Street Cred Magazine - August 2023

Yes Street Credders, how are you all!

EDITORS NOTE 2

Have to say 2023 is looking amazing for the world of entertainment as the big old skool artists are coming over to UK and of course we are well in to get the exclusives.

We celebrate 25 years of Street Cred a true Birmingham legacy, a magazine that has been the eye of entertainment and letting you know whats hot and not whats not because that doesnt matter, if its in Street Cred you know its the top flavour.

Look out for the best places to go right here from Restaurants, to Bars and Concerts.

This is the lifestyle

Always cutting edge and representing the street culture positively!

Mark Dwayne

Funky Arts is on the lookout for 12 Midlands-based artists, from Black, African, and Caribbean backgrounds, to take part in an exciting showcase tour, as part of their And Still I Rise Project.

This innovative project will give artists the opportunity to create new, 8-10 minute performance pieces, that will reflect and celebrate the vibrancy of Black history and culture.

Performance pieces will be part of a touring showcase that will visit Derby, Birmingham, Nottingham, and end in Leicester, at 2Funky Music Café.

Successful artists will be awarded with a £500 fee to help them develop their artistry and rehearse their performance pieces, as well as an additional £200 per performance.

Tour dates include:

• 6th October – Derby, Baby People

• 13th October – Birmingham, Centrala

• 20th October – Nottingham, Can’t Stop

Won’t Stop

• 27th October – Leicester, 2Funky Music Café

Artists must be 18+ and from the Midlands. All performance styles are welcome and previous art forms include: singing, rap, dance, spoken word, fashion, motivational speeches, and photography.

Midlands' music artists offered paid commission as part of showcase tour

Malmö

to host

Eurovision in 2024

IT WAS ANNOUNCED that the city of Malmö is to host next year's 68th Eurovision song contest, following Sweden's victory in Liverpool in May. The coastal town was selected ahead of the country’s capital, Stockholm, after organisers were said to have discussions with several other cities.

Sweden's Loreen won Eurovision 2023 with her soaring pop anthem Tattoo. The star, who also won the competition in 2012, saw off competition from Finland's Käärijä in a nail-biting vote.

Malmö has now been chosen to host the follow-up after a city bidding process that examined venue facilities and the ability to accommodate thousands of visiting delegations, crews and fans. Martin Österdahl, executive supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest said the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) was "thrilled" that Sweden's third-largest city will host it for a third time.

"Malmö holds a special place in the history of the contest, having successfully hosted it firstly in 1992 and then in 2013 - following Loreen's last win," he said.

"We're excited to be returning to this vibrant and dynamic city which has demonstrated it has the venues and infrastructure that are perfect for staging the world's largest live music event." He added that the city's bid "demonstrated a huge passion" for the contest.

Birmingham Comedy Festival Returns This October For 10 Days Of Performances

Running from Friday 6 to Sunday 15 October 2023, the award-winning festival boasts appearances from Murder From Successville’s Tom Davis (6 Oct, Town Hall), Jason Byrne (8 Oct, Town Hall), and Jenny Eclair (14 Oct, The Old Rep). Other highlights include former Red Dwarf actor/comedian Norman Lovett (11 Oct, Irish Centre), Seann Walsh (5-6 Oct, The Old Rep), Robin Ince (7 Oct, The Mockingbird), Jamie Hutchinson (8 Oct, The Glee Club), and Paul Foot (13 Oct, The Glee Club). Angelos Epithemiou, Eshaan Akbar, Carl Hutchinson, Rhys James, Jack Gleadow, Connor Burns, Jamie Hutchinson, Alfie Moore, and Aurie Styla also appear, whilst lauded

playwright Tim Firth will have two productions in the festival: firstly, the acclaimed Calendar Girls The Musical (3-7 Oct, The Alexandra), a glitzy hit with music by Gary Barlow, and a cast that includes Marti Webb, Lyn Paul, Amy Robbins, Tanya Franks and Maureen Nolan; and secondly, the sharp-witted Sheila's Island (11-14 Oct, Old Joint Stock Theatre).

As always, comedians from the West Midlands feature prominently, with shows from Warwickshire rising star Josh Pugh (10 Oct, The Glee Club), Brum-based Leicester Mercury Comedian of The Year Eric Rushton (7 Oct, The Glee Club), and the Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated Rob Kemp (7 Oct, 1000 Trades), plus Richard Dadd, Danny Clives, Tal Davies, and Damon

Conlan, as well as leading improvisation groups Jumprov!, Behind The Headlines, and Improv Wolves. There's also returning regulars, including the region's biggest comedy prize, the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award (6 Oct, The Glee Club), in which the best West Mids acts compete for the title; two Free Half-Dayers across successive Sundays (8 and 15 Oct, Cherry Reds and The Victoria), with one hour shows from James Cook, Lindsey Santoro, Hannah Weetman, Tom Little and Mary Flanigan and others; and a triple-bill of Laurel and Hardy classics (13 Oct, West Mids Police Museum + 15 Oct, Stourbridge Town Hall).

Continuing the classic comedy theme, the festival is also celebrating the centenary of the birth of Black Country born comedy writer Larry Stephens with a one-off performance of two of his scripts from radio cult The Goon Show (8 Oct, Symphony Hall) – the series which launched the careers of Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe in the 1950s. Birmingham Comedy Festival runs from Friday 6 to Sunday 15 October 2023.

DAVIDO TO HEADLINE TWO UK SHOWS

Global superstar Davido announced two headline shows in the UK at O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester on Wednesday 13th of September along with a massive arena show at The O2, London on Sunday, January 28, 2024. These highly anticipated shows come on the back of Davido's previous UK shows in 2022 and the record-breaking launch of his fourth album, "Timeless," which has been making waves and breaking global records, catapulting him to his first-ever Top 10 position on the UK charts, and sparking a wave of excitement among fans for his next live show.

Multi-platinum-selling Nigerian superstar Davido, and the momentum surrounding "Timeless" extends beyond album

sales and chart success. Davido's record-breaking achievements on Apple Music have set a new benchmark for African artists.

"Timeless" holds the prestigious title of being the biggest African album in Apple Music history, captivating audiences worldwide with its first-day streaming records.

Additionally, Davido made history by dominating Apple Music's Global Daily Top 100 with a groundbreaking nine simultaneous African songs.

"Timeless" also reached an extraordinary #2 position on Apple Music's US Albums chart, making it the highest-charting African album to date.

When Davido takes the stage in 2024, audiences will be treated to a spellbinding performance, once again showcasing his exceptional talent for fus-

The Weeknd Boasts The Highest Sales Of Any Artist To Play The London Stadium In The Venue’s Eleven-Year History

THE WEEKND, the visionary singer-songwriter, delivered a mesmerizing performance of his highly anticipated 'After Hours til Dawn' Tour at The London Stadium.

The concert, held on Friday, the 7th of July left the audience in awe as The Weeknd pushed the boundaries of music and art, showcasing his unmatched talent and enigmatic stage presence.

ing diverse musical influences.

The "TIMELESS" album encompasses Davido's Afrobeats foundations in tracks like the captivating "Feel," the powerful "Godfather", the infectious "Precision" and the summer smash hit “UNAVAILBLE”.

The album pays homage to his childhood influences of R&B and Rap with mesmerizing songs such as "In The Garden” Ft. Morravey, "Bop” Ft. Dexta Daps, and "U (Juju)” Ft. Skepta.

Fans can expect an unparalleled live show experience filled with energy, vibrant visuals, and an electrifying atmosphere along with special guest performances. Davido's larger-thanlife presence, combined with his infectious hits and magnetic stage presence, will be a night to remember.

