Wolverhampton West Magazine - November 2016 - Christmas Edition by Jonathon

Wolverhampton West Magazine

November 2016 - Christmas Edition

Win 6 bottles of award-winning wines with Halfpenny Green Vineyards Win panto tickets to see Aladdin at The Grand Theatre Win book celebrating centenary of Wolves legend Stan Cullis

November 2016 - Christmas Edition

Delivered to areas of: Tettenhall, Perton, Wightwick, Compton, Pattingham, Burnhill Green, Ackleton, Badger, Chesterton, Seisdon, Trysull, Claverley, Wombourne, Lower Penn, Worfield, Hilton & Albrighton 01

Local Magazine delivered to 24,500 Selected Homes and Businesses*

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Contents November - Christmas Edition The local property market by Nick Berriman 10 Trysull Art Club: Another successful year of painting 12 14 Wolverhampton Civic Halls reopen for Christmas Crosswords and puzzles 22 24 New book celebrates Wolves legend Recipe of the month 26 Sponsorship spells a belter of a pitch for local club 28 32 BJ’s Charity bike ride and walk 2016 Buried Bridgnorth 40/41 44 Best Foot Forward produces another £18,500 for Charities Carvers Wolverhampton Marathon 50 Grand Theatre competition 52 Codsall Christmas Fair 54 Codsall Dramatic Society 54 Advertising enquiries Email: sales@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk Gisella Wiley (Sales Director) Editorial/What’s On information Email: info@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk Geoff Hall (Editor) Magazine Design Studio 28 Design & Print (www.s28.co.uk) Wolverhampton West Magazine Lytham Rd, Perton, Wolverhampton, WV6 7YY Tel: 01902 744217 www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Christmas Tree Festival at St. Nicholas’ Church Codsall 54 The history of Christmas evergreens 56 Gardening with Ann Winwood 58 Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletic Club 64 Tea for two at Himley Hall 76/77 80/81 Christmas is in the air at Halfpenny Green Vineyards Food review: Wombourne Tandoori 92/93 Ain’t Life Grand 96/97 Royston Blythe: Essential party style 102/103 110 Mind Babble: “It’s not you, it’s me” Women’s fashion: Dare to Dazzle - Stunning Party Looks 116/117 Tom’s Tip 127 136 Education and Schooling Social scene 144-153 154 Golf Tip The major facelift: Suzuki S-Cross 158 Answers to crosswords and puzzles 160 Index to advertisers 161 Mercedes Benz E-Class Estate and GLC Coupé 162

Congratulations to:

Winners of A Tale Of Two Cities competition at The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre John Tellwright, Albrighton Michelle Binfield, Tettenhall Winners of Magic Of Motown competition Natalie Higgins, Compton Alan Cross, Codsall Winners of Park House Hotel competition Jayne Shields, Tettenhall Bob Perry, Perton

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

*Total distribution 24,500 copies across 2 months

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from the editor

If it’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas, it’s because it is. We know we’re broaching the subject a little earlier than most, but here at Wolverhampton West we’re always prepared and a jolly old bunch to boot, always keen to revel in what is for me – and Andy Williams too – the most wonderful time of the year. Even dyed-in-the-wool deniers of December’s most dazzling display of decoration must soon relent and go out to buy a tree – and by the way, we’d recommend getting down to Lealans Garden Centre for this special purchase, whether it’s artificial or Real McCoy you seek. Of course, any such Scrooge-like characters won’t be reading this for fear of meeting good cheer and merriment. They will instead be grumping around in a T-shirt somewhere, harrumphing at the prospect of soaring energy bills and scaring off carollers by posting Polaroid selfies on their front door. But happily we never shy away from the festive season, no matter how early it may appear, so here’s our jumbo 164-page extravaganza, fit to burst like Santa’s sack at midnight on Christmas Day. And like Rudolph’s nose, it just has to be re(a)d. In this edition we explore all of the very many oft-worried-about issues relating to what is entirely entitled to be referred to as The Big Day. Christmas gets monumental when it comes to finding perfect presents so we’ve compiled a list of all the best gifts around. For indecisive readers (read: men), we’ve got many gift voucher suggestions from our advertisers too. There are local attractions aplenty: late-night Wolverhampton Christmas shopping; special pre-Christmas/ pre-refurbishment shows to watch at the Civic Hall; ever-popular Light Switch-Ons across the region and a Compton Hospice Christmas for kids. So don’t miss ’em. 04

Of course nothing says Christmas like Panto at the Grand – look inside and you can win tickets for Aladdin. You’ll be stunned to see the theatre’s recent £1.2million front-ofhouse redevelopment in our feature review. And as the Three Wise Men will tell you, you can’t beat a bit of gold at this time of year, so check out our competition to win a new book celebrating the centenary of Molineux legend, Stan Cullis. Since it’s the time to eat, drink and be merry, take a butchers at our top three local butchers; look to Star Agro for your seafood; Corbelli’s deli for your Italian food – and even Feast Foods for your homedelivered meat-free food. It may be Christmas but as my waistline keeps telling me, that’s a lot of food. Prefer to dodge a domestic? Read up on our guide to eating out, which features Wombourne Tandoori; Cup Cake Lane tea room; Himley Hall and Halfpenny Green Vineyards to name but a few. And make sure you enter our competition to win six bottles of the vineyard’s award-winning wine. Now enough about food: to keep you looking your best we have fashion from Aristocats and Diffusion; beauty – with creams for men as well as women - from Deborah Mitchell, Hayley’s Beauty Boutique and Cosmetique; and hair from Royston Blythe, with one of his celebrity clients, Dawn Ward; Caprio’s and Salon 27.

Maybe after such excess it’s time to curb your enthusiasm with a sobering work-out: if so, look up Chris Jewkes Fitness, Artisan Personal Training and Nat Gill Personal Training or get down to any South Staffordshire leisure centre. Or take the Cambridge diet. Or just abandon the whole business altogether and get back to what really matters: stress-free living – some relaxation therapy from Float or Mind Babble will help you with that. Master this and I promise you, your Christmas will be a real success. For success of a different kind though, read up on our many end-of-year company stories: Stoneleigh, Concero, Paycare and Total Implant Solutions and Parkside Dental, which are now part of the Portman Healthcare family, have all had 12 months to remember. And you can put faces to names in our Social Scene pages. I feel like Santa checking entries off his list. What have I missed? Oh yeah: there’s health, education, sport and some motoring squeezed in at the back. Phew! Now I’m off for the first of many mince pies. Have a merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Geoff

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Innovative new business launches with a bang!

The be-essential team - Geoff Core, Katie Bannister, Mel Sellman, Caroline Eaton, Clare Norton, Nick Berriman

Already the new estate agency has people requesting viewings and valuations online and properties available for sale are being advertised both locally and nationally. It’s a true hybrid estate agency, a trusted local brand which has developed a bespoke technology system to offer you more control over your sale. A unique package which represents fantastic value for money encompassing the estate agency sales fee and conveyancing for a fixed fee. Behind the new company is leading estate agency Berriman Eaton and it involves its Directors Nick Berriman and Caroline Eaton who will bring their property experience and sales ethos to the new company. As Nick says; “we truly believe that we have created a fantastic new offering enabling people to have a direct control over the sale of their property, whilst saving money to boot! The reaction has been phenomenally positive and this is a brand that will grow and grow!”

So what is the offering? You can sell your home, up to the value of £250,000, for just £1,595 and this even includes the legal costs for the sale. Typically selling a £200,000 house would incur 1.5% agency fee so a total of £3,000 plus VAT, plus conveyancing, typically worth £770 or more from a standard agency and conveyancer. Because the system is fully automated, the new service saves you money while offering a service that offers you everything you need and nothing you don’t! Will I be left out in the cold? Absolutely not! Berriman Eaton has been established for ten years and has repeat clients who come back for the service house after house! While the new service hands back control of things like your diary, arranging and liaising to suit you, you can call on us at any time and have the full back up of the trusted brand of be-essential together with Berriman Eaton. What don’t I get compared to a high street agency? Not a lot is the true answer!

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We still include a personal valuation by an experienced local professional Estate Agent, professional photographs, floor plans and an EPC, For Sale board, and we advertise nationally on Rightmove, Zoopla and locally in the Express & Star, Chronicle, local magazines and media. Everything you need and nothing you don’t!! Plus, we have a full sales conveyancing service included typically costing an average price based on a survey of five local conveyancing firms in June 2016 of £770.00 Who can use it? Anyone! You don’t have to be a computer whizz, there’s no complicated interface to deal with, once you instruct us the property can be online the same day and it’s all done by us! Your communications are received by email ensuring you can choose when to deal with them, and have simple options to organise viewings and accept or decline offers. Simply request a valuation or viewing through the website! 09

The local

property market by Nick Berriman

in the next decade. These were the days of client loyalty when families used the same solicitors and estate agents through several generations.

I thought that this month it might be of interest to take a whistle stop tour of the property market through the last few decades and some of the factors which have been of influence. Starting in the 50s estate agency was much more basic. There were no photographs on sale particulars, vendors phone numbers were given in advertisements so prospective purchasers could phone direct to make appointments – there was no fear in those days that someone would go to look and then cut the agent out – accompanied viewings did not happen and prices were not shown in adverts. The same happened in car adverts. The theory was that people would have to phone to ask the price and that meant there was contact but what did happen was that people did not bother to ring and in both property and car adverts the price started to be shown. Prices stayed fairly stable with 5% to 10% per annum rises being normal. In the 60s things became a bit more organised. Sale particulars improved with photos starting to be used and agency became more competitive. Auctions were popular with monthly sales being conducted and properties which were expected to create interest were sold that way. The selection was not based on value but on whether competition was expected and if so this was the best way to obtain the best price. Prices still were fairly stable with no indication of what was to happen 10

The 70s were the start of the boom and bust instability which has plagued the market ever since. The rises and falls in the market have mirrored the state of the economy and in 1973 we joined the EEC and house prices increased by more than 45% in twelve months. The 1973 Oil Crisis and the double dip recession caused a house price crash between 1973 and 1975. There was a swift recovery and a growth in prices of more than 30%. The 80s continued the roller coaster. High inflation and government spending cuts lead to another slump between 1981 and 1982. These were the days that if an agent was late for an appointment he (or she but lady estate agents were still fairly rare) could say that the value was different from if he had been on time. The second half of the decade saw the face of estate agency changed significantly. Banks and building societies were involved in selling financial service products and thought that if they owned agents they could secure introductions of house buyers who would buy their products. There followed a race to buy existing private firms at inflated figures and thus the beginning of corporate estate agents. This idea almost succeeded. The firms who sold were concerned that they would not be able to compete with the big battalions. Indeed one building society did offer to sell houses for no commission provided the vendors had their mortgage from them on their next house.

In the 2000s prices were still rising to a peak in 2003 but the warning signs were there with 110% mortgages being available. The financial crisis, a recession and a slump in house prices followed. The market fell off the deep end in 07 and 08 and this was one of the worst slumps in all the years and left many owners in negative equity, it also left many buy to let owners with problems. The price recovery continued into the 2010s with a peak in 2010 and then a fall, another peak in 2014 and then another fall. This is a sad catalogue of instability and problems which many have sought to remedy but without success. The house market is inextricably linked to the national economy and that is affected by many external factors which have been exaggerated by globalisation so control is almost impossible. I normally report on how we have found the market in the last month. Sales have been at an acceptable level, around the norm, with more activity in the upper price levels. There have been a good level of offers but sellers have had to be flexible if sales were to follow. It’s not boom time but it’s not bust time either. Economists say we are two years away from the peak of the regular price cycle in the market. Let’s hope they are right and that Brexit negotiations do not have an adverse effect! “As this is the last edition before Christmas I extend seasonal greetings to all readers and best wishes for 2017.”

The 90s saw the new owners of agency chains having problems. Interest rates shot up, there was high unemployment and a deep recession followed. This caused a significant slump in house prices and several of the new players in the market called it a day. The 90s also saw the beginning of the buy to let idea. Prices recovered and there was a period of prosperity. There were some blips but prices continued to rise into the next decade. wolverhampton west magazine

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Another successful year of

pa i n t i n g !

The work of amateur artists in Trysull Art Club is about to go on display to the public for its 4th Biennial Exhibition. This thriving art club, founded 12 years ago by two enthusiastic painters, now boasts over 30 members and a waiting list for those wishing to join.

The Trysull Art Club meets every Thursday morning to paint or draw, watch demonstrations by professional artists and participate in workshops. Members paint in the light and airy village hall in Trysull, near Wolverhampton, sharing ideas, skills and knowledge in order to improve and develop their work. The exhibition in November will provide the opportunity to view more than 150 paintings that demonstrate a range of styles and techniques, in a variety of media and

Marion Taylor - Painting in acrylics

covering a wide range of subject matter. Many of the paintings will be available to purchase at a reasonable price and cards and prints will also be for sale.

The exhibition will be officially opened by local amateur artist, Ron Mottram, of Painting in Penn, on Saturday 19th November. Raffle tickets will be on offer with many prizes to be won. Sit down and enjoy a cup of tea and homemade cake in a friendly atmosphere and chat to many of the artists who will be around during the weekend. Admission is free, with ample parking; the venue has wheelchair user-friendly access. Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th November 10.30am - 4.00pm Trysull Village Hall, School Road, Trysull, Staffordshire, WV5 7HW For more information visit our website: www.trysullartclub.weebly.com

Julia Jordan - Leaf Fall

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Anthea Shaw - Collage

Maurice Devall - Still Life

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Historic

Wolverhampton venues re-open for Christmas Wolverhampton’s Civic Halls have temporarily reopened to play host to a series of headline acts and events before closing again for full refurbishment works to start in the New Year, enabling works on the multi-million pound refurbishment of the Grade II-listed venue to be completed. A contractor will be appointed in time for the main works to start in January 2017 and be completed in March 2018. In the meantime, the doors to the historic venue are open to the public again with several popular music events, big-name bands and comedians on the bill until the end of the year such as Jimmy Carr, James and the Blast Off Xmas Party.

“The Civic Halls have been around since 1938 and are an important part of our visitor economy – providing jobs and generating millions of pounds every year by staging nationally acclaimed shows. “As part of our regeneration plans for the city we recognised this Grade II listed building is in need of refurbishment, as well as improvement to ensure it remains a thriving venue to be proud of. “The increased capacity of the Civic Halls will make them a more attractive place in the entertainment market, enabling it to attract significantly more popular and prestigious acts, while retaining the current characteristics that make it popular with performers, producers and audiences.

“The importance of its contribution to the visitor economy was highlighted by Wolverhampton recently making the top ten in a major survey of the best live music scenes in the UK.” The full refurbishment will see a new Civic Hall balcony at the rear of the hall, with the added benefit of an improved view of the stage for more customers. A new glass-covered bar area will also be installed above the main entrance of the Civic Hall, servicing the new upper level. The Wulfrun Hall will also get a balcony, while the capacity in both halls will increase and hospitality areas will be improved. After closing again in the New Year, the Civic Hall and Wulfrun Hall will reopen in time to accommodate the Grand Slam of Darts and other events in November and December 2017. The Civic Hall will then close for its final facelift for the first three months of 2018, fully opening just in time to celebrate its 80th birthday. For full details of all events at the Civic Halls from now to December 2016, and to buy tickets visit www.wolvescivic.co.uk.

Councillor John Reynolds, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “The Civic Halls have burst into life again and there is something for everyone to enjoy before they close again for the main works in the New Year. 14

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Watch Out, Watch Out thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a

scam abOut!

her home address but addressed to someone unknown. The letter confirmed a new security number for telephone banking with regard to a new account. Our client called into the bank to query it and was told that the account had been opened online, had a nil balance and that they would not close it as it was not in her name. When she asked if this would affect her credit rating the member of staff did not know. Two months later her e-mail account was hacked and an unsuccessful attempt was made to hack her PayPal account. Once she had managed to reset her email password it became apparent that her ID had been stolen from her online account and used to purchase goods, as the attempted hack of her PayPal account had been unsuccessful the goods remained unpaid for.

As a company obviously one of our major priorities is the welfare and well-being of our clients and within the last month we have heard reports that two of them have fallen victim to scams which have caused them considerable anxiety and inconvenience, not to mention financial loss. I thought that this month I would give details of one of them, how scams can be avoided and what to do if you do fall victim to one of them. 16

There are so many scams about that we could probably fill the whole of the magazine by giving full details on them. The UK is far from immune from scams. For example, the UK is the worst in Europe in terms of identity fraud and the situation appears to be getting worse each year. In 2015 there were 1.5 million reported incidents of identity fraud and that is double the number that there were in 2014. Statistics reveal that Britons are 20 times more likely to be robbed while sitting at their computers than by being mugged on the street! Sadly, this particular case involved one of our clients who had just lost her husband. The lady in question received a letter from one of the high street banks at

In July the same lady was contacted by a building society checking if she was remortgaging her property as someone purporting to be her and having suitable ID had been trying to raise a loan against her home. This was successfully stopped and the Land Registry contacted her in order to check that there was no charge against the property. In fact, this ladyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s problems continued until she contacted ActionFraud to report the internet crime, received a crime reference number and corresponded with CIFAS, a fraud prevention association that operates systems with financial services companies, mail order companies and phone companies. A credit reference agency revealed that credit card applications and mortgage applications had been made in her name. She checked with the Royal Mail in order to see if any of her mail had been fraudulently redirected and sure enough it had. Consequently all of her mail had been vetted by persons unknown including bank statements and utility bills. wolverhampton west magazine

John Webb

These later were retained by these persons because they could be used for ID purposes; the remainder of her post was put through her letterbox.

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 do fall victim to one of these scams it is absolutely essential that you act quickly. • Contact ActionFraud.police.uk or ring them on 03001232040 • Ring your Bank or Card Issuer • Speak to your Phone Company • Talk to any Debt Collecting Firms that may contact you • Don’t ignore any Court Summons • Contact The Land Registry Property Alert Service at www.gov.uk/property-alert

• If you move house then ensure that you notify service providers

• Check your credit report by contacting Equifax, Experian or Call Credit

• Try and have a secure letter box if you live in a block of flats and check that it is tamper-proof.

• Put yourself on the Cifas Protection Register. Take precautions by: • Using strong unique passwords that mix upper and lower case, numbers, even punctuation marks. • Never share your pin number or passwords and change them both regularly. • Be cautious at all times when you are asked for information online. • Shred all financial documents before binning them.

• Check with the Royal Mail to see that no mail redirection has been placed at your address under your name Tel 03457 740740 www.personal. help.royalmail.com • Visit www.identityfraud. org.uk for further information. Identity Fraud is thought by many to be Britain’s fastest growing crime. Stay watchful, stay secure, stay safe.

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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.

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30/09/2016 17:08

Don’t move, improve:

with a one stop shop at Carvers With an uncertain housing market after the Brexit vote, more and more homeowners are deciding to stay put in their existing homes rather than taking on the onerous (and not to mention costly) task of moving home. Improving can mean a number of possibilities, the list is exhaustive and can be as costly as adding a two storey extension or as easy as changing the wallpaper. Whichever path you chose to follow will ensure that your home will be a perfect space for you to reside and have the potential to add value to your property.

Help with planning? In recent years we’ve seen a move towards more multipurpose kitchens, where the kitchen becomes the real heart of the home, where people can eat, cook, entertain, work and achieve a perfect family space. With bathrooms on the other hand, transitional and contemporary bathrooms are gaining steam over more traditional designs. Our design centre studios have a complete range of modern, contemporary and traditional kitchens and bathrooms with accessories to suit every budget. A full design and installation service is available (should you require) and we also offer flexible finance packages that can help make your new project more affordable. A new range of Precision Kitchens have been introduced, with

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Light it up…

Carvers Cooker Centre houses some of the finest range cookers in the world, from makers such as Lacanche, Esse, Viking, Mercury, Smeg, Falcon, Bertazonni, Britannia and Aga-Rangemaster, backed up by in-depth expertise, from people who really know the cooker industry, inside and out, supported by the service team who will strive to make your installation as smooth as possible.

Creating the right ambience in your home is something which needs careful consideration and can be achieved with mood lighting and using a variety of light sources, i.e. dimmer switches, cabinet lighting or even lighting under a breakfast bar or worktop can create a really nice glow. The Rayton Electrical counter at Carvers has all manner of lighting solutions, the range and display has just been extended and new products have been introduced covering the whole household, inside and out. All fittings can use LED lamps to keep energy efficiency to a maximum and a wide range of reduced cost LED replacement lamps are available to convert your current lighting to the LED option (making them better value than ever before).

Home of the range… As well as providing a statement centrepiece to the kitchen, whether it’s professional-style stainless steel or a colourful finish, a range cooker

Inject some colour… Exotic jungle prints, psychedelic colours and louche Seventies style were all tipped to be the hot new styles for home decoration this year. Whatever your preference, you may be thinking about creating a feature wall or introducing a hero colour throughout every room to bring everything together… the perfect place to start is the Dixons Decorating Centre within Carvers. With wallpaper stocks in their 1000s and a full paint mixing service, you are certain to find something to match your requirements, or even provide some new inspiration. They also provide everything for

For more details please visit our website: www.carvers.co.uk or telephone: 01902 577000 Carvers Building Supplies, Littles Lane, Wolverhampton, WV1 1JY 20

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the decorator, so if you are handling a spot of redecoration, then it’s simply a must!

Tiles with Style… After handling a big project, it’s often the finishing touches that really bring the dream to life. Tiles can provide a stylish, sleek finish as well as a low maintenance surface and choosing your tiles can be very tricky, but it is also a very important factor when you are looking to transform a room. The Tile Choice showroom, located within Carvers, stock a

huge range of wall and floor tiles made from porcelain, ceramic or natural stone in a variety of colours, styles and finishes, so whatever your needs and whatever your budget, they can help you transform your home into a stylish and functional living space.

