remained (6)

Sudoku

Easy

Hard

Puzzle answers on page 144

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

Amused

Joyous

Annoyed

Pride

Anxious Caring

Sad

Contemptuous Serenity Content Dislike Doubtful

Shock

Envy

Sulky

Glum

Sullen

Greed Guilt

Shame

Terrified

Hatred

Tranquil

Horror

Wary wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

WINDOWS & CONServatOrIeS

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wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

F U R N I T U R E AND FABRICS money in furniture and furnishing fabrics with user-friendliness, durability and eye-appeal.

Wander around the soft furnishings department of any store and you will be transported into a world of sheer wonder. You will be astounded by the variety of designs, the richness and diversity of colour, the practicality of the fabrics themselves. Today’s textiles come in man-made and natural fibres. The former have all the easy-care facilities you could possibly wish for, ready built-in. The latter will have been treated with the latest technology to make sure they too come up to scratch.

Until you really need to go out and buy new furnishings for your home, you probably won’t fully appreciate the changes in style, the wealth of design ideas and the sheer range of materials available in the shops today.

we have lived for so long, we are faced with the whole cultural shock of design ideas and a range of materials and fabrics we had never thought to see. The impact is almost enough to send us scurrying back to our old, familiar homes. However, this is what living in the second decade of the 21st century is all about. Never before has there been quite the freedom of choice, scope of inspiration or value for

Then there are the variety of textures including smooth, chunky or deep piled. Today’s fabrics don’t just look good; they also have ‘feel’ appeal. Choose your fabrics for their impact. Have them made into curtains, blinds, cushions, lamp shades and loose covers. If they really do things for you, have them made into spectacular wall hangings as well. Hanging decorative fabrics on walls is a very ancient idea in decor that is slowly returning to fashion. Wall hangings can be made to match your window dressings or contrast with them. Either way, windows should also be dressed with flair and élan. Hang frothy nets beneath heavy, lined

True, we flick through the homemaking magazines. We look with astonishment perhaps, at some of the latest ideas in decor, so graphically portrayed. Usually, we approve fleetingly, wonder at the possible cost, and then discard the whole matter in favour of more pressing things. There comes a time however, when some refurbishment has to be done, when we move perhaps, or when some radical renewal of decor or internal building work has been carried out? Then it is we decide, not just to renew the decor, but to replace those familiar ‘household goods’ with which www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

When choosing furniture, yet more considerations come into play. It must look right of course. It must be of a quality that will withstand the wear and tear of everyday use. It must not cost more than one can afford and, whether it is seating or a bed, it must definitely be comfortable. Good furniture in the shops today is a cunning integration of technology and craftsmanship. It is made from a variety of the finest woods and man-made materials where appropriate. It is built to last, to give years of hard service and, a lot of it is destined to be the collectors’ antiques of tomorrow.

drapes then seal off the outside world with a matching blind. You have the choice too of who makes up your soft furnishings. Your fabric supplier may be able to organise the job, or you can call

in an outside contractor or, you can be very brave and clever, and do the whole thing yourself. Whatever you choose however, you can be sure of two things. It won’t cost as much as you might imagine and, it will be worth every penny!

Built-in furniture is still a popular innovation, especially in bedrooms and kitchens. However, there is a concerted move back to freestanding pieces, and the most upto-date homes are furnished with a subtle combination of the two. Woods in use reflect a rising anxiety for the tropical forests that once gave us our furnishing timbers. Now the mode is for the homegrown, renewable stocks, such as walnut, beech, oak, apple, pear, pine and yew. Once again we are discovering the beauty of our home-grown timbers and displaying them at their best in our homes. When it comes to beds however, technology has really taken over. Beds are designed to support the wide variety of body sizes, and personal tastes found in the population at large. Beds are designed to help with physical problems such as arthritis and general back problems. It is now possible for a couple to share a double bed in which one side is of a different degree of softness to the other. Materials used in today’s beds include traditional flock, foams of various types, and spring interiors of immense complexity, so there is truly something to suit everyone. If you are looking for new furniture and furnishing fabrics, you won’t have to search too far afield to find a bewildering choice. Your only problem will be, not seeking for what you would like, but discarding what you don’t because, it’s pretty certain, you’ll probably like all you see!

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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Future-proofing the bathroom

without compromising on style There are also solutions for shower lovers too. Low-level shower trays look exactly like any other, but without the ‘lip’ – this provides fantastic easy access, especially if a wheelchair may one day be needed. We also favour the installation of an Aquadec for future-proofing purposes. Easily fitted over wood or concrete floors, this is actually a wet deck that can be installed unobtrusively beneath a bath, usually with a shower valve above it. In later years, should it be necessary, the bath can be removed, the wet deck is already in place, and it’s just a matter of installing a shower screen or enclosure around it.

Caroline Cooper from Roman Bathrooms talks about the huge advantages of planning ahead. Putting some thought now into planning your bathroom for the future is the sensible way to avoid cost and hassle in years to come. It’s not something many people consider when they’re younger, but if you’ve found the home of your dreams – why not spend a little extra time getting it right for good, for all your future needs, rather than having to take it all out and completely refurb at a later date?

alternative for young children, older adults and everybody inbetween! Easy-access baths are another idea - specifically designed with lower sides that are easy to get in and out of, they make perfect sense and require less water. They are available in a number of different shapes and sizes and can be seen on display in our showroom.

There are so many other great ideas out there on the market do feel free to call or pop in for some friendly advice. It could save you huge amounts of time and hard-earned cash in the future. Roman Bathrooms 110 - 111 High Street, Blackheath, Rowley Regis, West Midlands B65 0EG Tel: 0121 561 4374 info@romanbathrooms.co.uk

The Teuco walk-in combi shower/bath is extremely elegant

Ageing brings with it a host of different requirements – it’s harder to reach and bend, and infirmity sometimes means a fear of slipping, but all this can be planned for, in a stylish and functional way – years before it’s needed. I’ve watched over the years as manufacturers have wised up to the fact people want good looking pieces in their bathroom that are functional and stylish – whatever their age or needs. One great example is our Teuco bath/shower combination that’s a strong favourite with clients looking for a family-friendly bathroom. The combi-bath is not only extremely stylish, but also provides a relaxing bathing 26

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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

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wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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Mother’s

Day

The mother figure has always been a mystic symbol since pagan times, and spring has, since time immemorial, been the season when this mystic being with all its implied fertility, was honoured. The Romans celebrated a spring festival dedicated to Cybele and a host of other equally fertile female goddesses. The Druids before them dedicated a spring festival to the goddesses of spring, Fertility and Plenty. Early Christians, in an attempt to establish Christian festivals and oust pagan ones, adopted the pagan festivals and re-named them. The Virgin Mary slotted neatly into the old spring festival being the mother of Christ and so was accepted by a slowly converting western world. By the 18th and 19th centuries, Mothering Sunday was considered so important, it was generally granted as a holiday to domestic servants living away from the parental home. It afforded them the opportunity to visit their mother church and to take gifts to their birth mothers. It was the Americans who brought the celebration into the 20th century by settling upon a day in which mothers in fact could be celebrated in a modern way. This was the work of one Anna Jarvis who arranged a dedicated service in memory of her own mother who died in 1905. Her mother’s favourite flowers had been red carnations so the church was decorated with them and everyone in attendance, presented with a single bloom to carry or wear. Miss Jarvis never married but instead, dedicated herself to the task of having Mother’s Day proclaimed a national holiday throughout the USA. Gradually through her tireless efforts, it became a day more and more generally recognised. It usually fell on a Sunday in May that being the month on which old 30

Mrs. Jarvis had died. In 1914 it was proclaimed a National holiday by President Woodrow Wilson. He designated the 2nd Sunday in May and every year afterwards, the current president proclaimed the day a holiday. Like all national celebrations of course, it soon became a highly commercialised celebration and Miss Jarvis eventually became bitter and disillusioned about the whole thing. In Britain we continued celebrating Mothering Sunday in March but until World War II it was still considered a purely Christian festival. With the advent of American forces being stationed in Britain during and after the War, the idea of celebrating mothers in general, gradually caught on and Mothering Sunday and Mother’s Day became one in the UK, a double celebration as it had been in times past. Today, flowers are still top of the gift list and there is not a florist in the country that won’t be run off their feet both on the day before and Mother’s Day itself. This year, it might be appropriate to consider a flowering plant, which will naturally have a longer life and can be enjoyed for many months to come. Chocolates again are popular, but always consider other exotic sweetmeats and foods; local shops will have a wide selection to choose from. A custom that has grown up in recent years is that of taking mother out for a special meal on Mothering Sunday. Mother’s Day lunches will be found in pubs, clubs, hotels and restaurants

all over the country. They are very popular and get booked up fast, so if you wish to wine and dine your mother, there is not a moment to lose. Many family members celebrate together and it is not unusual for parties to comprise a dozen or more adults plus children, so if yours is of that size, it is even more important to get your reservation in at your chosen venue. Some establishments will be open all day, and from late afternoon special celebratory dinner menus will be available. Caterers nowadays appreciate the fact that certain people have dietary requirements or refrain from eating certain kinds of food. Make sure the venue you choose has a menu suitable for all those attending, including a vegetarian choice, as even non-vegetarians sometimes enjoy a non-meat meal. This is no longer considered to be odd or faddy - just a 21st century attitude to living. Strangely this is very much in line with pre-Christian tradition. Feasting was always a feature of festivals and annual celebrations. It all goes to prove there is really nothing new under the sun. Mothers have always been special, they have always been honoured and spring has always been their season. By celebrating Mother’s Day and honouring her with a gift and delicious meal, you are simply walking in the footsteps of your ancestors; footsteps that can be traced right back, far into the mists of time.

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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

Recipe of the month

Serves 4 people

A ‘healthier’ Spaghetti Bolognaise / Chilli Con Quorni EQUIPMENT • 2 large pans - 1 for boiling pasta and 1 for slow cooking sauce • 1 baking sheet / tray • A good cooks knife • Fine grater • Chopping board - I use a good solid thick wooden board - get one and a good knife, it will change your life. INGREDIENTS • 1 pack of Quorn 350g • 1 kilo of fresh vine tomatoes • 2 medium carrots • 2 medium onions • 4 cloves of garlic • Marmite • 1 jar of Sun dried tomato pesto • 1 tube of sun dried tomato paste / puree • Gravy granules (bisto) • Fresh thyme and rosemary • Sea salt • Black peppercorns • 2 measures of Wholewheat spaghetti • Rapeseed oil • Parmesan • Watercress • Balsamic syrup • Red kidney beans • Fresh red chilli • A pinch of cinnamon • 1 jar of roasted red peppers • 2 measures of brown rice INTRO Being as this is the one dish that almost everybody has in their repertoire I thought I would give you an alternative method and ingredient list for making it. If you have been thinking about taking red meat out of your diet or at least cutting right back then this is a great alternative. It is meat free, gluten free, high in protein and fibre and low in calories. Sea salt has slightly lower levels of sodi32

um too but I’m not making any claims - it’s hard enough to know whats good and bad for you these days. METHOD Lay the Quorn out on your baking tray and cook in the oven on 180oC for 15 minutes to brown. While this is happening dice your onions and garlic and soften in a dash of rapeseed oil on a medium heat in one of your pans with the carrots either diced finely or grated and the thyme leaves carefully picked off the stalks (or throw the stalks in and pick out later). Once your onions and carrots have softened dice up the tomatoes and throw in the pan - allow to cook off for about 20 minutes on low to medium heat until the tomatoes start to break down. (While the tomatoes are cooking down get the other pan on and cook the pasta and cool down in cold water, set aside until your sauce is ready). Add a tablespoon of marmite and season with salt and pepper. Add 2 tablespoons of tomato pesto and puree and pour in about 1 litre of water. The most important part of making a sauce is allowing plenty of time to simmer the pan until the water evaporates leaving the ingredients well softened with the flavours developed (keep adding more water and simmering if vegetables aren't soft enough) I only use bisto as an emergency if the sauce is just a little thin and needs a quick helping hand to thicken up at the last minute. You can rub equal amounts of flour and butter together to produce what is known as a beurre manie - this will thicken your sauce also. Once the sauce is ready put your pasta in your empty pan and spoon in enough Bolognese sauce to coat the pasta. Spoon onto your plates and grate some parmesan cheese over. Serve this with watercress and drizzle over some balsamic syrup. With the sauce you have left over put it back on the heat and add in the tin of kidney beans, pinch of cinnamon, sliced chilli and diced roasted peppers. Allow to cool and store in your fridge for up a few days then re-heat thoroughly to over 75˚C to serve with brown rice and soured cream. wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Kitchens with style – modern – contemporary – traditional Our Extensive range of kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms will enable us to create the room of your dreams. Our Computer Aided Designs will give you the opportunity to experience your new room prior to installation.

For a free no obligation quote please call in at: 20 Finchfield Rd West, Finchfield, WV3 8AZ Telephone: 01902 761600 www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

w w w. e a t o n k i t c h e n d e s i g n s . c o . u k 33

Alan, MD of Three Pines Building Company

the ability to see in my mind the finished project and still being able to learn every day – these are the things that drive me,” he says. As head of Three Pines Building Company in Wolverhampton, Alan champions the National Apprentice Scheme, the “thorough” career route to his own accomplishments. “We always have two or three. It’s hard for kids out there and people like us need to give them a chance,” he adds. By the time Alan had left school, his father David had already established Three Pines doing school maintenance, extensions and local council adaptations for houses. But he refused to let his son join the family business without a trade. “It was a wise choice. I spent three years with Sir Alfred McAlpine, was their Apprentice of The Year, and at the end of my time with them had been appointed assistant site agent on a McDonalds project at New Street Station, Birmingham. “McDonalds were just establishing themselves in the UK and I had three of the top bosses from McAlpine come to try to talk me out of leaving,” says Alan. Joining in 1982, the transition into the family firm held more than a few surprises.

Meet the boss:

Premier player with quality hallmark Life-long Wolves fan Alan Bradshaw knows a lot about building a quality, winning team. In recent years a clutch of premiership contracts has seen his construction company comfortably sitting at the top of its game. Just like the club he has followed since a boy, Alan is an influential player in the building business, securing prestigious ‘trophies’ with the likes of Mercedes, BMW, Audi, the multinational BOC Group, Caterpillar, celebrity hairdressers Royston Blythe, local authorities and the Ministry of Defence. Not least, is the work he has overseen at the Molineux Stadium. “We’ve been doing 34

work there for 20 years and have refurbished the executive boxes and the reception,” he says. At 53 this managing director, who sits comfortably in his own skin as a carpenter turned executive, has nothing to prove, but refuses to rest on his laurels. “I’m always seeking opportunity – you have to – whether it’s new projects with existing clients, investment into our own housing development schemes, a domestic extension or an adaptation for the disabled... “Ever since my teens I wanted to be in construction, I still want to be in construction and I’m still passionate about building. “Talking to clients, doing such a wide range of work, having

“I thought I’d be doing carpentry. It was my trade and I was good at it, but the first thing I did was to work as a labourer carrying bricks for a bricklayer. I spent six months doing that and then another six months with a plumber. “From there I was taken into the offices one day a week – later two days – doing the wages. Eventually, I was permanently in the office. “The experience allowed me to understand everything about my father’s business. Even now, when I’m on site and need to explain something, I’ll often take up the tools and show the men how I want something done. I can still do the job and they respect me for it,” says Alan. With 12 staff and 25 other directly employed workers, Three Pines boasts a workforce where some, now highly-skilled craftsmen, came on a Youth Training Scheme in the ‘80s and decided to stay. Why? “Family values extend beyond my home and I treat the staff as part of that family.”

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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.

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

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Cullwick Court, Cullwick Street, Wolverhampton WV12 2UR Tel: 01902 499919 Email: info@three-pines.co.uk www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Castle Blinds and Awnings From their newly extended and refurbished showroom, the team at Castle Blinds and Awnings Limited has just launched a fantastic range of affordable Motorised Blinds and Vision Blinds. Motorised Blinds are designed to eliminate loop cords - which pose a hazard to small children when not fitted with a safety device Managing Director, Brian Jones explains: “Safety has always been our number one priority, we’re a member of the BBSA (British Blinds and Shutter Association) and fully accredited by the Make it Safe Campaign, that’s why we’ve always wanted to highlight potential risks posed by loop cords and ensured our blinds are fitted with the best safety devices.” “Motorised Blinds don’t require a cord at all. They’re battery operated or rechargeable and are available at a very affordable price. A motorised unit can be fitted to both Roller Blinds and Vision Blinds” Vision Blinds are an innovative new product that allows you to control the amount of light and privacy in your home easily. And thanks to their unique design, Vision Blinds make controlling the light levels in your room so easy: Brian adds “The system uses a dual fabric layer with alternating mesh and fabric panels that can be easily adjusted to control privacy and light levels, in a similar way to Vertical or Venetian blinds

but it can also be rolled fully or partly up, just like a roller blind.” It’s not only Vision Blinds that are new at Castle, there’s a fantastic New 2015 range of fabrics to add to an already extensive range for you to choose from. Of course, it’s not only blinds that the company takes care of they also supply awnings, plantation shutters and parasols. “We can meet any domestic or commercial requirements easily because we manufacture all of our blinds and awnings here in the Black Country. By manufacturing our own products, we’re able to ensure the highest standards of quality and keep our pricing extremely competitive.”

“Every one of our blinds and awnings comes with a 5 year guarantee.” A friendly and knowledgeable sales team works from the showroom and are on-hand to offer guidance and advice, but there’s also the option to request a free home visit: “Customers are welcome to make arrangements for a free home visit. A member of our team will call to see you and assist with choosing the right fabric and leave a no obligation quotation.” When it comes to fitting, Castle Blinds and Awnings only use their trusted, fully qualified inhouse team of fitters to install their blinds and awnings. Give the team a call today and transform your home or office with a fantastic new set of blinds.

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Spring

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Visit our show room Portway House Stream Rd Kingswinford DY6 9NT www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Call us (Freephone) 0800 163 429 Visit our website www.castleblinds.co.uk 37

Piano recital Daniel-Ben Pienaar

Codsall Community High School. 3pm Sunday 8th March 2015 Codsall Community Arts Festival is very proud of the tradition it has created of arranging annual piano recitals from some of the world’s top pianists. Since 2010 Benjamin Grosvenor, Freddy Kempf, Simon Trpceski and Cyprien Katsaris have all graced the stage. In another coup for Codsall, it is most pleasing to announce that the outstanding Daniel -Ben Pienaar has agreed to give a rare UK recital which will include works by Arnold VanWyke, Chopin and Schubert. Daniel-Ben was born in South Africa and came to public notice at the age of fourteen, performing Liszt’s E-flat concerto, and shortly afterwards Beethoven’s Emperor, with the country’s most prominent orchestras. He moved to London to study at the Royal

Academy of Music from where he graduated in 1997. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, where he now teaches.

For more information go to: www.codsallartsfestival.org.uk Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CodsallArts

His CDs include Bach’s Goldberg Variations and the 2 Books of the Well-Tempered Klavier, the complete Mozart Sonatas and a disc of music by Orlando Gibbons. A cycle of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas will be released on Avie in late 2014/early 2015. Planned for 2015 is a set of Schubert’s twelve great sonatas to be recorded at St George’s, Bristol. The recording sessions start soon after his Codsall recital.

