Perton and Pattingham Pages March 2017 by Kay Garrison

MARCH 2017

Perton & Pattingham Pages MONTHLY BUSINESS DIRECTORY: INC: EVENTS ▪ GROUPS ▪ CLASSES ▪ NEWS ››› Find & Search Local Businesses

p2 ››› Charity Danceathon

p12

››› ECO Friendly House Cleaning

p5 ››› A Black Country Night Out

p15

››› Perton Parish Council Update

p6 ››› £10 off Local Physio

p19

››› Run For Rachel Charity Event

p8 ››› Local Classes & Groups

p20

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 15 Ba throoms 10 Blinds & Curta ins 3,7,17 Builder 3,16,20 Ca rpentry 1,26 Ca rpet & Interiors 17,24 Clea ning Services 19,20,23 De cking & Fencing 27 Domes tic Applia nces & Repa ir 7 Drivewa ys 11,16 Electricia ns 12,15,21,25 Externa l Clea ning 9,20 Ga rden Centre 6,14 Ga rdening & La nds ca ping 16,19,26 Gutter Clea ning 23,25 Kitchens 19 Lighting 15 Locksmith 10 Oven Clea ning 13,18,22 Pa inter & Decora tor 7,11,14,17,18,26 Pla s terer 12,19,25 Plumbing & Hea ting 9,10,18,19,23,26 Property Ma intena nce 13,25 Roofing 5,8,14,20 Tree Surgeon 7,24 Windows , Doors & Cons erva torie 5,9,12,13,14 s Window Clea ning 8 IT, Finance & Property Computers & Repa ir 3,7,12,22

Fina ncial Advis er Office Re nta l Property Sa les & Lettings Classes, Groups & Events Da nce Cla s s es Events Slimming Thea tre & Performing Arts Tuition Motoring & Transport Acce ss ories Bodywork Ma intena nce Ta xi Service Lifestyle, Leisure & Retail Ba lloons Beds & Ma ttres s e s Childca re & Schools Community Ca re Driving School Footca re Golf Clubs Ha ir, Hea lth & Bea uty Phys iothera py Animals & Pets Ca nine The ra py Dog Wa lking Pet Grooming & Wa s hing Pet Shop

25 5 25,28 11,16 8,12,15,22,24 11,23 23 16 14 22 11 26 13 26 4,22 6,8 14,23 1,5,18 2 1,2,3,6,9,24 19 11 24 8,26,27 27

PP/MARCH 17

www.connectpages.co.uk ♦ connectpagesonline@gmail.com ♦ 07734 461934

M & M Let’s dance! are holding a 12-hour danceathon at Claregate School, Chester Ave WV6 9JU for Crohn’s & Colitis UK on 1st April 2017 from 9am to 9pm. We have 3 exciting Auction prizes up for grabs, a current, framed & signed Wolves shirt; a month’s family pass to Nuffield Health Centre and a Stunt Drive Experience. There will be a chance to Play Your Cards Right. Raffle, food and soft drinks available all day. For more information please contact Martin on 07769 343658.

Wild About Perton in March..... The earth beneath us intimately influences the landscape in which we live. From the shape and size of the hills and valleys; where streams and rivers flow, to the soil, and the plants and trees which grow naturally in our community. All iinfluenced by our local geology. The many fine sandstone churches, and the now sadly crumbling and often poorly maintained sandstone walls locally, point to the historical exploitation of the sandstone beds on which we all live. Perton sits on the edge of the Black Country which has a long cultural history associated with coal, limestone and ironstone mining and the heavy industries that it created. The name was coined during the industrial revolution that was so intense in this area, earning the description ‘a country black by day and red by night’. For its size, the Black Country has some of the most diverse geology anywhere in the world and it was the activities of the miners, engineers and entrepreneurs, exploiting these natural resources, that exposed many ‘gems’ of world class natural heritage. In particular, exceptionally preserved invertebrate fossils that introduced the modern world to life in ancient oceans and lands many millions of years ago. The best known are the ‘Dudley Bugs’ or trilobites which swam in the warm shallow seas around Dudley 400 million years ago. And, becoming better known, the Coseley Spider, a spider-mite, which crawled around the swamps of Coseley, near Wolverhampton, 300 million years ago. All this natural heritage means that the Lapworth Museum at the University of Birmingham, the Dudley Museum collection soon to reopen at the Dudley Archive and Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Museum have some of the finest collections of well-preserved fossils to be found anywhere in the world. And in 2017, some of them are coming to Perton’s Spring Festival, on Saturday 20 th May at Perton Library or join us at a monthly wildlife walk leaving Perton Library at 2PM every first Saturday of the month or the Dawn Chorus on Monday 1st May at 4AM. Find out more about our local geological heritage at www.blackcountrygeopark.org.uk