Throughout his performance, The Weeknd showcased his unrivalled ability to hold the attention of thousands of adoring fans, enthralling the crowd with a carefully curated selection of his chart-topping hits, as well as surprises from his extensive discography.

Breaking records, the Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor boasts the highest sales of any artist to play the London Stadium in

the venue’s eleven-year history. He will be returning to the UK for his Wembley Stadium connected, by EE, on Saturday, August 18.

Food & Fine Dining

Naksha Recipe Kits Launch In UK With Bold Flavours And Emerging Artist Pack Designs

HOW WORLD CHOCOLATE DAY WAS CELEBRATED WITH DARTS FARM'S COW & CACAO

Darts Farm's artisan chocolatier, Cow & Cacao, has everything that was needed for celebrating World Chocolate Day last month, and they are proud to be one of the few UK producers to craft chocolate from bean to bar and their handcrafted treats are available to buy in their Devon-based store and online for nationwide delivery.

Darts Farm believes in chocolate

that is both environmentally and economically sustainable, from forest to food hall. Their priority is sourcing incredible cacao from small scale growers in rare origins around the world to use with milk from their local dairy and other ingredients from their farm.

In small batches, their chocolatiers, Louise & Molly, carefully roast the beans, before cracking the shell to release the nib. They then grind the nibs in a granite mixer, the 'conche', for up to fif-

The First Winchester Food Festival Proves A Tasty Success

THE FIRST WINCHESTER

Food Festival, organised by Hampshire Fare with support from Winchester BID and Winchester Cathedral, is being hailed as a great success.

After the Festival, in Winchester Cathedral's Outer Close, Tracy Nash, Commercial Manager, Hampshire Fare, said: “It was great for Hampshire Fare to be responsible for the first local-led Winchester Food Festival. I was thrilled to see how many people attended; it was a really positive day all round with many lovely comments from visitors, and producers!

“This event was all about community and local, with generous sponsorship from several local businesses and organisations enabling us to roll out the Festival

as a free event. I would like to thank everyone who helped to make Winchester Food Festival happen: our volunteers; our producers; our chefs, who were truly amazing; and our supporters - NFU Mutual Winchester and Wickham, Shorewood Homes, Quob Park Free Range & Organic, Winchester Bakery, Winchester BID and Winchester Cathedral.”

The artisan market was popular with people buying produce, such as charcuterie, cheese, chutneys, olives, pâtés, savoury tarts, fudge, pastries, shortbread, juice and alcohol-free cocktails for a picnic on the grass. Indeed, some producers nearly ran out. Richard Butler of Butler Country Estates said: “It is the best event we have attended this year as it has been a

ty-five hours before ageing the chocolate in 5kg bricks for two to three weeks. Finally, they melt it down to create bars, truffles and incredible handcrafted artisan treats.

When visiting the farm shop, you can see the whole chocolate making process taking place with Darts Farm priding themselves on educating their customers on single origin cacao and bean-to-bar chocolate. They even run regular chocolate making masterclasses!

For a taste of their amazing chocolate at home, indulge in their Chocolate Lover's Hamper. It contains a selection of their Cow & Cacao bean-to-bar chocolate, from handcrafted truffles and a Single Origin Chocolate Bar to Chocolate Dipped Oranges. For real chocoholics try their Ultimate Chocolate Lover's Hamper which boasts even more of their fabulous artisan treats including a White Chocolate & Strawberry Broken Slab.

Naksha Recipe Kits has taken its first stride into the UK by securing stardust listings of its delicious and beautifully designed recipe kits at Whole Foods Market, Harrods and John Lewis.

Naksha's UK-made range include both savoury and sweet (baking) dishes, encouraging users to discover and cook offthe-beaten-track cuisines in their own kitchens. First launched by Nisha Ramisetty and her husband Sam Williams in Dubai in 2020, Naksha quickly gained traction by winning the prestigious Spinneys and Waitrose Local Business Incubator and has been listed in Spinneys and Waitrose stores in the UAE ever since.

cook them without waste or fuss. UK consumers are hungry to cook food with engaging origin stories, and we are feeding that appetite.”

Arranged into regional collections, Naksha's recipe kits give customers an immersive cooking experience encompassing great flavours, thoughtful storytelling, stunning packaging, and simple cooking methodology. The recipe kits focus on cuisines with strong appeal but limited visibility, looking beyond the predictable world of Mexican, Thai and Indian.

destination for people.”

The Chefs' Kitchen was exceptional, and featured top local chefs including Damian Brown from Chesil Rectory, Lenny Carr-Roberts of Shoal, The Fox and The Bugle, who had appeared on James Martin's Saturday Morning TV show the previous day, and Paul Onami with Miff Kayum of Kyoto Kitchen, creators of the Winchester Roll – sushi using locally grown wasabi.

Simon Machola, Director, Shorewood Homes, one of the Festival's sponsors, commented:

"As a Winchester-based business, the local community is important to us, so we were delighted to support and attend the first Winchester Food Festival, which was a fantastic gastronomic event."

“Winchester Food Festival was run as part of this year's Hampshire Food Festival,” Tracy Nash concluded.

“The aim was to hold the city's first truly local and totally free Festival. We are already looking forward to next year's, and hopefully the weather will be as kind!”

Naksha's arrival in the UK in June 2023 is shaking up the cooking experience of UK homechefs by redefining store-bought, shelf-stable recipe kits. With whole, small-batch ingredients, authentic local recipes, and original hand-drawn artwork by emerging artists, Naksha's kits prove that simplicity and convenience are compatible with premium look-and-feel and gastronomic wow-factor. Kits suit weekdays, special occasions and gifting.

According to co-founder Nisha Ramisetty, Naksha is solving the problems of cooking inspiration and accessibility. “Many people want to cook more often but struggle to keep their menu varied”, she says.

“At the same time, many tempting cuisines are perceived to be too complex, expensive or wasteful to cook at home. Naksha tackles this by curating recipes from amazing places and giving customers the specialist ingredients needed to

Naksha's kits instead bring to life dishes from countries including Cuba (Ropa Vieja), Singapore (Lemak Cili Padi), Turkey ((Dark chocolate fondant with Turkish coffee), Jamaica (Curried Goat) and Lebanon (Milk chocolate blondies with Lebanese tahini); meeting demand for international food which - according to a recent Waitrose & Partners report – is growing rapidly in the UK. They are vegan-friendly as they don't include perishable ingredients. Instead, the shelf-stable products include easy recipe cards and specialist ingredients such as spice blends, herbs, grains, noodles, sauces and other extras. The fresh items (i.e., veg and protein) that a customer needs to complete the dish are easily obtainable as part of a normal weekly shop, maximising choice and flexibility.

Customers aren't locked into costly commitments - yet, thanks to Naksha's diverse range, they can access a multitude of flavours. Most of Naksha's recipe kits are also gluten free and contain organic ingredients. Naksha is based between London and Brighton and has manufacturing facilities in Derbyshire.

MOTORS

FIRST GLIMPSE OF REFRESHED ŠKODA SCALA AND ŠKODA KAMIQ

Škoda Auto has released the first official exterior sketches previewing the refreshed versions of its Scala compact model and Kamiq city SUV. Both models have progressive design and technology enhancements as well as features from higher vehicle classes.

The new Scala and Kamiq will be celebrating their digital world premieres on 1 August.

