Your Local Community Newspaper: The only source for local news & community information Issue 48 October/November Edition 2017 Published in Coleshill, North Warks www.thecoleshillpost.co.uk The Coleshill Post @ColeshillPost
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BMW STEM Project with The Coleshill School Students from The Coleshill School were invited to BMW Group’s engine manufacturing plant, Hams Hall, as part of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) project funded by Warwickshire County Council. The project was launched in May 2017 and came to a conclusion on Thursday 19th October 2017. The event at BMW, Hams Hall, allowed the students to showcase all that they had learnt from BMW engineers and apprentices, who
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October/November 2017
Cllr Adam Farrell
Town & Borough Councillor Coleshill North
Housing and the greenbelt
Welcome to my latest column for The Coleshill Post. It’s hard to believe that this is my 54th column for this paper. It’s an amazing story – a paper born out of a desire to provide hyper local news, will next year celebrate its 5th Birthday! I’ve no doubt, there have been difficult times during those 5 years and there will be no doubt be, difficult times to come but this paper has provide our community with something really important – a platform for local news and debate. I want to use this month’s column to discuss housing. It’s a big issue in the town, as we balance protecting the green belt alongside trying to deliver affordable housing for local people. The word ‘affordable’ is often misused as we find so called ‘affordable’ homes are not affordable to ordinary working people. Developers too often get away with not delivering the truly affordable homes that our community needs and at the moment, Councils are struggling to build homes because of austerity and Government borrowing
The Post Newspaper Group is an independent hyper-local tabloid newspaper publisher distributing 2 titles with over 14,000 copies to homes and businesses in Coleshill and Castle Bromwich each month, free of charge. Our main aim is to provide hyperlocal news and information to the community where it would otherwise not be accessible. We also offer the most effective platform for local businesses to promote themselves to their target audience. This benefits the entire community and improves social-cohesion.
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rules. It’s the worst of both worlds. Limited new social housing at affordable rent and limited affordable homes on the open market. This lack of new properties to the market also pushes up the prices of existing properties. Good news for home owners but part of an unbreakable blockade to the housing market for first and even second time buyers. The answer is not a simple one. As a town we’ve voted through the neighbourhood plan to protect our green belt. I support this. So we therefore have to look at sites within the town that could be developed. In Coleshill we have a couple of sites in the emerging Local Plan that the Borough Council thinks would be suitable for housing. The allotments on Stonebridge Road and the Blytheways site on Blythe Road and Church Hill. Apart from these two sites, no other major development is planned for our town in the next 15 years. So we can expect a maximum of 60-70 new homes plus maybe a few individual new dwellings on private land. Is that enough to enable first and second time buyers to live in
their own town? It’s important we also recognise that Government schemes that are supposed to help kick start the housing market such as ‘Help to Buy’ are only available on new build properties from certain registered developers. I’m interested in hearing from you, local people. It is vital we hear from you because some of you will have personal or family interest in housing but others will have children, grandchildren and other family members struggling to find somewhere to live locally. Some of you will be the very people at the heart of the housing crisis. How do we break the mould and be a town that enables people to rent and buy here? Moving away is almost never the answer. Breaking family ties, support and community links is never something that should be forced upon people through a broken housing market. I know as a Councillor that the number one issue that is raised with me is housing. I too often have to try and help people with housing issues, whether it be a landlord increasing rent,
someone on the housing waiting list without any hope of finding a property or someone seeking to buy their first home but no possibility of doing so in our town. Almost always, I am not able to help in the way I would like. So please, let me have your views on this housing crisis. Do you have personal experience of a housing issue? Do you think you have a solution or ideas to fix this problem? Please email me at adamfarrell@northwarks.gov.uk And finally on the topic of housing, I wanted to let you know that I am soon moving out of Coleshill to somewhere else in North Warwickshire. This means that I’ve stepped down as Deputy Mayor, in order for someone new to settle in to the role prior to the next Mayor making meeting in May 2018. I will however remain as a Town and Borough Councillor and will see out my term of office which ends in May 2019. I will continue to be available to contact, hold monthly surgeries in the town and play an active role in the future of Coleshill.
Tory councillors silence over 10,000 home plan Residents have been left shocked after a meeting of North Warwickshire Borough Council to discuss new housing in the area saw every single Conservative Councillor remain silent. Apart from the Chairman of the meeting, all Tory Councillors present remain tight lipped. Tory Councillors did nothing to improve or oppose the plans for 10,000 homes in the North Warwickshire countryside. Every Tory Councillor voted FOR the housing plan in the Borough. Labour Councillors unanimously opposed the plan. Labour’s Group Leader, Cllr Adam Farrell said; “Councillors had over 1000 pages of paperwork to read before this meeting. The agenda was about development in North Warwickshire over the next 15 years – the fact that Tory Councillors had nothing to say really does beggar belief. “This housing plan will see huge parts of North Warwickshire destroyed by this incompetent Tory
Council. Despite their rhetoric, the reality is that no funding has been received to improve the A5 and under the Tories the developer is the boss.” Labour have now used their powers in opposition to force the decision to be delayed and made at a meeting of the Full Council. Cllr Adam Farrell continued; “We will publicise the next Full Council meeting. We’ll ask residents to come along and hold their Tory Councillors to account and we’ll force a recorded vote to preserve forever the names of those Tory Councillors who are prepared to destroy North Warwickshire. "Labour do not oppose housing, in fact we are a pro-housing party but only in the right location and with the right infrastructure. We’ve long argued for a new town to be built in North Warwickshire – allowing the majority of new homes to be delivered with new infrastructure whilst still allowing for proportionate small scale housing growth in existing areas.”
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October/November 2017
What Do You Think?
It was with some sadness that I learned this week that Coleshill Round Table has disbanded, a closure that follows on from the dissolution of our local branch of the Rotary Club a couple of years ago. This got me thinking. What should a vibrant and caring community that helps others and gives time, energy, skills and sometimes money for the common good look like in 2018? As a community we are fortunate to have wonderful volunteer support across a range of roles such as School Governors, Parent Teacher Associations, Scouts and Guides, and parish councils to name but a few. We have active churches who open their doors and their hearts to all, and we have institutions like Water Orton Library and Coleshill Hub that would not provide their service and support were it not for dedicated and caring volunteer members. Indeed, there are a whole host of unsung and unnoticed volunteers who pick up litter, plant and weed flower beds and keep our public spaces clean and pleasant without ever being asked to do so, purely because they are proud of their community. Maybe it’s the ‘how’ we volunteer and work together for common good that is changing and that I shouldn’t be concerned about the closure of the Round Table. What do you think? I am really interested to hear your views, either through Letters to the Coleshill Post Editor or directly to me. As your local councillors do we need to be more to support and recognise and grown our volunteers? On the subject of vibrancy, one of the key community priorities raised with me during the election was the importance of a successful and vibrant local High Street in Coleshill. The closure of two of our banks, the imminent opening of a national franchise in the form of Costa Coffee, and the decision of the independent Planning Inspector to overturn North Warwickshire Borough Council’s decision not to grant planning permission for another food takeaway all mean that the nature and economy of Coleshill High Street is changing. What do we want from our Market Town? You may have read the frank exchange of views on social media about the latest efforts to establish a new street market in Coleshill, which it was hoped would expand the range of local produce and services available and complement the daytime shopping economy. Again, like all of my fellow councillors, I am keen to hear what you think a successful and vibrant High Street is. We will then do our best to support local traders and businesses to maintain and hopefully grow the vibrancy and success of our high street economy.
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Cllr Dave Reilly
North Warwickshire Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council
Finally, one more request for you to share your views please. This time on North Warwickshire Borough Council’s Local Development Plan, the document that will, when formally adopted, specified where all house building, commercial development and key infrastructure improvements will happen across North Warwickshire over the next 15 years from 2018 to 2033. On Tuesday 7th November the Council voted to approve the current draft plan for a further and final six week period of public information and consultation. A series of information events will be held across the borough and our local event for Coleshill, Water Orton and Curdworth is provisionally scheduled for 5pm to 7pm on Monday 4th December at Coleshill Town Hall. Please do make time to come and review and discuss the plan. I know is a work night but it really is the single most important document that the Borough Council will produce this and next year. Thank you for taking the time to read my column. If I can be of help please ring me on 07770 704 617 or email me at cllrreilly@warwickshire.gov.uk.
60 years of bliss
Local Coleshill couple, Barbara and Jim Spencer celebrate 60 years of marriage on 9th November. Best wishes for a Happy 60th Anniversary Mom & Dad, with love from your boys, Joe, Ged & Dom and daughters in law Karen & Dawn, Grandchildren, Pam, Josh, Callum and Elle and all your very special friends in Coleshill. Xx
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October/November 2017
Diabetes UK urges everyone with diabetes to get flu jab this winter Diabetes UK are calling for everyone with diabetes, including those who are pregnant, to have a flu vaccination this winter as illnesses like the flu can be more severe for people with diabetes. Current figures (1) show almost a quarter (24%) of people with diabetes did not have a flu vaccination in England last winter, despite it being free to everyone with the condition.
Peter Shorrick, Diabetes UK Midlands Regional Head, said: “It is essential everyone with diabetes has the flu jab this winter. People with diabetes are at a greater risk of the flu and this can lead to more severe illnesses, such as pneumonia. “Illnesses like the flu are serious for people with diabetes, if you have any concerns about having the vaccination then please speak to your GP or healthcare professional.”
The flu jab is one of 15 healthcare essentials that every person Flu can be serious for people with diabetes and can make it harder with diabetes is entitled to through the NHS every year. These to manage the condition, as it can destabilise blood sugar levels. This include having your blood pressure measured, having your eyes can in turn increase the risk of developing serious complications, screened for signs of retinopathy (disease) and having your feet such as amputations, stroke and kidney disease.
and legs checked.
Lea Marston Hotel pride themselves on their traditional family owned heritage and have a vision to be the best independently owned hotel in the Midlands, with a mission to create great experiences and lasting memories for all their guests. But beyond that they also pride themselves on giving to the local community with the aim of raising money each year through numerous events held at the hotel for both guests and staff. This year Lea Marston Hotel is raising funds for Mary Ann Evans Hospice, with the next event being the annual Christmas Craft Fayre on Thursday 16th November 2017. If looking for some Christmas stocking gift inspiration or just to indulge yourself, come along between 6pm – 9pm with £1.00 admission and a go on the raffle! For further information visit their website – www.leamarstonhotel.co.uk or call 01675 470468.
Each year the NHS prepares for the unpredictability of the flu as the influenza virus can change rapidly year-on-year. They recommend that everyone who is eligible for the flu jab gets vaccinated as soon as possible to avoid getting the illness. Diabetes UK has put together a guide to help people with diabetes avoid the flu, as part of Public Health England’s Stay Well This Winter Campaign. For more information about diabetes and flu, please visit our website www.diabetes.org.uk/seasonal-flu
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October/November 2017
Coleshill Church of England Primary School break harvest tradition This year the PTFA at Coleshill Church of England Primary School broke with their Harvest Festival tradition and instead of the usual ‘decorate a vegetable’ competition,asked the children to produce food hampers that could be donated locally. The children, parents and teachers certainly rose to the challenge. Each class was asked to create their own food hamper which could be decorated with a Harvest Festival theme and filled with produce suitable for donation. The PTFA was completely overwhelmed by the children’s response and although a winner was originally to be selected, this was an impossible task due to the quality of the hampers. From the decorations to the beautiful array of products within, the hampers that have been produced are truly amazing. They will now be donated locally and through the Kingfisher Food Bank in Smiths Wood. The PTFA felt that the food used for the decorate a vegetable competition could be put to better use and wanted to encourage the children to think about helping others and actively do something that could benefit the local community. Children, parents and teachers have really embraced the idea creating some beautifully decorated hampers filled with food, toiletries and other useful items that we hope will benefit local families. The PTFA would like to thank all of the children and parents for their kind donations and all of the teaching staff at the school for their support.
