Life
MON THURS 10AM 11PM FRI SAT 10AM 1.30AM SUN 10AM 6PM GRANVILLE SQUARE, STONE, ST15 8AB
SAME SOUL NEW GASTRO MENU NEWLY RENOVATED Open all day for food Sunday Lunches served 12- 6pm
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A fabulous Christmas Gift to give to your family and friendss
Free glass of Prosecco with every afternoon tea booked Monday to Thursdday in January 2022
£5 off Main Meal for 2 on any Main Menu items Valid throughout January 2022
Royal British Legion...................6 Editor s Letter .............................7 Buddy Bag Foundation ..............8 Eccleshall Community..............10 Festive Free Parking..................11 Girlguiding ................................12 Business Funding......................13 Reader s Pics .............................14 Christmas at the Park ...............15 Crown Wharf Theatre...............16 World of Wedgwood..................18 Stone Food & Drink Festival......22 Women s Institutes ..................24
Stafford Flower Club.................25 Stafford Borough Council ........26 Community Speedwatch ..........27 Stone Town Mayor ...................27 Revival Support ........................28 Staffordshire Police...................29 Artist..........................................30 Business Networking................30 Gardening..................................31 Gatehouse Theatre....................32 Quiz Corner...............................33 Local Authors............................34
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
Scroll of honour for Stafford Legion
T
he Royal British Legion (RBL) in Stafford have been presented with a scroll from the Mayor to mark the granting of the Freedom of the Borough to the organisation. Stafford Borough Council granted Freedom to the Legion in recognition of its services to past and present members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families. At a recent council meeting, the Mayor, councillor Tony Nixon, presented the Freedom scroll to George Wright, the Honorary Chairman of the Stafford Branch of the RBL, to commemorate the award. The Stafford branch is celebrating its centenary year having been established in July 1921 and is
one of the oldest in the county. It provides financial, social, and emotional care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces, past and present, and their families. The council has the power to confer honorary Freedom to people or organisations that have given eminent services to the borough. The proposal to honour the Legion was unanimously agreed by councillors earlier this year with council leader, Patrick Farrington, describing it as a fitting honour. Cllr Farrington, said: The RBL has been a wonderful support to so many of the serving and former servicemen and women who have made our county town their home. This is a fitting tribute. An opportunity for us to provide a lasting reminder of our gratitude for all they do which benefits the armed forces veterans, their families, and our town. He added: Our councillors voted unanimously to bestow this honour on the RBL in the summer
which clearly demonstrates the warmth and appreciation we have for them and for their work in Stafford. This presentation was especially poignant as it takes place with the organisation celebrating 100 years in our county town. The leather-backed scroll is inscribed with the citation describing the award and features the borough Coat of Arms and the organisation s membership badge. An entry was also made in the Freedom roll of honour book. The Reverend John Davies, on behalf of the Stafford branch, said: It is a great honour you have bestowed upon us, and we accept it with great pride. Other notable recipients of the award include the 22 Signal Regiment of the British Army and Tactical Supply Wing of the RAF which are based in Stafford. The last person to receive the honour from the borough council was Olympic gold-medal canoeist, Joe Clarke in 2016.
editor s letter
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Belinda Hargreaves Contents Editor life@timesandecho.co.uk Erin Tuckwell & Tracey Refern Design & Production Jane Walters Advertising Manager Tel: 07817 128582 jane@timesandecho.co.uk Tom Brian General Manager Tel: 07855 242693 tom@timesandecho.co.uk Times, Echo & Life Publications 18 Tape Street, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 1BD Tel: 01538 752214 www.timesechoandlife.co.uk life@timesandecho.co.uk
I
t s Christmas well it will be very soon! Here s hoping we will be able to enjoy the festivities as we wish to, and not have another lockdown due to the pandemic, like last year. Welcome to the latest edition of the Stone & Eccleshall Life Magazine which is, once again, packed with features about life in our lovely area. We have news of Rotarian Sylvia who will be dressing as an Elf for the entire month of December all in aid of charity; and a feature all about new chefs being at a top tourist spot.
Cover photo courtesy of Noel Bennett noelbennettphoto graphy.co.uk,
01785 813888
We also have features about a youth group celebrating a milestone birthday; news of a business sharing its expertise in being eco-friendly; and reports from some of the Women s Institutes in the area; along with a round-up of collaborative efforts to help keep a community looking tip top. And we have the latest news from the ever so exciting project of the Crown Wharf Theatre. So grab a brew, sit comfortably and I hope you enjoy reading our latest magazine. And finally, I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
Belinda
BUDDY BAG FOUNDATION
Month-long Elf-ing around for Sylvia
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ylvia Keris, who was recently awarded as Ambassador of the Year for The Buddy Bag Foundation (BBF), is appealing for more kind people to knit teddies and to sew fabric drawstring toiletry bags and pencil cases, for this very valuable charity. Sylvia, from Eccleshall, is a collecting point for teddies and bags, and also for Lego donations, and can be contacted re deliveries on 01785 851005. Sylvia said: BBF provides children with a backpack of essential clothing, toiletries and comfort items - including a teddy bear - when they are taken to a safe refuge, away from domestic violence. The charity packs 180 agerelated Buddy Bags every week for children from babies up to 16 years of age - each rucksack with its contents costing around £25. But sadly, domestic violence cases increase over the festive season.