Four years on from their initial production launch, the Škoda Scala and the Škoda Kamiq are poised for a refresh. Technology updates and exterior design modifications combine to highlight each model’s key characteristics, such as the Scala’s dynamic appeal and the rugged appearance of the Kamiq. Both now sport redesigned headlights, front and rear aprons

and grille. New alloy wheels and tailgate lettering in line with Škoda’s updated CI elegantly complete the revamp. Slimmed-down headlights and aprons with side wings for the Scala

The Scala’s slimmer headlights extend all the way to the grille, underscoring the car’s dynamic allure. The air intake in the new front apron is divided

by additional side wings. Painted in the body colour, these are also found in the diffuser on the revised rear apron, which is flanked by crystalline elements. The tail lights now feature a new and more refined graphic design. Enhanced SUV presence for the Kamiq

The updated Kamiq now has more visual presence. The upper element of the signature split

headlights is now slimmer and has a more pronounced design.

The larger and more upright Škoda grille presents distinctive double slats that form a U-shape at the bottom.

In the front apron, a painted area below the grille and an air intake accentuate the vehicle’s width, complemented by a sturdy silver diffuser that provides underbody protection. The rear diffuser consists of a

wide upper section in black and a rugged silver-coloured lower section.

The revised L-shaped light characteristic of the split tail lights visually ties in with the reflectors, which also adopt an L-shape.

Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Confirmed To Return With Saturday Night Race In 2024

TuneIn To Be Integrated In Additional Vehicles

THROUGH FAURECIA Aptoide's highly regarded technology that provides OEMs a personalised Apps Market solution, users in even more car brands will now be able to access and use the TuneIn application directly from their vehicle's infotainment system, as car manufacturers work on building a fully connected experience for their users.

experience.

The Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) has welcomed the announcement that the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be returning to Jeddah, home of the world’s fastest street circuit, on 7th-9th March 2024.

The pinnacle of motorsport’s fourth visit to Saudi Arabia will see a change to its previous weekend format, with the Grand Prix taking place on Saturday night in order to avoid a potential clash with the start of the holy month of Ramadan, which is scheduled to begin the following week.

The announcement was made as part of the provisional release of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship calendar, meaning the Jeddah race weekend will once again be the second of the season, when the championship will be wide open and all to play for under the lights on the shore of the magnificent Red Sea.

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit has quickly established itself as one of the most exhilarating tracks on the F1 calendar, making Formula 1’s highly anticipated return to Saudi Arabia on the weekend of March

7th -9th, 2024 one that F1 fans will be eagerly marking on their calendars.

Audiences will once more be able to watch the world’s greatest drivers take on the thrilling Jeddah Corniche Circuit - the fastest and longest street circuit in the world - as they go wheel to wheel at average speeds of up to 252km/h.

Last year’s visit of F1 to Jeddah proved to be another spectacular occasion, which saw Red Bull Racing’s Sergio Perez cross the finish line after 50 thrilling laps around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit to win in front of a bumper crowd of over 140,000 spectators.

In doing so, he ensured that to date there has been a different winner in Jeddah every race. Will we see another new name added to the list next year?

The fun won’t stop on the racetrack as the F1 weekend in Jeddah will once again be delivering another incredible line up of live music concerts by some of the biggest acts in the world.

HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company, comment-

Jamaica Rolls Out Its Electromobility

Roadmap

JAMAICA’S ENERGY ministry released the country’s first electric vehicle policy as part of the island’s push to increase energy security, diversify supply and decarbonise.

The roadmap’s main goals are the development of an enabling regulatory environment, deployment of efficient charging infrastructure, establishment of guidelines related to standards and batteries, training and public engagement. The policy highlights penetration targets established in the Strategic Framework for Electric Mobility, with 12% of electric vehicles being privately owned by 2030 and

ed: “Everyone at the Saudi Motorsport Company and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation is thrilled to welcome F1 back to Jeddah for the fourth edition of the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix next March 7th – 9th.

“The Jeddah Corniche Circuit continues to prove itself to be one of the most exciting and challenging tracks on the F1 calendar, with our previous three races serving up consistently excellent, adren-

aline fuelled racing. Beyond the action on track, we are working hard to deliver another three days of non-stop entertainment for the whole family with some of the biggest names in music expected to return to our Main Stage once again.

“The Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is an event that caters for everyone and we can’t wait to welcome F1 teams, drivers, and fans back to Jeddah once more in 2024!”

TuneIn, the world's leading live audio service, is accessible in over 100+ countries and across more than 200 devices and vehicles.

With TuneIn available in vehicles through Faurecia Aptoide, more TuneIn listeners in more cars can access audio content from around the world, including on-demand live sports, news, music, podcasts, radio, and audiobooks.

Thijs van Herkhuizen, General Manager at Faurecia Aptoide, states: "We are delighted to announce our partnership with TuneIn as it exemplifies our commitment to enhancing the driving

“By combining our expertise with TuneIn's expansive audio content, we are delivering a seamless and immersive journey to drivers and passengers alike."

TuneIn CEO, Richard Stern, declares: "TuneIn is excited to be partnering with the highly skilled team at Faurecia Aptoide. This collaboration gives TuneIn and TuneIn Premium listeners access to personalized live and on-demand content while in their cars, providing a more seamless and integrated experience."

As the leading automotive Apps Market, Faurecia Aptoide brings OEMs and App Developers together to build the future of connected vehicles.

16% being public transport.

According to the ministry, Jamaica spends more than US$1.6bn a year to import petroleum-based fuel. The limitations and barriers highlighted in the policy – available here – are pricing, under-par road development and no dedicated funding.

In January, Jamaica Urban Transit launched the Caribbean nation’s first battery electric bus (pictured) for public transportation. That same month, power utility Jamaica Public Service began phase one of a program to replace its fleet with electric vehicles.

Major New Project To Document The Cultural Impact Of The UK Record Store And Black Music

Amajor new project that explores the cultural impact of UK independent record stores that specialised in Black music from 1950 onwards, has been launched.

2Funky Arts has been awarded a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, to explore this fascinating subject. ‘The Record Store & Black Music, A UK History’ will link in with Black History Month 2024. The project is being rolled out in the Midlands by 2Funky Arts, an organisation that celebrates Black music, develops new artists, and runs festivals & events that showcase talent in the community. This ground-breaking, national initiative will work in partnership with

Sound/Image Research Centre

(University of Greenwich, London) and Brighter Sound (Manchester). For the Windrush generation and Black diaspora, the early independent UK record store was a music-fuelled vehicle for resistance against systemic racism. Such sites became fertile ground for new music and cultural ecosystems that shaped society’s relationship with Black music.

The Record Store Project is seeking personal stories that illuminate Black, African & Caribbean experiences. Oral histories, film and audio and photographic memories will be compiled to create an educational resource, a publication, website and podcast series. Among the themes to be explored will be: New Pioneers of Street Sounds (the 1950s-70s); Influence on the UK

Charts (1970s-80s); and Club Culture & Birth of Sub Genres (1990s onwards).

2Funky Arts Director Vijay Mistry said: “2Funky Arts has been planning The Record Store for around 4 years, in conjunction with DJ Simon ‘Schooly’ Phillips, who will work on our heritage documentary. We are thrilled to have received funding for such a culturally significant project. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to research this fascinating history and will be working with volunteers and practitioners from across the country, to present oral histories in inspiring formats.”

The Worldwide Phenomenon that is The Lion King has finally returned to Birmingham's Hippodrome until September 16th 2023.

When the audience is told it must be seated 10 minutes before the performance is set to begin, you know it means you're about to be in for the most wonderful spectacle. Obviously the show is based on the 1994 Disney movie, 'The Lion King', and retains many of the lyrics and music

from Sir Tim Rice and Sir Elton John, with additional pieces that really add to the story.

