Citylife in Lichfield May 2019 by Citylife In Lichfield

Welcome to CITYLIFE

Welcome to CITYLIFE in Lichfield, a monthly magazine bringing you our pick of the city’s news, events and stories. Each month CITYLIFE in Lichfield is delivered to 18,000 businesses and homes in Lichfield, Kings Bromley, Fradley, Alrewas, Whittington, Stonnall, Shenstone, Little Aston, Hammerwich, Burntwood and Longdon, completely free of charge; bringing you the best that the city has to offer. Each issue features heritage stories exploring the rich history of our area, plus competitions, interviews and the latest in fashion and style.

Got a story or charity event you want to share with our readership? Think you’ve snapped an image that captures the spirit of the city? We want to hear from you! Our business is bringing you Lichfield’s city life.

CITYLIFE Contacts

Editor - Kristen Lackajis 07885 380632 kristencitylife@gmail.com Features - Jono Oates 07785 757201 jonocitylife@gmail.com Advertising -

Steve Brown 07740 166497 stevebrowncitylife@gmail.com Rebecca Hill 07970 513144 rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com Production - Helen Smith 07967 154187 helencitylife@gmail.com

Citylife In Lichfield Ltd PO Box 7126 LICHFIELD WS14 4JS CITYLIFE in Lichfield and CITYLIFE in Rugeley magazines are not connected to any other publication or publisher, and are wholly owned by CITYLIFE in Lichfield Ltd. Citylife In Lichfield

www.citylifeinlichfieldltd.co.uk Citylife in Lichfield Ltd does not endorse any business or organisation appearing in these pages, and the publication of any advertisement, editorial, event listing or advertising editorial does not constitute an endorsement by Citylife in Lichfield Ltd.

e n i z a g a M l a c o Your L

Inside...

8 A Lichfield Tradition Jono Oates takes a look at the history of The Greenhill Bower

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14 A Hidden City Gem A visit to Aria Restaurant, Birmingham, is the ideal way to relax after a shopping trip

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20 Win Tickets to BBC Events Your chance to win tickets to BBC Gardeners World and BBC Good Food Show

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38 Statues of Lichfield A walk round the city, with Jono Oates, reveals some of its treasures

............................. 39 Afternoon Delights Citylife's guide to some of the best places to enjoy afternoon tea

............................. 42 Win Tea for Two Your chance to win afternoon tea at The Strawberry Cabin

The Greenhill Bower A Lichfield Tradition By Jono Oates

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n Monday 27th May one of Lichfield’s oldest traditions will take place – the Greenhill Bower. The Bower dates back to medieval times, during the reign of King Henry II, the first one probably taking place in 1145, and was traditionally the procession that would take place after the Court of Arraye. During these times each town and city in England had to muster its own men to protect it from attack as there was no regional army or militia at that time. The men would arm themselves with whatever weapons they had, pikes, staffs, swords, knives etc and would then take part in the annual Court of Arraye where they would show their arms to prove that they were a fighting force to be reckoned with. Today the ceremony is a lighthearted one with the petty constables, known as the dozeners, representing different areas of the city presenting their annual reports of the misdemeanours of the residents of the city that have occurred in the previous twelve months. After all the reports have been heard the Court is closed and the Officers of the Court take part in a procession that is part of the Lichfield Greenhill Bower event. Having displayed their arms, the men of the city would then assemble at a covered, decorated erection, known as a bower, to enjoy beef and ale. This gathering later expanded to include a procession round the streets of Lichfield to display their weapons and firepower, accompanied by Morris Dancers and covered with green garlands. During the time of King James II a recognised national army was established and the Courts of Arraye and musterings of local troops became unnecessary. The vast majority died out across the country, but Lichfield decided to keep its Court of Arraye and with it the Lichfield Greenhill Bower festival. Today the procession is made up of a number of decorated tractors and vehicles accompanied by music and dancers who parade through the streets of Lichfield before finishing with a large funfair on the fields of Beacon Park. In May 1847, in addition to the usual festivities and procession, Mr John Levett of Wychnor Park kindly offered to exhibit an

‘extraordinarily large ox’, which the public were charged 6d to see, with all proceeds going to a fund to provide a new Bower banner. There were also more animals on display, provided by Wombwell’s Menagerie. George Wombwell was one of the most famous menagerie, or zoo, keepers in Victorian Britain. The Wombwell Travelling Menagerie, which included giraffes, gorillas, elephants, monkeys and a rhino, visited the Bower several times during the 1840s and 1850s and was a big draw for visitors who had never seen these kind of wild, exotic animals before. A hundred years late, in 1947, the Lichfield Mercury reported that the Bower was revived in all its pre-war splendour after the event festivities were curtailed during World War Two. An estimated 50,000 people attended the event who were entertained by a procession of tableaux and grotesque figures as seen in Nice and the continent and provided by the amusement caterer Mr John Collins. Collins also provided the guilded coach on which the Bower Queen, Miss Edna Birch of Chase Terrace, her deputy Miss Hilda Clayton and her six maids of honour, travelled round the Bower processional route. The crowning of the queen took place outside the Guildhall and the Mayor was Mr William Francis Limer Salloway, of Salloways jewellers on Bore Street whose long-standing business has recently closed. The Greenhill Bower is one of Lichfield’s most ancient and famous traditions and one which cannot be seen anywhere else in the country, let alone in Staffordshire. It is a tradition that all Lichfeldians should be rightly proud of and I’m sure that thousands will turn out once more on Monday 27th May to celebrate and join in the procession – Happy Bower Day Lichfield!

Sources: The British Newspaper Archive; www.lichfieldbower.co.uk

Objects of

DESIRE

We all deserve a little luxury now and then. So go on… Treat yourself! 1. The conflict of nature has been powerfully depicted by Michael Simpson in this bronze sculpture, entitled Highland Falls. Priced at £2,550 and available from The Courtyard Fine Art Lounge, Dam Street, Lichfield, WS13 6AA - www.thecourtyardfineartlounge.co.uk

2. British-made bespoke high security Watch and Jewellery Safe. Hand-painted steel exterior to look like Burr Walnut and finished in a hardy high-gloss lacquer. The Pippy Oak internal cabinet elegantly holds a number of Rapport watch winders and has the option of soft close jewellery drawers to organise, secure and protect your important items. Can be made bespoke to any colour, style and design. Bespoke Watch and Jewellery Safes start from £10,500 including VAT. Lichfield Safe Centre Ltd, Church Street, Lichfield - www.lichfieldsafecentre.co.uk/luxury

3. Pre-owned Gents Rolex Submariner from the year 2001, complete with box and papers. Priced at £6,750. Available from City Jewellers, 39 Market Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LA - www.cityjewellers.co.uk 4. Pre-owned Gents Rolex Yacht Master II from 2015, with box and papers. Priced at £12,700 (RRP £13,700). Available from City Jewellers, 39 Market Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LA - www.cityjewellers.co.uk

5. Pre-owned Ladies 18ct Omega Constellation Diamond Set Watch from 1999, with box and papers. Pre-owned price £5,995 (RRP £9,680). Available from City Jewellers, 39 Market Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LA www.cityjewellers.co.uk

6. 124 piece canteen from the Britannia – Sovereign Silver Plate range. Quintessentially English, the Britannia pattern is based on the threaded Old English patterns of the 1750s, which have enjoyed international popularity ever since. Priced at £2792. Available from Arthur Price, 1 Britannia Way, Lichfield, WS14 9UY – www.arthurprice.com

7. 124 piece canteen from the Rattail – Sovereign Silver Plate range. Rattail is the oldest pattern in the range and dates from around 1710, when modern table etiquette started to develop. Priced at £2792. Available from Arthur Price, 1 Britannia Way, Lichfield, WS14 9UY – www.arthurprice.com

8. 124 piece canteen from the Kings – Sovereign Silver Plate range. Kings is a direct descendant of an older pattern called Fiddle Thread and Shell. This particular adaptation first appeared around 1817, and is still enormously popular today. Priced at £2792. Available from Arthur Price, 1 Britannia Way, Lichfield, WS14 9UY – www.arthurprice.com

Another Grand Donation by Local Auctioneers

Celebrates 20 Years .........................

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ichard Winterton Auctioneers has presented another £1000 to We Love Lichfield, bringing the total raised so far in just one year to £3000. The money has come from the family firm auctioning off items donated to charity by customers, and We Love Lichfield patron, Simon Price, was presented with a cheque by Richard Winterton at his Lichfield Auction House at Fradley Park. The Bargain Hunt regular said he was delighted to have had We Love Lichfield as one of his chosen charities for the past year and is Richard Winterton and Simon Price committed to raising more funds in the celebrating £3000 in donations to future. We Love Lichfield Richard Winterton Auctioneers has lots of projects planned for 2019 to help raise more for We Love Lichfield, including a special luxury sale at St Mary’s in the Market Place on Monday 15th July with proceeds going to the fund. More details will be announced soon. We Love Lichfield is a local fund providing small grants to a wide range of projects across Lichfield district. All donations are invested through a permanent endowment fund by registered charity The Community Foundation for Staffordshire. We Love Lichfield considers all applications from local groups and makes presentations to the organisations chosen twice a year.

