Perton & Pattingham Pages February 2017 by Kay Garrison

FEBRUARY 2017

Perton & Pattingham Pages MONTHLY BUSINESS DIRECTORY: INC: EVENTS ▪ GROUPS ▪ CLASSES ▪ NEWS ››› Find & Search Local Businesses ››› Goodbye Crown @ Codsall Wood p7 ››› Car Accessories Discount ››› Sell Your House for Less

p2 ››› PGA Golf Tips ››› Local Classes & Groups p9 ››› A Word From Your MP p12 ››› Local Bed & Mattress Offers

p13 p15 p16 p21

USE LOCAL : SHOP LOCAL : EAT LOCAL : SPEND LOCAL : ENJOY LOCAL

COMPLETE ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS FROM £18 PER MONTH: 5,100 COPIES MONTHLY TO PERTON & PATTINGHAM RESIDENTS CALL 07734 461934 OR EMAIL CONNECTPAGESONLINE@GMAIL.COM

Perton & Pattingham Business Index Home & Garden Ala rms /CCTV/Home Security Ba throoms Blinds & Curta ins Builder Ca rpe ntry Ca rpe t & Inte riors Cle a ning Services Decking & Fencing Dome s tic Applia nces & Repa ir Drivewa ys Electricia ns Externa l Clea ning Ga rden Centre Ga rdening & La nds ca ping Gutter Clea ning Kitchens Lighting Locks mith Oven Clea ning Pa inter & Decora tor Pla s terer Plumbing & Hea ting Prope rty Ma intena nce Roofing Tre e Surgeon Windows, Doors & Conservatories Window Cleaning

10 5 2,25,26 11,15 21 2,19 5,14,15,18 22 23 6 10,16,20,23 15,25 9,27 11,14,21 18,20 1 10 5 8,13,17 1,9,13,21,23,26 14,20,23 5,13,18,21,25 8,20 9,15,23,25 3,19,26 8,9,23,24,25 3

Food & Drink Res ta ura nts , Pubs & Ca fe

IT, Finance & Property Computers & Repa ir Fina ncia l Advis er Property Sa les & Lettings Classes, Groups & Events Da nce Cla s s es Events Slimming The a tre & Performing Arts Tuition Motoring & Transport Acces s ories Bodywork Ma intena nce Ta xi Service Life style , Leisure & Retail Ba lloons Be ds & Ma ttres s es Childca re & Schools Community Ca re Driving School Footca re Golf Clubs Ha ir, Hea lth & Be a uty Phys iothera py Ve nue Hire Animals & Pets Ca nine Thera py Dog Wa lking Pe t Grooming & Wa s hing Pe t Shop

17,23,26 20 12,20 6,11 3,5,19 6,18 18 1,24 9 17 6,14 21 8 21 17,28 3,6,27 9,11,18 5,13 10 1,17,19,27 14 4 6 19 3,21,22 22

SUPASHINE

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Wild About Perton in February..... As the daylight hours grow longer during February, and the vegetation remains largely free of leaves, there are more opportunities to look for wildlife. Birds have been getting ready for the approaching spring since the winter equinox by practicing their songs and getting themselves looking their best for the mating season. Some birds, including buzzards will have laid eggs already, because buzzard chicks need a much longer period to develop to adults. Other birds wait until spring, when there are better opportunities to feed their young. February is a good time to look for over wintering blackcaps and resident wren, robin, dunnock, blue, great and long tailed tits, song thrush, blackbird, bullfinch, chaffinch, tree creeper, nuthatch and greater spotted woodpecker in our woodlands. And this year, there is a new species to look out for, recognisable by its loud screeching call. The new birds native range is a broad belt of arid tropical countryside stretching from West Africa across lowland India south of the Himalayas, where it is common. It is distinguished by bright yellowish-green feathers, with long, pointed wings and tail, and a strong red bill. Males have a black throat and a black and pink neck ring. Our new bird is the ring-necked, or rose-ringed parakeet. This is Britain's most abundant naturalised parrot which became established after escapes or releases in the greater London area, and now roosts communally in large flocks, in public parks. Despite their tropical origin, ring-necked parakeets are able to cope with the cold British winters, particularly where a food supply is more reliable. They feed on a wide variety of fruit, berries, nuts, seeds, grain and household scraps. Parakeets could be colourful visitors to our bird tables and garden feeders, as their population grows from one or two individuals over the coming years. Have you seen a parakeet in your garden? Let us know or post a photograph through our Facebook page. Why not join us? We also run monthly wildlife walks leaving Perton Library at 2PM every first Saturday of the month or join us at Perton Spring Festival on Saturday 20th May 2017.

