Stone Life Feb Mar 2017

Life

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017

It’s a dog’s life...

The Borehole named most dog friendly pub in Staffordshire

STONE AND DISTRICT SCOUTS WANT YOU...

: E D I S N I

cial g spe n i d d our • We for y g n i ar prep ay big d tyles me s o H • 017 for 2

Gang Show celebrates 50 golden years

EDITOR’S LETTER

SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

ith 2017 now in full swing I’m guessing many of you, like me may be guilty of lagging a bit behind on the new year resolution promises we made only a short time ago.

There is little wonder it is hard to get motivated with the dark mornings, freezing temperatures and most of us still trying to recuperate our rather empty post Christmas purses, but rest assured, spring is just around the corner, yes there really is light at the end of that long winter tunnel.

And so while we begin to look ahead to the forthcoming spring and summer festivities in store it is also a good time to reflect on some of the positives of the previous year – in this issue we celebrate the achievements of local Lymestone Brewery which picked up a plethora of awards in 2016, see how our very own Olympic and Paralympic heroes, home grown Gold Medallist Joe Clarke and Bronze medallist Ian Marsden helped honour volunteers at British Canoeing’s annual Volunteer and Athlete Recognition Awards, and see first hand how an apprenticeship is helping local young people get a great footing on the career ladder.

Other highlights of this issue include an exciting peek into what this year’s Stone and District Scouts Gang Show has in store as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, how a 60 mile walk in 24 hours is set to benefit three very worthy charities including one based in the town, as well as all of our regular features and contributions.

We hope you enjoy the latest edition of our magazine, happy reading.

W

Deborah Boden Contents Editor debbie@timesandecho.co.uk Sophie Cotton & Tracey Wardle Design & Production Jane Walters Advertising Manager Tel: 07817 128582 jane@timesandecho.co.uk Tom Brian Advertising Sales Tel: 07855 242693 tom@timesandecho.co.uk

Deborah

Find us on Facebook - Search for Stone and Eccleshall Life

Cover photo: noelbennettphotography.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

February/March 2017 5

The Stone House Hotel

Expertly hosting weddings and events for over 30 years...

Contact our dedicated events team on 01785 815531 or email MandE.stone@bespoke-hotels.com to receive our bespoke wedding brochure or special package offer.

Also now taking bookings for Valentine’s Dinner, Mother’s Day Lunch and Easter Sunday.

Contact our reservations team on reservations.stone@bespoke-hotels.com to make your booking.

STAFFORD ROAD, STONE, STAFFORDSHIRE, ST15 0BQ

February/ March

Editor’s letter ..............................................5 Eccleshall Show ..........................................8

Working life...............................................10 Community Pride Awards .........................11 Weddings...................................................12 The Borehole .............................................16

Last orders.................................................18 Recipe for life ............................................19

CONTENTS

STING charity...........................................20 Stone Food and Drink Festival .................21

Stone and District Scouts .........................22 Stage directions ........................................24 Rooftop Studios ........................................25

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust .....................26 Ridgways Hearing Centre.........................28

Health and wellbeing ................................31 British Canoeing Volunteer Awards.........34

Quiz corner................................................35

Gardening .................................................36 Home improvements................................38 Womens Institute......................................41 Independent education ............................42 Investment matters...................................47

Legal matters ............................................48

Motoring ...................................................49

Stafford Fireplaces & Stoves

39 GAOL ROAD, STAFFORD, ST16 3AR

Tel: 01785 211 554 • www.staffordfireplaces.co.uk Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, closed Sun until 5th Sept, open in evening by appointment

February/March 2017 7

FLORAL TRIBUTE TO PAT HELPS CANCER CHARITY ECCLESHALL SHOW

he 2016 Eccleshall Show was particularly poignant for members of Eccleshall Show’s Craft and Horticulture committee who had recently lost one of their very long standing supporters.

Farmer’s wife Pat Hobson from Brockton Hall exhibited in the floral art section of the show

T

8 February/March 2017

when newly married, and continued throughout the years, more recently becoming a judge.

Sadly, she succumbed to cancer early last summer so the committee decided to commission a floral arrangement as a tribute to her, to be displayed in the Craft and Horticulture marquee on the day of the show.

Diana Scott MBE, the well-known floral art demonstrator and a great friend of Pat’s, agreed to create a basket of flowers which was much admired throughout the day and was then auctioned off with the money donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.

At a recent gathering, which included Pat’s daughter Sarah, a cheque for £100 was presented to Pauline Lewis, Macmillan area fund raising manager by Show Manager and Treasurer, Amanda Graham.

Pauline commented: “It was a fitting tribute to this inspirational lady and our charity very much appreciates being chosen to receive the money raised.”

APPRENTICESHIP IS ‘WORKING’ FOR TOM T WORKING LIFE

housands of people are getting their foot on the career ladder as the number of apprenticeships continues to grow while boosting the local economy.

Over the past 10 years the number of people in Staffordshire starting a new apprenticeship has almost trebled from 3,830 to 9,310 in 2015.

Higher level apprenticeships, equivalent to a degree are also on the increase with more being introduced in the past year.

Latest initiatives such as the Ladder for Staffordshire, the county’s annual Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony and the Apprenticeship Ambassador Networks are all helping boost the number of young people and businesses opting for an apprenticeship.

Ben Adams, Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills at Staffordshire County Council said: “We are making huge progress in increasing the number of apprenticeships here in Staffordshire. Not only are we giving people excellent career prospects, we’re making sure our local businesses have access to a skilled workforce that they will need for future growth.

“The number of higher level apprenticeships including those in high-tech engineering is also on the up which is good news as many of the

10 February/March 2017

future jobs will be in this sector.

“With increasing job opportunities in the county and unemployment at an all-time low, it’s vital that we continue to develop our workforce and apprenticeships are key to this.”

21-year-old Tom Hassall from Stone is a Level 2 Highways Maintenance apprentice with Amey. Tom, who’s one year into his apprenticeship said: “I love my apprenticeship and love the work I do. I enjoy being hands on and working outside so a job in highways maintenance is perfect for me and every day is different. The best thing about my apprenticeship is that I get to learn from actually doing the job and I get paid at the same time. There’s also some theory which I have to learn as well but my favourite bit is getting out on the roads and putting it into practice. I’d definitely recommend an apprenticeship to other young people.”

Staffordshire County Council’s own apprenticeship scheme has also recruited 683 apprentices over the past five years; 447 at level 2 Intermediate and 236 Level 3 Advanced apprentices.

For more information on apprenticeships visit www.staffordshire.gov.uk/brightfutures.

COMMUNITY PRIDE AWARDS

WALTON WARRIORS HAVE PRIDE IN THEIR PATCH ride in Your Patch is a Stafford Borough Council initiative, which recognises community-spirited residents who make a difference by cleaning, tidying or carrying out other tasks to make their areas more attractive places to live.

Now in its third year, the 2016 awards saw Walton Eco Warriors - a group of young people from Walton High School - win the Inspiring Others (Group) award for their quirky Shakespearean gardening project.

P

Councillor Frank Finlay, Cabinet Member for Environment and Health, attended the awards ceremony. He said: “The Council looks after the Borough’s public spaces and provides services that enable everyone to live in a community that is clean and tidy. The Pride In Your Patch awards were launched a few years ago to recognise the unsung heroes who do so much to keep our Borough clean and tidy too. Congratulations to all those who were nominated for this year’s awards.”

February/March 2017 11

READY TO TIE THE KNOT WEDDINGS

Not ready to lose your head

t is the most exciting time of your life, the day you’ll remember forever, so the stress that comes with it can be a little overwhelming, hopefully these tips take a bit of the stress away.

The best place to start when planning your big day, is inspiration, take your stack of bridal magazines, venue leaflets, food brochures and make a wedding folder, a mood board of what your ideal day would be. This gives you a starting point, something to work towards.

The next step is determining your budget, figure out how much you want to spend, based on family contributions, your own, and where you want that money to go to.

Picking your wedding party is an important part of the planning, but once you know who’s in, you’ll know who you can rely on to make your day extra special.

The next, and ultimately, most stressful part of wedding planning is starting the guest list keeping everybody happy can have it’s difficulties, but remember that this is your day. If you want to keep the budget low, keeping your guest list small can help this. Tip: Keep contact details with every person you’ve invited, incase you need to make any emergency phone calls.