Darwin House

n May, Erasmus Darwin House will be celebrating 20 successful years as a museum and education centre. In 1994, the stunning Grade I listed Georgian house was in a very poor state. As well as being the home and workplace of 18th-century physician, poet and inventor, Erasmus Darwin, it had also served as a residence for Cathedral officials and as a women’s shelter. A group of doctors and cathedral officials discussed what could be done to help restore Darwin House to its former glory, with the aim of raising awareness for the great 18th century polymath. Over the next five years, working with the Cathedral and with the help of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the £1.25 million project came to fruition and on 9th April 1999 the Museum opened its doors to the public. In 2009, refurbishment of the two main exhibition rooms took place and, in 2013, major changes were made to the Inventions Room, bringing the thoughts and inventions from Erasmus Darwin’s fascinating Commonplace Book off the page. Since then the staff and volunteers involved in the running of the House have worked tirelessly to make this museum an important part of Lichfield’s rich heritage. In celebration of the museum’s 20th anniversary, Erasmus Darwin House will be hosting a Gala Dinner on 18th May 2019 at Lichfield Guildhall. The evening’s guest speaker, Royal Historian and TV presenter professor Kate Williams, will speak about Emma, Lady Hamilton.The event is open to anyone and tickets are £45, which includes a drink on arrival, a three-course dinner and coffee. Tickets are available from Erasmus Darwin House, with all funds raised going to the running of the museum. Celebrations will also be held in the house over the weekend of 18th and 19th May, with an exhibition on the development of the museum; Georgian dancing; a pop-up tea room; tours of the house and cellars, and plenty of family fun. For full details please visit www.erasmusdarwin.org or follow us on Facebook. Entry to the house is free but there may be a small charge for some activities.

A Hidden City Gem Dining Review

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n invitation to Aria Restaurant in Birmingham to sample the delights of its new spring menu was a veritable treat for the tastebuds, as Citylife’s Rebecca Hill found out. After the buzz and hustle-bustle of the city streets, Aria Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham came as a more-than-welcomed surprise. The glass-roofed atrium set the scene and let the setting sunlight flood in, whilst the positioning of greenery and foliage exuded calm and tranquillity, providing the ideal spot for a relaxing post-shopping-spree dining experience. Greeted with a much-welcomed glass of wine in the expansive hotel lobby, I chatted earnestly with my hosts and other guests, whilst a tummy-rumbling hunger built up inside – tonight promised to be an explosion of exciting flavour combinations to mark the new spring menu that was being launched at Aria, and to say I was excited is an understatement! When presented with the menu, the choices burst from the page, with each dish sounding more tantalising than the last. It was a tough choice and I found myself putting such effort into choosing my meal, that another glass of wine was needed! I finally decided, ordered and sat back, eagerly awaiting what was in store. Being a lover of eggs, I simply couldn’t resist the starter of Duck Egg, Asparagus and Mushrooms which came served on a bed of peas and broad beans. The perfectly cooked egg was delightfully oozy and the vibrant yolk created a silken, unctuous glaze across the plate. Rich, delicious and decidedly moreish! I could have easily polished off several of these but, being a lady and in company, I begrudgingly decided against it! Next came the dish I had ordered as a perennial favourite of mine, Spring Lamb. Being a huge lamb fan (plus a lover of a good Sunday roast!) I thought the combination of scallion mash, Romesco broccoli, watercress and spinach puree, and a red wine jus sounded incredible, and I was certainly not disappointed on its arrival. Tender, moist lamb; wonderfully al dente vegetables; a rich, deep sauce, and the creamy puree meant that the intensity of flavour was mirrored by the different textures on the plate to create something fresh and truly unique - definitely worthy of its ‘spring’ title! Dessert has always been a firm favourite of mine and I like to think I’m somewhat

of an expert in the consumption of sweet treats! But the Rum Baba that Aria served was completely and utterly out of this world. Sticky mango rum syrup was drizzled over a creamy coconut crème patissiere which was perfectly set off with the sharpness of the tart mango sorbet – the flavour combinations reminiscent of a lazy summer in a Caribbean paradise. From rich and creamy, to fresh and tangy, to sweet and sharp… If I could sum up my Aria dining experience in a single word, it would have to be ‘dreamy’ and I contentedly floated home very much on cloud nine! To find out more about Aria Restaurant, visit www.ariarestaurantbirmingham.com or call 0121 643 1234 to make a booking.

COOL SHAPING CLINIC

Cryolipolysis - Fat Freezing • Cavitation - Fat Blasting • Radio Frequency Skin Treatment

Radio Frequency Facial Review

We sent Citylife’s Helen Smith to Cool Shaping Clinic to experience a radio frequency facial and see what it entails. Radio frequency is all about stimulating your own collagen production. During the treatment, a machine is used to heat the skin to between 38-40 degrees, and it is this innovative procedure which Jennifer Anniston claims keeps her skin looking youthful and lifted. The thought of emerging resembling the famed Friends celebrity was all I needed to hear to convince me to give RF a go! On entering the Cool Shaping Clinic, based at the Hawkesyard Estate, I was immediately put at ease by Veronica and her friendly team - truth be told, I was a little bit nervous about what a RF Facial treatment entailed, but my fears were soon allayed as we chatted and Veronica explained the machine she was going to use and how it operated. Radio frequency works by stimulating and intensifying the already-existing collagen in my skin, so first of all I had to completely remove my makeup and was given a facial scrub to ensure that my skin’s contact with the machine was dirt and grease-free.Then Veronica applied a gel to my face and began using heated prongs, with a balled end, to gently massage, paying special attention to the areas where I experienced fine lines, such as round my mouth and nose. I experienced a lovely warming sensation from the prongs and I can honestly say it was very relaxing. Veronica works on half of your face at a time and the treatment (which was a mini session) lasted around 30 minutes. Afterwards, a face mask was applied and I was given goggles and placed under an LED light, which changes colour and is designed to stimulate the skin. Finally, a moisturiser was slathered on and I was ready for the moment of truth! On looking in the mirror, I could instantly tell that my skin appeared smoother and more taut, with the lines around my mouth being much less visible than before – an effect which I’m told will keep on improving over the following few weeks. My entire face looked fresh and felt very soft and moisturised. The effects of such a treatment are meant to last up to an incredible two years and Veronica recommends that clients initially have two full-length treatments (which last 1 hour and 10 minutes each) within four weeks of each other, followed by a top-up treatment whenever it is needed.

Mention CITYLIFE to get 10% discount on any treatment in May 2019

Cool Shaping Clinic is a purpose built hightech state-of-the-art clinic, set in the beautiful and private Hawkesyard Hall Estate, offering both comfort and privacy to clients.

Whether you are looking to enhance your body shape, get rid of stubborn face, or smooth away the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, Cool Shaping offers innovative treatments that are not found anywhere else in the area.

Cryolipolysis - Fat Freezing

This non-invasive treatment removes unwanted fat by using sub-zero temperatures to kill the fat cells without damaging the surrounding tissue. A highly effective treatment, this procedure is FDA-approved and clinicallyproven, with no downtime needed aftewards.

Ultrasound Cavitation - Fat Blasting

One of the latest aesthetic treatments that works to eliminate stubborn pockets of fat and achieve instant inch reduction. This procedure can be used on virtually any area of the body where excess fat is being carried, including belly, thighs, buttocks and back. However, Cool Shaping Clinic can also tackle smaller areas, like upper arms and chin.

New Era of Eyewear at Colin Lee

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olin Lee is very proud to announce that it has invested in new dispensing technology at all of its branches, including the Lichfield practice. The new technology allows the opticians to order bespoke lenses made to fit each individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye movements and positioning, rather than generic fit lenses. Whereas most measuring devices just look at eye position, Colin Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyerulers measure eye centration, eye rotation and movement, as well as frame dimensions such as frontal angle and wrap, to ensure each lens is calibrated to the frame it will be put into. Find out more by visiting at Colin Lee Opticians in Market Street, Lichfield.

Charity Cricket Evening

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e Love Lichfield, Lichfield Cricket Club and The Lord Taveners are hosting a charity evening of sporting chat and entertainment with all the money raised going to good causes across the District. Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural event, Lichfield Cricket Club, in association with We Love Lichfield and The Lords Taverners, are hosting a Gala Dinner on Friday 28th June. Ex-England cricketer, Ashes hero and Strictly Come Dancing star Graeme Swann is the main speaker, with Radio 5 Live presenter Pat Murphy once again MC for the evening. The dinner, which includes a four-course meal, will take place in a marquee at Lichfield Cricket Club on Eastern Avenue, Lichfield with Gold Package tables of 10 available for £1,000 and standard tables available for £650. There will also be tables available for individual ticket purchases, with single tickets priced at £65. In addition to the meal and Q&A with Graeme Swann and Pat Murphy, there will also be an auction and raffle, with other games taking place throughout the evening in what promises to be another memorable night supporting three fantastic causes, with all money raised being reinvested in the District of Lichfield. For any ticket enquiries or sponsorship opportunities, including further details on our Gold Package, please contact Tom Stone on 07557 962159 or email Lichfieldcc@outlook.com.

J HOWELL & DAUGHTERS FUNERAL DIRECTORS LICHFIELD

LICHFIELD’S LONGEST ESTABLISHED INDEPENDENT, FAMILY RUN FUNERAL DIRECTORS. SECOND GENERATION BUSINESS HERE TO ASSIST YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. 24 hours a day

We are proud to be Lichfield's longest established family run funeral directors offering a wide range of choices to suit all requirements. Horse drawn hearse, non religious ceremonies, floral tributes and memorials are but a few of the services we offer. Pre-paid funeral plans are also available.