Box Offices: Codsall Crafts and Models (formerly Knit N Stitch, Codsall) & Ian Rigby, Jewellers, Birches Bridge.

Registered Charity 1127064

Daniel-Ben has agreed to a prerecital interview with the Birmingham Post’s Christopher Morley at 1.45pm, to which ticket holders are invited. He will also be signing copies of his CDs after the recital. Tickets available at £15.00, Students £8.00.

Happy Snappers

Digital Photo Competition 2015

The Festival committee is pleased to announce the return of our popular photographic competition for the 2016 Festival.

Contact The Arts Festival on: 07852 200421 (Please text if possible)

So grab your digital camera or your mobile phone, get out and go “snappy”!

Closing date for entries: midnight December 31st 2015 All entries must be submitted by email to: ccafcompetition@gmail. com after 1st October 2015 For full information, including the important competition rules, please go to www.codsallartsfestival.org.uk or email us direct at: codsallartsfestival@gmail.com and we will email them to you for you to download.

Open to local residents of all ages and skills. Winners’ pictures will be exhibited for public viewing in various locations during the 2016 Festival. Prizes for the winners awarded on Community Day, 12th March 2016. 38

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

FLOORING

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afield as Truro and Lanarkshire. Dream Doors Wolverhampton brings the company’s innovative kitchen door replacement service to homes throughout the WV postcode area.

A dream year

for Tettenhall-based kitchen makeover specialists Just one year ago there was nothing. Now, with over 100 kitchen transformations completed, Dream Doors Wolverhampton has a portfolio bulging with satisfied customers. Things began modestly for the company back in January last year when its owner, Richard Foster, started taking orders while working from home. But, says Richard, that all changed after

his showroom finally opened on the busy Tettenhall Road in July. “It’s been a fantastic first year. But we’ve been absolutely flat out since our showroom launch last summer,” he says. “I always knew the showroom was important, as people want to see our 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 we aren’t just an independent local business. With close to 60 branches across the country and a fifteen year history, we are part of a national brand - and the biggest name in kitchen facelifts.” Dream Doors specialises in time and money-saving kitchen makeovers, as well as full kitchens, all fitted by approved and vetted local installers. Started in Hampshire in the late 1990s, the brand now has franchised showrooms as far

“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.” Dream Doors’ customers are invited to submit feedback on the independent consumer monitoring website, Checkatrade.com. One customer in Wolverhampton gave Richard 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 | march 2015

A Fresh Approach to a New Kitchen Doors · Cabinets · Worktops · Appliances · Sinks · Taps Visit

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Coven

or coven?

By Rob Taylor

witches were threatening death on the scariest date on the calendar (after Father’s Day!), Friday 13th? All my nightmares were manifest for a moment, until I became lucid once more, and thought: “I know, I’ll open the email!”

Poking its nose out from the aggregation of spam was an email succinctly entitled, ‘Coven. Dead: Friday 13th’. Needless to say I was instantly puzzled by this cryptic headline. Taking at first the idea of thinly veiled menace, I immediately mind-googled whether in my personal life I had recently made it onto anyone’s ‘enemy list’. I could think of no such event/ comment or action that might have merited such hostility. There was that spot of road rage in Coven the other day, but surely Methuselah in the silver Peugeot doesn’t have a Hotmail account? After all, I’d only gently encouraged him, with a friendly toot of my horn, to make a move at the T-junction, after sitting behind him for some time; beginning to wonder if he may actually have fallen to sleep at the wheel. But anyway I digress. Drawing a blank, I checked to

see if any letters from aggrieved readers from the little village on the fringe of Wolverhampton had graduated from mildly critical to downright nasty. Apparently I don’t yet inspire such fierce feeling in the hearts and minds of said citizens. Phew. Because what I then went on to consider may yet get me into even more trouble with readers belonging to the parish of Brewood and Coven… Now maybe I’ve watched too much American Horror Story or maybe I just have a dark and sinister heart but those few words sparked a fury of thoughts relating to everything other than what was intended by the sender. In short was there witchcraft at work?

And, lo, it was from my editor, asking for an article on Coven for the deadline, Friday 13th February. Curse his curtness! So from now on let’s keep things straightforward: there’s no coven in Coven. What there is however is yet another example of England’s quaint and queer settlements that pre-date Domesday. Iron-making was big here from the 17th Century. 800 people lived here in 1851. In 1987 it was 3,000 odd. Consequently there are today a lot fewer smithies and foundries and a lot more shops and pubs. The Harrows Inn, I am reliably informed, is a belter. The Grade II-listed building ‘The Homage’ - now known as Nicol House - on the Brewood Road, was built in 1679 and is said to be the oldest brick-built building in Staffordshire. I bet it is haunted. But enough of all that nonsense. If you feel haunted by this article and wish to add to the mix of misunderstandings, please, whatever you do, don’t correspond by email.

Taking leave of my senses, I for a moment read ‘Coven’ as coven and as such mused upon it as being, to quote the Oxford English Dictionary, “an assembly of witches, especially a group of thirteen.” I panicked. Could it really be that an assembly of 13

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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Colours to command attention

Doorsmart

There’s nothing more important than making a good first impression, so why do so many of us overlook our front door? It not only serves to enhance the look of our property, making it appear well-looked after, cared for and attractive, but also provides security and peace-of-mind.

so that homeowners can get a chance to see - and purchase - our wide variety of composite doors.”

Doorsmart’s doors offer outstanding insulation, weather resistance and high durability, with very little maintenance required. “Although modern composite doors are constructed of many varied materials, there’s only ours that provide the look and feel of timber.”

In fact, property experts have often remarked on the importance of fitting a smart, secure-looking door as a quick and easy way to add value to your home - whether you’re planning on selling-up or not.

The Doorsmart range has all the qualities of wood, like decorative graining and attractive depression mouldings, and there’s an endless choice of colour options to choose from.

When it comes to choosing the right entrance for your home though, there’s plenty of things to consider; it needs to be strong, secure, durable and of course, good looking.

“We introduce colour into the fiberglass during manufacture, making a unique through colour facing, which is highly durable it’s truly a door for the future.”

It’s good to know then, that local composite door specialists, Doorsmart are on-hand to help you find the door that’s perfect for you.

The Doorsmart range boasts 32 standard door designs that can be chosen in seven standard colours, but for those who want something a little more individual there’s the Doorsmart Extensive Rainbow Range.

Owner Craig Broadley explains: “We’ve been manufacturers of composite doors for many years, utilising the latest in composite door technology to offer our customers the very best in design and quality.” “Although we’ve traditionally supplied to the trade only, we’ve recently opened-up a brand new showroom at our Park Lane site,

“We’ve recognised that some of our customers might want something that bit different, so with a standard BS or RAL colour code, we can make your door any colour you want.” There’s plenty of glass designs and door furniture to choose from too: “We have a number of glass

designs that feature both subtle and statement patterns in many colours and styles. We also have many options in privacy and obscure glass.” And what’s more, the team will always try to accommodate the customer’s own designs or requirements. An impressive range of striking ancillaries, door handles, knockers and letter plates allow you to add those all-important finishes to your door. It’s not all about looks at Doorsmart though; the company’s products feature excellent safety and security. Which is just as well as statistics show that a property is burgled every minute in the United Kingdom. “With a 44mm thick composite door, reinforced door outer-frame and secured by design locking options, we offer the most secure door option available in the residential sector.” There certainly is no better peace-ofmind than knowing your family, home and belongings are well protected. Contact the Doorsmart team today to make sure that your home makes the right first impression.

Doorsmart can mix and match any colour and any glass 44

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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Jai Jashn Dance present

Holi a Celebration of Colour Following the success of last year’s sold out event, Jai Jashn Dance return to Arena Theatre Wolverhampton with ‘Holi A Celebration Of Colour.

Haripa!, Steps 8, Bhutta Elegant Melodies and features other independent artists and groups. Jai Jashn Dance in a non-profit organisation hosting Bollywoodbased dance classes at Blakenhall

Community and Healthy Living Centre in Wolverhampton. For further information please visit www.facebook.com/ JaiJashnDance or email jaijpdc@Hotmail.co.uk

Holi is the Indian festival of colour celebrating the start of the spring season. This vibrant, uplifting family friendly event will take place on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March 2015 for an evening and matinee performance. All tickets are priced at £7 and can be booked by calling the box office on (01902) 321321 or online www.arena.wlv.ac.uk. The event celebrates the rich and diverse culture of India including music and dance performances by Jai Jashn Dance, Sonia Sabri’s Kathakaars, Desi Nach, Chitraleka Dance Academy, Gabhru Panjab De, SonAash Sisters,

The Rotary Club of Wolverhampton by Robin Tyler-Morris

Dragon Boat Challenge The energetic Rotary Club of Wolverhampton is again holding its annual Dragon Boat event this year on Sunday May 17th.

The Wolverhampton Club has raised almost £300,000 from the running of this annual event in the past for the various charities it supports at home and abroad, and aims to add a further substantial amount to this total this year. The Challenge is being held on the Great Pool at Himley where each boat with its crew of 16 travels the 350 yd. long course to the rhythm of the drum beats hammered out by the boats drummer. If you are an organisation who would like to participate in the event with your own crew to raise funds for your own chosen Charity, details can be obtained from rodandjenjones@gmail.com

Last year’s winning team were UTC Joner’s Ark. The event raised a magnificent total in excess of £16,000. There was a huge turnout to watch the fun and games and the Club are hoping for an even bigger crowd this year to support the competitors and enjoy the various side attractions that are organised along with the main event.

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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Competition Three lucky winners can each win two tickets to see THE GHOST TRAIN on Tuesday 7th April at 7.30pm at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. The Ghost Train pulls into Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on Tuesday 7th and departs on Saturday 11th April. A spooky tail not to be missed in this new production of Arnold Ridley’s classic comedy thriller about a group of travellers stranded at an isolated railway station. On a dark and stormy night a number of fellow passengers find themselves thrown together in the waiting room of a rural train station. A pair of newlyweds, an estranged couple, a selfindulgent young dandy and an elderly spinster (who also happens to be accompanied by a parrot) are treated to the stationmaster’s unique hospitality, which includes an eerie tale of a ghostly locomotive that supposedly haunts the line. Can the story be true - and should they be alarmed by his grim warning of death to anyone who sets eyes on the infamous Ghost Train...? Arnold Ridley was inspired to write THE GHOST TRAIN after becoming stranded overnight at Mangotsfield station near Bristol. He was perhaps best known for playing Private Godfrey in the classic BBC comedy Dad’s Army, and the cast for this new production of his best known play will also feature some familiar comedy faces from the stage and TV

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 at the address below or email info@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk before Tuesday March 24th 2015. Arnold Ridley was in which BBC Comedy? a) Allo! Allo! b) Dads Army c) Hi Di Hi d) Just Good Friends Competition Terms and Conditions

Call the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Box Office for more information on 01902 42 92 12 or please visit www.grandtheatre.co.uk 48

Please post all entries to Wolverhampton West Magazine, 1 Lytham Road, Perton, Wolverhampton, WV6 7YY or email info@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk. To be received no later than Tuesday 24th March 2015. Winners to collect tickets from the Box Office on the evening of the performance. Tickets cannot be exchanged and no cash alternative prize nights available. Entries will be forwarded to the Grand Theatre unless otherwise stated. Winners may be required to partake in relevant publicity.

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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Write a Will!

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Do you know where it is? A will does not have to be complicated. What is important is for everyone to have a professionally drafted will. One that you can be certain will be legally valid when you die and that adequately reflects your wishes. REMEMBER: If you cannot find your will, if it’s lost, damaged or simply so old that it may be invalid… there’s a chance it could fail on your death!

Did you know that a will is the only place that you can actually nominate guardians for your children? No matter how simple your affairs may seem, or whatever age you are, making a will ensures that your wishes are set out clearly in one document so that on your death your assets will go to the relatives or loved ones that you want them to go to.

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Wolverhampton Grand Theatre APPoINTS NEW CHIEF ExECUTIvE

The Board of Trustees at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre announced on 9th February 2015 the appointment of Adrian Jackson as the new Chief Executive of the city’s theatre. Adrian is the current Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the Lichfield Garrick. He will join the Grand Theatre on a full-time basis after standing down from the Garrick in the summer.

will ensure that the future prosperity and reputation of the Garrick will continue to grow and flourish”. Jeremy Brown, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre said, “On behalf of the board I would like to say how thrilled we are on the appointment of Adrian Jackson. It is an exciting time for the theatre and we look forward to working with Adrian and the whole Grand Theatre team in the years to come”.

Adrian has been leading the Lichfield Garrick since 2006 and has spearheaded its development into an established and very successful Midlands venue. James Leavesley, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Lichfield Garrick said, “We wish Adrian all the best in his move to the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton. Given the Grand’s size and significance, it is a natural progression for someone with Adrian’s talent and experience. We are now entering a very exciting time at the Garrick which wouldn’t have been possible without Adrian’s guidance over the past decade. A re-structuring of the management team 52

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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bUSINESS lADIES GolF NETWoRK

TEES oFF FoR 2015 An innovative networking group in Wolverhampton, which puts businesswoman on a par with each other on the golf course, has teed off its activity for 2015.

The women come from a range of business backgrounds including law, accountancy, property and architecture. They hold a morning networking session followed by an hour of golf tuition led by professional instructor Shaun Ball before returning to the clubhouse for refreshments and more networking. The group was launched last year and is going with a ‘swing’, said Laura Jones, marketing manager at FBC Manby Bowdler. “We all began with varying degrees of golfing ability but with the aim of meeting and making new contacts while learning golf or improving our game.

“We held a competition at the end of last year to celebrate how far we had all come and we’re looking forward to making more progress this year. “It makes a refreshing change to learn a new skill and meet other like-minded business people in the fresh air. It has already forged new working relationships and helped to drive forward new ideas.” The sessions will alternate between Ledene Golf Centre in Codsall Wood and Wergs Golf Club this year. The next meeting is on March 11 and places can be booked for £15 per person. For more information contact Shanice Pearson at FBC Manby Bowdler, by email at marketing@fbcmb.co.uk

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The Business Ladies Golf Network meets once a month and is open to all professional women working in the city. It is hosted by award-winning law firm FBC Manby Bowdler, Haines Watts Chartered Accountants and banking group Santander.

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Ten years and counting

for Finchfield IT Finchfield IT are now in their 10th year of trading, providing a variety of IT related products and services to local people and small businesses.

offsite backup of data. Businesses still prefer wired networks for tighter security, speed and reliability, using wireless for guest networks and mobile users.

The past 10 years has seen some major changes in the domestic market, with tablets taking large chunks of the desktop and laptop market. Improvements in wireless networks have introduced more reliability in connections, whilst broadband speeds have increased dramatically.

Internet scams and viruses are much more prevalent than ever, with many viruses (or ‘ransomware’) being used to lock people’s computers, demanding money to unlock them.

Small businesses continue to have a need for standard desktop and laptops but the introduction of the ‘cloud’ has enabled easier sharing and secure

As the world of IT develops and changes it is important for us to keep up with the latest technologies so we can be there when things go wrong. Here’s to the next 10 years. It will be interesting to see what will be around then.

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Charity wants people to go purple,

PuRPle CRAZy!

Put a date in your diary and join The Haven in celebrating its annual Empurple Week.

The campaign starts on March 8th, a date that coincides with International Women’s Day, which since its birth has grown to become a global day of recognition across the world. To kick-start the Empurple Week celebrations, The Haven will be holding a Pamper Evening on Monday 9th March. The evening (5.45pm-8.00pm) will be hosted in association with Tettenhall-based Nicholas Davis Hair and Beauty and Clarins. Guests will be welcomed in style with a hot beverage or glass of wine and can pick up some essential Clarins beauty tips as well as book one to one consultations with Clarins specialists. Beauty filled raffles will take place on the night and all guests will go home with a Clarins goody bag. Tickets are limited, so make sure you get yours for just £5 (plus administration fee) by visting: http://tinyurl.com/THWBeauty.

Empurple Week will continue until Saturday 14th March and with your help we want to Empurple the local area and encourage people to join in by hosting purple-centric fundraising activities. By embracing Empurple Week, people will be showing their support for those vulnerable women and children who access The Haven’s range of services and helping us raise much needed funds to aid them in rebuilding their lives following experiences of domestic abuse. Hayley Edwards, Marketing and Publicity Officer for The Haven Wolverhampton, said “Once again The Haven looks forward to celebrating its annual Empurple Week and encourage people to have lots of fun whilst helping us to raise awareness of domestic violence and raise funds for a great cause.” If you, your workplace or community group would like to get involved in Empurple Week, there are lots of exciting activities that you can do. We have put an information pack together which details everything you need for a fun, creative and successful fundraiser. To receive an information pack, please contact Jade Secker at The Haven on 01902 572126 to request an Empurple fundraising pack or email give@havenrefuge.org.uk

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wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Val Hever Blinds

A perfect fit every time Val Hever Blinds is based in Tettenhall Wood and run by Val and Debbie Hever.

offer a free no-obligation home appointment and the fitting service is included in the price of the blinds.

Val Hever Blinds has a reputation for the quality of their blinds, expert fitting service and great customer service.

They supply and fit blinds to not only homes, but commercial businesses, schools, colleges and local authorities.

Operating from their new showroom in Tettenhall Wood they only stock the best quality and most varied range of blinds on the market. With over 30 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in the trade you can trust them to give total satisfaction on all your requirements. With so much choice available, selecting the right blind for your house can be difficult, but Val Hever Blinds will help you to select the most suitable product from their extensive range and can advise you on types of blinds, textures, colours and fit. Their range of blinds includes vertical blinds, roller blinds, venetian blinds, pleated blinds, roman blinds, conservatory blinds and awnings. Their expertise lies in fitting perfect fit blinds to windows which provide a sleek finish to your window. They

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wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Get ready for the growing

SeASoN

Tips ar e provided by Ann Winwood, Lealans Garden Centr e, Wolverhampton

well to encourage more flowers. Snowdrops can be split at this time of year into smaller clumps.

The weather has not been too severe in our part of the Midlands so far with only nights of cold frosts, but beware of sharps frosts in March and April that will spoil vulnerable plants and soft shoots - have some fleece handy and check the weather forecasts, if we’re likely to get a frost put the fleece over the tops of plants to protect them. Dead head bulbs particularly daffodils, leaving the green foliage on and top dress with fertilizer, they’ll send the food back to the bulb and you’ll get a better display of flowers next year. Remember to dead head spring flowering bedding plants as

Many of the summer flowering bulbs and tubers can be planted outside as the weather warms up – Lilies and Gladioli. Always plant lily bulbs on their side so that water doesn’t lie in the scales and cause them to rot. Dahlias can be started off in pots inside then planted out once the danger of frosts has receded. Begonias should be pressed gently into potting compost, curved side down – never completely covered, water and keep on a light sunny windowsill or in a heated greenhouse. Remove any old growth from perennials and divide if required. Slugs and snails love young herbaceous shoots, especially

in damp conditions. Use a liquid slug killer, pellets to deter them. The new Slug Gone from Vitax is an excellent deterrent and proved to be very popular last year. Plug plants are now appearing in garden centres, pot them up into larger pots and keep them warm and in a sunny position. Don’t be tempted to leave them outside at the moment – the end of May is plenty soon enough. Mothering Sunday is March 15th this year – early enough for there still to be plenty of Primroses and early spring flowers available – we’ll have a good selection of planted arrangements and houseplants in stock for that very special lady.