If you don't know the storyline of The Lion King by now, I won't be the one to spoil it for you, but it is an emotional rollercoaster of a coming of age story of Simba, the son of head of the pride, Mufasa. With fantastic and memorable songs from the beginning with the Circle of Life, through Be Prepared and Just Can't Wait To Be King, the show has something for everyone, of every age.

From the young children who first saw it in the cinemas that are now adults taking their kids to see this spectacle, to those who've no idea what it is but are eager to watch it, everyone in the audience

enjoyed themselves immensely, with contented and excited chatter at both the interval and the end.

The costumes were absolutely amazing, giving life to the characters and giving a sense of scale and scope to the show, and the beautiful set design offset it perfectly.

This is a show that you will want to go back and see again and again. I don't think I'd ever get tired of seeing the opening number, let alone the rest of the performance.

AIR FORCES FROM AROUND THE WORLD PUT ON A FANTASTIC SHOWCASE DESPITE INCLEMENT WEATHER

On a dreary Saturday, the approach to RAF Fairford, with big grey clouds looming in the sky belied the exciting, energetic and all-around fantastic event that was waiting just beyond the barriers surrounding the airfield, the 2023 Royal International Air Tattoo.

From the moment you stepped into the static aircraft display area, you could feel the anticipation of the crowds as they awaited the flying displays.

There was such a variety of static aircraft on show from 40 international delegations showcasing the theme of this years Royal International Air Tattoo, SKYTANKERS.

Celebrating the past 100 years of air to air refuelling and the strategic importance of that capability to air

forces from around the world it also allows the sharing of best practices.

Also marking its centenary was the Italian Air Force, with RIAT honouring and recognising the unique contribution that it has made to the evolution of air power. The long-standing working relationship with the UK will be continued for many years to come with the work on the Global Combat Air Programme along with Japan.

At the request of the Chairman of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust and the Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Air Force, Air Commodore Dr Marcia McLaughlin F.Birm.Soc was invited to attend RIAT, and alongside Air Commodore Veronica Pickering, High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, both were guests at the Patron’s Pavilion.

The grey clouds that were seen on

the approach to the day were unfortunately not just for show, however despite their best efforts to dump as much water as physically possible on the crowds, the love and joy for the aircraft and air crews on show wasn’t dampened by the adverse weather. Once the sun started to shine again, broad smiles emerged from their hiding places and continued on their way through the show

The weather did unfortunately claim some displays including the Battle of Britain flypass of a Lancaster due to the combination of high winds, low clouds and rain, however crowd favourites including the Red Arrows and the Saudi Hawks continued unhampered, much to the delight of the crowds.

Continued on Page 25

l Air Commodore Dr Marcia McLaughlin with Air Commodore Veronica Pickering

l Air Commodore Dr Marcia McLaughlin withAir Marshal Sir David Walker

l Air Commodore Dr Marcia McLaughlin with Warrant Officer Murugesvaran Subramaniam and Air Commodore Veronica Pickering

Continued from Page 24

In the Patron’s Pavilion, specially invited guests, both civilian, business and high ranking military along with their wives and partners who were also exquisitely dressed from around the world came together to enjoy a meal, network and of course, the fantastic skill and ability of the pilots on show in the air over their heads. Welcoming more than 200,000 people over the course of the 3 day event, the scope and scale of RIAT is unlike anything else. Even having experienced the Cosford Air Show previously, I was taken aback by everything going on on the day. The military precision was on show from a few miles away from RAF Fairford with brilliant directions, road markings and routes planned out for every type

of visitor from every direction, leading us straight to where we needed to be.

With 25 different nations showcasing 253 participating aircraft, in addition to 48 Air Chiefs from countries all over the world also in attendance, it really cemented the fact that this is a worldwide airshow celebrating the best of the best.

Unfortunately the inclement weather affected all three days of RIAT, however it didn’t stop a wonderful event from happening, with only some of the displays grounded. RIAT returns from 19th - 21st July 2024 and promises to be yet another world class event, with tickets on sale now at www.airtattoo.com, so make sure you get your tickets early to avoid disappointment!

l Air Commodore Dr Marcia McLaughlin and Lady Nicky Pulford

l Air Commodore Dr Marcia McLaughlin with Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford and Air Commodore Veronica Pickering

l Air Commodore Dr Marcia McLaughlin, Air Commodore Veronica Pickering, Angela Essel, Head of the Joint Security and Resilience Centre at the Home Office, Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall

l Air Commodore Dr Marcia McLaughlin with other guests at the Patron's Pavillion including Squadron Leader Jayne Robertson, Felicity Chadwick-Histed, Mr Bob

Bob Taylor, Mrs Jan Cole and Air Commodore Edward Cole

l Air Commodore Dr Marcia McLaughlin with Mr Chauncery McIntosh & Tamara McIntosh

Tone Ska Orchestra, The Selecter featuring Pauline Black, and The Beat featuring Ranking Roger will be joining force for a historic performance at the New Irish Centre in Birmingham, on August 25th, 2023. The highly anticipated event promises to be an unforgettable experience for fans of the iconic 2 Tone ska movement.

The outdoor grounds on the Centre, in Kings Heath, will serve as the perfect backdrop for an extraordinary gathering of ska legends, with organisers saying: “We are thrilled to bring together these legendary ska acts for what promises to be an epic night of music and nostalgia.

“The 2 Tone Ska 50-piece Orchestra plus vocalists will be joined by The Selecter & The Beat featuring Rankin Jr. Representing the very essence of the 2 Tone ska movement, and we look forward to having them share the stage.”

“We can’t wait to bring Birmingham an event of two-tone ska, a genre that has strong roots in the city. The evening will be a true celebration of ska history and a night to remember for all fans.” The 2 Tone Ska Orchestra, a powerhouse 50-piece ensemble comprising some of the finest musicians, will provide a perfect end of evening performance with their dynamic

The 2 Tone Ska Orchestra, The Selecter And The Beat Play The New Irish Centre Outdoor Grounds

blend of ska, rocksteady and reggae.

An orchestra of this magnitude performing 2 tone & ska music is unprecedented and a spectacular unique show for all music lovers.

The Orchestral event will feature Special Guests The Selecter & The Beat ft Rankin Jr to get the evening off to the best possible start.

The Selecter will bring their unique brand of 2 Tone ska to the forefront. Fronted by the incredible Pauline Black, this influential group has been instrumental in shaping the ska and punk scenes since their formation in the late 1970s. Expect a high-energy performance that will have the crowd skanking and dancing to their be-

loved hits.

The Beat featuring Rankin Jr will then take the stage, ready to deliver their signature fusion of ska, punk, reggae, and soul and captivate the audience with their timeless classics and new hits alike.

With music being such an important part of this musical, the orchestra was on top form, producing pitch perfect renditions of all the family favourites, with the aid of two percussionists setup in the boxes above the stalls.

Theres certainly 'more to see than can ever be seen' in this musical, and with its residency at Birmingham Hippodrome continuing until September 16th 2023, theres more than enough time to check it out. Make sure you don't miss this spectacular event, book your tickets now!

The Opening Of The Baroness Floella Benjamin Young Rep Hub

The Baroness Floella Benjamin Young Rep Hub, a newly dedicated community and learning Hub, was officially opened on Friday 21 July by the theatre’s Patron of Youth and Education, Baroness Floella Benjamin, DBE. The official launch of the Hub, marked the first time The Rep has a dedicated space for creative learning and community outreach.

Alex Summers, The Rep’s Director of Creative Learning, said: “The Rep has always had a

strong ‘for/with/by’ young people ethos, but now that’s matched by a physical investment in a permanent workshop space, video editing equipment and hot desks.