In the frame… Whatever your requirements for improving your home, the exterior of your property is probably quite high on the list. Whether you are looking to improve the external appearance or simply want to find a more energy efficient solution,

the Bespoke Trade Frames range of windows, doors and conservatories is sure to have the answer. Situated within Carvers, Bespoke Trade Frames are in house specialists when it comes to transforming your property.

The room outdoors… A great deal of potential is available outdoors, whether that be a new garden landscape, extension, summer house or conservatory. If you need food for thought, pop along to the Landscaping display at Carvers. One of the best locally, there are 1000’s of products on display to give you plenty of inspiration for your next garden project. Carvers also supply turf, astro turf, soil and compost and new for 2016, have introduced a range of seasonal plants.

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Ne w b o o k c elebrates

Wolves legend Stan

A new book by Tettenhallbased author Steve Gordos celebrates the centenary of Wolves legend Stan Cullis. Regarded as a great player and a great manager, Cullis was born on October 25, 1916. Cullis Club and Country (Geoffrey Publications) traces the career of the man from Ellesmere Port who oversaw the golden age of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Steve, a former pupil of Tettenhall College, is pictured with the book in front of the statue of Cullis at Molineux. It looks as if even Cullis is taking his hat off to Steve when it comes to being an expert on the history of Wolves! Appropriately, Steve, a fan for over 60 years, is wearing a 1953-4 Wolves shirt that his father was given by Cullis. It was that season which saw Cullis make his club champions of England for the first time in their history. Said Steve: “Dad knew Stan quite well and I asked him if he could get me a shirt and was disappointed at the time as it was not the right colour. Wolves had decided after the title-winning season to change from old gold to gold and the new colour was very much brighter. There was no such thing as replica shirts in those days, of course. “Now, I treasure that shirt. It has a faded number seven on the back so must have been worn by Johnny Hancocks. He was the smallest player in the side but the shirt still fits me – it was one size fits all in the 1950s.”

Cullis gave 30 years of his life to Wolves and Cullis Club and Country looks at his playing career and managerial career, both of which qualify him for a place in football’s hall of fame. By common consent he was one of the best central defenders English football has produced, skilful, commanding and a born leader. He captained England before the war and then led them in wartime internationals when an all-star side reached great heights. In the seasons immediately before and after the war, Cullis skippered a Wolves side who seemed to be on the brink of great things. Yet he was denied the major honours that had seemed certain to be his. Twice in three First Division seasons Wolves needed only to win their final game to be champions but failed. Wolves were also runners-up in both league and FA Cup in 1939.

When he was appointed manager, Cullis set about making up for the disappointments he had suffered as a player. His very first season in charge saw Wolves win the FA Cup for the first time in 41 years. That paved the way for the most successful period in Wolves history as Cullis brought a passion and pride to his role as Master of Molineux. Once described as the most explosive and exciting manager of his time, Cullis gave 100 per cent to Wolves and demanded from his players 100 per cent in return. Three times he made Wolves champions of England and the FA Cup was won once more in 1960 to complete the golden age of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Cullis also guided his team to success in a string of floodlit friendlies which were the catalyst for the competition we now know as the Champions League. Cullis Club and Country is the story of a man who can without question be described as great both as player and manager. The book, illustrated with over 50 pictures, many rarely seen before, is available very soon at £14.99 (plus P&P). To pre-order, contact gpbooks@hotmail.co.uk or call 07906 653104.

Steve has kindly donated a book as a prize for one of our lucky readers to win. To be in with a chance of winning the book, simply answer the following question correctly.

In the picture author Steve Gordos is wearing the Wolves shirt from which season? 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 Monday 5th December 2016.

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RECIPE

Serves 6 By Mike Whitehurst

A FESTIVE STARTER

Beetroot and gin cured salmon

• Fresh Dill • Fresh Parsley • Gherkins • Dijon mustard • Asparagus spears • 12 Large prawns with tail on • Unsalted butter

The idea of having something to eat before the huge onslaught of that rich, savoury, umami assemblage of meats and vegetables served at Christmas lunch has never really appealed to me until this little number came along. It is very light and flavoursome, most definitely eaten without bread as a starter before a large meal and a total contrast to the flavours about to be delivered by the main event. Served alongside a generous glass of Gin & Elderflower tonic with a strip of cucumber and a torn leaf of basil it is something everyone should try at least once or twice.

Equipment

with garlic and lemon prawns and asparagus and a celeriac remouladeO

Start the process 3 days before Christmas day or whichever day you’re serving it. Always read a recipe before starting it and then read through a second or third time as you attempt the dish. INGREDIENTS • 450g of organic salmon fillet, skin on and descaled • 200ml of pure beetroot juice • 1 box of Maldon sea salt • Pink peppercorns • Rapeseed oil • 2 tablespoons of brown sugar • A bottle of gin • 2 lemons • 1 celeriac • 1 small jar of Hellmans mayonnaise • Garlic clove

• • • • • • • •

Grater Cast iron pan Metal bowls Plastic container Food tray Sharp thin knife Cling film Chopping board - if you don’t have a thick wooden board ask someone for one for Christmas.

Preparation 3 days prior to Christmas day, pour the beetroot juice and 50ml of gin into the plastic container laying the salmon flesh side down in the juice and then cover and pop in the fridge until the next day. The next day take the salmon out of the fridge and remove from the beetroot juice, shake off excess juice and pat dry with kitchen towel then lay out flat on your food tray skin side down. Discard the beetroot juice. Finely chop 2/3rds of the herbs and mix with lemon zest, 2 tbsp of sugar and 4 tablespoons of sea salt and pat this down on top of the flesh side of the salmon fillet. Cover the tray tightly and leave to cure in your fridge for the next 2 days. Once it is ready it will feel firm to the touch, this is because the cure has drawn out a lot of the liquid from inside

the flesh which you will see in the tray - you can just get rid of this. Rinse off the cure mix and discard. Slice the salmon into thin even slices and set side ready to prepare the rest of the dish. Get a skillet on the heat, add a dash of rapeseed oil and a nob of butter, finely chopped garlic a few herbs and sea salt - fry the asparagus and now without cleaning the pan throw in the prawns adding more butter and a squeeze of lemon juice. Whilst the prawns and asparagus are cooling down grate the celeriac and gherkins into a bowl, squeeze over lemon juice and a tblsp of dijon mustard, mix in with a good dollop of mayonnaise, roughly chop in some parsley and dill and chill in fridge. Create a quenelle by shaping the remoulade between 2 dessert spoons. Arrange the items on a plate as per photograph and serve with a wedge of lemon and a drizzle of rapeseed oil. For any recipe queries and advice please contact mike@takefood.co.uk SERVING SUGGESTION Get the elderflower tonic and ice out, try a gin and tonic with some peelings of cucumber and a basil leaf for a change.

Recipe by Mike Whitehurst, photography by Megan Cupitt-Lawrence instagram.com/takefood www.takefood.co.uk 26

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Sponsorship spells a belter of a pitch for

local club

A local not-for-profit firm is celebrating its continued support of a well-established cricket club by signing another sponsorship deal which will bring about big enhancements over the next five years. Paycare, a Wolverhampton-based health cash plan provider, has signed a five-year sponsorship deal with Penn Cricket Club which will enable it to develop its youth section, make vital improvements to its facilities, and enable it to support the wider community by opening up its venue for functions including birthday parties, christenings and wedding receptions. John Marshall, Chairman and Secretary of Penn Cricket Club, explained: “This is the third season Paycare has sponsored us, and we’re thrilled to have them on board for the years ahead. We’re already initiating our long-term plan and reaffirming our reputation as a club which offers individuals aged between 9 and 74 the chance to enjoy competitive cricket, and come together as a community.” 28

As part of the sponsorship, Penn Cricket Club is developing its youth section and partnering with various schools and facilities, including The Way Youth Zone – of which Paycare is a Founding Patron – with the goal of making it a Centre of Excellence within five years.

The club also has plans to enhance its equipment and develop a preparation and maintenance programme for the ground throughout the winter months, which has already received positive feedback from players, members and umpires. “We’re making huge developments to the pavilion and have opened up the venue to our local community for family, social and fundraising events. And, we’ve been able to host our first ever Club Presentation evening since we formed in 1908 which is just fantastic, and a great way for us to recognise the achievements of our players. We have solid growth and development plans in place for the next five years, and with the continued support from Paycare, we’re excited to be bringing these to life.”

Kevin Rogers, CEO of Paycare, added: “Penn Cricket Club does a fantastic job at bringing together the local community and encouraging people of all ages and abilities to enjoy competitive cricket. We’re passionate advocates of helping people live even more healthy, active lifestyles, and we’re excited to be supporting the club in the months and years to come.”

For 140 years Paycare has offered health cover to individuals, families and businesses throughout Wolverhampton and the Black Country to enable them to protect themselves against medical bills. For further information about Paycare’s full range of health cover please call 01902 371000, email enquiries@paycare.org, or visit www.paycare.org.

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Stoneleigh Architectural Services Limited

Jake on site at one of Stoneleigh Architectural Services’ Residential Extensions in Tettenhall

A reputation for excellence September 2016 marks Stoneleigh Architectural Services’ tenth year in business.

to building regulation submissions, tendering, contractual assistance and project management.

Over the past decade the company has earned an enviable reputation in the industry and has become known for offering an allencompassing range of architectural services.

For Stoneleigh, no job is too big or too small.

As Managing Director, Jake Sedgemore explains: “Our appeal and the key to our continuing growth over the last 10 years is undoubtedly our versatility.” The company takes care of everything from surveying, design and planning applications

“We offer a bespoke and personal service for all sizes and types of project, everything from a simple residential extension, garage or loft conversion right through to large scale development sites of over fifty or more residential units.” “Our services cover all sectors, with a strong focus on residential. We also have great experience of commercial and industrial projects, educational facilities, sports clubs to mention but a few.” And whatever the project, Stoneleigh deliver the same bespoke service for all clients. “Every client feels that their project is the most important and we do our very best to support that feeling. “We have a large number of repeat clients and developers, and we feel that this reflects the excellent service we deliver.” When it comes to architectural services and planning consent, people often assume that it’s a costly business that requires money to be committed before any results are delivered. “It’s a common misconception that we want to address,” says Jake. “Our company was founded on a desire to change this perception, and offer a high quality service, which at the same time represents fantastic value for money.”

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Stoneleigh offer a completely free, no obligation, on-site consultation, which provides clients with advice on design, planning, projected costs and time scales. “After the free consultation, we offer an individual fixed price quotation for the services that will be required.” Another common worry associated with pursuing planning consent is risk. After all, planning is not an exact science and each local authority has differing internal planning policies.

regulations consent, offering advice and support with contractors - including assisting with the building contract - appointing a builder and if necessary, project management and support.” And Stoneleigh has a strong background in construction as Jake’s father, Chris, is owner of local long established construction company, Maythorn Construction.

There’s also Permitted Development to consider and the question of what does and does not require consent, but fortunately Stoneleigh can help.

“We understand construction costs, and can offer clients valuable advice with regard to projected project costs well in advance. This can help them to plan and even phase works to suit their budget, and ensure that they achieve the best value throughout”.

“We’ve covered in excess of a thousand planning applications over the ten years we’ve been in business and we have our very own planning consultant and former planning officer working in-house.”

Keen to ensure projects are financially viable, the company work closely with several local estate agents, to ensure that every project achieves the best possible value.

So, the team at Stoneleigh are incredibly well placed to give the very best advice on each project.

“It is important to ensure that the end gain, in terms of value, would outweigh the cost outlay. If a project will cost more than it will deliver, then it may need a rethink from the outset or a careful phasing strategy”.

Priding themselves on building strong and lasting working relationships with all of the local authority planning departments, Stoneleigh’s approach is to work alongside the departments, rather than adopting a confrontational approach. “The best results are always delivered when both the applicant and the authority work together to achieve the best result”. Stoneleigh has built a strong reputation for delivering results and has an incredibly high success rate. “We treat each project as if it is our own, and will fight as hard as we can to deliver the best result possible”. In fact, the company are so confident in their ability to achieve results, that they’ll even, on occasion, be prepared to ‘share the risk with the client’: If a client is wary of committing to the costs of an application with no guarantee of success, it can prevent them from pursuing their plans and in some cases even their dreams.

Whether it’s the wide range of services offered or the individually tailored architectural support provided, it’s clear to see that Stoneleigh go the extra mile for their clients. Which is why so many clients and local developers keep coming back for more. So, why not make your design dream a reality today? Contact Stoneleigh Architectural on 01902 746181. Stoneleigh Architectural Services Ltd. Compton Wharf, Bridgnorth Road, Compton, Wolverhampton West Midlands WV6 8AA www.stoneleigharchitectural.co.uk

“Our initial free consultation is usually enough to allow us to consider the chances of success and advise accordingly, but if the client is keen to minimise or even omit risk, then we can offer a ‘no win, no fee architectural service.” This approach is extremely rare and reflects the company’s commitment to deliver results. Of course, Stoneleigh’s services don’t simply extend to delivering planning approval; the company are adept at taking care of everything else too. “We manage every aspect from conception to completion, that includes obtaining building www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

B J ’S Ch a r i t y

b i k e r i d e an d wa l k

A group of charitable cyclists from Wolverhampton have completed a huge bike ride from the East coast of England to the west coast of Ireland to raise money for seven charities.

The ten cyclists were inspired to get on their bikes after one of the cyclist’s brothers died of cancer in 2009. Since Bijay Khela, of Codsall, died following his four-year battle with the disease, his siblings Pete Khela and Kami Aujla decided to raise funds for a charity to honour BJ’s name. The bike ride, which started on Monday July 25th in Great Yarmouth, saw the group go through stages at Peterborough, Wolverhampton and Liverpool. After crossing the Irish Sea to Dublin they cycled to Athlone finally arriving in Galway on Friday 29th July. On average, the group covered around 107 miles a day during the week-long cycle ride. There were problems on the ride; Pete Khela had persistent punctures along the way which caused long delays as well as being frustrating, the problem eventually being traced to the wheel spokes. One of the cyclists also had a buckled wheel and a repair shop had to be found in the middle of the countryside! The weather also made an impact with rain and heat causing problems at different times. However, all the problems were forgotten as they crossed the finishing line. Speaking of the group’s incredible journey, brother of Bijay, Pete Khela,

aged 43 of Finchfield said: “I think my brother would be proud. He enjoyed cycling and was always doing his best to help other people. By doing this we’re keeping his memory alive and helping other people who are suffering from serious illnesses or are less fortunate than ourselves.” Speaking of their motivation to keep going Pete Khela said “It was the thought of having a drop of Guinness and fish and chips by the Atlantic!” The cycle ride is one of many fundraising activities for Pete Khela in 2016. Along with fellow cyclist, Gurminder Mehat they ran the London Marathon in April. Pete Khela also completed the Great North Run on September 11. This run proved to be difficult as he had little time to do any preparatory training. The hot weather led to heat exhaustion and dehydration. Pete needed every bit of motivation and mental strength to complete the run and he was glad to finally view the sea at the South Shields finish line. The group hope to raise £12,000 from the ride and other activities including a charity walk. The walk took place in the Peak District National Park and a total of 40 walkers took part. The walk commenced in Buxton and ended at the picturesque town of Bakewell, a total of 10 miles. The walk was mainly along an old disused railway track and defunct platforms could be seen along the way. The weather was kind and there were spectacular views across the National Park.

Tirath Kaur, mother of Bijay

Tirath Kaur, aged 72, the mother of Bijay, had also lost her husband, Gurmel Singh to cancer in 2014. She was present at the start of the walk to see the walkers off. Despite having a damaged ankle, she commenced the walk intending to be shortly picked up by the coach. Unfortunately the coach could not enter the narrow country lanes, so she walked 10 miles to where the coach was parked. However at that stage she was motivated by the memory of her son and husband and completed the full 12 miles, at the consequence of being in pain for the next few days. Individually she raised £300. To round off a lovely day, there was a meal in Derby on the way back. The charities being supported are: Cancer Research UK, The Steve Bull Foundation, Cardiac Risk in the Young, CLIC Sargent - Cancer charity for children and young people, Rays of Sunshine charity, UK Friends of Unique Home for Girls based in India and Let Us Play Wolverhampton.

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DIY SOS

Wombourne & District Choral Society to perform

the St Paul oratorio by Mendelssohn Likely to be the first performance in the West Midlands for over a century, members of Wombourne and District Choral Society are busy rehearsing the oratorio ‘St Paul’ by Mendelssohn for their next concert, on Saturday 26th November 2016 at the Church of St John’s in the Square in Wolverhampton, starting at 7.30pm.

Tickets at £14 each with children under 16 free are available from choir members, phoning 01902 744447 or at the door on the night. Light refreshments will be available during the interval. 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. 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. For further information, please contact: Mike Coope - Tel: 01902 700426 Email: mike@sensorland.com (Notes from Mendelssohn’s St Paul written by John Bawden)

Musical Director Ian Clarke will conduct the work and will be accompanied on the organ by Mark Pescott, the title role sung by Welsh baritone Gwion Thomas, a Tutor at the Birmingham Conservatoire.

Indian Festival of Lights Photo courtesy of Matt Cawrey

come together for goodwill, feasting, fireworks and dancing. Everyone is welcome to come and join us in celebrating this fantastic, diverse festival.

This uplifting family friendly event will include performances by: Jai Jashn Dance, Vidya Patel, Desi Nach, Saijal Patel, Jaivant Patel Dance, Bollywood Dream Dance, Gayathri Ganapthy, Nachda Sansaar, Odissi Movement Company and Enter Edem Productions’. Tiranga and Diwali Utsav are supported by the Arts Council England.

Jai Jashn Dance

Following Tiranga, Jaivant Patel Dance presents Diwali Utsav. This takes place at the Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton on Saturday 12th November at 7:30pm. Tickets are £10 (£8 concessions). 34

To book tickets online visit: www. arena.wlv.ac.uk or call the box office on (01902) 321 321. Diwali is the Indian festival of lights, celebrating the joyous commencement of the New Year. It marks the start of beginnings, the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. This is a globally celebrated festival and a time when family and friends

Jaivant Patel is an independent dance artist, cultural producer, choreographer and creative consultant from Wolverhampton. *Line-up subject to change. Facebook: www.facebook. com/JaivantPatelDance Twitter: @jaijpdc

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B u r i e d

Bridgnorth

By Rob Taylor Anyone familiar with the splendid tranquillity offered by a walk along the banks of the River Severn in Bridgnorth may be surprised to learn that the town was once one of the busiest river ports in Europe. Back before tourism established a foothold in the two-part (Low Town/ High Town) market town and

demanded a clear and unpolluted Shangri-La for anglers, walkers and wildlife, early trades took their wares to the river for export, making this spot a particularly dirty and noisy place to be â&#x20AC;&#x201C; certainly not somewhere youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d go for a picnic.

inns and ale-houses, the earliest of which was recorded in 1203.

Businesses involving malting, tanning, weaving, nailers, drapers and iron founders all moved goods down river in trows or barges, before using teams of men, harnessed to a tow rope, to move things back up river. Offering solace after a hard day of physical labour were the many

â&#x20AC;&#x153;On the south side of the Stoneway Steps there is a large cave in the rock, remarkable for being the repository of that excellent beer so much esteemed in London, by the name of Eaves Cave Beer. At the entrance of the cave stood a carved lion, inside the cave there was a large vessel bestrided

The town has had at least two breweries over the centuries. Castle Brewery (also known as Eaves) is brought vividly to life here in the following periodical from 1821:

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by a small Bacchus, which contained about three hundred and twenty gallons of ale.” This strong dark ale was extremely popular and at its height was exported as far as France. When the brewery closed, the caves became dwellings for the poor. Later, Wilson’s Brewery was established on the Cartway in 1880. Founded by Richard Wilson, famous for Wilson’s Celebrated Nut Brown Ale, the premises featured an Artesian Well, bored 75 feet through the sandstone. Thusly its water became renowned for its good brewing properties. The Cartway is itself one of the town’s most impressive streets. It leads down to the river, the cliffs and caves of Lavington Gardens and on to Severn Park and was, until 1786, the only route for carts to High Town from Low Town. Necessarily during this period it had some 50 pubs and eateries along its route, but today the only one left is the Black Boy, which is over 400 years old. Other properties of note on this historic street are Cartway Church and Bishop Percy’s House. After helping to facilitate much of the Black Country’s Industrial Revolution, river trade eventually began to drop

off after the opening of Bridgnorth railway station in 1862 and the coming age of the train. In 1895 the last barge floated down the river. And as the town began to turn away from industry many increasingly wealthy residents sought to capitalise upon the natural beauty of the town. Majestic Cinema in Whitburn Street is a towering example of how Bridgnorth went about entertaining them. Opened by Lady Acton in 1937 it is still fully functional today. It is also home to a 1940s Gaumont-Kalee 21 projector, which was used to run adverts up until 2011. Bridgnorth has also been home to an RAF station. RAF Bridgnorth, established in 1939 at Stanmore, to the east of Bridgnorth, was designed to enable the basic training of new recruits. In 1941 the station was renamed No.1 Women’s Auxiliary Air Force Depot, but again it was still involved with recruit training.

It never had a runway, nor did it ever see any real ‘action’ during World War II. Its closure in 1963 ultimately allowed for the creation of Stanmore Industrial Park. RAF Bridgnorth may be light on World War II derring-do, but that doesn’t mean the town is lacking in ‘Colditz-style drama’, because one former resident, during his time in a modest terrace house in Railway Street, dug out his own bunker from the rock-face to the rear. During much of the 1980s and 1990s artist Anthony Dracup undertook a Herculean project designed to integrate into his home the sandstone cave that lay behind it. Working with only hand-tools he created in Dracup’s Cottage, a hidden roof garden, and a spectacular entertaining space with vaulted ceilings and 24 reclaimed sandstone pillars. With the added 650 sq/ft of extra accommodation included, this Tardis-like property recently went on the market for just under £200,000 and created national attention. As Dracup’s Cottage proves, there lie secrets in every nook and cranny of Bridgnorth so you’ll be rewarded with far more than just pretty riverside walks and good fishing spots if you visit.