Lealans Garden Centre is situated at Shipley, on the Bridgnorth Road. For more information visit www.lealansgardencentre.co.uk, email enquiries@lealansgardencentre.co.uk or phone 01902 700209.

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Tel 01902 700209 Full range of plug plants now in stock Lealans own brand compost – 80 litre bags, still only £12.00 for 3 bags Don`t forget Mothering Sunday on 15th March – we have a large range of plants and gift ideas to choose from Huge range of top quality shrubs, trees, roses, alpines and herbaceous plants always in stock

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

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Capturing the essence

OF YOUR GARDEN

By Steve Tonks General Manager at Boningale Garden Creations Whatever the style you eventually choose, it’s always a good idea to seek professional advice from a reputable, APL approved, garden designer for new ideas or tips on planting. You don’t have to have a huge budget to employ a professional, but even the shortest of consultations at the planning stage could make the difference between a decent garden and a stunning one.

Does your garden reflect who you are, your style, personality? If not, now, springtime is the time to think about making your garden yours.

Ask yourself if you like curves or straight lines. Curves tend to give a softer and more relaxed look that leads your eye through the garden, while straight lines lend themselves to a more formal, stately look that is centred on symmetrical patterns and order.

No matter how big or small your outside space, the keen eyes of our experts can help you. From our award winning garden design associate, Andi Way, to our horticultural specialists and project management team, who oversee and manage the project from start to finish, you can be assured of expert advice every step of the way.

Style is not just about decoration and the type of plants you buy – it’s about good, clear design. Many of the garden styles that we see today have evolved over the centuries. Very often they began life as large grand ideas, but they have had to be adapted over the years to suit different lifestyles and family generations. The trick to good garden design is capturing the essence of a style, or a place and making it your own, rather than creating a pastiche. The key is planning. Think about what style would suit you: do you want to create a zen-like space that requires minimalist maintenance? A formal garden with traditional arrangements? Or are cottagestyle borders packed with seasonal flowers more your style? 60

For further information contact us at Boningale Garden Creations, we are locally based on Boningale’s wholesale plant nursery in Albrighton, near Wolverhampton. See www.boningale-garden-creations.co.uk wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

CREATING YOUR PERFECT OUTDOOR SPACE IS A BIG STEP however youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be in safe hands with garden creations.

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Our awardâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;winning designers offer imaginative designs to suit your personality and life style, traditional or contemporary, large or small. Our experienced landscape team offer a complete planting and landscaping service which will bring your garden design to life. steve.tonks@boningale.co.uk

01902 376500

garden creations

Facebook.com/BoningaleGardenCreations

@boningalegarden www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

www.boningale-garden-creations.co.uk 61

Profence

Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Fencing

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

Established for over thirty years, Profence has long been meeting the fencing requirements of domestic, commercial and industrial clients alike. Having become one of the leading companies in the trade - thanks to a commitment to excellent and efficient service in every job they undertake - the Wombournebased business has built an extensive and varied client base across the West Midlands. Owner Shane Gamble explains: “I started the company back in 1983; over the years we’ve grown and grown and are now a well-established and trusted name in the business.” “We manufacture, supply and install a range of different products which meet the requirements of each of our client’s individual needs. We’ve got palisade fences, welded mesh fences, powered gates, timber panels, picket fences, as well as close board designs too.” Working closely with a number of local authorities, Profence carry out work for various schools and colleges across the region: “We do jobs for Wolverhampton, Walsall, Cannock and Dudley Councils, which means that we 62

are contracted to work on all manner of different institutions.”

services for companies who are interested in responsible forestry.”

And that’s not all: “We work with all types of property and buildings, and we offer advice throughout the design and installation stages to ensure that everything runs smoothly.”

“We want to ensure that we’re doing our part in helping to protect forests, by sourcing wood that comes from sustainable sources.”

Shane places a great emphasis on ensuring that all of his team are fully trained, so that they can offer the best levels of service to his customers. “I employ 40 members of staff and they are all experienced in their role. Our clients can rest assured that they are receiving the best service. We offer free no-obligation quotations, guarantee all of our work and never ask for money up-front.” It’s not only providing great customer service that ProFence are concerned with though. The company take great care to ensure that the products they use are sourced responsibly, that’s why they’re proud to be FSC certified. Kate Scott, Shane’s daughter and Office Manager at ProFence explains: “The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international network designed to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. It provides standard setting, trademark assurance and accreditation

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

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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

YOU CAN COUNT ON

PROFENCE!

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

01902 894747

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

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

WIn A MeAL for TWo

at The Shrewsbury Arms, Albrighton – and arrive in style

B A R & R E S TAU R A N T (some of whom aren’t so local!) has been absolutely fantastic and the team couldn’t have wished for a better first two years in business.

To celebrate their 2nd Birthday in March this year The Shrewsbury Arms is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a 2 course meal for two including a bottle of house wine. The team at The Shrewsbury Arms is reflecting on what has been an amazing two years in the village. The pub has gone from strength to strength in an economic climate that isn’t the easiest to survive in, particularly in this industry. The support of the locals and regulars

The Pub and Restaurant have brought a great ‘all-round’ eating and drinking house to the area with a varied and plentiful menu, serving food all day, every day from 12 -10pm. With their Fixed Price Lunch menu served Monday to Friday 12 - 5pm with 2 courses for just £9.95 and 3 courses for £13.95, there is value to be had on any day of the week. Thursday is Tapas night, Friday is Fish and Fizz and there is always the full normal menu on offer too. The pub has some great live acoustic artists on Fridays and Saturdays from around 8.30pm and some real local up and coming talent perform here.

Sunday Lunches are becoming increasingly popular and the Sunday sharing platter is one of the best sellers on the Sunday Menu. The Shrewsbury Arms are always thinking of new and fresh ideas to keep their customers happy – with their new Hanging Skewer Kebabs being their latest addition! With gift vouchers available, the facility to cater for parties of up to 70 people for Christenings, Funerals, Parties, Baby Showers and more, The Shrewsbury Arms is definitely making its mark on the village. And we are very pleased that it appears to be here to stay. For more information or to book a table call 01902 373003 or visit www.theshrewsburyarms.com

Arrive in style fit for a King, the lucky winner of the competition will be collected from the doorstep by Image Luxury Travel and chauffeur driven to the restaurant and then taken home at the end of the evening. To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize, simply answer the following question correctly.

What night of the week is Tapas night? 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 27th March 2015 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 21 years or older. No cash or alternative prize will be given. Prize valid from Sunday to Thursday inclusive and booking date will be subject to availability. Prize valid until Thursday 30th April 2015 all entries will be forward to The Shrewsbury Arms unless requested otherwise.

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

R J Hipkiss & Sons Butchers

Formerly from Daisy Fresh and Essential, serving delicious, fresh quality meat. Outdoor Reared Pork • Shire Meadow Beef

Keepin

the thingg s

we love...

lOcal!

Spring Lamb • Flavoured and dressed Chicken Spit Roast Chickens • Handmade Sausages Delicatessen Counter

Providing the best levels of Custo

ice v r e mer S

Now available in-store delicious freshly prepared hot pulled pork, sausage and bacon baps. Hot sandwiches available 8am - until close.

Using only local outdoor reared pork. Open: Mon-Sat 7.30am-6pm and Sundays 8am-4pm

We look forward to seeing you soon Tel: 01902 745956

Compton A Family Business Since 1969 The Swan www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Centre, Bridgnorth Road, Wolverhampton, WV6 8AE 65

Corbelli’s LITTLE ITALY DELI

FRESH, AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE EstaBLIshED 1965

Tel: 01902 630994 Open on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm and Sundays 10am to 1.30pm

www.littleitalydeli.co.uk Sole distributor for Armani Water in the UK and Ireland.

43 LoWEr LIchfIELD STrEET, WILLEnhALL WV13 1QQ Easy accEss from thE motorway

✁ Spend £25

receive a frEE bottle of Wine when you present this coupon

✁

Hundreds of authentic Italian Wines · Cheeses Olives · Pastas Parma Ham Coffees · Breads

QUALITY AT WHOLESALE PRICE

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 66

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Multi-Award-Winning Fish and Chips

One visit and you’ll be hooked.

The best fish and chips in the Black Country; 3,000 customers a week can’t be wrong.

TASTY FOOD WORTH THE TRAVEL!

Fresh fish from sustainable waters Top quality fresh ingredients delivered daily Oil purifying equipment in daily use Fast and friendly service Large orders catered for (Factories, Offices, Church Functions, etc) Battered or plain chips available

Join us for a drink…

* Our wine promotion runs until 30th April 2015 or until stocks last. Shop expenditure does not include the cost of drinks. The voucher has no cash value.

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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

Step into spring at

Halfpenny Green Vineyards

Spring is finally on the way so it’s time to start to get out and about and explore our local area again and The Vineyards at Halfpenny Green is the perfect place to start.

relaxing atmosphere. Upcoming dates for these popular occasions are Friday 20th March, Friday 17th April, Friday 15th May and Friday 12th June. These evenings are very popular and tables fill up quickly so please make sure that you book in advance. Of course, the most important part of any vineyard is the wine that is produced, and this is no exception at The Vineyards. At the moment, there is an exceptional special offer available. For a limited time only, there is a massive sale of Vineyard’s wines giving you the opportunity to purchase three selected bottles for only £20! This unbeatable offer will not be around for long so don’t miss out! If you are hosting a function or corporate event, consider The Wine House, a purpose built area on the Vineyards site, overlooking the state of the art winery and bottling line. With the option of added extras such as wine-tasting available, therefore offering an alternative to a standard hotel conference.

The site near Bobbington, is home to a fantastic tearoom and a superb restaurant which provide an exquisite selection of food and drink including daily specials. Sunday lunches are no exception and with a set price of £13.95 for a two course meal and £16.95 for three courses including a glass of wine, there has never been a better time to book a table and find out for yourself. Vintage high teas are also hugely popular at The Vineyards. Served daily on fine bone china with vintage napkins and tablecloths, customers are given the opportunity to catch up with friends and family whilst enjoying a scrumptious selection of sandwiches including cucumber, smoked salmon, honey glazed ham & egg & cress as well as fresh homemade cream cakes and a cup of tea. You may even like a glass of sparkling wine to make it a truly special occasion. Please note, high teas must be booked at least twenty four hours in advance for small parties, or a week in advance for larger groups.

On site, there is also an excellent craft centre providing endless opportunities to purchase a wide range of gifts. Pop into our well stocked deli and sample some of the delicious food cooked by the Vineyards’ own chefs. You may even like to take some home for all the family to share.

There really is something for everyone at The Vineyards! For more information, visit

www.halfpenny-green-vineyards.co.uk or call 01384 221122.

If you are seeking an evening of glamour and fabulous food in beautiful surroundings, a Vineyard Gourmet night is most definitely for you. Enjoy a fantastic meal with your friends and family in a 68

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

www.halfpenny-green-vineyards.co.uk Halfpenny Green Vineyards, Tom Lane, Bobbington, South Staffordshire DY7 5EP The Wine House

Enjoy our new High Teas

A new and unique vineyard setting for group tours, private events, business lunches, corporate training days and group visits.

Take your tea in style with one of our delightful traditional high teas, perfect as a gift or just to enjoy yourself!

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

L o ca l

Opt i c i an

raises money for New Cross Hospital This year Taylor Biddle Opticians, with practices in Compton and Wombourne celebrated 20 years in business. To mark the occasion they have been raising money for good causes. Over £2000 has been raised for Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Premature Baby Unit in New Cross Hospital which provided wonderful care for Director Olha Lac’s son Michael when he was born 17 weeks premature. Michael, now 16 years old and studying for GCSEs at Tettenhall College is seen in the photo presenting the cheque to Leanne Bood of New Cross Hospital. The money was raised from donations and fees for OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) which is a specialist diagnostic scan that can detect early signs www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

of key eye conditions such as glaucoma, age related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease. Taylor Biddle Opticians Director Tracey Taylor said; “We are proud to have raised over £2000 for these two fantastic causes. As a business we strive to offer our patients the best possible care, and fundraising is our way of giving back to the community.” 69

Spring

at Apley Farm Shop

At Apley Farm Shop March begins with the Apley spring craft fair, holds Mothers’ Day mid-month and ends with our 4th anniversary since opening, when we’ll be planting 4 trees along the exit drive, one for every year of trading. Get snapping and submit your best photographs by 30th March, for the First Apley Photography Competition.

So much more than a farm shop 70

Entries for our first ever photography competition are now open. The best 60 will be displayed for 3 months in The Creamery Café and prizes will be awarded for each of the 8 categories. Our first craft fair of 2015 will be the Apley Spring Craft Fair on Sunday 8th March, followed a week later by our very popular special Mothers’ Day lunches and afternoon teas in The Creamery on Sunday 15th March. Following the popular Children’s Cookery Club, Pigg’s Playbarn staff are running an after school science club every Thursday 4-5pm, which started on 26th February and runs up to 26th March. There’s no need to book, allowing flexibility for busy families.

Saturday 2nd May, the Apley Craft Fair on Sunday 3rd May and Apley Mayday with Maypole dancing on Monday 4th May. By then, we should all be feeling much warmer! You’ll always find good food, good fun and good shopping at Apley Farm Shop – so much more than a farm shop ! For full details and times see www.apleyfarmshop.co.uk or call 01952 730 345.

Towards the end of the month, families will be delighted by the Easter holiday activities which will be held in Pigg’s Playbarn from Easter card making and egg decorating workshops, to a daily Easter Egg Hunt. To make the most of the May Bank Holiday, come along to Apley’s Mayday food fair on

www.ApleyFarmShop.co.uk

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Great Theatre at the Grand! WED 13 - SAT 16 MAY

TUE 8 - SAT 12 SEP

B E L I E V E I N L O V E

West Bromwich Operatic Society are extremely proud to present

Music by

Book & Lyrics by

BRUCE JOEL RUBIN Music & Lyrics by DAVE STEWART & GLEN BALLARD

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER Book & Lyrics by

DON BLACK & CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON

“Unchained Melody” written by Hy Zaret & Alex North,courtesy of Unchained Meoldy Publishing LLC

Based on the film by

Based on the Paramount Pictures film written by Bruce Joel Rubin

SUNSET BOULEVARD makes a long awaited return to the stage this Autumn, a first for the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. The show weaves a magnificent tale of faded glory and unfulfilled ambition.

BILLY WILDER

Original West End Production Produced by Colin Ingram, David Garfinkle, Adam Silberman, Land Line Productions, Donovan Mannato, Michael Edwards & Carole Winter

You will laugh... you will cry... but above all, you will believe in love.

A n am a t e ur pr od u ct i on b y a rr a ng e m e nt w it h T he R e a l l y U s e fu l Gr o up L td

This is an amateur production.

Silent movie star Norma Desmond longs for a return to the big screen, having been discarded by tinsel town with the advent of “talkies. ”Her glamour has faded in all but her mind. When Desmond meets struggling Hollywood screen-writer Joe Gillis in dramatic circumstances, their subsequent passionate and volatile relationship leads to an unforeseen and tragic conclusion. Based on the Billy Wilder film, the musical version of SUNSET BOULEVARD includes music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black.

@WolvesGrand

Like us on Facebook: Wolverhampton Grand

Box Office 01902 www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

42 92 12

BOOK ONLINE AT www.grandtheatre.co.uk

Eating Out and Entertainment

*over a 2 month period

Promote your venue to over 50,000* readers with Wolverhampton West magazine. For further details contact Gisella on: 01902 744217

Mothers Day 2015 Sunday 15th March

Why not look after one of the most important people in your world, Mum! Treat her to a lovely three course meal with a visit by Wolfie and a gift for all Mothers. Why not let us do all the work? Hayward Suite: Adults £24.25, children £11.95 Sir Jacks Restaurant: Adults £25.50, children £11.95 0871 222 2220 | candb@wolves.co.uk | corporatewolves.co.uk

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Patshull Park Golf and Resort Hotel Pattingham, Nr Wolverhampton WV6 7HR

Take That Tribute Evening Friday 27th March

We welcome back the ever popular ‘Want u Back’ for a great evening’s entertainment, 3 course meal with coffee followed by a disco until 1.00am.

£25.00 per person

Easter Sunday Lunch Sunday 5th April

Great views from our Lakeside Restaurant. Enjoy great service, good food and Easter Eggs for the children. Richard Harvey on the piano.

£19.95 per adult, £9.70 per child

Hog Roast Humour Friday 17th April

Enjoy more humour (some adult content) from our team of comedians, a fantastic hog roast followed by disco until 1.00am

from £15.00 per person

St George’s Day Lunch Monday 20th April

A celebration of all things English, 2 course lunch with coffee followed by entertainment from Maggie O’Hara.

£19.00 per person Look us up on Trip Advisor T: 01902 700100 E: sales@patshull-park.co.uk www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

www.patshull-park.co.uk

enJoY A sUnDAY

cArVerY AT THE WERGS

Back By popular demand come and spend a relaxing sunday afternoon with us.

Served from 1pm – 4pm one coUrse: £11.95 TWo coUrse: £14.95 Three coUrse: £17.95 chiLDren UnDer 12 (one coUrse): £6.95 Also serving breakfast, Morning coffee, Lunches and Afternoon Teas

TreAT YoUr speciAL MUM on MoThers DAY 3 coUrse LUnch ADULTs £19.95 chiLDren UnDer 12 £11.95 booKinGs onLY

2 For £10

booKinGs ADVisAbLe Available throughout March Monday to saturday Lunchtimes 12pm – 3pm

The Wergs

For FUrTher inForMATion on GoLF,

Keepers Lane, Tettenhall Wolverhampton West Midlands WV6 8UA e info@wergsgolfclub.com

DininG or FUncTions or To MAKe A

www.wergsgolfclub.com

booKinG pLeAse cALL

01902 742 225

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

B A R & R E S TAU R A N T

MID-WEEK

FIXED PRICE MENU

SERVED FROM 12 - 5PM MONDAY - FRIDAY

Menu changes weekly

NEW & UNIQUE

HANGING KEBAB SKEWERS NEW TO THE MENU

FULL NORMAL MENU SERVED 7 DAYS A WEEK, 12 NOON UNTIL 10PM.

THE SHREWSBURY ARMS OFFER GIFT VOUCHERS, SMALL SEMI-PRIVATE EVENTS SUCH AS CHRISTENINGS, BABY SHOWERS, WORK LUNCHEONS AND MORE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ENQUIRE ON 01902 373003 OR VIA EMAIL.

Wombourne Tandoori Restaurant Established 1989

Air conditioned

Cuisine of Bengal

Fully licensed



FOOD HYGIENE RATING SCHEME 2011

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

Bookings now being taken for Mothering Sunday 15th March 2015

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

High Street, Wombourne WV5 9DN www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

facebook.com/wombourne.tandoori

www.wombournetandoori.com 75

Just How Mother

Makes It Rob Taylor enjoys a fine Sunday Carvery at his new found home in Wergs Golf Club. It is a truth universally acknowledged that no one cooks Sunday lunch quite like mum. Indeed there are none who cook said Sunday staple better than my own. Her protestations to the contrary, which insist that my grandmother cooked better, do nothing but prove my point.

let’s rewind somewhat first and begin at the beginning. Turning into the imposing Keeper’s Lane complex with hungry tums, we hustle for cover to dodge the inclement weather, being neither as determined nor savvy-dressed as the golfers heading out across the rolling acreage for a round of 18. A round of drinks seems more apt.

