The Phoenix Newspaper - December 2012 by The Phoenix Newspaper

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DECEMBER 2012

To Advertise call 0121 250 3536

www.thephoenixnewspaper.com Inside this Month Merry Hill Store Opening

What really killed JR? Find out on page 12

See the centre pages for the full story

Happy Birthday Phoenix!

YEARS OLD

he Phoenix is 2 years old! We have been bringing you news from across the multicultural communities of the United Kingdom for 2 years, and we’ve enjoyed every moment of it! We’ve been through a few makeovers, but we’ve always stayed true to our core beliefs, connecting communities, wherever they are. The Phoenix has covered a lot in that time, from the Queen’s

Jubilee and the Olympics, to Jamaica’s 50th celebrations and Jamaica in the Square, and that was all just in the last 12 months! As we head into Christmas, we’d just like to say a big thankyou to everyone who has read, featured, and advertised in The Phoenix Newspaper over the last 24 months. We really couldn’t have done it all without you. From everyone at The Phoenix, we hope you have a very merry Christmas, and a happy new year!

Page 13 starts our Christmas special, “What’s in the box?”

Theres a new sheriff in town... page 2

Page 2

The Phoenix–December 2012

NEWS

Serving up a new Meals on Wheels W hours at a time. Customers now have a wide choice of meals every day including meat, fish, vegetarian options, with Asian and African-Caribbean menus available. A choice of desserts is also offered. . Wolverhampton City Council has spent £50,000 fitting its fleet of seven delivery vehicles with ovens that enable the food to be cooked on route. The meals are delivered by a team of friendly, trained, professional drivers. Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for City Services, said: “Meals on Wheels provides much more than daily hot meals. Our team of drivers also provides a valued social service greeting their customers with a smile and taking the time to

see how they are. Many of our customers are elderly and often housebound. So our drivers can be the only people they will speak to all day.” Councillor Steve Evans, cabinet member for adult services, said: “We hear how our drivers go the extra mile to help the service users – for example in recent weeks a driver went to a house and found a customer sitting in the dark. They changed the light bulb for him, made him a cup of tea and checked his mail.”

l Meals on Wheels drivers Teresa Ryan and Lynn Reid deliver a meal to former Mayor of Wolverhampton Gwen Stafford Good. Looking on are Cabinet Member for City Services Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Adult Services Councillor Steve Evans, and Gwen’s daughter Jackie Sweetman.

Lozells & East Handsworth welcomes new Sergeant

Group buys their own community centre

community group in the West Midlands used their own money to become the new owners of a centre which once had controversial MP Enoch Powell as a member. The former Wolverhampton Conservative club is now the Cultural Resource Centre after its Directors used their own finances to buy the building in Whitmore Reans. Called ‘The Heritage Centre,’ it is a deserved reward for the group, after its original Clarence Road venue was bulldozed by the City Council earlier this year, leading to mass protests and members of the African Caribbean community saying they were treated with great disrespect. It’s the result of seven-years of toil and never-ending determina-

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tion by the group, with CRC Chair and Director, Junior Hemans, saying: “It’s ironic to think that perhaps Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech which he made in Birmingham, was written right here. We’ve call this ‘The Heritage Centre’ because we want it to be a legacy, for the community to buy back from us for use for generations to come. What we have done here is an example to other communities throughout the UK of what can be achieved by working together.” Alicia Spence, Director of The African Caribbean Community Initiative in the city and fellow CRC Director added: “The fact that this is owned by the Black community here is especially poignant to our elders who remember their experiences during Powell’s day where they weren’t welcomed anywhere near the building.” The two-storey building includes two function rooms for up to 150 people and a lounge bar, to open daily.

Merry Christmas from everyone at The Phoenix!

olice in Lozells welcomed a new sergeant to the team in their fight against

Late night patrols to deter both burglary and anti-social behaviour have been stepped up following Kin's arrival and her team will also be working to reduce drug related crime across the area. Outgoing Sergeant, Lucy Bird, will continue to support the team and Perry Barr constituency until January when she will move into a central role. Sergeant Devi said: "I am delighted to be the new police sergeant for this area and look

crime. Sergeant Kin Devi is now responsible for policing across Lozells and East Handsworth, and will be working with partner agencies and the community members to tackle local concerns. Kin moves to Birmingham from Sandwell after several years working in a similar role.

l Sergeant Kin Devi

Over

forward to continuing the great work started by Sergeant Bird. Lozells and East Handsworth has a vibrant community and I look forward to working alongside local people to tackle the things that matter most to them. I am fully committed to the principles of neighbourhood policing and want to ensure that people living, visiting or working here can do so in a safe and enjoyable environment."

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olverhampton’s Meals on Wheels service is now better than ever and open to everyone after changes made by the city council. Meals on Wheels were previously only available to users with specific needs who had been referred by Social Services. However, it is now possible for anyone to sign up to get a hot meal and dessert delivered without requiring an assessment. Changes to the service mean that a greater choice of dishes is available and the food is delivered to people’s homes at perfect eating temperature. This is because food is now cooked on route in the delivery vehicles rather than the old system which saw it being heated up at a depot and kept warm often for

The Phoenix–December 2012

Page 3

NEWS

Pannel Croft, a new retirement Village

annel Croft Village is the second retirement village in Birmingham.

ble Trust, the 180-home retirement village, in Newtown, follows ExtraCare’s first, in New Oscott.

Developed as a partnership between Birmingham City Council, The Homes and Communities Agency, The Department of Health and The ExtraCare Charita-

Each apartment has a hallway, living room, one or two bedrooms, a kitchen and a shower room. All with their own balcony or access to shared patio areas.

The homes surround a community-based Village Centre with 18 health and leisure facilities, including a restaurant, bar, Village hall, Well-Being centre, IT suite, craft room and greenhouse.

Opened to local older people and volunteers as part of a sociable community hub, residents’ family and friends, as well as community group representatives are welcome to visit Pannel Croft Village facilities and participate in any of the 50 plus activity programmes which include gardening, woodwork, IT and fitness. Qualified staff provide care to residents who needing help. The Village will also support residents with significant assessed care needs, including dementia and complex mental health needs. Among those moving into Pannel Croft includes Sylvia McCormack (64) and 59-year-old Millicent Gobbinsingh who says: “Even if I don’t move in, I’d still be a Village Friend and be here constantly. Another reason for moving here is because I want to be part of this new venture in the area.” Nick Abbey, Chief Executive of The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, says: “We are delighted with our second retirement village in Birmingham.

There’s a thriving sense of community here and ExtraCare believes that living in the Village should be affordable for all, expecting over 90% of our residents to be in receipt of housing or care benefits. There’s significant demand for an affordable alternative to the traditional retirement home and we believe our Villages fill a much-needed gap.” Other villages are planned for Harborne, Bournville and Acocks Green.

Page 4

The Phoenix–December 2012

NEWS

Free Wi-Fi at Civic Centre & Gallery Solihull charities benefit thanks to The Skills Show

olihull voluntary organisations were beneficiaries when The Skills Show, the UK’s biggest free skills and careers event, closed its doors at the Birmingham NEC. One hundred and twenty tonnes of top soil, which was used at this year’s show, were delivered to Solihull Sustain, an organisation that supports Solihull's voluntary sector. The soil was used as part of the landscaping demonstrations and WorldSkills UK skills competi-

tions taking place during the show to showcase the range of career opportunities available to young people in landscape gardening and horticulture. Solihull Sustain sent the top soil to support community gardening services in the local area. Recipients include Newlands Bishop Farm (NBF), an organisation that gives people with learning disabilities and mental health problems the opportunity to learn work based skills. Mark Smallman of The Skills

The Common Denominator

emarkable Television, the makers of Pointless and Deal or No Deal, is looking for an audience for their brand new Channel 4 studio quiz, ‘The Common Denominator’ hosted by Location, Location, Location's popular host Phil Spencer. Watch and be entertained as contestants attempt to work out what links two seemingly unrelated items. And if they’re any good they could leave with thousands of pounds. The show, a remake of the Israeli gameshow which dare contestants to think different, is recorded at BBC TV Centre for the rest of this month, so if you'd like to join in then apply now. Booking is open

Open

via the website; www.sroaudiences.com Tickets are free and the minimum age for attendance is 18.

n the wake of Hurricane Sandy, many customers in the UK wanted to help their families and friends that had been affected by the natural disaster. MoneyGram waived their send fees for online transfers to several Caribbean countries to support customers trying to help. From the 3rd November to the 16th November, anyone who wanted to send money to Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas or Puerto Rico via MoneyGram’s online platform at www.moneygram.co.uk didn’t pay a send fee to help their families * and friends that were recuperating after the effect of the hurricane.

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moneygram.co.uk *Subject to agent hours of operation and local regulations. MoneyGram and the Globe are trademarks of MoneyGram. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. MoneyGram International Limited is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority. ©2012 MoneyGram. All rights reserved.

Connecting Communities: The Interfaith Week’s Challenge

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irmingham’s Church of England Bishop challenged people to get connected in the schools, workplaces, streets and neighbourhoods as the city marked Interfaith Week with a series of events and workshops. The Rt. Revd David Urquhart spoke at the launch of the ‘Faithful Friends’ a ChristianMuslim Forum and photographic exhibition to celebrate relationships between people of different faiths. Held at St Martin in the Bullring Church, it featured 15 portraits of people who have

Show commented: “Sustainability is a key concern for all those involved in staging The Skills Show. We were thrilled that, thanks to our colleagues at the NEC, we have been able to identify this opportunity which will benefit Solihull Sustain. This means that the impact of The Skills Show will not just be in the form of improved knowledge and awareness of skills but also to provide opportunities for local community groups and voluntary organisations through the work of Solihull Sustain.”

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isitors to WolverThe council intends to roll-out Art Gallery they can access the hampton Civic the free Wi-Fi connection to more net for free. Centre and Wolver- of its buildings in the future. This is all about making our hampton Art Gallery Councillor John Reynolds, public buildings as welcoming can now make use of a free Wi- Cabinet Member for City Ser- as possible to the public and Fi internet connection. vices, said: “More people than providing the services that they Thousands of people come to ever are carrying mobile devices require.” the buildings every year and the which connect to the internet and city council has introduced the now at the Civic Centre and the service to enable customers to be able to use their smartphones, laptops, tablet computers and other devices. All people have to do to access the free service is activate the Wi-Fi connection on their device and select to connect to ‘wcclibs’ and then enter the user name and password which is widely advertised on posters around the buildings or available from reception staff. The move is the latest initiative by the council to improve the experience it provides to customers visiting its buildings. In recent months it has taken down the glass window in front of the main reception creating a more welcoming environment as well as bringing in queue- l Cabinet member for city services Cllr John Reynolds launching the busting ‘floor walkers’ to help council’s free Wi-Fi service alongside Customer Service Officers Bert visitors to the Civic Centre find Booth and Julie Markall. their way around.

met each other through the Near Neighbours programme – a Government-funded initiative which encourages people of different faiths or ethnicities to meet each other, develop trusting relationships and work together to trans-

21/06/2012 10:09

form their local area. In Birmingham, Near Neighbours has funded 88 projects in 13 central wards bringing an estimated 3,000 people together. Bishop David said: “Friendships that build bridges between people of different faiths and ethnicities are really good for us as individuals, enriching our lives, challenging our stereotypes and broadening our imagination. They’re also good for strengthening communities, removing prejudices and healing fragmentation. Friendships can move us from distant respect to deep appreciation, from mere tolerance to full participation in founding healthy, peaceful and generous communities. Let us build friendships that changes us and transform the places we live.”

The Phoenix–December 2012

Page 5

NEWS

Acorns’ Santa Run blue bid for local children

here’s an urgent appeal for volunteers to don distinctive blue Santa suits and act as marshalls at Acorns Children's Hospice Santa Runs, to support vital funding for care of 630 local life limited children They need people to spare a few hours to help the Acorns Events Team. Enthusiastic volunteers are being urged to join the fun at ‘Santas 2012’. Santas are festive fun runs and strolls, in which participants dress up in Santa suits to raise money for Acorns Children’s Hospice. Two events are being staged this year, at Birmingham’s Brindley-

place on Saturday 8th December and at the Arboretum, on Sunday 9th December. With new 5km runs and 2km stroll routes, both wheelchair and buggy friendly, Acorns’ Santa Runs will be more enjoyable than ever: and Acorns needs more people to support the event. They’re looking for people to help from 10.00am until 2.00pm with set-up and registration, information desk, as well as marshaling, bucket collecting, and handing out medals/goody bags, to those completing the event. More ‘Santas’ are also being urged to sign up, to run or stroll in the atmospheric events.

Philippa Gay, Acorns’ Major Events Officer, said: “We urgently need marshalls to volunteer to help ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable time for these great events, which are so vital toward helping Acorns maintain services to life limited children. We also need more people to put on Santa suits and join with colleagues, friends and family to raise money for local children with life limiting or life threatening conditions. We’ll even supply marshalls with their own blue Santa suit. Acorns’ care of local children costs £750 per child, per day, so we appeal to everyone to spare a

few hours to help vulnerable families in their neighbourhood, and support our Santa Runs.” Entry at £10 for adults, £5 for under 16s, includes a Santa suit. Due to size restrictions under 6’s cannot be given a suit, but are welcome to wear fancy dress. Find out more and sign up now at www.acorns.org.uk/santa or get in touch at events@acorns.org.uk or call 0844 984 0405.

l Acorns’ Santa Run organisers in blue: (from front) Lucy Shepherd, Philippa Gay, Andrea Taylor, and Ellie Griffiths appeal for marshalls

Game changing local TV

ity TV is the new local television station for the West Midlands. Covering news and current affairs in Birmingham, Solihull, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Dudley, the 24-hour schedule will begin next June. Local institutions involved include Greater Birmingham’s Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham City University, University of Birmingham, and South & City College.

Arts establishments such as the NEC, NIA, Sampad, The Drum, CBSO, Royal Birmingham Ballet, Hippodrome, Symphony Hall, The

Town Hall, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, The Ikon and The Rep, are also very much on board. CEO, Debra Davis, said:

“This is game-changing for Birmingham. It’s been years in development, but what this means for Birmingham is that it will have its own television channel reporting what is relevant to this great city. Birmingham and the West Midlands will be our living studio with its people both the audience and its stars. Stay tuned. City TV will be a game changer.”

