Chronicle Week Cannock - 17-Nov-2022

POLICE TACKLE RAIL NUISANCE

Patrolswill be steppedupon trainservicesonthe Birmingham toRugeleylinefollowingariseinreportsofbadbehaviour

Uniformedand plain-clothed officerswillcarryouttargetedop erationsonWestMidlandsRailway services betweenNew Street and RugeleyTrentValleyafteraseriesof complaints

InspectorPaulFinlayson,from BritishTransport Police,said: “Throughpartnershipworkingwe’re workingtirelesslytodetercriminalityandanti-socialbehaviouronthe railwaynetwork,andwe’restepping upourpatrolsacrossthislineusing targetedoperations.

“Weneedparentstohavesome awareness of wheretheir children andyoungpeopleare,”headded.

“Wehaveseenanincreaseinanti-socialbehaviour from teenagers andneedtoworkwithparentstoensuretheirchildrenarenotinvolved andremindthemofthedangersand potentialimpactofbeinginvolvedin criminality.

“Weaskeveryonetobesensible andconsiderateofotherpassengers. Ifwedogetcalledouttoanti-social behaviourincidentswe will take actionastherailwayneedstobea safe placefor everyone usingthe

By Deborah Hardiman

network.Passengerscontinuetobe oureyesandearsandtheycanhelp usbyreportingcrimesandconcerns bytexting61016.”

West Midlands Railwaycus tomerexperiencedirectorJonny Wisemansaid: “Thesafetyofour passengersandstaffisourtoppri orityandIwelcometheseadditional BritishTransportPolicepatrolson theChaseLineinresponsetoanin creaseinanti-socialbehaviouralong theroute

“Weremaincommittedtoworkinginpartnership with thepolice andNetworkRailandwefullysup portthistargetedactiontohelppreventsuchincidents.”

MP forCannock ChaseAmandaMillingsaidshewaspleasedthe policeweresteppinguppatrolsand wasdue to meet representatives fromtherailoperatortodiscussthe matterfurther.

Shesaid: “Passengersshould feelsafeandcomfortableonpublic transportandIhavebeenconcerned toreceivereportsofpassengersex periencinganti-socialbehaviouron theChaseLine.Thisbehaviouristotallyunacceptable.”

Uniting in remembrance

Townslit up at Christmas

Cannocktowncentrewillbelit upforChristmasnextweekend

Theswitch-on,onNovember26, willfeaturestreetfood,barsandlive musicandentertainmentfromThe Vonics,The PlayersStaffordshire Rock Choir, 2Stepdance academy andPartyPopperzwithMCStuHaycock

InHednesford,thelightswillbe switched on on December 2, with festivitiesrunningfrom5-8pm.

ThethemeisthetaleofSleeping Beauty with local schoolsworking onthemeddecorationsforthetrees andaroundthetownfocusingthese aroundgrantingwishesandsending goodwill,justlikethegoodfairies.

Churchhosts

treesdisplay

Christmastreesareinfocusat anannualfestivalatCannock’stown centrechurch

Entryisfreetothe Christmas tree festival at St Luke’s Cannock, whichisopenfrom10amto4pm fromDecember1to3

Aspokesmansaid:“Wealready have twoexcitingentries –the foodbanktree,promotedbyalocal school,andtheotherwithapologies toTheTwelveDaysofChristmas–a versionsupportedwithfiguresfrom children’s television and filmpro grammeshangingfromatree.

“St Luke’s Choir, on December 2,willsingingthenewwordstothe song.”

Pubset to reopen ‘soon’

ACannockpubthatclosed lastweekalreadyhasanew operatorandwillbereopen ingsoon.

Landlord VikJamwalannouncedtheWheatsheafInnat LaneyGreeninWolverhamp tonRoad, wouldclose, citing thesoaring energy costs. He said:“Ihavebeenworking

inthebusinessofpubsfor10 yearsand been running The Wheatsheaf forsix,but now withtheincreaseinrentand theenergycrisisnow,Icannot continuetorunthispub.”

Marston’s hasconfirmed thatanewoperatorisinplace to take overthe Wheatsheaf fromtomorrow(Friday),and

that it wouldreopensoon. Astatement said:“Thenew operator hastaken thepub on thenew Marston’s Pillar agreementandshewillbeup andrunningverysoon “Vikisalong-timepartner of Marston’s andwecontinueworkwithhimathisother pubs.”

All’swellasrelativeSheila

is addedtoBard’s archives

By Deborah Hardiman

Agreat-grandmotherwhois adescendantofWilliamShake speare’s family is feelingall’s well that endswellafter her namewasformallyaddedtothe Bard’sarchives

SheilaTuckey,98,saysshe hasknown almost allher life thatshewasadescendantofthe famouswriter’ssisterJoanand herhusbandWilliamHart,who marriedin1599.Sheila’smother FlorenceMillington,neeHaines, camefromtheline.

Followinginher mother’s footsteps,Sheilapaida visit to theShakespeareBirthplace TrustarchivesinStratford-UponAvontobeofficiallyphoto graphedfortherecords.

Thecharity fundraiser,of UpperLongdon,said:“Ifeelre allyproudtoberelatedtosucha famousfamily.IstudiedRomeo andJulietatschool.I’veknown for70yearsthatwewererelatedtoWilliamShakespeare.

“Mygreat-granddadFrederickHaineshadsaidthatwewere relativesandhetoldmygran dadGeorge.Itwasastorythat passeddownbywordofmouth throughthegenerations.

“Then afterthe Second WorldWar my uncleChristo pherHainesdecidedtoresearch thefamilytreeand thestory turnedouttobetrue.

“Ididtakemymotherforher

detailstobeputinthearchives many years ago, butI didn’t thinkofaddingmyself. DuringlockdownIdecidedIreally wantedtofindoutmoreabout my great-grandadFrederick whowasaFreemanofGlouces ter; organiseaChristmas fair formychurchwhichIdidlast yearandraisedover£600,andI wantedtogotoStratfordtorun mynamethroughthearchives toseewhatcameup.

“I hadtosigntohavemy

phototakentobeplacedonrecordsothatdescendantsofthe familyinthefuturecanseewhat Ilookedlike.

“Iwentalongwithmygrand sons Richardand Christopher andChristopher’s wife Laura We spentall morning looking throughthearchives.”

ShakespeareBirthplace TrustcollectionsmanagerAmy Hurstsaid:“Sheila’sfamilycome toseeusperiodically.She’san extraordinaryperson. It was

agreat privilegetobepartof introducingthe Shakespeare familytiestoanewgenerationo descendants.”

Themother-of-seven was born,inNuneaton, Warwickshire,andspentmostofherlife in ChaseTerrace,where she raisedherfamily.Herfirsthus bandArthurMappdiedin1995 after52yearsofmarriage.She married second husbandEdward Tuckey in 2008 andhe passedawayin2012.

Recordsnow confirm SheilaTuckey,98,ofUpper Longdonisa relative of William Shakespeare

The Wheatsheaf, LaneyGreen

It will be Madnessonthe Chase

‘NuttyBoys’Madnessarethe second acttoconfirma date on CannockChaseaspartofthe2023 ForestLiveconcerts.

Theband, frontedbySuggs, akaGrahamMcPherson,havehad astringofhits, includingBaggy Trousers,WingsofaDove,ItMust BeLove,OurHouse,OneStepBe-

yond andthe 1982 number one HouseofFun.Thebandarecurrentlyinthestudiorecordingtheir firstnewalbuminsixyearsand willperformatBirchesValleyon Thursday,June8–thefirstoffour nightsofconcertsatthesite.

Ticketsgoonsalefrom9am tomorrow (Friday) at www.fore

stryengland.uk/music– theannouncement comesafter sing er-songwriter Jack Savoretti an nouncedhewouldbeperforming onJune11

This year’s acts on Cannock ChasewereTexas,Keane,Rag NBoneManandNoelGallagher’s HighFlyingBirds.

FootballfanscanwatchEng land’s WorldCup games in the presence of Wolves legendsata Cannocksportsbar Winger Michael Kightly, who playedmorethan100timesforthe clubbetween2006and2012,will bespecialtheguestatthePremier SuiteaboveBarSportforEngland’s firstGroupBgameagainstIranon Monday,kickingoffat1pm

Forthesecondgame,against USAonNovember25,kick-off7pm, MattJarvis,whowonasolitarycap forEngland,willbetheguest

Goalkeeper-turnedSky pun ditMattMurraywillbetheguest forthefinalgroupgameagainst WalesonNovember29, kick-off 7pm.

HostedbyJasonGuy,thespe cialguestswillgivetheirspecial analysisbefore,duringandafter each game. If England progress ThePremierSuitehasmoreleg endslinedupforeveryroundincludingthefinal AteacheventatthePremier Suitefanswillenjoyafour-course meal.Toget into theWorld Cup

mood,thePremierSuitehostsan eveningwithLiverpoolandEng landlegendRobbieFowlertonight (Thursday)

ScottMurray, ownerofBar SportandthePremierSuite,said: “WedeliverforourEnglandfans during everymajortournament andthisyearwon’t be anydif ferent.Aswellasaspecialguest andfourcoursemealinthePremierSuite,boththeVIProomand downstairs at BarSport will be packed.”

Tobook,callon01543572092

Madness,fronted by Suggs, performonCannock Chasenextyear

Thousandsturnout to pay theirrespects to thefallen

Thousandsofpeoplegath ered to mark Remembrance Sundayandpaytheirrespects tothenation’sfallenheroes

Civicservicesand parades wereheldacrossStaffordshire.

AfterBridgtown kept to itstradition of remembering aweekaheadofotherdistrict commemorations–onNovem ber6–serviceswerethenheld acrossCannockChasethrough outtheweekend

Memorials inChadsmoor andWimbleburyplayedhost toservicesonFriday,Armistice Day,withtheformerincluding singingfromthe ex-service men’schoirand school pupils, readings,theplayingofTheLast Postandawreathlaying.

Thewholecommunitycame together to paytheir tributes onSunday.InRugeley,aStAu gustine’schurchservice was followed by aparadetothe warmemorialfromMansfield Housecarpark,MarketStreet.A serviceatthecenotaphwasfol lowedbyamarchtoBowStreet. Amarch from Armitage Lane

to St Michael’sChurch, kicked offproceedings in Brereton & Ravenhill,followedbyaservice ofremembranceandawreath layingatthecenotaph Cannock’s parade,from StaffordRoadtothewarmemo rialwasfollowedbythelaying ofwreathsandaserviceatSt

Luke’s Church,while wreaths were laid at Chadsmoorwar memorialfollowingaserviceat BethanyBaptistChurch.

In HeathHayes,residents gatheredforaserviceatBourne MethodistChurchahead of a parade to theMemorialGates atHeathHayesParkforservice

andsilence.VillagersinNorton Canespaidtheirrespectswith amarchfromJeromePrimary Schooltoanoutdoorserviceof remembranceatthewarmemo rialwindowatStJamesChurch.