For a truly personal service please call

01543 255776

Private Chapel of Rest 116 Netherstowe, Lichfield, Staffs. WS13 6TS

Win Tickets

to BBC Gardeners’ World Live & BBC Good Food Show Summer

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Start planning your ultimate summer day out as BBC Gardeners’ World Live returns to NEC Birmingham, 13-16 June 2019. Experience stunning Show Gardens and Beautiful Borders packed with inspiration for your own garden. Visit the Floral Marquee and Plant Village with thousands of plants for sale including great fruit, veg and herbs to add to your plot. Plus buy the latest gardening kit from hundreds of exhibitors and see the TV presenters Monty Don, Carol Klein, Adam Frost, Joe Swift and Nick Bailey. Also get expert advice from drop-in stages including the National Allotment Society’s Let’s Talk Allotments stage with tips on growing tasty produce and keeping an allotment. All tickets include free entry to the BBC Good Food Show, so you’ll go from growing to eating in just a few steps. For more information and to book tickets, please visit: www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com T&C’s: Each invitation is valid for 2 people to attend BBC Gardeners’ World Live and the BBC Good Food Show Summer 13-16 June 2019 on any one day except Saturday, subject to availability. The prize is for three pairs of general admission tickets, so there will be three winners. Complimentary tickets do not include theatre seats. Not all experts appear on all days. Details correct at time of print.

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is unscramble the letters below to reveal the name of this well-known garden plant which produces pretty flowers:

SOMIPRER - - - - - - - -

To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to The BBC Competition, at competitioncitylife@gmail.com or post your entry to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS by the competition closing date of 24th May 2019. One entry per household. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Winners will not be offered a cash equivalent. Please note you must be 18 or over to enter. All entrants’ information is processed in line with GDPR Data Protection Regulations and our Privacy Policy. To view our Privacy Policy go to citylifeinlichfieldltd.co.uk. Full competition terms and conditions on page 56.

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St Peter’s School Challenge Ride

riends of St Peter’s School (FOSPS) are raising money for St Peter’s School in Yoxall by holding a 12-hour cycling event at Curborough Sprint Track, Lichfield on Friday 21st June. FOSPS are opening this event to the wider community and are looking for cyclists to join in. The track is available from 8am-8pm and each rider and team is free to join in at any time throughout the day. The minimum sponsorship for each rider is £50. For more details or an application form, please email fosps.cycle.challenge@gmail.com, or call one of the team: Chris 07713 068210, John 07594 505417 or Mike 07974 009685. Thanks go to Cycling 2000 who will be providing a selection of children’s bikes for the day. Happy Healthy Cycling Club Cycling 2000 is running a series of summer cycling sessions at Curborough track every Monday and Wednesday from 6pm-8pm. Instruction is available for basic skills, balance and confidence and the sessions are open to men, women and families! For more information contact Fleur at fleur@happyhealthycycling.co.uk or 07773912161.

Blues and Jazz Festival

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ith everything from international blues and jazz bands, to local regional bands, Lichfield Arts’ Blues and Jazz Festival will have something for everyone between Thursday May 30th and Sunday 2nd June. Kicking things off will be jazz guitarist Remi Harris appearing with bassist Tom Moore at the Cathedral

Hotel, Beacon Street. Over the weekend, visitors and music fans can enjoy acts such as The Alison Rayner Quintet, Climax Blues Band, Tom Hill’s 70s Jazz Funk Machine, The Oxley-Meier Guitar Project, Steve ‘Big Man’ Clayton, The Sleaze Brothers and Soft Machine, plus many more, at various venues across the city. Individual tickets are available however a £25 Saturday Stroller ticket will give music fans all day entry.

For further details and to book tickets visit www.lichfield-jazz.co.uk or call Lichfield Arts Box Office on 01543 262223.

Steve Clayton

Got a story or charity event you want to share with our readership? Think you’ve snapped an image that captures the spirit of the region? We want to hear from you! Contact Citylife at kristencitylife@gmail.com

Nautilus Sculpture Unveiled at Erasmus Darwin House ..........................

ew sculpture, Nautilus, by local artist Hannah Golding was unveiled at Erasmus Darwin House on 13th April. Based on the theme Darwin’s Lunar Legacy, the sculpture is situated in the House’s Herb Garden.

There will also be a month-long exhibition which explores Hannah’s development of the piece and all the artwork created by the local community. Hannah has worked with local groups such as Charnwood Children’s Centre, Together the Mental Health charity and the art students from South Staffordshire College, Lichfield Campus, all of whom have made art work which will be on display in the new exhibition room. This project first started back in March 2018 when Erasmus Darwin House was awarded a grant for £25,050 to produce the sculpture and exhibition, from Swinfen Broun Trust, facilitated through Lichfield District Council. Not only did the project encourage the local community to get ‘hands on’ with various mediums, it also enabled the museum to provide valuable work experience for students from the University of Birmingham who are helping to write the information panels about the project and develop family activities to accompany it. Hannah Golding’s final sculpture has formed around Erasmus Darwin’s evolutionary motto, “Everything from Shells”. Using the Nautilus shell as a symbol of expansion and efficiency, Hannah has used metal cogs to form the body of the work which she felt reflected “the Lunar Society’s industrial achievements as well as a representation of the enlightened thinkers working together to expand their ideas on creating more efficiency within many aspects of society.”

Artist Hannah Golding

The exhibition is open every day 11am-5pm until 12th May.

Cathedral to Castle Run

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he tarmac was pounded on Sunday 7th April when more than 1,100 runners took part in the Rotary run from Lichfield Cathedral to Tamworth Castle. Organised by the four Rotary clubs of Lichfield and Tamworth, this is the third year the event has been held and this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s run saw a record number of entries.

Pictured are runners Kelly Butler, Robe Mace, David Morrell and Mark Stait.

Your Garden in May By Byron Lewis

Dare I say it, but the weather has been pretty good so far this year, with a warm March and decent Easter to boot. Lots of people are getting out into the garden and that can only be a good thing! May traditionally signals the start of the summer patio plant season the garden centre is now filling up with lots of traditional favourites like marigolds, lobelia and dozens more. With the long hot summer of last year, many bedding plants suffered so this year try more drought tolerant patio plants, like geraniums and begonias, which can cope with extreme temperatures. If you've got shadier spots in the garden, try using fuchsia and impatiens (busy Lizzy), as these will thrive both in borders and in pots and hanging baskets. Vegetable and herb growing seems set to rise this year, and now is the time to either sow seed or plant out ready-germinated seedlings into the garden. For quick growing crops try salad vegetables, such as spring onion, radish and beetroot. May is a great time to set runner bean seeds - make sure you build your climbing frame for them before you sow as they can reach up to 8ft tall! And don't forget lots of vegetables can be grown in window boxes or large pots - just ask at the garden centre for advice. Garden ornaments and features are also soaring in popularity. Metal obelisks and wind spinners provide a focal point and some people don't even plant around such objects, instead leaving them empty to give height and structure to borders. On the subject of obelisks - plant supports are always handy items to have, especially for wayward perennial plants like lupins and delphiniums, which have long stems that can be damaged by the wind. It's better to get the supports in place before the plants get too tall! Like the obelisks, these are also attractive to look at. Turning to lawns, it's time to give a weed and feed product to your lawn. Many of our customers had lawns which turned to dust after last summer. Feeding will help new growth, but if your lawn is thin you can also re-seed. Use multi-purpose lawn seed, which is generally hard wearing, and mix it with compost, then sprinkle evenly over the thin area. A word of caution - water the lawn BEFORE sowing, as you can end up washing all the seed into one area causing thick patches. Also protect the seed for a few weeks from the birds by getting some netting over the area. Let's hope we have a good summer run of weather - it's time to get gardening! Byron Lewis runs Lichfield Garden Centre at Curborough Countryside Centre, Watery Lane, Lichfield. Tel: 01543 254306 or visit www.lichfieldgardencentre.co.uk.

Advertising Feature

Inheritance Tax

What do you really know about Inheritance Tax? Are you married, single, co-habitating, divorced or something else? Did you know this might make a difference? Do you know what your nil rate band is, or how much it is? Do you know what the residential nil rate band is, or how much it is? Do you know if you qualify? Would you be happy to pay Inheritance Tax at 40% on part of your estate? Would you prefer your children, grand children and family to get more of your estate? What does the man down the pub say about inheritance tax? Are you going to take his advice? In reality is it time to speak to a Financial Adviser?

As an experienced local Financial Adviser, with many clients in our area, I may be able to help you. You can visit our office or I can visit you at home to discuss your Investments, Savings, Pensions and potential inheritance tax liability. The first appointment will be at my cost and there is no obligation to proceed any further. Any future costs will be explained and agreed with you before any work is carried out on your behalf. I will carry out a full fact find of your circumstances and discuss with you where you want to be financially in the future and how we may be able to help you get there. As a member of a ten strong Financial Adviser team at Four Oaks Financial Services I am supported by in-house research, client liaison and administration teams. I am a fully qualified Financial Adviser working with private and corporate clients to help them achieve their financial goals. I constantly keep my skills and knowledge up to date in order to provide the most appropriate advice in line with each client's risk profile and their specific needs. My clients are mainly in the Burntwood, Cannock, Lichfield and greater Wolverhampton areas, although I do have clients much further afield. At Four Oaks Financial Services we advise our clients on range of investments and are very proud to have their trust and confidence to do so. I provide financial advice to my clients on investments, pensions, inheritance tax planning and long-term care. The value of pensions and investments and the income they produce can fall as well as rise.You may get back less than you invested. Estate planning, inheritance tax planning and long-term care are not regulated by the FCA. Our first meeting will be at my cost so please give me a call or drop me an email and we can take it from there.

