Perton and Pattingham Pages March 2016 by Kay Garrison

MARCH 2016

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

p2 ››› Codsall Arts Festival Timetable

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››› Learn a Language

p3 ››› The Latest from your MP

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››› The Perfect Local Party Venue

p4 ››› South Staffs Cycling Scheme 4 p10 ››› Special New Windows Offer

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››› Classes & Groups p30 4 USE LOCAL : SHOP LOCAL : EAT LOCAL : SPEND LOCAL : ENJOY LOCAL

COMPLETE ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS FROM £19 PER MONTH: MAGAZINE: ONLINE: SOCIAL: MOBILE CALL 07734 461934 OR EMAIL CONNECTPAGESONLINE@GMAIL.COM 1

Perton & Pattingham Business Index Home& Garden Ala rms /CCTV/Home Security Ba throoms Blinds Builder Ca rpentry Ca rpet & Interiors Clea ning Services De cking & Fencing Domes tic Applia nces & Repa ir Electricia ns Externa l Clea ning Flooring Ga rden Centre Ga rdening & La nds ca ping Gutter Clea ning Lighting Locks mith Oven Cle a ning Pa inter & Decora tor Pla s terer Plumbing & Hea ting Property Ma intena nce Roofing Tree Surgeon Windows, Doors & Conservatories

19 7,20 8,21 15 16 8 5,13,15 2 13 15,19,21,23 5,9 23 15,30 1,13,16,26 30 19 7 23,24 7,8,13,20,21 7,11,13,31 7,20,22,24,31 20,21,23 18,23,24,28,30,31 22,26,29 7,9,16,26,30

Eating & Drinking Pubs,Restaurants & Takeaways

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Motoring & Transport Bodywork Ma intena nce Ta xi Service Classes, Groups & Events Da nce Cla s s es Events Fitnes s & Sport Slimming Thea tre & Performing Arts Tuition IT, Finance & Property Computers & Repa ir Fina ncia l Advis er Property Sa les & Lettings Lifestyle, Leisure & Retail Childca re & Schools Community Ca re Driving School Footca re Funera l Directors Gifts & Homewa re Golf Clubs Ha ir, Hea lth & Bea uty Venue Hire Animals & Pets Pet Grooming Pet Shop

18 20 5,13,16 16,26,28,29 14,27,28 1,9,15 21,24 29 3,9,31 17,27,28 31,32 6,11,16 1,10,12 8,23,27 7,28 7,28 17,25 24 11 8,9,11,13,22,25 4 26,30 26

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

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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 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: These classes are held at The Pavilion on Perton just off Gainsborough Drive. Simon holds his classes on a Tuesday. 6.30 - 7.30 is for beginners to moderate and 7.30 - 8.30 is for advanced and people who exercise regularly. Call Simon on 07470221041 ADVICE: South Staffs Work Club, Perton Library 2.15pm - 4pm every 1 st 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 groups and ability levels. For contact and ride 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 ( ÂŁ2 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 CentreBirches 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 Next show 6/3/16. TO FIND OUT HOW TO ADD YOUR CLASS OR GROUP PLEASE CALL 07734 461934 OR EMAIL CONNECTPAGESONLINE@GMAIL.COM

PP/MARCH 16

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

Words of Wisdom from Rev Julia Cody.... Have you given anything up for Lent? We’re over half way through… how’s it going?!!! For many - me included(!) - it’s not easy to be self-disciplined. But is self-discipline really what Lent’s about? Lent’s the season when Christians prepare themselves for the events which we recall on Good Friday, as Jesus was crucified, and on Easter Day, as we finally get to the wonder and celebration when God miraculously gave Jesus new life. Traditionally Lent’s been 6 weeks of austerity, selfexamination, confession, denial. They sound pretty bleak and uninviting, but perhaps not… Many of us, in our frenzied, fast-paced world, actually crave space… simplicity… time to ourselves. Observing Lent can offer precisely these things - it’s not simply about denial and discipline, it’s about making space for spiritual contemplation. We give things up to make life simpler, create space, carve out time to ponder, dream, pray. Most of us look after and are aware of our physical, emotional and mental health. But how well do we look after our spiritual health? Do we take time to contemplate, meditate, imagine, pray? This is what Lent’s really about time for us to explore and grow spiritually… to seek God… to ponder what we believe, and the impact of those beliefs on our lives. If exploring your spirituality interests and intrigues you, please feel free to get in touch for a chat. May this Lent be a time of spiritual growth for us all, followed by a wonder-full Easter.

