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Local Athlete ....................................6 Editor s Letter ..................................7 Co-op................................................8 Crown Wharf Theatre....................10 Apprentice Awards ........................13 RSPCA ............................................14 Business Awards ............................15 House Project Fundraising............16 Stone Neighbourhood Plan ...........17 Stone Community Hub..................18 Buddy Bag Foundation..................20 Christian Aid Fundraising .............21 Stafford and Stone Canoe Club.....22 Recycling........................................23
Mayfair Cleaners ...........................23 Stafford Borough Council .............24 Amerton Railway...........................25 Retirement.....................................26 Stafford Borough Mayor ...............27 Reader s Pics..................................28 Eccleshall Show..............................29 Young Farmers ..............................30 Competition Winner ......................31 Walking..........................................32 Gardening ......................................33 World of Wedgewood....................34 Quiz Corner....................................35
LOCAL ATHLETE
Canoeist paddles in his support for new play area
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n athlete from Stone has helped to officially open a brand new play area at a school in the city. The Glebe Academy in Fenton was in urgent need of expansion and upgrading, and now the school s dream has come true thanks to a £24,000 donation from JCB, which funded the installation of a 330 square metre artificial grassed surface. The new play area was recently officially opened by JCBsponsored athletes, slalom
canoeist Adam Burgess, aged 28 of Stone, and triple jumper Ben Williams, aged 29 of Newcastle, who staged a special PE lesson for pupils to mark the unveiling. The pair took a break from training for the summer games in Tokyo to put youngsters through their paces after cutting a ribbon at the opening ceremony. Glebe Academy Principal Suzanne Oakes-Smith said: As the school sits in the lowest two per cent of deprivation in the country, with many of our pupils having no gardens or access to outdoor space, being able to provide this new area at the school is extremely significant. Our limited outdoor space has always been a huge challenge, so the JCB donation has turned a dream into a reality. A project of this size would have been out of the reach of the school and this work will benefit us for years to come. We are thrilled and very thankful to JCB and Lord Bamford for making this happen. It s also come at just the right time as it gives our children a safe outdoor space and enables us to meet the social distancing needs of the Covid-19 pandemic. JCB Chairman Lord Bamford:
I m delighted to support the Glebe Academy with this initiative because it s so important that children have access to safe outdoor spaces. Adam started canoeing at the age of ten on the River Trent in his home town of Stone and has been competing internationally for Great Britain and winning medals since the age of 14. He said: We had great fun taking the PE lesson with the pupils on the new JCB play area. Fitness and exercise has been an integral part of my life since childhood and I really appreciate the importance of children having somewhere safe to exercise and run around. Ben is Britain s leading triple jumper. He was crowned British Triple Jump Champion in 2019 with a lifetime best jump of 17.27 metres almost the length of a double decker bus. Ben added: We had a great morning with the Glebe Academy and hopefully we ve managed to pass on our love of sport and the fun you can have in keeping fit during the PE lesson. Both athletes are sponsored by JCB to help in their preparations for the summer games. North Staffordshire sports stars Ben Williams (left) and Adam Burgess put Glebe Academy pupils through their paces after the official opening of the new playground
editor s letter
From fundraising to furry friends 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
Welcome to our latest edition of the Stone & Eccleshall Life Magazine yet another jam-packed edition full of wonderful stories from within our lovely area. With the further easing of the Government s Covid-19 restrictions is more and more community activities and events doesn t it feel great to be getting out and about more? In this edition we have a number of stories about various groups and organisations being back out and about raising funds for charity; and also an inspiring feature about what s been happening at Stone Community Hub during the pandemic.
Cover photo courtesy of Noel Bennett noelbennettphoto graphy.co.uk,
01785 813888
We have a further update on how the very exciting project of Crown Wharf Theatre is coming along; news of the Stone Neighbourhood Plan being adopted; and also a feature about a local tourist destination which is set to be recognised by royalty. We also have a lovely story all about how a kitten was saved by the emergency services from being stuck up a tree; and keeping on our lovable furry friends there s Dolly the pooch who has come out tops in a competition. And there s so much more! We hope you enjoy reading this edition of the Stone & Eccleshall Life Magazine, and if you have a story to tell about life in the area, please do get in touch by emailing me at hargreavespr@outlook.com. Until next time take care!
Belinda
CO-OP
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FOOD store chain has invested in new cycle repair stations at some of its sites to encourage cycle use. Central England Co-op is continuing its support for cyclists with a five-figure investment to install public bicycle repair stations at 21 sites following a successful trial. Locally, the participating stores are Stafford Street in Eccleshall, as well as Cannock Road, Wildwood in Stafford. The features offer those eventually commuting to and from work as restrictions continue to ease and those riding for pleasure a specialist bike maintenance station with a sturdy work-stand and pump for cyclists to make necessary repairs and tune up their bicycles. They have been rolled out
following a successful trial at the retailer s Openwoodgate Food Store in Belper, Derbyshire. Alongside the installation of the repair stations, all the stores in the scheme will also include a range of features to make them perfect pit stops for cyclists, from coffee machines and seating areas to community noticeboards featuring local cycle routes and information in partnership with Sustrans, custodian of the National Cycle Network. Co-op is also encouraging colleagues, members and customers to join Cycling UK s World s Biggest Bike Ride, more details of which can be found at www.cyclinguk.org/bikeweek/ worlds-biggest-bike-ride Hannah Gallimore, Central England Co-op Corporate Responsibility Manager, said: As a co-operative, our communities are always at the heart of all our decisions, especially during these uncertain times. This is why we wanted to make sure we are there as perfect pit stops for the
increasing numbers of people choosing to cycle, whether to help keep fit and healthy, for their enjoyment and wellbeing or to get about safely, as well as those commuting to and from work as restrictions are eased. Supporting greener travel also forms a major part of our purpose to create a sustainable Society for all with other new initiatives including the installing of electric car charging points at new stores and offering home delivery via a fleet of eco-friendly electric vehicles. The cycle repair station at our Openwoodgate Food Store has received great feedback from cyclists and has offered a really useful service while also acting as a good meeting place for the local cycling clubs while they refuel. We are now delighted to extend this offer to more communities across our trading area. To find out more about the bike repair stations and offers for cyclists at Central England Co-op, as well as events coming up during National Bike Week visit www.members.coop/bikestation.
Crown wharf theatre
Council donates cash to theatre project
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he mission to bring a new theatre and community event space to Stone has received a major cash boost with £50,000 of grant funding from the Town Hall Charity Trust, which is managed by Stone Town Council. The Crown Wharf Theatre charity is set to use the funding to adapt and fit out the back of house areas, transforming the empty building into a fully functioning space that will support the venue s activities for years to come. A spokesman for the town council further explained: Half of the grant will be used to make vital alterations to the internal layout, ensuring the dressing rooms will be large enough to cater for bigger productions. This is particularly important for groups with big casts, such as schools, Scouts, Guides, dance academies and musical theatre productions.