If this is all a bit overwhelming, you can always cheat a little bit and hire yourself a wedding planner, they take away some of the stress and can even bring in their own contacts, making finding a venue or specific need for the big day, a lot easier.

Reserving your date and venue is an exciting time, it means it’s set in stone, the big day is finally coming, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and you can finally see. Through all the

I

12 February/March 2017

planning, sitting within a mountain of bridal magazines and crying into set menu’s offered from different caterer’s, you can almost see the end result.

If you’ve decided on two separate locations for the ceremony and reception, bare in mind the travel time between the two for yourself and your guests.

When researching photographers, bands, florists and caterers, remember to keep their contact details in your wedding folder/mood board.

If the time has come to hire the photographer for the big day, be sure that the people you’re hiring are open to doing the shots that you want.

When it comes to hiring the band or a DJ, a good idea is to attend a few gigs before making your decision, don’t go in blind, see how they perform in front of an audience and then start reserving your favourites.

Picking your dress is the best part for most bride-to-be’s, but the most important thing to remember is to book at least three fittings, your body will change throughout the months of planning, down to every day life, stress, work, perhaps a diet or basically running around like a headless chicken trying to sort everything. Pick a dress you absolutely love, don’t settle, it’s your big day, these photos will sit around your house forever, don’t pick a dress you’ll get bored of seeing for the rest of your life.

The ideal time to send out invitations is usually around six to eight weeks before the actual date, this gives plenty of time for RSVP’s and to sort out your seating plan for the reception.

About four months before the big day is the ideal time to pick out and order your wedding cake, attend tastings and sample plenty of designs.

Looking into hair and make-up artists can be a fun task, getting these booked well in advance can save a heap of stress, looking your best should be a top priority.

Leading up to the week of your wedding when everything is sorted, it’s important to calm things down and look after yourself, book a spa-day, go for drinks with your friends, organise a date with your partner, it might be the last single date night you pair will share.

Always & Forever WEDDING CARS

Travel in style on your special day in a hand built long bodied 4 door Beauford car Finished in ebony & ivory coachwork to compliment the colour theme of any wedding. (Other cars also available, please ask for details)

Competitive pricing & discounts for weekday bookings We are based in Barlaston so why not contact us for a viewing today?

Contact details Tel: 01782 372331 or 07979 526827 Email - terry@alwaysandforevercars.com Visit our website: www.alwaysandforevercars.com Follow us onFacebook February/March 2017 13

WEDDINGS

Jewellery to last a lifetime

stablished for over 20 years, Plants the Jewellers in Stone have gained a UK-wide reputation for their flawless customer service and carefully chosen prestigious brands.

The family owned business specialises in stunning, highly coveted jewellery and to add to their already fabulous collections, they are now proud to be classed as a ‘Selected Stockist’ for one of the UK industry leading bridal jewellery manufacturers, Brown and Newirth.

Starting in Hatton Garden in 1967, Brown and Newirth soon became one of the most sought after jewellers in the country thanks to their constant investment in talented designers and technology. They now handmake over 1000 pieces of stunning fine jewellery each week and boast a team of 50 master craftsmen with a combined industry experience of over 600 years.

Plants the Jewellers Director Grace Plant says: “We are incredibly proud to offer Brown

E

14 February/March 2017

and Newirth bridal jewellery to our customers, they not only offer outstanding value but the designs of engagement and wedding rings are timeless and elegant and we can be confidant that what we are offering is perfect, unique and will last a lifetime.”

Every piece of Brown and Newirth jewellery is handmade and each diamond is hand selected for their exceptional colour and clarity with their minimum standard grade of G/H colour, SI clarity. Grace adds: “On request, diamonds can be upgraded to suit the customer’s requirements at competitive prices.”

Plants also offer a bespoke service to suit your individual requirements, whether that be designing a piece of jewellery from scratch, remodelling existing pieces or breathing new life into much loved family heirlooms.

When you visit Plants you can be assured of superb, personal service that only 23 years of experience can offer, in a relaxed and friendly environment.

20% OFF SELECTED RINGS IN STORE NOW

26 HIGH STREET, STONE, STAFFORDSHIRE, ST15 8AW T: 01785 819 981 | E: INFO@PLANTSTHEJEWELLERS.CO.UK

WWW.PLANTSTHEJEWELLERS.CO.UK

THE BOREHOLE

THE BOREHOLE NAME FRIENDLY PUB IN STAFF ymestone Brewery’s Stone pub, The Borehole has won an Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism Awards gold for being the most dog-friendly business in the county.

Located just 100 yards from the brewery in Mount Road, the pub landed the trophy at the awards ceremony held at Alton Towers for its exceptional canine customer service.

Since opening its doors in 2015 The Borehole has proved a huge hit with real ale fans in Stone and across Staffordshire. The full Lymestone range of award-winning ales are served, as well as real ciders, spirits and guest beers, all in a cosy and welcoming atmosphere.

But the friendly welcome doesn’t just extend to human visitors. A short stroll from the Common Plot in Stone, a beautiful green space hugely popular with dog walkers, The Borehole has become the drinking hole of choice for pet owners.

Water is always available but the service for pooches goes much further than that. Dog treats are available for all canine visitors and, for people enjoying a bite to eat, a small snack is offered to their dog free of charge.

L

16 February/March 2017

Brewery owners Viv and Ian Bradford’s pet pooch Sparky is a regular and makes sure that other dogs are entertained – she collects missing balls and toys while out on the Plot and kindly shares these with other dogs. A basket is available for dog owners to simply take their pick.

Viv said: “We’re huge dog lovers so it’s really important that man’s best friend is made very welcome indeed at the brewery and in our pubs.

The Borehole is certainly a popular stop-off for dog walkers and some days there seems to be as many dogs as people.

“We were absolutely delighted to get the Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism Award because right from the start we wanted The Borehole to be the most dog-friendly pub around and it’s wonderful that we seem to have achieved that.”

As well as the Enjoy Staffordshire Dog Friendly Business of the Year title, The Borehole was also highly commended in the Tourism Pub of the Year Award, with Lymestone’s other pub – The Lymestone Vaults in Newcastle – picking up Silver in that category.

These trophies are just the latest in a flurry

THE BOREHOLE

MED MOST DOG FFORDSHIRE

“

We’re huge dog lovers so it’s really important that man’s best friend is made very welcome indeed at the brewery and in our pubs

”

of recent award wins for Lymestone Brewery. It also won two Stafford Borough Green Awards last year for its efforts to minimise waste and maximise recycling.

In October 2016, its ‘Stone the Crows’ bottled ale won a SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) gold medal while both The Borehole and The Lymestone Vaults won Merits at the Potteries CAMRA Pub of the Year Awards.

February/March 2017 17

WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE...

LAST ORDERS

een birdwatchers among you will be aware that we have recently had a visit from three Tundra Bean Geese which have taken up residence in a flooded field near Whitmore far from their home in the frozen North. How on earth is this related to whisky I hear you saying?

Well as it turns out geese are very much at the forefront of those observing all matters whisky at the moment.

As I write, apart from looking forward to celebrating Burns night, my attention was drawn to the demolition of the last vestiges of one of Scotland’s largest distilleries, the 100ft red still tower of the Dumbarton distillery complex. This iconic landmark is being demolished to make way for 150 affordable homes and the re-development of the waterside area in Dumbarton. The grain distillery was constructed by Hiram Walker in 1938 two years after they acquired George Ballantine &Co. and the whisky formed a significant proportion of the Ballantine blend.

However, the site was difficult to update and production stopped in 2002 moving to Strathclyde with most of the buildings demolished by 2008.