Twoserviceswereheldin Hednesford, one on Armistice Day at thewar memorialand thesecondon Sunday,with many local groupsand organ isationsinvolvedinwalking from St Peter’sChurchtothe warmemorialforashortActof Remembranceand then on to theEx-Servicemen’sClub,inAn gleseyStreet

CheslynHayresidentscame togethertopaytheirrespectsat thevillagewarmemorial.

GlenthornePrimary School’sHeadBoyandHeadGirl laidawreath,accompaniedby sitesupervisorWarrantOfficer 1RtdDarrenHughesMSM.Also onparadewasafellowschool prefect, proudlywearing his First WorldWar infantry uni formwithfieldcap.

Morethan£15,000wascol lected.

Discountstoboost children’s charity

NewlifetheCharityforDis abledChildrenislaunchingits BlackFridayandCyberMonday salesfor shopperstobeatthe costoflivingcrisis–andhelp strickenchildren.

AllNewlife’seight fashion shops, includingthe Cannock Superstore, will be offering a rainbowofcolourcodeddeals, starting next week with 30 percentoffdressesforPurple Monday;BlueTuesdayfollows, with 30 percent offbottoms; children’sclothingisreducedby

30percentforPinkWednesday andthereishalf-pricemen’sfor malwearforOrangeThursday

With stock donated from hundredsofmajorHighStreet retailers,BlackFridaydealsin cludeanumberofpricedrops andavarietyofclothingwith linesforjust£1

Thereare also 22 ladies’ bikesfor sale on a first come firstservedbasis,pricedat£99 each.Eachstorewillberaffling offonemorebike,withtickets priced £1.The raffle will run

fromSaturdayuntilNovember 25 when thewinningtickets will be drawn andcustomers notifiedtocollecttheirbike.

Newlife’sCannock Super storealsohasahigh-techdrone, availableathalf-price,£500.

TheCannock Superstore willbeopenfrom8amto10pm onNovember25and8amuntil 10pmthefollowingday.

Forthosewhocan’tmakeit intostore,NewlifeOnlinewill beholdingitsBlackFridayand CyberMondaysalefromNovem

ber25to28,with50percentoff allordersacrossalldates.

HeadofretailstoresAndrew Murphy-Hayes said:”Everyone atNewlifehasbeenworkingre allyhardtohelpourcustomers spendlesstogetmorethisyear.

“Byshoppingwithus,New lifecustomers are helping to changethelivesofdisabledand terminallyillchildrenwhoare indesperateneedofspecialist equipment.”

Formoreinformation visit www.newlifestores.co.uk

Wreathsarelaidatthe NationalMemorialArboretum inAlrewason Remembrance Sunday

Thegathering at the war memorialin CheslynHay

Firefighterpraised forquick reactions

An off-duty firefighter has beencommendedforhisactions afterleavingamealwithhiswife tostopafireinRugeley Watchmanager Simon Eng landspottedablazenearbyonAu gust6andrantothescene.Theoc cupiersofthebuildinghadheard thesmokealarm andevacuated thebuildingandhadbeenonthe phonetothefireservicewhenSi monarrived.Hemadesureevery onewasoutofthebuildingbefore goingupstairstoclosethedoors.

Hespoketothecontrolroom andtoldthemofhisactions.

Extinguish

By closingoff thebedroom, it became aself-ventilated com partmentfirewhichhelpedcrews from Cannockand Lichfield to formulateaplanandsafelyextin guishtheblaze.Achairandother furnishingshadcaughtfire,ignit ingaccidentallyviaanintensesun lightwhich wasglaring through thewindow.

Simonstayedatthesceneand gavefirecrewsabriefingbefore returningtohiswife Hesaid:“I’mgladIwasable toassistwiththeinitialresponse

andhelpreducethedamagetothe property

“Theoccupiers didthe right thingbyevacuatingimmediately andringingthefireserviceassoon asitwassafetodoso.”

Simonwasnominatedforthe ChiefFireOfficer’s(CFO)Commen dationawardbystationmanager RichWilliamsandhassincebeen

presented with acertificateby ChiefFire Officer RobBarberin frontofhiswatchteamatRugeley FireStation

StationManagerWilliamssaid: “IhavenodoubtthatSimon’sac tionswerecrucial in mitigating thedamagecausedtotheproper tyandensuringtheoccupierses capedunharmed.”

Free tennis usecould end

Freetousetenniscourtscould become athing of thepast if a council’sbidforrefurbishmentsis successful CannockCouncil’s cabinet agreedatameetinglastweekto startanapplicationtotheEnglish LawnTennisAssociation(LTA)for tenniscourtsacrossthedistricts receiveafacelift.

Thebidwillallowforthe13 fullsizecourts,andthefourjun

iorcourtsownedbythedistrict, to receiverefurbishments using fundingfromtheLTA.Ifthebid issuccessful,apolicychangewill meanthattenniscourtsinthedis trictwillceasebeingfree-to-use andinsteadchangetoanational scheme,endorsedbytheLTA,of takinganominalhirecharge.

Councillor Adrienne Fitzger ald, portfolioleaderfor housing, heritageandleisuresaid:“Ourten

niscourtsacrossthedistrictarein needofsignificantinvestment

“PartneringwithLTAontheir ClubSparkprogramme will,will allowustoachieveandmaintain ahighquality tennis courtpro vision,withminimumcapitalre quiredfromthecouncil.”

Sheadded:“Ihopethatbyof fering tennis courtfacilities, we willencouragemorepeopletouse theparks.”

Cloudy2Clear

ALocal

You

Stanleyitbecame clear that these values have been held dear for a number of years.Sincestarting the businesssome years ago Cloudy2Clear have remained true to their corevalues of supportingthe localcommunity by providinga service that saves the public money.

Thereisnoneedfor you to risk yourwindows by usingthe dreaded double glazingcowboy down the street. Youcan join over 336,000 happycustomers and replace your glassethicallyand affordably.

If youhaveafailedglass unit, it maynot provide you with the protection you need or be as energy-efficientasitonce was. Take aminutetocheck your home to see if anydouble glazinghas failed? Taking action nowcan preventfuture financial problems

Whentalkingtothe Managerof Cloudy2Clear windowsBrian

TheCloudy2Clear service only requires the glasstobereplaced and not the whole window once the unit hasfailed. Brian commented“Cloudy2Clear were able to assistour community through the last financial crisis in 2008 due to the savings that can be made in usingour service

Unfortunately we mightbegoing through somethingsimilar again soon and the public canrest assuredthat we will be thereto help once again”

Fora free quotation please call 0800 61 21 118 or visit www. cloudy2clear.co.uk.

WatchmanagerSimonEngland andChief FireOfficerRob Barber

Report by Thomas Parkes

Mourning the passingofa talented andversatile actor

WithLesliePhillipspassingwe loseoneofthegreatcharactersof filmsfromthelate50sand60s Inallhespentmorethaneight decadesonthescreen.

Histalentswerenotconfined to comedy andhedemonstrated aversatility fordrama whenhe played opposite PeterO’Toole in Venusalongwithhisvoiceoverin theHarryPotterseries Iwas fortunatetomeet him

afewtimesandhiswifeAngela Scoularwho wasa Bond girl in GeorgeLazenby’sonlyouting.

Thelasttimewasaround12 yearsagowhenhehadhisautobi ographyoutandhecouldnothave beenmoreofawarm,funnygen tlemaninhislateryears.Andyes, hesignedthebookwithhiscatchphraseDing,DongasIrequested!

Consequences of bill beingignored

AstheGeneticTechnologyBill racesunhinderedthroughparliament,thepotentiallyseismicconsequencestotheUKfoodindustry aresimplybeingignored.

This deeply troublingbill re movesanylabellingandtraceabili tyrequirementsforahypothetical sub-class of GMO, theso-called ‘precision bred organism’ (PBO). Theseexempted organisms will effectivelybehiddeninthefood system

TheRegulatoryPolicyCommittee hasalreadyraiseda red flag,stating that thebill failsto considertheimpactofcreatinga newclassofGMO.Initspresent formthisbillwillfailbusinesses, consumersandtheenvironment Organic Farmers&Growers

believes theGovernment must urgentlymakeprovisiontominimisethe financial impact to all foodbusinessesbyestablishinga comprehensiveco-existenceregime.The worrying alternative isthatbusinesseswouldneedto undertaketheirown traceability testing,acomplexandexpensive processaddinganestimatedcost ofaround£500,000patoSMEs.

HidingGMOswithinthefood system will have immeasurable long-termconsequencesonanal readyreelingUKfoodindustry.It also failstosafeguard ourbasic rightas citizens to make an in formedchoiceaboutwhatwecon sume

RogerKerr, chiefexecutive, OrganicFarmers&Growers

Celebfurore istiresome

AllthisfuroreoverHancock goingon“I’maBigBrotherCelebrityGetmeinthere!”istiresome intheextreme

No wonder theproduction companypaidhim so highly–withalltheblanketcoveragehe hasreceivedtheymostcertainly haveassuredanotherrunofhigh numbersand larger advertising revenue. Allthese voices about himcompromisinghisMP’sstatus aresurelyamatterforhimandhis constituentsonly.Asalwaysthe publichaveachoice–switchoffor watchre-runsofTheGoodieson anotherchannel–it’smuchbetter. Besideswhich,Hancockwouldbe muchbettersuitedgoingbackto doinghisHalfHourseriesshould henot?

Time to volunteerwithBHF

Withthefestiveseasonfastap proaching,theBritishHeartFoundationisencouragingeveryoneto donatethegiftoftimeandvolun teerintheirlocalBHFshop.

Ourshopsneedyoursupport more than ever before.Whether youcanspareafewhoursordays, everysecondyou cangifttous helpsfundlife-savingresearch Withavarietyofrolesavail

able,frommerchandisingonthe shopfloor,creatingwindowdis plays,orinthewarehouse,you’ll findafunandexcitingroleyou’ll reallylove.

What’s more, morethana quarterofemployed retail posi tionsarefilledbythosewhohave previouslyvolunteeredwiththe BHF Findoutmoreaboutsigningup

tovolunteerbyvisitingyourlocal BHFshoporsearchingonline. We’dloveforyoutojoinour incredible team of volunteers–andwelcomeaSanta’shatortwo ifyou’dliketogetintothefestive spiritwithus!

SarahBoardman, retail volunteering operationsmanager, BHF

by post at Ipso, c/o Gate House, 1Farringdon Street, London, EC4M 7LG.

Nameandaddresssupplied

MarkDabbs,Walsall MarkDabbs andLeslie Phillips

Victims’CommissionerNickyBren

JessPhillips.

