The Phoenix - May 2013
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olverhampton is ‘Passing GO’ and landing its very own Monopoly board. The city is to get its very own customised board, which will be out later this year in time for Christmas. And it will be the great Wolverhampton public who will get to vote for the 22 property landmarks that make it onto the board. So, for example, Wulfruna Street could replace Mayfair, or Molineux Stadium could appear on Old Kent Road! The board will see Wolverhampton’s finest landmarks swap places with the famous London sites like Trafalgar Square and Oxford Street. In addition, the four London train stations will be handed over to a city ’travel’ theme. Some of the Community Chest and Chance cards are being customised too, with very bold plans for one to say ‘You will be fined for going to Birmingham’. Dan Taylor, Monopoly Manager at London-based Winning Moves UK - the company producing this game under license from Monopoly owners Monopoly Manager at Winning Moves Ltd Dan Taylor and Wolverhampton Mayor Councillor Christine Mills officially launch Wolverhampton’s Hasbro – announced the launch when
Wolverhampton ‘Passes GO’
own Monopoly board game at the West Park bandstand.
Freeman Frank's special Statue show
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ward-winning comedian Frank Skinner will host a special show to help raise funds for The Celebration statue. The Sandwell-born star will perform his one-off ‘Three Degrees Cooler’ show at Birmingham’s Town Hall this summer with proceeds going towards ‘The Celebration’ statue which highlights the careers of pioneering Black footballers the late Laurie Cunningham, Cyrille Regis and Brendon Batson. The trio played for West Bromwich Albion it the late 1970s and paved the way for future generations of Black players in Britain. Frank, who was made a freeman of the borough of Sandwell
in 2004, is a lifelong Albion fan and will perform fresh material about the club during the show and be joined by some very special guests including Brendon and Cyrille. The fundraising project is being led by Black Country businessman Jim Cadman with the support of l Frank Skinner in his WBA Shirt Sandwell Council. sculpture in the borough and this Leader of the Council, Darren event will help make that a realCooper, said: ity.” “It’s fantastic to see Frank, one The statue will stand in West of Sandwell’s most famous sons Bromwich town centre when it’s and fellow West Brom fan, get- unveiled in July 2014, marking ting involved and supporting the 25th anniversary of the death this great cause. We’re looking of Laurie Cunningham. forward to seeing this excellent
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he was joined by the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Christine Mills. A self-confessed Monopoly fan, Councillor Mills said: “Monopoly is a classic game for all the family and it’s fantastic news that the great and greater Wolverhampton public will be able to expand their property empire by snapping up some famous landmarks in our city.” Mr Taylor said: “We are delighted to be making this exciting announcement that Wolverhampton is ‘Passing GO’.” The spirit and shape of this customised edition will remain the same as with the traditional Monopoly board game – so, for example, the playing pieces will stay the same as will the rules and the four corner squares (GO, Jail, Free Parking and Go to Jail). Set to feature for the first time as a playing piece will be a cat to sit alongside the Scottie dog and the other famous counters like the boot and ship. Monopoly first hit shop shelves in the US in 1935 and is today played in 111 countries and enjoyed in 43 different languages. The new Monopoly: Wolverhampton Edition will be available from this October in time for Christmas.
Vaisakhi an all-time high in a sea of saffron and blue
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sea of saffron and blue washed over Birmingham, the largest Vaisakhi open air celebrations in Europe was back in Handsworth Park is seen as one of the most cosmopolitan of its kind, in one of the most cosmopolitan and vibrant city in Europe. A cornerstone of one of the city’s success, the Nagar Kirtan (holy street procession) organised by the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras saw the Vaisakhi, in Handsworth Park, bring communities together in the true spirit of celebration Organisations, service providers with a message and product to sell found the ideal event to be at. The celebrations, which mark
the Sikh nation’s collective birthday, saw two huge processions set off from Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) in the Jewellery Quarter and the Bab Sang Gurdwara in Sandwell. Led by five Sikhs in ceremonial dress to represent the five original Panj Pyare – The Beloved Ones – who founded the order of the Khalsa, the processions met in the park for live music, entertainment, Punjabi food and crafts. Dr Pyara Singh Bhogal, Chair of the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Birmingham,
said: “Vaisakhi is a very important event in the Sikh calendar. The Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Birmingham has organised a fantastic Vaisakhi celebrations in Handsworth Park with the support of the Sikh community, Birmingham City Council, our sponsors and local businesses. Sikhs and non-Sikhs joined together in festive harmony.”