K

THE GEORGE & DRAGON at Meaford

VALENTINE’S MENU

FROM 10th FEBRUARY 2 COURSES £9.99 • 3 COURSES £11.99 Prosecco or sparkling rosé wine £9.99 bottle

MOTHER’S DAY Sunday 26th March FREE GLASS OF WINE OR DESSERT FOR MUM WHEN DINING

HOUSE WINE £10.25 PER BOTTLE LAGER & BITTER £2.60 PER PINT • GUEST ALES

SPECIAL OFFERS ALL WEEK FROM 5PM

• • • •

Monday - Steak night Tuesday - Pie Night Wednesday - Curry night Thursday - 2 main meals & a bottle of wine £20

Every lunchtime Mon-Fri t uy B one ge one free

MEAFORD ROAD, STONE, ST15 0PX

T. 01785 748787 www.georgedragonmeaford.com

OPEN 7 DAYS 12 NOON - 11PM FOOD SERVED EVERYDAY 12NOON - 9PM FUNCTION ROOM AVAILABLE

18 February/March 2017

What of the geese? Well in 1957 Tom Scott who worked at the Dumbarton site introduced an unusual security system. Known as the ‘Scotch Watch’ it comprised of one gander by the name of Mr. Ballantine and five geese. This subsequently grew to a flock of 100 geese which in addition to warding off intruders also became a local tourist attraction. For those who may be concerned upon closure of the distillery the geese were retired to end their days with an existing flock at Glasgow Green.

If you have ever ventured out on a freezing winter’s day to stare across a misty flooded field believe me there is no better way to return to humanity than sitting in front of an open fire with a glass of your favourite tipple be it grain or malt and dreaming of warmer days to come. As they say ‘What’s good for the goose’!

Whisky expert Dave Pickard of Old School Wines, Tittensor.

T. 01782 372888

THE

BOREHOLE A WARM AND WELCOMING MICROPUB Children and dogs welcome until 8pm Off licence on the premises just like the old days...

Purchase bottled beers, cask ales and ciders bring your own containers

Unit 2 Mount Road Industrial Estate, Mount Road, Stone, ST15 8LL Tel: 01785 813581 OPENING TIMES: 12 noon to 9.30pm Sun to Thurs 12 noon - 11.00pm Fri & Sat

HEALTH-KICK RECIPE

RECIPE FOR LIFE

Spanish meatball & butter bean stew

Full of Mediterranean flavour, with pork, red onion, peppers and smoked paprika, this recipe also includes an impressive four of your five a day, so is not only tasty and filling but is also packed full of goodness.

Ingredients • 350g lean pork mince • 2 teaspoons of olive oil • 1 large red onion, chopped • 2 peppers, sliced, any colour will do • 3 garlic cloves, crushed • 1 tablespoons of sweet smoked paprika • 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes • 400g can butter beans, drained • 2 tea spoons of golden caster sugar • small bunch parsley, chopped • crusty bread, to serve (optional)

Method Season the pork, working the seasoning in with your hands, then shape into small meatballs. Heat the oil in a large pan, add the meatballs and cook for 5 mins, until golden brown all over. Push to one side of the pan and add the onion and peppers. Cook for a further 5 mins, stirring now and then, until the veg has softened, then stir in the garlic and paprika. Stir everything around in the pan for 1 min, then add the tomatoes. Cover with a lid and simmer for 10 mins. Uncover, stir in the beans, the sugar and some seasoning, then simmer for a further 10 mins, uncovered. Just before serving, stir in the parsley. Serve with crusty bread for dunking, if you like.

February/March 2017 19

STING CHARITY

ADAM’S EXTREME CHALLENGE

dam Paton, a Transport Team Member at Wincanton’s local Distribution Centre for Screwfix, has decided to take on an extreme challenge to raise money for three charities close to his heart.

37 year old Adam, a family man originally from Ardrossan in North Ayrshire, was previously in the Royal Air Force stationed in Stafford. He has always been active and an avid sportsman, though injuries have meant that he can no longer compete at his favourite sport, rugby. Consequently, he has become a keen walker with his family, and he has now set himself and his team the challenge of walking from Whittington (the most southerly point in Staffordshire), through the county and up to Flash (the furthest point north) within 24 hours!

A total of over 60 miles!

On Saturday 11th March Adam’s team of 15 colleagues from the Wincanton site (who will be taking on either a section or the full length of the route) will be walking to raise money for three causes, one being Stone based STING (Staffordshire Therapeutic Independent Neurological Group), Scotty’s little Soldiers, and for the family of Robbie Forrester, a young colleague who tragically died at the end of last year.

STING, Charity of the Year at the site where Adam works, aims to support anybody in the area

A

20 February/March 2017

with a neurological condition. The group operates out of a specially adapted unit on the Whitebridge Estate in Stone, which allows members to attend regular activities and take part in exercise classes and neurological therapies.

Scotty’s Little Soldiers aims to provide relief from the effects of bereavement to young people up to and including the age of 18 years who have suffered the loss of a parent serving with the British Armed Forces. The charity provides its beneficiaries with support and guidance throughout their childhood and offers a respite, however brief, from the daily ups and downs of coping with the loss of a parent.

Robbie Forrester was also a Transport Team Member at Wincanton, as well as a friend and colleague of Adam’s. His sudden tragic death last year left a family without a husband and father, and was a shock to all at the Stafford Distribution Centre.

Peter Marenghi, who works at the Wincanton site and who is also Vice Chairman of STING is impressed with the efforts and commitment of Adam and his team. “The local site has been hugely supportive to STING while we have been Charity of the Year. This is yet another tremendous way that so many of my colleagues are testing themselves to raise even more money for us and for other very deserving causes.”

TAPAS TRAIL WINNERS ANNOUNCED F

STONE FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL

ollowing the huge success of the newest addition to Stone Food and Drink Festival’s packed programme, the town centre ‘Tapas Trail’, the winners of the event’s two competitive elements have now been announced.

The trail is inspired by an event that takes place in Stafford Borough’s Spanish twin town, Tarragona, which local accountant Bob Knight of R A Knight and Co has enjoyed numerous times. Believing the trail would be a great addition to the Stone Food and Drink Festival programme, he approached the board and worked closely with them to bring the event to reality, kindly sponsoring it in its inaugural year.

10 restaurants took part on the trail; each serving a different tapas style dish with accompanying drink every evening from Monday 26th September to Saturday 1st October for just £3.50 per person. These included The Star Inn; The Crown of India; The Crown and Anchor; The Mill Restaurant; Aston Marina; Granvilles; Little Seeds; The Royal Exchange; Let's See and Langtry’s.

Diners had the opportunity to complete a score card, marking each of the venues, and sending their completed cards in to enter a prize draw to win a meal for two. The top scoring venue overall was also to be commended, in the form of a Tapas Trail certificate with

the winning restaurant named as The Crown of India on Market Square, which served up tapas-style ‘Chicken Tika Masala with fresh green chilli and a hint of ginger’. The lucky winner of the prize draw, who will enjoy a meal for two at The Crown of India, is Mrs Julie Pointon of Stone.

Festival Chairman, Richard Stevens, said: “The Tapas Trail was a real hit – we had a good number of entries and the scores showed that the standard was high across all the participating restaurants.

It was a close run competition for the top spot - but The Crown of India pipped the rest to the post. It’s a great way of getting people out into town during festival week and getting them into different restaurants to sample what they can offer.

“We have been hugely impressed by the restaurants’ efforts and creativity – it was great to see how they came up with their own twist on tapas.

We will definitely be running the Tapas Trail again this year and will be making a few alterations to the format with a view to making the event even more successful. We would like to thank Bob Knight for his support and enthusiasm in helping drive this new event forward.”

The 2017 Stone Food and Drink Festival will take place on Friday 6th, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th October, for more details and to sign up for e-newsletter updates visit www.stonefooddrink.org.uk.

February/March 2017 21

STONE AND DISTRICT SCOUTS

THE GANG ARE BACK C S

tone Gang Show is this year proudly celebrating 50 years of treading the boards and shining in the spotlights as one of the UK’s premier gang shows!

Since the first show in 1967 the cast and crew may have changed, with plenty of new faces over the years, the concept has however stayed the same.

Enabling Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers from across the district the chance to experience

22 February/March 2017

being part of a professional stage production, this year’s Gang Show looks like it could be a sell out for its new location, The Mitchell Memorial Arts Centre ‘The Mitch’ in Hanley, taking place Tuesday 18th - Saturday 22nd April.

After half a century of performances, literally thousands of people have been involved in the Gang Shows, whether it be part of the cast, crew or as a supporter. And so to mark this impressive nostalgic milestone, at the end of each night the

STONE AND DISTRICT SCOUTS

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS current cast and crew are inviting old members of the scouting fraternity to join in at the side of the stage to sing the final three songs; These are The Times, The Way Old Friends Do, and the classic Crest of a Wave.