Ithighlightstheimpactoftheissue intheregion–withonevictimsaying theycan’tleavetheperpetratordueto beingstuckwith“nomoney(and)no placetogo”

Thereportcontainsnumerousaccountsfromfemalevictimsofabuse, whosesituationhasbeenmadeeven worsebyspirallingbillsandescalating outgoings.Manyofthosewhotookpart intheinvestigationsaidtheywerenow unabletoleavetheirabuserorhadbeen furthercontrolledbyeconomicabuse

MsBrennan,whohasnowcalledon theGovernmenttotakesixstepstohelp victimsofabuse,said:“Thisreporthas beenbasedonthereal-lifeexperiences andvoicesofwomenwhoarevictimsof abuselivingintheWestMidlands

“Theirharrowingstoriesandcries forhelpcannotbeignoredorbrushed

By Thomas Parkes

asidebyGovernmentanylonger,”she added. “Inthefourmonthsithastak entoresearchandwritethisreport we have hadthree PrimeMinisters. Thechaoticandshambolicleadership hasdelayedaction,causedfurtherin stabilityandconsequencesforvictims in whichthe Government must take responsibilityfortheharmtheyhave caused andmovequickly to address thisbeforeissuesgetworse.”

Thesixcallsincludeanincreased uplifttovictims’services, acommitmenttoprovideamulti-yearfunding strategyinlinewithinflation,overhaul ofchildmaintenanceservice,commit mentforincreasednumberofspecialistrefugebedspacesintheWestMid lands,overhaulhowUniversalCredit worksforvictimsofdomesticabuse–andacommitmenttoworkingtowards awholeculturechange.

Shadow Domestic Violence and Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, whoisMP forBirminghamYardley, said:“IdoallIcantosupportvictimsof domesticabuseandwillusethisreport infuturework.”

Victims Commissioner NickyBrennanhandsthereporttoMP JessPhillips

Historysociety

Andy Smith,CannockChaseCouncil, MichelleWalker, Victim Support HarmonyUnit,PCSO Hannah Fearnall,resident JoyWood and Cannock Chase District Councillor Bryan Jones at thelaunch of the initiative

weekendshasbegunafteraservice wasreinstated

BusproviderChaseriderhasan nouncedthereturnoftheRoute62 serviceonSaturdaysaspartofwork withStaffordshirePolicetoreinstate busesatweekendstotownssuchas Cannock,Hednesford,Rawnsley,Hazelslade,ProspectVillage,ChaseTer race,BurntwoodandLichfield

Asoflastweekend,theservice nowprovidesresidentsonanewdevelopmentalongsideMilestoneWay inChaseTerracewithaccesstoabus routeforthefirsttime

Chaseriderwill also runthe 60serviceuptoevery30minutes fromMondaytoSaturday,running betweenCannock,McArthurGlen RetailOutlet,HeathHayes,Norton Canes, ChaseTerrace,Chasetown, Burntwood,PipeHillandLichfield

Theprovidersaidthat,together, routes60and62wouldprovideup tothreebusesanhourinthedaytimefromMondaytoFridaybetween Cannock,ChaseTerrace,Burntwood, PipeHillandLichfield

DanFlanagan,operationsman ageratChaseriderBuses,said:“We arereallypleasedtobeabletore-in troducethenewSaturdaytimetable onroute62.”

Joules jobs at risk as administrators called

Around 1,600 jobs areunder threat afterfashion retailer Joules revealeditissettoappointadministratorsfollowingafailuretosecurea vitalcashinjection

Thebrand–famousforitsposh wellies–saidtalksoveranemergen cycash-callwithinvestorsincluding itsfounderTomJoulehadprovedunsuccessful Itsaiditwouldfileano ticeofintentiontoappointInterpath Advisory as administrators to the firmanditssubsidiaries,including onlinehomeandgardenretailerThe GardenTradingCompany,“assoon asreasonablypracticable”

Joules,whichhasastoreatCannock’sMcArthurGlenDesignerOutlet,said:“Theboardistakingthis actiontoprotecttheinterestsofits creditors.”

Thefirmwillsuspendtradingof itssharesonthestockmarketdue tothedecision,addingthatfurther announcementswillbemade“indue course”.

Itisexpectedtoformallyappoint administratorsinthenextfiveto10 workingdays,butstressedthatits

Joulesisthelatestretailertohit

Aconsultationhasbeenlaunched onplanstoremovetwoairquality management areas(AQMAs)from theCannockChasedistrict.

Councilchiefshad identified threeareaswhereairqualityfailed tomeetlegalstandardsandhadput measuresinplacetotackleit.Itaf fected A5 WatlingStreetatBridg townandinChurchbridge,theTurf IslandandtheA5190CannockRoad, HeathHayesatFiveWaysIsland.

Buta review commencedlast yearfoundtheairqualityinthefirst and third zoneshad improvedto theextentthe AQMAs therecould be removed, with aconsultation beinglaunchedbytheauthorityto hearpeople’sviewsontheissue.It runs untilDecember 18 andcom mentscanbesenttoenvironmental health@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

CouncillorJustinJohnson,port folioleaderfor environment and climatechangeatCannock Chase DistrictCouncil,said:“Thisisgreat newsforCannockChase.Twoofthe threezonesarenolongerfailingto meetstandards.Duringthepandem ic,therewasamarkedimprovement inlevelsduetothelockdownrestrictions.

“Theseimprovementshavebeen maintainedduring2021, whichis very encouraging notonlyfor air qualitybutalsofortheclimate.”

Report by David Banner

Jouleshasashop at the McArthurGlenDesigner RetailOutlet

Taking adim view of thelights

The Best of Peter Rhodes

Callmeparanoidbut,aselectric itybillssoar,doesanyoneelsereck onthelightsaregettingdimmer?

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ElonMusktakesadimviewof peoplewhoopenTwitteraccounts inhisnameandposeashimfora joke.Afteracomedianadoptedthe Musk handle afew days ago, the world’s richestman tweetedthus: “Goingforward,anyTwitterhandles engaginginimpersonationwithout clearlyspecifying‘parody’will be permanentlysuspended.”Priceless This mayremindyou of the1970 MontyPython classic, theArchi tects’ Sketch.Asthe scale-model blockofflatsspontaneouslycaught fire,theflashingcaption:“SATIRE” appeared.Ofcourse,weknewitwas satirebecauseno-onewouldbuilda blockofflatsthatburstintoflames, wouldthey?

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Acartoon in Punchmagazine many years agoshowedaMorris Danceteam(orside,tobetechnically

correct)slumpedbleary-eyedacross atableinabeergarden,surrounded byemptypintglasses.“Right,lads,” saystheirleader(technicallysquire, foremanorcaptain).“Whatshallwe spendtherestoftheArtsCouncil granton?”Ifeltasonewiththose ancientMorrisDancersthisweekas Imetupwithapairofoldfriendsfor ourmonthlymeal

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Sometimeswehavelunch or dinnerbutthistimeitwasa10am breakfast at aprettyold half-tim bered,real-alepub.Andthistime,as wechewedthefatandputtheworld torights,wewerebaskinginthejoy oftheGovernment’s£250bung(of

ficially, theenhancedWinterFuel Allowance)whichworksout,ifyou shoparoundcarefully,atabout50 pintsofbitter.

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AllthislargessefromWhitehall iswhatcynicscallthenannystate Keepitcoming,Nanny nnn

Andbeforemyregularcoterieof killjoyschimesintoremindusthat 10amboozingistheroadtoperdition,Iconsumedpreciselyonepint ofzero-alcoholGuinnesswhichisexactlylikerealGuinnessbutwithall thefunscientificallyremoved

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Thesuperglueidiotsarebackin action,makinganuisanceofthemselveswhilehavingnottheslightest effectonsavingtheplanet.Theyal waysclaimtobenon-violent.Yetthis weektheMetrevealedthatpolicing thelikesofJustStopOilandInsu lateBritainhasusedupmorethan 10,000 shifts involvingpoliceofficerswhowouldotherwisebedeal ingwithburglariesandknifecrimes. Whatsortofnon-violenceisitthat exposesotherpeopletoviolence?

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Itwasrevealedattheweekend that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt pays

£110atimeforahaircutinDown ingStreet.Ordoeshe?Isn’tthetruth thatMrHunt’shaircuts,likehisfood, accommodation,clothesandtrans port,areallpaidforbytherestof us?Ihavealwaysbelievedthatyou canjudgeaman’scharacterbythe amounthespendsonahaircut.Me? TheNumberThreeallover,please, taperedneck.Asnipat£8.95

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For400 years or so,Shake speare’s play HenryV hasprovidedharmlessentertainmentforthe Englishwithitsjollythemesofkill inglotsofFrenchtoffsandseduc ingtheirprincess.Today,however, London’s Globetheatre is working onaproductionwhichwillcondemn King Henryfor imperialism, white supremacy,toxicmasculinityandall thatstuff.Icanscarcelycontainmy astonishment

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ForiftheGlobe’sversionisac curate,itmeans that akingborn in1386andraisedinanagewhen quarrels were settledwithlongbows,warhammersandtrebuchets, didnotsharetheprogressive,liber al,feminised,anti-imperial,multi cultural andgenderfluid viewsof today’stheatre bosses.The House ofLancasterdidnotdowoke.Shock, horror.

Expensivehaircut–ChancellorJeremy Hunt

Dim view– ElonMusk

Houseprice fall expected Supportfor armedforces

House prices have risenbyalmost12percentinthelastyearin theWestMidlands–thehighestincreaseinthecountry

Theaveragehousepriceacross theregionlastmonthwas£254,962, anincreaseof11.7percentonlast October. Butthereare signsthat theriseinhousepricesisbeginning tostallinthelightofrisinginterest ratesandthecostoflivingcrisis.

While figures areupyear-onyear,theyhavestartedtodipinrecent months. FiguresfromHalifax revealOctoberrecordedthebiggest monthlyfallinpricesacrosstheUK sinceearly2021

Theaveragepropertyvaluefell by 0.4per cent betweenSeptemberandOctober,markingthethird month-on-month drop seen in the pastfourmonths,Halifaxsaid.

Thelatestmonth-on-monthde creasefollowsmonthlyfallsof0.1 percentinbothJulyandSeptember anda0.3percentincreaseinAu gust.Annualhouse pricenationallygrowthslowedto8.3percentin October,from9.8percentgrowth recordedinSeptember

AcrosstheUK,theaveragehouse priceinOctober was£292,598, whichwas thelowest figuresince Maythisyear,althoughtypicalpric esremainednearrecordhighs,Halifaxsaid

EurovisionsingerSam headsfestival line-up

Eurovision runner-up SamRyder,chart-toppersSophieEllis-Bex torandEast17,andformerSpiceGirl MelanieCwilljoinrocklegendsPri malScreamatafamilymusicfestival nextyear

Ella Henderson, synth-popsuperstars TheHuman League and drum–and-bassbandRudimental willalsobeappearingatCampBestivalShropshire,atWestonParkin August

About17,000 revellers flocked tothevenuefortheWestMidlands’ firstCampBestivalthisyear

Aswellasthemusic,itwillin volve comedy,children’s entertain mentandwellbeingevents

Theevent,runningfromAugust 17-20,isorganisedbyformerRadio 1DJRobdaBankandhiswifeJosie.