Upon approach to the recently refreshed restaurant, we are delighted to see a friendly face holding open the door, beckoning us inside. Adrian is our genial host and, after taking our coats, he shows us to our table. Immediately I am struck by a warm and homely feel inside, full of regular diners, laughing merrily and gobbling up the goods. None of whom are

I just wanted to put that out there at the outset, because it’s nearly Mother’s Day and I’m feeling decidedly disloyal. You see I’ve just come back from an afternoon out at Wergs Golf Club, where my partner Nicola and I were treated to a three-course meal. At its centrepiece was a traditional British carvery that still to this very minute, as I sit down to type, has me salivating. But 76

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

dressed in golfing attire (since the club is open to everyone, not just members) and all of whom are full of vim and vigor; relaxed and enjoying that unmistakeable Sunday feeling. It is as inviting as a trip to visit close family. Except in this dining room there is space for many guests and no one ever falls to sleep in front of the TV. Options for lunch are as follows: 1 course - £11.95; 2 courses £14.95; 3 courses – £17.95. We elect to go the distance over the full three; mostly because I was sitting opposite a framed print of Muhammad Ali and didn’t want to be seen to be a wimp, but chiefly because today we are guests of owner Monty Moseley. Since taking over the club in 2010, he has worked hard to create a great atmosphere in the restaurant. With stylish décor and modern furnishings, it’s the perfect place to enjoy excellent food in the company of friends. And as if that wasn’t enough, work has also been undertaken to create a brand new extension that houses a completely self-contained area for

private functions. Not to mention the expanded kitchens, as part of the £400,000 redevelopment. Since it first opened its doors in 1990, Wergs Golf Club has always been a prominent home to local exponents of one of the world’s oldest sports, but what you may not know about is the restaurant’s own formidable reputation for food. With a menu that’s filled with a great selection of popular homemade dishes, (that runs Monday to Saturday between 12 and 3pm, with two meals costing £10) lunchtime dining is delicious, as we soon find out. My selection is Blanchbait, served on a bed a leaves. It is quite simply the tastiest shoal of little fishes ever to be bread-crumbed; fishes have not tasted this good since Jesus multiplied loaves and fishes to feed the 5,000. Nicola’s Homemade Tomato and Basil Soup is rich and creamy and inspires her to eulogise upon what she describes memorably as “the connoisseur’s choice.” But now to the main event: the carvery itself. After being invited

to visit the carving station by the friendly and attentive waiting staff, I approach with apprehension: will it compare to mother’s? Will it pass muster with my most discerning dining partner? And is it rude in good company to literally lick the gravy platter clean? With plates piled high, we tuck in and from then on we can barely contain ourselves. Every component of this delicious ambrosia is devoured. Every morsel hoovered up in record time. The meat is tender and moist; the potatoes are soft and pillowy; the carrots, crisp and parsnips, perfect. I am at a loss and can pay no greater compliment than to compare it to my own mother’s. Nicola agrees and is herself thoroughly satisfied. A choice of Homemade Eton Mess and Homemade Fresh Fruit Pavlova is a fine and fitting way to counterbalance the savoury flavours. Each dish really does have a telltale homemade quality to it, evocative of a caring, experienced and loving hand, which is hell bent on preparing only the very best for family. They are deliciously flavoursome too and prove to be a veritable feast of sugary goodness. And they are – whisper it – much better than the puddings my mum makes. So make sure you take your mum down to the club this Mother’s Day for a special 3 course set menu at £19.95. I know I’ll be taking mine. That is, if she’s still speaking to me. The Wergs Keepers Lane, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, WV6 8UA. To book or for further details please call 01902 742225.

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

with master chef Mario and his enthusiastic team

Serving Fine Italian Cuisine & Traditional English Food

Now open 5pm on Fridays for Happy Hour offering Bubbly and Cocktails

Midweek Offer

20% OFF A la Carte Menu* *Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, food only.

Traditional Sunday Lunch from £6.95 Mid-week Black Country Specials only £6.95 (Served Tues-Thurs evenings, bookings not essential)

Normal a la carte also available

To avoid disappointment please book:

Situated at:

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

4a Upper Green Tettenhall WV6 8QQ Ample Free Parking

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

Open from 5.30pm - Midnight (7days a week)

Indian Cuisine The Kings Repose have been awarded a 5 star award from rate my place for Kitchen Hygiene. Misbah the master chef can cook anything to suit customers requirements. All of the superb mouthwatering dishes being freshly prepared at the time of ordering, using only the finest produce.

Described by many customers as a culinary experience of a lifetime.

New Road Featherstone Nr. Wolverhampton WV10 7NW

01902 307846 01902 738299

Eat in or take away

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Albrighton Hall Hotel & Spa Your wedding day is the most exciting day of your life and we want you to enjoy every second of it. Whether you are planning a Civil Ceremony, traditional Church Wedding or civil partnership, our beautiful venue with a lake and ornamental fountain set amidst 15 acres of landscaped grounds will be the perfect setting for your perfect day. This hidden gem is nestled in the heart of the Shropshire Countryside; the 400 year old building is steeped in character and charm, which adds to the romance of your day. Deep in the Shropshire countryside, Albrighton Hall Hotel and Spa was built in 1630 as a manor house, and is today steeped in history and still boasting many of the original features. The hotel can take care of all the details so you can relax and enjoy your big day.

99Beautiful landscaped grounds to capture your special memories

99Licensed for Civil ceremonies, from small and intimate to larger parties for 200

9987 En suite bedrooms including

Privilege and 4 poster bedrooms

99Dedicated Wedding planner to coordinate your special day

99Leisure and Spa facilities available for all guests staying at the Hotel

99Discounts and Winter Wedding

packages available. Please contact the hotel for more information.

Albrighton Hall Hotel also offers the best Spa in Shrewsbury, with 4 beauty rooms, tanning rooms, jacuzzi and two saunas, for you to take it easy, unwind from the daily stress of today, and pamper to your heart’s content, pure indulgence! A dash of flair, a touch of imagination, and attention to detail – essential ingredients for that perfect day.

Mercure Albrighton Hall Hotel and Spa

Spring Bridal Fayre Sunday 26th April 2015

11.00am – 4.00pm Free admission A perfect place for gathering ideas for your big day, from cars to videographers, hairstyles to make-up, we will have it all. Bridal fashion shows will take place at 12.00 noon and 2.00pm

Call our wedding co-ordinator now on 01939 291 000 for more information or email: h6629-sb1@accor.com

Mercure Albrighton Hall Hotel & Spa, Ellesmere Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 3AG Visit our new blog to keep up to date with what’s going on: http://albrightonhallhotel.wordpress.com/ www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Armani Water

Couture meets Cuisine at Corbelli’s invitee will be impressed (and they don’t even need to know that you saved money by purchasing the bottles directly from Corbelli’s)! With excellent customer service at their forefront, Corbelli’s is the perfect place to make your purchase of Acqua Armani. Why pay premium prices when you can purchase the product in the authentic Italian delicatessen, surrounded by the rich aroma of cheese and salami, whilst the sounds of traditional Italian music and language resonate in your ears? So, what are you waiting for? Make Acqua Armani the chic addition to your special occasion and astonish your friends, family or clients by purchasing a couture brand at Corbelli’s prices.

Armani have just launched a new bottle - and this time it’s not pour homme or pour femme, but to pour into your glass and it’s available at Corbelli’s Italian Deli, based in Lower Lichfield Street, Willenhall. Usually a wholesaler of the finest Italian wines, cheeses, salamis, prosciutto, other cooked meats, olives, olive oil and pasta to restaurants, the family-run business which is open to the public on Saturdays 10am until 2pm, and Sundays 10am to 1.30pm has recently acquired exclusive distribution rights for Acqua Armani in the UK and Ireland. Iconic Italian fashion house Armani has ventured into the world of haute beverages with the launch of artisan water. Embracing Armani’s Italian heritage, the range comprises of Sole Natural Mineral Water – a premium Italian water sourced from the foothills of the Italian Alps at Lombardy which is bottled in compliance with the highest hygiene and quality control standards. With the ideal mineral content and very 80

low levels of sodium, the water is among Italy’s purest – something which is captured in Acqua Armani’s sophisticated and stylish bottle design, making it a stunning addition to any kitchen or dining table.

For more information call Corbelli’s on 01902 630994.

Corbelli’s which was established in Wolverhampton in 1965 before moving to its current location in 1980, is providing customers from all over the country with the unique opportunity to purchase Acqua Armani directly from them, therefore cutting out the middle man and buying the beverage at a surprisingly reasonable price. The range of bottled still and sparking water has everything you’d expect from Giorgio Armani – with elegance at its forefront, who thought getting your 8 glasses a day could be so stylish! Imagine impressing your clients at your corporate event with sophisticated couture water, available in both 330ml and 750ml beautifully designed bottles, a sure sign of the success of your company. Or perhaps you are planning a wedding and want to give it that opulent feel. Guests will be certain to comment on your designer beverage as they relax and enjoy your big day. Even the most high-maintenance wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Couture meets Cuisine create a touch of style at your wedding, special occasion or corporate functions

AvAilAble from

Corbelli’s

Sole distributor in the uk and ireland

43 Lower LichfieLd Street, wiLLenhaLL wV13 1QQ | teL: 01902 630994 www.LittLeitaLydeLi.co.uk teL: 01902 630994 | open Sat 10am – 2pm and Sun 10am to 1.30pm

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

WERGS THE IDEAL VENUE

for WEDDINgs

C h r i s t e n i n g s , B i r t h d ay s

ANNIVErsArIEs & WAkEs

The Wergs

For more information please call:

keepers Lane, Tettenhall Wolverhampton West Midlands WV6 8UA

01902 742 225

e info@wergsgolfclub.com

www.wergsgolfclub.com wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Make your wedding day One they’ll all remember It’s your big day, and with months of discussion about dresses, colour themes and table decorations, the comfort and enjoyment of guests is often overlooked.

But if your friends and family are enjoying themselves and everyone is getting along famously, it’ll make the celebrations even more special for you. So how can you make sure a good time is had by all?

The first thing to bear in mind is that many people that come to your wedding won’t know each other, so it’s important that you

By Victoria Poolman

give everyone the best chance of becoming better acquainted. You may not have time to introduce people personally, so instead ask a close friend or relative to look out for those who are coming along on their own. Position individuals considerately on the table plan next to someone with similar interests or who works in the same field. It’s also important to place quieter individuals next to somebody warm and welcoming. An engagement party is also a great idea - hire out an area of a bar somewhere accessible to everyone so that your guests will have a chance to mingle before your big day.

A common problem at weddings is that family and friendship groups may not have seen each other for a while, meaning that great huddles of people may form. A fantastic way of breaking these up and encouraging people to mix is by incorporating some games into the day’s itinerary. You might have chandeliers, sugar-coated almonds and a six-foot train, but a bit of fun won’t detract from the glamour and sense of occasion, it’ll simply allow your guests to let their hair down. Organise a sweepstake for how long the best man’s speech will take and ask an usher to time it, with the winner receiving a prize. Create a pub quiz with questions which have been tailored to different groups in the room, as well as some associated with the bride and groom, so that everyone has an answer to contribute. This can be done at the tables between courses, so lay out some answer sheets and you’ll encourage everyone to work together. If you have a sunny day and a garden, get some lawn activities going – giant Connect 4, Twister, croquet or even a friendly game of cricket. Check out amazon. co.uk, play.com and EBay for great deals (and with EBay you can resell them after the day too!) www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Give people a talking point. The more inventive aspects of the day you can include, the better. But you don’t have to come up with lots of mad ideas for the sake of it, instead use this as a way of personalising your wedding day and making it all the more special. For example, instead of flowers go for some quirky centrepieces. Bookkeeper Rebecca Field said: “My brother-in-law is a plane fanatic and studied aviation at university, as did a lot of guests at the wedding, so we all helped make a range of Airfix models for the tables. Each table’s name was that of the plane and he gave the models away to younger guests, which people thought was really touching.” Another great idea is to place items on the tables for specific people, which encourages stories to be shared. Account Manager James Duffy said: “We were at a wedding recently with a friend who was famed for once getting a peanut stuck in his ear, which stayed there for months until it had to be removed. We all thought it was hilarious when we went to take a seat and in his place was a large bowl of salted peanuts.” Don’t forget any little ones. Look after them and their parents can relax and enjoy themselves. So think about food timings; if you have a midday ceremony and the wedding breakfast isn’t until mid-afternoon, arrange a hamper with biscuits, packets of raisins,

bananas and cartons of squash to see them through. Avoid E numbers and too many sweets - and have the basket on a high table so that tiny hands can’t stuff themselves silly. Don’t forget that weddings can be boring for children, so pick up some cheap toys to keep them amused during speeches. Colouring books and crayons are great (be careful with pens), as are books, and puppets are fantastic for later in the day. If you are getting married in a hotel, encourage parents to book a room so that if their children need an early night, they can all be put down together and mums can take it in turn to supervise so that nobody misses out on the party. When your evening guests arrive, get the party started by jazzing up your first dance. This can be the most worrying part of the day for the groom, so invest in some choreography

or choose a song that’s a little less daunting and involving other members of the wedding party can also ease the anxiety. Instead of cradling each other to a Whitney Houston classic, think about a song which makes you both laugh, or something with a fun routine to follow: Grease is a good one, as is Saturday Night Fever, or something which brings back memories such as a cheesy 80s tune. By choosing an upbeat track, you’re likely to get people up onto the dance floor, so encourage children and grandparents to join in and pluck people from the crowd so that everyone feels involved. Don’t be afraid to break tradition if it suits you. Why not skip the receiving line, so that people aren’t forced to wait around, only to struggle for something to say? And when it comes to speeches, keep them short and sweet – perhaps with just the bride and groom offering a few words of thanks? The trick with all these personal touches is to delegate. Plan well in advance and ask for help from your ushers and bridesmaids – it’s what they’re there for. The most important thing to remember is to stay relaxed; the more stressed you become with all the details, the less fun your wedding day will be. When people talk about ‘that fantastic wedding’, they generally mean that it was a comfortable, fun, and relaxing day spent celebrating two people they love.

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

commemorating Wolves legends Billy Wright and Stan Cullis. As an extra incentive to celebrate your special day with us we are offering one lucky couple the chance to win our wedding prize draw.

book your wedding to win Molineux Stadium is no ordinary venue, home to one of the founder members of the Football League, Wolverhampton Wanderers, for 125 years. The stadium has 11 licenced rooms that can host civil ceremonies for 10-275 people, some with stunning views over the pitch where history has been made. Your wedding breakfast and evening receptions can follow, with us able

to accommodate parties of up to 275 with a three course sit down meal followed by an evening buffet. We offer a number of packages to suit budgets and guest lists, as well as personal tastes and our dedicated events team will work with you to make your day as perfect as the vision you have of it. As part of your package we can allow access to pitch side for photographs, as well as the iconic backdrop of the exterior of the Stadium and statues

Would you like free chair covers for your reception, a Wolves legend to pop along on the day to say hello and help you toast your special day and to top it all off a trip to our directors box on the nearest match-day to your first anniversary – a dream come true for any Wolves fan.

All you need to do to qualify is book your wedding before 30th April 2015 and you will be entered into the draw. Weddings must be booked before 30th April 2015 but can take place after the date. We would love to invite you to come and view our facilities, meet our Events Team and discuss how we can help you plan your perfect day. Call 0871 222 2220 (option 5) or email weddings@wolves.co.uk

Weddings @ Molineux Book your wedding between now and 30th April 2015 to enter a draw to win: • Free chair covers for your reception. • A visit from a Wolves legend to congratulate the happy couple and pose for photo’s. • A visit to Directors Box for the Bride and Groom at the nearest game to your first wedding anniversary.

weddings@wolves.co.uk corporatewolves.co.uk 0871 222 2220 option 5

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

E x pert A d v ice R oys to n B l y t h e te l l u s w hat ’s hot for Spring Nick: Blondes are always a favourite at this time of year. As the weather gets better and summer holidays approach, clients begin lightening-up their hair with highlights or opting for a beautiful blonde shade. WWM: You launched a fabulous new colour collection earlier this year, Intense, tell us about it. Nick: Intense is our latest catwalk colour collection and it showcases lots of different and new colour techniques. Although it’s designed for the catwalk, we think it’s very wearable and as with all of our collections, we take inspiration from it to create a very individual colour look for each of our clients in the salon.

Spring is just around the corner and here at Wolverhampton West Magazine we’re looking forward to treating ourselves to a brand-new look. That’s why we couldn’t wait to catch-up with the experts at Royston Blythe, to hear all about what’s hot in the hair world right now. Nick and the salon’s Technical Director, James, answered the questions that we just had to ask: WWM: Our appointments are booked; what colour looks should we be considering this season? James: Ombre is still a massive trend, although it has evolved to be much softer with a colour palette that consists of subtle, muted hues. Natural-looking hair colours are as popular as ever for women wanting to achieve a sophisticated finish, whereas pastel shades, as well as statement greens and blues, are a must for our younger clientele. 86

WWM: That sounds like a great idea, how will the collection be tailored to suit clients that want to achieve a natural look? Nick: In the salon our catwalk collections become much more watered-down and appeal to a wide range of clients of all ages. We can use specific colours to flatter and enhance a client’s skin tone and eye colour, as well as utilise the new techniques to really show-off their hair cut.

the next big hair thing and in this area it’s totally exclusive to us. WWM: It’s no surprise that you guys at Royston Blythe lead the way in hairdressing; you’ve got the latest and best products, an incredibly talented team of stylists and colourists, as well as a star-studded celebrity clientele. It’s understandable then, that many people wrongly think that you’re out of their price range. Nick: We work hard to stay at the top of our game, all of our staff members are very highly trained and incredibly passionate about what they do. Royston and I are as dedicated to working in the salon as when we started - we just love it. We want everyone to be able to experience what we have to offer, that’s why our prices remain completely affordable. WWM: You were recently awarded an impressive industry accolade, Midlands Hairdresser of the Year. What’s next for the Royston Blythe team?

WWM: We’ve heard that you’ve just made a great new treatment available at the salon… James: Yes, we have. KeraStraight is a really exciting new treatment that tames rebellious hair instantly, creating a sleek, shiny, frizzfree finish. It’s perfect for any unmanageable hair types, as well as hair that has become frizzy and dry-looking as a result of heat and chemical damage. It smoothes curls, sleeks straight lengths and adds polish using a system that’s based on the hair’s natural protein, keratin. It’s suitable for coloured hair and lasts between two and four months. It’s set to be wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Nick: We’ve always got plenty of different things going on; James is a L’Oreal Colour Ambassador, which means he’s often jetting off to different exotic locations to teach. We frequently take part in industry competitions and work on many different photo shoots, for both industry and consumer audiences. We recently had a great time working on The Real Housewives of Cheshire, especially with our close friend Dawn Ward. WWM: The TV show is great and Dawn’s hair is gorgeous. Nick: Yeah, everyone wants her hair! She has got a very soft and sexy look, we created it by using the same extensions we use in the salon, Rapture. They’re great for achieving length, thickness and even colour, because with extensions you can have instant colour, without the commitment of dyeing your hair. WWM: You’ve created some amazing transformations using Rapture extensions - the results are incredibly natural. I’m sure there’s plenty of ladies reading this that would love to book in for hair extensions. So, what can new clients expect when they visit the salon? Nick: We always provide free consultations for all of our hair services. We welcome everyone to call in and see us to have a chat about their hair; we’ve got a really friendly and helpful team who’ll be able to give them all the advice they need.