The second half of the money will be used for the internal fit out, helping the Crown Wharf Theatre charity to install electrics, heating, toilets, a kitchenette, changing facilities, a meeting space and storage. The Town Hall Charity Trust was created largely from the proceeds of the sale of the former Town Hall in the High Street, and the town council act as trustee for the charity, but the funds cannot be used to support the council s own activities. Crown Wharf Theatre charity trustee Mark Doran said: We re absolutely delighted to receive this grant, which has really accelerated the project. It s great to have the work planned out and under way on the back of house. These facilities will play a vital role in ensuring the theatre will deliver as much benefit to as many people in Stone as possible.
As the work progresses on the back of house we are also making good strides in the auditorium, and the grant from the Town Hall Charity Trust has been a huge boost in helping us move the whole project forward this year. Councillor Mark Green, former Stone Town Mayor and Chairman of the Town Hall Charity Trust at the time the grant was made, said: These funds have been held in trust by the charity for the benefit of the town. I m pleased to be able to announce that the town council, acting as the charity s trustees, have been able to make this £50,000 grant to support the Crown Wharf Theatre charity and help this exciting project to reach fruition. The Crown Wharf Theatre charity would like to hear from local contractors, tradespeople and suppliers who can donate expertise, labour and materials to the back-of-house work.
Crown wharf theatre Here is a round-up and further update all about the Crown Wharf Theatre project from trustee Leo Capernaros: In January 2019 we were granted charitable status by the Charities Commission and a new charity, creatively named The Crown Wharf Theatre, was born. A lot has happened since then, including of course the pandemic, and whilst this has had an impact on the project, it has only made us more determined to realise the dream of bringing this fantastic new facility to the town, in our opinion it s more vital than ever. The charity is solely made up of local volunteers, each of whom around busy day-jobs and family lives are working flat out to make the most of this rare and fantastic chance to bring a theatre and community space to Stone. The way the project has presented itself is unusual. In the beginning we were making tentative enquiries and imagined perhaps a ten-year journey of raising the money, making plans and then eventually developing a theatre
(somewhere in Stone). But with the massive leg-up from Joule s Brewery, our journey has been moving very quickly and in some ways is slightly back to front. On April 1 this year, we signed the lease and got the keys to the shell of the theatre building, and the responsibility is now ours to raise the funding, complete the internal fit-out and then run the building for the benefit of as many people as possible. Whilst we can t thank our lucky stars enough for the wonderful and wholehearted support from Joule s Brewery, it has meant we have been playing catch-up from day one. It s a little like building the plane whilst you re flying along. Firstly, we had to get charitable status, a drawn-out process with an extremely busy Charities Commission. We had to set our charitable purposes, governance, bank accounts, insurances, tax and accounting procedures, all the nuts-andbolts stuff which ensure we re properly run. At the same time, we had to quickly raise funds in order to commission specialist theatre architects who have worked with Joule s during the design
and build process to ensure the building shell is fit for purpose. We have also had to consult with a range of theatre experts and quantity surveyors to capture the full scope of the internal fit-out, from heating and ventilation, to floor coverings, acoustics, comfy seating and the multitude of different types of cable required to be embedded into the walls of a functioning theatre. While all this has been going on, we have had to think about the future. To give major funders the confidence and to make sure the theatre will be self-sustaining in the long-term we have had to research and build a fully costed and viable business plan. We continue to talk with potential user groups, ensuring we develop a formula that keeps the building accessible, affordable and occupied as much as possible. Covid-19 has of course slowed things down, quite rightly all of our priorities shifted whilst we dealt with this painful and wide-reaching disaster. The pandemic led to the pausing of many grant schemes and put a stop to all the big fundraising events we had planned for last year.
Crown wharf theatre The total fundraising target is £750,000, which would deliver a high-end fully finished auditorium with lots of bells and whistles. Given everything that has happened, we are now taking a phased approach and looking to raise a proportion of that figure which would provide us with enough equipment and finishes to make the space usable. From there we can start to use the theatre, have some fun and continue to fundraise and develop the building over time. Continuing to raise money is of course a primary objective, and if you want to help out there are all sorts of ways to donate: You can visit our JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/crownwh arftheatre; Hold your own fundraising event on our behalf; Name a seat; Become a Founding Partner be that as an individual, family or if you own a business. Email info@crownwharftheatre.org.u k to enquire.
But it s not just about cold hard cash, we have had some incredible help from volunteers, helping us in all sorts of ways, be that volunteering at our community events, helping us with websites, communications, accounting and technical expertise. It s been brilliant to feel the community getting behind the project, and now we are full steam ahead with bid writing and planning some exciting events for 2021 it would be great to hear from you. If you feel like you have something to bring to the party please do get in touch. We are also on the lookout for support from local contractors, tradespeople and suppliers offering expertise, labour and materials, all of which will help reduce the overall cost of the project. We will recognise any business that wants to support the project on a permanent Founding
Partners Wall , so do get in touch if you think you could help out and be part of this incredible legacy project . So where are we today? Now we have got the keys it s time to press on. We are ready to begin fitting out the back of house areas such as the changing rooms, toilets and green room straight away, so there are lots of opportunities coming up for tradespeople, nifty DIYers and anyone who can hold a paintbrush to get stuck in. The auditorium fit out still requires more secured funding, but by hook or by crook we will make it happen. There s a mountain of work to do, but step by step we will get there, together. For further information go online to: www.crownwharftheatre.org.u k
Apprentice AwArds
T H E D O O R C O M PA N Y SUPPLIERS & INSTALLERS OF COMPOSITE, UPVC & INTERNAL DOORS
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Staffordshire University degree apprentice, who works at a Stone company, has been recognised with a prestigious national award. Sally Parker had cause for a double celebration after being named Higher & Degree Apprentice of the Year at the Nuclear Skills Awards 2021 recently and completing her Tech Industry Gold Digital Degree Apprenticeship with first class honours in the same week. The 21-year-old from Uttoxeter joined Stonebased firm Capula in 2017 and has been completing a degree in Digital & Technology Solutions alongside her role as a Junior IT Engineer. The UK Nuclear Skills Awards, organised by NSAN and Cogent Skills, celebrates exceptional individuals and companies in the nuclear sector from across the country and winners announced in virtual ceremony last month. Sally said: Four years of hard work have now paid off and I m really proud to be recognised with this award. It is a bit overwhelming because I wasn t expecting to win. After I finished my A-Levels I wanted to get a job instead of going back into full time education and so doing an apprenticeship was ideal for me. It has sometimes been a challenge to work and study at the same time but both Capula and the University have been really supportive and have helped to keep track of my progress. Staffordshire University provides more than 20 different Higher and Degree Apprenticeships for more than 200 businesses across a variety of industries. The work-based route to higher education offers apprentices on-the-job training alongside a qualification, while helping employers to develop their workforce and shape the future of their business. Capula and Staffordshire University have been working together to combat a national shortage of engineers and to drive up the number of skilled apprentices in the region. Sally regularly visits schools as a STEM ambassador and hopes that her success will help to inspire more pupils to follow in her footsteps and consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. She said: I don t think anybody expected me to be where I am now. I have dyslexia and at high school I was predicted Ds and Es in my exams so had
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to take part in summer school to get into Sixth Form. STEM subjects are often male-dominated which can be intimidating for girls but I m proof that it shouldn t stop them. You don t always have to get top grades to do well, it is about finding what s right for you and where you take yourself. Robin Oldham, Course Director: Computer Science and Digital Apprenticeships at Staffordshire University, said: Ever since I met Sally I have been impressed with her approach to learning. I quote Sally in many of my meetings with potential apprentices and current ones to make the point that it isn t easy, but you can achieve amazing things if you put in the time and effort. I can now complete the story with Sally s phenomenal first-class Degree Apprenticeship profile and UK Nuclear Skills Award inspirational. Fellow Capula employee Jack Senior who undertook an Engineering apprenticeship with Staffordshire University was also a finalist in the Nuclear Graduate of the Year category at the awards. Steve Tellwright, HR Director at Capula, said: I m extremely proud of Sally and Jack as they have both worked exceptionally hard and deserve every bit of recognition for getting to this final stage in the competition. For Sally to win is a great achievement against some fierce opposition. She is a great ambassador for the company and for the value of apprenticeships.