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October/November 2017
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October/November 2017
The Joy of Giving at High Meadow Harvest Festival On Wednesday 18th October the children, staff and families at High Meadow Infant School came together to celebrate the Harvest Festival. In the run up to Harvest, families generously donated a range of food that was then donated to the local Kingfisher Food bank. Throughout the week, the children learnt about the importance of sharing with
others who may not have as much as they do and were thrilled to help the local food bank load all of the donations into a van. During the Harvest Festival performance all of the children performed a range of poems and songs including ‘Under the Harvest Moon’, ‘Big Red Combine Harvester’ and ‘Cauliflowers Fluffy’. Parents and carer’s really enjoyed the performance in what was described as ‘a wonderful end to a wonderful half term’
Protecting Your Eyes Sun Sensibility
Sunglasses have become the go-to accessory thanks to celebrities in mainstream media and the all-purpose famous black but they also come in a handful of different tints and colours. This however, takes us away from the actual purpose of wearing sunglasses which is to protect our eyes from the Sun and its harmful rays. Proper care against damage caused by ultra violet light depends primarily on the treatment and coatings of lenses rather than on the shade or darkness of the sunglass, and poor quality fashion sunglasses can make you susceptible to headaches and fatigue. Sunglasses act as a barrier against dust and airborne irritants such as pollen reaching the eye, so they can also help to reduce the symptoms of hay fever and other allergies. Your optician can advise you on the best style and tint to suit your lifestyle. They will ensure that the sunglasses you buy are made from high quality materials and that they fit properly to give your eyes the best possible protection - valuable advice that is not generally available from other retail outlets. Make sure that the sunglasses you choose carry the CE mark; this indicates they have been manufactured to controlled high standards and have UV absorbers in the material of the lens.
Ultra Violet Rays
There are three types of UV radiation - UVA, UVB and UVC: UVA and UVB rays can damage different parts of the eye and the sensitive skin around the eyes, and are risk factors in diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Good quality sunglasses block the maximum possible amount of these rays. UVC rays do not reach us as they are absorbed by the upper atmosphere; if you wear spectacles, you can have sunglasses fitted with lenses to meet your prescription. Children spend a lot of time playing outdoors particularly in summer, as well as covering their skin with high factor sunblock, it is vital to protect their eyes from UV radiation with well fitted high quality sunspecs. Changes to our Ozone Layer is affecting our exposure to harmful rays, even more now than before so whether it’s to find shade from bright lights or gusts of wind and snow it is imperative to have the right sunglasses for you in the right conditions.
Lights and Lenses
If you wear contact lenses or do not need vision correction, there is an extremely wide range of frames with plain lenses in various styles and shapes. If you spend a lot of time in the sun, then a dark tint will be more comfortable. A lighter tint can be suitable for duller days or for indoors under artificial lighting or working at a computer. Neutral shades of brown, green and grey have a less distorting effect on the neutral colours around us, whereas blue tints can change the way we perceive some colours and are not recommended for driving. Polarised lenses are effective in combating glare, for instance reflection from road surfaces or water. Close-fitting wraparound styles offer good protection from wind and light from the side, making them ideal for sports. Shatterproof polycarbonate lenses and impact-resistant frames are particularly recommended for sports and for children. Photochromic lenses are also widely available. These darken on exposure to bright light and can help your eyes to adjust to frequent changes in light conditions without the need to constantly put on and take off your sunglasses. Not all photochromic lenses change tint as fast as others, so check that the speed of reaction meets your needs.
Screen Safe
Screens from T.Vs, computers, mobile phones and other electronic devices are popping up in almost all aspects of our lives, it is not surprising that there are an increasing number of complaints of headaches, shoulder and back pain and eyestrain. Many of these discomforts can be avoided by slight re-arrangements of your environment and sensible working practices. Simple adjustments to your seating, the position of your computer screen, documents on your desk, and suitable lighting conditions can all help to minimise problems. It is recommended to encourage sensible eye care habits from a young age by ensuring that your children do not spend long uninterrupted periods playing on their game consoles or sitting close to the television or computer screens. Tired, dry, irritated eyes, blurred vision, eyestrain and headaches can all be the consequence of prolonged concentration on the screen. Take regular breaks (say every twenty minutes), to look away from the screen and relax your shoulders and your gaze. Surfing the internet or playing computer games does not count as a break. If you are in an office environment, try to vary your workload with phone calls, writing/reading, and filing, photocopying or talking with colleagues. If you do find your eyes feeling irritated while working at your computer, consciously increase your blink rate to help restore the tear film layer, or try lubricant eye drops and rewet your contact lenses for relief.
Screen Safe
Whether you are at home or at work, be sure to maintain good posture in a supportive chair and sit facing the screen rather than twisting your back or neck at an angle. Adjust your seat so that you can work with your forearms parallel to the work surface with both feet on the ground or a footrest. Make sure the computer is at a comfortable height and distance from your eyes, usually about 60 cm. Place your papers at a similar distance, on the desk or using a document holder, to avoid frequent re-focusing. Room lighting should be three times brighter than the screen, which should be kept clean and dust free. Newer flat-screen monitors present higher resolution distortion-free images. Eliminate glare and reflections on the screen by putting blinds or curtains at the windows. Ellis Opticians is your local, independent opticians based at 350 Bradford Rd., Castle Bromwich, Birmingham. B36 9AD Tel. 0121 747 2115 www.ellisopticians.com
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October/November 2017
Remember the past Colin Hayfield and Andrew Watkins are going to collaborate on the production of a booklet on the life and times of Coleshill during the twenties and thirties. This will be based round photographs which were taken during those times or photographs of areas of Coleshill which has change little over the years.
although the Civic Society and Colin already have
They will be looking to talk to people who still
stories to tell and then all may swap tales and
have memories, perhaps vague, of those times.
many photographs there are others in existence which we are not aware of. We would be very grateful if anyone knows of any material which could be helpful to contact either Colin, Andrew or the Civic Society at the Old Market Hall on Church Hill. At a later date we will be calling a meeting of people who we have learned have interesting perhaps have memories jolted to reveal even
A number of people have already been identified
more interesting tales about Coleshill between
as knowing the names of places which were used
the wars.
during those years. They also know who lived in the properties.
Please look at the photos accompanying these notes. We would like you to write down any
We are sure, however that there are many
information you may have about them. Who lived
memories which have been handed down by older
in the houses, what the shops were over the years
relatives which many would wish to hear. Also,
and perhaps what was there originally.
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October/November 2017
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Ansley Church CV10 0QR
20
17
Saturday 2nd December 11.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. Sunday 3rd December 11.30 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. Saturday 9th December 11.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. Sunday 10th December 11.30 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. Saturday 16th December 11.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. Sunday 17th December 11.30 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.
Christmas Tree Festival 2017
This event, much enjoyed by all ages, will again take place in the church during the three weekends leading up to Christmas. As usual the church will be decorated with 60 trees around the church. Each will be decorated by a person or an organisation.
Some people plan their “tree” from the start of the year. With everyone having their own ideas to decorate their tree, it helps make the whole event very different from the previous one. Last year there were titles such as “No ‘N’ Tree”, “The 2.30 Tree”, “Pom ~ Pom” Tree and “Halleloojah!” There will continue to be a Remembrance Tree, where there is the opportunity for the names of loved ones to be written on stars and put on the tree for £1. This money will go towards the cost of cutting the churchyard grass, which is at present £260 per cut. In the vestry there will be the Prayer Tree, where prayers can be pegged to the tree and all of these will be brought to the Lord over the Christmas period. There will also be the opportunity to light a candle. Together with the various things that are in some of the windows and suspended from the arches and ceiling etc. with a few new things included. As well as in previous years there will be a crib on the altar to remind all of us that the gift to mankind of the baby Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas. The opening hours will continue to be the same as in previous years for the three weekends prior to Christmas i.e. Saturdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 11.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. If an organisation/group would like to arrange a visit on a week day this may be possible, please contact 01827 874520.
Admission will continue to be £2.00 per person, and accompanied children under 12 will be free. The proceeds will be in aid of Church funds, with a donation of 20% being given to the Mary Ann Evans Hospice. Throughout the weekends there will be tea, coffee, hot chocolate and mince pies available in the annexe, and also a raffle for a Christmas cake. Jess and Richard Arrowsmith will be, as in past years giving a concert of Traditional English Music on Friday 22th at 7.30 p.m. Tickets £10 payable at the door. As with all such events that St. Laurence Church arranges, it is wonderful to welcome visitors to share it. It is most encouraging to hear their lovely comments and also to read the ones written in the visitor’s book, a few of which are listed below:“Really wonderful displays.“ “Excellent.” “Beautiful and creative ” “Again, another year of heartfelt beauty.” “Congratulations to you all, a wonderful display.” “The trees are so pretty I would love to come next year.” “ Wonderful, different trees from so many people, organised, beautiful and cheerful.” “Beautiful as usual. Thank You.” A report of last year’s festival with a few photographs can be found at http://ansleychurch. org/articles/articles.php?id=626 but, as with many photographs, they do not give the full atmosphere With 60 beautifully decorated trees, we feel this will be a wonderful way to add to your Christmas celebrations. So why not come along and enjoy the wonder of our Festival, which we hope will be another lovely experience.
Admission £2. All accompanied children free
60 Christmas Trees Decorated by the community Light refreshments available. In aid of: Church Funds and a donation to Mary Ann Evans Hospice
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October/November 2017
Coleshill Gymnastics Club set for a great future Coleshill Gymnastics Club is based at Coleshill Leisure Centre, Packington Lane. The club itself has been running for a number of years with significant development happening more recently. Sessions range from recreational gymnastics with the emphasis on fun and based around British Gymnastics badge work, coached by fully qualified coaches. These sessions include an annual display and an internal competition between all our North Warwickshire Leisure Centres.
Coleshill Gymnastics Club has a dedicated Display Team that enters local events such as Water Orton Carnival, Coleshill Carnival, Gym Fusion Stoke, Chance 2 Dance and Drayton Manor Park and further afield at The Lowry Theatre Manchester. A highlight of our display team was performing on the main stage in Solihull Dance Fest hosted by Diversity. The team performed to thousands of people with an amazing reaction and created a life long memory for them all.
Coleshill Gymnastics Club is based at Coleshill Leisure Centre, Packington Lane. The club itself has been running for a number of years with significant development happening more recently.
Not forgetting the youngest gym-nasts of the teams who competed in July 2017 in Coventry. Also bagging plenty of medals and coming away with the under 5’s all around champion Shyanne Millard and the all around champion age 7 category Ashleigh Prince.
Sessions range from recreational gymnastics with the emphasis on fun and based around British Gymnastics badge work, coached by fully qualified coaches. These sessions include an annual display and an internal competition between all our North Warwickshire Leisure Centres. Borne out of these sessions is our Squad Team, personally selected by are head coach, which is dedicated to entering competitions such as Novice, Floor and Vault, Grades and Levels.
Above: Amirah Hewitt, Ashleigh Prince, Phoebe Bridges, Mia Macdonald, Ellie Hutchings, Summer Garey and Ellie Allen
To help towards their levels and Grades, Coach Danielle Land & Lisa Rhodes took the girls to train with British National Coach and Choreographer Daniela Nanova. Daniela has a long list of experiences in-cluding being a gold medallist herself and has created routines for world Champions. The girls had a hard, yet challenging two hour training session and came away with a good knowledge of what they needed to work towards in their upcoming competitions. In October our level and grade girls took on their biggest challenge yet and competed WAG Level 5 .All did amazing with some really high scores, holding their own competing with some of the top clubs around.
Coleshill Gymnastics Club also had the honour and competed in Nottingham at the Double Downie Cup two years in a row, with the gymnasts lucky enough to meet both Olympic Gymnasts Becky and Ellie Downie. Coleshill Gymnastics club and proud coaches Danielle Land and Lisa Rhodes have had some amazing experiences to date with much more lined up for the upcoming months and year ahead. The gymnasts have plenty to look forward to and to train hard with their new equipment soon to be set up at the Coleshill Leisure Centre. We wish all Gymnasts at Coleshill Gymnastics club the best of luck and look forward to hearing more news from these Future Stars.
Above: Becky Downie, Kimberly Green, Summer Garey, Morgan Prince and Ellie Downie
RESIDENTS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Get in touch with your points of view Contact: editor@thecoleshillpost.co.uk or serena.smith@thecoleshillpost.co.uk
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October/November 2017
Eleón Awards Success Eleon Greek restaurant and meze bar, has been operating for the last 3 years in Sutton Coldfield. The restaurant is a family run business, serving authentic Greek food, using the freshest local ingredients from our prestigious local suppliers and Greek produce also. Some excellent Greek wines and beers are also served in the restaurant.