01902 750232

www.churchatperton.net

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VILLAGE BLINDS

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

Individual blinds supplied from £20 each ________________________________

Fitting service offered Free home visits with pattern books. ________________________________

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

CALL US FOR A FREE QUOTATION 01902 766755 OR EMAIL village.blinds@hotmail.co.uk

A Word From Gavin Williamson............... One issue that has come up time and time again on the doorstep recently is access to Superfast Broadband. Residents in Perton are concerned that this essential service, which has increasingly become an essential part of our day to day lives, is becoming increasingly unreliable. I think that it is disgraceful that South Staffordshire’s average download speed ranks as poorly as 567 out of the 650 parliamentary constituencies in the UK, so it is for this reason that I am campaigning to improve this service in our communities. At present, the average download speed in some of the more rural areas of South Staffordshire stands at 5.7mb/s compared with 33.4mb/s in neighbouring urban constituency Wolverhampton North East, where 99% of residents are able to access Superfast Broadband compared to 72% of those living in neighbouring South Staffordshire. I fail to see why there is such a disparity so I am pushing for real change. Rural areas should not be disadvantaged on the basis of their location. Residents in these areas have just the same need of broadband as those in the cities, if not more due to limited access to city centres. Although we have seen many improvements to access to broadband following campaigns in many areas over the past few years, with some villages being connected to Superfast Broadband ahead of schedule, and the total number of ‘live’ cabinets reaching 300, we still lag behind in many others. I would urge everyone who can to support my campaign and sign the petition so that residents of South Staffordshire will be able to enjoy the broadband speeds that residents in Wolverhampton have and not fall technologically behind. As usual I am always so thankful to those who come out and help deliver petitions for our campaigns. So far the weather has been unusually kind to us, but if you fancy lending a hand, or an umbrella, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

To contact Gavin Williamson call 01902 846616 or 0207 219 7150 www.connectpages.co.uk ♦ connectpagesonline@gmail.com ♦ 07734 461934

Useful Numbers Lakeside Surgery: 01902 755329 Tamar Surgery: 01902 755053 Pattingham Surgery: 01902 700462 Perton Dental Practice (Anders Square): 01902 758120 Dental Surgery, Tamar Medical Centre: 01902 756114 Perton Funeral Directors: 01902 756830 Perton Clinic : 01902 758150 Perton Civic Centre: 01902 745971 Perton Library: 01902 755794 Church at Perton: 01902 750232 Lakeside Community Church: 01902 753595 St Chad's Church Pattingham: 01902 700257 Neighbourhood Police: 0300 1234455 Staffordshire Police: 08453 303132 MP: Gavin Williamson: 01902 846616 Souths Staffs District Council: 01902 696000 Staffordshire County Council: 01785 223121 Perton Parish Council Office: 01902 745971 Pattingham & Patshull Parish Council: 01902 701296

If there are any other telephone numbers you think would be useful, please email pertonpages@gmail.com