RSPCA
Kitten rescued from being stuck up a 50 foot high tree
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kitten which had been stuck 50 feet up a tree for three days recently was rescued by the RSPCA and fire service and was reunited with his grateful
owner. The ginger cat, called Harry, had climbed the tree near his home in Dorney Close, Yarnfield, near Stone, and despite his owner and neighbours trying to entice him down with food the feline was too frightened to move. Harry s owner Alan Core, aged 47, contacted the RSPCA and animal rescuer, inspector Pamela Bird was sent to the scene but she could see she would need the assistance of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue to help get the pet to safety. However Staffordshire Fire and Rescue were dealing with a major blaze at the time so RSPCA inspector Natalie Perehovsky returned to the scene on another day. She called for the help of the fire service and they were able to promptly attend. The first crew, from Stone, realised their extendable ladders would not reach high enough so a second fire appliance was summoned to the scene with an aerial platform. Natalie went on the platform armed with a basket and some cat food to entice Harry to safety - but as soon as she reached him he was keen to be helped. She said: Harry was so grateful to come towards me he knew we were there to rescue
him and I put him safely in the basket with some food. He must have been very hungry because as soon as the platform reached the floor all the food had gone. He seemed very happy to be reunited with a very relieved Alan and it was great to see. I just hope he learns his lesson and keeps away from high trees. Alan said: We were told he was stuck up the tree on Sunday and as we tried to entice him down he seemed more frightened and went higher. We tried to tempt him down with food that night but he wouldn't climb down so we called the RSPCA for help. We are so grateful the RSPCA and fire service did a great job. Harry was happy to get back home and enjoyed more food and pampering but seemed to be happier just to rest up after spending a couple of sleepless nights up the tree. RSPCA officers are trained to use ladders, which they carry for rescues like this, however, in situations where they still are unable to reach the animals, they may ask the fire service to help and they often use animal rescues as a vital training aid. Natalie added: The RSPCA works very closely with the emergency services - we are always incredibly grateful for any help we receive from them.
Business awards
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Stone takeaway has been announced as a finalist in a national award initiative. The British Takeaway Awards (BTAs) in partnership with Just Eat, champions independent takeaways who throughout the past 18 months have played a particularly important part in British life. The finalists, as voted for by the public, have recently been revealed with all in the running to win Best Takeaway in each of the awards 12 regions, as well as the chance to win one of the prestigious national awards including Best Takeaway in Britain. Oatcakes & Milkshakes in Stafford Street, Stone has been announced as a finalist for the
West Midlands region. A representative of the town centre business said recently on their Facebook page: We ve made the final in the British Takeaway Awards. Big thank you to all our amazing customers, we couldn t do it without you. A spokesman for the awards said: This year s BTAs, held in London in September, will pay tribute to the hardworking restaurants that have adapted during the pandemic to deliver a taste of normality to those working from home, self isolating or simply looking for their favourite food as lockdown forced restaurants to close to diners. Whether they ve supported key workers and those in need in
the local community or catered to the ever changing demands for alternative diets including vegan cuisine and healthier alternatives, the awards will give takeaways the recognition they deserve following a turbulent 2020. Regional winners are set to receive £1,000 to further their business with the overall Best Takeaway in Britain award receiving the prize of £5,000. For more information about The British Takeaway Awards go online to: www.thebtas.co.uk.
House Project fundraising
Anniversary barbecue raises cash for charity
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caring company has celebrated it s first 12 months by hosting a special event which raised cash for charity.
Families First Fostering was set up last year by Rachael Davies and her mum, Amanda, who both live in Stone. Their first year anniversary celebration in May coincided with the national Fostering Fortnight and the duo hosted a family BBQ at Stockton Brook Scout HQ. Rachael said: We are a new family run independent fostering agency based in Stone covering Staffordshire and Shropshire. The event was attended by our staff, foster families and the children they care for. The day included a charity bake off cake sale, a raffle, tombola, lucky dip, face painting, bouncy castle, games and of course, barbecue food. We raised £400 for charity for the House Project which is a local initiative supporting young people leaving care. Rachael and Amanda are supported in their Families First Fostering company by family and a team of social workers, family support workers and a therapist. Rachael added: Since launching the agency in May 2020 we have recruited, assessed and approved 15 fostering households who currently care for 30 children and young people across Staffordshire and Shropshire.
STONE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
The plan belongs to the people of Stone
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tone town voted through their Neighbourhood Plan at referendum on May 6 with an overwhelming 85.7 per cent of residents saying yes. Councillor Jill Hood said: The plan took five years to form with consultations with residents and businesses and regular scrutiny at many stages. It was very important to listen to the wishes and needs of the community as the plan belongs to the people of Stone. In legal terms the plan is made and when planning decisions are considered by the borough council they will take into account the Stone town council Neighbourhood Plan which will protect the town from unwanted development. Throughout the process special emphasis was put on protecting local green spaces and local green infrastructure as residents were particularly concerned about the reduction in these areas. Little did we realise when we were forming
the plan, just what special importance and value to resident s positive physical and mental health that green spaces would become during the pandemic, providing areas for families and the community to meet and use for recreational purposes whilst keeping within social distancing guidelines. Cllr Hood added: The Neighbourhood Plan will ensure that new businesses are encouraged to the town providing local employment and future growth, boosting the local economy. Stone is a Market Charter Town and is a desirable place to live, work and visit attracting thousands of visitors each year. The direction of the town is set out clearly in our Neighbourhood Plan and our town council will work very hard to guarantee the way forward as set out in the plan. The people voted showing how strongly they believe Stone is their town and that their wishes are reflected in the plan and they must be listened to.