From the second year of its operation, Eleon has been nominated as a finalist for the best Mediterranean restaurant in Midlands, #foodawardsengland 2016. This year it's has been nominated again and on the 2nd October 2017 received 2 awards, best Regional Mediterranean restaurant award and also the best Mediterranean restaurant in England overall award.
The award ceremony took place on the 2nd October 2017 at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel, organized by Creative Oceanic #foodawardsengland 2017. We would like to thank the Eleon team and our customers for helping us achieve these awards. WINNER
Eleon - Greek Restaurant & Meze Bar
Address: 2 Maney Corner, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1QL Telephone: 0121 354 6805 Email: info@eleonrestaurant.co.uk
Blue Rose
Flowers of Distinction
Bespoke flower arrangements by Christine Ann. Tel 07480 559843 As an independent florist we specialise in quality funeral tributes/arrangements offering a dedicated service to funeral arrangements. Our aim is to provide customers with the best experience during such a sad time. From initial contact, placing orders and delivery dates, we are here for our customers to produce high quality floral tributes. All our flowers are prepared with the utmost respect, loving care and attention to the detail that your loved ones deserve. All flowers purchased from reputable suppliers to coincide with delivery dates ensures our flowers are fresh and vibrant. We use best quality flowers.
• Find us on Facebook • Competitive prices • Serving Coleshill, Castle Bromwich and surrounding areas • Traditional tributes • Lettering Mom, Dad etc/Gates of Heaven/Cross/Heart • Bespoke Arrangements • Delivery to funeral director (local area) • Professional Qualified Florist • Lettering £21.50 per single letter
12
October/November 2017
Warwickshire carer ‘highly commended’ twice in national creative competition Dawn Hart, 45, from Coleshill Warwickshire, has been ‘highly commended’ by Carers UK for two of her entries to their national Creative Writing and Photography Competition. Dawn has cared for her twin children Ethan and Grace,aged 7, the first of whom was diagnosed with brain damage and the latter with genetic conditions (trisomy X and Global Development delay) and short bowel disease. Dawn was the only photography entrant to be highly-commended for two photographs, Leigh and Carer Crisis. The first depicts her friend and “hero” Leigh – a fellow mother, carer and campaigner looking after a disabled son – whose energy and passion inspired Dawn to feel more “positive and energised” in her caring role. Her second photograph, Carer Crisis, depicts Dawn’s own face literally ‘plastered up’ to cover physical and mental ailments, such as fatigue and migraines. She hopes the picture demonstrates the way that long-term support, rather than short-term ‘plasters’, are the only way to help carers at breaking point. Highly-commended photographer, Dawn Hart explained: “With ‘Leigh’ I hope to show that it’s possible to be a mother first and a carer second. My own experiences informed my second photograph, ‘Carer Crisis’ as I realised after six years of sleepless nights that I was suffering from ‘Carer Burnout’. I wanted to encourage others to recognise these signs and offer long-term support to carers with these symptoms.” “Winning a highly-commended spot for my photographs is so exciting. Since the competition I have put wheels in motion to take more photographs of parent carers like Leigh. I’d like to use this opportunity to encourage other carers to come forward to a charity
like Carers UK for support and use creativity, whether it’s painting, photography, or blogging, as a way to express how you feel. All too often, carers aren’t able to.” Carers UK, with support from sponsors Specsavers Healthcall, will publish winners from the winning poetry and short story categories as part of an anthology called ‘Was This in the Plan?’ set to be released on 27 November. The book is available to preorder on Carers UK’s online shop and costs for £5 (£3 for Carers UK members). All proceeds will help fund the charity’s work supporting and advocating for those looking after loved ones. Earlier this year, carers, former carers, and their friends were invited to contribute poems, short stories, and photographs for the national competition. Both well-established and newer artists and writers shared their personal reflections on caring. The poems were picked by award-winning poet Cheryl Moskowitz, who judged the prize for a third year running and the photography by Portrait Photographer Bella West. Carers UK’s Chief Executive, Heléna Herklots said: “At some point in our lives almost all of us will care for someone or require care ourselves. Yet, caring can still feel like an isolating experience, often worsened by a lack of understanding from those close to us or society as a whole. With the support of Specsavers Healthcall, Carers UK is using the power of photography and the written word to shine a light on the experiences of more carers than ever before. In previous years, we have seen the competition’s winning poems, stories, and photographs help other carers feel less alone and better understood. We hope that this year’s contest will encourage even more carers recognise their role and come forward to seek the support they’re entitled to.”
Is Coleshill home to Britain’s biggest dinner time disaster? From burning the roast dinner to a toddler’s meal time mess, everyone has experienced a real dinner time disaster. To celebrate the launch of its new dining and living room furniture range, ScS wants to hear all about Coleshill’s funniest food fails, and meal time mess-ups! The furniture retailer is offering the person crowned with the UK’s top dinnertime disaster a new Cruz dining table and four chairs, which will arrive in time for Christmas – perfect for entertaining the family during the holiday period. The new additions to ScS’ range include tables crafted from tempered glass, traditional woods, as well as glossy and marble finishes, enabling the perfect fit for both style and budget. The company is also giving customers early Christmas gifts of £100 and £200 vouchers off its new collections until 26
November, which are now available in-store. Simon Nicholson, Furniture Buying Director, said: “Meal times are an important part of family bonding, whether it’s talking about your day, sharing a laugh or experiencing a funny dinner time disaster, getting around the table is a great way to bring families closer and invest in quality time together. “At ScS we value family and we think dining in, is definitely the new dining out. We can’t wait to hear about your meal time mayhem, and look forward to choosing a well-deserved winner.” To enter the competition and read the T&Cs, visit the ScS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ scssofas/app/451684954848385/
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October/November 2017
GEOFF HORSEFIELD FOUNDATION
Charity Auction Night
Sponsored by Premier Meats and Supported by The Coleshill and Castle Brom Post. I was happy to accept an invite to this Charity Auction Night from Phil the Butcher from Premier Meats who was helping to fund raise and create awareness of the Geoff Horsefield Foundation. The Geoff Horsefield Foundation helps young vulnerable adults who have fallen through the current support network. Geoff founded this project in 2016 he is one of the most respected sportsman in the West Midlands and feels that he would like to give something back to the community. He provides safe and secure accommodation with all the support needed for these young vulnerable people. Check out Geoff Horsefields on google Twitter and Facebook. It was a fabulous evening throughout with a few famous faces from Ex Footballers to Boxers. Phil from Premier Meats sponsored a beautiful Buffet worth £800 for the evening and also 2 meat hampers worth £100 each for the Auction. The auction consisted of prizes like: • 4 Ball Golf at Sutton Golf Club • Cocktail Masterclass and Dinner for 4 people at Glynn Purnells Bistro • 4 Ball Golf at Walmley with Geoff Horsefield and Paul Devlin including a 30 minute lesson. • 3 Tickets for the Villa/Blues at St Andrews, Corporate Meal with Geoff , Kenny Burns and Martin Granger. • Night out with Geoff and Paul at the Red Lion Coleshill with an Over Night Stay and a bottle of Champagne. • Emeli Sande Tickets with the best Seats in the house. • Half page advertising in the Coleshill or Castle Brom Post Newspaper
The Raffle Prizes • Craig Gardener signed Boots • Cotteril signed Match Shirt • Signed Blues Football • Whiskey • Signed Frankie Gavin Glove • Meat Hamper • Signed playoff programme • Kal Yafai Signed Glove and PHOTO • Tattoo sitting – 2 hours The entertainment included a disco before and after the Auction and Raffle and overall it was a great fun filled night and I can not wait for the next event. All this was put on to raise funds so Geoff can buy a Mini Bus for Children and young adults who are less fortunate than ourselves. This will enable day trips out like going to maybe Blackpool or a day at a bowling alley which these people have never had the pleasure of doing. Geoff Horsefield does so much for Charity and with the help of some of his friends he is hoping to raise as much money as possible. If you would like to donate a gift for the next auction night or would like to purchase a ticket or you would like any other information please contact Ada 07751698630 or contact @GEOFFHORSEFIELD9 on Twitter Watch out for the next few events coming up... eg. One to one Questions with the some players, to Ladies night with some famous people doing the Full Monty.
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October/November 2017
TIMETABLE Upstairs in the Town Hall
Tuesdays 10:00am - 1:00pm
01675 463 326 Improve your confidence, brush up your skills and succeed!
Get help with your CV, Job search, and improve your IT skills. With support from
COMMUNITY
CAFE Join us for a freshly prepared meal at the Town Hall
Lunch is served at 12.00pm Last Friday of each month
Simply donate what you can afford! Eat for free if you can’t!
MEMORY CAFE and their carers Robert Lloyd Room, Water Orton Church
1.30—4.00pm 1st Friday of the month
megan@coleshilltowncouncil.gov.uk
10:00am - 1:00pm Housing Benefit forms General Info & Support Energy Deals 10.00am - 12.00pm P3 Floating Support Service Benefits, Debt, Housing, Advice and Guidance
10:00am - 1:00pm Guideposts (Carers Trust) Every 1st & 3rd Monday of the month. Advice & Guidance for Carers only.
2:00pm - 4:00pm U3A Family History Class Contact for dates
TUESDAY
10:00am - 1:00pm JOB CLUB Help with CV’s and Job Seeking
2:00pm - 4:00pm U3A Family History Class Contact for dates
WEDNESDAY
10:00am - 1:00pm Finance, Pensions, General Info & Support. SSAFA Consumer
THURSDAY
Tel: 01675 463 326
10:00am - 1:00pm General Computer Use & Signposting
Computer Club
10.00am - 12.00pm COMPUTER CLUB
FRIDAY
OUTREACH COMMUNITY GROUPS Struggling to keep up with computers and the internet?
Get Connected
Contact: 02476322048 for more information
MONDAY
Friday 10.00—12.00 The Coleshill Hub @The Town Hall Learn about Online Banking, Email, Online Shopping, how to get cheaper energy deals and much more, in a relaxed and sociable environment.
Friendly Help and Support Call 01675 463 326 or come up to the Hub to talk
WEDNESDAY
10:30am - 12:30pm ART GROUP Old Market Hall
THURSDAY
10:00am - 12:00pm WALKING GROUP Old Market Hall 1st Thurs of Month
FRIDAY
1:30pm - 4:00pm MEMORY CAFÉ 1st Friday Month Water Orton Church, Robert Lloyd Room
Call 01675 463 326 Visit Coleshill Community Hub @ Coleshill Town Hall www.coleshillhub.co.uk
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October/November 2017
The Civic Society: Successful Quiz Nigh The Civic Society held a very successful Quiz Night in the Old Market Hall on Thursday November 9th. 60 people answered questions set and presented by Roger Hateley with varying success. Why is it that the correct answer never comes to mind when you need it. The Civic Society will be in the Library at the Late Night Opening on the High Street on Thursday November 30. We will have books of photographs available for you to look at. John Hoyle will be in the library but at the Christmas Fayre in the Town Hall on Saturday December 2nd between 1pm and 4pm the books will be in the care of Andrew Watkins and Colin Hayfield. Please come along and share you memories of the old places of Coleshill.
In 2018 the Civic Society have decided to give the people of Coleshill a free year of membership. If you wish to be involved and here about our activities please send your email address to us at coleshillcivicsociety@yahoo.co.uk with full name, address and interests. You may have noticed work with heavy machinery taking place in a number of fields round the area. Most of this is preparation for HS2. How many of you have any idea of the effects that HS2 and it’s building works will have on our community? This is something we all ought to be aware of and prepared for the upset to come. The building work will be far worse than when the whole thing is completed for then we will only have the associated traffic and some noise and be able to reach London almost before we leave Coleshill! Will the advent of HS2 stimulate and airport development?
In January, on the second Thursday, we are hosting a talk by Councillor David Reilly which will be wide ranging. David is the HS2 Borough lead on the development and he will give his views on the effect of this development on the Town, how the building will effect us all, what we may expect when it is built, how much development, houses, industrial sites and additional roads will accompany HS2. Will the area gain any advantages from HS2, new parks, new paths, new woodland, new schools, new surgeries. HS2 allegedly have money to sweeten the pill, are we having any of it. Is our Town Council working to try to use HS2 to our advantage? Come along on January 11th, hear what he has to say and ask questions if he has not covered all your queries.