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Rotary Fund-raiser tops £76,000 The Mayor and Mayoress of Wolverhampton acted as hosts for the annual presentation of cheques to charities arising from Best Foot Forward 2016. The unique fund-raising event, staged over the course of 12 hours at Aldersley Leisure Village in July, is devised and organised by the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton. Funds made available by 38 companies and organisations in the city, were released by laps of Aldersley Stadium completed by “Best Footers” of all ages and abilities at the rate of £1 per lap. In the course of 12 hours, 12,405 laps were recorded, more than enough to release all funds donated by the patrons. The presentations took place in the Mayor’s Parlour, with guests made up of event patrons, some of the participants who had completed the greatest number of laps of the stadium, and others whose involvement had made the event possible. Cheques totalling £10,950 were accepted on behalf of Acorns in the Black Country, Samaritans in Wolverhampton and the Rotary Charitable Trust.

Richard Green, on behalf of the Rotary Charitable Trust, informed guests of the broad range of activities undertaken by Rotarians, both in Wolverhampton and further afield, to bring help and support where most needed. This included donations of more than £9,000 to provide immediate financial support for clearing up and providing shelter in the wake of the floods in the Carlisle area last December, working through local Rotary clubs. In the course of this year’s event, 12 Best Footers clocked up more than 100 laps of the stadium and qualified to join the BFF Centurion Club. Out in front of this elite group was James Wright, who became the first person since the event was established in 2013, to break through the 200 lap barrier. The overall lap total was considerably boosted by six teams of RAF Cosford Trainees competing to secure the Four Hour Team Endurance Plaque. This was accepted on behalf of Lightning team by AC Albert Clark. Geoff Lowndes, who headed up Rotary’s organising committee, spoke of their pleasure that more other organisations were taking the opportunity to use the event to stage their own sponsored walk or run as part of Best Foot Forward.

He explained “Any group is welcome to ride on our coattails and raise money for themselves, while also clocking up laps for us – its win, win”. This year other groups, including The Wolverhampton MS Therapy Centre, Central Youth Theatre, Kingswood Trust and Wolverhampton Coronary Aftercare Support Group took the opportunity to boost their own funds by £11,714, lifting the year’s total to £22,664 and the total since the event was first staged in 2013, to £76,380 Best Foot Forward 2017 will be staged again at Aldersley Leisure Village on Saturday, 1st July 2017. The Rotary Club will be pleased to provide more information, not only to companies or organisations interested in joining the ranks of event patrons, but also to any groups who might like to use the event to generate funds for their own needs.

The Clubs Tree of Remembrance will be staged again this year in the Mander Centre, from mid-November, until just after Christmas, to raise funds for charities.

On behalf of Acorns, Ambassador Dan Dean shared his own insight into the support which he and his family had received from Acorns and told of the vital importance that donations from Rotary and other organisations provided in enabling the Hospice to carry out its work. Vernon Dodd, Wolverhampton Director of Samaritans explained that the donation would help to sustain the activities of Wolverhampton’s 60 volunteer Samaritans in providing their 365 day, 24/7 service to those struggling to cope with times of great anxiety and personal crisis. 44

Mayor Cllr Barry Findlay, surrounded by representatives of the three event charities, and members of the BFF Centurions Club.

For general information visit www.wolverhamptonbestfootforward.com For specific enquiries either email Geoff Lowndes, via bff.online@ hotmail.co.uk or phone Mike Boyce on 07976 612276 wolverhampton west magazine

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Whizz-Kidz Summer Variety Ball Saturday’s Whizz-Kidz event, we are delighted and completely overwhelmed by the amount of money raised on Saturday evening, the generosity and support from everybody was amazing.” 2016’s event - arranged by Helen and Louise Botwood, PA at Halesowen Audi - saw around 300 guests in attendance, so thank you to every single person that dressed up and came to Molineux for this fantastic occasion. With a live band, singing waiters and a live auction, the night was exciting from start to finish, especially with plenty of dancing and a drink or two thrown into the mix.

It is our honour to announce that the 2016 Whizz-Kidz Variety Ball was a huge success and the Jardine Motors Group was pleased and proud to be involved. This year’s event took place on Saturday 17th September at Molineux Stadium, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, and it was bigger and better than ever before.

The Jardine Motors Group would like to express their sincere gratitude to: Wolverhampton and Halesowen Audi, AC Blooms, Express and Star, Joseph Whelan, Individual Specialist Cars, Penny Hydraulics, Stedek Windows and Doors, Vehicle Connections – all of these companies have selflessly supported the event for the last three years. Looking ahead to 2017, we are pleased to announce that next year’s event will be held on Saturday 24th June – details will follow in due course but needless to say, next year’s event will be very different, so watch this space…

Now in its third year, the Variety Ball takes place to support Whizz-Kidz, a charity that works hard to transform disabled children’s lives, positively supporting them as they grow up into assertive and independent young people. In 2014, the event raised £7,077.64. In 2015, it raised £9,520.08. And in 2016, we are delighted to reveal that the amount raised was a fantastic £10,026.47. This means that in three short years, the Whizz-Kidz Summer Variety Ball has raised a grand total of £26,642.19! Helen Hammond, Divisional PA to Andy Davies, Audi and TPS Brand Director, said: “Following

Oxley Park Golf Club: Back up to scratch This year saw a rejuvenated Oxley Park Scratch Team, captained by Paul Morris and newly elected Vice Captain Ian Smith. Following a few years of fighting relegation and in 2015 being relegated to a lower division it was time to stop the rot and turn things round. With the help of The Golf Academy and winter Range nights in Essington, which helped bring together the players and also new shirt sponsors Blyth Group and P.S Flooring, the team got back to winning ways. “A number of newly joined members playing off low single figure handicaps has also helped us to field stronger teams and make it less of a challenge to get a team together,” said Paul Morris. 46

Paul also said that it has been a great result for Oxley Park and results like this really help to put Oxley back on the map.

A few of the players who have represented Oxley Park Scratch Team during the season

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Light up your garden

like a Christmas tree

Christmas will soon be jingling around the corner, meaning the autumn equinox is coming to an end and we will be welcoming the beginning of the winter solstice. After a holiday full of darkness with Halloween in October, it’s time to restore light again and with Christmas being near, the lights won’t be going out anytime soon. Outdoor lights are essentially practical nowadays and while they grow more and more popular, we wonder how we ever coped without them.

With the nights being longer, our outdoor space needs extra security than it did in the summer, so everyone coming to and from your house can see where they are going. I suppose Santa can’t spot us either if we live in darkness! If you’re not a fan of LED reindeers in your garden and giant blow-up snowmen that are bigger than Rockefeller Centre’s Christmas Tree, then your everyday outdoor lights are definitely the way forward. Wall Lights: Outdoor wall lights are becoming a necessity when it comes to lighting up our gardens. Enjoy them while you dine al fresco, have a cosy evening 48

outside, if it’s not too cold, or fancy a bit of hot tub fun. Decking/ Patio Lights: Decking and ground lights are the ultimate modern twist to add to your home, as well as adding style and value to your outdoor area. These discreet beauties are a very effective safety feature as you can illuminate the sides of your drive and garden path. They are an easy favourite as you can install them anywhere and they also work wonders for your exterior design.

Bollards/Post Lights: Use bollards and posts to structure your driveways, mark out pathways or place on your walls for decorative purposes! Our range is beaming with variety. They look very Christmassy decorated in snow! Spike Lights: Spike lights can be temporary or permanent as all you need to do is push them into the ground and you’re good to go, as well as uninstalling them hassle-free. Most spike lights come with a pivoting head, which allows you to create the lighting design that you desire. Position them in flower beds or create a walkway on your grass for your guests. Hanging Lanterns/Porch Lights: First impressions definitely last and by installing a hanging light in your porch, guests will feel welcomed

before they even get to the front door. They are also another great safety feature for your outdoor lighting plan, if you have a dark front garden or drive. Lamp Posts: Lamp posts are not just for the streets; they look insane in your garden landscape too. They give your property an envious appeal and work effectively in large gardens as they are brilliant at casting light. A great showstopping feature when it starts to snow too! Plug and Go: Plug and go lights are a cost-effective way of illuminating your garden yourself, without the help of an electrician. You can customise your very own lighting plan and get it going as soon as you like. If you are not a DIY-friendly person, this may not be the option for you, but if you are, then you will have the time of your life as this hassle-free solution puts the star or angel on top of your garden.

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CARVER Wolverhampton Marathon Events

On Sunday 4th September more than 2000 people gathered in West Park to take part in one of the events organised by the Carver Wolverhampton Marathon Committee. They ran in the Carver Marathon or Half Marathon, the Banks’s 10K run, cycled in the Cousins 20K cycle ride, ran the mini marathon or walked the Call Print Walk in the Park.

committee, sponsors and invited guests will congregate in the Mayor’s Parlour to present the cheques. The charities to benefit from the Marathon Events this year are Compton Hospice. Wolverhampton Rheumatology Support Group, The Haven and the Mayoral Charity Fund. Next year will be the 20th year of the running of the events in their current form, and the organisers are hoping to encourage more entries than ever before, because they’ll be so much to celebrate.

This was the result of months of planning and preparation to ensure that the running of the events, now in their 19th year, went smoothly. Everyone who took part seemed to enjoy the day. The new courses were generally well received. Race Director Mary Harding added: “this event is really great for all the people of the City of Wolverhampton. It encourages community spirit whilst helping to keep people active.” The money from sponsorship is still being received and so it is too early to say how much money will be raised for our chosen charities, but on December 5th the

For more details please visit our website: www.carverwolverhamptonmarathonevents.co.uk 50

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Grand Theatre COMPETITION soprano Lucy Kay as the Princess, magician Stefan Pejic as evil Abanazar and fabulous pantomime dame Ian Adams as Widow Twankey. Also stars Neal Wright as the Genie of the Lamp and Adam C Booth as Wishee Washee.

One lucky reader can win 4 tickets to see ALADDIN on Thursday 5th January 2017 at 7.15pm at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

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Don’t miss your chance to join this magic carpet ride! With a lamp-full of laughs as you follow Aladdin, his brother Wishee Washee and of course Widow Twankey on a spectacular adventure at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from 10 December 2016 - 22 January 2017.

From the producers of last year’s swashbuckling pantomime, Peter Pan, Qdos Entertainment present ALADDIN Wolverhampton’s biggest pantomime ever! Starring X-Factor winner Joe McElderry as Aladdin, Lisa Riley as the Slave Of The Ring, CBeebies’ Mr Bloom - Ben Faulks as the Chief of Peking

To book your seats today please go online at www.grandtheatre.co.uk or contact the Box Office on 01902 42 92 12. To be in with a chance of winning simply answer the following question correctly and send it on a postcard with your name, address and telephone number to Wolverhampton West Magazine or email info@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk by Friday 2nd December 2016.

What TV Talent Show did Joe McElderry win in 2009? A) The X Factor B) Britain’s Got Talent C) Pop Idol D) The Voice 52

Competition Terms and Conditions Please send postal entries to Wolverhampton West Magazine, 1 Lytham Road, Perton, Wolverhampton WV6 7YY or email info@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk. To be received no later than Friday 2nd December 2016. Winners to collect tickets from the box office on the evening of the performance. Tickets cannot be exchanged and no cash or alternative prize nights available. Winners may be required to partake in relevant publicity.

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Codsall Christmas Fair 2016 This year’s Christmas Fair on Friday 2nd December (3pm – 8:30pm) promises to be even more spectacular than ever. Why not take a night off from cooking tea for the family? Instead bring everyone along to one of the five outdoor hot food outlets or to one of the village’s own fabulous eateries where anything from jacket potatoes to pasta and burgers will be on offer. As usual there will be plenty to occupy and amuse the children. Fairground rides, bouncy castles and Santa’s Grotto will be immensely popular while children of all ages will love Mr Doo, the juggler. Meanwhile, keep your eyes open for the visit from everybody’s favourite footballing mascot, Wolfie. Take a look around the host of trade stalls and shops to find that elusive last minute yuletide gift or maybe find that special little bit extra to pop into your freezer.

Live musical entertainment will include the everpopular Salvation Army Band as well as the band “Sunhoney”. Sam Draisey, Alexandra Jayne and Jade & JP will also be performing on stage. Feel free to dance along if the mood takes you. Of course, all good things must come to an end and what better way to end such a fun-packed evening than by the traditional singing of carols round the tree? Accompanied by the Salvation Army and led by the choirs of local schools, revellers are invited to join in the well-loved and familiar melodies which herald Christmas. A very happy and peaceful Christmas to you all. For more information please visit our website: www.codsallchristmasfair.co.uk Please note that there will be some road closures affecting the centre of Codsall. Additionally there will be no access to The Crown car park on the day of the event.

Codsall Dramatic Society Christmas Trees Festival

Children’s Play

St Nicholas’ Church in Codsall is holding their 5th Christmas Tree Festival this year on the 9th, 10th and 11th December.

Will the Prince find someone to love him now that he is ugly? Will patience and kindness win over greed and vanity? Codsall Dramatic Society’s Christmas play for children will answer these important questions in Beauty and the Beast at Codsall Village Hall. The performances will be in the round, and are suitable for ages 3 to 11 years. Refreshments are free for the children.

The production takes place on Thursdays and Fridays, 24th and 25th November, 1st and 2nd December at 7.30pm; Saturday 26th November and Saturday 3rd December at 2.30pm and 6.30pm.

Tickets £5 for everyone; adults come at children’s prices. Available from Rigby’s at Birches Bridge, Craft and Models in The Square, or call the hotline on 01902 267322 or via the website: www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk Plenty of free parking! Don’t forget to pick up your colouring competition picture, and bring it with you to the performances! 54

at St. Nicholas’ Church Codsall

There are going to be over 30 trees lavishly decorated by different groups from the village and we can expect a wide range of styles. There will also be a Tree of Remembrance where special messages for loved ones can be written and hung on the tree.

such as mulled wine, homemade cakes and mince pies will be served throughout the weekend. Opening times: Friday 2pm-7pm, Saturday Noon-5pm, Sunday 1pm-5pm. Admission: Adults £3, Under 16’s free.

The Festival is officially being opened by Gavin Williamson MP at 2pm on Friday 9th December and the children’s choir of St Nicholas’ School will be performing afterwards. Refreshments wolverhampton west magazine

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The history of Christmas evergreens

Evergreens have been symbols of everlasting life since long before the Romans landed so decorating the home in mid-winter with evergreens is a very old tradition, older in fact than the celebration of Christmas itself. Greenery was gathered largely around the winter solstice and hung about the home as a sign that winter was not everlasting and to welcome the spirits of the woods into the home, hopefully, bringing good luck. Early Christians ignored the custom for many years because of its pagan origins. Centuries old habits however are hard to repress. The Church eventually accepted the inevitable and evergreen decorations became a symbol of the season at Christmas.

In various parts of the British Isles other plants achieved popularity at Christmas including rosemary, ilex, and cypress. The properties attributed to each however are very regional and rather too numerous to expound here.

Mistletoe, the Golden Bough of classical legend, was sacred to the Druids and the Norsemen. It was the plant that slew Baldur the Beautiful and was too strongly pagan to be allowed into Christian churches - a taboo that survives to this very day all over the British Isles with the exception of York Minster. In a medieval ritual, a branch of mistletoe was laid ceremoniously on the high altar and left for the duration of the twelve days of Christmas. During that time, prisoners were pardoned and liberty

proclaimed throughout the City of York. This part of the ceremony appears to have lapsed somewhat! Kissing beneath the mistletoe appears to be a purely British custom observed nowhere else in the world. In the days before the arrival of the Christmas tree, a kissing ring was hung from the centre of the ceiling.

It was a crown or globe of evergreens adorned with candles, rosettes, ribbons and red apples, with a bunch of mistletoe attached below. Often streamers were also attached suspending small gifts. The custom was to kiss and take a berry from the mistletoe. When all the berries were gone, the mistletoe had to be replaced because its magic had been used up.

Holly and ivy were among the favourite evergreens. Laurel and bay came with the Roman invasion. Holly has always been considered a lucky tree as well as a very symbolic one, its spines now act as a reminder of Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crown of thorns and the berries represent the drops of blood spilt when the crown was thrust on His head. Many folk still believe it is unlucky to cut holly unless you crave its pardon first, as is the custom with the elderberry. Ivy berries were long associated with the devil and the idea was to bring the plant into the home in order to keep daemons away. To drink from a cup made of its wood was thought to be a cure for alcohol induced ills - an original hangover cure if ever there was one! 56

wolverhampton west magazine

AUTUMN GOLD

Steve Tonks, General Manager at Boningale Garden Creations provides his golden tips.

There’s still plenty to do in the garden this autumn, if you want to keep it looking tidy.

If you can, leave some stems to over-winter because this provides a home and food for wildlife.

There’s no need to go to the gym when you are a gardener – especially if you like to maintain your lawn! Get your workout done by scarifying the lawn (this is removing unwanted thatch – moss – that grows in the lawn). Afterwards, top dress by

applying a layer of sand/soil/peat mix to the lawn. You’ll need a different mix depending on your lawn’s soil conditions, for example, if you have a fast-draining lawn, you’ll need more soil/loam to increase water retention. Another great way to tidy up the garden and make a difference to your soil quality is composting the fallen leaves. In 12 months’ time, you’ll have a nutritious, rich leaf mould with which to enrich your borders.

Now is the best time to move established trees or shrubs. Deciduous plants can be moved any time from late October to midMarch, while evergreen plants are best moved from October to late March. Moving them in the dormant season gives the roots time to re-establish themselves quickly. If your garden is at its peak in the summer, it can start to look a little tired in the autumn months, so it’s a good idea to cut back any perennials that have died down. This not only improves their appearance, it also encourages strong growth for the following year.

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

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Christmas

has arrived at Lealans Garden Centre

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

red-orange berries. Azaleas will flourish in either a warm or cool room and are very easy to keep.

At the time of writing America is currently suffering from storm Matthew, meanwhile we’ve had a fairly mild spell of weather, but with winter just around the corner it’s time to get the garden ready for the colder weather. Make sure you’ve got fleece or fleece bags ready to put over tender plants such as Cordylines, Hebes, Tree Ferns and other semi hardy plants once the frosts arrive. Remove leaves from around roses and other deciduous plants and put onto the compost heap. Borders can then be mulched with compost, well-rotted manure or bark. Make sure hosepipes are drained and stored in the dry before we get frosts; cover outdoor taps over to prevent freezing.

So long as there’s no frost in the ground you can still plant bare root hedging, and for winter colour why not add shrubs such as Pernettyas, Skimmias or Sarcoccoa. Continue planting pansies, wallflowers and winter bedding, the sooner it’s done now the better. November is the ideal month for planting tulip bulbs. As the end of November approaches, many people start to purchase the traditional Christmas house plants. One of the best is the Poinsettia. It gives instant colour in a room. Give them good light during the day and a warm room at all times. Only water when the soil is dry and never stand in water for longer than 10 minutes. For a cooler room the brightly coloured cyclamen is ideal. They require good light at all times. Only water just as the foliage begins to droop and make sure that any excess water is removed after 15 minutes. There’s also the Christmas Cherry with its shiny

Freshly cut Christmas trees are available from the end of November. We sell both cut and pot-grown trees. The most popular cut tree being the Nordman Fir with its low needle drop. We’ve used the same grower for many years and the trees are always bushy and of top quality. Sizes range from 1m right up to 2.4m. Place in a stand or pot that can be kept moist, as warm temperatures and dry air inside make the tree absorb water very quickly. Keep away from hot radiators, open fires and TV sets. Our rooted trees have been grown in their pots and have a good chance of surviving for another year once planted outside. Our range includes Norway Spruce, Nordmans and the increasingly popular Blue Spruce. We display our trees in a cold greenhouse so even if it’s raining you can choose your tree in comfort, all our trees can be netted and loaded into your vehicle for you by our staff. Our spectacular Christmas display will be up and running from mid-October. There’s a vast array of baubles, garlands, lights and cherry blossom trees and if you don’t want a real tree, there’s an excellent range of artificial ones. Becoming more popular over the last few years are the lit ornaments – battery and mains powered and available for indoor and outdoor use – and there’s also animals, vases, Santa and snowmen and a vast array of coloured lights. wolverhampton west magazine

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Tel: 01902 700209 Wide selection of Gift Arrangements, ideal as a living present, Gift Wrapped FREE of charge. Top quality Poinsettias, Azaleas, Kalanchoe, Solanums and our own superb Cyclamen all available now. Real Christmas Trees and Holly Wreaths available from end of November â&#x20AC;&#x201C; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll net and load them into your car for you. Come and see our wonderful array of Christmas lights, Decorations, Artificial and Fibre Optic trees all on display now.