Eddie Shannon, Show General Manager said: “50 years is a huge milestone for Stone Gang Show, from little acorns when we were at Yarnfield BT Training Centre all the way to this year at The Mitch.

“Our rehearsals started a few weeks ago and we are set for the biggest cast we have ever had, over 120! We are asking for people out there to get in touch if they were part of Stone Gang Show at any point, we’d really like to see them again!”

If you have been part of Stone Gang Show in the past 50 years then please get in touch over the phone on Tel. 07802626909 or email GangShowPublicity@StoneScouts.org.uk.

February/March 2017 23

Stage Directions

by Richard Lane

Gatehouse sets sights on next box office hit with 2017 panto announcement fter the recent recordbreaking success of Aladdin the “wok ‘n’ roll” panto, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre Management has announced that the next rock ‘n’ roll pantomime will be Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood.

The festive show will open on Thursday 7th December 2017 and run until Sunday 7th January 2018.

A talented cast of actor/musicians will once again serve up over twenty rock and soul classic songs, including The Hippy Hippy Shake; I Shot the Sheriff; Girls Just Want To Have Fun; Kiss; Born to Run; Signed, Sealed, Delivered and many, many more. The whole family will be tapping their toes and clicking their fingers whilst enjoying all the magic, slapstick and audience participation of a traditional panto.

2017 will mark the sixth year since the rock ‘n’ roll panto format made a successful return to Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, and Producer Derrick Gask is delighted to see the production continue to go from strength to strength: “All of us at the Gatehouse are immensely proud of the

A

24 February/March 2017

continued success of rock ‘n’ roll panto – a show that is produced, rehearsed, built and performed in Stafford – and it is great to see this year’s production of Aladdin achieve another record breaking box office hit for the theatre. We would like to say a big thank you to our audiences who came to see the show over the festive period.

“Looking ahead, we are certainly not resting on our laurels! We have lots of exciting plans in the pipeline for next season’s show – including an additional date for adult only performances, which proved more popular than ever this year. Keep your eyes peeled for more announcements coming soon”

concluded Gask.

Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood will also see the return of the ever popular late night adult only performances. Due to increased demand for these shows, an extra date has been added to the performance schedule for 2017/18, meaning for the first time there will be three adult only performances on Wednesday 3rd, Thursday 4th and Friday 5th January 2018.* *Early booking for these performances is strongly advised as tickets are again expected to sell out fast.

Tickets can be booked by calling the box office on 01785 619080 or by visiting www.staffordgatehousetheatr e.co.uk

A YEAR OF CASTING SUCCESS

ROOFTOP STUDIOS

016 proved a great year for students at Stone’s Rooftop Studios Performing Arts Academy, with a number landing professional roles on stage and screen.

The majority of casting opportunities are a direct result of the studio’s links with London-based BAM actors’ agency, which boasts a growing number of Rooftop’s stage academy students on its books.

This year, BAM has secured commercial castings for brands such as We Buy Any Car, Curry’s, the Great British Bake Off commercial and Thompsons. It also put forward a number of students for parts in a stage production of The Wind in the Willows and two students were also up for roles in feature films; one in a session presided over by Nina Gold, the casting director responsible for Game of Thrones.

While a number of students are still waiting to hear whether they have been successful, shoots confirmed this year included a commercial for Go Outdoors featuring brother and sister Jessica and Callum Cresswell; while nine year old Grace Beltran appeared in a series of ads for German battery producer Varta.

A little closer to home, 13 year old Holly Stodgell landed a leading role in a film for Alton Towers’ Ultimate Fireworks Spectacular.

Appearing on big screens during the display, Holly took on the role of a young girl in space; performing to a camera in front of a green-screen which was later transformed into a spaceship for screening.

Holly was recommended for auditions by the studio’s singing teacher, Kit Henson, who herself performs as a member of Alton Towers’ Fabulous Scott Family live band. Holly had to submit video snippets and a performance clip by way of audition, which impressed the management team so much that she was selected to perform. Holly said: “The Alton Towers job was one of the best experiences of my life - it was epic and I just want to say a huge thank you to my teachers, especially Kit, for giving me the opportunity. I would love to become a professional actor and this gave me a valuable experience of film rather than just theatre. Rooftop is just so much fun, I learn loads of skills and get to socialise with my best friends.”

2

February/March 2017 25

TRUST AWARDED CASH

STAFFORDSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

THOUSANDS NOW ABLE TO ENCOUNTER PEREGRINE FALCONS

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust project will give thousands of people the chance to experience an encounter with the fastest animal on the planet after it was awarded almost £10,000 in a national competition.

Last year, The Trust submitted a project to be entered into The Aviva Community Fund to install a camera on the cliffs at its Roaches nature reserve, near Leek, to monitor the stunning peregrine falcons which have nested there in previous years.

The project received thousands of votes from members of the public to progress into the judging stage after beating off competition from hundreds of other projects across the UK. The Aviva Community Fund supports and recognises important causes in local

A

26 February/March 2017

communities.

This week, the Trust was informed that they had won the money which will enable the cameras to be installed ahead of this year’s Peregrine Watch, which starts in March.

The peregrine falcon is the undisputed fastest member of the animal kingdom, capable of reaching speeds of almost 250 mph when swooping for its prey.

In 2016 Peregrine Watch welcomed over 6,000 visitors of all ages to the temporary base—a converted garden shed—at the base of the cliffs.

From this vantage point visitors can look through two telescopes which are trained on the nest hundreds of feet away, high on the cliff.

Now, people will also be able to see the stunning bird of prey’s progress from the comfort of their own homes.

Jon Rowe, Roaches

Warden, said: “To hear we’d been successful was a great way to start 2017. We were so grateful to all those people who voted for our project which enabled us to get through to the next stage— and were suitably pleased the judges liked our project.

“Peregrine Watch has grown each year and this money will enable it to be even better in 2017. It will give people who perhaps wouldn’t get the chance to get to The Roaches the chance to see the peregrines—and hopefully their chicks – up close.

“So many people told us we needed a camera so they could see what is going on in the nest.”

Funds will also contribute towards the costs of running Peregrine Watch in 2017, including a refresh of the shelter, branded clothing, interpretation materials and staffing costs.

Peregrine Watch 2017 gets underway in March. For more information or if you’d like to volunteer contact Jon Rowe at the Trust be emailing j.rowe@staffs-wildlife.org.uk The Trust would like to thank Johnathan Partridge, Financial Advisor with NFU Mutual for submitting the bid into the Financial Advisor category of the award scheme.

Holiday with a difference

Canal Cruising Company Ltd Est 1948

Situated in the picturesque town of Stone, a family run business over 66 years

2017 SPECIAL OFFERS AVAILABLE • CAMRA, IWA & NHS Staff Members 10% discount - see website for details • Pets welcome • All prices inclusive of diesel • Vb Graded 2-8 berth quality narrowboats for hire • Choice of excellent routes • Beginners and experienced crew welcome • Weekly or short breaks available

SELF DRIVE DAY BOAT HIRE March-October (Tues,Wed, Thurs Pick up 10am Return 4pm) 2-4 persons £160 • 5-8 persons £250. Lock & driving tuition included

For more details, special offers and live availability

visit us at www.canalcruising.co.uk Crown Street, Stone, Staffs ST15 8QN

Tel: 01785 813982 Fax: 01785 819041 Email: mail@canalcruising.co.uk

February/March 2017 27

RIDGWAYS HEARING CARE

TINNITUS AWARENESS WEEK 6th – 12th February 2017 Are you suffering from noises in your ears?

Ridgways Hearing Care is an independent company based in Newcastle-u-Lyme, Staffordshire. We provide a comprehensive service including ear wax removal, hearing assessments and a full consultation on the latest hearing aid technology. We pride ourselves in our extensive after care service.

Tinnitus is a noise in one or both ears or in the head.

It may be low, medium or high pitched and may be a single noise or a mixture of noise. Ear wax is known to cause or worsen Tinnitus so your problem may simply be down to wax. At Ridgways we offer two methods of wax removal.

28 February/March 2017

Microsuction – A procedure which uses gentle suction to remove ear wax. It is performed using a finely calibrated suction device and microscope and is performed without the use of water.