So in support of the charity and to also bring some festive cheer, I have vowed to dress again this year as Buddy s Elf, 24hrs a day, everyday in December. Wherever I go - whether food shopping, GP appointments, on a walk or doing volunteer work I will be dressed as an Elf. Sylvia added: People will be able to see humorous Elf photos posted everyday in December on the Eccleshall Today Facebook page. And if the Elf makes you smile, please leave a festive message and a little donation at: https://www.justgiving.com/cam paign/elf2021 in support of the Buddy Bags charity. And if you are a local business that may like the Elf to stand by your company s logo or products to promote your business, in return for a donation, you can check Elf availability via e-mail to: john@buddybagfoundation.co.uk or contact me.
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ECCLESHALL COMMUNITY
Banding together in community pride
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esidents and businesses in Eccleshall have been banding together to ensure their community looks nice. Peter Jones, chairman of Eccleshall Parish Council, said: Thanks to the support of local businesses our town centre was adorned with the large poppies symbolising remembrance. We also have the Ecclian Society and friends to thank for removing the 65 hanging baskets from around the town centre recently, in readiness for the Christmas trees being installed.
FESTIVE FREE PARKING
Two days of free parking for towns
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hoppers will be able to park for free in Stafford and Stone town centres on two key days in the run up to Christmas. The free parking offer from Stafford Borough Council aims to encourage more people to shop in town centres to boost trade for local businesses over the festive season. A spokesman for the council said: Parking charges have been waived for Stafford Borough Council car parks from 1pm Saturday (December 11) and from the same time the following week (December 18). The free parking period applies to all borough council
run car parks in the town centres - except the Riverside and Waterfront car parks in Stafford. A winter wonderland is coming to the centre of Stafford from the end of November into January of next year with ice rink, live music and Santa s grotto just some of the attractions taking place in Victoria Park. Councillor Frances Beatty, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Planning, said: These traditional free parking afternoons have always proved popular with shoppers and retailers in the run up to Christmas Day. And this year we will have the added attraction of some great
entertainment in our awardwinning Victoria Park all the more reason to come to the county town. We know that Stone is known far and wide as the food and drink capital of the county and is always an attractive place to carry out some shopping then relax with something to eat and drink. She added: More than ever before our businesses need a boost after another very challenging year for them and I hope people will support their local traders. A list of Stafford Borough Council run car parks can be found at www.staffordbc.gov.uk /parking.
m e n s w e a r Est. 1825
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37 Mill Street, Stafford, ST16 2AJ 01785 258648 1 Pepper Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 1PR 01782 616150
GIRLGUIDING
T
he GirlGuide Headquarters at Westbridge Park recently saw 1st Walton Brownies celebrating their 70th birthday in style. The birthday party was attended by 3rd Stone Guides who meet at Guide HQ and invited guests including: Jill Piggot (Division Commissioner) and former Brown Owls Jane West and Jo Sutton. The girls arrived in their party clothes and enjoyed party games, a chance to look at old photos from previous birthdays and took home party bags containing delicious pieces of birthday cake that had been made and decorated by Sarah Beardmore (a Brownie mom and Brownie Leader). Present Brown Owl, Hayley Downes said: It s great to see that after 70 years the Brownie experience is still being enjoyed and still popular with girls here in Stone. I feel very proud to be part of the local guiding community and even though I have only been volunteering for five years, it is a privilege to be part of the history of 1st Walton. I hope that there are many more happy years to come. Sarah Williams, another Walton Leader said: I enjoy helping the girls develop life skills and having fun at the same time. Seven-year-old Charlotte, who joined Walton Brownies during the height of the pandemic on Zoom, said: I love all the activities that we do at Brownies. I enjoy earning different interest badges and best of all being with my friends again. For further information on registering your interest to volunteer with Stone guiding or to register your daughter s interest in being a Brownie, go online to www.girlguiding.org.uk/registeryour interest or check find Girlguiding Stone District on Facebook.
BUSINESS FUNDING
Funding boost for rural businesses
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ural enterprises across Stafford Borough, including in Stone and Eccleshall, have the opportunity for a share in more than half a million pounds to help them grow. A spokesman for Stafford Borough Council said: Manufacturing, construction, and logistics are just some of the sectors in the many borough villages, and other rural areas, which could be entitled to one-off grants of up to £10,000. Applications for a share of the pot of more than £500,000 has now opened. It is the latest phase in an
initiative launched by Stafford Borough Council aimed at helping specific sectors to thrive. The money can be used for a range of assistance such as specialist marketing or legal advice, website design or new IT equipment. Since March 2020 the borough council has distributed more than £47 million to businesses who have struggled due to restrictions introduced to combat the spread of Covid19. The money will be given on a first come first served basis and has been introduced to support rural growth following the
challenges of the pandemic. Applicants will have to meet certain criteria including an annual turnover of less than £50 million; 75 per cent of sales income is from other businesses; and that they can show evidence of a reduction in turnover due to Covid-19. A team of council advisors will be on hand to help applicants as part of the process and any applicant will have to demonstrate their growth plans. The closing date for applications is February 14, 2022. For further information go online to www.staffordbc.gov.uk/busi ness-recovery-grants.
READER S PICS
Scenes of local wildlife
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e always warmly welcome submitted photographs of the local area from our readers and here we have some fabulous photos which have been sent in to us by Mark Coupe.