BARLAS TON GO LF C LUB WHERE Set amongst countryside surrounds on the outskirts of the Potteries, reached via A34 to Stone.
FOUNDED 1977
A course of variety and peaceful charm. The opening holes set the scene, running attractively alongside the River Trent. A lakeside mid-stretch then it gently undulates around the surrounding rural landscape with some lovely closing holes. Not the longest of layouts but it certainly tests suitably.
SOCIETIES Tailored packages from 8 golfers up, weekend availability on request.
www.barlastongolfclub.co.uk
01782 372795
info@barlastongolfclub.co.uk
Prices from
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Preferential rates available Saturday and Sunday from 2.30pm
SIGNATURE HOLE 9th 477 yards Par 5 -
Gorgeous views. You traverse the large lake from the tee and it s a case of how much of it you want to take on if you want to get to the slightly raised green in two. Bit of risk and reward in the mix.
DANGER ZONE 7th 423 yards Par 4 - Old
Swampy is an infamous hole in these parts, a very tough dog leg par four with its expertly named hazard lying in wait to swallow approach shots that come up short.
19TH HOLE Single floor large clubhouse with outdoor seating area, separate function room.
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STONE COMMUNITY HUB
AMAZING TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS AT HUB
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tone Community Hub, which is situated in the Frank Jordan Community Centre in Lichfield Street, has been one of the many organisations across the country which has continued supporting their community during the pandemic, albeit in different ways to the norm. Here is an update all about the hub from manager Emma Walton: Things have certainly been different at Stone Community Hub since March 2020. When the pandemic struck and the first lockdown announced, most of our normal services had to be postponed and it became apparent, very quickly, that demands for our food bank support would very much increase, both in Stone and surrounding villages. Indeed, in the whole of the previous financial year, we provided around 300 parcels, since March 2020, the Hub has provided almost 3,000 parcels to local families who need support with food and other supplies. The service has only been possible with the support of an amazing team of volunteers who have tirelessly and cheerfully worked throughout the pandemic packing parcels,
sorting stock levels, holding donation points outside their houses as well as delivering parcels to people who have been shielding. We are so grateful for their support and would have not been able to achieve what we have without them. Since the latest easing of restrictions, we are seeing a slight reduction in the number of parcels requested although demand still outweighs by far the levels seen pre-Covid. As the Government has now announced that community centres can reopen, we are now putting plans in place for a gradual return to our previous services prior to the pandemic. We are very much hoping to be able to resume our Job Club from mid June where we can offer guidance and assistance to people looking for paid employment. We can help with writing applications and CV s, searching for suitable vacancies, giving support and guidance for preparing for interviews as well as general support with claiming benefits. We will also be open for individual support in areas such as claiming benefits, combatting social isolation, housing issues, applying for passports, Blue Badges etc. These sessions will be by appointment only due to Social Distancing restrictions.
STONE COMMUNITY HUB Hopefully, if Government guidelines allow, we will then be reopening our drop in sessions at the end of June, followed by craft sessions at a later date, finally our Hub Grub provision will return towards the end of summer. You will appreciate that most of our usual fundraising activities have had to be suspended, we have been very fortunate with financial support from emergency Covid funding from a variety of sources as well as fabulous support from local residents, supermarkets, businesses and other organisations, both financially and with donations of supplies. This support has meant that we have been able to maintain stocks in the food bank throughout the pandemic, for which we are very grateful. People can support us by becoming a member and giving a regular financial donation via our Golden Giving facility on the
website or by contacting us. If anyone would like any further information on our services, would like to make a donation, is interested in volunteering for us or becoming a trustee, please visit our website www.stonecommunityhub.org , telephone 01785 812417,
email Emma Walton (Manager) manager@stonecommunityhu b.org or visit our social media pages.
BUDDY BAG FOUNDATION
Garden tea party for teddy bears
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ccleshall Rotarian Sylvia Keris, with the help of other Rotary Clubs all over the country, and individual knitters, has recently gathered together the latest batch of donated teddies for a Teddy Bears tea party in the garden. The Teddy Bears Garden Tea Party took place prior to Sylvia delivering them to the next Buddy Bag Foundation s packing session. Sylvia was joined at the teddy tea party by a Duck from Eccleshall Rotary club s Hook-a-Duck stall. Sylvia, an ambassador for the Buddy Bag Foundation (BBF) charity, acts as a collection point for knitted teddies - which are a comfort toy added to children s Buddy
Backpacks, along with essential clothing and toiletries. Hundreds of Buddy Bags are packed at the regular weekly packing sessions, which are then sent to refuges throughout the UK - where children are taken to safety away from domestic violence. Sylvia said: Approx 48,000 children are affected in the UK every year; and sadly, there have been more cases of domestic abuse during lockdown. So the charity needs to meet the demand for more Buddy Bags and kind knitters to make the teddies. I am also seeking people to kindly sew fabric drawstring toiletry bags and make zipped
pencil cases, to hold these items within the backpacks. And Lego is also very much sought after - as therapists in refuges have found creative play with Lego helps traumatized children. Donations of knitting wool are also welcome, to help supply knitters who require this to make more teddies. Knitters can use their own teddy patterns, or some can be found on the charity s website at: www.buddybagfoundation.co. uk and teddies can be in any colour wool, or combination of colours. For further details on any of the items needed, or to arrange delivery please contact Sylvia on 01785 851005.
Christian aid fundraising
Bearing the weather for charity
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OLUNTEERS from the local churches have been out collecting cash for
charity. The team met outside the Stafford Street Co-op in Eccleshall one Saturday recently
collecting contributions for this year s Christian Aid appeal. A spokesman said: The weather changed so that the later half of their collecting day was very wet. There is usually a door-todoor collection but current
restrictions make it impossible. Thanks to everyone who contributed. In the picture is: Bruce Braithwaite, Judith Roberts, Ann Braithwaite, Judy Norton, Tom Norton, and churchwarden John Treanor.