Robsaidhewasdelightedwith thisyear’sevent,andhopedthe2023 eventwouldbuildonthatsuccess

“Wecouldn’thavebeenhappier withthesite,theweather,thecrowd, andthevibes,”hesaid.

“We’rebackfor2023hopingto rampupthelevelsevenmorefrom

introducingabrand-newfancydress parade,raftbuilding andloads of coolnewlittlepop-upstomegapop starsandindiegiantsonthemain stage.”

SamRyder finishedsecondin thisyear’sEurovisionSongContest with SpaceMan andhe latersup

Anew life

WhenformerspecialistnurseSheila Haycock finally found asolution for her failing teeth she quite literally receivedaprescriptionforanewlife... andsodidherhusband,Dave.

Emotionally broken by acatalogue of dental disasters, for awhole year she suffered pain every day and her confidence plummeted.“Eachdaywasanightmare

“Every day I’d have anew ulcerinmy mouth.Icouldn’teatproperly,stoppedgoingoutandcouldn’tfacelookingatmyself inamirror–infact,I’dcoverthemup.

“I’d speak and laugh with my hand in front of my mouth,avoid having my picture taken and couldn’t chewproperly –if Ididgoout,I’dalwayshavetoorderlasa gnebecauseitwassoftfood,”sherecalls

Sheila’s problemsbegan when her natural teeth became mobile and braved her worstfears,having afull clearanceto makewayforanupperandlowerdenture.

Terrified of the dentist, she adds: “I thoughtitwas impossible for things to get worse, but nothing could haveprepared meforthenext12months.ThefirsttimeI tookmyteethoutandlookedinthemirror, psychologically,Iwasbesidemyself

“I’d been so preoccupied with master ingmyfearofthedentist,Ihadn’tworked through the impactoflosingmyteeth wouldhaveonme.Itwasdevastating.”

Initially,Daveconfessesto“notbeing that helpful,” explaining her native teeth “neededtogoandtodealwithit.”

“I know, Itoldhim,” says Sheila, “but theyweremine!”

Even the loss of asingle tooth is now

portedTexasonCannockChaseas partoftheForestLiveconcerts.

WestMidlandactsNapalmDeath andPopWillEatItselfwilladdtothe variety.

Tickets, starting at £70, go on sale today(Thursday). See shrop shire.campbestival.netfordetails.

Membersofthe armedforces communitywhoareworriedabout cost-of-living pressures have been remindedsupportisavailable

StaffordshireCountyCouncil’s ‘heretohelp’campaignanddedicat edwebpageshaveinformationand adviceonpayingbills,foodandessentials,fundingforchildcare,stay ingwarmandhelpingothers.

Membersoftheforcesandtheir familiescanalsoaccesspracticaland financial supportfromvarious or ganisationsincludingtheRoyalBritishLegion(RBL).TheRBL’sEveryday NeedsGrantsprogrammeismaking fundingofupto£2,400 available toeligibleapplicants,whichcanbe usedtohelpwithenergycosts,cloth ingandkitchenappliances

Otherarmed forces charities suchasSSAFAalsooffersupportand thecountycouncil’sonlinecommu nitysupportdirectory,Staffordshire Connects,isaone-stopshopforall thingshealthandcare.

CouncillorVictoriaWilson,cab inet member forcommunities and culture,said:“Iknowmanyofour armedforcescommunities will be worriedabouttherisingcostofliving andextra pressuresonhousehold budgetsbutIwouldliketoreassure themthereissupportavailable.”

See staffordshire.gov.uk/hereto help

Retired nurse Sheila got anew smile after ayeaarofdental misery,husband Dave admits he too is now enjoying the e esit’sbrought about.

My experience with Steven and his team was the best. Getting the implants really is money well spent.

-Roy Phillpott

Steven’sprofessionalism gave me the confidence and assurance that they could resolve my problem.

-Norma Aston

When Ifirst saw my teeth Ithought they looked just like my realteeth.

-Vicki Ball

’ ’ ’

clinicallyrecognisedasapotentialprecur sorforamourningprocess.

Adds Dave: “She was upsetand Ifelt utterlyhelpless. The guilt of it all ...I wanted to help, but couldn’t. Icould eat what ever Iwanted, but she couldn’tand everyday –every day–there was anew problemtoaddress.”

Sheila, who specialised in wound dress ings, admits she felt trapped, having been

assured her jawbone density would be too poortosupportimplants.

“My dentures seemed to be rotating and rolling around and Ihated the denture glue. I’d use it and as soon as I’d try to eatsomething,within15minutesmyteeth would be unstable again.Iwas mortified by having to use it over and over again. I wasnotcoping.”

Taking advicefromher daughter,who

had received a recommendation from a work colleague that North Street Dental and Implant Clinic could help, Sheila headedforDudley

“Within 15 minutes of walking in to the surgery Steven [practice principal Steven BurchellDipCDTRCS(Eng)]washelping me,”shesays.

Asatemporarymeasure,anoralimpres sion was taken and her painful dentures lined with asoft material that would help easethediscomfortandimprovefit.

Sheila was prescribed atraditional top prosthetic and alower over-denture, retained on two implants. The sur gery was carried out under sedation by North Street’sclinical lead, Owain Rees BDSDGDP(UK) Dip Imp Dent (UCL) GDC61576.

“All Ican say is that it has completely changed my life. There’s nothing Ican’t eat and the implantprosthetic doesn’tfeel false. It’scomparable for me to my own teeth.WhenIfirstsawmynewteethinthe mirror, Ithought who’sthis person?They looked natural, just like real teeth,” says Sheila.

Dave, aformer civil engineer,adds: “She’scompletely different. It’sbeenlifechanging for me too and we can now get onwithourretirement.”

Both keen gardeners, they agreethe financial investment is in aquality life choice.“It’sthe best thing she’sever had done,”addsDave.

Report by Mark Andrews

Sam Ryder performing onCannockChase earlier thisyear

OPINION

Ourforces have utmost respect

Last weekendCannock Chasefell silenttorememberthosewhobravely andselflesslyansweredthecallofduty.

So many bravemen andwomen fromacrossCannockChasehaveserved inourarmedforces,withmanymaking theultimatesacrificeforourcountry.

Remembrance services were held acrossthedistrictandastrongcommu nitypresencewasseenatall.Residents cameoutinforcetoshowtheirrespect andgratitudeforourservicemenand womenwhonevercamehome

Aswellashavingthehonourofat tendingservicesinBridgtownonNo vember6,inHednesfordonArmistice DayandRugeleyonRemembranceSun day,Ialsohadtheprivilegeofplacinga remembrancecrossonbehalfofallres identsofCannockChaseintheParlia mentaryGardenofRemembrance.The ParliamentaryGardenofRemembrance seesacrossplantedbyMPstorepresent theirconstituency.

Overthelastfewweeks,Ihavehad theopportunitytolearnmoreaboutour armedforcesandouramazingservice personnelbyagaintakingpartinthe ArmedForcesParliamentaryscheme.

Fiveyears ago, Itookpartinthe Armybranchofthescheme,spending timemeetingwithourtroopsupand down thecountry as well as visiting thosedeployedabroad.Theschemeen

CHASE MATTERS

ablesparticipatingMPstospendtime visiting bases, take part in training schemesand observeactivitiesbeing undertakenbyourforces

IamnowtakingpartintheNavy branchandhavealreadyhadthechance overrecentweekstovisitseveralnaval basesandtrainingfacilities.Iamreally lookingforwardtothecomingyearand gleaningabetterunderstandingofthe RoyalNavy,itsroleinthedefenceofthe UKandouroverseasterritories

Itisarealhonourtoseeourarmed forcesinactionandtospendtimewith them.Theywillalwayshavemyupmost respectandthanks.

In this national period of remem brance,it’simportanttoacknowledge that so many bravemen andwomen fromacrossCannockChaseserve,and haveserved,inourarmedforces.Inpar ticular,werememberthosewhomade theultimatesacrificeforourcountry

Pleasedonothesitatetoraiseany issueswithmeon01543877142,via e-mail at amanda.milling.mp@parlia ment.ukorat11aMarketStreet,Hed nesford,Staffordshire,WS121AY.

Jim and Mary Fordsay their daughter’sdog Maple, likethe syrup, is‘a sweetie’ and isforever wantingtochase anythingthat moves. “At threeyears-oldsheisverynosy andnevermissesatrick,” theysaid. “She loves acuddle and atickle, but little treatsare her favourite.”Sendyour pet pictures tochronicleweek@mnamdia.co.uk

WithAmanda MillingMP

PrimeMinisterRishiSunakhas beenurgedto“putHS2intoadmin istration”andimmediatelyceaseall workontheline.

Thecallhas come from Lord Berkeley, deputy chairofthe OakerveeReviewintoHS2,who cited “seriousengineeringproblems”beneaththe routethrough Stafford shire as areasonfor binning the project.

Thefutureofthebudget-busting line,whichwillcarvethroughmore than40milesofStaffordshirecoun tryside,issettocomeunderclose scrutinywithgovernmentspending cutsduetobeannouncedthisweek

Lord Berkeley, along-standing criticofHS2,saiditshouldbeimme diatelyscrappedandreplacedwith acrosscountryroutefromtheWest MidlandstotheEast

InalettertothePM,hereferencesameetingwhenthen-Chancellor MrSunak“expressedconcernabout thespirallingcostsofHS2”

Amongaseriesofproblems,he says thereare “seriousengineeringproblems” with limestone cavitiesbeneaththerouteofPhase2A in Staffordshire,and with thesalt mines underPhase 2B West,betweenCreweandManchester.

Most importantly,headded, thereisstillnoup-to-dateforecastof passengerdemandfortheline.

Sonpaystribute after ex-minerdiesaged82

JamesEdgarFord,oneofthelast oftheShropshireandStaffordshire coalminers,hasdied,aged82

MrFordleftschoolattheageof 15andbeganworkingfirstofallin KembertonColliery,betweenMadeleyand Shifnal, untilitclosedin 1967.Hethen workedatGranville untilitclosedasthelastShropshire coalminein1979.Hehadnochoice buttotakethelongbusjourneyeach daytoRugeleytoworkatLeaHall Colliery,aso-called“superpit”.

HissonRob,directorattheHeritageInternationalSchool,inMoldova, said:“Thepitwasveryoutdatedand herememberspitponies,ghoststo riesfromtheolderminersaswellas beingburiedseveraltimesasateenagerundergroundatthecoalface.”

Born next to RAFCosford on September19,1940,MrForddiedon November9atSevernHospice,Telford,afterashortbattlewithcancer. Robsaid:“Myfatherwasheavilyinvolvedintradeunionaffairsandwas onstrikein1972and1974.

“Hewould be on astrikefor wholeyearwiththedwindlingband

ofShropshireminersateitherLea Hall or Littleton. My dadwas the treasurerofthe striking miners fundandmymotherwasactivein thewomen’sgroupofminers’wives Shewouldcollectthefoodparcels eachweekfromtheminers’welfare clubinRugeley.Mydadandhisfel-

lowstrikerspicketedmostlyfrom Ironbridgepowerstationandwere joinedbyminersfromPontypridd.”