Surprise animal at Downs Banks. Photo by Mark Coupe
HAVE you snapped a stunning scene from the local area recently? Email your photos to our editor Belinda to hargreavespr@outlook.com
Ducks in the canal near Meaford. Photo by Mark Coupe
Downs Banks. Photo by Mark Coupe
CHRISTMAS AT THE PARK
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he award-winning Victoria Park in Stafford is set to be transformed into a winter wonderland with a real ice rink and Bavarian style market just some of the attractions on offer. The team behind the Great British Drive in at Sandon, who run Alberts Café in the popular park, will be rolling out festive cheer, alongside Stafford Borough Council, to make it a Christmas to remember. And the festive extravaganza is due to open on Saturday, November 27. Situated in the heart of Stafford the inaugural Christmas in the Park will feature: Ice Rink - get your skates on and head to the Ice Rink, that s right, real ice in the park to skate on and under cover too, with themed event nights and private booking available. The Polar Bar - providing a range of festive cocktails, mulled
wine, steins of beer and deliciously, indulgent hot chocolate. Digbeth Dining Club - will be providing the finest street food around. Santa s Grotto - offers everyone a chance to meet with Father Christmas. Bring your Christmas wish-list and help to spread Christmas cheer. Staffordshire s very own Bavarian-style market - exhibiting and celebrating local produce including Chocolatiers, Christmas decorations and other festive
favourites. Visitors can finish up your action-packed day by making a homemade decoration or sitting down for a wreath making masterclass. Listen to live music on the bandstand, from brass bands to choirs; and much more. Christmas at the Park will be open every day, except Christmas Day, from November 27 until January 2. For further information and to purchase tickets for the ice rink go online to: https://alberts.cafe.
CROWN WHARF THEATRE
Local business helps light up theatre
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he Crown Wharf Theatre charity has revealed its first founding partner as it continues to make big steps towards opening a brand new theatre in Stone. LAUK Lighting, based on Stone Business Park in the town, has played a huge role in the project so far and has become a Gold Founding Partner. Work started on the backstage area earlier this year and Oliver Freer from LAUK has not only donated his time and expertise, but the company is also providing all the required domestic lighting fittings for the project. Oliver has also helped the charity access vital electrical infrastructure equipment, which has been kindly donated by Schneider Electric. The hardware alone would have cost the charity thousands of pounds, but in addition Oliver has given his time and professional expertise free of charge to produce vital domestic lighting designs for
the project, as well as an online 3D model of the auditorium which gives an interactive, panoramic view of what the theatre will look like when it opens to the public. Local businesses can become founding partners through making a monetary donation or, like LAUK, donating time, expertise and materials to the project. As a gold founding partner, LAUK will be featured on a Founders Board at the theatre and will get a Gold Founder plaque on one of the theatre seats. Plus they ll get a plaque and certificate for their business premises. Oliver said: I had a tour of the theatre site in 2019 when it was nothing more than steels coming out of the ground. But I was so impressed by the project and its potential, so I wanted to get involved right then to help make this a reality. The theatre will be an amazing community space for everyone in the town. It s been amazing to see the project progressing, and to be playing a
part in making it happen is incredibly satisfying. Crown Wharf Theatre trustee Leo Capernaros added: Right from the beginning, we ve looked to build strong relationships with businesses in the area who share our vision for the town s future and can see the potential of this fantastic facility in the heart of the community. Oliver s help has been invaluable. We ve been so fortunate to have so many people stepping forward and backing the Crown Wharf Theatre project. We couldn t do it without them. The charity has been staging a variety of fundraising events this year, including an August Bank Holiday Theatre Takeover of the Joule s Crown Wharf pub, and the charity s first Wharfstock live music festival at Westbridge Park at the end of September. And there are lots more coming up, including a musical theatre cabaret, as well as Christmas concerts and carolling with the Cantiamo Chamber Choir, Revellation Choir and Florence Brass Band at the Joule s Crown Wharf pub. Full details of all upcoming events are available at www.crownwharftheatre.org.uk A number of funding bids have also been submitted for the auditorium stage of the project. The charity should find out before the end of the year if they ve been successful. There is more information about becoming a Crown Wharf Theatre founding partner, and lots of other ways that businesses and residents can support the project, at www.crownwharftheatre.org.uk
CROWN WHARF THEATRE
Fancy volunteering at the theatre?
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he Crown Wharf Theatre team is on the look out for a volunteer co-ordinator. A spokesman for the theatre said: We ve been delighted over the last couple of years to have so many people wanting to help make Crown Wharf Theatre a reality. The project is a genuine community effort, and we simply couldn t do it without our volunteers, so a huge thank you for your support. We rely on our Crown Wharfers to support our fundraising efforts and to help out at our events. Moving forward, we ll need our volunteers to continue playing a big part when the theatre is open: from box office and front-of-house to backstage
help, technical roles and more. This is why we re looking for someone to come on board as our new Volunteer Coordinator. The co-ordinator will play an important role in making sure our volunteers are well-informed and supported, and have a great time as a Crown Wharfer.
If you re interested in this new voluntary role with Crown Wharf Theatre, you ll find all the details on our website. For further information go online to: www.crownwharftheatre.org.uk /volunteer-coordinator.