Olympic torch ‘key’ designer wins IAB business awards Send online today at

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Send and receive this Christmas l From left are international business of the year award winners, Zahir Aziz, Zaid Aziz, &Javed Aziz (Firstpress (Plastic Moulders) Ltd.); Des Correia (ARUP); and Nasir Awan (IAB President) irst Press (Plastic and WH Smiths. Making a proactive contriMoulders) Ltd., Managing Director, Javed bution to the enhancement the designers and Aziz, said: “We are delighted and benefit of the local comm a n u f a c t u r e r s that to be recognised in these munity was Raj Rana, owner of the ‘key’ used to ignite prestigious awards because of Itihaas restaurant, receivthe Olympic torches won of our ability to maintain ing the ‘Outstanding ContriInternational Business of progress over the past few bution to Society Award’ for the Year at the Institute of years demonstrating an impact in Asian Businesses annual I feel privileged and dedi- the local community. dinner. cate this to our staff here in Nasir Awan, president of Founded in 1985, it was the UK and in Dubai.” the IAB said: “For twenty recognised for its values toSalhan Accountants, a five years we have helped wards international trade, for former Birmingham Cham- and supported our members how it has dealt with cultural ber of Commerce winner to grow their business, create and language differences and of Entrepreneur of the Year, jobs and boost the Midlands how it has marketed the city won the IAB Business of the economy. It was a great opof Birmingham. Year. portunity for us to recognise With 35 employees, it has Young Entrepreneur of the and reward these growing established long-term rela- Year went to Jagjeet Vir- companies for their continutionships with a variety of dee of e-SES, a cloud-based ing contribution to business international partners includ- business management sys- growth in Birmingham.” ing Coca-Cola, Bosch, Sharp tem.

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23/11/2012 09:27

Page 6

BUSINESS NEWS

Happy 30th BSP! B irmingham Science Park marked its 30th birthday with a neonthemed ‘street party’ and tech entrepreneur’s showcase, reflecting its incredible business diversity throughout the city and beyond. Sponsored by East End Foods, the UK’s leading ethnic foods producer, director Jason Wouhra , was on hand as Head Chef for the night as an endless flow of some of the most deliciously tasting, filling snacks proved too irresistible for words. Held at the Park’s Faraday Wharf building, neon lighting was provided by technology specialist amBX, with music provided by Park tenant Soshi Games, creator of the popular Facebook app; Music Festivals Game. For extra effect, each of the 300 plus guests were provided with glowing neon head-bands and bangles. There was no shortage of drinks; wines, spirits, cocktails and juices on constant flow throughout the

“I’ll just make sure these sweets are secure...” BSP Security Guard John Kain ensuring the security of the sweet stall!

night. Sherbets, gums, sweets and fizzy drinks of 30 years ago, provided a uniquely nostalgic touch to celebrations. Originally Aston Science Park, BSP is the third oldest Science Park in the UK, and focuses on nurturing and harnessing the city’s tech scene and entrepreneurial community. The 14 acre estate encompasses 10 buildings providing 250,000 sq ft of office space for over 100 companies to date. Dr David Hardman MBE, Birmingham Science Park CEO, said: “The Science Park is well positioned to harness the potential of the digital age. By acting as ambassadors for the West Midlands, key businesses could be much more effective as magnets to seed and promote further growth and employment in the types of companies based at Birmingham Science Park now and in the future.” Jason Wouhra said: “East End Foods is a home-grown success

story that the West Midlands can be rightly proud of. With over 1,250 established brand lines and our recently opened £10.5 million Aston Cross Cash and Carry superstore, supporting Birmingham Science Park’s 30th birthday event is a natural way of showing how the local business community works together for the greater good. It is imperative that Birmingham flourishes as a breeding ground for many new innovative businesses.” One thing was made very imperative on the night that is the importance of Birmingham Science Park for local, national and international technology. Here’s to you BSP!’

The Phoenix–December 2012

BUSINESS NEWS

Black Country welcomes exciting proposals

roposals to make LEPs the engines of regional economic growth have been welcomed in the Black Country. On a visit to Birmingham, government adviser Lord Heseltine published proposals designed at creating jobs and moving power away from London after being commissioned to draw up an economic strategy for the nation. Top of his proposals is a plan to

devolve powers from Whitehall to the regions by calling on government to move £49 billion to Local Enterprise Partnerships over the next five years to help drive growth. Stewart Towe, Chair of the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are proud of the achievements of the Black Country LEP to date but today’s proposals are exciting in that they recognise LEPs as the body to continue

driving forward local economic growth. Of course to do this we will require funding and the proposals over the next five years would give LEPs scope to further deliver economic plans specific to our areas. We will of course take time to digest the full report but we would certainly welcome the broad theme of the proposals and would welcome the opportunity to bid competitively for funding to help support our ongoing work.” In addition to the major devolution of funding and enhancement of LEPs to bring together the private and public sectors, the report, called No Stone Unturned: In Pursuit of Growth, makes a number of other key proposals. These include creating a national growth council, chaired by the prime minister, with a cross-government focus on driving growth, making a smaller and more skilled government machine, more government leadership for major infrastructure projects and a role for employers in education.

Page 7

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What would Shakespeare say?

Ammo’s

o - Daily Mail? Daily Express? Are you out there? I’ve got a story for your front page. It’s all about this scrounger - one of your socalled ‘economic migrants’. This cheeky chancer is fresh off the farm but got himself a sweet and easy job in the suburbs. But the truth is; he’s known for loan sharking and for dodgy dealings under the counter - the police have sworn statements. Of course, he’s a religious extremist - aren’t they all? - and now he’s digging himself deep into local politics. They say he’s using his position to keep fundamentalist teachers in the classroom at local schools. And this is happening in England’s heartland; in the sleepy streets of Stratford upon Avon! What would Shakespeare say? Actually he’d say, “Hello Dad!” You see, William Shakespeare wasn’t born with tickets for the ballet or opera in his pocket. He didn’t listen to Classic FM or Radio 4. Shakespeare was the Eminem of Elizabethan England, dropping rhymes right here in the West Midlands. Shakespeare’s dad was a Catholic village outsider who became Lord Mayor. They sat around the family dinner table every day, like you and me, reading about job losses, financial meltdown and religious

hatred in Ye Olde Media. And then one day William said, “Dad - I need to be writing my rhymes full time - I’m going for a career in the Arts!” Would you have backed him? How much - the biggest single secular cultural export of any nation, ever? So how much should we stake the poets, writers, musicians, artists, photographers and film makers coming off our streets now, today? Who’s going to back our entertainment exports of tomorrow, the seed capital of our culture and this country? Not this government especially as the arts is being squeezed via the E bac (Google this as it really not good for arts in schools) Sure, there’s still taxpayer and sponsor cash going into the arts, just less of it. And there’ll be money for Shakespeare at the RSC. That’s cool - the RSC pulls in business for us all, locally. And there’ll be cash for classical orchestras, classical ballet, classical art galleries, classical Indian dance, classical opera and classical classics. But if Shakespeare came back to life, do you think he’d be queuing for tickets to ‘Measure for Measure’? Maybe; after he’d been to the Drum, the Hare and Hounds, the Custard factory and the Hubb. The government may think its cuts are fair to all - maybe they are. But the truth is, when the establishment makes the cuts, if you ain’t established then you’re getting cut. Of course, authentic future classics will still be made anyway; by gifted, inspired, wonderful outsiders. You can’t stop people like that. But most people will never hear or see them because no one’s paying

for them to be professionally performed or promoted. Right now someone’s tweeting: “@punchrecords is writing about Shakespeare! What does he know?” But I know this. Two years ago I was in Cape Town, working with Design Indaba, one of the companies raising South Africa’s international profile before the World Cup. I toured Robben Island, the infamous jail where Mandela and the other freedom fighters were locked away. And there I learned how important Shakespeare was to the political prisoners. Why? Because some knew the Bible, some knew the Qu’ran, some knew Das Kapital; but they all knew Shakespeare. They acted and recited him. They quoted and performed him - together. And that’s true cultural cohesion - where it matters. But unless there’s a change coming soon, over here we’re headed for a decade of cultural apartheid.

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11/30/12 3:18 PM

Page 8

IMMIGRATION ADVICE

with Jennifer Housen

The Phoenix–December 2012

Love Across Borders W

elcome to this inaugural Immigration Advice Page. We encourage questions but strongly urge you to seek individual advice on your particular circumstances.

http://www.facebook.com/immigrationuk

Our focus for this month is the effect of the law when the love of your life is from a non-EEA country. How do you approach the immigration issue of your non-EEA partner coming to the UK to live with you here? Although there are some limited provisions for fiancé/fiancées, the primary immigration rule is that the partner seeking to come to the UK must be a spouse, or unmarried partner or same sex civil partner. The partner living in the UK must be a British national, EEA National resident in Britain, or Non-EEA National with Indefinite Leave to Remain. In order for your partner to join you in Britain five main criteria must be satisfied: you have both met, are married, have a genuine relationship, adequate accommodation and sufficient funds in the UK. Unless yours was a cultural wedding allowing for persons to marry without meeting each other, most persons will easily meet the first and second criteria. Also, most persons in the UK rarely have difficulty with accommodation as, even if it is inadequate, you can change to a new tenancy. It is the funds and the relationship requirement

IMMIGRATION MATTERS What we do: l

Deportation/Removal Marriage Visa

Children

Overstaying

Indefinite Leave to Remain

Student Status

We: Understand the Caribbean Community Office in Jamaica for your convenience Serving the Immigrant Community since 2005

CONTACT THE SPECIALISTS The Immigration UK Partnership (Registered Office) 373-375 Brixton Road, London SW9 7DE

020 7738 6081

To make an appointment in Birmingham call

07572 271691

Authorised & Regulated by the

that tends to cause problems for Applicants.

The funds requirement has now been made simpler. Since July 9, 2012, the law is that the partner in the UK must show an income of at least £18,600 per year (but if you get certain benefits you are exempt from showing this). This makes it easier, as once this is met, then there is no need for other evidence, such as bank statements. The problem, however, is that if the UK partner makes less than £18,600 per year, he/she must show savings of £16,000 plus 2 ½ times the shortfall of the salary. So, for example, a UK partner making £15,000 would need to show £25,000 in savings (£16,000+ (£3,600 x 2.5)). Although a gift of cash can be used (e.g., from a parent or sibling) to meet the savings requirement, unfortunately, it cannot be a loan. Letters of financial support from family is no longer acceptable and will not meet the requirement and the application will be refused.

Border Agency takes a zero tolerance to persons who marry to take advantage of the immigration laws. As such, you must show that your relationship is genuine. So evidence of the relationship is needed showing that there is substance to it, for example, documents showing cohabitation, emails and telephone records are helpful. Of course, it will depend on your particular situation. If you meet the requirements, you stand a good chance of your partner joining you to live in the UK. However, please note that any criminal convictions that your partner has, may be taken into account in the consideration of his/her visa application. Once your partner arrives in the UK, however, that is not the end of the matter, as your partner (since July 9, 2012) is under a 5-year ‘probation’ before he/she can get the right to permanently live in the country. Contact The Immigration UK Partnership for an appointment in London or Birmingham.

Regarding meeting the relationship requirement, the UK

From The Files: A Spouse Applicant’s Story

n 2011, Muriel*, a British citizen, married John*, a Jamaican citizen who was an overstayer in the UK. Muriel is employed as a caterer making £13,000 per year. The couple agreed he would return to Jamaica in March 2012 and apply for a spousal visa to return. On July 10, 2012, John made an application at the British embassy but was refused because they did not show sufficient funds so that they would not likely end up on benefits. John is not sure what to do. Although the government implemented a policy that overstayers in the UK had to seek permission and get a certificate to marry, this violated a person’s human rights and it was subsequently abolished. So, even if a person is an overstayer in the UK, he is not prohibit from getting married in the UK. This of course meant that Muriel and John were legally married in the UK. John’s decision to leave the UK and apply was the best course as applications in the UK can take years, but an application to a British embassy takes only a maximum of three months. If John had previous convictions in the UK, the decision to leave the UK

to make the application must be taken with care and legal advice, as convictions can impact the application. As John had no criminal convictions, this was the better option for them as it speeds up the process and John could return with the ability to work immediately on his return to the UK. John was refused because of the new law of July 9th. As Muriel’s salary was lower than £18,600 she needed to show savings of £30,000 based on her £13,000 salary. John can make a new visa application any time in the future, but only if his wife’s salary increases, or they have amassed savings which take them over the law’s requirement. *Not their real names.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general information purposes only. Nothing in this column, or associated pages, advertisements, documents, comments, answers, responses or other communications in connection with it should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. The information in this column and on this page, or viewing of this information does not constitute a legal relationship or legal privilege, nor is it intended to be relied upon, solely or otherwise, as a basis of legal advice for subsequent action.

About Jennifer

ennifer Housen is a barrister-at-law qualified to practice in England & Wales. Additionally, she is an attorneyat-law qualified to practice in the USA in the state of New York, and also qualified to practice in the Caribbean island of Jamaica. Jennifer was born in Jamaica and moved to Britain as a teenager. Jennifer gained experience in immigration law having been an oversight Director of Programmes on the Immigration & Asylum Accreditation Scheme when the UK government sought to set an assessment framework all for immigration lawyers and advisors. Building on her academic experience in the area, Jennifer’s immigration practice has helped thousands of applicants with their immigration matters including entry clearance, visitor applications, deportations, removals and leave to remain. She has particular associations with the Caribbean community and has a dedicated immigration office, Immigration UK Limited, in the Jamaican capital of Kingston, which has assisted her many clients over the last few years. She has appeared as a guest adviser on immigration law on several radio and television programmes in Jamaica and the UK. With an expanding immigration practice, and conscious of the needs of her clients in the UK who she had assisted with their entry clearance visas, Jennifer opened The Immigration UK Partnership in July 2011, together with Kemesha Lynch, an experienced immigration solicitor. The Immigration UK Partnership has worked intimately with its clients in their immigration matters including detention, indefinite leave to remain, discretionary leave to remain and deportation matters. The firm continues to go from strength to strength as it takes a personal and sensitive approach to its clients and their needs. The firm further supports its clients and the community by delivering free immigration seminars at various locations/times throughout the year. The Immigration UK Partnership’s office is in Brixton, London, however Jennifer is able to see clients in Birmingham by appointment. Questions can be asked through the firm’s Facebook page, but responses are limited as individual circumstances differ and may require an appointment.

Jennifer Housen,

Barrister-at-law (England & Wales), Attorney-at-law (USANY & Jamaica).

Page 10

The Phoenix–December 2012

CAREERS AND TRAINING

The Skills Show - Opening Doors To The Future Of UK Business

he Skills Show, UK’s largest skills and career event, drew thousands of young people over a three day period at the NEC. The exhibition drew over 200 companies, educator and training providers including the RAF, Land Rover, Solihull College and BMW to name a few. Graced by prominent personalities such as the Princess Royal, president of the City & Guild of London Institute and Dragons Den’s Theo Paphitis, official patron, the event pulled out all the stops in making sure that everyone knew about it. It was an event unlike any other. Visitors got the chance to lit-

erarily get their hands dirty with over 45 opportunities to “Have a go” at a new skill like floristry, bricklaying, games design, dentistry etc. The show’s aim was to inspire young people with various exciting opportunities in further education, skills and apprenticeships. It was also a platform for some of the best of the nation’s talent to showcase their work. Speaking to multimillionaire Paphitis, he was passionate about the issue of young people getting the right skillset praising on-thejob training. He said: “If someone has a skill, they have a tool for life that can transform their fortune and form the basis for their own enterprise”.