He married Margaret in 1964 Shediedofcancerlast December Theyhadfivechildrenandaresur vivedby10grandchildrenandtwo greatgrandchildren.

StaffordshirePolicechiefshave welcomedatotalof65studentof ficersatagraduationceremony

Theeventsaw48recruitsfrom thePoliceConstableDegreeAppren ticeship(PCDA) and17fromthe Degree Holder EntryProgramme (DHEP)doncapandgownsatStaffordshireCountyShowground

Bothprogrammesofstudycombinedamixtureofpracticalpolicing experiencewithdetectiveteams,as wellasacademictuitionandshifts in different departmentsdelivered in partnershipwithStaffordshire University.Thegraduateswillnow become police officersassigned to response,neighbourhoodorspecialistinvestigationteams.

ChiefConstableChrisNoblesaid: “Thesecourseshaveofferedthestudentsasignificantinsightintothe day-to-dayworldofpolicingthatI’m suretheywillencounterastheycontinueintheircareers.Thestudents shouldbeproudofwhattheyhave achievedastheylooktowardsanexcitingcareer.”

Theforce’sprofessionaldevelopmentunitmanagerPaulSims,said: “Itwasgreattoseesomanyofour DHEPandPCDArecruitsgraduate.

“Theyhavealreadymadesome fantasticfirststepsintheircareerto helpprotectandservetheircommunitiesandmakearealdifference.”

Report by David Tooley

James withhis wife Margaret,whodied of cancer inDecember

FOLKESTONE

Memoriesofcomic duo

“Whattimewas theMorecambe andWiseshowonChristmasDay?”was theimportantquestionforthefamily ofthelastProbusclubspeakerAndy French

Everyone knew thetimefor the Queen’sSpeechbut Christmastradi tionacrossthelandwasalsotowatch EricandErnie.LadiesofCannockand DistrictProbusClubweretakendown MemoryLanewhenremindedofthe manyandvariedawardsandachieve mentsofthepopularcomedyduo

From 1969 to 1980 theirfestive showwasastapleoftheChristmasDay schedule,andin197728millionview erstunedin

Theladieswereenlightenedtothe journeyoftheduo.Theyareconsidered thegreatestcomedy doubleact ever tograceourTVscreensandtheVote ofThanksspokeofanenjoyableafter

noonofnostalgia,withoutswearwords butgoodcleanfun.TheProbusmeeting closedwithasmile,watchingtheiconic videoclosingtheirshowsingingBring MeSunshine.

Retiredorsemi-retired,profession alorbusinessladiesmeetonthefirst Thursdayofeachmonthfromnoonat ChaseGolfClub.

Amealand fellowship is shared, withspeakersoninterestingtopicsand opportunitiestotakepartinoutings andotheractivities

Newmembersarealwayswelcome –annualmembershipis£16andatwo courselunch£18

Forfurther information contact membership secretaryBarbara on 01889882166orchairmanSheilaon 07814102767

Climatechange in the spotlight

Octoberisthemonthoftheannual conferenceforSoroptimistInternationalofGreatBritainandIreland(SIGBI) andthisyearitwasheldinBelfast

SevenmembersofSI Cannock crossedthewatertoattendandsome even took theirhusbandsalong! For twoofthewomenitwastheirfirsttime atconference.

Thethemewas‘ClimateforChange’ andthespeakershighlightedtheneed toinvestinglobalgenderequality–a very sadstatistic wasthatifthings continue at thecurrent rate it will take300yearsbeforewomenhavethe

samerightsasmen–andurgentaction againstclimatechangeisvital.Asthe previoustwo conferences were held virtually,itwasalsoanopportunityto meetoldfriendsandmakenewones andagreattimewashadbyall.

FurtherdetailsaboutSoroptimists, theworktheydoandhowyoumaybe abletojoinameetingcanbefoundon theclub’swebsite:www.sigbi.org/can nock-and-districtoronwww.facebook. com/SICannock

Wildlife in thepicture

TheNovember meetingwas very well attended includingtwo visitors. Thespeakerwaswildlifephotographer PeterJDurnallwhohaswonawardsfor hisfilmsattheannualBritishInterna tionalAmateurFilmFestival.

Thefirstfilmheshowedillustrated thenaturalhistoryoftheManifoldValleyinthePeakDistrict.Memberswere also told alittleofthe development ofthevalleyincludinghowin1902a lightrailwaywasbuiltwhichranfrom HolmeEndtoWaterhousesandclosed

in1934whenthetrackwasadapted intoaneight-milefootpathforwalkers andcyclists

Thesecondfilm,titledSecretLives of Garden Birds,was filmedinthe speaker’sowngarden.Next,theladies weretransportedtoSkomerIslandin Waleswherethereisalargepuffincol onyandfinallytherewasmoretobe seenonBarraIslandinScotland.

SI Cannock&District delegates attheconferenceinBelfast

C&D Ladies Probus

SI Cannock &District

Penkridge WI

Over

Spearheading theseasonalenter tainment, Christmaslights switch onsare settoringinthe festive spirit across thearea, andhere we’vegot detailsofall thosecom ingupnearyou that everybodycan enjoy

Hoping to help you alltohavethe best Yuletide season possible,inside this supplement you’llalso find detailsoflocal businesses whoare aiming to help make yourChristmasperfect

We hope you allenjoy thefes tive season,staysafeand have the happytimeyou alldeserve. Merry Christmas to you all–let’s make it agreat one!

Events to getyou into thefestive spirit

Believeitornot,Christ masisjustaroundthe corner.And thereare plenty of events taking placeacrossthe region to help youget into the festive mood.

n Aspectacular,illuminated trail, full of wonderand intrigue,to delightand enthralyoursenses is coming to ShugboroughEstate.

Visitors canimmerse themselves in themesmerising mile-long trail, with stunninglightingelements andfabulouslight play,all setto ambientmusic

Luminate Shugboroughwill run nightlyfromFriday, November25 untilSunday, January1 2023.Itis closedonChristmas Day.

Ticketsmustbepre-bookedon line in advanceatluminate.live/ shugborough-estate

n Penkridge VictorianChristmas Market is back anditisset to be biggerand better than ever

DuetoCovid disruptionsithasn’t been possibletorun theevent since thehugelysuccessfulmarket held in 2019

TheVictorian Market will be held on Sunday, November27atPenk ridge Market,the eventwill also open an hour earlier, runningfrom 11am –7pm giving you extra time

to enjoy thefestivities.The market will be bursting with 150stalls, selling awidevariety of delicious food anddrink plus localcrafts, as well as plenty of entertainment.

Local producerswill be selling everything you need foryourfes tive feast, from cheeses,pickles and preserves to Christmas cakesand mincepies.

If you’refeeling peckish, there will be awidevariety of refresh

mentsavailable,including mulled wine,hot chocolate, jacket potatoes, Chinesecatering, doughnutsand burgers. TheOld Deanery Farm Café will also be open servinghot drinks andfestive food, includinga traditionalturkeydinner.

Therewill be craftstallsselling everything from handmade jew ellery,candles andsoaps to hand craftedwooden gifts, reindeer and toys.FatherChristmas will also be

making an extra-special appear ance,aswellanElf Craftworkshop, face painter, donkey ridesand ama gician.

Therewillalsobeplentyofenter tainmenttokeepthe olderchildren amusedwithArthur’sFun Fair,a jugglerand stiltwalker. In addition therewillbelivemusic from con cert pianistCatherine Nardiello, carols performedby, localchoir, the Seighford Singersand upliftingmu

sictoget you in theChristmas spir it performedbythe Wolverhampton U3AUkulele Band

Entryisfreefor children and £2.50per adult. Ticketscan be pur chased in cash on thegate. There is onsite parkingavailable free of charge,but spaces arelimited Formoredetails call 01785 714221 or visitthe website www penkridgemarket.co.uk

n Ticket salesfor aStaffordshire pantomimehaveprovedsogood that newdates have been added.

LichfieldGarrick Theatre says it hashad ‘unprecedenteddemand’ forthisyear’sGarrick Pantorun of Snow White& theSeven Dwarfs

And, as aresult, an extra week of additional performances hasbeen addedtothe originaldates

Snow White&the SevenDwarfs will rununtil January8,2023. Tickets are available via the Box Office on 01543412121orvisit www.lichfieldgarrick.com/panto n Theever-popular Santa’s Breakfastexperienceisavailable in Dobbies’Gaileystore.Breakfast optionsare availablefor both adults andchildren,including vegetarian and lighteroptions, with food, fun activities plus aspecial visitand gift from Santaall included in the children’s great-valueticket price Santa’sBreakfast runs from No vember26.

From aVictorianmarkettoanilluminated trail, thereisplentyoffestivefun on offerfor people of allages

Switch-on eventskickoff festivities

n Cannocktowncentre will be lituponSaturday, November26. Describedasagreat dayout forthe family,the eventwillfeature street food, bars andlivemusic andentertainmentfromThe Vonics,The Players StaffordshireRockChoir, 2 Step danceacademy andParty Popperz with MC StuHaycock.

n In Hednesford, thelightswill be switched on on Friday,December2,withfestivities runningfrom 5pmuntil 8pm.

Thetheme forthisyear’sChristmasevent is thetaleofSleeping Beauty.Local schoolswill be workingonsome themed decorations forthe trees andaroundthe Town focusing these around atheme of granting wishes andsending goodwill just likethe good fairies.

n Stafford’s Christmaslights switch-ontakes placeinthe town’s Market Square on November19.

Throughout theday therewill be stalls,streettheatre,tradition al fair rides, Christmasshopping events andaspecialappearanceby Father Christmas himself at the AncientHigh Houseand then on themainstage inMarket Square

Shoppers will be able to take part in aspecial Christmas Trailorgan

isedbyStaffordBorough Council, offering prizes from shops, cafes andthe GatehouseTheatre

Stars of this year’s Cinderella pantomimewillkeepthe crowdentertainedonthe main stageinMar ket Square andthere will also be a DJ andlive musicactsfrom3pm

Theevent kicksoff with Stafford’s HarvestCentre Gospel Choir, followed by amusical setfromThe GatehouseYouth Theatre

Locallegends TheCartoon Kings will be on stagefrom3.50pm, before handingover to some very special

starsfromthisyear’sGatehouse pantomime, Cinderella.

TheMayor andSanta himself will arrive just before 5pmfor the traditionalcountdown,followed by a fireworks display.

Afterthat, TheCartoon Kings will be back with anotherset before thestage closes at 6pm.

Councillor CarolynTrowbridge, cabinetmember forleisure at Staf ford BoroughCouncil,said: “Last year wasabsolutelyamazing and we’rehoping to topitnextmonth on anotherspectacular Saturday

afternoon. Thebig switch-onisalways afantastic eventand brings thousandsofshopperstoour beau tifultowncentre.Itmarks thetra ditional startofthe countdown to thebig dayinthe county townand we can’twaittolight up Stafford once again.”