GLITZY BITS BOUTIQUE of 109 HIGH STREET COLESHILL ARE PROUD TO HOST OUR Charity Fashion Show on SUNDAY 3rd DECEMBER at 4pm Coleshill Social Club SHOWCASING OUR JEWELLERY | SHOES | BAGS | CLOTHING
Tickets £2.00 to include glass of fizz Available from Linda Eagles at Coleshill Social Club and Glitzy Bits boutique on Coleshill High Street
Come and view our take on interior decorations and childrens wear. And our collection of Christmas gifts and decorations. Specialise in home décor and childrens wear
Raising money to support
Tel : 01675 465 718
Find us on Facebook
115 High Street Coleshill Birmingham B46 3BP
01675 430 295 jane@envogueinteriors.co.uk www.envogueinteriors.co.uk
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October/November 2017
Battle on the Croft was Brill!!
Saturday 2nd September was the last sunny day of the summer holidays and perfect weather for the Coleshill Town Mayor’s big charity event “Battle on the Croft”. The Mayor, Councillor Tony Battle had spent a lot of time creating this community event to raise monies for his mayoral charity; The Woodlands Specialist School, in Packington Lane, Coleshill
There was a lot on offer and many generous contributors including stalls run by The Royal British Legion and Help For Heroes, Peak Properties, Coleshill Cubs & Scouts, Buzzard Valley Vineyard, Coleshill Art Group and the Face painting & Festive glitter girls! Dan Greens chainsaw woodcarving was very popular and he secured two commissions at the event. Love Coleshill set up their cart at the lychgate at the entrance to St. Peter’s Walk to welcome everyone attending. Food & Drink stalls including Carlicious cocktail bar & Ice cream Trike, the Griffin horse box bar who offered a pint of Battle brew!, The Hog Roast, Little Red Coffee Cart, Wood Fired Pizza, the Candyfloss & Doughnut man, and last but by no means least Cllr. Claire Breeze was the delicious Samosa lady! A giant bouncy slide and bouncy castle supplied by A Bounce Above the Rest, and a fancy dress competition run by the Deputy Town Clerk, Zoe Hillcox, with excellent hamper prizes donated by the beautiful Angie at Coleshill Sweet Things Sweetshop, gave the youngsters great enjoyment. The main “Tug of War” event was most entertaining and successfully won with the determined muscle of Woodlands Staff members who put in extra power and determination. Well Done! The Coleshill Parish Church also supported the event by opening its doors to all, and opening the church tower, which is well worth the long climb up for the amazing views of the
surrounding landscape. Many thanks to Nick the Vic, all his team, and particularly his amazing stallholders. A vintage display of classic cars and bikes courtesy of Jan Prowse of Coleshill Self Storage, plus an appearance of the “Lightening McQueen” special, which is shortly off on a charity run to “Barcelona & Back” for the Make a Wish Charity and Kevin Stubbs with his Ex-Mayor of Coventry’s 1996 Jaguar XJ. The star of the show was the delightful appearance of Tony Harrington’s 1916 Steam Traction Engine Peddler. The afternoon’s entertainment was fantastic, with the opening set provided by our very own Coleshill Town Band, followed by solo singers of various genre’s including Dan Peet fresh from the BBC1 hit show “Pitch Battle” were Dan was one of the members of Crescendo which got to the finals. The fabulous solo singers Sarah Fullwood, Charlotte Young, Simon Davies, a teacher at the Woodlands School & Emily Robinson all did great sets, and the programme was held together by none other than our very own Peter (King) Fowler on the decks, as compare, and playing music between the sets for everyone to sing along too. Many thanks must also go to our “technical support guy” Alex who volunteered his help. The Mayor was delighted to receive several dignitaries from surrounding areas to support his event and they were made to feel very welcome and included by all. The guests were the Mayor of North Warwickshire Borough Council, Cllr. Terry Waters & his wife, The Deputy Mayor of Alcester Town Council Cllr. Andrew Foster & his wife & family, Mayor of Stratford Town Council Cllr. Victoria Alcock & her husband and family, Mayor of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Cllr. Stuart Davies and his consort and Mayor of Warwick Town Council Cllr, Stephen Cross & his wife.
Others people to thank include John Plumb for the loan of the hay bales for people to sit on, Martin Bromage for his muscles putting up marquees and staging, everyone on the organising committee, sponsors Adrian McLean at Armac, Wayne at Speedy NEC, Lee at RS Connect, Darren at Red Material Ltd, Andy Connell at Pirtek Birmingham, Safeway Scaffolding, Richard Lynas at SUEZ recycling & recovery UK Ltd, Coleshill Bellringers and SITA. Wilson Investments for the use of the Chantry House car park, The Old Salts Rugby Club for the use of their staging for our entertainers and the Coleshill Fire Station boys for coming to join us and for allowing the children on to the fire engine. Thanks must also go to the Mayor’s lovely wife Jayne Battle and her colleague Mike Davies who volunteer for Midlands Emergency Responders and were therefore forced into staffing the First Aid tent in case people got too excited with all that was on offer!! To date the monies raised for this event are nearly £3000 for the Mayors Charity “Woodlands School” in Coleshill. Any further fund-raising monies collected during Cllr. Battle’s mayoral year will be added to this, and his final sum will be shared in late April/early May 2018. The general feel of the whole event was super, with the sunshine, blue skies, music, plenty of food and drink, stalls to browse, something for the kids, hay bales to sit on and all set within our local community. This is what makes Coleshill special, local people doing events for the local community to raise funds for local children. Thank you to ALL who helped and ALL who attended, your involvement makes it all worthwhile.
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October/November 2017
Jack O'Watton Plans to bring parish church into the 21st century safeguard its past
O Christmas tree, how lovely are thy woolly branches
Plans which show Coleshill parish church opened up and equipped for more regular use by the community will be explained through a presentation and displays there on Sunday 19 November.
A 23ft knitted tree will be the star attraction in Coleshill parish church from 15 December.
Nick the Vic says, “I am thrilled that after much hard work we have finally reached the moment when we will see our vision come to fruition for opening up this beautiful church to the whole community for more regular use – safeguarding its future by sensitively creating facilities for the 21st century and restoring its precious heritage”. Over half the required funds have been raised to transform the church. It enables the first phase of the £990,000 project to start in January. Money has come in or been pledged through the generosity of church members, local individuals and businesses, and via trust and statutory authority grants – both local and national – to the tune of nearly £575,000. Nick adds: “Please note the open afternoon is not a fundraising event but rather an opportunity for everyone to discover what is planned, recognising that very many people care about this landmark building which provides a spiritual centre for our whole community.”
The campaign towards the overall target continues, with a second phase of works scheduled for late summer next year and for the final phase of works to take place in the winter of 2019. Nick says: “You are warmly invited to an open afternoon at the church from 2pm-4pm on Sunday 19th November where the vision and detail of these plans will be explained. There will also be cake and refreshments to enjoy.” The church has been extended and improved throughout its centuries old history most recently in the early 1980’s when the upper room was created. The last extensive renovations were in 1859.
The idea was to help CIB to promote the look of the town. The ideas, and the original sketches, have been lost, but included a spectacular trompel’oeil of a fountain on the estate agent’s wall by the garden at the crossroads. Fast forward a decade or so, and it’s what the Pound pony and the Chassieu Walk cheval, the book worm - and CASPER - are trying to do. And why stop there? Two nondescript Coleshill stairways - at Bramble Close and the High Street
It contains all the services for all the churches in town right through December in greeting card format. It was not produced last year, and was missed. To meet the demand, it will be printed again this year, so look out for it at the end of November.
Let’s go bananas Ever so slowly, Coleshill is beginning to paint the town red.
Stairways to a starring role on the world stage Coleshill In Bloom was knee high to a nemesia when Warwickshire County Council sent an artist to wonder round town to see how the town could be spruced up by trompe-l’oeil and tree planting.
Around 7,000 knitted squares, 3,000 knitted decorations and £1,000 worth of wool has gone into its creation by Marston Green knitters and their friends. It will take two men, some scaffolding and about a week to put together, hopefully in time for the Coleshill Town Band’s Christmas concert in church, then the Christmas tree festival from 1517 December the next weekend. The church can order you a 5-6ft tree for £14 which you can decorate yourself. The church will be open to do the decoration from 10am-2pm on 14 December. For a small charge, a member of the Flower Guild will do it for you. Contact the vicarage office on 01675 462188, or email colemaxsecretary@outlook.com. The Churches Together Christmas card will be published again this year.
(pictured) - are ripe for a facelift, and so join a list of stunning tourist attractions around the world. 16thavenuetiledsteps.com gives details of how the community got together in San Francisco to create a sea to stars themed mosaic on a 163 step stairway in the Golden Gate neighbourhood. Tile sponsorship provided the funding for the majority of the project. Three mosaic workshops were held in the community so that all could participate in the making of the mosaic panels. The then Mayor of Caltagirone, Italy, home of the Scala Steps, was at the opening. Look on line for the Santa Teresa Steps in Rio and tiled stairs in Tunisia for further inspiration. And to imagine what the town could look like with a bit of imagination…
Trompe-l'œil (French for "deceive the eye”), is an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion that the depicted objects exist in three dimensions.
Well, in parts, if you look carefully. Colourful Coleshill is still a long way off, but The Coleshill is looking handsome in lizard, sage green and dusk meadow. The Coach next door is looking bonny after painter and decorator Liam Weldon brushed on the banana split yellow. All of which puts the scruffy old library across the road to shame.
Which begs the question, what would the Green Man look like green? Like this, actually.
18
ADVERTISING FEATURE October/November 2017
Retirement revolution
The age-old practice of retiring at 65 is being supplanted by a lifestyle choice of phased retirement that brings a host of new financial considerations. Will retiring from your full-time job mark the end of your career? Or will you travel the world as a ‘grey gapper’, before returning energised and refreshed for a fulfilling new phase of work well into your 70s? That’s the choice some of those in their 50s and early 60s now have. The practice of an employee being pensioned off from fulltime work and disappearing from the workplace is fast being replaced by phased retirement. Instead of working full-time until they leave on a full pension, older workers are scaling back their hours or taking on less demanding roles, thus extending their working lives for a decade or more.
Three in five UK workers intend to work past State Pension age, according to a recent study by Aegon, a life insurer: half of those polled expect to change the way they work, with only one in ten saying they will continue to work their existing hours.1 This gradual approach has big advantages, according to Tim Middleton, technical consultant at the Pensions Management Institute. “It avoids a cliff-edge retirement, which takes people straight from full-time employment to permanent retirement, allowing them to phase into a different lifestyle,” he says. “While retirement can be very positive, you may miss your colleagues and the sense of purpose that work brings. Phased retirement gives a social aspect and an intellectual challenge."2 Undeniably, it is also a chance to break with decades of workplace routine. When she was made government champion for older workers in 2014, Ros Altmann backed ‘grey gappers’. Altmann argued that, as people enjoy longer lives, reaching 50 could become a natural trigger to take time out to “re-energise” and think, often on extended trips abroad. Altman believes that, as people begin to approach the traditional retirement age, the prospect of taking up a different job is an attractive one.3
Grey matter
Russell Lowe, Director Lowe Sawyer Financial Planning Ltd
All this reflects a huge generational shift in the face of factors such as the demise of the job for life, rising life expectancy and increases to the State Pension age. It’s also spurred by more enlightened organisational attitudes to job sharing and other forms of flexible working. There are also legislative changes which give us access to our pensions earlier. Self-employment, which has been enjoying an inexorable rise, is often the neatest way to step off the corporate treadmill while still earning an
· Investment Planning · Retirement Planning · Corporate Services · Estate Planning Specialist wealth management advice
income.4 Plus, for some, there may be a yearning for greater workplace fulfilment, perhaps realising their dream to open an artisan bakery, buy a small vineyard in the South of France, or take up a voluntary role helping a local charity. So, whereas previous generations had too little choice about how or when to retire, we now find ourselves beset by a host of consequential decisions. Do we ‘downshift’, taking on less responsibility, or do we stay in post but simply go part-time? When is the best time to take our pension; and do we take it all, or just part of it? Do we dip into our ISA savings first? “Many people like the idea of working but not full-time, so the cliff face is being replaced by a glide path,” says Ian Price, divisional director at St. James’s Place. “This brings tricky decisions, such as whether to pay off the mortgage or help the children get on the property ladder, and when to start taking pensions. Financial advice on retirement planning is essential.” Paradoxically, the shift to phased retirement is taking place at a time when longer life expectancy means larger retirement pots are required. And for all the talk of grey gappers returning for ‘encore careers’, it’s important to remember that financial necessity will drive many decisions. For the generation now contemplating retirement, the trick will be to make the new ‘fewer-hours-but-more-years’ approach to work meet both its financial needs and its wider hopes of personal fulfilment. a egon.com, May 2016 lv.com, February 2016 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/411420/a-new-vision-for-older-workers.pdf, March 2015 4 ons.gov.uk, July 2016 1 2 3
01564 432 150
www.lowesawyerfp.co.uk
The Partner Practice represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The 'St. James's Place Partnership' and the titles 'Partner' and 'Partner Practice' are marketing terms used to describe St. James's Place representatives. Lowe Sawyer Financial Planning is a trading name of Lowe Sawyer Financial Planning Ltd.