WORLD OF WEDGWOOD
Michelin Chef comes back home
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orld of Wedgwood warmly welcomes celebrity chef Niall Keating to a new modern dining concept opening at their Barlaston site in Staffordshire,
this Winter. Ed and Craig of The Great British Experience Company (the minds behind The Great British Drive In, London s Best Experience The Murder Express & Alberts Cafe) have invited Staffordshire born Chef, Niall Keating, to oversee Lunar; a new, elegant dining experience in the heart of Staffordshire. Niall is one of the small handful of chefs in the UK to currently hold two Michelin stars, giving him a reputation as one of the leading chefs in the country today, many recognizing him as BBC s Great British Menu Champion of 2020. The opening of Lunar is just one of many exciting developments at the historic Wedgwood estate. Lunar will take over the former dining hall; the once laid-back canteen-style setting will be no more as it is transformed into the sophisticated Lunar. From upcycling furniture to working with sustainable suppliers, Lunar has a passion for sustainability and encourages strong environmental and ethical standards throughout the restaurant. There will be a prominent focus on local produce and nurturing local talent, making it a space that Staffordshire is proud of. Jemma Harrison, the newly appointed Head of World of Wedgwood, said: We are delighted to welcome Lunar to Barlaston. The restaurant space has been developed with incredible creativity and enormous respect for the heritage of the beautiful estate and the Wedgwood brand. The combined passion and experience of Niall, Ed and Craig bring something unique and very very special to Staffordshire; it s been a real privilege to be involved in this project and I m so excited to see the concept come to life at World of Wedgwood. Diners will be served their food exclusively on Wedgwood fine bone china, from the brand's most loved tableware patterns, including the striking Arris and vibrant Wonderlust collections. Josiah s DNA will be tremendously apparent throughout the dining experience, from the interior colour scheme that has been carefully chosen, influenced by Josiah Wedgwood s experimentations with colour through oxidation, down to the industrial aesthetic as a nod to Wedgwood s place in pioneering the industrial revolution. The name Lunar was inspired by the legendary Lunar Society, a supper club formed during the Midlands enlightenment , of which Josiah Wedgwood was a founding member.
The Wedgwood estate is becoming quite the hub for exciting times ahead, as alongside Lunar they welcome their new garden Landpod, in which guests can enjoy takeaway afternoon tea in a quirky, woodlandstyle outdoor seating alternative. In 2014, London's Victoria and Albert Museum, otherwise known as the V&A, announced their partnership with World of Wedgwood, acquiring the Wedgwood collection, which remains on the World of Wedgwood premises in Barlaston within the former Wedgwood Museum, now known as the V&A Wedgwood Collection. Co-director, Craig Wilkinson, said: We are delighted, inspired, enthused and extremely proud to be working with Wedgwood. The history of Wedgwood is something everyone locally should be aware of and as the home of curious, creative, imaginative people we feel perfectly at home and well placed to make Lunar a world class destination. The synergy, values and ambitions we all have could not be more aligned and we re looking forward to making Lunar a destination that we can all enjoy and be proud of for many years to come.
World of Wedgwood Welcome to a world of luxury shopping, colourful dining, unique events, hands-on learning experiences, picturesque woodland and the V&A Wedgwood Collection.
NYE Afternoon Tea with Bottomless Prosecco at World of Wedgwood Celebrate New Years Eve early doors with family and friends this year by joining us here in our iconic Wedgwood Tea Room, tucked away in the picturesque village of Barlaston, Staffordshire. Relax in our elegant space as we serve an exceptional, festive afternoon tea for all, consisting of delightful and delicious sandwiches, freshly baked scones and fancies, unlimited prosecco and lot's of tea! After all, a tea party without Wedgwood is hardly a party, so let us entertain!
Head to www.worldofwedgwood.com or call 01782282986
@worldofwedgwood
@worldofwedgwood
@worldofwedgwood #worldofwedgwood
STONE FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL
Welcome return of food an
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gastronomical festival made a welcome return to Staffordshire this Autumn.
The scenic town of Stone played host to its annual celebration of all things food and drink over the weekend Westbridge Park was, once again, transformed to be the stage for the Stone Food & Drink Festival. With the event switching to an online format in 2020 due to the pandemic, organisers pulled together a packed programme for this year s event, which included: live cookery demos, talks, tastings, live music, street food, artisan food stalls and family fun all designed to delight food lovers.
STONE FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL
and dr n fe t al
WOMEN S INSTITUTES
Stone WI
B
eing the first Wednesday of the month our WI meeting was held, as usual, in Christ Church annex at 2pm. A table with items of pottery for a competition gave a table of interest & a clue to the subject of our speaker, Mr George Holden who was a Wedgwood designer and also tutors/gave tuition for throwing. Not being raised in the Potteries, I didn t know a great deal about a world known to a lot of folk in the area. Most people knew or have a relative who knew about pottery, designs, bottle ovens and sheer hard work that is/was needed for an industry to thrive. Mr Holden took us on a trip of his memory lane from school onwards and how he was influenced by framed watercolours in railway carriages when he travelled in from Preston to Lancaster to complete a National Diploma in Design. He needed to know every stage involved from clay to pot production, incorporating all necessary to make fine bone China for hotels, restaurants,
even airlines where weight & shape had to be considered. He took ideas for shapes and patterns from wood graining, driftwood & items found on the seashore and the sea itself. The shapes and designs from Mother Nature provided him with a wealth of inspirations. He also brought along some guitars which he had designed & decorated. They were not for playing, but displayed his artistic talent to show 'dancing trees and the bank s of the Seine . He brought several albums and other pots with him for us to see. He has a rare talent from geometric shapes to designs in nature. Apparently some edging designs may be taken from a photograph to produce a sketch and then transferred onto drawing paper to alter the size, depending on what and where it was required. It was a thoroughly interesting afternoon where I, for one, learnt quite a lot about an industry which helped shape our area and put us on the map, globally. Our next meeting in December has a Christmas theme and will involve a bit of a
party. We re always happy to have refreshments. Ideas are as yet evolving so it s a bit of a mystery afternoon. We ve had several visitors now who have decided to join us and we offer a warm welcome to them. Fancy joining us? Just come along with some food, but because of Covid we have been asked not to bring home made items but prepacked fancies and savouries. I'm sure we ll have some fun & enjoy ourselves. Lastly, I m not sure when you will be able to read this, but I, and all our members, wish you a very Merry and Covidfree Christmas and New Year. Report by Pam Farnsworth
Aston-by-Stone WI
C
oming home at last to the village hall was wonderful, after so many months of missed meetings, Zoom and open-air gatherings.