LauraMorris, healthycommuni ties andeventsmanager of Freedom Leisure, said:“It’s greattosee the Christmas lights goinguparound town alreadyand it’s always amag ical moment when they firstgoon.”

n Wolverhamptonalwaysputson

ashowinthe city centre,and this year promises to be no different, with theQueen Square switch-on plannedfor November19.

Thefun will startat3pm with a funfairand festivemarket on DudleyStreet featuringrealreindeer, face painting,food anddrink and much more

BBCstarHey Duggee will entertain thechildrenand singer Tony Christie before joiningthe Mayorof Wolverhampton, Councillor Sandra SamuelsOBE,and Father Christ mastoswitchonthe lights at 6pm.

Crowds gathered at switch-oneventsacrossthe region last year,includinginCannock town centre, to enjoymusic andfestive fun

Toptipstodealwithfestive worries

As thecost-of-livingcrisiscontinues,money is aserious concernfor many of us.

Andtwo-thirdsofpeopleare worried their financialsituationwill worsenoverthe year ahead, arecent survey from credit card provid er Vanquisfound

With Christmascosts creeping closer, it mightbehardtofendoff festivefears

“For some people,Christmas is aseasontolookforward to,but forothers, gettingthrough thehol idaysisastruggle,”saysDrAnna Mandeville, consultantclinicalpsy chologistand UK clinical director at KoaHealth(koahealth.com)

“There arenumerousreasons why–somepeople areremindedof loss,othersfeelpressuretoput on a successfuleventand keep thepeace whileinteracting with lovedones, andmanyare worriedabout theex pensesinvolved.”

Whilethere areplentyofpracti calthingsyou candotosavemoney during thefestivalperiod, this is how you canemotionally navigate financialworries in thelead-upto Christmas

FOCUSONYOUR BREATH

PollyBateman performance, wellbeingand life coachand resi dent at Maslife(maslife.com),said: “Ifyou cantakejustthree minutes to follow thefour–seven –eight

breathingtechnique this will help you relax, as it will shift you from thesympatheticnervoussystemto theparasympathetic nervoussys tem.”Thisisinhalingthrough your nose forfourcounts, holdingyour breath forseven counts, then exhal ingfor eightcounts–repeatingthe patternafew times.

REMEMBER WHAT IT IS ALLREALLY ABOUT

“GobacktowhatChristmas is really about. What arethe core values of Christmas?Christmas is aboutconnectingand giving and receiving– how canyou create this sense of connectionamongstfamily, communityorfriends?” Mandeville says

“Gifts you exchange don’thave to be expensive, they canevenbe things you make.Focusingonthe time spentcaringfor yourselfand others in amindfulway helpsusto enjoy Christmasas atimetorest andreflect. Reaching outtooth erswho mightbealone andlonely is also apowerful waytobring the values of Christmasalive.”

SETREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

There’sahugeamountofpres sure forChristmas to be perfect, with Mandevillesaying: “Unre alistichopes canleadtodisap pointment. Figure outwhat‘good enough’would look likefor you and yourloved ones,and scaledown expectations.Let go of things that don’tworkfor you –ifaparticu lartraditionisn’t feasible,think of ways to change it up,orget ridofit altogether.”

WORKOUTYOUR WORRIES

“Whenweare stressed or de pressed, we oftenbecome immobile –and that is somethingthe body subconsciously relatestotrau ma andbeing trapped,”explains Bateman. “Soeven just walkingis helpful. Taking thetimetolistento nature,birds,trees in thewind, or water,ifyou canbenearit, it will alladd to theexperience.”

HAVE AGIGGLE

At ourmoststressed it canbe hard to find humour –but it may just help

“Laughter–theysay it’s thebest medicine,and it really is.It enhanc es yourbreathing,stimulatesyour heartand lungsand releases endor phinsinyourbrain –aswellasre lievingyourstressresponse.Watch comedies,callfunnyfriends and listen to anything that makesyou laugh,”Bateman suggests.

Time to deck halls

Treewayalso

Allpricesare inclusiveofVAT and

availableatadditional

more informationcall01543 425893oremaill info@treeway.co.uk

Washington on amission

Strictly’s by seasidein Towerballroomreturn

SATURDAY

Man on Fire(2004) (Channel 4, 11.45pm)

FormerCIAcounter-terroristoperativeJohnCreasy(DenzelWash ington)movestoMexicoCityand reluctantlytakesajobasaprivate bodyguardforprecociousnine-year old Pita (DakotaFanning), whose family’swealthmakesheratarget forkidnappers.Whenthenightmare happensandthelittlegirlisabductedandthenkilled,hemakesithis life’sworktotrackdownthosere sponsible.

SUNDAY

Surge (2020) (BBC2, 10pm)

This unnervinglyclaustropho bic characterstudy is thefeature debutofacclaimedshort-filmdirec torAneilKaria.A sociallyawkward loner,playedby BenWhishaw, loosensthehinges onhisfragilemen talstate andspi rals sickeningly outofcontrol

Strictly Come Dancing: Blackpool Special (BBC1, 7.45pm, Saturday)

It mayusually be filmedat Elstree Studios, butthere’sno doubtthatStrictlyComeDancing’s spiritualhomeisintheTowerBallroomatBlackpool.

TheBlackpool episodehas be come aStrictlytradition –and an importantmilestoneforthecontest ants.Thecelebritiesoftensaythey wanttomakeittoHalloween,then Blackpool,andthenafterthat,they cantruly startthinkingabout the glitterballtrophy.Butinthelasttwo years,theannualjaunthashadtobe abandoned.Nowthegoodnewsis thatthisyearStrictlywillonceagain bebesidetheseaside

Thelasttimetheymadethetrip wasin2019, when KarimZeroual andKelvinFletchertiedatthetopof theleaderboardwithaCharleston anda jive respectively,while Mi chelle Visage left thecompetition afterher CouplesChoicetoVogue failedtowinovertheviewers.

Butwhowillbestruttingtheir stuffonthefamoussprungdance floorthisweek?

Theremainingcoupleswillhope tocomeupwithmoreshow-stopping routines tonightthatwill impress judges Shirley Ballas,Craig Revel Horwood,MotsiMabuseandAnton

DuBekeand,moreimportantly,the votingpublic ThenonSundaynight,TessDaly andClaudiaWinklemanrevealwho’s madeitthroughandwhohastoperformagain,whilethere’salsoamusi calinterludecourtesyofEurovision heroSamRyder

Janineinfall down stairs

EastEnders (BBC1)

AfterattendingascanwithMick, Janine (Charlie Brooks)returns to theVictowindLindaupaboutthe pregnancy.However,theexpectant mumhaslesstogloataboutwhen shelaterfallsdownthestairsatthe tube station.Ben warnsLolashe needstotellLexiaboutthediagnosis andAlfiereceivesbadnews.

Coronation Street (ITV)

Hopepockets£75fromthesale ofthebooksaboutJohnStapeshe foundintheshedandannouncesto herclassmatesthatshe’splanninga specialtributetoherbiologicalfa ther–involvingareadingandaham mer. Nick accompaniesSam to his meetingwithHarvey,StephanieBeachamreturnsasMarthaandLeanne triestoscupperthebistrosale.

Emmerdale (ITV)

ChloeaccusesPriyaofbeingAl’s mysterywoman. Mackenzieismore worried about Chloespillinghis secretsand Liam andLeyla decide they aren’t good foreachother

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TV royaltyPrueonageismand making theQueen acup of tea

LAUREN TAYLOR PressAssociation

Dame Prue Leithmay be TV royaltynow,but onethingshe says she’ll “taketoher grave” is theshame of making the late QueenElizabeth II a badcup of tea.

“I couldn’t getout of thePalace how sheliked hertea,soIended up with atraywithall these optionson it:silver teapots, ajug,bowls of lemon anddifferent sugars, milk and cream–the Palace told me to just bringeverything,” says theGreat BritishBakeOff star

It was1975atthe openingofthe QueenElizabeth Conference Centre in London.The Queen finally reachedLeith, whowas carrying a rather heavytray, aftergreetinga long line of dignitaries.

“I said,‘Blackorwhite Ma’am?’ Shesaidblack,soI puta piece of lemonin. Shesaid, ‘Nolemon’, so I hadto fish thelemon outasI hadn’t gotanother cup–Ididn’tknow what to do with thebloodylemon!” the82-year-old recalls. “Then Itoppedupher teawithwater be cause most people whohaveblack tealikeitquite weak,and shesaid, ‘I likeitstrong’.

“Sothe poorwoman gotweak lemony tea when shelikes strong blacktea. I’ll go to my grave ashamedofit!”

These days of course,South Af rican-born Leithisinher sixthseries of ChannelFour’sGreat Brit ishBakeOff –“thebestjob in the world”–alongside Paul Hollywood, Matt Lucasand Noel Fielding,and hasjustpublished herlatestcookbook,Bliss On Toast.

Butthe controversygarneredby some of theBakeOff episodes centringoncuisinesofother countries, likethe recent ‘Mexicoweek’,has takenher bysurprise

“Whatwe’re trying to do is celebrate otherpeople’scuisines, but we’ve only gotthree challenges,so obviouslywe’re notgoing to cover allthe things that anycountry wouldwantyou to cover,” shesays.

Describing thepopular baking show as “tolerant, inclusive, en couragingand kind”, Leithadds: “I’m just sorryanyonewas offend ed,because that’s not in thespirit of Bake Off.

“Itdoesmakeyou think, if [we cook]any foreignfood andit’snot regarded as as asignofappreciation andcelebration,and imitation being flattery,thenwe’re in trouble, because Britishcooking hasalways been abouttakingother countries’ ideas.”

On alighternote, thefunniest part of beingonthe show,she says, is that shenever understandsthe innuendos.“I’mjusttoo oldand my companionsare like15-year oldschoolchildren.Theygointo hystericsoflaughter–you saythe wordsausage andtheythink it’s rude andIstart likelooking likea complete nana because Ididn’tget thejoke.”

It wasasurprise to Leith–who marriedher second husband, re tiredfashion designer JohnPlayfair,in2006 –toevenbeconsidered forthe jobreplacing Mary Berry back in 2017.“Ithought,going to ChannelFour, they’d want to change everything,but guesswhat? They foundanother oldlady.”

She’djust finished 11 yearsasa judge on BBCTwo’s GreatBritish Menu andat75thought perhapsit wastimetoretire, butshe couldn’t resist.Representationofolder wom en on TV is improving, sheagrees: “The ageism messagemusthave gotthrough.”

When it comestoBritish food though,nothing quiteencapsulates it like agoodold plateoftoast (and maybeacorrectly made cupoftea).