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

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Spark le with S u p e r cl e a n Superclean (Wolverhampton) Ltd, is a family business that has been established since 1991. During this time Superclean has filled a niche market for exceptional cleaning to exclusive clientele throughout Wolverhampton and Shropshire. Owner Gina Hinde explains “We do not have a high turnover of clients or staff as our company policy is to look after both and this has been the philosophy of the company since we started. It has worked well and we have grown from strength to strength over the years.

that we employ, cleaners are trained, insured and contractually obliged to clean to the very highest standard. Superclean is not an agency and we do not find self-employed cleaners to work, nor do we franchise out our cleaning services. We are very proud to say that we fully employ, check and train each and every member of our staff and we firmly believe that this is the only way to guarantee consistently high cleaning standards and remain in full control of the quality of each clean. “We are fully insured and comply with all UK and European employment law so our staff are

insured to be on your property, insured if any accidents should happen and insured if they injure themselves so all liability is with the company and not the client. “Autumn has arrived all too quickly and we find ourselves in an unprecedented position of having staff available to take on extra clients. If you would like to be in the enviable position of having one of our staff cleaning your home then please do not hesitate to contact us, via email, text or telephone, we offer a free, no obligation quotation service”. www.supercleanltd.org

“We cater for all types of clientele whether that be one off cleans, regular weekly or fortnightly cleans or monthly cleans we can accommodate all requirements. “Most of our staff have been with us for over 10 years and those that haven’t have undergone a very strict selection process. We encourage our staff to be trustworthy, professional, reliable and to have the utmost respect for your home. We’re extremely particular about the people

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Wolverhampton and Bilston

At h l e t i c C l u b

Local athletic club Wolverhampton and Bilston has been honoured with a Queens’s award for volunteering. This prestigious award is equivalent to an MBE. Club President Mary Harding and long serving volunteer Noel McKakly travelled to Buckingham Palace at the invitation of Her Majesty the Queen to enjoy tea and celebrations in the Palace garden.

The Deputy Lieutenant Sylvia Parkin, presenting Mary Harding with The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award

At that stage the club was unsure as to whether it had actually been honoured. However in the Queen’s birthday honours list it became official. Mary says: “it is a fitting tribute to all the volunteers who help to make the club the success it has now become.”

In 2017 it will be 50 years since the club was formed from an amalgamation of Wolverhampton Harriers and Bilston Town AC, and big celebrations are being planned which will involve both past athletes, many of whom competed internationally for W&BAC, and the present day super stars. The organisers are trying to reach out to all the people who have been involved with the club in anyway over the past 50 years, and so if you are one of those people and would like to share your experiences please do get in touch, either with

Christmas

approaching fast With the nights drawing in again and October gone it’s time to think about those Christmas technology purchases. Here at Finchfield IT we offer a comprehensive service on setting up new devices, including connecting to networks,

wireless printers, televisions, multi-media devices, network storage, file-sharing and CCTV systems. We also supply custom-built systems, from basic home/office to high-end gaming computers. We cut through the jargon, set up devices so they are simple to use and show people how to actually use them. If there are any questions we are available to help and offer advice in a clear, easy to understand way. If you’re looking for advice with purchasing, quotations for supply or just setting up your new equipment, we’re just a phone call away.

Mary: mharding681@gmail.com or 07809645790 or Pete Kelly: peterckelly1@virginmedia.com. We are also contactable on Facebook- Wolverhampton Old Boys and Girls- where you can catch up with friends and fellow athletes from 1967 onwards. Alternatively contact Wolves and Bilston direct for more details.

Tickets for the 50th anniversary celebrations which will be on Saturday 30th September 2017 will be on sale from March 2017.

Noel McKakly receiving the crystal trophy from the Mayor of Wolverhampton

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Join us for our FOURTH Christmas Fair! From 12 noon till 4.30 Perton Library, The Church, Anders Square and the Civic Centre, Santa's Grotto * Face painting * Raffle Live entertainment * Fun Fair * Tombola Craft stalls * Hot food & refreshments Find us on Facebook “ Perton Christmas Fair” orÊfollowÊusÊonÊTwitterÊ@PertonChristmas Ê

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West end professionals

open new branch in Essington

M3 studios opened its doors in Nov 2014, and we are proud to say that in just two years we now have over 350 committed students across our branches in Cannock, Rugeley and Burntwood. We are very excited to be bringing a brand new branch to Wolverhampton and we would love to invite you to our FREE open day on the 7th Jan 2017. We will be holding musical theatre classes on Saturdays at the newly refurbished ‘Coppice of performing arts’ which boasts top class facilities with fantastic dance studios utilising sprung floors, ballet bars and mirrors and also a wonderful purpose-built drama studio. We have classes available for children aged from 3 – 18 in musical theatre. We pride ourselves on giving our students a direct connection to the

musical theatre industry and we take a more professional approach towards teaching them how to act, sing and dance. We have the perfect combination of learning new skills, building confidence and having fun! We have the highest qualified teachers, who have all been through the process themselves, trained at the top London schools such as Mountview and Italia Conti in London and worked professionally within the industry. Credits include ‘Jersey Boys’, ‘Mamma Mia!’, ‘Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone’, ‘Thunderbirds’ and ‘CBBC school for stars’ to name a few. Whether your child is looking to achieve their dream of working within the industry or to build their confidence and enjoy it as a hobby, M3 Studios is the right choice. Your child can choose to just partake in Drama, Singing or Dancing or do all three at one of our Musical Theatre classes. We are also proud to offer Lamda training in both musical theatre and drama to help students achieve their Lamda qualifications.

2017. We also offer a summer showcase for all students across all branches which utilises every child at our school and gives them a platform to build their confidence and to provide parents with another opportunity to see their children on stage. Furthermore, we offer end of term presentations, various workshops and courses throughout half term and holiday breaks. We truly believe that offering high standard production gives children a really valuable insight into the experience of being involved in a production where so many friendship groups are formed, and which moreover allows them to harness the skills that they have learned in classes. Remember, we offer a FREE trial to every child that comes to try out at M3 Studios, to make sure that they are the perfect classes for you.

Book your FREE trial today! We cannot wait to hear from you. 07715 583721 admin@m3studios.co.uk

We are also very proud to offer annual professional standard productions with full set, costume and orchestra. We audition across our school for a February half term production each year, (this year we are producing Oliver! At the Prince of Wales theatre, Cannock) why not come along and see what it is all about? Shows running from the 21st - 23rd February 66

wolverhampton west magazine

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

2016

Entry to all EvEnts email: events@wolvescivic.co.uk is frEE It’s Christmas in Wolverhampton and Tel: this01902 year552099 we have six spectacular lights switch-ons to look forward to!

Less than a month before Christmas Day Wolverhampton kicks off the festivities with a huge city-centre lights switch-on featuring the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Santa with real reindeer, stars of The Grand Theatre’s ‘Aladdin’ pantomime, Free Radio’s Big Screen and childrens TV character Boj. Families and friends will be able to soak up the festive spirit in Queen Square and peruse market stalls in Dudley Street while the children are entertained by the mini-funfair and reindeer pen in Lichfield Street. Christmas tunes will be playing on the Lady Wulfruna Organ while pop stars grace the big screen. The fun-packed evening will crescendo at 6.30pm with the lights switch on heralded by a breath-taking firework display. Christmas lights will be switched on at five other venues in Wednesfield, Bilston, Tettenhall, Bantock Park and new for this year, Northycote Farm by the Mayor of Wolverhampton and Santa while the Signal 107.7 Road Show play hosts, ensuring the Christmas cheer spreads out far and wide. Wednesday

23 Nov Thursday

24 Nov Friday

25 Nov Saturday

26 Nov

Wolverhampton

Queen Square, event starts 5pm, switch on 6:30pm

Wednesfield

High Street, event starts 4pm, switch on 5pm

Bilston

Church Street, event starts 4pm, switch on 5pm

Tettenhall

Upper Green, event starts 5pm, switch on 6:30pm

Bantock Park

Sunday

Finchfield Road, event starts 5pm, switch on 6:30pm

Saturday

Underhill Lane, Bushbury, event starts 3pm, switch on 6pm

27 Nov

3 Dec

Northycote Farm

For full details of Christmas events in Wolverhampton visit: www.itschristmaswolverhampton.co.uk 68

wolverhampton west magazine

MUSIC 2OOO and M2K MUSIC SCHOOL

2 into 1 does go! MUSIC 2OOO and M2K Music School are owned and managed by Mr Steve Flaherty ACAM (TD), both of which have been successfully trading since 1st August 1994.

Specialising in Keyboards, Digital Pianos, Guitars, and Drums etc. together with associated accessories. Also boasting a vast stock of music books, all of which are available on our full ecommerce website (www.music2000.co.uk). Our company is fast moving forward in the music industry and with your help we will grow even more. So we welcome your call, whether you are buying, selling or just need a little technical help, phone us now on Wolverhampton (01902) 345 999.

staff who all work with various examination boards including ABRSM(The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music), LCM(London College of Music), Trinity Guildhall and Rockschool.

M2K Music School offers tuition on Keyboard, Piano, Guitar, Drums, Saxophone, Clarinet, Violin, Singing and Music Theory – M2K’s professionally trained and qualified staff offer you and your family the opportunity to play a musical instrument. During 1998 we were pleased to announce the installation

We also have a successful tuition centre(M2K Music School), teaching some 200+ students with 14

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of a complete Music Teaching Academy. Since then it’s become a well-established business playing an important role in its parent company MUSIC 2OOO.

In 2014 we launched our most informative website which is www.m2kmusicschool.co.uk. Our Music School offers modern music tuition incorporating examination course material. In 2008 M2K was awarded the status of the Rockschool Examination Centre for Wolverhampton.

Book your free taster lesson now, call M2K on 01902 563504. MUSIC 2OOO 11 Broad Lane, Bradmore, Wolverhampton, WV3 9BN, 01902 345 999. M2K Music School 8 Barn Green, Bradmore, Wolverhampton, WV3 7AY, 01902 563 504.

Enjoy Wolverhampton this

Christmas

Psssst? Want to know what’s happening in Wolverhampton this Christmas?

Wolverhampton welcomes Santa with a big ho ho ho this December. Start the festive season with a bang, whizz and a pop at the Christmas lights switch-on, on Wednesday 23rd November in Queen Square from 5pm with the light switch-on at 6.30pm, when Santa will be joined by some very special guests including Boj from Cbeebies, Wolves FC players and a Grand Theatre Panto celeb! On the run up to the big day the team at Enjoy Wolverhampton are working hard to bring an even bigger and brighter Christmas with festive lights across the city centre and an extra sparkle to our city streets! Late night Christmas shopping starts on the 23rd November with our shops staying open till 8pm every Wednesday until Christmas. Find your favourite brands including House of Fraser, Marks and Spencer’s, Boots, The Entertainer, Waterstones, HMV, River Island, Footasylum, Thornton’s and this year we welcome H & M and Flying Tiger to the Mander Centre. Discover a vibrant mix of independent shops with jewellery at Ruddell’s and TA Henn. For fashion try Diffusion, Le Monde and Waist Down. Castle Galleries and Shop in the Square can provide great gift ideas. Come along to our special Christmas market along Dudley Street on the 23rd November 10am – 8pm to find beautifully crafted gifts and homemade wares. Throughout December the Dudley Street Festive market will be on every Friday and Saturday excluding the 24th December. Make a day or night of it by treating yourself to a magical cocktail at the Bohemian bar, a craft ale at Slaters Bar or Dog and Doublet. Visit one of our many fabulous restaurants for a bite to eat, The Sunbeam, Zorbas, Bilash, Johnny Spice, Rocco’s to name just a few. Visit www.enjoywolverhampton.com for opening hours, the full range of shops, bars and restaurants, great places for Christmas parties and pre-Christmas pampers. There is plenty of free parking this year at NCP Wulfrun centre on Sunday 13th & 20th November. Free Christmas parking is also available this year from 12 noon on Fold street car park on Wednesdays 23rd & 30th November, Wednesday 7th,14th & 21st December and Saturdays the 3rd, 10th & 17th, free all day on Sunday 4th, 11th & 18th December on Fold street. Follow us on our Enjoy Wolverhampton Facebook page for regular updates. 70

wolverhampton west magazine

Late Night Shopping

Dazzling Theatres

Inviting Restaurants Festive Markets

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Cosy Bars & Bistroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Food, Drink, Eating Out & Entertainment

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Christmas AT HALFPENNY GREEN VINEYARDS Award winning English Wines • Local produce shop and deli Renowned restaurant and tea rooms On site craft centre featuring Santa’s Grotto Restaurant and tea rooms with daily specials and a Christmas Fayre menu throughout December (until 24th.) Shop and deli set over 3 floors, with a range of our award winning wines, British gin and other alcohols, a variety of gifts, confectionery and homemade food, plus custom and corporate hampers, gift wrapping and custom wine labeling services. Vouchers available for a range of experiences including wine tasting, tours and high teas, plus many more! A La Carte fine dining evenings throughout the year - Friday 9th December Christmas themed evening (bookings only).

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Cupcake Lane Tearoom A hidden gem in Tettenhall

Cupcake Lane tearoom is a hidden gem that’s just waiting to be discovered. Located in Tettenhall’s old railway station building, at the entrance to Smestow Valley Nature Reserve, the vintage style tearoom offers visitors a real treat. Not only is there a fabulous selection of homemade cakes including plenty of cupcakes, of course - there’s also a fine selection of teas, an appetising menu and an abundance of olde-worlde charm. And it’s easy to leave the stresses of modern day life behind when you step onto the station’s former platform and enter the quaint tearoom, that was opened back in 2014 by Loraine Lane and her daughter. Period features, china cups and shabby chic décor create the

perfect setting for catching up with friends, enjoying afternoon tea or even hosting your own event.

“We’ve got many unique gifts for sale that are displayed throughout the tearoom.”

As co-owner Sarah Pritchard explains: “We serve a great selection of quality homemade food. We have a breakfast and lunch menu, a wide choice of cakes and we also offer a catering service for all manner of special events.”

And if you’re stuck for inspiration when looking for the ideal present, Cupcake Lane has just the thing.

The tearoom is available for private hire for birthdays, christenings, baby showers, anniversaries or any other occasion in fact, and the talented team take care of all the food.

With plenty of outdoor space and a great setting, many customers stop off at Cupcake Lane after finishing their walk through the nature reserve.

“Whatever the event, we can cater for it,” says Sarah. And the venue is a favourite with both adults and kids alike: “We host children’s birthday parties and have an enclosed, safe play area outside that’s complete with a playhouse and swings.” Excitingly the tearoom has recently doubled in size, allowing it to accommodate even more people.

“We do bespoke Cupcake bouquets for all occasions, which make a really fantastic, unique gift.”

“There’s lots of seating on the platform outside that’s ideal for people to sit with their dogs and enjoy a drink after their walk.” So, whether you’re looking for a venue for your special event or just somewhere to meet friends for lunch, pay a visit to Cupcake Lane today and enjoy everything the unique tearoom has to offer.

“We’ve recently renovated another room to create a lot more space for our customers and make the perfect self-contained area for parties.” Keeping in style with the rest of the décor, the new space has been tastefully decorated and filled with lots of lovely things. 74

wolverhampton west magazine

Situated at: Smestow Station Building, Meadow View Terrace, Tettenhall WV6 8NX (off Henwood Road behind Majestic wines)

Vintage inspired Tearoom which has just been extended and refurbished, situated in the old station building at Smestow Valley. Large seating area outside the tearoom with swings and a playhouse. We also welcome dogs. Serving a selection of teas, coffee, soft drinks, freshly baked cupcakes, homemade cakes and home-baked scones served with clotted cream and preserves. We have an extensive menu serving breakfast, lunch, desserts and ice-cream. Gluten or dairy free available (pre-booked).

We also offer • Bespoke cupcake gifts - for that special occasion • Catering – outside events or private hire of the tearoom for all occasions including children’s parties (all day Monday and from 4.30pm Tuesday to Sunday) • Smestow Afternoon Tea

Capture a true journey back in time with vintage crockery, period music and a warm welcome.

We are open Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30am - 4pm and look forward to seeing you. For further details about Cupcake gifts and our bespoke services please do not hesitate to contact us:

01902 219280

contact@cupcakelane.co.uk

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www.cupcakelane.co.uk

Tea for Two

Cream scones, dainty sandwiches and a glass of bubbly or two: despite the rise of trendy coffee shops the very British institution of afternoon tea is now thriving. Rob Taylor takes a taste of what’s on offer from afternoon tea at Himley Hall.

To the delicate question of what should first be applied to the mouth-wateringly light, raisinloaded scone – Cornish clotted cream or strawberry jam – came the expertly diplomatic answer from my long-suffering girlfriend, Nicola: “There is no one right way to eat a scone. It’s all a matter of taste.” Indeed; the Afternoon Tea we are about to enjoy at Himley Hall has so very much to do with taste; all of it good, none of it bad; well, save for my decision to – again in the words of my delectable dining companion – “go all Downton Abbey” by tucking-in my shirt in readiness for our visit. After all, I reason, Himley Hall is a 18th Century Palladian mansion set among 180 acres of Capability Brown-designed parkland; it is the former seat of the Earls of Dudley; a building which has received royal patronage (in 1934 the Duke and Duchess of Kent honeymooned at Himley and The Prince of Wales – later Edward VIII – spent his last weekend

wolverhampton west magazine

there before his abdication) and is now owned and operated by Dudley Council, so I really ought to show some due decorum. However, despite much historical pomp and circumstance I’m delighted to find The Green Room – previously the formal dining room of the house, with views out across the terrace and on to the lake – looking supremely elegant and yet invitingly informal. Which is just as well because today it’s no longer just the rich and fortunate who can partake in the tradition first enjoyed by the seventh Duchess of Bedford and her upper class gal pals in the mid-19th century – because today just £19.95 per person (or £23.50 if you’d like Prosecco or a Bombay Sapphire G&T too) buys you a piece of luxury and tickets are unsurprisingly selling like hot cakes. Oddly, for this great British tradition there really isn’t that many rules when it comes to the food: a standard afternoon tea comprises a layer of sandwiches, a layer of cakes and a layer of scones, all presented on a pretty stand, all at once. But Himley Hall doesn’t operate a ‘dole-out and disappear’ technique, instead a friendly and highly efficient team of waiting staff deliver each exquisite parcel separately, allowing for the proper pause between courses, beginning with – what else! – tea and coffee. Immediately I realise how modern living starves us of niceties that are not missed until they are received: like linen napkins stuffed into wine glasses, crisply-laundered table cloths and proper tea delivered properly, via pot and strainer. We have learned to accept everything

as a means to an end, but at Himley Hall we are encouraged to enjoy the journey, as well as the eating; lots and lots of eating – long into the afternoon. We start with a Prawn ‘Martini’, which is a cute little novelty designed to spark the taste buds into action. Then follows a selection of ribbon sandwiches, which include: Wiltshire Ham and Tomato, Free Range Egg and Mayonnaise and Mature Cheddar Cheese and Farmhouse Chutney. Both Nicola and I are keen to sample at least one of each variant; neither of us can fault either presentation or taste. The standout sandwich is, we both agree, Ham and Tomato. Only gluttons will be left asking for more. After a well-judged sorbet palate cleanser, next up is what I’d argue to be most synonymous with afternoon tea: ‘Warm Scone served with Strawberry Conserve and

thick fresh cream’. Get this right and I’m sold; wrong, and I’m crestfallen. Happily Himley Hall nails it because these are scones to sigh for. Moist, laden with just the right number of raisins and delicately textured, they are a triumph. And – for your information – we both apply cream before jam. And so, with our waistbands now uncomfortably tight and my mind so tea-addled that I more than once mistake the giant chandelier which hovers above us to be a glowing orb of the Third Kind, here come the cakes. A selection of ‘two bite cakes’ - Vanilla Blonde, White Chocolate and Raspberry Cheesecake, Belgian Brownie and a Tarte au Citron is presented to us on what I refer to as a “food bookcase”. Each one of the bijou offerings tantalise and excite without overwhelming the senses too much: every morsel is a delight to eat. And after taking home the remnants, I’m still eating cake days later (admittedly with PG Tips). There’s a real sense of permanence at Himley Hall; every room and corridor resonates with historical import – it’s there in every nook and cranny – and with afternoon tea this good, I can see this new tradition continuing indefinitely as well. Himley Hall & Park, Himley, Dudley, DY3 4DF. Please call 01384 817817 to enquire about current dates available or to make a booking. www.dudley.gov.uk/himleyhall

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R J Hipkiss & Sons Butchers Here at R J HIPKISS & SONS we believe in providing our customers with the very best in locally sourced beef, pork and English Turkey.

All our meat can be traced back to its origin, it is prepared carefully in store for sale and then onto our fresh meat counter.

DERS R O S A M T IS R H C G IN N O W TA K 78

Open: Monday to Saturday 7.30am to 6.00pm, Sunday 8am to 4pm Tel: 01902 745956 wolverhampton west magazine

Keeping the th ing

we love..s.

LOCAL!

Customers can choose their particular joint or steak and have it cut to their exact specifications for their meal of the day, their weekend roast, for that extra special dinner party, or of course - the most important meal of the year - The Christmas Dinner!

You can be sure of the best advice and service!