New regulations were observed: wiping handles and surfaces, wearing masks and taking squirts of the ubiquitous anti-bac gel. Triumphs from the County Show were recorded
and shown: first prize and coveted three gold stars for the Co-operative Food basket by Anita Murphy, Joan Jones and Jennie Brockington, with further prizes in jammaking and photography. >>
WOMEN S INSTITUTES << Results from August s Treasure Hunt, organised by Judith Webb and Joan Jones, were announced, and we were entertained with some of the funniest answers. Three winners each scored 14 out of the 22 points. The evenings main event was a talk by Susan Whitehouse, assisted by Clare Marsden, entitled Fleece to yarn. Treating a fleece direct from the animals back turned out to be a complex business. Sue demonstrated carding, and spoke of the
methods and materials used to produce unique yarn. A demonstration of spinning was fascinating. After all, we were all spinsters at one time. Tea and cake followed, in timehonoured W.I. fashion, with a raffle and a hilarious competition to draw a sheep. We meet at 7.30pm at Aston-by-Stone Village Hall, and all are welcome. Contact us at www.astonbystonewi.btc k.co.uk, or at contactastonbystonewi@ virginmedia.com, or ring 01785 615662. We look forward to seeing you. Report by Kate Wain
STAFFORD FLOWER CLUB
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ur Christmas Flower Arranging Demonstration was presented by Sionedd Hughes who demonstrated A Touch of Sparkle. This was an entertaining afternoon with our Welsh friend who demonstrated her skills of floral art and gave us hints and ideas of adding sparkle to Christmas. The flower arrangements were raffled along with other prizes during the afternoon. Our Christmas Quiz was on sale and members had a go at Guessing the Weight of the Cake. We also held the popular In It to Win It draw with the winner announced along with the raffle.
With the other fundraisers, there was a jewellery stall with all sorts of beadwork for sale. Our Christmas flower arranging items were also available to purchase. The Flower Club meet at Rising Brook Methodist Church. All are welcome. Stafford Flower Club don t have a meeting in December but we would like to wish all our members and friends who support us a very Merry Christmas and a Floral New Year. We will be back in the New Year on Wednesday, January 25 for our normal afternoon meeting. For more information contact: stafford.flower.club@outlook.com or call Mrs M Keast on 07708 025255.
STAFFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
Garden waste charge frozen for borough
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he cost of emptying garden waste from homes across Stafford Borough, including in Stone and Eccleshall, has been frozen for 2022. Stafford Borough Council say there will be no increase to the annual charge for those households who want their brown bin emptied from January next year and are introducing an improved online sign-up service to make the process easier. And residents who want to have their garden waste collected in 2022 can sign up now. The cost will stay at £36 for the year and residents can get more information, and how to sign-up, from www.staffordbc.gov.uk/brownbin. A spokesman for the borough council said: Collecting garden waste is not a statutory council service and around 65 per cent of local authorities
across the country charge their residents to have grass cuttings removed. Around 35,000 properties signed up to continue using the fortnightly service this year - a total of nearly 40,200 bins - which is approximately 60 per cent of households. The garden waste is taken by the council s recycling and waste contractor, Veolia, to a composting facility where it is used to produce soil improver. Councillor Jonathan Price, Cabinet Member for Environment, added: It is great to see so many households chose to continue having their brown bin garden waste collected and I m very pleased to announce that we have frozen the cost of the service for the coming year. By asking for an annual contribution for this non-statutory service we can ensure those who use the brown bin service can continue to receive it. Residents wanting to find out more about the service can see answers to some frequently asked questions at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/brownbin.
Support is on hand to help heat homes
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senior councillor in Stafford Borough is appealing for residents to get in touch if they are worried about their heating bills. The call has been made by councillor Jeremy Pert, Cabinet Member for Communities and Health at Stafford Borough Council, following the recently publicised increase in energy prices. A spokesman for the borough council said: There has been a double digit per cent rise in prices - the biggest increase since a price cap was introduced in 2019 and there is concern people will not be able to afford to heat their homes properly. Residents who are on standard tariffs are set to see their energy bills go up by on average £139 a year - and customers who use pre-payment meters will see an average increase of £153. And that increase has come when temperatures are starting to drop. The council is advising residents affected to get in touch for help and advice from its energy advice service, Warmer Homes Stafford (WHS).