Robin Place DipFA, CeLTCI, MLIBF Financial Adviser 0121 323 2070, 07968 504805 robin@fouroaksfs.com

The Month in Pictures

April

e take a look at the events and activities of the last month, bringing you a roundup of the city in pictures...

St Giles Hospice Orange Wednesday with Samuel Johnson and David Garrick!

Visit Lichfield afternoon tea for David Garrick and Samuel Johnson

Angel Croft Consultation, Erasmus Darwin House

Images by Jono Oates www.jonotourism.co.uk

David Garrick and Samuel Johnson at Lichfield Library

St Giles Hospice Orange Wednesday

Palm Sunday Procession, Market Square

Palm Sunday Procession at Speakers' Corner

Lichfield Society of Artists Exhibition, Lichfield Guildhall

Darwin Court Care Home Open Event

Wedding Fair, Lichfield Guildhall

Peace Woodland Blessing, Beacon Park

Procession to the Peace Woodland Blessing in Beacon Park

Black Beauties

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By Lauren Hirst, Greyhound Trust Hall Green

t's well known within animal homing circles that black dogs and cats are harder to home than their lighter coloured mates. Sometimes superstition is to blame. Or it may be because they often look older than they are as their faces go grey earlier. It could even be because they can be harder to photograph well, especially if they have dark eyes. But it’s most likely that there are just more black animals available in homing centres due to the fact that black is a dominant gene. Finding homes for one black greyhound can be hard enough but when you want to home two together, it can be doubly challenging. Greyhound Trust Hall Green is appealing for that special someone who can offer a home to two dogs and thinks that ‘black is beautiful.’ The coats on the black dogs, when well looked after, gleam in a way that none of the others do. Malcolm and Mia came into the Trust's homing kennels on Watford Gap Road, Little Hay after having been together in their racing kennels for more than two years. They make such a lovely couple that the volunteers feel it would be a shame to split them up. They look for each other when out walking and cuddle up together in their kennel. Both dogs are super friendly and love to play, whether it’s chasing a ball or tossing around their squeaky toys.

Malcolm and Mia

To see more information about Malcolm and Mia or one of the other hounds in their care, visit Hall Green's website at www.greyhoundtrusthallgreen.org.uk/greyhounds-looking-for-homes. If you can open your home and heart to these two black beauties, then phone the Trust on 0121 426 4810 or email hallgreen@greyhoundtrust.org.uk to make an appointment. Greyhound Trust Hall Green 0121 426 4810 www.greyhoundtrusthallgreen.org.uk

Heart of the Country The original rural shopping village

Heart of the Country Shopping Village is a collection of converted 19th century farm buildings, now home to individual shops and boutiques, as well as two restaurants. The Village, having started as a single country store in 1985, now gives life to a collection of eclectic and stylish local businesses. Heart of the Country Shopping Village, A38, South Swinfen, WS14 9QR. Open: 10am-5pm, Tuesday-Sunday

Lichfield L2F Art Competition 2019

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etails for the L2F 2019 Art Competition, to be held at the Lichfield Festival of Folk in October, have been released, with the subject for this year being: BLOWING IN THE WIND. The competition, sponsored by Dame Oliver’s of Dam Street, opens for entries on Wednesday 1st May and closes on Friday 3rd August 2019. All entries must be original, 2-dimensional, in any medium (watercolour, acrylic, oils, pastels, charcoal, pencil, pen, collage etc) but excluding photography. The maximum size for entries is A1 (23.4 x 33.1 inches/594 x 841 mm). Entries must be submitted by the closing date via photograph (up to 8 × 10 inch size) which should be posted to Lynda English, Lichfield Arts, Donegal House, Bore Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LU, with the envelope clearly marked L2F Art Competition. The artist’s name, address, phone number and email address (if available), must be printed clearly on the back of each photograph. Entries can also be emailed to lynda.english@lichfieldarts.org.uk but must be in a format which can be easily printed in 8 × 10 inch and must contain all details of the artist (as above). A shortlist will be drawn up from the photographs submitted and finalists will be notified by 6th September 2019. All shortlisted entries must be framed to allow them to be hung and exhibited for public viewing prior to the L2F Festival. The winner will be announced on Sunday 20th October during the L2F Festival. For further information, visit www.lichfieldarts.org.uk

......................... New Hidden Heights tour

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here’s a chance to explore the hidden heights of Lichfield Cathedral on a new tour that follows walkways among the medieval timbers of the roof. It follows the recent postponement of tower tours which are being put off because of the need for restoration work on the central spire, which means the usual tower tour isn’t accessible. But it gives the opportunity to give access to areas of the roof which are not normally open to the public. The Hidden Heights tours will run on the same dates and times originally announced for the 2019 programme of tower tours (beginning end of April). You can find out more details and book tickets online at www.lichfield-cathedral.org, by phone on 01543 306150, or from the Cathedral Gift Shop.

Awards Roundup Thebestof Lichfield ......................................

The Strawberry Cabin

The Cheese, Gin & Ale Barn

ord of mouth and customer feedback lies at the heart of thebestof. The role of reviews in the decision-making process for consumers continues to be influential and prevalent. The Business of the Year Awards is based purely on the number of real verified reviews that a business has received from its customers.

The campaign operates at a national and local level providing participants across the country with the opportunity to win the accolade of UK Business of the Year 2019, Business of the Year in Category 2019 or Business of the Year 2019 in their own town. Thebestof Lichfield is about building a local community where business owners can support the city, promote local events and help each other to grow. This year’s awards’ ceremony was held at The Strawberry Cabin in Hints on 15th April. Here in Lichfield we are proud to announce our winners for 2019:

Splashers Swimming Academy

Pictures courtesy of Spettro Photography.

aBagoFun Children’s Activities & Parties

Business of the Year in Lichfield: The Strawberry Cabin - 4th in the UK. Highly Commended in Lichfield: The Cheese, Gin & Ale Barn – 5th in the UK. Splashers Swimming Academy - 10th in the UK. Category Winners: Bradshaw’s Farm Shop & Café – Delicatessens & Farm Shop of the Year. Sally and John Bradshaw. Cathedral Chem-Dry - Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners of the Year. Neil and George Weyham. Splashers Swimming Academy – Sports & Leisure Business of the Year. Margaret McLellan and team. The Cheese, Gin & Ale Barn – Specialist Retailer of the Year. Louise Sharpe. The Strawberry Cabin – Coffee Shops & Tea Rooms Business of the Year. Elaine Clarke and team. Highly Commended National Winners: aBagoFun Children’s Activities & Parties. Delia Strickland and team. Hunnypot Cottage Design – Specialist Retailer of the Year. Ruth Redgate. Pool House – Vets. Clare Smith and team. Project Zero – Tattooists. Keith, Lauren and team. Find out more at www.thebestof.co.uk/local/lichfield.

Congratulations to our Citylife in Lichfield April competition winners! Ballroom Boys Show Mrs Woods

Cadbury World Tickets Mrs Moseley

The Strawberry Cabin Meal Mr Thompson

Hoar Cross Hall Afternoon Tea Ms Brookhouse

The Statues of Lichfield By Jono Oates

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ichfield has the most wonderful history and heritage and this is reflected not only in its buildings and open spaces but also in its many statues and sculptures that are located around the city centre and parks. One of the most significant, and most widely recognised, statues in Lichfield is that of its most famous son, Samuel Johnson. Seated on high in the Market Square facing the direction of his former home (now the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum), the imposing, brooding statue dominates the marketplace. Unveiled in August 1838 the statue was sculpted by Richard Cockle Lucas and was a gift to the city from one of its major benefactors, the Reverend James Thomas Law, who was the Chancellor of Lichfield Diocese for over 50 years. The cost of the statue, which was made from a very durable Ashlar stone, was approximately £1,000 – a very substantial amount of money in 1838. On the other side of the Market Square stands the statue of Johnson’s friend and biographer, James Boswell. This was unveiled in Erasmus Darwin, 1908 and was sculpted by Percy Fitzgerald who, as well as being a Museum Gardens sculptor, was also a writer who had been mentored by the great Charles Dickens. Boswell, a former lawyer who had been born in Edinburgh, became close friends with Samuel Johnson when they met in London and his biography of Johnson provides a fascinating insight into the life of the man who created the Dictionary of the English Language in 1755. In the Museum Gardens of Beacon Park there are a number of statues, one of the best known being the statue of Captain Edward John Smith, the captain of the ill-fated RMS Titanic, which sank on its maiden voyage in April 1912. There is also a statue of King Edward VII that stands on the Edward VII, Beacon Park Bird Street side of the gardens. Unveiled in September 1908 the statue was a gift to the city from Robert Bridgeman, the Lichfield stonemason and wood carver, whose business premises were on Quonians Lane, off Dam Street. The business is long gone but the Bridgeman’s sign can still be seen on the building. At the base of the Old Free Library and Museum there is a statue of Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin, and whose house, now a museum, is a short walk away on Beacon Street. This is a more recent statue, unveiled in 2012, and is the work of Peter Walker, who is the current artist-in-residence at Lichfield Cathedral. In his outstretched hand Erasmus is holding a sea shell - it is said to bring good fortune to anyone who rubs the shell and makes a wish! On the far right of the old library there is a statue of a sailor, holding a rifle which has, unfortunately, a broken or snapped-off barrel. Although he has been in Lichfield for a long time this particular statue should not have been standing on a building in Lichfield but on a war memorial in York! After the end of the Second South African War, the city corporation of York commissioned Robert Bridgeman and Sons to provide eight statues of soldiers and crew from the army and navy to place on an octagonal memorial. When they saw the sailor they believed that his stance, with rifle pointing outwards, was too aggressive and, as the memorial was to celebrate peace, they rejected it and returned it to Lichfield. Bridgeman’s produced another statue of a sailor, this time holding a coiled rope, which was accepted by York and so the original statue no longer had a home. Robert Bridgeman offered the statue to Lichfield City Corporation who placed it on the corner of the Old Library where he still stands guard today – albeit with no barrel to his Lee-Enfield rifle! There is a circular trail of the statues and sculptures of Lichfield, called the City of Sculpture Trail, which was set up by the Sculpture and Art Foundation CIC initiative. It can be viewed at www.thecityofsculpture.co.uk Sources: City of Sculpture Trail website; The British Newspaper Archive