WIN A COMPLETE CHRISTMAS ! 20 DINNER HAMPER WORTH OVER £1 the cha nce to We are givi ng one luck y rea der ner Ham per ! Din as istm win a com plet e Chr dinn er.. . This will This won ’t just be a Chr istm as t to rem emb er! feas S SON & be a R J HIP KISS and ‘like our pag e’ on Fac ebo ok To ent er all you hav e to do is itio n Ham per pos t, bes t of luck !! pet Com as sha re our Chr istm

Starter

Brussels Pate with Luxury Crackers

Main Course

Traditional Boneless Tur Crown (3.5 kg) with Sea key son Vegetables, Pigs in Blanke ts and Luxury Stuffing

Sweet

Christmas Pudding and Bottle of Sparkling Wine a Halfpenny Green Vineyafrom rds

www.rjhipkissandsons.co.uk The www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk Swan Centre, Bridgnorth Road, Wolverhampton WV6 8AE (based in the Spar store) 79

Christmas is in the air

at Halfpenny Green Vineyards Harvest is drawing to a close, the log burners are blazing and there’s a festive mood floating around at the South Staffordshire vineyard. And this year there’s a very special guest visiting during December… That’s right; Santa himself will be bringing his grotto to Halfpenny Green Vineyards! From 3rd December until Christmas Eve Santa and his helpers will be welcoming children and adults alike, and even offering a small gift to each child or, for an extra special treat, the option to make a teddy bear after your visit with TeddyTastic! For all prices and booking information, contact Skallywags Indoor Play on 01384 77004. For the big kid this Christmas there’s plenty on offer in the way of alcoholic treats in the shop - first and foremost the award winning English

Wine! The Vineyards have taken home almost 30 awards for their wines this year, including 8 trophies, from both national and international competitions. Big winners include the white Tom Hill, which has bagged gold and silver medals at home and abroad, and the new

vintage Late Harvest, a white dessert wine, picking up two trophies and a silver medal. The Rondo 2014, a full bodied 15% red, picked up awards on the international scene with its dark, chocolatey flavours, and the Penny Black, which is one of the first ever wines made at Halfpenny Green, achieved a silver medal in a UK national competition. To really get to grips with the wines, book a tasting session in the Wine Loft, which includes a cheese pairing option from the deli, and even a self-guided trail of the vineyard! In the shop, 2015 saw the launch of a successful range of custom hampers which could be filled with any products from the shop, such as wine, gin, biscuits, chocolates, tea, sweets and even cheese! There’s a whole range of carefully sourced fresh produce and premium brand products spread over three different floors - including the Wine Loft, dedicated entirely to alcohol! In addition to the wines, the loft now plays home to almost 50 small-batch British gins, which will soon feature as part of a gin tasting menu.

wolverhampton west magazine

features a unique three course menu, all prepared fresh to order by the chef and his team. On the 9th December a special Christmas themed evening is taking place, which will feature classic Christmas dishes, with an A La Carte twist! Places are limited, and available by booking only, by calling the restaurant on 01384 221122. Halfpenny Green Vineyards is the perfect destination this Christmas for all of your shopping, dining and entertainment needs. With over fifteen other bespoke and artisan businesses in the on-site craft centre, plus the recently opened WILD Zoological Park, why head anywhere else over the holidays? After your visit to Santa’s Grotto and a Christmas shopping spree, you can put your feet up in the restaurant for a relaxed lunch, surrounded by the Staffordshire countryside. Lunch is served between 12:00pm – 3:00pm, featuring a full menu and daily specials all cooked and prepared fresh to order in the kitchen. During the month of December until Christmas Eve, a Christmas Fayre Menu will be available, featuring a range of classic festive meals, perfect for a Christmas get together. Private evening functions are also available upon enquiry, ideal for company meals and celebrations. For a truly unique evening, The Vineyards have recently relaunched their fine dining A La Carte Evenings taking place on a selected Friday evening each month. Each night

Halfpenny Green Vineyards, Tom Lane, Bobbington, South Staffordshire DY7 5EP Tel: 01384 221122 www.halfpenny-green-vineyards.co.uk

COMPETITION Halfpenny Green Vineyards are giving one lucky reader the chance to take home a mixed case of six of their award winning wines.

For a chance to win, just answer the following question correctly:

Name one of Halfpenny Green Vineyard’s award winning English Wines. Email your answer to: info@wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Or on a postcard to: Wolverhampton West Magazine, 1 Lytham Road, Perton, Wolverhampton WV6 7YY. Please include your name, address and telephone number. All entries to be received by Monday 5th December 2016.

Competition terms and conditions: Winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries received. Winner to be aged 18 years or older. Wine selection is from grape wines only and includes a maximum of one sparkling wine. All entry details will be forwarded to Halfpenny Green Vineyards unless requested otherwise.

Poxon’s Butchers of Castlecroft Specialists in high quality British meat for over 50 years

The friendly team at Poxons

For more than half a century, Poxon’s Butchers of Castlecroft have been supplying the local community with only the highest quality fresh British meat, sourced direct from local farms. The family-run business began life in 1957 when Dennis Poxon opened the shop in Windmill Lane. Some 30 years later his son, Nigel, took over the company after training at Brierley Hill’s once prominent meat

product manufacturer, Marsh and Baxter.

beef, poultry or game to meet their customers’ requirements.

Already well known for their delicious homemade pies and sausages, Nigel built new pie and sausage rooms to meet with their ever growing customer demand.

And, you can always guarantee that you’ll find the best seasonal meat at the butchers too: “Our early spring lamb arrives in February and our free range turkeys are with us in time for Christmas.”

Nigel explains: “Our pies and sausages have always been made on the premises, ever since we introduced them to the shop in the 1970’s. “We make 21 different varieties of sausage in total, including one that’s gluten free.” In addition to the sausage, there’s a delicious choice of savoury pies, scotch eggs, pasties and even ready meals: “Only the finest ingredients go into our products.” All of Poxon’s locally sourced meat is hung in the traditional way before being prepared into retail cuts of meat. The team are always more than happy to cut their lamb, pork,

The Poxon’s team is made up of nine members of staff, who are led by Manager, Philip Ward. “Philip has been with us for over 30 years and does a great job managing all aspects of the business. I’m lucky to have a great team of staff working for me.” Ten years ago Poxon’s joined the prestigious Q Guild of Butchers: “We’re pleased to be a Q Guild butchers, it’s an organisation that is widely recognised and highly regarded both in the trade and by consumers.” So, why not try something different for dinner tonight and pay a visit to Poxon’s?

96 Windmill Lane, Castlecroft, Wolverhampton WV3 8HG

Quality Butchers Specialists in high quality British meat for over 50 years Comprehensive range of pork pies using the finest ingredients All pies and sausages made exclusively on the premises.

Ready cooked meals – beef lasagne, chicken curry, cottage pies and hot pots. We also make sweet pies. Gluten free and other special orders available upon request.

Tel: 01902 761693

www.poxonsbutchers.co.uk

wolverhampton west magazine

Allan Bennett: A Cut Above

More and more discerning people these days are turning their attention to longstanding traditions that appear to be under threat.

The family butcher - for years the mainstay of the weekly shop and sustainer of this country's morale throughout the generations - is, like so many other things, threatened by the tidal wave of changes brought about by the supermarket culture. As every good housewife used to know, there is no better friend when it comes to finding the ideal cut at the ideal price, than the aproned man or woman on the other side of the counter.

awards including The Lifetime Achievement Award (The supreme accolade.) from the Master of The Worshipful Company of Butchers is called upon to judge far and wide. Often regarded as 'The Lord Chief Justice of Meat' and endearingly known to close friends as 'Mr Sausage', Allan is always ready to help and advise those upon whom he has passed judgement, sharing his special techniques in the interests of better quality for all. It's no wonder that he is in the Guild of Q Butchers.

Allan's Codsall shop reflects his success and enthusiasm, with not only artistic displays of meat products, but with the many trophies won, together with photographs of celebrities presenting them to him. So if you want to experience the traditional delights of this family-run butchers, pop in soon and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never want to take the easy option of grabbing meat from the supermarket shelf again.

When the butcher in question is an award winning 'champion of champions' you know right away that he's 'just the ticket'. Allan Bennett is a Codsall butcher renowned for the outstanding quality of his meat, sausages and pies. Going to bed and waking up with meat on his mind, it's not surprising that in a career spanning over half a century, Allan - as proud holder of prestigious national and international

Allan receiving one of his many awards

Gourmet Christmas With over 50 years experience of the meat industry, Allan Bennett and his staff strive to create the best quality money can buy. This quality has brought success at the highest level, winning national competitions for his Bacon, Black Pudding, Sausage, plus international success for pies & pastries.

Dupheshen

Our Dupheshen is based on the traditional three bird roast. A duck is boned then stuffed with chicken and pheasant breast, sausage meat, orange and apricots. Once roasted it can be served hot or cold for that special Christmas feast. Aproximate weight: 3-3.5kg, 7-8lb Servings: 10-12 people for a meal or more served on a buffet.

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Visit us for help and advice to help make your Christmas a success. Winner Pork Sausage, Overall Best Product, Stafford County Show 2010

Allan Bennett Ltd 15 Station Road, Codsall, Wolverhampton, WV8 1BX Tel: 01902 842204

Himley Hall A local treasure

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

Celebration with disco, Wedding Breakfast and Evening celebration or simply a ceremony only.

In 1934 the Duke and Duchess of Kent spent the first two weeks of their honeymoon at Himley. Today, couples may marry where Royal newlyweds once took their honeymoon, and photograph their special day in the grounds where princes and earls once strolled.

The former dining room, the elegant Green Room, is perfect for larger ceremonies of up to 75 persons, and also offers Great Lake views. The terrace may again be accessed from the adjacent Pink Room.

WEDDING DAY CHOICES Himley Hall offers a range of options for weddings including full wedding packages of Ceremony, Wedding Breakfast and Evening

Himley Hall has 3 ceremony rooms, the Pink and the Green Rooms have views towards the Great Lake, and the Oak Room overlooks the Hall’s courtyard. The Pink Room, the former library, hosts up to 45 guests including the wedding couple with private access onto the Hall terrace for drinks and photographs. The Oak Room is licensed for up to 55 guests.

RECEPTION ROOMS Wedding Breakfasts for 45-90 guests may be held in several of Himley Hall’s refurbished rooms; the Green Room with its dazzling chandelier, the Oak Room; a delightful wood panelled room and in the sumptuous Art-Deco style Swimming Pool Room in the North Wing. This wing includes the Cinema Bar , the Earl of Dudley’s former private cinema, these days an elegant 1930’s style lounge bar. The Swimming Pool Room has a dance floor and lighting and sound system and can host evening functions for 80-140 guests,

following a wedding breakfast or following a late ceremony.

TREAT SOMEONE TO A TASTE OF INDULGENCE FOR CHRISTMAS If you are struggling for a gift idea for someone who enjoys the finer things in life then treat them to a ‘taste of indulgence’ with a Himley Hall Afternoon Tea gift voucher. Himley Hall’s Indulgent Afternoon Teas offer visitors the opportunity to enjoy one of the true traditions of our culinary heritage. The classic combination of ribbon sandwiches, scones with fruit conserve and cream, sweet pastries and tea in the superb setting of Himley Hall is an afternoon of indulgence not to be missed. Vouchers are per person and start at £19.95 for an Indulgent Afternoon Tea with options to add a glass of sparkling Prosecco or a G&T. Vouchers are available online at www.dudley.gov.uk/himleyhall or by calling Himley Hall on 01384 817817 Afternoon Tea in Himley Hall must be pre-booked and is offered on individual weekday dates each month. Individual, small party or large group bookings are available up to a maximum of 100 persons.

If you would like more details on Himley Hall as a civil wedding ceremony and reception venue or for an Indulgent Afternoon Tea please call 01384 817817 or visit www.dudley.gov.uk/himleyhall 84

wolverhampton west magazine

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

KING PRAWN SALMON COD

Good Quality Seafood Available Direct From The Producer Now in Wolverhampton

FREE

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local d eli ÂŁ50.0 very on orde collect 0 and 10% rs over ed ord off Nove ers until the on end of mber if you p 2016, this ad resent vert to us.

PANGASIUS FRESH WATER WHOLE FISH

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Unit 3 & 4, Fallings Park Industrial Estate, Park Lane, Wolverhampton WV10 9QA

TEL:01902 722963 Open to all Monday to Friday 6.30am - 5:30pm Open Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 9:30am - 1:00pm

www.staragromarine.co.uk info@staragromarine.com 86

wolverhampton west magazine

FEAST FOODS misconception that a meal has to contain meat or dairy to be tasty.

90% of her customers are meat eaters and all of them keep coming back to order because they feel happy and healthy for eating natural, meat-free, delicious food. Nadiah believes we need to give the people of Wolverhampton more food options which are convenient yet healthy. “If we only provide unhealthy options, it is impossible to make a healthy choice. People are now interested in keeping fit and changing their food diets so we should be offering the people of Wolverhampton a chance to use their palates instead of eating processed food.” Feast Foods is the first step towards this, and offers people in the area an affordable, convenient way to eat at least one meal a day that is meat free, fresh, healthy and delicious.

Delivering delicious, nutritious food that you and your body will love. Feast Foods is a vegan and vegetarian food delivery service based in Wolverhampton created by Nadiah Sweilem. Offering clean, natural lunches available Monday to Friday that can be delivered straight to your front door or office desk. Each meal is designed to create a culinary journey in your mouth using fresh, beneficial and colourful ingredients. It is Feasts’ mission to provide tasty, honest food at an affordable price. Each week a new menu is sent out giving

you the opportunity to order a well-balanced zesty lunch. Food is Nadiah’s main passion in life and she is always experimenting in the kitchen creating new and exciting recipes. It wasn’t until a friend of hers approached her to cook lunches on a regular basis that she realised how she could cook healthy meals for everyone.

To order and find out more information head to FEAST’s website at www.feast-foods. co.uk or social media pages: Facebook: FEAST Food Instagram: Feast_Foods Twitter: Feast_Foods or telephone: 07715 680236

Through Feast Foods, Nadiah is not trying to convert people to become a vegan or vegetarian but thinks it is important for people to understand where their food has come from and what they are eating. People are not aware of the health and environmental issues eating meat and dairy have, and there’s a

FEAST

Vegan and Vegetarian Lunch Delivery www.feast-foods.co.uk

@feast_foods

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

@feastfoodswolverhampton

@feast_foods

Au t h e n t i c Ita l i a n

g a s t r o n o m y in the hear t of Willenhall If you do one thing this

weekend - or any weekend for that matter, make it a trip to Corbelli’s Little Italy Deli. This Aladdin’s cave offers the finest selection of Italian foods and wines that you just won’t find in any main stream supermarket. Mainly a wholesaler, Corbelli’s opens its doors to the public at weekends; on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm and Sundays 10am to 1.30pm. Established in 1965 Corbelli’s Little Italy Deli is quite literally a hidden gem. It initially opened in Wolverhampton in 1965 and moved to its current location in Lower Lichfield Street, Willenhall in 1980. It can be tricky to find but it’s well worth the search. The delicatessen and winery was started by Giovanni Corbelli and is now run by his sons Giuseppe and Pietro. They offer a warm welcome

and are keen to share their in-depth knowledge of their exquisite produce. The range at Corbelli’s is vast, from cheeses and meats to antipasti and pasta and not forgetting the wines – there are hundreds to choose from! The recent re-opening of the winery welcomes the return of home produced Marsala; rich and enticing and the perfect accompaniment for all of those fine cheeses. If beer is more your bag then you won’t be disappointed with the selection, spirits and liqueurs are a plenty and varied. If you are looking to stock up with some special treats for Christmas then Corbelli’s has to be on your list. Why not create a truly unique hamper for the perfect gift for a foodie in your life? As well as fresh produce there’s also a fabulous collection of coffees, condiments, tins and jars that will keep well and be the perfect answer to the ‘no more turkey!’ feeling, yet still provide something special. So if you are looking for the finest Italian foods at wholesale prices and a unique shopping experience, then pay Corbelli’s a visit at 43 Lower Lichfield Street, Willenhall WV13 1QQ – you won’t be disappointed.

FRESH, AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE

LITTLE ITALY DELI

EstaBLIshED 1965

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

www.littleitalydeli.co.uk

43 LowEr LIchfIELD STrEET, wILLEnhALL wV13 1QQ Easy accEss from thE motorway 88

✁ 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 sole distributor for armani water in the UK and Ireland

QUALITY AT WHOLESALE PRICE wolverhampton west magazine

Christmas at Molineux Limited number of party packages still available.

Book now! Please call our Christmas Party bookings team on: 0871 222 2220 (Option 5) or email: christmas@wolves.co.uk

Wergs golf Club

The ideal venue for Christenings, birthdays, Anniversaries, Wakes and Christmas Parties

What’s On at thE WERGs:

If you are looking for somewhere to hold a Staff Christmas Party, The Wergs is the place for you!

EvERy WEd fROm 30th NOv tO 21St dEc // 12pm ‘tIl 3pm

FRi 9th DEc sOlD Out!

duE tO dEmaNd WE havE addEd aN addItIONal datE:

Wergs ChrIsTmAs fAyre

sat 10th DEc//7PM

lIVe enTerTAInmenT from X fACTor’s Joe WhelAn And dIsCo £25 pER pERSON Includes 3 course meal. We can accommodate small or large parties. Avoid disappointment and book now, places are going quick! Dress code: smart casual.

£9.95 pER hEad - 2 course £12.95 pER hEad - 3 course Wergs are holding a Christmas Fayre Carvery Menu between 12-3pm. Bookings essential. Dress code: smart casual.

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

fROm 7.30pm ‘tIl latE

neW yeArs eVe gAlA nIghT

WITh Joe WhelAn ONly £60 pER tIckEt! Book now to avoid disappointment. Welcome in the New Year with our fantastic celebrations. Champagne and canapés on arrival, followed by sumptuous buffet, dance the night away to Heartbeat, firework display at midnight. A superb night! Dress code: black tie, suits or very dapper!

booKinG pLeAse cALL

01902 742 225

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Wombourne Tandoori Restaurant Established 1989

Air conditioned

Cuisine of Bengal

Fully licensed



FOOD HYGIENE RATING SCHEME 2011

Celebrate your Christmas Party in Style at the Perfect Venue to Dine! 5 course Festive Christmas Menu Available from 1st – 24th December

Christmas Day Menu now available... Bookings now being taken for 6 course traditional or Bengali style Christmas Day Lunch, Christmas Office Parties and Christmas Family and Friends Get-togethers.

for groups of 10 people or more

Papadums with relish Choice starter Chicken Tikka Onion Bhajee Samosas Chicken Chat Choice main course Chicken Tikka Masala Chicken Tikka Jalfrezi Lamb Bhuna Prawn Sagwaller Balti Vegetable Balti Rice or Nan Pilau Rice Fried Rice Mushroom Pilau Rice Plain Nan Peshwari Nan Keema Nan Tea or Coffee

only £12.95 per person

Bookings Only

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

“We pride ourselves on our Quality of Food, Excellent Customer Service and Customer Satisfaction.” Recently refurbished in contemporary surroundings, air conditioned and fully licensed. Our popular Take-away Service is still the best in Wombourne offering 10% off our Menu price.

Tel:

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

High Street, Wombourne WV5 9DN 90

facebook.com/wombourne.tandoori

www.wombournetandoori.com wolverhampton west magazine

FesTiVe DiNNeR & WiNe TAsTiNG

CHRisTmAs JUmPeR NiGHT

Tuesday 20th December

Friday 23rd December

enjoy a relaxed evening with wine tasting from ‘Glory of Wine’ and a four course meal with coffee and petit fours.

Wear your favourite Christmas jumper and enjoy a casual night with a festive finger buffet, followed by a disco until 1:00am.

£30.00 per person

£18.00 per person

TWixmAs PACkAGe

NeW YeARs eVe

26th - 30th December 2016

Any 2 nights including New Years Eve

sharing a twin/double standard room, three course evening meal, english breakfast and full use of our Health & Fitness Club. Hot chocolate, tea or coffee and a mince pie served in the Braserrie on arrival. stay for two consecutive nights and receive complimentary golf.

sharing a twin/double room on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis, New Year’s eve Gala Buffet and entertainment, followed by a leisurely brunch on New Year’s Day. Use of our Health & Fitness Club and two rounds of golf are included.

£105.00 per room per night

£200.00 per person

Look us up on Trip Advisor

sales@patshull-park.co.uk

01902 700100

www.patshull-park.co.uk

Pattingham, Nr Wolverhampton WV6 7HR

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

By John Nash

A genuine ‘fresh’ approach to ‘old school’ curry I read sometime ago that ‘old school’ is the new thing with Indian cuisine.

My confession: I’m a hopeless Indian subcontinent food addict and even whilst taking part in a strict, sponsored diet, I find myself sampling

the delights of traditional Bangladeshi cooking at the Wombourne Tandoori. Torn between guilt and the undeniable pleasures of some great signature dishes, the appeal of living like a nun was subjugated in a single phone call to book a table for two. But this outing to a restaurant that is far from retro in its presentation – it’s

a clean, crisp, modern environment – had, quite literally, a hidden agenda that’s very ‘old school’. In a previous interview with restaurateur Rafique Miah he had mentioned his tantalising bespoke approach to WT dining “with up to 70 recipes not listed on the menu” and creative additions to suit diners’ preferences. From simple masalas and dhansaks to more obscure dishes, the kitchen can create dining tailored to taste. Love it. Too good an opportunity to miss, especially when many of the recipes have been sourced by Rafique in annual food pilgrimages tracing family roots.

Simple pleasures – crisp and light papadums served with sweet onions, a generous selection of pickles, chutneys and a raita dip

wolverhampton west magazine

For instance, the Jaflonghe dish is a generational family recipe hand-down and the Seremongoli – a dryish, sweet dish that’s popular with diners – was perfected during trips to Sylhet. Rafique is a serious food contender with a core of customers who have been loyal for more than 25 years. His pursuit of Indian food discovery keeps things fresh at his Wombourne village square premises and, in his own words, “it’s hard for my rivals to copy.” Curry heaven – top, Chicken Tikka Seremongoli, but with a spicy twist He adds: “The recipes that are and, bottom, Lamb Methi Gosht with fresh methi ‘from the market’ not on the menu help to define us. They’re our own and will remain so. Many have come from my journeys, myself and companion Gill it’s enough for a starter… they are the absolute authentic taste of Indian cuisine.” besides I can’t wait to get into the main course.