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October/November 2017
SERVICE REPAIR CENTRE • NOW SERVICING ALL CARS • MOTS • BRAKES • BODY REPAIR AND PAINT SHOP
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on showroom prices when this advert is shown, this is not to be used in conjunction with our fitting service. VISIT OUR LARGE KITCHEN & BATHROOM SHOWROOM ESTABLISHED SINCE 1989
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October/November 2017
Coleshill Mowing provide a wide range of grounds maintenance services for commercial and residential properties
Mowing of large and small areas Hedge cutting / Trimming Strimming Shrub maintenance Pruning and felling of small trees 20 years Green waste removal experience Bark mulching Supply and planting of shrubs and small trees Weed control Leaf clearence Pressure washing
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CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH From 12.00pm to 5.00pm
INDIAN MENU
TRADITIONAL MENU
Glass of champagne on arrival Starter: Special Platter Choice of main course: Any from the menu (excluding seafood - seafood add £2.50) Choice of side dish: Sag Aloo or Bombay Aloo Sundry: Any rice or Naan Dessert: Indian dessert, Tea or coffee
Glass of champagne on arrival Choice of Starter: Prawn Cocktail or Veg Soup Main course: Traditional Turkey Accompanied by: Roast Potatoes, Carrots, Sprouts, Stuffing and all the usual trimmings Dessert: Xmas Pudding or Cheesecake, Tea or Coffee
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CAL YOUURTCLHOER B
Beef and Lamb only a mile from field to fork Our Beef and Lamb comes locally from Mill Farm, Maxstoke where we rear pedigree Hereford Cattle. The herd can be seen grazing on the river meadows below Coleshill during the summer. Hereford Cattle are renowned for the eating quality of their meat. We also run a flock of sheep which graze on traditional pastures in Maxstoke. Wherever possible pork and poultry is sourced locally. Run by a fully qualified butcher with years of experience, Farmer’s Butcher is an authentic traditional butcher’s shop stocking the very best of LOCAL PRODUCE.
Turkeys • Cockerels • Geese Locally sourced Pork
8 Coventry Road Coleshill B46 3BE 01675 466 242
ALL SEASON VEGETABLES BARRETT’S SAUSAGES EGGS & DUCK EGGS JAMS & PICKLES DAIRY PRODUCE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
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Mullensgrove
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21
October/November 2017
Number 1
in England! Taylor Smith, Year 10 student at The Coleshill School, won 2 gold medals in Tae Kwon do at the By the England Team competition on 29th October 2017. Taylor is now ranked Number 1 in England in the Tae Kwon do 14-17 year old male and female red belt black tag patterns section and also ranked Number 1 in female open weight red belt black tag sparring. Whilst competing, the England coaches where in attendance and Taylor was informed that she will be able to attend the next Team England selections in February 2018. Mr Smith-Childs, Headteacher said “We are very proud of all that Taylor has achieved. We have been following her progress and to see her ranked Number 1 in England is an amazing achievement. It will be exciting to see how she gets on with England in February!
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October/November 2017
Gardening tips for November:
Christmas tree care
By Julie Heenan Orchard Nurseries
A 'real' Christmas tree is hard to beat, the smell and look is amazing, but if you've never had one before it can be a bit daunting
But a little care and preparation means your tree will last through Christmas easily, especially when the most popular variety now is the Nordman which has low needle drop. 1. Choose early in December to get the best choice, ours arrive late November, it can be left in the garden until you are ready. 2. Get a tree stand or tub that holds water, this is a must, and will last several years. 3. Before bringing in tree cut a slither from the trunk to freshen up the cut, so it can take up water. 4. Position away from radiators, ensure its secure, water, and decorate! 5. Water regularly, a 6' tree can drink up to 2 pints a day.
Pointsettias Pointsettias are a very popular plant at Christmas , but don't buy one that is located outside or in a draughty position eg by a door, or if the red bracts look ' singed'. Keep protected whilst transporting home, then position out of direct sunlight, in a temperature around 15c and water sparingly. If we don't see you over the Christmas period for your tree, wreath, in our Christmas shop or at out craft fair on the 3rd December, then Merry Christmas and a happy new year from all at orchard nurseries, see you next year for your gardening needs.
Braving the three peaks for young carers Eight Warwickshire colleagues raised over £5,600, by taking on the dizzy heights of the UK’s three highest peaks, for The Midcounties Co-operative’s charity partner Warwickshire Young Carers.
The fundraisers started the ascent of Ben Nevis in Scotland, before taking on Scafell Pike in England. The final ascent saw the team conquer Snowdon in Wales, battling foggy conditions throughout the 24-hour challenge. The team raised over £5,600 by encouraging customers, friends and family as well as local contractors and suppliers across the Warwick and Leamington area to sponsor the challenge. The Midcounties Co-operative is donating the funds raised to its charity partner in Warwick and Leamington, Warwickshire Young Carers. The charity supports carers from the age of six, and aims to help improve the lives of the youngest carers across Warwickshire. This forms part of the Midcounties’ Regional Communities programme, which provides meaningful support for local community groups through
volunteering and fundraising. Dally Purewal, a Leadership Team Ambassador in Warwick and Leamington at The Midcounties Cooperative, said: “This is one of the most challenging fundraising initiatives I’ve seen taken on by colleagues, with much of the walk led through foggy weather and torch-light. “Fundraising is one of the most important parts of what we do for the community, to help local charities continue their support of more vulnerable individuals. We’re proud to be supporting such a worthwhile organisation.” Deb Bignell, Chief Executive at Warwickshire Young Carers, said: ““The money raised by The Midcounties Co-operative means that we can provide a range of fun activities for young carers aged 6 and 7. This will give them a much-needed break from their caring responsibilities and support their family in finding other sources of help so they are not reliant on their children. “People find it hard to believe that children of this age are young carers but in recent years there has been an 83% increase in young carers aged under 8.”
More people will rent than have a mortgage by 2024 The UK’s property market will be made up of more tenants than people with a mortgage within the next seven years. Eight Warwickshire colleagues raised over £5,600, by taking on the dizzy heights of the UK’s three highest peaks, for The Midcounties Co-operative’s charity partner Warwickshire Young Carers. New findings from NatWest suggest the point at which there are more private renters than mortgaged homeowners is set to occur in late 2024, when the number of mortgaged
households is expected to dip below six million. Allison Thompson, managing director at property specialist Leaders, says the trend marks the continuation of a cultural shift in the property sector that has seen the rental market expand at a rapid rate in recent years. “At both ends of the age spectrum, people are less reliant on mortgages than before. While older homeowners find they can more easily pay off their mortgages, many young people are unable to get on the property ladder due to the difference between salaries and house prices,” she explains.
“The result is that the number of properties owned outright without a mortgage is rising quickly, as is the size of the rental market as more people turn to renting a home for a variety of reasons. These include not only being unable to afford to buy, but also the greater flexibility that comes with renting and is important to people with changeable work, social or school requirements. “While the number of people in social rented accommodation is predicted to fall slightly over the coming years, the private rented sector will boom, which also creates perfect conditions for landlords looking to buy to let.” In 2015, the English Housing Survey revealed more people owned their home outright than had a mortgage on it for the first time. For more information on letting or renting a property in your area contact your local Leaders branch or visit leaders.co.uk.
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October/November 2017
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October/November 2017
Birthday’s and Big Data at B46 Business On Wednesday 8th November the B46 Business team celebrated their 4th birthday with a special breakfast celebration at Lea Marston Hotel, with local celebrity and former Big Brother star PJ Ellis. The morning was a great success with 40 local business professionals
joining
the
birthday
celebrations.
Attendees had a fascinating insight into PJ Ellis and his amazing charity work. Love Brum supports hidden gem projects across Birmingham delivering real change to local people. PJ Ellis shared his passion for Birmingham, charities and business; which also reflected the ethos of everything B46 Business stands for locally.
Anna commented “There was a positive vibe this
morning with lots of networking and positive feedback, we are proud to promote businesses in Coleshill and the surrounding area.” Jemma added “It’s a proud moment to reflect back on the last four years and 48 fabulous events. We realise how much business we’ve helped generate and the impact we’ve had locally.” Penny concluded “Turning 4 is a great achievement for us and we couldn’t have done it without the support of so many. We are full of pride for the businesses we’ve helped to support and grow through networking.” The October B46 Business event was on the hot topic of GDPR and data management, with an interactive session led by Amy Rudge from M-piric IT Consultancy.
New attendee Peter Viggers also highlighted an
Amy explained the new GDPR regulations are coming
exciting new local event at Buzzards Valley on Fri 8th
into force next year and local businesses had lots of
Dec – a Christmas Artisan Market. Buzzards Valley is a
questions about how they would be affected.
local vineyard and bistro at Bassets Pole.
Their next event is the B46 Christmas Lunch, on
Event organisers, Penny Sheward-Hall of PS
Thursday 21st Dec, at the Red Lion in Coleshill. For
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Plotnek of PLOTT Creative, felt very proud about the
email info@business46.co.uk call 01675 434583 or visit
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MILFORD GREEN COURT Nestled in the beautiful Warwickshire countryside and close to the market town of Coleshill, Milford Green Court is a unique development of just 14 brand new individual 3 4 & 5 bedroom Homes offering country living with stunning views surrounding. Boasting the very best of both worlds, the development is situated only 15 minutes drive to all major road, air and rail links with the M42, M6 motorways, and Birmingham International and train station all within easy reach, making it ideally placed for the commuter.
All plots offer their own individual country style, yet with a The show home is open every weekend, Saturday and Sunday choice of traditional or contemporary kitchens offering Buyers the from 1am to 3pm. opportunity to choose their own style (subject to build stage) Viewings Monday to Friday by appointment only. With plot 14 already reserved just as the show home Open day Prices start from £625,000 - £895,000. was launched, these exceptional properties are proving to be Please contact John Shepard New Homes on 01564 786644 extremely desirable and will not be available for long. for more information.
25
October/November 2017
Gillian’s condition no barrier to successful joint operations Gillian Sandever has suffered with lymphedema– a long-term, chronic condition where there is an abnormal build-up of fat cells in the legs, thighs and buttocks – since her 40s.
Now 75-years-old, the mum-of-two has had some problems getting about for many years but the things steadily worsened as she developed arthritis in both of the hips. She struggled to even walk around her home in Coleshill and a walk into the garden was becoming a rare occurrence. “It was getting very bad but I didn’t think I’d be able to have surgery because my hips and legs were so large due to the lymphedema,” she explained. But when she accompanied husband John to a meeting at Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull, Orthopaedic Consultant Surgeon Trevor Lawrence spotted her problems immediately and said he was more than happy to carry out hip replacement operations. “The funny thing was we were visiting him because John needed hip surgery. He took one look at me and said that John wasn’t the only person that needed help! “Since then he has fitted me with two new hips and a new knee and I couldn’t be happier,” said Gillian. “He also did both John’s hips so he has had a big impact on everyday life at our house!” Mr Lawrence, who has - according to the National Joint Registry for England and Wales, some of the highest patient outcomes - explained: “The extra fat that gathers around the hips and legs due to Mrs Sandever’s condition can make surgery more difficult but it is far from impossible. It was the same with the knee replacement. “There may have been a slightly longer recovery time needed but, considering her age, I think she did very well and her mobility has improved massively.” Now back on her feet and able to get around much better Mrs Sandever said: “Before I met Mr Lawrence I thought I was just going to have to suffer with painful hips and see ability to get about continue to go get worse. “I was very apprehensive about the surgery but he had no doubts he could do the operations despite my lymphedema and he was right. It is quite funny when you think he has been responsible for five new joints in the same household – we’re both very grateful to him.”