STAFFORD AND STONE CANOE CLUB
Racing has resumed at water sports club
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acing has resumed for the Stafford and Stone Canoe Club members after they hosted the recent U18 and U23 Junior selection event. A spokesman for the club said: The weekend was tinged with a little sadness that restrictions meant we were unable to host our annual premier event, the McConkey Memorial race, but it is safe to say the juniors on the water truly made up for it The event was four single run races held over the two days, with the best three results counting. Representing the Club were: U23 C1M; Sam Maingay, Kurts Adams Rozentals, Alfie Boote, U18; Luc Royle, Klass Francisk Rozentals and George Harratt. U18 K1W; Kate Lyndon. U23 K1M; Chris Bowers & Ed Dickinson, U18; Thomas Mayer and Klass Francisk Rozentals. To see the results of the races, visit the club s website. Not to be seen to be resting after a long weekend of racing at U23 & Junior Selection 2021 S&SCC C1M athletes Adam Burgess and Alfie Boote, were back at their club to support the Monday evening C1 junior session, along with George Harratt - now a coaching assistant at the club - and Dave Royle, Vice Chairman and C1 Lead Coach.
The session is also coached ed by previous C1W World Championship medallist Jazz Royle. The club s spokesman said: We are so proud of the athletes the club has supported over many years, and the achievements they have made since joining the club as a local child wanting to have a go at the sport. It s also fantastic that they make the time to come back and inspire our young paddlers. Meanwhile, Stafford and Stone Canoe Club have announced that they have been successful in again becoming a Talent Club Partner with British Canoeing. The club spokesman said: The club prides itself on recruiting and nurturing young people into the sport of Canoe Slalom and we will be working closely with British Canoeing to recruit and train Canoe Slalom talent over the next four years. The partnership allows talented youngsters to access further support and training to enable them to develop and achieve. The partnership will also support them to access further venues for training with different and more challenging waters. For more information about the club go online to: http://www.staffordandstonecc .co.uk.
RECYCLING
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esidents across Stafford Borough have been praised for leading the way in a recycling initiative that has been successful in its first year. Stafford Borough Council introduced a blue bag for paper and cardboard around 12 months ago as part of their recycling drive. And the council states that the latest figures demonstrate that contamination in the recycling blue bin has dropped to just eight percent better than the around 15 per cent recorded last year. A spokesman said: It has led to other local authorities contacting the borough council and its recycling and waste contractors, Veolia, to ask for details of the blue bag scheme. Now the council is asking householders to help drive the contamination figure down further by ensuring there is no paper or cardboard in the blue bin. If contamination is found in recycling it can lead to the whole bin lorry load being rejected which can
cost around £2,000 a charge that is passed onto the council. And having cardboard in the blue bag ensures it is cleaner and can be recycled to a higher quality which has already saved tens of thousands of pounds for the authority. All the recycling materials collected from borough households are kept in the UK for reprocessing. Councillor Jonathan Price, Cabinet Member for Environment at the borough council, said: I ve been so pleased to see how well residents have backed the new recycling initiative and this has led to some great results already so much so that both ourselves and Veolia have had enquiries from other local authorities to find out more on our blue bag scheme. But we do not want to rest on our laurels and I am urging all our householders to make sure that any paper or cardboard is put into the blue bag. This ensures that the recycling is of better quality and saving thousands of pounds for the council. You can find out more about recycling in Stafford Borough online at: www.staffordbc.gov.uk/recyclingand-waste-know-your-bins.
MAYFAIR CLEANERS
Cleaning business on the move back home
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dry cleaning business in Stone is set to close its doors this summer after more than four decades of service to the town.
The team at Mayfair Cleaners has taken great pride in providing the town with a friendly service, quick turn around and expert cleaning skills - and they are still set to continue but from the company s other branch in Barlaston, which is the original home of the business. Business owner Doug Ault has decided to close his Stone shop in Stafford Street to take all his business back home to his Barlaston premises. He said: I started the business over 45 years ago in Barlaston. It was so successful that I quickly opened a branch in Stone. It was initially in the building known as Granville s before moving down the High Street to number 7, which is now known as Stone Post Office. I traded there for many years before moving to the current premises when number 7 was in need of structural refurbishment when the town s ring road was put in. Now after 45 years of having a good run in Stone, and with the building lease coming up for renewal, I
have decided to close the Stone shop but will very much be carrying on the business at the Barlaston premises where we have a highly skilled team to look after everyone s garments and soft furnishings. The Barlaston shop is just a few minutes up the road and all staff from Stone are relocating there. I would like to thank all our customers over the years and look forward to welcoming them to our original home. The Mayfair Cleaners shop in Barlaston is situated at 13 Station Road, ST12 9DH To find out more about our bridal gown cleaning service, go online to: https://www.mayfair cleaners.co.uk
STAFFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
Climate change and Covid recovery are priorities in new Stafford Borough vision
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PLAN setting out the vision for Stafford Borough over the next few years has now been released. The new three-year Corporate Business Plan by Stafford Borough council continues to earmark growth, wellbeing in the community, and running a tight ship as its priorities. A spokesman for the council further explained: The plan has also added climate change and green recovery as a priority - as well as highlighting how the local authority is working with partners to support communities hit hardest by Covid-19 to help economic recovery. The borough council was at the forefront of helping its communities during the pandemic and has paid out more than £45m in grants to hundreds of businesses that suffered because of Covid-19 restrictions and supported over 7,000 vulnerable residents through their Community Hub initiative. The plan demonstrates delivery of major projects since its previous publication in 2018 such as the £9 million leisure centre scheme in Stone and the £2.5 million restoration of the awardwinning Victoria Park in Stafford. Leader of the Council, Patrick Farrington, said that over the past three years they had worked with partners to create a sustainable and vibrant economy which was
made more challenging because of the pandemic. He said: Our strong economic base and the ambitious programme of development will help us to recover quicker and stronger than many areas. We will continue to promote a dynamic local economy and enterprise culture and capitalise on opportunities to grow our economy and attract further investment. We want Stafford (borough) to be a great place to live, work and visit, and ensure that our communities are sustainable and strong and that our residents have access to green open space to enjoy healthier lifestyles. Mr Farrington added: Our Climate Change and Green Recovery Strategy outlines how we will reduce carbon emissions from our own activities, how we can work with our communities to raise awareness and promote low carbon initiatives and protect and enhance our biodiversity and wildlife.
Victoria Park in Stafford
Stone Leisure Centre Swimming Pool
Covid-19 has brought to the fore how important it is that local authorities have the powers and resources devolved to them to enable them to deliver services to their communities and we have worked tirelessly to become financially sustainable and, over the past three years, have consistently delivered a balanced budget. The full Stafford Borough Council Corporate Business Plan 2021-2024 can be viewed at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/corpo rate-plan.
amerton railway
Railway volunteers recognised by royalty
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NARROW gauge railway volunteer team has been recognised for their work in the community.