Reimaging traditional Indian food history into a trendy, busy restaurant is possible, but the clever alchemy to pull it off is a rare find. Quite how it works with the WT I’m not sure, but it does, and spectacularly so. I’m not a chef, but had a privileged grounding in Indian food as a guest in a school friend’s home. Back in the day there were no takeaways, no balti bazars, no Indian restaurants, but we did have Sohan’s mother’s Indian cooking. Since those blissfully simple days, my taste buds bar has always been high. Clearly I recall the explosion of flavours served in a front room decorated with flowers and peacock feathers. I was amazed how I could taste the full flavour of lamb (my favourite meat) in a rich spice-tingling sauce. Preserving, yet simultaneously infusing flavours, is true kitchen wizardry. On a Tuesday evening the restaurant was buzzing with most of the covers taken and I note a healthy stream of callers picking up takeaways throughout my stay. Going to Wombourne Tandoori is not a quick fix. The ethos of this restaurant is all about food quality, so expect to wait for freshly cooked dishes. Believe me, it’s small price to pay if you’re really into your curries and the front of house hospitality is always warm. The WT papadums arrive hot, are delightfully light and are served with sweet onions, a generous selection of pickles, chutneys and a raita dip. For

Wombourne Tandoori owner Rafique – bespoke dining with 70 dishes not on the menu

Gill plumbed for a Chicken Tikka Seremongoli. Pineapples were introduced to India by the Portuguese in the 16th century, the Bangladesh climate suited their cultivation and they became an essential ingredient for this dish. The preparation is generally not that hot, but Gill wanted it seriously fiery. Indeed it was, the additional Naga chillies transforming this normally subtle encounter loaded with succulent chicken, into something very special. Despite the heat, it was a feast of distinctive flavours, served with pea-pilau rice and slices of naan bread. I have developed a trusting relationship with Rafique and anything he recommends is worth serious consideration. Having dined on (slimming) fish for nearly a month, I seized the opportunity for a lamb dish. Rafique: What do you want John? Me: Lamb’s good. Rafique: How do you want it? Me: Do something from your secret menu that has a kick, but not overpowering. Result: A Methi Gosht dish and taste bud heaven. Methi is a Hindi term for fenugreek and these herb leaves are used in Indian dishes. In most restaurants the methi is dried. Not only was the lamb lean and succulent – a real melt-in-the mouth experience – there was something distinctly different about my dish. Only on questioning Rafique did he reveal what it was. I’m familiar with the taste of dried methi, but in my dish the chef used fresh, green methi “from the market”. It’s a distinct, lovely taste and one not easily forgotten. Again served with naan and pea-pilau rice – just excellent. Fancy being adventurous with your curry night out? Ask for an off-the-menu treat from this Wombourne curry king. Wombourne Tandoori, High Street, Wombourne WV5 9DN. For bookings please contact 01902 324148 / 324437.

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

BAR & BISTRO www.3hammers.co.uk

With its superb conservatory and outdoor eating area, we are a family friendly bar and bistro serving freshly cooked traditional food. Vegetarian menu, childrens menu, choice tantalising daily specials board complemented by fine ales and wines whether you’re a GOLFER OR NOT!

TUESDAY GRILL NIGHT 2 delicious grills and a bottle of selected wine for only £19.95

An ideal venue for private parties including family celebrations and funerals from groups of 2 up to 120. Special Buffet Menus also available.

Christmas bookings now being taken, menus available, please call for details. BAR OPEN FROM 10am until 11pm Breakfast served 10am -12pm (not Sunday). Lunch & Evening Meals served Weekdays & Saturdays: 12noon-2pm & 6pm-9pm, Sunday: 12noon-3pm & 5.30pm-9pm

To avoid disappointment please book, tel: 01902 791917 3hammersbarandbistro@gmail.com Situated on the 3 Hammers Golf Complex, Old Stafford Road, Coven, Nr Wolverhampton WV10 7PP

ENJOY A SUNDAY CARVERY AT THE WERGS Come and spend a relaxing sunday afternoon with us SERvED fROm 12pm – 4pm

ONE cOURSE: £11.95 TWO cOURSE: £15.95 THREE cOURSE: £19.95 cHilDREN UNDER 12 (ONE cOURSE): £8.95 Also serving Breakfast, morning coffee and lunches

2 foR £12 Mon to SAt lunChtiMES 12pM – 3pM bookingS AdViSAblE the Wergs

keepers lane, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton West midlands Wv6 8UA e info@wergsgolfclub.com

www.wergsgolfclub.com

fOR fURTHER iNfORmATiON ON GOlf, DiNiNG OR fUNcTiONS OR TO mAkE A

BOOkiNG plEASE cAll

01902 742 225 wolverhampton west magazine

Join us for

Dinner party nights @ £32.95pp

ChristMas

Friday & Saturday nights throughout December 4 Course dinner, entertainment & DJ

MiDweek Dinner party nights @ £25pp Thurs 1st December park house party night & DJ Wed 7th December Comedy night & DJ Thurs 8th December Live band ‘Fruit Machine’ & DJ. Sun 11th December 80’s school disco Wed 14th December Olly Murs/Bruno Mars tribute

2 for 1 on Sunday Lunch

Book a table in our restaurant for a traditional 3 course Sunday Lunch at £24.95 and receive another 3 course lunch FREE*. Please quote Wolverhampton West Magazine when booking.

*Valid until 31st December 2016. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. Not valid for private dining or for bookings of more than 6 people. Valid only when 3 courses are purchased.

Thurs 15th December Casino party night & DJ Sun 18th December 90’s Club classics Wed 21st December Motown tribute act & DJ

The Park House Hotel, Park street, shifnal, Telford, Tf11 9BA

The Park house hoTel

Thurs 22nd December Live band ‘Few good Men’ & DJ

reservations@parkhousehotel.net

www.parkhousehotelshifnal.co.uk

to book contact our events team on 01952 460128

Shifnal

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Arthur’s Of The Grand Bar - Design by Grant Bushell - Photograph by Jonathan Hipkiss

A i n’ t L i fe

Grand

Serendipity is often a writer’s strongest ally – and it’s not until just before tonight’s performance of The Sound of Music at Wolverhampton’s iconic Grand Theatre that I realise I’m in luck, because right up until this point I’ve been harbouring a sliver of chagrin from having just missed out on a much-lauded performance of The Shawshank Redemption. Inspired by a firm film favourite of mine, Shawshank – I eventually realise – would have been so 96

absorbing that it may have eclipsed the primary focus of my visit, to enjoy the recent redevelopment of all three levels of the theatre’s front of house and – more specifically – the brand new Private Hire Booths, which treat parties of up to six people to sybaritic luxury: before, after and during every performance.

By Rob Taylor theatre I haven’t visited since I was sixteen, going on seventeen. Like the musical, the Grand itself has always been an “oldie but a goodie” and yet – save for the imposing exterior façade – the £1.2 million redevelopment, part-funded by Wolverhampton City Council, sees the perennial favourite of the stars from stage and screen looking sharp, contemporary and in ruder health than when it first opened its doors in 1894. And now not only theatre-goers are invited inside. The ground level couldn’t be more inviting from the pavement, now that the old confectionary kiosk has been replaced by a bar, serving everything: including fresh cakes, teas and coffees from 11am, Monday to Saturday. Adjacent

So since I – and every other person ever – have seen The Sound of Music every Christmas, I’m able to periodically tune out of the show and still not lose the plot, since I must confess that musicals are not among my favourite things. Instead I opt to ruminate upon just what a staggering The Sound of Music UK Tour - Lucy O’Byrne accomplishment has as Maria - Photograph Mark Yeoman taken place at the local

wolverhampton west magazine

Exclusive Booth Experience

is The Encore Lounge, which is brimming with booth-style seating areas and prone to hold intimate shows including live music and comedy evenings. With such rich and sympathetic rejuvenation writ large on every wall, the Grand in its latest guise cannot fail to whet the appetite of any visitor, whether newcomer or long-term supporter. As I escort my long-supporting girlfriend Nicola towards the staircase I explain to her that we’ll be sitting within the grandeur of the Dress Circle – the area once reserved only for the gentry; after first being served Prosecco and nibbles by our very own personal waiter in our exclusive booth inside the fabulously Art Deco Arthur’s of the Grand bar. There are two packages for guests to choose from, ‘Beginners’ for £50 and ‘Applause’ for £60. Both include generous drinks and snacks, but what’s really worth paying for is the flexibility to leave behind your coats in the security of the booth; the privacy to chat quietly without the din from the bar imposing upon you and your guests; the option to pop back and forth throughout the performance for a seat better than any other in the house – and to have a hot drink waiting for you at the interval.

of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s magnum opus on decadence and excess, the booth is aptly named and does delight every one of the senses: when peering out from the gently up-lit second-floor balcony into the October night, Lichfield Street has never looked so good. Our waiter Matthew is friendly and attentive to a fault; we meander into the auditorium to find every one of the 1,200 seats renewed and offering much comfort for the impending two hours. The performance is triumphant; the set-design imaginative and it boasts a live orchestra that can do restraint as well as high drama.

Of the five booths, the one we find ourselves relaxing in for nearly an hour before the performance is known only as ‘Gatsby.’ Evocative www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

My ears all too quickly attest that all of the very many trills are alive and well with The Sound of Music, in the legendarily acoustically-pleasing Grade II-listed horseshoe-shaped theatre. The Grand Theatre has been with us for even longer than The Sound of Music and this recent redevelopment ensures that it’ll be here long into the future. So before I bid you so long, farewell; I heartily recommend that you experience the theatre as only the gentry could way back when the Grand first opened, like a VIP in the lap of luxury.

The Stalls Foyer - Design by Grant Bushell - Photograph by Jonathan Hipkiss

Get on the road to h e a l t h a n d happiness with

Owner, Holly Luton explains: “Our mission is to bring energy, value and meaning into the lives of others through our yoga classes, which are designed to meet the needs of every individual.” Whether you want to calm and steady your mind, build strength and flexibility or lose weight, IGo can help. “We help our clients to overcome their challenges so that they can achieve overall health and happiness.”

There’s a fantastic new Hot Yoga studio that’s recently openedup in the heart of Wolverhampton. Situated in an old rustic building overlooking the canal, IGo Yoga boasts a studio location like no other. Designed to offer the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, the studio provides the ideal setting for those looking to find a haven of calm and peace.

“Once on your mat you will build a level of self discipline that will transcend into all other areas of your life.”

Keen to make clients feel completely comfortable, the friendly team make everyone feel welcome before taking them on a journey of self discovery.

And it’s not just about yoga at IGo as Holly has created a dedicated social space at the studio. “We intend to build a community of yogi practitioners, from all different backgrounds, so we’ve designed a space for yogi buddies to grab a bean bag and a healthy juice and enjoy a gossip.”

“At IGo Yoga you will always be met with a smile because we understand the importance of making people feel good from the inside out.” Carefully selected talented teachers, who embody IGo’s ethos, work with all clients beginner or experienced - to ensure that they get the most out of their time spent on their mat.

So, why not contact the friendly team at IGo Yoga today and embark on your journey to a happier, healthier, more prosperous life?

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www.igo-yoga.com wolverhampton west magazine

Dermapen at

Cosmetique

The team of experts at Wolverhamptonbased Aesthetic Clinic, Cosmetique, have been busy helping clients take care of all manner of beauty concerns using the latest - and best techniques and products.

“The procedures we offer are carefully researched, backed by medical evidence and carried out by professionals.” Dermapen has proved to be an incredibly popular treatment at the clinic, with clients being delighted with the results.

“Dermapen is a revolutionary micro-needling treatment that works to tighten, lift and rejuvenate the skin, promoting natural collagen production with very little downtime.”

Have you been Cosmetique’d? Cosmetique Aesthetic Clinic is a GP led private clinic, all treatments are carried out by qualified staff.

The treatment is ideal for treating fine lines and wrinkles, minimising pores, dealing with surgical or acne scars as well as treating pigmentation and stretch marks.

Our practitioners are able to carry out anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers, other procedures are also available.

“As the Dermapen device is in the form of a pen, it is perfect

Qualified staff can do laser hair removal, 3D lipo, skin tightening, stretch mark, cellulite removal and many more skin treatments.

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

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

Cosmetique is not a beauty salon, so clients can rest assured that when they receive treatment they’re in capable hands.

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

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

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wolverhampton west magazine

Christmas Countdown

Deborah Mitchell is a local girl from Shropshire, who has created the most outstanding, award-winning range of skincare, called Heaven Skincare, which is used by royalty! And we were lucky enough to visit her, in her salon Heaven Health & Beauty, in Shifnal, to get some Christmas countdown tips on how to look good surviving the party season!

What is the key thing for skincare over the Christmas period? Always take your make-up off before bed! But generally the key to skincare in the colder months is hydration! And now is the perfect time to have a facial, to up your moisture levels and follow it with a good skincare routine at home. I have created the Age-Defiance Moisturiser, which is almost pure Hyaluronic acid and is great for all skin types and actually works like a filler on your skin!

in one visit to the salon and my girls are so good that the effect will last weeks! Getting a gel manicure is key and we have Charlotte or Alex, who are amazing at nail art to make your nails extra special at Christmas! And then your lashes! Who has time to be putting mascara on over the Christmas period?! I always have my LL&B lash extensions at Christmas so I can go to bed and wake up in the morning looking perfect! We also do an organic permatint® on your eyebrows, which is part of the LL&B, this is an eyebrow shape and treatment, so your eyes appear to be lifted, it looks like you’ve had injections but there are no needles! It’s just the special way we shape the eyebrows and use my BeeVenom Mask! Liza and Ellie are amazing at the brows and lashes!

Bee-Venom Mask?! What’s that?! You should try a Bee-Sting Facial Wendy! [Laughs] I have created the ultimate antiageing, skin perfecting signature ingredient; ABEETOXIN®, my secret formula containing beevenom, Manuka honey, vitamin E, organic rose oil, organic lavender oil, organic marshmallow, & organic Shea butter! And I call it ‘natures answer to Botulism Toxin injectables,’ With many of my clients becoming conscious of ingredients and their impact, both on their health and on the environment, we always look to nature for the answer. The bee-venom mask controls facial muscles for immediate lifting, tightening and firming, while any wrinkles that you have disappear and it makes your skin appear

by Deborah Mitchell

to get younger. It’s also good for sensitive skin conditions, like spots. It can be used as an intensive night treatment or can be applied as a primer for make-up, to ensure the skin stays dewy all day!

But doesn’t bee venom Sting? And do the bees die?! No! The Bee-Venom mask is very soothing and can be used by anyone, even with people who have bee allergies, but if they feel uncomfortable I always advise a patch test! The bees are stimulated for their venom; there is no stinging, and no bees dying! Actually, it has been shown that the bees from stimulated hives are healthier and produce more honey! Well it looks like I’ll be booking in for my Bee-sting Facial and all my pre-Christmas beautifying at Heaven Health and Beauty! Phone the salon on 01952 461888 to make your appointment!

What are the best treatments for the Party Season? Obviously your nails! And your lashes! And your eyebrows! [Laughs] All these things make such a difference to your overall appearance and can all be done www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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E s s E n t i a l pa r t y s t y l E

The Christmas party season is officially here, and at Royston Blythe the salon is buzzing. We managed to catch-up with Nick in between clients, so that we can bring you the essential must-have hair guide for the festive period.

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natural and incredibly sexy, which makes them perfect for the party season. Whether your hair is long, midi or jaw length, the key is to make sure you’ve got a fabulous layered cut that’s been styled to flatter your face and a colour that’s been tailored to suit your individual skin tone.

How should we be wearing our hair this party season?

We’ve got the office Christmas party, drinks with the girls and a glamorous evening event coming up, should we make flowing hair our signature look?

Down is definitely new the up. Superfeminine, unstructured hairstyles are beautiful,

Yes, definitely. Stunning, flowing tresses work with your party outfit and create a really head-turning look. wolverhampton west magazine

and Gigi Hadid, they’re are all huge fans of un-structured waves. What about ladies who want the look but have short hair? Simply get the style with extensions. We’re huge fans of Rapture hair extensions because they’re so quick to apply, look so natural and cause absolutely no damage to the hair. We’ve got loads of clients at the salon who visit for extensions and the Real Housewives of Cheshire stars are massive Rapture fans. Dawn Ward, Leanne Brown and Misse Beqiri get their natural, yet gorgeously glamorous look using the extensions. We’ll be spending a lot of time at the salon before our parties, any chance we can catch up on some Christmas shopping whilst we’re being pampered? We’ve got loads of great Kerastase Christmas sets and of course our gift vouchers are available too. To find your perfect party look, book in at the salon today.

The healthier the hair, the better so make sure you indulge your lengths with a hydrating and moisturising treatment before you hit the party. At the salon we prescribe specific Kerastase treatments for each of our clients.

movement and body and enjoy the ‘un-done’ look. Simply spritz long hair with a heat protector, frizz control and texturising lotion, then tong random pieces from mid-lengths to ends.

So, how do we style our party look?

Whatever look you choose remember to forget super-sleek, structured styles and opt for styling that’s full of movement and falls softly to frame your face. It’s a look that’ll suit everything from the most exquisite gown to the simplest outfit.

For midi length hair, a beautiful long bob is really sexy. Embrace waves and kinks that create

Loads of celebrities love it too, think Victoria Beckham, Rosie Huntington Whitely, Cara Delevigne

And remember, long hair is prone to split ends so weekly treatments and trims every two weeks are essential for maintaining excellent condition.

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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

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Armani Jeans Leather Jacket ÂŁ585

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wolverhampton west magazine

Is khaki the new black? Khaki is an easy wearable colour that works with other shades of green, neutral tones, plums and bright pop colours. The colour is transitional, versatile in winter or summer, and works well with denim. Khaki has a strong sense of style and is a great alternative to black. French Connection £100

French Connection £95

Alpha Industries £145

Calvin Klein £340

Michael Kors £495

Ted Baker £159

French Connection £100

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Here you can see our favourite buys.

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

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Ready for the party season The team at Salon 27 are ready and waiting to transform their clients with a stunning new hair look, ready for the party season. As salon owner, Jodie Mason explains: “We absolutely love this time of year because our clients have plenty of parties to attend, so they want a really glamorous style.” Whether it’s a fabulous hair-up look or lots of loose curls, the Salon 27 team can style it. “We can create gorgeous looks for all lengths of hair. Curls cost just £15, a hair-up £25 and a curled and plaited look costs £20.” So you can take the stress out of getting ready, avoid a bad hair day and be sure that your hair will look amazing for a great price. The salon are always committed to offering their clients the best

value prices, that’s why Jodie runs special offers every month. “We always have different offers running each month - for women, men and kids.” And Salon 27 will be open until 8pm for most of December to accommodate the extra demand for appointments. “We’re booking appointments now for the festive season, so make sure you book yours early, so that you don’t miss out.” There are plenty of great gifts on offer, so you can do some Christmas shopping whilst you’re at the salon too.

got fabulous Wella and Paul Mitchell gift packs. We also stock Cloud Nine and Wella hair straighteners.” The team have recently welcomed a new stylist, Regan Lubke. “We’re really pleased that Regan has joined the team. 2016 has been a great year for us, we’ve been incredibly busy and our senior stylists, Nikki and Laura, have created some beautiful work.” So, whatever you’ve got planned for the party season, make sure that you pay a visit to Salon 27 first.

“Our Christmas shop is now open and we’ve

Special offer for all new clients

unisex salon

CUT & FINISH ONLY £20

November Offer

CHrISTmaS HaIr ProdUCT GIFT PaCkS oFFerS December Offer

SPeNd over £50 IN SaloN

and receive a £5 voucher Half price colour every Wed & Thurs with selected stylists excluding December. Kids cut offer every Monday 3pm-5pm.

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

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Opening times:

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

wolverhampton west magazine

Artisan’S Guide to Achieving and Maintaining Good Health If you plan on improving your health and fitness in January you’re not alone. Over 70% of the population will be getting ready to make those all important lifestyle changes, but knowing where to start can be difficult.

We caught up with Personal Trainer and Nutritionist, Samantha Evans, at her Tettenhall-based fitness studio, Artisan, so that she could answer our three key questions. Should I exercise every day? The key to maintaining good health is consistency. If you can regularly do something that will benefit you, the quicker you’ll develop good habits which will lead to faster results. However, this doesn’t mean you need to visit the gym or go running every single day, personally, I opt for doing short 15 minute routines at home on top of two or three longer, more intense sessions per week which makes fitness seem like less of a commitment, whilst also allowing the body the time it needs to recover. Is it better to do cardio or strength training? Most people I meet want to lose weight to some degree, and for this

I recommend focusing on strength training. One of the reasons for this is that in order to burn fat, the body needs to be working at a certain intensity which is easier to achieve through strength training. This leads to less time spent exercising, making it more accessible for most people. However, both types of training have their place as cardiovascular work will build a stronger heart and lungs whereas strength training will build stronger muscles and bones – all of which is essential for all round good health. Should I follow a particular diet? My personal philosophy is that food should be enjoyed, and overhauling your diet can be overwhelming and hard to sustain, therefore my preferred approach is to ‘tweak and refine’ what you already do. Eventually, with enough refinements an ideal diet will be achieved.

Transform your body through fitness training. We combine the art of body sculpting with the science of fitness training to transform bodies and boost wellbeing.

At ARTISAN personal training studio you’ll get: •

One-to-one training in a private environment.

•

Programmes tailored precisely for you.

•

Trainers who specialise in ‘body-type training’.

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

Book a free consultation to discuss how we can help you:

01902 754 126 www.theartisanpt.com • hello@theartisanpt.com

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Aristocats Autumn/W inter Aristocats aim to provide excellent customer service to women who appreciate quality fashion.

2016

Whatever the event our stylish Autumn/Winter designs will take individuals effortlessly to a wide range of functions, casual or formal, daytime, weddings, after six, cocktail or late evening. Our professional staff are always on hand, if required, to help with decision making and offer alternatives to customers from the West Midlands, Shropshire and further afield from the wide range of fashion designers.