For further information contact Keith Elder on 754245 or keith.elder@hotmail.co.uk. www.facebook.com/wildaboutperton www.connectpages.co.uk ♦ connectpagesonline@gmail.com ♦ 07734 461934

www.connectpages.co.uk ♦ connectpagesonline@gmail.com ♦ 07734 461934

Words of Wisdom from Rev Julia Cody.... I recently asked the church’s leadership team why they come to church. It was interesting to hear their responses: being in a warm, welcoming place; the sense of connection - like a family; the chance to pause, carving out time in the busyness of life to reflect; talking to God about things on their minds; singing and worshipping God; listening to the Bible and discovering how incredibly relevant these ancient texts continue to be; being spiritually nourished and refreshed… It can be hard to put into words why something like church is important. For me it’s about spiritual nourishment, helping to sustain me for whatever the next week of life raises. This nourishment comes through prayer, reflection, meditation, music, the Bible, sharing bread and wine, and each other. We’re in Lent, traditionally a time of self-reflection, contemplating our spiritual lives. May I encourage each of you to do exactly this - take time to consider the spiritual side of who you are, and how you’re doing at looking after this part of yourself. Perhaps church is the last place you’d think of coming for spiritual nourishment, but I’d love to offer this to you. If church is totally off your radar, may I also ask you a question – why don’t you come to church? Just as I was interested to hear why the church leaders come to church, I’d be really interested to hear why you don’t - whatever those reasons are. If you’re willing to share those reasons with me, please do, please email me: revjulia.perton@gmail.com or even phone:

01902 750232

www.churchatperton.net

www.connectpages.co.uk ♦ connectpagesonline@gmail.com ♦ 07734 461934

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

www.connectpages.co.uk ♦ connectpagesonline@gmail.com ♦ 07734 461934

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 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 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.

TO FIND OUT HOW TO ADD YOUR CLASS OR GROUP PLEASE CALL 07734 461934 OR EMAIL CONNECTPAGESONLINE@GMAIL.COM

A Word From Gavin Williamson............... Visiting local schools across my constituency is always a real pleasure, whether it be for a ‘Question Time’ style grilling by pupils or a presentation of awards, highlighting the academic success of students over the past school year or telling pupils about the role of a Member of Parliament, to hosting one of their lessons on how Parliament works and also about my role as the Government Chief Whip. One of the best things about visiting schools is the questions that pupils ask. I regularly take part in many ‘Question and Answer’ sessions at schools and, although there were times that I have been put on the spot, I can honestly say that I have rarely heard the same question twice. Topics range from local issues like roadworks and houses to what the Queen is like, what it is like inside Buckingham Palace and what the Prime Minister’s favourite food is. There has never been a visit to the school where I have not been impressed with pupils’ curiosity and I am always fascinated, if not sometimes a little scared, about taking part in question and answer sessions with them. Teaching pupils more about how Parliament works is a brilliant way to get them interested in a whole range of issues like democracy and the way our country is run. At a time where it is rare that a day goes by when a topic that has been debated in the House of Commons is not on the front page of the newspaper, I was only too happy to take part in a lesson to help pupils learn what happens in a debate in Parliament. I was very impressed with how quickly they picked up debating skills and I am sure that when it comes to demonstrating debates in class they will do extremely well. I look forward to hearing about the topics that they will discuss in, I’m sure what will be, a very lively session. We are extremely lucky here in Perton, and indeed right across South Staffordshire, to have schools offering such a high quality of education. Much of this is down to the hard work and dedication of the wonderful staff inspiring such inquisitiveness in their students, encouraging them to learn, and I believe it is important that politicians take time to answer the questions they want to ask. It was an absolute pleasure to spend time listening to their thoughts and I am sure that in around thirty years I will recognise a few faces debating across the despatch box.

To contact Gavin Williamson call 01902 846616 or 0207 219 7150

www.connectpages.co.uk ♦ connectpagesonline@gmail.com ♦ 07734 461934