"It’s also a home for all our participants and projects, including adult and community groups, the brilliant youth board, Young Rep youth theatre, school groups and work experience programme.

“It will enable new partnerships, new plays and new creative careers – the value of this cannot be overstated. We look forward to hearing

from professionals of the future that this is the place where it all started for them.”

Rachael Thomas, The Rep’s Executive Director, and Sean Foley, The Rep’s Artistic Director, said “The REP’s acclaimed learning and community outreach programme is one of the largest and most diverse of any arts organisation in the country.

"Every year we have over 70,000 contacts with young people and adults in the community on projects from drama or writing workshops to large-scale productions.

“Whilst we have invested in growing activities, our facilities have not kept pace with this. With the addition of the Hub, the first of its kind in the city, it will enable us to increase our work within the West Midlands and our own constituency of Ladywood, providing more support and opportunities for the next generation and placing young people further at the heart of the theatre’s youth activities.”

Baroness Floella Benjamin, DBE

was elevated to the peerage in 2010 and speaks on issues concerning children, women and diversity in the arts.

In 2022 The Rep premiered Coming to England a musical play based on her acclaimed book telling the story of her migration to Kent as a young girl. Commentating on the launch she said:

“I am absolutely thrilled to officially open the Floella Benjamin Young Rep Hub. It’s clear that children desperately need to be exposed to the arts and creativity from a very early age because childhood lasts a lifetime and what better place than at the Hub.

“So it’s wonderful that young people and local community groups will have access to this creative space. It speaks to the inclusivity work that I, and others, have long championed. This space is there to bring people together and foster a collaborative spirt through art and culture. I look forward to the creative work it inspires.”

Having a dedicated space in which The Rep’s community groups can relax and express themselves creatively has already changed the ways in which participants engage. It also

provides a space for young people who would not necessarily have access to the arts.

The Baroness Floella Benjamin Young Rep Hub will become a base from which The Rep can run a range of its community outreach activities, including: The Young Rep, the theatre’s renowned youth theatre company; sessions for

community adult drama groups; Summer Schools and refugee and asylum seeker community sessions.

The Baroness Floella Benjamin Young Rep Hub has been made possible by the generous support of the 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust and HSBC UK, the main sponsor, through its Supporting our Community (SoC) funding scheme.

Blackpink’s Jennie Kim responds to 'low energy' performance comments

Blackpink star Jennie Kim addressed claims that some of her historic performances lacked energy, saying she was often experiencing physical pain.

In the past, some K-pop fans criticised the star for being "lazy" and "unable to deliver" her choreography, even when it looked flawless to the uninitiated. But the singer told Dua Lipa's At Your Service podcast she had been prone to injury in Blackpink's early days.

"I did not know how to control my body the way I should," she explained. "It all started because I would constantly hurt myself during performances and live shows compared to the other girls.

"It was a stressful thing in my life. I'm like, 'There we go, I fell again, I tripped over again. So I feel like I've disappointed my fans at some points of my life, where it seemed like I wasn't giving my best." It's the first time the singer has acknowledged the criticisms, but she stressed she had been working on her physical health since 2020.

"I've learned to take care of my body. And I've learned a lot about myself, with my health and how my muscles work, even how bendy I am with my arms," she laughed. "In every detail, I've spent time."

Jennie also explained how the pressure to dance in high heels had

contributed to her discomfort. She said: "Some people are amazing in heels. My feet aren't built for it. Sometimes, when I'm feeling perfectly fine, when my body's OK, it's fine.

“But when I'm travelling and my feet are bloated, if I try to dance in heels, my stamina just goes down." On Blackpink's current world tour, the singer has generally opted for more comfortable footwear, including boots with ankle supports and with lower, Cuban-style heels, to protect her health.

Her admission is unusual in the

tightly-controlled world of K-pop, where stars are expected to maintain high standards of professionalism at all times. Criticisms of Jennie's performances have often been couched in those terms, with fans suggesting she's being unprofessional - even when she exceeds the standards of most Western artists.

But the star said she wanted to be upfront about the challenges she'd faced. "I've wanted to come clean... not come clean, but wanted to share with my fans that I'm still at a point where I'm learning about myself," she explained.

CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF THE NHS AND WINDRUSH

DAME DR NESLYN WATSON-DRUÉE

As part of celebrating Windrush 75 and NHS 75 we're looking back at two fantastic Women of Excellence who embody the spirit of both milestones.

Dame Dr Neslyn WatsonDruee CBE has had a long and varied career in the health service, and also in leadership and coaching, having a profound effect on a large number of peoples lives, whether directly or indirectly.

Born in Niagara, St James, Jamaica, she grew up in Elderslie, St Elizabeth where she always wanted to be a nurse from a very early age.

“I remember when I was in Primary school there was a child who had a very sore leg and I took it upon myself that I was going to clean up the leg and dress it,” Neslyn reminisced.

“It wasn’t a very pleasant sight, but I took her home and asked for support for her. I’ve always had a caring side to me.”

Taking a shine to poetry, civics and domestic science, Neslyn learned to cook both at home and at school, while studying for her Jamaica Schools

Certificates, equivalent to O

levels.

I still remember my father looking down at me

“I always knew I wanted to be a nurse, and although you did need A Levels for nursing, I was determined to start early, and that I was going to Canada or the UK to study nursing and not do it in Jamaica. There was nothing wrong with nursing in Jamaica, I just wanted to travel!”

Neslyn worked with Jamaica Public

Services, Industrial Terrace, learning to file papers, write letters and speak with people, and some of the engineers there influenced her to go to the UK, with one in particular becoming a mentor for her.

Following a physical and dental examination (you had to be in ‘spanking good health’ to be admitted), Neslyn wrote to the High Commission in London to ask them to find her a

training school.

So on the 22nd March 1969, 19 year old Neslyn boarded a British Airways flight with a small case containing 7 cotton dresses, 3 pairs of pyjamas and enough underwear to last a week.

In the UK she was met by a family member with a coat and boots, given a meal at their home before being sent to find her own way by train to Kent.

“I came to do General Nursing, but when I got to the training school the matron said there was an inspection by the Nursing Council and it had been downgraded to second level nursing, so I started off being a state registered nurse.

“Matron was very kind, said that it was through no fault of mine that it had been downgraded, and that she was going to ensure I was sent to the training school where she was trained herself in Tunbridge Wells.”

Neslyn was always a high performer, receiving the Gold Medal in the State Enrolled Nursing training, and again when she was training at Tunbridge Wells.

Wanting to return to Jamaica as a public health nurse, Neslyn moved to Kingston Upon Thames to study Midwifery. When her student visa was coming to an end the only way to reverse it was to own property, which was difficult when you had no money!

“I was so bold and forward that I went to the GLC (Greater London Council), and the person who interviewed me for the mortgage was very derogatory and rude, so I wrote to the Director of Housing explaining how badly I was treated despite being a public servant, and the minimum I expected was respect.

“The Director wrote to me and invited me to come and see him, and I walked out of that office with a 100% mortgage on the £9,500 property after putting my deposit of £50 down. I had been blessed by a guardian angel.”

Years later in 1976 after training as a health visitor, there were new occupants in the downstairs maisonette, a couple wearing National Front clothes who verbally abused Neslyn.

“One morning I was leaving for work and found my new car with only 600 miles on the clock with all 4 tyres slashed and rusting due to having had acid poured over it.

“I stayed indoors for 2 days and my manager arranged police escorts for me to and from work, my friends did my shopping and I was a prisoner in my own home.” Neslyn put her property up on the market and it was sold within 24 hours. She bought a dilapidated rat and cockroach infested house and after having it fumigated, set about furnishing one room at a time.