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• Aldo Martins • Basler • Eugen Klein • Frank Walder • Joseph Ribkoff • Just White • Olsen • Oui • Rabe • Saint James

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

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

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Mind BaBBle:

“It 's not you, It 's me."

As much as I hate to say it, Christmas is just around the corner! I sometimes wonder if the ‘powers that be’ have sneakily chopped off some weeks from the year! This is the time that we see all those TV and media ads of happy families and romantic couples having the ‘perfect’ Christmas. Not to mention Nigella, Jamie and Delia looking all relaxed in the kitchen, surrounded by wonderful homemade goodies. The pressure starts earlier and earlier for some people. So, with this in mind, I thought I’d share a few little ways to help you keep things in perspective and enjoy the Christmas holiday.

person? What size is your image? Is your image a still picture or a movie? Is there a colour? Any sound associated with this? Once you have a strong representation in your mind, you can start playing around with it! Have a go at changing the size; make it smaller, less significant, and move it into the distance. If you have them saying something to you, hear it in a silly voice – try Mickey Mouse! If the image feels oppressive, make it small, vague and far away. However you see that person, use opposite images - big to small, close to distant, dark to light etc. once you change your internal image of the person or situation, make a note of how that affects your feelings. Do you feel less bothered by it? If this helps, practice it, get so that you can

change your original feelings easily, become ambivalent and relaxed. Another useful tool is the finger squeeze we use in Psy-TaP. If you are starting to worry already, use this simple technique; the minute you recognise your starting to worry about something, wrap the thumb of one hand with the palm of opposite hand. Hold the thumb until you feel a slight pulse. Do this for as long as it takes for the feelings to melt away. Try it, it’s magic! Use this every time and you may notice that you worry less. If you’re curious about how simple changes can make big changes, check out my website for the new workshops that I am planning for the autumn/winter months. I wish everyone a relaxing and restful Christmas and New Year!

When clients explain their problem to me, this is a comment I hear a lot; “He/She makes me feel... (add your bit here!).” The reality is, no one can make you feel anything... it’s how you react to what they say or do that creates the emotion within. If you can change how you react, then you change how you feel. Sound simple (but unrealistic)? In NLP there is a very useful exercise, where you make changes to your internal images and feelings. Try this - Think of the person who challenges you (close your eyes, it may help you). How do you see that “My aim is to see you as few times as possible and in many cases no more than twice. The faster and more effectively we work, the quicker you begin to move towards a bright future. Allow me to help you ‘get rid of your Gremlins’ and create a life you love.” Sue Wilkinson

Some of the issues I work with: Panic Attacks • Anxiety • Phobias • Obsessions Rejection / Love Pain • Public Speaking Fears • Flying/Driving Fears Self Sabotage • Low Self Esteem • OCD • Depression • Chronic Anger Irrational Guilt • Self Sabotage • General Stress • Fear of Doctors/Dentists

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

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

Tettenhall Weight Loss Centre

Are you worried about your weight? If you are, Cambridge Weight Plan could be the answer. I operate along with my small Team of excellent Consultants from Tettenhall Weight Loss Centre a private office where together we will work out a plan to suit your lifestyle – helping you achieve the best results at the rate you want. Why not get in touch today. Looking for additional income - why not become a Cambridge Weight Plan Consultant yourself and join my Team? Contact me for more details. Independent Cambridge Weight Plan Multi Award Winning Consultant Highly Commended & Above and Beyond Sales Champion & Business Building

Karen Price

t: 07974 974 994

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

Nat Gill personal training

ExclusivE mobilE

pErsonal training

If you want to get fit and lose weight but can’t get to the gym, then NG Personal Training is perfect for you. Offering a bespoke service that’s client centred, Nat’s focus is to teach clients how to work with their body to achieve their goals. “I don’t believe in fad diets, it’s about real food and lasting results,” explains Nat. “I’ve worked alongside fitness models and professional bodybuilders, I have competed in and won British and European fitness competitions, so I know that what I do works.” Nat is also highly qualified and is an expert in female body transformations, building lean muscle, weight loss and nutrition: “I studied sport and exercise at Wolverhampton University and have a Level 3 personal training diploma and a diploma in diet and nutrition.” So, if you’re ready to succeed, Nat’s ready to show you how. Failure is not an option. www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

by British and European fitness champion Nat Gill

I can offer training at your home, at work, in the park or at a luxury gym in Tettenhall. • • • • • •

Tailor made fitness programmes 1-2-1 training or small group sessions Regular progress tracking Bridal packages available Fully insured Over 15 years experience

For further details please call Nat at NG Personal Training on 07572 126649 or email: nattgill@hotmail.com

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Award-winning service at Caprio’s make sure that our techniques are completely up-todate, ensuring we stay one step ahead of the rest.”

The team provide a full range of hair services; cutting, colouring, styling and of course, Great Lengths extensions: “We can cut and colour your hair, dress it for those important occasions - such as your wedding or prom - and provide you with those curls and tousles you find so hard to achieve yourself, ready for that big night out on the town.” As Great Lengths extension specialists, the team have created some amazing hair transformations. Great Lengths Extensions are 100% human hair, Prebonded Keratin bonds which we apply using a cold fusion application, in other words no heat, for the kindest virtually undetectable bond between your own hair and the extension which will last you between 4-6 months. “Using Great Lengths hair extensions we have transformed our client’s hair, giving them the style they’ve always dreamed of.” Whether you’re after a completely new look, a change of colour or maybe just a trim, you can be sure that you’ll receive an award-winning service at Caprio’s.

It’s been a great year for Kingswinford-based hair salon, Caprios. Not only has the business just celebrated its 19th birthday but it’s also achieved great competition success not just regionally but nationally! As owner, Jo Barnett-Toop explains: “We were finalists in two categories at the Great Lengths Awards that were held back in September, at The New Dock Hall in Leeds.” Achieving the runner-up trophy in the ‘The Gold Salon of the Year 2016/17’ group and ‘Classic Creation-Volume’ category, the team at the salon were delighted. “The Great Lengths awards are very prestigious, so we were really proud to win the runnersup place in not one, but two categories.” And this is by no means the first accolade that the salon has achieved, as Caprio’s have a long history of competition success. “We were winners of Great Lengths ‘Silver Salon of the Year’ award for ‘Outstanding Performance’ 2014/15 and were also nominated in the National Hairdressers Federations’ competition in several categories: ‘Salon of the Year’, ‘Hairdresser of the Year’, ‘Colourist of the Year’ and ‘Junior Hairdresser of the year’.” In 2012 Caprio’s were finalists for ‘Salon Photographic Image of the Year’ and ‘Salon Website and Social Media Marketing Salon of the Year’. And, in 2006 the ‘Salon Interior of the Year’ award. “We’re really proud of what we’ve achieved over the years because we’ve always worked hard to stay at the top of our game.” Clients at the salon know that Jo and her team of stylists provide exceptional service. “We’re not just any old salon; we constantly strive to bring our clients more. We regularly attend training seminars to 112

WE ARE OFFERING WOLVERHAMPTON WEST MAGAZINE READERS TWO SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFERS

Offer 1: Introductory offer for Great Length Extensions £50 OFF your first full head set of extensions at Caprio’s during Nov & Dec 2016. £60 OFF your first full head set of extensions at Caprio’s during Jan & Feb 2017. (Full head extensions range between £550-£900 plus depending on length, colours and thickness required) T&C’s: Offer valid only on presentation of this voucher at your consultation appointment. Only one voucher per person, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer, no photocopies accepted.

Offer 2: Introductory Offer £10.00 OFF your first colour service at Caprio’s when paying for a full price Reshape & Finish Valid any day with Salon Consultants and Salon Stylists only. Valid until 31st January 2017. T&C’s: Please mention this offer at the time of booking to make sure your service is booked with a valid Stylist. Only on presentation of this voucher, a skin test MUST be carried out by Caprio’s at least 48 hours prior to colour service, only one voucher per person, not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.

wolverhampton west magazine

Award winning Salon

01384 402890 Caprio’s Hair Studio, Unit 10, Stallings Lane, Kingswinford DY6 7SH

TRANSFORM YOUR HAIR AND LOOKS with Great Lengths hair extensions Model styled by Caprio’s

CApRIO’S GIFT VOUCHERS

Can be purchased for any denomination. Ideal for clients who would like a set of hair extensions! Spread the cost of your extensions by either purchasing a Caprio’s Gift Voucher for any denomination or paying a 50% deposit/pre-payment in-salon. (See our offers on the opposite page)

BEFORE

A WIDE RANGE OF CHRISTMAS HAIR GIFT SETS AVAILABLE For more info follow our facebook page and salon blog

www.caprioshairstudio.com

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk FREE parking at rear of salon

24/7 On-line booking available

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Freeze away the years with CooLift at Hayley’s Beauty Boutique A revolutionary new anti-ageing system has recently been introduced at Hayley’s Beauty Boutique and it promises amazing results - even after just one session. As salon owner, Hayley Churchill, explains: “The CooLift Gun works to freeze away the years by pushing a powerful CO2 flow into the facial tissues, at a very low temperature (-20°c) and high pressure, along with a high concentration of atomised active ingredients.” Safe, fast and efficient, the treatment stimulates collagen, regenerates the dermis, leaves skin intensely hydrated and improves its texture and quality. And amazingly, that’s all after just one treatment with the CooLift Gun. “The process of using cryrotherapy - cold therapy - causes vasoconstriction, reduction of blood vessels, which brings the supply of oxygen to the cells and stimulates collagen and elastin formation which are both responsible for beautiful skin.” The application of the active ingredients, pressure and temperature are technically controlled so as not to cause any discomfort. “No special care is needed after a session and every aspect of the treatment is completely painless.” A single four minute session will dramatically improve the appearance of the skin and Hayley is able advise on how many future

treatments are required depending on your individual needs. “My clients - both male and female - have been absolutely amazed by the results of the CooLift Gun.” And it’s not just CooLifting that’s available at the salon to transform your skin and erase the years, there’s also the CACI Ultimate Machine and specialist facial aesthetics treatments too. “CACI offers a comprehensive range of treatments that improve the look of lines and wrinkles and firm-up sagging skin by combining Microcurrent, Facial Toning, Crystal Free Orbital Microdermabrasion and LED Light Therapy Photo Stimulation.” The system offers a comprehensive range of non surgical treatment options which are perfect for female, and male, clients of all ages. “CACI has gained a really large following and has many celebrity fans like Jennifer Lopez, Lisa Snowdon, Cliff Richard, Michelle Collins, Dale Winton, Barbara Windsor and Martine McCutcheon.”

Hayley’s Beauty Boutique also offers clients the option to book an appointment with Dr Chloe Butler (BDS), a practising dentist who specialises in facial aesthetics and founder of Bare Face Aesthetics. “Dr Chloe Butler has specialised in facial aesthetics for over 12 years and offers clients anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers and hyperhidrosis.” And Bare Faced Aesthetics’ aim is to make clients feel happy and confident about the way they look. It’s not just about beauty at Hayley’s though, as clients can also schedule an appointment with a HCPC registered podiatrist. Now that Christmas is just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to visit the salon and get your skin looking amazing just in time for the party season. “Whether you want to treat yourself or someone else, you can be sure that our treatments will make a real difference to your skin.” The salon’s gift vouchers are now on sale and provide the perfect present for friends and loved ones this Christmas. “Our Dermatolgica gift sets make great presents and we’ve got plenty of fabulous products to purchase in the HD Brows make-up range too.”

Before

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After

Whatever your beauty requirements, pay Hayley’s Beauty Boutique a visit today. wolverhampton west magazine

In 4 minutes your face will change

FREE CONSULTATION, £50 PER TREATMENT, COURSE OF SIX TREATMENTS £300 AND RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL TREATMENT FREE* (*Free treatment when 6 treatments are paid in full at time of booking. Treatments can be paid per visit).

Dermalogica Facials Manicures Pedicures LVL Lashes HD Brows Massages Waxing Tinting Spray Tans Caci Anti-wrinkle Injection Dermal Fillers Podiatry

To book please call Hayley on 01384 293998 or 07739 712499 5 High Street, Wall Heath DY6 0HB (free parking)

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Dare to dazzle:

stunning party looks By Helen Taylor Christmas is all about glitz and glamour, that’s why dressing for those all-important festive parties gives you the perfect excuse to embrace a dazzling look. Whether it’s opting for a classic little black dress, wearing a show-stopping sequin number or even a heading-turning red dress, just make sure that you do it in style this season. Here are our favourite festive fashion picks, that’ll ensure you’ll be the belle of every ball this Christmas. Red Lace Dress £49.99 New Look

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Black Dress £229 Joseph Ribkoff at Aristocats

wolverhampton west magazine

Dress £55 Petite at M&Co

Dress £99 Monsoon Bag £285 Michael Kors at Diffusion

Dress £60 Next

Dress £65 Little Mistress

Bag £229 Ted Baker at Diffusion Necklace from the Mi Moneda range Sets from £125 T.A. Henn, Wolverhampton

Jewellery Sets from £115 Coeur de Lion at T.A. Henn, Wolverhampton

Dress £90 Matthew Williamson at Debenhams

Dress £75 So Fabulous at Littlewoods

Shoes £130 Ted Baker at Diffusion

Shoes £115 Michael Kors at Diffusion Watch RRP £229, our price £195 (price match) Bering at T.A. Henn, Wolverhampton

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Be treated well

with a healthcare provider you can trust

Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital provides an extensive range of private healthcare services from superbly appointed facilities in Tettenhall. Set in six acres of beautiful wooded grounds, the purpose built, well equipped hospital has 28 ensuite private rooms, an MRI suite which is open 6 days a week, 2 ultra clean air operating theatres, treatment rooms and a JAG accredited endoscopy suite. The hospital is easily accessible to a wide area, being located just 4 miles from the M54 and an easy 8 mile drive from the M6. When you choose Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital you can be confident you are choosing the highest standards of treatment and aftercare available to you from an established private healthcare provider with hospitals all around the UK.

Our experienced team of expert consultants, surgeons and nursing staff are totally dedicated to returning you to the highest levels of health and fitness possible, as quickly as possible. We offer a wide range of treatments, including hip & knee replacement, spinal surgery, cosmetic procedures, breast screening, ophthalmic and sports injury treatment. Procedures are performed in ultra-clean environments using the latest state-of-the-art clinical equipment, and all our ensuite bedrooms are luxury standard to ensure your stay with us is made as comfortable as possible. There are no waiting lists, and it is worth remembering you don’t always need to see your GP first before seeing one of our consultants. We accept all major private health insurance schemes and there is personal finance available to help spread the cost. And our relationship with you doesn’t end there when you walk out of one of our hospitals. As a Nuffield Health patient, you are covered by our unique

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

‘Follow-up Promise’. Subject to the clinical needs related to your procedure, there are absolutely no time limits on your aftercare.* Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital has also recently been awarded JAG Accreditation. This award from the ‘Joint Advisory Group on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy’ means that our hospital has been recognised by a National UK wide scheme for providing the highest quality, timely, patient-centred care for Endoscopy procedures. If you would like to know more about our superior treatment and aftercare as a patient paying for yourself, get in touch with us today by calling 01902 793 269. *Where necessary, we promise to assist you to receive any follow up advice, treatment or care that is clinically required. The Nuffield Health Promise applies for patients paying for themselves only.

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Give the Gift of Fitness this Christmas

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wolverhampton westWV6 magazine www.chrisjewkesfitness.com â&#x20AC;˘ Danescourt Road, Tettenhall, 9BQ

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Float through Christmas stress! bring a dish to the table then take the offer, it means they feel more involved and you have one less thing to worry over plus it makes it more fun sharing the experience.

It’s fast approaching when we all start to worry about presents, producing fabulous meals, and how many hours there are left to get it all done. At FloatWorld we know all about reducing stress so we’ve put together some tips to help you relax and enjoy the holidays.

Accept that it might not always be perfect – we all want everyone to have a great time but sometimes things do get forgotten. Chances are you can work around it and no-one will even notice so try not to be so hard on yourself if it isn’t quite as you wanted.

Accept help offered – if friends or family offer to share the load or

Float World

@floatworlduk

Make lists – it might seem a bit boring but it does really help and keep you on track of what you wanted to achieve, and again if someone offers to take on a list for you then let them.

Stick to your budget – regardless of the size of your budget it’s far too easy to get a little carried away and not even realise until the statements arrive in January. Time is a greater gift than the most expensive presents.

Take some time to relax – you can’t enjoy friends and family if you’re too tired or stressed and taking a little me time out each day with a book or a walk isn’t selfish, it’s incredibly beneficial as we know.

And if you’re struggling for that hard to buy for person at Christmas why not treat them to a float session voucher? They are a great way of giving people the gift of time and a bit of pampering that they may not take for themselves. Floating helps rejuvenate the mind and body and leaves you with a wonderful sense of well-being plus it reduces stress and anxieties so it’s a wonderful treat for everyone. The vouchers are available on the website at www.floatworld.co.uk or you can pop in to see us and buy one in person.

81 Wergs Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton WV6 9BP Tel: 01902 753262 www.floatworld.co.uk email: reception@floatworld.co.uk (next to the Crown with free parking)

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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

SPECIAL OFFER

FREE second pair of lenses with every purchase of a complete pair of bespoke varifocals (Offer ends 30th November 2016. Terms and conditions apply.)

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

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NEW FOR HIM

2016 image from mannersmakethman.com

Filling Pieces £190

EA7 Trainer £110

Android Homme £230

Asics £85

Armani Jeans £149

Cruyff £100

Adidas £80

Mason Garments £230

Filling Pieces £155

Filling Pieces £235

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

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

wolverhampton west magazine

Knee Pain?

Tom’s tip: (Patello-femoral Pain Syndrome) Patello-femoral pain (knee pain) can occur in one or both knees and it is one of the most common causes of knee pain. Patello-femoral pain is felt in the front or slightly inside of the knee and occurs when the patella (knee cap) is compressed against the femoral groove.

The patella of a healthy knee should track in a straight line. In PFPS it often tracks laterally, as shown.

The compression forces increase the further the knee is bent and as a result pain usually increases as well. Therefore, patello-femoral pain may be made worse by activities that involve repetitive bending of the knee. Pain is often felt going up or down stairs or after sitting for long periods of time. Patello-femoral pain can be accompanied by “clicking” or “grinding” and sometimes by a

feeling that the knee “catches” or wants to “give way”. The primary cause of knee pain is excessive pronation (rolling in of the foot). This can be controlled via orthotics/ insoles. People suffering with knee pain whom have been forced to live with the pain, no longer have to put up with this condition while standing, walking or running when provided with appropriate orthotics/insoles. Seek an assessment with a Podiatrist who can diagnose the condition and provide a unique orthotic for the individual. Further, strengthening the knee via muscle exercises (especially the VMO muscle) will help prevent further re-occurrence. Clinical studies and field research verify the value of orthotics in relieving knee pain and improving the structural integrity of the knee. Flexible orthotics control foot motion without restricting function and creating compensatory movement in other structures.

Thomas Casey Chiropodist/Podiatrist HCPC registered

Simply Confident, Simply Natural…

Creating beauty in every smile

NEW CLINIC NOW OPEN

Mrs Clarke had become used to having dentures that were worn out and restricted choices she made. We were able to provide new dentures that were better fitting as well as look good too. We offer a complimentary consultation in order to see how we can best give you the right smile. Life is for living; don’t let your teeth limit you! Dentures by Mr Peter Brookes DipCDT, GDC No: 124429

For an appointment or info brochure call 01902 664634 NEW CLINIC AT: 16-17 Roseville Precinct, Castle Street, Coseley WV14 9EP Also at: Parkdale Dental Clinic, 82 Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton WV1 4TF More info at www.simplydentures.net or find us on facebook

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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Counting Our Blessings THIS CHRISTMAS

Kevin with Libra Lea

With Christmas very much around the corner, and 2016 coming to a close, we take a look back at what has been a truly fantastic year, and reflect on all of the things that we should be grateful for. We’ve taken part in many national and local events throughout the year, including World Mental Health Day, World Smile Day, Cycling to Work Week, Eating Disorder Awareness Week and many more which are aimed at raising awareness of important subjects, helping others, and just doing good things. And while we’re hugely passionate about supporting these events and in sharing our top tips, guidance, support and ways in which can improve our health and wellbeing,

we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of diverting our focus from the negatives and being grateful for all of the positive things around us. This year we became back-of-shirt sponsors for the mighty Wolves, and have continued to sponsor the club’s Paycare Accessible Lounge – a sponsorship which has spanned more than two decades. But as you may know, we’re not only proud to be hugely involved in our local Championship team, but to have remained sponsors of various local community football clubs including: •

Wednesfield Ladies FC

•

Bilston Town FC

•

Darlaston FC

And many more to establish new sponsorships, such as with Black Country Fusion – the region’s first LGTB football club.

Nouha Dicko, Kevin Rogers of Paycare, and Jordan Graham

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But it’s not just our local football teams that we love to support. We’re Founding Patrons of The Way Youth Zone, sponsors of Wolverhampton University’s Faculty of Engineering

and Biosciences award, Libra Lee Netball Club, Staffordshire Wolves Cricket Club, and have taken part as a team in events to raise funds for Compton Hospice and the Wolverhampton Outreach Service. Not only that, but we’ve been proud sponsors of this year’s Midlands Business & Community Charity Awards which were set up by the very inspirational Zoe Bennett, with the aim of recognising unsung heroes from across the region and giving recognition to people who always give. Phew! As a not-for-profit organisation, the reason that we’ve been able to do all of this and give something back is because every other spare penny we receive which isn’t spent on improving our services, is shared with these charities, clubs, initiatives and the wider communities which we serve. This is how, and who, our policyholders have helped, and we’re hugely grateful. Wolverhampton has seen some really exciting developments too, with new funding seeing new and major shops brought to the city, along with new night-life and eateries. In fact, the city was dubbed the UK’s fourth best city for start-up businesses, with entrepreneurs attracted to the lower costs of living, high broadband speeds, public transport, and much more. We’re proud to have been based in Wolverhampton since 1874, and we’ve welcomed many positive changes. So while we look ahead into 2017, we wanted to share our positive outlook on the year gone by so quickly, and reflect on some of the exciting things we’ve been able to do, and who we’ve been able to support. It can be easy to focus on the negative things in the world and events going on around us, but it’s so important (especially at Christmas) to be truly grateful for all of the positive things we have in our lives. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and we wish you all the best for 2017.

wolverhampton west magazine

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

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

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

From £5.00 per month Call 01902 371 000

Individuals

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

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

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

Tel: 01902 371 000 enquiries@paycare.org

From £6.25 per month Call 01902 371 000

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

From £21.00 per month Call 01902 371 000

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

From £30.00 per month Call 01902 371 000

www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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High profile splits

but real issues at stake

Whether fiction or fact, marriage breakdown issues have been stealing more than their fair share of headlines in recent months.