James Boswell, Market Square

Samuel Johnson, Lichfield Market Square

Sailor, the Free Library and Museum

Captain Smith of the Titanic, Beacon Park

Afternoon Delight

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here’s no better way to while away the hours than enjoying the typically British treat of afternoon tea. We bring you a round-up of some of the best that Lichfield has to offer. Hoar Cross Hall Experience afternoon tea in the setting of a stately country home at Hoar Cross Hall. The menu hosts a selection of freshly prepared sandwiches, an inspired arrangement of beautiful cakes and indulgent pastries, with a range of loose leaf teas to choose from (read more in our review on page 43). Classic tea for - £20 per person. Prosecco Tea - £25 per person. Royal Tea (with Champagne) - £30 per person. www.hoarcross.co.uk McKenzie’s in the City Located in the converted Victorian Corn Exchange building, McKenzie’s in the City offers a selection of finely cut sandwiches and freshly baked scones with traditional clotted cream and strawberry preserve. There’s a variety of loose-leaf teas to choose from too. Why not add a glass of prosecco for some extra sparkle? Available every day from 3pm-6pm. £14.50 per person (add £6 per person for prosecco). www.mckenziesinthecity.com

The Strawberry Cabin Enjoy a little taste of the countryside with an afternoon tea at The Strawberry Cabin. Nestled in the surrounds of Manor Farm, the purpose-built eatery offers a delicious selection of savoury and sweet treats, plus standard tea or Americano coffee. £15 per person (or add a little fizz for £5 extra per person). www. strawberrycabin.co.uk

Afternoon Tea

The George Hotel The George Hotel is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea with friends. Served every day, full afternoon teas include an assortment of freshly prepared sandwiches, a fruit scone with cream and strawberry jam and a selection of afternoon tea cakes. To accompany afternoon tea, there is a choice of teas or a pot of freshly ground coffee. Traditional tea £12 per person. Celebration tea (with sparkling wine) £16 per person. www.thegeorgelichfield.co.uk

Aria Restaurant at Hyatt Regency Birmingham The perfect pit-stop after a hard morning’s shopping is a luxury afternoon at Aria, Birmingham. Three beautifully presented tiers offer a collection of fruity fancies, a choice of delicate finger sandwiches, and the classic favourite of scones, fresh from the oven, with sweet jam and clotted cream. Traditional tea - £25 per person. Champagne tea - £34 per person. www.ariarestaurantbirmingham.com

Afternoon Tea

Win Afternoon Tea for Two The Strawberry Cabin

Looking for a little taste of the countryside in To be in with a chance of winning, all you have Staffordshire? Look no further! The Strawberry Cabin Tea to do is unscramble the letters below to reveal Room and Restaurant serves delicious food, catering for the name of a popular type of tea: breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas, as well offering a range of mouth-watering cakes. There’s nothing better than taking in the countryside views and rural setting of Manor Farm over a glass of bubbly. The Pick-Your-Own fruit season is starting in May and Manor Farm will be open for visitors to come, enjoy a session of fruit-picking, and then relax with a bite to eat in To enter, just send your name, contact details and answer to The Strawberry The Strawberry Cabin. Cabin Competition, at competitioncitylife@gmail.com or post your entry to There’s also a whole host of events taking place ver the Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield WS14 4JS by the competition date of 24th May 2019. One entry per household. Multiple entries will be next 12 months, so keep up to date at closing disqualified. Winners will not be offered a cash equivalent. Please note you must www.strawberrycabin.co.uk. You can also follow The be 18 or over to enter. All entrants’ information is processed in line with GDPR Strawberry Cabin on Facebook, or visit The Strawberry Data Protection Regulations and our Privacy Policy. To view our Privacy Policy go Cabin at Manor Farm, Watling Street, Tamworth B78 3DF, to citylifeinlichfieldltd.co.uk. Full competition terms and conditions on page 56. 01543 483680.

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Afternoon Tea

The Barn, Swinfen Nestled in the countryside in a rustic converted barn, The Barn has been situated at Heart of The Country for more than 20 years. Afternoon tea includes homemade sandwiches, delicious desserts and scones, a pot of tea or coffee, and a friendly atmosphere! Priced at £12.50 per person. www.thebarnatswinfen.co.uk

The Olive Tree Traditional afternoon tea at The Olive Tree comes with homemade sandwiches, scones and cakes, accompanied by tea or coffee. And then there’s the option of the ‘Tipsy Tea’ which includes bottomless prosecco! Served Saturday 2pm until 5pm Traditional Tea - £15 per person. Tipsy Tea - £25 per person. www.olivetreelichfield.co.uk

The Old Schoolhouse, Weeford A traditional three-tiered platter stacked with assorted finger sandwiches, homemade cakes and scones alongside either a pot of tea or freshly brewed coffee - a delicious way to spend your afternoon! You can even add a glass of prosecco or Champagne to make it a really special afternoon! Served Tuesday to Saturday between 12:30pm and 4:30pm. Priced at £14.95 on Tuesday to Friday and £17.95 on Saturday. www.schoolhouse.co.uk

Afternoon Tea

Time for Tea! Dining Review

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nce known as high tea, the afternoon tea is quintessentially British and stems from the reign of Queen Victoria, when bridging the gap between an early lunch and a late supper was very much needed.

Here at Citylife, we love nothing better than to get together over delicious food and have a natter, so we were delighted to be invited to enjoy afternoon tea at Hoar Cross Hall. On arrival we were greeted and seated in the wonderful, high-ceilinged dining room which looks over the expanse of perfectly landscaped gardens, and which provided the ideal backdrop for our visit. Next came the tough task of choosing which tea to sample – being an avid tea drinker, and partial to something a little ‘lighter’, I selected a pot of Earl of Grey and was treated to the delicate infusion of a blend of Assam and China black tea leaves, with a natural bergamot undertone for that smooth citrus taste and aroma. The ladies accompanying me opted for a classic house blend of black tea, and a red berry burst infusion (which I’m told was akin to drinking ‘summer in a cup’!) After truly ‘whetting our whistles’ on our respective loose-leaf blends, the main spectacle arrived and did not disappoint! An elegant tower of sumptuous finger sandwiches, handmade scones and mouth-watering mini-cakes was placed in front of us and we did what any discerning ladies faced with such a situation would do… we tucked in! Not only was there a range of delicious sandwich fillings, but also a range of breads too, and we enjoyed ham, tomato and Dijon mustard on spinach flavoured loaf; poached salmon crème fraiche on wholemeal; egg mayonnaise and black truffle on Viennese loaf; and the classic combination of cucumber and cream cheese on Norfolk crunch. Needless to say, we made light work of these and moved on, in earnest, to the sweeter delights! Light and fluffy fruit and plain scones were served with lashings of clotted cream and strawberry preserve, whilst tart lemon drizzle cake and a raspberry and pistachio friand helped refresh the palette to make way for a creamy pineapple tart. A crunchy, yet soft, gold chocolate macaron was the perfect finishing touch to not only an incredibly tasty bite to eat, but also an elegant and sophisticated experience. Find out more about Afternoon Tea at Hoar Cross Hall by visiting www.hoarcross.co.uk/dining/afternoon-tea, or calling 01283 575671.