Royston Blythe 36 Bridgnorth Road, Compton, Wolverhampton WV8 8AE Tel: 01902 751720 email: info@roystonblythe.co.uk www.roystonblythe.co.uk Royston Blythe @RoystonBlythe

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Is it time to soften the

lines of ageing? Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul – so said American poet Samuel Ullman.

As we age the skin is creased in areas of repeated facial expression – the passing years resulting in loss of its ability to repair itself.

Exploring the mindset of staying young, his best-known work, Youth, encourages a collection of positive choices.

While Medi Visage will also undertake more surgically invasive procedures to keep skin healthy, it also offers clinically-proven, none-invasive therapy as part of weight reduction control.

Born in 1840 and turning to write poetry in his latter years, he penned about the importance of self-confidence and engaging a childlike appetite for “what is to come next.” While many of his philosophies remain true, no doubt had he have been born with a voice for this generation he would have been adding some medical and scientific options to his remedy list for fighting off the years. Perhaps he would have been exhorting the softening of wrinkles with arguments for giving in to injectable muscle relaxants. Or maybe he’d be the one who’d re-craft the missing arms of the famed Greek statue Venus de Milo (Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty and pleasure). “Youth is not a time of life,” he wrote, “it’s a state of mind.” Indeed, making the right choices can help recover appetite for wellbeing. Bibi Dodd, a director of Medi Visage on the Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton, says: “People need to choose wisely when it comes to beauty therapies. It wasn’t that long ago that nail and hair salons were administering dermal fillers. “At Medi Visage, of course we offer those beauty therapies that can successfully soften the lines of ageing, but they are carried out by Maxillofacial surgeon and leading cancer consultant Khaleeq-Ur-Rehman BDS, FDSRCPS, MBChB, MRCS (Gen Surg), FRCS (OMFS). 88

“We have a very strong medical team here that also includes principal of Total Implant Solutions, Jon Pugh BDS MSc (implant dentistry) and consultant dermatologist Dr Hamdi Hamad.”

For years, those who required body contouring bought into the liposuction dream, parting with millions of pounds for liposculpture or suction-assisted lipectomy procedures. The surgery permanently removed fat cells, allowing people to be thin without tortuous exercise regimes and low-fat, low taste diets. “But the same results can now be achieved without such an invasive approach with the 3D-Lipo experience,” adds Bibi. 3D-Lipo lays claim to a non-surgical solution to weight-loss, removing fat, treating cellulite and tightening skin on the face and body. The first stage of the treatment – cavitation – uses ultrasound waves to break down the fat cells. The science involves ultrasound creating a wave which destroys fat cells, causing them to turn into liquid that is then processed away naturally by the body. The second stage – cryoliposis – involves the freezing of fat cells which are drawn towards the skin surface. Critically, reports claim the process doesn’t cause any damage to the skin or other surrounding areas. Frequency, the third and final process, involves radio frequency and can concentrate on skin tightening and cellulite issues. wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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Win a great hairdressing experience at “We really enjoy making breathtaking wedding hair styles for bridesto-be. Last year we styled many brides’ hair for their special day, they were delighted with the results.” Jodie ensures that there’s always plenty

This month Wolverhampton West Magazine has teamed up with Salon 27 unisex hairdressers to give one lucky reader the chance of winning a hair makeover to the value of £100. The unisex hairdressers, that’s located just outside of Wolverhampton in Wakeley Hill, Penn, has recently been refurbished and it looks fantastic. Since Jodie took the salon over in 2010, Salon 27 has gone from strength-to-strength and has established a loyal clientele. Everyone

of special offers running at the salon throughout the year; like money off cuts, colours, as well as men’s and kid’s hair, so that everyone benefits. If you’re looking to buy a gift for someone or treat your mum for Mother’s Day then why not buy some gift vouchers. Purchase £25 worth of gift vouchers and Salon 27 will give you an extra £5 voucher so your gift is then £30.

Give them a call on 01902 836565 and make an appointment today!

COMPETITION To be in with the a chance of winning a hair makeover to the value of £100 simply answer the following question correctly.

In what year did Jodie take the salon over? Please email your answer to: info@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk or on a postcard to: Wolverhampton West Magazine, 1 Lytham Road, Perton, Wolverhampton, WV6 7YY and include your full name, address and telephone number.

All entries to be received by Friday, 27th March 2015. Competition Terms & Conditions: Winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries received. To enter you will need to be aged 18 years or older. No cash or alternative prize available, if hair make-over is less than £100, Salon 27 will make the prize up to the value of £100 with hair products. Prize to be redeemed by Thursday, 30th April 2015, appointment subject to availability. Entries will be forwarded to Salon 27 unless otherwise stated.

at the salon is highly trained and regularly attend a variety of different courses to learn all of the latest cutting, colouring and styling techniques. Jodie has a Degree in Colour and has been awarded the title of Master Colour Expert by Wella. An in-depth, free consultation is always carried out before any cut or colour at the salon, meaning that clients get the chance to thoroughly discuss their style ideas. And the team have become specialists in wedding hair: 90

wolverhampton west magazine | March march 2015

Salon 27 are a unisex salon and have a monthly offer throughout the year, even one for the kids!

March offer

HALF PRICE COLOUR with a full price cut and finish

Opening times:

April offer

KIDS CUTS FROM £5 under 12 years, dry cuts only

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

Half price colour every Thursday with selected stylists. Kids cut offer every Monday 3pm-5pm or Friday & Saturday with Hannah.

To book an appointment please call on:

(01902) 836565 www.salon27wolverhampton.co.uk

Find us on Facebook: Salon 27 unisex hairsalon 65 Wakeley Hill, Penn, Wolverhampton, WV4 5BA

Tettenhall Weight Loss Centre Are you worried about your weight?

Independent Cambridge Weight Plan Consultant

The Mayor of London

comes to Cannock

If you are, Cambridge Weight Plan could be the answer. Cambridge Weight Plan is all about choices, made by you to benefit you. Together, you and your Consultant will work out a plan that suits your lifestyle – helping you achieve the best results at the rate you want.

the fastest growth of any region in the UK.

So, why not make a positive decision to change your life for the better and call me today.

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e: karen.s.price@btinternet.com facebook.com/CWPKarenPrice Chris Jewkes Fitness Ltd, Danescourt Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton WV6 9BQ

Boris Johnson The Mayor of London was in the region on Pancake day giving a speech to an invited audience at the Premier Suite in Cannock. He praised the West Midlands for having

The Mayor also practised tossing pancakes for Shrove Tuesday but on his performance a lot more practise is required! He was more than happy to pose for selfies with supporters. Local residents from Coven and avid readers of the magazine Sam and Brian Saunders managed to get a photograph with Boris. Brian said “Boris was a larger than life character, friendly, very down to earth and entertaining.”

Midlands Hairdresser of the Year 2014 So, we decided to celebrate by teaming-up with them to offer one very lucky reader the chance to enjoy a fantastic hair and beauty make-over at the salon with either Nick or Sophie and a professional make-up artist. We received lots and lots of entries, which was no surprise! The lucky winner was Heather Clark from Pattingham. Before: Heather receives a thorough consultation with Nick

We were delighted to hear that Royston Blythe, located at 36 Bridgnorth Road won the prestigious Midlands Hairdresser of the Year 2014 award. 92

“Everyone there makes you feel so special, I was treated like royalty from start to finish. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon.” “Heather, we’re glad you enjoyed your experience at Royston Blythe”, from the team at Wolverhampton West!

Heather said “I was delighted when I heard I had won the prize, I always enter such competitions but I never for one moment expect to win! “I have been going to the salon for a couple of years for a cut but to have a makeover was such a treat. I was starting a new job a couple of days later so it couldn’t have been better timing.

After: Nick and Heather

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Redefining personal training Chris Jewkes Fitness has quickly become the premier personal training centre in the area. The club offers memberships and classes like any other, but the real difference is the array of bespoke personal training programmes on offer.

Personal training specifically designed and customised to individual needs and objectives; whether it is to simply lose weight and increase fitness, develop a new lifestyle completely, or by being referred by a local GP or hospital for obesity concerns, an illness or an injury. Chris Jewkes Fitness tailors its personal training to you and your goals, and these programmes embrace a wide range of techniques, exercise formats and nutritional advice. Alongside Chris himself, there

are nine other specialist trainers each with their own expertise on offer, and the club always aligns the right trainer that best suits the needs of the client. Chris Jewkes Fitness is recognised region wide for its excellent results with clients, and more importantly their consistency and sustainability to keep clients on track. Moreover, in January 2014 the club became the official fitness guru for ITV, and has developed a unique partnership with them through the various fitness challenges, and competitions the club devises.

The club has created a real sense of community; it is where you go to train hard with likeminded people in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The club welcomes fitness virgins and veterans alike! So why not pop in for a hot drink and a chat with one of our fitness consultants, or call to find out more on 01902 750355.

Home of the Biggest Loser! Personal Training Delivers Results For Your FREE Consultation Call Today 01902 750 355 Danescourt Road, Tettenhall WV6 9BQ • www.chrisjewkesfitness.com

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Image courtesy of ‘Estee Lauder’

FReSh FACeD the ultimate at-home facial by Helen Taylor

A facial is a great pickme-up and one of those all important treatments that not only results in glowing skin, but leaves you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated too. Here’s how to do it at home: Firstly, create the right atmosphere; gentle lighting and soothing music equal total relaxation. Next, cleanse away the day by removing all traces of make up. You must use an eye make up remover, cleanser and toner to thoroughly benefit the skin - make up remover wipes just won’t cut it. Use a muslin cloth that’s been submerged in hot water to place over the face in order to open up the pores. Leave for a few moments before repeating. Double cleanse by using a wash off cleanser that will extract any deeply

ingrained dirt and grime. Smooth the product over the face and neck, before removing using circular, upward motions. Splash with water. Now that the skin is at this stage it’s time to work on congested areas. If you are prone to blackheads then a good exfoliator is essential for clearing-out blocked pores. And what’s more, they are great for getting rid of dead skin cells and revealing brighter, fresher and younger looking skin. Apply the exfoliant to damp skin and work all over, concentrating on the forehead, nose and chin. Rinse off. Next, apply a face mask. Ensure that it’s the right kind for you - if you have combination skin then use assorted masks, applied in different areas for the very best results. Many beauty therapists do this so that they

can address the requirements of each part of the face. With your face mask on, it’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy doing nothing for a few minutes. Use a wet face cloth to remove the mask and splash your face with cool water before drying thoroughly. Next, apply an eye cream. Start at the outer most point of the eye and use light tapping motions to press the product into the skin Moisturise using a product that suits your skin’s needs and as you apply treat yourself to a mini massage that will stimulate circulation and bring much needed oxygen and nutrition to the surface. Work from the centre of your face, moving upwards and outwards, using your fingers and palms to lift and smooth the skin. Don’t forget to include your neck too.

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

t a E e? m If your dentures canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to call us Implant overdentures: a permanent fix for stability problems Telephone 01902 420654 for a complimentary consultation

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www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Beauty is

in the detail Our latest Lumina therapy offers treatment for:

• hair removal • thread veins and rosacea • acne • port wine stains • pigmentation and rejuvenation

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wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

A NeW look FoR SPRiNG URbAN HAIR AND bEAUTY allows us to achieve any colour our client desires. That means they can not only have a hue that completely suits their skin tone but one which is utterly unique to them.”

The team at Urban Hair and Beauty have got everything you need to look gorgeous this spring. There’s Copyright Colour from leading salon brand TIGI - which promises to give you a head-turning new colour look - and a useful little product, called Colour Wow that keeps your new hue looking amazing in-between appointments. Salon owner, Karen Lewis explains: “Copyright Colour uses an exclusive Creative Intelligence colour system, which is fully intermixable, that

And that’s not all: “It contains no PPD, which is a chemical found in most other hair dyes and everyday chemicals, it’s responsible for causing allergies and has health risks associated with it.” To keep your new colour in tip-top condition you can pickup an innovative new hair product at the salon too. “Colour Wow is fantastic, it’s a powder compound that adheres to hair effectively and coversup unsightly root re-growth and greys. It’s not sticky or oily and doesn’t dry or dull hair. It’s water resistant and the results last from shampoo to shampoo.” “It’s really easy to apply, thanks to a specially designed applicator brush, and it’s available in six

different colours, each are priced at just £28.50.” It’s not just useful for roots though: “You can also use Colour Wow to create blocks of colour or highlights in your hair.” If you’ve got a special occasion around the corner, or maybe your big day is fast approaching, the team at Urban can take care of all your hair requirements. “We’re specialists in wedding hair and are on the suppliers list at Pendrell Hall, that means brides can take a look at our work and then link into our Facebook page for more details. We work from the salon, travel out to the venue or visit our client’s home, whichever is most convenient for them, to take care of their wedding party.” And Karen has a top tip for brides-to-be: “Getting the right hair colour is essential because your hair is the frame to your face.”

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

Spring Offer

20% OFF*

HAIR COLOUR

*When you present this advert Monday - Thursday throughout March and April. Discount is for hair colour only and excludes hair products and hair extensions.

Official Bronze Salon for Great Length Qualified Barbers Hair Extensions

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

www.urbanhairandbeauty.com

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Flower Power

Floral Prints Are Back

If there’s one trend that encapsulates the feeling of Spring perfectly it’s floral print. The timeless look has once again been reinvented for 2015 and there’s an array of fabulous prints, in all manner of designs, hitting the high street now. Easy-to-wear, feminine and pretty, floral prints are ideal for any occasion. And, thanks to a seemingly endless selection of patterns and hues you’re guaranteed to find a print that’s perfect for you.

By Helen Taylor

Shift Floral Print Shift Dress £50 Wallis

Statement Midi Floral Dress £48 Yumi

Remember, keep the focus firmly on the floral print by choosing plain accessories; nude shoes and handbags work well.

Snake Texture Blush Court Shoes £12 Primark

‘Digital Summer Flower Print’ T-Shirt £17 Apricot

‘Norma’ Dress £140 Phase Eight ‘Loretta’ Dress £169 Phase Eight

The images used in this article are readily available in various places on the internet and are believed to be in the public domain. Wolverhampton West magazine claims no credit for them unless otherwise noted.

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Floral Print Top £29.50 Best of British at M&S

Floral Dress £45 AVA by Mark Heyes at Marisota

Skinny Jeans £89 Jaeger

Dress £55 Autograph at M&S

Ankle Grazer Cream Jeans £19.99 New Look

Butterfly collection by Fei Liu, Award Winning Designer 2014. From £160.

‘Missie’ Sandals £79 Dune ‘Borough Market’ Handbag £219 Radley

Exclusively at T.A. Henn, Wolverhampton

‘Elodine’ Dress £140 Phase Eight If you own the rights to any of the images, or if any content appearing in Wolverhampton West magazine infringes on your copyright, please notify us and they will be promptly removed.

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‘Ariel’ Lace Dress £140 Phase Eight

Pension cash: All smiles for long-term investment could potentially offer long-term returns. Generally implants can be expected to last a lifetime. “Many of our implant patients are denture wearers. For some, their prescriptions have come to the end of their serviceable time and are loose, inefficient, aesthetically poor and painful. “One of the most popular solutions is our implant-retained overdentures that are suitable for both top and lower teeth,” she adds. For well over a century, complete maxillary (upper) and mandibular (lower) dentures were the traditional standard of care. Adds Bibi: “Patients that have a removable upper or lower denture know only too well that there are certain limitations with this option. There can be lack of retention, stability, and inability to chew and eat certain foods.

Peter Brookes CDTDip – ‘Creating beauty in every smile’

From April 6, the over-55s will have the potential of tapping into newfound wealth. Changes in the pension laws will mean a Chancellor’s windfall for those who wish to cash in their pension as a lump sum rather than purchase an annuity. Already the holiday market is salivating as it expects a sudden rush to dream destinations. A survey by Saga, provider of financial services for the over-50s, carried out a survey that revealed eight per cent of people approaching retirement would use some of their money to indulge in a dream holiday. In a similar funds release scheme in Australia almost double that number enjoying the cash injection spent cash getting time away. Quoted in the Mail On Sunday, Richard Down, who founded online cruise retailer Iglu, says: “The view of the cruise industry is that this is a great opportunity.” 100

With that buoyant boost, operators are already hiking up marketing budges and delivering tempting incentives to spend. When George Osborne swept away many of the regulations governing the pensions industry and freed savers to do what they will, critics feared that some would spend on immediate pleasures – an outcome that is already being realised. But while some will doubtless invest in short-term gains, others may well consider longer term benefits. Bibi Dodd, business development manager with Total Implant Solutions, Tettenhall, says: “Those who plot market trends and potential investments seem to be missing another area of big spending potential that we believe will benefit the aesthetic and cosmetic dental fields. “Implant dentistry – particularly for those of an age where their teeth could be compromised – could find themselves in a position to secure long-term solutions to more than likely, equally long-term problems. What’s more the investment

“Dentistry has come a long way. Now we can help eliminate all of those limitations with an over denture.” This type of therapy is primarily tissueborne with either two or four implants providing retention and stability. “We use abutments that are like press studs and the dentures simply click firmly into place. Patients can insert the dentures and taken them out themselves. They offer a cost-effective way into implant dentistry and the outcomes are clinically predictable and look like natural teeth.” In a new arrangement, Total Implant Solutions is working alongside Simply Dentures which is based at their Tettenhall Road premises. Under the directorship of Peter Brookes DipCDT a laboratory is being kitted out and regular clinic timetabled. With more than 15 years’ experience as a technician, Peter trained at the University Of Central Lancashire to qualify as a Clinical Dental Technician in 2014.

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

A warm smile with predictable outcomes – a possible investment for pension cash lump sums

His last six years have been spent training within a private denture clinic, giving him “a great insight into the manufacture of high quality dentures.” Says Peter: “My firm belief is that patients should be involved and informed throughout all of the stages of construction, therefore giving them the confidence that they will actually get the smile they deserve. What’s more, investing into new dentures may not prove to be as expensive as first thought with a number of options available. “We always produce high-quality denture and on the way take on board the feedback that is given.

and then allowed to heal and integrate with the bone.

last an hour and in total at least five appointments for a new prescription will be required. As well as implant-retained overdentures, traditional dentures, repairs, relines and cleaning services will be available. “While working alongside Total Implant Solutions, my goal is simple: To create beauty in every smile,” adds Peter.

Implant procedure for overdentures Medical grade titanium post are surgically placed into the jawbone under local anesthetic

For those requiring overdentures, a temporary prosthetic is fitted while the implant points heal and the titanium integrates with the bone. When everything is healed up and the implants securely consolidated, an impression is taken and the final prosthesis made on the premises. Follow-up appointments address any fine-tuning issues. Adds Peter: “Aftercare is central to the service we bring. Patients are not deserted when the work is complete and I encourage regular feedback from them.”