Microsuction is ideal for clients who have a perforated eardrum, dizziness problems or a dislike to water in the ears.

Ear Irrigation – This is a straightforward, safe and painless procedure where water at body temperature is put into the ear at a controlled pressure. Under the gentle force of the water the wax is softened and dislodges and carried out of the ear. During irrigation the audiologist will hold the ear at various angles to ensure the water reaches all of your ear canal. Also during the procedure the ear is regularly checked using an otoscope.

RIDGWAYS HEARING CARE

30% of people will experience Tinnitus at some point in their lives. Tinnitus is more common in people who have hearing loss or other ear problem, it can also be found in people with normal hearing.

The loss of hearing is often an unnoticeable and gradual process and many people are surprised when they are told that they have a hearing loss.

Here at Ridgways Hearing Care we can spend time investigating the level of tinnitus and can determine if a treatable medical condition exists or if further Medical evaluation is necessary.

To do this we will: • Determine your medical history to highlight factors which may need assessing before we can proceed.

• Use an otoscopy to examine your ears for any damage • Complete a pure tone audiogram hearing assessment to determine possible hearing loss

treatment may be suitable. Tinnitus can cause distress and anxiety but there are many ways we can help you manage your tinnitus.

The results will be explained by our audiologists explaining in detail our findings and options of what

Call us now on 01782 622545 to reserve your free appointment

During Tinnitus Awareness Week we will be offering: • Free ear examinations • Free hearing assessments and • Free advice on managing your tinnitus

Or why not pop in to our ‘Together for Tinnitus coffee morning on Friday 10th February 2017 between 9-12 to have an informal chat about your tinnitus.

T: 01782 622 545 February/March 2017 29

30 February/March 2017

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Hints and tips on wellbeing with Diane Connor FdSc MFHT alentine’s Day is often thought of as a celebration for couples to exchange gifts, flowers, chocolates or a romantic meal. Have you considered sharing love with friends, family or even strangers? Random acts of kindness can help the giver as well as the receiver.

V

• Begin collecting coins in a glass jar before Valentine’s Day (February 14th).Decorate the jar with hearts and deliver it to a local charity on the day.

• Make cards with hearts on and take to a home for the elderly.

• Arrange to visit someone who may be ill or lonely and read them a story or a poem.

• Arrange to babysit for a friend.

Angelina Holistic Therapies

Diane Connor FdSc, MFHT Your Local Professional Clinical Holistic Therapist

Valentine’s Treat

INDIAN HEAD MASSAGE

A relaxing seated chair massage for the upper Gift back, shoulders, arms, neck and scalp vouchers Only £25 (normal price £38) available Valid for one treatment only on production of this advert

Call 07967 434232 for details www.angelinaholistictherapies.net

• Pick up the phone and have a chat to a friend you have lost touch with.

• Donate food to your local food bank.

• Love yourself .You are important too so make sure you find time to treat yourself.

TITTENSOR P O D I AT RY

Offering various treatments: nail cut & treatment of skin & nail infections, removal of hard skin & corns, verruca treatment, ingrowing toenails, nail surgery.

• OVER 15 YEARS OF NHS EXPERIENCE • BACHELOR HONOURS DEGREE IN PODIATRY MEDICINE For an appointment please call

Leila Burgess mobile: 07946 353816 (please leave a message & you will be contacted)

20 Bracken Close, Copeland Avenue, Winghouse Lane, Tittensor, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, ST12-9JD Member of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists and HCPC registered February/March 2017 31

32 February/March 2017

February/March 2017 33

BRITISH CANOEING VOLUNTEER AND ATHLETE RECOGNITION AWARDS

CANOEING CHAMPS HELP HONOUR VOLUNTEERS

ocal Olympic champion Joe Clarke and Paralympic bronze medallist Ian Marsden joined British Canoeing in honouring volunteers at British Canoeing’s annual Volunteer and Athlete Recognition Awards.

Every year British Canoeing celebrates the fantastic achievements of the volunteer community within the sport at the Volunteer Awards and sets out to recognise the volunteers and paddlers who make the sport what it is.

At the end of 2016, the star studded event, sponsored by Towergate Insurance was held at Eastwood Hall in Nottinghamshire, and was attended by over 160 guests. Adding to the prestige of the event was Olympic and Paralympic heroes, including home grown Gold Medallist Joe Clarke and Bronze medallist Ian Marsden who were in attendance to honour the winners, present awards and talk about their medal winning achievements.

British Canoeing and the sport as a whole would not be what it is today without the army of volunteers that give up their free time. Be it through clubs, centres, and committees or at events, these incredible people make community sport happen and ensure that grass roots development continues to grow.

Joe Clarke, who presented the Ruth Holdway Community Volunteer of the Year award and the Club of the Year awards recognised the importance of volunteers to his olympic success, saying that without those who gave up their time

L

34 February/March 2017

for canoeing, he would not be where he is today.

“Volunteers are so important for the sport and I wouldn't be where I am today without the support I’ve had from volunteers.

“There have been many people who have helped me along the way who aren’t paid, they just do it for the love of the sport. Those who originally got me into kayaking were volunteers and my first coach was a volunteer, it was not a paid role at all.

“To have achieved such success in Rio off the back of that is just so great because you can share it with everyone, and recognise the hard work they put in.

“It’s these people who wake up and eat and breathe canoeing that make it such a fantastic sport to be a part of.”

There were nine awards in the 2016 Volunteer Recognition Awards; Young Volunteer, Community Volunteer, Event Volunteer, Impact on Disability, Coach of the Year, Outstanding Contribution, Club of the Year, Centre of the Year and the MacGregor Challenge Award.

QUIZ CORNER

Let’s get quizzical COMPILED BY PAUL STEELE

General Knowledge Quiz 1. Who won last years series of the X Factor?

2. Which is the only planet in our solar system not named after a god?

3. In Cluedo what is the only combination if the murderer’s surname, weapon and location all begin with the same letter?

4. Who wrote the fairy story Hansel and Gretel?

5. In which decade was Muhammed Ali born?

8. Which village in the Peak District is reputedly the highest in England at 1518 feet above sea level?

9. If you were running the 400m hurdles, how many hurdles would you have to clear?

10. Created by Davros, what was the most famous export of the planet Skaro?

A ‘Love’ quiz for Valentine’s Day 1. From which musical does the song 'I Don't Know How to Love Him' come?

2. In which novel does Catherine Earnshaw fall in love with Heathcliff?

3. Which hit begins, ' Oh my love, my darling I hunger for your touch'?

4. Who is the Roman Goddess of Love?

5. Which American actress starred in the television program 'Ghost Whisperer' and appeared in Enrique Iglesias' video for his 2002 hit 'Hero'?

6. Love apple is an old name for which fruit?

7. Which American golfer has won over 20 PGA Tour events and captained the 2012 US Ryder Cup team?

8. Which 2003 British Christmas romantic comedy featured an ensemble cast including Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth and Liam Neeson amongst many others?

9. King Edward VIII gave up the throne to marry who?

10. Which member of Take That was the first to achieve a solo number one when he topped the charts in 1996 with 'Forever Love'?

General Knowledge Answers: 1. Matt Terry; 2. Earth; 3. Miss Scarlet with the Spanner in the Study; 4. The Brothers Grimm; 5. 1940s; 6. Billy Crystal; 7. Nineteen; 8. Flash; 9. Ten; 10. Daleks.

Valentine's Day Quiz Answers: 1. Jesus Christ Superstar; 2. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte's only novel written in 1845/6); 3. Unchained Melody; 4. Venus; 5. Jennifer Love Hewitt (She also appeared in 'I Know What You Did Last Summer'); 6. Tomato; 7. Davis Love III; 8. Love Actually (Directed by Richard Curtis who also directed Bridget Jones's Diary, Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral); 9. Wallis Simpson (They were married in 1937); 10. Gary Barlow (Robbie Williams' first number one was in 1998).

Quizzes compiled by Paul Steele (Question writer and Quizmaster) from Cheddleton email: pnsteele@aol.com

6. Who played Harry in When Harry Met Sally?

7. What was the average age of the American combatants in the Vietnam War, according to Paul Hardcastle?

February/March 2017 35

Dream borders

by Martin Blow

T

he depth of winter is when I take time to dream about the summer and imagine how the garden is going to be when I’ve got it “just so”. Of course, the great thing about gardening is it’s never completely finished and there’s always one more tweak to be made.