The borough council works in partnership with local charity Beat the Cold to deliver its Warmer Homes Stafford scheme that offers advice to residents on how to reduce fuel bills, support with accessing funding, advice and information about improving energy efficiency and keeping warm. Councillor Pert is urging residents who are worried about rising heating bills to get in touch with Warmer Homes Stafford now. He said: A rise in energy costs is never good news, but the timing and scale of this new price cap will be difficult for many residents in the borough still struggling with the impact of the pandemic, with fewer companies offering switching options. Please do not bury your heads in the sand. If you are worried about how you can afford to heat your home because of the increase in your energy bill then I would urge you to contact Warmer Homes Stafford immediately to get help, advice and support. Martin Peake, Charity Development Manager at Beat the Cold, said: With the steep increase in wholesale prices, we are expecting energy bills to increase this winter. Warmer Homes Stafford can provide impartial independent advice on energy tariffs, and the steps you can take to keep warm this winter. Residents can get in touch with WHS by calling Freephone 0800 677 1785 or visiting www.warmerhomesstafford.org.uk.
COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH
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n appeal has been made for volunteers to join a speedwatch initiative in Eccleshall.
A spokesman for the group said: Where there are significant community concerns over speeding and road safety, one of the options is to deploy community speed watch. As part of our ongoing drive to make our communities more resilient, we are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to join our existing Community Speed Watch team to complement the work of neighbourhood policing teams across Staffordshire by deploying roadside monitoring equipment at identified hot spots. If you think that speeding traffic has a dangerous impact in Eccleshall and you would like to take an active role in speed monitoring and educating offending drivers, then this is the
volunteering opportunity for you. Necessary training and safety equipment will be provided to fulfil this role. If you have a few hours to spare each week, please send an email to: csw@staffordshire.pnn.police.uk.
STONE TOWN MAYOR
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tone Town Mayor s Trafalgar Below Decks Evening at Lymestone Brewery, The Old Brewery, Mount Road, Stone is set to take place on Saturday, December 4 at 7pm. Tickets are available from Stone Town Council at 15 Station Road, Stone. Tickets are priced at £20 per person which includes an arrival drink, hog roast and port toast. A spokesman for Stone Town Council said: The itinerary for the evening includes a brewery introduction, Trafalgar Talk and lots of fun and jollity with CK Community Choir singing sea shanties. For further information call 01785 619743 or email: clerk@stonetowncouncil .gov.uk.
REVIVAL SUPPORT
New service to support people with Covid-19
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ome improvement and support specialist Revival has launched a new Covid-19 check in service. Launched on October 1 and running until March 31, 2022 the service is set to support vulnerable adults and carers who have Covid-19 in the Staffordshire Moorlands, Loggerheads, Madeley, Blythe Bridge and Eccleshall areas. A spokesman for Revival said: The service, funded by Staffordshire County Council, will help those who have Covid19 or are self-isolating due to Covid-19. The service will help local people by collecting essentials, delivering prescriptions, supporting with financial issues like benefits, helping them to feel less isolated by providing support over the phone and putting people in touch with their family and friends.
Head of Support and Wellbeing, Julie Russell, said: Our support will reduce the number of vulnerable people having to go without essentials like food or medication. We re hoping the service will play it s part in reducing Covid-19 transmission by helping people manage at home. Sometimes people living alone or caring for someone feel they have no other option than to leave home to get essentials. This service will support those people and make sure everyone can remain safe and well in their home. Community Home Support Worker, Bridget Blakeman is part of the service. Her role will involve identifying customer needs and putting a plan in place to allow customers to isolate safely at home. Bridget explained: Helping people who are having to isolate because they
have Covid-19 is so important. On a practical level some people don t have the ability or know how to get their shopping or prescriptions delivered. Emotionally, being told to stay at home for two weeks when you live alone, are vulnerable to the virus or are a carer can be a daunting task. Our support will put practical steps in place to make sure people have what they need to isolate safely at home. We will also provide the emotional support to help them get through a tough and lonely time. Cabinet Support Member of Public Health and Integrated Care at Staffordshire County Council, Dr Johnny McMahon said: We are delighted to fund this vital service which will enable vulnerable adults and carers when isolating during the winter. This pandemic has not gone away and we must do all we can to protect each other, that includes selfisolating when required to and not spreading Covid-19 further. If you need to isolate don t hesitate to contact Revival for a welfare check to get the support needed. Anyone in the Staffordshire Moorlands, Loggerheads, Madeley, Blythe Bridge and Eccleshall areas can access the service including GPs and voluntary agencies. If you, or someone you know, would benefit from a Covid-19 welfare check in please complete the online referral here: thisisrevival.org.uk/homewelfa rechecks You can also contact Revival on 0333 014 3389 or email hello@thisisrevival.org.uk
STAFFORDSHIRE POLICE
New Deputy Commander joins Borough NPT
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tafford Borough neighbourhood policing team (NPT) has welcomed a new Deputy Commander to its ranks. Deputy Commander, Inspector Laura Morrey, has 18 years experience within Staffordshire Police and decided to take up the role after a varied career across several different departments including working in response and as a vulnerability sergeant. Most recently, Laura had worked for three years in Staffordshire Police s sex offender management team, which gave her the opportunity to work as a detective on complex investigations. Speaking of her new role, Laura, who lives near Stone, said: I love how versatile working in neighbourhood policing is. No two days are the same and it really is a problem-solving role which I know I will enjoy. I m looking forward to getting out there in communities, working with partners, to listen to those who live and work here to tackle issues in our neighbourhood. The inspector hopes that she will also bring
Dept Commander Laura Morrey
something fresh to the NPT. Laura added: Those of us who work in policing are facing constant challenges at the moment and I want to make sure I am there for the team and all the staff. The pandemic has made it very clear to me how many responsibilities we all have at home, whether you re a carer for a family member or a parent juggling everything. As a mum, I
am very conscious of how important it is to strike the right work-life balance. I m a real people person, so I m looking forward to working with the brilliant people we have on the team to help resolve problems in our communities. My priority is to make people feel safe and let them know that I am here for them, whatever difficulties they may face.