26
October/November 2017
The Coleshill School will remember!
On 10th November The Coleshill School held its annual Remembrance Service to commemorate former students of the school who lost their lives in active service. In front of a packed Hall of students and visitors, Sixth Form students proudly read out the names of 27 ‘old boys’ from the first world war, 9 from the second world war and James Munday who was killed in Afghanistan in 2008. Stephen Fagg played the last post which was followed by a minute’s silence.
Tom Wilson, Headmaster of Coleshill Grammar School from 1956 to 1982 attended the service. Tom, a former RAF officer and navigator, helped the escape from a prison camp in the Second World War. He has written his wartime memoirs in a book called ‘In The Shadow of the Wooden Horse’. When Tom was Headmaster he commissioned a plaque listing all the names of the ‘lost boys’ of Coleshill School and this has remained in its original place in the hall ever since, along with the additional plaque for James Munday.
Coleshill Youth Council students made clay poppies to lay at the Remembrance Service memorial, on Sunday 12th November at the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul in Coleshill. Mr Smith-Childs, Headteacher said “I would like to thank all our students, staff and visitors including, Tom Wilson and Tony Battle, Mayor of Coleshill, for attending our Remembrance ceremony. This is an important event for the school and I am so proud of the number of students who voluntarily attended the Remembrance Service and were so respectful today to commemorate our lost boys”.
Girls’ football success Congratulations to The Coleshill School Girls’ Year 7 and Year 8 Football Teams. On 7th November they played in a tournament with local Solihull schools to celebrate Girls Football Week, as part of the FA football week. The Coleshill School Year 8 girls’ team won the tournament overall, playing against very tough competition including CTC Kingshurst Academy,
John Henry Newman, Smithswood Academy, Tutor Grange, Langley School and Park Hall Academy. Both the Year 7 and 8 girls’ teams celebrated with a rewards event, including sweet treats and they all received a certificate. Miss Blunt, PE Teacher commented: “This was a great result for The Coleshill School Year 8 team. Both the Year 7 and Year 8 teams have worked really hard in training and they enjoyed playing against such strong competition”.
27
Water Orton Villager
October/November 2017
Message from The Clerk
The Pavilion continues to be well used by the local community Nathan Smith continues to provide excellent Caretaking Services for Pavilion, should you choose to hire the Pavilion for a party or a club Nathan will be on hand to open and close the facilities for you. Colin Brookes our grounds man does a wonderful job keeping on top of the many items that need looking after around the Village. Colin maintains and marks out the football pitch. He also keeps the open spaces clean and tidy. Thank you to Orchard Nurseries, Birmingham Road who sponsor the planters in the Village all year round. Why not take a look in their shop for all your gardening needs? Many thanks to John Warren who continues to represents the Parish Council on HS2 matters and also the Birmingham Airport new flight path consultations. John is working tirelessly along with local groups to mitigate the impact on the Village. The general appearance and cleanliness of the Village is down to the volunteers who patrol the village litter picking. I would like to thank them once again for their time. Do you have time to join the team? The Parish Council both provide and pay for the empting of the red Dog Waste Bins around the Village, however we have a real problem around Water Orton at the moment as there appears to be many dog walkers who are who not picking up their dog’s “poo” and placing it in one of the many bins provided. The areas particularly effected are the Village Green and Openfield Croft Playing Field, many children play on these areas as well as the football pitch been used by the local teams. Shoes and trainers covered in dog mess is not what everyone wants to be doing when returning from the designated play areas. Can people who are walking their own dogs or someone else’s please pick up the “poo” and place it in one of the bins provided. There have been numerous breakages to the play equipment on the Village Green and the Playing Field the last two months and I want to assure residents that the Parish Council are in the process of reviewing quotes and purchasing replacements. Some damage is caused by the misuse of the equipment by adults.
Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month, agendas are posted on the notice boards situated at the Pavilion, Library and the Village Green. Listed elsewhere in this article are the Parish Council meeting dates for 2017/2018. Should you wish to come along to any meeting and raise any questions you have for the local Borough Councillors and Parish Councillors, these meetings are open to the Public. There are nine Parish Councillors who all live in the village who give their time voluntary This publication is only as good as the articles in it, if in the future you want to tell people something or mention a good deed done for the community in the Village please contact me and we will try to include it in future publications. Jacquie Coombes, Clerk to the Parish Council 22 Hargrave Close, Water Orton, B46 1QR, North Warwickshire clerk@wopc.org.uk
The room is an ideal venue for children’s parties, Christenings, meetings, clubs etc. available to hire by the hour (minimum 2 hours). Why not join some of the people who make use of the Pavilion every month. There are Pilates classes weekly on a Tuesday and Thursday evenings; other classes run at other times during the week
contact Beverley Hampton on 0121-7491573 for details. On the last Monday in the month the doors open for Bingo at 7pm, eyes down at 7.30pm, good company, cash prizes and all are welcome (No Bingo Bank Holiday Monday 28th August 2017) The U3A History Society hold monthly meetings contact Sue Lappin on 01675464506 for details. Water Orton Ladies Night meet once a month contact Sue Shaw on 0121-747-4366 for more information. Other groups are now starting to meet on a regular basis keep an eye on the notices posted here in the Coleshill Post and on the Parish Council Notice Boards. For full details of availability and room hire charges please contact the Parish Clerk, Jacquie Coombes on 0121 749 2445 or email clerk@wopc.org.uk.
Calendar of meetings for the ensuing Council year, all dates are the last Wednesday in the month 2017 29 November
2018 24 January 28 February 28 March 25 April 30 May (Annual Council Meeting)
No meeting scheduled for December. January meeting date adjusted to compensate.
George Road, Community Centre
Photo taken by Holly Brookes from Water Orton
Why not hire the Pavilion for your function/meeting/group activity The Water Orton Parish Pavilion is located in Openfield Croft and is available for private functions. The main hall is approximately 9 x 7 meters. There is a small kitchen with drinks making facilities, cooker and fridge. Crockery is also provided. Tables and chairs are in the hall. The Pavilion also has the benefit of a car park.
Parish Council Meeting Dates
Dear All, As people are aware I am taking some time away from my duties as Parish Clerk, in my absence please contact :• Chairman Ralph Coldrick on 07528 968134 or email cllr.ralph.coldrick@wopc.org.uk. Ralph will be able to assist you with any queries in my absence. I will advise you of my return in due course. Kind regards Jacquie Coombes - Clerk Water Orton Parish Council
At the George Road Community Centre a friendly group meet on Monday afternoons for tea and a chat, Tuesday mornings at 10.30 for a coffee. Bingo the 2nd Monday in the month doors open at 7pm, eyes down at 7.30pm. Come and join us ALL are welcome.
Local Borough Councillors Councillors Ray Payne and David Reilly will be happy to meet you at The Robert Lloyd Room, Water Orton parish Church on a Tuesday morning from 11am to noon. The Methodist Church, the last Saturday of each month from 10am to midday. David Reilly can be contacted by telephone on 07939 385 229.
Local Groups and Societies
We would be pleased to advertise your meetings and dates for you. All you have to do is supply a list of forthcoming events to the Parish Clerk. Deadline for contributions for the next Villager article: 6th October 2017
28
October/November 2017
Horticulture must be nurtured post-Brexit Horticulture must be treated as a prime asset and nurtured carefully as Britain leaves the EU, a high profile conference heard this week. Anthea McIntyre, Conservative MEP for the West Midlands, told the Growquip conference in Stratford upon Avon that farmers and growers were the major stewards of our environment and needed continued access to innovation, new technology and research. She said: "They need this to produce food in a sustainable way so that we can both feed the world and protect the environment for future generations. "Horticulture is a key economic asset, and key to meeting the challenges presented by climate change and population growth. In a post-Brexit world, Regulators and policy makers in the UK must - now more than ever - stand with the grower and the consumer in allowing this world-beating sector to thrive and grow." Miss McIntyre, a member of the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee and Conservative employment spokesman, has produced two influential parliamentary reports - The Future of Europe’s Horticulture Sector - Strategies for Growth and Technological Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture. Her speech touched on regulation, research and development, plant protection, pests and diseases and Brexit. She said: "As we leave the EU, it is essential that the UK government, academia, industry, breeders, the agro-chemicals sector, growers and food manufacturers all work together to improve the translation of research into practice."
Stop HS2 Following a Government audit of HS2 Ltd, Stop HS2 says HS2 Ltd are a company is not “fit for purpose” with "HS2 Ltd running their own gravy train with their snouts in the trough of taxpayers’ money". An internal government audit conducted by the Government Internal Audit Agency into HS2 Ltd redundancy schemes which involved payouts significantly higher than allowed by the Department for Transport (DfT), has shown a number of flaws within HS2 Ltd’s processes. A Public Accounts Committee hearing into the redundancy payments will take place on Monday 30th October at 5pm. The audit has been made public on an “exceptional basis” due to the seriousness with which it is being taken. This follows a National Audit Office report in July this year, which identified redundancy payments of £2.76m in the previous financial year, of which £1.76m compromised of “unapproved enhancements” and which had been expressly forbidden by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling. Penny Gaines, Chair of Stop HS2, says “This report is yet more evidence of HS2 Ltd running their own gravy train with their snouts in the trough of taxpayers’ money. What’s more it points to a company culture which is willing to let the Department of Transport be misled about excessive payments to HS2 staff and then alter the evidence. Right from the start HS2 Ltd have acted like a law unto themselves, ignoring the public. Now it seems they ignore direct instructions from the Department for Transport as well. This is a company which is simply not fit for purpose. And yet the Government are trusting it with £56 billion of taxpayers money.” The Government audit refers to a lack of effective record keeping from both HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport, with the report stating
Miss McIntyre suggested that recent ministerial statements pointed to three reasonable assumptions about a future British Agricultural Bill: # First, it will pay close attention to science based evidence and, if the science agrees, UK law will closely follow what the EU is doing. # Secondly, it will offer the devolved administrations more control than they currently have. # Third, it will look again at risk versus hazard-based regulation so that agricultural legislation may be simplified. She warmly welcomed the Government's announcement of a £40 million grant scheme to boost countryside productivity through investment in cutting-edge technology and new equipment. Under the scheme, she said, grants would be available to help farmers, including horticultural growers, to improve productivity through new technology to reduce cost or improve product quality. The funding could be used on diverse investments, from robotics to green technology. She said: "This is a great opportunity for our growers and food processors to invest in the technology they need to boost productivity, competitiveness and, of course, sustainability.
“Neither organisation has demonstrated effective record keeping of key decisions in this process, often reliant on emails held in personal inboxes” and states that a lack of response to an email was often assumed to mean agreement. The audit also says that minutes from HS2 Ltd working groups - since disbanded - that discussed the relocation and redundancy packages are no longer available. On the voluntary redundancy policy available to the audit team, they say “8. We have obtained a voluntary redundancy policy from the company but no minutes exist to demonstrate where this policy was approved – we believe by now defunct management panels. This policy does not detail how amounts of redundancy should be calculated, but does require the creation of an Exceptions Panel to consider individual cases where necessary. No minutes have been found for the exceptions panel so we cannot confirm whether it met to consider any of the individuals highlighted by the NAO as being paid in excess of £95k by the NAO’s definitions. “ Following discussions on redundancy payments between HS2 Ltd and the DfT in February and March 2016, the DfT directly instructed HS2 Ltd that “any variation from statutory terms required further permission from the Department.” The audit says “21.We have an email record that, on 13/4/16, HS2 Ltd requested permission to run an enhanced scheme as they believed the statutory scheme was unattractive to employees. On 14/4/16 there was a direct email from a senior official in the Department to a very senior official at HS2 Ltd, which was acknowledged and accepted on the same day, that any scheme must be statutory – this was a “red line” for the Department. There is no evidence that this instruction was disseminated further within HS2 Ltd, creating a ‘single point of failure’. ….Immediately following this email exchange, on 18 April 2016, a consultation was issued relating to the relocation from London to Birmingham. This included enhanced redundancy terms for impacted staff. Similarly on 1 May 2016 redundancy notices, again on enhanced terms, were issued to 3 call centre staff.“ The audit refers to a presentation with a creation date of February 2016, which was altered before being sent to the National Audit Office in February 2017:
“23.A presentation was created by HS2 Ltd, dated 29/2/16, setting out key aspects of the relocation scheme proposed, including the associated redundancies. This presentation made no reference to enhanced redundancy terms and we have obtained a contemporaneous electronic copy which we have verified. However, a presentation with the same title, content and 29/2/16 date was sent to the NAO in February 2017 by HS2 Ltd, and forwarded to the Department in April 2017, with an additional slide illustrating enhanced redundancy terms inserted. We conclude that this powerpoint was amended between February 2016 and February 2017. The limited evidence indicates the presentation was amended by someone at HS2 Ltd, and HS2 Ltd have confirmed this. There is no clear evidence to explain why, or exactly when, this presentation was amended.” The audit also refers to a suspicious email, with the report saying “31.During the course of this audit we have identified that an email was created by an official at HS2 Ltd that, had it been sent when it purported to have been sent, would have shown earlier communication of the full extent of the redundancy scheme to the Department in the Spring of 2017. Interrogation of IT servers has demonstrated that this email was not sent but it appears to have been created to demonstrate earlier communication. Why this was done is unclear, but this was clearly too late to have prevented the scheme and the individual involved has left the company.” Penny Gaines, Chair of Stop HS2, says “This report is yet more evidence of HS2 Ltd running their own gravy train with their snouts in the trough of taxpayers’ money. What’s more it points to a company culture which is willing to let the Department of Transport be misled about excessive payments to HS2 staff and then alter the evidence. Right from the start HS2 Ltd have acted like a law unto themselves, ignoring the public. Now it seems they ignore direct instructions from the Department for Transport as well. This is a company which is simply not fit for purpose. And yet the Government are trusting it with £56 billion of taxpayers money.”