For further information contact Keith Elder on 754245 or keith.elder@hotmail.co.uk. www.facebook.com/wildaboutperton 8

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PP/FEBRUARY 17

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Visiting Foot Care Service NOW available in this area Nails Trimmed Corns Removed Painful Toenails Verruca Treatment Fungal Conditions Cracked Heels Hard Skin/Callus Reduction

Call 01902 687814 for appointments

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LOCAL CLASSES & GROUPS: PERTON & PATTINGHAM CHOIR SINGING: If you are interested in joining the popular choir, singing light and popular music with the occasional challenging piece, why not come along to one of their weekly rehearsals held in Pattingham Village Hall on Wednesdays at 7.30pm, or for more information, contact Gena Richards on 01902 700188 or Alan Hickman on 01902 744653. SLIMMING: Slimming World on a Thursday at Perton Civic Centre 3pm, 5pm and 7pm and run by Sheena who can be contacted on 07962075980 WILDLIFE WALKING GROUP: Monthly wildlife walks, leave Perton Library at 2pm every first Saturday of every month. For further information contact Keith Elder on 01902 754245 or keith.elder@hotmail.co.uk. FITNESS CLASS: Mondays at 6pm at Perton First School fitness class suitable for all the family. Booking is advisable text Liz on 07913168343 FIT 2 Box: Exercise classes held on Tuesdays at Perton First School, Juniors 6-6.30pm and adults 6.30-7.30pm. There is also an adult class on a Friday at Perton Civic Centre 7-8pm and a Fit2Box 30 class at Perton Civic Centre on Wednesdays 6.15-6.45 also Thursdays 9.30-10am. Call Simon on 07470221041 ADVICE: South Staffs Work Club, Perton Library 2.15pm - 4pm every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the Month. The Work Club offers advice and support to local people in preparation for the introduction of Universal Credit. The services are completely free and offer advice on Benefits, Debt, Career Coaching, CV development, Volunteering and much more. CYCLING GROUP: The SSCS promotes cycling as a fun and safe way to stay active and healthy by providing guided inclusive community based cycle rides ( from Perton ) in order to increase physical participation and improve well being across a range of age and ability. For details please see www.connectpages.co.uk KNITTING CLASS (KNIT & PURL): The classes are open to anyone who is interested in knitting. Experienced knitters are quite happy to teach anyone who does not know how to knit, adults or children, children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Meet in the New Room, Civic Centre, Perton on the second Thursday of the month from 7pm to 9pm. The classes are informal, lots of chat and refreshments. Everyone knits their own thing; some knit for charity, some for family and friends. Contact details are 07946 861057 or pedged@supanet.com ( £2 a class ) PRE SCHOOL DANCE CLASSES: Every ThursdayPerton Diddi Dance hold a Funky Pre School Dance Class for boys and girls. Classes are held at The Church at Perton from 2.00pm - 2.45pm. Call Svenja on 07846 337910 for more details. DANCING: Classes for all ages in Ballet, Tap, Acrobatics, Disco and Musical Comedy held at Holy Cross Church Hall, Bilbrook. Annual Shows at the Grand Theatre Wolverhampton and exams with MASD. Contact Carol on 01902 398710 or email carol@suttieschoolofdance.co.uk. DANCING: Classes for all ages in Ballet,Tap, Acrobatics, Disco and Contemporary held at the United Reformed Church hall, Tettenhall Wood and at the Bradmore Centre Birches Barn Rd. W-ton. Shows and Examinations. Contact the Fusco Academy of Dance established 1972. On 07713126218 or e mail annafusco22@aol.com or hazel.fusco@yahoo.co.uk. New term begins Saturday 10th September. New ballet class at 10am.