I’ve always loved the traditional herbaceous borders of our British stately gardens and this winter I’ve been thinking about how I might plan and plant one on a smaller scale.

We can't all have the space for a traditional border on a grand scale but we can learn a lot from them.

Firstly, aspect: the border will need some sun during the day or your choice of plants will be severely limited. You may be able to let more light in by pruning back or removing overlarge shrubs.

Next the backdrop: traditionally a large, sheltering hedge or wall. These are fine but don't forget that hedges take moisture and goodness from the soil and walls cast a rain shadow. Fences, or shrubs are just as good a backdrop, or dispense with one completely and plant an island bed instead. A border along a path with a lawn to the other side is just as traditional and you can make this backdrop so much better by edging the lawn to produce a neat, sculpted shape.

It’s a common "mistake" to dig a narrow border in a small garden. To my mind, it looks like the plants are scared to be there and are cowering against the 36 February/March 2017

fence. Learn from the grand gardens and give your borders some depth.

I'd like to say make the border twice as deep as the tallest plant you're going to put in it or at least as deep as the height of the backdrop but this isn't always possible. My tip to avoid timidity is to make it twice as deep as you first thought you would!

The next point to consider is colour. Some people get technical about it and others think it doesn't matter. I think the key is to choose one or two key colours for the border.

In traditional borders these key colours are repeated at intervals along the border. This repeating colour theme gives rhythm and visual structure to the planting and is probably more important than matching colour shades and tones within the planting.

Pick some tough plants, that quickly bulk up, are easy to divide and flower again rapidly after planting as your rhythm section. I like Silk Flower (Sisyrinchium striatum) with its sword-shaped leaves and spikes of cream flowers. It is easy to divide and establishes a good clump quickly.

Remember that reds shout out and look closer than they are. So, if you plant them at the far end of the border you’ll make the garden look shorter.

Whereas blues are “receding” and have the opposite effect.

A border will seem longer than it really is if you make it wider at the near end and gradually narrower as you move to the far end. This false perspective is a useful trick to use in the small

GARDENING

garden.

The next consideration is season of interest. It would be lovely to have a border in full flower all through the season but in reality, this doesn't happen with perennials.

There are lots of things you can do to extend the season though.

It’s tempting when you go to a plant fair in spring or autumn to buy a selection of plants in flower and dot these around your garden to give you some colour everywhere. But this lacks impact, and grouping them together in a block or strip in the border or bed packs a real colour punch at lean times of year.

Think of plants with lovely buds or young leaves to add interest early in the season. Oriental Poppies (Papaver) and Bearded Iris have short flowering season but the buds of the former and swordshaped leaves of the latter start looking good weeks before the flowers.

Giant Scabious (Cephalaria) always have delightful and very visible buds as do Cornflowers (Centaurea). Cupid’s Dart (Catananche) is another with lovely, long lasting buds before the blue flowers open.

Traditional borders are planted with tall plants at the back and shorter ones at the front but also think about “spot plants”: upright, architecturally shaped plants that are taller than those around them. These add drama to a border. Good perennials for this are Veronicastrum, Bugbane (Actaea), Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia), Mullein (Verbascum) and Delphinium.

The old adage was to “spend a penny on the plant and a pound on the hole” and this is good advice when planting a border. Proper preparation is time well spent.

Prepare the soil well by removing all perennial weeds, digging deeply and adding compost or muck in liberal quantities. I sprinkle a granular fertiliser every spring and top this up with bone meal in planting holes.

Planting distances vary but a good rule of thumb is around 2ft / 60cm apart for large or very vigorous plants and 1ft-1ft 6in 30-45cm for others. You can of course plant more densely for a more rapid effect.

Don’t forget to water plants even if it rains until the plants are growing strongly – don’t drown them though!

Enough dreaming, it will soon be time to sharpen the spade and get digging for that dream border.

Martin and Janet Blow run Special Perennials - www.specialperennials.com.

They will be at Plant Hunters’ Fairs at the National Memorial Arboretum (DE13 7AR) on Saturday 18th March free entry to plant fair P&D parking, Dearnford Lake, Whitchurch (SY13 3JQ) on Sunday 19th March free entry to fair, Battlefield 1403, Shrewsbury (SY4 3DB) on Saturday 1st April free entry to fair. For full details of these and other Plant Hunters’ Fairs please see www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk. The couple are happy to bring orders to plant fairs for customers to collect.

February/March 2017 37

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST TRENDS HOME IMPROVEMENTS

016 saw the take-over of pastel shades and natural furniture, well 2017 is flipping that on it’s head and making everything seem warm, with terracotta, natural materials and faux-furs.

We’ve compiled a simple and easy to use guide for completing the 2017 style, so, whats in?

1) Terracotta, you heard right, terracotta is making a come-back, but not in the 80’s style of border tiles, 2017 is making terracotta it’s own by giving it a matte finish and using it for feature walls in bathrooms or to decorate modern hearths/fireplaces.

2

38 February/March 2017

2) Cork, another throwback making it’s way into the 21st century. Not only a stylish material, but it adds warmth and texture to a room, another bonus being that it absorbs noise in large, open plan homes, so this is an ideal material for a bustling family home.

3) 2016 saw the take-over of houseplants and succulents with sales rising by a significant amount, well, 2017 has caught on, and the ‘in’ colour for your space and home this year is ‘dark green’, which creates a wintery Scandi backdrop for tan leathers, faux furs, brass lamps and natural linens, ideal for bedrooms.

>>

A local family-run business

Mini, Midi & Large Skips Mini Digger Hire

24-7 SERVICE

Tel: 01889 566262 Mob: 07971 566383

www.boultonsskiphire.co.uk

February/March 2017 39

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

4) Upholstered bedheads have made it into the new year. The trend started when everyone started to go mad for ‘crushed velvet’ in the latter months of last year and sales in sofas, beds, headboards and even clothing in the fabric increased.

Upholstered headboards give a luxurious feel to a bedroom, almost mimicking a high-end hotel suite, whether you opt for the classic model in neutral colour with buttons or a plush one in velvet, a headboard is an easy way to update and add instant glamour to a bedroom.

5) Jewel tones will see their way into the next few months, with pastel shades of pink and blue on their way out, jewel tones inspired by metals, space, stars, clouds and cosmos could be making their way into our homes in the form of sculptures, photo frames, light fittings and even home furnishings such as throws and pillows.

6) Natural materials with earthy textures like timber, clay and wicker are set to be the next big thing this year. With so many homeware stores offering copper and marble goods for cheap, the trend is set to die-out from

overkill.

7) Grey will never be out of fashion, its such a versatile and easy-to-use colour within the home. Whether it’s bedlinen to calm down the environment and create a tranquil zone or darker shades of grey throws thrown over a tan leather sofa to create a quirky, gothic, hardy vibe in the living room all year long.

8) Touches of tradition tartan, using greys, greens, blues, and creams create a country house style, and with a choice from Vivienne Westwood’s plum and forest green tartan wallpaper, to basic throws from budget high street stores, the choices available and products on offer make it an easy look to achieve.

9) Statement chairs will be all the rage this year, with rooms being left bare and minimalistic, a statement piece will bring a focus point to any room.

10) Faux Fur has always been around, but this year, in the form of a luxury throw, sprawled effortlessly over the back or arm of your sofa will pull together the family space giving the extra warmth you’re looking for. Tip: the bigger, the better.

>>

• CARPETS • WOODS • LAMINATES • VINYL • CUSHIONFLOR • LUXURY VINYL TILES • RUGS & REMNANTS • SOFT FURNISHINGS AND MUCH MORE!

FOR QUALITY, TRUST, SERVICE & VALUE MAKE THE SMART CHOICE

Be inspired!

Stone Carpet & Flooring Centre has provided high quality flooring for almost 40 years, offering a diverse range of superb carpets, natural flooring, laminates, woods & vinyls at competitive prices.

We support British industry...

Buy flooring the smart way!