ARTIST
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ontemporary artist Penny Meakin has been busy getting creative for the forthcoming festive season and has some of her latest creations on display at Rook House in Moddershall, near Stone. Creating art using postage stamps under the name of Penny Stamp Artist, the Meir Heath resident has recently moved into a new direction, since completing an Art Degree last year. This has resulted in a series of unique contemporary compositions depicting the beautiful landscape close to her home. These include layers of metallic fabrics, corroded copper, text and maps, sewn into underlying images.
Penny said: The landscape near my home in Meir Heath is utterly beautiful, particularly close to Moddershall, the rolling hills and woodland fill me with inspiration. Penny sells her work at a variety of local galleries including the Fox and Crow Gallery in Leek and the Rook House in Moddershall near Stone. Penny said: The Rook House is fabulous. It sells a variety of local artwork and antiques and you can combine this with freshly baked cakes and drinks. Perfect on a rainy winter s day and beautiful in the summer too, when you can sit outside next to the duck pond. Penny added: It s important to support local artists. Our
work won t be subjected to delays and fuel shortages and it helps the local economy. For further information about Penny s work, go online to: www.pennystampartist.com
BUSINESS NETWORKING
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Stone business has been joining others across the county in sharing expertise to save money and carbon emissions. Insulated packaging company Woolcool is among those currently benefiting from the Staffordshire County Council-supported Staffordshire Business Environment Network (sben). The network s work aims to help businesses achieve long term sustainability and maximise commercial opportunities through green innovation mean local businesses have already saved 1,656 tonnes of carbon since 2017. Councillor Simon Tagg, Staffordshire County Council s cabinet member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change, said: This authority is committed to tackling climate change and helping businesses go greener. sben does great practical work and is currently offering free membership so businesses of any size in Staffordshire can get valuable practical advice and
support to help them go green and prosper at the same time. Every small step we take makes a big difference and will get us closer to achieving net-zero by 2050. Woolcool, which is based in Stone, has pioneered the use of 100 per cent natural sheep wool to insulate pharmaceutical products internationally. As members of sben, it had an independent assessment of its energy usage and received lots of practical advice. The business has now changed to more energy efficient lights and is zero waste to landfill. Managing Director at Woolcool, Josie Morris said: I think it s really important for businesses to start thinking about sustainability. We have found that being sustainable is not only a great thing for the planet, but also from a cost-saving perspective. Staffordshire is known for its innovation and creativity, if we all come together and do our bit, we could be the most sustainable county in the country. To watch the Woolcool video, go online to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1P1EYBAcY4 &feature=youtube. Sben is offering free membership. To join sben or find out more, go online to: https://sben.co.uk.
GARDENING
Winter Dogwoods
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n winter after leaves have dropped and plants have been cut back and tidied, the bare bones of the garden come to the fore and add shape and sometimes colour in the low angled sun. Few shrubs add more colour than the Winter Dogwoods. The young stems are highly coloured red, yellow, orange, almost black and lime green depending on variety, creating a stunning display through the winter months. The autumn display of colouring leaves is almost as striking with red, orange and gold tones clothing the stems in October before they fall. These are shrubs that form good sized clumps over the years in sun or light shade. Unpruned they will grow into medium to large shrubs about 5-8ft / 150-240cm tall, but to enjoy their most vivid colours it s best to cut off a third to a half of the older stems nearly to the ground in late winter before new growth starts. Lots of new, vigorous, straight stems will start to grow providing a blazing display by the next winter. This will keep the plants to three foot / 90cm in height. The best known variety is Siberica with bright red stems and vigorous growth looking brilliant against winter skies. The lime green Flaviramea is equally as striking. For the most intense flaming orange stems the varieties of Cornus sanguinea outshine everything else: Midwinter Fire and
Winter Flame are both very good. Darker red is Elegantissima, but for almost black stems Kesselringii is the popular choice and looks wonderful in winter mixed with the brighter coloured varieties especially the green Flaviramea or perhaps planted with the white barked Himalayan Birch. Dogwoods also have white flowers in summer and unpruned bushes produce white, pale purple or bluish berries in autumn that provide a good food source for birds.They are best in soil that isn't too boggy. In a border, plant them around 3ft / 1m apart. They also make good informal hedges at 2ft / 60cm gaps. Dogwoods are one of the stars of the winter garden and whether planted in drifts or lines or just a single plant they re sure to give you joy in the dark days of winter. Janet and I organise Plant Hunters Fairs, specialist plant fairs at wonderful locations. Dates for your diary: Sugnall Walled Garden, near Eccleshall on Saturday, April 2; Capesthorne Hall and Gardens on Sunday, April 10; Dorothy Clive Gardens on Sunday, April 17 and Monday, April 18; Cholmondeley Castle gardens on Sunday, April 24, nd Weston Park on Sunday, May 1 and Monday, May 2. Please see www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk for a full list of all our 2022 plant fairs. Martin Blow