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A Word From Gavin Williamson............... Despite Christmas now being a distant memory, the cold, dark weather remains. I never tire of saying how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful village, but sometimes nature can wreak havoc on Perton residents. I am sure that as children, myself included, that snow â&#x20AC;&#x201C; more precisely a snow day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or even the mere prediction of snowfall was one of the most desired events of the year. But as I have gotten older, I have noticed the perils of a cold snap striking fear into pedestrians and drivers. Getting around the village day to day can be difficult as we do our best to avoid slippery footpaths. Regardless of this, we have a number of wonderful community focused groups who provide some much needed support whether it be clearing fallen leaves or driving around those who do not feel safe driving in wintery conditions. I wrote at the end of last year about my visit to catch up with volunteers from the South Staffordshire Local Village Transport Scheme. I always bear the volunteer drivers in mind during cold and icy weather as they heroically continue to take passengers right across the constituency to where they need to be. I would urge all residents to take a little extra caution when navigating icy footpaths and roads as the weather remains cold and make your safety and the safety other residents a top priority. It is also at this time of year that I tend to notice an increase in the size of the mailbag that gets delivered to Westminster. When I visit a number of support groups over the year, especially ones catered for those who need extra support when living alone, I hear that this time of year after the busy festive season and before spring can be quite hard. Although staying indoors to avoid the cold weather may be a welcome choice for some, for others it is their only option. If you can think of anyone who needs a little extra support or you feel that I can help with, please do not hesitate to get in touch. As I say to anyone who asks about Perton or indeed any of our fantastic villages in South Staffordshire, we are extremely lucky to have so many fantastic groups that cater for people who those who need a little extra support and guidance at any time during the year.

To contact Gavin Williamson call 01902 846616 or 0207 219 7150

Words of Wisdom from Rev Julia Cody.... ‘He loves me… he loves me not’… Hopefully your experience of love isn’t this fickle! However, loving others is painful. It’s February, shops are full of hearts, soft toys, Valentine’s chocolates, red roses and sentimental poems. It’s great and being ‘in love’ is incredible. Whether on 14th February or another date, it’s a fantastic feeling to be spoilt and cherished. Being in love is one thing - loving someone is another. Loving involves times of sacrifice, commitment, choosing to love, it’s costly and painful. Thankfully, at other times, it’s absolutely wonderful, impossible to describe. As I listen to people’s struggles; come alongside those who are bereaved; and think of my brilliant husband… there are so many incredible stories of love. Yet, when we choose to love, we make ourselves vulnerable to the pain of another’s words or deeds; to the devastation of lost love. Loving involves risk others will inevitably hurt us, and us them. But we risk this rather than never know the wonders of love. God loves us. He makes himself vulnerable, becoming one of us, Jesus, so we may get to know him and choose to love him back. God’s love for us took Jesus to the cross, to death - the ultimate heartbreaking sacrifice of love. As the Bible says, “God loves us so much he gave his one and only son” This isn’t hearts and roses, ‘he loves me… he loves me not’ love… this is unconditional love for you and me. I wonder how we respond to such love?

01902 750232

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Brian Breakwell Painter & Decorator Semi-Retired with over 40 Years Experience Cheap Rates All Work Guaranteed

Tel: 07490 496006 or 01902 753364 Email: sarah-2503@hotmail.co.uk

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VILLAGE BLINDS

NEW SHOWROOM AT 1 FINCHFIELD ROAD WEST 3 vertical blinds supplied for £75 up to 5' width.

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All blinds are made to measure. We supply and fit roller blinds, aluminium venetian, wooden venetian, roman blinds etc.

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