Militaria expert whose finds make worldwide headlines is coming to Lichfield By Adrian Rathbone of Hansons Auctioneers

Adrian Stevenson, Hansons Auctioneers’ full-time militaria expert, whose finds makes worldwide headlines, is heading to Staffordshire in a bid to make more discoveries. Mr Stevenson, who achieved a record-breaking £180,000 auction in his March Medals and Militaria sale at Hansons Auctioneers, will (appropriately) be at Staffordshire Regiment Museum, Whittington Barracks, Nr Lichfield on May 17, 10am-1pm. He said: “Militaria objects are in demand across the world. In our last auction, a Second World War RAF DSO medal group together with the real Great Escape journal, which belonged to Flight Lieutenant Vivian Phillips, sold for a hammer price of £13,500. “After being captured by the Germans, British airman Mr Phillips helped dig a tunnel which led to a mass breakout from German prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft III – a story told in Hollywood movie The Great Escape. “The journal was an amazing find capturing the spirit of the famous story in words, sketches and cartoons. It sparked worldwide media coverage, as did another item in the sale, an 1889 penny that saved a soldier’s life in the First World War. “The coin, bent by the impact of a pistol shot, was kept in the breast pocket of Private John Trickett. It was sold as part of a WW1 British medal group for £4,500. “I often see items that have been languishing in drawers for decades that both delight collectors and bring wartime stories back to life. Whatever military-related object you have, I would love to see it – from medals, weapons and paperwork to uniform and badges.” Adrian Stevenson will be at Staffordshire Regiment Museum, Whittington Barracks, Whittington, WS14 9PY, on May 17, 10am-1pm. Entries invited until July 1 for Hansons’ next International Medals and Militaria Auction. Hansons’ general valuers are at The Hedgehog Inn, Stafford Road, Lichfield, WS13 7AD, on Mondays (except bank holidays), 10.30am-12.30pm. Free no obligation valuations at home with general and specialist experts can be arranged by calling 01283 733988 or emailing arathbone@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk

The Real Great Escape Diary was part of a medal group and war archive belonging to Flight Lieutenant Vivian Phillips which sold for £13,500.

The penny that saved Private John Trickett’s life sold, with his medals, for £4,500.

Premier Transfer Services - for when image is everything!

Premier Transfer Services is a family run, privately owned business, providing transport for all areas of Staffordshire, the UK and Ireland. They are a leading provider of chauffeur driven executive cars and minibuses for the more selective traveller. Their fleet of vehicles is luxury gold class standard and driven by professional, licensed chauffeurs, but costs are kept at very affordable prices. Keith Warner, owner of Premier Transfer Services and its sister companies, the Image Luxury Cars company and Wightwick Transfers, have over 20 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in luxury travel. Premier specialise in Corporate Hospitality offering a door to door service with professional chauffeurs, who know how to avoid traffic delays and the points closest to your event where they will drop you off and pick you up. Premier Transfer Services are ideal for airport transfers and seaport transfers. They will keep you up to date with your transport details to make sure you arrive for your departure in stress-free comfort. They will also check your route for delays, and will transport you safely and smoothly to the departure terminal. Premier Transfer Services are fully licensed by South Staffordshire Council as a Private Hire Vehicle Operator. All drivers hold, regularly renewed, Private Hire Licences. All vehicles undergo rigorous inspections and are regularly serviced by the relevant main dealer. They will transport you to your destination in either a Mercedes R class, Jaguar XJ or an executive Renault Traffic. Premier also provide chauffeur driven wedding transportation for your special day. Their modern Jaguar XJ

in a stunning cashmere gold with leather interior is ideal for the main bridal party. Premier also specialise in: Luxury travel to sporting events such as Royal Ascot, and the Henley Regatta and luxury travel to special occasions and days and evenings out. Why not hire the vehicle and Chauffeur for the whole day, and have a vehicle waiting for you to take you wherever you want? For a quote or a no obligation chat call 07860 622545, 01902 566500 or email enquiries@premiertransferservices.co.uk Premier Transfer Services for when image is everything.

Ultimate Vegan Cafe ..........................................

he brainchild of Elisabeth and Ian, the Ultimate Vegan Café (or UVC for short) opened its doors on 13th March 2019 and it’s fair to say that business is booming. The couple’s first foray into the vegan world came following a Morrissey concert! The pop idol is a staunch advocate of animal welfare and this motivated Elisabeth and Ian to give vegetarianism a try nine years ago. At the time, Elisabeth suffered from a debilitating condition and was very poorly. She was regularly admitted to hospital and lived on medication to try and cure her illness. After just a few weeks of being vegetarian, Elisabeth noticed her condition lessening and her body starting to heal. Fast forward to today (nine years later) and Elisabeth is fitter, healthier, and her illness is now under control which she credits to her eating regime and healthier lifestyle. It was 18 months ago, however, that the couple decided to journey into veganism and undergo a complete lifestyle change. Ian’s long-suffering condition of coeliac disease meant they were limited to where they could eat when they were out as there simply wasn’t much choice of food for

Elisabeth and the staff at UVC.

them. This inspired the couple to create their own eatery, where like-minded people could enjoy their food in a clean and welcoming space and rest assured that everything they were surrounded by, and consuming, was completely free of animal products. Elisabeth and Ian spent seven months carefully researching where to buy their ingredients from and, being avid supporters of locally-sourced produce, they now purchase from Sweetest Things, Secret Garden Florist, Bore Street Bakery, Riley’s greengrocers, Melbourne’s of Lichfield and The Lichfield Tea Company, as well as specialising in handmade vegan dog treats from Bear’s Bites – for your furry four-legged friends, who are welcome to join you in UVC anytime! Elisabeth and Ian would like to give special thanks to Louise their manager and friend for her hard work and support. Also they wish to thank all the staff at UVC for their commitment to making it a success. UVC is holding an Ultimate Vegan Curry Event on Friday 10th May at 7pm where visitors can enjoy a three-course fully-vegan meal for just £22.95 per person. There will be a raffle held with all proceeds going to Dun-Roamin’ Re-Homing, a charity which helps stray dogs. *Booking for this event is essential and a £10 deposit per person is required.*

Lichfield Supports Dementia Awareness Week

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ementia Friends Lichfield are elevating their presence in the City Centre throughout Dementia Awareness Week, which is 20th-26th May 2019. They are encouraging everyone including people with the condition, and their carers, to head to their local events supported by numerous businesses throughout the City. Lichfield Library, now based at St. Mary’s Church, will be supporting a dementia information stand that will be run by Home Instead, Lichfield from 17th-26th May where you can pick up information. As well as finding out more about the scheme, visitors can use the library to borrow helpful books recommended by health experts and people with experience. Home Instead will be manning the stand on Wednesday 22nd May from 10.30-12.30 for advice and support.The scheme is also designed to help people without a formal diagnosis who may be worrying about symptoms and wanting to find out more. The Lichfield Memory Café based at the Methodist Church will be hosting a music through the decades event (including period dress up) on Thursday 23rd May that people are welcome to attend. Please express your interest by contacting Karen Wilkinson of Home Instead via 01827 431002 or karen.wilkinson@homeinstead.co.uk. One of the businesses getting involved is Lichfield Garrick theatre, with Dementia Friends receiving 10% off in the Green Room Café during the day (before 5pm) when they show their

Dementia Friends flower pin badge. They will also be selling cupcakes with the Dementia flower logo and donating some of the proceeds to Alzheimer’s UK. Lichfield District and City Councils are both in support of the Dementia Friends Lichfield group. One of the actions they have put into place is that before any licences are issued to a Lichfield taxi company they must have first attended a dementia friends training session. Lichfield Cathedral is one of the local companies looking to hold a dementia friends training session to educate attendees on five key messages everyone should know about dementia. There are 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia. Dementia is Britian’s biggest killer and there is an enormous need for quality-assured support for dementia care in the UK and to build dementia-friendly communities. The group is attended monthly by locally businesses, residents and council officials with the aim of ensuring Lichfield receives formal recognition for being dementia-friendly. If anyone would like to get involved with the group or is part of a local group or school that may benefit from a free dementia friends awareness session please contact Hannah Montgomery on 07506041538 or hello@golddust.marketing.

30 Years… Where Does the Time Go!

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By Michael Johnson, Lichfield Safe Centre

’m celebrating my 30th anniversary of setting up Lichfield Safe Centre and I’ve enjoyed meeting and helping many, many lovely clients over the years. Our family ethos has always been, and will continue to be, about customer service. It’s so important to us to listen about what’s important to clients and then look to find the best fit and solution, whether it’s a high security safe, a gun cabinet or even a CCTV/alarm system. We can deliver and install whatever is best to help our clients feel organised, secure and protected. It also may be useful to know that we regularly receive great feedback and loyalty from our customer service and maintenance. When our clients’ circumstances change we can help with moving their existing safe to their new home/premises, or if clients’ insurers request additional cover then we help them upgrade their security to better match their changing needs and their insurance requirements. Clients really appreciate our discretion, flexibility and continuity of relationship as the years go on and it gives them great peace of mind to know that they are supported by us. We help domestic and commercial clients choose the best traditional safes, deposit safes, gun safes, panic rooms/secure rooms, vaults, CCTV and alarm systems and, of course, our wonderful range of bespoke watch winder and jewellery safes. We have full range in our showroom on Church Street, near to Tesco Supermarket. We have a wide range of high security items to be respectful of all clients preferred budgets. We will make the selection easy to understand - we care about doing things properly and in the right way. Call in and have a chat, or if easier give Gail, Chloe, Phil, Mark or I a call and we will all be

really pleased to help you, it would be no trouble at all and it would be our pleasure. Thank you for supporting me over the years and I will look forward to continuing to be of service to our community by helping with its security in protecting what is important to us.

Property of the Month Advertising Feature

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Shenstone Court, Court Drive, Lichfield - £3,000,000 On the market with Fine and Country

A rare opportunity to acquire a magnificent country estate with helipad, sitting in grounds of 14 acres, situated on the edge of the delightful village of Shenstone. The exceptional position of this impressive country home, which dates back to medieval times and occupies a coveted semi-rural location, can be immediately appreciated from the sweeping gated driveway.