Founder member of the nationwide associated carpet group

T: 01785 818176 WWW.STONECARPETCENTRE.CO.UK STONE CARPET CENTRE, UNIT 5 CO-OP SUPER MARKET ARCADE, STONE, STAFFS. ST15 8AU 40 February/March 2017

WOMENS INSTITUTE

BARLASTON HERONS JANUARY REPORT id you know that according to research optimists live a longer, happier life? Barlaston Herons WI were very lucky in January to have an uplifting and fascinating talk about ‘choosing happiness’ by Michala Black.

The evening was all about focusing on making positive choice and being aware of the best way to react to all that life throws at you. Michala

D

encouraged the ladies to appreciate what we have and to love the ‘beautiful ordinary’ parts of each day. The ladies tried some relaxation techniques and were talked through visualisation as a tool to help us reach our goals. It was lovely to have time to remember our happiest moments of 2016 and to share them with others.

The ladies continued their

positive discussions over beautiful homemade cakes and a hot drink. The business part of the meeting highlighted the upcoming events of bowling, a theatre trip and camping. All the ladies were given a small challenge to change something they do to help the environment, with a chance to win a prize at the February meeting.

A warm welcome was extended to all the new members who they look forward to seeing at the next meeting. The February meeting will be a bread baking demonstration on Tuesday 21st at 7.15pm. All meetings are held at Barlaston Methodist Hall, Park Drive. Further information can be found on the website www.barlastonheronswi.webs.c om, new members are always welcome.

February/March 2017 41

INDEPENDENT EDUCATION

42 February/March 2017

DISCOVER WHAT MAKES STAFFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL SO SPECIAL INDEPENDENT EDUCATION

ould you like to see Stafford Grammar School in action on a real working day? We warmly invite you to our Open Week. All classes from Reception to Sixth Form will be open and you will be able to talk to the Headmaster, staff and pupils and enjoy a tour of the school. Whether you are planning for the future or considering your options for September, we invite you to visit and discover what makes Stafford Grammar School so special.

Stafford Grammar School and Stafford Preparatory School offer an exceptional education and an outstanding level of pastoral care for 4 - 18 year olds.

We believe that happy children succeed and so we provide the encouragement and support for every child to fulfil his or her potential.

In our latest examination results, 67% of all GCSEs were A* or A grades, with approximately one third being at the top of the A* grade. Our school has become established as a centre of excellence and each year our Sixth Form students gain admission to the top universities.

At Stafford Grammar School we offer the best of both worlds: a school with outstanding academic success that feels like a family. Our pupils thrive in our happy and caring environment, where every pupil is known as an individual. Our success in built on the highest quality teaching and learning which is underpinned by the excellent rapport between teachers and pupils. Whilst we pride ourselves on being the highest performing co-educational school in the area, the real spirit of Stafford Grammar School is to be found in the smiling faces, laughter and sense of fun that pupils and teachers experience every day.

Academic excellence is only one part of the Stafford Grammar School success story. Our students excel in sport, music, drama and a wide range of extracurricular activities, clubs and societies. We believe in encouraging participation and excellence in all areas, in and outside the classroom.

We offer a wide variety of sports and our teams have an enviable record of success, winning local, county, regional and national competitions. Students regularly secure places in county teams. Our pupils are continually inspired to excel in sport by others who have gone on to achieve sporting success at national level in sports as diverse as swimming, football, rugby, cricket, athletics, archery and ice hockey as well as our Youth Commonwealth gold medallist in javelin. Our school celebrates the achievement of every pupil.

For young people who enjoy the performing arts, Stafford Grammar School is the place to be. With the opportunity to join choirs, vocal groups, Concert Band, Big Band, Orchestra and other ensembles, there really is something for everyone. Music performances are held regularly in school and our music ensembles and

W

choirs have recently performed in the Birmingham Symphony Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. Our Concert Band performs in national competitions, has received platinum awards and toured in Prague this summer, following highly successful tours in Spain, France and Italy.

Drama continues to thrive and our school musicals are performed to sell-out audiences. Over the last few years, musical theatre productions of Les Miserables, West Side Story, Into the Woods and Fame have been produced to an exceptional standard and received acclaim in the local press. Pupil also have the opportunity to take additional LAMDA lessons and perform in our junior and senior school plays.

With such a lively variety of activities, it is easy to see why Stafford Grammar School and Stafford Preparatory School are such vibrant communities. We aim to give our pupils an exciting and challenging education. Based upon the values of hard work, kindness and respect, we strive to provide an enriching education that will inspire our pupils and enable them to make the most of every opportunity in their lives beyond school.

Our extensive transport network means that we are accessible to families from a wide range of areas.

Financial assistance with school fees is available through scholarships for academic, sporting or musical excellence and bursaries based on an assessment of household financial circumstances.

We look forward to welcoming you to Stafford Grammar School and Stafford Preparatory School on our Open Week.

Places now available in most year groups.

To find out more about our school, visit www.staffordgrammar.co.uk or call us on 01785 249752. With so much going on, you can follow @StaffordGrammar on Twitter to read the latest information.

February/March 2017 43

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW HEAD AT ABBOTSHOLME INDEPENDENT EDUCATION

he Governors of Abbotsholme School are pleased to announce that, following a rigorous interview process, they have appointed Andrew Murphy as the new Head from September 2017. He will take over after the retirement of the present Head, Steve Fairclough.

Andrew is a Biology teacher, and is presently Deputy Head of Stamford High School with an overarching responsibility for Boarding and Teaching & Learning. He has a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences (Anatomy) from the University of Edinburgh, a PGCE from The Queen’s College, Oxford University, and an MSc in

T

44 February/March 2017

Teaching and Learning, also from The Queen’s College, Oxford University.

His dissertation for his Master’s degree was on the features and benefits of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), and in particular Firefly (the iPad computer system we use at Abbotsholme). He is also an ISI Compliance Inspector.

During his ten years of boarding experience at Stamford, Stowe and Felsted schools, Andrew had a significant impact in increasing numbers and improving the quality of boarding. While he was at Felsted, he also helped the school secure membership of Round Square.

Andrew enjoys all sport, although cricket is undoubtedly his first love, and he coaches cricket, football, rugby and hockey both at school and in the community. Having been raised in Scotland, Andrew has run the Caledonian Society at his previous schools and can also teach Ceilidh dancing.

His early background was in marketing, and Andrew worked in industry for seven years before starting his teaching career. He is also currently a Governor at a secondary SEN (Special Educational Needs) school where he sits on the Finance and Capital Expenditure committee.

Andrew is married to Gabi, who is also a Science teacher, and

they have two children, Fletcher (6) and Aurora (4), who are both very excited about becoming pupils at Abbotsholme. They also have a Golden Retriever called Holly who will love exploring the school’s 140 acre estate.

Andrew said: “I am tremendously thrilled and humbled to be joining Abbotsholme in September 2017. This is an absolute little gem of a school that is all about the individual. This is the perfectly sized school to tailor teaching and learning, and where pupils are names and characters, not simply numbers.

My family and I plan to throw ourselves into school life and the greater community; as we have in my previous three schools. I very much look forward to meeting many of the feeders as soon as possible, and firmly believe that Abbotsholme has much to offer pupils, parents and staff.”

INDEPENDENT EDUCATION

February/March 2017 45

INDEPENDENT EDUCATION

46 February/March 2017

DIVIDEND INVESTING THE SEARCH FOR INCOME

INVESTMENT MATTERS

n an environment of low interest rates, low UK government bond yields and with inflation eroding the real value of returns, there are few choices for investors seeking a steady stream of income.

There is, however, one traditional income investment approach that is both attractive and continuing its expansion, with opportunities from overseas becoming more viable. This is dividend investing, which has become increasingly popular.

Equity investments can guard against inflation and dividend income has scope to increase, unlike interest or coupon payments, which are at a fixed rate for the duration of the investment.

Additionally, steady or increasing dividend payments are an important sign of corporate health and confidence in difficult market and economic conditions.

I

Positive Outlook for UK Dividends Although the UK economy is continuing its recovery, interest rates are expected to remain relatively low in an historical context for the foreseeable future. There are, however, some world class companies that are listed within the FTSE 100, with lean operations, strong financial positions and positive earnings prospects.

The Capita Registrars UK Dividend Monitor Q3 2016 Report for the UK stock market states that UK dividends exceeded expectations in the third quarter, rising 1.6%, year on year, to £24.9bn, benefiting from special dividends, delayed corporate activity and weakness in Sterling. Dividend payments within the UK are concentrated in that the top 15 UK listed companies pay the equivalent of 65% of all dividends. Although the UK equity market should always be an important component of an equity income investor’s portfolio, investors should seek to identify other sources of income and diversify away from the UK equity market, i.e. not put all their eggs in one basket.