Gatehouse theatre
BREAKING: Mirror, mirror . . . SNOW WHITE breaks records at the Gatehouse
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TAFFORD S Snow White panto is breaking Box Office records at the Gatehouse theatre after adding even more stars to its spectacular line-up. The Christmas extravaganza is headlined by Maureen Nolan, CBeebies Rebecca Keatley and Keith Jack from BBC1 s Any Dream Will Do . Legendary Maureen is playing the Wicked Queen after a career going back to the 1970s, when The Nolans topped the charts with I m In The Mood For Dancing as well as touring with all-time greats such as Frank Sinatra and Sir Cliff Richard. She said: The new-look Gatehouse is a wonderful theatre and I can t wait to meet the Stafford audience. CBeebies star Rebecca Keatley plays the title character and said: It s an absolute dream to be playing Snow White at the Gatehouse. It s going to be fun for all the family and I m looking forward to seeing the sights of Stafford. All-round TV entertainer Keith is the handsome prince (of course!) and added: It is a real thrill for me to be part of such an amazing cast and such a big production. It s going to be
a blast! Today, producers RED Entertainment announced another batch of top-line talent has joined the starstudded cast. First-up, there s TV s loveable Theo the Mouse , who will have everyone in stitches with his cheeky one-liners. Other favourites joining the cast include The Sooty Show s Wink Taylor, Sean McKenzie (recently seen in Coronation Street) as the
Dame and the hilarious Mike Newman as Muddles. Gatehouse manager Tim Ford said: This is going to be the biggest panto Stafford has seen in a VERY long time. The lavish production runs at the Gatehouse from December 10-31. Tickets are available from www.staffordgatehousethea tre.co.uk or from the Box Office in person or 01785 619080.
Quizzes compiled by Paul Steele - email: pnsteele@aol.com - Paul's 'Which One?' quiz game is available on Amazon.
General Knowledge Answers: 1. Debbie Harry 2. None 3. 666 4. Puck 5. October (Clocks go back an hour) 6. Maine 7. Adam Peaty (100m Breaststroke) 8. Ariana Grande 9. Twist and Shout 10. Scooby-Doo (Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy) 11. English (Fe Fi Fo Fum etc) 12. Aurora Australis 13. A Light Year 14. Frankie Bridge 15. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 16. True. London, Ontario in Canada 17. The Sound of Silence 18. Waterloo Road 19. It s a Wonderful Life 20. Ian Fleming
quiz corner
LOCAL AUTHORS
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ospital dietitian and published children s author Alison Falkonakis has been reunited with the high school English teacher who inspired her to write. Alison, who works at the University Hospital North Midlands (UHNM) County Hospital, Stafford, was surprised to find now retired teacher Mr John Mills on her patient list recently. Alison, aged 51 of Stone, attended Blythe Bridge High School from 1981 to 1986, where she was taught by Mr Mills. She has now published six children s books. Alison said: When I saw that Mr Mills was a patient I wanted to thank him and give him a copy of my book. I loved John s English lessons at school. He had a fantastic imagination and this inspired me a lot, we also used to play wonderful games in class and I always used to look forward to them. I had the good fortune to have him twice through the five years I was there and I was just so pleased to come back. It was his evident love for English and for language and the variety of words that drew me in, I really enjoyed it. It s surreal that the pupil is now sitting here reading the teacher s work. I absolutely adored how John wrote in his book how he felt about my writing, because no matter how many people say to you that they enjoyed your work, to have someone who was your teacher say it s really good actually means more to me than any other critique I ve ever had. You believe it then because he s the teacher, it s really touching. The experience has meant an awful lot to me. It s almost like a returning home to be able to
come back to somebody and to be able to say you know, you made a real impact on what happened. As much as John is very modest and perhaps doesn t want it, he really did. I just want to thank him and make sure he understands that. Mr Mills, aged 69 of Stone, has now retired from teaching but recently published a book of poetry. Mr Mills said: I wasn t expecting to see Alison. It s great that people can become reunited again after all these years. And it s lovely to meet former pupils and see what s happened in their lives and how they ve grown and developed as people. What we as teachers can do is awaken what is already within the person and give them the opportunity to learn how to flower. It s wonderful because it makes me think - you can kind of blunder through life - but when I meet someone like Alison it makes me think yeah, maybe I got it right and that gives me great pride. I m more proud of her book than I am of my own. I didn t mind sharing my emotions when teaching, I still
can t get to the end of Of Mice and Men without crying. It says there that we re all capable of great compassion and I d like to think that I showed a little bit of that in the classroom. A lot of teachers teach at people and I hope I taught with them. Mr Mills is currently receiving treatment for Parkinson s disease and cancer at UHNM. In his book No guiding star John writes about his experience with both illnesses. John added: When I perform poems I can educate people a little about what it s like to have Parkinson s. People think you just sort of sit there and wobble a bit, but I struggle to do buttons and things like that. And you can do it in a humorous way as well so people are learning a bit about the disease as well as being entertained. The care I ve received at UHNM has been better than first class. The positive attitude of the nurses and the receptionists are brilliant. You come in frightened and they put you at ease, so you get off to a good start and the nurses are kind to you and very positive and professional.