A total of seven voluntary groups across Staffordshire have been honoured with Her Majesty the Queen s Award for Voluntary Service. The honour recognises outstanding voluntary contributions in local communities and has an equivalent status for voluntary groups as the MBE has for individuals. Groups recognised in this year s awards include Staffordshire Narrow Gauge Railway at Amerton, near Stafford; along with Changes Tamworth; The Fun Club Hub, Burntwood; Marchington Village Shop; Spark CIO, Burntwood; Walk Ministries, Tunstall; and Whittington and Fisherwick Good Neighbour Scheme. Pete Gully, Chairman of Amerton Railway said: It is amazing to see what our volunteers have accomplished here at Amerton Railway, and we are honoured to receive this award. Being able to engage with our local communities and visitors, and share our knowledge about the locomotives, rolling stock and other artefacts we have on site is a pleasure. We would like to say thank you to our volunteers, both past and present, and to the local community for their ongoing support. In the coming months, the seven groups are set to receive their certificate signed by Her Majesty The Queen along with an exclusive commemorative crystal presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Mr Ian Dudson CBE KStJ who is Her Majesty s representative for the county. Mr Dudson said: I am delighted that we
have several more winners again this year, taking the overall number of winners in Staffordshire to over 100 since the awards started in 2003. This year s winners are shining examples of the hundreds of organisations in this County whose volunteers improve the lives of others in our communities. We are all extremely grateful for what they do. It is particularly appropriate this year that a number of them have been recognised for their additional contributions during the pandemic. I would like to send the winners my warmest congratulations and look forward hopefully to being able to present their awards to each of them later in the year. Mr Paul Snape, Chairman of Staffordshire County Council, added: Where would we be without our many volunteers, it is clear to me that the people of Staffordshire are always ready to help in any way they can without seeking reward. Only on days like today do we have the opportunity to pay tribute to the many people who give so freely of their time and expertise to the benefit of others. Once again my sincere congratulations to all our winners. Representatives from the groups are also set to receive an invitation to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. To date 105 groups from Staffordshire have now received this annual Award since it was created by Her Majesty in 2002. For details of all this year s award winners and information on how to nominate a group go online to: https://qavs.direct.gov.uk where a nomination form can be completed and submitted online. Nominations for 2022 need to be submitted by September 15, 2021.
RETIREMENT
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n Eccleshall firefighter has retired from the life-saving service after 25 years. He s spent 25 years serving the county with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, and now Paul Shaw is set to hit the continent on his trusty motorbike after taking off his tunic one final time. Paul, originally from Manchester but who has lived in the county for the last 20 years, has been putting out fires and carrying out rescues since initially joining the RAF as a firefighter in 1988. In total, he has spent some 32 years with various fire services since leaving the air force. He s spent at least six months at most of the wholetime stations across Staffordshire during his time; and since 2018 he has called Lichfield Community Fire Station his home and recently retired as Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service s Fire Investigation Lead and Station Manager for Lichfield. Paul, who currently lives in Eccleshall, said: I ve had a great working relationship with the staff in Lichfield. They ve been absolutely fantastic while I ve been there. There are a number of
people who have supported me through some black dog days , where dips in mental health have kicked in. They re linked to incidents I have attended in the past. They ll know who they are. They ve supported me through the bad times and through some of the good times as well. The support we get from the service and from the Fire Fighters Charity as well is absolutely fantastic. And Paul said he is proud of the service his crews have been able to provide the city and surrounding areas since his arrival. He said: Instantly you re thinking about the response. Those engines flying out of the doors. That blue-light response is absolutely key to the community and all of Staffordshire. But we also do a lot of preventative and protect work within our business communities and within homes where we are fitting smoke alarms and giving advice. This is absolutely critical to reducing fire deaths in Staffordshire. I m really, really proud to have served as a firefighter. That s all I ve ever wanted to do. Paul has fought countless
fires, undertaken rescues and other critical work of a firefighter in his time. Some serious, and some less so. He said: We ve had incidents where jewellery items have been found on people s bodies and have had to be removed. Genuinely the most fun times I have had here is working jobs. It could be rescuing kittens or ducklings, or whatever it may be. I ve been to hundreds of RTCs, fought hundreds of fires. But it s always those jobs saving animals lives or people s lives which are really important to me. But you see a lot of things. Incidents involving children in particular stay with you. One of the most significant jobs, which involved many, many resources, was the Stafford Plastics fire, Paul recalled of the fatal incident at the fireworks factory in the county town which claimed two lives in October 2014. He said: Unfortunately, two members of the public lost their lives in that incident. We wanted to try and recover those bodies as quickly as possible for the families, and we managed to do that. It was a really arduous job. Those incidents really stick in your mind.
RETIREMENT He s not putting his feet up just yet more his pedal down. An avid motorcyclist, Paul is planning on building on a former trip with friends and colleagues travelling along Route 66 in America and has his eyes set this time on Europe. He said: Covid has pretty much taken away my interactions with my friends and family for the past 18 months, so I am going to bore them to death with my presence for the next 18 months. I don t have any plans to work. I will be touring the UK and Europe on my motorbike, I will be trying to get myself a little fitter than I am now, and just enjoying life. Covid has taught me, as I am sure it has taught a lot of people, about life and how important family and friends are. So that s exactly what I am going to be doing. The pride of service shone through from Paul as he looked back on his career with a smile. And he also had a call to arms to anyone else who may be looking to forge a similar career for themselves. He added: Please join the fire service, have a go at it, and just keep going. I didn t get in first time. It took me a number of times to get in. It s the best career you could ever, ever imagine. The camaraderie is absolutely amazing, and I will take away from this job some really close friends.
STAFFORD BOROUGH MAYOR
New Mayor takes chains of office
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he new Mayor of Stafford Borough has been sworn in at a virtual ceremony recently.
Councillor Tony Nixon took up the chains of office at the recent Annual Meeting of Stafford Borough Council the first time the event has been held virtually in its more than 400-year history. Cllr Nixon takes over from councillor Gareth Jones for the 2021/2022 Mayoral year. Cllr Jones has been in post for two years after Covid-19 prevented the annual ceremony going ahead in 2020. The new Mayor is Stafford born and bred and worked for the Universal Grinding Wheel Company for more than 30 years. He then moved to work at RAF Stafford before transferring to MOD Donnington until his retirement in 2018. His wife, Hazel, a former NHS worker, is the new Mayoress and the couple were married in 1973 they have three children and five grandchildren. Cllr Nixon is a keen motorcyclist who was first elected to the Borough Council in 1999. He was
elected back on to the council in 2019 to represent the Littleworth Ward. In his maiden mayoral speech to the council he said it was a humbling experience becoming the borough s first citizen. He said: The Mayoress and I are committed to doing our very best to support the volunteers, the businesses, organisations and charities that make this borough such a great place to live, work and visit. We have vast numbers of selfless people who are dedicated to helping others less fortunate than themselves. They give such a lot - and ask for very little in return. During our civic year we will take every opportunity to acknowledge their selfless deeds, shine a light on their hard work, and, in doing so, give a little bit back to those who give such a lot. The couple will be raising money for the Stafford and District Carers Holiday Trust with other charities to be announced soon. Councillor Peter Jones continues in the role of Deputy Mayor.
READER S PICS
Scenes from along the canal
W
e always warmly welcome submitted photographs of the local area from our readers and here we have a selection which have been kindly sent in to us by Jon Farnsworth. Jon is often seen kayaking along the canal in Stone and these pictures are of just some of the beautiful scenes he witnesses. HAVE you snapped a stunning scene from the local area recently? Email your photos to our editor Belinda at hargreavespr@outlook.com
Jon Farnsworth
READER S PICS
No show for second year running
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he organisers of the annual Eccleshall Show have announced that the show will not be staged this year. The community extravaganza, which was set to take place on September 4, would have been the 74th in the show s history. The decision to cancel, due to the restrictions likely to be still in force because of the Covid-19 pandemic, was taken at a lengthy meeting of directors and the committee. Show Chairman Edward Lambert said: It is very disappointing once again to announce that the show will not take place. Whilst progress on the coronavirus recovery roadmap is promising at this stage, many restrictions remain in place and the extent of relaxation and public response remains speculative. We have taken this decision with heavy hearts, mindful of our responsibilities for the safety of the
public and the limitations which would be imposed in order to comply with current recommendations. We will once again be staging a Virtual Show with online competitions so do look out for details. We look forward to planning a full programme of events for our special 75th anniversary show on September 3rd next year. Eccleshall Show Society was founded in 1947 with the aim of providing a social event for the local community. The show has expanded significantly in recent years but it remains a very traditional rural event run by volunteers. The generosity of local sponsors helps to defray the considerable costs of staging such a show. Any profits are donated to local charities. In 2018 the Show Society was awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service. For further information go online to: www.eccleshallshow.co.uk.
ECCLESHALL SHOW
YOUNG FARMERS
Thousands of miles covered for charity
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OUNG farmers across the county, including from Eccleshall, have been putting their best feet forward to raise funds. Members of the Staffordshire County Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (SCFYFC) have, between them, covered more than 1,300 miles across the beautiful countryside in the county. The campaign, which was launched by the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (NFYFC), Give it Some YFC Welly Relay has helped to raise over £1,000 to help to continue to deliver the muchneeded service to young people in the rural communities across Staffordshire. A spokesman for SCFYFC said: The County Federations funding was affected during the
last membership year following the cancellation of all its spring and summer fundraising events. Despite continuing to deliver services to members in a virtual manner, including two Virtual Rally s and a Virtual County Show, the impact of the pandemic has been greatly felt, with only 33 per cent of members re-joined for the current membership year. With face to face events and activities still on hold this fundraising effort has been very important to bring members together. Staffordshire YFC took on the challenge and planned to cover 500 miles from April 1 to April 30, a target which they smashed in the first week. The total miles covered was 1,318 and clubs who covered 35
miles or more are set to benefit from this fundraising campaign. The members in Staffordshire covered the miles by walking, biking, horse riding and one member, Henry Walker of Ashley YFC, even took to the water and clocked up nautical miles on his sailing boat. Local beauty spots including Dimmingsdale near Alton, the canal at Weston and Marshes Hill in Brown Edge provided some great viewpoints, frosty mornings, perfect sunsets and sunny daytime strolls. Anyone interested in supporting Staffordshire YFC and their Give it Some YFC Welly campaign can visit the JustGiving page as there is still time left to donate. www.justgiving.com/fundraisin g/staffordshire-yfc.
COMPETITION WINNER
The star of the show, Jude's 13 year old dog Dolly
Dolly comes out tops in competition Jude and his dog, Dolly, won a competition put together by David Wilson Homes
P
upils at a village school near Stone have gone barking mad for their pets in a competition organised by a house building company. Children from all year groups at Tittensor First Primary School were invited to send in their funniest pet picture as part of a David Wilson Homes competition in light of the recent National Pet Month. The winner was nine-yearold Jude Brayford of Year Four, when his 13 year old pooch,
Dolly, became the star of the show. Regarding his and Dolly s win, Jude said: I am so shocked at winning the competition as Dolly is 13-years-old and sometimes needs a doggy pushchair to help her to walk. Thank you so much for choosing us, we are really happy to win. National Pet Month, which ran in April, aims to celebrate and raise awareness of responsible pet ownership, and with this in mind David Wilson Homes chose to celebrate the nation s pets with the competition at Tittensor First Primary School. Gail Craig, Headteacher at Tittensor First Primary School, said: We are immensely proud
of Jude and Dolly for entering and winning the competition. Both Jude and Dolly are superstars. Thank you to David Wilson Homes for organising the competition as animals play an important part in our lives. Steve Barton, Senior Sales Manager at David Wilson Homes Mercia, said: The UK is a nation of pet lovers, and as the UK s leading homebuilder it s important that we celebrate our furry friends. Plenty of great entries were submitted by pupils at Tittensor First Primary School, and we had a wonderful time looking through pictures of the children s pets. It was definitely a difficult decision, but we couldn t say no to Dolly.
WALKING
NEW BOOKLET SETS OUT RAILLY GOOD WALKS
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new illustrated booklet has been published to help walkers enjoy strolls from certain train stations in the area including the one in Stone. Rails to Trails is a new illustrated booklet of ten walks from stations in Staffordshire and Cheshire produced by North Staffs Community Rail Partnership (NSCRP) and funded by train operators CrossCountry and London North Western Railway. The illustrated routes, which have been created by designer Caroline Dadd of Origin Studios, are designed to encourage people to explore places of historic and environmental interest; and many of the walks also include areas of independent shops and cafes. The routes take the walker past historic buildings and along the canals of Stoke-onTrent, Stone and Penkridge and through the quaint market towns of Tutbury and Uttoxeter. Quieter strolls take in the beautiful Bathpool Park at Kidsgrove and Milton Park at Alsager; while Foxfield Railway is less than a mile from Blythe Bridge Station and offers steam trains and a
cafe. All the walks are between one and six miles long, starting and ending at a station, ideal for a day out by rail. The booklet also features a special dementia friendly walk in Alsager a short walk through Milton Park and to Alsager Mere. Alsager Station has recently been awarded Working toward Dementia Friendly Status by the Alzheimers Society. Rails to Trails has been compiled by NSCRP, building on ideas supplied by community members; and the booklets are set to be available at the stations soon. Claire Sandys, Community Rail Officer, said: There is so much on offer in the communities that are served by our railway stations. We want people to enjoy travelling by train again and to explore those villages and towns that they may have previously just passed through. We know that walking is good for our physical and mental health and we hope that this collection of walks will inspire people to explore more on foot. We would love it if they chose the environmentally sound option of train travel to reach the start point.
We look forward to offering organised guided walks along selected routes later in the year. John Robson, CrossCountry West Midlands and North West Regional Director said: CrossCountry are proud to be supporting this booklet. We ve all discovered a greater appreciation for the great outdoors over the last year and encouraging people to ditch the car and go by rail means more quality time with loved ones. Vicky Cropper-Clarke, Head of Stakeholder and Community, London Northwestern Railway, said I am absolutely delighted to have had the opportunity to support such a fantastic project which not only supports the railway and local economies, but also encourages people to get out and discover new walks in their surrounding areas. So much hard work has been put in to preparing the walks which everyone can enjoy and the beautifully illustrated booklet is such a handy companion. I would wholeheartedly encourage people to pick up a copy of the booklet and start planning some new walks over the Summer months.
GARDENING
Burnets for the Border
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urnets, or Sanguisorbas to use their proper name, come in a wide range of heights and spreads and are easy plants to grow, flowering on and off through the summer. They come in shades of red, pink and white and many have large, impressive flowers. Perhaps the showiest is the variety Lilac Squirrel who s long, dangling, feather-boa flowers in glowing lilac pink adorn the 3-4ft / 90120cm tall plants from July to September. Like most Sanguisorbas the leaves are very attractive from the moment they unfurl like a fern frond in March until they die back in winter. The more upright flowers of the variety Pink Brushes are a softer pink, and the pure white flowers of the Japanese Burnet (Sanguisorba obtusa alba) grow on plants that are just 2ft / 60cm tall. Other burnets have smaller, less showy flowers but more of them at a time and often held tall on waving stems that rarely need staking. One of the loveliest is also one of the tallest the deep red Arnhem is 5ft / 150cm tall and in peak flower in early summer. Pink Elephant is tall, and a soft shade of pink, Burr Blanc and Canadensis are white and all of these look wonderful waving in the breeze at the back of the border. For the front of the border, Rock and Roll is a good choice as he stays to around 2ft / 60cm tall and there s even a variegated one with red flowers and green and cream leaves called Shiro Fukarin. Ideally, Sanguisorbas prefer a deep, rich, soil that holds some moisture in the summer. They also cope with my poor, dry sand pretty well. They like some sun, but light, part or dappled shade is fine. Sanguisorbas are tough and hardy and form bigger clumps each year. You can divide them in spring but be warned an old clump has a very
tough rootstock and is difficult to break up. They benefit from a light feed in spring and an occasional feed until August. We ve not noticed any particular pests or diseases affecting them in the garden so all in all they are quite easy to grow. Allow 2-2 ½ ft / 60-75cm between the taller varieties and a bit less for the short ones. Sanguisorbas are becoming very popular with nurseries and garden designers so you should find a good number of varieties available to choose from at a Plant Hunters Fair. Janet and I run Plant Hunters Fairs, specialist plant fairs at wonderful locations offering special reduced entry rates on the plant fair dates. Plant Fair dates for 2021: Cholmondeley Castle Gardens, Malpas on Sunday, July 18, Garden and Fair £4 (usually £8.50); Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield on Sunday, August 15, Garden and Fair £3.50; The Dorothy Clive Garden on Sunday, August 29 and Monday, August 30, Garden and Fair £4 (usually £9). Entry to all these fairs is by advance ticket only. For further information and to book tickets go online to: www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk Martin Blow
WORLD OF WEDGWOOD
Re-opening in phases at Wedgwood
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popular tourist destination has issued an update for its visitors about it s reopening.
Most areas at the World of Wedgwood, which is situated in Barlaston, are now back open following the easing of Government restrictions surrounding Covid-19. A spokesman said: We ve made a few changes across the site in order to focus on delivering a safe, enjoyable and comfortable visit. The wellbeing of our visitors and staff remains our highest priority. The Wedgwood Store and Factory Outlet are open Wednesday to Sunday, between 10am and 5pm; and the V&A Collection is open for viewing at the same times. The V&A Collection at World of Wedgwood (formerly the Wedgwood Museum) has been renamed the V&A Wedgwood Collection. The Wedgwood spokesman said: The spacious galleries are where you can explore one of the most important industrial collections in the world. Discover the story of Wedgwood and the many artists, designers, patrons and makers whose ceramic creations have transformed society and industry. The collection now has its own social media presence on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. You can follow it on @vawedgwood for regular updates and insights. Wedgwood Tea Room is also open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, although the venue s Dining Hall will remain closed in the short term with further updates soon. The spokesman said: We have been working hard behind the scenes to refresh our beautiful tea room, both visually and with some lovely additions to the menu. Our trademark afternoon tea is back with imaginative children's and vegan options. We have introduced a bistro-style brunch and lunch menu along with a selection of drinks including Wedgwood teas, TrueStart coffees, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, and an assortment of indulgent cocktails. We recommend that you reserve a table in advance of your visit. The Creative Studios at World of
Wedgwood are open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, and there is a new suite of creative studios which will open as part of a phased programme in the coming weeks. The spokesman said: The Clay Studio is where visitors will be able to indulge in their very own pottery throwdown under the guidance of our studio potter. We use jasper clay for this one hour, have a go experience the only place in the world where Josiah s unique creation is used. In June we will be introducing weekend Have a Go fun sessions in the Clay Studio. These are great for children and adults who just want to have a go and experience throwing a pot on the potter s wheel we don t take it too seriously and only fun is allowed. Also in June, the new Decorating Studio will be open each weekend for Pottery Painting. All ages and abilities can decorate their own piece of Wedgwood to take home as a lasting keepsake. This is an ideal creative and social activity for younger children, grown-ups and families. And finally, the venue s factory tours are set to be back ready for the Summer holidays, after the team has carried out development work to enhance the Wedgwood factory tour: Welcome to our Factory . The spokesman said: Visitors will be welcomed into the factory for a behind-thescenes experience revealing where Wedgwood designs, creates and crafts the eclectic, colourful and unique ceramics that adorn the shelves of stores like Harrods and Selfridges. Barlaston is the home of Wedgwood and the factory is the place to be inspired by over 260 years of innovation, creation and fantastical design. We re currently adding a few final tweaks to make sure that we do Josiah proud when we open our doors again. We look forward to welcoming you back in time for the summer holidays. To find out more, go online to: https://www.worldofwedgwood.com/content /visitor-update.
Quizzes compiled by Paul Steele - email: pnsteele@aol.com - Paul's 'Which One?' quiz game is available on Amazon.
General Knowledge Answers:1 Anthony Hopkins 2 Plot 3 Pangolin 4 Blue Peter 5 Villareal 6 Rome 7 Imran Khan (now Pakistan MP) 8 Cubit 9 Rotterdam 10 Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry 11 Great Fire of London 12 Albatross 13 Friends 14 Anne Hathaway (in Shakespeare s will). 15 Phil Mickelson 16 Chester 17 Nick Hancock 18 Billie Holiday 19 Niagara River 20 Porto
quiz corner