“Having to wear dentures is something that many people through the years have struggled to cope with and indeed, learning to master dentures can be quite a skill. “We find that the three most common issues for denture wearers are the fit, the function and appearance. “With years of training and experience, using the latest technologies, our team aims to provide dentures that help to overcome these common, challenging problems.” Peter adds that patient’s first, no obligation, consultation will www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Illustration of implant-retained overdentures

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Looking after

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

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

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

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

Designer Frames from… & many more Your Local Family Opticians Full eye examinations Ocular health checks The latest eye scanning OCT technology Visual Dyslexia Colorimetry assessments Now stocking fabulous and exclusive Oliver Peoples frames

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Free second pair of varifocal, occupational or single vision glasses with every purchase of bespoke varifocals (terms and conditions apply)

www.taylorbiddleopticians.co.uk 39 Bridgnorth Road, Compton Tel: 01902 750 325 34 Windmill Bank, Wombourne Tel: 01902 895 909 102

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

‘Invisible’ technology Obvious results

embrace

your inner smile We use the latest ‘invisible’ therapies to rebuild smiles compromised by irregular teeth. State-ofthe-art technology and a team with a distinguished reputation combine to deliver stunning results. Have a chat to us and find out why increasing numbers of adults choose us to straightening out their looks. Procedures involve regular visits to our orthodontic clinic and treatment can last from 6 to 24 months.

Our orthodontic service is hugely popular

We offer complimentary first consultations

We’re about permanence and consistency

We do implants and aesthetic dentistry

We want to get to know you and your family

We remake smiles and redefine lives

We understand children and teenagers

We are wheelchair friendly

Find out what makes us so popular – call us or just drop in to discuss our affordable treatment schemes.

Telephone: www.parksidedental.co.uk

01902 421291 7 Park Road West, Wolverhampton, WV1 4PS

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part of Jon Pugh Dental

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Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital Healthcare to help you make the most of life Our treatment costs are transparent and covered by a one-off-payment – and are more affordable than you might think. • Enquiry You have a medical problem and DON’T have health insurance. Contact us for more information or to book an appointment. • Your initial consultation This will take place at your local Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital. There is a one off payment for this appointment.

Your health is at the centre of everything we do. Whether you need prevention or cure, we want to work with you to ensure your health allows you to lead the life you want.

• Tests and investigations You may need further tests or investigations as recommended by your consultant. These are paid for as and when required.

As a not-for-profit business we reinvest all profit in our hospitals, gyms, medical centres, and our expert staff.

• Treatment If you need surgical or non-surgical treatment, this will be arranged at a time to suit you. You will be given a guaranteed all-inclusive procedure price.

We have the highest standards of clinical care, with Consultant-led treatment, spotlessly clean rooms, and a team of dedicated and experienced nurses.

Our Health Experts Consultants

All our consultants are highly experienced and are here to listen to you. During your consultation they will answer any questions you have and tell you all about your diagnosis and any treatment or procedure. They are all registered with the appropriate professional organisation for their specialty and hold General Medical Council registration. Having medical treatment can be an anxious time, that is why we think it’s important that you have the same consultant looking after you throughout your time with us. Your consultant will also continue to look after you when you return home, and during any aftercare.

Matron-led care

Everyone knows that matrons make hospitals run efficiently and, above all, hygienically. Nuffield Health has never lost sight of this. Our dedicated Matron takes responsibility for your nursing care and works around the clock to ensure your comfort and safety.

Physiotherapists

Our physiotherapists can help restore your movement and function if you’ve been affected by an injury, illness or are recovering from an operation. They can also provide you with advice in pain relief and rehabilitation to get you back on your feet and help you to lead a happy and healthy life.

Private GPs

You can see our private GPs at a time that suits you with minimal waiting and plenty of time for your appointment so you don’t feel rushed. They can also refer you to hospital consultants if necessary.

A guide to accessing private healthcare

• Aftercare All aftercare is included within your treatment. The Nuffield Health Promise means there are no time limits on your aftercare.*

Private Medical Health Insurance • Enquiry You have a medical problem and you DO have private medical health insurance. Contact us to guide you through the process or to book an initial consultation appointment. Check with your insurer that your policy covers you for treatment with us. • Your initial consultation This will take place at your local Nuffield Health Hospital. You will need your insurance policy number and pre-authorisation code and a referral letter from your GP • Tests and investigations You may need further tests or investigations as recommended by your consultant. • Treatment If you need surgical or non-surgical treatment, this will be arranged at a time to suit you. We will arrange payment directly with your insurance company. • Aftercare All aftercare is included within your treatment.

In our hospital you can expect: • • • •

Rapid access to consultations, x-rays and treatment Matron-led care with a dedicated, friendly nursing team First class treatment and clinical standards Guidance and support throughout every stage of your treatment • Private, en-suite rooms with excellent facilities

Paying For Yourself

Don’t wait, get back to the life you love - Contact us Now!

If you don’t have health insurance, it doesn’t mean you can’t have swift access to private hospital treatment. At Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital private treatment can be just as accessible by paying for yourself.

For further information on any of the above please call us today on 01902 793259 or visit our website: www.nuffieldhealth.com

*Where possible, we promise to assist you to receive any follow up advice, treatment or care that is clinically required from your Consultant for as long as you may require it. If a prosthesis is used as part of your treatment this is guaranteed for the manufacturer’s official lifetime of that prosthesis. “Clinically required” indicates where further intervention and/or monitoring of a patient’s condition is deemed necessary as a direct result of surgical intervention.

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wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Contact us today and take control of your health and wellbeing Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital, Wood Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, WV6 8LE nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/wolverhampton 01902 793259

Hospitals + Health Checks + Physio + Gyms 2410_Wolverhampton - For the Love of Life Advert_218x140_v2.indd 1

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13/01/2015 17:09

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The man behind the

miles of smiles Are they real, or are they false? Steven Burchell DipCDT RCS(Eng), GDC 108353 flips through the images on his iPad and begs the question of a hundred different smiles.

“Of course they are all false teeth,” he says, pointing out the subtle differences that make these dentures a “a class apart.” For the untrained eye it’s impossible to know the difference between natural teeth and the Denture Clinic’s work – even full-blown smiles fail to offer a clue. Steven, whose reputation for solving denture problems has attracted patients from as far away as Spain and Portugal, first made headlines as “the smile mechanic” more than ten years ago. Since then he has established one of the most high-profile denture clinics in the West Midlands as well as a general

Teeth are hand-crafted in the Denture Clinic laboratory

dental practice with a special interest in cosmetic dentistry.

and other clinics – is an expression of what our patients desire.

His work as principal of the Denture Clinic stable has found satisfied patients not only overseas, but from Dorset, the Isle of Anglesey, the Isle of Skye and London.

“In a similar way we must hear what patients’ own aspiration are and how they want their teeth to look. In the past people have presented pictures of themselves before their teeth were compromised and I have copied them.

“My name is out there,” he says. “But I wonder sometimes how people find me. Our promotional work is in the West Midlands, yet virally it reaches all over the UK and beyond. We regularly receive inquiries from well outside our catchment areas and I am humbled by the great reputation of the clinics’ work.” Always happy to give advice, Steven remains evangelical about the benefits of top quality, traditional denture prescriptions. “Of course, I’m the first to embrace technological developments in denture and dental treatment provision, but I’m often surprised by what great results functional, natural-looking prosthetics can achieve.” In recent years new materials, and what Steven describes as “the fusion of science and art” have revolutionised denture production.

Steven Burchell DipCDT RCS(Eng), GDC 108353 – a full understanding of denture-related problems

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I listen to what my patients have to say. In fact, the whole dental experience offered by Denture Clinic – my North Street practice in Dudley

“I had one patient who wanted gold in-fills in his teeth . . . it’s all possible.” Steven draws on more than 35 years’ experience in all disciplines of dental technology to produce his handcrafted teeth in the laboratory at the Dudley practice. “It allows me total control of quality and all of the team share my ethos of always striving for something greater than patient expectations,” he says. “It’s my experience that there are too many people putting up with ill-fitting dentures. “With lips that are pinched, lower dentures with excessive mobility allowing food ingression between the plate and the gums, sore spots and teeth that do not function well, it’s no wonder so many wearers feel frustrated.” Steven passionately embraces what he calls “the denture revolution” offering denture users real hopes of resolving a catalogue of related problems.

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Suction alternative

sparks big interest Branded as the smile mechanic by the Press, evidence of the transformations Steven Burchell Dip CDT RCS(Eng) GDC108353 has overseen is well aired in the media.

Steven, who holds clinics in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Kidderminster and Dorridge, says: “In recent times we have seen, what I can describe only as strident clinical advances, with implant-retained over-dentures, ‘teeth-in-a-day’ implant procedures and suction solution dentures, all coming into main-stream dentistry.

But of many hundreds of dentures he has made, one particular prosthetic has caused the biggest stir amongst denture wearers – the Ultra Suction Solutions.

“We also have clever injection moulding technology which allows excellent fitting outcomes and our clinical solutions have never been so appealing.

Prosthetics are held in place by tiny valve-operated suction devices which are built into the prescription. A clever diaphragm principle, triggered by bite pressure on patients’ gums, creates a ‘sucking’ vacuum between the soft-tissue mouth lining and the prosthetic.

“Implant dentistry as a resolve for stabilisation issues is not suitable for everyone, neither is it all patients’ first preference. The Ultra Suction

prosthetics system offers a possible clinical alternative. “The beauty of this affordable technology is that it can deliver, for the right patient, excellent denture-retainer qualities without the invasive clinical procedures required for implant work.” Steven adds: “The device can be mounted on upper or lower teeth.” Denture provision can present monumental challenges, but he says the greatest reward of intelligent clinical analysis is the untold number of excellent clinical outcomes and often being privileged to play a small part of a complete lifechanging process for the good.

The Ultra Suction System

on’t D let troublesome dentures let you down • Complete Dentures • Partial Dentures • Suction Dentures • Implant Dentures • Copy Dentures • Denture Relines • Soft Linings • Denture Repairs

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P www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Clinics at Dudley, Wolverhampton, Kidderminster and Solihull www.denture-clinic.co.uk email: info@denture-clinic.co.uk

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The Rotary Club of Wolverhampton by Robin Tyler-Morris

Rotary President Hits the Heights that for the first two nights I just could not sleep. Because of this I was pretty shattered when altitude did begin to take effect as we made more height. Headaches were pretty common as we continued. On the third night though, I did finally manage to get a few hours’ sleep. The final ascent on the fifth night was the longest and hardest six and a half hours of my life. – In the last hour I think I was barely awake, having been up all night, and now at the highest altitude and with the temperature playing its part too. It was all I could do to concentrate and move one foot in front of the other.

Wolverhampton Rotary Club President Mike Boyce is not a man for having his head in the clouds, but he is just back from a trip which forced him to spend time examining the clouds from very close range. It all began when a mid-life yen for the outdoors led to exploratory skirmishes with Cadair Idris in Wales, leading on to Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis. In the course of these excursions Mike also used the opportunity to raise sponsorship to support a School project in Lusaka, Zambia.

going to happen - and it was always going to be Kilimanjaro. To get himself fit to spend seven days in January, walking 50 miles, climbing (and descending) 19,341 feet, sleeping under canvas, tackling a great snow-covered lump of rock called Mount Kilimanjaro, the pride of Tanzania and the highest peak in Africa, Mike did many walks up and down the Wrekin and occasionally Snowdon, averaging 4-5 miles daily. He also included a walk up Snowdon and Scafell Pike in the same day. Of the climb, Mike says “The effects of altitude sickness can be very disabling. At first I seemed to be lucky and to have escaped, except

The joy felt in summiting at 6.34am was tempered by my exhaustion and also how cold I was. It took the help of guide Kamander to operate cameras to record our arrival. I did not hang about after about 20 minutes on the summit, I headed back down.” Mike took the opportunity to get his fellow Rotarians, family and friends to sponsor his climb. As a result Compton Hospice, the Moving Mountains Trust (for its Primary School building project in Marangu village near the foot of Kilimanjaro where Mike was lodged in Moshi) and the Rotary Charitable Trust will all benefit and will share the generous donations of many people of just over £3,500.

In the course of all this activity the seed was sown for bigger and better heights to be tackled. Out of this emerged the idea of having a go at Kilimanjaro. Mike’s research told him that this could realistically be taken on by someone reasonably fit, with determination and a willingness to rough it for six days and nights. Happily an NVQ in mountaineering was not an essential qualification. When Mike mentioned this to his father he replied in typical fashion “Well I think you’re absolutely barmy Michael - but I would be very proud of you”. Sadly, Mike’s Dad died the very next day - so it was always 108

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Old Mill Antique Centre

Antique & Reproduction Furniture 1000’s of Gift Ideas Bespoke Furniture At The Old Mill Antique Centre we have 4 floors of antiques and quality reproduction furniture – and literally thousands of gift ideas for everyone – all displayed in charming and elegant room settings

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

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

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

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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5 tips to have

HAPPY FEET sure to dry between your toes. Keeping your feet dry is a great way to prevent bunions and warts.

Keep your feet Moisturized Moisturize your feet after washing. During dry-skin winter months, you may want to moisturize several times a day. Nothing fancy is needed: basic lotions and creams are fine.

Wear Comfortable Footwear

It’s easy to take our feet for granted. They’re just there, putting up with a host of challenges, from being jammed into high heels and elevated to unnatural heights to smothering inside sweaty socks or a pair of nylon tights.

have annual assessments with the Chiropodist or a Podiatrist to keep an eye on their feet as diabetes affects the nerves and blood vessels of the feet making them more vulnerable to damage and reduced ability to heal.

Our feet can take some major beating from all that working and running around we do on a day to day basis. Feet are rarely given the attention and importance they deserve. Unhealthy feet can lead to infection thus rendering the person immobile. They can also offer signs of an underlying condition, such as diabetes.

Remove Dead Skin Cells

People with diabetes or Rheumatoid Arthritis, should pay particular attention to their feet by checking them daily for abnormalities such as cuts, abrasions, colour or temperature changes or abnormal sensations, numbness, pins and needles, tingling etc. Diabetics should 110

Spending just a few minutes a day caring for your feet can keep you free of problems that may lead to pain and even disability. These few tips can help your feet feel great:

Make it a habit to smooth out the feet using a pumice stone or foot file. Dampen the heels and calluses for at least 10 Minutes before rubbing it thoroughly. This will make it easier to remove dead skin cells. You can also go the extra mile by preparing a foot bath made of black tea, which is a good natural antibacterial agent that may reduce the risk of athlete’s foot.

Always Keep Them Dry

The shoes or flip flops you wear will play an important role on our feet’s health over time. Your feet will stay healthy if you wear the right footwear that’s designed to keep them clean, dry, and within comfortable temperatures. Keep them warm during the winter season with waterproof socks and boots and let them hang loose with sandals during hot summer days.

Keep a look out Do regular check-ups on your feet to assess their health. If you see anything that might cause concern, consult a qualified podiatrist/ Chiropodist and do not try to fix it by yourself. Doing so may further worsen the condition. You only get one pair of feet, so you need to look after them! With a little bit of maintenance and some tender loving care, they should give you a lifetime of trouble-free walking. To find out more about Paycare and how to claim back money spent on treatment at the Chiropodist visit: www.paycare.org or call 01902 252265.

After a shower or dip in the pool, dry your feet with a washcloth or towel. Athlete’s foot and other foot-infesting fungus tends to thrive in moist environments. Make wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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CHIROPODY & PODIATRY CLINICS

HCPC/STATE REGISTERED

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

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

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

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Park Avenue Clinic 13a Park Avenue Wolverhampton WV1 4AH For an appointment in our refurbished modern surgery please call Tom Casey on 07828 613165 or 01902 833426 For other surgery appointments please call or visit: Evenett & Bishop Opticians 67 High Street Albrighton WV7 3JA 01902 372141 Six Ways Clinic 24 Birmingham Road Walsall WS1 2LT 01922 622521

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Tom’s tip: Tarsal

Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is well-known, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome not so? What is the tarsal tunnel? The tarsal tunnel is a space in the foot formed between bones and overlying fibrous tissue. Within the tarsal tunnel lies a nerve called the posterior tibial nerve. The tarsal tunnel is walled on one side by sturdy bones, and on the other by tough fibrous tissue. What is tarsal tunnel syndrome? Tarsal tunnel syndrome results when the posterior tibial nerve is compressed within the tarsal tunnel. This condition is very similar, in mechanism, to carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist. Both of these conditions result when a nerve is pinched within a confined space. The tarsal tunnel, as mentioned previously, has little room to give. When the space becomes tight, the tibial nerve is pinched.

What are the symptoms of tarsal tunnel syndrome? When the posterior tibial nerve is compressed in the tarsal tunnel, patients commonly complain of numbness over the bottom of the foot, as well as complaints of pain, burning, and tingling over the base of the foot and heel. Occasionally, tarsal tunnel syndrome is confused with plantar fasciitis, or heel spurs. What is the cause of tarsal tunnel syndrome? The cause of tarsal tunnel syndrome is unknown in most cases, but can be the result of fractures, bone spurs, ganglions and other benign tumors, muscle impingement, foot deformities. One of the commonest causes is from excessive pronation (rolling in of the foot).

orthotics/insoles and changes in footwear may also help to relieve the symptoms, and possibly an injection of cortisone into the area around the nerve may release it. If none of these measures helps, then a procedure called a ‘tarsal tunnel release’ may be necessary. This is a surgical procedure performed in the operating room and it lasts about 30 to 45 minutes. When a tarsal tunnel release is performed, an incision is made to open up the tarsal tunnel and decrease pressure on the posterior tibial nerve. This surgery is also very similar to a carpal tunnel release in the wrist. See a Podiatrist for an assessment if you think you have this condition.

What is the treatment of tarsal tunnel syndrome? Treatment begins with antiinflammatory medications,

WOLVERHAMPTON HIP

& KNEE CLINIC

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

MR DAVID SIMPSON CONSULTANT ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON

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

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

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Social Scene

Park House Hotel Shifnal

Royston Blythe held their annual staff party at the Park House Hotel, Shifnal.150 guests including staff, friends and clients were treated to an evening of glamour and glitz. This year`s theme was the Great Gatsby and everyone looked truly fabulous.

1. The Globe Girls.

The evening was hosted by the famous Globe Girls who got everyone into the party spirit and the guests were treated to an array of amazing entertainers. The nightÂ was a roaring success.

2. Nick & Royston. 3. Karen & Nicola Payne. 4. Donna Bradley, James Kelly, David Bradley, Lisa Friend & Rita Mason. 5. Matt Brooks, Jodie Eccleston & Kevin James. 6. Richard Jarzebowski, Anita & Ian Russell & Deborah Jarzebowski. 7. Abi Sheldon & Sophie Beattie. 8. Gez Bailey, Rory Mason, Carly Lewis & Barney. 9. Justas Zagurskas & Warren Bullock.

16. Les & Bill Mooney. 17. Stevie Hosell, Verity Armistead, Julie Bates, Nicola Goodall & Natalie Jassal. 18. Most of the team from Royston Blythe.

Looking for advice on cosmetic surger y?

10. Nicolle & Chris Rimmer. 11. Luke Boyden & Luke Grimley. 12. Richard Miles & Katie Carpenter. 13. Yvette Brentnall, Luke Grimley & Tracy Doughty. 14. Valerie & Rod Badland. 15. Caroline Boydell, Luke Boyden & Lisa Marren. 114

Book a FREE 10 minute one-to-one chat with a consultant at our next cosmetic events on Tuesday 17th March 2015 and Monday 27th April 2015. Please call 0845 603 4346 to book your place.