“I’ve lived in the area for over twenty years now and before buying this house I’d often drive past the rather grand entrance to the property and wonder what on earth could be down there,” says the owner. “I happened to be reading the local newspaper one day and came across an article detailing the fact that the property had recently been put on the market, but then taken off again and I was so intrigued that I decided to make some enquiries. I eventually managed to get an appointment to view the property and the minute I set eyes on it that was it, I was completely sold. “The house has an incredibly rich heritage – at one time it was owned by Sir Richard Cooper, whose company was responsible for inventing the first effective sheep dip – but although it’s very grand, it’s a real family home with such a warm and welcoming feel throughout. It’s built around a huge central hall and each of the main living areas radiates from that space, and the rooms all boast wonderful proportions and huge windows that not only flood the house with natural light, but also bring in the spectacular views of the grounds. It was in excellent condition when we purchased it five years ago, but over time we’ve made a few improvements here and there, but everything has been done in a very sympathetic manner. We’ve had all of the rooms redecorated, under-floor heating was added to the bathrooms, the windows have been replaced and we’ve brought it up to modern standards by installing internet cabling. It’s absolutely lovely throughout and it’s been such a happy home. “The house is beautiful, but it’s the setting and these splendid grounds that set it head and shoulders above the rest,” continues the owner. “We have 14 acres of open lawns, pastureland, woodland as well as a lake and three ponds that at one time would have provided the water supply for the house. We’ve done extensive work to the

grounds: the ponds and lake have been dredged and now feed the irrigation system, we’ve created woodland walks and the paddocks and field have been reseeded, so everything’s in excellent condition. It’s a stunning environment to live in; the views in every direction are just magnificent and the sunrises and sunsets need to be seen to be believed.” For further information, visit Fine and Country Sutton Coldfield and Lichfield, 46-48 Mere Green Road, Sutton Coldfield or telephone 0121 272 6900.

Motoring Review

Skoda Fabia Hatch Colour Edition By Bob Hickman

he Skoda Fabia has been a phenomenal success for the Skoda brand - I personally believe it was one of the models responsible for bringing Skoda to the forefront again. Now the redesigned 3rd Generation Fabia has arrived in the marketplace. The new design has had the front and rear restyled and the addition of a plethora of new safety features make the vehicle far more comfortable to drive and own. The Fabia always had an excellent utilisation of interior space and the interior continues to be an inviting environment. The functionality of the seats, mirrors, glass, dashboard style and upholstery colours all add to a

very inviting ambiance. I particularly like the multi-function steering wheel - if you are used to a vehicle from the VAG group this is like renewing the acquaintance of an old friend. It is soft and tactile, and you can control the radio, trip computer and phone. Add in to the equation adjustable front height driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat and a driver can soon become comfortable. The air conditioning works superbly well, even without the addi-tional expense of a climate control system. Rear seat occupants have generous amounts of leg and head room. With the rear seats folded the hatch offers an impressive 1150 litres of luggage space, even with the rear seats in the normal upright position there is ample room for luggage and various other items you would wish to carry. A couple of features that I was astounded at include an umbrella contained just in front of the front pas-senger seat, what a novel useful feature. Another feature that I have never seen before as a standard fitting on a car is an ice scraper, open the fuel cap and there it is contained within, what a cracking idea for those horrible mornings when it is frosty or when you come back to the car of an evening and have to use your credit card. Standard equipment is on the high side and even with the entry level model you have electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, remote central locking, multi-function computer, DAB radio with Blue Tooth and USB and ST card points. Electric front windows, height and reach adjustable steering wheel and a stop/start system. If air conditioning is one of the items you require then you need to go to at least an SE derivative to have that option. The SE also introduces alloy wheels in to the equation and rear parking sensors.The final must-have for a lot of people is a satellite navigation system, if this one is on your list then youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be looking at an SEL model. My particular test vehicle had a 1-litre petrol 3 cylinder engine developing 95bhp, this drove through a 5-speed manual gearbox and it gave a 0-60 in just over 10 seconds and a top speed of 114mph. The impor-tant CO figure is given as 106g/km and Skoda suggests a combined figure of 61.4mpg, however during a week of variable driving terrain I achieved according to the computer 54.7mpg, which I think is a com-mendable amount of miles to the gallon. The recommended on the road price is ÂŁ15,705.

Lichfield Rotary Club’s School Concert

On 9th April Lichfield Rotary Club held a school concert at the Garrick Theatre with 270 children taking part. A total of 10 schools took part in song, dance and movement scenes with the event being a sell-out with parents and friends attending. The concert has been held regularly since 1989 and, in some cases, former pupils are returning to the events as parents to see their offspring perform as they once did. For some years the show has been produced by David Kershaw, a former president of the club. The schools taking part were Queen’s Croft High School, Small Schools Multi Academy which contains three primary schools in and around the city, Christchurch CE Primary, Thomas Russell Juniors, Little Aston Primary, Willows Primary, Thomas Russell Juniors and the Friary School. Lichfield Rotary Club meets weekly at Darnford Moors Golf Club and is always open to new members.

charity campaign and to celebrate this ‘pawtnership’ it has launched a dedicated puppy play park at the centre. Officially opened in April by Roger Moore and Delia Cox, along with volunteers at Dogs Trust Kenilworth, and Three Spires Centre Manager, Lisa Prokopiou, the park is designed to provide furrier members of the community with a variety of action-packed activities. Alongside the play park, which is open for the next three months, the initiative will also include a host of doggy-inspired events to help drive awareness of the charity and the good work it does. Dogs Trust is the largest dog welfare charity in the UK and cares for over 15,000 dogs each year through a network of 20 rehoming centres around the country. It receives no government funding for the delivery of its life-saving work, relying solely on the generosity from the general public. This is the final stage in the Three Spires’ 12 month ‘Year of Colour’ charity campaign and has seen the centre work with a diverse mix of organisations such as Mind, The Royal British Legion and Lichfield Foodbank. For more information about what’s going on at Three Spires, visit www.threespireslichfield.com or Facebook.com/ThreeSpiresLichfield.

Reduce Plastic Waste with the Green Fairy Trail

Three Spires Launches Charity Canine Campaign

Lisa Prokopiou and Julia Woodward with their dogs at the opening of the centre’s puppy play park

Three Spires Shopping Centre has teamed up with Dogs Trust as part of its ‘Year of Colour’

If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise! Set in the natural woodland surrounding Heart of the Country Shopping Village, hidden amongst the trees, live the Green Fairies who make their homes from recycled and unwanted materials discarded locally. The volunteer-run Green Fairy Trail aims to reduce plastic waste whilst educating children about recycling and helping them to understand what they can do to aid climate change.The trail follows the life of the Green Fairies, from their homes to their schools and workplaces, with each aspect having an environmental message

LOCAL NEWS

behind it. Everything on the Green Fairy Trail has been lovingly made from recycled and donated materials and the volunteers are always looking for donations to expand the trail and to continue to make it a fun experience for all. The trail takes 20-30 minutes (or longer if you have a wild imagination!) and is completely free of Find out more at charge. facebook.com/thegreenfairieslichfield.

Lichfield Businesses Join Together for Diabetes UK

The show team from left to right, Mike Lote (MJL Garden Design), Donny Bolton (Urban Street Designs), Karen Tatlow (Karen Tatlow Garden Design), Katherine Hathaway (Larkhall Studios), Bill Tipper (Tippers) and Mike Leeming (Ethan Mason Paving).

Two garden designers have teamed up with Lichfield companies to create a show garden for RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2019. Karen Tatlow and Katherine Hathaway have been supported by Ethan Mason Paving, Tippers Building Materials and MJL Garden Design, in order to create the first ever garden to highlight diabetes. The garden highlights the scale of diabetes, which affects more people than cancer and dementia combined. Throughout the design there are references to Diabetes UK and the journey made by someone diagnosed with diabetes - from diagnosis through to managing the condition. Titled The Habit of Living, the garden will be at the show which runs from 9th-12th May and features Italian porcelain paving and walling donated by Ethan Mason Paving, building materials, equipment hire, transport and logistics from Tippers, and hard landscaping from MJL Garden Design. For more information visit www.rhsmalvern.co.uk/whats-on/show-gardens

LOCAL NEWS

Buddy Bags Donation

dinner at Pale Hall, Bala on 6th April. Congratulations Jane and Rob from everyone at Citylife! Courtesy of Fraser Hinch Photography

St James’s Place Wealth Management recently donated £2,500 towards the Lichfield Buddy Bag project. The project, part of the wider Buddy Bag Foundation, provides children entering emergency accommodation with Buddy Bags in order to restore a sense of safety and security in their lives. Carrie Jahn, Ambassador for Buddy Bags, said: “We are immensely grateful to St James’s Place Wealth Management for their very generous donation. I would also like to thank Peter Moore SJP advisor for supporting our application and project. Their donation means we are a huge step forwards in making our project goal a reality - it has set us well on the path to the final target. “For sessions to take place in Lichfield we need to raise £4,500, this will enable us to pack 180 bags to send to domestic violence refuges.” To support the Lichfield Buddy BackPack Project, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/buddybagslichfield

Notice of Engagement

Jane Dayus-Hinch Chairman of the City of Lichfield Townswomen’s Guild, Wedding Planner and host of tv show ‘Wedding SOS’ has announced her engagement to partner Robert Small. Robert surprised Jane after a romantic

Competition and Prize Draw Terms and Conditions 1.Entrants’ details will be held and processed in line with Citylife in Lichfield Ltd’s Privacy Policy, which in turn adheres to GDPR Data Protection legislation. For a copy of our Privacy Policy please email josscitylife@gmail.com 2.By entering the prize draw/competition, you agree to the terms and conditions stated. 3.The closing date is stated on each individual prize draw or competition. 4.Entrants’ details will be securely held by Citylife in Lichfield Ltd in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Details will be held only until the closing date of the competition. After this date entrants’ details will be securely destroyed/deleted. Winners’ contact details will be securely stored only until the winner has been informed of their win/prize. After this details will be securely deleted/destroyed. 5.Entrants’ details will never be shared with any third party. The only exception to this is the name (and if the prize is to be posted) address of Competition/Prize Draw winners that will be communicated to the competition partner to allow winners to securely claim their prize, after which all details will be securely destroyed. The initial and surname of winners will be printed in our magazines – no other details will be published. 6.By entering the competition/prize draw, entrants agree to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd using or publishing materials provided by the entrants (but not address or contact details apart from initial and surname) in any of their publications and online. 7.Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for any breach of copyright or

and laughter whilst raising money for Little Aston Recreation Ground Association (LARGA). This year’s event is sponsored by Shenstonebased business,The Rigid Kitchen Company, and their support helps to cover the cost of the entertainment and essential facilities required to cater for an event of this size. Tickets to Party in the Park are available from www.littleastonbury.co.uk. As the festival is extremely popular it works on a lottery system with successful applicants being notified of their success prior to the event.