ForLeith, Sundaynight is the best time to enjoy it.“We’vealways hadsomething on aSundaynight becauseSundaynight is like going

back to school,isn’t it?You need comfortbecause you’re facing the week.Sowe’ve always hadscram bled eggs andcrisp bacon on Sun daynights, or mushroomsontoast, always somethingontoast –it’s comforting

“Ifyou’refeeling ill andyou can’t eatanything, you canalwayseat a piece of drytoast,” sheadds. “And then you getabit better andyou want some butter on it.The next morningit’sgot marmaladeonit.”

Crucially, many arecheap to make.“We’reall very busy and we’reall worried aboutmoney and worried abouttime. Assembling somethingontoast is easy,stressfree anddoesn’t have to be expensive,” Leithsays.

Andinher earlyEighties, Leith isn’tslowingdown. She’scurrently on one-woman tour around theUS (comingtothe UK next year), shar ingher experiences. “Peoplethink of me as thewoman on tellywho eats cake foraliving, whichistrue, butI’vehad averyadventurous life,” shesays.

“Peopleoften saytome, ‘You’re amazingfor 82’,and thetruth is, I’mquite healthy, Ieat well,I sleep well,I have quitealot ofenergy. I thinkI’m just lucky,”saysLeith

n BlissOnToast by Prue Leith is published by Bloomsbury,priced £14.99,available now.

Vibrantand fruity dessert recipe is just irresistible

tikkapaste

Turn thechicken thighs in the rest andspreadthemout on an oiledbakingtray.

Roastfor about 35 minutes

tilbrown andcookedthrough (a skewer should glidethrough the flesheasily).Slice each thighinto three.

Warm thenaansorchapatis brieflyinthe microwaveortoaster andspreadwithbutter.

Pile thechicken on to thebreads, seasoningwithalittlesaltand pepper.Top with adollop of thereserved yogurt,the chilli andherbs.

“Thisisthe mostdivine, indulgent andirresistiblepud,” says Prue Leith.

“Don’t skimponthe creamor jam. Better forgoitaltogether than trytomakeithealthy!It’s best madewithripefresh apri cots.Ifusing canned fruit, roast them anyway –itwill deepen their flavour.”

APRICOTS,ALMONDS AND CLOTTEDCREAM ON ENGLISH MUFFIN

Ingredients:

2large apricots,or3small ones

40gbutter, half of it melted

2tsp castersugar

1English muffin, split and toasted

2tbspapricot jam

1tbsp flaked almonds, toasted

1small potofclotted cream

Method: Getthe grill as hotas possible.

Halvethe apricots,remove thestonesand putthe halves, stoned side up,onagrill tray. Brushthemwiththe melted butter andsprinklewiththe sugar.

Grill theapricots, not too close to theelementsorgas flame, foreight to 10 minutes untilbrown roundthe edges

Meanwhile, butter thetoast ed muffinhalvesand putthem onwarmplates. Spread them with apricotjam andshare the apricothalvesbetween them

Sprinkle with thealmonds andserve with clotted cream.

Tip: Youcan toastthe flaked almondsinthe oven underthe grill trayat thesametimeas roasting theapricots, butthey burn in a flash, so be careful.

Safer, probably,tostand over them whileyou gently turn them in afryingpan,ortoast for threeminutes in themicrowave, giving them astirhalfway

DamePrueLeith hasjustreleasedanew cook book

BlissOnToast by Prue Leith

Apricot,almond andclotted cream on English muffin

SENIOR JOURNALISTS

The Midland News Association, publisher of the Express &Starand Shropshire Star,islooking forseniorjournaliststo join itsteam.

This is theideal role forambitious, dedicatedand enthusiasticjournalistswith aproventrack record of digging out the bestoff-diarynewsstories, features and analysis.

As amulti-media journalist,you must be comfortable producingcontent forall of our print and digital platforms –fromin-depth news features forour newspapers, to breaking news articles forour websites, as well as covering stories as theyhappen on live blogs.

The ideal candidateswill be able to come up with ideas and deliver compelling stories on aconsistent basis

We arelooking forNCTJ-trained journalists, able to deliver accurate,entertaining copy to meetstrict deadlines. Afull, clean driving licence is required.

We will also consider NCTJ Diploma trained journalists who areworking towardstheirNQJ

This is abrilliantopportunity to joinour newsroom, covering adiverse,vibrant and busypatch

Benefitsinclude acompetitive salary, 25 days’annual holidayand the chance to develop your career at Britain’s largest independentregional news company.

If youare interestedin this role, please send a copy of your CV and coveringletter forthe attention of the editor-in-chief, MartinWright, to: hr@claverleygroup.co.uk

Closing date Friday, November 25

FormerCouncillor and JP Frank Allen.

Passedaway peacefully at homesurrounded by his lovingFamily on November 6, 2022, aged 85 years.

Sadly missed by his loving Wife Ann,Daughter Jackie, Son Frank, Son-in-law Paul, Daughter-in-law Liz, GranddaughtersKarla and Fallon, GrandsonsFrankie and Luke, Great-Granddaughters Marnie, Ada and Martha and Grandsons-in-law Paul and Charlie.

Funeral Service to be held at St Luke’s Church, Cannock on Tuesday,November 22 at 2pm followed by Cremation at Cannock Chase Crematorium at 3.30pm.

Fa mily flowers only, donations to Save The Children andStGiles Hospice, willbegratefully accepted.

All inquiries to

CLEMSON Margaret

Of Heath Hayes.

Passed away on November 8, 2022. Aged 78 years.

Reunited with Husband Fred, also aloving Mom, Nan, Sister,Auntie, and Friend.

Service will be held at Cannock Chase Crematorium on Monday,November 28, at 12.30pm.

Family flowersdonations to Parkinsons UK.

Funeral care has been entrusted to

RUSHTON

Formerly of Cannock.

Passed away peacefully at Ripon Community Hospital on November 2, 2022, aged 83 years.

Funeral Service to take place on Monday,November 21, 202 2a tS taf for d Crematorium at 12.30pm.

Fa mily flow ers only, donations if desired to Cancer Research UK.

All inquiries

David Thomas

ALLEN Frank

his whereabouts, please ring Rita on 07733 295411

Amid the confusionofbereavement we providecalmness, orderand asense of dignity, so that life, as it must,can go on with hope forthe future,aswellasrespect forthe past

At timesofbereavementwehaveservedthe local communitiesin andaroundthisareasince 1866.Wepersonallyknowmanyofthe families we have assisted.Whateverthe time of dayornight,wehave giventhemthe sympathy, advice andhelpthey have needed.Onlyanindependent family firm, we believe, with its rootsinthe community, canoffer thisservice with understanding andcommitment.

Themost thoughtful decisionyou couldmake. Visitour premises to findout howplanningyourfuneral brings peaceofmind.

John Short&Son

Hunter hailsa ‘special group’ after finaldefeat

England captainSarah Hunter sa luteda“specialgroup”ofRed Roses afterthe heartbreakofWorld Cup finaldefeatagainst NewZealand England went down 34-31, having playedmorethananhourwith14 on the fieldafter Stourbridge-born LydiaThompsonwas sent offin the 18th minutelastSaturday.

Despite facing thetournament hostsinfront of asold-outEden Park,Hunterwas convincedher side,who led formuchofthe match, would find away to come outontop Former LichfieldplayerHunt er said:“Ihad absolutebeliefthat they woulddoit. Therewas never anydoubt that we wouldn’t find a waytowin.

“There wasnopanic,wejusthad absolute faithinwhatweweredo ing. Unfortunatelyitdidn’twork outour way.

“We’re as one. We wintogether andlosetogether. Thereisnoblame culturein this team.

“Wecan be proudofthe squad we have become.The girlsleft everything outonthe field. Our backsagainst thewallfor 60 min utes of thegame. To be in with a shot of winningrightatthe end.

“Thisisaveryspecial groupand we canbeimmensely proudofwhat we have done

“One game doesn’tdefine you.”

WhichNewcastleUnited player, pictured right, scored hisseventhgoalin as manyPremier League games in their4-1 victoryover Southampton?

Whichcountrydid England defeat in thesemi-finals of thewomen’sRugby WorldCup?

Which National League South side upset LeagueOne LincolnCityto reachthe FA Cup second roundfor the first time in thei history?

Whowas thewinnerof theinauguralLIV Golf championship?

Whichclub setanew Champions Leaguerecord afterlosingall of theirgroup games with agoaldifference of minus-20?

Which boxerbecamethe UK’s first undisputedfemale championafter beatingJessica McCaskill by unanimous decision in AbuDhabi?

Unai Emery wonhis first game as managerofAston Villaagainst whichclub?

Whobecame the first British mantowin floor gold at theGymnastics World Championships?

GarethBalescoreda last-minute equaliser extra-time before LosAngeles FC beat whichteam on penaltiesto winthe MLS Cup?

Who becamethe youngestplayer nce 2005 to qualify he WTAFinalsin singles?

WhomanagedSouth Shieldstothe first round of theFACup?

Which playermade history with five tries as England defeated Papua NewGuinea 46-6 in theRugby LeagueWorld Cup?

WhichBarcelonalegend, inset, made his final NouCampappearance in their2-0 La Liga winover Almeria?

Non-league Farnborough knocked whichLeague Twoclub outofthisseason’s FA Cup?

Which baseball team won theirsecond ever World Series this year?

Arsenalreturnedtothe topofthe PremierLeague table with a1-0 winatChelsea, Whoscoredtheir goal?

Which England cricketer setanew record for runs scored in T20 internationals?

Whichwas theonlyclub to winall of theirgames in thegroup stages of this season’s ChampionsLeague?

Whicheight countries failed to qualify forthe semi-finals from theSuper 12s at theT20 WorldCup? a,adan,2ConirlmlAueig1M hamenpphi3C inust,4DwnTo ,nsonJoh ellentha,6Crsgean5R n,romeCa tereschan7M d,teUni nniiar8G ,anor-MnigiRe ,nsoniakyMomm2T,1psllihinPevi1K,1ffauoGoc0C,1onniaUhilpdelahi9P 13 rdraGe ew4N,1quePi d,analZe 15 onttSu onstou6H,1edtUni ,ostrAs 17 os8J,1elbriGa r,lettBu 19 rnyeBa a,alitrus0A,2chniMu ,kaaniLSr d,anelIr thou,SanstnighaAf h,esadglan,Bdsanrlethe,NcariAf e.abwmbZi

ANSWERS

Dales decides it’s time his taleswerebrought to book

When Tony Daleybecame Wolves’ record signinginJune1994, he believed hispeakyears were ahead.

Instead, they hadalready been andgone.

DaleyarrivedatMolineuxhav ingplayed290 gamesand scored 38 goalsduringnearlyadecadeat Villainwhich he also earned seven England caps

Andyet thewingerwould make only 49 more appearances as apro fessional, afterbeing hitbya series of seriousinjuries.

Revealed forthe firsttimeinhis recently released autobiography, TheDaley Record,isthe fact the ill-fated £1.25million move across theMidlandsshouldpossiblynot have happened at all.