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Social Scene

17 www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

18 115

PERRY and PHILLIPS Auction report for 3rd February 2015

hinged cover surmounted by a figure of Triton blowing a horn. It sold for £4000 plus buyer’s premium at the auction with several bidders taking part. There were many items of silver in the auction such as a Punch Bowl, Tea Caddy and others all sold well. Another item which had a lot of interested bidders was a French Walnut Gilt metal mounted fall front Bureau with fitted interior, the opening bid was £400 but it eventually sold for £1400 plus buyer’s premium. It was

Perry and Phillips always hold their auctions on the first Tuesday of the month and the start is 10.30am. Viewing for the auction is held on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday prior to the auction. The February Auction did not have the usual amount of lots probably because of the Christmas break, but what we did have was quality. We only had 240 lots when there would normally be over 400, but even so the auction was very well attended and had a very good atmosphere. The auctions are usually well attended I think partly because of the tea rooms, which firstly is very comfortable but more importantly because the food is excellent. The most exciting item was a silver ornamental inkstand by Paul Storr

dated 1829. Paul Storr (1771-1844) was probably the best regarded Silversmith of his era. He was noted for his outstanding craftsmanship and produced richly decorated ornamental works especially in silver. A noted example was a Presentation Cup given to Admiral Nelson for his Victory of the Nile in 1798 which is in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. The Inkstand pictured below was of naturalistic shell form with

in very good order - a really attractive piece of furniture. There was a collection of Beswick figures which sold well including a rare Beswick Seated Hare and a Hereford Bull, Cow and Calf and as always, there was a large collection of jewellery which included an 18ct White Gold Diamond and Sapphire Ring, 1914 Sovereign ring in 9ct gold mount and several lots of boxes of costume jewellery all having many interested bidders and selling well. All in all, an extremely successful auction, which was very well attended with the internet attracting successful bidders from Malta, Italy, New Zealand, Turkey, USA and Ireland; we were therefore busy packing and posting for the rest of the week! Our next auction is Tuesday 3rd March and we are open for viewing all over the weekend prior to the auction. Perry & Phillips, Old Mill Auction Rooms, Mill Street, Low Town, Bridgnorth WV15 5AG. Telephone 01746 762248

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wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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

TEL 01746 762248

ANTIQUE AND SELECTED FURNITURE AND COLLECTABLES AUCTIONS NEXT AUCTIONS Tuesday 3rd March Tuesday 7th April Tuesday 5th May

VIEWING

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

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Accepted up until 10 days prior to Auction

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Registered Charity No. 512387

Family Camp out & Activity Weekend Friday 21st – Sunday 23rd August 2015 Pause the computer games, put down the smart phones and shut the lids on those laptops… This summer’s Compton Hospice Fundraising event is all about family time! Bring the whole clan and join the hospice team as they set up camp in the heart of the picturesque Kinver Scout woods from Friday 21st-Sunday 23rd August 2015. Pitch your tent and enjoy a range of crafts and activities including archery and rifle shooting - all for one great price! Let mum master the climbing wall, while dad tries his hand at African drumming and the kids go all Ray Mears in our bushcraft sessions. Alternatively simply soak up the sun and get back to nature as you and your family explore the woodland glades away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. To round things off why not join in the Compton Campfire, complete with a traditional singalong (full weekend campers only). Make this summer one to remember and sign up today! Proceeds go towards Compton Hospice. (Day passes and full weekend without camping tickets also available. Tents not provided for weekend campers.)

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wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd August 2015

PLEASE FILL IN CAPITAL LETTERS DETAILS

Name……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………DOB………………………………………………… (must be over 16 to attend alone, however under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over ) Address……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Postcode…………………………… Tel no.(Day)…………………………………………………………………(mobile)…………………………………………………………………………………… Email address………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Names of other persons in your group: 1…………………………………………………………………………………………………………DOB (If under 18)……………………………………………… 2…………………………………………………………………………………………………………DOB (If under 18)……………………………………………… 3…………………………………………………………………………………………………………DOB (If under 18)……………………………………………… 4…………………………………………………………………………………………………………DOB (If under 18)……………………………………………… DECLARATION ** I understand that I will be responsible for anyone under the age of 18 in my party ** ** I understand that single and group photographs may be taken of myself and my household at Compton Hospice events and I am happy for any photographs to be used for Compton Hospice marketing and future publications** ** I and my family are physically fit enough to take part in this event and have no underlying medical conditions that would prevent us from taking part** ** I agree to the terms & conditions printed overleaf**

Signed……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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The digital revolution

and what it means

f o r your wi l l

There are very few people who have not been affected by the digital revolution. Most of us have email accounts, are members of social networks like Facebook and Twitter, have digital photo and music collections, online shopping, banking or investment accounts, or deal with our utility bills electronically. It may make your life simple in day-to-day terms but what happens to those digital assets if you die or can’t manage your own affairs anymore?

Even if they know your passwords, it’s not just a simple case of allowing your appointed executors or relatives to take on or close accounts, advised solicitor Sophie Yates, from West Midlands law firm FBC Manby Bowdler. Sophie, who specialises in wills, estates, and Lasting Powers of Attorney, is seeing an increasing number of people who are making provision for digital assets in their wills or power of attorney applications. She said: “Although the digital revolution has swept up nearly

everyone in the world in one way or another, protecting our digital assets is a relatively new phenomenon.

“Always make sure you have a back up such as storing photos on disc or hard copies.

“No-one wants to lose that valuable online photo library or other information, possibly held in a ‘cloud’ service. Online service providers have varying policies and some will allow accounts to be closed down but others require death certificates and other paperwork.

“There are no hard and fast rules in terms of protecting our digital assets at the moment as it is still a relatively new concept for most people. However, leaving a digital inheritance is now a reality for nearly everyone and should be given as much consideration as our physical possessions.”

“In some cases, your content may actually be owned by the online service providers – it’s usually mentioned in the extensive terms and conditions that many people skip over – so that can be another complication.” But Sophie said there are practical steps people can take in their will to ensure that their digital assets can be accessed, transferred or stored.

FBC Manby Bowdler has offices in Wolverhampton, Willenhall, Shrewsbury, Telford and Bridgnorth. For more information or advice, please contact Sophie Yates on s.yates@fbcmb.co.uk or Will Jones on w.jones@fbcmb. co.uk or call 01902 578000.

“Wills often refer to personal possessions and you can include a clause defining this to include digital assets that are held online and leave clear instructions about what you would like to happen to them.

Sophie Yates

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“It is worth keeping a list of accounts and passwords in a sealed envelope with your will so that your executors can access your various digital accounts. wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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If you’re looking for a way to watch your savings grow, take a look at Dudley Building Society’s most recent Two Year Fixed Rate Bond. With an interest rate of 2.0% gross per annum and 1.60% Net, this is a fantastic opportunity to give your existing savings that extra helping hand, encouraging them to flourish. A fixed bond is a type of savings account which lasts for a set period of time during which you don’t have access to the funds. Regardless of whether the Bank of England base rate changes, you can be safe in the knowledge that your interest rate won’t change, therefore you won’t ever be accruing less than what you initially signed up for. These types of accounts are ideal for those of you that have a lump sum that you won’t need to access over the next two years. As you can’t add to it once the initial deposit has been made, it is best to pay in as much as you can afford when opening the account. Dudley Building Society has been providing mortgages and savings accounts for over 150 years, and they aren’t about to stop now. Dedicated to offering fantastic customer service and ensuring that all products and services are designed and offered with the best interests of its customers in mind, you can be sure that by joining Dudley Building Society you will be well looked after. 122

With just a one off minimum deposit of £5,000 you can open your own Two Year Fixed Rate Bond and enjoy the rewards as your interest gets paid into an alternative bank or building society or a different Dudley Building Society account. With the maximum investment towards this account being £500,000 (representing the overall limit of savings with the Society for each individual) your potential savings could be quite a sizeable figure by the end of the product term.

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Whether you are looking to save for a house, wedding, children’s education or even just to invest the savings you already have, this product is ideal. Having a two year fixed term, this offer is long enough to provide you with a substantial reward at the end, but short enough to ensure that your funds aren’t tied up for a long period of time – providing great flexibility.

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new and existing customers over the age of 16 residing in the UK. So if you are interested in saving with Dudley Building Society please call one of our friendly local advisors today on 01384 231414, or visit one of our local branches located in; Brierley Hill 107 High Street, Brierley Hill, DY5 3AU

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wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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123

Education

and Schooling

by David Williams – Headmaster of Tettenhall College knowledge has rightly come under scrutiny. Yet as with all change, the path can be complex and far from straightforward and we have to be careful about rushing headlong into this “Brave New World”. At Tettenhall College we are about to embark on considerable investment in our ICT infrastructure, with decisions and priorities being established in a strategic plan to ensure the best outcomes for our pupils in and out of the classroom. As with all educational change, this should be the key driver-”iPads or laptops for all” can often be code for a marketing ploy to suggest a forward-thinking school when the real question should be “how do these devices benefit pupils’ learning?” Are they expensive machines used for simple, mundane tasks or are they enabling pupils to genuinely collaborate with each other and make their learning more interesting and stimulating? How does the work using mobile devices inject creativity into the curriculum? Do we teach ICT or embed it in our delivery of subjects? What about computer science which the government has boldly put in our curriculum?

As educators we are regularly being told that we are preparing young people for a world of constant change. It has almost become a cliché to mention the fact that the jobs for which we are preparing them for do not even exist yet, although we all accept that for most the idea of a “job for life” will not be a reality for many leaving our schools in the early 21st Century. As with any point in history, there are opportunities for many as new industries develop but threats for others as shifts in trends change the face of business and the world around us. One only has to look at the supermarket and music industries to see how quickly certainties and powerful positions can crumble as we change our habits and transfer loyalties elsewhere. Technology is at the heart of this; the internet and digital development has revolutionised our way of looking at the world and interacting with each other. Schools and teachers themselves find themselves challenged by the likes of the Khan Academy, providing online and personalised learning. The old model of teacher in front of class imparting 124

In consulting with parents about technological change one finds mixed responses with, on the one hand, an acknowledgement that digital learning ought to be at the heart of a modern education but, on the other, worries about the health risks attached to WiFi, excessive screen use in leisure time, the need for tight and robust user policies and education on internet safety. Teachers are keen to embrace the new opportunities to engage learners but rightly put the emphasis on their subject or age group needs and adequate training. Pupils have also expressed their views about how technology can be best used to share, collaborate and have access to course materials outside the school environment. A personal feeling is one of excitement faced with this changing landscape but I am not convinced we will see an end to the school model as we know it. The need to interact with fellow human beings, be inspired and supported by teachers and fellow pupils in a school community has surely not had its day. However, there is no doubting the immense potential for enhancing the educational offering as schools are no longer playing catch up with developments in technology but able to embrace them and enhance pupils’ learning with relevant use of ICT in the classroom. wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Take a

closer look…

Tettenhall College is there for every step of your child’s educational journey, taking them from nursery to A levels and a successful future in the world beyond the classroom. From the youngest child’s first drawing, to seeing our 6th form pupils gain entry to top universities we share your pride in their every achievement along the way. Welly walks, outdoor adventures and creative play led by our passionate team of experienced teaching staff ensure an early enthusiasm for learning amongst our youngest children. They settle quickly into their new surroundings, making the most of the unique environment, and develop in confidence whilst enjoying exceptional opportunities in music, drama and sport. Once

again our Early Years including Reception was judged as Outstanding in our latest ISI inspection. Reading is an important part of school life and a love of books is developed at an early age thanks to our wonderful library and exciting literature-based programme. Teachers listen to their pupils read every day and book clubs and mentoring sessions with older pupils help to accelerate their progress in the core skills. Pupils from both schools will be taking part in the TC Year of Reading 2015 which is being launched on World Book Day next month. During this special year they will enjoy author visits, awards and a new Preparatory School Book Club all designed to bring reading to life and encourage a love of a books. Music, drama and performing arts are also strengths of Tettenhall College for both Senior School and Preparatory School. Alongside performances in our very own Towers Theatre, our pupils frequently support full-scale professional productions at The Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton. Our choirs have been selected to perform on a variety of international stages including Disneyland Paris, Cologne and Frankfurt Cathedrals. We were also recently delighted

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by the achievements of our pupils in English Speaking Board Exams, where they were among the top performers in the country. This year our GCSE and A level results were excellent and our sixth formers all progressed to the University of their choice including amongst others Oxford, Bath and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. It is a special moment when teachers see the pupils that they have taught since they were four years old leave the School inspired, confident and ready for the next challenge. Tettenhall College is truly an amazing school to be part of. With a family atmosphere that nurtures individuals and provides outstanding opportunities there is a buzz amongst the school which is hard to describe. Why not come and see beyond the walls, take a closer look and find out more about what makes this such a special place to be. Everyone is welcome this Open Day on the 5th March from 10.00am – 1.00pm or 5.00pm – 7.30pm. For further information and to find out more about what we can offer your child please contact our Admissions team at the School on 01902 751119. 127

Leading the way from Art to Bio-Medics Art at Shrewsbury High School, says the workshops are an excellent way for the students to get first hand advice from experienced artists in a variety of different fields, “we are always extremely lucky that talented artists from all different artistic backgrounds give up their time to come and inspire the girls with their work – it is an invaluable part of the Art Department’s teaching and benefits our young artists immensely”.

A Portrait Masterclass for SHS Sixth Form students

The Spring Term at Shrewsbury High School is well underway and from the Art Department to the Science Laboratories, pupils have been kept busy with ambitious workshops and inspiring guest speakers. Following its recent win at the Independent School Awards for its sports collaboration at both the Prep and Senior departments, Shrewsbury High School has continued to set the bar extremely high in other areas of its provision. The Art Department, with an established reputation for extremely talented artists and its Sixth Form Art Show now a highly anticipated event on the School’s calendar, has been inviting guest artists into School to demonstrate and inspire its students in a variety of artistic techniques. Its Year 11 pupils welcomed Jenny Gunning to the School who taught the girls the art of printmaking whilst Year 12 & 13 Fine Art students had a masterclass with portrait artist John Denaro whose tips and advice helped the girls produce some beautiful self-portraits. Local photographer Lucy Lawrence also invited the Sixth Formers to her studio in Shrewsbury for a photography workshop. Mark Warner, Head of 128

The School’s Biomedical Society is similarly engaged with introducing students to experienced professionals in the medical world and was thrilled to welcome Professor Wagih El Masri to address prospective medical students from Years 9 to 13, in a talk entitled ‘Traumatic Spinal Injury - The Nature of the Beast’. After over 40 years in the highly specialised field of treating spinal injuries, Professor El Masri has had an impact on the lives of thousands of people. He retired from Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital last year after 31 years of distinguished service and is currently Clinical Professor of Spinal Injuries at Keele University. Addressing an audience of students from both the High School and from around Shropshire, the lecture provided a wonderful opportunity for the pupils to gain an insight into a fascinating field of medicine from one of its pioneers.

Professor El Masri also highlighted the transitional housing project at Oswestry as a facility to aid spinal injury patients in becoming independent again. During her vote of thanks, Biomedical Society President, Sarah Gentle, encouraged members of the audience to support the work of ‘Transhouse’ and donations can be made at http://transhouse. info/wp/ for this vital initiative.

The lecture from Professor El Masri is the latest in a series of lectures and conferences held by the SHS Biomedical Society, which aims to support all prospective students considering careers in medical health care. The Year 13 students are mentored through weekly tutorials, regular interview practice and 1:1 support as they compete for highly sought after places at top medical, veterinary and dental schools. The Year 13 committee plays an active role in planning the programme and liaising with younger girls, acting as mentors themselves. The Society has ambitious plans to develop and build its programme over the coming months. For more information on Shrewsbury High School, please contact Sharon Jones, Admissions Officer, on 01743 494 038, email admissions@shr.gdst.net or visit www.shrewsburyhigh.gdst.net

Professor Wagih S El Masri and members of the SHS Biomedical Society

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

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local Choir to perform brahms Requiem in St John’s Church, Wolverhampton Following their highly acclaimed performance of Handel’s Messiah back in November 2014, the Wombourne and District Choral Society are now busy practising for their next concert which will feature Brahms Requiem. This Requiem is not primarily a Mass for the dead. Instead, it is intended as comfort for those who mourn and who feel the pain of the death of others. By the time he began writing the work in 1865; Brahms had just experienced such loss extremely personally: his mother had died that very same year.

The concert will be held on Saturday 28th March 2015 at St John’s Church in the Square in Wolverhampton WV2 4AT, commencing at 7.30pm. The choir will be accompanied by a piano duet (Samantha Carrasco and Nicholas Salwey) together with guest soprano and baritone soloists, all conducted by the choir’s Musical Director, Ian Clarke. Light refreshments will be available in the interval and tickets are £12 each with children under 18 free. Tickets can be bought from choir members, calling 01902 744447 or by buying at the door on the night.

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Wombourne & District Choral Society is a well-established, mixed choir of some 80 singers, drawn from the local area and has a varied repertoire, mainly full classical works, often performed with soloists and an orchestra. Recent local performances by the choir include ‘The Ages of Man’ including ‘Childhood Lyrics’ by John Rutter, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ ‘A Sea Symphony’, Joseph Jongen’s ‘Mass Op130’ and Bruckner Motets. Patron of the choir is John Rutter, the renowned and popular choral composer. New singers are always welcome to the choir. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings, 7.30 to 9.30pm during term time at The King’s School, Regis Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, WV6 8XG. For more information, contact our Membership Secretary, Carol Dixon at cagsdixon@gmail.com

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wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

is Vocabulary

really as crucial as we think in 11+ exams and English GCSE exams? Vocabulary is the metaphorical key to the door of educational opportunity. Without understanding sophisticated, elegant and challenging words students who are preparing for 11+ exams, SATs exams and English GCSE exams will struggle to be successful. However, in a world where children simply do not read as regularly as they should, how can vocabulary be as strong as it should be? The answer is by using my English vocabulary flash cards. They are 300 cards with sophisticated

words, definitions, sentences with key words and synonyms and antonyms. I am very proud of these cards and I know the difference that they make to my students.