“I had gutted the kitchen so with no functional kitchen, I learnt how to be creative with an electric frying pan

for almost a year, even learning to make cake in it!”

Feeling it was time to return to Jamaica in 1979, Neslyn was preparing to return when she met her husband Peter, which put the return on hold. From here, Neslyn became interested in Health Promotion, and transferred to Croydon as a Health Promotion Officer.

“I did my Diploma in Health Promotion, followed by my PGCE and then my Masters in Health Promotion at Kings College London, retraining as a teacher to work in further and higher education.”

“I finished my teacher training in July and was spotted as someone who knew more than the people teaching the training, so the following September I was offered a post at the very college I had been learning at to teach Health Promotion.”

Positions at North East College of Technology, Kilburn Polytechnic as a lecturer, and Harrow College of Higher Education followed, before in 1988 an opportunity came up in the health service itself as the curriculum had changed.

“The HR director told me that they wanted to employ me to develop a nursing curriculum for those nurses without a first degree – and that I was to write my job description and tell them how much I wanted to be paid!”

“I developed 5 modules, all of which were passed without me having to readjust anything, which doesn’t happen very often at all. 18 months later a new manager came in and told me in no uncertain terms that she found me threatening because I am black, I’m a woman, I’m intelligent, and she was going to block me.

“I am not embarrassed to think what I thought ... and I said to myself, 'you won’t block me.’”

Neslyn decided to set up her own business in Personal Development, and following an award winning service teaching managers how to manage, she was recommended to the NHS Women’s Unit to develop a Leadership Development Programme, but they weren’t keen.

“I wrote the proposal but nothing was happening, so I wrote to Virginia Bottomley who was the Secretary of State for Health, and between the Chief Nurse and Virginia, about a week later I got a call that I needed to come to the Women’s Unit.

“My business wasn’t a Limited Company yet, I was still a sole trader, but the Government gave me the money to develop this programme. In 1999 I received the Millennium Nurse AwardSpecial Recognition Award by the Secretary of State for Health for outstanding contribution to nursing, and a few years later the Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing in 2001.”

Neslyn started a national demonstration programme initiating Leadership Development for BME people in particular which ran from 2003 to 2009, which is how she ended up

coming to Birmingham. The work she did here earned her Honorary Doctorates from both Birmingham City University and Bradford University in 2005.

In 2012 Neslyn was appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for Health Service Development, and a year later received Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Medal for Health Service Innovation and Leadership.

For 21 years she worked as a Non Executive Director, and for 10 years of that, as Chairman of NHS Kingston. Due to her husband Peter becoming very ill, Neslyn had to pull back from her work for a few years, and now she mainly coaches.

“I met someone at a meeting in the House of Lords, she was working in the Ministry of Justice and wanted a coach to help apply for a permanent post, and she got a deputy director post, before a year later becoming a director, and is now working in the Home Office - now what I do is solely around coaching within the Civil Service.”

“I am so proud to be a Jamaican, and I often say that my success is due to not being born in this country, if I was born here maybe I’d have taken in some of the nonsense that has been pushed into people that ‘Black people can’t achieve and are oppressed and are plagued by imposter syndrome,’

“I’m not an imposter! I know who I am! I love my country, and I don’t go back there nearly as often as when my father was alive, but I pray for Jamaica and the protection of the borders of Jamaica. Jamaica is very much in my heart, my soul and my prayers.”

“I thank God for my life, good health and the people that are in my circle. Every person who has life and breath in them has excellence inside them. Have a purpose and live your purpose. Be very clear about your values and always live with integrity and leave a legacy.”

"Windrush meant an opportunity for me to serve, to contribute to Britain, our Mother County. I came in at the tail-end of Windrush, 1969. Windrush 75 and the NHS 75 is summed up beautifully for me in Professor Laura Serrant’s Poem: ‘You Called … we Came.

"Issues in Health and Social Care for Minority ethnic communities continue to be challenging, especially with shortage of staff and the provision of highly responsive healthcare needs.

"The NHS is a Jewel in the Crown of Health and Social Care provision. Today, the NHS is the biggest employer in Europe of people from a black, Asian and minority ethnic background – 20.7% of the NHS workforce representing more than 200 nationalities (Bonner, 2020).

"Without the help of nurses and other medical staff from around the world, the NHS as we know it could not have survived. The NHS and Windrush are entwined in history."

Having worked in a number of healthcare settings and has vast experience in Nursing, Midwifery, Leadership and Management, Paulette Lewis MBE is a highly experienced leader and director.

Born in Portland, Jamaica, as the middle child of 7, her early years were spent between the UK and Jamaica, after her parents first emigrated to the UK when she was 3 years old, and then returned when she was 10.

“When we returned it was very telling about the education system in the UK. When we were tested in Jamaica, we were noticeably lower than that of our Jamaican peers, so my parents did lots of extra lessons.”

Attending Happy Grove Grammar School where she completed her 5th Form and O Levels, Paulette always wanted to be a nurse and a teacher, flipping back and forth between both, while keeping up a number of extracurricular activities including running and long jump, drama and dancing.

At the same time that she was applying to go to teachers college, she was also applying to England to come and train to be a nurse after visitors to the school had talked about a variety of different careers, including coming to the UK for nursing.

“I was always an adventurous person, and wanted to be a nurse so I figured why not,” Paulette said, smiling mischievously.

“I landed in the UK in June, but it was so cold! My first placement was in Sunderland, up north and even colder! No one met me off the flight, so I got the train from Heathrow nearly 8h to Sunderland on my own. There I was met by a little Matron with a cup of tea and biscuits. Here’s me thinking I could really do with a nice plate of rice and peas!”

Paulette believed she was enrolled on the 3 year state registered nurse course, however after much confusion it was discovered that she was on the 2 year state enrolled nurse course, which wasn’t the same. Thankfully her lecturer helped discover the

issue and start the process of looking for nursing schools for her to transfer to.

“I moved all the way to King Edward VII Hospital in Windsor, and completed my State Registered Nurse training in 1977, before starting my midwifery training, which was the thing I spent most of my career doing.

“I’ve been a midwife since the early 80’s when I did my training in Croydon. I love the labour ward. It was hard work, challenging at times, very busy, and with the diversity of the patients, you learned a lot there, so much experience to gain.

“I stayed there and became a Sister within a year, and then a team leader. As the new midwives came in, training them and supporting them was great as it’s very much a team effort, and we worked well as a team.

Paulette’s adventurous side won out again, and in 1988 she went off to America, continuing her work in maternity. After taking more exams to get the required qualifications over there, she sound herself a bit frustrated, and ended up teaching them the ways she’d learned over here, influencing some of their practices.

“They

PAULETTE LEWIS

were very hot on record keeping and quality assurance, some of the things we hadn’t started taking on board here at the time, but I just couldn’t seem to settle in the US. I had issue with not being able to treat patients without insurance, so I came back to the UK about 2/3 years later.”

Back in the UK and Paulette was struggling to find a job in nursing again. “They kept telling me how good I was, or how qualified I was. I was applying to be a Sister again, as I’d been away, looking to work back up.

“What I did in the end was stop applying for that band of job, and applied for a senior manager job 3 or 4 grades higher than what I had been applying for, and got it! You never quit when things get tough, you carry on and don’t get defeated.”

Paulette became Head of Maternity Services before the hospital closed down, making her redundant. “I was home not even 2 or 3 months when I got a call saying that they’d heard about my work, and would I like to come in and help them with their Maternity services, so I ended up back at Croydon where I did my Maternity Training, and took over a unit that needed a lot of

help.”