29
October/November 2017
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0121 270 7150 Mon-Sat 10-10 Sun 11-10
01675 620 581
Sun- Fri 11-10 Sat 10-10
0121 516 6530 Cotteridge 7 Days 10-10
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October/November 2017
RECOMMENDATIONS
Local services recommended by local people spreading the word to our community! Coleshill Mowing “Steve and his lads have always done a great job on anything I have asked them to do. Quick, efficient and tidy. Would highly recommend their services to anyone.� Colin Lewis. House & Home, Coleshill
The Blue Rose Flowers of distinction Flowers of Distinction
The Blue Rose Flowers of distinction are so beautiful. I had the Open Book for my friends funeral i know she would of loved it as many people also admired them. The quality of the flowers was excellent and the service was so beautiful. I fully recommend Blue Rose Flowers of distinction by Christine Ann. Miss B Robinson Kings Norton
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J P Deakin Plumbing Thank you J P Deakin Plumbing for fitting our new bathroom suite and kitchen sink. Also for fitting new radiators throughout the house. Highly recommended Jodie Kimberley I'd just like to say what a fantastic service you have always provided to us. I know you have also done several jobs for my family and friends too and they have always had such praise for your work. We have had a number of plumbing jobs from you including a toilet and shower fitted. Look forward to you fitting our new bathroom as I know it will be done to your very high standards. You are very hardworking, professional and reliable thank you, can't recommend you enough. Victoria Lynch Thank you Joe for my amazing brand new bathroom. Absolutely over the moon with it. Great service from beginning to end, Very happy customer. Laura Matthews
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October/November 2017
Coleshill and District U3A “Shackleton died on South Georgia. Don’t worry, we’ll be carrying on.” On the 16 October, Georgie Hale gave a very moving and harrowing account of the time she and her late husband, Clive, were shipwrecked in Antarctica. Clive had been diagnosed with bone marrow cancer in 2001. By nature an adventurous individual, he enjoyed journeying to lesser-visited parts of the globe. At the time, Georgie was not quite so enthusiastic. However, employing legerdemain, he convinced Georgie to join him on a cruise to East Greenland. To her surprise she discovered the cruise was not what she had expected. The cruise ship turned out to be an exploration vessel carrying ninety passengers, not the hundreds she had envisaged. Notwithstanding, the experience opened her eyes to the wonders of nature to be found in the Arctic. She was hooked. In November 2007, Clive and Georgie headed south to the Antarctic on board Explorer, following in Sir Ernest Shackleton’s footsteps: Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Elephant Island, Bransfield Strait. Then they set off for the Antarctic Peninsula and trouble. A growler - a sizeable fragment of ice - gashed a hole in the ship’s hull below the waterline. It took some time for the crew and passengers to realise just how serious was their situation. So serious in fact, that the captain issued the order to abandon ship. At that point, Clive and Georgie’s nightmare began.
The ship listed dangerously. Engines would not fire in 3 of the 4 lifeboats. They hung over the freezing water, suspended in space. Suddenly the lifeboats shot down the side of the ship into the water. The crew’s inflatables pulled them away from the drag of the sinking ship. They were alive: adrift but alive for four and a half hours in icy water. Then Lady Luck played her hand. A helicopter spotted them. Following in their wake the Hurtigruten cruise liner M.S. Nordnorge arrowed in on them. They were taken on board. It could have been so very different. Georgie’s Antarctic story does not end there. The NHS would not provide the drug Clive needed on cost grounds. Georgie offered to give a video of the trip to the media, in exchange for their publicising the need for her husband’s treatment. It came too late for Clive. He passed away in 2009. The drug is now available on the NHS. Coleshill U3A has assembled a programme not to be missed. Why not join us? It’s never too late to learn! To discover more about who we are and what we do, visit our website www.coleshillanddistrictu3a.org.uk
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Artisan and Local Business Market
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8th December afternoon and evening GOODS
• Christmas trees • Buzzards Valley Wine, gins and vodkas • Local veg and pork • Bison and venison • Fresh bread • Jams and chutneys • Bottle of English bubbly
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All enquiries: 0121 308 1951 or 0121 308 1329
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October/November 2017
Ben
Isabella
Breed: Cross Breed
Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier X
Size: Large
Size: Medium
Gender: Male
Gender: Female
Centre: Birmingham
Centre: Birmingham
Age: 10yrs+
Age: 2 yrs
Child Suitability: All
Child Suitability: 6yrs+
Live With Dogs: No
Live With Dogs: Possibly
Status: Available
Status: Available
Ben is our older residient here at Birmingham, But do not let that put you off.
Hello my name is Isabella, when I first arrived at the home, I was very sad as I had a bad injury to my leg.
This stunning lad knows a few basic commands, He does pull a little on the lead so would be better on a harness.
My K9 carer's and the vets did everything they could to save my leg, but unfortunately they had to amputate it as it wasn?t healing properly.
We feel a quieter home would suit Ben as he is looking for a peaceful place to call his own.
I am so much happier now with three legs and it has not stopped me doing anything a dog with four legs can do as I still love to run around.
Please call our Birmingham Centre, if you can offer Ben a forever home.
If possible I would like an active home as I have a lot of engery to burn off and I would love to go on lots of adventures. Sometimes I am a little cheeky with my toys so I would prefer a home with older children. Please come and see me out if could offer me that forever home I dream off.
Call our Birmingham Centre Rehoming Team to enquire about this dog on:
0121 643 5211
Call our Birmingham Centre Rehoming Team to enquire about this dog on:
Please quote the reference number
0121 643 5211
43304
Please quote the reference number
42683
Our Christmas shop is now open Christmas cards, wrap Lights, tinsel, baubles and other tree decorations Wicker and hand crafted reindeer Various animal themed China ornaments Locally baked mince pies also biscuits and sweets. Antiques and collectibles Bowls of hyacinths and planted bowls (mid December) Our quality non shed Christmas trees arrive at the end of November also available then are our hand made holly wreaths. Our 2nd Christmas craft and gift fair in aid of the motor neurons disease association is on Sunday 3rd December 11-3 offering a range of stalls including fabulous book fold books, fairies and ladies, Xmas decorations, plates and glasses, hair accessories matching mom and daughter skirts, signs frames, knitted items, Artist Ruth Hancock with her prints, home made cakes and refreshments and Tombola
MON-SUN 10-4 NOVEMBER M O N - S AT 1 0 - 5 D E C E M B E R SUN 10-4:30 DECEMBER
ORCHARD NURSERIES
BIRMINGHAM ROAD WATER ORTON B46 1TG
0121 749 7266
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October/November 2017
Coleshill Fire Station is RECRUITING for on-call firefighters (this is for part-time firefighters, you don't have to give up your regular job, if you have one)! For more information call 077798 02020 or register to come to our open evening on 30th November (1830-2000hrs) by calling the same number. To be eligible you need to be physically fit, over 18 yrs and live or work within 5 mins of the fire station on Parkfield Rd!"
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34
October/November 2017
Wasps and Ricoh Arena welcome npower as their Official Energy Partner
Wasps and npower are launching a partnership to further enhance the Ricoh Arena’s sustainable approach to energy, helping power sport, business and entertainment at the Arena. npower will be installing a Combined Heat and Power plant at the Ricoh Arena, which will mean that Wasps will be generating
The new partnership will see npower launch an exclusive tariff for Wasps rugby and netball fans, as well as visitors to the Ricoh Arena in 2018. Fans will also benefit from a series of exclusive customer offers, competitions and energy saving tips for their home and family. Stuart Cain, Commercial Director of Wasps and the Ricoh
their own electricity on site, as well as creating heat for the
Arena, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with npower. This
stadium and the under pitch heating system.
is a powerful partnership for both the Club and Arena. npower’s
As one of Britain’s largest energy companies, and part of the
technical expertise and infrastructure is a game changer in the
Innogy SE group, npower serves around five million residential
way our Arena can power our three business drivers of sport,
and business accounts with electricity and gas.
business and entertainment.
“npower shares Wasps’ values in the commitment to our local community and the new tariff offering will be an exciting addition for our fans. We are excited to be working with such a well-known brand and one that further enhances our growing family of blue chip partners." Andy Wiggans, Commercial & Marketing Director for npower, added: “We’re delighted to be joining the Wasps family in a partnership which will see us supply power and gas to the Ricoh Arena and partner on a number of ground-breaking energy saving measures. We’ll also be working alongside Wasps RFC and Netball to support the local community and give fans the chance to get even closer to their team. We can’t wait to get stuck in.” npower join Scutum, Gett Taxi, Arthur J Gallagher, TM Lewin and Robert Welch in partnering with the club this season.
South African back row Nizaam Carr to join Wasps on short-term contract Wasps have signed 26-year-old South African back row Nizaam Carr on a three-month contract as injury cover. Having helped Western Province win the Currie Cup Final on Saturday, Stormers’ back row Carr is due to join Wasps this week to provide extra depth following back row injuries at the club.
Carr, who can play flanker or number 8, has won five caps for the Springboks. Speaking about the short-term signing, Wasps’ Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “We are pleased to be able to bring a player with international experience like Nizaam into the squad to bolster our back row options. “Having lost Alex Rieder to a dislocated
shoulder and with Ashley Johnson no longer being a back row option due to injuries at hooker, we have become pretty threadbare in that area. “Nizaam has a strong reputation for his defence, athleticism and linking play and I’m sure he will prove himself a valuable addition to the squad even on a short-term basis. We look forward to welcoming him to the club.”
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October/November 2017
Wasps sign Nathan Charles on a shortterm contract
Wasps have signed 28-year-old Australian hooker Nathan Charles on a three-month contract as injury cover.
Charles, who won four caps for the Wallabies in 2014, has recently had spells at Bath and Clermont, having spent most of his career playing for the Western Force, where he made 83 appearances. Speaking about the short-term signing, Wasps’ Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “We are pleased to be able to bring a player of Nathan’s abilities into the
Wasps approaching 20,000 tickets for Leicester Tigers Wasps have opened the South Stand to general sale as tickets approach 20,000 for the clash with Leicester Tigers at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday 2 December. December at the Ricoh Arena kicks off with a huge Midlands derby against Leicester Tigers on Saturday 2 December, with another bumper crowd expected at the home of Wasps. With such high demand for Wasps v Leicester Tigers at the Ricoh Arena, the club have opened the South Stand, with tickets now on general sale. There are only a limited number of top-priced Category 1 tickets still available for the game, with the opening of the South Stand to general sale adding more availability in Categories 3 and 4. Don’t miss out, book your tickets for the game online now at www. wasps.co.uk/tickets.