BBC Radio 4 listeners tuned in to hear revelations about the oppressive relationship endured by Helen Titchener in The Archers. And in celebrity news, the announcements by Angelina Jolie and Zoe Ball have resulted in many column inches of speculation and rumour. While high profile cases may seem a world away from your reality, it’s worth trying to learn lessons from them if your relationship is going through hard times and the worst happens, says lawyer Olivia Jones, the newest member of FBC Manby Bowdler’s family department. “It’s always a sad situation when a couple splits, but avoiding anger, managing emotion and making a conscious decision to work towards co-operation from the outset can help reduce the pain of break-up, especially when children are involved,” she said.

“Again, seeking agreement and avoiding nasty surprises can help. There must be sufficient reason for the divorce, but the bare facts are usually enough, without the detail.” Unlike California, no-fault divorce is allowed in England and Wales only after a two-year separation, something that can be difficult for many couples to manage without the financial settlement that comes with divorce. As a result, spouses are likely to resort to citing grounds to get a speedier divorce, which can be on the basis of unreasonable behaviour or adultery. But attending mediation is not always possible, particularly in cases of domestic abuse, such as that portrayed by the fictional Titcheners in Radio 4’s Ambridge. As Olivia explained: “The storyline in the Archers is a more complex one. The issue of child arrangement, previously known as custody, has been portrayed in a series of court hearings, highlighting the dilemmas involved in maintaining parental contact in such situations. Clearly it would be difficult for the parents to sit

down and work things out together, or even to cooperate over visitation rights. The courts recognise that, and where there has been domestic abuse, a couple would not be required to attend mediation together. “Importantly, this story has depicted a situation that reflects the new offence of controlling or coercive behaviour in intimate or familial relationships, which became law earlier this year under the Serious Crime Act 2015. “It’s a criminal offence, quite separate to any action for divorce, although such conduct could be the grounds to end a marriage, if used as evidence of unreasonable behaviour. “ Olivia joined FBC Manby Bowdler as a paralegal in 2014 after graduating from the University of Birmingham with a law degree and completing her Legal Practice Course at the College of Law, Birmingham. She qualified as solicitor into the family department in September 2016 following seats with the commercial property and wills, probate & lifetime planning teams. For more advice, contact Olivia on 01902 392430 or email o.jones@fbcmb.co.uk

“Under the Children and Families Act 2014, a separating couple, save for in exceptional circumstances, must attend mediation before they can ask for a court decision, and that will be easier if you can approach it with some form of accord in place.” Olivia added: “One advantage the Jolie-Pitts have is that they are able to apply for an immediate no-fault divorce without proving wrong-doing or placing blame on one partner. That’s not available here, and having to ascribe blame to get a swift divorce can fan the flames, by stirring up grievances to make a case.

Olivia Jones, a lawyer in FBC Manby Bowdler’s Family department

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Services for Individuals

Services for Business

Employment

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Corporate

Debt Recovery Employment

IP, Technology & Media Licensing Litigation

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Legal advice and service of the highest quality... Our expert advisors focus on delivering bespoke legal solutions to meet your business and personal legal needs. To discuss your situation or make an appointment to meet with one of our specialist lawyers, contact us on 01902 578000.

George House

t 01902 578000

St John`s Square

e info@fbcmb.co.uk

@FBCManbyBowdler

www.fbcmb.co.uk

FBC Manby Bowdler LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership.

Wolverhampton WV2 4BZ

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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Rare behind the scenes look into

AIRCRAFT CONSERVATION

The RAF Museum’s Conservation Centre will be opening its doors to visitors for behind-the-scenes access to aircraft conservation work for one week only, from 14th to 19th November 2016, 10.15am to 1pm. Visitors will be able to view progress being made on the Handley Page Hampden and Vickers Wellington. They will also have the opportunity to speak with staff, apprentices and volunteers about their work, as part of the Open Week. Admission is £5.00 per adult for the Open Week event (children under 16 accompanied by an

adult: free) and tickets can be purchased on arrival from the Visitor Centre. Proceeds from this event will go towards supporting the Museum collection.

Website: www.rafmuseum.org Telephone: 01902 376200

Conservation Centre Open Week 14 – 19 November 2016 10.15am to 1.00pm Admission £5.00 for adults children under 16 free (must be accompanied by an adult)

Royal Air Force Museum Cosford Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8UP T: 01902 376 200 cosford@rafmuseum.org

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View current projects including the Wellington and Hampden Bombers

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Another Children Law Accreditation for Sharratts Solicitors Sharratts Solicitors are pleased to announce that Claire Hawke, Solicitor, who heads up the town centre office on Darlington Street, has been awarded the Children Law Accreditation by the Law Society. Claire joins managing Director Jane Swancott who also holds the award in recognition of children law skills. The Children Law accreditation provides a quality standard and is evidence that the holder has specialist expertise in all types of children law work. It proves that The Law Society are satisfied that the holder has demonstrated a high level of knowledge, skills, experience and practice in the area of children law and the representation of children. Selecting the right solicitor can be a daunting task, the accreditation means that you can be confident Claire is a qualified professional with proven competency in children law proceedings, who is governed by a code of practice and who is authorised to deal with organisations such as CAFCASS/guardians and also undertake publicly funded representation of children. It’s a quality mark that you can trust.

Matters relating to children are clearly sensitive; Claire’s preference is to seek to resolve disputes amicably wherever possible, often utilising mediation. Where this is not possible resolutions can be sought via the court arena. Claire undertakes all Claire Hawke areas of children law work including the representation of both parents and children in residence, contact disputes and matters involving local authorities. During her years of experience Claire has also been instructed by grandparents, aunts and uncles in respect of matters relating to family children. The Sharratts team offer an initial 30 minute free telephone consultation as well as a number of fixed fee packages and legal aid to those who are eligible. For any assistance relating to children matters, divorce, separation, finances or wills and elderly people issues please do not hesitate to contact us on 01902 759500 or visit of website www.sharratts.com.

Where family means everything Offering a comprehensive service in all areas of family law. Our highly skilled solicitors are friendly and approachable, providing sound and practical advice while being emotionally sensitive to your situation.

Children Matters Pre Nuptial/Cohabitee Agreements Care Proceedings Separation/Divorce/Finances Child Abduction Cohabitee/Civil Partner Claims Adoption/Surrogacy Injunctions

FREE

30 minute telephone consultation

Change of Name Deed Gender Recognition Wills & Probate Elderly Client Advice

81 Wergs Rd, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton WV6 9BP (free parking onsite) ● 01902 759500 85 Darlington Street, Wolverhampton WV1 4EX ● 0345 565 2070 info@sharratts.com www.sharratts.com

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Concero:

A su cce ss story Jane Williams Photography

That’s why the company has become the number one choice for schools across the Midlands.

“We’ve recently completed a massive project at The Royal School where we created a new server room and linked connections over the road to their primary school. We project-managed every aspect.” As the company has grown Bradley and James have taken on more staff and now have a team of 26. “Our clients know we only work to the highest standards, that’s why we’ve achieved ISO 9001 certification.”

Director’s James & Bradley

It’s been eight years since James Morris and Bradley Clegg made the decision to leave their nine-to-five jobs in order to start their own technology services company, Concero. And, the duo haven’t looked back since. Despite facing a recession in their first year in business, James and Bradley have consistently grown their company year on year and turned it into the successful, highly regarded concern it is today. “There was a lot of uncertainty at the beginning, the credit crunch had just started and we’d both left our jobs in IT support at Smestow School,” explains James. Working as IT technicians, James and Bradley played a major role in making new technology useable in school, following the introduction of the Labour governments’ Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. “There was a real focus placed on bringing technology into the classroom but there was little attention given to training staff or ensuring that the systems were useable.” 134

A lack of IT support was evident across the city as many schools struggled with the changes and soon wanted to adopt Smestow’s approach and seek IT support. And the changes didn’t stop there. “Single status had also been implemented which meant that our jobs had been reclassified, our pay had been affected and we were required to re-train.” It was then that James and Bradley decided to start their own company which would provide schools with the support they required. “We were working in many different local schools while employed by Smestow, offering IT support, so we’d developed a really good relationship with many head teachers, who told us they’d be keen to use our company,” says Bradley. Working together ever since, Bradley and James have transformed the way schools operate their IT systems. “For us it’s not just about IT support, we provide project management and curriculum support, so we can identify exactly what support each school needs. We also train staff how to use it to enhance teaching and learning,” adds James.

And it’s not just schools that benefit from Concero’s expertise. “We work with businesses to identify what will work best for their company and can install all of the very latest and most advanced systems,” explains Bradley. Concero is a member of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and is always keen to get involved with the community. “We do a lot of charity work for Breast Cancer UK and Compton Hospice and offer free E-safety training to all schools.” The company has also recently taken over as main sponsor for Chestnut Tree F.C, now known as Concero F.C. Thanks to James and Bradley’s dedicated approach, Concero has enabled schools to be able to make full use of the technology in the classroom to engage pupils and enhance their learning. “We really enjoy working with schools and are happy to be able to give something back because we learned so much from them when we were starting out,” adds Bradley. And the company is continuing to go from strength to strength, as James, Bradley and the Concero team help more and more schools and businesses make the most of their technology. wolverhampton west magazine

We are a trusted and established team of like minded individuals, educational specialists, strategic integrators, champions of Information Technology - driven by our core values which instinctively guide us. We deliver, without exception, proven, non-prescriptive, reliable technology products and services, with an uncompromising can-do attitude that knows no bounds.

IT Support

CPD and Consultancy

e-Safety Accreditation

Broadband

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Education

and Schooling

by David Williams – Headmaster of Tettenhall College criteria is applied. Most welcome a “no surprises” policy however unpalatable the message. This becomes especially acute in GCSE and A level years, where phone calls home when alarm bells ring can lead to positive partnerships to address the inevitable dips that can occur. This same method also applies to behavioural issues or worries that can occur at any time as part of the growing up process.

If you are reading this article, chances are you probably are or have been a parent of a child who has attended school. As with all matters educational, expectations have changed enormously from a time where an unwritten rule suggested that you handed over your most precious possessions to the “professionals” who kept parents at arms’ length. Contact with school was limited to the annual parents’ evening and school report with, if you were lucky, an invite to the PA’s cheese and wine event. In our current climate of complaints policies, daily texts, homework apps and shared strategic plans what should we expect from a school? 136

In this heavily prescribed era it is surprising that, other than an obligation to report, there is no template given by inspection bodies to govern our “links with parents”. Instead, schools tend to feel their way to a position that feels right and suits their parental body whilst probably always admitting that more could be done, especially in a larger senior school where size and teenagers can seek to sabotage home-school communications. From my own perspective in a smaller school community I want parents to feel known and recognised, to know their views matter and are taken seriously and to feel valued. What does this look like? One never gets it completely right, but visible and approachable leadership (sometimes a simple “hello” in the car park), clear lines of communication, quick and decisive responses to issues and helpful receptionists go a long way to promote good relations. With regard to the all-important academic progress, parents should be able to understand clearly how this is happening and what

A good school also seeks to involve parents by welcoming them to events such as sports fixtures, plays, concerts and whole school functions that celebrate success and participation as well as keeping them informed of new routines and expectations. The latter is particularly important at crucial stages in a school career, for example, reception, the start of senior school or the sixth form. A school leadership also needs to consider parental views when setting its priorities and forums and surveys are invaluable in testing new ideas or revealing areas for improvement. At Tettenhall College we have recently set up a parental education committee for this purpose in addition to representatives on the governing body. However, there is a fine line between a weak and a confident school with regards to over-demanding parents that should be politely reminded that their access to teachers needs to be restricted or that the school needs to be left to get on with the job. Equally, in my experience, parents also appreciate it when a school admits that they got it wrong and moves forward with a solution or a pledge to address the concern. So, from a school’s perspective, an easy task! Now onto teaching the pupils… You can now follow David on Twitter @tettcoll_head wolverhampton west magazine

S E I Z E

T H E

O P P O R T U N I T I E S

Independent day and boarding school for pupils 2-18 years old. www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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A very special place: Newbridge Preparatory School in confidence and their individual characters and skills develop, giving time before decisions about the next stage of their education are taken.

Creating a choice at 11+

Newbridge Preparatory School, for girls aged two to eleven years old and boys aged two to seven years old, is a very special place. Our purpose as a modern preparatory school is to offer an excellent standard of education for our pupils, balancing traditional values with high quality teaching and learning. As we are not linked to a senior school, we pride ourselves on being the only truly independent ‘Prep’ school in the City of Wolverhampton. We are a small, personal school where everyone knows everyone else – just like a family. We foster an environment in which children can grow in confidence, learning honesty, consideration, loyalty and openness.

eighteen and one form entry, each child is treated as an individual, and valued both for who they are and who they could become.

Primary school specialists with exceptional results As the only stand-alone independent preparatory school in Wolverhampton, we are dedicated to focussing only on children aged two-eleven years. Our primary aged children are at the heart of all that we do, providing an exceptional start in life. Every child is different and unique and it is at this young age that excellent foundations are laid, and a sense of aspiration created. In our primary school environment, children grow quickly

Invest now and you will have far more options when your daughter is eleven. In and around Wolverhampton, we are fortunate to have diversity of choice across both state and independent sectors for senior schools. Newbridge Preparatory School has wellestablished links with many of these schools, and we are experienced in methods of transfer and entry into them. Our experience and expertise enable us to match our knowledge of these senior schools to the girls we teach and nurture. We work closely with parents to identify the next school in which each individual child will truly flourish – we will help and support you, every step of the way, to find the right senior school for your daughter at the right time in her development.

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

Small school - where quality of education matters Our small school has a well justified reputation as a friendly, family school. Excellent relationships between children and staff lie at the heart of the school’s success and there are shared expectations for striving towards academic excellence, whilst ensuring that all children are nurtured to be their very best as individuals, whatever their varied strengths. Close relationships are a significant characteristic of life at Newbridge. Children and parents alike feel secure when they know they are part of a small community where everyone knows each other. With small, average class sizes of www.wolverhamptonwestmag.co.uk

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JOIN NOW

AND GET DECEMBER FREE

Don’t worry about over-indulging this Christmas! South Staffordshire Council’s leisure centres are offering you the chance to join in November and get December free, so why wait until the New Year, when you can start now? There are a great range of facilities available:  Gym Exercise Classes and Studio Cycling  The Ultimate Myride Cycling Experience  Swimming  Toning*

ALL THIS FOR LESS THAN 70P PER DAY! The leisure centres are open 7 days a week (subject to bank holidays) and welcome everyone including non-members. You can pay as you go which allows you to use us as little or as often as you like. However if 140

you are thinking of trying to come fairly regularly, a membership may be your cheapest option! The leisure centres offer affordable and flexible membership packages to suit everyone’s needs and budgets, with little commitment. We have tailored our packages to try and meet our customer’s needs with a huge variety of options to think about.  Forward to Health Scheme offering discounts for people whose health would benefit from exercise  Corporate discounts  Short term and discounted packages for students

 Free swimming for ALL new members  Free inductions, fitness programmes and health checks for all new members For more information contact your local South Staffordshire leisure centre to discuss what packages will best suit your needs and budget, or even pop in and have a look around! Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre: 01922 417790 Codsall Leisure Centre: 01902 844032 Penkridge Leisure Centre: 01785 714152 Wombourne Leisure Centre: 01902 898202

Winter Warmer Offer

Voucher must be presented at reception. Offer valid 1st -14th November 2016. Voucher holder must be 16yrs+. For induction times contact your nearest South Staffordshire Council leisure centre. Name......................................................................................................... Leisure Centre............................................................................................ Join Date.................................................................................................... Postcode................................................................................................... Wolverhampton West Magazine – November 2016

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Facebook “f” Logo

CMYK / .eps

WINTER WARMER

JOIN THIS NOVEMBER FOR £10

THEN PAY NOTHING ELSE UNTIL JANUARY 2017! JOIN BETWEEN 1ST - 14TH NOVEMBER 2016 PAY A SMALL INITIAL PAYMENT OF £10 THEN NOTHING ELSE

UNTIL JANUARY 2017

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• Fitness Suite • Exercise Classes • Studio Cycling • Swimming • Toning Suite*

Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre 01922 417790 • Codsall Leisure Centre 01902 844032

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Penkridge Leisure Centre 01785 714152 • Wombourne Leisure Centre 01902 898202

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Christmas with Compton Hospice

“It’s Chriiiisssssttttmmmmaaasss!”… well very nearly anyway and Compton Hospice is all set to provide the sparkle to kick off the festive season in style! Join the hospice team and their special guest stars; Father Christmas and his merry band of Elves on Sunday 27th November 11-4pm at The Cedars, Wolverhampton for a Festive Family Fun Day. Offering the full Lapland experience right here in Wolverhampton, Chief Elf Evergreen will greet you and your little ones at the door and accompany you to your first port of call; the prestigious Elf School. Here our very privileged students (not everyone gets the chance to see inside Elf School you know!) will get a chance to write their Christmas lists and make a range of Yuletide crafts. When the team have taught you all you need to know about being one of Santa’s Little Helpers, it’s off to our magical winter wonderland grotto to meet the main man himself. Take the chance to convince Father Christmas why you should be on the Good List and request your must-haves for Christmas Day. After all the excitement families can warm up with hot drinks and festive treats as they browse our hospice marketplace for Christmas gift ideas. Live music will run throughout the day with appearances from a range of local talents and there’ll be games ‘a’ plenty for all ages. Stonehill Donkey Sanctuary will also be in attendance so don’t forget to pop over and say hello. 142

Despite his busy schedule, Father Christmas – a firm friend of our staff and patients- will be taking time out before his busy Christmas Eve shift and returning to Compton Hospice for Breakfast/Lunch with his fans on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th December. Families are invited to come along and enjoy a hearty breakfast (a mini fry up) or lunch (sandwiches and nibbles) with jolly old St Nick, take their Santa Selfies with him and even give him their wish lists in person! For all those under the age of 12 there will be a very special present waiting for you to take home at the end of the meal – it’s up to you to decide whether you stand to leave it under the tree until the big day! Christmas Market entry is free although some charges apply for various activities. Breakfast/lunch with Santa is a bookings only event. £7 per child (under 6 months old go free) and £3 per adult (includes child’s gift). This year also sees the return of the Compton Hospice mini market for our patients and their families. Many of our patients find it difficult to shop for Christmas presents and so we would like to bring the shops to them to make the festive season as special as possible. We are appealing for donations of new items such as beauty products, sporting gifts, books, toys, DVDs and music that our patients can give to their loved ones. If you would like to help please get in touch. Call fundraising on 0845 2255497 for more information on all of our events, or email fundraising@compton-hospice.org. uk. Alternatively you can visit our website at www.compton-hospice.org.uk wolverhampton west magazine

Registered Charity No. 512387

Compton Hospice Presents

A Festive Family Fun Day Sunday 27th November 2016 11-4pm

Gift ideas, Santaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grotto and Elf Workshop, Facepainting, Kids Activities, Games, Live Entertainment, Food and Drink and Much Moreâ&#x20AC;Ś The Cedars, 39 Compton Road West, Wolverhampton, WV3 9DW

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Photographs courtesy of Crescent Imaging

Social Scene

Chris Jewkes Fitness Mount Hotel Over 150 people attended and enjoyed the gorgeous grounds of the hotel, great food and outstanding entertainment; a most memorable day was shared by all. The event raised almost £3,000 for 3 local charities, Birmingham Children’s Hospital,The Way Project and Promise Dreams. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the event and to all those who chose to be a part of it! Here’s to the next event in 2017!

5. Nichola Kay, Terri Jewkes, Karen Kay. 6. Louise Lambert, June Cole, Carole Burgein, Natasha Phipps. 7. Steve Clegg, Yvonne Burns. 8. Suresh Bawa, Paula Bawa, Beverley Bird, Gary Bird. 9. Sarah Newsome, Simon Pagett. 10. Lisa Potts, Karen Price. 11. Ryan Clark, Danny Knowles, William Rees. 13. Martin Brown, Jo Davis, Bowden Clay, Hansa Clay, Lisa Potts.

2. Martyn Jupp, Nichole Jupp Sponsored by

4. Andrew Kay, Chris Jewkes, David Kay, Aaron Bawa.

12. Steve Lane, Karen Lane, Jessica Lane.

1. Suresh Bawa, Neil Taylor, Chris Jewkes

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3. Tom Aleksandrowicz, Jess Beasley, Gursharon Cooper, Tiffany Clark.

A fresh approach to Dentistry

14. Lisa Plowman, Beryl Airey, Kelly Jenks, Kerry Collins, Tanya Johnson. 15. June Key, Kim Guest. 16. Mark Rees, Cora Rees. wolverhampton west magazine

Social Scene

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Social Scene

Park View Hotel Wolverhampton