All the latest news from around Warwickshire

THE LATEST NEWS FROM YOUR AREA

How Leamington Spa played a vital role in the creation of guide dogs in the UK

Sight loss charity Guide Dogs, which celebrated its 90th anniversary in October, has paid tribute to the town of Leamington Spa for playing a vital role in the creation of its iconic guide dog service. The first four guide dogs in the UK, Flash, Folly, Meta and Judy, were trained in Wallasey, Cheshire, in October 1931.

After this, a temporary centre in Wallasey, known as ‘The Cliff’ was used, but when this site was requisitioned during World War Two, the search for a permanent home for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association began. Several areas were considered including Manchester, Derbyshire and Surrey, but Leamington Spa was seen as the best location due to the rural and urban areas it offered for dog training, its central location and its road networks.

On the 27th July 1940, Edmondscote Manor in Leamington Spa became the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association’s first permanent home, receiving its first blind students in 1941. Since then, Edmondscote Manor, now known as the Guide Dogs Midlands Regional Centre, and the town of Leamington Spa, have remained essential training locations for Guide Dogs.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, around 70 trainee guide dogs in Leamington Spa had to take a break from their training. Dogs were boarded full-time with local volunteers and guide dog training stopped for three months.

A guide dog begins its formal training at around 12-14 months old. In normal circumstances, most dogs qualify as working guide dogs by the age of two. To find out how you can support Guide Dogs, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk n

New owner at Hair Salon Warwick transforms salon and clients to create new looks for all

You may have noticed a buzz around Hair Salon Warwick recently, new owner Sara Kelly has transformed the salon into a fashionable environment for ladies, gents and kids to sit back and relax whilst enjoying a memorable hair pamper. Based in the centre of Warwick, the salon boasts a welcoming feel backed up by a friendly team that are eager to please their clientele.

The experienced team at Hair Salon Warwick includes Sara, a leading international hair stylist from South Africa, stylists Leia and Shannon from Warwick, stylist Whitney and Salon manager Tiffany from London. Collectively, this powerful all-women team boast some 40 years’ experience in rejuvenating clients’ hairstyles. “Hair is our passion and it is our aim to create styles that suit each individual client. The condition of our client’s hair is our number one priority,” says Sara. “I am passionate about healthy hair and use products that are gentle and kind to the body.”

Services include creative cuts, specialist colour techniques that include popular colour melts, balayage, ombre, highlights; perms, treatments and keratin smoothing systems…. you name it, the salon provides it. Whether you are a bride or in need of trendy waves or an updo for a special event, or simply need your regular cut and finish, Hair Salon Warwick will ensure your hair is done with pizzaz and style. Ongoing education ensures stylists remain in the know with the latest colours ,cuts, styles and techniques.

If it’s the latest innovative product from Schwarzkopf or Wella you’re looking for, you’ll find it at Hair Salon Warwick’s retail counter. A gorgeous Christmas extravaganza gifting range is also available.

Follow Hair Salon Warwick on Facebook and Instagram and see some of the recent client feedback and 5-star ratings, including comments “amazing staff”, “great ambience”, “superb experience”, “excellent service” and “a real treat!”

Call us on 01926 494424 to book your appointment! n

New ethical coffee house starts brewing in Leamington Spa

A new, ethically-focused Coffee House (and eatery) is brewing in Leamington Spa: Esquires Coffee opened on the site of the old Coop Department Store, creating 15 new jobs.

Owner Martin Brown, explains: “Other than our coffee blend, Esquires is different with our ethical approach to business: we only sell premium Fairtrade, organic coffee; we source from local Warwickshire suppliers; we have a zero-to-landfill policy and, we support the local community with apprenticeships and training to individuals experiencing barriersto-work. Customers can ‘gift’ coffee through our loyalty scheme. And, we are part of the ‘Too Good To Go’ scheme, eradicating food waste by donating perishable food.”

Martin added: “I am passionate about customer service and also this social aspect to business; this is something that I really want to build on. Having a 10-year lease gives me the space to really grow and develop the customer offering whilst pushing this community agenda.” n

A delicious mix of music at Stratford Music Festival

Just under a month to go before the 2021 Stratford Music Festival gets underway with a fabulous introductory weekend of music spanning Mozart to Brahms.

On the afternoon of Saturday 20th November Stratford Town Hall plays host to the Orchestra of the Swan, performing a delicious mix of music from Mozart to Mendelssohn via Tchaikovsky. Artistic Director David Le Page is passionate about audience inclusivity, which shows in this wonderfully accessible programme of classics from three of the world’s greatest composers.

Then later that evening, there’s a rare opportunity to see a performance of Brahms’s German Requiem by the Stratford Choral Society, the oldest choral society in the UK, at Stratford’s Holy Trinity Church.

As if that weren’t enough, Sunday offers a unique and special treat: the Orchestra of the Swan will perform Prokoviev’s muchloved Peter and the Wolf, narrated by world-famous musician, actress and TV presenter, Toyah Willcox, at the Stratford Play House.

And before all that, if your tastes run to jazz, why not join us at Cox’s Yard on Festival opening night (Friday 19th November) for a lively compendium of pieces from Jaco Pastorius and Victor Lopez, performed by King Eddie’s Revival Big Band – otherwise known as the King Edward VI School Jazz Band.

Visit www.stratfordmusicfestival.com for more on the week-long programme of exciting events and to book tickets. n

A seasonal treat at Coventry Cathedral

“a real seasonal treat – superbly chosen sequences of choral music, ravishingly performed … the Christmas concerts of choice for those seeking quiet poetry rather than commercial schmaltz” (Birmingham Post)

Following its sell-out performance in 2019, the leading UK choir Ex Cathedra return to Coventry Cathedral on Tuesday 7 December with their magical Christmas Music by Candlelight concert. Audiences across the Midlands have enjoyed this popular programme for many years, and this year Ex Cathedra will give performances in Hereford Cathedral, Leicester, London, Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton, as well as 5 performances in their home city of Birmingham and the concert at Coventry Cathedral. and displacement, and celebrates those who offer refuge and hope. The piece incorporates performances from a range of refugee artists, a refugee choir and local schoolchildren.

Tickets for both concerts are available now, starting at £13 for adults or £8 for under 18s and anyone in full-time education. Full details and booking can be found at www.excathedra.co.uk. n

Expect spell-binding performances of seasonal favourites, little-known gems and some surprises, all presented – sometimes surrounding the audience - within an atmospheric sequence of music and readings that celebrates the Christmas story in all its guises.

And Ex Cathedra return to Coventry Cathedral again on Saturday 26 February to present When a Child is a Witness as part of the City of Culture year. This powerful, emotional piece by Liz Dilnot Johnson brings different communities and artforms together - within the framework of a Requiem - in response to the human tragedy of war