David Cragg, Deputy Chairman of The Skills Show, conveyed that the Skills Show was also aimed at tackling the deficit in the UK of undervaluing practical and vocational applied skills: “This is first of all opening their eyes to what opportunities there are. In the current environment, it is also giving young people some hope and optimism about the range of opportunities” He concluded by encouraging business and educational institutions to adopt this experience based approach to learning such as organising have-a-go days and getting their experts to talk to young people.

The Phoenix–December 2012

Page 11

EDUCATION

BAFTA invests in Birmingham talent

Birmingham City University student has won a scholarship from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to boost her journalism studies. 30-year-old Ola Bisoye Dosunmu has been awarded a scholarship of £4,800 to fund her vocational post graduate course in Broadcast Journalism at Birmingham School of Media, part of Birmingham City University. BAFTA is an independent charity that supports, develops and pro-

motes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. Ola, from Moseley in Birmingham, and five other students from around the country were selected to receive the new BAFTA scholarship following an open call to students on eligible UK courses. The Scholarship Programme assists talented people in need of financial support to study a postgraduate course in film, television or games. Scholarship recipients will also

receive mentoring support from BAFTA members and free access to BAFTA events across the UK. In return, scholarship recipients will share their learning experiences on the BAFTA Guru website and participate in future outreach to schools. On her award, Ola said: “It’s incredible that BAFTA is investing in young creative talent. The BAFTA Scholarship not only pays my fees, it give me access to the industry which is priceless and otherwise unobtainable.” Diane Kemp, Senior Lecturer

in Broadcast Journalism at Birmingham City University said: “We’re delighted that Ola’s won this prestigious scholarship. She’s an excellent student and her recognition by a national organisation like BAFTA is a reflection of the quality of people who come onto our courses.” Birmingham School of Media is a recognised centre of excellence in providing media education in the UK. The Broadcast Journalism postgraduate course is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council

Black Country UTC Student Wins Young Inventor Award

B Hairdressing students strike a textbook pose

airdressing students from Walsall College’s Graduate Academy hair salon are set to star in a new academic textbook after being in a recent photo shoot. Written by author Louise Hockings-Thompson and published by City & Guild, the Level 3 VRQ Diploma in Hairdressing paperback, the textbook will help level 3 hairdressing students across the UK to learn the essential knowledge and practical skills required as part of their training. It will also be a vital tool for tutors in planning and delivering the qualification. With her 28-years experience the book will include industry tips, step-by-step photo guides of technical skills and individual and group activities. Walsall College was selected as one of five national centres and 2

commercial salons to feature in the book. Diane Mitchell, Portfolio Manager for Hairdressing at City & Guilds, said: “We have a great working relationship with Walsall College and recognise that the skills of their hairdressing students and tutors are of a very high standard. Add this to their highly professional and fantastic facilities, and they were an obvious choice for us. Curriculum Manager for Hairdressing at Walsall College, Amanda Richards said: “It is an honour to be chosen for this book and is credit to the hard work and commitment made by staff to ensure students gain the skills required for success in the industry. “The students had a great day on set during the photo shoot and are looking forward to seeing the finished book.”

lack Country University Technical College student Callam Staines celebrated winning the ‘Young Inventor Award’ at the ‘Made in the Midlands’ Awards 2012. The annual event, hosted by local industry experts, saw some of the most successful manufacturing firms come together to recognise new innovation and talent, as well as high growth in the sector. The competition allowed students to design their own original products from scratch and develop their ideas into a final invention with local employers and industry experts judging the devices on their originality and ability to succeed in the technical sector. Callam won over the panel of judges with his imaginative idea of a multifunctional baby’s rat-

tle. Unlike an ordinary rattle, it proposed a built-in voice recorder to help with a child’s vocal progression and a clever USB access point too. Winning the Young Inventor award had the young Callam saying: “The event was a fun day andLord Digby Jones, who l Lord Digby Jones congratulates Callam Staines. gave me the from Made in the Midlands, award, gave a very inspirational to help with the progression of speech.” learning at the college. The Black Country UTC was The Young Inventor Award also given a donation of £1,500, aims to encourage young talent

and creative thinking, inspiring learners to use their skills and potentially become the next generation of inventors.

Dance Project Tests Students

alsall College Dance students showcased the skills they have learnt to date by performing a collection of dance pieces in The Venue theatre space at their Wisemore Campus. First and second year students staged matinee and evening performances of their ‘Project Dance’ show last month displaying a mix of dance styles including jazz, contemporary and urban. The show explored a diverse range of themes expressed through the medium of dance, from love and insecurity to poverty and agora-

phobia. Dance tutor, Leanne Lewis said: “The quality and range of work produced was of a high standard, with many pieces choreographed by students themselves. Not only were the shows a chance for family, friends and members of the public to see the students perform, the performances will also form part of their assessments.”

l A number of the successful students from the ESOL Course run by Wolverhampton City Councils Adult Education Service.

Proud students awarded English Language certificates

ver 800 students completed nationally recognised courses in English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) run by Wolverhampton City Council’s Adult Education Service. Courses took place over an intensive 15 weeks to a year on the Service’s main site in Old Hall Street

or in local community venues. A representative group of about 100 students will receive their certificates at a ceremony to be held in the Alan Garner Centre in the City Learning Quarter on November 8th. The students, originally from countries around the world, are now settled in Wolverhampton

adding to its rich cultural diversity. They have taken a range of qualifications from beginner to advanced levels, helping them to improve their communication skills for life and work. Councillor Phil Page, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Learning, said: “All the students

worked hard on these courses and this presentation is recognition of that. Studying English will help them in their everyday lives in the UK as well as enhance their chances for employment or gaining access to Higher Education. I am delighted for them and congratulate them on their success.”

Page 12

The Phoenix–December 2012

HEALTH AND FITNESS Top tips to keep in control and calm at Xmas

W It wasn't a gun that killed JR - it was mouth cancer

V star Larry Hagman’s death from mouth cancer has prompted one charity to remind people about the dangers posed by the disease. Hagman, JR Ewing in the hit series Dallas, died of tongue cancer having been diagnosed with the disease last year. Organised by the British Dental Health Foundation aims to raise awareness of a disease that has affected high-profile names such as Michael Douglas, radio presenter Danny Baker and former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott. Tobacco use, drinking alcohol to excess, poor diet, and the human papilloma virus (HPV), often transmitted via oral sex, are all risk factors associated with mouth cancer. Looking for ulcers which do not heal within three weeks, red and white patches in the mouth

and unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth is a potentially lifesaving practice everyone can do. With a third of all Brits unsure of whether they are at risk from the disease, the campaign is an ideal time for more people to find out about the disease. Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, hopes to spread the message and raise awareness. Dr Carter said: “Larry’s passing is a reminder of how deadly mouth cancer can be. Latest figures show more than 6,000 cases have been diagnosed in the UK. Without early detection, half of those will die. The demographic of the disease is changing. Cases of young people developing the disease are on the rise, so it is really important everyone knows the risks. Our advice to everyone is simple. If in doubt, get checked out.”

ith Christmas often seen as probably the most stressful time of the year Papyrus, the national charity dedicated to preventing young suicides is reporting increasing numbers of young people calling its helpline because they feel stressed. The reasons cited are wide-ranging. If this is you, says the charity, the most important thing to do is share how you are feeling. To mark last month’s National Stress Awareness Day, the charity offered its top five tips to help manage stress; (i) talk to someone, (ii) make time for yourself, (iii) learn a relaxing exercise, (iv) take control of the problem and (v) avoid triggers, which means make a note of when you are feeling most stressful, and if there was anything that caused it, or made it worse. Helpline HOPELineUK offers confidential advice and support - what to say and do - which is non-judgmental and respects anonymity. Callers are young people seeking help for themselves and others who may be worried about a young person they know. Christmas is upon us and if you are a young person feeling severely distress you will find a wealth of helpful information at www. papyrus-uk.org

Top Five Tips For Managing Your Weight Over Christmas 1. Damage Limitation with Alcohol

Not only is alcohol high in calories, it also reduces your restraint when it comes to trying to avoid those nibbles. You can reduce your calorie intake from alcohol - without being a party pooper - by: alternating alcoholic drinks with water; ordering a small glass of wine instead of a large; avoiding creamy liqueurs like Baileys; asking for single measures rather than double; opting for mixers such as single gin with Slimline Tonic (only approx. 50-60 calories).

here’s less than one month till Christmas, a day when the average Brit can end up eating a whopping, button popping 60007000 calories; that’s three times more calories than the recommend daily intake! And of course it’s not just the day itself that this calorie cramming

3. Increase your physical activity

2. Practice Portion Control

It’s Christmas, so I’m not going to ruin the experience by saying that you can’t eat some of your favourite treats, however simply by reducing the serving size of your meals, you can significantly reduce your calorie intake. Try going for 2 roast potatoes instead of 5, or a small fun size pack of chocolate rather than king size and 2 scoops of trifle rather than 5.

Remember you can burn off a few of those excess calories by increasing your physical activity. This may be an extra Zumba class each week, going out for a walk with your other half or the kids and even getting up on the dance floor at all those parties.

occurs, thanks to office parties and get-togethers with friends and family. Christmas is a time when more often than not all good intentions to keep on track with your weight loss efforts go out the window. So, we asked Birmingham based Nutritionist, Colleen Campbell, to provide us with 5 top tips for managing our weight during the countdown to Christmas.

4. Avoid being famished when you arrive at a party

If you got to a party hungry, you are far more likely to impulse eat and overeat. Instead, have a light meal before you go to take the edge off your appetite. You could otherwise quite easily blow a whole day’s calorie consumption during an evening of grazing.

5. Ensure your cupboards aren’t stocked with high calorie seasonal snacks

Restaurants and parties aren’t the only places we tend to overeat. Cuddled up next to a glowing fire watching your favourite Christmas TV can lend itself to comfort eating. If sausage rolls, mince pies and Quality Street are readily available in your home, the likelihood is you are going to eat them. Try to limit the amount of calorie dense foods you keep at home. If it’s there you will eat it, if it’s not you can’t….

Colleen Campbell is a Registered Nutritionist based at Birmingham Science Park. She runs her own nutrition consultancy - forcailini Nutritional Styling (www.forcailini-nutrition.co.uk) Email: colleen@forcailini.co.uk Twitter: @forcailini

Macmillan Cancer Support gets the Spandex treatment

n an effort to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, Simon Ball, HR Advisor at Selco Builders Warehouse and his son decided to form a one off band in tribute to the hair metal bands of the 80’s, complete with make-up, wigs and spandex. Supported by The Voyaires and top Midlands classic rock covers band Mia and the Black Hawks, the event, held at the aptly named Asylum 2 in Birmingham, provided a raucous nights entertainment enjoyed by enthusiastic sing alongs to amongst others, Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer. The event raised a wonderful £400 for Macmillan Cancer Support. “We had a great time and hopefully everyone enjoyed it as much as we did. It was great to support such a worthwhile charity, particu-

larly as my family has appreciated at first hand, the help and support offered by Macmillan” Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support. The scary fact is that more than one in three of us get cancer and two million of us are living with it. And what is fabulous to see is local communities getting together to support people affected by cancer. Area Fundraising Manager Nic

Skipwith said, “The spirit and passion shown by Simon is incredible. It’s great to see people getting out and supporting Macmillan, but importantly having a fun time along the way! We are extremely grateful to supporters like Simon for their passion to the cause”.

Young people encouraged to get fit

eenagers and 20-somethings can get into shape for Christmas and the New Year with the help of a new gym training session in Walsall.

Walsall Council’s leisure centres will be running six weeks of gym classes, two classes a week at each of its leisure centres from 12th November. The courses are for 16 – 24 year

olds in the Mint Condition gyms and the total cost is only £5, places are limited so it’s first come first served. Councillor Anthony Harris, portfolio holder for leisure and culture with Walsall Council’s Coalition, said: “This is a great opportunity for young people to get gym instruction and personal training for 6 weeks and achieve some real fitness results before Christmas kicks in – the price is fantastic value thanks to the funding from Sport England through the Sportivate funding scheme.”

Send and receive this Christmas For a chance to win this festive season go to facebook.com/moneygram* Freephone 0800 026 0535 moneygram.co.uk facebook.com/moneygram

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Page 14

The Phoenix–December 2012

ENTERTAINMENT - WHAT’S IN THE BOX

www.streetcredmagazine.com

elcome to the new exciting Street Cred Magazine entertainment and lifestyle section to be featured every month in the Phoenix Newspaper. Myself and assistant editor Daniel Riley will bring you the most funky and glamorous news in the Fashion world, weighty news in the music industry and keeping you in the know with what’s

really hot in gadgets. Street Cred brings to you what we see as the in thing. We are very excited about our collaboration with The Phoenix as we are able to reach more readers every month and of course these pages are only a teaser from our 100 page digital edition which you can view online at our website above. SC is always cutting edge bright and devoted to bringing

positive news to our readers. We also accept editorial contributions and ideas you may have for our section. Street Cred entertainment is one of the biggest and most credible features you will ever find in a newspaper. We are a 15 year established name brand so what we will bring to you will be the very best international news.

Check out the newest edition of Street Cred coming soon! Mark Dwayne Daniel Riley

16th Anniv E d i t Ian ion - D ersary ecem McLaughlin ber

Willy Willy Mason Mason Gig/Interview I f you're looking for a hit of bluesy country music, look no further than Willy Mason, the New York born singer-songwriter.

ince wowing us with their debut “Sound Of The Underground” in 2002, Girls Aloud have since become one of UK’s top girlbands with 20 top ten singles and four #1s. In total, the girls have sold over eight million records with each of their five albums going platinum or above. After announcing in July 2009 that they were taking a yearlong hiatus to pursue solo projects, the girls have done just about everything in the show-biz industry between them. However it seems Girls Aloud have now realized that they are indeed better together, as they are now back with their greatest hits album Ten. This is a collection of their singles over the last ten years

He has been touring the UK over the last month with Ben Howard, and if the Birmingham show at the O2 Academy was anything to go by, he's been very well received, with Ben Howard himself praising the singer at the end of the night, mentioning how much of an honour it was to be touring with him.

as well as four new songs, which the girls have worked on over the past year. I was particularly impressed that they made an effort to offer their fans four new tracks as well as their previous songs. In terms of their new sound with “Something New”, “Every Now And Then”, “Beautiful Cause You Love Me” and “On The Metro”, I was a bit disappointed that they sounded the same, it would have been nice to see them be a little more adventurous and maybe do something besides pop and ballads. Overall, I believe the band has matured and it is good to see them back together again. Girls Aloud will be back on tour in February next year with ‘Ten – The Hits Tour 2013’.

Willy had a number of other musicians on stage with him, wielding a clarinet, a trumpet and lead and bass guitars between them. The clarinettist even had time to tap dance during one of his songs! Playing a mixture of tracks from his first two albums, as well

‘Notorius’ comic Russell Peters Coming To Town

he UK leg of Russell Peters Notorious World Tour will kick off at Birmingham’s LG Arena in April 2013. It has been setting world sales and attendance records since its launch in Muscat in March, become the highest attended comedy show in the history of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, South Africa, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and his home country, Canada. He’s even out-

selling Madonna. Russel was the first comedian to play Brooklyn’s new Barclays Center with over 10,000 fans attende, making it the largest comedy ever in the history of the New York City borough. Notorious features all new material: “I’ve been working on the new act since last year, building and developing new material in clubs across the States,” says Peters. It’s been met with rave reviews

from Peters rabid fans around the world: “It’s been great being back on-stage and back on the road again,” he says. The Notorious World Tour will feature Russell's Official Tour DJ's, Toronto's DJ Starting from Scratch and New York City's DJ Spinbad, as well as video cameras and screens for an up-close and intimate show, which will capture Peters’ signature audience improv in an arena setting. Listed on the Forbes List as one

of the top ten Highest Earning Comics in the U.S. Russell Peters has spent the past 23 years building a career to become one of the biggest comics in the world. Thanks to YouTube and a global following, he has sold-out arenas from Madison Square Garden to the Sydney Opera House. He’s also performed for the troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and on the USS Eisenhower and HMCS Winnipeg, and appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Lopez To-

night, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and on HBO, CNN, MTV, BBC and Al Jazeera. Peters’ 2010 memoir, ‘Call Me Russell’ was a Globe and Mail number one bestseller in Canada, with it just being released in the US. He was in the movies, ‘Source Code’ and the 2011 highest grossing English language film in Canada, the Punjabi-Canadian ice hockey film, ‘Breakaway’ (titled ‘Speedy Singhs’ in the UK).

as adding a few more from his upcoming album release, Willy really got the crowd ready for Ben Howard. Looking rather smart up on stage, Willy had suited up for the evening and from the get go didn’t disappoint. If you’d never heard of Willy Mason before seeing him at that gig, you surely would be making a note of his name for later listening. Willy’s third studio album, “Carry On” is out on December 3rd, and to celebrate its completion, fans can download “Restless Fugitive” for free from www.willymason.net. To accompany the launch of the album, Mason is playing 5 shows during the first week of December, and has announced a March tour, travelling to 11 cities across the UK.

The Phoenix–December 2012

Page 15

ENTERTAINMENT - WHAT’S IN THE BOX

Terri Walker; This is Her Time

oul star, Terri Walker was in Birmingham as support for one of Britain’s brightest new soul things. The Mercury and MOBO nominated soulstress lent her considerable vocal talent to a night of Britain’s best, at The Drum. The west Londoner brought the influence legends like Chaka Khan, Sarah Vaughan and Aretha Franklin to her bright, entertaining and fulfilling set to the intimately set-out Studio room at the Arts/Theatre centre for this hugely successfully Punch Records-led night of todays’ greatest and two for tomorrow. 33-year-old Terri’s full experience of working and performing with some of the greatest names in music was there to see as she blasted through her repertoire with full vim and gusto with her afore-mentioned Chaka/Jill Scotesq jazzy/soul/funk combination from the first-class songbird and entertainer that she is.

With nominations for MOBO’s Best R&B Act, UK Act of the Year, Best Album, and Best Newcomer she has established herself as a truly gifted artist with unquestionable talent and charismatic live performances. Her critically acclaimed albums, “Untitled”, “L.O.V.E.”, “I Am” and “Walk with Me”, provide a stunning collection of songs and timeless singles that define her career and a generation. Kof is one of the most successful and exciting singer-songwriters in the UK, today, with an outstanding live show, covering the best fusion of soul, grunge, hip-hop and rock in what he calls; “An Alternative Soul Vibe.” The rapper/singer-songwriter has the likes of Ras Kwame, DJ Target, Mistajam and Huw Stephens as adoring followers. With his own unique blend of Marvin Gaye/Maxwell/ D’Angelo-style deep and mean-

Chris Tucker: Live UK Tour

C ingful soul vibes pouring out of every pore, the London-based singer has really carved a niche in an already crowded market after his showing here. A mention for Derby singer Jamie Joseph who started things off with his own fusion of ‘trusoul’ which really got things going. He’s definitely one for the very near future. “This is my time,” said Terri Walker, in reference to her hit single. On this showing, it always has and always will be.

Olympian Louis Smith added to Strictly Tour Line-up

ith just weeks to go until the Strictly Come Dancing grand final, its been announced that red hot favourite and Team GB Olympian Louis Smith will be joining the show’s 2013 tour line-up at Birmingham’s NIA in January. He will be joining dancing sensation and TV actress Lisa Riley, Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer and former England Cricket captain, Michael Vaughan. Louis will wow audiences this January following his huge popularity and early success on this year’s ratings winning BBC 1 show. More celebrities will be announced soon. Alongside the exciting celebrity line-up, Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli are back as the tour’s formidable judges. They will be on hand to give their expert feedback and all important scores to the celebrities and their dance partners. The glamorous Kate Thornton will return as the host of the live show.

hris Tucker made the leap to prominence in the 1995 film ‘Friday’ alongside Ice Cube, and then appeared in Luc Besson’s ‘The Fifth Element’ before the ‘Rush Hour’ films. In 2006, he negotiated a $25 million deal to appear in Rush Hour 3, which at the time made him the highest paid actor in Hollywood. But recent media reports say he owes $12 million in taxes. However he has had no movie roles since Rush Hour, and kept a low profile, only returning to stand-up last year. His special threedate UK tour is a massive sell-out and with a scene-stealing cameo in the recently released Oscar tipped ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ should place him back on the map. Did he ever leave? A packed Birmingham Symphony Hall saw him reflect on his youth during his energetic onstage style, ignoring the small amount star-struck individuals armed with their camera phones, scattered in Birmingham’s beautiful massive complex, trying to be Paparazzi’s

for the evening. Most annoying I must say and distracting. Even with the army of usher’s approaching them every couple of minutes they try and take a photo of the Hollywood star. But the smart, white-suited 41 year-old quickly ranted how he

was once so rich he bought two houses next to each other: "I was my own neighbour!". He kept returning to the subject, joking how following his Hollywood success, relatives emerged from everywhere asking for handouts with Tucker wanting a mug shot in return! Later, during the 90 minute stand-up he told a story about his

trip to Africa to trace his ancestors. He was not amused when an even more distant relative turned up, hand outstretched. Parenthood and religion was touched upon, but Tucker's other main speciality was impressions. Bill Clinton was well executed but Barack Obama was not quite on point, and the extended routine about his friendship with Michael Jackson, frequently breaking into crowd pleasing songs and hipswivelling dance moves was classic Tucker. In respect of Jackson, never did he make any jokes about the media created dark side of the late king of pop, but he could not resist taking the mick at Michael’s ‘pet’ giraffes and his Neverland mansion. An amusing evening all round, but one thing he did announce to the audience there will be NO new ‘Friday’, the movie that kicked started his Hollywood career over 20 years ago. But I can confirm ‘Rush Hour’ is currently in development. Now, that movie should throw him back into the black...

Review by Ian McLaughlin

simon@inprintz.co.uk www.inprintz.co.uk

Asjad is bringing sexy back

sjad Nazir, renowned British Asian writer, journalist and media commentator is stirring up a storm as he sets to find 2012’s Sexiest Asian Men and Women for the annual list he writes for UK’s best known Asian newspaper: Eastern Eye. Asjad created the hashtag #SexyList2012, which has been trending in thousands of tweets pouring in from India as India based fans have been so determined to get their favourite Indian celebrities to the top spot. This has since become the most popular topic in India for the last week. “The list captures the imagination of people from all over the world every year with fans voting from across the globe and that is why it has become the definitive list of the sexiest Asian men and women on the planet.” Predominantly topped by Bollywood artists every year such as Hrithik Roshan who was the sexi-

est man last year, Kareena Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, the list which has been running for over a decade now is being contested by Indian stars from TV serial like Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai and Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon. “One of the main reasons this has been a record-breaking year in terms of votes is that fans of Indian serials have been giving serious competition to fans of Bollywood stars. That is why this year the highest placed newcomers will come from these TV serials.”

The list of the 50 Sexiest Asian Women will be published on December 7 and the list of 50 Sexiest Asian Men will be published on December 14 in Eastern Eye. They are not to be missed!

4 Tame Road, Witton, Aston, Birmingham, B6 7DS

Page 16

The Phoenix–December 2012

BIG SCREEN - WHAT’S IN THE BOX

Lincoln

BIGScreen Edited by Ian McLaughlin

Splinter Cell – The Movie??

om Hardy is rumoured for the lead role in a movie version of video game 'Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell', currently being developed by the game's makers, Ubisoft. The actor has been attached to the part of Sam Fisher, a Special Agent in a fictional US Black Operatives team who battle against terrorists in the game's storyline. The movie is being set up by Ubisoft, who are behind the game, with the hope of attracting a studio once they have key roles cast. Eric Singer - who wrote 2009 thriller 'The International', starring Clive Owen - is on board as screenwriter. The first game was released in 2002, featuring a tie-in book. There have been five games since with a sixth, 'Tom Clancy's Splin-

ter Cell Blacklist', set for release in spring 2013. More than 23 million units of the game are thought to have been sold to date. Tom, 35, has recently starred as supervillain Bane in Batman film 'The Dark Knight Rises', and is currently in Namibia shooting

'Mad Max: Fury Road'. He is also set to team up with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire on two new Warner Bros. movies. Both are in the early stages of development, but one is believed to be about animal poaching and the other about trafficking.

Daniel Day-Lewis shines as Abe – but was that a movie or a history lesson?

BIGScreen Top 5 of 2012

An intelligent time-travel story, Superheroes finally rule the world and a brilliant James Bond back to form for his 50th Anniversary! Here’s my personal choice of the top six 2012 movies in what has been a great entertaining year. Avengers Looper Assemble Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano

Director: Rian Johnson Worldwide Box Office Gross: $162,569,599

n the future, time travel is banned but the mob still uses it to send targets back in time where they are eliminated by waiting assassins. When one of the mob’s killers (Gordon-Levitt) recognises his next target as himself (Willis), he’s presented with an obvious dilemma. The movie’s talented director brought us ‘Brick’ and ‘The Brothers Bloom’. This is a great, great film with wellpresented time travel rules, strong characters and uniquely

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shot action. Indirectly, a tribute to the short story ‘The Hit’ from the British graphic comic ‘2000AD’ some years ago.

The Amazing Spider-Man

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Irrfan Khan. Director: Marc Webb Worldwide Box Office Gross: $752,216,557

pider-Man got a slightly uncalled for reboot that took him back to high school. 27-year-old brit Andrew Garfield is the new Peter Parker and Mary Jane is nowhere to be seen, replaced by first love Gwen Stacey, played by Emma Stone. This time Spider-Man has to face down against Ifans’ villain The Lizard, a character from Marvel’s vintage years . The great Martin Sheen is Uncle Ben, who had to be ‘shot’ dead again. The director of ‘500 Days of Summer’ took over from trilogy director Sam Raimi and it was great Marb Webb went

back to basics, especially featuring Parker’s invention of his ‘webshooters’. Great character work, great use of 3D and pretty good SFX but The Lizards CGI was very disappointing.

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo

Director: Joss Whedon Worldwide Box Office Gross: $1,511,757,910

veryone thought this movie would take second place to The Dark Knight. The hype for The Avengers paid off both for fans, for Marvel and the worldwide box office. The line-up included Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Nick Fury, Black Widow, and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). Mark Ruffalo replaced Ed Norton as The Hulk, and he completely stole the show every time the man-monster was on screen. Loki’s megalomania was thrown in for good measure. Director Joss Whedon had a daunting task on his hands, but as a former Marvel writer and a pro at ensemble films, he has made an instant classic

ew Yorkers attending the recent city's annual film festival were treated last night to a surprise screening of Steven Spielberg's unfinished new film Lincoln, a biopic of 19th century American president Abraham Lincoln. But while the movie is already generating Oscar buzz, critics are divided ....is it a dynamic representation of Lincoln's achievements or a rather plonky history lesson? The film stars two-time Oscarwinner Daniel Day-Lewis as Abe Lincoln and Tommy Lee Jones, another double Oscar winner, as the powerful Republican congressman Thaddeus Stevens. Sally Field plays Lincoln's wife, Mary Ann, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays his son, Robert.

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The screenplay is by Pulitzer prize-winner Tony Kushner and the story focuses on the last four months of Lincoln's life, as he works in Washington to end the civil war and pass the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery. The film was released in the US on 9 November, having been delayed until after the presidential election to avoid candidates seeking to capitalise on Lincoln's legacy. While critics generally all agree that the "unfinished" film is of a high standard, with standout performances from Day-Lewis and Jones in particular, many find it over-worthy and "unremarkable". Katey Rich in The Guardian called it "uneven" and "stuffy": between the cramped chambers of the White House and the many

speeches about constitutional law, the film "can start to feel a little airless". But she praises Spielberg for being "unafraid to show Lincoln as a canny politician willing to bend the law and make enormous compromises to accomplish a greater goal." Rodrigo Perez at Indiewire says that while Lincoln is "characterised by refreshing restraint", it is "not exactly the most engaging nor well-paced picture" and can be "tedious and trying". Twitter users were divided. One critic tweeted that the film was "beautifully restrained" and that "Jones steals the show!” Another said Day-Lewis "gives a tour de force performance - too bad the film is a dullish bore." Lincoln is due to open on 25 January, 2013.

Skyfall

Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney Director: Sam Mendes || Worldwide Box Office Gross: $794,300,577 (and still counting!)

GM’s bankruptcy troubles was truly sent to its grave. Bond is finally back.... with a bang! The plot sees him question his loyalty to M when her past actions bring serious consequences to the present. After MI6 itself is attacked, Bond must seek out and eliminate the threat. Javier Bardem plays the main villain, Fiennes’ role may set him up to be the new ‘M’ and young Ben Whishaw is great as Bond’s new

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Quartermaster, Q. Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Jarhead) directed from an intelligent script by Wade and Purvis, who’ve been the main writers on every Bond since ‘The World Is Not Enough’. Quantum of Solace was a stumble for them but from Casino Royale, they took the freshness and packing it back into the Bond formula. The producers have learnt from their mistakes and have made this Bond blockbuster hit nearly $800 million in the franchise’s 50th anniversary.

The Dark Knight Rises

Starring: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman Director: Christopher Nolan || Worldwide Box Office Gross: $1,080,940,218

t was a brave move naming a Batman film ‘The Dark Knight’, since it didn’t have the word ‘Batman’ in

it. There’s nothing bold about the title here. That aside, this is easily this year′s mainstream highlight, and it was, by far a better film than Marvels’ Avengers Assemble. The film dominated coverage. The plot involved the whole of Gotham descending into anarchy and

mob rule, while Batman is put out of action. Tom Hardy looked imposing as Bane but his vocals was a little incomprehensible, Anne Hathaway played an angry Catwoman who steals from the rich, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the honest cop a beat cop and Marion Cotillard also featured as a Wayne Enterprises board member with a dark secret. Director Christopher Nolan made it clear this is the final chapter for his Batman, so although slow in parts, the fireworks did fly. A great end to a great film triology.

Box Office receipts courtesy of Box Office Mojo

The Phoenix–December 2012

The Cosmopolitan Cutting Edge Entertainment Magazine

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BIG SCREEN

Marvel One Shot: ITEM 47 (12)***** Starring: Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Bradford, Maximiliano Hernandez. Directed by Louis D'Esposito ‘ITEM 47’, if you haven’t already heard of it, is the latest in the Marvel One-Shots. This time it’s on THE AVENGERS Blu-ray; (available now) as if we needed another reason to buy the Avengers! That said, is the 12 minute short film any good? Well, it’s not THE AVENGERS and it can’t live up to that hype but, yes, its great. Its well written, funny and delivers quite a lot in 12 minutes. First of all, there’s no superheroes, so none of the Avengers themselves make an appearance. ITEM 47focuses on the world outside of the superheroes, making it a refreshing change from the movie it comes attached to. There’s no Agent Coulson either, as this is set after THE AVENGERS. Agent Jasper Sitwell makes his second appearance (his first is in the THOR one-shot THE CONSULTANT) but this story really isn’t about S.H.I.E.L.D. The main focus here is on Benny (Jesse Bradford) and Claire (Lizzy Caplan) and this is what’s really at the heart of ITEM 47. The film takes no time in establishing the back story; presumably

Argo (15) *****

rgo is not a film about a catalogue merchant, although that would obviously be enthralling. It is a film about a CIA agent who rescues six hostages from Iran by pretending they’re making a sci-fi film. If that doesn’t sound crazy enough, it’s based on a true story. Ben Affleck directs and stars in the film, set in the midst of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The whole look of the film is very '70s, from the credits and cut of the film down to the obligatory dodgy haircuts. A fantastic supporting cast including Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin and John Goodman all do the extraordinary story justice. The film begins with militants storming the U.S embassy in Iran,

you’ve watched THE AVENGERS by now. Benny and Claire are quickly established as a very human couple. Then they rob a bank, it’s that simple. Yet it’s the acting from Bradford and Caplan that really sells ITEM 47. Benny and Claire aren’t villains. They just happened to find the titular Item 47, a leftover Chitauri weapon. This is the biggest appeal for me; the very human element at the heart of the story. Yes, there is an alien gun but, besides that, it’s simply about two people in a world full of superheroes and alien invasions. These are very likable characters, surprisingly well rounded for a 12-minute film. In many ways it reminds me of DC’s ‘Gotham Central’, by showing the changes and effects caused by the superhero community. Considering the events of the Chitauri invasion of Manhattan, it’s great to see that even the little person is af-

fected. Even in the comics, with so many superheroes roaming about it’s hard to remember that there’s still a large portion of innocent, normal people. As for the titular weapon itself, it certainly looks the part. As for as graphics and budgets go, there’s no concerns forITEM 47. It looks great; there’s no flimsy CGI to ruin the moment. It’s certainly more believable than the more outlandish Avengers themselves, not that that’s ever been an issue. THE AVENGERS showed the interaction between Superheroes and S.H.I.E.L.D. ITEM 47 shows how S.H.I.E.L.D interact with the public. Without spoiling anything, things don’t always go smoothly. In short, ITEM 47 is a great focus on the little guy for a change. We may see more of this in the future, especially when AVENGERS director Joss Whedon and Marvel recently announced the upcoming S.H.I.E.L.D tv series.

Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman,Victor Garber Directed by Ben Affleck angered at the USA's support of the recently deposed Shah. As staff desperately try to destroy sensitive information, six manage to escape being taken hostage and hide out at a Canadian ambassador’s house. CIA specialist Tony Mendez (Affleck) is called in to create a rescue plan, and, after watching “Battle for the Planet of the Apes”, comes up with the idea that they’ll smuggle the six out under the pretence they’re a Canadian sci-film crew. The ‘best of a bad bunch’ idea is green-lighted and Mendez and his supervisor (Cranston) begin to set up an actual film production for plausibility, enlisting the help of a Hollywood make-up artist (Goodman) and a film producer (Arkin). The thriller’s occasional moments of well-timed comedy ban-

ter are immediately replaced with building tension as Mendez arrives in Iran and everyone involved has to fight against increasingly difficult odds to succeed and survive. This climaxes in an airport scene that is genuinely one of the tensest few minutes of cinema in recent years. The film is only spoiled by a couple of minutes of cliché towards the end, but overall is a superb and mostly historically accurate effort. However, the Canadians were allegedly a bit annoyed that the original cut didn’t give them the credit they deserved during ‘The Canadian Caper’ the film is based on. Affleck’s resurgence continues with a solid third directorial outing, and great performances from the entire cast.

Star Trek into Darkness gets it’s own IMAX prologue; Trailer to Premiere with The Hobbit!

his film does still exist! Many had been previously worried about Paramount’s complete lack of marketing and notice for J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Star Trek Into Darkness, but news recently hit that the sequel will be getting its own Dark Knight Risesstyle prologue, as the first nine minutes of the movie will show in front of IMAX showings of ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ from December 14. Thankfully, it will be all IMAX screenings, instead of just 70mm ones like The Dark Knight Rises was.

“Our longtime partners J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk and the Bad Robot team have really hit it out of the park! The footage is absolutely incredible,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “Their use of the IMAX Camera and canvas is sure to impress current and future Star Trek fans alike, and we’re thrilled to once again work with our friends at Paramount Pictures to offer this extended ‘first look’ at this highly anticipated summer blockbuster.” Additionally, the first trailer (seperate from the prologue screenings) will also premiere in

front of The Hobbit, ahead of the movie’s May 2013 release date. Read what TrekMovie learned below: “TrekMovie.com has exclusively learned from multiple trusted sources that the first trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness will premiere with screenings of Peter Jackson’s ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ on December 14th. To be clear this Trek trailer is a completely different thing than the 9-minute preview of the beginning of the new movie which will be shown at IMAX screenings of the Hobbit film.” ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ is released May 17, 2013.

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The Phoenix–December 2012

FEATURE - WHAT’S IN THE BOX

ragon’s Den serial entrepreneur, Theo Paphitis has done it again. On the 15th of November he opened the 15th store of his new lingerie brand Boux Avenue at Westfield in Merry Hill shopping centre. The Phoenix was invited to capture the experience and to interview him. Boux Avenue, which was launched in April last year, specialises in fabulous lingerie, nightwear swimwear, and other accessories for every woman. The brand carries sizes ranging from 6-20 and 30A-40H.Entering the new store, we could not help but notice the luxurious setting, impeccable

presentation of the products and the welcoming environment that greeted us. Our first observation was that Theo was confident in his own skin and his surroundings as he seemed not to be bothered that he was surrounded with frills, laces and other girly things. He has got two more stores opening in Hull and Glasgow, making a total of seventeen, all to be opened in time for the festive season. When we asked what the key was to the successful and smooth execution of the year-long project, he gave credit to the attention paid to detail, quoting that “Retail is detail”. He also laid emphasis on his strategy to break the mould, by ensuring that Boux

The Phoenix–December 2012

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FEATURE - WHAT’S IN THE BOX

Avenue offered its customers not just the products and excellent customer service but also a fantastic shopping experience. “We want our customers to feel incredibly special after every purchase and also retain that feeling they had when they bought the products even after they get home”. The overall focus is on the customers and their getting the best value for their money. Currently, Boux Avenue has three international stores, in Iceland, Malta and Gibraltar with plans to open another 20 European stores next year. Boux Avenue is currently providing jobs for thousand of workers especially the former employ-

ees of La Senza which went into administration earlier this year. Theo expressed that it was key that Boux Avenue gets the right members of staff that have got the skillset to work in Boux Avenue’s dynamic environment. “It is not just about being a shop assistant, it is about service and detail” he stated. After the stimulating conversation, a grand opening witnessed by hundreds of spectators at the shopping centre and not forgetting the handful of Boux Avenue goodies, we left having had a fantastic day and we cannot wait to see the future surprises Boux venue has in store for their customers. Find more information on Boux Avenue at www.bouxavenue.com.

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The Phoenix–December 2012

EVENTS - WHATS IN THE BOX BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY

December 02 Miss May I 02 All The Young 03 Ben Folds Five 03 That Sunday Feeling 04 Electric Six 05 The View 08 The Doors Alive 08 The Hardcore Awards 2012 09 Orbital 11 The Hives 11 The Rasmus 11 Manifest Live ft. Luke Concannon 12 Charlie Lankester and The Mojo Killers 13 The Damned 14 The Next Big Thing Competition 15 Dappy 16 Ellie Goulding 18 Natives 19 Stereophonics 22 Sleigh the UK 2012 23 The Twang 31 Propaganda’s New Year’s Eve Party Animal

BIRMINGHAM HMV INSTITUTE

December 01 Flashback presents The Annual Reunion 02 The Raveonettes 03 Martha Wainwright 04 Twenty Twenty 06 Band of Skulls 06 Red Fang 07 Scroobius Pip 07 The Glitter Band 08 1975 08 Christmas Ho Ho Ho-Down 09 Rich Robinson + Dave O’Grady 10 Admiral Fallow 11 Thin Lizzy 13 Lemar 13 MK1 14 Enter Shikari 14 The Manc Lads 15 Enter Shikari 15 Speech Debelle 18 Jake Bugg

BIRMINGHAM ASYLUM

December 01 Alex Lucas + Orylyus + A Poetic Yesterday 07 REDLINE 08 Me Vs Hero + With the Punches 14 TRC + Polar + Prowler

TOWN HALL

December 01 Scott Matthews: What The Night Delivers 02 University of Birmingham: University Choir & UMS Symphony Orchestra 03 Tango Pasión 04 June Tabor and Oysterband 05 An Evening with Kris Kristofferson 07 Tommy Dorsey - The Sinatra Years 08 Birmingham Music Service Christmas Concert 09 Nicola Benedetti plays Concertos for Christmas

10 Lunchtime Organ Concert Sing Carols with the City Organist 10 Swingle Singers: Yule Songs 13 That’ll Be The Day Christmas Show 15 The Beat & The Skints 16 City of Birmingham Choir Christmas Treats 16 A Yuletide Evening with Gervase Phinn 17 Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band - Carols and Capers 18 Canoldir’s Christmas Celebration 20 Asia 21 Black Voices’ Christmas Special 22 The Gruffalo’s Child 23 A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

SYMPHONY HALL

December 01 Spectacular Classics 06 BBC WM 95.6 Ed Doolan’s Christmas Show 06 CBSO Nelsons conducts Bruckner’s Eighth 07 Free Jazz Gigs: Sector7 07 City of Birmingham Choir Handel: Messiah 08 The British Police Symphony Orchestra: Proms Night Spectacular 09 Christmas with the Salvation Army 10 The Overtones 11 Midlands Hospitals’ Choir - A Christmas Celebration 13 CBSO Benevolent Fund Concert: The Eroica 14 Free Jazz Gigs: The Notebenders 14 Messiah from King’s 15 Mid-day Mantra: Milan to Mumbai 15 CBSO Tuned In - The Eroica 16 Carols by Candlelight 17 Lunchtime Organ Concert Lunchtime Christmas Music 17 The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain: World Tour 18 Katherine Jenkins 19 Kate Rusby at Christmas 20 Folk for Free: Charlotte Carpenter 20 Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra 21 CBSO Festive Favourites with Alan Titchmarsh 22 Jingle Bell Christmas 24 The Glory of Christmas 27 Last Night of the Christmas Proms 28 Musicals of the Night 29 The Glenn Miller Orchestra 29 Ultimate Movie Heroes 30 The Four Seasons by Candlelight 30 Beethoven’s Ninth 31 New Year’s Eve Gala

NEC

November 24 - December 02 Motorcycle Live November 28 - Decemver 02 The BBC Good Food Show Winter 01-02 The Flying Show 07-10 World Duty Free 07-11 Clothes Show Live 2012

15-16 LKA Championship Dog Show 27 Toy Collectors’ Fair

NIA

December 01 BAMMA 11 05 Nitro Circus Live 06 Peter Andre 07 Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of the War of The Worlds 09 The Black Keys 16 The Bootleg Beatles

CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON

December 01 Ned’s Atomic Dustbin - Nothing Is Cool (Civic) 01 Magnum - ‘On The 13th Day’ Tour 2012 (Wulfrun) 02 The Human League (Civic) 02 The Illegal Eagles (Wulfrun) 03 A Evening with Steve Vai (Civic) 03-04 Micky Flanagan- Work In Progress (Wulfrun) 05 Steps (Civic) 06 An Evening with Jack Dee (Civic) 06 Gary Numan: ´Dead Moon Falling´ Tour (Wulfrun) 07 Rhod Gilbert: The Man wth the Flaming Battenburg Tattoo (Civic) 07 Little Angels - One More For The Road Tour (Wulfrun) 08 Seal (Civic) 08 Wolverhampton’s Vintage Fairs (Wulfrun) 08 The Clocktower + Dirty Little Lies (Wulfrun) 09 A Wolverhampton Christmas Concert (Civic) 09 The Saw Doctors (Wulfrun) 12 The xx (Civic) 13 Devin Townsend Project & Fear Factory (Wulfrun) 14 Stone Sour (Civic) 14 Showaddywaddy (Wulfrun) 15 The Lines (Civic) 15 Christmas with the King (Wulfrun) 16 Ken Dodd´s Merry Christmas Laughter Show 2012 (Civic) 16 Marcus Brigstocke: The Brig Society (Wulfrun) 20 Roy Chubby Brown (Civic) 21 Back For Good (Wulfrun) 30 Gary Barlow (Civic) 31 New Years Eve Blast Off (Civic)

SLADE ROOMS, WOLVERHAMPTON

01 Dan Baird (from Georgia Satellites) 03 Canterbury 05 Josie Long - Romance & Adventure 06 Stars 08 Absolute Old Skool 12 It Bites 13 Andrew Lawrence... Is Coming to get you 16 Jump The Shark 21 She Will Rock You 22 Ovation Music Xmas Party with Diamond Lil + Guests 27 Dorchester Reunion

It’s Christmas Steam Festival

It’s Christmas Live Nativity

Saturday 1st December, Market Square, Wolverhampton. 11.00am – 3.00pm

Saturday 15th December, Queen Square & Dudley Street, Wolverhampton. 11.00am – 3.00pm

Steam engines and miniature steam train rides will add to the misty winter air as *Thomas the Tank Engine and Fat Controller and Wallace & Gromit keep the kids entertained in Market Square and Dudley Street respectively and brass bands will serenade shoppers.

Signal 107 Radio play host while a live nativity is performed in Queen Square with real camels and donkeys. Sid and Scrat (Ice Age) will be around keep the kids entertained in Dudley Street and brass bands will serenade shoppers.

It’s Christmas Fire Festival Saturday 8th December, Queen Square, Wolverhampton. 11.00am – 3.00pm Signal 107 Radio play host while a modern and vintage fire engines park up in Queen Square. Fireman Sam and Peppa Pig will be around keep the kids entertained in Dudley Street and brass bands will serenade shoppers.

et ready to bring the house down in 2013 Justin Fletcher MBE brings his favourite CBeebies characters together on stage for the very first time in the Easter egg-stravaganza. Joining Justin in his adventures at Birmingham’s LG Arena will be his chums Robert the Robot and Little Monster from Justin’s House, as he prepares to put on a spectacular rock and roly-poly show for a very special visitor. He is on the look out to find everyone’s special

30 million albums and 30 million singles sold worldwide, and over one hundred award wins, which also includes eleven Billboard Music Awards and three MTV Europe Awards. Her most recently released, multi-platinum fourth studio album, Element of Freedom, sold one million copies in the UK alone and was one of Britain’s top 10 best selling albums of 2010. The album was written and produced by Alicia alongside collaborators Jeff Bhasker (Kanye West, Bruno Mars), Salaam Remi (Amy Winehouse, Nas), Frank Ocean, Emile Sande, and Jamie XX among others.

Four car parks in Wolverhampton will become free from 4.00pm during the 15 days Christmas Late night shopping period. Fold Street, Market St, School St and Peel St will be free from 4.00pm on the following dates:Wed 5th Dec, Mon 10th Dec - Sat 15th Dec, Mon 17th Dec - Sat 22nd Dec, Mon 24th Dec

It’s Christmas Shopping Finale Saturday 22nd December, Queen Square, Wolverhampton. 11.00am – 3.00pm Signal 107 Radio play host while the people of Wolverhampton go about their last Saturday of Christmas shopping. Pingu and Postman Pat will be around keep the kids entertained in Dudley Street while brass bands will serenade shoppers.

talents and needs you. Nina from Nina and the Neurons will be there, to make sure everything goes according to plan, the adventurous Andy Day will leave no stone unturned and Katy Ashworth will cook up a storm. But as Robert’s enthusiasm for tidying up threatens Justin’s plans to stage the most amazing show ever, he’ll need your help to keep things on track. With megastars from Gigglebizincluding Nana Knickerbocker, Lost Pirate, Arthur Sleep and

Keith Fit all joining in the fun, get ready to search high and low, sing and dance and prepare for a fantastic fun filled finale. There’s also a host of Tumbles from Something Special, including Lord Tumble, Grandad Tumble and Cliff Tumble, as well as a hilarious appearance by Mr Tumble. Prepare to be thrilled, excited and spectacularly entertained. You too will discover your special talents, dance and sing along with Justin Fletcher and all his friends.

It’s As Easy As 123 To See The Jacksons Live

Alicia Keys To Set The NIA Alight

ollowing her sizzling performance on the X Factor, 14-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, and producer Alicia Keys will hit Birmingham for ‘Girl on Fire – The Tour’. “This album has been a labour of love and full of new beginnings, new perspectives and fresh starts,” said Keys. “I’m so excited to be touring again and it’s great to be back in the UK. I’m looking forward to performing and feeling the energy of the crowd—there’s nothing like it.” Since 2001, Keys has built an unparalleled repertoire of hits and accomplishments with more than

Free Parking

or the first time in over three decades, The Jacksons will be back on stage together for the hotly anticipated Unity Tour and will be hitting the NIA on February 26. Adored by millions the world over, the Jacksons forever changed the landscape of popular music and when siblings Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Tito Jackson rose to fame with their late brother Mi-

chael in the 1970s, they instantly became an unstoppable global sensation. Their unique brand of soulful pop-funk, their lengthy catalogue of hits, and their impeccable live performances have made them one of the most beloved musical acts of all time. Idols unlike any other in music history, the Jacksons redefined, reinvented, and reinvigorated popular music as we know it. Classic, iconic hits such as “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” “I’ll Be There” “Heartbreak Hotel” catapulted them to superstardom. They cer-

tainly left their mark on the charts. They last toured together, for their ‘Victory’ album, in 1984, the first of its kind and drew over 2.5 million people to Stadiums across America. The brothers’ signature sundrenched harmonies, energetic stage presence, and roster of smash hits have left an indelible mark on popular music: the name ‘They remain the biggest-selling family in music of all time. Celebrate their extraordinary career and witness music history first hand this summer when the Jacksons reunite for the Unity Tour 2012.

The Phoenix–December 2012

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GADGETS - WHAT’S IN THE BOX

Instant Snow in a Can Never again will you have to wish, dream or pray for a white Christmas. Instant Snow in a Can will give you some control when the weather decides to be its usual unpredictable self. The instant snow looks and feels like real snow and makes the perfect addition to your stack of Christmas gifts; novelty gifts just don’t get better than this. £6.99 DIY Gingerbread House Kit This Authentic DIY Gingerbread House Kit was made by the Pertzborn family who have been making gingerbread houses for generations in a small factory near Cologne. Not only is it great fun to build for all the family but this gingerbread house also tastes delicious. £12.99

IWOOT have got some amazing products on their website, making you suddenly realise they’ve got a very apt name. They have gifts for every pocket, but as we’re heading towards Christmas, here is a selection of their festive goodies! For the full range, check out the IWOOT website at www.iwantoneofthose.com Frosty The Melting Snowman Frosty the amazing melting snow man! This little snowman is great to have on your desktop to help you get in the festive mood in the run up to Christmas. Unlike a real snowman you won’t have to bear the moment were he melts away forever. When the snowman eventually melts it’s really easy to rebuild him with the included accessories: hat, scarf, twig arms, carrot and eyes.. £7.99 Christmas Pudding Bin Bags Bring a little festive joy to your street on collection day with this fun design that beats a traditional black bin liner any day. Why not make a mundane task a bit more enjoyable and disguise your refuse as a giant Christmas pudding? £9.99

Damson Cisor

hey say that size doesn't matter and that good things come in small packages; Damson has proved both of these sayings right with the creation of their Cisor. The first thing you'll notice about the Cisor is the weight. It's reassuringly heavy in your hand, especially for something that looks like it should be so small and light. Using Incisor Diffusion Technology, the aluminium engineered Cisor uses whatever it is placed upon as an amplification device. There aren’t many gadgets that you’ll be running around your house trying them on different surfaces to see where you can get the best sound! The acoustics will be different for every surface, wood, glass, plastic, metal or even a crisp tube! The Cisor is compatible with mobile phones, mp3 players, tablets, laptops, computers, and anything that has a 3.5mm audio jack or Bluetooth Audio. With it’s 8 hours of playback via the 3.5mm audio jack and 4 hours using the more battery consuming Bluetooth connection, the Cisor can comfort-

ably provide your afternoon picnics with music with no worries. The Cisor retails at £79.99 and can be purchased from the Damson website as well as Amazon, box.co.uk and CEF stores nationwide. There is currently one main accessory for the Cisor. A mounting bracket that allows for the Cisor to be “stuck” to vertical surfaces such as windows, fridges and cars that retails for £9.49. The Damson Cisor is nothing

short of fantastic, it’s build quality, style and sound are all stunning and you will be the envy of all of your friends for owning one.

Looks Sound Price Overall

To advertise call 0121 250 3536

Turn your iPad into a MacBook Air style laptop

rydge™ is an elegant solution to the lack of quality iPad keyboards and accessories currently on the market. A full-sized aerospace-grade aluminum keyboard with optional stereo speakers, Brydge connects to your iPad using a patent-pending hinge. This click-in hinge allows for close to 180 degrees of iPad positioning and holds your iPad secure. The aluminum body is machined and anodized so that it matches the look and feel of the iPad precisely. When paired together, Brydge and your iPad appear to be two parts of the same device, blending style and functionality seamlessly. Brydge’s patent-pending hinge holds the iPad secure and allows you to position your iPad at nearly any angle, even allowing you to close it up entirely for easy transportation. Once closed, both your iPad and Brydge go to sleep automatically. The Brydge looks like a very useful piece of kit, if a bit expensive at $150 for the basic no speakers version. This could be a nice gift for the iPad lover in your life! Get in quick, they’re guaranteeing delivery before Christmas at the moment.

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The Phoenixâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;December 2012

FASHION - WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IN THE BOX

Urban Studio launches new initiative for muslim women and NHS Cancer Patients Give yourself a treat at the Urban Studio Ltd Moseley

Cutting-edge techniques, quality products and an excellent service in a relaxing environment. What else could you ask for this festive season?

rban Studio Ltd, a sophisticated and cutting-edge salon thriving in Moseley Village is launching a new initiative by having private treatment rooms for Muslim women. In its fourth year, under manager Neil Garradley it has proved to be one of the leading hair and beauty salons in the city. We were invited to speak with him and this was what he had to say:

Phoenix: Congratulations on the on-going success of the salon, Neil. Tell us a bit about yourself and how long you have been into hairdressing?

Neil: I have been in hairdressing for 18 years now. I was 22 when I went into the industry. I consider myself a very technical hairdresser but I also like creativity. Over the years, I have learnt that hairdressing is a lifestyle.

Phoenix: Tell us what Urban Studios is all about? Neil: Initially, there was a lady that who originally set this salon up, however she had a baby and found it very difficult to work full time. I would say that our forte is customer service. We get a lot of comments on the fact that the salon is friendly and relaxing.

Phoenix: What inspired the new initiative and how important is this move to the Salon? Neil: Initially, I wanted a private room aimed at NHS cancer patients, however it was also brought to my attention by one of my colleagues that there was a large community of Muslim women who prefer privacy when having their hair treatments. We are probably one of, if not the only salon that does private treatments in Moseley.

Phoenix: What is the competitive edge you have over other salons in Moseley? Neil: I would say the diversity of the interior of the salon.

PRECISION CUTTING COLOURING SPECIAL HAIRDRESSING PA C K A G E S OAP/STUDENT DISCOUNTS S P R AY TA N N I N G F R I E N D LY R E L A X I N G ENVIRONMENT

l Above : The private treatment room for Muslim women

Initially, my idea was to make it a bit like an art studio. I am in talks with an artist to see if we could display some of his work. I also plan to change the arrangement of the salon every month so our clients are treated to new look every month. Phoenix: Finally, how can our readers find you? Neil: You can contact us on our website www.urbanstudioltd. co.uk or on Facebook: Urban Studio Ltd where clients can be updated on offers, available appointment slots etc. or call us on 0121 442 4905. We open at 10am-6pm Mondays-Saturday.

The Phoenix–December 2012

Page 23

FASHION - WHAT’S IN THE BOX

You deserve

an Encore

hristmas is upon us and as we gear up for the uncertain changes in the winter weather, ‘gear’ is the operative buzz-word. For fashion-conscious Birmingham, one of the best outlets for up-to-the-minute top-end designer wear, at the lowest of prices, Encore Exclusive Design Dress Agency is the ideal place for the biggest designer names at unbelievably low, cheaper than High Street, prices. From Prada to Boss, Jaeger to Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Coco Channel and many more, you can find big names like these, as well as major High Street labels, for men and women, under one roof, at unbelievably low prices. Fitting in the equally fashionconscious Moseley Village, proprietor, Christine Timms set up Encore for everyday people to be able to buy top-end clothes well within everyday budget. “People don’t want cheap clothes that look hideous after a few wears. They want quality, and that’s what you get with designer clothes,” says Christine. “We know that people who either can’t afford, or just will not pay designer prices for designer clothes can get exactly what they want here, on both counts.” She continued. Get that ideal designer item at the ideal price for your budget. Get the Encore you deserve.

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Boux Avenue have got a huge collection of lingerie, pyjamas, make up and a lot more for you, or for your loved ones this Christmas. Here are just a small selection for you to feast your eyes upon!

H&M again world´s biggest user of organic cotton

&M was the biggest user of organic cotton worldwide in the second consecutive year in 2011, according to Textile Exchange´s latest Global Sustainable Textiles Market Report. H&M continued to increase its use of organic cotton further which is part of H&M´s strategic goal to

only use more sustainable cotton by 2020. “We congratulate H&M for leading the list of the biggest users of certified organic cotton in the world as they continue to drive demand for organic cotton and other more sustainable fibres. This supports farmers, encourages innovation and with its fashion forward Conscious Collections, H&M lifts more sustainable fashion to scale. This strategic work serves as a model for adopting and expanding the use of greener materials in the fashion industry.” states LaRhea Pepper, Managing Director of Textile Exchange. Organic cotton use is part of H&M´s performance against the ambitious goal to only use more sustainable cotton by 2020, using certified organic cotton since 2004. All organic cotton used for H&M is independently certified and clothes are clearly labeled with a dedicated hangtag allowing consumers an informed choice.

Are you looking for a business opportunity, or looking for Mary Kay products to purchase? Call Mary on 07834 517 097

Page 24

The Phoenix–December 2012

CHRISTMAS - WHAT’S IN THE BOX

Frankfurt Market welcomes in Christmas

irmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market & Crafts Fair signaled Christmas in the city in no uncertain way when it opened to locals and visitors alike. With 180 stalls which takes up Victoria Square, the length of New Street and beyond include many selling toys, decorations, jewellery and craft goods, sold by local traders as well as some from around the UK, Council Leader Sir Albert Bore opened this, one of the largest outside Germany. In its 11th year here, the city’s festive centrepiece, with its picturesque wooden chalets, offers everything from Glühwein (German mulled wine), German beers, traditional sausages, meats, sweets, marzipans, breads and pastries. A truly continental atmosphere is

conjured up by the lights, sounds and smells of this unique spectacle, enjoy the feel of a small village within the heart of the bustling city centre where you can also enjoy the best hamburgers, hot-dogs and giant pretzels, made fresh before your very eyes. Open daily from 10am-9pm, the whole experience will be enhancing with live music every lunchtime and evening from a traditional bandstand. A truly international welcome and a unique shopping experience await all visitors to the heart of Birmingham this Christmas so make sure you don’t miss out on all the fun. The Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market & Crafts finishes on December 22.

The Phoenix–December 2012

Page 25

CHRISTMAS - WHAT’S IN THE BOX

House of Fraser Christmas Grotto, 17 Nov-24 Dec

ouse of Fraser’s Birmingham store will be bringing shoppers and families a ‘Harry Christmas’ this festive season, with the return of its magical Christmas Grotto, which this year is supporting Harry Moseley’s

charity, ‘Help Harry Help Others’ to raise funds to help them in their efforts. The traditional department store grotto will be inviting children to meet Father Christmas and give him their present wishes within the wonderful festive surroundings from Saturday 17 November up until Christmas Eve. As well as meeting Father Christmas, the £5.00 entry fee includes a quality present for each child, plus the opportunity to send Father Christmas a letter, as well enjoying an array of games and activities within the grotto.

Magical Winter Wonderland, 5-24 December, Dudley Zoo

agical Christmas show, Visit Santa's Grotto, surprise gift & magical train ride, in Association with Jack & the Beanstalk Child (1 yr+) £9.50. Under 1 yr (with gift) £4.00. Under 1 yr (no gift) Free. Adult Santa Visit £6.00. Family ticket (2 Adults & 2 Children) £27.00

C V

Cadbury World, every weekend till Christmas

isitors to the Birmingham family attraction will be invited to celebrate the Christmas season with a programme of fabulous festivities, including a special yuletide menu full of tasty treats at the Cadbury Café. Among the activities on offer will be a special pantomime production of Aladdin, complete with puppets, original songs and plenty of laughs. Elsewhere, Santa Claus will be making a list and checking it twice as he hands out a small free gift to children visiting his grotto. In addition to the festive programme, visitors to the popular attraction will have the chance to discover everything that makes a trip to Cadbury World special

Santa Hunts 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 19-24 December, Black Country Living Museum

he highly popular Santa Hunts are a big hit with children and parents alike. As children join in a fun-filled search for Santa costumed guides and magical Christmas clues pointing the way to Santa's workshop leading to a

he Festive Gift Fair came to the NEC in Birmingham, bringing with it hundreds of stalls selling their wares. You could find everything you needed for your present shopping, and a lot that you would want to get for yourself! With stalls ranging from hand crafted earrings, necklaces and cufflinks at pocket-money prices to top of the range knife blocks

Christmas surprise gift. Price: Adults: £14.95, Seniors: £11.95, Children (aged 3-16): £8.00, Children under 3: £6.00. This is a pre purchase only event. Pre-purchase your tickets by calling the bookings office on 0121 520 8054

RRP’ing at close to £1000, there was a gift for everyone, and a gift for every wallet. There was live music, a wonderous range of hot food, and a bargain to be had at every turn. The Present Creche, (the answer to our question to win tickets to the event a few months back!) was busy, with people dropping off their goodies and freeing up their arms to go back into the fray and find even more gifts.

If you’ve got your shopping list of presents ready, and you have a good idea what you want for each person on that list, then this event is a brilliant way to get most if not all of your shopping done way before Christmas, and for a lot less than you might have originally thought. If you, like me, went in with no idea what you wanted for people, you could walk out with a lot of stuff you never knew you needed... but definately wanted!

Festive music at Brindleyplace, 14-22 December

hristmas is just around the corner and the restaurants and bars at Brindleyplace are ever-prepared with a host of party options to make your Christmas party better than ever. Brindleyplace will be filled

with the sound of live music in the run up to Christmas. From festive recitals to brass ensembles, a variety of artists will be performing for free to get you in to the Christmas spirit. For full music listings visit www.brindleyplace.com

whatever the time of year. From fun in Purple Planet to the luxurious limited-edition handmade chocolates available to purchase from the World’s Biggest Cadbury Shop, Cadbury World’s fourteen amazing zones will put a smile on even the grumpiest Scrooge’s face.

Time for Ice Skating in Bearwood

he popular ‘Bearwood on Ice’ is back – bringing magical fun for all the family in the build up to Christmas at Lightwoods Park. Starting on December 15, the event, organised by the Friends of Lightwoods Park, Sandwell Council and Sandwell Leisure Trust, will run to Saturday December 22. The synthetic skating rink is the star attraction - but there also will be music, a fun fair, giant inflatable slides, bouncy castles and Bearwood traders selling a wide range of seasonal food, drink and gifts for all ages and tastes.

People can pre-book, or pay on the day, at any of the Sandwell Leisure Trust facilities throughout the borough.Discounts are avail-

able for Leisure pass holders.

Page 26

The Phoenix–December 2012

HOLIDAYS AND TRAVEL

l At the Azores Stand, Charley Boorman - Travel Adventurer, Joao Vallera Ambassador of Portugal. Cecilia Meireles Portugal Tourism Minister, Ben Fogle - Broadcaster.

l Hon Richard Seeley, Minister for Tourism in Barbados and Petra Roache, vice President of The Barbados Tourist Authority with cricketers (L-R) James Vince and Hamza Riazuddin.

l Mr Rene Gonzalez and Mr Alberto Gutierrez with 2 passing delegates from the Mexico Tourism Board

l Best Innovation Sponsored by Jamaica Tourist Board awarded to Nature Observatorio Amazing Treehouse, Costa Rica.

l Ladies in Red - The Bengal Experience team, Bengal Stand, India

orld Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry hosted the travel and tourism industries largest ever trade event, as it looked to attract and agree business deals and discuss the current issues facing the sector. This vibrant four-day, businessto-business event presented a diverse range of holiday destinations, hotels and package deals, local, nationally and internationally Surveying its 5,000 exhibitors, deals facilitated by the WTM 2012 programme reach £2 billion as it delivered unmissable expert advice and key industry knowledge from some of the travel industries leading figures. Since its introduction five years, the World Travel Market has cap-

tured the hearts and minds of industry professionals everywhere and here there was no exception to that what so ever. Major players, without exception, covered a range of issues from sports tourism and the 2012 Olympics, taxation, emerging travel and tourism markets and

aviation capacity. With all the sectors of the travel industry some of the major events which took place included the WTM Talk Business with Carolyn McCall OBE, Andrzej Moyseowicz and Martin Glenn taking place in the Meridian Club Lounge and Advice Clinics, providing valu-

able one-to-one session with industry experts. The findings form the backbone for the World Travel Market 2012 Industry Report. They cover a range of issues from sports tourism and the 2012 Olympics, taxation, emerging travel and tourism markets and aviation capacity. For Micaela Juarez, Head of Marketing and Communications at World Travel Market, it was a truly memorable four days, saying: “Following on from WTM 2011 which generated £1.653 million in travel industry contracts between exhibitors, this year far exceeded that which hopefully means great news for the future for the travel industry.” Somewhere in the region of 50,000 people attended the extravaganza at the ExCeL London Exhibition and Convention Centre.

l Equadorian Artiste heading towards the UK and Ireland hall.

The Phoenix–December 2012

Page 27

HOLIDAYS AND TRAVEL

l Ex cricketer Viv Richards signing cricket bats on the Antigua and Barbuda Stand.

l Paul Harrison of PK Media with Robert Corbie, CEO Caribbean Airlines (AG)

l Best in Responsible Toursim Writing sponsored by Trinidad and Tobago Tourist Board awarded to Emma Thomson.

l The Delegation from the Tenerife Tourism Corporation l The Media Breakfast aboard The Harmony

Tenerife Tourism Breakfast

H l Jo Jackson with Paul Harrison of PK Media

ume Whitehead, one of the world’s leading results driven, representation, PR and marketing for the travel, tourism and hospitality industry welcomed the President of Tenerife Island Government, Ricardo Melchior Navarro and senior representatives from the Tenerife Tourism Corporation who were hosts at a special Champagne Breakfast Reception, along the River Thames, onboard the most luxurious of boats The Harmony.

Amongst the highlights, specially invited guests were thrilled with the presence of very special guest, Olympic GB Bronze medal swimmer, and world record holder, Joanne Jackson who talked enthusiastically about her training experiences in Tenerife: “Tenerife was the last training camp during my last period of hard training before the Games. I absolutely loved being in the sun and training outdoors. Plus the facilities there are just great,” she said. There was also the chance to win a fantastic seven night holi-

day on the largest of the seven Canary Islands where a wonderful climate draws people all year round, as well as winning a trip to the leading global event for the travel industry, The World Travel Market, at London’s ExCeL Centre, in some style, via a journey down the Thames. The most perfect of ways to start what was a famously funfilled, informative, objective and fully-packed day, at The WTM.

Jo Jackson, Pia Louw and Roberto Konrad

Page 28

The Phoenix–December 2012

HOLIDAYS AND TRAVEL

Take a ski break this winter O

ver the last 12 years, more and more people have discovered short ski breaks, including ski weekends and midweek breaks. For hassle-free winter breaks, many of the better, recommended ski resorts have everything including packages which are tailored to make it as easy as possible for you to enjoy. Whether it’s a week or two, or just 3 or 4 days skiing and snowboarding, whilst making the most of your limited time off work, skiers are very selective about the ideal resort for them. Ski breaks are for those who are only interested in skiing the best places. That means picturesque, traditional and lively towns; conveniently located; extensive ski areas with quieter slopes and less queues. Fully catered chalets with friendly atmosphere and acclaimed service, transfers including a choice of great resorts and lift passes included means you’ll have the time of your life, on the slopes, in 2013.

Escape to India with Virgin Holidays Worldwide Journeys…

Classic Kerala Tour

10 day Classic Kerala tour with Virgin Holidays Worldwide Journeys, including return Emirates flights via Dubai to Kochi from London Heathrow, accommodation and sightseeing encompassing Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey Houseboat (1 night) and Kumarakom and Kochi. Prices are per person based on two adults sharing on a mixed board basis and includes sightseeing with experienced English-speaking guides and transfers. Price includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Prices are based on 27 January 2013 departure.

See In The New Year With Warner Leisure

The Golden Triangle Tour Nine day Golden Triangle tour with Virgin Holidays Worldwide Journeys, including international return flights to Delhi from London Heathrow, accommodation and sightseeing encompassing Delhi (3 nights), Agra (1 night), Ranthambore (2 nights) and Jaipur (2 nights). Prices are per person based on two adults sharing on a mixed board basis and includes sightseeing with experienced English-speaking guides and transfers. Price includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Prices are based on 15 February 2013 departure.

New Year break at Warner Leisure Hotels is a truly unforgettable and spectacular geta-

way. For post Christmas, treat yourself to first-class food and drink, breath-taking performances from live entertainment and excellent company with like-minded people and no children allowed. Amazing evenings are planned from the moment you arrive. 3 or 4 night New Year breaks start on either 29th or 30th of December and are packed full of memories you'll treasure forever. Everything is thought through; with daytime entertainment, and the opportunity to have a ball with social dancing and panto fun.

You’re sure to see in the New Year in style. The Warner Entertainment Team is sure to put on a real show in the evening, with highlights including ‘Boogie Fever’ and ‘Blues Brothers, Soul Sister.’ Warner Leisure Hotels, renowned for short breaks 'exclu-

sively for adults' are set in some of the UK's finest historic countryside and coastal locations. All breaks are full board and offer a traditional New Year Break with 3-course lunch and dinners.

The delicious New Year 5 course gala dinner includes: hot entrees, a selection of meats and delicious chutneys, champagne sorbet and mouth-watering desserts. Prepare for the ultimate New Year’s party. A spectacular predinner fireworks display starts the night with a colourful bang. As the final countdown to the old year begins, you can enjoy Big Ben’s chimes and a rendition of Auld Lang’s Syne. For those still on the dance floor in early hours, enjoy a late night snack of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties. Warner is the only place to be this New Year’s with every detail thought out to celebrate and dance the night away.

To advertise call 0121 250 3536

The Phoenix–December 2012

Hindus worldwide celebrate Diwali

iwali was celebrated with joy and gaiety across India as millions lit candles and 'diyas', exploded crackers whilst shared sweets and gifts with friends and neighbours. Hundreds of thousands of traditional earthen lamps and electric festoon lights brightened homes, shops and work places in what is undoubtedly India's most celebrated festival. The festival of lights, which

signifies the triumph of good over evil, and complete with festive clothing, was also celebrated throughout the world with a mouth-watering array of lanterns, fireworks display, Bollywood song-and-dance and traditional Indian feasts. With this year's Diwali marks the beginning of the Hindu Year 2069, many Indian businesses saw Diwali as a day to start the new financial year because of the ties with Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

Pakistani school distribute gifts to underprivileged

eachers and students from a Pakistani school visited several social service organisations to offer hope to deprived, let them know that they are not alone and to bring smiles back to them. Coming from Pak-Turk Islamabad Girls Campus, they distributed gifts, cash and articles of daily use among underprivileged children, elderly, disabled, widows, homeless women, and orphans at Edhi Home, Nijat Trust Old Home and Dar-e-Ali Bin Abi Talib. Parentless and vulnerable children were given books, fees, and uniforms to make a positive impact in their lives with many old abandoned and widowed shared

stories of their lives. One senior citizen said: “Relations who cannot contribute to family income should not become a burden. Money should not be a factor. Throwing the elderly out is against humanity. The disadvantaged expressed their happiness and appreciated the efforts to serve them and bring hope, blessing the teachers and students after they were assured that they would not be forgotten. One teacher said: “We are fully engaged in this humanitarian work and look forward to meeting the needs of many more disadvantaged people.

We are extremely glad for the increase in the number of people receiving help.” She added: “Out of 50 million

children under of age 17 years in Pakistan about 4.2 million are orphans and we have a responsibility to take good care of them.”

Page 29

OVERSEAS NEWS

Send corrupt leaders to jail; says Pastor

Nigerian Pastor has said that some religious leaders in the country should go to jail for aiding and abetting corruption. Pastor Tunde Bakare of The Latter Rain Assembly says they should be locked away to fully feel the wrath of ordinary people. The Pastor, who is also convener of Save Nigeria Group called for the people to cleanse the corrupt system in the country by moving against religious leaders, Christians and Muslims, who are using their positions to enrich themselves with questionably extravagant riches. Speaking at the State of The Nation Lecture 2, in Lagos, he called for a revolution, starting in churches and mosques. He said: “All religious leaders and overseers abusing their position must go to prison so that they can feel the situation of Nigerians and that includes me. Maybe than, perhaps, the interest of our people is put first.” Bakare continued: “If the revolution does not begin in the church

or mosque, Nigeria will not change. Preaching greed is sin, we have the confidence of millions of people and continue to fail them. That must change. Ask your religious leaders were they got their wealth from for their private jets. Nigerians cannot continue to be taken for a ride. Urging his countrymen to take to the streets and bring an end to corruption and bad government, the outspoken preacher, targeted former President Olusegun Obasanjo; claiming that he would be one of the victims of the revolution. Jimi Agbaje of the DPA (Democratic People’s Alliance) DPA said that the only way to improve the quality of the country’s leadership was by building civil society by the citizens. He noted that the fight against corruption in the country could only succeed with the collective responsibility of both the leaders and the led. The President of Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said “Nigeria belongs to all of us and we cannot fold hands and watch corruption tear us apart.”

ADOPT_PhoenixFPG_Layout 1 27/11/2012 11:37 Page 1

Could you...

ADOPT with Birmingham? Birmingham's Black and Mixed Heritage children are waiting longer than other children to find adoptive homes. Find out more by popping in for an informal chat between 10.30am and 2.30pm on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th December to the Afro Caribbean Millenium Centre, 339 Dudley Road (New Style Radio Station)

Text ADOPT 31 to 63333 or

0121 303 7575

www.birmingham.gov.uk/adoptionandfostering

The Phoenix–December 2012

Page 31

MOTORING

The Mazda 6 – ‘Engineered-in’ driving

ffering a choice of two engines, the Mazda 6 2.0-litre petrol comes with either 143bhp or 163bhp, both with a six-speed manual transmission, with the 2.2-litre diesel making more sense; it’s available with 148bhp or 173bhp but the lesser of the two states of tune is quick enough, and frugal with it. With suspension focused on precision, it certainly feels like it. The body control is well contained, but there could be a trade-off for this on UK roads, because the ride feels a little firm. The 6's electric power steering is perhaps the weakest point of the package; it's light and frustratingly vague around the straight-ahead. Both the petrol and diesel engines are refined companions when you get up to motorway speeds wind noise from around the door mirrors will drown them out. It has 'engineered in' an appealing noise when the engines are pushed hard; in our experience, that just means you hear too much from them when you’re trying to get a move on. Road noise is less of an issue - and is better still on 17-inch wheels instead of Sport spec's 19-inchers.

FJR1300A/AS - Yamaha’s rewarding experience for 2013

amaha’s motorcycle line-up for 2013 is reinforced with the introduction of this new

model. The new-generation FJR1300A/ AS models which are designed to give today's sport touring riders a sharper style, higher levels of engine and chassis control, and sig-

nificantly improved functionality with enhanced riding pleasure. Offering a high level of comfort and genuine long-distance capability, both the A and AS are massively popular throughout mainland Europe, benefitting from significant engine and chassis changes that offers a rewarding experience indeed.

Featuring fresh and aggressive new bodywork, as well as an uprated engine benefiting from the Yamaha’s latest electronic control technology, and a refined sports chassis, the latest FJR1300A brings higher levels of quality, performance and satisfaction to the discerning customer.

To advertise call 0121 250 3536

Page 32

The Phoenix–December 2012

MOTORING

Classic Car Motor Show T he Footman James Classic Motor Show wowed thousands of visitors from around the world at this annual experience, the single biggest gathering of UK traders and companies that offer products and services to the classic car owner/enthusi-

asts over this three day event. With demonstrations, car clubs, live shows, a restoration theatre and cars for sale plus an auction there was opportunity for enthusiasts and visitors to engage on every level. Del Boy’s Reliant Regal Supervan from the Only Fools and Horses TV series was on show,

along with the Jaguar XKR from the James Bond movie Die Another Day were just a few of the highlights. There was so much to see and experience all in one go, but thankfully there was a three day/ weekend pass that gave excellent value for money, with concessions

available for seniors/families and groups. The event organisers had thought of everything! When you walked into the enormous hall you were instantly struck by the buzz of activity and realised that the excitement level had been cranked to the highest level. It was hard to know where to begin as everywhere you looked there was something that caught your eye and even if you are not a car owner each vehicle tells a story. Not to be outdone by their four wheeled counterparts, visitors are treated to a separate Classic Bike exhibition, which is complementary when you purchase a ticket for the Classic Car Show. The exhibition contained an incredible display of vintage and modern classic motor bikes from around the world, with Japanese, Italian and British models on show. One passionate exhibitor explained how he salvaged a bike in pieces, painstakingly reanimating every detail through acquiring genuine parts and with a lot of hard work and love, he delivered it back to former glory. This was just one example of many throughout the whole exhibition showing that passion is the key ingredient that keeps bringing this event back bigger and better every year. For the classic car enthusiast, it was paradise, and definitely worth a look!

ust in time for Christm a s , junior ‘car drivers’ can get their hands on this BMW 328 6v Electric car from the UK's largest kids car retailer, Totcars. Totcars has hundreds of kids ride-on toys to suit all budget. They stock everything from children's rides on jeeps to sports cars, kids quad bikes, motorbikes and racing cars. At a sale price of only £289.00 the younger members of your fam-

ily can be a proud driver of this slick BMW 328 Pedal car for some time to come All of the licensed cars are de-

signed with the original car manufacturers to make sure that they are as realistic as possible and the quality is of the highest calibre. Customers are offered 2 year warranty for free on all licensed cars and can be delivered within 24hrs in many cases. All of the licensed cars comes from Toys Toys, an Italian manufacturer who have been supplying toy vehicles to Totcars, ongoing, for over 15 years.

The Phoenix–December 2012

Page 33

CLASSIFIED

classifieds Public Announcement

Miscellaneous No. 1746616 UNDER THE REGISTRATION OF TITLES LAW OFFICE OF TITLES P.O. BOX 494 KINGSTON

Catering for All Events

June 19, 2012

WHEREAS I have been satisfied by Statutory Declaration that the duplicate Certificate of Title for ALL THAT parcel of land situate at BRANDON HILL in the Parish of SAINT ANDREW containing by estimation Two Acres be the same more or less and butting Northerly partly on land belonging to Franklin Armit and partly on a Public Track leading from the Main Road from Brandon Hill to Golden Spring Southerly on land belonging to Walterine Armit Easterly on land belonging to Celestine Armit and Westerly on land belonging to Terrence Gibbons and being the land registered at Volume 988 Folio 405 of the Register Book of Titles in the name of VERA GORDON and NETTINELLA HAMILTON - HAS BEEN LOST: I HEREBY GIVE NOTICE that I intend at or after expiration of fourteen days after the last appearance of this advertisement to DISPENSE with the production of the duplicate Certificate of Title and to ENDORSE on the original a Miscellaneous No. 1767100 and to note the fact of death of the abovenamed VERA GORDON and thereafter to CANCEL the said Certificate of Title and to register a New Certificate in Duplicate in place thereof in the name of the said NETTINELLA HAMILTON J Walker Senior Deputy Registrar of Titles ROBERTSON SMITH LEDGESTER. & CO. LOT 15 THE VILLA, MANDIVILLE P.O. MANCHESTER

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Contact us with your details, as well as the details of the advertisement, and one of our team will get in touch with you as soon as possible to secure your place in the paper.

Page 34

JAMAICA 50TH WESTERN UNION NATIONAL DOMINO LEAGUE FINALS

The Phoenix–December 2012

National Domino League Celebrates 20 years with thrilling Finals

l Paul Harrison, PK Media, Agency for Digicel with two of the winners.

elebrating its 20th year, a large contingent from the Midlands added to what was a compelling Grand Finals of The National Domino League Season, at London’s Wandsworth Town Hall. Two competitions running in parallel, on the same day: a Zone Finalists play-off and one for the League Shield. The showpiece, with Western Union, Grace Foods UK, Digicel, Jewel Isle Rum Punch and Wray & Nephew as major season-long sponsors, attracted well over 2,000 people, with 15 teams, from London and the Midlands, vying for the ultimate prize. After over 160 regular season games, the Zone Finalists play-off was a straight knockout dominated by three London teams, including the first placed Brixton Domino Club. Runners-up were the Wolverhampton Domino Club with Clapham Eagles Domino Club claiming third spot. Croydon Domino Club came in with a creditable fourth place. The League Shield play-off was an all-West Midlands affair with Birmingham’s BCA beating Walsall Domino Club to the coveted first place. There were no ‘winners’ and ‘loser’ though, as all teams, on the day, received prize money for participating. Domino is one of the highest participating sports in Britain and

is used as a successful social tool to engage communities, throughout. Its popularity is such that moves are being made to taken the game into the schools as stimulant for aptitude for mental mathematics. In its 20th year as a national league, organisers and stakeholders are looking to the next generation and developing a Youth League, so that the National Domino League will thrive for the next 20 years.

By Steve WIlliams

The Phoenix–December 2012

SPORT - WITH STEVE WILLIAMS

Western Union Pass Initiative continued from back page

“I was intrigued by Western Union’s PASS initiative and immediately felt a connection,” said Fao, who has twice won the UEFA Europa League with Porto and Atlético de Madrid, scoring a record 17 goals last season in the competition and is currently providing firepower for Columbia’s push to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. I am incredibly proud of my home country and welcome the opportunity, through the PASS initiative, to raise funding for educational projects across Latin America.” The PASS initiative will provide teacher training and student scholarships through nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), with an initial focus on eleven countries – Brazil, China, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Romania, Russia and Turkey. To date there have been a total of 83,054 successfully completed passes in this season’s competition, meaning 83,054 days of education have been provided. Commenting on the signing, Marc Audrit, Global Brand Vice l

President said: “As well as his exceptional footballing skills, it was Falcao’s ‘story’ that was the key factor behind our decision to sign him as a global ambassador for our PASS initiative. He has played across

the world in Argentina, Portugal and Spain and, like so many of our customers; he has had to make homes away from home.” Moving money for better is at the heart of what we do, and educa-

Page 35

tion is one of the main reasons our customers send money. According to UNESCO, 71 million bright, hardworking students globally are not enrolled in secondary or vocational education. Through PASS, we intend to harness the power of football – and players like Falcao - to build awareness of this challenge as well as deliver on-the-ground support that will make a difference to young people and their communities.” Falcao joins former international football star, Patrick Vieira, as an ambassador to support the PASS Initiative.

By Mark Adams

WWE To Smackdown in 2013

W Former Arsenal “Invincible” Patrick Viera is also an ambassador

WE’s unique brand of action packed entertainment is returning to Birmingham with Wrestlemania Revenge Smackdown next year. Fans will be able see all their favourite WWE Superstars and Divas including Sheamus, Big Show,

Randy Orton and Kane when they come to town in April. They will be joined by other favourites including; Daniel Bryan, Alberto Del Rio, Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, Sin Cara, Alicia Fox and Natalya. Smackdown is sure to excite audiences by bringing some showstopping signature moves by the

heroes and villains from the largest professional wrestling circuit in the world. This show, at the LG Arena, follows on from the live and televised WWE World Tour which visited the city in early November, and gives fans another chance to see their fighting heroes in action.

Mo Ayub, crickets greatest ever ... fan!

l Sport students and lecturers at the college with Regional Development Officer at The Golf Foundation, Jason Sorrell.

Students go for Golf

group of Walsall College Sport students received training to enable them to become volunteer golf activators for The Golf Foundation, and support the charity in its mission to encourage more young people to take up the sport. Set up in 1951, The Golf Foundation believes that golf is a wholesome activity that enriches the lives of those who participate in the sport. Through its work, it aims to give all young people a positive experience through the medium of golf, regardless of their background or circumstances. Foundation Regional Development Officer, Jason Sorrell put the students through their paces by setting up a series of street golf challenges at Wisemore Campus, which involved shooting soft golf balls through a car window, at a target and over obstacles. As activators, the students will visit schools and colleges across the borough to encourage people

to attend Street Golf sessions at Walsall College. They will also develop the activities and deliver the sessions themselves. Sport lecturer, Andrew Blake said: “We’re delighted that Walsall College has been chosen to lead on this project in the borough, which came about after students successfully completed a six-week course at Calderfield Golf Club in Walsall. This is a great opportunity for the students to develop their golf skills and get valuable experience in leading activities and events. They will also be able to work towards obtaining a Certificate in Coaching Golf, which will help to widen their career prospects.” Jason Sorrell commented: “Once the scheme is off the ground and running in Walsall, two students will then be selected to get involved in a national youth panel to promote golf across the UK, and given training in presenting, completing risk assessments and personal development.”

ext years’ sumptuous ICC Trophy fixture between India and Pakistan, at Edgbaston, sold out within 2-hours of going on sale and one of the first to get their hands on one of the priceless ‘golden’ tickets’ was Birmingham businessman, Mo Ayub, a cricket ‘nut’ who travels the world to gets his ‘fix’ of top international cricket. A fully-committed, hardcore Pakistani supporter-he’s been following his home-country around the world; since they won the ODI World Cup in 1992-Solihull-based Mo has watched his team in South Africa, West Indies, Dubai, Australia, his homeland and recently Sri Lanka, for the Champions Trophy: “I’ve watched ODI World Cups and Twenty20 tournaments since 1999,” Cricket nut Mo Ayub at the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka says a passionate Ayub, a Director at

My Med Pharma, an innovative pharmaceutical business at Birmingham Science Park. “I love milling around any of the grounds I’m in, meeting and talking with, anybody I engage in conversation with-no matter whom they support. I guess I’m a cricket gypsy,” he continued. When he’s not clocking-up air miles, the 45-year-old turns out, as wicket keeper and batsman, for his local, highly prominent, Knowle & Dorridge Cricket Club, in the Warwickshire League. He enthused: “Warwickshire (County Cricket Club) often use our ground and, in fact, their grounds man, Steve Round, also tends to the pitch here too.” On the ‘simmering pot’ that is Pakistan v India, he enthuses: “It will be awesome - a once-in-a-lifetime chance, in England-in Birmingham. Can’t miss that, one can I?”

England to take on Champs in Birmingham

nternational netball returns to Birmingham when England take on old enemies Australia in the International Netball Series. The hotly anticipated final match of the series will be taking place at the NIA on Saturday 26 January and it is sure to be an electrifying evening of Netball. It will be the first time in three years that the reigning World Champions, Australia, have

made their way to these shores for a Series in which England recorded their first ever win over the Diamonds. This will be a fantastic chance for fans to see the finest from England challenge some of the greatest names in netball with the likes of Natalie von Bertouch, Catherine Cox and Laura Geitz all potentially set to make the trip and delight the crowds.

National Domino League coverage on Page 34

he Western Union Company, a leader in global payment services and new Global Partner of the UEFA Europa League, announced the signing of one of the hottest strikers in world football, Atlético de Madrid and Colombian international striker, Radamel Falcao.

Falcao will become a global ambassador for Western Union’s PASS initiative, which is turning every successful pass in this season’s UEFA Europa League into funding to support one day’s education for young people around the world.

And the winner is...?

Continued on inside back page...

ndy Murray’s historic US Open victory, to go with his Gold medal at London this year has ramped up the odds for this year’s BBC Sports Personality. With double long distance Gold-winning hero, Mo Farah, ‘Face of London 2012,’ Jessica Ennis, boxing history-maker, Nicola Adams (pictured), multi-medalling Paralypiads, Ellie Simmonds and David Weir, Tour de

Sport Aston

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France winning Olympic champion, Bradley Wiggins and Open-winning golfer, Rory McIlroy, leading the charge for the coveted trophy, the voting panel will have their work cut out to find the eventual winner. Pick the bones out of that lot. The title will be decided by public vote with the winner anounced on the evening of the awards ceremony at the Millennium Stadium, in Cardiff.

Aviva/Telegraph School Sport Matters Awards

wo young athletes were honoured at the annual Aviva/Telegraph School Sport Matters

Awards. Held at Lord’s Cricket Ground, Olivia Breen and Jordan Howe were both commended in the Excellence in Disabled Sport category. With athletics luminaries such as Jessica Ennis, Christine Ohuruogu, Paul Blake and Richard Whitehead in attendance 16-year-old Breen, of Bohunt School in Hampshire, won a bronze medal in the T35-T38 4x100m relay and finished fifth in the 100m and eighth in the 200m at the London Paralympics in September. Jordan Howe, also 16, finished seventh in the T35 100m. The Rumney High School student recorded big personal bests over both 100m and 200m during 2012, running 13.04 and 27.86 respectively.

Celebrated all of the things that are exemplary in school sport and physical education, the awards recognised athletes and schools in a number of categories including ‘Pupil of the Year,’ ‘State School of the Year,’ ‘Independent School of the Year’ and ‘School Sport Teacher of the Year.’ The winner of the Excellence in Disabled Sport award was Paralympic swimmer Hannah Russell, who won one silver and two bronze medals at the London Games. Young athletes looking to start in athletics can do so through the Aviva Parallel Success scheme, which offers opportunities for disabled athletes to become involved in the sport. By working with clubs and

coaches and by staging Parallel Success Talent ID days the scheme aims to identify talented disabled athletes and guide them through the Talent Pathway towards the GB&NI athletics team.

By Jennifer Ivory

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