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• Gas boilers fixed and installed • Gas hobs/cookers • Gas fires • Gas appliance servicing • Landlord certificates • Plumbing problems • Leaks • Power flushing

Fast reliable service at competitive prices Call Jamie on: 07931 752038 or 01902 758073 Email: Jbheatinginwolverhampton.co.uk 8 Cunningham Road, Perton, Wolverhampton WV6 7XJ www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

135

Four legs good,

two legs better By Rob Taylor

To not be firing on all cylinders is an idiom that has obvious etymology in internal combustion. All ensuing metaphorical use is firmly focused upon underscoring any given person or things’ inability to work at optimum performance. Indeed you might even say - as my editor did that I now embody said expression of underperformance by choosing this very opening to my roadtest for the brand new Seat Leon or, for the sake of pedants everywhere: Seat Leon SC FR 1.4 TSI ACT 150PS. But, please, do bear with me. The car made me do it. Now let me explain: I know this defence is probably unfamiliar to you unless you have very young children, but it’s perfectly valid in the case of this third generation Leon because of its cylinder shutdown system, Active Cylinder Technology (ACT), which sees this four-pot run on just two cylinders whenever opportunity presents. This car is a rule breaker that is hell-bent on challenging the status quo and leaving truisms lying in its wake. Obviously there is good, sound reasoning behind this: fuel savings 136

and emissions reduction to name but two. This is borne out in the stats: 58.9 mpg and 109 g/km Co2 in a car that can hit 60 mph in 7.9 seconds, before topping out at 134 mph. These numbers were unthinkable when I first started driving some 15 years ago - just five years ago it was stretching things. Today such a harmonious marriage of parsimony and power is intoxicating. So too is the way this thing looks. Flanked with optional full-LED lights, the Leon’s arrow-head prow and sexy coupe lines (you can have this Leon as a regular hatch or estate ST as well) not only spear swiftly through time and space, but they fire Cupid’s bow straight at your heart. Or it does in my case anyway. Whether or not that had to do with it being delivered to me in mid-February is anyone’s guess. Sitting on a slightly shorter wheelbase than the hatch, the SC loses very little in the way of practically to its five-door brother: bootspace is the same at 380 litres and reduced head and legroom is negligible. And did I mention how good it looks? What’s far less subjective however is the level of kit on offer for your

£19,700. And what’s most impressive among the copious cavalcade of features is the clever stuff designed to keep you safe: as well as the prognosticating headlights there’s Multi-Collision Brake, which prevents further collisions in the aftermath of an accident by automatically applying the brakes; Tiredness Recognition, which quite literally analyses drivers to detect tiredness; Lane Assist, which applies a small amount of torque to the steering wheel to encourage corrective steering action when drifting out of lane; XDS, electronic limited slip differential, and an omniscient Optical Park System. The Leon in FR spec is chock full of as-standard lovelies like 17inch alloy wheels, LED tail lights, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, tinted rear windows, electric folding mirrors, an eight-speaker stereo and front sports seats. The cabin has a distinctive sporting bent and feels incredibly well built. The infotainment systems are user-friendly and intuitively designed. What’s more the seats are supportive and comfortable over long distance, as is the ride. Limitations of grip will seldom be found in normal conditions and there’s real fun to be had behind the wheel, as the driver-focus of the Formula Racing (FR) badge really comes to the fore when things get twisty. Make no mistake this car can really perform at its zenith, but whenever modern driving conditions mitigate this the Leon will kick back and chill out to save you money. It’s the car for every occasion.

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

Tyre Pressure

Monitoring Systems Vehicle technology is ever evolving and the latest innovation to hit the road is Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems.

also helps with performance such as shorter braking distances and a lower risk of aquaplaning.

This new safety feature for your car will be included on all new cars rolling off the production lines from 1st January 2015. This cutting edge system will also be included in changes to MOT test if your car was registered in 2012 or later.

What is TMPS?

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Due to the cutting edge technology in each wheel and tyre specialist equipment is needed to reset and correct your TPMS sensor once a tyre is changed. Each car manufacturer uses a different sensor so there are now over 150 different sensor models on the market. It is crucial that you pick a trusted reputable garage with the correct training and equipment. HiQ Wolverhampton Fast Fit technicians are trained to fit TPMS tyres and also have the correct equipment to ensure that your TPMS system is running safely.

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A Tyre Pressure Monitoring system constantly measures your tyre pressures through a transmitter in all four tyres to ensure they are safe to drive on. The car will give a warning on the dashboard if the pressure drops below the manufacture recommended pressures. As well as pressures, it also measures the temperature of your tyres to ensure they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get too hot. It

This innovative technology helps save you time and money as you will no longer have to carry out your regular tyre pressure checks as the car will notify you when more air needs to be added. Not only this, it will also help save money as well as time as by running your tyres at the recommended pressure helps improve your fuel efficiency and reduction in wear on your tyres.

Choosing the Right Garage

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13/02/2015 12:38

137

The new Mercedes-AMG GT:

Driving performance for sports car enthusiasts

Affalterbach. The first Mercedes was a racing car, its most recent successor carries this heritage forward: with the new Mercedes-AMG GT, the Mercedes-AMG sports car brand is moving into a new, topclass sports car segment for the company.

performance with superb everyday practicality, and efficiency that sets new standards in the segment. It has everything you would expect from an authentic Mercedes-AMG sports car – from the characteristic styling, thoroughbred motorsport technology to the optimum weight distribution. The drive system tailored consistently to driving

dynamics perfectly complements this set-up. The centrepiece of the Mercedes-AMG GT, the new 4.0-litre V8 biturbo, responds instantly with extreme power right from low revs and delivers outstanding performance. Top figures such as 3.8 seconds from zero to 62 mph and a top speed of 193 mph, combined with

The GT is the second sports car developed entirely in-house by Mercedes-AMG. Its front midengine concept with transaxle and the intelligent aluminum lightweight construction forms the basis for a highly dynamic driving experience. Liikewise its newly developed AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine underscores the hallmark AMG driving performance. The first sports car engine with internally mounted turbochargers (‘hot inside V’) and dry sump lubrication is configured in two output ratings: as a GT with 462 hp and as a GT S with 510 hp. The new GT combines driving dynamics and first-class racetrack 138

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

the outstanding driving dynamics will undoubtedly translate into extremely fast laps on the racetrack. At the same time, the two-seater is a straightforward, comfortable

and reliable companion for everyday motoring thanks to its practical tailgate, easily accessible luggage compartment, high level of comfort on long journeys and the extensive Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive assistance systems. “With the new Mercedes-AMG GT, we are venturing out into a challenging sports car segment with

its top-class competitive field. This is an incentive and motivation for us at the same time to prove to sports car enthusiasts around the world the kind of performance that AMG

of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “With its technological substance, the Mercedes-AMG GT fulfils our high aspirations with regard to driving dynamics, agility and sportiness.

is capable of,” says Prof Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

The new GT is the second sports car developed fully independently by Mercedes-AMG. The car is manufactured according to the motto ‘Handcrafted by Racers’ - which perfectly encapsulates our heritage and our spirit.”

“With the new GT we are positioning Mercedes-AMG even more aggressively than to date as a dynamic sports car brand,” says Tobias Moers, CEO

Peter Smith, General Manager Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton, added “The arrival of the new Mercedes-Benz AMG GT has taken our AMG Range to a whole new level.” “Here at Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton we are delighted to have recently opened our state of the art New AMG Performance Centre which is officially the largest Mercedes-Benz AMG Showroom in the UK. In these all new stylish settings, we think you will be inspired by our AMG Range available. I would like to personally invite you into the showroom where I can welcome you to the exclusive world of AMG. To arrange an appointment or book a test drive in any of our exclusive models “Please call our sales team on 01902 427897.”

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

139

A new chapter for the Volvo XC90

2015 is already looking to be an exciting year for Brindley Volvo as the highly anticipated all-new XC90 will arrive at the Stourbridge and Wolverhampton dealerships from April. The new XC90 marks the beginning of a new chapter in Volvo’s history, capturing its future design direction, incorporating its own range of new technologies and utilising its new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) technology. Volvo Cars UK were able to preview the all-new XC90 to a range of customers and from feedback already received, a number of additions have been made available to order. Principle changes have been the introduction into the UK of the 320hp T6 petrol engine and the addition in the availability of the auxiliary heater on the D5. The auxiliary heater, standard on the T8 Twin Engine, allows the driver to pre-condition the vehicle cabin to a set temperature so that it is ready for when the car is required. The XC90’s interior is the most luxurious to have been designed for 140

a Volvo. The most striking feature is a tablet-like touch screen control console, which forms the heart of an all-new in-car control system. This system is virtually button free, a simplicity that opens up generous surfaces and gives the opportunity to create a modern, luxurious interior architecture. The new model offers a range of two-litre, four-cylinder Drive-E powertrains, all of which provide an outstanding combination of performance and fuel-efficiency. The top of the range XC90 Twin Engine, which combines a supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, offers an unrivalled combination of power and clean operation: around 400 horsepower with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of 64 g/km (NEDC driving cycle). Normal driving is conducted in the default hybrid mode. But at the push of a button the driver can switch to quiet and emission-free city driving on pure electric power where the range will be around 40 kilometres, and then, when needed, immediately revert back to the combined capacity of the petrol engine and electric motor. Combined

maximum torque is over 600 Nm, making the XC90 accelerate from 0 to 100 in 6.4 seconds. The all-new XC90 offers the most comprehensive and technologically sophisticated standard safety package available in the automotive industry. It includes two world first safety technologies: a run-off road protection package and auto brake at intersection capability. It’s the first car in the world with technology that features automatic braking if the driver turns in front of an oncoming car - a common scenario at busy crossings. In a run-off road scenario, the XC90 detects what is happening and the front safety belts are tightened to keep the occupants in position. To help prevent spine injuries, energy-absorbing functionality between the seat and seat frame cushions the vertical forces that can arise when the car encounters a hard landing in the terrain. For more information on the XC90 and other Volvo models available, or to pre order your car now, call 01384 849216 (Stourbridge), 01902 690727 (Wolverhampton) or visit www.brindley4volvo.co.uk

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

The Brand New Volvo XC90 is coming soon. Reserve yours now.

The all-new XC90 comes from Sweden. It’s bold, yet not brash. It exudes power and conﬁdence with subtlety. Its imposing presence is elegant and understated.

STANDARD FEATURES: • City safety with front collision warning & autobrake • Pedestrian & cyclist detection • Rear collision mitigation • Driver alert control with lane departure warning • Road sign information • Sensus navigation

• 8 speed automatic • LED active bending headlights • Leather faced upholstery • 8˝ active TFT crystal driver information display • Power opening tailgate with handsfree opening

The Brand New VOLVO XC90 from £45,785

For full specification and model variants please visit: www.volvocars.com/uk/all-cars/all-new-volvo-xc90 Official fuel consumption for the All-New Volvo XC90 in mpg (l/100km) [excluding T8 Twin Engine – full figures not yet available]: Urban: 28.8 (9.8) – 45.6 (6.2), Extra Urban: 40.4 (7.0) – 52.3 (5.4), Combined 35.3 (8.0) - 49.6 (5.7). CO2 Emissions 64 - 186g/km.

BRINDLEY WOLVERHAMPTON

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BRINDLEY STOURBRIDGE Grange Lane, Lye, Stourbridge DY9 7HH www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Tel. 01384 849216 www.brindley4volvo.co.uk 141

THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ

C 350 PLUG-IN HYBRID:

Efficiency, dynamism and comfort – the best of three worlds

Following its premiere in the S-Class, Mercedes-Benz is now offering its most advanced hybrid technology yet in the C-Class and, for the first time, also in an Estate model. The dynamism and efficiency of the C 350 PLUG-IN HYBRID make it a convincing proposition in both its Saloon and its Estate guise. Following the C 300 BlueTEC HYBRID, the C 350 PLUG-IN HYBRID is the second hybrid model in the new C-Class and the second Mercedes-Benz model to feature PLUG-IN HYBRID technology. Thanks to the combination of combustion engine and electric drive, hybrid drive systems deliver impressive low consumption, but with high performance. The electric motor is able to replace or support the combustion engine in

situations where the combustion engine does not perform quite so well, and makes practical use of energy generated while braking by converting it into electric energy and storing it. The C 350 PLUG-IN HYBRID uses the currently most advanced form of hybrid technology. Its electrical energy storage unit is a highvoltage lithium-ion battery with a total capacity of 6.2 kWh, which can be charged from an external power source and so makes an effective contribution to the low consumption and emission figures. The battery is water-cooled, weighs around 100 kilograms and is mounted in a sheet steel housing underneath the rear axle in order to maximise crash safety, driving dynamics and boot space. Thanks to an intelligent on-board charging system, the battery can be recharged in around 1 hour 45 minutes at a wall box or at one of the growing number of public charging points (230 V, 16 A, 3.7 kW single-phase), which in some cases offer privileged parking. Alternatively, charging via a standard domestic socket is of course also possible. Depending on the connection, a charge time of around two hours is achievable (with 230 V and 13 A, 3.0 kW). Despite the space taken up by the battery, the C 350 PLUG-IN HYBRID still has a boot capacity of 335 litres in its Saloon format and of 350 in the Estate model, or in the latter case of 1370 litres

142

with the rear-seat backrests folded down and, as ever, a level load compartment floor. PLUG-IN HYBRID for the first time now with fourcylinder petrol engine In the new Mercedes-Benz C 350 PLUG-IN HYBRID, this hybrid drive concept is combined for the first time with an efficient four-cylinder petrol engine. From a displacement of just under two litres, it produces 211 hp and maximum torque of 350 newton metres. Its direct injection system with spray-guided combustion uses electronically precise controlled multiple injection and fast multi-spark ignition to deliver outstanding performance coupled with high efficiency and exemplary emissions. The electric motor of the C 350 PLUG-IN HYBRID has an output of up to 60 kW and delivers torque of 340 newton metres. A total system output of 279 hp, as well as torque of 600 newton metres, are thus available to be called upon. Peter Smith, General Manager of Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton, added “This incredible new C 350 Hybrid has added even more excitement to our range. The technology throughout the model is simply breath-taking. We are all looking forward to the arrival of the new C 350 Hybrid at the dealership so we can showcase it to our customers. You can pre-book a test drive today by calling us on 01902 427897. “

wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

The new C-Class 350 Hybrid. Technology at its very finest.

ton Dray

Introducing the new C 350 PLUG-IN HYBRID, the second model in the new C-Class range to feature the PLUG-IN HYBRID technology. Thanks to the combination of combustion engine and electric drive, hybrid drive systems deliver impressive low consumption, but with high performance. Get familiar with some of the specification... Silent start: the vehicle starts virtually silently and runs in electric mode. At this point the combustion engine is generally held inactive. Electric output of up to 60 kW is available for driving in all-electric mode. Boost: the electric motor kicks in to boost the output of the combustion engine by a further 60 kW â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for example for rapid acceleration. Energy recuperation: during braking and coasting, energy is recovered and stored in the battery. This energy can then be used at a later stage for electric driving or the boost function.

For more information on this outstanding new model, call us on 01902 276977. Drayton Group

Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton Penn Road, Wolverhampton WV2 4HD 01902 276977 www.draytongroup.co.uk

Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the A-Class range: urban 32.1(8.8)-67.3(4.2), extra urban www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk 48.7(5.8)-88.3(3.2), combined 40.9(6.9)-78.5(3.6). CO2 emissions 165-92 g/km.

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wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015

WHY PAY DEALERSHIP PRICES TO SERVICE

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Airport, Transfers & Executive Travel Image Luxury Travel 121 Perton & Bridgnorth Travel 54 Appliances Electrical / Gas Capital Appliances 49 Antiques & Auctioneers Old Mill Antiques 109 Perry & Phillips 117 Awnings Castle Blinds 37 Love Your Blinds 39/52 Val Hever Blinds 43/57 Bathrooms Carvers 19 Eaton Kitchens 33 Roman Bathrooms 27 Wall Heath Bathrooms 17 Beds & Bedroom Furniture Chasewood 51 Interiors Italia 28/29 Woodrobes 13 Beauty Clinics – Cosmetic Medi Visage 89/96 Blinds/Curtains/Shutters Blyth Group 25 Castle Blinds 37 Creative Interiors 16 Love Your Blinds 39 Love Your Shutters 52 Val Hever Blinds 43/57 Virgo 22 Building Services/Contractors Build a Solution 56 Three Pines 35 Building Societies Dudley Building Society 123 Butchers Allan Bennett 66 R J Hipkiss & Sons 65 Carpet Cleaning Specialists Touch Dry 53 Carpets & Flooring (Supply & Fit) 53 1st Choice Flooring Blyth Group 25 Virgo Carpets & Interiors 22 Car Sales/Service Brindley Volvo 141 Church Road Motors 144 Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton 143 Fish & Chip Shops Blue Submarine 67 Chiropody & Podiatry Tom Casey 112 Composite Doors Doorsmart 45 Computer Services Finchfield IT 55 Delicatessen Apley Farm Shop 70 Corbelli 66/81 Dentistry Denture Clinic 107 Parkside Dental Surgery 103 Simply Dentures 2 Total Implant Solutions 95 146

Debt Collection Services JB Credit Services 134 Design & Print Synaxis Design Consultancy 55 The Studio 58 Diet & Slimming Cambridge Diet 92 Education Learn More 4 A 131 Tettenhall College 125 The Royal School 131 Shrewsbury School 129 Electricians/Electrical Contractors Excel Electrical Contractors 134 Fitzgerald Electrical 135 Electrical Suppliers Geo-E-Davies 52 Entertainments & Leisure Apley Farm 70 Estate Agents Berriman Eaton 9 Fencing & Gates Profence 63 Financial & Legal Services Later Life Protection 50 Fireplaces/Stoves Flaming Fires 17 Wolverhampton Fireplaces 13 Fitness/Leisure Centres Chris Jewkes Fitness 93 South Staffordshire Leisure 126/130 Funeral Directors M Jackson & Son 54 Furniture/Furnishings Blyth Group 25 Creative Interiors 16 Chasewood Interiors 51 Interiors Italia 28/29 Sofa Factory Outlet 31 Virgo Carpets & Interiors 22 Garage Services Church Road Motors 144 Four Ashes Renault 145 HiQ Tyres 137 Garden Design Boningale Garden Creations 61 Gardening/Landscaping Codsall & Wergs Garden Centre 58 Lealans Garden Centre 59 Glass & Hardware Specialists Tech Alum System 47 Golf Clubs Wergs Golf Club 133 Hairdressers Salon 27 91 Stargaze 144 Urban 97 Health Care Cover Paycare 111 Hospices Compton Hospice 118 Hospitals (Private) Nuffield 105 Independent Financial Advisers Midland Financial Services 14/15

Interior Designers Blyth Group 25 Creative Interiors 16 Virgo Carpets & Interiors 22 Italian Deli Corbelli’s 64/81 Jewellers T.A.Henn 7 Kitchen Doors (Replacement) Dream Doors 41 Kitchens (Supply, design & fit) Carvers Building Supplies 19 Dream Doors 41 Eaton Kitchens 33 Roman Bathrooms 27 Legal Services Manby Bowdler Solicitors 121 Letting Agents Berriman Eaton 9 Locksmiths Cummings Brothers 135 Logs for Sale D S Buckle Ltd 43 Luxury Travel Image Luxury Travel 121 Music Lessons Rick Hampton 58 Opticians Taylor Biddle 102 Orthopaedic Surgery Wolverhampton Hip & Knee Clinic 113 Painters / Decorators Kevin Jackson 135 Plumbing & Heating JB Plumbing & Heating 135 Restaurants/Pubs Bravaccios 78 Halfpenny Green Vineyards 69 Kings Repose 78 Patshull Park 73 Shrewsbury Arms 75 Sir Jack’s 72 Wergs Golf Club 74 Wombourne Tandoori 75 Skip Hire Wolverhampton Skip Hire 134 Theatres The Grand Theatre 71/148 Tiles & Interiors Heart of Stone 39 Tile Choice 5 Tyres Hi Q Tyres 137 Vehicle Hire 4 x 4 Vehicle Hire 147 Vineyard & Craft Centre Halfpenny Green Vineyards 69 Water - Armani Mineral Corbelli 64/81 Wedding Venues/Function Rooms Albrighton Hall 79 Patshull Park 73 Wergs Golf Club 82 WWFC 85 Windows & Conservatories Tettenhall Windows 21

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Great Theatre at the Grand! TUES 10 - SAT 14 MARCH

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BOOK ONLINE AT www.grandtheatre.co.uk wolverhampton west magazine | march 2015