There is also a very limited availability remaining for hospitality at the game. The Sudbury suite offers a 3-course lunch, inclusive drinks until kick-off, pre-match commentary from a Wasps first team player and Category 1 premium ticket. The price is £168 including vat per person. For more information, please contact the hospitality sales team on 0247 678 6410 or hospitality@wasps.co.uk. Once again, the club has seen a surge in demand for the newest of Midlands derbies, which is built on one of the longest standing rivalries in Premiership Rugby. With a crowd approaching 20,000, the day promises a fantastic experience for guests throughout the venue. Tickets for Wasps v Leicester Tigers on Saturday 2 December are available to purchase online at wasps.co.uk/tickets
squad to bolster our options at hooker. “With Tommy Taylor and Tom Cruse both side-lined, we have been short on experience and availability in that position and Nathan’s addition provides us with some needed back up in such a key area. “I’m sure Nathan will add a lot to this group with his physicality and ability around the park, as well as at the set piece. We’re looking forward to him joining up with the rest of the squad this week.”
Daly and Mullan injury update Following injuries sustained against Northampton Saints on Saturday, Wasps’ prop Matt Mullan and centre Elliot Daly have undergone scans for further assessment.
The club can confirm that Matt Mullan has torn a tricep tendon which will require surgery. It is unfortunately anticipated that he will be side-lined for approximately three months. Elliot Daly suffered a grade two MCL tear (Medial Collateral Ligament - knee). The club will continue to treat him this week and assess how the injury settles. He is then expected to undergo a two to three-week period of rehab. The pair will remain with Wasps to follow the rehab schedule with the club’s medical team, who will keep in regular contact with the England medical team.
36
October/November 2017
Love Coleshill late night opening Thursday 30th November and lights switch On There’s a lot to look forward to this month as Love Coleshill has done it again! The wonderful Coleshill Town Band will be playing on the open top bus and as usual high street shops will be offering tasty treats to customers. The High Street will be closed for a fabulous market and the church will be open, Santa will be paying a visit and there are crafts, storytelling and an art exhibition at the library. It’s the perfect time for Christmas shopping so start making your list!
37
October/November 2017
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38
October/November 2017
Boxing Show Goodwin signs new super-talented Benn: I’ll take America by storm Quintet ‘Destroyer’ heading to
Steve Goodwin is delighted to announce the signing of five new supremely talented boxers who have joined the Goodwin team. England Amateur International SuperFeatherweight Mo Gharib the former London ABA Champion, former 3x Gold Medallist at the Haringey Box Cup and quarter finalist in the Senior ABA’s makes his Goodwin debut on 2nd December at York Hall. Lightweight Bobby Woods fought twice at Interntational level in Germany and won 2 Haringey Box Cups. The winner of 28 from 38 amateurs Bobby will also make his debut on 2nd December. Heavyweight Jack Mulowayi is 2 from 2 will shake up the division and in his last contest dominated against a top contender who had lost only 2 of 16 contests before facing Jack. Jack is a former professional basketball player in the US, Italy and France and has been sparring the likes
of Dereck Chisora in the run up to his Goodwin bow on 25thNovember. Derby’s Undefeated Welterweight Sajid Abid is 3-0 and this close friend of English Champion Arfan Iqbal has decided to put ink to paper to join his friend under the Goodwin banner. Sajid is expected to make his Goodwin bow December time. Finally Luton is becoming a hotbed of boxing once again and the latest talent SuperWelterweight Hassan Mahmood today signed management terms with Goodwin. 19 year old Mahmood was known as a beast in the amateur’s and under Goodwin’s guidance will without doubt become another Lutonian winning titles. Goodwin as always was delighted with the signings. “Five top prospects signing with us in the last week is a great testament to the work we are doing with our fighters. All five will be champions under the Goodwin banner and we cannot wait to start working with them.”
New York on November 11 Conor Benn says he’s honoured to be the first UK fighter to box on a Matchroom Boxing USA bill – and he plans to make a big impact at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York on November 11.
Benn improved to 9-0 on Saturday night with his seventh win inside the distance, a clinical first round stoppage over Nathan Clarke at the Manchester Arena. The ‘Destroyer’ heads to the Big Apple to move into double figures in the paid ranks, and having turned 21 just a fortnight ago, the son of British boxing legend Nigel feels he’s progressing every day and believes his US debut is an important mark on his development. “New York here I come!” said Benn. “I'm honoured to be the first Matchroom UK fighter to box on a show out there, it's a real blessing – it’s a massive chance for me to make a big impact in front of a new audience and it’s one that I am going to take.
“I'll fight anyone that is put in front of me, I leave that to Tony Sims and Eddie Hearn to decide my path. I'm only 20 and I plan on making this a long journey, so I need new experiences like fighting in New York as part of my learning curve. “If I rush myself it can all go pear-shaped as I don't have an amateur career behind me, so I will take my time and enjoy my career and especially the youthfulness of my career, and when I am ready to fight grown men and fight for titles, I want to rise and rise and keep it going, not go up and down like a yo-yo. “I feel like I am improving every day, I think my technical skills are really coming on. The time will come for me but at the minute I'm all about learning my trade, and that's happening in the gym and it's going to continue in front of the US crowd.”
HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE FROM ONE OF OUR ADVERTISER shout about them in our residents recommendation section. Contact:
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39
October/November 2017
Boxing closes 2017 with a bang!
means he has to go to Canada to ensure he can no longer be overlooked, then that is what he is prepared to do!’ “The middleweight division is stacked with the likes of Canelo, Gennady Golovkin, and Daniel Jacobs, and on December 16, fans will see champion BJ Saunders travel across the Atlantic to fight one of the divisions biggest punchers in David Lemieux on his home turf in Montreal,” said Peter Nelson, Executive Vice President,
HBO Sports. Saunders vs. Lemieux, a 12-round fight for the Saunders’ WBO World Middleweight Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Eye of the Tiger Management in association with Frank Warren. The event will take place December 16, in Montreal, Canada and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing.
For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.eottm.com, www. frankwarren.com and www.hbo.com/boxing. Follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @ EOTMVD, @hboboxing, @bjsaunders_, @LemieuxBoxing, @frankwarren_tv and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing. Visit us on Instagram at @ GoldenBoyBoxing, @eottm_boxing, @saundersbillyjoe, @davidlemieuxboxing, and follow the conversation using #SaundersLemieux.
Hyland Jnr: I am expecting a war with Ormond Billy Joe Saunders to defend WBO world middleweight championship against hard-hitting David Lemieux Brawl to be held in Montreal, Canada on Saturday, Dec. 16 And televised live on hbo world championship boxing Christmas will come early for boxing fans this year as WBO World Middleweight Champion Billy Joe Saunders (25-0, 12 KOs) will put his belt on the line on Saturday, December 16 against former IBF World Middleweight Champion David Lemieux (38-3, 33 KOs) at a soon-to-be announced venue in Montreal, Canada. The fight will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:40 p.m. ET/PT. Saunders, 28, from the United Kingdom, is undefeated and coming off back-to-back defenses of the WBO belt he won against “Irish” Andy Lee in late 2015. Over a standout career, Saunders has defeated the likes of former WBA Interim World Middleweight Champion Chris Eubank, Jr., then-undefeated Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan and longtime contender Willie “The Mongoose” Monroe Jr. “Firstly I’d like to thank Golden Boy Promotions for putting the show on,” said Saunders. “Lemieux looks good against ‘B level’ fighters, but he is now getting in the ring with someone who is far more superior and slick than anyone he has ever been in with. I don’t just want the dog meat that Golovkin has left behind, I want the dog himself and when I come through this fight I will have him. He is a mandatory and we’ve agreed a deal to go over to foreign soil and get it on. I have a lot of friends in Canada, and I’ll be bringing a lot of supporters over to Canada from the UK. It has all the makings of a good fight. I’m expecting a good, clean, fair decision. Once I beat Lemieux I’ll be moving onto bigger fish; the winner of the rematch between Canelo and Golovkin. I’m looking forward to a great fight.”
Lemieux, 28, and from Montreal, is a thunderous puncher with tremendous power in both hands, who captured the IBF World Middleweight championship against Hassan N’Dam in 2015, knocking the then-world titleholder down four times en route to a unanimous decision victory. This year alone, Lemieux blasted out title contender Curtis “Cerebral Assassin” Stevens in a third-round knockout-of-the-year contender before earning a unanimous decision win against Marcos “Dorado” Reyes. “It's time to be world champion again,” Lemieux said. “Saunders is about to get destroyed. I'm going to be extremely ready for this fight and I'm going to inflict a lot of pain on Saunders. His 0 must go.'” “Saunders vs. Lemieux is exactly the right way to end a year that has been tremendous for boxing,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO and Chairman Oscar De La Hoya. “Will Saunders be able to use his speed and craftiness to outbox Lemieux, or will David land a massive shot to end it in short order? We’ll find out December 16.” “This has ‘great fight’ written all over it,” said Camille Estephan, President of Eye of the Tiger Management. “I know David is extremely motivated and viscerally dislikes Saunders. When he’s in that state, watch out. This promises to be a war. We are thrilled to have the opportunity for David to fight for the WBO title at home and keep it here. “ ‘We’re delighted to be working again with Golden Boy Promotions, who we continue to enjoy a fantastic relationship with,” said Frank Warren. “Billy Joe Saunders is going into the lions’ den as he believes he has the beating of David Lemieux. It’s a great opportunity for Billy Joe to defend his WBO World Title against a bigname opponent and headline his first bill on HBO at American primetime. He is looking forward to making a statement to the American audience to ensure he secures a fight with the winner of the Canelo vs. Golovkin rematch, for the Undisputed Middleweight World Championship. Billy Joe is out to prove he is the best Middleweight in the world. He has been continually avoided and if it
Unbeaten Belfast man targeting Lord Lonsdale belt in 2018
Paul Hyland Jnr believes beating Stephen Ormond in style will prove he’s ready for the British Lightweight title as they clash at the SSE Arena on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports. Hyland Jnr puts his IBF European strap on the line for the first time against the experienced Dubliner, and the champion says this is his first big test in his 17th pro outing. The 27 year old won the belt in fine fashion in June, blasting Adam Dingsdale away inside the opening round in the Arena where he faces Ormond in three days. Lewis Ritson wrestled the British crown from Robbie Barrett in Manchester earlier in the month and the Newcastle talent was promptly snapped up by promoter Eddie Hearn. ‘Hylo’ wants to put on an impressive display in front of the Matchroom boss to get to the front of the queue to face Ritson next year. “Next year I’d love to fight for the British title,” said Hyland. “I’m in the top ten in Britain now and I know Matchroom have just signed Lewis who had a good win over Barrett. I feel like he wouldn’t be able to push me back as easy so it would make for a cracking fight. “He’s definitely my toughest opponent to date. I respect what he’s done and am expecting a tough fight but it’s my time to take over now. “He’s had an up and down couple of years but there’s no doubt he’s boxed at a higher level than I have at present. It’s a good measuring
stick for me to get in and see where I am at. “Everything has gone well. I’ve done some great strength and condition work for this camp. I’m feeling fit, strong and sharp for this one. “I wasn’t expecting the fight to finish so early against Dingsdale. The game plan was to push him back early and show him he was in for a tough night from the start. But I just caught him, I knew as soon as I hit him he was in trouble. His legs and eyes were gone and I just jumped on him. “I’ve done a proper programme this time with a friend of mine who is qualified. I can feel my power and strength improving. It’s very specialist. It’s all going to plan so far and I’m excited to get in there and test it all out. “It’ll be a cracking atmosphere in the arena. I have sold a lot more tickets than last time. The Dublin fans for Ormond will be vocal too.” Hyland’s clash with Ormond is part of an historic night of action in Belfast as hometown star Ryan Burnett clashes with Zhanat Zhakiyanov in a unification battle for the IBF And WBA Super World Bantamweight titles. James Tennyson puts his WBA International Super-Featherweight title against Darren Traynor, Burnett’s Adam Booth gym mate Josh Kelly fights for the fourth time in the paid ranks, as is his Team GB Rio Olympic teammate Anthony Fowler. A host of local and Irish talents appear on the bill with Cruiserweight Tommy McCarthy, Super-Lightweight Tyrone McKenna, Lightweights Joe Fitzpatrick and Gary Cully and Super-Featherweight Feargal McCrory. Tickets are on sale now priced at £33, £44, £65 and £105 from the SSE Arena Belfast at www.ssearenabelfast.com (ticket price includes inside charge) VIP tickets priced at £150 are exclusively available from http://www. matchroomboxing.com/ Face value tickets for October 21 are also be available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/ matchroom-boxing-tickets/. StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua.