http://www.bizflips.com/uttox/publications/uttox-voice-issue-16

FREE Covering the whole of Uttoxeter

Issue 16

Plus Rocester, Denstone, Beamhurst, Stramshall, Bramshall, Marchington, Kingstone, Leigh, Combridge, Crakemarsh, Gratwich, Loxley, Lower Loxley, Willslock, Doveridge, Draycott-in-the-Clay, Spath, Kiddlestitch, Highwood, Scounslow Green, Checkley, Lower Tean, Tean, Cheadle, Draycott, Forsbrook, Blythe Bridge and villages in between DUE TO PUBLIC DEMAND, WE HAVE INCREASED OUR DISTRIBUTION TO

13,000 FREE COPIES TO LOCAL HOMES EVERY MONTH

Discover The Manor One of Staffordshire’s Premier Wedding Venues

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If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.

Contents Outstanding fundraiser for Air Ambulance organised by local family

Plus • Uttoxeter Wedding Fayre a great success • Double celebrations for local equine family

Uttoxeter beauties do the area proud in Miss Staffordshire competition

• Bramshall youngsters enjoy a great Easter Hunt

Cheadle Cricket Club target promotion in 2010

• All your favourite columnists have their say • Plus lots more to read and hopefully enjoy!

To Advertise in The Voice Telephone: 01538 751629, Mobile 0776 784 6937 Email: uttoxetervoice@hotmail.co.uk BOOK YOUR ADVERT NOW FOR ISSUE 17 OF THE VOICE WHICH IS OUT IN JUNE 2010 - BOOK YOUR ADVERTS NOW...

Businesses get results from their adverts - ask them!!

Each issue of The Voice is distributed to 13,000 local homes within the area on the map.

How to get in touch Email: uttoxetervoice@hotmail.co.uk Telephone: 01538 751629, Mobile 0776 784 6937 By post: The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, 3 Spode Close, Cheadle, Staffordshire ST10 1DT The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice is wholly independent. Each month 13,000 copies are distributed free to homes and businesses in the Uttoxeter and Cheadle areas - clients are welcome to view our distribution figures.

Publisher and Editor: Nigel Titterton The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice is published by Community Voice Publications Ltd Telephone 01538 751629 e-mail uttoxetervoice@hotmail.co.uk The views expressed in this publication are those of our contributors and are not necessarily those of the publishers, nor indeed their responsibility.

All Rights Reserved. Copyright Community Voice Publications Ltd.

Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

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Local family’s fantastic fundraising for the Air Ambulance

C.AT.S Cheadle Amateur Theatrical Society ecently, C.A.T.S. took part in the Quarter Finals of the All England One Act Drama Festival at Tamworth. They were representing Stoke-onTrent, and were competing against other Amateur Dramatic Societies from Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire.

The Play “A Quiet Night In” by Tony Edwards was directed by Marge Stanley.

Warren Leese was nominated for the best individual performance and the society was awarded a Certificate of Participation. Although the group did not progress any further this was a great experience for all those involved in the production. www.cheadlecats.org.uk

R mum and daughter continue to raise huge amounts of funds for the Midlands Air Ambulance!

Margaret Woodward and daughter Kala Fuller have been hosting events for over 5 years and have successfully raised thousands of pounds for this most needy, vital charity.

Recently, they put on a memorable evening at JCB Lakeside Club with Frontline and The Elvis Experience entertaining a huge audience.

Elvis aka Mark Clay was in superb form and he belted out all the great hits, backed by Adrian Copestake on lead guitar and Graham Probyn on bass guitar.

Kala and Margaret's annual fundraising event raised over £1,700 for the Midlands Air Ambulance who received the cheque in a recent presentation pictured above.

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Applications Open for Brighter Borough he ‘lines are now open’ for green fingered gardeners to apply to take part in this year’s Brighter Borough competition.

Residents in East Staffordshire are now being encouraged to get their nominations in for 2010’s best gardens, floral features and young gardening talent as the Council launches its annual Brighter Borough competition, sponsored by Brykley Garden Centre.

The deadline for entries is Friday, June 25th. Brighter Borough is free to enter and judging takes place between Monday, July 5th and Friday, July 16th.

There are several categories that gardeners may enter including: The best front or rear garden The best floral feature, trough or hanging basket The best vegetable garden The best pond Best young gardener (under 18 years of age).

As well as categories for schools there are also opportunities for businesses, public houses and churches to be involved.

Duncan Cowie, Head of Cultural Services, said: “The Brighter Borough competition is a great way for individuals, businesses and communities to work together to help make their neighbourhoods bloom this summer.

“Entrants are encouraged to show off their green fingered skills and take pride in their surroundings, and the competition is also a big part of the Council’s award winning entry into the Heart of England In Bloom competition too.”

Anyone can enter regardless of experience or the size of your garden.

Trophies will be awarded to winning entrants at a special awards ceremony hosted at Byrkley Garden Centre on Thursday, September 9th.

Once again members of the Burton Community Gardeners group will be judging the competition.

If you would like more information about Brighter Borough or would like to receive an application form, please contact Angela Pepper on 01283 508724.

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STOVES

Stunning Woodburning Stoves

• Award-winning showroom • Vast choice of traditional or contemporary styles • Competitive prices • Complete installation or ‘cash and carry’ • Established over 28 years The White House, Main Road, Milford, Stafford, ST17 0UW

Tel: 01785 660939 www.chaseofmilford.co.uk email: chaseofmilford@aol.com Opening times: Fri. 10am-4pm. Sat. 9am-1pm

CHASE OF MILFORD LTD 4

If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.

‘Enjoy’ East Staffs with Discount Card D

ays out in East Staffordshire and the surrounding county could be a little less expensive this summer with an Enjoy Staffordshire Card - now available from the Customer Service Centre, Market Place Burton.

Previously this has only been available via the internet or postal application process, but by offering an ‘on the spot’ service applicants will be entitled to claim relevant current discounts immediately rather than waiting for their card to arrive in the post.

Enjoy Staffordshire card holders can access a wide range of amazing special offers, including discounts, deals and exclusive benefits such as ‘2 for 1", ‘Kids go free’ or money off at participating tourism businesses in and around Staffordshire (Terms and Conditions apply).

Popular attractions which offer discounts to cardholders include Alton Towers, Drayton Manor Theme Park, National Trust properties, Uttoxeter Racecourse, various museums and tree top adventure park Go Ape! Not, to mention accommodation, restaurants and shopping.

Town Hall, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire DE14 2EB www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk Simply call in to our Customer Service Centre, Market Place to collect your card (over 18s only). Offers and discounts change daily so check the latest offers at www.enjoystaffordshire.com

See how The Voice can publicise your business Give us a call on 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937 Advert prices start at only £25 and can hit over 13,000 homes

Explore the Real India Gift rs vouche le b availa

and the Finest Eastern atmosphere at Roshni Restaurant, Cheadle Road, Forsbrook

Our superb takeaway service is available from 5pm

Telephone us on 01782 388 328 for our Special Meal Deals Restaurant Please book your table to enjoy our 19 Cheadle Road, Forsbrook, fabulous dishes and fantastic offers Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST11 9BX 15 minutes from Uttoxeter, 5 minutes from Cheadle

Telephone 01782 388 328 Established 1998

Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

5

World Book Day orld Book Day at Ryecroft School, Rocester was a great success with staff and children dressing up as characters from childrens' books. World Book Day is a National event, all children are given a book token worth £1:00. They can use it in book stores around the country, either as part payment on a book they would like or full payment for books which have been published specifically for the event.

Ryecroft also had the opportunity to hear and meet Levi Tafari. An author of four poetry collections: Duboetry (1987), Liverpool Experience (1989) and Rhyme Don’t Pay (1998) and from the page to the stage (2006). His plays have been performed at the Unity Theatre and the Playhouse in Liverpool, as well as at the Blackheath Theatre in Stafford. He has also worked on educational projects running creative writing workshops in schools, colleges, universities, youth centres, prisons and libraries.

Levi Tafari’s musical projects include work with Ghanaian drum and dance ensemble Delado, the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and with his own reggae fusion band Ministry of Love. He has also played with Urban Strawberry Lunch and Griot Workshop and has recently worked with jazz musician Dennis Rollins.

He was Writer in Residence at Charles University, Prague, and has toured various countries, including the Czech Republic, Singapore and Jordan and most recently Hong Kong and China. He has also appeared in many television programmes including Blue Peter and Grange Hill, and made a well-received film about Rastafari for the BBC television’s Everyman programme entitled The Road to Zion.

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Do you have a ? s b u p r o f n ıo s s a p Open Day Then come to our

bs Admiral Taverns g estate of over 2,000 pu With a rapidly expandin pub operator. gest tenanted and leased is now one of the UK’s lar pub for you! ct rfe pe might just have the With this many pubs, we ught about running e? Or have you ever tho Are you an existing license know how to go about it? your own pub, but don’t

d our Open Day at en tt a t o n y h w en Th 229 Alfreton Road, the Blackwell Hotel, on Thursday 20th Alfreton, DE55 5JH – 2:30pm.

May from 11:00am n contact Admiral on For more informatio xt BEER to 60300.

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If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.

Historic 3½ year pay deal & 3% rise agreed by shopfloor employees CB shopfloor employees have voted to accept a three per cent pay increase from the company as part of an historic wage deal which covers the next three and a half years.

Agreement on the pay proposal was reached following a vote by GMB members and will see shopfloor employees receiving a three per cent pay increase on July 1 this year.

They also voted to accept a proposal for subsequent pay reviews to take place on January 1st 2011, 2012 and 2013 and for them to be linked to the previous November’s rate of inflation.

Chief Executive Officer Alan Blake said: “We are pleased to return to the position of being able to offer pay rises to our workforce after a sustained period of uncertainty in world markets and are delighted that GMB members have voted in favour of the JCB pay proposal. This is the longest pay deal ever to be agreed at JCB and demonstrates a responsible approach by everyone concerned.”

The pay deal was agreed as JCB begins re-introducing overtime for shopfloor employees and has started a recruitment process for up to an additional 200 shopfloor positions as world markets begin showing the first tentative signs of improvement.

CEO Alan Blake added: “There has been a slight improvement in some markets which has led to some increased demand for JCB’s products and while we can’t say at the moment if this situation will be sustained, we are pleased to be offering overtime and recruiting again.”

GMB Works Convenor Gordon Richardson said: “GMB members across the Group have been through a torrid time over the past two years and it’s welcome news that the union has negotiated a pay rise with the company. It is also pleasant to see some of our former employees back working for the company as part of an on-going recruitment process.”

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Welcome to Moorland Mobility Moorland Mobility keep in stock most requirements to help people regain their independence.

We offer great levels of service to our customers from across the region.

Pictured left staff: Gina (left) owner Terry (middle) and Amie (right) Equipment servicing and repairs, battery checks, insurance, warranties, hire purchase and finance, second hand equipment and the possibility of part exchange.

Moorland Mobility Contact Terry at the Uttoxeter shop 4 The Maltings Uttoxeter, Staffordshire ST14 7LN. Open 10am-4pm Monday to Saturday Telephone: 01889 564099 Part Exchange Welcome - All Major Credit Cards Accepted

www.moorlandmobility.com .

“I am absolutely delighted with the new porch, front door, and back door you have installed for me.... the quality is extremely high and your fitting team were a pleasure to have at my home”.

Enid Wood, Hawthornden Gardens, Uttoxeter.

“Our new conservatory is a fantastic improvement over our old one with the self cleaning glass used for the roof and ‘A’ rated frames it is so much warmer!!”

Mick and Beryl Lavin, Pine Walk, Uttoxeter.

Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

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Double celebrations...

HEATH HOUSE FARM NURSERY & TEA ROOMS Caverswall Old Road, Forsbrook Stoke-on-Trent ST11 9BQ

For that Special Experience Daniel Titterton onboard Vision B are pictured after winning the Combined Training National Championship title.

local family had two reasons to celebrate recently! Just days after Daniel Titterton scooped the NAF Five Star Spillers Response Novice Combined Training Championship, wife Joanne gave birth to their second daughter.

Daniel rode Dutchbred gelding Vision B to national success at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire.

The impressive 8 year old chestnut is normally ridden by Joanne who has trained him with the help of Stephen Clarke.

However, Daniel took over the reins when his wife was pregnant and after giving Vision B intensive schooling the combination enjoyed taking the national title in style. The Combined Training competition consists of a dressage test and showjumping.

Daniel said ‘Joanne cried when I phoned to say I’d won. This horse will jump everything in front of him at home and winning on only his third jumping competition is a great achievement.’

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In the Nursery we have an extensive range of Plants, Trees and Shrubs.

We specialise in Hanging Baskets

Daniel, of Draycott-in-the-Moors, has now qualified Vision B for the Summer Regional Finals held at Somerford Park Farm, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, ready for Joanne to take the reins back again.

Outstanding dance performance by students at Abbots Bromley School for Girls

upils from Abbots Bromley School for Girls and Roch House Preparatory School in Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire recently held their annual school dance performance and showcased an amazing collection of stunning contemporary dance routines and magical classical ballet pieces.

The schools’ dance department is run by The Alkins School of Dance and each year presents an outstanding performance which highlights the exceptionally high standards achieved by the pupils. This year the performance included a combination of both recreational and vocational dancers, aged between 4 and 19 years.

The captivating performances illustrated a wide range of different dance styles including modern, jazz and tap and finished with two pieces of classical ballet; the ‘Snowflake Waltz’ from The Nutcracker and an interpretation of ‘Paquita’, choreographed by dance tutor Marianne Alkins, after Joseph Mazilier.

The Alkins School of Dance has an international reputation for excellence and places on the vocational dance course are highly sought after. Director of Dance, Mr Russell Alkins said: “The school’s dance performance is one of the highlights of the Lent term and the girls work extremely hard for the production. It provides the opportunity for the girls to showcase their work and every year were are thrilled by the level of standards achieved”.

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Visit our Shop for: • High Quality Gifts • Fresh Fruit and Vegetables • Fresh Bread • Home-made Pies • and much more to enjoy

Sample the Delicious Delights of our renowned Tea Rooms. All our food is made on the premises and is prepared to the highest standard.

OUR SUPERB NEW CONFERENCE FACILITY NOW ALSO AVAILABLE FOR HIRE Open 7 Days for Friendly Service and Advice Come and give us a try!

01782 396027 Open from 0900-1700 Every Day

If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.

Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

9

JCB veteran Roger bows out after almost 47 years

Welcome to our local area’s Hidden Gem! THE ROEBUCK INN

Just a short journey from Uttoxeter, The Roebuck Inn offers delicious expertly prepared, beautifully presented fresh food.

Our menu is changed on a regular basis to give our customers a wonderful choice of meals.

All Desserts are home-made - Seasonal Veg Extensive selection of Wines and Spirits Afternoon Teas - Full Coffee Menu Try our superb Cream Teas available 2.30pm-5.30pm EVERYTHING FRESHLY PREPARED AND ALL MEATS LOCALLY SOURCED WITH FULL TRACEABILITY

Caption: JCB stalwart Roger Bree, pictured with one of his retirement gifts, as he bowed out from JCB after almost 47 years.

oger Bree was one of just a few hundred employees when he joined JCB at Rocester as a 16-year-old back in 1963.

Now the Manufacturing Manager of JCB’s Loadall Division has retired after almost 47 years with the company in which he has seen JCB grow into one of the world’s top three manufacturers of construction equipment employing around 7,000 people on four continents.

And at his retirement presentation Chief Executive Officer Alan Blake hailed him and his generation of employees past and present as the “pioneers” of JCB. Alan said: “We owe a debt of gratitude to people like Roger and his generation who have really helped build up JCB into the company it is today. Employees from his era were the pioneers of JCB and we thank Roger and everyone like him for what they’ve contributed over the years.”

Roger said: “JCB really is a great company and a fantastic place to work and it has a great future ahead of it.”

Roger’s says his own career grew thanks to JCB’s superb training opportunities that paved the way for him to enter management 30 years ago. On leaving school Roger worked on a farm for a few months before joining his father at JCB in the machine shop where he learned manufacturing skills such as welding.

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In those days JCB manufactured only backhoe loaders and small dumper trucks.

Roger worked closely with JCB Founder Joseph Cyril Bamford and has fond memories of enjoying fish and chips and ice cream bought by Mr JCB for his employees when they worked late into the evening in order to complete orders on time.

As well as building a successful career at JCB, Cheadle-born Roger also found time to help out on the family dairy farm at Wetley Rocks which was run mainly by his wife Brenda for 27 years. Roger, who joined the Loadall Division 12 years ago, said: “I have been provided with first class in-house training in manufacturing engineering and management in order to progress my career with JCB, and I’ve been all over the world with the company buying machine tools and working in our factories overseas.

“Now JCB offers even more training and career opportunities, especially as it has grown into a truly global business. I can honestly say I have enjoyed every moment of my time with JCB. There was never a morning when I didn’t want to get up and go to work.”

Roger and his wife have sold their smallholding and moved to a bungalow in Cheadle. In retirement Roger is looking forward to indulging his passion for field sports and gardening - and spending more time with 12-year-old granddaughter Megan.

New takeaway all day pizza service

Draycott-in-the-Clay Tel: 01283 820973

10am - 3pm, All day fun!!!

Beginners Welcome Sewing Machines available to use or to purchase

For more information go to www.angiequilts.blogspot.com or call 01538 755220

ud p S DJ Professional • Reliable • Reasonable

See how The Voice can publicise your business Give us a call on 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937 Advert prices start at only £25 and can hit over 13,000 homes 10

Mobile Disco for any occasion Weddings, Birthdays, Family Functions, Corporate Entertainment.

State of the art Big light effects and sound system, including bubble machine smoke machine and dancing laser.

Range of music to suit all tastes Fully insured and PAT tested!

Call or text DJ Spud 0753 031 9491

If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.

Rain doesn’t stop Easter Egg Hunt!

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For all your picture framing

espite the miserable weather conditions and rain, the weather did not stop the Easter Egg Hunt at Bramshall Bumps, Babies and Toddlers.

Usually held around Bramshall village, the event was relocated to Bramshall Village Hall.

Over 15 toddlers participated to colour in an Easter egg card and to decorate their own basket ready to hunt out the treats the Easter Bunny had left for them.

They then had to follow the clues and special Easter signs to find eggs and treats that the Easter bunny had hidden around the Village Hall behind curtains under the slide, and dotted under chairs and in the play house. The Children had a great time and enjoyed hunting down the treats and especially eating them afterwards!

UNBEATABLE QUALITY UNBEATABLE PRICES SAVE £££££££’s on retail prices All framing including artwork, pictures, prints, photos, needlework, memorabilia including football shirts etc.

Mount cutting at bargain prices Come and see our wide range of mouldings and mounts in our super smart hi-tech workshop at Knightley Farm, Needwood on B5017 near Five Lanes End.

Decormount call Sylvia on 01283 512425 or see our website www.decormount.com The only corners we cut are on frames and prices!

Opening hours: Mon-Wed 9-4pm, Thurs 9-1pm, Fri 9-4pm and Sat 10-4pm George Mycock, Rachel Twynham and Murphy Hamilton are decorating the bags ready for the hunt.

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ NurseryȱȣȱJuniorȱSchoolȱȣȱSeniorȱSchoolȱȣȱSixthȱForm

Murphy Hamilton, Rachel Twynham, George Mycock and George McCarthy enjoying the treats they found. ȱ ȱ ȱ

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OpenȱDays Youȱareȱwarmlyȱinvitedȱtoȱvisitȱusȱatȱanyȱtimeȱȱȱ

EveryȱdayȱisȱanȱOpenȱDay!ȱ ȱ ȣȱȱTransportȱfromȱNantwich,ȱCongleton,ȱLeek,ȱȱ Stone,ȱEccleshallȱandȱMarketȱDraytonȱȱ ȱȱȱ ȱ

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TheȱBestȱStartȱinȱLife ȱ

George Mycock and Maddie Carrington finding treats behind the curtains!

NEWCASTLE UNDER LYME SCHOOL ȱȱȱ

ȱȱȱȱ ST5 1DB

01782 631197 www.nuls.org.uk

Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

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Lambing live bbotsholme School, Rocester, Lambing Live pupils and staff are enjoying the lambing season. Pupils slept over in a converted barn and took responsibility for the night shift.

The Headmaster and farm staff were always on the end of the phone if needed, said Henry Jones, from Hulland Ward, near Ashbourne, but we rarely did!

Ailsa Brown, from Cheadle, studying BTEC in Agriculture, was delighted to check at 11p.m. to find healthy twins, one completely black, the other pure white - from a Zwebal Ewe. Steve Fairclough, Headmaster, a farmer's son, stated that the farm is a living library, it is not an example of farming past and present, it provides opportunities for pupils to learn where food comes from and valuable lessons for life.

'I am very pleased that the BBC is highlighting this most valuable experience, one which Abbotsholmians are privileged to experience every day at this time of year,' commented the proud Headmaster.

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The award winning C.A.T.S have done it again e have done it again!!! C.A.T.S. recently took part in the All England One Act Festival held at Trentham High School as the Mitchell Theatre is under major refurbishment. Our play “A Quiet Night In”

by Tony Edwards was directed by Marge Stanley. The presentation of awards for all the Theatre Companies took part recently.

To receive a Certificate of Merit productions have to achieve more than 75 marks out of a possible 100. Once again we achieved this. Marge Stanley our director was nominated for the Best Directors Award. We were also nominated for the awards for Originality and Imagination and the Best Presentation Award.

Both Daniel Ede and Warren Leese were nominated for the best performance for an Actor over 21. Janice Bentley and Rebekah Snow along with Daniel and Warren received nominations for the best Individual Acting Performance.

The best was still yet to come Janice won the “New Peoples Theatre Award” for the best performance by an actress over 21, she also had won this award last year.

All four of our main actors were nominated for “The Lord Mayor’s Trophy” for the best comedy performance, this was awarded to Warren.

But best of all we were the Festival Runners Up winning the “Tangent’s Trophy”.

Congratulations to all those involved in this production and thank you to all of you who support us throughout the year.

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Beautiful, handcrafted jewellery Designed and made locally Wholesale enquiries welcome

www.knowyouronions.net 12

Marge Stanley and members of the Cast of ‘A Quiet Night In’ with the Trophies and Certificates won by C.A.T.S. at the recent One Act Festival in Stoke-on-Trent.

If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.

Enjoy two different Dining areas The Award winning newly refurbished Deer Park Restaurant with its comfortable and modern style or the Pub with its classic country charm.

We also excel at private dining for all occasions and tastes and pride ourselves on our bespoke wedding service and stylish marquee.

What’s on May 28th

To book a table please call 01283 575 202 The Meynell Ingram Arms, Abbots Bromley Road, Hoar Cross, Burton-on-Trent DE13 8RB Email: info@themeynell.co.uk www.themeynell.co.uk

£10.00 off WHEN FOUR DINE FROM THE MAIN MENU* We look forward to seeing you soon *Not in conjunction with any other offer available all week except Bank Holiday Mondays T&C’s apply

June 12th June 17th July 3rd July 31st August 21st September

Charity Race Night for Cancer Research UK Farmers Market & British Seaside Family Fun Day Royal Ascot Ladies Day Extravagant 80’s Disco Dinner Dance Lobster Night Salsa Dancing Night with Full Tuition Gourmet Evening

Special up and coming Events Please visit our website for full details of our special up coming events including, Ascot Race day, one of our lavish Champagne & Oyster nights, Family Funday & Farmers Market, Salsa Evening and much, much more.

We are showing the World Cup 2010 Join us for all the important games

Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

13

Wedding Fayre at Uttoxeter Racecourse

Try our Deer Park Restaurant with its comfortable and modern style or the Pub with its classic country charm.

We also excel at private dining for all occasions and tastes as well as our bespoke wedding service.

Call 01283 575 202 The Meynell Ingram Arms, Abbots Bromley Road, Hoar Cross, Burton-on-Trent DE13 8RB Email: info@themeynell.co.uk www.themeynell.co.uk

Your local community travel agent Offering you great value for money on holidays all year round. From Summer Sun to Cruises, Ski Holidays to UK & City Breaks we’re sure to find the best deal for you.

For exotic worldwide holidays look no further, we’re a specialist agent of Plus, don’t forget we can also arrange all those holiday essentials including: Airport Lounges, Attraction Pass Tickets, Car Hire and Airport Parking.

Pre-register for Cruise 2011, on sale soon!

Travel Money

Save 10% off

Commission free and our best rates guaranteed.

your next Cruise holiday upon production of this advert.

Pop into your local branch 38 High Street, Uttoxeter Call

01889 567678

10% off is applicable to new cruise bookings made at The Co-operative Travel, Uttoxeter. Offer is subject to availability. Advert must be presented at the time of booking to receive the discount and bookings must be made by 30/09/2010. Offers are correct at the time of going to print. We reserve the right to withdraw these offers without notice. Terms and conditions apply, please ask for details. A 2.5% surcharge will be applied to all credit card transactions. Agents for ATOL protected tour operators.

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Cupid’s Carriages Rolls Royce specialists Cupid’s Carriages has an unusual and attractive Sloping Tail Vintage 1935 Rolls Royce car in cream and black. We also have two beautiful white matching Rolls Royce cars with luxurious leather interiors.

Telephone 01283 585685 for a brochure or to view www.cupidscarriages.co.uk email: cupids.carriages@virgin.net

If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.

ENJOY A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE DISCOVER THE BENEFITS of aloe vera with FOREVER LIVING PRODUCTS • Forever and it’s affiliates are the world’s largest and best grower of aloe vera products • Extensive range from Health Drinks to Skincare products • 60 day ‘satisfaction or your money back’ guarantee • Millions of delighted customers

isitors flocked to Uttoxeter Racecourse for a Wedding Fayre which gave a showcase for many superb local businesses.

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Couples and families were treated to a feast of advice and services to make their wedding day perfect.

Amongst the many excellent local businesses located at the Racecourse venue were Co-Op Travel, The Meynell, Cupid's Carriages, Forever Living Products, Beagle Wedding Hire, Emilie Duclos Florist, Opulence and Ashcroft Park.

If you are planning your special wedding day, please take time to look at the adverts in this feature and give them a call to discuss your big day requirements.

Support your local businesses, they are here for you!

Call Tracey NOW for more details or to try the products on 07977 537083 Shop online at www.aloefutureshop.co.uk

BEAGLE WEDDING HIRE Chauffeur driven classic Bentley and Mercedes available for Wedding hire

Telephone John Naylor on 01889 565 694 or 07952 778869

28, The Maltings, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire ST14 7LN Tel/Fax: 01889 568 286 www.emilieduclos.com

Just the

perfect day...

National Paintball Games and Ashcroft Park £2.00 off any activity with this voucher (Valid until 30/06/10)

Paintball • Lasers • Quads Blind Driving • Karts • Kids Parties Archery • Rifles • and much much more Check out our website for everything we do...

✃

Create Just The Perfect Wedding Day with the help of our advertisers in this special feature Give them a ring now!

www.ashcroftpark.co.uk 01889 502508

Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

15

Just the

Discover The Manor

perfect

One of Staffordshire’s Premier Wedding Venues

day...

et The Voice create your magical wedding day experience with a wonderful full colour glossy feature completely free of charge!

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Why choose the Manor?

• Ambience – The Manor is a warm and in mate 250 year old house that exudes calm and charm. It has so many features that make it a great wedding venue.

• A en on – Every wedding has the full personal a en on of the owners.

• Civil Ceremony Licence – Your day starts and ends here.

• Gardens – The beau ful walled landscaped garden is just perfect for photographs • Wedding Breakfast – extensive menu selector of dishes all prepared on the day from local Staffordshire produce. Capacity 100.

• Accommoda on – with 13 en-suite rooms and a capacity to accommodate 38 guests The Manor really is a perfect one stop venue.

We can design a ‘Just The Perfect Day’ feature for all our recently married couples and your whole family will be so proud to see it printed in one of the best top quality colour publications in the county.

This is a fabulous opportunity to see your Special Day within our full colour glossy pages, just like the world’s top social magazines!

All you have to do is ring Nigel or Marcia on 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937 and we will come to your home to discuss how you want your Special Day to be created.

Your photographer will supply all the images and we can write your ‘Just The Perfect Day’ story or if you like, you can pen it yourself!

You may have seen the ‘Just The Perfect Day’ Wedding Feature in previous issues, we have received fantastic praise from you - so go on contact The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice now!

E-mail uttoxetervoice@hotmail.co.uk, or telephone 01538 751629

For further informa on contact the Manor directly

www.themanorcheadle.co.uk Tel 01538 753450 We can discuss your plans and ideas with you and give you op ons

16

If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.

Your eyes are precious, let us take care of them... elcome to McCracken Opticians! Owned and run by husband and wife team Mark and Emily McCracken. When you choose to have you eyes cared for with McCrackens, the oldest opticians practice in town, you can look forward to a friendly, professional eyecare experience.

We have access to many brands of luxury frames, including many new designs which you won’t find anywhere else in town!

We specialise in freeform varifocal lenses. This breakthrough in varifocal lens technology means the lenses are more comfortable and easier to use than their inferior predecessors. Even those who have previously tried varifocals unsuccessfully will often find that they can now succeed with these revolutionary new lenses. These lenses require skilled dispensing, therefore we ensure that these lenses (as with all our lenses and frames) are only dispensed by our qualified optometrists or dispensing opticians.

Transitions Lenses are always a very popular option. These react faster and go darker and clearer than most other types of photochromic lenses.

We fit and supply a wide range of contact lenses.

Have you ever considered varifocal contact lenses as an alternative to spectacles? We have had great success in fitting these lenses, which are available in both daily and monthly replacement options.

We have been part of the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening program from Mark McCracken BSc (Hons), MCOptom, Dip Tp (AS) the outset, with several staff members currently working towards the nationally recognised Diabetic Retinopathy Screening qualification.

We place great emphasis on the quality of clinical care that we deliver.

Mark will shortly be starting a hospital placement which will further enhance his skills in the management of glaucoma and acute eye conditions.

Eye examinations for children, over 60’s and certain other categories are free under the NHS, with free spectacles for children too.

We would like to thank all our valued customers for their continued loyalty, and always like to see new faces too! In return you can be assured that we will strive to deliver the best service to every one of our patients.

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A well established family-owned business which prides itself on giving a friendly, professional service with the personal touch.

You’re more than just a number when you come to McCrackens!

We have a huge range of frames, from traditional to modern, plus comprehensive lens choices to suit your lifestyle.

Have you ever considered Varifocal Contact Lenses as an alternative to Spectacles?

We specialise in freeform varifocal lenses. This breakthrough in varifocal lens technology means the lenses are more comfortable and easier to use than their inferior predecessors.

Part of the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening program Eye examinations for children, over 60’s and certain other categories are free under the NHS, with free spectacles for children too.

Choose McCracken Opticians and get the personal touch!

11 Market Place, Uttoxeter ST14 8HY

01889 562184 Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

17

ttoxeter was superbly represented in the Finals of the Miss Staffordshire competition held at The Racecourse.

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However, it was Yasmin Moghaddam who scooped the crown which was presented to her by Miss England, Katrina Hodge.

The 21 year old, who teaches part-time at a school in Leek and studied at Staffordshire University’s Stoke campus, beat 17 contestants to lift the coveted title after a fantastic Finals Night.

Yasmin now represents the county in the Miss England competition later this year.

Finalists from the Uttoxeter area were: Angela Lawley, Gemma Edwards, Jodi Thacker and Natalie Ede - well done to all our local beauties, you did our area proud!!

Natalie James Jane Bird

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If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.

Amy Byrn

Angela Lawley, Uttoxeter

Charlotte Melvin

Charlotte Whoden

Chloe Molland

Gemma Edwards, Uttoxeter

Hayley Murray

Isabelle Bennett

Jessica Bond

Jodi Thacker, Uttoxeter

Kristy Tideswell

Siobhan Knight

Katie Elliot

Natalie Ede, Uttoxeter

Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

19

By Steve ‘Lank’ Lavin Golden Memories from one of Uttoxeter’s Favourite Characters Chivalry is not dead! hivalry is not dead! I can report with deep pleasure a tale that will warm the cockles of the heart of all our readers. A fine upstanding businessman in the town, hurrying to an urgent appointment in the Town Centre, left his house only to arrive at the bus stop to discover that he had left his wallet at home. He hastened back to collect it but, alas on his return he discovered that (of course) the bus had arrived and left in his absence.

His business pressing (and realising that such was the nature of that business that he would be unable to drive home after it), he set off on foot just as the weather became inclement. Rounding a corner he espied to his delight a mate of his driving a taxi cab coming towards him. Standing in the road, he stopped the vehicle and courteously enquired of the occupant whether or not she would mind his sharing the cab with her for the last portion of the run, adding with the generosity for which he is famed far and wide in the area, that he would pay for her journey. The lady graciously agreed, was dropped off at her destination, and the vehicle proceeded to the Market Square.

The intrepid businessman got out, feeling for the £4.50 or so which he knew to be the fare. “That will be £23.50 said the cabbie amiably. Our friend was aghast.

“What?” he shrieked, realising that this sum would make a considerable inroad into the nature of the business which was his ultimate destination. £23.50 repeated the cabbie. “I’ve just collected the lady from Stafford Railway Station!”.

The incident clearly did not deter our friend, as he was observed later in the evening in Smithfield Road trying to revive a gentleman who had become tired and emotional and who was resting on the pavement. He was evidently trying to assist him and ended up lying beside him!!

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The

Raddle Inn

Country Inn and Restaurant

Take a drive out to one of the area’s most beautiful ‘olde worlde’ country inns and restaurants and savour a truly delicious experience!

Enjoy wonderful views overlooking Croxden Abbey and the surrounding countryside.

Open every day, 12-10pm

Some old mates of mine pictured at Bradley Street School in 1957

Pensioners Specials Monday to Saturday 12-2pm Main Meal £3.50, 3 Courses £6.00 Sunday Lunches served all day Take your pick from Beef, Turkey, Lamb, Pork or Chicken Selected Evening Meals £3.50, Rump Steak or Mixed Grill £5.50 Traditional Cask Ales - Marstons Pedigree, Spitfire, London Pride, Black Sheep

Heated smoking area Accommodation in superb Log Cabins available, B&B and Self Catering.

See website for further details.

Enjoy a great meal at The Raddle The Perfect Country Inn & Restaurant (Left to Right) Back Row : Alan Felthouse, Mick Archer, John Nicholls, Ray Woolley, Mid Row : Malc Brown, Phil Colclough, Tony Matthews, Dave ‘Bungy’ Williams, Alan Walker, John ‘Tunky’ Deaville Sitting at Front : Tony Hibberd

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Quarry Bank, Hollington, near Alton Towers Telephone: 01889 507278 www.logcabin.co.uk

If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.

Who Wants to be ELEGANT LANDSCAPES a Millionnaire The complete design and build service where quality is a passion A Create your perfect garden with

group of pupils from Rocester's Ryecroft Middle School visited Thomas Alleyne’s High School to participate in a science quiz based on the TV show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

The Year 7 and 8 Pupils worked in pairs to answer questions of increasing difficulty as the stakes increased. On those questions where they were stumped they were able to use the 50:50 or ask the audience, made up from Year 10’s from Thomas Alleyne’s.

Despite the name of the quiz, pupils were taking part for the fun and challenge rather than the prospect of becoming millionaires, although one pupil, Ally Wilson, said that his mum had threatened not to let him back in the house unless he had the cheque!

The pupils really enjoyed the event which provided an opportunity to test their science knowledge in an imaginative way and also to visit the High School to meet staff and pupils.

See our extensive portfolio at elegantlandscapes.co.uk We always ensure you achieve your dream garden Call Andrew Wood for a friendly home visit and a free fixed price plan and quotation: 07733 230496 or 01538 750647 Over 100 gardens transformed • Fully insured and all work guaranteed Reliable and professional service • Quality materials throughout First class work finished to the highest standards Outstanding references available • All enquiries welcome 31 Stokesay Drive, Cheadle, Staffordshire ST10 1YU sales@elegantlandscapes.co.uk

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Back row left to right: Y8 - Jack Harrison, Edward Degg, Molly Blant, Charlotte Hodges Front row left to right: Y7 - Ally Wilson, Harry Clarke, Sadie Hall, Abi Addison

Mayor and Mayoress help Beachcombers celebrate 5th anniversary in style!

G R O U P O F C O M PA N I E S CONSTRUCTION Structural steelwork for all agricultural and industrial buildings.

Email: info@mjbarretts.co.uk

DEVELOPMENT Prestigious new developments planned for 2010/2011.

Email: info@mjbarretts.co.uk

RETAIL Doveleys Garden Centre for all your gardening needs all year round.

Website: www.doveleys.com

LEISURE Cinebowl - Finest cinema and bowling venue in Staffordshire.

Website: www.cinebowl.org

We are proud to be part of Uttoxeter for now and the future

Popular Uttoxeter skin beauty care business Beachcombers celebrated their 5th anniversary recently supported by a civic visit from ESBC Mayor and Mayoress Mr and Mrs Geoff Morrison of Uttoxeter, It is 5 years since Roisin Hull took over the salon and Mr and Mrs Morrison came on that day to open it.

The 5th anniversary celebrations were themed on St Patrick's Day with Irish potato cakes and Irish whiskey drinks!

The Mayor got into the spirit of the occasion by donning an Irish hat!

Beachcombers, situated at Unit 5, Saddler's Yard, Uttoxeter, now look forward to an exciting future and they extend a warm invitation to customers to come and sample a fantastic variety of skin beauty care services.

Pictured are Roisin Hull and her Beachcombers staff with the Borough Council Mayor and Mayoress.

Cllr Morrison wears an Irish hat to celebrate St Patrick's Day!

Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

21

Abbotsholme School Reaches New Heights bbotsholme continues to grow from strength to strength. Boarding continues to thrive, with weekly boarding allowing local pupils to have the best of both worlds.

Michael, a Sixth Former from Nottingham says “I have boarded weekly throughout the Sixth Form. Boarding allows me to work hard during the week, enjoy a social life with over 150 other boarders, and go home at weekends to keep in touch with friends and family. Abbotsholme is my home from home, I have the best of both worlds and this has enabled me to achieve far beyond my wildest dreams.

Steve Fairclough, Headmaster, explains the exciting times at Abbotsholme as it celebrates its 120th anniversary. “A new library, careers library, and Sixth Form centre was opened by Lady Sterling Moss in October to provide our pupils with modern facilities to cope with the increasing demands of A Level and GCSEs and a new fiction library which allows our younger children to develop a love for reading.

However, school is not only about books; the Farm, the Equestrian Centre, and Outdoor Education play a significant part in the life of Abbotsholmians.

An exciting new venture at Abbotsholme is an indoor climbing wall which has been constructed in the newly-developed Outdoor Centre to enhance even further the facilities of its flagship Outdoor Education Department. Pupils are able to use the new indoor wall, with its twelve ten-metre pitches and a bouldering facility, all year round.

The new building will also provide a large meeting area for pupils and parents to use in a variety of ways, including public examinations, parents meetings, school discos and other social events.

Outdoor Education is integral to our school life, and the pioneering principals established at Abbotsholme inspired such organisations as the Outward Bound Movement and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. At Abbotsholme today, pupils are offered one of the best Outdoor Education

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programmes in the world, with regular week day, weekend, and international expeditions. I am very proud to see this aspect of our heritage being celebrated in the building of an Outdoor Centre at the heart of the school.

I believe that at Abbotsholme we are investing in the most important thing imaginable; the education and inspiration of young people, the future generation”.

Abbotsholme SCHOOL

... An Education for Life Abbotsholme is a friendly school. With its beautiful surroundings, it is a wonderful place in which to learn and develop, and where each person’s contribution is properly valued.

We extend a warm welcome to everyone to visit for a taste of school life with a difference.

Independent boarding & day school for girls & boys aged 5 - 18 Excellent results at GCSE & A Level Set in a beautiful 140-acre estate in rural Derbyshire Outstanding Outdoor Education facilities with indoor climbing wall 70 Acre working farm & BHS approved Equestrian Centre First class facilities for Music, Art & Sport Purpose-built theatre for Drama OPEN EVENING - THURSDAY 13th MAY 6.00pm - 9.00pm For more information or to arrange a personal visit, please contact our Admissions Co-ordinator, Jessica Ash on 01889 594 265 Abbotsholme School, Rocester, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 5BS T: 01889 590 217 W: www.abbotsholme.co.uk 22

If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.

Welcome to Paradise at Hoar Cross Hall Spa Resort

Special Ladies And Their Friends Relax And Have Fun Stays At Hoar Cross Hall Spa Resort.

The Perfect Escape For Anniversary Celebrations And Pre-Wedding Parties With Their Favourite Friends. www.hoarcross.co.uk Telephone Reservations on 01283 575671 For Your Special Rates

Welcome to Paradise At Hoar Cross Hall Spa Resort

he only Stately Home Spa Resort in England, and winner of England’s leading Resort at the World Travel Awards for five consecutive years.

Enjoy the sumptuous pleasures of staying in an elegant English Stately Home with all the facilities of a superb modern Spa Resort with wonderful surroundings.

Traditional elegance and first class friendly service. Transport yourself away to experience the best in pampering, beautiful surroundings, superb facilities and fine dining. There is plenty to keep you busy both outdoor and in from the first class spa facilities to the 9 hole, par 3 golf course practice area and driving range with PGA professional.

Hoar Cross Hall is set in 100 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens which boasts lakes, wildlife, formal gardens and Italian roof terrace.

For current special offers please check www.hoarcross.co.uk Or call 01283 575671.

Hoar Cross Hall • Hoar Cross • Near Yoxall Staffordshire • DE13 8QS

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Elegant resort offering the last word in health & happiness Enjoy the sumptuous pleasures of staying in an elegant English Stately Home with all the facilities of a superb modern Spa Resort.

Wonderful surroundings.

Enjoy a two day one night stay in a superior room including breakfast, lunch, a la carte dinner & half hour treatment from only £159 per person.

Absolute

Engineering (UK) Ltd

Our Services include: • Design of: - Heating - Ventilation - Air conditioning Systems - CCTV - Power - Fire Alarms - Internal/External Lighting • Design of Renewable Energy Solutions: - Biomass Boilers - C.H.P - Solar P.V & Water - Grey Water Reclaimation - Wind Power - Ground Source Heat Pumps - Borehole Water - Energy Saving Control Systems • Mechanical & Electrical Project Management • Assistance with compliance to ‘Part L’ building regulations • Engineering Draughting Services • As-Installed Surveys & Drawings • M&E Operation & Maintenance Manuals

Based in North Staffordshire, offering a nationwide service

See how we can help you by calling

07917 43 48 59 / 07990 55 43 43 email: dan.absolute-engineering@hotmail.co.uk

Traditional elegance and first class friendly service. Salt Water & Hydrotherapy swimming pools, Aerobic & Yoga suites, 4000sqft Gymnasium, Slumber Lounge, Toning Tables & Relaxed Happiness.

Superb Surroundings, fine dining, floatation tank, toning tables, hydrotherapy, aerobic, step and fitness classes. Massage or facial and many exercise classes, Indian head massage, pedicures, spa treatments, unique water grottos, water massage areas, a full range of Clarins, Thalgo, ESPA, Elemis, Maria Galland treatments.

Gift Vouchers from £25.00. For reservations and enquiries Telephone: 01283 575 671 or email: info@hoarcross.co.uk

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Hoar Cross Hall

“The only Spa Res ort in a Stately Ho me in England”

Gift er Vouch Gift Voucher

ELEGAN T RESORT OFFERI NG THE LAST WORD IN HEALTH AND HAPPIN ESS

E C O M W E L

ss Hall Hoar Cro Yoxall ss • Near Hoar Cro 13 8QS hire • DE Hoar Cross Hall Staffords Hoar Cross • Near Yoxall

Staffordshire • DE13 8QS

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Voted England’s Leading Resort at the World Travel Awards 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2009 Hoar Cross Hall • Hoar Cross • Near Yoxall Staffordshire • DE13 8QS

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Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

23

Year Five and Six Go Wild ust before Easter Year five and six students were given the opportunity of experiencing a hands on art and science lesson.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust visited Rocester's Ryecroft School to show how to collect, arrange and work natural materials found in our school grounds.

The artist in focus was Andrew Goldsworthy. Both year groups have studied him within the last few months.

Staffordshire southern coordinator Jo Perry gave the students instructions as to how to make full use of the hour they were allocated.

They set off with enthusiasm.

Jessica Barlow in 5S said ‘I thought it was fun because we found lots of things which we had never seen before.’

George Prince in 6K said ‘I liked being outside doing an art and science lesson.’

Students work will now be used to help research their current school projects.

Our thanks to Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.

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Pictured above: Work by Andrew Goldsworthy Right: Ben's work influenced by Andrew Goldsworthy

Community Weight Loss Challenge LOSE WEIGHT NOW! WANTED: People serious about achieving noticeable weight loss i h 30 d • Scientifically balanced, naturally derived products.

• Personalised programmes.

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24

embers of the Arriba! Community Weight Loss Challenge at Uttoxeter have celebrated a total group weight loss of 25.8 stones in 12 weeks.

The launch of the Challenge in January was attended by a great group of people who wanted to lose weight, improve their health and feel great, said Julie Wilcox-Jones the Arriba!

Wellness Coach.

The course ran for 12 weeks offering weight loss coaching, nutritional education, tips, advice and lots of help and support both in the club and outside.

Members carried out a weekly weigh-in and full body composition analysis to help ensure they were on track, getting the right balance of muscle to help them burn excess body fat, achieving a healthy sustainable weight loss. £300 in cash was awarded to the Biggest Loser, Rebecca Hallam of Uttoxeter who dropped an amazing 14.8% of her starting weight.

Second prize of £200 was won by Becci Ridgway of Tean who lost 14.4% and third prize of £100 was awarded to Josie Pretty of Uttoxeter in recognition of her amazing 45 centimetre loss.

Doctors report that a modest drop of 10% of your body weight can reduce your chances of developing adult onset diabetes by 50%. Further prizes were also awarded to Alison Grocott for gaining the most lean muscle, and to Allan Simpson who actually dropped the greatest percentage of body fat. There were also prizes and recognition throughout the course.

All the members achieved fantastic personal results with a total group weight loss of 25.8 stones (360.8 lbs) and measurement loss of 14ft (168.8 cm). They celebrated last week with the group going for a meal together where the prizes were presented and certificates given to everyone. Everyone also recived a Personal Shopper voucher from Debenhams with 10% discount on that all important new wardrobe!

“I am so proud and happy for all the members as they are not only losing weight they are improving their health”. “The weekly handouts make a fantastic reference tool for those members who have achieved their targets in the 12 weeks and the changes they have made to make sure that the weight stays off” said Julie.

Limited places are available for the next 12 week challenge which will be starting Tuesday 20th April at Gym & Tonic at 8pm (participants can join up to and including 11th May). With over half of the previous participants already signed up to attend, you had better be quick if

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Julie Wilcox-Jones with Rebecca Hallam

you want to book your place on the next exciting challenge so see who will be the Biggest Loser!

Contact Julie on 01889 566576 or e-mail Julie.wilcox-jones@sky.com for further information or to book your place.

However, wellness and weight loss are very personal matters, and Julie’s business as a Personal Wellness Coach aims to offer a more personal service on a one-to-one basis. Some people may prefer to take advantage of Julie’s private coaching rather than joining a ‘weight loss class’.

Julie offers appointments at her home office in Doveridge and will be covering all aspects that contribute to your general wellness, including daily diet, managing your weight, eating correctly, fitness goals or just generally improving your health and increasing your energy and vitality.

From her own experience of yo-yo dieting and losing weight in the past, she realised that a more personal approach was needed – something that she feels was not currently being offered in this area.

“Everyone needs support and recognition, and I will look at their nutrition, eating habits and make recommendations from there.

Everyone is different and I personalise programmes to suit the individual. Some people may already have a personal trainer in the gym to help with their exercise goals, well now I am also offering my services as Personal Wellness & Nutrition Coach. Together we will get results!” she said.

So, if you have a weight loss, weight gain or sports nutrition goal for this summer – why not give her a call? You have nothing to lose other than excess weight! Call 01889 566576, or email Julie.wilcox-jones@sky.com TODAY!

If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.

Ginny’s Gardening Guide

By Uttoxeter’s Ginny Gibson don’t know about you but I like things to earn their keep in my garden. Everyone has a different idea of what earns its keep in the garden, for me, I like fragrance, so a lavender earns its keep, but a conifer, although a great plant, does not. So, now is about moving things around if you need to and deciding what is staying and what needs adding and what just has to go. This time of year the soil is warming up and so the roots are beginning to start growing again so moving things now is a great idea. I have a tree Peonias that I got free from one of those lovely magazines that only ask for postage and last year it wasn’t happy where I planted it, so am going to move it, now just to be clear, Peonias do not like being moved, so a few prayers before you put the fork into the ground is a good idea. I was taught that you use a fork if you want to keep the plant and a spade if you don’t, I forked round the whole plant, not too close to the plant though, having dug the new hole first, its important to make sure the plant isn’t out of the ground long as the roots don’t like either light or wind or sun on them, this makes sense as they are in dark earth before we start mucking around with them, anyway back to moving the plant, so I forked all the way around the plant, then gradually started to lift, again do this all the way round and eventually, it will surrender itself to the fork and you can quickly move it over to its new home. I always put a few comfrey leaves in the bottom of any new hole, not too many though; it has made everything that I move a success, well so far. But I do have to remember that plants aren’t like suitcases and some don’t like being moved, so read the plant info to make sure you put it in the right place to begin with, unlike me who didn’t read the instructions and just planted it where I wanted it, gardening unfortunately doesn’t work that way and I am gradually understanding that when the instructions say full sun, they mean full sun, I’m afraid me and instructions have never hit it off…..

For a truly wonderful fragrance in the garden, I think

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sweet peas really do earn their keep, however not all are fragrant, the perennials are not, so choose your seeds carefully. I was lucky enough to meet Jenny from Eagle Sweet Peas who are specialist in Sweet Peas and also Gold Cup Winners at Chelsea, yes I am going to say that again, Gold Cup Winners at Chelsea (they are from Uttoxeter, just proves we have some very talented people here) -. Derek Heathcote and his wife Jenny have a nursery (not open to the public) and they provide lots and lots of difference Sweet Peas seeds to anyone who wants to buy them by post or telephone or website, their catalogue is wonderful and they have one variety that is called Senator – Purple Strip, that was established in 1891 – now that would be something to grow a plant with that history. – Anyway back to fragrant sweet peas, I have chosen Albutt Blue (Lathyrus Odoratus) apparently the fragrance is out of this world, they are white with a tingle of blue on the edges, I also bought Just Jenny, which are midnight blue To plant them, take a pot, deep, if possible, I am using loo roll insides, soak some normal potting compost in water and then fill the loo roll ¾ full, then plant the seed and fill the rest of loo roll with compost just from the bag.

Put the row of loo rolls – you get 15 seeds per pack – onto a window sill with newspaper on top and wait for

germination, not long at this time of year, then remove the newspaper and when the plant have two sets of leaves showing remove the top of the plant above the 2nd pair of leaves to encourage side shoots – plant out into the ground where you are going to have your display when the ground is dry enough and all risk of frost has gone. In June when they start flowering make sure you keep picking the flowers so it will continue to flower right up until end of August – weather permitting.

If you would like a brochure from Eagle Sweet Peas, send a SAE to Eagle Sweet Peas, Broadmoor Lane, Stowe by Chartley, ST18 0LD or visit the website www.eaglesweetpeas.co.uk or call on 01889 270215.

My allotment tip this month is from John and Danny at Alexandra Crescent allotments, I met them while they were digging their plots and Danny was using his home made Riddle, wheel barrow height, which has made a great job of getting rid of all the stones he keeps finding on his plot. His soil is so fine now it has been through the Riddle a few times its amazing. They are getting ready to plant out their potatoes, but both warned me to keep them covered if a frost is likely, and lets face it, who knows what is going to happen next with the weather, they are also preparing to put in broad beans which will crop in August and although John is still eating the leeks he had last year, he will have finished them by the end of April, ready for the new seed to go in for this years crop. You plant leek seeds out and then in June you move them to their final destination. Both recommended getting out into the sites right now, as most people are a month behind due to the ground being so wet, as a result of the wonderful weather that we have been experiencing...

Happy Gardening.

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Guiding your future...

We have now moved to new premises at: OAT HOUSE 34 CHURCH STREET UTTOXETER STAFFORDSHIRE ST14 8AA

Tel: 01889 567676

THE CLASSIC TALE BROUGHT TO LIFE

Volunteers urged to ‘Step Forward’ for Walks alking for Health East Staffordshire is looking for more volunteer walk leaders to get involved with the current Health Walk Scheme.

At the moment there are nine different walks across the borough (including Stapenhill, Tutbury, Uttoxeter and many more) that take between 30 to 60 minutes to complete and all led by qualified Volunteer Walk Leaders.

But to continue running such a successful programme, the Council needs volunteers to step forward and get involved.

East Staffordshire Borough Council and Natural England, Walking for Health are offering free training opportunities to anyone who would like to train as a Volunteer Walk Leader.

Duncan Cowie, Head of Cultural Services, said: “The aim of the scheme is to encourage people to walk to improve their health, so they can enjoy life to the full.

“It is a great opportunity to help others in your local community whilst also getting some exercise yourself.”

For further information on becoming a Volunteer Walk Leader or to participate in the current Walking for Health Scheme, please contact Joanne Smith, Sports Development Administrator, Sport East Staffs, Cultural Services, East Staffordshire Borough Council on 01283 505910 or email joanne.smith@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk

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FRI 28 - SUN 30 MAY BOX OFFICE 0844 871 7649 (bkg fee) REGENT THEATRE STOKE-ON-TRENT www.ambassadortickets.com/stoke

UK economy emerges from recession Midlands based mail order Sign & Banner company has noticed a significant increase in orders over the past few months. Karl Hunter Managing Director of HFE-Signs.co.uk has observed a considerable rise in PVC Banner orders indicating more companies are increasing their marketing spend. 'This is a very encouraging observation for the UK in general', Karl explained. Offering Pavement Signs and PVC Banners nationwide to many market sectors ranging from small shops and one man businesses through to the larger chains and PLC organisations.

Working closely with top search engines HFE-Signs.co.uk use high tec. website analytics to drill down into many keyword phrases searched for online, with this crucial data they can identify where leads are coming from and track the keyword to order ratio. Karl has seen a significant rise in web traffic over the last few months and expects to see a steady growth in the coming months. "It is very pleasing to find these encouraging results, not only specific to a certain market sector but over a wider business range paints a bright picture for the future trading of UK businesses".

HFE-signs.co.uk introduced a 30% cheaper range of banners in October 09 to help struggling companies afford cheaper advertising. Karl has found these to be popular with smaller organisations where budgets are tight. The 30% cheaper 'Mono Banners' will continue to be offered at extremely low margins.

Karl's theory is that - returning customer loyalty is more important than profits in these difficult economic times, in addition all returning or recommended customers enjoy a further 10% discount for life off all products offered online!

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Pavement Signs Full colour print included in the cost Next day dispatch (if ordered before 11am) Free simple design service & proof by email Available from £60 Large range available, see website for prices 10% loyalty discount for life

PVC Banners Sameday dispatch (if ordered before 11am) Free nationwide delivery with 2 banners Free simple design service & proof by email Design & order banners online 24/7 (insert images and logos) Very competitively priced 10% loyalty discount for life

0845 3700 260

hfe-signs.co.uk The UK’s number 1 mail order company for signs, banners and digital print

Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

27

hampion Jockey Tony McCoy won his first ever John Smith's Midlands Grand National on the wellfancied Synchronised at Uttoxeter Racecourse before emulating the same feat in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree!

In some of the most testing conditions that the Midlands Grand National has been run in for years, the seven-yearold Synchonised had a fierce battle with the veteran mare L'Aventure who led for much of the four and a quarter miles.

An enormous crowd packed the enclosures for Uttoxeter Racecourse's biggest racing occasion of the whole year.

Persistent rain had turned the racing surface 'heavy' which meant that stamina was at a premium during the ÂŁ80,000 race.

Tony McCoy's mount was popular with punters, and was returned by bookmakers at a price of 15-2. Former Coral Welsh National winner L'Aventure was second at 12-1, with Giles Cross third at 9-1.

As usual, the Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice photographer was on hand to get behind the scenes at Uttoxeter Racecourse to capture lots of our local folk enjoying a terrific afternoon of sport.

Take a look to see how many local faces you can recognise...

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s d n a l d i M l a c i r o t s Hi r e t e x o

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Racehorse owners Barry Winfield, of Draycott-in-the-Moors, and Cheadle's Derek Fower with his son Mark.

Forsbrook racehorse trainer Barry Leavy, with wife Laura, son William and friends.

Cheadle's Norrie Bradley and Frank McGartland of Stoke-onTrent.

'At The Races' hugely popular broadcaster Bob Cooper is pictured in action.

Bryan Button of Cheadle

Margaret Woollaston of Uttoxeter and former Cheadle newsagent Alan Yeomans of Werrington.

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John Chatfield of Uttoxeter

Edwin Brindley of Alton

Channel 4's Derek 'Tommo' Thompson is always a big fan of The Voice

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t a y a D l Nationa se

r u o c e c Ra Left: Uttoxeter's Mark Podmore and friend.

Below: Mr and Mrs Peter Douglas of Uttoxeter pictured with family.

Above: Mr and Mrs Angus MacKinnon of Uttoxeter pictured with guests.

Below: Two great Uttoxeter Clerk of the Courses were together at the Midlands National - current Clerk Charlie Moore (left) and the greatest Clerk the Uttoxeter track has ever had, Major David McAllister (right).

Mrs Lorraine Ward pictured with guests outside her hospitality box.

The superb John Smith's Midlands Grand National trophy is presented to trainer Jonjo O'Neill (left) and champion jockey A.P. McCoy after the victory of Synchronised, owned by legendary punter JP McManus.

Left: L'Aventure (left) and Synchronised jump the final fence in the Midlands Grand National.

Right: Winning trainer Jonjo O'Neill proudly holds the John Smith's Midlands Grand National trophy.

Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

29

Food on a Budget

by Fiona Atkinson from Osmaston Braising yourself for something good! raising is so simple; take the coarser, more sinewy cuts of meat, and slow-cook them until they’re melt-in-the-mouth tender. You might be nervous about trying some of the more unusual cuts of meat, but braising cuts tend to be inexpensive and make for money-saving, as well as very tasty, meals.

This is an excellent cooking technique for you to use especially when working to a budget, and without using too many pans. Tough cuts of meat are best suited to a good braise. Do not use lean cuts of meat for braising. Five cuts of beef best suited to a good braise are: chuck roast, blade roast, ribs, brisket, and shanks. There are others, but these five represent the best and most common cuts.

Chicken is also a good braising meat. When braising chicken, use chicken that is on the bone (skinless). Whole chicken is always good. You can also use legs or thighs in lieu of a whole chicken.

The braising technique can also be used with fish, fruits and vegetables. Just make sure you use fish that is firm and hardy fruit or vegetables for slow cooking.

Braising generally involves cooking large cuts or joints of meat slowly on a bed of diced vegetables, with a concentrated stock, in a pot with a tightfitting lid. The process can transform leather-grade meat into a tender, juicy, slow-roasted delight. The long cooking time and degree of moisture

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introduced through the cooking process breaks down the connective tissue in the meat, thereby allowing the flavour of the meat to better marry with the liquids, vegetables and seasonings mixing in the pot with it. It’s not to be confused with stewing, which involves small pieces of meat in lots of liquid, or pot roasting, which uses no liquid and creates more of a roasted effect.

Braises require just a few simple minutes of preparation, followed by a long, relaxing wait for the magic to happen – the best thing you can do for a braise is to leave it alone. It will taste even better eaten the next day, too, once the flavours have steeped overnight. So, let’s get braising!

Red wine-Braised Oxtail Serves 4-6, takes 15 minutes to prepare, 3-3½ hours to cook 2kg oxtail pieces 4 tbsp plain flour, seasoned with salt & pepper 4 tbsp olive oil 2 red onions, finely sliced 2 celery sticks, finely chopped 1 carrot, finely chopped 2 tbsp tomato purée 375ml (half a bottle) good red Rioja (go for a youthful, oak-aged wine) 300ml beef stock, hot Good grating of fresh nutmeg 1 tbsp plain flour 1 tbsp butter, softened

Lightly coat the oxtail in the flour, heat half the oil in a heavy-based casserole with a tight-fitting lid. Fry the oxtail, in batches, over a medium heat for 2-3 minutes each side until browned. Drain off and discard the excess fat. Set aside.

Heat the remaining oil in the casserole and gently fry the onion, celery and carrot for 10 minutes until lightly golden. Stir in the tomato purée, then return the oxtail to the casserole. Pour in the Rioja and stock. Add the nutmeg, season with salt & black pepper, then bring to the boil.

Cover with the lid, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2½-3 hours until the oxtail is very tender. Take the oxtail out of the pot, set aside and keep warm.

Remove the solids from the pot with a slotted spoon, then bring the sauce to a vigorous boil and bubble until reduced by half. Mix the flour and butter in a bowl to make a paste. Gradually whisk a little at a time into the sauce. Bubble for 35 minutes until thickened.

Return the oxtail and solids to the pot to warm through. Serve with baked potatoes or creamy mashed potato and seasonal vegetables.

Nothing beats good home cooking.

Let The Voice Be With You

By Les Humphries ell readers, unfortunately my column in this issue begins like an obituary page following a sad start to the year for me, with one of my friends in the Churnet Valley Male Voice Choir, Trefor Griffiths, passing away at the age of 66 following a short illness.

Trefor, a proud welshman with a fine Tenor voice, was also our parade marshall at concerts, making sure we formed up in the correct order before going on stage, always taking a lot of stick from the wags in the choir who used to refer to him as the Sergeant Major (I've now been elevated to the position, so big boots to fill!). Trefor will be sadly missed by all in the choir as well as his family whom we met at the funeral, where we were joined by other welsh voices and able to give him a good vocal send off.

Another old chum from my trade union days at JCB, Harry Woodward has also died after being taken ill before Christmas. Harry, a widower, was an electrician at the Rocester factory and had been retired for many years, and had lost his dear wife Brenda some while back. He was a deeply religious man, and in all the years I knew him, Inever heard him swear, even when he got mad, and he did quite often! He was an active member of the of the Pentecostal Church in Uttoxeter to whom he a sad loss.

But the saddest loss of all because of his young age was the tragic death in a road accident of 18 year old Danny Edwards, the son of my good rugby club friends Angie and Kelvin Edwards. Danny was a credit to his parents and had a vast amount of respect for one so young as was reflected in the huge turnout at Oldfields, where we had a minutes silence on the rugby pitch for him on the Saturday following his death, which was followed by a packed congregation at his funeral.

A sixth former at Alleynes, Danny was not only a keen rugby player, but also a talented musician. His was a young life that touched so many, we will all miss you Danny.

A lot of lives have also been touched by the young soldiers still continuing to die in Afghanistan, and full credit

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to the good people of Wootton Bassett who turn out to pay their respects to them as their coffins return home. But what about those so called 'British' Muslim extremists who wanted to parade empty coffins through the town?

Sadly in this Country now you are penalised for being a Christian or a patriot. Regular Soldier Pte. Joe MacDonald who risked his life in Iraq is being demobbed from the Royal Logistics Corps, and along with his wife and three children is going to be left homeless because he lives in married quarters with his family. Officials have told him they won't find him a home because he is deliberately making himself homeless by leaving the Army. Asylum seekers come first it seems.

Nothing surprises me where politicians are concerned (cab for hire!), they are all a bunch of crooks as we keep finding out. The boy David in a pre budget speech said that a claim by Labour that the Tories would take away the pensioners fuel allowance and bus passes was completely untrue. Yet we have had the privillage of free travel removed before 9;30am as from April the 1st by the Tory run council without any warning, gone at a stroke, just at the time I use it. I would not believe the Lords Prayer if a politician told it to me, whoever gets in its just like moving deck chairs around on the Titanic. Every budget hits the poor mans beer, baccy, petrol and fuel . The Tories still have not explained how they will finance removing the National Insurance increase that Labour are sticking on. Be sure of one thing folks, they will giveth with one hand, and taketh away with the other!

Uttoxeter Rugby Football Club have had their Twickenham dream snatched away from them by a superior Evesham side in the Midlands final of the Junior Vase, where they went down by 21 points to 11 in front of a huge crowd at Oldfields on Easter Saturday, outscored by 3 tries to one.

Skipper Andy Moult took on the responsibility for the loss because his team were not at their best on the day. I personally feel that it was one pressure game too far for his battered squad who were depleted on the day, having already achieved so much this season with the league and

the Owen cup still very much in their sights.

At time of writing they top Midlands 4 (East) North by one point over Dronfield, with two games in hand, and are already in the final of the Owen Cup, where they meet Linley and Kidsgrove at Stafford RFC in May. So despite the dissapointment of not getting to Twickenham, they still have everything to play for - Good Luck lads.

I have also been watching a bit of Junior Football on Sundays lately, as my grandson Owen has chosen the round ball code, rather than the oval version! He plays in goal for Rocester Greens under 13's. They, like Uttoxeter RFC are having an excellent season, and are also in with a good chance of winning the ESBC under 13's Division II. Their skipper is Ben Cresswell who is a good young motivator, and their top goal scorer is the devastating Callum Lowe, who could well end up as the leagues top scorer at present lying in second place with over 50 goals so far this term. Incidentally Callums dad is an old rugby chum and well known local cricketer Darren Lowe, he also assists team coach Neil Warburton who who has put in so much work to get his lads into an efficient little unit with so much enthusiasm, they are great to watch and have a regular following of Dads, Mums, and Grandads. Good luck to you also boys.

To finish up with tongue in cheek, I must hark back to the do gooders and human rights clowns who have managed to get all the discipline out of schools, so there is now no punishment for bullies and the like as they don't seem to know the difference between discipline and bullying. They are now trying to get their mamby pamby views imposed on the forces to stop NCO's shouting at squaddies, and I have visions of guardsmen trooping the colour with a guards sergeant saying - in the style of Sergeant Wilson in Dads Army "I say, would you mind awfully turning right please!" The mind boggles.

TTFN...

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This Month’s Shop Review...

Talented Jemma one step away from the O2 Arena tudent jemma Johnson is one step away from the National Finals at the O2 Arena after battling out against 19 other acts to secure a place in the area finals of one of the UK’s top talent contests.

Jemma, of Cheadle, a former Alleyne's High School, Uttoxeter, pupil, became an acoustic pop singer and songwriter after being given a guitar at the age of 13.

After initially auditioning against thousands of other acts across the UK and impressing the judging panel with her originality, Jemma went on to perform live on stage at the Regional Final in Manchester. She dazzled the crowd and judging panel with her winning performance, The Live and Unsigned Judging panel, included Chris Grayston of Future Music, Talena of Vocal Tutor, Simon Keegan Salford Advertiser, Pete Bradshaw founder of the Artist Development Institute & Mark Armor from VMan events . Talena’s comments included ‘Jemma has a lovely voice and good control, two of the judges said Jemma has bags of potential.

She’s now set to perform at the Area Final - the last stage before the Live and Unsigned Festival at the O2 in London! They will now be competing in the North West England Final on Sunday 9th May at the Willows, Salford, Manchester.

Some of the biggest names in the industry will be judging the Area Final stage of the competition. Judges include Radio 1’s Annie Nightingale, Urban DJ, Presenter and Radio 1’s Ras Kwame, BBC Introducing’s Bethan Elfyn, legendary drummer Darren Ashford who’s played with the likes of The Backstreet Boys, Black Eyed Peas and Lionel Richie, and record producer Steve Lyon, who will all be casting their eye over the unsigned talent.

Live and Unsigned is the biggest original music competition in the UK for unsigned bands and artists. Attracting over 30, 000 entries in the past three years, it’s set itself apart from its predecessors by offering and promoting live, original music. It’s now established as the definitive music competition for original acts and it’s open to all genres of music from Heavy Rock to Rap. So, what are the acts battling it out for? The chance to play on the main stage of the Live and Unsigned Festival at the O2 in London on 10th July.

There’s also plenty of opportunities and awards up for grabs along the way, with a prize pool worth over £75, 000. The overall winner of the competition will be offered a recording and management contract with Future Music with an investment of up to £30, 000 to release their single and they’ll get the opportunity to develop their own clothing brand to sell online and in retail with Extreme State.

The competition provides acts with a host of opportunities to develop and expose their talent. There is an array of free master classes on offer with ICMP including drums, bass, guitar and vocal. The master classes are with some of the best names in the industry including drummer Pat Petrillo who has played with Gloria Gaynor and Patti Lebelle and a bass lesson with Lawrence Cottle who has worked with Eric Clapton and The Bee Gees. These classes will give acts the opportunity to not only learn new techniques and develop their performance skills, but they’ll also have the opportunity to take part in exclusive Q&A sessions. There’s also plenty of exposure opportunities for acts this year, including editorial coverage in some of the UK’s most popular magazines and websites. Other prizes on offer include festival slots, clothing, media exposure, days out and recording time.

Chris Grayston, Events Director of Live & Unsigned explains “We’re all about originality, live ability and credibility. There's over 75,000 in prizes up for grabs this year so there’s plenty of opportunities for all acts taking part, not just for the winner! We’ve got some fantastic judges on board this year who will all be bringing their wealth of experience with them. With the Live and Unsigned Festival scheduled for the best venue in the country, the 02 in London, this really is going to be the biggest year for the competition yet!”

The winners of 2010 will be thrust into the media spotlight through television, radio and the press and will be given the opportunity to tour the UK. One act who has caught the judge’s eye this year is local talent Jemma Johnson, now competing in the Area Final. Jemma made it through the Regional Final at Manchester amongst some of the UK’s finest under the radar acts. She is now preparing for the North West England Final on Sunday 9th May at the Willows, Salford, Manchester for the opportunity to progress towards the Live and Unsigned festival at the O2 in London.

For more information go to the website; www.LiveandUnsigned.UK.com or better still come down and support local talent; you can purchase tickets on the door or from Jemma, www.myspace.com/JemmaJohnsonMusic.

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Your shop name is Tastes of Staffordshire, 3 The Maltings, Uttoxeter www.tastesofstaffordshire.co.uk 01889 592815

Is there a story behind the name We originally planned to only stock Staffordshire produce, but in response to customer feedback we now also stock Regional and British Foods

How long have you been established

• • • •

Take away – made to order – sandwiches Celebration cakes – made to order Children’s party food and family picnics Food Gifts and Hampers

Currently what is your most popular product Cottage Delight Caramelised Onion Chutney, Staffordshire Oatcakes and Gravelly Bank Sausages and Bacon, both fresh and frozen

We opened in October 2009

For People who haven’t visited you yet, what is your speciality Local, regional and British Foods, many from small artisan producers, which means we have unique products, many that are award winning.

Is there a service you offer customers that you wouldn’t necessarily know about if you were just walking past • •

Fresh bread from Hammersleys Range of local and British cheeses

What is your personal favourite item that you offer and why Fatherson Bakery range of cakes – all really moist and delicious and good value for the size of the cakes – customers keep recommending them.

In one sentence why should people visit your shop We are a regional food store and deli stocking a range of delicious foods that you will not find in the supermarket, why not come and buy some award winning foods.

Tastes of Staffordshire offers a wide range of Local, Regional and British produce including Cheeses, Jams, Chutneys and Cakes from artisan and award winning producers.

Lunch time take-away’s include fresh salad bowls, freshly prepared sandwiches and tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

Tel: 01889 592815 www.tastesofstaffordshire.co.uk

Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

31

Ramble on My favourite walks by Peter Matthews

No 8 Rocester

Difficulty

An easy walk through large fields and a quiet lane. Follow route anti clockwise

Distance

4.9 miles

Time

2 hours

Parking

Either in Rocester (GR SK 109 393) or kerbside just before the River Dove (current roadworks may prevent this) or on the right hand verge just over the border in Derbyshire (GR SK 116 392).

Refreshments

Pubs in village

his is a delightful walk with a steady climb to Roston Common. The views are extensive and on the climb up it is well worth turning round to see the scenery behind. Some of the stiles are difficult to see at first but the walk is straightforward . Parking in Rocester adds about a third of a mile to the walk but parking is possible on the kerbside just before the river Dove or on the verge just over the border in Derbyshire. From the car, or bus stop, walk to the river Dove. The stile is

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hidden in a hedge, close by a gate on the Derbyshire side of the bridge to your left if coming from Rocester and crossing the river.

Descend the short bank into a large field. Turn half right towards some trees forming a ‘hedge’ and keep to this side of the field past the smallholding to reach a stile in the corner of the field. Over the stile and straight ahead (a waymark suggests bearing left but don’t) and soon reach another stile and waymark. Initially continue ahead towards the far left corner of the field but just before a hedge go through a gate, waymark, and ahead on the right side of the field then bearing slightly left towards a distant stile on the horizon. Keep ahead, following the stiles to reach a road. Cross road and over the stile opposite. Take the leftmost of the two paths indicated, heading up the hill, to the left of the farm on the skyline.

Soon reach the top of the field and a stile. From here keep to the right edge of several fields, initially with a small wood on the right. After passing through a small wooden gate continue as before but ignore the second gate on the right but continue along the right side of fields. Gradually the fields are bearing left and soon you reach a farm drive. Cross this, ignore the gate on the right but take the stile just to the left of it, initially

following the left side of the field, heading up to between the two houses on the skyline. At the end of the second field over the stile and bear left to reach a stile to cross two farm drives and another stile. Over this then aim very slightly left towards a cluster of trees opposite. On reaching these bear left to follow round the right edge of the field which itself turns right.

Continue along the edge to the very bottom to the next hedge. The stile is not visible until the last minute as it is tucked in a dip at the end of the hedge on the right. Over this then left, down the left edge of the long field. A waymark near the bottom directs down a small hollow then up to a stile by a lane. Turn left along the lane and follow it for a short distance to reach a small Hamlet (Hollybush). As the lane bear right, take the small driveway on the left and just before it bends left, take the stile on the right ( not easy to see). From here follow the right side of fields, alongside a stream. The line of stiles or gaps in the hedge mark the route. Soon you reach a some houses across the fields to the right and a paddock. Keep the stream on the right, through a gap in the ‘hedge’ and reach a stile. Over this into a small paddock, cross this to the far right corner and either exit by the gate onto the lane, turning left, or take the stile just to the left to follow the edge of the field to a stile on the right into the lane.

Immediately opposite is a gate leading into a garden. Take this, cross the garden and drive and pass the building on the left to another small gate.

Through this and to the next gate. Cross the centre of two fields, following the clear line of small gates, to exit the second field by the right hand corner.

Cross the next field aiming for the burnt tree trunk by what appears to be a small fence. This is a footbridge across a ditch. Over this then up the left side of the field to a stile. Over this then aim across the next field towards a white gate ahead.

Through this then walk towards the side of the bridge by the river Dove, then return to the start.

Contributed by Peter Matthews, Publicity Officer for Staffordshire Area Ramblers’ Association. For further information, visit our website www.ramblers.org.uk or phone 01782 336556. Without the work of the Ramblers some of these walks would not be possible – we help to keep footpaths open and maintained.

The Derby and why it is run on Epsom Downs

By Geoff Thompson of Lower Tean he Epsom Derby is only a few weeks away and although we only just seem to have escaped the clutches of a severe winter by modern standards it will soon be time for the respective flat trainers to begin their preparations for this classic event.

Every body is aware of this historic race and the fame and history that surrounds this unique event in the sporting calendar, however I wonder how many people are aware of its origins and how it came to be.

We have to go back to the year 1618 for the origin of it all, it was in this year that a cattle grazier by the name of Henry Whicker was amazed to find that on a hot and sunny day his cattle were steadfastly refusing to drink the local water on the Epsom Downs, he subsequently tasted the water and found it to be distasteful, the spring which fed this watering hole had passed through a bed of mineral salts which had charged the water. Henry

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Whicker did not realise it but he had discovered the now famous Epsom Salts. These properties became known eventually outside Epsom and the aristocracy and local gentry flocked to Epsom to partake of the water and purge themselves after excessive eating and drinking. Once there they started to amuse themselves by arranging for some impromptu horse racing on the Downs, Epsom races was born. The Derby itself was a result of a coin spinning incident between Lord Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury this took place at the home of Lord Derby called The Oaks at Woodmansterne near to Epsom. This property he had acquired from his wife`s uncle General Burgoyne who had a close friend called Colonel St Leger after who the St Leger had been named in 1776.The success of this race prompted St Leger to suggest to Burgoyne the introduction of a similar race for fillies at Epsom and this is how the Oaks came to be. Then following this it was decided that

a race for Three year old colts as well as fillies should be considered and so the coin spinning decided the name of one of the most famous horse races in the world. It is now well over 200 years since the origin of the Derby and it is and it really is quite incredible to think that it is all down to a herd of thirsty cows refusing to drink the water all that time ago.

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The good old days Can you recognise any of these children during a school play? Give us a ring on 01538 751629!

A former Cheadle Mayor is photographed judging an Easter Bonnet competition. But who is he and who is the winning child?

Actors and actresses at a local play - but who are they?

A Doveridge racehorse trainer enjoys a tipple whilst on holiday. But who is he?

One of Cheadle's top singers is photographed with one of his many fans! Can you tell us his name?

Can any of our readers identify this local football team and the year this photo was taken?

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33

Povey’s People

By Radio Stoke’s Owd Grandad Piggott Each month Radio Stoke’s Owd Grandad Piggott (Alan Povey) will write a unique insight into our local life and its many characters.

His infectious, humorous slant on people provides a different and unusual mix which hopefully will bring a warm smile to the faces of our readers.

This month: PERCE AND LIZZIE LOCKETT ‘Why...’, said Lizzie Lockett, fixing her husband Perce with a distasteful eye, ‘….When God stuck thee gob on thee face gooin’ east ter west, do yer ram chips in it from north ter sithe?’

Perce threw his fork onto the table and ran his hands wildly through his hair.

‘Summatt bloody else is thee??’ he snapped, ‘WAY ARE YER OWLEYS FINDIN’ FAULT WITH MAY?? ARM PIGGIN’ SICK ON IT!!’

As Perce ranted, fragments of chip rained down onto the floor forming a little pile of shrapnel on the carpet ’Cause yer a dirty owd bugger’, ground out Lizzie ‘Ar Eric’s comin’ up termorrer fer teck uzz both ate ter this carvery place….ay dunner want a filthy owd towrag lark they sittin’ next tiw ‘im in a posh restaurant coughin’ an’ barkin’ an’ oostin’ inter th’farplace…an’ ar anna standin’ fer it neether!’

Eric Lockett, their son had done extremely well for himself.

He lived with his wife and three children in a large house near to Oxford and was an inspector in the Thames Valley Police Force – a fair achievement for the son of a miner from Foxfield and Lizzie was fiercely proud of him. Eric was driving up from Oxford to take his mother out for Mother’s Day, so Perce, to Lizzie’s disgust, had to be counted in the equation..

‘You bloody spit in the fire and I’ll walk out!’ she said poking him in the chest and regarding him venomously.

The next day, Perce and Lizzie climbed into Eric’s Jaguar and were taken to the restaurant, shown to a table, where Lizzie was given a red rose, which reduced her to ashes and guided to the food servery.

Here,a colossal turkey, a joint of beef, a York ham and a twenty pound fresh run salmon, behind which, a chef with a huge smile on his face and a carving knife the size of a ploughshare awaited instructions. Perce and Lizzie had never been to a carvery before and when Eric told his father that he could have as much or as little of anything that he wanted, as many times as he wanted, Perce gave a grunt of approval and was

“ Perce wobbled

over with a plate that resembled a motorway pile up. Lizzie gave a gasp of horror and regarded him venomously.

”

temporarily forgotten as Eric helped his mum with her lunch and took her to sit by the window where Lizzie could watch the nodding daffodils in the garden as she ate. Perce wobbled over with a plate that resembled a motorway pile up. Lizzie gave a gasp of horror and regarded him venomously.

‘That bloke said ah could ‘ave owt ah larked…‘, said Perce defensively, catching the dangerous look and plonking the grossly overloaded plate onto the table.

Perce hadn’t spared the rod. A whole turkey wing was draped over each side of his plate, criss crossed by a large slice of ham and balanced by a huge piece of beef.

Potatoes were piled high and atop of the pile sat a large yorkshire pudding full of gravy. More gravy dripped off the edges of the plate as Perce searched for a way into the gargantuan feast.

‘A fiver says ‘ee wunner finish it’, said a fellow on the adjacent table.

‘They’t on!’ said Perce and set into the meal with gusto. Perce commenced to make titanic inroads into the food and was going great guns until he had a sudden accident. The turkey wing wasn’t as well cooked as it could have been and Perce was giving it some serious surgery when there came a sudden loud report and one half of the wing parted company with the other bit, left the plate at nine miles a second, and hit an impressive looking gentleman on the next table straight in the deaf aid.

Erics vast experience in the police force saved the day, during which time, the impressive looking gentleman threatened to insert the turkey wing where the sun doesn’t shine and Lizzie offered to assist him.

Perce lost his bet but refused to pay out arguing that he had suddenly lost his appetite when the row with the impressive looking gentleman had broken out. It took Lizzie until Mother’s Day the following year to forgive him.

Magisterial Memories

By John Glandfield Uttoxeter’s Most Charismatic Solicitor ne or two of my recent contributions may have veered towards the more serious aspects and thoughts on of my working life experiences and so this time I will concentrate a bit more on some more of the innumerable anecdotes. That said I still think that today so many jobs and related functions have been irreparably damaged by advent of those who have not got a clue about what it is all about, mess it up and then move on although, as small crumb of comfort, my Profession was probably one of the last to succumb to “managerial suffocation” and others churned out from the ranks of “The Living Dead”.

I have often wondered, I suppose in the context of Hospitals and the National Health Service in particular, where all these “Managers” came from. What did they all do before? They seem to have come upon the scene in near epidemic proportions.

Anyway back to the matters in hand.

Over the years many so-called criminals that I represented, especially those whom one might regard as “Professionals”, traditionally would offer the Police no help at all even when caught “red handed”.

One such was suspected of stealing firewood and logs from the back of a local Pub but he steadfastly denied any involvement. The Police then sought to set a trap by surreptitiously applying some indelible green dye to the woodpile. A few days later when my Client was apprehended with bright green hands and like smudges on his face he still maintained his innocence although he could offer the Police no explanation as to his verdant appearance.

Yet another, well known to the Police at the time as a reasonably experienced burglar, maintained total surprise and innocence at being apprehended by the Police while pushing a wheel barrow containing

O

34

oxyacetylene cutting equipment up Smithfield Road, Uttoxeter at about 2.00 a.m.

With the advent of taped as against the laborious hand-written Interviews in the early days a host of novel considerations arose. The recording was immediate and as such generally far more reliable than hand-written notes but what about extraneous noises – e.g a File falling onto the floor etc or someone knocking into a chair. All these had to be painfully explained as they happened or the listener might form a very wrong impression of what had gone on. A suspected Drug Dealer emanating from the East Midlands put that to very good effect. Having first, and to my utter surprise told the Police everything that they wanted to hear in the body of the Interview but before the Tape had stopped recording he suddenly clapped his hands together sharply several times and cried out in a pained voice, “Please don’t hit me again, Man. I have told you all that I know”. Cute? Yes, the whole Interview was, thereby, rendered invalid and there was no obligation on the Client to go through it all again!

On one occasion I was called to the Police Station to assist a vagrant who had been arrested sunbathing on the embankment of a disused railway line and in possession of “worldly goods” quite excessive for and incomparable with his apparent station in life. It later transpired that he was wanted for a string of house burglaries in the West Midlands. Later a 'seasoned' C.I.D. Officer from that Force arrived to question my Client . I say ‘seasoned’ since his face would have made that of a Professional Prize Fighter look angelic and he had a general physique to match. I certainly would not have picked an argument with him. Come the time when he had enough of my Client being ‘cheeky’. Before anyone else present could do anything, he picked my Client up,

pinned him against the wall and as the Client’s face went pink through lack of oxygen exclaimed,” I have had enough of this nonsense so cough or else tell the Judge that I gave you a good hiding in front of your Brief and see who the Court believes”.

Sadly, in my view, they don’t seem to make Police Officers or Criminals like that any more. I knew Police Officer’s who investigated cases on the basis of “win a few, loose a few” and I certainly, with some success I would add, took on and fought cases on the basis that something would turn up. Strangely it usually did, but if you told a Court today that was the basis of your defence you would be castigated.

I am sure that the Reader will have already gathered that I am nothing for this present constant and illconceived interference by an army of “experts” (on anything apart from logic and common sense|) or the culture of manic risk assessment before a Police officer can get up off his/her chair on the one hand or those who get "caught at it" whinging about it and blaming it all on a deprived childhood. On that last point didn’t we all have weird childhoods and by modern standards were not many of us lucky to survive to so-called adulthood.

Finally, on one dark and rainy winter’s night having just managed to evade capture at the scene of the crime, a Client of mine made it to, as he thought, the comparative sanctuary of the local churchyard. He then tried, but to no avail, to hide behind a gravestone where the Police espied him shortly thereafter. “What do you think you are doing there?” asked the Police Officer only to be met by the surprise answer, “Getting *^&?? soaked”.

See you in Court.

John E.Glandfield

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35

Cheadle Cricket Club 2010 season

Cheadle target promotion this season C The Anchor Inn headle Cricket Club’s aspirations in the 2010 season are to return to the hierarchy of the North Staffs and South Cheshire Premier League.

After assembling one of their strongest squads for decades, Cheadle CC are definitely going all out to gain promotion out of Division One. The return of David Wheeldon has lifted spirits at the club in no uncertain manner.

David progressed through the junior ranks at the Tean Road club before joining Premier League side Leek CC and then last season he played at Wolverhampton.

Wheeldon and Shaun Rashid look to be a potent force at Cheadle and they will provide massive support to skipper Simon Plant in their endeavours to return to their former glory.

After finishing in mid-table last season, Plant knows his team can launch a promotion bid in 2010: ‘My main aim as I am sure it is also that of everyone at Cheadle Cricket Club is to get back into the elite of cricket in North Staffordshire and back into the Premier League.

Plant continued: ‘We have been away too

36

long and it would be great to captain such a great bunch of lads back into the big time. I wish everyone who plays cricket at Cheadle all the very best for this season.

‘David Wheeldon is a fantastic player to welcome back to the club and we have strengthened the squad with the signing of experienced campaigner Ian Bailey from Kidsgrove along with young wicketkeeper Tom Plant.

‘We have got off to a great start in the Talbot Cup by beating Moddershall ‘A’ whilst also being victorious in our first league fixture and I am looking for another good cup run this season which would give the lads a great boost.

‘Of course, Cheadle Cricket Club always appreciates the very welcome support of our sponsors and on behalf of the club I would like to sincerely thank them all.

‘I would like to thank the Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice colour magazine for their continued support throughout 2010. Finally, my thanks also go to our fantastic club officials who work tirelessly behind the scenes.’

Cheadle Cricket Club have embarked on what could be an historic season if they can land the big prize of promotion to the North Staffs & South Cheshire Premier League.

This could be the year – the players have certainly got the talent and it will be intriguing to see if they can pull it off!

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If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.

Derek Fower

Cheadle Cricket Club

Chairman Ian Plant’s 2010 Message s another season gets underway, I am delighted to welcome all members of the club once again, and hope that you will enjoy our company and be made to feel at home – whether it be as a player or a supporter.

We look forward in the 2010 season to welcoming back David Wheeldon and hopefully he can make a solid contribution in our push for Premier League status. Only by getting our infrastructure right can we enjoy sustained success.

It is most pleasing that Cheadle CC is able to continue to field 4 senior sides on Saturdays plus under 17’s, 15’s, 13’s, 11’s and 9’s in junior cricket – just reward for those captains and coaches who work hard and tirelessly during the season and close season to maintain and recruit.

As a club we are very lucky to have a group of keen, hard working volunteers who make Cheadle CC what it is. Without them this club, like many others, just would not function. We are also grateful to all the bodies, companies and organisations that have seen fit to award us with grants and provide sponsorship.

Finally, my best wishes to all players, scorers, caterers, committee members and all others who together make Cheadle Cricket Club what it is.

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Skipper Simon Plant Cheadle Cricket Club 2010 remaining fixtures in North Staffs and South Cheshire Cricket League Division One:

The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice wish Cheadle Cricket Club every success in 2010

May 15th Sandyford away May 22nd Norton away May 29th Oulton home June 5th Betley home June 12th Leycett away June 19th Rode Park home June 26th Meir Heath away July 3rd Whitmore away July 10th Stafford home July 17th Blythe home (sponsored by Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice) July 24th Leek away July 31st Sandyford home Aug 7th Norton home Aug 14th Oulton away Aug 21st Betley away Aug 28th Leycett home Sept 4th Rode Park away Sept 11th Meir Heath home

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37

All-time Local Soccer Hall of Fame Team

By Roy ‘Razzer’ Astbury Each month Uttoxeter’s best known character Roy ‘Razzer’ Astbury will compile his very own ‘All-Time Local Football Team’ which in his opinion is the very best of players past and present.

The “Utcheter” and beyond Football diaries 1979 onwards - New Years Day 1991 – Left Footers

‘Razzer’ will create a team in each issue of The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice which he believes incorporates all the ingredients of a football outfit which could be unbeatable!

He will be delving into his thoughts to remember all the terrific players in years gone by whilst selecting those who are exceptional in our present day.

Why is it that all left footers are great footballers, Lionel Messi, Ryan Giggs, Maradona, to name but a few. The same applies at an amateur level and locally there has been some great wrong uns.

It should be a fantastic talking point in our community and no doubt you all will have your views on ‘Razzer’s Hall of Fame team.

If you have your own Hall of Fame team then get involved and just give Nigel a call at The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice on 01538 751629, 0776 784 6937 to tell him or send your team to: The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, 3 Spode Close, Cheadle, Staffordshire, ST10 1DT or email uttoxetervoice@hotmail.co.uk

I have picked a left footed eleven during my playing days for us right/both footed players to chew the fat over.

Razzer’s Hall of Fame May Team

TOM DAVIES Elkes A top class local keeper who was one of the best around in his era.

JIMMY CARTLIDGE Cheadle United

BOB JOHNSON Bamfords

ERIC WRIGHT Uttoxeter Amateurs (Captain) Eric read the game really well and he was a strong defender who always gave his all for the team.

MICK HALL Uttoxeter Town A real grafter who also possessed lots of skill.

A superb centre half who commanded the defence.

Great team player and leader.

A big strong very reliable defender, Bob gave opposing forwards a really hard time.

DAVID DYCHE Bamfords

MICK DYCHE Uttoxeter Amateurs

All out energy saw David cover every inch of the pitch. Always played the game competitively with a touch of class.

A polished player who has tremendous vision.

ANDREW SMITH Bamfords A solid player who gave 100% each match.

ERIC FALLOWS Bamfords A strong left footed direct player, very dangerous forward who could cause lots of damage to opposing defences.

ALBERT SIMMILL Uttoxeter Youth Club

PETE BADGER Uttoxeter Amateurs Dangerous forward who was always looking to hit the back of the net.

Albert was a proven goalscorer season after season, defenders never seemed to get near him in front of the onion bag!

We have inserted one football club each player has performed for.

Goalkeeper – Tony Greenaway, Uttoxeter F.C, JCB and Three Tuns, of whom he is now the manager.

Tony as a younger man was a tremendously gifted and skilful outfield player, who perhaps enjoyed the good life a wee too much but was also an excellent ‘keeper and played for me on a Saturday.

Left Back – Dean Arnold, Uttoxeter F.C, Uttoxeter Town, “George”, is now the manager of Uttoxeter Town, not a natural athlete but a terrifically gifted left foot and excellent player.

Centre Back – Leon Skellern, Uttoxeter Town – One of the most naturally skilful players ever to grace Oldfield’s, a very good header of the ball and perhaps football was too easy for “Skell” at times but on his day superb.

Centre Back – Paul Holdcroft, Uttoxeter Rangers, Great Defender, pacey, good reader of the game and tough as teak. Great all round defender.

Right Back – Kev’ Gear, Uttoxeter Town, Another who liked the good life off the pitch but a superb passer and defender in his early years. Quality player.

Midfield – Paul Esplin, Uttoxeter Town, “Esky” was the Bryan Robson of Utch, he was the complete all round player, Fantastic player.

Left Midfield (The whole team could play in this position) – Dave Beech, Three Tuns, Good Passer and very comfortable of the ball.

Midfield – Glyn Douglas, Uttoxeter Town, Current Captain, Athletic, Hard working player who leads by example.

Midfield – Mark Cooper, Wheatsheaf Athletic, Uttoxeter Town, Cooperman was an artist with the pitch being his canvas and his left foot being the brush. Liked life of the pitch as well as on it.

Striker – Malcolm Johnson, Hixon, Powerful and direct forward with a venomous shot. Malc’ scored goals for fun in the Uttoxeter league.

Striker – Ant Smith, Uttoxeter Amateurs, Uttoxeter Town and Doveridge. Wurzel was a quick and strong forward who was prolific but unfortunately he suffered from injury which curtailed his career Subs – Dave Kirk, Uttoxeter FC, Three Tuns, versatile all rounder.

Patch Clinton, Uttoxeter Rangers, Skillful midfielder, good passer who liked to nutmeg every opponent.

Ian Godfrey, Uttoxeter F.C, Ashbourne, Fast and Brave, forward who caused numerous problems to his opponents.

Phil Hanson, Uttoxeter FC, Marchington, Industrious, hard working midfielder, who never stopped running and tackling.

John Harley, Abbots Bromley, Poweful Centre Back, good in the air with a sweet left peg.

Ian Ford, Uttoxeter Town, Tiggerish defender who was comfortable on the ball and an excellent stopper.

Obviously, many have played for several clubs in their careers.

38

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The ‘Utcheter’ and beyond Football Diaries from 1979 onwards...

By Tim Leech, our Uttoxeter man exiled in the Potteries New Years Day 1991 – “Stand and Deliver, sang Marti Pellow to a startled Coach Driver” he Midland Grand National has just passed again, it gets bigger and more acclaimed every year and one of my favourite memories of this event was around 15 years ago.

Myself and Dean Arnold, who is now manager of Uttoxeter Town, had a particularly enjoyable day. Some may say we were well oiled, as we were holding each other up as we did a mixture of a walk and a stagger, something that resembled the mating dance of a pair of warthogs.

The pair of us tried to navigate a way out of the race course. We were singing our heads off and everyone was rightly giving us a wide berth. Well “Deano” is no trained athlete and I have my share of shrapnel and war wounds, so the pair of us were starting to hit the "wall" on our way up to the Town. We had cleared the water jump for the second time, when “Deano” informed me he could walk no further.

I may have not been the quickest on my feet but

T

was quicker than George Peppard from off the A Team when a plan was needed. I saw all of the buses and coaches parked up waiting to take the race goers home to all corners of the Midlands.

Well one particular bus, I believe it was from Nottingham, had its engine running and a driver was sitting impatiently in his seat, ready for a sharp exit. I carried a singing “Deano” giving his best Marti Pellow impression as he belted out a Wet Wet Wet song to the Nottingham coach and tapped on the passenger’s door.

The driver made the fatal mistake of opening the door and I promptly shoved Marti Pellow/Deano up the steps and I followed. “The lads are up in the town centre driver!, we’ve come to collect you and take you too them” “The buggers, he replied, do you know which pub they are in? “Waggons roll”, sung Marti/Deano, off upwards towards the town a fed up driver raced being serenaded by the worst Wet Wet Wet that Simon Cowell has ever heard or seen. We were certainly no “Angel Eyes” but we had decided we

could get bye with “A little help from my friends”.

"Were here driver, sang Marti as we reached the Vaults, "we'll go and round them up driver, you wait here”. “Cheers lads”, came the reply from a frustrated but relieved driver. He must have been “Wishing I was Lucky”.

Well me and Deano/Marti staggered into the Vaults front door and staggered out of the back door and ended up in the Black Swan. The coach was still parked up an hour later as me and Marti Pellow staggered towards the Karaoke competition in the White Horse, needless to say Wet Wet Wet did not win but they has managed to get to the Town Centre free of charge. I wonder what ever happened to that party from Nottingham and the driver. It must have been a “Temptation” to drive to Nottingham with an empty coach, all in all, “A Sweet Little Mystery”.

Bad Joke Time – My Missus has left me taking all of my Bob Marley records and the Satellite T.V system.

NO WOMAN, NO SKY, NO, NO, NO, NO WOMAN, NO SKY. Happy Days Regards, Roachy

On and off the field

By Alan Smith Alan Smith has enjoyed a lifetime of sport in the Cheadle and Uttoxeter areas.

Here Alan delves into his memory bank to write his unique brand of humour on colourful sports and life comments with memories of past and present which we hope readers will enjoy... or all the people I have come into contact with over the last 12 months or so can I just say if I appeared to be a bit miserable, a bit sharp or impatient, I do apologise but would like to acquaint you with what I hope will be a good explanation.

During this time I have been suffering with a chest infection which I couldn’t seem to shake off. I visited my doctors for months and tried any amount of antibiotics but all to no avail.

And eventually my doctor decided to refer me to a chest specialist. I was given a list of hospitals to apply for an appointment and how I felt I elected to go to the one which could see me the earliest.

This was Macclesfield Hospital which is about 2025 miles from where I live.

I received my appointment and drove to Macclesfield feeling really lousy with flu like symptoms which were with me for most of the time. I explained my condition to my expert and he gave me breathing tests and blood tests and also a CT scan and told me to rebook an appointment when the results would be known.

You can imagine with this further delay along with the months of misery I had endured I became not the happiest bunny around and sadly my traits as earlier disclosed became very apparent.

When I received my new appointment I went to the hospital with feelings of hope and also fear. I arrived and was called into listen to the results of the tests and scan. The specialist started by trying to explain the problem and using medical terms which I could not understand. But he ended by saying ‘And so I’m sorry Mr Smith there is nothing we can do for you.’

My heart stopped, so I’m going to die am I, I said.

He never replied but was forthcoming with the news that perhaps a physio could ease the congestion on my lungs. I got up and left the hospital in a daze, just about married, a young family, grandchildren and brothers and sisters and friends – what can I say to them? Don’t want to bother them with my worries, they have enough of their own.

F

I went along to the physio hoping for a crumb of comfort but was left feeling more depressed when the physio endorsed there was nothing that could be done.

Well now I was very low and that got to me as I could not see any recovery from what I thought was my death sentence, As the months went by my health deteriorated along with my enthusiasm. I had very little desire and no energy to play the game I loved, golf, and could only think of the worst.

But I’ve so much to do, I thought, must contact my relatives I’ve never seen on the other side of The Pond, my sister Ann, I must also get my big idea of the Gala Reunion of footballers from my era off the ground.

Both these things I threw myself into wholeheartedly as you are aware from my past articles in The Voice.

But just after Christmas I’d had enough and wanted the doctor to be more specific and went down to see him to hear the dreaded news – a month, 2, 3 or what – I was prepared!

‘Well Alan how are you,’ he said on entering his surgery for my appointment. ‘Dreadful,’ I said, bursting into tears. ‘Come on doctor tell me I’m ready, how long have I got’ and I duly told him of the comments of the specialist and the endorsement by the physio.

‘Well come on,’ he said, ‘calm down and let’s have a look’ and he scanned through the pages on his computer screen. Alan Smith came up, I stretched my neck wanting and not wanting to look but he’d quickly read through it and turned the screen around so that I could read it much easier. He then proceeded to read to me a full life expectancy can be had if I didn’t come into smoky environments.

Believe me, that was the closest I’ve come to really kissing a man! My joy, relief whatever descriptive word you can find, flooded upon me. He said he was truly sorry that he was not aware that I had thought the end was nigh. I left the surgery on Cloud 9 and rushed to tell my wife, we hugged one another and planned what we now intended to do and believe me I realised the value of life as in my lonely times prior to the good

news so many things come into your mind. I now want to see my children’s children grow up, want to see my lovely step-daughter Chloe happily married as also her brothers Ryan and Ben grow up and go their various ways. Ryan looks as if the Army is his choice, one which his mum and I have many worries but we think if he has the training and looks after himself he will make a fabulous soldier.

Ben will no doubt follow his brother as he has into the local Cadets and I’m really proud when they put on their uniforms for the Cadet classes.

But in me saying how relieved I am with my good news I must remember the people who are at present going through the uncertainty time, my great friend Frankie Rowe has just undergone a major operation which he told me lasted 6 hours. And 10 days later his massive operation I came across him walking around the golf course watching only obviously. I was amazed and told him so, I can’t sit indoors Al, you know me, was Frank’s comment. What courage, what a man.

You could say the moral to my article is that if you think you have got something bad, find out totally all the news about it and just remember the story in the Bible about the lad who thought he was badly done by because he had no shoes, until he saw the lad with no legs – perspective, that’s what it’s all about.

But on a much, much lighter note, my sister in America thinks we don’t have electric over here and we are still dependent on horse and cart! She wouldn’t be far wrong if she visited my mate’s house the day he came home with his 2 back of a lorry bargains, beautifully wrapped and looked the business from the pictures on the box.

A brand new hi tech video plus player and state of the art float screen TV, both for £50. ‘Kenty’ couldn’t believe his luck and quickly got them into his van ‘unchecked’, paid the £50 notes, the seller checked them and then Kenty got the boxes home, opened them like a kid with a Christmas toy, 1st box video plus player became Betamax 30 year old relic obsolete, 2nd box flat screen TV became 20inch black and white with no controls!

Can I just end by saying to all our local cricket clubs the very of luck for the forthcoming season and also to Checkley Cricket Club on celebrating their 150th anniversary.

All the best Smithy

Let The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice take your business to 13,000 local homes. To advertise, call 01538 751629 or 0776 784 6937.

39

See you at the far post!

By Mick Cullerton Stan ‘The Man!’ hen Stan Matthews returned home from South Africa in 1987 I was commercial manager at Stoke City.

He bought a lovely old property in Penkhull from where he could see the Victoria Ground. The house needed work doing on it and I used my contacts to help furnish and decorate it.

It was at this time that he asked me to help him with some of his bookings and engagements which quite frankly were in a mess.

The Stan Matthews who returned home, as he put it, was a much more mellow and relaxed character than the one who went to live in Malta in 1968.

I put this down to his relationship with Mila, his second wife. Mila was a very educated, clever, bright and strong woman. Stan relied on her judgement on everything.

Mila felt that Stan had been misled on a number of agreements and did not receive payments because he was very naive in his business dealings. Stan agreed to help me commercially if I sorted out his business dealings. His help to me was invaluable. Every home game he, along with his great friend Eddie Clamp, would go and socialise in the executive boxes and sponsors lounges.

Here his talents as a person came out as he had a wonderful gift of treating all our customers exactly the same, position never impressed him and he could put anybody at ease. I used to tell him that he was a bit of a Communist and this made him smile!

Stan used to walk down to the Victoria Ground 3 or 4 times a week and spent a lot of time in the commercial department. He took great delight in taking his turn to make the tea and coffee and it also caused much amusement to sponsors and guests when the ‘tea boy’ was none other than the great Sir Stanley Matthews!

The week after agreeing to help Stan, I was at a commercial managers conference at the Wembley Hilton when I switched on the television to see an advert which included Stan and Bobby Moore. I rang Stan and asked how much he had received for the promotion and he said that he knew nothing about it. I contacted the agency who had placed the advert and asked them who had given them permission to use Stan’s name. They replied that they did not need permission as Stan was dead!!

I answered them otherwise and arranged a meeting 2 days later at Stoke. I then rang Geoff Hurst to ask him for Bobby Moore’s number. 10 minutes later Bobby Moore rang me back to tell me that the contract was nearly up but had been an extremely successful promotion.

W

40

Football Match Day Summariser for BBC Radio Stoke Ex Professional Footballer with Hibernian, Port Vale and Derby County

Because of the agency’s embarrassment I agreed to represent both Stan and Bobby Moore. Bobby told me exactly what he had been paid to a penny, a lump sum of X amount plus £40 each time the advert was used. I asked Stan what he wanted and he said X amount plus a penny! I asked why the penny – and he said because he was a better player than Bobby!!

At the appointed time 2 of the agency owners sat in my office at Stoke cringing with embarrassment. They felt even worse when Stan walked in with a tray of tea and coffee and said ‘not bad for a dead man!’

I managed to reach a much more lucrative agreement for them both, a bigger lump sum plus £60 repeat fees for a period of 2 years. Both players were delighted and Bobby said that he was very pleased to be only one penny less valuable than Stan!

Although Stan received payments for commercial deals, I could not keep track of the amount of charity work he did, visiting hospitals, schools and old people’s homes where the majority were younger than him. He bought his first pair of denim jeans at 73 years old!! He loved them and seemed to wear them every day. He loved to laugh and did not mind having the mickey taken out of him.

In 1990 Stan went to Florida as a guest coach of Coca Cola where he met Rivelino, the great Brazilian player who had a magical left foot.

He was there for a beach tournament and kept performing a particular trick with one ball. Stan spent hours trying to perfect the trick which for one reason he could not master. After that every time he got a bit cocky I would say Rivelino to him just to wind him up! I think he was 78 when he managed to do the trick right.

One day I was at Stan’s home at Penkhull when the telephone rang.

Stan was making tea for us so I answered the phone. It was none other than Prince Philip!! I told him that Stan was making tea and he asked me what his tea was like. I told him that Stan made a good cuppa and he laughed and said that Stan would have to make the tea when he next visited the Palace as you couldn’t get a decent cup there!

Their phone call was of two old friends who had known each other for years. He invited Stan to be guest of honour at a worldwide fundraising dinner of which Prince Philip was the patron.

Stan loved to mix with young people and was very eager to present the prizes at Cheadle Athletic’s presentation night at Checkley Village Hall even though Mila was cooking dinners for guests at their home. It was wonderful to see the look on the faces of both young and

Sir Stanley Matthews leaves the School House in Lidice with myself behind (centre) and John James following me.

old when he arrived and also to be able to introduce him to Mrs Elsie Brunt, a stalwart of junior local football, who had been a fan of his for many years.

At Stoke my son Jamie used to sit with Stan and his brother Jack in the box. Stan and Jamie decided that they would like to go into the Boothen End. John Allcock arranged for 2 stewards to take them to the Boothen End and they stood at the back where a supporter gave Stan a cup of tea out of his flask and Stan really enjoyed his day at the back of the Boothen End!!

As a player Stan always had a reputation for being careful with his money whereas in fact I always found him extremely generous. The only time we ever fell out was when he wanted to start paying me for the work I did for him and I absolutely refused. The work he did for me at Stoke City was much more valuable to me than a few quid.

Every time I did a commercial deal Stan would offer me his England shirt he wore against Brazil at Wembley in 1956 when England won 4-2 or a Laurie Reilly Scotland shirt which he had swapped with Stan. I always said ‘I’ll have the Laurie Reilly one.’ Stan knew that Laurie had been my boyhood hero who played for Hibs, my first club.

Stan would then make out I had insulted him and would blow his cheeks. We had many a laugh over this and it became quite a joke when he told other people about it, I never did get the shirt!

The story that sums Stan up the best for me was when he was invited to The Savoy for a breakfast meeting.

I went along with Stan and as we sat at the table he was called away to the telephone. An elderly couple sat down at the next table and the lady immediately picked up the cup and turned it over to see where it had

been made. Her husband admonished her and I laughed and told them that the person who would join me would do exactly the same! I asked what part of The Potteries they were from and they said Fenton and their family had paid for a 3 day stay for them for their 50th wedding anniversary. You should have seen their faces when Stan sat down and picked up the cup and saucer to see where they had been made. I introduced him to them and we all had breakfast together.

Then Stan asked the manager of The Savoy if he had a photographer who would take some photographs. They had their photographs taken with Stan, Cliff Morgan, Peter Alliss and Laurie McMenemy.

After the photographs were developed Stan personally took them to the couple’s terraced house in Fenton where he shared tea with them.

Stan loved The Potteries and its people and the fact that most ordinary people called him Stan made him feel he was one of them.

It’s now 10 years since the great man passed away. I was lucky enough to see him play for England at Hampden although it gave me no pleasure to see him destroying Scotland’s left back!

My abiding memories of Stan are of a good family friend and an immensely humble and decent man who loved life.

In the last week Stan had been voted Potteries Personality of the Century! This would have pleased him greatly, especially as it was Potteries people who had voted for him......

See You At The Far Post Mick Cullerton

Cheadle United Football Club celebrate their 40th anniversary this year and plan to hold a celebration evening at the Guild Hall, Cheadle, on Saturday, 5th June at 7.30pm.

The evening will consist of a live band plus disco and a hog roast for refreshments.

Tickets are priced at £7 per person.

Could all players past and present who would like to attend this fantastic anniversary celebration evening contact Tony Webster on 01538 755778, 0770 6996 911, email tonywebster@talktalk.net, or Mick Beardmore on 01538 752737.

If you are responding to an advertisement in The Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice, please let the advertiser know. Thank you for your support.

Mick’s Magical Memories

By Mick Harper

Recollections of a Legend ne Saturday night back in 1970, I was enjoying a drink in the Weaver Lodge, one of the many pubs that sadly no longer exist in Uttoxeter and the surrounding area, and for that matter all over the country! A tall, well built, handsome guy in his mid twenties came into the lounge where I was seated and, after getting his pint, came and sat close by. He introduced himself and I did likewise and we had a long and interesting conversation. He told me that he was the middle son of a family of Travellers who had moved into Bridge Street. Along with his mother and father there was a younger brother and an older one. I got on well with the guy and we agreed to have a drink again the next time we bumped into each other.

A few weeks later I walked into the Wheatsheaf, another sadly missed watering hole, which was my regular haunt for well over 20 years. Standing by the bar was Sam, the guy I had met in the Lodge.

“My brother will be in soon”, said Sam, “if you would like to meet him.” About half an hour later a muscular flamed haired man came in. “This is my brother Bartley”, said Sam as I shook a huge firm hand. That was the start of a friendship of over 30 years with the legendary Bartley Gorman. From that first meeting in the Wheatsheaf an instant bond developed between myself and Bartley which I had never experienced before or since. It became especially intense in the latter years of his life when I spent many hours and days of quality time in his company.

The social scene in Uttoxeter in the early 70s was brilliant and there were often more people out on a week night than you will find on a Saturday now. The Wheatsheaf was the ‘in place’ and some nights you would be lucky to get a seat. The Juke Box rarely stopped playing with the superb music of the era and this made for a great atmosphere.

I had scores of friends who I drank with including ‘Ghandi’ Hodgkinson and Colin Morfitt who were also big mates of Bartley. Sometimes a gang of us would go up to North Wales where

O

Bartley had relatives and they in turn would come to Uttoxeter.

I think the main reason that I got on so well with Bartley was the fact that we had a similar sense of humour. We had some great laughs over the years including the time we devised a simple hoax which snowballed out of control. I will save this classic for a future offering.

One night Bartley decided to pretend to be a ghost in a local village around 2am in the morning.

He put a sheet over his head and went up and down the street making wailing and moaning noises. There were lights going on everywhere.

Luckily no-one decided to tackle the ‘ghost’ or they might have had a nasty shock. Bartley somewhat spoilt the effect of his endeavours however when for some obtuse reason he crowned his performance by blowing a whistle loudly three or four times.

I have always been a ‘magnet’ for boring people who trap you and, before you know it, subject you to something akin to Japanese torture. Bartley knew one such person who would often either call on him or ring him up. One day I went to see Bartley and he was on the phone to the ‘bore’.

Bartley put the phone down and left the bloke talking while he made a cup of tea for us. He then picked the phone up and said ‘yes’ and ‘no’ a couple of times before putting it down again. He did this 3 or 4 times over the next 20 minutes as the ‘bore’ continued to talk non-stop. On one occasion, I was with Bartley up at his Fort Woodfield home in Wood Lane when there was a man with him who could also bore for Britain whom I had, thankfully, never met before. After about 10 minutes, who should arrive but the ‘phone bore’. It was the ultimate nightmare, two of them in the same place at the same time. Bartley and I looked at each other in despair, we were at our wit’s end. Then Bartley winked at me before announcing that he was going down to the chip shop with me to get us all something for tea. “There’s a match made in heaven” said Bartley as we drove away. Needless

to say we didn’t return until we sneaked up 2 hours later only to find they were still there so, rather than interrupt their bliss, we quietly went away and left them to it.

Bartley was always in the media spotlight both locally and nationally. One day when I called on him he was being interviewed by a somewhat cocky fellow who was doing an article for a well known magazine. In reply to one query, Bartley quoted the Bible. The interviewer pounced on this and began to ask Bartley numerous questions about the Holy Book. To my amazement Bartley gave detailed answers to them all. The reporter eventually realised that he was getting nowhere in his misguided attempt to belittle Bartley and he reverted back to asking a normal question. Before he was halfway through it, Bartley interrupted and fired a religious query back at him. The startled guy was really flummoxed and garbled some complete nonsense which Bartley pounced upon and followed up with further interrogation which the reporter couldn’t handle.

I have rarely seen anyone made to look so foolish, and he looked very sheepish when he left.

Not surprisingly, there was no mention of the Bible when the magazine article was published.

It was around 12 noon one day and I was still in bed due to the fact that I had been working into the early hours. There was a loud knocking at the door which rudely awakened me from my slumbers and I thought I would ignore it, but as it persisted I reluctantly got up to see who was there.

It was Bartley smartly dressed in a dark suit.

“What’s up”, I said. “I will tell you on the way”, said Bartley. “On the way where?”, I retorted. “You will find out”, he said, “Now have a quick wash and shave and put your suit on”, he added. Once I was ready, I locked the door and went towards Bartley’s vehicle but he then said he wanted me to take him in my car. “Okay”, I said, “But what direction am I heading for.” “Derby”, said Bartley. After a while, he told me to make for the big Catholic Church which is close to Derby Cathedral. “What do you want to go there for?”, I queried. “A distant relative’s funeral”, he said. “Why do you want me there?”, I retorted. Bartley then told me that he needed me to be there to watch his back.

Apparently there were going to be some people there who Bartley had got the upper hand of in the past and he thought they might use the occasion to seek retribution. He said they might attempt to come at him from behind so that was what I had to look out for.

So there I was at the funeral of someone I had never known or heard of, shaking hands with complete strangers in church and agreeing with them what a wonderful person the deceased had been. Bartley thought that any attempted attack on him would take place in the cemetery after the Service so that was where I had to earn my corn.

While the burial was taking place, I stood a few yards behind Bartley attempting to look menacing with dark spectacles and one hand in my jacket pocket as if I was holding something. There were certainly one or two people who didn’t look too friendly but thankfully that was as far as it went.

As we drove away from the cemetery, Bartley tried to persuade me to go to the Wake. As I had to go to work I managed to talk him out of it, which was probably a good thing because Wakes at Gipsy funerals can often lead to violence as Bartley himself had told me on a number of occasions.

I don’t suppose there are many people out there who have been Bartley Gorman’s Minder so I have at least one claim to fame during my somewhat undistinguished life. More tales about my great friend next time.

Good health to you all.

Mick

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