Knowing it would be difficult, she worked hard and the hospital earned a number of commendations, with Paulette becoming Director of Maternity Services, General Manager and then Chief Nurse in about 2004.

“I was in the 3% of all of the directors of nursing in this country as a black woman. It’s taken us a long long time for us to break that glass ceiling. I’ve always tried to put my hand down and help those coming up through the system too.

“Because of the person I was, never giving up and how I was brought up, putting my head above the parapet was something I did, because sometimes someone has to stand up and speak for those who haven’t got a voice, and I do that quite a bit.

In 2008/9 Paulette became director for the pan-London Maternity services, looking at developing new ways of working to improve the outcome for women.

“I went back to University, did my degrees in Health Service Management so it would equip me to not only be a clinician, but managing difficult situations and budgets.

In 2012/13 she retired from the health service and set up her own consultancy working in many areas across London, a lot of turnaround and transformational work, and troubleshooting to improve service delivery.

Paulette was also on the nonexecutive board for the Clinical Commissioning Team in Croydon and Wandsworth, before becoming a nonexecutive director on Croydon University Hospital Board, where she is still their Maternity Champion.

As the president of the Nurses Association of Jamaica UK for 14 years, Paulette has raised money for hospitals, education and social care both here and in Jamaica, even taking a group of colleagues to work in Chad with the Chad Foundation, which she became trustee of.

“Their maternity and neonatal death rate out there was very high, so I took up the mantle with some of my

Windrush and the NHS are no coincidence. They are inextricably bound in many ways.

"To me these linked milestones mean pride, purpose, fulfilled dreams, hope, adventure, resilience, strength, service, and dedication. It also means pain, loss, prejudice and sacrifice.

colleagues and went out there to work with them in the community. Really makes you understand how fortunate we are in this country and how much we do have. Unfortunately Chad became very unstable and it wasn’t possible to continue going out there.”

Along with 4 other nurses, Paulette set up the Caribbean Nurses and Midwives Association (UK) to address Caribbean nurses as a whole as there are many islands without their own association.

“We won an award for Outstanding Work and Support to the International Nurses in this country. One of the key things right now is the recruitment of international nurses. A number of the issues that I faced way back when I started over here are raising their head again now and we need to know why as there are so many nurses and healthcare professionals coming to this country.”

Talking to Paulette, you can tell that she truly, deeply cares about people, and it shines through in everything that she says. “What is important is that we are all human beings, and whatever we can do to make each others lives better, together, then we need to do them. I’d very much like to continue to be able to help those who need my help and support. I’m enjoying life to the fullest.”

Paulette was awarded the Social and Humanitarian Award from the European Federation of Black Women Owner's and Professionals in 2002, received her MBE in 2014 for her work for Nursing and Charity, and in 2018 received an award from the Prime Minister of Jamaica.

“Overall, nursing is a very good career and I would go into the health service again. It’s very rewarding but has its challenges. People say it’s not sexy enough, but I think it has a lot to offer and there are so many paths you can take as a nurse.

“The education you receive will help you and generations to come. I don’t think you’ll ever be out of a job as a nurse.”

The next generation is also very important to Paulette, and she wants to make sure that they are not forgotten. “We need to nurture them and work with them, but we all need to be around that table to talk.”

“Never quit when it gets hard, and always put out a hand to help someone else up. No matter the position you reach or what title you have it shouldn’t make you think you’re better than anyone else as we’re all human beings and we’re all trying. Together we are strong, and together we can make things work.”

"The simultaneous 75 years anniversaries of the

"My colleagues and I take pride in celebrating the pioneers who selflessly answered the call of the” mother country and came in 1948, and also the subsequent calls during Covid 19 pandemic 2019 to the present.

"We brought our skills, experience, vibrant culture and enriched the landscape and with hard work and dedication rescued the NHS. NHS would not be what it is today, without the contribution of the Caribbean Diaspora the NHS 75years and Windrush 75years go hand in hand one could not exist without the other.

The Celebration / commemoration is important so that we do not forget our significant contributions, it should serve as a constant reminder to the entire country.

"Our reflections of the past and the stories we share is part of our legacy for the generations now and in the future. Too often our positive historical foot prints are erased or hidden. We have earned our place in history so we celebrate our contributions and hard work despite the challenges.

"I also need to celebrate my personal contributions to the building of the NHS, having worked for over 35years in the delivering health care in a variety of health care settings / organisations, supporting and filling gaps in the health care system.

"My lived experience will help in shaping the future. I hope that the lessons learnt over the past 75 years will help in creating a much better future for the Windrush generation and the sustainability of the NHS.

"Despite the various challenges, including racism, prejudices and discrimination, the Windrush generation including myself played an instrumental role in shaping post war Britain.

"As I talk to the Windrush generation and those working in the NHS, we must remember the selfless sacrifice and personal costs to the people from the Caribbean who responded to the workforce shortage 75yeasrs ago and now, still plagued by the same issues.

"In spite of reassurance about the organisations commitment to create an inclusive workforce BAME staff and some communities are still sceptical and frustrated at the slow pace of progress. Have we really learnt the lessons from 75 years ago?

"Myself and others had to take the initiative to create the path to our destiny. I have learnt the value the enrichment that a diverse workforce brings to patient care and influences the inequalities of Health. It is crucial that we never forget the story and Legacy of the Windrush generation our contribution to building the NHS."

COMMONWEALTH SCIENTISTS WORK TOGETHER TO COMBAT THE SARGASSUM MENACE

By Howard Leader

In its place in the sub-tropical northern Atlantic Ocean (the Sargasso Sea), Sargassum weed is a floating forest providing food, habitat and shelter to numerous marine species, but recently something has changed and those changes are bringing misery to coastal communities in the Caribbean islands and West Africa.

Professor Emma Tomkins of the University of Southampton explained: “An anomalous weather event in the winter of 2010/11 caused a massive increase in seeding resulting in huge floating rafts of Sargassum weed across thousands of miles across the ocean to wash up on shores of the Atlantic tropics in staggering quantities”. The size of the weed rafts is enormous with some measuring more than 1.3 million square meters, that’s about the size of 250 football pitches. More than 30 countries are feeling the effects where tons of decomposing Sargassum impacts on fishing by choking harbours, tourism by smothering beaches in stinking slimy carpets attracting swarms of flies, and, in extremis, risking human and animal health in vulnerable coastal communities.

Seeking answers to this problem, Professor Tompkins joined a team of scientists from four Commonwealth countries, Britain, Jamaica, Ghana and Barbados, working together on developing ways of predicting where the weed rafts may make land-fall and, more importantly, how the weed can be dealt with once ashore. Their results are encouraging and point towards potential uses where the stranded weed could have a commercial value offering coastal communities the hope of making income from processing the beached weed.

The scientific research team, known as SARTRAC , is a partnership led by the University of Southampton (UK) and includes the University of Ghana, the Mona Geoinformatics Institute at the University of the West Indies (Jamaica campus), the Centre for Marine Studies at the University of the West Indies (Jamaica campus), the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies at the University of the West Indies (Barbados campus), and the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products at the University of York (United Kingdom). This range of scientific skills has been brought together to look at

the problem in the round, as Dr Janice Cumberbatch from the University of West Indies (Barbados) explained: “Sargassum represents both a threat and an opportunity for Caribbean states. Entrepreneurs are developing innovative products from Sargassum, such as fertilisers, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The scientists on the SARTRAC teams are assisting this process by investigating and advancing processes for monitoring and forecasting, and by exploring novel ways for transform-

this helps countries with their Sargassum seasonal planning.

The second area was to develop a near real-time early warning system for vulnerable coastal communities to predict where, when and how Sargassum will reach land. Satellite imagery, combined with drone monitoring is now enabling local prediction of conditions in the days prior to the weed landing.