Diphonon Duo at St Mary’s

Little Astonbury Tickets Out Now!

Tickets are now on sale for the much-loved Party in the Park music festival held at Little Aston, dubbed Little Astonbury! The event showcases only the best tribute acts across the UK and is all about bringing the local community together for a day filled with music

breach of any other legislation entailed by entrants in their creation or submission of materials. 8.Only one entry per prize draw/competition, per reader. 9.Except in the case of cash prizes, no cash equivalent will be offered and the prize is non-transferable. 10.All prizes are subject to availability and the prize suppliers' terms and conditions. 11.No purchase necessary. 12.Prize draws and competitions are only open to UK residents aged 18 years or over (unless otherwise stated). 13.Competitions and prize draws may not be entered by any employee of individual associated with any employee, agent or third party of Citylife in Lichfield Ltd. 14.Winners will be selected at random in the case of applicable prize draws and competitions, or by an independent judge in the case of photographic/art competitions from all entries received. 15.Winners will be notified by Citylife in Lichfield up to 28 days after the closing date of the competition/prize draw by the contact details provided by the entrant. 16.A list of the surnames and county of residence of the winners will be available by writing to Citylife in Lichfield Ltd no earlier than six weeks after the competition closing date. 17.When the prize draw/competition winner has been selected, this decision is

Following the successful launch of regular classical music series Live@St Mary’s, Diphonon Duo, featuring Michael Iskas on the viola and Iñigo Mikeleiz Berrade on the accordion, will be performing in May. The word “Diphonon” means “two voices” in Greek. The two instruments have more similarities than you would think, since both are able to sustain sound for long periods and vary its colour and intensity. The repertoire performed reaches different styles and ages, from original works for the duo to transcriptions of baroque and classical music. The concert takes places on Wednesday 22nd May at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £19.50 and are available at www.stmaryslichfield.co.uk or www.littleboxoffice.com/stmaryslichfield.

final and no correspondence will be entered into. 18.Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for the prize being lost, damaged or delayed in transit. When the prize is provided by a third party, Citylife in Lichfield Ltd accepts no responsibility for any change to the prize, or for the quality of the prize provided. 19.Competitions may be amended or withdrawn at any time. 20.By entering the competition or prize draw, you agree to having your name, (photograph, where stated) and city or county of residence published in any of Citylife in Lichfield’s publications and online. 21.Unless otherwise stated, the promoter is Citylife in Lichfield Ltd, PO Box 7126, Lichfield, WS14 4JS. 22. Citylife in Lichfield Ltd do not express any warranty or endorsement of any competition prize, information, service or product provided in connection with a competition by printing or otherwise publicising any competition. 23.To the full extent of the law, Citylife in Lichfield Ltd shall not be liable for any loss, claim, punitive, indirect, incidental or consequential damages of any kind incurred as a result of entering this prize draw or competition. 24.By submitting photos, text or artworks as part of competition/prize draw entries you agree that you own these photos text or artworks, that it is your original work to which you own all rights to distribute, and that your entry is accurate, moral and legal.

What’s On in May

From Saturday 4th May Imagination and reality: Johnson and the use of travelling Discover travel writing and 18th century journeys in this exhibition including maps and atlases, travel journals and Johnson’s own adventures around the country and beyond. Venue: The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Time: Daily, 10.30am – 4.30pm, free

Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th May Flower Arranging Demonstrations at The George Hotel Be inspired with ideas for decorating your home this spring and summer. Price: £25 per person, includes a three course carvery lunch. Call 01543 414822 to book.

Friday 10th May Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society Water and the Environment in the Anglo-Saxon World – A talk by Della Hooke. Venue: The Guildhall, Bore Street, Lichfield. Time: 7.30 pm (Note earlier start time). Price: £3.Visitors welcome. For more info call 01543 416144 or see website www.sahs.uk.net.

Saturday 18th May - Boley Park Pre-School Spring Fair Join us for our annual Pre-School Spring Fair fundraiser. Venue: Boley Park Community Hall, Lichfield. Time: 11am–2pm . Free Admission. Fun for everyone: BBQ, craft activities, games, cakes, tombola etc. Tables available for small businesses, contact bppscommittee@gmail.com.

Tuesday 21st May Lichfield Beacon Probus Our speaker at this meeting is David Howe, who will tell us "Tales of a School Inspector". The Club’s bowlers are in action on Tuesdays

Promote your event in our What’s On guide and reach over 18,000 homes and businesses for only £15 for businesses and £5 for charities. Entries must be 50 words maximum. To book contact Rebecca Hill 07970 513144 rebeccahillcitylife@gmail.com (businesses who are already advertising in the relevant issue may place additional what’s on listings free-of-charge). Please clearly mark your email ‘What’s On Lichfield'. and Wednesdays, and snooker is still available for members throughout the summer. Venue: St Matthews Sports & Social Club, Burntwood. Time: 2.30 pm. Potential members welcome - please contact our secretary, John Lundie, on 01543 264327 or email lichfield.beacon.probus @gmail.com.

Wednesday 22nd May Stonnall Conservation Society Denise Gold from the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust will be talking about the organisation’s conservation work throughout the county. The presentation takes you on a picturesque journey of some of the county’s most beautiful landscape and enchanting wildlife. Venue: Youth and Community Centre, Main Street, Stonnall WS9 9EE. Time: 7.30pm.

Thursday 23rd May Lichfield Civic Society The Reverend John Louis Petit – Artist and Architectural Critic (How one of Staffordshire’ and Lichfield’s greatest men was written out of the history books). Speaker: Philip Modiano, author and historian. Venue: The Lichfield Room, Wade Street Church Community Hall, Frog Lane, Lichfield. Time: 7.45pm Price: £3. Members and students free. Visitors welcome.

Wednesday 29th May Pirate Storytelling Sail the high seas with travelling tales from Lichfield Storytellers in a pirate ship cabin – fancy dress optional! Venue: The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum. Time:1pm, 2pm and 3pm £3.50 per child, £1 for accompany adults. Booking advised.

Thursday 30th May Half Term Fun Get dressed up for a Georgian ball in our craft activities for the school holidays Venue: The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Time: 11am & 2pm, £2, Booking advised.

Summer BioBlitz

at St Michael’s Churchyard Tuesday 4th June City of Lichfield Men’s Probus Trevor Poxon presents “Humour from a Police Motorway Patrolman.” Venue: St. Matthew’s Club, Burntwood WS7 9EP at Time: 2.30pm. There is a friendly atmosphere, so come and join us. For more information, call Ken on 01543 686965.

Wednesday 12th June Lichfield U3A Monthly meeting with several members talking about their own areas of interest. Venue: Lichfield Guildhall. Time: 2-4pm. New members are very welcome. For further details visit www.u3asites.org.uk/Lichfield or call 07510 634476.

Saturday 15th June Summer BioBlitz Discover wildlife in our ancient and very large churchyard. Lots of walks and activities led by wildlife experts, including: bird walks, wildflower walks, moth and bug hunts, mammal trapping, looking for fungi and bumblebee walks. Venue: St Michael’s Churchyard, Lichfield Time: 8am-7pm. Everyone welcome to come along at any time during the day. Free refreshments will be provided inside the church.

Every Saturday - Words Alive! A friendly reading, writing and hands-on activity club for 7-11 year olds who love words! Venue: The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Time: 10.30am - 11.45am Price: £3, discounts for family groups and first session free. For information and booking: 01543 264 972; sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk

Cannock Chase Shed Group A Men’s Shed community group has started up in the Cannock Chase area, and is looking for new members to join. Ladies are also very welcome. Members can bring and work on their own projects, or work with others on projects for community and heritage groups, using the workshop tools and machinery. The facilities include: woodworking and metalworking machinery, welding, electronics construction, and programmable devices. Help and advice is on hand regarding equipment use and repairs. The group is also looking for projects from Cannock Chase-based community and heritage groups. Based at the Museum of Cannock Chase, Hednesford, WS12 1TD. For further details phone 01543 877666 or email enquiries@cannockchaseshed. org.uk.

MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTORS WANTED

Earn extra money delivering magazines in Lichfield and Rugeley. Must be over 16 Call Marie 07548 682576