A Global Approach and looking towards Asia and emerging markets In view of this concentration, many income investors are now looking overseas to diversify their equity income portfolio. Throughout the world there are many high quality companies, with both strong balance sheets and cash flow, enabling them to invest in their business growth, together with returning value to shareholders through dividend payments. The US is home to the greatest number of global brands, owned by some of the largest and well-managed companies in the world.

The US has relaxed its tax laws, allowing companies to repatriate their cash holdings, which has improved the scope for these companies to increase further their dividend payouts.

Meanwhile, a dividend culture is becoming increasingly well established in Asia, as well as in many other emerging markets, such as Latin America, with companies starting to use their earnings stream to return value to investors.

Growth opportunities in emerging markets are expected to outstrip those of the developed world in the coming decade and thus higher dividend payouts might be seen in these countries in the future. FTSE group already calculates the dividend yield for the World Asia Pacific (ex Japan) index at 3.05%, not far behind the 3.64% for the UK All Share index and above the 2.07% for the USA index. Thus the search for dividends may be another reason for investors to be looking towards Asia in the coming years.

Stuart D Bryant is a fee-based Certified Financial Planner, specialising in personal lifestyle planning and investment planning.

SDB Strategic Planners Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Tel: (01782) 712233

NOTHING CONTAINED IN THE ARTICLE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS GIVING INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL ADVICE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON OUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF LEGISLATION, WHICH CAN BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE VALUE OF INVESTMENTS CAN GO DOWN AS WELL AS UP; YOU MAY GET BACK LESS THAN YOU INVEST.

February/March 2017 47

Practical preparation for divorce LEGAL MATTERS

or some, the more organised amongst us, practical preparation for divorce will be an easy task. Organised folders full of clearly labelled documents and all the information and paperwork required for divorce proceeding is easily accessible. For others, perhaps the majority, bank statements will be stuffed in drawers, wage slips left at the office and the marriage certificate somewhere in the box with the wedding photos.

F

What do we mean by ‘practical preparation’?

Divorce, and particularly financial negotiations during divorce, requires a lot of paperwork and we advise clients to organise this as soon as possible. The amount of information required can be overwhelming and sometimes, when the family home has been vacated, difficult to obtain.

Not having the necessary documents prepared can cause delays, cost money and cause unnecessary stress.

To negotiate a financial settlement the law requires that both parties provide full and detailed financial disclosure. In practice, what that means is that each party has to provide

evidence of income, outgoings, debts, savings, pensions, business interests and the list goes on.

Being prepared for this process creates many benefits.

If, from the outset, you can provide your family law solicitor with accurate details of your financial circumstances, he or she can provide a more accurate view of the possible final outcome.

Providing the full picture to your solicitor can reduce your legal bill by eliminating the need for your solicitor to review your matter, request missing information and then review again.

Having a clear financial overview reduces risk.

Once you start legal proceedings you are under a legal obligation to provide information. Delays and omitting information, either deliberately or accidently, only prolongs the procedure and can cause animosity between the divorcing couple, which can often unnecessarily, increase the legal bill for both.

Our clients also tell us that this practical preparation brings emotional benefits. It helps them review their situation, think about the future and make positive plans, all part of the healing process when a marriage ends.

Reduce risk and stress At Grindeys, we strongly recommend all our clients to be as prepared as possible to reduce the risk, cost and stress often associated with a time of uncertainty and emotional trauma.

The Practical Preparation Checklist To help, we provide our clients with a checklist of documents to prepare before divorce proceedings begin. If you feel the document could benefit you, you can request a copy by visiting www.family-law-and-divorce.co.uk/prep

Daniel Rushton, Head of Family Law at Grindeys Solicitors

T: 01782 840 552 E:family@grindeys.com

48 February/March 2017

MOTORING

RENAULT UPDATES CAPTUR RANGE

enault has announced a number of specification and option updates to the highly popular Captur range, available to order from today.

A new special edition version of the Captur – the Iconic Nav Special Edition – receives exclusive Arctic White pearlescent paint with Diamond Black two-tone body colour with blue roof and door mirror decals as standard. Adding to the crossover style are painted lower front and rear bumpers, 17-inch ‘Explore’ alloy wheels with black inserts with a blue Renault diamond centre cap.

Meanwhile inside, the new part-leather seat upholstery is highlighted with light blue stitching with this detail carried on to the leather steering wheel. A new light blue tinted chrome interior touch pack also helps to carry the exterior theme through to the inside of the special edition.

Aluminium pedals as well as matt black detailing around the cabin help to boost the quality of the Captur Iconic Nav Special Edition with the driver and front passenger also enjoying heated front seats for the cooler months.

The special edition also receives Renault’s Grip Xtend advanced traction control system including Mud and Snow Tyres. R-Link Evolution touchscreen infotainment and satellite navigation system with European mapping and reverse parking camera as well as an electrochrome rear view mirror add to the

R

equipment level.

The Renault Captur Iconic Nav is priced from £19,175 on-the-road.

A new powertrain mating the 1.2-litre TCe 120 engine with a six-speed manual gearbox is now offered from Dynamique Nav level and above.

The new engine/gearbox combination provides a combined fuel consumption from 51.4mpg (NEDC) with CO2 emissions of 125 g/km. An alternative to the already-available TCe 120 with dual-clutch EDC gearbox, the TCe 120 engine with manual gearbox is priced from £16,575.

Elsewhere in the range, buyers of Dynamique Nav and Dynamique S Nav versions will now be able to specify the highly popular Flame Red metallic paint body colour with a Diamond Black roof. Complementing this, a red interior touch pack will also become available on these versions providing red bursts around the cabin on the centre console, speakers and air vents. The twotone body colour is available from £595, whilst the red interior touch pack is priced at £100.

On top of the Renault Captur Iconic Nav, the Captur range is available in four trim levels and with a range of two petrol and two diesel engines, priced from £14,575. Captur was the best-selling compact crossover in Europe in 2015 and, as of the end of May this year, had sold over 596,268 vehicles globally since launch in 2013.

Further details on the Renault Captur range are available at www.renault.co.uk February/March 2017 49

BRIGHTEN UP ON THE ROAD MOTORING

oad safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is once again urging motorists to ensure they’re as visible as possible at all times. The advice comes as numerous GEM members report spotting vehicles with dangerous lighting defects.

Headlights out During the long winter nights, there are still huge numbers of vehicles with defective headlights on our roads, causing a significant risk to themselves and others on dark days and wintry nights. Drivers of these so-called ‘one-eyed monsters’ are on the road with only 50 per cent of the light they should have, causing other road users to easily mistake them for a motorbike. Parking and slow speed manoeuvring are also made more risky, as the absence of light means impacts with parked vehicles, walls, posts and trees are more likely.

Daytime running lights Too many drivers are making themselves harder to spot from behind when daytime visibility is reduced, because they’re relying on automatic lighting systems and front-only daytime running lights. The result is that visibility ahead could be reduced, and there may be no rear lights showing at all. GEM also reminds drivers of these vehicles that daytime running lights are fairly dim, and do little to

R

50 February/March 2017

illuminate the road ahead.

No lights Drivers who consider that lights are for use only in darkness are causing danger to themselves and others. Once again, far too many drivers are making journeys on gloomy winter days without switching their lights on. Using dipped headlights for all journeys at this time of year is the safe option, according to GEM. Obscured lights Dirt, ice, snow and frost reduce the effectiveness of your car’s lights. It’s also an offence to drive with obscured lights. GEM encourages all drivers to ensure they make a careful check of lights before a journey, to ensure they’re free from dirt and ice, and to ensure they’re working properly.

GEM road safety officer Neil Worth explains: “Look after your vehicle’s lights and you have a much greater chance to see and be seen. It’s as simple as that. Don’t delay switching on your lights, get defective bulbs replaced as soon as possible and keep your lights clean. You’ll be helping to keep yourself and other drivers safe all through this winter.

“After all, if you can see something, you’re unlikely to hit it. Likewise if another road user can see you, they’re less likely to hit you.”