The third area involves identifying the most vulnerable communities and assessing their ability to deal with stranded Sargassum. This work included studying how Sargassum could be used as compost and fertiliser and wether it could be used for small scale bio-gas production.

ative adaptation of Sargassum to empower communities whose livelihoods have been affected by this ecological risk, to turn it into an opportunity.”

The SARTRAC team has been pursuing four areas of research. The first is an assessment of the atmospheric and oceanographic drivers of Sargassum across the tropical Atlantic Ocean in order to improve forecasting of the movement of the weed. Governments are now using tracking services which have been developed as a result of the research work and

The fourth area of research has been exploring how improved management of Sargassum can increase the opportunities available to the poorest communities. Together, these four areas are generating tools for longrange forecasting systems, resources like a severity index that can be applied in other areas; and knowledge to support pathways out of poverty for those affected. This is of particular importance in some parts of Africa as Professor Kwasi Appeaning Addo, Director for the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, explained: “Sargassum is a major threat to vulnerable coastal communities in Ghana. It is impacting negatively on the small-scale fishing industry, which is a major source of livelihood in poor communities. SARTRAC’s work is enabling the poorest of the poor in vulnerable communities to discover the economic potentials of Sargassum to enhance their adaptive capacity.”

Five years of extensive research has yielded results, not only in terms of finding ways in which

the weed could be used productively but, as importantly, how it should not be used. Professor Tomkins said: “We do now have a better understanding of the weed, for instance we now know that it only grows when it is moving, if it is still it dies. We also know that some types of Sargassum grow a lot more quickly than others. But crucially, we know that Sargassum has a high arsenic content and we have worked hard to find safe ways to use the weed and can now warn against uses which will put people and livestock at risk”. This is important as an early consideration of the use of the weed was as a fertiliser. The SARTRAC team is keen to stress that Sargassum is usable but people need to understand how to use it safely. If it is simply spread on

root crops or used as fertiliser for plants like salad crops which are grown for their leaves, high levels of arsenic will be absorbed by the plant and those crops cannot be eaten. Research does show, however, that when used to fertilise tomatoes and peppers, the fruits of those plants do not retain the arsenic and are safe to eat.

The team also looked at Sargassum as a compost for growing trees and their research shows that when mixed with 50% sawdust Sargassum compost works as a very good growing medium for mangrove seedlings which can then be used to support mangrove regrowth to protect against storm surges.

The potential for small scale biogas production from the controlled decomposition of Sargassum was researched thoroughly and did

not prove to be suitable for use in home gas-generating digesters. None the less, this ground breaking work has stimulated research and development studies in the corporate and commercial sector where imaginative uses ranging from agricultural products to building materials are all now being tested as potential future products.

In the mean time, the tracking and monitoring goes on and the SARTRAC team has worked hard to encourage individuals and schools to get involved in vital “citizen science” across the countries affected. In Ghana, for example, where general cloud cover makes satellite tracking of the weed rafts difficult, they have set up photo-points at set locations along the beaches allowing anyone to place their smart phone on the set point photo-post and take a picture of that stretch of beach and send it straight into the regional monitoring group, something which Professor Emma Tomkins believes is vital. She said:

“Finding ways to track and use Sargassum is so important as this situation is not likely to change any time soon. Citizens are now gathering valuable data for weed management and, crucially, these initiatives are involving school children who are learning about the problem and will, no doubt, be a part of its management in the future.”

l Professor Emma Tompkins

l Barbados - Hastings

l Three sargassum variants

l Beyin CoastSnap point Citizen Scientist Station

l Barbados - Bath

NACHURAL SUMMER BUSINESS AWARDS

IS KEY TO SUCCESS’

Wolverhampton born and founder of Poundland Steve Smith who was the keynote at the Nachural Summer Business Awards which took place on Friday the 7th July at the Wolverhampton Racecourse, said in times of uncertainty, focus was key to success.

He also added that his success was down to the quality of the workforce who lived in Wolverhampton and had worked for him.

‘Without doubt, it was the people of Wolverhampton who worked for me who made the company successful – I am so indebted to them. The people of Wolverhampton are simply the best.’

Steve Smith who started his company in 1990 went onto build it into a national chain with over 1 million customers

per week employing 5500 people.

He eventually sold it in 2002 with the chain now turning over £5 billion annually. Over 85% of the UK’s population have visited a Poundland shop.

Mr Ninder Johal who is CEO of the organisers of the Awards, and who was until recently the President of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and sat as a Black Country LEP Board member spoke about the ongoing cost of living crisis and the risk to business.

He said despite the testing 36 months, the future of the region was bright. He pointed out many positive indicators including the full letting of high premium office space like I 9 and I 10 in the city of Wolverhampton.

The manufacturing sector recovering strongly with Aerospace leading the way and Foreign Direct Investment in the West Midlands region also extraordinarily strong.

Other parts of the Black Country were also showing positive signs and reminded everyone that Sandwell continues to have a strong advanced manufacturing basis and that the entire region was the foundation of the logistics

sector

The various Town Fund deals were also performing well throughout the Black Country region and bode well for the future.

There were some notable award winners on the evening including the Life Time achievement award winner – Entrepreneur and Founder of Tipton based Panesar Foods – Bill Panesar who has built a business turning over £60 million and employing almost 300 people and who continue to supply sauces to many supermarkets throughout the UK.

The overall business of the year went to Telford based Denos Manufacturing UK ltd who since 1990 have been manufacturing plastic mouldings, aluminium pressings, heat exchangers and pipe and hose components.

With a turnover of over £130 million and employing over 700 people, the company was judged to have been the best in creating a people centric business who are well embedded in the local community and have placed diversity and inclusion centre of their operations.

l L-R Business Woman of The Year - Stacey Ryan, Small Business of The Year - Nant Ltd, Excellence in Customer Service - Mercure Telford Centre Hotel, Promoting Apprenticeships - Argus Fire

l Keynote Speaker - Steven Smith

l L-R Business Start-Up of The Year - BCIMO, Enterprise of The Year - Cozy N Safe, International Business of The Year - Cellomatic Biosciences, Excellence in Innovation - Energy From Waste Project

l L-R Community Excellence - Oxford Business College, Business of The Year - DENSO Manufacturing UK, Business Person of The Year - Richard Andrews, Highly Commended - Crowe UK, Cambridge Spectacle Co., Bilal Farooq, West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre

l L-R Entrepreneur of The Year - Hiten Shah, Excellence in Technology - School of Coding, Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion

- Memories Greeting Cards, Lifetime Achievement - Bill Panesar

‘FOCUS

- THE BATTLE CRY FROM THE FOUNDER OF POUNDLAND

THE INGREDIFIND APP LAUNCH AT HARVEY NICHOLS

Find Your Allergies At The Click Of A Button

How often do you go to a restaurant and not sure whether you are actually able to eat the food on the menu?

Well here is the Ingredifind app that saves you all the hassle. I was intrigued by this concept and accepted the invitation to their launch at Harvey Nichols Birmingham.

I learnt that this blocks the stress of going through menus wondering if you are actually able to eat foods without having side effects.

The Ingredifind app shows you com-

AUGUST Gig Listings

patible restaurants as well as letting you know what you can or can not eat. Use the app to show at your chosen restaurant and you will have a guaranteed safe experience.

The app creates a personalised card to show restaurant staff of your food allergies, this is a faster way to find out what your suitable dish is at the touch of a button.

A big thanks to Barry Tomes PR for an excellent evening of networking, lush food and great entertainment by the DJ.

Tours (SH)