Wild About Perton in March..... Scurrying at break-neck speed along tunnels they create in the grass, shrews live their lives to the full. Hiding out of sight and travelling at speed under the cover of thick grass does not, unfortunately for the shrew, always afford sufficient camouflage against predation by tawny owls, kestrels, foxes, stoats and weasels. Being small, active, warm-blooded mammals, living in a relatively cold climate, shrews need a large turnover of energy, so they must eat for much of the time. The pygmy shrew, active day and night, must eat the equivalent of its body weight every 24 hours to survive. Shrews enjoy an undiscerning diet of earthworms, beetles, spiders, slugs, snails and other invertebrates. With small eyes, a dark brown or black upper body, a white underside and a pointed snout, this diminutive mammal packs a ferocious bite and should not be handled. Although trying to catch a shrew, as I remember from childhood, is almost impossible; like chasing a bullet. The common shrew, along with the round-faced vegetarian field vole, are our commonest British mammals, although they are seldom seen, unless found dead. It was once thought bad luck to spot a shrew when starting out on a journey, and bad luck for a shrew if it crossed a path. These beliefs may have arisen because the sides of paths are where dead shrews are most likely to be seen. On the footpaths behind the Pear & Partridge, by the grassland of Penk Meadow or on the woodland edges of Smiths Rough are where a dead shrew is mostly likely to be seen locally. Discover more about Perton’s wild mammals at Perton Spring Festival at Perton Library on Saturday 23 rd April with Derek Crawley from the Staffordshire Mammal Group who will be introducing us to the voles, shrews and mice that live alongside us. Or join us for a wildlife walk, on the first Saturday of the month leaving Perton Library at 2PM or at 4AM for the Dawn Chorus on Monday 2nd May with Theresa Dorrance from the RSPB.

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

Tips From Your Local PGA Pro at Perton Park..... With the Winter weather still hanging around here are some great tips to get you ready for the Golf Season.

So there is no excuse to get out and play, practise or even take some golf lessons as the Golf season is just around the corner. Call 07976894363 or email jeremy@pertongolfclub.co.uk.

Jeremy Harrold, Tel: 01902 380073 or email: jeremy@pertongolfclub.co.uk www.connectpages.co.uk â&#x2122;Ś connectpagesonline@gmail.com â&#x2122;Ś 07734 461934

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I WANT TO EXPLORE WHY SOME PEOPLE DON’T SEEK INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVICE. “ I don’t need it”: Have you really got the time, knowledge and expertise to research the thousands of investment products on the market, to find the best deal for you? If you work with an Independent Financial Adviser they will do this for you, carefully monitoring your investments in line with the agreed criteria. At FSC we aim to do this in an honest and trustworthy way, on a regular basis “Can I afford it?”: Expense may be a reason as to why some people have yet to seek Independent Financial Advice. Why not come in for an initial consultation at our expense, you might be pleasantly surprised at the costs involved. With our knowledge, experience and expertise it is likely that we can handle your savings and investments more efficiently than you can. Our charging structure is competitive and for the level of bespoke service you will receive we believe it will make it worth your while. We like to see our clients twice a year, more if we agree this is necessary for clients that have signed up for our ongoing service. We want to make our clients money, make them happy and build a good relationship with them. “Can I trust an Independent Financial Adviser?”: When working with an Independent Financial Adviser trust is very important. The financial services industry is heavily regulated and our regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), keeps a very careful eye on what we all do and takes action where necessary. After 35 years in the industry I always aim to keep your money in the right place, at the right time, all the time. My fellow Advisers and I at FSC believe we give good, honest, common sense advice and many of our clients have trusted us with their investments for up to 35 years. Don’t just take my word for it, please take a look at the testimonials from some of our clients on our website. “I don’t want to risk losing my money”: Some people think that in order to make reasonable and sensible returns you need to take high risk. Our clients range from high risk takers to low risk takers. We will carefully assess your attitude to risk versus reward and recommend the most appropriate investments for you. Our clients use us because they trust us and we are their eyes and ears on the lower risk end of the market. When general market interest rates are low, we hunt out and aim to find products that give smoother but better returns than you can get on the High Street. There should never be any barrier to getting good quality Independent Financial Advice, just keep an open mind, you’ve absolutely no reason to be afraid. We specialise in giving good honest advice that works, all at a sensible and reasonable cost. Why not give us a call and put us to the test? What have you got to lose? Call: 01902 422333 Email: info@fscinvestments.co.uk Frank Cochran - Managing Director & Independent Financial Adviser, FSC Investment Services Ltd. The purpose of this article is to provide technical and generic guidance and should not be interpreted as a personal recommendation or advice. You are not certain to make money - you may suffer a loss. FSC Investment Services Limited is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.