“I foundout yearslater therehad beensome concerns aboutmyknee during themedical andthe doctors wanted to take acloserlook,”explains Daley. “ButGrahamTaylor, Wolves manager at thetimeand whoI’d obviouslyplayedunder at Villa, waseager to getthe deal done andtoldthemhewas happywith it.”

Troublebegan in pre-season when it emerged Daleywas suffer ingwithacruciate ligament injury sustained unknowinglymonthsear lier whilestill at Villa. Afterseveral months rest he madehis debutoff thebench during a3-3 draw with Millwall in late October, only forhis knee to give wayand forcehim off within minutes.Sidelined forthe rest of theseason, Daleywould then suffer arupturedpatella tendonthe followingsummer.

“You wouldn’t mind so much if it wasa fewnigglinginjuriesbut to be

Behindthe

hitwithtwo massiveonesinsuch ashortspace of time,thatwas in credibly tough,”hesays.

Whilethe situationwas frustrat ingfor Wolves andtheir supporters, thephysicaland mental impact on Daleywas considerable

Failing to talk more about his struggles was, he claims, the big gest regret of hisplaying career

“Itwas differentthen,”hesays. “There wasa fear that if you admittedyou were struggling it wouldbe seen as asignofweakness. Team mateswould tell you to just geton with it

“I wasfortunatetohaveGra hamTaylor, whowas veryforward thinking andat one pointprovided me access to asport psychologist That helped butatthe time it was keptquiet.”

Daley’scandidnesswhendiscussinghis experience at Wolves may come as asurprise to thosewho know himasanalmostuniversally positive spirit anditneedspointing outthat, whilenever less than honest, hisbookisfor themostparta happystory about aboy whomade hisdream come true throughmax imisinghis naturaltalent.

“I stillremember as a10-year-old beingasked what Iwanted to be,” says Daley, whogrewupin Newtown,Birmingham,ashortbus ride from VillaPark. “Myanswerwas always afootballer.”

Daleyhas lovedeverything about football foras long as he canre-

member.As achild, theonlything whichrivalleditwas tapdancing, in whichhebecameproficientenough to appear in astage show starring ToyahWilcox.

As ayoungster,Daley idolised Mark Walters, anotherwingerwho grew up near VillaParkand became a professional at his boyhood club. He canstill vividlyrecallsitting on olderbrother David’sshoulders on theHolteEnd as they watched VillaplayIpswich late in the198081 title-winningseason. Barely four yearslater he wouldbemakinghis senior debut, in April1985, aged just 17

Whilethere will always be adebate as to howmuchinjuriespre vented Daleyfromrealising his full potential, thefactmanyVilla supporters whowatched himplay wouldlisthim amongtheir favourite-ever players says everything about hislegacyasa true cult hero

That is somethingwhich hashit home whilepromoting thebook, the writingofwhich he describesasbeingboth‘humbling andcathartic’

“Peoplehad been asking me to do onefor yearsbut it wasn’t some thingI hadreallyconsidered,”he says.“Butthenone daymyson was showingmyeldest granddaughter, Maia,some clipsofmeplaying and shekeptonturning roundand look ingatmeand saying:‘That’s not you,Pops!’.

“Itwas then Ithought,why not leavesome historyfor my familyto

read, to letthemknow thestory?

“Ithas been humbling to look back.Whenyou areinthe middle of it all, it is just yourlife. Butwhen youstart rememberingsomeofthe storiesand realise thethingsyou achieved,you think: ‘Wow,whata greattimethatwas’. Ithrived off getting people offtheir seats.”

Therehas also been thechanceto reconnectwithformerteam-mates andcolleaguesincluding Walters, Andy Townsend andMickMcCar thy, thelatterofwhom hiredDaley in 2007 as Wolves’headofsport scienceand conditioning,aposthe wouldholdfor nearlyadecade.

They have writtenthree of the11 testimonials whichfeature at the endofthe book,whileRon Atkinson andSteve Bull have both penned forewords in tributetoaman generally regarded as oneofthe nicest in thesport

Hisfriendlypersona,however, should never be viewed as aweakness.Now coaching eliteand amateur athletes as part of his7Daley healthand fitnessbusiness, Daley hasthe same determinationand steelaswhenhewhenhe firstjoined Villaasa14-year-old apprentice Daleybelongs to agenerationof players whosecareers seem so re cent andofwhich highlights can be viewed within secondsonline Andyet hisbookalso serves as a reminder of how much sportand society haschanged.Daley’s first professional contract,signedafterhehad made hisdebut,was for £150-a-week, afar cryfromthe thousandsnow earned by academy players

TheDaley Record,co-written with SimonGoodyear andpublished by MorganLawrence, is availableto buynow.For more informationon 7Daley visit7D-fitforlife.co.uk

Englandneed to have Kane fitand firing

Never mind whodid or didn’t make theEnglandsquad

Thebiggestworry forGareth Southgatewiththe WorldCup just10daysawayisthe fitnessof hisstarplayer.

“Really, really tired” is how TottenhambossAntonio Conte described Harry Kane after Wednesday’s2-0 Carabao Cupdefeat at NottinghamForest.

It is unlikelySouthgate appreci ated theItalian putting thefocus on hiscaptain’s health butConte wasonlyspeakingthe truthand in anycase, whyshouldn’t Kane be feelingthe strain?

Wednesday’smatch washis 22ndin95dayssincestartinghis season on August 6and he is far from theonlyplayerfromclubs competinginEuropetohaveexperienced aheavy workload.

Yetheisby farthe primecon cern forSouthgate. Kane is the oneplayerwho wouldget into everyother team in thetournament andEngland’shopes of progressingtothe latter stages, realistically, depend on himbeing near thetop of hisgame.

Solace forSouthgatecomes from thefactheishardlythe only managerfretting on the fitnessof

players thanks to theludicrously shorttimebetween thepause of thedomestic season andthe start of thesport’s biggestshowpiece.

Everypreviousedition of the WorldCup hasstood aloneinthe calendar,asitshould. Rightnow this one feelsahugeinconven ience, wedgedintothe middle of theseasonand acause of stress forplayers whoknoweven aminor knockatthisstage couldruin theirdream.Thoughmostsquads have nowbeennamed,every managerfaces anervous final weekendofdomestic action,hop ingtheir picks emerge unscathed.

It is not 18 months sincefour players operatinginthese parts were called up forEuro2020but whileJackGrealish, SamJohnstoneand Conor Coadyhaveall movedontopasturesnew,Tyrone Mingshas lost favourand Ollie Watkinsfailedtobuild enough of acase.

At leastinStourbridge-born Jude Bellingham,Southgate has pickeda playerwho hasthe po tentialtobeone of thestars of the tournament

YetitisKaneuponwhomso much of theThree Lionshopes rest

Englandstriker HarryKane

Tony Daleykickedoff hiscareeratVilla, inset, andhad stints as aplayerand fitnesscoachatWolves

LOPETEGUILOOKS TO LIFT WOLVES

JulenLopetegui wants to forgea‘newhistory’ at Wolvesafter makinghis ‘dream’move to Molineux.

The56-year-old hasbegun hisera at theclubafterbeing officiallyun veiled at Molineux to themedia.He joinsWolveswiththe club rooted at thebottomofthe PremierLeague tablebut theSpaniardisconvinced that he will change theclub’sfor tunes in themonthstocome

“I know it is the worst position in thetable nowbut Iamconvinced we have time to change that.We trytoconvincethe players,which is themostimportant thingfor me, that they arebetterthantheyhave shownand that we startbuildinga newhistory

“Thisismydream.Thisismy firstand main goal.But allthishis tory is step by step andnot speak ingabout thebig things,onlythe next matchand trytochangewhat we seeonthe pitchand ourperfor mance.

“That’swhy we arehere, to com pete with the best andtry to show we areabletobeatthemand to play face to face butalwaysthinking about us

“Alwaysthe big motivation is to be with thebest, in thebestcon test with thecoaches, theplayers andorganisationofthe Premier League,the country, theenviron ment,the atmosphere,thisisfor me adream to be here.”

Meanwhile, Lopeteguirevealed he does notwantRaulJimenez to traveltothe WorldCup afterbeing called up by Mexico

Thestriker hasnot playedfor the clubsince August 31 duetoagroin problembut hasbeennamed for thesquad andwill traveltoQatar LopeteguibelievesJimenez is not readytoplayand made hisfeelings knowntothe forward– butnow hopes he will return fitand firing.

Lopeteguisaid: “Ofcourse,ifhe washerefor onemoremonth work ingwithus, Iwould be happier. But it’s possible that he’s fit, playsvery well andcomesbackstronger

“I thinkthathe’snot at theright pointtobe fitand it’s better to fin ishhis processwithus, but, Iunder standthatit’shis decision andit’s hisright.It’shis decision,noprob lemand Iunderstand, butofcourse Itoldhim my thoughts.”

Bicycle-kick Brandon’sRoo reminder

in thebestpossiblestyle by chalk ingupathirdwin andclean sheet on thespintomoveout of therele gation zone

Askedabout comparisons,Thom as-Asantesaid: “I remember that To be fair Iwas thinking aboutthat oneafterwards because hishit off hisshinand mine hitoff theend of my toe! Very similar

“The boys were really happyand just supportive

“HopefullyIcan repaythemwith moremomentslikethat.”

Thomas-AsantejoinedAlbion from League TwooutfitSalford City,owned by thelegendary Man chesterUnited‘Classof‘92’, so ad mitted Rooney’s RedDevilsheroics wasnever farfromconversation.

“Tobefair, yes(aherogrowing up),”saidthe Albion striker. “I thinkhe’severyone’s hero,whathe hasdonein hiscareerisamazing.”

Unai thrilled by Villawill to win

DelightedbossUnaiEmery saluted Villa’s fighting spirit aftertheybat tled back to winatBrighton.

Villaovercame concedingafter49 secondstocome back andbeatthe Seagulls2-1 thanks to DannyIngs’ double. Thewin wastheir firstaway from home in thePremier League this season andtheir firstsince go ingbehindonthe road in nearly 18 months

Emerysaid: “Inthe last minutes we didn’t keep ourmentality like we wanted andIwanttocreate.

“Our mentalitywas different. We were strong defensivelyand hadto be.Weweretogetherand we hadto be so focusedonset-piecesfromcor ners.Wehad some playersout but, really,the jobwas fantastic.”

Harshwords worked –Liam

TheSaddlersgot apoint on theroadina0-0 draw at Carlisle buthad to soak up lotofpres sureinthe firsthalf.

He said:“Idon’t thinkthe firsthalfwas goodenough, we keptitto0-0 andmaybe it took us awhiletosettledownata dif ficult placetocome

“Butinthe firsthalfwewere poor andweknewwehad to raise thestandards whichwe did.”

Defender Liam Gordon admits words were said at half time in theWalsall dressing room– and it wasthe catalyst forimprove ment

BrandonThomas-Asante

LIAM KEEN liam.keen@mnamedia.co.uk

JulenLopetegui hasbeen unveiled at Wolves newheadcoach